:i siliiil DDDDannDDDnnnDDnnDnnnnnDnDDDDDDn D D D D D D D ^o^^^s^ D D D D D Sd"^ h% D D D > gi f« f «a m D D 5. la\vt /M ^ D D •p iv^^i^j/j& ^ D D '^^S^^** D D D D D n D D D D D UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS D D n D LIBRARY D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D □ □ □ D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D DDnnDDDDDDanDDnDDDDaaDnnnnDDnnnn .w»r»raarr«as'!?afT-;r— LIBPARY ^'■SKjSfi'ifKilataESSrtTj- y-n/p • r r r'TTQ MAY, 1834. No. I.] [Vol. I. THE FARMER^S MAGAZINE, MONTHLY JOURNAL PROCEEDINGS AFFECTING THE AGRICULTURAL INTEREST. [Vol. I, DEDICATED FARMERS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, LONDON: PUBLISHED AT THE " MARK LANE EXPRESS" OFFICE, 19, OLD BOSWELL COURT, TEMPLE-BAR, STRAND. to be had, by order, of all booksellers. Printed by Joseph Rogerson, 24, Norfolk-street, Strand. eft: F22S CONTENTS. Page Spade Husbandry 1 Dianer and presentation of a piece of plate to Lord. ... Western... : 2 General Agricultural Report for March 5 Agriculture in Flanders 6 West Lothian (Scotland) Grand Steeple Chace 7 Commutation ofjTithes ib. Landlords and Tenants S Sagacity of the Spider ib. Mad Dogs . , ib. The Beagle 9 Report on the Cultivation of Turnips with compost applied in. a peculiar manner 10 Shropshire Assizes — Horse Warranty — Sheward v, Cle- ment ib. Saturday Evening 11 On Labour-rates, &c ib. Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling Society 12 Bank Notes 13 Spring 14 Estraordinary article in the Ecclesiastical Code of Ireland ib. A Dialogue in North Essex , ib. Corn Laws 15 Forest Tree s adapted for Plantations ib . Cultivation of Tares 16 Upon the Necessity of the Commutation of Tithes 17 Gloucester Association for the Encouragement of Agri- culture, Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce 19 The Education of the Peasantry of England 20 The Corn Laws 21 Steeple Chace for 400 guineas, from Churehdown Hill to Westal ,, 22 At a [Meeting of the Nobility, Gentry,' Clergy, Yeo- manry, and Inhabitants of the Connty of Suffolk, ib- Sheep Show at Lockerbie 23 Astonishing Feat.. ib. Grand Feat of Pedestriaaism. 24 A Day's Deer-stalking in JPerthshire ib. Shooting Woodcocks ib. A Caution against Light Bread ib. The Newfoundland Dog 25 Birds Valuable to the Farmer ib. Extract from " Our Town," a new work o ib. Scraps from Loudon's Gardener's Magazine 26 British Manufactures ib. Excessive Distress — Ramsden v. Barber and Others 27 Cobbett's Magazine 58 Female Overseer ib. Moulding Fetatoes , ib. Agricultural Labourer!— Their Former and Present Con- dition . 29 The Corn Laws 30 To the Farmers of Shropshire , ib. Free Trade in Corn 31 The Easter Hunt . , . , , ib. Smoking 32 The Poor , ib. The Agriculturists ,,< jb. TheWoolTrade iU. Proverbs Relating to March 33 The Market- Hill Agricultural Dinner ib. Poor Laws and Corn Laws ,..•......,., 35 New London Cattle Market , ib^ Metrical History of the Poor Laws 3a Population of Great Britwn , 37 Extra-Parochial Places 3g Animals in Winter ••••.,......,., 39 The Evening Wind jb. Public Debt, Prices of the Funds, and of Wheat 40 The old English Hound 41 The Steeple ChaceatHerne Bay.., , ib. Wild Duck Shooting 42 On the Propagation of Annuals, &c. by Cutting jb, Cultivation of Crysanthemum Indicura 43 Cauliflower and Cape Brocolli throughout Winter ib. Cy clobothra Alba 44 Horse Warranty. — Thornton w. Seed ib. The Cow-Tree of South America ,..., 45 The Rhinoceros ^ jjj_^ On Pruning to Improve the Quality of Timber 4S Agricultural Festival at Munich jb. Bills of Exchange 47 The Wool Trade •••.'.'.".''.'.'.'.'!.*.*.'!.* 48 Grapes ib. Cheap Bread ' 49 Upon the Necessity of the Commutation of Tithes ib Analysis of the Tithe Commutation Bill ^ 52 Tithes. — Petition from Kent 52 Emigration to Upper Canada, as a Means of Relieving the Parishes in England of their Paupers 53 Cedars of Lebanon 55 The Corn Laws ju Caractacus 56 To April j[,_ Affection of Animals for their Young jb The Otter 57 The Horse Dealer gg Lord Mansfield and Horse Dealers , 59 Charming a Snake , qq A Mouse Suckled by a Cat |jj^ PerilouslSituation. — Extraordinary Shot , jb Pensile Birds' N'fests gj The Oriole's Nest ib. The Markets of Londcm jj^ Agricultural Meeting at Coleshill gj Corn Law Association , ,.,..,. ib Gravel Pit Law g^ IVaining Steers and Colts -j^ Upon the necessity of the Commutation of Tithes 65 Agricultural Reports ^^^ gy Expences of Cultivation.— Prospects of Agriculturists. . 73 A Story on the Road ^ 74 Tying a Hyena , jj,^ Brief Biography of a Horse jb The Bull Dog V.V.V.V. 76* Where to buy a Horse jb. If thon hast Crusheda Flower 77 Badsworth Hunt Steeple Chace „ Jb. Notices to Correspondents jb. Comparative prices of Wheat in England and France .... 78 Report of the Corn Trade in • Mark Lane' for the Month of April ib. Market Reports „ , ..,.,,..,, 80 ,,^-'*»r- --#%*» JUNE, 1834. CONTENTS. I Page Carolinian SI Tithe Commutation Bill, and change in the Poor Laws. . lb. Tithes 84 On the proposed alteration of the Poor Laws ib . North of Lincoln Agricultural Association 85 The British Wool Trade 86 Wool Trade 87 The Poor Laws 83 May 89 Lines composed in the Priory Grounds, near Kimbolton . ib. Planting Potatoes ib. ThePigeon ....; 90 Horse Racing in Persia 92 The Doctor of our Town 93 A Life Preserver ib. Bird Nesting ib. Feats in Walking ib. Pensions to the King's Nurses ib. Plan of a Dibble for Sowing IMangel Wurzel and other Seeds 94 General Agricultural Report ib. Blenheim <■ 95 Beer-shops •• ib. Agricultural Meeting at Aylesbury 9S The Bird to his Mistress 97 The Corn Laws 'b. Peculiar Burdens affecting Land 98 The Malt-Duty 99 Mr. John Tweedale, of North Rauceby, Lincolnshire, and the Introduction of Bone as a Manure into that County 1W> To the Breeders and Graziers of Sheep— the Cotswold and Down Cross.. '"1 A Challenge to Breeders and Graziers of Sheep ......... 102 The Aggregate Results of the Land Allotment System,.. 103 TheBeerBill ^^■ On various Agricultural Matters 104 In Praise of the Cuckoo 105 The Dew-drops ib- Medical Vegetable • J'*' Annoyances of Horse-Dealers ib. Salmon Fishing on the Coast of Antrim, and Sagacity of a Dog » 106 Fish-Hook ib' On the Language of Animals 1"7 Elephant Hunting in Ceylon 'b. White-legged Horses ib. Interpleader Act. Dobbings v. Greening . . . • , 108 Mr. MaccuUoch and the Corn Laws ib. Observations on the Proposed Tithe Bill Ill To a Jasmine Tree 113 On Small Farms' ib. On the Tithe Commutation Bill 114 On the Poor Laws ib. Leicester Agricultural Society and Wool Fair.. ••....•.. 11& Agricultural Employment Institution 116 TheTumip-Fly ib. Report of the French Commission charged to exanline the Project of the Customs' Law 117 Index to Bill for the Amendment and Better Administra* tion of the Poor Laws 119 The Salmon Trout 122 The Sea Tiger. 123 Wonderful Sagacity of a Dog , 124 Injury to Racing Stock ib. Trotting Match ib. Memory in Animals ib. Sparrows ib. Insect Devastations ib. The Flower Garden, or Monthly Calendar; by Martin Doyle 125 Becher's Anti-Pauper System ib. Tithes or no Tithes ib. On the Important Discovery of the Decomposition of Common Salt, for the Purposes of Manure, by Henry Kemp ib. New Manure ib. Migration of Animals ib. Bright Thoughts for Dark Hours 127 The Cocoa-nut Tree of Ceylon — its various Uses ib. Agriculture ib. Skinless Oats ib. The Turnip-Fly 128 Botanical Curiosity ib. Naval Timber j jb . The Exile's Song of Spring.:, ,'. 129 Devon Agricultural Society ib. A Proposal for a Radical Reform of that part of the Poor Laws which relates to the disposal and Employ- ment of the Superfluous Labourers 133 -Tithe Commutation Bill 134 Beer Act Amendment Bill 135 East Kent County Meeting on the Subject of Tithes 136 Advantages of a Fixed Duty on Grain 137 Meeting of Hop Planters at Bromyard 139 Farmers'Dinner at Buckingham ib. Law Report.— Court of King's Bench— Rarber v. Wait 140 Illustration of Taxation — The Park and the Paddock . . . 141 Lines written by Moonlight, near a Water Mill 143 Parish Dinners in 1460 and 1794 ib. Importation^of Wheat from Guernsey and Jersey 144 S ugar, an Antidote to the Poison of, or from Copper. . . . ib. The Willov? ib. Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling Society 145 Cricketing '... 146 Welch Cattle,— The Influence of Steam 147 Agricultural Reports ib. Agricultural Intelligence, Fairs, &c 154 Comparative prices of Wheat in England and France .... 156 Market Reports 157 "'^ JULY, 1834. CONTENTS, Page. Tithes 161 Buclebury luclosure 162 Agricultural School ^^• John and the Vicar— An University Dialogue 163 Address of Yllos?, to the Meeting of the Lincolnshire Agricultural Association 16* The Pike 16' Epsom Races 168 Rotation of Cropping I'l Song ib. I looli'd upon a Sportive Child 172 Reminiscences of a Wanderer , ib. Italian Clover, or Trifolium Incarnatum ih. CoDET or Common Pleas — Important to Merchants- Post-dating Checks ; Bowerraan «. Potter ib. Sparrows 173 The Land Tax ib. Tlie Potatoe Crop ib. Chev-ilier Barley , ib. To talie the Honey without Destroying the Bees ib. The Great White, or Snowy, Owl ib. Importance of Steam Navigation to Graziers 174 The Potatoe Plant — Cottage Gardening ib. Landlords and the Corn Laws 175 Bristol Agricultural Society 177 On the Attributes of the Working Ox ib. On Large and Small Farms 178 To J. Stevenson, Esq., Secretary to the Lincoln Agricul- tural Association 1/9 Mr. M'CiiUochand the Corn Laws ISl Settling for the Derby and Oaks 184 list of Trout Streams..., ib. Sale at Messrs. Tattersall's 185 i'are Hunting Extraordinary 186 Poor Rates, lb. Fatriarchal Sheep ib. Ayrshire ib . E'ssex Hops ib. A Generous Landlord , jb. Court of Common Pleas.— Rush v. Powell and Others 187 The Potatoe Crop ib. Potatoe Crop, Wigtownshire .' 18S The Horticultural Meeting, or Flora's Fete 189 Rennie'sHand-Book of Gardening ib. Curious Atmospheric Effect 190 Commutation of Tithe Bill 191 Committee of the House of Commons on the Islington MarketBill , ib. Page Prospect for Harvest. . , 193 Enclosure Bill ib. A Stop to Epsom Races ib. To the Society of Agriculture at St. Petersburgh. 194 On the Cultivation of Cattle Beet and on Trenching 195 Guernsey Cows ..."..• 196 Sainfoin ib. Disbudding Wall Trees 197 Corn Trade of Guernsey and Jersey j. ib. Corn Laws 198 Irish Church Establishment ib. Observations on Railways 199 Rifle Match for 1,000 Guineas, between Captain Horatio Ross and Count D'Orsay 30* Capture of a Shark < ib. Otter Hunts ib. The Leucoryx ib. Fight of Camels 201 Otter Hunting in the Ystwith and Rheidol ib. The Lost One ib. The Night before the Battle of Hastings ib. The Rainbow 202 Ballad— The Wild Rose of Eriu ib. Cirencester .... ....■ ib. Cauliflower and Cape Broccoli throughout Winter ib. The Turnip Fly ib. Rams ,.,... ..203 Wool Sale at Liverpool , . . ib. German Wool Fairs , ib. On the Application of Steam to Purposes of Husbandry.. 204 Mr. Blackburn's Essay on the Management of Landed Property in Ireland 209 Breslaw Wool Fair ... ..212 To the Editor of the Norwich Mercury . , 214 My First Campaign , 215 On thejTithe Bill 21S Agricultural Reports 219 The late Earl of Burlington's Racing Stud 225 Surrey Stag Hounds lb. A Man without Money ibj The Roach 226 The Cricket Match between Yorkshire and Norfolk .... ib. Pedigree and Performances of Humphrey Clinker 227 Agriculture and the Corn Trade 228 Weather and the Crops 229 Notices to Correspondents 230 Report of the Corn Trade in Mark Lane, for the Month of Jua , ...231 AUGUST, 1834. CONTENTS. Page The Prac-'icc of Fallowing explained on new Scientific Priaciple j 233 On tte Question — Wlio ought to employ the Superfluous Labourers? &c 238 Failure in the Fotatoe Sets 239 Tlie Potatoe Crop 240 Ploughmen's Unions ib, Mr. Blacker's Essay on tlie Management of Landed Pro- perty in Ireland 241 Tlie Perch c 245 Extraordinary Trotting Match in America . , 246 Cricket Matches ib. The Glow-worm 247 The Shrew Mouse ib. On being stung by a Wasp , ib. On the Corn Laws 248 Report of the Result of Experiments on Feeding Ten Horned Cattle, and an equal number of Hogs, on Raw and on Prepared Food 249 The Mode by which London Is supplied with Strawber- ries 250 On Potatoes , ,. 251 A Proposed System for the Employment of the Poor of England, and Management of the Relief to be given to those who are unable to work . . . . , ib. Watton Fair 252 Leicester Wool Fair 253 German Wool Fairs ib. New Colony of South Australia ib. The Yeldham Oak 254 Alterations of the Customs Duties ib. Civilization and the Savage State ib. ASlugTrap ib. I was a Peasant Born . , ; 255 French Coachman „., , jb. Cricket ib. The Vegetable World 256 Our Social Embarrassments— their Causes and Remedies 257 Cure for the Bite of an Adder , 262 On the Improvement of Waste Lands ib. The Mole Cricket 264 Spanish Coachmanship ib. Paring and B urning 265 Wild Dogs in Van Dieman's Land , 267 Epsom Races ib. Experiment in the Culture of Potatoes ib. Potatoe Crop 268 The Comiuon Bramble , 269 Female Emigration to Australia 270 Page The Aborigines of Van Dieman's Land 271 Corns , ib. On the Cultivation of Celery *. . 272 Anglesey Cattle ib. An Orchard in Pots ib. Suffolk Wool Fair 273 Ipswich Wool Fair ib. The Carp 274 Sales of Racing Stock ib. Newmarket July Meeting 275 Cricket Matches— Kent and England 276 Mr. Wyatt's Statues of Horses 277 Hampshire Agricultural Society : 27S Notice of an Improved Variety of early Potatoe raised from Seed , • ib. Prices of Bread and Wheat 279 Drunkenness ib. The Sensitive Plant 280 Ancient Court Costume ib. Court OF Exchequer.— Paul V. Simes ib. State of the Wool Trade 281 Morning , ib. Historical Sketch of the Corn Laws 282 Beautiful Blue Violets 284 Meal Hours ib. Burials in England and Wales.... , ib, English Pigs in Paris ib. Thetford Wool Fair 285 The Devonshire Lane 288 On the New Poor Law Bill, principally respecting Em- ployment for the Surplus Labourers ib. The Defeat of the Islington Market Bill 290 Steam Carriages ib. An Old English Gentleman , ib. Extraordinary Turkey Cock 291 Tame Trout ib. Preston . — Important Hint to Farmers ib. Cawston , ib. Manner of Clearing Chestnuts from the Husk in Savoy. . ib. The Agricultural Question 292 Cottagers' Cucumbers ib. A "Salmon-Leap." , ib. Agricultural Reports , , . 293 Effects of Buck Wheat on Flemish Sheep 298 Agricultural Intelligence, Fairs, &c 299 Notices to Correspondents 301 Review of the Corn Trade in Mark Lane for the Month of July , ,, , 302 SEPTEMBER, 1834. CONTENTS. Page Lewes Wool Fair 305 Wilts Agricultural Society 309 Poor Laws 311 The Squire of Old England 312 Vegetable Acquisitions 316 The Raff 317 Wild Beast Statistics 319 On Protection of British Agriculture 320 East-Riding Agricultural Association 321 Ilsley Wool Fair 324 On Practical Irrigation and Draining 326 The Bison 328 On the superiority of the Cradle-framed Scythe to the Common one for Reaping Corn 330 Pinnated Grouse 331 Report of the Commissioners of Ecclesiastical Revenue Inquiry 332 Belgian Corn Laws ib. The New Clover 333 Duties on Spirits and Licenses ib. Relics of Napoleon's Army ib. Garden Farms of England.— The Hop Culture 334 The Wing of a Bat ib. Wilson and his Birds 336 The Marquis of Lansdowne's Fawn ib. An Apostrophe from Lord Lansdowne's Foxes, ordered to be destroyed because a Fawn was found dead near an earth ib. Indian Zoology 336 P«gfr Improvement of Breeds of Oxen ► ib« The Turnip-Fly ib. Oxford Circuit, — Hereford. — Hemming v. Parry ^ 337 Poor Laws in England 338 Mrs. Trollope's Visit to a Belgian Farm-House ib, A Double Fish ib. The Godwit 33» Gin-Drinking ib. On the Advantages of Small Farms 345 Gardening. — Preparation of the Fruit-tree Borders ib. On Labourers' Friend Societies 341 Mexican Bees , 342 A Mess Dinner at Bombay ib. First Steam Trip to St.Kilda 343 Liecester Wool Fair 345 Wool Trade 346 Prize Essay on the Management of Landed Property in Ireland ib. Ploughing Match 347 Lancaster Assizes. — Responsibility of Brokers. — Walkin- shaw and Co. v. Buchanan and Co ib. Agricultural Reports 349 Agricultural Intelligence 353 Review of the Corn Trade in Mark Lane during the month of August , 354 An Act for the Amendment and Better Administration of the Laws relating to the Poor in England and Wales 357 Letter from the Central Board to Churchwardens and Overseers , 384 OCTOBER, 1834. CONTENTS. Page On the Points by which Live Stock are Judged 385 Agricultural Schools , 388 Throwing of Horses lb. The Law of Settlement and the Administration of the Poor Laws. 38d Potatoes 390 From an Historical Sketch of the Corn Laws 391 The Shrewd Farmer 392 Occupation of Land by Labourers ib. Sugar the finest Food for Animals ^ 393 Stomach Pump ib. Mr. Hawkins on Instructing Farmers' Sons in the Phy- sical Sciences 394 History of the Coal Trade of Newcastle and Sunderland. 395 Observations on Coal, as to the Duration of its Supply, and on its Reproductive Power 396 The Jerusalem .Artichoke 39" Punishment of an Alderman ib. The Great Bustard 398 Hay 399 County Rates ib. William Wallace 400 The Marquis of Chandos and the Agriculturists 401 Ipswich Lamb Fair ib . Autumnal Manuring 402 Properties of Soils as determined by their Vegetable Pro- ductions ib. Process of Skinning Eels 403 Lincolnshire Assizes.— Angerstein v. Handson ib. Preservation of Fish 404 Observations on the Intensity of Light from the Agencies of Hydrogen and Oxygen on Limestone ib. The Scarlet Trefoil , 405 Sir H. Davy's Angling Enthusiasm 406 To Trap the Stoat 407 The English Castle 403 Lupinus Nanus ib. Habits of Spiders ib. On Tithes ib. The Allotment System 410 History of the Coal Trade of Newcastle and Sunderland. (No. II.) 411 Page Shark Oil , 412 Bayonne ib. Merino Sheep 41 4 The Harvest Fields of Fife 416 On the Failure of the Potato* Crop ib. On the Squaring and Consolidation of Small Farms 417 On Stacking Corn 420 Tuxford's Patent Machine for Cleaning Wheat, Barley, Oats, &e 421 Horticultural Experiment 422 Gigantic Trees ib. Bristol Agricultural Society 423 The Otterhound 424 Paris Races ib. Extraordinary Feat ib. To Destroy Rats ib. Report of the Crops 425 Power of Machinery in Great Britain 426 German Fairs 427 Landlords and Tenants.. ,,,. jb. Agriculture in Flanders ib. Church Property 428 Dear Haunch of Mutton 430 East S uffolk Agricultural Association ib. Pithy Reply to an OlScial Letter 432 The Nortliampton shire Farming and Grazing Society... 433 Whitby District Agricultural Show ib. Magnificent Silver Firs at Rosneath 430 The Swallow's Flight ib. An Act to Amend and render More Effectual Two Acts of the Fifth and Sixth Years of the Reign of his late Majesty King George the Fourth, relating to Weights and Measures 437 Working of the New Bastardy Law. , 441 Coroner's Inquests ,....442 Preservation of Game 443 Agricultural Reports 445 Agricultural Intelligence, Fairs &c 451 Report of the Corn Trade in Mark Lane, during the Month of September , , ,..,. 454 NOVEMBER, 1834. CONTENTS. Report of the Commiltee of the House of Commons on the Sale of Corn by Weight , 457 Geese at Michaelmas '*^' Manchester Agricultural Society 468 The Poor Law Amendment Act— Important Case under its Provisions ' 4/1 A Letter on the New Poor Law Amendment Act ib. On the Husk in Cattle ' 4/2 Cobbett's Rural Ride.. 473 Decrease of Public Exeoutions ib. Welch Farinijig ........ .' ib. The " Goings On" at Biamsby Hall. 474 The Beauty of Buttermere 478 Purification of Sea Water 480 Sonnet to Autumn ib. The Knot ., 481 Thelate St. Leger ib. Rail-Road Travelliug 482 An Example Worthy of Imitation ib. Liverpool Agricultural Society 483 Report of the Committee of ttie Liverpool Agricultural Society 492 Cautious, hut not enough so ib. The Curlew 493 Affection ani Sagacity of a Dog ib. J ,au of A re 494 Page Serval or Wild Cat ib. Viaduct across the river Schuylkill « ib. Veritas on the new Poor Law Amendment Bill ib. On Hippopathology : a Systematic Treatise on the Dis- orders and Lamenesses of the Horse, &c 496 Duty of Landlords 500 Value of Land in Ireland , ib. The New Beer Act ,• ib. New Poor-Law.— Question of Settlement 504 Consumption of Food, &c. in London..,., ib. The Highlands of Scotland ib. The Last year of the Old System of Expending the Poor Rates, in the parish of St. George, Hauover-square. . . 505 Places of Worship in England and Wales, 506 Court of Review.— William Lavender's Bankruptcy- Important Judgment ib. Liverpool Report of Corn , 507 General Importation of Grain and Flour into Liverjiool, for Twenty-six Years 508 A Particular Comparison of the Imports of Grain and Flour into Liverpool for the last Twelve Months 509 Agricultural Reports 510 Agricultural Intelligence, Fairs, &c 512 Review of the Corn Trade in Mark Lane during tlie month of October ,,, 516 DECEMBER, 1834. CONTENTS. Page Some Account of the Fairs in Scotland 521 The Haw of the Eye of a Horse 523 Mutton and no Mutton ib. The Highland and Agricultural Society of Scot- land's Meeting 524 Mr. Attwood and the Poor Law Bill 525 Summary of Savings' Banks, &c ; .... 526 To the Editor of the " SuiFolk Chronicle.". . . . ib. Landlord and Tenant ib. Corn Rents 527 Mushrooms ib. Curious Statement concerning the Periodical Mortality of the Human Race ib. A Parody on the Song of the " Fine Old Eng- lish Gentleman,". . * ib. Travelling in Finland ib. Sandford Ploughing Match 528 The Brewer ,,o.. 530 The Wool Trade. — Late Failures 531 Welsh Farming — continued , 532 Ancient British Agriculture 533 The Poor Law Amendment Bill 534 Somewhat Remarkable 535 To the Editor of the " Farmer's Magazine." .. ib. Trafalgar A gricultural Society 536 The Earl of Kilmorley's Estate ib. On the Advantages of Early Cutting 537 Cincinnatus ; or, Forty Years' Experience in Agriculture ib. French Woollen Manufactures 538 Poor Law Amendment Bill 539 Information for Travellers ib. Improvement in Carriage Drags ib. The Prospects of Agriculture in 1835 540 The Colonies of Great Britain 541 Facts on the Poor Law Amendment in Mary- lebone 542 To the Overseers of the Poor. ib. Blackwood's Magazine ib. The Words of a Believer 543 To Propagate Double Stocks by Cutting , ib. Hereford Great Autumnal Fair 544 To the Editor of the " Bath Journal." 545 Brick- Kilns about Monte Video ib, BillFinchly 546 Prices of Wheat and Bread at Worcester mar- ket from 1792 to the present year , ib. Page The Pig 546 The Wisdom of our Ancestors ib. Devon Agricultural Society 547 Extraordinary Potato 552 Extraordinary Productiveness of a Common Field Pea ib. Characters of the Horse ib. " Malthus and the Corn Laws." 553 The Comic Offering for 1835 ib. The Song of the Cossack 554 Eggs of Birds 555 A Musical Bull ib. Extraordinary Pig , ib. My Wife Sal's Shoe 556 Lines Written in Autumn, 1834 ib. Smoking in Warehouses ib. The Simplicity of Pastoral Life. — Gentle Shep- herds ib. Lardner's Cabinet Cyclopaedia. (LIX. Natural History.) 557 To the Editor of the " Suffolk Chronicle.".. ., ib. To Game Preservers ib. Agricultural Distress 553 Remedy for the Existing Agricultural Distress ib. Court of Exchequer — Woodford v. Webster . . 560 Court of King's Bench — Brown v. Shevill .... ib. The As dstant Poor Law Commissioners 561 Price of Bread 562 Simple Cure for Rheumatism 563 An Act to Facilitate the Exchange of Lands lying in Common Fields , 564 The Miller's Monopoly ib. Mary, Queen of Scots, at the Battle of Langside ib. Sketches on Irish Highways. — The Irish Jaunt- ing Car 569 Important Agricultural Dinner at Market-hill. . 572 Ingenious Discovery — Printing in Oil Colours 577 Improvement of Breeds of Oxen ib. The Window Duties 578 March of Humanity ib. Price of the Quartern Loaf. ib. Agricultural Report ib. Agricultural Intelligence, Fairs, &c 579 Review of the Corn Trade in Mark Lane during the Month of November, .,.,.,,,,.,,,,.,, 580 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. MAY, 1834. No. 1.] [Vol. L SPADE HUSBANDRY. TO THE REV. C. GARDNER. Southfield by Haddington, March, 8, 1834. Sir, — On glancing over last week's Newspaper, I observed a reward offered for any better plan than the present Poor Law of Scotland for finding em- ployment for the surplus Labourers of England, consequently making bread plenty, Corn Laws useless, enriching farmers, raising fallen ^rents, find- ing a home Market for Manufactures, and saving Irish industry the check of Poor Laws. As 1 certainly felt very much gratified on pe- rusing the advertisement, I determined to forward to you my views on the subject, not that I had any expectation of being entitled to the reward, but be- cause I consider your liberal offer entitles you to every information on so very important a subject. It is impossible, for me at least, to offer any improvement on the present Scotch poor laws, and, as I presume you are thoroughly acquainted with their workings, I shall forbear any further remark than simply stating that only the aged, the sick, and the infirm, derive any benefit from them, and that the able-bodied labourer, though he may find it impossible to obtain woik, has no claim for Paro- chial relief. This 1 think is just as it should be, and is in reality a great blessing to the Scotch Pea- santry; they are in consequence trained up with notions of independence, as they are aware that they have themselves, and themselves alone to look to for support, and the knowledge of this makes them prudent, industrious, and economical. Notwithstanding all this, I am quite aware there are many cases of great hardship and great indi- vidiual distress at particular seasons of the year from want of employment, but this I am afraid can- not be satisfactorily remedied by any system of Poor Laws or legislative enactments, it is the Landed Proprietors and their Tenantry who alone can do it, yet it becomes an object of pai-amount importance to the landed interest of the kingdom. I am quite convinced there is but one way of employing the surplus population of England and Ireland, and that is, by a judicious introduction of spade husbandry, and I am also convinced that a system of management can be pointed out whereby every labourer of Great Britain might be employed with profit to his employer, and advantage to the country. I should think it will hardly be denied by any one at all versant in Agricultural operations that work done by the spade is superior to work done by the plongh, and that the only drawback is the great additional expence. Now, if I can shew that at a particular period of the rotation that spade husbandry is not only superior but less expensive, I shall have got over this difficulty. To shew that I am not a mere theorist, but a practical man, I may mention that I rent a farm from the Earl of Wemyss in East Lothian, consist- ing of 530 Scotch Acres, that I have cultivated land to a considerable extent with the spade for the last three years, and that the result has exceeded my most sanguine expectations; " as facts are stub- born things," I shall lay before you my system, crops, expences, and profits. In 1831, I determined to ascertain the difference of the expence and produce between trenching land with the spade, and summer fallowing with the plough in the usual way. I therefore trenched 13 acres of my summer fallow break, in the months of June and July; I found the soil about 14 inches deep, and I turned it completely over, thereby put- ting up a clean fi:esh soil in the room of the foul and exhausted mould, which I was careful to put at the bottom of the trench. This operation I found cost about 4l 10s per Scotch acre, paying my la- bourer Is 6d per day; the rest of the field which consisted of 9 acres, I wrought with the plough in the usual way,givingit six furrows with the suitable harrowmg. I manured the field in August, the trench- ed got 8 cart loads per acre, the ploughed land 16, the field was sown in the middle of September, the whole turned out a bulky crop as to straw, particu- larly the trenched portion which was very much lodged ; on thrashing them out I found them to stand as under : — By trenched Wheat per acre, £. s. 52 bushels at 6s 9d -. . . 0 0 0 To two years' rent, at 21 10s per acre 5 0 0 Expense of trenching 4 10 0 Seed, 3 bushels at 6s 9d . . 1 0 3 8 cart loads of manure, at 4s 112 0 Expenses of cuti ing,thrashing, and marketing 1 10 0 Profit 3 18 9 11 0 £17 11 017 11 0 By ploughed Wheat per acre, 42 bushels at 6s 9d .... To two years' rent, at 21 10s per acre 5 6 furrows and harrowing, at 10s Seed, 3 bushels at 6s 9d . . 16 cart loads manure, at 4s Expences of cutting, thrash- ing, and marketing Profit 0 I now saw that though it might be profitable to £. 0 s. 0 d. 0 ' — £. 14 3 d. 6 5 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 3 0 0 4 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 10 9 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 £14 3 6 14 3 6 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Sy d. £. s. d. 0 0 15 8 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 trench over ray fallow break during the summer months, it was by no means making the most of the system, as the operation was not only more expensive owing to the land being hard and dry during the summer, but that it was a useless waste of time, to take a whole year to perform an operation that could be as well done in a few- weeks provided labourers could be had, and as in all Agricultural operations, losing time is losing money, as the rent must be paid whether the land in carrying a crop or not, so that in taking one year to fallow the land, and another to grow the crop, two year's rent must be charged against the crop, or at least there must be a rent charged against the rotation of crops for the year the land was fallowed. — As I felt satisfied that by trenching with the spade, the land would derive all the ad- vantage of a summer fallowing, and avoid all the disadvantages attending it, I determined on trench- ing 34 acres of my fallow break immediately on the crop being removed from the ground, and had it sown with wheat by the middle of November, 1832. 1 may here remark that I did not apply any manure, as I thought the former crop was injured by being too bulky : as it is now thrashed out and disposed of, the crop per acre stands as follows : — By average of the 34 acres, 44 £. bushels per acre at 7s Od. . . 0 To rent of Land Tax per acre 2 Expence of Trenching 4 Seed 1 Cutting, thrashing, and Mar- keting 1 Profit 6 £15 8 0 15 8 0 The advantages of trenching over summer fallow, are in my opinion very decided, as it is not only cheaper, but as far as I can yet judge much more effectual. I am so satisfied of this, not only from the experiments above noticed, but from the ap- pai'ent condition of the land after it has carried the crop, that I have this autumn cultivated about an hundred acres with the spade, and the crops at present are very promising. When I first com- menced I was laughed at by my neighbours, but now when they see me persevering in what they considered a very chim.erical project, they are sus- pending their judgment, and several of them have made considerable experiments this year. I should think there is at least 250 acres under crop cultivated in this way this season, in East Lothian ; in 1831, the year I commenced, there was not a single acre ; I had therefore the satisfaction of knowing that I have been the means of causing 1,000Z to be spent this year amongst the labouring classes in my imme- diate neighbourhood, and I feel confident that should the season turn out favourable for the wheat 'crop, and fair prices obtained, their employers will he handsomely remunerated for their outlay. I do not mean to say that this system will succeed on every description of soil, as it must necessarily be of some depth to admit of the operation, but there are few districts where such soil [vnW not be found in sufficient abundance to give ample employment to the surplus population of the neighbourhood, Now this is going on in a county where agricul- tural labourers are better employed than almost any other in Great Britain, the system was not intro- duced, nor is persevered in for the pur[)Ose of giving employment to the poor, but entirely for the benefit of the employer. The East Lothian Agricultural Society are now offering premiums for the most satisfactory Reports on the subject, I last year received a Medal from tlie Highland Society of Scotland for introducing the system, and what I value stdl more, I received a Piece of Plate from the Labourers employed, as a token of their gratitude. The system, I admit, is only in its infancy, but I have this year put it completely to the test, and should it succeed as well as it has done hitherto, it must take root and spread over the Kingdom and the landed interest in those districts of England where the poor laws are so oppressive, and still more the Irish proprietors will do well to investi- gate the system and ha\e it introduced with the least possible delay, that what is now a bur- den on their estates may become a source of wealth, and what is now a curse may become a blessing. This system, if it succeed to my expectation, possesses all therequisites you require : it furnishes employment for the surplus population by substi- tuting manual labour for that of horses ; and certain- ly if there is a lack of food for both it is desirable that the one should give place to the other. It will make bread plenty, as the naked summer fallows of Great Britain will be covered with grain instead of lying waste for a season. It will render corn laws unnecessary, as we shall then be independent of foreign supplies. Farmers will be enriched who are enterprizing and industrious, and they only de- serve to be so. It will raise rents, by increasing the capabilities of the soil, enabling the farmer to cultivate wheat to double the present extent. It will raise up a home market for our manufacturers, as the paupers who are at present starving, or living a burden on the parish will find employment, and thereby be enabled to procure the necessaries and comforts of life. It will check the poor laws, as there will then be none but the aged and the help- less dependent on parochial aid. If you should think it worth while to make fur- her enquiry after the writer or his system, I beg to refer you either to the Marquis of Tweeddale, Lord Lieutenant of the county of East Lothian, or to Robert Stewart, Esq., M. P. for Haddington Dis- trict of Burghs, both of whom are at present in London, or if you would like a more detailed ac- count of the agricutulral part of my scheme, I shall feel most happy to give every information in my power. I am. Rev Sir, Your most obedient Servant, ARCH. SCOTT. DINNER AND PRESENTATION OF A PIECE OF PLATE TO LORD WES- TERN. THE PUBLIC VIEW OF THE PLATE. This most chaste and handsome tribute of respect was exhibited to the public from nine o'clock in the morning till two in the afternoon, under the superin- tendence of Mr. Gerard, the raannfacturer, and THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Messrs. Ratcliffe and Joscelyne, who were indefatig- able in their attention. The place chosen was the great table in the Crown Court. In order to prevent inconvenience and avoid danger, the public were ad- mitted into the Nisi Prius Court, through the Judge's room over the Bench, and out into New Street. An exact description of the article may be found in our last number. It is supposed, that in the course of the day no less than 4000 persons were present ; and so satisfactory was the arrangement, that no difficul- ty whatever occurred. A great number of ladies at- tended, many of them from a distance, and thus af- forded evidence of the high respect they entertained towards his Lordship. The following is the inscription on the Plate : — In testimony of their gratitude and esteem for faithful and eminent services, THIS TRIBUTE. Raised by Subscription among his late Constituents and other admirers of public worth, was presented on the 21st of March, 1134, TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE CHARLES CALLIS BARON WESTERN, OF RIVENHALL, WTio, during eleven successive Parliaments, as Member for the Borough of Maldon, and County of Essex, was endeared to the friends of Freedom, and Lovers of their Country, by his indefatigable attention to its best interests, his zealous support of civil and religious liberty, his judicious protection of Agriculture, and his able advocacy of all measures of improvement ; while he acquired the respect of his opponents by the rare consistency and unsullied integrity of his political life : and thus, in a long career of usefulness and honour, secured to his name the praise of posterity, as one of those enlightened Statesmen, whose patriotic and per- severing efforts were at length successful in reforming the system of Government, in reducing a lavish expen- diture, in correcting abuses in Church and State, in mitigating the Criminal Code, in asserting the equal rights of all classes of Christians, in abolishing slavery throughout the British dominions, and in strengthening the basis of the Constitution by amend- ing the Representation of the People. HIS MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY, THE KING WILLIAM IV., in accordance with these sentiments of his Subjects, distinguished him by signal marks of the Royal favor and conferred upon him the choicest gift of tne prero- gative by elevating him to the Peerage of the United Kingdom, January 14th, 1833. THE DINNER. As soon as the exhibition of the Plate had closed preparations were made for the admission of persons intending to dine. Tables Avere laid in the County Room for 380, which was speedily filled, and a con- siderable number of persons had to dine in the Grand Jury Room. At 4 o'clock precisely the fish and soup were brought upon the table. Mr. Barns, of the Lion and Lamb, had made every preparation, and notwithstanding the unexpected overflow, theie was accommodation for all. Sir Francis Vincent presid- ed, having on his right hand Lord Western and Lord Petre, and on his left Lord Dacre and Sir Thomas Lennard. The cloth being removed, and the grace, " Non nobis domine," having been sung. The Chairman said he rose ,to propose a toast, which they, as Englishmen, were always accustomed to drink first, and that was the Health of the King ; and no Sovereign who ever reigned within these realms was better calculated to command the affections and esteem of his people than King V.illiam IV. To all Sovereigns he would concede the merit of good inten- tieas/ though it not uafrequently happenttd that they had neither the tact nor the abihty to accomplish their wishes ; but it was to the praise of our Sovereign that he possessed the ability of carrying his good inten- tions into effect. It was to him that we owed the blessing of the Reform Bill. He had stood firm to the cause of the people, amid factions from without and v/hispers within. He had never suffered the mis- representations of any, however exalted their rank, to divert him from his purpose. He would therefore, propose the health of the King and may neither he nor any of his family ever forget the principles which seated the House of Brunswick upon the tlirone, and obtained a Reform in the representation of the people. Drank with three times three. Song. God save the King. The Chairman then proposed the health of the Queen, who by her private qualities was admirably adapted to set an example to the Court and to the public at large. The Chairman said that in proposing the health of the rest of the Royal Family, he could not but call the attention of the meeting to one particular member of it who had ever shown himself to be the advocate of freedom, and the ardent lover of civil and religious liberty. He need not say that he meant the duke of Sussex, who was no less distinguished by the pre-emi- nency of his rank than he Vv-as by his munificent pa- tronage of the fine arts, and his unceasing efforts to pro- duce the happiness and prosperity of the nation. He would therefore propose the health of the duke of Sussex and the rest of the Royal Family. Mr. Disney then rose on behalf of the general body of Subscribers, to present the plate, and was received with loud cheers. He said, one of the most important of duties had been committed to his hands — the expres - sion of the gratitude of a vast portion of the county to an old servant. It was an important trust to repre- sent the interests of the county in the legislative body, and it was likewise so to convey to the distinguished individual who had so long served them a token of their sincere gratitude ; and what must he feel on the pre- sent occasion who for no less a period than 40 years had faithfully served them. On this occasion it was liis duty to recal to their recollection the services of Lord VVestern, when he was known to them as Mr. Western. (Cheers.) He could not, however, men- tion one-fourth of those services, yet that would be enough. In 1790, he was first sent to take his seat at one of the most awful periods in history, the time of the French revolution. It was when the thrones of the continental Sovereigns were tottering to their base and when they were overthrown; and even when the very interests of humanity itself were near to total destruction. It was in 1792, that a Minister of the King of England dared to introduce a Bill for the suspension of the Habeas Corpus. The Stuart dynasty had been hunted away by the voice of the people ; and yet the Minister of the day had ventured to have recourse to the same policy which had removed them. It was then that Mr. VVestern had dared to oppose the Government ; though, unfortunately, without success. (Cheers.) It was at this period that Lord, then Mr. Grey, intro- duced his famous scheme of Parliamentary Reform. Mr. Western was found by his side. (Cheers.) In 1794, the Minister again introduced his Bill for sus- pending the liberties of the people. Mr. Western was again faithful at his post, and on the celebrated 16th of May he divided 11 times against tlie Govern- meat, though the minority fell off from 24 to 13. They had happily ke|)t him in bis seat until it w3iJ< THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. plaiu that the course he took was one of strict justice. The Government of that day had indicted no less than six individuals for high treason, though they were perfectly innocent -^ and to the glory of the country, the jury continued to return verdicts of ac- quittal until their discharge was effected. (Cheers.) What could more entirely demoustrate the utter fallaciousness of the charge. He (Mr. Disney) looked upon the present meeting as one of principles, and not of persons. (Loud Cheers.) He therefore felt it right to express their obligations to his Lordship for these instances of his integrity. Two years after, he was still seen upon the popular side, and he had never since left it. In 1796, the most atrocious mea- sure ever brought before a British Parliament, was successfully carried, notwithstanding the most deter- mined and strenuous opposition from Mr. Western and his political friends — he referred to that Bill which punished as treason the publication of any seditious libel. On that occasion Mr. Western made use of the expression — " If you pass this, you break down all the barriers of the constitution." If conduct like that, and this at a period like that of which he was speaking, did not demand their gratitude, he knew not what could. Surely for these acts of his early life (if he had achieved no other) he was en- titled to their most grateful acknowledgements. Happy would it have been for the country, if the Government of that day had adopted into practice the principles then so deeply advocated by Mr. Western. When the Reform Bill of Mr. Grey had been abandoned by Mr. Fox in despair, their old Representative still ad- vocated it ; when the mighty mind of that champion of liberty fell, Mr. Western still stood firm. Were he to attempt to recount the circumstances of the 40 years during which Mr, Western represented them, it would consume a week of their time. He would come at once to the last Session. He was by the side of Lord Grey in 1832, at the moment of triumph ; as well as by him in the moment of defeat, in 1792. What could be more conclusive of his perfect integrity and consistency ? Had the success of 1832 been ex- perienced in 1792, how much miseiy, extravagance, bloodshed, and suffering might have been avoided. What had produced the change ? Was it not the universal spread of knowledge ^and information ? (Loud Cheers.) He had reverted to the first ten years, and the last six months, of Mr. Western's Par- liamentary career — the remainder he left for them- selves to fill up. It had been once a question, whe- ther they should even sit with a Roman Catholic ; but Mr. Western had ever advocated the removal of their disabilities. (Cheers.) Were it that the Dissenters complained of the Test Tax — who more strongly pushed for its removal than him ? (Loud Cheers.) They had asked of him no pledges, they had extracted no promises and yet he had nobly done his duty. (Cheers.) He (Mr. Disney) had anxiously searched for his Lordship's political sins ; but he confessed he had not been able to find them. (Cheers.') There was no tergiversation in him, (Cheers.) No seek- ing for office. (Loud Cheers.) He was ever at his post. If that were so, could they do less than pre- sent a substantial memorial of their gratitute 1 In the name of the Electors, and of the County of Essex, and in the name of the Electors of Maldon, he pro- duced the tribute which stood before him as a mark of their sincere respect. It was not the more metal that was precious, but what the ;metal was a mark of — the high esteem they felt to Lord Western. It was indeed extremely elegant, but that was nothing to what gave the true value to it — the good wishes of the contributors. [Mr. Disney then read the inscrip- tion, and sat down amidst loud cheering.] Sir F. VrNCENT then presented the plate to his Lordship. It was altogether impossible for him to express the great pleasure he felt in doing so. His hon. friend, Mr. Disney, had pointed out those por- tions of his Lordship's life which were most prominent. His services had now been transferred to another place, and he could truly say that in Lord Western's entering the House of Lords, he had become one of its brightest ornaments. As the patron of agriculture, there were few who could equal, none that could rival him. His extensive reading and experiments upon this subject were of invaluable service. He was like- wise well known as an active and useful magistrate ; and the ornaments at Felix Hall afforded abundant evidence that he was not inattentive to the fine arts. He thus afforded proof that it was possible for the Se- nator to be the man of erudition and refinement. The Peerage he now enjoyed was no less creditable to the one who received it, than it was to the enlightened Sovereign who conferred it. (Loud cheers). It had not been earned by pandering to the vices of a sensual monarch (loud cheers,) nor by crouching to the de- mands of a corrupt minister. It was the reward of merit. (Lond applause.) It was the result of public service, seconded by public opinion. [He then re- quested his Lordship's acceptance amidst the loudest applause.] Lord Western then rose, and was received with the most deafening applause, which lasted for several minutes. As soon as silence was somewhat restored, he said — Gentlemen, I can assure you it is with the strongest feelings I rise to acknowledge this token of your kindness, feelings which it is totally impossible for me adequately to express. I am sure my need of physical strength will plead my excuse for any incom- petency of expression, and that I shall have your in- dulgence whilst I am speaking. A recollection of the 40 years, during which I represented this county, and especially of those circumstances so vividly pour- trayed by Mr. Disney, tend to excite feelings of de- pression. There are circumstances which merely move the passions and sometimes give to the mind greater energy than usual, but the feelings which I experience are more of a subdued nature. Yet I do not hold myself meanly before you, for I have the proud conviction of conscious rectitude. (Loud cheers). What I mean to say is, that you have set my services far too high. I glory in your good opinion ; and I accept that splendid gift before me as a token of your respect. The expressions which I receive of your kindness are utterly beyond my anticipation, as much as your numbers are to-day beyond my expectation* I may indeed say, that it is not the produce of a mo- ment, of a day, nor of a temporary idea, but the result of anxious and long consideration, (Cheers) That it is your considerate act, after passing in review all the circumstances of my political life, and after having upon them entered up judgment in my favour. (Loud cheers) This will continue for many years as an incentive to my young friends. Here they may see the real reward of a faithful public servant. Your estimation is the reward to which I aspire. In early life I was like other young men, not inattentive to po- pularity. But I have never sacrificed principle to its shrine, nor those opinions which I conscientiously believed to be correct. Many that have done so have at last found how fruitless an attempt it was to flee to mere popularity for support : they have eventually died neglected and despised. I have ever sought ra- ther the good opinions of the considerate, and who feel that human nature is not all perfection. It is an THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. honour to be praised by this meeting, for this meeting consists of those who are themselves worthy of praise — by you who are yourselves upright politicians. For the remainder of my days I shall feel great satisfac- tion in reading over and over again the inscriptions and names upon this plate — they are the names of in- dividuals with whom I have long acted ; and it does not afford the least portion of pleasure to know that there are many ladies who have not felt incompatible to stamp upon it their approbation of my political cha- racter. I will not enlarge upon the past, but will say one word on the future. If God shall give me life and health, I will to the last continue to exert both in the promotion of those grand principles which have recommended me to your notice. (Laud cheers.) Our principles have indeed triumphed beyond our hopes ; never could we have thought that they would have so quickly gained the ascendancy. Much has been al- ready done, but much remains yet to be accomplished. (Great applause.) But I would say one word : do not let us be too much elated — let us keep to great broad principles, but not expect what is altogether impossible. I have ever been a party man ; and I think 1 have taken the right line, VVe must give a little and take a little ; but above all be united. God bless you all. [His Lordship then sat down amidst loud cheers]. The Chairman then proposed Civil and Religious Liberty all over the world ; and Mr. W. Smith. He considered civil and religious liberty to be intimately connected ; and that it was impossible to advance the one without promoting the other. The Emancipation of the Roman Catholics was but the keystone of Re- form. He trusted the period was not far distant when there would be no distinction of sects. (Great applause). And when no one would think of inquisi- tively inquiring into his neighbour's tenets. Of the gentlemen whose name was coupled with the toast, he would say that his worth and his principles were too well known to need any eulogy from him. This toast was received with the most enthusiastic applause and was drunk with three times three. Song " Come send round the wine and leave points of belief." Mr. W. Smith, observed that the principles al- ledged to it the toast had been early imbibed by him, and had been his guide through a long political life ; and he trusted that both himself and their honourable friend Lord Western would persist in that line of conduct, which they had adopted to the latest period of their lives. The Chairman proposed the health of Lord Grey and his Majesty's Ministers ; those Ministers who acting up to the principles they had adopted in early life, had by their firmness and integrity saved the country from a revolution. He believed that they were actuated by the best intentions, and that they had invariably endeavoured to act up to their principles. They were surrounded by difficulties, we should not therefore judge too hastily of their conduct. Mr. Labouchere said it was very probable that he was the only individual present connected with the Government, and he felt much gratified that the toast had been so kindly received. Among the remaining toasts were the following, but time will not allow us to give further particulars : The Rights of the People. Sir T. B. Lennard. Lord Dacre. Lord Petre. T. B. Lennard, Esq., M.P. for Maldon. Mr. Disney, and the General Plate Committee. C. T. Tower, Esq., M.P. Tbe Chairman. GENERAL AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR MARCH. {From a Correspondent.) The weather of this month has been exceedingly fine, exceedingly favourable to every descriptioa of farm labour, and, with the exception of some few instances of the yeaning flock ewes and their newly yeaned lambs, having, in some bleak situa- tions, taken cold, or otherwise slightly suffered, from the effects of its prevailing cold nights, has been everything that the most craving farmer could reasonably wish it to be. Manuring, ploughing, and sowing have proceeded, with, we believe, ex- ceedingly little interruption. Hence Oat and Pulse seeding has been completed, except on the farms of sluggards, or the most backward soils ; whilst that of barley, seed grasses, &c,, has, on free, light, and warm soils, already proceeded to a con- siderable extent : a large breadth of the tops of early sown oat plants are some distance above ground, looking healthy, and stocking well : and the growing wheat, with the whole range of green vegetation, though not so forward as was given earnest for, by the mild and vegetative temperature of January and February, manifest a promising, cheerful, and animated appearance. The yeaning in our great flock districts, which commenced in a considerable number of our South Down flocks, from a fortnight to three weeks earlier than usual, — and, consequently might be now considered to have nearlyreached its close, — is said to have been so far productive of a fine strong fall of lambs, and to have, in the whole, hitherto gone on well. Of sheep-rot we have heard no complaint what- ever. Indeed, farmers generally, seem to be satis- fied with the general state of their farms, but are much depresseu and perplexed, by the heavy pres- sure of tithes, poor-rates, and other taxes, as well as, in some degree, disappointed at the Parlia- mentary defeat of Mr. Humes's Anti Corn Law's Motion, not having, as yet, acted as a stimulus to the prices of grain. However, the defeat of the hon. member for Middlesex, his seconder Torrens, and the rest of the free-trade heroes, together with the theoretically inconsistent three days debate on the Liverpool Anti Corn Laws' petition, has af- forded them no small degree of amusement, while taking their market dinner glass, &c. But all the Parliamentary absurdities, and inconsistencies, we recollect to have ever witnessed, have been completely eclipsed by the speech that accom- panied, or rather followed, the motion for the second reading of the Islington Cattle Market Bill, which, if carried, will impose a tax of at least half a million a-year upon the metropolis alone, as every butcher transacting business in London and its locality, who slaughtered a single bullock per week, with a proportionate quantity of small stock — and London butchers, on the average, slaughter from two to three bullocks per week, &c. — would be put to an extra expense of at least 60/. a-year, in keeping a man to supply his place in his shop, while attending to it ; and a horse and cart, for which he has at present no use, to fetch home his meat, slaughtered in the abattoir; besides being liable — from the great number of beasts, &c., slaughtered in the latter, not to receive out of it, the carcass of the same animal he sent alive into it ; or its hide, skin, fat, &c. ; through its being undis- tinguishable from the carcass and offals, (i.e. hide, skin, &c.) of others ; as also to have his fat, or part of his meat, trimmed off, and purloined— a THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. practice that has been, within our own recollec- tion, often detected in common market slaughter- houses,—by slaughter men, out of place butchers, who were continually lurking about them, &c. ; pilfering, that we have known the most watchful and attentive master butchers, who have con- tinually attended to wipe their beasts, and see them otherwise cleaned and properly " dressed," have been unable to prevent. It would, indeed, appear, from some of the ob- servations and assertions of Mr. Handley, the mover of the second reading of the bill in question, that he has not the least knowledge of either the practices of Smithfield market, or of fat stock, whatever. In his speech, as we have read it, he says, "After being driven to London, a distance of ir)0 miles, from the country, cattle were brought up, at the hour of eleven, wet and cold," (their drivers, we suppose, dry and comfortable.) " On the next morning he could scarcely recognise his own bullocks," (he must then have very sehlom seen them,) " and any body going into Smithfield would imagine it was a lean, and not a fat stock market!" Now, it so happens that every body, who has any knowledge at all of fat neat cattle, will know that they both show their points and handle much better when moderately empty, than when full. The hon. member also appears to have asserted that — " The butcher went among the cattle, and having selected two or three, from them, beat them about the head and horns, to separate them from the rest, to ascertain whether they were fit for purchase ;" subjoining — " that process was repeated, till they were sold !" As erroneous an assertion, to say no worse of it, as was ever uttered within the walls of St. Stephens '. In the first place, it is well known that on Mondays, a moiety of the beasts exhibited for sale in Smith- field, and full four-fifths of those on Fridays, are tied up by the neck, pretty close to the rails that surround the sheep pens and other parts of the market ; whence beating them on the head and horns, — neither of tvMch butchers want to Jiandle — could not possibly turn them round ; whilst others stand in clusters, so formed, that those who are judges of fat beasts are capable of ascertaining their quality and weight, without beating, or re- quiring to have them turned round. It is true that the drovers sometimes, and, indeed, too fre- quently, apply their sticks when turning them out of the market, or separating them from clusters, they had accidentally mixed in, which practice could not be entirely dispensed with in any market ; but we, who have known Smithfield, in- timately, more than forty years, and frequently bought and sold 100, or more, beasts per week therein, but rarely, if ever, saw any butcher beat out beasts in the manner he describes, for the purpose of ascertaining if " they were fit for pur- chase \" The British Wool Trade has been, throughout the month, in a very dull state, with fleeces at barely stationary, and skin, or fell-monger's wool, at somewhat drooping prices; and most kinds of grain, with malt, flour, and hops, have looked in the whole, a little downwards. Each kind of fat stock, as also milch cows, store pigs, hay, straw, poultry, and dairy produce, have fully supported last month's currency. Good hoi'ses are still dear. In infei'ior ones, store sheep, or store beasts, but little has been doing. There is a good deal of bloom on the early cherry and pear trees, but what this will jiroduce, it is, as yet, impossible, to say^ , AGRICULTURE IN FLANDERS. It is a pleasure to observe the laborious industry of the Flemish farmer, recruited by intervals of comfortable and decent refreshment ; and not less agreeable to perceive the farm servants treated witli kmdness and respect. They uniformly dine with the farmer and his family, off a clean table-cloth, well supplied with spoons, with four-pronged forks, and everything necessary to their convenience. In Flanders the gentlemen are all farmers ; but the farmers do not aspire to be gentlemen, and their servants feel the benefit. They partake with them a plentiful and orderly meal, which varies according to circumstances. No farmer is without a well- cultivated garden, full of the best vegetables, which all appear at his own table ; and apples are also introduced into their cookery. The farm servant partakes of his master's fare, excepting in his re- freshments of tea, coffee, and beer. A peculiar cleanliness prevails about all their habitations ; and the decencies of the table for the labourer, who sits down to a regular table-cloth, fur- nished moderately with knives, but abundantly with forks and spoons, are uniformly observed. The labourer is in general very well able to support him- self by his work; in a country where so much manual labour is required in weeding, the labourer's family is occupied pretty constantly in summer ; and in winter they spin. Each day-labourer has, in most cases, a small quantity of land, from a rood to half an acre, for his own cultivation. In com- mon times a beggar is scarcely to be seen, except in the towns, and but few there. In the country, habits of industry are kept up till health fails ; and, to meet the infirmities of age, the poor possess a revenue from pious donations, regulated by the government, and vested by them in commissions, of which the mayors of the different communes are presidents respectively, in right of their office. The clothing of the peasantry is warm and com- fortable ; good shoes and stockings, and frequently gaiters of leather or strong linen. Their comfortable supply of linen is remarkable ; there are few of the labouring classes without many changes. In riding with a landed proprietor through a part of the country in which his property was situated, a neat cottage presented itself; a clipped hedge which surrounded the garden, covered with linen very white, suggested an inquiry " whether it did not belong to a washerwoman?" The answer was short : " it was occupied by a labourer and his fa- mily, and that the linen was all their own." Any circumstance connected with the health, cleanliness, and comfort of the lower classes is interesting; and to this, of which we have been speaking, a particular degree of decency is attached. If the labourer is comfortable in point of apparel, the farmer is still more. With respect to the farm- house, the exterior is, for the most part, ornamented with creepers or fruit-trees, trained against the walls; and within, the neatness which prevails is quite fascinating. Every article of furniture is polished, the service of pewter displays a peculiar brightness, and the tiled floor is purified with frequent ablu- tions. The cottage of the labourer, though not so well furnished, is as clean. The Flemish farmer seldom amasses riches, but is rarely afflicted with poverty : industry and frugality are his character- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. istics ; he never looks beyond the enjoyment of moderate comforts ; abstains from spirituous liquors, however easily to be procured ; never exceeds his means ; pays bis rent punctually, and, in case of emergency, has always somewhat to command be - yond his necessary disbursements. Tliis is effected too upon a soil naturally the reverse of rich ; and, in fact, a bad soil. Yet such is the effect of indus- try, sobriety, and skill, that there are about five souls to eight English acres. Notwithstanding this, one-third of the produce of the land is annually ex- ported ! — than which no circumstance can better mark the skill, the industry, and the frugality of the Flemish farmer. In England, Sadler says there are about ten souls to every twenty acres. In Ireland, thirty acres to ten persons. What will the Malthusians and emi- grationists say to this, who recommended the de- portation of our surplus labourers, and, of course, of our best and most efficient ! The soil of Flan- ders, far inferior to our own, can sustain twice the amount of human existence. The secret of this is, that the work is done by the " spade and the hoe." Tlie farms are all small, though "' rent and taxes" are very heavy ; but the farmers and labourers are sober, skilful, industrious and frugal ! — Hfr. Rad- cliffe's Report on the Agriculture of Flanders. WEST LOTHIAN (SCOTLAND) GRAND STEEPLE CHACE. This sporting event, which created much inter- est for some weeks, came off on Friday week. Seventeen horses were entered, of which twelve came to the post, viz. : — Mr. VVilkie'sb g Polygnr, ridden by. Mr. Angus. Mr. Scott's b g Bobb Shotts Mr. W. Spiers. Mr. Forme's br m Ayreshire's Pride Owner. Mr. Bonar's gr m Kitty Mr. Austin. Mr. Henry's ch g Ruby Owner. Mr. Daly's br g Adjutant Mr. Butler. Mr. MixTvell's gr g by M'Orville . . Capt. Raite. Mr. Ramsay's b g Albion Mr. T. Spiers. Mr. Craig's b g Will-o'VVisp Owner. Mr. Brown named b g Harry Roe.. Mr. Ainsworth. Mr. Laing's br g Linkboy Owner. Mr. Powell's ch g Shark Owner. The starting point was in a large field to the west of Linhouse Mill, across a line of country admirably chosen. The first two miles were over rising ground, large cultivated fields, with some good hunting fencess, and two or three regular bullfinchers. The course then crossed a small plantaiion, along the foot of the Corston-hill, through a deep meadow with a large yawner at the extremity, which led into an open moor, with a flight of hurdles and several newly made-up fences. The winning flags were placed in a large field to the east of the lane leading to Little Vau- tlage-road. The crowd was immense, and intense anxiety was manifested for the start, which took place a few minutes after three. The horses got well away together. Albion swerved in the second field, ran the wrong side of a flag, and was obliged to turn, and retrace his steps. He soon, however, made up his ground, and on rising the hill, showed in front, closely followed by Will-o'Wisp and Linkboy. Soon after leaving the meadow, Will- o'-Wisp took the lead, which he maintained till the fourth fence from home, where he jumped short and gave his rider an ugly fall. Albion again came forward, but in the last field, before reaching the lane, he again took the wrong side of one of the flags, which gave a decided advantage to Linkboy, who came in first byfour or five lengths. Ongoing to the scales, the winner was found to be fourpounds short of weight, on which the umpire ad- judged the stakes to Albion, Harry Roe second, the others not placed. Albion was admirably steered by Mr. Thomas Spiers ; he showed decided superiority throughout, and it was evident to all, that had he not run on the wrong side of the flags, he must have won easy. The pace was tremendous, the four miles having been done in fourteen minutes and ten seconds. Before starting, the Adjutant and the M'Orville horse had many friends, but the pace was too much for them. Polygar ran a good horse, considering he carried 13 lbs. above the weight. Harry Roe dirt wonders for his size and condition, and proved himself an uncommon game horse. Will-o'-Wisp, who was in the first-rate order, would, in all pro- bability, have been second, had he not fallen so near home. The rest of the field were beat a long way. The winner was bred by Lord Dundas. He is by Woldsman, his dam by Oberon. We under- stood that Mr. Ramsay has since sold him for 200 guineas. Among the fashionables present were Lord and Lady Turpichen ; Hon. Mrs. Ramsay ; Sir Wil- liam, Lady Baillie, and family ; Lord Elcho ; Hon. Captain Sandilands ; Sir D. Kinloch ; Sir George Clerk ; Mr. Forbes, of Callendar ; Colonel Mac- lean ; Major Shairp ; Captain Norval ; Mr. W. Sharpe; Mr. G. Warchope, with many other sportsmen from different parts of the country. COMMUTATION OF TITHES. (To the Edilor of the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette.') Sir, — The late County Meeting having come to the resolution that two shillings in the pound net rent, is a fair basis for Commuting Tithes for a stipulated annual money payment for a term of years certain, I will endeavour to convince those who have joined in suclj a resolution,- — at least those who are open to con- viction,— that they have gone below the mark in their estimate of the scale of commutation, and the utter hopelessness of their petition being entertained by Parliament. No one can be a more strenuous advo- cate for the comrautadon of Tithes than myself, being frequently employed by Clergymen to collect and com- pound for Tithes ; and also by the occupiers of land to render abortive the too rapacious disposition of some Clergymen to exact the uttermost farthing. I am convinced nothing but a fair basis of commutation, or giving land in lieu of Tithes, can get rid of the un- happy differences which too frequeady exist between the clergy and their flocks, but I am bound to admit the instructions I have received from the Clergy, have in most cases been of a much more liberal nature than from lay impropriators, and my firm conviction is, after looking over the actual valuations of upward of twenty parishes in the county of Devon, which I have surveyed, that the Clergy do not receive at the present moment more than a twelfth to a fifteenth of the actual produce of their parishes, in lieu of the tenth of the produce which they are legally endtled to ; at the same time I cannot but admit, that even a twelfth or fifteenth of the produce of land brought in- to cultivation solely by the outlay of capital, is a vexa- tious exaction that ought to be put an end to by com- nwtation, or giving land in lieu of tithes, by which 8 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. means a clog upon industry and improvement would be removed, and the incumbent, or his successor, would reap a permanent benefit, after the cultivator had repaid himself a "portion of his capital laid out in improvements during the term. The following state- ment will show the two shilling scale of commutation to be too low, and the annual sum the clergy will be deprived of, which will of course be pocketed by the owners and occupiers of Titheable Lands. If an es- tate is worth 100^ clear per annum, 2s. in the pound will be 101 — now if an estate is worth 100^ per annum, at least produce equal to three rents must be raised, to enable the farmer to pay his way ; but as I want to steer a moderate course, I will say only two rents, or 200/ worth of produce is raised annually ; the tenth of which will be 20/ ; deduct one-fourth for change of seasons, rates, taxes, bad debts, thrashing, and send- ing to market, the produce will leave 151 clear per an- num, or THREE SHILLINGS 171 the pound upon the net rent. Now, if I take the produce of three rents, which is the actual quantity produced, or farmers could not live, and I can prove instances, where by a large outlay of capital near towns, even six and eight rents' worth of produce annually have been returned ; the tenth of 300/ will be 30/, deduct one fourth, 71 10s, will leave 22/ 10s, the sum actually due in lieu of produce in hind. Now it is quite clear 15/ tithe for an estate of 100/ per annum, or three shillings in the pound, net rent, is only a thirteeiith of the produce, taking that produce at 07ily two rents, and ojily a twentieth of three rents, after deducting one-fourth of the gross produce, and TWO shillings in the pound will only be one TWENTIETH of the actual produce of an estate of 100/ per annum, clear, if taken at two rents, and one thir- tieth if taken at three rents, which are the only terms on which a farmer can rent an estate and pay every man his due. CHARLES DEAN. Castle-street, 20th Feb., 1834. LANDLORDS AND TENANTS. Were the farmers to make out a fair statement, we know that it would convince sooner than all the arguments and theories of visionary speculatists. We are aware that a mistaken doctrine has got abroad in reference to the actual state of matters betwixt landlords and farmers : and that the belief generally is, that if farmers pay too high rents, the lairds can easily relieve them by granting a re- duction suited to the times and fall in the prices of grain. But let one example, taken from many hundreds, suflSce : — During the time of the war with France, a proprietor converted 300 acres of muirland into arable ; he expended on fences, trenching, and draining, &c. 6,000/; on dwelling- house and offices 1,000/. Prior to its improve- ment, the land brought 5s per acre, or 75/ in whole ; and, after its improvement, itbroughtSOsper acre, or 450/ in whole, thus yielding 75/ rent of land in its natural state, and 375/ interest of the 7,000/ sunk in improving. The farm produced, taking oats and barley, about seven bolls per acre, which brought on an average upwards of 25s per boll, or about 9/ per acre, thus leaving at least 7/ to pay seed, labour, manure, and other expenses. The land, if equally cultivated, might continue to pro- duce the same number of bolls, but each boll would only bring 15s 66 in the market, or about 5/ 10s per acre ; hence, although the proprietor of the soil should exact no rent, the farmer cannot continue to labour the ground as formerly — he must allow the greater part to remain in pasture, and thus gradually reduce the lately improved soil to its original barren state. Let the farmer adopt a twelve shift rotation, viz. — eight years' pasture, one oats, one barley, one fallow, potatoe, and turnip, and one barley sown out with grass seeds — he could not afford to pay more than 15s per acre, and even that reduced sum he would be en- abled to pay, merely by reducing the number of his ploughmen from eight to two, and his day labourers in a similar proportion. But, whilst the most skilful practical farmer cannot, at the present low prices, pay more than 225/ for the farm which was, in the days of high prices, acknowledged a good bargain at 450/ ; the proprietor cannot afford to let the farm at the reduced rent without sustain- ing an actual loss, equal to the original value of the land, and the interest of the money ex- pended in converting it from waste to arable The interest of 7,000/ at three per cent, amount, to 210/, to which if 75/, the rent received before improvement, be added, makes the rent to which the landlord is justly entitled, 285/ ; hence, by re- ducing the rent to the present times, he, in reality, only receives 10/ instead of 75/ as formerly, and these 10/ will not nearly pay the public burthens connected with the soil. This is a true picture of the case as it now stands betwixt many tenants and their landlords, and we feel convinced that the more such plain matter of fact cases are brought be- fore the public, the more will coramercialists and agriculturists feel the necessity of uniting together in endeavouring to secure the welfare of the whole community. We are aware that it is a very general, but mistaken opinion, that proprietors were amply compensated for all their outlay in bringing under the plough waste lands, during the twenty years receipt of high rents ; but be it remembered that, during these years, they would have realised seven and a half per cent, had they laid out their capital on house property ; and thus the proprietor, who improved the 300 acres, only received a return of 375/ annually instead of 525/, thereby sustaining an actual loss of 150/ yearly, compared with house properties in the large towns. — Frfeshire Journal. Sagacity of the spider. — A few days since a gen- tleman of Maidstone caused an old boat, which had been lying high and dry for some time, to be launched alongside of a barge in the Medway, It, however, leaked so fast, that it filled rapidly and sunk. He ob- served the motions of two spiders, who retreated up the sides of the boat as the water approached them. The boat was two feet distant from the barge, and all communication was apparently cut ofiF. When, how- ever, the water advanced within about an inch of them, one of the insects projected a silken thread in the direction of the barge. The web floated in the air, and attached itself firmly to the side of the vessel, and thus enabled both spiders to effect their escape. Mad Dogs. — " Half-starved and neglected as they are, they roam the streets just in a condition to turn mad as soon as hot weather comes ; and as this is a sort of luxury that cannot be left to the poor man with safety to his neighbours, it is only fair, in my opinion, to put some restraint upon it. I would let the charge of eight shillings a year lie on all inferior kinds of dogs but those used in business ; and to make sure, every dog should by law have a collar with his mas- ter's name upon it, and the place where the duty is paid. If tins was done, and the constables have power to destroy all dogs that have no collars, and that are not owned after due notice, we should hear little more of deaths from mad dogs, and the govern- ment would find its profit — and a fair profit — from such a plan ."~=-2ifarri«t Martimau. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. THE BEAGLE. This is the smallest of the dogs of the chase which go under the general denomination of hound ; mean- ing that kind which have the innate property of find- ing their game, and pursuing it by what sportsmen call scent, which seems to be an impregnation of the atmostphere wiih certain effiuvia issuing from the pores of the skin, and acting upon the olfactory mem- brain of the dog's nose. Although the beagle is far inferior in point of speed to the harrier, yet his sense of smelling a hare is equally exquisite, and he pursues her with indefatig- able vigilance, energy, and perseverance. Every winding and all the mazes are traced by him with a degree of exactness which must be seen to be properly understood and justly estimated, while the soft and melodious tones of his voice afford ecstatic pleasure to the lovers of the chase, and is thus finely described by Somerville: — ■ " Hark! from yon covert, where those towering oaks Above the humble copse aspiring rise, What glorious triumphs burst in every gale Upon our ravish'd ears ! The hunters shout. The clanging horns swell their sweet winding notes. The pack wide opening load the trembling air, "With various melody ; from tree to tree The propagated cry redoubling bounds. And winged zephyrs waft the floating joy Through all the regions near. The puzzling pack unravel, wile by wile. Maze within maze." Much emulation prevailed in former times among sportsmen in the breeding of beagles, and it was then the greates merit to rear dogs of the smallest growth. Amongst amateurs of hunting, beagles were so care- fully selected in point of size, that they seldom ex- ceeded ten or eleven inches in height ; and they were so well matched with respect to speed, that during the chase a good pack might be covered with a sheet. This is with all kinds of hounds a sure mark of excel- lence. Although beagles are slow in speed, they are un- commonly eager ; for, if the scent lies well, a hare has little chance of escape from them. Their slowness, however, is the principal reason of their being almost totally discontinued in packs, and that they arc now seldom to be met with beyond a few couples, used in some of the southern counties of England to ensure finding more certainly in greyhound coursing. Hunting with the beagle was admirably adapted for ladies, and gentlemen up in years ; and, besides, afforded much amusement to rustics and other pedes- trian hunters ; for there were few male persons of any activity who could not keep up with them. The late Colonel Hardy once had a pack of beagles amounting to ten or twelve couples, and so diminutive in size, that they were always carried to and from the sporting field in a large pair of panniers slung across a horse. This curious pack was lost to the colonel in a rather singular manner. It was kept in a barn which was one night broken open, when all the hounds and the panniers were stolen ; and, notwith- staning the most diligent search, no trace of either uldd ever be discovered. — Brown. Friday se'nnight Mr. H. Goodricke's hounds met at Six Hills. Trying several coverts in the neighbour- hood, a fox was at last started, and after a chace of 20 minutes, taken in a sough at the bottom of Barkby- lane, in this town. The appearance of the hounds and the long cavalcade in the neighbourhood of Wharf- street caused no little astonishment. Monday the bounds went to Lowesby, and John O 'Gaunt cover in the neighbourhood was tried ; soon after the pack had been whipped off a terrible cry was heard from a strayed hound, as if it bad been caught in a trap. At first the whipper-in (Uerry^ took little notice, but the noise continuing he hastened to the spot, and found one of the best hounds nearly mastered by a large dog fox. The fox still getting the better of the dog, and taking very little notice of the bystanders, so intent was he on his flight, that Jerry jumped down, and, seizing him by the back of the neck and his brush, threw him out of the cover. After giving old sly a few minutes law, he was killed at Billesdon Coplow, after one of the best runs the hunt experienced this season. On examining the dog the leg and thigh was fonnd terribly lacerated. 10 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. REPORT ON THE CULTIVATION OE TURNIPS WITH COMPOST APPLIED IN A PECULIAR MANNER. [By Mr. Hugh Munro, Assynt, by Evanton, Ross-shire]. {From the Quarterly Journal of Affrieuliure.) I had a field of nine acres which I wished re- turned into grass, and from the little experience I have as a farmer of four years' standing, I consi- dered that grass after turnip eaten off by sheep would be better than after any other course. I at one time thought 1 should be obliged to purchase bone manure for this field, not having any fold manure j but the expense of bones for nine acres, at twenty-five bushels per acre, at 2s lOd (the price last season), would amount to 3/ 10s lOd, or 31/ 17s 6d. I have, however, heard that fourteen bushels of bones per acre have been applied to raise turnips with success, which makes ll 19s 8d per acre, or 17/ 17s for nine acres. So I deter- mined to try and find a substitute that would be cheaper and equally effective, in which, I am happy to say, I have succeeded beyond my most sanguine expectations. I got some of the small tenantry to bring to me a quantity of peat-moss, for which I paid 2/ 10s. I then mixed all the chaff from the mill, the fire-ashes from my own house, together with the sweepings and fire-aslies, &c. &:c. of my servants' houses, (for which I gave straw to bed their pigs), the scrapings of roads and ditches, and then wetted the whole with the superfluous urine from the fold, having added a little lime and horse dung, and turned it frequently till it was well pulverized ; and in this way I prepared forty- five single cart-loads. During the winter, I drilled from the stubble the fielcl intended for tur- nip, and let it lie exposed to the weather in that state until the end of May, when I harrowed it smooth, and then drilled it again by splitting the former drills. I then put a light roller over the drills to make them smooth, and commenced laying down the turnip in the following manner. I had five men with large dibbles made of hard wood, with which they made holes eight inches apart on the top of the drills pressing down the dibble with the foot, each man having a single drill, followed by a woman with a basketful of the prepared ma- nure,* and into each hole made by the dibble she placed a handful of manure. After her, followed a girl with a little bag of turnip seedf, putting from three to six or more grains on the top of the manure, with her fore finger and thumb, drawing a little earth over it : and in this manner I carried on five drills at a time with fifteen people, viz., a man and two women to each drill. The whole went on like clock-work, and I finished the nine acres in four days, at an expense of about 5/ in- cluding purchase of peat-moss. The turnips grew rapidly, and I had them cleaned in the usual manner, sometimes leaving two plants in one hole, which I found to answer well, especially if the plants happened to be a little distant from each * The manure is taken to the field in cavfcs from where it is made, and the driver fills each woman's basket as they may require it. f T only expended 2lb. of turnip seed for each acre. other, say about two inches. I have thus raised an excellent crop of large turnip, by applying only five single cart-loads per acre of this prepared ma- nure, and the expense of the whole does not ex- ceed 5/; indeed, they are so good, that I am now stripping one-half previous to putting on the sheep. Every one who has seen the turnip has been surprised, and several in my neighbourhood intend adopting the same plan next year. I shall now attempt to make some observations on this plan which I have adopted, and which I believe to have originated with myself; at all events, I never heard or read of such a plan before, and you will readily agree that the experiment was tried on an extensive scale. I will now observe, that — 1st. Where the land is foul with weeds, the usual mode of cleaning should be adopted, and then drilling the land once. 2nd. That the manure to be prepared should be made as strong as possible, by the superfluous urine of the court-yard in winter ; and that the scrapings of roads and ditches, with rubbish of old houses, &c., would be preferable to peat -moss. A boll of lime should also be mixed with every ten cart-loads, and, when well attended to, less than five cart-loads per acre will be found suffi- cient. 3rd. I observe that, although the season may be dry, and the sides of the hole liable to fall in, yet, by making the women with the manure follow the dibble quickly, this inconvenience (and I may say it is the only one) will be obviated in a great mea- sure ; and where this was done I found no diffe- rence in the crop of turnips. 4t]i. This plan can be followed in all kinds of weather, and better while rainivg, which is not the case in the usual method. 5th. Where five or more grains of the seed come up together, (forced on by the strength 'of the ma- nure over which the seed is immediately placed), they will force themselves through, even should the soil be barkened by rain, wind, and sunshine. And, 6th. Should dry weather be the character of the season while sowing the turnips, they will show a healthy braird ; the manure, which is their food, ' being close at hand, and they not being obliged to push their delicate roots through a quantity of earth in search of nourishment, as in the method now in use. I have now given a statement of my plan of cul- tivating turnip with the observations I made, as far as I have been able ; and I am certain, that who- ever tries the above plan will not be inclined again to purchase bone-manure, at least at its present price SHROPSHIRE ASSIZES. HORSE WARRANTY. SHEWARD. V. CLEMENT. The plaintiff, a horse-dealer in London, era- ployed a person named Knight, to purchase horses for him in Shropshire. — In 1832 he saw Mr. Cle- ment, junior, surgeon, ride a beautiful horse, on the road near Bicton's Heath, and offered to purchase the animal, but did not succeed. — Last year he again saw the horse, and purchased him THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. II for eighty pound, although fourteen 3'ears old, on a warranty that he was sound. The horse was tried in all manner of ways, and no blemish was discovered. He was sent to London, by easy stages of twenty miles a day, and reached his des- tination without any appearance of blemish. Some time after his arrival in London, it was observed that he was lame ; and two Veterinary Surgeons were called in to examine him. Meantime the plain- tiff had written to Mr. Clement to inform him that the horse was lame in one of his fore legs, and therefore must be returned ; but Mr. Clement re- fused to take him back. He was therefore taken to the Horse Bazaar, by plaintiff, and sold for twenty-four guineas, and this action was brought to recover the balance of the purchase money from Mr. Clement. Two Veterinarj' Surgeons from London were brought as witnesses to prove the plaintiff's case. One of them said he found on being called in to examine the horse, that it dropped its fore feet, and was lame in the off hind leg. On taking the shoes off the fore feet, corns were found in both of them ; and there was a bone spavin in the off hind leg. The spavin must have existed when the horse was sold, and so must the corns ; and there- fore the horse was unsound. The other Veterinary Surgeon (Mr. Field) also examined the horse, and found the spavin. The spavin must have existed for months ; it must have been visible at least two months before it was examined [or six weeks before he was sold.] Spavin is a decided unsoundness ; but many horses have spavin that are not unsound; it only be- comes unsoundness when lameness is caused by it. The Judge — Suppose a horse in May has a spavin, and is lame in June : then was he unsound in May ? Witness — Yes. Judge — Then every horse that has a spavin is unsound .' Witness — No ; I can't say that : but he has in him the seeds of a disease which may produce un- soundness. Judge — Then you mean to say that a horse that has a spavin, is nevertheless sound till he becomes lame"! — Yes. Judge — Then how do you reconcile this with what you have said respecting Mr. Clement's horse — that although not lame in May, but be- coming lame in June, it still was unsound in iMay .'— A long cross-examination followed on this point. It further appeared that the horse was ridden, and examined minutely by the purchaser, before the money was paid, and no symptom of lameness discovered ; and that he went to London by journeys of twenty miles a day, and was perfectly sound. Mr. Bather, for the defence, put it to the Jury, if a man would not have examined pretty accur- ately the legs of a horse fourteen years old, for which he was about to give eighty pounds. He pointed out the very striking fact, that the plaintiff complained in his letter that the horse was lame in hisybre foot, whilst the witnesses fix the lame- ness to his hind foot ; and contended that the evidence of Mr. Field decided the case in favour of the defendant, for if spavin is not unsoundness still it results in lameness, and as this horse was proved not to be lame when the warranty was given, not for a considerable time, of course the horse was sound when sold, and the warranty was good. The grooms who had attended the horse for the nine years it was in Mr. Clement's possession, swore there never was, down to the very day it was sold, the slightest symptoms of spavin, or lameness, or corns, or any other unsoundness. The Jury immediately returned a verdict for defendant. SATURDAY EVENING. Tbe week is past, the Sabbath-dawn comes on. Rest — rest in peace — th}' daily toil is done; And standing, as thou standest on the brink Of a new scene of being, calmly think Of what is gone, is now, and soon shall be As one that trembles on Eternity. For, sure as this now closing week is past. So sure advancing Time will close my last; Sure as to-morrow, shall the awful light Of the eternal morning hail my sight. Spirit of good ! on this week's verge I stand, Tracing the guiding influence of thy hand ; That hand, which leads nie gently, kindly still, Up life's dark, stony, tiresome, thorny hill ; Thou, thou, in every storm has sheltered me Beneath the wing of thy benignity : — A thousand graves my footsteps circumvent, And I exist — thy mercies' monument ! A thousand writhe upon the bed of pain — I live — and pleasure flows through ev'ry vein. Want o'er a thousand wretches waves her wand — I, circled by ten thousand mercies, stand. How can I pruise thee. Father ! how express My debt of reverence and of thankfulness ; A debt that no intelligence can count, Whilo every moment swells the vast amount. For the week's duties thou hast given me strength, And brought me to its peaceful close at length ; And here, my grateful bosom fain would raise, A fresh memorial to thy glorious praise. BowniNO, ON LABOUR-RATES, &c. TO THE EDITOR OF " THE NEW FARMER'S JOUR- NAL." Sir, — I have to express my regret that the Editor of a paper, professedly devoted to the cause of the farm- ers, should put forward a train of observations on tlie poor, and the poor laws, and incendiarism, almost diametrically opposite to my own ; and particularly to recommend that coarse and impracticable instrument of despotism — a labour rate — after it had been con- demned by a Refoi-med Parliament and the poor law commissioners, and I presume by most others who think that the i'armers have as great a right to liberty as other people. My observations, you will see, refer to the preliminary observations, from the " Mark Lane Express," in your paper of Feb. 19. Tlie writer hints at a " Travelling Commission, to inquire into the causes of incendiarism," as if the mam, and al- most the sole cause, were not well known, to be the congregating, for months together, large masses of idlers, in sand pits, gravel pits, &c. Now the gravel pit scheme (the worst of all possible systems, exceed that of reducing the farmers to slaves, by means of the Cropredy labour rate) is well known to have origi- ginated in the vain attempt of the magistrates to put an end to the plans pursued in parishes (such as the round-system) hy which they did obtain emploiimentfor many, by paying of their wages out of the rates. 'll)o magistrates succeeded, in a great measure, in annihilat- ing roundsmen, and thus literally fulfilled the old adage o{ jumping out of the frying-pan into the f re. These fires have been blazing in the eyes of eight or nine millions of Britons for the last 3J years, and yet it seems the Parliament — the collective wisdom of the nation — has still to inquire for the cause of in- cendiarism. 12 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Incendiarism has alone, perhaps, cost the country a sum approaching toward two millions sterling; but the preceding, attendant, and consequent indolence and demoralization, must be estimated, not by mil- lions, but by tens of millions. Nearly all these enor- mous mischiefs, 1 have no doubt might have been prevented, simply by amending the laws of landlord and tenant, so as to give the latter a legal security, that if he employed any extra labourers in permanent improvement of his landlord's property, such as drain- ing, marling, &c., he should have a right at all times to demand remuneration, and a due share of profit. This species of reform, as well as most others, has been refused, not because it was an injustice to any one — for no one has said, or can say that — but appa- rently, because (according to the regular rule of moat of our by-gone legislatures) it did not appear to be necessary ! Yet in arguing this point, in my third letter on the laws of landlord and tenant, of Dec. 26, 1821, (Vide " Old Farmer's Journal," No. 748, p. 10) is the fol- lowing passage: — " But my principal dependence is in the necessity of the case ; as, in my own opinion at least, (and it has not been hastily formed) the evil ad- mits of no other remedy, the only alternative being dis- organization and civil convulsion." There are (and perhaps the Editor of this paper is among the num- ber) who treat the long-cherished scheme of the writer of this paper as visionary, and totally impracti- cable. Yet they will not deny that according to the prediction in the above extract, the necessity of the case was proved, and the only alternative was disorgan- ization and civil convulsion, accompanied, as is usual, by the torch of the midnight incendiary. Such being the case, all further inquiries appear (to me at least) utterly useless. The plain fact is, the British Govern- ment under the, at least doubtful, authority of the 43rd of Eliz., have laid — in the surplus labourers — an enormous burden on the backs of the English tenantry, which they cannot, and if they could, they ought not to bear ! And the various attempts to chain and rivet this burthen on the farmers — by means of a labour rate — instead of encouraging additional employment by legal securities, and employing the remaining la- bourers at the public expense, forms, in my view, one of the worst features in this professedly reforming age. There have been, it is said, no less than ten par- liamentary committees on the poor laws, all of them containing evidence in abjndance and superabun- dance ; yet, at present, all fruitless ; and all, I ima- gine, ever will be fruitless, unless the owners of the soil — with some aid from the funds, &c., and the Government — take the charge of the superfluous la- bourers entirely on themselves. It is now 46 years since T. Gilbert, Esq., M. P., (in his pamphlet enti- tled " Considerations on the Bill for the better relief and employment of the poor," p. 10) observes as fol- lows : — " We reflect with indignatioQ that thousands, on the one hand, who ought to earn their daily bread by the sweat of their brow, are maintained out of the poor rSite witltout employment, — a reproach to the com- munity and themselves." Mr. Gilbert seems to place his ' indignation' on the ' community.' In our day it has been long the fa&hion to place it on the farmers, who arc in fact the passive victims of a set of laws which, so far as the superfluous labourers are concerned — have, certainly, never had a parallel in any other age or country ; though, without doubt, the helots of ancient Greece and Rome, the feudal vassals of mo- dern Europe, and the negro slaves of Jamaica, &c., have sufl'ered under a somewhat severe despotism, and certainly one which was much better understood ; for, strange to say, I cannot name the Editor of any one English newspaper, who seems to know the radi- cal mark of distinction which distinguishes the work performed by necessary and unnecessary (or super- fluous) labourers. I have stated these matters many times, and may be permitted to express some wonder that any one person, conversant with husbandry, should not be aware that necessary labour is such as relates almost entirely to the yearly crop, and there- fore is essential to the success of tenants at will ; while, on the other hand , unnecessary labour is essen- tially for the benefit of the landlord, inasmuch as its produce, (as in the case of draining, &c.) extends through 10, 15, 20, and sometimes 30 years to come. It is plain, therefore, to meat least, that if any employ- ment be obtained ibr superfluous labourers by any thing of the nature of a labour rate, that every prin- ciple of equity demands that such rate be laid, not on the occupiers, but the owners of the soil ; for this plain reason — that the occupiers have not, and the owners have, the power of remunerating themselves for their outlay, with interest, and ultimate profit. Much more might be written on this subject but at present I forbear, and merely beg leave, Mr. Editor, to ask you, and your readers, whether the Govern- ment, or the individuals who call upon the yearly — and half ruined — tenantry of South Britain, to pay down the whole expense of labour, (as above) which will only return 20, or at most 40, per cent, per annum to themselves, and of which the real profit, in future years, is sure to come to the landlord when, perhaps, the old tenant is pining in the workhouse, or moulder- ing in the grave — whether, I ask, are those who so treat the tenantry, to be deemed liberal and enlight- ened men, or despots and tyrants of a dark shade, acting on a principle, the peculiar shame and digrace of a land professing to reform and liberalize its insti- tutions and laws, I remain, Sir, your's, &c.. The Author or the Rights of the Farmer. March 24, 1834. CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND WRESTLING SOCIETY. The annual meeting of the Cumberland and Westmoreland Wrestlers took place on Good Fri- day, in the grounds of Chalk Faria Tavern and Tea Gardens, adjoining Primrose Hill. The day was very inauspicious, and was one of the most cheerless we ever witnessed in our variable climate, but the wind, which blew a hurricane during the whole day, accompanied with smart showers of rain, did not prevent a very fair and respectable muster of the admirers of this manly Old English sport, though there was nothing like the attend- ance we have witnessed on former occasions. There was, however, no decline in the quality of the sport, and some of the best men in the two counties, residents in London, 'entered the ring during the day. The presence of a great number of those fine fellows the Royal Horse Guards Blue, and the first regiment of Life Guards, among whom are some of the best wrestlers in the two counties, added greatly to the attraction of the scene, and, without any disparagement to the civilians who contested for the various prizes during the day, the members of the above corps afforded some ex- cellent sport. Robinson, of the Blues (Cumber- land), who stands six feet four inches without his shoes, and Abrahams (Westmoreland), displayed much science, and their manly conduct in the ring excited great applause. In the first round Robin- son threw Irving in fine style ; but perhaps one of the best wrestles during the day was that between THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 13 Nathaniel Robson and John Ewins, who was fair- ly lifted oflf his legs and compelled to measure his length on the grass by the former ; but Robson afterwards thre'v Barton, of Westmoreland ; and bets were laid that he would carry off the cup ; but he was eventually obliged to succumb to his powerful rival Robinson, who, after a spirited con- test, threw him ; a bout followed between Stephen Fawcett, one of the stewards, and Robinson, which ended in the latter being thrown. After this, Jo- seph Wills, jun., of the Life Guards, who had pre- viously thrown his cousin, who belongs to the same regiment, and Edward Dawson and Robin- son were the only two who remained standing : and after a short struggle the Blue coat threw the Red one, and became entitled to the prize. The wrestling for the second set of prizes continued with the same ardour, by the same players, with the exception of Robinson, Wills, Fawcett, and Robson. The wrestling of little Raisbech, of Westmoreland, during the day afforded very great amusement — the pertinacity with whicli he strug- gled with several tall men, to whom he appeared as a mere pigmy, was much applauded. Though he did not carry off any prizes he threw Edward Ewins and Wharton, both of the same county (Westmoreland,) men greatly his superior in weight and strength. It was universally allowed that Raisbech made better play than any other man in the field. The wrestling did not conclude until dark, and after the subscribers had partaken of an excellent dinner in the great room of Chalk Farm Tavern, where Mr. Potter presided, the Chairman announced the distribution of the prizes in the fol- lowing order : — First Class. — John Robinson of Greystoke, Cum- berland, a silver cup and cover, value 30 guineas ; Joseph Wills, jun. of Flatt, Cumberland, a silver snuff-box, richly chased, value 12 guineas ; Mr. Stephen Fawcett, of Springfield Cottage, Preston Patrick, near Kendal, a silver snuff-box, value eight guineas ; Nathaniel Robson, of Irthington Mill, Cumberland, a silver snuff-box, value five guineas. Second Class. — Thomas Abrahams, of Sanford, near Warcup, Westmoreland, a gold snuff-box, value twelve guineas ; George Brunskill, ot Patterdale, Westmoreland, a silver snuff-box, value four guineas ; William Brunskill, of Temple Sowerby, Westmoreland, a silverf snuff-box, value three guineas ; Richard Wharton, of Appleby, Westmoreland, a silver snuff-box, value two gui- neas. The gold seal, for leaping, was given to Railtar, of Workington, Cumberland. A silver pencil-case was wrestled for by two lads, James Pearson, and another boy. The for- mer threw his adversary ; but in consequence of some dispute about his age, it being alleged that he was above the usual age, 16, the prize was withheld, and remains in the possession of Mr. Fawcett, until the matter is cleared up. The principal prize has, for the last four years, been carried off by Cumberland men. The silver cup, in 1832, was won by Mr. C. Geddes, of the Waterman's Arms, in Wapping High-street ; and last year by Mr. John Carruthers. The winner of the cup this year is only 21 years of age, and is perhaps one of the finest men in the regiment to which he belongs. Five, out of the eight prizes, were this year carried off by Westmoreland. The attention paid to the comforts of the visitors by Messrs. Fawcett, Peel, Joseph Robinson, Cump- ston and Atkinson, is deserving of great praise. The utmost harmony and good humour prevailed. BANK NOTES. RETURNS TO SEVERAL ORDERS OF THE HON. THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, DATED 13th MARCH, 1834, FOR 1 . An Account of the Amount of Bank of England Notes in Circulation, distinguishing those under 5Z, and Bank Post Bills, at the close of the busi- ness on Saturday in every week, from [7th Aug. 1833, to 15th March, 1834. to oi m •M "O §« "Te fl O != CS T3 Co ^ g ^ n 1833. Aug. 24. . 18,093,580 1,604,200 289,730 19,987,510 " 31.. 17,774,050 1,566,010 289,650 19,629,710 Sept. 7. . 17,281,940 1,570,020 289,590 19,141,550 " 14.. 17,118,410 1,568,250 289,520 18,976,180 " 21.. 16,663,730 1,553,320 289,470 18,506,520 " 28.. 16,533,660 1,576,940 289,410 18,400,010 Oct. 5. . 16,699,600 1,558,280 1 289,350 18,547,230 " 12.. 16,477,360 1,584,870 289,230 18,351,460 " 19.. 17,073,980 1,609.900 289,170 18,973,050 " 26. . 16,952,530 1,588,110 289,110 18,829,750 Nov. 2. . 16,801,960 1,580,640 289,080 18,671,680 " 9.. 16,616,810 1,533,250 288,980 18,439,040 " 16.. 16,266,790 1,513,790 288,920 18,069,500 " 23. . 16,128,210 1,466,250 288,860 17,883,320 " 30. . 15,904,300 1,415,670 288,800 17,680,770 Dec. 7. . 15,402,460 1,403,990 288,760 17,095,210 " 14.. 15,433,650 1,379,660 288,200 17,101,510 " 21.. 15,506,650 1,355,550 288,080 17,150,280 " 28.. 16,094,670 1,349,910 288,050 17,732,630 1834. Jan, 4. . 15,447,990 1,376,950 287,990 17,112,930 " 11.. 17,672,520 1,506,480 287,930 19,466,930 " 18.. 17,952,350 1,586,490 287,890 19,826,730 '♦ 25.. 17,789,610 1,606,260 287,840 19,683,710 Feb. 1. . 17,899,310 1,617,880 287,780 19,804,970 8.. 17,649,360 1,599,360 287,750 19,536,470 " 15.. 17,539,260 1,606,110 287,710 19,433,080 " 22.. 17,^94,420 1,567,480 287,630 19,149,530 March 1.. 17,233,890 1,570,300 287,540 19,091,730 8.. 16,831,310 1,551,880 287,480 18,670,670 " 15.. 16,519,920 1,493,160 287,430 18,300,510 2. An Account of the Average Circulation of Branch Bank of England Notes and Twenty-one-day Bills during the year 1833, distinguishing the Amount from each Branch Bank, and tlie aggregate Sum. £ The Gloucester Branch Bank. . 51,030 The Manchester ditto 1,542,150 The Swansea ditto 49, 150 The Birmingham ditto 407,400 The Liverpool ditto 560,750 The Bristol ditto 124,350 The Leeds ditto 269,530 The Exeter ditto 37,000 The Newcastle ditto 51,130 The Hull ditto 72,860 The Norwich ditto 34,170 3,199,520 3. An Account of the aggregate Amount of Notes circulated in England and Wales by Private Banks, and by Joint-Stock Banks and their Branches, distinguishing Private from Joint- Stock Banks, as furnished to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, at each of the periods prescribed for such Returns by the Act of last Session. The Bank is unable to furnish the Account required by the above order of the Hon. the House of Com- mons. WILLIAM SMEE, Chief Accountant. Baak of England, March 21. l4 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. SPRING . BY MARY HOWllT. From " The Book of the Seasons." The Spring — she is is a blessed thing ". She is the mother of the flowers ; Shi is the mate of birds and bees, The partner of their revelries, Our star of hope through wintry hours. The merry children when they see Her coming, by the budding thorn, They leap upon the cottage floor, They shout beside the cottage door, And run to meet her night and morn. They are soonest with her in the woods, Peeping the withered leaves among, To find the earliest fragrant thing That dares from the cold earth to spring, Or catch the earliest wild-bird's song. The little brooks run on in light, As if they had a chase of mirth : The skies are blue, the air is warm. Our very hearts have caught the charm That sheds a beauty over earth. The aged man is in the field ; The maiden 'mong her garden flowers ; The sous of sorrow and distress Are wandering in forgetf uln ess , Of wants that fret and care that lowers. She comes with more than present good — With joys to store for future years. From which, in striving crowds apart, The bowed in spirit, bruised in heart, May gleam up hope with grateful tears. Up — let us to the fields away. And breathe the fresh and balmy air : The bird is building in the tree, The flower has opened to the bee, And health, and love, and peace, are there! Extraordinary Article in the Ecclesiastical Code of Ickland. — In tbe ecclesiastical code of this country an article is extant, singular, perbaps, in its nature, but admirable in its design, which gives to the bishop, or even to the inferior clergy, the right of pre- venting any marriage where the female is unable to read . This law, which provides so powerful a pledge for the instruction of the rising generation, is still occasion- ally acted upon, though, probably, not witli so much strictness as in former times. The books in the pos- session of the lower classes are generally of a religious nature, a great number of such works having been printed in Iceland during the last two or three centu- ries, and very generally circulated through the coun- try. In many parishes there is a small collection of books belonging to the church, from which, under the superintendence of the priest, each family in the dis- trict may derive some little addition to its means of instruction and improvement. — -Sir George 3Iackenzie's Travels in Iceland. A DIALOGUE IN NORTH ESSEX. The 'Squire. — Well, John, how went on things yesterday at Braintree market, eh 1 John. — Mortal bad. Sir, indeed, only 30s for barley, and to send all the way to Stortibrd. 'Squire. — This is the effect of tampering in the Corn Laws. There must be more protection for the land, or the country will be ruined. John. — If I may be so bold, Sir, might I just ask what you mean fay protection for the land 1 'Squire. — I mean a law to keep that confounded fo- reign corn out« John. — Why, Sir, ye see I arn't very larned in these things, but I read t'other day in the news as how there hadn't been any corn hardly brought to the country for the last two years, and things don't look very pro- mising. 'Squire. — Why to be sure that may be so, but the fear of the ports being opened has kept down the price. John. — It may be for the want of idication sar- tainly, but I don't exactly see how tbe fear of opening the ports, I think ye call'd 'em, prevent the consump- tion. They ate_^bread and drink beer notwithstanding that. 'Squire. — Umph! Well, if it isn't foreign com, it is the malt duty that is ruining the farmers. John. — So I've heard afore. Sir; but I could'nt exactly see how. 'Squire. — Why, man, the thing is as plain as the nose on your face. Doesn't the duty throw all the malt trade into the hands of tbe great maltsters and brewers, who do as they like with the farmers'! John. — No doubt it does. Sir ; but then you know, these gentlemen always pay well, and they say as how they always have a mortal deal of the king's money in their hands; now. Sir, isn't that what they call capital, and doesn't that enable them to buy more bar- ley, and doesn't that keep up the price .•' I thinks as how it must be so, Sir. 'Squire. — No such thing, John. You must know, that if the malt duty were taken ofl", every farmer might make his own malt. John. — Why, yes, sartainly. But if that were so, who would think it worth his while to trade as a maltster, 'specially as he would then have to find all his money himself, and where should we then sell our barley 1 'Squire. — Umph ! Umph ! I don't believe it would be so. John. — Why, Sir, I'm afraid as how it couldn't be otherwise. Don't you recollect. Sir, how the news said the country was injured by taking away all the notes, how it crippled everything ? Don't you think. Sir, if the duty was taken out of the maltsters' hands many of 'em would be sadly pushed for cash, and that the sale of barley would be worse'! 'Squire — It may be so ; but there must be some- thing that makes farming go bad. John. — That there is. Sir. 'Squire. — Well, what do you think it is 1 John. — I hope as how you won't be offended. Sir, if I tell you what I think it is. 'Squire. — Certainly not. John. — I'm afraid, Sir, rents, rates, and taxes are too high. They arn't as they used to be when I was young. 'Squire. — You may depend upon it that isn't the reason. But I should like to know what makes you think so t John. — You see T arn't much of a scholar like, but I recollect when my father — that's novv, good crature, dead and gone — used to hold of the old 'Squire the 100 acres I now farm, his rent was 60/., but mine's 1201. 'Squire. — But times have changed since 1790, John. John — True enough. Sir, they have ; but corn arn't no dearer now than 'twas then. 'Squire — Well, well, well, go on. John. — Well, Sir, I was just a saying that I pay 60/ a year more rent, Sir. But tiiai arn't all. P.Jy good father used to pay old Mr. Fairman, who was then rector, 3s for tithe, and he warn't very particular as to an acre or so neither ; but the new-fashioned parsonj what we have now-a-days, though he dont THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 15 very often shew his face liere, makes us pay 8s, and for every yard of land we hold too. This makes 25/ a year difference. And then again, the rates — 'Squire — Well, there's no helping them. John — That may be. Sir, but it makes a difference to me of 30/ a year. 'Squire — But the poor must be kept. John — I don't dispute that, Sir ; only I thinks as how those that have money a deal more than they ■want, ought to pay more than they do. It's passing hard for such men as I, who can hardly find bread and cheese for my young 'uns, to have to pay so Hiuch, whilst the fund-men, thn laryers, tlie sargeons, the parsons, and such like pay so little. 'Squire — But the rates and tithe are a charge on the land. John. — On the tenant, Sir, I think. 'Squire. — Well, after all, what difference do these make to you 1 John. — Let's see. Sir, just stop a moment — 60^, 25/ — bow much is that Sir ? 'Squire. — Eighty-five pounds. John. — And thirty pounds. Sir ? 'Squire. — One hundred and fifteen pounds. John. — One hundred and fifteen pounds is it, Sir ? Why, that would keep wife, self, and the eight young 'uns well. Sir! That that would well! I see how it was father used to manage. 'Squire. — It's idle to talk so ; you know you don't pay me more than the land is worth. I could have the same rent of others, and the clergyman could have the same tithe. John. — I don't deny that. Sir ; but don't what we have been talking about show how it is we farmers can't do so well now-a-daya as formerly ? I hope as how you will forgive me. Sir, but can it be right for the landlords and the clargy to have their property doubled in value at the sole espence of the tenants ? 'Squire. — I can't see it so exactly. John. — Can't you. Sir ? Why it seems plain enough. 'Squire. — Does it ? Good morning, John. John. — Your sarvant. Sir. CORN LAWS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUSSEX ADVERTJSEH. Sir, — I believe you may congratulate yourself on the view you took on the debate on the corn laws, having been in accordance with the opinion of the generality of your readers, for although as you say you are opposed to all monopolies ("and the restrictions on the free importation of grain may in some respects seem to encourage monopoly) yet, as you justly ob- serve, " is it justi«e" that they who have laid out their all in the purchase of lands under the faith of exist- ing laws should be doomed to utter ruin by a sudden change of system, which all practical agriculturists deprecate as utterly destructive of their interests, and inevitably adapted, as Sir James Graham truly said, " to make all the landed property of the country change hands ?" It may be all very well to talk about " free trade" where all the parties are on equal terms ; but it requires no deep arguments to show the absurdity of altering such a system, where, as an Irish member said, " the reciprocity" is all on one side. But, Sir, 1 fear your views in the Ipresent instance do not ac- cord with the sentiments of the majority of the house- holders in the good town of Lewes, and I am induced to believe so by tlie remarkable fact, that both the members for the Borougn vbted in the minority with Mr. Hume ; and we can hardly believe that one of them as least, I mean Sir Charles Blunt, would have so voted in opposition to the agricultural interests, with which he is intimately connected, unless he was well aware of the strong feeling of his constituents on tlie subject. The electors of Lewes are, perhaps, like many other persons living in towns, attracted by the specious cry of cJieap bread, if there were no corn laws ; although, as the advocates of free trade now admit, their object is not to make corn cheaper in this country, but to make it dearer on the continent, by opening the English market, and thus enabling our neighbours to take more of our manufactures : but ought this argument to have any weight in a town where there are no manufacturers, and which is entirely sup- ported by the agriculturists? What would become of the trade of the town of Lewes, if the farmers and and country gentlemen were ruined? What would the Lewes trades-people say, who supply the little shops in all the surrounding villages, if the resident landlords were to retort on them 1 You townspeople charge us such prices for your goods as insure you a large profit : and our labourers who are obliged now to purchase of the little village shopkeeper supplied by you, buy tlie necessaries of life at still greater dis- advantage ; and if you persist in opposing our in- terests, we must begin to look to ourselves and those connected with us. W^e may procure what we require from other sources. We may in self-defence, establish stores in our villages, where the shopkeepers and labourers may be supplied without being charged with double profit. We are aware of the advantages of having a good market town for the transaction of business, and where we may make our purchases at an easy rate, but the benefits are mutual, and the in- terests of the farmer and the tradesman are equally concerned in promoting their common good ; and there can be no doubt that if the farmer sees a set of tradesmei! openly opposing his interests, he will find out other means of supplying himself with articles of domestic economy. — This is not the time for " blink- ing" questions. The agriculturists are oppressed on all sides, and they must bestir themselves, and? see who are their friends. All the great interests of the country are in fact intimately connected with each other, and must rise and fail together; but if the attempt is carried on, to put the agricultural and manufacturing classes in opposition, the cultivators of the soil must, in self-defence, stand by those who stand b} them. Let the people of Lewes reflect how their interests may be affected by this state of things, and believe that these observations are made with a friendly disposition by AN OLD SHEPHERD. FOREST TREES ADAPTED FOR PLANTATIONS. Notwithstanding the great number of beautiful hardy trees which have been introduced into Bri- tain during the last twenty or thirty years, many persons continue to plant their parks and pleasure- grounds with the commonest forest-trees, and ge- nerally speaking, with those indigenous to the country. Some persons vindicate this practice by alleging that the native trees of a country are most suitable to it ; but we might just as well re- fuse to grow pine apples, because they do not spring up wild in our woods, as reject the brilliant tints of American forest-trees, because nature has clothed ours in a mare sombre livery. It is one of the most decided marks of civiliza- tion, and one of the greatest advantages of com- merce to be able to assemble, in one spot, luxuries 16 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. fiom different parts of the world. The savage is compelled to build his hut of the logs which he has felled, and to live on the game which he has killed with Ws own hands, or on the fruits procured by his own labour ; but the man living in civilized society has the products of a dozen different na- tions] on his breakfast-table. Foreign commodi- ties have become necessary for our food, our fur- niture, and our clothing. Why then should fo- reign trees be banished from our pleasure- grounds ? The prejudice in favour of native productions is not, however, the only obstacle to the introduc- tion of foreign trees : many persons are ignorant of their beauty, and those who have heard them spoken of are perplexed by the nomenclature of a nurseryman's catalogue, and are afraid of order- ing trees designated by names which they do not understand, or which, at best convey no definite ideas to their mind. Every one who has been in America speaks with rapture of the beauty of an American forest in au- tumn ; the brilliant colours which the forests then assume are said ^to be almost dazzling, and most persons who have read a glowing description of American scenery at this season would be glad to realize it in Britain in their own pleasure-grounds. This may now be very easily done, and at a very small expense. The beautiful reds of the American forests are principally produced by the oaks. It is not, perhaps, generally known, that nearly a hundred different species of oaks may now be procured in our nurseries, nearly all of which are perfectly hardy, and may be grown with as lit- tle care as the common oak (Quercus pedunculata) of the British forests. Above forty of these oaks are from America, and one of the most beautiful of them is the Quercus coccine, or scarlet oak. This is a tall, handsome tree, growing about fifty feet high, the leaves of which take a most beautiful and biilliant scarlet in the autumn. These leaves are longer and narrower th^n those of the common oak (they are about six inches long) , and hang on till near Christmas ; the branches generally spread gracefully on every side, and the wood is remark- ably hard, of a deep scarlet colour, and when po- lished as beautifully grained as mahogany. One of the finest scarlet oaks in England is at the Duke of Wellington's seat at Strathfieldsaye. '["he laurel leaved, or swamp oak (Quercus laurifo- lia) has a very remarkable appearance, and its wood is said to be very valuable. The Quercus cerris, or Turkey oak, is very handsome ; and the Leucome oak, one of the varieties of this species, is one of the most beautiful trees that can be ima- gined; its branches droop most gracefully, and its leaves retain a deep shining green till they drop off in the spring, but a very short time before the buds open again for the ensuing season. Quercus rubra and Quercus palustris are both from North America, and the leaves of Quercus rubra assume a beautiful red colour in the autumn. The leaves of Quercus palustris have more of a brownish tint than a pure red, and they are deeply indented ; this tree is a very handsome one, and has a beau- tiful effect in a shrubbery. Quercus suber, the cork tree, is very well worth cultivating for its cu- riosity ; it is, however, slow in growth, and seldom forms a handsome tree in this country. Two of the handsomest in England are in the Duke of Richmond's pleasure grounds at Goodwood. Quer- cus cocciffera has prickly leaves like tliose of the holly ; from this species is collected the kermes, or scarlet dye. Quercus Ilex is the evergreen oak ton, the seat of the Earl of Pembroke. There is also a very fine Ilex in the garden of Major Rich- ardson, at Chichester ; and another at Bargally, in Kirkcudbrightshire, in the west of Scotland. The leaves of the Quercus phellos are like those of the willow ; and those of the Quercus castanea assume a yellow tint in autumn. The leaves of the varie- gated oak look like a sheet of silver in the sun ; there is a very beautiful specimen of this tree at White Knights. One of the smallest oaks is the Mexican (Quercus Mexicana),which never exceeds two feet in length ; and one of the largest is the Quercitron (Quercu stinctoria) , or black oak, which generally grows to above 100 feet. Many others might be mentioned, but the above will be suffi- cient to show the effect that may be produced in a plantation by oaks alone, and many other trees have as many varieties. All the oaks here described may be produced in almost any British nursery, and most of them may be seen growing at the nur- sery of Messrs. Loddidge, at Hackney ; at that of Ml'. Young, at Milford, near Godalming ; at the Goldworth nursery (Mr. Donald) , near Working, Sui'rey; and probably at many others. None of the trees are very expensive, and most of them grow freely. All that is requisite is to plant them at sufficient space apartto allow them room to grow, filling up the spaces between with common trees, which may be cut down for firewood, &c., as the finer sorts grow up. — Horticultural Register. CULTIVATION OF TARES. Tares are cultivated in some parts of Aberdeen- shire, but not in all. I have cultivated them to great advantage for 16 or 17 years ; and shall give a brief account of the manner of doing so, and the purposes they have answered. They are sown in the last week of May, in some damp and claggy part of the turnip field cleared of root weeds, as much as may be manured with such proportion of manure as a turnip crop would re- ceive. When I first began with them , I sowed at least three bushels of tares, mixed with three pecks of common oats, to the Scotch acre, harrow- ing in the seed on the furrow by which the manure was ploughed down ; but experience has taught me to diminish the tares to two bushels, and to increase the oats to five or six pecks. The pro- duce on tolerably good land, greatly exceeds that of any other green crop with which we are ac- quainted. After sowing in the last week of May, it comes into perfection about the end of Septem- ber, and is cut, as needed, in October and Novem- ber. Both black cattle and horses prefer them to any other food. I have sometimes delayed sowing a part of them till the middle of June, and have found these better for use in November than those earlier sown. At first I sowed part in the beginning of April, agreeably to directions I had seen for their cultiva- tion, and in which it was stated that, when sown then, they would be serviceable between the first and second crops of clover, but the weight of pro- dufce was so inferior to that of the later sown crops, that the plan has not been persevered in for green food. I discovered, however, that tares, sown so early, ripen their seed well ; I have gene- rally a small i)iece sown in April for seed, the ex- pense of which, when purchased, is considerable, (generally from ,^)S. to 8s. per bushel ;) I have suc- ceeded so well in raising seed, that excepting at the beginning, and one other year when the turnip A remarkably large tree of this species is at V/il- 1 field was unfit for tares, I have not needed to pur- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 17 chase any. The oats increase faster than the tares, but the superfluous oats can be easily blown out by hard driving of the fan. The great advantage of tares, besides the supe- rior weight of green food, is, that they prosper best in any part of a field which is too wet to pro- mise a good crop of turnips. It is, indeed, in such land only that they should be sown ; for they will not prosper in very dry land, nor in mossy land, however rich it may be. There ought always to be a good proportion of clay in the soil where they are attempted. A gentleman who, having seen a good crop of tares, proceeded to sow some on his own farm, without enquiring properly into their habits, informed me of what he had done, at the same time stating, he suspected he had got some dwarf variety of tares — I afterwards saw his crop — it was one of the richest black dry moulds in the country, but the tares did not exceed six or eight inches in length. He afterwards discovered there was no mistake about the seed, for another gentleman who had seed out of the same bag, but sown on damp clay, had a very great crop. This is a practical lesson respecting the soil fit for tares ; audit may not he necessary to add more, than that a rich crop of tares leaves the land in the highest order for oats ; and the pigeons, who are very greedy of the seed, and even a part of the plant when in the act of springing, ought to be driven away. — Correspondent of the Aberdeen Journal. UPON THE NECESSITY OF THE COM- MUTATION OF TITHES, And upon the means of rendering the noil of the British Ishmds capable of abundantly/ supporting twice the amount of their present population : ad- dressed to the Right Hon. ViscouKT Althoup, Chancellor of the Exchequer, S^-c., &;c., By T. A.Knight,Esq.,F.R.S.,F.L.S., and President of the Horticultural Society of London. The above ample title shows the important objects which Mr. Knight had in view while penning- his interesting pamphlet ; and when it is recollecled that that gentleman has, diu-ing his long and valu- able life, pursued unwearied investigations into those causes, general and particular, which influence the quality and amount of vegetable and animal pro- ductions, the importance of the work, and its claim to the serious consideration of all classes, more es- pecially those of the agriculturalists, must be at once obvious to our readers. In the moment, too, when the government are deliberatmg on a general measure for the commutation of tithes, Mr. Knight's plan appears just in the " nick o' time ;" we hope, indeed we have no doubt, the pam phlet will be at- tentively perused by the noble Chancellor of the Exchequer, to whom it is very properly addressed. We have a strong desire to transcribe every page of this little work for the columns of our paper ; but, in the first place, we have no right so to do, and secondly, the cost of the work itself being small, places it within the reach of all persons whose im- mediate interests are concerned in a final arrangement of the tithe question. We shall, however, copy certain passages, which set the operation of tithes in a very strong light ; also those which describe Mr Knigiit's plan of commutation, and likewise those which have a wider relation. Tithe-taxes. — '■ If we were to read in the his- tory of any nation, either of ancient or of modern times, that, being without a sufficiently extensive territory to support its population, it had laid, or continued, an annual tax on every acre sown with bread corn, exceeding in amount the annual value of every such acre ; and which tax rendered the proper culture of the soil totally impracticable, we should necessarily infer, without hesitation, want and misery to be the lot of a large portion of the unfortunate inhabitants of such country. And if, upon further inquiry, it should be found that such incessant minute changes in those oppressive laws were in the habit of being made, that the farmer, when he sowed his corn, would be uncertain under what laws he would have to reap it ; and if, when reaped, he shouldbe compelled to suffer his sheaves, in a very humid climate, to remain flat on the ground during a considerable time, to be soaked through with rain, the obvious conclusion to be drawn would, I conceive, be, that such country must be under the government of fools or mad- men, and of something much worse. — pp. 1, 2. * Tithes. — Thiur Effects. — "The value of every product of human labour and capital can ne- ver remain permanently less than the cost of its production. Every tax, or impost, which falls di- rectly or indirectly upon the corn field, necessarily raises, to its own amount at least, and in almost all cases a good deal more, the value, or market price of corn ; and the irritating and vexatious operation of the tithe laws has proved in the high- est degree beneficial to the tithe owner by raising, probably more that all other ta.xes in the aggregate, the i)rice of that corn, andother articles, of which he bears no part whatever of the expense of pro- ducing ; and the more inquisitorial and vexatious any tax is, which presses upon the farmer, the more beneficial it is to the tithe owner."- — pp. 3, 4. This is clear reasoning in precise language. The cost of an article might be made up of twenty dif- ferent charges ; add to these the tithe-charge, and the selling price '' can never remain permanently less than" the aggregate of the twenty-one items. The tithe price is in the ratio of the twenty charges, and, therefore, if wages, rent, house expenses of the farmer, interest of capital, local and state taxes, and every other of the twenty charges increase two-fold, the tithe-price, increasing proportionately, doubles in amount. Consequently, as the ultimate price of corn is, on the average, in proportion to its cost to the cultivator, so the higher the price of corn, "tlie more beneficial it is to the tithe owner," and the more injurious to the producer and consumer. Tithes. — Their Operation. — "It has often been asserted, and it so appears in the accounts of the tithe valuer, that a very few shillings only are paid by the farmer who compounds for his tithe for an acre of wheat, but those statements present a very erroneous view of the operation of the tithe laws upon the wheat field. For whatever portion of the herbage of a farm is devoted to the mainte- nance of the farmer's horses, whether employed for draught or for riding, of all his young stock of horses and cattle, which are rearing for the future service of the tithe owner, and of all such animals as he chooses to slaughter for the use of his family, is wholly exempted from the payment of tithe. And the farmer can, under almost all circumstances, so manage as to cause the tithes, in the hands of the most rapacious tithe owner, to press with very little weight upon permanent pasture of any kind. It is therefore on the wheat field that the tithe, as a tax, falls ; and, under what is called a fair com- position, the farmer pays more per acre for wheat, than he pays the land owner for the same extent of ground. But he is, it is true, and must neces- c 18 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. sarily be, repaid by the consumer, in the increased price of the article raised." — p. 4. ***** " But it has been contended by one, or more, of the Lord Bishops, in the House of Lords, that the tithes are not in any way inju- rious to agriculture, because tithable ground, is as ■well cultivated as tithe-free ground. This state- ment may possibly be correct, relatively to some particular case, or cases, where the tithe laws have never been enforced, and where perfect confidence has existed between the clergyman and his pa- rishioners ; but if it be applied to the general state of culture of the country, it is totally unfounded. Where is the landlord, who will be so foolish as to erect such buildings as are necessary to a high state of culture of his estate, when the present, or succeeding incumbent can render such a state of culture impracticable .' But supposing the position to be true, that tithable ground is, in all cases, as well cultivated as tithe free, the inference that tithes are not injurious is perfectly false. Nothing whatever is due to the tithe owner from a very large portion of the pasture of every farm, and under almost all circumstances the tithes press but lightly upon pasture of every kind. It is on the corn field on which the weight of the tithe presses, and the farmer who raises corn upon tithable ground necessarily raises a ta.xed, and, generally, a very heavy taxed article ; and he must necessa- rily sell such heavily taxed article at an increased price, which the consumer must and does pay. The cultivator of a tithe-free farm, it is true, will demand, and will obtain, in the market the same price, and will put his pi'ofits into his own pocket, and this he has under existing circumstances, a just claim of right to do, on account of the greatly larger sum expended in the purchase of the ground, on account of its exemption from a heavy and op- pressive tax. The public do not derive benefit from the circumstance of a portion only of the soil of the country being tithe-free." — pp. 5, 6. * * " The Right Reverend Prelates might therefore with equal reason say, that a tax on newspajjcrs does not enhance the price of those newspapers : but let all printing-offices in England be exempted from taxation, and an enormous reduction of price would take place ; and let every farm, by com- mutation of tithes, be rendered tithe-free, the price of agricultural produce will be reduced, not merely proportionably, but much more than proportiona- bly to the present amount of tithes, because those operate as a most vexatious tax." — p. 7. The Tithe Laws Illustrated. — " But the judges, appointed during the reign of George the Tbird by a variety of new decisions, have rendered those laws, injnrious and unjust in themselves, very greatly more injurious and unjust ; and to some, a few of these, I must beg to request your Lordship's attention. At the commencement of the reign of George the Third, and during some years subsequent to it, the farmers, in this part of England at least, after cutting their corn and bind- ing it up iu sheaves, collected such sheaves, which were necessarily of unequal sizes, into little stacks, putting into each stack an equal number of sheaves, usually six or eight, in proportion as the crop was great or small. The tenth stack was then set out as the tithe ; the tithe-owner, having had always the privilege of causing the setting out of his tithe to be commence 1 in any part of the field he might choose ; and if any odd sheaves remained in the end of the rows, these were, in some cases, counted and tithed ; and in other cases, by custom, the tithe of such odd sheaves, was the property of the farmer, on account of the service which he had done to the tithe owner In collecting his tithe into stacks, and thus, in some degree, securing it from the ill efi^ects of rain. Fraud was, in such cases, wholly impracticable. But this mode of set- ting out the tithe was too simple for those judges, and the farmer was pronounced guilty of having violated the law, and the tenth sheaf was ordered to be put out. These are necessarily of very une- qual size, and often lie in great disorder, owing to the stems of the wheat having leaned in different directions ; for, in such cases the reapers are com- pelled to proceed in different directions. Difficul- ties must, of necessity, occur about the sheaf to be selected as the tenth ; and the farmer might, aud I entertain no doubt would, in some cases, either justly, or unjustly, be accused of having set out a wrong and defective sheaf; and his chance of not being pronounced guilty, and condemned to pay costs, by those judges who made the preceding decision, would, in mine and the public opinion, be very small indeed." — pp. 8, 9. Mr. Knight thus alludes to the case of the Rev. A.J. Walker v. Ridgway. The reader may recol- lect that the death of the unfortunate farmer, Ridg- way, appeared in our obituary a few months ago. " A case occurred in Herefordshire in the year 1825, in which the farmer had given notice of his intention to cut his wheat on a certain day — he did so cut it, and he set out the tenth sheaf, fairly as was admitted ; but, after having set out the tenth sheaf, fairly as was admitted, he put up the remaining nine in stacks of eight sheaves each, where the crop was strong, and of six where it was light, leaving each sheaf open to the view of the tithe- owner, aud certainly giving him a much better opportunity of comparing the tithe-sheaf with the others, than he would have had if those had been dispersed upon the ground. But the farmer was accused of having violated the law, in having put up his remaining nine sheaves in stacks, it being contended that the meaning of the law, which says, that the crop shall remain a rea- sonable time on the ground, is that each sheaf shall remain a reasonable time flat upon the ground. On the trial, where I was present as Sheriflf of the county of Hereford, it was, however, first laid down by the judge, Sir James Burroughs, that the farmer had violated the law, in not having put the sheaves into stacks of nine in each, and leaving the tithe sheaf by the side of each stack ; but, it having been urged by the tithe-owner's counsel, that his client had been injured by the sheaves having been " huddled togetlier" in stacks of eight sheaves, the counsel on the opposite side con- tended, and with reason, that the sheaves would have been more " huddled together" in stacks of nine than in eight. The weight of this argument seemed to be felt by the judge, who then pro- nounced the farmer's crime to have consisted in not having put his remaining nine sheaves into al- ternate stacks of four and of five sheaves. The jury appeared to pay very close attention to the evidence, which I thought them perfectly well qualified to appreciate ; but the judge thought otherwise, and called upon the late Serjeant Russell to consent to the question being transferred to the Court of Common Pleas. To this the learned Serjeant objected, but in a very mild and con- ciliating manner, saying, that he could not do so consistently with his sense of justice to his client. He was strongly urged again and again by the judge, who threatened to instruct the jury to di- vide against his client, if he would not comply j THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 19 but the learned Serjeant, though with very great mildness of manner, remained inflexible, and the judge gave his instructions to the jury, in terms ■which could not possibly be misunderstood by them, to find the farmer guilty of having with- held the clergyman's tithe. The jury consulted for about a minute, in which time, it was reported, that they came to the conclusion, that it was their duty to be guided by the evidence and their own conscience, and not by the dictates of the judge ; and they, most unhappily for the j^oor farmer, gave a verdict in his favour. A new trial was granted, and the farmer was compelled to convey his evidence to Warwick, where the late Lord Tenterden presided. I was not present, but ac- cording to the reports in the newspapers, the truth of which were confirmed to me by the farmer's solicitor, Lord Tenterden interrupted Serjeant Vaughan, (now very properly elevated to the oflSce of a judge) in his pleading, and declared that if the jury did not decide against the farmer, he would grant another new trial. The farmer, whose circumstances at first were not very affluent, could not afford the expense of another trial, and therefore begged to be pronounced guilty, which he did, was ruined, and became, what is not extraoi'dinary, a maniac. The offence of which Lord Tenterden pronounced the unfortunate farmer guilty, was, that he did not, as he ought to have done, suffer the sheaves of his remaining crop to lie flat upon the ground (^single sheaves will not stand alone) during three honrs, for the tithe-owner's inspec- tion. Now these three hours must be three hours of daylight, and therefore all wheat cut late in the evening of one day must lie flat upon the ground all night ; and all cut late on Saturday evening till Monday morning and till nine o'clock on that day, I conclude, very frequently, of course, to have all the sheaves soaked through with rain, and the wheat damaged or spoiled. " The solicitor of the unfortunate farmer above- mentioned informed me that, after he, and his client, and witnesses, had returned to their inn, one of the jury entered their room and assured them, on the part of himself and six others of the jury, that they would not have found the farmer guilty, whatever might have been the instructions, or orders, of Lord Tenterden ; and 1 do not con- ceive that a fairly chosen jyry could now be found in England, who would, under the same circum- stances, be obedient to a judge. But if Lord Tenterden did not, in the above-mentioned case, exercise an extent of power exceeding that con- stitutionally given to a judge, of what use are juries, or laws, to men so little affluent as farmers generally and most unhappily now are." — pp. 9—12. GLOUCESTER ASSOCIATION FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF AGRI- CULTURE, ARTS, MANUFACTURES, AND COMMERCE. A. general meeting of this society was held at Gloucester on Saturday, the I5th ult., when the premiums to be given by the society in the pre- sent year were agreed to. The Chairman, T. J. L. Baker, Esq. introduced the subject of the diffi- culties the agricultural interests have to contend with, and it was unanimously resolved that the following petition should be presented to the House of Commons, to be signed by the members of the society, and other owners and occupiers of land in the county of Gloucester i — Tbnt the pfofits of sgricttUcira hays of late yests diminished to so fearful an extent, that the cultivators of land can obtain a bare subsistence for their labour, and the capital requisite for the proper conducting of their business has so rapidly decreased, that unless some remedy can be devised, it is the belief of your petitioners, that the British farmer will be ruined ; and, from the acknowledged mutual dependence of every great interest in this country, the ruin of the tradesman and manufacturer will speedily follow, and the country will become denpendent for its principal supply of food upon foreign and perhaps hostile states, who will be thus enabled, at any time, to reduce this nation to a state of famine. That your petitioners are convinced that the distress felt by them, in common with others connected with the landed interest, arises from several causes. First. — From the continual agitation of the question on Corn Laws, and the attempts that are daily made in various quarters to withdraw even the slight encouragement to British agriculture which those laws afford. Secondly. — From the pressure of the Poor Laws, aggravated by the influx of produce of all sorts froin Ireland, where that pressure is not known, and from the numbers of Iiish labourers who are driven into this country to seek for that subsistence for which no due provision is made for them at home. And thirdly. — By the operation of direct and indi- rect taxation, and particularly of the tax upon malt, by which the cultivation of one of the most important crops is discouraged, and labourers of all kinds, whether engaged in agriculture or in any branch of trade or commerce, are compelled to pay more than double for an article the most conducive to the health y comfort of themselves and their families, and our petitioners therefore humbly pray, that the present Corn Lawsmay be continued unaltered.that the burden of the requisite provision for the poor may be more equally borne by the different classes of society in this country, and be extended to Ireland. That the existing duties on malt may be forthwith repealed, and that your Honourable House will be graciously pleased to take such further measures for the relief of your petitioners in the premises, as to your wisdom shall seem meet. At the same meeting, Mr. John Allen Stokes, the General Suryeyor of the Southgate Turnpike Roads, exhibited an experiment between his im- proved waggon wheels, as recommended in his evidence before the Lords' Committee, and the common wheels of heavy carriages. S. Jones, Esq. kindly offered for this trial a piece of pasture ground adjoining the Bristol Turnpike gate. The first experiment was between a nine-inch wheel waggon on the improved plan, belonging to Tho- mas Porter, Esq. of Birlingham, Worcestershire ; these wheels are of a conical form, much dished but perfectly flat on the sole, the nails being coun- ter-sunk— and a common nine-inch wheel waggon generally used, with the centre tire very much projecting and roughly nailed, — they were loaded with stones, and each weighed 6 tons 10 cwt. The injury done to the turf by the improved wheel was less than the other, by measuring the depth of the impression, in the proportion of 5 to 12. It was considered by all present that the old wheels, in conse(iuence of the great projection of the centre tire, would act upon a turnpike road in the same way as a narrow-wheel waggon, with the addi- tional mischief of carrying nearly as much weight again. The next experiment was with a six-inch wheel waggon, on the improved plan, but not so conical or dished, the sole being perfectly flat as before, the property of Mr. W. P. Claridge, of Biflimghatn, fttid » comtxioti oM of the aame Y/3<5th 20 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. of wheel, eacli carrying 4 tons 15 cwt ; the ad- vantage of the improved wheel was as 5 to 8. The next was a four and a half inch improved wheel waggon with a common narrow wheel, in which the same result was elicited. We wish (says the Gloucester Chronicle), these experiments could have been carried a little further, by ascertaining the relative pressure of the different wheels upon a turnpike road, and the strength required to draw them ; we have no doubt that the great ex- pense of turnpike roads generally, and the hard- ship which it entails upon the landed interest, will lead to some enactment that will be beneficial. We are led to this conclusion by the interest we observed in the gentlemen and farmers present, and by the scientific exertions and practical expe- ric" 'e of Mr. Stokes. Wc understand the plan he proposes, should government interfere, is to take off a certain proportion of the toll upon carriages of all descriptions, the wheels of which are formed upon his construction ; and he calculates that 50 per cent, of wear and tear would be saved. During the above experiments, a Cleveland horse started and drew with ease one of the loaded waggons, which weighed 4 tons 15 cwt. THE EDUCATION OF THE PEA- SANTRY OF ENGLAND. Hamilton, in his " Progress of Society," has ob- served, " It is evident that the state of society has undergone, and is still undergoing alterations; that it has sometimes improved, sometimes dege- nerated ; and there seems no good reason to doubt that it is susceptible of higher improvement than it has hitherto attained. The belief of the per fectibility of human nature, and the attainments of a golden age, in which vice and misery have no place, will only be entertained by an enthusiast ; but an inquiry into the means of improving our nature and enlarging our happiness, is consistent with sober reason, and is the most important sub- ject that can engage the mind of man." And doubtless the first step to so desirable an object is that of enabling the poorer classes of our country- men to fully appreciate the beneficial results of a proper and judicious education ; an education that shall extricate them from the lamentable state of ignorance the great portion of our agricultural po- pulation are at the present time in, and raising them above the moral degradation and its conse- quences their want of knowledge now entails upon them. That from many causes this class of the community have been more neglected than others, cannot be denied, but that they can be so for a much more lengthened period must be plain to the most casual observer ; it becomes then the duty of every lover of his country to look well to the position in which we are now placed, and consider the best means to be adopted for the carrying into effect a more extended scale of education, and to the principle on which that system of education should be ; a system that while it expands the fa- culties and adds to the knowledge of every indi- vidual, however poor his station, shall also have the effect of making him more contented and happy, and thus tend to render him a more useful member of the state — of more weight and respect in society— a better brother, husband, fatlier. This is a weighty subject, calling for the most serious consideration and reflection, and to bring many minds to reflect on it is the object of this paper; as to commence with an erroneous system would be to perpetuate error for another genera- tion, for the boys thus educated would form habits of thought and action which perhaps nothing would eradicate. A Kent Magistrate, B. C.Duppa, Esq., has just published a litiif treatise on the subject, wherein, after laying before the public the plans laid down on Lord Chichester's estate, near Brigh- ton, and by Mr. Smith, at Southam, in Warwick- shire, has entered at length into the systems of M. de Fellenbey and others in various agricultural schools in Switzerland, which appear highly worthy of the attention of every one interested in the wel- fare of the labouring population of this country. In these schools labour is made part of the system of education, thus implanting in the minds of the young not only the necessity of procuring a honest subsistence, but teaching them how, and the best methods to do so. And it has been found that though at first the child so educated has been a considerable cost annually, he still, if healthy, will ultimately be enabled, by his labour, to pay the whole cost of his clothing and maintenance from the time of his first admission into the school, and enter on the world on his own account with a mind strongly imbued with a due estimation of right and vvrong, the principles of virtue and ho- nesty implanted in his breast, and the possessor of an education, which none can rob him of, that raises him far above the level of the brute, to which neglect and ignorance has hitherto too nearly ap- proximated him. The space of the present paper will not admit of any detail, it will, therefore, be sufficient to say, that in the manner laid down, the boys are taught daily the various processes of agri- culture for certain hours, and at others receive in- structions in reading, writing, &c. Some of the lads are instructed in the trades of wheelwrights, smiths, &c., for which purpose the bias of each is observed, and according to the apparent qualifica- tion and desire, the character of the individual is formed, instructions given on the subjects he ap- pears most interested in, and the business suited to his capacities, making that a pleasure which under other circumstances might prove a toil. A school for girls has also been carried into effect on similar principles. After giving full particulars of the management of these establishments, Mr. Duppa has laid down what he considers would be a plan worthy of adoption in this country, and agreeing in many points, I shall now give an ab- stract of it, that the reader may more readily be enabled to form an opinion. " National schools we have. Let us endeavour to mould them to our purpose ; let each national school be possessed of a i&w acres of land ; and, as at Lord Chichester's, let the time of the boys be divided be- tween the cultivation of it and the lessons within doors. 2. Let the boys pay a rent each for his own portion, and be entitled to the produce, as at Mr. Smith's, in Warwickshire. 3. Let practical geometry be taught. 4. Let a small salary be paid to the village carpenter, wheelwright, &c., to give instruction to the boys. " This would be making a considerable progress without much effort. My next step would be to es- tablish a certain number of model schools throughout the different districts of the country, where some pro- mising boys should be educated in a more perfect manner, in order to become, when old enough, scliool- masters. To these model schools, the masters spread over the different villages should repair, say for one month in each year, in order to perfect themselves, and to be able to graft improvements upon their own systems when they returned home. Having th us made a first step, and secured the means of improvement, the plan would work ; and in the course of a few yeaia, by the aid of the allotment and cow system, great pro- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 21 gress would have been made in converting an idle and dissolute peasantry into hearty and industrious sub- jects. " How far it might be politic to compel the public education of youth in England may be doubtful ; but it cannot but be acknowledged, that it would be a na- tional beneiit to insist upon a good system in the schools that are already established, by submitting them to a general revision, and providing for their im- provement by the education of masters." This plan appears, with some modification and improvements (which many who have made the subject of education their study would be found readily to suggest), worthy of adoption, and is a decided improvement on every system hitherto practised in the education of our village popula- tion. And let none fear that a better education will be attended with greater evils. Knowledge cannot do other than elevate the character, and make the parties to whom it may be communi- cated alive to a feeling of independence ; not that of rudeness or carelessness of the opinion of those around them, but of that proper appreciation of the degradation of being dependent on any other source than their own industry and integrity for the means of subsistence. The consciousness of power to do this will tend to further elevate their station, soften their manners, and the distinguishing trait of the " Bold peasantry, their country's pride," soon be an absence of that rude and boisterous mirth, the general characteristic of the degraded portion of the society of our large towns. That the day may not be far distant when the seeds may be sown that shall give to another generation a new character, is the ardent hope of the writer. It has been said, "It is the duty of a patriot to prefer and promote the exclusive interest and gloiy of his native country." Let us then hope that a due consideration of this mighty subject will arouse, from one end of this country to the other, a pa- triot in every city, town, and village, not to run wild with theoretical views of an education alike unsuited to the wants] and capabilities of the pea- santry, but to promote such an amelioration of their condition, which if not sufficient to rescue the present race of labourers from their degraded condition, shall, at least, have the effect of elevat- ing their children to one more desirable. And then shall happy faces once more meet us in each lane, field, and village, discontent be banished from their bosoms, their families well clothed and fed, all become useful members of society ; and though no such thing as perfectibility can be hoped for here, a far greater amount of happiness must be the lot of every man, from the prince to the peasant, in Great Britain. AGRICOLA. THE CORN LAWS. TO THE EDITORS OF THE LEEDS MERCURY. Gentlemen, — The Corn Laws are now an object of general observation, arising in a great measure from the deplorable condition of the farmers, and no sub- ject is of more vital importance to the universal wel- fare of the country. But important and simple as the Corn Laws are, and seriously as they have been con- sidered, the opinions respecting them are various ; the landlord and farmer supposing them to be a pro- tection to them, whereas some tradesmen think they are not only ruinous to themselves, but to the land- lords and farmers. That the farmers are in a deplora- ble state is but too certaip , for in the present stale of agriculture they find it difficult to support their fa- milies, and as for paying their rents, that with many of them is quite impossible ; and on account of the rents not being paid, the landlords are continually tak- ing farms into their own hands. The great landed interest see the state to which the farmers are reduced, and the necessity for some kind of relief, but ap- parently they forget that the farmers are indebted to those who are not farmers for a market for their corn ; it is therefore necessary, in order to relieve them effec- tually, to assist the purchaseis; by neglecting to assist them, they have brought on the very evil they so much dreaded — that of reducing their rents. Gentlemen forget that the commercial and landed interests are inseparable, and that one cannot be injured with- out another. This is not an agricultural kingdom, but a commercial one. This, it may be said, is in- correct; but we shall iind on examination that there is not sufficient corn grown in this country to feed the inhabitants, at least, if they all had what is necessary to support nature. This also may be denied, as corn is cheap, and there is little imported. But there are two causes for cheap corn— one is when the supply is greater than the demand, and the other a scarcity of money. I think that it will be generally allowed that the present depreciated price proceeds from the latter. As a proof of the correctness of this statement, we have only to look at the half- starved operatives that wander in our streets. But what, it may be said, causes this want of money 1 The answer is, want of employment. The reason they have not more employment is, because there is not a demand for the goods. We cannot consume all we manufacture, the surplus therefore ought to be ex- ported ; but we refuse to receive in exchange such articles as are produced in other countries, without such duties being laid on them as amounts to a pro- hibition, and in consequence of this we lose a market for our goods. There are many countries in which our goods might be sold, and where great quantities of corn, wool, fruit, &c. are grown ; but owing to the fear which landlords have, little business can be trans- acted in them. They suppose that corn alone would be imported, this shows they are not commercial gen- tlemen, for had they been so, they would have known that commercial men always puichase what they sup- pose will leave the best profit ; thus, for instance, if too much corn is brought into a country in one year, the next year another article will be brought in its place, on which a better profit was obtained the previous year; and as a smaller quantity would be imported, corn of course would be dearer. But for argument's sake, we will grant that such a quantity of corn is imported as will materially reduce its price ; in that case it will but produce the same effect that the Corn Laws have already done, with only this difference, that the poor of this country who are now starving, would then be fed. But I affirm, corn would be dearer, and for this reason, the poor would then have work, and in consequence of this would be able to give a /(/gTier ji^rice for it. But I will here ask a question — Is there a larger proportion of rich or poor, or'l do the rich or poor consume the most corn 1 If there is a great number of rich, and if they consume the most, it is vvfisdom to keep on the Corn Laws, as they have money to purchase as much corn as they can eat ; but if the latter, which I think will be al- lowed to be the greater number, the quantity they eat will not depend on the quantity they can eat, but on the money they have to purchase it with ; tlierefore if a man receive little in a week, he can only pay a low 22 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. price for his corn, or consume less than he otherwise would. By this we find that the farmers are not benefited by these laws, but in fact are injured, as they form an insuperable barrier to our manufactured goods being exported, and of course prevent the price of corn advancing. No man can pay money if he has none. Besides it injures farmers another way ; the working men being without employment, obliges them to have recourse to the poor rates. The farmers have their share to pay of them. I will now mention a case in which I was con- cerned, which will show what great injury a tax has caused, which was intended to benefit landowners. At the time a tax of sixpence a pound was laid on wool, I was a woolstapler in Wakefield ; my opinion on this subject was asked by a number of my brother woolstaplers. I immediately said it would cause a reduction in the price of woo!. They were angry with my answer, and I believe said, I always diflfered with others in what would benefit trade. I said if they doubted those being my sentiments, I would give them a convincing proof of my sincerity, by selling a quantity of wool, which I then had on hand, at ten shillings a pack less than I had .sold some of the same quality the preceding week ; one of them, a Mr. Bur- ton, accepted my ofiTer ; the wool was sent that day and paid for. The sequel proved the correctness of my judgment. About a year and a half after, when I asked Mr, Burton how it had answered, he acknow- ledged that after having kept it thirteen months, and reckoning interest, warehouse room, &c. he lost by the wool nearly one-half. Wool and corn are the two great articles which the farmers produce One is to the support of life what the other is to the clothing of the body ; they of course will be able to maintain a high price longer than any other article; but life, which is of more consequence incur estimation than raiment, will cause corn, which is the stuff of life, to maintain a high pi ice the longest. This has been proved by the taxes which have been laid on corn and wool. It was soon discovered that the tax on the latter not only did serious injury to the trade, but also to the revenue ; and which I imme- diately saw must have that effect. That on the corn was not so perceptible, as it was necsssary to support life, but the mischief it has done to all parties is not the less serious. Most of our statesmen are logicians, tliey will therefore know that the same cause will pro- duce the same effect. I am, Gentlemen, your's respectfully, JAMES RUSHER. Leeds, March 13, 1834. STEEPLE CHACE FOR 400 GUINEAS, FROM CHURCHDOWN HILL TO WESTAL. This race came off on Monday at the appointed hour. Col. Gilbert, umpire for Mr. Thompson, and Captain J. Probyn, umpire for Mr. Lucas, went over the ground, and had it marked out with crimson flags, which the riders were to keep on the right. Captain Jenner, who rode Mr. Lucas's eh g Harlequin in excellent style, wore a pink jacket, with a white cap ; and Mr. H. Peyton (eldest son of Sir H. Peyton), who rode Mr. Thompson's b m Primrose, and is considered one of the first steeple chace riders in the county, wore a purple jacket, with crimson cap. The signal was given at four minutes past two o'clock, and they went away gallantly ; the mare taking the lead, getting first through the brook, and keeping a-head till she reached the second fence, when Mr. Peyton fell with her, but was almost instantly remounted. The horse took the lead, which he kept at a steady pace for nearly three-quarters of a mile, when the mare recovered her lost ground ; but in running for a gate, which was closed, she was again thrown out ; the horse taking the fence, saving some distance thereby, and getting the advantage. But she again came up, passed him, when there was a severe struggle at the fence, which they took together. The horse then took the lead, and kept it to the close, win- ning by a neck only, which may probably be at- tributed to the fall of the mare. The race was admirably contested, but the riders experienced great difficulty in making their way through the numerous equipages and the crowd that thronged the course. The interest taken in this race was sufficiently evinced by the immense concourse of jieople assembled to witness it. There v.'cre at least 10,000 persons collected on the occasion, and the weather was most favourable throughout. This sporting match was made at the Berkeley Hunt dinner, on Saturday, January 18, when the following conditions were drawn up by our mem- ber, the hon. Craven F.Berkeley : — " Mr. Pearson Thompson's b m Primrose ; Mr. Hurd Lucas's ch g Harlequin, list each, 200 sovereigns a-side, half forfeit. Gentlemen riders. From Chosen- hill to Bay's-hill ; the day after the Cheltenham Meeting." By mutual consent the day of running was altered, in order to allow both or either of the horses to run at the ensuing races. Up to Satur- day Mr. Thompson's mare was the favourite for choice, the odds being 6 to 4 ; but owing to the rain of yesterday and last night, which was sup- posed from the heaviness of the ground, to be against the mare, the odds were this day in favour of the horse. The mare was purchased before the race by Mr. Peyton, who rode her cleverly. We this morning noticed the report that Mr. Thompson had backed the mare to complete the distance in fifteen minutes. We can now state the horses reached the winning post, in the field in front of Mr. Thompson's new house, in fourteen minutes from the time of starting, a distance of four miles and a half. AT A MEETING of the Nobility, Gentry, Clergy, Yeomanry, and Inhabitants of the County of Sutfolk, convened by the High Sheriff, (pur- suant to a Requisition for that purpose), at Ipswich, to take into consideration the Depressed state of Agricul- ture, and the most advisable and effectual means to im- press upon the Government and the Legislature the ne- cessity for some immediate and extensive Measure to ameliorate the Condition of the Landed Interest, The following Petition to the House of Commons was adopted. To the Honourable the Commons of the United King- dom of Great Britain and Ireland, in Parliament assembled. The humble Petition of the undersigned Land Owners, Clergy, Occupiers of Land, Tradesmen, Labourers, and others interested in the welfare of Agriculture, of the County of Suffolk : — Sheweth, — That your Petitioners, viewing with un- mixed feelings of sorrow and alarm the rapidly increas- ing difficulties under which they labour, and the utter ruin in which they must speedily and inevitably be in- volved, unless some of the heavy burdens under which they struggle are removed, or some increased means of meeting them are afforded, approach your Honourable THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 23 House with a full confidence that you will take into your immediate consideration the hardships under which they labour, and aiFord them such aid and assistance as to your wisdom shall seem expedient. Yielding to no one class of his Majesty's subjects in loyalty to his Royal person, and in devotion to the laws and constitution of the country, your Petitioners beg permission respect- fully, but firmly, to state the deplorable grievances under which they now, and for a long time past, have laboured ; and, without presuming to dictate to your Honourable House, they humbly desire to state what are the circumstances of depression under which the agricultural interest now suffers, leaving it to your Honourable House to ascertain what are the remote but original causes which have ultimately produced these disastrous effects. We, therefore, beg humbly to represent to your Ho- nourable House, that the continued fall in the price of Agricultural produce is the first and great evil of which we have to complain. That this fall has, in some measure, been progres- sive for many years. That, though the wholesale prices have fallen to an alarming extent, yet that there has been no proporti- onate fall in general retail prices, and little or no dimi- nution in the direct or indirect Taxes. And, therefore, that the necessary expenses of farm- ing (measured in the quantity of produce sold to pay them^ have exceedingly increased. That, consequently, the quantity as well as the price of the remaining produce has been exceedingly dimi- nished. That this remaining produce constitutes the farmer's means of subsistence, his profits, and his rent. That this reduction in the quantity and the price has been so great, that when the means of subsistence have been subtracted, Hothing has been left for profit, and hardly any thing for rent, except on the best lands, or in favoured situations. That this inability to pay the rent from the sale of produce, has obliged the farmers to make up the defici- ency by the annual sacrifice of their capital. That thus their means of employing labour, and of cultivating the land to the best advantage, have been rapidly diminishing. That the consequent diminution in the demand for labour, has thrown large portions of the labourers on the rates for support. That thus a heavy and rapidly increasing burden had fallen on the land, which has again, in its turn, exceed- ingly increased the previous difficulties. That thus the necessary expenses and burdens now swallow up nearly the whole proceeds of the land. That consequently, already many farms of good land, on which the expenses are heavy, have been thrown out of cultivation. That with present prices, large tracts of fair land, must cease to pay for cultivation, even if rent be alto- gether remitted. That, consequently, the power to supply the increas- ing population with food must be rapidly diminished. That, though a considerable portion of rents have been paid out of capital, yet that these rents have not been obtained by any unfair means on the part of the landlords ; but, by the scarcity of other employments, and by the deceptive hopes which have, till lately, ren- dered the applicants for farms numerous. That the landlords have been reducing their rents time after time. That retail prices in general have not been reduced to them at all in proportion to the reductions made in their rents. That the landlords contracted mortgages, settle- ments, and debts, and consented to taxes under higher prices, and on the understood pledged national assur- ance that agricultural produce should retain its remu- nerating price. That these taxes and money engagements have not been reduced. That consequently hundreds of landholders have been ruined, and many are sufi'ering most severely, and all are obliged to adopt a system of economy extremely injurious to the welfare of every interest in the country. That a large portion of the capital possessed by those able and willing to take farms has passed into other hands by the process previously described ; so that al- ready, (except in favoured situations) it is found very difficult to obtain tenants whose capital will enable them to keep the land in cultivation. That the inevitable results of causes and effects, ope- rating as they do at the present time, must be an al- most entire loss of income to the landowner, involving in many instances the confiscation of his land to mort- gagees, as well as the utter ruin of all farmers, the gradual laying waste of a large portion of the land, and ultimately Agrarian laws, famine and other con- sequences too dreadful to contemplate. We therefore humbly beg your H nourable House immediately to investigate the cause o this dreadful fall of prices, with a view, as speedily as ossible, either to diminish all taxes and burdens whic press directly or indirectly on the cultivators of Ian , or else to adopt such mensures as may be calculated to raise prices, and thus pl&ce farmers in a situation in which they may be enabled to meet their present expenses, to employ la- bour, and to cultivate the land with profit to them- selves, and to pay fair rents to the landlords. That thus the present ruin and the state of impending destruction may be exchanged for a state of general prosperity. And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray. SHEEP SHOW AT LOCKERBIE.— The compe- tition for cross-breed (between Cheviot and Leicester) hogs excited great interest, not only in the neighbour- hood of Lockerbie, but among the breeders and feeders of that stock in Dumfrieshiie and galloway. It is only five or six years since the crossing of the Cheviot stock on the hill farms was introduced, and already in the county — chiefly in Annandale — there are between 15,00 and 20,000 lambs of this sort produced annually which are wintered on turnips on the arable farms of Dumfrieshire and Galloway. They have obtained a reputation, and consequently a ready market in the midland counties of England ; and most of the prin- cipal lots have been sold to dealers to proceed thence in the course of this month, at from ten to eleven months old, at pricerj varying from 28s. to 35s. each. In fact, no sort of stock has been kept in the district which has paid so amply the breeder and feeder. The show, in point of quality and condition of the sheep, fully came up to the anticipations of the numerous party of intelligent farmers who were present. The lots of 20 and 30 in each, which were exhibited, were drawn according to the regulations out of wintering stocks of from 100 to 300, although mostly bred from hill farms, were remarkable for size and condition. On weighing the sheep alive they were found generally to run from 110 lbs. to 120 lbs., and two of them, which were 126 lbs., were killed, and the four quarters weighed from 67 lbs. to 68 lbs. of mutton. It ap- peared that some of the lots of sheep, from which these were drawn, had been partially fed on oats during the winter. The first lot had consumed to the value of Is. 3d. to Is. 6d. each — but it was manifest to all from this experiment that at the present relative prices of corn and sheep, a vast quantity of grain might in this way be profitably employed. Astonishing Feat. — A raw-boned youth, without shoes or stockings started from Frome with the Frome coach, and ran a-head of it all the way from that place to Devizes (19 miles), accomplishing the dis- tance in two minutes less than two hours, apparently without the slightest fatigue ! Soon aflei his airival in Devizes, he was told that a stag was to be uncarted about four miles off. Thither the youth immediately proceeded ; and, after waiting a short time, he follow- ed with the horsemen, and, throughout a remarkably fine run, kept up with the fleetest horse in the field — cleared every fence, hedge, brier, and ditch— was in at 24 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. the taking ; and, on his return to Devizes (having run altogether nearly fifty miles) offered to lay a bet that he would then run two miles in ten minutes ! ! Grand Feat or Pedestrianism. — A numerous assemblage of persons collected at an early hour on Monday morning, on the Mallow and Fermoy road, to witness this performance, namely, a match of ten miles in 120 minutes, by Captain John F. G. Camp- bell, of the 91st ('Argyllshire^ Regiment, accoutred in heavy marching order of a private soldier, viz. — Knapsack and kit, complete ; great coat and mess-tin, musket, bayonet, and -sixty rounds of ball cartridge ; total, 50 lbs weight. Heavy bets were pending on the issue. Tiie gallant captain started at ei^ht o'clock, a. m., and performed this arduous undertaking in the unparalleled short space of time of 107f mi- nutes, thus winning the match with the greatest ease, having 12f minutes to spare. We understand large sums have changed hands on the occasion. So great a favourite is this officer with the men of his corps, that the pipe major and chief part of the garrison met hirn within a mile of the goal, and cheered bim in with the exhilarating sound of the " Campbells are coming." On arriving at the goal, amidst overpower- ing acclamations, the men of his company instantly rushed to divest him of his cumbrous trappings, and then conducted him in triumph to the barracks. Cap- tain Campbell, after partaking of a sumptuous break- fast; was seen playing at a match of rackets an hour afterwards, which, notwithstanding his previous exer- tions, he won ! A Day's Deer-stalking in Perthshire. — A gentleman, who is as celebrated for his love of field sports as for the high estimation in which he stands amongst his friends, being out with his keeper in pur- suit of deer, observed at a considerable distance a herd ; after a very long and difficult stalk of some hours, he found himself within shot of a herd of fifty or sixty at a late hour in the afternoon, he having a very large single rifle, and his keeper, who was lying by his side, carrying for him a double-barrelled one. Your sport- ing readers know well the difficulties and labour of deer- stalking ; but the uninitiated should know that, in an open country, such as the scene of this day's sport, it is necessary to keep close to the ground as a snake, proceeding with the greatest possible caution and strictest silence, and that, on some days, when the deer are restless, the most experienced sportsmen can- not get near them. Having succeeded in getting within shot, betook deliberate aim, and with his sin- gle-barrelled rifle, killed the finest stag he could pick out. He then took from his keeper the double-barrell- ed rifle, expecting to get a second shot as the deer were running away, but, instead of making ofl^, the stags trotted round within shot, exposing their sides to him, he fired both barrels, and with each killed a stag. There were then three on the ground. As the deer galloped off, he perceived that a fourth was bad- ly wounded, and directed the keeper to let slip a well- known stag-hound, formerly the property of a much- lamented sporting Baronet. The dog was slipped, and, after a long course, ran the stag to water, where, after a heavy fight, in which the dog was severely wounded, the stag was killed ; and thus four stages were added, as one day's sport, to the number killed last autumn by this sportsman. — Sporting Maguiiiie. Shooting WoorcocKs. — A great portion of the ground which the cocks resort to in South Wales is far from being thick of underwood ; and though some of the mary who supplied the markets worked in the common way with gun and spaniel, those who made a regular business of it conducted their operations in a most destructive manner, by means of the stalking horse and setting dog. The stalking horse was nothing but a large shield of light frame-wood covered with pasteboard, daubed over with paint, and having a few tufts of horse's tail attached to the edges. This, in which also were holes in different places to allow the- barrel of the gun to be levelled, was carried on the- shoulder or back, except when in actual use, atwhich time It was supported by the left arm in the same way as a shield. I'he dog in use was invariably "a small kind of mongrel setter, bastardized through a dozen crosses, and the most unlikely subject apparently to make a steady dog of possib'e :" but these men did, and perhaps yet do it, '• by means of starvation and hard blows, of which they give plenty." As soon as tlie dog was set, the operator unslung his stalking horse from his shoulder, and inmrediately commenced walking quickly round the dog, contracting his rounds every time as much as the nature of the ground, bush- es, &c., would permit, the whole secret being to " keep moving" with the stalking horse well held before him as a cover. Sooner or later — for by early practice they become " lynx-eyed" in this employment — he was nearly certain to discover the cock sitting, terrified by the phenomenon of the stalking horse whirling ever around him, when levelling a short gun through one of the holes, he laid the bird dead before the dog's nose. — Ibid A CAUTION AGAINST LIGHT BREAD. (From the Hereford Times,) A baker wore a large black wigj And whiskers of the same j Crusty he was alone to those, Who of his hairs made game. Where'er he went he rul'd the roast), And dress'd for every feast. And when his pastry came, theycried'^ " Oh ! wise man of the yeast!"' The cooks did all admire his doughy And fain would be his dea?'; His oven was his flame, — he wish'd To lay his ashes there. But love slept in, — there stood one day, Amidst the baker's throng, A damsel for a liver came, She took his heart along. He follow'd her, and fondly urg'd. Oh, be my wife, Jane Pointer, From every loaf you'll have a lump. From every joint a jointure ; A friend in knead you'll always have, A barm for every hour, And, like the busy bee, my love. You'll range from_;?()Mr to flour r' Thus did he woo, — she spurned his vows, "I'm done — Fin dish'd" — he cried, He spoke no more, but martyr-like. Upon liis, faffffots died. A twelvemonth scarcely passed away, When from his chilly bed, They grub'd his bones and ground to flour. And made him into bread. Nay, stranger still, but still as true As if on oath t'wcre proven. The very dough, by some strange chance, \Vas bak'd in his own oven. Suspect then ye, who eat light bread. It may be doubly risen ; Deathholdsthe flesh — what's breadm bones. We see can leave death's prison. Hereford, March 17. NOBODY. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 25 THE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG. In a state of purity, and uncontaminated by a mixture of any inferior race, this is certainly the noblest of the canine tribe. His great size and strength, and majestic look, convey to the mind a sort of awe, if not fear, but which is quickly dispelled when we examine the placid serenity and the mild ex- pressive intelligence of his countenance, showing at once that ferocity is no part of his disposition. The full-sized Newfoundland dog from the nose to the end of the tail measures about six feet and a half, the length of the tail being two feet ; from the one foie foot to the other, over the shoulders, five feet eight inches ; girth behind the shoulders three feet four inches ; round the head, across the ears, tw feet ; round the upper part of the fore leg, ten inches ; length of the head, fourteen inches; and his feet are webbed, by which means he can swim with greatease. He is covered with long shaggy hair, has feathered legs, and an extremely villous tail, which is curvilli- near. This dog is but of recent introduction into this country from the island whose name he bears, and may be considered as a distinct race. I cannot agree with some naturalists who hold the opinion that the Siberian, Lapland, and Iceland dogs are from the same stock as the Newfoundland, because the formation of the head in this last is very different, and his muzzle, though long, is not nearly so acute as in the others ; he also differs materially in his shape, but more es- pecially in the length of his body. This dog is not remarkable for symmetry of form, or in the setting on of his legs, whence his motion is omewhat awkward and loose, and consequently he is not distinguished fcr speed, — a defect which might be remedied by breeding, were an improvement in that particular thought desirable. Birds Valuabie to the farmer. — Some author (I think Goldsmith) informs us that the N'orth American colonists got the notion into their heads that the purple grakle v/as a great consumer of their maize, and these wise men of tbe West actually offered a reward of threepence for the killed dozen ol tlie plunderers. This tempting boon soon caused the country to be thinned of grakles, and then myriads of insects appeared to put the good people in mind of the former plagues of Egypt, They damaged the grass to such a fearful extent, that in 1749 the rash colonists were obliged to procure hay from Pennysyl- vania, and even from England. I3uffon mentions that grakles were brought from India to Bourbon, in Older to exterminate the grasshoppers. The colonists seeing these birds busy in the new-sown fields, fancied that they were searching for grain, and instantly gave the a arm. The poor grakles were proscribed by go- vernment, and in two hours after the sentence was passed not a grakle remained in the island. The grasshoppers again got the ascendancy, and then the deluded islanders began to mourn foi' the loss of their grakles. The governor procured four of those birds from India, about eight years after their proscription, and the state took charge of their preservation. Laws were immediately framed for their protection ; and lest the people should have a hankering for grakle pie, the physicians were instructed to proclaim the flesh of the grakle very unwholesome food. Whenever I see a flock of rooks at v/ork in a turnip field, which in dry weather is often the case, I know that they have not assembled there to eat either the turnips or the tops, but that they are employed in finding out a grub which has already made a lodgment in the turnip C. Waterton — Loudon's Mag. of Natural liutory. Extract from " Our Town," a new work. — " In our town, pig-rearing and pig killing are the principal objects of a man's life. Ihe same may be S3id of our county. It seems as if man was born for no other purpose than to make hog's flesh. The instant they are at liberty to act for themselves, they follow the example of their forefathers, and cultivate bacon. A man takes his wife and his pig togellier, they flourish together, are nourished one as much as tlie other, and both go into the straw together. The dift'erence in tlie last proceeding is somewhat striking, to be sure, and it can hardly be said, whether the balance is in favour of the woman or tiie pig. The former has, as every body knows, no very easy time of it: the latter, when he gets into the straw, gets on his funeral pile, in which his bristles, not his flesh, are burned to ashes. His troubles are over ; but nobody knows where a wife's troubles will end. The pig has paid the debt of nature; but a wjfehassomanydebtsof nature to pay!'' 26 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. GARDENING. SCRAPS FROM LOUDON'S GARDENER'S MAGAZINE. This valuable and amusing peirodical will hence- forwad be published monthly, and at the reduced price of Is 6d. This change will greatly increase the taste for gardening and the demand lor the productions of our numerous nurseries. Destroying Insects by Decoctions of Cha- momile Flowers. — In the Irish Gardener's Maga- zine'iX, is said, not only that decoctions, or the leaves dried and powdered, of the common chamomile (Anthemis nobilis) will destroy insects, but that " nothing contributes so much to the health of a garden as a number of chamomile plants dispersed through it. No green-house or hot-house should be without chamomile in a green or in a dried state; either the stalks or flowers will answer. It is a singular fact, that if a plant is drooping and appa- rently dying, in nine cases out often, it will reco- ver, if you place a plant of chamomile near it." Have any of your readers tried the chamomile in anyway asaremedy for insects in England ?—/oA?» Broivn, Wester ham, Kent, February, 1834. Artificial Laavns.— We have compiled the fol- lowing from the writings of Mr. Sinclair. The finest English lawns, we are informed by Mr. Sin- clair, who had more experience, as he had more science and skill, in this department, than perhaps any man of his time, with the exception of Mr. La'wson, are composed of the following grasses — Festuca duriiiscula, Festuca ovina, ^grustis capillii- ris and vulgaris, ^vena flavescens, Anthoxiinthum odoriitum, Cynosurus cristatus, Poa pratensis, Ld- lium pcrenne var. tenuifolium, Trifolium repens and minus. If these seeds be sown in April, on a soil thoroughly drained, well pulverised, and pro- perly consolidated by the roller previous to S3wing, they will produce a beautiful lawn in two months; and by frequent mowing, in the course of a year, it will be undistinguishable from one of old turf. Hedges as a Barrier against Cattle. — I know none speedier or better than the Canadian poplar (P monilifera), as it forms, in a few years, an impenetrable living palisade against cattle. It should be planted eighteen inches apart, in double rows ; and, when sufficiently grown, it may be headed down every alternate year. — /. Robertson, Kilkenny, Jan. 6, 18.34. The Turin or Lombardy poplar (P dilatata) is very available for enclosing compartments for shel- ter in a nursery or other garden, and this at a cheap rate. Plants about eight feet high, placed two or three, or four inches asunder in the boun- dary lines, give, in the same year, useful shade and shelter. They were thus employed in Wood's Nursery, Huntingdon, in 1820, and probably still are. Hedges of yew were also used for the same purpose, but these are of slow growth. Arbor vitaj (I think the American) is also applicable to the same object ; as is proved by a hedge of it in Mal- colm's Nursery at Kensington. It doubtless grows much faster than yew. — /. D. Roses for Hedges. — I see some queries on hedges in your Magazine, and in reply I may state that 1 think no plant more ornamental for hedges than the Rosa villosa I have had a hedge of this species these twenty years, about eight or ten feet high, which is a sheet of bloom every May ; and throughout the rest of the season flowers with the Boursault, Noisettes, and other hybrid China roses, which are budded on it.— J. Robertson, KilJcenny. January, 6, 1834. Aboretums, we are happy to find, are gradually rising up in the private grounds of gentlemen in diflferent parts of the country. Near Theobolds, in the grounds of William Harrison, Esq. F. R. S., there is one said to contain as complete a colec- tlon of the genu.i Finns as the pinetum at Drop- more ; and at Somerford, near Wolverhampton, in the grounds of Edward Monckton, Esq., there is a collection of thorns said to comprise upwards of seventy species and varieties, besides all the species of other hardy trees and shrubs have of late years been purchasable in the nurseries. There is an arboretum forming at Wardour Castle ; one at Leigh Park, near Havant, the seat of Sir George Staunton : and several, we are informed, in the northern counties of England, of which we should be glad to have accounts. This is a sort of im- provement which we like very much to see going on. When we consider the number of trees and shrubs in the temperate regions of Asia and South Ame- rica, independently of North Ameiican trees and shrubs, which remain to be introduced into the country, the mind is lost in admiration of what must be the ultimate richness of our woody scenery. On the other hand, it is interesting to contemplate the lesult of transplanting the trees and shrubs of the temperate regions of Europe into the temperate regions of every other part of the globe. Natui-e has given to every particular country some peculiar conduct ; and it is for civi- lized man to collect, improve, and equalize these products in every country, subject only to certain limitations of climate. In every thing which re- gards civilization and refinement, the ultimate tendency is to equalization. Preserved Flowers and Plants. — Mr. Lind- sey, the intelligent manager of the gardens at Chiswick House, has just presented to the Me- dico-Botanical Society some very beautiful and highly preserved specimens of dried plants and herbs, retaining, in a peculiar degree, the whole of the volatile oil and aroma, and the colour of the recent plant. The plan adopted is to dry the sub- stance in a close and dark room, and not, as is usually the case, by exposure to a current of air and the action of the light. When the separation of the aqueous particles is effected by tiieir eva- poration, and they are tolerably dry, they are sub- mitted to pressure in small quantities, enveloped in paper, until the oil appears on the surface, and which is known by its discolouration ; by this, all change of colour, by the action of light, or- further loss of volatile matters by evaporation, is prevented. In pot-herbs, as well as medicinal plants, the improvement and superiority is very decided. — Maund's Botanic Garden. Pear Trees, to render Fruitful. — Pear trees frequently blossom profusely, but fail to perfect fruit. A few days before the blossoms open, thin them with a pair of scissors, so as to leave not exceeding five or six of the strongest blossom buds near the centre of each cluster of flowers. This oper^iAion has the effect of diverting the sap to the Sowers which remain, and gives them strength to set one or two pears in each cluster. Another mode is to defer pruning the young wood until the blossoms are in the state described, and then shortening them to the re- quired length. This also checks the progress of the sapj and enables the tree to set fruit freely, — Ibid. BRITISH MANUFACTURES. A Parliamentary paper has been printed, which gives official confirmation to the statements we have repeatedly made concerning the unprece« THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 27 dented activity of British manufactures and com- merce in the year 1833. This document gives ac- counts of the imports, exports, and shipping of the country for the years 1832 and 1833. The follow- ing figures show the extraordinary stimulus which all the clothing manufactures of Great Britain received during the year 1833 ; and only two obser- vations seem to be required in submitting them — namely, first, that the year 1832 was one of depres- sion, and therefore we have thought it well to add the averages of the three years preceding, 1829, 1830, and 1831 ; and secondly, that the activity of 1833 was not to any material extent, if at all, the effect of speculation, but was the effect of a natu- ral and real demand for the several articles. 1S33. lb. 38,475,24/ THE H'OOLLEN MANUFACTURE Average of the years 1829, 1830, and 1831. 1S32. lb. lb. Wool imported 29,491,331 28,128,973 Wool eiiteied fiir home con- sumption .... 27,935,772 27,748,912 Foveifcn wool ex- ported 697,256 555.014 Britisli wool ex- £. ported 2,592,491 219,650 Woollen manu- factures ex- ported, ("de- .£. clared value) . 4,849,427 6,479,866 THE COTTON MANU Average of the vears 1«29. 1830, FACTURE. and 1831. 1832. lb. lb. Cotton imported ,258,467.905 286,832,525 Ditto entered for home con- sumption 249,987 777 262,221,780 Ditto exported. 20,377,649 18,027,940 Cotton manufac- tures export- ed, (declared £. £. valu e) 18,073,625 17,398,378 THE LINEN MANUP Average of the vears 1829, 1830, ACTURE. and 1831. 183-2. twts. cwta. Flax imported,. 931,182 982,516 Ditto filtered for 1 ome coii- Biunption ... 927,901 995.512 Linen manufac- tures exported (delared va- £. lue) !, 783,43-2 THE SILK MANUFACTURE. Average of the years 1829. 1830, and 1S31. Silk (raw, waste, and thrown) im linrtcd Ditto entered for home con- sumption .... Silk manufac- tures exported (declared va- lue) lb. 4,248,663 £. 455,938 1S32. lb. 4,2-24,897 4,392,073 £. 529,990 39,618,503 450,464 £. 334,678 6,511,780 1833. lb. 303,726,199 296,076,640 17,3o3,809 £. 19,659,672 1833. cwts. 1,129,673 1,127,730 £. 2,199,441 1833. lb. 3,065,959 4,758,453 £. 740.294 The above statements furnish decisive and most gi-atifying proof of the extension of all branches of our clothing manufactures. The present dulness in the woollen manufacture is not, as we last week explained, the effect of previous overtrading or of any re-action, but is caused by the high price of the raw material, that high price itself being caused by the consumption having increased more rapidly than the supply. It will be observed that the consumption of foreign wool was only 27,935,772 lb. on the average of the years 1829, 1830, and 1831, only 27,748,9121b. in the year 1832, and had risen to 39,618,5031b. in the year 1833 — that is, an increase of nearly 50 per cent, on the previous year ! The exports of the other principal articles of British manufactures and produce, in the years 1832 and 1833, are as follow (declared value) : — 1832. jE. Eartlienware . - - 490,78; Glass 402,716 Hardwares and Cutlery MetaU, viz.. Iron and Steel - Copper & Brass Lead Tin, in bars, &c. Tin Plates Salt Sugar Refined ... Coals and Culm ... 1,434,43! 1,190,748 916,56.'J 114,653 111,797 231,653 149,678 1,038,790 228,647 The total amount of the exports of all the arti- cles above-mentioned shows a great increase in the last year over the year preceding : — 1832. I 13.33. Total exports of the above- jE. j£. mentioned articles - -31,751,792 1 35,521,558 18.33. £. 487.515 451,388 1,408.453 1,4-25,725 8. ".1,883 119,617 86.698 267,430 184,470 563,092 229,924 NORTHERN CIRCUIT.— YORK. EXCESSIVE DISTRESS. RAMSDEN v. BARBER AND OTHERS. This was an action for an unlawful and excessive distress. Mr. Pollock and Mr. Alexander conducted the case of the plaintiff, and Mr. Blackburne and Mr. Wightman that of the defendent. This action arose out of a previous one brought in the county court of York, in which the present plaintiff was the defendant, for running against a gig, to which some damage wae done, and a ver- dict for somewhere about 8/. was obtained against him. On the very day on which the trial took place the plaintiff in that action procured a clerk of the officer of the county court to tax the costs in the action, in order that hemightobtain speedy execution. This was done without the knowledge of the off]cer(Mr. Anderson, of York), who, when he was informed of it, expressed his displeasure, and an order was obtained to re-tax the costs, which was done. After deducting the sum of five guineas for some plans, and \l 6s 3d for some other matters, the costs of this paltry action in the county court still amounted to 50/. After having obtained the taxation, a writ was immediately issued to an oificer, named Pollard, to levy for a sum of 64/ lis 3d, being the amount of the debt, costs, and expenses. This writ was taken, and al- though it was proved that the money was tendered on the 15th of January, the very day on which the re-taxation was finished, and that astay of execution had issued, the present defendants, with the writ of execution in their hands, proceeded in the dead of the night to the premises of the plaintiff, where they arrived about three o'clock in the morning of the 16th of January, and began to break open his barn door and to seize all his good.s. They received notice not to proceed further, but regardless of that, offered them for sale, and actually sold them for the sum of 78/ 9s. A great deal of evidence was given respecting the proceedings in the county court. The defendant, Barber, who is an attorney at Brighouses, in the West Riding, employed An- derton, the officer of the court, as his agent, and charged to himself in the bill of costs ten guineas, being two guineas a-day for his absence from home, attending as attorney for himself in his own 28 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. cause, and Is a mile each way for travelling ex- I which he had made with the money obtained from npnsfis frnm homp. tn Vnrlr tn this f^oimtv rnnrt tVip HanV • f-nnHiidincr with a TirnTVOsitinn for penses from home to York to this county court trial and back again. Many witnesses were called, who spoke to the value of the goods being about 128Z or 1301. On the part of the defendants it was attempted to be shown that the bill of costs was no more than was generally allowed, and was fairly taxed ; that the defendant had said he would remove his goods ; and that though thej^ were sold, he suffered no in- jury, because the price they fetched was equal to the full value. In summing up the case to the jury, the learned Judge animadverted in very strong terms upon the conduct of the defendant Barber in the former action. The indecent haste with which he ob- tained of a young and inexperienced clerk of Mr. Anderson the taxation of his costs, and the issuing the writ of execution immediately were perfectly irregidar. "Could it be conceived," said he, " that either the officer of the county court or his clerk should be called upon to stay the business of the court, putting all other suitors to delay and inconvenience, in order to tax this defendant's costs .'' Mr. Anderson," he said, " was not to blame at all ; he had acted in a very proper man- ner." Then when the writ of execution was issued, and although the whole debt and cost* were paid into court on that very day, the defend- ants rushed over in the night at an imseasonable and unlawful hour, and broke open the barn and seized the goods of the present plaintiff. The public ought to know that this was not the way in which the process of the law was to be executed. On the one hand, the jury would do well to con- sider the nature of the injury which the plaintiff had sustained, but on the other, he wished them to act with moderation in the damages which they gave. The jury, after retiring and consulting for a short time, returned a verdict for the plaintiff — Damages 150L LITERATURE. COBBETT'S MAGAZINE. This periodical is this month very good ; and does not contain a single article which is not interesting. We quote two or three passages : — ■ The committee for regulating the discounts at the Bank of England, had once a remarkable op- portunity of ascertaining this fact. A Mr. R. S**h, a woollen draper, who saw ruin before him in consequence of the intended restriction to dis- count only for wholesale dealers, he being himself dependent upon a retad shop of business, took the extraordinary resolution of going before the committee, and making known his situation. It was, as he informed the writer, no consequence what use they made of the information he in- tended to give them ; if they stopped his discounts they ruined him, and after that event he cared no for consequences. The committee meet every Wednesday morning, but when he attended he had much difficulty to obtain admittance, as they meet only to decide on the amount of discounts, and to whom they shall be granted, but for no other purpose. He, however, did obtain admit- tance, and at once entered upon his business. He told them that all the paper they held of his was not worth the stamps upon which the several amounts were written ; and then proceeded to in- form them in what manner he had manufactured the bills, stating his object to be the raising a ca- pital, not for swindling, but to carry on a business the Bank ; concluding with a proposition for settlement, viz., that the committee should retain his name upon the books as before and continue to discount his bills, lessening the amount, upon an average, of fifty pounds per week ; this ar- rangement, he said, would enable him to liquidate all the demands upon him. Extraordinary as it may appear in these times, to this proposition the Bank committee assented. If Mr. Rogers, the then chief clerk in the discount office, were living, he would confirm this statement, and so may his predecessor, and some of the members of the committee, still in the land of the living. Ulti- mately the woollen draper paid them all off and made his own fortune ; but the most remarkable incident in the drama is, that subsequently, in- stead of being circumscribed in his discounts, they were granted him almost unlimitedly. Reader, pray be not sceptical, this a fact and no fiction ; the writer is aware of the tender ground upon which he treads, but challenges inqxiiry. ♦ »»*»« There are none in the world who so carelessly waste their energies, that is, their animal powers and spirits, in useless bustle and seeming business, as your Londoner does, especially those who enact their parts upon real cockney land — the City. Without doubt there is much business transacted in the neighbourhood of St. Paul's but not so much as a stranger would infer from the affected acti- vity of young citizens ; many of whom are like little cur dogs — traverse over ten times more ground than is needful, and expend the greater part of their energies in running about without any definite purpose. Most of the real business in the city is performed by a few (as compared to the numbers seen in public), who walk steadily along the streets to their houses of trade, and there re- main throughout the day. In observing the brute kingdom, we cannot but ob- serve how bountiful Nature has been in her means of preserving dumb animals from a long continuation of ()ain, and continuing the powers of the race in their natural condition. With regard to pain, there is little or no sympathy among animals, and no rendering of assistance by one to the other. Brute animals, in a natural state, are not permitted to linger on in a state of disease, or to suffer long the helplessness of old age. There is an instinct existing among them which corrects their intirmities. The instant that one animal of a flock is tainted by disease in any way, or is hurt or injured bv an accident, it is, when in a natural condition, destroyed. You know that the moment a dog is much lashed by a huntsman, he is worried by the whole pack, and if one be severely wounded, he is sure to be harassed to death before morning, and eaten up. It is tlie same with other brute animals, which destroy the afflicted or drive them out of the herd or flock. — Sir Charles Bell's Lectvres. Female Overseer. — Mr. Maclean, one of the revising barristers for Ess.'x, says in his report, " In one instance I was attended by 3. female overseer, and it is due to her to state that the list furnished by her, and in her own hand-writing, was one of the most correct I met with." Moulding Potatoes. — A correspondent of the Hereford Journal states, that flat hoeing, without moulding, ensures a heavier crop of these valuable roots, provided always that the ground be kept quite clean from weeds. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 29 AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS. THEIR FORMER AND PRESENT CONDITION. The period at which, as far as my enquiry has proved, the agricultural labourer was in the most prosperous condition, was previous to the American war, which commenced in 1775. Since that time he has been gradually becoming more and more depressed, during some years suffering the most extreme want, and at intervals being comparative- ly improved. But never since 1775, has his con- dition been equal to what it then was. This then I take to have been his best period, and upon this I found my comparison. The evidence upon which I shall prove what his condition then was, is from different sources : 1st, from aged labourers them- selves, upon whose word and authority I can place the very fullest reliance ; having from many of them, and at ditferent times, by repeated cross-ex- aminations, proved the correctness of their state- ments. 2ndly, f>-om parish account books. 3rdly, from general history, and other sources. The sub- stance of this evidence is given in the following table : — «> 1— 1 >«: s •2 'S a, 2 !<: '§ •0 lU a a, 1 « 01 — . o S c c a o Commons and Wastes. Libeity (if cutting Fuiz for Fufl. Chance of getting a little land, and in time, small Farm. No commons, no Purz for Fuel,— no chance of a •mall Farm, or of ev«r rising from his condition. o Wearing Appaiel. Clothes abt. as cheap as at present. Shoes half the price. Clothes not cheaper than former Shoes double the price. w p 1— 1 > o H o p^ H m < bn Faggot per 100 8s. to 10s. 6d. o O vn to prc^perity aa one of a glorioua 32 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. trio of sausages, butter, and hunt) always provides for the accident of not catching the deer (well knowing that the said deer gets back safe and sound to his own stables), by having a variety of cold veal and ham, and ham and cold veal, toge- ther with spirits of all colours for those who have lost theirs by the way. Yesterday, we rejoice to say it, was a lovely day. Somebody, no matter who, prophesied that the scent would lie well ; and the deer was no sooner turned out of her caravan, at the accustomed spot in Fair Mead Botto.n, than she took for Golden Hill, making a circuit by England's-lane, the parsonage, Alditton Hall, and then crossing the road by Loughton- street, over to Queen Elizabeth's Lodge; she was soon after taken, from mere exhaustion, and carried on a man's shoulders in to Tom Ronnding's stable. We think we were never present at a less exceptionable hunt, and considering that the deer going one way, the hounds another, and the huntsmen every way but the right one, so as to admit of as little unanimity as possible upon the object of pursuit, the hunt came off pretty well, as they ultimately secured their prey. The ga- thering ground was attended in a manner which we, who are now old Epping sportsmen, never recollect to have witnessed. Carriages thronged the heath, and the scene was enlivened by a very considerable sprinkling of beauty. We should fear to excite envy were we to particularize by name those who, in our estimation, were the loveliest of the human race ; but Dame Nature, who suffers no envy in her dominions, had also decked out some of her aristocrats for the occa- sion, and had sent King Cup, and Barons Gorse and Heath, together with Lady Bird and Miss Daisy, to greet the assembled multitude. Smokiks. — " A few of the young men, with cigars in their mouths, meandered, in dignified silence, through these parties of ladies ; but almost all the German lords of the creation had hidden themselves in holes and corners, to enjoy smoking their pipes ; and surely nothing can be more filthy — nothing can be a greater waste of time and intellect than this horrid habit. If tobacco was even a fragrant perfume, in- stead of stinking as it does, still the habit which makes it necessary to a human being to carry a large bag in one of his coat-pockets, and an unwieldy crooked pipe in the other, would he unmanly : inasmuch as, besides creating an artificial want, it encumbers him with a real burden, which both on horseback and on foot, impedes his activity and his progress ; but when it turns out that this said artificial want is a nasty vi- cious habit — when it is impossible to be clean if you indulge in it — when it makes your hair and clothes smell most loathsomely — when you absolutely pollute the fresh air as you pass through it — when, besides all this, it corrodes the teeth, injures the stomach, and fills with red inflammatory particles the naturally cool, clear, white brain of man, it is quite astonishing that these Germans, who can act so sensibly during so many hours of the day, should not have strength of mind enough to trample their tobacco-bags under their feet, throw their reeking sooty pipes behind them, and learn (1 will not say from the English, bot from every bird and animal in a state of nature) to be clean ; and certainly whatever faults there may be ia our manners, our cleanliness is a virtue which, above every nation / have ever visited, pre-emi- nently distinguishes us in the world. During the time which was spent in this stinking vice, I observed that people neither interrapted each other, nor did they very much like to be interrupted ; in short it was a sort of siesta with the eyes open, and with smoke coming out at the mouth. Sometimes gazing out at the window of his hof, I saw a German Baron, in a tawdry dress-gown and a scull-cap (with an im- mense ring on his dirty fore finger, j smoking, and pretending to be thinking : sometimes I winded a creature who, in a similar attitude, was seated on the shady benches near the Stahl biunnen , but these were only exceptions of the general rule, for most of the malts had vanished, one knew not where, to con- vert themselves into automatons, which had all the smoky nuisance of the steam-engine, without its power. — Bubbles from the Bruniie of Nassau. The Poor. — In the island of Guernsey the poor are provided for by one general fund, which is raised by a general property tax of three per cent. The Agricueturalists. — It is an eternal subject of complaint among farmers and agricultural writers, that though the prices of grain have greatly fallen, rents are as high hs ever. But we would simply ask, whose fault is that ? If farmers find their present rents ruinous, which we believe is the case, why, in the name of common sense, don't they reduce their offers ? This we apprehend would be something more reasonable than their system of grumbling, grumbling, grumbling, and simply grum- bling, from January to December. Their constant reiteration, of an acknowledged truth, coupled with the fact that they take no steps to remedy the state of matters, is becoming absolutely ludicrous. We have much respect for ihe farmers, and deeply regret to see them making absolute laughing stocks of themselves. — Ed. Chronicle. The Wool Trade. — —London, Thursday April 3. — This afternoon the first of a series of public sales of colonial and other wools took place at Garraway's Coffee House, and it was fully at- tended. The sale of to-day, conducted by Mr. John Marsh, amounted to 304 bales, consisting of 144 bales of Tuscany wools, 75 bales of Spanish, 3y of German, 24 of Australian, and a small quantity of Cape, Russian, and Vignoria wools. The first qualities went off at full prices, and with anima- tion, maintained the quotations realized at the last November sales, the best fetching 2s to 2s 4d per lb., and the inferior sorts from Is 6d to Is lOd per lb. The Australian wools were very low iii qua- lity, and sold at Is 3d to Is lOJd per lb. One lot, of finer quality, sold at 2s 3d per lb. The German wools realized 2s 2d to 2s 4^d, and the Spanish was taken at 23 IJd to 2s od per lb. The other wools, considering the quality, sold well. Some of the German and Spanish wools were bought in. The result of this sale, small as it was, is import- ant, as it shows that the demand for wools con- tiimes active. As there will be further sales to- morrow and on Saturday, a more fair criterion of the actual state of the wool trade will be obtained when they shall have concluded. The sales of to- morrow comprise 200 bales of New South Wales, Cape, &c. 200 bales of Odessa and other wools, and 1,000 bales of Spanish wools. On Saturday, 1,000 bales of Spanish will also be submitted for sale. The arrivals of wool this week have been larger than for some weeks ; from Germany about 833 bales, — from Spain 80 bales, — and from Russia about 97 bales, having been reported. There have been also a small import from Naples, Constanti- nople, Ac. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 33 PROVERBS RELATING TO MARCH. March in Janiveer, Janiveer in March I fear. March hack ham, comes in like a lion, goes out like a lamb. A bushel of March dust is worth a king's ransom. March grass never did good. A windy March, and a showery April, make a beautiful May. A March wisher is never a good fisher. March wind and May sun Make clothes white and maids dun. So many frosts in March, so many in May. March many weathers. March birds are best. March borrows of April Three days, and they are ill ; April returns them back again Three days, and they are rain. THE MARKET-HILL AGRICULTURAL DINNER. (From the Newry Commercial Telegraph.) Sir, — I should sooner have sent you an account of the Acton and Drurabanagher Ploughing Match and Cattle Show, had I not been anxious to give you at same time, a full statement of the distribu- tion of Col. Close's premiums for house-feeding, and the other premiums given by the Farming So- ciety, which were not declared until the farmers' dinner, which was fixed for yesterday, as it was thought better to have it on a separate day, to let the competitors take home their horses and cattle and see them carefully put up themselves, which is generally left to others when the dinner imme- diately succeeds the competition. Fifteen ploughs started, and the work was per- formed in the usual workmanlike manner. The premiums were awarded at the dinner to the fol- lowing persons : — 1st. to Colonel Close, plough held by James Moore. 2d. to Thomas Allan, plough held by Jas. Murray. 3d. to C. Madden, plough held by himself. 4th. to Robert Stevenson, ditto. 5th. to RobertStewart, plough held by Chas. Stewart. 6th. to A. Kinmonth, plough held by Wm. Norton. 7th. to John Moody, plough held by Wm. Morrow. 8th. to John Bennet, plough held by James Murphy, 9th. to Wm. Porter, plough held by himself. 10th. to Thos. Crothers, plough held by Robt. Liggot. 11th. to Edward Doran, plough held by himself. 12th. to John Brown, ditto. 13th. to George'Bennet, plough held by M. Kimmons. After the usual loyal toasts had been given, the above premiums were read out, and immediately after the merits of different ploughs came under discussion. Mr. Blacker mentioned an improve- ment which Mr. Johnston, of Knappah, had spoken to him of in high terms — viz., to prolong the sole of the plough about six inches beyond the length usual in this country. He (Mr. Johnston) had observed this in Scotland, and found that it occa- sioned the plough to work steadier, and to be easier held. Mr. Kinmonth apprehended the in- creased friction, by the length of surface in con- tact with the ground, would increase the draft ; and suggested the use of the wheel-plough, which he had formerly used. He also stated a valuable improvement in the making of iron ploughs, by which the use of screws to fasten the different parts together was almost entirely avoided ; and this seemed to the company a decided advantage. The premiums for milk cattle were next ad- judged :— 1st. to John Moody. 2d. to Thomas AUan^ 3d. to John Flack. which gave rise to a discussion as to the quantity of turnips necessary to be allotted for the support of a milk cow during the six winter months, from the middle of November to the middle of May. Mr. Blacker stated that an English rood was con- sidered, upon an average, as sufficient in the Gos- ford estate. This, supposing a produce of 24 tons to the acre, would leave an allowance of 701b a day for 190 days ; but this is rather a small average — a good crop of yellow Aberdeen often yielding one-half more. Allowance, however, was made for a proportion of Swedish. Mr. Allan stated that, when turnips did not form the entire food, there was no disagreeable taste communicated to the milk, and that he had no complaints to make on that subject. After this the premiums for fat cattle were adjudged : — 1st. to John Moody. 2d, to Thomas Crothers. Both these gentlemen had fattened on turnips, and gave a decided preference to that food, as be- ing the cheapest and most beneficial to the farmer. Mr. Kinmonth, who is high authority, asserted the same. Mr. Blacker mentioned it was a point much disputed, and several practical gentlemen preferred potatoes ; among others, Mr. Dawson, of Forkhill, who had corresponded with him on that subject. Mr. Moody declared that, since his turnips were exhausted, he had been forced to feed on potatoes, and that his cattle were falling off. Mr. Blacker suggested that experiments should be made upon the weight gained daily upon different kinds of feeding, and stated that he had heard it asserted that a bushel, or four stone weight of potatoes, would not add more than one pound to the weight of the animal, and that therefore it would not an- swer to give potatoes, when the price per bushel was higher than the price of butcher's meat per pound, besides the consideration of the expense of straining, &c. (and this seemed to be the decided opinion of the company) ; hut it would be highly desirable that more accurate experiments should be made on this subject, so interesting to the farmer, — the fattening of cattle, since the intro- duction of the turnip crop into general use in this neighbourhood, being very extensively practised. The next premiums were for the largest quantity of clay raised to form compost with lime, which were adjudged to 1st. Thomas Patterson. 2d. John Flack. 3d. Widow M'Gennity. The oflFering of these premiums has been the occasion of an immense quantity of soil being thrown up, and has been the means of encouraging the formation of drains, levelling of useless ditches, to an amazing extent, as the land is of a stony de- scription generally ; and by filling the trenches with these, the double purpose is effected, of get- ting rid of that nuisance and gaining the clay — be- sides the improvement of the soil by the drains, and the beautifying the farms by levelling the banks of the small fences, and introducing large enclosures, which improve the face of the country beyond any other improvement. In this respect, it would be unjust in me not to mention what Thomas Clements has done, in view of the road from Tanderagee to Newry, at the corner of 34 THE FARM PR'S MAGAZINE. Colonel Close's demesne wall, which is so striking an improvement that Colonel Close invited him to dine with the Society, as a mark of his satisfac- tion. The next premiums were for neat husbandry, which were adjudged to the following : — 1st. William M'Kuight. 2d. Thomas Crotbers. 3d. John Allen. Mr. M'Kmght, being called upon, gave an ac- count of the exertions h-e had used, and how, by his own labor and the aid of his wheel-barrow, he had cleared his land, originally of the most rov^ky description, and brought it to its present fertility, the truth of which was well known to all presc it. Thos. Crothers, being next called on, bore testimony to the advantage of the regular allotment of his farm, and a systematic rotation of crops ; since he had attended to which, he could have kept double his farming stock, if he had been able to have laid them in. But by much the most interesting part of the evening was the announcement of the names of the successful competitors for Col. Close's premi- ums, for the largest number of cattle fed upon the least quantity of land. The first premium was adjudged to John O'Ha- gan, of Lissummon, for having fed three cows and one calf on the produce of three acres and a rood of ground occupied in turnips, vetches, and cloxer, with the help of the stubble grazing. Part of the clover crop was devoted to feeding two horses and a foal. He described the plan he pursued to be, to make part of the first cutting of clover into hay, with the help of his vetches, and to use the re- mainder entirely for soiling in the house, by vvh ich and the use of the stubble land he fed his stock plentifully until the turnips came in, of which he still had enough to last until his rape, which is what is called a stolen crop, would be fit to cut, which would last until the clover was ready to gucceed. Mr. Blacker here read a letter from Mr. Dougan, a tenant of Lord Gosford's, which stated that his brother had, this last winter, fed two n( w- calved cows on three roods of rape, sowed in Ji ly, and had veal'd the calves, which he sold for 51 — and had disposed of the two cows, at a loss of only 5s a piece, owing to their fine condition — leaving 4/ 10s clear for the produce of the three roods, besides the manure, and that he would have another cutting, much larger in April. This might be practised by any one who has early spring vetches, and would sow or transplant the rape, as tho vetches were cut. The second premium was given to Jo'in Mathews, of Lissummon, who had fed three cows and one heifer on the produce of 1a. 3r. 20p. of ground, besides giving some portion of the clover to a mare. He stated himself to have only seven acres of land in all, and that the crops he reared for his cattle were clover, turnips, cabbage, ka'l, and vetches. He stated he had doubled bis stock since he had adopted the system of house-feeding. Wm. Logan, of Drumbanagher, got the third premium, and stated that he held, in all, about five acres — upon one acre and a-half of which he fed three cows with clover, turnips and cabbage — that he formerly had been able only to keep one cow upon his farm, and had since added a cow to his stock each year that had passed, according as he got better into the practice of house-feeding. Jas. Close, of Demone,got the fourth premium. He stated his entire farm to consist only of two acres— three roods of which he applied to the feed- ing of one cow, one heifer, and one yearling ; that he formerly was not able to keep any cow at all — and stated that the method he pursued was to top- dress his clover with ashes, every day as he cut it. He stated that his land was by no means exhausted or injured by the constant labor; — which led to a discussion upon the merits of the four-course shift compared with a five or six-course, and it was the general opinion that the abundance of manure, from the practice of house-feeding, with the rest afforded by clover and vetches, would support and improve a«y land under the four-course rotation, and that no one need fear to injure his land there- by, if he kept the stock of cattle which that course would enable him to maintain. The fifth premium was gained by L. Converv, of Aghantarahan, who stated he held in all four acres, and now kept two cows easily whereas he had formerly been obliged to take grass from others to enable him to keep one — that he pays his rent by the milk and butter, and has far more crop than ever he had — of which he gave a re- markable instance in the produce of a particular field, which he said had formerly yielded exactly four cwt., and this latter j'ear had produced twenty-one cwt,, which he could bring the most positive proof of by the people whose horses he had employed to draw it. He stated his land to be so steep that it could not be ploughed, and that he cultivated it exclusively with the spade. Jas. M'Pherson, of Lissummon, gained the sixth premium — having fed six cows, five heifers and six sheep, besides giving some part to a large number of pigs, upon five acres and one rood. He stated that he had gained nearly three acres by re- claiming waste land in his farm and levelling use- less ditches, and had encreased his stock one-half since he began house-feeding. This man would have ranked higher, only that he had not suflftcient turnips or rape to last out until the clover would be fit for cutting. The foregoing instances will form a practical answer to the query I lately saw in the Dublin Farmer's Mayazine, signed " A Munster Farmer," asking how the cattle in this neighbourhood were fed in such numbers upon such small farms ? — and there need be no fears entertained of wrong state- ments being given in, the return being made by the Judges upon an accurate examination of the farms — and many were rejected who appeared to have higher claims, merely because it was proved that they had not sufficient food raised upon the farm for the cattle they showed, and that they had been obliged to buy grains, mill-dust, or bran, to make good the deficiency : to give you an instance of which, John M'Donnell, of Tullynacross, was refused a premium, because he had fed his cattle partly on mill-dust, from his turnip crop not having been as abundant this last year as he had expected. Notwithstanding he had increased his stock from four head of cattle to fourteen, and had, besides, distinguished himself by levelling ditches and improving his farm in such a remark- able manner, as induced Colonel Close to invite him to come to the dinner as his guest. In the course of the evening, Mr. Blacker's health being given, in returning thanks he alluded to the great improvement of the face of the country by the appearance of the young clover, which, as it was gi-own on the potato land, was a sure proof that the injurious practice of successive corn crops was completely exploded. He also expressed his satisfaction that all fears about injuring the wheat crop by harrowing in clover and grass-seed in spring, were removed, which was another most THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 35 important improvement. He then alluded to the prospect of a more remunerating price for flax, by the erection of spinning mills on this side the channel, which would naturally draw their supplies from this country, and not from the Continent, as the mills on the East of Scotland had hitherto done, in whose hands the supplying this country with yarn had been for some years past, to the great injury of the flax growers here. He pointed out by a quotation from Radclifi', on Flemish agri- culture, that the fine flax grown in that country wag produced upon land that had been previously ploughed and harrowed repeatedly, besides heavily rolled both before and after sowing the seed — from which, he said, it was evident that the opinion which was entertained here, in favor of the^rm bottom afforded by potato land previously in old lay, was errroneous, and must be injurious rather than beneficial — and that the good crop was to be accounted for, not by the firm bottom, but by the fresh land, which, having been some years in lay, succeeded. He showed that the Flemish practice was not to sow flax oftener than once in seven years upon the same land, and that, though in particular cases, and in favourable seasons, a good crop might occasionally be had oftener, it was not a practice that ought to be persisted in. He also shewed that the prejudice against lime, as a manure for flax, was equally unfounded ; and referred, as a proof, to the case of David Greer, of Corlust, on the Gosford estate, who had a most excellent crop when the lime was applied in the same manner as to the wheat crop, and that the luxuriance of the growth, in those places where the loads of lime were laid down, fully proved that it was to that manure the goodness of the crop was to be attributed. The company were engaged the entire evening in the discussion of subjects interesting to the practical farmer ; and the meeting was truly agri- cultural in every respect. The room was crowded to excess, but every thing was orderly and satis- factory in the highest degree, and expressive of the greatest respect and attachment to their ex- cellent landlord, who seemed highly pleased at the spirit of emulation and exertion which has been manifestly awakened in this neighbourhood, and must, in a very few years, make a decided change in the whole face of the country, and, what is stUl more gratifying, materially increase the comfort and happiness of its dense population. I am able to give you but a very contracted account of all that passed, which would have much more than filled your entire Paper. — I am, &c. &c. Foyntzpass, March 14th 1834. POOR LAWS AND CORN LAWS. TO THK EDITOR OF THE EXAMINER. Sir — Some time since you suggested the pro- priety of abolishing Tithes and Com Laws at the same time ; provision being made, at the expense of the country, for the fair expectations of the then owners of Tithe. Since then, you have expressed an altered opinion upon this subject, having reason to think that the Tithes would be a larger compen- sation than that to which the landed interest is enti- tled. With the impropriety of carrying into effect your first suggestion, I perfectly concur; and I now take the liberty of suggesting for your consi- deration, that the alteration of the Poor Laws, and of the Com Laws ought to go hand in hand, inas- much aa — if the theory of those who advocate the repeal of the Corn Laws be correct, as I believe it to be — the repeal of the Corn Laws might be thus effected, without any injuiy to the landed interest, and with great benefit to the whole community. I suggest that the poor shall, in future, be pro- vided for at the expense of the whole of the com- munity, out of the national taxes, instead of each parish or district supporting its own poor. The agriculturists being thus relieved from a very one- rous charge upon them, would be enal)led to bear, without loss, a reduction in the price of their pro- duce. In a parish in Kent, with which I am ac- quainted, the Poor rate averages from 12s to 13s 4d in the pound upon the rental. By the in- creased demand for labour — consequent upon the increased facilities for exchanging manufactures for food — nearly, if not quite, the whole of the able- bodied poor would be converted into industrious self-supported labourers ; and thus a coHsiderable diminution of the national Poor Rate would be effected. This argument is, very properly, con- stantly urged, in answer to the pretended or real fears of the supporters of monopoly, relative to the distress in which the agricultural labourers would be involved by any reduction in the price of food. It is quite clear that the price of food would not be reduced unless increased quantities were im- ported— increased quantities would not be im- ported without increased quantities of manufactures being exported — and increased quantities of manu- factures cannot be exported without calling into operation increased labour to produce them. The demand for increased labour would therefore pre- cede any fall in the price of food, and always be, at least, proportioned to it. By the Corn Laws, I of course mean, all the laws prohibiting the im- portation of food, or imposing taxes upon it. The national Poor Rate should be raised by a Pro- perty Tax, or a tax approximating as closely as pos- sible to a Property Tax. Should the liberal Members of Parliament allow the landed interest, without a severe struggle, to throw upon the community, without giving up any- thing equivalent, the burden of the Poor Rates — which the misdoings of that interest have so ruin- ously increased — they will deserve little at the hands of their constituents. If you consider these suggestions of any impor- tance, your noticing them in your deservedly influ- ential Journal, will greatly oblige your constant reader, ' P« H. G. NEW LONDON CATTLE MARKET. A very extensive cattle market has been lately erected at Islington, covering an area of twenty- one acres, and capable of containing an immense number of cattle, with ranges of slaughter- houses. A large Exchange and Market-house oc- cupy the centre. It is to be hoped that this will go far to prevent the frightful accidents that are heard of daily, occasioned by over- driven oxen in the crowded streets of the metropolis. London is the only city in Europe that has tolerated such a nuisance as a live cattle market in its very centre ; and it is a matter of regret that the Corporation, who are generally public-spirited enough when t^ own purse is not to be touched, have r- forward with a good grace and consp' ^^ ^^tcotoe 36 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. lish this disgrace to any civilized community, in- stead of pleading the loss the publicans in Smith- field, their servants, would sustain in consequence of the removal. Twice or thrice a week this, one of the greatest thoroughfares in London, is stop- ped ; Newgate-street, and the avenues to it, are almost wholly impassable, and it is with great difiBculty at times that the mails can get to the Post-office on market-days. The argument of the salesmen and butchers is this — that if there are two or more markets, they will not know what prices to give, as they may vary at the different markets, and that the public will therefore suffer very much by the change. Now the public are generally able to see their own interest as well as the butchers, and in addition to a shrewd suspi- cion that their interest and that of the butchers do not lie the same way, they have long since dis- covered, without reading Adam Smith.s chapter on the subject, that it is they (the consumers) who regulate the price, and not the butchers. It is quite evident that the smallness of the market tends to keep up the price of meat, and the sales- men are so well aware of this, that they keep droves of cattle lying about Islington and St. John-street, and only drive them in when those that were sent to Smithfield early have been sold. Much of the brutality of the drovers is occasioned by the smallness of the market, and the difficulty of driving the cattle through the narrow streets leading to the market, the animals are bruised and wounded to an extent hardly to be credited. Mr. Cramp, an extensive salesman, in his evi- dence before the House of Commons in 1828, estimated the injury to cattle at 62,000it. and his own loss at from 400^ to 500?. per annum. This in a pecuniary point of view is bad enough for the public is sure to pay eventually ; but when it is considered to what a degree the health of the consumer is endangered from the fevered and iraitated state of the beasts when slaughtered, it behoves the Legislature to look favourably on any plan which will so materially diminish animal suffering, and relieve the public from an intolera- ble and increasing nuisance. The attempt to ex- cite commiseration for the householders in Smith- field will hardly succeed ; of the 70 or 80 frontages there, 40 at least are occupied by wholesale dealers, unconnected with the market, and most of the 18 or 20 public-houses are, it is understood, brewers' houses, and the immediate servants of the brewers' agent. The pity of the Corporation for these persons is strange, as petitions were pre- sented to Parliament in 1809 and 1810 by them to remove Smithfield out of the city altogether, first to the north end of Gray's Inn-lane, and next to the neighbourhood of Sadler's Wells ; and if, as has been frequently suggested, the space were de- voted to a dead aieat market,that particular sort of property could not be injured in any way. It cannot be pretended that this new market is sought to be established out of sheer humanity and patriotism ; as a source of profit it is a legitimate and honourable project. The projector's object is to be enabled to enter into fair competition, and the public are interested in it only so far as it may tend to break down a monopoly, and give them a better article, of which they must judge : the positive advantage is that a disgusting nui- sance, which has long been a disgrace to us, will be materially abated ; at least this is the first step towards it. The Bill has been ordered to be com- mitted, and the struggle, which will be a sharp one, will be in the Committee* Both parties are of GourEs sanguine of suscessi Who shall be Overseers for the poor ; their office, duty, &c, METRICAL HISTORY OF THE POOR LAWS ; Or, ACTS OF the HOUSES THAT JACK BUILT, (i. e. KING JOHN,) On whose Magna Charta was built the H of L - and of C . I. [43 Eliz.cap. 2.] This is the fam'd Forty-third of Bess, Which rate-payers rail at, and rate-eaters bless ; Enacting that householders two, three, or four. In every parish less or more, Shall be called Overseers of the Poor of the same. And tbey, or the greater part of them. From time to time shall order take (With two Justices' leave, whereof one of the quorum). Work for such whelps to find or make, Whose keep incommodes such drabs as bore 'em ; Also to set to work such as ply No trade to get their living by ; — Also to raise, howsoever they may, By'cessing and pressing of every one, lie Be person or parson, priest or lay. Competent sum and sums of money For stocking up flax, hemp, wool, thread, iron, Aforesaid poor to toil and tire on. And keep such poor as can toil no longer. Apprenticing such as are younger and stronger ; Also — much more to the same intent. As to them shall seem convenient. II. [7 Jac. I cap. 4.] This is the Act, 7 Jac. cap 4, To amend certain Acts mane heretofore. Sturdy beggars and rogues to bridle, Vagrant, disorderly, lewd, and idle. Which Acts have not wrought so good eflfect As those who enacted them did expect. For remedy wherefore there shall be pro- vided in Every county the realm is divided in. One or more houses convenient and fit. With convenient backside thereunto adjoining, (Nice word, appropriately combining With moderate whipping, see clause TV), Together with mills, turns, cards, to set Said rogues to work, who shall eat no more Than aforesaid work shall deserve and Who shall be taxed to- wards the re- lief of the poor. A conveni- ent stock shall be pro- vided to set the poor on work. 3 & 4 W. & M. c. 11, s. 11. 39 Eliz. 4&5. Houses Coiri ction shall be pro vided. of Also sides. And rate ping. back- mode- whip- The p unish- And because, by reason of bastardy, mentof lewd Besides the dishonour done thereby, ha°vT° bis- To God Almighty, great expense tards. Ariseth. — Be it therefore hence- 18 Eliz. c. 3. Forth enacted, that every lewd woman he sent To gaol for one whole year's punish- ment. And, if she shall eftsoons offend again. Again he committed, as before ; There to be punish'd, and there remain Till sureties she find to offend bo THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 37 Poor people going from one parishto another. Power of the Justices to transport rogues and vagabonds. Proviso for the Dean & Chapter of Westminster iiii. III. [13 & 14 Car. II. cap. 12.] This is an Act> whereas people are given Perversely to fix where they're most at their ease. And lewdly would live where there's something to live on, Having strangely been suffered to do as they please ; Be it therefore enacted, such rogues be cenvey'd To the parish from whence for subsist- ence they stray'd ; And if they presume to make any ob- jection, Or return, they be sent to the House of Correction. Be it also enacted by 'foresaid authority* That J. P.'s in session, or else their ma- jority, May ship off such vagabonds just as they please. To the British plantations beyond the seas. Provided always that nought prejudicial Be construed, expounded, or held to refer (When poor rogues are nam'd, and in- flictions judicial) , To the Dean and Chapter of West- minster. IV. [3 W. and M. cap. 11.] This is an Act for the better axplaining (As somewhat defective and doubtful remaining) Of the Act setting forth. Whereas people are given, &c. V. [8 W. and M. cap. 30.] This is an Act for supplying defects In the Act, good and wholesome in other respects, Entitled, An Act for the better explain- ing (As somewhat defective and doubtful remaining), &c. VI. [9 & 10 W. and M. cap. 11, This is an Act for explaining an Act Enacted last Session, entitled — An Act For amending defects. Which in certain respects. Inhere in an Act for the better explain- ing, &c. VII. [31 Geo. II. cap. II.] This is an Act the provisions to vary. Of an Act in the third year of William and Mary, Entitled, An Act for the better explain- ing, &c. VIII. [22 Geo. III. cap. 83.] This is an Act for the better lelieving Of the poor, who no wonderful good are receiving From the Act which was passed the pro* TiBions to vary, &o. XI. [42 Geo. III. cap. 74,] This is an Act For amending an Act Entitled, an Act for the better relieving Of the poor, who no wonderful good are receiving, &c. X. [43 Geo. III. cap, 110.] This is an Act to explain and amend An Act, which so late as last Session was penn'd. And which was an Act, For amending an Act, &c. XI. [59 Geo. III. cap. 28.] This the Act which essay'd to erect That sage grave tribunal, yclept the Se- lect, Also was fram'd the high powers for invading, Which the thirty-sixth George III. vesta the Unpaid in — Also for ridding the land of the fra- grancy Of rags, Scotch and Irish, though guilt- less of vagrancy — Men of Man, Jersey and Guernsey for shipping To their settlements legal, without or with whipping. With other provisions the evils to cure Of all former laws for relief of the poor. Beginning with Act forty-third of Queen Bess, Which rate-payers rail at, and rate- eaters bless, &c. N.B. — This is the end of these very pooi' laws. POPULATION OF GREAT BRITAIN. There have just been printed, in two volumes folio, an " Enumeration Abstract" of the popula- tion of Great Britain for 1831, made from the returns and answers forwarded from each parish in Eng- land and Scotland, pursuant to Act of Parliament, " for taking an Account of the Population of Great Britain, and of the Increase or Diminution there- of." The abstract for 1821 occupied only one vo- lume ; the present work consists of two thick vo- lumes, whence may be inferred the fact that it enters into an immense variety of details not enu- merated in the previous census. Five questions were circulated in 1811 and 1821 ; but in conse- quence of the powers of the Act of 1831, sixteen questions were sent to the overseers in England, and to the schoolmasters in Scotland. From the answers to those sixteen questions so forwarded to every parish in England and Scotland, this work proceeds. This work says — That for any general purpose the number of parishes and parish chapelries in England and Wales may be safely taken at That the number of places in England and Wales, of which the population, fami- lies, trades, occupation, houses (distin- guishing inhabited from uninhabited, &c.) is distinctly stated in this Abstract, is ...»•»..»•• • ....1. 15,609 38 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. The number of parishes in Scotland is 948 ; of population returns is 1,046 The number of benefices 10,533 From the third division of this preface, namely, that on the "Increase of population," the follow- ing are extracts, and which, at the present time, are unusually interesting : — POPULATION OF ENGLAND AND WALES, FROM THE YEAR 1700 TO THE YEAR 1830, INCLUDING THE ARMY, NAVY, AND MERCHANT SEAMEN. In the middle of each year. 1700 . . .. 5,134,516 1770 . ., 7,227,586 1710 . . . . 5,066,337 1780 . .. 7,814,827 1720 . , .. 5,345,351 1790 . . . . 8,540,738 1730 . . .. 5,687,993 1800 . , .. 9,187,176 1740 . . .. 5,829,705 1810 . .. 10,407,556 1750 . . .. 6,039,684 1820 . .. 11,957,565 1760 . . .. 6,379,730 1830 . . .. 13,840,751 The population of Ireland (amounting to 7.767,401) has been enumerated concurrently with that of Great Britain, and through the meritorious exertions of Mr. Hatchell has been completed and arranged in the same manner, the inquiries having been similar throughout. The question concerning occupation or employ- ment, as amended in the Population Acts of 1811, 1821, and 1831, inquires, what number of families (not of persons) are chiefly employed in or main- tained by agriculture ? How many by trade, ma- nufacture, or handicraft ? and how many families, are not comprised in either of these classes ? And in general the answers appeared to have been made with care and distinctness in the years 1811 and 1821 ; but a more particular classification was thought to be desirable and practicable in 1831, and it was recommended to the Committee of the House of Commons to as]« the occupation or em- ployment of every male 20 years of ago ; not only because he is then usually settled in his vocation, but because the number of males under 20 years of age, and the number upwards of 20 years of age, was found to have been so equal in the enumera- tion of 1821, that any considerable deviation from that obvious proportion was likely to induce fur- ther inquiry, and correction in every case suspect- ed of error; for in the enumei'ation of 1821 the males under twenty were 3,072,492 — upwards of twenty 3,002,200, including all the males whose ages were then ascertained. In the enumeration of 1831, the males known to be under twenty were 3,941,495— upwards of twenty, 3,944,511*; indeed the increase of population in Great Britain has not been materially accelerated or retarded since the year 1801, having been always about one and a half per cent, per annum. Persons of independent fortune, capitalists, pro- fessional and other educated men, and, generally speaking, those who do not labour with their hands, are included in another question. To these suc- ceed all labourers other than agricultural ; and a column embraces all those not described in any preceding question which applies to males 20 years of age. To this there is one exception, as to do- mestic male servants, who are subsequently dis- tinguished as of 20 years old, and under that age. Female servants, of whatever age, have been dis- tinctly enumerated. The comparative proportion of families stands thus in centesimal parts : — Agriculture Trade, &c. Others Total „ , r 1811 .. .. 35 44 21 100 ,yFf r < 1821 .. .. 33 46 21 lOO **"™'^(_1831 .. .. 28 42 30 100 Thus trade and maiu fuctures appear to have somewhat increased between the years 1811 and 1821, agriculture to have somewhat declined ; but between 1821 and 1831, the proportion of families employed in trade receded from 46 to 42 percent. ; and the agricultural population from 33 to 28 per cent. ; the proportion of all other classes, not in- cluded in these two large classes, having increased accordingly. But in the present summary of returns of 1831, it appears that no less than 608,712 labour- ers were then employed otherwise than in agricul- ture (that is, as miners or fishermen, in inland na- vigation, and road-making) , or otherwise than in trade or manufactures, although employed in the conveyance of commodities, and in other essential services to the tradesman and manufacturer. It also appears in the summary of 1831, that 115 or 116 (115-5) males upwards of 20 years of age re- present 100 families ; so that the proportion of fa- mili(;s (30 percent.) ascribedto the last class, which has been usually deemed non-productive, no more than 12 per cent, are really so, even in the largest sense to which that character can be applied ; and the residue of these families (18 per cent.) has been augmented in the enumeration of 1831 beyond its former proportion, by reason of a deduction from the families heretofore classed as agricultural, or as employed in trade, manufacture, or handicraft. SUMMARY OF GREAT BRITAIN. Knglaiid. Wales . . . Scotland. Army, Navy, &c 1801 8331434 641546 1699068 470598 0551888 611786 180568S 640530 1821 17i 11261437 717438 2093456 1831 13191005 806182 2365114 277017 10942646 lOf 12609564 14 14391631 13 16539318 The rate of increase of the population of Great Britain has not varied much during the last thirty years, even when the increase or diminution of the army,navy,&c.,is thus taken into calculation ; but a more accurate knowledge of the increase of popula- tion may be obtained by adverting to the increase of the female sex exclusively, thereby virtually omitting throughout the calculation such of the army, navy, and merchant seamen, as were not domiciled in Great Britain. 1801 Fe- males 5492354 In- j 1811 crease j Fe- per ct. j males. 14.15 16269650 In- 1 1821 crease j Fe- per et. I males. 15.71 17254613 15.46 In- crease per ct. 1831 Fe- males. 8376329 Ordered to be printed 14th March, 1834. (Signed) JOHN RICKMAN. ■ The army, navy, &c„ are not included. EXTRA-PAROCHIAL PLACES. The following summary on the question of extra-parochial places, or districts that claim ex- emption from assessments for the maintenance of the poor, appears in the preface to the Population Ab- stract, consisting of two folio volumes ; — " Besides parishes, and their tithings or town- ships, there are many places not contained within the limits of any parish, and thence called extra- parochial; and from some of these, returns of their population are not easily procurable. They are found usually to have been Royal Palaces, or the site of religious houses, or of ancient castles, the owners of which were unwilling to permit any THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 39 interference with their authority within their own property ; and in rude times the existence of such exemptions, obtained from the Crown by pecu- niary purchase or favour, is not surprising. At present the case is widely different ; and there seems to be no good reason for permitting extra-parochial places still to avoid sharing the burdens home by the rest of the community. For an extra-parochial place enjoys a virtual exemption from maintaining the poor, because there is no overseer on whom a a Magistrate's order may be served ? from the Militia Laws, because there is no constable to make returns ; from repairing the highways, be- cause there is no surveyor; besides all which, the inhabitants have a chance of escaping from direct taxation of every kind ; for, in the language of the ancient law of England, such places were not ' Geldable nor Shireground,' non sub districtione curias Vicecomitis; and as the Sheriflf was the Re- ceiver-General in his county till about the time of the Revolution, extra-parochial places were neither taxable nor within the ordinary pale of civil juris- diction ; and the inhabitants are still virtually exempt from many civil duties and offices served not without inconvenience by others for the benefit of the community at large. " The number of such places is not inconsider- able, though difficult to be discovered; the present volumes exhibit above 200 of them ; and the sub- ject is the more worthy of attention, inasmuch as the acquisition of new land, whether by reclaim- ing forests, drainage of fens, or embankment from the sea, furnishes frequent occasions for endea- vonring even now to establish extra-parochial i m- munities. " The subject of complaint being an unreason- able exemption from certain general laws, the remedy might be applied to that defect only ; so that all places, where any person is found ready to act as overseer of the poor, constable, and sur- veyor of highways, might be permitted to remain as they are ; but the Magistrates of each county should be empowered to annex all oMer extra pa- rochial places to adjoining parishes for the pur- poses above described. Districts of larger extent may be found, which under the name ot Liberties interrupt the general course of law as affecting hundreds, in like manner as extra-parochial places that of parishes. In Dorsetshire, where this irregularity chiefly prevails, the grants of some of these liberties are dated so late as the reign of Henry VIII. and even of Elizabeth. The pioper remedy for the inconveniences arising out of these improvident grants might be to subject them to abolition by the county Magistrates, whenever, by default in the appointment of proper officers, these Liberties [under whatever title] are found to elude or obstruct the due administration of justice or of the laws." [The decision regarding Richmond-tei race, Westminster, the large houses of wealthy and many official individuals, which claimed and long enjoyed exemption from poor-rates, may be remem- bered ; but ought parishes to be subjected to the expense of thousands, and the law's uncertainty, when one general Act of Parliament would remove the " unreasonable exemption" of " above 200" places By a poor law act of the 27th Henry VIII. " a sturdy beggar is to be whipped the first time, his right ear chopped the second time, and if he again offend (by begging^ to be sent to the next gaol till the quar- ter sessions, and there to be indicted for wandering, loitering, and idleness, and if convicted, shall suffer execution of death, as a felon and an enemy of the oommonwealth." Even in that iron time, however, the severity of the law rendered it inoperative. Animals in Winter. — There is no subject rrore engaging to the student of nature, than that which relates to the hybernation of various animals of our latitude. The racoon and woodchuck who lay up food for their winter stock, hybernate in dens among the rocks, and in deep burrows below frost. The former, it is true, sometimes in February, taking advantage of a thaw and a short time of warm ueather, sallies forth from his winter quarters for a night or two, although never in pursuit of food ; but (he latter is awakened from his repose only by the re- turn of warm weather. I am credibly informed, that the late Colonel Jeremiah Wadswortb, of Hartford, with a view of experiment, procurred a young wood- chuck to be petted in the house. Upon the approach of winter, the animal, impelled by instinct, took up his abode for hybernation behind a row of casks in the cellar, not by burrowing in the ground, but by making for himself a small excavation on the surface, in which he planted himself in a circular form, a position the most accommodating to his condition. Many times during the winter, Col. W. to gratify the curiosity of his friends, directed the woodchuck to be brought up. The torpid animal, after lying fifteen or twenty minutes on the carpet before a cheering fire in the sitting room, would begin to yawn, then stretch out one limb after another, open its eyes, slowly raise itself on its feet, and walk rather awk- wardly from the immediate iitfluence of the fire, ap- pearing very weary till returned to bed in the cellar, uniformly refusing nourishment of any kind during the time of its hybernation. — American Journal of Science, THE EVENING WIND. BY MRS. HEMANS. I come, I come, from the isles of bloom. Where the citron and olive breathe forth perfume ; Where the wood-birds sing on the leafy pines. And the dew falls soft on the clust'ring vines ; Where the skies are bright as a Poet's dream. And the silvery founts with lustre gleam. O'er the billows I rush in my stormy pride, And I waken to tumult the slumbering tide. The tall sliip speeds o'er the heaving foam ; And the mariner dreams of his island home, Of his father's cot, and the beechen shade, And the lonely glen where his childhood play'd. I pass through the woods with a gentle sigh. And the rustling leaves to my voice reply ; The violet droops on its fragrant cell. And the myrtle flowers of my presence tell. Hark ; music peals from the joyous rills, And tlie fir trees wave on the stormy hills. Onward I sweep past the mouldering halls. Where the gleam of the sunshine dimly falls Where the vassal sat at the festal board. And loud mirth rang as the wine was poured. And the warrior bard with his wild harp told The valiant deeds, and the songs of old. O'er the pilgrim I breathe as he kneels once more On the shinmg sands of his native shore ; The captive 1 pass in ray chainless glee. And his young heart bounds with a rapture free. And a faint smile lights up his languid eye, When he hears my voice as I wander by! 40 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. PUBLIC DEBT, PRICES OF THE FUNDS, AND OF WHEAT. Ordered hy the House of Commons to he Printed, on the Motion of Sir H. Willoughby. AN ACCOUNT of the State and Amount of the FUNDED DEBT, and the Annual Charge thereof, with Columns stating the Increase and Decrease of sucli Debt, compared with the preceding Year, from 5th January, 1815, to 5th January, 1834. UNITED KINGDOM. FUNDED DEBT. At Feb. 1 1816 1817 Jan. 5 IS18 1819 1820 1821 1822 1823 1S24 1825 1826 1827 1828 1829 1830 1831 1832 1833 Unredeemed 3 Debt. 816,311,940 796,200,191 776,742,403 791,867,313 794,980,481 801,565,310 795,312,767 796,530,144 791,701,614 781,123,222 778,128,267 783,801,739 777,476,892 772,322,540 771,251,932 757,486,996 755,543,884 754,100,549 Increase. 15,124 3,113 6.584 1,217,377 5,673,472 £. 31,713,756 Deduct Increase Funded Debt deer, since 1816 Decrease. 20,111.749 19,457,788 6,252.543 4,828,530 10,578,392 2,994,955 6,324,847 5,154,352 1,070,608 13,764,936 1,943,112 1,443,335 2,441,666 96,366,813 31,713,756 64,653,057 Unredeemed Debt. 796,200,191 1817 775,742,403 791,867, 794,980, 801,565, 795,312, 796,530, 791,701, 781,123, 778,128, 783.801, 777,476, 772,322, 771.251, 757,486, 755,543, 754,100, 751,658, 1818 1819 1820 1821 1822 1823 1824 1S25 1826 1827 1828 1829 1830 1831 1832 1833 1834 CHARGE OF FUNDED DEBT. At Feb. 1 1816 1817 Jan. 5 1818 1819 1820 1821 1822 1823 1824 1825 1820 1827 1828 1829 1830 1831 1832 1833 Charge, viz. Inte- rest, all Annuities for Lives and Years, and Ma- nagement. 30,458,207 29,842,014 29,310,454 29,934,294 29,789,658 30,149,920 29,985,216 28,596,866 29,073,570 28,372,206 28,267,272 28,556,903 28,389,869 28,245,534 28,285,900 27,674,754 27,658,299 27,703,433 Increase. 623,840 360,262 481,704 289,631 40,366 45,134 78,683 £. 1,919 620 Deduct Increase Charge deer, since 1816 £ Decrease 616,193 531,560 144,636 164,704 1,388,350 706,364 104,934 167,034 144,335 611,146 16,455 4,595,711 1,919,620 2.676,091 Charge, viz. Inte rest, all [Annuities for Lives & Years, and Management 29,842,014 29,310,454 29,934,294 29,789,658 30,149,920 29,985,216 28,596,866 29,078,570 28,372,206 28,267,272 28,556,903 28,389,869 28,245,534 28,285,900 27,674,/ 54 27,658,299 27,703,433 27,782,1! 6 Feb. 1 1817 Jan. i 1818 1819 1S20 1821 1822 1823 1b24 1825 1826 1827 1828 1829 1830 1831 1832 1833 1831 This Return includes tliat portion only of the 2,800/. Annuities, created by the Art 3 Geo. IV^, c, 51, which was actually sold — namely, 585,740/. ; the said Act having been repealed by the 9th Geo. IV., c. 90. National Debt Office, March 18, 1834. S. HIGHAM, Comptroller-General RETURN of the Amount of the UNFUNDED DEBT (in Exchequer Bills), and the ANNUAL CHARGE thereof, stating the INCREASE and DECREASE of such DEBT, compared with the preceding Year ; from 5th Jan. 1815, to 5th Jan. 1834. Year ended Jan. 5. 1815 1816 1817 1818 1819 1820 1S21 1822 1823 1824 1825 1826 1827 1828 1829 1830 1831 1832 1833 1834 57,941,700 41,441,900 44,650,300 56,729,400 43,655,400 36,900,200 10,965,900 !1, 566,550 36,281,150 34,741,750 32,398,450 27,994,200 24,565,850 27,546,850 ■27,657,000 25,490,550 27,271,650 27.133,350 27,278,000 27,906,900 3,208,400 12,079,100 600,650 4,714,600 2,981,000 110,150 1,7'81,100 144,650 628,900 Decrease £ 16,499,800 13,074,000 6,755,200 5,934,300 1,539,400 2,343,300 4,404,250 3,428,350 2,166,450 138,300 Charge thereof being the Interest paid in the Year. £ 2,256,707 3,014,003 2,166,177 1,710,119 2,143,476 687,927 1,769,219 2,I.=i9,602 1,385,424 1,131,121 1,087,284 629,498 831.207 873,247 949,430 878,494 793,031 649,833 659,165 779,769 JOHN HENRY LATHAM. EDWARD H. NEVINSON, Excliequer Bill Office, 10th Marsh, 1834. S, J. WOOD. A RETURN of the Annual Average Money Price of a Quarter of WHEAT, as quoted in the Gazette published by Authority, from 1815 to 1834. CS Average per ^L. Average per « Average per i >^ Quarter. ^ Quarter. >■ Quarter. tH s. d. s. d. s. d. 1815 63 8 1820 65 10 1825 66 6 18.30 18Ifi 76 2 1821 54 5 1826 66 11 I8:)l 1817 94 0 1822 43 3 1827 56 9 1832 1818 83 8 1823 51 9 1828 60 5 1833 1819 72 3 1824 62 0 1829 66 3 Average per Quarter s. d. 64 3 66 4 58 8 51 11 Corn Department, Board of Trade, 11th March, 1834. WM. JACOB, Comptroller of Corn Returns RETURN of the Annual Average Money Price of a i'lOO Three per Cent. STOCK, from 1815 to 1834 In the Years ending Feb. 1 1816 1817 1818 1819 1820 1821 1822 1823 1824 1825 Ann. Average Price of £'6 per Cent Stock. £ 9. A 58 13 9 62 1 2 •7& 16 0 n 1 5 71 19 3 68 12 0 74 15 5 79 15 0 SO 5 10 94 3 6 In the Years ending 1826 1827 1828 1826 1830 1831 1832 1833 1834 Ann. Average Price of ^3 per Cent. Stock. This return shows the annual average prices at which the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt pur- chased 3/ per Cent. Stock in the respective years above stated. S. HIGHAM, Comptroller-Gen. National Debt Office, 18th March, 1834. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. THE OLD ENGLISH HOUND. This is undoubtedly the origin of those famous hounds for which Great Britain is celebrated above all other countries. In former times this dog was of a pure white, but is now generally of a white and black colour, and tanned over the eyes. This majestic animal is distinguished by his great size and strength ; his body is long, his chest deep, and his ears long and sweeping, with great gravity of expression. From the particular formation of his organs, or from the extraordinary moisture which al- ways flows from his nose, or from some other unknown cause, he is endowed with the most exqusite sense of smelling, andean discover scent hours after other dogs have given up. Although the talbot hunts with great certainty, yet he becomes tedious from the slowness of his motions; this, however, enables him to receive more distinctly the directions of the huntsman. And he can trace with a cold scent, which he is too apt to make so by his want of speed. The talbot, in the 'Historyof Manchester,' is stated to be the original breed of this island,used by the an- cient Britons in the chase of the larger kinds of game, with which the country at one time abounded. They were common in all parts of the kingdom, and were much larger than they arc at present; and have been gradually declining in consequence of mixing them with lighter dogs for the purpose of increasing their speed. We have no doubt that, from this cause, the breed will eventually become extinct. It is said, that the tone of his voice is peculiarly deep, sonorous, powerful, and mellow. THE STEEEPLE CHA.CE AT HERNE BAY. The above race came off on Thursday afternoon between Blean Bottom and Heme Bay, for a sweep- stakes of 5 sovs each, and 50/ added. The direc- tion which the horses v/ere to take was marked out by red flags, extending from Blean Bottom to Mr. Tassell's land : thence to BuUockstone Bot- tom, over the rise to the common bearing that name ; thence bearing off in the direction of Ed- dington, to the eighteen-acre field belonging to Mr. Collard, at Heme Bay. At four o'clock the following horses started for Blean Bottom : — Mr. Hodges' Fair Ellen, rode by Mr. Seffert. Mr. Darrell's ch g The Swerver, rode by owner. Mr. Hemsley's b g Nimrod, rode by Mr. Palmer. Mr. Fyfe's br g Lucifer, rode by Mr. J. Mason. Mr. Singleton's Kentish Pippin, rode by Mr. Gibbs. Mr. H. Jennings' Election, rode by Mr.T. Neame. Mr. FuUager's b g Thunder, rode by Mr. Hemsley. Lucifer took the lead, followed close by Ellen, Nimrod, and Election ; Swerver, Kentish Pippin, and Thunder well up, working cautiously ; the whole clearing the fences in admirable style. Nimrod, however, received a check by falling in a rough Shaw. It was the work of a moment, as Mr. Palmer recovered him immediately, and bore away gaily to the flag on Mr. Tassell's land ; there he topped a rough hedge as though nothing had occurred, and, bearing to the right of Jonny's Hill, leaped another hedge which divides two fields, the one arable, the other pasture, and made for BuUockstone Bottom. In this spot the work- ing of the horses was admirable, nor less the jockeyship of the riders. The brook is fenced on either side, the ground extremely rough, the dis- tance altogether not exceeding twenty or thirty feet. Every obstacle however was cleverly overcome, and Mr. Mason (who had previously received a sudden check in consequence of some indiscreet horse- man dashing at a fence at the moment he was about making it, and at the very spot) first essayed to make the hill, by clearing a hurdle which inter- sects the field, on one side of which there is a deep gap, intended to carry off the redundant moisture from the neighbouring high land. Luci- fer's rider failed to make him up in time, as at the moment the animal was preparing for the leap his near foot slipped, and he fell with his head doubled under his fore foot, describing as complete a sum- merset as the most expert vaulter could pitch. Poor Mason fell on the near side over the wattle, the horse falling with his whole weight upon him. An immediate cry of the " youth is killed" was set up ; and several gentlemen made for the spot, and amongst them Mr, Andrews, surgeon, of this city. 42 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Mr. Mason lay extended, apparently lifeless, and it was not until his neckerchief and the belt rouud his waist had been removed that he exhibited symptoms of animation. It appeared upon ex- amination that no bones were broken, and in about a quarter of an hour he was removed to Heme Bay. Fortunately he wore a cap manufac- tured of thick sole leather, or it is certain, from the great indentation in it, either from the ani- mal's hoof or pitching upon his head, that he must have been killed. The accident completely re- moved the excited feelings of the spectators, who drew their gaze from the other horses, and made for the spot where it occurred. But to return to the hurdle. Thunder, Nimrod, and Election topped it with ease; the Swerver, Fair Ellen, and Kentish Pippin following close up. In rising the hill, Swerver's rider jjlied the whip pretty freely, Nimrod and Election pushing on at a slashing pace, the whole smartly clearing the dif- ferent fences. Nimrod, however, again unseated his rider, who dexterously avoided a fall ; and at top speed pushed into the bottom with Election, Kentish Pippin, and the Swerver, Fair Ellen lead- ing at a winning pace ; but in leaping the last brook she plunged in. Nimrod also failed in the same leap ; but Mr. Palmer recovered himself in- stantly and again dashed forward, and came close up with Election, Swerver being considerably ahead. After a run. the most difficult that could have been selected, the horses arrived in the eighteen-acre field as follows : — The Swerver, Election, Kentish Pippin, Nimrod, Thunder, and Fair Ellen, the Swerver, of course, winning the match, but not without great labour and difficulty. Mr. Mason, who was the winner at St. Albans, would, no doubt, have been successful in this in- stance but for the check he received previous to making BuUockstone Shaw. It was said not a horse in the field was able to cope with Lucifer ; and so confident, we hear, is his owner of his capa- bilities, that he is ready to run him again over the same ground for any sum up to 500 guineas. Alto- gether there were twenty-one leaps. Wild Duck Shooting— About a year ago a per- son from the Fens of Lincolnshire arrived in Cumber- land, and established his head-quarters at Bowness. His trade is that of a fowler, and by means of a small boat, to which is attached a swivel gun, he spends the greater pan of his time on the water. One of the Liverpool steamers arrived at Bowness last week early in the morning, and just as the dawn was beginning to break, a passenger on deck pointed to something floating on the water, under the impression that it was a log of wood, which it might be lawful enough to pick up. But the sailors shook their heads, as much as to say, that log is animated, and would be rather an unchancy waif to meddle with. Nearer ap- proach, and a closer peep explained everything : for there lay the poacher couched in his skiff, watching the wild ducks, and ready to point and fire his swivel, the moment a favourable moment arrived. From this said swivel he can discharge, if so inclined, two pounds of lead, and sometimes peppers thirty birds at one shot. For these he finds a ready market in Carlisle and Liverpool, and though his trade be a murderous one, the cunning wight from the Fens contrives to make it profitable, and thus realizes the Scottish pio- vesb, by " earning his bread among other peoples' feet." The Cumbriaus, however, are fair sportsmen, and although tempted by the example of others, we trust it will be long before they betake themselves to the sly-boats and swivel guns, — Dumfries Courier. GARDENING. ON THE PROPAGATION OF ANNUALS, &c. BY CUTTING. BY THE AUTHOR OF THE " DOMESTIC GARDENER S MANUAL," C. M.H.S. An anual plant is supposed by most persons to pro- duce flowers and fruit, (the seeds,) and then to perish, and it is treated accordingly. The seeds are usuallysown in the borders during the months of March or April, and nine-tenths of the young plants perish by grubs and worms, or by the acerbity of the ever-varying season. They who have the good fortune to possess some erec- tion where a little extra heat can be furnished, fre- quently produce early plants ; and these are placed in their allotted situations by transplanting, and thus fulfil the original intentions of the gardener. Things must remain pretty nearly as they have always exist- ed ; and, as long as underground enemies continue to live and propagate, we must be content to submit to losses and vexations. There is a way, however, of counterplotting the attacks of every common enemy, by striking, during the months of September and Oc- tober, such choice annual plants as it is desirable to preserve throughout the winter, and to retain for the production of seed or of cuttings very early in the en- suing summer. I have proved that Balsams can be struck in the autumn, and be made to flower in a short time ; the cuttings may be taken off any joint just below the leaves, and of any length ; they strike almost immediately in common soil. Balsams, how- ever, can scarcely be retained during the winter, owing to the absence of light. Schizanthus will strike by cuttings six inches long, and flower. I have one by me now, that I have caused to take root in August, in loam and sandy peat, without the aid of a glass; it produced bloom in October and November, but failing to bear seeds, it remains a stout and healthy plant, with two branches. Clarkia can be struck and preserved, so can Calliopsis (late Coreopsis) of seve- ral species. I mention a kw only of the many beau- tiful annuals that can thus be preserved, even in a well-protected cold frame of turf, with a good glazed light. The object is not one perhaps of much interest; and the subjects themselves do not appear very orna- mental during the dead months, but they may prove very useful even to the gardener ; and to ladies, and to young people of taste, the practice of raising, or of trying to raise, plants by this process, a fund of ra- tional entertainment, and some instruction, may be procured. Of biennial and herbaceous subjects, such a; Calceolaria integrifolia, augustifolia, rugosa, — Salvia of many kinds. Wallflowers, some Stocks, &c. &c., numbers may be struck, and kept in health for early transplantation. A cold frame, a green-house, or even a sitting-room window, will afford to many plants ample protection, which would all be lost unless, they were annually renewed by seeds. The soil for such cuttinSs may, in general, be good border earth, or maiden loam and decayed vegetable matter, blended in nearly equal proportions. If single plants be raised, a small pot should be filled thus, above a good stratum of drainage, and then a hole being made two inches deep in the centre of the mould, with a round stick, silver-sand, to the depth of half an inch, is to be poured into the hole ; upon this, place the base of the cutting, keep it in the mid- dle of the hole, and fill that up with the same sand ; shade the plants till they appear to have adapted themselves to their situation, and stand firm and erect ; or cover them with small glasses. In raising a stock of plants, Mr. Mearn's method may be tried. Put THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 43 the soil into a broad and rather deep pot, so deep only that the cuttings, when planted, shall not quite reach its rim ; then make as many holes as there are cut- tings— apply sand as above directed, and finally, cover the top of the pot with a suitable piece of flat glass. A gentle sprinkhng may at first be given over the sur- face of the soil, and this should be kept rather moist, but not wet ; air ought to be freely given when the plants appear firm. As the roots emerge, they readily reach the soil, which circumstance 1 think is more conducive to their safety than the removal would be from a bed of pure sand into separate pots of soil. If these few loose hints — tor such only they are, — lead to any inquiry, I shall be happy to furnish every kind of informatioa withia my power. — Florieultural Cabinet. ' G. I. T. CULTIV.VTION OF CRYSANTHEMUM INDICUM. BY MR. GEORGE HARRISON, NURSERYMAN, DOWN- HIM, NORFOLK. The different varieties of Crysanthemums are highly prized by the Chmese, who are supposed to be in pos- session of upwards of fifty varieties. Since their general introduction into England, they have added a degree of splendour to our green- liouses and flower gardens, and that at a season when few other plants are in flower. A variety of ways have been tried to produce fine flowers upon small plants. I have adopted the following plan for five years, and it has enabled me to have an abundance of healthy dwarf blooming plants. Three years ago I raised in this manner about nine hundred plants, of about thirty- eight varieties ; the whole I placed upon a stage in the greenhouse, and they bloomed in December. Several eminent floriculturists came from town to see the plants when in bloom, and they declared that they had not seen such a sight before, nor was there any thing likely to compete against the display of bloom and plants, in the neighbourhood of London. Early in May, a quantity of plants are plunged out in the open border, where they are fully exposed to the sun, and plentifully supplied with liquid manure, so as to get the shoots strong by the middle of September ; the greater part of the shoots will have by that time shown flower- buds ; these shoots are bent down, and laid into pots called " small forty- eights ;" they very soon begin to emit a number of roots at the part laid in the pot. As soon as the roots have got a little established, the plants are disengaged from the parent, afterwards they are tied up and watered, and removed into frames or pits, where they are plentifully sup- plied with air and water, so as to enable the plants to perfect their flowering. The plants will soon establish themselves, and begin to expand their bloom, when they are removed into the greenhouse. Plants raised in this manner are from a foot to eighteen inches high, and clothed with foliage from the pot up to the flowers. Should more than six buds be formed on each plant, they are taken off; conse- quently, those remaining attain to a larger size, and a superior shape and colour, than plants flowered in the ordinary manner. The compost I use is a rich yellow loam, with a little peat and sand added. GEORGE HARRISON. Downham Nursery, Feb. 14, 1834. Cauliflower a»d Cape Broccolli through- out Winter. — Sow at the end of June and on to tho end of July, and get the plants as strong as you can before the frost sets in. It is better that none of those have the least appearance to flower when taken up for protection. Then lay them into the ground with the heads to the south, if it can be done conveniently, leaving little beside the thick leafy top out of the ground. Firm the soil to the roots and stems, to keep out mice, &c., cover them in all frosty weather, but expose them at all times when the weather is not severe. By such management they will pro- duce handsome and compact-sized heads through the winter, and as long as required, and even till early cauliflowers come in. For the convenience of cover- ing, it is best to leave two feet paths between beds of nine or ten plants, laid side by side in the cross rows ; and lay each row so that the tops do not overlay one another. Likewise, for the winter use, May and June sowings may be planted out to gain strength upon north borders ; and they will become fine stocky plants for laying, by the time frost comes to point out the necessity of laying and littering over. — Horticultural Register. BIRMINGHAM, April 10. During the month of March we have to note rather more firmness in the wheat trade, with a gradual trifling advance on English samples, amounting in the whole to not exceeding Is 6d per qr. Irish continues nearly nominal, as only an occasional purchaser can be found even for good sample.s. The stocks of this article are increasing, and the period of the year approaching when our millers are reluc- tant to use more than a very moderate portion of it, consequently it is relatively lower, compared with English, than at any lime since harvest. The im- provement above noted is attributed to our farmers' supplies having lessened ; we, however, still consider them large for the season of the year : but as the dry winds have caused the wheats to come to market in better condition, this has enabled millers and others to store, which partly accounts for this advance. We have heard from different quarters complaints of the growing wheat ciops, but think they are generally groundless, and that the frosty nights experienced during the past fortnight have proved beneficial in checking their too great luxuriance. We have now no enquiry for bonded wheat, but a parcel has changed hands on speculation, and one cargo of hard Russian has been shipped to Lisbon from Gloucester. The imports of Irish wheat into Gloucester, during the past month, exceeded the average of former years, and some quantity is said to be now on the way : of coast- wise they have been, and are likely to continue, in- considerable. English wheat may be quoted at 6s to 6s 8d per 62 lbs at Birmingham. Irish wheat 5s 9d to 5s 10 ; red, 5s to 5s 9d per 60 lbs at Gloucester, but sales of the latter, unless of prime quality, cannot be forced to any extent. As the natural result of our market being, for a con- siderable time, nearly the lowest, our supplies of malt- ing barley have much fallen off" from all quarters, and the article has risen in consequence. Is to 2s per quarter : the stocks also are reduced very materially, and a farther advance on fine sweet fresh qualities is not improbable, as we hear of no shipments to any ex- tent coming forward ; and although the malting sea- son is drawing to a close, yet, since the: alteration by the excise laws in the time of sprinkling, some of our maltsters work during the whole of the summer. Malting descriptions are selling from 27s to 30s per imperial quarter, at Birmingham. For grinding we have only a trifling retail demand, at 23s to 25s per 44 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 392 lbs, but buyers of quantities on speculation, are offering 24s for good sweet bold grained parcels. Bar- ley sowing no doubt has occasioned a considerable reduction in our local supplies, which may increase when it is concluded; but as the season when the straw is much wanted is nearly over, this is not to be expected. The arrivals of Irish oats have continued large, and the quantity on the way is pretty considerable : our markets are not, however, liberally supplied with English. Prices during the month have receded about Is per quarter, but at this reduction extensive sales have been made, which has had the effect of prevent- ing any further accumulation of stocks, and we consi- der the trade in a healthy state. Very few of the re- cent sales were on speculation, consumers having of late been the principal purchasers : fine qualities are more readily disposed of, and light descriptions are in demand, at proportionate rates. Some buyers of the latter are holding off, in the expectation of a decline in their value ; but holders evince little disposition to give way. A falling off in the supply would proba- bly produce a re-action in prices ; the consumption of this grain being so great, and having much in- creased the two last years, since the price has been so low. North of Ireland, 41 to 43 lbs, find buyers at 18s to 19s. West of Ireland, 17s 3d to 18s 6d. Dublin, Wexford, and Waterford, 17s to IBs per 312 lbs at Gloucester. The supply of beans from the farmers has decreased, and the quantity brought to market by dealers, having at no time been large, they have remained in fair re- quest throughout the month, and their value main- tained. It still continues to be admitted by all who are conversant with this crop, that it was a deficient one, Cwhich cannot be said of any other grain,) and much confidence is felt that present prices will be sustained : they are worth, English, 13s 6d to 15s ; Irish, 13s to 13s 9d per 196 lbs, in Birmingham. In peas nothing has passed worth notice, the demand for both boiling and grinding having almost wholly subsided. Rather more activity was manifested in the butter trade a week ago than at the commencement of the I month, but in consequence of the wretched reports from London, Manchester, &c. &c., where sales have been forced at excessive low rates, we have now no buyers, except in retail, for fine picked parcels. Cyclobothra* Alba. — A new bulbous plant, native of California, introduced by the Horticultural Society. This genius forms quite a new class of Hor- ticultural objects of great interest, representing Mid- summer, which is their time of flowering, the Fritillaries and Tulips of the spring. They are probably quite as hardy as Tulips, like which they should be treated, unless it should prove that their bulbs are capable of living all the year round in the open ground, a pro- perty we can hardly anticipate, considering how dry and mild a climate is that of California compared with England. In the Horticultural Society's Garden they have been plantad in the open border, in a light loomy soil, where they grew with considerable vigour, flowered beautifully, and produced abundance of seeds. — Dr. Lindley's Botanical Register ; or Orna- mental Flower Garden and Shrubbery for April. * Named from the Greek, in allusion to the circular depression from which the petals distil honey. NORTHERN CIRCUIT.— YORK. HORSE WARRANTY. THORNION V. SEED. This was an action to recover the price of a horse which had been sold by the defendant, who war- ranted him sound in wind, limbs, and eyes, and also to draw, and for which horse the plaintiff had paid. Mr. Blackburne stated the case to the jury on the part of the plaintiff, and called witnesses, from whose testimony it appeared that the plaintiff was a carrier, living at Sowerbybridge, near Halifax, in the West Riding, and that on the 17th day of September he bought the horse which formed the subject of the present action of the defendant at Leigh fair, for the sum of 30/. The defendant war- ranted the animal sound in wind, limbs, and eyes, and also that he would draw well in harness. On the 18th of September the plaintiff put him in the middle of a team of three to take a waggon to Bradford, but, to use the expression of the witness, " he gave up work," — he would not go; and after several attempts to get him on, it was found ne- cessary to borrow a horse, which with the other two managed to drag him and the waggon up a hill, at the foot of which he had stopped. On de- scending the same hill he was equally intractable, going so fast, that the driver was obliged to call some persons to his assistance to prevent the mis- chief which a too rapid descent would most pro- bably have occasioned. Up hill he would not go at all, and down hill he went much too quickly. He was also said to he lame, and on the 19th was examined by a farrier, who pronounced that the lateral cartilages of the hoofs were ossified. The horse was consequently returned to the defendant, who re-returned him, saying that he was a very good horse ; and if plaintiff would but give him a fair trial he would find him perfectly satisfactory in his performances. The plaintiff, however, thought he had had enough of the beast, and accordingly sent him again to the defendant's, with a note, stating that he was not only a bad worker, but also unsound. The note was delivered to defendant's wife. The behaviour of the horse in harness was proved by the servants of the plaintiff who accom- panied the waggon to which he was harnessed ; and two professional gentlemen, veterinary sur- geons, deposed to the ossification of the lateral cartilages, which would produce lameness when- ever he was worked, but which after rest would not appear to affect him till he was again put to work, when the lameness would again recur. The defect was incurable. The bony parts would never again relax into cartillage. Mr. Pollock, on the part of the defendant, con-! tended that the horse was a very excellent animal of its kind, a good worker, perfectly sound, and well worth the money which the plaintiff had paid for him. He was in the Castle-yaid in order that the jury might inspect and examine him with their own eyes and hands. Some witnesses were then called who swore that the horse was an excellent worker, but none of them spoke to a time previous to that when he was bought and tried by the plaintiff. No less than six veterinary surgeons were called on th© part of the defendant, whose testimony went to, show that in horses of that description the lateral cartilages were harder and firmer to the touch than in horses of another description ; that this was a very sound horse, and that there was no THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 45 ossification whatever ; in siiort, that he was the soundest and best horse in all England. . Mr. Blackburne replied, remarking upon the absurdity of the case, that witnesses should come to say what the horse was now, as a proof of what he was when the plaintiff bought and paid for him ; and also upon the improbability that the plaintiiF, who was in actual want of a horse for his use, would, after having bought and paid for one, discard him, and put himself to all the trouble of seeking another, if this horse had all the excellent qualities ascribed to him by the defendant's wit- nesses. The learned Judge summed up the case, and the jury after having inspected the animal in the Castle-yard, returned with a verdict for the plain- tiff— Damages 30/. THE COW-TREE OF SOUTH AMERICA. We had heard of a tree, the juice of which is a nourishing milk; it is called the Cow-Tree ; and we were assured that the negroes of the farm, who drink plentifully of this vegetable milk, consider it as a wholesome aliment. All the milky juices of plants being acrid, bitter, and more or less poison- ous, this assertion appeared to us very extraordi- nary ; but we found, by experience, during our stay at Barbula, that the virtues of the palo devaca had not been exaggerated. This fine tree rises like the broad-leaved star-apple. Its oblong and pointed leaves, tough and alternate, are marked by lateral ribs, prominent at the lower surface, and parallel ; they are some of them ten inches long. We did not see the flower : the fruit is somewhat fleshy, and contains one, or sometimes two nuts. When incisions are made in the trunk of the Cow- Tree, it yields abundance of a glutinous milk, tolerably thick, destitute of all acrimony, and of an agreeable and balmy smell. It was offered to ns in the shell of the tutumo, or calabash-tree. We drank considerable quantities of it in the evening before we went to bed, and very early in the morning, without feeling the least injurious effect. The ropiness of this milk alone renders it a little disagreeable. The negroes and the free people, who work in the plantations, drink it, dip- ping into it their bread of maize or cassava. The major domo of the farm farm told us, that the negroes grow sensibly fatter during the season when the palo de vaca furnishes them with most milk. This juice, exposed to the air, presents at its surface, perhaps in consequence of the absorption of the atmospheric oxygen, membranes of a strongly animaiized substance, yellowish, stringy, and resembling a cheesy substance ; these mem- branes, separated from the rest of the more aqueous liquid, are elastic, almost like caoutchouc ; but they undergo, in time, the same phenomena of putrefaction as gelatine. The people call the coagulum that separates by the contact of the air, cheese ; this coagulum glows sour in the space of five or six days, as I observed in the small portions which I carried to Nueva Valencia. This extraordinary tree appears to be peculiar to the Cordillera of the coast, particularly from Bar- bula to the lake of Maracaybo. Some stocks of it exist near the village of San Mateo, and in the valley of Cancagua, three days' journey east of Caraccas. At Caucagua, the natives call the tree that furnishes this nourishing juice the Milk'Tree. Th€|^ profess to recognise, from th$ tkicknsea and colour of the foliage the trunks that yield the most juice, as the herdsman distinguishes, from ex- ternal signs, a good milch cow. It seems, ac- cording to Mr. Kunth, to belong to the Sapota family. Amid the great number of curious phenomena which have presented themselves to me in the course of my travels, I confess there are few which have so powerfully affected my imagination as the aspect of the Cow -Tree. On the barren flank of a rock grows a tree, with coriaceous and dry leaves ; its large woody roots can scarcely penetrate into the stone ; for several months in the year not a single shower moistens its foliage ; its branches appear dead and dried ; but when the trunk is pierced there flows from it a sweet nourishing milk. It is at the rising of the sun that this vege- table fountain is most abundant ; the blacks and natives are then seen hastening from all quarters, furnished with large bowls to receive the milk, which grows yellow, and thickens at its surface ; some empty their bowls near the tree itself, others carry the juice home to their children. We seem to behold the family of a shepherd, who distributes the milk of his flock. — Humbolt's Personal Narra- tive. THE RHINOCEROS. A most important addition has just been made to the already valuable collection in the Surrey Zoo- logical gardens, by the acquisition of a fine young rhinoceros, the only one of the species which has been in this country for tlie last 20 years. About that length of time back there was one which had been for a considerable period in the collection of Mr. Cross, of Exeter Change. The great value at- tached to the possession of a living specimen of this animal, and the difficulty of procuring one, may be inferred from the fact that the cost of the present, ft-om the time it was taken in the Birman empire, and the charge of its food and conveyance to England, have exceeded 1,OOOZ, though it is yet little more than a year an a half old. It is, how- ever, though BO young, strong and apparently healthy. Its height is about that of a good sized Hampshire hog, to which, when lying down, it has some resemblance ; but this resemblance is lost when the animal walks about, except in the lower part of the head, or the snout. It is, however, much stouter and stronger made in the shoulders and legs than a hog, and greatly exceeds in girth any hog of its height. This young one is now very quiet and harmless, and will follow its keeper, or indeed any one who offers it a piece of bread or biscuit, which it will eat greedily. Its chief food at present is rice mixed with sugar in equal quan- tities, but it will also eat bran and hay, and seems pleased with prickly plants, and the small branches of thorny shrubs. When full-grown the voracity of the rhinoceros is very great, and the quantity of food which it consumes is enormous. That which was brought to E.KCter Change in 1790, and which remained here for many years, used to eat for his daily allowance 281b of ship-biscuit, two trusses of clover, besides a considerable quantity of hay and greens. Its allowance of drink was five pails of water, which were given three times a-day. the skin of this young one is that dirty mud colour, something like that of the elephant, but in other respects there is no resemblance. The skin of the rhinoceros is tuberculatcd, and exceedingly hard, and is so even in this young one, and hangs loosely about the neck and shoulders j but when it is full- grown, which h not before its 20tli year, the skin 46 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, is raised in thick folds or plaits over the shoulders and hams, so as at a distance to resemble a testa- cious covipring, and to give the animal an appear- ance of being in armour. Indeed, in effect it is so, for the skin in those places is sometimes four inches thick, and so hard as to be impenetrable to sword or spear, or even to a musket-ball. The portion of the snout which belongs to the upper jaw is very flexible, and can be protruded at will to some ex- tent beyond the jaw, and in this way the animal constantly uses it in thrusting small pieces of food into its mouth. About two or three inches above the snout is a hard bony substance, the germ of the future horn. In some animals this horn extends to the length of three feet. In most, however, it does not reach that length, but in every case in the full-grown animal it is a most formidable weapon of attack. The eyes of the rhinoceros are very small, and something resemble those of a hog, though from the smallness, compared with the size, they appear much more sharp. The present specimen, owing to its youth, is, as we have already stated, very harmless, and will follow in a fawning manner those who feed it ; yet we understand that as it approaches to mature age its native fierceness will break out, and will not tolerate the familiar approach of man, nor at times can its keeper enter its den without considerable danger. The last rhi- noceros in this country was so fierce that it could not be exhibited until it was secured in its den by very heavy chains. It will, however, be many years before a similar precaution can be necessary with the young one we have just described. ON PRUNING TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF TIMBER. With regard to the purpose of improving the qua- lity of the timber, I do not know in what manner it can be imagined to have the effect of producing an union between the old and new wood ; for all the effects I know of are injurious to the quality of the timber. It is a fact not generally known, that when- ever a bough is cut from a tree, no union can ever take place between the wounded part and the new wood. The end of a branch, were cut off, may be imbedded in the new wood, but I believe there never can be a perfect union; 1 never could, in any of the timber I have seen sawn open, discover the slightest inclination in the wood to unite with the end grain of a bough cut off; and no person has so good an oppor- tunity of observing the effects of pruning, as he who is continually seeing pruned trees opened. Pruners would, perhaps be more cautious were they continu- ally to bear in mind, that every bough cut off near the stem, causes an irremediable blemish in the timber. If the bough cut off, be too large for the new wood to grow over before decay takes place, a rotten part is enclosed, or partly enclosed ; and if, either through protection, by means of cement or otherwise, the wound be covered by new wood before decay takes place, still there is a blemish in the timber : for the new and old wood will not unite. It is said by some that the sap of wood will unite with the young or newly formed wood. This is not true ; no union ever takes place between any part of the end grain of a bough cut off and the wood that is afterwards formed. Experienced timber dealers know well that pruned timber is less valuable than unpruned timber, and that the more trees are pruned, the less valuable is the timber they produce. Trees that have not been pruned nor had their limbs, stems, nor roots mutilated, may be depended on as sound ; their stems are^almos* certain to be free from decay, or any other kind of blemish, for this plain reason, because the whole of their substance, even to their centre, is alive. It has been stated before, that when part of the roots of a tree are destroyed, some of its branches die ; and when that part of its branches are destroyed, some of its roots die. Can it be wondered at then, that the stem which is the channel of communication between the roots and branches, should be injured by having a portion of its substance rendered useless ? So long as the fibres and tubes which compose the stem are kept in use, and have a stream or current of sap flowing in them, there is no chance of decay ; it is impossible that decay can take place under such circumstances. How desirable then is it, that the circulation of the juices through the stem should not be stopped or checked. When the limbs of a tree are cut off, some of the sap vessels of the stem are rendered useless, and being of no use, they contract and often decay. Their con- traction occasions what carpenters call shakes ; and in a tree that has lost many boughs, it may be seen that a certain portion of the middle of its stems has con- tracted and separated from a ring of live wood, which is at the outside of the stem, forming a hollow cylin- der, enclosing the contracted dead wood in the centre. This is a very common blemish in pruned timber, but it cannot be discovered till the stem is cut through. This is one of the least injurious effects that pruning can have on the quality of timber : the worst, and by far the most common, is decay, which is almost cer- tain to take place at the part where a bough has been cut off, and which seldom fails, sooner or later, to ex- tend itself through the whole stem. Pruning cannot improve the quality of the timber by reducing knottiness, a live knot in timber every carpenter knows to be less hurtful than a dead one. It is impossible to reduce the number of knots by pru- ning, but almost certain that the number must be in- creased. Those who imagine that limber may, by pruning, be rendered less knotty, must know but little of that admirable property in trees, to adopt the best shape to their situation : they never could have com- pared the shape of a detached and unmutilated tree in an open situation, with that of one growing in a grove, and closely surrounded by other trees. Let them well consider what is the cause of difference in the forms of the two trees ; and when they have dis- covered and well understand this, I will answer for them, they will not attempt to procure the long, knot- less timber of the grove from the detached tree. — Bal- lad's Treatise on the Nature of Trees. AGRICULTURAL FESTIVAL AT MUNICH. I know not whether, during your stay here, you observed the great meadow before the town, where what is called the October festival is held. This meadow is enclosed on the west by a range of gen- tle acclivities, disposed somewhat in the form of an amphitheatre. Every year, in October, a great multitude of people from all parts of the kingdom assemble at this festival, which was established by the Agricultural Society, for the exhibition of agricultural produce, and for the granting of pre- miums to the producers of objects worthy of re- ward. Those farmers who distinguish themselves by their agricultui'al labours, or by the quality and genuineness of the breed of their horses, bullocks, sheep, and pigs, receive publicly, from the hands THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 47 of the minister for the home department, and in the presence of the King and the whole Court, the prizes previously awarded to them by the decision of agricultural judges. Public games and horse- races are connected with this solemnity. Thus, besides the great utility of this annual festival in encouraging and improving agriculture, it aifords to the mere spectator a most pleasing spectacle and much genuine enjoyment. On these amphi- theatre-like heights, where the Bavarian people, like the ancient Greeks at the Olympic games, an- nually assemble, a picturesque plantation has been laid out by order of the King. This plantation is to serve as an enclosure and background to a building which is to have the character of a monu- ment, and in which the busts of eminent national artists and men of letters will be placed. The plantation is in the natural style of landscape-gar- dening ; and, though it is as yet of little height, it has a very picturesque effect, which will be greatly increased when the architectural objects are finish- ed. I must also mention that our beautiful English garden, a plan of which I have sent you, is about to receive a new and magnificent ornament. The first grand view of the garden, or that which is seen on entering as you come from the town, has hitherto, notwithstanding all the natural beauty produced by the simplicity of the planting, been felt to want a suitable architectural object, to serve as a resting-point for the eye of the spectator. This object our monarch's love of art is now about to supply. A circular temple of red marble, 54 feet high and 23 feet in diameter, will soon adorn this fine garden scene. The grand effect of this temple will be greatly increased by its site. It is to be erected on a hill of considerable height, formed, indeed, by art, but in the true style of natural gardening. Here, the eye of the delighted pro- menader will enjoy, not only a view of this beau- tiful garden scene, with the waterfal and river in rapid motion below him, but also of the city, with its lofty towers, in the background ; and looking over the city, he will have, in the distant south, the prospect of the majestic chain of the Tyrolese Alps. Full three years must yet elapse before this grand garden scene can be finished. If you should visit Munich after that period, you will see it in a complete state, and I hope you will be pleased with its execution. I am always yours, — Sckell. — Gardener's Magazine. BILLS OF EXCHANGE. (from gilbert's history and principles of BANKING.) Bills of exchange are said to have been invented in the fourteenth century, by the Jews or the Lom- bards, for the purpose of withdrawing their pro- perty from the countries from which they were expelled. The drawer and the acceptor of a bill were two persons, residing at two distant places, and the bill was probably nothing more than a written order delivered to a third person, who was going to visit the place where the debtor resided. and who would return with the money to the drawer. But it might happen that this person was not going to return : in this case he might ad- vance to the creditor the amount of the order, and receive the money again from the debtor when he arrived at his journey's end. But this third person might not be going to the place where the debtor resided — he might be going only a part of the way, and he might then fall in with some other person who was going the other part ; he would then re- quest this other person to advance him the money in exchange for the order he had received from the creditor, and the order would be then transferred. — It would thus be discovered that as a creditor might give an order upon his debtor to a third person, this third person might transfer the order to a fourth, the fourth to a fifth, and so on. To effect these transactions it would be necessary that each person receiving the order or bill had confidence in the drawer or some of the indorsers, and also that each person receiving it should have some com- pensation for the trouble it occasioned him. If the order were not payable on demand, but at some months after date, the compensation woidd be increased by the amount of interest for the time the order had to run before it would be pay- able. Such is at present the case. The drawer of a bill on a person residing in the country sells it on the Exchange. Foreign bills are never said to be discounted, but to be sold ; for the person who gives the drawer the amount is supposed to deduct not only the interest on the bill but also the ex- pense of its transmission. The buyer of a bill is a person who owes a sum of money to a person in another country (say in France), and who wants a bill to remit thither to pay his debt. The seller of a bill is a person who has exported a quantity of goods to France, and who draws a bill for the amount ; it will be for the convenience of these two people to deal together : the buyer will give his money in exchange for the bill, which he will send to his creditor in France, and the seller will give his bill in exchange for the buyer's money by which he is paid for the goods he has exported. If this money be equal to the amount of the bill minus only what may be deemed equal to the dis- count and the expense of transmission, the ex- change is said to be at par ; but there are various circumstances which may cause the exchange to be either above or below par, and the price given for bills of exchange will vary' accordingly. When two nations exchange their commodities with each other to exactly the same amount, the buyers will be just as numerous as the sellers. The demand for bills and the supply of bills will be equal ; the exchange will now be at par ; but it rarely or never happens that the exports and im- ports between any two countries are precisely the same ; and as gold is the medium of traffic between nations as well as between individuals, the balance or difference between the purchases and the sales must be remitted in that metal. Now the expense in freight and insurance of sending a quantity of gold from one country to another, will not be inconsiderable. If, then, I owe a sum of money to a merchant in France' I would be willing to give something more than that sum for a bill rather than submit to the expense and trouble of remitting gold. But if the bill would cost more than the expense at which I could sendtlie gold, why, then, the gold should go. It is evident, then, that in that nation which is in debt to another nation, and which, consequently, has to send gold to pay its debts, the demand for bills of exchange will be greater than the supply. These bills will be sold for more than the amount of money for which they are drawn. They are then at a j)remium, but this premium can never rise higher than the expense of remitting an equal amount of gold : for if it were cheaper to remit gold, the gold would be remitted. The price of bills in the market is usually called 48 THE FARMEH'S MAGAZINE. the rate of exchange, and when the balance of trade is against a country and gold must be remit- ted to pay that balance, and consequently the price of foreign bills rises beyond their real value or par, then the course of exchange is said to be against that countiy. Thus, for instance, if in London I can sell a bill on Paris for more than the amount for which it is drawn, then the course of exchange is said be against England and in favonr of France ; but if I am obliged to sell my bill for less than the amount, then the exchange is against France and in favour of England. The price of bills is regulated entirely by the proportion that may exist between the demand and the supply, and the demand and the supply are regulated chiefly by the state of trade between the raspective coun- tries. At the present moment, when it is anticipated that some extensive alterations are about to be pro- posed in our poor law system, and the corn law question continues to be so much the subject of discussion, it may not be uninteresting to the nu- merous readers of this Journal, which takes so pro- minent a part in discussing these important national questions, to lay before the public the following statement, taken from the third report of the Emi- gration Committee in the year 1829, of the appro- priation as to cultivation of the lands of all the British Islands. "a O Uncultivated wastes capa- ble of im- provement. 1 2 S3 t3 3 e5 England Wales Scotland Ireland British Islands. Acres. 26632000 3117000 5265000 12125280 383690 Acres. 3454000 530000 5950000 4900000 166000 Acres. 3256400 1105000 8523930 2416664 569469 Acres. 32342400 4752000 19738930 19441944 1119159 46522970 1500000o|l5871463 77394433 We are not singular in stating, as this Journal has often remarked, that it would be impolitic to force a free trade upon this country, when we have such a vast superficies of the British soil awaiting only for the development of its mighty resources, by the application of the industrial energies of the labouring population. Could but some mighty mind arise to guide our would-be statesmen in their deliberations upon the cause of the distress amongst the agricultural labouring population, and the cor- rection of the abuses of our poor kws, how much might be done towards nullifying the present demo- ralized position of our paupers, and creating their happiness, and an increase of the real necessaries of life, so essential to the promotion of manufacturing prosperity, without the necessity of making this country even partially dependent upon foreign States for a due siipply of food. The Wool Trade. — London, Thursday, April 10. — The public sales of Colonial and other descriptions of wools, the commencement of which we referi-ed to in our communication this day week, were continued on Friday and Satui-day. The bulk of the sales of the two last days of the ^¥eek eonsiated of Spanish wools, of sVhisb 3,254 bales were declared for sale, and to this consider- able attention was drawn among persons connected with the trade. The Spanish wools offered were certainly not of a quality that were required by the trade, and although we must quote a depression of from 3d to 4d per lb on the quantity sold, as com- pared with the rates previously obtained by public sale, it is hardly fair to state that the wool market generally has fallen in the same proportion. In fact, since the sale concluded, we are informed that business has been done by private contract in Spanish wool on more favourable terms than those offered for the wools that were withdrawn on Fri- day and Saturday last. Nevertheless, it cannot be concealed that much heaviness does prevail at the present moment, not only in the wool, but in the silk and other staple articles of trade. This by some is attributed to the influence which the pro- ceedings of the Unions has had on many branches of trade — strikes on the part of workmen being talked of in almost all branches of industry. The Australian wools offered at the late sales realized what were considered fair prices, considering the quality offered. The Cape, Russian, and other wools offered were, in general, of indifferent qualities, and sold without animation. Six bales of wool from the new colony on the Swan River were also offered ; the first lot was in the grease, and sold at Is per lb., and the other at Is 6d per lb. Among the trade here the more general opinion is, that prices will certainly rally as the spring advances, notwith- standing the anticipation of increased arrivals from abroad during the present year. The sales on Friday were conducted bj'' Messrs. Simes and Co., and Messrs. Loughnan and Hughes ; and on Saturday by Messrs. Lord and Hall. They were pretty fully attended on Friday, but on Saturday the interest appeared to have subsided, and the at- tendance was but thin. Grapeb. — A variety of causes have been assigned for that disease in forced grapes which produces a shrivelled appearance in the foot-stalks of the bunches, and also a want of size and colour in tiie berries, more especially in the Fontignans and Muscats. Some consider that it proceeds from the roots being too deep in the ground ; others think that it is occa- sioned by the temperature of the earth in which the root grows (when planted outside the house} being so much lower than that of the atmosphere within ; and some attribute the disease to a want of air. Having observed that early forced grapes are in general free from this disease, and that it never occurs to grapes grown in the open air, and having found that some bunches immediately over a steam pipe were free from it, I have come to the conclusion that the cause is stagnation of cold moist air, and the remedy the ap- plication of heat to such an extent (even in summer when the weather is cloudy) as to admit every warm day of opening the windows sufficiently to occasion a free circulation of air. This plan h;is been practised with complete success. — Gardener's Magazine, A superior sort of rye-grass, the tolium perenne Ilalica, or Italian rye-grass, has just been introduced into this neighbourhood. It differs from the common, having larger leaves, darker green, grows to a greater height, is eaten greedily by the cattle green or dry, and yields 50 per cent, more of hay, is softer, more juicy, and of a richer foliage, and more hardy than all other rye- grass. An eminent Agriculturist in the vicinity of Plymouth, who sowed a three-acre field with it on the '29th Oct. last, states in a letter of Feb. "22, that " it has been eaten by sheep twice, and is- now ^tocks'i Vi'ith sheep again »-~-P/^t/mo!a/i JoumaU THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 49 CHEAP BREAD. " Considering- how the introduction of this great project will meet the cry now raised for cheap BREAD in a way that will restore the prosperity of our depressed agriculturists ; and, together with putting our manuiacturers on the same footing with our continental competitors, furnish a new and extensive market at home : — further, how it will, by improving the iron and coal trades, increasing travelling, road-making, machinery, &c., advance the universal industry of the country, is it not a matter of sufficient magnitude to be entitled to the prompt fur- therance of the Government ■? My Lord, by calcula- tions prepared for the iuspection of Ministers, it ap- pears, thfit after paying all expenses, and reducing fares a half, about 40/. per cent, will be the clear profit which will arise from Steam conveyance upon the capital embarked. If Government then will bor- row 10,O0O,OOOZ. to put the project into practice, it will eventually reap for State purposes 5,000,000;. annually, and will be enabled to effect a commensu- rate reduction of taxation, without the present accom- panying evil, curtailment of expenditure." — (Letter to Lord Brougham.) — Journal of Steam Transport and Husbandry." UPON THE NECESSITY OF THE COMMUTATION OF TITHES, And upon the means of rendering the soil of the British Islands capable of abundantly supporting twice the amount of their present population : addressed to the Right ifo?z. Viscount Althorp, Chancellor of the Exchequer, 4"C., Sfc. By T. A. Knight, Esq., F.R.S. F.L.S., and President of the Horticultural Society of London: We now come to the most important part of Mr. Knight's letter— his plan of commutation. On the pressing necessity of an immediate com- mutation, he remarks, " I need not trouble your Lordship with further statements to prove that the laws (if I must dignify the above-mentioned decisions with the name of lawsj are, in their present form, injurious alike to agricul- ture, and national prosperity, and to the interests of religion, and that an alteration of those laws is not only expedient, but necessary. No temporary com- position will be efficient, or, to any considerable ex- tent, useful. Landlords will not sink, in the erection of more farm houses, or buildings, or other permanent improvements, the sums necessary to enable the farmer to cultivate the soil with the greatest advantage to the public, and the clergyman ought not to be seen in his parish as a spy upon every improvement of which he may subsequently take advantage : and it is scarcely necessary to remark, that the farmer, as the termination of the contract approaches, would cease to manure his farm, and theseby reduce the value of the tithe of it, before it would be subjected to a new valuation ; and the landlord's and farmer's interest would be the same. A permanent commutation of tithes must take place, and this is called for alike by well-founded public opinion, and the cause of reli- gion ; and it is therefore only necessary to ascertain by what means a fair and full equivalent can be best given to the church, without injustice being done to the landowner." — pp. 21, 22. Now for the various modes by which commuta- tion may be effected. " The most obviously equitable kind of commuta- tion of tithe would be to give to the tithe-owner the value of a tenth, in the nearest market, or in the county town, of the produce of each farm, under such a state of culture as would be adopted if the tithe laws were fully, though notvexatiously, enfoBaed, deducting the expense of preparing and taking the same to market. But the calculation of the value of so many different articles would be much too com- plicated. It wiirtherefore be necessary to select a few articles of agricultural produce, or to take one only, if the price of one can be made to represent the value of all with sufficient accuracy. A corn rent was found formerly to have done this with sufficient accuracy ; but bread then constituted a much larger' portion of the food of the mass of people than it now does, and the corn grown in the British islands wholly supplied the inhabitants with bread ; and every farmer could then, by a little increase of industry, increase his produce of corn to a great amount. But the exhausted state of the greater part of the tillage of England now precludes the possibility of this being done . The farmer then derived, chiefly from his corn field, the means of supporting his family, and satis- fying the demands of his landlord ; and the price of wheat fluctuated only in proportion as the seasons were more or less favourable. At the present period the price of wheat i»ay be greatly affected .1^ the state of other countries, and by mercantile specula- tion ; and no tithe valuer can, I think, with any de- gree of well-founded confidence, nearly say what will be the future price of wheat comparatively with the different articles which are produced by a British farm. " By a corn rent, however, the clergy and other tithe owners (of which I am, to a considerable ex- tent one) might, and probably would, I think, be well paid, for almost every fluctuation of price would probably be in their favour ; and if this country be placed, to a great extent, in dependance upon the importation of foreign corn, under mercantile specula- tion, those fluctuations can, I conceive, scarcely fail to be great. The price of corn will, of course, be highest when the Biitish farmer, owing to unfavourable seasons, has least corn to sell, and he will, in conse- quence, have most to pay, when his ability to pay will be least ; and the clergy will be viewed, and justly too, by the peasantry of their parishes, as parties deeply, and to a considerable extent exclusive- ly interested in the high price of that which they con- sider the first necessary of life : and I fully believe that a worse method of paying the clergy, than by a corn rent, however well that might have been adapted to other times, cannot now very easily be devised. I fear, however, that the measure will be much pressed upon your Lordship, and perhaps by some of those who agree with me in thinking it amongst the worst possible." — pp. 22, 23. Several objections to a corn rent are heie stated so forcibly, that we will not attempt to weakea them, as we should do by comments. There are, however, other objections ; but Mr. Knight has adduced a sufficiency to deter Lord Althorp from adopting a corn rent as the ground work of his Bill. Mr. Knight proposes that the price of animal food should be the standard by which a tithe-rent ought to be measured. Here are his reasons : — " The price of animal food appears to me to be by far the best basis for a just estimate of the value of tithes ; as the value of the tithe, even of tillage, may be, I conceive, more readily and justly calculated by it, than by a corn rent, at the present period, when corn but ill repays the simple cost of its production. Two corn crops in five years are also as much as pro- perly managed tillage is usually made to bear. In the 50 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. other three years it affords animal food only : and the straw of the wheat, or barley, or oats, supports, with a moderate quantity of turnips, the vast number of young oxen, and other cattle, of this and other coun- tries ; and the grains of the barley and bran of the wheat are employed in the production of animal food only ; and, in England at least, a very small quantity of oats is consumed as food immediately by mankind." —p. 24. The author then proceeds to show that the pro- duce of animal food, of every acre, might be dou- bled, by the employnnent of more capital, and a superior mode of management; and infers, that as the supply could be made to meet the demand, there is little prospect of the price of animal food becoming, within any moderate extent of time, extravagantly high ; and the appetite of mankind is too strong to permit its price being ever very low. JVIr. Knight then enters upon the detail of his plan. "Let a clerk be appointed in every county tow;i, to register, on the chief market day, the average price of meat in every week ; and let the price registered be exposed in the market place of each country town, on the following chief market day. Frauds may be practised between the farmer and miller respecting the market price of corn ; but every householder would be able, in this case, to speak to the price of meat. No fraud of any kind could therefore possibly be prac- tised. The average price of meat might be published quarterly, or half-yearly, and transmitted to govern- ment, which would thus be accurately informed of its price ; and the landlords might be bound to pay, or cause to be paid, to the clergy, or other tithe-owners, a greater or less sum, proportionate to the average price of meat during each period. If either the re- ceivers, or payers, should be dissatisfied with the prices registered by,the clerk of the market, the point in dispute would probably be left to arbitration ; or, in the event of its being brought before a court of jus- tice, a single trial would terminate all the disputes in each county ; and the evidence would be all resident upon the spot. The clergy, would, I am certain, nnder this mode of arrangement, be better paid , all quarrels with their parishioners would for ever be ter- minated, and the revenue of the clergy would stimu- late the industry of the farmer, and impel him to sup- ply the markets regularly and abundantly." — pp. 29, 30. ***** " The registration above-mentioned, of the average price of aniiflal food (meat), would be productive of the further good effects of enabling landlords to let, and tenants to take, leases .with advantage ; for, if the stipulated rents were made to rise and fall with the price of meat, neither could sustain much injury ; and if the tenant should possess, what unhappily very few do, command of capital, he might employ such capital with much advantage ; for the production of animal food may, in almost all cases, be immensely increased by a more extensive use of capital." — p. 38. But the first consideration is, whether the price of animal food be the best standard for a tithe- rent ? Mr. Knight has certainly persuaded us that it would be less variable than the price of corn ; nevertheless, it is only preferable in degree, for any commutation which should make the tithe-rent rise and fall with the general market, would leave one of those elements of strife which have been characteristic of the collection of tithe. We con- clude, that Mr. Knight intends, by his plan, that the present yearly value of the tithes throughout England and Wales should be correctly estimated ; and that, taking the present average price of beef and mutton, say at 6s. per stone of 121bs., thefarm whose tithes are now worth yearly 10/. should in future be tithe-rated in the same proportion. Ad- mitting that the averages would be always honest- ly taken, the question would be every year reduced to a problem of simple arithmetical proportion ; if 6s. : 200 :; 5s. : or, 6s. : 200 :: 7s. ; . So far, all is clear enough ; up to this point, tithe-claims would be more easily settled, and tithe-values more easily estimated than rents ; but beyond this point, we see a train of consequences, which may be produc- tive of much dissatisfaction, and ultimately may engender nearly as much ill feeling against the tithe-demand, as is witnessed throughout the country at the present moment. By Mr. Knight's plan, tithe might probably no longer operate in any manner as a bar to agricul- tural improvement ; in fact, his plan might pro- mote improvement, as far as tithes are concerned, inasmuch as the greater the amount of animal produce brought to market, the lower the price, (unless the demand increased pari passu) and, therefore, the smaller the rent of the tithe-owner. But let us suppose Mr. Knight's plan to commence from the present year, and that 6d per lb should be the average price of meat ; in ten years hence, gold might be appreciated or depreciated ; in the former instance, 4Jd might be the average, and the rent of the tithe owner would be proportion- ably depreciated ; in the latter instance, 9d might be the average, and his rent would be proportion- ably appreciated. To this it might be answered, that although the tithe-owner's rent, in relation to the 4Jd, would be small, it would be equivalent to that in relation to the 6d, because, in expenditure, it would purchase the same amount of commo- dities ; and the same principle would apply to the 9d ; this we would admit, provided the price of meat regulated the prices of the manufactured products of the markets of Manchester, Birming- ham, and London ; but it does not, and, therefore, great fluctuations in the prices of articles not purely agricultural, would operate injuriously to the farmer or to the tithe-owner. Any plan of com- mutation, which should be based on the year's price of meat or corn, or, in fact, of any particular article of agriculture or commerce, would inevita- bly inflict injustice either on the payer or receiver, in proportion to the fall or rise of the prices of those products, which did not form the rule for the estimation of the tithe value. Again, — if increased breeding, consequent on Mr. Knight's plan of doubling the produce of animal food, were to take place, one of two things must follow : — the consumption must be doubled, which would not be the case without a great in- crease of population, or an unexpected increase in the profits of agriculture and commerce, so as to enable the operatives to purchase more animal food ; — or, the meat markets would be so glutted, that prices would fall in a ruinous manner. But we know that the supply could never, for a long time, greatly exceed the demand ; for breeding would be checked as the prices fell, because, as Mr. Knight has before truly observed, ' the value of every product of human labour and capital can never remain permanently less than the cost of its production.' Now increased demand must always precede increased price ; — would not an increasing trade in the manufacturing districts, coupled with an increasing population, raise the price of meat quicker than Mr. Knight's improved course of pasture management would enable the farmer to increase his supply, and, therefore, would not his THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 51 tithe-rent be increasing, while the value of other products of the farm might be stationary or per- haps retrograding ? But if we adopt meat as the standard, it is of the highest importance that, when the annual value of tithes is estimated and rendered permanent by a reference to such a standard, the price of meat, in an ordinary set of circumstances, should be ascer- tained, At the present time, the price of meat is according to an extraordinary set of circum- stances ; and this shews theliability of a tithe-rent fixed according to the prices of any particular pro- ducts, operating unfairly to the payer or receiver. Let Mr. Knight's proposition be carried into effect during the current year; the rent-tithe would be fixed on too high a scale, for the price of meat is accidentally higher than the price of other agri- cultural products. The prices of meat have been kept up by the depressed circumstances of the farmer, and by the dreadful destruction of sheep by the rot ; either case proves that if the price of meat were a standard of tithe-value, the farmer would often be called upon to pay the highest sum, when he was the least able to pay the smallest. "The diminished capital of the tenant and his con- sequent poverty has induced him to force his stock prematurely to market, and to encroach upon his feed- ing stock, which has diminished his supply. The demand for meat having been steadily good, and the supply having diminished, a rise in price has conse- quently followed." — Mr. John Hancock, of Hulse, Somerset, before the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, 1833. " The high price of mutton the last four or five years has arisen from the rot, and has not made up to the farmer for the loss of his sheep, many farmers having lost the whole of their flocks. If things were as they have beenVithin the last ten years, mutton would have been 9d or lOd a pound, it is so scarce," — Mr. John Buckley, of Noi-manton, Leicestershire, ■—lb. ' " I think the price of meat has been most materially increased by the rot in sheep, which has been to a fearful extent. The price has been no profit to those whose sheep were destroyed by the rot ; it has been a great profit to the dry land farmer, he having reaped the advantage of others' loss. If there had been no scarcity during the last three or four years, and no rise in cattle, the prices of corn and cattle would not have been so high as they are now. — Mr. Smith Woolley, South Collinghamshire. — lb. Now this evidence pi'oves, that if a tithe-rent were to rise with the price of meat, it might, as it would have done for the last three or four years, inflict such a manifest injury on the wet-land farmers, that murmurings ' loud and deep,' would resound from one end of England to the other, against the law-made oppressors, the tithe owners. We regard, therefore, as objectionable, all tithe- rents estimated according to a fixed scale, formed in relation to the prices of particular products ; and we do not see in what manner they could be made to operate fairly both to the tithe-receiver and payer. The great objects, — equity to the tithe-payer and receiver, and the promotion of agricultural improvement, in which the country generally is so deeply concerned, — can, in our humble opinion, be secured in no other manner than by a commu- tation in land — a complete redemption. We are aware that there are many difficulties to be re- moved, many considerations to be well weighed, before a plan for complete redemption can be effected. plete redemption, the tithe-owners would par- take of advantages of which they could not be deprived. For the last 150 years an increasing population has created an increasing demand for agricultural products, peculiar national circum- stances have enhanced the value of such pro- ducts, and thereby occasioned great outlays of ca- pital and consequent improved cultivation ; and this course of events has proceeded without any assisting participation on the part of the tithe- owner. This series of causes and effects have, therefore, been highly favourable to tithe-property ; for as the value of products has advanced, so has been enhanced the value of tithe, and this enhanced value of tithe has again increased the prices of products, consequently, the constant tendency of tithe-operation to increase prices must have pro- duced injurious national effects. Therefore, the extinction of tithes by redemption would be a na- tional benefit ; to bring about this consummation, all parties should unite. Could it not be effected in two years > We have neither space nor leisure to consider the details of such a plan ; indeed, we leave it to more competent hands. The Legisla- ture might pass a law empowering the owner and payer of tithes to commute the charge by redemp- tion ; this permissive law might extend to twelve months ; the preamble of such measure to declare, that at the expiration of the year, commutation would be compulsory, after the mode laid down by a second act. We cannot conclude this notice without again requesting our readers to purchase this pamphlet. Every paragraph which comes from the pen of Mr. Knight deserves consideration. The worthy pre- sident has evidently, in all his enquiries, pursued the Baconian inductive system. He has gathered together large masses of facts, and thence deduced common properties, which may be termed general truths; and although we might not always believe that his table is sufficiently comprehensive to war- ranty his genera 1 conclusions, we hesitate not to admit that we have never risen from the perusal of his lucubrations, without adding something to our small store of knowledge. — Hereford Times. ANALYSIS OF THE TITHE COMMU- TATION BILL. PRINCIPLES OF THE BILL FOR THE COMMUTATION AND REDEMPTION OF TITHES. Valuers are to be appointed in the different counties, whose duty it will be to ascertain the actual annual value of the lands in each parish now subject to tithes, distinguishing the land into two classes — arable and not arable. The rent paid, it is presumed, will in general be taken to be the annual value ; so that actual valua- tion will not be necessary, except where the land is manifestly let above or below its real value, and where the parties interested cannot agree, or where fiaud or collusion is suspected. The valuers wiU in iike manner ascertain the amount of tithes paid by the same lands in each parish on the average of the last five years, distinguishing the amount paid by arable, and the amount paid by not arable. This having been done for each parish of a county or district, the proportion between the total tithe paid for all the parishes in that district and the rent of the land which pays it is determined, and this proportion becomes the tithe rate of the county or district, and continues invariable. In ascertaining this tithe rate, the distinction between arable and not arable is preserved. For example Under a corn-rent, meat-rent, or a com- — suppose the annual value of the arable land is E 2 52 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 100,000^, and the value of the tithe 20,000Z; the arable tithe rate will be in that district 4s per pound on the annual value or rent. Suppose the rent of the pasture land in the same district to be 80,000i, the tithe 10,000^; the non-arable tithe rate will be 2s 6d per pound on the rent of land not arable. These respective rates, viz., 4s per pound and 2s 6d per pound, being thus determined for the district, are to remain fixed and unaltera- ble ; but the annual value of the land is subject to revision every seven years ; so that the amount paid in lieu of tithe may rise or fall at these inter- vals with the rent of the land which pays it. The payment of this sum is cast upon the landlord in- stead of the tenant, a provision which at once re- moves the cause of those frequent disputes between the clergyman and his parishioners, not less de- structive of the moral influence of the one than in- jurious to the real interests of both. So far the measure is imperative. If the land- owner is of opinion that the value of land is fall- ing, he may not be disposed to proceed further : if, on the contrary, he expects that it will rise, or if he means to lay out capital on his land, he may convert (if unwilling or unable to redeem in the manner to be explained presently) the annual tithe charge above-mentioned, and subject to cer- tain variations depending on the value of the land, into a fixed and permanent rent charge, estimated in bushels of wheat, in the manner usually adopted in regulating corn rents. By adopting for the value of tithes the average payment of the last five years, an actual valuation is avoided, which it is well known would raise very materially the total amount of tithe paid throughout England. By determining the tithe- rate for a district or county, the injustice so loudly and fairly complained of in the bill of last year, of fixing a heavy permanent charge on a parish where tithes had been severely exacted, and a light charge where they had been moderately taken, is avoided. By the present plan, where the demand has been severe it will be reduced, where it has been un- usually small it will be increased, where it has been moderate it will continue nearly the same. The amount, therefore, to be paid to the tithe- owners in lieu of tithes in any county or district, will remain unchanged, though its distribution may be thus partially altered. But while the consequence of determining the tithe rate for each individual parish would have been the objectionable result which we have ex- plained, on the other hand too large a district is to be avoided. There are local customs observed in valuing and paying tithe peculiar to different counties, and so generally observed as essentially to affect the value of the land. In Northumberland and other northern counties, for example, it is the practice to value the crops annually ; in Devon- shire to take a portion of the rent ; in Kent to col- lect in kind, or to enter into composition for a cer- tain number of years. In the latter county, where the collecting in kind is not unusual, the value of tithe is much nearer its true value than in those counties where the practice is rare. These differ- ences, however, are so marked, and the value of land is so much affected by them, that it becomes desirable to limit and define the districts, accord- ing to the prevalence of particular customs, as well as the nature of the cultivation, and the general fertility and character of the soil. As the tithe of poor land bears a larger propor- tion to rent than the tithe of rich land, and a rate bearing the same proportion to the rent is to be mposed'on both, the poor land will be somewhat benefited at the expense of the rich ; but there can be no great objection, we conceive, to an arrange- ment which does nothing more than equalize the burdens of the poor land and the rich. In the case of hop land, a fixed sum of shillings per acre will be charged in addition to that which it would have paid if only subject to the arable tithe rate of the county ; and any land on which the tithe-rate may have been redeemed shall nevertheless become subject to this fixed annual charge if hops be grown thereon. With respect to the redemption, it is provided that any owner of land may, by a payment equal to 25 years' purchase of the annual charge, deter- mined in the manner abovementioned, free his land from such charge for all time to come. The fixed rent charge, the nature of which we have already explained, may also be redeemed at the same rate. At the present rate of interest this will not yield to the clergyman so much as he receives from the tithe ; but this small pecuniary sacrifice will probably be more than compensated by the certainty and facility of payment, and the removal of those many annoyances to which he is now subject. The purchase-money of all clerical tithes to be paid to commissioners appointed by the bishop of the diocess, and to be invested in the public secu- rities or in land, or on mortgage, as may seem to them most expedient. When the whole or any portion of the purchase-money for any parish is invested in land, such land must be situated either in the parish itself or in an adjoining parish, and is to be considered as glebe land, under the con- trol and management of the incumbent, who is empowered to grant a lease for 21 years, but re- strained from receiving any fine or premium for its renewal. Such we believe to be the outline of the pro- posed measure ; we have endeavoured to explain its principles, avoiding all technicality and as much detail as possible. When the bill is before the house we shall again return to the subject, and point out the provisions for adjusting the propor- tion between great and small tithes — for regulating the mode of proceeding in those cases where the produce of the land is wholly or in part protected by a modus, and where tithes are let on lease for a term of years or for lives. The tithes of the lay impropriator are, we per- ceive, to be dealt with in the same manner as those of the church. TITHES.— PETITION FROM KENT. To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom in Parliament assembled. The Petition of the Agriculturists, and others, in- habitants of East Kent openly assembled in the Corn Market, at Canterbury, this 12th day of April, 1834, Humbly showeth — That your petitioners, being deeply interested in agriculture, feel grievously oppressed by the various taxes, rates, and other charges to which they are sub- ject; that when corn was selling at 100s the quarter these charges were onerous, but now that corn is un- der 50 they are become overwhelming — interfere with the productive powers of the soil — and threaten con- vulsion, by preventing a greater demand for labour from a constantly increasing population. That the payment of a tithe of the produce is one of the heaviest burthens your petitioners are subject to ; they therefore pray your Honourable House will abo- lish tithes altogether, upon just, fair, and equitable principles, — that is, with due regard to private pro- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 53 perty, aud an equitable couslderatiou of existing in- terests. A considerable proportion of your petitioners are members of the Church of England, attached to its spiritual doctrines, and desirous of its prosperity ; but they conscientiously believe that true religion will be benefitted by the abolition of tithes, which too fre- quently give rise to collisions between the pastor and his flock, alike injurious to the best interests of religion, and to that Christian charity which is the bond of peace. And your petitioners will ever pray, &c. EMIGRATION TO UPPER CANADA AS A MEANS OF RELIEVING THE PA- RISHES IN ENGLAND OF THEIR PAU- PERS. BY MR. WILLIAM HAWKINS, HITCIIEN, HERTFORD- SHIKE. (From the Quarterly Journal of Agriculture.^ Of the many points of view under which emigra- tion may be considered, I propose to select one only for the subject of this paper, viz. its effects in disburdening parishes of their unemployed pauper population ; and I shall endeavour to shew, that pa- rishes may find in it a practical and effectual resource against that growing evil. The fact, that, in a vast number of parishes, many men are unable to find employment, and are therefore burdensome to tlie community, is known too widely and too well to require either proof or comment : and I think it is now pretty generally admitted that such men will be personally great gainers by being located in Upper Canada. There was certainly at one time a feeble cry against tne inhumanity of tearing people from their native land ; but the strong reply has been, that in Canada wages has been 4s a-day and beef is 3d a-pound. If parish paupers were generally acquainted with these facts, and had the means of paying for the passage, we should certainly hear very little more of a redundant population. The hungry man would want no urging to ex- change his cheerless fare for beef and ale four times a day. Hopeless of improvement here, he would surely be ready enough to proceed to a spot where he may have as much fertile land as he and his children can cultivate, and a homestead filled with his own corn and cattle. And all this eveiy indus- trious man may obtain for himself in Canada. But of themselves they have not the means of crossing the Atlantic; they have not money to pay the expense. Now, if it be fact that it would be for the benefit of parishes to supply them with the means, I think it will be doing an acceptable service to both parties to prove that fact, and make it generally known. According to the census of 1831, the population of the British Isles was found to be then 24,271,000, and was found to be increasing at about the rate of 15 per cent, in ten years. It may now be called 25,000,000, and the increase at that rate must be upwards of 300,000 a-year, or about 850 a-day, and to a country containing already a great many more people than it knows how to employ, this increase is somewhat alarming. But by what ex- cess of births over deaths is this increase occasioned ? It appears by the official returns, that in England, for every 1,000 people, there have been annually 27 births, and only 18i deaths, or, in other words, there have been three people bom for every two that have died. If there had been one-third fewer births, the deaths would have balanced them, and the population would have remained stationary ; but as the births bear a direct proportion to the marriages, it also appears clear that all the increase would be got rid of, if the produce of one-third of the marriages could be removed to Canada. Now I think it demonstrable that it may, and that will be " my case, my Lord," as they say at Westminster. According to the same returns, the marriages are a little more than 7i in 1 ,000 people annually, one- third of which is 2§ ; but by the very increase of the colonies, as well as by the improvements which took place at home, there is no doubt that a small increase might, withoutinconvenience, be provided for within these kingdoms, and one may, therefore, safely reject the fi-action, and take two marriages annually in 1 .000 people, as all that it would be necessary to deal with. Now, the expense of removing a young married couple to Canada need not exceed 25/ ; and, therefore, for 501 a-year, a pa- rish containing 1,000 individuals may boom off for ever the evils of a redundant population. It is just Is a-head upon any given number, and there are eleven counties in England where the expense of maintaining the poor exceeds 15s a-head upon the population*. I have said that the expense of emi- gration need not exceed 121 10s a-head for adults. I have a mass of papers before me, from many of which it might be inferred that the expense would be much less, and from some of them that it would be a little more ; but the estimate on which I rely is drawn from the experience of the Dorking emigrants, and from a small pamphlet published by Govern- ment entitled, " Information published by His Ma- jesty's Commissioners for Emigration, respecting the British Colonies in North America." and which pamphlet is sold by Knight in Pall Mall East, at Is 9d a dozen. The outlines of the estimate are as follows : — £ s. d. Passage and Provisions from London to Quebec 6 0 0 ditto ditto to York ... 1 10 0 Clothing, Tools and Utensils 2 0 0 Pocket Money 1 0 0 Conveyance to London, variable, but say 0 10 0 Incidentals 1 0 0 £12 0 0 London is a dear port to sail from, on account of the greater likelihood of detention by contrary winds. From Liverpool or Dublin, or the west coast of Scotland, the passage and provisions would probably cost 1 /. less, and in many cases the ex- pense of conveyance to the place of embarkation may be nearly ll. more ; but, in the great majority of cases, 12/. 10s. would be sufficient to convey an s, d. Huntingdonshire . . 15 2 Norfolk 15 4 Berkshire 15 10 Wiltshire 16 6 Northamptonshire 16 9 Bedfordshire 16 11 s. d. Oxfordshire 17 1 Essex .... 172 Suffolk .... 18 3 Buckingham- shire ... 18 8 Sussex .... 19 4 54 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. adult comfortably from his own door to York, in Upper Canada. I say comfortably, because the passage must be made comfortable, if the system is to become popular. Certainly a man who will con- tent himself with a bare subsistance on potatoes of oatmeal during the passage, may be freighted over to Quebec for half the money I have named, or even less ; but Quebec is not the place for agricultural labourers; York is the place, and ought to be con- templated as the point of debarkation in every scheme for settling them in Canada. Let the over- seers of parishes, and the proprietors of overbur- dened estates, calculate for how long a time they can maintain a labourer on 12^ 10s. 1 think, taking the average allowance, and reckoning every thing, 1/ does not maintain a man longer than three weeks, — in thirty-seven weeks, therefore, you give him as much to keep him in misery at home, as would provide comfortably in Canada for him and his for ever. But it may be said that they would not be per- suaded to go ! If their going would be beneficial, we are not entitled to rest on that argument, till every means of persuading them has been exhausted. I entertain no doubt that, if the facts were fairly put before them, they would be " most happy to accept the invitation,'' and would even save some- thing from their own scanty earnings to enable themselves to go. For the most part, the agricul- tural labourers have not the means of knowing the state of things in Canada, or indeed of knowing any thing else beyond the narrow round of their own employments ; and it would be one of the many blessings of a sound education to save them from that despair, to which a reflection on their circumstances might be apt to depress them ; and when those find neither enjoyment for the present, nor hope for the future, within the British Isles, to bid them be of good cheer, and to shew them that there is a world elsewhere. Things being as they are, I should suggest that short printed papers should be circulated amongst those who can read, and that viva voce information should be given to those who cannot — that a cer- tain day and place should be fixed for the assem- bling of all the proposed emigrants from a par- ticular district, so that all who were disposed to go might go together. If a vague desire to emi- grate should cross the mind of the labourer, it must be repressed by the difficulty of knowing how to set about it, joined to a certain fear of throwing himself alone into circumstances so new and strange. I think multitudes would be glad to go in company with some of their neighbours, and under the guidance of some man whom they knew and could trast, who, as it is, never think of going for want of those two requisites ; and it is the bu- siness of parish officers and landed gentlemen to make the necessary arrangements for removing the difficulties in question. In the absence of expe- rience, it might reasonably have been feared, that, with all appliances and means, you could never induce men enough to emigrate to tell upon so large a number as 300,000, the amount of the an- nual increase ; but what is the fact, and even now without system, and in the face of some hostility, the number of emigrants for the last five years has been as follovfs : To the To the British Colonies. United States. Total. In 1828 13,275 1829 15,820 1830 32,020 1831 49,864 - 1832 70,333 32,980 103,313 I am not in possession of the returns for 1833, nor of the numbers emigrating to the United States in former years, and am ignorant whether or not that information exist anywhere in print ; but the numbers above stated are taken from the last published tables of the Board of Trade, from which it appears, that in 1832 there went out 103,313, a number large enough to show that, under better management, parishes might find in emigration a means of relieving themselves from the greater part, if not the whole, of their unemployed, and conse- quently ill-fed and discontented, labourers. It is surely unreasonable to complain of an evil from which we can, but will not, defend ourselves. If this paper should come under the eye of any body who may desire further information on the subject of emigration to Upper Canada, I would recommend him to get a pamphlet, entitled " Let- ters from Sussex Emigrants," which contains an appendix full of the most useful information ; it is published by Longman, price 2s ; Martm Doyle's Hints on Emigration, price. Is ; and the Report addressed to Lord Aylmer, the Governor of Ca- nada, by Mr. Buchanan, chief agent for the super- intendence of emigrants in that colony. For gene- ral circulation amongst labourers, there are some tracts and papers published by the Canada Com- pany in St. Helen's Place, who furnish them gratis on proper application. There is also a nnmber of Chambers' " Information for the People," on that subject, price l|d, and the government pamphlet before stated, to be sold at Is 9d a dozen-* By way of supplement to the paper on agricul- tural statistics published in the last number of this Journal, I beg to notice a discrepancy on the sub- ject of the poor-rates, between the Report of the Agricultural Committee and the government. The Committee say," The average price of wheat for the year 1821, was 54s 5d per quarter, and the average price of the present year is 53s Id ; and although some of the charges connected with gene- ral taxation have been reduced since 1821, yet the local burthens, such as poor-rate and country-rate, * From recent information on which we can rely, we learn that emigrants to Upper Canada who are labourers, experience many hardships after their ar- rival in that country, and which compel many of them who have the means, to retrace their steps back to this country. Those who have no means are obliged to endure many sufferings before they can be located either as settlers or servants. We do not know whe- ther it is their own fault or the fault of those who are in authority, that arrangements are always so long in being made for directing the poor emigrants to proper locations. The subject is worthy the serious attention of the Government. There is no doubt, however, that were the plan of emigration for paupers, as re- commended by Mr. Hawkins, carried into effect, that the parochial authorities^ in Englagd would see that their emigrants were comfortably located before they would leave them to their own scanty resources,— Ed^ THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. bb have in most parts of England been grievously aug- mented." The returns say what follows. They relate to the poor-rate only, because, in the official tables so often quoted, it is stated that there are no returns at all for the country-rate for any year since 1829, and that for the yearsl829, 1828, audl826, the re- turns are imperfect, and it is therefore to be pre- sumed that the committee had the poor-rates prin- cipally in view. Sums expended for the Relief of the Pom- in England and Wales. Years ending the 25th March. In 1820 £7,330,256 In 1827 £6,441,088 1821 6,959,249 1828 6,298,000 1822 6,358,702 1829 6,332,410 1823 5,772,958 1830 6,829,042 1824 5,736,898 IS'll 6,798,888 1825 5,786,989 1832 7,036,968 1826 5,928,501 Amounlfor the year 1821 £6,959,249 Average for the five years ending 1832 6,659,061 Average annual saving £0,300,188 To Mhich part shall we incline, when we have " The gods on one side and Cato on the other V I know it has been attempted to solve the difficulty, by impugning the constitution of the committee. They have been called adversity men, and charged with getting up the report for the purpose of mak- ing out a case against the alteration of the corn laws ; but these are all slanders, for such a thing could never be, considering what a disinterested set of men were on that committee. CEDARS OF LEBANON. Some of the finest cedars of Lebanon in England are in Suffolk. Those in Campsey Ash are unrivalled as a group. There is a very magnificent one at Lord Calthorpe's near Bury. That at Colonel Bullock's, near Witham, is also very fine. There is one fine tree in the collection that is in the grounds of the decayed and dilapidated mansion belonging to Colonel Strutt, near Hatfield, Essex. The air near London does not seem to agree with this tree. The two noble brethren at Chelsea are dying, the size of their heads annually diminishing. The one opposite the church of Ham- mersmith is in premature decay; for we believe the age of the cedar may extend to a period we cannot reckon, while none planted in England can be older than 200 years at most. A cedar, therefore, that de- cays at 150 or 200 years must find an uncongenial soil or climate. TO THE EDITOR OF " THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.'' Sir, — I fear that our friends of the press are in error in respect to the present system of Corn Laws insuring steady prices, and that our opponents will shortly have a plausible argument to prove the correct- ness of their view of the subject. We can never have permanent steady prices until we have ample pro- tection from foreign competition. We are not far off a re-action ; the first deficient crop, or bad, or late harvest, wonld cause a great rise in price of corn, and inundate this country with foreign corn, on which a low duty would be paid, and left free to be brought on the market, as it suited the wary speculator's pur- pose, viz. — constantly feeding the markets, and driving prices down, as heretofore. I merely notice this to guard our friends of the press and the plough against fallacious views of the subject ; it is too complicated to enter into a detail ; and I take up my pen at the present moment in hopes of reconciling conflicting- opinions on the Tithe question. Having been a tithe-agent and a tithe-payer for a long period, and having many years since published my opinion on the necessity and best means of com- mutation, and being frequently questioned on the sub- ject, 1 think it right to say that I perfectly agree with the Chancellor of the Exchequer that tithes should bear a relative proportion to rent, and that the ulti- mate object is to commute tithe for land. Not having seen the details of the Bill, I cannot say how far I agree or object to them, but, with your permission, I give my opinion during its progress. I am requested to do so, or probably I might not intrude. If tithes are commuted for a rent-charge, the amount is not material to a tenant at will, nor to lease- holders but for during their term, as it must be con- sidered as a certain outgoing, the same as the land- tax, &c., — therefore it is the landowner's business to see that a fair equivalent is granted. It is true, as Lord Althorp states, that the tithe cannot be set according to the rent paid, but according to the value to rent, some land being let at 20s. per acre, and other of the same quality at 35s., both pay- ing the same amount of tithes and rates. I speak ad- visedly on this head, as being a party concerned. There is another subject too which requires consider- ation, viz. — the rateable value of tithes ; this is al- lowed to be one-fifth of the value to rent, but this surely must be fallacious, and must be amended, if tithes are not commuted, and if commuted, must be corrected by the Commissioners appointed. The tithe causes at Holt, in Norfolk, and i)ennington, in Suf- folk, are published, and will shew the fallacy ; but I will state a case in point : — A certain farm in this county, of 2,000 acres, tithe free nearly, is let for 430/. ; the capital required to take it was estimated at 8,000/. ; now it is evident that the tithe, if subject to tithe, must be worth 200/. per annum ; the house and offices must be worth 50/. per annum ; therefore the landlord would have received but 200L rent, were it subject to tithes, and surely it is but just that the tithe and rent, if in separate hands, should be equally as- sessed to rates. I for one admit that the landowners are not entitled to the tithe, and that the tenantry would not be bene- fited by the land being exonerated from tithe. Com- petition would soon increase rents to the amount of tithe remitted, but both would be benefited by a fair commutation as it would evidently increase demand for labour and reduce rates ; there is one thing, how- ever, which seems not to be generally understood ; commutation of tithes would have a tendency to re- duce prices of produce, as is exemplified in Ireland ; much land now protected by a modus whilst in pas- ture would be broken up, and produce abundance of corn, and thus increase the supply of corn, and in- deed, of produce in general ; this would by so much reduce the value of land generally if our own produce should meet the demand. There are innumerable difficulties to contend with, and all self-interested views should be laid aside, and a submission to arbitration for the .public good. From all I hear and see and know, a commutation must take place, and the sooner the better, provided time and publicity is given sufficient for all parties concerned to maturely consider the provisions of the bill. — I remain. Sir, your humble servant, Witnesham, April 21. C POPPY. 56 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. CARACTACUS. Through the splendid streets of ancient Rome, A captive chief was led, 'Midst thousands, who their peaceful homes In triumph's hour had fled To gaze upon the mighty one who long Had spurn'd their power, To view his haughty head bow'd down In that victorious hour. — Their streaming banner was unfurl'd ; Had not the clarion's blast Swept o'er each conquer'd spot of earth That their proud step had past And still this daring man oppos'd— Had fought — and fought again — A prisoner now — his sword is sheath'd Ah joy ! — he wears a chain. — But in that warrior's piercing eye Pride had not faded yet. It aw'd the crowd with a speaking ilash Whose brightness had not set — And his features bore their bravestlook, Giving no sign of woe Within, within, the burning heart, The Darken'd stream did flow. His fetter'd limbs moved slowly on. Where marble arches rose ; Where monuments — that told " beneath The kingly dead repose" — 'Midst a sunny light from the radiant things Which all around him shone The grandeur of the glorious place That held an Emperor's throne — He gaz'd around — his deep voice spoke, Ah, " Children of mighty Rome — Ye that have all these bright retreats Why envy me a home ? How high thy noble structures rise Proud palaces for thee Why not bestow in Britain's Isle A cottage home on me V And there was one who heard his words And pitied his despair Whose voice now still 'd the multitude " Unchain, unchain him there Let him depart — now free again — Release the fetter's band — Let him depart — that he may dwell Within his native land !" — Kimbolton. B. B. B. TO APRIL. BY THE LATE COUNSELLOU tVSAGHT. Sweet mutable month that so prone art to changing. Now low'ring in vapour, now smiling serene ; This moment thy mists the gay landscape deranging. The next thy effulgence enlivening the scene. Dear emblem of her I adore to distraction — Not that she is ficMe, or forward, or strange. But that she possesses, like thee, the attraction To change as she lists, and to charm in each change. When her eye swells with tears, and her breast with emotion. In sorrow so loyely, I share in the woe — When she smiles,' like the sunbeam that dances on ocean, I hail the blight ray, and indulge in the glow. Affection of Animals for theih Young.— (From Jesse's Natural HisloriJ : — In riding about the King's Parks, I have frequently observed a doe come up to a dog, who has approached the lair where her fawn was concealed, and putting her feet together, she has made a spring and alighted upon the dog, fre- quently either maiming or killing it. A friend of mine observed an instance of this courage in a doe. He was walking in Hagley Park, Worcestershire, with a party of friends, when the discharge of a gamekeeper's gun reverberated through the trees and hills of that lovely scene. Soon afterwards a bleeding fawn bounded by, followed by the keeper's hound, and, in close pursuit of the hound came a doe, the dam of the wounded fawn. Loss of blood (which, trickling down copiously, marked the course of the poor alarmed creature) so weakened it, that the dog soon brought it to the ground near the spot where the party stood observing the incident. The parent doe, losing all her natural timidity in affection for her off- spring, attacked the hound with the utmost ferocity ; nor did the interference of the keeper intimidate her. Having terminated the sufferings of her young one with his knife, he carried it from the place ; and when the dam, as ifagitated by excessive grief, had surveyed the pool of blood, she followed the dead fawn and its destroyers, uttering a tremulous cry of maternal dis- tress. This cry I often hear during the season for killing fawns, and it is one of peculiar agony. An instance of this affection of beasts for their young recent)}'' occurred in Bushy Park. A cow, for some reason or other, was driven from that place and sold in Sraithfield market, her calf being left at the head keeper's yard in the park. Early the next morning she was found at the gate of the yard, having made her way through all the intricacies and impediments of London, and traversed twelve miles of road in order to get to her calf again. She must also have watched, the opportunity when the park-gates were opened to getthrough them." The following are the arrangements for the Paris spring meeting in the Champ-de-RIars, founded by the members of the French Jockey Club, to encourage the amelioration of the breed of horses in France : — Mares and fillies allowed 31b. Sunday, May 4. — First race, a prize of 2,200f., for thorough-bred colts and fillies, 3 yrs. old, to carry 1041b., once round the Champ-de-Mars, 200f. entrance. Second race for a prize of 2,500f., for thorough-bred horses and mares, 4 yrs. old, to carry 1131b., once round the Cham-de- Mars (heats) 200f. entrance. Thursdaj"-, May 8. — Third prize, first race, for l,200f'., for thorough-bred, colts and fillies, 3 yrs. old, to carry 1041b., once round the Champ-de-Mars (heats), 200f. entrance. Fourth price, second race, for 3,000f., for thorough-bred horses and mares of all ages, 4 yrs. old, to carry 1131b., 5 yrs., 1171b., 6 yr.«. and aged, 1211b., once round the Champ-de-Mars, (heats), 300f. entrance. Fifth prize, third race, for 5,000f., for thorough-bred horses and mares of all ages, 3 yrs. old to carry 1041b., 4 yrs., 1131b., 5 yrs. 1171b., 6 yrs. and aged, 1211b., twice round the Champ-de-Mars (heats), oOOf. entrance. Sunday, I\lay 11.' — Two private races will be run, one given by some of the sub- scribers, and the second by the Count Demidoff; first prize, consisting of a silver vase, value l,500f. and 1 ,000f. in specie, for horses of all ages and all countries (thorough-bred), carrying weight for age as above, twice round the Champ-de-Mars (one heat) , 250f. entrance. Second prize, a silver gilt vase, given by Count Demidoff, for horses of all ages and all de- scriptions bred in France, to carry weight for age, once round the Champ-de-Mars (heats), oOOf, en- trance.— Galignani's Messenger, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 57 THE OTTER. The description of this animal and the mode of destroying it are mentioned on account of its being so inveterate a foe to the fisherman's amusement, for the otter is as destructive in a pond as a polecat in a hen- house. This animal seems to link the chain of gra- dation between terrestrial and aquatic creatures, resembling the former in its shape, and the latter in teing able to remain for a considerable space of time under water, and being furnished with membranes like fins between the toes, which enable it to swim with such rapidity as to overtake fish in their own ele- ment. The otter, however, properly speaking, is not amphibious ; he is not formed for continuing in the water, since, like other terrestrial creatures, he requires the aid of respiration ; for if, in pursuit of his prey, he accidentally gets entangled in a net, and has not time to cut with his teeth the sufficient number of meshes to effectuate his escape, he is drowned. The usual length of the otter, from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail, is twenty-three inches ; of the tail itself, which is broad at the insertion and tapers to a point, sixteen ; the weight of the male is from eighteen to twenty-six, of the female from thirteen to twenty pounds. One, in October, 1794, was snared in the river Lea between Ware and Hertford, wiiich weighed upwards of forty pounds. The head and nose are broad and flat ; the eyes are brilliant, although small; are nearer the nose than is usual in quadrupeds, and placed in such a manner as to discern every object that is above, which gives the otter a singular aspect, not unlike the eel ; but this property of seeing what is above gives it a particular advantage when lurking at the bottom for its prey, as the fish cannot discern any object under them, and tiie otter seizing them from beneath by the belly readily takes any number with little exertion ; the ears are extremely short, and their orifice narrow ; the opening of the mouth is small, the lips are capable of being brought very close, somewhat resembling the mouth of a fish ; are very muscular, and designed to close the mouth firmly while in the action of diving, and the nose and corners of the mouth are furnished with very long whiskers ; it has thirty-six teeth, six cutting and two canine above and below ; of the former the middlemost are the least ; it has besides five grinders on each side In both jaws. The legs are very short, but remarkably broad and muscular ; the joints articulated so loosely, that the otter can turn them quite back, and brmg them on a line with is body and use them as fiiis; each foot has five toes, connected by strong webs like those of a water -fowl ; thus nature inevery particular has attended to the way of life allotted to an animal whose food is fish, and whose haunts must necessarily be about waters. The otter has no heel, but a round ball under the sole of the foot, by which its track in the mud is easily distinguished, and is termed the seal. The general shape of the otter is somewhat similar to that of an overgrown weasel, being long and slender ; its colour is entirely a deep brown, ex- cept two small spots of white on each side of the nose, and one under the chin ; the skin is valuable, if killed in the winter, and makes gloves more durable, and which at the same time will retain their pliancy and softness after being repeatedly wetted, beyond any other leather. The otter destroys large quantities of fish, for he will eat none unless it be perfectly fresh, and what he takes himself ; by his mode of eating them he causes a still greater consumption. So soon as the otter cat- ches a fish, he drags it onshore, devours it to the vent, but, unless pressed by extreme hunger, always leaves the remainder, and takes to the water in quest of more. In livers it is always observed to swim against the stream, to meet its prey ; it has been asserted, that two otters will hunt in concert that active fish the salmon ; one stations itself above, the other below where the fish lies, and being thus chased incessantly the wearied salmon becomes their victim. To sup- pose the otter never uses the sea is a mistake, for they have been often seen in it, both swimming and seek- ing for their booty, which, in the Orkneys, has been observed to be cod and conger. In very hard weather, when its natural sort of food fails, the otter will kill lambs, sucking pigs, and poultry, and one was caught in a warren, where he had come to prey on rabbits. The hunting of the otter was formerly considered as excellent sport, and hounds were kept solely for that purpose. The chace of the otter has still, however, its staunch admirers, who are apparently as zealous in 58 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. this pursuit as in any other we read of. In 1796, near Bridgnorth, on the river Worse, four otters were killed : one stood three, another four hours, before the dogs, and was scarcely a minute out of sight. The hearts, &c., were eaten by many respectable people who attend the hunt, and aHowed to be very delicious; the carcases were also eaten by the men employed, and found to be excellent ; what is a little extra- ordinary, the account does not state that the partakers of this hard-earned fare were Carthusians. » * * * As he spoke, I remarked the occurrence which the commander noticed. The fish, which upon our first arrival had risen merrily at the natural flies, ceased on a sudden altogether — now they rushed confusedly througli the water, or threw themselves for yards along the surface. It was not the sullen plunge at an in- sect, or the vertical spring, when sport, not food, brings the salmon over water ; but it was evident that there was some hidden cause of alarm, and we were not long left in doubt. Near the neck of the pool, an otter of the largest size showed himself for a moment, then darting under water, the same commotion ensued again. Before a minute elapsed, Andy Bawn pointed silently to a shoal beneath an overhanging bush, and there was the spoiler, apparently resting himself after his successful exertions, and holding a four-pound white trout in his mouth. Either he noticed us, or had some more favourite haunt to feed in, for he glided into the deep water, and we saw no more of him. Although we found out that the otter and ourselves could not manage to fish in company, we ascertained that the pool was abundantly stocked with salmon : — during the period of the greatest alarm, at least half a dozen fish were breaking the surface at the same time, A curious incident, however, supplied us with an excellent white fish. The servant who brought the post bag, when in the act of crossing the river, which in his route from the lodge he was obliged to do re- peatedly, most unexpectedly encountered a large otter carrying off a salmon he had just seized. The post- man attacked the poacher vigorously, who, dropping his prey, glided off into the deep water at the tail of the ford. The spoil proved to be a fresh salmon not twenty hours from the sea, and consequently in prime condition. The otter showed himself the best artist of the day, for while the Colonel and his companion re- turned with empty baskets, the little animal managed to secure the finest and freshest salmon in the river. — Wild Sports. THE HORSE DEALER. ETCHINGS BY A WANDERER. " Fal. The rascal has removed my horse, and tied him I know not where. Whew ! a plague upon you all ! give me my horse you rogues ; give me my horse and be hanged. " Poms. Sirrah Jack, thy horse stands behind the hedge ; when thou needest him thou shalt find him." 1 St Part King Henry IV. George Coleman has long passed current for a •wit, but it would seem that he had not cunning to discover that no two things were alike in every particular ; he therefore makes Octavian in the Mountaineers talk of Nature's '• unmeaning com- positions." " She manufactures where she makes a gross ; She'll form a million such, and all alike, Then send them forth ashamed of her own work, And set no 7nark vfon them"— j In all my wanderings, I never met any of this mil- lion, " all alike;" but so much to the contrary, I never met even two so veri/ much alike, though I have frequently seen " a gross" of " unmean- ing compositions." Yet I am not a gregarious animal, but love solitude and thouglit, not seeking " lone gloomy caverns," noi- " Eremite's sad cell ;" but wandering on in my own idle way pick- ing up any rare shell, or curious pebble, which has attracted my fancy, or plucking any wilding flower that has pleased the eye. — Thus too, in the dull disagreeable commerce which it is my lot to enter into with the world, I have little to do beyond no- ticing, sketching, and colouring the habits and manners of those around me ; diverting myself from my own thoughts, by pourtraying the actions of others, as they appear in the mirror of observa- tion which is ever spread before me. Among the multitude of shades that have presented themselves in that mirror, there was one which approximated more to one of Coleman's " million," than I have met with before or since. I gazed on it with doubt and uncertainty. To sketch the mysterious being was almost impossible; I therefore more than once threw down my pen in disgust, and exclaimed, " Oh, 'tis neither shape nor feature." Night after night did I behold this singular being, who ever seemed sleepy and wearied, lolled back in his arm- chair, stretched out his legs, and closed his eyes, which, by the bye, when he did open, forcibly re- minded me of the awful creation of Mrs. Shelly's powerful imagination. Thus did this figure appear before me, and again I turned from it, until at length one evening, when wearied with musing, I followed the example before me, and fell asleep also. There is a mystery in sleep, it is death's brother, and our dreams are all a mystery. My reverie, as well as that of my companion, was how- ever, broken, by a person hastily opening the door of the apartment and rushing in ; he was a man who apparently had passed the meridian of life, and from his appearance and dress, I judged him to be a grazier. He approached the fire-side with three lengthened strides, and seizing the poker already heated, flourished it over his head, and savagely muttered *' blood. Sir ! — your father was a good man, and your mother was, I believe, an honest woman, but you, Sir, are a d — d son of a tinker." A searching look around the room ac- companied this rude speech, on concluding which, he seemed evidently disappointed and vexed, and abruptly departed. This noise awoke me, and also aroused the dormant faculties of my sleeping com- panion. " Do you know who that is ?" said he to me, in a gentle whisper. " I do not. Sir," was the reply, " but he appears a character." " A character, aye ! and a strange character too, I warrant ; that is — hush — that is the noted Hog- skin, the horse-dealer; did you never hear of him ?" " Never." A long pause ensued, and I began to fear that my man of the million was not disposed to let me know more of the strange character who had just quitted the room. After a few moments had elapsed, I saw him preparing for another nap ; but this I was resolved should not be ; he had just ex- tended his short legs, which were encased in lea- ther busking, and had given his forelock three or four gentle twirls, placed the dark twist adown the centre of his forehead, like a bell-pull, at the same time half-closing his eyes, and giving his tongue a bite, he contracted the muscles of his mouth, until THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 6Q it formed the most promiscuous smile I ever wit- nessed. " Are you a judge of horse flesh ?" I oh- served with emphasis, determined to call hack his wandering energies. "Pretty well — fa yawj — pretty well; I can drive, ride, or any thing in that way — (a yaw) — you must know — corn, beans, grain of any sort. I was born ahorseback, that is to say from a boy." Here followed another sleepy yaw, accompanied by an ineifable grin, and a tug at the bell-pull on his brow ;" — But I am no such judge as Hogskin neither. He's best judge o' two counties, or three, I warrant — never keeps a bad horse." " Never sells a good one perhaps ?" " Why, as for a matter o' that sure, no — not without a good price, — hut he he has such a method wi' 'em. You'll excuse me. Sir, but you perceive I'm rather huskey, having kotched a bad cold, — but Sir, he's the best feeder and trainer, within fifty miles of Newmarket, take it as how you will — the very best." " Mystery, — why, as to that matter, I can't say, but he don't tell none his secret. Why he don't du as he neighbours du, — he crams 'em well wi' this thing and then wi' that ; and when they get stuffed, lie physic's 'em well, and then he changes their feed again, oats, beans, hay, grains, turnips, any thing, and so he gets 'em as sleek a moulde- warp, and as fat as butther ; and then he takes 'em to some distant town to sell, where, if he does not get his price, he brings 'em back agen, and turns 'em out to grass, for he will have his price, and he's all in the right on't if he can get it ; and so it is he never deals with any one near at hand ; they're up to his physicking tricks and his makings up, and so" — yaiu. To make a long story short, I shall in my own words give the few facts (which cost Mr. Yaw nearly an hour to deliver) relating to this strange character, without adopting further the diction and peculiarities of my informant : — Hogskin had recently been engaged in a law- suit, the particulars of which are as follows : — A young farmer in the neighbourhood, whose prodi- gality had compelled him to make a sacrifice of some portion of his stock, entrusted to the care of Hogskin an entire horse, which he instructed him to dispose of for 150 guineas. When the animal came into the dealer's hands there were a dozen little faults to find with it, but not materially to affect the sale. The owner called soon afterwards, and learned, to his surprise, that the beast had been sold for 80/. Hogskin was, however, (for the time,) too deep-witted for the young farmer. The horse had not shown out so well as he expected — had queer symptoms, — a hitch in the near shoulder confirmed his doubts; — thought 80/., under the circumstances, a very fair price. The thing answered, and as " poverty, the reward of honest fools," stared the youth in the face, he pre- tended to be satisfied, extended a ready palm to receive what he could get, and departed. It was not very long after this, that the discon- solate farmer, less accustomed how " to mount the barbed steed," was heelingthe high road some miles from home, when he saw approaching him an aihbling gray pricking forward on the gay green tnrf which margined the road-side, " Sure it is Godolphin," and sure enough it was. " Good morning George," and " Good morning William," were the first salutations. " You seem well mounted to-day." " Yes, pretty well — go north or go south, you will not find more speed or better bottom than I have here, but then I gave a round sum for he." " You bought him of Hogskin— did you not ?" " The same — why, do you know any thing of him." " Yes, I do know something of him. — Ah ! my gay Godolphin. — ^Why we bred him, and a gallant fellow he is ;" at the same time walking up to the animal and patting his sleek and beautiful arched neck; "look ye there now, there's not an Arab has a prettier eye, or a rounder vein, and as to the sum ye gave for it, humph — I call it dirt cheap," " Cheap ! why as to that I cannot say much.— • I admired the beast and bought it. I fancied him, — but you must think two hundred and fifty guineas quite enough ?" "Two hundred and fifty! quite enough! aye sure — but you do not mean to say that you gave Hogskin two hundred and fifty for he ?" " Yes, I did though." " Will you come forward to prove it ?" " Aye — in any court if necessary." " Enough — thank ye. — I wish you good morn- ing— I'm obliged." And so they parted. The se- quel is very short. The farmer consulted his lawyer, and the lawyer consulted his book. John Doe and Richard, and a many more of that amiable fraternity were also called into request. Hogskin received a latitat, and his Gilbert Glossin received instructions to defend. The Counsel received their fees, and their briefs, the jury received the evi- dence of the owner of Godolphin, and the Judge's charge, and spendthrift got a verdict for balance and costs. It is well known that Lord Mansfield bad a rooted antipathy to horse-dealers, which was caused by tbe following circumstances : — When he became Lord Chief Justice he was desirous that his equipage should make a conspicuous figure, and with that view be en- deavoured to procure a set of handsome horses, that were to be quite black, without any admixture of white ; after mucli trouble in making the necessary inquiry, a handsome set of horses was found ; his Lordship approved of them, paid a very high price for them, and set them to work. In a short time a star made its appearance, in a pure white, upon the front of one horse, a blaze in the face of another, a white fetlock upon a third, and some of the forbidden white appeared upon some part of all those horses that were expected by his Lordship not to have had a single hair but what was black. His Lordship, in a great rage, sent for the horse-dealer, reproved, and threatened him with punishment for the fraud. The man repelled the charge with firmness, and asserted that, if his Lordship examined his bill and receipt, he would find that they were given for the horses that he had sold by their true description. This was done, when the Learned Judge discovered that, assisted by bad writing and bad orthography, the dealer had given him a receipt for the sum of , for horses, coloured black. This was conclusive ; but many a horse-dealer suffered for this, for, during the whole time that Lord Mansfield sat upon the Bench, when- ever a horse cause was brought before him, if it was possible there could be two interpretations put upon the case, his Lordship always charged that to tbe Jury that was most unfavourable to the jockey. An eagle was caught last week by Mr. Robert Dur- ward, tenant in Curran, parish of Strachan, which measured about seven feet between tbe tips of the wings, and weighed 121b. As a proof of extraordi- nary strength, he was taken at tbe distance of six miles from the spot where the snare was laid, the chain of the trap having becoma entangled in a hedge in the course of hi3 flight. 60 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. CiiARMiNO A Snake. — In the momiug of the 3d of December we awoke early, when I was much sur- prised by my friend, Lieut. Baillie, calling out, " A snake ! a snake ! look at the snake !" We all stared at him, lying in his hammock, and, to our astonish- ment, beheld a monstrous serpent twisted round the rope which supported his hammock, with its head at some distance above my friend's, darting out its forked tongue, and examining him as he lay stretched below. " Lie still," cried the fiscal ; " he won't hurt you ;" and calling in two or three of the natives, he pointed it out to them. One of these men advancing towards it, caught its eye with his own ; the animal now ap- peared to move its whole body with fear or pleasure. The native stepped backwards, without turning the sight of his eye from the fierce orbit of his enemy ; and, as he kept backing, the snake, with his head steadily advancing, gradually uncoiled his body from the rope round which it was entwined. At length its whole body, trailing on the ground, moved slowly along after this coloured man — eye fixed upon eye — until a youth, making a dash from behind a bush, in an instant flattened the head of this dangerous mon- ster with one blow of his club ; and, although the body still undulated like the waves of the sea, it was now perfectly harmless, not being able to seize with its mouth. They immediately hauled him up to the branch of a tree, and, as our cooks in Europe serve an eel, they skinned him whilst the poor animal was writhing in the agonies of pain. This snake was called the Libare, and measured nineteen feet and a half in length. — Colonel St. Clair's residence in the West Indies, A Mouse Suckled nv a Cat. — A cat belonging to Mr. Smith, the respectable bailift' and agent of the Earl of Lucan, at Laleham, is in the constant habit of taking her place on the rug before the parlour fire. She had been deprived of all her litter of kittens but one, and her milk probably incommoded her. I men- tion this, in order to account in some degree for the following circumstance. One evening as the family were seated round the fire, they observed a mouse make its way from the cupboard which was near the fire-place, and lay itself down on the stomach of the cat, as a kitten would do when she is going to suck. Surprised at what they saw, and afraid of disturbing the mouse, which appeared to be full grown, they did not immediately ascertain whether it was in the act of sucking or not. After remaining with the cat a considerable length of time, it returned to the cupboard. These visits were returned on several other occasions, and were witnessed by many persons. The cat not only appeared to expect the mouse, but uttered that sort of greeting purr which the animal is so well known to make use of when she is visited by her kitten. The mouse had every appearance of being in the act of sucking the cat ; but such was its vigilance, that it retreated as soon as a hand was put out to take it up. When the cat, after being absent, returned to the room, her greeting call was made, and the mouse came to her. The attachment which existed between these two incongruous animals could not be mistaken, and it lasted some time. The fate of the mouse like that of most pets, was a melancholy one. During the absence of its nurse, a strange cat came into the room. The poor mouse mistaking her for its old friend and protectress, ran out to meet !;fir, and was immediately seized and slain before it could be res- cued from her clutches. The grief of the foster- mother was extreme. On returning to the parlour she made her usual call, but no mouse came to meet her. She was restless and uneasy, went mewing about the house, and showed her distress in the most marked manner. What rendered the anecdote I have been relating the more extraordinary, is the fact of the cat being an excellent mouser, and that during the time she was showing so much fondness for the mouse, she was preying upen others with the utmost avidity. She is still alive. — Jesse's Gleanings iii Natwai History. Perilous Situation. — ExxRAORDiNAnT Shot. — When passing near the Riet river-gate, and while our oxen were grazing, Van Wyk, the colonist, related to us the following interesting circumstance. " It is now," he said, "more than two years since, in the very place where we stand, I ventured to take one of the most daring shots that ever was hazarded My wife was sitting within the house, near the door, the children were playing about her, and I was without, near the house, busied in doing something to a waggon, when suddenly, though it was mid-day, an enormous lion appeared, came up and laid himself quietly down in the shade, upon the very threshold of the door. My wife, either frozen with fear, or aware of the danger attending any attempt to fly, remained motionless in her place, while the children took refuge in her lap. The cry they uttered attracted my attention, and I hastened towards the door ; but my astonishment may well be conceived when I found the entrance to it barred in such a way. Although the animal bad not seen me, unarmed as I was, escape seemed impossible, yet I glided gently, scarcely knowing what I meant to do, to the side of my house, up to the window of my chamber, where I knew my loaded gun was stand- ing. By a most happy chaHce I had set it into the corner close by the window, so that I could reach it with my hand ; for, as you may perceive, the opening is too small to admit of my having got in ; and, still more fortunately, the door of the room was open, so that I could see the whole danger of the scene. The lion was beginning to move, perhaps with the intention of making a spring. There was no longer any time to think ; I called softly to the mother not to be alarmed : and, invoking the name of the Lord, fired my piece ! 'J'he ball passed directly over the hair of my boy's head, and lodged in the forehead of the lion, imme- diately over his eyes, which shot forth, as it were, sparks of fire, and stretched him on the ground, so that he never stirred more." Indeed, we all shuddered as we listened to this relation. Never, as he himself observed, was a more daring attempt hazarded. Had he failed in his aim, mother and children were all in- evitably lost ; if the boy had moved, he had been struck ; the least turn in the lion, and the shot had not been mortal to him. To have taken an aim at him without, was impossible ; while the shadow of any one advancing in the bright sun would have betrayed him ; to consummate the whole, the head of the creature was in some sort protected by the door-post. — ■Lichten- stein's Travels. A few days ago, a sow, the property of Mr. J. Thomason, of Bridgnorth, furrowed a most singular living animal, after ten fine pigs. Its body resembles that of a pig, although the feet are cloven considera- bly higher; but the most remarkable partis the head, which is completely an elephant's in miniature, ex- cept having no eyes nor the vestige of any. The trunk is about two inches and a half long, with an aperture at the end, and its mouth immediately un- derneath. Two very broad ears grow out frona near the bottom of the neck. There is not the least sign of hair upon any part of the body, it being quite smooth, The animal lived but a few minutes. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 61 PENSILE BIRDS' NESTS. Volumes might be written, and have been, upon Birds' Nest. The great variety of materials and of construction displayed in these interesting struc- tures, . is known to every school-boy ; but there is one kind of nests, of which we are not aware that there is any specimen to be found in the archi- tecture of British birds, — we allude to Pensile, or Pendent Nests. There is an account of one of these nests, that of the Tailor Bird, in our First Volume, page 172 ; and some curious specimens of pendent nests may be seen in tlie British Mu- seum. Some of these structures are solitary, others are thickly clustered together ; of the latter kind the most remarkable is that of the African Pensile Grosbeak, (loxia pensilis), of which five or six hundred nests have been seen hanging upon one tree. The Grosbeak's nest is a sort of basket of straw and reeds, in the shape of a bag, with the entrance below. It is fastened to the twig of a tree, and, generally, overhangs a stream. The birds go on from year to year hanging one nest to another, so that these at length accumulate to a chain of five or six of them suspended from one twig. Several varieties of the Finch Tribe, in South Africa, suspend their nests from the branches of trees, especially when they happen to impend over a river or precipice. The object of this precau- tion, it is supposed, is to secure their offspring from the assaults of their numerous enemies, particularly the serpent race. The Baya, or Bottle-crested Sparrow, is remark- able for its pendent nest, brilliant plumage, and uncommon sagacity. These birds are found in most parts of Hindostan. The nests are formed in a very ingenious manner, by long grass woven to- gether in the shape of a bottle, and suspended by the other end to the extremity of a flexible branch, the more effectually, says Mr. Forbes, to secure the eggs and young brood from serpents, monkeys, squirrels, and birds of prey. But the most celebrated of the pendent nests is that of the Baltimorb Starling, speaking of which Mr. Wilson, in his American Ornithology, says, — " Almost the whole genus of Orioles belong to America, and, with few exceptions, build pensile nests. Few of them, however, equal the Balti- more Starling in the construction of these recep- tacles for their young. I have a number of their nests now before me, all completed, and with eggs. One of these, the neatest, is in the form of a cylinder, of five inches diameter, and seven inches in depth. This nest was hung on the extremity of the hori • zontal branch of an apple-tree, and was visible one hundred yards off, though shaded by the sun, and was the work of a very beautiful bird." In one of the religious periodical publications for last month, (The Christian Observer), the Editor, in allusion to this passage from Wilson, has given a moralizing turn to the subject in the follow- ing verses, with which, for variety's sake, we shall conclude our present detached notices. THE ORIOLE'S NEST. The Oriole builds her a pensile nest : It hangs by a thread , and it waves in the skies, Yet no foe dares that tranquil asylum molest : If he tempt the frail twig, it forsakes him — he dies- The lion is tracked to the wild tangled lair ; In vain the whale shrinks to the dark icy wave ; The elephant's strength may not burst the fell snare. Nor the swift-bounding fawn find retreat in her cave. Yet the Oriole sings in her soft fragile nest, Though it hang by a thread and is rocked by the gale. Foes are near, yet no tumult approaches her breast ; Her offspring no prowling maurauders assail. O'erhanging the torrent, unheeded, alone, In her fair leafy island she nurtures her brood ; — Would they wish for some pathway to tempt realms unknown 1 By that pathway, so envied, would dangers intrude. Then blest be the cottage that shields me from care ; I ask no new ties of ambition or pride ; May my nest loose-suspended float calm in mid air, Unsullied by earth, though to earth near allied : Yet nearer to heaven ; for death's wintry blast The thread that enlinks me to earth shall dissever. This nest soon must fall — its frail grace may not last — But the soul disenthralled shall be buoyant for ever. And aye shall it sing, where a calm cloudless sky. And a clime ever bright, heaven's spring-tide dis- close J Where no shelter is craved, for no danger is nigh ; And the fluttering wanderer sinks to repose. I have built o'er a torrent — for rude is life's stream ; I have hung by a thread over death's sullen wave ; Soft zephyrs have lulled me in youth's idle dream. Or tempests portended the night of the grave. My spring has swift flitted, my summer is past. And autumn is yielding to winter's chill storm. May this fast-flagging wing find a shelter at last. Where no whirlwinds the halcyon noontide deform. And find it I shall ; for there waiteth a rest — So uttered the High One; whose word may not fail ;— I shall find it where, deathless, hope's long- sought behest Shall not hang by a thread, or be whirled by the gale. The Oriole builds her a pensile cot ; And pensile on earth be each hope or fear; Rejoicing as though I rejoiced not. And weeping as though unbedimmed by a tear. But the eagle repairs to the lofty rock ; Serene are the skies where she plumeth her wing, And I too would build where no tempests can shock — I would build in the land of perpetual spring. THE MARKETS OF LONDON. The various supplies regularly poured into the markets of the metropolis have called forth the aston- ishment and admiration of all who have investigated the subject. Partial deficiences have occurred, and the public, in consequence, have been called on for an increase of price. Superabundance has occasionally appeared, and then the public experience a reduction in price. The effects of monopoly are nevertheless extensively as well as injuriously operating on the fair trader and the public — the wrong is deep-seated, per- haps incurable. Smithfield, the great cattle-market of the metropo- lis, is a spot remarkable in historical record. It is supposed to have received its name from one Smith, its owner, in the twelfth century. It was the com- mon place of execution in the thirteenth century. Henry II. granted to the Priory of St. Bartholomew the privilege of holding a fair on Smithfield. Tour- 62 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. naments, in all their extravagance and absurdity, were held here during the fourteenth century, and, in the sixteenth, the horrors of fanatical fury and burn- ings at the stake were exhibited, to the disgrace of their respective periods. Smithfield is a large open space surrounded byjbuild- ings, within the city, covered with pens, in numerous subdivisions, to contain cattle for the convenience of the dealers during examination and purchase. The north-west end is appropriated to sheep and calves, the north-east end to hogs, and the centre to bullocks. Graziers who supply the London market have a regular succession of cattle or sheep fattened and prepared for the drover. Salesmen in London have due notice of the consignments: the cattle are penned, rested, and fed in the vicinity of London, and then calmly driven to the market. The butchers are early on the spot to select such as are best suited to their retail business. These dealings are generally ready money transactions ; the animals purchased are marked by clipping the hair or wool in particular characters or initials, and the market drovers, who wear num- bers on their arms, for a small charge undertake to deliver all at the respective places of destination. The salesman takes his commission and the proceeds are paid into a banker's, on account of the grazier. This is the fair and legitimate mode of doing business ; but there are wealthy carcass butchers, who purchase largely whole droves on the road, which, by reducing the number in the market, imcrease the price of butcher meat to the consumer. The respectable butchers of London and its vicinity keep the beast some time before slaughtering, as the meat is thereby improved both in appearance and quality. Calves are conveyed to market in Caravans ; hogs are driven during the night to their stations . Mon- day is the principal market-day, but much business is done on Friday, when there is a market for horses. The annual amount of proceeds from Smithfield mar- ket is estimated at eight millions sterling. There are numerous markets for slaughtered car- cases, to which butchsrs resort, whose trade does not enable them to purchase at Smithfield. It is at these minor depots that unwholesome flesh may be found : the competiton between butchers, in districts crowded with the working classes, is said to be the cause of bad meat being exposed for sale ; it requires a judge of some experience to detect inferior meat on tlie shambles, and the honest mechanic, or his marketing helpmate, will do right in avoiding shops where meat is sold beneath the fair market price. It may be re- marked, that cattle fed purposely to be exhibited for enormity of size or of fat, are not the most whole- some food ; it may be beneficial to the cooks, whose perquisites are increased by the waste in dressing. Billingsgate, the great fish-market of London, was, in the time of Ethelred, about the year 1000, the only quay for the port of London, and a toll of one halfpenny was taken for every boat arriving with fish. In the reign of Edward III., tolls were demanded on every description of merchandise, with a trifling in- crease on fish. Billingsgate, by act of Parliament, in 1699, was opened as a free market for fish, with per- mission to sell mackarel on Sundays, previous to the performance of divine service. Billingsgate is conveniently situated, being an ex- tensive water-gate or port for small vessels between the Custom-House and London Bridge. The arrival of fishing smacks and boats from the sea is occasion- ally impeded by foul winds ; the fish have been placed in well-boats, or preserved in the best manner ; but as they become deteriorated, and will not compete with fresher fish, vast quantities are thrown over- board, and the vessels sail for a fresh supply, fish are generally consigned to salesmen, who, during the early market hours, transact extensive business with fishmongers or respectable retailers residing in dif- ferent parts of the metropolis ; the inferior fish are disposed of to costermongers, or those who hawk fish about the streets in baskets. When particular fish are in a prime state, or very scarce, there are indivi- duals who will pay enormously for the rarity : hence a struggle between the boats to reach the market in time. At times so many boats come laden widi the same kind of fish, as to produce a perfect glut, and the value is reduced to a mere trifle. Of shell-fish more particularly, it may bo said that the market is held on board the boats. Yet the spot appropriated to the convenience of the dealers is paved and covered in, occupying the side next the water- gate, and the angle fronting the Thames. In the shops of the fishmongers who remain during the day, the finest fish in their seasons may be purchased ; and it may be noticed, that it is now usual to see ladies selecting their fish, unannoyed by a rabble whose language and manners once were proverbially revolt- ing. Ry the judicious regulations of the market, and the meritorious activity of the city officers, it is rare to find stale fish within the precincts of the market. The annual receipts at Billingsgate have not been ascertained. The number of vessels entered for this employ is nearly four thousand. During the mackarel season, the boats belonging to the coasts of Kent and Sussex deliver their fish on the shores, and they are forwarded to London in small baskets by carriages constructed on purpose, drawn by post-horses, the great expense of which is borne by the price this highly-relished fish will command when in prime condition. The recent establish- ment of a second fish-market at Hungerford, which is situated between Waterloo and Westminister Bridges, is likely to prove advantageous to the public. Covent Garden is the great vegetable-market for the metropolis. The spot, which is exceedingly central to the metropolis, was once the garden to the abbot and convent of Westminster. At the suppression of the religious houses in Henry VIII.'s reign, it devolved to the crown. Edward VI. gave it to the Duke of Somerset ; on his attainder it was granted to the Earl of Bedford, in which family it has remained. From a design of Inigo Jones, it was intended to have sur- rounded the space with a piazza, but the north and east sides only were completed. The west side is occupied by the parish-church of St. Paul's, celebra- ted for its expansive roof, sustained by the exterior walls. The election of members to serve in Parlia- ment for the city of Westminster is held in front of this church ; the places for receiving the votes are temporary buildings. The south side is occupied by a row of brick dwellings. Within this square, fruit and vegetables of the best quality are exposed for sale. A large paved space, surrounding the interior square, is occupied by the market gardeners, who, as early as four or five in the morning, have carted the produce of their grounds, and wait to dispose of it to greengrocers, or dealers in fruit and vegetables, residing in different parts of London ; any remainder is disposed of to per- sons who have standings in the market, and they re- tall it to such individuals as choose to attend to pur- chase in smaller quantities. The refuse of the whole- sale market is carted away, and no decayed vegetable matter is permitted to remain till noon. Within this paved space, rows of shops are conve- niently and elegantly constructed for the display of the choicest fruits and vegetables of the season ; the pro- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 63 ductions of the forcing-house, and the results of horti- cultural perfection, appear in all their beauty. There are also conservatories, in which every splendour of the garden may be obtained, from the rare exotic to the simplest native flovi'er. This department of the market is delightful and refreshing in the highest de- gree— the odours from the fruits, the fragrance from the plants, together with the beauty of the scene, con- stitute one of tlie most delicious enjoyments that can be imagined, and this is enhanced by the great atten- tion and civility of the tradesmen in the various de- partments. The cultivation of vegetables in the open ground witiiin ten miles surround London, has arrived at great perfection • and so certain is the demand, that the whole is regularly conveyed by land or water to the metropolis, so that persons residing in the neighbour- hood of those well-arranged gardens have no supply of vegetables but from their own resources. The an- nual produce of the garden grounds cultivated to supply the London markets with fruit and vegetables, amounts to 1,045,000/. The Corn Market is situated on a spot anciently called Mart Lane, now Mark Lane ; it is a building conveniently constructed, vvith an ascent of three steps to a range of lofty Doric columns, those at the corners being doubled ; between thera are iron rails. Within the iron gates is a paved quadrangle, surrounded by a colonade ; above the entablature is a balustrade ; the whole is lighted from the roof. The corn- factors have desks on which the samples are shown. The market days are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The consumption of wheat annually amounts to one million quarters, four-fifths of which is made into bread. The annual consumption of butter is 11,000 tons ; of cheese, 13,000 tons. The quantity of poultry an- nually consumed amounts to 80,000/ sterling, inde- pendent of game. The annual consumption of milk is said to amount to 646,000/. AGRICULTURAL MEETING AT COLESHILL. Wednesday was fixed for a General Meeting of the Agriculturists of Warwickshire, to take into considei-ation the propriety of forming a Society for the protection of Agriculture, and of petitioning Parliament on the present state of that interest. On our arrival at Coleshill, we were astonished to find that the contemplated Meeting had scarcely been heard of, inasmuch, as even the hostess of the Swan Inn, where it was announced to take place, was entirely unacquainted with the parties by whom it was convened. Indeed, the appearance of the town presented nothing more than on an ordinary market-day. Soon after eleven o'clock, the hour-»announced for the commencement of the proceedings, we noticed the arrival of Mr. Baxter, of Atherstone, Mr. Craddock, of Nuneaton, and likewise Mr. Umbers, and some few other influen- tial gentlemen farmers of the county ; but all with whom we spoke, expressed themselves perfectly ignorant of the person or persons by whom they were called together, and the precise object of the Meeting. Shortly after, Mr. Charles and Mr. Al- fred Lillingston, arrived from Elmdon ; and there was no longer a,ny doubt by whom it was originated. The small party then collected together met in the Assembly Room. At the commencement not more than ten or twelve persons were present. Mr. Baxter opened the business by saying that some explanation was required as to the person by whom the Agriculturists had been summoned to assemble on that occasion. This led to a desultory conver- sation, an the course of which Mr. Charles Lilling- ston said, when the proper time arrived he should be able to give a satisfactory answer upon that point. After considerable time was expended in irrevelant conversation, it was resolved that a de- putation should wait upon the Earl of Aylesford, who was engaged in Magisterial business below- stairs, and respectfully request his Lordship to take the Chair. Mr. C. Lillingston and Mr. Baxter ac- cordingly left the room for that purpose ; but on their return, to the disappointment of those pre- sent, they stated that the noble Earl declined ac- quiescing in the wishes of the meeting. In this dilemma, it was proposed that Mr. C. Lillingston should take the Chair. Mr. Lillingston complied with the call of the Meeting, and immediately pro- ceeded to state how it had originated. He stated that his father, who was a considerable landed proprietor in the county, lamented the apathy which prevailed among all classes on the present depressed state of Agriculture, and was of opinion that immediate steps ought to be adopted by the occupiers of soil, to avert immediate ruin. The Chairman, after stating that he appeared there as the representative of his father, who was prevented leaving home by indisposition, next alluded to the Petition to the Legislature, adopted by the counties of Worcester and Suffolk, and the propriety of si- milar sentiments being uttered by the Agriculturists of the county of Warwick. Mr. Lillingston con- cluded by lamenting the very thin attendance, and suggested, that as so few of the influential land- owners of the county were present, it would be better to consider the present as merely prepara- tory to a future meeting. By one o'clock from thirty to forty persons were present, and a long conversation ensued as to the best course which ought to be pursued. Among the most prominent speakers on the occasion, were Sir Edmund Hartopp, the Rev. Riland Bedford, Mr. Baxter, Mr. Craddock, Mr. Turner, and Mr. T. C. Salt, of this town. The general impression appeared to be, that it was intended by the pro- jectors of the meeting to introduce an Attwoodian currency petition, against which there was a de- cided feeling, and the operation of which retarded the business very considerably. Sir E. Hartopp and Mr. Bedford, both of whom expressed them- selves as opposed to Mr. Peel's bill, deprecated the introduction of any question which would have the effect of creating dissension among the agricultural classes. It was evident, however, that the gentle- men assembled together could not be considered as the representatives of the agricultural interest in the county of Warwick ; and, therefore, the only alternative was a dissolution of the meeting, or an adjournment to a future day. A discussion ensued as to who ought to constitute the meeting, if one were called ; and after much debate, it was determined that jt should be confined to the owners and occupiers of land, and a geneial meeting was fixed to take place at Coleshill, on the 30th inst. The failure of the meeting may be attributed to a want of previous arrangement, and a lurking sus- picion amongst those present, that a currency trick was meditated. CORN LAW ASSOCIATION. An Association, to be entitled the "Parent Agri- cultural Association," has been formed in the Me- tropolis, for the protection of Agriculture, and as a counterpoise to the numerous anti-Corn-law So- cieties already existing. To examine, with the 64 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. s . d. £ s (1. 0 0 5 0 5 0 0 1 0 1 4 too 1 8 0 6 0 0 7 0 0 2 1 0 0 3 0 4 to 0 0 5. 0 0 3 0 0 to 2 2 0 0 7 too 0 8 0 8 0 0 4 0 5 6 too 6 0 7 4 too 8 0 0 3 6 0 8 too 0 10 0 0 8 most scrupulous care, every part of the existing law for regulating the trade in corn — to insist with inflexible perseverance, on those alterations which shall tend to the better security of the home grow- er— and to make a resolute stand against every in- novation which practical experience sliall condemn, or a liberal and enlightened policy hold to be un- just, is the object of the Association. The Associ- ation invites cordial co-operation from the branch establishments, or its efforts will be powerless. The Committee is composed of the Earls Winchil- sea, Glengall, and Darlington ; John Leach, Esq., Robert Pigot, Esq., G. S.Cayley, Esq., R.N.Shawe, Esq., John P. Plumtre, Esq., William Charles Har- land, Esq., Richard Bethell, Esq., Sir Charles Burrell, Bart., R. W. Hall, Dare, Esq., James Talbot, Esq., C. Tyrrell, Esq., Members of Parlia- ment. Lord Henniker, M. P. Sir Edward Knatch- bull, M. P., and J. W. Childers, M. P., have pro- mised to attend the Meetings- Sir Charles Blois, and Sir Philip Broke, Barts., Sir Charles Vere, K.C.B., and John Moseley, Esq., have enrolled themselves as subscribers of three guineas each per annum. The following prices about 50 years ago, may be interesting as a comparison with similar articles at the present day : — ; 1780 Ale, per quart Team work, per day. . . . Straw, per thrave 1781 Labour per day 0 Ploughing, per day .... Wheat, per measure. . . . Oats, per measure 1782 Beef, per lb Mutton, per lb 0 Veal, per lb Malt, per load 1 Hops, per lb 0 1783 Wheat, per measure. . . . Barley, per measure. . . . Potatoes, per load 0 1784 Wheat, per measure .... 0 Oats, per measure .... Butter, per lb 0 Eggs, per score Baxendale coal, per bas- ket at pit mouth .... Gravel-Pit Law.— When I was present (says Mr. H. Stuart) at the Committee of the Incorporation of Bosmere and Clayden, Suffolk, a young man, well dressed and of a respectable appearance, applied for re- lief. It appeared from the statement of the overseer, which waa not contradicted by the man, who was him- self present, that he had been in service receiving 101. a-year, and his conduct had given satisfaction with the exception that he would not come home in time at night, which obliged his master to discharge him at Michaelmas last, when he received a balance of 7 1. of wages, which he declared was then quite expended. It is to be observed that he got through this sum in one month. He was refused relief. It is the practice of all the administrators of the poor fund to fight off such applicants as this as long as possible ; by per- severance, however, the pauper at last carries his point; and many, instead of exerting themselves to find employment, merely set themselves to tire out the parish. A gentleman of much experience remarked that " there is a lawyer in every gravel-pit," It is not to be imagined that he neglects to inculcate — that bv law an overseer is liable to indictment should any man die of starvation within this parish. This maxim is kept constantly present to the overseer's mind by the growing tale of distress and dark threats of viol- 0 0 7 ence which the pauper dins weekly into his ears, till he at last carries his point. It is to be feared that the conscientious pauper dissipates any little stock of money he may have for the purpose of hastening the time when he can safely swear that he is in absolute want of the means of support. — Poor Laws, Appendix A., Part J., p. 361. Training Steers and Colts. — A writer in the Neio England Farmer thinks the old rule of " Training a child in the way he should go," applies as well to the four-legged as to other tribes. He begins with a calf at a few months old, has a handsome yoke made all complete, with a suitable sledge when the snow is on — then tells his boys to yoke their calves, which they always consider a fine pastime. The little oxen become gentle and attached to their mates ; and light draughts and moderate labour are continued during their steerhood. Thus is avoided any necessity for cruel treatment and disfiguring wounds often inflicted in later discipline. This model I have practised and prefer, though some of the best-trained and finest draught cattle I have seen were taken in hand at three years old. To the delightful pastime I can bear un- qualified testimony. The same Avriter begins with the colt at the earliest age, and keeps him perfectly tamiliar ; he invites the dam to the door with corn or fait, drives her occasionally to meeting, hitching the colt to a shaft of the carriage, thus preventing his playing truant, and accustoming the young twig to the halter. The colt is thus rendered gentle, obedient to call, and all liability to vicious habits obviated. This resembles the Arab mode of training, in which the child and foal share the same tent, and which, of course, routs the notion that kind handling will injure the high spirit of the steed. So different from hostility (during the Peninsular war) was the conduct of both nations, that the French and British lived upon the most amicable terms. If we wanted wood for the construction of huts, our men were allowed to pass without molestation to the French side of the river to cut it. Each day the soldiers of both armies used to bathe together in the same stream, and an exchange of rations, such as biscuit and rum, between the French and our men, was by no means uncommon. A stop was, however, soon to be put to this friendly intercourse ; and it having been known in both armies that something was about to be attempt- ed by Marmont, on the evening of the r2th of July we shook hands with our cris-a-cris neighbours, and part- ed the best friends. It is a remarkable fact that the part of the river of which I am speaking was occupied on our side by our third division ; on the French side by the seventh division. The French officeis said to us on parting, " We have met, and have been for some time friends. We are about to separate, and may meet as enemies. As friends we received each other warmly, as enemies we shall do the same." In ten days afterwards the Brstish tliird and the French seventh division were opposed to each other at the battle of Salamanca, and the seventh French were de- stroyed by the Britisli third. — United Service Journal, A neat Ayreshire heifer, the property of Mr. George Biddell, of Woolpit, calved in January, 1833, v/hich calf she suckled six or 7 weeks, when a second was put to her, which suckled of her about as long as the first, then a third which suckled of her till the begin- ning of June, when a fourth of the same breed was turned off with her, which she suckled till the 7th of April, when they were both slaughtered by Mr. Gra- ham of Elmswell ; the calf, being only then forty-four weeks old, weighed forty- five stone, fourteen pounds to the stone, and the heifer fifty-four stone, carrying upwards of eleven stone of loose fat. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 65 UPON THE NECESSITY OF THE COMMUTATION OF TITHES, And upon the means of rendering the soil of the British Islands capable of ahundanth; supporting twice the amount of their present population ; addressed to the liight fIo7i. Viscount Althorp, Chancellor of the Exchequer, 4"c., ^x. Bi/ T. A. Knight, Esq., F.R.S. F.L.S., and Pixsident of the Horticultural Societi/ of London. Mr. Knight shews that the demands of the tithe- owner increased in amount, and took a wider range during the reign of George the Third ; he shews, moreover, that such variation was repugnant to tlie ancient common law. " The tithe of milk is justly due to the tithe- owner, and the farmer is bound by custom, in some parishes, to deliver the tenth part, by measure, of the morning and evening meal of milk of each day. But this long established mode of setting out the tithe of milk was pronounced to be illegal in the reign of George the third, and the whole of the milk of every tenth day is become the property of the tithe-owner. By this decision the calves of the farmer are wholly deprived of milk during thirty- six hours ; and this long fasting rarely, or never, fails to derange and destroy their health. An im- fortunate farmer, some years ago, pointed out to me, with tears in his eyes, a numerous rear of calves, which had been thus spoiled. He said that he and his family should be ruined, as they were ; and he would probably have ended his days in a parish workhouse, but that his old and benevolent landlord aiforded him a maintenance on account of his previous exemplary good conduct. " The tithe of wool, and the tenth lamb, were always the property of the tithe owner ; but the farmer is now bound first to pay the tenth of the wool, then the tenth lamb, then the tenth of the wool of the remaining nine lambs, and then the value of the tenth of all the herbage which his sheep subsequently consume, if they be not shorn again in the same pai'ish ; whilst the whole of the tenth wool is the property of the tithe-owner in any adjoining, or other parish, into which the sheep may be taken. " No principle was formerly more fully under- stood, or more generally admitted, and acted upon, than that the same portion of ground should not twice pay tithn for any article of the same kind in the same season ; and the tithe of the aftermath, or aftergrass of a meadow, which had been mowed, was always exempted from payment of tithe. But a cultivator having by very high, and consequently very expensive, manuring, rendered his ground capable of affording a second crop of hay in the same season, such second crop was adjudged to be subject to the payment of tithes. The reason as- signed by the judi>es (as stated by Mr. Toller) for making this decision was, that under it the clergy would be more certain of getting their just dues, and this is perfectly true ; for by getting twice their just dues, they would be as certain to get their whole dues, as it is certain, that the greater includes the less. But the justice of the decision docs not appear to me very ol)vious, though it may l)erhaps appear so to some clergymen and judges. " The farmer was always bound to set out the tithe of hay, where no peculiar custom interposed, as soon as his crop was collected into separate portions or cocks ; and in fickle seasons, and wherever, for the London or other market, the value of the hay is much dependent upon its co- lour, the grass, after being cut, is usually shaken up lightly into cocks immediately from its position in swathes, instead of being thinly dispersed over the ground; because in the latter state it is, in wet weather, most liable to injury from rain, and, in other seasons, of losing much of its green colour. But the farmer is now compelled, whatever may be the state of the weather, to spread his grass over the surface of the ground, by the process which is called tedding, and subsequently to collect it into cocks, when it is frequently nearly made into hay, for the tithe-owner to take his tithe. " When potatoes are taken from the ground, and are collected into measure, or a tenth of the quan- tity, like the tenth sheath of wheat, belongs to the tithe-owner : and this was formerly usually set aside for his use, notice being previously given him of the tithe being thus set out. But by a late de- cision the grower of potatoes, after having col- lected his potatoes into baskets, or measures, is bound to lay them down again in a heap, and to measure them again at one time in the evening. A spade, or shovel, cannot be passed into or under the potatoes in the heap without greatly injuring them, and therefore each potatoe must be again taken up by the hand ; and it must frequently happen, particularly late in the autumn, that the potatoes will become wetted by rain, in which state they are unfit to be stored for winter use. The additional trouble, and expense, and risk, thus imposed on the farmer, in this and in the preceding cases, necessarily enhance the price of potatoes to every class of consumers, and of every kind of agricultural produce, with injurious consequences to all, and without benefit to any, except a few oppressive tithe-owners, who are thus given a power of extorting more than their just dues. In this case, as in that of corn, the farmer, if he do not set out his tithe fully and fairly, is bound to forfeit three times the value of the tithe withheld ; and as the tithe-owner possesses the power to com- pel every assistant employed by the farmer to give his evidence upon oath, the rights of the tithe- owner appear to be sufficiently well protected. But it is here objected, as in the case of corn, that the oaths of such assistants cannot be trusted. This is a most lamentable state of things, if it be the real state. The simple affirmation of the Quaker, and the oath of the Jew, where his cha- racter is unimpeached, and that of the members of every class of Dissenters, is, with few excep- tions, found to be entitled to credit. What has caused this enormous and horrible demoralization of the peasantry of the Established Church ? I believe tfeat I could, but 1 shall not, answer this most momentous question. " Timber trees of twenty years growth and up- wards, were unquestionably free from tithe on the accession of George the Third to the throne of England. In one case, that of Greenaway and the Earl of Kent, the bark ef the small trees which are suff'ercd to stand till a second felling of cop- pices, and never longer, and are called "black poles" in the county of Hereford, was adjudged by two Barons of the Exchequer to be titheablc ; (the third baron dissenting) but the timber of such poles, being above twenty years growth, was de- clared by all the three barons to be tithe free. And this decision being mentioned before Lord Hard- wicke, he pronounced that respecting the bark, to have been in opposition to all previous decisions, and subsequent practice, and contrary to law ; the bark and timber of rll timber above twenty years growth being hv tlie laws of England tithe-free. The case is detailed in (jwillim's Treatise upon the tithe-laws. In the f-ice of these decisions, and of this authority, jn the casq of the executors of Dr. F 66 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Ford versus Baxter, the late Lord EUenborough pronounced oak trees of fifty years growth, and which had sprung immediately from seed, to be subject to the payment of tithe, the words " gros bois" meaning large timber trees only. But this construction the words "gros bois" alone will not bear; and " gros bois decharpente," or " abatir" are added when timber fit for the builder or car- penter is described. The words " gros bois" dis- tinguished the larger wood of trees, not being tim- ber, from the " taillis," or brushwood; and the English language has some claim to the word " tallis," the fox-hunter's shout of tally-ho, being obviously, I conceive, the " tallis hors" of our Norman Barons. But in a more recent decision of the Barons of the Exchequer, it has been decided in the case of Evans versus Rowe, that all tim- ber trees, of whatever age and size, are titheable, unless their trunks contain within them the first stem which arose from the iseed. All the trees of the ulmus compestris, suberifera, glabra, and Americana, in short more than forty-nine fiftieths of all the elm timber in England, is made titheable, and probably more than nine tenths of all the large oak timber of England. For the seedlinn oak trees, when they first shoot from the acorg amongst the thickets which first protect them, usually grow very feebly, and either fall, or are cut down, when the brakes which surrounded them are first taken away. They then spring again with great vigour, and overcome and destroy their former protectors. But even supposing the trunk of an oak tree to contain the first seedling stem, its external character will very often lead to a contrary conclusion. A large acorn often contains two distinct and totally independent germs, or plants ; sometimes three, and I have seen four. These rise together, and their roots and stems soon become united and incorporated, and if all except one be subsequently cut away, that remain- ing will present perfectly the character of a tree which has sprung from a stool: and, although I have devoted much time and attention to vegetable physiology, I certainly should not be able to de- cide that such tree had not sprung from a stool, without subjecting much of the wood of its base to be placed under a powerful lens, in very thin transverse sections. In the event of the seeds of other trees being brought together by mice, or other agents, the same difficulties would occur. " No person can, I believe, justly accuse me of having refused, or hesitated, to pay a debt justly due, or of having violated the laws of my country in any way with injury to him ; but I have not considered, nor do I now consider, the decision of judges, such as I have above cited, to be entitled to obedience ; on the contrary, as I am not indigent, I should consider submission mean and cowardly. I therefore, neverhave, nor do I intend to obey such decisions ; and I believe that very few persons, ex- cepting those who unhappily possessed but little property, have submitted. I, however, have wit- nessed one case in which a widow lady, who had only a life interest in the estate, suflfered herself to be bullied by threats of prosecution, out of the tithe of very numerous oak timber trees, which were of fifty, or very nearly fifty years growth." — pp. 13—19. We do not wish to impugn the indepen- dence or integrity of our judges; but if it were base to bJink the fact that some years ago, no man was enrobed with the ermine, unless his opinions were known to have a certain bias, always favourable to the de- mands of the church, always inimical to the liberty of the press, always in opposition to the people securing suiiicient cliccks ngainst bad government, from the highest lo the lowest of its functionaries. In common fairness, however, to the clergy, to the present judges, and to the author him- self, we cannot omit the following remarks. " I must here do the clergy, as a body, the justice to say that, comparatively, very few have attempted to enforce the conditions of the above cited decisions ; and the number amongst them who have acted with intentional injustice, or op- pression is, I am satisfied, very small indeed. But they are extremely subject to form very erroneous notions of the value of their tithes. When a clergyman enters upon a living, he often sees gi'owing, extensive and luxuriant crops of corn, a tenth of which is his property, and he expects from the farmer, in successive years, payments nearly equivalent to a tenth of the value of such crops. This the farmer neither will, nor can, pay, for the tenth of the gross produce of a properly cultivated wheat field would, as I have already shown , greatly exceed the farmer's whole profits. The valuers of tithes are also often extremely unjust, and calculate the value of the tithes according to the in- jury which the farmer may be made to sustain, by every trifle of tithe being collected in kind, and not according to the sum which the clergyman would gain by collecting his tithe, after deducting the ex- penses of collecting it : and it has been my misfor- tune to witness more acts of dishonesty and oppres- sion amongst tithes valuers, and a few, a very few, of their employers, than amongst all other classes of society in the aggregate. As a body, the clergy are much more sinned against than sinning, the many suffering for the faults of the few. It is not wonderful, however, that such decisions and acts of misconduct should have raised a clamour against the clergy, and should have depressed them below their pi'oper level in the public esteem. Between the period of the commencement of the reign of George the Third, and the death of the late Lord Castlereagh, moduses of immense value were set aside by the same judges, who made the above cited decisions, under pretences which would now appear, in the public eye, extremely frivolous and unjust. The payments under such moduses be- came due at Michaelmas, and were usually paid on Michaelmas day, or, with the assent of the clergy- man, a day, or two, or three days afterwards ; his right to enforce payment on Michaelmas-day not having been ever questioned. But the clergymen had nothing more to do than to prove that one, two, or three days credit had been given by them to the farmer to cause the modus to be pronounced null and void. The aggregate amount of the value of the property awarded (I will not say unjustly) to the church, by the above cited decisions, is most enormous, and probably exceeds in fiftyfold proportion that taken by all the robbers who died by the hands of the executioner within the same period, in the immediate acts by which their lives were forfeited. But it is useless to dwell upon this painful subject ; such decisions will never be repealed. The judges latterly appointed are, with- out exception, men of character, who have distin- guished themselves in the profession by their talents and acquirements, and by them I do not doubt but that the laws will be properly admini- stered, and those feelings of respect and affection restored to the judges, which I recollect to have existed in the early part of my life } and it is but THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 67 justice to say that such decisions were opposed by some of the older judges, and that such were made by II few only ot them." — pp. 19 — 21. We had intended, this week, to notice Mr. Knight's plan for the commutation of tithes. Our extracts have aheady riui to a greater length than we anticipated, we must, therefore, postpone this branch of the subject to our next publication. — Hereford Times. AGRICULTURAL REPORTS. EAST SUSSEX. This month has passed off much like the month of February, the weather having been extremely dry and mild for the season. It is impossible but that every thing relating to agriculture must have gone on well. The spring sowing is nearly finished and the corn deposited extremely well. The lambing of the Down sheep is very forward, and it has been attended with good luck, but there is by no means a great fall of lambs. The Kent sheep are likely to produce a great crop, but are not so forward. The corn markets remain still in the same depressed state, the price being much too low to remunerate the grower. The meat markets are lower. The wool is nearly all sold at high prices, but at this time the trade is very slack, a few parcels of long wool have been sold at less money. The labourers are well employed at good prices, earning from twelve to fifteen shillings per week. The country are awaiting with the greatest anxiety the ministerial plan for a commutation of tithes. SUFFOLK. The weather throughout the winter with us has been unusually mild ; the ice never thicker than one-eighth of an inch, and this has occurred but four or five times ; this with two or three slight flights of snow, and a few slight hail storms, has been all the indication of winter we have had. Primroses abounded at Christmas, and ever since violets, cowslips, &c., are spangling the banks and fields, in fact, every plant of the kind a month or two forwarder than usual ; garden produce plenti- ful throughout the winter, and altogether such a season as the oldest person living never remember. Cattle feed has been plentiful, turnips have held out, but latterly have been of moderate quality, few obtained a plant of beet last year, where it is in store it is extremely valuable, as tares and other spring feed is not sufficiently advanced to be con- sumed. Great breadths of wheat have been sheep-fed and are looking well, but there is much complaint of the wheat being diseased, and certainly many fields do not look promising, from the leaves being covered with an orange-coloured fringe. There are various opinions as to cause and effect, some think it arises from frost and drought combined, others that it is caused b}'' insects and the like, some think it will cause no injury, others assert that they have had experience and found that it greatly reduced the crop. I have endeavoured to ascertain the probable cause, but without success ; lands highly manured, or not manured clover land, wheat, fallow, &c., all partake of the same disease, and having never seen the wheat so severely at- tacked, I will not prophecy what maybe the event, and state it only to draw attention to the subject, as you may hear more of it from other districts. The long continuance of wet weather during the winter months, prevented ploughing for beans and peas in many instances, and such lands being since ploughed, and the drought being so severe, hardened the land so as to prevent planting, and great breadths of beans still remain to be planted on stiff soils. Much barley was got in in February ; since most heavy land farmers have given up from the land being too dry. It is beginning to rain, and there is some appearance of wet and what remains to be sown may be done in haste. The Chevalier barley does not require to be planted early, and in fact it is yet a good season to sow barley ; what is in the ground has vegetated partially, and much of the land not in a state likely to produce a great crop. On light and tender soils every species of grain has been put in in the best possible oi'der, and with the least trouble and expense. Advantage has been taken by some to prepare land for beet, Swedish turnips, and potatoes. Sheep have been healthy, and throve well on the various food the open season produced, and we may presume there will be more lambs fit for the butcher than usual, but still as the demand for store ewe lambs and others for stock is increasing and prices may be high, they may not be waste- fully slaughtered. Thus far all well, but the dark side of the picture is , the low price of corn , the increase of unemployed labourers, and the little prospect of relief from our difficulties. I thought when I read your last Nor- folk report, that the farmers were made to advocate a free trade in corn, but I find many here are coming over to tliis opinion, their reason it seems is this : as they find their property wasting, their implements and gears wearing out, without the means of repairing or replenishing them, poor and other rates and crime increasing, and little indica- tion of reduction of rent and tithes, they think it would be better to meet the catastrophe at once, and begin again de novo. " They had rather suffer with others than alone." " The debt would be got rid of, and consequently the taxes, and the whole tribe of tax gatherei-s." This is a sad feeling, but so it is, and is increasing, such need not be suffered to exist, there must be one best way of meeting the difficulties with which the country is beset, or I may say surrounded. Many farms are changing hands, rents are in ar- rear, and there are some quitting in haste, lawyers, auctioneers, &c. &c. are in requisition, these are the epidemics I have to report. " Angels and Minis- ters of State defend us !"— March 29. SOMERSETSHIRE. After as wet and mild a winter as we ever re- member, has followed a dry and somewhat cold March, with pretty strong easterly winds, which have seared the wheats and young grasses. A few mornings ago the hills were partially whitened with snow. This month altogether has been highly fa- vourable to all farm operations ; the greatest diffi- culty being to ascertain the crops to be cultivated with the smallest loss, at a time when the occujDa- tion of all tillage lands is so ruinous. Flax has found, with many, a preference to Beans and Bar- ley, their usual course. Turnips were soon cleared off the ground, partly from their scantiness and partly from their early flowering ; and the ploughs at once set to work. All Spring corn has gone well into the ground, and sowing is advanced. The great breadth of vetches will make amends for the deficiency in the young clover, and there is a pros- pect of abundance of keep for the diminished stock on most farms. There are not wanting visible 2 F 68 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. signs of poverty in almost every parisli, which ere long will produce sad results. We have weekly comparative statements of the price of corn in England and France, and to a cursory reader the situation of the British cultivator may be consi- dered one of comfort ; but let it be always recol- lected, that the tithes, poor rates, parochial assess- ments, and taxes, in this country, far exceed all the outgoings, including rent on land of similar quality in France. This we state, not from conjecture, but from personal knowledge. At the present price of wheat, 6s a bushel for the best red, the hill farms of Somersetshire producing on an average from 14 to 16 bushels an acre, cannot be cultivated witliout loss, rent free. Notwithstanding this ex- tremely untoward state of things. Ministers have as yet brought forward no measure for the relief of agriculture. Commutation of tithes, and amend- ment of the poor laws have been repeatedly pro- mised, and changes without end rung on them. Wc have had the vox et prceterea nihil. There is an evident reluctance to attack abuses in high places, and to dispense towards the cultivators even-handed justice. Of farm produce generally there is considerable difficulty in making a riddance and converting it into money, which seems as defi- cient in the hands of the millers and butchers as in those of the farmers. Sheep have been readily sold at 6d to 7d a pound, light weights having the pre- ference. At present, however, with them the ten- dency is downwards, although their fleeces are now heavy. Prime fat heifers and oxen are sold from 9s to 10s a score, and the very best fat pigs for 6s a score. From what we see and hear, the prospect of apples is not good. The blossom in moat or- chards is very scanty. Good cider varies in price from 32s to 38s a hogshead, and the demand for it is yet limited, although malt is sold high, consi- deration being had to the cost of barley, which may be purchased readily at 24s the quarter. — March 29. NORFOLK. The weather during the last month has been cold and dry, at least, with only an occasional light shower, and vegetation, which, when we wrote last, had attained such a state of forwardness, has made little or no progress since then. If " a bushel of March dust is worth a King's ransom," we have this year had a sufficiency to ransom all the crowned heads in Christendom, if every indi- vidual were a Sovereign ; for we hardly ever recol- lect being more annoyed by the clouds of dust,which, day after day, have been filling our eyes, and laying bare the pebbles in the highways. Agreeably to all observations on the matter, dry weather has been exceedingly favourable to the young wheats, and, as we might expect, they are looking exceed- ingly thrifty. Checked in some measure by the cold and frequently frosty nights, their precocious appearance has given way to a fine healthy state, in which the roots have firmly fixed themselves in the soil, and become more capable of supporting the future stem. And this is not the only advan- tage of the dryness of the present month. The land has been in an excellent state for tilling. Oats, barley, and even small seeds are, in many places, already sown. In other respects we have expe- rienced some disadvantages from the late change in the atmosphere. Vegetation has made little, if any, progress during the last month. The grass is as scarce as it v.-as a month ago. The buds are almost in the same state as they then were, and, although we observed the black-thorn May ready to flourish in the first part of the month, it is not yet in blossoin. But, upon the whole, although the month has been cold and windy, and the fruit- trees in a state in which they are much exposed to injury from such a circumstance, the winds have been chiefly southerly, or have blown from the south-west, and decidedly of a nature not calcu- lated to do any mischief in this respect. Many of the farmers are complaining that the clover-plant has suffered materially ; not, we presume, that the winter has been unfavourable, but that the drought of last summer, and the wire-worm have caused, on all the light soils especially, a great falling off in this respect, the plant being scarce and weakly. In some instances it may and will gather, but in others the spots in M'hich there is not a plant to be seen, are too large to admit of any material im- provement. Indeed, the weather is now and has been for the last few days of a winterly description, much more so than any which we have experienced this winter. Sharp frosty nights and stormy days, with cold north-westerly winds, have succeeded the mildest of winters we remember ever to have ex- perienced. Still, we believe, although a complete stop is put to the growth of vegetation, and also to farming operations, at present the fruit-trees have received no injury, except, perhaps, those which before stood in very warm situations, and are now much exposed. It will, too, after all, by stopping the growth of the grass, throw us almost entirely upon the remaining turnips, which are now chiefly valuable for their tops, and should this weather remain long, many of the farmers will be short of feed before the grass will come on so as to be sufficient for the cattle, and the consequence will probably be that the present value of farming stock will be much reduced. Indeed, we believe, it has this effect already. Notwithstanding the anticipations of some, the lambing season has been very favourable and very productive, and the present price of wool will make flock-keeping the best part of a farmer's business. A few years back very many of the Norfolk farmers, especially the small ones, had not a sheep upon their farms ; but it is now be- come an essential part of a farmer's business in stocking his farm, and both large and small farmers alike think it necessary to keep sheep, which is a great advantage to the farmer, as well for manuring the land as the price which the wool realizes, and is, we think, in itself another proof that the cultivation of this county does not go backwards. Now I am upon this subject, I must say, so far as the county of Norfolk is concerned, I believe it never was in so high a state of cultivation as at the present moment, either in point of the state of the land under ploughtilth,or of the quantity under cultivation. Some old people, who particularly venerate the days when thej' were young (and who, if we are to believe them, then found, not only the land, but mankind so much better, that John, the "head man," would hardly look upon Molly the milk-maid, until he was 30 or 40, while they all sat at the same table, and lived upon cheese, fat bacon, with barley-meal, or bread made of the offal wheat, unsifted) , will tell us the land under cultivation was better manured, got more rest, and produced more per acre; but, we believe the very reverse to be the case, except as to the rest, which recent ex- periments have ascertained to be of no service, it being quite possible to produce such an admixture of the soils by cultivation, &c. as will obviate this, and, at the same time, not " run out of the land," as they call it. But I must refer those who wish to see more on this matter, to the excellent little THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 69 book of Mr. Lance's, " The Golden Farmer," a book which, I think, no agriculturist should be without. Our Hundred Meetings are now chiefly over, and our observations upon themlast month are ful- ly borne out. There have been little variety in them, except that they have, lately, frequently pe- titioned for the abolition of the Law of Settlement, and causing the poor-rates to be collected as the county-rates, as well as the repeal of the Malt Tax. We do earnestly implore the Legislature to grant this request.— March 28, 1834. DEVON. The extraordinary mildness of the winter, has been succeeded by a temperature quite as low as is commonly experienced in March. The blossoms of the early fruit trees attest that frost has come, though late. The wheats which throughout January and February carried a dark green, have exchanged it for a paler hue, sufficiently expressive of the more severe weather to which they have been subjected, at the period of forming the coronal roots. The result is, that no further apprehensions can be en- tertained as regards precocity, present appearances indicating nothing unusually early, except in the growthof some weeds. Meadows and pastures, in which vegetation had been suspended during the summer months, have afforded ample keep throughout the winter for sheep ; and in conse- quence of the bountiful supply of grass, ewes with their lambs have been liberally sustained, and are looking healthy : thus the evils usually consequent on a defective supply of turnips have been obviated by an ever kind Providence. Since our last report the prices of all grain have given way, and are now ruinously low ; wheat on the average being down to 6s the imperial bushel, and the very best hardly exceeding 6s 6d. Barley is bought in any quan- tities by the maltsters at 3s. At these rates we assert on calculation, that a very small part on only of the tillage lands in this county can pay any rent, while the public taxes, parochial assessments, tithes, and tradesmen's bills are little short in the ^gregate of their amount when agricultural pro- duce sold for twice as much as at the present time. The distress of the farmers is increasing. Every effort is made to keep the labourers in work, but their benefit is purchased by the ruin of their em- ployers who are daily incurring fresh debts, or parting with the means necessary for the occupa- tion of their farms. It is evident that from the present ministers, relief will be sought in vain, xmlcss all concerned in agriculture make a bold and united effort. The continued fall in barley since the remission of the beer duty, has made people a little incredulous as to the advantages promised from a repeal of the tax on malt, which excites here but little interest ; our sufferings are far too deeply seated to be cured by a diminution of a few millions of taxes, and if irremediable ruin must come at last, it is considered of little import whether it reach us this year or next. In this apparent lethargy, it is impossible not to per- ceive the germ of all those passions and feelings which subvert ancient establishments. Prime grazing heifers and oxen are selling well. Good fat beef is worth 9s to 9s 6d a-score. Com- plete wethers about 20 lbs. a quarter are worth nearly 7d per lb., while fat sheep of 28 to 30 lbs. a quarter are offered in the wool at ejd without meeting ready purchasers. Wool is quite out of the farmers' hands. — March 27. BERKS. The past montli has been cold and dry, and alto- gether most suitable for the farmer ; a dry March has always been a most favourable circumstance and one of our oldest writers on agriculture states that " March dust is always worth its weio-ht in gold." We have this year had March dust fiyino- about in all directions, and we doubt not but a be- nefit will be received in the ensuing crop, but we are afraid that the advocates of free trade will use their best endeavoui's to deprive the farmer from getting gold, or even copper; nevertheless the season cannot be found fault with. Frosty nights and sunshine days have been very prevalent, and we conceive they have been most beneficial to every thing but the forward fruit ; and the large hard clods that have recently been turned over and dried, will, with a few showers now fall to pieces like lime, and be most favourable for the vegetation of the seed. The buUc of the Beans, and Peas, and Oats, have for a length of time been, planted, and in some places a considerable breadth of Barlej' has been put in ; some of the early sown Oats are up and looking well, and most of the Beans and Peas appear above ground. The for- ward Wheat has received a most seasonable check, and the stems, instead of hastily running up, will grow more stout and firm, and not be so liable to be thrown down and broken by the winds and storms as they would have been if they had grown more luxuriantly ; although the cold and frosty nights and cutting winds have turned most of the wheat rather yellow, and in some instances the flag is become ragged and spotted, yet still we think and hope that the warm showers, which may be expected ere long, will bring again the desired colour, and make the fields of wheat assume a smiling face. The cold weather has also been of great advantage in keeping the turnips from run- ning to seed, and we are pleased to state that the sheep have made more improvement during the last month than in any other month throughout the winter. The trade in sheep has commenced rather brisk, and the price is full as high as can be ex- pected, considering the low price of almost every thing else ; but tegs seem to sell the more readily in consequence of the high price of wool. The young lambs, where they have had good living, have of late grown and thriven exceedingly ; ancl they in general are in a most healthy state. Pigs at length begin to be inquired after, and are ad- vancing in price, but all other kinds of stock re- main about the same. The wheat markets continue exceedingly flat and dull, and although the country markets have for a length of time been but scantily supplied with wheat, yet as long as the markets at London, Liverpool, &c. continue to be so glutted with the produce of Ireland, there can be but little hopes of an improvement of prices in the country. The price of wheat for a length of time has been most ruinously low, although it is conjectured that not above two-thirds of the usual quantity has been sold in the markets of this county, since Christmas, and yet the trade is as bad, and the price continues as low as ever. We are certain that the crop of wheat last year in this country was below an average, and we know that the stock of wheat in the farmers' hands at the present time is not altogether greater than usual, for if some have large quantities, others have their rick-yards nearly empty, and we believe that the stock of many of the millers begins to get short, and as the wheat is uncommonly good in quality, and becomes exceedingly dry and fit for keeping, we rather wonder that there is no speculation, ])articularly as money is reported to be so plentiful amongst some of the great capitalists in London. The barley 70 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. market has been somewhat better of late, and prices have a little advanced, but we conceive that the present inquiry for seed is the principalcause, and when that is over the same dulness will pro- bably prevail. There are but few of the farmers that have got much barley in hand, yet, under present circumstances, we do not think that either the maltster or brewer, or any other class of per- sons, will store by them one quarter more of malt than is absolutely necessary, or they think they shall want, because they are in hopes that ere long the duty will be taken off, so that there will be no speculation in barley, so that at present there is but little chance of its getting higher. The agita- tion of the corn laws, and the debate on the malt tax, have no doubt shaken the confidence of the speculators, and probably tended to keep down the prices of both barley and wheat, and it will, we are afraid, be some time before confidence is again restored. The stock of oats in hand is not greater than usual, but the market continues dull, because the farmers and dealers are both aware that ere long a large supply will be poured into the London mar- ket from Ireland, Scotland and elsewhere, and that there is every probability of the English farmer being undersold in his own market. The seed trade on the whole has been very dull, and most of the kinds have been selling at a very low price, but if cloverseed did not produce more per acre in other counties than it did in this county, the supply from abroad must have been very great, for we hardly ever knew a worse crop than this year, and in many instances it has scarcely paid for the thrashing. There is no wool in the farmers' hands, so therefore no price can at present be quoted. The farmer is acknowledged by both houses, to be in a most deplorable state, and a committee has had real proof and are satisfied of the fact, and there has been a considerable talk of something being done to help him, but alas 1 the evil is every day increasing, and most alarmingly increasing, and there is not the least probability of any relief at present for agriculture. If the manufacturers were suifering but half the distress that the farmers are now suffering, the country would ring from one end to the other with complaints, until some relief was granted ; but the cultivator of the soil will quietly sit down and be shorn of his little pro- perty without making one real eifort to save him- self from ruin, and the persons who are returned as his representatives seem equally endowed with ihe same apathy as himself. — April 1. KENT. We have been for some weeks very busy dress- ing the land and getting in our spring crops, and where care was taken not to let the ground get too dry, it has worked well, and the corn has been put in, in a husbandry-like manner. It has been a very tedious task in dressing strong dry soils,^ and in certain cases they will be obliged to wait for rain before the land will be in a fit state to receive the seed ; the same may be said of the turnip land, where fed off by sheep. The wheats in general look well, but are by no means in that forward state which might be expected after so mild a win- ter ; we have now a cold easterly wind, which will check all vegetation, but may be of service to the wheat. Some of the early-sown barley and oats on the light soils are now much in want of rain. The barley lately introduced, called Chevalier, has been sown this year to a very great extent ; it is fit to harvest from ten to fifteen days sooner than the common, but it is not expected to answer on strong goils, as tl^est|:?^w in general is allowed to be WPfik. The weight, per bushel, very far exceeds the Nor- folk— the maltsters like it much. The corn markets are now, as they have been for some time, in a flat, dull state, and anything but satisfactory to the farmer. There have been plenty of excellent beasts at market, with very little variation in price from last report, but the supply of sheep still continues short, with an ad- vance in price, where the wool is on their backs, which is now a great consideration with the gra- ziers. For good hops there has been a very steadv call, at a small advance in price, but ordinary still hang on hand, with but few offers for them. We can say but little respecting wool, as it is, with few exceptions, all in the hands of the staplers. RUTLAND. The weather for some months has been particularly favourable for all agricultural operations. The spring seeds have been deposited in most cases earlier than usual, but for want of moisture vegetates very slowly and partial in different parts of the same field. The Wheats, generally speaking, are a good plant : early sowing and drilling appear to have a great precedence over broad-cast with harrowing or ploughing in, and many thin and light soils have retained the plant in a very firm and healthy state through the assistance of that valuable implement the presser. The drill and the presser admit of much after culture with the hoes, which under the broad-cast system must be but im- perfectly executed. Drilling and hoeing has increased very much in this county within the last seven or ten years. The Bean husbandry from the old system of broad-cast with Peas mixed is fast declining, and the drills of various constructions or dibbing has replaced such antiquated husbandry, that with the intelligent farmer it is now only a matter of comparison or doubt as to the width from row to row most preferable, but the writer of this report thinks that Beans should be sown in rows of twenty inches apart, and horse hoed twice or three times between the rows, then hand hoe- ing once or twice in the rows. This system of Bean husbandry will leave the land clean and mellow, much enriched by vegetable matter, and Wheats after the Beans will, in nineteen cases out of twenty, far sur- pass in quality and yield, those sown on naked fal- lowed land. The Tares in number of acres and luxuriance ex- ceed anything remembered, and it is a matter of gratification to see an increase in this branch of hus- bandry, and whether they are consumed upon the land by sheep, or mown and consumed in the yards by horses or cattle, much good to the land must result. Good tillage and drilled are decidedly the best. The pastures have been good throughout the winter, and all stock have done better than usual; but as the spring has advanced, the grass has been cut with very severe frosts, and dry east winds. The lambing has just terminated, and with good success, most of the sheep being in health and con- dition. The beasts have wintered well in the straw yards, the quality of the straw being much sweeter and bet- ter than usual ; some few farmers very wisely allow about 3lbs. of cake per day to each bullock intended for the next summer's grazing. The prices of all agricultural produce has been, and is too low, with the exception of wool, and the quality of what the farmer has had to sell perhaps never was better in any season. How payments are to be met with prices like the present remains to be known 5 evidently where corn THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 71 is the chief dependence from cold lands or otherwise, they cannot be met, however favourable a landlord may be to the occupier. It must be allowed that the march of intellect has done something towards stand- ing up against difficulties ; better implements have been introduced and well applied, superior bred stock and improved management of it, and an extrordinary spirit of enterprise and industry, for which this country is now remarkable, have contributed to a certain degree to its prosperity. '1 he Annual Cattle Show at Oakham, is of some importance, and the Annual Ploughing Meeting at Cottesmore, perhaps, cannot be too highly esteemed. The Small Allotment System has proceeded with general approbation and service to the occupiers, and in many parts the arrangement for cultivation, order, regularity, and usefulness, are of no small importance to the country generally. The labourers generally have met with full employment, at wages from ten to twelve shillings per week. — April 21. NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE. The Ides of March have passed off without any particular catastrophe. No particular assassina- tions have taken place in our neighbourhood, there has been no abundance of suicides, and our Coroner very justly observes, that it is best to let sleeping dogs lie still. What can be the use of celebrating in the newspapers the name of every insignificant wretch who chooses to give time the slip ; and whose name would have never been known, except from his dexterity at tying the noose, or using the razor or pistol ? But it may, perhaps, be all very well to caution your readers when they find any fool struggling in a halter, not to be in hurry, bustle, and agitation over the cut- ting of the rope ; else it is possible the knife may slip into the jugular vein, and the attempted cure prove as bad as the disorder. Experience makes fools wise. But now for the state of the country. The last two months have been mild to a miracle. We had a little frost on the 29th of January, and snow was seen for a few hours on the tops of some hills, hut we had no ice thicker than a shilling, and from that day, neither ice nor snow was seen till the 28th of March, when there was just such another moi-ning. The weather now, however, is as mild as May, (the thermometer standing at 56 deg., and the barometer at 34 deg.) A fine lamb- ing time, and the fields and meadows green and gay. Such farmers as have large crops of cabbage or turnips may say with the Irishman, they have " gained a loss ;" for they are all rotting in the fields or running to seed. We see on the borders of Shropshire, scores of acres of turnips rolling down in order to check their flowering. We would prefer mowing them over rather than roll- ing them. Cattle will eat turnip-tops and many other vegetables in a half-withered state, which they would not touch in the growing state. We have had an abundance of March dust, though it has been chiefly found on the M'Adam estate, and is no criterion for the tillage land, which has ge- nerally turned up very raw and livered. Beans, peas, and oats have all been got in well, and all sort of farming work is as forward as it ought to be, only we were waiting for a frosty week for the carting of composts to our pastures, and that week has never come, so they had better lie for another year than cut up the grass or smother the grass now growing. There is every appearance of a plentiful fruit season. No, no, I beg pardon— I should have rather said there is e,n abundance, b, pjiper,T,biiRdaiiP9 of blossoms, Ijiit they hfty^ e^- panded a month too early for speculating on a heavy crop, though all nature appears gay at pre- sent. Hens cackling, cocks crowing, plenty of eggs at a halfpenny each, butter at one shilling per pound, a quarten loaf fivepence-halfpenny, best beef and mutton sevenpence per pound, and whole carcasses, ready dressed, at fivepence-halfpenny. The offal of sheep brings a good price ; they die full of fat, which fetches fourpence per pound, and a good skin brings ten or twelve shillings. There are considerable complaints amongst the dairy farmers that they have a greater proportion of barren cows than usual, but it is not all a dead loss, as they have milked very well all the winter. There is one source of grumbling amongst the higher orders, viz., the ice-houses are all empty, and no chance of frozen cream in the next summer. The writer of this, however, never despairs before the 15th inst., for a fall of snow on that morning, some years ago, enabled him to fill his ice-house in three hours. Should a fall of snow come on some morning (say two inches thick,) set all hands, man, woman, and child, to work at rolling snowballs. It is fine fun, and an active man will roll up several cart-loads in an hour. It may then be carted to the ice-house and well beaten down, occasionally strewing salt over it. In this state it will keep as well as any ice, and answer every purpose that ice is used for. But should no snow shower fail it will not be a great national loss. A season flowing with milk and honey will be of more consequence. — April 4. GLAMORGANSHIRE. Vegetation experienced a very seasonable check in the past month, and the cold dry winds which prevailed, proved highly favourable for farm ope- rations, such as stirring the fallows for spring crops, &c., also in drying the soil from the extreme moist state it was previously in. It has likewise compensated in some degree for the total absence of frost in winter. On the nights of the 18th and I9th, the thermometer receded for the first time this winter below the freezing point, which pro- duced a little sharp frost. The wheat plant, especially if previously thin or growing on a wet subsoil, assumed a yellow tinge, and the ground at once became bare in its appearance, which will take some time to recover ; the same remark ap- plies to spring-grazed wheat. The thick and for- ward plant, on the contrary, will be benefited. Some early fruit blossoms, which the preceding mild weather had prematurely expanded, have been injured by these frosty nights. 13arley sowing has commenced in the vale on most of the early soils. The turnip ground having undergone great poaching during the winter proved hard at first, but the recent showers have been beneficial to it. In general, the winter-ploughed land for spring grain, or for turnip fallows, is in an unkind state from the long continuance of wet weather, and will require a considerable portion of summer sun before it is in proper tilth. Winter vetches and young clovers are a good plant, and look well. Vegetation in general, although stationary in March, is still very for- ward. The corn market is in the same dull state, and prices ruinously low. Sheep and cattle have been in demand, but pigs and horses are not much sought after, and the prices low, except for some- thing very prime, — April 2, BBRWICKSHIBF,. Tbewr#I>er 4HFlng the b?qr^'1]i of Uwli^'^m' 72 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. favourable foi' every operation of the season ; on eight days there were showers of rain, but all of short duration, and some of them so light as scarcely wet the surface of the ground. On five days we had very slight showers of snow, but all of them soon over. On the morning of the 28th, the highest parts of Lammermuir appeared in the garb of winter. Between the 20th and 31st inclu- sive, there were six nights on which we had very gentle frost. The prevailing winds were from the west, and on a number of days were very high. These were the only impediments to jsowing with the hand. In the lower part of the county the sowing of oats commenced about the beginning of the month, and by the middle of it this process was general in our highest situations, and is now near a close. Vegetation has met with no apparent check. The growing wheat and new grasses have a very promising appearance. The pastures afford a fair supply for the flocks. Keeping-stock is in good condition. We hear of no lack of turnips for the feeding stock, which are making requisite progress for the shambles. The lambing season for bred ewes commenced at the usual time, and has been favourable ; for Cheviot and blackfaced stock it is scarcely begun. Married farm servants are engaged on the same terms as last year. Farms advertised to be let are going off very slowly. The times require a reduction in rent, particularly corn farms. — April 1. FIFESHIRE. March has been most suitable for the farmer, being dry from beginning to end. The first fort- night of the month was mild, with one or two windy days ; the remainder of it cold and frosty, which has given a most seasonable check, to a rather premature spring. The sowing of peas was completed sometime ago, — a work of con- siderable labour, — the ground being hard and dif- ficult to reduce. The oat seed is now nearly fiaished, and was scarcely ever committed to the bosom of " mother earth" under more favourable circumstances. Stiff soils have, to be sure, been no easy task to harrow, as the battering rains of winter rendered them almost impervious ; but they are dry, and the first rains will expand them to receive the roots of the seed committed to their fostering protection. The cross ploughing of barley, and the green-crop land is far advanced, and the frosts have rendered it friable and mellow. The fields are nearly cleared of tur- nips, and there is rather a want of that neces- sary root, for carrying on the feeding of stock until the grass is ready; so that grain and hay will be resorted to, to eke out the remainder of the potatoes and turnips. The wheats have received a check from the frosts, and have a yellow hue, but the dry state of the ground prevented them from being thrown out. Grasses are still well planted, and have a promising appearance. Prices of all kinds of grain have kept remarkably steady during the winter and spring months, and the favourable seed time will prevent speculation, or any rise of price. Barn-yards are still well stored, and with the following crop, even a little under an average one, no foreign grain will be required. The competition for grass parks has scarcely been so great, as during some former years, and rents have fallen a little. — April 2. EAST LOTHIAN. From the 11th to the 21st, the weather being- calm and dry, the great bulk of the oat-seed was got over under favourable circumstances, and though there has been little frost, yet, from the land being mostly ploughed dry, clay soils harrowed better than might have been expected. The drill- ing of beans and peas, with some exceptions, is completed ; the favourable season has induced an expended culture of these grains, which are well known to be suitable, preparatory to a wheat crop ; indeed it is remarked, that several fields are under these crops which some years ago would not have been considered as calculated for producing them. At Gifford fair, on the 25th, which is the only market in the county for ewes and lamb, the show presented v.-as smaller than usual, and was all quickly sold at an advance of about 4s on the prices of this time twelvemonth, and sevei-al buyers left the market unprovided. Markets for fat stock have been larger than the demand required, and prices have receded. Trade in some of the manu- facturing districts having got dull, will no doubt lessen consumption. Grain markets have not been so full as last month. At Haddington, wheat, in particular, has been nearly a half less. Average prices have advanced 3s 6d, and on barley 3s 2d per quarter since the last market day of the pre- ceding month. Oats and beans and peas, with the exception of some of superior quality for seed, have varied little. — March 31. PERTHSHIRE. Loud winds were frequent in tlie early part of March, and the soil which at the beginning of that month was completely saturated with moistui'e, soon became sufficiently dry for receiving the spring seeds. Sowing of beans commenced in the early districts in the second week, but as till then, there had been no spring frost, harrowing clay lands was attended with much labour. Towards the end of the month nightly frosts produced a fine mould on the surface, and the oat seed was covered with fewer turns of the harrow. The rain which fell in March did not exceed an inch in depth, and the soil is now become rather dry for producing an equal braird on stubborn soils. In the lower districts oats for the most part have been sown on a kindly bed, and in the north and western parts of the county sowing of oats is now going forward. The weather being open through- out the winter, farm labour is far advanced, vege- tation is also in a more forward state than usual. Wheat, till the middle of the month, had a fresh and verdant appearance, since then nightly frosts followed with sunshine have produced a brownish tinge on the foliage, in general however the roots are still safe, and clovers every where plant close, and give promise of a bulky crop of hay. Pastures had assumed a verdant colour early in March, but the growth has received a temjiorary check by frost. In the prices of grain there has been little alte- ration in the course of the month. Oats for seed, however, gave 3s to Ss 6d per boll over last month's prices. Prime samples of improved varieties of barley brought high prices for seed ; in malting parcels there was no alteration. Potatoes rather improved in price, but are now for the most part disposed of. Cattle have not sustained the prices of the winter months, but sheep still bring high prices. Agricultural labourers are not receiving constant employment generallj^ The low price of grain prevents the farmer from entering on improvements, and part of the money that might be profitably employed in draining and ditching, is in the course of being transferred to improve the lands on the banks of the Wolga.— March 31. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 73 EXPENSES OF CULTIVATION- PROSPECTS OF AGRICULTURISTS. That notliing can be more ridiculous than the state- ments hazarded by the Corn-Monopolists, in reference to the effects of a free trade npon our cultivation, ex- perience shows. It may not, indeed, be easy to con- vince the knowing ones, vvlio prove to demonstra- tion that cheap corn and much trade would ruin this country, and who have recently hit upon the other equally knowing discovery, that, in a declining state of prices, a grain rent fixed by the fiars at the commence- ment of his lease would ruin tiie farmer ; but we re- quest all persons whose brains have not gone a wool- gathering after such transcendental fancies to attend to the following /(/cts. In the first place, our agricul- ture has already undergone a greater change within our own memories than it ever can in future undergo. From 80s, the remunerating price of the Corn I^aw in 1815, wheat iias fallen to 50s ; and although it is not denied that a certaiu change of cultivation lias gone along witii this lemaikable declension, we put it em- phatically to the farmer, whether any of his embarrass- ments have arisen from this change of cultivation, and whether, if he could have got liis rent adjusted to tlie declining prices, it would have been felt by him as a serious matter at all 1 This is bringing the question into something of a practicable and tangible shape, and it shows how any body who wishes to come at the truth lias a ready means of putting down those dog- matical unproved assertions, and of blowing away those volumes of smoky "metaphysics," which they desire to humbug us withal. Prices have already passed through three times the amount of fall they can be made to pass through although ports were to open to-morrow ; and strange to tell there is no ruin seen, nor any evil to the agriculturists but simply /"com loo liigh rents! The growling predictions with which we are deafened about the effect of free trade in lay- ing our land waste, are founded one and all upon a most incomplete view of the subject : they neitiier take into account the signal diminution of expenses of cultivation which would ensue on low prices, nor the operation of any one compensating circumstance, however important and however sure. How much, pray, of the agriculturist's expenses are dependant upon the very price of corn? With what does he feed his horses, with what victual his servants, with what sow his land ? And as these constant and great ex- penditures diminish directly with the price of corn, they must be kept continually in view when calcula- tion is made relative to the power of cultivating cer- tain lands under the influence of a low price. We extract the following table of comparative expenses from the Lord's Committee on Agriculture, to which it was given in by the accurate Arthur Young : — 1790. 1803. 1813. Rent £88 6 3i£121 2 7^£161 12 7* Tithe, 20 14 1* 26 8 Oi 38 17 3i Rates 17 13 10 31 7 7i 38 19 2f Wear &; tear, 15 13 H 22 11 lot 31 2 lOf Labour, 85 5 H 118 0 4 161 12 Ui Seed 46 4 lOJ 49 2 7 98 17 10 Manure, .. 48 0 3 68 6 2 37 7 Oi Team, 67 4 10 80 8 0^ 134 19 H Interest, . . 22 11 Hi 30 3 8| 50 5 6 Taxes .... 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 1 4 Total £411 14 1H£547 10 11J£771 16 4i This Table has reference to England, and what is there marked as tithes and rates ought all to be in- cluded in the line of rent, which, had the estate been in Scotland, ^Tiou!d probably have stood thus — 1790. 1803. 1813 Rent..,. 126n4s3d 178/183 3id 239Z 9s 3fd and all the rest as before. Now, be it noticed that there is not one of the other items, except manure and taxes, which have not increased greatly ; and the increase of whicii as well as nearly the doubling of the rental, is not owing to the increase of the price of corn, fllanure had diminished in price because of more abundant supply ; and the taxes of 1813 are now for the most part abolished. The increase under tear and wear must clearly be attributed to the rise of the raw material, as manufacturing efficiency had greatly augmented, and therefore, in so far as the workmanship was concerned, there must have been a decrease. W^e give this table purely in illustration ; and because it may be the means of enabling any in- telligent farmer to form a schedule for himself, where- from he may judge concerning the absurd exaggera- tions which are daily and weekly tlirust upon him. With this reduction of all expenditure, including rent, and in addition, the aid derived from our con- stantly improving agriculture, it is physically im- possible that the allegations of the monopolists can be other than eitlier ludicrous blundeis or interested falsehoods. But these men also blindly overlook the sure operation of compensating circumstances. It is as evident as noon-day, that there could not be other- wise than a greatly increased demand for animal food, and, of course, a greatly increased profit in keeping of stock. The demand for animal food is, upon the whole, inversely as the price of corn, the one rises as the other sinks — a pretty accurate proof by the Ij^ve of the influence of dear bread-corn over the condition of our population. The fact is being illustrated at this very moment ; for the only agriculturists who do not complain, are stock farmers. Now this demand would far more than take up any land set loose from the cul- tivation of bread- corn ; and an extension of root- husbandry, and of the culture of tares and the coarser grasses, would be inevitable. Moles cannot see this, but it is, nevertheless, tolerably plain anyone who can look before his nose. If the farmer, then, could get a grain rent at the average fiars wiien he took his farm, there is moral certainty that he need fear nothing from open trade, even although some of his worst fields should be subjected to a change in the mode of their cultivation ; and if the landlord receives thai, he receives all for what the agriculturist virtually cove- nanted. Such is the plain unvarnished state of one side of the question ; and now let us look at tiie ot'ier. If the farmer commits the gross and fatal mistake of making common cause with the proprietor in his un- social attempts, he loses, in the first place, all chance of settlement by grain rents. The landlord will first ply him with " metaphysics," and the system of some Homoeopathic Doctor, proving that grain rents are bad, and that it would ruin the whole country if he did not pay in money ; and when, in moody tone, he talks of low prices, he will be told, — " Oh ! an asso- ciation will remedy all evils ; be patient and we shall get high restriction and high prices!" Frankly and plainly this is his position ; and we frankly tell the deluded men who take consolation from the insane assurance, that they will as soon get more "protec- tion" from the Parliament of this country, as an assignment of the treasures in the moon. The tide is turned and the change all in the other direction. But even protection against foreigners would not save them, for it cannot be too often repeated that prices 74 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. are falling through internal causes, and that they will fall farther. The operation of the English and Irish tithes was this : — they kept tithed estates, in respect of cultivation, far behind all estates tithe free. The obstruction removed, culture will take a start, and the additional quantity of corn brought into the market will, of necessity, keep down prices. Meanwhile, where is the tenantry 1 In the bosom of the Unions, and being there consoled 1 Alas '. a knightly smile, or a seat in a ball-room is but poor recompense for wasting capital and money rents ! But the proprietor, of course, will be satisfied ; he has done manfully his duty ; i. e.got up inane and impotent Unions, poured foith vapid speeches, and pocketed his money rents! There is but one course for the tenantry, and that we hope most earnestly they are becoming wise to pursue. Their safety is in immediate settlement, and their in- terests all with the community at large. They will not be deserted by the community if they are only true to themselves. — Fife Herald. A Story on the Road. — The north coach, last week, stopped at a small place not many stages from Carlisle, to change horses. A middle-aged gentle- man, muffled up in a cloak, stepped out of the inside ; he entered the inn, pulled his travelling cap off ex- posing a determined billions complexion, and called for a glass of brandy and water. In the room sat chattering the landlord and a friend. The brandy was brought and paid for. The traveller paced up and down the room in evident distress either of mhid or body, frequently pressing his hand to his forehead. At last he pulled out a small blue paper parcel from his pocket, cooly emptied the contents (a white powder) into the glass, and was in the act of putting it to his mouth, when the landlord rushed forward and seized his arm, while on the other side he was collared by the friend, — " Coamsur, that won't doa !" " Won't do ! what the d — 1 do you mean ?" " Nay, nay, sur ; but you ought to be ashamed to want to disgrace the Arms by such an act." The gentleman waxed wroth. " D — n you, sir, I've paid for the brandy, and I'm not going to swallow the glass. Come, my good fellow, please to take your hand off my collar ! What the d — 1 possesses you both ?" Attracted by the noise, in came the hostess, followed by the house- hold and the coachman, impatient at being detained. All talked and screamed at once ; the traveller was bewildered ; he looked round with unfeigned astonish- ment at the crowd of horror-stricken countenances which surrounded him. The next moment the glass was dashed from his hands, and the word " poison" was whispered round the room. To him now all was explained ; he burst into an immoderate fit of laugh- ter ; the people withdrew a pace or two in horror, thinking him mad. He seized the opportunity ; elbowed his way out of the house, muttering as he went along, " Well, it is a very hard case, indeed, if, when a poor devd like me has a headache, he can- not even please him, elf whether or not he should take a Seidlils powder !" Tying a Hyena. — This appears a dangerous mode of sporting ; but, according to the accounts of these people, it is not so for a man who has strength and coolness ; for the hyena, though a savage beast, is easily frightened ; and Syud Daoud was said to have tied three in the course of a day. However, it is of course a very dangerous undertaking for one who cannot sustain great presence of mind, as they testified by mentioning the case of a man who a year or two \}&km ht4 4i9cl pf § ^i|§ tih^t h? got \n a Qlutnsy ftt- tempt. Syud Daoud himself described to me the mode of tying a hyena in his lair, as follows : — " When," said he, "you have tracked the beast to his den, you take a rope with two slip-knots upon it in your right hand, and, with your left holding a felt cloak before you, you go boldly, but quietly in. The animal does not know what is the nature of the dan- ger, and therefore retires to the back of his den ; but you may always tell where his head is by the glare of his eyes. You keep moving on gradually towards him on your knees, and when you are within distance, throw the cloak over his head, close with him, and take care that he does not free himself. The beast is so frightened that he cowers back, and, though he may bite the felt, he cannot turn his neck round to hurt you ; so you quietly feel for his two fore legs, slip the knots over them, and then with one strong pull draw them tight up to the back of his neck, and tie them there. The beast is now your own, and you do what you like with him Coiwlly''s Journey through Ajf'ghaunistann, Brief BioGRAniY of a Horse. — Died lately, at the farm of Oarsmills, in this parish, an old horse named " Bob," at the advanced age of thirty-seven }'ears. He was a horse of superior action, and con- tinued whole and sound to the last. Excepting on Sunday and liolidays he was never known, during his long life, to have been a single day out of the yoke ; and at the lowest calculation he m.ust have travelled as many miles as are twice measured by the circuit of our globe. Bob lived in very eventful days. He was ushered info the world at the time when the French fleet was defeated by Nelson, whose achievements lie often afterwards heard rehearsed with apparent de- light. ]Many an illumination and bonfire on occasion of victories by flood and field was he a witness to, and many a project did he hear broached for the " burk- ing" of Napoleon Bonaparte. The names of Pitt and Fox, and of the heroes whose deeds have shed a lustre over the hislory of Britain, were familiar to his ear as household words. He was in his prime wlien the victory of Waterloo was won, and his burden seemed to sit lighter on him as he listened to the fame of the Scotch Greys. The death of George III. appeared to cast a gloom over Ids spirit, but he snorted and even appeared disposed to kick at the very mention of the " Holy Alliance." Without controversy. Bob was a philanthropist, — his days were spent for the benefit of mankind ; but it is thought that he has looked some- what sulky at the lords of the creation since the pass- ing of the Reform Act. His master, generous soul, who has never altogether recovered from a fright he got from a ghost, was unable to master pluck suffi- cient to witness the funeral rites, — -but he has given testimony to the sense lie entertained of Bob's ser- vices by the instructions he issued to his foreman on the melancholy occasion. The following is a true copy of them ; — " Directions for the funeral of Old Bob. He is to be buried on Monday morning, before sun-rising. New ground to be broke for him in the common ground near the Lint-mill, where repose the ashes of many of his friends. The grave to be large enough to admit the entire body without breaking any of his bones. Although he was wholly shod a few days ago, neither his shoes nor his coat are to betaken off. Never let us disgrace the county by allowing it to be said that a good old faithful servant, and one that never returned a bad answer, was sent away without his olothing, The company attending the funeral to be refreshed with a little of the best rfiou^« THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 75 THE BULL-DOG. The Bull-dog is low in stature, deep chested, and strongly made about the shoulders and thighs, the muscles of both of which are extremely developed. His head is broad, his nose short, and the under jaw projects beyond the upper, which gives him a fierce and disagreeable aspect. His eyes are distant and prominent, and have a peculiar suspicious-like leer, which, with the distension of his nostrils, gives him also a contemptuous look ; and from his teeth being always seen has the constant appearance of grinning, ■while he is perfectly placid. He is the most ferocious and unrelenting of the canine tribe, and may be con- sidered courageous beyond every other creature in the world, for he will attack any animal, whatever be his magnitude. The internal changes which determine the external characters of this dog, consist in a great developement of the frontal sinuses, a developement which elevates the bones of the forehead above the nose, and draws the cerebral cavity in the same direction. But the most important quality, and that, perhaps, which causes all the others, although wc cannot per- ceive the connexion, is the diminution of the brain. The cerebral capacity of the bull-dog is sensibly smaller than in any other race ; and it is doubtless to the decrease of the encephalon that we must attribute its inferiority to all others in every thing relating to intelligence. The bull-dog is scarcely capable of any education, and is fit for nothing but combat and fero- city. This animal takes his name from his having been employed, in former times, in assaulting the bull, and he is used for the same purpose at the present day, in those districts where this brutal amusement is still practised. Nothing can exceed the fury with which the bull- dog falls upon all other animals, and the invincible obstinacy with which he maintains his hold. In at- tacking the bull, he always assails him injfront, and generally fastens upon his lip, tongue, or eye, where he holds and hangs on, in spite of the most desperate efforts of the other to free himself from his antagonist, which affords ample proof of the amazing strength and power of this animal. VYbenever a l?«U- j utoo 0 )/ets \ Half-bred Ditto 2 0 0 0 Ditto Ewes, cloathing 1/00 South-Down Ewes 1 8 0 0 Itent Fleeces 1 8 1 9 Skin Combing 17 18 Leicester Wethers 1 8 0 0 FlannelWoid 1 5 1 7 Blanket Ditto 1 1 1 5 Leicester Hogs 1 11 0 0 In Yolk— Devon 1 4 1 5 SCOTCH. Per Stone of 24 lbs. April 1. s. d. 8. d, LaidHighland Wool, from. 15 9 to 16 6 White Do. Do 18 G 19 6 LaidCrosscd Do 18 0 19 0 Washed Do. Do 20 6 22 0 Laid Cheviots 20 0 23 0 Washed Do 25 0 29 0 White Do May 1 8 d. s. d. 1 lltoO 0 2 0 0 0 5 0 0 6 0 0 7 1 8 4 1 5 6 0 0 3 1 5 0 11 1 3 11 0 0 2 1 4 May 1. 8. d. s. d. 15 9 to 16 6 18 6 19 6 18 0 19 0 20 6 22 0 20 0 23 0 25 0 29 0 FOREIGN. Per lb. April 1. s. d. 8. d. Electoral Saxony Wool, from. 4 G to G 6 1st Australian, Bohemian, \ j /> . . and G erman Wools /* " * * 2ndDo 2 9 3 6 Inferior Do. in Locks and Pieces 2 0 2 6 Lambs' Do 3 6 4 6 Hungary Sheep's Do 2 2 2 6 Leonesa Do 2 6 3 10 Set'ovia Do 2 6 3 0 Soria Do 2 0 2 9 Cacarcs Do 2 0 2 4 Spanish Lamb's Wool 16 2 9 German and Spanish cross Do. 16 2 0 Portugal Sheep's Do 14 2 0 Do. Lambs' Do 14 2 9 Australian fine crossed Do 3 6 5 6 Ditto Native Sheep's Do 1 10 2 6 Van Dieinen's Land Do. Do.. 14 0 0 Ma V 1 s. d. s. d. 4 6 to 6 6 4 0 4 4 2 9 3 6 2 0 2 6 3 6 4 6 2 <> 2 6 2 6 3 10 2 6 3 0 2 0 2 a 2 0 2 4 1 fi 2 9 1 6 2 9 ; 4 2 0 1 4 2 9 3 6 5 6 1 0 2 6 I 4 0 0 ENTERED AT STATIONER'S HALL. PuMishedat 1!), OldBoswell Court, Temple Bar. Printed by Joseph Bogerson, 24, Norfolk-street, Strand, t^'! ^ ^=^ ^ < -^^^f ^ f ^J-'^^'-^' ^^^';^> bad have been accept^ ^tt^ards of a - turn out " would masters will be r .-^r ,]"deed, _ it is not likely that thev were du- -^^pelled to give wages as high as ereat deal o*^ -^tig'the war,* and be subjected to a, execute or ' H-indictive opposition, unless it be to then we ^''^ obviously very profitable. Hence, h s no*- ^^'^ conclude that the high price of wool ,i c <^titirely been the cause of the last three . .^ A^ of miserable depression, but that much of J ^scribable to the ramifications of the above .rCumstances, which are simply stated without at , all entering into particulars. These causes, com- "bined, however, with the high price of wool, brOright upon our woolstaplers and manufacturers all the mischief, and reduced them to the dilemma of either standing still or transacting business at ruinously low prices. Nevertheless many manu- facturers continued doing a little, and occasionally bought small quantities of wool at very low prices from necessitous holders, which certainly had the effect of nominally reducing the subjoined descrip- tions of wool to the annexed prices : — Best picked Hog fleeces, Is lid ; ditto super ditto, Is 9d ; ditto fine ditto, Is 8d ; ditto middle ditto, Is 7d ; ditto cast ditto, Is 6d. Best picked Wether fleeces, Is 8d; ditto super ditto. Is 7d ; ditto flne ditto. Is 6d ; ditto middle ditto, ls5d; ditt'O cast ditto. Is 4d per lb. Trade, however, during the last Week, has as- sumed quite a different aspect, and there are now no doubts entertained of a re-action having taken place; inasmuch as extensive purchases have be- come general in wool (and in manufactured goods also) within the last ten days, and a small advance upon the above quotations has already been real- ized. Several of the woolstaplers, therefore, who made great sacrifices lately, are now regretting that they did so, as they do not now see any pro- bability of laying in a stock at shear day on such advantageous terms as those at which they have just sold. This impression is being confirmed every day by the fresh arrivals of both purchasers and orders from various parts of the Continent, and even from the United States of America — a quarter from which orders had not been antici- pated. The French wool merchants have likewise been on the alert for the last fortnight, and have been making pretty large purchases in the superior descriptions of South Down and Gloucestershire wool. Altogether a visible improvement has taken place in our trade— the principal part of our mill- owners have commenced working nearly full time ; and if prices remain stationary, we have no doubt but that the exports of the present month will ex- ceed the most sanguine expectations. WOOL TRADE. TO THE EDITORS OF THE LEEDS MERCURY. Leeds, May 2, 1833. Gentlemen, — In some papers it has been stated that Wool has fallen 20 or 25 per cent. At this, the country buyers, of course, catch, and expect to have their cloths at that reduction, without ever inquiring whether the wool said to have so fallen is that of which cloths are made. Those at all acquainted with * Vide, the Report of the evidence taken by the Committee of the House of Commons on Trade, Manufactures, and Shipping, published in October, 1833, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. the subject know that English, and the lowest descrip- tions of Foreign Wools had advanced twice as much (if not more) than the fine German Wools ; and that, consequently, the goods made cfthe former wools had also advanced very much more thin cloths which are made of the latter. Good bred German wools are very scarce in the market, and hdne given way in price very little, if at all ; and the mawifacturers are so entirely without a stock that it is proba'tle that the least revival in business will bring them ai' into the market together, and that prices will be fullj main- tained if they should not advance. As tlie German wool fairs are just approaching, tnd the English are not now the largest buyers at thos« fairs, it will be well to refer to the state of the wool business on the continent. A large quantity of wools are already contracted for, at prices that will not allow their being brought here at less than the present prices : and there is not the least chance of those who have not contracted selling for less than their neigh- bours. If they should not at fairs be able to get the price they want, and afterwards wish to raise money on their wools, there are several establishments for advancing money on wools, in order that the farmer may not have to sell his stock at a low price. The great demand there has been at the Leipsic fair for cloths makes it almost certain that the Conti- nental manufacturers will be eager buyers at the en- suing wool fairs, in which case it is probable that prices after the clip will be higher than at present. I therefore see no cause to think that good German wools will be any lower than they are now, and the moment buyers are convinced that prices will be no lower, business will improve, and we shall soon have a good market for bolh cloth and wool. I request your insertion of the above remarks, in the hope of accelerating that time a little. I remain, your's obediently, W. (A WOOL-DEALER.) THE POOR LAWS. Sir, — Before I read the speech of Lord Althorp, I had thrown together some remarks on the report of the Poor Law Commissioners. I had hoped up to the last minute that Government would not sanction that report, but as that hope is now re- moved, I will solicit your aid in giving publicity to a few observations, which will be now applicable to the measure of Lord Althorp, as well as to the recommendation of the Commissioners. The Commissioners, I see, divide the able-bodied population of the community into two classes, — the "independent labourers," and the "paupers." The chief position laid down by the Commissioners is, that the latter are in some cases nearly, and in others quite, as well off as the former — nay, fre- quently better ; and the chief recommendation of the Commissioners is, that the condition of that class which is compelled to seek assistance from the parish should be rendered as much worse as the heavy discipline and the light diet of a work- house can possibly make it. I will not here dwell upon the notorious com- plaints of the independent labourer, that his con- dition is one of suffering and privation, nor is it necessary on this occasion that I should urge the obvious truth, that it would be much more wise, as well as much more humane, to attempt to raise the condition of the independent labourer, than to search after contrivances for the deterioration of that of any other class of the community ; but I think it important in the highest degree that our legislators should be quite satisfied, before they adopt this recommendation of the Commissioners, that in reducing it to practice, much mischief may not be the possible, not to say the probable, result to the independent labourer, whom it is not in- tended to injure, while the pauper is undergoing that novel process of harsh handling of which the avowed object is to render them as wretched as possible. By " independent labourer," the Commissioners mean a person who obtains employment and earns wages. By " pauper," they mean a man who is compelled to apply to the parish for assistance. Now, it appears entirely to have escaped the Com- missioners, that under this projected system of theirs, these two classes will become much more fi«arly connected than they are at present ; for whui the independent labourer fails, as many of themrnay and do fail, for a season, to obtain em- ploymeu, he must apply to the parish for relief, or starve, and see his wife and chiklren starve wih him. But no partial relief is to be alUivved under the scheme of the Commissiorers. According to their code, a man must be treated as .^n absohde pauper, or as not poor, as not necessitou?. at all — ■ he must be supposed to stand in rerd of ell assist- ance, or of none ; and the very m^lPe^^ \n wliii:h he applies to the parish for relief, the very not of application itself transfers him to the seconsl class ! In other words, such an application is to be taken, as it were, as an act of bankruptcy, and thus the pauper of to-day is he who was the independent labourer of yesterday. So easy, so speedy is to be the transition from the one class to the other '. There is to be no intermediate stage between in- dependence and unmitigated pauperism — no chance of arresting the descent, and of recovering the footing. On the contrary, the stumbling man is actually to be made to fall — to precipitate himself to the lowest depth of the abyss. The hand which is now stretched out to prevent his sinking too low, is for the future to be directed with new and accumulated force, to urge him faster and farther downwards. The misfortune of being for a while unable to procui'e work is visited upon him as a fault, or rather as a crime ; and though, in fact, he is no worse, but only less fortunate, than his neighbours — his companions of yesterday in the first class — yet he is to be systematically depressed and degraded to a point from which it is hardly possible that he should ever again raise himself. Under the existing system, temporary relief during casual loss of employment enables a man to strug- gle on, and though he and his family may suffer many privations for a time, j'et they are neither disgraced nor ruined beyond redemption, which must be the result of the projected system of the Commissioners, for that consigns the man and his family at once to the workhouse on the very first appearance of a necessity for parochial relief, no matter how trifling the amount of the relief re- quired may be — no matter how fleeting, how ephe- meral, the necessity that calls for it. They must abandon their lowly hovel, they must part with every miserable remnant of their household goods — they must reduce themselves to the last stage of destitution, and when they have become nearly as naked as they were born, and as hungiy as endur- able starvation can make them, they will have qualified themselves for parochial relief, which is to be administered only in the parish workhouse, where husbands separated from their wives, and children from their parents, will abandon them- selves to that recklessness and consequent de- moralization which so hopeless a condition might THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 89 well engender even in the most cultivated and the strongest minded man. There can be no doubt, that if this system be adopted, the pauper will be placed, to use the lan- guage of the Commissioners, " in a less eligible class" than he is in at present. But will the class in which the independent labourer finds himself be bettered in consequence of this ? That, I ap- prehend, the Commissioners cannot mean even to insinuate ; for no man can gain by the ruin of his neighbour, imless he obtain a portion of what that neighbour loses ; and while they who apply to the parish for relief are sent to the workhouse to wear a worse coat and to live upon as slender a diet as will keep them in health, the Commissioners do not propose to feed, clothe, or to lodge the inde- pendent labourer any better than before. The condition of the independent labourer cannot, therefore, be ameliorated by the depression of that of the pauper. It will only be more eligible than that of the pauper — not more eligible than it is now. But will this relation always continue ? Surely not. The condition of the pauper maybe held out in terrorem to the independent labourer. His employer may say to him — " I give you 10s. a- week now : if I give you 6s., you will still be bet- ter off than the pauper ; and if you do not choose to accept this reduced rate of wages, I will give you no employment at all. You must then apply to the parish, and take your lot among those of the less eligible class." Is this an extravagant hypo- thesis ? Is there anything in the history of the connexion between labourer and employer which should lead us to believe, much less to be certain (and anything short of certainty in such a matter will hardly be satisfactory) , that the employer will not take advantage of this new condition of things, for the purpose of reducing wages to the lowest practicable point — that is to say, to the lowest point consistent with the maintenance of the la- bourer in amore " eligible class" than the pauper ? Again, is it unreasonable to suppose that a la- bourer, rather than apply to the parish under such circumstances — rather than be deprived of his per- sonal liberty, separated from his wife and chil- dren, and fed upon the lowest diet, will work for any miserable pittance upon which he can make shift to keep body and soul together — continue himself master of a mud cabin or a wooden shed — preserve to himself the ft'cedom of locomotion, and not debar himself from the society of his wife and family ? I think you will have no hesitation in answering these questions in the negative, nor in expressing your belief that the supposititious state of thing which they present will be realized if the expei'iment recommended by the Commis- sioners should ever be tried- In one word, it is my firm conviction that the system of the Commissioners would degrade the independent labourer far below the present condi- tion of a pauper, and depress the pauper to the very verge of starvation. This, I believe, would be the whole and sole end of the projected system, though I sincerely believe it to be no part of its object; and the consequences of such a condition of things are so appalling, that if they be only bai'ely possible, it is the bounden duty of the Le- gislature to reject without hesitation a scheme which even in the most remote contingency may be productive of results so dangerous and so de- structive. I have no apprehension that the Legislature will fail in the performance of its duty in so grave a matter. A FRIEND TO THE POOK. April 17. MAY. Now the bright Morning star, day's harbinger, Comes dancing from the east, and leads with her The flowery May, who from her green lap throws The yellow cowslip and the pale primrose. Hail, bounteous May, that dost inspire Mirtb, and youth, and warm desire ; Woods and groves are of thy dressing, Hill and dale doth boast thy blessing! — Milton. LINES COMPOSED IN THE PRIORY GROUNDS NEAR KIMBOLTON. There is deep beauty round the ruin thrown, Though but an ivied wall remains alone Of what was once religious Sanctuary — A refuge from the world — when man might flee Its noise and tumult, joy, gTief, hope, and fear. To seek for peace, perchance, and find it here. Time has decay'd the structure, but the scene Bears many marks, that loveliness hath been ; The hilly ground ; the springs, whose waters clear Still rise as high in every passing year — The moat, o'er'sbadow'd by the drooping bough, Gem'd by the violet is its green bank now ; The wild weed flourishes where grew the flower, Cuird by the holy monks at evening hour, And standing yet, outliving every blast, A few dark firs are left, their shade to cast Beside the mighty Oak, whose stem of pride Tow'rs as a monument, for that which died ; For every breeze, and quivering leaf, and stone Speaks to our spirit of the dead and gone- Perhaps to a stranger, one whose eye hath gaz'd On mountain, and on flood, so often prais'd By poet, painter, and each travelling lord, (The picturesque is always found abroad^ This spot has nothing that would tempt to roam ; But, to those wanderers whose childhood's home Is not far distant, all that bloometh here. All that is fading — must be ever dear. KiMBOLTON. B. B. B. Planting Potatoes. — An eminent Irish nursery- man has discovered that much good may be done by placing the potatoe seed or cuttings below, and not above, the manure. Some experienced gardeners we have conversed with say, that this experiment, in place of being new, is an old one revived ; but there is much in the modus, and when the results of the Irish practice are known, we trust they will be well and duly pondered. But in whatever way the manure is placed, whether above or below the seed, the whole mass should be turned over and mixed with lime at least a fortnight before it is used. Failing this, bas- kets filled with dry lime should be seen in the fields, and the contents freely scattered in the furrows. — More than all this, we recommend that the potatoe crop should be planted at least a fortnight earlier than is usual in the south of Scotland, that it may have time to ripen thoroughly in the ground. As regards seed, planting late and raising eaily involve eriors that should be carefully avoided. Atmospheric influence, amidst the heats of May, may lead to results, the ef- fect of which it is impossible to determine ; while daily experience attests the fact that unripe vegetables never keep well. We anxiously recommend that the practice found so useful in Ireland should be adopted at home ; and, above all things, the liberal use of lime as an accompaniment to manure — planting ear- ly, and raising as late in the season as the weather will permit. — Dumfries Courier, 90 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. THE PIGEON. The varieties and intermixtures of pigeons are in- numerable, and partake of all those varied hues which are the constant result of domestication. The manners of pigeons are well known, few species being more universally diffused, and having a very power- ful wing, they are enabled to perform very distant journeys ; accordingly wild and tame pigeons occur in every climate, and although they thrive best in warm countries, yet with care they succeed also in very northern latitudes. Every where their manners are gentle and lively ; they are fond of society, and the very emblem of connubial attachment ; they are faithful to their mates, whom they solicit with the softest cooings, the tenderest carresses, and the most graceful movements. The exterior form of the pigeon is beautiful and elegant ; the bill is weak, straight, and slender, and has a soft protuberance at the base, in which the nostrils are placed ; the legs are short and red, and the toes divided to the origin. * » •* * Buffon enumerates upwards of thirty varieties of the pigeon, which, according to his usual systematic plan — its convenience, perhaps, being rather more obvi- ous than its accuracy — he derives from one root, namely, the stock-dove, or common wild pigeon. All the varieties of colour and form which we witness, he attributes to human contrivance and fancy. Ihere exist, nevertheless, essential specific differences in these birds, which seem rather attributable to the nature of the region, soil, or climate, to which they are indigenous, than to the art of man. The pigeon is monoganous, that is, the male at- taches and confines himself to one female, and the attachment is reciprocal ; the fidelity of the dove to its mate being proverbial. Young pigeons are termed squeakers, and begin 1o breed at about the age of six months, when properly managed ; their courtship, and the well-known tone of voice in the cock, jusi then acquired and commencing, are indications of their approaching union. Nestings, whilst fed by the cock and hen, are termed squabs, and are at that age sold and used for the table. The dove-house pigeon is said to breed monihly, being well supplied with food, more particularly when the ground is bound by frost, or covered with snow. At any rate, it may be depended on, that pigeons of almost any healthy variety, will breed eight or ten times in the year ; whence it may be conceived how immense are the quantities which may be raised. The first step towards pigeon keeping, is, undoubt- edly, to provide a commodious place for their recep- tion, of which I shall afterwards speak ; the next, to provide the pigeons themselves. These will be had in pairs, but if not actually matched, pains must be afterwards taken, to that end, that no time be lost j indeed, they may be matched according to the fancy of the keepers, for the purpose of varying the colours^ or with any other view, fiut it is necessary to give a caution on the subject of old pigeons, ot which a bar- gain may offer, since the difficulty of retaining them is so great, indeed insuperable, without the strictest vigilance. Nothing short of cutting their wings, and confining them closely until they have young to at- tach them to the place, will be a security ; and even afterwards, they have been known to take flight with the first use of their wings, and leave their nests. I have had several examples of this. Thence it is al- ways preferable to purchase squeakers, or such as have not yet flown : these, being confined, in a short time, well fed, and accustomed gradually to the sur- rounding scenery, before they have acquired sufficient strength of wing wherewith to lose themselves, will become perfectly domesticated. The dove-cote, or pigeon-loft, as to its situation or extent, will necessarily depend on convenience, one general rule, however, must be invariably observed — that every pair of pigeons have two holes, or rooms, to nest in. Without this indispensable convenience there will be no security, but the prospect of constant confusion, breaking of eggs, and destruction of the young. Pigeons do well near dwellings, stables, bakehouses, brewhouses, or such oflices; or their pro- per place is in the poultry-court. A dove-cote is a good object, situate upon an island, in the centre of a piece of water ; indeed, such is a proper situation for acquatic poultry, and rabbits also ; and may be ren- dered extremely beautiful and picturesque by plant- ing, and a little simple ornamental and useful build- ing. Where pigeons are kept in a room, some per- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 91 sons prefer mating their nests upon the floor, to escape the danger of the young falling out ; but in all pro- bability this is to guard against one risk, and incur a great number, particularly that of rats and other vermin. The front of the pigeon-room, or cote, should have a south-west aspect ; and if a room be selected for the purpose, it is usual to break a hole in the roof of the building for the passage of the pigeons, which can be closed at convenienee. A platform is laid by the carpenter at the entrance, for the pigeons to alight and perch upon, with some kind of defence against strange cats, which will often depopulate a whole dove-house ; cats are yet necessary, for the defence of the pigeons against rats and mice, as they will both destroy the birds and suck the eggs ; thence cats of a known good breed should be trained up familiarly with the pigeons. The platform should be painted white, and renewed as the paint wears off, white being a favourite colour with pigeons, and also most conspicuous as a mark to enable them to find their home. The boxes also should be so coloured, and renewed as necessary, for which purpose lime and water will be sufficient. Cleanliness is one of the first and most important considerations, the want of it in a dove-cote will soon render the place a nuisance not to be approached, and the birds both young and old, will be so covered with vermin, and besmeared with tlieir own excrement, that they can enjoy no health or comfort, and morta- lity is often so induced. Ours were cleaned daily; thoroughly once a week, a tub standing at hand for the reception of their dung, the floor covered with sifted gravel, often renewed. Pigeons are exceed- ingly fond of water, and having a prescience of rain, will wait its coming until late in the evening, upon the house-top, spreading their wings to receive the refreshing shower. When they are confined in a room, they should be allowed a wide pan of water, to be often renewed, as a bath, which cools, refreshes, and assists them to keep their bodies clear of vermin. In the attendance upon pigeons, caution is necessary with respect to their fighting, to which they are more prone than might be expected, often to the destruc- tion of eggs or young, or driving the weakest away. The common barrel dove-cote needs no description, at the same time it is adapted to every situation in which it is desirable to keep pigeons for ordinary use. To return to the room, or loft ; the shelves should be placed sufficiently high, for security against vermin, a small ladder being a necessary appendage. The usual breadth of the shelves is about twenty inches, with the allowance of eighteen between shelf and shelf, which will be sufficient not to incommode the tallest pigeons. Partitions between the shelves may be fixed at about the distance of three feet, making a blind by a board nailed against the front of each par- tition, whence tliere will be two nests in the compass of every three feet, so that the pigeons will sit in pri- vacy, and not liable to be disturbed. Or a partition may be fixed between each nest ; — a good plan, which prevents the young froai running to the hen, sitting over fresh eggs, and perhaps occasioning her to cool and addle them : for when the young are about a fortnight or three weeks old, a good hen will leave them to the care of the cock, and lay again. Some prefer breeding holes entirely open in front, for the greater convenience in cleaning the nests ; but it is from those that the squabs are likely to fall, thence a step of sufficient height is preferable. The tame pigeon seldom taking the trouble to make a nest, it is better to give her one of hay, which prevents her eggs from rolling. Or a straw basket, or unglazed earthen pan, may be placed in every nest, apportioned to the size of the pigeons you breed. A pan of three inches high, eight inches over the top, and sloping to the bottom like a basin, will be of suflScient size for a tumbler, or a small pigeon, whilst one of double those dimensions will be required for a large runt. A brick should be placed in contiguity to the pan, to enable the cock and hen to alight with greater safety upon the eggs. * « * * The pigeon-trap on the house-top is the well-known contrivance of those London rascals, who lie in wait, as has been said, to entrap the property of others. A trap of another description, and for a very different purpose, is sometimes used ; it is an area, on the out- side of a building, for the purpose of confining in the air valuable breeds of pigeons which cannot be trusted to flight. Some are erected to the extent of twenty yards long, and ten yards in width, with shelves on every side for the perching of the pigeons ; thus they are constantly exercised in the air, retiring at their pleasure to the room or loft within. « « • * Very convenient baskets are now made of the cradle form, with partitions, or separate apartments. They serve for the carriage of pigeons for matching, or putting them up to fatten, or for any of the usual purposes. I have seen them lately in the basket-shops on the Greenwich road, two or three miles from Londop. * * * * Food and water should be given in such a way as to be as little as possible contaminated with the ex- crement, or any other impurity. Our pigeons having been constantly attended, we have never found the need of any other convenience than earthen pans; but there have been ingenious inventions for this pur- pose, of which the meat-box and water-bottle follow- ing are specimens. The meat-box is formed in the shape of a hopper, covered at the top to keep clean the grain, which descends into a square shallow box. Some fence this with rails or holes on each side, to keep the grain from being scattered over ; others leave it quite open that the young pigeons may the more easily find their food. The water-bottle is a large glass bottle with a long neck, holding from one to five gallons, its belly shaped like an egg, so that the pigeons may not light and dung upon it. It is placed upon a stand or three- footed stool, made hollow above, to receive the belly of the bottle, and let the mouth into a small pan be- neath ; the water will so gradually descend out of the mouth of the bottle as the pigeons drink, and be sweet and clean, and always stop when the surface reaches the mouth of the bott e. * * » » To match or pair a cock and hen, it is necessary to shut them together, or near and within reacii of each other ; and the connexion is generally formed in a day or two. Various rules have been laid down by which to distinguish the cock from the hen pigeon ; but the masculine forwardness and action of the cock is, for tbe most part distinguishable. * » * * Tlie following singular detection of a thief occurred on a late examination at Queen -square, Westminster ; — Mv. Bepy, in the Wandsvvorth-road, had his pigeon -house robbed. A known thief was stopped on the road with six fancy pigeons in his possession, by 92 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Sergeant Reardon of the police, and taken before the magistrates, but no evidence appearing against him, he was discharged, and suffered to take away the birds, which he claimed as having purchased them. Cooper, an officer of the court, being somewhat up to the pigeon fancy, and seeing them above the common sort purchased them, and very commendably deter- mined to find out the real owner, which he effected in the following ingenious mode. Selecting a fine bald- head he attached a note to his foot, with his address, and then threw up the pigeon, which instantly flew to its home, and was recovered by its owner, who re- turned it to Cooper, making him a present of the half- dozen as a reward for his sagacity. * « * ;ii The starling is a great enemy to pigeons, by suck- ing their eggs, and even destroying their young. In October, 1800. seven hundred and eighty starlings were taken in one night in a dove-cote belonging to Mr. Slater, of Carlton, near Lincoln. * * * * In 1807, was in the possession of Mr. Knight, of Chichester, a hen pigeon of the pouter species, who, in that summer hatched three pair of young. She is tweniy-one years old, and is considered a remarkable instance of longevity, as Buffon and other naturalists have not allowed this bird, from the heat of its nature, above eight or nine years of life, and to be incapable of procreation after seven. * * » -* Tiie penalty for shooting them is 20s. for each pigeon. (Under statute of 1 Jac. I.} For shooting at pigeons, with intent to kill, the penalty would (by 2 Geo. II.) be the sr.me as for killing one pigeon, viz. 20s. Informations for these offences must be commenced within two month;. In pigeon-shooting, the most extraordinary per- formance was by Tupor, the gamekeeper of Sir H. Mildmay, (the same person who broke the sow to stand to game,) who, for a considerable wager, shot six pigeons out of ten with a single ball. Tupor afterwards, to decide abet, hit a cricket-ball ■with common shot twelve times successively, betwixt the wickets, bowled by Harris, one of the sharpest bowlers in the Hambleton Club. He is also said to have killed swallows with a single ball. The next was effected by Mr. Elliot, at Rudge- wick, in Sussex, who undertook to kill fifty pigeons at fifty shots; it was decided near Petworth, at Tilling- ton, and, notwithstanding the wind was high, he kil- led forty-five ; it was allowed he hit every bird, and that he would have succeeded but for the above cir- cumstance. He had but one gun, the touch-hole of which fairly melted. « * * * Four gentlemen of Camberwell, undertook for a wager of five guineas a-side, to shoot at twelve pigeons, and great bets were depending, but to the mortification of the persons present, they neither of them brought down a single bird. Mr. Keene, of Hammersmith, killed twenty pigeons in twenty-one shots, from a trap at the regular twenty- one yards' distance, and in March, 1811, he killed, in a match against Mr. Elliot, the same number beating his adversary by one. In Wiltshire, the sameyear,Capt. Hicks shot against the gamekeeper of Mr. Maurice, at fifteen pigeons, turned off at the same distance; each killed the whole, and in shooting off the ties, the former missed his sixth bird, and lost the match, which was for two hundred guineas, — Moubray—Daniel, HORSE RACING IN PERSIA. Previous to the King of Persia's marching from Tffiheran, we were invited to be present at the horse-races which take place every year at that capital, in the presence of the Shah. These races are on a different plan, and for a different purpose, from ours, which are designed principally to destroy the speed of our horses — theirs principally to try their bottom and stamina. Ours are kept up very much for the purpose of gambling, — theirs for a purpose connected with their irregular military excursions. The distance which the horses have to run, according to what I was told, is about thirty miles. They start long before day break, and the winning-post being the tent in which the King of Persia sits to see them come in, which they reach a little before seven in the morning. The race, in fact, is against time, till the horses that have been able to keep time arrive within sight of the royal tent, and then a start is made, who shall reach the gaol first. The horses them- selves are of the very largest and stoutest Turco- man breed, and for some time before the races took place, we had frequently seen several of them training. The horses were rode by the merest urchins of boys, who certainly appeared to have no command of them, particularly as they were all ridden with simple snaffle bridles. It appeared wonderful to us, how upon horses, the most of which were nearly, and some quite, seventeen hands, these little fellows, whose legs could do little more than span the back of the animal, kept their seats, and the alacrity with which, after passing the King's tent, they tumbled off, to run and claim the prize which the animal had merited. These prizes are all given by the king, and, as far as I recollect, that year they were all xjlaced in bags, all marked, both in value and numerically, No. 1, 300 ; No. 2, 200 ; No. 3, 150 ; No. 4, 100 ; No. 5, 100 tomans, or about as many pounds sterling. These were placed immediately before the king, as he sat in a kind of lioiicey or chair ; and the children jockeys, after kissing the border of the king's carpet, and receiving a gracious nod, word, or smile, from his majesty, touched the bags, made a profound reverence, and departed, with a person carrying the bag they had respectively won for their masters. The king's own boys were very low spirited and disappointed this year, as they neither obtained the first nor second prize. * * * It is pleasing to find that there are times, sights, and circumstances, when the severest despotism finds itself obliged to allow the feelings of the people to have their tree course and expression. I doubt whether there be a place in the world, where, ge- nerally speaking, when the people are collected in a mass, and in presence of their ruler, a more submissive and silent awe is exhibited ; yet at the instant the horses came in sight of the king's tent, and made their start, all order seemed at an end ; ranks were broken, and shouts and cries were heard from one end of the line to the other, — now "Green!" now "Red!" now "Blue!" accord- ing to the colours of the handkerchiefs, which the boys who rode the horses had tied roimd their heads ; and not only this, but " Bravo, such a Khan !" as his horse was gaining ground ; " How now, lubberly Shah!" when che King's horse was losing groimd ; "Holla! snivelling Prince!" when one of the little Prince's horses was fast dropping behind. And all this uproar and motion went on, even to the annoyance, and almost danger of the race, notwithstanding the king's clerks of the course, QxferausheSf never ceased playing away THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 93 With their long sticks, to keep the course clear. The Shah himself, as the horses came in sight, stood before his tent, clapped his hands, talked loud to those about him, and evidently showed us, that, when certain passions or feelings are excited, there is no diflference in the clay of which the china is made, though there certainly is in the painting and gilding with which the vase may be adorned, as well as in the position in which it may be placed. — From " Sir H. Bridges' Mission to Persia." THE DOCTOR OF OUR TOWN. " It is said that the worthy doctor has done much to colonise the churchyard — and which is the doctor who has not ? It is their vocation ; if people will take physic, what can they expect ? All that I know of Dr. Slaimour is obtained from his neighbours. They tell strange tales, which I do not care to repeat ; hut while we sink scandal, we may have our joke. Ah! there is the man himself, mounted on a horse that does not look as if he took his oats ad libitum, and followed by three or four ugly curs, cailed by their master ' sporting dogs.' They are giving tongue. Confound their yelping ! The doctor has his double-barrel, for he does not now ' kill two birds with one stone,' ' whatever he may have done.' His shooting- jacket, of brown veveteen, is not of the newest; indeed, if a poor man had it on his back, he would be suspected of having denuded a scarecrow. His thin sharp visage is somewhat concealed by a wide- brimmed hat of straw, which looks as if he some- limes doubled it up for convenience, and put it into his pocket. The thorns and brambles have evidently been busy there. His spider limbs are encased in leather gaiters, surmounted by corduroy. Seven or eight hours will that man walk after game, innocent of killing, and call it ' sport.' But if he does not kill the birds, he terribly frightens them, it must be confessed. His appearance, the yelling of the dogs, and his vast expenditure of powder, are more than enough for that. However, he is very harmless, and nobody objects to his shooting over whatever ground he pleases. It is thought that the birds and hares, in time, will be- come used to him, as they find that what is sport to him will never be death to themselves. The worthy doctor, wisely enough, never sported till he left off practice, as it might have interrupted his professional duties ; but when he retired at the age of sixty, or thereabouts, he abandoned wisdom, and carried a gun. He talks much of the joys of his pursuit, and begins his observations with ' we sportsmen,' and generally gives a personal anec- dote, after the fashion of sportsmen. In short, he would be as good a sportsman as the best, if he could only shoot well enough. He has clandestine assignations with — Oh ! don't start, reader, it is not that sort of thing I mean ; the doctor is a moral man — his assignations are with a poachei", who furnishes him with a supply of game on the usual terms, with whicii the doctor swells his pockets, and returns home triumphant. ' Capital sport — capital sport !' he exclaims, while his eyes sparkle and twinkle with evident glee, and he exultingly displays his stock of game to all around him. The community of poachers talk of sub- scribing for a new shooting jacket for him, in token of their gratitude for the support and encourage- ment he affords them. Were all sportsmen like him, poachers would be essentially necessary. Well, long may he continue to ramble ! ' Happi- ness,' as Swift says, ' is the perpetual possession of being well deceived j' and no man ever took more pams to deceive himself than the doctor does when he persuades himself he is a sportsman. Ho will never kill any thing unless he has recourse to physic. I wonder he never thought of trying it. Who knows what the effect of a dose might be upon the feathered race? His former success argues well for it."— From ''Rough Sketches of Character, Manners, Sfc." A Life Preserver. — A marine who had just joined the ship and who was unacquainted with the excellent qualities of the dog, endeavoured while bathing to entice him from his station into the water. The noble animal paid no attention to his invitation. One of the crew told the marine, that if he swam out of the sail, and would call out as if in distress, and suit the action to the word, Mr, Boatswain would certainly obey his summons. The marine took the hint, got out of the sail, and began to enact the part of a drowning- man to perfection. The dog in- stantly sprang into the water, with his ears erect, his eyes flashing fire from intense anxiety ; away he swam for the soldier, who on the approach of his canine friend, began to have some misgivings as to the wisdom of his proceedings. He now became alarmed, lest the dog should seize him, which ma- nojuvre Boatswain appeared resolved to execute. His fears increased with the dog's endeavour to effect his purpose ; and finally he roared out most lustily for help from his shipmates. The louder the poor devil sang out, the more determined was the sagacious brute to seize him, and he very soon accomplished his pur- pose, grasping him firmly by the hair at the back of the neck, and twisting his face towards the heavens, brought him alongside, amidst the convulsive roars of laughter of the whole of the ship's company, and the piteous cries of the jolly marine. Boatswain would not resign his hold till the frightened man was assisted up the side ; the bight of a rope being then placed over- board for his conductor, he placed his fore legs in it up to his shoulders, and, holding himself stifly out, was hauled up, and calmly resumed his watch as if nothing had happened,— Scoti's RecoUeclions of a Naval Life. Bird Nesting, — It is against the laws of the Duchy of Nassau to take birds' nests. Even those of birds of prey cannot be taken without the permission of the keeper of the forests. For taking a nest of common singing birds the fine is five florins; if nightingales, fifteen florins ; if the nest be taken out of a garden or pleasure ground, the fine becomes double. Feats in Walking. — The power of walking great distances without fatigue is an important matter, in which the EngHsh have of late excelled. A good walker will do six miles an hour for one hour on a good road. If in perfect training he may even do twelve mileg in the two hours. Eighteen miles in three hours is a much more doubtful affair, though some one is said fo have achieved it. At the rate of five miles an hour pedestrians of the first class will do forty miles in eight hours, and perhaps fifty in ten. At the rate of four miles an hour a man may walk any length of time, — Walker's Manly Exercises. Pensions to the King's Nurses. — From the Close Rohs it appears that King Henry III., A. D. 1218, ordered to be paid to " our beloved Elena, our nurse, the alms which the Lord King John our father gave her— to wit, two-pence a day," equal to 2s, 6d. of our present money. In the following year a penny a day is directed to he paid to " Mar- garet, the nurse of Isabella, our sister ; and Alice, the nurse of Edward, the King's son, is to have half a cask of wine, as a present from the King, out of the King's wine at Waltham. — Vide " Hardy's Descrip~ tio7iofihe Close Rolls," 8vo. 94 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. TO THE EDITOR OF THE 'FARMER'S MAGAZINE.' Sir, — I beg to forward you a description and plan of a dibble, as probably you may think it worth giving to the public through the medium of your Magazine, which, I am happy to learn, from its great circulation, is so much approved of by agriculturists and corn merchants. I have no doubt but its circulation will continue to augment so long as you continue to steer a medium course in polities, and give such accurate account of the markets, fcc. ; also continue to insert so many useful communications upon agricultural subjects, which, I trust, is a sufficient apology for my trou- bling you with this plan, &c., as it [may suggest a useful hint to your agricultural friends. — I am. Sir, your most obedient servant, C. S. London, May 3,1834. PLAN OF A DIBBLE FOR SOWING MANGEL WURZEL AND OTHER SEEDS. 1. The stern two feet long. 2. The handle placed across the stern. 3. The head of the dibble to be four feet long by three inches wide. 4. The teeth to be placed twelve inches apart, and should be made of yew tree or some such hard wood. Length of teeth eight inches, with square points not less than one inch diameter, as it will make a clear hole without the risk of its filling, which might otherwise be the case when the ground is loose. 1 found it be by far the most expeditious, and very superior to the ordinary mode of dibbling. One man is capable of making holes over three acres a day, with the assistance of three or four women, for the purpose of dropping the seed, and afterwards by running a light one horse roll over it, the work is complete ; which in the ordinary sys- tem would require twice the number of persons. If children from 12 to 15 years' old that could be depended upon to put in the seed were employed, it would be a considerable saving in the price of labour. It has also a great superiority over the drill for mangel wurzel seed in point of economy ; as, with the drill much more seed is sown than is absolutely required, from the fear of not getting sufficient plants, and being a difficult seed for the rollers of the drill to carry into the pipes, it often passes a space before it is observed by the holder of it. This irregularity of sowing with the drill, together with a waste of seed, renders the dibbling system much preferable. [N. B. — We should have been glad if our corre- spondent had signed his name at length, because it would have given weight to his communication; however, we are justified in saying this much, that we know him to be a good practical farmer.] i GENERAL AGRICULTURAL REPORT. If March, duriag its progress, occasionally bor- rowed a few of April's flyiug showers, April has ar- rayed itself altogether in the dusty garb of March, and has been accompanied by those cold and drying winds which are usually esteemed the characteristic feature of the last-mentioned month. Instead of the "tepid airs" and " ethereal mildness," which poets have at- tributed to this vernal month, April has exhibited more frosty nights, and perhaps actually more ice, than had previously appeared during the whole course of the winter. The days, although occasionally overcast and lowering, have for the most part been bright and sunny, yet unaccompanied by that scorching blaze, which forms sucli a contrast to an attendant north-easter, while the combined effect of the two withers up the source of health and strength in man and beast and vegetable. This hot sun has been experienced only in a mitigated degree, yet the weather has been sufficiently ungenial to produce sickness in our houses, and tem- porary sterility in our fields, particularly the grass- fields, where the herbage has literally diminished instead of increased, during a month in which its growth ought to have been in full and rapid progress. After many weeks of almost uninterrupted dry weather, a mild, gentle rain, indeed, came down for a few hours on Sunday evening, just enough to freshen the surface of the earth, but not enough to penetrate its hardened substance ; and now the wind has risen and the sun broken forth, holding out little prospect at present of a steady rain or a succession of feeding showers. Where the soil has lain friable and open, under recent and sufficient tillage, the moisture has descended to the roots and seeds of plants, and there its benefit will be very apparent. Altkough the young wheats, from the disfigurement of their gross and tender blades, exhibited a sorry appearance at the beginning of the month, and although a succession of harsh winds, frosty nights, and sunny days, have given them no fair chance of recovering themselves, yet they do not now appear to have suffered so materially as might have been expected, and, in some instances, have evea profited by the check they have received. They are still heart-whole, though the outer blades and ribands have been frequently cut into tatters. Fortunately, as it now appears, they were not in general quite forward enough in their growth to sustain that decisive injury which spring frost never fails to inflict on the growing plant after a certain period of its advance. It is with satisfaction, therefore, that we state the general ac- count of the wheat crop to be favourable, and that it is gradually resuming the healthy appearance of which it had been, externally at least, deprived. The early- sown spring corn has come up well, and carries a much better countenance than might have been expected ; but much of the barley that has been put into the ground during the month of April, has lain too dry, and has vegetated partially. The rain, however, has been sufficient to bring it all up, and in many cases to push on the grain which now springs up so as to over- take that which a little preceded it ; but it is also cer- tain that in other instances there must be two crops, causing considerable waste, and an uneven sample. This has been very conspicuous in ground which has worked cloddy and rough, where, perhaps, some of the balls contained a small portion of moisture, while the rest of the surface was perfectly dry. In no season have the combined effects of the drill and the roller been more evident than in this ; the drill to deposit the seed uniformly at the proper depth upon the firm and cool bottom of the furrow, and the roller, not only to pulverise the soil previously to semination, but also sub- sequently to close the loose surface, on light grounds, by repeated rollings, which could this year be safely given, because, from the total absence of moisture, there was no danger of causing the earth to knead, or run into a crust upon the surface. April 29. — Since writing the above, the wind which previously returned to the East has again veered to the South ; more showers have fallen, the sky is cloudy, and a succession of them seems likely to ensue ; they THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 95 •will be most welcome to the field grasses, the rye grass, trefoil, and clovers, as well as to the pastures, and will bring forward into full life and vigour the young grasses sown among the spring corn, hitherto torpid, or checked by the late ungenial weather. Flockmasters, and owners of stock in general, have, in many districts, been driven to great difficulties, during the past month, to provide food for the various craving mouths which surround them ; much stock has been forced simulta- neously, and in some cases, prematurely, into the mar- ket, and, as a necessary consequence, a depression of prices has taken place. Yet, where a tolerable suf- ficiency of food has been provided, the dryness of the weather, so congenial to the natural habit of the ani- mal, has caused sheep stock to do well during its con- tinuance. The wool market is now occupied by two wily at.d pi actisen sets of players at the game of profit and loss, the staplers and manufacturers ; the farmer, for the present, is only a looker on, except as far as he can deduce, from the manoeuvres of the contending parties, any conclusions likely to affect the price of his approaching clip of wool. The prospect, at present, seems rathtr bright ; many staplers are said to have cleared out, yet the manufacturers are still brisk and in motion ; a considerable demand, foreign as well as domestic, is expected, yet there will be so many short turns, secret cabals, and private understandings, be- tween the parties most interested in buying at as low a rate as possible, that it is impossible for one who has little means of seting far below the surface of things to anticipate the price of wool about the time of shear- ing. The corn market has not yet had energy enough to emerge from the languid state in which it has so long been lying ; for although some trifling effort at improvement was manifested both in wheat and barley, yet it was rather partial than general, and has hardly been able to maintain its position. In the hop districts the bine has not hitherto been looking very healthy, but this change of wind and weather, with warm nights wiU probably operate a favourable change. " BLENHEIM. — On the evening of our arrival we went to the great gates of the approach from Wood- stock, and entered, hoping to catch the last rays of the setting sun lingering on the towers of the palace, and to see the deep broad shade thrown on the surface of the lake by the colossal bridge, and the massive oak woods beyond ; a spectacle which we had often enjoyed with delight in former times. The view altogether disappointed us ; for, looking down on the lake, the surface of which is more than 100 feet below the eye, half of it appeared quite green with aquatic weeds. Next morning we proceeded to the same gates with greater deliberation ; but, previously to describing what we saw, it may be necessary to state that such were the care and study of the architect to connect his work with what surrounded it, and to give note of pre- paration of what was to follow, that he commenced his grand entrance by an outer entranceof ordinary width, between four piers connected by short walls. This narrow entrance leads to a square area about 100 feet on the side, which forms the outer court to the tri- umphal arch of the gateway. The outer piers of the narrow entrance are beginning to decay ; and out of one of them is growing a young ash tree, five feet or six feet in height, and out of the other a sycamore of about the same size. This affords a suitable note of preparation for the state of the lake, the bridge, and the exterior of the palace. The head, or dam, of the lake is so much out of repair, that it does not retain the water so high as it ought to do by several feet ; and the water of the stream, instead of falling over the cascade as it used to do, finds its way under ground, and rises up like springs in the bed of the river and in the flat ground below. The joints of the masonry of the bridge are becoming the nidus of plants, and in a year or two this building alone will produce a tolerable flora. The side entrance, through which strangers are admitted to see the house, is beginning to be dilapi- dated, and a large portion of stone from the architrave over the gateway has lately splintered off and fallen down. The grand court of honour seems in better repair than any other part. The side courts require jointing, and protection, by the repair of the roofs and copings. On first appearing before the entrance gate of the outer court, one of the striking effects used to be the long architectural vista seen through the first court, across the coart of honour and across the third court ; but this is now destroyed, in consequence of a hothouse having been put up in the third or stable court, which obtrudes its end across the line of arch- ways. The Duke has turned that court into a kind of melon hothouse, or rubbish ground; and a strange place it is, taken altogether. On entering the grand hall we were struck by the long vistas through doors to the right and left ; and also by the view through two doors to the lawn in front ; on turning round, and looking towards the bridge, the long straight avenue passing over it, and having in its centre, at a certain distance, the lofty column crowned by the statue of Queen Anne, completes the impression of dignity and grandeur. This avenue was formerly continued in a straight line for six or eight miles through the Ditch- ley and Heythorpe demesnes, including the mansions of each in the line of the avenue. There is something very grand, and at the same time very sociable, in the idea of thus connecting three magnificent residences. We see from these straight lines, right angles, and lengthened vistas, how well Vanbrugh understood grandeur of effect, both in architecture and in the prin- cipal features of its accompaniments. The architec- ture at Bknheim has trifling faults of detail ; such, for example, as the combination of the obelisk and pilaster with the recesses cut into the latter at the side en- trance ; but, taking the pile altogether, we know no- thing like it either ancient or modern. Some attempts were made, during the late Duke's time, to im- prove the terminations of the towers; and even the present Duke has tried an experiment of this kind ; but if it is allowable to make an at- tempt to improve one part, why not attempt to improve the whole ? But this would be absurd ; because the palace would then no longer be the work of Vanbrugh, or the national monument raised in honour of the first Duke. In justice to the memory of both the great architect and the great warrior, we think everything removed, either by the late or the present occupier, ought to be restored ; and no farther liberties taken by the present or future possessors. Indeed, there must be something defective in the arrangement by which the heirs of the great Marlborough hold this property, otherwise neither these alterations could have been made, nor the lake and the building have been suffered to be so much injured by neglect as they are now.'' — From the Gardeners Magazine.— The. independent and judicious criticism of this periodical, on the taste dis- played in the style of ornament of the celebrated parks and ornamented pleasure grounds in England, is highly creditable to it. What is Blenheim to come to? BEER-SHOPS. Glynde, May 2, 1834. Sir, — As bills have been brought into both houses of Parliament in order, if possible, to abate the dread- ful mischief arising from beer-shops, I consider it the bounden duty of every one who has witnessed that mischief, to bear his testimony to the absolute neces- sity of some great alteration, and that immediately, of the law authorising their establishment. I have before me the Report of the Poor Law Commissioners. In the Supplement, No. 1, is this question addressed to persons in different ranks of life in ail parts of the kingdom : — Question 53 — " Can you give the com- missioners any information respecting the causes and consequences of the agricultural riots and burnings of 1830 and 18311" The general nature of the answers to this most im- portant question is — That the beer-shops are the haunts to which the ill-disposed resort ; that most of the riots 96 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE^ were planned in them ; that many industrious nisn have been led away fey temptation too strong to resist frequenting them ; and while they have been induced to join in plans of riot and burning, which before the establishment of these mischievous resorts, they would have shrunk from with horror. Surely after this body of evidence, one would suppose Government would not delay a moment in checking the mischief hourly increasing from them ; and yet, unless Sir Edward KnatchbuU is supported by petitions on the subject, I fear another year may pass without alteration. Have we not seen grand juries from all parts of the king- dom join in representing to Government the great evil resulting fiom the beer-shops? Scarcely an assize has passed within the last twelve months that we have not heard the judges in their several circuits bear testi- mony to the crimes that were produced by them. In this county, where three or four wretched individuals have suffered the punishment of death for the offence of arson, it has been committed by them when in a state of intoxication ; and in the last case the criminal confessed he did it solely to avenge himself on a farmer, who would not give his consent to the crimi- nal's mother to keep a beer shop. These beer shops are almost all supplied by public brewers. The allowance for selling is three-pence in the shilling, that is, 25 per cent, for retailing their unwholesome stuff; no capital is required, except a few shillings to buy measures to draw it in. The brewer does not ask for the money till he sends for the empty casks, of course their contents have been sold for ready money ; and thus, without requiring anything for interest of capital, the beer seller has a gain of 25 per cent. Can we then be surprised at these haunts being established in every corner ■? I consider instead of the sale of beer being more free than it was before the passing of the act, precisely the reverse is the case. Before that any person might sell table beer at a price not exceeding two-pence per quart ; consequently in most villages the shopkeeper sold beer, and the workman, going for his bread or his bacon, or his cheese, took with him his bottle, and bought his one or two quarts. Here were no acquaintances tippling, and jeering him for his follj in buying such weak wash. No strong beer was here sold. How altered is the case ? They can- not now sell small beer without a license of two guineas (unless sold at three-halfpence per quart^. Of course they have no room in their shops for persons to sit down and get drunk ; all sale of beer by them is therefore given up. A poor man now is compelled to go to a beer shop if he wants a quart of beer to take to work. The chance is that he there sees some acquaintance half drunk, who offers to treat him with stronger beer ; he is then led on to treat in return, and the odds are ten to one but that, instead of spending twopence to buy a quart of beer, and taking it to his work, he stays in this enticing place, loses his day's work, and spends as many shillings in making himself drunk, This is no imaginary tale; it is one of daily occurrence ; immediate stop must be put it. Your most obedient servant, JOHN ELLMAN, AGRICULTURAL MEETING AT AYLES- BURY. ADDRESS TO THE MARQUIS OF CHANDOS. A numerous meeting of the landowners and prin- cipal farmers in and near Aylesbury, who had signed an address of thanks to the Marquis of Chandos for his exertions in the cause of the agriculturists, dined together at the George Inn, Aylesbury, on Saturday, the 26th ult., E. Horwood, of College-farm, Esq., in the chair, the noble marquis and some personal friends surrounding him. After the cloth was removed, and the customary toasts duly honoured, Grenville Pigott, Esq., in a neat speech, presented the address to his lordship, which was signed by every respectable farmer in the neighbourhood. The noble marquis expressed the gratification he felt at so valuable a token of their esteem and approbation of his conduct. He had, in advocating the cause of his constituents, only performed that duty which every member of the senate ought to consider paramount to every other object, and feeling that he had so acted, he was proud to say he had earned this token of their approbation. " In the good fight (said his lordship) which we lately made in parliament for the interests of agriculture, our defeat was nearer victory than overthrow. In a house of 412 members, we divided 204 to 208, being- only a majority of 4 against us ; and I may say that if an honest zeal in your good cause could have made us masters of the field, I might now congratulate you as the conquerors. But although on this occasion de- feated, I shall yet again attempt, before the session ends, some measure which shall have the direct and immediate relief of the agricultarists for its object ; all I seek for is that attentioa to our interest which all other classes receive. We live in times of perilous importance — we are embarked upon a troubled sea, and in those troubles and perils that surround us we are all equally concerned — our cause and our interest are common. Identifying, as I ever have done and must do, your rights and interests with my own, it is with a desire to aid you in the maintenance of your rights, and in the support of your interests, that I come forward as the avowed friend of the agriculturist in the time of his heaviest pressure. It was only yesterday (Friday) , continued the noble lord, that I called the attention of the Chancellor of the Exche- quer to your claims, and I learned from him that the whole relief proposed for you waste be extracted from the new poor laws bill. I asked if they would relieve the farmer next year'; but of what avail will be the re- lief next' year to the farmer, who may be driven from his farpa by overwhelming distress 1 I call for public attention and immediate relief, and without it I can- not see how you are to go on, or how the land is to prosper. I shall certainly again bring forward some motion for the relief of the agriculturist before the termination of the session ; for so long as this session lasts — so long as there is a chance of putting in a word for the farmer, let the minister be who he may, I will stand up and advocate your interest." The noble marquis then recapitulated most of the arguments he had used in the house on behalf of the farmers, and expressed his determination to pursue the same course " through good report and through evil report," and concluded by assuring them that their approbation of the manner in which he discharged his duties was a balm to his wounded heart. (His lordship had re- cently lost a near and dear relative — Lord Grenville.) The noble marquis then sat down amidst the most en- thusiastic cheering. After the healths of several branches of the Buck- ingham family had been drunk, the noble marquis proposed the health of their respected chairman, which was warmly received, and duly honoured. The health of G. Pigott, Esq., who presented the address, followed ; and that gentleman, in returning thanks, said the pleasing duty he had performed he should ever consider the proudest of his life. The health of R. Sutton, Esq., the father of the Agricultural Association, was then given and acknow- ledged. Several other warm supporters of the agricultural interests were drunk by the company, who did not se- parate till a late hour, highly gratified. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ^7 THE BIRD TO HIS MISTRESS. (From the ' Weekly Belle AssemhUe.') You took me from my downy nest, To place me on your softer breast ; And now you bid your captive fly, And seek again his native sky. Ah ! rather let me still remain Your willing prisoner ; still strain To please your ear, my warbling throat, And mix with j^our's my liquid note. Still nourish'd by your gentle hand, My life's short hour I'd blissful spend ; Then wept by that kind pitying eye. Would nest'ling in your bosom die ! For who by that soft voice carest, And in your tender kisses blest. That happy slavery would exchange For freedom's most unbounded range ? 'Tis thus you bid your captive swain His once-lost liberty regain; Who, heavt-enthrali'd, must ever prove, There is no liberty in love ! X.Y.Z. TO THE EDITOR OF " THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE." Sir, — I take the liberty of addressing you again on the subject of the corn laws, tlianking you for the insertion of my humble opinions on this im- portant subject in mj' former letter, and should you deem a few more observations worthy of insertion in your valuable paper, ihey are at your service. In my last letter, I mentioned, that upon the question regarding the corn laws, the merchants and manufacturers materially differ in opinion from the landed interest. The landed proprietors and farmers state, that from the great and increas- ing population of the country, our extended trade and manufactures, and the amount of taxations, all articles have necessariallj^ become dear, rents have been raised, and the rates of labour have been rendered high ; that corn, from these causes, cannot be grown in Great Britain so cheap as in those countries on the Continent which are in a less advanced state of society in those respects, and that therefore, if we are not protected by a proper corn law, which will encourage our farmer, while it saves us from being overwhelmed with foreign grain, we shall infallibly be undersold in our own market, to the ruin of our agriculture, and the extreme injury of tlie community. The less enlightened part of the mercantile and manufac- turing interest, upon tlie other hand, are apt to oppose the corn laws, for they are but little swayed by any considerations respecting agriculture ; and taking the simplest idea whicb presents itself, without tracing its consequences, they contend that cheapness of provisions must be a material advantage to the people. In this way do these two great parties of this country stand opposed to one another. When the matter, however, is considered upon liberal prin- ciples and more extensive grounds, the real in- terests of the merchant and manufacturer will ap- pear but little at variance with that of the land- holder, and it will be found to be evidently for the benefit of every description of persons within these realms, that the landed interest shall be pro- tected. I shall quote a few observations from a well- known author with wliose treatise on agriculture many of your readers may be familiar. He says, " that agriculture is the chief riches of a nation, that it gives its own riches, the only riches which we can call our own, and of which we need not fear either deprivation or diminution. Of nations, as of individuals, the first blessing is independence. Neither the man nor the people can be happy to whom any power can deny the necessaries or conveniencies of life. There is no way of living without the need of foreign assist- ance, but by the product of our own land, im- proved by our own labour. Every other source of plent}' is perishable or casual. " Commerce, however we may please ourselves with the contrary opinion, is one of the daughters of fortune, inconstant and deceitful as her mother ; she chooses her residence where she is at least ex- pected, and shifts her abode when her continuance is in appearance most firmly settled. " Who can read of the present distresses of the Genoese, whose only choice now remaining is, from what monarch they shall solicit protection ? Who can see the Hanseatic towns in ruins, where perhaps, the inhabitants do not always equal the number of the houses ; but he will say to himself, — • • These are the cities, whose trade enabled them once to give laws to the world, to whose merchants princes sent their jewels in pawn, from whose treasuries armies were paid, and navies supplied ! And who can then forbear to consider ti'ade as a weak and uncertain basis of power, and wish to his own country greatness more solid, and felicity more durable ? 1 1 is apparent, that every trading nation flourishes, while it can be said to flourish, by the courtesy of others. We cannot compel any people to buy from us, or to sell to us. A thousand accidents may prejudice them in favour of our rivals ; the workmen of another nation may labour for a less price, or some accidental improvement, or natural advantage, may procure a just prefer- ence to their commodities ; as experience has shewn, that there is no work of the hands, which at different times, is not best performed in different places. " Mines are generally considered as the great sources of wealth, and superficial observers have thought the possession of great quantities of preci- ous metals the first national happiness. But Europe has long seen, with wonder and contempt the po- verty of Spain, who thought herself exempted from the labour of tilling the ground, by the conquest of Peru, with its veins of silver. Time, however, has taught even this obstinate and haughty nation, that without agriculture, they may indeed be the transmitters of money, but can never be the pos- sessors. They may dig it out of the earth, but must immediately send it away to purchase cloth or bread, and it must at last remain with some people wise enough to sell much, and buy little ; to live upon their own lands, without a wish for those things which nature has denied them. " Agriculture therefore, and agriculture alone, can support us without the help of others, in cer- tain plenty and genuine dignity. Whatever w'e buy from without, the sellers may refuse ; what- ever we sell, manufactured by art, the pui'chasers may reject ; but, while our ground is covered with corn and cattle, we can want nothing, and if imagination should grow sick of native plenty, and call for delicacies or embellishments from other countries, there is nothing which corn and cattle will not purchase. "By agriculture only can commerce be per- petuated ; and by agriculture alone can we live in plenty without intercourse with other nations. This, therefore, is the great art, which every Go- vernment ought to protect, every proprietor of H THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, lands to practise, and every inquirer into nature to improve," These observations will strike the reader, that the author has weighed the subject, with regard to the protection of our own agriculture, with the utmost care and attention, and I think that if our intel- ligent merchants, and all those who stand opposed to the present corn law would look at the question fairly and without prejudice, they would perceive that the interest of their brethren of the land is more closely connected with their own than per- haps they had been aware of. The argument of those contending for a free trade in corn, with re- gard to the effects which would arise to our own manufactures in foreign markets, from keeping up the price of grain, is, that it would raise the price of labour beyond what it can be procured for, on the continent ; we could not therefore, it is said, sell our goods so cheaply there as fo- reigners could do ; and of course, should be un- dersold in that market, and obliged to withdraw from it. As to this matter, it is worthy of re- mark, that the extent of such conveniency must be less than formerly, because where so many operations of manufactures are performed by ma- chinery, there is less reliance on the population for aid ; and while one steam engine now drives a hundred looms, which is by no means uncommon, it is clear that the work must be performed with less expenditure of human subsistence than before the discovery of such machines or the application of its powers to that important purpose. But I shall even admit the premises of the opposite party. Their conclusion however, does not follow, and my reasons for thinking so, are both of a tem- porary and more lasting nature. We have the facilities of manufactures already established, en- gines erected, warehouses built, and much capital embarked in the undertaking — all these things placing us far before the continental nations, who are in a manner without either manufactures or trade. On these points, however, I admit, that the con- tinent may compete with us, though on a remote and distant day. But the other description of ad- vantages which we possess are of a permanent na- ture, and exclusively our own. They consist, first, in our insular situation, and secondly, in the free government which we enjoy. And these it is clear, must in all human probability, give us for ever the superiority over every nation in Europe. The ex- cellent and free government with which we are blessed, gives us also an tminent advantage over all other countries in the advancement of manu- factures and trade. It produces security, intelli- gence, and a spirit of exertion and industry, to which the people of all other nations are strangers. The rewards for merit also, which it holds out cannot fail to rouse the best faculties. For these reasons, therefore, I think it evident, that the continental nations can but feebly com- pete with us in manufactures, atleastthatcenturies must probably elapse before they can do so other- wise, and where would be the prudence in allow- ing weight to so uncertain, nay so improbable, and, at all events so distant a prospect, in regulating the affairs of the present day ? I shall add little more, and in contusion let it be remembered that scarcity is not always the re- sult of high, nor plenty of low prices, for matters are governed by a very different principle. Let those who contend for an opposite doctrine, look at the situation of the country now, and compare it with that in times of old, which the eldest of them will remember, and of which the younger have often heard ; let them observe our numerous busy population, our richly cultivated farms, and the magnitude and beauty of our cities. Let them compare these things with the slender, and idle, and half-starved population of former days, their wretched unproductive agriculture, their struggling manufactures, and the ruinous, and filthy state of their towns, and say where the preference lies. An alteration in the present corn laws cannot make our condition better, and is therefore very likely to make it worse. It may however be considered, that the change of old establishments is always an evil, and that therefore, where the good of the change is not certain and constant, it is better to preserve that reverence, and that confidence which is produced by consistency of conduct, and per- manency of laws. I remain sir, your, most obedient servant, Bolton, near Wakefield, April 17, 1834. P. S. — A constant subscriber to your Magazine. PECULIAR BURDENS AFFECTING LAND. We take the following extract on this subject from a paper in the last number of Tait's Maga- zine. The writer having discussed the subject of Tithes, Poor-rates, and County-rates, proceeds : — THE LAND TAX. The third tax which is held out to be peculiarly burdensome to the landholder, is the land-tax. Many, no doubt, imagine that this tax is levied exclusively on the land ; a mistake which the land- holders seem very willing to allow to remain un- contradicted. But what is the fact } " In Eng- land the land-tax is raised first on personal estates, to the extent of 4s in thoiJound, viz., 20s for every 1001, in money, or in goods of that value. 2dly, On offices and pensions, to the extent of 4s for every 20s of yearly income. 3dly, On real estates, including every species of property or income arising out of, or connected with, land." — [Hut- cheson's Justice of the Peace, Vol. III., p. 9.] In Scotland, the tax is levied " On money rent, vic- tual rent, casualties paid by tenants, salmon fish- ings, and other fishings, whereby there is a yearly profit." In burghs, the rule laid down is, " That every person within burgh, shall be taxed and stented according to the avail and quantity of his rent, living, goods, and gear,which he hath within burgh. By the first is meant the rent of houses, by the second, the profit of trade, or of a calling, and the last explains itself. Thus, within bui^h, the inhabitants pay land-tax according to their supposed personal property." — [Hutcheson.] Now, with regard to the amount of this tax : By the Ninth Article of the Treaty of Union, it is pro- vided, that " Whenever the sum of 1,997,763; 8s 4^d sliail be raised by the land-tax in England, that Scotland shall be charged, by the same act, with a further sum of 48,0001, free of all charges, as the quota of Scotland to such tax ; and so pro- portionally for any greater or less sum raised in England, by any tax on land, and other things usually charged together with the land." From the land tax being partly redeemed, the total amount collected for the year ending 5th January, 1832, was only,— for England, l,133,222i ; for Scotland, 33,944/— in all, 1,167,167/. The exact proportions paid by the land and by the towns, we have not at hand the means of determining, but we observe that the cities of London and West- minster (not including the county of Middlesex) pay 186,491/, about a tenth of the whole amount, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 99 while some extensive counties do not pay 20,0O0L In Scotland the tax is collected according to the proportions fixed before the Union ; and we ob- serve, from one of the Scotch Acts, 1690, c. 6, that, of a monthly assessment of 72,133^ Scots, 4,000/ was imposed on the city of Edinburgh, and 1,440/ upon Glasgow — proportions which show the comparative wealth of these cities at the end of the seventeenth century. Inconsiderable as the city of Edinburgh was at that time, it paid a greater proportion of tax than the whole county, which was assessed at 3,183? Scots. To illustrate farther the incorrectness of the assertion that the land-tax is paid exclusively by the landowners, we we may take the case of property within the city and property within the county of Edinburgh. Within the city the tax is 2d per pound, which is levied on three-fourths of the real rental, with another halfpenny per pound for the expense of collection ; and it is only by the remarkable in- crease of the city that it has been so much reduced. The amount of tax on each county or burgh con- tinues permanent — and, therefore, as houses are built the tax diminishes in proportion. At present the rental of the city is 406,484/, but in 1750 it was only 25,786/, and then the land-tax absorbed ten per cent, of the rent. In the county the rate is nearly 3s per pound, but it is levied on the old valuation taken in the year 1649, which, for the ■whole county, was 191,054i Scots ; each pound Scots being l-12th part of a pound sterling, or 20d. What proportion that old valuation bears to the real rental at present we may judge of from the fact, that it appears, from the property-tax returns, in the year 1811, the real rental of the lands in the county, exclusive of the houses, was 277,827/ — so that the tax, as estimated by the real rental, is in reality much smaller on the county than the city. Sir John Sinclair estimates the tax over Scotland at 2d per pound on the rental, an esti- mate which it would be easy to show is above the truth. But where is the landowner who is entitled to complain of the land-tax ? Where is the land- owner whose ancestors acquired the land he now possesses, free of it ? Taxes on land were formerly the chief part of the public revenue, whereas they do not at present form one thirtieth part of it. In speaking of this tax, Blackstone remarks, " The other ancient levies (hydages, scutages, and tal- liages) , were in the nature of a modern land-tax ; for we may trace up the original of that charge as high as the introduction of our military tenures ; when every tenant of a knight's fee was bound, if called on, to attend the King for forty days in every year. But this personal attendance growing troublesome in many respects, the landowners found means of compounding for it, by first send- ing others in their stead, and in process of time by making a pecuniary satisfaction to the Crown in lieu of it. This pecuniary satisfaction at last came to be levied by assessments, at so much for every knight's fee, under the name of scutages, which appear to have been levied for the first time in the fifth year of Henry the Second, on account of his expedition to Toulouse." That is to say, that a tax of the nature of the land-tax has been levied in England from the year 1159. Of the same nature with scutages upon knights' fees, were the assessments of hydages on all other lands ; and it is equally reasonable for the landowner to assert that the quit-rents, or feu-duties payable to the Crown, or the rents received from the Crown lands, are a tax upon agriculture, as that the land- tax is, The truth is, that there is not a country in Eu- rope in which the land is so lightly taxed as in Britain. In France, the land pays one-fourth of the public revenue, or abovit ten millions sterling. In Prussia, and in Poland, the land-tax absorbs twenty-five per cent, of the rents ; and it is the principal source of revenue in Austria, Bavaria, and most of the other continental states. Although, since the Union, the rental of GreatBritain has in- creased fifteen-fold, the land-tax has never been increased, and hence the burden is at present little more than nominal. If a land-tax, therefore, in- creases the price of grain, the British landowner ought to be able to undersell all Europe, because in no country are the lands so lightly taxed. These remarks apply both to England and Scot- land ; though in the latter country poor-rates are almost unknown in the rural parishes, and tithes have been nearly everywhere long ago commuted, for a small payment. But what is to be said with regard to Ireland, whose members were so eager in the late debate, in opposing the removal of the restrictions on the importation of foreign food } Ireland has neither poor-rates nor land-tax ; and if the English landowner is entitled to a protecting duty as it is called, he ought to have such a duty imposed, not only on importation from foreign countries, but on importations from Ireland. It may be very convenient for the Irish landowners to have secured to them, as at present, the mono- poly of the British market against foreigners ; but if there be any foundation in the statement that the landowners of England are burdened in a pe- culiar manner, then justice will not be done, unless the same duty is imposed on Irish as on foreign grain, while at the same time the impoverished population of Ireland are allowed to import grain without restriction, and without duty, from every part of the world. We hope that before the ques- tion again comes before Parliament, the Irish members will consider whether they can with any decency reiterate some of the arguments they used at the last debate. THE MALT-DUTY. But we have not done with what the Landowners enumerate among the peculiar burdens on land. Taking the hint from the West Indian planters, who used clamorously to assert that they contri- buted seven or eight millions to the revenue of Great Britain, because they sent sugar, rum, and coff'ee, to this country, on which seven or eight millions of duty were paid by the consumers, the landowners claim the malt-duty as a peculiar bur- den on them. They, it seems, are taxed neaidy five millions annually on this single item. If this statement be correct, they are still farther op- pressed. If the malt-tax be a burden, so are the duties levied on British spirits ; and this will add five millions more to the burdens of the already distressed agriculturist. To these should be added the duty on starch, tiles, bricks, &c. ; and then let us see how the account stands. Malt-Duties, . . . £5,000,000 Duties on British Spirits, . 5,000,000 Starch, &c., &c., . . 500,000 Land-Tax, . . . 2,000,000 Tithes, . . •. . 3,000,000 Poor-Rates and County-Rates, . 8,000,000 £23,500,000. Now, assuming, with a late writer in the Edin- burgh Review, that the whole produce of grain in Great Britain is forty-two millions it will require, to compensate thelandowners fortheir " peculiar- bur- 2 H 100 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. dens," an average duty on all kinds of grain, not of OS a quarter, as li6 asserts, but at least 12s a quarter, that is to say 20s on wheat, and on other grain in proportion; and the same amount of draw- back, 01 rather bounty on exportation, for it is proposed to pay the drawback not merely on fo- reign grain, on which duty has been paid, being exported, but also on the export of British grain. But let us examine a little more narrowly the bold assumption, that the malt-tax is a burden on the land ; that is to say, that it is paid, not by those who consume the malt, but by those on whose lands the barley grows which is converted into the malt. This doctrine gives new and im- povtant views of finance, and of the sources of ■■>'ill be found that Mic g,iea.:8r part of it is paid by foreigners. Thus, t/be Chinese produce tea as our landowners pro- duce barley; therefore the tea-duties, some three and a half millions annually, are contributed by the Chinese tea-growers to support our national ex- penditure. Mr. .-/OKN TWIDALE OF NORTH . RAUCEBY, LINCOLNSHIRE, AND THE INTRODUCTION OF BONE AS A MANURE INTO THAT COUNTY. [From a Correspondent.') The securing of a sufficiency of food has ever been the great concern of society in every country, and the man, therefore, who steps out from the general mass to introduce a new system, whereby the production of the great necessary of life, bread, is increased from one to ten or twenty fold, must be considered among the foremost of the bene- factors of mankind ; and however circumstances may have overclouded the prospect of his own career, still the merits of the man and the effects he has been the instrument of producing, will descend from father to son in the neighbourhood of his usefulness, to a period long after the rude stone in the village church yard has disappeared, or perhaps the sacred edifice itself has sunk to decay, leaving a proud monument of warm re- membrance in the hearts of those who can best ajjpreciate the benefits he has conferred. And if any individual has been worthy of this, assuredly the late Mr. John Twidale was the man, whose exertions have led to the transformation of a barren and extensive heath, great part of which little more than fifty years ago paid a rent not exceeding eight- pence or one shilling per acre, into a well culti- vated corn country, and thereby advancing the value of the land in a very few years as from one to fifteen or more. The tiu-nip had been introduced into Lincoln- shire and its cultivation in the field continued for about twenty years before the use of the bone, but had not been carried to any great extent from the expcnce of the various kinds of manure the sterile nature of the soil required. About this time, the subject of this sketch, an active and intelHgent tenant under the Earl of Bristol, and then a young man, accidentally heard of the fertilizing eflTects produced by the application of the horn and bone shavings from the cutlers' manufactories in York- shire, and that some persons, taking the hint, had erected mills there for the purpose of breaking bones for manure. Judging from daily experience that a cheaper and more effective system of man- agement might be broaght about he made more in- quiries respecting the manner of breaking the bones, and for the like purpose took a journey to that county, but he was disappointed in making the observations he wished, owing to a system of secrecy maintained by the proprietors of the work. An active mind however has its own resources, for though refused either admittance to the mills or information on the subject, he gained such knowledge from the inspection of other mills in the vicinity used in grinding chalk &c. as on his return home induced him to erect one on his own, and individual expence which broke bones toler- ably well. He then proceeded to try the compara- tive strength of bones against other manures which had until then been applied for turnips, and find- ing the decided advantage of bones, he soon gave up the use of all others, and successivelj^ produced excellent crops. His first efforts were considered visionary by many, until, in about five or six years the good effect of his system having become too striking not to be acknowledged, other tenants of the Earl of Bristol, &c. aided to bring the use of bones as a manure into general practice. Mr. T's mill, besides supplying his own farm with a suffi- cient quantity, contributed for some years to fur- nish the farmers around at the price of one shil- ling a bushel or strike, the demand gradually in- creasing as the knowledge of the benefit arising from this novel manure became extended. At this day a detail of the system at first adopted will ai)pear curious. The bones were only broken by the mill into large pieces, and were mixed with dung, the earth of ditches, banks, &c., and formed into small heaps. These heaps were turned once or twice in the course of the year previous to the season for laying them upon the land, each stiring causing a considerable ferment ; they were then carted upon the fallows, spread by hand, and ploughed in, and in this manner from fifty to sixty, and even one hundred bushels of bones per acre have been applied. The large quantity thus con- sumed led to a rapid increase of their price, and consequently to a more economical application of them, by the bones being ground small, as now used, [and deposited with the seed, by the drill- machine. But this leads us from our immediate subject. This most important improvement, which has perhaps brought the field culture of the turnip to perfection, and a track of country of many miles in extent, dreary, barren, and comfortless, and where formerly, nothing but the rabbit was to be found , into a smiling fertile country, ever teeming with variety of produce for the food of man, it is perhaps but bare justice to say may be mainly attributable to Mr. I'widale's exertions in bringing the bone manure into general use. To show the benefit conferred not only on individuals thereby, but on society at large, as the wealth of the state is so much more increased, one instance will suffice to give some idea. In the lordship of North Rauceby (which forms but a small portion of the heath tract,) where Mr. T. resided, the whole rental until the year 1771 was about :f23/. per annum ; and we shall not be far from the truth in stating it to be now about 3000/. ! This is not intended as a practical essay, the mode of culture being now much altered, and as well understood by the present occupiers of the soil, })ut a record in a publication de\oted to such subjects, of a most important improvement in agri- culture in days long past, and of the instrument of its inti'oduction, now at rest in that place, where " The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep," free from the turmoil of the busy world and its THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 101 attendant cares ; with the hope that it may prove the introduction to a series of slcetches of by gone practical agriculturists, who have done more for the real and lasting benefit of their country, than thousands of warriors, who have gone forth to battle, or the exertions of many misnamed patriots, whose lengthened harangues and long arguments have at last proved to be " mere sound and fury," signifying nothing." It is therefore trusted that among the numerous readers of the " Farmer's Magazine,'' many will be found ready to communi- cate such facts and details as they may be possess- ed of, and thus another interesting feature will be added to its attractions. H. S. TO THE BREEDERS AND GRAZIERS OF SHEEP— THE COTSWOLD AND DOWN CROSS. Gentlemen, — The limits of an advertisement will not admit of my stating what I could and ought to say respecting the invaluable qualities of this hitherto unequalled cross. You will naturally think, that in thus bringing the subject before the public, I am speaking one word for breeders in general, and two words for myself, as the breeder of this particular cross. Be it so, but if you will weigh well the following facts — facts stubborn as the prejudices they are intended to combat, — Iflattermyself you will admit that one word for the public to be of no little im- portance. I shall end this short preface by expressing my hope that any person who may be inclined to take up the gauntlet thrown down, will do so in the spirit of good humour, my object being friendly competition, with a view to arrive at the nearest attainable point of perfection in that now more than ever important branch farming, the breeding of sheep. In the first place, I make the bold declaration, that no breed ever yet existed in Hampshire equal to the first cross of the improved Cotswold sheep and Down ewe, for weight of carcase and wool — that no breed ever existed equal to the second cross, for the general purposes of stocking and grazing — to substantiate which I submit the fol- lowing proof: — At Overton July Fair, 1832, I brought out the first hundred of the second cross wether lambs, yeaned from the 7th to the 14th of February pre- viously, which obtained (a bona fide hai-gBin) 31s per head, purchased by Mr. Hughes, of Windsor, who wintered them, and in the spring of 1833, after having shorn on an average 81bs of wool from each, sold them, without the wool, at 48s a-head. This, reckoning theteg wool at Is 6dperlb, brings them to Zl each. At the last fair I sold another hundred, of the same breed, about ten days older than the former, to Mr. W. Cannon, of Maiden- head, for 34s 6d, being the top price two succes- sive years. The last mentioned are still in Mr. Cannon's possession, and well worth the while of any person to inspect, wishing to see tegs, whose equal, it is presumed, he never saw before. These are prices which, I contend, have not been ob- tained since the value of the currency was en- hanced by Peel's Spoliation Bill of 1822. From a conviction of their decided superiority over anything of their age, I am wiUing, with Mr. C.'s permission, to show them against anything of tbp Down breedj oy Do>Yn cross, that England can produce : and so thoroughly satisfied is their owner of their superior qualities, that he offers, should he become the purchaser of my wether lambs this season, to allow any grazier, purchas- ing Downs at Overton at the same price, to feed on corn and cake, while mine shall be fed on hay and turnips only, and to show against him on the 1st of April next, weight of carcase and fleece both considered. Mr. Cannon exhibited twenty of the hundred at Colnbrook Fair, on the 5th ult., which the report of the fair gives as having been adjudged to weigh upwards of 13 stone, ixpon an average of 14 months old. For the wool of the 98 which are now alive out of the hundred, 18s per head have been re- fused ; the total value of both fleece and carcass may therefore be easily ascertained. These, I think, you will admit are stubborn assertions, if you yet want conviction as to their being facts. Now, then, to their qualities as working-stock sheep. I fancy to hear many of my South Down friends cry out — "Ah! there's the rub:" a rub, I assure them, which they are well able to bear. Being armed at all points, I again throw down the gauntlet, and am open to any South Down stock farmer in any county, whose stock does not exceed by more than 50 my own (650 ewes and 200 tegs), the whole to have been bred on the farm — to show 100 second cross ewes, which shall have bred up a lamb, under full-mouthed (having as yet only 300 to draw from) ; 100 ditto of ewe tegs, 100 ewe lambs, and 100 wether or ram lambs; the latter to have fallen within the present year (which is giving them a fortnight's advantage to my op- ponents), anytime between the 1st and 8th of June next — for frame, weight of wool, kindness, and possessing qualities of general utility ; — and lest it may be thought I have been preparing for this challenge, I am willing to exhibit the same at the four quarters of the year. Midsummer, Michael- mas, Christmas, and Lady-day ; the preference to be given to those who shall on the average appear best ; the ewes shall have been regularly folded on the wheat ground, or other fallows, from May- day until Michaelmas ; travel on an average as far to fold, and undergo the treading of wheat, as is customary on large corn farms. Now, gentlemen, having given this opening to the sticklers for things as they are, for no other reason but because they are such as have been, and who, like the sexagenarian carter, still considering his wooden plough and hairy timber-legged horses of his youthful days, preferable to the neater and more useful plough, and the more agile cattle, of the present day, are afraid to advance one step in the march of improvement, I will conclude by stating the actual difference I have found in the returns of the two breeds — the good pure Down and the second cross. Though being favourably situated in respect to keep, the first cross is what I shall aim at. At the last clip 300 of my cross ewes cut upon an average 2J lbs of wool more than 300 good Down ewes, which had run together the whole twelvemonth. This, upon the wliolc flock (at Is 6d per lb.) of 850, as compa: ;^ '*■'" the Down, would arnoum; tc an ir.or:..:->;; article c;' woi alone, of :\ •■.■•<.. J/- ■ -' annum. The cross lambs, falling- at tho rar.io : u.c,. and faring alike, have sold at from 2s 6d to 3s 6d per head more than the Down lamb ; the ewes, being much better grown, and coming to a greater weight, I think may safely be put at the same price oyer the Down ewes, viz., 33 per head. Thf) aq^ 102 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. count will til en stand thus — supposing a person to breed from 650 ewes : — Wether Lambs 275 at 3s £41 5 0 200 Sale Ewes at 3s 30 0 0 Wool 140 0 0 DiflFerence of annual wool return of the Cross and the Down £211 5 0 This, gentlemen, is a fact, astounding as it is incontrovertible. You will object that the same number cannot be kept. I answer, that in the second cross this objection is not felt; but allow- ing 50 less for the sake of argument, even then look at the vast difference in the return. But the advantage is not so much in the increased size as in the improved shape and kindlier nature for lay- ing on fat, and their extra quantity of Vvool, which wool has, in demand, taken the lead of all other for the last nine years, and which, if you but take a momentary survey of our foreign connections, is ever likely to do so. I am aware that I have already gone beyond the limits of the patience of many of my agricultural friends ; but I find I could yet extend the subject much farther in proof of my proposition, viz. — That no breed of sheep does exist, or ever has ex- isted, equal to the second cross of improved Cotswold and Down, fleece and carcase considered, of such general utility and profit to the breeder and grazier. In them we have the long-sought desideratum — the Leicester carcase, the Sussex kindness, the Pown hardihood, and the weighty Gloucester fleece. It is well known that prejudice is strong, but I request all those who may be sceptical to give their own eyes the evidence of facts. Let them ask of those who will not take this trouble, and who make mere assertions as to their suspi- cions of their qualities, have you tried them ? — can you controvert anything set forth in this adver- tisement ? — or, are you ready to take up the glove ■which has been thrown down } Until this is done, what has been experienced ought upon every principle of reason, to outweigh what may be supposed. I am, &c. J. TWYNAM. Whitchurch Farm, May 6th, 1834. A CHALLENGE TO BREEDERS AND GRAZIERS OF SHEEP. In a letter addressed " to the Breeders and Gra- ziers of Sheep" which we find in the Hampshire Chronicle, Mr. J. Twyman, of Whitchurch Farm, says — " I make the bold declaration, that no breed ever yet existed in Hampshire equal to the first cross of the improved Cotswold sheep and Down ewe, for weight of carcass and wool — and that no breed ever existed equal to the second cross, for the general purposes of stocking and grazing. Being armed at all points, I now throw down the gauntlet, and am open to any South Down stock farmer in any county, whose stock does not ex- ceed by more than fifty my own (650 ewes and 200 tegs,) the whole to have been bred on the farm — to show 100 second cross ewes, which shall have bred up a lamb, under full-mouthed (having as yet only 300 to draw from) ; 100 ditto of ewe tegs, 100 ewe lambs, and 100 wether or ram lambs ; the latter to have fallen within the present year (which is giving a fortnight's advantage to my opponents), any time between the first and 8th of June next — for frame, weight of wool, kindness, and possess- ing qualities of general utility ; — and lest it may bethought I have been preparing for this challenge, I am willing to exhibit the same at the fout quarters of the year. Midsummer, Michaelmas, Christmas, and Lady-day ; the preference to be given to those which shall on the average appear best ; the ewes shall have been regularly folded on the wheat ground, or other fallows, fi'om May- day until Michaelmas ; travel on an average as far to fold and undergo the treading of wheat, as is customary on large corn farms." In another part of his letter Mr. Twyman says — " Now, gentle- men, having given this opening to the sticklers for things as they are, for no other reason but because they are such as have been, and who like the sex- agenarian carter, still considering his wooden plough and hairy timber-legged horses of his youthful days, preferable to the neater and more useful plough and the more agile cattle, of the pre- sent day, are afraid to advance one step in the march of improvement, I will conclude by stating the actual difference I have found in the returns of the two breeds — the good pure Down and the second cross. Though being favourably situated in respect to keep, the first cross is what I shall aim at. At the last clip 300 of my cross ewes cut upon an average 2| lbs. of wool more than 300 good Down ewes, which had run together the whole twelvemonth. This, upon my whole flock (at Is 6d per IbJ of 850. as compared with the Down, would amount to an increase, on the article of wool alone, of upwards of 140^. per annum. The cross lambs, falling at the same time and fair- ing alike, have sold at from 2s 6d to 3s 6d per head more than the Down lamb ; the ewes, being much better grown, and coming to a greater weight, I think may safely be put at the same price over the Down ewes, viz. 3s per head. The account will then stand thus — supposing a person to breed from 650 ewes : — Wether Lambs, 275 at 3s. £ 41 200 Sale Ewes at 3s. 30 Wool 140 Diflference of annual wool return of the cross and the Down £ 211 5 0 " This, gentlemen, is a fact, astounding as it is incontrovertible. You will object that the same number cannot be kept. I answer, that in the second cross this objection is not felt; but allow- ing fifty less, for the sake of argument, even then look at the vast difference in the return. But the advantage is not so much in the increased size as in the improved shape and kindlier nature for lay- ing on fat and their extra quantity of wool, which wool has, in demand, taken the lead of all other for the last nine years, and which, if you but take a momentary survey of our foreign connections, is ever likely to do so. " I am aware that I have already gone beyond the limits of the patience of many of my agricul- tural friends ; but I find I could yet extend the subject much farther in proof of my proposition, viz. — That no breed of sheep does exist, or ever has existed, equal to the second cross of improved Cotswold and Down, fleece and carcass considered, of such general utility and profit to the breeder and grazier. In them we have the long sought desideratum — the Leicester carcass, the Sussex kindness, the Down hardihood, and the weighty Gloucester fleece. It is well known that prejudice is strong, but I request all those who maybe scep- tical to give their own eyes the evidence of facts. Let them ask of those who will not take this trouble, and who make mere assertions as to their suspicions of their qualities, have you tried them i — can you controvert any thing set forth in this advertisement ?— or, ^are you ready to take up 5 0 0 0 0 0 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 103 the glove which has been thrown down ? UntU this is done, what has been experienced ought, upon every principle of reason, to outweigh what may be supposed?" THE AGGREGATE RESULTS OF THE LAND ALLOTMENT SYSTEM. CAREFULLY COLLECTED FROM THE NUMEROUS PARISHES IN ALL PARTS OF THE KINGDOM WHERE IT HAS BEEN ALREADY TRIED. " A growing spirit of independence of parochial relief." " Those who before invariably spent their leisure hours (and those not a few, from the general want of employment^ in the beer-shops and ale-houses, to the utter ruin of their families, besides forming iiaany connexions with poachers, thieves, and all kinds of bad characters, have been kept away from their old haunts by the employment, and satisfac- tion afforded them, in the cultivation of their cot- tage allotments." " A consciousness in the mind of the labourer, that by holding a small portion of land, it is his interest to stand by those laws which protect it." This has been shown in several remarkable in- stances, where the surrounding districts having been the scenes of riotings, burnings, and out- rages ; in those parishes where the allotment sys- tem has prevailed, the labourers have not only abstained from joining in these lawless acts, but have come forward, unsolicited, to protect the pro- perty of their landlords. " Land improved in an extraordinary degree." " Poor-rates reduced, in many instances very greatly." " Removal of discontent, kindly feelings re-es- tablished between the farmers and the labourers, and a mutual spirit of confidence between all parties." " Increase of industry, and very great improve- ment of moral conduct." " Rents paid with the greatest punctuality and alacrity." " A considerable increase of general comfort to the labourer, as shown in the striking improvement in the appearance of his family, in their looks, their clothing, and also their cottage." " The number of prisoners committed from the petty sessions in some districts where it has been in extensive operation, has been diminished in a very remarkable degree." " In numerous parishes where not a single pig was before kept, forty and fifty fat hogs and more are killed every year between Michaelmas and Christmas." It should be recollected that bacon in particular constitutes a chief article of food among the lower classes. In these parishes, before the allotment system was introduced, the poor were obliged to supply themselves with an inferior ar- ticle, at a very high price : now they get it for, as I said before, literally and truly nothing, besides its being of a much better quality, while it is eaten by them vvith ten times more satisfaction and en- joyment, on account of its being fed by themselves on the produce of their little farm. " The greatest gratitude manifested on the part of tne poor generally, at the great addition to their means and comforts, while their altered looks be- spoke them happy and contented." " Last, though not least, in many parishes be- fore notorious for poaching, this crime has been almost entirely put a stop to by the operation of the system, established with judgment and care- fully attende',,,,,,, 48 122 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. THE SALMON TROUT. This very elegant species is plentifully distributed through the British waters, and varies in weight from a few ounces to lifteen or even thirty pounds. The general shape of trouts is rather long than broad ; in several of the Scotch and Irish lakes and rivers, they grow so much thicker than in those of England, that a fish from eighteen totwenty-two inches will often weigh from three to five pounds. The trout is a Ush of prey, has a short roundish head, blunt nose, mouth wide, and filled with teeth, not only in thejaws, but on the palate and tongue: the scales are small, the back is ash colour, the sides yellow, and when in season, is sprinkled all over the body and covers of the gills with small beautiful red and black spots ; the tail is broad. There are several sorts of trout, differing in their size, (for in many of the smaller streams there are trouts that always continue small, but are very great breeders,) shape and hue; but the flesh of the best is either red or yel- low when dressed ; the female fish has a smaller head and deeper body than the male, and is of superior flavour. In fact the colours of the trout and the spots A'arj greatly in different waters and at distinct seasons, yet each may be reduced to one species. In Lindive, a lake in South Wales, are trout called coch-y-dai!, Avith red and black spots as big as sixpences ; others unmarked, and ( f a reddish hue, that sometimes weigh nearly ten pounds, but are ill-tasted. In Lough Neagh, in Ireland, are trout called buddaghs, which rise to thiity pounds ; and some (probably of the same species) are taken in Ulleswater, in Cumber- land, of still greater weight ; and both those are supposed to be similar with the large trout of the lake of Geneva, a fish says Mr. Pennant, which I have eaten of more than once, and think very indiffertnt. A trout taken in Llynallet, in Denbighshire, which is famous for its excellent kind, was singularly marked and shaped ; it measured seventeen inches in length, depth three and three quarters, and weighed one pound ten ounces ; the head thick, nose sharp, both jaws as well as the head, of a pale brown, blotched with black ; the teeth sharp and strong, dispersed in thejaws, roof of the mouth and tongue, (as is the case with the whole genus, except the gwiniad, which is toothless, and the grayling which has none on the tongue), the liack was dusky, and sides tinged with a purplish bloom, both above and below the side line, which was straight, and marked with deep purple spots, mixed with black. The belly was white ; the first dorsal fin was spotted ; the spurious fin brown, tipped with red ; the pectoral, ventral, and anal fins of a pale brown : the edges of the latter white ; the tail very little forked when extended. Some peculiar remarks upon the various sorts of troutin the northern counties of Eng- land, and of their growth and age, have been given by a very experienced angler, to the fol- lowing effect : — That he does not undertake to determine vi^hether the river or burn trout are of one species ; in many points the trout taken out of the sa^me river and same pools will agree, and in some shall vary ; so that, if the difference were owing to the water or food, he could say nothing against their being of one species : he believes they spawn promiscu- ously together, are all similar in shape, in the number of their fins, and their fins being dis- posed in the same places. Whether the colour of the spots make any specific variety, he leaves to the decision of naturalists ; but, in his opinion, the so much esteemed char, both red and white, is only a meer or marsh trout, and the colour perhaps owing to the sex. In several of the northern rivers he has taken trouts as red and as Avell-tasted as any char, and whose bones, when potted, have dissolved; THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 123 like those of the char. That about Michaelmas he had caught trouts of a coppered hue, with- out spots ; the tlesh, when dressed, was like bees-wax, and well-tasted ; that likewise in April he took one of these trout twenty-eight inches and thick in proportion, which boiled yellow, but was equally good ; and this he thinks was the bull trout mentioned by Wal- ton and several authors, as extraordinary both for its size and goodness, and to be found nowhere but in Nortliumberland. He re- cords a still larger iish caught in the same river (the Cocquet)by him in September, near Brenkburn Abbey ; the length, which was nearly a yard, did not strike this gentleman so much, as the bright spots upon the lateral line ; by which it appeared to him to be an over-grown burn trout, and neither a salmon, salmon-trout, nor the same wilii those two he thought were the bull trout. Walton mentions the Fordwich trout taken in the river Stour, of which only one instance was ever known of their being caught by the angle, and are said to be delicious eating; one weighing twenty-six pounds, and of a most beautiful colour, was taken with a net in December, 1797; they grow to a large size. ■* * * * The burn or river trout, with plenty of food and good water grows rapidly ; several experiments were made in ponds fed by river water, and some by clear springs, into which the young fry have been put at five or six months old (that is in September or October, reckoning from April, when they first come from the spawning-beds) at which time they will be six or seven inches long; in eighteen months the change has been surprising ; he has seen a pond drained ten months after be- ing thus stocked, which was in July, when the fish were fifteen months old ; some were fifteen or sixteen inches, others not more than eleven or twelve ; the fish were returned into the pond, and it was again drained the March following, when some were twenty-two inches, and weighed three pounds ; others were sixteen inches, and some not more than twelve. Trout spawn, or deposit their ova and se- minal fluid in the end of the autumn or be- ginning of winter,from the middle of Novem- ber till the beginning of January ; their ma- turity depending upon the temperature of the season, their quantity of food, &c. From some time (a month or six weeks) before they are prepared for the sexual function, or that of reproduction, they become less fat, particularly the females ; the large quantity of eggs and their size probably atleciing the health of the animal, and compressing gene- rally the vital organs in the abdomen. They are at least six weeks, or two months after they have spawned before they recover their flesh ; and the time when these fish are at the worst, is likewise the worst time for fly- fishing, both on account of the cold weather, and because there are fewer flies on the water than at any other season. The Sea Tiger. — The head is shaped like that of the common seal, except that it is more elongated, the sockets of the eyes, too, being deeper and broader ; it measures fifteen and a quarter inches tiom the ex- tremity of the nose to the great hole of the occiptal bone ; the lower jaw, from the chin to the point of articulation with the upper jaw bone, is eleven and a half inches. A straight line drawn from one articula- ting process to the other, measures six inches. The number of teeth is thirty-two, four of which are tusks ; the largest of these is an inch and a quarter in length, and one in circu.mference at the base; in each jaw were ten grinders; these immediately after emerging from their sockets, are divided into three distinct conical portions, the central one being more than half an inch long, and the other two the fourth of an inch, all terminating with sharp [loints. The skin is covered with a thick, fine, and short hair on the back, of a gray colour, spotted with black, and white on ti^e ab- domen ; the flippers are short and strong ; the animal moves with surprising velocity in the water, and in that element all its motions are indicative of great strength; their chief food consists of penguins- To catch these beautiful birds, wiien they are discovered at a distance, the tiger gets upon the windviard side, and lies upon his back ; in this position lie floats upon the billows, with his head a little elevated, but all the while keeping his dark vigilant eye steadj' fixed upon the ill-fated object ofjiis pursuit: as soon as he is sufficiently near to secure his prey, he turns suddenly upon his belly, cleaves the billows with astonishing- swiftness, and the next moment is seen plunging in the water with a penguin, weighing- at times from forty to sixty pounds, in his capacious jaws. The tiger possesses undaunted courage and shrewdness ; they frequently chased the crew of the Pacific while cruising in their boats. On one occasion, when two of the men were at a considerable distance both from the shore and schooner, they were discovered by one of these animals, some twenty feet in length, and six in circumference, which instantly pursued the boat with all speed, and when within ten or twelve feet, leaped for it, exposing to view at the same time, in the greatest rage, his sharp teeth. Failing in this attempt, he next essayed to upset the boat. One of the party then lodged a ball in his body ; this only served to increase the animal's rage, and in another at- tempt to spring- into the boat, he would have suc- ceeded, but for a severe blow he received from a lance. Even after this his courage and perseverance were unabated, and it seemed as if he had resolved that neither the power nor the weapons of man should prevail against him. When, however the second and third balls were lodged in him, his efforts ceased, and he was overcome. On another occasion, some of the crew were in the boat three miles from the schooner, when a large tiger was observed following- in their wake ; he betrayed no disposition to annoy them, but kept at a distance from the boat all the time. The seamen, unacquainted with his cunning, were induced to pursue him, but soon found their ignorance of the animal's character had betrayed them into very immi- nent danger, which they were now likel}' to \rj.y very dearly for. The tiger waited their approach, and then commenced the battle, when the seamen instantly re- treated for their vessel, and with the utmost difficulty succeeded in keeping him from upsetting them. Some of the sailors tasted the milk of the sea tiger which they had killed, and found it excellent. 13y many persons it is supposed that the sea tiger and walrus are the same ; but they differ in several particulars such as the number, size, shape, and relative position of the teeth, as well as in the form of the head, which of the walrus bears a strong resemblance to that of the human species, — Fauning's Voyages. 124 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Wonderful Sagacity of a Dog. — Mr. J. Coates, of Hartoft Dale, near Pickering, is now in possession of a wonderfully sagacious sheep dog. He is enabled to do whatever is required of him by signs, and among a number of other feats, he was last week re(|uired by signal to fetch up a strong Scotch sheep, which was feeding on the side of a steep bank. After making several ineffectual attempts to hold the sheep, which always overpowered him in going down the hill, and before the dog could recover it regained the summit, as a last resource the dog actually leapeil on liis hack, placing his fore legs round its neck and his hind legs around its hind quarters, and in this position he rode down the hill, and at the bottom the sheep leaped a stone wall, the dog all the time remaining firmly placed till the sheep by the extra weight and exertions he- came exhausted, when he dismounted and then held it by the horn, till the Shepherd came and caught it. Injury to Racing Stock. — A few days ago, some person or persons, during the stillness of the midnight hour, entered the paddocks of Mrs. Bookless, of Dringhouses, near Vork, (where the well known horse, Waverley, by Whalebone is stationed for this season), in which paddocks were several brood mares, the property of gentlemen, who, at a great expence, had sent them a considerable distance to this favourite Lorse, and after securing four of them, cut off the whole of the hair from their several tails, leaving them with the bare stump. And on the same night, five draught horses, the property of Mr. Wilstrop, of Copmanthrope, were treated in the same manner, no doubt by the same parties- It appears evident that the paltry value of the hair has been the motive of in- ducing these depredators to thus disfigure these valu- able auimals. We hope, however, for the protection of the public, and more particularly that a stop jnay be put to such disgraceful proceedings, that the offen- ders may be detected and brought to justice, (as a re- ward often pounds is offered for their apprehension), else noblemen and gentlemen will become afraid of permitting such valuable animals, as their brood mares, many of which are purchased at a great price, to be sent into our district, and the removal of thorough-breed horses of eminence from our neigh- bourhood, (which is a source of considerable expen- diture and interest to our fellow-citizens in a variety of channels, and doing considerable good to many) would of course, be the consequence. The blood mares thus disfigured at Dringhouses, are — a Tramp mare, out of General JMina's dam, belonging to Sir Thomas Stanley, Bart.; and three others, the property of W. C. ftlaxwell, Estl-, of Evringham, Mr. Iledly, of Newcastle, and Mr. John Scott, of White whall Corner, near Malton. Trotting Match. — A very novel and interesting performance took place on Thursday afternoon, over the marshes between Reculver and St. Nicholas, a distance, there and back, of 8j miles. Mr. Wm. Denne, of Grays, undertook for a wager to trot his horse from the former place to the Matter, and back again, in one hour and five minutes, opening and shutting every gate himself as he passed through. There were 27 gates, with two bar-ways, which he had to take down and put up again. The task was thought a very difficult one, and betting was consi- derably in favour of time : however, Mr. Denne ac- complished it in 42 minutes. Mr. Hutchinson, of Canterbury, has undertaken to gallop ovsr ihe same course in less time, on condition that he is allowed to dismount to open and shut the gates. Memoey in Animals,™! have witnessed some, and read of other very remarkable instances of the combination of these impressions communicated by the organs, amounting to something like reflection and judgment, in some animals, and like memory, in many more. I have seen a shepherd's dog contrive expediments for effecting his purpose which one half of the human race were incapable of in the same in- stant of time, I have likewise seen some extraordinary instances of recollection in horses. Indeed, they seem never to forget any incident that befalls them, nor the place where it happened. I once came to a reverend divine fairly arrested on his journey, in the middle of a wild moor, by this singular faculty of his horse. He had alighted, and was whipping her round and round, but when he saw me approaching he gave over. " What's the matter wi' ye, Mr. Paton 1" said I, "what ails ye at youryaud?" "Why, I bogged her there the year before last, and had very nearly lost her," said he ; " and she seems to have a better memory than a judgment, for though the road is now mended and firm, she will not go near it. — " Lay Sermons by the Ettrick Shepherd. Sparrows. — It has been satisfactorily ascer- tained that a single pair of common sparrows, while their young ones are in the nest, destroy on an aver age above three thousand caterpillers every week ! At this rate, if all the species of small birds were to be extirpated, what would then become of the crops 'I There are forty kinds of field-sparrow, not one of which eats a single grain of corn. Insect Devastations. — The whole herbage on the hills around the sources of the Ettrick and Yar- row was destroyed by a caterpillar in 17G2, long called the luormy year, until 1802, when in June and July a similar occurrence happened. The upper parts of this parish, with the high lands ad- joining, were then overrun by a species of grub- worm, belonging, it was at that time believed, to the order of Lepidoptera, and genus Papilio. A fev.' of them were fed in a bottle by Mr. A. Laidlaw, at Bowerhope, when, after undergoing the usual metamorphosis into a chrysalis, they emerged beautiful butterflies — laid about one hun- dred eggs, atid died. They made their first appear- ance on the dry benty land, consuming every thing green ; and though thousands of crows and other birds fed constantly upon them, they gradually spread into the boggy and finer pastures. The only plants spared were Culluna vulgaris, Juncus squarrosun, and Galium saxatile. When they were feeding, from six to eight might have been covered with the palm of the hand ; and where a burn intercepted their progress, they lay in heaps by the side. Some heavy rains at length drowned or swept them into the drains, many of which were literally stopped. They again made their appear- ance in 1812, 1824, and 1826; but their ravages were confined to some of the heights bordering on Dumfriesshire. — Parish of Yarrow. A gentleman lesiding in Derby has a two-years' old colt by Sir Gilbert, fifteen and a half hands high, which every night and morning walks up to a gorse wattled bar, the height of a moderate man's shoulder, and flings himself over it with all the ease and neat, ness of an experienced Meltonian fencer ; one of his jumps was measured, and found to have covered 17 feet. A singular fatality has prevailed among the horses belonging to Mr. Caiger, coach proprietor, of South- ampton, during the last fortnight. More than 12 have fallen victims to a disease acting not unlike the influi' enza. on the human species. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 125 LITERATURE. TIIK FLOWER-GARDEN, OR M ONTH LY C A LEN D AR BY MARTIN DOYLE. SIMPKIN AND MARSHALL. The name of Martin Doyle attached to any publi- cation connected with agriculture or gardening, is in itself sufficient to ensure its worth. The cultivator of flowers will find this little work invaluable. BECHER's ANTI-TAUPER system SIMPKIN AND MARSHALL. A new and enlarged edition of this pamphlet has recently appeared, giving a full description of the system adopted in the management of the poor at Southwell. Every person connected with the alFairs of the poor should read it attentivel3% TITHES OR NO TITHES EFFINGHAM WILSON. A third edition of this brochure, by Mr, George Colegate, has recently been published, and as the subject of Tithes is now before the legislature, and an object of great attraction, we strorigly recommend it to the notice of our readers. ON THE IMPORTANT DISCOVERY OF THE DECOM- POSITION OF COMMON SALT, FOR THE PURPOSES OF MANURE BY HENRY KEMP, RIDGWAY. The prepared salt which Mr. Kemp recommends strongly, and which the experiments he relates war- rant him in so doing, differs from the common or un- prepared salt, by having undergone a process whereby the soda contained in it is set free, and the muriatic acid neutralized. Mr. Kemp states that by the appli- cation often shillings' v/orth oi prepared salt per acre, a larger quantity of wheat will be produced, than from the ordinary quantity of farm yard manure. perfectly competent to offer an opinion of some weight on their respective values. He goes into the history of the use of salt as manure, having been led to entertain sanguine expectations as to the results of its use — expectations in which he was disappointed ; and he says, " It was in conse- quence of the great dissatisfaction which I ex- perienced, after repeated experiments to ascertain its efficiency, that I was induced to attempt the de- composition of it ; and for the complete success which attended my efforts 1 am indebted to the failure of all those hopes I had previously enter- tained that salt had only to be applied to the ground to establish an important character as a great fructifier of it." He enters largely into an inquiry as to the benefits and disadvantages attending the use of unprepared salt for agricultural purposes ; and then points out the highly gratifying results of his e.xpcriments with decomposed salt, which he thus describes : — " With prepared salt an acre can be manured for ten shillings, and land that under a good ordinary manuring with yard dung, produces some twenty or rather more bushels of wheat, will, with decomposed salt, yield a return of from thirty-five to forty bushels." — " Nearly all the varieties of jjlants, known as agricultural, have been submitted to its action, and without any exception that I am aware of, have fully demon- strated its great stimulating powers. Corn, pulse, roots, and grass, have all attested by their great luxuriance and increased produce, the force a,nd energy of this manure. The multiplied varieties of the cuUinary and flower garden have also bnrne witness to the general efficacy of prepared salt." A discovery that offers to the farmer such great advantages as those that attend on manure acciuir- able at less than one-fourth of the customary cost, and producing a crop larger by one-third than any other stimulant, must surely be worthy the atten- tion of every agriculturist, and its operation must become a matter of essential moment. NEW MANURE. Mr. Henry Kemp, of Dorsetshire, has just pub- lished " An Address to the Owners and Occupiers of Land on the important discovery of the decom- position of Common Salt for the purposes of Ma- nure." It has been well said, that " the man who makes two blades of grass grow where only one grew before, is a benefactor to his country ;" and at the present period, when the agriculture of Eng- land languishes under a degree of distress wholly unparalleled, any proposition that holds out a fair prospect of meliorating the condition of the far- mers— any plan by which their land- may be made to yield a superior crop at a less cost of prepara- tion, is entitled to serious considei'ation. The article of manure is one of great moment to the farmer, and no small portion of capital is frequent- ly expended in procuring it. The discovery, theiefore, by Mr. Kemp, that by a process for the decomposition of common salt, he can procure a manure of the most fructifying nature, "whereby an acre of land is prepared for the reception of any crop at a cost of ten shillings only" — we believe about one-fourth of the average cost of serviceable manure — is certainly one of vast importance. In this little treatise on the subject, Mr. Kemp argues that the lands in England, generally speaking, are capable of much greater fertility than they at pre- sent display, were they properly manured and the due rotation of crops constantly observed ; and he then proceeds in a very practical manner, to investigate the relative merits of the various species of manure now in use. It seems that he has made repeated and extensive trials of all these, and is MIGRATION OF ANIMALS. The migration of certain animals, at particular sea-, sons, from one country to another. In search of a cli- mate or district congenial to their habits, though oc- casionally made a subject of dispute, is now a well- established fact, and forms one of the most lemarkable phenomena in natural history. It has been observed that insects, bats, and some other species of animals, lay themselves up in a torpid state in concealed situa- tions, where they slumber during the winter til the return of fine weather ; but this circumstance does not affect the subsistence of migration, which has been too frequentlj observed to be made a subject of doubt. Migration takes place with quadrupeds, fishes, birds and insects. As to the first, it does not appear that any of them migrate periodically and regularly, like many species of fish and birds, for which a suffi- cient reason may be found in the almost uninterrupted passage which air and water permit, whilst the laud offers many impediments to change of place. Yet some quadrupeds are suddenly seized by the desire of migration. The lemming rat, which is found in the northern parts of Europe, migrates at irregular pe- riods, when a severe winter is approaching, in incre- dible numbers, and always in a straight line, stopping not for rivers or lakes. Some other quadrupeds, also, occasionally move in large numbers, and for consider- able distances ; but these expeditions do not take place at regular periods, and se«m to be owing to aci 126 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. cidental causes. The buffaloes (properly bisons) in the western wilds of North America, and the wild horses, sometimes take long journeys in large bodies. Some fishes, also, remove into warmer situations dur- ino- winter; thus the salmon leaves the rivers and shores, on the approach of winter, to seek the warmer waters of the deep sea. Other fish do the same. The codfish move in great numbers, about the montli of May, from the northern seas towards Newfoundland. The shoals of herrings, which periodically traverse the ocean, are innumerable. The same is the case with the mackerel, pilchard, anchovy, &c. Ttiat in- sects migrate, is well known — for instance, locusts, ants, &c. — and move with surprising oi)stinacy, in a given direction. The animals, however, with whose migrations man, is most familiar, and which appear to migrate most recrularly, are some species of birds. The factswhich are known relative to this point are very curious, and yet leave a vast field for interesting observation. Some birds regularly return, after a certain absence, not only to the same country, but to the same spot where they built their nests before, or where they were bred. Many storks, which become half tame in Germany, have been marked, and found to return regularly to their old nests, built on a wheel, which the peasants of that country, particularly in the north, place for that purpose, on '.he corner of the roofs of their houses. The same is related of swallows, and other birds of passage. Other birds do not return to a particalar country, but travel, according to circumstances, from one to another. Among the former are some which remain in the country ot their nativity only as long as is necessary to breed and bring up their young ; others are absent but for a very short time. The loriot re- mains but three months in the middle regions of Europe, whilst the lark is absent but for a very sliort time. Mr. Brehm, a German, has collected many interesting facts respecting the birds of passage. Ge- nerally speaking, they are determined as to the place where they build their nests, by the means of subsist- ence which they find, as, for instance, the grosbeak, o-oldfinch, pigeons, cranes, landrails, several species of herons, woodcock, geese, ducks. In 1819, the fruit of the pine-tree being scarce in the north of Europe, whilst it was very abundant 'n the central parts, large numbers of the crossbill, which chiefly lives upon tiiis food, were found in the latter regions. Hunters, and other people living much in the open air, know that certain birds do not migrate, except on the approach of a severe winter. How are these birds led to migrate at such seasons t The general and easy answer is, by instinct. But what is instinct ? Certainly we cannot mean, by this term, a constant direct interposition of Providence, which drives the birds away because a severe winter is coming on. In- stinct, whatever it may be, must be guided by general laws. In what way, however, the birds are led to guard against the severity of the approaching sea- son, whether by peculiar sensibility to the causes from which its severity will proceed, or in other ways, we know not. It has been maintained that much of the conduct of animals necessarily implies reflection. The vicissitudes of the atmosphere, on the arrival of migrating time, have also a great influence upon them. Most birds perform their migration during the night ; some species, however, by day. Others stop not either by day or night. To the class which fly by day belong the birds of prey which obtain their food by (lay — the crow, pie, titmouse, wren, woodpecker, chaffinch, goldfinch, lark, swallow, and some others. Those which travel by night are the owl, blackbird, &c., and a great number of aquatic birds. Those which stop not, day or night, are the heron, wagtails yellow-hammer, plover, stork, crane, vv'ildgoose, swan. It is very remarkable that individuals of those specie, which travel day and night, and which, by some cause, are prevented from migrating, remain, during all the time of the migration of their species, awakes and only occupy themselves with taking food. These birds like particularly to travel in bright moonlight. Many birds obtain their food on the wing. The swallows, traversing the sea, catch insects, and fishing birds catch fish, whilst they continue their journey. If the titmouse, wren, woodpecker, and pie, rest for some time on the branches of trees, they soon resume their flight, after having fed. Those birds which ha- bitually alight on spots where they find nourishment in abundance, never remain longer than two days in succession, if nothing opposes the continuance of their flight. It is a CL.rious fact that at these times many birds utter cries such as they are never heard to make at any other time. Unless obliged by fogs to keep near the ground, birds generally fly very high during their migration. Of all migrating birds, the cranes are perhaps the most remarkable. They seem to be most endowed with foresight. They call each other by certain cries, several days before they depart, ae- semble, and make a great noise, as if consulting ; after which, they range themselves in two lines, form- ing an angle, at the vertex of which is the leader, who appears to exercise authority and give orders, for instance, to form a circle in a tempest, or be watch- ful if eagles approach, &c. ; he also gives the sign to descend and take food. If he is tired, he places him- self at the end of the line, and the bird next behind him takes his place. They utter, daring the night, more piercing cries than during the day, and it seems as if orders and answers were given. Wild geese and ducks travel in a similar way. To enable birds to fly with ease, and to continue long on the wing, they must fly against the wind, in which respect flying is directly opposite to sailing. Sportsmen are well acquainted with this fact. If the wind is unfavourable for a time, the migration is retarded, yet never en- tiiely given up, only the birds arrive much leaner, being fatigued by their efforts. It is astonishing how tender birds, as the linget, for instance, set out from tke extremity of Norway, and brave a long journey even over the ocean. The quails, which are heavy in their flight, wait on the shores of the Mediterranean, often a long time, for a favourable wind, of which they immediately avail themselves, halting on all the islands. If the wind suddenly changes, many are drowned in the sea. White has remarked, in his Natural History of Sel- borne, that little stress may be laid on the difliculty and hazard that birds m.ust run in their migrations, by reason of vast oceans, cross winds, &c., because , says he, if we reflect, a bird may travel from England to the equator without launching out or exposing it- self to boundless seas, and that by crossing the British Channel at Dover and the Mediterranean at Gibral- tar ; thus selecting the narrowest points of passage. It is, however, certain that migrating birds in their fli"ht are often subject both to disasters and consi- derable fatigue. This indeed has been instanced by the settling of birds in an exhausted state on the rig- ging and decks of vessels at sea. Certain birds, as the moorhen, rail, &c., being unable to fly for any con- siderable distance, travel partly on foot. Some even (as the great hawk, or penguin, diver, and guillemot^ THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 127 migrate by water. Ornithologists have observed, that, in Europe, biids migrate in autumn to the south- west, and in spring towards ihe north east ; yet the courses of rivers and chains of mountains exercise considerable influence on the direction of tlieir flight. It is remarkable, also, that the young of certain spe- cies Jo not make the same jouinev as the old birds ; they go more to the soutli, so that it is very common to find, in the south of Europe, only the young birds of a certain sptuies, whilst the older ones remain more to the noitii. In other species, the females go farther south. It was formerly believed that the birds of the tropical regions never migrate, and that they never pass the line ; but Humboldt has shown that this is not the case. He observed, moreover, that the migration there took place with the periodical rise of rivers. BRIGHT THOUGHTS FOR DARK HOURS. I would I were a fairy, as light as falling snows, To do whate'ei my fancy bade— to wander where I chose ; I'd visit many a pleasant spot — a merry life I'd lead, With all of bright and beautiful to serve me r.t my need. I'd never give a single thought to misery or care — My heart should have the gladness of a wild bird in the air — And if perchance a tempest should gather in the sky, I'd crouch beneath a lilv-bell until the cloud passed by. The violet — the cowslip — the little warbling bee. That cannot for his life withhold the music of his glee— The butterfly, that silent thing of many gorgeous dyes. The denizen of garden realms — a pilgrim of the skies — The starry-twinkling glowworm, that, like a drop of dew. Sheds faintly on the trembling grass a line of emerald hue — The daisy and the daffodil — the small gem on the lea — Of these I'd make my playmates, and the.«e my friends should be ! I'd hie me to the greenwood — I'd sit me down and sing, Beneath the quiet curtain of the nightingale's soft wing ! My pillow should be rose leaves without a single thorn, And there I'd chant my roundelay until the blush of morn. The world is full of sorrows — on every side I see Shadow instead of sunlight, and grief instead of glee ; Or if I hear the trumpet-voice of Pleasure cleave the sky. The mournful echo. Sadness, is certain to reply. O, I would I were a Fairy, as liglit as falling snows, To do whate'er my Fancy bade — to wander where I chose ; I'd visit many a sunny spot — and far away I'd flee Where crime and Folly seldom come — beneath the crest tree. The Cocoa-nut Tree of Ceylon, its va- rious Uses. — From Columbo to Tangalle, a dis- tance of one hundred miles along the sea shore, plan- tations of cinnamon amidst groves of cocoa-nut trees, skirt the whole coast for ten miles from the bordering of the tide, which laves the very roots of tho8« grace- ful and indispensable palms, the cocoa-nut being, in reality, the most valuable product of the island. I recollect hearing in Ceylon an enumeration of nine- ty-nine distinct articles made from this tree; among the , principal were — 1. Arrack (the spirit under this name, made from the cocoa-nut blossonf;, is far su- perior to the Eatavian arrack made from rice) which is distilled from the sweet juice of the incised flower- stock, termed, 2. Toddy, in itself a delicious whole- some beverage, when drank fresh drawn before the morning sun has caused fermentation to commence. 3. Jaghery^ a coarse, strong grained, but peculiar flavoured sugar, (well adapted for crystalization or refining in England,) made in abundance from toddy. 4. Vinegar, equal to any made from white wine, also prepared from the toddy, and used in making exqui- site 5. Picldes from the young shoots, 1 6, Coir or ropes, so strong and elastic, and having the peculiar property of being best preserved for use in sea water ; (hence their adaptation for mooring, and other pur- poses, to which they are now applied in Mauritius har- bour and elsewhere, as also for running rigging in the Indian shipping.) 7. Brushes and brooms of various descriptions. 8. Matting of excellent quali- ty. 9. Rafters for houses. 10. Oil of much value, and now used in England for candles as well as lamps. 11. Gatters, or water spouts, or convey- ances, for which the hollow stem or trunk is so well adapted. 12. Thatching for the peasantry, the shady broad leaf being admirably suited for the pur- pose. To particularise further would, however, be tedious ; suffice it to say, tl;at the natives of the Mal- iJive islands send an annual embassy to Ceylon, the boats conveying whom are entirely prepared from this tree, the persons composing the embassy, clothed and fed on its products, and the numerous presents for the governor of Ceylon, are all manufactured from this queen of the Tpa.\ms. — Montgomery Martin's His- tory of the British Colonies. Agriculture. — Mr. Harvey Wyat, of Acton Hill, near Stafford, has just published a work on the present state of the different classes of the landed in- terest ; on the causes of the distress which exists among the farmers and labourers ; and on the means by which this distress may be mitigated and removed. These are most important subjects, and are treated of in a most clear and able manner. The question of the Corn Laws is also fully discussed, and the disastrous effects which must follow their removal forcibly pointed out. There is at present growing, in the garden of the Lord Bishop of Durham, at Auckland Castle, an apple tree, of the Ribstone Pippin kind, one half of which is in full blow, and the other half bearing apples, which measure from 4 to 4§ inches m circum- ference ! The tree has never been grafted, and is stand- ing against a wall in the open air. Skinless Oats. — A new species of skinless oat, imported from Rotterdam, but coming originally from a remote distiict of China, has lately been in- troduced witli success, appearing to agree with our climate. Both the produce and quality is said to be superior to any giain hitherto grown in this country ; and so nutritious is it, that one peck, as horse corn, goes farther than three pecks of common oats. 128 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — Allow me to thank you as an individual who may, with numerous others, be benefited by your making known to this neighbourhood a reme- dy against the baneful attacks of the turnip fly ; the cause of so much anxiety at this season of the year to every farmer. I trust it will be generally tried, being both cheap and of little trouble, and I sliould be glad that the results of numerous experi- ments may be communicated to you at the end of the season, that you may make known in your widely circulating journal their efficiency or failure. Whilst on the subject of turnips, I beg leave to call the attention of your agricultural readers to the following abstract from the Quarterly Journal of Agriculture, as the result of turnip cultivation with little tillage. The farmer making the com- munication having but little manure and not liking the expense of bones, determined to use what ma- nure he might make with the greatest care, and for that purpose gottogether ditchings, earth, &c., which he repeatedly turned over, mixingwiththem the ma- nure he made,andaU the urine he could collect from hiscow-shed,&c.,andgot ready for the turnip season five single horse cart loads per acre. He prepared his land in the usual way, laying it up in ridges, and then set to work a man and two women or girls, the man making, with a large dibble made of hard wood, holes nine inches asunder on the top of the ridges, pressing down the dibble with his foot, and, tlie manure being laid conveniently, one of the women followed with a basket-full, and put a handful into each hole, the other followed with a small bag of turnip seed, and putting with her finger and thumb three or more seeds on the top of the manure, then drew a little earth over it. The farmer states his crop was so good that he pulled off a third or more of the turnips before putting on sheep to eat them off, and that many neighbours having witnessed the success of his plan, intended following the example set them. The above abridgment of Mr. Hugh Munro's account will be readily understood by any practical agriculturist; its merit consists in the great economy of manure, and bringing the young turnip plant immediately in contact with its sup- port. The quantity of manure consumed in the regular way of growing turnips deters many from attempt- ing them, and more from an extended cultivation of them, which would be obviated by following the above plan, which is also recommended byaffording an object for useful labour. If, in your crowded columns, you can spare room for this detail, I believe it will be of service to num- bers, and thereby attain what you wish, as well as AGRICOLUS. I-eeds, May 13, 1834. Botanical Curiosity. — The air-plant of China, long known to Europeans by the drawings of the Chinese, and celebrated for the splendour of its flowers and the fragrance of its perfume, has for some time been cultivated in the stoves of this country, but no means could be discovered for making it flower till a new method was pursued by the gardener of his Majesty, which has ultimately proved successful. Under this mode of treatment a branch of blossoms has recently been produced, between two and three feet long, and composed of some hundreds of large flowers, resplendent with scarlet and yellow, the plant has the remarkable property of living wholly upon air. It is sus- pended by the Chinese from the ceilings of their rooms, which are thus adorned by its beauty, and perfumed by its fragrance. The value of mere bread, in very large quantities, is not so great as many are disposed to think it. But nevertheless, as a land-owner, I wish to see corn as largely imported, and bread as cheaply sold, as it can be for the benefit of the labouring classes gene- rally ; and I believe it to be my interest, as well as that of the country generally, that it should be to this extent imporled ; for, if the manufacturer can obtain good wages, he will purchase much animal food ; and with that my estates can supply him, with more advantage to me, than with corn. But I fear that the labouring manufacturer greatly overrates the value of a foreign market, to him, and particularly of that market, the continent of Europe, and chiefly the Russian dominions,' from which alone cheap corn can be received. Such may greatly benefit the national creditor, and the mortgagee, and the annui- tant of every description, and the importing merchant, and perhaps the master manufacturer ; but, though it may possibly, in spite of Foreign or British mercantile speculation, be purchased by the labouring manu- facturer with little money, it will, I fear, be paid for, by him, with a great deal of labour; and I cannot conceive how any person can believe that the price of that, or any other article, which must be caused to fluctuate by the state of other countries, can be a proper standard by which' the titheable produce of England of every kind can be estimated with any- thing approaching accuracy. Every attempt to make it so, must and will prove totally abortive. It ap- pears to me on the contrary, extremely easy to cal- culate how many pounds of meat of average quality, will afford an equivalent for the tithe of any given portion of ground, under a fair state of culture. — T. A. Kniirht, Esq., upon the Necessity of a Commu- tation of Tithes, Africa can supply, to any extent, naval timber, at half the price at which it can be raised in England ; and such timber would be improved if it were given, after being partly converted, twenty years to season ; or it might, I believe, be submerged in sea water, during the same period, without much injury. The same country, the banks of the Niger, might, I do not doubt, be made in a few years to supply hemp to any extent : for a similar article, and in quality much the superior, the New Zealand flax, has been im- ported into England, in" considerable quantities, and has even found its way into the shops of small coun- try towns. Yet the inliabitant of the banks of the Niger is greatly more advanced in civilization, and better adapted to cultivate the soil, for any purpose, than the fierce and ungoverned, and ungovernable savage of New Zealand, The inhabitants of Africa, would, to a considerable extent, take Manchester goods in exchange, and cutlery, and fire-arms, to a great extent ; and benefit, as well as injury, might arise to Africa from the- introduction of superior mihtary weapons, for in that country, conquest must precede civilization. I, of course, consider the Royal forests as little better than unprofitable wastes, and, in some respects, worse. — lb. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 129 THE EXILE'S SONG OF SPRING. Thou art smiling around me — ah I even here Thy glorious treasures awake — appear ; To the captive's prison thou fain wouldst bring A light from thy sunbeam, thou beautiful Spring. The forest hath burst into freshness and bloom, And little ie left of its wintery gloom ; T/iat little how sad, and how mighty its part, 'Tis a thing that will pass not, — a gloom from my heart. The flower in this strange wild land is springing, And its sweet perfume to the breeze is flinging j But its leaf, as it shook off' the morning dew. Had a something of shadow, — a darken'd hue. The bii'd singeth well as it rises on high, Soaring from earth to the realms of the sky ; Butits ^"^est note has no tone for me, Ah ! it sev us not the joyous song oi the free. Thou didst not come thus to my childhood's home. Bright Spring, in that land where I may not roam ; I know thou art shining all lovely there. With none of the sadness that here thou dost wear. I know thou art decking that favour'd shore, With blessings unnumbered, all born from thy store ; The sons of proud freedom are welcoming thee — There comes not a spiing but to those that are free, Kimbolton. B. B. B. DEVON AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. The Fifth Exhibition of this society was held on Tuesday the 20th of May, in the Castle Yard, Exeter. As the show was confined to Horses, Sheep, and Pigs, it was not so large as on former occa- sions, but the quality of the animals exhibited was exceedingly good, and drew a large attendance of the Gentlemen and Yeomanry. Horses. — These noble and useful animals were exhibited on Northernhay. As no thorough-bred horses could be shown for a prize, owing to the so- ciety possessing the celebrated horse Elephant, those exhibited were of the cart breed, with the exception of two good half-breds, Nimrod, the pro- perty of Mr. Radmore, of Thorverton, and Young Lambtonian, belonging to Mr. Jarman, of y iarl- stone. Those competing for the prizes were the following, of which we took notice in our progress through the walk. Hero, the property of Mr. Ellis, Sandford, a grey, and a very serviceable ani- mal, well calculated to produce good stock for the farmer. — Young Tucker, a compact and very power- ful black horse, the property of Mr. Were, of Broadclist. — Briton, a grey, the property of Mr. S. Pridham, Cheriton Fitzpaine, attracted much notice, from his immense strength, and general compact make ; he appeared a great favourite of the farmers. — Farmer's Darling, a fine grey, seven- teen hands high, belonging to Mr. S. Kingdon, of Thorverton. — Bruce, the property of the hon. New- ton Fellowes, whose sire was the noted " Scotch Grey." This grey horse was remarkable for com- bining strength, with very clean legs and good ac- tion ; he appeared admirably calculated for the road, being as nimble as a pony. — Matchless, ahay horse seventeen hands high, with a good shoulder, and possessing other valuable qualities, belonging to Mr. Woodgate, of Shobrooke. The mares and colts were shown in the castle yard, being chiefly good useful animals for farmers ; some of the colts were very promising. Sheep— Devon can now we think challenge for the breed of sheep, those counties which have beeu long famed for superiority in this description of stock. The quality of the sheep exhibited on this occasion, was, in every respect, superior to what we have ever before witnessed, and called forth the admiration of all who saw them. There were be- tween thirty and forty hog rams, and about twenty from two to four years old, which for size and symmetry reflected the greatest ci-edit on the breeders. Several pens of ewes and lambs of a most superior quality, attracted much notice ; many of the lambs being, for their age, of a most extraordinary size. The pens of ewe hogs, shorn, with a sample of wool left, were of a quality al- most surpassing the power of description, it being necessary to see them to form an accurate idea of their quality and the great perfection of their breed. A few South Down ewes and lambs, from the flock of Sir L. V. Palk, Bart, were noticed for the large and fine quality of the lambs. As extra stock, we observed some shorn rams, from the flocks of Mr. Reynolds, sen. and jun., Thorverton, and Mr. Whipple, of Alphington, the excellence of which must be a high recommendation to breeders ; there were also two most exlraordinary fat three- year old wethers, the property of Mr. Turner, of Exminster Barton, one of which was considered to weigh nearly 60 lbs. a quarter. One of the trees was ornamented with the carcase of a three- year old wether-sheep, the property of Mr. Thomas Reynolds, jun., of Crediton ; it was of the enor- mous weight of 61§ lbs. per quarter, and was six inches through at the breasts. We refer to the prize list for the names of those who exhibited the best specimens, and to the testimony of Mr. Smith, of Derbyshire, at the dinner, as proof of the ge- neral superiority of the sheep. Pigs. — Of these animals the number |exhibited was not large, but the boars were the specimens of high proof, which induced many strangers to in- quire after their stock, with intent to purchase, and thereby improve the breed in distant counties. A few sows with their sucking pigs, were also ex- hibited as extra stock. Having finished our survey of the stock, we were highly delighted with witnessing that profit- able and pleasing part of agricultural pursuits. Sheep Shearing. There were thirty-four shearers engaged at one time, twenty-one of whom were competing for the prizes ; the whole did their work with alacrity, endeavouring to rival each other in the neatness and dexterity of the operation. It was altogether an highly interesting sight. THE DINNER. Upwards of 180 of the Gentlemen and Yeoman- ry of Devon, attended the dinner at the large room, at Cockram's New London Inn, which was served up in excellent style.— Samuel Trehawke Kekewich, Esq., took the chair, and was sup- ported, at the head of the right-hand table, by Sir H. Davie, Bart., and at the left, by Sir T. D. Ac- land, Bart. The duties of Vice-President were ably discharged by Dr. Shapter. The cloth being removed. Non Nobis Domine was sung in excellent style by Messrs. G. and T.Risdon, Tootell, and Ware, of the Cathedral Choir. The Chairman then gave " The King" which was drank with three times three and one cheer more. " The Queen and Royal Family" succeeded with similar honours. " The Bishop and Clergy of the Diocese," with three times three. "The Navy and Army of England, and as they have vanquished all other nations in war, may they rival them in the arts of peace." {Three Cheers.) K 130 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Glee. — Briton's best lulwarJct. — By the Choris- ters. The Chairman said that the next toast he had to propose was one which was not unaccompanied with some regret, as the individual to whom it alluded had not been able to attend at their cou- vival meetings — their worthy and excellent Presi- dent, Earl Fortescue, of whom he would say that he combined with the highest ranlc the character of a liberal landlord and an honest man. — {Branh amidst loud Cheers.) The Chairman said he rose for the purpose of proposing a toast more immediately connected with the object of the meeting, and in doing so he ought to apologise to the numerous and respect- able company present, as he was but little acquaint- ed with agriculture, for having undertaken to take the chair that day. {Loud and general cries of " No, no.") He need not tell them that the So- ciety was not established by the gentlemen, but by those who took a greater interest in the subject, the practical farmers. (Cheers.) It was afterwards supported, however, by the gentlemen, of which they had evidence in the persons who now appeared among them. The Society was formed because it was thought that improvement was required in the county, and because it was not wished that Devon should be behind hand. Another reason for the establishment of the Society was because it was wished that some means might be adopted by which the honest and industrious labourer might be rewarded. He might appeal to the exhibition that day — an exhibition of which the county of Devon might well be proud — as a proof that the Society had succeeded; and he hoped its sup- porters would continue the same steady course they had observed, by which it could not fail to go on increasing in strength and usefulness. If he was asked if the Society had attained to all he de- sired, he would say, no, for that could not be ex- pected from a Society of three years growth, and he was therefore desirous to see it still further supported ; his wish was that the gentry, landlords and tenants in all parts of Devon may be united in its support — he desired to see the agriculturists from the North and South — all the yeomanry of the county, from its forests to its extremest rivers, upholding it. (Loud Cheers.) Some objections had been made to this Society out of doors, which he thought it right to mention here. It had been said that this Society would enable the gentlemen to find out the secrets of farming ; he did not know what those secrets were, but he believed it would be very difficult for gentlemen to find out by what means, at present, agriculture could be carried on with any chance of reaping a profit. — (Long continued cries of" Hear, hear, hear." J He, however, wished gentlemen to study agriculture, for amusement if they pleased, because it would be the means of inducing them to reside on their estates. (Hear, hear,) If there was one thing that distinguished this country more than another, it was the residence of the gentry on their estates, by which the greatest possible good was done, as well for the tenantry as the labourers. (Loud Cheers.) Such, indeed, was the benefit effected by gentlemen residing on their estates, that it might be well termed the luxury of doing good. (Great Cheering.) Another objection he had heard against the Society was, that although it was useful in eflFecting improvement in the cattle and the gene- ral business of agriculture, there was a political object lurking in it. {Loud cries of " no, no.") Now if it was meant by this that they had any other object than that of doing general good to the county, which might be termed a political object, he disclaimed it. (Cheers.) If it was meant, by a " political object" that they were a political party, he distinctly denied it. (Immense Cheering.) Had such been the case he would never have joined the Society — they would not have seen him in the chair on this occasion. (Hear, hear.) There was, however, one party in the Society which he hoped would always be found in it — a party of honest men — (cheers) — who, laying aside their peculiar differences of opinion on politics or other matters, had joined together to raise the character of their own county, and, by improving agricul- ture, to benefit the nation at large — to diffuse hap- piness and prosperity among all classes, from the palace of the King to the cottage of the peasant. (Immense applause.) He hoped the Society would long continue to promote the public good, to diffuse blessings around them, which must add to the national character, and he hoped to the na- tional morality and virtue. (Great applame.) The hon. gentleman concluded a most eloquent address by proposing " Prosperity to the Devon Agricul- tural Society," which was drank with three times three, and continued cheering. Mr. Davy, of Heavitree, rose and said — Will the meeting give me leave to express my thanks, my gratitude, to Mr. Kekewich, for the excellent, the noble speech he has just delivered? (Loud Cheers.) Will the meeting give me leave to pro- pose the health of Mr. Kekewich, for the manly and noble English sentiments he has just express- ed ? (Drank amidst immense cheering.) Glee — Foresters sound the cheerful horn. Mr. Kekewich returned thanks to Mr. Davy and the meeting in a flow of touching eloquence, and proceeding again to notice the object and nature of the society, said he rejoiced in meeting the party that day — he rejoiced in the Exhibition, because he saw in it a mark of improvement in his native county, which not only redounded to their credit, but would add to the national pros- perity (Cheers). He wished, as an Englishman, to see Agriculture flourish, and although they had shown by the manner in which they noticed some remarks he had before made, that it was at pre- sent depressed ; yet he did not despair, he felt assured that Agriculture, upon which depended the stability of all the best interests of the coun- try, would rise again — (cheers) — and amidst all the chances and changes it might undergo, that it would continue, as it ever had been, the main prop of their national greatness. (Cheers.) With respect to the Devon Agricultural Society, he was one of the first to join it, and would be one of the last to leave it. He would give them " Success to Agricultui'e." — Drank amidst loud cheering. "The health of the Judges," was then proposed by the Chairman, who said he could bear his testimony to the fact that they had been selected with the greatest impartiality. One of the judges for sheep, which was the most important part of the show, came from Derby, where, and in other counties, he was known as an eminent agricul- turist; he had kindly consented to come that great distance to serve the Society, for which he was justly entitled to their warmest gratitude. (Cheers.) Another was a distinguished agricul- turist of the sister county, Cornwall ; and the third, a resident in their own county, was so well known for his good judgment and integrity, that no one would object to him. (Cheers.) He assured them that, with regard to the sheep, the judges had had a most difficult task to perform, for so near were sonie of them in quality, that they had THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 131 not decided as to their judgment till after the dinner had commenced. They had given the sub- ject their utmost consideration, and he hoped their decision would be satisfactory. " The Health of the Judges" — drank with three times three. Judges. — For Horses, Benj, Tucker Radford, Esq., Montpelier, St David's Exeter ; Mr. James Quartly, Molland ; and Mr. Ellis Taylor, Newton Poppleford. — For Sheep, Mr. William Smith, of Swarkstone Lows, near Derby, late of Dishley, well known as one of the best judges of Farming Stock, and greatest Breeders in England ; Mr. Matthew Andrew Doble, of Barteliver, near Gram- pound, Cornwall, and Mr. John Broom, of Hol- come Barton, Ottery St. Mary. — For Pigs, James Tanner, Esq., Kingsnympton Park ; Mr. James Sti'ong, Powhay, Exeter ; and Mr. Thomas Skin- ner, Great Holwell, Tiverton. — For Sheep-shearers, Mr. Charles Drew, Bradninch ; Mr. Richard Mortimore, Silverton ; Mr. Richard Pratt, Al- phington. Mr. Dymond, the Secretary, then read the fol- lowing List of Premiums : — HORSES: Mr. S. Pridham, of Cheriton Fitzpaine, the best Cart Stallion 10 10 0 Hon. N. Fellowes, Eggesford, the second best ditto 5 5 0 SHEEP: Mr. J. Jarman, of Colebroke, the best Ram, 2 years old and upwards 10 10 0 — Reynolds, of Raddan Court, Thover- ton, the second best 5 5 0 — Ditto, of ditto, the best Hog ditto 10 10 0 — John Wippel, ofExminster, the second best ditto 5 5 0 — P. Francis, of Crediton, the best pen of not less than Ten Ewes and Lambs, in their wool 5 5 0 — S. Drew, of Exminster, the second best ditto 3 3 0 — John Upham, of Sandford, the best pen of not less than Ten Ewe Hogs, shorn, but with a sample of wool on the animal 5 5 0 — Thomas Reynolds, Jun. of Crediton, the second best do 3 PIGS: — • Mr. James Beedle, of Templeton, the best Boar 5 — • Mr. Bennett, of Newton St. Cyres, the second best ditto 3 — Ditto, of ditto, the best breeding sow. . 3 Rev. Mr. Arundle, Cheriton Fitzpaine, the second best ditto 2 3 0 5 0 2 0 SHEEP SHEARERS: Best Sheep Shearer — Edmund Fry, Jun, Shearer for Mr. G. Turner 2 2 0 Second best — John Palmer, Shearer for Mr. J. Bodley 1 1 0 Third best — Geo. Upright, Shearer for Mr. R. Gibbings 0 10 6 Fourth best — Geo. Elworthy, Shearer for Mr. G. Gater 0 5 0 Mr. Smith of Dishley in Derbyshire, on behalf of himself and his brother judges, returned thanks. He said he had attended many meetings of the kind in different counties, but never with greater pleasure and satisfaction than he had the present, in Devon. {Cheers.) He was most happy to see the Devonshire gentlemen mixing with their tenantry, an excellent example which he wished he could see followed in his own and some other counties. (Cheers.) With respect to^the exhibi- tion, the sheep had given him the greatest pleasure he had ever felt, (cheers) he had no hesitation in saying, that no county in England could come up to them {immense applause) ; taken altogether, th ey could not, he believed, be equalled. {Cheers.) The health of the successful candidates ^or horses, sheep, and pigs, \ys.% drank respec tive'y ; and Mr. Reynolds and Mr. Jarman returned thanks. Glee. — Wine gives the lover vigour. " The Fleece and our Manufacturers" — with the musical hips. The Chairman noticed that some objection had been made as to the feeding of the prize sheep, which had better be discussed and settled by the Committee on Friday, which was agreed to. It was also stated that the judges had some doubt as to the age of the boar No. 5, and if the owner did not prove to their satisfaction that it had been correctly stated, the prize would be awarded to No. 4. The Chairman, in proposing " Liberal landlords and good Tenants," said, he was quite sure, when he looked around him, that there were plenty of the latter present, {cheers) and he did not think there could be much doubt as to the former, seeing as he did, so many landholders present, including his excellent friends on h's right and left. Sir Humphrey Davie and Sir Thomas Acland. {A simultaneous burst of tremendous cheering, which lasted several minutes, mingled with loud cries of " Sir Thomas Acland, " " Sir Humphrey Davie.") The chairman proceeded to eulogise the characters of the worthy baronets, observing, that when he rnentioned such names, he might say they would sink or swim with their tenants, and do all the good they could for agriculture. {Cheers.) The toast was drank, coupled with the health of Sir T. Acland, and Sir H. Davie, amidst deafening shouts of applause. Sir H. Davie having intimated his desire that his friend Sir Thomas should take the precedence in returning thanks, Sir T. Acland rose, and was greeted with en- thusiastic cheers. The hon. Bart, then expressed his acknowledgments to the meeting, with that powerful, manly, and soul-stirring eloquence for which he has been long distinguished. The whole meeting were carried away with the gallant, chi- valrous, and good old English feeling displayed by the hon. Baronet, who was hailed by such peals of cheering as we have seldom, if ever, before heard ; and having been ourselves affected by the potent wand of the Killerton enchanter, our notes are not sufficiently full, if our space would permit, to do ample justice to the speech delivered by the hon. Baronet. We shall, therefore, only state that Sir Thomas commenced by paying a well-merited compliment to the character of his amiable friend. Sir H. Davie, as a liberal landlord, a benevolent man, and an excellent country gentleman ; he pro- ceeded to thank the meeting on his own behalf, observing that he entirely agreed with what had fallen from their regular president, who had so elequently shown that no man of ordinary feeling could disguise his grateful sense of the approbation of his fellow-countrymen and neighbours — he, indeed, must be a strange man who could shut up his heart, and not respond to such cordial greeting as he had received. With respect to the objects and benefits derived from the society, he remarked that the blessings k2 132 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. to be found in this county, which had been often termed a remote part of the country, had not been duly appreciated. He was proud of the Devon Agricultural Society, by which they had evidently obtained success in farming. They had had the testimony of a gentleman from a distant part of the country, who had travelled two hun- di'ed miles (cheers, and cries of Mr. Smith,^ a man who had not been confined to a Peninsula, but had come from the centre of England, from the very heart of this fine and noble country — a gen- tleman who had seen and been acquainted with the celebrated sheep of Leicester, the breed of which had been hitherto considered far superior to any other— yet he had declared the sheep of Devon to have reached a point of excellence which placed them beyond all others. He appealed, then, to this testimony, if a man of Devon was not war- ranted in being proud of his county. His heart warmed when he heard anything said favourable to the cattle, or other produce of his nati ve county ; but he was doubly rejoiced, when he heard the testi- mony cf a gentleman from a distant part of the country in approval of their cordial leeling of the friendly meeting of man and man, of landlord and tenant, in Devon, without reference to rank or party distinction, for the purpose of doing good to each other, and of raising the character of their country. While Devonians, while Englishmen continued thus united, he could never despair of his country. The hon. Bart., in conclusion, said he wished to give a favourite toast, by which his friend, Mr. Smith would witness, he had no doubt, a demonstration of feeling between noblemen and gentlemen, landlords and tenants, aye and the ho- nest labourer too, which would do his heart good — *' The Yeomanry of the county of Devon." — {long continued cheering.) Sir H. Davie rose to return thanks amidst loud and general cheering. He said, after the manner in which his hon. friend. Sir Thomas Aclaad,whose eloquence he could not attempt to follow, had ex- pressed himself, it was unnecessary for him to de- tain the meeting long. He felt gratified that his name had been coupled with an individual whose character, both public and private, had justly en- titled him to be esteemed the pride, the ornament of the county {immense cheering) , and whose ex- ertions in behalf of this Society entitled him to their highest respect. For himself, he could not help feeling proud of the public testimony of re- spect he had received on this occasion ; his hon. friend, he had no doubt, was also proud of the good opinion of his fellow-countrymen. After ex- pressing his determination to proceed in the same course hc»had hitherto adopted, as to his tenantry and in his intercourse with his friends and neigh- bours, the hon Bart, closed by proposing " Live and let live." — Drank with loud cheering. The Chairman said, he would propose the health of a gentleman who had, from the earliest period, taken the most lively interest on behalf of the so- ciety, and who had given a donation of ten guineas out of his own resources, as a prize for the encou- ragement of their staple commodity, bulls— Mr. Sillifant. (Loud cheering.) Mr. Sillifant, in returning thanks, said he had not expected that his hon. friend, the Chair- man, would have alluded to his donation, and he should have rather seen the fruits of his donation before it had been noticed. He could not help be- ing struck with the statement of Mr. Smith, that Agricultural Societies had dwindled away in other parts of the country as agricultural interests had declined, because he thought such would not have been the case if the agriculturists had supported those societies to a greater extent. It had struck him, and he had before noticed it, that all other professions, trades, or callings, had a common centre of union, except the agriculturists, which was a reason why their interests had declined. He was desirous of supporting such societies also be- cause there was a class of men, the peasantry of the kingdom, to whom they were beneficial. He hoped the time was come when the interests of the peasantry would be better understood, for he did not mean to say that they had been neglected ; their interests had only been misunderstood, and he hoped in all the measures which were now un- der deliberation, the interests of the peasantry would be identified with their own. " The Magistrates of the county of Devon, and thanks to them for the use of the Yard." — Drank with great applause. Mr. Sillifant returned thanks. The President said, having noticed one body of men, there was another to whom they were in- debted for having kindly permitted the horses to be shown on Northernhay — the Mayor and Cham- ber of Exeter- — whose healths he proposed should be drank with three times three, coupled with the name of a gentleman who had so ably filled the ofliice of Vice-President, Dr. Shapter. (Loud cheers). — Drank with three times three. Dr. Shapter returned thanks, in very appropriate terms, on behalf of the Mayor and Chamber and himself, concluding by proposing a toast which he was well assured would be received with general enthusiasm — " The Ladies of the County of Devon." — Drank in bumpers, with nine times nine, and " one cheer more." Glee. — Charming Phillis. " The health of the Citizens of Exeter, who have been kind enough to honor the Meeting this day," with loud cheering. Mr. J. Clench, Jun., returned thanks in a very able address. " Mr. John Drew, and the Committee who so judiciously made the arrangements for the exhibi- tion."— (Loud cheers) Mr. Drew acknowledged the toast in proper terms. The Chairman, in a brief eulogium on Mr. Dy- mond's character, proposed the health of their most excellent Secretary, to whom the Society was much indebted for the zeal, activity, diligence, and honesty, with which he had discharged the duties of his office. — {Immense cheering), Mr. Dymond very ably returned thanks, and stated the prizes for Agricultural Implements, as follows : — • " We have inspected the Agricultural Implements exhibited this dag in the Castle Yard, and do atvard the sum of Three Guineas to James Clarke, of Hal- berton, for his Apple Press and portable Cheesy Press," (Signed^ " Baldwin Fulford. " Wm. Cleeve." A variety of other toasts and sentiments were drank, and the business of the meeting went oft' admirably, the party breaking up at an early hour. Great satisfaction was expressed at the capital dinner provided by Mr. Cockram, the good quality of the wines, and the general accommodation ; the activity and attention of the waiters, Bucknell and Southcott, were also noticed by the company. Agricultural Distress. — The Gloucester- shire agricultural petition has been sent to Sir B. W. Guise, Bart., for presentation to the House Com- mons. It contains the names of 3,612 of the princi- pal landowners and farmers of the coutity. THE FARMERS MAGAZINE. 133 A PROPOSAL for a RADICAL REFORM of that PART of the POOR-LAWS which relates to the DISPOSAL and EMPLOY- MENT of the SUPERFLUOUS LA- BOURERS. to the editor of " the farmer's magazine." Sir, 1. I propose, tkat the ordinary poor-rate be levied ("as at present) on the tenantry, and applied solely to the relief of orphans, widows, the sick, aged, and impotent poor. 2. That such relief be administered by paid, and permanent overseers, under the regulation of vestries, in all cases where the amount of relief is not specified bylaw, or by special order from a central board of Commissioners. 3. That relief — unless in case of accident or tem- porary circumstances, shall be given in district work- houses, with land annexed, in order to afford some em- ployment. The amount of out-door relief, in perma- nent cases, to be in some specified proportion less than the expense in the workhouse. 4. That a separate assessment, which might be called ' The public improvement-rate,' shall be levied on the owners of land, houses, &c., including a spe- cified sum ; being as near as may be, a certain per- centage, on the profits of all trades and professions. 5. That the funds be taxed in the same propor- tion ; and the proceeds, together with a grant of money from government, be applied, under the au- thority of Poor-law Commissioners, in the promotion of public works, for the' employment of the surplus labourers — or in aid of emigration, in all parts of the British Isles where such assistance may be found necessary. 6. That the public improvement-rate be applied to such objects of general and lasting utility as are m,ore likely to prove beneficial to the owners of estates ihain to the temporary occupiers : viz. parochial, or district workhouses, gaols, penitentiaries, infirmaries, lunatic asylums, shire-halls, bridges, and all other heads of expense usually defrayed by cotnty rates: also to defray the expense of new valuations of parishes, the support of the families of militia men, poachers, and other prisoners ; all extra expenses on the high- ways beyond or inary repairs, and legal highway duty; and finally to provide employment and support for the whole of the surplus labourers, (including boys above ten years of age) who cannot obtain work for them- selves in trade or agriculture. The mode of putting into execution the various ob- jects of public improvement, above enumerated, so as to produce little injustice to the various parties concerned, might be a matter of some difficulty. To promote this result I would beg to suggest some such regulations as the following : — viz. 7. That, to prevent any undue advantage being gained by the owners of entailed estates, public build- ings be paid for only by way of annuity, of not less than thirty years duration, and all other expensive improvements of estates to be made under a legal claim for remunei-ation from the heir at law.] 8. That landlords be allowed such compensation in their rents as the legislature may think proper, on account of the burden imposed on them in the public improvement-rate — such remuneration only to take effect after one year's experience of the effect of the new regulations; and due consideration being taken of the previous sufferings of the tenantry, on account ^f heing called upon to relieve the superfiupus la- bourers, the legality of which seems never to have been established. 9. That, with the view of lesssening the number of surplus labourers, and in many cases causing them altogether to disappear, the landlords be allowed exemptions from the public improvement-rate for all money by them expended in the improvement of their own land, in any kind of way in which remuneration is not likely to take place under two or three years ; viz. — making new open ditches, or enlarging and deepening old ones, in bogs, &c., (which would be an extensive source of employment in Ireland} throwint^ up farm roads — under-draining of all kinds — includino- the making of draining tiles — digging marl, or chalk for manure, and carrying it on the land, in barrows, &c., — burning lime for manure — making new en- closures, or plantations on waste lands, &c. — filling up, or making new ponds — levelling ant-hills, or other inequalities of the soil — digging stone, gravel, &c. for the use of private roads, or for sale, where the value may not be equal to the expense and damage to the land. In summer, when other employment for men is less available, the landlord may be allowed for half of the expense of the first hoeing of beans, &c., in the case of outgoing tenants, Cwhich might otherwise be quite neglected} — or half the second hoeing, in the case of tenancy at will — two-thirds of the third hoe- ing— and half the pay of boys for hand-weeding the rows of corn, &c., after having been hoed. On the same principle, allowances might be made to landlords advancing money for the promotion of foreign, or home colonization — and for cottage allotments, and other plots of land, to be cultivated by the spade only — and loans in aid of spade husbandry. It will, I believe, scarcely be doubted that such means as the above-mentioned would be alone suffi- cient to remove, at once, a large portion of the curse of indolent pauperism, and its concurrent evils, from agricultural parishes. While, on the other hand, the absence of such re- gulations, and of all effectual encouragement, by law, or otherwise, for the tenantry to improve their farms, the above specifi,ed means of employing superjiuoiis men are almost altogether neglected ; and the labourers con- sequently thrown on the parishes, to the great im- provement of the tenantry, and general demoralization of the poor. Other means, however, of a more public kind, must be resorted to for the effectual employment of surplus labourers ; such as, 10. That an entire new system of highway manage' ment shall take place : the common parochial high- way surveyors having merely the charge of a stipulated number of old men, &c. for filling ruts, &c. and of half, or two-thirds of the common highway duty and composition — the remainder of the men, rates, &c. being assigned to the charge of district surveyors, under the authority of the magistrates, or of the con- tral poor- law Commissioners. 11. That parties of men be employed in deepen- ing ditches — in raising and otherwise repairing, hither-to neglected bye-lanes, &c. in their own pa- rishes— in raising hollows, or lowering hills, on the public roads — in embankments, harbours, rendering rivers navigable, &c. — the work being let by the piece to companies, or individual contractors. 12. That such repairs of parochial and other high- ways, be paid for, in the first instance, from the land- lords' rate, the fund tax, and public grants; but with an extra allowunct of ten, or twenty per cent to the most populous parishes — the allowance to be gXA-i 134 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. dually increased so as finally to equalize the burden. ' 13. That where other means may, for a time, be iinavailable, the superfluous population be supported, and, if practicable, employed in district workhouses, or otherwise, at the discretion of the poor-law Com- missioners. 14. That such children, under ten years of age, as their parents may be deemed unable to keep, be supported in workhouses ; and, if above ten and under sixteen, be apprenticed to farmers, or tradesmen, in tlieir own, or the neighbouring parishes, for one, or more years, as may be deemed convenient ; — not under the despotic, or compulsory plan, but by the ordinary and liberal means of premiums, to be paid out of the public improvement- rate. This would, of course, prevent much indolence and demoralization, which now arises from children, and others, congregating together in great numbers, with- out labour, education, or any kind of control. In order to prevent the facility of obtaining public employment from operating as an inducement to early marriages, &c., regulations may be devised, having a tendency to make employment by individuals more desirable than that offered by the public. Such as — 15. That the grants from government, and the amount of the public rate be limited nearly to theiuants of the present population, — the Irish emigrants being nearly excluded, by provision being made for them at home, in the drainage, enclosure, and cultivation of their own immense bogs. 16. That additional claimants of work, after a specified time, have no other resource but emigration ; — the government, &c, contributing a part of the ex- pense, on condition of the claimant finding the rest, by means of his friends, or his previous accumulations in Saving's Banks, &c. 17. That each applicant for public employment, be required to produce a certificate from his last master, or the overseer, that he has been without work some specified number of days, before his claim be allowed, and then with due regard to character for industry, sobriety, &c.and in case of necessity, re- lieved only by a loan. 18. That, in order to induce young men to let themselves by the year — to seek for work at a distance — and to abstain from very early marriages — they be employed at public works more sparingly than others — with such intervals as may be deemed con- venient. 19. That to induce labourers without incum- brances to lay by money in Savings Banks, and thus promote industry, sobriety and economy, Cwhichare now, in many places, virtues almost forgotten^) an addition often or twenty per cent be made from the public improvement-rate, within certain limits, for money so accumulated. In the prece ling proposal for extending the means of employment for superfluous labourers, I have endeavoured to point out the practicability of super- ceding the coercive luorkhouse scheme, merely by trans- ferring the payment for extra labour of all sorts, from the tenantry to those who must ultimately receive the fruits of it, viz. — the landowners and the public. The plain question to be decided is, — shall all that important class of agricultural, and other improve- ments enumerated in sections 9, 10, 11, &lq.. remain unperformed, as is now too generally the case — because neither the government, nor the owners of land, tvill secure to the tenantry the distant fruits of such labours — nor perform them at their own expencel Either of the above alternatives, I have no doubt, would at any time mediately or immediately have cured nine-tenths of tlie evils of the poor-laws ; which are those result- ing from non-employment of superfluous labourers ; and I regret exceedingly to have now to stale that, neither the one nor the other, form any part or por- tion of the poor-law bill now before the British Le- gislature. The writer of this paper would be much obliged, if either the editor or any of his correspondent.s would point out whatever they may deem eitlier unjust to any party, or otherwise objectionable in the above proposal. I remain. Sir, Your's, &c.. The Author of " The Rights of the Farmer.' TITHE COMMUTATION BILL. ,TO THE EDITOR OF THE HEREFORD TIMES, Sir, — In your paper of the 10th ult, you expi-ess- ed wish to receive some observations from your correspondents upon Lord Althorp's Tithe Com- position Bill ; and I expected to see, in your last publication, some comments upon it ; but not seeing any, and thinking the subject one of vital importance, I have taken up my pen to offer a few observations upon it. You must have observed in my little pamphlet upon the subject, which you did me the honour to recommend to your readers, that I anticipated a highly objectionable bill, and pointed out a party who would not " directly stand forward to defend those (the present Tithe Laws,) but would support no other plan of commutation but such as is either impracticable or will prove noxious." The pro- posed Tithe Commutation bill, appears to me to be calculated, in every point of view, to meet the wishes of that party. I believe it tohave been forced upon lord Althorp ; and that he has submitted the plan to parliament, and the public, without expect- ing it to pass, or intending to defend it, as a go- vernment measure. According to the conditions of the first clause, valuers are to be appointed, who are to enter every freeholder's estate, and to decide what rent a te- nant, such as they, not the possessors of the soil, shall choose to call responsible, will engage to pay for each of such estates ; and every freeholder is to be bound to pay four shillings in the pound of the rent of all tillage ground, and of all other ground which has been tilled within five years, with an addition of ten shillings per acre upon all hop-ground ; and of two shillings and sixpence upon the value of all other ground. No allowance is to be made to the occupier on account of the herbage consumed by his labouring horses and oxen, and of his colts, and rearing stock of cattle for labour or for giving milk, or by such animals as he chooses to slaughter for the use of his family, being wholly exempted from payment of tithe ; and the tithe owner is to be wholly ex- empted from the payment of any portion whatever of poor rates, or other parochial-taxes. The Landlord is to be responsible to the tithe owner ; but the landlord is to be given the power to call upon the tenant to repay him ; and the landlord relatively to the tithe owner, will act only as the tithe owner's agent ; with this difference only, that he will be bound to pay, whether he receives or not. How the tenant is to be benefited by this arrangement I have not the good fortune to be able to see ; but I can |very plainly see, the occu- piers of rearing farms generally will have to pay THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 135 nearly, if not fully, fifty per cent, more than the most rapacious tithe-owner could obtain by col- lecting his tithe in kind, and enforcing, in the most vexatious manner, the present tithalaws : and I entertain much doubt whether the Roman Catho- lic clergy, in the reign of King John, with Julius the 2nd at their head, would have dared to ask ■what this clause demands. But the land-owner and farmer have a power to appeal : to whom ? or to what ? to a jury ? No : to a Barrister, at the expense of five pounds a day, and all his expenses. Such barrister will of course, feel himself bound to obey the last decision, and of course all the oppressive decisions which I have pointed out in my pamphlet will be made law ; and the tithe owners will become possessed of about nineteen twentieths of all the timber trees in Eng- land, to which, under the usage of centuries, and the uniform decisions of judges of the highest character, they had not a shadow of right, before the reign of George III. ; and which very few per- sons have submitted to pay. It will be supposed by those who are acquainted with this clause only of the bill, that the landowner and farmer will be able to reap the advantages wholly of the fruits of their capital and industry expended, after the extent of the claims of the tithe-owners are determined. No such thing. At the end of seven years, the tithe owner is to be given the power of causing every estate to be re- valued, and a fine is, of course, to be laid upon every improvement. All tillage ground and all other gi-ound which shall have been tilled within five years, is subject to a payment of four shil- lings in the pound upon its value, and all other ground to a payment of two shillings and six- pence only in the pound ; by which a bounty of seven and a half per cent, is held out to cause the soil of the kingdom to be put in the situation in which it will afford least produce to the market, and least employment to the labourer. Under the existing tithe laws, whenever a clerical or other tithe owner has, by enforcing those laws, compelled the farmer to convert his tillage to pasture, he has felt the ill effects of depriving the labouring class of employment in the amount of his share of the in- creased poor rates. But the tithe owner is to be now exempted from payment of any portion of these, or other parochial taxes. The poor rates in several instances, have been stated, in the public papers, to have wholly absorbed the landlord's rents, and this may, and there is but too much reason to fear, will become the case, or nearly so, In other situations ; but though the landowner should not receive a shilling of rent, he is bound to answer the full claim of the tithe owner. In short the clergy are to live in their parishes, and, where not resident, out of their parishes, without having the smallest pecuniary interest in the pros- perity or misery of their parishioners, or in the moral and industrious habits of the peasantry, over which they might, by doing zealously their duty, exercise great controul. It is not, I think, very easy to conceive means by which the clergy may be more effectually rendered odious, and, of course, almost useless, than by the clause above- mentioned, which is certainly much better adapted to the times of King John, than for those of Wil- liam the fourth. The landowner is to be given a power to re- deem the tithe of his estate by paying twenty five years' purchase for it. This appears, at first view, highly advantageous to him ; in my opinion, un- fairly advantageous to him, for tithes, if valued at the highest sum, which 9, tithe owner could obtain by taking his tithes in kind, and fully enforcing the tithe laws, are worth twenty eight years' pur- chase : and if the tithes are to be sold, why in- cur the enormous expense of the mode of valuation proposed, to sell subsequently at twenty-five years' purchase. But commissioners are to be ap- pointed by the Lord Bishops, with whom the land- owners are to treat, and those commissioners will take good care of the interests of the church ; and I very confidently believe that the landowner who purchases his tithes under the proposed arrange- ment, will have to pay fifty, instead of twenty-five years' purchase. In conclusion, I wish to call the attention of your readers to the expense of having the whole of the tithable ground of England valued in the manner proposed. It will be enormous, and, if the proposed bill be passed into a law, will be pro- ductive of enormous injustice, and of unmingled evil. Since my pamphlet was published, I have been enabled, through different friends, and my own inquiries, to obtain the opinion of many well-in- formed and respectable clergyman, who have all approved the plan of a meat rent, as proposed in the 27th and 28th pages of my pamphlet : and I am quite certain that the plan there proposed is easily practicable, and with great benefit to every class of society. You have already laid it before your readers, but, probably, owing to my fault, for I wrote hastily, my meaning was to some extent misunderstood by you. I meant to propose, that if the valuers should decide the tithes of an estate to be worth lOOL per annum, the average price of meat five pence per pound, the tithe owner should receive the price of 4,800 pounds of meat; of that, the sum to be half-yearly paid should be greater or less, according to the average price of meat. T. A. KNIGHT. Downton Castle, May 19th, 1834. BEER ACT AMENDMENT BILL. The following are the outlines of a bill brought into the Honse of Commons, " To amend an act passed in the first year of his present Majesty, to permit the general sale of beer and cider by retail in England :" — The preamble sets forth that, whereas much evil has arisen from the management and conduct of houses in which beer and cider are sold by retail, under the provisions of an act passed in the first year of the reign of his present Majesty, intitled, *' An act to permit the general sale of beer and cider by retail in England ;" and it is expedient to amend the provisions of the said act in certain par- ticulars ; be it therefore, enacted — 1, That persons applying for a license to have a certificate of good behaviour, signed by six inhabi- tants, rated at 10/., in addition to the other parti- culars required by recited act. 2, No beer to be drunk on the premises, except under a specific license : provided always, that every person who shall permit or suffer any beer or cider so sold by him to be drunk or consumed on the premises, without having obtained such said annual certificate, shall for every offence forfeit and pay any sum not exceeding bl. ; and every person drinking or comsuming beer or cider on any pre- mises not licensed as aforesaid, shall for ©very offence forfeit and pay any sum not exceeding 40s ; such penalties to be applied in aid of the rate for the relief of the poor of the parish or place in which such premises shall be situate. 136 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 3. That drinking beer in a neighbouring house, or in the open air, with intent to evade the provi- sions of the act, to be deemed drinlcing on the premises : provided always that nothing herein contained shall extend to prohibit any person from selling beer or cider in booths or other places at the time or within the limits of the ground or place in or upon which any lawful fair may be holden, in like manner as such person was authorized to do before the passing of this act. 4. For regulating the times of opening and clos- ing houses, that it shall be lawful for the justices of the peace in petty sessions assembled, and they are hereby required to fix once a year the hours at which houses and premises licensed to sell beer under this act shall be opened and closed ; pro- vided always that any person thinking himself aggrieved by any such order to be so made, may appeal to the justices of the peace in quarter ses- sions assembled, at any time within three calendar months after the making of the such order, giving to the justices by whom such order shall have been made fourteen days' notice of his intention to ap- peal, and the decision of the said justices, so assem- bled in quarter sessions, shall be final and conclu- sive ; provided also, that the hour so to be fixed for opening any such house shall not in any case be earlier than four of the clock in the morning, nor for closing the same later than eleven of the clock at night. 5. Empowers constables, &c. to visit licensed houses. 6. Penalty for making or using false certificates, 20i. Licenses obtained on false certificates to be void. 7. Retailers compellable to produce their li- censes on requisition of two magistrates. 8. Amendment of the provisions in sec. 13 of 1 Wm. IV. c. 64, as to penalties on retailers guilty of misconduct. 9. The powers, provisions, and penalties of 1 Wm. IV. c. 64, to apply to persons licensed under this act, and to their sureties, &c. 10. 1 Wm. IV. c. 64, to continue in force, except where altered by this act. Rule of interpretation. 11. And be it enacted, that this act shall com- mence and take effect upon the lOth of October in the present year. EAST KENT COUNTY MEETING ON THE SUBJECT OF TITHES. Pursuant to a reqtiisition to the High Sheriff of Kent, numerously and respectability signed, a county meeting for the Eastern Division of Kent, was held on Monday, the I9th ult., on Bar- hara-downs. It was very fully attended by the yeomanry and principal agriculturists. Most of the county gentlemen were present, as well as the two members for the Eastern Division of Kent. About half-past 12 the High Sheriff, George Stone, Esq., of Chiselhurst, having opened the proceedings by stating the object of the meeting, and hoping that a patient hearing would be given to all parties on this occasion, Sir Henry Montresor, in a brief address, stated that he would offer a petition for the accep- tance of the meeting, having for its object the settlement of the tithe question on fair and equita- ble principles. Mr. Edward Rice, on seconding the petition, entered at considerable length into the details of Lord Althorp's bill, the main principles of which met with his concurrence, but there were some details which he thought required amendment. He particularly specified thg clause respecting the average rate of tithes as respected the country districts. (Hem-). He would propose in his petition that an average of the whole amount for all the counties of England should be taken. At present, as Kent paid the highest rate, it would be more heavily tithed than other counties. (Heary hear) . A petition embodying these sentiments was then read by the High Sheriff, and it was about to be put to the show of hands, when . Sir William Cosway rose, and said that as he agreed in the principle of the bill, which went to take the burden of tithes from the occupier and place it on the landowner, he would not move an amendment on Mr. Rice's proposition, but he thought that the 25 years' purchase was too high a ratio, and for that he would prefer to see substitu- ted 20 years' purchase for the redemption. He would also require that no tithe should be paid where there was no resident minister, and he would compel every resident minister to support a school for the education of the poor. (" Hear, hear," and loud cheers). He understood that tlie petition now proposed emanated from a portion of the East Kent Agricultural Union. (A laugh). He begged pardon, association he meant. {Cries of " It is a Union"). He understoood from the public papers that a schism had arisen in the association (a voice " The Union"); a portion had resolved on the petition now read, and he wished to hear the objections, if any, which the other portion, the High Tory, had to the petition or to the bill. [A pause). He was sorry that these gentlemen would not state their objections. Mr. Rice said that he did not now belong to the association, and that the petition was not to be understood as coming from that body. Mr. E. Hughes, of Smeethe-house, then rose, and said that he did not consider the bill of Lord Althorp, even with the amendments proposed by Mr. Rice, would afford sufficient relief to the agri- culturist. (Loud cries of " Hear, hear") . He said that the skill, capital, and industry of the farmer would still be too highly taxed — that the tithe would still exist as a burden. {Cries of " It will)". It was not the original intention of tithes that a tenth of the produce raised by modern im- provements and by the application of capital should go for the sole support of the ministers of the church. He was a warm friend to the spiritual doctrines of the church, and he would rather, to use the emphatic words of the Scripture, that " his tongue should cleave for ever to the roof of his mouth," than that he should say any thing against the religion of his country ; but the ques- tion of church emoluments was entirely distinct. (^' Hear,'" "Bravo !"). He considered that the commutations proposed were very complex, and would leave far too much wealth in the possession of the church, and that they would not operate to relieve the land efficiently. He was himself a practical agriculturist, and he could speak on this point with a certain knowledge of the question {Lotid cries of " Hear"). He considered that a tenth of the rental of lands, instead of a tenth of the produce, was amply sufficient for the church ; it was dealing liberally with the church to put it in the situation of tenth joint-proprietor of the land. {Loud cheers). He reminded the meeting that a similar proposition had been carried almost by ac- clamation at a great county meeting held in Devon- shire. {Cheers.) He was sure that if Devon- shire, which was tithed less heavily, required such relief,' much more did Kent. {Applause) . Mr, Hughes concluded by moving the following THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 137 resolution, as the basis of a petition to be founded thereon : — " ResoWed, — That instead of the commutation proposed by the hill now before the lower House of Parliament, this meeting is of opinion that a levy of 2s. in the pound on the bona fide annual rents in lieu of, and in substitution for, the tenth of the produce of the soil (wLich includes the farmers' capital, skill, and industry) would be a more equitable remunera- tion for tithes, simple in its construction, easy of col- lection, and more likely to ameliorate the condition of those interested in agriculture than the complicated plans proposed for that purpose.'" The petition was as follows : — " To the Hon. the Lords Spiritual and Temporal of Great Britain and Ireland, in Parliament assembled. " The petition of the freeholders, agriculturists, and inhabitants of East Kent, in county meeting assem- bled, " Humbly showeth, — That your petitioners have long laboured under the evils inflicted by the tithe system as at present established, which operating as a grievous tax upon skill, industry, and capital, has in addition to other burdens caused a weight of distress upon the agriculturists altogether insupportable, and which imperatively calls for prompt and efficacious relief. " That your petitioners having fully considered the difficulties attending a commutation or redemption of tithe, have come to tlie conclusion that the most eli- gible, the easiest, and most satisfactory plan would be, to substitute for that impost a payment of 2s. in the pound sterling on the rental of land ; conceiving that a tithe of the rental in lieu of a tithe of the produce would be amply sufficient for the support of the church establishment, which is now possessed of a most unscriptural and injurious superfluity of wealth and emoluments. " Your petitioners therefore pray that your right hon. house will forthwith proceed to abolish the present system of tithe, and substitute for it the pay- ment herein proposed. " And your petitioners shall ever pray," &c. &c. The resolution was seconded by Mr. J. Fife, of Harbledown, who said that he fully concurred in the views of the mover. (Applause.) The bill and the alterations proposed by Mr. Rice were complicated, and would not effectually takeoff the burden from agriculture. By Mr. Hughes's pro- position the church would still possess ample revenues. [Cheers.) The resolution was then put to a show of hands, and carried by a very large majority. Sir E. Knatchbull, M. P., rose with some warmth to express his astonishment that such a proposal should have been entertained favourably by the meeting. {A laugh.) He did not think that the meeting understood what they had voted for. (Uproar and hisses.) Mr. Hughes expressed his willingness to have the question again put to the meeting, which was done, and carried in the aflBrmative by a yet larger majority. Sir E. Knatchbull again declared that he could not, and would not, support the petition. (Disap- probation.) ^ Mr. G. GiPps, a large tithe-owner, with con- siderable asperity, commented on the proposition of Mr. Hughes, but encountered considerable dis- approbation from the meeting. He would insist that the petition founded on the resolution should be put, that be might hold up his hand against it. fin jjttem^t wrs horc apparently inade by tJ)o Tory party and the original petitioners, to prevent the petition of Mr. Hughes from being signed by the High Sheriff; when Sir William Coswav rose and said, that though he was not favourable to that petition, he would insist on fair play towards the meeting. (" Bravo" and loud cheers.) The resolution had been fairly put — it had even been twice put — there was no mistake, such was the decision of the meeting. He was sorry to see something like a trick at- tempted by the gentlemen in the waggons on the left, occupied by the Tory party and Mr. Rice's friends. ("Bravo!") Alderman Cooper rose, and with great anima- tion commented on the conduct of Sir Edward Knatchbull. He said that the freeholders of Kent had been grossly insulted by him. (Loud cheers — applause, very great.) The meeting had fully dis- cussed and fairly decided the question. The trick that was attempted was infamous, (Cheers and uproar.) Mr. Rice explained, and The High Sheriff put the petition, founded on the resolution of Mr Hughes, to the show of hands. It was carried amid loud acclamations, by a yet larger majority than at either of the previous showings on the resolution. It was next moved that the petition to the House of Peers, should be presented by Lord Sondes, and that to the House of Commons by the mem- bers for the eastern division of Kent. Sir E. Knatchbull was understood to say that he was opposed to Lord Althorp's bill, but still more so to the present petition. (Disapprobation.) He would present, but could not support it. Mr. J. P. Plumptre said that he thought the meeting would have had greater confidence in the ministry and the reformed parliament. (Uproar, cries of "Not half reformed" — " a pretty set.") Ho was always willing to promote the interest of his constituents, but he could not support the pe- tition of the present meeting. (Cries of " Resign, resign," — " you want to represent only yourself," — " Whittle Harvey' s motion \" ) The High Sheriff having declared that the pe- tition was indisputably carried, declared ^that the meeting was dissolved' Very great interest was felt on this occasion, it being the first county meeting ever held in East Kent ; and much disappointment seems to be felt by the aristocracy at the result of the proceedings. ADVANTAGES OF A FIXED DUTY ON GRAIN. Lord Howick has addressed the following well- argued letter to one of his constituents, in explana- tion of his vote in favour of Mr. Hume's motion. My dear Sir — I received your letter yesterday morning, and I am afraid I must infer, from the latter part of it, that the vote which I gave in favor of JMr. Hume's motion on the Corn Laws is very much disapproved of by yourself and many others of my friends and constituents. I veiy much lament that this should be the case, but I can assure you, that in voting for Mr. Hume's motion I was influenced by the strong conviction which I feel, that the existing Corn Law is not only hurtful to the nation at large, but pecuiiai-iy so to the landed interest. I fjuiie agree with you in thinking that this interest is at the prtsent rnonml greatly depressed : ai;d that any change \i\ 138 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. the law, which should have the effect of adding to the difficulties with which it has to contend, would com- plete the ruin of a great proportion of those who are concerned in agriculture. This state of things seems, however, to me, not to afford an argument for adher- ing to tlie present system, but on the contrary, to be the strongest possible reason for altering it, since I know not to what other cause than the defective cha- racter of this system, we can attribute the fact, that in spite of abundant harvests the agricultural interest is alone labouring under extreme distress, while other interests are in general flourishing. In 1827 and 1828 I remember it was most confidently predicted, that under the law which it was then propos- ed to establish, we should have a steady and constant demand for corn, and that the prosperity of agriculture would be ensured. A precisely opposite result was anticipated by those who opposed the varying scale of duties, and I thought at the time the reasoning on this side of the argument so much the strongest, that I voted with Mr. Hume in a minority of only sixteen for a fixed duty. I would ask yourself, and those who agree with you in opinion, whether there is any thing in the experience we have since had to lead me to think the conclusion I then came to was erroneous 1 Has the existing Com Law worked well for any class in the community 1 Has the consumer had a steady supply of the first necessary of life, or has the farmer had a steady demand for his produce ? To the latter question, your letter and the concurrent testimony of every witness affords a decisive answer ; the corn market was hardly ever known to be in so stagnant a state. This being the case, it is impossible to deny that the Corn Law, has, at least, failed to answer the expectations of its authors, and to shield the landed in- terest from distress, while I am prepared to go further and to maintain that it has directly created, or, at all events greatly aggravated, that distress. The manner in which it has produced this effect seems to me to ad- mit of very easy explanation ; the variation of the duty upon corn, according to the average piices in the market, renders the trade in that article so ex- ceedingly precarious and hazardous as to derange its ordinary course. Were the duty uniform at all times, when the supply brought to market exceeded the de- mand for immediate consumption, the surplus would be taken off by the dealers, who would purchase with a view to the profit to be derived from a future rise in the price. It is in this manner that the prices of all articles in which the operations of commerce are left undisturbed, are regulated, and that the fluctuations which they undergo are rendered much less sudden and violent than they otherwise would be ; and it is thus that trade, when in a healthy state, performs the inestimable service to society of storing up for a season of scarcity, the superabundance of a season of abun- dance. But under the existing system, this natural process is (if not altogether prevented) very much checked by the knowledge which the dealer has that as corn rises, the duty will be lowered so as to make it difficult for him to realize a fair profit upon the pur- chases he makes in a season of plenty, and that he is thus kept out of the market until the price falls, not a little, but very much, below its proper average. Hence, after an abundant harvest the price of corn is (as at this time) unnaturally depressed, and the farmer whose necessities compel him to sell, suffers in con- sequence. Nor is the effect of the varying scale of duties less injurious when there is a sufficient supply. Under such circumstances, as the duty rapidly dimi- nishes with every shilling that corn advances in price, the owners of bonded corn delay bringing it in for home consumption until the price has reached its highest point, or the duty fallen to the nominal amount of a shilling. When this takes place, al- though little revenue is brought into the Treasury by the introduction of a large quantity of foreign corn, the consumer gets only a small part of the benefit of its free introduction, because the hazard and expense of keeping foreign corn, frequently for many months in warehouse, while the duty prevents it from coming into consumption, are so great that the merchant is obliged to charge the consumer a larger price than he probably would if he had paid a considerable but certain duty. Thus the effect of the present Corn Law is to hold out to the agriculturist a delusive hope of a protection which he really does not enjoy, to burthen the consumer more than if that protection were really afforded, and to waste, without benefit to any one, what might be a most valuable source of revenue. If instead of this system a fixed duty, to such an amount as to make up for the peculiar burthens of the agriculturist, were laid upon foreign corn, the trade in that article would no longer be an affair of gam- bling and speculation, the farmer would know on what demand he might calculate, and to what compe- tition he would be exposed ; the consumer would have the advantage of a steady and certain supply, and no part of the price he would have to pay would go to makeup to the corn merchant and the foreign grower, by occasional exorbitant profits, for equally enormous losses to which they are at other times exposed. It is no slight recommendation of this policy that a fixed duty would produce a large income to the public, and enable the Chancellor of the Exchequer to take off some of the taxes which press most severely upon the farmer, without imposing any new burthen on the na- tion, but simply by causing to be paid into the coffers of the State the very large sum which is now entirely wasted. Such are my reasons for thinking that a fixed duty would be infinitely more beneficial to the landed, as to every other interest in the country, than the pre- sent scale of duties, and the present seems to me of all others the best opportunity for effecting such a change of policy. While the price of corn is low, and the consumer is not suffering, the question might be calmly considered, and full justice would probably be done to the agriculturist, but if we should this year have the misfortune of a bad harvest, and great distress should follow, which, I believe, under the pre- sent law inevitably would, we should in the next Ses- sion of Parliament have to discuss the subject under much less favourable circumstances, I can conceive nothing more dangerous to the peace of the commu- nity, nothing more likely to lead to measures fatal to the landed interest, than an angry discussion amidst the distress and excitement occasioned by a very high price of corn. I have taken the liberty of writing to you thus fully upon this subject, because I am extremely unwilling that you should for a moment suppose that 1 have been unmindful of the interest of my constituents, which, in common with my own, is so deeply involved in the prosperity of Agriculture. You will oblige me if you will take any opportunity which presents itself, of making my sentiments known to any of my friends by whom they appear to be misunderstood. To Major Orde, Longridge. I am, my dear Sir, Very faithfully your's, HO WICK. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 139 MEETING OF HOP PLANTERS AT IJROMYARD. On Monday, May 19, a highly respectable meet- ing of gentlemen and hop-planters, in the neigh- bourhood of Bromyard, took place at the Falcon Hotel, for the purpose of taking into consideration the Tithe Commutation Bill, introduced to Parlia- ment this session, and protesting against that part of it which imposes a permanent payment of 10s per acre on hop land. John Barneby, Esq. took the chair, and after having briefly stated the ob- ject of the meeting, said that in order to obtain in- formation of the feeling of other gentlemen con- nected with hop-growing, as to this part of the bill, he had writ en to various friends in Kent and Sussex, and had received answers from them stating that though the bill was generally objected to in these counties — yet, as far as regarded hops, it was not considered as an unjust measure. This opinion, however, he (Mr. Barneby), attributed to the circumstance of the crops in those counties being so much more upon an acre than in Here- fordshire. It was therefore his opinion, that to im- pose an uniform rate on all hop-lands, would ope- rate very unjustly, and he would, in consequence, recommend, that a less sum be put on hops grown in this part of the country, than on those grown in Kent and Sussex. He then read the clauses in the bill which relate to hops, and observed the tenant must pay the 10s. per acre in addition to his rent, (hear, hear,) and what is the 10s. to come out of.' Now, gentleaen, it is for you to decide what course we shall adopt, whether to petition Parliament or memorialize Government, and be it which ever it may I shall be happy to give it my support. {Ap- plause.) Mr. Walker, of Burton, read a letter he had received from the Secretary of Lord Althorp, in answer to one which he had addressed to his Lordship, and said he had prepared a memorial which he would read. He then read the following memorial : — TO THE RIGHT HON. LORD VISCOUNT ALTHORP. The humble Memorial of the undersigned Hop-planters in the Neighbourhood of Bromyard, in the County of Hereford. Sheweth — ^That your Memorialists are greatly alarmed by a clause in the New Tithe Bill imposing the additional payment of ten shillings per acre on the occupiers of all hop-ground. That as far as your Memorialists are concerned the tithe on hop-ground is paid according to its valae with other tithes. That your Memorialists submit for your Lordship's consideration, that hop-ground at present pays tithes for itself and also for the woodland which supplies it with poles. That the average growth of hops in this neighbour- hood does not exceed two cwt. per acre. That in addition to the expensive cultivation of hop- ground, hops pay a government duty which is very properly charged by the pound weight thereby com- pelling the greatest grower to pay the greatest tax. Your Memorialists beg most unequivocally to state that any measure tending to equalise the tithe per acre on hop-ground in this county vi'ith the hop-grounds in Kent and Sussex, would be most unjust and op- pressive to them. Your Memorialists therefore humbly but most earn- estly beg your Lordship to take the case into imme- diate consideration, and allow the tithe of hop- ground to be valued ijnd charged with the other tithes as heretofore. He then moved that it be signed by the meeting and forwarded to Lord Althorp. — John Freeman, Esq. said he for one should be most willing to sign that memorial ; he begged, however, to state that his object in signing it was not because he thought hop-land ought not to pay tithes, but because he thought any attempt by the legislature to equalize the duty on hops in this part of the country with those in Kent and Sussex would be unjust on the planters here. The Rev. Wm. Cooke suggested that instead of the memorial being sent to Lord Althorp, that they appoint a deputation to wait on his Lordship with it, as he thought much more good was likely to result from a personal interview, than from a memorial signed by persons whose names were unknown to his Lordship ; and, as he understood a deputation from Kent was appointed to wait upon his Lordship on Wednesday next, he thought they should appoint a deputation to set off immediately, and meet theirs, and hoped the chairman would consent to become one of such deputation. — Mr. Walker seconded the amendment and recommended that the names of Sir Thomas Winnington and Captain Winnington, with those of our county members, be added to the deputa- tion.— The chairman having consented to the ap- pointment, and it being arranged that he should wait upon Lord Althorp with the memorial, and appoint a time for the deputation to see his Lord- ship, Mr. Cooke's amendment was carried, nem. con. — The chairman having left the chair, the thanks of the meeting were proposed to him by Mr. Walker, and carried by acclamation. — The chairman thanked the meeting for their kindness in hearing him, and said he should be most happy to forward the object of the meeting, and would represent their sentiments to Lord Althorp in the best manner he was able. (Applause.) — The thanks of the meeting, proposed by Mr. Coucher, of Clater, were then given to Mr. Walker, for his exertions in promoting the meeting, and getting up the me- morial, and he returned his acknowledgments — The memorial was then signed by all present, and the meeting broke up. FARMERS' DINNER AT BUCKING- HAM. On Saturday, May 17th, nearly 130 of the most respectable farmers and occupiers of land, of Buckingham and its neighbourhood, dined in the Town-hall, for the purpose of meeting the Marquis of Chandos, and pre- senting to his lordship an address, thanking him for his constant exertions in favour of the agriculturists, and particularly for his recent eliorts in their behalf in the House of Com- mons. During the afternoon his Lordship addressed the company at great length ; and in the course of his observations, said — Nearly two thousand farmers have presented to rne their approval of my views and endeavours to assist them— and when I look back to the evening on which I brought forward the motion for taking into considera- tion the condition of the suffering agriculturists. I do so with increased satisfaction, seeing it has produced forme these marks of jour approbation of my con- duct. It was not for want of honest zeal that I was in a minority of four— it was the want of support from those who should have been forward in our 140 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ranks, struggling for your interests. At the opening of the session we were led to anticipate by the Speech from our gracious King, that speedy relief would be afforded to the agriculturists. I had hoped that promises would not have been put in his Majesty's month which his ministry, who framed the speech, and who are responsible for it, would not at once have carried into execution. But it has been so, and the administration are chargeable with a deep respon- sibility for their conduct in the non-performance of promises which they have held forth. It was on find- ing that they had no specific measure of immediate relief for the farmer, that I was resolved on bringing forward your case. It is true my motion failed, — that in a house of 412 members we were defeated by a majority of four ; but I was fully borne out in all I said that night. I told the truth, and nothing but the truth, when I detailed the sufferings and the wrongs of the British farmer ; when I stated your distress and the accumulated burdens under which you have suffered and continue to suffer. It is relief and speedy relief that we vvant.not protracted, contingent,and inefficient assistance. We are told to look for relief to certain measures (Poor Laws Amendment and Commutation of Tithe Bills), but I am of opinion that even if these were the most beneficial possible, that they will not pass through parliament in this session. Where then are we to look for aid 1 Nothing will save us but prompt assistance — nothing but speedy amelioration of liis condition can place the English farmer in that situation in which he has a right to find himself, and in which if he were again placed, we should find the whole country, agriculture and manufacture, trade and commerce, flourishing. I will most assuredly, if the opportunity be given to me, and it is by the friends of the farmer considered advisable, bring forward again, in this session, some specific motion for the re- lief of the agriculturist; and I cannot believe that I shall fail of success. One class of society has been relieved ; and they ought to go along with us in en- deavouring to procure relief to the agricultural body. Next year relief may be too tardy — we may not be in a state to profit by any measure that may be brought forward to alleviate our pressure and the necessities of the times. If the country is to prosper, we must mutually pull together. Live and let live should be the general maxim, and none should desire his prosperity to be based upon the downfal of another. Can the country exist if our gentry are driven from the homes of their forefathers, and are compelled to seek a residence elsewhere upon reduced incomes, perhaps on a foreign soil 1 How are the poor to be maintained"? Iftlie landowner be depressed can the tenant thrive — can the labourer be duly and adequate- ly remunerated ? No ; ministers must relieve us by a removal of some of those burdens which locally and generally press upon us. You are charged with making corn unnecessarily dear ; but this false imputation is disproved by indis- putable facts, and it is equally indisputable that you must be lightened of many heavy and peculiar bur- dens before you can contend against foreign imports, fixed dut} , or free trade. That the present graduated scale of duties on imported grain is not altered, may be attributed in no small degree to the clause in the Reform Act called the £50 clause, which my humble efforts were instrumental in carrying. Without this proviso, I have no hesitation in saying that the farmer would have been in such a minority as would at once have given the political economists and self-termed liberals the victory they seek, Uppn th)3 vital ques- tion we find his Majesty's ministers divided ; and in- stead of keeping to their pledge at the opening of the session, not to advocate, or support, any motion for a repeal of the corn laws, we find some of them voting with Mr. Hume on the question ! What confidence can we place in men of such promises and such per- formances ? The agricultural associations that have been formed, have been of the utmost utility to this question, and in this important struggle. They have brought us together to talk over our grievances, and to discuss how best to find a remedy for them. Yet no one can charge us with disloyalty. We have formed no political unions, and in in all our eflPorts have adhered steadily to our King and our country with unshaken loyalty and attachment. We will continue in the same honest and patriotic course, and we need not then fear any insinuations or charges that may be brought against us. LAW REPORT. COURT OF KING'S BENCH. RARBER V. WAIT. This action was brought to recover penalties under the 56th George III. c. 157, sec. 6, whicfi provided " that no church warden or overseer of the poor, or other person or persons in whose hands the collection of the rates for the relief of the poor, or the providing for, ordering, manage- ment, control, or direction of the poor of any pa- rish or parishes, township or townships, hamlet or hamlets, place or places, shall or may be placed jointly with or independent of such churchwardens and overseers, or any of them, under or by virtue of any Act or Acts of Parliament, shall either in his own name, or in the name of any other person or persons, provide, furnish, or supply for his or their own profits any goods, materials, or provi- sions for the use of any workhouse or workhouses, or otherwise for the support and maintenance of the poor in any parish or parishes, township or townships, hamlet or hamlets, place or places, for which he or they shall be appointed as such, dur- ing the time which he or they shall retain such appointment ; nor shall be concerned directly or indirectly in furnishing or supplying the same ; or in any contract or contracts relating thereto, un- der pain of forfeiting the sum of lOOl, with full costs of suit, or any person or persons who shall sue for the same by action of debt, or on the case in any of his Majesty's Courts of Record at West- minster." At the trial before Mr. Justice Park, at the last Summer Assizes, at Lincoln, it appeared that the defendant had done certain work as a plumber and glazier, and in performing it had sup- plied such materials as were necessary. A verdict was, therefore, entered for the plaintiff ; but leave was given to the defendant's Counsel to move to set it aside and to have a new trial, or to enter a nonsuit. An application for a rule to enter a non- suit was accordingly made and granted by the Court. Mr. Whitehurst and Mr. Hill appeared to show cause against the rule ; and Sir J. Scarlett was heard in support of it. Lord Denman, in expressing his opinion, said that the question was whether the supplying such goods as those detailed by the witnesses at the trial could bring the defendant within the terms of the Act of Parliament ? The defendant being the churchwarden of the parish, was prohibited from supplying or furnishing the poor with goods. The de.f3i)4at)t bad performed ijlymber'^ w^vU ^t; th?5 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 141 workhouse of the parish, and had supplied the materials 'necessary for that work. It was clear that the Act of Parliament prohibited the supply of goods for the use of the poor in the workliouse. The question, therefore, was, whether the materials supplied by the defendant were such as the Act of Parliament contemplated. It appeared to him that the materials were not such as were contem- plated by the Act of Parliament, and that the fur- nishing articles for the patching a hole in the build- ing of the workhouse was not such a supplying of goods as the Act prohibited. The rule, therefore, woidd be made absolute. Mr. Justice Littledale, in giving his opinion, said the words " supply for the use of any work- house for the support and maintenance of the poor," meant the providing for the poor within the building. Mr. Justice Taunton and Mr. Justice Williams concurred. The rule for entering a nonsuit was therefore made absolute. ILLUSTRATIONS OF TAXATION— THE PARK AND THE PADDOCK. BY HARRIET MARTINEAU. (From the Examiner.) Gulliver when extoUingthe institutions, manners and customs of his dear native land to the king of Brobdignag, makes frequent boast that, " the like is not to be seen in the whole world." In this tale, by Miss Martineau, we find one of those examples, " the like of which is not to be seen in the whole world." It is the flirting, sport- ing, devil-may-care young parson, to whose plea- sures the sacerdotal offices are irksome interrup- tions. In a chapter, headed " Clerical Duty," we see him, on the morning of a fishing party — his horse is brought to the door. " Who wants Dia- mond this morning V asks his sister. The par- son answers, " I do. Ah ! it is a great plague that anybody should want to be buried this morning, of all mornings. But I put the people oflf before, and I cannot do it again." Hard case ! for, unlike the apostles, he would leave all for fishing. His sister asks what else he has to do that may interfere with fishing — a marriage perhaps. He answers, " Very likely, and three or four more funerals. They find they must make the most of me ivhen they can catch me. But the business, I mean, is looking about to see where I shall build my house." He then complains that certain brides " come con- foundedly in the way of sport," and ends by mak- ing an appointment after burial service, saying, •' I'll make Diamond (the horse) do his duty this morning;" and "Diamond," proceeds the au- thoress, "had no other inclination than to do his duty." Diamond was not as his reverend master, except as to the blackness of his coat — Diamond did not carry an unwilling heart to his work — Diamond was free in his paces only — Diamond's mouth was under regulation. The churchman will charge Miss Martineau with satire. What has she done ? Mounted the parson on a willing horse. It is severe. But let us see our parish priest on his way to the house of mourning. Once having cleared the park, he brought all the little children out of the cottages by the sound of his firm and rapid trot on the hard road. Their mothers curtseyed at the doors and windows, inspired with an equal respect for the handsome rider and his sleek steed; and the labourers turned round from their work on the fences and in the fields to smile the va- cant smile with which they honoured passengers who took their fancy. It was not Diamond's fault that he was urged on so nearly over a child as to be obliged to bolt to avoid the sin of manslaughter. It was not his fault that he could not, before he reached the brook, slacken his speed sutficiently to avoid splashing the fair horsewomen who were crossing at the time. For this last offence he received a more severe punish- ment from his master than for any preceding. The flogging was so vigorous, and Diamond's resentment of it so strong, that he bolted once more into the water, and there made a splashing which sent the ripples of the clear stream in chase of one another high and low. The boy on the foot-bridge shrank from the wetting, and the horsewomen retired right and left to watch the issue. Each patted her pony's neck ; each laughed as Diamond turned round and round ; each prepared to use the switch, when her own pony began to exhibit signs of restlessness. He falls into a flirtation with the girls ; one of whom, in the course of chat. Supposed that the gentleman rode for pleasure. — " Notexactly so to-day, though I do not pretend that my ride is not a very pleasant one just now. I am going to bury a child. Yes: you need not look so shocked ; I did not say I was going to kill a child. You would have children buried when they die, would not you 1" — " Yes, sir ; but we did not know that you were a clergyman ;" and she looked as if she had thoughts of dismounting to make a curtsey. — " O yes, I am a clergyman ; and besides burying a child a good deal younger than you, periiaps I may have to marry a girl a very little older than you." If the gentleman would go forward, she said, and not keep the family waiting for the burial, Sarah and she might come up in time to see the marriage, if it should be Catherine Scott's. James (the parson) muttered something about being late, and gave her pony such a cut with his whip as sent the animal for- ward at a rate that Sarah was scarcely likely to sur- pass ; and, by keeping half a length in the rear, he sustained the pony's panic, and baffled all the damsel's attempts to check its speed. This lasted till they came within sight of a row of cottages, at the door of one of which was a funeral train, just begin- ning to form. It would not do, even James perceived, for the mourners to see him galloping to the churchyard in a race with a country girl. He turned her horse as well as his own, into a field, and then stopped to laugh. This is a fine sacerdotal frolic on the way to a funeral ; but the sense of propriety is nicely mark- ed, where James reflects that it will not do for the mourners to see him galloping to the churchyard in a race with a country girl. Just short of this outrage his decorum commences. After the burial service, performed in this sober and becoming mood, James recollected, now that the chace had esca ed him, that he really was hungry, and had some miles to ride, at the end of which he might find nothing in the shape of provisions but fish in their dying agonico. It was true he had refused the hospitality of others of his flock ; — of the old schoolmaster, who stood, hat in hand, at his humble door, ready to usher in the clergyman: of the late clerk's widow, who had taken pains to spread her board for him ; of the mourners, who had hoped to receive at home a confirmation of the words of solace which had been spoken at the grave. All this he had declined, on the plea of extreme haste; but 142 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. this was no reason that he should not noio avail himself of the farmer's cakes and ale. Here he learns, from his entertainer, the conse- quences of game preserving. " The birds are nothing to the hares, sir ; 1 was very nearly quarrelling with my farm, on account of the hares; and should have done so, if my landlord had not made me an allowance for them." — " How much does he allow you 1"— "Two sacks of wheat per acre, sir." — "Upon my word, you have a very kind landlord. "—"Not on this head, sir. My loss is much greater than two sacks per acre, I can assure you. Take the year round, and a hare is as expensive as a sheep ; — for this reason, — that a hare picks the last particle of vegetation. If my grain springs an eio-hth of an inch one day, and the vermin nips seven hundred of the sprouts in a day, — what sheep will ever cause me such damage as that 1 I can stand and see the pheasants picking up their berries and acorns, at this time of the year, without wanting to wring every neck of them ; but if you'll believe me, sir, — and my wife will bear me out, I never see a hare cress the field I am in without swearing an oath at her." — Mrs. Riley not only corroborated this, but added that Mr. Riley was still more cross with rabbits. — " The rabbits ! 'And well I may ! They do such mischief round the outskirts of my coppices, that the wood will not be so fit to cut at the end of twenty years as it would at the end of sixteen without thein. You cannot wonder, sir, that we farmers cannot see poachers. They are a sort of thing we are blind to. If you consider, sir, that there are six hun- dred acres of wheat land in this parish, and that hares consume, at the least, two sacks per acre,there are twelre hundred sacks of corn taken from men to be given to hares. I cannot think it a great sin at this rate, to let alone anybody that helps to root out the hares. Mr. Riley then gives his reverend guest a his- tory of poaching, concluding by saying that there is often work for the Coroner before all is over ; upon which James resolves to preserve more strictly,— preserve being the word used for the destruction of the morals of a neighbourhood : and it may be generally observed in the country that the connexion between church and state is hardly closer than that between church and sport- ing ; thus Suffolk is equally famous for game and parsons, and was the foremost county for spring- guns. The parson induces his brother, the squire, to take the field against the poachers one night. They see some one in a tree — " Come down, whoever you are!" said [the Reve- rend] James, " Come down, or Til fire !"— " For mercy's sake, sir, don't !" cried a voice which had nothing very manly in it ; and the dark form was seen to be descending with all speed. — " What was he doing there 1" asked Richard, as a boy was pulled by the collar into his immediate presence. " Stealing walnuts ! What brought you out, you little wretch, to steal walnuts '!" — He had been told by his father to stay here till the party came past on their way home, lest he should get a mischief ; and he thought he might as well be doing something, like the rest of them. He had tried the hen-roost first ; but some of the party had been there before him, and there was nothing left for him but the walnuts ; and they were only the gleanings, after the best part of the crop had been gathered." Let us see how this oflence is dealt with by the great unpaid — by the secular wisdom and the cle- rical charity united : — " George Swallow was committed, with all cere- mony ; and the county was pledged to prosecute him for his theft of five walnuts. His father of- fered to whip him to any extent their worships might think proper ; but it was decided that he should be consigned to vagabond society in gaol for a couple of months, and cause the county an ex- pense of the requisite number of pounds, in order to his being finally condemned to four days' imprison- ment. But we have not got through the night of the expedition against the poachers. The gentlemen are defeated, and a poor lad of their party, the son of the gamekeeper, is killed. There is strong rea- son to suspect a man named Swallow ; hut the reverend James flirts with his daughter (ultimately jilts her). When poor Alick died (after having been removed, by his father's peremptory desire, to his cottage,) Morse was much cheered by seeing his natural office of avenger of blood so well filled as it was by his two younger masters, who actually dogged the heels of the reluctant constable, to see that he did his duty in taking up the suspected. The only thing that vexed the gamekeeper was Mr. James's obstinacy in disbe- lieving that Swallow had anything to do in the aifair. There was more reason for arresting Swallow than any another that was marched before their worships : but James quashed every hint in this man's disfavour ; and Swallow might be seen exhibiting himself about his own premises with an air of triumph equally of- fensive to his accomplices and to him whom some be- lieved him to have most deeply injured. — " Come, come, my poor fellow," said James to Morse, " let us have no more of this. I cannot listen to an in- formation that has so little in it as your's. Tell me of anything else that I can do for you, Morse. Would it be a satisfaction to you that I should bury your son ?" — Morse uncovered his grizzled locks, and a deeper red than usual burned in his jolly cheeks as he acknowledges the young clergyman's kindness. He did not think Alick had supposed his young master would do him this honour, though the poor lad had brought himself to ask whether his father believed that a funeral sermon would be preached for him. — " There shall be one, certainly, if it will be any satisfaction to you. 1 should not wonder at your desiring it ; but what could make Alick wish it!" — " He liked the idea that Sarah Swallow would hear him made much of, sir. In fact, sir, he left his silver-topped gin-bottle to the parson, if he made her cry at his funeral ser- man. Hope no offence, sir 1" — James had an idea that he had a better chance of making Sarah cry than any other parson in the world. He was pretty sure of the gin-bottle, if he chose to try for it; but he was heartily vexed that he had promised the sermon. While he was meditating his next evasion, Morse went on, — " And since you have been so ready about the sermon, sir, perhaps you have no objection to be accommodating about the text V — " None in the world," replied James, hoping that the matter would end in the necessity of making Sarah laugh. " Let me hear." — " Perhaps you remember, sir, the text about the soul — something about the bird and the snare of the fowler. My son thought that text would tell that the' manner of his death was by poachers." — "As if everybody did not know that already !" muttered James, " Well Morse; make yourself easy." — "And you may depend, sir, on having the gin bottle on Monday morning." — " And when is the funeral to be, Morse 1" — " Why, sir, they say it must be to-morrow, sir. The undertaker says so, sir ; or else " — "To-morrow! D — n it 1" muttered James. — "Wal- lace and I had fixed to-iuorrow for a morning's shoot- ing ; and it is the last day we shall have this week. Morse, did your master say he could spare you to- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 143 morrow V'—" He did, sir. I am as sorrj' as you can be to spoil sport in sucb a way. But tbe undertaker is positive," — " Then tbere is no help for it. I am not going back from my word, Morse." — It was a most delicious morning for sport. James came down with a countenance as black as night. Wallace was making ready to go forth. He only waited to know whether James meant to meet him in A , some hours hence, on business relating to these poachers. Certainly, James thought he might as well get two irksome engagements fulfilled in one day. He would meet Wallace at tbe Turk's Head in the afternoon. — " Bless me ! I'm late, I suppose," cried he. " Here's poor Morse himself coming to look after me. I'hat punch was so confoundedly strong last night, I could not wake for the life of me this morning. Coming, Morse. I'm sorry if I'm latej but 1 dare say you have gotamethodistor two from A , and they will entertain your company with a hymn till we get up to beat their cover. Don't hurry yourself, ray poor fellow," — " By no means, sir. But what I came for was 1 hate to spoil sport, sir, and it is a rare morning ; and so, sir, if you will make me sure of the sermon, I'll let you off this morning's work and secure you the gin bottle all the same." — " Now I call that kind, Morse." Sarah Swallow, one of the girls splashed by Diamond in the first scene, having been jilted by the Reverend James (who attempts, -without suc- cess, the same cruel sport with the sister) , gives her hand to the gamekeeper. At the marriage — " James put as little sanctity into the service as could be desired by the strongest foe to hypocrisy, or lamented by his astonished curate. Why Morse should be so proud as he was of being married by anybody who could marry him in such a manner as this, was more than a stranger could comprehend. In the midst the cry of hounds was heard. The clergy- man stopped a moment, and went on uneasily. Another cry followed, and he halted again. Morse made bold to step forward and whisper — " If there had been no other clergyman here, I don't know that I should have offered such a thing as to put our affair off till to- morrow ; but perhaps that gentleman 1 think it is a pity, sir, you should lose the hunt, sir, on our ac- count ; that's all. But you are the best judge, sir," — In another minute, James had leaped upon his horse at the church-door, and his curate had taken his place at the altar — so discomposed as to find it diffi- cult to proceed as if nothing had happened. When all was done, Sarah was still pale with the sense of insult, while her husband was congratulating himself on his own good-breeding in not standing in the way of his young master's pleasure. — This was the last marriage service attempted by James, except in the instances of gay friends who liked to be helped through the ceremony by one resembling themselves. He was better known, as a clergyman, in the news- papers than in any other way. Mrs. Barton now and then read a paragraph to Miss Biggs which showed that " our young clergyman" was still in existence, and still a clergyman ; and Mr. Pritchard's guests were on such occasions enlightened as to James's connexions, and the family estate, and the tenure of the living in the vicinity. But thus alone was James heard and spoken of among the neighbours of those who would have been happy to forget that they had ever seen him. He never gave his curate any trouble about the living, or cared about Fellhrow when better sporting was to be had elsewhere." We fear we have within this land five hundred such as he. This is the youth of family, the man of pleasure, who takes orders for a living — the buck parson to be seen or heard of la every neigh- bourhood. But what has the character to do with the illustration of taxation ? The connexion is as close as child and parent. This is a product of a Church Establishment, which tempts men (having no fitness, no dispositions for the services of religion) to enter it for its emoluments, and makes them independent of the people committed to their charge. LINES WRITTEN BY MOONLIGHT, NEAR A WATER-MILL. Beside the rippling current's foam I muse, and think, and sigh alone ! I see the batt'ring mill-wheel play, I hear the black-bird sing his lay. Whilst all tbe woods re-echo round His joyful, sweet, and tuneful sound. You do not here behold the gem. Or pearly-gifted diadem ; Nor do you see, in pomp elate. The paltry baubles of a state ; But Nature reigns, and she alono Is mistress of this happy zone ! Upon the brook, or by its side, The water-fowl are seen to glide. And in yon ancient thorn, the dove Sits cooing for his absent love ; 0 hapless man ! look here and see These emblems of fidelity ! Look here, and learn what great applause Is due to Nature's great First Cause, Who made the heavens and form'd the earth, And brought such gilded beauties forth ! Yon chrystal stream, now glidinghv. Adds beauties for the mournful eye ; Yon waterfall, by Luna's light. Adds beauties to the starry night ! O, would that I, in that deep stream. Could end the last of life's queer dream ; All that I'd ask, or that I'd crave To stand for tomb-stone or for grave. Should be a simple weeping ash. To mourn just where the waters dash ! Farewell, dear spot ! I can but grieve That I am forc'd so soon to leave ; 1 can but grieve that we are met, So soon to part in diear regret ; But so it is in sorrow's round. Lasting joys are rarely found. Life's indeed throughout a bubble, Blended both with care and trouble. Bulwell, May 4, W. A. Parish Dinners kn 1460 and 1794. — In the regis- try of proceedings of the parish of St. Ewens, in Biis- tol, the cost for a breakfast, &;c. on Corpus Christi Day, A. D. 1460 is thus entered on the church or parish book of record, extracted word for word. Item, For a calve's head and hinge. . . . Threepence. Item, For two rounds of beef Sixpence. Item, For bread and ale Eightpence. Item. For master parson for his dinner . Fourpence. Item. For his cleik Twopence. Item. For bearing the cross Twopence. Sum total, Two Shillings and a Penny. In the year 1794, by the same parish books, appears an entry to the following effect ; — " A supper for the parish officers to settle their accounts, and to regulate the assessment of their poor- rate, the sum of 50/. I7s. 2d. — Leigh Hunt's London Journal. 144 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Importation of Wheat from Guernsey AND Jersey. — These islands being allowed by law to send the corn of their own growth to this country, duty free, they take care to avail themselves of this privilege to the uttermost, since they obtain I5s to 18s per quarter more for wheat of their own growth than they can replace it for with foreign wheat. There are considerable quantities constantly brought to this place, and other ports in this channel, as the growth of the islands, but which, it is well under- stood here, contains a large mixture of foreign wheat ; for it is known that the quantity exported far exceeds the whole growth of the islands, and the mixture is often very discernible to persons in the trade. Not long since there was a parcel imported here, a large proportion of which was Kubanka or Russian hard wheat, a kind never cultivated in the islands. The continual influx of these parcels has a very depressing eifect on the prices of our market, as they are always sold something under the current prices ; and it really seems most unreasonable that a portion of the King's subjects, who are so lightly taxed, should, in addition to their many other exclusive privileges, have the means thus to annoy and injure those who are so hea- vily burdened. The Earl of Morley and our Mem- bers have very properly represented the hardship of the case to the Government, and the subject has also been adverted to in the House of Commons, but we have heard of no measures being in progress to correct the evil. The trade is [so extremely profitable to the islanders that it is rapidly increasing, both by convert- ing more of their land into the growth of corn, and by the importation of wheat of a kind and quality so nearly resembling their own growth that collusive practices may be carried on to a great extent without much danger of detection. Sugar an Antidote to the Poison of or FROM Copper. — So many accidents occur from using copper vessels, that we deem it proper to give the most simple directions for counteracting the poisonous eflecis of the oxide of this metal. Sugar is a most powerful antidote against verdigris and other preparations of copper, although it is difli cult to understand in what manner the beneficial pro- cess is conducted. M. Duval introduced by means of an india-rubber tube four drachms of oxide of cop- per dissolved in acetic acid into the stomach of a dog ; ia about four minutes afterwards he injected by the same medium four ounces of strong syrup ; this dose he repeated at intervals of half an hour until he had injected twelve ounces. During this time the animal experienced much nervous excitement, and was slightly convulsed ; but after the last injection he became perfectly calm, and having gone to sleep woke without feeling any farther effects of the poison. M. Orfila relates several instances of persons who had taken acetate of copper, either accidentally or design- edly, having been recovered by the admininistration of sugar. He several times proved by experiment that a dose of verdigris, which would otherwise have killed a dog in an hour or two, might be swallowed with impunity if previously mixed with a quantity of sugar. As alcohols have a property which neutralise the most concentrated muriatic acids in ethers, it would appear sugar neutralizes the oxides of copper and lead. Sub-tartarate of neuter lead was, indeed, used by Berzelius in his experiments to determine the proportional parts of sugar. If an ounce of white sugar ba boiled for half an hour in a phial, with an ounce of water and ten grains of verdigris, a green liquid will be procured, in which the most sensible re-agents will not indicate the presence of copper, such as hydroferrocyanate of potass, ammonia and hydrosulphuro ; but an insoluble carbonate of copper will remain at the bottom of the vessel. — Journal des Connaissances Usuelles. The Willow. — There are but few persons ac- quainted with the profits arising from the culture of this tree. William Allen, Esq., of Boreham, lately cut down twelve spires, which he planted about thirty yeais since, upon four rods of ground : some of the trees were 80 feet long, and the whole measured 396 feet ; they were sold upon the spot at two shillings and sixpence per foot, producing 49/. exclusive of the tops. London consumes yearly 110,000 bullocks, 776,00ft sheep, 250,000 calves, and 270,000 old and young pigs. Besides 900,000 quarters of wheat, and i, 000, 000 chaldrons of coals, or six to a house; and all necessaries and luxuries equal to an expenditure of 3 or 400/ a year to every house. The annual sup- ply of sacks of flour to Mark-lane is, from 4 to 500,000. In 1828-9, it was 523,106; in 1829-30, 368,888 ; and in 1830-31, 412,876. The Oats brought to market in the same years, were 1,530,425, 1,145,754, and 901,440 quarters. The malt 246 905, 214,478, and 234,137 quarters. But of course large supplies reach London, which do not pass through Mark-lane market. London is estimated to consume nearly 40 millions lbs. of butter at Is. per lb. to the maker, or two millions' worth. Cows produce about 168 lbs. per annum, so that LonJon consumes the produce of 280,000 cows. London consumes the produce of 6500 across of garden ground, within 12 miles, and as many more within 30 miles, exceeding a million per annum. Also a million of quarters of wheat, of which about 64 millions of quartern lohves are made. Butter 11,000 tons, and cheese 13,000 tons. Milk, 10 millions of gallons. Butchers' meat 400 millions of lbs., value 10 millions, besides 350,000/. per annum in poultry, game, and fish. Po- tatoes are brought chiefly from the Humber. London consumes, 65,000 pipes of wine, 10,000 gallons of spirits, and two millions of barrels of porter and ale. The gas-lights of London consume 50,000 tons of coals. There are about 62,000 in-door lights, and 8,000 out-door, on the average equal to 50 candles per light. Half-inch pipes are estimated equal to 20 candles ; inch to 100, and 2-inch to 420 candles. Sir Charles Morgan's Annual Ploughing Match took place at Tredegar Park on Friday, May 16th. The competitors for the prizes were more numerous than on any similar occasion, and great interest was excited among the agriculturists. The field was respectably attended by gentlemen of the neighbour- hood and the tenantry of Sir Charles. Nine ox and thirteen G. O. teams started for the prizes, which were awarded as follows to the ploughmen who performed their work best and in the shortest time : — Owners. Residence. Ploughmen. Pr. Ox, 1st, Wm. Jones, New Park, Wm. Jones, 3/. Marslifield. 2d. EJw. Griffiths, New House H. Williams, 2/. Farm, Do. 3d. Mrs. Matthews, Bassalcg, VV. Matthews, 1/. G.0. 1st. E. Ingram, Eassaleg, T.Jones, 3/. 2d. C. Morgan, Esq. Rupena, John Jones, 2/. 3d. Sir C. Morgan, Tredegar, W.Jonathan, 1/. Five shillings given to each Ploughman in the field, and Is. to each boy. The ploughing geneially was exceedingly good, and the heavy rain that fell the day previous much improved the land. — The ground allotted for each team : G. O. 120 perches ; Ox, 100 ditto. — Umpires : Mr. Skyrme, of Splott, and Mr. Morgan, Pengwni, G lamorganahire. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 145 CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND SOCIETY. The admirers of the simple, straight-forward, manly, close-hugging, back-hold "worstle" of the noith of England, assembled numerously on Tuesday se'nnight at Chalk Farm, to witness the competition for two silver cups, and other prizes, given by the Cumberland and Westmorland Society of Wrestlers. A silver cup and two silver snuff-boxes were first contended for by individuals under ten stone. About sixteen entered the ring, and, in the numerous bouts, displayed some of the finest wrestling, perhaps, ever witnessed in London. George Hatton threw William Ramshaw, but in the second time over Hatton gave way to Thomas Hall, who afterwards threw Railton and Watson, but in his turn with Thomas Irving, was floored. John Carruthers threw Robert Graham and John Cumpston, butwas also obliged to yield to young Irving. James Campbell triumphed over Thomas Oldfield, and was afterwards placed in the ring with Irving, when the latter again became victori- ous. Thomas Hall and Irving, in their contest for the cup, had a severe struggle. For several se- conds it was doubtful which would have the fall : the grip Was good on both sides, and the knee of Irving was sharply at work ; his opponent was also trying every manoeuvre, but Irving at length succeeded in bringing down his man. Hall be- came entitled to the second prize, and Watson the third. The remaining silver cup and two snuff-boxes were then contended for by men under eleven stone. The majority of the previous competitors entered their names to wrestle for these prizes. Richard Lamb, R. Graham, G, Blacket, R. Bailey, J. Watson, John Richardson, Dawson, Campbell, Irving, and Hall, were declared standers, they hav- ing defeated George Hutton, Brown, Cumpston, Pearson, Railton, Dickinson, Coates, Ramshaw, and Oldfield. In the second time over, Campbell, the Winner of the cup last year, and Thomas Ir- ving, the victor in the previous match, came toge- ther, when Campbell proved triumphant. "Now," said Campbell, " I'm as good as you," at which Ir- ving felt nettled, and immediately challenged his opponent ; but Campbell, at present, has not con- sented to make a match. Dawson then threw Lamb by the buttock in good style. Bailey, in trying for the buttock with Blackett, was pitched on his shoulder. Little Graham won his bout with Richardson very cleverly. Blackett and Watson next entered the ring. The latter threw himself too far under his man, and before he could recover himself, his back came in contact with the grass. Campbell and Dawson commenced the third time over : Dawson made an unfortunate slip after they had got hold, and Campbell won the fall easily. Graham and Hall wei-e then called. The little one (Graham) had no chance with his tall and powerful opponent, and was quickly thrown. In the fourth time over. Hall and Campbell came together. Hall slipped his hold, but threw his man in fine style, after a sharp struggle. Blackett and Hall now contended for the cup. The former appeared hea- vier, but was not so tall as the latter, who was the favourite at three to two : the bout was over in a second : it was sharp practice, and Hall threw his man by the hank very cleverly. At the conclusion of the above, a private match was wrestled by Mr. Philip Thompson, landlord of the Peacock Tavern, Maiden-lane, Covent-gar- den, and James Robertson, one of the Oxford Blues, who carried oflf the cup last Good Friday. The terms were— the first three falls out of five, for 5^. It may not, perhaps, be deemed unneces- sary to state, that Mr. Thompson, when he enter- ed the ground as one of the stewards, had no in- tention to wrestle with Robertson ; but having been goaded, under peculiar circumstances, into competition with so powerful an adversary, he en- tered the ring with more than ordinary determina- tion and spirit. Robertson is a fine young man, standing six feet four inches and a half high- weighs about sixteen stone, and has great physical powers. Mr. Thompson stands only five feet eight inches, and weighs rather more than fourteen stone. The muscle of his arm measui-es sixteen inches round, his breast thirty-one inches, and the calf of his leg seventeen inches ; but notwith- standing this beautiful display of muscular power, it was considered to be " a horse to a hen" against him. Having "peeled," they commenced the First Bout. — The soldier looked dow^n upon his man, and smiled ; and then throwing his long brawny arms around his opponent's body, gave him a nip similar to that given by a boa-constrictor to a rabbit. Thompson made an ugly face (and well he might), but catching the soldier high up (for he had not sufficient length of arm to take the grip in the right place) , a despei'ate struggle ensu- ed, in which Robertson lifted his man clean off his legs, and carried him about the ring ; but all at- tempts t~> throw him proved fruitless, and the soldier, from exhaustion, let go his grip, which lost him the fall. (Much cheering.) Second Bout. — Both came up to the scratch, the soldier all confidence, and Thompson with a phiz that evidently showed the friendly hug of his antagonist did not at all agree with him. He, however, went to work admirably, and, in a struggle, was turned and caught completely round the lower part of the waist, and lifted up ; but all to no purpose ; for Thompson having slightly manoeuvred himself to an advantageous position, threw his man a clean cross-buttock, amid the almost deafening cheers of the spectators. In this bout Thompson's arm was cut at the elbow in going down with his man, and the blood trickled sharply down it. Third Bout. — Robertson got a severe hold of his man, and gave him a nip which would have flattened any ordinary individual. Thompson made but a slack hold, and appeared to be waiting for his opponent to go to work. This he quickly did, by having recourse to the lifting business ; and in this instance Thompson must have been thrown, had he not adroitly caught the soldier by the hook, and clung to him like a leech. Robertson for several seconds continued to hug his opponent as a cat would a mouse ; but the instant he let go the hook, Thompson gave him the buttock, and down went the champion of last Good Friday. The cheers were loud and long for the victor, who was terribly punished round the arms and body by the frequent hugging of Robertson. After this match a subscription was entered into for three prizes— viz., a gold snuff-box and two gold seals, open to any one on the ground. Seve- ral of the Life Guards and Oxford Blues, a number of both regiments being on the ground, entered their names. The trials of strength and skill among these fine fellows was truly beautiful ; but William Earle, a private in the Grenadier Guards, displayed so much science and such extraordinary physical properties as to bid defiance to all compe- titors, and he carried off the chief prize with con- siderable triumph. George Brunskill, of the Bluesj claimed the second prize 3 and Mr. John L 146 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Carruthers, landlord of the Two Brewers, Vine- street, Hatton-garden, the third. Thus concluded the sports of the field, and the majority of the company then repaired to the long room, where a good substantial dinner had been placed on the table. Mr. Thomson was called to the chair. On the removal of the cloth, the Chairman proposed "The King," "The Queen, and the rest of the Royal Family," " Success to the Cumberland and Westmorland Society," &c., all of which were most favourably received. The Chairman then commenced the distribution of prizes. He addressed the champions individually, in terms of high admiration of their respective merits, and the manly conduct they had displayed throughout the afternoon. The prizes were then distributed as follows : — Men under Ten Stone. — Thomas Irving, of Abbey Home, Cumberland, a cup valued at 10/. ; Thomas Hall, of Brampton, Cumberland, a snuff- box, value five guineas ; John Watson, of Raven- stondale, Westmoiland, a box, value three gui- neas. Men under Eleven Stone. — Thomas Hall (the winner of the second prize in the first match), a silver cup, value twelve guineas; George Blackett, Brampton, Westmorland, a box, value six guineas ; James Campbell, of Winton, near BrufF, Westmor- land, a box, value four guineas. The healths of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and other gentlemen, were then drunk, after which the party broke up, all apparently feeling highly delighted with the day's amusement. CRICKETING. The Mary-la-Bone Club. — ^Thursday se'nnight the Noblemen and Gentlemen of the Mary-la-bone Club held their anniversary dinner at Grillions's Hotel, Albemarle-street. Herbert Jenner, Esq., was called to the chair ; and among the company present were the Hon. H. Ashley, Hon. E. V. Har- board, W. Ward, Esq., T. Ladbroke, Esq., Sir V. Cotton, T. NichoU, Esq., T. Burgoyne, Esq., B. Aislabie, Esq., C. Harenc, Esq., &c. The Hon. H. Ashley was appointed President of the Club for the ensuing season, and the following wei'e chosen of the Committee : Hon. E. V. Harboard, H. Jen- ner, Esq., H. Kingscote, Esq., W. Ward, Esq., F. Ladbroke, Esq., B. Aislabie, Esq., and T. Vigne, Esq., the President (Hon. H. Ashley) of course being included in the list. There was no alteration made in the laws of cricket, but in the course of the evening the undermentioned matches were made, viz : — June 2. — The Epsom Club against the Royal Clarence Club, at Epsom. — The ensuing week being that in which the Ascot Races take place, there will be no match. June 16. — Ten Gentlemen of England, with one player, against the County of Sussex ; at Lord's. June 23. — The Mary-la-bonne Club against the gentlemen of England ; at Lord's. July 2.— The Mary-la-bonne Club against the Leeds Club ; at Lord's. July 7. — Kent against England ; at Lord's. July 14.— The Right-handed against the Left- handed Hitters of England. It will be perceived that among the above there are many sporting matches which will no doubt, excite considerable interest. Other matches will be made by the Mary-la-bonne Club in the course of the summer. We have great pleasure in being enabled to state that the annual contests between the gentlemen of Harrow and those of Eton, and the latter against Winchester, which have hitherto been so attractive, and created so much interest in the fashionable world, will be ^ain played in the course of the season at Lord's ground. When the days are fixed we shall give timely notice. The ground at Lord's is in splendid condition for the enjoyment of this most popular exercise. Singular Attachment. — There is now at the village of Clifton, near York, a gander, which has formed a remarkable attachment to Mr. Staveley, an old gentleman, who resides at that place. It is his custom to sit a good deal in the open air before his door, and whenever he makes his appearance his feathered friend instantly leaves his gabbling mate, and takes his station by his side ; nay, some- times so eager is the bird to have the company of his newly- chosen companion, that if he can gain admittance into the house, he will wander up stairs into the old gentleman's bed-room, as if to call him forth to take the air together. Should he arise and amble down as far as Burton Stone, to refresh himself with a glass of Mr. Cowl's good ale, and drink " God speed the plough," thither his faithful attendant accompanies him, with arched and outstretched neck, evincing as much satisfac- tion as if he were marshalling his snowy tribe across the village green. When arrived at the hotel, if permitted, the bird will enter and keep his station close by the side of the gentleman, in- tently watching his every motion ; but should the poor gander be refused admittance, why then, like a zealous sentinel, it takes its post before the door, where it patiently awaits his return and accom- panies him back, the same as it had escorted him thither. It is still more extraordinary, that if any other person should take notice of this gander, and attempt to caress it, it manifests all the hostility natural to its species, extending its wings, and presenting its hissing bill against the individual who had thus essayed to treat it with familiarity. On Wednesday, Mr. S. extended his walk into the city, whither " His faithful bird still bore him Company." To the no small amusement of a crowd of pei'sons who witnessed the novel sight. A short time since, says a French periodical, as some men were fishing at the entrance of the Seine, they caught a large sturgeon, in the stomach of which was found a portfolio containing a number of papers in an excellent state of preservation, belonging to a nav^al officer who had been shipwrecked a short time before. His will, discovered among these papers, will enrich a poor soldier who had formerly saved the deceased officer's life in an engagement. Much of the best land in the island of Jersey lets as high as 51. an acre, and the average rent of the whole island is upwards of 41. It is a singular fact that, notwithstanding the mild- ness of its climate, and the woody nature of the coun- try, the nightingale is never heard in Devonshire. A recent traveller in Jersey says he has there seen cabbages seven feet high ; to which we can only re- spond— " Have youl" The Medical Gazette mentions a case of hydro- phobia at Bordeaux, which was cured by copious bleeding and draughts of strong vinegar, which the patient, a female, it is said, swallowed, when the sight of water threw her into convulsions. Stolen Horses. — From a stable belonging to Mr. Jellicoe, at Ettingshall, Stafford, a yellow roan gelding, six years old, with mane and tail nearly THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 147 white. From Welham-Iane, Market Harborough, a bay mare, four years old, with a white blaze dowu her face ; the property of Mr. White. From Harleston, near Northampton, a dark bay horse, five years old, the property of Mr. John Flavell. From the stable of Mr. Samuel Williamson, of Weaver, Cheshire, a brown cart mare, rising six, with a white spot on the forehead. From a field, near Beckenham, Kent, a dark brown horse, aged, 14§ hands high, switch tail and white face ; the property of Mr, Rogers. Welch Cattle. — The Influence of Steam. — The Carnarvon Herald states that the Welch farmers have begun to send cattle to the Li- verpool market, and that a sharp competition is likely to arise between them and the Irish graziers for the honour and profit of feeding the people of Lancashire. The first cargo of Anglesey or Carnarvon fat cattle was sent by Sir W. B. W. Bulkeley, and several others have since been dispatched from the neighbourhood of the Menai Bridge. We are only surprised that Anglesey cattle have beea so long in reaching Liver pool, considering that hundreds arrive every week from all parts of Ireland, together with sheep and pigs innumerable. The Scotch Highlanders have be- gun to send their live stock to Liverpool. A large flock of sheep arrived from Sutherlandshire the other day, and is probably by this time transformed into mutton. It is a new triumph of steam to bring food for the people of Lancashire from so near the ultima Thule ; but all the coasts of the three kingdoms, and all those parts of the interior which are accessible by water, must in a few years become grazing farms for the manufacturing districts, to the great advantage both of producers and consumers. AGRICULTURAL REPORTS. BERKS. It is universally acknowledged that so dry a spring as the present cannot be remembered, and we think we may with safety state that never was such a season more required or more welcome than at the present time ; for we cannot conceive how the land, that had been so long saturated with wet, and without any frost to pulverize it, could have been brought to work at all, had it not been such an extraordinary season. It ought surely to be placed upon record, that for the long space of eleven weeks there has been but one slight shower, and most of the time a cold north or east wind, and a clear sky and sunshine. For the last week there has been a great alteration in the weather, for we have had a few gentle showers, and a soft south wind and warm nights, and altogether an ex- ceedingly good growing time. The barley sowing is nearly finished, and we can state, |what no previous reporter of this county could ever before state, that on the first day of May we be- lieve there were not 100 acres of barley to sow in the whole county of Berks, The barley being put in so early, and in such a dry and favourable manner, will lead us to hope for a good produce at harvest ; but of course a great deal depends on the season to come. A day's rain is even now much wanted, or half the barley cannot vegetate ; for there has not been near enough rain to soak the clods, and especially on the strong soils, where it is a little rough ; and until we, have a considerable deal more rain in such places, the barley cannot come up. The few showers and warm nights have in the course of a week made a wonder- ful alteration in the grass, and the downs and pastures are ia aa exceedingly growing state. The ray grass sanfoin, and clover, have recently also made great improvement ; and if we have a succession of showers, there is no doubt but the crop will be pretty good. The alteration in the weather has also caused a brisk- ness in the sheep trade, and good tegs are becoming scarce, and fetching high prices ; and if the weather continues favourable the quantity of sheep keep in this county in another month will be enormous, for the low prices of vetches last seed time induced the farmers to sow a vast deal larger breadth than common, and we never saw them look so well in all our lives, and as we know there is but a short stock of sheep in the county, we hardly know how the keep will be con- sumed in time, and we certainly cannot anticipate that sheep will be sold at lower prices. It has been a most favourable time for the growing wheat, and the pros- pect of a good crop is, we confess, most chearing ; and we think the wheat nearly three weeks forwarder than usual, and the only thing against the crop is, that in many places it is full of weeds, and there will not be a sufficient time to cut up those weeds. The early-sown oats for a length of time looked most sadly, but they are now beginning to recover their colour ; the backward sown are some of them not yet come up for want of moisture, but such as are come up are growing very fast, and seem likely to be a fair crop. Beans are looking uncommonly well ; and Peas, where they were planted early, are doing pretty well ; but in some places, when planted late, the soil had become too dry, and they are only a part come up, ond look of a bad colour, and are exceedingly ragged in the leaf. The stirring of the turnip land is going on at an exceedingly rapid rate, and we think that the soil was never in a better state to receive the seed than it will be at this season. The forward sorts of cherries, plums, apples, and pears, have been nearly every one cut off by the frost, but we are in hopes that many of the backward sorts are unin- jured, and will produce a good crop. There is a pretty good trade for the best sorts of horses, but the inferior sorts are scarcely saleable. Cows of late have been fetching highei prices, particularly good young milch cows. The pig trade continues in an inactive state, with little or no improvement in price. Oak timber is worth rather more money, and bark is ex- pected to sell a little higher than it did last year ; it has mostly been secured in excellent condition. The wheat markets continue exceedingly depressed, and there appears but little chance of an improvement un- til some idea can be formed of the next year's pro- duce ; with present prices and payments, it will be impossible for the farmer to get along, and there must, we are convinced, be soon a great alteration somewhere. The stock of wheat is very fast vanish- ing out of the farmer's hands, and the lick-yards in many places are beginning to look naked and forlorn, and long before another harvest will be empty ; and, what is still worse, many honest industrious farmers must deeply mortgage their next crop to pay the la- bour and taxes ; and the haste to thrash out the pro- duce immediately after harvest to pay this debt, will again increase the evil ; and ruin, nothing but ruin, hangs over the head of the farmer who has not a hoard to resort to ! A great many rumours and reports have lately been circulated with avidity respecting a considerable fall in the price of wool ; but we know not of the least foundation for those vague reports, but believe they are circulated by interested persons, with the sinister motive of taking advantage of the necessitous farmer as soon as the sheep are clipped, and it is extremely uafortuaate that the grower of wool has hardly any 148 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. means of ascertaining the truth or falsehood of those reports, or of finding out the real market price, but is generally guided by what his equally ignorant neigh- bour obtains. The wool is certainly at a high price, and we do not doubt but that the buyers will be cau- tious, and make at first but very few purchases, except they can purchase under par ; and we shall not be surprised if, ere long some more false statements are circulated for the purpose of inducing the growers to accede to a lower price ; but we do think that there never was a time when it became the farmers to be more firm and cautious than at the present clipping time, for we may with confidence ask, " when was there ever such a clearing out of old wool 1 and when was the stock of sheep less in this country than at the present time ?" It is well known that there has scarcely been a fleece of wool in the growers' hands for many months past, and it is also as true that the stock is equally exhausted on the continent ; and it is also well known, that notwithstanding the distress of the farmers has forced them to bring into the market all the sheep they could possibly spare, and more than they ought to have spared, yet still there are not enough to supply the graziers, and many of them for the present are obliged to be content with about half enough ; now, if with these facts before their eyes, the growers of wool will foolishly and hastily give way in price ; if they will be led away by a paragraph in a newspaper, for the insertion of which perhaps five or ten guineas may have been paid by some cun- speculator ; if they will thus be duped, they can have no one to blame but themselves, and will probably ere long have to repent of their rashness. — May 5. THE VICINITY OF BATH. This attractive neighbourhood is now exhibiting all the beautiful verdure which its genially warm and grateful, if not naturally productive, soil ia fitted to put forth. A season with April rather backward and dry, with showers in May, is calculated to give a year of great productiveness. The rain has been less in the present month than agricultural wants would have desired, but what has fallen has been most valuable ; and where crops were early, they have been enabled to spread over the ground and protect themselves from the drying effects of sun and east wind combined. The wheat generally looks well upon the ground. Bar- ley and oats, where early sown, also look well ; and the later sown have vegetated on well pulverized ground very kindly. Potatoes have been generally planted, but have not yet appeared much above the ground. Beans promise an early cutting and a productive crop. The clovers and cultivated grasses on well managed land are abundant in produce. The grass on the pas- tures does not at present promise an abundant crop for the scythe ; this is, however, yet fully remediable should more rain fall soon. The drop of lambs has been favourable, and the period of lambing was pro- pitious. Store sheep on the whole are rather declining in value. The orchards promise again a most bountiful produce. Employment is very general for the well- disposed labourers, and if man performs his duty to the soil, there is every appearance at present of a year of abundance. BEDFORDSHIRE. After an unusually dry February, followed by March dust in abundance, the present month has so far passed away almost without a shower. It is therefore nearly three months since we have had rain at all sufficient to saturate the ground. The wheat, however, is suf- fering not at all from this cause j on the other hand, it has pretty well gained its healthy colour, of which the frosty nights of March had deprived it. The spring cropping comes up most irregularly, especially the barley, which has vegetated only where it has been put in immediately after the plough, and in that case, where it is not drilled there is much of the seed near the surface laying dry. Indeed the drilled crops perhaps never showed so decided a superiority over the broad cast as in the present season, owing to the seed being put in by the drill sufficietly low to reach the moisture. On the other hand, wherever the land has been repeatedly turned over, or left at all rough after the plough, the seed, however put in, remains for the most part dry ; some will giow in almost all cases, so that, upon the whole, these crops hitherto have a most promising appearance. The want of rain has also been severely felt upon the pastures and the young clovers, and most farmers are getting extremely short of feed for their beasts and sheep ; turnips being- all consumed they have had no alternative but to send their fat ware to Smithfield, which has consequently occasioned a very serious defalcation in price. The dry weather has, however, enabled the farmers to get their fallows in a very forward state ; and much as rain appears to be wanted in the garden, the orchard, and the farm in general, should it come speedily, and in sufficient quantities, we may yet get a tolerably productive season. But, on the other hand, though your reporter is no alarmist, nor ore we ever disposed to conjure up imaginary ills, still it must be evident to all acquainted with rural affairs, that unless it should please God to send us a more than ordinary quantity of rain in the ensuing months, there must be, in many situations, a very manifest deficiency of water long before the sum- mer shall have passed away. To see ponds and water courses empty, and under exoavation, in the month of April, ia a very unusual sight, but this year it is a very common occurrence. It is also well known that our principal rivers have scarcely overflown their banks during the winter; and that the springs in many situations have never attained their wonted height by three or four feet perpendicular. It would therefore be only a prudent precaution for those farmers who are dependant upon small runs of water, to dam up as full a supply as they can obtain. This done, we must hope for the best. The corn markets remain in the same stagnant state as heretofore, good wheat making but six shillings per bushel. Wool appears also some time since to have reached the maximum, and will have to recede in price before any of the ensving clip can be disposed of. The wool-staplers who hold what is in hand of thelast year's growth are unwilling to give way, but as soon as the growers are again in the market their necessities will compel them to make sales. We do not however expect wool to get low this year, though the stagnant state of the market at present, together with the de- ficiency of feed, have caused store sheep to retrograde considerably in price. At a time when several questions which materially affect agriculture are in agitation, it may not be im- proper for your reporter to state how far they are con- sidered to be likely to be beneficial to the farming community, especially as they are proposed rather as remedial measures for the distress of agriculture. We first briefly refer to the tithe question, and we frankly confess that we are not much disappointed by the measure introduced into parliament. We have always thought it practicable to remove the source of litigation which has frequently existed under the old system between the clergyman and the tenantry, and this much Lord Althorp's bill would affect, but we totally deny its being any material relief to the agricultural interest generally — indeed we hesitate not to say, that in a variety of instances the new system will take more money out of the farmer's pocket than heretofore. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 149 It is true, under the present odious system of tithe laws, a few avaricious individuals, whether lay or clergymen, could screw a poor fellow to the last shil- ling ; but for the most part it must be admitted that the great body of the English clergy, for the sake of peace and to promote a friendly feeling among their neighbours, have submitted to receive a much lower money payment than what the law would have enabled them to enforce. Whereas the new measure (if carried) will unsettle all previous contracts, however favour- able to the tenant, and, if we mistake not, will invest powers more irksome and inquisitorial than ever at- tached to the far-famed property tax commissioners. But what is most reprehensible, it appears to retain that most odious feature of the old law which operates against all improvements. For instance, if a land- owner shou[d think proper to invest a considerable sum of money in bringing into cultivation a worth- less track of land at the end of seven years (as we understand the measure) the parson is to come in for his share of the rental ; whereas, but for the outlay, the land would have yielded no rent whatever, and upon the same principle in all cases, it will operate as a tax upon improvements. Upon the whole, we are very apprehensive that the good which the bill is intended to eflfect will be purchased at much too dear a cost. Church rates (though as they eifect agriculture are but as a drop of the bucket) being very irksome to certain classes, are well abolished. The noble lord, however, in his substitute strongly reminds us of the wary doctor, who finding that his noxious drugs had become unpalatable to his patient, managed by putting a little honey round the cup's edge, to get it down in another form. The intended improvement in the poor laws, we are most happy to say, is hailed in all quarters with the greatest satisfaction. It is a bold and decisive mea- sure, and the members of his Majesty's government are justly entitled to the gratitude of every man who loves his country in endeavouring to grapple with this most difficult subject. To bring it, however, successfully into operation will require a long pull and a strong pull and a pull altogether. That clause of his lordship's bill in par- ticular which renders it unlawful to grant out-door relief to able-bodied labourers, must in the first in- stance be attended with the greatest difficulty. The pauper habits of the poor have been growing upon them for the last twenty-five years, and we should think it absolutely necessary that the labour rate bill in some form or other should be brought in aid at least for a year or two, till the better part of the labourers shall have been enabled to feel their way in their altered circumstances ; at the same time, every friend of humanity should endeavour to encourage cottage allotments, which under the new system will be es- teemed most highly, rather than force individuals into a workhouse, who under an improved state of things will become provident and useful members of society. The establishment of a central board of commissioners, instead of being viewed with distrust, as some have insinuated, we believe will meet with general appro- bation, as it must necessarily relieve local overseers of great responsibility ; without which in fact, we con- sider the pauper revolution (for such it will be) to- tally impracticable. We should be swelling our article beyond proper limits, to observe further upon these subjects. We conclude our observations then, by saying, that we congratulate our country at large for the prospects of our living to see the labouring poor of the land brought into a more wholesome state. We congratulate our brother farmers in some hope of partial relief at least ; but more especially, we con- gratulate he more deserving part of the labouring poor themselves, upon their being raised in some measure from the degrading situation in which the mal-administration of the poor laws have placed them in society. — April 25. SUSSEX. The month of April, proverbial for its showers, had nearly passed without even one to refresh our meadows and corn fields ; indeed, so completely was the grass dried and burnt up by the dry north east wind and sun by day, coming after a sharp white frost by night, that the meadows looked as barren as they did after the long drought last year. The oats and barley also, some of which had been sown for five or six weeks, scarcely shewed themselves, and unless rain had come as it did the consequences would have been serious. It is not however too late for them to recover, and should the present genial showers be succeeded by warm days and nights without frosts, we may expect a fair growth of straw and grass. The growing crops of wheat have borne the dry weather better than anything else, and, with the exception of a field here and there very much exposed and not good land, looks well. On visiting different parts of the country, one thing must strike the eye of practical men, that except on the best lands, farmed by the proprietor or by tenants possessed of capital inde- pendent of their farms, of which there are now but too few, there is an evident falling off in the spirit of cultivation and in the purchase of manure. Indeed it must be so ; wheat at 6s per bushel will not pay for manure. Again in the wealds ef this county, the cul- tivation of hops is rapidly extending ; _ the best fields are taken for them, and the manure is bestowed on them as more likely to pay for it than the wheat crop. The price of wheat is below that which can afford to pay wages and rates, saying nothing of rents on lands producing only twenty bushels per acre, of which a large part of the kingdom consists. It is quite clear, with our increasing population, that either the lower classes eat less wheaten bread, which is certainly not the case, or that on the first deficient harvest, we shall have a great advance in the price in despite of what may be brought here from the whole world. Let us therefore hope that the eyes of our legislators are opened to the paramount necessity of abstaining from doing any thing still more to discourage the growth of corn in this country. Let them not suppose that be- cause farmers are not clamorous, they are not therefore in distress. The old simile of the sheep and pigs is as applicable as ever. NORFOLK. Since our last the weather has been remarkably cold here, and vegetation has made very little pro- gress. Of course the face of nature does present a perceptible improvement since we wrote our Report for February ; but we have seldom known things grow so slowly as they have done this spring. In- deed, there was a probability on the 1st of March of vegetation being as forward in another fortnight as it is at present. The wind has been chiefly at the north or north-east, and though not of that severe cutting description that we have sometimes experienced from these points, it has produced many stormy days and frosty nights, which have attained no slight degree of severity. The herd-land grasses and layers have made little or no progress, and now present hardly a bite for the cattle, although at this season they are commonly in an active state of growth, but the turnips are nearly in full blossom, and are therefore of little service for food for our cattle, the value of which is greatly depreciated, especially when compared with our anticipations. Many of the farmers, instead of buying, as we expected they would have to do, are 150 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. obliged still further to sell out, and few seem disposed to purchase ; the fairs and markets are overstocked with lean cattle, and prices are ruinously low. The backwardness of the season, and the late slight de- preciation in the wool markets, connected with an ex-' pectation of a still further reduction, have caused a very considerable drop in the price of hoggets — we believe fiom 4s. to 6s, a-head since the 1st of March. Very few of the sheep in this county are yet shorn, indeed none, except those which to are be slaughtered immediately; but although the Norfolk farmers usually wait until Thetford Wool Fair before they dispose of their fleeces, we shall not be surprised if many of them this year should sell long before that period — the market being fluctuating, and wool rather in de- mand at prices such as, perhaps, it hardly ever before attained at this season. Still, we trust it will not be forgotten by them that wool at that fair, and after- wards, has usually realized a higher price than it has done before the fair ; and we put it to them whether the present demand, and the disposition to supply that demand, by lirawing already upon this year's clip, even though the prices are somewhat depreciated, will not have a tendency to create a scarcity at that time 1 At any rate, comparing the present markets with the corresponding markets of last year, and knowing, as we do, that many of the worsted manufacturers have been lately almost at a stand-still for the want of materials, we must confess that we see no cause for despair, and should not recommend an early sale ; bnt we know the old adage, " need makes the naked run," and we are quite sure that from the late low price of corn and other unfavourable circumstancs affecting the agricultural interest, many of the Nor- folk farmers are veiy needy, and may be obliged to sell. It may be said as shear time approaches the supplies will be larger, and the prices in all proba- bility will deteriorate. We will not say that this will not be the case, but it certainly has not been the case in former years ; and the general disposition on tlie part of the merchants to buy at that season, nay, the absolute necessity for them to do so now, being almost without any in hand, will, we think, be likely to pro- duce a directly contrary efl^ect. The lambing season has this year proved remarkably favourable and pro- lific, and the loss of ewes and lambs has been very small compared with some former years. Barley and oat sowing is not yet quite ended with the afternoon farmers, but in general these are up, and are looking tolerably well. A sickly hue was very ob- servable over many of the early sown when they were losing the kernel, and being weaned from their mater- nal mucilage : indeed this is always the case to a cer- tain degree at that time, unless the weather is mild and showery. This year it has chiefly been cold and dry, but warmer suns have lately restored them, and at present the corn, both wheat and barley, and indeed all sorts of grain are looking promising. Some of the farmers have turned their sheep into the wheat fields, and although the wheats do not require to be fed off from being too luxurious, yet it will, at present, rather do them good than harm, and the feed, as we have shown, is now a great object with the farmer, Oats have been selling a little higher lately ; prime samples of wheat fully maintain their prices, and barleys are becoming somewhat scarce ; butonly themoneyedmen amongst the Norfolk farmers have any considerable quantity on hand. The late cold winds and frosts have, we fear, con- siderably injured the fruit trees. Plums, damsons, buUaces, apricots, and those that blossom the earliest, have suffered the most, and where they have been ex- posed, it is our opinion that almost every blossom must be perished, although, so far as the above trees are concerned, we never saw a greater show for fruit. Apples, pears, and cherries not being so forward, have sustained little injury, except in very few instances. It is with great pleasure we learn that the West Norfolk Agricultural Society is flourishing, and that not only have premiums been announced for the en- couragement of industry amongst servants and labour- ers, but also sweepstakes to be awarded on the produc- tion of the best cattle, sheep, horses, and swine. We long regretted that while neighbouring counties had agricultural societies of this description, the great agri- cultural county of Norfolk was without one since the discontinuation of the Holkham Sheep-show. The first annual meeting, we believe, is shortly to be held at Dovpnham Market, and it is confidently hoped that the county Members (Western Division) will be pre- sent, and, if possible, the venerable Mr, Coke himself. We heartily wish them success. — Norfolk, April 25. KENT. We have had since our last report, with the excep- tion of three fine]warmdays, little else than a continued cold easterly wind, with some snow and hail, which has given a very severe check to all vegetation. Wheat now shows a very indifferent appearance, and particu- larly in exposed situations; as regards the spring crops, the early sown appear at the present moment much the best, the late sown having in a number of instances, for want of moisture, only in part made their appearance, so that after we have rain, which is now much wanted, the rest will vegetate, causing it to come into crops, which will be the means of making a rery uneven sample at harvest. As respects the Cheva- lier Barley mentioned in your Perthshire report, I have only to observe, that I sowed about two acres of it in a field of ten acres at the same time as the com- mon Barley, and the result was as mentioned in last report, which was the case with most of us. I must observe that last year it was quite a new thing with us, and only sown in small pieces to try it ; should have been happy to exchange seed as wished, but had none by me ; have made the same experiment this year, and will report thereon ; therefore if your cor- respondent should then wish for some, he shall most assuredly have it. With respect to hops, in some gardens the bines look strong and healthy, and in others quite the reverse, but change of wind with rain and warm weather, will no doubt soon make a great difference in their appearance. Wool is at present but little inquired after, and where the growers wish to dispose of their forth- coming clip, a much lower price must be submitted to. In consequence of numbers having finished thrash- ing, the corn markets have not been so abundantly supplied as heretofore, but in prices there has been no material variation. — April 24. HERTS. We have great satisfaction in stating that this long dry weather has furnished the farmer with the oppor- tunity of enabling him to get his fallows into a cleaner and better state than in the generality of seasons he is enabled to do at Midsummer, a circumstance of para- mount consequence ; as to this circumstance may be attached the consequence of what is said of an abun- dant crop of grain and corn, viz. " that one great crop is a step towards the growth of another, &c." The farmers of our county have the great satisfac- tion of seeing their autumnal sown crop wearing a very promising appearance, also of seeing their store stock gone through the autamn and winter well, and THE FARMERS MAGAZINE. 151 at a small expense. We give it as our opinion that there is as much unthrashed corn in the farmers' pos- session in our county as is usual at this period of the year ; of Wheat more. — April 24. SUFFOLK. This week has, like the preceding, been almost with- out a shower of rain, and we have had a continuance of frosty nights. The wheats, notvvithstanding, are fast recovering from the yellow sickly appearance they wore last month, and are now assuming generally a healthy colour. The soft corn comes up partially, owing to the want of sufficient rain, and should we even now have rain it is feared that the sample will be very inferior, as the crop will ripen at different times. The weather has been most favourable for the summer tilths ; and we have observed some breadth of mangel-wurzel, planted in excellent order, and the preparation for turnip has never in our recollection been forwarded under more auspicious circumstances. Half the labourers, we are sorry to report, are at this time unemployed, and the only reason we can assign is the want of the needful to reward them ; as our provincial papers fully substantiate, by teeming with farmers' assignments for the benefit of creditors, and nearly every week's paper, produces some fresh cases. The ray of hope we had respecting the remedial measures for the distress of agriculture to be introduced by his Majesty's ministers have not brightened into a blaze by the introduction of the Tithe Commutation Bill, which will increase instead of diminish the pay- ment in lieu of tithes. Many lots of fat beasts have been sold for only one or two pounds more than they cost when lean. The layers, winter vetches, and meadows are looking well, although they have made, as yet, but little progress, which has caused the stocks of hay and clover to be generally cleared oflf, and should not warm weather ensue, stock must suflFer for want of food. — May 1 . CUxMBERLAND. The month of April has greatly favoured the opera- tions of the plough, from the commencement to the 27th we had a continuance of fine weather, when on the evening of that day we had a change to a fine growing rain, which came in good season, as the strong lands were becoming unmanageable, and light soils beginning to feel the effects of drought; since that date we have had little rain, butvery dull weather, with exceeding strong east winds — yet, vegetation does not appear to have received the least check. Wheats look extremely well, and those injured with the wire-worm have greatly improved of late ; early sown barley, and oats, are making great progress. The sown grasses are much improved since the rain. The fairs for cattle previous to the change were very dull, those held since have been a shade better, fat cattle and calvers meet with ready sale at good prices, lean stock not good to sell ; mutton in great demand at high prices, but scarce, being chiefly picked up for the Liverpool market. The first East Cumberland Agricultural Society took place at Carlisle, on Tuesday, 22nd of April. The cattle shown were of the first rate order, and at- tracted great attention, the general impression was, that a finer display of animals for size and symmetry had never been witnessed in Carlisle, especially those entered for the premiums. The short-horned bulls were superior to any thing shown in Carlisle before the bullocks and heifers were fine animals of their re- spective kinds, two of the former belonging to Mr. Bell, of Carleton, were much admired, and were pur- chased for the London market. The stallions entered for competition were not numerous, but some remark- able fine animals of each class were shown. Our corn markets are very dull, best Wheat, 20s ; Barley, 10s ; and Oats do not realise more than 8s 6d per Imp. bushel, — May 8. DEVON. The past month has been particularly dry, except the last five days which were accompanied with those refreshing showers which prove so genial to plants and trees when pushing forth their first shoots and blossom buds. The Spring Crops were sown in fine condition , but the parching easterly winds by day, and severe frosty nights, have completely stagnated the germ when it made its appearance above-ground, and turned it yellow, or dark purple ; the early potatoes have suffered much from the drought, and had not the fine rain so opportunely fallen during the last five days of the month, the crops, especially those on poor soils, would have been miserably deficient ; grass has suffered from the same causes, and is not half so abundant as at Christmas — no season has more fully proved the advantage of salt as a manure, especially when used as a compost with lime, than the present, particularly in gardens, where not a crack was to be seen, even on stiff clays, while the neighbouring soils were rent in every direction, by cracks large enouo-h to admit the fingers. Salt rapidly absorbs moisture and the dew by night, and retains it in long-continued dry weather during the day, and prevents the roots being exposed and snapped by the sudden contraction of the soil from excessive evaporation : after so moist and mild a winter, the sudden change the wheat has sustained will be felt in the crop, on all descriptions of soil, by the certain deficiency of the first three or four grains, just as the contraction of the vertibrse of half-starved animals, when young, necessarily pro- duces an ill-formed animal, so does the contraction of the embryo ear, from cold and want of moisture in the Spring, after its too luxuriant growth during a mild winter, produce a contracted defective ear of corn • hence it is the breed of liorses is so miserably bad in Devonshire ; colts are frequently taken from the dam and turned adrift in a furze-brake or common, when from starvation and poverty of keep, at a time when nature requires the greatest assistance, their joints, vertibrse, and muscles, become contracted, and weak, awkward, ugly animals are the necessary consequence • in Yorkshire the contrary course is pursued, as the best pasture, oats, beans, and hay, are given in pro- fusion, to assist in thoroughly developing the muscles and every part of the animal — another inhuman prac- tice exists in Devon of working the mares up to a a few days of the foaling. All descriptions of grain are unreasonably low, while colonial produce as well as our staple commodities, metals, &c. are daily-en- hancing in value, and our manufacturers and me- chanics have been in a corresponding degree benefitted, yet the value of agricultural labour and produce have not participated in the improvement — there can be no question but that the pressure upon the agriculturist at the present time is unusually severe, and has arisen in a great measure from the farmer having glutted the market with produce the moment it was saleable, to enable him to pay his rent and the ordinary outgoings, consequently forcing down the prices and compelling himself to sell a proportionably increased quantity of his remaining produce to realize from the depreciated value of the article, the amount of cash necessary to meet his heavy disbursements, to support the poor, the church, highways, and tithes. That the farmer would not thus act in opposition to his best interests if some impelling necessity of a pecuniary nature did not urge him, is a fact too self-evident to need en- forcing— the end of it will be that thousands of acres of poor soils will be thrown out of cultivation, and a 152 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. corresponding' scarcity of employment must be severely felt by the agricultural labourer. The show of apple blossom in some orchards is not so great as last year, but the total absence of insect, added to the vigour with which the early sorts have expanded their petals since the rain will amply make up the deficiency, and there is every appearance of a luxuriant crop, pro- vided the frosty nights take leave of us. Castle-street, 1st May, 1834. CHARLES DEAN. GLAMORGANSHIRE. The dry weather in the month of April proved ex- tremely beneficial to the spring fallows : the soil having been so completely saturated with wet through out the winter, required a long continuance of dry weather before this excess of moisture could be suf- ficiently absorbed. The hardness of the land caused much additional labour to reduce it to a proper tilth, but it was fully repaid in the destruction of soots and weeds. About the 28th ult. some copious rain fell, which was greatly required by the early sown barley and oats, which vegetated very irregular, some portion of the seed having laid four or five weeks before it braided, while the other portion had got very strong. Since the rain, the land has been in excellent tilth. The ground in preparation for green crops received considerable benefit from the dry weather in April, and mangel and potatoes may be set under favourable circumstances. The young wheat is again improving ; the cold nights in the last month produced a severe check, and gave it a sickly appearance ; the degree of injury it experienced will depend upon the previous strength of the plant — if strong, it will prove season- able ; if a weak plant, or on cold soils, it will be some tmie before it recovers. All vegetation remained nearly stationary from the beginning of March to the end of April ; but now it is making good progress, and the weather at present is highly genial for it. Winter vetches are ready for the scythe. Clover is also getting strong where the plant is regular, but the continued wet weather destroyed a large portion of it in winter. Store stock have been in good demand at our spring fairs, but the quantity of stock exposed for sale has been small of every description, and breeders in general are short. The corn market is dull, the cold temperature of April proved favourable for malt- ing, and barley became rather scarce and advanced in price, but the demand has now subsided. Wheat is extremely low, averaging about 6s a bushel for the best, and no great demand. Irish importations glut our markets ; a great clamour has been kept up against the admission of about a million of quarters of foreign corn into our markets ; but we dare not com- plain of the import of three millions of quarters of Irish corn, which they can afford to sell nearly as cheap as foreign, and which produces greater evils to the English grower. In the last year there appears to have been imported to Liverpool alone, upwards of seven millions worth of Irish produce, the usual ave- rage of the whole kingdom, only a few years ago, being only one million. — May 8. PERTHSHIRE. The month of April has passed with very little rain, and spring seeds have been got in on a dry bed. On fine loams a beautiful and regular braird of oats has appeared, but on stubborn soils spring seeds have come up very irregularly. Much of the barley on such lands were sown immediately after the plough, but even with that precaution the braird has been unequal. In the higher districts, a considerable breadth still lemains to be laid down with barley, and the soft ap- pearance of the weather givei3 ground to hope that in late sown barley a fair and equal braird may be ob- tained. Beans and pease have come up fair, and the plants appear vigorous. Although vegetation is in general at least ten days in advance, compared with an average of seasons, yet, in the braird of oats, and their general appearance, that part of the crop seems to be as late as usual. Since the beginning of the present month the tem- perature has become more elevated, and occasional showers have proved favorable to the springing of seeds, and have communicated a healthy appearjtnce to young growing wheats. Clovers, too, have a pro- mising appearance, and a weighty crop of hay may be calculated on. Cleaning of potatoe ground and spring ploughing of fallows are going forward under favourable circum- stances. In some places the planting of potatoes is over, and in others that operation has not as yet com- menced, but, from the high price obtained this season for that root, the usual breadth will this season be planted. In the corn market prices continue almost stationary, and a great part of last crop is now out of the farmer's hands. Oats, indeed, lately obtained higher prices in Mark Lane than for some previous months, but little alteration in price was experienced here. Wheat fully maintains the prices of last month. Barley is mostly in the hands of maltsters or dealers, and prices continues stationary. Potatoes have be- come scarce, and have in consequence risen in price. Cattle have recovered the slight fall in prices expe- rienced in the end of February ; lean stock, for the grass, are much in demand. In horses, there is little alteration in price. — May 5. LANARKSHIRE. " Be gracious, Heaven ! for now laborious man Has done his part — ye fostering breezes, blow ; Ye softening dews, ye tender showers descend ! And temper all, thou world-reyiving Sun, Into the perfect year." During the greater part of April, the weather has been singularly propitious for the labours of the husbandman, and the seed has been committed to the ground everywhere under favourable circumstances, and although the dry state of the atmosphere has been unfavourable to vegetation, yet the early-sown Oats have appeared above ground, and already present a thick and healthy braird. The sown Grasses that were fai advanced in the end of March, and which were checked by the cold drought and frosty nights of the present month,are again making a verdant appear- ance, but the want of fructifying showers, so congenial to tbe general springing of the vegetable tribes, are yet wanting. The falling state of the barometer, how- ever, gives the hope that we may expect those gentle showers and warm gleams of sunshine which promote the "gay green of smiling nature's universal robe." Wheat is every where considered to look well at the season of the year, and early sown fields are pretty far advanced. The greatest activity now prevails in sowing Barley and planting Potatoes, for which the weather is highly favourable. The barn -yards, after all the seed is sown, are still bulky. Grain markets are steady and cannot rise, judging from the present appearances. With respect to the fruit in the orchards of the Clyde, we can as yet say but little, considering the perils of which they may be exposed. Plums have blossomed well, but, being early, may have been hurt by the cold mornings. Early Pears are in good blos- som, and, should gennial soft weather prevail, we may have a good crop of fruit, but a cold frosty night or two would, with equal certainty, destroy the sanguine hopes of the orchardmen. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 153 EAST LOTHIAN. The sowing of Barley was well advanced in the early part of the mouth, but what has been sown lately lacked moisture for having a full braird ; the rains, however, which have fallen for the last three days, will produce the desired effect ; the early sown Barley and the other spring-sown grains, with a fevv exceptions as to Oats, show a healthy and equal braird ; winter Wheat is very promising, and the young grass is generally well planted. The weather has been favourable for the working land for potatoes and turnips, which has wrought in a satisfactory manner ; a good many potatoes are planted ; from the injury sustained last year, in many situations, farmers are very particular as to seed, hence potatoes from the high districts are in request, some biouglit to Haddington market being sold at 14s per old boll. Turnip feeding has not realized the expectations entertained during the winter ; markets for fat cattle, during the month, have been glutted ; even Sheep, which were at one time so scarce, have got plentiful. It is thought, however, should the weather turn more propitious for the growth of grass, that a good many half-fat cattle would be sent to the pastures instead of the markets, and, from thus diminishing the supply, prices would improve. Ewes, wintered in the district for lambing, promise to be a good concern ; the demand for Lambs to London will no doubt enhance prices ; at Edinburgh, last week, they brought from 22s to 24s ; sales have been made of ewe, lamb, and fleece, which leave a liberal profit ; from the very high prices given for ewes at the spring markets, great payment can hardly be ex- pected. Grass parks are generally lower than last year, though, in several instances, from favourable circumstances, the rents are full as high. The prices of grain continue much the same as at the date of last report, with the exception of oats, which have advanced a little. — April 30. WEST LOTHIAN. Rural labour went on without interruption during April, which was dry throughout, with the exception of some slight showers towards its close. Oat seed was generally finished by the middle of the month ; and since, barley has been laid in the ground every way to the wish of the cultivator. The wetness of the winter, and the absence of frost, ren- dered the land bad to work. The preparation of po- tatoe and turnip breaks will require much extra labour; the chances of these crops depend upon drought. The braird has come quickly away, and as yet seems uninjured. March-sown barley looks healthy, and is very vigorous. Every year's expe- rience strengthens the conviction that barley is the first thing in spring a farmer ought to sow ; indeed the practice is yearly gaining ground. Wheat has re- cruited wonderfully towards the end of the month, and has thrown off the dingy dirty colour it wore in March ; what was early sown looks to be too thick. Young grass is universally well planted, but has been kept back by the cold. Vegetation, generally, is con- siderably behind last season. Lean stock is scarce, and high in price. Fat has fallen in price twelve per cent, during the month. Latterly the lambing season has been very favourable ; of the early crop there was considerable loss owing to the heavy rains. Turnip is now nearly exhausted. Potatoes are nowhere to be had. Corn has improved somewhat in price. — May 1. ROXBURGHSHIRE AND BERWICKSHIRE. The weather throughout the past month was cold and dry, without even a shower until the 28th, during the whole of which a cold raia from the east continued to fall in the lower part of the country, but in the higher tracts it assumed the form of sleet and snow. Cheviot and the neighbouring hills are still nearly half covered with snow. Owing to the uninterrupted con- tinuance of the drought, the sowing of barley was very much retarded, and there yet remains a cen- siderable quantity of that seed to be deposited in the ground. The rain which fell on the 28th, however, rendered the land, off which turnips had been eaten during the course of the month, fit for working, and the farmer is now actively employed in preparing it for the reception of his barley seed. Early sown barley, of which there is an unusually large propor- tion in the district, exhibits an equal and thriving braird. Oats, too, which were sownon early ploughed land, and while the soil retained a sufficient degree of moisture, present a very favourable appearance; but where they were late in being sown, they have in many cases brairded very irregularly. Wheat, both winter and spring, is healthy and well planted. The plants of beans and peas are sufficiently numerous and very vigorous. Grass on old pasture land has made little or no advance during the month, and new grass to which stock has been applied is now level with the ground. There are abundance of plants, but from the barrenness of the weather, they do not, when once eaten, spring afresh. The lambing season for bred stock closed about the middle of the month. It was very favourable, and little loss either of ewe or lamb has been sustained, but still the crop of lambs is rather below an average, the number of twins being unusually small. The lambing of the hill stock has hitherto proceeded very favourably, and it is to be hoped that little if any loss will have been sustained from the stormy weather of Monday. The cattle markets of this month were most abundantly supplied ; in some instances overstocked with prime beef, which declined in price, and may be quoted at from 4s. 9d. to 5s. 6d., and for very superior .5s. 9d. Mutton brought about 6d. per bound. The grain markets continued dull at former low prices, till towards the end of the month, when an increased demand was experisnced, and a slight rise in the price of most kinds of grain. — Kelso, May 1. THE HIGHLANDS. The early part of spring resembled much the preceding winter, as to high winds and boisterous weather ; since the latter end of March, it became more steady. With the exception of occasional frosty evenings, a more favorable lambing season has seldom been seen. The steady progress of vegetation kept the ewes in good heart ; conse- quently, the present crop of lambs is very pro- raising both as regarding numbers and condition ; indeed, there were fewer blanks than once antici- pated ; these having been filled from the reserve of twins. The flocks may be said to be full, and having retained the fleece well, the sheep farmers are in high spirits. From the prices given for great ewes at the south markets, valuations of sheep stocks at the ensuing Whit-Sunday, are looked to as being probably the highest for many years. The demand for black cattle still continues good, the late showers improving the pastures, which cause a livelier demand for stock. To the Strath farmers, the weather is equally favorable ; the ground was never in a better state for receiving the seed : the regular and healthy appearance of the braird, together with the thick covering of clover, give the fields a cheering aspect, but the demand for grain is still limited, and prices ruinously low. Strath-Tay, 13th May. 154 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. AGRICULTURAL INTELLIGENCE. ALFORD FAIR.— On Tuesday last the show of Sheep was not large, but nearly the whole found pur- chasers at an advance of price from 2s to 4s per head from the markets of the preceding week ; hogs were sold as high as 50s per head. Fat Beasts realized 7s per stone ; there was also a ready sale for most of the other kinds. CAISTOR FAIR This fair was holden on Fri- day and Saturday last, the 16th and 17th inst.; and there was not so much stock as was previously antici- pated, which was very probably owing to the fine rains which have lately refreshed the neighbourhood, by that means causing a sufficiency of pasture. Not- withstanding this there was a very fair show of stock of every description ; but they only met with a dull sale. Sheep were from 2s to 3s per head lower than the last fortnight market ; and what was sold of the cow species only meet a moderate price. Horses of a draught description were rather readily disposed of ; but those of a better kind only met a dull sale and bad prices. The decline in the prices of sheep is supposed to be attributable to there being an over- stock of the fat kind. At HUNTINGDON ANNUAL MAY CATTLE FAIR there was only a small quantity of stock ex- hibited for sale, and purchasers were not numerous. Such things as were disposed of maintained the price they have lately been realizing. ANDOVER MAY FAIR was well supplied with cheese, and although only one day after Lymington Fair, the attendance of dealers was numerous, and by three o'clock nearly the whole was cleared at the fol- lowing prices : — Prime best Somerset 56s to 62s per cwt., seconds 46s to 52s, Skim 20s to 28s. Pigs were numerous, and sold at low prices. In horses and cattle very little business was transacted. WISBECH. — Our horse fair, as was anticipated, was very fully attended on Thursday last. The com- mendable plan of making the fairs a general one for cattle, proved also very successful, the show of beasts and sheep being very fine. It is fully anticipated that in another year, if the spirit displayed this year is continued, will completely revive this degenerated mart for cattle. EXETER FAIR.— The Cattle Fair was but thinly supplied, particularly with fat Beasts. The small- ness of the supply was in some measure owing to several fairs and markets having been held on the same day, and to the like cause was assigned the ab- sence of many purchasers from the east; yet, notwith- standing this rather unusually small number of buy- ers, there was a pleasing briskness on the sales, and consequently higher prices were obtained . The best fat Oxen and Heifers, not of the largest size, realized rather more than 9s 6d per score, whilst many large and less saleable averaged about 9s ; prime grazing Oxen sold from 301 to 35^ the pair ; good working Steers from 22/ to 271 the pair ; two and three-year old steers from 14/ to 20/ the pair ; Heifers were scarce, and eagerly purchased, particularly those fresh and thriving, at from 61 to 8 10s. Cows and Calves were a short supply, and sold at from 9/ to 141, A lot of North Devon yearlings were offered at from 41 4s to 51 5s each ; and for a small drove of two and three-year old Guernsey heifers in Calf, fresh from the Island, from 8/ to lO^-each were asked, with a dull sale. BROMYARD FAIR was very slack, with hardly any business doing. At SHERSTON FAIR cattle sold readily at from 9s to 10s per score. Of sheep, the sale was dull at from 5d to 6d per lb. Lamb, from 7d to 8d. At HEREFORD Nine Days' Fair there was a larger show of cattle than usually brought to this Mart — most of the primest steers and stores were quickly sold at about the same prices they obtained at the last Easter Fair. There were {ew fat things, and those disposed of went from 5d to 3Jd per lb. Sheep sold from 5§d to 6d per lb. Pigs went very low. The horse mart exhibited rather a better display than usual, and fine animals for the saddle, harness, or agri- cultural purposes commanded good prices — those fit for coachers were also in great request. TOLLAR DOWN FAIR, was not so well sup- plied with stock as on former years ; great prices were demanded for lambs, but found few purchasers. On the whole it was a dull fair. At MARK FAIR the supply of fat stock was very small and sold heavily ; lean beasts were also scarce and high prices demanded. The principal feature in this fair is cart colts, and we never recollect to have seen a finer collection ; the marsh country farmers have evidently much improved the breed within the last few years ; most of the colts were sold and real- ized good prices. At NEWARK WHIT SUN FAIR, there was but a slender supply of cattle and sheep, the sales of which were very flat, as there were but few buyers. The show of horses was also small, and of these but few good ones, were sold well, but inferior ones went off badly. LONG SUTTON.— Our fair commenced on Tues- day week, but with a small supply of stock, which, owing to the rain, sold rapidly at advanced prices. LUDLOW FAIR was very thinly attended, the stock very low and scanty, with but few sales. Cheese, of which there was a greater supply than usual, went off pretty briskly at good prices. At SHREWSBURY FAIR there was a a very fine exhibition of large and, indeed, over fat sheep (fed longer than usual by the farmer for the sake of the fleece, in consequence of the price of wool) ; except those of large and of overfatted condition, 6d per lb. was obtained, but the latter were not above 5d. Very few sheep in the wool were penned, and these were worth at least Id a pound more than those shorn. Ewes and Lambs sold very well ; and the few Lambs exposed were readily sold at 6d to 7d per lb. Pigs were in the same unprofitable condition as in former fairs — 3d per lb. being nearly an outside price ; and many purchases were made under that figure. At the STRATFORD-ON-AVON FAIR agreater supply of fat beasts was brought thanusual, which met a ready sale at from 5d to 6d per lb. From 1400 to 1500 sheep were penned, a far greater number than has ever been seen at this fair. Many buyers attend- ed, and more than a thousand were sold at from 4§d to 5d per lb. One hundred Tegs, the property of Mr. Beman, of Broadwell, were sold at 50s each. At EGREMONT SPRING CATTLE FAIR, the show of cattle was unusually thin, and even these were of a very inferior description of stock. In con- sequence of the indifferent show, and the sellers stand- ing out for high prices, there was very little business transacted. Geld cows were most in demand, and for cattle of this kind good prices were obtained. HANDFORD HALL STOCK FAIB..— This fair, which has assumed a degree of importance, was well attended. The show was large and the business considerable ; Mr. Burchalone sold 1200 Hoggets, the prices he obtained were from 33s to 41s. There was an excellent drove of short-horned oxen, which met rather a slack sale ; but fat bullocks and sheep were cleared off early, and in some instances were sold before they reached the fair field, owing no doubt to the advanced prices at Smitbfield. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 155 TEWKESBURY FAIR was well supplied with stock of all desCTiptions; some good fat beef was sold at 6d ; mutton at 6id. Good horses were scarce, but in great demand. At WIVELISCOMBE FAIR, best Beef fetched 60s to 54s ; second do. 42s to 46s ; store Bullocks, 28s to 34s ; Cows and Calves, 36s to 48s. Sheep, wether, 7d to 7§d ; do. stores 6d per lb. Wool was more in demand than was expected, both by the Wel- lington and Devonshire buyers ; most of the farmers were of opinion that it would be still higher, so that very few sales were effected. Prices offered. Is 9d to 2s per lb. for the washed fleece. At SALFORD HORSE AND CATTLE FAIR,— The show was generally an inferior one, both as re- spects the number and the quality of the stock. The exception to this fact was in draught horses, of which there was a pretty good show, and as a good a de- mand, some of superior quality fetching 50/., and in some instances as much as 60/. There was also a considerable demand for barren cows, which conse- quently sold freely though at reduced prices. The calving cows went off more slowly, and generally at prices full 30s to 40s below the average ones of re- cent fairs in the neighbourhood. Pigs, a species of stock which is bred to great perfection in the neigh- bourhood and even in Salford, sold well ; but with the exception of the sums given for good draught horses, horses, the prices fetched by all descriptions of stock %vere below those given at other fairs. BAKEWELL FAIR was well supplied wit stock, but sales were dull. Pigs were in great plenty, and prices something lower. No variation in the price of cheese. ASHBOURN FAIR.— The show of good milk- ing and barren cows were very large, and high prices were asked, and obtained for superior animals. Of sheep and lambs the supply, although nothing equal to what has been shown at this fair on former years, was plentiful, and sold at good pricjs. The horse fair did not present an animated appearance, although though there was a fair sprinkling of good and showy roadsters, and useful horses of the cart kind. At BINEGAR FAIR, there was a good supply of cattle ; but the sale for all kinds was heavy, with the exception of good lamb, which met ready purchasers at from 7d to 8d per lb. Cows and calves were not much in demand. There was a large supply of horses, but the greater part was of an inferior description ; good ones sold well, and, as usual, fetched high prices. At ADWALTON CATTLE FAIR the show of horses and cows was very good. Cows were in good request, and realized good prices. The demand for horses was not so good; but on the whole a fair share of business was transacted. ROCHDALE.— At the annual fair for cattle, the show wasnot either very choice or numerous, and little inclination being exhibited for business, prices were proportionately low, except for a few good cattle, whicli sold well. WICKHAM FAIR was supplied with a consider- ble show of horses and other cattle, but the sales were remarkably dull, and the fair altogether was extremely flat. ILLSLEY FAIR was well attended, but the number of sheep penned was very short, and sales were effected at high prices — in some instances at an advance on the quotations of late markets. KEIGHLEY CATTLE MARKET.— On Tuesday last, the second fat and lean cattle fair was held in that town. The show of fat heavy cattle and sheep was most abundant, so much so that a considerab e number remained after the sales, which were very ex- tensive, and about the same price as obtained at the last fair. Such is the determination of cattle dealers, graziers, and others, to supply this fair with stock, that it only requires to be extensively known to butch- ers who did not attend, that so numerous and valuable an assortment has seldom been witnessed in any of the surrounding fairs. At PEMBROKE FAIR cattle averaged nearly the same prices as at the last two or three fairs. A few- horses were exposed for sale, but no buyers. At the Hay fair there was a good show of cattle, but as few purchasers attended, the sale was rather dull. Fat animals went from 3d to Sjd per lb. ; steers and stores were rather in demand. Sheep had a dull sale at about 5d per lb. Pigs sold low. Good horses were in request and a great many found pur- chasers. At the great horse fair at Landaff a great number of dealers attended, and there was an abundance of horses ; but we are sorry to say a worse display was never exhibited. We cannot imagine why the breeders do not pay greater attention to their selection of horses. There is scarcely a horse in the county worth breeding from ; the display in the several market towns is wretched. The fair at St. Clear's, Carmarthenshire, was well supplied with cattle, and those disposed of realized good prices. Cows with calves were most in demand. The pig fair on the following day was well attended, and a great number sold. At the fair at Haverfordwest, a great number of horses and cattle were disposed of at advanced prices. LLANIDLOES FAIR was full of cattle. Good barrens sold at better prices than at the late Newtown fair. Bullocks sold well, and a great number were disposed of. Cows and calves were much in de- mand ; but pigs were lower than were ever remem- bered, and yet the country is still full of them. MIJIR OF ORD.— Although the cattle fit for the flesher was scarce, the lean stock was in good condi- tion, and for the latter there was a fair demand. The buyers from the south were numerous, and many country dealers attended. Notwithstanding, however, the high prices obtained for some animals, those who wintered cattle complained that they had not received a remunerating price. Few animals fit for the flesher were shown ; those sold brought from 34s to 37s 4d per cwt, sinking the offals. A great number of horses were offered for sale. Ponies brought good prices, but old animals were not sought after. The best fat lot of Btots was purchased by Mr. Norrie, flesher, In- verness, from Mr. T. Middleton, some at 17/, and a few at 9/ 7s each. Three-years-old slots sold at from 5/ to 8/ ; two-years-old ditto, from 3/ to 5/ 15s ; and queys brought prices equal to those obtained last year. Mr. Sheriff showed a lot of 400 cheviot hogs of a very superior description, which, it was stated, sold at IBs each. A number of inferior lots of sheep remain- ed unsold. KILMARNOCK ANNUAL CATTLE FAIR was well attended, and presented a brisk business-like ap- pearance. There were above 300 cows exhibited for sale, the great number of which changea hands in a short time ; prices were a shade lower than at Irvine fair ; and it was allowed that dairy cows sold from 1/. to 1/ 10s per head less than they did six week? ago. The very fine prime milk cows exposed, brought from Hi lis to 13/ 1 3s ; and ordinary good ones averaged 166 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. from 91 to 10/ 10s. Farrow cows sold about 5s per stone ; there was a visible depreciatioa in the price of this description of cattle. Several very fair looking beasts sold as low as 41 and 41 10s. Upon the whole there was a good deal of business done ; sellersap- pearing to feel that it would be in vain to stand out for the former high prices, and that they might go further and fare worse. FALKIRK, MAY FAIR.— A good show of cattle appeared in the market place, and all descriptions had a good sale. Milk cows sold from 7/ 7s to 12 J ; graz- ing cows and queys proportionally high, according to their ages. In the afternoon there appeared an indif- ferent show of horses, which sold slowly ; but it was gratifying to observe a fine show of good stallions, particularly of the draught breed, which are evidently improving. ROSLEY HILL FIRST FAIR.— This fair.wliich is considered of great importance in the north of Eng- tand, both for horses and cattle, took place on Mon- day last : the day was, however, rather unfavourable, being both wet and cold. The show of horses was small, and the great number of a very inferior de- scription ; the few good animals that were exhibited were speedily bought up, at good remunerating prices ; indeed several were purchased before they reached the ground, the purchasers being pretty e.iger, and also numerous. The number of cattle shown was a fair average one, as compared with former years, but there was a considerable dulness in the sale, the holders saking higher prices than the late fairs in the south warranted purchasers given ; those that did change hands, were purchased at prices lower than was offered at some of the recent fairs in this county. At SWAFFHAM FAIR, the lean stock were ex- ceedingly plentiful, and a very great ^many were so at perhaps a slight advance in prices. The show of fat stock, however, was not very large, and for these there was a moderate sale. Sheep were also plenti- ful, and upon the whole realized a slight advance in price. The show of horses was good, and business rather brisk, but the trade was in some measure affected by there being some stolen horses present, which had fallen into the hands of one of the respect- able dealers ; he was apprehended, but readily ad- mitted to bail. The circumstance is expected to Ipad ta the discovery of several horses which have lately been stolen from the neighbourhood of Lynn. LORD ALTHORP'S BILL FOR THE COMMUTATION OF TITHES. On Wednesday a meeting took place at Brown's Hotel, Bridge-street, Westminster, of gentlemen de- puted from the various counties for the purpose of conferring with the Chancellor of the Exchequer upon the bill recently introduced into Parliament for the commutation of tithes. Besides the gentle- men referred to, there was also a large attendance of members of Parliament, among whom were Mr. Bulteel, Mr. O'Connell, Mr. Sheil, Mr. Gully, Mr. F. O'Connor, Mr. Seale, Mr. Parrott, Mr. S. Barry, and others. Mr. Branfiell, of Upminster-hall, Essex, was in the chair, and having opened the business of the meeting, Captain Hamlyn proposed the first resolution, to the effect that " the bill brought forward by Lord Althorp for the commutation and redemption of tithes is in most of its provisions highly falla- cious and objectionable, and likely to prove injur- ious to those whom it professes to serve." The resolution having been seconded, Mr. Bulteel, M. P.. proposed as an amendment the substitution of the word " many" for " most" in she resolution. It was desirable to word the resolution in such a manner as to embrace the views of all those who were opposed to the bill. There could be no doubt, however, that there were many who disappi-oved of a great number of the provisions of the bill who were not prepared to ex- press themselves opposed to " most" of its provi- sions. As a medium course between these two opinions he would propose his amendment. A long conversation then ensued upon the turn to be given to the resolution, in which several members of Parliament and gentlemen took part. The result was that the amendment was adopted by a majority. Captain Hamlyn then proposed the second reso- lution, to the effect that the present system of tithes, however injurious, was preferable to the bill now introduced. After a short discussion, the resolution was car- ried unanimously. The third resolution was then agreed to. It was to the effect that no measure of commutation would be acceptable to the country unless accompanied by a considerable diminution of the present burden of tithes. A member of the deputation from Sussex de- clared that the prevalent opinion in the fifty-two parishes he represented was, that it would be ab- solutely necessary that a tithe commutation bill should be passed at the same time with the Poor Laws' Bill as an antidote to the evils of the latter. If the Poor Laws' Bill was to be forced into a law, then it would be absolutely necessary to have a tithe commutation bill to do away as far as was possible with the mischief which it would pro- duce. It was finally arranged that previously to the de- putation's waiting upon Lord Althorp, they should meet for the purpose of discussing the clauses of the bill with a view to deciding upon the course they should take respecting it with his Lordship. A vote of thanks to the chairman was then passed, and the meeting separated. The hour appointed by Lord Althorp to receive the deputation was half past twelve this day (Thursday) . COMPARATIVE PRICES OF WHEAT IN ENGLAND, FRANCE, &c., &c. (From the Times.) The highest quotation of white wheat of the first quality at Hamburgh is 82 rixdollars current the last, which answers to 26s 6d the English quarter of eight bushels imperial measure, and the highest quotation of red wheat of the first quality is 76 rixdollars current the last, which answers to 24s 6d the quarter. ; and therefore the mean price at Hamburgh of white and red wheat together is 25s 6d the quarter. The highest quotation of white wheat in Mark-lane is 56s the quarter, and the highest quotation of red wheat is 50s the quarter, and therefore the mean price in Mark lane of white and red wheat together is 53s the quarter. It appears therefore that wheat is 108 per cent, dearer in London than at Hamburgh, and with the sum of 2/ 13s a man may buy 16| bushels of wheat at Hamburgh, whereas with the same sum he can only buy 8 busljels in London, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 167 The highest quotation of Zealand white wheat of the first quality at Amsterdam is 190 florins the last, which equals 30s 8d the quarter, and the mean price of wheat in London being 53s the quarter, it follows that wheat is 72^ per cent, dearer in London than at Amsterdam. The highest quotation of red wheat of the first quality at Antwerp is 7 J florins current the hectolitre, which answers to 31s 2d the quarter, and the highest quotation of red wheat in London being 50s the quar- ter, it follows that wheat is 60f per cent, dearer in London than at Antwerp. The highest quotation of red wheat of the first qua- lity at Stettin is 33 dollars current per wispel of 24 scheffels, which answers to 22s. 6d. the quarter, and the highest price of red wheat in London being 50s. the quarter, it follows that wheat is 122J per cent, dearer in London than at Stettin. Ths mean or average of the prices of wheat of the first quality at Hamburgh, Amsterdam, Antwerp, and Stettin, is 27s. 6d. the quarter, and the mean price of wheat in London being 53s. the quarter, it follows that the mean price of wheat in London is 92f per cent, dearer than the mean price of the four above- mentioned places. The present duty on the importation of foreign wheat into England is 38s. 8d. the quarter, which is equal to the following rates :.— to a rate of 151/. 12s. 8d. per cent, on the prime cost of wheat at Hamburgh ; to a rate of 126/. Is. 9d. per cent, on the prime cost of wheat at Amsterdam; to a rate of 124/. Is. 3d. per cent, on the prime cost of wheat at Ant- werp ; to a rate of 171/. 17s. percent, on the prime cost of wheat at Stettin; and to a rate of 140/. 12s 2d. per cent, on the mean price of the four above- mentioned places. TO CORRESPONDENTS. When a marriage is celebrated by special licence in a private house, it is necessary that it be registered in the register of the parish in lohieh such marriage takes place, ivhether celebrated by banns, by ordinary licence, or by special licence, must, immediately after the cele- bration thereof, be registered by the minister of the parish, signed by him, by the parties married, and by two subscribing witnesses present at the solemnization. X. can undoubtedly claim the empty flour sacks, or the value of them, from the underwriters ; the sacks are either to be considered as included in the insurance or not ; if included in the policy of the insurance, of course X. is entitled to the value ; but if not included in the insurance, if the sacks remain in specie, they are the property of X. The property qualifications for a Member of Parliament are as follow : — A person to be eligible as a Member for a county must have a freehold or copyhold, or must have been mortgagee in possession at least seven years, of a clear estate of thevalue of 6001. per annum; and of 3001. per annum to be eligible for a city, borough, or other place, except the Universities, If X. X. can prove a payment of part of the money within the last six years, he will be entitled to interest from the time the promissory note became due, unless it were payable "at a particular place, and not other- wise or elsetvhere." Persons giving receipts on unstamped paper, ^c, for sums under 100/., are subject to a fine of ten pounds, and for a greater amount, twenty pounds, tuhich must be sued for tvithin three months from the time of giv- ing the receipt. An attorney who practises without a certificate is liable to a penalty of fifty pounds, and cannot recover costs from a person for whom he has acted while uncertifi- cated. A. B. Notice should undoubtedly have been given of the express purpose of the meeting, if it were intended to engage the parish in a lawsuit. On the second point put, the act does not require the notice to be published more than once in the church previous to the meeting of the vestry ; but if there be a custom in the parish to give a larger or more extended notice, such custom ought to he complied with. When a person has a claim upon a friendly society, and for an allowance during sickness, the overseer of the poor upon an application for relief or maintenance by such person, or their families, has a right to require that the allowance of the benefit club should be first applied before any parochial assistance is administered. In other ivords, pure indigence alone has a right to claim relief from the parish funds ; that is, from the contributions of others. A. B. is exoneratedfrom making the repairs, his landlord having accepted him for the last two years as a yearly tenant. W. is liable to a penalty of one hundred pounds, and ten per cent, on the duty, if he neglect to administer within six months from the death of his father. He must pay all the debts in proportion, after first paying the funeral and testamentary expenses. If a yearly tenant refuse to give up possession of a house after due notice to quit, the landlord may maintain an action of ejectment, or recover double value of the rent. A modus is not lost, but suspended, by converting the pasture land into tillage land. When the land is con- verted into another mode of enjoyment thanpasture, it is liable to tithe in kind ; but lohen reconverted into pasture, the inodus revives. There are several old authorities for this point, and there can be no doubt of it. Lammas meadow ground, when the parish is enclosed, is rateable, and the occupier is the person to be charged. The proprietors of the soil are, of course, rateable, but the persons who have merely a right of common, hav- ing an incoporeal right only, are not rateable. There is no such qualification that a rated inhabitant should not be liable to execute the office of overseer till he has paid his rent and rates, and been in the parish a year. He clearly may be chosen. Houses inhabited for husbandry alone, though exempt from house duty, are not exempt from window duty, except for one glazed window in a dairy. Of course, they are exempt altogether if under the value of ten pounds per annum. The covenant is, that X. X. his heirs, Sfc. shall pay and allow the usual price in the neighbourhood for thresh- ing and dressing the corn and grain, ^c, and also for all the hay and straw lohich shall be grown upon the demised premises in the last year, and for the muck. Now, however contrary to the custom of the county such covenant may be, X. X. is strictly bound by it, as it is not contrary to law. To W. — A bill must be filed in this case, to declare the trusts of the will, to carry them into execution, and also to appoint new trustees. As this will be an amicable suit, the expense will be very trifling, not exceeding 50/. and it is the only way of protecting the property. A decree is absolutely necessary for the safety of the parties, as no private agreement can be sufficient. A. case there are not sufficient assets to pay legacies in full, they must all be proportionahly abated. Poachers are liable to seven years^ transportation for their third offence, under the 9th Geo. IV., c. 69, sec. 1. Overseers have the option of receiving paupers into the workhouse, or making them a loeekly allowance. The friends of the pauper can see them during visiting hours. 158 • THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. MARK LANE. REVIEW OF THE CORN TRADE. The dull uninteresting character, which has so long prevailed throughout the market, has at length been relieved by a lively demand for Oats, in which not only dealers and consumers have participated, but speculators also have con- tributed to render more animated, exhibiting the proof that it only required an object to attract speculation, and the spirit, though long dormant, was forthwith aroused to action. Analyzing, however, the causes which have led to the ad- vances of fill 25 per cent, on the article, from its minimum point, we are by no means so san- guine as many judges appear to be, of a con- tinuance of the excitement, until another harvest is secured. We have before intimated, that the advance is based on the supposed deficiency in the stocks of this country and Ireland, and not on the aspect of the growing crops. The rapid improvement in the currency during the last fortnight is, however, mainly attributable to speculative purchases. No doubt extensive Go- vernment contracts have to be completed, which has caused some of the contracting parties to purchase rather freely in Mark Lane in antici- pation perhaps of higher prices ; others have resorted to Ireland, which, added to a large toivn demand, London at present being very full, has created a considerable inquiry for Oats, and the actual purchases, aided by the preconception as to the limited amount of stock on hand, and the consumption of the country having now since October, 1831, been supplied from its own re- sources without any foreign assistance, though it is true the quantity that paid duty in London alone at that time amounted to upwards of 260,000 qrs. 128,000 qrs. of which ivere entered in one week at a duty of 7s 9d ; these united causes therefore have naturally called forth speculative attention, and forced up the previ- ously depressed currency. We are, however, inclined to believe,that the advance is partly ephe- meral, and though we do 7Wt look forward to any depreciation, but rather a firm trade and steady improvement in the article, yet we should advise a second reflection before making any heavy in- vestment in foreign Oats ; for, as to their ad- mission at a duty of 6s 3d, or even 7s 9d previous to harvest f the general averages of the Kingdom, to attain the former rate of duty, must range from 27s to 28s ; and considering the aggregate average is now only 18s lOrf, and the duly \9s 9d, we should think that a duty of 9s 3d is the lowest that ought to be calculated upon. During the past week the weather, which is now beginning to be of controuling importance, continued dry, with occasional cold easterly winds at night. — The reports from the country speak, respecting the growing Wheats, most favourably , but with a few partial exceptions, indifferently of spring corn, more particularly of Oats and Peas. We have heard that in some places a second sowing has taken place, and such pro- mises faint prospects of success. The Wheat trade ruled dull on Wednesday, and inferior qualities hung en hand, but prices were not gene- rally quoted lower. — Flour participated in this dulness, and only the best qualities found buyers at steady prices ; other descriptions were almost a chance sale, and difficult to quote with accu- racy. Barley met very little inquiry, except in re- tail quantities fur grinding, for which purpose the sales were onfall Monday's terms. In Malt not much was done, but sales were not pressed, and fine qualities were hardly to be bought so well as the previous week. The large brewers are said to be tolerably well stocked for their season's consumption, but of late years there has been a demand, although of limited character, all through summer for this article. Of Beans and Peas there were few at mar- ket, especially of the latter, and consequently few transactions passed, but prices were rather higher. Oats were in extensive demand, and a consider- able speculation going forward, which extended even to bonded. At the close of Monday's mar- ket a large bulk was sold of prime Russian at 14* per qr , under lock ; several par eels of same kind realized \3s to 14* on Wednesday and Friday ; and a sale of feed, about 38 lbs. per bushel, was effected on Wednesday at Ss Qd per qr. free on board in Denmark or Sweden, whence freight ivould be about 2s 9d per qr. ; subsequently more money might have been ob- tained. A cargo of prime Groningen thick Brew just arrived, was reported to have fetched 18* per qr. a little luarm. Free Oats realized on Friday \s per qr, over the currency of Mon- day, not merely to speculators, but to dealers and consumers generally. Peas in bond were asked for, and 20* per qr. was offered for a parcel of bonded Beans, but nothing doing in Wheat, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 159 OURBENOY PER IMPERIAL. MEASURE BRITISH. May 1. JUNEl. Wheat, Egsex, and Kent, New, Red ... 44 to v2 44 to 4S Old ditto 48 "" Wh)te,New 48 Old ditto 45 Suffolk and Norfolk, Red, New, and Old 44 White, do. do 45 West Country Red 44 White, ditto 45 Northumberland and Scotch Red 41 White, ditto 44 Irish Red 37 Ditto White 40 Barley, Malting 28 Chevalier 32 Distilling 25 Grinding 22 Malt, New 45 Ditto Norfolk pale 51 Ditto Ware 50 Peas, Hog and Grey 30 Maple 31 White Boilers 32 Beans, small 31 Harrow..... 27 Ticks 26 Mazagan 25 Oats, English feed IGg Od to ISs 6d Short small 17 Poland 18 Scotch Ditto 17s 6d to 19s Od Potatoe 21 Berwick 20 Irish Ditto 17s Od to ISs fid DittoPotatoe IQs Od 20s Od DittoBlack 178 Od 18s0d Bran 10s 6d to 13s per 16 bushel. 56 48 54 57 42 46 57 45 52 50 43 46 56 45 51 50 39 44 55 40 46 48 36 42 50 43 44 45 35 41 47 39 43 30 23 30 35 30 27 27 29 24 26 29 48 34 48 57 50 56 68 50 58 33 32 35 35 34 37 37 34 38 37 33 40 35 31 37 33 30 35 31 2$ 33 22s Od to 24* Od 20 23 25 21 23 26 23s 6d to 24s Od 23 2S 27 21 25 26 20s 6d to 21 3 6d 238 Od 25s Od 228 Od 238 Od PRICES OF FLOUR, Per sack of 280 lbs. May 1. June 1. S. 8. S. S, Town-made 43 to 46 43 to 46 Norfolk, Suffolk, Kent, and Essex .... 33 35 33 35 Sussex and Hampshire 33 35 33 35 Superfine 36 38 36 38 Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, and Stockton. 32 34 32 34 Northumberland. Berwick, and Scotch, 30 34 30 34 Irish 34 36 34 36 Extra 37 — 37 — LONDON AVERAGES, ENDING MAY 20. qrs. ^ s. d. Wheat 7731 2 9 7 Barley 4024 1 9 5 Oats 25571 1 1 2 qrs. .;£■ s. d . Rye _ _ _ Beans 1565 1 12 5 Peas 251 1 16 11 IMPERIAL AVERAGES. Wheat Barley 32 ! 32 9 .13 4 34 0 34 4 34 5 35 8 32 7 34 I .34 10 33 2 35 7 Weekending lltb April. 47 2 27 9 18th .. 47 6 27 1" 25th ,, 48 3 28 1 2d May. 48 4 28 4 9th „ 48 7 2S 7 :6th „ 47 11 28 Aggregate Average ofthe last 6 weeks 48 0 28 2 18 10 32 5 Duties till May 28. 38 8 19 10 19 9 21 3 Do, on grain from British possessions out of Europe .... Foreign Flour, 22s Od per 196 lbs. British Posses- sions Do. 3s Od per 196 lbs. Oats 18 2 18 4 18 5 19 0 19 6 19 9 18 10 19 9 Rye 32 10 30 3 32 4 33 6 31 10 33 7 SMITHFIELD MARKET. Per stone of 81b8. to sink the offals. MayI. JunbI. t. d. 8. d. s. d. B. |}. Inferior Beef 2 0to2 2 2 4 to 2 6 Do. Mutton 2 4 2 8 2 4 2 6 Middling Beef 2 5 2 10 2 6 3 0 Do. Mutton .? 6 3)0 3 4 3 6 Prime Beef 3 6 4 0 3 8 4 4 Do. Mutton 4 2 4 6 3 8 4 2 Veal J6 50 26 50 Pork 3 0 4 0 3 0 4 Lamb.. .!.«.. .<>«••••. ....I.. 6060 4660 PRICES OF HOPS IN THE BOROUGH. May 1. June 1. ^ s. ^ s. ^ s. j£ 8. East Kent Pockets 8 8 to 10 10 8 8 to 10 10 Bags 7 10 9 9 7 10 9 9 Mid-Kent Pockets 7 7 9 0 7 7 9 o Bags 6 10 7 15 6 10 7 15 BUTTER, CHEESE, AND HAMS, &c. ENGLISH BUTTER, per firkin. May 1. June 1. Dorset 40 to 44 4010 — Cambridge 40 44 40 — York 40 42 40 42 CHEESE, per cwt. Double Gloucester 48 to — 48 to 68 N-w Ditto 68 — — — Single Ditto 44 48 44 48 Cheshire 54 — 54 74 New Ditto 75 — — — Derby 50 60 50 60 HAMS, per cwt. Westmoreland 55 to 64 50 to 60 Cumberland 48 60 46 48 BOROUGH AND SPITALFIELDS MARKETS. Per ton. MayI. JuneI. .£ 8. .;f 8. j£ «. je ». Ware, York kidneys 4 0 to 415 4 5 to 5 0 Scotchreds 4 0 4 l."; 4 5 6 0 Marsh Champions 3 15 4 10 3 15 4 10 Shaivs and other whites 40 46 40 46 Middling York kiineys 3 12 3 15 3 15 4 !0 Scotchreds 3 0 3 10 3 5 3 15 Marsh Champions 215 33 2 15 33 Sliaws and other whites 2 12 3 3 2 12 2 15 VrOOIi MARKETS. BRITISH. Per lb. May 1. s. d. s. d. North and South-Down Hog- > ] j 1 (q q 0 gets { Half-bred Di! to 2 0 0 0 Diito Ewes, cloathing 15 0 0 South-Down Ewes 1 6 0 0 Kent Fleeces 17 18 Skin Comliing 1 4 1 5 Leicester Wethers 16 0 0 FlannclWool 1 3 15 Blanket Ditto Oil 1 3 Leicester Hogs 1 11 0 0 In Yolk— Devon 1 2 14 SCOTCH. Per Stone of 24 lbs. MayI. s. d. 8. d. Laid Highland Wool, from. 15 9 to 16 6 White Do. Do 18 6 19 6 Laid Crossed Do 18 0 19 0 WashedDo. Do 20 6 22 0 Laid Cheviots 20 0 23 0 WashedDo 25 0 29 0 White Do June 1. 8. d. s. d. 1 9to0 0 I 10 C 0 1 3 0 0 1 4 0 0 1 6 I 0 1 4 1 0 1 4 0 7 I 1 1 6 0 0 I 0 1 9 0 5 0 11 I 1 June 1. 8. d. 8. d. 13 0tol4 0 15 0 16 0 15 0 16 6 17 6 18 6 17 6 19 6 23 0 26 0 FOREIGN. Per lb. MayI. s. d. s. d. Electoral Saxony Wool, from. 4 6 to 6 6 1st Australian, Bohemian, 1 > q ^ ^ and German Wools / 2ndDo 2 9 3 6 Inferior Do. in Locks and Pieces 2 0 2 6 Larabs' Do 3 6 4 6 Hungary Sheep's Do 2 2 2 6 Leonesa Do 2 6 3 10 Segovia Do 2 6 3 0 Soria Do 2 0 2 9 Cacares Do 2 0 2 4 Spanish Lamb's Wool 1 6 2 9 German and Spanish cross Do. 16 2 9 Portugal Sheep's Do 1 4 2 0 Do, Lambs'Do I 4 2 9 Australian fine crossed Do ... 3 6 5 6 Dito Native Sheep's Do 1 10 2 6 \m Diemeu't Land Dq. Do,. 14 0 0 Ju MR I. s. d. 8. d. 4 6 to 6 6 4 0 4 4 2 9 3 6 2 0 2 6 3 6 4 6 2 2 2 6 2 6 3 10 2 6 3 0 2 0 2 9 2 0 2 4 1 6 2 9 1 6 2 9 ] 4 2 0 1 4 2 9 3 6 5 G 1 10 2 6 1 4 2 6 160 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. SMITHFIELD CLUB. PRESIDENT— Right Hon. Lord Viscount Althorp. VICE-PRESIDENTS— His Grace the Duke of Rich- mond ; The Right Hon. Lord Western; The Hon. Lord Strathaven; Sir J. S. Sebright, Bart. M.P. ; John M. Cripps, Esq. STEWARDS— Mr. Richard Griffin, Mr. Thomas Chapman, and Mr. Thomas C. Beasley. THE CHRISTaiAS SHOW OF FAT CATTLE, SHEEP, and PIGS, will be held on Friday the I2th, Saturday, the 13th, and Monday the 15th of December next. PREMIUMS offered for Stock duly qualified and properly certified, according to the general and particu- lar Conditions which are printed for distribution. CLASS. I. Oxen or Steers of any Breed, under Five Years of Age, without Restrictions as to Feeding, yet the kind or kinds of Food must be certified. To the Feeder of the best fat Steer, a Premium, Plate or Money 20 Sovereigns To the Breeder of the same, a Silver Medal. CLASS II. Oxen or Steers of any Breed under Six Years of Age, Weight 160 stone and upwards, that shall not have had Cake, Corn, Meal, Seeds, Grains, or Distiller's wash previous to the \st of Augiist, 1S34. To the Feeder of the best fat Ox or Steer, 1st Pre- mium, Plate or Money 20 Sovereigns To the Breeder of the same, a silver Medal. To the Feeder of the second best ditto, the second Premium, ditto 10 Sovereigns. CLASS III. Oxen or Steers of any Breed, under Five Years of Age, under 160 stone and above 120 stone Weight, that shall not have had Cake, Corn, Meal, Seeds, Grains or Dis- tiller's wash, previous to the 1st of August , 1834. To the Feeder of the best fat Ox or Steer, the first Premium, Plate or Money 15 Sovereigns. To the Breeder of the same, a Silver Medal. To the Feeder of the second best ditto, the 2nd Pre- mium, ditto 10 SovereigDS. CLASS IV. Oxen or Steeis of any Breed, not exceeding Four Years and three months of Age. under 120 sto7ie Weight, that shall not have had Cake, Corn, Meal, Seeds, Grains, or Distiller's wash, previous to the 1st of August, 1834. To the Feeder of the best fat Ox or Steer, a Pre- mium, Plate or Money 10 Sovereigns To the Breeder of the same, a Silver Medal. To the Feeder of the second best ditto, the 2nd Pre- mium ditto 5 Sovereigns. CLASS V. Fattened Coics or Heifers wider Five Years of Age, Free- martins and spayed Heifers are not qualified. To the Feeder of the best fat Cow, or Heifer, a Premium, Plate or Money ,. . . 15 Sovereigns To the Breeder of the same, a Silver Medal. CLASS VI. Fattened Cows of Five Years old andupwards, Freemar- tins and spayed Heifers are not qualified. To the Feeder of the best fat Cow, a Premium, Plate or Money 15 Sovereigns To the Breeder of the same, a Silver Medal. CLASS VII. Long-woolled fat Wether Sheep, One Year Old, ivithout Restrictions as to feeding. To the Feeder of the best pen of Three, under 22 months old, the 1st Premium 10 Sovereigns To the Breeder of the same, a Silver Medal. To the Feeder of the second best ditto, the 2nd Pre- Biium ditto 5 Sovereigns. CLASS VIII. Long-woolled fat Wether Sheep, TwoYears Old, with' out Restrictions as to feeding. To the Feeder of the best ditto, above 22 and under 34 months old, a Premium 10 Sovereigns. To the Breeder of the same, a Silver Medal. CLASS IX. Short-icoolledfat Wether Sheep, One Year old, without Restrictions as to Feeding. To the feeder of the best Pen of three, under 22 months old, the 1st Premium 10 Soverrigns. To the breeder of the same, a Silver Medal. To the Feeder of the second best ditto, the 2nd Pre- mium, ditto 5 sovereigns. CLASS X. Short -woolled fat Wether Sheep, Two Years old, with- out Restrictions as to feeding. To the feeder of the best ditto, above 22 and under 34 months old, a Premium 10 Sovereigns. To the breeder of the same, a Silver Medal. CLASS XI. Pigs of any breed. To the Feeder of the best Pen of Three, above 4 and under 9 months old, the 1st Premium, 10 Sove- reigns. To the breeder of the same, a Silver Medal. To the Feeder of the second best ditto, the 2nd Pre- mium, ditto 5 Sovereigns. A Gold Medal, value 5 Sovereigns, to the Breeder of the best Beast exhibited in any of the classes. A Gold Medal, value 5 Sovereigns, to the Breeder of the best Pen of long-woolled Sheep in Class VII. and VIII. A Gold Medal value 5 Sovereigns, to the Breeder of the best pen of short -woolled Sheep in Class IX. or X. — (Provided the Judges consider the animals of suffi- cient merit.) EXTRA STOCK. Silver Medals will be presented, one to the Exhi- bitor of fhe best Beast, one to the best long-woolled Sheep, one to the best short-wooUed Sheep, and one to the best Pig, exhibited as Extra Stock, if the Judges deem each worthy of commendation. Conditions under which the above Premiums are oflFered, that the Breeder's certificate is required to be sent with the Feeder's certificate. That all the one year old Sheep exhibited, shall be marked by the Stew- ards on the ear. All other rules, together with blank Forms for filling up, with the particulars which are re- quired to be certified, and the Instructions to the Judges, according to which they are to proceed in awarding the Premiums, are set forth at length in a large printed Bill, with which all persons intending to send Stock to the Show should be early provided in order that they may proceed properly with their animals, and in pre- paring and sending up, in due time, the requisite signed Certificates, and that their animals may arrive at the Show Yard, at the time required ; without attention to which particulars, no Stock can be admitted. Persons wishing to obtain one of the printed Bills, may request their Salesman to call for it, at Mr. Mit- chell's, Drapers' Shop, No. 57, Corner of Smithfield Market ; also by application to me, at No. 37, How- land-street, Fitzroy-square, London. William Farey, Secretary. ENTERED AT STATIONER'S HALL. Published at 19, OldBosivell Court, Temple Bar. Printed by Joseph Rogerson, 21, Norfolk-street, Strand, THE FARMER^S MAGAZINE, JULY, 1834. No. 3.] [Vol. 1. TO THE EDITOR OF " THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE." Sir, — From having been a Tithe Agent for forty years, and a payer of tithes nearly as long, I have been asked what I thought of the proposed lithe bill, 500 times for what I know ; and this led me to state my opinion publicly so far as tiie doubts written and verbal prevailed. I have not read the bill and there- fore may be in error as to its clauses on some heads. What I stated in reference to a district tithe rate, was more intended as a question than otherwise, and " Cymro" hasnotclearly explained it. He says that the rate is to be "a poundage on the rent," and so it appears, but if so, why call it a district rate ; each farm must be assessed according to its value to rent, and each parish tithe rent must surely belong to the incumbent, be it more or less than the tithe of an ad- joining parish or district. Cymro puts a case of " one parish of 1,000 acres paying 15s per acre rates, and another but 5s per acre ; land of the same quality and tithes of the same value ;" such a case may exist, but not if there is the same portion of arable and pasture in each parish, and the effect of rates to the land and tithe owner, is re- latively the same under the present system, and under the proposed measure of commutation. If, for in- stance, land is worth 25s per acre, and subject to 15s per acre rates, viz. I2s and 3s respectively ; if the landlord undertakes to pay the rates, or no rates ex- isted, then such land would be worth 37s per acre rent, and tithes now worth 5s per acre, subject to one fifth of the rates, or 3s per acie, would, if free from rates be worth 8s per acre tithes. If the land is sub- ject to but 53 per acre for rates, the rent oi such land would be 29s per acre, and the tithe 6s per acre. Estimating the tithe at 4s in the pound on arable land, and 2s 6d on pasture, may alter the tithe rent on different farms, but I presume that in a majority of parishes in this county, that it will not in- crease or diminish the tithe but a trifle, if set accord- ing to value to rent ; viz., what would he given under present circumstances. To estimate the tithe accord- ing to the rental of the last seven years, would be un- just, because contracts were made in reference to higher prices of produce than have been obtained, or are likely to be obtained in future. I believe tithes have been more generally reduced than rent, and thus, if the rental is set at less, still the tithes may average nearly the fame as at present; viz. 1,000 acres at 4s 6d gives 225/ as tithe ; 800 acres of arable at 25s per acre, at 4s in the pound, gives 200/ ; and 200 acres of pasture at 2s 6d in the pound, gives 25/ ; total, 225/. Lands worth but 203 rent, are pacing 4s per acre tithe, or 180/ per 1,000 acres, and would pay the same in future. All I wish to show is that there isnodiiKculty i arranging the business, if the giound of assessment is clearly defined, except where the tithe property is divided, and moduses, &c. exist. The question as to amount of tithe rate, I leave to others ; the majority of tithe-payers are indifferent about it, as they are aware tiiey shall have to pay the same amount to one or other ; all they wish is to be re- lieved from the present system. The tithe of course will be paid if required half-yearly ; this will be bene- ficial to the clergy, and particularly so to the families at their decease, as under the present law produce is not titheable till it is sever'd, and thus an incumbent may have served the case, or paid a curate during ill- ness for seven or nine months, and his successor be entitled to the tithes. It would be but just and equitable if a bill was passed to secure a portion of tithe to the incumbent, up to the time of his decease or removal, whether Rector, Vicar, or perpetual Curate, and also that dilapidations should be assessed within one month after the decease. Crown livings cannot lapse, and it has happened that such have not been presented of years, waiting for some friend be- ing able to take it or to give a bonus by holding ano- ther living ; till a year or two, tithes have been re- ceived where holding, and accumulated when to be presented and the like ; 1 speak in reference to what has happened to my knowledge, and in several in- stances while lord Thurlow was Chancellor, and may happen again. It matters little to the public, but if the dilapidations are not assessed till the living is presented, the buildings dilapidate rapidly, and it is unjust that the heirs of a late incumbent should be liable to be charged for such, whilst the produce of the tithes are accumulating and go to the next in- cumbent. I was much surprised to seethe old exploded frame dibble, recommend by C. S., such formerly were used in the sanaland districts of Suffolk, but long laid aside. C. S. is in error respecting the drill being more wasteful of Mangel seed than the dibble, and that it cannot be regularly deposited by drill j a hand- drill invented by Mr. R. Fuller of Ipswich, is the best for the purpose I have seen. But, or I believe any seed deposited in the spring, vegetates better when drill'd than from any other mode ; a frame dibble snatches up the soil if moist, and if dry the holes run half full of dust, or dust is brushed upon the seed ; a single dibble glares the holes if wet, by the twist given to clear it ; and if the land is dry, the same objection occurs as with the frame drill nearly. If we admit that more seed is required to drill than set, still it is no saving in the end, as thinning by hand must be resorted to, and this costs more than the extra seed. In a treatise I wrote some years back, I stated that there were no means of insuring a plant of Beet but by drilling early and on a stale furrow ; I have, however, been shown to the contrary, and ad- mit the fact ; I now believe that a plant of Beet and and Swedish Turnips may be obtained in a drought at a moderate expence compared to the value of these crops, and particularly in a season like the pre- sent, when so short a crop of Clover and Grass is likely M 162 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. to he obtained. The value of Beet in particular must not be measured by the weight of Beef or.Mutton it will give, but the saving in Corn and Cake, or keeping the cattle off the Clovers, Pastures, ^'c, till well grown, and thus spare a greater breadth for the scythe, (and as is shewn this season more than usual^ or to be grown in lieu of Turnips to feed late, and thereby prevent the hazard of losing a Barley crop and layer. I am incredulous as to the ova of the turnip beetle being in the seed, it cannot be so. The most emi- nent Entymologists never discovered the ova or grub of the turnip beetle. The turnip fly is always furnished with case wings when it attacks the plant, and there- fore is a perfect beetle. They always emerge from their hiding places as soon as warm weather occurs in the spring, generally early in April — never more so than this season, they have almost destroyed some Mangel Wurzel plants in a field near me. There is a minute insect called the Smynthurus which infest the early sown turnips, which has been mistaken for the grub of the turnip beetle ; it leaps after the man- ner of the turnip fly, but it performs this feat by binding its tail under its body, and thus leaps by an elastic process of the tail. It is useful to state facts which present themselves, although our conclusions may be erroneous, if it induce others to put us right. I have given my opinion on many subjects which led others to endeavour to ascertain' if I was correct in my view of them, and I have received much infor- mation from such persons ; some nearer way of ob- taining the object, some obstacle pointed out, or some other process or system. It is a most grievous thing to see a great portion of the able and willing unemployed, whilst the earth would produce double the produce of one sort or other, than at present, if the cost of production did not exceed the value. I remain Sir, your's, CHARLES POPPY. BUCKLEBURY INCLOSURE. The rejection of this Bill by the House of Com- mons has excited the surprise of most persons who are acquainted with the local circumstances of the case, and with the charitable disposition and liberal sentiments entertained by Mr. Hartley, the Lord of the Manor. So far from the measure being " pregnant with mischief, and promising little ad- vantage to any person," it would, if carried into efTect, have produced considerable benefit to the parish at large, and particularly to the industrious poor, by bringing into cultivation eight hundred acres of land, which would have afforded the best possible relief to the poor by the constant employ- ment of the labourers, and have contributed to the payment of the parish rates, which at present amount to 1,000Z. for the year. For several years past, during the winter months, there have been upon an average thirty men unemployed or main- tained by the parish in useless labour, at an annual expeuse of not less than 140/., which with the rates payable in respect of the newly inclosed lands, taken at a very moderate computation for the year at 135/., would effect an annual saving in the rates of 275/. The detailed account of advantages which the poor may derive from the Commons, amounting to 8l. 2s., is merely speculative and matter of opinion — not a single instance can be produced of any poor person in the parish ever haying realised such a sum or any thing like it ; and the statements " that there were about two hundred and thirty families interested in the common ; of those, about thirty- five were freeholders, of whom more than twenty, together with two hundred families, comprising not less than one thousand persons, were opposed to the inclosure" have been introduced for the pur- pose of creating a strong feeling of excitement, and to keep up the delusion that " the poor were about to be deprived of their rights." Now, as to rights, the case stands thus : — The parish contains 4,050 acres, or thereabouts, of old inclosed lands, be- longing to thirty proprietors, whereof there are eight possessing 3,940 acres assenting : fifteen pos- sessing eighty acres dissenting, and seven possess- ing thirty acres who are neuter. There are six or seven other persons who claim as freeholders in respect of encroachments made within twenty years, and consequently have no legal rights ; the remainder of the 200 families are occupiers only, and more than three-fourths of them tenants to Mr. Hartley, and have no legal claim. Of the fifteen dissentients twelve have enjoyed common rights to a considerable extent, and as their united estates did not exceed ten acres, it was represented to Mr. Hartley that they might not derive so much benefit from the inclosure, on account of the heavy ex- pense of ring-fencing their small allotments, when he immediately proposed to grant from his own allotment to every proprietor in the parish, whose estate and interest in the lands did not exceed five acres, forty-six perches for every acre (being dou- ble the quantity which, according to the opinion of Mr. Hawkes, their own surveyor, they would be entitled to under the Act), to inclose their several allotments at his own expense, and to pay all the Commissioners' rates and other charges to which they might be liable under the Inclosure Act. This liberal offer was rejected — and the unfounded and delusive clamour, " For the protection of the rights of the poor against the oppression of the great landed proprietors of Berks," unfortunately pre- vailed, and the Bill was lost — the consequences will be very injurious to the parish. The poor will be deprived of the benefit of the advice and assist- ance of Mr. Hartley as a resident among them, which, in the winter season, must be severely felt; his numerous cottage tenants will be deprived of small allotments of land near their houses, which it was his avowed intention to grant (although they had no claim), for the purpose of bettering their condition and making them independent of the rates. The number of unemployed labourers will increase and continue a burthen to the parish. With regard to the objection as to the tithes, it was admitted in the Committee, that the terms proposed by the Bill were fair and reasonable, and more liberal to the proprietors than those contem- plated by the general measure of commutation now laefore the House. AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL. We have perused with much pleasure a small pamphlet, just published by our respected towns- man, Mr. James Cropper, giving an account of his motives and plans in founding a school for the I education and employment of ^riculturallabour* THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 163 ers, at Fernhead, neai- Warrington. These will be best explained in his own words : — " It has long been my opinion," says he, " that the principal cause of misery and crime among the labour- ing classes is a deficiency of work, and want of edu- cation. I believe that the land of this country, if well cultivated, would afford full employment and com- fortable subsistence for a much more numerous popu- lation, and also that education might be more general, and less expensive, by combining manual and agricul- tural labour with useful learning : besides the pecuniary advantage of such a plan, it would promote the strength of the children, and fit them to pursue, in future,with greater usefulness, any mechanical or laborious occu- pation. With a view to correct or confirm my opinion on the subject of education, I have visited different institutions of the kind on the Continent ; and at Cara, near Geneva, many of the plans which I had previ- ously thought of, were brought so satisfactorily into operation, that I am encouraged to make the trial of a similar institution ; and I propose also to make some experiments with respect to the employment of la- bourers on land. " The expense of the education of twenty-five boys at Cara is about £5 per annum each ;* the master of the school, to whom is committed almost the entire management, is a young man of no great learning, but well qualified to teach reading, writing, and arithmetic : he has a good understanding, and is able to turn his hand to any tbing. His remuneration is very mode- rate, such as does not raise his ideas above labouring with his own hands. This is of vast importance, for whilst it is a saving of expense, his example has a very good influence upon the children. Profitable labour is made the first object ; they are much in the fields in the spring and summer, and in the school in winter , but whether in the school or in the fields, he is their companion, their instructor, and the sharer in their toils. " The children, who are mostly orphans, are allowed to remain as long as they chuse, for, as they advance in age, their 'abour becomes more profitable. When they leave the school, if their conduct is good, the master tells them they may look to him as their father, and the institution as their home, and come to it when- ever circumstances oblige them to be out of place. My institution will be on a similar plan for thirty boys ; but I have been advised to begin with only six, and to add to the number as they become trained to the plan. In the course of a few years I hope to re- duce the expense to little or nothing ; but this must greatly depend on the continuance of boys in the school after they have attained an age at which their work will be more valuable. As they may be qualified here for the occupations of farming, gardening, nur- sery business, and masters of similar institutions, and as the difficulties often attending the finding of suitable situations for them on leaving school will be thus ob- viated, it is hoped that few of the boys will be dis- posed to quit the institution at an early period. On the subject of education, my views accord generally with those of Fellenburg, that ' the^end and object of instructing the poor should be, to afford them the knowledge requisite for the due performance of their duties in their station of life, and that the true way to make them happy is to render them contented in their situation, but not to give them instruction which would raise them above their rank, and instil into theirminds the desire of advancement,which renders them dissatis- "* The average cost of the boys at Fellenburg's School of Industry (for nine years ending in 1818), be- sides the produce of their labour, was 3Z. 8s. per annum each. I have not beea able to obtaiu a»y recent ac- COUttti" fied with their actual lot, restless, and desirous of change ;' this he justly considers to be the prevailing evil of the age. In another part of his work Mr. Cropper says, " It is proposed that the school shall have attached to it about six acres of land for spade cultivation, which, under high improvement, will, it is presumed, afford sufficient food for the family ; this, however, will not be the case at once, but will require a few years of patient perseverance. ***** " About ten or twelve acres of land are intended to be appropriated to the employment of agricultural la- bourers, in order to ascertain how many can be pro- fitably maintained in comfort upon it. * * " I propose to cultivate the land by spade hus- bandry, not because I approve of creating labour by discarding machinery (for machinery is undoubtedly one of the means under Providence for the improve- ment and civilization of mankind), but because, under a high state of cultivation, especially with more than one crop in the year, spade husbandry is decidedly the best. " The most approved plans of cultivation will be adopted, and some new experiments will be made. When one crop succeeds another on the same ground, the growth of the seeds or plants depends much on the state of the weather at the time of sowing, or transplanting. If a month of drought should succeed, half the crop might be lost. To remedy this, a sup- ply of water will be introduced upon the land by means of a small steam-engine, which will be a tri- fling additional expense compared with the immense benefit which the land will receive in dry weather by being abundantly supplied with water." We understand that operations have already been commenced, and that so far the benevolent projector has every reason to be satisfied with his undertaking. — Liverpool Mercury. JOHN AND THE VICAR. A UNIVERSITY DIALOGUE. Vicar. Well, John, you can sign your name ? John,. Why aise, sir, I can, though I arn't much of a scholar. Vicar. You can do it very well, no doubt. John. But what may it be, sir, that needs sich a man's name as mine ? Vicar. Why, John, it's a petition against letting infidels, heretics, Turks, Mahomedans, pagans, and schismatics overturn all the religion of the country. John. Why, sir ! it surely arn't true they're go- ing to do that, is it ? Vicar. It is, though ; and unless good honest men like you put their shoulders to the wheel, and that in right earnest, too, it will be all over, and there will be no Christianity in the world. The church will be destroyed, that it will. It is in danger. John. Dear sirs alive 1 Surely not, sir ! VVhy if I recollect right, you read in the second lesson, on Sunday, that "the gates of hell shall not pre- vail against it." Vicar. No more they will, if its friends are true — such as you are, John, I mean. John. Well, sir, I'm true to my church, that I am — what may it be that you want my name to ? Vicar. The University petition — John. What, sir ? Vicar. A petition against allowing the Dis- senters, heretics, deists, atheists, and such sort of M 2 164 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. persons going to our colleges. You must know this ought not to be, John ! John. Why I don't know exactly, for that— Vicar. What ? not know that this is the very way to ruin religion — to contaminate the fountains of all our national Christianity ? Oh ! John, I hope they have not been poisoning your mind! John, No, no, no, sir ! Indeed that arn't the case ; only your reverence sees as how I don't ex- actly understand the business you're about. I think you said that ere paper was to keep the Dis- senters from college, and I was jest a thinking as how, if the colleges were the fountains of all our Christianity, and had sich good and able men as how they say they have, Vv^hy I couldn't exactly see the danger — the danger I mean. Vicar. Why they would get there without be- lieving the Thirty-nine Articles, the great defence and security of our religion. John. My head is rather dull I admit, for I can't exactly see how these Thirty-nine Articles, as you call 'em, can make a man religious. Vicar. But it makes him a Christian, at any rate — he then believes what the church believes. John. I sartainly don't know all the church be- lieves, but if it believes that the putting his name to thirty-nine articles, as you call 'em, makes a man a Christian, all I can say is, I don't believe it. Vicar. You should'nt be learned above what is wi'itten. It doesn't become such as you to dispute with your minister in this way. I say the Uni- versities are the fountains of religion, and if we don't keep them jjure all religion must be abolished. John. Then, sir, to be plain with your reverence, 1 think as how if the greater part of this University religion was abolished, it would be a deal better. Vicar. What } Better without it .' John. Your son, sir, has not improved much, at Oxford. — Vicar. My son, indeed, and pray what have you to do with my son. He's like other young men at college. John. I didn't say he warn't, sir, — only I think University religion, what's bred by these thirty- nine articles, must be a queer thing; and then, sir, you knov/ the 'Squire's son — another of these University men — only last week, ran away with his father's governess. Surely sir, he didn't swear his belief in the thirty-nine articles? Vicar. Umph ! Well, I know signing the articles won't make bad men good. John. Begging pardon, sir, then what good are they. Vicar. They keep out heresy. John. Perhaps so, sir. But a good creed with a bad practice can't be worth much, if it only keeps out heresy, as you call it, without reforming a person. Vicar. It grieves me sadly, John, to find you so obstinate. Every body must see it's downright robbery for Dissenters to push themselves into our colleges. John. What did you say, sir ? Depend upon it, I'll never be consarned in supporting robbery, that 1 won't. Vicar. I'm glad you begin to see the thing more plainly, John. The colleges are the private pro- perty of the church of England. John. And I hear, sir, as how that the church of England robbed the church of Rome of them. Vicar. I see how it is. You've been reading some of those revolutionary newspapers that are so much abouto John. I hope, sir, you won't be angry. I'm sure I wouldn't have said so, if I hadn't thought that you said it was downright robbery to push into what didn't belong to one. Vicar. I said for the Dissenters. John. Only I couldn't see how the same thing could be robbery in one and not in the other— that's all, sir — that's all I said. Vicar. You'd much better attend to your own business, and not intermeddle in such things, which it is quite plain you know nothing about. John. I hope you'll forgive, sir, I'm like Jacob, a plain man ; and if your reverence thinks I ought not to interfere in such matters, and you say I don't understand it, I'd rather not sign the peti- tion, sir. Vicar. Well, do as you like : but let me tell you these notions of yours will do you no good, depend upon it. ADDRESS OF YLLOSS, TO THE MEETING OF THE LINCOLNSHIRE AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION, HELD AT THE CITY AMRS, IN LINCOLN, IN MARCH LAST. Our Laws for the encouragement and Protection of Agriculture, were first introduced, and after- wards amended, in consequence of Scarcity which threatened us with Famine. To guard the consumer against the privations and sufferings occasioned by very high prices, it was found necessary to protect the grower against loss by very low ones, — and induce him to extend his tillage. Such being the basis of this compact, if expediency is a sufficient plea for its violation, what security is there for the maintenance of faith to the public creditor .' We may also tell those who would let the question be decided by factious virulence, that our opponents appear more formid- able only because they are mox'e easily collected, and that to compel our labourers to collect in num- bers by depriving them of employment may en- danger every kind of property. In 1815, a com- pact was entered into for public benefit, to secure the grower against foreign competition, as long as he could supply the market below the average price of eighty shillings. If this compact had been a monopoly it would scarcely have allowed the price of wheat to fall at any time below eighty. The hostility to it when it was first proposed arose from the idea that such would be its operation ; but the exclusion of foreign competition excited a much stronger competition at home ; from its commencement it has been more beneficial to the comsumer than to the grower. The notion that it would sustain prices stimulated importation while the ports were open, and glutted the market with a supply of foreign wheat which could not be dis- posed of at its cost price for several years after the ports had been closed, in 1819. So great was the competition this supposed monopoly excited, that, in 1822, it reduced the price of English wheat be- low 40s ; but as it reduced foreign corn much lower, it appeared to be disadvantageous to the consumer, whose discontent has been increased by tlie assertion of our most zealous friends, that the previous high prices had been occasioned by a de- preciation of the currency and were not the un- avoidable result of increase of consumption. To correct this mis-representation, by which Lord Western, Sir Robert Peel and Sir James Gra- ham have foiled their own exertions in our behalf, it is necessary to look to a period on our history prior to the introduction of paper currency, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 165 In the Journal of Comraerco, edited in 1693, by J. Houghton, F. R. S., which may be seen at the British Museum, we find that wheat was then sell- ing in St. Alban's market at 76s pei- quarter of eight bushels, and the pi'ice of the quartern loaf was a shilling. It is observed of this year, by Mr. Combrune, that " the summer was very wet and the unseasonable weather extended to France, where numbers perished for want, although they purchased much corn from Sweden and Denmark ; in Kent, turnips made a considerable part of the bread!" There was a similar scarcity in 1696, but the rise of prices it occasioned has been attri- buted to the previous rise iu the price of guineas and of silver bullion, which, as [Mr. Houghton's Journal shows, did not commence until after the high prices of 1693 had subsided. Such was the state of things which preceded the operation of the bounty on exportation, for which so much obloquy was cast on the Whig land-owners, after the circumstances which gave rise to it had been forgotten. The bounty did effectually guard the consumer against the privations and suffering he had experienced previous to its operation ; such was the stimulus it continued to give to agricul- ture, that, during the first five years of the reign of George III, nearly two million quarters of wheat were exported. The bounty upon it amounted to nearly half a million, which appeared at the time to be an useless sacrifice of public money, and an unjust tax on the consumer ; but towards the close of the last century and at the commencement of the present, much larger sacrifices of public money were required to keep down the price of wheat by importation, and it was then considered that an in- crease of agricultural protection was the cheapest and most effectual method of guarding the consumer against the privation and suffering to which he had found himself liable. Here again a close attention to the order of events is particularly necessary to avoid the popular error which fallacious theory has induced Lord Western and Sir James Graham to espouse. As the rise of prices in 1693, happened at a time when there was a deficiency of circulating me- dium, which Mr. Locke tells us had compelled the manufacturers to pay their workmen in goods, as they have been obliged to do since the suppres- sion of small notes, it must be attributed entirely to scarcity. We may therefore the more readily ascribe to the same cause the rise in 1795, when there was also a deficiency of circulating medium, the failure of Livesey and Co., having put a stop to paper currency in Lancashire. In 1795, two years before the Bank suspension, and the circulation of notes under five pound, a scarcity, similar to that of 1693 and 1696, occurred in France as well as in this country. Thorseby has recorded in his edition of Thoroton, which he was then preparing, that wheat was selling in Nottingham at seven pounds per quarter : but Mr. Pitt to allay popular discon- tent and to harass our enemies, ordered all the wheat to which access could be had in the north of Europe or upon the seas to be purchased or seized, and by this means he reduced the average price of that year with a great sacrifice of public money. This mode of providing for deficiency checked the salutary stimulus which agriculture was receiving from the thriving progress of our population, and subjected us to a greater deficiency after the unfavourable seasons of 1799 and 1800 : consequently, at the commencement of 1801, the ports of the Baltic being closed to us by the au- thority and influence of the Emperor Paul, the prospect of famine seemed to stare us in the face. I This danger was averted by the battle of Copen- hagen and the death of Paul, which prevented the price of wheat from exceeding eight pounds per quarter. An average price of a hundred shillings per qr. was guaranteed to the importers ; therefore a con- siderable expence was incurred in the payment of bounty on the arrival of large supplies. This impressive and expensive lesson, was the cause of the corn-bill of 1803 ; and in consequence of the enormous prices of 1810 and 1812, Mr. Hus- kisson, the strenuous advocate of low prices, ac- knowledged that it was necessary in 1815 to give additional protection to agriculture. The corn bill of that year fully produced that benefit to the con- sumer which the clearsighted framer of it expected from it. Thefallof prices in 1822 proved that the in- crease of tillage was more than adequate to the im- mediate wants of the community ; and Mr. Thomas Tooke, the indefatigable champion of free-trade, argued that agricultural protection must be in- jurious to the cultivator in productive seasons, un- less exportation was encouraged by a bounty ; but Lord Castlereagh proposed a less expensive and more effectual remedy for the distress of 1822 ; he recommended the loan of a million to be advanced to the holders of English wheat while the average price was below 60s. Various causes had rendered this assistance necessary to make the corn bill work well. It was opposed by Mr. Huskisson as being contrary to political economy, and it was discountenanced by our Whig delegates ; in conse- quence of its rejection, the price of wheat fell be- low 40s, and the continued complaints of our de- legates only procured for us a diminution of pro- tection at a time when it was becoming useful to us. The disappointment of their expectations has induced many farmers to give credence to the as- sertion, that a total repeal of the corn laws would be beneficial to them. To render the corn bill of 1815, or any corn bill equally beneficial to grower and consumer with the assistance of a bounty, it is necessary the surplus of abundant years should be kept out of the market, and held in reserve to meet the deficiencies of seasons. This is a subject, to which the evidence elicited by its last agricul- tural committee particularly invites the attention of Parliament ; it points out the nature of the re- lief most wanted and most conducive to the gene- ral welfare. According to that evidence, the quantity of English corn is generally reduced so low at the commencement of the harvest, from the poverty of the farmer and the discouragement of speculation, that the nation is exposed to consi- derable danger, from the possibility of a combi- nation of circumstances, similar to those which as we have seen rendered agricultural protection es- sential to the welfare of the whole community. Low as our prices are at present, they are much higher than those of France, and invidious comparisons are made by friends as well as foes, to show that the corn laws are necessary to the grower, and to make it appear that they are a tax on the con- sumer; if they were repealed, France would im- mediately deluge us with unnecessary supplies as she did in 1814, but what would be the conse- quence if, after a further depression of our own tillage, the season should prove unfavourable in France as well as in this country, as was the case in 1816, when our worst wheat was purchased for French account at 80s, and our best qualities rose to five and six pounds ? Although a considerable bounty on importation was paid by the French Government, some departments of that kingdom experienced absolute famine of which a particular 166 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. account is to be met with in the Monthly Maga- zine. Similar distress has been lately experienced in the most fertile and cheapest part of Europe, ■which sent us very large supplies during the Polish insurrection, when very high prices were expected. This expectation produced an importa- tion of more than two million quarters, but the annual continuance of such a foreign supply, even with the encouragement of very high prices, is morally impossible ; and if it were possible it would soon be rendered insufficient by our increase of consumption, which, in six years, will probably require an addition of two millions to the annual supply. But while Lord Western and Sir James Graham believe the high prices of 1810 and 1812 were occasioned by a depreciation of the cur- rency, and not by increase of consumption.they can never persuade the artizan and mechanic that protection and speculation can do any good to them by sustaining prices. In 1795, when there was no other cause than scarcity to which the rise of price could be ascribed, it was mentioned by Mr. Burke, in his letter to Mr. Pitt, on that scar- city, that a proposal had been made for establish- ing large reserve stores as a security against fa- mine. Most unfortunately the speculators and farmers by whom this salutary purpose would have been effected, and the country banks by whom they were supported, were sacrificed at the close of the war by the unnecessary admission of corn from France; and these failures prevented the corn bill of 1815 from affording the imme- diate benefit expected from it. Therefore, at the commencement of 1816, when Lord Western was applying for Parliamentary relief for his consti- tuents, I placed in his hands a proposal for issuing five pound Exchequer bills, bearing 2J per cent, interest, to be advanced to the holders of English wheat bonded like foreign wheat. This would have facilitated the immediate resumption of cash payments. The proposal was laid before Lord Bexley by a Lincolnshire landowner, whose son was connected with him by marriage ; the answer to it was that Lord Liverpool wished to contract our paper currency. The events of that year con- firmed my views ; during the course of it wheat more than doubled in price, in May it rose to 90s ; during the summer it receded, but before the end of the year it exceeded five pounds. This encou- ragement to the revival of speculation in English corn, was counteracted by the expectation of greater profit from foreign corn, with which the warehouses, of the large speculators, were com- pletely filled in 1822. In this state of things the measures proposed by Lord CastlereEigh were the best that could be devised, but the combined op- position of Mr. Huskisson and the Whigs which caused the loan of a million to be refused, ef- fected the repeal of his other measure because it produced its intended effect. His prolongation of the term for circulating notes under five pound was repealed, because it encouraged speculation, and was supposed to have occasioned the panic of 1825 ; but the real cause of that disaster was Lord Liverpool's prohibition of payment in silver which compelled the bank to call in its notes for the pur- pose of restraining the exportation of gold. In 1822, I predicted that this prohibition might at any time produce a panic, because it is impossible to obtain gold enough to supply the place of our currency, which is only kept in circulation by confidence, that gold can be obtained for it when- ever it is wanted. Mr. Baring has declared that it maj'^ at any time occasion a general suspension of payments, of which there would be no danger, if silver were a legal tender, as it was during the whole period in which our national debt was con- tracted. By making debts contracted in pound sterling, which is a silver denomination, payable in gold only, an immense and undue advantage has been given to creditors and money lenders of every de- scription, who are extremely tenacious of the ad- vantage thus unjustly acquired, and call every in- quiry into it an attempt to depreciate the cur- rency. My present object is only to show that the prohibition of payments in silver is injurious to agriculture, and that we ought to join with our commercial brethren in praying for its repeal. It has confined the demand for corn as well as for other commodities, to the immediate wants of consumption. Every prudent man of property must avoid entering into extensive pecuniary en- gagements, while the means of discharging them are liable to be suddenly contracted as they were in 1825, in consequence of an exportation of gold. The danger of an extravagant rate of interest, which has been increased by the partial repeal of the Usury Laws, is the cause of the very low rate of it in the metropolis. Who will venture to put his name to a bill of exchange for a large amount, at the risk of greater sacrifices for the discharge of it, than were occasioned by the panic in 1825 ? The reverses of that year have had a permanent influence on the property of the owner and occu- pier of land. They have rendered it at times less saleable by destroying confidence, and they have diminished consumption by restraining industry in commercial as well as in agricultural pursuits, which naturally support each other. The re- straints on speculation which occasion a loss of employment, create a loss of demand ; they lessen the consumption of food and clothing by dimi- nishing the means of paying for them. The general improvement of prices from in- crease of consumption in the spring of 1825, was represented, in the Farmer's Journal, as decisive evidence of excessive paper currency. The writer held a situation under government and was, there- fore, like Mr. Huskisson, and all persons of fixed income, an advocate for extreme cheapness. There is little chance of subduing the hostility of this class by force of argument; but I am not without hopes that the foregoing statement of facts will assist in dispelling the theoretical delu- sion, which has made our most zealous and influ- ential advocates foil their own exertions in our behalf. This delusion has heen prolonged by the prohi- bition of payment in silver, which, in 1825, as well as in 1816, made our paper currency appear to be excessive ; consequently, a remedy was adopted which increased the distress, namely, the suppression of small note currency, and to relieve the distress in the manufacturing districts, the agriculturists were sacrificed by reducing the limit of importation from 80s to 64s. What is wanted to restore our prosperity is not a depreciation of the currency but a restoration of standard established by Queen Elizabeth, making her siver pound sterling a legal tender in payment of all debts contracted in pound sterling. London has 194,000 houses, and 1,474, 000 inhabi- tants ; Paris, 45,000 houses, end 774,000 inhabitants; Petersburg, 9,500 houses, and 449,000 inhabitants ; Naples, 40,000 houses, and 360,000 inhabitants ; and Vienna, 7,500 houses, and 300,000 inhabitants. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 167 THE PIKE. The pike, termed for its voracity the fresh -water shark, is found in most of the larger lakes and rivers of Great Britain. It grows to an immense size — is easily produced as a pond fish — and, being a bold determined biter, affords excellent sport to the lovers of the art. It is taken with natural and artificial baits, as frogs, mice, minnows, or any kind of fry ; and when the weather is favourable very little skill is requisite to obtain abundant sport in a well-stocked water. The best mode of pike-fishing is trolling. The pike's voraciousness is well known ; what is here mentioned of it is singular. In 1810, a hook baited with a roach, was set in the manor-potid, at Toddington, Bedfordshire, the next morning a large pike was caught, which with difficulty was got out. It appeared that a pike of three and a half pounds weight was first caught, which was afterwards swal- lowed by another, weighing thirteen pounds and a half, and both were taken. It has been before remarked, that pike are fre- quently shot, when floating near the surface of the water. Other sorts of fish are often so destroyed. In June, 1808, Mr. Byrne, the Earl of Lonsdale's game- keeper, shot in the river Eden, at Beaumont, near Carlisle, the extraordinary number of eighty-six fish, at two shots ; the smallest fish was seven inches in length. The smaller lakes, which are so profusely scattered over the surface of this county, vary in the species of fish which they respectively produce, as much as they do in their own natural size and character. Some of them afford trouts, others pike only, and many are stocked with both. That this union cannot long sub- sist, I should be inclined to infer from one remark- able circumstance, and it is a convincing proof of the rapid destruction which the introduction of pike into a trout lake will occasion. Within a short distance of Castlebar, there is a small bog-lake, called Der- reens, ten years a^^o it was celebrated for its numer- ous and well-sized trouts. Accidentally pike effected a passage into the lough from the Minola river, and now the trout are extinct, or, at least, none of them are caught or seen. Previous to the intrusion of the pikes, half a dozen trouts would be killed in an even- ing in Derreens, whose collective weight often amounted to twenty pounds. * * * » Indeed, the appetite of one of my pike was almost insatiable. One morning I threw to him, one after the other, five roach, each about four inches in length. He swallowed four of them, and kept the fifth in his mouth for about a quarter of an hour, when it also disappeared. Fish appear, also, to be capable of entertaining affection for each other. I once caught a female pike during the spawning season, and nothing could drive the male away from the spot at which the female dis- appeared, whom he had followed to the very edge of the water. A person who had kept two small fish together in a glass, gave one of them away, the other refused to eat, and showed evident symptoms of uneasiness till his companion was restored to him. The boldness of a pike is very extraordinary. I have seen one follow a bait within a foot of the spot where I have been standing ; and the head-keeper of Richmond Park, assured me that he was once wash- ing his hand at the side of a boat in the great pond in that park, when a pike made a dart at it, and he had but just time to withdraw it. A gentleman (Major Payne) now residing atWey- bridge, in Surrey, informed me, that, walking one day by the side of the river Wey, near that town, he saw a large pike in a shallow creek. He immediately pulled off his coat, tucked up his shirt-sleeves, and went into the water to intercept the return of the fish to the river, acd to endeavour to throw it upon the bank by getting his hands under it. During this at- tempt the pike, finding he could not make his escape, seized one of the arms of the gentleman, and lacer- ated it so much that the wound is still very visible. The digestion of the pike is so rapid, that, in a few hours, not a single bone of a roach which it has swal- lowed can be discovered. This may account for the fact of a pike, who has gorged himself to the full, holding a small fish in his mouth whilst the digestion of his previously taken prey had been going on, and swallowing it as soon as that process had been effected. The rapid growth of some fish is very extraordinary. 168 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. I saw three pikes taken out of a pond in Staffordshire belonging to the present Sir Jerroise Clark Jervoise, two of which weighed thirty-six pounds each, and the other thirty-five pounds. The pond was fished every seven years, and, supposing that store pike of six or seven pounds weight were left in it, the growth of the pike in question must have been at the rate of at least four pounds a-year. » » » • There are no waters in Great Britain, with the ex- ception of the river Shannon, where larger pikes are caught than those taken in Loughs Mask and Corrib. It would appear, that in tliese lakes the fish are com- mensurate to the waters they inhabit. It is no un- usual event for pikes of thirty pounds weight to be sent to the landlords by tlieir tenants ; and fish of even fifty pounds have not unfrequently been caught with nets and net-lines. The trouts in those louglis are also immensely large. From five to fifteen pounds is no unusual size, and some have been found that reached the enormous weight of thirty. The perch tribe appear the smallest in the scale of relative proportion. These seldom exceed a her- ring size, but they too have exceptious, and perch of three or four pounds weight have been sometimes seen. Within fifty years this latter fish has increased prodigiously, and in the lakes and rivers where they abound trouts iiave been found to diminish in an equal ratio. If any doubt remained touching tiie fecundity of the perch, some of the Mayo waters would prove it satisfactorily. Half a century since, I have been assured that pike and perch were almost unknown in the rivers of Belcarra aad Minola, and the chain of lakes with which they communicate, and that these waters were then second to none for trout- fishing. Within ten years, my cousin tells me, that he often angled in them, and tliathe frequently killed from three to six dozen of beautiful middle-sized red trouts. Now, fty-fishing is seldom practised there. The trout is nearly extinct, and quantities of pike and perch infest every pool and stream. The simplest methods of taking fish will be here found succlssful, and the lakes of Westmeath will soon be rivaled by he loughs of Mayo. EPSOM RACES.— (Thursday.) THE DERBY. The combined attractions of the Derby and of extremely fine weather collected a very numerous assemblage of people at Epsom. We have seldom witnessed a gayer or more animating sight than the road from London and the Downs themselves yes- terday presented. The picture was one of true English mirth, comfort and enjoyment; pleasure restricted within the bounds of moderation, joy- ous hurry and confusion without disorder, mirth and plenty. The late Emperor of Russia is said to have conceived a higher notion of the greatness and prosperity of England from a sight of the ships in the Pool of the port of London than from any other circumstance. In our humble opinion an English holiday, such as yesterday, affords a still more satisfactory and cheering evidence of pros- perity, because it exhibits the will and capacity of the larger bulk of the people, upon whose well- being so much depends, to avail themselves of enjoyments which are not disdained by the smaller and more favoured class. As proofs of national prosperity, show us not the riches and pleasures of the wealthy, but the solid comforts and modest enjoyments of the middle and lower orders. It is pleasant to see the humble taxed cart accompany- ing the lordly chariot to Ascot and Epsom. Yes- terday that pleasure could be enjoyed in perfec- tion, there being no back upon the road of the more splendid equipages, or of the less glittering, but, as regarded the occupants, not less gay and cheerful vehicles. Furniture vans, no longer filled with dead but living lumber, jostled the gilt and coroneted coach. The britschka and donkey- cart proceeded side by side. Nothing could be more striking than the appearance of the Downs, crowded with gay company and lit by a brilliant sun. All appeared charming and happy. Even the dust, (an evil unavoidable except by ladies and gentlemen who wear veils) was on its good be- haviour, and swept not the heath in simoom blasts, as on the two preceding days. Add to this that the victualling department was well supplied, that water was not much dearer than wine is every- where but at Epsom, and that the wine was not a great deal worse than ditch-water, and considering everything, what more could any reasonable per- son desire ? Thanks to the New Police, or perhaps to Sir Andrew Agnew, jjetty gambling appears to be discouraged, and the professors of " tlie thim- ble-rig" and other vulgar and forbidden arts are diminished. We grieve to say, however, that the snug little hells beneath the stands and betting- booths — places frequented by a better dressed order of sinners — still flourish. Their keepers have added the attraction of sherry (which is handed round to the players) to the already too seductive and intoxicating sin of gaming. Spa- nish wine and French hazard are fearful odds against the virtue of clerks and warehousemen ; it is to be hoped, therefore, that those who have saved our apprentices from being entangled in " prick at the loop" will protect the class referred to from the double, and, alas, too powerful stimulus of wine and wickedness at roulette or rouge et noir tables. With respect to the running, we refer to the particulars given below, and shall only observe that " the Derby," although rather too easily won by Plenipotentiary, (a most mag- nificent horse by-the-way), was nevertheless an interesting race, on account of the very fine rate of going throughout, and the good qualities and performance of so many of the field. The old prejudice, " That happen when it will there is sure to be rain on the Derby day," has a se- cond time been disappointed, and those who were wont to complain that the rain and the mud were alike destructive to their comfort and their apparel, have had two fair opportunities of ascertaining whether the change to wind and dust has been more conducive to their enjoyments. To us the question appears to be nicely balanced ; against rain you can guard, but who can protect himself against dusf? With a subtle impartiality it visits all parties, penetrates every kind of carriage, and bids defiance to every description of covering : it is true that the roads might be watered, but the contractors have something else to attend to, and are content to receive payment and go to the races themselves. Leaving the discussion of this matter to some more fitting time, we will proceed to the imme- diate business of the day, confessing our inability to impart novelty to a scene of which yesterday was the 54th aimiversary. The main incidents of the road were precisely what they were last year, and what they have been any day these 20 years, allowing for the difference of weather ; it happened, however, that yesterday was the Restoration, and this threw into tiie " field" some hundreds of Bank and Government clerks, who, exhausting the income of a month in the tHE FARMERS MAGAZINE. 169 flitting pleasures of a day, contributed to swell the host of desperate youths who were bold enough to essay their skill in horsemanship, as much to tlieir own imminent peril, as to the endangerment of his Majesty's less venturesome subjects. Thedisplay of equestrianism is in reality one of the most amusing features of the day, and we doub: if even Ducrow himself ever obtained half the notice bestowed upon some of the luckless wights so ojjportunely (or inoppor- tunely as it may be) emancipated from the drudgery of the desk, and the uiiphilosophical contemplation of pounds, shillings, and pence. A friend of ours, experienced in these things, assures us that on enter- ing the Bank the day after the Derby, he can select every one of these adventurous gentry by one simple rule — they are very sliy of sitting. If the equestrian class was numerous, there was no lack of veliicles of the usual variety, from the well-appointed four-in- hand to the unvvieldv green canopied wtiggon, drawn by a couple of hali-starved, broken-knee'd animals, and moving at a Chancerj'-suit pace. Of course, with so vast a crowd, such a number of unskilful drivers, so many crazy machines and " cocktail" horsemen, accidents were " ])lentiful as blackberries," but none of them of a nature to make any demand on our sympathies ; wrangles occurred at ever)- turn of the road and at everv turnpike, abundant materials for this species of excitement being supplied by the folly of the people and the insolence of the toll-col- lectors. On the Downs the scene was animating beyond de- scription ; the sides of the course leading from Tat- tenham-corner to the Judge's chain were lined with triple rows of carriages, the loot people being congre- gated between them and the rails, and the policemen in front of all with enough to do to keep them in order. An immense number of carriages were col- lected on the hill, but not so many as we have seen on former occasions, a great portion of the company pre- ferring to go direct to the Grand Stand. Although we missed some old faces in the betting ring, there did not appear to be any falling off in num])ers : the vociferation and excitement were tremendous till the race was over — its effect on the books being discern- ible in every face we met. The Grand Stand was as usual the " abiding place" of all who studied ease, comfort, and good living, its list of visitors including many fashionable individuals. In speaking of the company we ought not to omit the " conveyancing" department, of which there was a strong muster mal- gre the " lobster division ;" they managed to carry on a good stroke of business, and to complete their " transfers of stock" with a quickness and dexterity that would made a Bank clerk " hide his diminished head." In some instances, however, their exertions met with a reward to which they are more accustomed than reconciled. The " tents of rapine" held out the usual attractions to the giddy, the needy, and the ava- ricious, and were kept in full play. In speaking of the company generally, we may say with confidence that it was the most fashionable and numerous that has been seen on Epsom Downs for many years, the line of carriages, 6cc. being carried considerably beyond Tactenham-corner. It is gratifying to add, that the arrangements for preserving order and pre- venting accidents were so judiciously made and so admirably enforced, that everything went off in the most peaceable and satisfactory manner. If the journey to the races was so rife with incident and amusement, the return from them was not less so ; by this time those who were before only giddy or unskil- ful were intoxicated, to the danger of their own jier- sons as well as those of their fellow-travellers. The road from 'J'ooting to the Elephant and Castle was so thronged with spectators as to be almost impassable, the young ladies and gentlemen from the variou seminaries being drawn up in line, adding greatly to the gaiety of the evening. The following is a list of the company, as far as the attention necessarily bestowed on the racing, and the crowded state of the ground, would permit us to col- lect : — The Prince of Echmukl, the Prince Frederick of Saxe Coburg, the Prince of Moskwa, Count Ma- tuszewic. Count Bathiany, the Duke de Richelieu, Monsieur Charles I.afiitte, and several other foreign- ers of rank ; the Duke and Duchess of Cleveland, Duke of Dorset, Duke of Buccleuch, Duke of Rich- mond, Duke of Grafton, Duke of Rutland, Duke of Portland, Marquis and Marchioness of Tavistock, jMarquis Graham, Marquis and Marchioness Conyng- ham, Marquis of Exeter, Earl Verulam,Earl Orford, Earl and Countess of Chesterfield, Earl Stradbroke, Earl Jersey, Earl Mulgrave, Earl of Lichfield, Earl of Uxbridge and party. Earl of Errol and party, Earl and Countess Wilton, Lord and Lady Portmore and party, Earl of Lincoln, Earl Digby, Lord G. H. Ben- tinck. Lord R. Grosvenor, Lord John Fitzroy, Lord Godolphin, Lord S. Osborne, Lord Andover, Lord Villiers, Lord Berners, Lord Lilford, Lord Paulett, Lord A. Fitzclarence, Lord March, Lord A. Conyng- ham. Earl of Albemarle, the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir James Graham, the Hon. E. Stanley, Sir John Reid, Sir S. Graham, Sir M. Wood, Sir L. Glyn, &c. (The above are from memory, our re- porter havmg lost his list of the names ; a fuller ac- count of them may be given in our next.) The races were appointed to commence at half. past two, but it was not till a quarter-past three that the Derby wss decided. We give particulars : — The Derby Stakes, of 50 sovereigns each, h. ft. ; colts, 8st. 71b. ; fillies, 8st. 21b. Mile and a half. Second horse to receive 100 guineas, and the win- ner to pay 100 sovereigns towards the expenses of police officers. 124 subscribers. Mr. Batson's Plenipotentiary, by Emilius (Co- nolly) 1 Duke of Cleveland's Shillelagh, by St. Patrick (Chifnev) 2 Lord Jersey's Glencoe, by Sultan (Robinson) .. 3 The following also started, but were not placed : — Mr. Watt's b c. Bubastes, by Blacklock (Scott). Sir M. Wood's brother to Marpessa, by Miiley (Wheatley). Mr. Yates's ch.c. Bentley, by Buzzard (Pavis). Captain Gardner's br. c. Comet, by Whalebone (G. Edwards.). Duke of Rutland's br. c. by Bizarre, out of Young Barrosa (Boyce). Sir G. Heathcote's b. c. Nisus, by Velocipede (Buckle). Lord Orford's c. Paris, by Waterloo (Wakefield). Mr. Greatrex's br. c. by Lottery, out of TruUa (C. Edwards). Mr. Sadler s b. c. Defensive, by Defence (Chappie). Mr. Cosby 's b. c. Stradbally, by Reveller (Mann) . Mr. Houldsworth's b. c. Darius, by Sultan (Dar- ling). Captain Hunter's ch. c. Morotto, by Gustavus (Ar- null). Mr. Gully's gr. c. Viator, by Stumps (Forth). Duke of Grafton's ch. c. Olympic, by Reveller (J. Day). Mr. Mills's Brother to Kate, by Lapdog (Natt). Lord Lowther's c. by Reveller, out of Irictrac (Rogers). Mr. E, Peel's ch. c. Noodle, by Bedlamite (Spring) . Mr. W. Edwards's b. c. Intriguer, by Reveller, (Wright). 170 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Duke of Cleveland's b. c. Guardian, by Catton (Lye). it will be seen that with the exception of the Doll Tearsheet colt, which did not run, the above agrees with the list of horses and jockies given in our last. Before going into particulars of the betting and the running, we may be allowed to introduce a few ob- servations. Since the famous race between Cadland, the Colonel, and Zinganee, no Derby has excited so much atten- tion as that now under notice, nor can we call to mind when the principal favourites have been backed so heavily, or so strongly recommended by public run- nino-. It is not a little curious, however, to observe how many "mistakes" have been discovered in the various races in which they have appeared, in order to qualify defeat and keep the horses in the market. First we have Bubastes and Warluby Baylock at Don- caster, the latter winning because Bubastes " came too soon !'' Then we find Glencoe and Plenipoten- tiary together, and the former is fairly outpaced, out- lasted, and in fact beaten at his own game ; but it was a " raistaice" — Glencoe ought not to have started at score ! After this Glencoe and Bentley meet, and the latter is beaten because the pace was bad, and he short of work ! But the grand mistake of all was committed at Tattersall's last week, when 20 to 1 was betted agst Shillelagh, who was found not to be amiss, and in two days after was 6 to 1 ! After all, it is a very useful comprehensive word — a panacea for every kind of de- fect, whether it may proceed from under or over pacing your horse, or from natural causes. Speculation on the race, without reaching the extravagant amount staked on former events, has possessed remarkable interest, the horses most heavily backed being in what is called fancy stables. The Newmarket cracks con- sisted of Mr. Batson's Plenipotentiary, trained by George Payne ; the Duke of Cleveland's Shillelagh, purchased from Mr. W. Chiffney, and trained by his brother the jockey ; Lord Jersey's Glencoe, trained by Edwards senior ; and Mr. Yates's Bentley, Cooper trainer. To this formidable array the north country originally opposed Mr. Watt's Bubastes, Shepherd trainer ; Mr. Walker's Delirium, Scott ; and Colonel Cradock's Emigrant, Gates ; but the two latter having a few weeks since been put liors de combat by acci- dents, Bubastes became the sole representative of the Yorkshire division. What was wanting in numerical strength the party seemed to think was supplied by the extraordinary merits of the horse, who was backed with a spirit and to an amount almost incredible. Various reports had been in circulation some time previous to the races. Plenipotentiary had coughed, was short of work, and was " too fat ;" Shillelagh had been amiss before he left Newmarket, and had not been seen out, &c. ; while Glencoe and Bubastes were in the finest order possible ; these reports had no effect on the betting at the finish, which averaged as follow : — 5 to 2 agst Plenipt tiary. 3 to 1 — Shillelagh (taken). 7 to 1 — Bubastes. 10 to 1 — Glencoe. 18 to 1 — Comet. 20 to 1 ~ Bentley. . 25 to 1 agst Intriguer. 25 to 1 — Defensive 25 to 1 — brother to Marpessa. 50 to 1 — Viator. 60 to 1 — Barrosa. Some delay was created by one of the horses (bro- ther to Mhrpessa, we believe) throwing a plate, and still more by five false starts ; at the sixth attempt they got away pretty well together. Glencoe and Plenipo being first off; they ran together a few yards, when ConoUy gradually stopped his horse till Intri- o-uer, Darius, Paris, brother to Kate, and Stradbally intervened between him and Glencoe. Shillelagh lay more forward than is usual with Chifney, who had a well-founded dread of Plenipotentiary ; Bubastes was also up with the foremost horses, but never made any show in front. In the above order they went at a good pace till near the rails, where Plenipotentiary was lying inside, the six or seven horses first named being so placed that he was left only the choice of going round them or waiting till they split ; this op- portunity was afforded him before he reached the turn and he immediately dashed through the opening, com- ing round the corner behind Darius, who was next to Intriguer and Glencoe, the two leading horses. Here Shillelagh and Bentley began to get more forward, and the pace became exceedingly severe. At the road Darius droppeJ off, and Plenipotentiary, passing In- triguer, went up to Glencoe's quarters, ran with him till he found that he was beaten, and Chifney coming up, went right a-head half way up the distance, and won in a canter by two lengths. Shillelagh defeated Glencoe about half a length, the latter beating Bentley by a length ; Intriguer was fifth, Darius sixth, and behind these were Bubastes and Morotto. The first horses beaten were Guardian and Brother to Marpessa, nor did Barrosa, Paris, Stradbally, Nisus, TruJla, Comet, Noodle, Brother to Kate, or Trictrac cut a much better figure at the finish ; Olympic, Viator, and Defensive were in the middle, but all were beaten off from the first three or four. The result of this race tallies exactly with the Newmarket running. Pleni- potentiary beating Glencoe just as easy now as he did there ; Bentley and Viator, by the places they occu- pied at the end, assisting in its corroboration. It is satisfactory to add, that it was a true-run honest race, that the best horse won, and that the two favourites were first and second. Plenipotentiary was the " gentleman's horse," — that is, he was backed to large amounts by nearly the whole of the noblemen and gentlemen who are in the habit of attending the New- market meetings ; and his running proves that he is what Mr. Batson always declared him to be — the finest and best horse that has been seen on the English turf for many years. Mr. Batson wins about 5,00OL in addition to the stakes, which amount to 3,400/. clear. The event of the race was received with great satis- faction by all except immediate losers on it. The Bubastes party are stated to be struck pretty hard, as they had not only backed their own horse deeply, but laid it on pretty thick against Plenipo. The Shillelaghites, who were very sanguine, have also burnt their fingers. Plenipotentiary's Pedigree: — He was bred by Mr. Batson, in 1831, got by Emilius (winner of the Derby, and sire of Priam) out of Harriet (bred in 1819, by Mr. Hammond) by Pericles, her dam by Selim, out of Pipylina, by Sir Peter — Rally by Trum- pator, &c. The Ewell Stakes, of 5 sovs. each, and 30 added. 3-yrs., 7st. ; 4-yrs., Bst. 51b. ; 6-yrs. and aged, 9st. ; winners once, 31b ; twice, 51b ; thrice, 71b. extra. Mares and geldings allowed 31b ; horses beaten four times allowed 31b. Half a mile. 5 Subscribers. Lord Orford's gr. c. Clearwell, 4-yrs (Wake- field) 1 Mr. Martyn's ch. c. Contriver, 4-yrs. (Mann) 2 Mr. Forth's f. by Partisan, 3-yrs. (Twitchet) 3 Mr. Sadler's b. m. Eleanor, 5-yrs. (Chappie) 4 2 to 1 and 5 to 2 on Clearwell, who completely out- paced his opponents and won in a canter by two lengths. The Slow Stakes, of 3 sovereigns each, and 40 sovereigns added. 3-yr-olds, 7st ; 4-yr olds, 8st. 71b ; 5 yr-olds. 9st. lib. ; 6-yr-olds and aged, 9st. 31b. Mares and geldings allowed 31b. The winner to bo sold for 1001., &c. Heats rather more than three- quarters of a mile. 6 subscribers. THE FARMER^S MAGAZINE. 171 Mr. M. Stanley's Skimmer, 3 yrs . . 1 1 Mr. Shard's b. f. Mask, 3 yrs 2 dr. Mr. Forth's f. by Partisan, 3 yrs. . fell. The lad who rode Fortb's filly was thrown when near the winning-post, in consequence of bis stirrup- leather giving way, and much bruised ; the filly came in second, but not bringing in her weight, was dis- tanced. Oaks Betting. 7 to 2 agst Mr. Walker's Cotillion. 7 to 2 — Mr. Fortb's Louisa. 7 to 1 — Lord Berner's May-day. 10 to 1 — Mr. Greville's Pickle. 14 to 1 — Mr, S. Graham's Zulima. to be twenty-five or twenty-seven years, according to the series of rotation fixed upon. All lands which cannot be advantageously culti- vated under one or other of the above bpecified systems of rotation, even although rent free, must, sooner or later, be thrown out of tillage, and be allowed to return to their wonted state of nature ; they may be worth from threepence to ten shil- lings per acre to the grazier or sheep farmer, when they are worth less than nothing to the farmer who is bound to cultivate them as arable lands. — Fifeshire Journal. ROTATION OF CROPPING. The principia of all adjustments betwixt land- lords and tenants may be said to consist in the series, or rotation, of cropping adapted to the soil and climate, and the time, labour, and expence re- quisite for enclosing, draining, cleaning, and ma- nuring the lands, that the farm may be cultivated according to the systematic course. Like a well- groomed, well-fed, but over- wrought horse, awell- drained, well-cleaned, well-manured, but over- cropped farm, soon becomes fashionless. Even the half-formed, mere-theoretical agriculturists, I'eadily acknowledge that soils of sand or gravel are better adapted for pasturing and cropping alternately than for pasturing |permanently, or for corn cropping permanently ; however, the same harmony of opinion does not prevail as to the mode of cultivating the other soils. There are many practical farmers who hesitate not to avow that a four or five shift rotation is the very best that can be adopted on thin clay soils when once they are sufficiently drained, cleaned, and manured. Indeed, it is a very prevalent, although a very erroneous, agricultural doctrine, that all strong clay soils, and all rich loams, can only be well cul- tivated by adhering closely to a four or a five shift rotation. Whoever farms such lands, and adheres most rigidly (regardless of the frequent failure of annual red clover) to one or other of these short courses, is considered a complete scientific and economic practical farmer ; and his practice be- comes so general that it forms the model forjudg- ing in reference to the practice of almost all agri- culturists. In by far the greater number of our modern leases, it is simply contracted that the tenant shall cultivate the lands according to the rules of good husbandry : whereas the nature of the soil should be classified, and the rotation of cropping specified. The great variety of soils now in tillage, might all be ranked under one or other of the following three grand classes : — 1st, clay and loam ; 2d, sand and gravel ; 3d, moss and moor. The great variety of rotation of cropping might all be ranked under, 1st. Series of rotation for clay and loam soils ; course not to be completed in less than seven years, nor extended beyond ten years ; and dura- tion of lease to be twenty-one or twenty-three years, according to the series of rotation fixed upon. 2d. Series of rotation for sand and gravel soils ; course not to be completed in less than eight years, nor extended beyond twelve years ; and duration of lease to be twenty-four years. 3d. Series of rotation for moss and moor soils ; course not to be completed in less than six years, nor extended beyond nine years ; flax to be intro- duced in the system, and the duration of the lease SONG, WRITTEN BY MR. S. TAYLOR, FOR THE FIRST MEETING OF THE WEST NORFOLK AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. Since Adam first turn'd up the earth with his paw. For a spade at that time father Adam ne'er saw — Yet granting for argument's sake 'twas a spade. What wondrous improvements in farming we've made ! Tol de rol, &c In those pastoral days there were Abram and Lot, And lots of old worthies whose names I've forgot; Through a line of succession from Adam begun, Who were all of 'em farmers from father to son. But though we are certain their crops they did sow, 'Tis as certain we never as yet have heard how ; And we're all in the dark, it must needs be confest, Whether drilling or broadcast they thought was the best. Thus for years they continued to sow and to reap, Turn'd graziers, and some of 'em kept a few sheep — Though as to their stock, it has never been said Whether Leicesters, Merinos, or Southdowns they bred. And as to their pigs, could they ever compete With the beauties that should have appeared from friend Leet? Would not Cambridge and Negus for cattle have beat 'em Quite out of the field ? — if they did not I'll eat 'em. Then for horses we surely may say without brag They had nothing to match our friend Roper's old nag,* Even Jehu himself where he here would agree, He ne'er sported an older nor better than she. Poor ignorant creatures ! pray what could they know About clubbing a sweepstakes to make up a show "? Nay, to prove in good farming how feeble their pow- ers. They never once dreamt of a meeting like ours. And where was the use, it may fiiirly be said, Unless they'd a Pestow to stand at the head "? With Milnes and a host of good fellows beside 'em, And equal good sense, skill, and ardour to guide 'em. Then why for good farmers abroad should we roam. When the prince of good farmers we boast of at home"! Like his own forest trees he is true heart of oak, So health and long life to our President Coke ! Many more could I mention, true friends of the plough, But 'twould keep you too long, so I'll e'en make my bow — And by way of conclusion this toast will I give. Here's a health to 'em all ! may they live and let live! * A mare 37 years of age, with plenty of work in her yet. 172 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. I LOOK'D UPON A SPORTIVE CHILD I look'd upon a sportive child, He twin'd a wreath of early flow'rs ; The first that Spring's sweet voice had call'd To bloom around her bow'rs. The bright and yet unfaded leaf. The violet, and the primrose fair ; The wild but deep blue hyacinth's bell. Were bound and mingled there. He placed the garland on his brow. And smil'd as many a gem hung down ; — I thought upon the gi'ief and toil Ere man can wear a crown. The troubl'd path, the haunting dream, The lonely cave, the glory won ; And imaged in the laurel wreath. But he perchance is gone. Fair child ! I will not wish for thee, A future earthly crowning given ; Go with thy brow still unadorned. And wear a crown in Heaven. Kimbolton. B. B. B. REMINISCENCIES OF A WANDERER. BY JAMES BRUTON. My days have been of drollery, A checker'd — varied scene ; In many a farce of funny life, Chief actor I have been. A boy — I plucked the hedges bare, For cheap tea grocers skittish. Who take with customers French leaves By selling them the " Bntish." Next with a juggler I went round The country folks to gull ; But soon of swall'wing knives, I found I had a stomach full ! Besides he proud and haughty got. And took himself the gain. So rather than be starved outright, I cut thejugyler vein! I next turned farmer, ploughed my grounds. All sorts of corn did sow. But of all wheat, preferred the bucJc, As better for my dough ! With oats and hay large tracts of land I set, which soon did grow ; My pulse was but a Wttle field. And therefore always low. At length, I somehow bankrupt turned. My creditors called round ; I sold my grunters, and I gave A hog each, in the pound; Upon my manors, soon I saw Another sport — the elf, I thought of suicide to think, I could'nt shoot myself ! I came to London — porter turned — But on so bad I got ; Fate seem'd inclined to Hack-her-man, All did " Forget my knot !" Next for the " Civit Cat" I walked. For customers implored ; And, for the placard on my back, Was glad to get my board. I sat upon the pavement next. In various public walks Wrote backwards — but a constable Soon made me walk my chalks ! Now broom-girls and Italian men. In every pEfthway roam. And Fashion says that '• Charity Should 7iot begin at home." Italian Clover, or TnifOLiuM Incarna* Tuji. — A fine specimen of the above plant may now be seen in full bloom in a field belonging to Sir John Tyrell, situated near the White Hart, Spring- field. It is worthy of remark that the seed was not sown till the end of September, which is a full month later than the usual lime : that it was also sown on a wet soil, which is not considered suited to it, and a smaller proportion of seed to the acre than is thought advisable. In spite, however, of these disadvantages, the appearance of the present crop is such as strongly to recommend this plant to the notice of Agriculturists as calculated to yield an early supply of seed. The three elegant silver cups proposed by Walter Wilkins, Esq., of Maeslough Castle, at his rent audit in 1833, to be distributed this year amongst his te- nants, were on the 20th instant at Glasbury, present- ed as follow by Mr. Oliver, Mr. Wilkins's agent : — To Mr. Stephens, Sheephouse, for the Farm consi- dered to be in the best state of cultivation. To Mr. Lewis Williams, of Lanenew, and to Mr. James Willians, of Furmwen, for the greatest im- provements upon the farms in their occupation, within the year. On Monday last various sums of money were kindly distributed by Mr. Wilkins, amongst the meritorious cottagers on his estate. — At the last rent audit on the 20th inst. when the rent due on the 2d of August, 1833, was alone expected to be paid, Mr. Wilkins, unsolicited, most liberally proposed that to those by whom such rents should be paid in two months from that day, and whose farms were in a good state of cultivation, he would, in consequence of the low prices obtained for agricultural produce, return 71. per cent. Mr. Wilkins intends to present every year three silver cups to his tenants, and to reward his industrious and meritorious cottagers. COURT OF COMMON PLEAS. IMPORTANT TO MERCHANTS —POST DATING CHECKS. BOWERMAN v. POTTER. Mr. Thessiger appeared for the plaintiff, and stated that this action was brought to recover the amount of a check for 32/., which the defendant had given to a person of the name of Hildyard, and which Hildyard had paid to the plaintiff. He should call witnesses to prove that the plaintiff had given valuable consideration for it, and that it had been presented and refused payment, the defendant having given notice to his bankers not to honour it. If these facts should be borne out in evidence, his client would be entitled to a verdict. Mr. Shaw, for the defence, acknowledged the facts so far as they were reported by the counsel for the plaintiff to be correct. There were, how- ever, additional circumstances which it would be his duty to state on behalf of his client, and which would materially alter the features of the case. The check in question was post dated, and before it became payable payments were made by the de- fendant for Hildyard, and which Hildyard had neg- lected to liquidate ; the defendant, therefore, for his own protection gave notice to his bankers to refuse payment. He mainly relied upon the post dating of the check, which was clearly illegal, being an evasion of the stamp laws, and would entitle the defendant to a verdict. Mr. Justice Vaughan, in summing up, stated to the Jury that the check being illegal, it not being stamped, payment could not be enforced ; where- upon they found a verdict for the defendant. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 173 Sparrows. — The injury done to the corn in Guernsey by these birds is said to be incredible, though the States of the island give rewards to the the amount of 701. annually for their destruction. The Land Tax. — It is indispensable that the land-tax should undergo a thorough revision, now that a bill is in progress for charging church-rates upon the produce of that impost, which may otherwise tend towards perpetuating the actual amount of the land- tax in its present shape, so vexatious and oppressive to some parts of the kingdom, while others are un- touched by it. Many parishes in which the value of property is extremely high, pay little or nothing un- der this head, while others (in which the value of pro- perty is far inferior) pay very large sums, and in these it frequently happens that one proprietor is charged 2s. or even 3s. per acre, while another is charged only Is., although no difference exists between the qualities and employment of their respective portions of Jand. No reason is ever assigned by the collectors, or can be gathered from them, for these arbitrary inequalities in the levies, except that the same levies have hereto- fore been made. In the collection of the land.tax considerable temptation to embezzlement exists, as it can be practised with facility and with little danger of detection ; and if it be really the case (as it appears to be^ that peculation to a large amount has been for many years systematically carried on in the collection of the land-tax, the names of all places and par- ties concerned in such transactions ought to be laid before the public. The Potatoe Crop. — The same disease by which so large a part of the potatoe crop was destroyed last year, and the quality of the ^ '>tatoes which reached maturity was so much injured, ha^ THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 183 they now let out to the labourers at 30s. and 40s. and 50s. an acre, would, perhaps, after a repeal of the corn laws, be very dear at 2s. 6d. and 5s. It is therefore very certain that if the members of the Agricultural Employment Institution are not willing and do not even strenuously urge a repeal of the corn laws, their object is not to serve the poor, but to keep up rents ; and then no language can express the baseness of their conduct ; they are filthj'', mean, -low-rainded swindlers ; not merely great villains, but the greatest and very worst of villains, because under smooth hypocriti- cal pretences of a regard and consideration for the poor they seek altogether their own advantage. " Generation of vipers !" We have said that by a repeal of the corn laws the price of corn would be considerably reduced; and then it is clear that there would be a great fall in the rent of land, and then land being cheap, it is visible that the profits of the farmer and the wages of the labourer would be increased; be- cause less of the produce of the soil falling to the share of the landlord, more would remain to be divided between the farmer and his labourers ; and this is how the matter would be brought about : — The real value of the manufactures an- nually exported from this country amounts to about 37, 000,000^., and if we deduct from this the sum of 9,000,000/. for the purchase of the foreign raw material of which pai't of these manufactures is composed, there will remain 28,000,000/., which if the corn trade were free, might, if necessary, be applied to the purchase of foreign corn. Now, after we have established a free trade in corn, 40s. a quarter will, in our apprehension, be considered a very high price for wheat, and at this price the sum of 28,000,000/. will purchase 14,000,000 quar- ters of wheat — that is, by a repeal of the corn laws the British community would acquire the power to introduce annually 14,000,000 quarters of wheat into the kingdom, or proportionably of other grain ; and to all the extent that it should be ne- cessary or profitable, would this power be exer- cised. Now, as he that has the usufruct of apiece of land has all that is valuable in that land, so far a community to have cheap corn is virtually to have cheap land, and to have the power to import cheap corn is virtually to have the power to culti- vate cheap land ; and, therefore, if we take the average produce of the wheat land of the United Kingdom to be 20 bushels an acre, it is plain that to have the power to import 14,000,000 quarters of wheat is virtually to add 5,600,000 acres to the already existing wheat land of the country, and with such a large addition for all practical purposes to the fertile productive soil of the kingdom, it is evident that land of every sort and quality would be cheap, and then it is equally evident that the wages of labour would rise, and, among many others, for this one reason, which is final and con- clusive— that when land is cheap, it is impossible to get one man to work at low wages, and call an- other man master, when he may earn a plentiful subsistence by putting the spade under his foot, and v/orking a plot of cheap ground on his own account. It is the abundance and cheapness of land which cause the high wages of labour that obtain in the United States and in Canada ; and in all free and industrious communities it will have the same effect. Now, how near we in this coun- try may be able to approach toward the state and condition of things in the United States and in Canada it is not easy to determine a priori, but it seems to our poor understanding that we may ap- proach much nearer than is generally imagined j for how stands the fact at present ? We export, as has already been seen, manufactures to the extent and value of 37,000,000/. per annum, and this notwithstanding we are prevented by the corn laws from receiving corn in return, and that every other article of subsistence is burdened with heavy duties, which either prevent entirely, or greatly diminish the importation. Is it not then plain that under a different system, which should allow a free trade in corn and every other article of sub- sistence, the exportation of our manufactures would become still more considerable ? And then the rest follows, because every increase in the quantity of manufactures exported increases the power to import food, and every increase in the power to import food is a virtual addition to the soil of the country : and things may go on at this rate, and the exportation of manufactures on one side, and the power to import food on the other, may go on increasing, till there shall not be a single fertile spot in the whole earth that shall remain waste and uncultivated. With such a scheme and system of things, where are the limits to the power, wealth and prosperity of these kingdoms ? And with the produce of every fertile spot on the face of the whole earth at our com- mand, how could we fail to have cheap land at home ? And though there must naturally be some diflference, yet as the produce of the lands of the whole earth would be at our disposal, and that every acre cultivated in a foreign country for our use is a virtual addition to our own soil, why, under these circumstances, should there be any wide difference between the price and rent of land in this country and in the United States ? and then imagine, if you can, a more noble, interesting, and extraordinary spectacle than that of an old and populous country, greatly civilized, and where the arts and manufactures have attained a high degree of perfection, and yet having land in abun- dance to spare ; and thereby blending and com- bining in one and the same state and scene of things all the freshness and vigour of a youthful state of society with the resources and skill and experience of an old community 1 But this picture of things it may be said is ex- aggerated ; there can, however, be no exaggera- tion where there are no limits ; nor is it easy to exaggerate where the only butts and bounds to our operations is the entire surface of the habitable globe. But, if they will, there shall be exaggera- tion, and what will this import ? Why, that in the main we are right, but that we carry the matter too far, and this admission is quite sufficient for our purpose, because this is to grant that by the repeal of the corn laws the price of corn would fall, and the only question is of the degree and propor- tion. Now this fall in the price of corn would, as a matter of course, occasion a fall in the rent of land, and then the rest follows, and in proportion to the fall in the rent of land would there be a rise in profits and wages. We have said that the public lose more by the high price of corn than is gained by the landlords, and one single case, and a few figures, will make this manifest. Let there be a piece of ground which one year with another produces 100 quarters of wheat, let the average price of wheat be 60s the quarter, and let the rent paid for this ground be 25/. a-year , the public will then have to pay 300/. for the wheat, and of this sum 25/. will go to the landlord. Then let the corn laws be repealed, and let the price of wheat fall to 40s, and then, first, it is clear that the rent of this land will be destroyed, or if it 184 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. should yield a rent in future, it must be by apply- ' ing it to purposes other than the production of corn ; and, next, it is equally clear that, by the decline in the price of wheat, the public will gain lOOZ per annum, while the landlord will only lose his rent, which was 251; and, therefore, under the corn laws the case stands thus : — that to the ex- tent of 25^, which is received by the landlord, there is a vicious distribution of the public wealtli, and by means of wicked unjust laws money is taken from the public to be ^ven to men who neither have done, nor can do, the least thing to deserve it ; and, next, there is a real absolute loss to the community of l75L, and so that upon the matter it is precisely as if a man having 100^. should give away 25/. to an idle vagabond, and throw the rest into the sea. Is it not then clear as the summer's sun, that under the present system the land and soil of this country, instead of being a blessing, is a monstrous curse and a calamity ? And that by having passed laws which compel its cultivation at an enormous sacrifice of time, and toil, and money, it becomes a scourge, an instrument of oppression in the hands of the landlords, and by means of which they rob and lord it over the whole com- munity ? For the rest, it lies bare and open to every sense and faculty ; we see it, we know it, we feel it ; and the lowest and least informed understanding is instructed in this point, that our pith and puiss- ance, the very root and principle and true source of all our wealth and greatness, is in our manufac- tures and foreign commerce. To foster and en- courage these ought, therefore, to have been our chief care and count ; but the consideration of this we cast behind our backs, and all our proceed- ings have been so plainly cross and contrary to our best and dearest interests, that we have been en- deavouring by main force, and by every kind of restraint and monopoly, to turn the stream of capi- tal into the barren waste of agriculture * Insanae labores ! This ends our remarks on the article in the Edin- lurgh Revieiv. Alas, Peter M'CuUoch, Peter M'CuUoch, our good friend, Peter M'Culloch ! Are you a prophet in Israel, the chief and top of the tribe of political economists, and yet so grossly overseen in a plain matter which fell precisely within your faculty and competence? Are you wise only in device, and a fool in act, or, alike ignorant of both principle and detail, are you not rather a plain fool every way } Can it stand with the science of political economy, that a man should be to seek in the simple rules of proportion ? Can it stand any science whatever that a man should mix and complicate cause and effect, and take the tail of a thing for the head } We are in pain about you, and do exceedingly fear and tremble, lest it perad venture be discovered that it is one thing to be a professor of political economy, and another to have a plain, staid, sober understanding. This as regards Peter M'Culloch. Touching * That the agricultural system of this country is highly prejudicial, and a great drawback on our re- sources, is evident from one single consideration, — that under this system the price of food in this coun- try is double the price of tbe rest of Europe. This is therefore so much abstracted from the advantages we derive from manufactures and commerce, and so that upon the matter it is precisely as if a man should regularly dissipate the large profits which he makes as a merchant or a manufacturer in idle agricultural pro- jects. those august personages, their higli mightinesses the landlords, we shall deliver nothing as of our- selves, but briefly refer to what is declared of these men in holy writ : — " He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him ;" and this being a plain, positive, scriptural injunction, which no man who has the least regard to his conscience may safely disobey, we say d n all English, Welch, Scotch, and Irish landlords ; and let the people say amen. SETTLING FOR THE DERBY AND OAKS. Like the postscript of a letter, which generally contains more than the letter itself, the settling for the Derby is far more interesting to a betting man than its immediate result. It is very well to look over your book and say, " I have won so much," but the important query, *' shall I get it ?" will always present itself to those who have acquired experience in these matters. An old stager can tell in a mo- ment how it will be — he can put his finger on those who won't come, and on those who willj come, but won't fay, — he can calculate pretty closely what he shall receive in money ,and in what I O U's — in short, he will not have mucli trouble to ascertain what he has won by the race, and what he shall loose by the settling. Without departing from truth, the business transacted on the Tuesday after Epsom might be styled the " unsettling of the Derby and Oaks," for we will take upon ourselves to affirm that since the good old fashion of levanting has become obsolete, no man has been able to wind up his accounts for six months after their decision. There was nothing in the transactions of yesterday to distinguish it from other settling days — the premises were crowded, the bank notes were handed about like waste paper, the winners smiled, the losers looked as losers will always look, and all apparently went off smoothly ; one or two outsiders of the mushroom genus were " wanting,'' but all the principal sufferers were present. As we stated at the time, the winners were almost exclu- sively confined to the gentlemen ; the balances, how- ever, are moderate, a reasonable dread of Shillelagh and Bubastes having induced most of them to hedge their money. The betting men are losers almost with- out exception, and most of tbe money won on Rock- ingham was lost on Bubastes. The Oaks came off more favourably for the book makers, notwithstanding that many of them were " picked up" at thousands to twenty-five, thousands to forty, &c., to a considera- ble amount. It is gratifying to add, that both races were run perfectly on the square, and their results calculated to operate beneficially on racing, as the money returns to those who have ever been the best friends of the turf. The honourable, straight-for- ward, and sportsmanlike conduct of Mr. Batson throughout, especially in refusing an enormous sum for his horses (a sum exceeding what he won in bets) , is spoken of in all quarters with the higliest admiration ; of the integrity of his jockey, no other proofs need be adduced than that he won on the horse, and lost on the race. He was piesent yesterday, and received substantial marks of approbation from seve- ral noblemen and gentlemen. LIST OF TROUT STREAMS. The following list of some of the principal trout streams, in Yorkshire, Durham, Northumberland, Cumberland, and Westmoreland, and in the border counties of Scotland, may perhaps be of service to t'ne angler who is a stranger to those counties, and who may happen to visit them for the first time. It is by THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 185 no means offered as a complete one, but the writer believes, that so far as it extends, it will be found to be correct. The towns and villages named after each stream, indicate the place in the neighbourhood where the angler will be most likely to find convenient quarters. They are placed as they occur in ascending the stream, the lowest down being mentioned first. YORKSHIRE. The Aire. Keighley, Skipton. Codbeck. TopclifiFe,Thirsk. Costa. Pickering, Cover. East Wilton, or Middleham. Dent. Dent, or Sedbergh. Derwent. Malton, East Ay ton, or Scarborough. Dove, and Seven Beck. Kirkby Moorside. Eure. Ripon, Masham, Middleham, Askrigg. Greta. Greta Bridge. Hull, and Driffield Beck. Great Driffield. Leven. Stokesley. Rye, and Hole Beck. Helmsley. Swale. Topcliffe, Catterick Bridge, Richmond. Wharf. Wetherby, Harewood, Otley. Wiske. Northallerton. The Derwent. Ebchester, Edmondbyers, or Blanch - land. Tees. Hurworth, Croft Bridge, Barnard Cas- tle, Middleton in Teesdale. The Lune, an excellent trout stream which runs through the north western extremity of Yorkshire, and enters the Tees a little below Middleton, is well worth the angler's attention. Wear. Durham, Bishop Auckland, Wolsing- ham. NORTHUMBERLAND. The Allen, East. Allendale Town. Allen, West. Whitfield. Aln, Alnwick, Whittingham. Beamish, or Breamish, tlie name of the Till above Bewick. Glanton. Blyth. Bedlington, Stannington. Coquet. Warkworth, Felton, Weldon Bridge, Rothbury. Glen. Wooler. Pont. Ponteland. Reed. Otterburn. Till. Wooler. Tyne. Bywell, Hexham. A little above Hex- ham the Tyne is divided into two branches. Tyne, North. Bellingham. Tyne, South. Haydon Bridge, Alston in Cum- berland. Wansbeck. Morpeth, Meldon Dyke-nook, CUMBERLAND. The Bleng, and the Irt. Gosforth, about twelve miles south of Whitehaven. Caldew, the Eden, and the Peteril. Carlisle. Cocker. Cockermouth,Buttermere. \ Derwent. Workington, Cockermouth, Kes- wick. Duddon. Broughton in Lancashire. Eamont. Penrith. Ehen, or En. Egremont. Ellen. Ireby. Esk, on the border. Longtown. Esk, about fourteen miles south of Whitehaven, and the Mite. Ravenglas. Irthing. Brampton. Wampool, Wigton. WESTMOntAND. The Bratha. Ambleside. Eden. Temple Soweiby, Appleby, Kirkby Stephen. Kent, and its tributary, which runs through Long Sleddale. Kendal. Lowther. Shap. Lune. Kirkby Lonsdale, Sedberg, Burrow- bridge. BORDER COUNTIES OF SCOTLAND. RERWICKSHIRE. The Black Adder, and tlie White Adder. Dunse. Tweed. Berwick, Coldsteam, Kelso, Melrose, Peebles. ROXBURGHSHIRE. The Ale. Ancrum. The angler had best fix his quarters at Jedburgh. Beaumont, or Bowmont. Yetholm. Hermitage. The angler may obtain oat-cake, whiskey, and clean straw at the toll-bar, at the foot of the Nine-stanerig, on the road between Hawick and NewcastletOn. But he will scarcely fail to meet with border hospi- tality, should he ask a supper and a night's lodging, at the farm-house of Twiselhope, about two miles above Hermitage Castle ; and should he, though a " southron," bear a good old border name, — as happened to be the case with S. O. — he is the more likely to meet with a hearty welcome from the descen- dant of "An Elliot steive an' true, A bauld follower o'Cuccleugh ; Whadrave baith steer an' steed, O' law took little heed ; An' for bauld an' vent'rous deed He banged a' the Border through." Jed. Jedburgh. Kail, and Ousenam water. Morebattle. Slitrig, Borthwick, and Hassendean burn. Ha- wick. Teviot. Kelso, Jedburgh, Hawict SELKIRKSHIRE. The Ettrick, and the Yarrow. Selkirk. Gala. Galashiels. DUMFRIESSHIRE. The Annan. Annan, Lockerly. Esk, the Ewes, and Wauchope burn. Lang- holm. Nith. Dumfries. Sark. Gretna. The angler may here seek solace for his recent anxiety, f(/' rthe matri- monial hook is fixed, should he v. jit tliis place on such an errand. Sale at Messrs. Tattersall's. — Lord Kinnaird's hunters were knocked down yesterday afternoon at the following prices : — Truth, 225 guineas; Cannon Ball, 200 guineas; Brunswick, 75 guineas; Otto- man, 150 guineas ; Lincoln, 87 guineas ; Rocket, 125 guineas ; Surprise, 250 guineas ; Clinker (bought in) , 300 guineas ; Maxiraus, 230 guineas ; and Blue Beard, 115 guineas. The following racing stock was also sold : — Two-year old black colt by Defence, dam by Whalebone, 265 guines ; bay j earling colt by the Colonel, dam by Gohanna, 100 guineas; chestnut ditto by the Colonel, dam by Ab er, 140 guineas; and chestnut ditto by the Colonel, out of Frederica, 100 guineas. 186 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Hare Hunting Extraordinary. — The following extraordinary hare hunt took place on the Epsom Downs on Thursday afternoon, and which afforded the highest sport to the cockney sportsmen on tlie ground. Just after the conclusion of the race for the Derby, a fine hare started up on the Downs, most unexpectedly, amongst the spectators. Every one was astonished, and a grand hunt instantly took place. The harft was completely surrounded by sportsmen, and a scramble took place amongst some hundreds of persons. Several times was the animal upon the point of escaping, but being so overpowered by num- bers, which were increasing every minute, it was quite in vain ; and at length a respectable publican in Westminster (whose name it might not be prudent to mention, on account of the game laws) cj _^ht poor puss by the hind leg, and held her fast. The crowd now wanted to have another hunt, but mine host declared that the hare was his property, and should be hunted no more. The hare was safely secured in a gig, and Boniface set her at liberty on his road to town in the evening. The rookery of C. O. Cambridge, Esq. of Whit- minster House, has, this season, produced a young bird, the plumage of which is white, with the excep- tion of the head, which retains its natural colour. The bird, in a very emaciated condition, and before it could possibly provide for itself, was found upon the ground, and, it is supposed, was forcibly expelled from the paternal nest, owing to its unnatural appear- ance. Through the care of Mr. Cambridge, the life of the bird has been preserved, and it is now in a thriving condition. Poor Rates. — On the motion of Mr. Hodges, a detailed account of the' poor rates and county rates in England and Wales, for the year ending March 25, 1833, has been printed, from which it appears that the whole amount levied was 8,739, 881Z., of which 6,790,799/. was expended for the relief of the poor, 254,412/. in suits of law, and 1,694,669/. for other purposes. The diminution, as compared to the year before, is, on the whole, four per cent. The greatest diminution is found in Lancaster and Southampton, each nine per cent. ; the greatest increase in Bedford and Warwick, each four per cent. In Middlesex the diminution has been six per cent. Patriarchal Sheep. — A sheep which may be termed the Methuselah of the Cumberland flocks, has proved a very great source of profit to l\Ir. J. Elliot, of Whillimoor, near Whitehaven. Seventeen years have elapsed since it first " cropped the flowery mead," a lively little lamb ; at the age of one year it gave birth to twin lambs, and has brought forth two every succeeding year. It is of the Fell breed, and the oldest shepherds in the district do not remember a similar instance ; in fact, it is supposed that there is not a single sheep which has attained the age above specified in that partof the country. All the oftspring of this valuable ewe, too, have regularly yeaned two lambs at a birth, so that supposing they had resembled her in longevity, this single animal would have been the mother and grand-mother of a flock of three hun- dred and six in number ! to say nothing of the third generation. Ayrshire. — While complaints are made of the par- tial failure of the potato crop in some jiarts of the country, we are gratified to learn that the defect is not general, at least in Ayrshire. The other day we heard a gentleman state a singular fact connected with the mis-giving of the potato seed, yh., that in one-half of a field where the manure was laid on in the morn ing and the potatoes planted immediately afterwards' the whole brairded at the ordinary time ; but on the other half of the field where the manure was laid on at the same time, and allowed to lie spread and un- covered in the drills during the succeeding night, scarcely a single seed germinated. — Ayr Observer. We learn by private letters from Lisburne. that the potato crop in Antrim and the adjoining counties has almost totally failed. We also regret to learn that the seed of many descriptions is quite worn out, and will not produce in some places at all, and in others scantily. Essex Hops. — James Ellis, Esq., of Barming, in the county of Kent, whose extensive hop grounds have been frequently noticed, has for some years been the lessee of Havering Park, and farms adjoining, con- taining together about 1,200 acres, which are tithe free, and the property of Hugh M'Intosh, Esq., of Marshalls, near Romford. During the last season for that purpose Mr. Ellis selected from his best hop grounds, suflicient to plant fifty acres, and the bines are now in a state promising to bear the second year according to the nature of the plant. The cultivation of hops in the various stages, employs a great number, of men, women, and children ; the introduction of the plant in so populous a part of the country, may under that consideration be beneficial ; and although great complaints have of late years been made by the Essex hop growers of the want of a remunerating price, the circumstance of Mr. Ellis's land being tithe free (which is said to be equal to five guineas per acre) will give him an important advantage, and probably be a great inducement to extend his grounds, and eventually render the cultivation of the plant in other parts so unprofitable as to compel the cultivators to appropriate their land to other uses. A Generous Landlord. — At the late meeting of the West Norfolk Agricultural Association, the chair- man (C. B. Plestow, Esq.,) in giving the health of one of Mr. Coke's tenants, related the following fact, which he said was told him at Holkham. Mr. John Overman, of Burnham, farmed about 1,200 acres under Mr. Coke, and had done so for forty- two years. A short time since his lease expired, and Mr. Over- man still wished to have the farm. He reminded Mr. Coke, however, of the low price of corn, and the altered state of the times. Mr. Coke said at once to him, "Mr. Overman, you shall go over the farm, and I will do the same, and we will t^ach give in our estimate of what it is worth, and the difference betwixt our valuations we will split, and that shall be the rent." They did so, and the difference was only 8/. (Applause.) Mr. Coke was a practical man, and did not trust these matters to an agent, whose object was usually to make the best bargain he could, and never sympathised with the tenant. Strange as it might appear, Mr. Coke's estimate was 81. less than Mr. Overman's. (Increased cheering.) What was more, Mr. Coke told him lie would not take any advantage in splitting the difl:erence, but would let him oft" the 41. (Thunders of applause.) Here was a noble example for landlords! The chairman then made some eloquent observations on the bright and noble exaaiple thus set by Mr. Coke, and the necessity of landlords considering the v.-ell-being of their tenantry, and gave the health of Mr, Overman, of Weasenliam, who, in returning thanks, confirmed the tiuth of the statement of the transaction between his brother and Mr. Coke. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 187 COURT OF COMMON PLEAS. BUSH V. POWELL AND OTHERS. The facts of this case were briefly these : — the plaintiff having received a licence to sport over his land from Sir Samuel Whalley, trespassed upon a field belonging to the defendant, John Powell. The declaration charged the defendants with forcibly putting the plaintiff out of the field, and of drag- ging him into and through a pond. The defen- dants pleaded a justification to that part of the de- claration relating to the forcible ejection from the field, and the general issue. At the trial, which took place before Mr. Justice Park, at the last Gloucester Assizes, two of the defendants were acquitted, and a verdict for the plaintiff, damages five pounds, was given against the other two. It clearly ap- peared that Sir Samuel Whalley had no power to grant a licence to shoot over the land in question, as it belonged to Lord Segrave, and was in the oc- cupation of one of the defendants. A ride was obtained on a former day, calling upon the plaintiff to show cause why a verdict should not be entered for all the defendants, on the ground that the plaintiff could not recover damages for the dragging through the pond, the defendants having justified the assault complained of, and the di-agging through the pond being merely an aggravation of the assault. Mr. Serjeant Wilde now showed cause against the rule, and contended that the dragging through the pond was a separate trespass which the de- fendants had not attempted to justify, and which could not be covered by any part of their plea. Mr. Serjeant Ludlow and Mr. Serjeant Tal- FOURD, in support of the rule, relied upon the case of Taylor v. Cole, in 3 Term Reports, and 1 Henry Blackstone, 585, in which the expulsion of a party from his house was held to be a part and necessary consequence of the breaking and entering, and therefore to be covered by the plea which justified the breaking and entering. It was all one trespass, as was the forcibly putting the plaintiff out of the defendant's close, and dragging him through the pond in the present instance. The latter circum- stance was only an aggravation of the gist of the action which the defendants had justified. The Court held that the case of Taylor v. Cole was not in point, and that the dragging through the pond was one of a chain of trespasses, and called for special justification. Rule discharged. THE POTATOE CROP. [to the editors of the LEEDS MERCURy]. Gentlemen, — The potatoe being now become an article of much consequence in a commercial point of view, as well as forming a great propor- tion of the food of the working classes of so- ciety, it is of the utmost consequence its culture should be carefully attended to, in order that a remedy may be more easily applied whenever, either by disease or any other cause, its quality or produce is seriously aifected. In your lastweek's paper I observe a paragraph, stating there is again a failure in the potatoe set, and more particularly in the pink variety, and that they are becoming more so every year. I am not aware that any person has given any scientilis or even tolerably satisfactory reason why ihic failure in the potatoe set has taken place j 1 shall therefore, I trust, be the more readily excused for trespassing upon your valuable paper, by offering a few observations respecting it, which have sug- gested themselves to me, and arise from upwards of twenty years' experience, as a potatoe grower, (on a small scale, it is tnie, but embracing the culture of most of the useful varieties grown in the kingdom, the pink-eye variety among the rest), and up to the present year, as regards any failure in my sets, I have been perfectly successful, no such misfortune having yet befallen me. Though I have hitherto escaped the scourge, I have not been unmindful of the increasing failure that has annually taken place for some years by my o^^^l immediate neighbours, in common with most other parts of the kingdom, and in the ab- sence of any written inlormation I could pro- cure, I have been led to investigate in what parti- culars my method (which has been for the time specified as nearly uniform a^ possible), varied from the culture as it has of late years been practised by the large growers of the potatoe, from whom, of course, the great bulk of the sets of the po- tatoe of the country are procured. The first material difference I mark, is, that they plant much earlier than I do ; it seldom happens that I plant before the last week in April, or the first week in May, sometimes later ; generally speaking, my potatoes escape the spring frosts, which, if severe, the plant, during that season, scarcely ever completely recovers from their effects. How far that circumstance is likely to operate injuriously upon the vegetative principle of the produce I will leave every one to form his own opinion. The next variation I notice is as regards the maturity of the potatoe, as indicated by the appearance of its top ; they almost uniformly gather them much earlier than I do ; my practice is to let the top of the potatoe be completely dead before they are gathered. In the next place, I observe, from the very great quantities in which the article is by many people grown, it is necessary to use as expeditious methods of collecting and storing them as may be ; this is generally done by the plough, and a large quantity of hands collecting them imme- diately from the row into an immense pie, situate perhaps in the centre of the field in which they were grown. This practice, in the most favour- able weather, gives the potatoe no time to get dried of its external moisture ; it is well known that they, in common with apples and other such products, in the very driest state possible even when thrown together ferment or sweat. This, I apprehend, is considerably increased where ex- ternal moisture is not removed. The pie is im- mediately completed by a covering of from 6 to 9 inches of straw, and perhaps of from 1 2 to 18 inches of earth. Any one will easily conceive that fermentation or sweating must, under such cir- cumstances, from want of means of escape, be increased to a very great, if not to a very injurious extent. My potatoes are either in the field or on a barn floor, carefully selected into sizes, during which process they get considerably dry, and are then stored in stone bins, containing from six to eight loads each, and have then only a slight covering of straw laid upon them ; under these 188 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. circumstances it has frequently happened that the potatoes were stored completely dry and in small quantities, that in the course of a few days the straw has become quite wet, and much warmer than the hand ; the effect, therefore, to be ex- pected, when such immense quantities are put together under more unfavourable circumstances, must, I apprehend, be injurious. I am aware that many objections may be raised by persons engaged on a large scale in the cultivation of potatoes to the minuti» of my culture, but I beg distinctly to be imderstood, that my observations are only intended to apply to potatoes grown for Leeds, which is the object for which I have culti- vated these potatoes, and that I ofler my observa- tions more with a view to draw the attention of your readers to consider whether such causes are likely to produce such effects than to insist that such variations from my methods of cultivation are the sole cause of the deficiency in the plant of potatoes complained of. Regarding the re- placing of the failing sets, I wish also to state, that where it is inconvenient, and in some instances it will be impossible to get seed, the deficiency may, in a great measure, be replaced by carefully dis- placing one or two shoots from each set growing, wlien they are from four to six inches long, and transplanting them into the vacancies occasioned by the failing sets, with a common dibber ; cloudy moist weather should be selected for this purpose. If the above observations are in your opinion calculated to throw any light upon the subject, or be in any way serviceable to the public, you may use them as you think proper. — 1 remain, gentle- men, your's respectfully, WM. PONTEY. Kirkheaton Nursery, May 29, 1834. POTATO-CROP, WIGTOWNSHIRE. The Dumfries Courier is indebted for the fol- lowing important facts to a Wigtownshire Corres- pondent. The potato crop in some parts of Wig- townshire is, we are sorry to say, a total failure, — About Whithorn, the place in which the disease first manifested itself three years ago, so decided is the failure that not one out of ten bushels of sets are growing. Mr. Nicholson, Physgill, has lost almost his entire crop. He, and numerous others of his neighbours, set the black potato, called the London Reds, a species that throve last year when almost all others failed, but these too have given way this year. Flat reds have likewise failed with him. The cups, a species of red, and the apple-potato generally do very well, but martins and every other kind have gone back. Mr. Nichol- son discovered, after he had planted five bolls, that the seed was completely rotten, and set no more. It had been cut eight or ten days before setting. He has been obliged to plant wholly anew. Mr. Eraser, Portyerrick, and the farmers in the neighbourhood, planted reds, but like those of his neighbours, they have proved a failure. He tried liming them, but with no decided effect, though the limed ones are coming away better than the others. Results quite different occurred close by : — the limed ones failed, while the others grew. Another farmer in that neighbourhood set half a boll in the middle of March, which are growing nicely, as is the case in the several other instances of early setting. Mr. White, Creech, planted foiuleen bolls, composed of martins, cork reds, and apples, and from the whole he has not the promise of more than the ordinary produce of a single boll of sets. The seed, of his own grow- ing, was ripe when raised, some of it was house- kept, and the rest pitted dui'ing winter, and when cut the day before planting, appeared fresh and healthy. He has been obliged to plough the whole up and sow turnips. Mr. White gave some of his seed to a cottar, and it is thriving. Mr. David- son, Culbac, set six bolls of martins, which all failed except a seed here and there. The most of it was cut a day or two before setting, and all failed ; part of the rest the night before, and part that morning, — the former promised, the latter failed. He has had to re-plant the whole. Mr. Muir, Maidland, Wigtown, has a field in which a number of failures have occurred in the ground let, while his own potatoes are doing well. The kinds chiefly going back are Brown's fancies, martins, and a species of white potato that was introduced into the county a few years ago. The cups and apples are coming. Mr. Muir practices setting in June for seed, raising them before the shaws begin to decay, pitting and covering them so deep with straw and mools as effectually to resist the frost. Mr. M'Clellan planted some in Mr. Muir's field, which failed. The seed is growing luxuriantly in his garden. The disease seems as yet to be confined to certain localities — about Kirkcowan, we are informed, the potatoes so far as tried, are doing well. Mr. Anderson, Mull, near Kirkcowan, set several bolls of martins, cups, and Wellington, all of which are thriving. He raised his seed when the stalks were withered. — Part of this year's planting was cut a fortnight be- fore being set. The disease has found its way to the Glenluce side. Mr. Wallace, a farmer in that neighbourhood, set a great breadth, which have all gone back, and caused him to plant anew. It has been found that whole potatoes grow even when all the rest fail. It has likewise been re- marked that the patoto stalks for a year or two past have borne no plums, though they flower as formerly. No person appears to be able to ac- count for this new and strange disease, which, by all accounts, is likely to become universal. In bye-past years it could be said that indulgent na- ture seemed to have exempted this island from many of those epidemic evils, which are so fatal in other parts of the world. A want of rain for a few days beyond the expected season, in some parts of the globe, spreads famine, desolation, and terror over the whole country ; but in this fortu- nate island the inhabitant courted health in every breeze, and the husbandman ever sowed in joyful expectation. Matters of late years have changed, and it becomes all thinking and rational beings to reflect. A disease has insinuated itself into our island, which has destroyed its thousands and tens of thousands, and which has hitherto baffled all human means to conquer. And of still later date, a disease has crept into and threatens to deprive man of one of his most staple articles of food. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 189 THE HORTICULTURAL MEETING, OR, flora's fete. [The following lively extracts ai-c from a Poem, written by a Lady, in imitation of the " Butterfly's Ball."] Sweet Flora was drest in cerulean blue, With a cestus of gold, and bespangled with dew ; A wreath of wild flowers, which fairies had made, Encircled her forehead, and twin'd in her braid : There was Venus's looking-glass hung very near. To make e'en her beauty more lovely appear 5 Her own Crow7i Imperial lay at her feet, And Noli me tangere guarded her seat.****** Mrs. Artichoke felt quite too old to appear ; And Miss Onion was laid on the shelf for the year : Indeed she'd so often been shun'd at a rout, She determin'd ,in public, no more to go out ; Mr. Cabbage, detained by a tailor at home. Felt great disappointment that he cou'dn't come. The Turnips were ill — their disease was the fly — ■ It was generally thought they were likely to die. Doctor Camomile had a few patients to see, But would hasten his visits, and drop into tea; The Myrtle must go to a marriage that morn. With the sweet Orange Blossoms a bride to adorn. The Rocket, engaged to a fete at Vauxhall ; London Pride would have come, but had met with a fall ; And the Sensitive Plant too, had taken offence, For she's known to be touchy, altho' she has*en*e. The Balm was too high her relations to meet, Because, she'd bought Gilead House for her seat. The whole of the day was harmoniously spent — The Spheres as a favour their music had sent ; And groups of gay flowers were scattered around, Whilst many paraded the beautiful ground ; Till the Nightshade was caught darting into the room, With his poisonous vapours and poisonous gloom ; And the Night-bloiving Cereus, beginning to yawn. Gave the hint to her friends that it soon would be dawn ; Then they look'd at the Thyme, and they ask'd if he'd stay ? The Old Man shook his head, and was hastening away; So the goddesses summon'd their car and with- drew. And each beauty returned to the pla^e where she grew. RENNIE'S HAND-BOOK OF GAR BENIN G. This cleverlittlebook was written at the request of J.S. Menteath, Esq. Closeburn-hall, Dunifrieshirc, chiefly for the use of the Scotch peasantry. That our readers may have some idea of its contents, we have made the following extracts: — " Mouths of Gardf.n Plants. — All manure must not only be rendered liquid, but also be as thin as water, before it can be sucked up by the spongelets ; and hence even the drainings of sta- bles and dunghills, which are very ricli in nourish- ment for plants, are too rich, that is, too thick to pass the small openings, till they are largely mixed with water, without which they will choke the crops instead of feedin,; them. When the leaves become yellow from this cause, they are usually said to be burnt by the heat of the manure. In the same way, the finest sort or the powdered lime, bones, or shells, cannot, till dissolved in water, get through the spongelets into any plant. ** It is on this account, that, in transplanting, the tips of the root fibres are pressed and ob- structed by the earth of their new situation, and are, therefore, unable to feed till they can place themselves in similar freedom in the earth as they had before transplanting. When they are bent or obstructed in this way, their growth is also pre- vented, and new fibres spring from other parts of the root, out of the materials which would other- wise have enlarged the old fibres. " Plants thus acquire a greater number of mouths, the oftener they are transplanted, a cir- cumstance usually acted on by nurserymen, who shift their young trees and other plants for the purpose of multiplying their I'oot fibres, and con- sequently of strengthening the plants, by giving them a greater facility of feeding from having more mouths to feed with. This is also important in cultivating cabbages and greens. " Every removal, however, must tend to ob- struct or injure the root tips, and, of course, check the growth, by preventing them from feed- ing. But by lifting plants with balls of earth so as not to disturb the root fibres, or by taking great care not to injure these, and at the same time spreading them carefully out by hand in their new situation, Sir Henry Stewart, of Allanton, has introduced the novel and successful practice, founded on science, of transplanting even the largest trees." Food of Plants. — " The watering of a garden in dry weather, by throwing over it buckets of water from a pump, is of far less use than if the pump-water was thrown through the fine rose of a watering-pot, so that each drop might mix with and carry down a portion of air. Rain again, which falls from a considerable height, must carry down a great deal of air, and hence it is found to fertilize more than any sort of watering by hand." " Soils, where water does not circulate freely, are popularly termed cold and sour, though their chief defect is the want of a due supply of air. The water of such soils, indeed, tastes vapid, somewhat like water deprived of air by boiling. Too much water in a soil is certainly injurious ; but even a rather wet soil will be greatly benefited if all its water be kept in free circulation by ju- dicious draining, levelling, and sloping; or, in the case of stiff clay, by manuring with coal-ashes and the like, to open the texture of the soil." " The mineral part of the soil, exclusive of lime, contributes nothing to the food of plants. On these principles we can easily account for the bar- renness of stiff clays, dry sands, and more par- ticularly soils chiefly consisting of granite sand, as in Arran, and near Plymouth ; while in the in- stance of sand or clay from basclt or whinstone, as well as from limestone and chalk, the carbonic acid gas tends to greater fertility, as in the Lo- thians, Ayrshire, and Kent. No mi.icture then of clay and sand will be fertile without limestone, chalk, or basalt, that is, whinstone ; and more particularly without decayed plants or manures, containing a large proportion of humic acid and other combinations of carbon and hydrogen." Changes of Plant Food. — " Wh( n a soil is known to contain rotting weeds and other plants, or has had rotted manure spread over its surface, it cannot be too well dug and raked, i n order to mix tlie richer parts of these with the less rich clay and sand ; on the same principle that at dinner we mix in eating the richer beef or mutton, with the less rich potatoes, cabbage, and bread. JBoth 190 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. we and the garden-plants must have a large por- tion of water to thin or dilute the food, otherwise health will suffer. The water which we drink in the form of tea, coffee, or beer, is similar in kind to the manured moisture sucked up by garden plants, which feed solely on liquid food." The Sap and the Pulp. — " The change of sap into pulp cannot take place in the dark, sun-light being indispensable to open the pores ; and hence plants growing under thick trees, or any thing that obstructs the sun's light, cannot well effect this important change, and the pulp being in conse- quence only prepared in small quantity, they be- come slender, yellowish, and sickly, for want of due nourishment. It is iguorantly said, that the trees draw them. Plants in pots, in an ill-lighted window, suffer the same inconvenience, and bend their heads as much as possible towards the light ; not that they have any knowledge of the use of it, any more than a hungry infant has of the use of the milk which it greedily sucks, but because in the part most exposed to the light a greater quan- tity of pulp is formed, which renders it firmer, heavier, and shorter, than the part less exposed, whose laxness causes it to give way and lengthen, on the same principle that a piece of somewhat moist paper will bend when exposed to the heat of a fire, from the side nearest the fire losing its moisture and contracting." •' When the change of sap into pulp is in any way prevented, as by shade or by moisture, the leaves naturally become yellow, as when plants in pots have more water given them in saucers or otherwise, than the sun-light can cause to pass off; or when they are root bound, and the root tips have not room to feed." " By tying the leaves of lettuce near the top, the inmost leaves are kept firom the light, and hence little or no pulp being formed there, they are ren- dered white, crisp, and tender : as cabbages and savoys grow of their own accord without tying, though tying hastens the process. This is called blanching, which means whitening." " In all cases, the more light plants are exposed to, the hardier they will be, provided they be not gorged with too watery food ; and the less light they have, the more feeble, sickly, and yellow they will be. Light from above, also, is greatly better than side light." ' ' The importance of wide planting, in most cases, will, therefore, be obvious ; for if potatoes, cab- bages, or other plants are crowded together, they become (at least at their sides) nearly as much shaded from the light by each other, as if growing under trees." Air. — "The importance of a free circulation of air to the healthy growth of plants must be obvi- ous ; and hence a garden cooped up between high walls or bushes, even though it have plenty of sun- light, which is still more indispensable than free air, will never produce good crops. It has been supposed by some also, that plants require to be somewhat moved and shaken by the winds, as a sort of exercise for circulating the sap and pulp, insomuch as they cannot take walking exercise like animals. This, however, is only an ingenious fancy." Growth of Plants. — " When plants are strip- ped of their leaves by accident, such as by the ra- vages of caterpillars, or the browsing of cattle, they either die or become sickly, till new leaves, as will happen in vigorous plants, sprout again to prepare the necessary supplies of pulp. "It is, therefore, an error to pick off leaves, as is sometimes done with the intention of exposing fruit, such as grapes, to the sun to hasten their ripening; for a supply of pulp is still more im- portant to their ripening than such exposure, and without leaves no pulp can be formed." Rejection of Plants, Rotation of Crops. — "The fact has been long known to gardeners and farmers, that they could not get good crops of the same kind from the same piece of ground, season after season, thoagh the cause of this has only been investigated of late years, and has been proved, by experiments of Brugmans and Macaire, not to arise, as was formerly alleged, from the food in the soil being exhausted, since all plants feed nearly alike, but from the excrementitious slime which acts upon the same sort of plant that pro- duce it, as a poison. Thus the slime from a crop of cabbages, will greatly injure anotlier crop of cabbages, though it will do little or no harm to po- tatoes or peas ; while the slime from peas will in- jure peas, tliough it might not injure cabbages or turnips." Seed Sowing. — " In sowing any sort of seed, these four circumstances must be carefully at- tended to. For want of heat, seeds will not come up during frost ; for want of water, they will not come up in dry sand ; for want of air, they will not come up if too deep in the ground ; and if not duly covered, they will not come up from having too much light." Planting Potatoes. — " When uncut potatoes are used, they must be planted at greater distances, to give room for the plants to get light and air, otherwise they may as well be planted under trees or hedges. The eyes or buds nearest the root fibre sprout a week or more later than those far- thest from it, on the same principle that the top shoots of a tree come first into leaf, and therefore, in planting uncut sets, the produce will be unequal in size, and ripen at different times. In planting cut sets, the two sorts of eyes should be plantad in separate rows, as is always done in Lancashire. Potatoes for planting are found to answer best when procured from a different soil, as they seem to like a change of food." The Agricultural i\Ieeting at Grignon, in France, took place on Sunday. The Minister of Commerce, the Prefect of the Seine and Ois3, Baron Rothschild, and a great number of the most distinguished ladies of the capital and the environs were present, as well as several civil and military officers. The morning was devoted to visiting the grounds, the schools, the laboratories, the granaries, the stables, cow houses, barns, threshing machines, and other implements of husbandry. The ploughing matches, for which twelve ploughs were entered, then took place, in the presence of not fewer than 6,000 spectators. A gold medal, one of silver, two of bronze, and two of fine ploughs, were adjudged to the victors, six in number, accor- ding to their different degrees of merit ; after which a large party partook of a sumptuous dinner at the experimental farm. Curious Atmospheric Eitect. — My own beard, which in Europe was soft, silky, and al- most straight, began immediately on my arrival at Alexandria to curl, to grow crisp, strong, and coarse, and before I had reached Es-Souan, resembled horse- hair to the touch, and was all disposed in ringlets about the chin. This is, no doubt, to be accounted for by the extreme dryness of the air, which, operating through several thousand years, has, in the interior, changed the hair of the negro into a kind of coarse wool.— St. John's Travels in the Valley of the Nile. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 191 TO THE EDITOR OF THE " MARK LANE EXPRESS." Sir,— You will oblige rae by inserting in your valuable paper the following : — Seeing an article in one of the columns of your paper taken from a Devonport paper defaming the character of the corn-growers in this Island and Jersey, charging them with perjury in having sworn to corn purporting to be their own growth, when at the same time they, had substituted foreign corn I beg to trouble you with the following observations. This article appears to be made up by a few interested individuals because the little quantities of wheat that have arrived at Plymouth from hence for sale did not pass through their hands to the millers for them to have a pro- fit on the same. If this had been the case we should not have heard of this complaint ; the growers of w'leat in this Island, I consider, know the sacred obligation of an oath, and are as moral and good subjects as those who have charged them with perjury. It should be known that a grower of wheat cannot send a single bushel out of the Island to England without swearing to the same of its being his own growth before a magistrate, previous to his shipping the same. (Signed) Guernsey, May 'M, 1834. " TRUTH." [It is quite possible that foreign grain may be im- ported from these islands, and yet the statement con- tained in our correspondent's letter be correct. His observation is confined to CouN-oRowEns. There is nothing said of Mh.lers and Corn-dealers. The question will, however, be very shortly set at rest, returns of the quantities of corn imported from those islands having been moved for in the House of Com- mons.— Edit. M. L. E.] COMMUTATION OF TITHE BILL. TO THE EDITOR OF TUE HEREFORD TIMES. Sir, — I addressed to you, a fortnight ago, some ob- servations upoQ Lord Althorp's Tithe Commutation Bill, in w/iich I pointed out its enormous injustice, and absurdities ; and I then gave an opinion, which I still very confidently retain, that Lord Althorp never ap- proved, nor would have supported, parts of that bill. I consider it as the production of the gentlemen who have since seceded from the administration ; and a more deformed and ill-organised abortion never issued from the brain of any human being. In the midst of its extravagance and absurdity, there is some degree of consistency in it ; it takes alike, and with equal in- justice, from the possessor of tillage and from the vicar, who are least able to pay. I have, in my former letter, pointed out the unjust and oppressive operation of the conditions of the bill upon the pos- sessor of all temporary pasture ground ; and I shall now shew that the poor vicar will, in many cases, suffer still greater injustice. I do not, however, mean to attribute any intention to the author, or authors, of the bill in question, to rob the vicar of any portion of his just dues, their sole object having, I believe, been to prevent any commutation of tithes whatever being made. Respecting the injustice which vicars will be caused to sustain, I shall most readily make myself understood by your readers, by stating a case in which I shall be a highly benefitted party, if this bill should pass into a law. I possess, in the parish of Leintwardine, in this county, contiguous to my house, about a thousand acres of ground, of which the tithe of corn, hay, and wood, are my freehold property. Nearly thewliole of this ground is successively employed in bearing crops of turnips, barley, clover duringtwo years, and wheat. From this ground the vicar now derives a considerable revenue ; but under the conditions of the bill in question, the tithe of turnips and of clover, whether it be grazed or mown, will become my sole property. In parts of England, many farms exist, which contain no other pasture ground than that of the temporary kind above- mentioned ; and the unfortunate vicars will not derive any revenue whatever from the agistment tithes of such farms. In the case abovementioned, in which I am an interested party, the vicar shall certainly not be deprived during my life, of his just dues, should the bill in question pass into a law; and he is so greatly and so justly respected and beloved by his parishion- ers, that my tenants, I am certain, (if I did not in- terfere, which I certainly shouldj would wilHngly con- tinue their present payments : but many other vicars probably would not fare so well, and the demerits of the bill are not the less, because some persons would not profit, who might, by its unjust condi- tions. Comparatively few persons wish any other commu- tation of tithes to take place, than such as would give the clergy a full and fair equivalent, and it is certainly their interest to accept, as it is the landlord's interest to give, such an equivalent. A part of of the gentle- men of the law, who have long been the rulers of this country, have a deep interest in keeping the tithe laws as they are ; for to them, as the publications of Rayner, Sir Thomas Gwillim, and Toller, most am- ply shew, the litigation between the clergy and their parishioners has been a most copious source of profit. Such source of profit could not now continue to exist j for clergymen, in the present times, must not harrass tlieir parishioners with such vexatious suits as abounded in the reign of George the 3rd ; and there is obviously a strong disposition shewn by a very large number of the leading members of the profession of the law, to cause all abuses to be reformed : and their efforts if properly seconded by the people, cannot fail to be successful. Downton, June 2nd, 1834. T, A. KMGHT. COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF COM- MONS ON THE ISLINGTON MARKET BILL. When the Committee met on Monday, the room was crowded. Mr. Charles Pearson appeared as agent for the owners and occupiers of laud, to the extent of upwards of 200,000 acres, in Leicester- shire, Warwickshire, Huntingdonshire, Rutland- shire, and Northamptonshire, the principal grazing counties in the north ; and for the graziers of Kent, Sussex, Surrey, and Hampshire, in opposi- tion to the proposed Bill for establishing a market at Islington. Mr. Pearson argued at great length against the measure, and contended that Smith- field presented the best site for such a market, from its central situation, both as regarded pro- ducers and consumers. If the Legislature thought different, and should be of opinion that the live cattle-market ought to be removed from the centre of the metropolis, he called unon the Committee so to report to the House ; and the graziers, the butchers, and the salesmen, might then agree together on a suitable place to which the market might be transferred, and the regulation and ma- nagement placed in the hands of public trustees, who could understand and protect the interests of all those who resorted to it ; but to play tricks with this important article of human food, to gratify the thirst for gain of those speculators — 192 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. to theorize and experimentalize with two markets, in oppositif- to the opinions of practical men of all sides, who thought such an attempt must fail in the end, and would entail injury and ruin upon thousands w hile it lasted, was a proposition too monstrous even in this age of experimentalizing legislation. The site of the proposed market at Ball's Pond was in every respect unfit for the pur- pose. It was low and swampy, incapable of being drained, and without roads, absolutely indispen- sible to the carrying on of such a business as the Bill supiosod. The regulations of the Bill were monstroi and tyrannical. If Smithfield Market required ome enlargement, which he believed it did, the graziers called upon the Corporation to make it. It was a duty they owed to the public, as trustees for the public, and he for one should say, as a Member of that Corporation, that, if necessary, they ought to pawn their Corporate seal and melt down their gold and silver insignia of office, rather than allow the market to be re- moved on account of want of space for the con- venient transacting of its business. Mr. Pearson then entered into a long legal argu- ment to show that the Bill could not be proceeded with on account of the non-compliance with certain regulations required by the Laws of Par- liament, and called upon the Committee, in a very powerful appeal, to reject the Bill. The Chairman, after conferring for some time with the rest of the Committee, desired Mr. Pear- son to call his witnesses, and the examination of several graziers was entered into in support of that gentleman's argument ; after which the Com- mittee adjourned. A number of Gentlemen of the Bar and of Members of the House of Commons were present during the day. A. leading novelty distinguished this case on Tuesday, by the appearance of Mr. Giblett, the butcher, in propria perso7ia, as a champion of that class of tradesmen ; and it was acknowledged on all hands, that the manner in which he conducted the business proved that the plain common-sense iiffairs of life do not suffer by being conducted by plain common-sense men. There are engaged for the city the Recorder, the Common Serjeant, Mr. Follett, and Mr. Wood ; for the Islington Market Bill, Mr. Harrison, Mr. Piatt, and Mr. Peter Lau- rie. The following is a brief abstract of the sum- ming up of the evidence for the butchers against the bill :— Mr Giblett said that he relied most confidently on the determination of the committee to recom- mend the total and unqualified rejection of the bill, which was calculated to prejudice the interests of an extensive body of tradesmen, of all the graziers throughout the country, and of the public at large. He admitted that four or five years ago there was serious cause of complaint against Smithfield maiket, but the corporation had, by preventing the passing of coaches and carts through it, by directing the exertions of an efficient police in its vicinity, and by a series of other regulations, ap- plied so complete a remedy, that nothing was now required to make it a place of the highest possible convenience but a slight increase of, an addition of one-eighth being considered adequate to all the purposes of the market. The evidence of all the witnesses concurred in describing the injurious operation of the contemplated measure. He looked upon the establishment of two markets as a project which, so entirely did the dead market depend for success upon its vicinity to the live market, would terminate speedily in the establish- ment of one. The number of cattle and sheep killed in and about the vicinity of Smithfield amounted to one-fourth of the whole stock brought in, and the most important advantage was derivable from the speedy system of slaughtering. The neighbouring receptacles were admirably suited to the business, so that the public knew nothing at all of the disagreeable process, except so far as the arrangement of the several joints in the retail shops was concerned. It was in evi- dence that a second fourth-part went over the bridge ; so that, if the bill passed, an immense mass of inconvenience would be accumulated in the inevitable obligation to drag the animals through the most crowded parts of the metropolis. He must say that it would be most unjust to do such extensive and permanent mischief of a pub- lic and private nature, because an individual pre- tended to stand forward from patriotic motives, from a strong love of humanity, and without any idea of personal recompense. What absui-dity was it to expect that men of understanding were to be deceived by such stuff! The fact was, the pro- prietor of the concern in which it was attempted to establish so decided a monopoly sought the most monstrous recompense, under the catching title of humanit}'', and aimed at the destruction of a large class of industrious men, in order to con- firm his claim to the reputation of a philanthro- pist. He then quoted the evidence given by some of the most extensive butchers in the metropolis. If the object sought for were obtained, every butcher would be obliged to have an agent con- stantly employed, and would be subjected to a vast additional expense : the whole of the existing arrangements then, of which nothing could be better, would be thrown into the utmost confusion, and obstacles of the most injurious nature would be placed in the way of a trade in which 5,000,000;. were annually turned. He then ar- gued upon the fact, that in consequence of the plan adopted in Smithfield the stock there was in infinitely better condition than that of other mar- kets. He contended that the arguments on the other side, that Smithfield market was too small for the stock which was brought to it, was of no efficacy as regarded the proposition of removal. If the Bank or the Post-office, or any other great establishment, was too small for the business transacted, the probable and natural consequence would be a proposal of enlargement, not of re- moval or annihilation. But in this case the humanity of the speculator at once dictated the remedy by turning the contracted size of Smith- field to his own benefit by substituting a market of his own. He commented upon the important evidence which stated the very trifling injuiy sus- tained by the cattle which were driven on to Smithfield market. The graziers thought nothing of the injury, and one of them, a man of most extensive dealings, declared that he would take 5/. for all the damage he had ever sustained in that respect. Mr. Giblett most particularly called the attention of the committee to the condition to which his small brethren in the trade would be affected by the bill, and to the fact that the neces- sary result would be the increase of the price of the article to the poor, and he again besought the Committee to recommend the abandonment of a measure which sprung out of an anxiety for large pecuniary profits, at the expense of the butchers, the grazieis, the public, and most espe- cially the poor. The committee at the conclusion of ttiis speech adjourned to Friday, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 193 PROSPECT FOR HARVEST. TO THE EDITOR OF THE FARMEr's MAGAZINE. Sir, — An early harvest with an average crop ap- pears to me to be the present prospect, but of course any opinion on these matters as yet must be some- what speculative, althougli I think it may be admit- i ted beyond a doubt that the wlieat will not, under ; any favourable circumstances, exceed an average crop, owing to at least a third-part of the growing- wheat being short of straw, and this will be found to occur generally on such fields as were sown early in the autumn, in a very dr}^ state, after a summer fallow, or fallow after tares, fulfilling the old adage of " Light of tilth, light of straw." This, of course, may not be the case on the heaviest description of wheat soils, and such as have not undergone the operation of draining, but on land of the best and middling quality it will be found to apply. Then to : balance this deficiency, the clover-ley, and back- ward sown wheat (or such as was sown after the j rains we had about the middle of the season) looks ' remarkably strong, and promises well for a crop. The time of year is now arrived, when the prospect tor harvest is not only interesting in itself, but also for the effect that pi aspect may have on the price of such corn as may be still in the hands of the farmers. This, on the whole, will be found to be decidedly less in quantity than is usual at the beginning of .lune ; ^ nor is it surprising that such should be the case, as ; the price of wheat during the past year has been 20 per cent, below the calculation on which the land . has been taken at — consequently the farmer, in order to raise such a sum of money as eight loads should • have ensured, has been obliged to dispose of ten ! loads ; and this, too, from a crop that is now uni- | versally acknowledged to have been barely an ave- | rage one. ■ However, under present circumstances, to a farmer a " pound is a pound indeed ;" thus, the price tliat the remaining part of the last crop may i realize is the general market topic. My opinion is j that it may pay a trifle for keeping, and I am led to ! this conclusion from the conviction the general im- ! pression of the prospect of the wheat crop before harvest will be such as I now entertain, and have stated above — namely, that it cannot exceed an ave- rage ; at tlie same time that I feel satisfied there is no chance from the present prospect of the ensuing- crop of wheat being abundant ; at least, I see no chance of its being so abundant as to cause a fur- ther decline of price ; still, I know the necessity of the farmers to be so extreme, that there is consider- able apprehension that more than the usual quantity of wheat will be brought to market between harvest and Christmas, and by this means keep the demand, as it is at present — below the supply ; and the price, also, as it now is — below the cost of production. It has been truly observed by political economists, that the price of any given commodity will not perma- nently remain below the cost of production. True as this may be, it is but a sorry consolation to those whose prospects and circumstances become destroy- ed before the effect has worked its own cure. " Whilst the grass grows the horse starves ;" so it is with the farmer selling wheat at 6s per bushel, and it is in vain to endeavour to console those hard- working and industrious men who have been ruined by the present low price of wheat, by assuring them that time will remedy the evil. That the present corn 1-aws afford great protection to the grower, with equal justice to the consumer, I have endeavoured to show in a former letter ; but if those laws were still more wise and efficient, it would be impossible that they could effectually protect British Agricul- ture, so long as the EnglUh Labour Market and the English Corn Market is glutted loith Irish sufply. Let the legislature but institute a well-organized system of poor-laws in Ireland, and it will do more real service to the landed interest at home than twenty Tithe Commutation Bills can effect. The barley, particularly the forward sown, is looking well, -and promises to be a good crop. The chevalier barley has been used to a greater extent this seasoifcthat at any former one. It is in high re- pute, but I think its introduction to such general no- tice may be considerably attributed to tlie two last favourable seasons, in which all delic-ate plants have more than usually flourished. For my own part, al- though lam satisfied under favourable circumstances of its superior qu-ality in comparison with other de- scriptions of barley, I think it is a plant incapable of contending with difficulties such as it may often be re- quired to encounterinthis climate,with so little injury to the grain as the more common and hardier sorts. There is, I think, also less of this grain in the hands of the f;xrmers than is usual ; and I think after har- vest it will be difficult to obtain any quantity of old barley of second-rate quality, of such description as is generally in requisition for grinding purposes im- mediately after harvest, before the new crop comes into use. I account for this deficiency from the fact of all the barley of last years' growth being nearly of one quality, and commanding almost an uniformity of price. It would be difficult to find any past sea- son when the malting and grinding barley sold for so nearly the same mwiey. The prospect for the oat crop is, I think, tolerably good, and, assisted by the late beautiful rain on the 12th inst, will no doubt prove to be a full average. Peas and beans have also lately improved considerably : the former will come early to harvest. It may fairly be said the prospect of the corn farmer at home, and without reference to the price of grain, is cheerful, but at market, where this sad reality stares him in the face, it is ruinous. I am. Sir, Your obedient and very humble servant, Sussex, June 14, 1834. AGRICULTOR. Enclosure Bills. — There has just been printed, by order of the House of Commons, a return respecting Enclosure Bills, " fees " thereon, &c. From this it appears that on one Bill (the Rock- ingham Forest Enclosure) The Private Office Bill " fees " were £12 10 0 The House "fees" were 76 14! The Committee " fees" were 60 15 2 ! ! The Engrossing " fees " were 118 2 6!!! Tlie Housekeeper's and Messengers' " fees " were 7 10 0 £274 19 0 Thus for one Bill, at one House only, the "fees" were nearly three hundred pounds, which, of course, is for none of the work, being exclusive of all costs, for attorneys, agents, counsel, &c., and the average num- ber of private bills each session is upward* of 200 ! So that there are pretty pickings somewhere — and the expenditure is so useful ! A STOP TO Epsom Races. — We under- stand that an action has been commenced by John Ivatt Briscoe, Esq., M. P., as lord of the manor, for trespass committed in running races, and erecliug booths on Epsom Downs, the lord contending that there is no prescriptive or other sufficient title to do so. Messrs. Everest and Harding, solicitors, of Ep- som, are engaged for the defence, and no pains or ex- pense will be spared in resisting the claim thus made. 0 194 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. TO THE SOCIETY OF AGRICULTURE, AT ST. PETERSBURGH. Being' desirous of examining' the practical obser- vations of English and French writers on Agricul- ture, and comparLQg them with the scientific princi- ples of nature, taught by geology, chemistry, and botany, I commence my enquiry by putting to the test of experiment. Lord Kame's assertion, that all manures have a disposition to retain moisture, and were good or bad, according as this quality was great, or small, and that those soils, which did not require manures, had a quality within themselves of holding and imbibing moisture, that a calcareous soil had the greatest tendency to this effect. The practical observation of Jethro Tull that all soils would produce vegetation the more luxuriantly according to the tillage of the surface, whilst the crop was growing, required only a knowledge of what was fertile earth, and what was vegetable food, to make that agriculturist the greatest benefactor England ever had, but the low state of science in his time, precluded a nearer approach to the great desideratum. The principles of Tull were followed by the great practical experiments of Duhamel, of France, who with his cotemporary experimentalists arrived at a concluding position, that tillage of the surface, and a separation of vegetatable roots were the principle points to be attended to in farming with success. With these impressions, and comparing what 1 saw and heard on farming processes, with what I know of scientific subjects in connection with agri- culture, I have proceeded to practise scientifically, and to reason inductively on the means of improving the practice of English farming. Viewing agriculture geologically, I commence with the principle that all soils are the debris of olden rocks, and that nine-tenths of the surface is constituted of the common earths, of silecous, cal- careous, and argallecious matters, and that the other tenth consists of minor earths, and metals, that the principle colouring matter of soils, is that of iron, — that the best soils are a mixture of the three earths, that single minerals are sterile — except for their pe- culiar vegetables. In considering agriculture chemically, and guided by the researches of Sir H. Davy, I conclude that all soils have a pabulum for some peculiar vegetations, that all contain potash, and that the air will supply carbon. All vegetables are reduceable to these matters, and the gases of which air and water con- sist, with an earthy and alkaline base. The de- composition of vegetable manures, are reduced to these bases, all mineral manures have a tendency to amalgamate and fertilize earths, and induce them to hold moisture. Vegetables in decomposing have their carbon united to the oxygen of the air, the water, and oxy-metallic matters in the soil, and forms carbonic acid gas, in which state it is in union with aqueous particles, and becomes food for the sponglets at the extremities of vegetable roots, — the potash also becomes liquid, and unites with silex to form the epidermis of vegetables, particularly straws and grasses. Of the botany of agriculture, we are in England very deficient ; the internal structure of the bloom- ing of corn is scarcely ever observed by farmers ; that plants have a male bloom on one root, and a female on another, will scarcely be credited by nine- tenths of the farmers, particularly amongst the cul- tivators of the hop, who grub up the male plants, whenever they find them, as useless lumber — although the monoeia tribe of plant are self evident in the ground tribe, yet the dioecia is a too great stretch on the imagination to be understood by the generality of farmers. As the English nation are overgrowing in popu- lation, increasing more than two millions every ten years, and no additional land brought into cultiva- tion ; seeing that as the population increases so does our importatation of foreign grain increase ; that instead of growing more corn, the government is encouraging the emigration to foreign climes of those veiy individuals who would, if encouraged at home, produce more corn ; and impressed with this conviction I have unavailingly petitioned the Par- liament, to encourage the scientific cultivation of the earth, particularly the government waste lands, that permanent fertility may be obtained, that the production of food may be enlarged, that labourers may be regularly employed, and be converted from paupers, rioters, and incendiaries, (which one-half of the rural population now are,) into useful and orderly men, that the nation may not be drained of its strength, by the emigration of its working popu- lation, who are the origin of public and private wealth ; and that agricultural society which is now disjointed should be restored to peace, prosperity and security. So great is the pauperism in some rural parishes, that large tracts of fertile land are left uncultivated, in consequence of the poor charges on the land being more than its value ; tlms are the poor taking the land to themselves in preference to the lord of the soil. With tlie object of employing the redundant labour and producing more corn on the present cultivated districts, also shewing how soils apparently sterile may be made fertile, 1 have put to the test of ex- periment my positions, and have fallowed a mixture of chalk, clay and sand, until they have been so much united that neither were discernable, and this has produced succeeding crops of corn without manure, each root having forty or more ears of corn. Transplanting corn roots in the spring has also been adopted, and produced ninety ears of corn from single roots, plants of corn have also been divided in the spring, into twenty sets and each has pro- duced an average of twenty ears — making thirty- thousand fold. Tlie general practice in England is to sow on an acre of ground, from two to three bushels of corn, and the produce is not on an average ten times whatis sown. One step to improvement on the broad cast method of sowing, is to drill in the seed, at distances of from six to twenty-four inches ; the latter distance is only adopted in those parts where the horse-hoe husbandry is practised, and that only where barley and oats are grown ; by these methods a greater crop is obtained with a less quantity of seed. Another progressive step to improvement is the setting in, or dibbling the corn at stated dis- tances ; but here the practice is not guided by reason, for the seed is put into the ground at only three inch distances, and from three to ten, or more, seeds are put into each hole. My practice is to put in the seed, at distances of four inches and twelve-inch rows,tlie seeds putin singly and hoed out to eight-inch distances in the spring ; two or three hoeings will encourage any grain to tiller out and produce from five to one-hundred heads of corn, — either wheat, rye, barley, or oats, will make tliis increase. The next step to improvement in the cropping of ground is to sow the seed in a properly prepared spot at an early season, according to the nature of the corn, and the land intended to be cropped may be got ready at leisure, properly pulverized, shallow drills may be drawn across the land at twelve-inch distances, and the plants when well grown, and the THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 195 weather congenial, may be set our at twelve-inch distances in the rows ; if this is done at an early- period of the spring, and have two hoeings, and the land not in an exhausted state, then may twenty ears of corn be obtained on an average over the land from each root, particularly if luxuriant roots are selected at the planting ; a corn root will extend itself, forming a circle, the radius from the seed will be six inches, particularly in all fertile soils, where thei'e is no obstruction. The expense of these modes of cropping may be briefly stated thus, broad-cast of wheat, to throw away three bushels of wheat, will not cost in labour six pence per acre, but the seed at 8s. per bushel will be worth 24s. per acre. Drilling with an expensive machine (which covers six feet wide,) at eight-inch distances, four horses being employed, will coso four shillings per acre, and the seed two bushels, at 8s., will be worth 16s. per acre ; ia drilling in this quantity of seed, there would be nearly one hundred seeds on every square foot, this is the usual quantity. Dibbling the corn in six-inch rows, and three inches apart, the labour will cost 10s. per acre, and the seed one bushel, will cost 8s., and this is calcu- lated at three seeds in each hole. By my method of dibbling in twelve-inch rows, four inches apart, in the rows, the expense is 7s. per acre, and the seed at one grain in each hole will be one-fourth of a bushel, value 2s. Transplanting the roots, which may be done im twelve-inch squares, at an expense of 12s. per acre, and the seed being only forty-eight thousand will measure six pints, value 9d. By this method, and by adopting the use of Lord Vernon's tillage hoe, which will remove the earth six inches deep, then will the land be in a partial state of fallow, when the crop is cut, to obtain a luxuriant ear ; and to induce the roots to tiller out, the soil must be moved close round the root several times, and this only is the draw back upon the ample return of corn which the process of trans- planting and dibbling yields — viz., that of the ex- pense of hoeing, by saving seed and expending more labour, double the usual return may be ob- tained. As an experiment, or where labour is very plenti- ful and seed scarce, a root of wheat or other grain may be sub-divided several times between the late autumn and early spring : several hundred roots may be made from one healthy seed, put into a con- genial soil. Where labour is plentiful, a meadow may be made in a similar way. On the poor sandy district of Bayohol, the neighbourhood where I am now writing and experimenting, one root of grass (Holais) con- genial to the soil, has been sub-divided into one hundred and eighty-five plants, and now sufficiently covers one hundred and fifty square feet. The sandy soil now mentioned consists of 85 si- lex ; alumine, 2 ; oxide of iron, 7 ; vegetable mat- ter, 6 ; without any perceptible portion of lime, yet by labour fifty ears of rye have been made to grow from one seed ; 20 ears of wheat ; 30 ears of barley ; and of oats the straw is now (July, 1833) 84 inches high, with fifteen heads from a root, and each head contains three hundred and fifty grains — the straw being 1% inches in circumference, and the leaves 1| inches wide. The pabulum to this luxuriant vegetation must have been in the soil for some years. It is a garden ground which yielded a fair crop of potatoes the year before, without manure, I am now preparing to dress this soil with a marl, which predominates in clay, with the intention of cropping it in the autumn with wheat and rye. Some ears of rye in the soil above described, contain a hundred grains, being seven inches long, and in some heads there are three grains set on each side of the ear in a peculiar way ; some heads, also, have short ears, but with long grains, and give the ap- pearance of the ergot of rye, but not being ripe, I am not able to describe it. The causes of the mon- strous growth of rye grains forming the ergot re- quires further elucidation than what philosophers are yet able to give it. As a preliminary address to Russian agriculturists (which has been written at the request of ) I am fearful my detail will have been tedious, there- fore I will not proceed further with this description, but shall be happy in doing so at a future period, and, if agreeable, I would give a detail of my im- provements in hop culture, and also in raising po- tatoes in a peculiar and very successful manner, and in order to make my views of agriculture known, and how t he science may be much improved, I take this opportunity of asking the honour of presenting my Essays to the Royal Society of Agriculture, es- tablished at St. P. — viz., the Golden Farmer, and the Cottage Farmer, and should feel honoured by receiving a report of the state of agriculture in your country. EDWARD J. LANCE, Frimley, Surrey. Surveyor and Agriculturist. ON THE CULTIVATION OF CATTLE BEEF AND ON TRENCHING. [by an experimental farmer.] Mr. Editor, — As this is the time for sowing man- gel wurzel, or cattle beet, I beg leave to offer for insertion a few observations respecting the valuable effects of that plant, on improving the condition of cattle, and also some remarks on the probable good effect of trenching ground. I had thirty two two- year old short horned store bullocks fed in my yard, twenty were in one yard, and never turned out of it for four months and a half ; they had straw till the first of March, and from that time they got hay till this day, when they have been turned out to grass ; they had also every evening about three stones of turnips each, which were mostly Swedish, till about three weeks ago, or a little more, they commenced getting the cattle beet, but had a less quantity of turnips.' The effect of the former on them acted like magic ; for immediately after getting it, their condi- tion changed in the most wonderful manner for the better ; and the effect was precisely the same on the other ten bullocks, which got two stones each of turnips, night and morning, during the winter with very good hay ; their condition changed immediately also for the better on getting the cattle beet, though they got only two stones each of it in the twenty- four hours. This induces me to think that one stone of this food is as good as two stones of mere Swedish turnips. I have also had another trial of this plant in stall-feeding : — A cow which had been milked most of the winter, and had, along with my other milch cows, about three stones each day of mangel wurzel, (which I always give to them to save my hay,) was since put up to stall-feed, having had nothing but this plant and hay ; and I have just sold to a butcher for 50s. per cwt. She will weigh about 6§ cwt. of prime beef. I had about eighty large dray load of mangel wurzel from a mea- sured acre ; but the ground was certainly well ma- nured, and made as fine as any garden when sowing ; and I have this moment finished sowing an acre in 02 \. 196 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. a similar manner, from which I hope to have a like I produce, or perhaps greater. | In these times, when it is so difficult to find pro- fitahle employment for the poor people of this ■ country, I would venture to suggest an agricultural ; experiment, which I am convinced would pay well, . though no doubt it would be attended with consi- ! deralDle outlay of capital, wliich is, to trench land I eighteen inches deep, wliich you intended to lay j down for pasture or meadow. Any person who has i ever seen a field where a ditch has been levelled, f must have observed the difference in the verdure of i that part where the gripe stood from the rest of tJie ' field. I had this morning a curious example of the superior sweetness of that part where an old ditch had been filled up ; some bullocks had been lately turned into this field, and the grass was every , where good, but this particular part had been eaten quite bare, compared to the rest of the field ; and we must allow they were the best judges of what is most nutritious from what is not so. The effect of trenching land, I think, would act precisely in the : same way as the filled up gripe does in a pasture field. — Irish Farmer' sand Go^rdeners Magazine. cow. It is found black, red, brown, or chocolate- coloured and wliite, — but the leading distinction is prominent, sparkling eyes. The cows are tethered in Alderney as in the other islands. Some of these little animals produce from ten to 141bs of butter a week, 18 ounces to the lb., but, according to Mr. Inglis, of an inferior quality to that of Guernsey. GUERNSEY COWS. The price of Guernsey cows may be thus stated. ! An average good farmer's cow will cost from 91 to 11/. A handsome cow for a gentleman's dairy, from 11/. to 14/. A known good cow, such as might be sent as a specimen, from 14/. to 16/. Heifers, about 2§ years old, ready to calve, sell about 21. be- low these classes, — classifying them as above. The export of cows from Guernsey is not large. I have been told tliat one reason why so few cows are sent to Eng-land, is, that it is difficult to tempt even a small farme'- to part with his cows. A Guernsey farmer would not upon any account admit a Jersey cow on his grounds. In England, no difference between Guernsey and Jersey cows is understood ; but the number of the latter exported being by far the greater, they are generally better known to the jobbers. I have seen it stated of the Guernsey cows, young and old, that the general average is rather more than 3651bs. of butter in the year, being equal to lib. of butter, or eight quarts of milk in the 24 hours. — higUs's Channel Island's. About an acre and three quarters English, are considered sufficient to keep a cow. Guernsey butter brings a much higher price in the market, than French or Dutch butter. While the former sold from Is. to Is. 3d., the latter might be pur- chased at half that price. Small dairies appear, therefore, no objectionable point of good husbandry, whatever small farms may be, for Mr. Inglis has no where seen such buttsr as in Guernsey. The only peculiarity in the management of the cattle, is, staking, or tethering, which Mr. Inglis thinks ac- counts for the small extent of land allotted to the maintaining of a cow compared with the average of England. In all the Norman Islands the cows are tethered ; the stake being frequently changed during the day, each time a new semicircular range of four or five feet is added ; and the grass is perhaps eacen cleaner, and is less generally trodden down. Thus a practice which, at first sight, appears almost cruel, and which an English agriculturist Avould certainly deride, is perhaps one cause of the prosperity of the islands, by allowing a greater number of cattle to be reared and exported than could have been under what would be called an improved system. The Alderney cow is soaller than the Guernsey SAINFOIN. FROM BAXTERS LIBRARY OF AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL KNOWLEDGE. This is a deep rooted perennial plant, valuable on ac'^eynt of its thriving on soils unfit for being constajjilx under tillage. Sir John Sinclair says, " it is dlssi of the most valuable herbage plants we owe to fce bounty of Providence." The soil best suited to this plant is that of chalk ; but it will grow on any soil, provided it has a dry subsoil : it succeeds in the most perfect manner in soils of dry- chalk and limestone. It is propagated by seed, which is alr,:..ost always sown broad-cast. It may, however, be sown in drills, or even transplant&d ; but neither of these modes can be recommended. Time of Sowing. — ^The sowing ought never be deferred longer than March ; and it is still better to complete this work in Febrviary. Some culti- vators, however, sow in April, and sometimes much later; but the March sowing is by, far the most usual, and undoubtenly the best. Quantity of Seed. — This materially depends u]ion the strength of the land, and whether sown broad-cast or drilled : if the former, from three and a hr.ir to four bushels per statute acre will be required ; but if drilled, which is very rarely done, two bush^is will be sufficient. Being a very pre- carious seed, a great quantity, if not well covered, will be destroyed by the frost in the first winter ; great care should therefore be taken to harrow it well in, and finish by rolling the ground. Choic;-; of Seed. — Good seed may be known by the husks being of a bright colour, the kernel full and plump, of a light grey or blue, though sometimes of a shining black. If, when the kernel is cut asunder, it appears greenish and fresh, it is a certain sign of being good ; but if it appears of a yellowish colour, and looks thin and pitted, it should be rejected. Fresh seed should always be used, as, when old, it seldom if ever vegetates in a perfec': manner. Preparation of the Land. — As this is a per- manent plant, a particularly good preparation is necessary — that of trenching is unquestionably the : best. The preparatory culture, however, is the same as for clover, with the exception of deeper ploughing immediately after the preceding crop is taken o:T, so as to expose it to the action of the ; air and frost. It is generally made to succeed a 1 turnip crop, sown either with or without barley or I oats. Some agriculturists deprecate the method of \ sowing it with corn, which causes, they say, the [ sainfoin to be drawn up weak and tender. Boys, :' in his communication to the Board of Agriculture, 1; recommends the following preparation : — First year, ' pare and burn for turnips to be eaten on the land , by sheep ; second year, barley to be sown veiy i' early, wi h clover seed ; third year, clover, eaten off by sheep; fourth year, wheat; fifth year, turnips with manure ; and sixth year, barley with THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 197 sainfoin. By this method of culture the produce has been very extensive. After Culture consists in giving it occasional top-dressings of manure. Peat ashes are con- sidered a very excellent material ; soot, and even malt dust, have been used with great advantage. Whatever kind is used, it should be applied so as to form a thin, regular, and even dressing over the whole surface of the crop. If top-dressings are regularly applied every third or fourth year, it is supposed that sainfoin would continue productive for ten or fifteen years ; but its usual duration in a profitable state is generally estimated to be from eight to ten years. All stones and other hard bodies should be removed from the surface, and thistles, docks, and other weeds cut out by the roots. Taking the Crop for Hay. — As soon as the crop is in full blossom, it should be mown. It may be permitted to remain as it falls until it is about two-thirds dry ; it is then to be turned, and if the sun be powerful, it will be fit to cock next morning. In loading and unloading, care should be taken to shake it as little as possible, as the leaves rub off very easily; the stack should be thatched as soon as finished; that which is well saved will come out of the rick of a green colour, while that which has been permitted to heat too much will look brown. Produce is seldom less than two tons per statute acre ; but two and a half, and even three tons are not unusual. After Math. — It is not advisable to turn in sheep or cattle for at least fifteen days after the crop is cut. Saving the Seed. — The best time to cut the crop for seed is when that which blossomed first is ripe, 9,nd that which blossomed last is beginning to be full ; for then the latter will ripen after cutting, and be nearly as good as those which were ripe first. By neglecting this precaution, much of the best seed is frequently lost. The seed should not be handled in the heat of the day, as the seed in that case is liable to shed, but rather in the morning or evening ; when perfectly dry, it should be stacked, and need not be threshed until wanted for use. The quantity of seed varies from twenty- five to thirty-five bushels per acre, according to the season and state of the land. The manner in which this crop is generally dis- posed of is as food for horses. It is less flatulent than clover or lucerne, and on this account prefer- red by many as green feeding for cattle or sheep ; it is cut green for soiling or eaten by sheep which are folded upon it. wood buds be retained, and that those be placed in a proper position. All superabundant buds are to be rubbed off with the thumb when they have at- tained the length of one or two inches, by which time a proper selection can be made. With regard to apples, pears, plums, and cherries, which produce their fruit upon spurs, these should not be disbud- ded until the young shoots have completed two or three joints, at which time they will be readily dis- tinguished from the spurs, which only form a knot, furnished with a few leaves, and show no disposition to form a shoot. Peaches may be operated upon sooner than most other trees, as they for the most part produce their fruit upon the young shoots of last year's growth, and seldom, under good manage- ment, upon spurs. Every part of the tree should be regularly gone over, and all foreright shoots displaced, leaving upon each shoot of last year's growth, the uppermost, the undermost, and one or two at regu- lar distances between tliem, according to the length of the shoot, the strength of the tree and other cir- cumstances. Young trees, whde in a state of train- ing, should have their leading shoots carefully dis- budded, as at this period of their growth a judicious arrangement of their shoots will tend to the fonna- tion of elegant and healthful trees ; as they can now be modelled to whatever mode of training the culti- vator may choose to adopt. In disbudding trees, it is advisable to leave rather more shoots than may be ultimately required, in order to guard against ac- cidents ; but trees that have filled their spaces, and are in full bearing, may be disbudded of most wood- buds that appear, except in places tliin of wood, or the leading shoots of inferior branches. Wood-buds on the old spurs are always to be displaced, as only tending to enlarge them unnecessarily. DISBUDDING WALL TREES. FROM mackintosh's pHactical gardener. By disbudding is meant as a species of pruning, which is performed upon fruit trees with good effect, and which, in a great degree, obviates the necessity of much winter pruning ; while at the same time it disburdens the tree of all superfluous shoots and leaves, and admits of a greater share of nourishment being afforded both to the fruit and the shoots, whicli are laid in for the purpose of forming the tree and producing future crops. In performing this opera- tion, discrimination is necessary, so that no fruit buds be displaced, and that a sufficient number of CORN TRADE OF GUERNSEY AND JERSEY. The Guernsey Star of Monday, adverting to the frauds alleged in the House of Commons to have been committed in that and the adjoining islands, in exporting corn to Great Britain in such a man- ner as to evade the duty, says — "We hope, and indeed believe, that it will be found on investigation, no frauds have been com- mitted in Guernsey. Our magistrates, we happen to know, do not in genei'al merely satisfy them- selves with administering an oath to the effect that the corn which is shipped for England is of Guern- sey growth, but they exact that oath from the grower, and not unfrequently subject him to a rigid examination ; greater caution in short, could not possibly be used. " The increase in the number of mills alluded to by Mr. Parrott, and which has been gradually taking place within the last fifteen years, cannot, we should think, at all effect the question. It is not flour, let it be remembered, but corn that is ex- ported from these islands for Great Britain. During the war, and for some time after, these islands im- porting little or no corn from the continent, were supplied with flour from Southampton, and there- 1 fore needed but few mills to grind their own pro- • duce. Since that period the Southampton flour trade has been given up ; we have drawn our sup- plies in wheat from the north, and of course more mills have been required to grind it. Add to this i that the population has during the same period ra- 1 pidly increased, and that large quantities of fo- ' reign wheat have been and still are imported here to be ground into flour and converted into biscuit, which is afterwards shipped for the colonies, a trade of which the British corn-factor, unjustly. 198 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ■we think, is at present deprived, and you have at once reasons sufficient to account for the increase in the number of mills without having recourse to so illusory a cause as that which Mr. Parrot must have had in view when he adverted to the subject. The petitioners, it is said, ascribe the agricultural distress to the importation of corn from these islands. We are aware that causes apparently trivial and insignificant have, on|some occasions, being productive of the most important results ; but we were not prepared to hear it asserted that the agricultural distress, which, it is said, is gene- ral throughout England, could be traced to the importations of corn from two or three small islands, whose total annual produce would be in- sufficient to supply the wants of their population during three months." CORN LAWS. The flagrant cases of the (fraudulent importation of foreign corn have at length been brought before the House of Commons. That great impositions have been practised, and that there have been many eva- sions permitted, in escaping from the corn duties in various parts of the country, there is every reason to believe. The fraudulent importation of American wheat and flour, under the mask of being the pruduce of British America, and some times Irish produce, has been carried to such an extent, that it will be absolutely necessary to revise our mercantile code, so far asvespects the trade and the indulgences conceded to our American colonies, as soon as possible. But we can now only shortly advert to what took place in parliament at the latter end of the week. Sir J. Sebribht on Friday night presented a peti- tion from the farmers and freeholders of the county of Hertford, complaining of agricultural distress, owing, as they stated, to the importations of corn from the islands of Jersey, Guernsey, and Man. The peti- tioner prayed that the Corn Laws might be strictly maintained. Mr. A. Baring said that it was clear, from the re- turns of the quantity of flour imported from those islands ieto this country, that a continual fraud was carried on to a very considerable extent. He hoped the Corn Laws, while they existed, would be carried into efiect. The Marquis of Chandos said that this was a sub- ject of great importance to the farmers of this country ; and he was convinced that there was not so much corn grown in those islands as was exported from them into this country. Mr. Parrot supported the psayer of this petition, SirR. Peel said, that as there was a strong sus- picion of fraud upon this subject, the best way to sa- tisfy the country would be at once to appoint a select committee to inquire into it. Mr. R. Grant said that whatever might be the in- dividual opinions of members of his Majesty's govern- ment, they would not suffer knowingly any existing law to be evaded or violated. The petition was then ordered to lie on the table. Mr. Heathcote immediately afterwards moved for certain returns respecting the importation of flour into the islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, and Man. made suffering the Corn Bill to pass, every farmer (however respectable) must submit to go into the poor-house of his parish, by which means gentle- men nominally of extensive landed property must inevitably fall the victims, and either sacrifice their residences from incapacity to maintain them, in many instances submitting them for sale at a very trifling modicum to support a numerous family, or driven to seek an asylum in some foreign clime, abandoning their native soil, wherein the poor- rates (already so manifold) are daily increasing, leaving not even a refuge for the destitute. Abandon the agricultural interest, and mark what will ensue '. Will it or will it not lead to desola- tion and anarchy ? I tremble at the consequences ! Throw every thing into the money scale (which seems to be the general system of late,) and watch whether it will not overbalance itself, and render its adherents in the end as desolate from the event that inevitably must occur, as their poor brethren. Already rents are lowered to an unprecedented excess, and the general outcry is, that the farmers are starving. The finest v/hite wheat in the weald of Sussex, where the poor rates are considered higher than almost any part of the kingdom, is now selling at 13/ lOs per load of 40 bushels, and our wise-acres are calling out for protecting prices ! I only ask whether it can be grown at this rate with its concomitants, such as tithes, poor-rates, repairs, labour, agricultural wages, &c. ? — I am, Sir, your very obedient servant, Horsham, May 17. VERITAS. TO THE|EDITOR OF THE MORNING HERALD. SrHi-^Fearless I am of contradiction in asserting %}!,%% if the 99J!n laws are e^uali««d| or an inroad IRISH CHURCH ESTABLISHMENT. The following calculations, made from Parlia- mentary returns, seem to throw such light on this subject that any person of common intellect may understand it in a few minutes. According to the " second report on education in Ireland, ordered by the House of Commons to be printed, November 28, 1826," it appears that in Leinster, JMunster, and Connaught, there were in attendance in all the schools, both pay and free, of these provinces, 58,029 Protestant and 362,327 Ca . tholic children. On examining the details of this report, it will be found that of these cliildren there were Parishes. Protestant Children. Catholic Children. In 587 54,395 193,501 In 1,517 3,634 169,358 2,004 58,029 362,859 In the 1,517 parishes 46 Catholics to 1 Protestant. Of these 1,517 there were 456, containing 52,525 Catholic children, and not one Protestant child re- turned. The first 587 parishes belonged to cities, towns, or large villages. I calculate their population at about 2,300,000, leaving for the 1,517 parishes 3,281,847, the gross population of these three pro- vinces being 5,581,847. It does not appear very difficult to obtain an esti- mate of the Protestant inhabitants of these parishes, which if not quite accurate will be not far from the truth. In Prussia there appears to be one-seventh of all classes attending schools. In some of the states of America there is said to be one-fourth of the inhabi- tants at school. (A bounce " I guess.") In the counties of Clare, Kerrjf, Limerick, and Tipperary, there were, according to the report mentioned above, 69,854 male children under process of education, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 199 out of a male population of 524,973. This is nearly one-seventh out of a population with scarcely any access to gratuitous education, for of these there were only about 3,300 Protestant children. The total number of Protestant children, males and females, was 6,649. In Munster the number of Protestant children stated in this report was 18,088 ; of these 6,446, or more than one-third, were pro- curing education from the funds granted by Parlia- ment for educating the poor of Ireland. Out of 171,754 Catholics, only 10,466 were deriving any benefit from these grants. Hence it is clear that the latter had not the same facilities as the former had to educate their children, and to this is to be as- cribed the immense disproportion observable between the number of females and males in this province, the latter being more than two to one. In Ulster, out of 141,882 children 46,426 were at schools supported by those funds ; and here the disproportion between females and males was not at all so great. It is not difficult to prove, that allowing the lower classes five years, and the better classes ten years' education, there would be from a sixth to a seventh part of the whole population always at school. Of the Protestants of Leinster, Munster, and Connaught, not more than one-half, at the utmost, belong to the lower classes. They reside, with few exceptions, in towns where education is easy of access, and it would therefore be to charge them with a want of taste for education to say that less than one-sixth of their number would be under this process, in towns particularly. We have, then, only to multiply the number of their children by six, and we shall obtain a sufficiently accurate idea of the total number of the members of the Established Church in these three previa :es. They will then stand thus . — Protestant Number of Total number of Children. Protestants. Inhabitants, In 587 parishes 54,395 326,370 2,300,000 In rural parishes they should be multiplied by 8, access to schools not being so easy. Children. Protestants, Inhabitants. In 1517 parishes 3,634 29,062 3,281,847 Total Humber 355,432 3,581,847 In Ulster, the Protestants being less dispro- portionate in numbers to the Catholics, would have more of the members of that religion mingled with the lower orders ; they, therefore, might have their children in the returns multiplied by 7. Other Established Church Presbyterians Dissenters Total Ulster 35.977 44,383 2,476 Inhabitants.. 2bl,839 310,081 17,332 578,852 In the other Provinces , 355,432 Total Protestants in Ireland 934,284 From the foregoing the numbers of the Esta- blished Church appear to be 609,271, or one- thirteenth of the whole population. The Dissenters are not so numerous as they have been considered, being, accordingto the above calcula- tion, only 325,067. Butifitwere worth while to go into details, I could pretty clearly prove the follow- ing to be nearer the truth . — Established Church. Dissenters. Total. 560,712 398,728 940,440 Lord Althorp stated the numbers of the Esta- blished Church to be 500,000 ; Mr. Ward estimated them at 600,000, the Dissenters at about 550,000. But can we believe this when we find that in the counties of Limerick and Tipperary there are, out of a population of 623,000, 65,500 children are at school, of which only 7,900 are educated at the national expense, while out of this asserted number of the Dissenters there are only 48,716 children found in the return? Of these 15,840 were attending schools supported by grants from Parlia- ment. The manner in which these grants were applied will be seen by the following : — Established Church. Dissenters. Catholics, Total number at Schools In Ireland 93,452 48,716 421,023 Free 39,120 15,840 47,865 OBSERVATIONS ON RAILWAYS. The consideration of great lines of Railway, connecting London with the country, is no longer to be treated as an abstract question, nor does the discussion of the subject rest upon its merits con- sidered simply with reference to any one division of the kingdom. The communication with the Metropolis by a Railway through the great extent of country between London and Birmingham, and still more, the completion of a line of Railway between London and Liverpool, through Birming- ham, must unavoidably be followed by one of two consequences to other parts of the kingdom : either Railway communication must be established between those other parts and London, or those other parts of the country must materially suffer in their agriculture and trade. The strongest point of view in which Railway communication can beconsideredin England is with reference to the supply of the great market) of London with provisions. In that particular, the relations of London with the whole country are transcendantly important ; and the Northern counties, with the advantage and facilities of Railway communication, must throw the Western counties into a state of great relative disadvantage, if not suflfered to enjoy the same privilege. For instance : — It has been proved in evidence before Committees of the two Houses of Parlia- ment, that country-killed meat is worth a penny a pound more than the meat of cattle driven to London ; and that the expense of delivering that superior meat at market is materially less than the expense and loss of substance combined, infsend- ing the animal to London ; which, supposing War- wickshire to send up 'the meat, and Wiltshire the ox, is equivalent to saying that the ox of Wiltshire is from ten to twelve percent, inferior in value to the ox of Warwickshire, and tliat notwithstanding the much greater expense to which the Wiltshire grazier would be subjected. — Let this be followed out to its effect upon all the varieties of animal food, butter, milk, vegetables, and other farm and garden produce, and it cannot fail to be seen that land in one division of the kingdom might become of much greater value than in another, and, conse- quently, that a line of Railway, extending from London to the Westward, is indispensably re- quired, in support of the interest of the Western counties. This is a case in which the connection of cause and effect is apparent. The farmer, grazier, and landed proprietor, not enjoying the facilities of a Railway, must greatly suffer in the competition at market with those possessing that advantage ; for in the greatest market of the kingdom, the former could only supply a second quality of food, and that at a much higher cost than the supplies of the first quality received by a Railway. 200 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. IIIFLE MATCH FOR 1,000 GUINEAS. BETWEEN CAPTAIN HORATIO ROSS AND COUNT b'oRSAY. This event, which has caused such general excite- ment, took place in Mr. Purday's shooting ground. Norland, on the 7th inst. The Count arrived upon the ground at twelve o'clock, accompanied by the Earl of Erroll, the Earl of Chesterfield, Lord A. Conyngham, Lord Ossulston, Hon, Captain Rous, and the Hon. Colonel Anson. Captain Ross, with several of his friends, the Hon. Captain Villers, &c., was on the ground to receive liis noble opponent. The distance 150 yards, at 30 inch targets, without a rest, being regularly adjusted, the Hon. Captain Rous was appointed umpire for the Count, and W. H. Dowbiggen, Esq. umpire for the Captain. The Hon. G. Vernon referee. The match terminated at five o'clock in favour of the Captain, the total mea- surement of the 50 shots of the Captain from the centre of the target counting only 399 inches, whilst those of the Count amounted to 698 inches. Large sums must have changed hands upon the event, as from the Count's well known celebrity as a first- rate ball sliot, his friends were very eager to back him ; and this mode of target shooting was totally novel to Captain Ross, the Captain's rifle being usually employed at the red deer in the Highlands of Scotland, where, we will venture to affirm, his skill is unrivalled. Much praise is due to the Hon. (j. Vernon for his exertions in all the most minute regulations of this match. The Court Magazine for June. — From a nautical sketch in this periodical entitled " The Privateer," we give the following graphic descrip- tion of the CAPTURE OF A SHARK. A large shark having approached somewhat near the stern of the ship, the deep sea lead-line was brought aft, and a regular shark-hook fastened to it. This hook was about a foot or fifteen inches in length, and from the harb to the opposite stem it might be about five or six inches across ; a strong cliain being attached to the hook, about two feet in length, to prevent the fish when taking the bait from biting the line in two. On this hook was placed a piece of pork, weighing from three to four pounds, which was lowered overboard, and suffered to drift from the sliip ; great care having been taken to coil the line; so as to be free for running when the fish should seize the bait. A very few minutes had elapsed before that beautiful and devoted little creature the pilot fish approached the pork, swam round and round it several times, appeared both above and below it, seeming to examine it with great atten- tion, then darting off, rejoined its mighty companion, who had remained stationary about one hundred yards astern. No sooner did the pilot-fisli rejoin the shark, than the monster rapidly advanced, and turn- ing partly on his back, struck at and received the bait within his ponderous jaws, making off with the most astonishing rapidity to a considerable distance, then stopping and resting quietly on the top of the water. This was the moment to secure him ; first gathering in tlie slack line, the shark was hooked by a violent jerk ; the difficult part now was to play and weaken so powerful an antagonist, and bring him safe on board. This was managed by three or four men gradually drawing on the line, and bring- ing the fish by degrees nearer the ship ; but not easily effected, as their strength was no match for that of the monster when it was exerted, and several times they were under the necessity of slackening the line, from fear the sliark should snap it. At length, with great caution, the fish was brought so near as to enable one of the officers to fire his rifle with effect ; the ball perforated the back of the neck of the shark ; the line was immediately let go, and it was quite ne- cessary to do so, as the monster darted away with the rapidity of lightning, striking the water with his enormous tail until it foamed. This muncsuvre was repeated, the fish becoming weak, offered less resist- ance. Tliree men being now ready with muskets, fired together ; the balls lodged in the head. The shark was for a short time stunned, and remained motionless on the water ; no time was lost in passing a running bowline knot over the standing part of the line, which was slipped over and drawn firmly round the shark's iiead : this enabled the crew to drag their prey on deck from the water by main force. The faithful pilot-fisii had never deserted his companion, but kept swimming about him, exhibiting the greatest uneasiness throughout the struggle, and ajjpeared to be endeavouring to join him even in tliis extremity ; but when the huge form was hauled over the stern of the ship, then, and not until then, did the beau- tiful little faithful fisli abandon his gigantic friend, and seek refuge in the deep. Some of our people thought the shark was dead, but they had speedy proof to the contrary whilst undergoing their exami- nation, for he struck right and left with his tail in- discriminately, and soon made a clear deck, and had it all to himself, until the carpenter's mate dealt him such a severe blow with an axe upon the joint, that he was rendered pow eiless ; a few blows on the head from the same iustrnmeut despatched him. Although sailors in general are certainly not skillful anatomists, they commenced speedily to open their voracious captive, and took from tlio stomach part of the head of a horse, a sheep-skm, and a quantity of flannel. Where such a meal had been procured it is difficult even to suppose, but I am certain we were glad to heave all overboard, and the remains of the shark after it ; for of all the coni])ound of villanous smells ever inhaled, I tliiuk that was the worst. The ex- treme length of this spectre of tlie deep was fourteen feet, as measured after death. Otter Hunts. — On the 20th May the Gentlemen Sportsmen of Brecon had fine sport on the River Dulas. The Brecon Otter Hunter's having taken up their quarters the previous evening at Talgarth, on the foUovi^ing morning they commenced their work on the River Llynfy. After having had a good drag on the Llynfy from Pouthithel to Broynills, the pack took up the Dulas River, and near Tregrunter House marked and unholded an otter bitch, which after four hours sport they killed. The eleven hounds engaged could easily have destroyed this powerful animal in a short time, but tliey were repeatedly beaten off by the spactators for the purpose of afford- ing more amusement. The Leucorvx. — The Duke of A^orthumberland has deposited in the Surrey Zoological Gardens a most splendid Leucoryx Antelope. It is the only specimen of this beautiful animal in England, and has been some time domesticated at Sion-house. It : was brought from Dongola by Lord Prudhoe. It is there called abubarh, or the bull of the desert, is about the size of a small horse, of a pure white colour, except the middle of the face ; with horns upwards of three feet in length, of a slender pointed form, bending gradually over the back and forming the segments of a large circle. This is the most cele- brated of all the antelope genus, being the species which is generally supposed to have given rise to the fabulous unicorn of the ancient, and named by iElian leucoryx, on account of its white colour. It I'HE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 201 S frequently represented in the monuments of Egypt and Arabia ; and particularly in the inner chamber of the great pyramid at Memphis, in which a whole group of these animals is represented, some as being- drawn or pushed forwards, and others led by the horns or by a cord about the neck, apparently by wa}^ of tribute from some subject or conquered na- tion. They are gregarious, feeding principally upon the diflerent species of acacias. The gardens are much indebted to the noble duke's liberal!. y for the possession of so beautiful and rare an animal. Fight of Camels. — These otherwise passive creatures, at certain irritating seasons are apt to be very ferocious. When a male is brought face to face to male, all their evil passions are awakened, and the moment they are at libert}' they fly at each other with corresponding violence. At a given order from tha Pasha, a magniScent camel, his mouth white witJi foam, his tongue performing curious convolutions, emitting loud and hoarse cries, was led forth bv two men, who were scarcely strong enough to restrain liis impetuosity. He was gaily caparisoned with a saddle of crimson, green, and yellow cloth, his head being decked with a bridle gliiteriag with inlaid shells and worsted tassels ; he was, moreover, orna- mented about the upper ai'm of ihe leg with armlets, also inlaid with shells. This fine animal now no longer wore the usual calm and patienr aspect of his race ; for his nature appeared quite changed ; his neck and head were erect, his eye flashed fire, and, the moment he saw his opponent approaching from an opposite quarter, it was almost impossible to re- strain him. At the word " Giisin" from the Pasha, both the animals were slipt from their rein, and they rushed upon each other with astonishing agility. Their mode of attack is very much that of wrestlers ; their bite is terrible, but, being both muzzled, they are harmless. They made the most dexterous use of their necks as well as of their legs in trying to throw each other down, twisting and writhing, giving way, then advancing with contortions ihe most singular, which, although graceless, were nevertheless not de- ficient in picturesque effect. The Tiu-ks appeared much interested in the result of the fight ; from anxiety they could scarcely smoke — bets were laid — their own calm nature, so like that of the animal it- self, was roused, and more words were heard among the crowd at that moment than perhaps are ever spoken throughout the year in Kars. At length the re- sult was declared to be in favour of the Pasha's camel, who, by certain able combinations between his neck and legs, had managed to pin his adversary to the ground, where he lay motionless and unresist- ing, until he was at length dragged away, amidst the exclamations of" Mashallah" and " EvaUah" of the surrounding audience. — From Ayesha, the Maid of Kars. Otter Hunting in the Ystwith and Riieidol. — Captain Davies, of Crygie, has killed during the past spring and present summer, nine otters, of which two only were young ones. His pack con- sists of but two couples and a half of hounds, trained exclusively to this sport. On Thursday last he put down a fine otter in the river Ystwith, within two miles of Aberystwith, which was hunted for about half an hour in the water ; it then took the land at right angles within the river, and after a run of more than a mile through the plantations and corn-fields, was overtaken, and killed by three hounds only, in the lawn of Aberllolwyn, the residence of L. Morice, Esq. It was a bitch otter, and weighed 171b. On the last of April, Captain D. killed a couple of large ones ; the first was hunted and killed by the five dogs, the others in consideration of their fatigue was spared. The hounds are of the old Welsh kind, with long ears and painted noses, and not rough, though, a little wiry : they are small in size, but unequalled for courage and bottom. One of them (bred by John Vaughan, Esq. of Penmaen, Merionethshire,) when he had seized a large dog-otter by the throat about a fortnight ago in the Rheidol, though more than once drawn under water for several seconds, invariably came up with his original hold good, nor did he quit it till the animal was dead. THE LOST ONE. He is not here — ah, sadly 7iow We mourn his absent voice ; When every v;int'ry storm is gone, And happy hearts rejoice. The birds, and flow'rs, and leaves appear, We still must vi^eep, he is not here. Last s^jring he was our lov'd — our own — And then the sunnj^ day was bright; We gladly &har'd its melodies, And all hours could delight. These come again — and with a tear We meet them now — he is not here. Kimbolton. B. B. B, THE NIGHT BEFORE THE BATTLE OF HASTINGS. " The English passed the night in songs and feasting ; The Normans in devotion and in prayer." There are joyous tones from a countless throng, That break the night's stillness with laugh and song ; Through darkness the sounds of the music float ; Omens of victory heard in each note. They are waiting for the morn. For the voice of their leader's horn, And are dreaming of the conquerer's wreath ; They have visions, proud visions — of all — but death. Their chief — he was worthy of that high name. Of kingly power and undying fame ; The shouts of his thousands were full of life. And he felt no fear for the coming strife. » * •* * * But another scene. — The night hath shed Its shadows on the drooping head ; And many forms are kneeling now. That wear the helmet on the brow. The holy vesper'd prayer 1 s stirring the midnight air. And strong and calm is each warrior's heart. That bears in those breathings of praise a part. « * * * » The night is past ; the day hath broke. And the battle trumpets spoke. The strife is o'er, and night again, Draws her curtain round the slain. They, whose rushing, joyful breath. Told not of the stream of death ; They, whose heart a warning gave. Of the strong o'erwhelming wave. With the monarch chief are low. The pulse of life hath ceased to flow. All is still — the fight is done, England's crown the victor's won ! Kimbolton, B. B,B. 202 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. THE RAINBOW. (From the Fife Herald.) The evening was glorious, and light through the trees Played the sunshine and rain-drops, the birds and the breeze — The landscape outstretching, in loveliness lay On the top of tlie year — in the beauty of May. For the Queen of the Spring, as she passed down the vale. Spread her robe on the trees and her breath on the gale, And the smile of her promise gave joy to the hours. And flush in her footsteps sprang herbage and flowers. The skies, like a banner in sunset unrolled. O'er the west threw their splendour of azure and gold. But one cloud at a distance grew dense, and in- creased Till its margin of black touched the zenith and east. We gazed on the scenes while around us they flow'd. When a vision of beauty appeared on the cloud : 'Twas not like the sun, as at mid-day we view. Or the moon, that rolls nightly through star-light and blue. Like a spirit it came on the van of the storm. And the eye and the heart hailed its beautiful form, For it looked not severe, like an angel of wrath, But its garment of brightness illumed its dark path. 'Twas the Bow of Omnipotence bent in his hand Whose grasp at creation the universe spann'd — 'Twas the presence of God in a symbol sublime — His vow from the flood to the exit of time ! Not dreadful ! as when in the whirlwind lie pleads. When storms are his chariots, and lightnings his steeds ! The black cloud, his banner of vengeance, unfurl'd ! And thunder his voice to a guilt-stricken world ! In the breath of his presence, when thousands ex- pire ! And seas boil with fury, and rocks burn with fire ! And the sword and the plague-spot with death strew the plain. And vultures and wolves dye the graves of the slain. Not such was that Rainbow — that beautiful one. Whose arch was refraction, its keystone the sun, — A pavillion it seemed, which the Deity g aced, And justice and mercy met there and embraced. Awhile, and it sweetly bent over the gloom. Like love o'er a death-couch, or hope o'er the tomb, Then left the dark scene, when it slowly retired, As love had just vanished or hope had expir'd ! I gazed not alone on that source of my song — To all who beheld it these verses belong : Its presence to all was the path of the Lord — Each full heart expanded, grew warm, and adored ! Like a visit, the converse of friends, or a day. That Bow from my sight passed for ever away : — Like that visit, that converse, that day to my heart. That Bow from remembrance can never depart. M. BALLAD. THE WILD ROSE OF ERIN. Her long raven hair in the night wind was streaming, As over the waters she mournfully gazed ; The moonbeams around her were placidly gleaming, That beautiful daughter of Erin was craz'd : She pluck'd a wild rose that in beauty was growing. Then kissing it, bid the fair flower decay ; And on the dark waves that were quietly flowing, The wild rose of Erin soon wither'd away. Bright beautiful type of a heart that was broken ; The fair hand that cull'd, and then left it to die, Was wooed and was won — but those vows kindly spoken Deceived — and then left her 'mid sorrow to sigh. 'Twas far from the spot where green shamrock was growing. Her false hearted lover had left her to stray ; While on the dark waves that were quietly flowing, The wild rose of Erin soon wither'd away. J. E. CARPENTER. Cirencester. — The annual exhibition of rams at Cirencester, which took place on Dlonday, June 1, was not quite so numerously attended as on some former occasions, owing to Hampton fair being on the same day, but a better show of sheep has never been \Vitnessed since its establishment, as the high prices at which some of them let and others sold will in some degree prove. The prizes were awarded for Class 1 (the Right Hon. Lord Sherborne's premium;, the best ram teg, to Mr. Tuckwell, of Signet j the second best ditto, to Mr. Broadwell. — Class 2 (the Hon. Henry Moreton's premium) , the best ram teg, to Mr. Large, Broadwell. — Class 3 (the Hon. H. Moreton's) , the best shearhog, Mr. W. Edmonds, Kelmscot. — Class 4 (Hon. Henry Moreton's), the best ram of any age, Mr. Tuckwell's, Signet. — The best shearer, Mr. Tuck- well's shepherd ; the second best, Mr. Edmonds's. — As extra stock there were some very excellent speci- mens shown, particularly a ram teg, bred by Mr. R. Wood, of Siddington, and twenty stock ewes, bred by Mr. Slatter, of Stratton. The list of subscribers for next year already exceeds the number of last, on which are the names of several fresh members. Cauliflower and Cape Broccoli throughout Winter. — Sow at the end of June and on to the end of July, and get the plants as strong as you can before the frost sets in. It is better that none of those have the least appearance to flower when taken up for pro- tection. Then lay them into the ground with their heads to the south, if it can be done conveniently, leaving little beside the thick leafy top out of the ground. Firm the soil to the roots and stems, to keep out mice, &c., cover them in all frosty weather, but expose them at all times when the weather is not severe. By such management they will produce handsome and compact-sized heads through the win- ter, and as long as required, and even till early cauli- flowers come in. For the convenience of covering, it is best to leave two-feet paths between beds of nine or ten plants, laid side by side in the cross rows ; and lay^ each row so that the tops do not overlay one another. — Horticultural Register. The Turnip Fly. — At a sitting of the London Entomological Society, on the 2d inst., it was an- nounced that, as it was one of the primary objects of the society to render their labours practically serviceable, the council had resolved to appropriate the annual sum of five guineas, or a medal of the like value, to the writer of the best essay (to be de« THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 203 rived from personal observation) upon the Natural History, Economy, and Proceedings of such species of Insects as have been found to be prejudicial to Agricultural productions ; to be illustrated by figures of the insect in its various states ; together with the result of actual experiments made for preventing its attacks, or for destro3'ing the insect. The subject of the essays for the present year to be — The Turnip Flv. The essays must be forwarded to the secretary (17, Old Bond-street), witli fictitious signatures, on or before the fourth Monday in January, 1835, when they will be referred to a committee, to decide upon their respective merits ; after which, with permission of the writers, both the prize essays and any others of value, shall be published. Rams. — The Brandon sale of Leicester Rams, which took place on the 5th instant, was numerously attended by breeders, graziers, &c., who generally expressed themselves much gratified at the excellence displayed in Mr. Robinson's show of Sheep -. their prime quality of Mutton and beautiful long wool were particularly admired. The following is a correct statemant of the prices : — £. s. d. One two-shear Sheep was sold for . 60 0 0 One shear Hog fetched .... 43 0 0 The average of ten shearlings , . . 17 10 0 Ditto of ten old Sheep 21 13 0 Ditto of twenty ditto 19 12 0 Ditto of thirty ditto 16 d 0 Saturday morning last a trout, in the highest season, and of an extraordinary size, weighing 141bs., was caught by the rod and line, by Lieutenant-General Sir Samuel Hawker, while angling in the Thames near Richmond, and afterwards presented to his Majesty by that gentleman. Wool Sale at Liverpool. — For some months past the manufacturing districts in Yorkshire have been in a depressed state, arising from various circumstances, the manufacturers com- plaining (perhaps not without some cause) that the high prices of wool pi-evented them from ob- taining a fair remunerating price for their goods, and, consequently, many respectable firms have been working very moderately. The state of mo- netary affairs in the United States of America has not tended slightly to add to the derangement of trade ; happily, however, matters are now getting into a more settled state : and it is further to be hoped that the wild notions of the Trades' Unions in the manufacturing districts will shortly subside, and that the different branches will resume that activity, so desirable both to the merchant, manu- facturer, and artisan. The first sale of colonial wool in the kingdom from Australia of the new clip, took place in Liverpool market on Thursday week, viz. 958 bales from Cabotia, from Sydney, New South Wales; and it may be remarked, that the attend- ance was very numerous, as also respectable, from Bradford, Leeds, Huddersfield, Rochdale, and other districts ; the biddings were spirited throughout, and the proprietors (according to their usual sys- tem) sold the whole, not a lot being withdrawn. It may be remarked, that the good and fine comb- ing sorts, as also the good clothing descriptions, sold with great briskness, and at fair prices. The result is as follows : — 70 bales, consisting of un- washed and coarse quality, brought Is. 6d. to Is. lOd, i 635 bales, middling to fair (qualities, Is. lOid. to 2s 33d. ; 135 bales, good strong combing sorts, 2s. 4d. to 2s. 6.Jd., and 67 bales, fine combing de- scriptions, 2s. 7d. to 2s. 9d.; a bale rather supe- rior clothing brought 2s. ll^d. per lb.; the lambs' fleeces most sold at Is. lOd. to 2s. 5d. ; the whole cargo averaging about 2s 2d to 2s 2f d. per lb. It may be observed, that in consequence of drought in the colony, most of the marks (there being some exceptions) were not as well got up as the former clip by 2d. to 3d. per lb., there being more dirt and grass seed than usual ; the staple of the wool, however, is quite equal to any former clip, and we congratulate our colonists upon the well-merited success of their arduous undertakings, sincerely trusting they will meet with the eneouragement they so richly deserve for their industry. In re- gard to comparison of prices, it may be noticed that the present sale alluded to is nearly equal to the prices obtained here on the 3rd October, 1833, being the previous sale of colonial wool, and about 2d.to3d.perlb.lowerthan the sale held here on the 25th July, 1833, keeping in view the quality of the cargo generally, as before stated. There is every reason now to expect that the market having opened with the new clip, more activity will be observed, not only as to wool, but as regards indigo, dye- woods, and other articles. A variety of other wools were also sold yesterday, but having no particu- lars, we cannot give any detail. — Liverpool Journal. German Wool Fairs. — These important fairs are now in progress ; the following commu- nication from Breslau conveys the latest informa- tion received in this town : — *' Breslau, 1st June, 1834. — We arrived here on the 26th ult. ; several of our countrymen had already been a week. We found a good deal of wool in the market, but no business done ; the farmers are asking 10, 15, and 20 dollars per centner advance on last year's prices, and buyers tell them the)'' must buy under those prices ; both stand fast, and up to this time not any thing sold except some six or ten small flocks, which are as nothing compared to the quantity already here, and the fair does not regu- larly begin before Tuesday. According to the prices asked by growers, and those talked of by dealers and manufacturers, buyers and sellers are at a wide distance, but I suppose that to-mor- row or the next day both will make a nearer ap- proach, with the hope to meet. I never saw the buyers so firmly of a mind not to attempt to buy until there was a prospect of doing business : we walk up and down the market, and stand in knots of five or six from morning till evening, with only here and there asking a price, and without making any offer : for the invariable answer is from ten to twenty dollars advance. My opinion is, that if the growers would come to last year's prices, many buyers would begin, and others seeing things go- ing off, would follow. We have not bought an ounce yet, and shall be lookers-on till we see ac- tual business doing : the speculators are trying every scheme to keep prices up, but they have not the power, and the greater part are without the means. The German dealers and manufacturers hold off equally with the English, and are not at all disposed to take the lead, which is much in fa- vour of the English, and I am in hopes that wool will be bought so as to meet our market, and give a fair profit to dealer and manufacturer, but confess I do not expect to buy, where there is a good wash and the wool well got up, at last year's prices." 204 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ON THE APPLICATION OF STEAM TO PURPOSES OF HUSBANDRY. {From the Quarterly Journal of Agriculture.') At the present moment, when the cry for cheap bread is waxing louder and louder, and the anti-corn- law party is daily increasing in number and power, it may not be unimportant to call the attention of the Highland Society, and the agriculturists of Scotland, to the great advantages which will arise from the adoption of the cheaper system of liusbandrv which the application of steam to general purposes of brute animal labour now renders practicable. During the last twelve months, rapid advance- ment has been made in locomotive science, and a great change has been effected iu its favour upon the public mind. The problem in mechanics, which the whole scientific world clung to as an axiomatic truth that the peripher}' of a wheel had not sufficient hold upon the ground to render it an available fulcrum, was experimentally exploded by Gurney, in the year 1825, and, since that time. Dance, Handcock, Smith, Ogle, Macerone, and various others, have, after surmounting personal and mechanical difficul- ties almost incredible, established, by numerous successful experiments, the possibility of substitut- ing inanimate for animate power. Without enumerating any of the various perform- ances of those locomotive carriages, upon which, in 1831, after a patient investigation for three montlis, a committee of the House of Commons arrived at the conclusion, " that suflScient evidence had been adduced to prove that they can be propelled by steam on common roads, at an average rate of ten miles per hour ; that at this rate they have conve3'ed upwards of fourteen passengers ; that their weight, including engine, fuel, water, and attendants, may be under three tons ; that they can ascend and de- scend hills of considerable inclination, with facility and safety ; that they are perfectly safe for passen- gers ; that they are not nuisances to the public ; that they will become a speedier and cheaper mode of convevance than carriages drawn by horses," — it is sufficient to say that, in the month of September last. Sir Charles Dance's carriage, exclusive of stoppages, ran down to Brighton in five hours and a quarter, carr3-ing fifteen persons, and the following day it returned in four hours and fifty-nine minutes, without any failure of the ma- chinery, and passing on the road two of the light coaches which had started half an hour before it. In October, the success of this trip was farther cor- roborated by the same carriage plying for hire be- tween Wellington-street, Strand, and Greenwich, running about 250 miles during that time, through crowds of spectators, and conveying upwards of 336 passengers, without accident or impediment of any kind whatever ; and, in November, that journey was made in the same carriage, upon the mail-coach, line of the Holyhead Road, which enabled a com- mittee of experienced engineers, v/ith the practical and circumspect Telford at their head, to report, " that there can be no doubt that, with a well con- structed engine, a steam-carriage conveyancebetween London and Birmingham, at a velocity unattainable by horses, and limited only by safety, may be main- tained, and that it is their conviction thatsuch a pro- ject may be undertaken with great advantage to tlie public." It is unnecessary to mention the various and suc- cessful exhibitions made by Mr. Handcock's steam- carriage, during the six weeks which it plied for hire during the last autumn, between the city and Pad- dington, and by Colonel ]\Iacerone's during the nearly 2000 miles of trips which it has made. We are speaking of a principle, not of the particular merits of the various engines, nor of their relative performances. It is sufficient, therefore, to say that so satisfied are the engineers, and scientific indivi- duals wJio have taken the trouble to make themselves practically acquainted with the subject of the prac- ticability and importance of this mode of steam com- munication, that companies to introduce it upon tramways are now forming for " London, Birming- ham, and Holyhead," and " London, Bristol, and Pl}Tnouth." The former is already so far advanced, that notice has been given to Parliament for leave to bring in a bill. Several other companies are in agi- tation. In Scotland also, steam-carriages are shortly to be introduced at Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee, &c. These statements have been made to show that we are warranted by facts for holding that the poioer of inanimate locomotion is completely gained, and that no physical difficulties any longer exist to post- pone its introduction. With regard to the economy of the substitution, though little definitely can be said from the data furnished by working machinery, which has been altered and patched up times without number, still the disbursements made in running the three principal steam-carriages, as detailed in the Journal pf Steam Transport, show the most favourable case. The outlay and return upon Mr. Handcock's steam omnibus for the six weeks which it plied for hire, showed a clear gain of nearly cent, per cent. ; whilst Colonel Macerone, from the expense incurred in working his carriage in trips taken collectively, amounting to about 2000 miles, calculates that even a higher profit will arise upon the capital employed. W'hen it is considered that a tramway of granite can be laid down at comparatively a trifling expense to a railway of iron ; that the tear and wear of machinerjr upon it will only be one-third gi-eater than the other, whilst the charge for maintenance of road ^I'ill for 3'ears, from the solidity and durability of the material, amount to nothing, it is perhaps not too much to say, after reducing fares a half, and accele- rating speed to an extent limited alone by safety, that a clear profit of not less than 5QI. per cent, will arise upon the capital embarked in steam convey- ance." It is foreign to the purpose of this paper, which is intended for agricultural readers, to enter into these details ; but we have considered them neces- sary to show the grounds upon which we consider we are warranted to arrive at the conclusion, that a mode of conveyance which a committee of the House of Commons has declared to be " the greatest im- provement on the means of internal communication ever introduced," will shortly come into universal opera- tion. Notwithstanding the enormous outlay and concurrent expense attendant upon railways, the public feeling, or rather prejudice, in favour of them may justly be considered as amounting to a national one. When, therefore, the project is unclogged of the drag-chain of sixty millions sterling, proposed to be invested in railways, — the destruction of 50,000 acres of valuable land, which their lines would cut up, — and the irreparable injury that would be inflicted u2:)on the whole of the inland carrj-ing establishments, whether by land or water, along the 3,000 miles of their projected conveyance, as well as upon the towns and villages whose thoroughfares they would destroy, it is not too much to suppose that it will be introduced with tlie speed, and to the extent, corresponding to the impulse which will be given to the substitution, when society, as a body, shall cease to view it in the mere light of its com- mercial importance, but when the whole of our THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 205 starving classes shall come to regard it as a mode of obtaining- cheap bread, — when the whole of our unemployed classes shall contemplate it as a mode of procuring abundant labour,— when the whole of the manufacturing classes shall contemplate it as a mode of balancing at home production and consump- tion,— and last, not least, when Government itself shall contemplate it as a mode of raising those re- sources which it can no longer obtain bv taxation. Such being the case, under any circumstances it would have been an interesting inquiry to have con- sidered how so great a change is likely to affect the agricultural interest! How much more so, then, is it at a moment when cheap bread is a sine qiui non to an ameliorated condition of society, and when the means proposed to be adopted for the attainment of that end will only tend to precipitate society into a state of social disorganization. From the Parliamentary returns, the horses run- ning in coaches in Great Britain, in 1828, amounted to 178,841 ; and we are perhaps much within the mark when we suppose that these, with all the horses employed in drays or draught, exclusively amount to 600,000. It is said by some, that each horse consumes what will support eight individuals. The suppression, therefore, of these horses alone (which does not include one horse employed in agriculture or for pleasure) will save what will feed 4,800,000 people. The annual consumption of grain, by human mouths, in Great Britain (viz. 16,000,000^ is about 32,0r0,000 quarters, of which not one- twentieth part has, during any year, been imported. But the saving of what would feed, by the removal of the horses used for transit alone, 4,800,000 people, amounts to more than what is consumed by the fourth part of the said population. If importa- tion of grain, then, to the very limited extent of one- twentieth, viz. 1,600,000 quarters, has hitherto I een deemed an evil of no little magnitude by the agricul- tural interest, what will they consider a system which ■»vill abridge home consumption equal to one- fourth, viz. 9,600,000 quarters. At first sight this will appear to the agriculturist as involving more certain and complete ruin than even that which would follow the repeal of the corn laws. But this is taking a narrow, a prejudiced, view of the matter. For it will, or at least mail, admit of three circum- stances, anv one of which will amply compensate for the fall in prices which this saving of consump- tion shall occasion. The first of these is, that this saving in the con- sump: ion of grain will put an end to that iniquitous barter whieh has so long, and so unwisely prevailed, of allowing Ireland to send to this country the food that ought to support her own population, together with the hordes of her starving peasantry who should consume it at home. This system, twice unblest, has drained from Ireland what ought to have cheered and made comfortable her own board, and raised the depressed condition of her children, whilst England has purchased it at the fearful ransom of doubled poor-rates, and tlie deteriorated condition of all who labour in the cultivation of her soil. But this is not all ! The existence of this criminal, and to botli parties, suicidal traffic, has occasioned tJie annual export from the United Kingdom of the 15,000,000/. sterling winch we now pav for cotton, flax, hemp, foreign corn, and tobacco, all of wliicJi can, and therefore ought, to be raised at home. The introduction of a substitute for brute power which M-ill enable Britain to giow upon her own surface food, not only sufficient to meet the consumption of lier own poptilation, but also for export, will enable us to convert Ireland, comparatively speaking, into a clothing country, and allow her to reap the im- mense wealth which we now improvidently throw into the hands of foreign growers. In this way we will shortly make within our own shores, that new and extensive market which we may anxiously seek, but never will find, abroad ; and create and maintain a well regulated and beautifully balanced system of reciprocity between the sister islands, to the mutual enrichment and prosperity of both. The second circumstance by which the introduc- tion of inanimate locomotion will tend to improve the condition of the agriculturists, depends upon a contingency — but it is one which the situation of affairs not onl)- makes judicious but imperative, viz. that Government should make tliis great project, which in a few years will change the whole system of our inland transit, a iiationai measure, and reap the vast profits which wall arise from its production for state purposes. The plan which we have hitherto pursued, of never interfering with what is f;ilsely called tlie enterprise of the country, has ended in dividing the nation into two classes, usurers and paupers. Tliat the wealth of Great Britain is enor- mous in quantity, no one will be hardy enough to den3\ That it does not produce effects commensu- rate with its magnitude, the increase of misery and crime in eacli succeeding year too fully demonstrates. The value, then, of the national capital consists, not so much in quantity, as in the order of its distribu- tion : and upon its proper distribution the integrity of the state depends for its existence, for the neglect of it must terminate either in anarchy or despoti,6m. Now, there is no concealing the fact, that matters are rapidly tending to this crisis. Already the rich are far too rich, the poor far too poor. The law, therefore, which has tended to create and to main- tain this inequality must be amended, and the national wealth equalized in a way that will improve the social condition of the whole, and not a part of our population, else a worse evil will come upon us. Now, this evil can never be remedied in a more ex- tensive, or less objectionable way than by Govern- ment laying hold of great discoveries, and making tliem a means of wealth to the multitude instead of to the individual. Parliament has given twenty millions to break the chain of slavery abroad — ■ let it not withhold ten millions to introduce a change which will break that worse than servile bon- dage, the chain of pauperism, which is unchristian- izing society at home. If this is done — besides introducing inanimate locomotion with the speed, and to the extent which will make it affect society in an economic point of view — Government eventually will reap an annual revenue of five or six millions, which will enable it to reduce taxation without the present evil which accompanies it, viz. curtailment of expenditure. By this means the agriculturist, in common with the rest of the community, would share in the benefits which would arise from relief from taxes to the amount mentioned, whilst, over and above, they might^hargain with Govei-nment for the removal of those burdens which press exclusively upon husbandry, by an offer to apply in exchange for them the poor-rates to the introduction of the substi- tion. At the present moment, and for 3'ears past, this fund, growing by what it feeds on, has been so administered as to nourish and increase tlie evil which it was intended to remedy. It is time this monstrous abuse was got rid of, nor can it ever be more appropriately bestowed than to bring into operation a system whicli, by increasing manual labour, and rendering food cheap and abundant, will shortly work out its own extinction. The tliird circumstance is, that the application of steam to purposes of husbandr}^ will so cheapen the cost of production, as to reduce the price of food 206 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. with remuneration to the growers. It is well known, that the expense of horses forms the princi- pal item in the outgoings of the farmer. The late Dr. Colquhoun, so far back as the year 1812, in the estimate which he makes of the new property cre- ated annually in Great Britain and Ireland, taking each kind of grain at 50 per cent, less than the ave- rage prices in the public markets of the 12th Sep- tember, states the crop of hay, grass, straw, and vetches, as amounting in value to 89,200,000/. And the portion of this consumed by horses, was as follows : — Horses in Great Britain and Ire- land, estimated at 1,800,000, at 45s. each for grass £ 4,050,000 0 0 For hay, at 61. each 10,800,000 0 0 For straw, at 5s. each 450,000 0 0 For beans and peas 2,640,666 13 4 No separate item is given for corn, but taking the half of that consumed by animals generally, as consumed by horses, viz. 14,790,000/ 7,395,000 0 0 We have £25,335,666 13 4 which is subtracted from the above, purely to sup- port the brute labour which it is now possible to supplant, in a great measure, by steam. When it is farther considered how much horses have multiplied since the period mentioned, it is perhaps speaking greatly within bounds, when we suppose they are maintained at a yearly expenditure of 30,000,000/, It is not difficult then to perceive, how the suppres- sion of horses, either in whole or in part, will econo- mize a saving in farm management sufficient to effect a great cheapening of agricultural produce witli advantage to the producer, and benefit to the con- sumer. But it will be objected, that the second of these plans rests upon a basis wholly adventitious, and that the third one proceeds upon circumstances wholly impracticable. It is true Government may not choose to entertain the proposal suggested of making steam-transport a national measure, but this will be owing, not to the fault of ministers, but from the want of the popular volition being sufficiently expressed in its favour. But however this may be still the agricultural classes will not fail to share in common with the community at large those benefits which will arise from a system of communication which, in so many important ways, will promote the industry and prosperity of the country. With re- spect to the impracticability of applying steam to cultivation, we have no doubt that it will be consi- dered to be such, even till such time as the intro- duction of steam conveyance upon our principal lines of road shall force the agriculturists to resort to it from motives of sfilf-protection. Why, how- ever, this particular modification of a power which has been applied to so many various difficult uses should be deemed to be impossible, we confess our- selves at a loss to comprehend. Human ingenuity has triumphed over greater impediments. It has caused the unwieldy steam-boat to plough her way against the mightiest currents of the Western World. What, then, should prevent it from also causing the same all-powerful agent to impel the share through the long-cultivated and kindly soil of England '! Did our agricultural enterprize equal our commercial, there would be no difficulties in the case. Nor will there, we suspect, exist any when it becomes a mat- ter of necessity and not of choice. When all the horses now used in public carriages and draught are swept away, those used in agriculture will follow them. The questioa even now is one of time and volition, not of power. The possibility is present, but not the will. Is it, then, less than a duty, con- sidering the character of that distress which has over-flooded all ranks and conditions, to hasten a day which will be accompanied by such numerous and important advantages ? One which alone will be found adequate, pennanently and effectually, to relieve society from the evils that oppress us, since it contemplates the improvement of the employed classes, by and through the only method that will prove available, viz, the improvement of the employ- ing classes. But though difficulties exist in the minds of agri- culturists, who have not turned their attention to the subject, as to the possibility of extending steam to husbandry purposes, no difficulties exist in the opin- ions of many eminent machinists who have turned their attention to it. We have had conversations with several patentees, who have each assured us that there are no practical difficulties in the case provided there was any inducement for them to di- rect their skill to such a species of machinery. Mr. Phillips' getomic apparatus, the model of which we have seen, though far from being a perfect machine, is yet sufficient to show that a little farther simplifi- cation is all that is required to render it such. We are happy to say, that in our notions respecting steam-ploughing, whether as regards its practicabi- lity or importance, we are corroborated by a Fife- shire farmer, who, in a letter of the date 24th De- cembei-, 1833, published in the " Fife Herald," re- marks, " that at present, when the ingenuity of man is upon the stretch to devise means to abridge human labour, and add to the comforts and intelligence of a redundant and still increasing population — when, by our absurd laws, the manufacturer is under the necessity of giving an extravagant price for the first necessaries of life — when industry is fettered, and the growing resources of the country are circum- scribed, our tenantry wasting their time and means, and crouching under the power of their proprietors, on account of a corn monopoly, I wonder it never struck some of our agriculturists that they might, like the manufacturers, endeavour to under-sell their neighbours, and drive them out of the market. I know it will be said, that it is impossible — but what I am going to suggest, is a farther extension of ma- chinery, to assist us in keeping ourselves a-head of our neighbours, and that is the application of steam to the working of ploughs. At present, 'it requires nearly the half of the produce of a farm to pay the necessary expenses, and a great part of that goes to the keeping of horses, harness, &c. Now, if the farmer could get a steam-engine to work his ploughs, harrows, and rollers — thrash and shear his corn — cast his drains, and rid his land of large stones, he would be able to pay his present rent, although there were no corn-laws, and grain one-third cheaper than it is." We have gone into all this detail, not because we advocate the application of steam to general locomo- tive purposes, merely from the love of change, without any other reason than that change is the order of the day. No, but because there are nu- merous weighty, and what ought to be imperative reasons, for the agricultural classes giving this mat- ter their deep and serious attention. From the whole course of events, no man can be so blind as not to perceive, that upon the subject of the corn laws, the agricultural and manufacturing classes are about to come shortly into a fearful collision. Cheap bread is a thing that our starving and oppressed people must have, either by a cheaper system of cultivation at home, or by importation of corn from abro'd. The alternative is the choice betweea the life and THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 207 death of the State. For surely it is madness amount- ing in degree to theirs whom the ancients conceived were doomed to perish, to suppose that cheap bread, by a nethod that will ruin our domestic agriculture, will not precipitate the country into that state of social disunion, which the whole tendency of our affairs shows to be in course of progression. Now, let it not be supposed that steam has had nothing to do in maturing this condition. During the last quarter of a century it has been applied to what may be called physical purposes only, i. e. to purposes which has materially abridged manual labour, and multiplied almost indefinitely every species of com- modity, whilst it has not been applied to any one purpose that has increased human labour, or saved the consumption, and clieapened the production of food. Consequently there has been a gradual disap- proximation between the necessaries and the conve- niences of life, until, after nineteen years of peace, and what ought to have proved financial recruitment, . it has reached an extent which has unbalanced con- sumption and production, to a degree which is para- lyzing all commercial and agricultural transactions, fearfully increasing pauperism and crime, fomenting sedition, and threatening the peace, order, and best interests, social and civil, of society. The extension of steam to economic purposes, i, e. to purposes which will permit the removal of brute labour, will remedy the evils arising from its partial application ; for, as we have shewn, it will save and cheapen food, and that by a way which, over and above improvement of internal communication, will improve the coal trade and iron trade, those pillars upon which the prosperity of the country is said to rest, as well as every department of manual industry. Applied exclusively to physical purposes, machinery as yet has, will all its advantages, been attended by evils far from being partial. Extended further to economic purposes, the good that will follow will not be short of universal. Hitherto its abuse, that is to saj', its former application alone has been per- nicious, now its use, that is to say its latter applica- tion, will be commensurately beneficial. Machinery has made goods, — machinery must also make a market. The existing circumstances of society de- mand this, otherwise all will terminate in convulsion. In arriving, then, at the conclusion, that cheap bread of home growth, by artificial means, will alone prove an effectual remedy for our distress, we are led to say so, not because we are an advocate for cheap bread, abstractly considered. On the contrary, it is our belief that it is bread being too cheap already, which is the main cause of the distress which is so prevalent. It is for the benefit of no class or condi- tion in the State, as better experience proves, that prices should be — what they now are and have long been — uniemunerative. But what we contend for is this, that as all the other producing classes in the State have artificially cheaj?ened the cost of their re- spective productions, the agriculturists are bound likewise to follow their example, and cheapen theirs. At the present moment, more than two-thirds of the price of wages is spent upon the necessaries, and less thaa one-third upon the conveniences of life. There is not a labourer in the three kingdoms who does not feed liis belly at the exp .mse of his back. This is an evil of no trifling character, for it is one which affects the entire industry of the country ; and farther, it is one which, for the interests of all parties, ought to be removed without loss of time. In this way alone our agricultural consumers, instead of being cast into idleness and beggaiy, will have their condition improved, whilst all the other classes will be enabled to double their use of the coavenieacea of life. In this way the advocates for free trade will procure the market at home, for which to obtain the privileges of search- ing abroad they are willing to destroy our do- mestic agriculture. We trust, however, before realizing the situation of the dog in the fable, who dropped the mouthful to catch at the shadow, that they will proceed upon some less fallacious supposi- tion than that by which they are at present duping themselves, viz, that the removal of the corn laws will extend our foreign relations. When the famine abounds in the land, which, as it appears, it is their vocation to bring in upon us, we must have bread from the Continent, but thei-e is no corresponding neces- sity that the Continent must take goods from us. Be- tween two countries, the one dependent upon the other for necessaries, there may exist commercial re- lations, but we deny that they exist upon any basis of reciprocity. Before an exchange mutually bene- ficial can be carried on between competing states, it is absolutely necessary that the price of labour should in each be uniform. But that condition is not ours ; nor will that condition ever be ours, if we are to have our food from the hands of our rivals. And why 1 Because it will ever be their policy to keep up the price of the exported food, were it from no other mo- tive than that of protection to their own interests. Before, then, consenting, for the sake of foreign growers, to the destruction of so large and influential a body as that of our agriculturists, it would be well to inquire whether for ours there are any foreign growers who would consent to sacrifice their own manufacturers 1 We are bound to say that we fully aquit the agriculturists of every European power from harbouring a sentiment so revolting and destruc- tive to a portion of their compatriots. Live and let live has not yet ceased to be a sacred maxim of social polity with any nation except our own ; and woe will be to us as a nation and people, if we shall be so guilty and reckless as i(t violate it. Under no cir- cumstances whatever should free trade be the pri- mary object of a nation's policy, and this for the very plain and cogent reason, that free trade is ever liable to fluctuation and change. It cannot form the stable groundwork of national prosperity : — at best it is only a collateral and adventitious assistant. The first cause of a nation's well-being is an equable ad- justment of production and consumption within itself. When this is the case, free trade becomes in practice what it is in fact — a secondary object, and constitutes at best only a barter of the superfluities, and not the necessaries of life. We speak thus, not because we have any intei-est in the plough more than in the loom, or because we are influenced by private or party considerations. We speak it, because we love the independence of Britain, and would not have her for a mess of pottage to sell her birthright. We speak it, because we con- sider the protection of the bold peasantry, our coun- try's pride, essential to our integrity as a people, aod because we bow in reverence to that decree, which will alike be coeval with the existence of men the nation, as with man the individual, that out of the ground from which we have sprung we shall eat bread, even until we return to it again. Irrestric- tive trade, though considered by many as a cure for all the evils which our lot is heir to, is at best but a specious name for pillage abroad, and beggary at home. For years past, free trade may be said to have been in full operation, and the result has been to accumulate and accelerate all the distress in which we are involved. Let it be continued on to the utter- most, and to the uttermost we shall be defeated in all the expectations which we have formed upon it. For a season, indeed, the superior wealth and enter- prise of Britain would triumph over all competition, 208 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. but it would be under such circumstances that every hour would drain us of the life-blood by which it would be upheld. It was not by this system that Manchester and Liverpool, and our other large ma- nufacturing towns, were in fifty years nursed to greatness from the Gattons and Old Sarums from which they arose. Let them kick down the ladders by which they have mounted into wealth and im- portance, and though they may never return to their original nothingness, they will, in all their future existence, present to the eye lazar towns, vast only for wretciiedness, agitation, and crime. No, cheap bread we must have, and cheap bread we shall have ; but it is neither for our common nor individual interest that we should purchase it by the destruction of our home market. At the present moment, we pay yearly 80,000,000/. for the corn which we consume. Of that sum full 30,000,000Z. go to support the animate brute machinery by which it is reared and transported. Here, then, is a sys- tem that requires revision — a repeal which will give us cheap bread, by a mode which will put us in all respects upon the same free trade footing as our con- tinental rivals, besides superadding to all the outlets which our enterprise can find abroad, the best and surest of all markets, that of a new and prosperous one at home. At the present moment, twenty mil- lions of our fellow-subjects may be said to be in the condition of non-consumers. With such a field, then, before us, as the regeneration of our domestic population, shall we omit, or postpone the oppor- tunity which now presents itself, of achieving the formation of a community at home, who can make cheap bread at home, and be so remunerated as to consume prosperously commodities made at home ? Hankering after foreign relations instead of mind- ino- the one thing needful, to provide at home that extended consumption which should bear an adequate ratio to extended produetion, has been the fatal rock upon which the vessel of our common prosperity has split. Owing to this error it is, notwithstanding all our ascendancy in the arts of industry, we have forced our domestic population into a condition which makes vain and desperate all natural aids for any purposes which are more than palliating. And now we must retrace our steps, and regenerate society by the ARTIFICIAL means which the progress of invention has at length put within our power. The possibility is now given to us to remedy in this way evils, which, situated as the country is, could not have been remedied by any other method. Shall the means then prove wanting 1 Already the substitution in question has been retarded for years, from no other circumstance than want of co-operation, and if it be delayed a few years longer, that convulsion may take place, which, through the good providence of God, it seems provided to obviate. Had the application of elementary power contemplated merely a cheaper, quicker, and better system of conveyance, we would not have taken up a subject which might tend only to urge it prematurely and improvidently into operation. No, but it is because the removal of brute labour will increase human labour, and cheapen food of home growth, at a moment when the want of these is threatening the peace and stability of society, that we see a case sufficiently strong to make the nation at large take up the subject as a national measure. In order more effectually to promote this object, and carry the project extensively into operation, a NATIONAL INSTITUTION OF LocOMOTio:.:, Unconnected with an)' trading company, is now in progress of being formed to promote the application of steam to general purposes of transport and husbandry, and to supply the desideratum which has long been experienced of there being no metropolitan association i^ connection with the various companies and local societies throughout the United Kingdom, formed for the ad- vancement of commerce and agriculture. We need saj' nothing of the advantages to arise to our inland transport and navigation, from an institu- tion which shall watch over these important interests, and hold out premiums for improvements in them ; neither how beneficial, as regards agriculture, [will the existence of an institution be, which will serve for the United Kingdom generally the similar important purposes to what the Highland Society is effecting for Scotland. An institution likewise which shall concentrate the genius and science of the country, and where at a glance the public -will be able to see that all that mind can devise, and ingenuity perfect, for the advance- ment of our social prosperit}-, will not fail, if sup- ported as it deserves, to be productive of the most important benefits to the nation. That support, as far as one portion of the union is concerned, we trust it will find in the Highland Society and people of Scotland. When we consider how exigent is the want which steam applied to economic uses is commissioned to alleviate, and how reckless in its consequences, as thr.t volcano indicates whose eruptions are now nightly visible in the farm-yards of some dis- trict or other of the country, we consider it fortunate that, if CHEAP BREAD be wholly unavoidable, it can now be procured in a way that makes it wholly desirable. The bane of having prices reduced by steam transport, and the antidote of provid- ing for the same by steam husbandry, are both before our agriculturists. We cannot suppose that they will allow the one to be introduced unaccompanied by the other. In the hope that this will be the case, we cannot conclude this paper without congratulating all orders of our fellow-subjects upon the bright pros- pects which the general application of steam to brute labour purposes opens upon us. At a moment when the resources of the country are no longer adequate to the wants of our population, " when a restless SPIRIT OF discontent IS EVERYWHERE ABROAD," and cheap food of home grmvth is a sive qua non to an ameliorated condition, this beneficent agent steps in to accomplish what could not have been effected by any external process whatever. The speedy and ge- neral introduction of steam cultivation is all that is required to make cheap bread in Britain, in a way that will reduce no one to destitution in Britain, If our industrious classes must still earn and eat their bread by the sweat of their brow, they shall never- theless eat it in plenty, and in contentment. Under the social economy which the extension of steam to the purposes of animal labour will allow, it shall no longer be said that the wealthiest empire in the world is also the most wretched one, or that, with all ou? boasted wisdom in science and art, we are unwise in that which not rightly to know is misery and unhappiness! The better policy of the age of steam must be to make millions rich instead of the units, — to render monopoly the property of the state and not of the stock-jobber ; — to comfort ;i thousand happy homes, instead of building up one bloated ca- pitalist. Steam which, confined to physical pur- poses, hitherto has wrought such marvels, extended furth.er to economic uses, can achieve all this, for by home means, equalizing the price of necessaries and conveniences, it will adjust production and con- sumption ; the tmbalanced condition of which alone has deranged the currency, — paralyzed t ansaction, — abridged industry ; and, in a word, occasioned all these evils which at length have produced a nation divided into usurers and paupers, to the di::ger alike of the constitution, the altar, and the thron., THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 209 TO THE EDITOR OF " THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE." Sir, — In your magazine for the month of June, page 113, a correspondent of yours details a con- Tersation which had passed between himself and a person he describes as " a talking old gentleman" upon the comparative advantages of large and small farms. Now I happen decidedly to agree with " the talking old gentleman" and think Agricultor, (as your correspondent signs himself), when allowed to state every thing his own way, made out a very bad case for himself. His two principal arguments are mere assertions which I utterly deny to be true ; first he says — " the large farmer had an advantage by being able to combine stock with corn which it was quite incompetent for the small farmer to do." Now pray why is it incompetent for the small farmer who he supposes to hold fifty acres of land to have stock in proportion to his crop also? If he follows the four course rotation he will have 12f acres of clover or vetches, and he will have 12§ acres more for potatoes and turnips, and what is to hinder his keeping cattle to consume these crops t I have seen in one of your own magazines some months back an account of a farmer's dinner in the North of Ireland, at Market-hill, where it appeared small farmers not holding the tenth part of 50 acres were able to keep stock in proportion to their holding, and in a much greater proportion than any large farmer could manage ; some of them upon 5 acres having two and three cows — now what would your large farmer having 500 acres, do with two or three hun- dred head of cattle, which is precisely the same pro- portion as two or three to five acres — is it not quite evident he could not manage such a stock at all ? and if an Irish small farmer can feed a stock of this kind • — what is to prevent a small farmer in England doing the same? The next assertion is, that the small farmer " would fallow a great breadth of land every year," but why will he fallow his land, or why will he not sow green crops, as well as the large farmer? No answer whatever can be extracted from Agricul- tor's communication in any way satisfactory upon these points. He says, indeed " it does not require much consideration to say which of the two cases would require the greatest proportionate outlay of capital in labour," or which would return the greatest proportionate amount of proceeds. In regard to this, I think it easy enough to decide who will be out of pocket most for labour ; the small farmer and his family will be equal to do a great part, if not all the work, of a small farm ; and, as they work for them- selves, they will do twice as much as a hired la- bourer ; the girls can attend to the dairy and milk the cattle, whilst the large farmer's daughter is learning the piano forte perhaps. The large farmer too must have a large capital in horses, waggons, &c., and his 5, COOL expended in this way must bear interest against the farm, and will be a heavy addi- tion to the rent. The small farmer having so much less distance to go, can do as much with his one- horse cart, as the other can with his great waggon, and the great outlay of capital in labour which the great farmer is said to be subject to is anything but a proof of a profitable return. After all due consideration therefore, I am, as I have said, decidedly of the same opinion as your correspondent's "talking old gentleman," and I am confirmed in this by the perusal of an essay on the management of landed property in Ireland to which I see the Medal of the Royal Society of Dublin has been awarded, and which ought, therefore, to be con- sidered to have some weight, in which the writer in commenting on Mr. P . Scrope's famous letter to the agriculturists of the West of England, distinctly ascribes the fact which Mr. Scrope states of the Irish farmers being more than able to compete with the English farmers in their own markets, to this particular circumstance, that the Irish were generally small, and the English generally large farmers : the essay alluded to, though addressed to the Agricul- tural Society of Ireland, might be read with advan- tage by our English landlords, as well as by those who feel interested in the beneficial employment of the pauper population. — I am. Sir, your obedient servant, A CONSTANT READER. June 14, 1834. BIDEFORD. Our correspondent says — " Great complaints were made by the farmers from all quarters, at our Tuesday's market of the failure, not partially, but generally, of the potatoes planted this season. It appears that the finest seed sown perished in the ground, and if pressed between the fingers, will crumble into powder ; others will sprout out in strings about an inch or two in length, and at the end is found a potatoe about the size of a marrow-fat pea. The consequence is, that farmers have been obliged to replant, which has caused the article to get up in price from 4s 6d to 5s per bag. Provi- dentially, bread corn, being very low in price, can be substituted for the failure ; and to cheer the future prospect, the weather is so propitious as to promise young crops earlier than they were expected. Vege- tables in general are abundant, and remarkably cheap. The wheat in the ground, in this neighbourhood, looks well, and is much improved since the late fine rains; the spring corn never looked better, and is thriving to the farmer's heart's content, with every prospect of an abundant harvest. Farmers are clearing their cellars of their old stock of cider, which has reached to 38s per hogshead — the orchards promise a large produce of this excellent beverage next sea- son. Within the last three weeks the advance upon oats has been very rapid and unexpected, far beyond the reach of the most wary calculators. — North Devon Advertiser. MR. BLACKER'S ESSAY ON THE MA- NAGEMENT OF LANDED PRO- PERTY IN IRELAND. [From the Belfast News-Letter.'] We promised in our last number to revert to Mr. Blacker's excellent essay on the management of landed property in Ireland, and we fulfil our promise with pleasure, because amongst the variety of plans that are daily suggested for the improve- ment of our native country, there are to be found only a few whose tendency is practical, and still fewer of a decidedly beneficial character. The Irish landlords are, in truth, the class of persons with whom must originate every system of this kind, the meliorating effect of which upon the mass of the inhabitants may be permanently calculated upon ; and if this important class can be generally convinced that, by applying themselves to the great object in question, they will be advancing their owa interests concurrently with the interests and the happiness of their tenantry, we may soon expect to see the work of social reform progressmg to some purpose. It is the misery and destitution of the 210 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. great body of the Irish peasantry that con- vert them into demi-barbarians, and render them tools in the hands of every heartless agitator, who can insinuate himself into their easy confidence. If the landed proprietors did only reflect on the trifling nature of the sacrifice by means of which they might tranquillize their country, and despoil the demagogue of his artificial ascendancy over starving discontent ; and, above all, if they were aware that by this apparent sacrifice, for it is only apparent, they would repay themselves 100 per cent, while the great and saving purposes of public and personal duty would be fulfilled, they could not hesitate about making it. Martin Doyle, and a host of other wTiters, have published a variety of excel! e-iL suggestions on this subject ; but fevv^ o^ these T.riters have been practical men, who have tried ;i.e results of the plans which they recom- mended. Mr.Blacker'sdirections,onthe contrary,are sealed with the authoritative impress ^of experience — he has proved the system which he advises, and we can, therefore, with added confidence, invite to it the attention of the landed interest in general. Of one system which, in some quarters, haS lately become fashionable, Mr. Blacker utterly dis- approves— we mean the system of consolidating small farms by " clearing out" the poor tenantry who have been long in possession of those farms. It is one thing to say, whether the subdivisions in question ought to have been made at first, and an- other to arbitrarily break them up after they have been once established. In fact, to these " clear- ances" may be ascribed, in numberless districts of the south, much of that " predial insurrection" which has gone so far to destroy the security of all property, and to set society and its laws at hopeless defiance ; nor can we greatly wonder at this conse- quence, if we only recollect what human feelings are, though we may detest the crimes to which these feelings often give rise. Mr. Blacker justly ob- serves, in reference to tliis subject, that even in England tlie system of " consolidation" has been, in many instances, greatly modified, in conse- quence of the increasing number of the poor, and that " sooner or later it must generally come to this, for there is no other system" than the allotment of small farms "by which the poor can be so cheaply and profitably employed." In Ireland, es- pecially, every other mode of conducting estates must, in the actual circumstances of the country, lead to results of a most dangerous kind, for a pau- per population must either be supported by a com- pulsory poor's rate, the principal burden of which will fall upon the landlords, or they must be located on cottage farms, from the produce of which they may be enabled to support themselves and their families ; and the experience of Mr. Blacker has proved with how much advantage to the landlords, even in a pecuniary view, this plan may be carried into effect. — Were the "clearing" system to become general, there is scarcely a district of Ireland, however peaceable, that would not be quickly con- verted into a scene of midnight outrage, and hence that which would destroy a nation ought not to be applied to a locality. The plan recommended by Mr. Blacker is this — to have a correct valuation of an estate made — to adapt the rents to the capabili- ties of the tenantry, by raising those which are be- low the proper standard, and reducing, and even re- funding the surplus of those which may have ex- ceeded that standard, and, as he justly observes, the moral effect of the latter course is incalculable. The next thing is to direct the attention of the tenantry to improved modes of cultivation, and for this pur- pose, in addition to printed instructions, he has been in the habit of bringing over from Scotland a number of persons called " grieves," who are en- trusted with the management of untenanted farms until a tenant is procured. We give, in Mr. Blacker's own words, a description of the remain- ing peculiarities of his plan, and though the extract is long, we are convinced that its vast importance to both landlord and tenant will render unnecessary every apology for its length. Referring to the class of persons above described, he says — " Such people may be Imd at an expense of from 35/, to 40/. per annum, including all allowances. And if they are properly supported by the agent and landlord, there cannot be a more effective or useful appointment. The general defect in the management of small fai-ms in Ireland, is, the con- stant succession of grain crops, which are continued, until the land is completely unfit to produce any thing, when it is let out to rest, as it is termed, in which unprofitable state, nearly one-third, or in many cases one-half of the small farms are allowed continually to remain ; this arises from the want of manure to restore such portions to cultivation, and the want of green crops to support sufficient cattle to produce it. The business of the agriculturist is, first to point out where drainage is required, &c. how the land is to be cleaned, (the meaning of which they will find at first not even understood,) and to point out how manure may be acquired, and how green crops may be raised, and house feeding the cattle may be established. For winter feeding, turnips and mangel wurzel appear the most beneficial crops to be resorted to, but here the first and great difficulty is started, and the agriculturist is met by the question, " if you take our small quantity of manure for these crops, what are we to do to raise potatoes for our families V It is here that the skill and resources of the agriculturist will be shown. There are few even small farms in Ireland, which do not contain some variety of soil, that may be profitably interchanged. Bog is manure to clay, and clay to bog, and so of slighter diversities, the mix- ture of which with the ashes acquired by burning- some of the many unnecessary ditches every where to be found, will enable the farmer with good cul- ture, to raise a large quantity of the common white turnip, and a small portion of dung may perhaps be spared for a few of the yellow and Swedish kind to succeed them in feeding the stock, until the clover crop, now to be sown, may be fit for cutting the following season. But if this small portion of manure cannot be spared, it will still be possible to collect as much before the end of July, or as much ashes as will secure a crop of rape, which will in some degree supply their place, coming in (if sown in the end of July or first week in August) in the month of March, and aftbrd an after-cutting early in May, and last until the clover is ready. Here then is a beginning made by one out of many resources, which circumstances may render practicable, and it is to be observed, that burning an old ditch or a foot ridge, for the purpose of acquiring the means of raising a crop, which returns such a quantity of manure back to the farm as turnips produce, is widely different from the habit so justly condemned, of burning the surface to raise potatoes, which afford THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 211 no manure whatever. However, all difficulties on this subject are at an end, if it is in a country where lime can be procured, and as this is so generally to be met with in almost every part oC Ireland, I shall assume it to be obtainable, in what I may have fur- ther to say on this subject.* V\ ith the assistance of it, mixed with soil, a most abundant crop of the cup potato, of excellent qualitj^, may be raised, by put- ting- on about twenty-five b rrelsto the Knglish ncre, and if the tenant is so far impoverished as to be un- able to buy this, it is then the province of an intelli- gent landlord to advance the amount, either as a gratuity or on loan, or by giving- security to the lime-burner, until the return of the crops may enable the farmer to pay him ; and the potatoe crop being- provided for in this way, the manure from the stable or cow-house is rendered nvadable for turnips, &c. But however simple and obvious the benefits to be expected from this commencement — the food to be attained not only for themselves, but also for their cattle, — the double quantity of manured land, and the consequent double grain crop of the following- year — 3-et such is the general indisposition to depart from old habits, and such the ignorance among the lower classes of the value of the turnip crop, and the great desire to increase their stock of potatoes, th-.\t unless the most strict attention is paid by the agriculturist, and the influence of the agent also ex- erted to the utmost, both lime and manure wdl be given to the latter crop, and the quantity of turnips will be rendered so inconsiderable as to prevent their full value being seen. Still, however, there will be some, and small as the quantity may be, their advantage will be felt, and the succeeding year an additional quantity will be put in, and in a third the system will be in full operation, after which it is the farmer's own fault if he ever wants manure again, for the plan of house feeding will always produce sufficient to manure any farm whatever, where the proper stock is kept, which I should calculate at a cow for every three acres of arable land. Having thus obviated the^rst objection, namely, the want of manure, it may not be unnecessary to allude to an- other, which the small farmer will assuredly make. I have already stated, that the farm would in general be found exhausted by a succession of grain crops ; when therefore the farmer is required to sow clover, and give up the intended second crop of oats upon his potato land, he will most gene- rally object, by saying, how, if you deprive me of the second crop, will I pay my rent 1 The answer to which is, to make up for the loss of your second crop of oats, you will have a double quantity of manured land, for you will have, by means of the lime advanced, as much potato land as for- merly, and you will have the turnip land, upon which your manure was expended to the full extent it would cover, therefore, you will still have the same quantity of land under grain, with the advan- tage of its being all a first crop, in place of one half being a second crop, as it would be according to your usual practice. But there is still a third ob- jection arising from a different quarter, namely, from the landlord, who may reasonably ask, how can 1 be * Where lime is not to be had on reasonable terms, if the place is near to the sea cost, assistance may be had from sea weed or shell sand. In the absence of these, marl may perhaps be obtainable, and if all these fail, bone dust or rape cake will give excellent crops of turnips, which being once produced, they will yield such an abundance of manure by house feeding cattle, that it is the farmer's own fault if ever he is in want of manure again. secured in the repayment of the sum I may thus be called on to advance in lime, in order to m-ake this plan practicable 1 I confess, the -e are many who consider it will be difficult to recover this amount, and I am not prep-ared from experience to say, that the Tepayment may be depended on, but 1 neverthe- less feel confident, that when the circumstimces of the people have been improved, and that they are really able to pay, they will be found willing. But it is not in one year or in two that this change can be made. The first year the lime produces a crop of potatoes, which is required for the consumption of the family, and by keeping them from the neces- sity of buying their food, enables them by their in- dustry, to pay off some of their debts, or add some- thing to their comforts. The second year the grain crop goes to make up the deficiency arising in their means of paying rent, from clover being sown in place of a second crop of oats. The third year the same portion is in clover, which will enable them to rear additional stock, and it is not until the fourth vear that the crop of grain, after the clover, really brings the farm into a productive state, and if the plan is persisted in for the four years, it then cer- tainly will have brought it into complete order ; for by the four course rotation I have stated, the entire farm will have been drained and manured, at the rate of one-fourth part every year, it being the busi- ness of the agriculturist to see the di-ainage of the land properly effected, before he gives the order for the lime to manure it with. It is evident, that the circum- stances of the parties must be improving from year to vear, and if urgently pressed for the amount of the lime, there is no doubt the produce obtained from it ought to have supplied them with the means of paying the demand, and if they are not to be de- pended on for making a good use of the funds com- ing into their hands, it might perhaps be better to insist on an early repayment : but as they are in general in want of almost every thing, if they are sober and industrious I think they will require all they can save, to supply them with such necessaries as they may st-and in need of, and to enable them to increase their stock, which it is necessary to attend to immediately, because, according as tlie worn out land, which has been left out to rest, is brought by the force of manure into a productive state, and that clover and house feeding is substituted for miserable pasture, the land previously allowed for the support of one cow, will, with ease, support three or four, and the great difficulty will be, to make the increase of the stock keep pace with the increase of the food. In the experiment I have been making, I have not yet arrived at the fourth year, and it remains to be yet seen whether I shall be repaid without trouble. I am sanguine that the amount will be paid, as I have said ; however others doubt it, and the great fall at present in farm produce will undoubtedly render the collection more difficult ;t but if a part, or even the whole was lost, I have no hesitation in saying, that the money is well laid out, and that any extensive landlord will find his account in introduc- ing upon liis estate a regular system of cultivation, even by the total loss of all the advance that woi.ld be required ; and that the combined effect of the four operating causes which I have alluded to, (and which for greater clearness I recapitulate,) will change the agriculture of any estate whatever in Ire- land, I have no manner of doubt, viz. : A statement of the existing errors in the present mode of cultiva- t Since writing the above I am happy to say, that these expectations have been justified, and I have got payment of the lime lent, without difficulty. 212 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. tion practised by tlie generality of small farmers, cir- culated among them to direct their attention to the subject ; an active, intelligent agriculturist, to give the necessary instructions, and practically teach a better ; a landlord who will advance the necessary quantity of lime to render those instructions avail- able, and an agent vi-illing to take the trouble of see- ing the experiment fairly tried. The first shows the necessity of a change ; the second supplies the ne- cessary skill to correct what is amiss ; the third affords the capital wanted, and provides an additional inducement, by the known gain arising from the crop which follows it ; and the lime being only granted on the certificate of the agriculturist, this gives him the power of insisting on the ground being drained and properly cleaned, to which it is to be applied ; and lastly, the influence and personal at- tention of the agent keeps up the spirits and energy of the tenantry, and makes all things work together, and co-operate towards the successful issue of the undertaking. Being encouraged by the great suc- cess of my first attempt, I have made the experiment in three other districts, and from the uniform success which has attended the plan, I conceive myself fully justified in asserting as I have done, that it will change the system of agriculture anv where. It is now but the third season since I made the attempt, in two estates immediately under my own inspection, and the result has been, that over a district of about 20,000 acres, the cultivation of turnips, clover, vet- ches, and rape, has been fully introduced, of which clover alone was at all known, and that confined to the more improved parts, and supposed not to be cap- able of general introduction, and the others had never been thought of; and the improvement is not likely to be confined to the estates alluded to, for I am happy to observe the tenantry on the adjoining ^properties are following the example set to them, and the culti- vation of these crips will, in a very short time, ex- tend over the whole country. In the same district I had previously tried the cultivation of many of the modern treatises upon the growth of green crops, house feeding, &c. but all such instructions are wholly thrown away upon the great mass of the peo- ple, and will produce no general eflFect unless fol- lowed up by the personal and often repeated instruc- tion of a practical agriculturist, who can talk to them in their own language, and point out to them, on the spot, what ought to be done ; and even this will fail of its efficac}', without the inducement being held out of a loan of lime, when the instructions are attended to, and tlie continual support and exertion of the agent's influence." We must here break off for the present, but there are still numerous passages of this admirable pamphlet, which we intend to lay before our readers, and which we wish especially to press upon the attention of the wealthy classes. When we are threatened with the infliction of a scheme of Poor Laws, which, besides destroying every feeling of independence on the part of the peasan- try, would make paupers of the landlords them- selves, it must be refreshing to every patriotic spirit to know, that, by a judicious management of the landed property of the country, the happi- ness, the interests, and the just rights of all classes may be practically secured. BRESLAW WOOL FAIR. Accounts have been received during the present week of the Breslaw Wool Fair. We have seen several letters, which concur in stating that prices were at least five per cent, above those of last year, and that the wool is neither of so good quality nor so clean as last year's. When the English buyers arrived at Breslaw, they found the farmers, &c. asking the prices of last November, which were much higher than the trade in England will aflbrd, and the English therefore determined as one man not to buy above the prices of 1833. They ad- hered to this determination till the fair was half over, when the German manufacturers began to purchase, and were followed by those of the Ne- therlands and France ; by these parties nearly all the best flocks were bought. The English then began to buy at a trifle above last year's prices — some accounts say frotn three to five per cent, above, others from five to ten per cent, above. The quality of the wool is inferior, and it is not so clean as last year. Taking these things into ac- count, the prices may be considered as 10 or 12 per cent, above those of the fair of 1833. The English buyers did not take above one-third of the quantity they had intended taking ; they find their influence at the German wool fairs has become secondary. It is not expected that the other fairs will go lower. The following is a translation of a German cir- cular on the Wool Fair received by several houses in Leeds : — " KEPORT ON THE WOOL MARKET. " Breslaw, 6th June, 1834. " Since the Spring Market, in last year, the trans- actions in Wool have undergone so many alterations, that it will be a difficult task to give an impartial report of it, as the definition of reasons would lead us too far. " Though the prices of last year were twenty per cent, higher, it arose from the increased consumption of woollen articles, and the clipping yielded con- siderably less in nearly all parts of Germany. The consequence was, that, in the wool year of 1833, about 10,000 bags less of German wool were im- ported into England than in 1832. " As the quantity of wool in this year was not equal to the consumption of the English manufac- turers, there naturally arose a serious want of the most current sorts from August till November, 1833, and a rising in prices of twenty to twenty-five per cent, above the clipping prices. This rising and ap- parent want did not fail to influence the prices at Berlin, Breslaw, &c., so that, not only all good sorts of wool were bought up, but also mixed wools, with- out taste or choice, and consigned at high limits to Hamburgh and London, without reflecting, that for qualities of that kind there was no sale in England, and consequently none was to be expected at Ham- burgh. " Thus, the importation of German wool into England, in 1833-34, was raised to 74,000 bags, which is 24,000 bags more than in 1831-32, and 13,000 bags more than in 1832-33. " In addition to this came the crisis in the United States, and a stoppage in the cloth business, which frightened the manufacturers out of the market, and the consequence was a reduction in prices. Mean- time speculators in Austria and Prussia began to contract for 1834. Encouraged by the many buyers, the landowners raised their demands daily, and in February this year contracts were already made for about 15,000 cwts. of Silesia wool, at 15 to 20 rix- dollars above the clipping prices. " By the sudden stoppage in England, the eager- ness began to decline in this month ; contracts were no longer made, and the next market was looked for with anxious expectation. English manufacturers and merchaDts arrived io very good time, of whom THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 213 some paid pretty good prices, from the 16th to the 20th of May ; however, the more Englishmen ar- rived, the more general became the determination that they would not buy any thing before the 2d of June, and not pay more than the prices in 1833. " This, however, must not, as suspected by many, be imputed to a sinister combination, but to the real existence of a bad state of the cloth and wool busi- ness when they left England, and which partly justified their apprehensions. This had, how- ever, nearly occasioned an unfavourable turn, had not the manufacturers of the Netlierlands and the Rhenish provinces, encouraged the spirit of the land- owners and merchants, by quick bargains. The landowners, during the week preceding the market week, asked such prices as their neighbours obtained in the sales week of November and December last. The merchants who had provided themselves already with the necessary funds for the receiving of their contracted wools, anticipate a loss, but were not in- duced to make larger sacrifices than the present con- juncture obliged them to do. " In this manner business was transacted until the 2nd of June, when both parties met each other half-way, and shook hands together. " During the following days the fair was still more lively, and at this moment there is scarcely 4,000 cwt. of Silesia wool unsold in the first or se- cond hand, which probably also will find customers, as every corner is searched through to-day, where a refused lot was hidden. " The prices are as follows, viz. : — Rixdollars. Electoral ^ 130 to 135 Best Silesia 110 125 Fine Do 100 105 Middle Fine Do 85 95 Fine Silesia, (two shears) 80 85 Middle Fine Silesia, (do.) 75 80 Common Do. (do.) 65 70 Extra Fine Polish, (first clipping) 90 105 Fine Do. (do.) 80 85 Middle Fine Do. (do.) 65 70 Common Do. (little done in this description.) " The average price of Silesia wool was five rix- dollars more than that of last year. The whole quan- tity of Silesia wool consisted of 35,000 cwts., (being scarcely 6 to 8 per cent, more than in 183S.) The whole quantity of Polish wool 4,000 cwts., (of which still many supplies are expected.) And the whole quantity of old wools, of all kinds, 3,000 cwts. " The number of buyers was very great, and there are many inquirers after Silesian wool from Verviers and Vienna. There is also much of the Polish and Austrian wool sold at fair prices. " As last year our noblemen and landowners made it their strictest duty to deliver the wool in the best condition possible on sales contracted for to their disadvantage, so this year all speculators showed the greatest integrity, and, with a few exceptions, all deliveries were efifected in the best order, which is the more praiseworthy, as it cannot be contradicted that the washing and cleanliness of the wool were not equal to that of last year, which, though not the fault of the owner, but the dryness of the season, is nevertheless a disadvantage to the receivers." We give another German circular of a later date, as the prices are somewhat different from the above : — Breslaw, 8th June, 1834. " According to official reports there were imported for this year's wool-market, that begaa oa the 2ad of June, and ended on the 6th item, 44,435 cwt., viz. : — Cwt. Silesia Wools 32,748 Grand Duchy of Posen, ditto 10,176 Austrian ditto 595 Gallician ditto ,., 915 Together 44,435 Old stock was about 3,000 Total quantity on the market. . 47,435 In the year 1833 there were only 39,049 The quantity brought more into the market this year 8,386 Tliere was clipped more on the average from 5 to 6 per cent than last year ; the washing was, however, unfavourable, from the strong heat in May, owing to which the wools are dusty. The hair was fine, but less strong than last year. Different from the three last years, when the mar- ket had nearly ended on the 2d June, it properly began this time on that day ; and though the flat- ness ofthe wool and cloth trade gave sufficient rea- son, three months since, to suppose that wool would be lower than in 1833, it was soon found that it was not to be bought at last year's prices. The manufacturers and merchants of Germany and the Netherlands, as well as some Austrian, were the best buyers, and they had the choice, and took the best wools ; they paid sometimes 5 to 10 per cent more than the price in last year. The English fol- lowed their example not sooner than on the third market-day ; and though the second and third days were rather flat, the fourth 'and fifth were so brisk that the market was nearly to be considered as ter- minated ; and on the sixth day there were only to be found with difficulty some dear and refused goods. But these also were sold, and the market was good beyond expectation, so that on the average the wools realized 5 to 6 per cent more than last year's prices. Though the sellers suffer by this favourable turn of things a less considerable loss than they feared, it is enough to make them more cautious for next year. the prices of wool were — Silesian Super Electoral 148 to 160 per cwt. Do. Electoral 136 Do. Quite fine 124 Do. Best middle fine 110.. 115 .. Do. Middle fine 95 . . 105 . . Do. Good middle 85 . . 95 , . Do. Common 75 . . 70 . . Do. Two Shears, Extra fine 85 . . 90 . . Do. Do. Fine 80 . . 85 . . Do. Do. Common. 65.. 70 .. Polish Wools, Best 110 . . Do. Fine 100.. Do. Middle fine 80. . 85 . . Do. Middle 65 . . Do. Common 50 . . 55 . . Do. Two Shears, Fine 70 . c 75 .. Do- Do. Mid. 60.. 65 .. Do. Do. Com 55.. 65 .. List Wools, White 18.. 22 ... Do. Black 14 . . 18 . . Sterlings Wool, fine 75 . . 85 . . Do. middle 65.. 70 .. Silesian Refuse 55 . . 75 . . Polish Do 50., 65 .. Skinners' Wool 50.. 60 .. The fquantity at present io second hand is about 6,000 cwt." 214 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORWICH MERCURY. Sir, — Considering the remarks stated in your Journal of the 24th inst. signed "A Rate Payer," calculated to mislead many of your readers who are unacquainted with the nature of cottage property, I have been induced to submit the following observa- tions to the consideration of your impartial readers. I believe it is generally admitted that all modes of employment of money, where such employment is not fettered by the extent of capital, by particular monopoly, by secret invention, or by disgrace attend- ing the employment, are subject to one law — viz, that whenever the returns arising therefrom are greater than their due proportion compared with other trades, such an increase of capital will be em- ployed in the mode affording such profit as to reduce its returns to a limit not exceeding a fair and ade- quate compensation ; and in most parts of the king- dom this general law has operated upon tenements of small value, a very disproportionate numberof which were erected during the late war, owing to the diffi- culty of collecting the rentals of such buildings. Upon the return of peace, the number of these tene- ments was found to be very inadequate to the comfort of the lower classes — the consequence of which was a very great rise in the rentals, which was no sooner perceived than a large capital began to be employed in that channel, which has produced the effect of ren- dering the net profits arising from tenements of small value lower than those produced by the erection of buildings of a large annual rental. It has been stated by some, that the owner of tenements of small value ought to be rated instead of the occupier, in conse- quence of the inability of a great proportion of the tenants of these houses to pay the amount assessed in aid of the poor's rate on the tenements in which they dwell, an inadequacy which it would be most unjust to attempt to remedy by imposing the poor's rate on the owners of such property, who are suffering the most serious losses arising from that very poverty. Another reason which has been assigned for im- posing the rate on the owner is, that the tenants of such houses quit their residences or become insol- vent before the rates upon them can be collected. This appears to be a most cogent reason against the imposition of the rate on the owner — for if the rates cannot be collected, a similar difficulty must exist regarding the rent, the same summary process, or nearly so, being provided in both cases. That in order to makean equal return to the owners of a tenement of a small annual value and one of a larger value, the nominal return of the former must be much higher thanthat of the latter,inconsequence of the frequent loss of the whole or a great part of the rental, hj the poverty, insolvency, or dishonesty of the tenant, from the great repairs caused by the habits of the poor, from the frequent change of te- nants, on each of which a new expense of the re- pairing the house is created, from the difficulty of enforcing the payment of the rent except by distress, from the impossibility of recovering the possession from a roguish occupant except by re-purchasing the possession from him, frequently at a sum varying from half a year's to a year's rental of the premises, or by having a recourse to an ejectment, the expense of which would exceed the annual rental. It appears that in this city, where the dwellings of the poor are found in considerable numbers, the principal part of the remainder of the inhabitants consist of their employers, on whose peisonal property (generally constituting the principal part of their wealth) 710 poor's rate is paid — hence there certainly does exist a great disproportion in the pressure of the poor's rate ; but this inequality of pressure is not oc- casioned by the owners of tenements of small value, who derive no advantage from the exemption of the poor from the payment of the rate. Nor is it possi- ble that any body of owners should long continue to do so ; or am I aware of any equitable reason which can be assigned why the owners of small tenements should be rendered liable to the payment of the poor's rate, while the owners of more valuable houses are exempt. Were it possible for the owner to raise the rental of his property so as to shield himself from the bur- den thus sought to be imposed upon him, it would be most impolitic to do so ; the making the landlord the middle party it would become necessary for him in regard to his own security to raise a larger sum than that which would be requisite for the payment of the rate, and consequently it would operate as a greater burden on the lower classes, and eventually tend to increase the poor's rate. Nor is there any mode of calculation by which the owners could fix a proportionable rise of rent, the pressure of the poor's rate being very unequal in dif- ferent years. From the above consideration, together with many others that might be brought forward, I am led to conclude that the above measure is most injudicious, inasmuch as at a time when the evil ef- fects of the poor laws excite general dread and alarm, and when the universal conviction is, that unless some mode can be devised to restrain these effects within moderate limits, the poor must ultimately be- come the landlords of the soil, by imposing the bur- den of the rate on the owner, it gives to those laws an additional lien on the real property of this city. That the rating of the owners of the soil directly to the poor's rate forms another of those frightful steps attendant on the poor laws, wliich though it may com- mence with the smaller owners, will go on spreading upwards, until the churchwardens and overseers be- come the effective owners of the fee. Another most important consideration is, that the owners of small tenements are in general persons who, by the frugality and hard labour of many years, and by the sums raised by the mortgage of the tene- ments, have been enabled to build a few cottages, and the effect of the above measure would be to plunge many of those who depended solely upon the rentals for their support in old age, into astateof most abject poverty. The above measure would press most severely on the owners of tenements of small value, from the cir- cumstances of the law having provided no summary mode of ejectment, the expence of which would be commensurate with the small value of cottage pro- perty. Hence as the payment of the poor's rate in- tended to be imposed upon the landlord has reference to the occupancy of the tenement and not to the re- ceipt of the rent, he would thereby be compelled to pay the rate for the tenant from whom he receives no rent, and whom he has no mode of ejecting, the small value of the tenement not admitting of a recourse to the common action of ejectment. The owner would consequently be compelled to lose his rent, to pay the poor's rate for the occupancy of his unprincipled tenant, frequently to purchase the re-possession of his cottage, and generally to leceive it again in a very dilapidated state. A wish to call the serious and candid attention of the owners of property of small annual value to the mischievous effects of the remarks contained in the letter above alluded to, is the sole object I have in view in thus troubling you. I am Sir, yours most respectfully, JAS. CLARK. I Norwich, 26th May, 1834. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 215 MY FIRST CAMPAIGN. TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH. It was in the afternoon of a beautiful day in September, 1795, that great alarm was occasioned in the little town of P , in Normandy, and momentarily interrupted the tranquillity which it enjoyed, even amidst the agitations of the revolu- tion. A party of Chouans, or rather a band of robbers who were honoured with that name, at- tacked the diligences, plundered the villages, and levied a contribution on the rich landlords in the neighbourhood. The Caen diligence was stopped by these brigands near Lisieux ; the gendarmes who escorted it were able to offer little or no re- sistance ; two were killed, and the rest had taken flight, compelled to abandon to their adversaries a very considerable sum of money, which the Re- ceiver General of Caen had sent to Paris, to the Public Treasury. The ruffians, not content with their victory and rich booty, threatened to come and attack our little town in the night, and to set it on fire, if they were not paid on their arrival the sum of twenty thousand francs. At least that was the report which was spread amongst us, and the cause of the terror which had taken possession of our peaceable inhabitants. A special council was assembled, which decided that not only would they refuse to pay the contri- bution demanded, but that the National Guard should immediately take arms, and repel force by force. This guard consisted of about a hundred and fifty men ; our enemies, it was said, were not more than thirty. We had therefore sufficient force. It is very true, that with the exception of a dozen veterans, the guard was composed of good citizens, the most of them fathers of families, who had never seen fire, and of young hair brains, of from fifteen to eighteen years. They had at the same time a corps of artillerymen, under the dis- cipline of the brave Colonel Lefevre. He was an Intrepid veteran, who had received permission to return to his native place, after thirty-five years service in the artillery, and after having lost one of his arms under the walls of Valenciennes. This troop could go through the manoeuvres with admi- rable promptitude and exactness ; but their cou- rage had only as yet been evinced in going to a grand review, or hearing a republican war-song, in a sham fight in the beautiful walks of Bonnebos, or in firing a round of cannon in honour of a vic- tory. The matter was in the present instance much more serious. Their courage had now to prove itself in encountering the brave, in firing with balls, instead of blank cartridge. This was a struggle for life, but it was also for honour ; that consideration prevailed over eveiy other ; and this moment of excitement permitted none to be absent except from the cause of illness or old age. I formed a part of that guard, althougli I was not above sixteen years old. I had overcome ^he objections of my mother, who had been a widow for some years, and I was her only son. I got myself enrolled. I shall not talk of the day in which I put on the uniform, which had been made for me to wear during the days of the festival. Every thing that was military had always had an irresistible charm to me. If a regiment happened to pass through our village, I went to their quar- ters as often as I could, and when they were gone, I imitated their behaviour ; neither the heat nor the cold, the rain nor the wind, could stop me. The beating of the drum, and the sound of the music caused in me an inexpressible thrill of plea- sure. An old soldier, with grey moustaches, dark visage, and stern carriage, inspired me with an involuntary awe, and unaccountable veneration. But if, among the officers, I perceived one about my own age, oh ! it was then that my poor head was inflamed! How greatly I envied his good fortune ! I would have quitted my tender mother, I would have left my companions, my favourite garden, my dog, and, in a word, every thing, for his sword, and his glittering epaulettes of an under- lieutenant. The soldiers quartered in our house in particular — usually we had two for our share — from the moment they entered our house I never quitted them. I recall to my mind the delicious evenings that I have passed in listening, seated upon a little stool in the corner of the kitchen fire-place, my chin resting upon my two hands, my eyes fixed upon theirs. I devoured their words, their jolly srories, their accounts of battles and adventures, which so absorbed all my thoughts, that a voice from the tomb would scarcely drag me from my extacy. With a taste so decided for all|that was military, I was delighted at the thought of going to the mar- ket-place with the arms and baggage. Indeed, the drums had not yet finished beating, before I was already there. In vain did my mother, who greatly loved me, endeavour to persuade me from my purpose; in vain did she entreat me to put it off, and return. I would not listen to any thing. There were four principal roads leading from our village, and several other paths ; our officers, after having held a council, considered of the measures necessary for guarding all these avenues. It was determined that they should place sentinels at all the points of approach, at the distance of a mile and a half, and that in case of the arrival of the brigands, they were to give a signal by firing a gun, and that then the troops were to form them- selves under the walls of the tovra, in order that they might quickly carry aid to the point of attack. Whilst the council was sitting, at which the Mayor presided, accompanied by the principal citizens of the tovra, the National Guard were under arms. The soldiers were ranged in order of battle, whilst the officers walked up and down, or formed into groups with those of the inhabitants, whom the disturbance, the desire to hear news, or mere curiosity, had brought to the spot. Mothers, wives and sisters, animated with a tender foresight, brought pro^dsions for their sons, for their lius- bands, and for their brothers; they fiUec their pockets, and hung from their neck a small - "ion of brandy. I blushed for shame at the "^h'-^ °^ these precautions, which proved that if they were careful housekeepers, they knew little of the man- ners of soldiers, to whom privations and hardships are inseparable. As for me, I should have been willing to go without any thing; I forgot the good dinner I should have eaten, the moment the first beat of the drum was heard ; hunger did not at all 216 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. concern me, I could have fasted for twenty-four hours, without complaining, at least I thought so then ; and had it not been for the sake of obedience to my mother, I should have sent back the good Marianne, who had been sent after me with provi- sions. Already she had crammed my pockets with bread and ham, and fruit ; she tried at the same time to slip a sausage into my cartouche box, not thinking any thing of the matter ; but this I opposed with great indignation, to the great amuse- ment of the spectators. She, poor girl, was quite vexed, and out of countenance, when I refused to take, among other things, a large great-coat, which she had brought to me. " Let me, at least, to please my mistress, put round your neck this warm worsted cravat, to protect you from the ill effects of the damp, my dear little master, or you will catch cold, I am quite sure." " Oh, leave me alone," said I to her, " it is very well for you to take all that care, you women, your inactivity makes you chilly ; but for us !" The order to march was given, which terminated this friendly altercation. The four little columns marched off altogether. When I, with my party, had arrived at St. Ger- mains, they halted in the middle of the town, and from thence they sent scouts to examine the neigh- bourhood. Although that place was more dange- rous than any other, from its being in the route of the enemy, I would not have changed my place for all the gold in the world. The interest with which we regarded matters, increased in propor- tion as the danger advanced ; the kindness also with which we were treated, in passing through the whole of the city, the doors and windows filled with persons to see us passing, and thanking us, whilst by their gestures and encouraging ac- clamations of welcome with which they greeted us. But that which delighted me more than the cheers of the multitude, more than the salutations of all the people showered upon our heroism, was a fare- well recognition which I received from the window of a large white house. It was her, the sweet Marie ! We marched so quick that I could not speak, but our eyes met ; that glance, momentary but penetrating, sufficed me. How great was the power of Marie's look ! Many years have passed between that time and the present. I have felt the sting of many strong pas- sions, vicissitudes without number have agitated the world ; to-day I have been elated with plea- sure ; to-morrow gnawed with melancholy ; one instant animated by the smiles of fortune, iJie next the victim of its caprice. My heart was always tender, every trial that it underwent proved it so ; to me, hope had not more charms than disappoint- ment bitterness ; I now look upon all with indif- ference, the present and the future. When in the depth of solitude, my thoughts carry me back to the poetry of infancy, and the years of youth ; the enchanting image of Marie presents itself to my imagination — the remembrance of her look again causes a thrill of delight ! She was the friend and constant companion of my sister— these were happy days. Juliette, v/ho was a year older than me, always had the greatest influence over me ; I know not how it was, but suddenly that influence ceased; and the power was transferred to Marie ! Was I melancholy or unhappy, one smile from Marie chased the cloud from my face ; was I re- bellious or disobedient to my mother, the slightest glance brought me back to my duty ; if I appear- ed tired with poring over my book, when the dif- ficulties of my task were above my powers, a word of encouragement raised all my energy, all my emulation ; indeed, her sweet influence was power- ful in every thing : she was the absolute mistress of my being. I knew not the cause of this, yet I surrendered myself to it. I felt the effects, with- out knowing from what they proceeded. The graceful and slender figure of Marie, the lightness of her step, the sweet outline of her beautiful face, her large brown eyes, her long chestnut hair, which flowed in large curls upon her neck of snow, her nose, so delicately formed, her forehead, so white and so smooth ; in fine, every charm and every beauty which nature could give, all that attracts and inspires admiration, speaking to the imagi- nation, and awakening the desire of man, — it was these that filled my thoughts. My love for Marie (for now I know that it was love), my love for her, had its source in a spring most pure and most holy. The touching expression of her countenance was a mirror that reflected all that was passing in her heart; the sound of her voice so well accorded with the sweet thoughts she expressed— it was the essence of sweetness, of goodness, and of sub- mission ; it was that calm happiness of a heart with which the corrupt interests of the world had no concern, save that it possessed so divine a na- ture. But I must leave these recollections, and con- tinue the thread of our story. We took up our quarters at St. Germains ; it was a little village composed of a dozen houses. Our leader gave his directions with all the impor- tance he could command ; he divided us into seve- ral detachments, and fixed the order in which we should perform duty ; and as I found that I was not in the two first divisions, I retired with my comrades into a barn, until it should be our turn to guard. The night was beautiful, and every thing was tranquil and calm, for the good villagers amongst whom we were, sheltered us in their houses, the one after the other, and depending entirely upon us for their security, slept soundly while we watched. I was helped to a truss of straw ; some more that was against tlie wall served me for a headboard, and I was comfortable. To pass the time, I began to think of the great deeds that we should do ; my imagination represented our little troop fighting with the robbers ; I was performing prodigies ; I myself took prisoner the chief of the band, and carried him in triumph to our city, where I received a civic crown — Marie was placing it upon my head, and — that thought was so delightful, it seized upon my spirit with such force, that my imagination, otherwise worn out, dwelt upon it, and reposed upon it. The rest of the body and of the mind is sleep ; my eyes closed, and pleasantly I fell into a profound slumber. It was about two or three hours after my eye- lids had been closed by a sleep the most sweet, when some one, touching me upon the shoulder, said, " Number three ! come along! number three THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 217 awake, will you !'' I turned about, aud awakened myself; I rubbed my eyes, stretched my arms, and yawned most pitifully ; I got up shivering with cold. " What do you want widi me ?" said I, in a pettish tone. " Ho, ho ! is it you, my fine little fellow ! did you enlist to do nothing ? It is the third detachment's turn to mount guard now ; you belong to it, do you not? Good night, I shall remain here." As he said this, he quietly laid himself down in my place. I was now quite awake ; I seized my musket and my sword, and, all shivering with cold, I went to the door of the barn, where the others appeared to be no more eager than myself to set out. " Come along, mas- ter Henry," said my Captain to me, with a jeering air. " Have you the gout in your legs, or is your courage driven away by the danger?" I did not reply, but took my place in silence. We began our march. We moved slowly, with- out speaking a single word, at the same time tread- ing softly, so that we might not create any surprise. We halted from time to time, to listen ; we even held our breath as much as we could, in order that our march might be carried on in profound silence. The night was so dark that we could not see more than two or three paces from us ; the sky was covered with black clouds, the wind began to make us feel the pelting of the rain, and we were threatened with a thunder storm. We had alrea- dy placed two sentinels, my turn was next — it was not long before it came. The word " Halt'."stopped the regiment. They called for " number three," and I advanced to the Captain. We marched on several paces. " Who goes there ?'' was demand- ed of us. " Friends," answered we ; the pass- word was given with a low voice. We now ap- proached the sentinel, and crossed bayonets; I received the watch-word. " Present arms ! Carry arms ! Shoulder arms ! Half round to the left, and then march !" The company departed — -the noise of their steps died away — I was on guard, and the safety of the town was in my hands. In my opinion there is nothing so opposed to the desire of glory, and thought of valour, as the sharp air in a cold night. I was shivering; in vain did I button my coat up to my chin, in vain did I tie my handkerchief round my neck, the cold penetrated me, and chilled me all over. I began already to regret the want of my great coat, and the warm worsted cravat which I had refused ; I repented that I had been so hasty with the kind- hearted Marianne. I also began to feel very hun- gry, but I had nothing to eat ; I had been so ge- nerous as to empty my pockets into the apron of a little girl in the village, telling her to go and divide them with her brothers and sisters ; I had not re- served the smallest morsel for myself to eat ; I had nothing to relieve me but to think of Marie. I fumbled in my cartouche-box; I should have been delighted (O God of War pardon me) to find the sausage I had rejected with so much indignation ; but, alas! it was not there — my fingers felt among the cartouches for it in vain. Since the party had left me I had not stirred, I stood as if nailed to the ground ; I now thought I would walk about a lit- tle, and reconnoitre to the right of where I was^ for I did not want to be troubled with any more dis- agreeabte reflections. I had not noticed, as we were a little from the road, that we had passed through a small gate, and tliat we had afterwards taken a few steps upon smooth and hard ground ; all these circumstances now recurred to my mind. Where was I then ? A clock that struck the hour, close to me, told me that I was near a church ; I strained my eyes towards the place from whence the sound proceeded, and I saw the outline of the building traced out upon a black sky ; I advanced a little, and found myself under the porch ; about twenty steps brought me again to the little gate. I then turned a little to the right, and found myself upon very soft ground ; presently my foot struck against something, and, putting down my hand, a little crop of wood which I felt, told me that it was a tomb. This relieved me ; and turning to the left, the same thing happened, so I returned. I was standing upon a paved path that led to the church — there was a thousand tombs around me. The wind was blowing very loud — engulphed in the many open windows of the church, it made a dreary noise ; presently I thought I heard long groanings, as of a person in the agonies of death, then a stifled sigh, as of some person oppressed with enormous loads endeavouring to rise; then there was a whistle, like the signal of a bandit. I endeavoured in vain to shake off the fear which was sinking into my heart ; in vain did I try to per- suade myself that such conduct was base in any sensible man, and shameful in a soldier, but fear was stronger than reason. A new cause now added to my distress; all at once a gate was opened, and I heard the sound of voices ; I stepped back, and perceived a number of persons go into a little house, situated about thirty paces from me, on the other side of the road . This sight relieved me, but it was but for an instant ; I now heard dreadful and dismal cries and lamentations. They came from a woman they were leading along, and who, amidst a thousand sighs, gave vent to these cries — " O, what a miserable woman I am 1 O, my dear chil- dren, what will become of you! Let me die upon the body of my husband — let me once more, at least, kiss his dear remains — let me plant one last kiss upon those lips, which death hath now made cold." They refused her this request, and urging her on against her will, the gate was again shut, and they proceeded along in confusion, by the light of a lantern. The light which it shed enabled me to see the church, the tombs, the yew trees, and the usual ornaments of a church-yard ; but I started when the distantrays fell on the porch of the church, and shewed me beside it a white figure which I had not previously noticed. At first it appeared only a shapeless mass, but the more I regarded it through the obscurity, the clearer the object was defined, and appeared to take a distinct form. Indeed, I had not the least doubt but that it was a ghost — a spirit of the tombs. This was not a childish idea, wrought up by imagination — it was reality. The more I looked at it, the more I was convinced of this. I saw it tremble — move, as if it would have glided from the place, but a secret power seemed to retain it near the threshold of the church. I saw at the same time the flowing of the grave clothes. I was surrounded by the tombs— about thirty steps firom an unfortunate woman who had come to die — and in the presence of a supernatural p 3 218 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. being — I could contain myself no longer— I forgot every thing about fame and glory. I should have welcomed a mortal combat with ardour ; I thought I could have thrown myself without fear into the melee ; but to remain here — to continue in such a situation — with such an apparition — I had not the power, it was more than I was able. Fear, vile fear, had altogether taken possession of me — it had obtained the mastery, and stifled every other senti- ment. Yes, I confess it ; I was about to fly — to bring disgrace upon myself. Already had I ad- vanced towards the gate of the church-yard, when the clock struck three, and I heard the voice of my captain, who had come to relieve me. With pain I managed to cry — " Who goes there ?" I stam- mered when I gave the watch-word, and I left him without daring to utter a word of what had hap- pened. We proceeded on our march. On returning to the quarters of the regiment I could not sleep ; the idea of the phantom pursued me. When the night had passed, the rising sun gave promise of a fine day. I quitted my bed of straw, which sleep had abandoned, and took a walk, in the hope that the refreshing air of the morning ■would chase away the burning fever which con- sumed me. Involuntarily I directed my steps to- wards the church. How shall I describe my as- tonishment, when, in the same situation, a little to the right, I again saw the unearthly phantom ! — Dumb with surprise, and motionless with terror, with my eyes fixed upon the object of my dismay, I continued to stand in the middle of the road. " Hallo ! young man, what do you stand staring there for, like a fool ? If I am not mistaken, you are the sentinel I changed guard with ; can't you read that placard ?" " What ! a placard ?" " Yes, a placard." At these words I ran towards the porch, my spectre, the object of my teiTor, the dreadful apparition for which I was about to for- feit my honour, which had made me forget fame and glory, and Marie, was a large placard of three or four feet high, which, being partly loosened from its fastenings, moved to and fro vnth every gust of wind. By an Act passed in the 1st and 2d of William IV., c. 32, it is pnacted, " that if any person, not having- the right of killing the game upon any land, nor having permission from the person having such light, shall wilfully take out of the nest, or destroy in the nest upon such land, the eggs of any bird of game, or of any swan, wild duck, teal, or wid- geon, or shall knowingly have in his house, shop, possession or controul, any such eggs so taken, every such person shall, on conviction thereof be- fore two justices of the peace, forfeit and pay for every egg so taken or destroyed, or so found in lis house, shop, possession or controul, such sun> of money, not exceeding five shillings, as to the said justices shall seem meet, together with the costs of the conviction. Wooi,. — Hog wools and every description of comb- ing wools, have had a considerable advance : they are getting extremely scarce, and are in active de- mand. The farmers, therefore, ought to act with caution in making sales. — Carlisle Patriot. ON THE TITHE BILL. TO THE EDITOR OF "THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE." Sir, — Your correspondent, Mr. Poppy, states that as the commutation bill proposes a poundage on the rent, why call it a " district rate?" To which I re- ply, that as the total rental of a given district is to be taken, and the total amount of tithe paid in the same, adding the modusses, &c., and the proportion which the total value of the tithe Ijears to the total rent is to be the rate at which tithe shall in future be paid on every farm in that district, I therefore call it " the district rate." He further says, " that all he wishes to show is, that there is no difficulty in arranging the business, if the ground of assessment is properly defined, &c." Notwithstanding Mr. Poppy's experience in tithe matters, I apprehend that he will find some difficulty in carrying this hill into execution, so as to produce a satisfactory arrangement. When he has perused it, I hope he will try its effects on four or five parishes, where the existing custom of paying tithes differ. For instance, when the tithe of the same article, and the adjustment of the same stock, differs 30 or 40 per cent, and again, when the hay tithe is in one of the parishes rectorial and in the others vicarial, &c. ; and if he would give the result in your columns, he would confer a great favour on your readers. But the greatest objection to the classing of parishes together, as ap- pears to me, is the great difference in the amount of parochial burthens paid. The case I put in my last may be an extreme one, but as it is the mode of com- mutation pointed out by the hill, it may occur ; a large district will tend, no doubt, to correct the evil in practice, still the principle is the same, which I con- sider a bad one. With your permission, Mr. Editor, I will give it a little more in detail, which will render it more intelligible, and if my views are erroneous, I hope Mr. Poppy, or some others of your readers will correct them. I will take three parishes, A. B, and C, alike in extent and quality of soil, each containing 1,000 acres, gross annual value £2,000., including rates ; gross value of the Tithe on each, £200. It is quite immate- rial what portion of this is rectorial, and what vica- rial, the effect will be the same. Parishes Amount of Rates Rates per Acre. Rental. Rates ill the Pound. Amount of Rates on the Tithe. Net va- lue of theTithe .£. s. je. s, d. ^. .£. A 250 5 1,750 2 104 29 171 B 500 10 1.500 6 8 67 133 C 730 15 1,250 12 0 120 80 Total Rent, ^4,500. Tithe at Is SJd. in the pound .£348. The New Tithe Rate will be as follows : — A Rental £l,750 at Is 8d^ in the pound, is £149. B do. 1,500 do. do. 128. C do. 1,250 do. do. 107. £4,500 Total __£384. Thus, although the total amount of Tithe paid in this district remains the same, yet we find parish A lowered from £171 to £149, and C advanced from £80 to £107, or 30 per cent ; not because the Tithe had been previously levied, either with too much ri- gour in one ])arish, and with too much leniency in the otlier, but entirely because the Parochial burthens in this district differ so widely. 1 am. Sir, Your's, &c. Glamorganshire, June 12, 1834. CYMRO. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 219 AGRICULTURAL REPORTS. OXFORDSHIRE. We have again to notice the prevalence of dry weather during the month of Rlay, having only oc- casional showers, consequently vegetation has suf- fered more or less according- to situation, nature of soil, &c. The pastures are much burnt in many places, and the cattle have been living on roast meat for some time ; notwithstanding which they have done well where a sufficient supply of water has been provided for them ; but this, in very many instances, has been attended with great expense of labour, wear and tear, &c. The wheat crop is various on cold and unpromising soils, it has seldom been seen bet- ter, the dry season having suited such land, while on the gravel and sandy loams the crop will certainly shock up thin, whatever may be, and we are aware is said (by interested persons) to the contrary. Barley varies more than wheat, some of the earliest sown bids fair to be a good crop, but this is but small in comparison of the general bulk ; another portion may be said to be a good three-parts crop, the fur- rows and cloddy parts of the land not having vege- tated, while the part that did spring is looking strong and vigorous ; the remainder, which consti- tutes nearly the whole of the thin weak land is alto- gether unpromising for an average crop. The same observations may be applied to Oats, with this dif- ference, that taken as a whole, it is inferior to bar- ley. Beans have suffered severely from the long continued drought, but we consider the showers (although but showers) that have fallen within the last week have improved them greatly ; still any- thing like an average is too much to expect. The same disappointment in the potato setts decaying has been experienced this season as was the last, and has caused a scarcity of potatoes and a corresponding ad- vance in the price, which proves a serious loss as well as inconvenience to the labouring classes. This has proved an extraordinary season for getting the turnip fallows in good plight ; where due advantage has not been taken to bring them into this state, manifests either no small degree of indolence, or want of proper means on the part of the farmers. A considerable breadth of Swedes is sown, but it is too early to form a judgment as to the future crop, but we will venture a prediction that where the land has been repeatedly and thoroughly ploughed and dressed up, but little fear need be apprehended of any formidable attack from the fly. A quantity of seeds and red clover have been put together in capital or- der, but they prove light in the swathe. Wheat has sold at a most ruinous price, but little making 6s per Winchester bushel. Butter has been selling equally low, and yet among all the nobility and gentry, pro- prietors of estates within our county, not one is found coming forward in earnest to asssist their suffering tenantry to discover the cause of the unparalleled de- pression of the markets, or devise means to remedy it. We are continually hearing of deputations from every other interest waiting on ministers to state their real or imaginary grievances, and claim relief. When do we ever hear of the landed interest doing this? — June 13. SUSSEX. Circumstances having prevented our sending you the monthly report for June, we do so now, and shall include in it not only the appearance of the crops, &c. in this county, but also that through a considerable district in which we have lately been. \ our readers must have seen the sudden rise in the price of all descriptions of corn and pulse, which have been so simultaneous and general throughout the kingdom. Those of them who reflect on the subject will know that no rise in price to any extent could take place under present circumstances, unless it were generally felt that we should really have a short sup- ply. The buyers of English corn have for the last two years found the experiment so unsuccessful, that they have given up purchasing except for immediate use. If ever there was a harvest, of which the grain, taken generally, but particularly wheat, was a fair subject for speculation, that of 1833 was precisely the one. The average weight of wheat was never lieavier, never harvested in finer condition, and so strong in quality that it was exactly calculated for keeping ; the price, also, has been below six shillings per bushel, which we will undertake to prove leaves nothing for rent on half the land of this country. But, unfortu- nately, there has been such want of confidence on the question of corn laws, and such wild ideas have been broached by persons connected witli the administra- tion, that no one would venture to speculate in it. From what we have lately seen, on a tour through several counties, we state without hesitation, that the growing crop of wheat must be much below an aver- age. Let the rain be just as much as could be wished previously, and let the weather during harvest be ever so fine, the crop must be deficient. The ears are particularly small and uneven. It is a rare sight to see a field in which nearly half the ears are not about half as high as the other, and every experienced farmer knows " an uneven top cannot prove a crop." Oats and barley have suffered much from the want of rain, and it is now too late for them to recover. Peas and tares promise very badly, and as well as oats, have risen 8s or 10s per qr. The crop of mea- dow hay must be very short ; and also that of sanfoin and clover. As to wool it is too early to say much about price. Turnips are in some cases to be seen, but unless rain soon comes must perish. We con- clude by expressing our belief that nothing but an actual scarcity of corn, for which no foreign growth can compensate, will convince many, that in the words of Burke, " it is a perilous thing to try experi- ments on the capital of a farmer." HERTS. Since our last there has taken place in the agricul- tural concerns of our country, two events, which, though small in importance, are rather of an exhila- rating nature, viz., — some advance in our corn mar- ket and some fl}^ng showers rather than rains, which have come generally at the closing of the day, and some hours had to elapse before the sun began to ab- stract them, and also there is appearance of these showers repeating their beneficial effects which the growing crops appear so much to want ; such are the state of the growing crops at this moment in our county, that an opinion of the most experienced and competent would be of small worth, though there are circumstances which would justify a favourable opi- nion, viz., generally speaking, their vivid colour, their forward state, and the knowledge by experience, that a stagnation in plants and vegetables arising from drought is by no means attended by such fatal effects, as when those ailments proceed from the over abun- dance of moisture, and to its concomitant coldness, the two great drawbacks, attendants on the climates of Great Britain and Ireland, particularly so as re- lates to the arable department of agriculture ; indeed, the arable land farmers and the arable land labourers are, and long have been, that part of tlie po[>ulation in the two kingdoms whose privations and sufterings have, and do exceed those of any other two classes of our two nations. There is an old saying that a drip- ping June will put every thing into tune. We say, 220 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. iiiuy it he so, as never were the things of these na- tions in so untunable a stale as at the present time. — June 12. BERKS. The weather has since our last changed from cold and dry to hot and dry, and the effect of it is, that the harvest is both hastened and retarded, for while the wheat is pushed forward at a most rapid rate, yet a good part of the barley is delayed and nearly stopped in its growth for want of the necessary moisture. Haymaking has commenced in good ear- nest on all hilly and clialky parts of this county, and most of the rye-grass is already cut and carried ; the sanfoin is also in full bloom, and if the weather does not change it will be all cut before tlie week is out. In the country there is seldom a more beautiful sight to be seen than the sanfoin fields when in full bloom, for the bright scarlet hue and the grateful odour are truly delightful to both the sight and smell. The crops of rye-grass and trefoil is both rather light, but that of sanfoin, where the land is fresh and is not worn out with age, is pretty fair. The clover has been injured by the frost, and is short and much of it will never be able to get into bloom ; and some of the poor and dry meadows will not pay the expenses for mowing, but good moist meadows will have a fair produce. On the whole, the hay crop will be rather a short one, but if the' fine weather should hold a fortnight longer, the hay in this part of the country will be nearly all carried and viill be uncommonly good. A few turnips, and some rape, and some Swedes have been sown, but there will be no chance of a crop until the rain commences. The turnip Hy has not hitherto been very busy ; but as the plants that are up cannot grow, we are afraid they will be devoured before they will get out of danger. It has recently become pretty much the fashion to sow spring vetches and rape together, as sheep- feed, and it has been found to answer the purpose well ; but vetches having within the last month rose from four to eight shillings per bushel, the buyers have become shy, and rape is now sown without the vetches. The winter vetches are now ready for the sheep, and keep in consequence is become very plentiful, but when they are gone there appears then but a middling prospect, and it is probable that the stock farmer will be again a little put to his sliift. The sheep trade continues firm at high prices. The crop of cherries is not a very good one, but considering the many frosty mornings there were at the time they were in bloom, there are quite as many as we expected. There is a very de- ficient crop of apples, for only a few trees of the backward sorts will produce any fruit at all. Wall- fruit and walnuts are complete failures. The wheat crop will be a great deal shorter in the straw than we expected, but we think the ear of a pretty fair length and size, and if well filled there will be no reason to complain. The oldest person can never remember the wheat so forward as at the present time, for before the month of May was ended, a good proportion of the wheat had already bursted into ear, and in a few sheltered situations it was out in full bloom, and as it is considered to be generally ready for the sickle in about six weeks after it gets out into ear, we may calculate to be busy reaping by about the middle of July, and perhaps even before that time, especially if the weather continues hot and dry, for the long days and short nights, and the Mid- summer sun will doubtless hurry on to maturity. The wheat markets continue to be abundantly sup- plied, and prices are lower than ever. The bean crop seems likely to bloom well, but it will be short in the straw, and if rain does not come before long the produce will not be great, for in a dry season the bloom generally falls off without leaving any pods. Beans have recently advanced considerably in price. The early sown oats, where the land was in good condition, and it was moist enough for them to come up, are looking exceedingly well ; but the dry wea- ther has got into the backward sown, and they cutbut a poor figure — they are also selling at higher prices. The barley crop will, we fear, be a very deficient one, for on dry ground, and where it did not work fine, a large part of the seed has malted, — that is, vegetated and then died, and there is not near stock enough on the ground ; it is true that, in a few peculiar situations the barley looks well, but in general it looks very unfavourable. The hot and scorching weather has nearly emptied all the ponds, and many are uncom- monly put to their shifts for want of water, but the weather has been most suitable for the fallows, and the land will be both fructified and cleansed in a most wonderful manner, and more particularly the strong and heavy land in the vale of White Horse. The land designed for turnips is got into most ex- cellent condition for the reception of the seed, and some considerable showers in the course of a fort- night will be much wanted. It has of late been a famous time for the gathering of the bees, and they are expected to be very rich in honey, but they have not been prolific in swarms as they seldom are when honey is plentiful. We are almost tired of com- plainiiig, as it attracts but very little notice or com- miseration, and it appears probable that nothing but a general breaking up of the farming interest will ex- cite the attention of our rulers, and that it will be too late before an}' real efforts will be made to stay the ruin ; for we state, and we state it with assured con- fidence, that many of the farmers are become so in- volved that they are afraid to complain, for fear of exciting suspicion of their poverty, and bringing their creditors upon them ; and such is their unfortunate situation, that notliing but the probability of an early harvest keeps many of them from sinking, and we shall not be surpi-ised to see half the wheat crop of some of the farmers threshed out and brought into the market for sale by ilichaelmas. The plan of al- tering the poor laws is apparently unnoticed by the majority of the farmers, and one-half of them appear not to know the meaning of the intended alteration, and make not the least inquiry on the subject, nor even make it a theme of their conversation at the market dinners, but treat the matter with a sort of silent contempt, as though it did not in the least con- cern them or their interests, although the govern- ment have over and over again declared that it is to afford a great relief ; but, alas ! many of the honest industrious farmers are gone past all relief, and so heartless and hopeless is their case, that all their ef- forts, all their aim, seem directed to present and temporary things ; how to wriggle along just at this time; and in respectto any future prospects they have scarcely in all their thoughts, but thev seem to be sunk downtoa sort of stupid apath)', andthe great and important questions of tithe and poor laws are looked upon with apparent unconcern by the great body of the fanners. One thing seems forcibly to strike us at the present time, and that is, if relief is not to be given to the able-bodied labourers, " except in workhouses," that buildings of an immense size and magnitude will be immediately required, and we cannot but think that tliey will, when erected, prove houses of idleness, instead of houses for work ; for how is it possible that employment can be found for iso large a number of persons as will probably be compelled to be inmates, except there is a good farm attached to each of these houses, and the spade bus- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 221 bandry is adopted. This seems to us an insur- mounta ble difficulty, and which cannot easily be got over. — J une 2. KENT. The long continuance of dry weather, ( for since last report we have been almost without rain) has had a very great efifect on the crops in general. Wheats on strong lands still show a very good ap- pearance, while on light and chalky very indiflFerent ; but on the whole the colour is better than a few weeks back. It is now too late for rain to make this crop have much straw tliis season, as it is fast getting in- to ear. Barley and oats are much in want of rain, and unless we have a copious suppl)'' shortly, these crops will suffer to a much greater extent than hitherto as regarding both corn and straw. Peas and beans in some situations are very much affected witli blight, while in others tliev show a promising appearance. We have of late been busy cutting and stacking of cinqfoil, the crops of which are extremely various, but very far short of the average. Clover and trefoil are also very short, and not more than half a crop. Grass has suffered so much for want of rain, that at present there is very little wortli mowing for hay, and in a number of cases where laid in for haying, the graziers have been obliged to turn in their cattle, which require a much greater extent to range in, owing to the dry weather. Beasts have not done much of late, but sheep and lambs, where they have a good run, are doing well. The hop-gardens are at present showing such a variety of appearances, that at present very little can be said as respects the crop. There is very little animation amongst wool, the graziers asking in most cases more than the sta- plers are willing to give. Potatoes are amongst the greatest sufferers for want of rain, and in numerous cases are very deficient of plant, which have rotted for want of moisture. — June 4. THF NORTH OF STAFFORDSHIRE. We had a fine time for sowing our barley in the first week of jMay, but since then, up to the present day (June 4), we have only had one single shower, and that not sufficient to lay the dust on the roads — indeed it has been unseasonably hot. Last Mondaj' the thermometer stood at 72 degrees on the north wall, and 110 degrees on the south. Many of the pastures, and some of the corn-fields, are suffering severely. The honeydew, greenfly, and white bug, are very prevalent on our fruit and forest trees. The black fly has already made its appearance in some fields of beans, but tlie wheat crops generally look very promising. The dry wea- ther has heen very favourable for clearing the land and getting in the crops of potatoes and turnips, but sliould such weather continue we shall have toomuch of a good thing. Our cows have milked very well, and tbe latter weight of cheese has mostly been sold at 503. per ISOlbs. Our flocks of sheep are in good condition, and have produced beautiful and heavy fleeces of wool, but (as is always the case about shearing time), we are told of a great drop in the price of it. We do not grumble at the low price of daily bread for the poor, but 5^d is the regular price of the quartern loaf here, and is really too low for the farmers, though it is really too high for the poor labourer who cannot get a day's work to do. Here are plenty of potatoes at a farthing per pound, and plenty of eggs at a halfpenny each. New milk has teen sold for twopence per quart, a^'id skimmed milk for a penny, from time immemorial. Beau- tiful bacon is retailed in the shops at 6d. per lb., which is lower than ever, at least within the memory of this generation. This county is very famous for excellent bacon. The breed of pigs, and art of cur- ing, surpass every thing. The beef is also most ex- cellent, though we rear no bullocks, and feed but very few. The male calves are fed for veal, and the females reared for milkers ; and when found not to milk well, they are fed for the butcher, and whatever may be said against old cow beef, or old ewe mut- ton, the female of all animals, if well fed, is the better food. I'he glass is lowering fast, the wind is in the south, and every appearance of a beautifulrain. June 4. SOMERSETSHIRE. The generally arid state of the atmosphere during the last two months is sufficiently manifest in all the growing crops. Wheat, while very short, shot into ear more than a fortnight ago in warm lands. The straw of both barley and oats is much under its usual height, and in many places is thin in conse- quence of the seed having just begun to germinate without moisture in the soil to support its future ve- getation. Beans blossomed while the haulm was nearly a foot below the customary growth at that pe- riod. These appearances, though furnishing no sure data to form an accurate opinion of the future pro- duce, are somewhat sinister. Potatoes were for the most part planted early, and in good soils heavily dunged upon the sets, and rolled down while the land was in a yielding temper, without being either wet or tenacious ; the prospect is good, but tliis is rather the exception than the rule. A great breadth has lost plant from rotting, and in some instances the whole have been ploughed up. We may, however, add, that altogether potatoes look quite as well now as they did last June ; and as they were throughout the winter and spring at a price not exceeding os 6d a bag of 160lbs., the crop, it may be inferred, was not in a great degree deficient. At this time potatoes are selling from 4s to 5s a bag. Great dissimilarity is observed in the orchards, some few having a su- perb show of apples, while the rest exhibit all grades from that to complete destitution : on the wliole we do not anticipate more than one-third of a bearing. Cider is an article always subject to great difference in prices. The manufactured kinds from a few or- chardists of celebrity fetch from eight to ten guineas, while really good cider, the pure unsophisticated juice of the apple, rich, mellow, and fine, hardly finds a sale at fifty shillings to three pounds a hhd. Ordinary sorts maybe had for thirty shillings. For the last three or four days there have been fine showers, which must be highly beneficial ; and where the ground is well covered and in high tilth, will be sufficient for the white corn crops. Many fields, both of clover and meadow hay, have been carried in prime condition. The lightness of the crops and a splendid sun have rendered this an easy work. Three fourths of an average produce of hay will be the utmost result. Millers have at lengtli begun to inquire for wheat, which may be quoted from 3d. to 6d. a bushel higher, or from 6s. 3d. to 6s. 6d., that is at the season of the year 2s. a bushel under the cost of production. Sheep shearing is now general, and the wool buyers have been visiting the farmers, wh o will not be so easily taken in, and sell their wool as was the case with most last year, for full 6d. a pound under the staplers' prices in October last. — June 13. NORFOLK. Perhaps on no former occasion have we ever had to notice a more rapid change in the fiice of the country than May has this year produced here. For two or three months, as we stated in our last, vege- tation, from the coldness and the dryness of the 222 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. weather, was almost at a stand still. May set in with refreshing and gentle showers of rain, and mild weather ; the former sterility and stunted appear- ance of vegetation disappeared, and nature put on her vernal beauties almost as quickly as if produced hy the wand of the magician. Grass and corn shot forth luxuriantl}- — the trees and liedges became at once covered with leaves, and our gardens, in a few days sent forth their beauteous varietv of flowei-s, and impregnated the air with their rich fragrance. Other soft showers and sunny days have succeeded, and so rapid has been the growth of tlie com that the wheat will burst into ear in a few days, if it has not in some places already done so. The growth of barley and oats has been equally quick. Indeed, the improvement in a week's time can hardly be accredited, unless we should have satisfied ourselves with being eye-witnesses ; and I do not know that we, in this part of the seaaon, ever saw the corn looking better than it does this year ; at present there is a fine prospect of a plentiful harvest. Hay has grown equally rapid with other things, and al- though we think we may not expect those very sur- prising crops that the summer of 1832 produced, yet there is a prospect of their being much better than they were last year. In the fen country, and on the marsh lands on the borders of Lincolnshire, the crops are likely to be very heavy. The last fortnight, which has been chiefly very warm and dry, has not much affected these lands, which, by the immense crops they threw out in the earlier part of the month are secured from tlie eflfects of a burning sun. The light lands have lately been wanting rain, and are still wanting it, so that we may not expect the swarth to be very heavy here. The barleys, too, and indeed all the corn on these lands, are wanting rain. We may instance, in particular, the light lands in the neighbourhood of Swaff ham. The bar- leys here were, a fortnight back, looking of a very excellent colour ; hut the soil is not capable of standing much drought, and they are now assuming a sickly appearance from this cause. We need hardly say that feed is become very plentiful, and the marshes, pastures, &c. that suppl)' feed in this county to so many cattle more than the farmer liim- self is able to manage, though they were not able to take in stock in April, have done so now to as large an extent as could be obtained. It is not un- worthy of notice, that, in passing through a great part of this county, as we have done very lately, there is tobe seen very few of either turnips or Swedes saved for seed, so great was the demand for them in the Spring, and we augur from this that turnip seed will be scarce and dear here this year, nor do we see how the new seed can be ready in time for sowing. This hint will be of importance to those who possess a good sample of old seed. The weather has been remarkably favourable for summer culture, especial- ly for getting out and burning the twitch, and we be- lieve the Norfolk farmers have not been slow in availing themselves of the opportunity thus present- ed of clearing their lands for turnips, the sowing of which will shortly commence. Lean neat stock are now more in demand in our markets than they have been this summer, and fat are becoming scarce, and are obtaining a better price than they have done before tliis year. Sheep are also rising both in demand and in price, and our farmers seem chiefly disposed to trust to the price which wool may obtain at Thetford Wool Fair, and not sell until then. Indeed, we have not yet seen any hut fat shearlings clipped, hoggets, and all other kinds, j^et remain in their wool. The pricewhich wool has lately obtained has given anew zest to our farmers in breeding and preserving that little valu- able and profitable animal, and we trust the esta- blishment of the West N orfolk Agricultural Society will create a disposition, where it does not already exist, to pay attention to the respective merits of the different breeds of sheep, as well as other kinds of cattle. In this we think the Norfolk farmers, as a body, are now very deficient, notwithstanding the high example that has been set them by T. W. Coke, Esq., of Holkhara. We are exceedingly glad that Norfolk has at length established an association of this kind, and we trust the advantage which it offers to the agriculturists will be properly appreciated by them, and that it will be supported with sufficient spirit by the Norfolk aristocracy. If it fail at all it will fail here, for the tenants will always be anxious to support such an institution, if it is hut counte- nanced by their landlords. There is notlung of so much importance to the agricultural interest at this moment as the alteration which is about to be made in the Poor Laws. By this alteration we were promised considerable relief by his Majesty's Ministers, and this anticipated re- lief was urged by tliem as a reason why we should not press the repeal of the Malt Tax. Glad, indeed, should we have been of some such a measure if it had made a provision for the employment of the la- bourers, and equalized the burthen of maintaining the poor. It does neither, and we dread its intro- duction. It can but saddle us with fresh expenses in building workhouses and supporting them, with an increase of crimes, and, of course, of county rates, by the severe measures that are to be intro- duced for the management of the poor, and the great and positive injustice it will inflict on populous villages, in making the place of birth alone the place of settlement. This will be ruinous, ruinous, most ruinous. We expected parochial barriers to he thrown down, instead of which, they are to be made as impregnable as Bishop Berkeley's wall of brass ; the utter ruin of populous villages mMStbe the con- sequence. Have we no friends in the Commons that will take pity on us, and oppose this most ob- noxious clause 1 GLAMORGANSHIRE. The small quantity of rain which fell in the last month, and the clear sunshiny weather we experi- enced had dried up the surface of the ground to a very considerable degree, and for this early period of the summer the weather _was occasionally very warm, the thermometer in tlie shade rising to 78. Strong fears began to be entertained for the fate of the late sown spring corn, which suffered for want of moisture, but on the 4th inst. these fears were dispelled by some refreshing rain, which has already changed the face of nature. Swath w^as getting very scarce, and grass extremely short ; mowing has par- tially commenced, hut the crop is light, except on very strong land. The fine dry weather proved ex- ceedingly favourable for stirring the turnip fallows, wdiich should be in good order if suflBciently exposed to its bountiful influence. The mangel sowai early soon vegetated, but those set late are not yet up. The early Swedes have already been attacked by the fly, which appears more numerous than usual. The potato sets have again this year failed in many situa- tions, and it has been necessary to plant the ground a second time. The practice of dividino- potatoes into very small portions proves in general false eco- nomy, and when the weather turns out dry, with a light covering of earth, they do not contain suflScient moisture to produce vegetation, and soon wither ; the opposite practice seldom fails of success. Lira- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 221: ing- is a principal operation in this county at this season of the year, and dry weather is most accept- able, as it is found to incorporate better with the soil than in wet. Out of the numerous works which treat on agriculture it is surprising that so few of them treat at all on the effects of lime, and the farmer can find no other guide than his own experience as to the best mode of applying it, the diiferent quali- ties it contains, and the effects of it on various crops, &c. The corn market continues very low, and the de- mand for stock at our late fairs has not been so good. The weather has been favourable for shearing, but we have not heard of any sales of wool. No sooner had the last year's clip got out of the growers' hands than the price advanced, and has continued steady at about 2s. per lb. all the winter, but now as the period approaches for bringing this present clip to market, according to the staple account, ao'ain recedes. — .Tune 6. PERTHSHIRE. Spring seeds were got in on a dry bed, in the month of April, but from the previous very wet state of the ground, strong lands were by the dry state of the weather, and the comparative absence of frost, exceedingly difficult to reduce to a fine surface mould, and a very irregular braird of late sown oats and barley appeared at the end of that month on such soils. Showers were frequent in the early part of May, and, as under a closed atmosphere, there was little evaporation ; although the supply of mois- ture was upon the whole scanty, yet on friable lands a braird of spring seeds was obtained, but on strong clays many fields still exhibit a very spotted ap- pearance. By the middle of May the greater part of the potatoes were planted, and from that time an easterly wind with clear sunshine has prevailed, and the growing crops begin to complain by lack of moisture at the root. Fallows have for the most part received the first sunamer stirring, a very diffi- cult operation on clays reduced to a state of mortar by the excessive rains of winter, and now baked into a sort of heat by the summer sun-heat. Turnip lands have been ploughed and cleaned, and will soon be ready for the seed. Swedes have been sown, but that excellent variety is not so much in use in many places in this county as it deserves. On light shallow lauds wheat is coming fast forward to earing, but without immediate rain the crop will not be bulky. The process of earing is general in this quarter about the 20th June ; this season it is likely to be a week earlier. On rich fallow grounds in the Carse of Gowrie, the appearance of the wheat crop is flattering. Beans and peas are much in want of rain, which for them may come too late. Oats hold out well, and with a supply of moisture might yield a full crop. Barley on strong lands Ls une- qual, and on light dry soils is much in want of rain. Last year, and this, certain fields of potatoes have rotted in the drills from some hitherto unknown cause ; few have as yet appeared above ground. Some ground near Dundee has been ploughed up for turnips where potatoes have failed. Clovers plant fairly, but without rain the crop of hay will be light. Pastures are also in want of moisture. Pears and plums in orchards have set uncommonly well ; ap- ples do not set so kindly, but even of them the crop will be moderate. Vegetation is in the state of for- wardness at this date, that is usual on the 6th June. There is now but little grain in tlie farmers' hands ; oats and barley are sought after at a little advance of price ; in the demand and price of wheat there is little alteration. Cattle maintain fair prices ; grass parks have not in general rented so high as in former years. Farmers are doing little in the way of improvement, and labourers are not regularly em- ployed.— June 1. WEST LOTHIAN. With the exception of three showers. May has been a month of determined drought, some days of it so withering as to tell materially upon the pas- tures, and has shorn them of that flushness they usually wear in the end of May. Hay has an in- different appearance, and looks to be light. Every sort of corn crop is thriving and forward for the period of the season. Though the surface of the soil is parched, there is plenty of moisture under- neath. Rarely does West Lothian suffer from drought. Grazing stock of all kinds has made great im- provement during the month. Lean beasts have been scarce, and in good demand. Fat has risen a little in price, and promises to be steady. Prices of grain are without any improvement, except Oats, which are sought after, and are a shade dearer. Wheat is a complete drug, and has every chance to continue so, unless something very untoward comes to blight the beautiful prospect there is now of another fine wheat cro[>. The quantity of unthrashed grain is much under what was on hand at this time last year ; but still there is a sufficiency to meet the new crop. Furrow draining is now becoming general in this county, and works wonders wherever it is prac- tised. Some landlords are going half the expense of such improvement, and it is well worthy their attention. It is to form a new era in Scottish agri- culture, and, if generally adopted, will altogether change the complexion of the soil. — 6th June. EAST LOTHIAN. Tlie weather this month has been very dry, with the exception of the 16th and 17tli, when a small drizzling rain fell, of some hours' continuance ; cold east winds, attended with frost, have prevailed much, yet there have been several days mild and genial, particularly from 2d to 8th inclusive, when both corn and grass made much progress, and for some time had an aspect extremely promising. The coiitinued drought, however, with frosty mornings and even- ings, and hot sun through the day, has alteied ap- pearances much, especially on light soils on a gravelly bottom, and on thin clays; and unless the crops on these soils are soon relieved by a fall of rain, a poor return must be the consequence. Several farmers have been cutting .grass for ten days past, but both it and the pastures stand much in need of a copious supply of moisture. Potatoe planting was mostly got over early in the month, and from the favourable season, their culture is increased. Un- favourable reports are given of some potatoe fields, where many of the cuts have been found in a rotten state. It is hoped, however, the extent in this situa- tion is circumscribed. The sowing of ruta baga is mostly finished, though in many instances the braird must be imperfect before a sufficiency of rain falls. The preparation for common turnips is for- ward, and sowing will commence in a few days. Fallows have in most cases got a second furrow. — May 31. ROXBURGHSHIRE. The weather during nearly the whole of May was singuliirly uniform. Tlie drought which had previ- ously set in, was interrupted with scarcely a shower, while the warmth, almost hotness, of the atmosphere, rendered it still more severe. As, however, some of the crops, as tlie winter Wheat, and those early sown, were considerably advanced, it has not been so 224 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. severely felt as might have been expected. We have at length had a most refreshing shower, which has had the happiest effects in reviving the parched soil, and rendering the appearance of vegetation of all kinds more animating and hopeful. Winter Wheat is strong and luxuriant, and continues to be full of promise. Spriug Wheat, too, looks well, and more or less so, according to the nature and quality of the soil, and the time of sowing. The same may be said of the other white crops generally, which promise an abundant harvest, should the season continue pro- pitious. Pastures of old and new grass are good, though considerably hurt and retarded by the length- ened drought ; the copious and repeated showers which have visited us will have a happy effect in their progress. The sowing of turnips is going on in fine style. The sowing of Swedes is mostly over, and the common globe sort is now being sown under favourable circumstances. In the cattle markets, prices are much the same ; and, in the corn market a slight advance has at length been experienced. The prices are almost ruinous to the growers ; the good prices of fat cattle have acted as a sort of counterpoise. — June 3. CAPvSE OF GOWRIE. Slight showers, with a cloudy atmosphere, pre- vailed throughout the first two weeks in May, and, on easy lands, Barley gave a regular braird, and now plants fair. On strong clays and stubborn soils late sown Barley has not come up regular, and the ground has still a spotted appearance. From the middle of IMay, the weather again became drj% with a warm and clear sunshine throughout the day ; and every part of the growing crop indicates lack of moisture at the root, on dry bottoms. Wheat on humid soils in good condition is luxuriant ; on open lands it is coming in the ear under unfavourable circumstances, and is at present at least a week in advance compared with an average of seasons. Early-sown Barley plants close, but begins to spindle ; and, without a supply of moisture soon, the crop will not be bulky. Oats in general cover the ground well, and would improve much by rains. Beans come in flower on stems from nine inches to a foot in length, but would yet elongate rapidly if the root were supplied with moisture. The hay crop will now, under any circumstance, be light ; and pastures are much in want of rain. Planting of potatoes commenced early in May, and a great breadth was got in during the moist weather before the middle of the month. On some places that operation is just concluded. The usual breadth is laid under that root ; but in some instances the tubers have not sprung, and the ground has in con- sequence been turned up. It is now some years since similar disappointments occurred inthe Lothians. Last year failures occurred in different places in Scotland, England, and Ireland, — nor has the cause, as yet, been satisfactorily accounted for. Where clay fallows have not got the spring furrow, that operation is now very difficult. The weather has been favourable for cleaning turnip lands, and sowing will soon commence. FIFESHIRE. For two months past the weather has been re- markably dry — so much so that a good deal of the crop has only brairded partially. Upon tlie 14th, 15th, 16th, 17 th, 18th, and 19th, there were slight partial showers, which refreshed and assisted the braird upon light soils, but were scarcely felt upon strong ground. The wheat is alone upon the ground, but much of it is light, and will be in the ear in a few days, being forced on by the drought. Peas and beans are thin, and if they do not get rain soon, must be very deficient in straw, particu- larly the beans. Oats are looking well in general. Early sown barley has a fine appearance ; but the late sown has not brairded equally, and is yellow and sickly. Potatoes have failed in the same way as they did last year, from some defect in the seed, and a number of fields have been planted a second time. This is much to be deplored, as the great bulk of our operatives depend upon potatoes as a principle article of food, and any general failure of the crop must be attended with very serious conse- quences. Were we to venture to give an opinion as to the cause of the failure, we would attribute it to the previous crop not being properly ripened : and the e)'e, not being sufficiently matured, is unable to send forth a stem, and the plant dies in the ground. Potatoes, too, in an unripe state, are very apt to heat when put together in large masses, and it is well known that the slightest fermentation will destroy their vegetating powers. We would, therefore, suggest, that potatoes that are intended to be used for seed should be well ripened, and when taken up they should always be put together in small narrow pits, and well covered with straw, and a light coat of earth ; and when they are cut for the purpose of being planted, they should be spread out thin upon a floor, and not allowed to lie above two or three days after they are cut. We think it is of advantage for potatoes to be planted as soon as cut, provided the groimd is not very dry ; but if it be very dry, they should lie cut for at least three days. In that case the inner part of the sets gets time to harden, and the juice is retained, and a strong stem is put forth ; but if they are planted as soon as cut, if the ground be dry, their juices are absorbed by the dry soil, and a feeble stem is the consequence. We make the foregoing suggestions with much defe- rence to the opinions of others ; but we are con- vinced that if they were more generally acted upon, there would be fewer failures of the potatoe crop. Hay is very thin and light, and although the clover appeared to be healthy and well planted during win- ter, a great deal has given way since April. The weather has been particularly well adapted for clean- ing fallow, potatoe, and turnip ground, and faiin work of ever)' description is in a forward state. The sowing of turnips has commenced, but there is a want of moisture to ensure a general braird. 2d June. UPPEPv, WARD OF LANARKSHIRE. Since the date of our last report, th e weather has been exceedinglj^ favourable for every pursuit of hus- bandry. We never experienced a better " Tidd" than what we got this year for getting in all the dif- ferent seeds, and, the weather continuing fresh and mild, the " Brairds" came rapidly away with a vigorous growth. In a word, all the different crops have a fine appearance, and we never saw the wheat crop look better at this season of the year ; potatoes (we believe) are all planted, on many fields they are even " brairded," in many places a large quantity are planted this year. Both artificial and pasture grasses look well. Grass sprang very early owing to the fine fresh weather, and the rains which fell during the week before last, has greatly improved both hay and pasture fields — and should we be favoured imme- diately with genial showers on the back of the great heat which we experienced last week, the bay crop will be completely secured. The old stock of both hay and corn fodder is ver}- large, many individuals have yet the greater part of last year's crop of hay on hand ; owing to the low THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 225 price of that article last year people kept up waiting the result of a -i 'w crop, but as the appearance is yet promising we can scarcely expect a rise in the price of hay. Stackyards are yet well stocked with old corn-stacks and the com crop is also promising, neither do we expect any advance in the price of meal. Farmers are busily employed in preparing their turnip-land, and the weather is very suitable for that process. Markets are nearly the same as in our last ; oatmeal is selling in the " Burgh," at from 29s to 30s a-load. Sir John Maxwell of PoUok, has at this present time two acres of rye in full ear, and in an adjoining- field nearly seventy acres of wheat of the most luxu- riant and promising appearance, — such a breadth of wheat is very seldom seen in this part of Scotland, where the farms are almost on a small scale in com- parison with other parts of the country. Sir John has for many years past carried on most extensive operations in trenching and tile draining, giving re- gular employment to eighty labourers. Last winter he finished about twelve acres and had it sown in spring with beans, partly broadcast and partly drilled at various distances, in order that a satisfactory ex- periment may be made as to the most productive me- thod of raising this esculent grain. LOUTH— IRELAND. In our last agricultural report we took leave of the farmer whilst he was busily engaged sowing oats, carting manure, and pursuing all those avocations common to the month of March. Since that period he has bid adieu to sowing for the present season, and has only to contemplate the aid his exertions are receiving from Nature ; and a joyous contemplation it must prove to him, as nothing can exceed the luxuriance of the crops in their present state. — Bar- ley, the sowing of which has not been long com- pleted, is rising rapidly over its argillaceous cover- ing, presenting a most luxurious and healthy appear- ance. Oats, notwithstanding the aridity of the season since it was sown, promises well. As for clover and grass. Nature may literally be said to groan beneath their weight. When one traverses the fertile and meandering zone which pervades nearly the entire length of this beautiful county, and in his pere- grinations witnesses the luxuriance of the crops, particularly the Wheat crop, he is led to ex- claim, " Am I not in the Goshen of Ireland — does not this surpass the Egyptian Delta ! ! 1" We shall now advert to the poor man's friend, the po- tatoe, and sorry are we to be obliged to alloy our report with an admixture of unpleasant news on this head ; the accounts from various parts of the country Btate that a failure in early sown potatoes, similar to what took place last year, is in being this season, and to an extent fully as great, but fortunately discovered in sufficient time to replace the casualty. The plant- ing and making of potatoes have been particularly late this season, and a vast quantity remains yet un- finished ; however, those early potatoes that have made their appearance look extremely well — -a very early harvest may be anticipated. In consequence of the failure of the potatoe crop, the market for that commodity has risen considerably within the last three weeks, and they are now in the various country markets about ten shillings per barrel ; this is rather unfortunate for the poor, as employment was very limited for them during the spring, so that unless the markets become cheaper — which we anticipate must soon take place — the poor will be in a miserable state of destitution during the summer. Oats, and of course oatmeal, have also risen very much. We consider the seasons have experienced a complete revolution ; the old adage, " March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb," was literally inverted this season, as in the beginning of it we had the most genial weather, whilst at its conclusion harsh and rigid weather prevailed. The showers of April, too, were superseded by exceedingly bitter arid blasts, and we are at present labouring under the scorching influence of Leo, instead of the placid mild Gemini. On the whole, from the general appearance of the country, there is much cause for gratulation, and should the crops maintain their present healthy ap- pearance, an early and abundant harvest may be anticipated. The late Earl of Buklington's Racing Stud. — The blood stock belonging to the above nobleman was put up for sale on Tuesday after- noon at Messrs. Tattersall's, and knocked down at the following prices : — The stallion Bizarre, by Orville (bought in), at 390 guineas ; Mouse, by Sir David (bought in), at 90 guineas ; Young Mouse, by Godolphin, out of Mouse (his Majesty), 135 guineas ; a colt foal by Bizarre, out of Young Mouse (his Majesty), 56 guineas ; Young Espagnolle, with a filly foal by Bizarre, 80 guineas ; Espagnolle (bought in), 130 guineas ; 3-yr old filly, by Par- tisan, out of Espagnolle (a foreigner), 30 guineas ; 3-yr old colt, by Bizarre, out of Barrosa (Mr. Gre- ville), 310 guineas : 3-yr old colt by Bizarre, out of Barrosa (bought in) 96 guineas ; 2-yr old colt, own brother to Rapid Rhone (Mr. S. Stanley), 460 gui- neas : 2 yr old filly, by Bizarre, dam by Godolphin (General Grosvenor), 42 guineas ; yearling colt, by Bizarre, out of Young Mouse (the Duke of Rich- mond), 90 guineas : yearling filly, by Partisan, out of Cat (Mr. Wigram), 22 guineas : yearling filly, by Partisan, out of Espagnolle (Sir G. Heathcote), 50 guineas. The greater part of Mr. W. Chifney's racing stock (including Rowton, Emiliana, &;c.) will be put up for sale on Monday next, at Hyde-park-corner. Surrey Stag Hounds. — Subscriptions exceed- ing l,000Z. have been oflTered towards the support of this pack for the next season ; arrangements how- ever have been made to place them under the manage- ment of the Duke of Cumberland, whereby the sub- scription will in a great measure be dispensed with. The kennel is to continue at Shirley Park, and it is intended that Summers shall hunt them. The far- mers have manifested a decidedly friendly disposition to the continuance of the hunt, and we trust every care will be taken to prevent the slightest injury to their lands. Thus the old Sanderstead harriers, after being established 160 years, are now no more, and, thanks to a few spirited individuals at Norwood, a pack of excellent stag hounds supply their place. A Man without Money. — A man without money is a body without a soul — a walking death — a spectre that frightens every one. His coun- tenance is sorrowful, and his conversation languish- ing and tedious. If he calls upon an acquaintance he never finds him at home, and if be opens his mouth to speak, he is interrupted every moment, so that he may not have a chance to finish his discourse, which it is fearful will end with his asking for money. He is avoided like a person infected with disease, and is regarded as an incumbrance to the earth. Want wakes him up in the morning, and misery accom- panies him to his bed at night. The ladies discover that he is an awkward booby — landlords believe that he lives upon air, and if he wants anything from a tradesman, ho is asked for cash before delivery. sas THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, THE ROACH. Roach is a handsome fish either in, or fresh out of the water ; it inhabits many of our deep, still rivers ; affecting, like the others of this genus, quiet waters ; it is gregarious keeping in large shoals ; it has a small head, a leather mouth, which is round, and also small, with the teeth in the throat ; large eyes, the circle of which resembles gold colour, and the iris red ; the roach is deep, but thin, and the back elevated ; the scales are large, and easily fall off; the fins are in general red, particularly whilst in perfection ; as they may also be known to be by the smoothness of the scales, which, when out of season, feel like the rough side of an oyster-shell ; the side-line bends much on the mid- dle, towards the belly, and the tail is a little forked. It is so silly a fish, that it has acquired the name of the water sheep. Many ways are recommended to catch this fish by angling, when in deep waters, near piles of bridges, flood-gates, &c. : in hot weather, a May or ant-fly is to be sunk by a little lead, within a few inches of the hook, near the sides of these posts or piles , this is to be pulled up very leisurely ; a roach will generally atteod the fly to the surface, there gaze on it for a moment, and then take it. Stern fishing, is by fixing a boat (for without, roach of any size are hardly to be caught,) to the stern of a vessel returned from a voyage, whose bottom is foul, and furnished with insects, which the fish greedily devour. The line should not exceed four feet, the float be within a foot of its top, and the rod very short; the bait to be three or four gentles, and dropt close to the ship's sides, not allowing tiie bait to swim more than eight or nine feet : begin at the first of the ebb-tide, and for two hours the roach will bite freely. — Daniel. THE CRICKET! MATCH BETWEEN YORKSHIRE AND NOHFOLK Has been far more interesting, and has excited a larger share of curiosity, not only among players, but amongst the public, than any match since the establishment of the New Ground. It commenced on Wednesday. On the side of Yorkshire were some of the finest players ; among thein Marsden, whose bat has so often placed a terrific score upon the book — Dearman, who is scarcely inferior, and Woolhouse. On the Norfolk side were Fuller Pilch, who, if there was any the least doubt before, has now established himself as the finest general player of his day, his brothers, and Mr. KnatchbuU. Both sides indeed were very first rate, and in the course of the first innings one of the Yorkshire offered to take 20 to 5 that he should name two men on his side who should score 100. T. Roberts was umpire for Norfolk. Norfolk won the toss, and went in first. Mr. T,eathes and Daplyn taking the bats, N. Pilch fol- lowed, and these three scored 51 runs — a good be- ginning. Fuller Pilch followed, and commenced a tremendous innings by his two and three hits. Nothing appeared to discompose him — nothing to make him throw away the least chance — and the coolness and judgment with which he kept his bat- ting throughout the day, were most admirable. The Norfolk innings not only lasted the whole day, but continued till between eleven and twelve on Thurs- day, when it terminated, the notches scored being 216 — Fuller Pilch making87 fromhis ownbat, which hekept at its conclusion. Yorkshire went in at twelve o'clock, but were most unfortunate, scoring only 37, Marsden was caught out the first ball by F. Pilch, who appeared to place himself exactly as if he knew in what di- rection the ball would be struck. His catch how- ever was one of the finest ever seen, Fuller had to run back some distance, and such was the force, that he toppled head over heels in making it. Wool- house got 21 runs out of the 37. It was deter- mined that the Norfolk, in spite of their immense majority, should again take their bats which they again kept throughout Thursday afternoon ; the score for the close of that evening 1l55 runs, of which Pilch claimed 73, Vvith four wickets to go doivn. At elven o'clock on Friday the game was again com- menced, and at one o'clock when our paper went to press, the Norfolk second innings had not termi- nated. The bowling was exceedingly good on both sides, and nothing but the ill-luck, which very often at- tends even the finest players of this game, could THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 227 have so reduced the Yortshire first innings, for they are very fine players. The Norfolk side is however allowed on all hands to be one of the best ever seen, and the play of Fuller Pilch is so tremendous as to render the county of Norfolk equal to any in the kingdom. The following is the score.: — NORFOLK FIRST INNINGS. Order of going in Names of Players. 6 Mr. Knatchbull . . , 7 Bird 9 Dolphin 1 Leathes 8 Wright 5 Spinks 10 W. Roberts . . 2 Daplyn 3 N. Pilch 11 W. Pilch 4 F. Pilch Wide Balls No Balls . . Byes Hoio out. ct. Marsden bd. ditto ... ct. Rawlins bd. ditto . . ct. Dearman ct. Rawlins bd. ditto . . bd. ditto . . bd. ditto . . ct. Woolhouse not out. Total. YORKSHIRE FIRST INNINGS. Mr. Woolhouse. . . . Marsden Vincent Dearman . . . . Woollen Rawlins Hattersley Wilson Deakin Hyde Shackerly . . . . Wide Balls No Balls .. Byes ...... ct. Knatchbull ct. F. PUch . . ct. Knatchbull bd. W. PUch . ct. Wright . ct. Roberts . not out ..... ct. N. Pilch. St. Roberts . ct. Dolphin . ct. Daplyn . . 216 21 0 3 2 0 4 0 2 0 2 1 2 0 0 NORFOLK SECOND INNINGS. Mr. Knatchbull . . . Bird Dolphin Leathes Wright Spinks W. Roberts . . Daplyn ...... N. PUch W. PUch F. Pilch Wide Balls No BaUs . . Byes bd. Marsden . not out bd. Marsden . ct. Dearman . not out ct. Rawlins . . hit wicket. . . . bd. Marsden. . ct. Dearman . 37 3 13 14 0 12 0 24 73 18 0 7 PEDIGREE AND PERFORMANCES OF HUMPHREY CLINKER. We were glad to see the ground so fully attended. Upwards of 1,000 persons were present each day. Among the company were — Lord and Lady Stor- mont, the Hon. F. Loftus, Sir Edmund and Miss Bacon, Mr. N. Bacon, Mrs. and the Misses Hodge, the Mayor and the Mayoress, Mr. Chute, Mr. Buck- worth, Mr. B. CaldweU, Messrs. B. W. and E. Bagge, the Hon. and Rev. Mi", and Mrs. Tumour, Mr. E. and Miss Wodehouse, Major and Mrs. Kearney, and the Officers of the Queen's Bays, Major and Mrs. Mahon, and Miss Bathurst, Mr. R. C. and Mr. J. Scarlett, Mr. Robert Harvey and Miss Harvey, Mr. and Mrs. Villebois, the Recorder and Mrs. Preston, Dr. Wright, Mr. S. Everard, Mr. E. and Miss Long (of Dunston), Mr. C. Crawshay, Mr. T. Preston, the Misses Jephson, Mr. Kelly, &c. &c. PEDIGREE. He was bred in 1822, by the late Lord Fitzwilliam, got by Comus (a son of Sorcerer, out of Houghton Lass, by Sir Peter,) out of Clinkerina, by Clinker — Pewet, by Tandem — Termagant, by Tantrum — Can- tatrice, by Sampson — Regulus, &c., &c. PERFORMANCES. Humphrey Clinker, the first time of his starting at Pontefract, on Tuesday, Sept. 6th. 1825, rode by William Clift, won a Sweepstakes of l50gs, coltsSst 31b, fillies 8st, one mile and three quarters, in which he beat Mr. Lambton's f Baroness, and the Hon. E. R. Petre's br c Lord John. 6 to 4 agst Humphrey Clinker. Won easy. — At the succeeding Doncaster Meeting, he started for the Foal Stakes, one mile and a half, but was defeated by the Hon. E. R. Petre'sb c Saladin. Even on Humphrey, who came in second, beatkig Mr. Houldsworth's His Grace, and An- drogeons. At York Spring Meeting, on Wednesday, May irth, 1826, Humphrey Clinker, 8st, rode by W. Clift, won the Constitution Stakes, one mile and a quarter, beating Mr. Whittaker's celebrated horse Lottery (the sire of Chorister, &c.,) 6 yrs, 9st lib ; Mr. Holyoake's Dauntless, 4 yrs, 8st; Lord 's Dare Devil, 4 yrs 8st ; and Mr. B. Peter's b f by Tramp, dam by Sir Peter, 4 yrs, 8st. 6 to 4 on Dauntless, 4 to 1 agst Dare Devil, 5 to 1 agst Lot- tery, and any odds agst Humphrey, who won very easy. — At York August Meeting, on Tuesday, Au- gust 8th, rode by W. Clift, and carrying 7stl2lb, he won the Knavesmire Handicap Stakes, value 100 gs, one mile and a half, beating Mr. Richardson's Brown- lock, 8st 31b, and Lord Kelburne's Purity, 7st lOlb. 6 to 4 agst Brownlock, and 7 to 4 agst Humphrey. Won by a length. — At Don- caster Meeting, Sept. 18th. rode by Clift, he won a handicap Stakes, of 75 sovs, carrying 7st lib, beating the Hon. E. R. Petre's Rothelan, 7st 91b. 3 to 1 on Humphrey Clinker. — The same day, rode by Clift, he won the Four-year-old Pro- duce Stakes value 500 sovs, four miles, beating easily Mr. Houldworth's Escape, the Hon. E. R. Petre s Saladin, and Lord Milton's Beatrice, 6 to 4 agst Hum- phrey and 3 to 1 agst Escape. — At the same Meet- ing, he was beaten for the Gold Cup, coming in only third, the Triaket being won by Sir M. Ridley's (afterwards George the Fourth's) Fleur de Lis, Mu- latto being second. At Malton Craven Meeting, on Thursday, April 5th, 1827, rode by T. Lye, Humphrey Clinker won the Craven Stakes, value 60 sovs, one mile and a quarter, beating Mr. Richardson's Brownlock j Mr. Watt's ch f by Catton, out of Altisidora, 3 yrs ; Hon. H. Butler's Dragoman ; Mr. Watson's Rough-ofi-the Needle ; and Mr. Jadis's Sillery. 6 to 4 on Brown- lock, 7 to 4 agst Humphrey Clinker, and 7 to 2 agst Mr. Watt's filly. Won very easy. — His next and last appearance was at York Spring Meeting, where he was again defeated by that supperior mare, Fleur de Lis, for the Constitution Stakes, one mile and a quarter. Upwards of fifty mares were sent to him this year. His death was occasioned by a too bountiful meal of tares. Among several others got by him are Rockingham, Slinker, Famine, and Bran. 228 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. AGRICULTURE AND THE CORN TRADE. For no inconsiderable period of our public service we employed our utmost observation in the collection and comparison of the facts con- nected with the trade in corn — till at length it was fully impressed upon our belief that the extent of the enquiry lay beyond human grasp. Pray, reader, do not suspect us of the vanity of drawing this conclusion from the efforts of our own necessarily very limited researches. We arrived at it from the utter failure of far abler men, and if under the present aspect of the cir- cumstances connected with agriculture we ven- ture to resume our speculations, it is chiefly to show how little reliance is to be placed upon the computations of those who have had the amplest opportunities for forming a correct judgment — to investigate the grounds of their mistakes, and if it be permitted to us, to draw some inferences useful to the farmer from the false premises. The price of corn is now nearly as low as it has been in England for twenty years. Agriculture has all this time enjoyed the benefits of its laws, falsely called, of protection — falsely, as the prac- tical demonstration evinces— there has for the last two years been no very important addition to the consumption of the people of England from foi'eign sources ; and lastly, the House of Com- mons still adheres to the imposition of a duty on importation. In the year 1827, Mr. Jacob made his first report to Parliament on the state of the Trade in Corn in the Northern ports. He endeavoured to prove, and had his grounds been solid he did prove, that wheat could not be imported from the Northern ports at an average much below 48s per qr. In 1828 he delivered to Government a much more extended report, and the points he laboured to establish, and (as before) seemed to establish, were — 1. That population, not only in England, but all over the Continent of Europe, is increasing in a proportion greatly exceeding the increase of sub- sistence. 2. That the stocks of corn are reduced so low, that in the event of a greatly deficient harvest, all Europe could not supply the wants of England. 3. That any very large or disproportionate in- crease of the growth of foreign corn is precluded by circumstances which render the probability so remote as to be all but impossible. Mr. Jacob went further. He entered into an elaborate calculation to show that from the harvest of 1816 to the commencement of that of 1828, the stock in hand in England consisting then (in 1816) of upwards of six millions of quarters of wheat, was reduced to nothing, or less than nothing, for that 957,029 quarters im- ported would leave less than that quantity in stock. Going back only to 1823, his figures showed that even with the Irish and Colonial im- portations, and a foreign addition of more than 300,000 quarters annually in five years, the coun- try had consumed nearly seven millions of quar- ters more than it had grown. Nothing short of famine seemed to hang over us. The last two years, both as to quantity and price, have proved the utter fallaciousness of all these statements. There has been, as we said above, no important quantity of foreign corn thrown upon the market — the supply has always more th£i,n met the demand; and the pri^e has fallen very low. At this moment tlie very best mixed wheats are offered from Konigsburgh at 25s to 26s per qr. The refutation of all Mr. Jacob's inferences is as succinct as it is complete. And it is no less worthy of remark that the reasonings of the paper in a late Edinburgh Re- view attributed to Mr. Macculloch, are equally made valueless by the same facts. The question of the greatest importance to agri- culture is then, what are the prospcts of the coming harvest .' because on no other ground can the ap- pearances of the past and present seasons be ac- counted for, than on that of a crop equal to the consumption. From all we have observed or can collect, the wheat on the heavy lands is excellent — on the light partially good, but including the product of the whole, generally deficient. The late rains have improved and are still greatly improving the crop in every kind, so that perhaps if it fall below an average it will be deficient in no very great degree. The harvest, if nothing intervene, will be particu- larly early. All the indications of the season are so throughout the calendar of Nature. The sum- mer fruits and vegetables have come to a rapid maturity, the migratory birds have assembled and left their breeding places at least three weeks before their usual time — the pheasants and partridges are in a similar state of forwardness. An early harvest tends to keep down price, and thus there seems little probability of any turn in favour of the farmer. These are not very cheering prospects, but we fear they will be borne out by consequences. The hay is fearfully deficient throughout the light land districts, from the suc- cession of two dry summers. The complaints of the landed interest are not then likely to be abated. From the redress promised to arise out of the Poor Law Amendment and Tithe Commutation Bills, we can see no important benefit. On the contrary, we firmly believe (to say nothing of the constitutional objections) that the expense and complication of the machinery will counterbalance the small advantages to be hoped from its working. Indeed in the present confused notion of its pro- visions, of which no accurate judgment can be formed till the bill be re-printed, the changes seem to be merely a change of the discretionary power. The absolute fiat for no allowance is aban- doned, from which alone was benefit to be hoped. The workhouse alternative is no longer absolute. All the remedy lies then in substituting one set of guardians (local or general) for another. But the real question — will the rates be reduced ? remains as problematical as ever. What alterations have been finally determined in respect to settlements is not yet made intelligible. The simplicity of the birth settlement is abandoned, and thus two of the greatest evils of the present system are perpetuated — the confinement of labour to a parish, and the fixture of the burdens upon densely populated parishes. In a word, the measure has broken away from almost all the principles the Commis- sioners intended to establish, be they for good or for evil, and they can scarcely recognize a single feature of their child. The country we are per- suaded will reap no benefit worth computing upon from the change, should the Lords consent to its adoption. The tenantry of the country must then place their reliance upon their own sagacity and pru- dence, for from no other quarter can they derive aid. Good landlords will this year, as heretofore, give a. partial and insufficient relief by abating THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 229 some portion of their rents — the most painful and most objectionable of all modes, because it dis- tresses the giver and lowers the receiver. We are amongst those who consider these effects to spring entirely from the inefficacy of protecting duties which buoy up the tenantry with false hopes built upon erroneous assumptions of the probable price of their commodity. But for this, tenants would have as certain grounds as the nature of things will permit, whereon to calculate in their contracts for hire, tithe, and labour. Now all is chance, and the chance always must turn against the farmer. We lament to be compelled to submit such a statement to the landed interest, but it is the result of long and calm reflection — and we submit the grounds of our judgment at the same time that we pronounce it, to the exami- nation of all those whom it concerns. — Norwich Mercury. WEATHER AND THE CROPS. The weather has been remarkably favourable for the season, during the last ten days. Heavy showers have fallen almost daily, and thunder storms have visited most districts in this county. As the tem- perature has been uniformly high, the crops have made great progress, particularly the green crops. The turnip seed has been committed to the ground under the most favourable circumstances, and a fine braird has in general followed. — -Perth Courier. The cattle sale of JMr. Bodd, at Trebartha, was numerously and respectably attended on the 10th inst., upwards of 400 gentlemen and yeomen being present, 250 of whom partook of the hospitality pro- vided by the honorable proprietor. The whole went off at good prices. There was a great competition, which caused the breeding Cattle to sell from 18 to 20 guineas each, and the fat bullocks from 54s to 58s per cwt. Mr. Rodd produced nearly the whole of his stock for the inspection of the public. It give us pleasure to state that the reports of the corn crops are favourable. The wheat is fast com- ing into ear, and the late favorable change in the weather has very much improved tlie barley. There seems every prospect of an abundant harvest, whilst that of hay may be said to have fairly commenced. We are sorry to learn that the failure of the potato crop is both general and extensive. — Newcastle Journal. Taunton. — The hop grounds at Orchard Port- man, near this town, are in a very luxuriant state, being now exempt from the fly, with which they were partially invaded ten days ago. This favourable aspect is the more remarkable from the appearance, as stated by provincial Journals, of the hop districts in Kent, Sussex, and elsewhere ; but representations of that disheartening character are of frequent ap- pearance at this season of the year. — Taunton Cou' rier, Canterbury. — The storm on Saturday se'n- night did not materially improve the plantations in this neighbourhood. It has diminished the fly, but there is an increase of lice, and no great improve- ment in the appearance of the bine. — Kent Herald. The Highlands. — The Weather. — Summer Snow. — The present month brought a change of weather : the eflects of the late drought have been greatly coun- teracted by the copious showers during the last fort- night, which have materially improved both pasture and crop fields. Thunder, accompanied with tre- mendous showers of hail, passed over several dis- tricts. On Thursday, the 12th, a thick covering of (fresh) snow lodged upon the tops of several high mountains, in the north-west part of th9 county, where deep ravines and corries of a northern expo- sure still retain more depth of winter snow than has been often seen at this advanced period of the sea- son.— Perth Courier. A most unexpected and unfavourable change in the weather has taken place in this city and its imme- diate vicinage. This morning (Wednesday) was very fine up to eight o'clock, when it became cold and lowering. About 11 o'clock it blew a perfect hurri- cane— the wind S.S.W., accompanied by rapid peals of thunder and the most vivid flashes of lightning w© beheld for some years. All day it continued to rain at intervals, and often with great severity. We understand that the weather has continued fine and unbroken within a mile of the suburbs. A more vio- lent hail storm we never witnessed than that which ushered in this sudden, and, we apprehend, injurious change. Considerable damage, we fear, must have been done to the early crops, which were very luxu- riant in the immediate neighbourhood of the city. The meadows were in need of rain, but the heavy and full blown wheat crops and the fruit trees must suflfer. — Waterford Chronicle. Maidstone. — The bines in this neighbourhood improved but little from the warm showers (though they entered two feet into the ground), and have suf- fered an increase of vermin. The thunder-storm of Saturday has killed many of the insects, but no con- sequent improvement in the bine has been yet per- ceptible. Upon the whole there has been little alter- ation since our last. — The hops in Ticehurst and Bur- wash are making considerable improvement, and we have no appearance of honey-dew to do any injury, and no increase of vermin ; and thej young grounds are, generally speaking, furnishing the poles. — Although the vermin have increased considerably in Harden and vicinity, yet the bines in the strong plantations have made considerable progress in despite of them. An appearance of honey-dew, and blackness of the leaves, has within a few days presented itself. The forward bine, and the plantations where the bine is scanty, have improved, as the warm showers have in a great measure assisted them. They are not so much infested with vermin. The lady-birds are numerous, and the negers have fortunately made their appear- ance. If the fly, however, continue, the crop even now will be greatly diminished. — In the neighbour- hood of Wateringbury, fly is as much on the increase as throughout East and West Peckham and Hadlow. In several grounds the planter is removing the origi- nal poles, and supplying their places with short ones, from a conviction of the bine not being sufficiently healthy and strong to grow on the former. — Maid- stone Gazette. Worcester, June 18. — The reports from our hop plantations do not indicate any material change. The fly appears to have diminished, but there ig much filth on the plants. In some places the plant looks vigorous and promising. Prices in our market the same as last week, and but very little doing. Some I824's sold by auction on Saturday, fetched 25s to 60s. The duty of the kingdom was down in Lon- don yesterday to 95,000Z, — Worcester Herald. Lord Huntingtower has set out 37 gardens for the labourers of Great Ponton, and we hear it is his in- tention to follow the same laudable plan upon his estates in other parishes. — Stamford Mercury. The annual show of Rams of the celebrated flock of Mr. Reynolds, of Raddon Court, I'horverton, De- Ton, took place on the 3rd inst., when sixteen of them let at 280^ 230 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. TO CORRESPONDENTS. To " W." — It is generally true that the tenant canno- dispute the landlord's title who lets him into possest sinn ; but he may dispute a collateral title ; and also show that his landlord's title has ceased by efflux of time. In the case put, we hare no doubt that the te- nant mat/ dispute the writ of elegit by showing the judgment, confessed by his own landlord, to be frau- dulent. The neglecting to insure is frequently made a condition of forfeiture of the lease on the part of the tenant. Jt is true that the receipt of rent, after the tenant's omission, if known to the landlord, is a waiver of the forfeiture up to that time ; but the subsequent negli- gence to insure is a new ground of forfeiture, and a continuing breach. " S." therefore, may now bring his ejectment. To " W." — The widow can have no claim until all debts are paid, and the account taken between the surviving partner and the deceased husband's interest in the stock in trade, which is chargeable with the money overdrawn by him during the period of the partnership ; should there be a surplus after these payments and deductions, she will then be entitled to her widow's share with her children. To " A. B."—By the 59 Geo. III. c. 12, s. 1, every member of a select vestry is required to be an occupier and householder vnthm the parish, and a non-resi- dent rate-payer or occupier cannot be legally elected. The magistrate's appointment must be by writing un- der his hand and seal. To " M." — There can be no doubt that a special licence, granted by the Archbishop of Canterbury to marry at any lime or .ilace, dispenses with the previous resi- dence required by section 10 o/4 Geo. IV. c. 76. The amount of fees required by the Archbishop's officers (exclusive of the stamp for the special license, which is 51.) does not exceed ten guineas. In the case put by "A. B." it is quite clear that the father of C. D. is not ansioerable for the goods sup- plied. The promise was to pay A. B. for what goods his son should in future take out of A. B.'s shop : this is not an original but a collateral liability, and the promise, not being in writing, is void by the Sta- tute of Frauds. An auctioneer who holds a deposit until the title of the vendor is completed, but pays it over the moment it is properly demanded, cannot be charged with interest on such deposit, although he may have made interest of the money himself. He is a mere stakeholder and nothing more. " X. X. X." is informed that his licencedoes not give him the privilege of selling his goods in a borough town, where a bye-law exists, founded upon ancient usages and charters, preventing strangers from trading therein. His case is a hard one, and ive hope the law will soon redress such grievances and monopolies. " S." or his grandmother, can, upon administering to his uncle's effects, sue the trustee for the amount of the promissory note, if a payment of interest can he proved within the last six years. Beans. Peas. Flour. REPORT OF THE CORN TRADE TN MARK LANE FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE. During- the month of June the Corn trade has sus- tained more fluctuation than for some time past, par- ticularly as refers to summer Corn. The supplies on the whole have been to a moderate extent, with the exception of Scotch Oats, the total amounts having been as follow : — Wheat. Barley. Oats, qrs. qrs. qrs. English 22,399 4,997 18,898 Scotch 319 3,687 32,432 Irish 296 2,340 31,089 Foreign 1,618 500 3,072 English . . . Scotch . . . Irish qrs, ... 5,615 ... 315 qrs. 402 80 665 sacks. 21,589 106 1,188 120 Foreign. . . . ... 482 The falling off in the supply of Wheat at the com- mencement of the month, added to the continued drought, caused the trade to rally, and as millers were out of siock, they look the better descriptions of Wheat at an advance of full 3s to 4s per qr, and secondary qualities experienced a proportionate im- j rovement. Holders also of bonded Wheat in- creased their deofiands, but as the relative value of the article abroad was much less than the demands of local holders, little business was transacted in samples in granary, though several orders were trans- mitted abroad at the prevailing low currencies. The fine refreshing rains we experienced towards the mid- dle of the month, and augmented supplies principally from Essex, Kent, Cau.bridgeshire, and Lincolnshire, rendered the market heavy, and millers exhibiting little inclination to purchase, quotations receded 2s to 3s on all descriptions, and the appearance of the trade in Mark Lane at the close of the month was depressed and languid. Bonded Wheats have par- ticipated in the decline of free Corn, and few in- quiries were made for the article either here or abroad ; though foreign as well as English V\ heat being now much below its relative value, affords a good opportunity for investment. The duty on Wheat at the beginning of the month advanced again to 39s 8d, at which prohibitory rate it still continues. The highest average for the king- dom since the 30th, has been 47s lOd, and the lowest 46s 8d. Though the inquiry for Barley has been limited to Grinding and Distilling qualities, yet the supplies proving short, and the warm weather being consi- dered disadvantageous to the growing crops, the quotations during the first fortnight of June improved 2s per qr. The rains having checked the specula- tive feeling, the business transacting has been less animated, but the shortness of the stock has pre- vented any depreciation of the article, and the cur- rencies have remained firm. Bonded Barley was held at 143 to 16s, at which rates sales were effected, and several orders were transmitted to the Baltic, specu- lators being tempted by the low prices of lis to 12s for quality weighing 52 to 531bs. The duty remains at 19s lOd, the aggregate average price being 28s 5d. The last weekly average of the Kingdom how- ever exceeded 29s. Fine qualities of Malt have been scarce, and ship qualities advanced 2s to 3s in the early part of the month, as the Country brewers in the vicinity of London came partially into the market ; since when however prices have receded Is to 2s, but Malt- sters generally hold steadily the better samples, and seem unwilling to press them for sale. The trade in Oats throughout the month has been relieved from the dull character, so long pervading the market, and which dealers and consumers as well as speculators have contributed to render extremely animated. The causes which have led to the improve- ment in the price of the article of full 30 per cent, from its minimum range, has been originally based on the deficiency of the stocks throughout the United Kingdom, and afterwards materially influenced by the dry weather, au anticipated failure in the pro- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 231 duce, tlie deficiency of natural and artificial feed, and the increased prices of Potatoes throughout Eng- land, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, occasioned by the miss that has taken place in the crops. The acknow- ledged diminution in the growth of Oats in this country, and the falling oiFin the stocks of the article in Ireland, renders it of considerable importance the ascertaining the quantity requisite to meet the con- sumption even of London, until the new produce comes freely into the market, and which cannot be calculated upon previous to the middle of October, a period of at least fifteen weeks. We find tliat dur- ing 1833 the average weekly consumption was up- wards of 18000 qrs. As however we are experiencing at present a demand from more distant districts, and the circle consequently enlarged from whence sup- plies are drawn from our market, we have little doubt that file weekly consumption will not be overrated, if calculated at frora 'J0,000 tr. 2'i;,000 qrs, and which we are authorized so far iu calculating upon from the quantity sold in Z\iark Lane within the last six weeks, which has amounted to 145,259 qrs, or u, awards ol 24,000 qrs. weekly. It is therefore extremely doubt- ful whether without foreign supplies we shall be en- abled to meet this extensive demand, when it is re- collected that the consumplioQ at tlie leading country markets is going on in an equal ratio. In the middle of the month the refreshing showers had the eifect of checking the speculative spirit, and of reducing prices Is per qr ; but the return of dry weather revived the demand, and the article regained its previous decline, and exhibiting on the whole an improvement of Is 6d to 2s per qr since the second of June. The foreign article has continued to meet a steady demand, and the prices firm. Archangel and Russian feed have realized 14s to 15s, and an extra fine parcel of Archangel, 16s. Danish quali- ties have been worth 13s to 14s. Speculators, how- ever, having sent extensive orders to Hamburg, Co- penhagen, the Danish Isles, Mecklenburg, and Hol- land, where the prices have ranged from 9s to 10s, for quality weighing from 36 to 38 lbs, and heavier feed descriptions 66 to Is 6d higher, have not shown much inclination to purchase bonded parcels in loco at a higher relative value, and are consequently awaiting the arrival of their different purchases. The average of Oats is rapidly advancing, and though the duty is at present I5s 3d, yet it is to be expected to decline at least to 9s 3d before the expiration of the season. Beans, the value of which are always proportion- ably influenced by the price of Oats, at the beginning of the month, advanced 3s to 4s per qr ; the rains, however, being deemed as highly beneficial to the crop, and the supplies increasing, depressed the arti- cle full 2s per qr, with a dull and heavy sale. Fo- reign samples have been in request at from 20s to 263. Several orders were transmitted abroad at from IBs to 24s, and many executed within this range. The inquiry, however, has now nearly subsided. Exclusive of the short stock of Peas, little doubt is entertained that the forthcoming crop has been seriously injured by the drought, and that under any favourable circumstances of weather, the yield must be very deficient. The demand has, in consequence, been extremely animated, and the quotations have been enhanced 6s to 7s per qr for white boiling qua- lities, and 43 to 5s for feeding samples. Abroad the article is scarce, and few orders have in consequence been executed. In bond it varies in value from 26s to 52s ; and fine, 34s. The duties are fast declining, and the last weekly average of the kingdom exceeded 42s. Some speculative interest has been created in Clo- verseed, but as the stock on hand is extremely small, business has been confined to a limited ex- tent at from 46s to 643, and 66s ; fine, 68s, for red qualities. White has not attracted much attention. Rapeseed has been extremely scarce, and required by the seedsmen ; good qiialities are quoted at from 361 to 42/ per lust. The currency of Linseed has sustamed lictle alteration, but the prices at present are too high to tem it crushers to purchase, and the shortness of the last year's crop in the Baltic will prevent prices from undergoing much depreciation, as the best qualities are held at 40s to 42s per qr, free on board. The foreign trade has been principally actuated by the fluctuations of our own markets, except in France, where prices have sustained little variation, though a tendency in the quotations of Barley and Oats to advance, as the crop of the latter article is reckoned beiow an average, the straw short, and much choked with weeds, and the former is a mode- rate and irresular crop, but both articles have re- ceived much benefit from the rains, which, as regards Wheat, has, it is said, come too late to nourish the ears bef ire being put forth from the stem, and too soon for the blooming of it. In many places the crop is thin, and weeds usurped the place of the grain. The last general average price of Wheat in France was 33s id per qr. In Italy the speculative spirit had been aroused owing to the drought, and Barletta and Tuscan Wheats advanced in value ; rain, however, having fallen, and the stocks being thought sufficient to meet the demand until harvest, had rendered the trade again dull, and prices de- pressed, Barletta Wheat having receded to 30s 8d for immediate delivery, and 32s 9d for delivery on the 1st of September, Tuscan white Wheat to 463 9d, and red 39s 8d. In the United States the trade both in Flour and Wheat has been dull ; prices of Flour range from 21s 4d to 223 6d per barrel. Wheat, as in quality, from 38s lOd to 42s 2d. With the exception of an increased firmness in the Oat trade, little alteration has been experienced in the upper ports of the Baltic. At Danzig holders still remaining steady iu their demands of 28s to 29s for fine high mixed Wheat of 621b3. per bushel, had prevented much business from being transacted. In the lower ports the extensive orders received from England, and the personal appearance of some of our countrymen with all the native characteristic eagerness and anxiety to purchase, traversing the districts where Oats are to be obtained, has had the eflfect of advancing the value of the article: the stocks, however, are large, and prices still remain moderate. At Copenhagen, Oats orssibs. are held at 9s 6d. In the Danish Islands they realize 93 to 9s 6d. In Holstein and Schieswick 93 6d to lOs 6d. In Jut- land 9s to 9s 6d and lOs. In Sweden the same rates. In Mecklenburg, were the stocks are more limited, 10s 6d to 12s. Barley varies in value from lis to 12s 6d per qr. New Rapeseed had been sold on delivery at 24i. to 24/. 10s per last. Wheat re- mains at from 22s to 24s. At Hamburg large sup- plies of Wheat were expected for the Upper districts of the Elbe. Fine Marks Saale, Magdeburg and Anhalt Wheats, were quoted at 24s to 26s per qr. In Prussia, Silesia, Saxony and upon the Saale, the Wheat and Rye is represented as looking beautifully. Barley also good ; Oats and Peas indififerently. Beans and Potatoes almost entirely cut oflf by the frost. In Holland extensive purchases also had been eff"ected of Oats, Brew qualities obtaining I3s 6d to l5s 6d ; thick do., I2s 6d to 13s 6d ; feed, 10s to 12s 6d. The trade however had of late been less animated. Zealand White Wheat was dull at 263 rd to 298 ; and red Rhine 28s to 29s, 232 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. CURRENCY PER IMPERIAL MEASURE. BRITISH. JuNEl. July 1. s. s. s. s. Wheat, Essex, Kent, and SuflFolk 44 to 49 White 48 "• Norfolk, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. .. 43 White, do. do 45 West Country Red 39 White,- ditto 40 Northumberland and Berwickshire Red 36 White, ditto • 43 Irish Red 35 Ditto White •>» Barley, Malting 28 Chevalier ~ Distilling 2/ Grinding 26 Malt, New 34 Ditto Norfolk pale 50 Ditto Ware 50 Peas, Hog and Grey 32 Maple 34 White Boilers 34 Beans, small 33 Harrow 31 Tiuks 30 Mazagan 2S Oats, English feed 22s Od to 24s Od Short small 23 Poland 23 Scotch, Common 23s 6d to 24s Od Berwick, &c 26 Potatoe, &c. .:, 25 Irish, Galway, &c SOs 6d to 2l3 6d DittoPotatoe 233 Od 25s Od Ditto Black 22s Od 238 Od Bran IDs 6d to 139 6d per 16 bushel. )49 45 tc 51 46 50 56 46 42 47 51 46 52 44 46 48 46 47 51 42 40 45 44 41 47 41 37 41 43 40 41 30 31 33 30 31 33 29 29 31 29 28 30 48 37 47 56 SO 56 58 62 58 35 38 40 37 39 43 38 40 48 40 34 39 37 33 38 35 32 36 33 30 36 25s Od to 27 sOd 25 26 28 26 25 29 25s Od to 26s Od 27 26 2» 26 27 29 229 6d to 24 s6d 25s Od 26 sOd 24s 6d 26s Od PRICES OF FLOUR, Per Sk. June 1. s. s. Town-made 43 to 46 Norfolk, Suffolk, Kent, and Essex 33 35 Sussex and Hampshire 33 35 Superfine 36 38 Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, and Stnckton. 32 34 Northumberland. Berwick, and Scotch. 30 34 Irish 34 36 Extra 37 — 43 to 46 34 36 34 36 37 39 33 36 31 35 35 37 38 — IMPERIAL Wheat Weekending 9th May :6th „ 23d ,, 30th ,, 6lh June. ISth ,, Aggregate. Vverage of the last 6 weeks Duties till June 25 Do, on grain from British possessions out of Europe .. . 48 7 47 11 47 2 46 8 46 10 47 10 47 6 39 8 5 0 AVERAGES Barley Oats Rye Beans 28 7 28 4 28 3 28 2 27 11 29 0 28 5 19 10 2 6 21 1 15 3 31 10 33 7 34 7 32 8 31 3 34 5 33 1 19 9 33 10 34 3 36 5 36 5 34 9 18 3 2 0 3 0| 3 o 3 0 LONDON AVERAGES, ENDING JUNE 10. qrs. .£ s. d. | qrs. jC s. d- Whifat 5952 2 12 5 Rye — 0 0 0 Barley 1690 19 10 I Beans 1490 I 17 10 Oats 23931 1 5 2 1 Peas 381 2 3 3 SMITHFIELD MARKET. Per stone of Slbs. to sink the offals. June 1. s. d. s. d. Inferior Beef 2 4 to 2 6 Do. Mutton 2 4 2 6 Middling Beef 2 3 3 0 Do. Mutton 3 4 3 6 Prime Beef 3 8 4 4 Do. Mutton 3 8 4 2 Veal 2 6 5 0 Pork 3 0 4 0 Lamb 4 6 6 0 2 2 2 4 3 0 3 6 3 4 2 4 2 8 3 10 July 1. d. 8. d. Oto2 2 0 2 2 2 10 3 2 4 0 3 10 4 0 3 8 6 0 PRICES OF HOPS IN THE BOROUGH. June 1 . July 1. ^ S, .^ S. ^ S, j£ 3 East Kent Pockets 8 s'to 10 lo' 8 StolOld Bags 7 10 9 9 7 10 9 9 Mid-Kent Pockets ,.. 77 90 7 0 9 0 Bags 6 10 7 15 7 0 8 8 BUTTER, CHEESE, AND HAMS, &c. ENGLISH BUTTER, per firkin. June 1. July 1, s. s. 8. s. Dorset 40to— 40to — Cambridge 40 — 40 — York 40 42 38 — CHEESE, per cwt. Double Gloucester 48 to 68 48 to 68 Single Ditto 44 48 44 48 Cheshire 54 74 54 74 Derby 50 60 50 60 HAMS, per cwt. Westmoreland 50 to 60 46 to 58 Cumberland • 46 48 46 56 BOROUGH AND SPITALFIELDS MARKETS. Per ton. June 1. July 1. .£ s. .£ s. .;£ 8. ^ g. Ware, York kidneys 4 5 to 5 0 4 10 to 6 10 Scotch reds 4 5 .'^0 4 10 5 10 Marsh Champions 3 15 4 10 4 0 4 15 Shaws and other whites 40 45 45 4 10 Middling York kidneys 3 15 4 10 3 10 4 10 Scotchreds 3 5 3 15 4 0 4 IS Marsh Cham iiions 2 15 3 3 3 0 3 10 Shaws and other whites 2 12 2 15 2 1 3 5 Chat Potatoes 2/ per ton. VTOOI. MARKETS. BRITISH. Per lb. July 1. Down Fleeces, Ewes and Wethers ... 15d to I6d DownTeggs 18d — 20d Half-bred Hogs 18d — 20d Welch Fleeces lOd — 12d Kent Fleeces 17d — 18d Skin Coating I7d — ISd Leicester Fleeces I5d — 16d Flannel Wool 15d — 16d Blanket ditto lid— 14d Leicester Hogs 18d — 19d Devon Fleeces lid — 14d In Yolk, Devons and Merino 9d — 14d SCOTCH. Per Stone of 24 lbs. June I. s. d. s. d, LaidHighland Wool, from. 13 0tol4 0 White Do. Do 15 0 If; 0 Laid Crossed Do 15 0 16 6 WashedDo. Do 17 6 18 6 Laid Cheviots 17 6 19 6 WashedDo 23 0 26 0 White Do July 1. s. d. s. d. 13 0 to 14 0 15 0 16 0 15 0 16 0 17 6 18 R 17 6 19 6 23 0 26 0 FOREIGN. Per lb. June 1. s. d. 8. d. Electoral Saxony Wool, from. 4 6 to C 6 1st Australian, Bohemian,! . ^ . . and German Wools J 2nd Do 2 9 3 6 Inferior Do. in Locks and Pieces 2 0 2 6 Lambs' Do 3 6 4 6 Hungary Sheep's Do 2 2 2 6 Leonesa Do 2 6 3 10 Segovia Do 2 6 3 0 Soria Do 2 0 2 9 Cacares Do 2 0 2 4 Spanish Lamb's Wool 1 6 2 9 German and Spanish cross Do. 16 2 9 Portugal Sheep's Do 1 4 2 0 Do. Lambs' Do 1 4 2 9 Australian fine crossed Do ... 3 6 5 6 Ditto Native Sheep'3 Do 1 10 2 6 Van Diomen's Land Do. Do.. 14 2 6 July 1. s. d. s, d. 4 6 to 6 6 4 0 4 4 3 10 3 0 1 10 1 4 SNTERED AT STATIONER'S HALL. Published at 19, OldBoswell Court, Temple Bar. Printed by Joseph Rogerson, 24, Norfolk-street, Strand. THE FARMER^S MAGAZINE. AUGUST, 1834. No. 4.J [Vol. 1. THE PRACTICE OF FALLOWING, EXPLAINED ON NEW SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES. By James Rennie, A. M. Professor of Zoology, King's College, London. {From the Quarterly Journal of Agriculture.) It is little to be wondered at that tbe practical far- mer, more perhaps than any otlier practical man, is in the habit of laughing at book knowledge and book theory. When I was a lad, being a great reader, I soon got through the scanty supply of amusing books within my reach, and not unfrequently had recourse to others which are seldom opened, either by the young or old. Amongst the books of the latter sort which came in my way were Lord Kames' Gentleman Farmer, Mortimer's Husbandry, and the Bath So- ciety's Transactions ; and out of these books I had the impertinence to speak with an air of authority to the Ayrshire farmers, who only laughed at me, as might have been expected, for my pains. In some things indeed, such as the levelling of the old high- crowned ridges, they allowed my books to be right ; but as a general pripciple, they disclaimed all con- fidence in book authority, inasmuch as it was for the most part opposed to their own experience, and to the traditionary practice inherited from their grand- fathers. I am sorry to say, though we are certainly making great improvements in book knowledge, and in scien- tific explanation, that the prejudices which I encoun- tered in Ayrshire between twenty and thirty years ago, and which at this moment are widely spread not only over this country, but over all Europe, are too well founded. What is commonly called the theory of agriculture, such as it is treated in pro- fessed treatises and in Enclyoprediac articles, is, with a few exceptions, a miserable tissue of absurd reasoning, the most contradictory principles, and floundering about in the dark. Some little light, however, has begun to break in upon what has so long been mysterious, and we only want a few such experiments as Polydore, Boullay, Macaire, Biot, and Girou de Buzareingues, to render the theory of agriculture as consistent at least, if not so lucid, as the well known practical results. Among our own incjuirers, Darwin, Knight, and Keith, have stood almost alone in this depart- ment ; for tliough Sir Humphrey Davy exerted his splendid talents in the investigation of the chemical principles ajiplicable to tillage, he was, there can be no doubt, far from successful, and propagated very serious errors, which his deservedly high authority in other matters tended to dilFiiye. Thesf errors of theory when unlbrtunatelv applied to practice, led, as was unavoidable, to considerable losses ; and gave practical men so deep-rooted a prejudice •against science, that it is not easy to persuade' many of them to look into a book connected with their pursuits. As tilings have hitherto stood, they are quite justified ; but if all men were to abide by the prejudices of practical farmers against the science and the theory of agriculture, improvement would be at a stand still, and no advance would be made in giving fair and good reasons for following the practice which experience tells them is the best they can adopt. Next, indeed, to the knowledge of what is best to be done in practice, is the knowledge of the reasons why one mode is better than another mode. Now, these reasons are in fact the science, and the farmer who does not know a good and satisfactory reason beyond use-and-wont or hap-hazard experience, for adopting a certain rotation of crops ; for liming one sort of soil and not liming another sort ; for plant- ing or sowing thinly rather than closely, and, in short, for all his various processes and operations, must be pronounced to know little more than half his own business. Ask any farmer prejudiced against theory, and science, and books, what has spread the red-rust over his wheat, and he will tell you with the utmost confidence that it came from a barberry bush in the hedge, though it is scientifically demonstrable that the barberry bush has no more to do with it than if it had been growing at Botany Bay. Ask him, why wide sowing produces heavier crops than close sowing, and he will tell you, it is because the plants have more room and more air— good things in their way assuredly, but only secondary to the powerful influence of the sun's light in preparing the pulp in the leaves, a principle of which the unscientific and non-reading farmer would never dream, but without which all the air and room in the world would not make the plants grow healthily for one week. Looking at the matter in this light, I think no more important object could occupy the attention of the agricultural reader, than an inquiry into the rea- sons why the chief processes in agriculture are more successful in some circumstances than in others ; for if these reasons are once discovered, and the facts con- nected with them established beyond controversy ,like many of the facts in practical chemistry and practical mechanics, then the farmer will have a sure guide in his operations, and will be as superior to the old farmer of hap-hazard experience, as tbe modern mariner with his compass is to the mariner of the olden time, who dared not advance out of sight of land for fear of losing himself in the pathless ocean. Preliminary Facts. — Before coming to the sub- jects announced at the head of this paper, I must presume the reader to be aware of the following facts, — 1st, That plants as well as animals can live and grow only when they are supplied with appropriate food, and that in due quantity ; for, all other things considered, quantity is both to animals and plants always more important than quality. 2dly, That the food of pbuitsr4fst all be dissolved in the' water or moisture of iha $ed, before it can en- ter the tips of the root fibres, where the mouths, if i may call them so, a* ; situated, and when the water of the soil is too scanty to dissolve the food, the crops must be famished ; when the water is rendered 234 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. too thick by rich manure, they must be choked or gorged ; when it contains too little of the common air or any deleterious substances, such as the am- monia of fermenting dung, they will become sickly ; and when it stagnates about the roots they will be macerated and rotted. 3dly. That the food of plants, like that of ani- mals, must, before it can aflbrd nourishment, be pro- perly digested. 4thly. That the digestion of plant food can only be effected by the sun's light falling on the leaves or other green parts : I might have said in free air, but there is little danger of agricultural crops not having free air, provided they have free exposure to the sun's light, which is quite indispensable. 5thly. That in plants as in animals, there are portions of the food taken quite indigestible, as well as portions of the body deteriorated by use, which portions are excrementitious, and are thrown out as refuse into the air around, and into the earth be- neath. 6thly. That these excrementitious matters in the case of plants injure the air and the soil in which they become diffused ; and hence it is as indis- pensible to good cultivation to have the air purified by promoting its free circulation, and the soil puri- fied by other processes, as it is to supply a sufficient quantity of appropriate food by means of manure and of moving (not stagnant) moisture. FALLOWING. A fallow, according to the description of M. De Candolle, "consists in this, — that every three or four years, a certain portion of land is left com- plete vacant, or, as it is said, at rest. This year of rest is devoted to labours more or less multiplied." By others it is more narrowly described as " the clearing of land from weeds, that the future crop, whatever may be sown on it, may pos- sess the whole energy and strength of the soil." " Be it known unto all men," says Marshall, " the main purport of fallowing is to destroy weeds.'' Sir H. Davy describes fallowing as a " very ancient practice still much employed, in which the soil is exposed to the air, and submitted to processes which are purely mechanical." Ancient the practice cer- tainly is, for it is recommended by Virgil,— " Alternate too thou shalt permit to rest The late shorn fallows and the idle mould To harden." And again, " That tilth at last rewards the greedy hind, And answers all his hopes, which twice has felt The sun and twice the frost : by this manure Harvests immense shall burst his crowded barns." Trapp's Virg. Georg. All these descriptions of fallowing, except De Candolle's, involve theoretical notions respecting its effects, which in this stage of the inquiry I wish if possible to avoid, till a clear notion be come to as to what process the term fallowing is applicable. So far as I understand the term, then, it is applied to land kept out of crop from the autumn, through the succeeding winter and summer, till autumn again ; during which time, it is ploughed more or less fre- quently, both lengthwise and across, and sometimes harrowed with the view of breaking the surface clods, and of collecting the surface weeds, particu- larly couch-grass or quickens. Efficts of Fallowing,— This, then, being under- stood to be the process of fallowing, we have now to look to the effects produced by repeatedly turning over the soil with the plough, breaking it with the harrow, and of course exposing it to the influence of the sun's light and of the passing air, from which it is unshaded by a growing crop. A great deal too little attention has been hithero paid by practical cultivators to the influence of the sun's light. In our preliminary facts, we have seen that it is the principal agent in the digestion of the food of plants ; and I have now to show chat it seems to be the principal agent in benefiting land during the process of fallowing. In bleaching linen, it is well known that no artificial process will produce the same effects, as exposure of the moistened goods to the summer sun ; and, in the case of coloured prints, the sun will frequently discharge the colours without any other apparent agency. At Shanes Castle, near Antrim, I observed several years ago, that some chin:z furniture in a room, exposed both to the direct light of the sun, and to reflected light from Loch Neagh, was rendered nearly white, though parts of the same furniture, not thus exposed, liad the colours as bright as they probably ever had been. It is also known to chemists, that, by exposing moistened horn silver (white chloride, formerly 7nuriate of silver) to the sun's liglit, it becomes blackish in two or three minutes, while it takes a long time to produce the same effect in the day- light, out of the direct rays of the sun. N umerous similar instances of the chemical effect of the sun's light might be adduced, from all which, it is fairl}^ to be inferred, that it acts by decomposing or other- wise changing the nature of the substances it acts upon. As the sun-light, then, acts upon the dark co- loured and vegetable substances diffused through unbleached linen, and causes it to disappear from the goods, in the same way it acts on the dark excre- mentitious matter (Qitrn-ter^i/ Journal of Agriculture, iv. 664), turned up to the surface in the process of summer fallowing, decomposes it, and renders the soil lighter in colour and raore wholesome in quality for the succeeding crop. This effect of the sun upon the colour of a dug up soil, may have been remarked by almost every reader, though the infe- rence probably has now been made for the first time, that this paling of the colour of the soil is in fact caused by the light decomposing the dark excre- mentitious matter thrown into the soil by previous crops, which could not otherwise, than by fallowing, be easily got rid of, as no other decomposing agent could be brought to bear so extensively on a plough- ed surface, as the sun's light. The agency of the air appears next to light to be the most important in clearing the soil of excremen- titious matter ; for, even when decomposed, this matter might remain and prove injurious, were it not raised into tlieairby evaporation, and carried away by the wind. Professor Daniell tells us, that the same surface which, in a calm state of the air, would give oft' 100 parts of moisture, would yield 125 in a moderate breeze, and 130 in a high wind ; but what is of more importance to be remarked here with regard to fal- lowing, is that, according to the experiments of Mr. Curwen, there is only a very small evaporation from an unploughed or undug surface, while, from an acre well ploughed and hairowed, no less than 950 pints of moisture (containing, of course, a portion of excrementitious matter) weie carried off into the air in the space of one hour. Indeed, it does not appear that it is in all cases re- quisite for the excrementitious matter to be decom- posed by the sun's light, inasmuch as the watery portions thereof may be evaporated without being se- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 235 parated into the gases tliat compose them ; but de- composition will be indispensable before the solid portions of the excrementitious matter can be cleared away from the soil. In the latter case, namely, where solid excremen- titious matter must be decomposed in order that it may be expelled, water or moisture will be indispen- sable in the process, for as the grass-bleacher must keep his linen wetted or moist, to insure tlie full effects of the sun's light in whitening his cloth, so must the fallowing farmer have his ploughed land somewliat moist, to insure the full effects of the sun's light in rendering the soil paler by decomposing the dark excrementitious matter. Some may here object that a dark colour is one of the best marks of a rich loamj^ soil ; but the dark colour of a soil loaded with excrementitious matter, is as totally distinct from the dark colour of a rich loam, as a black barren peat-bog is from the colour of leaf-mould. The barren peat, indeed, is much of the nature of the excrementitious matter, and those gardeners who know not how to distinguish this bar- ren peat from the sort of fertile peat soil, which is in some respects like leaf-mould, will be certain to in- jure, instead of benefiting, the American or other plants for which they may use it. Soils adapted or not adapted for Fallowing. — From these principles, then, the effects of fallowing- may be plainly and unequivocally deduced, and it may thence likewise be inferred what sorts of lands will be most benefited by the process. " It is now admitted," says Sir John Sinclair, " that on all light soils, where the turnip culture can be practised, fallows are unnecessary ; and that on strong lands, under a judicious system, they are not essentially necessary more than once in the course of a rota- tion." " However necessary," says Cleghorn, " the periodical recurrence of fallows may be on retentive clays, its warmest advocates do not recommend it on turnip soils, or on any friable loams incumbent on a porous subsoil ; nor is it in any case necessary every third year, according to the practice of some districts. On the best cultivated lands it seldom returns oftener than once in six or eight years." This doctrine agrees with the Agricultural Re- port of Mid-Lothian, where it is said, that on light dry soils it is seldom found necessary to fallow ; but heavy or wet lands are not so pliable under green crops, and although it is possible to labour them also without fallowing, yet it is found to be more profitable to have recourse from time to time to this pi'ocess, and its operation is generally more effective and lasting on such soils, so that it is seldom necessary to be repeated more than once in seven years. In the Reports of Staffordshire and Kent, we are told that fallowing for wheat on cold, wet, or strong lands, and on all such as are unfit for turnips, is absolutely necessary ; and who- ever may attempt to manage such lands without fal- lowing, will have occasion to repent his mistake. In mixed soils, indeed, it is added, too moist for tur- nips, summer fallowing becomes absolutely neces- saiy, and every attempt to crop without it for any length of time on such land, has terminated in the injury of the land, and the loss of the farmer. According to the Rev. Mr. Headrick, in the Com- munications to the Board of Agriculture, strong clays require a more frequent repetition of fallow than those soils that are dry and friable, from containing a greater proportion of sand. In those districts where excessive rains abound during summer, it is seldom convenient for tlie farmer to be encumbered with too great a portion of fallow, as is it often im- possible to get it properly wrought, before the land be turned into mire, if the finest parts of the soil be not washed away. Among practical men, therefore, it appears, that there are scarcely two opinions about the sorts of soil requiring to be fallowed, and it will be found to agree precisely with the explanation of the ef- fects of the process, that in light friable soils the excrementitious matter will readily escape by eva- poration, or where the under soil is porous, may be carried down into it by the descending moisture ; while, in stiff and heavy soils, the excrementitious matter is lodged and imprisoned in every clod turned up by the plough, and will require to be broken by the roller and the harrow, to set it free and expose it to the sun's light, and the process of evaporation. From this it will also be obvious, that it is simimer fallowing which is the efficient process, — not winter fallowing, when the sun's light lias little power, when evaporation goes on but slov/ly, and when the greater moisture over the soil holds the clods more tenaciously together, and consequently prevents the escape of the exci'ementitious matter with which they are charged. I trust that tliese principles have now been put with sufficient clearness, not to require my following thein out into more minute detail, athing which every practical man may readily do for himself, when once he understands the facts upon which the explanations I have here attempted must rest. It may be well, however, to see in what manner my principles will affect the theoretical, and in many cases principal, explanations hitherto given of the effects of fallow- ing. Previous Theories of Fallowing. — The most ancient explanations of fallowing, such as that of Virgil, refer to the repose or i-es t of the land. " Those," says Kent in his Report of Norfolk, " who talk of resting land, seem to consider it of the nature of an animal, which undoubtedly must have rest as well as food, to go through labour ; but surely this does not hold good when applied to the nature of land." " The ground," said his Majesty King George III., " like man, was never intended to be idle." Unless indeed we should fancifully endow tlie soil with nerves and muscles, whose energy might be ex- hausted by exertion, this doctrine of rest would never account in the slightest degree for the well ascertain- ed effects of fallowing. The other most prevalent theories of fallowing are , that it destroys weeds both in the root and the seed ; that it kills insects by starving them ; that it opens and pulzerizes the soil; that it gives time for the decomposition of vegetable matter left in the soil ; and that it husbands this without expending it on the nutrition of a crop. Most of these, it is obvious, are very secondary matters, and some of them so wholly imaginary, as applied to fallows, that several writers of high reputation, such as M. De Candolle and Sir H. Davy, seem to hold fallowing to be an unnecessary and uselessly expensive process. " The advantages obtained," says M. De Can- dolle, " are the moving of the soil, rendering it more favourable to vegetation, and the destruction of injurious weeds ; but it is evident that it leaves a considerable tract of land entirely vacant; that it; requires a multiplicity of labour to destroy the weeds, whose growth is more fostered than checked ; that it gives little encouragement to the culture of pasture land ; and, while it produces no sort of manure, it requires as much as unfallowed lands; and, to con- clude, in proportion as population increases, land becomes more valuable, and it is therefore desirable to make it yield, if possible, a crop every year.' True; but if M. de Candolle were to recommend feeding pigs or horses on food mixed wiUi « propor- 236 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. tion of the cleanings of the stye or the stable, he would get no practical man to try such a method of theoretical economy ; and this 1 conceive to be a case not very dissimilar to culture without fallowing, at least on retentive soi's. To use the words of Cleghorn, " all the crops, and all the modes of man- agement which have been proposed as a substitute for fallow, are well known to such men, and would iinquestionabl}' have been adopted long ago, if, upon a careful examination of the advantages and disad- vantages on both sides, a bare fallow was found to be unprofitable in a course of years." A practical cor- respondent of Sir John Sinclair goes even so far as to state, that, upon strong clays, with a retentive un- der soil, " naked fallows every fourth year can alone enable the farmer to pay a high rent,'' — a statement which I firmly believe to be correct on the principles already explained. I ma)^ be permitted now to quote, in more de- tail, the theory of Sir H. Uavy, whose errone- ous views in this as well as in other instances, have, I fear, done no little injury, particularly among scientific and gentlemen farmers, who may have regulated their practice on his high authority. We have already seen that Sir H. Davy considers the process of fallowing to be " purely mechanical." He elsewhere says, " the chemical theory of fallowing is very simple. Fallowing affords no new source of riches to the soil. It merely tends to produce an ac- cumulation of decomposing matter, which, in the common course of crops, would be employed as it is formed. And it is scarcely possible to imagine a single instance of a cultivated soil which can be sup- posed to remain fallow for a year with advantage to the farmer. Tlie only cases where this practice is beneficial, seems to be in the destruction of weeds and for cleaning foul soils, " The benefits," he goes on to say, " arising from fallowing, have been much overrated ; a summer fallow, or a clean fallow, may be sometimes necessary in lands overgrown with weeds, particularly if they are lands which cannot be pared and burnt with ad- vantage, but is certainly unprofitable as a part of the general system of husbandry. " It has been supposed by some writers, that cer- tain principles necessary to fertility are derived from the atmosphere, which are exhausted by a succession of crops, and that these are again supplied durino- the repose of the land, and the exposure of the puf verized soil to the influence of the air ; but this, in trutli, is not the case. The earths commonly found in soils cannot be continued with more oxygen ; some of them unite with azote ; and sucli of "them as are capable of attracting carbonic acid, are always satu- rated with it on those soils in which the practice of fallovving is adopted. The vague ancient opinion of the use of nitre, and of nitrous salts, in vegetation, seems to have been one of the principal speculative reasons for the defence of summer fallows. " Nitrous salts are produced during the exposure of soils containing vegetable and animal remains, and m o-,eatest abundance in hot weather ; but it is pro- bably by the combination of azote from these remains, with oxygen in the atmosphere, that the acid is form- ed, and at the expense of an elenjentwhich otlierwise would have formed ammonia, the compounds of which are much more efficacious than the nitrous com- pounds in assisting vegetation. " When weeds are buried in the soil, by their o-ra- dual decompositions they furnish a certain quanUty of soluble matter, but it may be doubted whether there is as much useful manure in the land at the end of a clean fallow, as at the time the vegetables cloathing the surface were first ploughed in, Car- bonic acid gas is formed during the whole tima by the action of the vegetable matter upon the oxygen of the air, and the greater part of it is lost to the soil in which it is formed, and dissipated in the atmosphere." The principles which I have been anxious to press upon the attention of the reader in the pre- ceding pages, will shew the vagueness and fallacy of most of these remarks, obviously derived from very partial views, and too narrow an acquaintance with practical results. The reasoning of the author, how- ever, as Hay ward well remarks, proves the possibility of staggering even truth itself by a plausible theory, when practical observation is not brought to aid the judgment ; but though Hayward perceived great de- fects in Sir II. Daw's theory, he did not himself hit on the true explanation, though he comes as near it as was perhaps possible from his not being aware of the excrementitious ejections of plants. It will be unnecessary to go into any more of the specula- tive views either of the modern or the more an- cient chemical philosophers, who, for the most part, shew only a smattering of practical know- ledge to direct them. I shall therefore direct attention now to the theoretical views of more practical writers, which are scarcely more correct than those of the closet or laboratory speculators ; and here it is that the controversy to fallow or not to fallow has raged most keenly, I might rather say virulently. The disciples of Tull and the drill sys- tem discard all fallowing as a useless loss, while others are no less positive of its being advantageous and profitable. Slarshall and Brown of Markle are two of the keenest advocates for fallowing, though not by any means for the same reasons. Marshall is of opinion, that the chief benefit of fallowing is "to destroy we ds," and its secondary benefit " to meliorate the soil." " By an eighteen months' fallow," says Mar- shall, (" by which only one j-ear's rent and taxes are sunk, and one crop nominally lost,) assiduously con- ducted through tolerable seasons, and followed by a spring crop (or no grain crop) and cultivated her- bage— the most foul, degenerate, churlish, sluggish soil, may be cleansed, pulverized, ventilated, rarified, and roused into profitable action for some length of time. By tlie help of beans and cabbages in rows, witli wide intervals, duly cultivated, strong lands, that are suitable for those crops, may afterwards be kept sufficiently clean, and in sufficient tillage, for many years ; as ten, fifteen, or twenty,* according to seasons, and the attention of the cultivator. But whenever a state of foulness or a want of tillage re- turns, he must be an ignorant or an improvident hus- bandman, and unfit to partake in the cultivation of a circumscribed territory, \i lio neglects to repeat the operation of fallowing : — not bv merely " summer fallowing," but by continuing a course of tillage, through every season of tlie year. The great and prevalent error in fallowing, is that of closing the operation when it is barely beginning to produce the required effect. The root-weeds having broken into sets, and the seeds of weeds released from their con- finement, they are left alive in the soil, to propagate their respective species, and contend with the crop to be placed in conflict with them. One ploughing towards the finishing of a fallow, may be more radi- cally efficacious in regard to tlie complete extirpation of weeds, than three or four at its commencement ; a regenerating ]iroceRs this, which, in a course of years, will do more lor the occupier, the proprietor. * This statement of .^Jarshall'; gratuitous and conjectural, is evidently quite THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 237 and the commuilfty, than all the plausible schemes of amateurs, listeners, and superficial observers, added to all the quackery of interested individuals, that has so long been poisoning the minds and debasing the practice of inexperienced occupier." Brown of Markle, on the other hand, though equally an advocate for fallowing, shov^^s most unequivocally that fallowing with the view of destroying weeds, which is Marshall's u;ain principle, is in a great measure lost labour and time ; for " more root- weeds," he justly says, " are taken oft" by one ga- thering, (hand-picking), that can be destroyed by a couple of ploughings, allowing the season to be ever so favourable ; and if hand -gathering will save one single ploughing (which cannot be stated at less than 12s. an acre), the expense is amply repaid." Here, then, is the weed theory of fallowing demo- lished by a plain calculation. ]Mr. Lawrence, the author of the " N^ew Farmer's Calender," still more strongly appeals to experience, and affinns (truly, as I believe), that he has never observed couch to be eradicated by fallowing ; a portion only being destroyed, and a sufficient quan- tity of roots left to produce a crop which will speedi- ly demand another fallow, and so on for ever. Nay, regular periodical fallows, he hesitates not to stjde the nurseries and hot-beds of couch, since on lands subject to fallowing the greatest quantity of couch is always met with. This author's remarks are the more to be trusted, that he is not a thoroughgoing disciple of Tull, and does not believe the hoe to be much more effectual in eradicating couch than fal- lowing, and recommends hoeing only after dragging and burning. It is worth remarking here, that the same author seems, like Dr. Home, not to have been far from discovering the principle of plant excre- tions, when he shrewdly says, it is singular to admit that fallowing may be superseded by turnip culture, and yet not by cabbage and beans, the appropriate crops for strong lands. Had he followed up this view, he might have arrived at the rationale of the rotation of crops, which had indeed been published by De Candolle some years before, namely, in 1805, but was probably, owing to the war, not then known in Britain. I would farther remark, that, if it be the chief benefit of a fallow to destroy w^eeds, why is not win- ter as good for this, or better, than summer 1 The seeds of animals may then, by bringing them to the surface, be killed by frost; and, still more, couch and other root-weeds may be destroyed in the same way, or carried off" by hand-picking. The answer, however, to this is, that winter fallowing produces very little efl'ect, notwithstanding the supposed theoretical influence of frost, compared with summer fallowing ; because in winter the sun's light is not powerful enough to decompose the excrementi- tious matter in the soil, and carry it off by evapora- tion. Substitutes for Fallowing. — In order to make up for the great loss of a year's rent and taxes of land under a bare fallow, those who are opposed to the practice have proposed various crops as substi- tutes; and, according to the narrow and erroneous notions entertained of the effects of fallowing in des- troying weeds and pulverizing the soil, it would ap- pear most evident that several sorts of crops might completely answer these purposes, almost any sort of crop, indeed, under TuU's drill system of husbandry. " Clover," says the Earl of Dundonald, " sainfoin, cabbages, turnips, leguminous crops, hemp, and those plants which overshadow the ground, and cause a stagnation of air, prevent thereby the putrefaction or composition of vegetable matters contained in the soil; sach crops will therefore prove more economical and beneficial to subsequent crops than the present system of fallowing." The question, however, is not one of argument, but experience and experiment ; for, as Cleghorn well remarks, " no reasons, however ingenious, for the omission of fallowing, can bring conviction to the mind of the farmer, who, in spite of all his exertions, finds, at the end of six or eight years, that his land is full of weeds, sour, and comparatively unproductive. Drilled and horse-hoed green-crops, though culti- vated with advantage on almost every soil, are pro- bably in general unprofitable as a substitute for fal- low, and, after a time, altogether inefficient. It is not because turnips, cabbages, &c. will not grow on such soils that a fallow is resorted to ; but because, taking a course of years, the value of successive crops is found to be so much greater, even though an unproductive year is interposed, as to induce a preference to fallowing. Horse-hoed crops of beans, in particular, postjjone the recurrence of fallow, but in few situations can they ever exclu.de it alto- gether. This I consider to be sound practical doctrine, unbiassed by fanciful speculation. An additional circumstance occurs to me, bearing directly on the weed theory of fallowing. Were it for the destruc- tion of weeds chiefly that fallows are resorted to, a crop of flax would be much more efficient than either turnips or any other green crop ; for 1 have uniformly remarked, both in Scotland, Ireland, and on the Con- tinent, that the ground from which a crop of flax has just been removed, is more bare and free of weeds than after any other crop. Yet I need not tell the practical reader that flax would be one of the worst possible substitutes for fallow, and unless the land were miraculous in quality, a crop of wheat sown after flax would be almost certain to fail, or at least to be a very indifferent crop. No crop as a substitute, indeed, could ever answer the same purpose as exposing the soil to the sun- light, by repeatedly turning it up with the plough and the harrow ; and even if the drilling of green- crops would do this, " the process of drilling," as Brown of Markle justly says, " cannot be executed upon clay soils with the slightest prospect of advan- tage." Mr. Brown of Cononysth, Augus-shire, even recommends fallowing upon dry soils. " One seventh," he says, " of the land of his farm is in fallow or tur- nips," but in general he only sows about ten acres of turnips, as he finds that he has much better grass when sown among wheat after fallow, than with oats after turnips ; and when broke up from pasture, the difference of the oat crop in favour of a bare fallow is also discernible." As theorists unacquainted with practice often pro- mulgate the most erroneous vievi-s, so practical men who set themselves to theorise, are exceedingly apt to stumble upon what is fanciful or wrong. Mr. Main, in his " Physiology," says, — " As to the idea that land is benefited by exposure to the sun and air, except for the purposes of desiccation and more perfect comminution, no greater error was ever con- ceived ; because it is well known that the nutritive qualities of the soil are fugitive under the action of the sun and air." Yet Mr. Main, just before this, re- commends fallowing as " absolutely necessary" to destroy weeds. What ! and thereby send all tlie nutritive parts of the soil into tlie air ! If I have not much deceived myself, then, tlie principles which I have above advocated are fully borne out by the best ascertained practical results, and this, so far as I know, cannot be said of any theory of fallowing hitherto proposed. 238 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ON THE QUESTION—WHO OUGHT TO EM- PLOY THE SUPERFLUOUS LABOURERS? &c. Sir — I have to express my regret that neither yourself nor your correspondents offer any reasons for or against my proposal, that those who must receive all the ultimate profits of the labour of su- perfluous hands, shall pay for it in the first in- stance. In the present letter I shall, therefore, chiefly confine myself to a few extracts from pub- lic writers, in addition to those I have before quoted from The Quarterly Review, which tend to confirm the principles I have laid down, as to the necessity of transferring the burden of the surplus labourers from the occupiers to the oivners of land, &LC. &c. The following extract is taken from the last number of The Edinburgh Revieiv, p. 224, the most material parts being put in italics : — " All the best authorities on the subject of Poor Laws of England, however they may differ in other particulars, seem to concur in one principle, that to the support of the able-bodied poor li/ thepa?'ish, are traceable many of the greatest evils and most formidable dangers which now affect or menace the social system of Great Britain. ' Mr. Sturges Bourne and Sir J. Scarlett state their opinions that an order for relief, which does not state that the party is ' impotent,' as well as ' poor,' is invalid. But, whatever may be the law of the case, there seems scarcely any difference of opinion with re- spect to the (bad) effects of the system." In pages 253-4, the Reviewers say — " Among the principal causes of the failure of the potato crop, is to be found the miserable state of culture on estates which arc subset and neglected. Where a system of good agriculture has been introduced, where early cultivation takes place, where farms are of sufficient size, and the use of lime and other mineral manures is encouraged, and above all, where all substantial repairs and improvements are car- ried on by the landlord, or by him in conjunction with his tenant, — the failure of the crop is ren- dered less probable." Again, in page 260, after allowing that the impotent Irish poor should be relieved, and the young educated, the Reviewer adds, " Local taxes, levied on the oivners of land, may be safely raised for these wise and useful purposes. Such contributions may safely be made compulsory. Farther, we are of opinion that, in order to meet the necessities of some districts, an enlarged system of emigration should be organized by the state, but supported at the expense of the landlords, xvhose property will be relieved. We also think, from the evidence laid before Parliament by the Commissioners of Public Works, that the system already so advantageously introduced un- der the Act of ] & 2 William IV., may be carried much farther. Works of great and acknowledged ■utility, not only furnishing employment for a sea- son, but developing and extending the future de- mand for labour, may be carried on at the expense of the districts benefited." In the 108th No. of The Edinburgh Review, (on Game Laws) it is said " Somehow or other the English Parliament does not usually appear to ad- vantage in its legislation between landlord atid tenant. We are not therefore surpi-isedto see that it grasps at too much, and grasps too coarsely in the present instance." " As a question of policy it is most desirable that the landlord should let the tenant into a kind of 'partnership in the game, in order to iden- tify the interest of Landlord and tenant on tiiis, as on every subject connected luiih the management of the farms" p. 309. The following extract is from BeWs Cmmtry and Parish Lawyer, August 27, 18.33 : — " There are many other inconveniences to which tenants are liable, but landlords have been legislators, and not tenants, and therefore the former class have too often undue advantages given them. True, the landlords of England are generally on good terms with their tenants, but we hope to live to see the time when the rights and necessities of the tenantry of the country will be more impartially considered." In the Lord's Committee on Poor Laws, 1830, p. 278, Earl Stanhope said that " according to the principles of Justice all persons should contribute to the support of the poor, accordi7ig to their mea^is." In the same committee a question was asked res- pecting " raising money for draining on entailed estates, the effect of which, though certainly bene- ficial, is still of distant and prospective issue." In Tail's Magazine, April 1833, p. 136, it is said, " A great change is seen in Scotland. Improvements of all kinds are discontinued, hedges uncut, ditches uncleared, the use of lime almost discontinued," In the July number of the same year it is said " On the whole the prospects of the agriculturists are extremely gloomy, aiul many of them seern to have given tip all hopes of ever realizing the large sums they have expended on the improvement of the soil. In the Old Farmers' Journal No. 1220, it is said " Lord Cavendish has determined to considerably reduce his rent (in Dorsetshire,) and his lordship has actually employed all the labourers who were out of ivork (at Long Sutton) in trenching and im- proving the lands, not allowing the tenants to ad- vance one farthing for payment of the same." I have a note of Sir Henry Biinbury allowing 5s an acre for similar purposes at Freshing-field, Suf- folk : — The Duke of Portland draining his land, in Ayrshire, with tiles at his own expense. A Surrey landlord, who says, " as a landlord for the last 30 years, I have allowed four years rent for under- draining, and six and eight for chalking, and mail- ing : several other landlords have followed my example." The Old Farmers' Journal afi'ords several other confirmations of the opinion I have advanced ; such as the Duke of Portland repaying to his tenants the sums they were amerced for the destruction of Nottingham Castle — others paying the church and highway- rates, and two-thirds of an emigration rate for their tenants. Lord Egre- mont pays the whole expense of emigration. In building the County Gaol in Kent, the landowners paid half the expense ; in Norfolk, Mr. S. Postle successfully exerted his influence, as a magistrate, to cast two-thirds of the expense on thclandowncrs ; and he expressed his ojjinion that the county i-ates, &c. ought to be entirely paid by the owners instead of the occupiers. Matiy of the above ex- tracts will be allowed to be expressive of a liberal feeling towards the teuiintry, labouring under various burdens, the unjust and oppressive nature of which must be obvious to every one who is not blinded by an imaginary, rather than real, self-in- terest. No trace however of these liberal feelings (so far as I can see), ai)pears in the proposed New Poor Law Bill. It seems to be tal:eu for gi-aiited, (what never has been, nor I think ever can be proved) that it is the tenant's duty to employ all who ask for employment — to clear away incum- brances from thu e-itate of another, by paying for emigration — and to hiiil:! lar:.;e workhouses, of which not a brick nor a stone is ever to be his own ! The able-bodied poor arc slill to be supjjorted by the parishes, though as tin- Edinburgh Review says, " many of our greatest evils atid formidable dangers" THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, 239 are to be traced to that source. Although every order for relief to the able-bodied ' is invalid,' (and the tenantry have by this invalid means been fleeced of millions after millions of their property) the burden, though perhajjs somewhat lightened, is still to remain on the occupiers, notwithstanding the most palpable prooJ', of twenty years' duration, that surplus men cannot and otcyht not to be em- ployed by tenants at will, under the present laws of the landlord and tenant ! I allow, however, that the coercion of the workhouse forms the only pro- per discipline for the idle and profligate, who will neither seek for work, nor perform it when found. But it is obvious that a great majority of unem- ployed labourers— amounting in many places to from thirtj' to eighty or one hundred— cannot be treated as criminals. If they are now, many of them, idle or profligate, it is the mischievous prac- tice of sending them for work to the occupiers, in- stead of the oi{>?zer5 of land, and that alone, which has made them so. The wr'ter of this is now paying one-third for indolence, two-thirds for actual labour. In such a case an oivner having a surplus man rated to him, would look round, and perhaps find some shallow, useless pits or ponds which might be levelled, drained, and cultivated at an expense of os a pole, or 40/. an acre. This, it will be seen, is actually buying the ground, and perhaps for more than it is worth ; but any landlord would do it sooner than pay a man for doing nothing, which the tenants are now ybrced! to do, because the landed interest, both as indivi- duals and legislators, absolutely refuse to allow any legal compensation for such expenditure, which never can be refunded to the tenant, though it improves the estates for centuries to come. The proposed new Poor Law enacts that such a man — the tenant refusing him work, and the legislators refusing compensation, shall be shut up and separated from his family, in the work- house, as a pauj er criminal ! I am much mistaken if future ages at least, if not the present, do not affirm that the real and only criminal, in such a case, would be the legislature itself! In the win- ter season, draining and marling are, to a certain degree, in the same predicament. The tenant cannot, under the present laws, per- form such works — the landlord will not — the legis- lature casts the burden on the partjj who wants the power instead of that which merely loants the will, and the pauper consequently eats the bread of idle- ness— bread snatched, as it were from the mouths of the tenant and his family, and all to uphold a perverse system of arbiti'ary power over the pro- perty of the tenantry, on which I think future ages, (if even mutual justice should prevail between land- lord and tenant) must look back with disgust and astonishment '. Mr. G. W. Hall, in the Old Partners'' Journal, No. 1196, p. 257, in a letter to Mr. Brougham, now Lord Chancellor, says, '■ employment for its people is a sacred duty, which every government should hold it imperative to regard." When !h(; new Poor Law Bill comes before Lord Brougham, and the rest of the Nob!e Peers, the farmers would do well to petition their Lordships to take the ell'ective employment of the poor into consideration, and above all things, never to ex- pect to get their estates impioved by a labour-rate laid on the tenants instead of the landlords. I remain Sir, yours &c., The Author of the Rights of the Farmer. June 20, 1834. FAILURE IN THE POTATOE SETS. to thk editor of thk Manchester guardian. Sir,— From an article in your last Guardian it ap- pears that this year's crop of potatoes is likely to be defective from similar causes to those that injured the crop ol' the past year. You will probably recollect my sending you a few lines on this subject last sum- mer, wherein I stated it as my opinion that the cause was consequent on using defective sets. To my know- ledge, the letter I allude to has never yet been an- swered ; and if you allow me room, I will take this opportunity of stating my views on the cause of the origin of the disease; and then proceed to point out a remedy, which I believe will obviate it for a consi- derable "length of time. That potatoes of every de- scription degenerate or run out is a fact well known to many practical farmers. I am informed that few of the sorts that are in use now were cultivated twenty-five years ago ; it is not the case with potatoes only, but with many other useful vegetables. The pink- eyed potatoe has been cultivated for a longer time and more extensively than any other sort now in use ; and for plain reasons— no other sort has been equally pro- ductive, quantity and quality considered. In this and the adjoining county perhaps hundreds of acres of the same land has been planted every three or four years. I believe for the last twenty. The conse- quence is that much of the land that is now cultivated with this root is deprived of that principle which is necessary to produce it in an improved, or retain it in its original state. It may be objected to these views that individuals have sown their crops on land that has been lately broke up from old turf; yet their crops have been equally deficient. To this I would answer by asking a question — Are you aware how your sets were grown ? and, if I may use the term, did you know your seed's grandmother and great grandmother 1 The mischief may for years have been accumulating. That this valuable root has been injured by planting the same soil too often I have no doubt ; but we have also sufficient evidence to convince us of the necessity of more extensively raising new varieties from seed. The justly cele- brated agriculturist, Arthur Young, Esq., states that in his time, the oxnoble potatoe was the most pro- ductive ; but, he adds, " I have known it decline of late." It may be argued, that as the pink-eye is of a fine sort, we ought to use some efforts to preserve it. In order to effect this, I would suggest that it be sown in a soil newly broken up from old turf, and for several years successively — on no account plant them on land that has grown this root for many years before. That luminary in agricultural science. Sir H. Davy, when writing on the tendency to dege- nerate in the apple tree, remarks, " The decay of the best varieties of our fruit bearing trees, which have been distributed through the country by grafts is a circumstance of great importance. There is no mode of preserving them, and no recourse except that of raising new varieties by seeds." As plants are cap- able of amelioration by peculiar methods of cultiva- tion, and of having the natural term of their duration extended, so in conformity to the general law of change they are rendered unhealthy by being exposed to peculiarly unfavourable circumstances, and liable to premature old age and decay. Thomas Andrew Kniglit, Esq. has shewn by his researches the import- ance of raising new varietits of wheat, which is easily effected, merely by sowing different kinds together. He states in the Philosophical Transactions for 1799, in the years 1793 and 1796, when almost the whole crop of corn in the island was blighted, the varieties obtained by crossing alone escaped, though sown in 240 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. several soils and in diflferent situations. It is to be regretted that the sciences connected with agricul- ture are not more ardently pursued. The practical man has some excuse ; his duties require the exer- tion of his physical powers, consequently his mind to a certain degree is unfit for studies of a higher nature. But many owners of large tracts of land, and gentlemen occupying their own estates, may justly be charged with neglect in a matter which not only concerns them in a pecuniary point of view, but which is of a moral and intellectual consideration. I am, sir, A Constant Reader, and Practical Agriculturist. Near Oldham, May 28th, 1834. The Potatoe Crop. — We regret to say that the intelligence from all the southern counties of Scotland and tlie North of England, describe the failure of the crop to be very general, from the rotting of the sets in the ground. We have in consequence compared the various accounts which have appeared on tlie subject, and the result is, we think and are happy to state, sufficiently conclusive as to the remedy for this alarming failure. Among other singular circum- stances which have accompanied this defalcation in the crop, it has been remarked, in many instances, that although the potatoes flowered as usual, yet they bore no "plums" or "apples" — as the small balls which succeed the flowers are called. Early setting has, in many cases, been found to prevent this decay of the sets ; but the expedient to which we allude as conclusive, is that of planting whole potatoes instead of cutting them into several sets. The increase of the expense, too, is generally more than compensated by increased produce, which, in many instances, has been found to be very considerable. It is not neces- sary to use large potatoes for sets. Those of a middle size, or a little less, combine economy with safety of plant; but to set the very smallest is not advisable from their want of maturity, of vigour of vegetation, and, consequently, of adequate nourish- ment to the plant. That setting whole potatoes is a cure for the cause of the failure which has taken place during the last two years, is confirmed — inde- pendently of the fact that crops grown from such sets have entirely escaped — by the observations of the Editor of the Elgin Courier, which are described in his paper of yesterday. He states that, having examined with a magnifying glass, some plants which had the appearance of being diseased, he perceived, on the cut side of the sets, a number of very active insects of a transparent white colour, and of nearly the size of wood lice. They had created a blackness in the heart of the potatoe sets, into which they had eaten cavities, and were to be seen making their way with two feelers which were in rapid and continual motion. They had invariably entered the potatoe from the cut side ; and not a single set formed of a whole potatoe was found attacked by them, nor was any plant grown from such a set diseased or in any way injured. — Aberdeen Herald. PLOUGHMEN'S UNIONS. (Fror?i the Perth Courier.^ The pernicious example of certain of the working classes in the manufacturing towns has spread into the country, where, we understand, under the insti- gation of the leaders of the town-unions, who, of course, represent all sorts of operatives as interested in dictating terms to their masters, associations of the ploughmen have been formed in various districts, by which, those becoming members bind themselves | to serve no farmer but on terms which have been previously agreed on by the general body. This is one, and not the least to be lamented, of the conse- quences of the late introduction of the demon of politics into the countiy districts. Hitherto, if the country labourer has been somewhat behind the town operative in his acquaintance with the political events and characters of the day, he has also been a stranger to most of the evils and hardships attendant on a life passed in the confinement of a weaving shop, or the baneful atmosphere of a manufactory. If the former has not known much of tbe seasons of prosperity and high wages which the latter has occasionallv enjoyed, he has also known nothhtg of that extreme destitution which those dependent on the fluctuations of a manu- facturing life have of late years so frequently expe- rienced. The relative situations, too, of the farmer and his servants are necessarily very different from those of a master manufacturer and his worKmen ; and the connection by which the former are neces- sarily bound to each other in the daily intercourse of those forming a small and comparatively isolated establishment — has little or nothing in common with the more uncertain and reserved communication, existing betwixt the head and the many Imndred ser- vants of a commercial establishment. All these favour- able circumstances, however, and many more which distinguish the life of a country labourer or farm ser- vant from that of a town artisan, are forgotten while listening to the evil counsel, which, with the osten- sible object of obtaining some reduction in the extent of a day's labour, is in reality urged upon the country people with the view of assisting the operation of that principle of combination which factious and de- signing men are so anxiously endeavouring to extend. How little real grievance the country unionists have to complain of, may be gathered from the resolutions passed lately at a general meeting of the Farm Ser- vants in the parish of Forteviot, which we here in- sert:— 1st. In the winter season to rise at sky and drop at sky. 2d. In the summer season to rise at 5 o'clock, and work till six in the evening, with the exception of two hours in the middle of the day. 3d. ^Vages to vary from 11/. to 14Z., according to the experience of the workman, with meal and milk as formerly. 4th. Horses to be suppered at 8 o'clock, from the 3d Friday of October till 1st March, and in the sum- mer season, when they come from the yoke. No one at all acquainted with the present regula- tions as to farm labour, but knows that these vary on different farms, and that the practice on each can be ascertained before a servant engages himself. Still, however, none can read the preceding rules of tlie " Forteviot Ploughmen's Union," without being satis- fied that their grievances must be of the smallest class indeed ; and for the remedy of which combmation, particularly under present circumstances, was the last resource which should have been thought of. The landlords and farmers have met this spirit in the only wa}' in which it ought to be met, and by which alone we believe it can be i)ut down. They have formed no counter combination, but whenever they were aware that any in their service had connected themselves with these Unions, immediate intimation was given that they should quit at next term ; and in no case will they re-engage or recommend any servant who has so attached himself. We hope the deluded people will see, while it is yet time, the error into which they have been led ; and reflect that it is much better to trust to the kindly consideration of those, who naturally are interested in seeing them happy THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 241 and contented, than to those evil advisers whose counsel must eventually lead to destitution and ruin. ADJUSTMENT OF RENTS. Farther illustration of adjusting rents, whether they be money or grain, by the compound ratio, and at the expiry of every seven years : — Years. Av. Price. Years. Av. Price. First Seven. s. d. Second Seven, s. u. 1812 l'^'2 8 1827 68 9 1813 106 6 1823 60 5 1814 72 1 1829 60 3 1815 63 8 1830 64 3 1816 76 2 1831 66 4 1817 94 0 1832 h\i 8 1818 83 8 1833 53 1 Divide by 7J^;19 9 Divide by 7)438 9 88s. 6d. 62s. 8d. Then suppose a faini, extending to 184 acres, taken in the year IS 1 9, on a calculation of the jjrices of wheat during the seven years imiiiedialely preceding, and to have been fixed either a grain rent, 181 quar- ters wheat, or a inrnev rejit, 8141., it is desired to adjust the said grain or money rent in tlie year 1834, on a calculation of the prices of wlipat during the last seven vears immediately preceding 1834. Mode of adjusting by the compound ratio : 184 quarters at 88s. 6d. equal 260 quarters at 62s. 8d., and both equal Q141. ; Then as 260 quarters'^ are to 814/, so are 184 V maximum of grain rent, quarters to 5761. J Again as 814/. to 184^ quarters, so 5761. to 130 y grain for next seven years, quarters. J . Hence as 184 quarters^ £ i ,. r ,. to 576/., so 130 quarters \ ^''^'^ "'^'^•'^ ^"""^ ^""^ °"^' to 407/. J seven years. Now we shnll suppose that agriculture flourishes during the ensuing seven years, and that the prices of wlieat shall average, as they did the seven years end- ing with 1818, 88s. 6d. per quarter, and that in the year 1840 it shall be requisite to adjust the grain or monej' rent formerly calculated to correspond with low prices, and then to be calculated to corres- pond with high prices. 130 quarters at 62s. 8d., 92 quarters at 88s 6d., and both equal 407/. Then at 92 quarters to 407/., so 130 quarters to 576/.; and as 407/. to 130 quarters, so 576/. to 184 quarters, grain rent. Again, as 130 quarters to 576/., so 184 quarters to 814/., money rent. When a grain rent is agreed upon, as it is absolutely necessary to Lave a maximum beyond which it cannot rise, al- though there ought never to be a minimum beyond which it could fall, the most accurate mode of fixing the maximum is by still adhering to the extension of the compound ratio, viz. as 130 quarters to 814/., so 184 to 1152/., the maximum of grain rent. — Fifeshire Journal. MR. BLACKER'S ESSAY ON THE MANAGEMENT OF LANDED PRO- PERTY IN IRELAND. [^From the Belfast NewS'Letter.l No. II. In the last number of the News- Letter we directed the attention of our readers to Mr. Slacker's admirable Essay, from which we gave a copious extract, explanatory of the system which he has pursued, with the liappiest eftects, chiefly on the estate of Col. Close, of which he is agent. We now resume the subject, by selecting a number of other passages from the Essay in question, which are equally deserving of general notice. After enumerating a series of difficulties arising' from the prejudices of the tenantry themselves, but which, by judicious management on the part of the land agent, may be easily removed, Mr. Blacker gives the following outline of the system of im- provement to be subsequently introduced, which outline may be advantageously taken in connexion with the extract formerly given. He says — - " Supposing an extensive estate to have recently fallen out of lease, (under which circumstances alone such a consolidation as I have recommended would be at all practicable,) and that such a divi- sion had been actually made, by which it may very generally happen, that two-thirds of the farms will be found not to exceed five to eight acres, it may be asked, how can these tenants live upon such small portions, and still more, how can they pay rent ?* I answer without hesitation, they can live * I am firmlv persuaded, that the small farmer who holds liis own plough or digs his own ground, if he follows a proper rotation of crops and feeds his cattle in the house, can undersell the large farmer, or in other^words, can pay a rent which the other can- not afford ; and in this I am confirmed by the opinion of many practical men who have well considered the subject, and I think it will not appear extraordinary, that such should be the case, to any one who reflects that the English farmer of 700 or 800 acres, is a kind of man approaching to what is known by the name of a gentleman farmer in this country. He must have his horse to ride, and his gig, and perhaps an over- seer to attend to his labourers ; he certainly cannot superintend himself the labour going on in a farm of 800 acres. Add to this, he must appear himself, and have his family also to appear, in a superior rank, and his farm must not only enable hira to pay his rent and yield him tlie support he re- quires, but it must also be chargeable with the in- terest of the large capital which is necessary to its cultivation ; besides all these drawbacks, which the small farmer knows little about, there is the great expense of carting out the manure from the homestead to such a distance, and again carting home the crop. A single horse will consume the produce of moi-e land than would feed a small farmer and his wife, and two children ; and what is more than all, the large fanner says to his labourers, go to your work, but when the small farmer has occasion to hire them, he says come ; the intelligent reader will, I dare say, understand the difference perfectly. Now if it is really the case that the small farmer has the advantage over the larger, it will be easily accounting for what Mr. Paulet Scrope observes, in his letter to the agriculturists of the west of England, of the Irish farmers being able to undersell the Enghsh in their own markets, because the Irish farmers are, generally speaking, small farmers, and the English are large farmers. Mr. Scrope accounts for the fact which he asserts, of the Irish being able to sell their grain at such low prices, by stating, that they are free from the burden oi poor rates, and the taies which press on the English ; but he upsets his own argument by afterwards saying, that the Irish farmer is obliged to pay to his landlord all that he saves from the overseer. Now if the money goes out of the farmer's pocket, any one may see that it must be matter of indifference whom he pays it to, and if he must give it to the Lmdlord, he is not hereby at all better off than the English farmer who t 242 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. comfortably, and pay as high a rent as any large farmer whatever, if the plan is pursued with them which I have recommended, and have characterized as one in which was involved the happiness and comfort of thousands. I have already stated the success which has attended this plan wherever I have tried it, and although now but of three years' standing, and of course not yet in complete opcra- lion, I should not be afraid to be i)ut to the proof by showing the thing in actual existence, and plain to the eyes and understandings of all those who choose to examine into it, and to whom I could point out many individuals, who, upon such small patches of land, were, three years a;^-o, sunk in misery and despondency, living without hope and acting without energy, who under the operation of the treatment recommended, have already recover- ed their spirits, some of them their health, (which was injured by the hopelessness of their situation.) and are at present full of energy and exertion, working with all their might, the more speedily to arrive at that comfort and independence, which now, for the first time, appears within their reach. I say it is impossible for any one who has not seen it, to calculate before hand the total change of habits, character, and circumstances, that takes place in a man, who is raised from the depths of despondency to the buoyancy of hope If I am asked to exemplify how this is effected, a few words will suffice to give such an outline, as will clearly enough show how it is brought about. A loan of twenty or twenty-five shillings worth of lime, will, in most parts of Ireland, insure, with- out other manure, an English acre of cup potatoes, and will produce after this a crop of grain, a crop of vetches or clover, and a second crop of grain. Those four crops, all originating in a loan of twenty or twenty-five shillings, ought to produce, after deducting cost of seed, not less than 20/ to 25/, being a pound for every shilling lent, and if, in addition to this, the poor tenant had the return from his cow-house manure, which, in the first in- stance, is applied to growing turnips, and which, by the quantity reproduced by that crop, will be trebled from year to year, it is easy to imagine, how soon the small farmer must be bettered in his circumstances, and how a small loan of this kind, continued for two or three years, must bring an allotment of five to eight acres into a comi)letely productive state, under the direction of an ex- perienced agriculturist ; and supposing his rent to gives it to the overseer. As to the taxes, they come to a trifling charge per quarter on the grain ; I will venture to say, not the fifth part of what the Irish grain is subject to, before it reaches the English market: say fi-eight and charges of shipping and un- shipping, storing and delivering, commission on buy- ing and commission on selling, or if the business is done upon the account ot the merchant, there must then be a profit to the Irish merchant, and a profit to the English meixhant likewise, or the trade cannot be carried on. All these are overlooked bv j\Ir. Scrope ; nor is this to be wondered at, when he seems to have overlooked the absin-dity of grounding his argument upon the absence of poor laws in this country, and then proving, as I have shown, that the said argument is good for nothing. The Irish may be 'poor creatures, as he calls them, but I iirmly believe the very poorest among them could njt be mad;' to stand sell' convicted of such a limited share of rp'isoning powers, as Mr. Scrope would appear to be possessed of, j"dging from the argument al- luded to. be twenty shillings per acre, which is an average rate, the whole amount must be paid by fattening one or two pigs and a cow, and this may be ac- complished upon half an acre of turnips and po- tatoes, leaving him seven and a half acres Jree for himself, and plenty of jwawwre to cultivate them with, by the possession of w/?ic/i he will be secured in daily employment for himself, his wife, and one or two children able to work, supposing manual labour only to be resorted to." When the unavoidable deterioration of the soil, tlie amount of bad payments, the unpopularity to which both landlord and agent must be subject in consequence of a frequent enforcement of the just claims of the former upon a poor, starving tenan- try, and especially the human suffering that is perpetuated, are taken into the account, and when liie really trifling accommodation which Mr. Blacker has shown to be all that is required in order to the introduction of plenty and happiness, is considered, we are confident that we are doing the landed interest only justice when we anticipate on their part a ready and general concurrence in a plan, which is at once so important to the cultivators of the soil, and ultimately so beneficial to its pro- prietors themselves. The constitution of our country has wisely tlirown its inviolable protection around individual property, the management of wliiclt it has left to be controlled only by those moral impulses which naturally spring up in the human breast, and which tell man that, even in regard to the exercise of his own undisputed rights, he is responsible in the court of conscience. — No one class in society ought to be required or ex- pected to make.srtcrj/joes for the benefit of another class but from the peculiar relation in which the landed interests stand to the rest of the commu- nity, as the regulators of that commodity by which all are mainly affected, they do owe it as an ab- solute dutj/ to the farming classes, to study the promotion of their welfare, in the framing of the rules by which the occupancy of land is governed, and they are unquestionably morally culpable, if they neglect the proper, prudential, advantageous fulfilment of the high trust of which Providence has thus made them the depositories. On this point we cannot too strongly express the sentiments which we feel, while we utterly reject the anar- chical crudities of writers who would identify, in this respect, tiie jurisdiction of positive law and of moral obligation ; and it is instructive as well as encouraging to know, that, in all human expe- rience, the fulfilment of duty, and the calculations of mere self-interest, have here been proved to be almost always concurrent. It is on this ground that we confidently invite the notice of the land- lords of Ireland to tlie plan laid down by Mr. Blacker ; and we cannot doubt, that if this plan sliall be generally acted upon, plebian discontent will quickly vanish or be confined to a few de- praved spirits — cheerful industry and contended economy will displace the restless craving of the mnltitude for political innovations, when social improvement is the only thing that is needed, and Ireland will cease to be an anomaly in the midst of nations, with a famishing population, and her- self the ricli, inexhaustible granary of Britain. Tlie following observations respecting the com- parative merits of spade and plougli husbandry, in THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 243 the case of small farms, are worthy of attention. Mr. Blacker says — " My advice to small farmers would be, to rely more on their own exertions, and, by beginning early to their labour, insure their being able to get in their crop, without depending on that assistance which they cannot be certain of being able to pro- cure. In a countrj' like Ireland, where so great a proportion of the poor man's labour consists in the cultivation of his potato crop, nothing would more facilitate what I have just recommended, than the practice of putting the manure into the ground, according as it was made, leaving for the spring only the labour of dropping in the seed at the back of the spade, which, besides making the manure go nearly one-third farther, possesses this addi- tional advantage, that it employs the poor man at a season when it is most difficult to get employ- ment elsewhere ; and by getting the heavy part of the work over, and leaving that only to be per- formed, which a boy or a girl can do, it insures the seed being put into the ground before the season is too far advanced — a most material advantage — for when the planting of the potato is delayed to a late period, the plant has not time to attain to maturity, but is killed by the early frosts, in a growing state, which is sure to render it wet and rmwholesome, and also to prevent its keeping. In favour of this plan I might also urge, that in the fall of the year there is a greater facility in getting horses to hire than in spring, and the assistance of the plough and harrow might most advantageously be then called in, to prepare the ground and lessen the amount of manual labour ; for although I am decidedly against any small farmer keeping a horse, unless he has some other mode of employing him than what a small farm will aftbi-d, I am perfectly sensible of the full value of the plough and harrow, and the expedition and comparative ease with which the operations of agriculture can be carried on by calling in their aid : the effectual destruction of weeds by means of the summer fallow — the facility which it gives to the cultivation of drill crops, &c. — and I should fully sanction the small farmer in availing himself of such valuable assistance, whenever it could be had in due season, provided he had sufficient em- ployment for himself otherwise; as in country situations there is often no demand for his services, and in such a case, whatever can be done by manual labour he ought to do, and I fear that laziness is the true case why this is not more generally prac- tised. But although I am ready to admit all that can be said in favour of the plough and harrow, it must be acknowledged, that on a small scale every thing they can accomplish may also be at- tained without them, by manual labour and in- dustry. If fallowing cleans the land, by destroy- ing the weeds as they vegetate upon the surface, the spade destroys them in the operation of trenching, by burying them so deep that they can- not vegetate at all : the cost is not much more, even it the farmer has to hire assistance, and the advantage in all deep clay soils, by being turned up to the frost in this way, is scarcely to be ima- gined. In drill crops also, the spade, the hoe, and the scuffle, can be used in wet seasons, when the plough cannot, and a sucession of drill crops may V l)e obtained by the use of the spade, such as would be wh'jlly impossible by the use of the plough, which all gardenhig proves, and this is what cot- tage farming ought to aspire to. I think it there- fore quite clear, that no farmer should keep ahorsu upon less, I should say, than twenty-five acres, in which case he may get some neighbour, similarly circumstanced, to join him in doing their mutual work, and with what extra employment he may casually obtain, by that means find constant work for him. It may, however, happen, that in many parts of Ireland, where limestone and fuel have to be drawn from a distance, that constant work for a horse may be found upon a smaller farm, and in such cases the keeping one will be always advis- able. It is not the keeping of a horse, when he is ke[>t busy, but when he is kept idle, that is to be objected to: where it could be accomplished, I consider a landlord would serve his tenantry much, by establishing a ploughman, well appointed in plough and horses, and allot him a certain district, of which he was to have the ploughing upon fair terms, and let him make a regular trade of doing the horse work of the rest of the tenants, and by that means secure to them the advantage of getting their horse work done in proper time, which will undoubtedly render the joint application of plough and spade husbandry superior to either singly." After an interesting calculation shewing that Ireland, so far from being over peopled, is actually capable of supporting 35 millions of inhahitanis under an improved system of cultivation, Mr. Blacker lays down the following plan for the re- claiming of the large tracts of waste land that are to be found in almost every county of Ireland : — " I would propose, that the state should assume the right of taking to itself those tracts of reclaim- able land, which the owners continue to let remain uncultivated, and, after giving fair compensation, should make a practical experiment, whether they could not be colonized to advantage. — Let the ex- periment, of course, be first made where the great- est chance of success exists, that is, where fuel and limestone are to be had, and drainage most practicable ; likewise, where the interference with the private rights of individuals seems to be least objectionable ; for example, where extensive and reclaimable morasses are owned by such a number of proprietors, as to make any joint effort at re- claiming, the least likely to take place ; in this re- spect, the valuable reports of the bog commis- sioners, made some years back, and the present ordnance survey, would give ample information. Take, for example, the Bog of Allan, where there are, I believe, thousands of acres capable of drainage, to which no individual right can be proved ; suppose Government to undertake the drainage of this, and to purchase, by valuation, such parts as any property could be proved in. Let the work be then undertaken at the |public expense, under the direction of experienced engineers, and let the workmen he stimulated to exertion by having an allotment of ten to twenty acres, in perpetuity, proposed to them as the re- ward of good conduct ; their own numbers would afford mutual protection, and as soon as the drain- age was completed, let their lot be marked out, and they turned over from the engineer to the agriculturist, to be dealt with exactly as I have already described. Here then would be skill, capital, and security afforded, and I have not; a doubt, as to a large profit being derived to Govern- ment from the undertaking. " In prosecuting such a plan as this. Govern- ment should not advance one farthing, except for such objects as supplied the means of industry, as lime, seeds, &c. and some a'^sistance to roof their huts. Let every comfort be the fruits of their own industry, to rouse which to the utmost pitch of e.\ertionj nothing more would be necessary than to 244 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. hold out the prospect of a perpetuity, as above mentioned. It is the charm contained in the word perpetuiiy which induces such numbers of in- dividuals, who have been accustomed to many of the comforts of life, to emigrate to America, and there undergo hardships far bej^ond what any settler would experience at home ; and in order to secure to him his fair share in the advantage arising from the fruits of his labour, I would pro- pose that his rent, for the first seven years, should not exceed the interest, at five per cent, upon the total Government out-lay in purchasing and drain- ing, and that he should pay besides five per cent, interest for any thing advanced to him individual- ly, until repaid, which I calculate he would be able to do before the seven years expired ; at this period a new valuation to take place, and if lie had improved the land so as to render it capable of a rotation of crops, then to be entitled to his perpetuity, adding to the original rent half of the increased vakie. Thus, if the original rent was two shillings per acre, and the improved value ten shillings, he would be charged six shillings, viz. two shillings and the half oi the. increased value of eight shillings ; but if at the end of the seven years the whole had not been brought under a rotation of crops, then the settler would only be entitled to a lease for twenty-one years, at a rent to be similarly calculated. All the details of a measure like the forgoing are not to be expected in a treatise like this : but suppose a settler to have earned, by previous labour under the engineer, the small sum that would support him whilst he would be en- gaged in setting his potatoes upon his new lot, and having done so, that he should then return to his work until his crop was ripe, and that in his extra hours he should, during the summer, put up a small cabin, which his earnings might, per- haps, enable him to do, or with the assistance of 40s or .50s advanced him, he would then be per- fectly fit to proceed in reclaiming, and with much less hardship and suffering than attends an emi- grant on his first settlement in America, which would cost as much for one family as woidd put thirty here into the way of becoming independent : and it is evident, that if this plan was carried into effect, Government could never suffer loss, on the contrary, a large profit would be derived by the extra rate of interest, and the additional rent pro- duced by the improvement of the laud ; and the money being only advanced to supply the means of industry, the labour added to it would always afford ample security for its repayment, the land being always benefited much more than the ad- vance made. Thus, in the present case. Govern- ment would have the security of a farm, suppose twenty acres, held in perpetuity, at 6s an acre when it was worth 10s ; therefore the rent and trifling advance that might be required could not be better guaranteed ; and the difference between the twenty-one year lease and the pei'petuity being made dependent upon the cultivation of the allot- ment, would be fully sufficient to call forth the utmost exertions of the settler, and the only re- striction which appears to me necessary to be im- posed, is, that two grain crops should never be taken in succession off the same land; this would effectually prevent the ground from being dete • riorated towards the conclusion of the seven years, which might otherwise be done with a view to lowering the valuation.* In this outline I have * Since writing the above I have made a trial of the plan here recommended upon a small scale, and huye foviud no difficulty in getting settlers to take supposed the settler a mere pauper, but the idea of obtaining a perpetuity, without incurring any ill- will, or being exposed to any insecurity, would bring settlers from all parts of the kingdom, having capital to build houses, and reclaim the lands, without any assistance whatever ; and as the removal of each settler from his immediate neighboui'hood would leave a space to be filled up by the adjoining population, the benefit of an ex- periment of this kind, in any one place, would be thereby diffused generally throughout the kingdom, and no one who has had any experience of the anxiety to obtain land, under a fair and liberal landlord, when it can bedonewithout apprehension of danger, (even where they obtain no lease what- ever,) will for a moment apprehend any want of settlers." We feel that it is scarcely necessary for us to add any thing by way of comment on the luminous statements wliich Mr. Blacker lias laid before the public, and which will, we hope, have the effect of awakening attention to a subject that has been frequently adverted to, but seldom discussed in a practical experimental manner. The good old days of Britain's greatness, when " every rood of ground maintained its man," are still the theme of proud recollection, and it is matter of certainty that by a systematic course of improvement on the part of tlie wealthy classes Ireland may yet be raised, if not to an equal pitch of prosperity, at least to a condition of relative affluence and in- ternal comfort. — If the man " who makes two blades of grass to grow where only one grew be- fore" may be justly reckoned a " benefactor to his country," we shall not be conferring exaggerated pi'aise upon Mr. Blacker in ranking him amongst those practical reformers to whom national grati- tude is due, especially when we recollect the fact that the system, which he has laboured to establish, would, if generally adopted, give sufficient food to upwards of thirty millions of people, out of those very resources which can now with difficulty be made to support eight, and this often attended M'itli circumstances of destitution and misery which Russian serfship can hardly exceed. lots of bog' land by no means of a desirable quality. The encouragement held out as to rent and tenure has been, permission to occupy for seven years at the present value, at tlie expiration of which, if the allot- ment was brought into such a state of cultivation as to be equal to produce a regular rotation of crops, the settler to be entitled to a lease of twenty-one years ; but if not brought into that state, he is to he entitled only to a lease for seven years. I'he rent in either case to be calculated as above. These settlers will be all under the necessity of building houses, to assist in doing which they have liberty to raise timber in the bog for the roof, and besides to get a loan of 40s to .50s payable by instalments. This plan has been adopted for the accommodation of cot- ters who stood in the way of a new arrangement of the farms upon the estate ; they are, generally speak- ing, weavers, and do not require more than about three acres of land each : but in consequence of the allotments being particularly reserved for them, I have been obliged to refuse several applications from others who had capital to build, 'and also to reclaim the land, without requiring any assistapce what- ever. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 245 THE PERCH. Perch have one particularity, which is contrary to the nature of all fish of prey in fresh water (and they are so voracious as to attack their own kind^, that they are gregarious, swimming in shoals. The body of the perch is deep, the scales very rough, the back much arched, and the side-lines approaches near it ; the irides are golden, the teeth small, c3isposed in the jaws, and on the roof of the mouth, which is large ; the edges of the cover of the gills serrated, on the lower end of tlie largest in a sharp spine, and the head is said to consist of no fewer than eighty bones ; the colours of the perch are beautiful, the back and part of the sides being of a deep green, marked with broad black bars, pointing downwards, the belly is white, tinged red ; the ventral fins of a rich scarlet ; the anal fins and tail ('which is a little forked,) of the same colour but rather paler. The perch aflPords the angler great diversion, and not only the baits are various, hut the modes of using them. Of worms, the best kinds are small lob-worms which have no knot, brandlings, red dunghills, or those found in rotten tan, all well scoured ; the hook may be varied from No. 2 to 6, being well whipt to a strong silk-worm gut, with a shot or two a fool from it , put the point of the hook in at the head of the worm, out again a little lower than the middle, push- ing it above the shank of the hook upon the gut ; take a smaller one, beginning the same way, and bring its head up to the middle of the shank only ; then draw the first worm down to the head of the latter, so that the tails may hang one above the other, keeping the point of the hook well covered. This is the most en- ticing method thit can be adopted in worm-fishing ; use a small cork float, to keep the bait at six or twelve inches from the bottom, or sometimes about mid- water ; ill angliug near the bottom, raise the bait very frequently from thence almost to the surface, lettiugit gradually fall again. Should a good shoal be met with, they are so greedy, that they may all he caught, unless one escapes that ha", felt the hook ; then nil is over, the fish that hiis been hooked become; restless, and soon occasions the whole shoal to leave the place. Two or three rods may be employed, as they require time to gorge suflBcient to allow the angler to be pre- pared to strike them. Baits for the perch are loaches, sticklebacks, with the spines cut off, miller's-thumbs, horse-beans boiled Cafter the place has been well baited with them, put one at a time on the hook,) cad-bait, bobs, and gentles. Although generally termed a bold biter, the perch is extremely abstemious in wiuter, and scarcely ever bites in that season, but in the middle of a warm sun- shiny day ; he bites best in the latter part of the spring, from seven to eleven in the forenoon, and from two to six in the afternoon, except in hot and bright weather, and then from sunrise to six in the morning, and in the eve from six to sunset. If a day be cool and cloudy, with a ruffling south wind, perch will bite during the whole of it. In clear water, sometimes a dozen or more of perch have been observed in a deep hole, sheltered by trees or bushes ; by using fine tackle and a well-scoured worm, the angler may see them strive which shall first seize it, until the whole shoai have been caught. The perch may be angled for and taken until the end of September, and indeed at particular times all the year round ; but the preferable season is from the beginning of May to the middle of July. Mr. Young mentions that, at Pakenham.Lord Long- ford informed him respecting the quantities offish in the lakes in his neighbourhood, that the perch were so numerous, that a child with a packthread and a crooked pin would catcli enough in an hour for the daily use of a whole family, and that his lordship had seen five hundred children fishing at the same time ; that, besides perch, the lakes produced pike five feet long, and trout of ten pounds each. * * *• * Great numbers of perch are bred in the Hampton Court and Bushy Park ponds, all of which are well- supplied with running water, and with plenty of food, yet they seldom arrive at a large size. In a neigh- bouring pond, which is only fed with drainage water, I have caught very large percli. The perch in the water in the Regent's Park are very numerous. Those I have taken, however, ar? almost invariably of one 246 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. sire, from half to three-quarters of a pound. Why they should have arrived at this weight and not go on increasing in size, is a circumstance which it is not easy to account for. I have, however, remarked it to be the case in other ponds. — Daniel — Wild Sports — Jesse. EXTRAORDINARY TROTTING- MATCH IN AMERICA. To the politeness of the gentleman to whom it was addressed, we are indebted for the following- extract of a letter, describing the most extraordinary feat in the annals of trotting. The letter is dated New York, June 1, 1834, and after treating of matter un- connected with the match, proceeds thus : — The match was made some time in February last, to come off in all the month of June, by Mr. B. R. Theall, and taken by Mr. Moore, to trot a pair of horses, the property of Mr. Theall, before a four- wheeled carriage, one hundred miles in ten hours and twenty minutes — the twenty minutes being al- lowed for stoppages, &c. — for one thousand dollars a-side. Accordingly, the 28th of May (Wednesday) was appointed for starting. Owing to heavy rains on that and the two succeeding days, the match did not come off until Saturday, 31st May, when the horses were started at 20 seconds past 9 o'clock, and com- pleted their match at 17 minutes and 47 seconds past 7 o'clock, as per the statements below. The Course (our regular Trotting Course, called tlie Centreville Course) is, by a surveyor's certificate, ten feet over one mile, at three feet from the poles. The horses were started around to the left, and went 37 miles, when they were turned on the score, and driven 43 miles to the right, making 80 miles. They were then turned again, and only went one mile. As the wind took them behind, they would not travel ; but upon being again turned to the right, they started off in good spirits, and completed their task. At the 92d mile, 2 to 1 was offered on them — -no takers ; but at the 96th mile one of the horses became so much dis- tressed that 2 to 1 was offered on time, and the owner of the horses was almost inclined to give up the bet. However, by persevering, and going along-side of them in another waggon and whipping the horses, they got through — winning the match by 2 minutes and 33 seconds, and no doubt going altogether 101 miles. The shortest time for a mile was 5 minutes 6 seconds ; the longest time for a mile was 7 minutes 8 seconds. It is but justice to state, that one of the horses had been very lame, and could not be trained for some time previous to the coming off of the match, and the carriage and driver were drawn the last 18 miles entirely by one horse. The whole distance was driven by one person, Mr. George Spicer, weighing I501bs. The stoppages were as follow : — At the end of the 10th mile they stopped 1 min. 50 sec. ; 20th, Om. 35s.; 30th, Im. 40s.; 35th, 2m. 12s.; 40th, Im. 21s.; 50th, (the horses taken out and rubbed) 11m. 19s.; 61st., 3m. 44s.; 65th, Om. 42s.; 70th, Om. 43s.; 80th, 3m. 17s ; 90th, Om. 33s. ; 95th, Om. 43s. : total, 28m. 39s. — Immediately after the match, the horses were taken to their stable, and had a knife stuck into their mouths to bleed them, and swallow- ing their blood, it purged them a little ; after a good rubbing, about two quarts of warm mash were given to each, which they ate ; were again rubbed, until they lay down, and to-day are doing very well. Another match took place here a short time since, heats around the Centreville Course, between Sally Miller and Edwin Forrest, for 500/. a-side, which was won in fine style by the latter — trotting his 1st mile in 2 min. 31 sec, and repeating in 2 min. 33 sec. His owners offered to back him, the same af- ternoon, for one thousand dollars, to go around the same Course in 2 min. 30 sec. CRICKET MATCHES. On Monday, June 23, the second game between the Lincoln and Newark Cricket Clubs, came off on Lincoln Hace Course, and was played, as this manly game ought always to be, with good humour and gentlemanlike behaviour on both sides. The day being very fine, the spectators were exceedingly numerous, and we are happy to say conducted them- selves in a very proper manner. It was universally allowed that the specimen of fielding exhibited by the Newark gentlemen, was about the most perfect and beautiful ever witnessed on Lincoln Cricket Ground ; but their batting was decidedly bad ; they could block very well but appeared to have no idea of striking. LINCOLN. First Inni)ifor^o • otoo— iu3ioooa>-H(N mtl0OIOI:^tC-H00T)<.i>- O) OJ oooooooooocoooooooco "That a trade so extensive deserves to be fos- tered, few will dispute. The certain market af- forded by this country for all Irish agricultural produce tends to unite the two countries more closely than any legislative enactments. We will admit, that the prices obtainable for corn, &c., in our market, raise the rent of land in Ireland, but if they do so improperly, it is because there is no legal provision for the poor in Ireland, which were it not too much of digression from our sub- ject, we could prove is a grievous omission in our laws, that operates to the injury of both Islands, and must ultimately be supplied, or our own pea- santry will degenerate further into pauperism. If Great Britain and Ireland are to be united as one State, there must be equal laws to govern each. The competition of Foreign supplies with Irish Corn in the British Market has always been most disadvantageous to the Irish merchants whenever it has occurred, and the quality of Foreign Corn being superior, in general, to Irish, the former would be unsaleable, if free trade were permitted, unless at prices so reduced, that when the unavoid- able expenses between tlie fanner and consumer were further deducted, would leave so small pro- ceeds, as to render it impossible to grow covn for England in Ireland. All corn grown in Ireland, from the watery character of the climate, is obliged to be kiln-dried to render it capable of bearing a voyage, a circumstance that alone places the Irish on disadvantageous terms to compete with fo- reigners. To prove the fact we will instance a consignment of Galway Oats, or Irish Wheat, sold in London at the prices current during the greater part of the present season, and fi'om the proceeds deduct the difference in price likely to attend a free Foreign Corn Trade. 100 brls. Oats equal at .381b per bush, to nearly 615 qrs. at lis per qr. . . £520 4 0 CHARGBS IN LONDON. Freight at 2s 6d per qr. and 8^ per cent, primage . . .£83 0 9 Metage 5s 6d per 10 qrs. , . 16 16 7 Insurance on £500 at 303 per cent, and policy .... 7 17 6 Commission and guarantee 9d perqr 22 19 0 CHARGES IN IRELAND. Carriage to market, brokerage, kiln drying, loss in measure, storing and shipping, about Is. perbrl 50 0 0 Merchant's Commission, 6dper barrel 25 0 0 205 13 10 314 10 2 Estimated depreciation from free trade in Corn, 30 per cent, on £520 4s 156 1 2 Proceeds, not 5s 2d per qr. or . .£158 9 0 1000 brls. of Wheat at 591b. per bush, about 593 qrs. at 38s. per qr £1126 14 0 CHARGES IN LONDON. Freight from Limerick at 3s 3d per qr. and 8 J 0/0 primage £104 7 10 Metage ex-ship on 300 qrs. sold at 3s 6d per last ... 550 Do on 293 qrs. landed at 5s 9d per last . 8 8 6 Landing and storing 293 qrs. for 1 month, and re-deliver- ing Is 3d per qr. ... 37 1 3 Metage ex-granary, or 293 qrs. at 2s per last .... 2 18 8 Commission and guarantee Is per qr 29 13 0 CHARGES IN IRELAND. Carriage to market, brokerage, kiln-drying, loss in measure, storing and shipping about Is 6d per brl. . . \ . 75 0 0 Merchant's commission. Is per brl 50 0 0 312 14 3 £813 19 9 Estimated depreciation in price lirom free Corn Trade 35 per cent, ion £1126 14s 394 9 0 Proceeds about 14s 2d per qr. . £419 10 9 Our statements of accounts are literal matter of fact, and the expenses upon Corn from its bulky nature could not be materially diminished. If the abatement in the price of Corn, to be expected from free trade, should not be what we have esti- mated, the benefit to the consumer would be scarcely felt, and not worth argument. That THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, 249 Corn could not be grown for the prices wc have instanced it would nett the Irish grower, under competition with Foreign Grain, no man in his senses will assert. REPORT OF THE HESULT OF EXPE- RIMENTS ON FEEDING TEN HORN- ED CATTLE, AND AN EQUAL NUM- BER OF HOGS, ON RAW AND ON PREPARED FOOD. [by JOHN BOSWELL, ESQ., OF BALMUTO AND KINGCAUSIE .] The reporter conceiving the .knowledge founded upon the result of an accurately conducted experi- ment as to the comparative priofit of raw or pre- pared food, to be a matter of much importance to the farmer, determined on setting about the in- vestigation of the subject with ail the care and zeal in his power ; and, accordinglj-' on the 15th of October, 1832, selected ten cattle,, "which were inspected by Mr. Blackie and Mr, Walker at Kingcausie on the following day. Th\ey were all dun, horned, and not only of the same breed, but perfectly alike, and almost all got by the same bull, — the weight of the lot to be put on raw being 183 stones 11 lb Dutch, the lot to be fed on pre- pared 179 stone 10 lb. Dutch. The food, it may here be mentioned once for all, was from first to last yellow bullock turnip, with- out any leaves or roots, and round red or pink potato commonly called Perthshire reds. The cat- tle being all extremely tame and quiet, took to the raw food at once, but those which were put on Ihe steamed food hardly tasted it for several days, so that by the 18th they had a very jaded appear- ance ; nothing, however, was given to them but fresh steamed food, the stalls being carefully cleaned every twelve hours, and the stale stuff given to pigs. A few of them took to it, and in a short time they all seemed to relish the prepared as well as the raw, although it was a fortnight be- fore they looked so full and well as the cattle fed on raw food. The feeder (who had the chai'ge of both lots) was directed to put the raw turnips and potatoes into the stalls at the same time, when the potatoes were regularly finished before one turnip was tasted. On the other hand, the lot on pre- pared food picked out the steamed turnips in pre- ference to the potatoes. As the reporter is aware that minuteness will be expected, he may here state that the turnips and potatoes for the prepared lot having been weighed, were very slightly washed, and the tur- nips were thrown into the hopper of a slicer, and cut into pieces about half an inch thick, after which they were put into the receiver of a steam- ing apparatus, such as is described by Mr. Spears in the Quarterly Journal. The potatoes, also, when washed, were thrown into another receiver. When the steam was fully up, so as to lift the safety valve, the cocks were turned, and in fifteen or eighteen minutes they were ready to be thrown into one large tub to cool, previous to being car- ried to the cattle. During the time the turnips and potatoes are subjected to the action of the steam, large quantities of water are partly given off and partly condensed, owing to the low tem- perature of the raw food, so that the receiver would soon get (in sailor's phrase) " water-log- ged," if the attendant did not every few minutes pull out the plug, and empty the space which is be- tween the false and real bottom of the receiver. This water, or rather liquor, from the turnip receiver, has a most agreeable sweet smell and taste, and this the feeder drew off regularly during the whole course of the experiment, and threw into the food tub. That which flowed from the potatoes, al- though it had no unpleasant taste or smell, being also rather sweet, yet as there exists a strong pre- judice against potatoe liquor, was suffered to run off into the grating. The winter was now ad- vancing, the cattle improving steadily and well, and both lots keeping nearly alike, the only differ- ence being that the lot on raw consumed much more food than those on steamed. As to fodder, the straw during the first month, and the hay for the remainder of the time, appeared to be the same. The reporter says appeared, because, al- though the quantity given to each was weighed, and that was the same, yet every one knows that the fodder is pulled about by the cattle and a por- tion always lost, but no difference could be ob- served. Twice a week, on fixed days, both lots got a small quantity of the tops of common heath, which prevented any scouring ; in fact, turnip cattle seem very fond of heather as a condiment, and there never was any purging amongst the cat- tle under this experiment. The dung of the steamed lot was from first to last in the best state, without the least appearance of purging, and was free from that abominable smell which is observed when cattle are fed on raw potatoes, or even when a portion of their food consists of that article. Another fact was observed, that after the steamed lot had taken to the field, they had their allow- ance finished sooner than the raw lot, and were, therefore, sooner enabled to lie down and rumi- nate. The accompanying papers show that the food to both lots was proportioned to what the cattle would eat ; and the statement of Deacon Williamson certifies that the two lots were exactly alike both in weight and quality after they were slaughtered. The Reporter has now to state what took place v^ith regard to pigs. Being anxious that there should be no interference as to food or any other circumstance, he preferred conducting this experi- ment apart from the other, and therefore, on the 1st lOf December, 1832, caused his overseer at Balm Tito to put up ten pigs, all of one litter, in two lots, which, by a little management, he suc- ceeded in getting exactly of the same weight, the lot to ,be put on raw food being 5 cwt. 2 qrs. 22 lb., the lot to be put on prepai-ed food, also 5 cwt. 2 qrs. 22 lb. The food employed was round red po- tatoes and the best oatmeal. Those on raw food had the oat-meal given them in the shape of " crowdy,^' i. e. the oatmeal mixed up with a little cold watei'. The lot on prepared food had the pota- toes boiled, and the oatm eal made into common water porridge. From the very first it was clear that the lot on t.he prepared food were fast beating the others, and an increased quantity of oatmeal was given to the lot on raw, in order to make them ready for sale- along with the others ; yet still, as may be seen by the documents herewith given in, they were greatly deficient on the 1st March, at which time the experiment being concluded, they wex'e put on pr epared food, when they began in- stantly to make up the " lee-way." In conclusion, the Reporter has to make the following observations : — It appears that it is not worth the trouble and expense of preparation, to feed cattle on boiled or steamed food, as, although there is a saving in food, it is counterbalanced by the cost of fuel and labour, and could only be gone into profitably, where food is very high in R 250 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. price, and coal veiy low. It must, however, be remarked, that winter 1832-33 was a remarkably mild one ; on the contrary, had it been very frosty and cold, there can be no doubt the cattle on raw food (with every care) would have fallen back ; and lastly, that there cannot be a doubt that in the feeding of swine prepared food is the best. [By the accompanying certified statement, it appears that, of the cattle, lot 1, fed on raw food, the weight was 183 stone 111b. Dutch, while that of lot 2, fed on steamed food, was 179 stone 101b. ; but the weight after the experiment is not men- tioned, it being only stated in general terms, by Mr. James Williamson, who purchased the cattle, that, on killing them, he " took particular notice of the quality of the beef and weight of tallow in each lot, and found them, to the best of his judg- ment, to be jjerfectly alike." The cost of keeping the five cattle on raw food amounted to 32/. 2s. Id., while that of the cattle on prepared food was 34Z. 5s. lOd., there being a balance of 21. 3s. Dd. in favour of raw food. With respect to the pigs, it appears that the five put on boiled food M'cighed at the commencement of rhe experiment on the 1st of December, 5 cwt. 2 qrs. 22 lb., and at its termination on the 1st of March, 10 cwt. 1 qr. 1 lb., while the five fed on raw food weighed at these different periods, 5 cwt. 2 qrs. 22 lb., and 8 cwt. 1 qr. 151b., leaving a very decided difference in favour of those fed on pre- pared food. The expense in the case of the latter was 61. 19s. 4^d., and in that of the pigs fed on raw food, 51. 8s. 6d., so that the profit was, after all, inconsiderable. THE MODE BY WHICH LONDON IS SUPPLIED WITH STRAWBERRIES. The supplying of a large city with some, of even trivial luxuries, is often a curious operation, and of great importance to a number of persons, to whom it affords employment and subsistence. There are not many of the inhabitants of London, who do not every summer partake of the delicious Strawberries, with which it is so abundantly and so cheaply supplied. Yet few of them, when they have before them a small portion ofthat fruit, are aware that some hundreds of persons derive their livelihood, during the time they are in season, from the various operations which the supplying London with them occasions. It ma}^ not, therefore be uninteresting, to take a view of the mode in which that city is supplied with Strawberries. Most of the Strawberries consumed in the metropo- lis are grown within ten miles of it, and by far the greatest number of Strawberry-gardens are on its western side. The chief places at which they are situated are Isleworth, Brentford, Ealing, Ham- mersmith, Fulham, Deptford, Mortlake, Hackney, aud Camberwell. The extent of land cidtivated for Strawberries has been much increased within a few years, and has been estimated at more than a thousand acres for the supply of London alone. The greatest number of persons who derive employ- ment in producing Strawberries for the markets are females, with the exception of those who dress the ground on which they grow. In the season in whicli Strawberries are ripe, which is usually the end of May, the women who gather the fruit assemble in the Strawberry-garden in the morning as soon as it is light, which at that time of the year is between three and four o'clock, and commence plucking the fruit. The best fruit, which is gathered earliest in the morning is taken to the packing-room and carefully put in pottle-baskets; fifty or sixty of these are placed in a large basket and before seven o'clock in the morning, a number of women are despatched to the metropolis, each with one of these larger baskets, which she carries on the top of her head, vvi;li only a small cushion to make the pres- sure of the weight equal over the u})per surface of the head. The weight of the baskets and fruit is from thirty to forty pounds, and sometimes even more. A party of these carriers tlien set off with their burdens, walking at a quick pace, and occasional- ly running, so that thev generally accomplish five miles aa hour during their journey. And it is pleasing to observe with what skill and address, from habit, they manage their head-loads, (as they are called,) seldom having occasion to hold them with their hands. The burdens being placed at the top of the head, makes it necessary for the carriers to keep a very upright posture in walking, so much so that young persons in liigher ranks of life have been corrected of a bad 'habit of stooping, by be- ing made to walk with a small weight on their heads, without being allowed to touch it with their hands in imitiUion of these poor women. When men occasionally carry the fruit, they have a shoulder-knot, similar to those used by porters, so that part of the weight rests on the shoulder, and part on the head, but by this mode of conveyance, the fruit is generally more injured than when carried by women. The carriers arrive at the principal fruiterers in London, early enough for their customers to be sup- plied with fruit gathered the same morning. The same women, sometimes proceed witli a second load to London, even when the strawberry groimd is situated seven or eight miles from the fruiterers' The employment of females, as carriers of fruit, is, within the last three or four years greatly diminished by some of the largest strawberry-growers having established light kinds of cars, hung on very pliable springs, like those used for coaches, and drawn by a quick-paced horse ; one of these cars carries about twenty baskets, each of which would be a load for a woman. Though this mode is a considerable saving of expense, yet it does not convey the fruit in such perfection as when carried on the head. The fruit not sent by these two methods, is conveyed in carts with springs, during the night, to London, for the early markets, which commence at day-break, and is sold wholesale by the gardeners, to the various re- tailers of fruit. Connected with the supplying of Strawberries to the metropolis, is a very ingenious manufacture, that of pottle-baskets, these are made by women and children. The women prepare the wood by steeping it in water, and splitting it, according to the parts of the basket it is designed to form. Then the most skilful arrange the slips of vrood, which form the upright supports of the basket, and fix them in their place by weaving the bottom part; the sides are woven by children with pliable strips of wood, and the top is bound over by the more accustomed workwomen. If any of our readers will take the pains to examine one of these baskets, they will feel surprised that it has passed through several hands in making, and the wood been purchased and prepared and yet that it is still supplied to the gardener at the rate of about sixpence the dozen. The baskets are formed of the wood of the fir or willow tree, the lat- ter is the best. The manufacture of them is car- ried on by the poor at their own homes, in the towns near the Strawberry-gardens, particularly at Brent- ford. The women employed in gathering and conveying THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 251 Strawberries to London, cannot be estimated at less, during the time they are in season, than two thousand persons. Part of these are the inhabitants of the ad- jacent towns, but a great nximber of them are young women who migrate annually from Worcestershire, Shropshire, and Wales, and after tlie strawberries, raspberries, currants, and gooseberries are passed, re- turn to the country in time to assist at the harvest, having usually, during their migration, saved enough to buy a good stock of clothes, and to lay by some money towards their support during the following winter. They are, in general, very industrious, neat, and well-conducted in their behaviour. ON POTATOES. Sir, — I perceive with regret that the malady which aftected the potatoe crop of last year has again visited several parts of the country in the present season. The regularity and productiveness of our native crops are so essential, that no effort should be omitted to ensure them. The disease in the potatoe, I think, is perfectly accountable, and I say this the more confidently, as I have not suffered from it ; having for many years pursued and recommended a course of cultivation with this root different from what I believe to be the general practice of the country. The evil unquestionably arises from weakness of the seed; this would be caused by the previous sprouting of the potatoes, whether promoted by the mildness of the winter, lateness of the period of planting in the spring, the richness of the ground on wliich the seed had been raisad, or any similar cause. There is another thing which may be enume- rated as having the same effect, aggravating the fore- going causes when they occur, and tending to pro- duce the same effects when they have not taken place ; this is the cutting of potatoes for seed. For many years past I have planted whole potatoes with the best success, sometimes of the largest size, but dependent upon the fertility of the land what the size should be, generally the middle size. Many advan- tages result from the adoption of this course. The seed is better protected against a too great propor- tion of wet or dry ; when surrounded by its natural skin, its juice is not emitted as when severed by a knife ; and the consequence is, that in addition to greater security from these extremes, it throws up, in proportion to the size of the set, a stronger shoot when under favourable circumstances. I will add only one more precaution to be observed, which will, I think, secure the crop from the malady now pre- vailing— this is change of seed, every second year, from a soil of a different kind, and a situation also different. Careful selection should also be practised to pre- serve uniformity of sort ; this will be attained by taking up the wanderers before harvesting the crop, and picking out any that may have escaped in the succeeding spring previous to planting. The former may be known by the stalks not ripening so soon as the rest, and the latter by the sprouts appearing sooner. I have no doubt that the adoption of the foregoing rules will be a specific generally against this com- plaint. In many seasons and situations it would be a very dangerous proceeding to take potatoes out of the stores at Christmas ; for no common out-house is as secure or air-tight as a good covering of earth. WitJi this exception, and to the extent to which it goes,! accord with the sentiments of your corres- pondent of last week from Plymouth. In situations or with sorts of peculiar hazard, one simple recom- mendation may be given to add to the force of the foregoing rules — increase the size of your sets or seed potatoes. Believe me. Sir, yours truly, Gloucestershire, June 19, 1834. G. W. H. A PROPOSED SYSTEM FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE POOR OF ENGLAND, AND MANAGEMENT OF THE RELIEF TO BE GIVEN TO THOSE WHO ARE UNABLE TO WORK. [By a Surrey Farmer.] Let a supreme metropolitan board of control be appointed. Divide the counties into districts — the present divisions of hundreds are sufficiently large. Form a board of management to each district, to consist of deputies from each parish. Let each parish have an efficient paid officer to assist the deputies and collect rates. The deputies and officer to be appointed by the vestry at Easter ; the deputies annually, but the officer to continue during good behaviour. Let a workhouse for the district be provided in a central situation, properly furnished with efficient officers, i. e. :| A governor, who shall be competent to keep the house in subjection, and also qualified to manage the cultivation of the land hereafter described to be attached to the workhouse. A comptroller of the works, who shall be quali- fied to measure up the woi-k done by the inmates, and see that it is efficiently executed, and to su- perintend the men generally in their work. A workhouse policeman with authority, in con- cert with the governor, to take any inmate before the magistrate when occasion requires. A sufficient quantity of land should be attached to the district workhouse to keep employed the able-bodied men who may become in- mates. All the inmates to be set to work to cultivate the land well and effectually, and to be paid for the same per rod superficial a price 25 per cent, under the usual value. Of the sum so earned a fair price should be de- ducted from it for his maintenance per day whilst an inmate. The remainder to be kept for him till it amounts to a certain sum, when he is to leave the house upon the receipt of it. He shall have no claim to relief again till a period has elapsed dur- ing which the money so paid would have fairly supported him. The rate of time to be fixed upon by the board. If he be decidedly idle and profligate, instead of any longer having the opportunity of working ho- nestly and industriously, he shall work at the tread-mill. The parishes to pay so much per head for every person they send to be an inmate, to be regulated by the board at the end of the year, when a profit and loss account shall have been made out. The parishes during the year paying a price per head on account. The present workhouses to be kept as asylums for the indigent and infirm, both male and te- male, and also for women and their bastard chil- dren. If a .parish have no workhouse at present they may send their infirm to those who have, and can take them in, paying a price per head. The dis- r2 252 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. trict workhouse being established for the purpose of employing the single able-bodied only. If able-bodied married men with families apply for relief they arc to be set to work as oiit-door parishioners in cultivating the land at the price before named, being 25 per cent, less than the usual value, but to work by the piece, and be paid only for what they do. The deputies and paid officer in their own parish can manage the present workhouse and administer casual relief, either with or without a select ves- try, as may be considered best, as well as attend the district board of management, but to be under the control and direction of the board, so as to insure an uniformity of management. If the land to be provided be cultivated upon the Tullian system of growing corn in rows, with wide intervals between the rows, as described in TuH's work, recently re-printed by Mr. Cobbett, an infinity of beneficial employment would be pro- vided. A description of it will 1)e found in that work, and more cannot here be said, than that the land forming the intervals between the rows is kept dug whilst the corn is growing, and is the means of producing large crops of the same sort yearly upon Ihe same land, paying an individual well who adopts the system. And surely if it can do so (returning to him all the money laid out in manual labour besides his own profit ( it can pay a board of management if properly organised and conducted. In addition to the land to be attached to the district workhouse, employment may be found for the weaker inmates by establishing some kind of manufactor)'^ ; and also by erecting a mill for grinding wheat, not only for the use of the house itself, but for the public who may like to send their wheat there. Some may also be employed in the domestic duties, and in cultivating an ex- tensive garden. It is quite necessary and essential to the sviccess of the workhouse system for able-bodied men, that ample employment be prepared for them. Not merely employment, but employment' which will render it necessary for each man to exert himself at his labour or go without bread ; and not merely so, but employment which shall prove beneficial in all respects — beneficial as far as regards the mo- ral character and happiness of the employed — and beneficial as far as regards the interest of those who are obliged to find the employment. To ensure this, strict discipline must be en- forced, and the employment must be task or piece- work, and if neglected the party must be punished by the magistrate : and that magistrate should be a paid efficient magistrate, one who will act up to the strict course of discipline laid down, and fully and effectually support the regulations adopted for the employment of the poor. WATTON FAIR. This annual Sheep and Lamb Fair was held on June 25, and the attendance of business- like and respectable company, connected with a yearly-growing increase of cattle, and especially of sheep, amply bear out the agriculturists in this neighbourhood in their former anticipations of its ultimate success. We have never seen a fair in this county so well attended by men of business as this was on Wednesday, about twelve or one o'clock. At that time Mr. Coke, leading his eldest and third son, made his appearance in the fair, and his apparent good health seemed to create as much pleasure amongst the company as his presence did while he was shaking many of the agriculturists and others by the hand, as he walked round to examine the various stock. The show of lambs was very good, and amongst them we noticed a most superior lot (25;, the best we have seen this year, much admired, and of which it is impossible to speak too highly, belonging to Mr. C. Daw, of \Vatton ; they were from half- bred Down and Leicester ewes and a Leicester tup, were reckoned to weigh 201bs. a quarter, and were eventually sold to Mr. Betts, of Tibben- ham, at 30s a head. Mr. Dewing, of Carbrooke, had a very superior lot of tvv'o-shear fat sheep for which 44s were asked, but we are not sure they were sold. Mr. Desforges, of Tottington, showed a lot of superior black-faced hoggets, with lambs, which were bought at 44s (without the lanibs), by Mr. Boyse, of Buckenham. Mr. Blomfield, of Oulton, had a lot of very superior shearlings, which were bought by Mr. Coleman. Mr.Russel, of Watton, 14 score fine lambs, sold to Mr. Hud- son, of Castleacre, at 25s. Mr. Betts, of Tibben- ham, a lot of half-bred Down and Norfolk shear- ling ewes, for which he asked .38s. Mr. Bullock, of Shipdham, a lot of Norfolk lambs; and Mr. Withers, of Newton, a lot of half-bred LeiceSjer and Down shearlings ; and there were many other lots which excited considerable attention. Many lots of Neat Stock were shown, amongst which was an excellent and beautiful lot of Devons, much admired by Mr. Coke, belonging to Mr. Wrightup, of Ashill also. A lot of pigs, of, the Neapolitan breed, belonging to Mr. Boughen, of Pickenham, weighing about eight stone each. About 20 dozen more hurdles were used at this than on any former occasion. Lambs fetched from 16 to 24s a head. Horses were not very plentiful, but even in this respect there was a good deal of business done. The attention of the agriculturists seemed drawn to Springall's Patent Corn-stack, which was considered a very useful invention, and from testimonials of many of the farmers and gentry who had tried the implement as to its being of great practical utility, many orders were given. This, we believe, the first agricultural imple- ment shown at Watton fair, and we trust it is only a prelude of other similar exhibitions. At two o'clock 114 gentlemen sat down in a booth on the bowling green, to an excellent dinner pro- vided by Mr. Coe, of the George Inn, for the oc- casion, at which T. W. Coke, Esq. presided, Mr. Land, of Griston, was vice president, and amongst the company we observed Robert Orris, Esq., C. B. Plestow, Esq., Reverend Mr. Collyer, Reverend Johnathan Townlcy, Messrs. Abbot, of Castleacre ; Milnes, of Downham ; Waller, of Foulsham ; Frances, of Litcham ; H. Overman, of Weasenham ; Negus, of Crirapleshara ; Free- man, of Castle Rising ; Wrightup, of Ashill ; Hudson, of Castleacre ; H. and W. Boughen ; Kendle, of Weasenham ; Farriers ; Boyce, of Ashill ; Beck, of Mileham ; Winearls ; Long, of Beachamwell; Smith Wright, of Watton; Has- tings, of ditto.; Shepherd, of Norwich; Man, of ditto. ; Middleton, of Flitcham ; Brown, of Wea- senham ; Griggs, Everett, of Westacre ; Curtis, of Wormegay ; Fuller, of Beachamwell ; Cobon, of Gayton ; Curl, of Middleton ; Bush, of Stow ; Elmer, of Winbergh ; John Sayer, jun., of Scul- thorpe ; Salter, of Winbergh, and many others. The King, the Queen, the Duke of Sussex, the Donor of the venison. Lord Wodehouse, the Ve- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 2tjr nerable Bishop of Norwich, T. W. Coke, Esq., the Yeomanry of the County, and many other toasts were given. The chair was vacated about nine o'clock, but a small party kept up the convi- viality until a late hour. Leicester Wool Fair. — During the whole of Wednesday morning (June 25) a considerable number of wool growers were collected in the Humberstone Gate, opposite the Bell Hotel, con- versing with each other on the method likely to be adopted in in the afternoon in the sale of Wool, all wishing to be informed, but no one appearing capable of giving a distinct idea of the principle on which sales were to be effected. About two hundred and twenty gentlemen sat down at the Hotel to an excellent dinner, provided in the most sumptuous and liberal style, by Messrs. L'Her- mitte and Boyer ; and an immense number were scattered in the different inns in the town, in con- sequence of the impossibility of accommodating so large a mass at one place. After dinner, the meeting nnding it impossible to proceed to busi- ness in the room, they unanimously agreed to ad- journ into the paddock in the Bell yard, and tables and seats were procured for their accommodation ; H. W. Wilson, Esq., of Allexton Hall, in the chair, who opened the business by expressing liis gratification at witnessing . the assem- blage of so large a proportion of the re- spectable farmers of the county, a body of the highest importance with regard to worth and re- Sjjectability ; and expressed an opinion that if the establishment of a Wool Fair produced only half the benefit in this county which had been experi- enced in other places where the system had pre- viously been adopted the result would be highly gratifying and profitable to all parties. The me- thod he should propose for the sale of Wool was, that buyers having previously made themselves acquainted with the quality ot the various clips, should attend the fair, and the growers publicly declaring the quantity should offer it at the price they expected to obtain. As a commencement of business he proceeded to offer his wool, the hogs and wethers at 47s. per tod, and cheviots at 43s. — Mr. B. Simpkin (in the Vice Chair) offei-ed his wool at 50s. — R. Cheslyn, Esq., offered a small quantity at 48s. — Mr. G. Kilby said that having perhaps mistaken the system, he had brought a quantity into the market, a plan he was convinced would be an advantage to the buyer, and proceeded to offer at 48s., but the highest bidding only reached 44s. although previous to the commence- ment of the fair, the same person had offered 45s. Several other gentlemen offered at various prices, but we have heard of few sales, the buyers ap- pearing to be of opinion that the only feasible plan of proceeding would be to bring the commodity in the bulk, to give them a fair opportunity of judg- ing the quality. German Wool Fairs. — The fairs which follow that of Breslaw have sustained about the same prices as were realized at that fair. The following letter is from a gentleman likely to have the best information : — Berlin, 19th June, 1834. " The two leading fairs, Breslaw aud Stettin, are now over. In spite of the greatest exertion, the English were not able to force down the prices ot wool to tliat state they appeared to wish. Breslaw averaged 5 per cent, higher than last year ; and Stet- tin, where the wools were very high last year, fuL sustained last year's prices, perhaps a few per cent, above, and at both places everything was cleaied off. All the smaller fairs, as Leipsic, Dresden, and Bran- denburg, shared the same fate. The latter fair went off very high, full 7| per cent, above last year's prices. This is the first day of the fair here. Very little has yet been done, for the farmers ask enor- mous prices, but at last this fair will probably give about the same result as the others. The wools, on the whole, are not of so good quality as last year, and the Silesian wools pai-ticularly very ill washed." NEW COLONY of SOUTH AUSTRALIA. A public meeting of the promoters and friends of the projected colony in South Australia was held on July 3, pursuant to public advertisement, in the large room at Exeter Hall. The meeting was highly respectable and numerous, there being not less than 2,o00 people present. Many ele- gantly dressed ladies graced the platform and the front seats. We observed among a great number of eminent and influential individuals, the follow- ing gentlemen : — Mr. Abi'aham Borradaile, Mr. J. W. Childers, M. P. ; Mr. Clay, M. P. ; Captain Gowan, Mr. Grote, M. P. ; Mr. Hawkins, M. P.; Mr. M. D. Hill, M. P. ; Mr. Rowland Hill, Mr. Hutt, M. P.; Mr. John MeNille, Sir William Molesworth, M. P. : Mr. Jacob Montefiore, Mr. P. Scrope, M. P. ; Mr. Strutt, M. P. ; Colonel Torrens, M. P. ; Mr. Daniel Wakefield, jun. ; Mr. Wilks, M. P. ; Mr. Joseph Parkes, Mr. Gouger, Mr. Scholefield, M. P.; Colonel Walker, C.B. : Mr. Guest, M. P. ; Sir Charles Lemon, M. P. ; and the Hon. Mr. Mullins, M. P. ; Mr. W. Wolryche Whitmore, M. P. for BrJdgenorth, was called to the chair. The chairman in giving an outline of the objects proposed, proceeded to show that it wa^ desirable that a greater extension should be given to our system of colonization, and that this colonization should include members of all classes of society. Large numbers of emigrants (said Mr. W.) went out with capital, but not carrying with them that number of the lower class which was necessary to employ their capital to adx-antage. In other cases the labourer went out without that capital which was necessary to enable him to employ his la- bour to advantage. This was a striking defect. Now the question which they were called upon to consider regarded the best means of remedying that defect. Those means, it appeared to him, were quite practicable, and might be accomplished in this manner, viz. by establishing as a system, that all the waste lands which they were about to colonize should be sold at a given price, such as the market commanded, and that the proceeds of such sale* should be employed in sending out to the colonies a sufficient number of labourers to cultivate the land so sold. If this system could be carried into effect, he apprehended that all the evils of our present system of colonization would be removed, and that we should be enabled to transplant a portion of the community of the mo- ther country with all its various grades into the new country which they now proposed to colonize. In this way a great benefit would be conferred upon the people of this kingdom. Every person was aware of the enormous extent of country under the British dominions in Australia. It was 2,000 miles long in its greatest length, and 1,700 broadin its greatest breadth. It possessed a climate as fine as any in the world, and it abounded in harbours. ?54 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. A'hicTi were necessary to render it a great country. All it wanted was an intelligent people to colonize it. If it could only obtain that, he could, without any great stretch of fancy, conceive that Australia, in future ages, instead of presenting to the eye a desert, either totally unoccupied, or only occupied by a race almost in the savage state of man, would take its station among the great nations of the world, and that he should thus belaying the foun- dation of another mighty empire emanating from the empire of Britain. {Hear.) He believed that if we proceeded upon the principle which he had just stated, we should lay the foundation of the greatest colony which England had ever settled. {Hear, hear.) That being the case, he was most anxious that this experiment should be tried. If it were tried upon the principles to which he had already adverted, and upon a scale sufficiently large, it would be found, he had no doubt, re- dounding immediately to the advantage of the mo- ther country, by removing the pressure under which it existed at present, and by extending the field over which its commerce and manufactures could be disseminated. If this colony should be founded, the necessity of giving to its inabitants moral and religious instruction would form a grand object in the consideration of the directors. He concluded by saying that in coming forward as he then did, he was actuated by no other mo- tive than that of public duty. The directors ex- pected no advantage, either in a pecuniary point of view or in the way of patronage. He had long la- boured in this cause, and therefore it was that he looked to the opinion to be formed upon it in the public mind with great anxiety, being satisfied that if public opinion should declare itself in its favour, we should be doing a great benefit to society at large. (Hear, hear.) A series of resolutions were proposed, in order to carry into effect the objects contemplated. Se- veral gentlemen, whose names are mentioned above, took place in the discussion, and when those resolutions were put to the show of hands, were iinanimously adopted; after which the meet- ing broke up. The Yeldham Oak. — Mr. Ward, R. A., has in the present Exhibition at Somerset House an exceedingly fine picture of one of the principal and most national features of Essex, the Yeldham oak. The view of this extraordinary tree, than which there are hardly any larger or older in the kingdom, is taken from the London road, a few yards before the turning to Clare, on the right, and that to Ha- verhill, on the left. Both of these turnings appear on the canvass. Over the bridge to Clare, Mr. Newman's hounds, huntsmen, &c., are passing ; and on the road from Haverhill a pedlar, and his donkey with panniers, and his dog, have just ad- vanced a little way beyond the tree. The Great Oak Farm-house is conspicuous in the composition, and Yeldham-hall and the beautiful tower of Yeld- ham Church are skilfully brought in in the distance. In the " History of Essex," published in 1769, is the following notice of the Yeldham oak : — " On the road, and near the church, is a remarkably large oak tree, supposed to be now (1769) upwards of three hundred years old, the stem of which measures in circumference twenty-seven feet three-quarters ; but the height of it is not in proportion to the bulk, the stem from the ground to the first branches being not above twelve feet high, and the height of whole not exceeding eighty feet." We shall be gkd to be favoured with the present dimensions of this vene- rable tree. ALTERATIONS OF THE CUSTOMS DUTIES, PROPOSED BY MR. PAULETT THOMSON, 2d JULY. 1834. Articles. Apples, dried, the bushel Books, being of editions printed in or since the year 180 1, bound or unbound, the cwt Currants, the cwt. . , . Figs, the cwt Grapes, for every £100 of the value Liqueurs, the produce of, and imported from, the British Pos sessions in America, the gal.. . Oil, from and after the 10th of October, 1834, viz.: — Animal Oil, the cwt Cocoa Nut Oil, the cwt Olive Oil, the tun the produce of, or im ported from, any part of the dominions of the King of the Two Sicilies, the tun. . . . Imported in a &hl\> belonging to any of the subjects of the King of the Two Sicilies, the tun . . Noj E. — For the power given to his Majesty in Council to reduce these duties on Olive Oil, the produce of, or imported from, the do- minions of the King of the Two Sicilies, see the body of this Act. Palm Oil, the cwt Palmetto Thatch, the produce of, and imported from, the British Possessions in America, for every £100 of the value Pears, dried, the bushel Plantains, dried, the produce of, and imported from, the Britisl Possessions in America, foi every £100 of the value Prunes, the cwt Raisins, the cwt the produce of, and im- Proposed Duty. 2 10 1 2 0 15 5 0 0 0 9 0 8 8 0 10 10 0 0 1 0 0 15 0 Present Duty. 20 0 0 10 0 50 per ct. 0 2 6 8 0 8 8 8 0 10 10 0 0 2 20 per ct. 0 10 0 0 10 0 ported from, any British Pos- session, the cwt 0 7 6 All Coals, Culm, and Cinders exported in a British ship to be duty fi-ee ; exported in a foreign ship, the duty to be 4s the ton. This duty will, of course, not apply to the ships of countries with which we have reciprocity treaties. Civilization and the Savage State. — It was a calculation of Volney's that for the sub- sistence of a single individual in a state of nature, in the wilds of America, a space of about three miles square of land was necessary, wliereas by cul- tivation and the advantages of associating together, no, fewer than 12,000 men may bo now maintained upon the same extent. A Slug Trap. — Place over night liollow tiles on the surface of the earth beneath the trees, and in the morning they will be found full of slugs, which can be easily destroyed. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 25r I WAS A PEASANT BORN. BY ROBERT STORY. I was a peasant born. The straw-roofed cot Contained my cradle. By my infant ear The uncultured words that peasants speak were drunk, Till my tongue caught and uttered them. In youth I toiled with peasants — bearing, as they came. The heats of August or the winds of March. The thoughts that peasants think were mine ; and though Some touch of learning may have rubbed away A little of its rust, I hope my mind Smacks of the peasant still ! I cannot dress My face in smiles, when my heart bids me frown. I cannot pay respect, when my heart says J^V^« mail's a villain. In my soul I loathe The smooth hypocrisy which, ice-like, keeps A surface never ruffled by a storm. Nor do I like his valour, who can see The foe at work beneath his citadel With the best will to batter it, and yet Retain his temper, and extend the hand Instead of pointing the artillery ! The generous man I love, the tyrant hate ; But would not veil my hatred or my love For all themiiaes of Chili, Birth and rank That wear their honours worthily, shall have My deepest reverence, and, if requisite. My heart's warm service ; but the}^ shall not chain The freedom of my thoughts, nor soften down The correspondent freedom of a word That brands a meritless minion 1 These are thoughts That square not with the maxims of the time. So much the fitter to be mine, then ! who Am -proud, and well may be so ! I spring not From sires that sucked the blood o' the people — lived And died detested, leaving to their seed A world of infamy to purge away. And not one virtue to achieve the work ! My father toiled like Adam—gained his bread With his brow's moisture — died, and went to Hea- ven ; Leaving to me no legacy, save what He taught me to extract from yon Old Booh, That tells old-fashioned tales of Heaven and Hell, And that God hates a hypocrite ! Frenci: Coachman. — "But," said he, "before I engage myself, I should like to know from Madame to whom Madame gives way." " To every body ! except at Versailles, I give way to every body." " How 1 would Madame order her body- coachman to give precedence to Presidents in the streets of Paris V " Certainly, and the rather that I sup in their part of the town every Thursday." " But surely Madame would not give way to the wives of financiers ; and if the equipage of a finan- cier presumed to contend with hers, she would surely authorize her coachman to cut the faces of the upstarts to pieces with his whip V " Oh financiers ought to understand liveries ; but at any rate, Mas- ter Coachman, I do not choose, for the sake of bat- tling with mere nobodies in the streets of Paris, to risk breaking my carriage, hurting my servants, or laming my horses." " To be sure Madame has only a dozen horses ! (She was a widow when the coachman thus disdained the paltry meanness of her stable appointments.) Moreover I am acccustomed to give precedence to none but Princes of the blood, so that I could not possibly suit Madame 1" He was off" in a rage. — Memoirs of Madame de Creqve. CRICKET. The return 'match between the Liverpool and Manchester Clubs was played on Monday, June 23rd, on the new ground of the latter, in Moss- Lane. The day being verv favourable, there was a large concourse of spectators, including a great number of ladies ; and the fine band of the 28th added much to the enjoyment of the day. The match came off as under : — MANCHESTER. FIRST INNINGS. Adamthwaite, b Eaton 1 Watson, c Thompson 12 Hampson, b Ellis ... 4 LeaBirch,cACrooke 34 C . Garnett, c Thompson 0 Lupton, b Ellis 5 C. Matchitt, b Eaton . 1 H. Garnett, b Eaton . 2 Walford, c Eaton 0 G. Hole, b Eaton 7 H. Matchitt, not out . . 3 Byes 3 72 SECOND INNINGS. c Thompson 1 c Eaton 2 b Ellis 3 b Eaton 6 not out 4 b Ellis 13 b Eaton 0 stumped out 4 b Ellis 1 b Ellis 0 b Ellis 1 Byes 0 35 LIVERPOOL. FIRST INNINGS. Ellis, run cut 0 Tod, b C. Garnett ... 10 W. Crooke, run out . . 1 Haselden, b Birch ... 0 Faton, b C. Garnett . 10 Pigou, b C. Garnet . . 0 Robinson, run out ... 6 Jones, c Adamthwaite 3 Parker, c Lupton .... 1 Thompson, not out ... 3 A. Crooke, cH. Garnett 0 Byes and wide balls 6 40 SECOND INNINGS. c Lupton 13 b Birch 0 b Birch 4 b Birch •• „. 0 b C. Matchitt 3 b Birch 0 b Birch 3 b Birch 3 c Adamthwaite 2 not out 2 run out 2 Byes and no balls . . 3 Majority in favour of Manchester, 32. SUSSEX AGAINST ENGLAND. The annual trial of strength between the county of Sussex and England commenced on Wednesday, July 2, at Lord's, and upon no similar occasion do we recollect to have witnessed so distinguished and numerous an assemblage of spectators. Pre- vious to the commencement of the match England was the favourite side, and circumstances shortly tended to show that a correct opinion had been formed of the victorious party ; but no one could have believed at the onset that the game would have terminated so greatly in favour of the Eng- land eleven. England went in first, and Messrs. Snow and Strahan commenced the batting. Both were bowled out by Lillywhite, as was also E. Wenman, who followed, with a score amounting to 23. Fuller Pilch was then put in, and a more splendid display of batting was perhaps never wit- nessed; although it must be confessed that on several occasions he had great good luck on his side. He gradually commenced his play with se- veral single notches ; he then doubled them, and after a few runs he began tofeelhis ball, and fours, fives, sixes, and even a seven were scored, until he had seen all his side out, when he retired without his wicket being lowered, with a score amounting to 105 runs. He was obliged to leave the field for a short time during his innings, in consequence of the bounding of the ball, which struck him a severe blow on the brow of the loft 756 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. /e, from which his blood flowed profusely. Lilly- Afhite tried all he knew to put in a havocing ball, and it was acknowledged on all hands that the little man could not have made a better display of bowling. Several of his balls, put in with much force and judgment, appeared almost certain to floor the wicket if not stopped ; Pilch did miss them, but fortune favoured him, for they passed within a hair's breadth of the stumps, much to the chagrin of Lillywhite and his side. Cobbett was for a long time in with Pilch, and showed some excellent play, he scoring 37 before his wicket was lowered by one of Brown's ripping balls. Sir V, Cotton made a far better display than could have been anticipated. His batting was good, but with a trifle of wildness about it. He gave away two or three chances which his opponents did not embrace, and one catch appeared so certain for the near mid wicket, that Sir V. could not forbear touching his hat and bowing, in token of the obli- gation he was under to the fieldsman for not caus- ing him to give up his bat. Sir F. Bathurst com- menced with obtaining six notches at one hit, but after having added one more run to his score, Lillywhite succeeded in getting a ball into the wicket. Marylebone, when adjourning to the Pa- villion to dinner, at three o'clock, had scored 158, which number was increased to 229 at the conclu- sion of their first hands. In this innings Box re- ceived a most tremendous hit on the left eye from a ball which glanced off" the striker's hat. A sur- geon who was on the ground attended him as well as Pilch ; but poor Box's ogle disabled him from again entering the field for a length of time. At an advanced period of the evening Sussex com- menced their first hands by putting in Jem Broad- bridge (who plajed instead of Meads) and W. Goring, Esq., both of whom were shortly relieved from further exertion in that innings by being bowled out with only one on the score. W. Pickett followed, and after adding an additional one to the runs was caught out by Mr. Kynaston. Morlcy appeared to go in with determination, and he was batting as well as could be wished, when Cobbett put in a little un, which sent the off" stump flying. Lanaway was as unsuccessful as some of his party. Brown, however, made some slashing hits, but they were not of long duration, and the close fielding of England kept his scoring vv^ithin bounds. Lillyvvhite's play was spirited ; but his impudent confidence, if we may use the term, in attempting runs which circumstances did not war- rant, several times put him in a situation of suff'er- ing for his temerity. He made six by a well exe- cuted hit round the leg which elicited much ap- plause, and he kept his bat throughout the re- mainder of the inning — seeing Wells, G. Goad, Earl of Winterton, and Box, go out in succession. The Sussex score numbered 61. The innings was not concluded till Thursday morning, there being nine wickets down at the close of the play on Wednesday. In the second hands of Mary-la- bonne, Messrs. Strahan and Snow again began the play, with nearly the same success as marked their first innings. E. Wenman went in next, but did not add a run to the list. Pilch was the fourth put in. He was again gradually going to work with single runs, and then made a four : but in the next hit he was run out. Mr. Wynn batted excellently, and kept his wicket untouched. The first list of Sir Frederick Bathurst scored three ; he then ran two, a four, and one, when Lillywhite pounced upon his wicket very cleanly. Sir V. Cotton had to resign his bat in a few minutes after going in without a run. This innings amounted to 76", mak- ing altogether 305, and leaving 244 for the Sussex to obtain, even to make a tie of it. There was not a shadow of a chance of their doing this, and they evidently went in low-spirited. Their score, as in the first hands, only amounted to 61, thus leaving them in a minority of 183. The match was con- cluded about six o'clock on Thursday. The follow- ing is the score : — ENGLAND. Ist H. Snow, Esq., bd. by ) Lillywhite } VV. Strahan, Esq., bd. by do E. Wenman, bd. by Goad. ... Pilch, not out Cobbett, bd. by Brown G. Wenman, bd. by do Kynaston, Esq., bd. bydo... Mynn, Esq,, bd. by Lilly- 1 white i Lord Clonbrock, run out. . . . Sir F. Bathurst, bd. byl Lillywhite J Sir St. V. Cotton, bd. by \ Brown. / Byes, &c. inn. 3 . 8 12 105 37 Total 229 SUSSEX. ist inn. Broadbridge, bd.,by Cobbett 0 W. Goring, Esq, bd. by Mynn 1 W. Pickett, ct. Dy Kynaston. 1 Morley bd. by Cobbett 9 Lanaway, bd. by do .3 , Brown, bd. by IVlynn II Lillywhite, nut out 19 Wells, ct. by Snow 6 , G. (Joad. bd. by Mynn 2 Earlof Winterton, bd. by .. \ -, Cobbett J ^ • Box, bd. by .Mynn 0 , Byes, &c 9 2d do. . . bd. by Broadbridge 0 .. ct. by Lilly wliite.. 7 .. bd. by do 0 . . run out 6 .. bd. hy Lillywhite.. 20 . . bd. by do 1 .. not out 9 . . bd. by Lillywhite.. 14 .. bd. by do 0 .. bd. bydo 10 . . bd. by do 0 Byes, &c. ... 9 Total... 76 2d do. . . ct. by Wenman 0 .. bd.by Cobl)ett 0 . . bd. by do 4 . . bd. bydo 0 .. ct. by I\Ivnn 16 . . bd. by Cobbett 0 . . run out 6 . . ct. !jy Kynaston... 15 . bd. by Cobbett 0 . . bd. by Wynn ., 0 . . not out 6 Byes, &c. . . 14 Total Gl Total..,. 61 The return match will be played at Brighton on the 18th of August. The Vegetable Woeld. — In all places where vegetation has been established the germs are so intermingled with the soil, that wheuever the earth is turned up, even from considerable depths, and ex- posed to the air, plants are soon observed to spring- as if they had been recently sown, in consequence of the germination of seeds which had remained latent and inactive during the lapse of perhaps many cen- turies. Islands formed by coral reefs, which have risen above the level of the sea, become, in a short time, covered with verdure. From the materials of the most sterile rock, and even from the yet recent cinders and lava of the volcano, nature prepares the way for vegetable existence. The slightest crevice or inequality is sufficient to arrest the invisible germs that are always floating in the air, and affords the means of sustenance to diminutive races of lichens and mosses. These soon overspread the surface, and are followed, in the course of a few years, by suc- cessive tribes of plants of gradually-increasing size and strength ; till at length the island, or other fa- voured spot, is converted intoa-natural and luxuriant garden, of which the productions, rising from grasses to shrubs and trees, present all the varieties of the fertile meadow, the tangled thicket, and the widely- spreading forest. Even in the desert plains of the torrid zone, the eye of the traveller is often refreshed by the appearance of a few hardy plants, which fiud sufficient materials for their growth in these arid re- gions; and in (he realms of perpetual snow which surround the poles, the navigator is occasionally startled at the prospect of fields of a scarlet hue, the result of a wide expanse of microscopic vegetation. — Roget's Bridgtvater Treatise. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 251 OUR SOCIAL EMBARRASSMENTS— THEIR CAUSES AND REMEDIES. (From the Dublin Evening Post of the 8th, IQth, and 12th of April, 1834 .J No. I. The produce of the land docs not now pay the rent to which the majority of its occupiers are liable, and yield a fair profit on the outlay, with a full compensation for the occupiers' time and sliill. This is, truly, the present condition of agricul- ture in the majority of cases throughout the United Kingdom. And at the same time, food is not suf- ficiently cheap, the home supply is inadequate, and large tracts of land are uncultivated. In consequence of this state of our rural affairs, the rural labourers receive low wages, and a great many of them are unemployed, although the land requires their labour. Hence, the English poor- rates have increased, and the privations of Irish peasants have become intolerable. Hence, also, the struggling condition of the home-trade ; and continual fluctuations in manu- facturing activity, as the foreign demand increases or declines. Again : the prices of manufactures are low ; the quantity of goods made, cannot be profitably sold ; and yet, the home consumption is not equal to the wants of the community. It is on the home consumption that our manu- factures are chiefly sustained. The foreign trade never did, and never can do more than partially sustain them. Their mainstay is at home, in the trade created by the wants and means of the British and Irish people.* * The following are the principal Exports of the United Kingdom, in 1830, a year in which the Ex- portation exceeded that of any preceding year from 1825. — (Vide Marshall's Collection of Ojficial Tables, p. 122) :— Articles. (iuantity. Cotton, Yarn Wove Cotton, Prints, Plain, Muslins, Fus- tians, SiC 64,645,-342 lbs 444,578,493 yds 5,561,877 yds 1,747,036 pes 61,919,963 yds 117,420 tns 267,731 cts 189,592 — 30,425 — 504,419 tns 10,499,778 bsh 10,212 tns 34,733,614 pes 189,757 cts 77,061 dzs 1,495,003 lbs 10,266,514 lbs 607,580 cts - Total de- t Glared value of Flannels, Blankets, Carpeting,and mixed Stuffs J all Woollens, J including Ho- / siery&Tapes, *^ £4,850,097 Cloths, Coatings, Ker- seymeres, Baizes, and Stuffs Linens Iron Manufactures . . Hardware and Cutlery Brass and Copper Tin, unwrought Coals Salt Beer and Ale Earthenware Glass Value £442,193 — 401,543 Hats Leather — 257,130 Soap and Candles Refined Sugar — 246,592 Total declared value of all arti- cles£38,271,597 In the same year, the population of the United Kingdom paid in Crown Taxes j£'54,6.'58,8.'51, and in Local Taxes at least ten millions more. See what a total even the Taxes form, compared with the total And these means arc primarily derived from our territory. The rents which the occupiers pay for the use of it, and which are but equivalents or substitutes for the interest of the money with which otherwise they should purchase it, support the proprietors and mortgagees of the soil, whose expenditure contributes to support members of all the learned, commercial, and laboi-ious avocations. Again — the wages whicii the occupiers of the land pay to their labourers, are expended on commodi- ties, by which various classes in society derive subsistence and wealth. And finally, when favour- able circumstances enable the occupiers of the land to obtain by the sale of its produce, or of the animals reared on the produce, prices which in- clude the whole cost of production, and full jwroj^/s besides, the greater part of those profits are also diff'used in the community, creating employment and wealth as they spread throughout its circles. Thus our social prosperity depends on our agri- culture. Destroy it, or impoverish the classes engaged in it, and our manufacturing and com- mercial power must decline. But let the commer- cial system decay ; or let us suppose our manu- facturers to be ruined by foreign competition ; agricultural industry would still create social wealth, as it has raised up the nations beyond the Atlantic. In this way we can demonstrate to ourselves, that the prosperity of the United Kingdomjdepends on its agriculture. And this demonstration leads us to the sources of our present embarrassments. Our agriculture is depressed by the pecuniary difficulties in which a great majority of the land- holders are involved. And the consequent non- payment of a considerable portion of the rents, the loss of the landholders' profits, the reduction of rural wages, and the decrease of rural employ- ment, curtail the means of the largest portion of our consumers of manufactures and merchandize. Again : although it may appear incompatible with agricultural distress, our food is dear compared with that of other countries ; and the high price of food works against our manufacturing and com- mercial interests by curtailing the means of ex- penditure among the middle and lower orders of society ; for, while much is required for suste- nance, those classes can expend but little on dress or superfluities. Why is agriculture embarrassed .' The prices of our agricultural produce are notoriously much higher than those of any other country ; and it has been shown that the special taxes which fall on our landholders, and therefore should be included in the prices of produce, are lighter than the special taxes which fall on French Lands,* the produce of which is so much cheaper than ours. Besides, the demand for food is unfailing, and the land- declared value of all our Exports to Foreign Countries, not deducting anything from that total for losses. How great then must be the general Home Trade compared with the Foreign Trade. * Full two-thirds of the public revenue of France are raised by means of direct taxes, and about one- third only by means of indirect taxes. Of the direct taxes, the sum of 400,000,000 francs (about £16,000,000 sterling,) is paid exclusively by the landed interest ; or in other words, besides contri- buting its fair i)roportion to all other taxes, the landed interest of France is taxed partially and exclusively iu the sum of £16,000,000 sterling. — London Times, 2d April. 258 tHtl FARMER'S MAGAZINE. holders are promptly paid for it. Why then is agriculture embarrasssed ? The cause is obvious : The landholders do not obtain aggregate returns, for their produce, sufficient to meet their liabilities and wants. The competitor for land undertakes a rent measured according to the land's capacity of pro- duction, and its general advantages ; but if he have not means to develope the capacity of pro- duction in the whole of the land, he undertakes to pay a large amount of rent for which he has no produce. With the means of managing properly, no more than one hundred acres, let us suppose the land- holder undertakes to pay the current rent of two hundred acres, and his insolvency appears inevi- table. The high prices of produce avail but little, if the full quantity of produce cannot be raised. If the produce obtained from two hundred acres, be not more than might be obtained with proper manage- ment from one hundred acres, or any other num- ber short of two hundred, it is manifestly insuf- ficient to meet the landholder's liabilities, and thus he becomes insolvent notwithsanding the high prices of his market. This is precisely the situation of the majority of our landholders. And they have been placed in it, by the large farm system, combined with yearly fluctuations in the prices of produce, while the land is liable io fixed money rents. Let us examine the following table of the aveiage prices of wheat in England, per quarter, in each year from 1688 to 1831 ,: extracted from the Audit Books of Eton College, to 1770, and thenceforward from the accounts of the receiver of Corn Returns kept in pursuance of the Act of the 10th George III. cap. 39. Yrs. 1688.. 1689.. 1690.. 1691.. 1692.. 1693.. 1694. . 1695 . 1696.. 1697. . 1698.. 1699. . 1700., 1701.. 1702.. 1703., 1704.. 1705., 1706.. 1707., 1708. 1709. 1710., 1711. 1712. 1713. 1714. 1715. 1716. 1717. 1718. 1719. 1720. 1721. 1722. 1723. s. d. 23 1 26 8 30 10 29 11 41 9 60 2 56 10 47 1 56 0 53 4 60 9 56 0 35 6 31 8 26 1 32 0 41 2 26 8 23 1 25 2 36 9 69 7 69 4 48 0 41 2 45 4 44 9 33 2 42 8 40 5 34 S 30 11 32 10 33 4 32 0 30 10 Yrs. 1724.. 1725., 1726., 1727., 1728., 1729., 1730., 1731., 1732., 1733., 1734., 1735., 1736., 1737., 1738. 1739., 1740. 1741. 1742. 1743. 1744. 1745. 1746. 1747. 1748. 1749. 1750. 1751. 1752. 1753. 1754. 1755. 1756. 1757. 1758. 1759. s. d. 32 10 43 1 40 10 37 4 3 2 5 4 8 2 6 2 35 10 33 6 31 6 33 2 48 10 41 9 28 5 22 1 22 1 24 3 34 8 30 11 32 10 28 10 28 10 34 2 40 9 39 8 30 10 29 11 40 2 53 4 44 5 35 3 Yrs, 1760. 1761. 1762. 1763. 1764. 1765. 1766. 1767. 1768. 1769. 1770. 1771. 1772 1773. 1774. 1775. 1776. 1777. 1778. 1779. 1780. 1781. 1782. 1783. 1784. 1785. 1786. 1787. 1788. 1789. 1790. 1791. 1792. 1793. 1794. 1795. s.' d. 32 5 26 10 34 8 36 2 41 6 48 0 53 9 50 8 51 0 52 8 48 4 38 2 45 6 42 0 33 8 35 8 44 8 47 10 52 8 48 10 51 10 38 10 41 2 45 0 51 2 47 10 50 8 72 11 Yrs. 1796. 1797. i798. 1799. 1800. 1801. 1802. 1803. 1804. 1805. 1806. 1807. 1808. 1809. 1810. 1811. 1812. 1813. 1814. 1815. 1816. 1817. 1818. 1819. 1820. 1821. 1822. 1823. 1824. 1825. 1826. 1827 1828. 1829. 1830. 1831. S. d. .76 3 .52 2 .50 4 .66 11 110 5 115 11 .67 9 .57 1 .60 5 .87 1 .76 9 .73 1 .78 11 .94 5 103 3 .92 5 122 8 106 6 .72 1 .63 8 .76 2 .94 0 .83 8 .72 3 .65 10 .54 5 .43 3 .51 9 .62 0 .66 6 .56 11 .56 9 .60 5 .66 3 .64 3 .66 0 If the price of wheat be high or low, there is almost generally a corresponding rise or fall in the prices of other in'oduce, except under very pe- culiar circumstances. It is generally observed that when the price of wheat is low, the landholders are embarrassed ; and Irish farmers commonly say, " The rent is in the wheat." We may therefore adopt the preceding table of prices as an indicator of the past condition of the landholders ; and to fully comprehend the effect of the fluctuations which it exhibits, let the price of four quarters of wheat (about (i| Irish barrels) be the average pro- duce of an acre of land ; and let us then multiply by four the variances between the prices of prox- imate years. We shall thus ascertain how much the landholders lost by each depression, on the produce of every acre of wheat ; and hence we may form an estimate of their yearly losses on the general produce of their lands. We must also bear in mind that in consequence of the competition for land, rents have for many years been measured according to high prices of produce. If measured by low prices the land- holders would have all the gain of high prices, and never suffer a loss of capital by depressions. But unfortunately for them the case is reversed, at least with the majority. Adopting these views let us take any series of ten years from the beginning to the end of the table ; and multiplying the variances by only four (which is a low average rate of produce), we must be convinced that the landholders have been im- poverished by paying fixed money rents, and that until land rents shall fluctuate with the prices of produce, the landholders liable to rents must be liable to ruin, which no skill, assiduity, or fore- sight, can avert. This is a matter of serious importance to the State. By the poverty of the landholders, we are subject to the worst evils, among which the great- est are the poverty, idleness, and demoralization of the peasantry. The process of adjustment is simple; and it would only apply to modern leases and tenants at will. Ascertain the land's capacity of production, and fix the rent at the current price of a certain proportion of the produce, to be governed by the averages which are published periodically in the Gazette. By this adjustment the landlord would always obtain the current value of his lands, ac- cording to their capacity of production when let ; rent would cease to be a check on improvement ; and the landholders would never have to sell more produce in one year than in another, as at pre- sent, to satisfy the demands of their landlords. This is the first measure necessary for bettering our social condition ; and it is one which the land- lords should not be slow in adopting. They may conceive that the claims of their mortgagees should be adjusted by the same rule. But there is another rule for those claimants. They are governed by the abundance or scarcity of money capital : and if their rate of interest be higher than the current rate, a new borrowing lessens the burden. This is the only mode of ad- justment those cases will admit of. The equitable adjustment which is sometimes proposed for them would be a robbery. Besides the landlords have no reason to apprehend that their means would be diminished by the measure proposed. The general rate of their rents might be less ; but there would be few, if any, losses by insolvencies, like those which the present system ultimately creates. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 259 In accomplishing this adjustment, another of nearly equal importance could be effected : land- holders might be relieved from such portions of their lands as they have not the means to manage profitably. This arrangement would supply young fai-mers with land, in quantities suitable to their means, and rescue present occupiers from the ruinous obligation of paying rents for land which they are not able to cultivate. These adjustments would be voluntai-y compacts between landlords and tenants. They cannot be promoted by the Legislature ; but they will be en- forced by the pressure of circumstances, or the agriculture of the country must sink under gene- ral insolvency, outrage, and anarchy. Let us hope for the bestj and let us suppose these measures adopted : what is next to be done ? The landholders must be provided with pecuniary aid, for extending and improving their operations. No. II. What would be the immediate results of mea- sures for enabling the landholders of the United Kingdom to improve and extend their opera- tions ? Clearly — the employment of more labourers, the increase of wages, and the increase of food. But this increase of food would depress prices. In 1822 abundance nearly ruined the landholders, because rents could not be paid with the proceeds of such a portion of the land's produce as could be allocated for the purpose. Hence the necessity for adopting fluctuating land rents, as the first measure for promoting social prosperity. The lands of Eton College are let at fluctuating rents, regulated by the average prices of Windsor mar- ket. These Etonian rents are founded on the equitable principle of giving annually to the owner of the soil, the value of a certain portion of pro- duce, fixed upon as an equivalent for the use of it, according to its capacity of production when let. When prices rise, and the landlord's expenses ne- cessarily increase, his rents rise also. When prices fall, and his expenses are diminished, his income from rents is also diminished. Thus Etonian rents are always proportionate to the landlord's ordinary wants, and the tenant's means. If they were adopted generally in lieu of fixed land rents, our landholders mightfearlessly increase the supply of food. Cheap food is the primary want of the empire ; and we shall see that this want can be supplied at home. The following table shows the quantity of im- ported wheat and flour, from all countries, con- sumed in England in each year, in which the im- ports exceeded the exports by 300,000 quarters, or more, commencing with \767, the first year in which such an excess existed, the total excess of all the preceding years from 1GS8 having been only 233,097 quarters : — Yrs. Irish. Foreign and Colonial. Total. qrs. qrs. qrs. 1807 43,054 336,779 379,833 1S09 67,281 357,428 424,709 1810 125,156 1,366,185 1,491,341 X813 214,476 341,846 556,322 1814 224,014 517,076 741,090 1816 109,653 225,263 334,916 *1817 — 1,020,949 1,020,949 1818 100,638 1,593,518 1,694,156 1820 404,483 34,274 438,757 1821 566,004 2 566,006 1822 458,664 — 458,664 1823 3S4,287 12,137 396,424 1824 352,671 15,777 368,448 1823 393,337 525,231 918,568 tl826 314,851 315,892 630,743 tl827 405,255 572,733 977,988 tl828 652,584 842,050 1,494,634 tl829 519,493 1,364,220 1,883,713 tl830 529,717 1,701,885 2,231,602 tl831 557,520 1,491,631 2,049,151 Yrs. qrs. Yrs. qrs. Yrs. qrs. 1767.. . . 592,834 1793.. ..413,529 1800 . . 1,242,507 1768.. ..341,835 1796.. ..854,521 1801 . . 1,396,359 1775.. ..469,951 1797.. . . 407,242 1802 . . 498,359 1783.. ..532,210 1798.. . . 336,939 1804 . . 398,067 1791.. . . 398,430 1799., , . 423,823 1805 . . 842,379 We learn by this Table (which has been com- piled from the public accounts presented to Par- liament) that between 1818 and 1825 England was independent of foreign supplies of Wheat and Flour. Why has she not been independent of them since ? And why is she not as amply supplied with Bread-Corn by the United Kingdom, as with ani- mal food ? At only four qrs. of Wheat to the acre, 430,000 acres of land would have produced the largest supply of Foreign and Colonial Wheat and Flour, specified in the preceding table ; and there are in England alone 3,454,000 acres of wastes capable of being rendered arable.;!: In the whole of the United Kingdom, according to the same Parlia- mentary authority, there are 15,000,000 acres now waste, all of which might be converted into arable fields. All might not yield Corn, but a great part would, and the remainder would yield provender for sheep and beeves. With such resources, not to speak of the badly managed soils in use, why, again \ve ask, does not the United Kingdom supply its own population with an abundance of cheap food ? The answer is — Cheap food, whether obtained at home or from abroad, would ruin all the pre- sent landholders. The effects of abundance in 1822 are not yet forgotten. Hence all the jargon which has been put for- ward on the had consequences of bringing inferior soils into cultivation — ^jargon used for pv.i-poses of deception. Hence also the modern proposition to send all the unemployed hands into workhouses, although they must there compete with our manufacturers for a market already supplied with more goods than can be profitably sold. But this and other subterfuges will not bear the light of the present times. Nor could they, if adopted, lessen the pressm'e of circumstances which hurry us onward to a new order of social affairs. * The Imports of Irish Wheat and Flour in 1817 were less than tbe Exports made to Ireland. t The I'xports are not deducted from tlie Imports of" Irish Wheat and Flour, in any account for these years, which has been published. X Tliird Report to Parliament, on Emigration, 260 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. The demand for cheap food is made by all classes of buyers, except landlords. Yet, let us supply this demand from abroad or at home, and the ruin of all landholders, under modern contracts, is inevitable. Even with the prices of food, against which the community exclaims, the majority of our land- holders appear to be incapable of meeting their liabilities. And still they are incapable of supply- ing our social wants. From 1825 the coiuumption of imported wheat and flour has been increasing, simply because enough cannot be got at home. In every year of internal abundance, as the preceding table shows, we had little or no importation ; but in every year of internal scarcity, no matter how early the pe- riod, importation supplied the deficiencj'' ; and it is important to observe that the largest importa- tions have not reduced prices so low as they have been in years of internal abundance. There is another important matter for consider- ation which must be disposed of before our reme- dial measures can be fully developed. The foreign Wheat and Flour only, consumed since 1825, were charged with the following totals of taxation : — 1825 £225,329 1829 £630,918 1826 178,995 1830 543,869 1827 611,817 1831 348,138 1828 75,222— [Vide page 162 Board of Trade Tables.] These totals are not increased or diminished according to the quantity of Wheat and Flour con- sumed, but according to the prices of the Englisli markets when the foreign food was Li ought in. In 1827 there was less brought in than in any sub- sequent year ; yet, in 1828, the taxation was only one-eighth of that of 1827. Compare the corn table with the taxation, and the table of prices — they show clearly that the foreign supply barely prevents the prices from ascending to starvation rates, and that for this advantage the consumers pay an amount of taxation which would provide a fund sufficient to employ a large number of agri- cultural laboui'ers, who in England are thrown on their parishes, and in Ireland are cast adrift on the wide world. No. III. We have shown that the prosperity of the Em- pire depends primaiily on its home trade, — that this trade cannot be prosperous, while agriculture is depressed and food dear ; and that food cannot be made abundant and cheap, without rendering the majority of landholders unable to pay their pre- sent fixed rents. Therefore, the first measure to improve agricul- ture and restore internal prosperity, must be, the adoption of Etonian rents, fluctuating with the prices of corn, in lieu ot those fixed rents which have impoverished the landholders. The second measure which the existing exigen- cies require, is, the diffusion of money capital among the landholders. To see how this is to be accomplished, let us first understand what money capital is. The coin or bank notes, which are ordinarily called money, many persons may possess, and yet not own them. Besides, these amount only to a few millions of pounds sterling, while money capi- tal amounts to a great many millions. These then are but tVie agents by which money capital is dif- fused. Money capital must therefore be the power of commanding the use of these agents, whenever they arc required. That power may be obtained in two ways— by the possession of money capital, or on the security ofjt. Thus credit and money capital eflFect the same object : — they command the use of coin and bank notes. But, between the person who obtains cre- dit, and the person who possesses money capital, there is this difference : the former, when using money capital, pays for it a premium to another, which the owner, when using it, pays to himself. Observe, however, the premium in both cases is ultimately paid by the consumers of the pro- duce which is obtained by the application of ca- pital. The avocations of landholders, manufacturers, and merchants, would not be worth following if the commodities produced were not to pay a pre- mium on the money capital employed, and also a profit for time and trouble. Thus the person who pursues any of these avo- cations with the aid of credit, loses not the pre- mium charged for that credit, unless the times be adverse and ruinous ; and hence, if our land- holders were supplied with money capital, on cre- dit, they would be enabled to obtain the profits of producers, to compensate them for their labours, while the consumers would pay the premium for the capital used. But how is the use of the money capital to be obtained .' It is sometimes proposed that bants of deposit shall be established throughout the United King- dom, as in Scotland, where money capital could be amassed for sustaining a general system of cre- dit. In Scotland this system has wrought wonders. Its grand utility is to keep money ever profitably engaged ; in which it enforces the extension of credits. It is sustained by credits. As credits are given, the profits are acquired. Thus the capital- ists, to promote their own interests, must piomote the general welfare. And the rapid circulation of money is there equal to a great increase in the circulating medium ; while the less rapid circula- tion of money, under the English and Irish system, operates like a contraction of the quantity of coin and notes for use. But the interests of the great Banks of England and Ireland are opposed to the deposit system. Their profits arc realized by the circulation of their own paper money ; and they obtain for it as high a premium as in Scotland is obtained by both the capitalists who make the deposits and the bankers who lend them. Therefore, we must make our remedial mea- sures (England and Ireland being the objects of them), conformable to the system of the English and Irish Banks, until the legislature shall incorpo- rate banks in both countries, founded on the Scotch system. Accordingly, as our second remedial measure, we propose to the landlords to negociate with the Banks in England and Ireland for periodical ad- vances of money to be made to their tenants, within the amount of the security which each te- nant shall be able to give. Let each embarrassed landholder's circumstances be ascertained. Let an estimate be made of his wants for labour, seed, &c., and by this estimate let the pecuniary aid be regulated. The security should be obtained by the tenant, but the landlord or his agent ought to be joined in it. Then, to secure the proper application of the money, the landlords should appoint agricultural THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 261 inspectors for their estates ; the tenants should be bound to employ the quantity of labour pro- vided for in adjusting the amount of their credits, and to pursue the system at the same time laid down ; and the drafts to be given into the banks by the tenants should have a form of certificate on them, in which the inspectors should set out the terms of the contract, and declare the tenant's conformity, otherwise the credit to be stopped. We ijropose this system only for occupiers of moderately large farms, who have been thrifty and laborious in their avocation, but are now in struggling circumstance'^, owing to the deprecia- tion of prices, and successive annual losses of capital. For the small farmers, who participate in the manual labour of cultivating their own fields, we propose that the loans should be given through local committees, to aid in establishing generally the system of feeding cattle in yards, on turnips, rape, vetches, mangel-wurtzel, &c. ; and that the agricultural inspectors and managers of the estates should co-operate with those committees. In the preliminary adjustments which would be enforced by these arrangements much would be accomplished for improving our agricultural in- terests— such as the appointment of practical agri- culturists to act as inspectors on all the large es- tates ; the adoption of means by the proprietors of small estates, or leasehold interests, to enforce a proper system of cultivation ; and above all, the diminution of the extent of farms, in order to meet the means of their occupiers, whereby those per- sons would be relieved from the ruinous obliga- tion of paying rent for insufficiently cultivated land, and, at the same time, the demand for farms would be supplied. By such a system agriculture would in time be so improved that no estimate can be formed of the number of laboui'ers which would be voluntarily employed in every part of the country, and able- bo(lied men would no longer require the aid of a compulsory public maintenance. Our next measure is a politic Poor Law. In the present state of our social affairs we have lands and labourers, both unemployed, or not pro- fitably employed. We have therefore much poverty and crime. A judicious compulsory provision for the unemployed poor would cure this evil ; but the English or Scotch system would never cure it. The English system (unabused) is to set the able bodied poor to work, and to maintain the helpless poor gratuitously. But the funds for setting to work are levied indiscriminatel}'' off every pos- sessor of property, according to its value, whether he is a useful employer or not. No possessor of fixed property escapes. There is no re-active princiide to check the promoter of pauperism ; 'and no exempton from taxation to encourage the ex- tension of emjdoyment. Society at large is, no doubt, in some measure, coerced to check pau- perism, in order to avoid the pressure of taxation. But the employers, on the other hand, have an immediate advantage (though an illusory one) from the increase of pauperism, as it lowers wages. Thus the English system tends to increase pauper- ism, and is at best only a safeguard against starva- tion. The Scotch system is just as defective ; but the population is so limited that the defects are only partially felt. The system of Scotland is to form a fund for the purpose, with fines, collections in the churches, donations, &c. ; and if this fund be deficient for the wants of any district in which there is much distress, then an assessment is made, imdcr which the deficiency is levied. According to a Return presented to the House of Commons in 1820, the average yearly assessments made in Scotland during the preceding ten years amounted to 49,718/, and the other funds amounted to 64,476/, making a total of 114,194/. This total is small ; but the number to be relieved (44,199) was small : and the lightness of the burden is but a poor apology for a bad system. If there were more poverty the burden would be heavier ; and thei'e is nothing in the system to prevent poverty. It merely relieves poverty when created by impolitic social arrangements. It prevents starvation, but it does this chiefly at the expense of the middle and labouring classes — and hence this Scotch system is so much lauded. Benevolence and industry bear all the burden of Scotch poverty. Rents and other realized property bear none, as of right, and by force of Law ; and altogether the system is a mere contrivance to pi'event paupers from famishing. Yet, it is so far entitled to respect, in common with the great system of social benevolence that exists in England. However, it is only for the helpless poor that a system of relief should be requisite. The great social want of the Empire is, a system which will obviate the necessity of providing relief for any but the helpless poor — a system, not for the relief of the paupers, cut to prevent able-bodied men from being reduced to pauperipm. The improvement of our agriculture would lead to such a system. Enable the landholders to ex- tend and improve their operations, and to see the results of employing capital and labour exten- sively and continuously — the labour of the pea- sant would be then as actively employed and as well remunerated as the labour of the best manu- facturers, while a demand for wool would ex- ist. At present his labour and the land are un- employed, or insufficiently employed, and the de- mand for food is not supplied. Every other de- mand is supplied but the demand for food, which ought to be supplied abundantly. We have already proposed a measure, to remove these great social evils. But the operation of this measure would be slow, and in the meantime the evils that exist should be arrested by other means. To provide these means, let the great sources of public employment in England, Scotland, and Ire- land, be placed under the controul of commis- sioners, forming a Board of direction in each coun- try. Let each Boardbeassisted by local Committees for districts, elected by the tax-payers. And let all the taxes imposed "for roads, and other public objects, be collected and applied under the con- troul of these bodies. Let them be empowered to levy a general tax on rents, public dividends, lands, and houses, for the support of district asylums for the infirm poor, and deserted, or otherwise destitute children, as also for public hospitals, the erection of national schools, and other public purposes. Let them be supplied with funds for granting loans, to be expended in reclaiming waste lands and making other improvements on private pro- perty for the public good, as means of extending employment and wealth. To prevent the over-pressure of labourers on the public works, and to enforce an alteration of the present system of landlords and landholders, by which the peasantry are pauperized, let the public boards have the power of making levies on lands not employing an adequate number of la- 262 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. bourers, with reference to their profitable capa- city. ]Jut such levies not to be made, unless to provide funds for employing the resident labou- rers of the district, compelled to seek employment from the public. This expedient would be merely temporary. For if once an improved system of agriculture should bo adopted generally, labour would be in such demand that no person willing to work could be unemployed. And then the enactment would become a dead letter. In proposing it wc do not contemplate the local- izing of labour. On the contrary, we would pro- vide that if any landholder should have a full complement of labourers, no matter of what dis- trict or country, he should be exempt from the levy. The check is only intended for capitalists, and to alter their present anti-labour system. It has no relation to the system of settlements. Settlements would be abolished by the proposed arrangements, The tax for the helpless poor and children would be general ; therefore it would be of no consequence in what locality the relief might be given. And where so much labour would be created all over the country, the settle- ment system for workmen could be of no utility to them. Neither would workhouses be requisite, even in towns, except as places of restraint for va- grants. General agricultural activity would necessarily give an impetus to employment in towns which would set all hands to work ; and Loan funds would keep them employed, in periods of exi- gency. In the meantime. Education in national schools would be securing the permanency of that indus- try and social order which the measures we have proposed are capable of ci-eating. Cure fou the Bite of an Addeh. — A short time since, as Mr. St. George, of Prest- bury, was walking near Queen Wood, accompanied by his favourite dog, tlie animal darted at some- thing in the grass, and immediately retreated, as if hurt. On examination it appeared he had met with an anguis in herba ; a large adder was discovered gliding away from the spot, by which the dog had been bitten on the nose. Soon after the animal was seized witli vomiting, his head and throat swelled to an enormous size, and he appeared to suffer great agony. Application was made, as speedy as possi- ble, to Mr. Hingston, chymist and druggist. High- street, who recommended a solution of chloride of lime, which by constant application, reduced the swelling iu about half an hour ; and soon after the dog recovered. Quere : — whether the same remedy would not be efficacious in curing the bite of a rabid dog? We understand that George Savile Foljambe, Esq., is about to erect spacious dog kennels, stables, and houses for the residence of the huntsman, &c., in the parish of Eaton, about two miles from East Retford, where it is intended that gentlemen's fox- hounds shall in future be kept. This arrangement will be a great accommodation, and will prove ad- vantageous to the hounds, inasmuch as they will be situated nearly in the centre of the himt, and instead of having to travel twelve or fifteen miles to the place where they may be appointed to throw off, they will then be within half that distance, which will be a material saving of time, and will also en- sure the hounds to be in as good condition as •reynard, and thus give fair playin having a fair start. ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF WASTE LANDS. (FROM THE QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE) On the Improvement of 197 Imperial Acres 1 Rood 10 Poles of Waste Land on the farm of Pitlandie, the propeii'ty of Lord Lynedoch, in the paruh of Monedie, — as a Tenant ; and q/"415 Acres 1 Rood 10 Poles on the estate of Airleyivight, in the parish of Auchtergaven, Perthshire, — as a Proprietor. By James Wylie, Esq. 1829. My first improvements upon a scale somewhat large, commenced in 1799, when I entered upon a lease for sixteen years of the farm of Pitlandie, the property of Lord Lynedoch. The farm contained in whole 429 acres, of which 190 were waste and un- productive. It was divided into fields of from 20 to 35 acres ; and I was bound by the terms of the lease to cultivate the three best of the waste fields, which contained about 80 acres, within seven years after my entry to the farm. I brought these three fields into what I considered a proper state of cultivation, iu the first three years of the lease, by breaking up the ground as deep as possible, with a very strong plough, drawn by four powerful oxen, with the occa- sional assistance of two horses, and liming at the rata of 144 bushels of good lime-shells per acre. Finding these fields, as I thought, paying well, I set vigorously to work, and brought the whole of the remaining waste land, about 107 acres, into tillage. This portion was inferior soil to the parts pre- viously cultivated ; and being very full of stones, it was necessary to break up part of it by trenching with the spade, the expense of which was about 4/. I5s an acre ; and it required 30s or two guineas more to drain and clear it of stones. Those parts now brought in, thougli they cost more labour and expense than the former, would not, I found, carry a moderate crop without a good dressing of manure. This, brought partly from Perth, cost about 61., 8s an acre. On some of the fields, the first crop was Oats, on others Wheat, and upon the last brought in, green crop. They were all laid into grass, those that had green crop the second year after being im- proved, and the others in the third year, having been under gi-een crop the second year. I conceive that the total expense of bringing the 190 acres into cultivation, was from 9^ 12s to 19Z 4s an acre, averaging 14Z 8s. At the end of my lease, my loss, by cultivating these 190 acres, was about 1,500/, though I have no doubt that the proprietor was benefited from 2,000/ to 2,500/, by a permanent addition being made to his rental, of from 8s to 16s per acre. The causes of this loss to me, I consider to have arisen from the shortness of the lease ; the distance from which the manure was driven ; the depriving of the good land upon the farm of its proportion of tlie manvire, bv too much waste land being- brought in in one season ; the inferiority of part of the waste land, being a poor thin wet clay ; and my not residing upon the farm during the last years of the lease, with the little or no encourage- ment given by the proprietor. — This is my expe- rience as a tenant. I shall now endeavour to state my practice and experience as a proprietor. In 1805, by the death of a relation, I fell heir to the estate of Airleywight, an accurate plan, and the rental of which, had been taken a short time before I got possession. The lands in whole amounted to 1,173 acres, of which there were arable 455 ; moor, risk, and moss, 44 > ; wood, roads, &c., 274 ; and the total rental was 304/. By a very minute plan taken by Mr. Ker, land- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. surveyor in Perth, in 1827, tlie contents are, arable 870, pasture 12, woods lyS, feus 36, steadings 18 acres 3 roods, roads, ditches, &c. 30 ; total in- cluding the decimal parts, 1173 acres. The rental, putting a very naoderate value on the farm in the proprietor's possession, is now at least five times the amount of what it was in 1803. 'J'he manner of making these alterations shall now be explained in as concise a way as possible. In 1807, by which time the 190 acres of waste at Pitlandie, had all been brought into a state of culti- vation, the strong oxen, ploughs, i!kc. were trans- ported to Airley wight. When I got ])ossession, the property had been let to small tenants, with the ex- ception of one farm, which contained 156 acres of cultivated land, and 136 of waste, of which about fifty were moss. This farm only, with the woods, contained 238 acres, came under my management. The strong ploughs were immediately set to work upon a dry field of waste land of about twenty-five acres, which was overrun with very strong whins. These were burnt, and a number of stones blown and carried off to a place thought proper for a farm-stead- ing. This, with the breaking up of a small piece of ground of five or seven-and-a-half acres, was the work of 1807. In 1808, the ground broken up the preceding year, was cross-ploughed and completely broken, the wet parts drained by drains of from three to four feet deep, and filled with stones to the depth of about two feet, and towards the end of the season was ridged up, after having been limed at the rate of about 120 bushels per acre. At this time I settled with one of my tenants, who had eight years of his lease to run, and who had waste land to the amount of 172 acres, for twenty acres of it ; and liberty to plant for shelter a broad belt of trees upon the north- west side of his farm, wliich was the boundary of my property in that direction. Next year the ground broken up in 1807, was sown with oats, and carried a fair crop of from twenty three to thirty-four bushels per acre. The twenty acres got from the tenant, being very similar to that first broken up, were treated nearly the same way. Scotch and larch firs were planted in the belt already mentioned, to an extent of from thirty to fort)' yards in breadth, and from 800 to 900 yards in length. Before this, deep water courses had been cut in the fifty acres of moss, and any parts of it that would take fire burned. It is of great depth, from ten to twenty feet, upon a substratum of clay and shell-marl, and nearlj' level. Small patches of it had sometimes been ploughed or dug and sown with Oats. Any parts of it that would carry the plough were now turned over ; other parts levelled and turned up bv the spade ; the pits formerly made by the tenants in casting peats filled up ; a number of small drains were cast, filled with branches of trees, thorns, &c., and carried into the water courses. These plans were persevered in for several years, and the best parts of the moss were sown with early, Oats, then with turnips or potatoes. At this date what was a most unprofitable waste, is undergoing a regular rotation of cropping, is entirely consolidated, and|the most valuable land for cropping upon the property. It has repeatedly yielded from 58 to 64 bushels of Oats per acre, with very superior crops of turnips aid potatoes. I am in the receipt of 3 guineas an acre, for 12^ to 15 acres of it let to the villagers, and the fact is, they would take the whole at the same or even a higher price. About this time a number of small farms on my own property, and the grounds around me, were being converted into large ones, so that a number of tenants were left without farms, It occurred to me that the land upon the side of the turnpike road might be turned to good account by feuing, and that this would ultimately tend to render the property around them more valuable. There were seventeen feus taken in one day by these small farmers, at the rate of iM an acre, which price I continue to receive to this date, feuing some regularly almost every year. This applies to the south side of the lands. There are also a considerable number of feus towards the north side, where the soil and the situation being less favourable, they aregiven at half the price oftlie other. At this period (1829) the feus liave increased so as to form a considerable village of above 170 houses, by the terms of the lease all covered with slate, con- taining from 800 to 900 inhabitants, and covering an extent of about thirty-seven acres of land, with their houses, gardens, &c. Of the part of the wood on the north-east side of the lands, consisting of about 138 acres, almost all Scotch fir, from forty to fifty years old, which had not been planted but sown, and covered the ground very imperfectly, being so situated as to be of little benefit for shelter, the largest and best of the trees were sold to the villagers for building, &c. ; the in- ferior and smaller ones for coal-pit props. The ground being trenched by the spade, and the trees gradually rooted out, at an expense of from six gui- neas to 71. an acre, was limed at the rate of 120 bushels of lime-shells to an acre, and manured with from twenty to twenty-five loads an acre, of moss burned and mixed after the Meadowbanks method. The expense of improvement was fully covered by the value of the wood. This ground produced upon the whole good crops, and underwent a regular ro- tation of cropping till 1825. That year about sixty- two acres of it were laid in grass, one half of which has this season been ploughed, and yielded an excel- lent crop of oats. It is intended that the other half shall be put into oats next season. It was observed that the places where Scotch fir grew, were inferior both in grass and in the state of the soil, to those parts which were covered by larch. In place of the wood taken up, there have been gradually planted as belts and clumps, and upon steep declivities, and proper places for shelter, from 113 to 126 acres, with larch, oak, &c. which are thriving well. Having come to reside upon the estate in 1812, and the small farms upon the west side of the public road, where the greatest part of the waste land was situated, gradually falling in, I took the ground into my own management ; and having, in 1813 and 1814, erected a steading suitable to a farm of 315 acres, nearly in the middle of what was waste, I continued to bring into cultivation from twelve to twenty acres yearly. In 1817, shell-marl of excellent quality was found in the moss, which was dug and put on the old lands, as well as upon the former wastes, at the rate of 13 tons per acre. The discovery of this marl, which I could dig at the expense of from 4d to 8d per boll, and the considerable quantity of manure obtained Irom the increase of the village, gave an additional stimu- lus to my exertions, lessened the expense of cultiva- tion, and more effectually improved both the waste and old lands. In 1824, all the waste land was brought into cul- tivation, except about 80 acres, a more particular account of the improvement of which shall now be given. No 1, A leveFfield of fifteen acres, rather wet land, much encumbered with stones, but a thick good soil, was cleared of great part of the stones, and deep-ploughed in 1823. It was afterwards cross- ploughed, and completely broken by the brake and 264 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. harrows, well manured with dung and moss, mixed on Lord Meadowbank's plan, marled at the rate of 15^ tons per acre, sown with Wheat in September 1824, and with grass seeds in April 1825. The crop of Wheat was only from 16 to 20 bushels an acre, worth, including- the straw, 6 guineas. In 1826 and 1827, it was in pasture grass each year, worth 32s an acre. Early in 1828, it was ploughed and sown with Oats, which was an excellent crop, at least 48 bushels an acre, value 71, In 1809, it was again sown with Oats, another good crop, about 44 bushels per acre, value 6 guineas. It is now ploughed with a view of being put under green crop in 1830. No 2, A field of 14 acres, rather a dry sharp soil, with a southern exposure. Part of it was trenched by the spade, and another part by the plough ; it was cleared of stones in 1824 ; the mould properly broken in 1825. In 1826, after being well dunged and marled, it produced a crop of turnips, value 'il. ; in 1827, barley, twenty-three to thirty-four bushels, value 51, 12s ; in 1828-9, pasture grass, value 32s an acre. All these crops fully answered expectation. No 3, sixteen acres of a fine southern exposure, mostly dry, but some parts very wet. It was broken up partly in 1825-6. This was almost all done b}^ the spade, at an expense of 41. I5s an acre, being much encumbered with stones, which were blown and carried off. This, with ploughing, harrowing, and draining, cost 41. per acre more. Having been well dunged and marled, it was sown with turnip in 1828, value 4/. ; barley, with grass seeds, in 1829, tliirty-four bushels per acre, value six guineas. The grass looks well. No. 4, This field, containing thirteen acres three roods, has a great variety of soil, and was partly heath, partly whins, with some wet risk. In 1825 and 1826, it was all broken up with strong six horse ploughs [(the work oxen being given up), cross- ploughed, drained, well marled, and dunged, and sown with wheat in the end of September 1828, In spring 1829, although the wheat had previously looked well, by the end of April it was thrown out, and had a very unfavourable appearance. About nine acres of it were ploughed up and sown on the 1st of May with Georgeian oats, and all the field with grass seeds. The five acres of wheat left yielded not more than eight bushels an acre, being much injured b^ the wheat-fly, and were M-orth 21. 8s per acre. The oats were a good crop, of about 40 bushels an acre, value 51. 12s. The grass upon the whole field looks well. No. 5, A small field of about nine acres. This was the mast expensive field that had been broken up, being filled with large stones. A number of these were blown and carried off in 1825 ; it was trenched by tlie spade, and the remainder of the stones caried off in 1826 and 1827; ploughed re- peatedly in 1828 ; sown with wheat after being well dunged and marled, in autumn 1828, grass seeds be- ing sown in 1829. It carried rather an inferior crop, of from thirteen to sixteen bushels an acre, value 41, I5s but had been much injured by the fly. It is intended that all these fields shall remain in grass for several years, except No. 1 . The expense of breaking up and manuring them, I consider to have been, No, 1, 12i per acre ; No. 2, 14/ 8s ; No. 3, 15/ 12s; No. 4, 11/ 12s; No. 5, 16/, averaging about 13/ 18s per acre. The remainder of the waste land upon the estate, say 15 acres, is this season about one-half in turnip, the other ploughed or trenched, and "-eady for a crop in 1830, which finishes the cult vation oithe unproductive land upon my property. The labour of oxen was found very useful so long as there was very rough ground to be broken up, but when the ground was brought into tiUage, the work was conceived to be done better and cheaper by horses. Upon soils, such as the greater part of those men- tioned above, the most prodsctive first crop was al- ways potatoes or turnip, and from experience these crops were commonly preferred where it was prac- ticable. The advantages which a proprietor has above a tenant in improving ground, was found from experi- ence to be very great ; 1st, The certainty of reaping the benefit of his improvements. 2d, The use he can make of the stones taken from the ground in buildings, drains, fences, and roads. In my own case, I have built two large steadings, for farms of 315 acres each ; a small steading, with suitable courts of offices to each ; two houses for thrashing- mills driven by water, and upwards of twenty houses in the village, chiefly with these stones. 3d, There are often parts of a field not worth the expense of im- provement, or where trees may be useful either for ornament or shelter, and a proprietor has full liberty to plant them agreeably to his taste. The Mole Cricket. — Within the last two months, that formidable insect, commonly called the Mole Cricket, has been found in considerable numbers in the neighbourhood of the Brass Mills, in the pa- rish of Weston, near Bath. This animal varies in length from one inch to three inches and a half. Its head is defended by a shell-like substance, under- neath which protrude two claws, which are furnished with teeth, admirably fitting the creature for the de- devastating ravages which it is known to commit upon certain vegetables. It is also supplied with wings ; and is astonishingly active in its movements. So destructive is it, that, in gardens where it is found, whole patches of potatoes, and of various other escu- lents, have been partially devoured. In the potatoe grounds,where it has been more particularly observed, it has been found to commence its operations by bur- rowing under the earth, several yards in zig-zag di- rection, and destroying every vegetable substance in its progress. It would appear that having sated its appetite, it then descends perpendicularly to a depth of from two to three feet in the soil, where it remains in a dormant state, probably until hunger again calls it forth to renew its work of spoliation. These de- structive insects located themselves in some of the fields adjoining the above situation, about three years since, where the}"- remained during the summer months, and then suddenly disappeared. SpAXisn CoAcnsiANSHip, — The mayoral, or con- ducteur of a Spanish diligence sits on the coach box in front and drives his motley team, con- sisting of from eight to twelve horses and mules harnessed and placed as chance may seem to direct, chiefly by the sound of bis voice. He has neither reins nor whip, but addressing each horse or mule by its name of Capitana, Juanita, Tomassina, &c., he speaks cheeringly, or chidingl}', as the case may need. Occasionally he jumps dosvn from the seat, runs by the side of the carriage, and yet contrives, while keeping pace with the perhaps accelerated speed of the animals, to fill the pockets of his smart braided round jacket with stones, which, with sin- gular dexterity, after he has remounted, he throws at the awkward or refractory beast, and accompany- ing each stone with a volley of curses, invariably succeeds in bringing the offenders to immediate subjection. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 265 PARING AND BURNING. (FROM THE QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE) Upon the basis of my six preliminary facts, I am disposed to look upon pnring- aud burning, as well as heath burning, in the light of an instantaneous fal- low ; a similar effect upon the excrementitious matter contained in the soil being rapidly produced by fire to that slowly produced by exposure to the sun's light in the process of fallowing. There are, be- sides, as in the case of fallowing, other secondary and subordinate effects (though hitherto considered the principal) that will come to be noticed as we proceed. The practice of paring and burning appears to be as ancient as that of fallowing ; and Virgil, who mentions it, is moreover not far from the truth in one of his explanations of its effects. Oft, too, it has been gainful found to burn The barren fields with stubble's crackling flames. Whether from thence they secret strength receive. And richer nutriment ; or by the fire All latent mischief and redundant juice Oozing sweats off; or whether the same heat Opens the hidden pores, that new supplies Of moisture may refresh the recent blades ; Or hardens more, and with astringent force Closes the gaping veins; lest drizzling showers Should soak too deep, or the sun's parching rays Or Boreas' piercing cold, should dry the glebe. Trapp's Virg, Georg. i. 152. It has probably been move or less practised from the times of the ancients, though it does not seem to have been a prominent process during very early times in England, if 1 may judge from the following notice of it by Switzer, in his "Compendious Me- thod," 8vo, 1729, now before me. " The last ac- count of improvements I shall give (and which is, I think, the greatest and easiest to be come at), is an improvement made by the burning of clay : the first experiment of which was made, as I am told, by the present Right Honourable Earl of Halifax, and is much practised in Sussex." This, however, appears to be a little different from what is usually under- stood by paring and burning, which consists in paring off the surface of land or the grassy turf there- of, with an implement termed a breast plough, to the depth of one or more inches, and in burning what is thus pared off" by means of brushwood, peat, or other combustible materials, when the pared off mate- rials are not combustible enough to burn without addition. Mr. Minchin of Hazleton, Gloucestershire, says it has been but a few years practised in any part of the kingdom, and was but little known till within the last sixty in his vicinity, where, on the Cotswolds and the adjoining parts of Oxfordshire, it is so exten- sively, and, upon some lands, so uniformly, adopted, that it has become a striking feature in the rural eco- nomy of the district. Effects of PAniNG and Butining. — It has al- ready been hinted that the effects of paring and burning, so far as I understand them, are primarily very similar to those of iallowing, that is, the excre- mentitious matter thrown into the soil by previous crops, such as grass on old pasture, is, by the opera- tion of fire, decomposed and exhaled into the air. The soil, which is thus freed from a portion of its noxious constituents, will of course be rendered more fertile than it could be by any other known process, not even excepting fallowing and manu- ring. But besides the rapid decorapositioa and exhala- tion of the excrementitious materials in the soil, the burning will effect other important changes, though, as I shall try to show, these are, with respect to fertilizing, only secondary and inferior in value to the main operation of purifying the soil of what is chemically noxious. The chief of these beneficial though secondary effects is, that the fresh or but partlv decomposed roots, stems, and leaves of grass, or other herbage, are, by means of fire, charred, or, as a chemist would say, carbonized, and it is well known that carbon is, together with humin, the principal constituent of the food of plants. This carbon in the form of ashes is, after the burning', spread over the pared soil by way of manure, and is imagined by most writers to be the only advantage of the process, an opinion which I myself enter- tained not many weeks ago before I turned my thoughts to what I now consider to be a much higher result. I have elsewhere ( FieldNat. Mag, i.'ii9), mention- ed, that, on passing through the Black Eorest in Ger- many in autumn 1832, 1 was particularly struck with the effect of paring and burning the soil. The steep and almost perpendicular declivities were there in tlieir apparently natural state covered with stunted brush- wood, chiefly birch and hazel, starved Scotch firs, and tufts of the coarser grasses ; and no English farmer, I think, would have dreamed of trying to rear a crop of corn on such a place. The industrious foresters, however, undeterred by what might appear, under the most favourable circumstances, an indif- ferent prospect, 'Carefully grub up the brushwood, pare oft' the scanty sward of grass, and, piling them up in small heaps, burn the whole to ashes. Tliese are scattered over the pared surface, and dug or rather scratched in with a sort of pronged hoe or a narrow spade. In some instances a slight dressing of dung is added, though this is not universal ; but after all these operations, the soil seems to be little more than a mass of half-broken and half-powdered slates. I was therefore not a little surprised to ob- serve crops of oats growing there — not very good certainly, but tolerable enough to repay the farmer's trouble. Had I then known the principles now ad- vocated, I should have felt no surprise whatever at such a result ; for the declivities having been for ages under brushwood and coarse grass, the whole soil, from its particular shallowness, must have been quite saturated with excrementitious matter, and this hav- ing been in large proportion expelled by burning, while another smaller portion would become decom- posed in consequence of the pared surface being ex- posed to the warm autumnal sun, the whole must be very considerably purified and rendered fit, beyond what the inexperienced might believe, for sustaining a light crop of corn. That it is not the ashes alone, produced by the burning, which cause the additional fertility, is proved by circumstances which every reader may re- mark. It is no uncommon thing in Scotland to make a fire by a burn-side for the convenience of heating water to wash with, and what I wish to call attention to is, that after some weeks or even a whole year elapses, these burn-side fire-places show very luxu- riant grass, not in the spot so much where the ashes have been spread, as on the outskirts thereof, where the heat has decomposed and expelled the excremen- titious matter of the soil. The same thing precisely may be observed in the green lanes about London, where the gypsies make their fires ; and in the forests of the Jura in Switzerland, I was still more struck witli theluxuriant herbage around the places where charcoal is manufactured, extending as far as the heat of the fire seemed to havo penetrated. That it was not the s 266 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. acciJental scattering of the ashes to which this very striking- luxuriance was attributable, appeared most clearly from the effect being uniform to a certain dis- tance from the central fire-place, the deeper green and the taller grass gradually shading off as this dis- tance increased into the bare brown sward, if sward it miglit be called, of the forest; whereas, had the luxuriance been caused by the accidental scattering of ashes, it would have been patchy, irregular, and interrupted. I will not deny, that the luxuriance may in part have been caused by the evolution by means of the heat of a greater proportion of humin, carbonic acid gas, or other constituents of plant food con- tained in the soil, and this indeed was the opinion I first formed ; but when the fact was taken into con- sideration, that no supply of such constituents will produce the same effects as fire is observed to do, 1 hold this to be strong proof of the positions for which I am contending. Were the effect, indeed, to be ascribed to humin, we should find a similar deep green and luxuriant herbage around dungliills and compost heaps, from the drainings of liquid manure soaking into the soil. I need not tell the observant reader, however, that the herbage here is almost uniformly rank and dropsical, and as unlike the vigo- rous and healthy grass of the burn-side fire-places, the g'ipsey spots in the lanes, and the forest char- coal circles in Switzerland, as the bloated corpus of an ale-swilling publican is like the sturdy thews and sinews of a Lothian ploughman, or the fresh com- plexion of a Cheviot shepherd. Even the patches of tall grass in pastures, caused by cattle droppings, are too rank to be much relished by cows or horses. This explanation, then, of the effects of paring and burning having been so strongly corroborated by such well-known facts, it will be but right to advert briefly to the theories, or rather the fancies, of others, for they do not, as we shall see, account for many of the circumstances above pointed out. Previous Theories of Paving and Burning. — It is not a little singular that the old popular notion on the effects of paring and burning is much nearer what I consider to be the true theory, than the one which has been promulgated by scientific writers. Dr. Home, in his " Pmiciples of Agriculture," tells us that " farmers think it acts by dispelling a sour juice which land has contracted from lying long untilled ;" and they accordingly recommend it for such lands, wliile they all agree that it injures rich land. In this, of course, they are quite right. Dr. Home, however, was not content witli this po- pular nation of a " sour juice," though, had he in- vestigated the matter, he might possibly have been led to tlie great discoveries of Brugmans, De Can- dolle, and Macaire. Instead of this, he says, " I imagine, that the benefit arising from it is owing to the alkaline salt (^potass) arising from burning the roots of vegetables ;" and this, in fact, is the basis of most of the theories which have been proposed. The objection made to this by the Earl of Dun- donald is, it appears to me, fatal to the whole doc- trine. " The proportion,'' says his Lordship, " of alkaline or other salts, produced by paring and burn- ing, is so very small, that were the benefits imme- diately resulting from paring and burning to be as- cribed solely to these salts, the purchase of them at the market price might perhaps be more economical." Dr. Darwin, without taking any notice of Dr. Home or Lord Dundonald's notions, refers the effect to the supposed production of what he terms nitrous acid, observable in form of a calcareous nitre, as of eifforescence on mouldering brick walls. " As these soft efilorescent bricks," he says, " from old houses, are known powerfully to promote vegetation,when pul- verized and mixed with the soil, at the same time that they are capable of producing nitrous acid, I imagine, that the use of paring and burning the turf of some' newly enclosed commons, depends on this circum- stance ; that is, that the heat emitted from the burn- ing vegetable fibres unites oxygen with the clay, which forms more than half the slices of turf as they are dug from the ground. In other respects, the par- ing and burning of grass grounds would certainly be a wasteful procedure." All this being fanciful, it is well introduced, as we have seen Dr. Home's theory was, by the phrase, I imagine." The effects of paring and burning, as explained by Sir Humphrev Davy, are more conformable to fact than many of his other agricultural theories, and are only deficient, as the most of such theories are, in be- ing confined to subordinate and secondary matters. " Many obscure causes," says Sir Humphrey, " have been referred to for the purpose of explaining the effects of paring and burning ; but, I believe, that they may be referred entirely to the diminution of the coherence and tenacity of clays, and to the destruction of inert and useless vegetable matter, and its conversion into manure." " When clay or tenacious matters are buint, the effect is of the same kind ; they are brought nearer to a state analogous to that of sands. " In the manufacture of bricks, the general princi- ple is well illustrated ; if a piece of dry brick earth be applied to the tongue, it will adhere to it very strongly, in consequence of its power to absorb water ; but after it has been burnt, there will scarce- ly be a sensible adhesion. " The process of burning renders the soil less compact, less tenacious, and retentive of moisture ; and, when properly applied, may convert a matter that was stiff, damp, and in consequence cold, into one powdery, dry, and warm, and much more proper as a bed for vegetable life. " The great objections made by speculative che- mists to paring and burning, is, that it destroys vegetable and animal matter, or the manure in the soil ; but in cases in which the texture of its earthy ingredient is permanently improved, there is more than a compensation fo"" tins temporary disadvan- tage ; and in some soils, where there is an excess of inert vegetable matter, the destruction of it must be beneficial, and the carbonaceous matter remaining in the ashes may he more useful to the crop than the vegetable fibre from which it was produced. " All soils that contain too much dead vegetable fibre, and which consequently lose from one-third to one-half of their weight by incineration ; and all such as contain their earthy constituents in an im- palpable state of division, i. e. the stiff' clays and marls, are improved by burning ; but in coarse sands or rich soils containing a just mixture of the earths, and in all cases in which the texture is already suffi- ciently loose, or the organizable matter sufficiently soluble, the process of torrefaction cannot be useful. " All poor siliceous sands must be injured by it, and practice is found to accord with theory. Mr. Young, in his essay on manure, states, ' that he found burning injure sand ;' and the operation is never per- formed by good agriculturists upon siliceous sandy soils, after they have been once brought into cultiva- tion." Mr. Minchin is not disposed to admit Sir H. Davy's objection to paring and burning on liglitlands, till it has been experimentally proved, as all theories which bear upon practical subjects should be. What could be the motive of some proprietors in his vicinity for prohibiting paring and burning, I cannot conceive, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, 267 unless it were some fanciful tLeory. The process was also discountenanced, if not prohibited, by the, government in Ireland ; whereas, it appears to me, it would he the most important measure that could be adopted in that country, for purifying the soil now so overloaded with potato excretions, that extensive failures in the crop are not uncommon. Mr. Ilayward, a shrewd and intelligent writer, says, " it is evident that the most important and per- manent effects of fire consist in imparting calcareous quality to the earth ;" a thing which, if lie had consi- dered for a moment, he must have seen to be utterly imposible rather tlian " evident.'' Ilis practical testimony to the eft'ect of the process, however, is of more importance than the most ingenious theory. " I once saw," he says, " a very large field, of a stiff foxy clay, laid down to turnips, one-half had been reduced by burning, and the other not ; the part that was burnt, was clothed with as fine a crop of roots as could be wished for; whilst, on the other, the seed, although the same in both cases, and sown at the same time, ajipeared to liave failed, there being only a few thin patches of plants ; and the cause was obvious. The surface of the unburnt clay was closed, and ren- dered impervious, immediately after sowing, by rain ; but the calcination of the soil in the other kept it open, and made it accessible to the air, which is posi- tively necessar}' for the germination of seeds." Wild Dogs in Van Diejian's Land. — Tiie " Ho- bart Town Courier" states, that the ravages com- mitted by the wild dogs on the sheep throughout the interior, continue to be the subject of dail}' and in- c easing complaint. The rapidity with which these animals multiply, and the growing savageness of their nature, render them one of the worst scourges, as far at least as regards property and subsistence, that has yet visited this j'oung colony. Indeed, the kangaroo dogs, or mongrels of the mastiff and grey- hound, from which they have sprung, are in their wild state both fierce and powerful, and, congregat- ing in parties as they do, are far more dangerous to man than so many wolves. In one or two instances, human life has already been put in danger by them. In further illustration of this subject, we may quote the following from the article " Ascension Island," in the " Penny Cyclopsedia :" — " In order to des- trov the rats with which the island was overrun, a number of cats were introduced, which, however, multiplying and becoming wild, proved very destruc- tive to the young lowls and rabbits, so that the gar- rison have been compelled to call to their assistance a colony of bull-terriers to wage war on their com- bined enemies of the feline tribe." It seems to us not unlikely that, unless a proper check be kept on their increase, the terriers will become wild like the cats they were introduced to destroy. Ei'SOM ll.Acts.— A numerous meeting was held at the LJritish Coffee-house, Cockspur-street, on Wed- nesday, July o, of the proprietors of the new Grand Stand on Epsom Ptace-course, when it was resolved unanimously, " That the committee be empowered to issue 125 to 250 new shares, bearing an interest of o per cent, and that they be further empowered to pay such interest regularly out of the proceeds of the Stand. The shares to be redeemable at par, after the expiration of five years." A subscription was then entered into by the noblemen and gentlemen in the room, with the ^amount of which, added to that then in the hands of the Treasurer of the Association, tliey AN'ill be enabled to exonerate the concern from one-half of its present debt. EXPERIMENT IN THE CULTURE OF POTATOES. BY THE REV. JAMES FARQUHARSON, OF ALFORD. I am not aware of any experiment having been made, similar to the one I am now about to describe; and as the result of that has turned out to be im- portant, in a practical view, it may not be unwor- thy of the notice of the Highland Society. I had not the merit of devising it, for it was first made by my servant. In the year 1824, at the time of hoeing the potato crop, I observed thirty or forty plants in part of one drill, so greatly su- perior to any other in the field, that I became de- sirous of knowing the cause, and, on inquiring of my servant, he gave me the following account : — At the time of planting, the potatoes cut for plants had become exhausted, before the prepared ground was all planted, and he had carried some whole potatoes to be cut by the planters in the field. Observing among these several potatoes of large size, he had, with his own hands, planted thirty or forty of these uncut and together in one drill, which he had marked, to see whether the produce would be large potatoes. They received no additional manure, and were planted, in all re- spects under equal circumstances, and at equal distances with the other plants in the field. I observed that these plants maintained a great superiority in all stages of their growth, and obvi- ously attained a state of full ripeness before any others. At the time of digging them, in autumn, their produce was carefully attended to, and found to be in a remarkable degree superior in the weight of crop, and largeness and uniformity of the potatoes. In the succeeding season, I ordered the experi- ment to be renewed, on as large a scale as ray field admitted of, and varied, by planting the great- er part of the field with cuts of large-sized pota- toes, and some drills with uncut large ones, and others with small ones uncut and cut. I regret that I did not keep any note of the weight of the crops raised after the several sizes, the experiment being intended at the time solely for my own information ; but the increase in weight after the large potatoes, both cut and uncut, was exceedingly great. I have since adopted the practice of planting cuts of large-sized potatoes only ; and can now state it as a proposition universally true, that the produce of large tubers is much more abundant, more uniform in size, and considerably earlier than that of small tubers, under equal circum- stances of soil and planting. It will be objected to the system of planting large potatoes, that if we gain a greater weight of produce, we have previously put a greater weight of plants into the ground. But the additional weight of the plants bears only a small proportion to the additional produce ; had it been otherwise, I should not have deemed the experiment worth reporting. The fact is, that the additional pro- duce, when large tubers are exclusively chosen for planting, may amount to two or three times the whole weight of the plants. I have been enabled to turn the result of the above experiment to account, in extending to cul- ture in the field, an early variey of the potatoe, which I got in 1826. In that year I purchased for trial small quanti- ties of several varieties of potatoes, recommended each for some particular quality, and announced for sale by a seedsman, I did not find any of these s 2 268 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. worthy of being continued in cultivation, except- ing an early one, with which 1 got no name. It ripens about a month before the white kidney, has a very good flavom- for the table, and preserves its good qualities after being pitted through the win- ter, a thing not common in early varieties. Its imperfections, when I first got it, were, that the tubers were small, and weight of crop inferior, which, although not making it objectionable as an early garden potatoe for the table, unfitted it for field culture for the cattle. As in this country (upper' district of Aberdeen- shire) our common field varieties of the potatoe are liable to have their tops smitten by incidental hoar-frosts in the months of August and Septem- ber, before they are fully ripened, and thus to be much deteriorated in quality, and often rendered deficient in quantity, it occurred to me, that it might be an object worth attaining, to increase the size and produce of this early potatoe, by the means indicated by the above experiments ; when, if this could be done, we should have a good keep- ing potatoe adapted for field culture, and ripening early enough to escape the frost. By a careful selection of only the largest tubers for plants, for a succession of years, this object has now been satisfactorily accomplished ; and for the the last two years the half of my field potatoes, raised for the cattle and poultry, has been of this variety, and has given a weight of produce, ripen- ing very early, scarcely, if at all, inferior to that of any other variety formerly in cultivation in this neighbourhood. — Quarterly Journal of Agriculture. POTATOE CROP. (From the Perth Courier.) The failure of the potatoe crop to a remarkable extent for two successive years has naturally excited general attention, and, as was to be expected, prompted to no small amount of speculation regard- ing- the cause of a phenomenon, which cannot be viewed otherwise than as a most serious disaster, affecting a very large portion of the community. We find that one of the most generally accepted notions on the subject is, that the present mode of propaga- ting the crop by cuttings is at fault ; and that either a new importation of seed from South America, or at least an occasional recurrence to the apple, is es- sential in order to continue the successful cultivation of this plant. This hypothesis is not a new one, and it may be as well to know upon what grounds it was originally started. Perhaps it may be recollected that, some twelve months ago or so, we noticed the same objection taken to the propagation of fruit-trees by means of grafFs. Some theorist having observed, as he thought, a wearing out of certain varieties, set himself to conjecturing as to the cause, and hit upon what appeared to many a verv plausible way of ac- counting for the circumstance. As trees, like animals, said he to himself, have each a specific term of existence, beyond which they individually cannot endure, it follows, seeing that a graff is but a portion of the old tree, and not proper!}^ a successor to it, as is the case when the plants are raised from the seed, that no tree can be propagated in this manner beyond the natural period of life of the original stock. In order to illustrate this conception let us make use of a somewhat monstrous supposition : We know that the natural term of human life is threescore and ten years, now stipposing it were possible to transplant parts of the human body, such as fingers, arras, legs, &c. from one individual to another, as each of these parts would be endowed with the same measure of vitality as the original body from which they were taken, it is obvious that although a person's several members were disposed of in this style, and the nose of one individual perhaps sported upon the face of another a la Talicotius ; still, however great the im- mediato improvement might be, and however admi- rably and vigorously the parts might flourish for a time in their new locations, nevertheless a period would arrive — that of the fatal three score and ten, wlien — as if actuated by some common bond of sympathy — the whole would droop and die in obe- dience to their destiny. In accordance with this notion, it was conceived that those varieties of our a])ple trees which had exhibited symptoms of decay were approacliing to the limit of their term of life, bej'ond which, as parts of the same individual, they could not reach. Now this hypothesis, as we for- merly shewed, is founded upon a total misconception of the subject. Death, whether as regards animals or plants, is always brought about by physical causes; and the reason that certain species or varieties have particular terms of life is, that their respective organizations are only fitted to undergo a limited succession of changes when they becoma in- capacitated for the longer performance of their func- tions. But it will be at once seen that this reason does not hold in the very case for which the liypothesis was invented. The part ofthe apple tree which is used , as a graff, although may be belonging to a very old and decaying stock, is itself young, and fitted, under its new circumstances, for a long period of future growth. So that we see there is really no limit in such cases to the extension of individual existence. If this hypothesis, then, will not stand an examina- tion in regard of the particular case to account for which it was invented, we can hardly expect it will shed much light upon the present failure of the pota- toe crop, although it is frequently referred to as if it afforded a satisfactory solution of the problem. The fact is, the very circumstance of an annual plant like the potatoe having been propagated fornear a century among us, by means of cuttings, is perfectly demon- strative of its futility. Another hypothesis to ac- count for the failure of the potatoe crop, which we have heard insisted on by some practical men, need not detain us. It is said that some epidemical in- fluence has prevailed for the last two j^ears, analogous to cholera or other general epidemics, but in this instance only affecting the potatoe crops. This of course affords no explanation ; as the illustration of the obscure by what is still more obscure can only at best be regarded in the way of an attempt to make the full darkness of the subject visible. Discarding, then, for the present, such sweeping- views, we would recommend to those whose oppor- tunities fit them for undertaking the investigation, a less ambitious mode of procedure. We need not say that the first and essential point is to get possession as far as possible of all the facts bearing- on the question, not in a loose and vague way, but in a jn-e- cise and properly authenticated form. By coustruct- ing an extensive table of this sort, and comparing the different observations with each other, we think, however it might fare as to the discovering of tlie general cause of the mischief, that at least a number of collateral or subordinate causes which have ope- rated inimically could not fail to be detected, -and the knowledge of which would be of the greatest advantage in the future management of the crops. By way of exemplifying- what we mean, we will mention a few circumstances which may be received perhaps as a partial contribution to the general stock. In the neiglibourhood of Cupar, where, we are sorry to say, the failure is extensive ; so much so, that the THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 269 deficiency on several farms cannot be reckoned at less than from a third to a half of the entire crop — we have heard the general deficiencj, taking- the whole county into view, estimated at from ten to fifteen per cent — an undue degree of heat and dry- ness about the planting season would appear to have oper.ated chiefly as the immediate cause of the mis- chief. In proof of this, although the evil is not confined apparently to any particular sort of soil, the failure is decidedly most I'emarkable on dry warm exposures. On the sloping and gravelly bank to the north and east of the town, and also in some places where tlie soil is of a clavey nature, so as to crack and let iu the drought, the failure is particularly remarkable. Another class of circumstances which demands much attention, refers to tlie effects where different sorts of dung have been used on the same field. It has invariably happened, so far as we can learn, that the drier and hotter the manure has been the greater has been the failure ; for example, the dung chiefly used in one instance had lain on the field during winter, and was consequently well de- couijiosed and free from any heat arising from fer- mentation ; but not proving sufficient for the purpose, a supply of a different nature was brought from the dung-yard to make up the deficiency : the conse- quence was, that where the field-dung was used the crop is doing excellentlv, while on the remainder of the field it has totally failed. Again, a gentleman of our acquaintance had a field planted with the same sort of seed, but after two fashions. In the one case the seed was laid among the dung in the usual way ; in the other put beneath it, as we believe is less generally the practice, the difference in the crop was most decided. Where the seed in the latter case had been protected from the drought, and from tlie heat arising from the manure, which, of course, always ascends, and had moreover the advantage of having one of its sides at least exposed to the cool soil, the crop did well, in the other case it was a failure. The other evening a field of beautiful pota- toes was pointed out to us without a single blank, while some of the adjoining fields were as striking for their failures. In the former case, we learned that the dung had been ploughed in the autumn, the latter being planted in the usual way. In confor- mity with this, we may mention another field in the neighbourhood which was dunged in the course of the winter. In this case also, the crop has every appearance of being abundant : In another, the dung- was ploughed in with the sets, these have also done well — they with very few exceptions came up and are giving good promise: Again, in a field adjoining the last, where the seed and dung where put to- gether into the drills, four sets out of five missed, although the seed was of the same description with the former. These cases, we think, establish pretty conclusively that oue cause, at le-ast, of the failure is connected witli temperature, and naturally suggest a particular inquiry into the state of the weather at, and for a i'ew weeks after, the time of potatoe planting during the ■ two jiast seasons. In some cases there can be no doubt that the seed has been at fault. In one field, for example, in the neighbourhood, which is remark- able for its generally excellent -appearance, four rows have totally failed. The whole field was treated in precisely the same manner, only the seed was differ- ent. In another case, where tiie seed was suspected, and was carefully selected from clioice varieties from a farm on the other side of the Tay, it totally failed, while on the same field other seed did well. Again, a person at Cupar JMuir, who was particular in both selecting and keeping his seed, and using only the best portions, failed twice in successive plantings on ground where potatoes had not beea grown for many years, shewing that a too frequent repetition of a similar crop on the same ground was not the cause, -and succeeded perfectly the third time by using a diff"erent sort, which, by the bye, had the reputation of being only the third year from the apple. Here, however, the weather, and circumstances -as regards manure, &c., would necessarily be somewhat different. As regards seed, the varieties which have failed or succeeded should be particularly noted, and especially whether they are of a late or early de- scription. It is not improbable that the late kinds, from not being duly ripened, have chiefly failed from this cause. The mode of keeping the seed, so as to avoid heating in the pits, &c., also claims attention, and the time of planting after being cut. If long kept it is apt to be too much dried up, and if planted immediately before a crust is formed over the cut surface, it would appear to be more susceptible of undergoing, when excluded from the air, a prejudicial change. In several cases of failure the seed has been found black, as if charred without, and of much the -appearance and consistency of gingerbread, when broken into. But we must conclude these hasty euid ill-digested observations, which are thrown out chiefly by way of suggestion. Should we succeed in causing a practical and rational inquiry to be made into the subject we will have obtained our object ; and, we doubt not, the event will prove that old Father IMurphy is not yet so tired of us, but that, if we treat him well, we will not need to supply the place of his long sojourn by -an importation of his children from South America. THE COMMON BRAMBLE. (From the moral of Flowers.) What dost thou here, pale flower 'i Thou that afore -wert never seen to shine In gay parterre, or gentle lady's bower. In lover's wreath or poet's gifted line. Why from thy lowly haunts Art thou now call'd, to have a place and name 'Mid buds whose beauty fancy's eye enchants. Whose fragrance puts thy senseless leaves to shame 1 'Tis that thou suffering ill. Yea spurned and trodden by the passer by. Blossom and berry dost thou proffer still. As all unmindful of the injury. Hardest of lessons this. To suffer wrong with meekness — few, how few. The hand which smiles unjusly stoop to kiss. Or blessings on their foeman's pathway strew. Then welcome, lowly flower ! Welcome amid the fragrant and the gay ; For which of all the buds in summer bower Can fitter lesson to a proud man convey ? W^e mentioned a few days ago (says the Norfolk Herald), as a singular freak of nature, that a female mule, belonging to a gentleman in Suffolk, had proved with foal, and had actually brought forth. The fact being doubted by several gentlemen here, we have thought it worth the trouble to inquire more particularly about it, and we have now before us a letter tiom the proprietor of the mule (John T, Kilby, Esq.), fully confirming our statement. — Ame- rican Paper . 270 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. FEMALE EMIGRATION TO AUSTRA- LIA. On Thursday, July 10, the large ship David Scott, of 775 tons register. Captain Owen commander, sailed from Gravesend with 350 passengers, bound to Sydney, New South Wales, of whom 280 are females between the ages of 15 and 30 years, who, with few exceptions, by the aid of bis Majesty's Government, have been provided with a passage on the payment of 51. only. The remainder, com- prising a very small proportion of the emigrants, have been sent out without any advance of money at all, on giving their notes of hand to pay 61. each in the colony, within a reasonable time after their arrival, when they have acquired the means to do so. The Hero steamer, Captain Nash, had been engaged by the Emigration Committee, of which Edward Eorster, Esq., is Chairman, and of which Messrs. Pirie, Lushington, Bracebridge, Lewin, Crawford, Captain Pring, R.N., and many other influential gentlemen, are members, to convey the emi- grants from St. Katherine's to the ship, and at six o'clock the steamer moved alongside the wharf, where the Committee, attended by Mr. John Mar- shall, their active agent ; Mr. Pinnock, of the Colo- nial Office ; Captain Nash, Captain Owen, and seve- ral other gentlemen, attended to look after the fair ones, and superintend their embarkation, which cre- ated a good deal of interest. All the passengers did not muster until half-past eight o'clock, and the steamer was delayed beyond that time by the parting of the women with their friends. The word having been given for the steamer to get under way, the scene became painfully interesting, fi-om the number of females parting with their friends. Several, overcome by their feelings at leaving home, country, and kin- dred, were deeply affected, and as they pronounced the word " farewell !" burst into tears, or swooned in the arms of their parents, brothers, and sisters. The leave-taking, however, went off as well as could be expected under such circumstances, and the ma- joi-ity of the women appeared in high spirits. The Hero left the whart amidst loud cheers from the spectators on the pier-head, who accompanied their plaudits with many prayers and many wishes for the future happiness and prosperity of their country- women. The steamer arrived alongside the David Scott about half-past eleven o'clock, and having been made fast alongside the ship the passengers were taken on board the vessel with their luggage, and conducted by Mr. Marshall and the Committee to their berths below, with the arrangements of wiiich they appeared highly satisfied. About lOO sleeping- places have been erected on each side of the ship, extending fore and aft, and each berth is adapted for three persons, exclusive of accommodations for 22 passengers in the poop. The port- holes are nume- rous, excellent ventillation is preserved between decks, embracing a height of seven feet, and there is a space of at least 18 feet in width between the sleeping berths, and nearly 80 feet in length, which is preserved for the use of the women, who will, by this arrangement, have plenty of room to walk about. The men's berths are in the fore part of the vessel, and strong bulk-heads, excluding both sight and sound, separate them from all communication with the females, and it is determined to preserve tlie strictest delicacy and separation of the sexes through- out the voj-age. An hospital capable of accommo- dating 16 persons, has been fitted up with medicine chest and every convenience for the use of invalids, and Mr. Docker, an experienced naval siirgeon, has been appointed to attend on the sick during the voyage. Lieut. Marshall, R.N., and his wife, who are accompanied by their family, will officiate as su- perintendant and matron, and under their immediate controul the passengers will be placed. The instruc- tions with which the Committee have furnished Lieutenant and Mrs. Marshall have been framed with a most careful attention to the wants and necessities which must necessarily arise during a fifteen or six- teen weeks' voyage, and form an excellent institute upon which a code of regulations may be based. The passengers are divided nito parties of eight, each party forming a separate mess. To preserve the comfort and cleanliness of all on beard, all the pack- ages containing clothes not required ibr use during the first four weeks were required to be put on board three days before the sailing of the vessel, and stowed in the lower hold of the ship, and nothing but neces- saries for one month's use on the voyage are allowed to be placed between decks where the females sleep. The provisioning of the passengers is upon a scale of great liberality. The biscuit b-ead is of the best quality, and there is a good supply of sheep, pigs, fowls, &CC., besides flour, cheese, beef, pork, peas, and rice. An ample allowance of wine will be served out during the voyage, imd so liberal is the supply of water that each passenger will be allowed three (juarts daily. Samples of the bread, beef, and pork, were served to the Committee, and several Noblemen and Gentlemen, visiters, who witnessed the embarkation, pronounced the food excellent, and of the best quality. Besides the sum of 51. paid by the women for their passage, the}^ are moreover re- quired to furnish themselves with suff.cient clothing for the voyage, and we did not observe one who had failed in this respect. The want of farm servants having been much felt in the colony of New South Wales, tLe Emigration Committee have infused into the consignment of the David Scott a larger quantity of country girls and persons connected with agricultural pursuits than have yet gone out in any emigrant ship i'rom Great Britain. There are no less than 15 agricultural fami- lies on board from the counties of Kent, Surrey, Essex, and Suffolk. Among them is Mr. Crocker, who may with truth be cvilled a fine old English yeo- man, with his wife, ten daughters, and two sons. This remarkably fine family of fourteen persons were objects of great attention and interest; eight of the girls, rosy-cheeked smiling lasses, are between the ages of fifteen and thirty, and have been assisted by the Parliamentary grant. l\Ir. Crooker for many^ years was the holder and cultivator of a large farm near Bexley, in Kent, but, to use his own words, " the black ox trod on his foot." He became reduced, and was ultimately compelled to give up his farm. To support his family he accepted the situation of bailiff to a landholder. Fresh misfortunes have lately overtaken him, and in the hopes of bettering the con- dition of his family, he has now emigrated to a dis- tant clime. He has gone out with high recommenda- tions, and with such a family, brought up to habits of industry, they will prove an invaluable acquisition to tJie colony. Mr. Crooker is a remarkably tall, well-formed, healthy man, upwards of 55 years of age, but apparently 15 years younger. The attention of this patriarch seemed to be exclusively devoted to his children, who said they must be happy where he was. He seemed in high spirits, and assisted tlie sailors in heaving the capstan as if he had been all his life at sea. Nothing but an active life, he said, would do for him ; he could not be idle. This family were loudly cheered by the visiters and crew, and " God bless you! may success attend you!" was uttered by numerous voices. Sevei'al other agricul- turists, who have been all their lives connected with THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 271 farming- pursuits, and who intend cultivating land in the colony, will be of more service to New South Wales than all the ship-loads of convicts who have }'et been sent thither. A Mr. Gibbons, formerly agent to Lloyd's at Kinsale, with his wife and eight children, six well-educated girls and two sons ; and Mrs. Hill, the wife of a respectable tradesman at the West-end, and sister to the late High Sheriff of the colony, with seven daughters and a niece, are among the passengers. The attention paid to their families by Mr. and Mrs. Gibbons, and Mrs. Hill, is deserv- ing of great praise. Mrs. Hill is not accompanied by her husband, who in consequence of having to settle some family business, will not be able to join her until next year. The importance of the charge of such a numerous family, by a female, duiing such a long voyage unaided, and with an invalid child among them, cannot be too highly appreciated. Mrs. Gib- bons is a cousin of Mr. O'Connell, the Hon. and Learned Member for Dublin, One berth we ob- served appropriated to the widow of a farmer and her three daughters, and another to four tall, black- eyed damsels, sisters, from Suffolk, orphans, who are going out on a matrimonial expedition. If the bachelors of Sydney do not immediately lay siege to their hearts, on their arrival in the co- lony, they must be insensible to beauty and the blandishments of the softer sex. There are about a dozen Irish girls exclusive of Mrs. Gibbons's daugh- ters, on board. The females generally are of very personable appearance, and exceedingly well be- haved. From the propriety of their behaviour they will undoubtedly become an ornament to the distant region to which they are now bound. The majority of the emigrants are in appearance respectable, and the minority-, though poor, are certainly very deco- rous and deSent. Mr.JMarshall and the Emigration Committee have not only made very excellent ar- rangements for the comfort, convenience, and moral care of all on board, but have made particular inqui- ries into the characters of the females ; and those who came from a distant part of the country were not ad- mitted as passengers until they brought testimonials as to their good conduct and honesty from the Cler- gyman and inhabitants of the place where they re- sided. It was not until two o'clock that the passengers and their luggage were transferred from the steamer to the ship, andtlie Committee and their agent having seen all safe, and the fair ones comfortably situated in their new situations between decks, the David Scott was taken in tow by the Hero as fer as the Nore, when she parted company, and the ship, with her valuable freight, set sail, amidst loud huzzas from the visiters, under closely-reefed fore-sails, for Syd- ney. It was intended, we understand, that his Ma- jesty's steamer Salamander should convey the David Scott to the Downs, but from some misunderstanding- she did not arrive. The females who are accommodated in the poop are persons of very great respectability. They pay 6^. extra for the accommodations in the cabin of the poop, but they are ]ji-ovisioned in every respect the same as the others in the steerage, and they are al- lowed the conveniences alluded to more to preserve their own peculiar associations than for any other purpose. Mr. Marshall and Mr. Pinnock will accom- pany the ship through the channel, and it is due to those gentlemen, as well as to Capt. Nash and the Emigration Committee, to state tliat the whole ar- rangements of the embarkation, and the kindness they displayed to the women, reflect the highest credit upon them. It ought also to be stated that the David Scott, which is capable of carrying 1,000 tons, is the largest ship yet sent out with emigrants. The expense of this outfit to Government will exceed 6,000/. The most flattering accounts have been received of the females sent out by the Emigration Committee by the Bussorah Merchant and the Layton last year. The former ship arrived out on the 11th of August ; the Government boats landed the emigrants in good health, and by the close of the day on which they landed, the majority of the emigrants had engaged themselves in comfortable situations, some in Sydney and others in the country. Within three days nearly tlie whole were happily placed, and, of 217 females who proceeded by that conveyance, only five were disengaged at the expiration of five days. Govern- ment intend sending out one more ship this year with female emigrants to our Australian possessions, under the direction of the Emigration Committee, who give their services gratuitously. The import- ance of female emigration must be manifest, while the proportion of males to females in the colony is three to one. These repeated freights of tlie fair sex will soon remove the disproportion, and give rise to a better state of society in New South Wales and Van Dieman's Land. The Aborigines of Van Dieman's Land, — Of all beings wearing the human form, these are perhaps the most debased and barbarous. Their complexion is jet black, their hair coarse and woolly, their fea- tures flat, disagreeable, almost hideous. They go perfectly naked, and live entirely in the woods, with no other habitation than a hollow tree, or cave, or at best a miserable hut rudely constructed of sticks and bark. Their mind is as dark and debased as their bodies. Their manners and habits are charac- terised by the low instinctive craftiness and cunning, the exercise of which is alone adapted to tlieir pre- carious and predatory mode of existence. With the cunning of the fox they combine the active ferocity of the tiger ; and as the wild animals of their coun- tiy resemble none other in the known world, so do they diff'er from all human beings hitherto discovered by the restless spirit of enterprise. In a word, they possess in a remarkable degree the highest attributes of brute instinct, rendered more powerful and more pernicious by the perverted glimmering of reason with which even the lowest in the scale of humanity are to a certain extent endowed. — Westminster Re- view. Corns. — Nearly nine-tenths of mankind are trou- bled with corns — a disease that is seldom or never occasioned but by strait shoes. Every method of extracting corn seems but to afford temporary re- lief, and never will be attended with complete success unless attention be paid to the shoes. It is very dangerous to cut corns too deep, on account of t'le multiplicity of nerves running in every direction of the ^'oes. Easy shoes, frequent bathings of the feet in lukewarm water, with a little salt and potash dis- solved in it, and a plaster made of equal parts of gumgalbanum, saffron, and camphor, are the best re- medies that can be recommended against tliis trou- blesome complaint. The bunion is produced by the same cause as the corn — The irritation of wliicli, namely, pressure, being extended to the cellular substance, occasions thickening of it with effusion. The treatment recommended for corns will succeed in cases of bunions ; but in consequence of the greater extension of the disease, the cure of course is more tedious. 272 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ON THE CULTIVATION OF CELERY. BY MR. MUnPHY. (From " The Irish Farmer's Magazine." ) We seldom see either in the Dublin markets or in the gardens which we visit, celery, nearly so fine as that which we have observed elsewhere : we have heard of single plants weighing upwards of 91bs. ; and Mr. Knight, the president of the Horticultural Society, by aparticular management, consisting in having the ground very rich, and supplpng the plants with abundance of water, had celery which was not sown until April, upwards of five feet high, and of a corresponding thickness by September. Celery (apium graveolens) in its wild state, is a maish-plant. It abounds in low grounds and ditches about Pvingsend, (near Dublin,) and in similar situations at a short distance from the sea : such being its natural habitation it was thought pro- bable, that by forming trenches which would re- tain water, and filling them with the richest soil, principally rotten dung, celery of the largest size and best quality would be produced, and an experi- ment on tbis plan, and which was very satisfactory, is recorded in Loudon's Gardener's Magazine. The method usually followed consists, according to our observation, in sowing the seed, on a slight hot-bed without glass, in the month of February or early in March, the plants are pricked out from this bed into one of rich garden soil in May or June, and are ranged out finally in July, in trenches about four feet apart, prepared for the plants by having the eartli thrown out about a foot deep, and from eight to twelve inches wide, three inches or so of rotten dung being dug into the bottom of the trench. An improvement on this plan is recommended by a Mr. Judd, in the third volume of the Transactions of the Horticultural Society of London. He sows the seed in the middle of January, in a warm border and on rich soil, and the young plants are protected during severe weather by mats ; when they are from two to three inches high, he pricks them out into a nursery bed, and lest the roots should be injured during the process by exposure to the air, he keeps them immersed in water all the time they are out of the ground 3 in this bed the plants remain until they are very strong. The ground is prepared for the final transplanting by being trenched two spits deep, giving it at the same time a good dressing of dung from old hot-beds ; in this state it lies for a time, it is trenched again for the purpose of incorporating the dung with the earth. Trenches twenty inches wide and six inches deep, are then formed at the distance of six feet one from another, filled with rotten dung to within three inches of the surface ; this being done, the plants are placed at six inches apart in the centre of the trench, care being taken as before, to keep the roots moist whilst out of the ground. It is evident that the roots which should not be much shortened, having such a space as twenty inches of a trench highly manured, and the ground beyond the trench also rich and loosened, the plants will make much greater progress than when they are re- strained in narrow trenches cut in unprepared ground. A method by which a large number of plants may be raised on a comparatively small space of ground, is described at length in M'Intosh's 'Practical Gar- dener. He directs to make trenches six feet wide and one foot deep, or more, with a space of five feet between each trench, throwing the mould taken out of the trench equally on both sides, taking care to break it as finely as possible, which will render it fit for earthing up the crop as it advances. Lay in a good quantity of rotten dung, which dig into a reasonable depth, or if the ground be shallow, and inclined to a gravelly bottom, the dung may be regularly spread on the bottom, and an inch or two of earth taken from the sides to cover it in the trench ; so prepared, line the plants (which should have been pricked out into nursery beds last month,) across the lines a foot apart, and the plants eight inches one from another in the lines, the dung should be eight inches deep, and the plants should be regularly supplied with water. This plan very much facilitates landing, which is to be performed bv placing two boards of the width of the trench, and eight or nine inches broad between two lines of celery, bringing the boards close up to the plant, and fill the space of eight inches or tliereabout, that will be between the plants, with bog earth, if it can be procured, if not, of well pulverized earth : the boards are then to be removed and applied between other two lines and so on. Sea sand if placed in contact with the roots is said to prevent the attacks of worms, to which celery is otherwise liable. A correspondent some time since sent us some plants of celery, which were well blanched by a pro- cess different from that usually adopted, and which he promised to disclose — we hope he will shortly favour us with the result of his experiment. Anglesey CATrLE. — We noticed some time since the exportation of fat cattle from the county of An- glesey, for the Liverpool markets, where we under- stood it was found equal to any produced in the best grazing districts in Ireland, and was highly approved by the cognoscenti in these matters. We understand that a statement of the cost of grazing these beasts will be laid before the next Anglesey agricultural meeting, which will show that grazing may be made very profitable in several parts of the island. Since the exportation above alluded to has taken place, we have observed a steamer from Wexford pass several times through the IMenai Staits with fat stock for the Liverpool market. This has appeared to us as a sort of a challenge to the Anglesey agricuHurists. We trust they will take it as such, and that it will stimu- late them to increased exertions in competing with our neighbours of the sister island, which we are convinced they can do successfully if they are so disposed ; as in no district do there exist better grazing lands, or a finer breed of cattle. — Carnarvon Herald. An Orchard in Pots. — Take some large pots, eights or twelves of the London potteries, some strong yellow loam mixed with one third of good rotten dung in lumps ; well drain the pots with large pieces of tiles or broken pots, and in this com- port plant selected small dwarfs of hawthornden, compendu plat, Kerry pippin, golden Harvey, Cole's golden drop, Keswick codlin, and scarlet nonpareil apples ; Passe Colmar sickle, beurre de Capiaumont, Marie Louise, and Easter beurre pears; also two or three dwarf or prolific nuts. Let the pots stand in the centre of a confined garden, and by all means keep on their surface, all summer, lumps of rotten manure. Thus treated, it is astonishing how they will flourish ; and if well supplied with water (if manured water the better) thev will bear plentifully. In very severe winters a little straw should be put over the pots to prevent the roots being injured by extreme frost. This may certainly be called a cock- ney orchard, but if it is not profitable it is very pretty. — Gardener's Magazine THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 273 SUFFOLK WOOL FAIR. This fair was held on Friday, July 11, in the New Assembly Room, Ipswich. About four o'clock, nearly 160 gentlemen partook of an excellent din- ner, provided for the occasion by Mr. Brooks, of the Great White Horse Inn. Lord Huntingfield took the chair, supported on the right by S. Har- land and A. Arccdeckne, and J. Moseley, Esqrs. on the left. There were also present, W, A. Shuld- ham, N. Barnardistone, and C. Brook, of Capel, Esqrs., Messsrs. G. Bates, Hunt, Hale, Julian, H. Edwards, Dewing, Sexton, Rodwell, Catling, Jos- celyn, C. Cobbold, Mumford (Groton), J. Cooper, Rcvans, Burch, &c. Lord Huntingfield rose and said, he could not but in common with all deplore the absence of their noble president, the Earl of Stradbroke, who had been prevented by indisposition from attend- ing the meeting. — \Vool was rising daily, and would no doubt continue to do so. At Iv'otting- liam, long-combing wool had been sold at three guineas pcrtod. He couldnotbut regret that agreat number of respectable growers in the county did not attend more particularly to the breeding of sheep. He thought the time would arrive when the Norfolk cross would be excluded, and make way for a better description of sheep, — soutli- downs ; and he was sure the result of that day's sale would convince all parties, that the Norfolk cross and the south-downs will not bear compari- son. In Sussex, Lord Gage (and a finer flock was no where to be found) had obtained 2s. 6d. per lb. for his wool. Mr. I5ryant, of Newmarket, had clipped 71b. of wool off his south-down hoggets. His Lordship concluded by proposing " the King and the rest of the Royal Family," " the Lord- Lieutenant of the county," and the " County Members." A. Arcedeckne Esq. returned thanks on behalf of Lord Henniker. " The President of the Wool Fair, Lord Strad- brookc," three times three. Mr. Arcedeckne read a letter from Lord Strad- broke, accounting for his absence, and offered Mr. Revans his Lordship's wool at 42s. per tod. Mr. Revans said the price asked by the noble Earl was far too much, it was an advance of 4s. upon what he had given last year. He cautioned those who had wool to sell against committing the same error. He was ready to give a fair remunerating price for wool, but could not give that asked by the noble lord. "The Vice-President" — Mr. Arcedeckne re- turned thanks, and offered his flock wool to Mr. Birch at 44s, and his hogget wool at three guineas per tod. Mr. Burch, after some observations, offered 60s. and 44s., but eventually gave 62s. and 44s. Sir Robert Harland sold his hogget wool to Mr. Alexander at 60s, and his ewe wool at 42s. J. Moseley, Esq., offered Mr. Revans his hog- get wool at 60s. and his ewe wool at 44s, but Mr. R. refused. The Chairman proposed the health of " The Buyers, and thanks to them for their attendance." Numerous sales were afterwards effected. IPSWICH WOOL FAIR. " Sic vos non vobis velleia fertis oves." TO THE EDITOR OF 'THE SUFFOLK CHRONICLE.' Sir, — The Wool Fair held at Ipswich, on the 4th inst,, so numerou-ily and ret^pectably attended. must be a source of great gratification, not only to those immediately interested in the sale of Wool, but to every one who takes a warm interest in the prosperity of our agriculturists, and an anxious desire for the dawning of better times. The utility of such meetings, independent of the facilities they afford to business, indeed, of all in- stitutions which hold out inducements to our land- owners and occupiers to come frequently together, cannot be disputed. We must, therefore, hold in grateful remembrance the Founderof every society having such an end in view ; and, should any un- certainty arise in the public as to who has the rightful claim to their gratitude, it is a duty in- cumbent on all admirers of such institutions, to dispel the doubt as speedily as possible. Hence I trouble you with this communication. After the dinner on the 4th instant, the Chairman, Lord Huntingfield, proposed the health of the Vice Pre- sident, Mr. Arcedeckne, as ^' the Founder of the Fair," which called up Mr. Moseley, claiming for himself the merit of originating the Fair. All must do justice to the anxious exertions and con- stant endeavours of those Gentlemen to promote the union and prosperity of the Agricultural Inte- rest on all occasions ; but it is well known to those concerned in the formation of a kindred So- ciety— the East Suffolk Agricultural Association — that it is to neither that we owe the advantage of a Wool Fair, how much soever their valuable co-ope- ration may have tended to the accomplishment of that object. The Committees of the East Suffolk Agricultural Association are open to all members of the Society ; and though not a Member of the Committee, I have attended nearly all their meet- ings. I can therefore affirm, authoritatively, that the first proposer and true founder of a Wool Fair at Ipswich, is our representative Mr. Shawe, two letters from whom (the one dated the 7th of De- cember, 1831, some time before the first meeting of the Agricultural Association, and the other dated the 20th of April, 1832) occasioned frequent discussions in the Committee on this subject, and are familiar to all who were present at their meet- ings. The subject was never lost sight of, from the first meeting before which Mr. Shawe's first letter was laid, until, owing to his proposition and repeated suggestions, and the exertions of the Committee of the East Suffolk Agricultural Association, at whose meeting both Mr. Arce- deckne and Mr. Mozeley were constant attendants and actively useful members, the Ipswich Wool Fair was instituted. To Mr. Shatve, then, and neither to Mr. Arcedeckne nor Mr. Moseley be- longs the merit of being the Founder of the Fair. Its progress during the last year must afford us all much satisfaction, and that it may long flourish with yearly increasing usefulness, is the well- founded hope of Your humble servant, A FRIEND TO AGRICULTURE. July 7, 1834. The accounts from the moors represent the pros- pects of the sportsman for the ensuing season as re markably favourable. On the Athole and Rannocli hills in particular the birds are very numerous, and by the t«'e//(7i proximo will likely be unusually strong, having made great progress during the favourable weatlier of the last six weeks. The number of sports- men from the south this season will likely be above an average, if we mav judge frotn tlie many travelling parties from England which liave already passed through for the Hiarhlands. — Perth Courier. 274 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. THE CARP. Tiie carp is the queen of rirers ; a stately, a good and a very subtle fish ; that was not at first bred, nor hath been long in England, but is now naturalised. It is said, they were brought hither by one Mr. Mas- sal, a gentleman that tiien lived at Plumsted in Sus- sex, a county that abounds more with fish than any in this nation. Carps and loaches are observed to breed several months in one year, which pikes and most other fish do not. And this is partly proved by tame and wild rabbits ; and also by some ducks which will lay eggs nine of the twelve months ; and yet there be other ducks that lay not longer than about one month. And it is the rather to be believed, because you shall scarce or never take a male carp without a melt, or a female without a roe or spawn, and for the most part very much, and especially all the summer season. and it is observed, that they breed more naturally in ponds than in running waters, if they breed there at all ; and that those that live in rivers are taken by men of the best palates to be much the better meat. I told you that Sir Francis Bacon thinks that the carp lives but ten years ; but Janus Dubravius has writ a book Of Fish and Fish Ponds, in which he says, that carps begin to spawn at the age of three years and continue to do so till tliirty ; he says also, that in the time of their breeding, which is in summer, when the sun hath warmed both the earth and water, and so apted them also for generation, that then three or four male carps will follovv a female ; and that then, she putting on a seeming coyness, they force her through weeds and flags, where she lets fall her eggs or spawn, which sticks fast to the weeds ; and then they let fall their melt upon it, and so it becomes in a short time to be a living fish ; and, as I told you, it is thought that the carp does this several months in the year. — Walton, SALES OF RACING STOCK. The Bildeston Stud. — The extensive and well- known breeding stud of the late Richard Wilson, Esq., was sold on Thursday, July 3, at Bildeston, Suf- folk, by Messrs. Tattersall. The sale was very nu- merously attended, and fetched the following prices: — GS. B g by Albany, 2 yrs (to Mr. Parkin) 40 B f, 2 yrs, by Filho da Puta (ditto) 25 Ches yearling filly by Bedlamite (Mr. Gapp). . 14^ Brown pony by The Teaser (Mr. Edwards) . . 15 Brown m by Grey Comus (Mr. Cass) 23 Bay gelding (Mr. Dawson) 28 Ches yearling f by Bedlamite, d by Smolensko (Gen. Grosvenor) 22 Ditto by Bedlamite, out of Xarifa (Mr. Munro) 22 Ditto by Bedlamite, out of Gavotte (Mr. Ed- wards) 20 B yearling c by Bedlamite, out of Andrew mare (Mr. Burt) 25 Ch yearling c by Bedlamite, out of Pincushion (Mr. Skard) 115 Br f, 2 yrs, by Filho, out of Twatty (Mr. Max- well, 'M. P.) 125 Lady Charlotte, 4 yrs, by Catton (Mr. King- ston) 175 B 0, 2 yrs, by Figaro, d by Woeful (Mr. Mun- ro) 32 BROOD MARES. Albany mare, 4 yrs, dam by Tiresias (Mr. Ed- wards) , 26 Agnes (grey) by President, with colt foal by Albany (Sir G. Heathcote) 30 Andrew m, out of The Governess, with a foal by Shakspeare (Mr. Bolton) 50 Angelica, by Rubens, with filly foals bj Mu- latto (Lord Oxford) 400 Coma (grey) by Comus, with filly foal by Shak- speare (Sir G. Heathcote) 52 Caradori, by Centuar (Lord Rivers) ........ 39 Daphne (bay) by Williamson's ditto, with f by Shakspeare (Mr. Kingston) 31 D. Andrews m (hay) out of Desdemona, with c f by Albany (Mr. Kingston) 10 D. Andrews m (ches) out of Hare, with c by Shakspeare (Mr. W. Chifney) 39 Dryad, by Whalebone, with c f by Augustus or Bedlamite (Sir G. Heathcote) 84 Eliza Leeds, by Comus, with c f by Shakspeare, (Lord Chesterfield) 310 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 275 Figaro ni, d by Waxy, Tvith colt foal by Laurel (Duke of Meiningen) : Gavotte, by Election, with filly by Shakspeare (Mr. Tattersall) Hedley m, sister to Prince Leopold (Mr. G reen ) Isabella, by Comus, witli c f hv Shakspeare ( His Majesty) Kitty Flanagan, by Orville, with colt Ibal by Shakspe-.ire (iMr. Dalion) My Aunt, by I'ioneoi', with colt And by Sliak- speare (Mr. Gapp) Mervinia, by ^Valton, with ditto (Sir S. Gra- ham) Miss Craven, by Mr. Lowe, ditto by Augustus or Shakspeare (his Majestv) Miss Lvdia, bv \V:dton, with fillv fo:d by Al- bany j\Iuley mare, out of Harriet (Sir S. Graham). . Nannetle, sister to Glaucus, with colt foal by Laurel (Sir G. Ileathcote) Oscar m, cl by llubens, with colt foid by Lamp- lighter (his i\tajesi,y) Partisan m, d bv liarabletonian, with colt foal by Stainborough Pheasant, by Bustard, with colt foal by Shak- speare Pincushion, with colt foal by Shakspeare (Mr. Maxwell) -'. Profile, by Rubens, with f foal by Mameluke (Duke of Meiningen) Panther, by Comus or Blacklock (Rlr. Gates) Shuttle m, out of Sister to Dowager, with colt foal by Wrangler Smolensko mare, d by Skyscraper, with a c foal by Albany (Sir M . Wood) Smolensko mare, out of Zoraida, with ditto (Mr. tiapp) Soothsayer mare, d by Buzzard, with c foal by Wrangler (Lord Chesterfield) Sabrina, by Junipi r (Mr. Calder) Sprat, by Partisan (Mr. W . Edwaids") Stainborougli mare, b by Smolensko (Mr. Corker) Stainborough mare, out of Busk, (Lord Ri- vers) Twatty, by Whalebone, with f foal by Shak- speare (Sir S. Graham) Vaultress, by Walton, with f foal by Reveller (Mr. Sowerby) Walton mare, d by Shuttle (ditto) Whalebone mare, out of Ransom (ditto) Woful mare, d by Golumpus, with f foal by Shakspeare (Mr. Egg) Williamson's ditto mare, out of Antelope, with c foal by ditto (ditto) Woful mare, out of Phantom, witii ditto (Lord Rivers) Wrangler mare, d by Tiresias (Mr. Kingston) Woful mare, out of Catgut Waxy mare, out of Elve (Mr. Shard) Xarifa, by Moses, with f foal by Shakspeare (his Majesty) Young Rhoda, by Walton (Mr. Kingston) , , GS. 190 60 25 150 13 35 65 190 130 70 310 310 33 70 105 1.55 100 40 43 35 120 8 35 28 28 180 185 41 41 100 55 56 21 25 21 64 15 8, at Newmarket, Avheti the following lots were sold : — GS Chesnut Filly, by Partisan, out of Pasta 43 Filly, by Partisan, out of Florence (Lord Ches- terfield) 100 Bay Filly, by Partisan, out of Scribe (Mr. W. Edwards) 50 Bay Colt, by Partisan, out of Raby's dam (Mr. Howe). . ; 205 Grey Colt, brother to Protocol, by Partisan (Mr. J. Day) 230 Bay Colt, by Partisan, out of St Julien's dam (Mr. Stephenson) 100 Chesnut Colt, br Partisan, cut of Bizarre 70 Lord Lowther has sold the yearling. Brother to Glaucus, to Mr. Wm. Cbifney, by private contract, for five hundred guineas. Cavtain Grant's Breeding Stud. — This stud, consisting of 27 lots, was put up for sale on Wed- nesday, July 9, at Newmarket, when the following were sold : — gs. Pimlico, with a colt foal by Peter Lely 55 Maiden, with a colt foal by Peter Lely (to the J^ing) Fantasima, with a colt foal by Peter Lely (the King) Miss 6'Neil, with a colt foal by Peter Lely (the King) '. Worthless, with a filly foal by Peter Lely (Lord Chesterfield) 360 Lady Emily, covered by Filho (Mr. Thorn- hill)....". 105 Seamevv, covered by Emilius (Lord Litch- field) 150 Two-yr-old Fillv, by Filho, out of Miss O'Neil (Mr. Meyneli) 50 Yearling Filly, by Camel, out of Maiden (Lord Albemarle) 60 The Late Mr. Clifton's Stud. — At the sale of this stud, Nell Gwynne, by Tramp, fetched 120 gs ; La Danseuse, 165g3 ; Chapeau de Faille, 175 gs; yearling colt, by Filho, out of Nell Gwynne, 69 gs ; and a yearling filly, by Velocipede, out of Chapeuu de Faille, 70 "gs. ' 80 150 43 STALLIONS. Shakspeare, by Smolensko (Mr. Pell) 165 Grey Comus, by Comus (Mr. Weatherby). . . . 105 Sir Benjamin, by Whisker (Lord Tavistock). . 220 Wrangler, by Walton (IMr. Salter) 15 Brown pony (a Teaser), (ditto") 11 J Lonn Lo^vTHER's Yearlings. — Lord Lowther's annual sale of yearlings took place on Tuesday, July NEWMARKET JULY MEETING. MONDAY. Sweepstakes of 10 sovs each, for three year olds ; colts, 8st 61b ; fillies, Bst 31b ; New T. Y. C. Sir S. Graham's Zulima (Conolly) .... 1 Sir M. Wood's Charivari 2 Not placed : — Lord Berners's b c by Lamplighter, out of Tippitywitchet ; Mr. Hunter's Morotto ; and Mr. Barrett's Airy. Betting : 9 to 4 agst Zulima, 5 to 2 agst Tippitywitchet, and 3 to 1 agst Charivari. — Morotto made running to the Plantations, where he gave up ; Charivari and Zulima immediately singled themselves out, and ran home neck and neck, the last stride deciding it in favour of the mare by a head only. First Year of a Renewal of the July Stakes of 50 sovs each, 30 ft, for two year olds ; colts, 8st 61b; fillies, 8st 41b ; New T. Y. C. ; 29 subs. Mr. Pettit's b f Kate Kearney, by Benedict, out of Bravura (Conolly) 1 ]Mr. Hunter's b f Sister to Forester, by Gustavus 2 Sir M. Wood's ch c by Camel, out of Aspasia "^ Not placed :— Col. Peel's br c by Filho da Puta. out of Young Rhoda ; Sir S. Graham ns b f by Sul- tan, out of Emma, by Orville ; iWr. Wilson's b f by I'ramp, out of Ridotto ; Mr. Pettit's b c Ibrahim, by 276 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Emilius, out of Pera ; Mr. W. P. Isaacson's b c The Brigand, by Emilius, out of Sontag ; Mr. W. Chif- ney's b c by Whisker, out of Pigmy ; Mr. Sowerby's Constantia, by Camel, out of IMiss Craven's dam ; and Mr. Greatres's b f by Camel, out of Martba, by Merlin. Betting: 2 to 1 agst Mr. Greatrex's Camel filly, 7 to 2 agst Kate Kearney, 7 to 1 agst Sir M. Wood's Camel colt, 7 to 1 agst The Brigand, 8 to 1 agst JMr. W'ilson's Tramp fill}', 8 to 1 agst Sister to Forester, and 25 to 1 agst Emma fill}'. — Kate Kearney sprung oft' in front, Aspasia and Mar- tha following her closely at an excellent pace to the coiner of the Plantation, where the latter dropt off, and Sister to Forester ran by her and Aspasia ; be- yond this she could not go, Kate Kearney winning easy by a length, without having been headed in any part of t]ie race ; Martha was fourth, and Ibrahim and Pigmy fifth and sixth. There was only one false start. Pettit has thus, in the last five years, trained four winners of the July Stakes, viz., The Mummer, Zany, Zulima, and Kate Kearney, and ran second in the other year with Jason ! Match— 100 sovs," h ft ; New T. Y. C. Duke of Grafton's c by Cannon Ball or Buzzard, out of Zinc, 8st 71b, received from Lord Exeter's f (dead) by Lamplighter, out of a Blacklock mare, out of Pope Joan, 8st 41b. TUESDAY. Fifty Pounds ; three years, 6st 91b ; four, 8st ; five, 8st 81b ; six, 8st I'Jlb ; and aged, 9st ; D. I. Duke of Rutland's b c Armadillo, 3 years (W. Boyce) 1 Sir M, Wood's Vespa, 4 years 2 Mr. Sowerby's Catalonian, 4 years .... 3 Mr. Greville's b c Dacre, by Bizarre, out of Young Barossa, 3 years 4 Lord Berner's ch m by Oscar, out of Spotless, 4 years 5 Mr. W. Chifney's b f by Emilius, out of Shoveler, 4 years 6 Lord Egremont's Sister to Runnymead, 3^years 7 Betting : 5 to 4 on Vespa, 7 to 2 agst Ama- dillo, 4 to 1 agst agst Catatoman, and 4 to 1 agst Dacre. — AmadiUo made all tlie running, and won by half a length. The last four were tailed ofl". Sweepstakes for 50 sovs each, for two year olds not engaged in the July Stakes ; colts, 8st 71b ; fillies, 8st 41b ; New T. Y.C. ; 5 subs. Lord Chesterfield's f Eva, by Sultan, out of Eliza Leeds (Nat) 1 Mr. Spalding's b f Madame de Jeck, by Langar 2 Duke of Grafton's Florin, sister to Fidalgo 3 Betting : 6 to 4 agst the winner, 7 to 4 agst Sla- dame de Jeck, and 2 to 1 agst Florin.— Won by half a length cleverly. W^EDNESDAY. The Town Plate of 50 sovs, for three year olds, colts, 8st 41b ; fillies, 8st ; last mile and a distance of B.C. Sir M. W'ood's Charivari (Pavis) 1 Duke of Rutland's Armadillo 2 Mr, Hunter's iMorotto 3 Not placed: — Sir S. Graham's Zulima (a good fourtli,) -Mr. Greville's Faunus, General Grosvenor's Bon Ton, Mr. Wigram's ch f by JMoses or Nigel, and jMr. Clover's b f by Blacklock, dam by Amadis. — Betting: 5 to 2 agst Armadillo, 3 to 1 hgst Zuli- ma, 7 to 2 agst Morotto, and 9 to 2 agst Charivari. — Morotto made running to the Duke's Stand, where :dl were beaten off except Charivari, Armadillo, and Zulima ; these three, and IMorotto, were now so close together, that there could scarcely be a length between the first and last. Charavari now took up the running, and, although followed pretty closely by the others, won cleverly by a length. Morotto was not beaten half a length from the second, and Zulima was well up with both. Match — 25 sovs. JMr. Pettit's Mac Arab, 7st 111b (ConoUy,) beat Lord Tavistock's f by Rasping, out of Morisca, 8st 71b, by a neck. 2 to 1 on winner. jMatch — 100 sovs, lift; T. Y. C. Lord Exeter's Sister to Baleine, 7st 9lb (Nat,) beat Rlr. Thornhill's Harum Scarum, 8st 7lb, by a length. 2 to 1 on winner. Handicap of 15 sovs each ; from the starting-post of B. M. to the end of the new T. Y. C ; five subs. jMr. Yates s Sensitive, 5 yrs 8st 61b. (Pavis) 1 Mr. Bloss's Water Witch, 6 yrs, 8st 121b 2 Lord Lichfield's Gab. 6 yrs, 8st lllb .. 3 Lord Tavistock's f by Rasping, 3 yrs, 6st 101b (6st 121b) 4 jMr. Sowerby's Yolage, aged, 9st 131b . . 5 Betting : 2 to 1 agst Sensitive, 3 to 1 agst Gab, 4 to 1 agst Volage, 4 to 1 agst Water W^itch, and 9 to 2 agst Rasping. — Sensitive made all the running, and won in a canter by two lengths. Sweepstakes of 10 sovs. each ; two years, 6st lllb. ; three, 9st ; New T. Y.C; six subs. Mr. Yates's Ince, 3 years 0 1 Mr. Sowerby's Constantia, 2 years 0 dr. Not placed : — Mr. Mills's Camlet, 2 years ; Mr. Newton's Heberle, 2 years ; Lord Lowther's c by Lamplighter, 2 years; and Mr. Wilson's f by Tramp, out of Ridotto, 2 years. Betting : 11 to 10 agst Ridottoj; and 3 to 1 agst Ince. This was a remarkably severe race between Ince and Constantia ; for the last fifty yards they were quite away from the others, head and head, the whip and spur going un- mercifully all the way ; it finished a dead heat— but both horses were so terribly punished, that the owners (Mr. Yates and i\Ir. Sowerby) wisely and humanely agreed to divide the Stakes, Ince walking over. The Chesterfiefd Stakes (first year) of 30 sovs. each, 20 ft, for two year olds ; colts 8st clb. ; fillies, 8st 2lb. ; the winner of the July Stakes to carry 91b., and the second for it 4lb. extra ; last halfofB.M.; 26 subs. Sir M. Wood's c by Camel, out of Aspasia (Robinson^ 1 Sir M. Wood's f by Emilius or Lamp- lighter, out of Leila 2 Mr. Pettit's Kate Kearney, 91b extra . . 3 Not placed : — Gen. Grosvenor's Symmetry, by Phantom, out of Maresfield's dam; Mr. Spalding's f Lady Albert, by Langar, out of Lady Easby ; Mr. S. Stanley's ch c by Buzzard, out of Clansman's dam ; Mr. Bloss's br f Matilda, by Shakspeare, [out of Maude ; and Mr. Goodman's f by Camel, out of Galatea. Betting : 5 to 4 agst Kate Kearney, 2 to 1 agst Aspasia, and 5 to 1 agst Matilda. Sir M. Wood's filly set off at score, Aspasia and Kate Kearney lying up with her, the former pulling hard, and racing all the way. On facing the lull, the 91b. began to tell upon the favourite, and' although she struggled resolutely to the end, she could never get beyond the quarters of the Aspasian colt, who came out a few lengths from the chair, and won by a length cleverly. Kate was not beaten half a length from the second. CRICKET MATCHES. KENT AND ENGLAND. The match between the county of Kent and Eng- land occupied Monday and Tuesday, the 7th and Sth THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 277 July, at Lord's ; and if we may judge from the vast assemblage present on both days, it was a contest which excited more than ordinary interest. As early as 10 o'clock on Monday morning the umpires pitch- ed the wickets, and shortly after the game was commenced by Kent going in, the betting at the time being five to four on England. The bowling made sad havoc with the wickets in this innings, the score only amounting to 21 ! On the part of England, Messrs. Kynastoii and Bailey commenced the innings; but both lia\ing been caught out with- out a run, thej' were succeeded by Tom Marsden, of Sheflield, and Fnller Pilch. Of "the latter, one of Mr. Mynn's ripping balls has prevented us saying much : Pilch had only giiincd two, when he was unfortunate enough not to be enabled to i)i)t a stopper upon a ball which insinuated itself into his wicket. Marsden was more fortunate, although there appeared to be a sort of nervousness about him when he first commenced batting, but which gradnally left him, and when lie hit his wicket he was playing with the confidence which character- ized him when he was first introduced to the cricketers of Yorkshire. He scored 18, which was excellent work under existing circumstances. The remaining seven brought the score to 61, and a majority of 40 o\er Kent. With the second hands of Kent the play for that day was concluded, Eng- land going in on Tuesday morning against 32 only. The requisite number was obtained with only two wickets down. The following is the score : — KENT. 1st inn. 21 do. E, Wenmsii, bil. bv Lillvwliite 2 eauplit bv Bavlev .. 0 I. F.-ii-fir, lisq. bowled bv'ditto 11 bd. by Lillywliite 3 N.Felx, Esq. bowled by ditto 0 bowled by d'nto 0 R. Mills, run out 1 stumped by 3ox 8 H. Edwards, Esfj., ot. liyMarsden 0 run out II A. Myim, Esq. bd. by Lilhwbite 4 caught by Lillywliite 3 C. HaroMC, Esq. stumped by Box 1 caught by Col)bett ..1" H. Jenner, Esq.,bd.byLiIlywhitef) caught by Bayley ..15 H. Normau, Esq., run out 0 not out 7 Clifford, bowled by Cobbetc 0 run out 0 G. Wenman, not out 0 caught bvSnow 6 lives, &c. ...2 Byes.&c. ...3 ■ Total....— 21 Total..— 73 ENGLAND, Istinn. 2d do R. Kynaston, Esq. ft. by Mills .0 not out 11 J. liayley, caught by Felix 0 0 Marsden, hit wicket 13 caught by Jenner 0 F. Pilch, bowled by iNlynn 2 bowled by Harenc 9 Coblictt, leg before wicket 9 not out 6 Lilly white, bowled by Harenc . ,3 0 Box, bowled by ditto 0 0 Strahan, Esq., l)owled by Mills .9 • — 0 Adlam, eauglit by Jenner 7 • 0 H. Snow. Esq. caught by Mynn 6 0 Parntlier, Esq., not out 0 fl Bves. &c 7 Byes, &c 3 Total.... —61 Total ..—33 The bowling in this contest excited considerable attention : it was, perhaps, the finest ever witnes- sed. Some very few years since the hitting was so much above the bowling, that matches not un- frequently lasted three or four days ; but since the up-hand bowling has been recognized, the latter has got beyond the hitting. Such good bowling has been obtained since the positive law has not been so strictly acted upon as formerly, that we have no hesitation in stating, that the law, as re- gards bowling, will be altered at the next anniver- sary of the Mary-le-bonne Club. The alteration will be to the effect, that the ball shall be bowled . — not thrown or jerked — fairly beloiv the shoulder, instead of, as at present, beloiv the elbow. This will adm.it every bowler of the prcsetit day, and by le- galizing that which is now unfair, according to the present rules, will put an end to the almost daily disputes upon the question. We have frequently observed with regret, that gentlemen, despite of repeated cautions, continue to make a horse -road over that part of the ground, at Lord's, which their own sense, if they had any, would at once tell them must be in violation of the rules, from the fact of it proving extremely inju- rious to the ground. At the conclusion of the play on Tuesday, two persons in a gig actually drove through the centre of the ground, but were justly backed astern by Dark, the proprietor, amid the cheers of the gentlemen present. Mn. W^yatt's Statues of Horses. — The exhibition of the statues of horses, and of the statue of the late Earl of Dudley's Newfoundland dog " Bashaw," to- gether with some smaller designs by Mr. Matthew Coles Wyatt, have deservedly become an object of curiosity to the lovers of the fine arts. The most prominent design is that of a colossal horse, which is executed in plaster of Paris. This statute represents that species of horse which is usually called a charger, in the act of pawing the ground with one foot, and partly throwing himself back upon his haunches, as if in the act of rearing ; the whole attitude of the animal is well conceived, and equally well executed. The figure exhibts all the fire of life. The spirit and imimation of the limbs, and particularly of the head, which is tightly reined back, and which is in conten- tion with the bit, are entitled to the highest en- comium. The mane is beautifully flowing and silky. If there be any fault to be found with this almost fac simile of nature, we should say that the body of the horse is rather too full of flesh for the spirit which is exhibited in the eye and nostrils, and the elasticity of the legs. It is however a representation which has no cause to dread the application of criticism. The group of the Horse and Dragon is, we think, as far as the horse is concerned, superior to the colossal horse. The horse in this group is of the size of life, and comes so near to life that the beholder is some* what startled at his proximity to an enraged steed contending in mortal combat with a dragon. The horse is trampling on his prostrate foe, and has to all appearance secured a terrible victory after a doubtful struggle. The attitude of the horsa, though highly spirited, has in it nothing tneatncal ; there is a close adherence to nature, and no straining after eff"ect. The figure of the dragon is necessarily common-place, but tiie artist has managed to make the most of a stale and f\ibulous creation. This group is in plaster of Paris. The dog " Bashaw" is a portrait, and is, we believe, a faithful likeness of the animal it repre- sents. It is in black and white marble, standing upon a cushion of yellow marble, and trampling upon a serpent. This group is elaborately carved ; the impression of the feet of the dog upon the cushion is very well managed, and adds greatly to the appear- ance of reality which pervades the whole of the work. ■ Mr, Holmes, civil engineer, has published a pam- phlet, in which he suggests the propriety of render- ing available as manure the filth which now runs from the common sewers into the Thames. He esti- mates that " the amount of manure now passed into the river Thames and otherwise wasted, exceeds 12,000 tons per diem;" and that it " may, almost without expense, be concentrated to about 7,000 tons, which will yield a profit of 400,000/. per annum, after paying all expenses." There appears to have been considerable bustle in the wool business, daring the last few days, several lots having been disposed of in the neighbourhood at from 45s. to 48s. jier tod, and we believe in one in- stance at Lutterworth as high as 60s. was obtained for a prime lot. — Leicester Journal. 278 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. HAMPSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. The general meeting of the Hampshire Agri- cultural Society took place at St. Cross, near Winchester, on Tuesday, July 8, when the follow- ing prizes were awarded : — The President's Premium. — To the person who shall let to Agricultural Labourers, in Hampshire, the greatest quantity of Land, in allotments of not less than Half an Acre, nor more than Two Acres, to each individual ; thewhole quantityso let not be- ingless than Twenty Acres, and the rent thereof not exceeding that of other Land in the vicinity, simi- lar in quality and situation, Twent Guineas, or a Piece of Plate of the value thereof, at the option of the successful candidate, adjudged to C. E. Lefroy, Esq., Ewsliott House. Labourers. — To three Labourers in Husbandry, who have supported themselves and families in the preceding year by their own exertions and honest industry, without parochial relief; to the first. Five Sovereigns; to the second. Three Sove- reigns ; to the third. Two Sovereigns ; adjudged to AVm. Ford, Wm. CoUis, and \Vm. Trimmer. Class 1. — Horses. — 1. To the best Cart Stallion, being the property of any Farmer in Hampshire ; a Cup of five sovereigns ; adjudged to Mr. Cobden of Herriard. 2. To the best Brood Mare of the Cart kind, having had a foal while in possession of the exhibitor ; a Cup of five sovereigns ; adjudged to the Hon. William Gage. 3. To the best two- year old Cart Colt, Gelding, or Filly, that shall have been bred in Hants by the exhibitor ; a Cup of three sovereigns ; adjudged to Mr. Garret. Class 2. — Rams. — 1. To the best Southdown Ram, above 18 months old ; a Cup of five sove- reigns; adjudged to Mr. Fielder. 2. To the best Southdown Ram, under 18 months old ; a Cup of five sovereigns; adjudged to Mr. Thomas Court- ney. 3. To the best Ram of any other breed or age; a Cup of five sovereigns; adjudged to Mr. I. Pain of Houghton. Class 3. — Ewes. — 1. To the six best Southdown Ewes, above 18 months old, that have each bred up a lamb the same season ; a Cup of five sove- reigns ; adjudged to Mr. Lidbitter. 2. To the six best Southdown Ewes, under 18 months old ; a Cup of three sovereigns; adjudged to Mr. Garret. Class 4. — Bulls and Cows. — 1. To the best Bull ; a Cup of five sovereigns ; a(5judged to Mr. Knight. 2. To the best Cow that has bred a calf during the preceding 12 months, being then in possession of the exhibitor; a Cup of five sove- reigns ; adjudged to Sir Thomas Baring, Bart. 3. To the best Team of Four Oxen, that have been in possession of the Candidate for the last four months, and during that period regularly worked by him; a Cup of five sovereigns; adjudged to Mr. Zedgold. Class 5. — Swine. — 1. To the best Boar; a Cup of three sovereigns ; a Cup of five sovereigns ; ad- judged to Sir Thomas Baring, Bart. 2. To the Breeding Sow, having had a farrow of pigs while in possession of the exhibitor ; a Cup of three sovereigns ; adjudged to Wm. Abbott, Esq. N.B. The Premiimis in Class Labourers were ofl'ered by C. S. Lefevre, Esq., M. P. ; also No. 1, in Class 1 ; Nos. 1, in Class 3 ; and 3, in Class 4, were offered by J. W. Scott, Esq., M.P. The following Officers were elected for the en- suing jcar :— SirThonias Baring, Bart., President; S. R. .Jarvis, Esq., Vice President; John Duthy, Esq., Secretary ; Mr. J. Ventham, Treasurer. Eight new Members were elected. NOTICE OF AN IMPROVED VARIETY OF EARLY POTATOE RAISED FROM SEED. BV MR. waters. (From the Gardener's Magazine.) Sir, — Your correspondent H. O. gave you an ac- count in the February Number of the Magazine, of a method by which I take the large potatoes, and leave the smaller ones, without disturbing the stalks. 1 have derived great advantage from this plan, which I believe I may claim as ray discovery, never having heard of any person who practised it except such as I recommended to do so. The object of the present communication is to call the attention of your readers to the great importance at this time, when the standard kinds of earlj'' po- tatoes are so liable to failure, to raise new, and as being young, more vigorous, and perhaps in all respects better kinds, from seed ; and as an en- couragement to them to do so, I have the pleasure to state, that, having, in the 3^ear 1830, caused the ash-leaved kidney potatoe to produce blossom, by removing the earth from the roots, and the tubers with it, as they were formed (for under ordinary treatment they seldom blossom,) I im- pregnated the flowers with pollen from the Wick- low Bangor, and the offspring jjosscssed not an in- termediate quality between the parents, but all the earliness of the ash-leaved kidney, with the size and productiveness of the Bangor. I made a plantation of this potatoe, in drills, such as formerly described, on the 26th of Febru- ary last ; and notwithstanding the severity of the cutting frosts in April, which certainly did me considerable injury, I fui'nished my employer's (Captain Crawford) table, with a dish of new po- tatoes on the 8th of May; and, on the 14th, I showed three tubers to your brother, Mr. John Murphy, of North Frederick-street, the weight of which, together, was upwardsof half a pound, and one of which he found to measure four inches in length, by five and a half in circumference. Plant- ed whole, as formerly recommended, "the produc- tiveness of this variety is truly astonishing ; and for the purpose of early forcing, it is invaluable, inasmuch as it will have abundance of tubers to its roots, when its stalks are only three or four inches over the ground. I am, &c., LAURENCE WATERS. To E. Murphy, Esq. Glasnevin, June 8, 1834. [It is a singular coincidence, that Mr. Waters, who, we have seen since we received the above connnunication, and who had never heard of Mr. Knight's experiment, with a view of causing the ash-lcaved kidney potatoe to bear blossom, shoidd have fallen on the same expedient. In a com- munication by Mr. Knight, which is published in the seventh volume of the Horticultural Society's Trausacticms, it appears that he plants the ash- leavcd kidney in drills, two feet apart, and whole — the potatoes almost touching one another in the drills ; for, as the stalks, rise only afew inches above the ground, they are not liable to exclude the light from each other. In this way he had the enor- motis crop of six hundred .'ind sixty-five bushels, of eighty-two pounds per bushel, or upwards of one hundred and twenty-three barrels, of twenty stone each, on the English acre. To ensure full crops, Mr. Knight thinks jjotatoes ought never to be planted later than the beginning of March.] — E. M. . . THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 279 PRICES OF BREAD AND WHEAT. PROPORTION WHICH THE PRICE OF BREAD BEARS TO THE PRICE OF WHEAT. A quai'tcr of wheat (imperial measure,) of mid- dling quality, will, it is estimated, yield of flour 8!)2 lbs. Wiien the price of bread was fixed by the Lord Mayor, the sack of flour, weighing !280 lbs,, was calculated as sufficient to make 84 quartern loaves, but the bakers admit that it will make 86, or 37.3 lbs. 9 oz. The flour produced from a quarter of wheat being (as above stated) 392 lb. will, at this i-ate, yield 523 lbs. of bread nearly, but say 520 lbs., or in 4 lb. loaves, 130 loaves. Now the quarter of wheat yielding 130 loaves, a rise or fall of 5s 5d per quarter is precisely equi- valent to one halfpenny per loaf, inasmuch as 130 loaves, at one halfpenny each, amount to 5s. 5d. Proportion of the price of bread which goes to rcnuincrate the corn grower : — The average price of wheat is now (21st June, 1834) 47s lOd The bran and pollard may be worth, say 4s 6d The value of the flour will be 43s 4d And assuming, as above, that the flour pro- duced from a quarter of Wheat will make 130 loaves of 4 lbs. each, this will give exactly 4d as the farmer's share, when the price of wheat is 47s lOd, as at present. Thus 130 loaves, at 4d each, are .... 43s 4d Value of bran and pollard 4s fid Price of a quarter of Wheat 47s lOd And as the price of the 4 lb. loaf wheaten is at this time 8d in London, it appears that the grower receives just half the price which the consumer pays foi' his bread ; which half, or 4d, is to be divided between the landlord, the farmer, and the labourer, and for rates, taxes, &c. The landlord, say l-4th Id TJie farmer's living, and profit, l-4th The labourer, l-4th Poor and county rates, taxes, &c. l-4th . , Id Id Id 4d The remaining 4d per loaf must, therefore, go to the miller, the mealman, and the baker. If foreign corn were admitted duty free, or nearly so, the price of wheat must fall, at least, lis per quarter; and this reduction of price (which would ruin the agriculture of the country) would, and could only, according to the foregoing calculation, cause a corresponding reduction of Id in the price of the 4 lb. loaf. Now if we assume that a manu- facturing ]a1)ourcr be paid at the rate of two loaves per diem, his wages would be reduced Is per week ; and would this small reduction enable the British manufacturer successfully to cr)mi)etc with the comparatively untaxed labour of other countries ? or even if it did so, would it compen- sate him for the almost entire loss of the home market, conseejucnt on the ruin of the agricultu- rist ? DRUNKENNESS. [from THE " PHRENOLOGICAL JOURNAL."] • An innate love of intoxicating liquor, in the form of a strong craving appetite. — It is well known that particular individuals arc infected with this craving, apparently as a positive disease. AVe have known well educated females, in the middle and higher ranks, the victims of it, whom no principles of religion, morality, or shame, could restrain from the immoderate use of ardent spirits. It is certain that, among men, there are numerous andunhappy examples of a similar disposition. It is also a matter of common remark, that occasional- ly, in the same family, some individuals are the victims of this vice, while others are entirely free from it, although all have been trained from in- fancy in the same manner. According to phrenological principles, the drunkard, from this cause, is a patient who re- quires phjfsical as well as moral treatment. He must, by all means, be restrained from using in- toxicating liquors, and subjected to a long course of physical training, to change the habits of his body, before any success in his reformation can be expected ; and it is not to be confidently relied on, even when all these measures have been ap- plied. Repentance, promises of amendment, and other merely mental impressions, have as little abiding influence on such men, as the waves raised by the wind have on the surface of a lake ; they may be strong while they last, but their endurance is brief, and their effects truly transitory. A second cause of intemperance may be the ex- treme deficiency of food, either in quantity or qua- lity, accompanied by hard labour. The effect of bodily labour, carried beyond the physical strength of the individual, is to exhaust the nervous system of its energy and vivacity. When toil ceases, there is a i)ainful feeling of want and depression, attended with a craving for stimulus, which is nearly intolerable. Looking to the cause of the evil for our direction in applying a remedy to it, we would prescribe wholesome food in sufficient quantity, cleanliness, fresh air, and labour propor- tioned to the strength. The application of these sanative means, however, requires time, money, and a condition of mind in which the whole con- duct is subjected to moral restraint. The indivi- duals subject to this form of temptation, however, are in general sunk deep in helpless poverty, and, at the end of each day's labour, are scarcely able to provide means for purchasing theplainest food, in the most moderate quantity. Beset by the feel- ing of depression, and that heart-gnawing craving for stimulus and reaction which we have described, they fly, as if impelled by an irresistible infatua- tion, to the gin-shop, and enjoy a moment's felici- ty, which we verily believe to be to them inexpres- sively delicious, although most transitory, and soon to be followed by suffering still more severe than that which it for the moment relieves. If this be a correct description of the cause of intem- perance in a large proportion of the operative classes, it points out the means necessary to be adopted for its removal. The physical condition of the sufferers must be improved as the first step. A third cause of intemperance luay be a flow of exuberant sjiirits, arising from strong health and worldly prosperity, in persons of little education, knowledge, and mental cultivation. Our intem- perate ancestors, of the higher and middle classes, were men of this description. They felt within themselves a great capacity of enjoyment ; but having few ideas, and no intellectual pursuits, they were grievously at a loss to discover in which direction tliey could obtain substantial pleasure. The bottle prese?itcd itself to their imagination as the readiest and most obvious fountain of joy. They drank deep, and expanded their souls in rude and boistrous merriment. \Vc recollect striking examples of this species of intemperance being 280 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. exhibited by the farmers of the fertile districts of Scotland, about the years 1800-1-2-3, and upwards. They had entered life, expecting to maintain a hard struggle with fortune and to obtain only daily Iwead in an humble way, without the least prospect of becoming rich. By the progress of the war, and the restrictions of cash payments by the Bank of England, prices of agricultural produce rose to an unprecedented height, and wealth poured into their coffers in copious streams, absolutely without an effort. There is no rivalry in trade among far- mers, for the prices of their commodities are af- fected by causes so extensive, that individuals aj)- pear to have no influence over them. They are, therefore, either in prosperity or adversity, at the same time, and cordially sympathise with each other in every turn of fortune's wheel. At the time above-mentioned, the whole tenantry of large tracts of country, whose minds were so moderate- ly cultivated, that they only knew how to read, and scarcely to write, found themselves becoming gentlemen all at once ; and they gave indulgence to their mirth in frequent and long-protracted festivities. We knew of a "house-heating" among them which was supported for two nights and a day, the guests eating, drinking, and sleep- ing by turns, the shutters being closed, the can- dles burning, and the feast going forward all the time without intermission. Drunkenness in these classes has almost entirely ceased; and why ? be- cause the men have become more intelligent, and the women more refined, in consequence of a far higher education, procured by the very wealth which at first, when ill applied, deteriorated their habits. THE SENSITIVE PLANT. Nay, little trembler, shrink not thus, As though a foe were nigh ; I would not harm thy smallest leaf — Then let thy terrors fly. Alas ! 'mongst human kind there be Hearts sensitive as thou, Who hear in every tone reproof. See frowns on every brow. Oh, may I ne'er sucbdark distrust With needful caution blend ! But rather view, till else I've proved, Each stranger as a friend. Ancient Couet Costume. — Those singular speci- mens of Court costume which some time since were exhibited at the Rooms, in 209, Regent-street, and have lately been transferred to the Strand, adjoining- Somerset House, may well be visited by both grave and gay, as, in addition to being costly and bi- zarre, they are the habiliments actually worn by fe- males of the Cromwellian family ; they excite a dou- ble interest. They are at once authentic, familiar, and amusing memorials of an extraordinary period of our past history, and of individuals who were most prominently connected witli it. They are adjusted on w:ixen busts, which have been modelled after ac- credited portraits, so that the person who visits them may fancy himself tete a tete with those distinguish- ed dames of the seventeenth century, whose connec- tion with Puritanism was not of such influence with them as to counteract the natural love of tlie sex for finery in their silks and brocades, their flounces and furbelows. COURT OF EXCHEQUER. PAULI V. SIMES. Mr. Hoggins opened the pleadings ; Mr. Fol- LETT stated the case. This was an action on a breach of contract in the sale of fifty packs of wool. The defendants were brokers, who sold the wool in question, on ac- count of Messrs. Legg and Co., to the plaintiffs, in July 1832. It appeared that the defendants had previously sold the same wool to De Vaiixand Co., to whom the invoices were made out, but as they wished to get rid of the bargain, the defendants substituted the name of the plaintiffs for that of De Vaux and Co., in the invoice, pursuant to an arrangement to that effect. Legg and Co., the owners, however, refused to deliver the wool to any but to De Vaux and Co., the original pur- chasers ; and as the defendants had no control over the wool they wrote to the plaintiffs to re- turn the invoice, since Legg and Co., had refused to let them have the wool. The plaintiffs refused to return the invoice, and gave notice of their in- tention to purchase a similar quantity of wool at the market price. They accordingly purchased fifty packs, at 191 a pack, being an advance of 21, the wool in question having been pui'chased at 171 a pack, making a difference on the whole of 100/, for which sum this action was brought. Mr. Platt, with whom was Mr. Steer, addres- sed the Jury for the defendants, observing that the transaction with the plaintiff was not binding. They called witnesses to show that one of the de- fendants had said to the plaintiffs when they were negotiating about the wool, that he would endea- vour to get the wool for them . Lord LvNDHURST left it to the Jury to say whether the transaction with the plaintiffs was binding. Verdict for the defendants. On the subject of grain-rents, in opposition to money-rents, in Brewster's Encyclopedia, we find the following : — " In ancient times, the rent of land consisted in a certain part of the articles which it produced, and in services often unfixed and undetermined. Money in those periods was scarce, and markets for the sale of produce were irregular, and in many places not to he found ; therefore the scarcity of circulating medium, and the general want of markets, rendered a payment of rent in kind of necessary measure. In proportion, how- ever, as the country increased in prosperity, the ne- cessity of paying rent in this manner was gradually obviated, till at last it was almost quite done away, and a fixed pavment in money substituted in its place. — Latterly, an inclination to return to the an- cient practice has been manifested by several pro- prietors ; but whether such a return would be of advantage to agriculture scarcely requires to be discussed. In fact, a rent, either partially or wholly paid in corn, must necessarily be disad- vantageous to the tenant, because the money va- lue of the payment is always greatest when the means of paying it are lessened or curtailed. The price of grain in Britain is rarely high, un- less when adverse seasons intervene, and cause a scarcity of farm produce. When the tenant pays in money, the augmented price compensates the deficiency of quantity ; but when in corn, the whole disposable produce may be insufiicient for discharg- ing the contracted obligation ; consequently, the tenant may thus be brought undej- great difficulties. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 281 STATE OF THE WOOL TRADE. The demand for goods in our cloth markets during the past fortnight has continued to offer a gratifying contrast with the late depression, and considerable business has been done, but prices remain without improvemeat, and are in many descriptions of goods much below the relatire present prices of wool. This is more particularly the case with goods made from English wools, for which higher prices are now again asked, and as soon as the present stock of goods is run off", it appears likely that the struggle between the holder and the manufacturer will have to be re- newed. In Foreign wools, the result of the great German fairs has demonstrated the utter impossi- bility of maintaining the enormous advance which took place between the last and the present clips, and prices may therefore be expected to remain mo- derate and steady. The quantity brought to three principal fairs is stated thus : — Cwt. Cwt. To Breslau 32,748 from Silesia 4,552 more than last 11,588 from other parts [year. 44,23(5 Total. Cwt Left unsold at the close of the Fair about 1,909 To Stettin.. 24,000 To Berlin . , 35,000—14,000 cwt. more than last year. Left unsold from 3,000 to 4,000 About one half the quantity of Silesian wools brought to the Breslau Fair had been previously contracted for, at prices exceeding those realized in the Fair — in most cases compromises were effected, and only two cases are alluded to as having been settled by recourse to legal compulsory means. The attendance of buyers at this Fair was particularly large in comparison with former years, viz. : — -. ^i .1 i- ' • f- 26 more than last year. 1.>1 otlier foreigners, ) ^ 340 German manufacturers. 257 Jews ! Six Jews to one Englishman are fearful odds, and if our countrymen return unscathed great will be their claim to the merit of prudence and circumspec- tion. The (|uantity exhibited at all these Fairs was abundant, the produce in some districts having been 10 to 15 per cent, more thaa last year, and many growers who sold their last year's wool as formerly, by contract on speculation, before the clip, having refused the offers made to them eight months ago, for this year's, and being thus obliged to bring their wools to market. The prices obtained at the Breslau Fair are stated to have been a trifle higher than those of the preceding year. At Stettin, the prices were in some cases higher, in others lower, but the average was considered equal to last year. The Berlin Fair is the last of the three, and concluded on the 23rd June. About one-third of the quantity sold was purchased by foreigners, the other two-thirds by German manufacturers, and the stock left unsold consisted principally of ordinary, good ordinary, and fine sorts. The prices realized are given as follow : — Ordinary Good ordinary - Middle - - - Fine middle- - Fine - - - . Extra fine - - For tills year. Rix Dollars per cwt. 421 to 47i - - 62 — 721 . . 85 — 92i - - 92^— 95 - - 105 — 112i - - 130 —140 - - Against those of 1833 45 to 50 62 — 72i 80 — 90 90 —100 110 —125 140 —150 Some parcels of extraordinarily fine and well man- aged wools fetched 150 to 160 "dollars. There was no perceptible difference in prices from the begin- ning to the end of the fair. It appears, on a general review and comparison of various statements, public and private, that with respect to prices, we may con- sider ourselves as again starting from the same point whence we started this time last year. The Conti- nental manufacturers evinced a more than usual readiness to purchase, in consequence of which, prices were maintained with more firmness than had been expected. This may perhaps be accounted for by the recent removal of restraints on the freedom of commercial intercourse amongst the different German states, each manufacturer speculating upon a consequent extension of his business, but as the aggregate number to be clothed remains the same, it is not improbable that an excess of goods will be produced, and that some of the recent wool buyers will find before this year is out, that they have been somewhat too eager. The English buyers have cer- tainly been careful, and have not suffered the expe- rience of the last nine months to be thrown away upon them. There is no present prospect of an out- let for dear goods, and when the comparatively low prices of almost every other description of produce are considered, it is difficult to imagine what should maintain the prices of wool at an extraordinary ele- vation. The new clip of English wool is now ap- proaching the market. The expectations of the growers may be great, but the manufacturers have had a lesson, and a week or two will shew how far the conflicting ideas of the parties can be accommo- dated to each other. There is a very general impres- sion amongst mercantile persons, both here and on the Continent, that after the demand for the present season has been satisfied, prices will be lower. — Leeds Intelligencer, July 5. MORNING. Earth has cast off the shadowy hues of Night, And Day rejoices in resplendent light ; The sun hath risen to his place on liigh, And reigns in glory o'er the boundless sky ! Touch'd by the power of his all-wak'ning beam. The cloudy dew is passing as a dream From off the land — and every tree and flower, Receives fresh brightness from the morning hour. All nature's gladdened, as when that decree, " Let there be light !" broke from Eternity ! Man, too, hath chased the spells of sleep away, To hail, with thankful heart, another Day — To chain again Hope's charm within his breast — To think no more of yesterday's unrest. To feel the joy of health and strength renew'd. And every haunting dreary grief subdu'd ! When slumber comes not near the sufferer's bed. To still the throbbing of an aching head ; To cool the feverish restlessness of pain, How longs that weary one for morn again ! With anxious mind he watches for the ray, The first pale, slightest glimpse of coming day ; Thou'rt like our childhood — these young hours of light. The happiest time, the most remov'd from Niglit ; The beautiful, undim'd by age, appears. As it may never seem, in future years. Scenes burst upon us, that the Noon-Day sun Deprives of loveliness — their bloom is gone ; Treasures are ours — the Evening fain will shade. And change the brightness that was on them laid. Still Truth is left ! and Truth within us born. Tells of one glorious and eternal Morn ! The soul looks onward through the wanes of strife. And soars the victor o'er the Dead to Life ! Kimbolton. B. B, B. T 282 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE CORN LAWS. By John Cathcart, Esq. of Genoch. {From the Quarterly Journal of Agriculture.) A subject which involves the wealth, strength, and happiness of the country, will unquestionably receive the fullest investigation of the means capable of per- manently producing the greatest quantity, and cheap- est supply, of bread-corn, which the circumstances of the country, arising from the wages of labour ne- cessary to maintain the domestic habits and comforts of tlie labouring classes will permit — this I consider to be the great object of Fiscal Legislation. In the first place, it would appear desirable to establish the cause of the difference in the price of corn in all tliose countries from which we have received, or have been led to expect supplies — whether the diffe- rence of that price is the measurB of the wages of labour in that country, and is the source from whence springs the rent of land, the demand from which rising and falling in the ratio by which wages enable the labouring classes of the community to enjoy the comforts or luxuries of life 1 The next question which demands our inquiry is, in what state of po- pulation and agricultural intelligence do we find those countries which can spare the greatest quantity of corn? Is it when the native fertility of the soil is called forth with little labour? Or is it when agriculture has attained the dignity of a science, embracing skill, capital, and machinery! If this were the case, Flanders, England, France and Italy ought to afford that supply which is only to be ob- tained from countries such as Poland, Russia, Hun- gary, and America. From hence it would appear, that a supply of bread-corn can only be procured from countries thinly peopled, and where agriculture has not yet established that subdivision of labour its progress to improvement requires and creates. When the real wealth of a country, its land, and its labour, are brought into active and extensive indus- tiy, there is created an agricultural population, whose various wants call into existence that host of mechanics, who, in the rise and improvement of their arts, claim the home market as their patrimonial right, to secure which, protecting duties from 30 to 40 per cent, guard every branch of industry ; whilst drawbacks of those duties enable the manufacturer to supply the foreign market, but which are paid in full by the home consumer. It may with apparent justice be maintained, that if the agriculturist is forced to purchase every article of manufacture, enhanced by wages corresponding to the price of British corn, and if the equalization arising from protecting duties is changed in one article, justice requires that it should be so in all, because it is evident, that if the wages of labour are regulated by the price of corn, these wages must unquestionably fall in the ratio of that reduction which an alteration in tl>e law has created, leaving the labourer, with reduced means, liable to all the duties which protect every other manufacture. Thus it would appear that the intro- duction of foreign corn, by lowering the home price, would be injurious to the labouring classesby reducing their wages ; whilst every other article of their con- sumption, being protected from foreign competition, wouldremain the same. And farther, that the protection afforded to British agriculture, is, from the result of long experience, as necessary to enable the agricul- turist to bear the assessments imposed upon him by the poor-laws, county-rates, &c., which oblige him to contribute so largely to the support of the destitute, and of those wretched beings, who immured in in- fancy la the unhealthful atmosphere of the cotton- mill, are forced to labour f o the very limit of exist- ence, engendering in the population debility and disease. What a picture of the destitution of the la- bouring classes do the custom-house reports exhibit by the reduction which has taken place in the value of manufactures, and consequently in the wages of their labour ! Previous to the year 181,5, the oificial value of ex- ports was generally from 15 to 20 per cent, below the real value ; since that period, the official value of ex- ports was, in 1828, 52,000,000/,, whilst the real value had fallen to 36,000,000/. No manufacture was car- ried to the same excess, or suffered an equal depres- sion, as the cotton. When peace had deprived Eng- land of that monopoly she had long enjoyed, corn, land, and every article of commerce continued to de- cline in value, until it had reached a depression of from 30 to 40 per cent ; the wages of labour suffering in an equal degree, affording a satisfactory proof how equally balanced the protection to the agriculturist and manufacturer had been established. The fall in the price of the raw material, freight, wages of labour, and interest of money, appear to have induced the Chambers of Commerce of the United Kingdom to petition Parliament for the freedom of trade ; vainly confident that their skill, capital, and machinery would enable tjiem to defy all competition ; equally confident and enthusiastic was the minister, who in the language of romance, announced his having cut the cords that bound commerce to the ground ; when this mighty bubble had passed away, and the minister and his petitioners saw their golden dreams resolve into ruinous speculation, then arose that outcry, that whilst corn was held by the aristocracy at a monopoly price, our manufactures could not find a foreign mar- ket. The abolition of the Corn Laws had long form- ed one of those brilliant speculations of a fashionable economist, who asserts, that nineteen millions might be annually saved by their abolition ; that England ought to trust for food to her loom, not her plough ; that although it may be found that the ports were open for foreign importation during almost the whole period of the late war, and the average price of wheat from 84s to 85s per quarter, tliis gentleman alleges that war, and the uncertainty of a regular demand from England, prevented that extended system of agriculture foreign soil and climate admitted, aud which otherwise would have supplied corn at the low price of the Continent. If twenty years of unin- terrupted demand from England, at the high average of 84s per qr., did not act as a stimulus to foreign agriculture, would an act of Parliament, liable to he changed, have done so ? Or have we not reason to believe, that all the corn was brought to market which a long series of adverse seasons enabled them to produce ; and if we do not find one well cultivated country in Europe, which can permanently spare one pound of corn, have we not reason to think that greatly increased cultivation must produce the same result, namely, an increased population, fully equal to the increased production ? And farther, this eco- nomist has not informed us what would be the prin- ciples which would regulate tlie value of foreign corn when imported into England. Does he ima- gine that foreign corn could be poured into this coun- try in such abundance as to become the measure of its own value 1 Or will he admit that the British price must always be the measure of its value 1 Now, if it is admitted, that in productive seasons com can be imported at a much lower rate than the wages of labour, taxes, and the habits of England can afford, is it not evident that vastly less corn will be cultivated in England, consequently the British price must be higher j and if so, will not foreign THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 283 corn experience the benefit of this increased value, even in favourable seasons, and incalculably so in ad- verse ? Why did not this economist state the actual results of free trade during- nearly all the years of the late war? From the monthly averages of the consuls, with the actual shipments, a general average might have been formed, which, when compared with the averages for the same period for Eng- land, would have exhibited the benefits of im- portation. I have quoted only five years of scarcity, namely, 1800, 1801, 1810, 1817, and 1818, from the consuls' report of the average price of wheat at Hamburg, Konigsberg, Danuig, and St. Petersburg, as a pretty fair average of our importation from the North of Europe of these years. The general foreign average was 5js Id per quarter ; the average for England during the same period, was 101s 8d per ({uarter ; the total amount of importa- tion for these years was 11,519,319 quarters. Such donunients as these prove to the consumer how little in years of scarcity he is interested in the foreign price of corn ; it is the price of British corn which is alone the measure of its value. In concluding these remarks, I shall take leave to quote the various acts of Parliament for tlie last four centuries, to prove how fallacious has been the idea, and unsuccessful the attempts, to reduce the price of corn, by relying upon foreign importation. By the 4th of Edward IV. 1412, Parliament, upon a narra- tive that the labourers and occupiers of land were grievously hurt by importation of foreign corn, when the corn of this kingdom was at a low price, the im- portation of wheat was prohibited, until the home price rose to 6s 8d per quarter, or of our nionev about 25s 2d. At this period wool was the great article of export, and we have reason to believe that the scar- cities complained of were created by the increase of pasture, as we find, by the 4th of Henry III., a se- vere penalty annexed to allowing houses of husbandry to go to decay, of no less than giving the superior a power of seizing to his own use one-half of the profits of the ground so converted from husbandry to pasture. The preamble states,- that the desolations had gone to such excpss, as to destroy churches, and towns in which 200 persons used to be employed in tillage, and now occupied by two or three herdsmen ; and farther, we find, by the 25th of Henry VIII, that this statute narrates that some individuals possessed 24,000 sheep, and had raised the price of the carcass for victual from 2s 4d or 3s to 6s or 5s 4d at the least ; and a stone of clothing wool from Is 6d or Is 8d to 43 or OS 4d at the least ; and when the finest wool was produced, from 2s 4d or 3s at the most, to 53 or 4s 8d at the least ; and this act prohibited any person from keeping above 2000 breeding ewes. It will be observed that the price of wool had advanced to double its ancient value, whilst the price of wheat had been stationary, — a stone of the finest wool being of nearly equal value to a quarter of wheat. In the reign of Phillip and Mary, an act was passed, the preamble of which narrates, that in consequence of every kind of victual having- risen to an exorbitant price, they were prohibited to be exported, under forfeiture of the vessel, unless the price of wheat was 6s 8d per quarter. Agriculture appears to have continued to decline, as we find the penal statutes of Henry VII. and VIII., and of Edward VI. revived, enjoining l-.mdlords and tenants to grow corn. In the succeed- ing reign of the sagacious Elizabeth, although the compulsory laws were continued, the export price was raised to 10s per C[uarter, wlich, by the 35tli of Elizabeth, was raised to 20s or about 41s 4d of our money. In the next reign, the export price was raised to 26s. During all this period, importation was unrestrained ; and the author of the Tracts upon Corn has quoted the following extract from Sir Thomas Culpepper, who wrote in the end of the reign of James I. " At present, whilst corn and other merchandise which the earth produces are at a low price, the spade and the plough are forsaken, the poor find little employment, and wages are extremely low." In the end of this reign, the exportation price was raised to 32s per quarter. From this pe- riod until after the Restoration, exportation was re- gulated by the statute of tonnage and poundage, it having become an object of revenue. The Restora- tion prices were raised to 48s ; but a duty of 50 per cent, was laid upon export-ation, which amounted to a prohibition. The same statute regulated the im- portation of foreign wheat. Thus, when wheat, at the place of importation, was at or under 44s per quarter, foreign wheat |iaid a duty of 40s per quar- ter ; but when it exceeded 44s per quarter, it was admitted at 6s 8d. Exportation being tlius prohibited, cultivation was discontinued ; and in 1660, the price rose to 21 14s 6d ; in 1661, to 3i 10s ; and in 1662, it rose to 3^ 14s of the money of that period. V>y the I5th of Charles II., an act for the encouragement of tillage, the preamble of which narrates, that no man could live b)-^ raising corn, the exportation price was raised to 48s ; but the high duty upon exportation was continued, and im- portation permitted. Various ineffectual acts were passed, and the price of wheat, for the succeeding ten years, was 48s lOd per qr. We have now come down to the period of tlie Revolution, when the internal policy of the nation was improved, and a total change adopted with re- spect to corn. In 1688, the Revolutionary Parlia- ment enacted, that when wheat shall be sold at or below 48s, a bounty shall be given upon export ; and the high duties, by the 22nd Charles II., namely 40s per qr. were renewed. It is singular to mark the effects of this alteration in the law. It appears that the price of wheat during the year 1694 was 49s 9d ; 1695, 41s 2d ; 1696, 58s"2d ; and 1697, 46s 8d. From that period until the year 1751, namely, 55 years, our exports exceeded our imports by upwards of 23 millions of quarters ; and the ])rice, for the last ten years of that period, was only 268 3d per qr. In the year 1757, distillation from corn was suspended, and exportation prohibited. I am inclined to think, that from this period we are to date the commencement of a return to the ancient system, so justly complained of in the reigns of Henry VII. and VIII., of Edward VI., Mary, Elizabeth, and James I., namely, to admit importation and prohibit exportation ; thus renderini'- pasturage more profitable than tillage, and the coun- try incident to the constant alterations from profusion to scarcity, — often to famine. From this period, 1757, exportation was prohibited by the 30th, 31st, and 32nd of George of II. and by the 6th, 7th, 8th, 10th, and 12th of George III., importation was per- mitted, andthe bounty upon exportation discontinued, from the year 1765. The price of corn continuing to advance, recourse was again h-ad to a bounty ; and, in the year 1773, it was enacted, that when whe-.it was under 44s per quarter, a bounty of 53 per quarter should be given upon exportation, and importation prohibited until wheat rose to 48s. From 1771 to 1791, the average price of wheat was 46s S'd. The price still continuing to -advance, a new act, the 31 st of George III., was passed ; the preamble hearing, that it was to -alter and amend former statut s. By t])i3 act, the bounty was continued upon exportation whilst wheat was under 44s per quiirter, and expor- tation permitted until the price rose to 463 ; and a T 2 584 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. duty of 24s 3d per quarter imposed whilst under 50s if above 54s it was reduced to 6d. Tliis act, with the exception of the import being raised to 63s, con- tinued until the vear 1815. Having now brought the history of the Corn Laws down to the late alterations, I cannot conclude with- out remarking the change which took place by their alteration after the Revolution, which, in 55 years, from 1697 to 1752, produced an export of 23,527,868 qrs., being an annual average over consumption, of 427,961 qrs. During the subsequent 55 years, from 1765 to 1820, we required an annual average importation of 536,810 do. The total amount of importation during that period being 29,524,562 do. Having now submitted to public consideration those principles which, for the last four centuries, have created the legislative measures which have regulated the export and import of corn ; — measures which neither time nor experience have yet been able finally to resolve, on those which embrace the greatest and most permanent public bene- fit ; — let the labouring classes consider what has been the result of experience, and what are likely to be the consequences of the abolition of the Corn Laws, — to inflict a vital blow upon British agriculture, — to create profusion in years of plenty — famine in those of scarcity. In seasons of plenty, the wages of la- bour would be reduced from two causes; 1st, from the low price of corn ; 2dly, from the want of de- mand for manuf;\cturers by the agricultural popula- tion. Let them remember that the consumption of the country is 6-7ths of the whole manufactured pro- duce— that absolute scarcity makes labour cheap. Have they forgotten that Prussia imposed a duty of 10s per quarter upon wheat exported ? Were foreign countries to find that England depended upon impor- tation for her food, soon should our manufacturers find that they had fallen from Seylla into Charybdis, — from the foreign grower, into the hands of the im- porter. Has it still to be taught, that national pros- perity and independence, based upon an internal sup- ply of corn, compose one great whole, equally em- bracing all the great branches of industry in the state, none of which can be vitally impaired, without inflicting a deep injury upon every other 1 Had the agricultural classes, under the present law, possessed, an undue advantage, would the price of corn, rent of land, and agricultural wages, have fallen exactly in the ratio of all other commodities ? BEAUTIFUL BLUE VIOLETS. Violets, violets, beautiful blue violets. Laden with perfume and dripping with dew. From dell and from dingle, by rills and by rivulets. Lady, at sunrise I sought them for you. Enclosed in a cluster of green leaves I found them. Hiding their lieatls from the gaze of the day. Betrayed by the sweets they themselves shed around them, I culled the coy blossoms and bore them away. Slight not, ah ! slight not the shy little flower, It seeks not to vie with the gay garden rose ; Though humble the incense it brings to your bower. If its life be a short one, 'tis sweet to the close. -—From My Daughter's Book. MEAL HOURS. Our hours of meals are wonderfully changed in little more than two centuries. In the reign of Francis the First (about 1515,) they used still to say — To rise at five, and dine at nine, To sup at five, and bed at nine. Will make a man live to ninety-nine. The custom of dining at nine in the morning soon relaxed. Still persons ot quality long after dined at the latest at ten; and supper was at five or six in the evening. Charles the Fifth used to dine at ten, sup at seven, and all the court were in bed by nine. They sounded the curfew, which warned them to put out their fires at six in the winter, and between eight and nine in the summer. In England a similar change took place. But in some degree it is a change rather of name, than of the meals themselves. Our ancestors would have called our luncheon dinner, and our dinner they would have called supper. It is a curious fact, that in some of the colleges in Oxford, where allowances are made by the founders for the meals of their scholars, a much more liberal sum is given for their supper, than for their dinner, implying that the supper was the more substantial meal. ]3uRiALS IN England and Wales, — By the returns recently laid before Parliament, it appears that amongst 3,938,496 persons who have been buried between the years 1812 and 1831, 1,900 have attained to the age of one hundred years, of whom no more than one-third (637) were males, two- thirds (1,263) were females. Eighteen individuals have attained to the age of one hundred and eleven and upwards, nine of each sex ; and it may gratify local curiosity to add, tbat those of 111 years of age, died at Maker, (North Riding of Yorkshire) at Cloford, (Somersetshire) at Dent, (in the West Riding of Yorkshire) at Tam worth, (Warwick- shire) and at Houghton-le-Spring, (Durham) in the years 1814, 1815, 1817, 1822, and 1826 respec- tively. Those who were lliJ years of age, died at Llangattock, (Brecon) and at Tytherington, (Glou- cestershire) in the years 1817 and 1825 respec- tively. Those of 113 years of age, died at Shad- well, (Middlesex) and at Standon, (Herts) in the years 1814 and 1819 respectively. Those of 114 years of age, died at Langford, (i3edfbrdshire) and in St. Martin's parish, (IJirmingham) in the year 1823. A female, 117 years of age, died at Sutton Courteney, (Berks) in 1822. A male, 118 years of age, died at Irthington, (Cumberland^ in 1823. A male, 119 years of age, died at Allensmore (Hertfordshire) in 1822. Two males, 120 years of age, died at St, John's, (Swansea) and at 'i'opham, (Devon) in the years 1822 and 1824 respectively. One female, of 120, at Camrose, (Pembrokeshire) m 1830. One male, 124 years of age, died at Bol- ton-under-Bleane, (Kent) in the year 1824, English Pigs in Paris. — The sale of Eng- lish cattle and stock, imported by orders of the Go- vernment, took place in Paris on the 3d inst., and was attended by crowds of amateurs. The whole went off" at high prices, and were much admired. The short compact Berkshire and Chinese pigs, dif- fering so much from the indigenous long-legged ani- mals tliat remind one of the peasants of the Landes, wei-e objects of great curiosity, and were eagerly bid for. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 2Sc THETFORD WOOL FAIR. Never since tbe first establishment of tbis Fair by our late worthy representative, has any thing nearly approaching to the attendance at the last Fair, on the 11th July, been witnessed. Tha number of persons who dined in and about the Hall, and of those who were unable to find places till the need of elbow- room was diminished, was upwards of 300. Mr. Coke presided as usual, with the heir of Holkhamby his side ; and both the Members for West Norfolk "were present, besides Lord Lynedoch, Lord Hunt- ing-field, Lord W. Powlett, the Hon. General Fitz Hoy, Sir C. JNL Clarke, General Trevor, Richard Eaton, Esq., E. 1\. Pratt, Esq., H. N. Partridge, Esq., A.Hammond, Esq., J. H. Powell, Esq., C. U. Plestow, Esq., S. M. Raymond, Esq. (Essex) ; Mr. J. Ellman (Sussex); Air. Webb Hall (Gloucester- shire) ; the principal growers of West Norfolk and many of those of Sufi'olk, and an unusual number of buyers. After dinner Mr. Coke observed that this was the fullest and most gratifying meeting he had ever at- tended, and as there was no doubt a great deal of wool to be offered, he should propose to drink the toasts, without taking up the time of tbe meeting, by three times three cheers. He then gave " The Con- stitution and King" — " The Duke of Sussex" — " The Members for West Norfolk." Sir W. FoLKES, in returning thanks, said it gave gr oat pleasure to Sir Jacob Astley and himself to be able to attend at this meeting. He had attended last year for the first time, and he then resolved never to be absent at any future meeting if he could avoid it ; he was sure that, in being present on such an occa- sion, he did nothing in derogation of his duty as their representative. Mr. Coke then gave, " Prosperity to the Counties of Norfolk and Sufiblk." There were many gentle- mea present from Suffolk who had never done them the honour of attending before, and he hoped they would continue to visit the fair, which was estab- lished for the mutual benefit of the two counties." " The venerable Bishop of the Diocese" was next drunk. Mr. Coke next proposed the health of the distin- guished General near to him, and very near his heart, the bravest of the brave, as liberal a man as ever existed — and a true patriot — Lord L3medoch. His Lordship returned thanks. Mr. Coke then said he was supported by distin- guished Generals on both sides. He begged to pro- pose the health of General Trevor, the landlord of a gentleman celebrated for his breed of sheep, Mr. Ellman, who was also present. He had visited the General in Sussex last )'ear, and if this were an agricultural meeting he might have told the meeting what he saw there. He had told the General that when he came to Holkham he should enjoy the privi- lege of finding fault in turn, which was the best mode of extending information, and he would only say that the General had asked for a few Devons, which were now on the road into Sussex. General Thevor returned thanks. Mr. Coke then gave the health of another noble- man, whom Le had long known for his zeal in agri- culture, and who he understood was a good judge of stock, but was also an admirer of what he (Mr. Coke) called the devourers. If the Noble Lord knew what they ate, he would perhaps be of a diffe- rent opinion. Some persons objected to the Devons that tbev ate so little, and made no muck ; but for his (Mr. Coke's) part, he could not think it an ob- jection to a beast that it ate but little. The breed he alluded to might suit his Lordship's land, but in He the greater part of Norfolk they would not live then gave " Lord Huntingfield." Lord Huntingfield said he did not expect when he came into Norfolk, to be told that he had no stock worth having, and to have his Herefords brouo-ht into comparison with the Devon cattle. (Mr. Coke said he thought bis Lordship's cattle were short- horns ; if they were Herefords, they were pretty nearly agreed.) Lord Huntingfield said he had only ten short-horns, and he would appeal to all present whether the Herefords did not produce most money in Smithfield, the butchers all said the Herefords produced most meat, and that the Devons had a small quantity of meat in propor- tion to the fat on their bones. With regard to the assertion that where a Hereford would starve a Devon might succeed, he would repeat what was asserted by Andrew, that if all breeds of cattle were put on the Welsh Mountains together, the Herefords would come off the best. This was a proof that they had the best constitution, and the greatest aptitude for fattening. He had lately had a little Hereford, only 38 months old, which died with 22 stone of tallow in it, and he thought he could shew 100 Southdown ewes against any 100 of Mr, Coke's for any money that he pleased. Mr. Coke said he was really glad he had said what he did, because he always understood that his Lord- ship's cattle were short-horns. No one had a higher opinion of the Herefords than he had, but they were adapted to a different soil from that of Norfolk. Short-horns might succeed on strong soil, but the true criterion was what sort of animal would pay the most for a given quantity of food, and on that princi- ple he recommended the Devons. Persons who had visited Norfolk this year, and had seen them, had de- clared that they would not have believed it possible that stock could be in such a condition this season. As to the noble lord's offer to show his sheep, he did not think that ewes ought to be in a condition for showing. Mr. Bakewell always said that he never wished his ewes to be fit to be seen — if they were, he must be a great loser. His (Mr. Coke's) ewes were little better than skeletons, and in all probability the best would be least worth looking at. He would now give the health of Sir C. Clarke. Sir C. Clarke, in returning thanks, said he felt grateful to Mr. Coke for being the first person who did him the honour to notice him when he came into Norfolk, and that which began in a mere acquaint- ance had ended in a solid friendship. It had been his good fortune to spend the greater part of his life in labouring to relieve the sufferings of his fellow- creatures ; but on coming into Norfolk he had found objects with which he was delighted in the pursuits of agriculture, and had endeavoured to make himself acquainted with them. Mr. Coke then gave the health of a noble lord whom he had never seen there before, but whom he trusted they should often see again — Lord W. Powlett. Lord W. Powlett, in returning thanks, said he had lately become the possessor of an estate and a flock in Suffolk, and he hoped this would not be the last meeting that he should attend. Mr. Eaton, on his health being drunk, said he came from the corner of a county in which tbe wools were not so much improved as in Norfolk, but he trusted they were improving, and he hoped they would soon have something worthy of approbation. Lord Ianedoch proposed a toast whicn he was sure would be drunk with enthusiasm — the health of their worthy Chairman, who had represented the county in so many parliaments. The toast was drank with three times three, and great enthusiasm. Mr, Coke said he had always considered the sitU' 286 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ation of their representative as the proudest which a commoner could hold, and he hoped he had shown that lie had no object so near his heart as the inte- rests of his constituents. He thought that these meetings were calculated to break through prejudice, the great barrier to improvement. He might some- times have said more than was agreeable to all pre- sent, but he hoped it would be taken in good part, and he was sure they would give him credit for hav- ing established this meeting for the good of the county. When he became its reiiresentative he found a wretched breed of sheep, and the county divided between three wool-buyers, who never trespassed on each other's district so that they had the wool at their own price. He therefore felt bound to estab- lish this meeting, which was at iirst attended by only 15 or 20 of his own tenants, and about as many other persons, and no business was done in the room. Last year a great deal of business was done in the room. He had not only pleasure but interest in the prosperity of the fair, for whatever benefitted the tenant must be a benefit to the landlord ; he wished to live no longer than he could have confidence in man, and he believed no man in England had more reason to be proud of his tenantry than he had. He felt proud in having established this fair, and in see- ing its present prosperity ; but he must still say that many of the flocks in this county were not what he could have wished, the breeds being mixed in a great degree. There was a gentleman present (Rlr. Bryant) who seemed a little prpjudiced against his sheep. No one had taken more pains than he had done with the Southdowns, and he thought he had brought them to perfection ; but ihey did not produce the price in London which he expected, and he was advised by Mr. Payne, bis salesman, to try a cross with the Hampshire. He had done so, and he was sure that that cross had benefitted him beyond an}-- thing he could mention. It had given Jjis sheep a little deformity, but the farmer must look to that which put most money in his pocket, and he found the sheep had a better constitution, and sold better, and that both the wool and the lambs produced a better price by two or three shillings. Some of his ewe wool was long enough for combing, which was not the case with pure Southdown, and he thought he should find his account in the cross to-day. He would now give the health of Mr. Bryant, and if he had a prejudice against the Hampshire cross he wished he would try it. Lord HuNTiNGFiELD said he had watched Mr. Bryant's flock for several years, and had seen a lot of his pure Southdowns about a month ago the first to be sold at the best price of the market. He had also a pen of Norfolk and Down half-breds, which would not sell at all. He contrived without any cross to have plenty of muscle. The way to have good sheep was never to let them lose the Lamb's flesh whicli the ewe put on their backs. He (Lord Huntingfield) had sold his sheep at 14s per head, and Lord Stradbroke had sold his at 45s after clip- ping 7^1bs. of wool. By clipp ing their sheep early they got a pound of mutton instead of an ounce of wool. The Hampshire cross, on his soil, he consi- dered would be liable to be struck by the fly, and to other disorders. He advised Mr. Bryant not to make any change ; he was persuaded that no sheep was so well adapted for all soils as the pure South- down. Mr. Bryant having returned thanks, said that when he first tried the Southdowns, eighteen years ago, he tried the Hampshire also ; he found the lambs were pretty nearly equal, but the Hampshire shearlings had no more to do with the Sussex than light with dark, and he would not have a Hampshire down in his flock if any one would give him 1,000 guineas. He had shown one of his Sussex shear- lings at the West Suffolk show, which weighed 361bs. a quarter at twentv-two months old, and had never lain a night out of the fold. Mr. Coke then gave the health of the Prince of farmers, General Fitz Roy, whose farm he said was a pattern of neatness. He had ridden through it that day, and saw capital crops, and a beautiful piece of mangel wurzel hoed out the second time. General Frrz Roy thanked the company, ai;id said no man was lionder of farming than he was, and he had spent a great deal of time and money in it, but he gave all the credit of the management of late years to IMr. Beck, his agent. The healths of Sir. Powell, iMr. Hammond, Mr. Plestow, jVIr. Pratt, and ]\Ir. Partridge were suc- cessively drank, and those gentlemen returned thanks. Mr. Abbott, of Castleacre, said there was a toast which he had hoped would have been sooner men- tioned by some one more competent, though not more grateful than himself — the Heir of Holkham — and he trusted that when he came to the estates that he would be actuated by the same kind and liberal sentiments towards the yeomanr}^ of Norfolk as had always actuated his father. Master Coke returned thanks. Mr. Fui.LARD having obtained permission to ad- dress the meeting, adverted to the injury sustained by the fen farmers in consequence of the admission of small seeds at a low duty. He stated that some thousands a-year were lost to the labourers of this country, and that the effect would be to pour into Lynn market after harvest an abundant crop of fen wheat from 25,000 acres of land. "Mr. Raymond and the Agriculturists of Es- sex," Mr. Raymond returned thanks. He feared that his county was not able to cope with Norfolk in agriculture, for they had not so good an example set them as that of the worthy President. He hoped to be allowed to propose the health of Lady Ann Coke and the Ladies of England. INIr. Coke said he had one more toast to propose before they proceeded to business — the health of Mr. Ellman from the South-Downs, and Mr. Webb Hall He should hope to see them to-morrow at Holkham, and he trusted they would learn something before they went home. Mr. EriMAN returned thanks, and said he had great pleasure in seeing Mr. Coke at Gl}mde six weeks ago. He quite agreed with Mr. Coke that it was almost impossible to show 100 ewes as specimens of a flock. But he was well acquainted with the Wilt- shire and Hampshire flocks, and he must deny that the Hampshire Downs ewes or hoggets yielded more combining wool than his own flock. After he had sold his wool last year he asked the buyer what in- duced him to give so high a price ('2s per lb. for ewe and hogget), and his answer was, because the greater part of it was combing wool. As to Smith- field, he was in the habit of sometimes sending a few sheep there, and he found tliat the pure Sussex Downs brought the highest price in the market, and he heard no complaint of there being more than fat than lean. He should go to Holkliam, as had been said b}^ a late member of the Government, vith his mind a complete blank sheet of paper, and should be delighted to be convinceil in any way, if b}' any mode of cultivation a possibility could be shown of making a greater profit of the land. Mr. W^EBB Hall, having made his acknowledg- ments, said he had come to this fair, a distance of 20b miles, first for the purpose of paying respect to THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 287 the old and tried representative of Norfolk and friend of agriculture ; and, secondly to pay a tribute of respect to that county which, debarred from the pri- vilege of a naturally productive soil, by its still and enterprise, had overcome the barrenness of nature, and had elicited crops which would put to shame the richest districts of England. He had long consider- ed it a kind of agricultural sin never to have been into this countj' . What he had that day witnessed had done him good : the sentiments he had heard were most valuable, and especially the warning of their excellent chairman against prejudice, the great barrier to improvement. That caution came with the best grace from one who was always ready to change when it would be beneficial to throw open to the world the benefits of his own experience; and to defuse that light which his own ample means enabled him to acquire. He would always retain it amongst his most delightful recollections that he had witness- ed such a meeting as this in the j^ear 1834, presided over by Thos. Wm. Coke, Esq. Mr. Coke said he had been indebted to Mr Ell- man's father, who visited Holkham, with Mr. Arthur YouDg, for the Southdown sheep, and when he after- wards oflFered to meet JMr. Ellman in Smithfield, with ten sheep, he declined it on the ground that he had hitherto always stood first, and should not like to be second. He would now come to business ; he had already atated that he believed his wool to be better than pure Southdown, and this meeting would be the criterion. He would offer his wool to Mr Waller at what he believed to be its fair value, namely 64s for the Hog wool, and 50s for the Ewe. He named a separate price for each kind, in order that the value might be better understood. Mr. Waller said he had before stated that he con- sidered Mr. Coke's wool the most valuable descrip- tion, ewe and hogget together. He had been direct- ed by a house in Yorkshire never to lose sight of it, as it was superior to any other for combing ; but when they came to fineness for clothing, that was a different matter. He defied any man in the county to produce Down Hogget wool equal to ]Mr. Coke's for the spinner. There was a difference of opinion amongst the buyers as to the value of wool, and there had been something like a strike in the last 48 hours. Last year he had bought Mr. Coke's wcol at 45s for the ewe and hogget ; and a good deal of wool was bought in the room at 46s and 56s, and, out of it, at 50s and 60s. He was not then in the secret, and had offered his friend Fison a large quantity a few days after, but he was too honourable to take advantage of it, and did not even ask him the price. He was happy to say he saved several hundred pounds by it. He now begged to accept Mr. Coke's wool at the price mentioned. Lord Huntingfield said Lord Althorp had written to him that he had sold all his wool on the sheep's backs at three guineas the tod, and, believing his own wool to be very superior, he now offered it to Mr. Revans (who bought his wool last year,) at 56s all round, or 67s for the Hog wool, and 45s for the Ewe. He -would forfeit his own senses if his hog wool was not worth 5s more than any sold at Ips- wich. Mr Revans said his Lordship's wool was clipped too early, which took it from its combing quality ; and though his Down flock wool was equal to any, and his hog wool remarkably good, there was nearly an equal proportion of Liecester. The half Lieces- ter woidd be more valuable, but the Liecester was not worth so much. He had bought his Lordship's wool on many occasions, but he was sorry he must decline it at the price. Lord W. Powlett said Mr. Fison gave him 40s for his wool last year ; he considered it much im- proved this year by a cross with the Liecester, and now offered it at 43s and 63s. Mr. Fison declined the offer. General Fitz Roy offered his wool to Mr. Gar- diner, leaving the price to be fixed by Mr. Beck, who observed that the Yorkshiremen said there were not above fifty flocks in the county worth looking at, and he believed Mr. Gardiner would admit that 'there were few better than the General's. The county was greatly obliged to Mr. Coke for establish- ing this fair, which generally governed the prices elsewhere, but he (Mr. Beck) thought he had under- valued his wool to-day. He now offered General Fitz Roy's wool at 56s and 70s. Mr. Gardiner said he was not aware that any wool in England was worth such a price. Mr. Waller also refused the wool ; the price asked was far beyond the value. Mr. MusKETT offered the Duke of Norfolk's wool to Mr. Fison — hogget at 64s, ewe and fat sheep at 50s. Mr. Fison could not give the price, excellent as the wool was. Messrs. Head and Gardiner also re- fused it. Mr. Overman said Mr. Ellman sold his wool last year at 56s all round, and as it was allowed that the prices were higher this year, he now asked Mr. Gar- diner 56s and 70s. Mr. Gardiner repeated that there was no wool worth the money. Sir W. FoLKEs offered his wool to Mr. Middleton, of Flitcham, at 45s and 60s. Mr. M. declined it. Mr. Ellman said he understood that the day be- fore he left home a parcel of wool was sold in Lewes Market at 2s a pound, ewe and hogget together. He could not state the proportions, but probably nearly half and half. There was a good deal of fat sheep's wool. Mr. Waller, as the only buyer, proposed to drink " Success to the Hampshire cross." Mr. Hudson (Castleacre) offered his wool to Mr. Fison, half-bred hogget at 70s and fat Sheep at 50s. Mr. Fison declined it. Mr. Hudson, jun. Mr. Ken- die, and C. Hill offered their's at 70s and 56s also refused. Mr. Bryant offered his wool to Mr. Fison at 63s and 48s but it was not taken. Mr. Head offered 56s and 40s. Mr. Beck asked Mr. Ellman if the hoggets of the flock which he had mentioned had been shorn as Iambs. Mr. Ellman said most probably not. They knew nothing of shearing lambs, but only of topping them, and many of the best judges could not lell whether they had been topped or not. Mr. Waller said if they were topped they were not near so valuable for combing, Mr. Beck begged to offer his own wool at 56s and 70s. Mr. Waller declined it. Mr. Powell offered his wool to Mr, Fison at 60s and 46s. Mr. Fison offered 56s and 40s. It was ultimately bought by Mr. Head at 58s and 43s. Mr. Blyth, jun. of Weasenham, said his father had been indebted to Mr. Coke for the Hampshire cross, and had clipped from many sheep above 7lbs, and from one 8^1bs. He now offered his wool to Mr. Fison at 70s and 50s. If he asked too much he should be glad of an offer. Mr. Fison said there was too much difference be- tween them for him to make any bid. Mr. S. SniLLiTo asked 60s and 44s, Mr. Fison of- fered 56s and 40s. Mr. Head also refused it : he was in the habit of sorting 40 packs of wool a week, and the value of the greater part of the ewe wool was only sixteen pence a pound, except that which 288 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. was fit for combing. It was the larger proportion of this kind which made some of the wools worth more money. Mr. Roper (Rougbam) offered to Mr. Head at 44s and 60s. Mr. Head bid 42s and 58s, Mr. Pratt asked 50s and 60s. Mr. Waller bid 42s and 56s. Mr. Negus sold to Mr. INIoyse at 58s and 42s. Lord Berners' wool was offered to Mr. Mumford at 46s and 60s but not taken. Mr. Revans offered 42s and 56s to Lord Hunting- field. His Lordship said the buyers might pick up small parcels to fill their warehouses, but the large growers must wait for better prices. Lord W. Powlett offered to Mr. Head at -433 and 58s. JNIr. Head wished to look at the wool. Mr. MusKETT said he had written to Yorkshire for information, and was candidly told in reply that the price of wool was kept so secret that it was almost impossible to give a correct account. Tlie wool buyers here were so opulent that the Yorkshirmen would not come to compete with them ; but he Avas informed that if he sent his wool into Yorkshire every year, he would find a market for it at a price which would quite satisfy him. He would now offer his wool at 60s and 46s. Mr. FisoN said the price of wool could be no se- cret in Yorkshire ; for it was sold in the market at Bradford as regularly and as openly as wheat. He offered 60s and 44s to Mr. Muskett. Mr. Muskett declined the offer, and afterwards sold at 60s and 46s to Mr. Seyer. Mr. Raymond sold at 5f)s and 42s. Mr. Coke then left the chair, and a good deal of business was done abroad, at from 56s to 62s for hogget, and from 42s to 46s for ewe wool. THE DEVONSHIRE LANE. In a Devonshire lane as I trotted along T'other day, much in want of a subject for song, Thinks I to myself, (p'rhaps inspired by the ram,) Sure, marriage is just like a Devonshire lane! In the first place 'tis long, and when you are in it It holds you as fast as a cage holds a linnet. For howe'er rough and dirty the road may be found. Drive forward you must, for there's no turning round. But tho' 'tis so long, it is not very wide. For two are the most that together can ride ; And e'en then 'tis a chance but they get in a pother. And jostle and cross, and run foul of each other ; For poverty meets them with mendicant looks,' And care pushes by them with dirt loaded crooks. And strife's grating wheels try between them to pass. And stubbornness blocks up the way with his ass ; Then the banks that are so high, to left hand and right They shut ont the beauties around from the sight. And thence you'll allow 'tis an inference plain, That marriage is just like a Devonshire lane. But thinks I too, these banks within whicli we are check 'd With bud, blossom and berry are richly bedeck'd. And the conjugal fence which forbids us to roam. Looks lovely, adorn'd with the comforts of home ; In the rock's gloomy crevice the bright holly grows, The ivy weaves fresh o'er the withering rose ; And the evergreen love of a virtuous wife Smooths the roughness of care, cheers the winter of life ; Then long be the journey and narrow the way, I'll rejoice that I've seldom a turnpike to pay ; And think some as they will, be the last to complain. That marriage is just like a Devonshire lane. ON THE NEW POOR LAW BILL, PRIN- CIPALLY RESPECTING EMPLOYMENT FOR THE SURPLUS LABOURERS. TO THE EDITOR OF " THE MARK LANE EXPRESS." Sir — I wish to add a few more observations on the new Poor Law Bill and collateral subjects, though the almost complete and universal neglect of the interests of the tenantry, both among pub- lic writers and public men, is so apparent as to render their cause nearly hopeless. The Bill has been designated by its Tory and other enemies as a " Central Bashaw Bill," a district or " Paro- chial Bastile Bill," an " Infanticide Bill," &c This opposition (though much of it merely fac- tious, and directed more against the Ministry than the Bill) may not be without its use. In my opi- nion, whatever defects may be found in the Bill, and left in it finally by the " collective wisdom of the nation," it is highly desirable for the interests of the rural districts that it should pass into a law'' since whatever may be the injurious effects result- ing from the despotic jiower of the Central Poor Law Commissioners, it may lead to good, and it cannot lead to more evil than the despotic power, hitherto possessed by the magistracy, of ordering the tenantry to relieve able-bodied men, whom they cannot and ought not to be expected toem- ploy, and whom they are now unable to rule or coerce in any way, without much personal danger to themselves. The farmers, therefore, in popu- lous villages, may well be glad to see all the little power over the surplus labourers, which they pos- sess, taken for a time out of their hands, and they will also be glad to see the idle and worthless " choked off the parish" even by the " Bastile system." Here, however, we ought to stop : for, if men able and willing to work are to be shut up and se- parated from their families, in workhouses, while millions of acres in the British Isles need draining, chalking, marling, inclosing, and otherwise im- proving, and, for the performance of which by the tenantry, the legislators allows neither means nor motives, — such a system must necesssarily end in defeat and dishonour. Suppose the " imprison- ment system" in full operation, what motive will this supply to the tenantry to effect jyermanent im- provements which they have not at present .' In my opinion, none whatever ! It is true, many would refuse to live in workhouses, and some would get work occasionally in the neighbourhood, or at a distance, two or three days perhaps in a week, and of course many, reduced near the starvation point, would vnderbid each other, and thus reduce ivayes — an effect diametrically opposite to that predicted by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on introducing the Bill. Young single men in particular would scarcely live in a workhouse, earning perhaps 2s. or 2s. 6d. a week in breaking stones, and costing the parish about that sum for food and raiment, if they could obtain I8d. a day for half their time, or a shilling a day as regular wages. Steady young men would, of course, obtain regular work, anp men with families must resort to the workhouse, or desert their families, and betake themselves to vagrancy, beggary, and theft, as was the case pretty much in former days. It cannot, however, be doubted that the workhouse system will reduce the poor rates as well as the wages of labour. And of course (the political economists say) the farmers will have more money to lay out in culti- vating and improving their farms, as if they had not very obvious motives rather to improve their TPIE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 289 own property than that of others. My proposal (in the Mar A Lane Express, June 2) would entirely reverse the above unhappy picture. Let the care of the surplus labourers be entirely transferred (with compensation) from the tenantry to the landlords and the public, and many of the j»oor at least, will obtain better wages, no excuse will remain for begging or nocturnal depredations, and the higher classes will be regarded by the poor with respect and gratitude ; which are fruits which will scarcely be expected to grow on any of the 100 clauses of the Bill which has now probably passed the Com- mons, unless some additional means of employment be found to which that Bill makes no pretension, and which the Lords could easily supply. My project has, however, apparently met with no support in the Lower House of Parliament. I beg leave, therefore, to give one more proof that there are some whose views are not unlike my own, in the following extract of a letter which appeared in the " Salisbury Joui'nal," in 1830, and was stated to have been written by a practical farmer. " What remedy is there for the present distress of the country ? Let landlords immedi- ately set about employing the labourers at suffi- cient wages, in every parish where their estates lie, in draining, cleansing, chalking, marling, lim- ing, or otherwise improving their tenant's farms. This would employ all superfluous hands in each parish, and leave no able-bodied man on the poor- book, tend to raise wages, and give satisfaction to the labourer. The farmer would be benefited by an immediate reduction of parochial taxes, and by increased produce from his farm ; and the landlord would preserve his land from ruin. Impi'ovements of this kind will of course require to be carried on each succeeding year, and consequently a portion only should be annually performed. A little consultation with his tenant will discover what a landlord should do, bearing in mind that the emploi/ment of labourers ought to be the prominent consideratioti. I am of opinion that 1.5 per cent, on the rental, thus ex- pended, would effect every object, and be a cure for all the evils which so unhappily prevail." It would be quite unnecessary to say, that I coincide in opinion with the Wiltshire " Practical Farmer," since, during the last 27 years I have written, pro- bably, 500 times as much, with the same end in view, viz. to obtain employment for surplus labour- ers, with prof t to their employers. Now I venture to maintain that (passing over all my anonymous doings, in the way thej' have been passed over by the public and public men) the above fraction, the 500th part of this argument, as given three or four years ago in the " Salisbury Journal," ought alone to have been sufficient to decide what ought to be done with the superfluous labourers, viz. to assign them at once to the care of the land-owners and other men of wealth, with a grant from govern- ment in aid of public works. Vet (strange and unaccountable as it seems to me) neither the mi- nisterial project, nor the Report of the Poor Law Commissioners, contains the least hint of any bias or leaning toward the equitable and practicable project of the Wiltshire Practical Farmer, nor of the almost similar recommendation in the " Quar- terly Review of last January. I have good reasons, however, for assuming this neglect of the ques- tion as to what party ought, in justice and good policy, to support the superfluous labourers, did not arise from ignorance in either of the parties concerned. I have looked over the Report of the Poor Law Commissioners (partly, of course, to see what confirmation of my opinions it might con- tain) and find there abundant evidence that per- manent improvements either in land or buildings- are not considered, by just and honourable men, to be the proper business of an impoverished te- nantry, maintaining an insecure and precarious existence. Thus in the Report, p. 16, we read that a law is wanted for rating all cottages — that many gangs of parish (pretended) labourers, the riots of 1830 originated, and that parish employment affords no profit, p. 36, — that supernumerary la- bourers, at Great Shelford, cost £150 to yield a produce worth only £50, p. 55,— that confidence between landlord and tenant seems quite lost, p. 61, — that many landlords are unfit to originate amended systems, and do not understand the prin- ciples on which they ought to be based, p. 62, — that three men in the South of England, do less work than two in the North, p. 68, — that every amendment (in short tenures^ involves expence of which the benefit goes to the succeeding tenant, or rather his landlord, p. 73, — that outgoing tenants do little to land, and thus throw labourers on the parish p. 110 and 111, — that yearly tenants have no permanent interest in the land, p. 113, — that magistrates have assumed powers of very doubtful legality, p. 129 and 130, — that the poor in Guern- sey, are supported by a general income tax of 3 per cent. p. 180, — that tithe checks enployment, p. 204, — that the advantage of draining is felt more and more every year, p. 242, — that magistrates give alloicances through fear, though t/iey are wholly Ulegal, p. 290, — that parish officers employ men in useless, and often vexatious works, p. o24, — that drainage is a benefit to the owners of pro- perty, and others dislike to pay for it, and that the vestries will not agree to an outlay for making green lanes into good roads, because the temporary occupiers would derive no advantage, p. 325, — that, in many parts of Worcestershire, the roads (placed under a general system of superintendance) would employ all the surplus hands for at least five years, with great advantage to the county, p. 326, — that tenants at will refuse to build new work- houses, p. 329, — that paupers in workhouses cost three times as much in the South as in the North of England, p. 331, — that labourers on the roads receive their pay almost without work, because the farmers have no permanent interest in such improvements, p. 17 supplement. In the face of such testimony — and probably ten-times as much of the same kind — of the inutility and injustice of expecting the tenants to employ surplus hands, the commissioners do not recommend, nor the ministers offer, in their New Bill, an}' means of rendering such employment effective, or of trans- ferring the expence of it to such as must eventually receive all its benefit viz. — the landowners, the clergy, their heirs and successors, and the public. The writer in the Salisbury Journal, believes fifteen per cent, on the rental would suffice to em- ploy all the surplus hands, in works of real utility, which every one knows would increase the value of estates from seven to twenty or thirty years to come. The parish officers pretend to employ these men at perhaps an expence of only ten per cent, on the rental ; and perhaps they may actually earn about one per cent, in digging gravel &c. Thus it seems the landlords, or the public, gain per cent, in improved roads, the labourers lose 5 per cent, by living in idleness, and the tenants lose 10 per cent, on their rentals, and probably 5 or 10 per cent, more by the general increase of indolence and demoralization, while it is easy to arrange a system of private and jjublic employment, in most cases capable of yielding an ultimate profit and 290 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. very little loss in any. Opinions differ as to the re- turn to be expected from permanent improvements, such as draining, &c. My own opinion (as I have before stated) is that not more than an average profit of 25 per cent, for twelve years is to be looked for ; which, were a landlord to charge his tenant 10 per cent, by way of annuity for twelve years, would in that time remunerate him for his original outlay with 3 per cent, compound interest, and allow the tenant more than half the actual profit. On the other hand if the tenant sustain the original expence, he suffers an actual loss for four years and very little gain on the fifth. I am aware that landlords, and their agents, often at- tempt to persuade their tenants, that in draining, marling, &c., the whole expence will be returned in the second, and sometimes in the first succeed- ing crop, viz., from 50 to 100 per cent. These disgusting agricultural quackeries are however nearly extinct; else the intelligent part of the pub- lic must evidently look upon the whole agricultural interest, both landlords and tenants, as altogether besotted and stultified, in paj'ing thousands of men the wages of idleness, who being employed, as re- commended in the Salisbury Journal, would return profit after a delay of only one or two years — of 50 or 100 per cent, on the capital, for 10 or 12 years to come ' There is abundant proof, how- ever, that a landlord, or his heir, can always reap the benefit of such ameliorations ; and therefore that the surplus men who can be so employed ought no longer to remain as a burden on the tenants, but be transferred at once to the landlords, or the public. I should not suppose landlords would object to such a plan on any other ground than the want of remuneration, or compensation from the tenantry ; an objection which the legis- lature could easily remove. But there are very adequate grounds for individual landlords to refuse assisting their tenants (as recommended by the Wiltshire farmers) unless a clause in the new Poor Law Bill first placed the burden of the surplus poor on the landowners, and then allowed exemp- tion for such as employed them in permanent im- provements on their own estates, whether let or in hand. Thus suppose (what is a fact in this neighbourhood) an individual pays one-fourth of the poor-rate, and of course supports one-fourth of the extra men and boys (say sixteen) in idleness. His landlord may be willing to employ these in draining, &c., or pay the expence of their emigra- tion, or allow them groand to employ themselves, in a great measure— but having done this he finds that as matters now stand, eien in the new Poor Law, he has still to pay for support of twelve per- sons— viz., one-fcurth of the remaining forty-eight extra labourers. It appears to me therefore that a clause, as above-mentioned, is indispensible if the truly superfluous hands are ever again to hope for employment, and without which all the other lOO of clauses leave the main root of the evils complained of in the Poor Law undisturbed, and in full vigour. I remain, Sir, Yours &c., The Author of the Rights of the Farmer. The Defeat of the Islington ISIaeket Bill. — Mr. Hale, the Chairman of the City Land Committee, communicated to the Court the fact that the Islington Market Bill had been lost in the House of Commons Committee, and suggested the propriety of sending notice to Parliament of the intention to move for a bill to enlarge the present market at Smithfield, so as to answer the public con- Tcnience to the fullest extent. STEAM CARRIAGES. There is every reason to believe that we are on the very eve of seeing reduced to general practice a locomotive improvement which will be attended with as remarkable effects on the state of society in this country, as any of the applications of that great mechanical agent, steam, that have been made during the last century : — we allude to the invention of steam-carriages on common roads. Several persons of great ingenuity have been em- ployed, for a good many years past, in endeavour- ing to surmount the difficulties in the construction of these carriages ; and from what we read from time to time, in the metropolitan and provincial journals, these obstacles appear to be successively giving way. The probability is, that different in- dividuals will bring their attempts to a successful termination so nearly at the same time, that the same disputes will arise respecting the merit of the plan, as have taken place with regard to steam navigation and other mechanical inventions. Among the different attempts now making to in- troduce this species of locomotion to practice, none, we are inclined to believe, has been yet car- ried so far as the plan for introducing steam con- veyance between Glasgow and Paisley. We have observed, for some time, from the Glasgow papers, that steam carriages have been regularly plying on that great and crowded thoroughfare : and a letter we have lately received from a gentleman in that neighbourhood contains some particulars sufficient- ly interesting, in our o])inion, to be worthy of pub- lic attention. A company has been established at Glasgow for running these carriages, which have been invented by Mr. Russell, a lecturer on me- chanical philosophy, at Edinburgh. There are four carriages now running constantly on the Glasgow and Paisley road, and fully employed. They run the distance, eight miles, in little more than half an hour, and are able to make six trips a day ; and a single coach frequently carries not fewer than twenty-eight passengers. One impor- tant part of Mr. Russell's plan is," that each car- riage has a tender attached to it, for carrying fuel and water to supply the engine, which is changed for another at each stage or station. This exchange is the work of a few seconds ; and it is obvious that, by its means, the communication may be carried on, without interruption, for any length of road. The engine of thirty-two horse power, and boiler, weigh in all not more than a ton ; and the power of the engine is such as to draw, at the rate already mentioned, in addition to its own weight, that of two vehicles, which, with the fuel and water carried by one of them, weigh nearly three tons, besides twenty-eight passengers. Such being the extent to which steam convey- ance has thus been already reduced to practice on one great thoroughfare, it appears to us that the invention has l)een brought very nearly to a state of maturity ; and there can be little doubt that we shall soon have carriages, either upon Mr. Rus- sell's ])Ian, or on those of some of the other indi- viduals who have so long been directing their in- genuity to the subject, at work upon all the great roads in the kingdom. The national effects of such a state of things would afford a curious subject for speculation. An Old English Gentleman. — In Burke's History of the Commojierswe find the following sketch of one of this class, the late William Abney, Esq., of Measham, in Derbyshire. He died at the age of 87, in the year 1800. " Mr. Abney was one of the last of that THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 291 old-fashioned raceof English proprietors who now only survive amongst the writers of romance. After refus- ing a seat upon the bench, as a judge, he resided upon liis estate in the country, performing all the duties of a magistrate firmly, humanely, and actively. His chief pleasure arose from expending little upon himself, and assisting his poorer neighbours, main- taining at the same time a most hospitable establish- ment ; all witliin his immediate vicinity, tenantry, and neighbours, were alike welcomed with a truly, patriarchal reception. His carriage, built at the coronation of George III., was draw by four long- tailed horses, and driven by a coachman above fifty years in the family. His domestics had grown grey in his service, and it was curious to see him waited upon by four or five tottering servants of nearljr his own age, who regarded him more as a brother than a master. His liveries corresponded with the other parts of his establishme it — long shoulder-knots, with sleeves and waistcoat-pockets of the fashion of tlie preceding century. He was a man of very vigorous mind — a Whig of the revolution, and, in the year 1793 discoursed of the actors in that great event with the familiarity of a contemporary. His attachment to the House of Hanover was almost idolatrous, and his proudest boast was his having headed a party to oppose the Chevalier when at Derb}', on his advance soutl)ward. The utility'' of a personage in alocal district endowed with so much public spirit, and gifted with a mind so liberally and nobl}' constructed, is attested by the direction which he gave to the fortunes of two men, who rose to considerable eminence, and whose course was attended by great national pro- sperity. The first, Wilkes, of Meas':am, distinguish- ed as a cotton-spinner, and the partner of the late Sir Robert Peel, was indebted to Mr. Abne}', for the means of bringing his abilities and industry into ac- tivity. The second, William Salt, of Tottenham, was one of the children of a numerous family of a wi- dowed tenant of Mr. Abney, whom he first educated and afterwards apprenticed to the ribbon trade in Coventry. This gentleman, like Wilkes, accumu- lated a great and honourable fortune. Mr. Abney served the office of High Sheriff for Liecestershire, at the age of 73, by proxy. Extraordinary Turkey Cock. — There is at present in the possession of a lady residing in East Lothian, a turkey cock who has actually hatched a brood of chickens ; last season, during the period of incubation, this same bird regularly took the place of the hens when they got oflF their nests to feed, and when the young birds were hatched he brooded them witli the greatest case, regularly taking them under his wings during rain ; this season, however, it having been discovered that he was sitting on rotten eggs (for want, it is supposed, of better amusement), to humour his singular fancy, a number of common hens' eggs were given him, which he has most steadily sat on and hatched, and he is now strutting about the yard, attended by his progeny, to whose wants he is most sedulously attentive. — Edinbitrgli Evenirig Courant. Tame Trout. — It is not an uncommon occur- rence for persons residing in the country to place trouts in their wells, and they find them very useful in destroying insects and keeping the water pure. About eight years ago a trout three inches in length was put into a well at Delnashaugh, and it is now fully 18 inches in length, and so tamo tbat it will eat out of the liandof any person who may choose to hold out food for it. — Elgin Courier, Preston. — Important Hint to Farmers. — A gentleman, residing between this town and Bolton, who has been making some agricultural experiments, requests us to mention, for the benefit of other agriculturists, the result of his experience during the present season in the use of manure. In September last he spread a quantity of stnblc manure on part of a meadow, and in February he manured the remainder of the field in a similar manner. The crop of grass on that part which was manured in September has turned out remarkably heavy, while from that manured in February a very light crop indeed has been gathered. He accounts for this difference in the produce of the same field, by the fact that the manure spread in February prevented the rain from reaching the roots of the grass. The mois- ture was retained by the manure, and was evapo- rated on the first sunny or windy day ; whereas, during the winter months, the moisture does not evaporate so speedily, but has time to soak into the ground. Cawston. — Mr. Hickling, a tenant of Mr. Bulvver's, of Heydon Hall, found three extraordi- nary ears of wheat amongst his crop, which he preserved. These he planted in 1830, which i)ro- duced three pints ; in 1831 the three pints pro- duced three pecks ; in 1832 the three pecks produced 36 bushels. The 36 bushels grown in 1833 were planted and are now growing upon 18 acres of land rather of ordinary quality, and many wagers as to the quantity have been made by competent judges who have seen it. Some lay it at 12, others 13, and some as much as 15 coombs per acre. He farms his land well, but such a crop was never seen in this kingdom, taking the land into consideration. The wheat is red with a white cosh, and the straw tapers from the bottom to the top, and is as thick and strong as reeds. Many ears have 112 kernels in them ; the average about 80. It weighed last year better than 18 stone per coomb. What makes it more desirable it should be known is, that it does not appear to degenerate, and the average produce more than the common wheat is about five coombs per acre. Many farmers have bought small samples, and Mr. Richardson, of Heydon, (having seen its great superiority for the last four years) has purchased, at about two pounds per coomb, we understand, all that Mr. Hickling had to sell, so that it may not go out of the neighbour- hood or county. We have no doubt but many of our first-rate agriculturists will ride over to Caw- ston and inspect it ; it is growing within two fields of Cawston Woodrow, which every person knows is very poor land, and Mr. Hickling will have great pleasure in shewing any person the crop who may please to call upon him. Some of the stems and ears have been inspected by us, and arc most extraordinary. — Norivich Mercury. Manner of Clearing Chestnuts from THE Husk im Savoy. — In this beautiful part of the King of Sardinia's dominions they have the following manner of cleaning chestnuts from the husk : — climbing the lofty trees, they beat down the chestnuts with a long stick until the branches are entirely bare ; they then collect all tho,se that have not opened by the fall, and, piling them up in heaps, put a slight layer of earth over all, and leave them for a fortnight or three weeks, according to the state in which they were when they were covered. Tlie earth is then removed, and the fruit fruit beaten with sticks until the husks fall off. 292 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. THE AGRICULTURAL QUESTION. MINORITY Of 174 on the Marquis of Chandos's motion " that an humble Address be presented to his Majesty, expressing the deep regret the house felt at the continuance of the distressed state of agriculture, to which the attention of the house had been called by His Majesty's gracious speech at the opening of the session, and humbly representing to His Majesty the anxious desire of the house to have the attention of His Majesty's Govern- ment particularly directed to the subject, with a view to the removal of some of the pressure as to land, by lightening the general and local taxation peculiarly affecting it." Astley, Sir J. Attwood, T. Attvvood, M. Arbuthnot, General H. Agnew, Sir A. Ashley, Lord Archdall, M. Aglionby, H. Bruce, Lord E. Bruce, C. C. L. Bernard, Hon. W. S. Barry, G. S. Blackstone, W. S. Beauclerk, A. Buckingham, J. S. Burton, H. Blake, J. Bankes, W.J. Bell, M. Baring, A. Baring, H. B. Bulwer, H. L. Barnard, E. Brudenell, Lord Balfour, James Calvert, N. Curteis, H. B. Curteis, E. B. Corry, Hon. H. T. L. Clive, Hon. R. H. Clayton, Colonel W. R. Cayley, E. S. Cayley, Sir G. Cole, Viscount Cole, Hon. A. H. Chapman, A. Campbell, Sir J. Cartwright, W. R, Calcraft, G. H. Christmas, W. Denison, "W. J. Dillwyn, L. W. Dare, R. W. H. Dugdale, W. S. Darlington, Earl of Durham, Sir P. C. H. Duncombe, Hon. W. Dundas, Captain Duffield, Thomas Eastnor, Viscount Egerton, W. T. Ferguson, G. Fryer, J. Fox, S. L. Fitzsimon, C. Foley, E. Forester, H. C. Fremantle, Sir T. Finch, G. Guise, Sir W. Goring, H. D. Gladstone, W.C. Gladstone, T. Grimston, Vigcoufit Jones, T. Kerrison, Sir C. Kennedy, J, Lennard, Sir T. Lincoln, Earl of Lefroy, A. Lefroy, T. Lemon, Sir C. Lennox, Lord W. Lowther, Hon. Colonel Macnamara, Captain Maxwell, H. Maxwell, J. W. Martin, T. Manners, Lord R. Murray, Rt. Hon. Sir G. Neale, Sir H. Norreys, Lord Nagle, Sir R. O'Connell, D. O'Connell, M, O'Connell, J. O'Connor, F. Patten, J. W. Palmer, C. F. Parker, Sir H. Pollock, F. Poulter, J. Plumptre, J. P. Price, R. Phillipps, C. M. Peel, Rt. Hon. Sir R, Perceval, A. Pigott, R. Penruddocke, J. H. Reid, Sir J. R. Rickford, W. Rider, T. Ross, C. Ruthven, E. S. Ruthven, E. Roche, W. Rae, SirW. Stewart, Sir H. Sinclair, G. Spry, S. T. Stormont, Lord Simeon, Sir R. G. Stanley, E. Sanford, E. A, Shavve, R. N. Scarlett, Sir J. Fyrell, Sir J. T. Tyrell, C. Trelawney, Sir W. L. Talbot, C. R. M. Thompson, Alderman Townshend, Lord C. Talbot, J. Trevor, Hon. G. R. Thompson, P. B. Tower, C. Verney, Sir H. Vyvyan, Sir R, Gordon, Hon. W. Gillon, W. D. Hardinge, Sir H. Hall, B. Herbert, H. S. Heathcoate, G. J. Haniley, H. Handley, B. Handley, W. F. Halford, H. Hawkes, T. Hayes, Sir E. Houldsworth, T. Hotham, Lord Hay, Sir J. Hanmer, Sir J. Hanmer, Colonel Hurst, R. H. Hope, H. T. Henniker, Lord Hill, Sir R. Hallyburton, D. G. Herries, Right Hon. J. C. Hume, J. Jolliffe, Colonel Jervis, J. Inglis, Sir R. Irton, T. Jermyn, Earl of Vernon, G. Villiers, Viscount Vigors, N. A. Vincent, Sir F. Vernor, Colonel Welby, G. E. Wilks, J. Walter, J. Winnington, H. J. Windham, W. Whitmore, T. C. Williams, Colonel Walsh, Sir J. Watkins, L. Wall, C. B. Young, J. Tellers. Chandos, Marquis of Palmer, R. Paired off. Burrell, Sir C. Daly, J. Dick, Q. Fleetwood, Hesketh Hope, Hon. Sir A. Ossulston, Lord Smith, T. A. Wood, Colonel CoTTAGEns' Cucumbers. — The cottager, it is true, has no stable dung, frames, or hand- glasses, by which cvicumbers are raised by profes- sional gardeners ; but an ingenious man maj' find substitutes. About the end of May let him dig a pit three feet square on a border lying well to the sun, laying the ground round fue sides ; fill this pit with any rank growing weeds — nettles, flags, or long grass growing by the sides of ditches ; let these weeds be somewhat dried before they are shook and trodden into the pit. The weeds are t]}en covered with about ten inches of rich loose mould ; when the heat rises to the surface (if the labourer can neither beg or buy a pot of plants from a neighbour) he may drop a few seeds in the centre of his little bed. When the plants rise, and have produced one single leaf, the)' will require a little fresli and dry mould put round and among the stems, and the little bud at tije base of the single leaf pinched off. This will cause the plants to throw out runners, which, as they extend themselves, must be kept firmly fixed to the ground by little hooks. They must be watered occasionally, but not upon the stems, and if the surface round (he pit be mulched wilJi short litter it will assist the plants. All the time the seedlings are rising, and up to Midsummer, the bed must, instead of glass, be hooped over, and every night covered with mats or some other cover- ings to keep in the heat. The warmth arising from this body of weeds will continue till the plants are in a bearing state, and when the increased heat of the season will be sufficient. The short and long prickly are the best for the cottager's purposes. Some labourers try to grow pricklers, but this does not answer. — Catechism of Gardening. A "Salmon-Leap." — On Friday, lltli of July, as one of Pickford and Co.'s fly-boats, lying in Diglis Basin, near Worcester, was unloading at their warehouse, a salmon leaped out of the water on board the boat, and was secured by the boatmen, who soon cooked it, to cut off " adverse claims." Tlie fish weighed 9| pounds, and measured 31 inches in length. It had been some weeks in the basin. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 293 AGRICULTURAL REPORTS. BERKS. There has not beea for many years such a dry spring- and summer as the present one, and the first shower ever since tiie month of February last came on Saturday evening-, and in some fields on the strong- land, both barley and oats and even beans have never yet vegetated, but lie under the clods as dry and sound as they were when committed to the ground. The rain having- commenced at this season, it is not at all unlikely to continue unsettled for a length of time, and St. Swithin mav perhaps exercise his usual power and disturb tlie elements for thirty days. A gentle but lasting- r;iin would at the present time be most desirable to fill up the empty ponds, and to make the young turnips grow, and to renovate the dried up pastures, and revive the already drooping aftermath, and to set the potatoes a growing- ; but we think it is too late to do much good either to barley or oats, and heavy or continued rains would certainly do an injury to the wheat crop. The few showers that have visited this county during the spring- have been very partial in their visits, and have shed but a very small part of moisture and blessings on many parts of this county, so that it is a most difficult task to give anything like a good report of the spring grain crops, as even in adjoining parishes there is frequently as much difference as betwixt two ever so distant countries ; but of four things we can speak with confidence ; namely — first, there is a general deficiency in the hay-crop ; secondly, there is nearly a total failure in the crop of seed vetches ; thirdly, there is a prospect of a good yield of sanfoin seed ; fourthly, the wheat has nearly every where a good ear according- to the straw. It is now universally acknowledged, that whether on the hill or the vale part of this county, that the crop of hay is deficient at least one-half, and that were it not for the large stock of old hay in the country, the prospect would be truly alarming, but of course a great deal will de- pend on what sort of a turnip crop we grow, and also on the growth of the aftermath. The blossom of the winter vetches has nearly all proved abortive, and the few pods left are very much curled by the blight, and will produce but little increase, and a vast breadth that were intended for seed have been eaten with sheep or mowed for hay, and there has not in our opinion been such a bad prospect for many years; and this deficiency will be more severely felt in con- sequence of the failure of the young grass sown amongst the spring corn, so that a larger breadth of vetches will be required to be planted, and they must according to present appearances be very dear. The sanfoin seed is not a very bulky crop, and there is not so large a breadth saved as there was last year, but the seed is everywhere uncommonly well set, and if the weather should prove favourable to carry the same, the quality will be most excellent ; it is just now ready for the scythe. We are aware that part of the wheat is thin upon the ground, and on dry and burning soils it is acknowledged to be short in the straw, but notwithstanding these drawbacks -and de- ficiencies, we must, as faithful reporters, state that the wheat crop taken as a whole is very good, and although we believe that the number of ricks will not be greater, and perhaps not so numerous as usual, yet the ear is everywhere of a large size and well filled, and if it continues to go on well and without disease until reaping- time, which will be in about ten days or a fortnight, the produce per acre, in our own opinion, will certainly be above an average one. We have not foraed this our opinion hastily and without consideration, but after some excursions round the neighbourhood, and extensive observations. The wheat is uncommonly stiff in the straw, and most of it at present stands upright, and will not be laid without some heavy rains ; it is this year un- usually free from smut ; bnt on poor soils, we ob- serve within these few days that some of the stalks have been afi'ected with what is commonly called the white blight, and have gone off ripe before the corn had arrived at maturity. The d-amage done to the wheat crop this year by rooks and sparrows, and other birds, has been most extensive, and a hard win- ter is much wanted for the lessening of the stock of. these depredators. The quantity of old wheat in the farmers' liands is in our opinion no greater than usual at this season, but the prospect of so early an harvest makes the farmers anxious to sell and get rid, and makes it seem more -abundant than it really is. The early planted beans are podded pretty well, but they are short in the straw, and we think on the whole below an average crop. The forward sown oats are also tl>e best, and this crop has certainly stood the weather better than other sorts of summer corn, but as on dry soils a great many of the oats never vege- tated, and are consequently thin on the ground, we are fearful that on the whole they will be short of an average crop. The barley crop is extremely vari- able, and is to be found thick or thin on the ground just as the showers went, or the soil worked : a great part of the barley planted on strong clay that would not work fine, and on dry soils where the showers did not happen to extend, is a most miser-able crop, and there will be hardly the seed that was sown ; in other situations where the land worked fine at seed- time, and most of the seed vegetated, the crop has been subsequently so dried up for want of moisture, that there will not be more than about half a crop ; but on the deep learning soils in the vale of Berks, and in other situations where the land was in a high state of cultivation, a»d was sown early and worked well, the crop will be a fair one, but not very bulky ; on the whole, the barley crop will in our opinion be a short one, and altogether not more than three-fourths of an average. The sreen aphis has made sad havoc amongst the peas, and nearly destroyed hundreds of acres that were looking as well as we could wish only a few days before ; it seems that the very early or the very backward ones are the only ones that have escaped its depredations. The crop of trefoil seed is by no means a large one, but the quality is good, and the fodder most excellent, and the yield will be pretty fair. The breadth of turnip seed saved this se-ason is very sm-all, and it was so injured by the frost late in tlie spring as to yield uncommonly bad, and it is more than probable that next spring good seed will be both scarce and dear. A few of the early sown turnips have been dried up for want of moisture, and others have been somewhat injured, but still a considerable number of acres have with- stood the drought beyond our expectation, and there seems every prospect of a fair crop. It is renrark- ble that there has been a less number of turnip flies this vear than we ever knew, and the injury done by them has been very trifling. The farmers are busy sowing again the crops that have failed, and on some soils it is not considered too late to obtain a good crop. The forward turnips will be all hoed over once in tlie course of a few days. There seems some injury for wool, and teg wool is readily purchased at from 45s to 50s per tod. The number of sheep that have been clipped in this part of the country is far less than usual, and there is a sad complaint of ewe wool weighing very light. The supply at the great Ilsley wool fair on the 23rd of this month will doubt- less be laro-e, and if there should be a good attend- ance of eager customers, immense business will with certainty be done. We do not see any probability of 294 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. wool getting lower for some time to come, and the growers need not, in our opinion, through fear, give way in price. Horses and cows, because of the shortness of keep, are cheaper, and pigs can scarcely at any rate be turned into monej', and we are sorry to say that there appears to us biit little hopes of its getting better, for Irish hogs are now offered in our markets at 3s 6d per score, so that it is impossible for the English feeder to compete with the Irish, even if he was to beg liis store pigs, and it is said tliat seve- ral farmers have actually offered to give away their store pigs, provided the person who accepted them would agree to fat them on their premises, the far- mers finding straw and having the manure, and one farmer actually in a public market offered half-a- crown a-head to any one who would accept of his pigs on these conditions, but could not get a cus- tomer. The probable high price of beans and barley, and the low price of bacon, must entirely cut up the breeding of pigs, and, such is the present depres- sion, that two store pigs were offered in Newbury market last Thursday at Is 6d per head, and the only customer that bid any thing at all, oflered the liberal sum of '2s 9d for the two— here then we have an in- stance of some of the profits of the farmer — here then we have a taste of the blessings of free trade from untaxed countries; and how would it be if other countries had the same liberty as Ireland ? — July 7. SUFFOLK. The month of June has, like its predecessors, been remarkable for its dryness; we have certainly had a few good showers of rain, but the earth being so thirsty they have entirely disappeared in three or four hours ; the wheats nevertheless, (except on sharp gravelly bottoms), are looking exceedingly well, we| never remember, taking them altogether, seeing a better prospect for a full average crop ; in tlie bar- leys there is as great a difference as can be imagined, some planted in February, and some in June ; those planted early generally look very flourisliing, those planted about the latter part of April, and beginning of May exceedingly bad ; and those planted in June beingbut just up we cannot give much account of them, but we may observe they are planted on land which had been before planted, the crop being so bad was obliged to be ploughed up, and which we are sorry to report is not a solitary case, for a large breadth of barley and peas too, have been ploughed up, and either planted with potatoes, brank, or barley again. The value of vetches was never more known than during the past season; many fiirmers have been obliged to resort to every stratagem to keep stock from being perished, not only for want of food, but also for water ; but where stock has had a good supply of water they are looking beyond expectation. Oats are looking well and promise a fair crop. Peas are a lousy crop, there of course are exceptions, but all more or less have been attacked. Beans are, as far as we can learn, not yet much hurt by the louse, but they are uncommonly short, and the dry weather has caused so many blossoms to fall off, that there cannot be any thing like a fair crop. Clovers never were within our memory so short a crop ; we have heard that two hundred acres on one farm has been carted in twenty-two loads, also on one of the most complete occupations in Colnes Hundred, a district noted for the best land in this county, seventy acres produced only sixteen loads, and we think we may confidently state clovers did not average gene- rally more than half a load per acre. We are now busy securing trefoil and suckling in excellent con- dition ; the former being a very useful article at this season, as it supplies the farmer with a little cash tc) pay his harvest men, but the price of trefoil is miser- ably bad, about 10s or 123 per sack. Grass is if pos- sible a worse crop than clover, the upland pastures producing scarcely sufficient to stand against the scythe. Turnips at present have made but little pro- gress ; the summer tilths are in excellent condition for their growth ; but we must have considerably more rain than we have yet had to secure a crop. We have not yet heard any complaint of the turnip fly. Wool is again looking up, 2s per lb bas been given for Down and Leicester hogget ; and store lambs are in consequence commanding very high prices, from 201 to 25. per score. There is now but little corn in the farmers' hands, at least if we may judge by the stackyards. — July 3. OXFORDSHIRE. Tlie drought still continues though with some abatement, some refreshing showers having fallen, which have greatly benefited all kinds of crops as well as the pastures, but the rain has not fallen in sufficient quantity to assist either pumps or mills, and the want of water is daily increasing, and in some places is causing serious alarm. Where an abundant supply is provided, cattle and sheep have appeared healthy, and (as they always 4o under like circumstances) have done far beyond what a person unacquainted with grazing could conceive it was possible they could do. Still, however, the dairy has felt the effects of short pastures, in the diminished milk and butter, which has in consequence advanced 2d or 3d per lb. Wheat is fast ripening, and that in a very satisfactory way : the straw bright and free from disease of any kind, if we except the usual portion of smut in the fields of slovenly and opini- onated, or too-old-to-learn farmers. Reaping may be expected to be general through the county about the 25th ; the early districts will be ready probably about a week earlier, and as the barley will lay back, all hands will bo turned to reaping, and should tlie weather prove suitable, the work will ver}' soon be accomplished, the crops being nowhere laid. Beans, when well hoed, are much improved, and will yield a better product than at one period could have been expected, and it is matter of astoflishment that bar- ley is what it is, when we take into account the fact that we have had no soaldng rain since January. The hay crop has even proved lighter than was supposed ; in many places two acres have been cleared to produce a moderate load of hay, and on fields of this description the quality comes as far short of the usual nutritive properties as the quantity ; this will be severely felt in the proper season. Corn markets (particularly for wheat) have been, and are now, wretchedly bad, 6s. per Winchester bushel is quite a top price, and we hei-eby call upon the re- ceiver of corn returns to prove the accuracy of his return of June 20th, that being 493 lid per quarter. Fat cattle and sheep have been sold at ruinous prices ; so have pigs. In short, every thing the farmer has to make his rent of, with the single exception of wool, is woefully depressed; this article, we are hap- py to report, has taken a start, and good clips have been sold within the last few days as high as 488 per tod.— July 12. HERTS. One-half of this momentous and extraordinary year has passed, and as far as it relates to husbandry it has had its share of doubts and difficulties, and amongst farmers as to what is to be their fate in time to come, and in what manner they shall be enabled to meet the legal demands hourly and daily made upon them, as every article that the farmer of Hertford- shire has to sell at this period of the year are not at remunerating prices, and of course at a difficulty in obtaining a market price, low as that is. When we THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 295 make tliis statement as regards this county, we do so on its being purely and completely a tillage county ; and when attempts are made to convert it to any other purpose than tillage, the land, by the attempt, (gene- rally speaking) meets its reward. The principal stock to wliich the farmers of our county has to apply to for aid and assistance are sheep. To speak of the prospects us to tlie growing crops, tliey, a.5 far as the white straw crop goes, are promis- ing ; but as we before remarked, the same causes that bring early maturity, is the great portion of sun that has blessed our land during the season, and whicli also adds to the abundance aiiu perfection of corn and seeds. As to pulse and leguminous crops, they are as uncertain as hops, being dependent on the season more than on the soil, or on tbe condition of the soil. We never rememb; r so good a prospect for a plant and for a crop of turnips, as at this time witliin our county. Wind and tide are making for them, and it is likely that a great portion will be hoed beibre harvest, which is a desirable circumstance. The crops of grass are uniisuallv light, but it is an old remark, that tlio better the crops of grass, the less good hay, and bad liay is bad at its best. The mowing of the second crop of grass must be expected to be great, and let it be remembered that it is likely that tbe clays will feed the sand. — July 8. BIE.MINGHA^I. During the past month there has been a continu- ance of the depressed prices of wheat, which we have had occasion so frequently to report, and a trifling further decline on our currency has taken place. The general runs of English red being at present worth not more tlian 63 per 62 lbs, and of Irish, 5s 6d per 6'2 lbs, at Birmingham. The supply brought forward by our farmers still continues to ex- ceed the demand, and, from their freely submitting to lower rates, it may be inferred that they generally entertain a favourable opinion of tbe growing crops : it may perhaps be at present consideiod premature to form a judgment, so much will depend on the state of the weather for the ensuing four or six weeks, but, as far as our observations and inquiries have extended, we think that upon most, except the light soils, there is every prospect of an average crop in the midland counties : but we have com- plaints from other districts and from several parts of Ireland of the wheat on the ground, though in the latter, the spring crops appear to have suffered but little from the dry weather. The rain which has fallen with us, although not nearly so much as wanted for the barley, has been sufficient to keep the plants in a growing state, and that which was sown very early appears like to be a good crop, but the late sown will be very deficient, unless we shortly have more wet. The quantity of old on hand is very small, and is readily taken off for grinding purposes, at more than it was worth for malting three months since. Grinding parcels are selling at from 27s to 293 per 392 lbs," and the few samples of malting disposed of bring 32s to 34s per imp. qr. at Birmingham. The variation in the value of Oats during the month has not amounted to Is per quarter. The crop is spoken of as deficient, and although the breadth is said to be greater this year, in consequence of the price having been comparatively better than barley, yet the quantity grown in this part of the county is so small as to be hardly worth notice. The light crops of hay will probably prevent this grain ruling so low as for the past two seasons. We have had a better supply this week, and more are ex- pected ; but notwithstanding the dull state, and fall in the leading markets, our demand continues good. Present price for 37 lbs to 39 lbs, 233 to 23s 6d ; 40 lbs to 43 lbs, 24s to 25s per 312 lbs, at Gloucester. The bean crop was some time since greatly com- plained of, but the ram that has since fallen, caused them to assume a more promising appearance ; and with a continuance of favourable weather, we think they may yet prove an average : but should we have it hot and dry, without more wet, they will be defec- tive ; and in some places they are said to be attacked by the fly ; good ones have not varied during the montli, and are still steady at I5s to 16s per 196 lbs at Birmingham. The few peas grown in this part of the country seem likely to be a fair crop. Our stocks of every thing except wheat are still very light at Gloucester. —July 2. BEDFORDSHIRE. At length the drought is somewhat abating. On the shortest night of the year we had a delightful rain ; much more than had fallen before at any one time since the middle of January ; the land, how- ever, being so remarkably thirsty, without frequent repetition, the effects will soon disappear. Wo see little occasion to alter our last statement concerning the growing crops. Wheat, to all ap- pearance (except on tlie sharp gravels) is an average crop. The Barley may be divided into three parts, the first (consisting of the early sown) pretty good ; the second, very mean ; and the third part bad beyond precedent. In many instances there will be scarcely the seed gain. Oats vary as much, but will improve much more than the barley by the late genial rains. Beans are, for the most part, very short in the straw, and the latter sown nearly worthless. Peas, in some situations, have been much infested with the green-fly, and we apprehend they will not yield well ; since the rain, however, these insects have mostly disappeared, consequently no further mis- chief can accrue. The harvesting of wheat will, in all probabilit)', commence in about another month. The crop of hay, without exception, is, upon the whole, the worst we ever saw. The pastures are also exceedingly bare, so much so, that we wonder how the cattle in some situations manage to live ; and what increases the calamity, in many cases water is very scarce. Th flock-masters have also been much inconvenienced for want of food, especial- ly where no tares have been grown ; this crop per- haps never came more opportunely than during the last two months. Turnips, up to the time alluded to, had been doing badly, but as the rain is not out of season for this crop, they may yet take well. Potatoes are nowhere good, and in many places a total failure. And as for mangel wurzel, we have scarcely seen one crop during the season. Wool, the only article the farmer now sells at a remunerating price, is fetching from two pounds to two guineas and a half per tod. The latter being about the run for teg or hogged wool, and the former for short wooled ewes. It is but justice, however, to add, that the above are the highest prices of whicli we have heard. The price of mutton in Smithfield is ruinously low. Wheat remains about stationary, at the wretched price of 6s per bushel, being full one- fourth lower than the farmer can attbrd to sell it at, and as much lower than the corn-law makers pro- fessed to secure the farmer. The rent audits of this county will all be held in a few weeks, and we shall doubtless hear how far the Bedfordshire landlords are disposed to sympathize with their suffering tenantry. The result, i'avourable or unfavourable, shall be given in our next. We 296 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. are most happy to have to name that the Right Hon. Lord Cartright is setting a noble example to the gentry of the county, in his concern for the welfare of both the farmers and labourers upon his estate. We have been credibly informed that for a short time after his lordship came into possession, a cer- tain land-agent (so called) informed him tliat his farms were under-rented, and that he could soon materially improve his lordship's rent roll. This, of course, was good news ; the agent went to work, and his lordship soon found that he had plenty of farms to let, and no one caring to hire. His lord- ship, however, soon profited by his experience; he sent his laud agent adrift, summoned his tenants around him, ascertained what they could aiford to give for their respective farms, closed with them, and we need scarcely add, is now living in the affec- tions and veneration of histenantry around him. One proof will suffice. A short time since an individual had occasion to name, in his lordship's presence, a person in his em])loy, whom he called his lordship's keeper ; " Keeper, keeper," said his lordship, very hastily; "Who do you mean? I have no keeper, the farmers are my keepers." And well they may be, when it is his lordship's invariable practice every year to send to all his tenants as many shillings as there is head of game killed upon their respective farms in the course of the season. If such a practice were but general, we should hear of no lives being lost by gangs of poachers, nor would the tenantry be plundered by having to con- tribute to their prosecution. NORFOLK. The earth has continued in too dry a state for the well-doing of corn crops, or production of grass on the scorching soils, both of which are consequently much parched up, and pasture food for the flocks and cattle is becoming generally scarce, excepting which the present month has been genial for agricul- tural aflairs. The wheats on the better lands are a a full plant and finely topped. The beans and peas are short in stalk, but the pods are particularly well filled vi-itb grain. The barleys (although in some instances thin of plant) have a good ear, and we may calculate tliat we shall altogether have a bountiful harvest in early season, with good qualities of grain. The hay has fallen very light, but wasted less than usual in mailing, and is well got up. The earl}' sown turnips have been but little injured bv the fiv, and in some parts of the county will come to the hoe, but much of the seed subsequently sown cannot vege- tate until we have rain. Fat stock remains steadily at about the late prices, lambs meet a free sale at high figures according to their very various quantities and descriptions. Good Down and half-bred Down and Liecester hog wool is in great request, at from 56s to 60s, and other sorts from 38s to 42s per tod. As many crops will be off the land early in the next har- vest, we recommend planting such as are intended for fallows (as soon as circumstances will admit of ploughing them), with Swedish turnips of five or six weeks' growth, the expence of transplanting with water will not be great, and most of them will suc- ceed without it, and become a good resource for keeping sheep, &:c. in the succeeding spring months. HARLESTON. Harvest is rapidly approacHiing. I never saw the corn change its colour faster. On forward lands, wheat cutting will commence on Monday fortniglit, and it is thought very generally the following week. I have lately been a good deal through this county, as well as through Suffolk and Essex, and I am still more confirmed in the opinion I gave you wlien in town, that the wheat crop will be a very good one. On the light soils, of course there cannot be a great cast, but on the good lands (and it is from them that we look for the supply) , I never saw a better pro- spect. I have examined several fields lately, and find the ears well filled, and at present free from dis- ease. The barley crop is very partial, the early-sown having everywhere the advantage. In many fields that were planted late, half the seed did not vegetate, and in others the drought has much affected them. On the whole the crop here promises to be below an average, and I think less than that of last season. Beans are very short in the straw, but pretty well podded. Peas have suffered more from the drought than any kind of corn. They have also been effected by the lice, and are spoken of as a very bad crop, but I have not yet had an opportunity of personally proving this. Oats are like barley, very partial, we have but a small breadth of them. — July 5. GLAMORGANSHIRE. Latel)' the weather has been unsettled for hay making, but there is not much damage done, and in the vale of this county about one half of the crop is now secured in tolerable condition. The ground having experienced a deficiency of moisture since the month of March, the crops are unusually light. Grassland also has not afforded near the usual quan- tity of keep. The frequent showers, notwithstand- ing they have not penetrated deep into the soil, are beneficial to the turnips, and the plant is good, and hitherto has escaped its old enemy — the fly. The mangels also present a strong healthy plant. The wheat looks well in general, not thick on the ground, but on the gravellv soils promises to be an average crop; on wetland or cold clays the excess of mois- ture in the winter months destroyed a great portion of the plants, which have never sufficiently recovered. I'he stormy weather about the middle of the past month, during the period of blossoming, must have been highly injurious to the perfection of the ear, and there is a deficiency of grain in it. The very earley barley on good land, and those pieces sown immediately after the rain at the beginning of May, are likely to produce the best crops ; in April the ground was too dry. The potatoe fields have a most irregular appearance, large portions being still bare from the failure of the sets, which are still mairdy attributed to the sets being cut too small, and the very dry weather in April. In some instances we know it has been produced by the crop of last year having been housed during the wet weather in No- vember, which produced a small degree of fermenta- tion, and destroyed vegetation. The corn market continues in a dull state ; good wheat has been sold at 6s per bush ; stock also command but low prices. The demand for wool is good, but the prices are not as high as it was expected. The greatest portion of the wool in this country has been disposed of at Is 6d per lb. At present Is 7d is offered, and as the old stock is low, better prices may be again realised. The season has been favourable for clipping, and the quality of the wool is superior to the last three or four years. — July 10. EDINBURGH. The weather has again set in fine, with a bright powerful sun. The Scythe is now in full operation, and there is every prospect that the hay will be well got. In our immediate neighbourhood the wheat and barley are short into ear, and some fields of wheat here as well as in the vicinity of Haddington and Perth, seem almost colouring. If the sunshine we have had for some days continue, the reapers will be seen busy iu the harvest field before a month is over. TH£ FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 297 The oats are beginning to shoot here and there. The braird of turnips is regular and healthy ; and the potatoes in general look veiy good. The potatoes and turnips would benefit with more rain, but heat and sunshine are more requisite for the crops in gene- ral.—July 10. DUMFRIESSHIRE. Sunshine has at length succeeded rain, and as the summer solstice has again run its course, we look forward to an increase of solar heat, maugre the pre- dictions of the sapient Mr. Mackenzie. The wheats show rather a goodly ear, and should the pickle swell or fill thoroughly, and escape smut and rust, the pro- duce will not only bulk finel)'-, but fall well to the barn floor. The oats and barleys are in the " ragging ' state, and in no season within our remembrance have the former looked more universally vigorous and thriving. To the latter many exceptions might be taken, particularly where the barley land was late in being made ; in other instances, the awned-ears look beautiful, and, upon the whole, with favourable weather before and during harvest, promise to yield at least an average produce of grain. In barley, weight and colour of sample are every thing ; and should the elements prove kind for a few weeks, the results of last year, in this respect, may again be realized. Hay-making has commenced, and will be general in the course of the present week. From the general failure of the clover seeds, and the drought in May, the crop will be considerably under the average of 1832-33. The pastures were never in better condition, or the kines' sides sleeker at the same season. Everywhere the dairy is in a palmy state, and we could name in- stances in which the parks afford a very rough bite, although stocked at the rate of three two-year-olds to the English acre. The turnips are rowing beautifully, and thus far have escaped disease. In a few instances, patches have been singled ; but exceptions of this kind are hardly worth naming ; and it is yet far too early to hazard any opinion as to the probable results of Swedes, globe, and yellow bullock. "Wherever rye is grown, the crop this year is most luxuriant ; and, what is rather odd, the breadth of it has increased considerably of late. In bringing in waste or moss land, rye is as good a seed as can be shown ; the straw is more valuable than any other kind, and even the grain, when plump and sound, is so important in malting, that it brought last year with- in 2s of wheat, per the Carlisle bushel. ROXBURGH. The weather during June has been extremely fa- vourable for the operation of this busy season. During about the first half of it, frequent and kindly showers fell, and tended to refresh the green crops, and bring away the turnips, which, for want of mois- ture, were not brairding regularly. The latter half of the month has been dry and hot. The crops have made a great advance. Wheat has been in ear for three weeks, and promises a good return. Barley looks well, but is light in many places. Oats are heavier, and, should the present favourable weather continue, a good return as to bulk and quality may be expected. Peas and beans promise well. Tur- nips are now pushing on hard. Most of the Swedes are thinned, and the sowing of the common sort is completed. There are some complaints as to the potatoe crop, and, in some places, a partial failure is observed ; but this is by no means general, and a good average crop is anticipated. Hay harvest com- menced a few days ago, for which the dry warm weather is very propitious ; on good soils, it will yield a fair return ; on inferior soils, or where it had been pastured during the spring, it will, of course, fall short. CARSE OF GOWRIE. The wheat came in the ear by the 13th June, four days earlier than on an average of seasons. The rains communicated fresh vigour to the plants, and the ap- pearance is more favourable than was at one time expected. Beans continue to show a stinted appear- ance, with lew exceptions. Barley has improved in colour by the rains ; but, from the variable appear- ance, the general return will be below an average. Oats promise better ; and, although they may not be very bulky in straw, yet there is a likelihood that there may be a fair return of grain. Hay-cutting- commenced about the beginning of the last week in June. The return is light ; some is up in coils, but a considerable breadth is still uncut. Potatoes have come up very unequally. Turnips have been all sown, and have given a fair and regular braird. In the orchard, the crop of fruit will not be so abun- dant as was at one time expected. — July 1. FIFESHIRE. As the crops depend greatly upon the weather in June, both for their bulk and quality, and as the last three months were uncommonly dry, rain has been most anxiously looked and longed for. There have been frequent showers during the month ; but the ground was so parched that they have merely moisten- ed its surface, and refreshed the gro wing crops a little, without reaching their roots, or at all affecting stubborn clays. The consequence is, that a great deal of barley has not yet vegetated, and the ridges are red and bare, with only a few straggling stalks about their edges and furrows. Barley upon easy soils is tolerably good ; but the crop will, as a whole, be light. The wheat has bloomed, and is filling re- markably well, but is in general deficient of straw. The quality may however be good, and compensate the want of bulk. Peas and beans are short and thin, more so than they have been since 1826. The oats have a better appearance than any other part of the crop, but will fall far short of what they were last year. The hay harvest commenced some time ago, and a good deal of the crop is already in the hand and tramp rick. It is very light, a great proportion of the clover having disappeared since the month of April. Potatoes have failed in many places, and numbers of those that have vegetated are curled and dwarfish. The weather has been exceedingly pro- pitious for cleaning the ground : and fallow, potato, and turnip fields are without a weed. The sowing of turnips is nearly finished, and the braird is in general good. There was a slight improvement in the price of grain about three weeks ago ; but it is again a little depressed. The demand for cattle is steady, and prices much the same as they have been for some time past. — Julyl. PERTHSHIRE. From tlie middle of June the weather has 1)een moist and warm, and its effects on the growing crops have been favourable. In many instances the showers came rather late for producing luxuriance in late sown barley on strong lands, but even there, where it had previously began to spindle, the colour has been much improved, and the plant now coming in ear, appears more vigorous. Barley will, however, be considerably under an average crop. Wheat, in many fields, is very irregular as to length u 298 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. of stem and ear ; in general, however, the ear is long, and the plant fresh and vigorous. On rich alluvial lands, the return will be fair, but on dry bottoms wheat will not be bulky. Oats, in general, plant close, and, with a full supply of moisture throughout the present month, may yield a full average crop. Beans and peas are, in many instances, a poor crop, and will not now, under any circumstance, be bulky. Mildew, a malady to which peas are seldom liable in this country, at so early a period of the season, has appeared on the leaves, by which the energies of the plant are much checked. Cutting of hay commenced about the 24th of June; the greater part is now cut, and some is secured on the tramp rick, and is found to be nearly a third de- ficient of an average weight. Potatoes never had a more discouraging appearance since their first intro- duction. Rlany fields hare been altogether ploughed up, some have been replanted, and a considerable breadth of what are allowed to stand have anything but a promising appearance. Amongst the many causes assigned for so general a failure, and cures proscribed, we are inclined to believe old age in the cultivated variety to have a considerable share. If this be correct, the remedy is obvious ; and we have seen it recommended in the Dumfries Courier, by Mr. S. Monteith of Closeburn, to raise new, and select approved varieties from seed. In the corn market prices advanced by the middle of June a little ; the favourable appearance of wheat, and the prospect of an early harvest, render pur- chasers shy. Beans are in request at prices much advanced, but there are few in the farmer's hand. Cattle continue to bring high prices, and meet a ready market. The sowing of turnips was finished by the last week in June, and the thin moist state of the soil produced a fine braird. Fallows are in a forward state, but have required considerable force to reduce the surface to a fine tilth on strong soils. — July 3. EAST LOTHIAN. The weather this month has been generally genial, yet cold nights have not been unfrequent, and though rain has fallen on fourteen different days, it may be characterised as dry; from these rains being mostly slight, and the previous arid state of the soil, no ma- terial effect was produced, with the exception of what fell on the 17th, 18th, and 19th, which were of some duration, and extremely beneficial to the different crops. Wheat, the staple of this district, was observed in some situations bursting into ear on the 1st; as to bulk, it will not reach an average, but with a conti- nuance of such weather as the present for some time, a fair average crop as to productiveness and of fine quality, may be expected. Spring crops are deficient in straw, and will not likely be very productive, but with the exception of wheat sown at that period, and early sown barley, would still be much improved by a more plentiful supply of moisture. The aspect of the crops indicate an earlier harvest than has occurred since 1826. Hay harvest commenced about ten days ago under favourable circumstances ; the crop has not been so light since 1826 ; indeed, several fields hav* much the aspect of that year's crop. It is doubted whether any field in this district will yield what is considered an average crop, and whether the average of this year will reach half the average of ordinary years. The price will no doubt be much higher than last vear; but from the quantity of old on hand, and the little demand for this commodity, any thing like a remunerating price is out of the question. Some of the Swedish turnips have been thinned, and set out, but in many instances the seed lay dor- mant in the soil till set in motion by the rains. The sowing of the common varieties is finished, and in most cases show a good braird ; on soils of an adhe- sive texture, their future progress will not be great till supplied with moisture. The failure of the po- tatoes is greater than last year, and though the causes of such a calamity is not properly ascertained, a change of seed from a high district is said to be a certain preventive. More favourable weather for the working and clearing of the fallows, could not be de- sired ; many fields are so forward as to be in readi- ness to receive the dung. Haddington corn market has fluctuated a good deal during the month ; wheat and barleji has ad- vanced 2s per qr. : oats, beans, and peas rose consi- derably the two first market days, but have since re- ceded to nearly the same price as at the end of the preceding month. — July 1. WEST-LOTHIAN. Crops of all sorts are to bundle in less bulk than for some years past, but, with a continuation of the present weather, will yield well on the barn floor. Wheat and early sown barley are in full ear ; early oats are beginning to shoot ; beans are setting in pod upon the lower part of the stem ; and peas are in full blossom ; with sunshine the harvest will be early. Wheat gives great promise as to corn ; barley, whe- ther early or late sown, is to be a very indifferent crop indeed, — thin upon the ground, and puny both in ear and stem ; oats are a close crop, but very short-legged ; beans have improved much during the last two weeks, and will be considerably heavier than at one time they appeared. Peas are strong in stem, and filling the ground well. Hay is a light crop, considerably under the average of the last two years. Much of it is now in the hand-cock, and there is nothing like crowding in the rows. Turnips have brairded well. Potatoes generally look healthy, but have felt the drought. A few fields in this county have failed ; but these are so trifling as hardly to deserve notice. Effects of Buck Wheat on Flemish Sheep. — M. Ivart, in an article on the succession of crops, men- tions a curious fact with regard to the eflects of buck wheat on sheep. He says a flock of sheep had been turned into a field of it which was in flower, and, after feeding for some time, they appeared perfectly intoxicated, and their heads afterwards became very much swollen. M. Vuitry, in a letter addressed to the Society for the Improvement of the growth of Wool, gives an account of a similar occurrence to some sheep of his own. He says a large number of his flocks were attacked with a violent inflammation two days after having fed in a field of buck wheat which had just been flowering: the shepherd had never before remarked any such symptoms as those which now appeared. In this case the head swelled, the face broke out in pimples, and the ears elongated and swelled till they were nearly an inch thick ; the poor animals lay on the ground in almost a lifeless state. Cure was however effected in a few days by frequently scarifying the ears. From the ears which were most swollen the blood came quite in a serous stase. The English sheep did not suffer fro.n the effects of the buck-wheat at all, and those cross bred between English and Flemish were not so violently attacked as the purely Flemish. The same plant will cause hard swellings in the ears of animals, if they eat it before the dew has subsided. The best means of averting all danger is to cut it, and lei it partially dry in the sun. — Journal des Connaissances I Usuelles, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 299 AGRICULTURAL INTELLIGENCE. HERTFORD WOOL FAIR.— Thursday, July 3, was the day on which the first wool fair was held at Hertford. Notwithstanding the fact of the fair tating place a week earlier than the time first an- nounced, on account of the Assizes, the quantity of- fered for sale far exceeded the expectations of the committee. The total quantity of wool for sale far exceeded 22,000 fleeces. During the morning the prices were as follow : — Long wool hoggets, 56s ; Southdown hoggets, 46s ; and Soiithdown ewes, from 46s to 50s. Towards the close of the fair, half- bred Norfolk wool realized 58s ; mixed, half-teg, and ewes, 50s ; and ewe wool, 42s per tod. The farmers and wool- dealers repaired to the town-hall, and about 250 sat down to dinner at the Salisbury Arms. The Marquis of Salisbury announced the quantity of wool purchased by the gentlemen who had made their return, beginning with the lowest : — Mr. Yond, 1,187 fleeces ; Mr. Tatham, 1,998 fleeces ; Mr. Wes- ton, 2,057 fleeces; Mr. Hale, 5,541 fleeces; and Mr. Hale was declared entitled to the cup. HITCHIN WOOL FAIR.— The first Hitchin wool fair, established by the Agricultural Associa- tion, was held in the market-place, on Thursday, July 3. A good deal of business was transacted at the following prices : — Ewes and wethers, 38s to 44s ; tegs, 50s to 5ds. Upwards of 26,000 fleeces were offered for sale, the greater part of them by samples, and a considerable quantity was sold. DORCHESTER WOOL FAIR, Wednesday, July 16. — In consequence of our assizes falling on the same day, there was a very thin attendance of gentlemen at this fair ; but there were present a great number of farmers and wool buyers, and a large quantity of wool was disposed of (it is supposed about 4,000 tods) at the following prices, viz. : — Ewe wool from 38s to 43s per tod ; teg ditto, from 48s to 53s ; two superior lots of teg wool, at 56s ; one-third teg weol, two-thirds ewe (Mr. Latham's) 48s. Several lots bi' wool were not disposed of. Amongst the gentlemen present, we noticed Mr. Harcourt, M. P. (steward), Mr. Blackstone, M. P. Mr. Toovey, Mr. Wroughton, &c. BUCKINGHAM WOOL FAIR.— On Thurs- day, July 10, a wool fair was held at Buckingham. The supply, partly in bulk and partly by sample, was extensive, and the greater part of it was dis- posed of in the course of the day at from 39s to 53s per tod. ABERDEEN WOOL MARKET— The prices given at the wool market, held here on the 10th and 11th July, varied from 18s to 32s per stone of 28 lbs, according to quality. Ordinary sorts brought from 18s to 26s, and finer lots from 28s to 32s per stone. There was a good supply, which met with a ready sale. YORK WOOL MARKET, July 17.— This being the assize week, the market was not so well sup- plied with wool as might have been expected, nor were there many buyers, which caused the market to have a very dall appearance, and sixty or seventy sheets were left unsold. Fine hog wool 28s ; hogs and ewes, 25s to 26s 6d ; cwcs, 21s 6d to 24s; locks, 16s to 17s; moor wool, lis to 12s 6d per stone of 16 lbs. DONCASTER WOOL MARKET, July 12.— The quantity of wool was large to this day's mar- ket: buyers were numerous; and nearly the whole was sold briskly at the following prices : — hog, 27s ; hog and ewe, 23s ; ewe, 21s ; and locks 12s 6d to 13s per stone of 16 lbs. At BEDFORD FAIR there was an unusually large number of samples of wool. The prices varied from 52s to 58s, good half Leicesters selling freely at from 45s to 50s. The stock fair was also abua- dantly supplied, but the trade in cattle dull. At LONGTOWN FAIR, on Wednesday se'n- night, wool fetched 19s, 20s, and 21s, a stone. A few lots brought 22s. THE WOOL TRADE.— Last Saturday several lots of Kent wool, the present year's clip, were dis- posed of at 18/, per pack. Towards evening, how- ever, the market improved, realizing 20Z. — Kent He- rald. Wool is still advancing in price ; a respectable far- mer in the neighbourhood of Ross, has sold his wool at 26s per stone of 131bs. — Hereford Times. Nearly 100 persons sat down to the Wool Fair Dinner, at the Peacock Inn, Northampton, on Satur- day July 5th, and at one time nearly 300 persons were in the room ; Clarke Hillyard, Esq., was in the chair. A great number of lots were offered, but only three purchases were effected before the chair- man quitted the room. They were at 47s. 49s. and 5ls. per tod. Some Wool buyers have agreed to ex- amine several good lots during the week at 50s. per tod. The value of the lots depended on the propor- tion of teg Wool in them. There wei-e not above a dozen samples shewn in the market, but it was agreed in the room to show a greater number next year their wool in bulk. Mr. Daws' lambs, at Watton Fair, fetched 38s not 30s as mis-printed last week. KELSO FAIR, MONTHLY CATTLE MAR- KET, AND ANNUAL WOOL MARKET.— On Friday last, July 11, there was but a limited supply of Cattle and Sheep in the market, which were dis- posed of at little or no difference in price from what has lately been obtained. In the wool market, there was a considerable bustle from the numerous attend- ance of both buyers and sellers, and a good deal of business was transacted at prices nearly similar to what had been realized at Yetholm on the Saturday previous. Mixed Ewe and Hog, in equal propor- tions, brought from 42s to 43s per stone of 24lbs. ; one-third Hog and two-thirds Ewe, 39s to 40s ; Hog, entire, from 46s to 49s. LAPFORD FAIR.— This Fair was held on Mon- day the 14th inst., and was remarkable for the abun- dant supply of Sheep and Beasts, being equal to the greatest chartered fairs, and the business done was considerable, at greatly improved prices DUNSE LAMB FAIR AND WOOL MAR- KET.— The show of Lambs was considerable, for which there was a brisk demand at the following prices : — Bred Lambs were from 18s to 21s 6d ; half-bred ditto, from Cheviot Ewes, from 14s to 16s 6d ; half-bred ditto, from Highland Ewes, from lis to 13s; Cheviot ditto, from 10s to lis 6d. In the Wool market, there was a numerous attendance of buyers and sellers, and a good deal of business was done, but at little variation from the prices which were obtained at Yetholm fair. At KEIGHLEY fat and lean cattle fair there was an excellent show of cattle, sheep, and lambs. The sheep were all sold at improved prices, but part of the other stock were not disposed of. RINK FAIR.— At this Border (Cheviot) market on Saturday July 12, there was a pretty fair show of sheep and lambs', and a number of buyers, who were not sufficiently served. Being a good demand, the whole were disposed of at the following quotations : — Gimmers fetched 30s, dinmontsSls, Cheviot lambs from 10s to 12s 3d, half-bred 16s to 17s. The Wool market, which is the first of the season for Cheviot clips, was well attended, and there was a good sale. Cheviot white sold at from 40s to 41s 6d, ditto laid from 31s to 36s. 300 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ST. SAIR'S FAIR The show of cattle at this great market was not nearly so great as usual, and the prices paid were fully as much as was expected. Fat stock sold well ; one very fine lot of five-year-olds were sold by Sir. Livingston of Scotstown, at 20/ per head, and a lot of four-year-olds at 13/. Mr. Smith of Myntown of Insch obtained 151 per head for ano- ther very line lot of four-year-olds. Young- cattle sold high ; and Cows were also dear, and in demand. Upon the whole, the market was a good one for cattle. Horses were neither a good show, nor was there much done in them. either in the Linen or the Commercial Ilall, nearly the whole of wliich was sold at an advance of, it has been said, seven shillings per cwt. This is doubted by some, but it is, liowever, certain, that from tlie dryness of tlie season a short make is expected, and it is, tlierefore, worth more money. Sanguine per- sons say that it will be still higher in the autumn, and this opinion is borne out by the circumstance of the factors liaving bouglit up, previous to the fair, much of the cheese tliat would have been sent for sale, and hence the very short supply. The quan- tity of Wool was greater than it has been of late, and much business was done in it at an advance in price. It may be quoted at from Is to Is -Jd per lb. The supply of Leather was scanty, the greater part of which was of inferior qualit}'. There is scarcely any bulk of Hops, but a brisk trade is going on in this branch by sample, at considerably higher prices than were obtained two months ago. Speculation is rife. Tlie reports from the plantations are very un- favourable to a crop. The duty is now laid at CHESTER MIDSUMMER FAIR.— Our 14 days' fair commenced on Saturday the 5th inst. and being market da}^ the city was thronged to excess. Horses were in abundance, particularly of the mid- dling and inferior sorts, which went off rather freely, but at low prices : those of the better kind which were sold, as is usual, fetched their full value. The show of cattle was large, especially of half fat and lean beasts, but those ready for the knife were ex- tremely scarce and dear, consequently but little busi- ness was done in them. The same "may be said of the unfed stock, except that from the general scar- city of grass, there was no selling that description at any price. So little business has not been done in this branch since the summer of 1826, when the pastures were equally bare as at present. Sheep and Lambs were plentiful, but from the cause first mentioned, but few sales were made, and those only in fat stock, which fetched 6d per lb. The Pig mar- ket was well supplied, and though good ones were to be had at the lowest possible prices, they were unsaleable. But little Cheese was pitched for sale, £80,000, between which sum and £95,000, it has ranged during the last fortniglit or three weeks. In the Halls there is the usual display of Manchester, Sheffield, and Birmingham goods, but the prospect is against what is called a good fair.— C/iestei- ChrfloAr, POOL FAIR.— At Pool (iMontgomeryshire) fae' on Monday, July 14, but little business was don e and that little at reduced prices. Fat cattle wer sold at 5d. per lb. and fat sheep at 5id. Stores were exceedingly dull of sale. EXETER LAMMAS FAIR.— This fiiir, once so celebrated throughout the West of England, and to which u-aders of every description, as "well as agri- culturists, were attracted in great numbers, was h'eld on Wednesday, July 16, and we have rarely, if ever, witnessed it so generally dull. The attendance was exceedingly tliin ; but one grazier appeared from the East ; the i'ew jobbers who attended were quite un- concerned as to purchasing, except upon their own terms. The scanty attendance may be accounted for in some measure, from the fine weather, the farmers being busy in their hay harvest. Of fat bullocks there were as many as could have been expected, and some of those were of excellent quality ; the principal bu- siness done was in this description of stock, of which ilie finest were heifers, with a portion of winter feeding. The prices obtained were from 9s to 9s 6d, the quotation being generally from 8s 6d to 9s 6d per score. Very little business was done in lean stock, the greater proportion of which re- mained unsold. The prices averaged from 5s to 6s per score. A few Cows and Calves appeared, as also some yearlings, some of which were sold, the former averaging about 71 10s to 12/. Horses. — The Fair for the sale of Horses commenced in the Bonhay in the afternoon : there was a capital display of Draught Horses and Hacks, also Carters and others, calculated for heavy work, principally from the repo- sitory and stables of Mr. W. Rookes. A few of these were sold at tolerably good prices, according to their qualities, and some others were exchanged ; we believe, however, the business done for cash, was not to a great extent. INVERNESS GREAT SHEEP AND WOOL MARKET. — The number of English and Scotch staplers, as well as sheep rearers and wool growers, present at this annual fair, was greater than at any former market. The clip, though considered lighter this season than last, is admitted to be of superior quality. The sheep and lambs are in good condition ; but the crop of the latter is not so great as last year. The sellers asked 28s to 30s for the double stone of coarse wool, and from 24s to 25s for the single stone of Cheviot; for Cheviot and cross lambs, from lis to 12s 6d were asked. Lambs in general were considered about 6d per head higher than last year ; there is merely a perceptible decrease in the price of wedders ; ewes bring better prices than last year. One lot of cross wedders sold at Is 6d below last year's prices, while some lots of Cheviots brought from 2s to 2s 6d more than was obtained last season. Che- viot ewes are from Is 6d to 2s higher than last year. A few superior lots of blackfaced ewes brought up- wards of 13s. A very superior lot of Cheviot tups from Dumfries-shire sold at about 2/ 12s 6d. The following may be regarded as the general prices : — Cheviot wedders, 23s to 27s ; ditto ewes, 15s to 22s ; a few superior lots brought 24s. Cheviot wedder lambs, 9s 6d to 12s ; blackfaced wedders, 16s to 22s ; ditto ewes, 9s to 13s j ditto hogs, 10s to 12s 6d ; ditto Lambs, 6s to lis 6d. Prices of Wool: — Smeared Cheviot wool per single stone of 241bs, 22s to 23s ; blackfaced Wool, per double stone, 25s to 26s 6d ; cross wool, smeared and washed, per stone of 24lbs, 18s to 20s ; ditto unwashed, 15s to 16s. Several of our neighbouring farmers have begun reaping wheat. Mr. Fuller, of Portslade, began on Monday last, and Mr. Hall, of the same place, on Saturday, and we believe in a few days it will be pretty general ; we hear a few complaints of blight, but altogether the crop of wheat appears to be an ex- cellent one. It may have dried up rather too fast. The dry weather still continues, and the oats and barley are drying up, the grass is very short, and in many places the water is quite gone. The turnips still grow better than could possibly be expected, and are in general very free from the fly. — ■Srightoii Gazette. The fine sunny days are inducing the farmers to make preparations for an early corn harvest. The wheat in this county generally looks uncommonly fine ; it is strong in the straw, has a promising head, and ripens very fast; if the present propitious wea- ther continues, the sickle wilj soon be at work.— Hereford Tlmen. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 301 EPSOM WOOL SALE, at the King's Head Inn, Epsom, on Friday, the 25th inst, was numerously attended by gentlemen, agriculturists, wool-staplers and others connected with and interested in, the wool trade, when the following lots were offered for sale by Mr. VV. Butcher : — Lot 1, 232 fleeces Ewe and Wether South-Down, 142 ditto Teg, Messrs. D. and J. Hooker, West Horsley ; bought in at Is 6^d per lb. Lot 2, 279 fleeces Ewe and Wether South- Down, 164 ditto Teg, W. H. Cooper, Esq., Pain's Hill, Cobhara ; sold at Is 6|d. Lot 3, 320 fleeces Ewe South-Down, 160 ditto Teg, sold at Is 9d. Lot 4, 160 lbs Lamb's Wool, sold at Is 6|d ; — Bonsor, Esq., Polsden farm, near Bookham. Lot 5, 180 fleeces Ewe South-Down, Hon. F. G. Howard, Ashtead Park Farm ; sold at Is 5J. Lot 6, 240 fleeces Ewe and Wetlier South-Down, 165 ditto Teg, Mr. King, Ashtead ; sold at Is 6f d. Lot 7 : 644 fleeces Ewe and Wether South-Down, 504 ditto Teg, 182 ditto Leicester, Mr. Ma)'dwell, Highlands, near Leatherhead ; sold at Is 9d. Lot 8, 400 fleeces Ewe South-Down, 300 ditto Teg, Felix Ladbroke, Esq., Walton-on-the-Hill ; bought in at Is 7^([. Lot 9, .308 fleeces Ewe South-Down, Mr. Isaacson, Nonsuch Park, Ewell, bought in at Is 6|d. Lot 10 : 248 fleeces Teg South-Down, Mr. Lewin, Cudding - ton, near Cheam ; sold at Is 92d. Lot 11, 444 fleeces Ewe and Teg South - Down, Mr. Willess Lower Cheam ; sold at Is .5d. Lot 12 : 280 fleeces Teg, Ewe and Wether South-Down, Mr. Whitbourn, Horton, near Epsom ; sold at Is 52d. Lot 13, 240 fleeces Ewe South-down, 190 ditto Teg, Mr. Harri- son, Epsom Downs, bought in at Is 7d. Lot 14, 2601bs Lamb's Wool, sold at ls6d. Lot 15 : 501bs Ewe Welch, Mr. Humphrey Epsom ; sold at Is 4d. Lo. 16 : 47lbs Ewe and Teg South-Down, ]\Ir. Hum- phrey, Chessington ; sold at Is 6d. Lot 17, Twenty Pack of Super Skin Wool ; bought in at Is 5|d. Lot 18, ten Pack of Fine Head, bought in at Is 4|d. Lot 19, 94 fleeces South-Down Wether, sold at Is 6d. Lot 20, 288 flees South-down Wether, bought in at Is 5|d Lot 21, 136 Teg, 150 Wether South-down, sold at Is 8^. Lot 22. 44 Ewe, bought in at Is 6d. Lot 23, 72 fleeces Down and Dorset Ewe, bought in at Is 5f d. Lot 24 : 70 fleeces Norfolk-dows Wether, bought in at Is 5Jd. WOOL FAIR AT EAST ILSLEY.—f From a Correspondent.) — The quantity of wool pitched at this fair on the 21st inst was considerably less than at previous fairs, there being only about 2,200 tods, in addition to which the samples were numerous ; but the precise quantity represented by them I am unable to say. About one quarter of the wool was sold on the fair dav, and as much on the following morning, making in the whole about half sold. Teg wool as high as 52s ; mixed, from 44s to 48s ; and one lot of mixed Teg and Wether, with a small portion of Ewe, fetched as high as 50s. There was a great unwilling- ness on the part of the buyers to purchase on the day of the fair, which may be accounted for from the fol- lowing causes : — The quantity of wool at this fair was smaller than at any previous fair, and although the holders offered their wool at last year's prices, yet it was observed throughout the day how extremely indifferent any of the buyers were to purchase. Tins might lead to the conclusion that the wool trade was depressed, but 1 believe from the buyers having of- fered, in several instances, on the following day, both at Ilsley and at Newbury, those prices asked on the day of tlie fair, that the reluctance alluded to too manifestly showed a desire on the part of the buyers to discountenance such public sales, in the hope of returning again to the old system of monopolii. Se- veral of the leading agriculturists, seeing this, have proposed holding a fair at Lambourne, some time in I at a low price. September, and in the mean time not to show or offer their wool at their own houses. This, I am fully persuaded, if acted upon, will be found greatly to the advantage of the wool-growers, and render abor- tive any future attempts of returning again to that system of monopoly which it is so desirable to abo- lish. About 300 gentlemen and yeomen sat down to a most excellent cold dinner, provided by the three principal inn-keepers of this place, and in such a manner as to reflect great credit on them for the ac- commodations and the excellence of the viands. Among the company present were — Charles Eyston, Esq., Chairman, B. Wroughton, Esq., Capt. Dundas, M. P., Biackstone, Esq., M. P., John Walter, Esq., M. P., W. Mount Esq., &c. &c. MOUNTAIN WOOL.— The streets of Merthyr were much enlivened on the 15th and 16th instant by an immense troop of mountain horses loaded with wool from the parishes of Aberdare,Lanwonno, Gelligaer, Eglwisilan, &c. Above 100 packs of 2401b. each were weighed on those two days, averaging from Is. 4d. tols. 7d. per lb, Besides the large quantity of mountain wool, the same spirited dealers, Messrs. Morgan, of Glasbury, have purchased full as much of wool in the vale of this country at the average price of Is. 6d., thereby making a circulation of very near 4,000?. from their house alone. — Merthyr Guardian. EXTRAOEDINRY FLEECE OF WOOL— Mr. Naylor, grazier and jobber, Long Sutton, has by him at this time a fleece of wool, clipped, which is of the incredible weight of thirty-two founds. The sheep was so overburdened before clipped, that when down it could not rise without assistance. NEW POLAND OATS.— Ten quarters of new Poland Oats were sold in Doncaster market on Sa- turday the 19th inst. by Mr. R. Foster, at Tickill, at 27s 6d per sack. CORN IMPORTED INTO RUSSIA.— From the commencement of the shipping season up to the 1st of this month, there had arrived at Cronstadt no fewer than 449 ships laden with corn, and during that time there were imported 144,000 chetwerts of rye, 62,104 of wheat, 61,194 of barley, and 85,848 of oats, a circumstance wholly unparalleled in the history of our commerce, Russia having been always accustomed to supply foreign countries with corn, and having never had occasion to import for its own consumption. LAURENCEKIRK.— There was a poor show of sheep at Paldy fair, and the whole went off at high prices. The show of cattle was far below an average. Small cattle sold briskly, at good prices ; but three vear old stots barely supported their former value. Prime fat were in demand, at 6s 9d to 7s per Dutch stone. A great number of harvesters were in the market; bandsters were engaged at 21; and women, for taking up from the scythe, at 35s. At MORETONHAMPSTEAD FAIR, there were more Sheep and Lambs penned than have been known at this fair for several years before ; the num- ber being 1,274, out of which 829 were sold. On the part af the sellers there was a strong inclination to obtain an advance in price, but this would not do ; and with the exception of a iaw pens of good lambs, which exchanged hands in the morning pretty freely, the prices of those sold cannot be said to exceed those of former fairs and markets : and it is the general opinion that the breed of Sheep has greatly increased within the last twelve months, in consequence of the high price of wool. There was a good show of Bul- locks, including Cows with Calves, and also about 50 Irish Bullocks wliich were driven into the Fair ; but in this article there was very little business done, 33 Bullocks only being sold, and those considered 302 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. TO CORRESPONDENTS. It is not necessary for a freeholder to register himself annually to entitle him to vote ; the registration re- mains, provided the freeholder continues to hold the same property. If a horse is sold warranted " sound and quiet in every respect," this loill not include his aptitude and quiet- ness in harness. All loarrantries are to be taken strictly, and the purchaser should have stipulated for an express icarrantry that the horse would go quietly in harness. Tliis is commonly done when a gig or coach-horse is sold. The equitable rule of dilapidations is, to alloio for fair tvear and tear. " X." is icrong in conceiv- ing that the executors of the deceased rector are obliged to renew vjhatever is old : this is not the case, they are only bound to repair and not to renew, and to repair only ivhere reparation is necessary. If the floor requires to be taken up, and a new one to be put down, allowance must be made for the old materials ; but every succeeding rector is not obliged to renovate, but to repair only. The iritsteesof " W." shouldpayone moiety oftheSBOl. note: they should pay another moiety of the joint debts owing; and " W.'' is entitled also to the 50l. and has a lien on the proceeds of the farm until that be paid, it being money taken by " W." in his life- time out of the proceeds of the farm, v)hich belonged jointly to W. and M. The trustees loill be perfectly justified in law by settling the ciuestion according to M . 's proposition . " A. B." is informed, that the husband cannot claim the piroperty, but a new trustee should be appointed. " L," can get the agreement stamped on payment of a penalty, and compel the other party to conform to it. The question respecting the termination of an indenture of apprenticesliip, by the apprentice attaining tiventy- one years of age, has been often answered. If " T." can prove the alleged impossibility of the con- nexion, he will not be liable. To " X." — We are clearly of opinion that there was no settlement gained, inasmuch as the relation of master and servant did not subsist between the servant and his employer for the three last weeks of the year. The hiring icas for a year, but not so the service ; and both must concur. The constables of a township have a right to issue the notice mentioned, viz. " that there have beenmaddogs in the neighbourhood, and that persons are required to keep their dogs in confinement until a certain day, or they toill be destroyed.''^ If is a part of the duty of the public police vested in the constables for the time being, and is no invasion upon private property. The Statute of Limitations bars the remedy only, not the the debt, and, therefore, ivhere an attorney for a X)laintiff had obtained judgment, and the defendant was afterwards discharged under the Lord^s Act, — but, at a subsequent period, a fieri facias issued against his goods, the sheriff levied the damages and costs; it ivas held, that the attorney, {though he had taken no step in the cause within six years) had still a lien on the judgment fur his bill of costs, and the court directed the sheriff to pay him the a?nount out of the proceeds of the goods. REPORT OF THE CORN TRADE IN MARK LANE FOR THE MONTH OF JULY. The weather during the past month of July, has had a controlling influence over the trade, and ac- tuated materially the operations of speculators as well as millers. At this period of the year prices are always more or less hiased by the appearances of sunshine or rain, and this season the currencies of spring have been more than usually alive to any variation in the temperature, as the drought had continued to such a critical period, that a short duration of the heat we were experiencing, would have withered all vegetative power in the plants, and rendered unavailing any future change of the atmosphere. — During the four weeks ending the 21st July, we have received the following quantity of grain : — Wheat. Barley. Oats. qrs. qrs. qrs. English 36,611 2,550 19,105 Scotch 520 1,867 45,094 Irish 73 2,602 27,045 Foreign..., 5,365 4,372 47,130 Beans. Peas. Flour. English .. Scotch . . . . qrs. . 3,823 275 qrs. 957 sacks. 27,167 65 Irish 50 Foreign . . . 5,077 1,116 1,978 brls The above exhibits an increase of more than 14,000 qrs. of Wheat, received from our own coast, as compared with the previous month, and a trifling addition in Oats. From Scotland the supplies of this latter article have augmented 12,662 qrs, hut from Ireland a decrease appears of about, 4,000 qrs. Though the supplies of Wheat have been ex- tensive during July, yet the stands have not ex- hibited any unusual number of samples, owing to many cargoes having been imported on millers' own account, which having prevented them from appearing in the market as purchasers, had the same effect in depressing the trade, in the early part of the month, as if it had been glutted with corn, and prices receded Is. to 2s per qr with a very slow sale, until the 21st, when the wea- ther changing, and much rain having fallen dming the three or four previous days, the trade ral- lied, and millers evincing more disposition to purchase, an advance of full 2s per qr was ob- tained. Fine weather however returning, and the harvest having commenced in the neighbour- ing counties, and most of the wheat being ready for the sickle, made millers .cautious in their operations, and the market again gave way Is. per. qr., with a heavy aspect. With the exception of some sales of Kuban ka Wheat for export to Portugal at 30s to 32s, nothing has transpired in bonded corn, and the prices have become almost nominal. The arrivals of Flour have been moderate owing to the want of water, preventing the working of country mills.^— Fresh ship qualities have in consequence been in request, fully supporting their quotations, and towards the close of the month, having in instances realized Is per sack advance, as the stocks in the hands of the bakers were to a very limited extent. The alteration in the duties have consisted of a decline of Is per qr on Wheat, making the duty 38s 8d. — The duty on Oats has gradually given way to 10s 3d, below which, there does not at present appear much chance for specula- tors to render free their stock of foreign grain. The duty on Peas has receded from 12s 6d to 5s per qr. I'he supply of Barley having continued very limited, and the article being saleable in retail for grinding purposes, at from 28s to 30s, has kept the trade steady. — The distillers have not been purchasers, so that pj-ices have not been influenced sufficiently to cause any advance. Bonded qualities were held at from 14s to 16s, but the business passing was very confined, though orders have been transmitted to Denmark to eftect purchases, at 10s 6d to lis per qr. THE FAUMER'S MAGAZINE. 303 A few samples of new Barley have been offering of various qualities, but no bulk has appeared forsale. Malt has been with a few exceptions dull sale, particularly so since the late rains, which have been considered beneficial to the gi owing crops of Barley, and though they may have endangered the colour will tend to render the art'iclemellow and kind. The large supplies of Oats from Scotland having checked materially the speculative feeling in favor of the article, and the fine weather we have ex- perienced for spring corn, and the accnmulated arrivals of foreign cargoes, have caused the trade to rule heavy throughout the month at a decline altogether of from 2s to ;^is per qr. The foreign supplies have consisted principally of Danish and Friesland qualities, many of which have proved stale and light ; at the commencement of the month sales were effected at from 1 2s to 13s for common Danish feed ; superiorfresh black andwhite samples realized 14s to 15s ; fine Polaiids, 16's to 17s ; and Friesland Brew, 16s to 18s ; as however the trade has receded, and the duties cannot for some time attain a lower range than 10s 9d per qr, holders have given way in their demands, and Danish i)arcels weighing 381bs, might be bought at lis to lis 6d ; brew and Friesland, at 14s to 16s. Many of the holders will not pay the pre- sent duty, but prefer taking the chance of and ad- vance in the quotations at a later period of the season, in consequence of the anticipated failure in the crops. Beans in the beginning of the month coming more freely to hand, prices gave way Is per qr, since which the rates have sustained no alteration, with a limited demand. In bond, a fine parcel realized 26s, but the currency may be noted at from 20s to 24s. The rains have much improved the general aspect of the crop. The stock of white Peas having become nearly ex- hausted, prices improved Is per qr ; several par- cels however of the new growth have been brought to market, which obtained from 48s to 54s per qr, as in quality. Hog Peas, owing to the appearance of the new qualities, and the demand having slack- ened, have rather given way in value, and may be noted Is lower ; fine new samples have obtained 40s to 42s, the duty having declined to 5s per qr. Bonded qualities are held at rates differing in price that amount as compared withthe free article. New Rapeseed, which proves fine in quality, ob- tained on its first appearance, 40/ per last from the seedsman. Since then the quotations have rather declined, and purchases could now be effect- ed at 36/ to 38/. The French markets have sustained little alteration, and prices have continued dull as the time of harvest approached. The last aggre- gate average price of Wheat was 32s lOd per qr. The Wheat crops are represented as being deficient on the strong good lands, but more productive on the inferior soils, and as these constitute by far the largest portion of the arable ground, the crop is likely to turn out nearly equal to a moderate average produce. Some heavy hail-storms have been experienced in some of the departments, which have been very destructive to the grain. Barley has been affected by the drought, and will prove only a moderate crop. Oats ir certain districts, particularly in high lands as well as the southern departments, have been much injured by the dry weather, and will consequently yield short of an average. — In Italy the trade has continued in a languid state, and prices have sustained little va- riation, Barletta, Wheat obtaining from 29s 6d to 30s 3d. The result of the English crops however, were being watched by the Italian speculators, as in the event of a deficiency, now the Black Sea ports can afford no supplies, would probably cause much demand from the Mediterranean. The crops are on the whole satisfactory, as the injury they have sustained from the drought has been only partial.— In Sicily the harvest was expected to prove fine. — In Sardinia the crops have suffered from the long continuance of dry weather. Wheat will be below an average growth, and Bar- ley and Beans very deficient. The Flour trade in the United States has under- gone little variation, prices varying according to quality, from 22s 6d to 24s 9d per barrel. Wheat varies in value, from 36s to 43s 4d. Tlie crops of Wheat are represented in the interior as being of good quality, and the produce abundant. — In Ca- nada the demand for Wheat has been limited, and white fine qualities wei'e worth 5s to 5s 3d per601bs. In the Southern provinces of Russia, complaints were being again raised respecting the crops, ow- ing to the continued drought and great exertions were being made by the government to avert the disasters likely to ensue from the scarcity of grain. — At St. Petersburg Wheat remained steady at 27s lOd to 30s 5d for good Kabanka. Rye has ex- perienced an improved demand, and advanced to 26s 4d. Oats are scarce and realizing 14s 4d to 15s. — At Riga the reports of the crops in the in- terior proving favourable, prices of Wheat re- mained dull at 25s 6d to 26s lid for best Courish qualities. The stock of Oats was not large, as there has not been of late years any temptation to the landed pi-oprietor of the interior, to consign this article to the out-ports, and prices therefore are ranging high, say from 10s 9d to lis 5d. Lin- seed generally maintains high quotations, and is not to be had under 41s lOd to 43s 4d for fine qualities. — At Danzic the prices of Wheat had ral- lied, owing to the improved state of the English markets, and the transmission of orders at high limits ; fine high-mixed Wheat was not to be ob- tained under 35s ; good high-mixed, 33s ; com- mon do, 31s ; good mixed, 29s. The weather continued dry, and the complaints of the appear- ance of the spring crops of grain were becoming very general, but Wheat looked healthy and ino- mising. — At Stettin prices of all grain have ad- vanced in value, not only in consequence of the improvement in the English and Dutch markets, but also in the unpromising appearances of the crops, owing to the continued wet during the ear- lier part of the season, while at the same time the Wheats and other grain have been suffering in the adjoining districts of Mecklenberg, from the heat and drought ; prices were firm at from 24s to 26s. In Denmark little alteration has been sus- tained in the price of Oats, though the accounts from England were less encouraging ; quotations vary from 9s to 10s as in quality. In Sweden, 9s 6d to 10s 6d is being |paid. Complaints were being very generally received from all parts of the Danish territory, as to the injury grain was likely to receive from the prevailing drought. — At Ham- burg little business was transacted in the Wheat trade, except a few purchases for shipment to Portugal, at 25s 3d for Marks quality of COlbs. The Rapeseed harvest has commenced in Holstein and Schleswick, and owing to dry weather, the crops may be expected to be secured in good shipping order. The farmers were reluctant to sell even at the high prices that had been paid, of 26^ per last, from the western parts of the duchies. On the Baltic prices are 24/ lOs to 25/ 10s. In Holland the trade was dull in Wheat, 304 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. but Oats remained steady as the crop is generally reported deficient. — In Friesland the produce of Oats was expected also to be deficient, owing to the dryness of the weather, prices in consequence had been little influenced by the dull accounts from this country. — In Belgium the farmers com- plain of the crops of Wheat and Oats, but Linseed promised to yield abundantly. CURRENCY PER IMPERIAL MEASURE. BRITISH. Wheat, Essex, Kent, and Suffolk 44 to 4S White 48 Norfolk, Lincolnsliire and Yorkshire. . . 41 White, do. do 48 West Country Red 42 White, ditto 4/ Northumbciland and Berwickshire Red 40 White, ditto 41 Irish Red 3« Ditto White 40 Barley, Maltinjf 29 Chevalier 31 Distilling 30 Grinding 27 Malt, New 37 Ditto Norfolk pale 50 Ditto Ware 52 Peas, Hog and Gre v 36 Maple '. 40 White Boilers 40 Beans, small 31 Harrow 31 Ticks 30 Mazagan 30 Oats, English feed 22 Short small 23 Polands 24 Scotch, Common 23 Berwick, &c 26 Potatoe, &c 27 Irish, Galway, &c 21s0d to 23s 6d Ditto Potatoe 25s Od 2Gs Od Ditto Black 21s Od 243 Od Bran llsOd to 123 6d per 16 bushel. f 1. August!. s. s. s. >4S 4Gto48 55 49 56 46 41 47 5i 46 52 47 42 47 50 47 52 41 40 44 46 41 47 40 37 41 42 40 42 31 29 31 33 30 32 31 30 31 30 27 29 47 37 43 56 50 58 58 56 62 39 36 39 43 40 42 48 45 49 36 31 36 36 31 36 33 31 34 36 29 35 25 20 22 26 21 23 26 21 23 25 21 23 28 24 25 29 22 24 2l3 Od to 22s 6d 22s Od 24 Xld 203 Od 22 Od PRICES OF FLOUR, PerSk. JuLYl. s. s. Town-made 43 to 48 Norfolk, Suffolk, Kent, and Essex 37 42 Sussex and Hampshire 34 36 Superfine 37 39 Lincolnshire, Yiirkshire, and Stockton. 33 36 Northumberland, Berwick, and Scotch. 30 35 Irish 34 38 Extra 38 — 43 to 48 37 42 34 36 37 39 35 38 31 35 34 38 33 — LONDON AVERAGES, ENDING JULY 22. qrs. £ s. d. Wheat 78u3 2 110 Barley 1986 1 8 G Oats 18762 1 4 C qrs. .£ s. d. Rye 119 1 14 0 Beans 1007 1 17 1 Peas 351 2 5 11 IMPERIAL AVERAGES. Weekending ISth June. 20th ,, 27tli „ 4th July nth ,, 18th „ AggregRte Average ofthe last 6 weeks Duties till July 30 Do, on grain from British possessions out of Europe .. Wheat 47 10 48 10 49 6 48 11 48 4 48 1 48 7 38 8 Barley 29 0 2? 7 29 0 28 11 28 11 28 8 28 10 19 10 Oats 23 4 24 3 23 11 24 6 24 4 24 2 24 1 10 9 Rye I Beans 34 5 32 7 32 9 33 n 34 4 35 8 33 n 19 9 36 5 37 4 37 8 36 9 37 5 37 11 3/ 3 14 0 50 26 2 61 3 0; 30 42 5 41 0 43 11 45 6 45 8 44 8 43 10 5 0 3 0 PRICES OF HOPS IN THE BOROUGH, July 1. August 1. ^ s, <£ s, £ s, £ u East Kent Pockets 8 StolOlO 8 Sto 10 10 Bags 7 10 9 9 7 10 9 9 Mid-Kent Pockets 77 90 7 0 9 0 Bags 7 0 8 8 7 0 8 8 SMITHFIELD MARKET. Per stone of 81bs. to sink the offals. July 1. August 1. s. d. s. d. 9. d. s. d. Inferior Beef 2 0to2 2 2 4 to 2 6 Do. Mutton 2 0 2 2 2 4 2 6 Middling Beef 2 4 2 10 2 8 3 2 Do. Mutton 3 0 3 2 3 2 3 4 Prime Beef.. 3 6 4 0 3 10 4 4 Do. Mutton 3 4 3 10 3 8 4 2 Veal 24 40 3 10 52 Pork 2 8 3 8 2 8 3 8 Lamb 3 10 5 0 4 2 5 6 BUTTER, CHEESE, AND HAMS, &c. ENGLISH BUTTER, per firkin. July 1. August 1. Dorset 40 to — Cambridge 40 — York 38 — CHEESE, per cwt. Double Gloucester 48 to 68 Single Ditto 44 48 Cheshire 54 74 Derby 50 60 HAMS, per cwt. Westmoreland 46 to 58 Cumberland 46 .56 40 to — 40 — 48 to 68 41 48 54 74 SO 60 50 to 60 46 56 v/ooim markets. BRITISH. July 1. August 1. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. NorthandSouth-DownHog-J j 9 to 0 0 1 9 to 9 0 gets \ Half-bred Dil to 1 10 0 0 I 10 C 0 Dilto Ewes,cloathing 13 0 0 13 0 0 South-Down Ewes 1 4 0 0 14 0 0 KentFlecces 16 10 16 10 Skin Combing 14 10 14 16 Leicester Wethers 14 0 0 14 0 0 FlannelWool 1 117 1117 Blanket Ditto 0 0 1 5 0 0 1 5 Leicester Hogs 1 9 0 0 19 0 0 In Yolk— Devon Oil 11 Oil I 1 SCOTCH. Per Stone of 24 lbs. . July 1. s. d. s. d. Laidllighland Wool, from. 13 0tol4 0 White Do. Do 15 0 1(> 0 Laid Crossed Do 15 0 16 6 Washed Do. Do 17 6 18 6 Laid Cheviots 17 6 19 6 Washed Do 23 0 26 0 White Do August 1. s. d. s d. 13 0 to 14 0 15 0 16 0 15 0 16 0 17 6 IS 6 17 6 19 6 23 0 26 0 FOREIGN. Per lb. July 1, 8. d. s. d. Electoral Saxony Wool, from. 4 6 to 6 6 1st Australian, Bohemian, 1 4 n a a and German Wools /* u 4 4 2ndDo 2 9 3 6 Inferior Do. in Locks and Pieces 2 0 2 6 Lambs' Do 3 6 4 6 Hungary Sheep's Do 2 2 2 6 Leoncsa Do 2 6 3 10 Segovia Do 2 6 3 0 Soria Do 2 0 2 9 Cacares Do 2 0 2 4 Spanish Lamb's Wool 16 2 9 • ierman and Spanish cross Do. 16 2 9 Portugal Sheep's Do 1 4 2 0 Do. Lambs' Do 1 4 2 9 Australian fine crossed Do ... 3 6 5 6 Ditto Native Sheep's Do 1 10 2 6 Van Diemen's Land Do. Do.. 1 4 2 6 August 1. a, d. s. d. 4 6to6 6 4 0 4 4 3 6 2 6 4 6 2 6 3 10 3 0 1 10 1 4 ENTERED AT STATIONER'S HALL. Published at 19, Old Boswell Court, Temple Bar. Printed by Joseph Rogersou, 21, Norfolk-street, Strand. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. SEPTEMBER, 1834. No. 5.] [Vol. 1. LEWES WOOL FAIR. This Annual Fair was holdeii at the White Hart Inn in this town, on Saturday last, the 26th July. The dinner was announced to take place at three o'clock, and shortly afterwards, nearly 200 of the Nobility, Gentry, and Agriculturists of the coun- ty, together with a large attendance of most re- spectable buyers from distant counties, were seated at the festive board. His Grace the Duke of Richmond presided on the occasion, supported on either side by the Earl of Chichester, Lord Vis- count Gage, Sir George Shififner, Hon. Gen. Tre- vor, the Hon. C. Couipton Cavendish, and H, B. Curteis, Esq., Members for the Eastern Division of the county; W. C. Mabbott, ?^p.5piVebb Hall, Esq., W. L. Shadwell. Esq., Henry Blackman, Esq., Messrs. J. G. and T. Ellman, Mr. W. Boys, &c. &c. &c. After the healths of the King and the Royal Family had been drank witli the usual honours, the noble Chairman said, I rise to propose the health of a distinguished nobleman who has passed a long life as a country gentleman, an honest man, an upright magistrate, a good landlord, and one who has studied the best interests of the country. I am sure that after what I have said, you will anticipate that I am about to name the Earl of Egremont. (This toast was enthusiastically received). The Noble Chairman — lam satisfied that you are all duly impressed with the great importance it is to the county, that we should have an annual meeting like the present, where the sellers may meet the buyers, and on which occasion politics should be excluded. We meet as farmers, to con- sider what is best to promote our interests, and therefore I feel that it is vmnecessary for me to trespass longer on your time, than merely to pro- pose— " Prosperity to the Lewes Fair." His Grace then said — Allow me to propose to you the health of the Wool-Buyers — but as I per- ceive a gentleman here whom I have often had the pleasure to meet in other places, especially before Committees of the House of Lords, of which I have been the chairman, I beg leave to couple his name with this toast, and therefore, by your per- mission, I shall propose the health of Mr. Legg, and the Wool- Buyers who attend this meeting. Mr. Legg — I never felt more difficulty in re- turning thanks for the very handsome way in which the noble chairman has given the health of the wool-buyers, to which he has done me the honour to couple my name. (Sir G. Shiffner here pro- posed that the other buyers should do the meeting the favour to rise, in order that it might be seen that this meeting was well attended by purchasers, and many gentlemen responded to the call.) Mr. Legg resunoed — I last year met the present company with a great deal of pleasure ; I thought then that our prospects looked bright, and I was induced to give Mr. J. Ellman 2s. per lb. for his wool, but there was one subject connected with that transac- tion which gave me pain, viz. — that Mr. E. had allowed me a drawback upon the price at which I bought ; but I assure you that such rumour was wholly devoid of truth. (Cheers.) My friend, Mr. Ellman, is too honourable a man to be a party to such a transaction. The late convulsion with the American money market threw a damp upon the wool trade. The orders were countermanded ; things bought were offered to be re-sold at an im- mense sacrifice, and from the commencement of February to the beginning of May, a very consi- derable loss was sustained. We are now between hope and fear (but probably the noble Duke in the chair can state), that the French government are about to reduce the duty from 30 to 20 per cent. I should, therefore, rather wait till after that altera- tion shall be effected, which will take place in Sep- tember next. The Chairman — At the risk of being supposed to have some vanity, I rise to propose the health of the Wool Sellers, although I am one of them myself, for having last year's clip in hand, I hope to sell my wool to-day. In the spring of this year I was obliged to go to Paris upon public business, and I endeavoured to avail myself of the opportu- nity to promote the interests of the wool growers of this country ; and in an interview which I had with the Minister of Trade and Commerce, I told him that they had not met our system of free trade upon reciprocal principles, as we allow the impor- tation of foreign wool at no higher duty than from a half-penny to a penny per pound. I also point- ed out to him the inconvenience which was felt by our wool growers in being prohibited from import- ing wool into France in vessels below a certain tonnage. He said if the Custom House Officers had adopted any such regulations, they had no au- thority for them, and he would give instructions to have them repealed forthwith; and he hoped that in their next session he should be able to prevail on the French Legislature to reduce the duty to 10^. per cent. Not being any longer a member of the government, I cannot, said his Grace, pledge myself that the French duty will be so reduced, but I have reason to hope that such will be the case, and that next year I shall have to congratu- late the sellers upon seeing French buyers in this room. Mr. Henry Blackman — Although one of the smallest of the wool growers, I have been request- X 306 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ed by my friends around me to return the thanks of the company to the buyers. I have been in- formed that his Grace has made an offer of his wool to Mr. Legg, and I should be pleased if he would condescend to state the price at which he has proposed to sell. I wish to make one remark on what fell from the noble chairman. His Grace said he should wish the discussion of politics to be abstained from ; and when I filled that chair some years ago, I said the same thing ; but I found, as I have at every wool meeting I have attended, that somehow or other politics have found their way into the business of the meeting. His Grace would also steer clear of politics, but finds it impossible. for he tells us what passed between him, while he was a member of the Cabinet, and the French go- vernment. Notwithstanding what Mr. Legg has stated, I am persuaded that the French merchants could not compete with the English capitalists ; they are therefore calling on their government to reduce their duty. Somehow or other, I always fancied 2s. per lb. was about the price, and I had no sooner opened my mouth last year, than Mr. Legg said " I'll give it." Mr. Legg now speaks in a low key, but he does not despond, he only says " wait till September to see if the French government will by their bonus enable them to compete with the English buyers;" but should that be the case, I am persuaded that English ca- pital will triumph over this bonus which the French government seems disposed to put into the poc- kets of the buyers of that country. I am certain- ly out of spirits to-day, but that arises from a little indisposition which I feel ; but if there were as good proof of the French merchants coming in, as there are good prospects in his speech, still I would say, wait till the time I have named. The Chairman — Being called on by my friend, Mr. Blackman, who regretted that I had not de- clared the proposition made by me to Mr. Legg, I have no hesitation to say that I told that gentleman that I had 2,200 fleeces, of which 1,550 were hog- get, and that I would sell them at two shillings a pound all round, which offer he declined . Mr. Lego — Did I understand your Grace to say 1,550 hogget? The Chairman — If we are going to business, I must go to book (here his Grace referred to his memoranda) — It seems, Sir, I have only 550 hog- get. Mr. Legg — ^That was the number your Grace mentioned in making your offer. Chairman —I have next to propose the healths of the Members for the Eastern Division of the County, — IVIr. Curteis and the Hon. Mr. Caven- dish. Mr. Cavendish— My Lord Duke and Gentle- men, I beg to return you my sincere thanks for the honour of having my health drank by so large a number of the Agriculturists. I beg to assure you gentlemen, that my best energies shall be at all times devoted to the promotion of the interests of Agriculture. Mr. Curteis — I only regret, gentlemen, that my honourable colleague did not use the plural number in the expressions of his gratitude for the honour you have been pleased to confer upon us, there would then have been no occasion for me to trespass on your time and attention, lest I should incur the slight risk of being thought wanting in courtesy, or insensible to the kindness shown to us by this large assemblage of the gentlemen of this division of the county. In the part of the county where I more immediately reside, we think more of the long wools than of the short, but I assure you I sympathize in every thing which can pro- mote the interests of the wool growers in the coun- ty of Sussex. By the noble Duke's permission I will take the liberty to propose the healths of two noblemen, the near relationship which exists be- tween one of whom and himself, will perhaps make him hesitate to pay them the deserved com- pliment of naming them to this meeting ; I mean Lord George Lennox and the Earl of Surrey, the members for the western division of tha county of Sussex. Lord Chichester — I'm quite sure I need say nothing to induce you to do honour to the toast I am about to propose, but I cannot help adverting to the circumstance of the benefit agriculture, and the wool trade especially, must derive from the circumstance of the noble Duke coming among us and doing us the honour to occupy the chair, which he so ably fills on the present occasion. SirG. Shiefner, Bart. — I must rise to Second what has fallen from my noble friend in his lauda- tory observations of the noble Duke, whosfe con- descending attention to the interests of agriculture at all times deserves our most respectful gratitude, and who, when in France, did not forget his friends in Sussex. Let us therefore testify our sense of his Grace's worth by drinking his health in the good old fashioned style of Sussex yeomen, name- ly, with three times three cheers, given as a ca- valry charge. Sir George's proposition was received with the greatest enthusiasm. The Chairman — Gentlemen, to receive the ap- probation of one's fellow-countrymen must be at all times pleasing, but to receive this testimony of the approbation of so numerous a meeting, com- posed chiefly of my brother farmers of the county, with many of whom I am individually connected by ties of common and mutual interest, cannot fail to be particularly gratifying to me. Most un- gTateful indeed should I be, if, without any refer- ence to politics at all, I did not feel the great kind- ness which the gentlemen of this county have shown, not only to me, but to every member of my family. I was brought up under the instruction that the men of Sussex were the supporters of my family. In advocating your interests, I shall ne- ver grow weary ; but whenever I can promote them, you'll find me at your semce and at your call. I'll not detain you longer than to say that nothing shall be wanting on my part to deserve the continuance of your favours and good opinion. Gentlemen, let us now get to business ; I have offered my wool at a price which has been refused ; let us therefore now endeavour to find out what wool is really worth. Mr. Ellman — At the last Fair, it will probably be remembered, I offered my wool to Mr. Legg first, at two shillings a pound, wliich he agreed to take it at. I was afterwards considerably hurt at what was said in a Provincial Faper about some THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 307 collusion existing between Mr. Legg and myself. I then stated, and I now repeat it, that no collu- sion had then or does now exist between Mr« Legg and myself. The fact is that my wool contains a greater portion of hoggett than most other flocks, and consequently obtains a proportionate increase of price. The fact is the weight, &c., of the wool depends in a great measure on the soil and climate in which the sheep are fed, for if a farmer in Sussex were to breed five hundred lambs, and keep two hundred and fifty himself, and send the other two hundred and fifty into Norfolk, such would be the effect of the change of pasture, that the fleeces of the latter would weigh a pound each more than those kept at home. Having lately at- tended the Fair at Thetford in Norfolk, I am en- abled to state to the Meeting the prices at which the four principal lots of wool were sold there. Mr. Coke sold his Ewes at 52s. ; his Hoggett at 60s. period. The Duke of Norfolk sold at 43s. and 58s. Two other large growers sold respective- ly at 42s. and 58s., 46s. and 60s= I will offer my wool, either together or separate. If together, at 65s., which at 32lbs to the tod, is two shillings and three-eighths of a penny per pound ; if separate, the fleece at 53s. ; and the hoggett at 84s., which is also rather more that two shillings per pound on the average, and as my friend Mr. Legg bought so honourably of me last year, I shall now make him the first offer of my wool at the prices named. Mr. Legg — I am quite sure the feeling of the present company is to hear both sides of the ques- tion, and I am of opinion that the prices quoted as having been given at Thetford cannot be maintain- ed. Mr. L. adduced some arguments in support of his view of the future state of the market,which want of space compels us to omit. I now, said Mr, L., offer the Duke 55s., and Mr. EUraan, whose flock contains more hoggett than his Grace's, 58s. The Chairman — I must make a calculation. After a pause his Grace observed — a public offer has been made to me to sell my wool at a less price than I offered it at, and I am ready to split the difference, by which I think you will see I am anx- ious to sell my wool. Mr. Legg — My Lord Duke I am sorry to say I cannot on this occasion split the difference. The Chairman — Gentlemen, allow me to pro- pose a toast, which I am sure you all will drink, " Liberal Landlords and Industrious Tenants." Mr. Ellman — Hoping that this which has been established as a Wool Fair, may long be kept up, and knovsring as I do that Mr. Legg is actuated by no sinister motives, I am induced to offer my wool to any other gentleman present, at the same price that I have before offered it to him (no response); finding no other person offers to take it at 65, I now offer it to Mr. Legg alone at 60. Mr. Legg — I feel, gentlemen, that I have offer- ed Mr. Ellman the highest price I can afford to give ; I cannot go beyond it. The Chairman. — Allow me to propose as a toast "The Labourers in Agriculture." I believe no man will dispute that the interests of the land- lords, land-occupiers, and labourers are insepara- ble. United we are every thing, disunited we be cprae nothing. Mr. Blackman — My Lord Duke, I ought to apologize for troubling you again, but as I see we are not likely to attain the value of our commo- dity, I think we ought to look a little at our future prospects. I see nothing in the prospects of the manufacturer to lead us to fear that the demand should be less than it has been. I think that the condition of the labourer of late years has given an impetus to the trade which will progressively increase as the extended employment of the la- bourer shall enable him to become a more exten- sive consumer of woollen goods than he is at pre- sent, I look to the Continent — I see with plea- sure that the German markets have risen, and, at their close, the prices of wool have been invariably higher than at the commencement or during the progress of the fair. The condition of the manu- facturers of this country is also, I am happy to hear, improving, and that they are, pretty gene- rally, is evinced by the price of labour rising. If they be fully employed at increased wages I see no reason why they should not also become in- creased consumers of their own manufactures. Some little competition may have existed or may now exist in the monetary system of America, but that can only be transient, and therefore, unless the buyers throw some new light upon the subject I see HO reason to fear that we shall realize last years prices at last, Mr. Legg — Our friend's sight may be much clearer than mine, but the fact is indisputable, that the weavers are selling yarns for less than they did last year, viz. 42s to 44s per tod. Piece goods are 7s less, and there are 4000 bags of foreign low wools come to market more than there were last year at this time. I should like the Duke to permit me to give a toast, which, from what I have seen of the gentlemen of the county, I have reason to think will not I passed by inat- tentively— "The Ladies of Sussex." The Chairman — Gentlemen, as I have to re- turn to Goodwood to-night, from whence I came this morning, I trust I shall be excused if I take ray leave of you thus early, but in answer to my friend Mr. Blackman's comment on the expression of my wish that the discussion of politics should be excluded from this meeting, I beg to say that I cannot help thinking that they form no part of our present purpose. We are met here to-day merely as farmers, to dispose of our produce, that busi- ness alone seems to me to be the legitimate subject for our discussion. Meeting, the other day, with a yeoman of West Sussex, I asked him if he did not intend to come to this meeting : he told me no — for when he had attended former meetings he had only heard long speeches on bad politics. For myself, I hear so much politics in London, that when I come into the country I wish to hear the remarks of the practical agriculturists of the county. I therefore abstained from any allusion to the Bill now before Parliament for amending the Poor Laws, when I gave the toast of " Pros- perity to the landowner, the farmer, and the la: bourer." To be brief, I beg to claim credit for perfect sincerity, when I say that I am actuated by a sincere zeal to promote the interests, not only of this county, but the interests of the country at large. I hope our next Wool Fair will be as re- 308 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. spectably attended both by buyers and sellers as the present, and may the buyers give us larger prices than they now do. Mr. H. B. CuRTEis — My Lord Duke, before you leave the Chair, I beg your permission to pro- pose the health of a Noble Lord who is seated on your right hand (the Earl of Chichester). In the presence of that Nobleman I feel a diffidence in speaking of him in the terms in which he ought always to be mentioned, but I am spared the pleasing duty of pronouncing an encomium on one who is so universally known as a generous landlord, the protector of the poor man, the pro- moter of societies, which whether they have suc- ceeded, or whether they have failed, it is not neces- sary here to stop to inquire, as their foundation has demonstrated that they were established for the promotion of the welfare and happiness of the humble classes of the community, an object v/hich his lordship seems always to have at heart. No county has juster reason to be proud of her aris- tocracy than Sussex, whose nobility are ever anxi- ously engaged in diffusing happiness among all ranks of the community. But in making these observations which a sense of what is due to these philanthropic noblemen urges me to utter, no man shall say that I thereby seek the coalescence of the Noble Lord, for I have unfortunately been opposed to all the aristocracy of the county. I am proud to say that the three noblemen who have honoured us with their presence on this occasion, were all educated in the same school with myself — we are all Westminsters, and may the same school long continue to send out noblemen of the same bene- volent feelings. The Earl of Chichester. — Gentlemen, I rise to express to you the gi-atitude which I feel in the very bottom of my heart for every token of appro- val shown to me by a meeting composed of a class of persons with whom I am anxious to live on the most friendly terms. I rejoice to see your noble chairman possessing an advantage over me, in being able to address you as a brother farmer, but though I do not farm, I am actuated with the same devoted zeal to promote your interest, which I feel mixed with my own. Without egotism I may, perhaps, admit that I have always endeavoured to promote the objects to which the gentleman who has done me the honour to propose my health has alluded. I humbly endeavour to do what little good I can to that class below us, but I never wish to do so alone, but try to get as many as I can, to co-operate with me. I regret that so little busi- ness has been done to-day, but I hope that after I shall have left the room, which I am now about to do, to return to Stanmer, that some sales will be effected on satisfactory terms. [Mr. Ellraan here addressed some observations to the noble duke, which, from the noise that per- vaded the room at the time, and the low tone in which he spoke, we could not distinctly hear, but the purport of which may be gathered from his Grace's reply, who rose and said], Mr. Ellman is anxious that some business should be done at this fair, and, therefore, I'll leave my wool in his hands, to sell at whatever price he thinks fit. I am here amongst a minority of the growers of the western part of Sussex, and I should not like, when I meet a large party of them a week hence, for them to tell me that in selling my wool here to-day I made a bad bargain. Mr. Ellman hereupon proposed to Mr. Legg to split the difference between the prices which the Duke and himself had asked for their wools and those which Mr. Legg had respectively offered for them. Mr. Legg — I am exceedingly obliged for my friend's offer, but I find my powers of splitting the difference have left me for the present. The health of Lord Gage having been drank, his Lordship rose and said. My Lord Duke and Gentlemen, allow me to return you my thanks for your undeserved kind- ness, for though I have ever been alive to your interests, I have never farmed my land with any attention to it, and, therefore, I have felt that I could offer to you no observations deserving of your attention ; but I have not a shilling in the world which is not in some way dependent on agriculture, and therefore self-interest alone would induce me to co-operate in the promotion of yours. Mr. PuTLAiN'D briefly proposed the health of Mr. Mabbott, who returned thanks in a neat speech of which the following is the substance — Flattering as this unexpected notice must be, I cannot but think that this mark of your esteem is undeserved and unmerited, for though I have en- deavoured to do my duty I have only done that which every brother magistrate would have done. The Chairman — Gentlemen, I rise once more for the purpose of proposing to you, the propriety of evincing our respect for a gentleman who has demonstrated that few persons feel a deeper in- terest in the welfare of the agriculturist than him- self— I mean Mr. Webb Hall, who has done us the honour to come from a considerable distance to attend this meeting. Tlie straight-forward evi- dence he gave before the Committee of the House of Lords, to which I have before alluded, con- vinced me that he is as well versed in the know- ledge of our interests as he is anxious to uphold them. In conclusion, I beg again to express my hope that some bargains will be effected to-day ; for we cannot expect gentlemen will leave their farms at this busy season of the year, where their pre- sence is so requisite, without they feel that they are advancing their business by attending the Fair.- — His Grace here stated that Mr. Ellman had suc- ceeded in selling the wool of his (the Duke's flock,) which to prevent mistakes, he repeated, was com- posed of five hundred and fifty hoggets and six- teen hundred and fifty ewes and wethers, at fifty- five shillings all round ; and that for his own flock, Mr. E. had obtained 58s all round. Mr. Webb Hall. — Gentlemen, permit me to return you my best thanks for the compliments you have been pleased to pass on me for the atten- tion I have paid to your interests, and allow me to express the high gratification I feel at witnessing this meeting of the noblemen and gentry of the county and their tenants. In hearing them ex- pressing sentiments so eminently calculated to bind together in one common bond of union the differ- ent classes of society; — the landed proprietors feeling for the welfare of their tenants, and the oc- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 309 cupiers for the happiness of their labourers. — We regret that want of space precludes us from fol- lowing Mr. Hall through one of the most eloquent speeches of the day. His Grace having left the chair, Mr. Mabbott was called thereto by acclamation, and in thus sum- marily bringing our condensed report of this im- portant meeting to a close, we must in one word remark, that the speeches of the noble orators were listened to by the overflowing assembly with the attention which they deserved, and cheered with that enthusiasm which showed that they felt warm from the hearts of philanthropic speakers, and founded a ready way to chords which beat in un- ison The above interesting meeting was probably more fully attended than on any previous similar occa- sion. An additional table did not suffice to ac- commodate the guests and several svere obliged to dine in an adjoining room. — After the removal of the cloth, the company received a large accession of gentlemen, who having arrived too late, could not find places at the dinner tables, so that, in the course of the evening, it may fairly be calculated that there were at least 250 growers and buyers of wool present. Mr. Thomas Ellman we hear sold his wool at 56s per tod. WILTS AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. The aaniversary of this institutioa was held on July 23, at the Bear Inn, Devizes, where a large company of gentlemen, principally connected with agriculture, sat down to a most excellent dinner provided by Mr. Parsons. Mr. Benett, (the President of the Society) was in the chair ; supported by Mr. Goddard of Swindon, Mr. Codrington, the Rev. Mr. Ashe, Mr. Neate, &c. &c. As soon as the cloth was removed the following toasts were drank: — The King — the Queen and Royal Family — The Navy, and Lieut. Budd — (Lieut. Eudd returned thanks) . The Army. Mr. Benett said he would now propose as a toast, a valuable friend to the Institution, a private friend of his own, and a sincere friend and an ornament to the Church of which he was a minister. — He alluded to the Rev. Mr. Ashe — drank with three times three. The Rev. Mr. Ashe, in returning thanks, said that no man could more value the good opinion of the honest and the independent than he did ; he there- fore felt it a high compliment to have his health drank with approbation hy such a body of men as that by which he was surrounded. He also felt the compli- ment still higher by having his name coupled with that of the Church, of which he was an humble mem- ber. It had been of late verv much the fashion to say that the Church was in danger ! Now he was sanguine enough to believe that the Church was not in danger — she certainly was in no danger from her enemies. It was true that some very strong opinions had been expressed in hostility to her ; but he no more believed that those opinions were the senti- ments of the majority of the pious and enlightened Dissenters, than that the leading article in the Times newspaper expressed the creed of the majority of the persons who read that paper. Whilst the Minis- ters of the Established Church continued zealously to disseminate the pure doctrines of her faith, it was impossible but they must reap a rich harvest of po- pular support. He was sincerely anxious that every grievance of the Dissenters should be redressed ; and that the real abuses of the Church should be removed; then, notwithstanding that storms may howl around her, and the foam and the spray may dash or splash against her — the Church would be found to be built upon a rock — firm and immoveable. — (Loud cheers.) The health of Mr. Neate and Rlr. W. R. Brown, the Stewards of the Society, was next drank with three times three, and Mr. Neate expressed his acknowledgments. The Rev. Mr. Ashe proposed the health of the President — ^under whose auspices the Society had for a great number of years gone on prosperously, con- ducing to many useful and charitable purposes — CImmense cheers.) Mr. Bexett, after returning thanks, said he had listened with peculiar gratification to the sentiments of his Rev. friend, in connection with the Church — sentiments which reflected the highest honour on him as a Christian ; — they were alike orthodox and liberal, and proved him one of the best supporters of the Establishment. He (Mr. Benett) stood before the company rather in his agricultural than his poli- tical character. In politics, there might be a differ- ence of opinion, but he believed they were all very nearly agreed as to matters of Agriculture ; although a friend of his had promised to attend the meeting for the purpose of making an attack upon him, in consequence of his changing his opinion on the Corn Laws. When the present Corn Laws were brought forward by the Duke of Wellington, he was certainly opposed to them, as he thought at the time that a fixed duty would be preferable to a fluctuating one. Experience, however, had taught him that the Duke was right, and that he (Mr. Benett) was wi-ong ; he would therefore much rather support the present Laws, than trust to a change, which in all probability would be for the worse. The agriculturists would get no fixed duty, that would protect them from an immense importation ; and any large importation of Corn, at the present low prices, would be the ruin of hundreds. He was a decided advocate for cheapness ; but that cheapness should be dependent on taxation and the price of cultivation, and not dependent upon importation. It was generally expected that a great battle would be fought for the agriculturists in the next session of Parliament ; it would not, however, be supported by such party-motions as that recently brought forward by the IMarquis of Chandos, which was in every sense unworthy the landed interest ; nor like that introduced, in a speech replete with buffoonery, by the JNIember for Lincolnshire, for the repeal of the Malt-tax ; but a manly fight for the re- duction of taxation affecting Agriculture, in order to gain the battle, it will he necessary that the farmers should arouse from their slumbers. Their repre- sentatives could effect nothing without their assis- tance ; and it had been no uncommon thing when the Agricultural Representatives had been supporting any particular measure in the House of Commons, for the Philosophers to throw in their teeth, that they did not express the opinions of their constituents, that they had no support out of doors ; and in deri- sion they asked for their Petitions. He (Mr. Benett) therefore hoped that the farmers would next year bestir themselves, and petition in such numbers and in such manner as to ensure success. It was from clamour and petitions only, that the House-tax was yielded the householders of London, whilst the win- dow-tax which was far more obnoxious, still op- pressed the farmers. The farmers were far too qui- escent for the spirit of the times ; but unless they roused and agitated, they would never get redress. The next Session of Parliament would no doubt form 310 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. a most important era; and notwithstanding his at- tachment to the present ministry, notliing should in- duce him to desert the interest of the agriculturists which he sincerely believed was inseparably con- nected with the best interests of the country. (Loud cheers.) Mr. A. E. Saunders expressed his opinion, in op- position to Mr. Benett — that a fixed duty would be decidedly better than a fluctuating one. Mr. G. E. Sloper would be glad to know what fixed duty they could get ? Some, no doubt, would say 10s., others 15s. 20s, and 25s. the quarter ; and some, he believed would say that 15d. was enough ! Depend upon it (said Mr. Sloper) if you get into another boat you will either sink, or sail to a wrong port. Mr. Benett said that when the question was agi- tated, in the House of Commons, it was his opinion that 24s. 8d. would be a fair duly ; and in a conversa- tion with Lord Althorp (who was not then a minis- ter^ on the subject, his lordship, in order to ensure success, urged him to divide the House, for 20s. — The Speaker put the original motion, and said the ayes had it. Lord Althorp however divided the House himself for 20s. and what does the company suppose the numbers were 1 Why, 14 for and 264 against it ! ! If, therefore, when a great cry was made for protection, only 14 voted for a fixed duty of 20s. what sort of a fixed duty could be expected at the present day? Mr. R. Hughes proposd as a toast Mr. Starkey and Fox-hunting. Mr. Starkev said that fox-hunting was a noble amusement, and a source of great pleasure to him ; it invigorated his health, gave a buoyancy to his spirits, and carried off all superfluous bile ; besides it afforded him the opportunity once or twice a week of meeting some of the finest characters in the king- dom. He had been a great preserver of foxes ; but how long he should continue to preserve them, he could not sajr, for the foxes in this neighbourhood had lately turned out sad wicked fellows ; — not con- tent with carrying off the poultry, they now assumed a power which formerly did not belong to them, and actually destroyed all the fawn ; in short they de- voured every thing but the human race ; and he could only think himself fortunate in having had left a great fat ox to exhibit at the agricultural shew. •—(Cheers and laughter.) Mr. Benett spoke at some length on the necessity of amusements as an inducement to eountry gentle- men to remain in the country ; and next to fox-hunt- ing, he considered horse-racing as an excellent sport. He therefore proposed the health of Mr, Goddard, and success to the next Devizes Races. — (Cheers.) Mr. Goddard returned thanks. The health of Mr. Nicholson, the Vice-President, to whom the Society are under the greatest obliga- tions, was next drank amidst loud cheers ; and Mr. Nicholson very appropriately expressed his acknow- ledgments for the honour done him. Mr. BuDD then rose, and said, that he had hesitated whether he ought to trespass on the time of the meet- ing ; but he could not refrain from expressing his thanks to the President for the manly avowal of his sentiments, and for the excellent advice he gave the farmers. (Chems.) It had long been his (Mr. Budd's) opinion that the farmer bore his burthens too patiently ; he might rest assured that the hope would prove fallacious, if he expected that other persons would go out of their way to relieve him from those burdens, unless he lent a helping hand to relieve himself. (Cheers.) He did therefore trust, that in the next Session of Parliament, petitions would not only be presented from every town, but from every parish and from every hamlet, in favour of the Agriculturists. The Marquis of Bath, the Patron of the Society, and thanks to him for his present of a buck. (Drank with applause.) The Marquis of Ailesbury, and thanks for his present of half a buck. (Drank with applause.) The Marquis of Lansdowne. Three times three. Mr. Starkey considered that a good money-holder was very necessary to the Society ; he therefore pro- posed the health of Mr. Tylee, the highly respected Treasurer. The toast was drank with much applause, and Mr. Tylee returned thanks. Mr. BuDD proposed as a toast. The Members for the County ; and Mr. Benett observed, that notwith- standing the division, he still considered himself the representative of the whole county ; at least he was as much devoted to the interest of the whole county as he ever was. The Members for the Borough (Mr. Locke and Admiral Durham) — Proposed by Mr. G. E. Sloper, and drank with applause. Mr. Neat proposed the health of a gentleman who had formerly represented the Borough, and to whom the inhabitants were under the deepest obligation — he meant Mr. Pearse — (Lowd cheers.^ Mr. Starkey, in proposing the healths of the Magistrates of the Division, reverted to the period — 1830-1 — when several counties were nearly over-run by mobs, and when a large mob was about to enter the town of Devizes. — He particularly alluded to the conduct of two of our county Magistrates on that trying occasion — (Mr. Scott and Mr. Warriner), to whose personal courage and cool presence of mind, the disturbances in this neighbourhood were quelled much earlier than they otherwise would be. He would fearlessly say, that under no circumstances did men better perform their duty, than those two Magistrates did upon that occasion. — The toast was drank with loud cheers^. The Successful Candidates for horned cattle and for sheep, and a number of other toasts were drank ; and the evening was pleasantly passed. The Premiums were awarded as follows : HORNED CATTLE. First Class. No.l. — To Mr. Grant of Coulstone, a premium of 3 guineas, for the best two-years-old- Bull ; and a premium of 3 gnineas to the same gen- tleman, for the best Heifer under five years old,* A premium of 3 guineas to Mr. Stratton of Man- ningf'ord, for the best Cow of any age.f A premium of 3 guineas to Mr, Stratton of Rushall, for the best pair of Working Oxen. A premium of 5 guineas to Mr. Maton of Madding- ton, for the best fat Ox. * As Mr. Grant received the premium in each of those classes last year, it was stated that he was precluded from receiving the same this year, notwith- standing the Stock exhibited was different. Few of the Members present appeared to be aware of this fact ; as there is not a word in the printed rule to prevent a member from receiving the preuiium in those classes 2 or 3 years following. The Rule, however, had been altered to the above effect and entered in the Secretary's minutes : but it was con- tended, it ought to be made more public. — It was a hardship upon Mr. Grant ; and no encouragement to persons who had before received Premiums to ex- hibit their Stock. t The same objection applied to Mr. Stratton, and the prize was afterwards awarded to Mr. Newman. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 311 A premium of S guineas to Mr. Hull of Devizes, for the next best fat Ox. A premium of 5 guineas to Mr, Collings of Devi- zes, for the best fat Heifer. The Judges appointed to determine the premiums, alluded in their Report, to a fat Scotch Ox belonging to Mr. Starkie ; to a Heifer belonging to Mr. Salmon ; and to a Cow belonging to Mr. Goodman, shewn as extra stock, all of which possessed great merit. SHEEP AND PIGS. A premium of 3 guineas, to Mr. Gulliver of Col- lingboum, for the best two-toothed ram of the South Down breed. A premium of 3 guineas, to Mr. Thos. Mills of Figheldean, for the best four-toothed South Down Ram. A premiam of 3 guineas, to Mr. Gulliver of Col- lingbourn, for the best Ram of any age. A premium of 3 guineas to Mr. Maton of Mad- dington, for the best pen of six Ewes of the South Down bred. A premium of 2 guineas, to Mr. Hull of Devizes, for the best pen of 5 fat Wethers of the South-down breed. A premium of 2 guineas, to the same gentleman, for the best pen of 5 fat Wethers of the South Down breed. A premium of 2 guineas to the same gentleman, for the best pen of 5 fat Wethers of any breed. The Judges appointed to determine the Premiums spoke in high terms of a pen of fat Wethers exhi- bited as extra-stock by Mr. Salmon, which, for symmetry they considered unequalled. They were bred, we understand, by Mr. Thos. Mills of Fighel- dean. PIGS. — A premium of one guinea was awarded to Mr. John Young, for the best breeding Sow. — Although there was no competition in this class, the Judges considered that the animal possessed sufficient merit to entitle its owuer to the premium. The following were the claimants for the Great Coats awarded by the Society : — Wm. Humphries, servant to Ambrose Goddard, esq. — Wm. Humphries, servant to Mr. George Neat — Geo. Nicholas, servant to Wm. Wyndbam, esq. — Thos. Oram, Servant to J, H. Penruddock, esq. — Joseph Gregory, servant to E. Polhill, esq. — Eli Davis, servant to Mr. H. Ha)rward. — James Brown, servant to Mr. C. Alex- ander.— William Hawkins, servant to 0. Codring- ton, esq. — Thomas Thatcher, servant to Mr. W. Sheppard. — John Marten, servant to Mr. Unthank. The following were declared to be entitled to the premiums awarded by the Society to female servants in husbandry : — Elizabeth Prictor for a service in the family of Mr. Neate of Monkton, for a period of 39 years.— Elizabeth Vallis, for serving in the family of Mr. S. Mills, for a period of 50 years. — Ann Churchill, for a service in the family of Mr. Henry King of 40 years — Jane Farr, for serving in in the family of Mr. C. Alexander, for 25 years. At a Meeting of the Committee, held on the pre- vious day, they reported, " That the financial concerns of the Society are in a more flourishing condition than they have been on any former occasion. In addition to this gratifying cireumstance, the Committe reported that the mem- bers of both divisions of the county have with great liberality announced their intention of increasing their annual subscriptions to 10 guineas each. But notwithstanding the improved state of the Society's funds, the Commttee recommend that no alteration should be made in the premium or bounties of the present year. The Committee however recommend that 20 coats,to be called The County Members' Coats, be destributed amongst 20 industrious labourers in the ensuing year, instead of the number at present offered. Also that a Piece of Plate, value 20/, be offered as a premium, to be called The Society's Pre- mium for the best cultivated Farm, to consist of not less than 200 acres of arable land — the claimants to be subject to the same rules and regulations as relate to the Premium formerly offered by the President. POOR LAWS. TO THE EDITOR OF 'THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.' Sir, — As nothing at the present moment can be of more importance to the landed interest than the Poor Law Amendment Bill; and, as it cannot be supposed that every person has either time or inclination to wade through the voluminous report of the Commissioners on this subject, where so many abuses in the present system are set forth and exposed ; and, as I feel certain that a more general knowledge of those evils would consider- ably lessen the objections offered to the ministerial measure, I beg, as a farmer of the South, in which quarter it is proverbial that the poor are more nu- merous, and consequently the evils of the present system more felt, the attention of other districts which are more fortunate in this respect, and who are thus led, perhaps without due consideration of the operation of the present poor laws under other circumstances than their own, to condemn, and even petition the legislature against the proposed Amend- ment Bill. Now, although I see many, very many, objections to the bill, still I know the great difficulty of suiting every new enactment to every party and interest, and, as I feel that any alteration must be for the better, because, if we once begin to alter we shall continue to do so untilwe get something like a reasonable and humane system of Poor Laws, and if, on the con- trary, this bill should be rejected, we shall have to linger on for another session, certainly, and perhaps for several years, with the present Poor Laws about our necks, acting the same part on the landed interest that a large stone performs tied to the neck of a drowning dog. Before any specific mea- sure was brought before the House of Commons, Lord Althorp expressed a hope that the one then under consideration of government would have the effect of affording relief to the landlord and tenant, and also be a benefit to the labourer. This observa- tion of Lord Althorp I think was then, and has since been, very unfairly and unphilosophically dealt with, both by members of the House of Commons and by the press opposed to the government measure. It has been constantly asserted, that it is impossible to relieve the landlord and tenant by any measure of Poor Laws, unless those Laws both enable the parish officers to refuse employment, or indeed sub- sistence, to the surplus supply of labourers, and also compel the employed to receive lower wages— but for which reduced pay they must still continue to give the same quantity of work they have been in the habit of doing for higher wages ; and, on the other hand, that the labourer can only be relieved by being paid higher wages : thus it is inferred it is impracticable to relieve either interest as far as the Poor Laws are concerned, except at the sacrifice of the other. This appears to me by no means to be the fact, as I believe the moral improvement of the labouring class, andlwhich is, I think, to be brought about in a great degree by a well regulated system of Poor Laws, would soon ensure a general improvement in their circumstances. I recollect of meeting, about a twelvemonth since, at the Salopian Hotel, in Char* 312 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ing-Cross, an intelligent Scotch gentleman, who ap- peared to have an extensive knowledge of rural mat- ters, not only of the North but of the South also, and, in allusion to our Poor Law, he made the follow- ing observation, which left an impression on my mind that I shall not easily forget : — " Your Eng- lish Poor Laws," said the Scotchman, '' that were once a blessing, have become, by being perverted from their original purpose, a scourge and ruin to your land. As soon as an English child is abletounderstand its parents, it is taught and told of the fi-eehold it possesses, in the shape of a claim on the poor rate : the child knows that there is a regular allowance to its parents, from the parish funds, for its support; and, from its earliest infancy, it becomes accustomed to a dependence on the means of others, than their pa- rents,and thus destroy sin thebud that natural ingenuity of man to adojjt tome industrious course of life to ob- tain the means of subsistence. Now, in Scotland, we have not this evil to contend with; parents, depending entirely on their own labour and resources for the support of themselves and their families, take care to impress on their children the necessity for com- niencing early an industrious, frugal, and honest course of life, in order that they may obtain those comforts and necessaries of life which can only be brought within their reach by their own character and exertions : the consequence of this is, that, in Scotland, you see the lower orders have ways and means innumerable of getting an independent livino- that your English poor have never known, or even tliought about, and they have also such prudence, frugality, and well-regulated conduct, that is seldom met with within the precincts of your Poor Laws." Surely the truth of the above observations must strike every one as apparent; and equally obvious must be the great evil and danger arising from such a state of things. Is it not possible, then, to carry conviction to the minds of the poor themselves, of the moral degradation they labour under, from such a system 1 It may not be possible, perhaps, to effect this object by reason only, but let the power to enforce what reason dictates be invested in any body of en- lightened and humane individuals, and I have no doubt but, with courage to meet the first dano-er, and that being overcome — which it assuredly will be, with perseverance — in following up the remedy that landlord, tenant, and labourer, will, accordino- to Lord Althorp's statement, be mutually relieved, without any sacrifice of the interest of one to the other. In order to shew the effect the present Poor Laws have had to destroy all independence of feel- ing in the lower orders, I will mention one case from among several others, which came immediately un- der my own observation. I have a man working for me as a day labourei-, who does not belong to the parish in which I reside. This man, last week, was afflicted with a bad back, and unable to work. On Saturday night lie came to me to request that I would sign a certificate to the stewards of a neigh- bouring club, in order that he might obtaui an allow- ance of 7s from this society, of which lie is a mem- ber, on account of his being unable to work for a week. Now, had this man been living in his own parish he would no more have belonged to this club than he would have belonged to one of the fashion- able clubs in St. James'. No, the parish then would have been his residence. I am in my parish, he would have said, and if I am unahle to work, the parish must keep me, although it is. true that I could manage to spare fifteen-pence a-month, (the subscrip- tion to the club,) and that would ensure me an inde- pendence from the parish, I am not going to do so in order to favour the farmers. There is no emulation now-a-daya ou the part of j the labourer to be independent ; in fact, they appear to attach about the same degree of significance to independence that Sir John Ealstaff did to honour, and I am not sure, in using this simile, but that I may have done some injustice to the character of the gay and humorous Sir John, because it appears that he had at least some doubt as to the total insignificance of the term, honour, whereas the modern labourer has no doubt of the insignificance of the term, inde- pendence, because, from early habit and custom, he is completely destitute of those feelings of delicacy that might suggest any such doubt. I repeat, that, in the Amendment Bill, there may be many objectionable clauses — provisions, perhaps, that may be found impracticable ; nevertheless, I sincerely hope and trust that it may pass, in some shape or other, because I think if it does pass it will be far easier to remedy such discrepancies as this bill may contain than it will be should this measure be entirely rejected, to get the subject again so com- plete as it is now, under the consideration of Parlia- ment. I am, Sir, your obedient and very humble servant, AGRICULTOR. THE SQUIRE OF OLD ENGLAND. (FRO!ir THE NEW SIONTHLY MAGAZINE.) I was last year enjoying the diversion of shooting at -, in the county of , when the tenant upon whose farm we were sporting came up to pay his respects to his landlord. He hoped Squire ————— found plenty of birds ; his every response to my friend's many inquiries was emphasized by the same distinction. I had scarcely heard the title so applied for these forty years ; and, to say the truth, I was pleased to hear it, for it brought back the memory of old times ; and moreover, there is no better name for the English country gentleman, however it is fallen into disuse or into misuse — it is, as it were, his natural appellation. Mark me ! — the Squire is not the Esquire. No, no 1 There is as much difference as there is between the man of landed estate, joying in his possessions — hearty, hale, and plain in disposition, health, and man- ners,— and the shopkeeper, just getting above his trade — care-worn, stiff, methodical, and business-like, even in his newly assumed refinements Every one of the latter race is welcome to all the proud delight of read- ing himself Esq. on the backs of his letters, and so to be written in any bond, quittance, or obligation ; but Squire belongs to quite another guess sort of person, as we countrymen say. Nor am I a wMt more willing to allow this earliest and first of titles appertaining to a natural aristocracy, to belong to some to whom it has been of late in another sense applied, — to your mere sporting mao, (not sports- man, observe ; for there is a wide diff'erence,) — to him of Melton Mowbray, who hunts his pack of fox-hounds, gallops straight across a strong country in search of a steeple to win a bet, or rides matches against time for the same honest and honourable purpose. He is too nearly allied to the Greeks ; from whom if he be not descended, to whom hedesiends. My Squire is genuine English. And since I have told what he is not, I will tell you what he is. Yet, still a little more of what he is not; since the Squire of the novelists was not what he is, or ought to be. My Squire does not run against time, but goes with it : for squires are not privileged to stand still any more than any other of God's Ciea" tion. Fielding and Goldsmith — the one of whom saw little, the other nothing at all, of country gentlemen — have succeeded in impressia.g all generations after them, by the easy extravagance of their portraitures, rather than by a just accordance with nature, that their Western and Lumpkin were generalizations. Colley Gibber, in his Wronghead and Squire Richard had en- larged a little the sphere of action vouchsafed by his successors to the man of landed property, without in-> THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 313 creasing his quantum of understanding. Hence our notions of the Squire of those days grew almost into a belief that he was a strong, vulgar brute, born to de- vour the fruits of the earth, and destroying foxes, hares, and partridges, — to hunt and shoot till he was weary, — eat drink, and roar, till he was stupid, — and sleep till power and appetite for his boisterous and ani- mal powers were renewed, — and that such, with small intervals to enact the tyranny of the justice, was the daily course of his life, character, and behaviour. There has been a good deal of deviation from this ancient modelling of the landed gentlemen in the modern writers of our imaginative domestic history ; but the mind clings to the vigorous originals — the harsh, but broad and deep lines remain almost ineffaceable. No/ is it any easy task to fancy a squire of bygone days other than Squire Western : so the whole ear of Den- mark is rankly abused. The writers in sporting pa- pers and magazines, when they designate their idol "the Squire" par eminence, in their descriptions of hard runs, and harder matches, are no less at fault ; and sorry am I to inculpate so ingenious a gentleman as the lively author of the sporting papers in the " Quarterly" in the same charge of perverting our es- timate of one of the wholsomest and best of the dra- matis personcE of real English life ; but, he, too, having taken up the cry, must be whipped off the false scent. Let me show you the Squire of England in the double meaning of the phrase, (for thank God and a good con- stitution, he still exists,) and I will match him against all England — against all the world. Picture to thyself, reader, a man of six feet — sinewy, vigorous, and active enough to show you at a glance that nature gave him strength of body, and energy of mind to use it. His carriage his erect and lofty, as who should say, " I am a man of God's own making, free to think and act for myself, and fearing the face neither of king nor kaiser." Liberty, independence, a frank and joyous spirit, are seen in his every movement, yet with a kind and gentle courtesy, that would willingly offer no man offence or injury. His countenance is the indgx of his free and gallant soul ; health and exercise glow in Ms ruddy complexion ; his fair, smooth, and open forehead, undeformed by a wrinkle ; his quick and spirited eye, and the smile that dimples the corners of his lips when he speaks, declare the inexhaustible good-humour and love of his kind that fill his whole heart. Everything speaks a natural gentleman ; by which is meant one endowed from birth with the benig- nity which is the true foundation of fine manners, with good sense to direct its exercise, and with the instinc- tive ease which bestows the grace of deportment that belongs only to a perfect freedom from every sort of affectation. Go with me one step farther, and imagine Mm to have lived with the finest spirits of his day ; to have had fortune and judgment enough to gather round him the patriot, the literate, the scientific, and the man of simple, honest intregrity and skill in his calling ; — to have exchanged thought for thought, and heart for heart, with these lights of his age and country : ima- gine such a man in his eightieth year, yet enjoying the wholesome strength of a naturally strong constitu- tion, constantly purified by the air of " the hour of prime," confirmed by days of exercise and temperance and nights of sound sleep, and you see the Squire, not of my dreams, but such as God and his own life have moulded him. Agriculture is the art proper to the gentleman of landed estate. " To till the earth, and to subdue it," is a command doubled upon him, through the place where his Maker has planted him, and the possessions bestowed upon him. And it chanced that the Squire came into life at a period when all the knowledge at- tached to it was of practice, and the proud name of "Science" had not yet been found amongst its addi- tions. A farmer was then a farmer, and nothing else. His philosophy reached no further than that of " Shakespeare's Corin." He knew that " good pas- tures make fat sheep," and little besides. But it hap- pened, and it was amongst the best gifts of his fortune, that the pasture which fell to the Squire were not good, | and so he turned himself to make them better ; in a word, he could not obtain five shillings an acre for Ms land, and so he thought he would e'en farm it himself. With the following of the art came the love of the art. He had also the generous passion for '• venerie" or field-sports — that ruralizing in all its branches, which makes the pleasure of a country life. He kept hounds^ and he bred pointers. You may view him in his own hall, in his pride of pastime, surrounded by three of his silver-coated favourites, drawn to the life by the hand of Gainsborough, — tall and manly and beautiful as Meleager in the flush of youtli and exercise. Mark the case of the transition. He became enamoured of his pursuits ; he perceived the large field of improve- ment that lay before him. His domain was vast ; but it was of the poorest. He set himself to work only the more earnestly. Farming, planting, building — these were the studies, the employment, the charm of his existence. And mark, too, how he has been re- warded. He saw the sun rise every morning that he passed in the country, and he was out of it as seldom as possible. He was on horse -back in his fields or in his rising woods, — he conversed familarly with his de- pendents,— he learned their wants and their desires, — he found the characteristics of his followers. His maxim was, " to live and let live ;" and their habits soon came to be to love him as a patriarch. He at- tended to every suggestion — tried every promising ex- periment. Once a year, he opened his hall and his fields to the country at large. He promulgated his discoveries and his failures, and England — nay, the world — partook the benefit. Regard, I pray you, the principle. He achieved all this, because he kneio his place, and took it. He turned his natural gifts and his acquired fortune to their true intents : he did " his duty in that state of life to which it had pleased God to call him." I wish you could have seen him presiding in Ms own magnificent hall in these days, — not days of joy and gladness only, but of moral and intellectual advance- ment— surrounded by princes and nobles, and by that noblest work of God — by honest men. Such was his state, and this was its description: — " To prosecute with such advantages any pursuit to such a period ; to enjoy so long a duration of uninterrupted health ; to see the patrimony of his ancestors improved beyond all possible computation ; to know that from Ms ex- ample, his spirit, his skill, and his encouragement, not alone his own estate, not the county where he lives, not the country itself only, but every civilized nation on the face of the globe, may be said to owe some |por- tion of obligation to his endeavours ; to be able to as- semble the curious and scientific and the eminent in vast numbers around him; to hear his just praises spoken from the lips, not only of men distinguished in arts, in arms, and in letters, but of princes, both of his own and foreign lands ;— all these together form an aggregate of fortune that attends but a very few among those who are born and die.'' Again I say mark how he has been rewarded. He has reached the age of eighty : he never had the gout in his life, and scarcely a day's illness. My last_ visit to him was towards the close of the year, and in the coarsest weather. He came to breakfast at nine o'clock, with his letters written, and his business for the day done and completed. Soon after ten the party assembled before the house, and off we started for a battue in his park. The Squire led, in a small four- wheeled double chaise ; with him were one or two of his guests, and his eldest boy, ten years old, equipped like a sportsman, with a tiny gun, made to fit ; and well had the boy already learned its use. The train followed. We did not pass a coppice, not an enclo- sure, no, nor scarcely a tree, but they called forth some curious illustration; for every thing had been formed, created by him. He was himself even a most delightful illustration of Burke's garrulity of age, " wMch loves to diffnse itself in discourse ;" but then it was such discourse !— the honest experience of a life of eighty winters and summers, scarcely one hour of which had been wasted, for it had been a life of action. I may S14 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, truly say I learned more of planting and pruning — of husbandry and pasturage — of sheep and cattle — of the art of improving rural industry into rural wealth and contentedness — than during the greater portion of my whole life ; for here the practice was made visible. I had theorized, heaven knows how much ; but here was the living, palpable effect, — a paradise formed out of a •waste ; magnificent woods ; corn-fields like gardens ; farms to invite the man of skill and capital, and still further to enrich him ; cottages where that love of order which commands the comfort of the inmates reigned over all. The Squire's talk, however, was not "always of bullocks." Men — men in the proudest sense of the word — men ennobled by their deeds — had been his friends, companions, and guests from his youth upwards. Princes, statesmen, and men of sci- ence had traversed the same paths ; and no small share of curious personal and political anecdote peo- pled, as it were, with figures his landscape-conversa- tion. Yet still its greatest charm was its truth. It was so hearty, you could not challenge with a doubt a single particle ; indeed, the first object, if that which flowed so spontaneously could be said to be born of any other motive, was to amuse his friend ; the second, but perhaps more than equal intention, was to impress his principles, his views, his pursuits, his amusements, and above all, his benignity and the love of rural affairs and diversions, deep into his little heir and successor's heart. But the hattue ! — I am not overfond of a battue : it is not English — it is not fair sporting, which is the in- stinct of animals and the skill of man put into open conflict. In a battue, the poor tame creatures are herded for slaughter, driven into a corner by a mob ; the shooting is, for the stick, as it is technically phrased ' — not for the pleasure, but the pride of the murderer of hecatombs. Yet there is, it cannot be denied, a multi- tudinous delight in the array, the perpetual firing, the hurry, the heaps of hares, rabbits, pheasants, wood- cocks, partridges, — nay, even in the danger, an excitation, second only to the gregarious gra- tification of fox-hunting, which amounts to " the total absence of all thought and reflection," an equally good definition -of sport and courage. My quieter taste leads me, I own, to plain partridge- shooting. Pursuing this diversion, I can compare the subtle instincts of the dog and the bird, and put my own skill to the test. I can admire the ever-changing face of Nature at every step — the shifting screens of hill, and wood, and water, and valley, and find intervals for praise and tlianksgiving to the great Maker of all things ; and so, like old Izaak Walton, I can exalt and translate my diversions into " the contemplative man's recreations." But once again to the battue. — At the side of the covert waited four keepers, in their livery of green plush' coats, scarlet waistcoats, and gold-laced hats, men of mould and stature, thew and sinew. One of them the Squire whispered me, had fought with the first of the English pugilists, and had beat him. Finer fellows I never beheld, " rough and hardy, bold and free," but always respectful, in despite of their eager- ness for the sport, and the equality it rarely fails to produce. A covered waggon attended for the game. Every sportsman was attended by a village boy, to gather up the slain, and no^cA his shots. There were servants with horses and second gnus, the whole mus- ter somewhat exceeding forty, not the least interesting figure in the group being the gallant Lord ******** at eighty-six !— the conqueror in many a field of glory. The Squire gives the order to set on, accompanied with the cautionary disclaimer, not absolutely need- less, when there are fifteen guns, thirteen of them double -barrels, and no one stops for another's charg- ing— " I answer for no man's life." The advance is scarcely begun before the first shot is heard, to which there succeeded an incessant rattle, enlivened with the stimulating awakers of " Cock," " Hare," " Rabbit,'- " Hareback," from the keepers, and the eternal " Hi-hi, hi-hi," from the sportsmen, to give notice of their whereabout to each other— almost the only chance of safety — and the flushing of pheasants, the rush of dogs, and the dashing of beaters through the covert. Even down to his retriever, the Squire is superior. A pheasant is winged — " Let out Nelson," and away trots the tall stately Newfound- lander, milk-white, the consciousness of power disco- verable in his every movement. In a few seconds, he scents the wounded bird — darts forward — tracks it with the certainty of instinct — plunges upon it — lifts it from the ground like a straw — tosses his head into the air — and walks, like a conqueror, majestically back towards the lad who leads him. I have followed the sport now for the best part of fifty years, and it is almost the pleasure of my dotage. Heaven knows, I have little of sentimentalism, but I never see a phea- sant rise in the glory of his bright and burnished plumage, never hear the crow extorted from him. by surprise or fear, never see him struck, his swift passage stopped, his out-stretched neck relax and drop from the line of his flight — I never watch his heavy descent from bough to bough till he falls upon the green earth from which he so lately sprung in all the pride of his exceeding beauty, without a shadow coming over me ; and I mourn with the melancholy Jaques, that " We are mere usurpers, tyrants, (and what's worse ?) To fright the animals and kill them up In their assigned and native dwelling-place." But the merry "hi-hi," and not "the sad heigho," is the cry, and on we go — " Over hill, over dale, Thorough brush, thorough briar, Over park, over pale," till the morning (alias the day) closes. Reader, if you follow the sport, and, like many a modern, court the arts which not only help him through wet days, but teach him how to look at the face of nature and to love her like her true worshipper, you will doubtless have regarded with a sportsman's eye, the fine old engrav- ing of the Duke of Newcastle returning from shooting. There sits the fine old gentleman upon his sturdy pony, the keepers, dogs, and game, in a picturesque assort- ment, strewing the foreground. If you have not been among the chosen, and have never rejoiced in the multitudinous slaughter of a modern battue, you must have envied the heap of dead birds and animals, by which the painter doubtless intended to compliment the skiU and the rural dominion of the said duke. No doubt you will have felt all this ; but go with this Squire to the larder built in the cool security of a plantation adjoining the mansion — view from five hun- dred to a thousand, and sometimes more than a thou- sand head of various game* suspended in the nicest order, the prey of one single day, and you will indeed marvel at the scope of covert, and the protection which can rear such prodigious numbers of ferm na- turcE, for the sport of one man and his friends ! Yet this is but one day in three in every week, yielding the same diversion, Irom November to February, when covert-shooting begins and ends at * * * *" ***, and he has made it all. And now come the hours when the change from the manners of the olden time is most to be observed, most perhaps to be lauded. The party assembles for dinner — not in the rush-strewn hall, littered likewise with hounds, hung round with antlers, bows, and otter- spears, and attended by grooms and falconers — but in the noble saloon, adorned with the works of the finest masters, perpetuating the triumphs of art, the achievements of iieroes, and the identity of ancestors. The gentleman displaces the sportsman, and he who * At Somerleye, in Hampshire, whileome the seat of Henry Baring, Esq., upwards of five, or I think six, thousand head of gfme and rabbits were killed in one week, during a visit to that gentleman by the Prince of Esterhazy. Three hundred and sixty-five pheasants were also killed in one day at the same place. Sir Richard Sutton, of Norfolk, killed, from his own guns, one hundred and forty-two partridges, on the 2nd of September, 1833. Such is modern sporting. THE FARMERS MAGAZINE. 315 was foremost in the rougher exetcises of the morning, often outvies his rivals in the refinements of the evening. Here, too, " store of ladies " — not the animjil automatons, workers of tent-stitch, manu- facturers of pies and pickles, wives *' To suckle fools and chronicle small beer," such as are seen in our ancient pictures, patting a pet lamb, simpering at a rose, or leering over a lap-dog — but graceful beings, elegant and polished alike in mind and manners, imaginative, informed, gay, and accomplished, fitted and fashioned for the society of men of the court and of the world. Restraint is ban- ished, because familiarity is impossible ; discourse is airy and excursive, because benignity is the motive, and courtesy the end. All take, because all know, their place ; ability enjoys its admiration, and medio- crity its ease and amusement ; the table no longer "Groans Beneath the smoking sirloin, stretch'd immense From side to side." But the palate is solicited by viands which tempt, not more by their variety than by the inventive elegance with which they are prepared and served. Pitch- ers, and flaggons, and tankards, are displaced by the rich and infinite diversities of plate, porcelain, and glass, while the storied epergne, the art of which Benvenuto Cellini himself might applaud, beguiles our memory of the season, by offering the beauty and the fragrance of the spring flowers, or the luxury of the summer and autumnal fruits, which the brilliant mir- ror at its foot reflects and multiplies. The wines of France and Spain, Portugal and Germany, enliven the repast, and elevate, but no longer madden or stupify, the spirits of the guests. " Nor wanting the brown October, drawn, Mature and perfect, from his dark retreat Of thirty years ; and now his honest front Flames in the light refulgent, not afraid Even with the vineyard's best produce to vie." For the Squire is as proud of his beer as of the other products of his estate, and will often invite his guests to pledge him in bis own growth and his own brewage, which, clear as amber, mantles in the glass, as if in honour of his recommendation. He is alike andjustly proud that he grows twenty coombs of barley per acre, and brews the best ale in the county. They are a part of his triumphs over a meagre soil and an ordinary beverage. The dessert which follows is the produce of acres enough for a farm, and of a circuit of walls and houses ample enough for the site of a village. Thus he glories in demonstrating the power that sur- rounds him at home, upon his own estates and his own domain — the proper empire of a country gentle- man. The repast is over, and the servants are gone. It has been the Squire's fate to be twice married. He is surrounded by children and grand-children, the adult offspring of his first engagement. The door opens, and in rush four boys, lovely and fair as the Cupids of Guido (this is no fiction), and a tottering little darling of the softer sex. I have never seen such a sight — I have never so felt such a sight as the crowding of these fellows to their father's side and into his bosom. The contrast, yet the affection ! Like everything else about him, it tells of union and of sincerity ; of the patri- archal bond that links all together. The almost infant girl, her soft flaxen locks bound baffk with little azure bows, toddles to her Lady mother, is caressed and placed upon the table, surveys the party to discover her father, and towards him she waddles, lisping his name at every step, till she clasps her little arms round his neck. " Oh! who would not be a father ?" Such scenes may be deemed childish as they are common ; but here, I say again they are emblems of the patriarchal sentiment and connexion that reign over all, and form the very genius loci. I have seen as much of splendour, as much of luxury, perhaps more of both elsewhere, but I have never felt the same af- fection, the same heartiness endear and assure the reality of enjoyment. That reception which comes of politeness, courtesey, urbanity, kindness, in other houses, is in the Squire's the very soul of friendly wel- come and paternal protection. The stranger imme- diately catches the inspiration, for he cannot but per- ceive that the heart is concerned in everything. One of the days of my visit was the birth-day of one of his children. It was celebrated by a ball given to the domestics ; there were almost a hundred. The par- lour guests descended amongstthem, and it was delight- ful to see the Squire take out the charming Lady ***** ******, and move down thirty couples with the grace of the olden time — the octogenerian dancing with the gallantry of age and the spirit of youth on the birth- day of his boy of five years old. It is impossible to describe the effect. Never again shall I behold joy so tempered with respect and love as in that mixed assem- bly of the noble and the dependent. The Squire has taken an active part in politics, for he has been the firm and consistent friend of civil and religious liberty from his very entrance upon man's estate, from the very dawnings of his understanding and his reason. He was never a bookish man, but he was not without a knowledge of the history of his country, or the principles of the constitution, and he determined zealously to assert them. It was natural that such a man should be chosen, repeatedly chosen, "Knight of the Shire;" and it is recorded of him that he delivered a county address, like a true country gentlemen, in buck-skin breeches and boots— that he never asked a favour of a Minister— never darkened his conscience by an interested vote in Parliament, or a vote against the liberties of his country— never soiled his additions by court subserviency. He is indeed often heard to express his wonder that gentlemen, men of rank in the realm, and who might be of real esti- mation and importance upon their own estates, should wear away a life of etiquette and insignificancy in the offices of a Bed Chamber Lord, or a Royal Chamber- lain—mere bubbles in the heat and effervescence of the ocean of party, or poor players in the pageant of state. Wordliness and court intrigue are alike alien to his free nature. I have reserved for the last place the strongest cha- racteristic of his mind — that which exalts and digni- fies, while it softens and harmonizes his pride of place and fortune. He feels, with a devout fervour — a piety of heart which every upward glance towards the canopy of heaven, every survey of the prospects his taste has raised and adorned, confirms, a profound thankfulness to the Great Being who has thus gifted him to benefit his fellow-creatures, and thus truly to enjoy his for- tune. There is scarcely an hour in the day that he does not express this sense of the exceeding blessing ; and on the Sabbath he is never absent from the worship of God in his own parish church— an example of sin- cere and rational piety. His village is a scene of in- dustry, comfort, and contentedness. His sweet Lady daily superintends the instruction of the young ; while her husband cares for the habitations, the gardens, and also for the employment of the adult, and the provision for the aged. He maintains that mother earth will; in all cases, repay the rightly-directed efforts of her children ; and his affluent tenantry, his finely culti- vated farms, his cheerful labourers, his noble animals, in a word, the abundance that shines and increases around him, justify this sound and wholesome doctrine. Thus have I endeavoured to shadow out, not only what ought to be, but what are the distinctions of the Squire of modern from him of olden days, since arms have yielded to arts. Here is typified, under a not unreal existence, what constitutes the first duty of a landed proprietor— the love of home, and all which it inherits, — the pursuits and exaltation of agriculture, — the adorning of an estate, — the supervision and ad- vancement of the fortunes of tenants and dependents, — the noble hospitality, — the generous sports,— the social intercourse, — the love and patronage of litera- ture and art, — the distinguished political integrity, — and, above all, the proper estimation of all those goods, that make up the catalogue of the superiorities of English character. All these are even " in the 316 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. weakness of these latter times," now found in the Squires of Old England, according to their degrees of standing, wealth, and intellect. Should it be thought that my portrait is gigantic and powerful beyond nature, I have not only the excuse of inculcating, for the imitation of all those whom it may concern, a pos- sible perfection, but the satisfaction of being able to produce a living model, whom, ending as I began my paper, for he has rejected all loftier additions, I shall especiallv designate by the title of " THE SaUIRE." VEGETABLE ACQUISITIONS. The perusal of some of Van Diemen's Land news- papers has lately drawn our attention verv strongly to the extent in which civilization operates in enlarg- ing the vegetable and other produce of a country beyond that which is indigenous to it. The state of that colony, with regard to its vegetable produce, enables us to perceive at once, without the interven- tion of traditional records, what the concentrated energies of civilization are capable of effecting in less that a single generation. In Europe, the pro- longed period through which tliese effects have been gradually obtained, prevent the full efficacy of the immediate power of civilization from being so well apprehended. But it is the attribute of civilized man to desire to gather around him the things he has been accustomed to, — the good and pleasant things of other lands ; and the means wliich he pos- sesses of carrying such a wish into effect has, in the short space of thirty years, done for Van Diemen's Land more than, without sucli advantages, was done in this countr}^ in sixteen hundred. Nearly all the fruits of Europe had been successfully introduced there within seventeen years from the establishment of the first settlement at Risdon Cove ; and those of this country have thrived particularly well. The case is the same with trees, shrubs, and flowers, which the colonists have imported from this countrjr, many of which, though deciduous liere, have tliere become evergreens. They are quite sanguine that the same will be the case with the honeysuckle whicli has been recently sent out, and the prosperity of which appears to be a matter of considerable interest in Van Diemen's Land. And now the colonists be- gin to reciprocate obligations with the mother-coun- try. The ' Hobart Town Courier' says, " The superin- tendent of the Government garden lias sent home, in thefinest and most healthy condition, 141 specimens, comprising sixty species, with their Linnjean names attached, of our most beautiful plants and shrubs, collected chiefly from Mount '\Vellington and the banks of the Huon river. They are intended for the Royal Gardens at Kew ; and, as they are mostly of a hardy nature, although new to England, we doubt not they will thrive, and be generally admired." The same paper also recommends for exportation to this country the three ])lants of the genus Hickea as being well deserving a general trial for cultivation in England, as a substitute and variation in the hedge-rows which embellish and characterise this country, and expresses a conviction that it would thrive well and be a most desirable acquisition. It is very hardy,— growing among rocks and poor land in the highest and coldest regions of Van Diemen's Land. It is of quick growth, is evergreen, and the leaves being in the form of needles, stiff and pointed, make it an excellent and sufficient fence from man or beast, while the stem is as strong,woody, and rigid as the oak or hawthorn. In return for this kind interest in our behalf, it seems that Van Diemen's Land only desires that we will send out some of the favourite shrubs and flowers, both old and lately introduced, that are yet wanting there, such as the daisy, the violet, lily of the valley, snow- drop, thrift, myrtle, southernwood, guelder-rose, mountain-ash, birch, beech, cedar of Lebanon, lau- rustinus, and double-flowering plants in general. During the last year, 100,215 quarters ofwheat were imported into this country from Van Diemen's Land, being, with one exception, the largest quantity im- ported from any one country. Within these few months an indigenous species of wheat is stated to have been discovei-ed, Of this discovery the fol- lowing account has been given in the local papers : — " Mr. Foster, of theMacquarie River, accompani- ed by his brother and Mr. I3ates, has recently com- pleted a tour of the northern and eastern coast of the island, exploring the several rivers from fifteen to twenty miles up their stream. What we look upon as the most interesting result of the journey is the discovery of an indigenous species of wheat, which grows in various parts near the coast to the north of St. Patrick's Head. It was unfortunately only in bloom v/hen Mr. Foster saw it, and no ripe grains could be found from which it could be propagated, which, however, will, we hope, be the case by some future traveller, who may visit that part of the coun- try when the grain is ripe. As this is the first of the cereal order of plants that has been found in Van Diemen's Land, its discovery is well deserving a place in the annals of the colony — unlike the com- mon sorts of wheat, it seems to delight in poor soils, growing luxuriantly in banks of sand and shells." The colonists appear to have been no less successful in the naturalization of zoological than vegetable specimens. They hare all our domestic quadrupeds and birds, and are now endeavouring to introduce our game. The following paragraph from the papers already quoted refers to an attempt of this kind : — " JMr. Bisdee has lately let loose upon his estate of Whitehills, at the Lovely Banks, three brace of pheasants, in the hope that they will be naturalized and propagate in the island. Persons who may ac- cidentally meet with them in travelling through that part of the country will therefore, it is hoped, be careful not to molest or destroy them", for some years at least, until they have gained a footing, and become sufficientlv numerous in the island. The birds were bred by Mr. Bisdee, to whom we consider the colony indebted for the great care and attention he has de- voted to this desirable acquisition, and which have been attended with such success." The Isle of Wight half-yearly Agricultural Show, for stock of all kinds, took place on Wednesday, July 23, at Newport. The novelty of the meeting brought hundreds of people from different parts of the island. The prizes were awarded as follows : — 1. To the best cart stallion £5 Mr. B. Hearn 2. well-bred ditto 5 Mr. Hen. HUls 3. cart mare and foal . 3 Mr. B. Hearn 4. 2-yr-old cart or filly 3 Mr. Jas. White 5. light-breddo 3 Mr. J. Tucker 6. bull 4 Mr. W. Jacobs 7. milch cow 3 Mr. Woodford 8. horned ram 4 Mr. Hen. TJiUs 9. polled ram 4 Mr. J. Jolliffe 10. pen of horned ewes. . 3 Mr. Hen. Hills 1 1 . poU'd do 3 Mr. J . Jolliffe 12. boar pig 2 Mr. Rd. Smith 13. breeding sow 2 Mr. J. Blake 14. pair of heifers 3 Mr, Rd. Smith 15. steers 3 Do. John Fleming, Esq. gave 501. to be distributed in premiums to servants, labourers, &c., an account of which we have not room for. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 317 THE RUFF. The male of this curious species is called the ruff, and the female the reeve ; they differ materially in their exterior appearance ; and also, what is remark- able in wild birds, it very rarely happens that two ruffs are alike in the colours of their plumage. The sin- gular, wide-spreading', variegated tuft of feathers which, in the breeding season, grows out of their necks, is different in all. The tuft or ruff, a portion of which stands up like ears behind each eye, is in some black, in others black and yellow, and in others again white, rust colour, or barred with glossy violet, black and white. They are, however, more nearly alike in other respects; they measure about a foot in length, and two in breadth, and when first taken weigh about seven ounces and a half; the female seldom exceeds four. The bill is more than an inch long, black at the tip, and reddish yellow at the base ; the irides are hazel ; the whole face is covered with reddish tubercles, or pimples ; the wing coverts are brownish ash colour ; the upper parts and the breast are generally marked with transverse bars, and the scalpulars with roundish-shaped glossy black spots, on a rusty coloured ground ; quills dusky ; belly, vent, and tail coverts white ; the tail is brown ; the four middle feathers of it are barred with black ; the legs are yellow. The male does not acquire the ornament of his neck till the second season, and, before that time, is not easily distinguished from the female, ex- cept by being larger. After moulting, at the end of June, he loses the ruff, and the red tubercles on his face, and from that time until the spring of the year, he again, in the plumage, looks like his mate. The birds leave Great Britain in the winter, and are then supposed to associate with others of the tringa genus, among which (hey are no longer known as the ruff and reeve. In the spring, as soon as they arrive again in England, and take up their abode in the fens where they were bred, each of the males (of which there appears to be a much greater number than of the females) immediately fixes upon a particular dry and grassy spot in the marsh, about which he runs round and round, until it is trodden bare ; to this spot, it appears, he wishes to invite the female, and waits iu expectation of her taking a joint possession, and becoming an inmate. As soon as a single female arrives, and is heard or observed by the males, her feeble cry seems as if it roused them all 1o war, for they instantly begin to fight, and their combats are described as being both desperate and of long con- tinuance : at the end of the battle she becomes the prize of the victor. It is at the time of these battles that they are caught in the greatest numbers in the nets of the fowlers, who watch for that opportunity : they are also, at other times, caught by clap or day- nets, and are drawn together by means of a stuffed reeve, or what is called a stale bird, which is placed in some suitable spot for that purpose. The ruff is hi;^lilv esteemed as a most delicious dish, and is sought after with great eagerness by the fowlers, who live by catching them and other fen birds for the markets of the metropolis, &c. Before they are offered for sale, they are commonly put up to feed for about a fortnight, and during that time fed with boiled wheat, and bread and milk mixed with hemp- seed, to which sugar is sometimes added ; by this mode of treatment they become very fat, and are often sold as high as two shillings and sixpence each. They are cooked in the same manner as the wood- cock. The female in the beginning of May makes her nest in a dry tuft of grass in the fens, and lays four white eggs, marked with rusty spots. These birds are common in the summer season in the fens of Denmark, Sweden, and Russia, and are also found in other more northern regions, even as far as Iceland. The trade of catching ruffs is confined to a very few persons. They live in obscure places, on the verge of the fens, and are found out with difficulty ; for few, if any, birds are ever bought but by those who make a trade of fatting them for the table ; and they sedulously conceal the abode of the fowlers; so much so, that by no art could we obtain from any ofthetm where they resided ; and in order to deceive us, afer evading our entreaties, they gave us instructions that led quite a contrary direction. The reason of all this is obvious ; for after much labour and search in the most obscure places, (for neither the innkeepers, nor other inhabitants of the towns, could give any infor- 318 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. mation, and many did nor know such a bird was peculiar to their fens,) we found out a very civil and intelligent fowler, who resided close to Spalding, at Fengate, by name William Burton, (we feel a plea- sure in recording his name, not only from liis obliging nature, for the use of others in similar pursuits) ; and strange to say, that although this man had constan ly sold ruffs to Mr. Towns, a noted feeder, hereafter more particularly noticed, as also another feeder at Cowbit, by the name of Weeks, neither of these per- sons could be induced to inform us even of the name of this fowler. The reason, however, was evident, and justly remarked by Burton, for he obtained no more than ten shillings per do7en, whereas Weeks demanded thirty shillings for the like number he had the same day bought of Burton. The season was far advanced, and we were obliged to buy some at that price of Weeks, for Burton could not then catch us as many as were required. At this time we were shown into a room where there were about seven dozen uiales and a dozen fe- males, and of the former there were not two alike. This intrusion to choose our birds drove them from tlieir stands, and compelling some to trespass upon the premises of others, produced many battles. By this feeder we learned, that two guineas a do- zen was now the price for fattened ruffs ; and he never remembered the price under thirty shillings when fit for table. Mr, Towns, the noted feeder at Spalding, assured us his family had been a hundred years in the trade, and boasted they had served George the Second, and many noble families in the kingdom. lie undertook, at the desire of the Marquis of Townsend, when that nobleman was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, to take some rufis to that country, and actually set off with tvfenty-seven dozen from Lincolnshire ; left seven do7en at the Duke of Devonshire's, at Chatsworth, continued his route across the kingdom, to Holyhead, and delivered seventeen dozen alive in Ireland, hav- ing lost only three dozen in so long a journey, con- fined and greatly crowded as they were in baskets, which were carried upon two horses. The manner of taking these birds is somewhat dif- ferent in the two seasons; in the spring, the ruffs hill, as it is termed ; tiiat is, they assemble upon a rising spot of ground, contiguous to where the reeves pro- pose to deposit their eggs ; there they take their stand, at a small distance from each other, and con- tend for the females; the nature of polygamous birds. This hill, or place of resort for love and battle, is sought for by the fowler, who, from habit, discovers it by the birds liaving trodden the turf somewhat bare, though not in a circle, as usually described. When a hill lias been discovered, the fowler re- pairs to the spot before the break of day, spreads his net, places his decoy birds, and takes his stand at about the distance of one hundred and forty yards, or more, according to the shyness of the birds. The net is what is termed a single clap-net, about seventeen feet in length, and six wide, with a pole at each end ; this, by means of uprights fixed in the ground, and each furnished with a pulley, is easily pulled over the birds within reach, and rarely fails to take all within its grasp ; but, in order to give the pull the greater velocity, the net is, (if circumstances will permit,) placed so as to fold over with the wind ; however, there are some fowlers who prefer pulling it against the wind for plovers. As the ruflfs feed chiefly by night, they repair to their frequented hill at the dawn of day, nearly all at the same time, and the fowler makes his first pull according to circumstances, takes out his birds, and prepares for the stragglers who traverse the fens, and who have no adopted hill ; these are caught singly, being enticed by the stuffed birds. Burton, who was before mentioned, never used any thing but stuffed skins, executed in a very rude man- ner, but some fowlers keep the first ruffs they catch for decoy birds; these have a string of abouttwo feet long t ed above the knee, and fastened down to the ground. The skins are sometimes so managed as to be moveable by means of a long string, so that a jerk represents a jump, (a motion very common amongst ruffs, who at the sight of a wanderer flying by, will leap or flirt a yard off the ground,) by that means inducing those on the wing to come and alight by him. The stuffed birds are prepared by filling the skin with a whisp of straw tied together, the legs having been first cut oft', and the skin afterwards sewed along the breast and belly, but with no great attention to coTcr the straw beneath ; into this straw a stick is thrust, to fix it in the ground, and a peg is also thrust through the top of the head, and down the neck into the stufling or straw body, and the wings are closed by the same process. Rougli as this preparation is, and as unlike living bird as skin and feathers can be made, it answers all the purpose. When the reeves begin to lay, both those and the ruffs are the least shy, and so easily caught, that a fowler assured us he could with certainty take every bird on the fen in tlie season. The females continue this boldness, and their termerity increases as they become more broody ; on the contrary, we found the males at that time could not be approached within the distance of musket shot, and consequently were far beyond the reach of small shot. We were astonished to observe the property that these fowlers had acquired, of distinguishing so small an object as a ruff at such an immense distance, which, amongst a number of tufts or tumps, could not by us be distinguished from one of those inequalities ; but their eyes had been in long practice of looking for the one object. The autumnal catching is usually about Michael- mas, at which time few old males are taken, from which an opinion has been formed that they migrate before the females and young. It is, however, more probable that the few which are left after the spring fowling, like other polygamous birds, keep in parties separate from the female and her brood till the return of spring. That some old ruffs are occasionally taken in the autumnal fowling we have the assertion of experienced fowlers, but we must admit that others declare none are taken at this season. It must, however, be recollected, that in the autumn the cha- racteristic long feathers have been discharged, and consequently young and old males have equally their plain dress ; but the person who assured us that old birds were sometimes taken at that season, declared it was easy to distinguish them from the yQung of that summer. It does not appear to be the opinion of fowlers, that the males are more than one season arriving at matu- rity, because the ruffs taken in the spring, destitute of the characteristic long feathers which comstitute their principal distinction, are comparatively few to those possessing the ruff; the opinion, therefore, that those rulfless males are birds of a very late brood of the pre- ceding season, is a reasonable conjecture. The long feathers on the neck and sides of the head, in the male, that constitute the ruff and auricles, are THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 319 of short duration, for they are scarcely completed in tlie month of May, and begin to fall the latter end of June. The change of these singular parts is accom- panied by a complete change of plumage ; the stronger colours, such as purple, chestnut, and some others, vanish at the same time, so that in their winter dress they become more generally alike from being varied in plumage ; but we observed that those which had the ruff more or less white, retained that colour about the neck after the summer or autumnal moult- ing was effected. The females, or reeves, begin lajing their eggs the first or second week in May ; and we have found their nests with young as early as the third of June. By this time the males cease to hill. The nest is usually formed upon a tump in the BQOst swampy places, surrounded by coarse grass, of which it is also formed. The eggs (as usual with its congeners) four in num- ber ; these are so nearly similar in colour to those of the snipe and redshank, both of which breed in the same wet places, and make similar nests, that some experience is required to descriminate them ; they are, however, superior in size to the former, and are known from the latter by the ground being of a green- ish hue instead of rufous white ; but individuals as- similate so nearly to each other as not to be distin- guished, especially as the dusky and brown spots and blotches are similar. The weight of the eggs is from five drachms twenty-five grains, to five drachms fifty grains. — Montagu. WILD BEAST STATISTICS. Often as we have seen Mr. Wombwell, we never be- came acquainted with him until Thursday last, and were not a little astonished, considering his capital and the extent of his coacerns, to find him dressed in a smock-frock, and cleaning and scrubbing as anxiously as the meanest servant he has. In this he is a true Englishman, and so far from sparing or giving himself airs, sets an example of untiring industry to the whole establishment. Mrs. Wombwell, he admits, is sick of itinerating and often wishes him to retire into private life to enjoy quietly the fruits of his exertions ; but, after the truly active life he has led for the last twenty years, he doubts whether rustication would add to his happiness. Mr. Wombwell, when a boy, was a bird-fancier, and beyond this had no intention of becoming a caravan- keeper, and, in fact, was made one by the force of acci- dent rather than of circumstances. At the London docks he saw some of the first boas imported into Bri- tain. Most persons were afraid of, and ignorant of managing them. Prices from this cause gave way a little, and our friend at last ventured to offer 74?. for a pair. He got them, and, in the course of three weeks, cleared more than the sum he advanced — a circumstance which, he confesses, makes him partial to serpents up to this hour, as the first thing that gave him a lift in his profession. All the world knows that boas gorge them- selves with rabbits, and then fast for weeks, and the principal thing in treating them is to regulate the tem- perature of their lair according to the nature of the weather. With this view they are rolled in blankets, and kept in a covered wooden box, placed above a tin or copper vessel, filled with warm water night and morn- ing. During frost, storm, and wet, the water must be changed much oftener. Apart altogether from profit, Mr. Wombwell from the first was attached to his trade, and when ships arrived from India, containing rare ani- mals, parted so freely with his money that he sometimes got so bare that he hardly knew how to find his way through a toll of a morning, and this, too, when he was surpassingly rich in a species of stock which might sup- ply the marts of all Europe. Many a time and oft he has paid tolls to the extent of Ul. in one day, and 61. between such places as Stirling and Glasgow. — His band, which is a fine one, costs about l,200Z,, yearly, and the expenses of the establishment which visited us on Thursday, and left early on Friday, are calculated at 25Z. per day, or above 12,000Z. in the year. In fact, were he stationary, he would find it profitable to become his own butcher — retaining all the offal, and selling merely the primest pieces of beef and mutton. A sheep's head, singed or rough, makes a capital supper for a ravenous hyena, and of these and other odds and ends Mr. W. makes a speedy clearance wherever he goes. Even the elephant's ale comes to something throughout the year, to say nothing of loaves, grass, hay, and the capacious maw that con- sumes the latter article at the rate of l68lb. per diem.* The wandering life which Chuny and Wallace lead, prevents their master from buying every thing in the cheapest market, and were he not so peripatetic, he would fi nd an interest in baking and brewing, as well as in killing. Of all the goblers, the pelicans ai-e the best, and devour with such relish the scaly people, that it is quite a treat to see them feed. Mr. Womb-, well's largest stud consists of 41 powerful horses, some of which would bring very heavy prices. To these he lately added an animal of the draught kind, which measures nearly 19 hands high, and is, in every respect, the most gigantic horse we ever beheld. At present it is lean, but as he intends to fatten and show it sepa- rately at Donnybrook, he is not without hopes that he will clear the price of it during the continuance of the fair. Of the credit side of the account we can say nothing special, beyond the fact that the menagerie in four days has been visited by upwards of 60,000 per- sons, in the neighbourhood of London. St. Bartholo- mew, in fact, could not be held wanting Mr. Womb- well, or some one like him ; and next to this great mart of fun and frolic, his best fairs in England are those of Nottingham and Birmingham : in Scotland, Glasgow and Paisley ; and in Ireland, Donnybrook, which lasts eight days. Fairs he must study as care- fully as Jews do the stock the custom to avoid them, he proceeded to remark, that, in his opin- ion, the natural produce of Britain ought at all times to have the preference over the natural produce of other coiintries. He had, he said, great pleasure in observing, from the perusal of certain official documents that, with whatever jealousy importations were viewed, — and he be- lieved very often j ustly viewed,— the price of British wool had actually risen during the very period in which the importation of foreign wool had been the largest. He inferred from that circumstance, that there was every reason to expect that the price of British wool would remain at a just height, whatever might be the amount of foreign wool imported, and that the native grower would thus be relieved from all dread of competition with the foreigner. It was also a pleasure to con- sider that the more wool, whether British or foreign, was brought into the market, the more would the consumption of those articles increase, which were manufactured out of wool by the in- dustry of our artizans. Referring to other rural matters, in which the majority of the company were of necessity interested, he observed, that they were so complicated, that it was difficult to speak of them with precision on an occasion like that on which they were assembled. They had all had an opportunity ot learning what had taken place in Parliament, and of seeing that he had diligently followed the only instruction which he had received from them — he meant the instruction which he had received from his constituents at Wallingford to support the repeal of the malt and hop duties. At the same time he must observe, that in coming to a decision on any subject on which a great diversity of opinion existed, a re- presentative could only employ his best under- standing, and procure the best information from such of his constituents as were most conversant with the matter under debate. In conclusion, he assured the meeting that the same diligence which he had hitherto shewn, and the same anxiety which he had hitherto felt to serve them faithfully, he should continue to use and to feel to the end of his parliamentary career. Mr. Beauchamp returned thanks for Mr. Palmer, and apologised for the absence of that gentleman. He was convinced that no person could feel more anxious to promote the welfare of this great agricultural county. {Cheers.) Mr Walter and Mr. Wroughton made a few observations as to the cause of Mr. Palmer's ab- sence. The Chairman rose to propose the health of a gentleman, the representative of a borough and district of the county, Mr. Blackstone. Though he (the Chairman) had been engaged in a contest with the hon. gentleman, nothing had occurred to interrupt the good feeling which existed between them. (Cheers.) The announcement of the toast was marked with repeated cheering. Mr. Blackstone said, he was deeply sensible of their kindness, and assured them that it afforded him great pleasure to be able to attend the wool fair to-day. He totally coincided with the Chairman in his introductory speech, and he hoped that ere long the agriculturists would see better days. At the Dorchester fair he had excited some displea- sure by saying that the state of the agriculturists was not prosperous. He was sorry to find the opinion he then stated borne out by what he had heard at this meeting. Captain Dundas's health was the next toast given from the Chair, and that gentleman, in re- turning thanks, said, that though he represented a constituency of nearly 100,000, where a blade of grass could scarcely be found, yet he had always supported the agricultural interest ; and be could assure the meeting that there were more friends of agriculture in the present House of Commons than had ever been before. " Mr. Gegg," and thanks for his former kind- ness in accommodating the Society with the use of his barn. In the course of the afternoon, a gentleman pre- sent availed himself of the ojjportunity to require an ex])lanation from Mr. Walter, of his statement, that the price of British wool had continued to in- crease along with the increase of importation of foreign wool. The assertion appeared so extraor- dinary, that he should like to know on what data it rested. 326 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Mr. Walter, in reply to this query, referred to some memoranda, to show the alterations which had been made of late years, in the laws affecting the wool trade, would explain the circumstance which appeared so extraordinary to the worthy gentleman. From the year 1660 to the year 1825, the export of British wool was entirely prohibited. That prohibition was founded on the supposition, that the wool of England was superior to that of every other country^ — that long wool could not be produced any where else — and that if we succeed- ed in keeping the raw material at home we should command the market of the world for our woollen manufacturers. But, as had been well remarked, whatever was gained to the manufacturer by pre- venting the exportation of wool, was lost to the agriculturist, by debarring him from entering into the foreign market. In 1825, the agriculturists became fully aware of this point, and supported Mr. Huskisson in his attempt to get rid of this non-exporting policy. In that attempt they suc- ceeded, and though the wool trade subsequently partook of the depression which jjervaded every branch of the trade for two or three years after the panic of 1825, it had now not only recovered from that depx-ession, but had risen to a height of unprecedented prosperity. Up to the year 1802 the import of foreign wool was free. In 1802 a duty of 5s 3d a cwt. was imposed on it, which was increased in 1803 to 6s 8d a cwt, and which, after several intermediate changes, was raised, in 1819, to 5s 6d a cwt. A celebrated writer had remarked, that if English wool had suf- ficed for all the purposes of the manufacture, such a duty would have been less objectionable— but the very reverse was the case. The use of foreign wool had become, owing to the deterioration of British wool, and other circumstances quite in- dispensible to the p.'osecution of the manufacture — and there was the most decisive testimony that the enormous duty on the import of the raw ma- terial had occasioned a considerable decline in the export of our woollen manufactures, and had been productive of mischievous effects even after it was repealed. At present there was no duty on the im- portation of wool, the growth of British colonies. On wool, the growth of foreign countries, the im- port duty was now J-d a lb. where the wool was not of the value of Is a lb., and Id a lb on all wool of greater value. The progress of the woollen manufactures had been one of uninter- rupted prosperity since 1828, " so far from having been injured by the immense importations of foreign wool, the price of British wool was higher in March last than at any former period." We have taken the trouble of copying out of Dr. M'Culloch's dictionary the average price of Southdown wool per lb since the year 1829. In 1830, it was lOd a 11). ; in 1831, it was Is Id a lb. ; in 1832, Is; in 1833, it was Is 5d a lb.; and in March, 1834, 2s 2d a lb. We now subjoin the amount of wool imported in the years 1830, 1832, and 1833. Dr. M'Culloch has not given the re turn for 1831, and that for 1834 has not yet been published. In 1830, there were imported32,313, 059 lbs., on which a duty of 120,420Z 8s was paid. In 1832, there were imported 28,142,489 lbs., on which a duty of 102,031/ 2s 3d was paid. In 1833, there were imported 38,076,413 lbs., on which a duty of 137,855/ Is 8d was received by the Ex- chequer. We should not be acting fairly by the wool growers, did we not inform them that Dr. M'Culloch expresses an opinion that the price of wool had attained in March last an unnatural ele- vation, and that its extreme high price, by making a corresponding addition to the price of cloth ne- cessary, would re-act on the manufacture, and would consequently, by occasioning its depression, cause some fall in the price of wool. Predictions, however, of this kind, are not entitled to unlimit- ed credit. ON PRACTICAL IRRIGATION AND DRAINING. " The Practical Irrigator end Drahier." By George Stephens, Land-Drainer, Edinburgh. — Blackwood, 1834. When agriculture began to attract particular attention, the inferiority of wet land would soon become apparent. This inferiority would be most obvious in the temperate regions of the globe; because the effects of excessive moisture could only there be always perceptible in the soil. It Vv'as in Europe that agriculture received the first impulse towards improvement, and agricultui-e still floiu'ishes in Europe in greater perfection than any other portion of the globe. To the Romans belong the honour of improving the general cul- ture of the soil in Europe, towards whicli draining contributed as much, peihaps more, than any ether single operation. The precepts which they have bequeathed to the world in their writings on that subject, evince the observant faculties of that extraordinary people. They were fully acquainted with the method of clearing their fields of surface water, and they also understood the art of direct- ing springs, by means of drains, to places where they could do no mischief. This art, however, appears to have been lost from the overthrow of the Roman Empire to the revival of learning after the dark ages. After that period to as lately as the middle of the eighteenth century, it had been practised in amuch inferior manner to the Romans. The small drains, with a stone set on each side, and one covering them, situate between the soil and the subsoil, which modern improvements in agriculture have discovered, are very inferior structures to those described by ihe Romans. It was reserved to a farmer in Warwickshire, of the name of Elkington, so lately as 1764, to intro- duce what may properly be called a system of draining, superior even to that of the Romans, and which, in particular situations, cannot be sur- passed in efficacy. The leading theory of his system is, that though moisture be seen on the surface of the soil at any given place, the spring of water from which it originates lies deeply seated in some porous stratum. His practice con- sequently is, to discover, first, the scat of the spring, and then to cut a drain deep enough to intercept the water, and carry it away where it can do no mischief. The drain may not be able to reach the seat of the spring, though it may be properly situate in relation to it : in that case, he bores holes with iron rods, or sinks wells through the bottom of the drain to the spring in case the quantity of water be great. The water has then liberty to rise through the bored holes and wells to the bottom of the drain, on which it flows away inno.xiously. These principles of Elkington have been, and may be, applied successfully to the draining of lakes, bogs, and morasses ; of hollow portions of land containing deep soil, but much injured with water from the adjoining rising grounds ; and of undulating ground subject to bursts of water. All these situations will be found to be connected with alluvial or rocky strata, of different structure and THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 327 compactness j and in any situation which posses- s.^ uueniate strata, of various degress of permea- biity, these principles may doubtlessly be employ- ed with unfailing success. It is the object of Mr. Stephens, in his Practical Drainer, to enforce and illustrate these principles in every variety of situation to which they are ap- plicable ; and we may readily believe that an ex- perience of thirtj' years in putting these priuciples to practice, in Great Britain and Sweden, has enabled him tn fulfil the task which he has under- taken in a very satisfactory manner. He has con- sequently produced an excellent manuel of drain- ing— forming a superior guide, in our opinion, to Elkington's system or any book extant.For although Elkington's principles are quite simple, and may be easily understood by any one, yet, as Mr. Stephens justly observes, they are not easily put into practice. The difficulties attending their ap- plication may be evinced from the numerous examples which he has produced from his own practice in Sweden, a country seemingly peculiarly adapted to the application of those principles. It is this simplicity in the principles of Elking- ton's system which has rendered their proper ap- plication successful ; but we suspect that very simplicity has tempted mariy ignorant jieople to try their skill in draining. There is, unfortunately for the country, too much tiuth in these observa- tions of Mr. Stephens : — " To drain land cfFectual- 1}'^, and at the least expense, must surely be the desired object of those who engage in it ; but how can they ever expect to attain to this, if the work is executed without any consideration of the cause from which the wetness proceeds, as is too often the practice in this country. Thus, when a field is injured by wetness, no matter from whence it comes, all that is thought necessary to dry it is to make drains straight to the wettest place, and through the hollowest part of it; and if these have not the desii'ed effect, others are added, and the work-people are bound to make them a fixed depth, and, after cutting and carving them in all directions, the land is partially dried, and in some instances completely, but at three times the ex- pense it would have been if they had been proper- ly directed. The person engaged in this arduous undertaking believes himself a complete drainer, and tells his master that there is no occasion for employing a professional man to lay off the drains, for he can do it as well as any man, and at half the expense; the master believes him, and being glad that he has such a clever person in his em- ployment, gives orders to commence operations, which are carried on for two or three years, when, after having spent a considerable sum of money to little or no purpose, a professional man has to be sent for to investigate the cause of the bad success, and provide a remedy, which has gene- rally to be a complete renewal of the operations upon other principles." After this faithful iiicture of a circumstance of frequent occurrence, no one will be astonished to learn that " more money has been thrown away in attempting to drain, than in any other branch of husbandry." The chief cause of the misapplication of Elkington's prin- ciple is ignorance of geology ; and it is no un- charitableiiess to say, that the largest portion of the men who manage land in this country is igno- rant of the structure of the crust of the earth. "There are few agriculturists, or people," says Mr. Stephens, "employed in draining land, that jjay proper attention to the stratification of the earth, to which, and the want of a knowledge of hydraulics, may chiefly be ascribed the many mis- takes which happen. The stratification of many districts, more especially in North Britain, is so much broken by volcanic or some other erruptions, tliat a person unaccustomed to the investigation of the causes from which wetness in land proceeds, has very little chance of discovering it, or of dry- ing the land, without a much greater number of drains than is necessary." Whether it is that such suspicions of the ability of their tenants, or whether they conceive all improvements in land ought to be conducted by tenants who are imme- diately interested in them, that landlords iiigeneral are averse to assist their tenants in draining land, we know not ; but it is an indubitable fact, that the latter do not receive the assistance from, the former which they are entitled to expect while prosecuting durable improvements. There is short- sightedness in such conduct, for only great and lasting improvements in land can eiiable tenants to pay great and lasting rents. " If landed pro- prietors," says Mr. Stephens, " were alive to their own interest, they would assist their tenants, to any reasonable extent, in draining on the best principles, and in the most substantial manner ; for, when properly executed, it is equally as ad- vantageous to the proprietor as to the tenant; and it must be of the highest importance that the in- terest of both parties should be combined, by per- forming the work in a complete and permanent manner, as land that is imperfectly drained can never produce crops, either in quantity or quality, equal to land that has been properly di'ied." From these general remarks, the spii'it of which should actuate every drainer, we should turn to an examination of the practice which he should execute ; but we do not mean to follow Mr. Stephens through all his remarks on draining bogs and marshes, hilly and sloping grounds; clay lands injured by subteraneous water ; soils com- posed of alternate beds of clay and sand ridges ; and clay-soil injured by surface water; nor on the mode of forming open, shoulder, covered, rum- bling, and tile drains. It is enough that we inform the person who intends to drain his land on sound principles and in a subtantial manner, that he will find the most valuable directions for his guidance in Mr. Stephen's book. The author's practice as a drainer is amply and satisfactorily illustrated by a report which was drawn up by the Right Rev. and Honourable Charles Von Rosenstein, Arch- bishop of Sweden, at the request of the " Royal Nerician Arigriculcural Society at brebro," of many important drainings, undertaken by Mr. Stephens in Sweden. On the subject of straightening water-courses and protecting river banks, Mr. Stephens tndy says, " a river is the most unfortunate boundary line of an estate, unless where the water is un- fordable ;" and " a river or a rapid stream which is liable to high floods, is continually making de- vastations." Pleasant as it is to live by the side of flowing river or murmuring rill, it annoys not unfrequently by trespassing on corn fields and grassy haughs. Nobody can have yet forgotten the floods in Morayshire in 1829. In that year the Isla in Strathmore destroyed 9000/. worth of ripe corn , and the Till in Northumberland every year threatens a predatory incursion. To confine river floods within bounds by embankments, to preser\e the l)anks of rivers by sheathing them with small stones, and to facilitate the motion of water by straightening water-courses, are pre- ventive, and preservative operations generally too much neglected. Mr. Stephens has given very judicious directions for performing these opera- 328 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. tions in an economical manner, founded on scien- tific principles. Embankments are now the more necessary tiiat draining has facilitated the rapid passage of water from the land, whereby rivers ai'e suddenly swollen. The other subject which occupies Mr. Stephens' book is irrigation. Irrigation, though apparently opposite in means, is similar in effect to draining — both render the fertilization of land easy. The universal effect oi floiving water over the surface of the ground is the promotion of healthy vege- tation. Whether it is effected by the natural inun- dation of the Ganges and the Nile, or the artificial inundation of the plains of Lombardy, by the Tagliaraento and the Po, the promotion of vege- tation is striking. Irrigation is an attempt of art to imitate the beneficence of nature, and to extend that beneficence over a larger portion of the globe than nature seems disposed to do. Flowing water, in whatever state, refreshes, invigorates, and renders natural herbage finer, — stagnant water destroys it, and leaves a rank and unwholesome vegetation in its stead. As Mr. Stephens' views of irrigation have been before the public for some years, we shall not enter on the subject at present. We refer with com- mendation to his directions for the formation of water meadows, and of catch-work irrigation and the management of water during the process of irrigation, which is a nice operation, and must be carefully attended to, to secure its benefits ; and he illustrates his position by a reference to many water-meadows in Scotland which have been formed under bis own direction. We shall only give one extract on the advantages to be derived from irrigation. " The crops on water-meadows," says Mr. Stephens, " are pro- duced at the least expense, and with the greatest certainty of an early return. On water-meadows that are well managed the grass is the earliest, and of a superior quality, well adapted to the feeding of ewes and lambs ; and the hay, when properly made, is equal to the best clover-hay, and superior to any other kind for milch cows. When the her- bage of dry porous soils is impoverished for the want of moisture, and the rich spongy land, by its remaining too long stagnant, both of these evils are remedied. Another great advantage at- tending irrigation, is the extra supply of manure it yields to the arable part of a farm, especially when the lands are lying (which is often the case) at so great a distance that it is almost impossible to procure it for money. The success of improving land by irrigation, perfectly warrants an experi- ment in the most unfavourable situation. The re- sult will invariably triumph over every prej udice." We have reversed the order of the subjects in the book, and wish the author had done the same, and placed draining in the foremost rank, as, with- out previous judicious draining, irrigation would be of little avail. Upon the whole, we have no hesitation in expressing our opinion that Mr. Stephens' treatise is the best practical manual in every respect of the several subjects of draining, irrigation, and the embankment of rivers, of which its treats, that we have met with. THE BISON. This remarkable species of ox is peculiar to North America. Until of late years, it was very generally considered that the domestic ox, the wild bull (^xirns) of Europe and Asia, and the American bison were only varieties of the same species, or, in other words, that the domestic ox was the urus altered by civiliza- tion, and that the bison was the urus altered by cli- mate. This was the opinion of BuiFon, Pallas, and other distinguished naturalists. The identity of the urus and the bison being assumed, it became a ques- tion of somewhat difficult solution how these animals migrated from the old to the new world. Many in- genious theories were framed to meet the circum- stances, but the necessity for these speculations has been superseded by the discovery made by Cuvier, that the bison of America is reall)^ a species distinct from the urus ; and he has indicated the very im- portant differences by which the distinction is estab • lished. We may consider the bison as characterized by fifteen pair of ribs, (the wild bull has only fourteen) and by the immense disprnjjortion between its fore and hind quarters. The latter distinction is partly occasioned by the great hump or projection over its shoulders. This hump is oblong, diminishing in height as it extends backward, and giving a consider- able obliquity to the outline of the back. The hair over the head, neck, and fore part of the body is long and shaggy, forming a beard beneath the lower jaw, and descending below the knee in a tuft. The hair on the summit of the head rises in a dense mass nearly to the tip of the horns, and directly on the front is curled and strongly mat- ted. The ponderous head, rendered terrific b}^ its thick shaggy hair and streaming beard, is supported upon a massive neck and shoulders, the apparent strength of which is more imposing from the aug- mentation produced by the hump and the long fall of hair by which the anterior parts of the body are covered. This woolly hair is remarkable not less for its fineness than its length. The difference between the winter and summer coat of the bison consists rather in the length than in the other qualities of the hair. In summer, from the shoulders backward, the surface is covered with very short fine hair, smooth and soft as velvet. Except the long hair on the fore parts, which is to a certain extent of a rust colour or yellowish tinge, the colour is a uniform dun. Va- rieties of colour are so rare among the species, that the hunters and Indians always regard any apparent difference with great surprise. 1 he fleece or hair of a full-grown bison, when separated from the skin, is usually found to weigh about eight pounds, ac- cording to Charlevoix. The horns are shorter than in any other species, nearly straight, sharp-pointed, exceedingly strong, arid planted widely asunder at the base, as in the common bull. The tail is almost a foot long, and terminates in a tuft which is black in the males and red in the females. The eyes are large and fierce ; the limbs are of great strength ; and the appearance of the animal is altogether ex- ceedingly grim, savage, and formidable. According to Hearne, the size of the bison is, on the average, less than that of the urus, but exceeds that of every other species of the ox. It has been known to weigh 1,600 and even 2,4001bs. ; and the strongest men are said to be unable, singly, to lift one of the skins from the ground. The female is much smaller than the female ; she has not so much of the long- hair in front, and her horns are not so large nor so much covered by the hair. The males and females associate from the end of July to the beginning of September ; after which the females separate from the males, and remain in distinct herds. They calve in April. The calves seldom leave the mother until they are a year old, and sometimes the females are seen followed by the young of three seasons. The bisons generally seek their food in the morn- ing and evening, and retire during the heat of the day to marshy places. They rarely resort to the woods, preferring the open prairies where the herb- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 329 age is long- and thick. They also associate in vast troops led by the fiercest and most powerful of the hulls. In both these respects their habits differ from those of the urus, which leads a solitary life in the deepest gloom of the forest. The herds of bisons are frequently of astonishing- density and extent. Mr. James says, that in one place at least ten thou- sand of these fine auimals burst upon the sight in an instant. He adds, " In the morning we again sought the living- picture, but upon all the plain, which last evening- was teeming- wiih noble animals, not one remained." Notwithstanding their terrible aspect, the bison is not an enemy of man, and will never attack him unless when wounded or at b-ay. During the season in which the males and females associate, and when tlie passions of the former are in full activity, the noise of the roaring of these im- mense herds resembles thunder, and the males often fight most desperate b-attles with each other. While feeding, they are often scattered over a vast surface ; but when they move forward in mass, they form a dense impenetrable column, which once fairly in motion is scarcely to be turned. Thev swim large rivers nearly in the same order in which they traverse the plains ; and when flying from pur- suit, it is in vain for those in front to make a sudden halt, as the rearward throng dash madly forward, and force their leaders on. The Indians sometimes profit by this habit. They lure a herd to the vici- nitv of a pirecipice, and setting the whole in rapid motion, they terrify them by shouts and other arti- fices to rush on to their inevitable destruction. The chase of the bisons, indeed, constitutes a favourite diversion of the Indians, numerous tribes of whom may be said to be almost entirely dependent on these animals for all their necessaries of life. They are killed either by shooting them, or by gradually driving them into a small space bv setting fire to the grass around the place where the herd is feed- ing. They are much terrified by fire, and crowd together to avoid it ; and they are then killed by bands of Indians without any personal hazard. It is said that, on such occasions, 1,300 or 2,000 have sometimes been killed at a time. The flesh of the bison is coarser grained than that of the domestic ox, but is considered by hunters and travellers as superior in tenderness and flavour. That of the males is poor and the flesh disagreeable in the months of August and September. They are much more easily approached and killed than tlie females, not being so vigilant, but the females are preferred on account of the greater fineness of their skins and more tender flesh. The hump of the bison is highly celebrated for its rich- ness and delicacy, and is said, when pro- perly cooked, to resemble marrow. The Indian method of preparing this delicacy is as follows : — The hump is cut off the shoulders, and a piece of skin is sewed over the severed part. The hair is then singed oflT, and the whole is ready for the oven. This is a hole in the earth, in and over which a fire has been burned ; and into this heated receptacle the hump is conveyed, and covered, about a foot deep, with earth and ashes. A strong fire is again laid over the spot, and supposing these preparations to have begun on the evening of one da)-, the hump will be ready for eating by the next day at noon. The tongue and marrow-bones are regarded by the connoisseurs in bisons' flesh to be the parts next in excellence to the hump. The skins of the bisons are of a loose and spongy texture ; but when dressed in the Indian manner -with the hair on, they make admirable de- fences against the cold, and may be used for blan- kets. They are called buflFalo robes ; the term buf- falo being generally, but inaccurately, applied to the bison. The wool of the bison has been manufac- tured into hats, and has also been employed in making coarse cloth of a strong and durable texture. Vast multitudes of bisons are slaughtered every year ; and it is to be deeply regretted that the white hunters and traders are in the habit of destroying these valuable beasts in the most wanton and unne- cessary manner. It is common for such persons to shoot bisons, even when they have abundance of food, for the sake of the tongue or hump alone ; or even for no other reason than because they come near enough to present a fair aim. It is, therefore, not surprising that, from all these causes of diminution, the bisons become less numerous every 3'ear, and remove farther and farther from the haunts of men. The numbers of this species still existing are sur- prisingly great, when we consider the immense de- struction of them since European weapons have been employed against them. They were once exten- sively diffused over what is now the territory of the United States, except that part l3ang east of the Hudson's River an J the 1-ake Champlain, and narrow strips of coast on the Atlantic and Pacific. At the present time their range is very different ; they are no longer found except in the remote unsettled re- gions of the north and west, being rarely seen east of the Mississippi, or south of the St. Lawrence. West of Lake Winnipeg they are found as far north as 628 ; west of the Rocky INIountains it is probable they do not extend north of the Columbia rivers. American authorities assure us that the time cannot be far distant when the bisons, like the Indian tribes which hover near them, will have passed away. It is stated in the ' Dictionaire Classique d'His- toire N-aturelle,' on the authority of Rafhnesque, that the bison is domesticated in the farms of Ken- tucky and of Ohio. It there associates with the domestic cow. and the mixed breed have the colour, the head, and the shaggy front of the bison ; but they are destitute of the hump, although the back is always sloped. They associate indifl^erently either ■lUiong ihemselves or with the bisons and domestic cattle, producing- new and fruitful races. The fer- tility of the cross-breeds does not, however, as Buf- fon imagined, prove the unity of species in the ori- ginal parents, for there is scarcely a truth in zoology more evident, than that the bison and domestic ox are of species essentially different. We do not feel sure, however, that this domestication of the bison in Kentucky and Ohio is at present practised, though it might have been so before the encroachments of m-an had driven them into the remote regions of the west and north. The ' Encyclopoedia Americana,' our obligations to which in preparing this article claim acknowledgment, makes no mention of such a practice. A pair of those exceedingly beautiful and diminu- tive animals, the Guevior or pigmy antelope, have just been added to the collection at the Surrey Zoolo- gical Gardens, and excite much admiration. They are the smallest and least known of the whole genus, and have been called the Royal Antelope. The only one until this time brought into England was one in the collection of his late Majesty at Windsor, They scarcely exceed a foot in height, are of a uniform reddish brown colour, with legs not much tliicker than a goosequill, and will bound with ease over a wall 12 feet high. They were brought from Senegal, and are remarkably mild and gentle in their disposition. These, with the rhinoceros, a pair of elephants, four zebras, the Leucoryx antelope, a beavei-, a pair of the fasiculated porcupines, and several new eagles, have formed important acquisitions to these interesting gardens in the course of the last two months. 330 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ON THE SUPERIORITY OF THE CRADLE-FRAMED SCYTHE TO THE COMMON ONE FOR REAPING CORN. (from thk quarterly journal of agriculture) Till within these eight or ten years, the grain crops in Kincardineshire, with but few exceptions, were reaped with the sickle, and that for the most part hy the threave. The case, however, is now very different, especially in the middle and up- land districts, where the scythe has in a great measure superseded the use of that primitive im- plement. On many farms, the crops of grain, consisting of oats and barley, are now entirely reaped with the scythe, and in almost every farm, it is less or more used. The practice, indeed, seems rapidly extending ; and the exceptions to its application are only on those farms which con- tain numerous cottars, or are in the immediaie vicinity of populous villages, where abundance of hands can at all times be procured. The great difficulty of procuring a sufficient number of shearers to cut down the crop as fast as it ripeneJ, was no doubt the primary motive of adopting the scythe. Threavers, unless engared forthe harvest, can, incomparatively fewinstances, be depended on in this part of the country, as con- venience of situation is and will always remain an object of primary consideration with them. Farmers, however, now find that they can get their crops harvested more expeditiously and at considerably less expense by this new system than by the old, which is an object at all times of great importance to them, but particularly at present, when corn is of little vahie. The scythe generally employed here is the patent kind, because a fine edge is required to cut corn. I have sometimes observed a tolerably good cutter very deficient at sharpening his scythe, and of course he found it difficult to keep up with his neighbours. The scythe is generally fixed to a common handle, having a wooden teethed rake, raised per- pendicularly to the lower end of it, with its teeth, which are three in number, extending forward in the direction of the back of the scythe. The teeth made of ash, grown from the root, or any other clean elastic wood, are placed from 2g to 3 inches asunder ; and about five-eighths of an inch in diameter at the back end. The uppermost one extends about sixteen inches along the back of the scythe, and each of the rest shortens two inches less than the one above it. They are fixed into two small cross bars of wood ; and the one which forms the back of the rake is inserted into an eye- headed wedge at the heel of the scythe. To pre- vent the rake shifting, a bit of strong wire is fastened to the uppermost tootli, and nailed to the handle. "When the crop is heavy, the teeth should be kept within the back of the scythe, for which purpose a screw is in some cases used on the end of the wire which fastens the rake to the handle. From my own experience, I conceive that the rake is a valuable appendage. Its use is to assist in carrying round the cut corn in a more perfect manner ; and, in my opinion, it answers better for that purpose than any thing I have yet seen tried. A rod or willow wand, such as that described by the Rev. James Farquharson, of Alford, (Transac- tions of the Highland Society , iv. 186,) was used for some time here, but has now given place to the rake. In no instance, so far as I know, is corn in this district reaped with the scythe, without an appendage of this sort. Indeed, expevienced scythesmen seem agreed that something of the kind is indispensably necessary to lay the corn properly into the swathe. The crop on my farm has been, with some trifling exceptions, all reaped with the scythe during the last nine or ten years, and the practice has suc- ceeded so well, that no other is nov/ thought of. A perfect band of reapers, as Mr. Farquharson observes, consists of ten persons, vdz. three scythesmen, three gathers, three bandsters, and a raker. Flere, however, four scythes are usually employed, which, with two boys or girls for raking, makes a band of fourteen persons. Scythes of a different construction from those generally in use, were introduced here last season. They are provincially termed " cradle-framed scythes," and in the opinion of those who used them, as well as of otliers who witnessed their work, they are preferable to those in common use. Much less exertion is required to work them, and thej-^ lay the corn in the swathe as regularly, and at a riyht angle to the standing corn, as could pos- sibly be done with the hands. The following circumstance apx^ears to me to be a strong proof of the superiority of the cradle- framed scythe over the common one. At the commencement of last harvest, three out of four scythesmen who have cut corn together for some years, were furnished with cradled- framed scythes, and one, in order to make an ex- periment, proposed continuing with the common one. He soon, however, found the rest an over- match for him, and, after labouring at a hard rate for about a week, he requested to have his scythe made like the rest. The request, of course, was readily granted, and in a little time he had no dif- ficulty in keeping up with his fellow labourers. All of them declared, that with these scythes they could perform their work with less exertion, and to greater perfection than" with the common scythe. The scythe is from 3 feet to 3 feet 4 inches long in the blade. The handle is neatly made of willow or any other tough light wood, the left one 3 feet 9, and the other 2 feet 4 inches, and are 1 foot 10 inches assunder. A cuived handle 9^ inches long is fixed perpendicularly to the end of each long liandle, and by shifting- Ids liold of it up or down, the scythesman raises or lowers the scythe, to suit the nature of the crop, or any inequality in the surface of the ground. The lower end of the longest handle is a little flat- tened, and the lieel or " cock" of the blade, as it is here culled, is fastened to it with a hoop and wedge, without any groove. A scythe so constructed weighs about 71b. or 7^ lb. imperial. When the scythe is adjusted for work, the left hand sliould be equidis- tant from the heel and point of the blade ; and when the frame is laid flat on its lower side on the ground, the point of the blade sliould be from 12 to 13 inches elevated. This is the common way of adjusting this species of scythe, hut it is rare to find two scythes- men, or even two ploughmen, who agree in the mode of tempering- their implements. The head and shaft of the stuhble-rake are made of young 1-arch, and are each 6 feet in length. The teetlr are made of good foreign iron, curved a little for about 3 inches at the point, and are fastened into the head with a neat sm;dl screw, which is found very convenient when they require to be repaired. They are 7 inches long, exclusive of th« head, and are placed from 3^ to 4 inches apart. A clink nail is put throug;h the reverse way at each end of the head, to prevent it from splitting. The shaft is fitted into an iron socket, which is screwed to the head, (hy the way, this is a good plan for fixing the shafts of THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 331 hay rakes), and part of it next the shoulder, as well as that of the teeth, is made square so as to keep them tight. It is supported on each side by a piece of rod iron, screwed to the top of the teeth, which holds it very firm, A rake of this sort weighs about 151b. imperial. It is now generally used on this farm for raking hay, which is a great saving of labour, compared with the small Imy-rake, an J, with the requisite attention, performs the work equally well. AVhen the crop is intended to be cut witli the scytlie, the ground is always, if possible, rolled, unless it be very smooth on the surface, and free of stones. For that purpose, wooden rollers, of smaller dimensions to those described by Mr. Farquharson, are generally used. To insure good work, it is of great advantage tliat the crop be thick, as, in tliat case, it will make excellent work with tlie scytlie, though very short in the straw. Since the introduction to this district of reaping with the scythe, seed is somewhat more liberally ap- plied, which has bad the advantage of bringing the crop to earlier maturity. Seldom, unless the ground be in high condition, are oats sov.-n under seven or eight, and barley five or six bushels per Scots acre. An equal distribution of the seed is also a most material point in good husbandry, and cannot be too often inculcated on the mind of the sower, whether the operation be performed by the band or a sowing- machine. It is also of great advantage in harvest to have the stocks neatly set, as slovenly manage- ment in that respect renders them more liable to be overturned and wetted when rain sets in. Although 1 have long been a keen advocate for cutting grain crops with the scythe, I am not without doubts as to the propriety of it in cases where the crop is much lodged or nratted together. To be sure good active scythesmen will cut it, however much it may be lodged ; but the question is, will they do it as well, and with as little loss of grain, as with the sickle. I rather think not. However, scythe- cutting has this advantage, that the corn is much sooner ready for the stack — a circumstance which certainly weighs strongly in favour of it, under every circumstance, provided it be nearly upon a par with the sickle in other respects. In cutting with the scythe, the direction in which the crop lies is always followed, without regard to the ridges, and the distance generally cut at one sharpening is from 120 to 140 or 150 yards. The swathe is uniformly laid away from the standing corn. When the crop is thick on the ground, and in all respects favourable for being reaped with the scyths, both the uptakers and binders find active employ- ment. Indeed it has often occurred to me, that in such cases their work is fully as hard as that of the scythesmen. I can only speak with certainty as to the quantity of ground reaped in a given time with the scythe, under my own observation. The averag-e of several years is at the rate of 1 j Scots acres per day, which, supposing the work to be performed at the highest rate of wages, does not exceed in the whole 6s an acre. When the crop is heavy and partly lodged, little more than an acre is accomplished, but when the straw is of medium length and thickness, I have frequently known more than 1^ acres cleared by each scythesman in ten hours. From what I have now stated, I hope it will appear obvious to every unpi-ejudiced mind, that the system of reaping corn with the scythe, as now practised, ranks high in the scale of modern improvements, and to those who have not yet adopted it, I would earnest- ly recommend them to give it a fair and impartial trial. I. F. PINNATED GROUSE. This fine bird is represented to be very abundant on the American western frontiers, and for the table they are said to be delicious. On this point, however, we are sorry to be obliged to speak at second-hand. It is described by the amiable and indefatigable Wilson as being " nineteen inches long, twenty-seven inches in extent, and when in good order weighs about three pounds and a half. The neck is furnished with supplemental wings, each composed of eighteen feathers, five of which are black, and about three inches long ; the rest shorter, also black, streaked laterally with brown, and of unequal lengths ; the head is slightly crest- ed ; over the eye is an elegant semicircular comb of rich orange, which the bird has the power of raising or relaxing ; under the neck wings are two loose pendulous and wrinkled skins, extending along the side of the neck for two- thirds of its length; each of which, when inflated with air, re- sembles in bulk, colour, and surface, a middle- sized orange ; chin cream-coloured ; under the eye runs a dark streak of brown ; whole upper parts mottled transversely with black, reddish brown, and white; tail short, very much rounded, and of a plain brownish soot colour ; throat elegantly marked with touches of reddish brown, white and black ; lower part of the breast and belly pale brown, marked transversely with white ; legs co- vered to the toes with hairy down of a dirty drab colour j feet dull yellow ; toes pectinated ; vent whitish ; bill brownish horn colour ; eye reddish hazel. The female is considerably less, of a lighter colour, destitute of the neck wings, the naked yel- low skin on the neck, and the semicircular comb of yellow over the eye." In an account of this bird, given by Dr. Mitchell of New York, and published in Wilson's Ornitho- logy, he says, that in 1790, a brace of grouse could be bought in the New York market for one dollar, but that then (1810) the price was from three to five dollars. They pair in the north in March, and breeding time continues through April and May ; laying from ten to twelve eggs, of a brownish colour, resembling that of the Gui- nea hen. An act was passed in 1791, in New York, in- flicting a penalty for killing them between the 1st April and the 5th October. But all such enact- ments being against the [evil] genius of the peo- ple, they cannot be enforced ; and accordingly, the few grouse that remain in New Jersey and New York will soon be extinct. A ludicrous mistake occurred at the passing of the law above-mention- ed. The bill was intituled, " An act for the pre- servation of heath-hen, and other game." The chairman or speaker of the assembly being no sportsman, read the title, *' An act for the preser- vation of Heathen and other game," which asto- nished the northern members, who could see no Christian motive for ijreserving Indians or any other Heathen. In the first number of a new llussian paper de- voted to objects of rural economy, we find an ac- count of a new division of the Russian Empire founded upon the productions of the several dis- tricts. Instead of the customary division into three climates, the cold, the temperate, and the hot, it is now divided according to eight distinct species of production : — 1. The district of Iron ; 2. The Moss Land ; 3. Forests and Pastures ; 4. Hitherto Un. cultivated Lands and Barley District; 5. Rye and Flax; 0". Wheat and Fruit; 7. Maize and Wine; 8. Olives, Sugar-cane, and Silk-worms. 332 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. REPORT OF THE COMMISIONERS OF ECCLESIASTICAL REVENUE IN- QUIRY. TO THE king's most EXCELLENT MAJESTY. Your Majesty having been pleased to issue a Com- mission under the Great Seal, dated the 23d day of June, in the second year of your Majesty's reign, au- thorizing and directing the Commissioners therein named to make a full and correct inquiry respecting the Revenues and Patronage belonging to the several Archiepiscopal and Episcopal Sees in England and Wales to all Cathedral and Collegiate Churches, and to all Eclesiastical l^enefices (including Donatives, Perpetual Curacies and Chapelries), with or without Cure of Souls, and the Names of the several Patrons thereof, and other circumstances therewith connected ; and your Majesty having been further pleased, on the expiration of the said Commission, to issue a second Commission, extending the period within which the Commisioners were required to make their final Report, and authorizing them to extend their inquiries to the Islands of Jersey and Guernsey, and the Isle of Man : — We, your Majesty's Commissioners, whose hands and seals are hereunto set, humbly report to your Majesty that in obedience to your Majesty's com- mands, we have proceeded to execute the duties commiited to us. In prosecuting our inquiries, we have, from the extent and complexity of the various matters to be investigated, encountered many difficulties, which, though not unexpected,' necessarily required a consi- derable length of time to surmount. We believe that we are now in possession of ma- terials sufficient to enable us to make a full reporc to your Majesty on all the topics within the range of our Commission ; but to arrange and digest into a tabular form so large a mass of returns, comprising so many different heads of information, and thus to present a distinct view of the whole revenues of the Church and their distribution, has been a work of no ordinary labour, which, though nearly completed, must still occupy some further time. It would have been more satisfactory to us to have awaited tlie period when we could have completed our task by a final Report ; but we are impressed with a conviction that it is expedient to lay before your Majesty, without delay, a statement of the total income of the Church, and of the manner in which it is divided between the Archbishops, Bishops, Cor- porations aggregate and sole, and the Incumbents and Curates of benefices. The total amount of the gross annual revenues of the several Archiepiscopal and Episcopal Sees in England and Wales is 180,4621, affording an average of 6,683/. ; and the total amount of the net annual revenues of the same is 160,114/., aflfording an aver- age of 5,930/. The total amount of the gross annual revenues of the several catliedral and collegiate churches in Eng- land and Wales, together with the separate gross annual revenues of the several dignitaries and other spiritual persons, members of cathedrals or collegiate churches, is 350,861/., and the total amount of the net annual revenues of the same is 272,828/. The total number of benefices with and without cure of souls, the incumbents whereof have made returns to our inquiries, omitting those which are permanently or accustomably annexed to superior preferments, and which are included in the state- ments respecting those preferments, is 10,498/.; the . total amount of the gross annual revenues of which benefices is 1,191,950/,, affording an average of 304/. ; and the total amount of the net annual revenues of the same is 3,000,393/., aflfording an average of 285/. The total number of benefices with and without cure of souls in England and Whales, including those not returned to us, is 10,701 ; the total gross income of which, calculated from the average of those re- turned, will be 3,253,662/., and the total net income thereof will be 3,058,248/. The total number of curates employed both by resident and non-resident incumbents returned to us is 5,282, whose annual stipends in the aggregate amount to 424,796/., affording an average annual stipend of 80/. ; and the total amount of the stipends of curates, if 102 be assumed as the proportionate number on the benefices not returned, and the same be calculated on the average of those raturned to us, will be 432,956/. From a scale which we have prepared of the bene- fices with cure of souls returned to us, it appears tliat there are 294, the incomes of which are. respec- tively under 50/. ; 1,621 of 50/., and under 100/.; 1,591 of 100/., and under 150/.; 1,355 of 150/,, and under 200/. ; 1,964 of 200Z., and under 300/. ; 1,317 of 300/., and under 400/. ; 830 of 400/., and under 500/. ; 504 of 500/., and under 600/. ; 337 of 600/., and under 700/. ; 217 of 700/., and under 800/. ; 129 of 800/., and under 900/. ; 91 of 900/., and under 1,000/.; 137 of 1,000/., and under 1,500/.; 31 o 1,500/., and under 2,000/.; and 18 of 2,000/. and upwards. The number of sinecure rectories returned to us, and which sinecure rectories are included in the num- ber of benefices above stated, is 62 ; the aggregate gross annual revenues of which amount to 18,622/, affording an average of 300/., and the aggregate net annual revenues of the same amount to 17,095/., aflbrding an average of 275/. We regret that it is not at present practicable to offer a full explanation of tlie various items vvhich compose the difference between the gross and net amounts ; hut, to prevent misapprehension, we think it advisable to observe, that no deduction is made from income on account of payments to curates, nor for the reparations of e[)iscopal residences, or of glebe houses and offices, nor on account of payments of rates and taxes for the same, nor has any deduction been made on account of arrears due at the time of making the returns, or of any pajj'ments not being of a compulsory nature. The returns of income have been generally made upon an average of three years, ending December 31, 1831. Received this day of June, 1834. W. Cantuar (l. s.), E. Ebor (l. s), Lansdowne (l. s), Harrowby (l. s.), C. J. London (l.s.), J. Lincoln (l. s.), C. Bangor (l. s.), Wyn- ford (i.. s.), W. S. Bourne (l. s.), Henry Goulburn (l. s.), Charles Watkins Williams W^nn (l. s,), J. Nicholl (l. s.), N. C. Tin- dal, (l. s.), E. J. Littleton (l. s.), Steph, Lushington (l. s.), George Chandler (l. s.), Chr. Wordsworth (l. s.), Joseph Allen (l. s.), Chas. Thorp (l. s.), Hugh C. Jones (L.s.) Dated this 16th day of June, 1834. BELGIAN CORN LAW. According to the nevv' corn law sanctioned b)' both Chambers, regulating the duties on importa- tion, exportation, and transit, the principle of a maximum and minimum price are established, and the duty to be charged on the weight. The fol- lowing are the principal articles of the tariff : — THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 333 Wheat, per 1,000 kilometres, when the price of the hectolitre is twent}'-four francs or more. Import, free ; export, prohibited. At twenty francs and below twenty-four francs — Import, free ; export, twenty-five cents. At fifteen francs and below twenty — Import, thirty-seven francs, fifty cents ; export, twenty-five cents. Above twelve francs and below fifteen — Import, seventy-five francs ; export, twenty-five cents. At twelve francs and below — Import, prohibited ; export, twenty-five cents. Rye, per 1,000 kilogrammes, when the price is seventeen francs and above per hectolitre — Import, free ; export, prohibited. At fifteen francs and below seventeen — Import, free ; export, twenty-five cents. Above nine francs and below fifteen — Import, twenty-one francs fifty-cents ; export, ttventy-five cents. Above seven francs and below nine — Import, forty-three francs. At seven francs and below — Import, prohibited ; export, twenty-five cents. The transit duty is in all the above cases one franc fifty cents. Other species of grain and pulse are not subject- ed to the fluctuations of a maximum and mini- mum, but are liable to a fixed duty, viz. : — Imp. Exp. Transit. Barley 14f. 25c. If. 50c. Malt 17 25 —50 Black Wheat 13 25 —50 Beans 10 25 — 50 Peas 19 25 —50 The following per 100 kilogrammes : — Groats and 1 ^ f,c o« Pearl Barley J "" "^ ~ "^" Bread, biscuit, gingerbread, flour, or meal of any kind, bran Imp. Exp. Tran. 15f. free 10 Vermicelli 1 94^ Macaroni J " The average prices of Wlieat or Rye to be of- ficially published every week according to the re- turns to be made every Saturday. The prices to be regulated by the markets of Arlon, Antwerp, Bruges, Brussels, Ghent, Hasselt, Leige, Louvain, Namur, and Mons, exclusively. The Government to give public notice when the prices of two suc- cessive weeks shall give occasion either to a prohi- bition or to a change in the duties on the same for the revocation of the prohibition. The law to be revised before the 30th of June, 1837. free 10 my other grasses. The best way of cultivating it is, in my opinion, after slieeping it, to plough the ground up for turnips the same as we would after tares. On good land it may be well eaten down, and barley sown with success. Every farmer must be satisfied of the importance of a grass for sheep which comes more than a week earlier than our common clovers. July 7, 1834. AGRICOLA. THE NEW CLOVER. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — I think that the New Clover, called by the name of " Trofolium Inceronectura," is v^orth the particular attention of farmers. There is not a more critical time with the sheep grazier than the termina- tion of the turnip crop and the commencement of the clover and grasses. Any clover or grass that can be sown to come in earlier than our common clovers must be invaluable to the sheep grazier, especially to those who fuai at the fatting of forward lambs. I sowed six acres last year, immediately after harvest ; and by its being ready to stock earlier than my other grasses, I found it very advantageous. It ought, in my opinion, to be sown directly after harvest., A warm soil and rich vale is preferable, as it will come earlier. My sheep seemed to eat it with greater avidity than any of DUTIES ON SPIRITS AND LICENSES (From the Votes of the House of Commons.) That there be raised, levied, collected, and paid upon every Excise License to be taken out by any Retailer of Spirits in Great Britain and Ireland, the additional annual duties, or sums of money, lowing : If the dwelling-house in which such retailer shall reside, or retail such spirits, shall not be rented or valued at a rent of 10/. per annum or upwards, an additional duty £ s d of 1 1 0 If at lOZ or upwards and under 20/. . 2 2 0 If at 20/ or upwards and under 25/. .330 If at 25/ or upwards and under 30/. . 3 13 (i If at 30/ or upwards and under 40/. .4 4 0 If at 40/ or upwards and under 50/. .4140 If at 50/ and upwards 5 5 0 That the duties on Excise licenses for the selling of beer or cider by retail under the provisions of an Act passed in the first year of his present Ma- jesty, to permit the general sale of beer by re- tail in England, shall cease and determine ; and that in lieu of such duties there shall be levied, collected and paid — Upon every Excise license to be taken out by any person in England for the retailing of beer, not to be drunk or consumed in the house or premises where sold, the annual sum of 1/ Is. Upon every Excise license to be taken out by any person in England for the retailing of beer, to he drunk in the house or premises where sold, 3/ 3s. That the duties of Excise on spirits made and warehoused in Ireland shall cease and determine ; and that in lieu thereof there shall be raised, levied, and collected, the duties following : — On every gallon of spirits, of the strength of hydrometer proof, which shall be made or distilled in Ireland, or warehoused in Ireland, the sum of 2s 4d ; and so in proportion for any greater or less degree of strength, or any greater or less quantity. On every gallon of the like spirits which shall be made or distilled in Ireland, or warehoused there free of duty, and which shall be taken out of warehouse for removal into Scotland for con- sumption, the sum of 3s 4d. On every gallon of the like spirit, which shall betaken out of warehouse for removal into Eng- land for consumption, the sum of 7s <>d. Stamford. — Relics of Napoleon's Army. — Between 200 and 300 tons of the bones of the horses, and amongst them some of those of the men, which were lost in Napoleon's retreat from Moscow, have arrived and are arriving at Grimsby. Tnese are the remains of the 30,000 almost fa- mished horses, and the miserable men, who, as history relates, perished through cold in one night almost at the commencement of his retreat from that city which the flames kindled by the hands of the Russians had reduced to ruins and desolation. 334 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. GARDEN FARMS OF ENGLAND.— THE HOP CULTURE. TO THE EDITOR OF "THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE." Sir, — Much has been said of the banks of the Mcdway being the garden of Kent, abounding with hops, with apples, and filberts ; it is also said that Dovonshire, from its varied soil, its hill and dale, bisected with numerous streams, that it is the garden of England ; but the travellers to South- ampton, taking the route through Leatherhead, Guildford, Farnham, and Alton, see many gardens, equal, if not surpassing, the gardens of Kent and Devonshire; indeed, the vale between Farnham and Alton, and about the latter town, is not to be surpassed in fruitfulness. That Alton is a greatly improving agricultural spot, is not to be doubted, if we may judge from the supply of wheat and seeds which come from it to the market of Farn- ham ; and its hops, which are so fast approaching in price, to that more favoured spot at the corner of the county of Surrey. This is evidenced by the sales which yearly take place at Weyhill fair; from these inferences we gather, that itis from their su- perior management that they arc able to approach the price of the Farnham hop, seeing that their soil is of so different a nature, being a sandy loam, resting on the lower chalk formation ; whereas the Farnham soil is a happy mixture between the chalk and the sand, which constitute tlie hills on each side of the Borough united with the Golt clay marie, upon which the town is built, (See the ex- cavations at the gas works.) and which marie (so rich in calcareous matter,) may bo easily traced from Seal to Frensham. But, of the management of the hop at Alton, in comparison with Farnham and of Kent, we wish to speak. We are quite well acquainted with Mr. Lance's experiments and his writings on the hop, as set forth in his essay in the Golden Farmer, wherein he has shown the impro- priety of attending so much more to colour than to quality in this article ; for he says the strength and quality consists in its pungency, its aromatic bitter, which is only to he obtained in the high- est perfection in the seed, the petal of the hop contains a ])ortion, but it has not the oil which exists in the seed, and this seed can only be ob- tained when nature is complete, and therefore the male plant must be near to give the female blos- som that weight and condition which is so great a desideratum. To have the hop in the highest jjcrfcction, fit for the strong-beer or porter brewers, they should hang on the bine until the seed is ripe ; what nature intended by providing a juice at the bottom of each petal, is fidly pointed out in Mr. Lance's Essay, and also the injurious tendency of the fumi- gation with sulphur which is adopted so unblush- ingly throughout Kent, but with more caution in sonic other parts. We know that " the value of a thing is what it will bring," and all the while that colour, and a name will sell an article, those points must be attended to ; but what better can a hop i)e that has the name of Farnham on thei)ocket, when another article of equal quality, perhaps bet- ter, grown just over the hedge? yet the pocket be- ing marked with another name, will not sell for so much by perhaps 40s per cvvt. — Is not this preju- dice ? or is it judgment ? The Farnham and neighbouring hop is of a light colour, from being carefully picked early, and hence is chosen for i)ale ales, but it does not contain the strength of the brown hop of Kent, par- ticularly when the male hop is cultivated amongst them, as is the custom of Mr. Colegate, of Chiver- ing, or Mr Love, of Shoreham, who have a male plant for every 100 females. When the hops hang on the bine imtil they become brown and ripe, they are less saleable in consequence of their colour; therefore, to get an artificial colour, a fu- migation of sulphur is resorted to, and that in a a most unblushing manner. Throughoutthe county of Kent, fifty years ago, this practice was perform- ed secretly, but now, their cast-iron furnaces, and their diggiiigs with a flow of boiling water, all have preparations for volatilizing sulphur. At Farnham, the farmer is pointed at who uses sul- phur, and instances have occuiTed of hops being returned, upon a discovery that the colour was ar- tificial. The necessity of agriculturalists under- standing the chemical action of sulphur, and the botanical fluctiflcation of plants, are fully shown in the essav above-named. AGRICOLA. The Wing of a Bat. — The wing of the Bat is very commonly spoken of as a wing of leather, and tlie idea attached to this term, undoubtedly is, that it is composed of a callous membrane ; that it is an insensible piece of stuff like the leather of a glove or of a lady's shoe ; but nothing can be further from the truth. Jf one were to select an organ of the most exquisite delicacy and sensibility it would be the bat's wing ; it is anything but leather, and is, per- haps, die most acute organ of touch that can be found, though it is not easy to understand why it should be so. Spallanzani, a philosopher as noted i'or his extreme cruelty, as ibr his ingenuity and love of research, had observed that bats could fiy with great certainty, in rooms however dark, without striking against the walls. He found that when their eyes were covered, they could fly with as much precision as before ; and even when their eyes were put out, no alteration in this respect was observed. When branches of trees or threads were suspended from the ceiling they avoided them, nor did they even brush the threads as they flew past or between them ; and even when the space between ^vt-as too small to admit their expanded wings, they contracted the lat- ter so as to suit their dimensions to the breadth of the passage. Spallanzani thought that the bat must possess a sixth sense. The organs of vision had been de- stro3red, and therefore it could not behv sight thutthey avoided all obstacles. In many individuals the ears were stopped, so that it could not be by hearing ; in others the nostrils were stopped, so that it could not be by smelling ; and tasteis out of the question. The fol- lowing remarks from Cu vier are sufliciently demonstra- tive, I think, thatit is bj the acutenessof the sensation of touch in the wing, and not by any additional sense, that the phenomenon is to be accounted for. " The bones of the metacarpus, and the phalanges of the four fingers which succeed the thumb, are exces- sively elongated. The membrane which unites them presents an enoumous surface to the air ; the nerves vvliich are distributed to it are numerous, and minutely divided ; they form a net-work very re- markable for its fineness and the number of its anas- tomoses. It is probable, that in the action of flight, tlie air, when struck by this wing, or very sensible Ir.md, impresses a sensation of heat, cold, mobility, and resistance on that organ, which indicates to the animal the existanco or absence of obstacles which would interrupt its progress. In this manner blind men discover by their hands, and even by the skin of their faces, the proximity of a wall, door of a liouse, or side of a street, even without the assist- ance cf touch, and merely by the sensation which the dillerence in the resistance of the air occasions. — Letters lo a Yoiuig Naturalist, O. N. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 335 WILSON AND HIS BIRDS. Wilson in his ornithological researches regarded the subjects of his art as friends, not as victims ; and in all his writings he recommends the innocent feathered tribes to the kindness and forbearance of men. In favour of the American bird called the orchard-oriole, he shows, that, while it destroys in- sects without number, it never injures the fruit ; he has seen instances in which the entrance to its nest was half closed up with clusters of apples ; but so far from being tempted with the luxury, it passed them always with gentleness and caution. He enters into a deliberate calculation of the exact value of the services of the red-winged blackbird, which cer- tainly bears no good reputation on the farm • show- ing, that allowing a single bird fifty insects in a day, which would be short allowance, a single pair would consume twelve thousand in four months ; and if there are a million pairs of these birds in the United States, the amount of insects is less by twelve thou- sand millions, than if the red-wing were exterminated. He was deliglited to see the hospitality which the Indians extend to the purple martin, hanging up gourds and calabashes to receive them ; and to find that the slaves on the plantatioas followed the same good example, setting up the same retreats on canes near the doors of their cabins, where the martins re- sorted with great familiarity. He once encountered an old German, who accused the kingbird of destroy- ing his feus. Wilson indignantly denied the charge, maintaining that they never ate a pea in their lives ; but the old man declared that he had with his own e3''es seen them " playing about the hifes, and snap- ping up his peas." The fact 'of their depredations on the bee-hive he could not honestly deny ■, but he contends that there is no reason why man should enjoy a monopoly of murder, and shows that the charge comes with an ill grace from those who destroy the same insects by thousands, in order to steal the fuits of their labour. He undertakes to combat the prejudice which is so common against the harmless cat-birds, and evidently thinks them much better members of society than the idle boys who make it their business to destroy them. He says that the only reason of this prejudice ever offered to him was, that ihey hated cat'birda ; so, he says, some will say that they hate Frenchmen, &c., thereby showing their own narrowness of understanding and want of libe- rality. In his opinion, all the generous and the good Mill find in the confidence which this familiar bird reposes in them, in the playfulness of its manners, and the music of its song, more than a recompense for what little it destroys. THE MARQUIS OF LANSDOWNE'S FAWN. Mr. Editor, — The paragraph which has appeared in so many papers announcing the " order of the Marquis of Lansdowne for the destruclioii of all foxes found in Bowood, on account of those vermin killing fawns," demands at least some notice from those who have ever participated in the National amusement of fox-hunting; and fearing the abler pens of abler Sportsnien may be allowed to rest in " sloth supine," 1 have been urged by zeal in so vital a cause to ob- trude my own reflections upon the public ; and the sum of those reflections, amounts, I\lr. Editor, simply to this — that in spite of the positive statement of tlie paragraph, 1 absolutely discredit the authenticity of the frict, inasmuch as the sordid illiberality cha- racteiisiiig such a mandate, is totally at variance witJi the nobler qualities of Bowood's Peer. Is tliere the slightest degree of j)robability, even supposing a fox had destroyed a fawn, (which is most questionable) that on account of so insignificant a loss, any man possessing the power, wealth, and exalted title of the Marquis of Lansdowne, would issue orders to his keeper for the extermination of all those foxes, which aff"ord such constant amusement to his numerous friends and neighboursS? Or, will it for a moment be imagined, that because the Noble Marquis does not himself join the Chace, he couid be actuated by feelings so selfish as to deprive not only professed fox-lmnters, but hundreds who occasionally seek a healthful recreation, of the means of following a pur- suit so peculiarly, so eminently British ! No ! the generous, enthusiastic blood flowing in his veins through a long line of Irish ancestors, disclaims these attributes of a narrow mind, and Ireland's sons, so essentially Sportsman, repudiate the conjecture, that the " Chief of the Fitzmaurice," could ever be sig- nalised as the " Illiberal Lord." A RETIRED FOX-HUNTER. AN APOSTROPHE FROM LORD LANS- DOWNE'S FOXES, ORDEUED TO DE DESTROYED BECAUSE A EAWN WAS FOUND DEAD NEAR AN EARTH. " Sera nunquam est ad bonos mores via." And thou art dead ; there's not a doubt By death of nature's giving. And all our " claret is let out," Because thou art — not living. In vain we prove that thou liest low Froni rotteunsss within. Since Lansdowne, quite unjust with woe. Will " book us" for the sin. In vain we logically show That fawns ne'er die by foxes, With argument of " fire and tow" riie Peer unfairly knocks us. And when we seek to know his cause For " vulpicidial burking," We can but trace his bloody laws To — bile within biin working ! No eartlily fawn, our cubs avow (And this the matter clinches,) E'er •' greas'd their ivories" till now. Save one that died by inches. Then pause, my lord ! oh, pause before Life's stream " you once " set flowing," Remember — " blood" let out " at score," A kilting pace keeps going. And tho' man's cleverness may soar From chaos to creation. We rather doubt his empire o'er Susj)ended animation. So stop in time your stern decree. And pray my lord consider. An act of grace that leaves us free Is " better late than never." It has just been ordered by the Parliament, for the next Session, that the overseers of the poor of every jjarish, township, or other place iu England and Wales, do prepare an account of money levied by assessment in their respective parishes, townships, or other places, J^br poor-rates and coa)d\j-rates during tho year ending the 25th March, 1834 ; and also an account of Money expended by them in the same year, and that such overseers do, as soon as may be, trans- mit such account to tlie Clerk of the House of Com- mons ; stating, in addition to such account, whether any select vestries now exists, and wliether an as- sistant overseer is now iu office, under and by virtue of the Act 59 Geo. IIL c. 12. 336 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. INDIAN ZOOLOGY. The greater islands of the Indian sea are all mountainous, and full of burning- or extinguished volcanoes. The parts neglected by human cul- ture are full of woods, which abound with most beautiful and singular birds, especially parrots, peacocks, pigeons, and others infinitely diversified with the gayest and most varied plumage ; together with herds of antelopes, tribes of monkeys, and numbers of lions and tigers. The elephant and rhi- noceros also inhabit these forests, which scarcely' ever lose their leaves, but are always verdant, and perpetually loaded wilh fruits of one kind or aao- ther. Here, however, the brute creation are more at en- mity with one another than in other climates, and the birds are obliged to exert unusual artifice in placing their little broods out of the reach of an in- vader. Each aims at the same end, tLough by dif- ferent means. Some form their pensile nest in "shape of a purse, deep, and open at the top, others with a hole iu the side; and others, still more cautious, with an entrance at the very bottom, forming their lodge near the summit. The Tailor Bird. — This little species seems to have greater diffidence than any of the others ; it will not trust its nest even to the extremity of a slen- der twig, but makes one more advance to safety, by fixing it to the leaf itself. It picks up a dead leaf, and sews it to the side of a living one, its slender bill being its needle, and its thread some fine fibres ; the lining, feathers, gossamer, and down. Its eggs are white. The colour of the bird light yellow ; its length three inches, its weight only three- sixteenths of an ounce, so that the materials of the nest, and its own size, are not likely to draw down a habitation that depends on so slight a tenure. Had Providence left the feathered tribe unendowed with any particular instinct, the birds of the torrid zone would have built their nests in the same unguarded manner as those of Europe ; but there the lesser species, conscious of inhabiting a climate replete with enemies to them and their young -with snakes that twine up the bodies of the trees, and apes that are ])erpetuallv in search of prey — taught by instinct, elude the gliding of the one, and the activity of the other. The Wiiite-Headed Ibis. — In size is much supe- rior to our largest curlews. The bill is yellow, very long, and thick at the base, and a little inciirvated : the nostrils very narrow, and placed near the head : all the tore part of the head ia covered with a bare yellow, and seems a continuance of the bill, and the eyes are, in a very singular manner, placed very near its base. The rest of the head, the neck, back, belly, and secondary feathers are of a pure white ; a transverse broad band of black croses the breast ; the quill-feathers and coverts of the wings are black; the coverts of the tail are very long, and of a fine pink colour ; they hang over and conceal the tail. The legs and thighs are very long, and of a dull flesh colour ; thej'eet semi-palmated, or connected by webs as far as the first joint. This bird maizes a snapping noise with its bill like a stork ; and what is remarkable, its fine rosy feathers lose tlieir colour during a rainy season. IMPROVEMENT OF BREEDS OF OXEN. When a breeder is to improve his stock by cross- ing, he ought to select a male of undoubtedly supe- rior blood. And he should not generally, after tb e first cross, resort to tlie males of the defective breed, but to those of the superior one, until he has formed, as it were, a breed for himnelf. There are, indeed,nu- merous cases in which a single mixture of better blood will do good, as in the case of those inferior breeds which have no fixed characters. These will be im- proved by even the slightest intermixture with the blood of a better race ; and a farmer who is in a district where this class of animals prevails, may safely avail himself of a good male, in the same manner as a breed of horses would do, although the stallion were of a different character from the native stock. The cases where crossing of any kind is to be attempted with caution, are when a breed of established good characters, or of characters which fit it for the nature of the country and the state of its agriculture, already exists. In crossing, then, the rule is, to breed from a male of superior stock ; and, fortunately, in this country we have now a breed of such established character, that no mistake can arise in the selection of males. These have been formed to our hand, with all the care that art can bestow in improving the form of feeding animals. There is no need, tlierefore, for those mistaken at- tempts at crosses which were sometimes made with males of questionable characters, as betv^^een an Ayrshire cow and a Galloway bull, and vice versa. We can predictate nothing securely of the progeny of such crosses as these, the effect of which will probably be to destroy the good properties of either breed, as the aptitude to yield milk of the Ayrshire, and the hardy and feeding qualities of the Galloway. But in crossing with a breed so highly cultivated as the short-horned, the breeder has the assurance that he will produce animals of large size and good feed- ing properties. He is to consider, indeed, whether he has the means at his command of rearing the larger animals ; and if this be so, it will be better that he at once form his stock upon the best model, than run the hazard of wasting time and capital on question- able crosses. — Professor Low's Elements of Practical Agriculture. THE TURNIP-FLY.— Report of the Com- mittee OF THE DoNCASTER AGRICULTURAL ASSO- CIATION, ON THE Turnip-Fly, and the means of its Prevention. Ridgway, 1834. Upon the first head of inquiry — as to the seasons in which the depredations of the fly occur, — it ap- pears that the greater number of correspondents state the months of May and June as the periods of the first attack. It is, however, generally added, that their appearance occurs as soon as the turnip plant itself appears ; and many correspondents have ob- served the insect upon the crops in April, whilst four* correspondents have observed them in the gar- dens as early as I\Iarch, upon garden sown turnips and cabbage plants. Froii; the whole of the answers it is certain, that, as soon as it is possible to sow field turnips with advantage, the fly is ready to attack them, and the possibility of sowing, so as to precede the appearance of the fly, is decisively negatived. Upon the expediency of eaily sowing with reference to the fly, some maintain from observation, that the earlier crops have generally escaped better than later sown ; whilst others as strongly object to it, stating their experience to lead them not to sow by any means before Midsummer. One instancef of the latter class in particular, is given as the experience of an old turnip seedsman, " that he hud always ob- served for man}' years, that those who sowed before Midsummer, were his best customers, generally com- ing for a second supply." The advocates of early Bourne, Denne, Goodman, Tuckwell. t John Dent. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 337 sowing contend for it upon the principle that the fly is not so vigorous before the hot weather commences, and the plant has therefore a hetter chance of growing out of the way. It must, however, be remembered, that if, from the coolness of the weather, the fly is less vigorous, the same circumstances make the growth of the plant less vigorous also. It is also alleged that sowing before Midsummer, is detri- mental to the general growtli of the crop, as it res- pects its preservation through the winter. As to the latest period in wbich the fly is observed in activity, there is a concurrence of opinion suffi- cient to establish the fact, that no period is too late, provided the weather continue warm. Several in- stances are given of the plant being destroyed, when sown late in August, and one* of a crop being des- troyed after the middle of September. Either of these periods is ohviouslv too late for general sow- ing ; and the idea of waiting until the season of the fly is over, before the turnip seed is put in the ground, is shown to be fallacious. Many correspon- dents allege that the fly is weaker in July ; and it is consistent with our general ohservation upon insects, that, as the season advances, their activity declines ; but this must be so entirely dependent upon the wea- ther and season, that no practical rule can be de- duced from such an observation. The season therefore properly belonging to the turnip-fly may be said to coincide with the season of vegetation itself. The observations of those corres- pondents, who have paid more particular attention to the habits of the insect, entirely support the more cursory observations of the farmer ; — they, with one accord, alledge that the fly may be procured at all seasons, during which insects are generally at large, A remarkable instance is given by Mr. Henderson of the readiness with which the insect avails itself of the first approaches of Spring, to venture out of its hiding place. He states, " On 7th of April, I ob- served a great number of the turnip fly floating on the water in a cart track on the outside of a wood near this place, (Milton.) The track lay a few yards from the edge of the wood, in a grass field adjoining ; the morning was very fine, which no doubt had en- ticed the insects to leave the wood ; but, either through inability to take a longer flight, or being- blown down by the wind, they were floating in great numbers in the water and mud of the cart ruts. Al- most all their elytrae were raised, and their wings ex- panded ; which left no doubt of their having been flying. On the evening of the same day, I observed great numbers, which had fallen in a similar way, floating on the water in a pond in the Park," OXFORD CIRCUIT,— HEREFORD. HEMMING V. PARRY. This was an action on the warranty of a horse, alleging for breach that the animal was unsound in wind, or what is vulgarly termed a *' roarer." Plea, the general issue. Mr. Sergeant Talfourd, in stating the case, disclosed that his evidence would only support a qualified warranty, the fore leg of the horse, in which there was a sand crack, being excepted ; but the declaration alledged a general warranty, on which the defendant had taken issue. Mr. Sergeant Luulovv, for the defendant, sub- mitted that this was a ground for a nonsuit. Mr. Baron Alderson said he should allow the defendant to amend the record, as the defect com- plained of was not in the part excepted from the * J.S.Edwards. warranty, viz. the leg, but in the wind, and there- fore was a breach of the coiitract as now offered to be proved. The variance between the allegation and the proof was here clearly an immaterial point, for as far as regarded the wind, an ex- ceptive warranty with reference to the leg was as good as a general warranty. Had the defect com- plained of been in the leg, the part excepted, there would have been no breach ; he should have held the variance material, as going to the merits, and amounting to a failure of proof, and would there- by have nonsuited the plaintiff. That was the principle on which the Act of Parliament, allow- ing records to be amended, had been passed ; he approved strongly of the report of the Law Com- missioners in that respect, and thought it a dis- grace to the law of England that plaintiffs should have been so long turned round on variance, in immaterial issues, between the proof and the allegations. This was the rule in Jones v. Cow- ling. RiL;hard Hemming, examined by Mr. Richards : Is son of Plaintiff; the horse was bought on the 13th December last; the defendant warranted him, all but one of his legs : the horse appeared ill next day with worms ; witness twice physicked him ; the horse continued ill ; in January last witness hunted him ; he went very ill : when witness struck his heels into him, he grunted ; was what is called a roarer ; the hunting took place three weeks before he returned him ; he returned him to the defendant on the 26th February last. Cross-examined by Serjeant Ludlow : I gave the horse two doses of calomel : I do not recollect whether there was frost at the time or not; he was kept in a stable by night, and in an orchard by day; did not squeeze his windpipe when he bought him, or look into his mouth, nor see his flanks heave ; can tell a broken-winded horse by sight. Re-examined by Mr. Richards : The horse was in better condition when returned. George Dukes, examined by Serjeant Talfou rd : Was servant to the plaintiff at the time of the pur- chase ; a man named Powell brought the horse to plaintiff in December; next day observed the horse had worms; he was twice physicked; he had a bad running at the nose ; in February, Boys, the horse-dealer, came to plaintiffs ; witness was desired by young Mr. Hemming to take the horse back to Mr. Parry ; Mr. Parry's man told him not to take the horse back ; he brought it back to plaintiffs ; young Mr. Hemming sent the horse back again to defendant ; the horse again found its way to Mr. Hemming's. Cross-examined by Mr. M'Mahon : It was only a cold ; at the time Mr. Hemming bought him he had a great running at the nose. Boys, examined by Serjeant Talfourd : I have been a horse-dealer forty years ; I went la^t Oc- tober to look at a horse of Mr. Parry's which was on sale; it was the same horse I saw afterwards in February ; I did not think him sound when I saw him in October ; he was a roarer ; I ascertained that by his grunting when 1 struck his side ; that is the proof of a horse being a a roarer ; he was in the same state in February ; has never known an instance of a horse recover- ing who has once been a roarer. Cross-examined by Serjeant Ludlovi' ; I will not swear that every horse that makes a noise when struck is unsound ; I am sure a roarer cannot go so well as other horses ; I have seen horses that were rode by whippers-in in Worces- tershire ; they cannot go at a great pace without 338 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. suffering ; I only know that the roarer I saw rode by a whipper-in in Worcestershire could not gal- lop, because I saw him walked round the cover; roaring may proceed from bad cold — a cold is not considered unsoundness ; I do not think calomel, and turning a horse into an orchard, a good cure for a cold. Re-examined by Mr. Richards : I am satisfied the horse was unsound in October last, Edwards, examined by Serjeant Talfourd : I saw Richard Hemming on the horse four days after the sale ; he did not go well with Hemming; I mounted him, and he refused a ditch I put him too ; when I struck the horse with my heels he grunted ; I did not tell young Hemming then, be- cause I did not like to put him out of conceit with his purchase ; I think his grunting a clear proof of his being a roarer. Cross-examined by Serjeant Ludlow : I was not brought up to the veterinary trade ; when the horse was kicked he grunted as any horse would do. Re-examined by Serjeant Talfourd: I can dis- tinguish the grunt of a roarer from that of a cold ; this was the grunt of a roarer. Richard Hemming recalled : I do not know any hostler at Leominster; I will swear I did not say to any hostler there that I was satisfied with my bargain. Serjeant Ludlow ably addressed the Jury for the defendant. Parry, examined by Serjeant Ludlow : I am nephew of defendant ; I have rode the horse to Leominster the day before he was sold to plaintiff; I galloped him along the road ; I never heard him roar. Cross-examined by Mr. Richards: It is five miles from defendant's to Leominster ; I went in an hour and a half from the time I was desired to get him ready ; 1 was an hour in catching him : I bought 20 lbs. of lead at Leominster. Hall, examined by Serjeant Ludlow : I am a veterinary surgeon : roaring proceeds from a thickening of the windpipe, produced by inflam- mation ; whatever causes inflammation of a mucous membrane will cause an obstruction ; calomel might increase cold and inflammation. By the Judge : The usual mode of trying the roarer is by giving a horse a sudden stroke ; a roarer cannot gallop without pain ; a horse must be suddenly struck to ascertain if he is a roarer. Reynolds, examined by Serjeant Ludlow : Is a farmer ; was offered the horse in October without a warranty; will swear the horse was not then a roarer ; witness scrutinized the horse. Mr. Baron Alderson told the Jury the question for them was, whether the horse was unsound in October; the issue of warranty was given up. They must weigh the evidence of Boys and Rey- nolds. The Jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff". Poor Laws in England. — Nine-tenths of the nbuses that disgrace the administration of the poor laws in England, may be traced to the defective constitution of the parochial tribunals, and the right of interference exercised by the justices and other inferior judges. Had the power to admit claimants for relief, to impose assessments, and to regulate allowances, been intrusted in England, as in Scot- land, to those having an interest in keeping the rates low, we venture to affirm that the poor rates, instead of amounting to more than six, would Jiave been de- cidedly under two millions sterling. — Edinburgh Re- view, No, 120, just published. MRS. TFOLLOPE'S VISIT TO A BELGIAN FARM-HOUSE. The dairy at the house was really a beautiful sight, even though at one end of it we per- ceived a nymph skimming cream with her fingers. This, indeed, is the universal method; and if any thing could reconcile one to the strange operation, it would be the delicate rosy tips of the Reubens-like fingers we saw so employed. — I have never in any country remarked finer crops than in the sandy plain round Ostend. The mode of hus- bandry is careful and laborious ; hut the returns are very great. The constant application of manure converts the arid soil into a fine loam^ ; and every inch of it is as carefully weeded as the nicest garden. This fatiguing but necessary part of good liusbandry is performed chiefly by women, who crawl along the ground en their hands and knees, and in this attitude appear to draw the weeds more effectually, and with less labour than can be done by stooping. The ploughing- of this district is, as may be supposed, peculiarly light ; and is often performed by a single milch cow. No part of Flemish farming appeared to me more worthy of attention tLan the general management of their cows. They are constantly kept in stables, and fed twice in the day with green meat, of almost every possible variety of vegetation. The collecting this is one of the manv agricultural labours performed by women : and it is no inconsi- derable feature in the picturesque aspect of the country, that groups of maids and matrons are per- petually seen hearing, with wonderful ease and acti- vity of step, enormous loads of fresh-cut fodder on their heads. I have seen many a pair of bright eyes, and many a dimpled cheek, peeping out some- times from a bundle of flowery clover, sometimes from a bush formed of the young shoots of forest- trees, and not unfrequently from the thrifty gather- ings of every weed, or handful of tufted grass that grows beside the road. That there is much eco- nomy of every thing but labour in this, is very evi- dent ; and, as far as I was able to judge, the cows prospered marvellously by this regular mode of fur- nishing their meals in the stall, instead of permitting- them to be constantly browsing in the fields. 1 never met with either bad butter or adulterated milk ; and it appeared to me that there was a greater ab'-indance, and freer use of both, than I had bean accustomed to see elsewhere. A Double Fish. — In a late number of the American Journal of Science there is a representation of a double cat-fish (a species of Silurus), which was taken alive in a shrimp-net, in the mouth of Cape Fear river, in North Carolina, in August, 1833. These fish are connected together in the manner of the Siamese twins, by the integuments at the breast, a dark streak marking the line of union : the texture and colour otherwise of this skin is the same as that of the belly. The mouth and viscera, &c., were entire and perfect in each fisb, but on withdrawing tlie en- trails through an incision made on one side of the ab- domen the connecting integument was found to be hol- low, and readily admitted a flexible probe to be passed from the abdomen of one fish into the other. One of the fishes is 3^ inches, and the other but 2^ inches long. When these fishes came into existence it is probable they were of equal size and strength, but one born to better fortune gained a trifling as- cendancy, which he improved to increase the dispa- rity, and by pushing his extended mouth in advance of the other, seized the choicest food for himself. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 339 THE GODWIT. Buifon enumerates eight species of this division of the scolopax genus, under the name of barges, including the foreign kinds ; and Latham makes out the same number of different sorts, all British. They are a timid, shy, and solitary tribe ; their mode of subsistence constrains them to spend their lives amidst the fens, searching for their food in the mud and wet soil, where they remain during the day, shaded and htddeu among reeds and rushes, in that obscurity wliich their timidity makes them prefer. I'hey seldom remain above a day or two in the same place, and it often happens that in the morning not one of them is to be found in those marshes where they were numerous the evening before. They re- move in a flock in the night, and when there is moonlight, may be seen and heard j assing at a vast height. i'heir bills are long aad slender, and, like the common snipe's, are smooth and blunt at the tip ; tlieir legs are various colours, and long. When pur- sued by the sportsman, they run with great speed, are very restless, and spring at a great distance, and make a scream as they rise. Their voice is some- what extraordinary, and has been compared to the smothered bleating of a goat. They delight in salt marshes, and are rar= in countries remote from the sea. Their ilesh is delicate, and excellent food. Common Godwii, Go^wyn, Yarnhelp or Yarnhip. — {Scolopax eegocephala, Linn. La grande Barge Grise, Buff. The weight of this bird is about twelve ounces ; length about sixteen inches ; the bill is four inches long, and bent a little upwards, black at the point, and gradually softening into a pale purple towards the base ; a whitish streak passes from the bill over each eye ; the head, neck, back, sca- l)ulars, and coverts, are of a dingy pale brown, each fenther marked down the middle with a dark spot. The fore part of the breast is streaked with black ; the belly, vent, and tail, are white, the latter regu- larly barred with black ; the webs of the first six quill feathers are black, edged on the interior sides witli reddish brown ; the legs are in general dark- coloured, inclining to a greenish blue. The godwit is met with in various parts of Europe, Asia, and America; in Great Britain, in the spring and summer, it resides in the fens and marshes, where it rears its young, and feeds upon small worms and insects. During these seasons it only removes from one marsh to another ; but when the winter sets in with severity, it seeks the salt marshes and the sea shore. The godwit is much esteemed by epicures as a great delicacy, and sells very high. It is caught in nets, to which it is allured by a stale or stuff"ed bird, in the same manner, and in the same season, as ihe ruffs and reeves. Gin-Drinking. — In the reign of George II. the Legislature made a vigorous effort to root out gin- drinking ; but Tindal tells us that within two years the act for that purpose had become " odious and contemptible ;" and it was stated by Lord Chol- mondeley, then one of the Ministers, in his place in the House of Peers, at the very moment when gin-drinking was proscribed, and the most vigorous eff'orts were made bv Government to carry the law into effect, above 7,000,000 gallons of gin were an- nually consumed in London and its immediate vi- cinity ; and that the officers employed to prevent the illegal sale of spirits were hunted down like wild beasts, and sometimes even murdered in open day ! Yet — for folly would seem to be everlasting — here we have a committee of a reformed House of Com- mons recommending a recurrence to a measure pro- ductive of such results ! Perhaps Mr. Burke went too far when he affirmed that the alembic was " a benefit and a blessing." But it is absurd to contend, because spirits are occasionally abused, tliat they are uniformly injurious. We might as well propose that the press should be proscribed, on the gi-ound of its being employed to print rubbish like this re- port, as that distillation should be put down, that tlie intoxication of a small portion of the dregs of the populace may be prevented. — Courier. A live horse is exhibiting at Devonport having seven legs, and another now forming. The horse is said to be in other respects perfectly well formed, and is lively and docile. Z 2 340 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. TO THE EDITOR OF THE "FARMER'S MAGAZINE." Sir, — I am happy to find that the superior advan- tages of small farms has found so able an advocate as your correspondent Mr. Denson. At the present period, vfheu a surplus population is stated to exist, and all the evils of pauperism are pressed upon our attention, there cannot be any subject more interest- ing to the statesman or the philanthropist, or more requiring calm and deliberate discussion, than that to which I have alluded ; and if you could prevail upon Rlr. Denson to give a detailed account of the system of management practised on Mr. Smyth's es- tate, and the results which have arisen therefrom, both as regards the comfort and happiness of the small farmers, and the rent paid to the landlord, you would be, in my opinion, promoting the best interests of the Empire, for I am decidedly of opinion that if Mr. Smyth's plan was generally adopted by landed proprietors, there would in a very short time be an end to pauperism and poors'-rates altogether, and Great Britain be rendered independent of any im- ported grain wliatever. The very saving in the food of agricultural horses occasioned by the greater use of the spade, would in such a case nearly make up the defect now existing. A pair of horses well fed will consume the produce of as much ground as would support a couple of families. Let me, there- fore beg of you to endeavour to impress on the public the great importance of this subject, and call upon all your correspondents who can give any information of a practical nature, to make the particulars known, that a thorough investigation of the matter may take place, and if it can be made appear to the satisfaction of landlords, that their rents will be as regularly paid, and their amount actually increased by the small farm system, surely it is not too much to expect from their patriotism and good feeling, that a plan will be adopted by them which will so much promote the comfort and happiness of their fellow creatures. Trusting that this interesting topic will not be suf- fered to drop without having undergone a full and fair discussion, I remain. Sir, Your obedient servant, July 22. A Constant Reader. GARDENING. PREPARATION OF FRUIT-TREE BORDERS. (By Mr. W. Denver, Gardener to Lady Webster, Battle-Abbey, Sussex.) When wall trees are in a declining state from old age or other causes, and fail to bring forth their yearly productions, it is time they were removed and young ones put in their places. It sometimes may be seen that three parts of the trees trained against a wall are of very little use. When this is the case, it is better to remove the border throughout, than to partially do it. If there are any worth saving, they may be taken up and replanted ; this may be done as the renewing of the border is carried on, but they should be prepared for this the spring previous to taking them up. This may be doneby digging trenches around them, in fonn of a half circle, about two feet wide, and deep enough to get below the roots, and about two or three feet from the stem, according to the size of the tree, and filling tliem up with light rich soil. In renewing the old border, take out a trench at one end and carry it to the other, which will be reaily to fill the last with. If the old bonier never had any stones, &c. put at the bottom, it should be done by laying some at the bottom of every trench ; a drain may be made also by digging a little lower in front. The quantity of dung, loam, &c., for renewing, must depend entirely on the state of the old border; if it is much exhaused it will want a good portion of well rotted dung, with some fresh loam and road scrapings ; if it is not much exhausted it will want the greatest portion of loam with a little dung and road scrapings. Some gardeners make fruit tree borders very rich, which otten prove very hurtful to the trees, by causing them to make a great deal of strong wood and produce but little fruit ; if there is any bad soil in the old border, such as clay, gravel, &c., it must be taken away. I do not think it necessary to make the border so deep for every sort cf fruit trees, as I stated above for making new borders ; that depth is the most suit- able for peaches, nectarines, and apricots. Pears and cherries do well in about twenty inches of soil on a bed of stones and gravel. Plums and apples want two feet. Grape vines two feet and a half, on a bed of stones eight or ten inches deep. Figs want eighteen inches. In making new borde-s, or renewing the old, some difference should be made in the soil for difi^erent kinds of trees, if it can be conveniently done. I sub- join a list of a few kinds of fruit trees, with the sort of soil which each kind will do well in. For peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums, and grape vines, half of good top-spit loam, a little more than one-fourth of well-rotted dung, and another fourth part of road scrapings and vegetable mould ; the whole mixture must be well incorporated. For pears and apples, three-fourths of loam, one- fourth of road scrapings and vegetable mould well mixed. For cherries a fresh hazel loam with a little well rotted-dung. For figs, a rich pliable loam. I hojie I shall not intrude too far on your pages, but I must add that stones are of great importance at the bottom of fruit-trees. They take off" the super- fluous moisture in wet weather, and retain moisture in times of drought. The fruit is also much better flavoured when the tree giows on a dry bottom. THE CACTUS GRANDIFLORA. OR NIGHT FLOWERING CEREUS. A specimen of this singular plant has been in the richly supplied Conservatory of Mr. Charles Sclater, gardener and florist, of Exeter, on the Heavitree- road, for the last three years, and about five o'clock in the afternoon of Saturday the 9th August gave signs that it was about to flower. Its habits, as is well-known, are opposed to that of the generality of plants and flowers. They appear to derive new life from the return of light, and to luxuriate in the heat and under tlie influence of the sun ; whilst, in the elegant poetry of T. H. Bayley, as arranged by Bishop — " The night-blowing Cereus — sheds its perfume. And opens its blossoms 'midst darkness and gloom." The circumstance being known, Mr. Sclater's well- laid out gardens became quite a lounge, numbers re- pairing thither and watching with anxious curiosity the progress of this plant towards that state in which , in this country at least, it so rarely presents itself. As it gradually unfolded, an addition to the perfume of the other plants in the Conservatory was very sensibly pei'ceptible, and a flower of the purest wliite was exhibited to the view. At midnight it was in its greatest state of splendour, and the garden was crowded, but by. five in the morning (so evanescent is its period of existence) all its beauty had departed, and the flower was no longer to be seen. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 341 COMPARATIVE TRIAL OF WALLS OF DIFFERENT KINDS. The Caledonian Horticultural Society has publish- ed a Garden Report, dated June 1, from which it ap- pears some trials have been made of the difference of temperature between a sloping wall inclined to the horizon at an angle of about 50 degrees, a wall colour- ed black, and a perpendicular wall ; and, between perpendicular walls of freestone, wbinstone (basalt), and brick. It appears that the sloping, the black, and the freestone walls, all indicate the same tem- perature at six o'clock in the morning ; but that the average temperature of the brick wall, at that early hour, is, during April, a degree colder. This brick wall, however, being more porous, and retaining a greater quantity of heat, has shown, during May, a considerably higher temperature than any of the others, owing to the increased influence of the sun. At one o'clock p. m. the average temperature of the sloping wall is seven degrees higher than that of the brick wall. The next warmest at that hour is the dark-coloured or wbinstone wall, which is only three degrees lower than that of the sloping wall. At the same hour, the freestone is five degrees colder than the sloping wall, or two degrees inferior to the whin- stone. At six o'clock p. m., the sloping wall is two degrees warmer than the freestone and the brick- walls, and five degrees warmer than the wbinstone wall, which last, at that time, is the coldest of all the walls. The results will be more satisfactorily ascertain- ed when the fruit of a cherry tree, a vine, or a peach, trained on the sloping wall, have been compared with thatof one of the same kind placed against the perpen- dicular freestone wall. When hoar-frost forms the sloping wall becomes the coldest during the night, by two degrees or three degrees, or perhaps more. To render it eflTective, therefore, it will be indispen- sable to have a covering of thin canvass drawn over it during the night. TO THE EDITOR OF THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Sir, — The Frimley and Farnborough Agricultural, Horticultural, and Labourers' Friend Society, held their first show of vegetables on the 7th of July, under the fine grove of oaks on Frimley Green, and the friends of the Society were highly gratified by this first attempt. The promoters had to contend against the preju- dices and confined views of the farmers, and their ignorant labourers ; the one contending that emulation can do no good amongst their workmen, and the latter, fearing that any sum they might be entitled to from the Society, would trench upon their claim on the poor-rates — which they have been taught to con- sider as their birth-right. Industrious labourers are often sneered at by improvident neighbours because, they are not thought any more of than themselves. That the Frimley Agricultural Society will tend to ameliorate their condition, and to relieve the poor- rates of the neighbourhood, there can be doubt; and in this light it is viewed by all the intelligent resi- dents of the district. To an unreflecting mind, these meetings appear unimportant, but the experience of other Societies has proved their value. To some persons they are mere amusements, but those who have watched their progress can see something of more than ordinary interest in the spirit of industry that is roused, and in the disposition to occupy lei- sure hours in fonning a Savings' Bank in the land, rather than sjiending time and money in a public- house. Can any one, with a spark of intelligence, deny, that by rendering the cottager more industrious, we shall be increasing his happiness, re-establishing his independence, and greatly assisting to miprove his moral character 1 Yet these attempts to form Labourers' Friend So- cieties are misconceived, or imperfectly understood ; and hence the neglect and coldness of even many worthy persons ; but a real recompence exists in the consciousness of doing our duty ; and the force of the poet's lamentation is here felt — " Truths would you teach, to save a sinking land. All shun, none aid you, and few understand." Promoters of these Societies should have energy enough to withstand tlie scorn, the sneer, and ridi- cule of the ignorant; the loud laugh, the dry jest, the would-be-wise calculator, take no effect on the reflecting political economist. These remarks are called forth from hearing the opposition which Mr. Lance met with in his exer- tions to form this Society, for it is mainly to his ener- getic endeavours as Secretary, that the success of the first exhibition is to be attributed. There were 24 cottagers received rewards for their exhibition of useful vegetables, fruit, and flowers, and manufactures, varying from two to twenty shil- lings ; also for the culture of their gardens, and the cleanliness of their houses and families. One individual, James Cook, working in a gravel pit for the parish of Farnborough, obtained seven distinct prizes. Yet there were 40 other prizes offered, and not contested for, such is the apathy of the cottagers ; but what else could be expected, when a farmer ex- pressed a greater desire to drink to the expense of seven shillings, rather than pay five shillings for the promotion of this Society, and moreover, he, as well as another farmer, threatened his men with dis- charge if they attended the show of vegetables in the grove, and one of the men returned the ticket of admission to the benefits of the Society, in fear of such an event, if he made use of it ; so much for the boors of England, the semi- barbarians of the South ! Amongst the honorary exhibitors, we have plea- sure in recounting the Hon. Sir E. Paget, Sir G. Sco- vell, the Dean of Chichester, Henry Dumbleton, Esq. ; James Lawrell, Esq. ; Thomas Leybourne, Esq.; George Morant, Esq. ; J. R. Birnie, Esq.; Lieut. Yeates, R.N. ; the Rev. Mr. Lowndes ; John Giles, Esq. ; James Cooper, Esq. ; Mr. Watson, the nurseryman of Bagshot : Mr. Smith, nurseryman of Farnborough ; Mr. Gibbs, the eminent seedsman of Half-moon-street, Piccadilly, who exhibited his speci- mens of grasses and other seeds ; and Mr. Mathews, the rural decorator of Frimley. Mv. Lance, the Secre- tary, did not forget to display his scientic improve- ments in corn culture, and potatoe raisings from seed, agreeable to the recommendations in his essays ; and his daughters exhibited a complete arrangement of flowers, according to the system of Linnseus ; also bouquets of the wild flowers and grasses of the district. Mr. Williams, Mr. Clark, and Mr. Richardson, also added to the display by some unique specimens of vegetables. On the whole, the exhibition was of the most pleasing kind, and as emanating from a district, per- haps the least favourable in appearance to agricultu- ral pursuits, of any in England, it is well deserving theconsidera.ionof our legislators and Emigrant Com- mittees ; for surely, if the money requirtd to trans- port our industrious and valuable countrymen to dis- tant colonies, would amply suffice to preserve their energies for the good of their native land, they should be anxiously retained at home, there being more than 100,000 acres of waste land available for culture in the district of Frimley and Bagshot. AGRICOLA. 342 THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE. MEXICAN BEES. From the Plaza we went to a house where a bee-hive of the country was opened in our pre- sence. The bees, the honeycomb, and the hive, differ essentially from those of Europe. Tlie hive i i generally made out of a log of wood, from two to three feet long, and eight or ten inches in dia- meter, hollowed out, and closed at the ends with circular doors, cemented closely to the wood, but capable of benig removed at pleasure. Some persons use cylindrical hives, made of earthenware, instead of the clumsy apparatus of wood ; these are relieved by raised figures and circular rings, so a3 to form rather handsome ornaments in the vtrandah of a house, where they are suspended by cords from the roof, in the same manner that the wooden ones in the villages are hung to the eaves of the cottages. On one side of the hive, half- way between the ends, there is a small hole made, just large enough for a loaded bee to enter, and shaded by a projection, to prevent the rain from trickling in. In this hole, generally representing the mouth of a man, or some monster, the head of which is moulded in tl.e clay of the hive, a bee is constantly stationed, whose oflfice is no sinecure; for the hole is so small, he has to draw back every time a bee wishes to enter or leave the hive. A gentleman told me, that the experiment was made by marking the centinel, when it was observed, that the same bee continued at his post a whole day. When it is ascertained by the weight that the hive is full, the end pieces are removed, and the honey withdrawn. The hive Ave saw opened was only partly filled, which enabled us to see the eco- nomy of the interior to more advantage. The honey is not contained in the elegant hexagonal cells of our hives, but in wax bags, not quite so large as an egg; these bags, or bladders, are hung round the sides of the hives, and appear about half-full, the quantity being, probably, just as great as the strength of the wax will bear without tearing. Those nearest the bottom, being better supported, are more filled than the upper ones. In the centre, or the lower part of the hive, we ob- served an irregular-shaped mass of comb furnished with cells, like those of our bees, all containing young ones, in such an advanced state, that when we broke the comb and let them out, they fiev/ merrily away. During this examination of the hive, the comb and the honey were taken out, and the bees disturbed in every way, but they never stung us, though our faces and hands were covered with them. It is said, however, that there is a bee in the country which does not sting ; but the kind we saw seem to have neither the power nor the inclination, for they certainly did not hurt us, and our friends said they were always ?mi7/ mcnuo (very tame), and never stung any one. The honey gave out a rich aromatic perfume, and tasted dif- ferently from ours, but possessed an agreeable fla- vour.— Basil Hull's Travels in South America. It was decided at the late Lincoln City Sessions, that if malt be destroyed, lost, or damaged, the owner, on duly proving; his loss, is entitled to recover the duty which had been paid upon it, under 7 and 8 of Geo. IV. cap. 52. sec. 76 ; and 11 Geo. IV. cap. 17, sec. 87. WHOLESALE PRICES OF BALTIC AND AMERICAN TIMBER AT LIVER- POOL, August 18. Timber, per Cubic Foot. Duty 55s per load of 50 feet. £ s. d. £ s. d. Riga 0 2 6 to 0 2 8 Dantzic 0 2 2 0 2 3 Memel 0 2 2 0 2 3 Duty 10s. per load of 50 feet. American Pine 0 1 7 0 2 0 Do. Quebec 0 1 8i 0 1 9 Red Pine 0 1 9 0 2 0 Quebec Oak 0 2 2 0 2 9 Duty 5s per load of 50 feet. Birch 0 1 5 0 1 8 Planks, per foot of two-inch. Duty 44/. per 120. Dantzic Deck 0 0 4 0 0 4^ Duty 21. 5s to 21. 10s per 120. American Pine 0 0 2i 0 0 3|^ Deals, per standard hundred. Duty 19Z. to 22/. per 120. Best Petcrsburgh Red 17 10 0 18 0 0 Ditto White 14 10 0 15 0 0 Memel Red 16 0 0 17 0 0 Dantzic and Swedish Red.. 14 10 0 15 10 0 A MESS DINNER AT BOMBAY. Some eighty-five years ago, a mess dinner in India was no joke. When Colonel Campbell, at three o'clock reached the mess bungalow, he found fifteen gentlemen assembled, military officers, a few civilians and merchants. The mess-room was a bare unfurnished chamber, without mat, punkah, or carpet ; and every person brought Lis own chair, plate, spoon, knife, fork, and glasses. The table groaned under the smoking viands, and Colonel Campbell observed a box under the table, which, attracting his attention, he inquired what it was placed there for. Major Stackpool, the pre- sident, informed him that it was a half chest, con- taining six dozen of prime claret. They sat down, the full chest being first opened, and placed at one side of the president's chair. The wines were hot as the thermometer at 95^* could render them. The room was stifling, even though the Venetians were open, and some few had people with hand-fans to cool them ; but this the majority considered vastly effeminate. " Gentlemen," said the president, " be seated,but first make yourselves comfortable." So saying, he doffed his coat, waistcoat and stock, and every one followed his example. " Sit down, sit down," continued Ma.jor Stackpool. "I'm sorry to say Padre Hcavisidc is not here to say grace, so we must even do without." " What's become of the old sinner ?" inquired Captain Hesketh, a bloated-looking, short-necked corpu- lent man of forty-two. " W^hy," replied the major, " last week a report having arisen, I know not how, that the plague had been imported in an Arab ship, his reverence beat the retreat, and took himself off to Goa." The company now set to eat- ing and drinking in earnest ; and though the wines were so hot, bottle after bottle of Calcavellas and claret, to pay nothing of certain pocula of sangarce in the pauses, disappeared with a rapidity that would frigliten our modern quihys and ducks. Captain Hesketh assured Colonel Campbell that the climate was the worst on earth, and that but for a generous diet and plenty of liquid stimulants, it would be impossible to live in it. The conver- sation now began to be noisy and desultory ; tigers, wild hogs, Mahrattas, and the cave of THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 343 elephanta, were talked about all in a breath. " I can prove to the satisfaction of yourself, Captain M'Fadden, or any individual," said Collector Pur- v^^annah, "that the florikan has four toes." "I tell ye, sir, the florikan has only three." " Now really you are a very positive individual." " I'm nae mair an indeevedual, sir, than ye are yersel," said Captain M'Fadden fiercely. Here there was a roar of laughter ; and Mr. Purwannah, in a fever of irritation at being laughed at, looked from one to another, but at length his attention was directed by Major Stackpool asking him to take a pint bumper with him. This the other in- stantly acceded to, and the draught appeared to soothe his irritated nerves. The cloth being re- moved, the whole party " set ardent in to serious drinking." Some began to falter a little in their speech, others to laugh knowingly and smirkingly at everything, and others again to weep and fondle each other. The collector and M'Fad- den, drowning all testiness in wine, were vowing everlasting friendship, when, Colonel Campbell beginning to feel alarmed at the state of things before him, by a certain premonitory sensation of the room going round, rose up to depart quietly. This, however, was a thing not to be heard of; Major Stackpool and others debarred his retreat. " My dear sir," said Major Stackpool, " you can- not surely leave us so soon ?" "So soon indeed ! have we not sat here sii.ce three o'clock, and it is now half-past si-X?" "But, my dear sir," said Captain Hesketh, "we have got through little more than half the claret ; see the chest is very nearly half-full yet." "What, sir! you surely don't expect me to sit here until that great box of wine is all drank out ! I shall die ;" " Well, if you do," hiccupped Captain Hesketh, " recollect that Alexander the Great died at Babylon." "Sorry comfort that for me ; but really I do not feel very well, and the cup of Hercules now would finish me." "Well, well," said the president, "we won't be hard upon you; for ourselves, we shall not leave this till we finish the claret : but at any rate come and let us drink welcome to Bombay, and prosperity to you." This appeared so reason- able, that Colonel Campbell consented to sit down again, and bumper after bumper was fired off in good rummers, with a rapidity that fairly frightened him ; but seeing tliat one of the Venetians was convenient for a bolt, and that the window was only six or seven feet from the ground, he deter- mined to escape when he could. Accordingly, in the midst of some promiscuous and noisy discus- sion, he leaped out, and got fairly off. Colonel Campbell did not get up next day till noon. A throbbing headach reminded him of the hard bout he had undergone the previous evening, when a servant entered with a card, on which was written ■ — " Mr. James Askindull." Throwing on his dressing gown, he desired the man to show Mr. Askindull in. — " Hope you're well. Colonel — not the worse of last evening's shivoe?" "Why, really, Mr. Askindull, I cannot say I am much the better for it." " Never mind, sir, that will wear off when you get used to it ; but will you kindly call the servant, I feel a little thirsty and fatigued, and a glass of sangaree would not be amiss." Tills being brought, Mr. Askindull drank it off with infinite gusto; desiring the man to bring another, and two dried bummaloes, as a relish. " Well, Colonel, you've heard that poor Hesketh has caught it at last." "What, the plague?" *' Not exactly ; excellent, worthy, good fellow Tom Hesketh ; even though my particular friend, I never thought he would be off in this way." " How off, Mr. Askintlull ?" "Oh, a regular case of pop. I suppose you will accompany us to see the poor fellow to Padre Heaviside's godowns !" " Padre Heaviside's godowns !" " Yes, the church- yard ; he is to be buried this evening." " Buried, indeed! I never heard of his death." "No! I thought you had not. Yes, he sat gallantly to see the claret out, as usual, and sang several songs ; but all at once I heard him give a queer kind of snort. I turned round, and saw his head had fallen backwards ; his eyes stared confoundedly, and face and lips were as if he had bedaubed them with indigo. We laughed at first; but seeing he never moved but to shake one leg, like, we thought it queer. Dr. Molesworth came immediately, and tried to bleed him, but the vein would not run, he was stone dead. Poor fellow ! we were most particular friends ; and I certainly mean to pur- chase his service of plate, and his stock of claret, Java arrack, and old Calcavellas, at the auction of his things, which, I presume, will take i^lace the day after to-morrow. You'll be there of course; capital opportunity to get good bargains. Good morning. Colonel Campbell." — Bengal Annual. FIRST STEAM TRIP TO ST. KILDA. We abridge the following singularnarrative from the ' Glasgow Free Press.' The natives of St. Kilda, though distant only two or three days' §ail from our own shores, are as primi- tive in their manners, and appear to know as little of the civilized world, as if they were residents at Otaheite or Nova Zerabia: — " The steamer Glenalbyn, Daniel Mathieson commander, lately performed a most extensive, varied, and magnificent voyage. She proceeded from Oban [a sea-port in Inverness, within a day's sail of Glasgow,] on Saturday the 26th, about eleven a. m. for the Spar Cave, calling at Tober- mory. On her arrival at the Spar Cave, the even- ing proved particularly propitious, and the pas- sengers had an opportunity of visiting it, with preparations by man-ropes, torches, &c. " At day-light next morning she started for Loch Appin, and arrived there about six o'clock, whei-e all the passengers landed, and experienced one of the most splendid views imaginable. This romantic lake is celebrated in a note, by Sir Walter Scott, to his poem of the " Lord of the Isles;" but notwithstanding his incomparable powers of description, the sublimity of the scenery sui-passed it in reality. Proceeding to Lochbraccadale, she received some young geologists, from whence she went to Lochnamaddy and took on board a pilot, about three p. m., under whose guidance she pro- ceeded through the very intricate Sound of Harris, studded with rocks ; and after gaining the open sea, a beautiful expanse of ocean opened itself to the view of many, who then, for the first time, had witnessed the broad Atlantic without the view of land beyond. About midnight they arrived off St. Kilda. Owing to there being no person ac- quainted with the anchorage, Captain Mathieson, advisedly, let off the steam, and hove the vessel to under her sails. At daylight the steam was set on, and the vessel very soon approached the bay op- posite to where the whole inhabitants of the island reside. At this time it was about four a. m. and the steamer fired off two of her cannon — the report of which aroused the natives, who issued from their dwellings like flocks of bees. As the Glenalbyn was the first steamer that ever touched 344 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. at St. Kilda, its unwonted appearance, and the noise of escaping steam combined, led the natives simultaneously to flee to the steepest crags. In a short time, however, one of the party, more courageous than the others, slowly returned, and api)roached the minister's house, when, after re- maining for some little time, he again went back, and headed them to the beach. St. Kilda is said by the poet to be upon the ^'melancholy main;" but to the visiters and visited, upon this occasion, it was a joyous scene in the extreme. Many of those who landed had previously provided them- selves with quantities of tobacco, cotton handker chiefs of gay patterns, &c. ; the former of which they distributed liberally amongst the male part of the population, and the latter amongst the matrons and maids, some of whom, upon dis- covering themselves tobeso unexpectedly adorned, actually shed tears of exultation. " The population consists of 21 familes, or 93 individuals, who have never increased for the last century. Many of them marry very young, and, of course, with near relatives, which may partly account for the apparent deterioration of the race. The clergyman's duties appear to be strictly con- fined to religious matters. The magisterial duties devolve upon the only individual in the island (with the exception of the minister) who speaks the English language, and who is employed by the proprietor as ground-officer to collect the feathers, &c., which are given by the natives in lieu of rent, and who terms himself '* Baron Bailie." His cast of countenance is rather intelligent, and he appears, from his air, to assume a considerable degree of authority, but in dress and otherwise he appears like the other natives. The houses, twenty-one in number, are collected close to each other, with very narrow passages between, and form a circle, at one side of which the Baron Bailie has a bench erected, where he holds courts one a week, and dispenses justice liberally. " A house, remote from the others, has a lock on the door (the only one amongst the natives), where young couples are placed in upon being married, and the door locked upon them for twenty-four hours ; there are also several other houses at a distance, where the inhabitants store their feathers. At this season of the year they catch the fowls by descending the cliffs, suspended by a rope composed of horse hair, which two or three persons hold above. The person capturing the birds has a piece of wood or branch, similar to a common fishing-rod, to the end of which there is a piece of hair line, about a foot in length, formed into a running noose, which he places over the head of the bird, and by i)ulling it towards him the noose tightens upon the bird's neck, which he then unfastens, and takes in another. There is neither surgeon nor midwife in the island; and when children are born, they are fed for the first five days upon butter dissolved in milk, and should it happen to survive that period, it is then suckled, but otherwise it of course dies. It is ascertained that only one out of ten passes the age of infancy. A natural transition leads us to proceed from the birth to the death, — and on the occasion of a funeral, the whole population follow the body, in a direct line, to the place of interment ; but should the death be untimely (more especially by a fall from the cliffs), then what may be termed a Roman, or perhaps an Irish, howl takes place, and the natives abstain from every occupation for a period of three days. Their houses are in general built of loose stones, about five feet in height, and com- ])oscd of great masses, usually from four to six feet In thickness, thatched with straw. Their beds, or rather places of repose, are, for the winter and spring months, in a recess within the before-men- tioned thick walls, where a quantity of fog, without any covering, is laid. Before leaving, all the natives were invited on board to view the steamer, of which invitation the male part of the popula- tion accepted, but declined to allow the females to accompany them. On their being taken into the cabin, its splendour overcame them to such a de- gree, that many of them seemed inclined to kneel and worship. They asked if the ship belonged to the King, and whether or not he had any others, and if so large ? But upon being informed that his Majesty had vessels of four times the size, then appeared not to credit it; and several of them being shown their images in a large mirror, started with affright, — one in particular ;' for on being asked if he thought that it was his brother, he be- came still more alarmed, and said that he never had one in his life. " About eight a. m., she sailed from St. Kilda, and proceeded back through the Sound of Harris, and then along the north of Long Island to Storno- vvay, where she arrived about ten o'clock, after experiencing a heavy sea and strong breeze a-h ead ; she then sailed about one a. m., on Tuesday morn- ing, for Oban, and called at Portree, where pre- parations were making for one of the Skye annual markets ; from thence through the inner Sounds, passing Egg and Rum, in the former of which is the celebrated cave described by Sir Walter Scott in one of his notes to the poem of the " Lord of the Isles." On arriving at Staffa, the evening proved to be particularly fine, and the passengers had every opportunity of exploring its varied wonders ; and when the company sung the anthem of " God save the King," in Fingal's Cave, the effect was remarkably striking. Thereafter she proceeded to lona, and it being then about sunset the sublimity of the scenery, accompanied with associations of elevated emotions, caused the visit to be of peculiar interest. Several of the young gentlemen went ashore to enjoy the night at the inn. At daylight on Wednesday the 30th, the vessel returned to Oban, and landed the whole passengers about eleven, a.m. " We must not omit to mention, that while the ship was at sea on Sunday the 27th, Divine worship was performed in a very solemn and respectful manner, by the Rev. William Hetherington." The foUowiug- is the last Aunual Official Returns of the Population and Produce of the district of Launcest.on, Van Diemen's Land: — Population in the District of Launceston : Free — males 2127, fe- males 1235; Convicts — males 1681, females 201; Total — males 3808, females 1436. Persons em- ployed in Agriculture, 2122 ; Manufactures, 47 ; Commerce, 668. Military, 88. Produce, Stock, ike. in the District of Launceston : Crops — Nature of the crops, and the number of acres of land in each crop— Wheat, 5883; Barley, 802; Oats, 1459i , Peas, 114f ; Beans, llf ; Potatoes, 525| ; Turnips, 4B4| ; English grasses, 2175f ; Tares, 6S. Total number of acres in crop, 11,318$;, number of acres of uncultivated land, 16,307|. Stock — Number of. Horses, 797 ; Horned Cattle, 13,956 , Sheep, 62,018 ; Goats, 59. Produce — Nature of the produce and the quantity of each — Wheat, 58,830 bushels; Barley, 12,034 "ditto ; Oats, 29,280 ditto ; Peas, 2380 ditto; Beans, 263f ditto ; Potatoes, 1575| tons ; Turnips, 1739; Hay, 543|. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, 345 LEICESTER WOOL FAIR. On Wednesday, the 6th August, upwards of fifty persons sat down to a most excellent dinner at the Bell hotel, for the purpose of forwarding the es- tablishment of the Leicester Wool Fair. Henry Wilson, Esq., took the chair, and was supported by Sir F. Fowke, Bart., Col. Burnaby, R. Cheslyn, Esq., C. Winstanley, Esq., Sir William Heygate, E. W. Wilmot, Esq., G. J. B. Danvers, Esq., R. Ilaymes, Esq., J. Humfrey, Esq., — Brown, Esq., — Farnhani, Esq., — Morris, Esq., and — Simpkin, Esq., in the vice chair, together with many of the first agriculturists in the county. After the cloth was drawn there could not have been less than 150 persons present. The chairirian gave the fol- lowing toasts : — The King— The Queen and Royal Family — The High Sheriff of the county — His Grace the Duke of Rutland, president of the Agri- cultural Society — The A'lanufacturing interests ; particularly the town and borough of Leicester. The chairman here observed — It was with great pleasure and infinite satisfaction he met with the present company. He was aware that there were many misrepresentations as to their object. Their object was not to get extravagant ])rices ; it was to fix a time for farmers to off'er their wool for sale ; for the interest of the manufacturer, as well as the agriculturist. The fair would produce a Mvholesome competition among buyers, and it would teach the farmer the value of his wool. Fie expected opposition ; in all counties there had been opposition at the commencement of these fairs. Mr. Coke, of Norfolk, the Father of Agricultural Societies, had been opposed. — When that prac- tical farmer instituted the Norfolk wool fair, the county was divided into three districts, and the grazier was obliged to take what was offered. The staplers were in the habit of buying their clips as they were; let them send their agents as usual to inspect the clips, and attend themselves to bid for them at the fair. The chairman sat down amidst loud applause. Here Sir F. Fowke stated, that he had very lately sold his wool — viz. — Cheviot ewe hogs and wethers 560— Leicester ditto 514 — total, 1074 fleeces, at 48s. The next toast — " Col. Keck, and the Leicester- shire Yeomanry." Mr. Farnham returned thanks in the name of Col. Keck, for the honour they had done that gen- tleman and the Leicestershire Yeomanry ; he was sorry Col. Keck could not attend to express his gratification ; he felt assured, as a member of that body, they would always be ready to do their duty, and aid the civil power whenever called upon, let the emergency be what it would. " The Presidents of the other two Agricultural Societies, Sir Geo. Beaumont, Bart., and R. Hay- mes, Esq." The chairman here observed, that so- cieties such as he had mentioned, strengthened the bond of union between the landlord and tenant — the poor and the rich. " Sir F. Fowke, the well known friend of the Agricultural Interests." Sir F. Fowke made a most eloquent speech, and entered with great spirit into the object of the meeting. He was a friend, he said, to the agricul- tural society ; he had long been an occupier of land. The times are such, observed the worthy baronet, when you must combine together for the benefit of all ; on this point there could not be a difference of opinion ; he would not siqipose there was a man present who had not the interest of his country dear to his heart, and engrafted with that of his family. The object of the Leicester agricultural society was to protect the farmer, and give to the labourer his due, and adequate remu- neration for his labour. In this country, wool is a staple commodity ; if a wool fair was useful any- where it was here, in the heart of England. He agreed with his friend, Mr. Wilson, that the farmers should assemble, and agents should go about as usual to inspect wool, and then purchase it at the fair. It was reasonable to expect that wool buyers would make the be&c bargain they could. But, continued the kind hearted hart., can the farmer in retired situations know the value of his wool .' It could not be sold by samples. He would recommend them to combine to subscribe their share, and procure a warehouse to deposit their wool ; that occurred to him at the moment as the best plan of the two. He requested them to look at his proposal dispassionately ; his only object was to serve the agriculturist, and the com- munity at large. After a very interesting speech (of which our space will not permit a full report,) Sir F. Fowke sat down amidst loud cheers from all parts of the room. The chairman then gave the health of " Col. Burnaby." Colonel Burnaby expressed his obligations for the kind manner in which his health had been re- ceived. It appeared to him extraordinary that there should be a backwardness on the jjart of the buyer ; why should there be ? They send agents at large salaries to buy wool on their own judg- ments ; let those agents come to the fair, and pur- chase to save expenses ; but they objected to that, because they did not like competition. The gal- lant colonel urged the agriculturists to persevere, and they would succeed. G. J D. B. Danvers, Esq., gave the health of "the Chairman," in a very neat speech. The Chairman returned thanks, and assured the meeting that if his humble efforts could contribute in any way to the welfare of the county, he should feel amply repaid for any exertions, and gave " The Wool Staplers who had favoured the meet- ing with their company." He then addressed the meeting on the purport of their assembling on this occasion. He had delayed calling their atten- tion to business so soon as he otherwise shoidd have done, owing to so few wool-buyers being present ; he would by no means propose anything detrimental to any class — all he wished was, for the farmer to receive the fair value of his wool. He then alluded to Hertford Fair as an encourage- ment to them ; when it was first established, nothing was done, but last year 18,000 fleeces were sold ; the same success had attended Aylesbury and many other places. He felt confident that the Leicester wool fair would be the first in the king- dom. He then stated he had some fleeces to dis- pose of, consisting of 41 hogs, 45 fat sheep, 38 fat Cheviots, and 52, ewes, and offered them to Mr. .Jacques at 48s. Mr. Jacques declined, and made many objections to weighing to the jlb. In fact, it was evident he had come, with others, not to buy, but to create a confusion and disturb the pro- ceedings, and Col. Burnaby very plainly told him so. It was then offered to Mr. Gibson, and re- fused, for the same and other reasims, which cre- ated quite a confusion of tongues, verifying the old proverb, " inuch cry, and little wool." The dispute was chiefly upon the weighing to a M!). Mr. Neal, wool-agent, and Mr. Bracebridge were the principal disputants, but the uproar pre\ ented our understanding them. The health of C. Winstanley, Esq., was then 346 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. proposed, and pacified for a time the tumult. He I'ose and stated that his opinion was decidedly in favour of agricultural societies, and that the ma- nufacturer and farmer must rise or fall together. Mr. Gibson, a stapler, offered his wool at 46s.— no buyer. This gentleman became much irri- tated, and accused the chairman of using him with contempt, because his violence required a call to order. Mr. Willmott rose and said, there was a wilful opposition from selfish motives, and made other comments on the behaviour of certain parties ; he offered his wool, 200 fleeces, one-third hogs, at 48s, but would not sell otherwise than according to the 1 ules of the fair. Mr. Siinpkin, vice chairman, offered his wool at 48s — no buyer. A Stapler offered him 21 2s. This part of the business, and the manner in which it was conducted, remindel us of some petty auctions wc have seen in our market-place on a Saturday — such as an itinerant tinman underselling his next neighbour, to beat hira out of the market; it was almost too farcical to cause anger; thougii still annoying to the meeting. Mr. Bracebridge declared his opinion to be, that the fair rested with the growers, not with the biujers ; he proposed to sell in the bulk, and stated that at Hemel Hempsted, there were 22,800 fleeces sold before dinner, and none was left to be disposed of afterwards. Mr. Kilby did not consider that the last fair was a failure ; it had done good already ; and if wool buyers would not agree to the rules, they ought not t"> disturb the meeting. At this period, an exasperated buyer vowed he would never enter the room again. Mr. Kilby replied, " We shall not miss you." (Roars of laughter.) Sir F. Fowke protested against such interruption ; he came there for information, and unless order was restored, and the chairman treated with courtesy, he should leave the room. Mr. Kilby returned thanks on his health being drank. Mr. Simpkin's (vice chairman) health was drank with applause, and he said to prove the benefit of fairs, that he had offered wool at 43s, and sold it the day after the fair at 4,5s 6d. Some jjcrsons objected to holding the fair after dinner. Sir F. Fowke replied, in a humor(jus speech, defending the practice of enlivening the spirits with a glass of wine, for which he gave the old five reasons — Good wine — a friend — or being dry, Or least we should be by and bye ; Or an}' oiher reason why ! "The Ladies of Leicester," received as usual with applause. A vote of thanks was passed to the chairman, for his conduct in the chair, and the meeting broke up at seven o'clock. WOOL TRADE. AVc beg to call the attention of our readers to the following letter, which has been sent by C. A. W. Pclham, i5sq., M.P., to the Chairman of the dif- ferent Agricultural Associations throughout the countv : — " London, July 28th, 1831. " My Dear Sir, — In consequence of having been in- tiusted with a number of petitions from different parts of the northern division of the county of Lincoln, stating the distress felt by the agriculturists, one of which petitions was signed by upwards of 8000 persons, I have been anxiously endeavouring to discover whether any thing beyond legislation could be done to assist the farmer. As wool is an article to which the farmer, I am happy to say, may look with some hope, and as last year and this present season, compared with a few years ago, it has fetched a very high price, I have been con- sidering what may be the best means for the poor farmer fully to participate in the benefit. Last year the wool- buyer gained the principal profit, in consequence of many of the farmers not knowing what the wool was worth, and tlie poorer they were, the less chance they had of gaining by the advance in the price : for if they got ever so small an advance, they did not dare to hold or to speculate, being kept in ignorance of what the article was really worth in the market. My object in addressing you is, because I see you are president or chairman of the Barton Agricultural Association ; and I shall feel obliged to you to take an early opportunity of reading this letter at any meeting of the association. The gentlemen may then discuss the matter, and if my views should be looked upon favorably, and the gentle- men think I could assist them in any way towards pro- moting the object I have in view, — namely, the benefit of the farmer, — I shall be most happy to render them any assistance in my power. "It appears to me that great benefit might arise from the establishmentof a woolfair in the county of Lincoln. Where it should be established, would be best settled, I think, by the persons most interested in it ; for it must always be borne in mind uihere the wool is to be carried after it is sold ; and it would probably be of great im- portance to consult the convenience of wool buyers, who of course will be adverse to the establishment of a wool fair, as it will destroy their chance of good bargains from the absence of fair competition, and they cannot deceive the farmer about the price which he is fairly entitled to receive, and which, under the present system, they can do with great facility. I am in correspondence with Mr. Coke on the subject, he having been the means of establishing a wool fair in Norfolk, and if I find the proposition approved of in Lincolnshire, I shall be happy to give you every information I may receive from that gentleman. — I am, yours very faithfully, " C. A. PELHAM, " John Richardson, Esq., Chairman of the Barton Agricultural Association." The above letter was alluded to by Mr. North- house, of Lincoln, at the dinner "of Lord Yarbo- rough's tenants, at Limber, on Friday Aug. 8. Mr. Northhouse, who has ample means of information, warned the farmers against an imposition prac- tised by w'ool buyers, some of whom he personally knew, took ttvo letters round with them, one con- tahiiny ont price, from the real correspondent 4 , and another lower one, always shewing the loioer price. — Referring such of our readers as may be incre- dnlcus on this subject to what took place at Leices- ter last week, and also to an article in our last, headed " Wool Trade." PRIZE ESSAY ON THE MANAGEMENT OF LANDED PROPERTY^ IN IRELAND. Bv W. BLACKER, ESQ. At a late moment upon looking over the last proofs of this number of our Magazine, we find that a more lengthened notice, with a long and interesting cha[)ter from this valuable little publi- cation, has been by some accident mislaid. The price of the Pamphlet is so trifling, compared with its real worth, that we trust such of our readers as can, will possess themselves of it without delay. In our next, wc shall however, atone for the onus- sion we have innocently been guilty of. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 347 ploughing; match. The ploughing match for the premiums oflFered bj the Bath and West of England Society, took place on Thursday the I4th instant, on a piece of Old Ley, in the occupation of Mr. R. Wigmore, two miles from Tetbury. By half-past nine o'clock there were twenty-three ploughs in the field. The day was very fine, and the field, twenty- five acres, was remarkably well suited for such an operation, it being very level, and the half-acres were measured so as to admit plenty of room for the inspection of the spectators. T. G. Bucknall Estcourt, W. Blathwayt, and Henry Shute, Esqrs., acted as the committee, who selected as umpires JVlr. Peter Wells, of Hazleton, Mr. Wm. Mosse, of Cockleton, and Mr. Wm. Hay ward, of Kemble, three practical farmers not having any interest in cither of the ploughs. As soon as the ploughmen had finished their half-acres, the committee and a large party of agriculturists returned to the White Hart, Tetbury, where an excellent dinner was served bj' Mr. Ed- wards, a fat buck having been sent by his Grace the Duke of Beaufort, and another by the Rev. Mr. George. At tour o'clock between fifty and sixty highly respectable individuals sat down, T. G. Bucknall Estcourt, Esq., in the chair. On the removal of the cloth the usual loyal and appro- priate toasts were given, when the ploughmen were called into the room, and the Secretary read the judge's report. As soon as the candidates had received their premiums and gratuities and had retired, the con- viviality of the evening was resumed. The health of the Duke of Beaufort and Mr. George as donors of the venison was drank with cordialit)'-, and the Marquis of Lansdowno as president, and prospe- rity to the Bath and ^^'est of England Society was received with enthusiasm. Mr. Shute proposed, in a neat speech, the health of the honourable Chair- man, which was rapturously cheered, and Mr. Estcourt returned thanks in a strain of eloquence which elicited the hearty applause of the com- pany. LANCASTER ASSIZES. RESPONSIBILITY OF BROKERS. WALKINSHAW AND CO. T. BUCHANAN AND CO. This was a case which excited the greatest interest in the commercial world. It was an action brought by the plaintifls, who have a house of the first re- spectability in Bombay, trading under the firm of Adam, Skinner, and Co. ; also a house in Glasgow, under the tirm of Walkinslmw, Adam, and Co. ; and a house in Liverpool, under the fli-m of Skinner and Co. The action was brought to recover a sum of 800/, claimed under the following circumstances : — It appears that there is a custom in Liverpool, amongst import merchants, to emploj' brokers to sell their goods; (hose are called selling brokers. 'J here are also buying brokers. It is the pactice for the selling broker, when he effects a sale, to furnish his principal (the mcrcliaiit) witli the name of the party for whom his goods are purchased, and wliich are generally sold by auction, the terms ofsale being cash or approvnd bills on London, tlie notice or' sale being what is called a note of contract, containing tlie name of the ]uirchaser and the price. The note is generally delivered on tlie day of sale, or on the next day, and previous to the delivery of the goods. Though tlie terms of sale by auction are cash or ap- proved hills, they are seldom insisted on when the purchaser is known to be respectable : they are merely as a protection against the casuality of goods being surreptitiously obtained ; payment for goods so disposed of is not demanded for ten days. On the 9th of May last, Messrs. Buchanan and Brown, the defendants, who are highly respectable brokers in Li- verpool, eifected a sale for the plaintiffs, of a quan- tity of cassia and cotton, by auction, to the house of Messrs. Ohmann and Kemp, of EiTverpool, and which were instantly delivered. On the !21st of May Messrs. Ohmann and Kemp stopped payment, and it was then, for the first time, they discovered that their goods had been sold to them. Not receiving the usual note of contract from the defendants, they held tliem liable for tl:e amount, upon the grounds — first, that no such note had been delivered to them, as being by custom establislied, within forty-eight hours after the sale : and, secondly, had they been in- formed, as they certainly ought to have been, of the parties who were the purchasers, they would not have given an order for their delivery without first being secured in payment for their value. On the part of the plaintiff, it appeared, by tlie evidence of their managing clerk, Mr. Hardman, that the note of contract was not delivered until the 27th or 28th of May, and not even then, until frequently applied for. It was not certainly deliveied until after the failure of Messrs. Ohmann and Kemp, of which the defend- ant, Mr. Buchanan, informed him, and it was only then that he knew that Messrs. Ohmann and Kemp were the purchaser of the goods. By the evidence of several most res ^ ctable brokers and merchants, it appeared thatpethe unvarying custom was, under circumstances of the kind, for the selling broker to inform the principal, the merchant, who the parties were for whom the goods were purchased, at the same time to deliver in the note of contract of sale within 48 hours, so as to enable tlie merchant, in the event of his not approving of the sale, to re- scind it ; the order for the delivery of the goods be- ing withheld until the purchaser was approved of. On the part of the defendants, it was contended that though the note of contract was not delivered with the usual commercial regularity, still it was delivered quite time enough to have guarded against any con- sequences which its alleged detention caused. Seve- ral respectable merchants and brokers were called, who all said, th at though the custom was, to deliver the note of contract within 48 hours, yet it was often detained three or four days ; but invariably the order for the deliveiy of the goods v\ as given before the note of contract was delivered, aud the usual time for de- manding a settlement for goods so sold was ten days, and as to informing the principal to whom Lis goods were sold, that was unnecessary, for the respectabili- ty of the broker was a sufficient guarantee that the}^ were ])roperly disposed of. ]\Ir. Baron Gurney summed up the evidence, and he put the three issues to the Jury : the lirst was, whether it was customary to give the princi|ial, or the owner of the goods, the note of contract within 48 hours of the sale; secondh', whether it was the cus- tom to inform the principal, or merchant, who the parlies were who purchased the goods : thirdly, whe- ther the defendants had acted in the present case as by custom brokers were in the habit of doing, and whether it was their usual manner of transacting business. The .Tury, after a short consultation, found a ver- dict for the plaintiff" for 871 16s. lOd. finding, at the same time, the two first issues in the affirmative, and the third in the negative. '1 he C!ourt Aias greatly crowded throughout the day by the first merchants from Liverpool, and the trial lasted nine hours. 348 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. The Foreign Quarterly Review just pub- lished contains a variety of able and interesting matter. Amongst the contents of the present number, there is a very lively and spirited article, entitled " Alexander Dumas's Travelling Impres- sions," consisting of sketches or travels which were originally contributed to some of the Paris periodicals. We give an extract of an extraor- dinary kind of trout fishing which the author wit- nessed at Villanueva in Switzerland : — " We found the fish at dinner so delicious that we asked to have some for our breakfast the next morning. Scarcely had we expressed these gastronomic desires, when the mistress of the house summoned an attendant of about eighteen or twenty years of age, who discharged in tiie inn the various functions of butler, scullion, waiter, and ' boots.' He came half asleep and received the order, in spite of some very expressive yawns, the only opposition that the poor devil dared offer to his mistress's commands ; ' Go, you idle knave,' said she to Maurice, for so this functionary was named, ' take your lantern and bill-hook, and be quick.' ** A lantern and bill-hook to fish with ! From that moment it was all over with Maurice, for 1 was seized with an irresistible desire of seeing fishing managed like fagot making. " Maurice heaved a profound sigh ; for he thought that he had no hope, having been so often in the same predicament, that there was little chance of a miracle in his favour. "He took then, with the energy of despair, a bill-hook which hung in the midst of the kitchen materials, and a lantern of such singular shape that it merits a detailed description. It was a globe of horn, like the round lamps we suspend from our ceilings, to which was fixed a tin tube about a yard long, of the thickness and shape of a broom-handle. As the globe was hermetically closed, the wick which burned in the inside re- ceived air only through the tube, and could nei- ther be extinquished by the wind nor the rain. " ' Are you coming then?' said Maurice, hav- ing made his preparations, and seeing me getting ready to follow. " ' Assuredly,' I replied, ' this mode of fishing appears to me very original.' " ' Aye, aye,' grumbled he between his teeth, ' it is very original to see a poor devil groping in water up to his waist, when he ought to be asleep in hay up to his chin. Will you take a bill-hook and lantern, and fish likewise, it will be then still more original.' " The voice of the misti'ess, sounding in the dis- tance like the muttered thunder before a storm, cut short the dialogue. Away started Maurice with full speed, pursued by Dumas, eager to learn the mode of fishing with a lantern and bill-hook. Maurice had got a considerable start ; his waving light in the distance looked like an iynis fatiius, and was just as treacherous a guide ; ere Dumas had advanced many paces, he tripped over some harness and rolled in the dust and gravel, deriving from the former a complete coveiing from Lead to foot, while the latter converted his hands into as pretty apiece of mosaic as could be desired. Maurice was with diificulty induced to halt, and his conso- lation to the unfortunate traveller was the moral lesson — *' ' See now the consequence of going fishing at half-past nine at night.' " They soon reached a mountain stream, issuing from a distant bed of snow, and Maurice, to the great surprise of bis companion, began gravely to strip, and invited Dumas to follow his example. " ' Are you really going into the water ?' said I. " * How can you have trout for your breakfast if I do not catch it ?' " ' But I have no intention of fishing.' " ' You came to see me fish, did you not ?' " ' Certainly.' " ' Well then, off with your pantaloons — but perhaps you had rather wade with pantaloons — you are free to do so — there is no disputing about taste.' " ' This v/ater is frozen ; ' said I. " ' It comes from the bed ot' snow, about half a league off,' he replied, missing the force of my ex- clamation. " ' But, Maurice — I will not hear of your going into this water.' " ' Did you not say that you wished for trout at breakfast to-morrow morning .''' " ' Certainly' I replied, ' but I did not know that the gratification of my whim would require that a man, that you, Maurice, should go up to your middle in this icy stream at the risk of dying of dysentery within a week — Come away, Maurice, come away.' " ' And what will the mistress say?' " ' I take all that upon myself — Come away.' " ' That cannot be,' said Maurice, stepping into the water.' " ' How cannot be ?' " ' Certainly. Vou are not the only traveller fond of trout.' " Maurice then proceeds to deliver a philippic against the perversity of travellers' tastes ; they love trout, and hence he is driven, at the risk of life, to fish by night in snow-water ; they love the chamois, and in consequence, Maurice's fellow- servant, Peter, is forced to risk his neck over frightful precipices. Dumas indulges in somevery profound reflections on the condition of humanity, but his reveries are interrupted by the extraordin- ary fishery he witnesses ; " During this time, Maurice, who had no sus- picions of the reflections his conversation sug- gested, had waded up to his middle in the stream, and commenced a fishery, of which I had before no notion, and which I would scarcely have be- lieved possible had I not witnessed it. The lantern with its long tube was designed to explore the bed of the torrent, whilst the pipe rising above the surface of the water afforded sufficient air to snpi)ort the flame of the wick. In this manner, the bed of the stream was revealed by a circle of weak and wavering light, diminishing in brilliancy as it receded from the luminous centre. The trout within the circle, atti-actedby the light, swam to- wards the globe like moths fluttering round a candle; then IMaurice slowly lifted the lamp with his left hand, while the fish followed the light ; as each trout came to the surface, Maurice struck it so adroitly with his biil-hook on the head, that it fell stunned to the bottom, whence it soon rose dead and bloody, and was immediately removed to the pouch which Maurice wore like a game bag suspended from his shoulders." — p. 151, The farms of France are small, running from twenty to fifty or sixty acres, and the mass of the people nre comfortable and well provided for. Wood beiug the fuel of France, fifteen or sixteen millirns of acres are occupied by woods and forests. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 349 AGRICULTURAL REPORTS. SUFFOLK. As you combine the " Farmers's Journal" with the " Mark Lane Express," I forward you a re- view of the past and present, and of the farmer's future prospects From January 29th to July 28th, we had continued drought, save and except slight rains, which were dried up by the first gleam of sunshine, and a few partial thunder showers, when rain enough fell, but just to cause the early sown turnips to vegetate in places, and scarcely any dew has fallen during the summer. This ab- sence of moisture caused much spring corn to lay long in the ground, where the land was the least rough, to come up but partially, or totally fail of plant; and a great breadth of layer has failed of plant, pastures were burnt up, clovers and mow- ing grasses were very deficient in produce, or failed to come to the scythe ; and cattle and sheep were kept with difficulty, and much distress has occurred for want of water in the uplands, both light and heavy. The thermometer has ranged commonly from 70 to 80 in the shade, and has oc- casionally been up to 90, and its said to 120 in the sun ; had those who opposed the repeal of the malt tax been exposed to its eifects, as thousands of labourers, &c. were, it might have mollified their obdurate hearts, and melted the film from their eyes. Wheat is the only crop which promises an ave- rage produce, and it is surprising how it even came into the ear, as the land was as dry as if it had never rained, and the strong lands are cracked and split in all directions, in many instances to the depth of two feet or more, quite through the under- drains, which probably will be much injured. Spring crops, except on first-rate soils, and where sown early, are short in the straw, and great failures occur on other lands, and some breadth could never be got in. Where much stock was kept, all the clovers, other seeds, and grasses were ill fed, and few indeed obtained half the usual bulk where mown ; and it is difficult to foresee how the working cattle are to be kept, or indeed other cattle and sheep ; we probably shall have plenty of autumn feed on the pastures, but the stubbles are bare, and turnips are altogether a failing crop ; few obtained a plant in due season ; in other cases the fly swept them off; and where a plant was ob- tained they could not thrive, and breadths were resown, and this second plant has been nearly destroyed in places by the torrents of rain which fell during a thunder storm on the 28th ult. Grazing beasts and sheep have not thi'ove; the cows ceased to fill the pail from want of feed and water, and being pestered with the flies, which abound more than ever was known ; the flocks lived hard, and the lambs are not in good condi- tion, but far better than could have been expected. The farmers* and labouiers' prospects are anything but cheering ; the produce will bring no money, nor will half the labour be required to thrash, and other work must be short. Two or three more fine days will complete the wheat harvest, — a great portion has been harvested without any trouble in the finest order ; but many were caught with uncovered stacks and loads during the storm, and hundreds of stacks had to be taken down and spread out, and the threatening state of the weather afterwards caused some to cast wheat in a moist state. The season is so un- like all former seasons, that the farmers were alarmed lest the wheat sprouted if left out ; burn- ing gleams of sunshine, pealing thunder, and heavy sudden partial showers of rain occurred for three or four days, neither the barometer, the smoke, a red east, a setting sun, nor any of the usual indications of change occurred, and the farmers were caught and alarmed, and hurried in the wheat, as it was in a dangerous state, being ripe and shelling out. All corn and pulse ripened prematurely. Barley can be but a moderate sam - pie, and short crop. Peas, beans and seed tares will yield badly, being short in the straw, weak, and not well filled in the pods. Every means are using, and will be used to meet the probable failure of the young layers, and de- ficiency of the turnip, and other cattle ci-ops ; stubbles are already being sown with turnips and cols, the lands reseeded with clover, trefoil, &c., and all the tares and rye that can begot in in due season will be sown, everj'thiiig that can be done; but it will cause much hurry and labour, both for men and horses, and we have too many irons in the fire ; all the work wants to be done in haste. We are grieved to see this fine and beautiful country seemingly devoted to destruction by fiscal measures on the one hand ; from the want of others, and untoward seasons. What are the landowners about? Why do they not combine and stem the rapid torrent of ruin which awaits them, their children, their tenantry, and of the agricultural labourers } Can they be beguiled into inaction by the crafty sophistry of the cold blooded political economists.' Can they satisfy their con- sciences that they have done their duty to them- selves, their dependants, an ! the country.' Can Ihey drink and sleep in peace ? Some few indeed have exerted themselves to obtain relief m one ikape or other, but in vain ; and like the tenantry give up all hopes, waiting the event with fearful fDrebodings. We are glad that the " Farmer's Journal" is merged into the " Mark Lane Express." If you give us the means, we yet hope to make out our case; without the as- sistance of the press our case is hopeless. I hope your paper will find its way into every agricultural parish, or your extra monthly number at least ; this is the paper currency we want to be extended. — August 6. SUSSEX. It is very unusual to write with any degree of certainty on so early a day as this, as to the possi- ble yield of the crop of wheat ; but yet, so early is the harvest this year, that it will naturally be expected in this report. We will then state, that our opinion of the wheat crop is considerably al- tered since our report for May. We then consi- dered it would be much below an average, but the wheat has improved so much since, that we be- lieve it will prove nearly or quite an average crop ; but here we stop — and express our decided convic- tion that the accounts we have seen published in many papers of the wheat crop being much above an average, will prove to be erroneous. The wea- ther has been remarkably fine for the greater part of themonth,butonthel8th and 19th instant, acon- siderable quantity of rain fell, andsinceat intervals we have had some very heavy showers. On the night of Tuesday 29th, and again the next night, we were visited by very severe thunder storms, followed by a deluge of rain. Indeed, at the mo- ment we are writing, although yesterday and to- day have been fine, the sheaves of wheat are as wet in the middle as if drawn through a pond. The barometer is falling,and should we have much more rain in the course of twenty-four hours, the 350 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. consequence will be serious. The wheat has not sprouted or grswn much yet, but a succession of showers, with the present sultry atmosphere, must make it do so. Barley is very much im- proved ; but in many places the drouaht has been too much for it, and it is blighted. The late sown barley is also very uneven in its growth, and will not malt well. Oats are better than could have been expected. Peas and beans generally very de- ficient. We have had a few lots of wool sold since the Lewes fair at abnnt Is 8d per lb. ; at present the trade appears dull, but many growers of wool hold in expectation of higher prices. There will be abundance of after-grass, and store cattle and sheep will no doubt sell well. We ne- ver knew the vegetation more rapid. Hay will be scarce; and, unless we have a mild winter, must be comparatively dear. — July 31. SOMERSETSHIRE. The cutting of wheat commenced on the warm soils on the 21st, since which time rain has daily fallen, frequently in very heavy showers of long continuance, which have beaten down the growing crops, and penetrated, in many instances, to the very centre of the sheaves. This state of the weather has necessarily prevented carting. A great quantity of wheat is now cut, scarcely a singlG field secured, and the sky threatening. With a degree of humid heat, almost suffocating, and intervals of fair weather not sufficiently prolonged to expel the moisture, we begin to entertain fears that the grain will soon sprout. The ears of wheat have for the last fortnight assumed a dark smutty appearance, instead of that bright yellow indicative of a regularly progressive maturity, and the berry itself is coarse and dull. Heavy burdens of straw are rarely met with, and we may add, that decided failures occur as seldom. The great bulk seems to be of a moderate nature altogether, and if some- thing beyond that be any where found, it is in lands of extraordinary fertility, or in those newly broken uj), such as Ashill-t'orest, which latter, considering its quality, has been highly favoured this season. As yet little barley has been cut. This crop, which at one time presented an un- favourable aspect, has, during the last two months materially improved. The sale of this article to the maltsters at this season is always suspended, and to others so trifling as not to warrant quota- tion. White wheat has been fluctuating from 6s 6d to 6s lOd a bushel for ^he very best quality of this county, surpassed by none in the United King- dom ; but we anticipate some considerable advance for good old samples, if the weather for the last ten days should continue. W4iilc we write this, the reapers are again driven from the field by a violent shower, and all hope of saving corn to- day is gone. All good beasts for grazing are exorbitantly high with reference to the present and the probable future price of fat beef. Sheep average 5d a pound • — washed wool, Dorset, Down, or Leicester, is worth 18d, with a tendency to advance. After the decided mnjority of the independent part of the House of Commons on the motion of the Marquis of Chandos in favour of the agriculturists, there is one general burst of indignation from them against Lord Althorp for his unstatesmanlike and pitiful succunibency throughout his administration to the ten-pound constituency. We have personally known his lordship for more than thirty years, and incurred both trouble and expense in voting for him when a candidate for the University of Cam- bridge ; but we can no longer countenance a pub- lic man, however amiable his private life may be, who could insult the common sense of his country- men by two such bills as were his for the com- mutation of tithes in England, and who has neg- lected ever}' opportunity of mitigating the great distresses of the British farmer. It frequently happens in our neighbourhood, that a short time before harvest the tithe-owner sends a surveyor to value the growing crops ; if the price fixed by him is not accepted by the occupier, he is obliged to set out in kind. We know an instance this year of ISs an acre being paid for land rented at 22s only in 1830. The truth is. Lord Althorp's bills have set the tithe-owners on all expedients to raise their demands, and to add an increased impetus to the depressing force now acting against the tithe system.^July 30. KENT. W^e are now all extremely busy harvesting, and a very few weeks fine weather will enable us to finish, inuluding beans, which in numbers of cases are already cut or pulled. The opinion formed of the wheat at present is, that it will be found to be a full average crop, and the samples in general good, but in some the colour is high and coarse. Barley improved much by the late rains, but nevertheless it will be far short of an average ; the same may also be said of oats ; owing to the long continuance of the dry ueather, they are very thin and short in crop on most of the light lands. Peas and tares are but indifferent, say not more than two -thirds of a crop. Beans are very short in the straw, but thinly podded, and sample small; they will be very far short of an average crop. Potatoes have improved a great deal since the rains, but the plants are very thin in a great number of cases, so that we cannot have a very burdensome crop of this useful root. The cattle markets have of late had a plentiful supply of prime fat cattle, at a lit- tle decline in price, o.ving to the shortness of grass, as numbers are wishing to sell. The quan- tity of sheep and lambs at market has been greater of late, owing to the same reason. The variation in the different hop-gardens are great, but not so much as in some seasons ; in many that we now see, the crops look more promising than others, but this plant has such a variety of changes that we cannot be sure of the crop much before got into the baskets, but at present they look anything but promising. We have but little doing at present amongst wool, numbers being undetermined what to do with their clip. — August 4. OXFORDSHIRE. At length we have to report the fall of copious rains, which have replenished the wells and brooks, so that water is no longer the scarce ar- ticle it has been the last few months. On the evening of the 23d ult. a thunder storm passed over the lower part of the county, and the rain has been heavy in these parts ; since that period we have had thunder and rain every three or four days, sometimes hail storms, but these have been ])artial, and although heavy and injurious when they fell, yet confined to a narrow extent. The harvest is going on but slowly, and there is a con- siderable quantity of wheat in the field in the northern side of the county ; what was cut prior to the 3d inst. was carried in good order on the Monday and Tuesday following, but probably none was entirely free from sprouted grains, although on the whole much freer than could have been ex- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 351 pected at one period when the atmosphere was close and the corn continually wet. With lis the wheat is (with some few exceptions of blight) of good quality, and is expected to yield well from the sheaf, but as we long ago predicted, goes into very few ricks. There is but little harlej'' cut, and still less secured in the barn, and, while we are writing, the rain is pouring down in torrents, and there can be but one opinion respecting the crop ]M-oving a deficient one. both in quantity and qua- lity. But few oats are grown liere ; they are a better crop than is barley. Beans are become suddenly ripe, and will serve to occupy the time which otherwise would api)ear tedious to wait for the barley ripening. The produce in both corn and straw will be very light, indeed they are so short as to make it difficidt to harvest them. All the kinds of grasses and clovers have grown amaz- ingly, so that we abound in feed. Swedes and white turnips have in general been doing well ; and potatoes are most luxuriant in their growth, but are wanting in plant. In consequence of the change in the weather the markets have had a start, and the millers appear to be every day more desirous to increase their stock. Best old wheats have advanced -virithin the last fortnight about Is per boll, and barley about 3s per qr. Wool has been making 47s to 48s per todd. There appears to be some trickery practised in the sale of this ar- ticle ; we have been credibly informed that in one instance 10/ as a premium was offered by a wool stapler and taken by a grower to sell his wool at a price beneath the markets, to serve the former in making his bargains — a most dishonourable and disgraceful practice, deserving the severest repre- hension, both as it respects the buyer and seller. Note, none but wools of good quality will com- mand the above prices. BERKS. For the last three weeks the weather has been subject to thunder, and a very great quantity of rain has fallen, and we have scarcely had two days together without hearing the roar of distant thunder, and have been obliged to fly for shelter to escape a drenching from a heavy storm, and the weather seems even nntil now in a very unsettled state. There has not yet been much wheat secured, although every opportunity has been taken, and most of it which has been carried has been put together in middling condition. In manyinstances, before a rick could behalf finished, a heavy shower of rain has come and run in pud- dles down through the staddle, so that the whole was obliged to be pulled to pieces again and carried out into the field to dry, and by so much moving about a considerable quantity of the wheat has been beaten out, and a great waste has ensued — other ricks which were built, but not thatched, have by]the great deluge of rain been much damaged and growed in the roof, and where not topped by a skilful hand, the rain has penetrated very deeply. The wheat that was ripe and not reaped is uncom- monly stained, and the straw and chaff is become nearly rotten ; and in reaping and carrying it together it shakes out most sadly to the great loss of the farmer ; and the wheat that was cut but not carried, is not only stained but sprouted, particu- larly the white, when situated in small grounds under woods and trees, and on the low lands in the vale of Berks, where the crop was great ; and, we lament to say, that we know not of a piece of wheat but what has sustained a considerable injury by the weather, and cannot now, whatever weather may come, be so good as it would have been had there been no rain. A fortnight ago the old wheat was faiily scoffed at and rejected at 50s per qr., but now the same wheat is readily purchased at 10s per qr advance. There is not a sheaf of this year's growth that the straw will be bright enough for making plat, and there is none of the last year's growth that will do, so that the Buckinghamshire dealers in straw are now hunting about the country for two-year-old wheat ricks, to supply the trade with straw to plat through the winter. We see no reason to alter theopinion stated in our last report respecting the crop of wheat, and although the bulk is not great to the eye, yet we are convinced that the produce will be more than an average one ; and if the weather should even now prove favourable, the damage done would not beof any serious inconvenience, for although by repeated washings the new wheat has doubtless lost much of its ' spirit,' so that it will not make a good loaf by itself, yet it is only the white wheat that stood in sheltry places that is greatly sprouted, and if mixed with a certain portion of old wheat, of which there is plenty in hand, the injury, we hope, will not be very seriously felt. The fagging of wheat in this county gets more in fashion, and contrary to the opinion heretofore entertained, it has not sustained near the injury as that which was reaped. A small portion of the barley is now ripe, and a considerable portion is getting in a forward state, but some fields are very backward, and will not for a length of time be ready for the scythe ; the crop altogether is ex- tremely variable, and the samples will be very uneven. Some of the early sown oats are ready for the scythe, and a portion will not he ready for some weeks. Beans, peas, and vetches aie all ripe, and the pods of both peas and vetches are beginning to open, and if the weather continues unsettled, a great loss will soon ensue — the crop of vetches is uncommonly bad, except on a small portion of the high chalky hills which overlook the vale of Berks. Part of the crop of sanfoin- seed was secured in most e.xcellent condition, and the fodder is nearly as good as hay ; but the other part was catched in the rain, and the fodder is completely spoiled, and a considerable part of tlie seed is lost or sprouted. The rain has already pro- duced an abundance of sheep feed, and almost every meadow and pasture will soon be full of grass. The second crop of clover has also taken a fresh start, and in most places there will be more of a crop than there was the first time. An unusual number of acres of turnips have been sown this year, and in general the crop is a good one. Swedes and rape are both in a flourishing condition, and seem likely to produce plenty of feed. The price of wool continues pretty firm, but we think that within the last few days the buyers have not been quite so eager — about three- fourths of the wool has already changed hands. Sheep and lambs have recently been selling at lower prices, but considering the good prospect of turnips and other keep, we cannot think at pre- sent that they will get any cheaper. As much of the young grass has failed, the new scarlet trefoil will be tried on rather a large scale this autumn, and on some particular soils and situations there is not a doubt but it will flourish and grow ex- ceedingly well, but the farmers in this country in our opinion are not much in want of a new sort of clover, for the land is already most of it clover sick ; what is wanted we conceive is something quite different from clover, but to answer the same purpose for both feed and hay. The prin- 352 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. cipal part of the strong heavj' land has been planted with vetches and clover until it is quite tired with the same, and has often proved a failing crop ; and a person that would introduce from some foreign country a plant that would prove a good substi- tute for these things would deserve the thanks of every farmer. It is greatly to be regretted that the weather has been so unpropitious for harvest- ing the wheat, and we are afraid that it will be of most serious consequence to the little and poor farmers, for many of them have taxes and rates and bills, and even rents in arrears, and all the chance of keeping along was by making some money at the present time, but they are completely disappointed, for they cannot get their wheat dry enough for sale except they sell it at a great sacrifice, and they have no old wheat to make money, and their situation in many instances will be truly de- plorable ; in fact, of late years, the profits on land has been so small that no man can support his family on a few acres, and little farms cannot in consequence now be let at any price, but are obliged to be let to some person who occupies some neighbouring farm, and who saves the ex- pense of house-keeping, and thus the monopoly of farms increases every year, not because the land- lords in general wish it and encourage it, but be- cause it is certain ruin for a man to occujjy a little land, and because the landlord has no other alter- native, as he can find no other tenant that can pay him any rent, and that valuable class of persons, the little farmers, will in a very few years become extinct. — August 4. BEDFORDSHIRE. The reaping of wheat has commenced here from fourteen to twenty days ; and though a few wheat hovels have been carted, we believe there has not been a clieaf carted fit ior present use, and from the verv unsettled state of the weather, there can be none got into barn this week. The wet weather may be considered to have commenced on Friday the 18th of last month, and continued with little intermission till the 22d, which was followed by fine weather all the end of the week. Early on Sunday morning the rain agam set in tre- mendously heavy, which continued till about noon ; and again on Tuesday morning we had a yery heavy tempest, attended with deluging rains, and we have not had one entire fine dav since. It is now raining heavilv, with a close warm atmosphere, and not a breath of wind. It is now too late to expect the new wheat to be equal in quality to that of last year's growth, were the weather immediately to clear up, of which there isnot much probability. Wherever the wheat has been found at all damp, or the shocks have been suff'ered to lay upon the ground, it has much sprouted ; till this morning, however, we did hope that in open situations, where great care had been bestowed, the damage had not been very serious. One more wet dav, however, after this, and there will be more grown wheat than has been known in this county since the year 1800. The wheat having all ripened nearly at the same time, the farmers were much troubled at one time for men, and where the labourers were not hired for the month, they had to submit to the most exorbitant demands ; the evil, however, has been somewhat obviated by some farmers having recourse to mow- ing, which is more expeditious. There is still con- siderable breadths to cut, and none that we have seen but what ought to have been in shocks for several days past. Some of the barley is ripe, but we suppose none will be so unwise as to mow it till the weather becomes more settled. The turnips, as might be expected, have lately been doing well, and will prove generally a good crop. The potatoes have likewise improved beyond expectation ; while the rains have been equally beneficial to the pasture grounds, which now ])resent a beautiful verdure. Prices continue extremely low, wheat making from 5s 6d to 6s per bush, with mutton and pork at from 4d to fid per lb. while rents remain in many instances fully as high as when the articles sold at double the present prices ; i3nd we regret to say, from the best information we can collect (with few exceptions), there was hut little disposition manifes- ted at the late rent audits to meet the exigency of the times. The advance in the price of wool (one article only of the farmer's income), we presume, prevented any abatement of rent. We are most happy, however, to be able to cast a little light upon the dark picture. We have been informed that one of the members for Bedford, Samuel Crawley, Esq. in meeting his tenants the other day in the neighbour- hood of Lutton, admitted most frankly that lie was fully aware, fi'om his own farming concerns, that the tenantry could not be doing well ; but in the absence of all precedent, he must reserve himself till the next audit as to the amount of abatement he should make, at the same time he would endeavour to follow the example of his most liberal neighbour Sir John Seabright, Bart. We have also heard that the late Rev. John Filmer left instructions (which have been attended to) for an abatement upon lands not at all at rack-rent. It is however but justice to ourselves to say, that we have been very severely censured (from a certain quarter) for noticing these instances of liberality, as improper matter for an agricultural report, and that the remarks in our last were pointedly directed against a leading estate in this county. The correct- ness of either statement, we unequivocally deny. la ordinary times, we hold it to be the duty of a reporter not to withold that just meed of praise from those influential individuals, who manifest their commise- ration for the humble classes of spciety over which Providence has placed them in life. What then must be our duty in times like the present, when parliamentary committees have declared the farming interests to be distressed almost beyond precedent, — after resolution upon resolution have been virtually carried of the same import, without an atom of relief having been granted ; and last, but not least, after the Premier of England, in quitting oflfice, has fi'ankly admitted that he has left the farming interest only in distress, and that it can obtain relief but by a very liberal reduction of rent. We ask, are these the times in which we are squeamish to shrink from noticing solitary in- stances of liberality, in oi'der to save individual reflections which may not be of the most enviable kind. They ill know those who fancy so ! and we beg to assure our readers once for all, that the de- cided marks of approbation which we have fre- quently accidentally met with, together with the consciousness of having endeavoured only to serve the cause of truth and justice, bear us far above any ill-timed and ill-natured remarks of an indi- vidkial. And while we crave the indulgence of our readers as to any little inaccuracies which may sometimes arise in reporting the crops of a whole county, we pledge ourselves to persevere through evil report and good, in giving (as far as our time and circumstances will allow) a fair, a full, and a conscientious report of all matters which we deem to be at all connected with the general we^l of agriculture. — Aug. 1, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 353 NORTH RIDING, YORKSHIRE. The weather, since my last, has been favourable for ha'"vest work. We certainly have had a few heavy, though partial showers, which did no harm except beating the crop down a little. At present it appears rather unsettled, but as the barometer is on the advance, I hope it will clear up. The harvest, in the forward parts of this Riding, and the adjoining part of the West Riding, has gone on rapidly, and an immense quantity of wheat has been carried in excellent condition. The barley harvest is now in full progress ; it happens rather favorable for the farmer, that there was suffi- cient time to get the wheat cut by the time the barley was ready — it causes much less hurry. Both oats and beans are ready ; indeed oats are generally cut. In stating this, I allude to the for- ward soils, though there is not that difference be- twixt those and the backward ones this harvest. With respect to the quantity and quality of the crops, I should say that wheat is above an average crop — quality good. Barley rather better than I once thought it would be, but considerably short of an average, and the sample I am afraid will be very indiflferent, it has ripened so unevealy. The crop, both of wheat and barley, is good on the in- ferior soils, considering the quality of the land. There is much difference in the opinion of the oat crop — I think it will be nearly an average one. Beans are very short generally, but in some cases well podded — they will be far short of an average. I have here given you, to the best of my know- ledge, an impartial state of the harvest and the crop, up to the present ; I hope in my next to give you an account of harvest home and the yield of the crop, and sincerely hope that the quantity will make up for the lowness of price to us poor farmers, and that a kind Providence will do for us what man will not. Yes, Mr. Editor, we stand in need of help. Our markets did advance a little, but have now lowered again. There was some new wheat shown at Knaresborough market yesterday, as dry as old, which sold from 6s 6d per bushel ; old is worth about the same. Oats and beans stationary; there is some talk about barley, but prices are not yet fixed. The price of horses, beasts, and sheep stand pretty firm. I noticed in your paper some time back that a turnip cutter on an improved plan had been made by the blacksmith to Mr. Coke, of Holkham, Nor- folk : if any of your correspondents would favour us with an account of it, with the price, I believe it would be useful. — August 21. FIFESHIRE. Our July weather has been variable, with an excess of easterly wicd, and frequent showers. Upon Saturday the 19th, there was a dreadful storm of wind from the N. E., accompanied with rain, which has broken down and injured the crops greatly; particularly the wheat, which may have lost by it fully a boll an acre. The other grain crops have also suffered by it, but not to the same extent. The potatoes and turnips hnd likewise their share of the storm. The stems of the former were broken down and the leaves in many exposed situations are quite black. Both the soil and turnips of some fields were completely blown away, whilst others were covered up with sand. We have seldom seen such a storm in July. The damage done to the crops cannot yet be fully ascertained ; but we aie convinced that it is of a much more serious nature tlian is gererally believed. The fields are now assuming a harvest-like appear- ance, and shearing will be pretty general by the second or third week in August. The wheat and oats, although close upon the ground, are deficient in straw. Barley is exceedingly variable. Some of it has a most miserable appearance, and is not yet covering the ground, and a few fields have been ploughed up altogether, and the ground fallowed. Upon easy soils, however, it is good ; but as awhole the crop will be considerably under an average one. Peas and beans are short and thin — more deficient than they have been since 1826. The hay crop is now all secured, and, although light, is of pretty good quality. Young grasses have failed in many places, but where there are roots the late showers have greatty improved them. As there was little clover among the hay, there will be a want of second crop, and of course a deficiency of green meat for horses and cattle before winter. Fallows are well cleaned, and the manure is about to be ploughed in for another crop. Potatoes have improved greatly within these two or three weeks, and where they have at all braird- ed are now assuming a much more healthy and pro- mising appearance than they had at the date of last report. The season has been favourable for turnips, and they are generally good. —30th July, AGRICULTURAL INTELLIGENCE. COWLINGE FAIR was well attended. Upwards of 50,000 lambs had arrived the night previous, and a great number on the morning of the fair ; but owing to the scarcity of feed, prices were lower than was expected. jNIany were sold at 18s to 24s ahead, and some superior lots brought 25s. The quantity of sheep and lambs continue to increase at this fair, and the attendance of jobbers, &:c. was very numerous. ASHBOURN FAIR exhibited an abundant sup- ply of stock, and purchasers being more numerous and respectable, better prices were obtained than was anticipated. Beef and mutton sold readily, as also did the better sorts of store cattle. Sheep were very much in demand, and the numerous pens were nearly cleared away. The horse fair, previous to the fair day, was not so well attended as usual ; any that were useful, realized their full value. OSWESTRY AUGUST FAIR was the smallest ever known, owing to the harvest. Pigs were low, comparatively speaking ; stores, eight and nine weeks old, 2s each ; and our correspondent actually saw persons carrying pigs away, six weeks old, for Is each. As another instance, we are informed that a landlord of an inn, in Bridgnorth, actually sold, on Saturday last, four pigs, seven weeks old, for the sum of six shillings, returning the purchaser a quart of ale for luck. At WORCESTER AUGUST FAIR, there was an unusually short supply of sheep and cattle. Good lambs were much sought after, and sold readily at o^d. Small wethers fetched 6d ; but owing to the warmth of the weather, large sheep were dull sale, and 5^d was the utmost that could be obtained for them. There was little prime Beef; what there was quickly went ofi' at 5|d. Good cows and calves were in request, and commanded high prices. At LUDLOW FAIR there was a large supply of cattle and sheep, which were disposed of briskly, and at prices very satisfactory to the sellers. The beast fair was cleared before twelve o'clock in the morn- ing : but the attendance of country people was ex- tremely thin in the town, owing to their attention be- ins fully occupied with harvest business at home. 2a 354 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. At KNIGHTON FAIR the quantity of stock ex- hibited for sale was rather limited, consequently the supply met a ready demand at an advanced price. Mutton, full 6d per lb ; beef, 5^d to 6d; cows and calves were in request, and went off at at a price quite satisfactory to the sellers. In horses and pigs scarcely any thing was done. MARK FAIR was well attended, and there was a good supply of stock, but tlie weather being un- favourable for dealing-, the sale was extremely dull. Sheep fetched from 5^d to 6d per pound. Lamb, 6d to 7d per pound. REVIEW OF THE CORN TRADE IN MARK LANE DURING THE MONTH OF AUGUST. In the early part of August the currency in Mark Lane was entirely actuated by the weather, and the aspect of the trade fluctuated according to the temperature, and the various reports regarding the crops, received from dififerent parts of the Kingdom. The unsettled state of the weather however did not influence the market to the ex- tent which might have been anticipated, and though in the environs of London, and extending fifty or sixty miles in a south westerly direction the rain was at times heavy, and one or two days incessant, yet the inclemency was partial, and the injury sustained in the home counties not so serious as was apprehended. In parts of Essex, Kent, Surrey, Middlesex, Hertfordshire, and Berks, the Wheat evinced symptoms of sprouting, and in the western districts the damage was much more general. Towards the close of the month the wea- ther became more auspicious, and enabled the farmers to make rapid progress in securing their Wheat, and housing the bulk of the Barley and Oats. During the month ending the 25th of Aug. we have received the following quantity of grain : Wheat. Barley. Oats. Qrs. Qrs. Qrs. English 51,062 1127 5850 Scotch 1547 1648 21,151 Irish 476 1628 34,273 Foreign 10,008 10,146 67,330 Beans. Peas. Flour. Qrs. Qrs. Qrs. English . . . . 3377 2349 32,256 Scotch . . . 675 23 19 Irish . 572 Foreign. . . 2746 8470 1993 At the beginning of the month the rains being considered highly injurious to the new Wheats, and the supplies proving moderate, caused an ani- mated demand for old Corn, and prices advanced 4s to 5s per qr. ; bonded Wheats participated proportionably in the improvements. Fine Essex, Kentish, and Suffolk old red Wheats realizedfrom 50s to b(h ; new do. 48s to 54s. Old do, white, 54s to 62 ; new, do. 50s to 60s per qr. A favourable change however taking place in the weather, and the appearance of new Wheats at market checked the speculative purchase*, which added to exten- sive arrivals, amounting during the last fortnight to upwards of 30,000 qrs. caused a heavy depres- sion of the trade ; old Wheat having receded 6s to 8s per qr., and new 8s to 10s per qr. ; best old red Wheat being worth 48s ; new, 44s to 46s ; old white, 50s to 54s ; new, 48s to 52s. A few sales of bonded Wheat at low prices took place for ex- port, chiefly to Portugal ; a small parcel of Ham- burg quality realizing 30s ; Mecklenburg, 28s ; soft Russian, 25s ; and Kubanka, 32s. The advance in the currency of Wheat induced the millers to enhance the price of Flour, and best town made qualities were noted at 45s to 47s, ex- hibiting an improvement of '2s to 3s, ship qualities having also risen 2s per sack, fine Irish having at- tained 38s to 40s. On the depression of the mar- ket. Flour receded to the range from which it had risen, say 42s to 45s, and Irish 37s to 38s, the trade ruling heavy at the decline. The alterations in the duties have consisted of an advance of Is 6d per q , on Oats, making the duty 12s 3d, and a decline of Is Gd per qr. on Rye, and 3s on Peas, the duty on the latter article remaining at 2s. The supply of English Barley has been extreme- ly limited, barely exceeding 1,100 qrs., so that the demand which has existed for grinding purposes, has been principally met by the Scotch and Irish samples. Prices have advanced fully Is per qr., and continues steady at the currency. The few new parcels of malting quality which have appear- ed have proved thin and discoloured, and, for the most part, steely, and realiaed from 32s to 34s. Two fine parcels of Chevalier were held at 40s ; with the exception of this latter quality, the ac- counts are unfavourable of the new growth, re- presenting it uneven, discoloured, thin, and defi- cient in produce. Barley in bond has attracted attention, and holders are firm at 14s to 16s. Orders have also been transmitted to the Baltic at from 10s 6d to lis 6d per qr., which is the pre- vailing currency for the article weighing 50 to 521bs. Malt has sustained little variation; towards the middle of the month prices rallied, and quotations advanced Is to 2s per qr., since which, they have again receded, but are steady at the present rates. The import of Oats from our own coast has been inconsiderable, and from Scotland and Ire- land only moderate. Since the 1st of June, when the supplies from abroad first began to arrive at our port, we have received 116,562 qrs., out of which only 37,314 qrs. have paid duty. The amount in bond in the United Kingdom on the 5th of August, was 289,499 qrs., of which 12,464 qrs. were entei'ed for the home consumption. The trade having been relieved from the apprehension of any additional quantity of foreign Oats being bi'ought upon the market by the advance of the duty from 10s 9d to 12s 3d, and as the amount was much short of that anticipated upon which the duty has been paid, and British qualities continuing in limited supply, the market, during the middle of the month, rallied, and an advance ensued of Is per qr; a great many foreign Oats having been bought up on speculation at their market value free, with an allowance for the duty of 10s 9d. As the stocks of old free Oats were considered very short, both in this country and Ireland, speculators still look forward with some degree of confidence to a further decline in the duty this year. Towards the close of the month the trade has been languid, dealers and consumers refraining from purchasing, expecting better supplies, and factors not i'eeling inclined to give way in their demands. Some vessels laden with foreign Oats having come on demurrage, their cargoes were pressed on the market, and ra- ther lower terms accepted for the article, — lis 6d to 12s being the quotation for good feed ; Brew and heavy qualities, 13s to 15s. The samples of new Oats which have appeared at market, chiefly THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 355 from Essex, Cambridgeshire, and Lincolnshire, did not indicate very favoui-ably for the new growth; a few were heavy but out of condition, and the rest light and weathered. Beans, owing to the general impression that the crop will turn out deficient, and the steadiness of the Oat market, which always influences the trade in this article, have experienced a fair demand at an improvement of fully Is per qr. The new Beans have come to hand in excellent condition, and Ticks obtained 35s to 36s ; indeed, they are so hard and dry, that little difference exists in the value of the old and new qualities. In bond, Beans have met attention, and holders are firm at 20s to 22s ; fine small, 24s per qr. The stock of old white Peas was nearly ex- hausted, and prices in consequence ranged high at the beginning of the month ; the forwardness of the season, however, causing an earlier appear- ance than usual of the new article to our market, checked further advance. The quality proves good, but small in size, and not equal to the growth of last season. The tVesh samples of boilers ob- tained from 38s to 50s for seed, since which the weekly arrival of foreign parcels, and the decline of the duty to 2s, bringing several samples upon the market, has depressed the trade 4s to 5s per qr, for white qualities, while hog samples have maintained their quotations of 38s to 40s. The prices of grain in France have sustained little variation, the general average rate of "Wheat throughout the kingdom being about 32$ 6d per qr. In those districts where the crops have been deficient, particularly in the Southern departments, the currency has exhibited a tendency to improve- ment, but where the harvest has been more abun- dant, the trade and quotations remain in a very languid state ; for though the produce of Wheat generally has been inferior to the yield of last season, yet the residue of old Corn is large, and being commensurate to the deficiency of the pre- sent growth will prevent any scarcity from being experienced and check the advance of the ave- rages from attaining any rate favourable to foreign importation, or to those speculators who hold there bonded Corn. Barley pi'oves a good crop. Rye inferior in quantity and quality. Oats in parts very defective, owing to the drought, but on the whole fully equal to the produce of 1833. In Italy prices of Wheat have advanced, owing to the falling off in the produce of the crops in the South of France, as well as the interior of Italy, higher terms having been realized at Genoa, Ancona, and Naples; Barletta qualities of Wheat v/ere held at 32s to 33s ; and at Leghorn Tuscan white Wheat had advanced to 54s 9d, and red to 49s. The improvement however in the quotations of the latter descriptions of Corn was partly at- tribut-.il)le to an impost, which was to be in future levied on grain, the growth of foreign countries, though a decree had been issued the last week in July, abolishing the custom dues on the import and transit of all other commodities, which had hitherto impeded traffic, and the port was expected to recover a large portion of its former extensive commerce. In Portugal the Wheat crop has turned out very deficient, and in the course of the year a consider- able foreign supply woidd be required of Wheat, Barley, and Maize. The importation of \Vheat was expected to be without limitation as to quality or d uration of time, though prices are likely to continue moderate, the stock of foreign Wheat being considerable, antl government have been effecting extensive purchases at low figures. In the United States of America prices of Flour have sustained little alteration, and the demand limited, prices ranging from 22s 6d to 23s Id per barrel. New Wheats had appeared at the leading markets, better in quality and condition than those of last year, and obtained frour 38s 9d to 40s 4d and 42s 2d, the produce being generally represent- ed as a full average. Mercantile confidence was being restored, and commerce rallying from its late severe depression. In Canada the Wheat trade remained dull, and the quotations ranging from 4s lOd to 5s 3d per 601bs as in quality. The exports of Wheat during the first six months of the present year had been 139,637 bushels loss than the corresponding period in 1833. The Flour trade had been limited prin- cipally to the local demands, which had beeir ex- tensive, owing to the scarcity of Lower Canada Wheat ; prices varied from 23s lOd to 23s 9d per barrel currency. Wheat was represented as likely to prove a fair average crop, with some few ex- ceptions, arising from the ravages of the wire- worni and want of rain. Other grain promised only a moderate return. In Russia the reports of the winter corn were becoming more favourable, but the summer grain had again suffered from drought. Government, however, had been making extensive purchases of Rye and other grain, and the trade at St. Peters- burg ruled dull, Kubanka Wheat being worth 31s lOd to 32s 6d, and Rye 27s 3d. At Riga, Cour- land Wheat was held at 23s lid to 28s 3d; Lin- seed, 41s 4d to 44s 3d. Fi'ora Konigsberg and Danzig the crops are represented as remarkably fine in quality, particularly Wheat, the samples being even and beautiful in colour, though the grain rather smaller than usual. Prices at the latter market had lately risen, owing to the im- provement in the London market at the beginning of the mouth ; fine high-mixed Wheat being held at 31s to 31s 6d,and high-mixed 26s to 27s. — In Pome- rania, Meckleriburg, Holstein, and Denmark, the weather has continued favourable for the harvest, though the crops had been so simultaneously ri- pened that labourers were difficult to be obtained in sufficient numbers, and every exertion was being used by the farmers to house their produce, as from the over maturity of some of the grain, much waste was taking place in the fields. The Wheats are extremely heavy, some samples even weighing 64 to 65 lbs. Barley was a good crop, but small in grain. Oats, throughout the line of the Baltic, have failed for want of rain, and the yield will be more or less deficient. Wheat was quoted at 21s 6d to 22s in Holstein and the Danish Island, and 24s to 25s in the other countries. In Sweden, the Oat crop is stated to have been nearly lost in con- sequence of the dry weather, which had continued for nearly three months. The crops in the upper part of the Elbe have proved fine in quality, but deficient in produce, owing to the drought. Sam- ples of Marks Wheat had appeared at Hamburg weighing 61 lbs., and Lower Elbe and Hanoverian, 61 to 6'.') lbs. At Hamburg, prices of Wheat were fully 2s per qr. higher, partly in consequence of the demand experienced for England as well as Portugal. Best Upland Wheats were being sold at 26s 6d to 28s 2d. Rapeseed scarce at 26/ 10s to 27/. In Belgium, the Wheat crop, inconsequence of the hot weather, has ripened prematurely, and its result is far below what was anticipated, and is rated one-four'h to one-third below an average produce. Rye is one-fourth deficient. Barley, a full average, and Oats, a small average growth. 2 A 2 356 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. CURRENCY PER IMPERIAI. MEASURE. BRITISH. August 1. Sept. 1. s. s. s. s. Wheat, Essex, Kent, and Suffolk, new. 46 to 4S 40 to 46 Old _ _ 46 48 White, new 49 56 46 52 Ditto, old... — — 50 54 Norfolk, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. .. 41 47 40 46 White, do. do 4S 52 42 52 West Coantry Red 42 47 40 46 White, ditto 47 52 46 50 Northumberland and Berwickshire Red 40 44 40 44 White, ditto 41 47 40 46 Irish Red 37 41 36 40 DittoWhite 40 42 40 44 Barley, Malting, new 29 31 32 36 Chevalier, new 30 32 40 42 Distilling 30 31 30 33 Grinding 27 29 28 31 Malt, New 37 43 — — Ditto Norfolk pale 50 58 52 60 Ditto Ware 56 62 58 64 Peas, Hog and Grey, new 36 39 34 40 Maple 40 42 38 42 White Boilers 45 49 36 44 Beans, small 31 36 36 40 Harrow 31 36 34 37 Tioks 31 34 32 35 Mazagan 29 35 32 34 Oats, English feed 20 22 22 24 Short small 21 23 22 25 Poland 21 23 22 25 Scotch, Common 21 23 23 25 Berwick, &c 24 25 24 26 Potatoe, &c. ., 22 24 25 27 Irish, Galway, &c 21s0dto22s6d 21s Od to 23s Od Ditto Potatoe 22s Od 24s Od 23s Od 24s Od Ditto Black 20s Od 22s Od 22s Od 23s Od Bran llsOd to 123 6d per 16 bushel. PRICES OF FLOUR, Per Sk. August 1. Sept. 1. s. S. 8, 8. Town-made 43 to 48 43 to 45 Norfolk, Suffolk, Kent, and Essex 37 42 34 38 Sussex and Hampshire 34 36 35 3/ Superline 37 39 39 — Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, and Stockton. 35 38 33 35 Northumberland. Berwick, and Scotch. 31 35 32 34 Iiish 34 3S 35 3; Extra 38 — 33 — IMPERIAL AVERAGES. Wheat Weekending lith July 48 4 18th „ 48 1 26th ,, 48 5 1st Aug. 48 4 8th ,, 48 6 15th ,, 49 6 Aggregate Average of the lasts weeks 48 S Duties till Aug. 13 38 8 Do, on grain from British possessions out of Europe.. .. 5 0 Barley 28 11 28 8 28 9 29 0 23 7 28 5 28 8 19 10 Oats 24 4 24 2 23 6 23 1 22 9 22 11 23 6 12 3 Rye 34 4 35 8 33 5 33 1 35 0 35 3 Bean! 37 5 37 11 36 11 37 1 37 0 38 0 34 6 37 4 IS 314 0 2 6 3 0 3 0 Peas 45 8 44 8 42 8 46 11 47 0 44 0 AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF THE LONDON AVERAGES. From the 22d of July to the 19th of August. qrs. £ s. d. Wheat 37332 2 13 0 Barley 5099 1 8 8 Oats 87111 I 3 2 qrs. X s. d. Hye 45 1 16 8 Beans ...... 3901 1 16 10 Peas 2720 2 6 7 PRICES OF HOPS IN THE BOROUGH. August 1. Sept. 1. ^ s. ^ s. £ s. £ s. New, none on offer. East Kent Pockets 8 8 to 10 10 7 15 to 9 10 Bags 7 10 9 8 7 0 8 15 Mid-Kent Pockets 7 0 9 0 6 18 8 15 Bags 7 0 8 9 6 10 7 15 Weald of Kent Pockets... > „ , „ „ . » „ ,„ Sussex Pockets \ ^ ^ ^ ^ ° ^ '12 Old Olds , ,. 0 0 0 0 1 10 3 10 An Account of the Quantity of Grain and Flour Imported into the United Kingdom during the month ending the 5th of August ; the Quantity on which the Duty has been paid for Home Consump- tion, and the quantity remaining in Warehouse. Wheat, qrs. Quantity imported 17,843 Do. entered for consumption. 7,454 Do. remaining in warehouse.. 681,311 Peas, qrs. 2,330 543 10,280 Quantity imported Do. entered for consumption. Do. remaining in warehouse.. Barley. qrs. 7,246 128,658 Beans. qrs. 14,742 1,380 59,410 Oats, qrs. 60.485 12,464 289,499 Flour. cwts. 19,049 10,722 414,650 SMITHFIELD MARKET. Per stone of 81bs. to sink the offals. August 1. Sept. 1. s. d. s. d. 9. d. s. Inferior Beef 2 4 to 2 6 2 4 to 2 Do. Mutton 2 4 2 6 2 4 2 Middling Beef 2 8 3 2 2 8 3 no. Mutton 3 2 3 4 3 2 3 Prime Beef 3 10 4 4 3 10 4 Do. Mutton 3 8 4 2 3 8 4 Veal 3 10 5 2 3 6 5 Pork 2 8 3 8 2 8 Lamb 4 2 5 6 4 0 6 6 3 2 3 4 4 4 4 4 5 0 3 10 5 4 BUTTER, CHEESE, AND HAMS, &c. ENGLISH BUTTER, per firkin. August 1. Sept. 1. Dorset 40 to — Cambridge ....40 — York 38 — CHEESE, per cwt. Double Gloucester; 48 to 68 Single Ditto 41 48 Cheshire 54 74 Derby 50 60 HAMS, per cwt, Westmoreland 50 to 60 Cumberland 46 56 40 to — 40 — 38 — 48 to 68 41 48 54 74 SO 60 50 to 60 46 56 'WOOI. MARKETS. BRITISH. August 1. Sept. 1. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. North and South-Down Hog- j , 9 to 0 0 1 9to0 0 Half-bred Ditto '.'!!!'!.. 1 10 0 0 1 10 C 0 Ditto Ewes, cloathing 13 00 13 00 South-Down Ewes 1400 14 00 Kent Fleeces 1 6 1 0 1 6 1 0 Skin Combing 14 16 14 16 Leicester Wethers 14 00 1400 Flannel Wool 1 117 1117 Blanket Ditto 0 0 1 5 0 0 1 5 Leicester Hogs 1900 1900 In Yolk— Devon Oil 11 0 11 1 1 SCOTCH. Per Stone of 24 lbs. August 1. s. d. s. d, Laid Highland Wool, from. 13 0tol4 0 White Do. Do 15 0 16 0 Laid Crossed Do 15 0 16 6 WashedDo. Do 17 6 18 6 Laid Cheviots 17 6 19 6 Washed Do 23 0 26 0 White Do.... Sept. 1 s. d. s. d. 13 6 to 14 6 15 6 16 6 15 6 16 6 18 0 19 0 18 0 20 0 23 0 27 0 36 0 40 0 FOREIGN. There has been no alteration of any importance in the prices of Foreign Wool since our last report. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 357 AN ACT FOR THE AMENDMENT AND BETTER ADMINISTRATION OF THE LAWS RELATING TO THE POOR IN ENGLAND AND WALES. (Passed 14tft August, 1834.^ The short space of time that has elapsed since the passing of this Act renders it impossible to give such a complete index and append such copious notes as otherwise might have been done. We cannot however, but believe that the Act itself, together with such hasty remarks as we have been enabled to make, will be acceptable to our readers, whose interests will in all probability be more materially affected by it than that of any other class. Tlie immense evils which have arisen from the old system of Poor Laws are deeply felt by all, and the absolute necessity of speedily adopting a remedy has been generally ad- mitted. The Act of Parliament just passed has received the almost unanimous sanction of the legis- lature. Those who, eithet in or out of Parliament, have deprecated the measure, and endeavoured as much as in them lay to rouse public feeling against it, have never ventured to submit any plan of their own. That the measure has been brought forward with the best intentions will not, we think, be de- nied even by those who opposed it. The friends and enemies of the new system have equal interest in its success. Let all, then, zealously unite in assisting to carry it into effect ; and should the practical operation of any part of the measure be found objectionable, we are quite confident that,upon proper representation, every means will be taken to remedy the defect by those able individuals who have been selected to superintend its management. — An important letter, addressed to Churchwardens and Overseers has just been published l)y the Central Board. See page 384. Whereas it is expedient to alter and amend the laws relating to the relief of poor persons in England and Wales : Be it therefore enacted by the King's most excellent Majesty, by and witli the advice and consent of the lords spiritual and temporal, and commons, in this present parliament assembled, and Appointment and by the authority of the same, that removal of com- it shall be lawful for His Majesty, missioners. jjjg heirs and successors, by warrant under the royal sign manual, to appoint three fit per- sons to be commissioners to carry this Act into execu- tion, and also from time to time, at pleasure, to re- move any of the commissioners for the time being, and upon every or any vacancy in the said number of commissioners, either by removal or by death or otherwise, to appoint some other fit person to the said office'; ana until such appointment it shall be lawful for the surviving or continuing commissioners or commissioner to act as if no such vacancy had oc- curred. II. And be it further enacted, that the said commissioners shall be styled " The Poor Law Commis- sioners for England and Wales ;" Style of com- missioners ; who may iit as aboaid, with power to sum- mon and examine witnesses, and call j .u -j • • for production of ^^^ ^^^^ commissioners, or any papers, on oath ; two of them, may sit, from time to time as they deem expedient, as a board of commissioners for carrying this Act into exe- cution ; and the said commissioners acting as such board shall be and are hereby empowered, by sum- mons under their hands and seal, to require the at- tendance of all such persons as they may think fit to call before them upon any question or matter con- nected with or relating to the administration of the laws for the relief of the poor, and also to make any inquiries and require any answer or returns as to any such question or matter, and also to administer oaths, and examine all such persons upon oatli, and to re- quire and enforce the production upon oath of books, contracts, agreements, accounts, and writings, orcopies thereof respectively, in anywise relating to any such or to substitute a question or matter } or, in lieu of re- declaration for an quiring such oath as aforesaid, the ° ' said commissioners may, if they think fit, require any such person to make and sub- scribe a declaration of the truth of the matters re- specting which he shall have been or shall be so ex- amined : Provided always, that no such person shall be required, in obedience to any such summons, to go or travel more than ten miles from the place of his abode : Provided also, that nothing but not to inquire ^ -^^ contained shall extend or be into any title. , . , , . deemed to extend to authorize or empower the said commissioners to act as a court of record, or to require the production of the title, or of any papers or writings relating to the title of any lands, tenements, or hereditaments not being the pro- perty of any parish or union, (a) To have a com mon seal. III. Andbeit further enacted, that the said commissioners shall cause to be made a seal of the said board, and shall cause to be sealed or stamped therewith all rules, order.s, and regulations made by the said com- „ , „ missioners in pursuance of this Act ; Rules, &c, pur^ , ,, i i j j porting to be seal- ^^d all such rules, orders, and re- ed with such seal gulations, or copies thereof, purport- ^o.^^^J'eceived as j^g ^^ j^g sealed or stamped with the seal of the said board, shall be re- ceived as evidence of the same respectively, without any further proof thereof ; and no such rule, order, or regulation, or copy thereof, shall he valid, or have any force or effect, unless the same shall be so sealed or stamped as aforesaid. Commissioners to IV. And be it further enacted, that record their pro- .i -j • • u n i ceedines *"^ ^^'" commissioners shall make a record of their proceedings, in which shall be entered in writing a reference to every letter received, from whence, its date, the date of its recep- tion, and the subject to which it relates, and a minute of every letter written or order given by the said com- missioneis, whether in answer to such letters received or otherwise, with the date of the same, and a minute of the opinion of each of the members of the board of commissioners, in case they should finally differ in opinion upon any order to be given or other proceed- (a) See Sect. XIIT. 358 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ing of the board ; and such record shall be submitted to one of His Majesty's principal secretaries of state once in every year, or as often as he shall require the same. Commissionersto "V. And be it further enacted, that p'om^thrs:';-:: ^'^^ ^-^ commissioners shall, once tary of state year- in every year, SLbrnit to one ot the ly ; principal secretaries of state a gene- ral report of their proceedings ; and every such general report shall be laid before both houses of parliament within six weeks after the receipt of the same by such principal secretary of state, if parliament be then sitting, or if parliament be Hot sitting then within six weeks after the next meet- ing thereof, (a) and to report pro- VI. And be it further enacted, that ceedinifs to secre- 4.i,„ „„-j ■ ■ l n r tary ot state when ^^^" commissioners shail from required. time to time, at such times as any one of His JMaiesty's principal sec- retaries of state shall direct, give to the principal sec- retary of state requiring the same such information respecting their proceedings, or any part thereof, as the said principal secretary of state shall require. Power to ap- VIT. And be it further enacted, that point assistant «i,„ „• i • • , ,, , ,, commissioners • ^ ^^^ commissioners shall and they are hereby empowered from time to time to appoint such persons as they may think fit to be assistant commissioners for carrying this Act into execution, at such places and in such manner as the said commissioners may direct, and to remove such assistant commissioners, or any of and to remove .i, ^ .i • i- ,• , game. them, at their discretion, and on every or any vacancy in the said office of assistant commissioner, by removal or by death or otherwise, to appoint, if they see fit, some Not more tljan other person to the said office : Pro- nine to be appoint- vided alwoys, that it shall not be ed, without con- lawful for the said commissioners to sent ot treasury. • ^ ., . , . appoint more than nine such assist- ant commissioners to act at any one time, unless the Lord High Treasurer, or the commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury for the time being, 'or any three or more of them, shall consent to the appointment of a greater number. Commissioners VIII. And be it further enacted, not to sit in par- *v . • • . liament. '■"^'^ ^'^ commissioner or assistant commissioner appointed as aforesaid shall during his continuance in such appointment be capable of being elected or sitting as a member of the house of commons. .^n^Vf '±rM'''° ^^- ^^^ be it further enacted, that appoint secretary, ,-l ■ i ■ ■ , assistant secreta- '•"^ ^^^^ commissioners may and ry or secretaries, they are hereby empowered from time officVr's '""^ °*''" ^° ^'-'^^ ^° ^PP°'"t a secretary, assist- ant secretary or secretaries, and all such clerks, messengers, and officers as they shall deem necessary, and from time to time, at the discretion of the said commissioners, to remove such secretary, assistant secretary or secretaries, clerks, messengers, and officers, or any of them, and to appoint otl;ers in their stead : Provided always, that the amount of the salaries of such secretary, assistant secretary or secretaries, clerks, messengers, and (a) The Board not Laving commenced its fittings, until after the recess, it is not probable that any report will he laid before Parliament until the Session of 1S36. officers shall from time to time be regulated by the Lord High Treasurer, or the Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury-, or any three or more of them. Appointment of X. And be it further enacted, that &cTmi"e°dto'tive "» commissioner to be appointed by years. His Majesty, nor any assistant com- missioner, secretary, or other officer or person to be appointed by the said commissioners, under and by virtue of the provisions of this Act, sliall continue to hold his respective office or exercise any of the powers given by this Act for a longer pe- riod than five years next after the day of the passing of this Act, and thenceforth until the end of the then next session of parliament ; and from and after the expiration of the said period of five ye^^rs, and of the then next session of parliament, so much of this Act as enables His jMajesty to appoint any commissioner or commissioners shall cease to operate or have any effect -whatever. Commissioners XI. And be it further exacted, that misstoners'to'take ^very ^ commissioner and_ assistant oath. commissioner to be appointed from time to time as aforesaid shall, be- fore he shall enter upon the execution of his office, take the follovving oath before one of the judges of His Rlajesty's Courts of King's Bench or Commoa Pleas, or one of the barons of the Court of Exche- quer ; (that is to say.) Form of oath. 1, A. B. do swear, 'chat I will faithfully, impartially, and honestly, according to the best of my skill and judgment, execute and fulfil all the powers and duties of a commissioner [or assistant commissioner, us the case may oe,] under an Act passed in the fifth year of the reign of King William the fourth, intituled [^Iiere set forth the title of this Act.y Notification of And the appointment of every :^^mmSers t°o ^-^^ commissioner and assistant he sent to clerks commissioner, together with the of the peace, and time when and the judge or baron P^''^^^ ■ before whom he shall have taken the oath aforesaid, shall be forthwith published in the London Gazette ; and a notification of such appoint- ment and of the taking of such oath shall from time to time be sent, under the hands and seal of the said commissioners, to the clerk of the peace of every county in England and Wales, who shall and is here- by required as soon as conveniently may be to cause the same to be advertized once in some newspaper published or circulated in such county ; and such no- tification as aforesaid shall be kept and preserved by such clerk of the peace with the records of such county. Commissioners XII. And be it further enacted, !?!^^ "^tn'-^ilTw that It shall be lawful for the said commissioners.and commissioners to delegate to their revoke them. assistant commissioners, or to any of them, such of the powers and authorities hereby given to said commissioners (except the powers to make general rules) as the said commissioners shall think fit; and the powers and authoritiesso delegated, and the delegation thereof, shall be notified in such manner, and such powers and authorities shall be exercised at such places, for such periods, and under such circumstances, and subject to such regulations as the said commissioners shall direct ; and the said commissioners may at any time revoke, recall, alter, or vary all or atiy of the po\v?rs.a.nd authorities wbieh THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 359 shall be so delegated as aforesaid, and, notwithstand- ing the delegation thereof, may act as if no such dele- gation had been made ; and the said assistant com- . . , , missioners may and are hereby em- Assistant com- -' , r i i missioners may powered to summon before them such summon persons persons as they may think necessary and examine tliem f^^. j^e purpose of being examined upon oath ; or a f / , • , , ^ , declaration maybe upon oath (which oath such assist- substituted for an ant commissioners are hereby em- *"*■ • powered to administer) upon any question or matter relating to the poor or their relief, or for the purpose of producing and verifying upon oath any books, contracts, agreements, accounts, and ■writings, or copies of the same, in anywise relating to such question or matter, and not relating to or involv- ing any question of title to any lands, tenements, or hereditaments not being the property of any parish or union, as such assistant commissioners may think fit, but so that no such person shall be required, in obedi- ence to any such summons, to go or travel more than ten miles from the place of his abode : Provided never- theless, that in lieu of requiring such oath as afore- said the said assistant commissioners may, if they think fit, require such person to make and subscribe a de- claration of the truth of the matters respecting which he shall have been or shall be so examined ; and all summonses and orders made by any such assistant commissioner in pursuance or exercise of such dele- goted powers and authorities shall be obeyed, per- formed, and carried into effect by all persons as if such summons or order had been the summons or order of the said commissioners, and the breach, non- observance, or nonperformance thereof shall be punish- able in like manner. Persons giving XIII. And be it further enacted, false evidence That if any person, upon any ex- ?"Stra1t";nd: amination under the authority of &c. guilty of mis- this Act, shall wilfully and corruptly demeanor. give false evidence, he shall be deemed guirty of perjury, and if any person shall make or subscribe a false declaration, he shall, on being convicted thereof, suffer the pains and penalties refusing to attend, of perjury, and if any person shall &c. guilty of mis- wilfully refuse to attend in obedience demeanor. ^^ ^^y summons of any commis- sioner or assistant commissioner, or to give evidence, or shall wilfully alter, suppress, conceal, destroy, or lefuse to produce any books, contracts, agreements, accounts, and writings, or copies of the same, which may be so required to be produced before the said com- missioners or assistant commissioners, every person so offending shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor. Reasonable ex- XIV. And be it further enacted, ponces of witnes- That it shall be lawful for the said ses to be paid, and commissioners, in any case where ^ ""'■ they see fit, to order and allow such expences of witnesses, and of or attending the produc- tion of any books, contracts, agreements, accounts, or writings, or copies thereof, to or before the said com- missioners or assistant commissioners, as such commis- sioners may deem reasonable, to be paid as follows ; that is to say, out of the poor rates of the respective parish or union which in the opinion of the said com- missioners shall be interested or concerned in such attendance or production respectively in all cases in which such witnesses shall not go or travel more than ten miles from the respective parish or union which shall be interested or concerned as aforesaid, and in sU other cases the expenses so ordered or allowed shall be deemed as part of the incidental expences attending the execution of this Act, and be paid ac- cordingly. Administration ^?^^\ (") ^'^''^ ^^ it furtherenacted, of relief to the I hat from and after the passing of poor to be under this Act the administration of relief "ommLio^ners''" '°/he poor througuout England and who are to make Wales, according to the existing rules and regula- laws, or such laws as shall be in na^e'mtVoF Te" ^r^.^ ^' ^^e time being, shall be poor, and adminis- subject to the direction and control tration of thelaws of the said commissioners; and for tor their relief. &c. „ .• .u • \. ,l executing the powers given to them by this Act the said commissioners shall and are hereby authorized and required, from time to time as they shall see occasion, to make and issue all such rules, orders, and regulations for the management of the poor, and for the government of workhouses and the education of the children therein, and for the manage- ment of parish poor children under the pfovisions of an Act made aud passed in the seventh year of the reign of his late JMajssty King George the Third, in- tituled An Act for the better Regulation of Parish poor Children of the several Parishes therein mentioned wUhin the Bills of Mortality, and the superintending, in- specting, and regulating of the houses wherein such poor children are kept and maintained, and for the apprenticing the children of poor persons and for the guidance and control of all guardians, vestries, and parish officers, so far as relates to the management or relief of the poor, and the keeping, examining, audit- ing, and allowing of accounts, and making and enter- ing into contracts in all matters relating to such management or relief, or to any expenditure for the relief of the poor, and for ca,irying this Act into exe- cution in all other respects, as they shall think Commissioners proper ; and the said commissioners may suspend or may, at their discretion, from time alter rules, &c. ^^ jj^g suspend, alter, or rescind such rules, orders, and regulations, or any of them : Provided always, that nothing in this Act contained shall be construed as enabling the said commissioners or any of them to interfere in any individual case for the purpose of ordering relief. General Rules XVI. And be it further enacted, to be submitted to rru 4. i 1 r xi, -j Secretary of State That no general rule of the said 40 days before commissioners shall operate or take coming into ope- effect until the exoiration of forty ration. j r.. i.i, ■ days after the same, or a copy thereof, shall have been sent, signed and sealed by the said commissioners, to one of his Majesty's prin- cipal Secretaries of State ; and if at any time after any such general rule shall have been so sent to such principal Secretary of State his Majesty, with the If disallowed bv ^^^^^^ of his privy council, shall King in council disallow the same or any part duriHgthe40days, thereof, such general rule, or the operation. P^^*- thereof so disallowed, shall not come into operation, if such disal- lowance be notified to the said commissioners at any time during the said period of forty days, but if such disallowance be made at any time after that period, such disallowance shall, by one of his Majesty's (a) Ttwill be seen hy this clause that the administration of the law and the ministering of relief will remain in the hands of the parish officers, as before the passing of the Aot ; tlie Commissioners only having power to make general rules, and adapt them to the circumstances of each case, as they may deem most alvisable for the amelioration of the particular system hitherto pursued in tuo)i individual ra?e. 360 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, principal Secretaries of State, be notified to the said If disallowed af- commissioners, and from and after terwards. such disallowance shall have been so notified then such general rule, so far as the same shall have been so disallowed, shall cease to operate, subject however and without prejudice to all acts and transactions under or in virtue of the same previously to such disallowance having been so notified. General rules to XVII. And be it further enacted, lilment^."^"'"^'"" That all general rules for the time being in force at the commencement of every session of Parliament, and which shall not previously have been submitted to Parliament, shall from time to time, within one week after the com- mencement of every such session, be laid by one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State before both Houses of Parliament. Rules, orders, XVIII. And be it further enact - &c. to be sent to .j rn . •.. • . i overseers. &c. be. ^^' ^hat a written or printed copy fore they shall of every rule, order, or regulation of come into opera- the said commissioners shall, before the same shall come into operation in any parish or union, be sent by the said commis- sioners, by the post, or in such manner as the com- missioners shall think fit, sealed or stamped with their seal, addressed to the overseers of such parish, the guardians of such union or their clerk, and to the clerk to the justices of the petty sessions held for the divi- sion in which such parish or union shall be situate ; Publicity to be and such overseers, guardians, or given to rules, thgij de^k, and clerks to the justices &c. in manner di- - . , , , •? , , reeled by Commis- aioresaid, are hereby required to sioners. keep and preserve, notify and give publicity to, such rules, orders, and regulations, in such manner as the said commissioners shall direct, and also to allow every owner of property or his agent, or any rate-payer, in every such parish or union, to inspect the same at all reasonable times, free of any charge for such inspection, and to furnish copies of the same, being paid for such copies at and after the late of three-pence for every folio of seventy-two words, and to allow copies or extracts thereof to be taken on being paid for so doing after the rate of three half- pence for every folio of seventy-two words ; and in Penalty on over- ^^^^ ^"y ^^^^ overseer, guardian, seer, &c. neglect- clerk, or clerk to the justices, to ing to give publi- whom such rules, orders, or regula- ' ^' '^' tions, or copies thereof, shall be sent as aforesaid, shall neglect to keep and preserve, notify and give publicity to the same in the mode pre- cribed or directed by the said commissioners, or shall refuse such inspection, or to furnish or allow such copies thereof to be taken as aforesaid, every person so offending shall for every such offence be subject and liable to a penalty not exceeding the sum of ten pounds nor less than forty shillings, to be recoverable in the same manner as any penalties are by this act di- Disallowance of reeled to be recovered : (a) Provided rule to be notified also, that if any such rule shall after in like manner. the same shall have come into ope- ration be disallowed in manner hereinbefore men- tioned, or revoked by the said commissioners, then and in every such case the said commissioners shall send, by the post, or in such manner as they shall think fit, to every parish or union affected by the said rule, notice of such disallowance or revocation ; such notice of disallowance or revocation to be addressed, («) See Sect. XCVIIL, XCIX. kept, preserved, notified, and publicly inspected, and copiesthereoffurnishedor allowed to be taken, in such and the same manner and subject to the same penalties as are hereinbefore mentioned respecting the rules, orders, and regulations of the said commissioners. No inmate of XIX. And be it further enacted, obligedTo^attend ^^^^ "» ^'^l^s, orders, or regulations any religious ser- of the said commissioners, nor any vice contriii7 to bye-laws at present in force or to be cipS'^&c"' ^""' hereafter made, shall oblige any inmate of any workhouse to attend any religious service which may be celebrated in a mode contrary to the religious principles of such in- mate, nor shall authorize the education of any child in such workhouse in any religious creed other than that professed by the parents or surviving parent of such child, and to which such parents or parent shall object, or, in the case of an orphan, to which the godfather or godmother of such orphan shall so ob- ject: Provided also, that it shall and may be lawful for any licensed minister of the religious persuasion of any inmate of such workhouse, at all times in the day, on the request of such inmate, to visit such work- house for the purpose of affording religious assistauce to such inmate, and also for the purpose of instructing his child or children in the principles of their reli- gion. Orders or regu- XX. And be it further enacted, int'commts'irn: ^hat no order or regulation made by ITS to beap)iioved any assistant commissioner shall be and sealed by jn force unless and until the same ommissioneis. £[^^11 have been adopted by the said commissioners, and sealed or stamped with their seal, and thereupon every such order or regulation shall be considered as made by the said commissioners ; and that no rule, order, or regulation of the said commis- sioners, except orders made in answer to the state- ments and reports hereinafter authorized to be made by overseers or guardians to the said commissioners, shall be in force until the expiration of fourteen days after a written or primed copy of the^same shall have been sent by the said commissioners, sealed or stamped, and addressed as lastly hereinbefore is men- tioned. Powersof2''G XXI. And be it further enacted, 3. c. 83. 69 g" 3. that except where otherwise pro- c. 12. and of all vided by this Act, all the powers to"\rorkhous"s! ^nd authorities given in and by a and to borrowing certain Act of Parliament passed in money.tobecxer- the twenty-second year of the reign tj^u'l oTc"mmis: "^ .^is late Majesty King George the sioners. and be Third, intituled An Act Jor the better subject to their Relief and Employment af the Poor, °^ ^'^' and in and by a certain other Act passed in the fifty-ninth year of the reign of his said late Majesty, intituled An Act to amend the Laws fen- ihe Belief of the Poor, and all Acts for amending such Acts respectively, and also all the powers and autho- rities given by every other Act of Parliament, general as well as local, for or relating to the building, alter- ing, or enlarging of poorhouses and workhouses, and to the acquiring, purchasing, hiring, holding, selling, exchanging, and disposing thereof, or of land whereon the same may have been or may hereafter be erected, and of preparing such houses for the reception of poor persons, and the dieting, clothing, employing, and go- verning of such poor, and the raising or borrowing of money for any of ths purposes aforesaid, and for repaying the same, and all powers of regulating and THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 361 conducting' all other workhouses whatsoever, and of governing, providing for, and employing the poor therein, and all powers auxiliary to any of the powers aforesaid, or in any way relating to the relief of the poor, shall in future be exercised by the persons au- thorized by law to exercise the same, under the con- „ . . trol, and subject to the rules, orders, ' and regulations of the said commis- sioners ; and the said commissioners and assistant commissioners respec- tively, and every of them, shall be entitled to attend at every parochial and other local board and vestry, and take part in the discussions, but not to vote at such board or vestry : Provided always, that nothing herein contained shall be construed to give the said commissioners or assistant commissioners any power to order the building, purchasing, hiring, alter- ing, or enlarging of any wojkhouse, or the purchasing or hiring of any land at the charge or for the of any parish or union, save and except so far as such powers are expressly given by this Act. &c. to be entitled to attend local boards and ves- try ; but ijot to order the building or hiring of work- houses, except under limitations. No additions or alterations to be made to the rules contained in the schedule to 22 G. 3, c. S3, or in any let confirmed by Commissioners. XXII. And whereas by the said Act made and passed in the twenty- second year of the reign of his late Majesty King George Third it is the rules, orders, and regulations specified and contained in the sche- dule thereunto annexed should he duly observed and enforced at every poorhouse or workhouse to be pro- vided by virtue of the said Act, with such additions as should be made by the justices of the peace of the limit wherein such house or houses should be situate, at some special session, provided that such additions should not be| contradictory to the rules, orders, and regulations established by that Act, and provided that the same should not be repealed by the justices at their quarter sessions of the peace ; and it is expedient that such additions, or other rules, orders, or regula- tions, under that or any local or other Act, should not in future be made without the sanction of the said commissioners; be it therefore enacted, that no addi- tions or alterations shall hereafter be made to or in the rules, orders, and regulations contained in the schedule to the said recited Act, and no rules, orders, and regulations shall hereafter be made under the authority of the said recited Act, or of any Act made for altering, amending, or extending the same, or any local or other Act. relating to poorhouses, workhouses, or the relief of the poor, until the same shall have been submitted to and approved and confirmed by the said commissioners ; and that the same, wlien so con- firmed, shall be legally valid and b'nding upon all per.sons ; and no justice or justices shall have power to repeal the same. Commissioners XXIII. And be it further enacted, wTlZ^^sTt that a shall be lawful for the said built, tiired, altered, commissioners, and they are hereby or enlarged, with empowered, from time to time when consent, &c. ..u /-. , they may see ht, by any writing under their hands and seal, by and with the consent in writing of a majority of the guardians of any union, (a) or with the consent of a majority of the rate-payers and owners of property entitled to vote in manner herein-after prescribed, (b) in any parish, such last- («) As to the election of Board of Guardians, see Sect. XXXVIII. (6) As to qualification and mode of voting, see Sect. XL, mentioned majority to be ascertained in manner pro- vided in and by this act, to order and direct the over- seers or guardians of any parish or union not having a workhouse or workhouses to build a workhouse or workhouses, and to purchase or hire land for the purpose of building the same thereon, or to purchase or hire a workhouse or workhouses, or any building or buildings for the purpose of being used as or con- verted into a workhouse or workhouses; and, with the like consent, to order and direct the overseers or guardians of any parish or union having a workhouse or workhouses, or any buildings capable of being converted into a workhouse or workhouses, to enlarge or alter the same in such manner as the said com- missioners shall deem most proper for cariying the provisons of this Act into execution, or to build, hire, or purchase any additional workhouse or workhouses, or any building or buildings for the purpose of beino- used as or converted into a workhouse or vvorkhouses, or to purchase or hire any land for building such additional workhouse or workhouses thereon, of such size and description, and according to such plan, and in such manner as the said commissioners shall deem most proper for carrying the provisions of this Act into execution ; and the oveiseers and guardians to whom any such order shall be directed are hereby authorized and required to assess, raise, and levy such sum or sums of money as may be necessary for the purposes specified iq such order, by such powers, ways, and means as are now by law given to or vested in churchwardens and overseers or guardians of the poor for purchasing or hiring land, or for build- ing, hiring, and maintaining workhouses for the use of the poor, in their respective parishes or unions, or to borrow money for such purposes under the provi- sions of this or any other act or acts. Sums to be raised XXIV. And be it further enacted, building" work-"^ tli^t for the better and more effec- houses To be charged tually securing the repayment of on poor rates ; not any sum or sums of money which to exceed one year's „ir jr^i amount of poor may be borrowed for the purposes rates. aforesaid, with interest, it shall be lawful for the said overseers or guardians to charge the future poor rates of such parish or union with the amount of such sum or sums of money : Provided always, that the principal sum or sums to be raised for such purposes, whether raised within the year or borrowed, shall in no case exceed the average annual amount of the rates raised for the relief of the poor in such parish or union for three yeais ending at the Easter next preceding the raising of such money ; and that any loan or money borrow- ed for any of the purposes aforesaid shall be repaid by annual instalments of not less than one tenth of the sum borrowed, with interest on the same, in any one year. Puwer to order XXV. And be it furtherenacted, Wdvkbouses to be .i .. -. , n , , r i c .i • i altered or enlarged, that it shall be lawful for the said without consent,&c. Commissioners, and they are hereby empowered, without requiring any such consent as aforesaid, by any writing under the hands and seal of the said commissioners, to order and direct the overseers or guardians of any parish or union having a workhouse or workhouses, or any- building capable of being converted into a workhouse or workhouses, to enlarge or alter the same, according to such plan and in such manner as the said com- missioners shall deem most proper for carrying the provisions of this Act into e.\ecution ; and the over- seers or guardians to whom any such order shall be 362 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. directed are hereby authorized and required to assess, raise, and levy such sum or sums of money as may be necessary for the purposes specified in such order, by such powers, ways, and means as are now by law given to or vested in churchwardens and overseers or guardians of the poor for altering, enlarging, and Sumstobft.ai.ed maintaining workhouses for the use for such purposes of the poor in their respective not to exceed one parishes or unions : Provided al- ra?es,or50/.'""'' -^J^' '^^' the principal sum or sums to be raised for such purposes, and charged upon any parish, shall not exceed in the whole the sum of fifty pounds, nor in any such case ex- ceed one-tenth of the average annual amount of the rates raised for the relief of the poor in such parish for the three years ending at the Easter nextprecedino- the raising of such money. Paiishes may be XXVT. And be it further enacted sioners. ^"^^ '^ ^"^'' ^^ lawful for the said commissioners, by order under their hands and seal, to declare so many parishes as they may think fit to be united for the administration of the laws for the relief of the poor, and such parishes shall thereupon be deemed a union for such purpose, and thereupon the workhouse or workhouses of such parishes shall be for their common use ; and the said commissioners may issue such rules, orders, and re- gulations as they shall deem expedient for the classi- fication of such of the poor of such united Paiishes in such workhouse or workhouses as may be relieved in any such workhouse, and such poor may be received, maintained, and employed in any such workhouse or workhouses as if the same belonged exclusively to the Each parish parish to which such poor shall be chargeable for its chargeable ; but, notwithstandincr own iioor. u • j i 'c .■ ? such union and classification, each of the said parishes shall be separately chargeable with and liable to defray the expence of its own poor, whether relieved in or out of any such workhouse. Justices may XXVII. And be it further iref"o""*a"5^^nd enacted, that in any union which infirm persons may be formed under this Act it wholly ui.able tn shall be lawful for any two of his ''^'"'^"- Majesty's Justices of the Peace usually acting for the district wherein such union mav be situated, at their just and proper discretion, to direct by order under their hands and seals, that relief shall be given to any adult person who shall from old age or infirmity of body be wholly unable to work, without requiring that such person shall reside in any workhouse : Provided always, that one of such justices shall certify in such order of his own knowledge, that such person is wholly unable to work, as aforesaid ; and provided fuither, that such person shall be law- fully entitled to relief in such union, and shall desire to receive the same out of a workhouse. When a union of XXVIIl. And be it further S^o^l.^col'll ^^-^\^^' t'^-'^t -hen any union of sioners to in(|uire parishes foi' the administration of the expence of poor the laws for the relief of the poor Jaris'lf"1or° three ^^all be proposed to be made or years preceding. shall be made under the provisions of this Act, it shall be lawful for the said commissioners, and they are hereby required, from time to time, by such means and in such manner as they may think fit, to inquire into and ascertain the expence incurred by each parish proposed to form part of such union for the relief of the poor belonging to such palish, whether such relief shall have beeri given in or out of any workhouse, for the three years ending on the twenty-fifth day of March next preced- ing such inquiry, and thereupon the said commissioners shall proceed to calculate and ascertain the annual average expence of each parish for that period ; and the several parishes included or proposed to be included in such union shall from the time of effecting the same contribute and be assessed to a common fund for pur- chasing, building, hiring, or providing, altering or enlarging any workhouse or other place for the re- ception and relief of the poor of such parishes, or for the purchase or renting of any lands or tenements, under and by virtue of the provisions of this Act, of or for such union, and for the future upholding and maintaining of such woikliouses or places aforesaid, and the payment or allowance of the officers of such union, and the providing of utensils and materials for setting the poor on work therein, and for any other expence to be incurred for the common use or benefit or on the common account of such parishes, in the like proportions as on the said annual average of the said three years such relief had cost each such parish separately, until such average shall be varied or Power for takiH"- altered as herein-after provided: future averages. Provided always, and the said com- missioners are hereby authorized, if they shall so think fit, but not otherwise, from time to time, either upon the application of the guardians of such union or of the overseers of any parish forming part of the same, or without such application, to cause a like inquiry and calculation to be made and average ascertained for the three years ending on the twenty- fifth day of March next preceding such inquiry ; and from and after the ascertaining of any such average, or of any succeeding average, the respective parishes of such union shall contribute and be assessed to the common fund thereof, for the purposes aforesaid, in the proportions which the expence of such parishes shall be found to have borne to each other during such period upon the average which shall have been so last ascertained, until a like inquiry shall be again made, and a new average and proportion ascertained for the future assessments of such parishes. The like provision XXIX. And whereas in divers t^r^J^Tof unions formed under the said re- incorporation. cited Act made and passed in the 22 G. 3 c. 83. twenty-second year of the reign of his late Majesty King George the Third, intituled j4)i Act for the better Relief and Emptoiiment of the Poor, or under local acts of incorporation, the whole of the expence, as well of upholding the united work- houses therein as of maintaining and relieving the poor of the respective parishes of such unions, is as- sessed upon such parishes in the respective propor- tions fixed at the period when such unions were formed, and in others a part of such expences is so levied, and a part subjected to variations at stated periods: And whereas some of the parishes of such unions have contributed and still continue to contri- bute, as their fixed proportion of the general fund, a sum much larger and others a sum much less than the ' actual expense incurred for the relief of the poor belonging to them respectively ; for remedy thereof be it enacted, that it shall be lawful for the said com- missioners, as soon as conveniently may be after the passing of this Act, to cause an inquiry to be made and an account rendered, as far as it may be practica- ble to render the same, by the visitors, directors, acting guardiaiis, or other officers of such parishes or THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 363 unions respectively, of the expence incurred for the rehef of the poor belonging to each parish within any such union, wlielher such poor shall have been relieved in or out of such parish respectively, or in or out of any united workhouse, and wliether such expence has been paid by the general fund of such union or the parochial funds of any of the parishes thereof, or by any private rate, or general subscription in lieu of a rate among the rate-payers of any such parish, and whether passed through the books or paid under the control of the managers or officers of such union, or not, for the period of three years ending on the twenty- fifth day of Marcli one thousand eight hundred and thirty-four, including therein a due proportion of the expence of maintaining the united workhouses and establishment of such union, calculated according to the actual expence otherwise incurred for the relief of the poor belonging to each such parish ; and the average annual amount of such expence shall be deemed and taken to have been the annual expence incurred by such parish on account of its poor, not- withstanding such parish may have contributed a greater or smaller sum than such annual average to the general funds of the union during such period ; and such annual average, so ascertained as aforesaid, shall, if the said commissioners shall see fit, and to such extent only as they may direct, be deemed and taken as the fixed proportion to be contributed and paid by each such parish respectively towards a com- mon fund for the future hiring, maintaining, and up- holding, repairing, altering, or enlarging of any workhouse, and the renting of any land used by such union at the passing of this Act, and for the pur- chasing, building, hiring, maintaining, upholding, re- pairing, altering, or enlarging of any new workhouse or workhouses, or other place for the reception and relief of the poor belonging to the parishes of such union, and for the renting or purchase of any lands or tenements under or by virtue of the provisions of this Act, and the payment or allowance of any ofiicers of such union, and the providing of utensils or materials for sett'ng the poor on work therein, and for any otlier expence to be in future incurred for the common use or benefit of such parishes, and in ad- dition to the cost or proportion of cost of the poor of such parishes who shall be maintained or relieved in or out of any workhouse of such union, for which each such parish shall in future be charged separately ; any provision or enactment in the said recited Act or in any such local acts to the contrary notwithstand- Powor for taking ing : Provided always, and the said future averages. commissioners are hereby autho- rized, if they see fit, but not otherwise, upon the ap- plication of the guardians of any such last-mentioned union, or of the overseers of any parish forming part of the same, or without such applicalion, from time to time to cause an inquiry and calculation to be made, and average ascertained, for the three years ending on the twenty-fifth day of March next pre- ceding such inquiry, of the expence incurred by each such parish, as well in res])ect of its contribution to such common fund as of the cost or proportion of cost of its poor which shall have been maintained or union relieved in oroutofany workhouse ofsuch union during such peiiod of three years ; and from and after the ascertaining of such average or of any succeeding average the respective parisiies of such union sliall contribute and be assessed to the common fund there- of, for the purposes of which such common fund is herein-before declared to be applicable, in tlie pro- portions which the expense of such parishes shall be found to have been borne to each other during such period, upon the average which shall have been so last ascertained, until a like inquiry shall be again made, and a new average and proportion ascertained for the future assessment of such parishes to such common fund : provided always, that nothing herein contained shall extend to any parishes already formed or hereafter to be formed into a union for the pur- poses of settlement or rating, or where the annual assessment is directed to be indifferently proportioned between the several parishes composing such union. Parliamentaryre- XXX. And for facilitating the in- dencoofncuuil^x- ^^i^es directed by this Act, be it pence of poer to enacted, iThat unless and until it each parish. shall be proved to the satisfaction of the said commissioners to be incorrect, the returns made to parliament of the sums expended for the relief of the poor of any parish for the last three years previous to the passing of this Act shall be deemed to be the actual expence incurred by each such parish respectively during that period for the purposes afore- said, and on account of the poor belonging to such parish respectively, and shall be taken as the ground on which such averages shall be calculated and ascer- tained. ^^Repeal of 22 G. XXXI. And be it further enact- 55 Q 3 ~'j, 'jog ed, that from and after the passing Part of s. 1, re- of this Act so much of the said re- straining parishes cited Act made and passed in the trom contributiiiff . , , r ^l. • >' to workhouse at ?i twenty-second year _ of the reign ot isreater distance his late Majesty King George the ";."" l?.°''ies ' '^'o'^ Third, intituled an Act for the better 01 J^ (jr. Of C. 8o, 7- /• 7 / , V 7 s. 29. limiting reiiej and emplotiment oj t lie poor, as class of persons to provides that no parish, township, be sent to work- hamlet, or place, which shall he liouses. . ' 'u ! -1 I- Situate more than ten miles from any poorhouse or workhouse to be provided under the au- thority of that Act, shall be permitted to be united for the purposes therein mentioned with the parishes, townships, hamlets, and places which shall establish such poorhouse or workhouse as therein mentioned, and as limits the class or description of persons who shall be sent to such poorhouse or workhouse ; and so much of a certain Act made and passed in the fifty- sixth year of the reign of his said late Majesty King George the Third, intituled an Act to repeal certain provisions in Local Acts for the maintenance and ma- nagement of the poor, as repeals all enactments and provisions contained in any Act or Acts of Parlia- ment since the commencement of the reign of his late Majesty King George the First, whereby any parish, township, or hamlet at a greater distance than ten miles from any house of industry or workhouse shall thereafter be empowered or authorized to become con- tributors to or to take the benefit of such house of in- dustry or workhouse ; shall be and the same is here- by repealed. Power to dis- XXXII, And be it further enacted, itll^' from *°'any ^'^^^ '^ ^^'^^l ^^ lawful for the said union ; commissioners, from time to time, as they may see fit, by order under their hands and seal, to declare any union, vxhether formed before or after the passing of this act Cexcept when united for the purposes of settlement or rating}, lo be dissolved, or any parish or parishes, specifying tlie same, to be separated from or added to any such union, and, as the case may be, such union shall thereupon be dissolved, or such parish or parishes 364 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. shall thereupon be separated from or added to such and thereupon to "°'°? accordingly ; and the said corn- make such rnles as missioners shall in every such case may be adapted to frame and make such rules, orders, its altered state. j i ^- ^i xu- i ^^ and regulations as they may think fit for adapting the constitution, management, and board of guardians of every such union, from or to which there shall be such separation oraddition as aforesaid, to the altered state of the same, and every such union shall after any such alteration be constituted, managed, and governed as if the same had been originally formed in such altered state; and in case any union shall be wholly or partially dissolved as aforesaid, then the parishes constituting, or, in case of a partial dissolu- tion, separated from any such union, shall thence- forth be subject to be re-united, or united with other parishes or unions, or otherwise dealt with according to the provisions of this Act as the said commissioners Rights and inte- shall think fit: Provided always, rests of parishes, that in every such case the said and claims on commissioners shall and thev are them, to be ascer- i r • i , • , tained and secured, hereby required to ascertain the propor'.ionate value to every parish of such union of the workhouses or other property held or eujoyed by such union for the use of the poor or benefit of the rate-payers therein, and also the propor- tionate amount chargeable on every parish in respect of all the liabilities of such union existing at the time of such dissolution or alteration of the same, and the said commissioners shall thereupon fix the amount to be received, or paid, or secured to be paid, by every parish affected by such alteration ; and the sum to be received, if any, by such parish, shall be paid, or, as the said commissioners shall direct, be secured to be paid, to the overseers or guardians of the same, for the benefit of such parish, and in diminution of the rates thereof and of the expence attending such alte- ration ; and the sum to be so paid or secured to be paid by every such parish shall be raised, under the direction of the said commissioners, by the overseers or guardians of such parish, or charged on the poor rates of such parish, as the said commissioners may see fit, and shall be paid or secured for the use and benefit of the union from which the same parish shall have been so separated, or of the persons or parishes otherwise entitled thereto, as the case may be : Dissolution or al- Provided always, that no such dis- teration not to af- solution or alteration of the parishes feet rights of third constituting any such union, nor any parties, nor take i ,•»• ^? " r •, , r, place without the addition thereto as aforesaid, shall consent of guar- in any manner prejudice, vary, or dians of parish. affect the rights or interests of third persons, unless such third persons, by themselves or their agents, shall consent in writing to such dissolu- tion or proposed alteration or addition ; and that no such dissolution, alteration, or addition shall take place or be made unless a majority of not less than two-thirds of the guardians of such union shall also concur therein ; and in every such case, when the said majority of the guardians of such union shall so concur in such proposed alteration, the terms on which such concurrence shall have been given, if approved by the said commissioners, shall be binding and con- clusive on the several parishes of such union. United parishes XXXIII. And be it farther enact- raay be one parish .j ,1, » • • 1 1 r 1 for pur'i.oses of ^"' that in any union already formed settlement. or which may hereafter be formed in pursuance of or under the provi- sions of this Act, it shall and may be lawful for the guardians elected by the parishes forming such union, by any writing under the hands of all such guardians, to agree, subject to the approbation of the said com- missioners, for or on behalf of the respective parishes forming such union, that for the purposes of settle- ment such parishes shall be considered as one parish ; and in such case such agreement, having been first signed by the said guardians, shall be signed and sealed by the said commissioners, and one part thereof shall be deposited with the said commissioners, and a counterpart or counterparts thereof, signed by the said guardians, and signed and sealed by the said commissioners, deposited with the clerk of the peace of the county, riding, division, district, or liberty in which the parishes of such union shall be respectively situate ; and the said clerk of the peace shall and is hereby required, upon the receipt of such agreement, or counterpart or counterparts thereof, to file the same with the records of such county, riding, division, dis- trict, or liberty ; and from and after the depositing of the same as aforesaid the said agreement shall for ever thereafter be binding on each of such parishes, and shall not be revoked or annulled ; and the settle- ment of a poor person in any one of the parishes of such union shall be considered, as between such pa- rishes, a settlement in such union, and the expence of maintaining, supporting, and relieving every such poor person, and all other expences of maintaining, supporting, and relieving the poor to which any one of such parishes shall be liable after the depositing of such agreement, part or counterpart as aforesaid, or of ascertaining, litigating, or adjudging the settlement of any poor person in any of such parishes, shall form part of the general expences and be paid out of the common funds of such union : Provided always, that wherever such agreement is entered into as aforesaid the rate or proportion of contribution to such common funds to be thereafter paid by each of the parishes of such union shall be ascertained and fixed in like manner as in and by this Act is provided for in cases where any union of parishes is made or proposed to be made under the provisions thereof, and shall not be subject to further variation. Union may be XXXIV. And be it further enact- posV^of^rlting^ ed, that where the parishes of any with consent of union shall be situate within the guardians. same county, riding, division, dis- trict, or liberty, under the jurisdiction of the same justices of the peace, it shall and may be lawful for the guardians elected by the parishes forming such union, by any writing under the hands of all such guardians, to agree, with the approbation of the said commissioners, for or on behalf of the respective pa- rishes for which they shall so act as guardians, that, for the purposes of raising in common the necessary funds for the relief of the poor of such union, such pa- Asreement or rishes shall be considered one parish ; counterpart for and in such case such agreement, such rating to be having been first signed by the said clMk ofthe'l[!eace. guardians, shall be signed and sealed by the said commissioners, and one part thereof deposited with the said commissioners, and a counterpart or counterparts thereof, signed by the said guardians, and signed and sealed by the said commissioners, deposited with the clerk of the peace of the county, riding, division, district, or li- berty, counties, district or districts, in which the said parishes of such union shall be situate ; and the said clerk or clerks of the peace shall and is and are here- by required, upon the receipt of such agreement, part or counterpart, to file the same with the records of THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 365 such county, riding, division, district, or liberty, or counties, district or districts, and from and after the depositing and filing of such last mentioned agree- ment or counterpart the same shall be for ever bind- ing upon such parishes, and shall not be revoked or annulled. Guardians to as- XXXV. And be it further enacted, certain and assess j,,j,j f^.^^^ ^^^ ^f^g,. ^^^^ depositing value of property. ^ f and tiling of the said agreement, part or counterpart, the said guardians shall, under such regulations as the said commissioners shall in that respect prescribe, proceed to ascertain and assess the value of the property in the several parishes of such union rateable to the re'ief of the poor, and to cause to be made such surveys andvaluations'oi the said property, or any part thereof, as may be necessary, from time to time, to make a fair and just assessment upon the said united parishes in respect of such pro- _ . , , perty so rateable as aforesaid ; and Rates grouuded ^,, ■^ , , , ou such assess- all rates grounded on every sucu va- nient to be allowed luation or assessment shall be made, as poor rates. allowed, published, and recovered in such and the same manner as rates for the relief of the poor are now by law made, allowed, published, and recovered : and the rate-payers shall l.ave the like power of appeal against such last-mentioned rates as an} persons now have against rates made for the relief of the poor. In such cases all XXXVI. And be it furtlier enact- tb^^'pooft'be'in ^d, that from and after any such common. common rate shall have come into operation the proportions of contri- bution fixed at the period of uniting such parishes, or existing at the time of such last-mentioned agreement for a common rate, shall wholly cease ; and all ex- penditure in respect of the poor of such union, or chargeable in any way on the poor rates of the re- spective parishes thereof, shall be deemed and be the common expenditure of s'^ch union, and be chargeable upon and paid out of the common or general fund to be raised upon such parishes under such common rate, according to the valuation or assessment of the rateable property in such parishes so ascertained, con- firmed, and allowed b}' the said justices from time to Expenceofvalu- ^ime in manner herein-before pro- ation. vided ; Provided ahvays, that the expence of every such valuation shall at all times be a charge on the common rate of Proviso for con- ^^^^ . parishes : Provided always, sent of parishes that in case any parish of any union, not represented by at the period of entering into such guardian. . r xi_ r »ii agreement for the purposes of settle- ment or a common rate, shall not be represented by a guardian elected solely by such parish, such parish shall not be bound by any such agreement, unless a majority of the owners of property and rate-payers in such parish, entitled to vote in the manner provided by this Act, shall, by their votes in writing, testify their assent to such agreement in such form as the said commissioners shall prescribe ; and in case such assent shall not be so given, such parish shall be ■wholly omitted from suA\ agreement, and be liable to pay such proportion only of tiie common assessment as it was bound to pay upon the forming of the union of such parishes. Xouniont.ibe XXX VII. And le it further so formed without enacted, that fiom and after the consent of Com- passing of this Act no union or in- rmssioners, * °.- , . , , ,i, ^ corporation of parishco shall be form- ed under the provisions of the said Act made and passed in the twenty-second year of the reign of his late INIajesty King George the Third, without the pre- vious consent of the said commissioners, testified un- der their hands and seal. r ,-, fnn . .A XXXVIII. And be it further Constitution and ,11 • , Election of Board enacted, that where any parishes of Guardians for shall be united by order or with the "'• concurrence of the said commission- ers for the administration of the laws for the relief of the poor, a board of guardians of the poor for such union shall be coustituted and chosen, and the workhouse or workhouses of such union shall be governed, and the relief of the poor in such union shall be administered, by such board of guardians ; and the said guardians shall be elected by the rate-payers, and by such owners of property in the parishes forming such union as shall in manner heieiiiafter mentioned require to have their names en- tered as entitled to vote as owneisin the books of such parishes respectively ; and the said commission- ers shall determine the number and prescribe the du- ties of the guardians to be elected in each union, and also fi^ a qualification without which no person shall be eligible as such guardian, such qualification to consist in being rated to the poor rate of some parish or parishes in such Union, but not so as to require a qualification exceeding the annual rental of forty pounds, and shall also determine the number of guar- dians which shall be elected for any one or more of such parishes, having due regard to the circumstances of each such parish : provided always, that one or more guardians shall be elected for each parish in- cluded in such union ; and such guardians, when so elected, shall continue in ofiice until the twenty-fifth day of IMarch next following their appointment or i:n- til others are appointed in their stead, and on such twenty-fifth day of ^larch, or if that day should fall on a Sunday or Good Friday then on the day next following, or within fourteen days next after the said twenty-fifth day of ^larch in every year, such guar- dians shall go out of office, and the guardians for the ensuing year shall be chosen ; and in the event of any vacancy occurring in such board by the death, removal or resignation, or refusal or disqualification to act of any elected guardian between the periods of such first and the next and 3ny subsequent and any subsequent annual election, or in case the full num- ber of guardians shall not be duly elected at such subsequent election of guardians for the time being, the other or remaining members of the said board shall continue to act until the next election, or until the completion of the said board, as if no such vacancy had occurred, and as if the num- ber of such board were complete : and every justice of the peace residing in any such parish, and acting for the county, riding, or division in which the same may be situated, shall be an e.v ctficio guardian of such united or common workhouses, and shall, un- til such board of guardians shall be duly elected and constituted as aforesaid, and also, in case of any irre- gularity 01 delay in any subsequent election of guar- dians, receive and carry into eflect the rules, orders, and regulations of the said commissioners ; and after such board shall be elected and constituted as afore- said every such justice shall ex ojficw be and be en- titled, if he think fit, to act as a member of such board, in addition to and in like manner as such elected guardians : Provided always. No guardian to that, e.\cept where otherwise order- 366 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. have power ex» ed by the said commissioners, and board '^'^ ^ unless also except for the purpose of con- othervvise direct- senting to the dissolution or altera- ed by the commis- tion of any union or any addition ^"*"^'^'' thereto, or to the formation of any union for the purposes of settlement or rating, no ex officio or other guardian of any such board as afore- said shall have power to act in virtue of such office except as a member and at a meeting of such board ; and no act of any such meeting shall be valid unless three members shall be present and concur therein: „ ,. , Provided also, that nothinsr herein Guardians may be -11,, ? re-elected. ' contained shall prevent such owners and rate payers from re-electing tlie same persons or any or either of them to be guardians for tlie year next ensuing, nor from electing as a guardian any person who may already have been chosen as a guardian of any other parish. The like for sin- XXXIX. And be it further enact- gle parishes. gj_ ^^^^ jj. ^^^ ^.^j^ commissioners shall, by any order under their hands and seal, direct that the administration of the laws for the relief of the poor of any single parish should be governed and administered by a board of guardians, then such board shall be elected and constituted, and autho- rized and entitled to act, for such single parish, in like manner in all respects as is heiein-before enact- ed and provided in respect to a board of guardians for mited parishes ; and every justice of the peace resi- dent therein, and acting for the county, riding, or di- vision in which the same is situated, shall be and may act as an ex officio member of such board. At elections of XL. And be it enacted, that in f^TIkenTwHUn". ^^ cases of the election of guardians and owners as weU under tb.is Act, or wherever tlie con- as occupiers to gent of the owners of property or vote. , . • 1 • rate-payers in any parish or union shall be required for any of the purposes of this Art, except when otherwise expressly provided for in this Act, the votes of such owners and rate-payers shall be given or taken in writing, collected, and returned, in such manner as the said commissioners shall di- rect ; and in every such case the owner, as well as the rate-payer, in respect of any property in such parish or union, shall be entitled to vote, and the owner shall have the same number and proportion of votes respectively as is provided for inlrabitants and other persons in and by an Act made and passed in the fifty-eighth year of the reign of his said late Ma- 58 Geo. 3. c. 69. J*^sty King George the Third, inti- tuled All Act for the Regulatioti of Parisli Vestries, and in and by an Act to amend the same, made and passed in the fifty- ninth year of his Seale of votin-. ^aid late xMajesty ; (a) and the rate- payers under two hundred pounds shall each have a single vote ; and llie rate-payers rated at two hundred pounds or more, but under four hundred pounds, shall each have two votes, and the rate-payers rated at four hundred pounds or more, shall each have three votes; and the majority of the votes of such owners and rate-payers wliich shall be actually collected and returned shall in every such case be binding on such parish ; and for the purpose of ascertaining the number of votes to vvliich each such (a) The seale of voting by the 50 G. 3, c. 69, applied to owners in this Act. will entitle an owner to one vote for every "25/. of rental, in res|iect of which his property shall have been assessed in the last rate, whether cliarged in one sum or more, but not to exceed six votes in the vvbole. owner shall be entitled, the aggregate amount of the assessment for the time being of any propeity belong- ing to such owner in such parish, or on any person or persons in respect of the same, to the poor rate; shall be deemed to be and be taken as the annual value of such property to such owner ; and where any such owner shall be the bona fide occupier of any such propci ty, he shall be entitled to vote as well in respect of his occupation as of liis being such owner ; Pro- Votes may be ^^'^^^ always, that it shall be lawful given by proxy. for any owner from time to time, by writing under his hand, to appoint any person to vote as his proxy ; and every such ap- pointment shall remain ia force until revoked or le- called by such owner ; but no owner shall be entitled to vote, either in person or proxy, unless he shall, previous to the day on which he shall claim to vote, have given a statement in writing of his name and address, and the description of tlie property in the parish as owner whereof, or proxy for the owner whereof, he claims to vote, and if such proxy, the original or an attested copy of the writing appointing him such proxy, to the overseers of such parish ; and the said overseers are hereby required to enter in the rate-books of such parish, or in some other book to be from time to time provided for that purpose, the names and addresses of the owners and proxies who shall send such statements, and the assessment of the rate for the relief of the poor of the property in respect wheieof they respectively claim to vote : Provided also, that every person who shall not vote, or who shall not comply with the directions to be made by the said commissioners for the giving, taking, or re- turning of votes, shall be omitted ia tlie calculation of votes, and considered as having had no vote on the question whereon he might have voted: Pro- vided also, that no person shall be Nn rate-iayer deemed a rate -payer, or be entitled rated^one year.*^^^ '° ^°'-^' °'' ^° ^"y °^'^®'" ^^^t, matter, or thing as such, under the provi- sions of this act, unlcfs he shall l\ave been rated lo the relief of the poor for the whole year immediately preceding his so voting or otherwise acting as such rate-payer, and shall have paid the parochial rates and assessments made and assessed upon him for the period of one whole year, as well as those due from him at the time of so voting or acting, except such as shall have been made or become due within the six months immediately preceding such voting or acting : Provided always, that in cases of property belonging to any corporation aggregate, or to any joint stock or other company, no member of such corporation, or proprietor of or interested in such joint stock or other company, shall be entitled to vote as such owner in respect thereof; but any officer of such corporation, joint stock, or other company, whose name shall be entered by the diiection ol the governing body of such corporation or company in the bocks of the parish, in the manner herein-before directed with respect to the owner of property, shall be entitled to vote in respect of such property in the same manner as if he were the owner thereof. Elections of guar- dians, visitors, and other officers un- der the Act 22 G. 3. c. 83, or any local Act to be ni.ide oc- cording to the pro- visions of this Act, XLT. And be it further enacted, that all elections of guardians, vi- sitors, and other officers, for the execution of any of the powers or purposes of the said recited Act made and passed in the twenty- second year of the reign of his said late Majesty King George the Third, intituled An Act THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 367 for the better Relief and Emphiiment of the Poor, or of any local act of Parlhment relating to poor houses, workhouses, or the relief of the poor, or any Act to alter or an,end the same respectively, shall hereafter, so far as the said commissioners shall direct, be made and conducted according to the provisions of this Act; Provided always, that it shall be lawful for the said coipmissioners, if they shall so think fit, from time to time, with the consent of the majority of tlie own- ers of property and rate-payers of any parish, or of any union now existing or to be formed under the provisions of this Act, to alter the period for which the guardians to be appointed under the provisions of this Act for such pjiish or union, or any of them, would under the provisions of this Act hold office, for such other period or periods as to the said commis- sioners, with such consent as aforesaid, shall seem expedient, and also to make such alterations in the number, mode of appointment, removal, and period of service of tlie guardians, or any of them, of any parish, or of any union now existing or to be formed under the provisions of this Act, as to the said commission- ers, with such consent us aforesaid, shall seem expe- dient. Commis-ioners XLII. And be it further enacted, may make rules, ^^^^ jj^g said commissioners may &c. iiir present or i • i i future workhouses, and are hereby authorized, by and viuy Bye Liuvs writing under their hands and trire^madfhe';;-' ^^al, to make rules, orders, and after, regulations, to be observed and enfoiced at every workhouse already established by virtue of the said recited Act made and passed in the twenty-second year of the reign of his said late Majesty King George the Third, inti- tuled An Act for the better Relief and Employment of the Poor, or any general or local Act of Parliament, or hereafter to be established by virtue of such Acts or any of them, or of this or any other Act of Parlia- ment relating to the relief of the poor, for the govern- ment thereof, and the nature and amount of the re- lief to be given to and the labour to be exacted from the persons relieved, and the preservation therein of good order, and from time to time to suspend, alter, vary, amend, or rescind the same, and make any new or other rules, orders, and regulations, to be observed and enforced as aforesaid, as they from time to time shall think fit, and to alter, at their discretion, any of the rules, orders, and regulations contained in the schedule to the said recited Act, and also to alter or rescind any rules, orders, aud regulations heretofore made in pursuance of the said recited Act, or any local Act of Parliament relating to workhouses or the relief of the poor ; and that all rules, orders, and re- gulations to be from time to time made by the said commissioners under the authority of this act shall be valid and binding, and shall be obeyed and observed as if the same were specifically made by and embodied in this Act ; subject, nevertheless, to the said power of the said commissioners from time to time to re- scind, amend, suspend, or alter the same ; Provided always, that if any such rule, order, ■Rules, &c. af- or regulation shall be, at the time fn^'riortoT/e Of issuing the same, directed to and deemed general affect more than one union, the same rules. shall be considered as a general rule, and subject and liable to all the provisions in this Act contained respecting general rules. Justices em- XLIII. And be it further enact- powered to sec . i i , i bye laws en- eel, that Where any rules, orders, forced, and to or regulations, of any bye laws, visit workhouses, ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^ directed by the pursuant toJOlr. . .. , ,■' , 3_ g_ 49_ said commissioners to be observed or enforced in any workhouse, it shall and may lawful for any Justice of the Peace acting in and for the county, place, or jurisdiction in which such workhouse sciall be situate, to visit, in- spect, and examine such workhouse at such times as he shall think proper, for the purpose of ascertaining whether such rules, orders, regulations, or bye laws are or have been duly observed and obeyed in such workhouse as well as for such other purposes as justices are now authorised to visit workhouses under and by virtue of a certain Act made and passed in the thirtieth year of the reign ot His said late Majesty King George the Third, inti- tuled an Act to empower justices and other persons to visit parish workhouses or poorhouses, and examine and certiftj tlie state aud condition of the poor therein to the quarter sessions ; and if in the opinion of such Justice such rules, orders, regulations, or bye laws, or any of them, have not been duly observed and obeyed in such workhouse, it shall be lawful for such Justice to summon the party offending in such respect to appear before any two Justices of the Peace to answer any complaint touching the nonobservance of such rules, orders, regulations, and bye laws, or any of them, and upon convictions before such two justices of the party so offending such party shall forfeit and be liable to such penalties and punishments as are herein-after prescribed and provided against parties wilfully neglecting or disobeying the rules, orders, Thcpovvergiven or regulations of the said commis- to Justices, &c. to sioners : Provided always, that visit workhouses vvhere no such rules, orders, regu- leseived where , . , , u ii u u commissioners lations, or bye laws shall have been rules, tc. are directed by the said commissioners not in force. ^q \yQ enforced and observed in the workhouse of any parish, nothing in this Act con- tained shall be construed to restrain or prevent any Justice of the Peace, physician, surgeon, or apothe- cary, or the officiating clergyman of any parish, from visiting such workhouse, and examining and certifying the state and condition of the same and of the poor therein, in such manner as they or any of them are authorized to do in and by the said last-recited Act. Buildings taken XLIV. Whereas the jurisdic- b^/withi'The^Ju! tion of certain cities, boroughs, and risdiction of the corporate towns is not always co- place to which extensive with the parish in which though sUuate^d ^^ exists : be it therefore enacted, that without. every house or building which shall be erected, purchased, or hired as and for a workhouse, together witli all premises and appurtenances thereto belonging, and the land or lands occupied therewith, shall be deemed and held to be within and subject to the local jurisdiction of such incorporaied city, borough, or town to which they may respectively belong, though the same may situated in such part of the respective parishes as may not be within the chartered boundaries there- of. No lunatic, in- XLV. And be it further enacted, dangerSuridioi: that nothing in this Act contained to be detained in a shall authorize the detention in any workhouse more workhouse of any dangerous luna- laa ays. ^j^,^ insane person, or idiot, for any longer period than fourteen days; and every person 368 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ■wilfully detaining in any workhouse any such lunatic, insane person, or idiot, for more than fourteen days, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor: Pro- vided always, that nothing herein contained shall ex ■ tend to any place duly licensed for the reception of lunatics and other insane persons, or to any work- house being also a county lunatic asylum. Commissioners XLVI. And be it further enacted, may direct over- ^■^^^^ j^ ^^^11 be lawful for the said seer? and Ouav- . . i i ^.i. diaiis to appoint commissioners, as and when tney paid officers for pa- shall see fit, by order under their rishes or union?; ^^^^^^ ^^^ gg^j j^ jj^gj,^ j^g „^.g^. and Iix their du- ,. . . , ties, and the mode seers or guardians of any parish or of appointment union, or of so many parishes or and dismissal, ynions as the said commissioners may and the seciiritv" - and regulate their in such order specify and declare to be salaries. united for the purpose only of ap- pointing and paying officers, to appoint such paid officers with such qualifications as the said commis- sioners shall think necessary for superintending or assisting in the administration of the relief and em- ployment of the poor, and for the examining and au- diting, allowing or disallowing of accounts in such parish or union, or united parishes, and otherwise carrving the provisions of this Act into execution ; and the said commissioners may and they are hereby empowered to define and specify and direct the exe- cution of the respective duties of such officers, and the places or limits within which the same shall be performed, and direct the mode of the appointment and determine the continuance in office or dismissal of such officers, and the amount and nature of the se- curity to be given by such of the said officers as the said commissioners shall think ought to give secu- rity, and, when the said commissioners may see occa- sion, to regulate the amount of salaries payable to such officers respectively, and the time and mode of payment thereof, and t'le proportions in which such respective parishes or unions shall contribute to such payment; and such salaries shall be chargeable upon and payable out of the poor rates of such parish or union, or respective parishes, in the manner and proportions fixed by the said commissioners, and shall be recoverable against the overseers or guardi- ans of such parish or union, or parishes, by all such ways and means as the salaries of assistant overseers or other paid officers of any parish or union are re- coverable by law ; and all such payments shall be valid, and siiall be allowed in the accounts of the overseers or guardians paying the same. Overseers, &c. D pass quarterly XLVII. And be it further enact- to pass accounts ^^ ^^^^ overseer, treasurer, or Other person having the collec- tion, receipt, or distiibution of the monies assessed for the relief of the poor in any parish or union, or holding or accountable for any balance or sum of money, or any books, deeds, papers, goods, or chattels relating to the relief of the poor, or the collection or distribution of the poor rate of any parish or union, shall once in every quarter, in addition to the annual account now by law required, and where the rules, orders, and regulations of tlie said commissioners shall have come in force, then as often as the said rules, orders, and regulations shall direct, but not less than once in every quarter, make and render to the guardians, auditors, or such other persons as by virtue of any statute or custom, or of the said rules, orders, or regulations, may be appointed to examine, audit, allow, or disallow such accounts, or in default of any such guardian, auditor, or other person being so appointed as aforesaid, then to the justices of the peace at their petty sessions for the division in which such parish or union shall be situate, a full and dis- tinct account in writing of all monies, matters, and . things committed to their charge, or received, held, or expended on behalf of any such parish or union, and if thereunto required by the justices, guardians, au- ditors, or other persons authorized in that behalf, shall verify on oath the truth of all such accounts and statements from time to time respectively, or subscribe a declaration to the truth thereof, in manner and under the penalties in this Act provided for parties giving false evidence or refusing {a) to give evidence under the provisions of this Act ; and all balances Recovery of ha- <^"<^ f™"" ^'^J guardian, treasurer, lances. overseer or assistant overseer, or or person having the controul and distribution of the poor rate, or accountable for such balances may be recovered in the same manner as any penalties andforfeitures are recoverable undertliis Act : „ , ^ , (l>) Provided nevertheless, that no Surety not to \ ^ , „ be discharged. such proceeding shall exonerate or disch argethe liability of the surety of any such treasurer, overseer, assistant overseer, or other person as aforesaid. Masters of XLVIII. And be it further workhonses and enacted, that the said commissioners parish officers to ' i • ■, be under order of may and they are hereby authorized board, and remov- and empowered, as and when they able by them. ^j^^,, ^,^jj^^ p^.^pg^.^ ^^ ^^.^g^. ^^j^^. their hands and seal, either upon or without any sug- gestion or complaint in that behalf from the overseers or guardians of any parish or union, to remove any master of any workhouse, or assistant overseer, or other paid officer of any parish or union whom they shall deem unfit for or incompetent to discharge the duties of any such office, or who shall at any time refuse or wilfully neglect to obey and carry into effect any of the rules, orders, regulations, or bye laws of the said commissioners, whether such union shall have been made or such officer appointed before or after the passing of this Act, and to require from time to time the persons competent in that behalf to appoint a fit and proper person in his room ; and that any person so removed shall not be competent to be appointed to or to fill any paid office connected with the relief of the poor in any such parish or union, except with the consent of the said commissioners under their hands and seal ; provided always, that no person shall be eligible to hold any parish office, or have the manage- ment of the poor in any way whatever, who shall have been convicted of felony, fraud, or perjury. Contracts not to XLIX. And be it further enact- be valid unless j ^j ^ contract which shall conformable to the , ' J , , ,^ r rules of commis- be entered into by or on behalf ot sioners. any parish or union, for or relating to the maintenance, clothing, lodging, employment, or relief of the poor, or for any other purpose relating to or connected with the general management of tiie poor, which shall not be made and entered into in con- formity with the rules, orders, or regulations of the said commissioners in that behalf in force at the time of making and entering into the same, or otherwise sanctioned by them, shall be voidable, and, if the said commissioners shall so direct, shall be null and void ; Ca) See Seet. XriL (6) See Sect. XCIX. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 369 and all payments made under or in pursuance of any contract not made and entered into in conformity with such rules, orders, or regulations, at any period after the said commissioners shall have declared the same to be null and void as aforesaid, shall be disallowed in passing the accounts of the overseer, guardian, or other officer by whom such payments shall have been made. Repeal of 45 G 3. c. 54. as to con tracts. L. And be it further enacted, that from and after the passing of this Act a certain Act made and passed in the forty-fifth year of the reign of His said late Ma- jesty King George the Third, intituled An Act to amend to an Act made in the ninth year King George the First, for amending the laws relating to the settle- ment, employment, and relief of the poor, so far as the same respects gontracts to be entered into for the mainten- ance and employment of the poor, sliall be and the same is hereby repealed : Provided always, that nothing in this Act contained shall extend or be construed to ex- tend to affect or make void any bond or other se- curity which shall have been entered into or given before the passing of this Act, under or in pursuance of the provisions of the said Act hereby repealed. The penalty im- LI. And be further enacted, that c.M^.^oVper^sons ^0 much of a certain Act made and having the ma- passed in the fifty-fifth year of the nagement of the reign of His said late Majesty King cei^ned in any ooni George the Third, intituled ^« ^ct tract extendeii to to prevent poor persons in workhouses persons appointed fygm embezzlinp- certain provertu vro- under this Act. "^ •, , r ^, •" . n j. vided for their use ; to alter ang- amend somuch of en Act of the thirty-sixth year of His present Majesty as restrains justice^ of the peace from ordering relief to poor persons in certain cases for a longer period than one month at a time • and for other purposes therein mentioned, relating to the poor, as in- flicts a penalty on persons having the management of the poor if concerned in providing or in any contract for the supply of any goods, materials, or provisions for the use of any workhouse or workhouses, or other- wise for the support or maintenance of the poor for their own profit, and all remedies for the recovery of such penalties, shall apply and the same are hereby extended and made applicable to every commissioner, assistant commissioner, guardian, treasurer, master of a workhouse, or other officer to be appointed underthe provisions of this Act. Commissioners to LIT. (a) And whereas a practice ro^tbre.td"r hasobtalned of giving rebef toper- paupers and their sons or their families who, at the time families out the of applying for or receiving such re- workhouse, jjgp^ ^gjg ^j^^„y ^^ partially in the employment of individuals, and the relief of able- bodied and their famihes is in many places adminis- tered in modes productive of evil in other respects : and whereas difficulty may arise in case any imme- diate and universal remedy is attempted to be applied in the matters aforesaid ; be it further enacted, that from and after the passing of this Act it shall be law- ful for the said commissioners, by such rules, orders, or regulations as they may think fit, to declare to what extent and for what period the relief to be given to able-bodied persons or to their families in any parti- (ffl) With reference to the immediate operation of this and the 54th Section, see letter of the Central Board, page 3S4, at ^J^e ejid of tlijs Number. cular parish or union may be administered out of the workhouse of such parish or union, by payments in money, or with food or clothing in kind, or partly in kind and partly in money, and in what proportions, to what persons or class of persons, at what times and places, on what conditions, and in what manner such out-door relief may be afford- Relief contrary ed ; and all relief which shall be trons''t?brdi"it- g^^^"^ by any overseer, guardian, or lowed ; other person having the control or distribution of the funds of such parish or union, contrary to such orders or regula- tions, shall be and the same is hereby declared to be unlawful, and shall be disallowed in the accounts of the person giving the same, subject to the exceptions hereinafter mentioned : Provided al- But overseers ways, that in case the overseers or Sn^Kch ?e- guardians of any parish or union to gulations under which such orders or regulations special circnm- shall be addressed or directed shall, stances, and make -j i- e ^i. • \ leport thereof to "P*^" consideration ot the special commissioners. circumstances of such parish or union, or of any person or class of persons therein, be of opinion that the application and enforcing of such orders or regulations, or of any part thereof, at the time or in the manner prescribed by the said commissioners, would be inexpedient, it shall be lawful for such overseers or guardians to delay the operation of such orders or regulations, or of any part thereof, for any period not exceeding the space of thirty days, to be reckoned from the day of the receipt of such orders or regulations ; and such overseers or guar- dians shall, twenty days at the least before the expi- ration of such thirty days, make a statement and re- port of such special circumstances to the said com- missioners ; and all relief which shall be given by such overseers or guardians, before an answer to such report shall have been returned by the said commis- sioners, if otherwise lawful, shall not be deemed un- lawful although the same shall have been given con- trary to such orders or regulations, or any of them : but in case the said commissioners If commissioners shall disapprove of such delay, or lay, they may fix think that for the future such orders a day from which or regulations ought to come into bedisaUow^d^^'"'^ operation, notwithstanding the spe- cial circumstances alleged by such overseer or guardian, it shall be lawful for the said commissioners, by a peremptory order, to direct that from and after a day to be fixed thereby such orders and regulations, or such parts or modifications thereof as they may think expedient and proper, shall be en- forced and observed by such overseers and guardians; and if any allowance be made or relief given by such overseers or guardians after the said last-mentioned period, contrary to any such last mentioned order, the amount of the relief or allowance so given shall be disallowed in the accounts of the party giving the same : Provided also, that a quarterly report of all such cases as shall occur in any quarter shall, at the end of every such quarter, be laid by the said com- missioners before one of His Ma'esty's principal sec- retaries of state : Provided also, that Cases of Emer- ; .u i- gppgy_ in case the overseers or guardians of any parish or union in which such orders or regulations shall be in force shall depart from them or any of them in any particular instance or instances of emergency, and shall within fifteen days after every such departure report the same and the grounds thereof to the said commissioners, and the said commissioners shall approve of such depar- ture, or if the relief so given shall have been given ^ 370 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. food, tempoiary lodging, or medicine, and shall have been so reported as aforesaid, then and in either of such cases the relief granted by such overseers or guardians, if otherwise lawful, shall not be unlawful or subject to be disallowed. Repeal of 36 G. LII I. (a) And be it further enacted, 3. c. 23. 55G.3. ^j^g^^ ^^ J^^^ passed in the thirty- and 59 G. 3. c. 12. Sixth year ot the reign ol His late s. 2 & 5. Majesty King George the Third, in- tituled An Act to amend so much of an Act made in the ninth year of ihe reign of King George the First, in tituled ' An Act for amending the luxes relating to the settlement, etnploi/ment, and relief of the poor,' as pre- vents the distributing occasional relief to poor persons in their own houses, under certain circumstances and in certain cases ; and so much of an Act made and pass- ed in the fifty-fifth year of the reign of His late Ma- jesty King George the Third, intituled Aji Act tc pre- vent poor persons in jcorkhouses from embetzling certain property provided for their use, to alter and amend so much of an Act of the thirty-sixth year of His present Majesty as restrains justices of the peace from ordering relief to poor persons in certain cases for a longer period than one month at a time, and for other purposes therein mentioned relating to the poor, as extends the period for which occasional relief may be ordered by any justice or justices to poor persons at their own houses; and so much of the said Act made and passed in the fifty-ninth year of the reign of His late Majesty King George the Third, intituled An Act to amend the laws for the relief of the poor, as empowers any justice or justices to order relief in certain cases for a limited time, or in cases of urgent necessity, or in cases where parishes are under the management of guardians, go- venors, or directors appointed by special or local Acts, or in cases where parishes have not a select vestry, shall be and the same are hereby repealed. No relief to be in LIV. (b) And be it further enacted, cott'Tn-^'roard'of '^^^ f'^m and after the passing of guardians, &c. this Act the ordering, giving, and directing of all relief to the poor of anj' parish which, according to the provisions of any of the said recited Acts, or of an Act passed in the first and second years of the reign of His present Ma- 1 & 2 W 4 80 J^^'y' intituled An Act for the better regulating of Vestries, and for the appointment of auditors of accounts certain parishes in England and Wales, or of this Act, or of any local Acts, shall be under the government and control of any guardians of the poor, or of any select vestry, and whether forming part of any union or incorporation or not, (but subject in all cases to, and saving and ex- cepting the powers of, the said commissioners appoint- ed under this Act,) shall appertain and belong exclu- sively to such guardians of the poor or select vestry, according to the respective provisions of the Acts un- der which such guardians or select vestry may have been or shall be appointed ; and it shall not be law- ful for any overseer of the poor to give any further or other relief or allowance from the poor rate than such as shall be ordered by such guardians or select vestry, except in cases of sudden and urgent necessity, in which cases he is hereby required to give such tem- porary relief as each case shall require, in articles of absolute necessity, but not in money, and whether the (o) Tlie effect of this clause will be to throw the system of out-door relief principally on the 9tli G. 1, c. 1 ; and upon the other enactments in this statute relative to the powers of justices. (b) See Sec. 52, note. applicant for relief be settled in the parish where he shall apply for relief or not : Provided always, that in case such overseer shall refuse or neglect to give such necessary relief in any such case of necessity to poor persons not settled nor usually residing in the parish to which £uch overseer belongs, it shall and may be lawful for any justice of the peace to order the said overseer, by writting under his hand and seal, to give such temporary relief in articles of absolute necessity, as the case shall require, but not in money ; and in case such overseer shall disobey such order, he shall, on conviction before two justices, forfeit any sum not exceeding five pounds which such justices shall or- Anv Justice may ^.''^ ' P'ovided always that any jus- give order for me- tice of the peace shall be empowered dlcal relief in dan- to give a similar order for medical gerous illness. ^^y^^f ^^^^^-^ ^^ ^^^ parishioner, as well as out-parishioner, where any case of sudden and dangerous illness may require it ; and any overseer shall be liable to the same penalties as aforesaid for disobeying such order ; but it shall not be lawful for any justice or justices to order relief to any person or persons from the poor rates of any such parish, except as herein-before provided. Masters of work- LV. And be it enacted, that se7.4"to'''keep ^'el ^^^m and after the passing of this gisters . Act the master ot every workhouse, or such other paid officer of the parish or union as the said commissioners may direct, shall, on such day and in such form as the said com- missioners shall appoint, take an account of, and re- gister in a book to be provided at the expence of the parish or union to which such workhouse shall belong, and to be kept specially for that purpoee, the name of every poor person who shall on such days be in the receipt of relief at or in such workhouse, together with such particulars respecting the families and settlement of every such poor person, and his and their relief and employment, as the said commissioners shall think fit ; and in like manner, on such day as the said com- missioners shall appoint, the overseci' of the poor of every such parish shall register in a book, to be pro- vided and kept as aforesaid, the name of every poor person then in the receipt of relief in such parish out of the workhouse, together with such particulars re- specting the family and settlement of every such poor person, and his and their relief and employments, as the said commissioners shall think fit: and after such account shall have been so taken and registered as aforesaid a similar register and account shall be kept by the like persons respectively of all persons who shall receive relief at or in or out of a workhouse, when and as often as such relief shall he granted. Poor persons li- LVI. And be it further enacted, wiVorchlJdren.'' ^hat from and after the passing of this Act all relief given to or on ac- count of the wife, or to or on account of any child or children under the age of sixteen, not being blind or deaf or dumb, shall be considered as given to the hus- band of such wife, or to the father of such child or children, as the case may be, and any relief given to or on account of any child or children under the age of sixteen of any widow, shall be considered as given to such widow : Provided always, that nothing herein contained shall discharge the father and grandfather, mother and grandmother, of any poor child, from their liability to relieve and maintain such poor child in pursuance of the provisions of a certain Act of parlia- ment passed in the forty-third year of the reign of Hev THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 371 late Majesty Queen Elizabeth, intituled An Act for 43^ Bliz. c. 2. the relief of the ■poor. Husband liable to LVII. And be it further enacted, 7w,7e\tJn'be- that every man ^v ho from and after fore marriage. the passing of this Act shall marry a women having a child or children at the time of such marriage, whether such child or children be legitimate or illegitimate, shall be liable to maintain such child or children as a part of his fa- mily, and shall be chargeable with all relief, or the cost price thereof, granted to or on account of such cliild or children until such child or children shall respec- tively attain the age of sixteen, or until the death of the mother of such child or children ; and such child or children shall, for the purposes of this Act, be deemed a part of such husband's family accordingly. Such relief as LVIII. And be it further enact- ~dh-ecrto be ed, that from and after the passing considered as loan, of this Act any relief, or the cost price thereof, which shall be given to or on account of any poor person above the age of twenty-one, or to his wife, or any part of his family under the age of sixteen, and which the said com- missioners shall by any rule, order, or regulation de- clare or direct to be given or considered as given by way of loan, and whether any receipt for such relief, or engagement to repay the same, or the cost price thereof, or any part thereof, shall have been given or not by the person to or on account of whom the same shall have been so given, shall be considered and the same is hereby declared to be a loan to such poor person. Power to Jus- LIX. ftr) And be it further enacted, *;Tgesr„baSf ^Y\^- -11 f^««^ where any relief master or employ- shall have been given by way ot er. loan, or where any relief, or the cost price thereof, shall be treated as a loan, under the rules, orders, and regulations of the said commissioners, or the provisions of this Act, it shall be lawful for any justice, upon the application of the overseers or guardians of the parish or union providing such relief, and upon proof of the same having been given to or on account of an}' such per- son^ bis wife or family as aforesaid, and of the same, or any part thereof, still remaining due, to issue a summons, requiring such person, as well as the mas- ter or emplo3rer of such person, or some person on Lis behalf, to appear before any two justices, at a time and place to be named in such summons, to show cause why anv wages due, or which may from time to time become due, from such master or em- ployer, should not be paid over, in whole or in part, to such overseers or guardians, and if no sufficient cause be shown to the contrary, or if such person, or some one on his behalf, shall not appear on the re- turn of such summons, then the said justices shall, by order under their bauds, direct the master or em- ployer for the time being from whom anv wages shall be due or from time to time become due or payable to such poor person, to pay, either in one sum or by such weekly or other instalments as the said justices shall in their discretion think fit, taking into consi- deration the circumstances of such poor person and Lis family, out of such wages, to such overseers or guardians, the amount of such relief, or so much tLereof as shall from time to time be due or unpaid ; (a) There can be no doubt of the benefieial object of this and tbe preceding clause, tending, as they do, to inculcate habits of frugality in tbe poor: but we are very sceptical of their successful operation in practice. and the payment to and receipt of any such overseer or guardian shall be a good discharge to such master or employer for so much of any such wages as shall Mode of proceed- ^^ so paid by virtue of any such ing against masters order; and if any such master or for recovery there, employer shall refuse or neglect to °^' pay to the overseer or guardian producing any such order the money thereby directed to be paid, according to the terms of such order, and at the periods thereby fixed for such payment, the same may be levied and recovered, and the payment thereof from time to time enforced against such mas- ter or employer, in such and the like manner as pen- alties and forfeitures are recovereble under this Act. Repeal of so LX. And be it further enacted, c!"4^1''r^eq?;ires ^'lat from and after the passing of relief to be given this Act so much of an Act passed to wives and fami- in the forty-third year of the reign lies of substitutes, „<■ u- -j i„4 ^^T • » tr- hired men. or vol "^ ^^^ ^aid late Majesty King lunteers of militia. George the Third, intituled .4n Jet for consolidating and amending the several Laws for providing relief for the families of Militiamen in England when called out into actual Ser- vice, as directs overseers of the poor, by order of some one justice of the peace, to pay to the family of any person serving or enrolled as a balloted man, substi- tute, hired man, or volunteer in the militia of Eng- land, a weekly allowance, or as authorizes any justice or justices to order such allowance to be paid under the rules and conditions in the said recited Act pro- vided, or as in any way discharges such ballotted man, substitute, hired man, or volunteer from the liability to maintain or repay the costs of maintenance of his family or any part thereof, or as prevents such fa- milies or any part thereof from being removable to their place of legal settlement, or sent to any work- house, by reason of their receiving any allowance or being chargeable, shall be and the same is hereby repealed. Justices to cer- LXI. And be it further enacted, "^L^ai^^o^l"' that from and after the period at have been com- which any rule, order, or regulation plied with in bind- of the said commissioners shall 'alfpientoet''*^'*" »^°n^e ^"1° operation for the binding of poor children apprentices, in ad- dition to such assent or consent, order or allowance of justices, as are now required by law, such justices or any one justice are and is hereby authorized and re- quired to examine and ascertain whether the rules, orders, or regulations of the said commissioners then in force for the binding of poor children apprentices have been complied with, and to certify the same at the foot of every such contract or indenture, and of the counterpart thereof, in such form and manner as the said commissioners by such rules, orders, or regu- lations, may direct, and until so certified no such contract or indenture of appienticeship shall be valid : Justices power Provided nevertheless, that nothing be served as be- in this Act, or in any rule, order, or tween master and regulation of the said commissioners apprentice. ^j^^jj ^^^^^ ^^^ jurisdiction of any justices of the peace over any master or apprentice during the period of apprenticeship. Power to owners LXII. And be it further enacted, r:trZllTl: that it shall and may be lawful for security of rates rate-payers in any parish, and such for purposes of of the owners of property therein as emigration. ^j^^jj^ j^^ manner hereinbefore men- tinned, have required their names to be entered in the 2 B 2 372 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. rate books of such parishes respectively as entitled to vote as owners, assembled at a meeting to be duly convened and held for the purpose, after public notice of the time and place of holding such meeting, and the purpose forvk-hich tliesame is intended to beheld, shall have been given in like manner as notices of vestry meetings are pubhshed and given, to direct that such sum or sums of money, not exceeding half the average yearly rate for the three preceding years, as the said owners and rate-payers so assembled at such meeting may think proper, shall be raised or borrowed as a fund, or in aid of any fund or contribution for defraying the expenses of the emigration of poor per- sons having settlements in such parish, and willing to emigrate, to be paid out of or charged upon the rates raised or to be raised for the relief of the poor in such parish, and to be applied under and according to such rules, orders, and regulations as the said commission- ers shnll in that behalf direct : Provided always, that no such direction for raising money for such purpose as aforesaid shall have any force or effect unless and until confirmed by the said commissioners, and that the time to be limited for the repayment of any sinn so charged on such rates as aforesaid shall in no case exceed the period of five years from the time of bor- rowing the same : Provided also, that all sums of money so raised as last liereinbefore mentioned, and advanced by way of loan, for the purposes of emigra- tion, or such proportion thereof as the said commis- sioners shall by any rule, order, or regulation from time to time direct, shall be recoverable against any such person, being above the age of twenty-one years, who or whose family, ar any part thereof, having con- sented to emigrate, shall refuse to emigrate after such expences shall have been so incurred, or having emi- grated shall return, in such and the like manner as is hereinbefore provided with respect to relief, or the cost price of relief, given or considered to be given by way of loan to any person, his wife or family (a). Overseers may LXIII. And be if furtherenacted, apply to Coninm- | ^ ^^,, jj , j, j^ , f j j sioiu'rs or Exche- . . r i i • quer Bills under the provisions of any of the herein- Acts; G. 3. c. 34. recited Acts, or of any local Act, or mone?'"""" °^ o*" ^'^^ ^''^' ^° ^^ise or borrow any s-um or sums of money for the pur- pose of purchasing, building, altering, or enlarging any workhouse or workhouses in any parish or union, or for purchasing land whereon to build the same, or for defraying the expences of the emigration of poor persons having settlements in any parish, and being willing to emigrate, it shall be lawful for the over- seers or guardians of such parish or union, with the consent of the said commissioners, to be testified under their hands and seal, to make application for an advance of any sum necessary for any such purposes to the commissioners appointed under an Act made and passed in the fifty-seventh year of the reign of his late Majesty King George the Third, intituled An Act to authorize the Issue of Exchequer Bills, and the Advance of Money out of the Consoli- dated Fund, to a limited amount , for the carrying on of Public Works and Fisheries in the United Kingdom, and emploipnent of the poor in Great Britain, in manner therein mentioned, and of any Act or Acts passed for amending or continuing the same ; and the said (a) It had been suggested thatemigi-ants who had been re- moved at the parish exi/cnse, should, if they leturiied, be deprived of their settlement, but it was thought more expe- dient that the cost of unmoving them should be considered a debt, and recoverable by uttaclurient, Exchequer Bill Loan Commissioners are hereby empowered to make such advances, upon any such application as aforesaid, upon the security of the rates for the relief of the poor in such parish or union, and without requiring any further or other security than a charge on such rates. Repeal of settle- LXIV. And be it further enacted, and'servL.'"""^ that from and after the passing of this Act no settlement shall be acquired by hiring and service, or by residence under the same, or by serving an office. No settlement LXV. And be it further enacted, incomplete under ^^^^^ ^^ person under any contract hnmg and service ,.,.." . . ■' to be completed. ot hiring and service not com- pleted at the time of the passing of this Act shall acquire, or be deemed or adjudged to have acquired, any settlement by reason of such hiring and service, or of any residence under the same (a). No settlement ac- LXVI. ('/>J And be it further en- ''a^in"^ oo'r'rate • ^^^^^' ^^^^ ^^°^ ''"^ ''^'^®'" ^^"^ ^^^^' ''' ^' ^ ^ ^ ' ing of this Act no settlement shall be acquired or completed by occupying a tenement, unless the person occupying the same shall have been assessed to the poor rate, and shall have paid the same, in respect of such tenement, for one year. nor by being ap- LXVII. And be it further en- prenticpd in the j^g^g^ ^^^^^ £ ^^^ ^f^^^ ^j^g . sQSi service ' . ^ ' ing of this Act no settlement shall be acquired by being apprenticed in the sea service, or to a householder exercising the trade of the seas as a fisherman or otherwise, nor by any person now being such an apprentice in respect of such ap- prenticeship. nor by possession LXVIII. And be it further en- S." Si in! acted that no person shall be deem- habit within 10 ed, adjudged, or taken to retain any miles thereof. settlement, gained by virtue of any possession of any estate or interest in any parish, for any longer or further time than such person shall inhabit within ten miles thereof; and in case such person shall cease to inhabit within such distance, and thereafter become chargeable, such person shall be liable to be removed to the parish wherein previously to such inhabitancy he may have been legally settled, or in case he may have subse- quently to such inhabitancy gained a legal settle- ment in some other parish, then to such other parish. Repeal of Acts LXIX. And be it further en- relating to liabili- jjgjgjj ^j^j^^. f^Qjj^ j^jjj .^ffgj ^jjg . ty and punishment . V , • , i p of putative father, mg of this Act so much ot any and punishment of Act cr Acts of parliament as en- mother of illegiti- ables any single woman to charge mate children. ■' ?.i i • .. t, any person with having gotten her with any child of which she shall then be pregnant, or as renders any person so charged liable to be ap- prehended or committed, orrequired to giveeecurity, on any such charge, or as enables the mother of any bastard child or children to charge or affiliate any such child or children on any person as the reputed or putative father thereof, or as enables any overseer (a) The means of acquirina: a settlement which are not repealed, arc — 1. Birth; 2. Parentage ; 3. Apprenticeship: 4. Marriage ; 5. Occupying a tenement, and paying one year's rates ; 6. By possessing an estate and resilience within ten miles. (b) The payment of rate enacted by this clause is in addi- tion to residence and occupation, previously required by law, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 73 or guardian to charge or make complaint against any person as such reputed or putative father, and to require him to be charged with or contribute to the expences attending the birth, suatentation, or main- tenance of any such child or children, or to be im- prisoned or otherwise punished for not contributing tliereto, or as in any way renders such reputed or putative father liable to punishment or contribution as such, or as enables churchwardens aud overseers, by the order of any two Justices of the peace, coii- iirraed by the sessions, to take, seize, aud dispose of the goods and chattels, or to receive the annual rents or profits of the lands of any putative father of bas- tard children, and so much of any such Act or Acts as renders an unmarried woman witli child liable as such to be summoned, examined, or removed, or as renders the mother of any bastard liable as such to be imprisoned or otherwise punished, shall, so far as respects any child which shall be likely to be born or shall he born a bastard after the passing of this Act, or themother or putative father of such child, be and the same is liereby repealed. Securities and re- LXX. And be it further enacted, cognizances for in- that every security given or recog- deninity of pa- . •' i • °t_ " lislics against cliil- nizance entered into by any person dren likely to lie or persons, or his or their surety, born bastards to before the passing of this Act, to DC null and void. • . -r • i i indemnity any pansli or place as to any child or children likely to be born a bastard, or bastards, whereof any single woman shall be preg- nant at the time of the passing of this Act, or to abide and perform such order or orders as might have been made touching such child or children, pursu- ant to an Act made and passed in the eighteenth year of the reign of her said late Majesty Queen Elizabeth, concerning bastards begotten and born out of lawful matrimony, shall be and the same are hereby declared Persons in ens- ""^^ ^^'"^ ^°'^ > ^'^^ ^^^'^X V^^^°^ tody for not giv- who shall at the time of the passing ing indemnity to this Act be in custody upon the l»e diseharged. commitment of any justice or justi- ces for not having given such security or entered into such recognizance shall be discharged (upon the ap- plication of sucli person^ by any one of the visiting justices of the gaol in which such person shall be in custody under any such commitment. /Mother of illegi- LXXI.r'o)And be it further enacted, b'StomSin ^l-t every child which shall be the same. born a bastard atter the passing ot this Act shall have and follow the settlement of the mother of such child until such child shall attain the age of sixteen, or shall acquire a settlement in its own right, and such mother, so long as she shall be unmarried or a widow, shall be bound to maintain such child as a part of her family until such child shall attain the age of sixteen : and all relief granted to such child while under the age of sixteen shall be considered as granted to such mother: Provided always, that such liability of such mother as aforesaid shall cease on the marriage of such child, if a female. Coutt of quarter LXXII. And be it enacted, that sessions, on appli- j i^'i^i j jj hereafter be cation of over- , , •', , 11,1, seers &c. may "^ born a bastard, and shall by rea- make an orilcr on son of the inability of the mother putative father of ^f g^jh child to provide for its child for iti sup- ■ , , ' , t, pQrt_ '^ maintenance become chargeable to any parish, the overseers or guar- (a) The Rastardy Clauses, as they are called, do not go the full length proposed by the Commissioners, but their etfect will be to approach very near to the result stated in the Poor Law Report. 0/0 dians of such parish, or the guardians of any union in wiiich sucli parish may be situate, may, if tliey think proper, after diligent inquiry as to the father of such cliild, apply to the next general quarter ses- sions of the peace within the jurisdiction of which such parish or union shall be situate, after such child shall have become chargeable, for an order upon the person whom they sliall charge with being the puta- tive father of the child to reimburse such parish or union for its maintenance and support ; and the court to which such application shall be made shall proceed to hear evidence thereon, and if it shrtll be satisfied, after hearing both parties, that the person so cliarged is really and in trutli the father of such child, it shall make sucli order upon such person in that respect as tr> such court shall appear to be just and rea- sonable under all the circumstances of tlie case : Provided always, that no such orders shall l)a made unless the evidence of the mother of sucJi bastard child shall he corroborated in some materi- al particular by other testimony to the satisfaction of such court : Provided also, that sucli order shall in no case exceed the actual expence incurred or to be incurred for the maintenance and support of such bastard child wliile so chargeable, and shall continue in force only until such child shall attain the age of seven years, if he shall so long live : Pro- Monies paid not vided also that no part of the mo- applicahlc to sup- nieg paid by such putative father port ot ii.othcr. ^^ pursuance of such order thall at any time be paid to the mother of such bastard child, nor in any way be applied to the maintenance and support of such motlier. No application to le heard withou fonrtcen days pie LXXllI. And be it enacted, be heard without rj,j^.^^ ^^ ^^^^^^ application shall be vious notice. heard at such sessions unless four- days notice shall have been given under the hands of such overseers or guardians to the person intended to be charged with being the father of such child of sucli intended application ; and in case there shall not, previously to such ses- sions, have been sufficient time to give such notice, the hearing of such application shall be deferred till the next ensuing general quarter sessions : Provided If application be "^^^^Jf ' ^^nt whenever such applica- hi'ard. costs may tion sliall be heard, the costs ot the be calculated from maintenance of such bastard child, ^' M^' ■"/ •m'^''''''^ shall, in case the court shall think child, II within SIX ,. , n ,1 1 ■ n,Qf,ths. "t to make an order thereon, be cal- culated from the birth of such bas- tard child, if such birth shall have taken place with- in six calendar months previous to such application being heard ; but if such birth shall have taken place more than six calendar mouths previously to such application being heard, then from the day of tlie commencement of six calendar months next pre- ceding the hearing of such application : Provided also, that if ujion the hearing of such application the court shall not think fit to make anyordf;r thereon, it shall order and direct that the full costs and charges incurred by the person so intended to be charged in resisting such application shall be paid by such overseers or guardians. In the event of LXXIV. And be it enacted, paity charged not j^.^^^ ^f g^^jj person so intended to appearing, court , , i 1 n ^ v i ■ may nevertheless be charged shall not appear by him- enter into the self or his attorney at the time case. -when such application shall come on to be heard before such court, according to such notice, such court shall nevertheless proceed to hear the same, unless such overseers or guardians shall produce an agreement under the hand of such person 374 THE FARMER^S MAGAZINE. to abide by such order as such court shall make thereon without the hearing of evidence by such court ; Provided always, that such court may, not- withstanding such agreement, require that evidence shall he given in support of such application, if it thinks fit, before such order is made. Party suminoii- ei, if suspected of intending to ab- scond, may be re- quired to enter in- LXXV. And he it enacted, That whenever such overseers or guar- dians shall have determined to make sucli application as aforesaid it to a recognizance shall be lawful for one justice of the for his appearance. ^^^^^^ ^^ t^e request of such over- seers or guardians, to summon the person so intend- ed to be charged with being the father of such bas- tard child to appear before him ; and if such justice shall be satisfied that such person has any intention to abscond or keep out of the way, in order to avoid the consequences of such application, such justice may require such person to enter into recognizance to appear and answer thereto, and in case such per- son shall refuse or neglect to enter into such recog- nizance, may commit such person to the gaol or house of correction of the county, riding, or division within such parish shall be situate, until he shall enter into such recognizance, or until such applica- tion shall be heard. When payments LXXVI. And be it enacted, get into arrear, I'hat if at any time after the expira- putative father . „ • , , ,, ,.^^ mav be proceeded t'on oi one calendar month alter an against by distress order shall have been made in pur- er attachment of suance of such application it shall ^''''^^" appear to one justice, upon the oath of any one of such overseers or guardians, that the payments directed to be made by such order have not been made according thereto, and in arrear, it shall be lawful for such justice or any other justice by warrant under his hand and seal to cause such putative father of such bastard child to be brought before two justices of the peace ; and in case such putative father shall refuse or neglect to make pay- ment of such sum of money as shall appear to such justices to be due from him under such order, together with the costs of apprehension, it shall be lawful for such or any two justices to proceed to recover such sum and costs by distress and sale of the goods and chattels of such putative father, or by attaching the wages of such putative father for the recovery of such sum and costs, in the same manner as wages may be attached nnder the provisions of this Act. Sums payable LXXVIII. And be it further undM_43 Eliz^^c, enacted. That all sums of money tions of'poor per. which shall be assessed by any sons how recover- justices of the peace on the father, "blc. grandfather, mother, grandmother, child, or children of any poor person, for the relief or maintenance of such poor person, under or by virtue of the provisions of a certain Act passed in the forty-third year of the reign of her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth, intituled An Act for the Relief of' the Poor, or of any Act to amend the same, or of this Act and all penalties and forfeitures to whicli any person so assessed by such justices for such relief or maintenance shall be liable for any default in pay- ing the same by virtue of the provisions of any of the said recited Acts or of this Act, shall be recover- able against every person so assessed or discharged in like manner as penalties and forfeitures are recover- able under the provisions of this Act. No person em- ployed in adminis- tration of poor laws to furnish for his own profit, goods or pvovi- No Person to be removed till alter notice of his be- ing cliargeable has been sent to the parish to which order of removal is directed. LXXVII. And be it further enacted, That it shall not be law- ful for any person hereafter to be appointed in any parish or union to any office concerned in the adminis- rocWa^'relief. ^'^ tration of the laws for the relief of the poor, or for any person who after the twenty-fifth day of March, one thousand eight hundredand thirty-five, shall fill any such office, to furnish, or supply, for his own profit, or on his own account, any goods, materials, or provisions or- dered to be given in parochial relief, or to furnish or supply any goods, materials, or provisions for, or in respect of the money ordered to be given in parochial relief to any person in such parish or union ; and every person holding such office, shall on conviction before any two justices of the peace, be subject to a penalty of five pounds for such oflPence, one half of which penalty shall be paid to the informer, and the other half in aid of the poor rates of such parish or union. LXXIX. And be it further enact- ed, that from and after the first day of November, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-four, no poor person shall be removed or remo- vable, under any order of removal from any Parish or Workhouse, by reason of his being chargeable to, or relieved therein, until twenty-one days after a notice in writing of his being so chargeable or relieved, accompanied by a copy or counterpart of the order of removal of such person, and by a copy of the examination upon which such order was made, shall have been sent, by post or otherwise, by the overseers or guardians of the parish obtaining such order, or any three or more of such guardians, to the overseers of the parish to whom such order shall be directed :('tt^Pro- Such person may yided always, that if such overseers be removed it or- i- • ^ j. c ;,i der submitted tu • °^ guardians as last atoresaid, or any three or more of such guardians, shall, by writing under their hands, agree to submit to such order, and to receive such poor person, it shall be lawful to remove such poor person accor- ding to the tenor of such order, although the said period of twenty-one days may not hut not in case of have elapsed : Provided also, that '^'''^'^'^'" if notice of appeal against such or- der of removal shall be received by the overseers or guardians of the parish from which such poor person IS directed in such order to be removed within the said period of twenty-one days, it shall not be lawful to remove such poor person until after the time for pi'osecuting such appeal shall have expired, or, in case such appeal shall be duly prosecuted, until after the final determination of such appeal. LXXX. And be it enacted, that the overseers or cruardians of the III case of appeal, the overseers to have access to such — poor person touch- parish giving sucli notice of appeal, ing his settlement, or their attorney, or any other per- son authorized by them, shall, until such appeal shall have been heard and decided, at all proper times have free access to such poor person for the purpose of examining him touching his settlement ; and in case it shall be necessary for the more effectual exa- mination of such person that he should be taken out of the removing parish, such overseers or guardians shall be permitted to remove him therefrom for the time which may be necessary for that purpose : Pro- vided always, that the expence of such removal, and (a) Before tlie passing of this Act, poor persons coming into a parish to settle in a tenement under the yearly value of 10/., miglit be removed to their last legal settlement as soon as ihey became actually chargeable. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 375 of his maintenance diuing the same, shall be defrayed by the appellant parish. Grounds of ap- LXXXI, And be it further enact- peal to be stated ^^ ^^^^ f^er the €rst day of No- 111 notice. , , 1 • T •'■ T , vember one thousand eight hundred and tliirty-four, in every case where notice of appeal against such order shall be given, the overseers or guardians of the parish appealing against such order, or any three or more of such guardians, shall, with such notice, or fourteen days at least before the first day of the sessions at which such appeal is intended to be tried, send or deliver to the overseers of the respondent parish a statement in writing under their hands of the grounds of such appeal ; and it shall not be lawful for the overseers of such appellant parish to be heard in support of such appeal, unless such notice and statement shall have been so given as aforesaid : Provided always, that it shall not be lawful for the respondent or appellant parish, on the hearing of any appeal, to go into or give evidence of any other grounds of removal, or of appeal against any» order of removal, than those set forth in such respec- tive order, examination, or statement as aforesaid. Parish losing ap- LXXXII. And be it further enac- limioZt'X t^d,that upon every such appeal, direct. the court before whom the same shall be brought, shall and may, if they think fit, order and direct the parish against which the same shall be decided to pay to the other such costs and charges as may to such court appear just and reasonable, and shall certify the amount thereof; c^nd, m case the overseers of the poor of the parish liable to pay the same, shall, upon demand, and upon the production of such certificate, refuse or neglect to pay the same, the amount thereof may be recovered from such overseer in the same manner as any penalties or forfeitures are by this Act reco- verable. Party making fii- LXXXIII. And be it further yolous or vexa- enacted, that if either of the parties tious statement to , ,, , ■ , , i • , p >- ^^ pay costs. shall have mcluded in the order or statement sent as herein-before di- rected any grounds of removal or of appeal which shall in the opinion of the Justices determining the appeal be frivolous and vexatious, such party shall be liable, at the discretion of the said justices, to pay the whole or any part of the costs incurred by the other party in disputing any such grounds, such costs to be recovered in the manner herein-before directed as to the other costs incurred by reason of such appeal. j^CosU^ of relief to LXXXIV. And be it further to* which poo'^r^'pe'r- enacted, that the parish to which sons belong. any poor person whose settlement shall be in question at the time of granting relief shall be admitted or finally adjudged to belong shall be chargeable with, and liable to pay the cost and expence of the relief and maintenance of such poor person, and such cost and expence may be recovered against such parish in the same manner as any penalties or forfeitures are by this act reco- verable : Provided always, that such parish, if not the parish granting such relief, shall pay to the parish by which such relief shall be granted the cost and expence of such relief and maintenance from such time only as notice of such poor person having be- come chargeable shall have been sent by such reliev- ing parish to the parish to which such poor person ,, ,. „ , shall be so admitted or finally ad- Relief under sus- • , i ^ . i r. -j i / pended order not J""ged to belong: Provided alwa.ys to be recoverable that no charges or expenses of relief unless notice sent or maintenance shall be recoverable 0 sue or ei . under a suspended order of removal unless notice of such order of removal, with a copy of the same, and of the examination upon which such order was made, shall have been given within ten days of such order being made to the overseers of the poor of the parish to whom such order is directed. Power to call for LXXXV. (a) And be it enacted, colnt'^s^'oft.tt that it shall be lawful for the said and charity estates commissioners, and they are hereby empowered, from time to time as they may think fit, to require from all persons in whom any freehold, copyhold, or leasehold estate, or any other property or funds belonging to any ])arish, and held in trust for or applicable to the relief of the poor, or which may be applied in diminution of the poor rate of such parish, shall be vested, or who shall be in the receipt of the rents, profits, or income of any such estate, property, or funJs, a true and de- tailed account in writing of the place where sucli estate may be situate, or in wliat mode, or on what security such other property or funds may be invest- ed, with such details of the rents, profits, and income thereof and of the appropriation of the same, and of all such other particulars relating thereto, as the said commissioners may direct and require ; and such statement or a true copy thereof shall, under the re- gulations of the said commissioners, be ojaen for the inspection of the owners of property and rate-payers in such parish : Provided always, that nothing herein- before contained shall apply to any funds raised from time to time by the voluntary contributions of the inhabitants of any parish. Advertisements, LXXXVT. And be it further ftamp duty?"' *° enacted. That no advertisement in- serted by or under the direction of the said commissioners in the London Gazette or any Newspaper, for the purpose of carrying into effect any provisions cf this Act, nor any mortgage, bond, instrument, or any assignment thereof, given by way of security, in pursuance of the rules, orders, or regulations of the said commissioners, and conform- able thereto, nor any contract or agreement, or ap- pointment of any officer, made or entered into in pur- suance of such rules, orders, or regulations, and con- formable thereto, nor any other instrument made in pursuance of this Act, nor the appointment of any paid ofiicer engaged in the administration of the laws for the relief of the poor, or in the management or " collection of the poor rate, shall be charged or chargeable with any stamp duty wiiatever. Bonds and secu- LXXXVII. And whereas by an ^^tJrs. Act passed in the twenty-second c. S3., and assign- jear ot the reign of Jving George the ments thereof, ex- third, intituled An Act for the better empted from stamp Relief and Emplopnent of the Poor, the visitor and guardian of the poor of any parish, township, or place which shall adopt the provisions of the said recited Act are authorized thereby to borrow money at interest, for the purposes mentioned in the said Act, and to secure such money by a charge upon the poor's rates of such parish, township, or place, in sums not exceeding fifty pounds each, in a certain form contained in the schedule to the said Act, or to that or to the like effect, and which security is directed and allowed to be assigned by indorsement on the back thereof m a certain form also contained in the said schedule, or to that or the like effect : and whereas doubts have (a) This power is similar to one contained in the 1st and 2d W. 4. c. (iO, s. 39. 376 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. arisen touching the liability of such securities as aforesaid, and the assignments or transfers thereof, to stamp duty, and it is expedient to remove the same ; be it therefore enacted and declared, that no bond or other security at any time heretofore or to be at any time hereafter made or entered into ia pur- suance of the said recited Act, nor any assignment or transfer thereof, shall be charged or chargeable with, or be deemed to be or to have been subject or liable to, any stamp duty whatsoever ; any thing in any act contained to the contrary thereof notwith- standing'. Letters to and LXXXVIII, And be it further Co.lisSvs t^o enacted,That the said commissioners be free of postage, shall and may receive and send by if sent conforma- the general post, from and to places ble hereto. ^ithm the United Kingdom, all letters and packets relating solely and exclusively to the execution of this Act, free from the duty of postage, provided that such letters and packets as shall be sent to the said commissioners be directed to the " Poor Law Commissioners" at their office in London, and that all such letters and packets as shall be sent by the said commissioners shallbe in covers, ■with the words " Office of Poor Law Commissioners, pursuant to Act of Parliament passed in the fifth year of the reign of His Majesty King WilUamthe Fourth," printed on the same, and be signed on the outside thereof, under such words, with the name of such person as the said commissioners, with the consent of the lords commissioners of the treasury, or any three or more of them, shall authorize and appoint, in his own handwriting, (such name to be from time to time transmitted to the secretaries of the general post- office in London wad.Buhlin,') and be sealed with the seal of the said commissioners, and under such other regulations and restrictions as the said lords commis- sioners, or any three or more of them, shall think proper and direct ; and the person so to be authorized is hereby strictly forbidden so to subscribe or seal any letter or packet whatever, except such only con- cerning which he shall receive the special direction of his superior officer, or which he shall himself know to relate solely and exclusively to the execution of this Act ; and if the person so to be authorized, or any other person, shall send, or cause or permit to be sent, under any such cover, any letter, paper, or writing, or any enclosure, other than what shall re- late to the execution of this Act, every person so offending shall forfeit and pay the sum of one hun- dred pounds, and be dismissed from his office ; one moiety of tbe said penalty to the use of his Majesty, his heirs and successors, and tbe other moiety to the use of the person who shall inform or sue for the same, to be sued for and recovered in any of his Majesty's courts of record at Westminster for of- fences committed m England, and in any of his Ma- jesty's courts of record in Dublin for offences com- mitted in h-eland, and before the sheriff or stewartry- court of the shire, or stewartry within which the party offending shall reside, or the offence shall be com- mitted, for offences committed in Scotland ; and if Letters sent un- any letter, paper, or writing, or tier cover not re- other enclosure, shall be sent under latins solely to tlie „ .. ^.t, -j • • business of the ^over to the said commissioners. Act to be trans- the same not relating solely and ex- mitted to Post-of- clusively to the execution of this fice to be charged. ^^^^ ^j^^y ^^^ j^^^^^^^ ^^^j^^^^ ^^^ quired and enjoined to transmit the same forthwith to the secretary of the post-office in London, with the covers under which the same shall be sent, in order that the contents thereof may be charged with the full rates of postage. Payments con- LXXXIX. And be it further bTSisaUowed.'' '° ^"^«^^^' ^^^^ '^^ payments, charges, and allowances made by anj' over- seer or guardian, and charged upon the rates for the relief of the poor, contrary to the provisions of this Act, or at variance with any rule, order, or regula- tion of tbe said commissioners made under the au- thority of this Act, shall be and the same are hereby declared to be illegal, any law, custom, or usage to the contrary notwithstanding ; and every justiceof the peace is hereby required to disallow as illegal and unfounded all payments, charges, or allowances con- trary to the provisions of this Act, or to any such rule, order, or regulation of the said commissioners, which shall be contained in any account of any overseer of the poor or guardian which shall be presented for the purpose of being passed or allowed : Provided always, that no allowance by any justice shall ex- onerate or discharge such overseer or guardian from any penalty or legal proceeding to which he may have rendered himself liable by having acted con- trary to the rules, orders, and regulations of the said commissioners, or to the provisions of this act. Service ef sum- XC. And be it further enacted, ™°"*" that the leaving of any summons authorized to be issued by any commissioner, assis- tant commissioner, or justice of thepeace, under this Act, at the usual or last known place of abode of the party to whom such summons shall be directed, shall in every case be deemed good and sufficient service of such summons. Repeal of so XCI. And be it further enacted, '"'cil' °^ ^, ?■ f' that so much of an Act made and c. 8'|. as relates to , . , . , „ , prohibition of spi- passed m the sixth year ot the reign ritiious liquors in of his late Majesty King George workhouses. ^j^q fourth, intituled An Act to rs- peal the duties payable in respect of the Spirits distilled in England, and of Licenses for dislilling, rectifying, or compounding such Spirits, and for the sale of Spirits, and to impose other Duties in lieu thereof, and to provide other regulations for the collection of the said^ Duties, and for the sale of Spirits, and for the warehousing of such Sjnrits loithout pai/ment of Dutu for Exportation, as provides that if any master or officer of any work- bouse shall sell, use, lend, or give away, or know- ingly permit or suffer any spirits to be sold, used, lent, or given away, in any such workhouse, or brought into the same, other than and except such spirits as shall be prescribed or given by the pre- scription and direction of a physician, surgeon, or apothecary, and to be supplied in pursuance of such prescriptions from the shop of some apothecary, every such master or such other officer shall for every such offence forfeit one hundred pounds, and for the se- cond like offence lose his office ; and so much of the said last mentioned Act as provides that no person shall carry or bring, or attempt to endeavour to cany or bring any spirits, except to be used in the way of medicine, into any workhouse, under the pain of being imprisoned for every such offence for any time not exceeding three months ; and also so much of the said last-mentioned Act as provides that every master and chief officer of every workhouse shall procure one or more copy or copies of the clauses in the said Act mentioned to be printed or fairly written and hung up in one of the most public places in the workhouse, and renew the same from time, so that it may be always kept fair anJ legible, on pain of for- feiting the sum of ten pounds for every wilful de- fault ; or as enables any justice of the peace to de- mand a sight of such copy so hung up in some THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 377 public place, to convict such master or officer of such default, shall be and the same is hereby repealed. Penalty on per- XCII. And be it further enacted, sons iniroduoing ^j^^^^ -f person shall carry, spirituous liciuors , . . J, '■. •' ' into worUhouses. bring, or introduce, or attempt or endeavour to carry, bring-, or intro- duce, into any workhouse now or hereafter to be established, any spirituous or fermented liquor with- out the order in writing of the master of such work- house, it shall be lawful for the' master of such work- house, or any officer of the same acting under bis direction, to apprehend or cause to be apprehended such offiiuder, and to carry hiip. or her before a jus- tice of the peace, who is hereby empowered to hear and determme such olfence in a summary way ; and upon conviction thereof the partv so offending shall forfeit and pay any sum of money not exceeding ten pounds for every such offence, as such justice may direct ; and in default of payment of the penalty hereby imposed such justice may and is hereby re- quired to commit such offender to the common gaol or House of Correction for the district in which such workhouse shall be situate for any space of time not exceeding two calendar months, unless such penalty shall be sooner paid. Penalty on mas- XCIII. And be it further enact- ters ot work- gj ^^^ jf ^^^ master of a work- nouses allownis , ' 1 11 'i • •, use of spirituous house shall order any spirituous or liquors, or ill- fermented liquor to be carried, treating poor per- brought, or introduced into any sons, or niiscon- ■, \ .. r ^i, i ^- ducting himself. workhouse, except for the domestic use of himself or of any officer of the said workhouse, or their respective families, or except by and under the written authority of the sur- geon of such workhouse, or of any justice visiting the same, or of the guardians of such workhouse, or in conformity with any rules, orders, or regulations of the said commissioners ; or if any such master or any such master or any other officer of any workhouse shall carry, bring, or introduce into such workhouse, or sell, use, lend, or giveaway therein, or knowinglj^ permit or suffer to be carried, brought, or introduced, or sold, used, lent or given away therein, any spirituous or fermented liquor, contrary to the rules, orders, and regulations of the said commissioners ; or shall punish with any corporal punishment any adult per- son in such workliouse, or confine any such person for any offence or misbehaviour for any longer space of time than twenty-four hours, or such further space of time as maybe necessary in order to have such person carried before a justice of the peace ; or shall in any way abuse or ill-treat, or be guilty of any other mis- behaviour, or otherwise misconduct himself towards or with reSpect to any poor person in such work- house ; every such master or officer of a workhouse so offending shall for every such offence, upon the complaint of the overseers or guardians of the parish or union to which such workhouse shall belong, or of any such poor person, and upon conviction of such offence before any two justices, forfeit and pay such sum of money, not being more than twenty pounds, as such justices may direct ; and in default of pay- ment of the penalty hereby imposed such justices may and are hereby required to commit such offender to the common gaol or House of Correction for the district in which such workhouse shall be situate for any space of time not exceeding six calendar months, unless such penalty shall be sooner paid : Provided always, that if at the time when Power for jus- "such master or officer of a tices to order sala- - , , in, • , i /. ries &c to be workhouse shall be so convicted of stopped, and ap- any such offence there shall be due S TpenE: t° ^i- -y --of -oney or salary m respect ot his employment as such master or officer of such workhouse, or upon any balance of account from the overseers or "uar- aians of the parish or union to which such workhouse shall belong, it shall be lawful for such justices, upon the application of such overseers or guardians, by order in writing under their hand to direct that such sum of money, salary, or balance, so far as the same shall extend, or a sufficient part thereof, shall be retained and applied for the use of such parish or union by such overseers or guardians, in payment or part pay- ment of any such penalty; and such order shall be a good and valid discharge to such overseers or guardians for so much money as may by such order be directed to be so retained and applied against the claim or demand of the master or other officer of such workhouse in respect of any such sum of money, salary, or balance. Masters to hang XCIV. And be it further enact- pi'eceXg c°ire's f' '^^-^ *« --ter of every work- in workhouse. bouse shall cause one or more copy or copies of the two preceding clauses to be printed or fairly written, and hung up in one of the most public places of such workhouse, and renew the same from time to time, so that it be always kept fair and legible, on pain of forfeiting the sum of ten pounds for every wilful default. Penalti.'s on o- XCV. And be it further enacted, verseers and other ti,„j. ;„ . officers disobeying ^^ ^" ^^^^^ ^'^J overseer, assistant guardians. overseer, master of a workhouse, or other officer of any parish or union, shall wilfully disobey the le»al and reasona- ble orders of such justices and guardians in carrying the rules, orders, and regulations, of the said com° missioners or assistant commissioners, or the provi- sions of this Act, into execution, every such offender shall, upon conviction before any two justices, for- feit and pay for every such offence any sum not ex- ceeding five pounds. No overseer to be XC VI. Provided always, and be prosecuted for not :+ r .i » j rr-.! , ■' exeeutinjT illegal ^^ fui"ther enacted, That n 3 overseer orders of^j ustices. shall from henceforth be liable to any prosecution or penalty for not car- rying into execution any illegal order of such justices or guardians, any law or statute to the contrary not- withstanding. Penalty on over- XC VII. An-d be it further enact- foh'inV.&c.'GL'od; ed. That if any overseer, assistant &c. 20/ and trebU- overseer, master ot a workhouse, the value of goods or Other paid officer, or any other purlonied. person employed by or under the authority of the said guardians, shall purloin, em- bezzle, or wilfully waste or misapply any of the mo- nies, goods, or chattels belonging to any parish or union, every such offender shall, besides, and in ad- dition to such pains and penalties as such person so offending shall, independently of this Act, be liable to, upon conviction before any two justices, foi-feit and pay for every such offence any sum not exceed- ing twenty pounds, and also treble the amount or value of such money, goods, or chattels so purloin- ed, embezzled, wasted, or misapplied ; and every person so convicted shall be for ever thereafter inca- pable of serving any office under the provisions of tliis or any other Act in relation to the relief of the poor. 378 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Penalty on per^ sons wilfully dis obeying rules, or ders, and regula tions. XCVIII. And be it further enact- ed, Tliat in case any person shall wilfully neglect or disobey any of the rules, orders, or regulations of the said commissioners or assistant commissioners, or be guilty of any contempt of the said commissioners fitting as a board, such person shall, upon convic- tion before any two justices, forfeit and pay for the first offence any sum not exceeding five pounds, for tjie second offence not any sum exceeding twenty pounds nor less than five pounds, and in the event of such person being convicted a third time, such third and every subsequent offence shall be deemed a misdemeanor, and such offender shall be liable to be indicted for the same offence, and shall on conviction pay such fine, not being less than twenty pounds, and suffer such imprisonment with or without hard labour, as may be awarded against him by the court by or before which he shall be tried and convicted. Forfeitures, costs, and charges may be levied by distress and sale XCIX. And be it further enact- ed, that all penalties and forfeit- ures by this act inflicted or au- thorized to be imposed for any offence against the same shall, upon proof and conviction of the offences respectively before any two justices, either by the confession of the party offending, or by the oath of any creditable witness or witnesses, (whicli oath such justices are in every case hereby fully authorized to administer,^ or upon order made as aforesaid, be levied, together with the costs attending the inftrma- tion, summons, and conviction, by distress and sale of the goods and chattels of the offender or person liable or ordered to pay the same respectively, by warrant under the hands of the justices before whom the party may have been convicted, or, on proof of such conviction, by a warrant under the hands of any two justices acting for the county, riding, or di- vision (which warrant such justices are hereby em- powered and required to grant) ; and the overplus (if any J, alter such penalties and forfeitures, and the char"-es of such distress and sale, are deducted, shall be returned, upon demand, unto the owner or owners of such goods and chattels ; and in case such fines, penalties, -and forfeitures shall not be forthwith paid upon conviction, then it shiill be lawful for such jus- tices as aforesaid to order the offender or offenders so convicted to be detained and kept in safe custody un- til return can be conveniently made to such warrant of distress, unless the offender or offenders shall give sufficient security, to the satisfaction of such justices as aforesaid, for his or their appearance before such justices on such day or days as shall be appointed for the return of such warrant of distress such day or days not being more than seven days from the time of takinsc any such security, and which security the said justices as aforesaid are hereby em])owered to take by way of recognizance or otherwise ; but if upon the return of such warrant, it shall appear that no sufficient distress can be had thereupon, then it shall be lawful for any such justices as aforesaid, as the case may be, and they are hereby authorized and required, by warrant or warrants under their hands, to cause such offender or offenders to be committed to the common gaol or house of correction of the county, riding, or place where the offender shall be or reside, there to remain, without bail or mainprize, for any term not exceeding three calendar months, unless such penalties and forfeitures, and all reasonable In what manner to charges attending the same, shall be applied. be sooner paid and satisfied ; and the penalties and forfeitures when so levied, shall be paid to or for the use of the parish cr union where such offence shall have been committed, to be applied in aid of the poor-rate of such parish or union. Owners, rate-pay- ers, &c. may be com- petent witnesses. C. And be it further enacted, that no owner of property, rate- payer, or inhabitant of any parish or union shall be deemed an incompetent witness in any proceeding for the recovery of anv penalty or for- feiture inflicted or imposed for any offence against this Acf, notwithstanding such penalty or forfeiture, when recovered, shall be applicable in aid of the poor-rate of such parish or union. Jusfii-es may pro- ceed by summons for the recovery of penalties. CI. And be it further enacted, that in all cases in which any penalty or forfeiture is recover- able before the justices of the peace under this act it shall and may be lawful for any commissioner or assistant commissioner, or any justice, to whom complaint in writing shall be made of any such offence, to summon the party complain- ed against to appear before any two justices, and on such summons the said two justices may hear and de- termine the matter of such complaint, and, on proof of the offence, convict the offender, and adjudge him to pay the penalty or forfeiture incurred, and proceed to recover the same. Satisfaction re- coverable for special damage, but distress not unlaivful for want of form in the CII. And be it further enact- ed, that where any distress shall be made for any sum of money to be levied by virtue of this Act proceedings. ^i^e distress itself shall not be deem- ed unlawful, nor the party making the same be deem- ed a trespasser, on account of any default or want of form in any proceeding relating thereto, nor shall the party distraining be deemed a ti'espasser ab ini- tio on account of any irregularity which shall aftei-- wards happen in making the distress, but the person aggrieved by such irregularity may recover full satis- faction for the special damage in an action on the Plaintiir not to re- ^^^^ ' Provided always, that no cover for irregulari- plaintiff' shall repover in any ac- ty, if tender of tion for any irregiilarity, tres- amends be made. p^^^^ ^^ wrongful proceedings, if tender of sufficient amends shall be made by or on belialf of the party who shall have committed or cause to be committed any such irregularity, trespass, or wrongful proceedings, before such action shall have been brought ; and in case no such tender shall have been made it shall and may be lawful for the defendant in any such action, by leave of the court where such action shall depend, at any time before issue joined, to pay into court such sum of money as he shall see fit, whereupon such proceedings, or orders and judgment, shall be had, made, and given in and by such court as in other actions where the defendant is allowed to pay money into court. Appeal to the quarter sessions against order of jus- tices within four calender montlis af- ter cause of com- plaint, &,c. cm. Provided also, and be it further enacted, that if any per- son or persons shall find himself, herself, or themselves aggrieved by any order or conviction of any justice or justices, where such person or persons shall be convicted in any penalty or penalties exceeding live pounds, or if any person shall find himself aggrieved by any order made un- der the provisions of this Act on such person as the putative father of any bastard child, it shall be law- ful for such person or persons to appeal to any gene- ral or quarter sessions of the peace to be held in and for the county, riding, or division in which such or- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 379 Fourteen days' notice in writinf; to be given, &e.aiid re- cognizance to be en- tered into. det shall have been made or conviction taken place within four calendar months next (a) after the cause of complaint shall have arisen, or if sucli ses- sions shall be held before the expiration of one calen- der month next after such cause of complaint, then such appeal shall be made to the next following ses- sions, either of which court of sessions is hereby em- powered to hear and finally determine the matter of the said appeal, and to make such order therein as to them shall seem meet ; which order shall be final and conclusive to and upon all parties ; Provided that the person or persons so ap- pealing shall give or cause to be given at least fourteenf /; jdays no- tice in writing of his, her, or their intention of appealing as aforesaid, and of the matter or cause tliereof, to the respondent or respondents, and within five days after such notice shall enter into a recognizance before some justice of the peace, with sufficient securities, conditioned to try such appeal at the then next general sessions or quarter sessions of the peace which shall first hap- pen, and to abide the order of and pay such costs as shall be awarded by the justices at such quarter ses- sions, or any adjournment thereof ; and such justices, upon hearing and finally determining such matter of appeal, shall and mav, according to their discretion, award such costs to the party appealing or appealed against as they shall think proper ; and their deter- mination in or concerning the premises shall be con- clusive and binding on all parties to all intents and purposes whatsoever. expences as between attorney and client, and shall have such remedy for recovering the same as any de- fendant may have for his or her costs in any other case by law. Limitation tions. Rules, -kc. to be removable by Certi- orari to Court of King's Bench. CV. And be it further enacted, that no rule, order, or regulation of the said commissioners or as- sistant commissioners, or any of them, shall be removed or removeable by writ of certiorari into any court of record, except His Ma- jesty's court of king's bench at Westminster; and that every rule, order, or regulation which shall be „ , „ „ .„ removed by writ of certiorari in- Rules &c. so re- , . ,-' , ^ n • . n i moved to continue to the said court of king s bencli ill tone until de- shall nevertheless, unless and un- clared illegal. jji ^ijg g^j^e shall be declared il- legal by that court, continue in full force and virtue, and be obeyed, performed, and enforced, in such and the same manner, and by such and the same ways and means, as if the same had not been so removed. '■- CIV. And be it further envact- ed, that no action or suit shall be commenced against any commissioner, assistant com- missioner, or any other person for any thing done in pursuance of or under the authority of this act until twenty-one da3's notice has been given thereof in writing to the party or person against whom such action is intended to be brought, nor after sufficient sadsfaction or tender thereof shall have been made to the party aggrieved, nor after three (c) callendar months next after the act committed for which such action or suit shall be so brought ; and every such ac- tion sliall be brought, laid, and tried where the cause of action shall have arisen, and not in any other Defendant may county or place ; and the de- plead the general is- fendant in such action or suit si'*^- may plead the general issue, and give this act and any special matter in evi- dence, at any trial which shall be had thereupon ; and if the matter or thing shall appear to have been done under or by virtue of this Act, or if it shall ap- pear that such action or suit was brought before twen- ty-one days notice thereof given as aforesaid, or that sufficient satisfaction was made or tendered as afore- said, or if any action or suit shall not be commenced within the time before limited, or sliall be laid in any other county than as aforesaid, then the jury shall find a verdict for the defendant "* ^' therein ; and if a verdict shall be found for such defendant, or if the plaintiff in such action or suit shall become nonsuit, or suffer a dis- continuance of auch action, or if, upon any demurrer in such action, judgment shall be given for the de- fendant therein, then and in any of the cases afore- said such defendant shall have costs, charges, and (a) Tlie former law renuired the appeal to be made at the ne:i't general quarter sessions. (ft) Retore the passing of this Act, ten days' notice was required. (c) The bringing of these actions was limited to six months, now reduced to three. Notice to be given to commissioners cif application for writ of Certiorari, &c. CVI. And be it further enact- ed, that no application shall be made for any writ of certiorari for the removal of any such rule, or- der, or regulation, except to the judges when sitting in the said court, nor unless notice in writing- shall have been left at the office of the said commis- sioners at least ten fd^ days previous to such application beino- made, and in which notice shall be set forth the name and description of the party by or on behalf of whom and the day on which it is intended to make such application, together with a statement of the Commissioners grounds thereof; and thereupon may show cause. it shall be lawful for the said commissioners to show cause in the first instance against such application, and the court may, if it shall so think fit, forthwith proceed to hear and deter- mine the same upon the grounds set forth in such notice. Recognizances to CVII. And be it further enact- be entered into. g^j^ ^i^^^^.^ previous to any writ of certiorari being issued the party or parties applying for the same shall enter into a recognizance, with suf- ficient sureties, before one of His Majesty's justices of the court of king's bench, or before a justice of the peace of the county or place in which such person shall reside, in the sum of fifty pounds, with condi- tion to prosecute the same, at his or their costs and charges, with eflfect, without any wilful or affected delaj', and in default thereof, or in the event of sucli rule, order, or regulation being deemed legal, to pay the said commissioners their full costs, charges, and expenses, to be taxed according to the course of the ^ , , , , J said court of kins^'s bench ; and If rule be declared .j.^, -i i i ^ legal, commission- if the said rule, order, or regula- ci s to bo entitled to tion, so removed by the said writ costs. of certiorari into the said court of king's bench, shall be declared legal by the said court, the commissioners entitled to such costs, within ten days after demand made of the person or persons who ought to pay the said costs, upon oath made of the making such demand and refusal of payment thereof, may recover the same in the same manner as any penalties and forfeitures are recoverable under this Act. (d) On application for a certiorari it ?«a« requisite to give six days' notice, which is altered by the present Act to ten days. 380 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. If rules are quash- CVIII. And be it further enact- no'tifte'? trpar^shes ^^' ^^^^ ^ "P- ^be hearing- of the to which such rules application the court shall order a have been directed. writ of certiorari to issue for bringing up any such rule, order, or regulation, and the same, being brought into court, shall be quashed as illegal, the said commissioners shall forthwith notify the judgment of the court to all unions, parishes, or places to which such rule, order, or regulation shall have been directed, and the same shall from the time of receiving such no ice respec- tively be deemed and taken to be null and void to Proviso for ex- all intents and purposes wliatso- istiiig contracts. ever: J-'rovided that such judg- ment shall not have the effect of annulling any contract made in pursuance or upon the authority of any such rule, order, or regulation which at the receipt of such notice respectively shall have been executed by the No person to be contracting parties : Provided answerable until re- also, that no person shall be lia- ceipt of notice. .,13!^ ^^ ^e prosecuted, either by indictment or by civil action, for or in respect of any act done by him before the receipt of such notice, under the authority and in pursuance of such rule, order, or regulation. Interpretation clause. CIX. And be it further enacted, that in the construction of this Act the word " auditor," shall be construed to mean and include every person, other than justices of the peace acting in virtue of their office, appointed or empower- ed to audit, control, examine, allow, or disallow the accounts of any guardian, overseer, or vestryman, relating to the receipt or expenditure of the poor- rate ; the words " general rule," shall be construed ton.ean any rule relating to the management of the poor or to the execution of this Act wliich shall at the time of issuing the same be addressed by the said commissioners to more than one union, or to more parishes or places than one not forming a union, or not to be formed into or added to a union under or by virtue of such rule ; the word "guardian" shall be construed to mean and include any visitor, go- vernor. Director, manager, acting guardian, vestry- man, or other officer in a parish or union, appointed or entitled to act as a manager of the poor, and in the distribution or ordering of the relief to tlie poor from the poor rate, under any general or local act of parliament; the words "justice or justices of the peace " shall be construed to include justices of the peace of any county, division of a county, riding, borough, liberty, division of a liberty, precinct, county of a city, county of a town, ciaque port, or town corporate, unless where otherwise provided by this Act; the word " oath " shall be construed to in- clude the affirmation of a Quaker, Sepaiatist, or iMo- ravian ; the words " orders and regulations" shall be construed to mean and include any rule, order, regu- lation, or bye lav? relating to the management or re- lief of the poor, or the execution of this act, which at the time of issuing the same shall be addressed, di- rected, or applied to any one parish or union, or to any number of parishes whicli have been or by vir- tue of any order shall be constituted a union or add- ed to a union ; the word " officer " shall be construed to extend to any clergyman, schoolmaster, person duly licensed topractice as amedicalman, vestry clerk, treasurer, collector, assistant overseer, governor, master or mistress of a workhouse, or any other per- son who shall be employed in any parish or union in carrying this Act or the laws for the relief of the poor into execution, and whether performing one or more of the above-mentioned functions ; the word "overseer" shall be construed to mean and include overseers of the poor, churchwardens, so far as they are authorized or required by law to act in the management or relief of the poor, or in the collection or distribution of the poor rate, assistant overseer, or any other subordinate officer, whether paid or un- paid, in any parish or union, who shall be employed therein in carrying this Act or the laws for the relief of the poor into execution ; the word " owner" shall be construed to include any person for the time being in the actual occupation of any property rateable to the relief of the poor, and not let to him at rack rent, or any person receiving the rack rent of any such property, either on his own account or as mortgagee or other incumbrancer in possession ; and the words "rack rent" shall be construed to mean any rent which shall not be less than two-thirds of the full improved net annual value of any property; the word " parish " shall be construed to include any pa- rish, city, borough, town, township, liberty, precinct, vill, village, hamlet, tithing, chapelry, or any other place, or division or district of a place, maintaining its own poor, whether ])arochial or extra-parochial ; the word " person" shall be construed to include any body politic, corporate, or collegiate, aggregate or sole, as well as any indivdual ; the word " poor " shall be construed to include any pauper or poor or indigent person applying for or receiving relief from tlie poor-rate in England or Wales, or chargeable thereto; the words " poor law," or "laws for the relief of the poor,'' shall be construed to include every Act of Parliament for the time being in force for the I'elief or management of the poor, or relating to the execution of the same, or the administration of such relief; the words " poor rate," shall be construed to include any rate, rate in aid, mulct, cess, assessment, collection, levy, ley, subscription, or contribution, raised, assessed, imposed, levied, collected, or dis- bursed for the relief of tlie poor in any parish or union; that the words " general quarter sessions" shall extend to and be construed to include general or quarter sessions, or adjournment thereof for any county, division of a county, riding, borough, liber- ty, division of a liberty, precinct, county of a city, citv, county of a town, cinque port, or town corporate, unless where otherwise provid- ed by this Act ; the word " union " shall be con- strued to include any number of parishes unit- ed for any purpose whatever under the provisions of this Act, or incorporated under the said Act made and passed in the twenty-second year of His late Majesty King George the Third, intituled An Act , ,, ^ for the better Relief and Employment of the Poor, or incorporated for the relief or maintenance of the poor under any local Act; the words, " united workhouse" shall be con- strued to mean and include any workhouse of a union; the word " vestry " shall be construed to mean any open, customary, or select vestry, or any meeting of inhabitants convened by any notice such as would have been required for the assembling of a meeting in vestry, at which meeting any business relating to the poor or the poor rate shall be transact- ed or taken into considei-ation, so far as such busi- ness is concerned ; the word " workhouse " shall be construed to include any house in which the poor of any parish or union shall be lodged and maintained, or any house or building purchased, erected, hired, or used at the expence of the poor rate, by any pa- rish, vestry, guardian, or overseer, for the reception, employment, classification, or relief of any poor person therein, at the expence of such parish ; and wherever in this Act, in describing any person or party, matter or thing, the word importing the singu- lar number or the masculine gender only is used, the same shall be understood to include and shall be ap- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 381 plied to several persons or parties as well as one person or party, and females as well as males, and several matters or things as well as one matter or thing, respectively, unless tliere be something in the subject or context repugnant to Buch construction. Act may be CX. And be it further enacted, amended this ses- ^i^^^ jjjjg j^^^ ^^j ^q altered, amend- ed or repealed in this present ses- sion of Parliament. The following Letter demands tlie especial attention of all persons engaged in the management of parochial affairs. Office of the Poor Law Commissionci'S, Aug. 26. 1834. " To prevent the inconvenience which might result in any parish from unavoidable delays in the due transmission of the following letter, which (together with a copy of the Act of Parliament), it is the intention of the Commissioners to send forthwith to the parish officers of each parish in England and Wales; it is ordered by the Board that a copy of the letter shall be immediately ad- vertised in each of the London daily papers. (Copy.) " To the Churchwardens and Overseers charged with the Relief of the Poor. " Gentlemen, — I am directed by the Board of Poor Law Commissioners for England and Wales, to transmit to you a copy of the Act of the 4th and 5th William IV., cap. 76, for the amendment and better administration of the laws for the relief of the poor in England and Wales ; and his Majesty's Commissioners request your immediate and careful attention to its provisions. " The attention of the Board having been particu- larly directed to the operation of the o2d and b4:lh clauses of the Act, the Commissioners feel them- selves called upon to point out that the Boards of Guardians, Select Vestries, and other district or pa- rochial officers acting in the administration of paro- chial affairs under any local Act, and also the church- wardens and overseers charged with the relief of the poor in any place where there is no Board of Guard- ians, Select Vestry, or other similar body constituted by any local Act, are to continue to administer the existing laws for the relief of the poor of the parish or place for which they act ; and that, subject to the provisions of the Poor Law Amendment Act, the general transaction of parochial business should (with strict attention to economy, and as far as the same is duly authorized by law) be contiuued in the accustomed course until the rules, orders, and regu- lations which the Commissioners are authorized to make, shall have been duly prepared and promul- gated. " In reference to the change in the law which is effected by the 54th clause, the Commissioners are desirous that the Boards of Guardians, Select Ves- tries, and other similar bodies, should take into their immediate consideration the expediency of adoptino- such measures (either by establishing rotas or other- wise), as may appear to them best adapted for se- curing frequent and regular attendances for the ordering and directing of the necessary relief to the poor. *' I am farther directed to recommend to your especial notice, the enactments with relation to con- tracts for ^supplies of goods for the use of the poor, and to suggest to you for the avoidance of future in- convenience and pecuniary loss, that in the case of the i-enewal of any contract on behalf of your parish now about to cease, you should cause to be inserted a clause to the following effect : — " That the said contract or agreement shall be liable to be altered or amended in case any alteration or amendment be ren- dered necessary by any rule, order or regulation of the Poor Law Commissioners for England and Wales, during the period that such contract or agreement would otherwise remain in force. " I am directed also to request your attention to the clause respecting the appointment of paid officers ; and to inform you that any appointments now about to cease can only be renewed, and that any new ap- pointment can only be made, subject to such regula- tions as the Central Board may hereafter provide for the more uniform, correct, and efficient performance of the public service by such officers. " The Board consider it to be desirable, that you should submit this letter to a Vestry Meeting, or a Meeting of the Board of Guardians, or such body as may be charged with the administration of relief in your parish, and state to them, — " That the Commissioners are desirous of receiving from them, or from yourselves, information of the existence in your parish of any evils, for the removal of which it is considered that the powers entrusted to the Board may be rendered available. And al- though the Board is exempted from the duty of in- terference in the cases of any particular individuals, yet they may be properly informed of any such cases where it is one of many similar cases, or illustrative of a common practice. " That the Commissioners are also desirous of receiving full information of any improvement which may have been adopted in the mode of administering relief in your parish. " And as it is highly important that the Commis- sioners should be immediately made acquainted with the present state of }'our parish, in common with that of the other parishes throughout the country, you are requested to prepare, as speedily as possible, an- swers to the questions herewith transmitted. " I have the honour to be. Gentlemen, " Your very obedient Servant, ' EDWIN CHAD WICK, Secretary. 382 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. INDEX TO THE ACT. ACTIONS — Limitation of actions for any thing done in pursuance of this Act, Sect, 104. Defendants in such actions may plead the general issue, and give this act and anv special matter in evidence. Sect. 104. If the matter in respect of which any action shall be brought shall appear to have been done in pursuance of the Act, &c. the jury to find a verdict for the de- fendant, who shall thereupon have costs, Sect. 104. AGREEMENTS, or counterparts thereof, for the purposes of settlement, to be deposited with clerks of the peace and filed with the records of the county, Sect. 33. Of guardians of parishes forming unions to be signed snd sealed hy commissioners. Sect. 33. Or Icounterparts thereof for the purpose Of rating for the relief of the poor, to be deposited and filed in like manner. Sect. 34. APPEALS may be made to quarter sessions against order of justices within four calendar months after cause of complaint. Sect. 103. Persons appealing to give fourteen days notice thereof, and to enter into recognizances within five days af- ter such notice, Sect. 103. Upon appeal, justices may finally determine the mat- ter, and award costs, Sect. 103. APPRENTICES.— Justices of the peace to certify that rules of commissioners have been complied with in binding poor children apprentices, Sect. 61. Power of justices reserved as between master and ap- prentice. Sect- 61. ASSISTANT COMMISSIONERS. Appointment and removal of, Sect. 7 . To take an oath before one of the judges previously to acting, Sect. 11. Not to sit in parliament. Sect. 8. Not to hold office or exercise any of tlie powers given by this Act for a longer period than fire years. Sect. 10 May summon persons before them and examine them on oath or on declaration touching any matter relating to the poor. Sect. 12. May attend at local bodrds and vestries and take part in discussions but ;iotto vote. Sect. 21. Orders ol, not to bv enforced until approved and sealed by comniis^ioiit'is, >cct. '20. BASTARDY — Repeal of acts relating to liability and pun- ishment of ]intative father and punishment of mother of illegitimate children. Sect. 69. Securities and recognizances for indemnity of parishes against children likely to be born bastards to be null and void, Sect. 70. Persons in custody for not giving indemnity to be dis- charged, Scet, 70. Mothers of illegitimate children bound to maintain the same. Sect. 71. Court of quarter sessions, on application of overseers, &c. may make an or^er on putative father of child for its support. Sect. 72. Monies paid not applicable to support of mother. Sect. 72. No application to be heard without fourteen days pre- vious notice. Sect. 73. If ajiplication be heard, costs may be calculated from birth of bastard child, if within six months. Sect. 73. In the event of party charged not appearing, the court may nevertheless enter iato the case, Sect. 74. Party summoned, if suspected of intending to abscond, may be required to enter into a recognizance for his appearance. Sect. 75. When payments get into arrear, putative father may be proceeded against by distress or attachment of wages, Sect 76. CERTIORARI in case of appdication for, ten days notice to be given to commissioners. Sect. 106. No rule or order to be removable by, into any court except the King's h?ench. Sect. ICi. CLERKS OF THE PEACE. Notification of appoint\ncnt of commissioners to be sent to, t!^?ct. 1 1. Notification to be p'l'ilished in county papers and pre- served with the records of the county, Sect. 11. COMMISSIONERS. Appointment and removal of, Sect. 1 . Appointment to be published in the London Gazette and notification sent to clerks ol the peace of counties who shall advertise the same in the county newspapers, Sect. II To have common seal. Sect. 3. Administration of relief to the peor to be under their control, Sect. 13 May sit as board, Sect. 2 T\yo to be a quorum, Sect. 2 To examine witnesses, and call for productions of papers, on oath, &c.. Sect. 2 Not to act as court of record, nor require the produc- tion of title to lands, Sect.*2 To appoint assistant commissioners, secretary or secre- taries, clerks, &c. and may remove them. Sect. 7, 9 But not more than nine assistant commissioners, except with the consent of the Treasury, Sect. 7. May delegate powers to assistant commissioners, Sect. 12. May order expenses of witnesses to be paid. Sect. 14. Make asid issue rules, orders, regulations for the ma- nagement of the poor, government of workhouses, educatiiin of children, and at their discretion to re- scind, alter, or suspend, the same. Sect. 15. Attend local boards and vestries but not vote. Sect. 21. Order workhouses to be built, hired, or enlarged, with consent of a majority of guardians or rate-payers. Sect. 23. And under certain circumstances without such consent. Sect. 25. Mav direct parishes to be united for the management of the poor. Sect. 26. May dissolve, add to, or take from any union and make such rules as may be adapted to its altered state Sect. 32. l\Iake rules and regulations for present or future workhouses, and may varv bye-laws already in force or to be made hereafter. Sect. 42. Direct overseers and guardians to appoint paid-officers for parishes or unions and may fix their duties and the mode of appointment, and dismiss and regulate the amount of salaries. Sect. 46. May regulate by such rules and orders as they shall think fit, to what extent relief shall be given to able- bodied paupers and their families out of the work- house. Sect. 62. May call for accounts of trusts, and charity estates. Sect. 85. May receive and send letters relating to the execution of this Act free of postage. Sect. 88. To take an oath before one of the judges previously to acting, Sect. 11. To make a record of their proceedings, to be submitted to the i^ecretary of state once a year, or oftener If required, Sect. 4. To make a general i eport of their proceedings yearly to the secretary of state. Sect. 5. To give such information to the secretary of state from time to time as he may require. Sect. 6. M'hen unions of parishes are preposed to be made, to inquire the expense incurred by each for the poor during the three years preceding, and ascertain the annual average expense of each parish. Sect. 28. Where unions already formed, to cause like enquiry to be made. Sect. 29. To prescribe the regulations under which guardians of the several parishes forming unions shall ascertain the value of the property thereof. Sect. 35. Not to sit in parliament. Sect. 8. Not to hold ofl^ce, nor exercise the powers of this Act longer than five years. Sect. 10. Not ti) interfere in any individual cases for the purpose of ordering relief. Sect 15. Not empowered to order the building, hiring, &c. of workhouses, except as expressly authorised, Sect. 21. Giibert's Act, 22 G. 3, c. S.'?, Sturges Bourne's Act, 59 G. 3, c. 12. The provisions of these and all other Acts relating to workhouses, and to the borrowing of money to be exercised by persons authorised under the control of commissioners. Sect. 21. No additions or alterations to be made to the rules con- tained in the schedule to 22 G. 3, c. 83, or in any other Act until confirmed by commissioners. Sect. 22. Contracts on behalf of any parish or union not to be valid unless made conformable to the rules of com- missioners, Sect, 49. CONTRACTS.— Not to be valid unless conformable to the rules of commissioners. Sect, 49. Repeal of 4.5 O. 3. c. 54, respecting contracts. Sect. 50. The penalty imjiosed by .^5 G. 3. c 137, on persons having the management of the poor being concerned in any contract extended to persons appointed under this Act, Sect. 51. EMIGRATION — Power to owners and rate-payers to raise money on security of rates for puipo?ess of. Sect 62. Money avdanced for such purposes, or such part thce- of as commissioners may direct, to be recoverable, in case of refusal to emigrate, or returning from THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 383 emigration, in the same manner as relief by way of loan, Sect. 62, Overseers may borrow money of exchequer bill loan commissioners for tliis and other purposes, Sect, 63. GUARDIANS AND OVERSEERS. Constitution and election of board for unions. Sect. 38. Not to have power except at local hoard, unless other- wise directed by commissioners, Sect. 38. May be re-elected. Sect. 38. To be elected for single parishes if ordered by com- missioners, Sect. 39, Elections of. and other officers under the 22d Geo. Ill-, c. 83, or any local act, to be made according to the provisions of this Act, Sect. 41. At elections, votes to be taken in writing, and owiicrs as well as occupiers to vote. Sect. 40. Or their clerk to prove and give publicity to all rules and orders as the commissioners shall direct, and allow persons to inspect the same and have copies thereof, Sect. 18. Consent necessary to the order of commissioners for building or hiring workhouses, or purchasing land for sucli buildings where none exist. Sect. 23. Consent not ri'quisite for alteration or enlargement of workhouses. Sect. 25. To assess and levy the sums necessary for such purpose? when ordeied to do so by ccmmissioneis. Sect. 23, 25. May charge the future poor-rates with the amount of such sums, but such sums not to exceed one year's amount of poor-rates. Sect. 24. To ascertain and asse?s the value of property. Seat. 25. To appoint and paid officers wheu ordered by commis- sionors, Sect. 46. Overseers to pass accounts quarterly. Sect, 4/. Balances due from guardians or ovei'seers m.iy be recovered in same way as penalties and forfeitures, Sect. 47. No such proceeding to exonerate sureties of such persons from liability, Sect. 4". Relief granted by guardians or overseers contrary to orders of commissioners shall be disallowed in their accounts. Sect. 52. May delay the operation of regulation of commission- ers, respecting relief under special circumstances. Sect. 52. If commissioners disapprove such delay, they may fix a day from which their orders shall be observed by overseers and guardians, Sect. 32. No relief to be given in future except by board of guardians. Sect. 54. Overseers may apply to commissioners of Exchequer Bills under the 57th Ueo. III., c. 34, for advance of money, Sect. 63. May apply to court of quarter sessions for an order on the putative father of an illegitimate child, fur its support. Sect. 72. In case of appeal against order of removal of any poor person, may have access to him for the purpose of examining him touching his settlement. Sect. 80. Overseers and other officers subject to penalties for dis- obeying legal orders of justices and guardians. Sect. 95. Not so subject if orders illegal. Sect. 96. Overseers purloining goods, subject to penalty of 20/., and treble value of goods. Sect. 97. Payments, charges, &c. by overseers or guardians, at variance with the rules or regulations of commis- sioners, to be disallowed as illegal. Sect. 89. JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. Guardians, ex-cfficio, in the parish in which they re- side. Sect. 38, 39. May order out-door relief to aged and infirm persons unable to work, certifying in such order to that ef- fect. Sect. 27. To give order for medical relief in dangerous illness. Sect. 54. To see bye laws of commissioners enforced, and to visit workhouses, pursuant to the 30 G. 3, e. 49. Sect. 43. To certify tliat rules of commissioners have been com- plied with in binding poor children, Sect. 61. To order salary of master of workhouses allowing use of spirituous liquors or ill-treating poor persons or misconducting himself to be stopped and applied towards payment of penalties, Sect 93. May visit workhouses where commissioners rules are not in force. Sect. 43. Mav attach wages in hanas of masters or emplovers, Sect. 59. May proceed by summons for recovery of penalties. Sect. 101. Suunnons, what shall be deemed good service of, Sect. 90. Power reserved as between masters and apprentices. Sect. 61. Sums assessed by justices on relations of poor per- so!)s, and all penalties for default of payment there- of, to be recoverable as penalties and forfeitures un- der the Act, Sect. 78. LUNATICS, &c.— No lunatic, insane person, or dangerous idiot, to be detained in a workhouse more than four- teen davB, Sect. 45. MASTERS OR EMPLOYEPvS.— Upon apphcation of over- seers or guardians, a justice may summon master or employer before him, and direct him to pay, out of the wages of any poor person to whom relief has been given by way of loan, such instalments as he Tnav think fit. Sect. 69, Receipt of overseer or guardian to be good discharge to such master. Sect. 59, Upon neglect or refusal to pay the money so ordered, the same may be levied as penalties and forfeitures under tliis Act, Sect. 59. OFFICERS. Masters of workhouses, assistant over.=eers, or other paid officers, to be under the orders of the commis- sioners, who may remove them if deemed unfit, or in case of neglect or refusal to carry into effect any of their rules, orders, or bye-laws. Sect. 48. Persons so removed not competent to fill any paid office connected with the relief of the poor, Sect. 48. Persons convicted of felony, fraud, or perjury, ineli- gible. Sect, 48. Masters of workhouses to regis-ter the name of every poor person who shall be in the receipt of relief, with the particulars respecting their families and settlement, Sect. 55, Masters of workhouses, assistant overseers, &o. pur- loining goods, subjeet to penalty of 20/., and treble value of the goods. Sect. 97. PERJURY — Perseus giving false evidence guilty of,Sect.l3. POOR, RELIEF OF THE.— Any two justices may order ont-door relief to aged and infirm persons wholly un- able to work. Sect. 27. Parliamentary returns to be evidence of actual expense of poor to each parish. Sect. 30. Commissioners to regulate the extent of relief to be given to able-bodied paupers and their families out of the workhouse. Sect. 52. Relief contrary to their regulations to be disallowed. Sect. 52. Powers of several Acts as to the ordering of, by justice of the peace, repealed. Sect. 53. None to be in future given, except by board of guardinis, &c.. Sect. 54. Any justice may order medical relief in dangerous ill- ness. Sect. 54. Masters of workhouses, &c. to keep registers of the nimes of poor persons in the receipt of. Sect. 55. Poor persons liable for, to wife and children, Sect 56, Husband liable to maintain children of wife born before marriagp. Sect. 57. Such relief as commissioners may direct to be consi- dered as a loan, Sert. 58. Justices may attach wages in the hands of master or employer for the re-payment of such loan. Sect. 69. So much of 43 G.3, c. 47, as requires relief to be given to wives and families of substitutes, hired men, or volunteers of militia, repeaied. Sect. 00. Relief to illegitimate child under the age of sixteen, to be considered as granted to the mother. Sect. 71. Goods or Provisions given in, not to be furnished for profit by persons employed in the administration of the Poor Laws, Sect. 11 Sums assessed on relations of poor persons for their relief, under 43 Eliz., c. 2, s.7, how recoverable. Sect. 78. Costs of, to poor person whose settlement shall be in question at the time of granting the same, to be paid by parish to which he belongs. Sect. 84. Under suspended order not to be i-ecoverahle, unless notice sent of such order. Sect. 84. Pavments contrary to this Act to be disallowed Sect, 89. POOR PERSONS, RELATIONS OF.— Sums assessed on, by Justices of the I'eace under 43 Eliz., c. 2, s. 7, and all penalties or forfeitures for default of payment thereof, may be recovered as other penalties under this Act, Sect. 78. RELIGIOL'S SERVICE-— No inmate of a workhouse ob- liged to attend, contrary to his religious principles. Sect. 19. Any licensed minister of the religious persuasion of any inmate of a workhouse may visit such work- house at all times in the day, on request of such in- mate. Sect 19. REMOVAL OF POOR PERSONS, AND APPEALS THEIIEFROM. — No person to he removed till after notice of his being chargeable has been sent to the parish to which the older of removal is directed. Sect. 79. Such person may be removed if the order is submitted to ; but not in case of appeal.Sect. 79. 184 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. In case of appeal, the overseers to hare access to such pool-person for the purpose of examining him toucli- iiig his settlement. Sect. 80 Grounds of appeal to be stated in notice. Sect. 81 Parish losing the appeal to pay such costs as the court may direct. Sect. 82 Party making frivolous or vexatious statement to pay co4s. Sect. S3 Costs of relief to be paid by parish to which poor per- son beltngs, Sect. b4 Relief under suspended order not to be recoverable unless notice sent of such order, Sect. 84 RULES, ORDERS, AND REGULATIONS FOR MA- NAGEMENT OF POOR, &c.— Commissioners to make rules, orders, and regulations for the manage- ment of the poor, and administration of the Laws for tlieir reilcf, &c.. Sect. 15 Commissioners may suspend or alter rules, Sect. 15 General Rules to be submitted to Secretary of State forty davs before coming into operation, Sect. 16 If disllowed by King in Council during the forty days, not to come iuto operatiion. Sect. 16. If disallowed afterwards, to be revoked. Sect. 16. Gener.il Rules to be laid before Parliament, Sect. 17. Rules, &e. to be sent to overseers, &c. before they come into operation, Ssct. 18. Publicity to be given to them as directed by commis- sioners. Sect. 18. Overseer neglecting to give publicity subject to pe- nalty. Sect. 18. Disallowance to be notified in like manner. Sect. 18. Of assistant commissioners to be approved and sealed by commissioners, Sect. 20. No additions or alterations to be made to the rules con- tained in the schedule to 22 G. 3. c. 83, or in any other Act, until confirmed by eoramissioners. Sect. 22. Commivsioners may make rules, &c. for present or future workhouses, and vary bye laws already in force or to be made hereafter. Sect. 42. Aifecting moie than one union, to be deemed general rules. Sect. 42. Justices empowered to enforce, in workhouses. Sect, 43. To bs removable by certiorari into Court of King's Beneh only. Sect. 105. Such rule to continue in force until declared iilcgal. Sect. 105. If rule declared legal, commissioners to be entitled to costs, Sect. 107. If rule is quashed, the same to be notified to parish to which such rule has been directed, Seet. 108. SETTLEMENT,— United liiarishes may be one parish for purposes of. Sect. 33. Repeal of, by hiring and service, Sect. 64, No settlement incomplete under hiring and service to be completed, Sect. 65, No settlement acquired without paying pror rate ; nor by being apprenticed in the sea service : nor bv pos- session longer than the person shall inhabit within ten miles thcrepf. Sect. 66, 68. STAMP DUTIES.— Advertisements, &c. not liable to stamp duty, Sect. 86. Bonds and securities made pursuant to 22 G. 3. 83., and assignments tliereof, exempted from stamp duty. Sect. 87. STATUTES REPEALED— 36 G. 3. c. 23. ; 55 G. 3. c. 137. Sect. 3 and 4 ; and 59 G. 3. c. 12. Sects. 2 and 5.— Sect 53. UNIONS OF PARISHES.— Parishes may be united by com- missioners, and the poor thereof classified, main- tained, and employed in the workhouses of such unions. Sect. 26. Each parish chargeable for its own poor, Sect. 26. When proposed to be made, commissioners to inquire the expenses incurred by each for the poor during the three years preceding, and ascertain the annual average expense of each parish. Sect. 28 Commissioners may order a like inquiry to be made where unions have already b en formed. Sect. 29. Commissioners empowered to dissolve, add to, or take from any union ; and thereupon to make such rules as may be adapted to its altered state, Sect. 32. Rights and interests of parishes, and claims on them, to be ascertained and secured. Sect. 32. Dissolution or alteration of, not to affect rights of third parties, nor to take p lace, without consent of guardians. Sect 32. United parishes to be one parish for the pusposes of settlement and rating. Sects. 33, 34. Agreement or counterpart for such rating to be de- posited with clerk of the peace. Sect. 34. Guardians to ascertain and assess the value of property in the several parishes of. Sect. 35. Rates grounded on such assessment to be allowed as poor rates. Sect. 35. In such cases all expenditure for the poor to be in eonimon, Sect. 36.- Expense of valuation chargeable on common rate. Sect. 36. Proviso for consent of parishes not represented by guardians. Sect. 36. Not to be formed without consent of commissioners* Sect. 37. Constitution and election of board of guardians for. Sect. 38. No guardian of, union to have power, except at local board, unless otherwise directed by the commis- sioners. Sect. 3S . Manner of voting at elections of guardians. Sect. 40. Elections of guardians, &c., under 22 G. 3. c. 83, or anv local act, to be made according to this Act, Sect. 41- Rules, &c., of commissioners affecting more than one union to be deemed general rules. Sect. 42. Commissioners may direct overseers to appoint paid officers for. Sect. 46. Commissioners to define their duties, mode of appoint- ment and dismissal, the security to be given, and to regulate their salaries. Sect. 46. WITNESSES,— Reasonable expenses of, and of attending the production of books, &c., before commissioners or assistant commissioners, to be paid out of the rates of the respective parishes or unior.s which in their opinion are interested, or as part of the ex- penses attending the execution of this Act, Sect. 14. WORKHOUSES.— Coinmisioners may make rules, &c., for the government of workhouses, and education of the children therein, Sect. 15. No inmate of, obliged to attend to any religious service contrary to his religious principles, &c., Sect. 19. Licensed minister of the religious persuasion of any inmate of, at the request of such inmate, may visit him at all times in the day, Sect. 19. Powers of 22 G. 3. c.83, 59 G. 3. c. 12, and of all other Acts relating to, to be exercised under controul of commissioners, and be subject to their orders. Sect. 21. Commissioners not to order the building or hiring of, except under limitations. Sect. 21. No additions or alterations to be made to the rules, &c. to be enforced in workhousea contained in the sche- dule to 22 G. 3. c. 83, or in any other Act, until con- firmed by commissioners. Sect. 22. Commissioners empowered to order woikhouses to be built, hired, altered, or enlarged, with consent of guardians, &c.. Sect. 23. Sums to be raisel for purposes of building, to be charged on poor rates ; and not to exceed one year's amount of such rates. Sect. 24. Money borrowed for such purposes to be repaid by annual instalments of not less than one-tenth of the whole, with interest. Sect. 24. Commissioners empowered to ordcr>workhouses to be altered or enlarged witliout consent of guardians, &c.. Sect. 25. Sums to be raised for such purposes not to exceed one- tenth of one year's rates, or 501, Sect. 25. Repeal of so much of 22 G. 3. c. 83. and 56. G. 3. c. 129. as re^trams parishes from contributing to work- houses at a greater dietance than ten miles ; and of 22 G. 3. c. 83. as limits class of persons to be sent to workhouses. Sect. 31. Commissioners may make rules, &c. for present or fu- ture workhouses, and vary bye laws already in forte or hereafter to be made. Sect. 42. Justices empowered to see bye laws enforced, and to visit workhouses, pursuant to 30 G. 3. c 49. .Sect. 43. The power given to justice", &c. to visit workhouses reserved where commissioners rules, &c. are not in force, Sect. 43 Buildings taken for workhouses to be within the juris- diction of the place to which they belong, tliough situated without. Sect. 44, No Lunatic, insane person, or dangerous idiot to bede- tafned in a workhouse more than fourteen days. Sect. 45. Ma-ters of workhouses, &c to he nnder order of com- missioners, and removable by them. Sect, 48, Conirfiissioners to regulate relief to able-bodied pau- pers and their families out of the workhouses. Sect. 52. Masters of, &c. to keep registers. Sect. 55, Repeal of so much of 6 G. 4. c. 8o. as relates to pro- hibition of spirituous liquors in workhouses. Sect. 91. Penalty on persons introducing spirituous or fermented liquors into workhouses. Sect. 92. Penalty on master of, allowing use of spirituous or fermented liquors, except under written orders of of surgeon or visiting justice, and for ill-treating poor persons, or misconoucting himself. Sect. 93. Masters of, to hang up copies of sections 93 and 9^ (ij ■\VOr)vhoi}se, Sect.94 \lV»" >vl' a THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. OCTOBER, 1834. No. G.] [Vol. 1. ON THE POINTS BY WHICH LIVE- STOCK ARE JUDGED. BY MR. .lAMKS DICKSON, CATl'LE-DEALER, EDIN- BURGH. (Prom " The Quarterly Jonrual of Agriculture.") Were an ox of fine symmetry and high condition placed hefore a person not a judge of live-stock, his opinion of its excellencies would be derived from a very limited view, and consequently from only a few of its qualities. He might oh- serve and admire the beautiful outline of its figure, for that might strike the most casual observer. He might be pleased with the tint of its colours, the plumpness of its body, and thesmoothnessaud glossiness of its skin. He might be even delighted with the gentle and -complacent expression of its countenance. All these properties he might judge of by the eye alone. On touching the animal with the hand, he could feel the softness of its body, occa- sioned by the fatness of the flesh. But no man, not a judge, could rightly criticise the properties of an ox further. He could not possibly discover, with- out tuition, those properties which had chiefly conduced to produce the high condition in which he saw the ox. He would hardly believe that a judge can ascertain, merely by the eye, from its general aspect, whether the ox were in good or bad health ; — from the colour of its skin, whether it were of a pure or cross breed ; — from the ex- pression of its countenance, whether it were a quiet feeder ; — and from the nature of its flesh, whether it had arrived at maturity or no. The discoveries made by the hand of a judge might even stagger his belief. He could scarcely con- ceive that that hand can feel a hidden property, — the touch — which of all tests is the most surely indicative of fine quality of flesh, and of disposi- tion to fatten. It can feel whether that flesh is of the most valuable kind ; and it can foretel the pro- bable abundance of fat in the interior of the car- cass. In short, a judge alone can discriminate between the relative values of the different points, or appreciate the aggregate values of all the points of an ox. The parts of the ox by which it is judged are called "points." We have thus seen that a person even totally ignorant of cattle may judge of some of the most apparent properties or points of a/a^ ox ; but were a lean ox placed before him, he would be quite at a loss what opinion to pass on its present, and far more of its future, condition. The outline of its figure would to him appear rugged and angular-, and consequently coarse. To him the body would feel a number of hard bones, covered with a tough skin and coarse hair. A judge, on the other hand, can at once discover the good or the bad points of a lean as well as of a fat ox ; because the proper- ties of the former are the same in kind, though not in degree, as those of the latter ; and, in ac- cordance with the qualities of these points, he can anticipate the future condition of the lean ox, save and excepting the effects of accidents and disease. But, it may be asked, if a judge of cattle is a character so easily attained as is here represented, how is it that the opinion of a judge is always held in deference, and is always referred to in cases of difference of opinion ? This question admits of a very satisfactory answer. Errors in the judging of cattle arise not so frequently from not knowing the points to be judged of, as from judges allowing one or more of their favourite points the power of too great an influence over the future increasing condition of the ox ; and as long as there are so many points to be considered, and as most of them, may be partially altered by local circumstances, a difference of opinion may exist among judges of lean stock. Now, what are those points of an ox, a thorough knowledge of which is so essential to constitute a pex'fect judge ? Could they be described and illus- trated with such precision, as that they may be applied at once to every ox, in whatever condition it may be, a great advancement would be made towards establishing fixed rules for the right judging of all the domestic animals. Fortunately for the suppression of human dogmatism on this subject. Nature herself has furnished rules for as- certaining points for judgment, which can only be discovered by long and constant practice. Never- theless, I shall endeavour to describe them plainly, and after pursuing the description, I hope my readers will perceive that they are established laws of nature ; and are therefore unerring, and appli- cable to every species of cattle. Like other phe- nomena of nature, a knowledge of them can be acquired by observation. This knowledge is the most difficult which a farmer has to acquire, inas- much as the management of live-stock is a much more difficult branch of husbandry than the culti- vation of corn. And although the importance of this knowledge is acknowledged by every experi- enced farmer, and a desire for its acquirement is strongly felt by every young one, it is remarkable that very little is said in professed works on agri- culture on those rules which guide us in judging of fat or lean live-stock. The &rst ]}oint to be ascertained in examining an ox is the purity of its breed, whatever that breed may be. The ascertainment of the purity of the breed will give the degree of the disposition to fatten in the individuals of that breed. The purity of the breed may be ascertained from several marks. 'Jhe colour or colours of the skin of a pure breed of cattle, whatever those colours are, are always definite. The colour of the bald skin on the nose, and around the eyes, in a pure breed, is always definite, and without spots. This last is' an essential ^om^ When horns exist, they should be smooth, small, tapering, and sharp-pointed, long or short, according to the breed, and of a white colour throughout in some breeds, and tipped 2 c 386 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. with black in others. The shape of the horn is a less essential point than the colour. Applying these marks on the diflFerent breeds in Scotland as illustrations of the points which we have been considering, we have the definite colours of white and red in the Short-horns. The colour is either entirely white or entirely red, or the one or the other predominates in their mixture. The skin on the nose and around the eyes is uniformly of a rich cream-colour. The Ayrshire breed in its purity is also distinguished by the red and white colour of the skin, but always mixed, and the mixture consists of spots of greater or smaller size, not blended together. The colour of the skin on the nose and around the eyes is not defi- nite, but generally black, or cream-coloured. In other points, those two celebrated breeds differ from one another more than in the characters which I have just described. In the West High- land, Angus, and Galloway breeds, the colour of the skin is mostly black in the animals of the purest blood, although red, dun, and brindled co- lours, are occasionally to be seen among them. The black colour of the skin of the nose and around the eyes is indicative of the pure blood of black-coloured cattle, but a cream-coloured nose may frequently be observed among the other co- lours of skin. It would perhaps be hazardous to assert, in the case of the West Highlanders, that the characters above given are the only true indi- cations of the pure breed, for their origin cannot now be certainly determined ; but the characters given will certainly apply to the purity of the blood in the Short-horn and Ayrshire breeds. The second point to be ascertained in an ox is the form of its carcass. It is found, the nearer the section of the carcass of a fat ox, taken longi- tudinally vertical, transversely vertical, and hori- zontally, approaches to the figure of a parallelo- gram, the greater quantity of flesh will it carry within the same measurement. That the carcass may fill up the parallelogram as well as its rounded form is capable of filling up a right-angled figure, it should possess the following configuration : — The back should be straight from the top of the shoulder to the tail. The tail should fall perpen- dicularly from the line of the back. The buttocks and twist should be well filled out. The brisket should project to a line dropped from the middle of the neck. The belly should be straight longi- tudinally, and round laterally, and filled at the flanks. The ribs should be round, and should pro- ject horizontally, and at right angles to the back. The hooks should be wide and flat ; and the rump, from the tail to the hooks, should also be flat and well filled. The quarter, from the itch-bone to the hook, should be long. The loin-bones should be long, broad, and flat, and well filled; but the space betwixt the hooks and the short-ribs should be rather short, and well arched over with a thick- ness of beef between the hooks. A long hollow from the hooks to the short-^ribs indicates a weak constitution, and an indifferent thriver. From the loin to the shoulder-blade should be nearly of one breadth, and from thence it should taper a little to the front of the shoulder. The neck-vein should he well filled forward, to complete the line from the neck to the brisket. The covering on the shoulder-blade should be as full out as the but- tocks. The middle-ribs should be well filled, to complete the line from the shoulders to the but- tocks along the projection of the outside of the ribs. These constitute all the points which are essen- tial to s.fat ox, and which it is the business of the judge to know, and by which he must anticipate whether the lean one, when fed, would realize. The remaining points are more applicable in judg- ing of a lean than a fat ox. The first of the points in judging of a lean ox, is the nature of the hone. A round thick bone indi- cates both a slow feeder, and an inferior descrip- tion of flesh. A flat bone, when seen on a side view, and narrow, when viewed either from be- hind or before the animal, indicates the opposite properties of a round bone. The whole bones in the carcass should bear a small proportion in bulk and weight to the flesh, the bones being only re- quired as a support to the flesh. The texture of the bone should be small-grained and hard. The bones of the head should be fine and clean, and only covered with skin and muscle, and not with lumps of fat and flesh, which always gives a heavy- headed dull appearance to an ox. The fore-arm and hock should also be clean and full of muscle, to endure travelling. Large joints indicate bad feeders. The neck of an ox should be, contrary to that of the sheep, small from the back of the head to the middle of the neck. The reason of the difference, in this respect, betwixt the ox and the sheep is, that the state of the neck of the ox has no effect on the strengh of the spine. A full, clear, and prominent eye is another ^jom^ to be considered ; because it is a nice indication of good breeding. It is always attendant on fine bone. The expression of the eye is an excellent index of many properties in the ox. A dull heavy eye certainly indicates a slow feeder, A rolling eye, showing much white, is expressive of a rest- less capricious disposition, which is incompatible with quiet feeding. A calm, complacent expres- sion of eye and face is strongly indicative of a sweet and patient disposition, and, of course, kindly feeding. The eye is frequently a faithful index of the state of the health. A cheerful clear eye accompanies good health; a constantly dull one proves the probable existence of some inter- nal lingering disease. The dulness of eye, arising from the effect of internal disease, is, however, quite different in character from a natural or con- stitutional phlegmatic dulness. The state of the skin is the next point to be as- certained. The skin affords what is technically and emphatically called the touch — a criterion se- cond to none in judging of the feeding properties of an ox. The touch may be good or bad, fine or harsh, or, as it is often termed, hard or mellow. A thick firm skin, which is generally covered with a thick set, hard, short hair, always touches hard, and indicates a bad feeder. A thin, meagre, pa- pery skin, covered with thin silky hair, being the opposite of the one just described, does not, how- ever, affoi'd a good touch. Such a skin is indica- tive of weakness of constitution, though of good feeding properties. A perfect touch will be found with a thick, loose skin, floating, as it were, on a layer of soft fat, yielding to the least pressure, and springing back towards the fingers like a piece of soft, thick chamois leather, and covered with thick, glossy, soft hair. Such a collection of hair looks rich and beautiful, and seems warm and comfortable to the animal. It is not unlike a bed of fine soft moss, and hence such a skin is fre- quently styled " mossy." The sensation derived from feeling a fine touch is pleasurable, and even delightful, to an amateur of breeding. You cannot help liking the animal that possesses a fine touch. Along with it is generally associated a fine symme- trical form. A knowledge of touch can only be acquired by long practice; but, after having ac- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 387 quired it, it is of itself a sufficient means of judg- ing of the feeding qualities of the ox ; because, when present, the properties of symmetrical form, fine bone, sweet disposition, and purity of blood, are the general accompaniments. These are the essential points of judging lean cattle ; but there are other and important consi- derations which must claim the attention of the judge, in forming a through judgment of the ox. The proportion which the extremities bear to the body, and to one another, is one of these consider- ations. The head of the ox should be small, and set on the neck as if it appeared to be easily car- ried by the animal. This consideration is of great importance in shewing cattle to advantage in the market. The face should be long from the eyes to the point of the nose. No face can be handsome without this feature. The skull should be broad across the eyes, and only contract a little above them, but should taper considerably below them to the nose. The muzzle should be fine and small, and the nostrils capacious. The crown of the head should be flat and strong, and the horns should protrude horizontally from both sides of it, though the direction of the growth from the middle to the tip varies in the different breeds. The ears should be large, stand a little erect, and so thin as to reflect the bright sunlight through them. The neck should be light, tapering from the front of the shoulder and neck- vein, with a gradual rise from the top of the shoulder to the head. The length of the neck should be in pro- portion to the other parts of the animal ; but this is a non-essential point, though I would prefer an apparently Short neck to a long one, because it is generally well covered with the neck vein. A droop of the neck, from the top of the shoulder to the head, indicates a weakness of constitution, arising frequently from breeding too near akin. The legs below the knee should be rather short than long, and clean made. They should be placed where they apparently bear the weight of the body most easily, and they should stand wide asunder. The tail should be rather thick than otherwise, as thickness indicates a strong spine and a good weigher. It should be provided with a large tuft of long hair. Th&position of the flesh on the carcass is another great consideration in judging of the ox, the flesh on the different parts of the ox being of various qualities. That part called the spare-rib in Edin- burgh, and the fore and middle ribs in London, the loins, and the rump or hookbone, are of the finest quality, and are generally used for roasts and steaks. Consequently the ox which carries the largest quantity of beef on these points is the most valuable. Flesh of fine quality is actually of a finer texture in the fibre than coarse flesh. It also contains fat in the tissue between the fibres. This arrangement of the fat and lean gives a rica ness and delicacy to the flesh. The other parts, though not all of the same quality, are used for salting and making soups, and do not fetch so high a price as the parts just described. A full twist lining the division between the hams, called the " closing," with a thick layer of fat, a thick flank, and a full neck-vein, are generally in- dicative of tallow in the interior of the carcass ; but it frequently happens, that all these symptoms of laying on internal fat fail. The disposition to lay on internal fat altogether depends on the nature of the individual constitution ; for, it is often ob- served, that those individuals which exhibit great fattening juom^s on the exterior, do not fill with in- ternal fat so well as others which want these points. On the contraiy, thin made oxen, with flat ribs, and large bellies, very frequently produce large quantities of internal fat. The first part which shews the fat in a feeding ox, is the point or top of the rump, which, in high-bred animals, is a prominent point; some- times it protrudes too much, as the mass of fat laid on these is out of proportion to the lean, and therefore useless to the consumer. This is the part which frequently misleads young or inexpe- rienced judges in the true fatness of the ox, be- cause fat may be felt on this part, when it is very deficient on most of the other points. The parts, on the other hand, which are gene- rally the last in being covered with flesh, arc the point of the shoulder-joint, and the top of the shoulder. If these parts are, therefore, felt to be well covered, the other and better parts of the animal may be considered ripe. Ripeness of con- dition, however, can only be rightly ascertained by handling, for there is a great difierence between the apparent and real fatness of an ox. The flesh of an apparently fat ox to the eye, may, on being handled by a judge, feel loose and flabby; but a truly fat ox always feels " hard fat." With such the butcher is seldom deceived, while loose hand- lers give no assurance of killing well. It is proper, in judging of the weight of a fat ox, to view his gait while walking towards you, which will, if the 0.x has been well fed, be accompanied with a heavy rolling tread on the ground. In this way a judge can at once come very near to its weight. The application of all these rules and conside- rations to the judging of lean stock, constitutes the chief difficulty to the judge. An ox, in high con- dition, in so far as its condition alone is under consideration, can be judged of, as we have seen, by any one ; and sometimes the fatness may be so great as obviously to deform the symmetry to any observer. The superiority of a judge to others, in these cases, consists in estimating the weight, ob- serving the purity of the blood, and valuing the points of the animal. But in judging of a lean ox, its future condition and symmetry must be fore- seen. The rules which I have attempted to de- scribe, will, if studied practically, enable an in- quiring observer to foresee these points ; and in judging between a number of valuable points, it should be remembered, that purity of breeding will always insure aptitude to fatten, which, in its turn, will insure the largest remuneration for the food consumed. Sheep, both fat and lean, may be judged of by nearly the same rules. The purity of breeding will be seen in the large full prominent eyes, the clean thin bone of the head and legs, and the large thin pricked up ears, set on each side of the top of the head, and in the short, thick, smooth, clear hair of the face and legs. The section of the form of the fat sheep is even more mathematically like a parallelogram than that of the fat ox. The touch of the skin is also the same in kind, and is as sure an indication of the disposition to fatten as in the ox. In regard that wool varies so greatly in the many breeds of sheep, I can only make this gene- ral remark on the fleece best suited to every breed, namely, the whole body should be well covered with wool, with the exception of the face and legs, which are always covered with hair. A large co- vering of wool not only protects them against the inclemencies of the weather, and the coldness and dampness of the ground, but it supplies a large fleece to be disposed of to the wool buyer. One deviation from the rules of judging cattle must be 2 c 2 388 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, made while judging sheep, to which I have already allnded, namely, while the neck of the ox should be thin, that of the sheep should be thick ; be- cause a thill necked sheep is found to possess a weak spine, and is generally a bad feeder. A thin neck has thus the same effects on sheep that a small tail has on cattle. As in cattle, a drooping neck in sheepindicatesa weakness of constitution, arising from breeding in and in. Some of the rules for cattle and sheep are appli- cable to swine. Swine ahnuld have broad straight backs, round ribs, thin hair, thin skin, small tails, short and fine muscles, pricked ears, small and fine bones, and round and well turned shoulders and hams. In conclusion, it is obvious that these rules for judging live stock, are not founded upon arbitrary assumptions. Had no natural means of judging existed, man could no doubt have contrived rules to suit his own convenience ; and in such a case, he would probably have chosen such as he could have most cnsily applied ; but unless they could be applied to the growing, as well as the mature con- dition of animals, they would be of little value. But we have seen that natural means of judging (fo exist, and although they cannot be easily under- stood without much observation and practice, yet, by practice, they can be acquired, and easily ap- I)lied to the existing circumstances of the animal, whatever these may be. Any person, it is true, cannot at once perceive their necessary tendency is to lead to a correct judgment. Long and careful personal observation is requisite to con- vince the mind of their value in that respect. Tui tion, without practical observation cannot of itself do it. It has been the study of nature, in short, which has enabled man to establish these rules for his guidance ; and as all the operations of nature are regulated by general laws, these rules must be of universal application. It is clearly established by observation, as an uniform principle of judg- ment, that when an ox, in a growing state, pre- sents a certain degree of purity of breeding, a certaiu form of body, and a certain kind of hand- ling of its skin, a certain result is undeviatingly exhibited in the mature state from these given pre- monitory symptoms. Should this result conduce to the acquisition of wealth, we are anxious to possess the growing animal which exhibits such favourable points ; and, on the other hand, we are as anxious to avoid tlie possession of that animal which exhibits unfavourable points, unless at a very depreciated value. Now, it has been ascer- tained by experience, that pure breeding, perfect form, ?nd fine touch, make the best mature animal. Hence these points will insure both the growing and the mature animal a ready market and a good price ; and hence also, that breed which constant- ly presents these points, deserves, by its intrinsic worth, to be generally cultivated. Agricultural Schools. — The trustees ap- pointed by the Irish Relief Committee of 1822, for the purpose of establishing agricultural schools in Ireland, having obtained the lease of a quantity of land for a model farm, have erected suitable buildings thereon, in the province of Connaught. It is proi)osed in tlie first instance to receive 40 pupils, 30 males and 10 females, who will be boarded and lodged in separate divisions of the institution. The site of the school is near the centre of the province, at HoUymount, county of Mayo. THROWING OF HORSES. Horses are thrown down by means of hobbles. The hobble is about two feet in length, two inches and five-eighths in width, and about a quarter of an inch thick. It is formed by a strong piece of leather, about four feet in length, \vhich, being doubled, has a strong iron buckle included at one end, and firmly sewed in. About four inches and a half further back, a large iron ring is to be sew- ed in, in the same manner, for the purpose of al- lowing a strong rope to pass through it easily. The ring, or rather the part so named, may be made straight where it is sewed into the leather, and the rest may be rounded. The remaining part of the leather is to be strongly sewed together, which will make the thickness of it what we have before described. Several holes are to be punched at this end of the hobble, to admit the tongue of the biickle when it is put round the horse's leg. On the under side of the hobble, apiece of thinner and wider leather is to be fixed, extending from the part where the ring is attached to about half an inch beyond the extremity of the buckle ; this is intended to prevent the latter from g.illing the horse's leg. 'fhe rope should be strong, not twisted tight, but made flexible, like a bell-rope, and about six yards in length. One end of the rope is to be firmly and permanently attached to the ring of one of the hobbles, and this hobble must be jilaced on the fore-leg, opposite to the side on which the horse is to be thrown. If the hobble to which the rope is attached is placed on the left fore-leg, the other end of the rope is to be passed first through the ring of that on the left hind leg, then through that on the right hind leg, next through that on the right fore-leg, and lastly, through the ring, where the rope is at- tached, that is, the left fore leg hobble. By this contrivance it will be readily seen that the legs of the horse may be drawn together, so that if pushed or forced towards the right side, he must of necessity tall. Three men are generally required to pull the rope, in ordei' to draw the legs together ; and to render this more easy, the hind legs should be placed under him as much as possible before any attempt is made to pull the rope. The horse should have blinds, or have his eyes covered with a piece of rug, before the hob- bles are put on ; it may be necessary, also, to twitch him, and hold up the fore leg while the hind leg hobble is putting on. But the twitch must be removed before he is thrown, and not used unless absolutely necessary. The men who are to pull the rope should stand within two yards of the horse, as they then pull with double the force they would at a distance of four yards, their power then having a tendency to draw the legs off the ground, and upwards, which causes hira to fall moie quickly. One man should stand at the rump,^' on the left side, to push him when the legs are drawn up together ; and one man should hold him steadily by the head, standing in front of him ; and as soon as the horse is down, that man should throw himself on the neck, and ir.cline the nose upward, by lifting the halter ; thus he can keep the head and neck down without difficulty. M. Girard, in his Traite du Pied, has proposed au improvement in throwing horses, which is very simple and should always be employed ; but it requires an additional assistant, or two would still be better. If the horse is to be thrown on the right side, a long piece of web, or a rope, is to be fastened round the right foi'e arm, close up to the n THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 389 elbow. The other end is then to be passed over the withers, and held at a little distance b.v one or two men. The force which is applied in this way will cause the horse to fall more readily, and with more certainty, and exactly in the situation where he is required to be thrown. This contrivance, therefore, is extrea:ely useful in confined places, where there is just room enough to throw a horse, and no more. The horse being thrown down, and his legs closely drawn together, the end of the hobble rope is to be passed under the hobble rings, between the fore and hind legs, and secured with a hitch, as it is termed, so that he cannot se- parate them again until the hobbles are unbuckled, and then they all may be taken away at once, and the horse suffered to get up. In letting the horse get up again, the hobbles must be unbuckled cautiously, beginning with the under fore and hind one. These should be un- buckled gently, and not jerked, as that would cause the horse to struggle, and render it difficult to take them off, or the leg might get loose, and he may thus hurt one of the assistants, who hap- pens to be standing incautiously within the stroke of his fore or hind leg. I have seen hobbles in which the tongues were movable, so that by draw- ing them out with a pair of pincers the hobbles were all taken off at once. In performing operations upon the horse, it is not only necessary to throw him down as I have described, but in firing the outside of the fore leg, for example, in the pastern, the hobble must be taken oft', and the leg secured by means of a web passed round the leg above the knee, and secured to the upper hind leg, immediately above the hock, or it may be secured to the under fore leg ; i^er- haps both these contrivances would be found use- ful in strong horses that struggle much. In firing the inside of the fore leg, that is, the under fore leg, nothing more is necessary than to take it out of the hobble, and draw it forwards by means of a web passed round the hoof, or the pastern. Horses, however, have sufficient power to ex« tend the under fore leg considerably, unless a man lies on the shoulder, which should always be avoided. It is better to restrain the leg, by pass- ing a web round it above the knee, and fastening the other end to the hind leg above the hock. If then the other three legs are drawn backward, by means of the hobble rope, the under fore leg will be sufficiently exposed for any operation that may be required. In firing the upper hind leg in the pastern, it is necessary to take off the hobble ; but the leg nmst be first secured by means of a web, fastened above the hock, and the other end brought forward, and under a collar of web, passed round the neck, close to the shoulder. The leg may thus be effectually restrained ; but, as an additional restraint, it my be tied also to the under hinder leg. — White. The following; notice was recently posted up by some polished Parisians, in the shop windows iu Paris : — " At the Menagerie of the Coinlnvt des Ani- maux, Augusts, 1831, and every Sunday till further notice, will be a grand combat of a young and vigor- ous bull. This indomitable animal, without equal for agility, will be attacked vigorously Ijy dogs of the greatest force, who will relieve one another, turn about. After which the lamous wild boar of the Block Forest will be hunted and pursued by dogs trained to this kind of exercise. Nothing shall be neolected to render the combat obstinate," THE LAW OF SETTLEMENT, AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE POOR LAWS. Turton, near Bolton, 9th of 6th Month, 1834. Respected Friend E. Chadwick, — I take the liberty of forwarding for thy consideration a few observations on the proposed new poor law bill, the leading principle of which I most cordially ap- prove, whilst in some pf its details I fear it will be found practically defective. I would not venture to suggest an opinion to you, who have already so ample a store of evidence, were it not that I feel so much the vast importance of the subject, and am most anxious that whilst a change is making, the law which is substituted for that now in force may be made applicable to the wants and circum- stances of all parts of the community. The poor- rates of Lancashire have long been the lowest of any coimty in the kingdom, in consequence of the great demand for labour, caused by the increase of manufactories. Full employment in every de- partment is never more easy to be found than now ; consequently wages have advanced in most operative employments, and particularly so in the least skilful. Spade labourers, for instance, who last year had 2s 3d per day, have now 2s Gd to 3s. Hand loom weavers have been much wanted, and their wages advanced on an average 10 per cent. This bespeaks a scarcity of labourers here ; at the same time great complaints are made of sur- plus population in the agricultural countries, and societies are formed for transporting them to our colonies and other countries, whilst here our de- ficiency is made up by a vast influx from Ireland, of ignorant, discontented, and turbulent people, who, introducing and widely spreading their own habits, have a tendency gradually to demoralize our own native population. In the centre of the county of Essex, in a neighbourhood with which I happen to be acquainted, I find the agricultural labourers in every respect well qualified for our manufacturing districts ; and many large families, who, from the smallness of their income, are brought up with economical and careful habits, but owing to the present system of the poor laws, are still a constant burden on the parish. The sug- gestion which I particularly wish to make is, that in the new bill the greatest possible facility should be afforded to families of this description, who should be willing or desirous of removing from the agricultural countries, where work is scarce, to the manufacturing districts, where it is abun- dant. Under the present law, if an enterprising family ventured to leave their parish they lose, in the first place, the pay they are receiving ; and if on ar- riving in Lancashire or elsewhere they do not im- mediately meet with employment, and are obliged to beg or api)ly for relief, they are removed to their own parish again at its cost. This has a direct tendency of itself to make overseers averse to families leaving their parish, and the families from any wish to leave their pay. So highly do the poor value their parish allowance, vyhich from long habit they consider their lawful inheritance, and so thoroughly do they understand the laws re- garding their settlements, that scarcely any pros- pects of bettering their condition will induce them to remove. As an instance a friend of mine re-, cently engaged a young man in the county of Wilts as an under groom to come into Lancashire at the rate of 15s per week ; but upon his having time to reflect, and finding that he shuidd no longer receive his parish pay, although that and 390 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. his former earnings were scarcely half the above sum, he refused to go. I am aware that in the proposed law this will be obviated by relief not being given to able-bodied men ; but I fear suf- ficient provision is not made for individuals and families to improve their condition by removing to other parts of the kingdom when they are will- ing to do so. It is often the practice hei'e, if a mill-owner is short of workpeople, to apply to overseers of poor and to workhouses, for families supported by the parish. Of late this has not always been attended with success. *, who are extensive cotton- spinners and manufacturers, having two establish- ments in Cheshire and three in Lancashire, have, like ourselves, been in this practice many years, and being this spring short of hands at most of their establishments, sent a person who had oc- casionally gone out for them during a period of twenty years, to seek families in the neighbouring parishes, but this year he could not find an over- seer in all the county of Cheshire who was willing to allow a family to leave h:s parish, because they said they were beginr.ing to be short of labourers themselves. Under the new poor-law workhouses are to be provided in districts, all under one system of management, and general superintendence of Commissioners -. the cost of maintenance will then be much the same in every workhouse, if employ- ment can more readily be found in one county than another. I would propose that it be in the power of the Commissioners to recommend families who are willing to be transferred from one workhouse to another, the former paying the latter workhouse the cost of maintenance till employment be found ; the only extra cost would be in the con ve3'ing them from place to place. The above is one reason why it appears to me desirable that the new division's of districts should be counties, as then there would be less difficulty about the settlements, and greater freedom of removal from one district to another ; as also it would obviate the great jealousy and disputation which will arise when the Commis- sioners come to the troublesome task of dividing the poor-house districts. If a county be the uivision, any part would be the same to a poor family, and in seasons of great distress, any public building might be made available for a time. A well managed parish, I fear, will have great objec- tion to be joined in the payment of rates with any of its worse managed neighbours, but would I conceive have less objection to form an average of the county. Under any circumstances I hope the district accounts may be published annually, and that the year may close with the year, and not, as is often the case now, that one overseer closes with 51 weeks, and his successor with 53 weeks, whereby a comparison of relative expenses is rendered more difficult. I am most anxious that every facility be given to the removal of labourers from one county to another, according to the demand for labour ; this would have a tendency to equalize wages as well as prevent, in some degree, the turn-outs which have been of late so prevalent. For instance, the building trades of London have been much annoy- ed for the last twelve months with turn-out labourers (chiefly Irish) at a guinea per week ; whilst within 30 or 40 miles of London wc hear loud complaints of want of employment for ablc- * I have not authority for using the name of this firm, but if questioned, S. G, and Co., will confirm it.— E. A. bodied English peasantry, willing to work at Is 6d per day, but unable or unwilling to leave their parishes, from the baneful effect of this present poor-law system. Iremain thine, most respectfully, EDMOND ASHWORTH. Potatoes. — A correspondent of the Manchester Guardian says : — " That potatoes of every descrip- tion degenerate or run out, is a fact well known to many practical farmers. I am informed that few of the sorts that are in use now were culti- vated twenty-five years ago ; it is not the case ivith potatoes only, hut with many other useful vegetables. The pink-eyed potatoe has been cultivated for a longer time and more extensively than any other sort now in use : and for plain reasons, — no other sort has been equally productive, quantity and quality considered. In this and the adjoining county perhaps hundreds of acres of the same land has been planted every three or four years, I believe for the last twenty. The consequence is that much of the land that is now cultivated with this root is deprived of that principle which is ne- cessary to produce it in an imj)roved or retciin it in its original state. It may be objected to these views, that individuals have sown their crops on land that has lately been bioken up from old turf; yet their crops have been equally deficient. To this I would answer by asking a question :— Are you aware how your sets were grown? and, if I may use the term, did you know your seed's grand- mother and great-great-grandmother ? The mis- cliicf may for years have been accumulating. That this valuable root has beeri injured by planting the same soil too often, I have no doubt ; but we have also sufficient evidence to convince us of the necessity of more extensively raising new varieties from seed. The justly celebrated agriculturist, Arthur Young, Esq., states, that in his time, the oxnoble potato was the most productive ; but, he adds, " I have known it decline of late." It may be argued as the pink-eye is of a fine sort, we ought to use some effort to preserve it. In order to effect this, 1 would suggest that it be sown in a soil newly broken up from old turf'and for several years successively — on no account plant them on land that has grov.'n this root many years before. That luminary in agricultural science, Sir H. Davy, when writing on the tendency to degenerate in the apple trees, remarks, 'The decay of the best varieties of our fruit bearing trees, which have been distributed through the country by grafts, is a circumstance of great importance. There is no mode of preserving them, and no resource except that of raising new varieties by seed.' All plants are capable of amelioration by peculiar methods of cultivation, and of having the natural term of their duration extended, so in conformity to the general law of change, they are rendered unhealthy by being exposed to peculiarly unfavourable cir- cumstances, and liable to premature old age and decay. Thomas Andrew Knight, Esq., has shown by his I'esearches the importance of raising new varieties v)f wheat, which is easily effected merely by sowing different kinds together. He states, in the Philosophical Transactions for 1799, when almost the whole crop of corn in the island was blighted, the varieties obtained by crossing alone escaped, though sown in several soils and in dif- ferent situations. It is to be regretted that the sciences connected with agriculture are not more ardently pursued. The practical man has some excuse; his duties require the exertion of his physical powers ; consequently his mind to a cer- tain degree is unfit for studies of a higher nature. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 391 FROM AN HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE CORN LAWS. (by JOHN CATHCART, ESQ. OF GENOCH.) I shall take leave to quote the various acts of Parliament for the last four centuries, to prove how fallacious has been the idea, and unsuccessful the attempts to reduce the price of corn, by rely- ing upon foreign importation. By the 4th of Ed- ward IV. 1442, Parliament, upon a narrative that the labourers and occupiers of land were griev- ously hurt by importation of foreign corn, when the corn of this kingdom was at a low price, the importation of wheat was prohibited, vmtil the home price rose to 6s. 8d. per quarter, or of our money about 25s. 2d. At this period wool was the great article of export, and we have reason to beFieve that the scarcities complained of were created by the increase of pasture, as we find, by the 4th of Henry III., a severe penalty annexed to allowing houses of husbandry to go to decay, of no less than giving the superior a power of seizing to his own use one half of the profits of the ground so converted from husbandry to pas- ture. The preamble states, that the desolations had gone to such excess, as to destroy churches and towns in which 200 persons used to be em- ployed in tillage, and now occupied by two or three herdsmen ; and farther, we find, by the 25th of Henry VIII., that this statute narrates that some individuals possessed 24,000 sheep, and had raised the price of the carcass for victual from 2s. 4d. or 3s. to 6s. or 5s. 4d. at the least; and a stone of clothing wool from Is. 6d. or Is. 8d. to 4s. or 3s. 4d. at the least ; and when the finest wool was produced, from 2s. 4d. or 3s. at the most, to 5s. or 4s. 8d. at the least; and this act prohibited any person from keeping above 2000 breeding ewes. It will be observed that the price of wool had advanced to double its ancient value, whilst the price of wheat had been stationary, — a stone of the finest wool being of nearly equal value to a quarter of wheat. In the reign of Philip and Mary an act was passed, the preamble of which narrates, that in consequence of every kind of victual having risen to an exorbitant price, they were prohibited to be exported, under for- feiture of the vessel, unless the price of wheat was 6s. 8d. per quarter. Agriculture appears to have continued to decline, as we find the penal statutes of Henry VII. and VIII., and of Edward VI. revived, enjoining landlords and tenants to grow corn. In the succeeding reign of the sagacious Elizabeth, although the compulsory laws were continued, the export price was raised to 10s. per quarter, which, by the 35t,h of Elizabeth, was raised to 20s., or about 41s. 4d. of our money. In the next reign, the export price was raised to 26s. During all this period, importation was unrestrained ; and the author of the Tracts upon Corn has quoted the following extract from Sir Thomas Culpepper, who wrote in the end of the reign of James I. — " At present, whilst corn and other merchandise which the earth produces are at a low price, the spade and the plough are for- saken, the poor find little employment, and wages are extremely low." In the end of this reign, the exportation price was raised to 32s. per quarter. From this period until after the Restoration^ ex- portation was regulated by the statute of tonnage and poundage, it having become an object of re- venue. The Restoration prices were raised to 48s.; but a duty of 50 per cent, was laid upon exportation, which amounted to a prohibition. The same statute regulated the importation of foreign wheat. Thus, wheat, at the place of im- portation, was at or under 44s. per quarter, foreign wheat paid paid a duty of 40s. per quarter; but when it exceeded 44s. per quarter, it was admitted at 6s. 8d. Exportation being thus prohibited, cultivation was discontinued; and in 1660, the price rose to 21. 14s. 6d. ; in 1661, to 31. 10s. ; and in 1662, it rose to 31. 14s. of the money of that period. By the 15th of Charles II., an act for the encouragement of tillage, the preamble of which narrates, that no man could live by raising corn, the exportation price was raised to 48s. ; but the high duty upon exportation was continued, and importation permitted. Various ineffectual acts were passed, and the price of wheat for the succeeding ten years, was 48s. lOd. per quarter. We have now come down to the period of the Revolution, when the internal policy of the nation was improved, and a total change adopted with respect to corn. In 1688, the Revolutionary Par- liament enacted, that when wheat shall be sold at or below 48s., a bounty shall be given upon export ; and the high duties, by the 22d Charless II., namely 40s. per quarter, were renewed. It is singular to mark the effects of this alteration in the law. It appears that the price of wheat during the year 1694 was 49s. 9d.; 1695, 41s. 2d.; 1696, 58s. 2d.; and 1697, 46s. 8d. From that period until the year 1751, namely 55 years, our exports exceeded our imports by upwards of 23 millions of quarters ; and the price, for the last ten years of that period, was only 25s. 6d. per quarter. In the year- 1757, distillation from corn was suspended, and exportation prohibited. I am inclined to think, that from this period we are to date the commencement of a return to the ancient system, so justly complained of in the reigns of of Henry VII. and VIII., of Edward VI., Mary, Elizabeth, and James I., namely, to admit im- portation and prohibit exportation ; thus rendering pasturage more profitable than tillage, and the country incident to the constant alterarions from profusson to scarcity — often to famine. From this period, 1757, exportation was prohibited by the 30th, 31st, and 32d of George II., and by the 6th, 7th, 8th, 10th, and 12th of George III., importa- tion was permitted, and the bounty upon exporta- tion discontinued, from the year 1765. The price of corn continuing to advance, recourse was again had to a bounty; and, in the year 1773, it was enacted, that when wheat was under 44s. per quarter, a bounty of 5s. per quarter should be given upon exportation, and importation prohi- bited until wheat rose to 48s. From 1771 to 1791, the average price of wheat was 46s. 9d. The price still continuing to advance, a new act, the 31st of George III., was passed ; the preamble bearing, that it was to alter and amend former sta- tutes. By this act the bounty was continued upon exportation whilst wheat was under 44s. per quar- ter, and exportation permitted until the price rose to 46s.; and a duty of 24s, 3d. per quarter im- posed whilst under 50s ,, if above 54s, it >yfis re-. 392 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. duced to 6d. This act, with the exception of the import being raised to 63s., continued until the year 1815. Having now brought the history of the Corn Laws down to the late alterations, I cannot con- clude without remarking the change which took place by their alteration after the Revolution, which, in 55 years, from 1697 to 1752, produced an export of 23.527,868 qrs., being an annual average over consumption of 427,961 qrs. During the subsequent 55 years, from 1765 to 1820, we re- quired an annual average im- portation of 536,810 do. The total amount of importation during that period being 29,524,562 do. Having now submitted to public consideration those principles which, for the last four centuries, have created the legislative measures which have regulated the export and impoit of corn ; — mea- sures which neitlier time nor experience liave yet been able tinally to resolve, on those which em- brace the greatest and most permanent public beneilt ;— let the labouring classes consider what has been the result of experience, and what are likely to be the consequences of the abolition of the Corn Laws, — to inflict a vital blow upon Bri- tish agriculture, — to create profusion in years of plenty — famine in those of scarcity. In seasons of plenty, the wages of labour would be reduced from two causes: — 1st, from the low price of corn ; 2dly, from the want of demand for manu- facturers by the agiicultural population. Let them remember that the consumption of the country is 6-7ths of tne whole manufactured produce — ^that absolute scarcity makes labour cheap. Have thev forgotten that Prussia imposed a duty of 10s. per quarter upon wheat exported? Were foreign countries to find that England depended upon im- portation for her food, soon should our manufac- turers find that they had fallen from Scylla into Char-ybdis, — from the foreign grower into the hands of the importer. Has it still to be taught, that national prosperity and independence, based upon an internal supply of corn, compose one great whole, equally embracing all the great branches of industry in the state, none of which can be vitally impaired, without inflicting a deep injury upon every other? Had the agricultural classes, under the present law, possessed an undue advantage, .would the price of corn, rent of land, and agricultural wages, have fallen exactly in the ratio of all other commodities ? The Shrewd Farmer.— " My good friend," said Lord Kaimes to a farmer, " such are the won- derful discoveries in science, that I should not be surprised, if, at some future time, one might be able to carry the manure of an acre of land to the field in our coat pocket." " Very possible," re- plied the farmer, " but in that case I suspect you would be able to bring back the crop in your waistcoat pocket." Mr. Burton, who has been for some time in Arabia, has just returned from that country to France. He has brought with him, and safely landed, a beautiful ghaffe, a dromedary, and some gazelles and monkies. The giraffe is understood to be a present to William IV. — AthencEum, OCCUPATION OF LAND BY LA- BOURERS. (Extracted from the abridged Report of his Majesty's Commissioners, for inquiring into the Administra- tion and practical operation of the Poor Laivs.) "Warminster.* — Twenty acres have been many years let to the poor, in lots from twenty to fifty poles, at 4|d the pole, on condition solely of the rent being punctually paid. But this is never considered at the pay table. Many have held their lots for several years. Twenty acres in addition were recently taken by the pai'ish, and offered rent free, on condition that all claim to parochial relief should be forfeited ; but no one would take it on these terms. "The opinion expressed at Warminster, by a gentleman of great experience, was, that the quan- tity of laud occupied by any labourer should be sufficient to supply his wants, but not to furnish any quantity for sale ; for this purpose a quarter of an acre would, in general, be ample. "Bradford. — Forty acres, in four portions, situated in different parts of the parish, were taken by tVie parish, and let in lots for spade husbandry, at from half to a quarter of an acre. In three cases they were cultivated on account of the pa- rish ; the fourth was given up to the accupants ; but they have been abandoned, with the exception of one portion, which is about to be given up. — The failure here is attributed to the want of an overlooker. No effect was produced upon the poor rates. "Trowbridge. — Seven acres of land were hired by the parish three years ago, and were given out in lots from thirty to forty perches, or more, if re- quired, free of rent, tools being found ; no condi- tions were made. The people appeared very in- different about it, and did not take much trouble to cultivate it. They sold the crops, and then came as before, to the pay-table. " The experiment is considered a total failure, and is about to be abandoned. " As far as I am enabled to judge, the eflect of allotments, when made by the parish., is not likely to be beneficial, because tlie land is taken with suspicion and distrust, and because it rarely hap- pens that it is attended to, and steadily looked after, either by the parish or by the poor ; but when made by individuals, allotments are thank- fully received, and have a most beneficial effect upon both the character and condition of the poor. They form, in fact, the natural resource against those inequalities in agricultural labour whirh are almost inevitable. " It appears, however, far preferable for the la- bourer to hire a small portion of fresh land every year, from which he can reckon upon a croj) with some degree of certainty, than to have a larger portion of poor land, on which both his time and labour may be thrown away ; and to be important so to regulate the quantity as to be sufficient to supply his wants, but not to send him to market with his crop. * AVe beg leave here to repeat an observation fre- quently made by the society, the justness of which is exemplified in the iustances j;iven by the commis- sioners, that allotments granted by pniv's/ies, or purely gratuitous, are generally unsuccessful. In both cases the design is defeated. To excite in the labourer correct feelings of independence, be must have no connection with the " pay-table," and bis land must not be given to him, but let at a fair market price. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, 393 *' Both of these conditions appear to result from a practice previously mentioned, and which is very general in the AVest of England, but particularly in Cornwall, of letting- land at 6d the pole, the la- bourer finding manure ; or, (in some cases) of di- viding the crop, on tha same condition. The quan- tity of land is thus limited by the supply of ma- nure, and the farmer has it in his power to give whatever quantity he pleases ; the poor man and the farmer are both benefitted, and a degree of kindly feeling created, instead of jealousy and dis- trust. "The portion of land thus rented very rarely, if ever, exceeds a quarter of an acre, and confirms the opinion generally expressed, that the average quantity of land to which an agricultural labourer can do justice, under ordinary circumstances, and at the same time fulfil his duty to his employers, does not exceed a quarter of an acre." SUGAR THE FINEST FOOD FOR ANI- MALS. Not only do the inhabitants of every part of the globe delight in sugar, when obtainable, but all animated beings; the beasts of the field, the fowls of the air, insects, reptiles, and even fish, have an exquisite enjoyment in the consumption of sweets, and a distate to the contrarj ; in fact, sugar is the alimentary ingredient of every vegetable substance, encumbered with greater or less proportion of bulky innutritions matter. - A small quantity of sugar will sustain life, and enable the animal frame to undergo corporeal (I may add mental, from personal experience) fatigue better than any other substance ; often have I travelled with the Arab over the burning desert, or with the wild Afric through his romantic country, and when wearied with fatigue and a noontide sun, we have sat ourselves beneath an umbrageous canopy, and I have shared with ray companion his travelling provender, a few small balls of sugar mixed with spices, and hardened into a paste with flour. In- variably have I found two or three of these balls, and a draught of water, the best possible restora tive and even a stimulus to renewed exertion. During the crop time in the West Indies the ne- groes, although then hard worked, become fat, healthj'^, and cheerful, and the horses, mules, cat- tle, &c., on the estate, partaking of the refuse of the sugar-house, renew their plumpness and strength. In Cochin-China, not only are the horses, buflfaloes, elephants, &c., all fattened with sugar, but the body guard of the King are allowed a sum of money daily with which they must buy sugar-canes, and eat a certain quantity thereof in order to preserve their good looks and embonpoint ; there are about 500 of these household troops, and their handsome appearance does honour to their food and to their royal master. Indeed, in Cochin-China, rice and sugar is the ordinary breakfast of people of all ages and stations ; and the people not only preserve all their fruits in sugar, but even the greater part of their legumi- nous vegetables, gourds, cucumbers, radishes, artichokes, the grain of the lotus, and the thick fleshy leaves of the aloes. I have eaten in India, after six months' voyage, mutton killed in Leaden- hall market, pi-eserved in a cask of sugar, and as fresh as the day it was jilaced on the shambles. [In the cnrhig of meat I believe a portion of sitr/ar is mixed with salt and saltpetre] . The Kandyans of Ceylon preserve their venison in earthen pots of honey, and after being thus kept two or threy years its flavour would delight Epicurus himself. In tropical climes the fresh juice of the cane is the most efficient remedy for various diseases, while its healing virtues are felt when applied to ulcers and sores. Sir John Pringle says the plague was never known to visit any country where sugar composes' a material part of the diet of the inha- bitants. Drs. Rush, Cullen, and other eminent physicians, ai-e of oi)inion that the frequency of malignant fevers of all kinds is lessened by the use of sugar ; in disorders of the breast it forms an excellent demulcient, as also in weakness and acrid defluxions in otlier parts of the body. The celebrated Dr. Franklin found great relief from the sickening pain of the stone , by drinking half a pint of syrup of coarse brown sugar before bed- time, which he declared gave as much, if not more relief, than a dose of opium. That dreadful malady, once so prevalent on shipboard — scurvy — has been completely and instantaneously stopped, by putting the afflicted on a sugar diet. The dis- eases arising from worms, to which children are subject, are prevented by the use of sugar, the love of which seems implanted by nature in them ; as to the unfounded assertion of its injuring the teeth, let those who make it visit the sugar plan- tations and look at the negroes and their children, whose teeth are daily employed in the mastication of sugar, and they will be convinced of the absur- dity of the statement. I might add many other facts relative to this delightful nutriment. I con- clude, however, with obseiving, that I have tamed the most savage and vicious horses with sugar, and have seen the most ferocious animals domesti- cated by means of feeding them with an article which our baneful fiscal restrictions and erroneous commercial policy has checked the use of iti Eng- land where millions pine, sicken, and perish for want of nutriment. — From Montgomery I\Jarthi's ' History of the British Colonies,' Vol. II. West In- dies. Stomach-Pujip. — One of the most fi-equent dis- eases of cattle, with regard to which the farmer lias to act upon the instant, is haven, or inflation of tlie ruminant. The paunch, or first stomach, of rumi- nating animals, is of large size, and as the green food which is taken into it is frequently charged with moisture, the stomach is not oulv overloaded, and unable to carry on its functions, but the mass fer- menting, air is generated, by which the stomach becomes so distended, that either a rupture of it takes place, or the animal dies of suifocition. This disease most frequently occurs when animals are turned into rich succulent pastures, particularly of clovers, when charged with the morning dews. Sometimes powerl'ul stimulants are given to assist the action of the stomach, and these are often suffi- cient ; or a hollow flexible tube is introduced into the stomach through the niontli, that the air may be permitted to escape. Should this oijeration not suc- ceed, then an opening must be instantly made through the left side into the pauncli. This is usually done by a penknife, while a quill or some- thing similar, is introduced to allow the air to escape. But recently the stomach-pump has been employed for this and other diseases, and with tha best effects. It is fitted to withdraw instantly the contents of the stomach, and also to inject liquids, so that, when the mass of the stomach is too hard, the matter may be first diluted by injected liquids, and then ^v'ithdrawu. The stomach-pump is also suited to various diseases of the liorse, and nray be formed of smaller size for the sheep ; so that by means of this instrument, the lives of many valuable animals may be saved upoli a a farm. 394 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. MR. HAWKINS ON INSTRUCTING FARMERS' SONS IN THE PHYSI- CAL SCIENCES. Accounts. — In a business embracing so many particulars as farming, it is essential to be able to distingviish the profit and loss upon each. No- thing is more easy or more common than for a man who keeps no accounts, to continue for a series of years to lose money upon some particular department without knowing it, or, which is al- most as bad, to employ his time and capital in less profitable speculations, when he might have ap- plied them to such as were more so. A farmer grows many sorts of crop, ana keeps several spe- cies of animals — -breeding some ana buying others, and uses many kinds of manure. Assuming that he has a general profit of 10 per cent, at the year's end, how is he to tell whether all tlie branches of his business have contributed rateably to this result — how, I say, is he to tell this without accounts ? The cost of one acre of corn, for example, is by no means self-evident ; it is " compounded of many simples, extracted from many objects," — rent, tithe, taxes, seed, and tillage — horses' keep and man's keep — rates for the poor, the church, and the highways — and so with every other crop. Suppose now, that, in the case of oats, all the items of expenditure accurately set down shall amount to 51. 15s. an acre, and that the crop shall sell for 5l. 10s* Upon forty acres here would be a loss of 10/. a year; but without setting down the several items which compose the cost, and adding them together, how is a man to tell within 5s. what his acre of oats cost him? He may know that his acre cost him about 5/. or 6/., but in this very about lies the essence of the mischief. About 5/. or 6/. may mean either 5/. or 6/. ; now if the sell- ing price were '5l. 10s., the former supposition would give a profit, and the latter a loss of 20Z. a year ; and thus any man may, and multitudes do, contnme to the end of their lives carrying on branches of business by which they lose money unconsciously. The same observations apply to manures brought on the farm. Price, carriage, labour. Sec. all reckoned, bone-dust may be 5s. an acre dearer or cheaper than stable-dung — but without counting up the cost of each item that forms the price, a man may be ignorant of this diflerence, and so may lose 5s. an acre. It is by a few shillings gained here and saved there, that a farmer makes his profit. It is no exaggerated estimate to suppose that these petty items may often make a difference of 10 per cent, at the year's end, and that so, one man may make a living on the same farm where another would fail. A know- ledge of these details, therefore, is useful, and is to be acquired by a system of accounts. Nearly allied to, if not identified with, accounts, is a fa- cility at all the common operations of arithmetic, and the storing in the mind of certain arithmetical results, which may serve as the basis of future calculations. The multiplication table is a fami- liar example of the vast importance of this pre- pared and portable knowledge. The commonest operations of arithmetic could scarcely be carried on without the intuitive readiness with which the product of any two of the numbers under twelve have been made to occur to the mind ; but the principle is capable of an application much wider than it has received. The proportions existing be- tween the numerical parts into which the year, the acre, the pound sterling, and the ton weight are divided, might be impressed on the mind, and, as it were, burnt in by continual repetition; as, for example, the weight of an acre of turnips is a fact which it is desirable to know, and which is ascer- tained in five minutes, if we bear in mind that, for every pound on the sc|uare yard, there are 2 tons, 3 cwt. 24 lbs. on the acre; and we should in a similar manner be able to tell without effort, what breadth of turnips would keep a sheep or a cow for a year. The number of inches in a square or cubic yard, and of yards in an acre, the num- ber of pounds in a ton, and the proportion exist- ing between the days in the year and the common subdivision of our measures of weight, capacity, superfices, and value, suggest themselves as in- stances. A number of these facts and relations being well impressed on the recollection of boys at school, they would come in afterlife to the cal- culations necessary to establish knowledge instead of guesses respecting the affairs of their farms, so well prepared as to make that occur intuitively and without labour, which men, not so prepared, could only come at with much labour, or perhaps not at all. There is scarcely any thing easier than the use of logarithms, but we are certainly not at all qualified to have invented them. — Edinburgh Quarterly/ Journal oj" Agriculture. We have taken the trouble of copying out of Dr. M'Culloch's Dictionary the average price of South Down wool per lb. since the year 1829. In 1830, it was lOd. per lb. ; in 1331, it was Is. Id. per lb. ; in 1832, Is. ; in 1833, it was Is. 5d. per lb. ; and in March, 1834, 2s. 2d. per lb. We now subjoin the amount of wool imported in the years 1830, 1832, and 1833. Dr. M'Culloch has not given the return for 1831, and that for 1834 has not yet been pub- lished. In 1830, there were imported 32,313,039 lbs., on which a duty of 120,4201. 8s. was paid. In 1832, there were imported 28,142,489 lbs., on which a duty of 102,031/. 2s. 3d. was paid. In 1833, there were imported 38,076, 413 lbs., on which a duty of 137,8.55/. Is. 8d. was received by the Exchequer. VVe should not be acting- fairly by the wool growers did we not inform them that Dr. M'Culloch ex- presses an opinion that the price of wool had obtained in March last an unnatural elevation, and that its extreme high price, by making a corresponding ad-- dition to the price of cloth necessar}', would re-act on the manufacture, and would consequently, by oc- casioning its depression, cause some fall in the price of wool. Predictions, however, of this kind, are not entitled to unlimited credit. In the year 1619, two cauliflowers cost three shil- lings, the price of wheat being at that time 35s 4d per quarter. At tliis time, of course, it was a rarity producable at the tables of the opulent only. It was not until the latter end of tlie same centurv that it was brought to anv degree of perfection; at least it was then first raised in sufficient abundance to appear in the public markets. Up to the period of the Frencli revolution cauliflowers were regularly ex- ported from England into Holhiud, some parts of Germany, and even France. Dr, Johnson used to say, " of all flowers I lika the cauliflower the best," THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 395 HISTORY OF THE COAL TRADE OF NEWCASTLE AND SUNDERLAND. The number of working collieries on the river Tyne in the year 1829 was forty-one ; on the north side 23, and on the south side 18 ; on the river Wear, six on the north, and twelve on the south side, making 18 ; the whole number on both rivers being 59. The collieries on the lyne are capable of raising double their present quantity of coals with the same machinery, but not with the same number of men. Those on the Wem- are capable of raising one-hfilf more. The reason whj'^ these collieries do not work to their full extent, is, that there is not a sufficient market to take off the quantity of coals that could be so raised. Comparing the quality of the produce of the Tyne and the PFear, a much greater proportion of supei'ior coals comes from the collieries on the latter river. Within the preceding fifteen years the number of collieries on the Wear have increased, and col- lieries of large power have come into action du- ring that time. Several new collieries have also been opened on the Tyne, whilst on the Tees there has been a considerable increase in the export of coals. In some cases the coal which is obtained from the pit is about 90 per cent. ; and according to the pi'esent improved system of working the mines, all the coal, or nearly all, is got out of the earth ; that which remains behind being scarcely worth mentioning. The amount of money capital required for ivin- ning (as it is technically called) a certain tract or field of coal, altogether depends on circumstances. There are collieries in the north which have cost from ten or twelve thousand to one hundred and fifty thousand pounds, exclusive of the ci'aft re- quired for the shipment of coals ; by this is meant the expense of sinking the pits, the establishment of machinery and every thing requisite for putting the coal on board the craft, whether into keels or barges, or into ships. This sum includes rail- ways, waggons, and machinery of every descrip- tion. Collieries are usually won by adventurers. On the Tyne there are only five proprietors out of the forty-one collieries on that river who work their own mines ; and on the river Wear there are only three ; all the rest being in the hands of lessees or adventurers. The aggregate money capital employed by the coal owners on the river Tyne amounts to about a million and a half, exclusive of the craft in the river. Some of these persons are owners of the craft, but many hii-e keels or barges. The money capital employed on the Wear is estimated at from six to seven hundred thousand pounds. The wages of the colliers, if they could have full employment, are ample; but there is not full employment for them ; fourteen shillings a-week is their lowest wages ; but they could earn five shillings per day if they had work to enable them so to do. The coal owners have not the power of reducing the colliers' wages at their option, as the miners arc hired in the month of April, in each year, for twelve months, at certain rates and wages, and they have no opportunity of altering them till the year expires. There are a great number of well-meaning per- sons who have expressed great anxiety arising from an apprehension that the time was rapidly approaching when the coal-mines of England would be exhausted, and that future generations would be deprived of the solace and comfort of a good coal fire. In order to allay this natural anxiety the following estimate of the extent and produce of the coal mines of two counties in En- gland only, and the proportion excavated, is given on the authority of Mr. Hugh Taylor, Colliery Agent to the Duke of Northurabei-land. It may be proper to observe that this estimate does not include the coal fields of Yorkshire, Cumberland, Lancashire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Mon- mouthshire, Gloucestershire, Somersetshire, or Wales. The Durham Coal Field. — From South Shields southward to Castle Eden, 21 miles ; thence west- ward to West Auckland, 32 miles ; north-east from West Auckland to Eltiingham, 33 miles ; and thence to Shields, 22 miles, being an extent or area of 594 square miles. 'Northumberland Coal Field. — From Shields north- ward 27 miles by an average breadth of 9 miles, being 243 square miles — Durham 594 Northumberland 243 Total square miles. . 837 Portion En'cavated. — In Durham, on the Tyne, say 39 square miles ; on the Wear 40 square miles — making 79 square miles. In Northumberland, say 13 miles by 2, equal to 26 square miles, making the total excavated in those two counties to be 105 square miles ; thus leaving 732 square miles of coal in the counties of Durham and Northumberland only, yet to be excavated. Estimating the workable Coal Strata at an ave- rage thickness of twelve feet, the solid contents of one square mile will be 12, 390,000 tons, and of 732 square miles— tons, 9,069,480,000. Deduct one-third for loss by small coal, interceptions by dikes, and other interruptions, 3,02.3,160,000, there remains 6,046,320,000 tons — a quantity ade- quate to supply the present vend from Newcastle, Sunderland, Hartley, Blythe, and Stockton, oj 3,500,000 tons annually for a period of 1,727 years. It will be understood that this estimate of the quantity of coal in Durham and Northumberland can only be an approximation, especially as the south-eastern coal district of Durham is yet almost wholly unexplored ; butthe attempt is made in the hope that no apprehension need to be entertained of this valuable mineral being exhausted for many future generations. There is also a considerable extent of Coal Field in the northern and southern districts of Northum- berland ; but the foregoing comprises that which is continuous, and most suitable and available for exportation. We will next advert to the number of men and ships employed in the Coal ^Vorks on the rivers Tyne and Wear. The returns from the Tyne, as given below, are official ; but those from the Wear are by an approximate calculation. The number of persons employed under ground in the works on the Tynea.vc, — Men, 4937; Boys, 3554; together, 8491. Above ground, — Men, 2745; Boys, 718; mak- ing together 3463; which, added to the number employed under ground, will make a total of 11,954, which in round numbers may be called 12,000. li\ the works on the river Wear there are 9,000 men and boys employed, which, with the 12,000 employed in the works on the Tyne, make the 396 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. number engaged in digging and raising coal, and delivering it to the ships on the two rivers, to be 21,000. From the best calculations that have been made by men eminently qualified, it would appear, that averaging the coasting vessels that carry coals to the size of 220 London chaldrons each vessel, there would be 1,400 vessels employed, which would require 15,000 seamen and boys to navigate them. SU.MMARY, Ships of 220 London chaldrons l,40o Na\rigated by Seamen 15,000 Pitmen and people employed above ground 21,000 Keelnien, Coal Boatmen, Casters, and Trim- mers 2,000 Making the total number of persons em-""! ployed in the Coal Trade on the rivers > 38,000 Tyne and Wear J This enumeration does not include returns from Blythe, Hartley, or Stockton, or from Scotland, but is strictly confined to the Coal Works on the rivers Tyne and Wear. In the year 1827, according to the Custom House Returns, there were tJ06 Collier ships belonging to the port of Sunderland, the toimage of which amounted to 102,454 tons ; and the number of ships that cleared out in that year with coals was 7,518. The town of Sunderland is principally, if not entirely, supported by the Coal trade ; and there are a variety of manufactures of diiferent descriptions dependent upon it. The quantity of coals exi)orted to foreign coun- tries from Sunderland on an average of four years was 34,000 London chaldrons, and those sent coastwise, 1,050,000 Loiulon chaldrons. The Collieries on the Tyne and Wear are subject to varions accidents, more especially those which supply the best coals. The principal catastrophes to which they are subject are explosions, creeps, and drowning by water. One of the difficulties in sinking a shaft is that of passing through quick- sands ; another is the immense quantities of water which are met with in t'he cavernnns parts of the stratification, generally within forty or fifty fa- thoms of the surtace, which is always dammed back by what is called a " tub," or more properly speaking, a cast iron caisson. Mr. Buddie, in his evidence before the House of Lords on the Coal trade, states that he sunk a shaft which required forty fathoms of cast iron tubbing. At forty fa thonis the sti'ata became perfectly impervious to water. One of the accidents to which Collieiics are liable is the breaking of this caisson, which has frequently happened ; the water then rushing down into the mine below and drowning it, there- by occasioning a suspension of the works, and very great e.xpense, till the tub could be repaired and the wat(;r drawn off. A double-power pump- ing engine is then used, and there is then one shaft for the purpose of pumping the water out, and another for drawing the coal. Pits of 170 fa- thoms deep arc subjeet to this drowning. The quantity of coal worked depends upon the quantity required for the market ; but the propor- tion between the quantity worked and the quantity sold has been thtis calculated : — Taking 700,000 as the whole quantity worked, then 500,000 of ihat quantity is exported to London and elsewhere ; 100,000 is consumed by the collieries and sold from the pits for land sale and home consumption ; and 100,000 is wasted. The quantity of coals consumed in England and Wales is calculated as follows : — In manufactories, 3,500,000 London chaldrons ; in household con- sumption, 5,500,009, making 900,000 London chaldrons consumed from Inland collieries ; the quantity sent coastwise on botli sides of the Is- land is 3,000,000 chaldrons, making 12,000,000 in all. OBSERVATIONS ON COAL; AS TO THE DURATION OF ITS SUPPLY, AND ON ITS REPRODUCTIVE POWER. BY DR. WILKIN- SON, BATH. (From the Bath and Cheltenham Gazette.) During the debates on the budget on Friday last, Sir R. Peel remarked on the proposed reduc- tion of duty on coal; in order to promote its ex- portation, that he was not satisfied of the abun- dant xtipplj/ of coal in this country. He knew that tlie reproductive power of coul was not so rapid as the consumption, whatever chemical combinations it might possess. Any observations made by this distinguished statesmen are entitled to the most respectful atten- tion. I presuim?, the most satisfactory reply will be by an inquiry into the formation of coal, from which may be deduced the degree of apprehension as to file duration of its supply ; and whether any such apprehension may be diminished by any sup- posed reproductive power. In some observations I lately published on the Green Mineral Naphtha of Barbados, I intro- duced some new opinions relative to coal. These opinions have led to correspondences with many of my pliilosophical friends ; and the result has been, that probably coal does not originate from vegetable matter. in those extensive masses of vegetables discover- ed at considerable depths below the earth's surface, or the beds of the ocean with its submarine forests, elevated by the agency of volcanic power above its water level, the wood assumes different characters according to the conditions to which it may be subsequently subjected. In the vicmity of Bath, I have seen, under the blue lyas, the same mass of wood undergoing different changes : that part which had not been under much pressure retaining its ligenous character ; the next portion resembling the surturbrand of Iceland, or the Bovey coal of Devonshire ; and the extreme partliad exactly the character of jet, admitting of such a beautiful polish, that the present ingenious engineer to the Kennet and Avon Canal Company, Mr. Eastwick, made from it a series of primitive crystals. In the heath where Bovey coal is found, are numerous stumps and roots of trees ; so that the coal appears to be the broken trunks and branches, which, by slow and gradual change from the vegetable cha- racter, are converted to that of jet or asphaltum. These changes appe^ar to have resulted from the combined effects of water and pressure, without any agency of heat, the bituminous matter being retained : vegetable matter exposed to the action of water alone, undergoes a gradual change, blackens and assumes a charred appearance. It is by such a process, the roots and stalks of vegetables, on heaths and morasses, are converted into turf; when deeper in the earth, then a slight pressure operates, the roots and fibres become less distinct, the veget- able is resolved into a black extractive substance, and called peat ; and when extensive masses are THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 397 iramerged at greater depths, then surturbrand, Bovey coal, &c.,are formed. All these substances, when analysed, yield those results which corres- pond to the elementary constituent parts of veget- ables. With respect to coal, the formations are so dis- tinct, that they are always found in the same re- lative geological situation. It is found in a basin reposing on limestone, and never observed either on primitive or transition rocks, and in the analysis yields very dift'erent results ; fiequently arc ob- served vegetable impressions in the schist above coal ; yet no geologist has inferred from this ap- pearance that the substance originates from tlie same organic source. In those extensive analyses which are daily conducted on a large scale at gas establishments, live elementary principles are in- variably found ; viz. oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, and sulphur; and, with the carboniferus limestone, millstone grit, and old redsandstone, constitute a series of associated rock formations, and with regular alternations. This is not the case with turf, peat, Bovey coal, &c. They are invari- . ably found to result from binary or ternary ar- rangements of the three elementary principles ; viz. oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon ; and which we in- variably find resulting from the destructive distilla- tion of wood. In no instance are found in these substances either nitrogen or sulphur ; nor are they observed to have any regular geological posi- tion. Turf and peat are found on the granite beds of Greenland and Iceland, and on die testiary beds of France and England. Hericart de Thury describes some of these deposits in Dauphiny at 7000 feet above the level of the sea. The cele- brated botanist, De Candolle, observed, that in Holland the turf is the result of seaweeds ; and in elevated districts, principally from the leaves of trees. Most of tliese are of recent formation: wood which has been worked, and tools of iron, have been found in the turbary. It must be admitted that in coal fields are ob- served representations of the trunks and stems of arundinaccous plants, also some participating of the palmaceous and of coniferous plants ; and my late learned friend, Steinhauer, supposed he had discovered tubular acini or leaves in some of the calamites and portions of the phitolithus notatus. In these I have never observed any satisfactory ligenous characters ; nor is it easy to conceive that, in such extensive imaginary woody masses, the vegetable part should be so effectually removed, and in lieu thereof earthy materials substituted, excepting a very thin tunic of carbonised matter, which certainly increases the difficulty attending the hypothesis of the whole mass being a cast cor- responding in size to the supposed vegetable. When coal appears in the vicinity of rocks of igneous origin, as the Rowley rag, basalt, kc, its bitum- inous portion is volatillized, and exists in a coke- like form ; so also, when not reposing on its lime- stone bed, but on the lower redsandstone, it equally loses its principle of inflammation, and constitutes stone coal or culm; as seen in Wales. Contemplating coal as a distinct rock formation, formed under certain conditions of the earth long anterior to man, we have no more reason for sup- posing any reproductive power, than that those por- tions of St. Vincent^ s Rocks tvhich have been detach- ed may he again restored. Thus considering coal as not a vegetable product, or consisting of such principles as not to admit of any supposed power of reproduction, have we any reason to apprehend a serious exhaustion of this valuable material? Let us take into our calculation the extensive coal fields of Northumberland and Durham, York- shire, Warwickshire, Lancashire, Shropshire, Staf- fordshire, Cumberland, Somersetshire, Gloucester- shire, and the counties of Nottingham and Derby; and when to these we add the great supply afforded by Scotland, North and Soutli Wales ; we need be under no apprehension that, however great our consumption, stdl 0Mr.'>Mj3/>((/ is not only adequate to even/ purpose, but also wouldjudify Government in promoting exportation hy every effort in their power.— i\x\y 28th, 1834. The Jerusalem Artichoke. — This plant, helian- thus tuberosus, is, like nil the plants of the sunflower genus, a native of the New World. It was highl)' esteemed by our ancestors for its tubers, but it has f.illen into neglect since the more extended cultiva- tion of the potato and other plants. Although believed to be a native of tlie warmer parts of America, it is one of the hardiest of our cultivated plants, veiy productive, easily propagated, and growing on the poorest soils. This plant produces stems from 5 to to feet in height. It does not ripen its seed in this country, but may he propagated with the greatest ease from tubers, like the potato. It grows rapidly, and may be cultivated like the potato, but the in- tervals between the plants and rows should be larger. It may he planted also in autumn, but if planted in spring it will be ready in September. It is common with some to cut the stems over in July, to prevent their falling down. On the Continent the leaves and stems are used as green and dried fodder ; but in England it is believed that the)^ have not been so eai|i]oyed. Tlje tubers are iu clusters attached to the roots of the plant. As compared with the tubers of the potato, the}^ are waterv, and may he believed to be inferior in nutritive properties. But the quan- tity is frequently very large, about 500 bushels per acre having been produced without manure. The tubers do not seem to have great fattening proper- ties, but they are eagerly eaten by animals. Tlie plant is in a peculiar manner fitted to grow under the shade. It can therefore be cultivated in woods, and it is sometimes so grown in England to afford shelter for game, the plants being left to reproduce themselves annually from tubers. Taking into ac- count the hardy qualities of this plant, its productive- ness and easy culture, it may be doubted whether it merits the universal neglect info which it has fallen. Granting its inferiority as an article of food to the plants now cultivated for our domestic stock, it must be of some importance to have a plant that can be so easily raised, and on soils so low in the scale of fertility. — Professor Low's Elements of Practical Agri- culture. — — PUNTSHMES'T OF AN Al.DERMAX. -lu " Strype's Stow," vol. li. p. 238, is the foUowuig ex- tract from the City Records , — " Nicholas Wyfford, an alderman, having neglected to line his cloak, which he ought to use in procession, tlierefore it is adjudged by the court, that the Lord Mayor and Aldermen shall breakfast with him. This penalty is awarded on him as a punishment for his covetous- ness." 308 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. THE GREAT BUSTARD. This very singular bird, which is the largest of our land birds, is about four feet long, and weighs from twenty-five to thirty pounds ; its characters are peculiar, and with such as connect it with birds of the gallinaceous kind, it has others which seem to belong to the ostrich and the cassowary. Its bill is strong and rather convex ; its eyes red ; on each side of the lower bill there is a tuft of fea- thers about nine inches long ; its head and neck are ash-coloured. In the one described by Ed- wards there are on each side of the neck two naked spots, of a violet colour, but which appeared to be covered with feathers when the neck was much extended. The back \-< barred tranversely witli black and bright rust colour, on a pale reddish ground ; the quills are black, the belly white ; the tail consists of twenty feathers ; the middle ones are rust colour, barred with black ; those on each side are white, with a bar or two of black near the ends ; the legs are 16ng, naked above the knees, and dusky ; it has no hind toe, its nads are short, strong, and convex both above and below ; the bottom of the foot is furnished with a callous pro- minence, which serves instead of a heel. The fe- male is not much more than half the size of the male ; the top of her head is of a deep orange, the rest of the head brown ; her colours are not so bright as those of the male, and she has no tuft on each side of the head. There is likewise another very essential difference between the male and the female ; the former is furnished with a sack or pouch, situated in the fore part of the neck, and capable of containing about two quarts ; the en- trance to it is immediately under the tongue. This singular reservoir was first discovered by Doctor Douglas, who supposes that the bird fills it with water as a supply in the midst of those dreary plains where it is accustomed to wander. It like- wise makes a further use of it in defending itself against the attacks of birds of prey. Gn such occasions it throws out the water with such vio- lence, as not unfrequently to baffle the pursuit of its enemy. Bustards were formerly more common in this island than at present ; they are now found only in the open counties of the south and east, in the plains of Wiltshire, Dorsetshire, and some parts of Yorkshire ; they were formerly met with in Scotland, but are now supposed to be extinct there. They are slow in taking wing, but run with great rapidity, and when young are sometimes taken with greyhounds, which pursue them with great avidity ; their chase is said to afford excel- lent diversion. The great bustard is granivorous, but feeds chiefly on herbs of various kinds, it is also fond of those worms which are seen to come out of the ground in great numbers before sun-rise in the summer ; in winter it frequently feeds on the bark of trees ; like the ostrich, it swallows small stones, bits of metal, and the like. The fe- male builds no nest, but making a hole in the ground drops two eggs, about the size of those of a goose, of a pale olive brown, with dark spots. She sometimes leaves her eggs in quest of food ; and if during her absence, any one should handle, or even breathe upon them, she immediately abandons them. Bustards are found in various parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa ; but have not hitherto been dis- covered on the new continent. The little bustard, (Otis Teb-ax, Linn. La Petite Outai^de, Buff.) is in length only seventeen inches. The bill is pale brown ; irides red; top of the head is black, spotted with pale rust colour ; the sides of the Shead, the chin, and throat, are of a reddish white, marked with a few dark spots; the whole neck is black, encircled with an irregular band of white near the top and bottom ; the back and wings are rust colour, mottled with brown, and crossed with fine irregular black lines, the under parts of the body, and outer edges of the wings, are white; the tail consists of eighteen feathers ; the middle ones are tavray, barred with black, the others are white, marked with a few irregular bands THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 399 of black, the legs are grey. The female is smaller, and has not the black collar on the neck ; in other respects she nearly resembles the male. This bird is very uncommon in this country, and we have only seen tvi^o of them, both females. The figure was drawn from one sent by W. Trevelyan, Esq. which was taken on the edge of Newmarket Heath, and kept alive about three weeks in a kitchen, where it was fed with bread and other things, such as poultry eat. It is very common in France, where it is also a very shy and cunning bird; if disturbed it flies two or three hundred paces, not far from the ground, and then runs away much faster than any one can follow on foot. The female lays her eggs ii%^'^'ne, to tlie number of three or four, of a glossy green colour; as soon as the young are liatched, she leads them about us the hen does her chickens ; tiiey begin to fly about the mid- dle of August. Both this and the great bustard are excellent eating, and, we should imagine, would well repay the trouble of domestication; indeed, it seems surprising that we should suffer these fine birds to run wild, and be in dangerof total extinction, which, if properly cultivated, might affbid as excellent a repast as our own domestic poultry, or even as the turkey, for which we are indebted to distant countries. — Bewick. Hay. — No method of producing hay has been found comparable to that of the cultivated grasses. Under this system, the forage-plants are cut when in their stale of most luxuriant growth, and no manure is laid upon the surface in order to produce the hay ; the manures being ajiplied to the prepara- tory fallow or green crops, in wliich case they are covered by tlie plough and rendered entirely avail- able. Yet over the greater part of England, land is kej)t permanently in grass for the purpose of mow- ing it, manure being applied from time to time to the surface. This system has become the very habit of the country, auu, by the- general adoption of it, be- yond a question a vast public loss is sustained. The practice of the cultivated meadow was probably in- troduced into England by the Romans, and at a long- subsequent period was made more fully known by the Flemings ; and yet by far the greater part of all the hay produced in this island is derived from perennial meadows, and thus an expensive method of production substituted over a whole country for one more cheap and efficient. Certain peculiarities in the state of property in England, the effect of tithes, and the relative expense of keeping land in tillage and under grass, seem to have contributed to this so general substitute of the natural for the culti- vated meadow. From habit, too, a preference is given to tlie hay thus produced. It is supposed by many to be more suited to keep horses in wind ; and it may be so in the case of horses put to great speed, as the hunter and the racehorse ; but, for the mere purpose of feeding, it cannot be doubted that the produce of the cultivated meadow, consisting of the superior grasses and clovers alone, in their young and most juicy state, must be greatly superior to that of the older grasses, mixed as they always are with a class of inferior plants. But if the large application of capital and the waste of land, for the production of this species of food, are to be regretted, in no other country are the farmers so diligent and so ex- perienced in the management of the hay itself as in England. — Vrofessar Low's Elements of Practical Agri- culture, COUNTY RATES. THE FOLLOWING IS THE FIRST REPORT OF THE lords' SELECT COMMITTEE APPOINTED *' TO IN- QUIRE INTO THE CHARGES ON THE COUNTY RATES IN ENGLAND AND WALES, &C." That the Committee have met ; and having pro- secuted their inquiries, as well into the extent to which county expenditure has increased, as into the causes by which that increase has been occa- sioned, proceed to submit the result of their in- quiries as far as they have hitherto gone, together with such suggestions as have occuired to them as to the means by which that expenditure may be reduced or more equitably provided for. It appears, upon a comparison of the county ex- penditrre, taken at decennial periods from 1792 to 1832, that the inci-ease has been both progressive and considerable. The county rates in 1792 amounted to 303,267/, and in 1832 to 774,8.33/, being an increase of 155 per cent. ; and, as the heads of this expenditurehave throughout remain- ed vnialtered, the Committee have had little diffi- culty in ascertaining, by an analysis of the returns which have been laid before them, the causes to which the increase maybe attributed, and in form- ing their judgment as to the best mode in which any saving may be effected. From this analysis of the returns it appears that a large portion of the increased amount of county rates has been occa- sioned by causes connected with, and dependent upon, what may be deemed in themselves evi- dences and results of the growing population of the country, and of general improvemeyit in its con- dition. The great extension, during the period above referred to, of improved means of communica- tion throughout the country, has naturally called upon the counties for increased contributions for the erection of bridges ; an urgent necessity has at times existed of having recourse to extraordinary expenses in preserving the public peace ; the great increase of county business generally has swelled the demand for legal charges: and various other incidental items have also added to the general mass of county expenditure. To that portion, therefore, of the augmented charge the Committee do not conceive that they are called upon to ad- vert, as requiring the special interference of the legislature with a view to relief from it as a burden. But their serious attention has been di- rected to another branch of charge which has greatly increased of late years, and which presses with peculiar severity upon those county resources from which county rates are levied ; they allude to thi large ewpense incurred for the administration of criminal justice throughout the country. The crimes, for the I'epression of which this expense is borne by the landed interest exclusively, mainly affect personal property, as far at least as regards many of the minor felonies ; and the Committee cannot but consider that such a mode of pro- viding for such an expense is no less partial than onerous. 'Ihey are desirous, therefore, of calling the attention, somewhat in detail, to its nature and progressive amount. It appears to have been, in some degree, occasioned by the altered construc- tion, as well as the increased number, of goals and houses of correction ; by the system of classifica- tion and more strict discipline which has been generally introduced into prisons of late years; and by various regulations of a general nature which have been deemed necssary for the improve- ment of places destined for the reception of crinn- nals. But that portion of the increased expendi- ture whicU is caused by the allowaaces for the ex- 400 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. pcnses of prosecutions appears to the Committee in a far different light, and requires particular con- sideration. In the year 1792 the county charges for prosecutions in I'ngland and Wales did not ex- ceed ;i4,.'34.');; in 18;}2 they amounted to 1.50, .^>2r)/, heing an increase of .'i^S per cent. It is true that during this period the augmentation of population might fairly account for i)art of this excess ; hut an augmentation of population from .'Jf) to (JO per cent, is insufficient to account for an increase of allowance for ])rosecutions amounting to .'i.'>8 per cent. : and the Committee are of opinion that much of it is to he ascribed to the operation of the r)8 Geo. Iir., r. 70. Trcvious to the passing nf that Act the statutable rewards for the (lonvicfion of certain offenders operated as an adequate encouragement for the prosecution of jjcrsons guilty of counterfeiting coin, burglary, housebreaking, robbing in sliops, warehouses, coach-bouses, or stables, or stealing hors(!S, or stealing or destroying sheep or cattle. These crimes constitute the great mass of offences tried at the assizes, and the statutable rewards ui)on the conviction of the offenders were payable in the first iiistanee by the sherKfs, and were taken, as far as they went, to defi-ay the expenses of the prosecutions, and allowed to the respective sheriff's in accounting with the crown. The costs of such prosecutions to that extent were thus charged upon the general revenues of the country. '['ho M Geo. Til., c. 70., at the same time that it repeals all such parts of former statutes lias pro- vided that rewards should lie paid to prosecutors, upon conviction for the above-recited crimes, pro- vides that the county rates shall in future be charged with the allowances to prosecutors in such prose(;utionR. To this transfer of i)ayment for prosecutions from the ])ublic iiirse to the county rates is to be added the increased charge arising from allowance of costs in the])rosecution of certain misdemeanors, which has been allowed by subsequent statutes. Thus, then, the recent change in the law has thrown exclusively iq)on the land the whole ex- pense of prosecutions, in the cari'ying on of which personal pro])erty is equally interested. It is not immaterial to add that the allowances for ])rosec>itions at the assizes, over which the county magistrates have no control, are generally three-fold the amount of those which are given for similar prosecutions at the sessions, where the magistrates possess and exercise a direct and rigid supervision. Upon a review of all these considcra';ions the Committee feel themselves warranted in calling the serious attention of the House to the equity, not to say necessity, of making some alteration of the law in this resijcct ; and therefore strongly re- comineml tliat llu: costs of prosecutions at the as- sizes should be borne by the general revenues of the state, under such regulations as may effec- tually prevent all abuse and unnecessary expendi- ture. It further apjteus to the Committee, that the county rates, which have hitherto been submitted to with passive indill'ereiice, have been rendered liat)le to many jjaymcnts which in principle and analogy should be charged upon the general funds of the country. Thoy would cxem])rify this observation by the charges of conveying transports to the places of embarkation. 'I'bc expenses of transjjortation from the place of end)arkation arc charged upon the public purse, and there appear no reasonable grounds for exempting the same from the expense of conveying the convicts from the prisons of the interior to the places of embarkation. The same observations apply in principle to the charge of s)ipi)orting smugglers in gaol at the county expense; and the Committee are of opinion that all such charges should be defrayed out of the revenue of the department whose laws are broken. However much the Committee may have reason to lament the increase of county expenditure in minor points, and more especially in the payments to Clerks of the Peace, as well as in the salaries of oHiceis, and other incidental expenses, they ab- stain from making fiu'ther direct observation upon them, inasmuch as any abuse in such respects may be remedied by the existing powers of the superintending magistracy. The attention of the magistracy has been direct- ed to the importance of economy in county expen- diture, as has been lately evinced in more than one county, by their refusal to sanction charges upon county rates for returns made to Secretaries of State, or either House of Parliament, which, al- though generally complied with, are, nevertheless, not warranted by law ; and the Committee cannot but entertain the opinion, that the public revenues should be liable to all disbursements incurred in obtainiiig.statistical or other information for the use of the legislature or any jniblic department. The Connnittee having thus stated their general views upon the important matter submitted to their consideration, beg to lay before the House the evidence which they have taken, together with an a])pendix, and also an index to this their first report. — [The evidence is not yet printed.] — June 24. WILLIAM WALLACE. When darkly tliy country was clouded. And its honour sunk low iu the dust, When the hopes of her sons were all shrouded, And broken was every trust ; As one star midst the dreariness 6f night, As the stream in a wild desert flows, As the storm by a sunbeam is light, O'er Scotland thy spirit arose. Undaunted by dangers wdiich (lung Their shade o'er the various way. Unshaken by hardships that climg To each hour as a lingering sway ; These spells the faint hearted might shake, 'J'he coward, the weary, the weak, But of valour, that trials could break, 'Tis vain in lliy records to seek. It was not for grandeur, or fame. It was not aud)ition, that lur'd — Wo think not of lliese, when we name The treasures thy courage secur'd ; Ah, no ! 'twas for freedom and peace. To sever the chain of the Slave, The Lund of thy childhood release, Ah ! these were the hopes of the brave. Though vanquished, thou vvert not subdu'd. Thy spirit was firm to the last ; And tlie end of thy proud course was strew'd With brightness undim'd by the blast, Though time's quicken'd stream rolleth on, Thii name shall be found in its story, While freedom and Scotland are one Her sons will remember thy glory. B, B. B. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 401 THE MARQUIS OF CHANDOS AND ' THE AGRICULTURISTS. We subjoin the coj)y of a letter addressed to the Marquis of Chandos by a numerous body of the agriculturists of West Sussex, and also the reply of the marquis : — "to the right HON. THE MARQUIS OF CIIANDOS. " Chichester, Aug. 23, 18.34. "My Lord, — Impressed with a deep sense of the obligations we are under to your lordship for your able and constant support of the cause of agricul- ture in this country, we arc unwilling that your lordship should, from our silence, infer apathy to our own interests, or ingratitude for the services which you have rendered us. " Your lordship may be well assured that in a county so purely agricultural as Sussex, the bene- fit of possessing in parliament such an advocate as yourself, who has on all occasions so clearly and energetically represented us in this vital ques- tion, is fully understood and appreciated. " We, therefore, as agriculturists of that county, beg your lordship to accept our warmest thanks for your unremitting exertions in our behalf, trusting that, notwithstanding these exertions have hitherto been unsuccessful, you will perse- \'cre in demanding justice foraclass of individuals who, at the same time they labour under acknow- ledged difficulties, have experienced more opposi- tion in endeavouring to obtain a redress of their grievances than any other of the productive classes of the community. " We have the honour, &c." (Copy.) " Wolton, Aug. 26, 1834. " Gentlemen, — Your letter of the 23d was trans- mitted to me yesterday by Mr. Newland. I hasten to acknowledge it, and to request you will accept my warmest thanks for your kindness, and for the very gratifying manner in which you have noticed my endeavours to relieve the agricultural inte- rest. Deeply regretting that those endeavours have hitherto been unsuccessful in effecting this object, I still entertain the most confident expect- ation that they will be eventually crowned with success. At all events yon may be assured of my constant attention to the interests of the farmer, and my best exertions to promote the prosperity of the country. " I have the honour to remain, " Gentlemen, " Your obliged and humble servant, " CriANDOS." IPSWICH LAMB FAIR. The attendance on Saturday was as large as that on the preceding day, and there was no falling off in the show of lambs. There were not so many sales effected on the previfuis day as had been an- ticipated, and the i)rices this day were from Is to 2s per head lower. The prices at the beast stands, which were very badly supi)lied, remained the same as quoted in our last. In fact, so little business was done in this department, as hardly to merit notice. — On Monday, there were not more than a dozen lots of lambs on the ground, and in tlie sales effected, the ordinary prices were realized. A shearling Down tup, a two-shear, and a full- mouthed sheep, all of the pure Glynde blntid, at- tracted general attention, and were greatly ad- niiied for size, symmetry, and for the excellent quality of wool. The tups were let to Sir Thomas Gooch, Bart., and A. Arcedeckne, Es(i. ; and the sheep were purchased by Mr. Adams, of Harton. Upon reference to the sales effected, and to the excellent prices obtained — a coomb of wheat being equivalent to the value of a lamb — it will be seen, that Lord Huntingfield gave the growers sound advice at the late wool dinner at Ipswich, when his lorpship stated, " if in these dei)ressed times, the farmers wished to keep the thief from the barn door, they must attend to the breedbifj of slock, for everybody knew that farming yielded only an indifferent profit, whilst stock sold exceedingly well." It is therefore gratifying to know, that the farmers have one resource to i-ely u])on, which may, it is to be hoped, save them from utter ruin. As is customary upon these occasions, the light- fingered gentlemen were pretty numerous. 'J'hc following is the list of prices obtained by the prin- cipal growers : — DOWNS. W, E. Duke of Grafton 23 0 Lord Culthoip, Ampton Park 22 0 Col. Ray, Eldo House 25 0—21 0 Col. llushbrooke, llusbbrooke 20 6— IB 0 P. IJennet, I'Jsq., llougliain 26 0 J. M. llodwell, P^S(i,,' Livuimore. . . . 2(J 0—21 0 T. St. V. Wilson, Esq., Redgrave . . 20 0 J. Cruckenden, Es(i., Rusliford .... 21 6 G. Cobbold, Escj., Ipswicli 20 6 J. Cobbold, Esf was proceeding to address the jury for the defence, when The Judge said, " If the case goes to the jury on the whole evidence pro and con, I cannot then give leave to move. I think the custom of the country is disproved, but whether it is or not is a question for the jury. The defence was proceeded in, and many wit- nesses were called to prove the custom of the country not to be the four-field system. Mr. Richard Dawson, of Withcal, who farms upwards of 3000 acres of land in Lincolnshire, 2700 of which is on the Woulds, and Mr. Wm. Whitlam, of Towse, who occupies upwards of 1000 acres on the Woulds, were called up, and proved that the four-field system was not the prevailing system in that part of the country, and that there was no regular or settled custom. It was proved by the evidence of Mr. S. Tasting, of East Ville, and JMr. Rhodes, thedefendant's solicitor, that the plaintitfpersonally had acceded to an arrangement proposed by the defendant for settling the action, and expressed himself very glad that the defendant had come to an arrangement. Mr. Balguv replied to the defence with con- siderable wax-mth, defending the plaintiif and Mr. Daubney, his solicitor, against any insinuations thrown out respecting the proposed arrangement, and commenting upon the evidence for the defence. The Judge summed up, and left it to the jury to say — first, whether the defendant had cultivated contrary to the custom of the country ? Secondly, whether contrary to the course of good husbandry ? And thirdly, the amount ot damages. The jury were locked up for about an hour and a half, and we understand that the verdict delivered at the Judges' lodgings was, that the plaintiff had not made out the custom of the country, hut the de- fendant, not having cultivated according to good husbandry, they found a verdict for the plaintiff, damages 420i. or 450/. Preservation of Fish. — Fish are taken various ways ; by a drag- and flews, in die night. Instead of plunging, they lash bricks to a cord, and 'draw them to and from each other, across the river or pond ; to prevent which, put some old sickles, scythes, or swords, into some large lumps of wood, and drop them in zigzag directions along the river or pond ; likewise stumps, with nails driven down into the bottom. To iind luggers, trimmers, sunk baits, eel- pots, eel-lines, starkers, &c. walk on the sides of the waters, with a pole and strong cord, with a drag or creeper on it : this properly used, will find them"; it must be thrown in different directions, late in the evenings. Pord netters are a class of poachers not generally known. What is called the pord net con- sists of two staves shod with iron, to which is fast- eaed a net. In quick running stony waters it is used with great effect. The poachers wade a shallow stream, drive the trout to their holds, and placing the Staves so as to bring the net round a stone or hold of any kind, they are said to pord, prod, or poke the points underneath, till they are forced to come out and strike into the net. Carp are driven into their hordes, under the sides, where, with a semicircular net, they are taken, by puddling them till they fly into it, Some have been laken, after first being col- lected into one place, by feeding with new grains and blood ; by intoxication, with crummy bread squeezed on a stone, impregnated with coculus indi- cus, and oil of asp. They will come up, and you may take them with a landing-net, but a casting-net is much better. In June, carp and tench are very busy roding, when you may feed them into the shal- low waters, and take them with a casting-net, and stock your stews for the year. Always let the net lie still till the fish rise, as carp strike into the mud, if there is any, but cannot remain there long, as it makes them sick. When you drag a potid, have two drags, one about three yards behind the other, as the fish will strike the mud, and let the lead-liaa slip over them ; when, thinking they are safe, they precipitate themselves into the other net. For tench, you may let flews stand with a brass candle- stick on each side, a 3rard distant, on a float: they will fly from one to another. To keep trout alive, whilst carrying them a long distance, mix one ounce of white sugar-candy, a piece of saltpetre the size of a walnut, and a table spoonful of flour together ; this is sufficient for a pailful of water, which must be hard spring water: this iiroportion, often re- jieated, will keep them alive. Carp and tench will travel in clean whole wheat-straw many miles, if laid in layers, as the straw retains the air for them to suck. — AIaver. OBSERVATIONS ON THE INTENSITY OF LIGHT FROM THE AGENCIES OF HYDROGEN AND OXYGEN ON LIMESTONE. Dy Dr. Wilkinson, Bath. [From the Bath and Cheltenham Gazette of July 1st.] As early as the year 1802, some interesting E.xperi- ments were published by Dr. Hare, of Philadelphia, brother to the late Mr. Hare, who formerly resided at Somerset Place, in this city, by which he evinced the extraordinary increase of temperature from the combustion of oxygen and hydrogen, and fused the most refractory metals. These experiments induced me to have constructed, in 1303, two gassometers, each holding 6 gallons : the one was filled with hy- drogen ; the other, with oxygen : and which gases were directed by tubes, whose areas are as 2 to 1, into a steel cone, and united about half an inch be- fore the opening to the air. With this admixture, I fused considerable portions of platina. The same apparatus is at present in my possession. Although very brilliant effects were produced from the com- bustion of different substances, I am not aware of the production of the great Intensity of Light from the combustion of these two principles on pure lime- stone anterior to the proposal for its employment in Liglit-IIouses by Capt. Druiuniond. From a casual suggestion of the Cbe;i ical Proftssor in King's College, London, as to its capability of beiny,- aub- stituted for solar light in microscopical experiments, a Mr. Carpenter first publicly introduced it. I Lave not heard that any exidaiiation has been given cf the cause of this extraordinary Intensity of Light. I avail myself of your Journal to submit to the Public the following observations : Limestone principally consists of lime, carbonic acid and water. When exposed to the kiln, the car- bonic acid and water become detached ; and the line is, in that state, called quick lime. In pure carbonateof lime, freed from water, the proportion of carbonic THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 405 acid to the line is as 22 to 28. such being their equi- valent numbers ; viz. in 50 grains of pure carbonate of lime there are 22 grains of carbonic acid and 28 grains of lime : so that, with the water in the lime- stone, there is, on an average, by the kiln heat, a reduction in weight from a ton to 11 cwt. By the addition of 28 grains of pure lime to 9 grains of water, a combination is eifected ; the water loses its fluidity, and combines with the lime, and forms with it a dry mass. The heat which is evolved during this slacking process arises from the water, and is termed by Chemists, the Caloric of Fluidity. The degree of heat evolved is proportionate to the tem- perature of the water ; and if tins latter substance be at 212 degrees, or the boiling point, and poured on well-burnt lime in a proper proportion in a dark room, a degree of incandescence is the result. It has been ascertained Ijy Experiments that lib. of oxygen gas gives out as much heat, when com- bining witli hydrogen so as to form water, as will melt 631bs. of ice; and a pound of hydrogen gas contains as much caloric as is adequate to the fusion of 29olbs. of ice. The difference between the state of water at 32 deg. or solidified as ice, is 140 deg. of latent heat ; and as, in the formation of water, one pound of oxygen combines with two ounces of hy- drogen, the heat evolved would raise a corresponding- weight of water 14,000 degrees. Under the usual circumstances of combustion, the water rapidly con- verted into vapour becomes dissipated in the atmos- phere ; whilst in this, the water at the instant of formation enters into combination with the lime, the caloric it possesses in a maximum state of intensity of steam becomes developed, and the greatest arti- ficial light, excepting that produced by the agency of Galvanism on charcoal, is the result. In one of the London Establishments, there is a comparative representation of the Intensities of Light, from Charcoal, by Galvanism; from Lime, by Oxy- gen and Iljrdrogen, and the most powerful argand : the great superiority of the galvanic light is very evident. In the year 1804, a few months after I published my " Elements of Galvanism," I first exhibited, in my Lectures in London, the astonishing light produced by the agency of this surprising- principle on charcoal. I had the honour of shewing the experiment to the late Sir Wai. Herschell, and to my learned friends, Dr. Young and Mr. Nichol- son ; and the celebrated astronomer considered it as equal in intensity of light to a corresponding point on the Sun's surface. In the year 1805, being- engaged in an extensive series of Lectures at Edinburgh, I made a material alteration in the construction of the galvanic trough of Cruickshanks, by having the matalic plates only connected by slips of copper, and suspended on partitions, by which arr-angement, twice the surface is obtained, and the plates are only exposed to the influence of the acid at the time the experiment is shewn. The results I observed are more brilliant. In the year 1808 I gave a description of this battery in Tilloch's Philosophical Journal ; in consequence of which, Sir H. Davy had the extensive battery at the Roya' Institution constructed on the same prin- ciple ; as also Mr. Children his very large plates ; and which were made agreeably to my principle, by Mr. Eastwick, the excellent Engineer to the Kennet and Avon Canal Company, at their Station at Bitton. P,S. Some observations I have lately made, as to the Pendulum, the Escapement and train of wheels constituting tlie maintaining power, and tlie extensive rods of communication from the maintaining- power to the Dial Plate of the Clock belonging to the Abbey Church, in this City, will form the subject of my next Communication to your Journal. — June 2Qth, THE SCARLET TREFOIL. [We copy tiie following observations on the Scarlet Trefoil, from a pamphlet written by J. Foaker, Esq. of Sneating Hall, Kirby, Essex. During a residence in Switzerland in 1826, my attention was first directed to the cultivation of the scarlet trefoil, and I was informed by an intel- ligent Swiss fgentleman that it was first brought into Switzerland from the Pyrenees, where it was known by the name of Trifle-rouge — but the Swiss call it Trifle Farouche, or wild trefoil. This, how- ever, appearing to me a bad definition, I have named it scarlet trefoil, by which term I believe it is known in Italy, and in Botany Trifolium Incar- natum. The gentleman further informed me it was cultivated in the same method as tares, but was in every respect superior— those who had once grown it never grew tares again. I procured two quarts of the seed, and in the month of Octob'^r, 1826, sowed it on a wheat stub- ble, once ploughed, at the rate of a peck per acre — the crop was, however, very indifferent. I cut it for seed on the 7th of July following, and fiad about three pecks of seed, which I again sowed on a wheat stubble, once ploughed, in the middle of October, 1827, a peck of seed to the acre ; it came up well, but before it put forth the third and fourth leaf it was totally destroyed by the slugs. For- tunately I hail preserved about an ounce of seed to sow in the flower beds in my garden, and with this I was three years in raising a new supply in the garden before I could again take the field. During the three years I tried Spring sowing, and was suc- cessful, therefore was tempted to try it again in the field. On the 30th of March, 1831, I sowed about a peck on an acre of wheat stubble once ploughed ; it again vegetated well, but was imme- diately nearly all destroyed by the slugs ; that which remained was overrun with weeds, and I was obliged to have nearly the whole gathered by children. Baflded as I had hitherto been, I had seen sufficient to convince me it would become a valuable acquisition to the farmer. 1832 — I this year ploughed my wheat stubble twice, and the first week in September sowed at the rate of a peck and a half to the acre, and the following year was rewarded by a plentiful crop, and have never since failed. In every respect the scarlet trefoil as food for cattle is superior to tares in all its stages ; coming to perfection so much earlier than tares or clover gives great advantage in fallowing the land or i)re- paring for turnips. I have generally found it suffi- ciently forward to cut green, by the beginning of May, to cut for fodder the middle of May, and for seed the latter end of June. It has cost about 4s. a bushel threshing and dressing, and gives employ- ment for many men between hay time and harvest, when generally there is a slack of work. On all occasions when cut green or fed on the land, the crop of corn the following year has been improved by it ; having grown it on parts of fields, I have had full opportunity of judging this ; in- deed, when left for seed, 1 could see but little, if any, difference. Last year I had a field of eleven acres, five were the long fallow, five well manured for turnips, and one acre of the scarlet trefoil for seed ; this year the Barley nearly equals the long fallow, and is superior to the turnip land ; the turnips after the manure were worth about 50s an acre ; the acre of scarlet trefoil without any ma- nure, taking the seed at 3^ 10s the bushel, was worth 40/. 406 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. In making for seect great care must be taken not to brush it about roughly, indeed when fully ripe the capsule may be blown from the stem like the down from the thistle. 1834. — I have this year determined to try how it would make into fodder, and on the 19th of May cut it for that purpose, and notwithstanding the luifavourable dry summer for green crops, had eight wagon loads from three acres and a half ; this from the worst land I have, and in the worst state of cultivation, the clover previous to the wheat, being cut twice, and very poor. Too anxious, however, for the safety of my new friend, I carted and stacked it when the last had been cut only five days, — the consequence was, that I was obliged to take the stack down from excess of heat. If I may be permitted to give an opinion after having committed an error, I think two days more than is given to the common red clover, under the same circumstances, would be sufficient to avoid all danger. This heating was not peculiar to the scarlet trefoil, for at the same time, and under precisely the same circumstances, a stack of rye grass and white clover gave me the same warm re- ception ; a point of honour between the Allies pre- vented my being put Jiors de combat, for after hav- ing got me fairly within range of their fire, they hesitated which should first blaze away, in which time I overthrew them. I have experienced great difficulty until this summer, to bring it into culti- vation. I have induced a belief, that not less than a peck and a half of the seed should be sown per acre, and that, not later than the middle of September; however, as a case has occurred immediately un- der my eye totally at variance with this theory, it is but fair and just I give it, — Mr. Baker, of Birch Hal], had a bushel of seed from me last Autumn, with which he sowed four acres of land, about the middle of October., and had this j^ear as fine a crop as I ever saw. For some reason which I do not know, he was dissatisfied with it, and cut about half an acre for his horses, and intended to give them the whole ; he however found them do so well with it, that he told me one acre would go as far as two of tares, he immediately preserved the three and a half acres for seed. He cut it for seed on Saturday the 28th of June, and as he was anxious to have the straw good for winter fodder, he carted it on the Tuesday following, and had thirteen waggon loads from three acres and a half of land. When it is considered that this year many of the farmers did not obtain more than one waggon load from an acre, this bulk must be re- garded as immense. On the Wednesday following it wa« passing through the threshing machine, which, by the bye, did the work verybadly; it was, however, of little consequence ; one stack of win- ter fodder was raising its head high in the farm- yard, and a bottom prepared for another, while the seed from the machine was piling up in the bay of the barn. Although at all times a good tempered man, I never before saw Mr. Baker so supremely happy and contented. When dressed the seed amounted to fourteen bushels three pecks per acre, thus giving an increase of one-and-fifty fold. Mr. Blyth, of Thorp, had a peck and a half of the seed from me last Autumn, with which he seeded an acre on the 12th of September, from which he had this year three waggon loads of straw, and fifteen bushels two pecks of seed. Mr. Blyth, I think, was a gainer of two pecks of seed the acre, by carting only in the morning and even- ing ; Mr. Baker and myself carted all day, and lost, I am certain, considerably. This year Providence has ordained that the scarlet trefoil shall stand pre-eminent above all its rivals. The greater part of the tares intended for seed have proved worthless ; those that remain are not calculated to give more than three sacks the acre, that is, one acre of tares will only give seed for six acres, while one of scarlet trefoil will give seed for forty or fifty ; and this is not all, — the latter was clear off the land on the 2d of July, giv- ing good time for fallowing after ; the tares can- not be off till after harvest, leaving no opportunity for fallowing. Constantly anxious to introduce the cultivation of this plant among my neighbours, I have sold it at the low price of two pounds the bushel, but more frequently given it away ; in every case where I have done the latter, it has been neglected and failed. The seed, I understand, has been sold as high as four and even five pounds the bushel, however the fair market price appears to be three pounds ten shillings, and on this sum I will make my cal- culations. Mr. Baker had nearly four waggon loads of straw per acre ; as it was stacked in four days after cutting, it got warm in the stack, nevertheless it cannot be valued at less than 8/; add fourteen bushels three pecks of seed at 3^ 10s per bushel, will make together 59/ 12s, the produce of one acre for one j'ear. Mr. Blyth salted his straw in stacking ; this alone will pay every expense of cultivation, there- fore Mr. Blyth will have fifteen bushels and a half of seed, at 3/ 10s per bushel, giving 54Z 5s clear of all expenses. Let it not be forgotten the crop was cleared from the ground by the 2d of July, and the land ploughed three or four times before harvest. Now, gentlemen, do you see through it. Last Autumn, I was requesting and persuading several to take the seed at 21 the bushel, and give it a fair trial ; this 21 would this year, after all ex- penses were paid, have returned them considerably above 200/. They are awake now, and see and feel it all. For one industrious small farmer near me, I feel regret ; himself, with two or three sons, independent of all anxiety of mind, work as hard as any labourers in the parish. I gave him a peck of the seed last summer, and urged him to prepare his land for it, and sow it by the middle of Septem- ber ; however, he neglected my advice ; probably like several others, as the article cost nothing, he thought it worth nothing, and did not sow before the end of October; the consequence was, the slugs eat the whole as soon as out of the ground. He now is aware it would have been a clear bonus of 50/; his repentance is sincere I am sure. I have ])romised to start him fair again this year, and he lias promised to run his race better. I have al- ready said that in the month of October, 1826, I first gave the scarlet trefoil root in our soil; whe- ther this will entitle me to the honour of having first cultivated it in the fields of England I know not ; I am, however, certain that I have been first to introduce it« cultivation in the district where I reside, and where I have no doubt it will flourish after I shall have passed away. Sir H. Davy's Angling EntiiusiaSxM. — H:id you been present as I was, at a conversazione chez Lydia White, the literary lady in Beppo, and heard Sir Humphrey Davy, as I did, dilate so enthusiastically on this his favourite' topic, yoj would have be- come a convert. There was present her usual coterie ; Rose, the translator of Ariosto, and Sotheby, of whom the bard of Beppo makes such honourable THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 407 mention under tte soubriquet of Botherby ; Mrs. Sid- dons, who never could ask for a cup of tea but in a tone theatrical, and a few others. So eloquent was the great chemist that he drew at last the attention of all the party, which was strange where so many were come to shine. He spoke of the buoyancy of spirits, that living in the open air never fails to ex- cite ; the secret of a lazzaroni-fisherman's happiness ; said, no exercise or pursuit tended so much to health ■of body and peace of mind. He expatiated with rapture on the delights of following the windings of some unfrequented stream, now rapidly rushing among rocks, now winding gently along through rich open pasturage, and now overhung with gnarled oaks, or fringed with alders : a fresh landscape at every turn of the stream, and a perfect foreground to every picture ; the flowers reflecting themselves in a clear mirror ; above our heads to mark the clouds weaving themselves into a delicate network ; to ob- serve, the slow rise of the thunder clouds, or to see the rack driven tempestuously across, " and laying- bear the heavens !" then to listen to the songs of the birds, or to behold the myriad insects that swarm in the sunbeam ! but I give a very faint and inadequate idea of his words. These were his joys. To gratify this ruling passion, he would travel a thousand miles to throw a fly in some untried stream, undergo the fatigues of a tedious journey to visit the unexplored rivers of Norway and Sweden, or the Fall of Traun, to fish for the huchen. But I will send you my breviary, one of the most glorious and spirit-stirring pieces of writing in our language, " Fytte the First" of Blackwood, and refer you to its pages for the fur- ther defence of the argument. — Medwin's Angler in Wales, To Trap the Stoat. — In all chicken-gardens and pheasantries, two or more hutch or box traps should always remain set under the walls or pales, baited with any small bird or chicken, or with rabbits and fowls' entrails. Let the traps be placed on the out- side, close under the walls or pales, with the back part against the same ; make a wing or low paling, about eighteen inches high, with old pales, or form a small hedge, about the same height, from each end of the trap, extending four or five yards aslant, and about two or three yards open at the end from the wall, which will be a guide for them to enter into the trap, for they like to mn under such places ; and unless prevented in proper time by the method here laid down, they will enter and destroy great numbers of rabbits, pheasants, and poultry in one night. In most warrens, therefore, it is generally customary to have traps constantly set and baited, otherwise you would soon not have any rabbits left therein. In hare-warrens likewise, hutch or box traps should be placed in divers parts of the warren, with the two ends painted white, and rubbed over with the entrails of any animal, which will prevent the hares from entering it, but allure the vermin. Let them be always baited in the same manner as before directed, and if you' find they come to your hen-houses, use the same method, and they will naturally come into the trap and be caught ; and in case you should not liave a hutch trap, set a small steel trap in the same manner as for the pole-cat, and you will be certain of securing him. Accounts from Breslau state that, on the 30th July, a fire broke out in a forest at Lubschau, in Upper Silesia, when 2,000 acres of trees were consumed. About 2,000 yards of faggot wood were also con- sumed, THE METROPOLITAN. [The number of this periodical for September contains its usual number of interesting articles. One on the subject of " Public and Private Cha- rities," merits especial attention. In an article upon the state of Italy, a lamentable picture is drawn of a country highly favoured by nature, being degraded by misgovernment]. " Italy is the garden of Europe. Its surface presents every variety of scenery, from the culti- vated plains of Lombardy to the wild mountains of Calabria. Magnificent cities stand at short dis- tances from each other, and beautiful villas adorn the intervening spaces. In Genoa, Florence, and Rome, are found the finest specimens of architec- ture ; while the papal palaces and ducal galleries contain the noblest works of sculpture. Painting flourished in Italy, and music has made it her home. " Favoured as she is, Italy is still the least in- fluential nation of Europe. Her independent pro- vinces are too weak to command respect, and the rest of her people groan under a foreign yoke. Naples sent her fleet to Tripoli, and Tripoli sent back the Italian flag dishonoured and defeated. Piedmont is her best organized military power, and even there the frontier forts are gai-risoned by Austrians. Rome itself has fallen into con- tempt ; the Papal See has not only lost its intrinsic strength, but even its outward splendour. Fo- reigners inhabit the palaces, and wealthy heretics take the lead of orthodox nobles. The gorgeous ceremonies of the church are converted into spec- tacles for the curiosity of strangers ; the Roman seldom enters the Vatican, and the very ruins of the ancient city are excavated at the expense of foreigners." Fothergill, in his Essay on Natural History, men- tions an incident of his boyish days, of which he says he could never lose the remembrance, but which gave rise to sentiments and rules of action since very dear to him : — " Besides (he says) a singular elegance of form and beautv of plumage, the eye of the common lapwing is peculiarly soft and expressive : it is large, black, and full of lustre, rolling as it seems to do in liquid gems of dew. I had shot a bird of this beau- tiful species, but on taking it up I found that it was not dead ; I had wounded its breast, and some big drops of blood stained the pure whiteness of its feathers. As I held the hapless bird in my hand, hundreds of its companions hovered round my head, uttering continued shrieks of distress, and by their plaintive cries appeared to bemoan the fate of one to whom they were connected by ties of the most tender and interesting nature ; while the poor wounded bird continually moaned with a kind of inward wailing note expressive of the deepest anguish , and ever and anon it raised its drooping head, and turning towards the wound in its breast touched it with its bill, and then looked up in my face with an expression I have no wish to forget, for it had power to touch my heart while yet a boy, when a thousand dry precepts in the academical closet would have been of no avail." In No. 330 of the " Philosophical Transactions', is a curious computation by Dr. Grew, made in 1710, of the superficial contents of England and Wales' which by a triangle formed from the three points of the South Foreland, Berwick, and the Land's-end, he makes 72,000 square miles, or 46,080,000 acres ; the population he places at 11,000,000. 408 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. THE ENGLISH CASTLE. A large and ancient Edifice, that time Hath only hallow'd — nothing of decay. Reminding us of ruins, dust, and death. Appears upon its walls, they proudly stand As they have stood for years, and we behold The structure, that the beings of the past Rais'd in the martial stiring, early days Of England's glory ; grandeur was not then A dream, a showy pageant, but a thing- Real, substantia], clinging to its place. Adorning those who well deserv'd its state. Within the princely home, new dwelleth one Descended from that race whose pictur'd forms Gleam on the walls around ; their w arlike path Perchance is not for Iiim, the times are o'er When England needed steel-clad men to be For ever on the watch, her rights to guard ; Yet will their son possess ' the heart of Oak,' The spirit of his father's, — he will gaze On the proud semblance of the warrior's brow Wreath'd with a bright and deathless fame, untar- nished. He reads a lesson there — " To stand beside The shrine his fatliers rear'd, undauntedly To keep the faith they kept, that should the land Require the aid of sword, of heart, of life. He may come forth, the bearer of their name. To conquer or to die. B. B. B. LupiNus Nanus. — This new dwarf lupine has just been introduced by the Horticultural So- ciety, from California : it will constitute one of our prettiest annuals. It forms a low tufted plant from six inches to a foot in height, producing a succession of upright shoots terminated by several tiers of flowers, which continue open in succession for two months. The colours being bright purple inter- mingled with white and rose, a gay variegated ap- pearance is produced, which is extremely agreeable when the plant is grown in masses. It is well ad- apted for covering flower beds, or for forming a com- partment in a parterre, or for the edge of a small clump, (;r in short for any purpose which requires neatness and a protracted blooming. If sown in Autumn it will flower in May and June, if sown in Spring it will be in beauty in August and September, and by deferring the period of sowing till the begin- ning of June it may be made to blossom as late as November. — LincUey's Botanical Register, Habits of Spiders. — M. Walcknaer related before the Entomological Society of France, the fol- lowing curious fact, which is given on the authority of Mr. Spence. Having placed a large full-grown spider, of the species Epeira diadema, on a cane planted upright in the midst of a stream of water, he saw it descend the cane several times, and remount when it had arrived at the surface of the water. Suddenly he altogether lost sight of it, but a few moments afterwards, to his great astonishment, per- ceived it quietly pursuing its way on the other side of the stream. The Epeira having spun two threads along the cane, had cut one of them, which, carried by tie wiud, had become attached to some object on the bank, and so served the spider as a bridge across the water. Mr. Spence believes that spiders, when adult, always use similar means to cross water. M. le Felletier de Saint-Fargeau supported the opinion. L'Institnt, MR. EDITOR. In the petition presented to parliament from the general meeting of dissenters, held in Manchester last spring, the compulsory payment of tithes in support of religion was, if I mistake not, stated as a dissenting grievance. As this does not appear to me, after considerable attention bestowed upon it, to be a perfectly correct view of the subject, you will perhaps allow me briefly to explain why I conceive the payment of tithes to stand on a different footing from the compulsory support of religion by rates aiid dues ; and why, therefore, with the opinions, which 1 now hold out to be sound, I do not wish to be considered as acceding to the justness of that part of the petition referred to. The payment of tithes is objected to on consci- entious grounds, as contributing to the mainte- nance of a religious system, which *is deemed by many unscriptural and pernicious. If, however, I undeustand the case right, conscience is nowise implicated it ; since the present occupiers of land, whether churchmen or dissenters, have no con- icei'u in the actual approprialio7i of tithe. I'hat appropriation was determined centuries ago by the consent of the proprietor, who originally set apart a certain poi'tion of the produce of the soil for the support of the national religion ; and upon his conscience, or upon that of those v/ho induced him to the act, must alone rest the responsibility of its right or wrong appropriation. A person, at the present day, simply buys or inherits an estate, subject to a charge fixed on it by a previous pos- sessor ; and with the specific object for which that charge is levied, even if it went to the support of Mahometanism, the conscience of the actual occu- pant has no sort of concern. What is really due in the shape of tithe never, in fact, belongs to the proprietor, subsequent to the period of its first alienation ; it is just so much abstracted from the value of the estate; and its application to any purpose, which we in our private judgment may not consider desirable, can with no more reason, as it seems to me, be complained of as a burden upon the conscience of the propVietor, than his suffering to be applied to a similar purpose a por- tion of land, of equal value, completely severed from the property and bequeathed as .a separate endowment. The vexation and hardship which constantly attend the levying of tithe, is a distinct question from the lawfulness of the claim itself, and the obligation of the occupier of the soil to fulfil it. It may be a very inconvenient species of charge ; in its actual form it may operate as a very injurious tax upon improvement ; it may . be desirable to commute it into some less obnoxious equivalent; but then it is the mode of payment, and not the payment itself, which can be justly regarded as a grievance; and the consideration whether the fund so raised shall continue to be applied as it hitherto has been, or be diverted to other uses, is not one which peculiarly concerns dissenters, as such, but can only be entertained by the collective mind of the whole nation represented and expressed in parliament. The produce of tithe constitutes a great na- tional endowment for a specific purpose — the moral and religious teaching of the people. Whe- ther the endowment itself was advisable, or the purpose has been fully answered, is a separate question, concerning which the opinions of the best and wisest men are 'widely at variance. Our forefathers set apart a certain amount of their property for securing what they regarded as an THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 409 important object ; and so long as a decided majo- j-ity of their descendants shall agree in thinking it desirable to apply the funds, which they be- queathed, to that or any similar object, no plea of conscience can be reasonably nrged against it; and a refusal to pay tithes for the support of any religion whatever can be maintained on no grounds, that would not equally attack the foun- dation of all endowments and invalidate the rights of property in general. If we disapprove of their appropriation, the question interests us as citizens, and not as reliyiovisfs : and our proper course is to seek to influence the |i.uhlic mind, and through that the legislature, in favour of our own views — till at length, whon opinion has become tolerably unaniiT\ons on the subject, a national property may be disposed of in accordance with the na- tional will. — The case of rates and dues is altoge- ther diff'event; it docs not involve the application of a fund jjrcviously created, but is the direct levying of a tax ui)on the existing generation for a purpose, respecting which no one has a right to dictate to the conscience of another, and is so far therefore an infringement upon religious li- berty. It is almost needless to remark that, in taking this view of the subject of tithes, no opinion is im- plied as to the general question — whether religion is best supported by the voluntary contributions of the present generation, or by permanent endow- ments under legislative controul. I merely con- tend, that the payment of tithe for any purpose is not in itself a legitimate ground of conscientious complaint. A person may be sincerely convinced that religion would flourish most if left entirely to the voluntai-y principle, and may even conscienti- ously refuse in his own case, to receive any emo- lument from funds administered by the national legislature; and yet feel it no grievance to allow the produce of a certain hereditary charge upon his estate (which was purchased in consequence at a proportionally lower price) to go to tlic support of any object, however improper in his estima- tion, which a large majority of his fellow country- men may still continue to think desirable. I will even venture to assert that, if we were to regard tithes as the property, in one sense, of the parish within which they are collected, set apart from time immemorial for the support of the religious worship of all its inhabitants, and if the appropri- ation of them were vested, under certain condi- tions, in the hands of the parishioners them- selves, I do not, in that case, see what objection on grounds of conscience could be taken by any one to receiving a portion of them in remuneration for services performed (let his opinion of the ori- ginal expediency of such endowments be what it might), provided the acceptance of such portion was coupled with no engagements or restrictions, to which he found it at variance with principle to sub- rait ; just as a man may disapprove in general of pri distinctions between those who do, and those who do not, directly and visibly benefit by them. But this is an evil inseparable from the continuance of any ancient institutions, with which long esta- blished associations are blended, and can only be effectually obviated by an improved state of know- ledge and feeling in the public mind. Keeping the great end of ultimate equality and indepen- dence in religious matters constantly in view, let it be sought by such means only as are peaceable, practicable, and just. If a clear majority of the intelligence of the country think that religion, in the present state of society, ought not to be left entirely to voluntary support, let that majority call upon the legislature to make a more wise, catholic, and popular admi- nistration of the ancient funds which are confided to its disposal, and, at the same time, that all political distinctions and civil pi-ivileges founded on religion are abolished, to bring as many as are willing and can be conciliated, within the benefit of institutions, which it has full power to modify in accordance with the will of the nation and the exigencies of the times. Most protestant dissenters would, I doubt not, imder any change that is practicable, respectfully decline all offer of legis- lative aid, and cling to the means, which they already possess, of maintaining their ministers and places of worship. But the adoption of the voluntary principal would in that case be an act of their own free choice. It would cease to be the mark of an excluded sect ; it would cease to in- dicate the subjection of a tolerated to a dominant church ; since all Christians, whether they sup- ported their worship by voluntary contributions or availed themselves of funds distributed by the legislature, would stand on a footing of perfect civil equality. Nor would it be reasonable in those, who preferred the former system, to refuse to any body of Christians— which might think otherwise — which carried with it the religious sympathies of a large portion of the community — and whose ministrations and institutions, however conscien- tiously objected to by many, were at least helping forward the general work of human civilization and improvement, — the benefit of resources, to which they did not contribute, and in which they had no desire to participate. In this way, the legislative and voluntary principles would be brought into full and fair competition with each other ; they would move together pari passu over the face of the land, as merely different modes of external support to an equally honoured and pro- tected Christianity ; and afford the public an op- portunity of impartially estimating their relative strength and efficiency for the attainment of a com- mon end. In the meantime, a sure provision would be made for the moral and religious instruction of those remote and thinly-peopled districts, to the supply of which every candid mind must admit, that the agency of the voluntary principle is as yet vate 'endowments for the support of religion, and I wholly inadequate ; while, under the combmea yet, should any such be attached to the functions operation of both systems, society would be peace- of his own ministry, feel no scruple in taking the benefit of them, if there be nothing in the terms accompanying them, with which he cannot con- scientiously comply. I suppose this extreme case, merely to express more clearly the distinc- tion which occurs to my own mind, between a question of conscience and a question of expe- diency. It may be urged, perhaps, that the continued assignment of these hereditary funds to the reli- gious purposes for which they were originally destined, will tend to perpetuate invidious social fully and gradually advancing towards a state, m which religion might assume, without risk, an attitude of perfect freedom, and the munificence of past ages be wholly consecrated to objects, still in harmony with the spirit of its original destina- tion, about which no practical diff'erence of opinion could arise, and in which men of every sect and class might feel themselves alike interested and benefitted. The true principles of protestant dissent I sin- cerely love and reverence, because I see in them a security for the rights of conscience, and for the 410 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. enjoyment of perfect religious liberty ; and be- cause, if consistently acted upon, tbey would sub- stitute a spirit of mutual respect and foi-bearance, and of diffusive kindness and good will, for those bigotted antipathies and that arrogant assumption of infallibility, which convert the religion of peace into a source of jealousy and discord, and, so long as sectarian distinctions must continue to subsist, would teach us to honour in every man, who governs his faith and practice by the sacred lessons of the gospel, whether churchman or dissenter, protestant or catholic, a member of the universal church of Christ. But in the same degree that I feel the gloiy and sacredness of the cause, which has now for nearly two centuries been maintained under the name of protestant dissent, I desire that its advocacy should not be associated with the advancement of a single claim, or the assertion of one principle, that is not consistent with the strictest justice and the most evident reason. It is because I think, that the payment of tithe for religious purposes cannot be reasonably and conscientiously objected to, that I have endeavoured to show it ought not to be classed among dissenting grievances. How far my reasonings may be satisfactory to others I cannot tell ; to myself they seem just ; and, such being my present convictions, I though it right to state them candidly to the public, together with the grounds on which they rest. JOHN JAMES TAYLER. Manchester, August 26th, 1834. THE ALLOTMENT SYSTEM. At Saxby, in the north of Lincolnshire, near the banks of the Humber, the following was the state of things in the year 1820. There were 50 labourers, each of whom possessed a cottage, a garden of two roods of land, and ground for keeping two cows. As separate allotments of enclosed pasture land could not be obtained for tbe whole number, two large fields were appropriated for the purpose ; one for pasture, the other for growing hay. These were divided into 50 allotments, each labourer farming his portion of meadow ground according to his own judgment. These cottagers having formed them- selves into a club, appointed a committee of manage- ment every year from their own body. By this com- mittee the time was fixed for turning the cows into the pasture field, and also into the after-grass of tbe other field when it had been mown. Each mem- ber of the club paid a weekly contribution to a sort of cattle insurance fund, for replacing au}^ cow lost by death. The amount of this contribution was re- gulated by the number of cows lost during the pre- ceding year, and the price at which they could be replaced. The sum allowed out of tliis fund to the party who had lost a cow varied from 81 to 12/, and he added or took from the amount given, in his purchase, as it suited his purpose ; but in most cases two or three pounds were added to the club money to procure a cow of superior breed. Each cow producing two calves, which, wlien fatted, sold for about 61, this sum, added to the weekly proceeds for butter, paid the rent of the cottage and land. The old milk, which the family did not con- sume, mixed with boiled potatoes, served to fatten two pigs for each cottage. These cottagers were for the most part excellent labourers, and saved money in their younger years. When old age or other causes of infirmity rendered the tenant of the cottage no longer able to work, a son, or other near relative would become the inmate and sub-tenant of the old people, and support them wiilumt parochial aid, with the prospect of succeeding to the cottage at their decease. The following is a statement of the average pro- ceeds and disbursements: — Proceeds. Two calves, 8 weeks old 6 36 weeks — 8 lbs of butter, lOd per lb. 11 80 stone of bacon, at 4d per lb 10 Milk, potatoes, and vegetables for the family . . — .£27 s. d. 0 0 3 4 13 4 Disbursements. ■£. s, d. By rent of Cottage and Land 10 0 0 Expenses on Land. 2 0 0 Club money 1 0 0 Labour from the fa- mily It should be observed that the primest milk and bacon are low in this part of the country. The at- tendance on tlie cows is given chiefly by the wife and daughters. The farmer for whom the labourer works ploughs his garden gratuitously ; this would only cost 5a, if paid for. By this excellent arrangement the poor's-rate on 2,700 acres of good land, in 1820, did not exceed 60/ per annum. After that year, however, these cot- tagers were allowed land otdy sufficient to keep one cow each. What was the consequence 1 The son could no longer undertake to support his parents without parochial assistance, and the poor's-rate was augmented to 100/ per annum. The same plan that has been pursued with so much Success at Saxby, prevails in several of the neighbouring villages ; but, in many instances, the cottages are attached to the farms ; and in such cases an advantage is taken of the tenant by the far- mer, who stipulates that his work shall be done at a certain price, as the condition of letting the cottage to the applicant. Some persons, says our benevolent correspendent, who have not had practical experience of the excel- lency of this system, may be disposed to think, and to allege, that these cottagers would be too indepen- dent of their emplo3rer ; and that they would be more fixrmers than labourers. This supposition is con- trary to the fact. Better labourers do not exist. It is to this corner of Lincolnshire that w;e may look for the most unequivocal evidences of a correct feeling of moral rectitude among the peasantry. No rick- burning has been heard of in this quarter; no riotous assemblies ; no strike for wages. The cottager, pos- sessed of his little rick of hay, has been made as feelinglv sensible as his employer of the folly and wickedness of the dastardly destruction of property ; and had Swing made his appearance in this quarter, and attempted to make proselytes to incendiarism, he would have been speedily apprehended and brought to justice by men of the very class that in other coun- ties have been tbe dupes and victims of such diaboli- cal suggestions. We feel confident that this plain statement of facts will not be uninteresting to our readers. The state of our agricultural peasantry is a subject of the deep- est interest. A greater mistake could not be com- mitted, a system more ruinous to the farmer, and more demoralizing to the peasant, could not have been adopted, than reducing the labouring class to an absolute dependence upon fluctuating wages. The allotment system is but a return to the natural order of things, by which the interests of the farmer and the labourer are closely connected, and, instead of two hostile classes, the agricultural population is com- posed of gradations easily passing into each other. Society can never be safe, except where every class have so direct an interest in the preservation of so- cial order and security that they must lose more tlian they can hope to gain by public disturbance, — Patriot. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 411 HISTORY OF THE COAL TRADE OF NEWCASTLE AND SUNDERLAND (No. II.) The various accidents to which collieries on the Tyne and Wear are subject have already been men- tioned. One of the great difficulties and causes of expense and uncertainty is that of explosion ; an ac- cident which is common to collieries, both in an open state, and in a state of creep ; but more parti- cularly in the working- of creeps where the ventila- tion cannot be so perfect as it is in the working of a mine in a virgin state, or what is called the Whole Mine. The explosions are occasioned by the infla- mable air taking fire, either by unavoidable accident or by the carelessness of the workmen. In one col- liery in the district of the Tyne and Wear the quan- tity of atmospheric air I'equired to keej) it in a safe working state, under just the regular generation of inflamable gas from the roof and coal, without fal- ling in with any of its accumulations, requires 18,000 cubic feet of atmospheric air every minute. Accidents by explosion have been much lessened by the introduction of Sir Humphrey Davy's Safety Lamp ; but on taking the average of 34 years, up to the year 1828, scarcely one half of which the miners have had the benefit of this lamp, the loss of human life has been nearly about the same : but this majr be attributed to another cause, namely, that the col- liers are now working mines, from having the advan- tage of the Safety Lamp, which could not have been possibly worked without it, and of course they are in a more dangerous situation, and the risk is increased in a very great degree, if the colliers had not had the Davy Lamp, those mines could not now have been in existence at all ; for the only substitute the colliers bad, and that not a safe one, was a steel mill, eliciting sparks, which was the sole means of introducing light, except by the naked flame. ThefoUowingmay be considered as an analogouses- timate of the consumption of coal in Great Britain, as made by Mr. Taylor, whose name has been pre- viously mentioned. The annual vend of coals carried coastwise from the Durham and Northumberland pits is 3,300,000 tons ; — the home consumption may be estimated at one- fifth of that quantity, say 660,000 tons, leaving 3,960,000 tons, which quantity supplies about five millions of persons ; and supposing the whole popu- lation of Great Britain to be 15 millions, this must be trebled, for though these two-thirds of the popula- tion are perhaps less able to afford fuel, yet taking into consideration the manufacturing districts, and the cheapness of coal in the interior of England, the estimate will not be too high at 11,880,000 tons. Next is the coal consumed by the iron works ; es- timating the quantity of iron at 600,000 tons of metal, to produce which it will require at least four times the quantity of coal, even in casting pig-metal, and looking at the extraordinary consumption in and by the mines of Cornwall, &c., we may estimate the coals thus consumed at3, 000,000 tons, making the quantity of coal consumed in Great Britain 14,880,000 tons, Exported to Ireland, say 700,000 tons, the total will then be 15,580,000 tons, exclusive of that exported to foreign countries. The vend from the river Tyne to London is about 60 per cent, of the produce, and that to the coast 40 per cent. The annual consumption of coals in London, com- pared with the population, and before the geneial extension of gas works, may be estimated at nine chaldrons for every eight persons ; and since that period, at ten chaldrons, or about one chaldron and one-eighth per head, including all the purposes of hnman life for which coals may be necessary, whe- ther for household purposes, for manufactories, for gas works, for steam engines, or for any other use whatever. One material grievance-in the coal trade as regards the consumer is that of selling coals by measure, in- stead of by weight. One Newcastle chaldron is equal to 53 cwt. and 11 Newcastle chaldrons is equal to 21 imperial chaldrons of 36 bushels each, the latter being about 25^ cwt. per chaldron. The ship owner and every person from the con- sumer through all the whole chain of dealers in coals up to the coal owners, cry out for round coals ; what is the object of tins '( Every hand that those coals pass through, from the mine down to the cellar of the consumer, every time they are lifted, an in- crease of meature takes place ; consequently every man from the coal-owner to the retailer is benefitted by every breakage of the coal. This has been car- ried, in some instances to such an extent, that it has been found necessary to place persons on board ships to prevent the crew from breaking the coals with the carpenter's mallets. Coals, as they become decreased in size are increased in measure. Five cubic feet of coal, if in one block, would, if broken into the ordi- nary state in which they are sent to market, fill a measure of eight cubic feet ; consequently if the consumer bought by measure, he would in that case pay for eight, whereas he bought but five; and it is believed that the profit of many of the retailers in London arises chiefly from the increase of measure by the breakage of the coal. " The specific gravity of coals has not been found to differ materially. All the bituminous coals range from about 76 to 80 pounds per cubic foot ; but the coals of a different kind, namely, the less bituminous coals, contain more earthy matter, and are heavier ; that is, a cubic foot will weigh more all through the whole range from the most bituminous down to the Anthracite, which is at the bottom of the scale of the bituminous coal ; so that the inferior coals, as they are called, from the district of the Tyne and Wear, on comparing a cubic foot of each, do not differ so materially when weighed as may be supposed ; but a chaldron by measure of the superior sized coals, which generally are smaller, will weigh considerably less than the rounder coal ; as for instance, as has been before stated, the coal of the best description, as shipped in a marketable state, weighs 53 cwt. to the Newcastle chaldron, whilst the small coal pro- duced from the very same seam will weigh only from 46 to 48 and 49 cwt. of the same measure, and the difference depends in a great degree on whether they are moist or dry. The term inferior coal must have reference to the purpose to which the coal is to be applied ; as, for instance, the very best coal for housekeeper's pur- poses, perhaps may be the very worst for a black- smith or a founder ; therefore the terms best and worst, being only comparative, must always have reference to the purposes to which the coals are to be applied. Among the best coals produced from the Collieries on the Tyne and Wear may be reckoned those from Helton's" Wall's End, Bewick's, Hilda, Riddell's, Lyon's, Parkins', Russell's, Stewart's, Northumber- land, Lambton's— (all of which are called Wall's End) ; Newmarch, and Willington. Among the middlings are Heaton, Hepburn, Pea- reth's W. E., Walker's, South Moor, Stobart's, Townley's, Hotspur W. E., Bell and Brown's W. E., Killingworth, Burdon's, Russell's Lyon's, Clark and Co.'s W. E., Ellison's, W. E., Russell's, Het- ton's. Brown's W. E. Among the inferior are Pelaw, Pontop, Tanfield Moor, Holywell, Cramlington, East Percy, Harra- 412 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ton, Garesfield, Liddell's Main, Ord's, Redheugh, Beaumont, Fawcett's Main, Beamish, Wear W. E., Can- and Co.'s W. E., Adair's. The Sugar refinery business in Russia is almost exclusively carried on by the small coal exported from England. It must be obvious, therefore, that if an_y thing- should occur to interrupt our dealings with Russia, and should our coal be withdrawn, (the cheapest fuel they can obtain), it would greatly en- hance the expense of that ])articular manufacture in Russia. It may therefore be asserted that this brancli of maniifactxire in Russia is mainly depend- ant on the supply of English coal of the above de- scription. The great consumption of small coal is in the gas worl:s. These works were instituted at a time when coals were made to pay a high duty. The gas works are said to have sold their coke for more than thev gave for the coals, in consequence of the disparity which then existed in the duty on large and small coal. Some coals are better calculated for the manufac- tory of gas than others. Tlie coals produced from the Hutton seam are said to be the best that are em- ployed for this purpose. Those coals that contain the least sulphur, or iron pyrites, are clearly tlie best adapted for gas works. Coals from the pits at Tanfield Moor, on the Tyne, are those chiefly used by manufacturers in London. The coals used for steam-engines are also those which are most free from iron pyrites. From a report made by a committee in 1816, re- lating to the quantity of coals raised from Inland Collieries, and conveyed by canals and railways (but not sea-borne) into different parts of the kingdom, we have the following numbers : — Chaldrons. In Yorkshire 967,406 Derbyshire SSS.SSi Nottinghamshire 186,666 Leicestershire 66,666 Warwickshire 162,962 Staffordshire 300,000 Quantity that passes towards the Eastern Sea . ." 2,039,251 And there is good reason for believing that an equal quantity passes to- wards the West and South 2,039,254 Total quantity. Chaldrons 4,078,508 Supposed to be sold annually, and carried by rivers, canals, and railways. The Northern Coal-Osvners understand this quan- tity of Inland Coal as interfering with the coal of the rivers Tyne and Wear, and supplying the out- skirts of the Newcastle trade, and places which would otherwise be served with the produce of the mines of those two rivers. Shark Oil— One of the Peterhead whalers (the Eclipse) , while flinching a fish at Greenland last season, caught upwards of 300 sharks, from the livers of which were extracted eight or ten tuns of oil. These rapacious animals pre}^ upon the carcases and crang of the whales, and at the late fishing they became so numerous and troublesome, that a regular harpooning was rendered necessary. Some of them were of a very great size. The head of one, when cut off and the jaws extended, was found sufiiciently large to admit easily the body of a man through it. BAYONNE. A few particulars relative to Bayonne, a city upon which public attention is at present fixed, as being the chief channel through which intelligence of the opei'ations of the opposing parties in Spain can be obtained, may not prove uninteresting. Bayonne has little to boast of besides its situation, which is in a sheltered valley, and enclosed between the Adour, a broad and fine river, and the Nive, a tolerably ample stream, but of less pretensions. The city itself has nothing with the exception of the cathedral, a not very remarkable specimen of the Gothic, to be proud of in the way of monu- ments or architecture. The immediate environs are rich both in cultivation and prospects. The surface of the country is extremely varied, pre- senting a continuous succession of hill and valley covered with fields of Indian corn and vineyards, well enclosed, and adorned with a suflSciency of goodly trees, and exhibiting, thanks to the abun- dant rains that fall here, a very respectable degree of verdure, almost as deep and refreshing to the eye as the emerald green of old England. All these points of a good picture are mirrored in the rivers Adour and Nive, and enclosed within a frame formed by the sea on one side and the Pyre- nees on the other. Ent the bounds of the pictu- resque and the pleasing terminate at the*'amparts of Bayonne, for nothing can well be more dull or unat- tractive than the interior of the town, for, with the exception of the quays, which of necessity are not close to each other, as there is a wide river, the Adour, employed in keeping them asunder, and the Place d'Armes and the Place de la Cathedrale, there is not a wide space in the whole town. What are dignified by the names of streets are no- thing but long, tortuous, dark, and dirty lanes, some of them rendered still more dismal by having on each side low-browed arcades, scarcely of suffi- cient height to allow a tall man to walk under them. These lanes are filled with a sallow, not to say swarthy, hard-featured, ill-savoured, ill- clothed, and dingy population. Most of the mar- ket-women and females of the working classes go bare-legged, and a great number baue-footed. The people appear to be of a mongrel character and habits, having neither the gaiety and squirrel-like restlessness of the French, nor the energetic gra- vity, with a dash of romance, of the Spaniards. They are, however, civil and well-behaved, with- out the Parisian grimace of politeness, and really obliging without the frothy professions of their metropolitan brethren. The town is totally de- void of public amusements ; there is a theatre, but it is only open for two nights a week during a couple of the winter months. There are neither concerts, balls, nor any kind of jjublic assemblies. The women of the richer classes appear to be of a very retiring and domestic nature ; they are seldom or ever to be seen in the streets, and when they do appear their dress is more remarkable for plain- ness than display, and their demeanour most irre- proachable. The only relief to the dull and mono- tonous appearance of the people is the smart, fanciful, and coquettish head-dress worn by the serastresses and servant girls, who are almost uni- versally from the Basque country, and religiously preserve this their national coiffure. It is formed of a bright particoloured silk or cotton kerchief, twisted and intervolved in a manner too compli- cated for any but a milliner to describe, but the effect of which is both piquant and picturesque. These headdresses, with the costume of the male Basque peasantry, which consists in a broad low- crowned cloth cap (like the ladies' head-dress THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 413 called a leret) worn on one side of the head, a short jacket, which is never put on, but only thrown over the left shoulder, and a scarlet scarf hound tightly round the loins, with the adjunct of a long staff, with an iron goad at one end, serve to vary and enliven the appearance of the town on a market day. Another particularly that strikes you on these occasions is the absence of horses. All the produce of the country brought to Ba3'^onne, and all the merchandize transported to or from it, is conveyed in carts drawn by two or more bul- locks. Some of these caits are of the most clumsy and primitive structure, and may be supposed to have been invented in the time of Noah. The wheels of many of them have no spokes, but are formed of one solid piece of timber. Each of the bullocks that draw them has an ample coarse linen chemise, intended rather, I should suppose, to save him from the flies than from any reproach of public exposure of his person. He wears besides a goat-skin night-cap or coiffure, and a neatlj'^- worked whipcord veil, which completely covers his eyes and innocent nose. This modesty of costume on the part of the bullocks forms a singular con- trast with the conduct of the farmers' wives, daughters, maids, and market-women, who ride into town like so many dragoons, being either ignorant of or disdaining the use of a side-saddle, and gallop along the roads or trot through the stieets on men's saddles, with a foot in each stir- rup, and a spur on each heel ! The town, except on market-days, has a very dull and unbusiness- like appearance. The shops are poor, make little or no display, and seem to be but little frequented by customers. This is more particularly the case at the present moment, when, from the disturbed state of the neighbouring Spanish provinces, and the strict prohibition not to let pass the frontiers any sort of merchandize, their external commerce is altogether at a stand-still. The habitual amuse- ments, if not occupation, of the better classes of the men here appear to be lounging on the quays, smoking cigars, drinking beer, or sipping their far-famed chocolate in the cafes. One of their favourite recreations on Sundays and holydays is going to Biaritz, a small village on the sea coast, five miles distant, en cacolet. Now going encacolet is both pleasant and unpleasant, safe and unsafe, picturesque and grotesque, gallant and ungallant, romantic and common-place, all as the case may be, the parties disposed, and the whim of the mo- ment sway. Moi cover, you go by land and by means of a horse, and yet you neither ride on the horse nor are you drawn by the horse, and yon have always, be you willing or not, a female fellow traveller. In less enigmatical language travelling en cacolet is performed after the following approved manner : — At the Porte d'Espagne, through which you go to Biaritz, are a number of women, mostly Basques, some old, some middle-aged, and some young, each holding ahorse accoutred in the fol- lowing fashion : on its back is a kind of pack- saddle, to each side of which is attached a rude arm-chair, in which is a pillow or cushion. In one of these seats you place yourself, and the lady- driver takes her station in the other, first taking the precaution, should you be the heavier of the two, of establishing a necessary balance by putting a quantum sufficit of paving stones in a bag sus- pended by a nail from your seat. The equilibrium of power thus nicely adjusted, you jog on very amicably, and in some mea:ure very pleasantly, together; for these cacoletiires are a peculiarly good humoured and even intelligent set of pauvres diahlesses. From continually travelling the same road, they know the history of every spot and house within view, and entertain you with anec- dotes of the inhabitants, or give you a lesson in the Basque language, one of the most diificult, ap- parently, of all those that issued from the confu- sion of tongues at Babel. Then, as they are acquainted with every one that passes, rich or poor, high or low, the journey is a continued series of salutations and friendly greetings ; to the rich they have something pleasant or complimentary to say, and to the poor something kind. They all wear sombreros, or immense straw hats, and most of the young ones are neatly dressed, and affect a considerably coquettish air, with their sombreros stuck on one side of their heads. But, spite of these attractions, after the novelty of this mode of travelling is over, one is inclined to prefer the old fashioned method of going on foot or astride on a horse, for cacoleting is at one and the same time slow and fatiguing, for the horses not being as eager to get to their journey's end as the riders, make use of a peculiar kind of trot, that takes you more up into the air than it does forward on the road, and which, in its shaking effects, can only be comx^ared to the motion of the high trotting dromedaries of Asia, which, as travellers recount, is sufficient to shake a man to pieces unless he be tightly bound up in sole leather from the hip to the throat. However, on arriving at Biaritz, you are recompensed for your fatigue by the view of the sea sparkling and foaming under a cloudless sky and a bright sun, and by the sprightly appearance of the bathing village, composed of about 150 or 200 neatly-built, an(i whitewashed houses, grouped on the tolerably high cliffs that bound the shore. The principal bathing place, called Le Port Vieux, is admirabljr adapted for the purpose. It is a little sheltered smoothly-sanded bay, shut in on both sides byrocks, and into which the waves flow with a gentle and mitigated motion. This spot, besides being the favourite bathing-place, is also the drawing-room, cercle, assembly-rooms — in fine, the fashionable and only ])ublic ])lace of resort of the inhabitants and visiters of Biaritz. Here, par- ticularly on Sundays and fete days, when the con- course is great, the scene that presents itself is of the most extraordinary and primitive description. On a bank a few feet over the bathing-place is a covered shed, open on the sides, aud having seve- ral rows of seats for the accommodation of those ladies who do not wish to bathe, but who wish to see that operation performed by others. The scene below would furnish an admirable series of subjects for the graver of Cruikshank. There a crowd of persons, sometimes to the nu.inber of 100, composed of male and female, rich and poor, ugly aiul handsome, are bathing pell mell, or, as the farce says, " promiscuously altogether ;" the ladies of course, wearing ample and flowing dresses and large straw hats, and the gentlemen, many having complete bathing dresses, but the greater number contenting themselves with merely a pair of trousers. In one part you will see a group of six: or eight persons of both sexes, holding hands or dancing around in the water to the tune of some of their Basque nirs, whilst in another you may watch the graceful evolutions of a lady learning to swim, aided by her father, brother, husband, or pretendu. The first day I went there I saw a per- son plunge off a rock, and swim out manfully into the open sea ; imacquainted with the fish-like habits of the females, and being a good swimmer myself, I took the same plunge, and followed the leader, as the school-boys say, to a considerable distance, when, on coming up with my predeces- 414 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. sor, I perceived that the bold swimmer was a very fine young woman, who seemed as much at home in the ocean as if she had been a mermaid, and had lived all her life in a coral cave. This scene of promiscuous bathing may at first appear not only extraordinary, but somewhat improper ; but after the first shock to our received notions is got over, and we perceive that the people take so much for granted its harmlessness, as not to bestow a thought upon its apparent want of propriety, it begins to appear less objectionable. Indeed, it might be made almost altogether unobjectionable, were it made imperative in the men to wear full bathing dresses ; many already do so from their own sense of propriety. It would then be nothing more, than instead of taking exercise or recreation in the open air, taking it in a denser element, the water. Besides the curious spectacle above de- scribed, Biaritz has to boast of its situation, which commands an extensive view of the sea and a glimpse of the Pyrenees, and has behind it a beau- tiful and well-cultivated country, studded with numberless ])retty rural habitations. Though in the remote and out-of-the-way corner of France, some five or six English families have made their appearance there this season. S. MERINO SHEEP. " Merino" is the name of a Spanish breed or variety of sheep, which afi'ords a wool esteemed to be finer than that which any other European breed produces. In this breed the males have horns, but the females are without them. They have gene- rally white faces and legs. The body does not seem very perfect in shape ; the legs are long, the bones small ; and under the throat the skin is somewhat pendulous and loose. The skin of the animal is fine and clear. When they are somewhat fat, the weight, per quarter, of the ram is about seventeen pounds, and of the ewe about eleven pounds. The sheep of Spain are divided into two prin- cipal sorts : the common sheep, which continue on the grounds of their owners, and are housed in winter ; and the merinos, which always remain in the open air, travelling before the summer to the cool mountains, and returning before the winter to the warm plains. The stationary sheep chiefly be- long to the eastern provinces of Spain ; while the merinos belong to the central and western parts, — the Castlles, Leon, and Estrernadui-a. In summer they resort chiefly to the plains of the latter pro- vinces, and in winter to the mountainous parts of Castile, which form the most elevated jiart of Spain, and abound in aromatic plants and fine pastures. Diff'erent accounts are given of the origin of this practice ; but we have no distinct know- ledge of the existence of travelling flocks in Spain until the time when the Christians began to prevail against the Mohammedans in the thirteenth cen- tury, and came down from the mountains of the north into the provinces of the centre and the south. After that time, however, the system of migration became well and firmly established ; and before the Moorish kingdom of Granada had been finally reduced in the fifteenth century, the system had been organized, under theauthority of the go- vernment, in nearly its present form. This we shall now proceed to describe, taking Laborde, a statistical writer on Spain, as our principal guide in the description. There is an institution peculiar to Spain called the Mesta. It is a society of noblemen and ott^er great proprietors, to whom the migi-atory sheep belong ; who are empowered to make regulations concerning the migrations of the flocks ; and who, in fact, are a great co-operative body of capi- talists. Unfortunately they possess powers and pi-ivileges much at variance with the interests of the people. The term mesta is also applied to the great body of the migratory sheep in general ; while the particular flocks are called merinos and translmmantes. These flocks, when assembled for migration, generall}'^ consist of about ten thousand sheep. Every flock is conducted by an officer called a ma- yoral, whose business it is to superintend the shep- herds and direct the route : he is generally an ac- tive man, well acquainted with the kinds of pas- turage, the nature of sheep, and the method of treatment. Under him there are commonly about fifty shepherds, each of whom is allowed to keep a few sheep or goats of his own in the flock, on the understanding, that although they and any young they may produce are his property, the wool and the hair belong to the proprietor of the flock. The number of persons thus employed in the care of the whole of the flocks that compose the Mesta are about forty-five or fifty thousand. The dogs are also very numerous, fifty being the number com- monly allowed to each flock. It is at the latter end of April, or the beginning of May, that the flocks leave the plains for the mountains. When they have been driven to the place where they are to remain, the shepherds give them as much salt as they are willing to lick ; and the quantitj"- of this article allowed for their con- sumption during the five summer months is one ton for every thousand sheep. At the end of July the rams are permitted to associate with the ewes, but before and after that time they are kept sepa- rate. In September the backs and loins of the sheep are rubbed with red ochre dissolved in water ; and towards the end of the same month they recommence their march to the plains of Leon, Estremadura, and Andalusia. The sheep are generally conducted to the same ground which they had grazed the preceding year, and where most of the Iambs were born. Here folds are con- structed for the sheep, and huts' of branches for the shepherds ; and there they remain during the winter. The birth of the lambs takes place shortly after the arrival of the flocks in winter quarters ; and particular attention is paid to prepare them by good diet for the journey in April. In March the shepherds have much to do with the lambs : they cut the tails, mark the nose with a hot iron, and saw off" the points of the horns. When the time approaches for the flocks to depart for the mountains, theyindicate their desire to migrate by their restlessness, and by their endeavours to es- cape. The shearing takes place in the month of iMay, during the summer journey. This business is introduced with much of preparation and cere- mony, and the intervals of the labour are cheered by a great deal of jollity and merry-making. The shearing is performed under cover. The animals are previously put into a building consisting of two apartments, from four to eight hundred paces long and one hundred wide. As many of the sheep as are to be sheared the following day are taken in the evening into a narrow, long, low hut, called the siv eating -house, where, being much crowded together, they perspire freely, which renders the wool softer and more easy to be cut. This is one of the practices the Spaniards appear to have derived from the Romans. One hundred and twenty-five men are usually employed for shearing a thousand ewes, and two hundred for THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 415 a thousand wethers. Each sheep affords four kinds of wool, more or less fine according to the parts of the animal whence it is taken. The rams yield more wool than the evoes, but not of so fine a qua- lity ; three rams or five ewes afford twenty-five pounds. The wool is sorted and washed before being sent away. The sheep that have been sheared are carried to another place and marked; and those which, in the course of the individual inspection they undergo on this occasion, are found to have lost their teeth, are set apart to be killed for mutton. The journey which the flocks make in their mi gration is regulated by paiticLdar laws and imme- morial customs. The sheep pass unmolested over the pastures belonging to the villages and the com- mons which lie ii'. their mad, and have a right to feed on them. They are not, howevei-, allowed to pass over cultivutcd lands, but the proprietors of such lands are obliged to leave for them a path of about eighty-four yards in breadth. When they traverse the commonable pastures, they seldom travel more than si.t miles a day ; bnt when they walk in close order through the cultivated fields, they often proceed upwards of eighteen miles, and they have sometimes been known to go twenty- five or thirty miles in one day, in order to reach a convenient place for halting. The whole of their journey is usually an extent of from 360 to 420 miles, which they perform in thirty or thirty-five days. Popular opinion in Spain attributes the su- periority of the wool in the merino to these perio- dical migrations ; but this appears to be disproved by the fact that the wool of the stationary sheep is sometimes equally good, and stillmoreby the very great superiority of the wool of the German me- rino, which does not migrate at all. The number of the migratory sheep in Spain is at present es- timated at 10,000,000, and of the stationary at 8,000,000. The existence of the system which we have been describing is considered to constitute a great bar to agricultural improvement in Spain. The Mesta, of which we have already spoken, has a code of peculiar laws, administered by four judges, whose jurisdiction extends to all matters that are in any degree connected with the Mesta, and who take particular care that none of its privileges shall be infringed. Among the evils which the system produces, it is complained that the forty or fifty thousand persons employed in attending the sheep are lost to the state, as to the purposes of agricul- ture and population, as they scarcely ever marry ; — that a /ast quantity of good land is converted into pasturage, and produces comparatively no- thing ; — that great damage is committed with im- punity to the cultivated lands during the jotirneys of the flocks — and this is so much the more inju- rious as, at the time of the first journey, the corn is considerably advanced in its growth, and at the second, the vines are loaded with grapes ; — that the commonable pastures also are so completely devastated by the migratory flocks, that the sheep of the resident population can hardly pick up a subsistence : — and that the flocks of the Mesta are of no use in an agricultural point of view, for, as they are never folded upon arable land, they contri- bute nothing to its fertilization. Besides this, tlie directors and shepherds are dreaded in everyplace to which they come, for they e.xercise a most in- tolerable despotism, — the consequence of the im- proper privilege which they possess of bringing whoever they may choose to insult before the tri- bunal of the Mesta, whose decisions are almost in- variably in favour of its servants. The existence of the Mesta has therefore long been a subject of public complaint and remonstrance, and even the general states of the realm have been continually requesting the suppression of it. For a long series of years these appeals were made in vain, but about the middle of the last century the government felt itself obliged to pay some attention to the subject. A committee of inquiry was therefore appointed to take the matter into consideration, but the in- fluence of the Mesta prevailed in the committee and elsewhere ; so that though the commission is still, we believe, understood to e.xist, it has not xjet given its opinion on the subject of the Mesta or proposed any remedy for the evils it produces. " The Merino, or Spanish breed of sheep, was introduced into this country about the close of last century. George III. was a great patron of this breed, which was, for several years, a very great favourite. But it has been ascertained that, though the fleece does not much degenerate here, the carcass, which is naturally ill-formed, and affords comparatively little weight of meat, does not improve ; and as the farmer, in the kind of sheep which he keeps, must look not only to the produce of the wool, but also to the butcher-mar- ket, he has found it his interest to return to the native breeds of his own country and abondon the Spanish sheep. They have, however, been of con- siderable service to the flocks of England, having been judiciously crossed with the South Down, Ryeland, &c." The merino was introduced into most of the other countries of Europe, in the course of the last centuiy, with very vai-ious suc- cess. It has also at later periods been carried out to New South Wales, Van Diemen's Land, the Cape of Good Hope, and the United States ; and it seems now to have been sufficiently established that, wherever the animal has been attended to for the sake of its wool, it will afford good wool, but that the quality of the wool deteriorates when that of the mutton becomes an object. We avail ourselves of this opportunity to intro- duce a table of the number of sheep in some of the states of Europe as compared with the popula- tion. We take it from an article, by M. Huot, in the ' Encyclopedic Moderne,' but have felt our- selves bound to make one alteration. In the ori- ginal, 45,000,000 sheep are assigned to Great Britain— a number obtained, we presume, by al- lowing a certain rate of increase on the 42,000,000 given by Dr. Colquhoun in 1812 ; but Mr. Mac- culloch allows no authority to the calculation of this writer, and considers that the whole number of sheep in the United Kingdom does not at pre- sent exceed 32,000,000 which number we have therefore adopted. Population. Duchy of Anhalt-Beiuburg.. 56,000 Spain 13,500,000 Great Britain and Ireland... 24, 500,000 Duchy of Brunswick 242,000 (J rand Duchy of ; axe-Weimar 222,000 France 32,000,000 Hanover 1,550,000 Prussia 12,400,000 Saxony 1,400,000 lUusia in Europe 52,600,000 Austria 32,000,000 No. of sheep to Sheep. 1 000 In- habitants. 90,000 1666 18,700,000 1385 32,000,000 1306 2S0,000 115/ 230,000 1 126 35,000,000 1093 1 (iOO.OOO 1032 9,000,000 725 1,000,000 714 36,000,000 684 12,000,000 3/5 The Journal des Landes of the 34th ult. has the fol- lowing : — " We learn that in the forest of Laumagan, half a league from Tartas, upwards of 800 hogs and a great number of colts have perished by an inundation. ^Vhen the waters overflowed these animals retired to their slieds, but every thing was carried away." 416 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. THE HARVEST FIELDS OF FIFE. The yellow Harvest fields of Fife, How beautiful they seem, So full of bustle, stir, and life, As bright'ning sickles gleam ! And song, and mirth, and jest abound, And hearts devoid of care. And every cheerful rustic sound. While busy hands are there. As merry maids and laughing swains. Beneath the burning sky. Toil on the wide extended plains. That rich in beauty lie, Their hearts expand with social glee, While, waving in the wind. Before tLem lies a golden sea, And gatbev'd stores behind. No slaves are they, though thus they toil, That tyrant lords obey ; The blazing hearth and friendly smile. At night, their cares repay ; And even upon the harvest field. Amid their gladsome strife, Their soidsto love and friendship yield. And bless the vales of Fife. I love the sound of rustling grain ; It has a pleasant voice. That makes the richly-covered plain With cheerfulness rejoice ; It speaks of Harvest s sunny skies, And rural scenes of mirth. And of a thousand families Who reap the fruits of earth. It speaks of Industry and Health, And Freedom's willing toils — Of bounteous Nature's yearly wealth — Of Autumn's golden spoils, — Of those endearing social ties That bind us unto life — - And of the many joys we prize On Harvest iields of Fife. Then let us leave the village dull At dawn of cheerful morn. For stooky vales so beautiful. And fields of waving corn ; And let us taste of pleasures sweet — The charms of rural life — And Labour's children kindly greet On Harvest Fields of Fife. Kennoway, August, 1834. THETA. ON THE FAILURE OF THE POTATOE CROP. TO THE EDITOR OF THE PERTIISHIRr. COURIER, ETC. The very unprecedented friilure ia the potatoe cro]) of last year has led to many conjectures as to the cause of that faihne — but of all the theories which have been advanced, none seems to have met the case in a satisfactory manner. The crop of this year has also been more or less affect- ed by a disease of the same character. It is now pretty generally maintained, that the vigor or fit- ness of the potatoe crop for propagation has been exhausted, which must be restored by raising fresh seed from the apple. It is certainly a matter of no small importance to discover the true cause of the failure — this has not been yet accomplished in a satisfactory man- ner, seeing facts have been adduced which have upset every theory which has been yet advanced. Perhaps more weight has been placed upon philo- sophical researches, than upon simple and practi- cal observation. Under the impression that it is the duty of every person to communicate such observations as they may have made, whether from pi'actical experiments or otherwise, I shall briefly state what has occurred to me from obser- vations made in both years. In the month of June, last year, when a decided defect was discovered in the potatoe crop, it seem- ed to me, that the high temperature during the month of May, might partly be the cause of the very slow and unequal vegetation which was then observed in many fields in different quarters of the country. I accordingly made a slight trial by cutting a few sets in the usual way ; these I ex- posed to the sun for a few hours (perhaps three or four), and then dibbled them into a piece of ground in the garden. I do not remember now how long it might be before they began to spring, but it was not less than from three to four weeks. They even then did not all vegetate, and those that did, sent up small, hard and wiry shoots, ai>d none of them got the length of forming a proper stem ; the case was quite different with all the other po- tatoes which had beeen planted in the garden, but under other circumstances, they turned out a good crop. This greatly confirmed me in the opinion, that over-dryness or the lack of moisture, formed a principal cause of the failure. In the month of May of the present year, when planting the po- tatoe crop, about half an acre near the middle of the field having been for several days drilled up, was of a morning dunged and planted, but not covered in until late in the afternoon of a very hot day ; this part of the fidd did not show braird for nearly two weeks after the other parts of the field which had been planted immediately before this half acre, and also what was planted afterwards, they also sprung unequally, continued long in a languid state, and even at this mgment do not pro- mise half the crop which is upon the rest of the field in which the dung and sets had been more quickly covered up. I am far from pretending to have discovered the cause of the malady in the potatoe crop, but I feel perfectly convinced that over-dryness, and the want of sufficient moisture, have produced the differ- ences which I have referred to. I am also pretty certain, from observations made upon other farms, that the same causes were in operation. The high temperature which prevailed during the month of May in both years, while the land was in prei)aration for the potatoe crop, the frequent ploughings and harrowings during the di-y season had extracted the moisture to a greater degree than usual. The dung in many instances in an under prepared or rough state, and in some cases the sets being allowed to lie too long exposed to a hot and drying acrnosphere ; these circinnstances singly or combined have, in my opinion, contri- buted not a little to the failure of the potatoe crop in the years 1833 and 1834. 2d Sept. 1S34. D. S. [Another most res))ectable farmer in the neigh- bourhood mentioned to us lately that, on return- ing home after a short absence, he observed a few drills in the middle of a large field of jjotatoes looking very poor beside the rest. On si)eaking to the foreman about it, he recollected that these very drills had been left open with the dung in THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 417 them, from Saturday night till Monday morning ; the foreman then said that there were a few more drills at the other side of the field which had been left open in the same manner, and on going to look at them, they were found to he as bad as those in the middle. This tends to confirm the foregoing theory, that a dry seed bed is very ini- mical to the springing of the potatoe.] ON THE SQUARING AND CONSOLI- DATION OF SMALL FARMS. The consolidation of farms I understand to mean, the conversion of sundry small holdings into others of larger dimensions. In this I have had some ex- perience, and my opinion is decidedly against it, in all cases, where the object can only be accom- plished by turning out the unfortunate occupants witliout making provision for their future sup- port.* In Ireland, I apprehend, we are too apt to be carried away by the ideas and practice of our English fellow-subjects, without considering the difference of circumstances between the two coun- tries. In England, large farms, large fields, straight fences, &c. &c., have long been the favourite themes of English landlords, and Englisli writers, and no doubt where theie is capital, and no very redundant population, such arrangements are very desirable ; but it should be remembered, that most writers agree, that to these large farms and these large fields, obtained by the consolidation of smaller holdings, England owes the necessity of poor laivs, which for so far has maintained this system, and given the necessary assistance to the support of the pauper population, thus banished from the la- bours of the field, and cooped up in villages, earn- ing at best a precarious, and too frequently an in- adequate subsistence, by manual labour or manu- facture. But with increase of population the i"ates have increased, until, at length, the demands of pauperism in England alone, amount to about one- sixth of the entire revenues of the empire ; and the evil is becoming so great, that people are begin- ning now to try back, and in many districts are returning in principle to the very identical state of things which formerly met with so much repro- bation ; I allude to cottage allotments of land, which, as far as they have been tried, have imnae- diately been found to mitigate the evil. Does not this at once speak volumes on the subject ? By the laws of England no one can be allowed to * It may not be amiss here to combat the charge which I have heard frequently made against the Irish landlords, for having encouraged the subdivision of their lands for the political purpose of making free- holders. There may have been some few instances of such conduct on the part of land jobbers, and persons of that class, hut I do not believe it ever has been acted upon by landed proprietors of character and conse- quence. Should any instances to the contrary have taken place, they must be considered to form the exception, hut by no means the rule. I do not by any means deny, that almost every landlord may have turned to account, in this way, that subdivision which he could not prevent, but at the same time would have been glad to avoid ; and the truth of tliis view of the subject is prov«ito demonstration, by the undeniable fact, that thSRibdi vision complained of has been more practised in the churcli lands and parish glebes, where no such objects could have operated, tbaa upon any description of freehold pyopeyty whatsoever, starve, how then are the poor to be supported as cheaply, as enabling them to suppoi-t themselves, by letting them have a small portion of land, suf- ficient to secure them and their families constant employment, at times when they would otherwise be idle, and probably mischievous .' As long as their numbers are so far limited, that partial em- ployment can be found elsewhere, a small allot- ment will answer, but when the population ex- ceeds this point, then more land will become ne- cessary, or the evil now felt will again recur, and the small allotment by degrees will become the small farm, and things will revert to that sub- division of the land which the wants of the popu- lation may require, and this is a result not depend- ing on choice, but must come of necessity : a pau- per population must be employed or it becomes dangerous, and where they cannot get work, they must get land. Sooner or later it will come to this, for there is no other system by which they can be so cheaply and profitably employed as working for themselves. All other modes of giving em- ployment have been seen universally to fail. Pub-. lie works of every kind — canals, roads, bridges, &c., &c., all come to a termination, and when the work is finished, it is like the failure of a manu- factory, throwing hundreds out of employ, and leaving them more destitute than before. Land, and land only can afford to the labouring population of a country constant materials to work upon, and to it recourse must eventually be had for the em- ployment of those who have no other means of earning a livelihood. Urgent necessity is now be- ginning to force these truths upon the minds of most reflecting people in England, and even with the short experience now derivable from the partial change of the existing system, to cottage allotments there made, will any one be bold enough to say, that if England was now like Ireland, covered with an agricultural population, settled jn small farms over the entire face of the country, that these poor and contented families should be ejected, to introduce the consolidation of their lands ? Surely no one would have the folly to think of such a thing, and if so, why should we, with the bad effects of the system fully before us, be led to adopt the practice, which those who have tried it are obliged now to counteract. But besides the evils which we may see to have attended the prac- tice in England, the adoption of it there, is in many respects more natural than it would be in this coimtry. In England the landlord is at the cost of all the farm-houses and offices, &c., and it is natural that he should wish to have as few as possible either to build or repair: tire English landlord also can always find tenants with caintal suited to such farms. In both these cases the facts are directly the reverse in Ireland. The tenant here both builds his own house and keeps it in re- pair. If the landlord, therefore, pulls it down for the purpose of consolidation, he destroys not the work of his own hands, as in England, but what was built by his tenant, in full confidence of being allowed to enjoy it ; and to speak of the popula- tion at large, they have nothing in the way of ca- juiM whatever to begin upon; therefore, as to a large farm, few, very few, would be fit for it. Again, the straight fence and the square field (which is so ornamental and so really useful in England, where the soil and climate is dry and the land level, and all the operations of the farmer are performed by horse work or hired labourers) become much less important in a wet climate and wet country, the su.rface of which is constantly 418 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. and his family are generally sufficient for the cul- tivation of the farm. The lay of the land, in a hilly, country, may in many cases make a curved fence absolutely necessary to suit the numerous •water courses, and the ground which would be lost to an English farmer thereby, the grass of which would not repay to him the expense of hiring men to cut it, is quite otherwise to the small far- mer, whose wife and children can be so employed without expense, and to whose cattle this identi- cal part of the farm affords, in what they call shearing grass, the only kind of house-feeding in the nature of green crop, which they have, gene- rally speaking, at present any idea of. However, I do not by any means intend to argue against the general utility of square or rectangular' fields and straight fences, the beauty and benefit of which I am perfectly sensible of. I only say, there are cir- cumstances, which render them not so important in Ireland as in England, and being part of the usual arrangements in the consolidation of farms, these circumstances should not be lost sight of, any more than the difference of capital, or the ex- tent of the population. It is no contradiction to my arguments to say, that such and such proprie- tors have turned adrift the small holders on their estates, and that they have been able to get solvent tenants, and that their properties present an im- proved appearance. All this may be very true, without its being at all practicable to do, upon a large scale, what may have been accomplished npon a small one. An individual may do this, and his discarded paupers may find shelter on the es- tates of his less watchful or more humane neigh- bours, but imless it is shown what is to become of the redundant population, if the system became general throughout the kingdom, I must insist, that for any individual to turn adrift his pauper tenantry to prey upon others, is a selfish and un- fair act, and should be reprobated as such. In the county of Armagh, there are five souls to four acres English measure, what then is to become of ibis population ? where are they to find shelter .' or what language can paint the state of utter des- titution to which so many human beings wo;dd be reduced, if their lands were allotted into even twenty acre fs.rms, without speaking of two or three hundred, -a more customary English size ? The eflect of a practice of this kind is not to be judged of by a few insulated cases; the question must be answered, and that too satisfactoiily, — what is to become of these people ? If it is not so answered, humanity must shudder at such an undertaking. They cannot be allowed to starve — to support them by poor laws would make the whole nation paupers, and the whole capital of England would scarcely suffice to support them, if the country was to be laid out into such farming establishments as would suit English ideas ; the thing, therefore, I look upon as wholly impracti- cable, and if practicable, impolitic. For, let us consider the state of the manufacturing population of the North of Ireland (who are generally the cotters, or small farmers on the estates of the laiuled proprietors), comjjared with the situation of the same population, if ci-owded up in villages, and obliged to go to market for every morsel they put into their mouths. Suppose a damp should come upon trade, the linen or cotton trade for in- stance, the weaver in a village, cut off from every other means of suppoi-t, has nothing before him in such a case but starvation — the calamity comes on him in its most unmitigated shape, and even if only of short continuance, drives him out of house and home. Here we have no poor rates, and he has nothing to fall back on but down^ht beggary Now, what is the case with the cotter ? he has most likely the produce of his acre of potatoes in the house, he is thereby secured from starvation ; he depends on his loom merely to pay his rent, and if that fails him, he falls back upon his land- lord. The landlord will not, under such circum- stances, turn him out at the moment, he will rather himself fall back upon the shopkeeper, and those who furnish his supplies, or contract his expenses. The shopkeeper, not getting his payments, falls back upon his merchant, and he again upon his banker. Thus there is a system of mutual indul- gence between all ranks, under the pressure of ex- traordinary circumstances, which lays the whole capital of the countrj', from one end of the chain to the other, under contribution, before stern ne- cessity gives the impulse, which ends in the eject- ment of the distressed weaver, if he has the cha- racter of an honest and industrious man ; and be- fore this takes place, most generally trade is either found to mend, or other resources offer, or he is allowed time to make up his rent by getting secu- rity; and in the end, one way or other, he avoids the fate which in the other case inevitably and immediately awaited him ; for these reasons, I de- cidedly condemn any attempt at consolidating farms by turning out the inhabitants. But where under tenants have been brought in, if there was no other way of providing for them elsewhere, I should, at all events, take them from under the middle man, and give them a small allotment of land off the farm of those who brought them in. In general they are a much more industrious class than the original lessees, whose want of exertion has been, generally speaking, the cause of intro- ducing them, for the purpose of assisting to pay their rents ; and when they come under the landed ()roprietor, and are fairly treated, they will be found, most commonly, as punctual tenants as those who have larger holdings. It is possible, however, that in many cases, they may be in such poverty, from the grinding exactions of the middle man, that they are actually incapable of exerting their industry to any advantage ; here then comes in the opportunity of putting in practice the sys- tem recommended in the foregoing. In all such cases, a loan of lime at once places them in a state of activity, and insures them ample remuneration for their labour, and with the further assistance of a proper instructor to direct their industry, I do not see any reason to doubt the gradual improve- ment of their circumstances, as well as that of the estate. But while I condemn that species of con- solidation which leads to the expulsion of the small holders, there is another kind of consolida- tion which I am decidedly in favour of, and which is, I believe, more imperatively called for in Ire- land, than in any other country in the world. It is, perhaps, owing to the want of education, that there is so little spirit of enterprize to be found among the great bulk of the agricultural popula- tion of this country ; at least it appears that the spirit of enterprize exactly corresponds with the extent of education throughout the kingdom. In the north-eastern counties, where education most prevails, it is not uncommon to see a small farmer provide for his sons by giving them trades, or putting them apprentices to shopkeepers, or sending them to sea, or to America, and thereby preserving his farm uBbroken for one of his fami- ly. But in the south and west of the kingdom, where education has made little advance, the peo- ple, totally unacquainted with the wants of civilized life, have no other idea of providing for their THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Ag children, thafi by dividing among them the land they ])osscss ; nor have their families ever learned to desire any thing, which a small piece of land cannot be made ^to supply ; and, contented with their lot, they support nature as well as they can, living upon their inheritance, without a thought of bettering their circumstances. The original mansion-house (as it is not unfrequently termed) by degrees extends itself, and a cluster of cabins is formed around it, by those who have issued from its walls, among whom the original farm (which may have been, when granted, of very considerable extent) is found to be divided in the most absurd and inconvenient manner, according to the allotment of those who bequeathed it by will, or as it may have been acquired by purchase. The same individual holding, perhaps, his land in scattered fields, remote from his house, and re- mote from each other ; this is such a common case, that there is no one at all conversant with Irish estates, who must not have seen hundreds of instances of it. The near neighbourhood of the houses is not found to produce a corresponding close intimacy in the occupants, their children quarrel, their pigs, cattle, or poultry, all at some time or other do mutual injury, and create dissen- tion ; so that every thing gets into a state, the exact reverse of what it ought to be, the dwellings are clustered together, which ought to be separate, and the land is scattered, which ought to be be connected, and the people are made enemies, who ought to be friends. To remedy this, a consolida- tion of their diiferent holdings, and the removal of their dwellings to their respective allotments becomes absolutely necessary : this naturally leads to a judicious arrangement of the ^and into new compact farms, equivalent in size to the detached holdings formerly possessed by each, in which straight mearings may be introduced, as far as the lay of the land will admit. Townlands are most commonly bounded by some rivulet, which also form' the external boundary of the farms into which the townland may be divided. The allot- ments therefoi-e next to the water course, will have 01 ytwo or at most three rectangular sides ; but this is sufficient to prevent any ground being lost in the ploughing, and there will be always a straight meai'ing for the allotment adjoining. The necessity for the irregular side, according to the course of the water, being apparent to the behold- er, the laying out of the farm with reference thereto, will not by any means offend the eye, as would be the case, if thei'e was no natural impe- diment opposed to it. But the moral difficulties arising from the con- flicting claims of so many illiterate, and generally unreasonable claimants, are much more difficult to be overcome, than those attendant upon the soil or surface of the land ; and when the opera- tion is attempted upon any extensive scale, there cannot be a more perplexing or disagreeable bu- siness to undertake. Some lose their houses — others their manured land — others their piece of meadow ground; whatever is joar^e^ with is uni- versally superior to any thiug that can be given in its place, whilst that which is acquired is held to be of no account, and those who are really gainers by the exchange, are absolutely afraid to appear con- lent, lest something might be taken off them, to stop the complaints of their neighbours ; so that a general outcry, and not unfrequently oz^^ra^re, is the consequence. However, by strictly attending to justice in the distribution, and showing the most unbendiag impartiality, the business will generally bg sijpQe??^l)y ftgcompUfihed? roasting §9we mode- rate allowance for the labour of new ditches, and affording some extra assistance to those who have to remove their dwellings ; and when the new re- gulations are carried into effect, the population will be found well content with the change. Suppos- ing then an extensive estate to have recently fallen out of lease (under which circumstances alone such a consolidation as I have recommended would be at all practicable), and that such a division had been actually made, by which it may very gene- rally happen, that two-thirds of the farm will be found not to exceed five to eight acres, it may be asked, how can these tenants live upon such small portions, and still more, how can they pay rent ?* * I am firmly persuaded, that the small farmer who holds his own plough or digs his own ground, if he follows a proper rotation of crops and feeds his cattle in the house, can undersell the large farmer, or in other words can pay a rent which the other cannot afford ; and in this I am confirmed by the opinion of many practical men who have well considered the subject, and I think it will not appear extraordinary, that such should be the case, to any one who reflects that the English farmer of 700 to 800 acres, is a kind of man approaching to what is known by the name of a gentleman farmer in this country. He must have his horse to ride, and his gig, and perhaps an overseer to attend to his labourers ; he certainly cannot superintend himself the labour going on in a farm of 800 acres. Add to this, he must appear himself, and have his family also to appear in a superior rank, and his farm must not only enable him / to pay his rent, and yield him the support he re- quires, but it must also be chargeable with the in- terest of the large capital which is necessary to its cultivation ; besides all these drawbacks, which the small farmer knows little about there is the great expense of carting out the manure from the home- stead to such a great distance, and again carting- home the crop. A single horse will consume the produce of more land, than would feed a small farmer and his wife, and two children ; and what is more than all, the larg« farmer says to his labourers, go to your work, but when the small farmer has occasion to hire them, he says co?ne ; the intelligent reader will, I dare say, understand the difference perfectly. Now if it is really the case that the small farmer has the advantage over the larger, it will be easy accounting for what Mr. Paulet Scroupe observes, in his letter to the agriculturists of the west of England, of the Irish farmers being able to undersell the English in their own markets, because the Irish farmers are generally speaking, s!«flZZ farmers, and the English are large farmers. Mr. Scroupe accounts for the fact which he asserts, of the Irish being able to sell their grain at such low prices, by stating, that they are free from the burden of poor rates, and the taxes, which press on the English ; but he upsets his own argument by afterwards say- ing, that the Irish farmer is obliged to pay to his landlord all that he saves from the overseer. Now if the money goes out of the farmer's pocket, any one may see that it must be matter of indifference whom he pays it to, and if he must give it to the landlord, he is not thereby at all better off than the English farmer who gives it to the overseer. As to the taxes, they come to a trifling charge per quarter on the grain ; I will venture to say, not the fifth part of what the Irish grain is subject to, before it reaches the English market : say freight and charges of ship- ping and unshipping, storing and delivering, com- mission on buying and commission on selling, or if tbe ]}mmm i? ^m^ »pp?i tlj^apcpuRtof tUQ m§i:e)}9ftL g ^ I 430 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. I answer without hesitation, they can live com- fortably, and pay as high a rent as any large far- mer \A'hatever, if the plan is pursued with them which I have recommended, andhave characterized as one in which was involved the happiness and comfort of thousands. I have already stated the success which has attended this plan wherever I have tried it, and although now "out of three years' standing, and of course not yet in complete ope- ration, I should not be afraid to be put to the proof by showing the thing in actual existence, and plain to the eyes and understandings of all those who choose to examine into it, and to whom I could point out many individuals who, upon such small patches of land, were three years ago sunk in misery and despondency, living without hope and acting without energy, who, under the opera- tion of the treatment recommended, have already recovered their spirits, some of them their health (which was injured by the hopelessness of their situation) , and are at present full of energy and exertion, working with all their might, the more speedily to arrive at that comfort and independ- ence, which now, for the first time, appears within their reach. I say it is impossible for any one who has not seen it, to calculate beforehand the total change of habits, character, and circum- stances, that takes place in a man, who is raised from the depths of despondency to the buoyancy of hope. If I am asked to exemplify how this is effected, a few words will suffice to give such an outline, as will clearly enough show how it is to be brought about. A loan of twenty or twenty-five shillings' worth of lime, will, in most parts of Ire- land, insure, without other maniu'e, an English acre of cup potatoes, and will produce after this a crop of grain, a crop of vetches or clover, and a second crop of grain. Those four crops, all ori- ginating in a loan of twenty or twenty-five shil- lings, ought to produce, after deducting cost of seed, not less than 20^. to 25^., being a pound for every shilling lent, and if, in addition to this, the poor tenant had the return from his coiv-hoiise ma- mire, which, in the first instance, is applied to growing turnips, and which, by the quantity re- produced by that crop, will be trebled from year to year, it is easy to imagine how soon the small farmer must be bettered in his circumstances, and how a small loan of this kind, continued for two or three years, must bring an allotment of five to eight acres into a completely productive state, imder the direction of an experienced agricul- turist ; and supposing his rent to be twenty shil- lings per acre, which is an average rate, the whole amount may be paid by fattening one or two pigs and a cow, and this may be accomplished upon half an acre of turnips and potatoes, leaving him seven and a half acres free lor himself, and plenty of manure to cultivate them with, by the possession there must then be a profit to the Irish merchant, and a profit to the English merchant likewise, or the trade cannot be carried on. All these are overlooked by Mr. Scroupe; nor is this to be wondered at, when he seems to have overlooked the absurdity of grounding his argument upon the absence of poor laws in this country, and then proving, as I have shewn, that the said argument is good for nothing. The Irish may be poor creatures, as he calls tiiem, but I firmly believe the very poorest among them could not he made to stand self convicted of such a limited share of reasoning powers, as Mr. Scroupe would appear to be possessed of, judging froia the argument alluded to. of which he will be secured in dailyemployment for himself, his wife, and one or two children able to work, supposing manual labour only to be re- sorted to. ON STACKING CORN. (to the editor of the reading mercurv.) Sir,— The farmers in this part of the country, do not seem to be sufficiently alive to the getting corn quicMy stacked, in the fields of course, if the weather were so settled, as to allow the corn to be carried to the farm yard, it would be more con- venient for all parties. But in catching weather, and when the yard is at a distance, it is a good plan to stack the corn in the field where it is grown ; and by this plan, a man may stack all his wheat in a few hours, and cover it from the rain. This is very much the plan in some counties, and after the stack has had its siveat, a machine is sent into the fields, the corn is thrashed, the chaff and straw preserved. During the thrashing time and till the wheat is cleared off, a tent is fixed close at hand, where two men stay during the night. Some such plan as this is deserving notice, and I beg to recommend it to my friends in Berkshire and Oxfordshire. J. F. BANK OF ENGLAND. An Account of the Liabilities and Assets of the Bank of England, on the Average of THE Quarter, from the third of June to the TWENTY-SIXTH OF AUGUST, INCLUSIVE. Liabilities. Assets. Circulation.. 19,147,000 Deposits 15,384,000 Securities . Bullion . . 28.679,000 8,272,000 36,951,000 LAUNCESTON, (Van DiemansLand),k^xi\ 24. The following is a statement of the value of im- ports and exports at this port during the quarter ending 6th April: — IMPORTS. Groat Britain ...£34,870 3 0 New Soutli Wales 5,2r.l 4 8 Maiu-itiiis 2,679 15 6 Cape of Good Hope 435 12 0 Total... .£43,2 16 15 2 EXPORTS. Groat Britain, 636 tons of Bark £"2,8/5 97i tuns of Whale Oil 1,960 Wool 2,3001bs. & 539,9601bs 40,497 0 Unenumerateci .1,381 10 Total Great Britain 46,713 10 New South Wales 1,005 0 Swan River 650 4 New Zealand 191 0 Total Exports^48,5o9 14 A French statistical writer has lately made the following comparative estimate between England and France: — France. Gt. Britain. Population 32,500,000 ' 25,000,000 Animal power equivalent to 6,303,019 hds 7,275,497 Mills and hydraulic ma- chines 1,500,000 1,200,000 Wind and navigation 3,000,000 12,000,000 Windmills 253,333 240,000 Steam-engines 480,000 6,400,000 Ditto for Ireland 1,002,667 11,536,352 28,118,164 The total animal and mechanical power, therefore, which the United Kingdom employs in commerce and manufactures alone, is more than 150 per cent, greater than what is employed in France, without reference to the proportion between their respective populations. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 4*51 TUXFORD'S PATENT MACHINE FOR CLEANING WHE4T, BARLEY, OATS, &c. Two years ba\'-e now elapsed since we first in- vited attention to this valuable Machine, invented by Mr. Tuxford, of Boston, in Lincolnshire, and the opportunities which we hnve had of communicating with millers manufacturing flour upon a very large scale, both in England and Ireland, enables us to fuU)^ confirm the good opinion we entertained of it in the first instance. It is in a season like tlie pre- sent, when, from the state of the weather, before and during the harvest, a considerable quantity of da- maged and light corn will be found in the bulk of our wheat crop, that the advantages derived from the use of Mr. Tuxford's machine, in cleansing the sample and improving its quality and marketable value will be most clearly proved. To some the price may seem an obstacle, but it should be borne in mind that a small portion of refuse will deteriorate the value of a sample of wheat and spoil the colour of the flour. A reduction of one shilling per quar- ter upon one thousand quarters of wheat — no large quantity — will pay half the cost of a machine cleansing five quarters per hour. The great perfection of machinery for cleaning corn, is its simplicity and cheapness ; hence it is, that the winnowing machine has been pronounced, and certainly is, the most efficient macliine now in use for agricultural purposes. We do not hesitate to afiirm, without fear of contradiction, that Tuxford's Machines are as great an improvement in the clean- ing of corn, as the winnowing machine is over the old hand-fan system. To the corn-factor and miller, it must prove invaluable, — to the maltster a source of great gain, as it removes the damaged and perish- ed barley which will not malt, as well as other re- fuse, thereby improving the quality of the malt, as well as saving the duty on that which is valueless ; and to tlie farmer who may have lost 2s. or .'3s. per qr. on his wheat, because it contained seeds and filth, which could not be removed in the ordinary way, it will be an object worthy of attention. Where there is a thrashing machine, there would be no dif- ficulty in moving the machines by the same power. And where chaff is cut, malt ground, or any other operation of that kind performed by a bprse, the same gear might be attached to this machine ; but, in the absence of such opportunities, we have no doubt that by means of a fly-wheel, the motion could be so distributed as to allow of its being work- ed by hand as well as by steam and water.* W hen we last saw the machine at work, each sieve was cleaning wheat at the rate of one quarter per hour. One person can attend to twelve sieves, being- twelve quarters per hour, or one hundred and twen- ty quarters in a day of ten hours. The Patentee stated that it cleaned oats extremely well, leaving tlie sample particularly bright and level. It should have been observed that the operation performed by this machine, is that which is called reeing, and is al- ways performed by hand. It does not clean corn from the chaff, but is intended to rid it after it has been cleaned in the usual manner of all the refuse which it is found impracticable to remove in the or- dinary way. Few persons would imagine, without being eye-witnesses of the fiict, that so much posi- tive dirt and refuse could be got out of wheat ap- parently quite clean, and which, if suffered to re- main, would injure the colour of the flour several shillings per sack. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENGRAVING. In the engraving the machine is shown at work, with the attendant. The wheat to be cleaned is in the room or large hopper immediately over the ma- chine, and falls from thence into the sieves by means of spouts. Each spout has two gauges, — the one nearest the lower extremity, is worked by a wire rod hanging from a branch lever, which is centered within the rim that is attached to the under part of the floor above ; the other gauge is immediately be- hind the one just mentioned, and is regulated by a thumb-screw : there is another gauge belonging to the machine, situated on the outside of the sieve, but ♦ Since our first notice of the IMaoliine, we finj that a Ma chine was woiked by hand for some time, liaving a lly-wheel as a regulating power, by ftlr. Sanders, corn-merchant, of Boston, Lincoiiishire ; owing to his liaving increased the size of his Machine from a No. 1 to a No. 4, he has adopted .1 small steam-engine tov driving it, &e, 422 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Lid from view in the engraving, it is also worked by a wire rod hanging from the lever that is centered within the rim ; this gauge opens or closes a chan- nel that runs from the inside to the outside of the sieve, along which the wheat, after being cleaned, runs for delivery into the round hopper, (shown be- hind the frame and rigger), and from thence is con- ducted, either to the stones, into sacks, or to eleva- tors, as may be necessarj'. Each sieve is suspend- ed by three rods from the rim above, and consists of two parts — the upper part having a wire bottom, fits into the lower part, which forms a box to it, for receiving the dust, small seeds, mice dirt, &c., which is screened through the wire when the machine is in motion ; in the wire bottom, near to the side of the sieve, is an opening to the channel, which is opened or closed by the third mentioned gauge, by means of a slide worked by finger and thumb ; this opening can be more or less closed, so as to vary the quan- tity of cleaned wlieat passing through it, or, in other words, to keep it longer in the sieve : thougli the channel passes through the box into which the dust falls, it has no communication with it. In the bot- tom of the box is an orifice opening into a tube with a sleeve in it, by opening the sleeve, the dust and other refuse is removed, whilst the machine is at work. The necessary motion is given to the ma- chine by cranks of a particular kind, the pins of which work through bows of iron, bushed with brass ; each sieve has a bow attached to its bottom. The cranks are capable of being made longer or shorter by means of screws ; to the upper end of each spindle, (sliown below the sieves.) a crank is attached. The spindles work in foot-brasses, fas- tened to the floor, and also in bearings attached to the frame-work. Each spindle has a rigger with two groves for catgut, by one it receives motion from the preceding rigger, by the other it communi- cates motion to the succeeding one. Over the head of the attendant in the engraving, is shown a handle or small lever, which is attached to a horizontal bar extending across the whole line of rims ; if this han- dle be pulled down, the bar is partly revolved, and small tongues are thereby made to press upon the ends of the levers crossing the rims, and thev are forced downwards, but the opposite ends -to which the wire rods working the gauges are attached, are elevated, and the gauges are thereby opened. MODE OF WORKING THE MACHINE. The following particulars relating to the working of the machine, were obtained from THE Attendant at Pavitt's Mill, Rother- HITHE. Before setting it into motion, see that the cranks are of proper length for the quality of Wheat to be cleaned, (as very little experience accustoms any one to the proper adjusting of all the parts), then regulate the sliding orifices on the wire bottoms, ac- cording to the quantity of cleaned Wheat you wish to pass through them per hour, and regulate the thumb-screw gauges in the spouts, so that the feed may be proportioned to the delivery ; there must then be introduced into each sieve a quantity of Wheat, between one and two pecks; without there always is this quantity of Wheat in each sieve, the Wheat that passes through them cannot be properly cleaned ; this is done by opening the spout- guages with the hand, and so allowing Wheat to run into the sieves without allowing any to run from them. After attention has been paid to all these particulars, the handle over the head of the attend- ant must be pulled down, and the gauge which closes the spout, and that which closes the channel through which the ckdned Wheat passes, will be opened, and the machine properly at work. Without stopping, the machine can now continue at work until the whole of the Wheat to be cleaned is finish- ed. From the restricted eccentric motion of the sieves, the Wheat in them acquires a centrifugal force, and travels spirally from tlie centre to the cir- cumference ; substances, difl:ering in gravity to the Wheat, acquire a different force, and thus garlic, smut-balls, rat dirt, grown and perished grains, pieces of brick and mortar, and other impure matter, are brought to a head or top in the centre of the sieves, and from thence are removed in regular rota- tion by the attendant. The mice dirt, small seeds, dust, hairy or brush end of the Wheat, and other small substances, pass through the wire bottom into the box below, and from thence are removed by opening the sleeve of the tube. Admitting a coarser sample of Wheat was to be cleaned, the cranks would have to be lengthened by moving the screws, so that in the same time the sieves shall be made to traverse a greater circuit : then the slides would be altered so as to reduce the size of the orifices, and so keep the Wheat longer scouring in the sieves ; and the thumb-screw gauges would be lowered so that the feed to, and the deliveiy from, the sieves should be in proportion. The motion for working the machine can be taken from any direction. The spindles which give the eccentric motion to the sieves should revolve 85 times per minute. One- fourth of a horse's power is more than sufficient tor working a machine of twelve sieves, the cause of the smallness of power may be readily conceived, when it is known that the weight of the sieves and their contents is supported by the floor above, and the power is merely required to give the eccentric mo- tion to the sieves. The following are the prices of the machines, &c., in Boston ready packed : — Cleans per occupies a space of hour. No. 1. 3 qrs. 9 feet by 7 fiO gs. 2. 5 qrs. 9 feet by 9 100 gs. 3. 7 qrs. 9 feet.by 13 140 gs. 4. 9 qrs. 9 feet by 17 180 gs. The room must be 7 feet high at the least. Horticultural Experiment. — A bed of about 200 onions, of the Tripoli kind, have been reared this season in the garden of Mrs. Bewicke, Close House. They are of an extraordinary size, many of them measuring seventeen and eighteen in- ches in eircumference. They are of exquisite fla- vour, and certainly are a rare production (at least in this part of the kingdom), though it may be ques- tioned whether they will keep any length of time. They do infinite credit to the superior skill and in- dustry of Mr. Joseph Clarke, the gardener, for the science hehas displayed in their cultivation. Gigantic Trees. — The Pepperwell oak at Methven Castle, near Pertli, is the largest tree of the kind in Scotland. It must have been of some consequence in 1722, as 100 merks were then offered for it. In 1796 it measured 14^ feet in circum- ference ■■ it now measures 18 feet, and contains 700 cubic feet of timber. The diameter of the space oc- cupied by its branches is about 100 feet. The largest cedar in Scotland is at Gray-house, near Dundee; the largest beech at Newbattlo Abbey, IVIid Lothian ; and the largest plane at Kipjiencross, near Dum- blane, — Dundee Chronicle, THE FARMER^S MAGAZINE. 423 iSRISTOL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. The first exhibition of live stock, implements of husbandry, &c., of this society, which took place at the New Cattle Market on Saturday, Sept. 6, ■was most numerously attended both by the mem- bers of the society and by non-subscribers : nearly 370 of the latter were admitted on payment of one shilling each. — The show of cattle was very satisfactory and the whole passed off in a manner calculated to give the highest hopes for the pros- ])ccts of the society. Various resolutions and votes of thanks were then passed, and the judges* having brought up their report, the following premiums and bounties were awarded : — s. d. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 CLASS 1.— LIVE STOCK. To Mr. Samuel Pim Jackson, for exhibiting £ the best bull, cow, and offspring, short- horned breed, the premium of 10 To Mr, Henry Cottrell, for the second best bull, cow and offspring, improved short- horn breed, a bounty of 5 To Mr. Robert Joliffe for the best fat steer, Hereford breed, the premium of 5 To Mr. John Haine, for the best fat heifer, Devon breed, the premium of 4 And a further bounty of 2 The heifer possessing great merit for per- fect symmetry, quality of flesh, and lightness of offal. To Mr. George Webb Hall, for the three best breeding heifers, Durham breed, the premium of 5 To Mr. Kenry Cottrell, for the second best breeding heifers, improved short- horn breed, n bounty of 3 To Mr. Thomas Hardwick, for the four best fat Wethers, West Country breed, the premium of 3 To Mr. George Rich, for the best pen of long-wool ewes, improved Cotswold breed, the premium of 3 To Mr. Edwin Allies for the second best ditto, same breed, a bounty of 2 To Mr. George Rich, for the best long- wool ram, improved Cotswold breed, the premium of 3 To Mr. Thomas Hardwick, for the second best ditto, a bounty of 2 To Mr. John Hember, for the best cart stallion, the jjremium of 5 To Mr. John Scott for the second best ditto, a bounty of 2 To Mr. John Hemher, for the best boar and sow, the premium of 2 To Mr. George Webb Hall, for the second best ditto, a bounty of 1 The following bounties were also adjudged for extra stock. To Mr. Thomas Smith, for four three-yr- £ s. d old Hereford steers 4 To Ditto for a fat ox (Hereford breed) . . 2 To Mr. John Beard, for a Durham heifer 2 To Ditto, for a Durham bull 2 To Mr. Robert Jolliffe, for a three -year-old Down steer 3 To Ditto, for a fat ox (Hereford breed) . . 1 To Ditto, for a three-yr-old Durham steer 3 * The Jiu/ges of Live Stock. — Mr. Ev^^n David, Rhadyr, Glamorganshire ; Mr. Joun Dawbin, Hunts- pill, Somersetshir ; and Mr. Thomas HAnnwicKE, Tytherington, Qloucestershire, 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 £ s. 0 10 2 0 1 0 To Mr. John Hember, for a boar and sow To Mr. John Beard, for two Durham cows To Mr. George Rich, for three long-wool rams To Ditto, for seven long-wool ewes ...... 2 0 IMPLEMENTS OF HUSBANDRY. To Mr. George Webb Hall, for a press roller, recommended by the judges as highly beneficial in producing a firm staple for the wheat plant in light soils, a bounty of 10 0 A committee for awarding premiums for In- dustry and Good Behaviour, consisting of the fol- lowing gentlemen. — Alderman Haythorne, Dr. Carrick, Mr. P. D. Tuckett, Mr. T. B. Were, Mr. Robert Gould, and Mr. John Nattris, — having been appointed by the meeting, they ad- judged as follows, viz : — To Elizabeth Howell, for merit in assist- £ s. d, ing to support her aged parents, with whom she resides, a bounty of 1 0 0 To Robert Tovey, for 28 years successive servitude under Mr. Geo. W. Hall and family, the premium of 4 0 0 To Robert Amory, for nearly 18 years servitude under Mr. R. T. Lilly, the premium of 3 0 0 To William Hawkins, for upwards of 16 years' servitude under Mr. Jas. Edw- Colston, the premium of 2 0 0 To Gabriel Reeves, for 14 years' uninter- rupted servitude under Mr. Richard Mullins, whom he bad previously served ten years, with about one month s intermission, a bounty of 2 0 0 After the business of the day, about sixty gen- tlemen sat down to an excellent dinner at the Bush, where the Mayor presided ; Mr. Alderman Haythorne heading the second table. — Among the gentlemen present were recognized H. S. Pigott, Edw. Sampson, W. P. Taunton, G. W. Hall, and E. Allies, Esqrs. — His worship on presenting the succesful candidates with their prizes, accomj)a- uied the same with some appropriate remarks ; and the day was passed with great glee and sa- tisfaction. An oak tree was dug up in the moor of Hatfield Chase, Yorkshire, about 1808, which was 120 feet long, 12 feet diametrically thick at the great end, 10 feet in the middle, and 6 feet at the small end ; so that by a moderate computation the tree must have been as long again. In Fredville Park (Kent) are three oaks called Majesty, Beauty, and Stately. Tlie first at 8 feet from the ground is 28 feet in girtJi ; the second, rising straight and clear in the stem to the height of 70 feet, and 10 feet in girth 4 feet from the ground ; the last, at the same height, more than 18 feet in girth. There are 33 millions of cultivated, or capable acres in England, 9 millions in Scotland, and 16 mil- lions in Ireland ; in all 58 millions ; and taking tlie families at four millions, nearly 15 acres to each family. Every acre will supjiort a family on vege- table diet, but in flesh and vegetables, three acres are required to live in plenty. The United Kingdom might, therefore, support 300 millions of inhabitants on vegetable, or 100 millions on flesh and vegetables, without resorting to the 20 millions of acres of cul- tivated soil. 424 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. THE OTTERHOUND. The Otterhound is a mixed breed between the hai-dy southern hound and the large rough terrier. His head is large and broad, his ears long and pen- dulous ; he is in size betwixt the harrier and the fox- hound ; is thick quartered and shouldered ; his hair strong and wiry, and somewhat shaggy. He is a bold and fierce dog, and has a full and harmonious voice. He is usxially sandy-coloured on the back, the sides, and the neck, witli the lower parts white ; he carries his tail, which is rough, in the manner of a foxhound. Otter hunting, during the reign of Queen Eliza- beth, was a favourite amusement amongst the young gentry of Great Britain, at which period that animal was much more numerous than at the present time, being greatly reduced since population became more dense, and gamekeepers more generally used, who employ all kinds of traps and guns to destroy them. Cultivation hns also contributed to lessen this de- structive creature. Otterhounds were kept in small packs of from six to sixteen, seldom exceeding that number. The sport of otter-hunting is now little understood, and is quite on the decline in this country. Paris Races. — The Sweepstakes which were run for on the 9th ult. in the Champ-de-Mars consisted of l,200f. given by the Government, and 150f. entrance for each horse, amounting to a total of l,800f. Four horses were entered for this race, but only two start- ed, Cremieux's JMiss Kelly, and Lord H. Seymour'? Atalante, having been drawn. Once round the course. M. Fasquel's b. c. Mulloc (got by Milton, Lis dam Darthula) threw his rider, Mizen, near the bridge, who was much injured. M. Cheri Salva- dor's b. 0. Ferragus broke over the ropes after hav- ing passed the Rlilitary School, but returned, can- tered in, and claimed the prize. A report came to the knowledge of the Jury, that Ferragus's Jockey had run Mulloc against the ropes. It was finally decided by the Jury that Mulloc should go round tlie course within the given time (viz. three minutes), and the prize was awarded to M. Fasquel. The second race for the prix principal (5,900f.), twice round, was won by Lord Henry Seymour's br. h. Fra Diavolo, 4 yrs old, got by Filho da Puta, dam Tene- rife (rode by Robinson), beating M. Leon Benard's b. m. Miss Tandem, M. Leonte's ch. m. Valentia, Cremieux's ch. m. Taglioni, and Count de Kerga- rion's ch. m. Rosette. M. Fasquel's b. m. Almaida, did not start. Valentia, Taglioni, and Rosette were drawn the second heat. A match was run for 5,000f. a-side between Count Demidoff 's ch. h. Tim, 4 yrs, and Lord Henry Seymour's bl. h. Tourist, 5 yrs old, which was won by the latter. This was a well-con- tested race, and gave the amateurs an opportunity of judging the speed of well-trained race-horses. The Royal Prizes were to be run for yesterday. Extraordinary Feat. — A jumping-matcli for 50/. was decided on Saturday, August SOih, at Bolton-le-Moors, Lancashire, between a young man, known as " the Mountain Stag," and Benjamin Hart, who has hitherto been considered the best runner and jumper in that county. 1'he " Stag" commenced, and taking his weights, covered with ease 23 feet 6 inches of ground. Hart, according to the condi- tions, then had five jumps allowed. In his first ef- fort he reached 23 feet 1 inch ; second, 23 feet 2 inches ; third, 22 feet 10 inches ; fourth, 22 feet 8 inches ; and fifth, 23 feet 5 inches ; consequently losing the match by one inch. TJje winner stands 6 feet 1 inch high, and is open to jump any man in England, for 100/. Hart can also be backed to run 200 yards. 3,000 persons were present. To Destroy Rats. — Cut dried sponge into small pieces, and fry it or dip it in lioney ; it will thus distend the intestines : the addition of a little oil of rhodium will tempt them to it. Bird-lime laid in their haunts will stick to their fur and cause them to tear themselves to pieces to get rid of it. If a live rat were caught and well anointed with tar and train-oil, and afterwards set at liberty, the offensive smell would cause him to traverse all the holes of his companions with the most distressing anxiety, and cause them all to disappear. — Laughton's Receipt Book, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 425 REPORT OF THE CROPS. BIRMINGHAM, Sept. 11.— The weatber which was most unpromising- at the time we issued our last monthly circular, cleared up the following day, and has remained favourable during the greater part of the period which has since elapsed. Although the state of tlie larger proportion of the new wheat brought to market proves that tlie injury done was very serious, yet the belief that the farmers hold an unusually large quantity of old, and that the new crop was fully an average one in quan- tity, added to the indisposition of our millers (most of whom had purchased freely during the advance) to increase their stocks, and an anxiety on the part of the farmers to realize, with no corresponding rise in the North of England, produced a great reaction in the trade, and even fine old English wheats have been sold at nearly as low a rate as at any time dur- ing the last season ; say red, 5s. lOd. to 6s., white, 6s. to 6s. 3d. per 62 lbs. We understand that some quantity of inferior wheat is now being ground up for pig-feeding, which, with the relative liigh prices of all other grain, lessens the probability of any fur- ther reduction. Indeed our markets have exhibited more firmness for wheat the last week. Our accounts from Ireland are by no means favourable, as to either the quantity or quality of the new wheat. In the West of England and South Wales, there are com- plaints of a deficiency in the quantity, but from most other districts the crop is spoken of as an abun- dant one. Some fair old Irish red has been sold as low as 5s. 4d., and very fine at 5s. 8d. per 62 lbs. at Birmingham. Although the quantity of Barley proves greater than was expected, yet the quality and yield is verj' generally complained of; and even where it has been secured in good condition, it will in very few instances equal last year's samples, when not stained or sprouted, being thin and flinty, while a consider- able portion is only fit for grinding purposes. So little malting Barley has yet been sold that we con- sider the price as unfixed for the opening sea- son. The rates demanded for the best old are from 36s. to 40s. per imperial quarter, but with these terms our maltsters will not comply. For grinding parcels we have a fair demand at '27s. to 28s. per 3921bs. at Birmingham. Oats continue in request, at high relative prices, compared with Liverpool ; and most of the arrivals being taken ex-ship, by the consumers, the stock at Gloucester is consequently still light. The reports of this crop in the West of England, and some parts of Ireland, are unfavourable, but generally good from the latter. Our present prices are for prime North of Ireland, 22s to 22s. 6d. ; other descrip- tions, 21s. to 21s. Cd. per 312 lbs. at Gloucester. Clear bright old, 371b. to .S9lb. qualities are in demand for Oxfordshire, and worth 21s. to 21s. 6d. per 3121bs. ex-ship. Beans have proved even worse tlian was antici- pated, and from the cast of those which have beeji already thrashed, it is probable they are not more than one-fourth an average produce in those districts which usually supply this town and neighbcurliood. The samples are generally ordinary, shrivelled and light, from blight ; and said to weigh not more tlian 581bs. per imperial bushel. Old are worth from I5s. 9d. to 16s. 6d.— New, 15s. to I5s. 6d. per 1961bs. Peas are reported to be above an average crop, but much injured and wasted !)}'• the wet weathei-. Old grinding qualities are a free sale, at 16s. per 1961bs. The quality of the new Vetches is also inferior, from the same cause as Beans. Winters sre seUicg at from 8s. to 8s. 6d. per imperial bushel. We annex some extracts from our Correspondents. PADSTOW, CORNWALL.— lam this morning in receipt of your favour of the 28th inst. With re- gard to new barley, I bear of none being sprouted, but a vast quantity little or more stained ; there is no doubt but it will malt well after it has sweated in the stacks for a short time. We shall be able to produce some really good bright Barley about No- vember ; but most farmers appear very cautious in selling. The yield is not so good as was expected, except that grown on good land, and ripened early. I hear of no complaint as to the yield of wheat ; it is as good in yield and quality as we have had it for many vears. B'UDE, near STRAT TON, CORNWALL.— The oat crop in this neighbourhood turns out very deceptive. Within the last fortniglit it has been discovered that the heaviest burthens in appearance will scarcely furnish three-fourths of an average crop. Barley isalso defective, the quality thin, and the quantity below what was anticipated ; in addition to which, the latter harvest has been much interfered with by rain. The general sample of this article will be inferior. Some wheat has been well saved, and some indifferently. On the whole we are in- clined to believe that the majority of svunples will be pretty good. There is very little thrashed at pre- sent, and we cannot state accurately what the yield may turn out, but our present opinion is, that we have decidedly a low average crop. DORSET AND LOWER PART OF SOMER- SETSHIRE.— As themonthis just closed, I thought I would give you some information respecting the crops. A good deal of wheat was well secured in the early part of this month ; and since the very heavy rain little has been injured ; but a good deal since the fine weather alludfd to, has been put to- gether in bad condition. The samples brought to market of new wheat, if we may judge from these, show a much greater dnmige than I supposed, and has forced down such to 5s and 5s Cd per busliel ; at which prices a good deal of the new wlieat is by no means a ready sale. The late wheats are decidedly bad in the kern. Most of the barley is secured, and a good deal of it pretty well; but there is stillagood deal about, and not cut ; there is a complaint of its being thin and of bad colour. I should think there will not, oil an average, be half the quantity of barley fit for malting as last year ; and the quality of this is very inferior to the average of last year. Now the oats are cut, there is considerable complaint of a de- ficiency ; good new and old are worth 28s. The black is the best crop. The quality of the peas is not so good as was expected ; they were bliglited before they were ripe, and this has caused them to be shrivelled. Vetches are very scarce, and the yield very bad ; they have risen from 7s. to 8s. 6d., with a short supply. I think on the whole we have not liad so unfavourable a harvest tliis three or four years, and at present what corn is secured is in bad condi- tion. For fen days past, I think we have had but two good saving days. BARNSTAPLE. — We now send you a report of our corn crops as correctly as they can be ascertained to the present date, and are under tlie necessity of stating that the expectation of the farmers at the be- ginning of this month, is far from being realized, the wheat early cut (say full one-third) being ex- posed to much rain, is found to contain sprouted corns ; and as it was carried in damp condition it will be several months before it can be used, unless with a considerable mixture of old corn. The re- mainder of the wheat (with the exception of a few fields iu some late districts now out) was cut and 426 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. housed in the best condition ; the quality will chiefly he good, (though the white wheat has a mildew ap- pearance) aud the yielding will be found a full aver- age one. The barley and oats have been much in- jured by a blight, accompanied with rust, which took place in the last two or three days of July ; the for- mer is mostly coarse, ill-coloured, and a large por- tion thin and light ; it appears tbe best samples will be three or four lbs per busliel lighter than the aver- age of barley last year. The oats have suffered more ; they are very tailly ill-coloured, tbin, and light; and nearly similar to the growth of 18'i8, which were little bett(3r than the shapes of oats. We have lieaid of many acres of barley, and a considerable portion of Oats that is intended to be kept in its present state for ibdder, as there is not sufficient corn in it to pay for thrashing ; and from tlie best information we caii collect, the barley will fall short one-third, and the oats at least one-half of marketable corn from what was expected a month since. At the close of last week there was about one-eighth of the oats, and three-fourths of the barley in the fields ; since which, opportunities of a few hours dry weather has enabled the farmers to carry about one-half it, though in a very damp state, as we have had heavy rain with little intermission for the last ten days ; yet as the air is so much altered since the early wheat was cut, there is not that disposition in the corn to sprout, which appeared at the beginning of the harvest. ]\Iost of the barley and oats are now cut, and four or five days of fine weather would en- able the farmers to place nearly the whole of it under cover ; at present the rain is very heavy, with every appearance of its continuing. WHITMINSTER and NEIGHBOURHOOD.— Wheat, an average quantity, — not so good in qua- lity as the last year's growth, by at least 8s. per qr ; being stained and very rough and irregular. Barley is better here than in tbe surrounding districts ; al- together, we say it is a fair crop. Beans remark- ably bad ; in short we have hardly seen a good sample. TEW^KESBURY. — The wheat crop is an average in bulk, but the quality is generally inferior, and a large proportion is much injured by the rains. Bar- ley is, with very few exceptions, rough and inferior, and it is expected very little of it will malt well. Beans are quite a bad crop ; the quality will be in- ferior, and they are expected to prove much worse than was calculated upon. MITCHELDEAN, ROSS, &c.— The crop of wheat this season would have been a good one as to quantity, but it has sustained much damage from the wet, and there is scarcely a sample but what is more or less grown, and the quality in other respects is far inferior to last year's growth. Barley is also very rough and inferior, and in weight none of it will compare with last year's growth by many pounds the bushel. STROUD. — Wheat, an average crop, and a part of it tolerably well saved in this quarter. Barley a middling crop, and mostly of inferior qualit}^. WORCESTER.— The general report of the wheat crop in this county and neighbourhood is, that it yields well, and will be a full average in quantity ; but the quality of the best samples is much worse than last year, and a large proportion of the grain is more or less injured, by having been prematurely housed. Barley is expected to be a pretty good crop in quantity, but the quality is very inferior, being thin, rough, and much discoloured. Beans are very badly spoken of ; the yield has proved so far, quite deceptive; — some farmers who calculated upon having secured a good crop, find upon thrash- ing, a great deficiency; and the quality ig also infe- rior ; upon the whole, this crop is considered even less than last year. The few Oats grown in this neighbourhood are worse than was anticipated. SALOP. — Although I have seen many samples of new wheat, I have not seen one equal to last year; they are dark, rough, many sprouted, and owing to being hurried into the stacks, I expect there will be a good deal mow-burnt. Barleys are dark, and gene- rally unfit for malting purposes. Oats are dark and rough, and many still out, more than any other sort of grain round here. New beans are bad in quality, and very deficient in quantity ; I never saw so bad a crop as the present. CLEOBUllY. — I am just in receipt of your's of the 28di. I consider the yield of my wheat this year, quite equal to last, and the weight also. In respect to our barley, the early sown is all got in in good order, so far as dryness goes ; but the late bar- ley is more than half out. I have not been able to get a load this week, and only missed a very few Lours that I had any chance. I have between 20 and 30 waggon loads about, and getting in a bad state, if the weather continues wet, but it was cut green, and will stand a good deal of bad weather be- fore it sprouts. The early barley is very bad colour, and uneven sample ; the late by far the best. I consider mine a full average crop : I should say 25 to 28, or 30 bushs. per acre, of 38 quarts ; and what is housed is of good colour for our strong land. CHEPSTOW. — With regard to our barley, about two-thirds of it is secured ; and the weather having been very bad this last week, what is out is very much stained ; that which is secured in very thin and unkind, and about one-half of it stained. The barley crop in this neighbourhood is considered as to quality the most inferior that has be, 'n for many years, independent of the injury sustained from the weather, but the farmers do not consider the quantity below an average crop. BANBURY. — From all I can learn, the barley crop round here will be extremely various; many farmers considering there will be a, considerable de- ficiency, whilst others report very well. Of the wheat I may say the same ; some being much dis- appointed at the yield, whilst others considered it very good. It is consequently impossible to form a correct opinion as to quantity, not so as to quality ; there has been no wheat to market without sprout, and the barley that was secured during the finest wea- ther is, compared to the last year's, of a miserable colour. POWER OF MACHINERY IN GREAT BRITAIN. Mr. W. Pares, at a public meeting lately at Birmingham, stated, in proof of the increase of the powers of production, by the improvement of machi- nery, that in 1792, the machinery in existence was equal to the labour of ten millions of labourers — in 1827, to two hundred millions — and in 1833, to four hundred millions. In the cotton trade, spindles that used to revolve fifty times in a minute, now revolve in some cases eight tiiousand times a minute. At one mill at Manchester there are 136,000 spindles at work, spinning one million two hundred thousand miles of cotton thread per week. Mr. Owen, at New Lanark, with 2,500 people, daily produces as much cotton 3-avn as will go round the earth twice and a half. The total machinery in the kingdom is cal- culated now to be equal to the work of four hundred millions, and might be increased to an incalculable extent; under proper arrang;einent. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 427 GERMAN FAIRS. The following are details reapecting the great an- nual fair at Frankfort on the Oder : — ' The merchan- dise of the Commercial Union amounted to 64,389 quintals, but last year it was only 48,173, and busi- ness in general has been much more animated. The chief directions of the merchandise are the eastern and northern frontiers, Lithuania, Poland, Cracow, and Gallicia ; a smaller portion has been sent into Bohemia, Mecklenburg, Brunswick, and Hanover. The principal articles are English cottons, calicoes, nankeens, satins, velvets, and merinos. French silks and cottons from Alsace are much in request, also the shawls of half silk of Vienna, and cloths. The same may be said of indigenous produce, and that which comes from Russia."' A letter of the 26th ultimo from Brunswick says — ' Our fair, which is always one of the most fiequented m the north of Germany, has this year been more so than ever, and a great deal of profitable business has been done. More cloths have been sold than the merchants brought with them, and it has been neces- snry to send for fresh supplies. The leather, iron, silks, and other merchandise from France and F^ng- Jand, have met with a very advantageous market. Horses have been sold at very high prices, in conse- quence of the great demand for the Governments of Holland and Belgium.' LANDLORDS AND TENANTS. If the farmers were to make out a fair statement of the existing circumstances between landlords and tenants, we know that it would convince sooner than all the arguments and theories of visionary speculatists. We are fully aware that a mistaken doctrine has got abroad in reference to this subject; and that the belief generally is, that if farmers pay too highi rents, the landlords can easily relieve them by granting a reduction suited to the times and fall in the prices of grain. But let one example, taken from many hundreds, suf- fice : — During the time of the war with France, a proprietor converted 300 acres of muirland into arable; he expended on fences, trenching, drain- ing, &c. 6,000^. ; on dwelling-houses and offices 1,000^. Prior to its improvement, the land brought 5s per acre, or 751. in whole ; and, after its im- provement, it brought 30s per acre, or 450^, in whole, thus yielding 751. rent of land in its natural state, and 375^. interest of the 7,000/. sunk in im- proving. The farm produced, taking Oats and Barley, about seven bolls per acre, which brought on an average upwards of 25s per boll, or about 9^. per acre, thus leaving at least 71. to pay seed, labor, manure, and other expenses. The land, it" equally cultivated, might continue to produce the same number of bolls, but each boll would only bring 15s 6d in the market, or about 51. 10s per acre ; hence, although the proprietor of the soil should exact no rent, the farmer cannot continue to labor the ground as formerly. — He must allow the greater part to remain in pasture, and thus gradually reduce the lately improved soil to its original barren state. Let the farmer adopt a twelve shift rotation, viz. — Eight years' jiasture, one Oats, one Barley, one Fallow, Potatoe, and Turnip, and one Barley sown out with Grass seeds. — He could not afford to pay more than 15s per acre, and even that reduced sum he would be enabled to pay, merely by reducing the number of his ploughmen from eight to two, and his day laborers in a similar proportion. But, whilst the most skilful practical farmer cannot, at the present low prices, pay more than 225Z.for the farm which was, in the days of high prices, acknowledged a good bargain at 450/.; the proprietor cannot afford to let the farm at the reduced rent without sustain- ing an actual loss, equal to the original value of the land, and the interest of the money expended in converting il; from waste to arable. The interest of 7,000/. at three per cent, amount to 210/., to which if 75/. the rent received before improvement, be added, makes the rent to which the landlord is justly entitled, 285/. ; hence, by reducing the rent to the prese.it times, he, in reality, only receives 10/. instead of 75/. as formerly, and these 10/. will not nearly pay the public burthens connected with the soil. This is a true picture of the case as it now stands betwixt many tenants and their land- lords, and we feel convinced that the more such plain matter of fact cases are brought before the public, the more will commercialists and agricul- turists feel the necessity of uniting together in endeavouring to secure the welfare of the whole community. We are aware that it is a very general, but mistaken opinion, that proprietors were amply compensated for all their outlay in bringing under the plough waste lands, during the twenty years' receipt of high rents ; but be it rem- membered that, during these years, they would have realised seven and a half per cent, had they laid out their capital on house property ; and thus the proprietor, who improved the 300 acres, only received a return of 375/. annually instead of 525/., thereby sustaining an actual loss of 150/. yearly, compared with house properties in the large towns. X. AGRICULTURE IN FLANDERS. It is a pleasure to observe the laborious industry of the Flemish farmer, recruited by intervals of com- fortable and decent refreshment ; and not less agree- able to perceive the farm servants treated with kind- ness and respect, and who uniformly dine with the farmer and his family. In Flanders the gentlemen are all farmers ; but the farmers do not aspire to be gentlemen, and their servants feel the benefit. They partake with them a plentiful and orderly meal, which varies according to circumstances. The labourer is in general very well able to support himself by his work ; in a country where so much manual labour is required in weeding, the labourer's family is occu- pied pretty constantly in summer ; and in winter they spin. Each day-labourer has, in most cases, a small quantity of land, from a rood to half an acre, for his own cultivation. In common times a beggar is scarcely to be seen, except in the towns, and but few there. In the country, habits of industry are kept up till health fails ; and to meet the infirmities of age, the poor possess a revenue from pious dona- tions, regulated by the government, and vested by them in commissions, of which the mayors of the different communes are presidents respectively, in right of their ofHce. 'I'he Flemish farmer- seldom amasses riches, but is rarely afflicted with poverty : industry and frugality are his characteristics ; he never looks beyond the enjoyment of moderate com- forts ; abstains from spirituous liquors, however easily to be procured ; never exceeds his means ; pays his rent punctuall}^ and, in case of emergency, has always somewhat to command beyond his neces- sary disbursements. This is effected too upon a soil naturally the reverse of rich ; and, in fiict, a bad soil. Vet such is the effect of industry, sobriety, and skill, that there are about five souls to eight Eng- lish acres. Notwithstanding this, one-third of the 428 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. produce of the land is annually exported ! — than which no circumstance can better mark the skill, the industry, and the frugalify of the Flemish farmer. In England, Sadler says there are about ten souls to every twenty acres. In Ireland, thirty acres to ten persons. What will the IMalthusinns and eraig-ation- ists say to this, who recommended the transportation of our surplus hands, and, of course, of our best and most efficient labourers ! The soil of Flanders, far inferior to our own, can sustain twice the amount of human existence. The secret of this is, that the work is done by the ' spade and hoe.' The farms are all small, though 'rent and taxes' are heavy; but tlie farmers and labourers ure sober, skilful, in- dustrious, and frugal ! TO THE EDITOR OF THE FARMERS' MAGAZINE. Sir, — The liability of the soil of South Britain to tithes in kind for more than a 1000 years, may be regarded as one of the most remarkable instances of the triumph, or as some would say, the dishon- our, of the aristocratic, or Tory principle. With- out pretending to much accuracy, the following statement will exhibit a sufficiently just view of the way in which despotism has here, as in some other cases, overreached itself, by suffering the clergyman's ancient portion to encroach on the rental of the landlord, as well as on the capital of the improving tenantry. I suppose that the soil of England and V/ales, which is either cultivated, or capable of cultivation, is about thirty million acres, and that the woodland, when new planta- tions are included, may not have been diminished materially within the last eighty years. Population of South Britain about years ago, say. 2,000,000 Arabic land acres Pasture land ■ Woods Ist period, tithes 9 per cent. About 1750, Population Arable land acres Pasture land Woods 2ud period, tithes 13 per cent. 1800, Population Arable land acres Pasture land Woods 3rd period, tithes 15 per cent. 1833, Population .... Arable land aci-es Pasture land Woods 4tli period, tithes 18 per cent. 2,000,000 3,000,000 25,000,000 30,000,000 7,000,000 7,000,000 20,000,000 3,000,000 30,000,000 9,000,000 9,000,000 18,000,000 3,000,000 30,000,000 14,000,000 11,000,000 16,000,000 3,000,000 30,000,000 1-7 1-9 1-12 Tithes. 285,714 333,333 2,083,333 2,702,380 1-6 1-8 1-10 1,16G,GG6 2,500,000 300,000 3,966,666 1-5 1-7 1-10 1,800,000 2,571,428 300,000 1-4 1-7 1-10 4,671,428 2,750,000 2,285,714 300,000 5,335,714 The above calculations show that had tithes been commuted- for land (which I think would certainly have been the case, had the government under- stood the way in which they obstruct cultivation), the landowners would have parted with only half as many acres 1000 years ago, as would be de- manded at the present time. Indeed, it is difficult to say what the titheowners would now, or very soon, demand, if the parliament does not interfere to put a stop to all further encroachment, for we sometimes hear now of one-third or one-half of the rent being paid for tithes ; and, in the case of very poor land, which requires much labour and expense to make it produce any thing, instances have occurred in which the titheowner has actu- ally received more per acre than the landlord, and between them both it is ])robable the poor tenant may often receive nothing at all for his labour. The modern overwhelming abundance of popu- lation, it is well known, has led to the turning much pasture land to arable, a ])rocess which a due consideration of the preceding table will show is equivalent to giving 10 or 12 per cent, of the land, at once, to the clergy, though some of them have been considerate enough to promise not to take advantage of the present tenant, in that re- spect. So it is well known that the additional labour bestowed on arable land in modern times, has caused the titheman's claim to advance since about 1750, from one-sixth to one-fifth, one-fourtli, one-third, one-half, &c., as if all the ingenuity of the farmer, and the almost forced labour of a bur- densome superabundance of pojjulation, was to be exerted in behalf of those who contributed nothing to either. Government at some former period, very wisely and justly put a maximum of 5s per acre, (appa- rently for the benefit of trade), on the tithe of flax, hemp, and madder, and had the farmers been deemed worthy of notice (as they very seldom have) a tithe maximum would long ago have been put on hops and potatoes. Bernadotte, king of Sweden, it is said, has lately refused to suft'er po- tatoes to be tithed, as being not mentioned in the ancient feudal laws. Had the British parliament been equally careful of the interests of the poor Irish cottiers, in this respect, what an infinity of agitation and misery had been averted from that unhappy country. The advocates of the Irish clergy assert, that, in fact, seldom more than one- twentieth, often only one-thirtieth or one-fortieth of the real value of the tithe is taken in Ireland, but it is obvious what a source of heart-burning the tithe of potatoes must be, when it is known that the tithe of the labour only, if raised by spade culture, would be at least 12s an acre. The tithe system, among its other bad qualities, has probably had no small share in perpetuating the Romish superstition ; for if every Irish protestant clergyman, a hundred or even fifty years ago, had received an allotment or allotments, amounting to 400 or 500 acres in lieu of tithes, and had let them in small parcels to the poor, it cannot be ima- gined that many of them would have refused to hear their rector and landlord, in his ministerial capacity ; especially as there is reason to believe (from what we see in England) that the clei-gy would not have turned out their small tenantry, to meet famine, pestilence, and death, as has been latterly the case with too many of the aristocracy, in obedience to the cold, heartless, cruel, and mis- chievous precepts of modern political economy. The clergy, however, till lately, have been too generally inim.ical to commutation of tithe for land. They and their Tory compeers among the lay aristocracy, have held out against the cry of the tenantry, till the knife of the Catholic and the worldling were at the throat of the Irish Church. And let the British clergy, too, (warned by the signs of the times), beware of this sort pf moj-al THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 420 suicide, and yield to a fair and moderate commu- tation, before the impoverished tenantry join in the desperate and revolutionary cry of abolition. The example of the Irish parliament of 1735, which abolished agistment tithe of their own parks, &c. &c., left the whole burden on the poor cultivators of potatoes, &c., may show clearly that landlords, rather than tenants, are to be feared as abolition- ists. Landlords, are, indeed, generally speaking, no friends to revolution ; but let them and their tenants become hopelessly poor, (as ?eems likely to be the case), and let the manufacturers, &c., offer the landlords the tithes (as was done in France) as a revolutionarif douceur, and the esta- blished Church may well tremble at the conse- quences. Since the above wai> written, the House of Lords has rejected the Irish tithe bill ; " the only nil," as Lord Duncannon said, " which was ever submitted to the legislature ivhicli designed a benefit to the peasantry of Ireland." The principal ground of rejection seems to be the bonus of 40 per cent. to the landlords, as an inducement to take the burden from the tenantry ; although, as I have shewn, the tithes have doubled in valice by the pro- gress of modern cultivation, and increased still further by the great amount of manual labour be- longing to jjotatoe cultivation. This argument, if indeed it were ever brought forward, appears to go for nothing with the Tory peers ; nor another of equal amount which some of the advocates of the Irish clergy have often brought forward, viz. as above mentioned, that the Irish tithe owners seldom receive one-twen- tieth, often only one-thirtieth or one-fortieth of the produce. Either of the above arguments, I conceive, ought to induce both the Irish and the English clergy to lower their demands very considerably, and to agree next session, to a very moderate final commutation of tithes; and tha.t for a certai7i per ccntage of land, rather than a portion of the rent, which continually reminds the landowners of a tax, which many of them may hope some revolu- tion of times may enable them to shake off. I have never been able to see the advantages of clergyman possessing land instead of tithes, nor the necessity, or utility, of the tithe allotment be- ing in one farm. This, however, might often be done without any difficulty, where one land-pro- ■prietor has four or five farms in one parish, and a number of smaller allotments, would enable a clergymen to oblige a greater number of his neigh- bours, and let some for spade cultivation to the poorest classes. In order to make due allowance, in England, for that more expensive mode of cul- tivation, which must be the result, if employed, of an abundant population, I conceive the parlia- ment might order, and the clergy ought to con- sent, to a division of the land, similar to the prac- tice, as above stated, of 70 or 80 years ago, viz. one-sixth of the arable, and one-eighth of the pas- tures And to prevent modern improvements from being cast entirely into the hands of the land- owner, about ten per cent, more than the above proportions might be taken from the gentry, and reserved as a general, not parochial, fimd, for the pi-omotion of education, the purchase of moral and relig'ious books, &c., for the general advantage of the lower classes. In Ireland, such a plan, besides contributing, as above mentioned, to l)reak the iron bonds of Catholic superstition, might be made to furnish a material relief to the poor, in hospi- tals, &c., and probably tlie Irish landlords would think it as advieable to give up half the propoBcd bonus on the tithes, of 40 per cent., as to contri- bute an equrJ sum in poor rates. I am aware, however, that some English land- lords have talked of giving willingly one-fourth of the arable land in lieu of tithes. Mr. Bennet, M.P. for Wilts, at some meeting a year or two back, observed — as a proof that tithes obstruct cultiva- tion— that if a farmer laid 10/. worth of maid on his land, one-fourth of it would be claimed by the tithe-owner. This is very true, and it is equally so, that the other three-fourths would, or might be, claimed by the landowner. Such being the case, it is no wonder that Sir R. Feel and other Tories — speaking in palliation of the tithe system — should say the landowners would probably demand more rent for tithe-free land, than the present amount of both rent and tithes. Is there then no hope for the farmers .' If they expend ten or a hundred pounds in maid, drainage, chalk, &c., must the profits all go to either lay- men or clergymen, none to themselves .' Yes I there is a remedy — and (as Mr. Poppy observes in your Agricultural Reporter of August 4) " the substance lies in the compass of a nutshell. Eny- land can never be prosperous, nor the poor employed, till we are dtily jn'otectedfvomfnwign competition, and the farmers secured for outlay of capital, as your correspondent the ' Author of the Rights of the Farmer,' proposes." I owe my thanks to Mr. Poppy for even a few words in confirmation of the principle I have so long attempted to support, since i think he is the only writer ivho has done so, since the termination of the old and the rise of the " New Farmer's Journal," and " Mark Lane Ex- press." Of course I ascribe that sentence in the Suffolk report (New F. J., p. 128) to Mr. Poppy, where it is said, " We are obliged to the ' Author of the Rights of the Farmer,' for exposing the in- tolerable unprotected state rve are in, and of the in- justice and impolicy of the labour rate, &c." I am gratified to learn from Mr. Poppy that " my exertions are duly appreciated by many who have not the means of acknowledging their gratitude," but cannot quite accede to his reasons why the farmers do not come forward to support their own cause, — viz. poverty, &c. It is not them to whom I have looked for support, but to such as Mr. Poppy among the farmers, and Mr. Fostle and Mr. G. W. Hall among the land proprietors occupying their own estates. Mr. Pos- tle, of Norfolk, many of your readers may be aware, exerted himself successfully in thowing two-thirds of the expense of the new gaol at Nor- wich on the landowners. I believe he thought, like me, that the whole of that, and similar county charges, ought to be sustained either by the land- owners or the government ; but although I think he is the leading man in the agricultural associa- tion, he appears not to have made any further ex- ertions to remove the other abominations which dishonour the relations of Engli'^h landlords and tenants. Mr. G. W. Hall, after contending a little with nic, a few years ago, that though landlords ought not to plunder their improving tenants, they ought to retain the legal right so to do, seemed at last nearly to concede the point ; and soon after had infiucnce enough with the Bath Society to in- duce them to offer the Bedford gold medal to huch landlords as might give the most effectual encou- ragement to their tenants in the matter of perma- nent improvements. I have since neither lieard nor read any more of that matter, and susjiect that useful project has been abortive, or strangled in the birth. Mr. Poppy eeems to have a reason for " bating politics" in bisf useful ongageinents of 430 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. valuing tithes, crops, land, &c., and in the know- ledge that plain unvarnished truth has been, for many years, a rather unwelcome guest in certain quarters. I cannot doubt, however, that a few petitions, or even private remonstrances, from such charac- ters as are above mentioned, would have mate- rially promoted the farmer's cause in various ways ; and particularly might have tended to in- fuse some little appearance of kindly feeling?, both to the farmers and the poor, into the poor law re- form bill. As the matter stands now, I might adopt a part of the poet's lamentation — " Truths would you teach, to save a sinking land, All shun, none aid you, and few understand." The truths I have attempted to teach would not indeed have saved a sinking land, but they might have saved many hundreds of sinking farmers, who retained their farms in hopes of recovering the money laid out in improvements, till they had finally lost that, and all the rest of their property. I may say also '■^ few understand," for I do not know one public editor of a newspaper or maga- zine who appears to understand the matter. They can all see reasons enough why the power of the titheman over a farmer's " outlay of capital" should be checked ; but none to curtail the land- owner's despotism, which is four or five times more pernicious ; — thus verifying the proverb " they strain at a gnat and swallow a camel." Not long ago I heard the agent of a considerable estate observe that he " did not think tithes much obstruction to good husbandry," and the Earl of Malmesbury was reported to have said a few years ago, in the same spirit, that " he saw no reason for commutation of tithes at all." Now if the magnates of the land are flattered into the belief of such jjalpable follies, I imagine it must be on the ground that the farmers repose in peace and secu- rity under the honour of a gentleman, a nobleman, a clei-gyraan, &c. Fifty years of distress, and consequent crime — blood, fire and murder, imprisonm^t, banishment, and death, give the lie to such idle delusions in Ireland ; and 20 years have told the same fearful tale in South Britain, accompanied with a race of idlers, devouring the poor rates and the farmers' subsistence in a way unparalleled in history. And I scruple not to say, that the farmers will never have much faith in the honour of those who sup- port that dishonouraUe set of laws which have so dreadfully oppressed, and still oppress the cultiva- tors of the British Isles. I remain. Sir, yours, &c. The Author of the Rights of the Farmer. Dear Haunch of JMutton. — ^Vhen the present Duke of Bedford was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, he was once, when dining with Lord Sligo, earnestly recommeuded to taste a fine haunch of Glvnde mutton, to whiclihis Grace, himself a breeder and admirer of South Downs, and well acquainted with Mr. Ellman, readily accede;! ; but no politeness to bis noble host would move him to finish the slice, Of say it was other than rank in flavour and terribly tough. On inquiry the disappointed Marquis ascer- tained that his shepherd, who had been ordered to kill the hesl South Down Sheep, had, in accordance with tl'.e doctrines of political economy, wich esti- mates every thing at its market price, actu-ally slauj^h- tered for the vice-regal banquet a ram for wliich Lord Sligo had a few week;^ before paid Mr, Ellinan fTVo hundred guinea3.-~J3(/4ter's hihrar'^-, EAST SUFFOLK AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. The General Annual Meeting of this Association was held at Wickham-market, on Thursday, Sept. 11. There was a large exhibition of stock, which, upon the whole, was considered excellent, by those best qualified to pronounce such an opinion. The Judges were — of the Horse Stock and Swine, Mr. Philip Parker, Badwell Ash ; and Mr. Gill Sted- man, Pakenham. Of the Neat Stock and Sheep, Mr. Bryant, Newmarket ; Mr. Teverson, Great Wilbraham: and Mr. S. Shillito, Barrow, who awarded the prizes as follows : — 1. To J\Ir. Charles Todd, of Otley, the owner of the best Stallion, for the general purposes of agriculture, £,. s. d. bred in Suffolk .,,. 10 0 0 2. To Mr. Edwards, Sutton, owner of the best ditto 5 0 0 3. To Mr. Churchill, Hasketon, the owner of the best Brood Mare for the gene- ral purposes of agriculture, bred in Suffolk 5 0 0 4. To Mr. T. Crisp, Gedgrave, the owner of the second best ditto 3 0 0 5. To Mr. James Toller, Benhall, the owner of the best three-year-old Colt or Filly for the general pur- poses of agriculture, bred in Suflblk 4 0 0 6. To Mr. Thomas Crisp, Gedgrave, the owner of the best Suffolk Bull. ... 500 7 . To ]Mr. Moses Crisp, Letheringham, the owner of the best Bull of any other breed 5 0 0 8. To Mr. P. Dykes, Petistree, the owner of the best Suffolk Cow, in milk or in calf 5 0 0 9. To B. Brook, Esq., Petistree, the owner of the best Cow, in milk or in calf, of any other breed 3 0 0 10. To George Beck, Esq., Blaxljall, the owner of the best two-shear Tup, of the Southdown breed 4 0 0 11. To Mr. T. Crisp, Gedgrave, the owner of the best Shearling Tup of the Southdown breed 4 0 0 12. To Mr. T. Crisp, Gedgrave, the owner of the best two-shear Tup, of any other breed 4 0 0 . 13. To Mr. W. Daniels, Bucklesham, the owner of the best Shearling Tup of any other breed 4 0 0 14. To ]Mr. Thomas Crisp, Gedgrave, the owner of the best pen of five Soutli- down Shearling Ewes 4 0 0 15. The prize of 4L for the best pen of five Shearling Ewes, of any other breed, was not awarded, there not being sufliicient merit in the Stock exhi- bited. 16. To Mr. John Goodwin, Ash, the owner of the best Boar, bred in Suffolk .. 2 0 0 17. To Mr. Samuel Crisp, Easton, the owner of the best Breeding Sow, bred in Suffolk 2 0 0 In the course of the afternoon, Mr. Todd sold his horse to Mr. Waters, an extensive corn and flour dealer, residing in London, for 100/., a price considered somewhat below the real value of so fine an animal. The show of extra Stock was tolerably large, and attracted considerable atten' tion. A Durham Ox, 5 years old.j weighing up» wavds of W) fitono, aad bclongli!^ t(i Ui'f TJjoojss THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 431 Capon, of Denmngton, drew around it the largest number of spectators, and was greatly admired, as the Graziers, with their knuckles kneaded its ample sides. This ox was of the finest symmetry, it was well fed, and full of meat, and shewed in- contestibly the manifest superiority of the Durham breed. To use the words of an admiring spectator, *' It was quite a picture." A Galloway Scot, 4 years old, and a Dui'ham Short Horn, 3 years and a half, the property of Lord Huntingfield, attracted the next greatest share of admiration, as did also a Highland Scot, belonging to Mr. Crisp, of Ged- grave. Five two-year-old Down Wethers, belong- ing to J. Amy, Esq., of Rickinghall, were greatly admired for size and symmetry, and for the excel- lent quality of the wool. It would be impossible to enumerate the whole of the extra stock ; we shall therefore conclude this part of our report with the remark, that on the whole it was con- sidered excellent, and that the exertions of the owners to give eclat to the show, were gratefully appreciated. An account of the following sales may be interesting to our readers. Mr. Elvis, of Melton, sold by auction seven Shearling Tups, the property of H. Edwards, Esq., Sutton. The sale was somewhat brisk, and they realized on the average 4/. 2s. 6d. each, the prices alternating on the general sale, fi-om M. to 5/. 10s. Messrs. Girling and Son, of Peasenhall, likewise sold five pure Southdown tups, the property of Sir Thomas Gooch, Bart., they averaged 1/. 16s. each, the lowest price being \l. 10s. ; the highest 21. 12s. 6d. These were the only sales which took place. In the course of the day, a chesnut mare was exhibited in the Show Yard, which attracted universal attention. The mare belonged to Mr. Page, of Aldbro' Hall. She has seen 43 summers, and yet has a colt 5 years old 1 — her age would be, therefore, 38 when she last foaled ! This extraordinary animal had borne well her weight of years, and did not seem at all infei-ior, in point of appearance, to a common road cart hack. Those skilled in such matters, pro- nounced her to have still " a good mouth!" She was shewn by James Sheppard, of Leiston, (in the employ of Mr. Page,) who has attained the patri- .archal age of 78 ! and yet, like his charge, appear- ed "hale and hearty!" The spectators were much amused by the historical account of the mare, as given by Sheppard. He related, amongst other particulars, that he had worked her dam and giand-dam upon the same farm : that he had worked for the father and grandfather of the owner : that he set the animal to work ; and that, by singular coincidence, when she last foaled, on tlie same evening his wife, not having the fear of Dr. Malthus before her eyes, presented him with a chopping boy ! There was the usual selection of agricultural implements, and a tumbrel was ex- hibited constructed for harvest work, so as to re- quire the use of only one horse ! There were, likewise, some fine specimens of mangel wurzcl. The dinner took place at four o'clock, in a spa- cious barn and a booth added for the occasion, at the back of the White Hart Inn. The tables were laid out for 500, and about 450 gentlemen partook of the repast provided. The Right Hon. the Earl of Stradbroke took the chair, supported by Lord Henniker, M.P., on the right, and on the left by Sir Edw. Kerrison. We observed present — Lord Huntingfield, Sir W. F. F. Middleton, Sir C. Blois, the Hon. and Rev. F. Hotham, 11. N. Shawe, Esq., M.P.; C.TyrcU, Esq., M.P. ; Col. Rushbrooke, Col. Windsor, A. .•\rcedeckne, Esq.; J. Moseley, Esq. ; C. Waddington, Esq. ; R. C. Rowley, Esq. ; Fred. White, Esq. ; J. Rodwell, Esq. j the Rev. Dr. Etough, Archdeacon Berners, Chas. Cobboldj Esq. ; John Page Reed, Esq. ; A. Shuldham, Esq. ; and the Rev. Mr. Norton, &c. After " The King," *' The Queen and Royal Family," had been drank with the accustomed honours — The Noble Chairman said, he had observed, with the greatest pleasure, the increased and in- creasing confidence which existed between tlie gentry and the yeomanry of this county — (Hear, hear !)—m the mutual endeavour to forward the best interests of that Association. (Cheers.) It was also with infinite pleasure he mentioned the fact, that the prizes awarded to the labouring popula- tion had been received by them in the best possi- ble spirit, and that they were considered by them as marks of honour and confidence — distinguish- ing the most active as well as those who were most honest to their masters. They had thus far, therefore, accomplished what he must say was the chief object of that Institution. (Cheers ) He could not forbear expressing, in terms of the most unqualified praise — in terras of the warmest pane- gyric— his admiration of those spirited individuals, who, notwithstanding the misfortunes of the times, notwithstanding the depression of prices, in which they themselves were most interested, had come forward upon that occasion, and by their attend- ance that day had promoted the present and future success of the Association. As far as regarded the stock exhibited that morning, he believed he was correct in stating, that it was superior to that ex- hibited last year. (Loud cheers.) Some part of it, he was convinced, would do honour to the owner at any show in the kingdom. The Noble Earl, after some observations upon the Norfolk Sheep, proceeded to remark, that there was one topic to which he must advert, a topic of great importance to agriculturists ; namely, the necessity of endea- vouring in some way or other to reduce the enor- mous expenses which they now undergo, before they can receive their crops. If they considered the great advantages which had been derived by other trades — if they recollected that the manu- facturers of England were all fully employed, re- ceiving remunerating prices for their goods, and driving the foreigner from the market in every part of Europe — it must occur to them, what is the cause of their prosperity ? To him, it appear- ed to proceed entirely from theii improved ma- chinery, enabling them to bring into every part of the world their goods at a cheaper rate, than could be done by others, where machinery was yet in an infant state. If they looked back dur- ing the last five-and-twenty years, it would be ap- parent, that one great source of their misfortune was, the enormous expenses which they must un-= dergo before they brought their crops to per-fec- tion. He hoped to see the day arrive, when the farmer would be enabled to plough without his horse, and to reap without incurring half his pre- sent pecuniary liabilities. There was nothing in agriculture so worthy of attention, and which so fully required their best consideration, as to at- tempt in every possible way to reduce our enor- mous expenses, which were monstrous when com- pared with rent and with the profits derived from the land. TheNoble Earl concluded by proposing " Prosperity to the East Suffolk Agricultural As- sociation :" three times three, and one cheer more. " The Lord Lieutenant of the County."—" The High Sheriff." — " The Members for East Suffolk;" and he was happy to say they were both picicnt : tliree times three and one cheer more. Lord HiiNNiKER returned thanks. R. N. SuAWB, Esq., also retuineci thanks. He 432 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. fully and entirely agreed with every thing that had fallen from the Noble Lord in the Chair, relative to the merits of that Association. He thought one of the most useful features of it was, that which brought the three classes of the Agricultural community together, the landlord, the tenant, and the labourer, the one to receive the reward of long, arduous, and faithful services — the other to meet in mxitual communication for the benefit of each other. (Loud cheers.) He agreed with the Noble Lord that reduction of expenses is one mode by which the Agricultural Interest can be relieved. What was the situation of the manufacturer ? When prices were low, he reduced his expendi- ture, and thereby increased his receipts : but what was the case with the agriculturist ? If he di- minished his expenditure, it returned upon him again, in the shape of a poor rate, so that he could not by any possibility, either by economy, or at- tention, or industry, relieve himself of the burden. (Loud cheers.) The Hon. Gent, then alluded to the abolition of the spinning trade in this county, simply by the introduction of machinery and steam ; and contended as this cannot now be a manufacturing county, we must look to the land to relieve us. He suggested, that relief was to be found, he did not say in all situations, but gene- rally from the allotment system : he had adopted it, twenty years ago, and it had succeeded to the satisfaction of all parties. He then mentioned some instances of the working of the system. He conceived the times were such, that something must be done, or the landlord, tenant, and la- bourer, would shortly be involved in one common ruin. " Success to the West Suffolk Associa- tion." Col. RusHKRooKE returned thanks. Lord HuNTiNGFiELD proposcd the health of the Noble President ; three times three and one cheer more. The Noble Earl returned thanks, and in reply to some observations by Lord Huntingfield, said his object in farming was to show what couldyield the greatest profit ; and it was pot improper to state, that this Flock could be proved to have paid more last year, than any other Flock in the coun- ty. His Flock, which consisted of 497 Ewes, pro- duced 717 Lambs in June last ; the Fleeces on the average weighed Slbs and a half, and he realized 42s per tod. — " The Members for West Suffolk." C. TvRELL, Esq., M. P., returned thanks. Al- luding to the depressed state of Agriculture, he said it arose from various causes — one was the de- preciation of the currency. He looked upon the Bank Restriction Act, in 1796 (and he was not one of those who would rob his neighbour) , and Peel's Bill, in 1819, as measures which robbed tlie poor to pay the rich- Some would say return to a Paper Currency. He would say, no 1 There was a medium, and his motto was " live and let live." The only relief was to be found in the fund-holder and the land-holder meeting each other half-Avay. The Hon. Member expressed himself in favour of the Small Allotment System. He would allot not more than an acre. He was far from wishing to make the labourer a sn'.all far- mer— all he wished to make him was, an indepen- dent labourer — not independent of labour ; but an independent labourer. (Cheers.) " The healths of those Gentlemen who exhibited extra Stock." Lo' d Huntingfield returned thanks at some length. He said, it was the wish of some Gentle- men in the Western Division to enter into a sweep- stakes with some of those who resided in the East. fjis Loj-^ship stated, that li© was ready to watch his Southdown Ewes and Southdown Tups. (Loud cheering.) The President rose shortly afterwards and stated, that Mr. .Amys accepted the proposal made by Lord Huntingfield, so far as respected the Southdown Sheep. (Cheers j " The Stewards, Sir Thomas Gooch, Mr. Arcedeckne, and others ;" three times three. Sir Thos. Gooch returned thanks. He stated, with infinite regret, that the interests of agricul- ture were infinitely worse now than when he last met them ; but notwithstanding he saw before him a meeting, enough to make any man proud of calling himself a Suffolk man. (Cheers.) Allud- ing to the Allotment System, he would only allot land sufficient to employ the leisure hours of the labourer, not to make him independent of his em- ployer, but independent of the poor rates. In the course of the proceedings, the Secretary read over the list of prizes adjudged for Stock, as well as the names of the successful Candidates, in Classes one and three. " The successful Candi- dates." The Noble Earl observed, that there were pre- sent a great number of the Clergy of Suffollc — -a body of men whom they all knew, were anxious to assist their poorer brethren whenever it lay in their power to do so. He gave " The Clergy of the County of Suffolk." The Rev. Mr. Hotham returned thanks. — " The Army and Navy." Sir E. Kerrison returned thanks. — " The Trea- surer." . — "The Secretary." — "The Ladies of Suffolk." At half-past Eight, the Noble Chairman retired with his friends, amidst loud cheering. C. CoBBOLD, Esq., afterwards took the Chair, and the remainder of the evening was spent with the greatest hilarity. PITHY REPLY TO AN OFFICIAL LETTER. The Secretary to the Board of Stamps and Taxes, having recently addressed a letter to a Suffolk farmer, threatening proceedings for non- payment of certain taxes, the following I'cmarkable answer was given ; — " Sir, I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, which cost me 8d. post- age, and in reply to which I take leave to observe, I was once a farmer at , in the county of Suffolk ; but, in consequence of the depressed state of agriculture, I have been compelled to sell by auction all my farming live and dead stocks, im- plements of husbandry, dairy, brewing utensils, household furniture, and other effects at Michael- mas, 1833 ; and since then I have not been master of any living animal, or other dead thing, which the rapacious appetite of the tax-eaters, can pos- sibly grasp at or devour. The government, by its alteration in the currency, and other subterfuging conduct, has ruined me — totally ruined me — and will shortly ruin the whole of those engaged in agricultural pursuits. You talk about enlarging workhouses. Build one large enough to cover the whole of England ; for the entire nation will be all paupers, if a very different line of policy is not pursued. No notice ])aper has ever been sent to me ; nor was it likely that it should, as I have no residence or place of abode, the open air and God's earth excepterf?^ " I am, sir, your obedient servant, " 3d August, 1834. " John . " Charles Pressly, Esq., Somerset-house^ London^ ' ' (Stamps ar4 Taxes.) " THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 433 THE NORTHAMPTONSHIRE FARM- ING AND GRAZING SOCIETY. The Annual Show of the Northamptonshire Fai-ming and Grazing Society took place at Lord Althorp's Farm at Chapel Brampton, on Thursday, Sept. 11. The show of cattle was unusually ex- cellent, but the chief objects of attention and re- mark were a Durham Steer bred by Lord Althorp, and a Durham Heifer, the property of Mr. Hill- yard. We heard several competent judges pro- nounce both animals to be the finest ever shown in this country, with the single exception of the celebrated Durham Ox. The competitors for the ploughing prizes were more numerous than in former years, and the work generally performed with geater skill. At five o'clock. Lord Althorp, and a larger party than ever before attended the dinner of this society, dined at the Assembly Room of the George Hotel. Among the company were Sir VV. Wake, E. Bouverie, Esq.; Langham Christie, Esq.; the Rev. Mr. Jenyngs, of Bottisham, Cambridge, Pre- bendary of Ely ; the Rev. Mr. Clay ; Sir Eras. Lawley, Bart. ; Sir Jas. Gambier ; Hon. Frederick Spencer ; Stephen Grantham, Esq. of Sussex ; Barnet, Esq., of Bedfordshire ; Messrs. Price, Bennett, Baker, and many other eminent breeders of cattle from different counties. The cloth having been withdrawn, Mr. Hillyard gave "The King — the Queen — and Royal Family ;" *' Prosperity to the Farming and Grazing Society;" " Lord Althorp, to whom the Society was in- debted for its existence." The two latter toasts were received with tremendous applause, which was continued for several minutes. Lord Althorp rose to return thanks amidst re- newed applause. There were circumstances, he said, to which he would not more particularly allude, which made their cordial reception of the health they had just drank, gratifying to him in the highest possible degree. He had always been anxious to afford this society all the assistance in his power, because he was persuaded that it was calculated to improve the agriculture of this county ; and, connected as he was with agriculture, and as a friend to the agriculturists of this country (great applause), he would never cease to exert himself to the utmost to [promote its success (great cheer- ing). He thoiight he might appeal to the members of the society, and to all who had been in the habit of attending these meetings, to confirm his asser- tion that he had never himself made, or allowed others to make any reference to politics on occa- sions like the present. He never would do so, and he was fully satisfied that the good sense of the Northamptonshire Farmer would always pre- vent him from allowing political discussions to in- terfere with his farming pursuits (great cheering). It was most gratifying to him to know that the society was so successful. The weather had been so unfavourable that they could hardly have expected any thing like the attendance they had. As to the show it was generally admitted that it was quite as good as, if not better than on any previous oc- casion, and the Company at the Dinner was cer- tainly beyond all comparison more numerous. The fact was that the society had been improving, was then improving, and no doubt would continue to improve notwithstanding all that might be done to prevent it. His lordship concluded by proposing the health of Mr. Hillyard, the President of the Society (continued cheering.) Mr. Hillyard said hewas sure he need nQt attempt to express his gratification at the manner in which his health had been received. From the foundation of this society he had had the honour to be its President, and so long as his conduct seemed to afford the satisfaction which it had ap- parently given that day he should be most happy to continue in the office. All who knew him knew also that nothing afforded him greater pleasure than the pursuits of farming and grazing. He was delighted to be present at such a meeting, and he hoped they might all assemble there for forty years to come (cheers). The healths of a great number of gentlemen having been drank — Mr. Price proposed a sweepstakes of five guineas each for the best Hereford Bull, to be under eight years old, and to have served twenty-five cows, and to be the property of the exhibitor ; to close in May. Mr. Thomas Beasley, Mr. R. W. Baker, Mr. John Wetherell, and Sir Francis Lawley, sub- scribed to this sweepstakes. — Mr. Dent, in the course of the evening, offered to add two guineas to the above sweepstakes ; and two guineas for the best Tup, of any age, shown for Lord Althorp's Prize, No. 8. — Mr. R. Garratt proposed a sweep- stakes of five guineas to the best breeder of long- woolled rams of this county, for the best shearling Tup, with the usual restrictions. — Mr. Wetherell proposed a sweepstakes of five guineas for the best Cow in store condition, in calf, or in milk within two months of calving. Mr. Price would enter his name if the sweepstakes should include four sub- scribers. The following New Members were elected in the course of the evening — The Hon. F. Spencer The Hon. E. S. Pery Sir Francis Lawley, Bart. Sir Gerard Noel, Bart. Langham Christie, Esq. Messrs. Binyoun Drage, Wratislav/, Wm. Shaw, jun.. Freestone, R. Oldacres, John Slater, Wallis, Richard Lee, G. R. Skene, Tibbits and Laxton. Mr. Hillyard exhibited some specimens of Man- gel Wurzel and Swedish Turnip of very superior quality, and distributed several bags of the latter seed among the company. An interesting conver- sation relative to the value of the Chevalier Barley, which Mr. Hillyard strongly recommended, took place, in the course of which Mr. Garratt stated that he had grown 30 acres of Chevalier Barley, the pi'oduce of which exceeded 6 qrs. per acre, on land which had only produced 4§ qrs. of the com- mon barley. He added that Mr. Whitbread had given directions to his agents to buy Chevalier barley at 10s. a quarter more than the common barley. Lord Althorp left the room amidst the most cordial cheers shortly after nine, and the company then separated. PLOUGHING. A Silver Cup, given by Sir W. Wake, Bart., Edward Bouverie, Esq., and the President of this Society, was awarded to Mr. Wm. Shaw's son. Plough by Adams. To J. Baldwin, ploughman to Lord Althorp, two guineas. Plough by Cooch, Harleston. To J. Barnes, ploughman to Mr. J. Rice, one guinea. Plough by Adams. To John Ward, ploughman to Mr. Miller, of Brampton, 10s 6d . Plough by T. Coleman. To Lord Althorp, for his Durham ox, four years and three months old, bred by himself, his Lordship's priae of ten guineas, 2 P 434 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. To Sir J. H. Palmer, for his Durham steer, bred by himself, three years and three months old. Lord Althorp's prize of seven guineas. To Mr. R. Oldacres, for his Durham steer, four years and three months old, bred by Mr. Bagshaw, of Newton, the second prize of three guineas. To Mr. Hillyard.for his Durham heifer, aged four years and six months, bred by the Rev, Henry Berry, Lord Althorp's prize of seven guineas. For the second prize of three guineas, no claimant. To Mr. Hillyard, for the best pen of five long- woolled ewes. Lord Althorp's prize of seven guineas. To Mr. Dent, the second prize of three guineas. To Mr. Dent, for the best pen of five long-woolled theaves, Lord Althorp's prize of seven guineas. To JVIr. Hilh^ard, for his second-best pen, by a tup of the late Mr. Freestone's, the prize of three guineas. To Mr. VVm. Pawlett, of Bainock, for his five long-woolled shearhogs, bred from a tup of Mi-, Pawlett's, of Tinwell, near Stamford, Lord Althorp's prize of seven guineas. To Mr. R. Redgrave, for his second-best pen, by a tup of Mr. Hewitt's, of Dodford, the prize of three guineas. To Mr. Faulkner, for his shearling long-wooled tup, hired of Mr. R. Garratt, of Harrowden, Lord Althorp's prize of ten guineas. To iVIr. Hillyard, for his two-shear tup, hired of Mr. R. Garratt, Lord Althorp's prize of ten guineas. To Mr. John Beasley, for his Durham heifer calf, twelve months old, the Duke of Buccleuch's prize of five guineas. For his Grace's prize of five guineas for the best bull calf, there was no claimant. To Mr. Dent, for his short-horned steer, two years and seven months old. Lord Sondes's prize of five guineas. To Mr. Dent, for his short-horned heifer, three years and eight months old, bred by himself, Lord Sondes's prize of five guineas. To Mr. John Beasley, for his pair of Durham heifers, two years old, one bred by himself and the other by PJr. Wilmot, Sir J. H, Palmer's prize of five guineas. To Mr. Joseph Cooper, for his Hereford steer, about four years old, fed on grass, breeder unknown, a prize of five guineas, given by Lewis Loyd, Esq. for the best beast shown as extra stock. To Mr. W. D. Manning, of Rothersthorpe, for his Hereford bull, a prize of five guineas, given by Staf- ford O'Brien, Esq. To Stafibrd O'Brien, Esq., forhis boar, the Society's prize of two guineas. To Thomas Sharp, for 46 years' servitude on the farm of Mr. R. Kitelee, of Castle Thorpe, two guineas. To John Pacey, for 42 years' servitude on the farm of Mr. R. Kitelee, of Castle Thorpe, one guinea. To Henry Gilby, for 33 years and a half servitude on the farm of Mr. Shaw, of Huntspery Hill, 10s 6d. For the Society's premiums for the single man and woman there were no claimants. To Thos. Manning, labourer to Mr. G. Pell, of Buttocks-bootli, he having supported his family with- out having received parochial aid, two guineas. To Thos. Garlick, labourer to Mr. G. Ashby, of Buckby Mill, he having supported his family with- out having received parochial aid, the prize of three guineas, given by Lord Euston. SWEEPSTAKES. No. 3. The sweepstakes of two sovereigns each for the best steer — to Mr. Ralph Oldacre, of Cester- sover, for his Hereford steer, three years and six months old, bred by Sir Francis Lawlev, Bart. No. 5. The sweepstakes of two sovereigns each, for the best beast shown for Lord Althorp's prize. No. 2, for a fat ox— to Mr. Ralph Oldacre, of Clip- ston, for his Durham steer, four years and four months old, bred by Mr. Bagshaw, of Newton. No. 8. The sweepstakes of two sovereigns each, for the best steer— to Mr. Dent, for his short-horn steer, two veais and seven months old, bred by him- self. No. 11. The sweepstakes of two sovereigns each, for the best steer — to Rlr. Hillyard, for his "Hereford steer, three years and eight months old, bred by Earl Talbot. No. 15. The sweepstakes of one sovereign each, for the best beast shown for Lord Sondes's prize for a fat ox — to Mr. Peach, for his Hereford steer, three years and eight months old, bred by Earl Talbot. No. 16. The sweepstakes of one sovereign each, for the best beast shown for Lord Sondes's prize for a fat cow, — to Mr. Dent, for his half-bred heifer, three years and eight months old, bred by inmself. WHITBY DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL CATTLE SHOW. On Friday, August 29th, the first Cattle Fair and Show of Live Stock of the Whitby Distric:: Agri- cultural Society took place at Whitby, according to previous announcement. This was quite a novel aft'air at Whitby, and it was pleasing and encouraging to observe, from an ear'y period in the morning, the farmers and other persons from the country throng- ing into the town, and thus promising a great atten- dance and a good exhibition to the delight of those who had more particularly interested themselves in the origination and execution of this desirable scheme. The quantity of stock exposed for sale on the Abbey plain, previous to the show for premiums, and which constituted the fair, was not large, but quite as great as could reasonably have been expected, considering the circumstances oi the case. The judges appointed for this occasion were Mr. Darrell, of West Ayton, Mr. EUerby, of Martin, and Mr. Sterriker, of Kingthorpe. The premiums award- ed were as follows : — Mr. G. Sanderson, for the best coaching stallion, 3 sovereigns ; Mr. Marmadufce Breckon, for the best chapman mare and foal, 3 sove- reigns; Mr. W. Sinclair, for the second best ditto, 1 sovereign ; Mr. Henry Linton, for the best year- ling colt, 1 sovereign ; Mr. Puchard Harrison, for the best yearling filly, 1 sovereign ; Mr. John Yeo- man, for the best aged bull, 3 sovereigns ; Thomas Barry, Esq., for the best two-year-old bull, (a fine animal) 3 sovereigns; Mr. Tyson Richardson, for the second best, ditto, 1 sovereign ; Mr. John Daker, for the best cow in milk, 3 sovereigns. This cow is the pride of the district. When a yearling she took the premium at the Hackness show. When a two-year-old she again took the premium, and at the late cattle show at the same place this year, as a cow, she again carried off the palm from the field, though there were numerous competitors. At the Whitby show there was nothing that could come near her. In symmetry of shape and handling it would be difii- cult to find her equal. She is, in fact, a most beau- tiful animal, and excited admiration in every be- holder. She is of the celebrated short-horn breed of Mr. Maynard. Mr. G. Wormald, for the second best cow, 1 sovereign ; the same gentleman, for the best two-year-old heifer, 2 sovereigns ; Mr. H. Lin- ton, for the best yearling heifer, 1 sovereign ; Mr. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 435 Francis Breckon, for the best pair of working oxen, 2 sovereigns ; Mr. John Welburne, for the best ram, 2 sovereigns ; Mr. George Marwood, for the second best ditto, 1 sovereign ; the same gentleman, for the best shearling ram, 1 sovereign; Mr. G. Wormald, for the best pen of five ewes, 2 sovereigns ; Mr. William Gray, for the best pen of live shearling gim- mers, 2 sovereigns ; Mr. Thomas Brodrick, for the best pen of five lambs, 1 sovereign; Mr. William Pinkney, for the best boar, 1 sovereign ; George Peters, Esq., for the second best ditto, IQs ; Mr. John Elgie, for the best sow, 1 sovereign ; Mr. G. Wormald, for the second best, 10s. To the labourer who had brought up the largest family without any or vs^ith the least parochial relief, John Shaw, of Danby, 17 children, 10 living, 1 sovereign ; William Lennard, of Goldsbro', 12 children, 9 living, 10s ; Thos. Ventriss. of Ugglebarnby, 10 children, 8 living, 10s. The decisions of the judges were understood to give general satisfaction. Between two and three o'clock, a numerous and respectable company, amounting to nearly 200, sat down to an excellent dinner, at the White Horse and Griffin. Henry Belcher, Esq., Hon. Secretary to the Society, presided at the head of the table, and during and after dinner, many appropriate toasts were circulated, every individual present appearing deeply interested in the future prosperity of the As- sociation. The health of R. Moorsom, Esq., of Airy Hill, having been drank by the company, that gentleman, in acknowledging the honour paid to him, spoke as follows : — Mr. President, — I beg to assure 3^ou, Sir, that the compliment just paid me by the company is altoge- ther an unexpected one. As I am not officially con- nected with the Association, I can have no other claim to such a distinction, except that I was one of the earliest contributors to its funds ; and that I have always been sincerely desirous to promote the welfare of British agriculture ; as indeed who is there that would be indifferent to that interest by which nations are supplied with the prime necessa- ries of life ; which reclaims the wilderness, and con- verts it into a garden of teeming fertility ; and which draws plenty from the bosom ot an otherwise sterile and unprofitable waste. The Acts of our Legislature more particularly bearing upon agriculture, have recently been watched with much interest, and have given rise to keen, and in many instances, unfortunately, to much acrimoni- ous controversy ; in the course of which, our atten- tion has been directed alternately to the respective advantages of a system of fixed and of fluctuating duties, to be imposed on foreign grain to be intro- duced for home consumption into these kingdoms. I am aware, Sir, that through the operation of parti- cular circumstances, my humble name has, in this neighbourhood at least, occasionally been connected (and I am aware not very advantageously) with these disputes. In consequence of this, you. Sir, and the company will forgive me for making use of the pre- sent opportunity to state some of the grounds for the opinions I have formed on the corn laws. And I feel confident, that whether you deem those opinions to be erroneous or correct, you will do me the justice to believe that in their entertainment and promulga- tion, I can be actuated by no other motive than a wish to further the interests of British agriculture, and to promote the welfare of all who depend for subsistence on that important pursuit. If we look back on the state of British agriculture for the last 60 years, we shall find that it may be di- vided into two epochs, the earliest embracing a period of a totally diflferent character, and which unhappily continues up to the present moment. Yet, Sir, let us hope that the obscuration is but for a time, and that British agriculture is soon destined to revive, and to participate in that prosperity which our com- merce and manufactures are now so amply enjoying. I dare say, Sir, that there are many gentlemen now in this room who were actively engaged as agricul- turalists during the early period to which I refer, who will corroborate my statements, and who can bear witness that the time in question was a time when the cultivators of the land were satisfied and its proprietors content. Gentlemen, let me now ex- hort you to bear in mind that during the whole of this period of unexampled prosperity to British agri- culture, during the lapse of forty years, for so lon^ did that period endure, foreign corn was introduced into England for domestic consumption, year by year, regularly at a constantly fixed but very mode- rate rate of duty. During this period, the average annual importation was about 750,000 quarters ; and the average price of Wheat at Dantzic, the great mart from whence our foreign supplies are drawn, 45s 4d per quarter. During this period, more than 3000 inclosure bills were passed ; a circumstance alone sufficient to prove how prosperous the state of Bri- tish agriculture must have been, seeing that we can- not reasonably suppose that land to the extent of millions of acres would have been reclaimed, and a large expenditure thereby incurred, unless the pro- fits of farming had been such as to replace the capital laid out, and to reward the labours of the cultivators. During the latter period, the period of adversity, and which includes the years from 1815 to the pre- sent time, the duties on foreign grain have been either prohibitory or fluctuating in amount. The character of this period, you, gentlemen, know and feel from sad experience. I shall not dwell upon it, as I am sure such retrospects must be most unpleasing. I shall merely remark, gentlemen, that during this latter period only about 400 enclosure bills have been passed, and that under the fostering protection of the system of fluc- tuating duties, which is the law of the present day, the annual average importation of foreign grain has been about 2,500,000 quarters ! ! ! Gentlemen, I shall make no comment whetever ; I state only facts. On the one hand you see prosperity, a moderate an- nual importation of foreign corn, and a fixed duty ; on the other, adversity, an immense annual importa- tion of foreign corn, and a fluctuating duty. I leave you to draw your own conclusion. The only solid argument which in my opinion has ever been urged in support of this fluctuating duty is, that it has efiiected an unusual steadiness of price. Steadiness of price is indeed an inestimable advan- tage when it arises from natural circumstances ; but when produced by artificial expedients, by tricks, and tamperings with the market, it is in its conse- quences most mischievous. It is not in the nature of things that the products of a trade which are un- certain in their yearly amount, should bear the same value yearly in the market. The farmer's trade is an uncertain one : let the same quantity of land be sown down year by year, and the cultivation be carried on with equal skill and care, nevertheless the crop will vary — will be an average one, or will be above or below that amount according to the seasons, and by their nature the range of oscillations in prices will be determined. This principle may be illustrated by an example drawn from the Northern fisheries, which, as they are carried on from this port, are familiarly known here. The fishery is a trade of great specu- lation, inasmuch as the annual amount is most va- riable. It has diifered in two consecutive years from of unexampled prosperity, the latter including aperiod I 20,000 to 8,000 tuns of oil. Now if from any arti- 2 F 2 436 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ficial system of fluctuating duties on such foreign oleaginous matter as enters into competition with the produce of the British fisheries in the home market, the merchant was made to receive the same price per tun for 8,000 tuns as he did for 20,000 tuns, it re- quires little foresight to discover that however we might boast of a steadiness of price, the fisheries would very soon be destroyed. If then steadiness of price has been the consequence of fluctuating duties, that advantage has been attained at a dreadful cost to the British farmer, and which I fear may soon be felt severely by all classes of the community. Fluctuating duties proclaim to the cultivator of the land, that when his crop is deficient he shall receive the same price for it as when it is an exuberant one. Such, sir, are some of the facts on which my opinions on the corn laws have been formed. I prefer the fixed to the fluctuating duty, because I conceive it to be more favourable to the cultivator of the soil. But I am wedded to no system — bigoted to no set of opinions. I care not what regulations prevail, pro- vided that a due protection is afforded to British agriculture, and which at the same time may be con- sistent with the interests of the rest of the commu- nity. Mr. John Hugill took occasion also to address the company something after the following manner : — Mr. President and Gentlemen — In noticing the flattering compliment you have just paid to me, and the honourable mention that has been made of my exertions towards the formation and establishment upon a permanent basis of this laudable Association, I shall trespass upon your time by a few brief re- marks : and whilst I feel gratified and grateful for the way in which you have shewn your appreciation of my efforts, which, however feeble, have been nevertheless sincere and earnest, allow me to assure you, that my services may be always commanded in support of an institution Itke that the interests of which we are met this day to promote. One subject I wish more particularly to press upon the attention of the present company. It is the advantage and strength that would accrue to the farmers and agricul- turists by forming themselves more generally into societies like this, for the -protection and advancement of their own peculiar interests. In this neighbourhood, at least, their character is now too much of an isolated descrip- tion. They live apart, and they do not sufficiently often seek each other's company. They meet and com- bunicate one with another it is true, but only in the may of business, and when such meetings cannot ■we well avoided. Are their interests declining-, and their claims refused or neglected '! they suffer in si- lence ! Are their rights invaded, or is imposition practised upon them 1 they rather sit down quietly ■with the wrong than resent the injury ! Look round. Gentlemen, on the other classes of the community. How, under similar circumstances, do the manufac- turers, the merchants, the mechanics conduct th^'m- selves? Touch, nay but off'er to touch, their inter- ests, and what is the immediate result? They assemble together, they form unions, they appoint committees — neither time nor expense is spared — protests and petitions are drawn up — delegates to Parliament are appointed — nay deputations approach even the Throne itself. This, now, is as it should be. Let the agriculturists be thus alive to their own in- terests ; let them watch over them with the same jealousy as is manifested by other classes ; let them evince the same promptitude in endeavouring to pro- cure a redress of their grievances, and the most glorious results would undoubtedly follow. To show that agriculture is at present in a state of unparalleled distress, no arguments are needed ; the proofs, the melancholy proofs, are daily before our eyes. The price of wheat, 5s. or 5s. 6d. per bushel of five stone or 70lbs., affords ample evidence of this, and I can confidently put the question to any farmer in the company who is an occupier of strong wheat soils, requiring dead fallows, and a considerable outlay in lime and manure, if, with the payment of rent, taxes, and tithes, there is not a positive loss of from 31. to 4Z. per acre yearly, I am truly glad to have witnessed an exhibition of beautiful stock this day ; and it is my humble opinion, that to be enabled to live by farming, you must turn your attention more than you have hitherto done to the rearing of such stock, — you must have a greater proportion of your land in grass, and a smaller quanti'.y of it in tillage than is now the case. This I conceive to be the only method, with the present ruinous price of grain, to make agricul- ture a profitable, nay even a remunerating occupa- tion. Henry Belcher, Esq., the Honorary Secretary j H. Clarke, Esq., solicitor, of Guisbro' ; Mr. Dar- rell, and Mr. Wormald, each said a few words in acknowledging votes of thanks that were passed to tbem. The major part of the company separated at an early hour, and will not soon lose the recollection of the pleasure which that day's exhibition affbrded them. It appears that 151. 3s. were taken at the gate for the admission of non-subscribers. Magnificent Silver Firs at Roseneath. — We have met with very fine specimens of the silver fir, especially in Scotland ; but the largest we remember to have remarked were two at the IJuke of Argyll's seat near Roseneath. They were measured by us, in company with Lord John Campbell, on the 10th of December, 1817. The circumference of one of these, at five feet from the ground, was fifteen feet nine inches ; at three feet from the ground, it was seventeen feet six inches ; and just above the roots, it was nineteen feet eight inches. The second tree was sixteen feet two inches in girth at five feet from the ground, seventeen feet eleven inches at three feet from the ground, and nineteen feet ten inches, when measured immediately above the roots. We have, through Lord John Campbell's kindness, re- ceived the following measurements of these trees, taken on the 9th of August, 1833 : — Number one, at five feet from the ground, is seventeen feet seven inches in girtli ; at three feet, its girth is eighteen feet four inches ; and near the roots it is twentj'^-two feet. Number two is eighteen feet two inches in girth at five feet from the ground ; eighteen feet nine inches at three feet from the ground ; and twenty-four feet one inch when measured near the roots ; which shows an increase, since we mea- sured it with Lord John Campbell in 1817, of four feet three inches in girth, or nearly three inches and three-tenths annually, which, being much greater than the average growth of trees in general, shows how very vigorous and thriving these very magnifi- cent trees must be. The heiglit of No. 1 is about one hundred and five feet, and that of No. 2 is about 115 feet; and the contents of both including the limbs, are calculated at about thirteen hundred cubic feet. — Gilpins Forest Scenery, edited by Sir Thomas Dick Lauder, The Swallows' Flight. — It is supposed that the flight of the swallow when emigrating is not less than 50 miles an hour, so that, when aided by the wind, they soon reach mucn warmorlatitudes. Spallanzani calculates that the swallow can fly at the rate of 92 miles an hour ; and that of hawks and several other tribes, to be 150 miles. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 437 AN ACT TO AMEND AND RENDER MORE EFFECTUAL TWO ACTS OF THE FIFTH AND SIXTH YEARS OF THE REIGN OF HIS LATE MAJESTY KING GEORGE THE FOURTH, RE- LATING TO WEIGHTS AND MEA- SURES. [13th August, 1034.] Whereas an Act passed in the fifth year of the reign of his late Blajesty King George the Fourth, t- r, . ~< intituled An Act for ascertainins and o Lt, 4 c. /4. ... establishing uniformity of Weights and Measures : And whereas another Act passed in the sixth year of the reign of his said late Majesty, inti- r e- A io tuled An Act to vrolonir the time of the 0 0. 4. c. 12. .' o . '' commencement oj an Act oj the last ies- sion of Parliament , for ascertaining and establishing vniformiiii of Weights and Measures ; and to amend the said Act: And whereas, notwithstanding the pro- visions of the said recited Acts, many sets of weights and measures of old accustomed and different shapes have been made and verified and stamped by the Chamberlains as well as by the Auditor in the Ex- chequer, as models of the said new standards, and have been lised as standard weights and measures under the said recited acts, although different in shape and form from the standards prescribed by the said recited Act of the fifth year aforesaid ; and it is there- fore expedient that such standard weights and mea- sures should be made legal, and that the Auditor or Comptroller General, or some other superintending officer of the Exchequer, should be empowered to compare and verify, and stamp as so compared and verified, standards of length, weight, or measure, al- though not exact models and copies in shape and form of the respective standards of length, weight, and measure deposited under the provisions of the said first-recited Acts in the oflSce of the said Cham- berlains and Auditor: And whereas it is expedient that after a limited period the use of all weights and measures, not in conformity with the weights and measures established by the said recited Acts, should be prohibited, and that the use of the heaped mea- sure should be abolished : Be it therefore enacted by the King's most excellent Majesty, aby and with the advice and consent of the Lords spiritual and tempo- ral, and Commons, in this present Parliament assem- Provisions in ^I^^j and by the authority of the same, recited Acts as That so much of the said recited Acts to models and as require that all weights and raea- daiT^ we^iHite ^ures shall be models and copies in and measures shape or form of the standards depo- repealed. sited in the Exchequer, and also so much of the said recited Acts as allow the use of weights and measures not in conformity with the im- peiial standard weights and measures established by the said Acts, or allow goods or merchandize to be bought or sold by any weights or measures established by local custom or founded on special agreement, shall be and the same are hereby lepealed. Weights and measures stamped at tlie Excliequcr de- clared legal, al- tluiugli not si- milar ill shape to tliose re- quired by re- cited Acts, II. And be it enacted, that all weights and measures which have been so verified and stamped at the Exche- quer as copies of the standard weights and measures, corresponding in weight and capacity with those established by the said recited Acts, shall be deemed an4 taken to be legal weights and jnea< sures, and may be legally used for comparison as copies of the imperial standard weights and measures, although not similar in shape to those required under the provisions of the said recited Acts. Superintend- HI. And be it enacted, that the Efchequei- "^ Auditor or Comptroller General, or may verify and some other superintending officer of stamp weights the Exchequer at Westminster, may and measures j -r i ^ of other form compare and verify, and stamp as so than those pre- compared and verified, as correct stan- ^K^^t^^r 'i^ "--d ^^^^ measures of a yard, and as cor- ■ ' ■' rect standard weights, and as correct standard measures of capacity, any weights and mea- sures which shall correspond in length, weight, and capacity with the standards, or parts or multiples thereof respectively, deposited in the Exchequer under the said Act of the fifth year aforesaid, although such weights and measures may not be models or copies in shape or form of the standards so deposited as afore- said ; anything in the said recited Acts to the con- trary notwithstanding. Heaped inea- IV. And whereas the heaped mea- ^ft'^*^ Ut^ JaH*^ ^^^^ '^ liable to considerable variation, 1835. ' and the use of weights made of soft materials affords facilities to fraud ; be it therefore enacted, that from and after the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and thirty- five, so much of the said recited Acts as relate to the heaped measure shall be and are hereby repealed, and that the use of the heaped measure shall be abol- ished, and that all bargains, sales, and contracts made by the heaped measure after the said first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-five shall be null and void ; and thereafter no weight made of lead or of pewter shall be stamped or used. Copies of the V. And be it enacted, for carrying imperial Stan- j^^^.^ f^^jjy -j^j^ effect the provisions of vided, by order the said recited Acts regarding the pro- of magistrates viding of copies of the imperial stan- in quarter ses- ^ ^ vveights and measures, that at the sions tor coun- b ■ /• , ties in England general quarter sessions of the peace and Wales, and next after the passing of this Act the fu^stiSscof inagistrates of every county or county land. of a City in England and Wales in quarter sessions assembled, and in Scotland the justices of the peace at a meeting to be called for the purpose by the sheriff of each county, and the magistrates of each royal burgh, within three months after the passing of this Act, shall respec- tively determine the number of copies of the imperial standard weights and measures which they shall deem requisite for the comparison of all weights and mea- sures in use within their counties, counties of cities, and burghs respectively, and shall direct that such copies, verified and stamped at the Exchequer, shall be provided for the use of the same, and shall be de- posited at certain central and convenient places, to be fixed upon by the said magistrates so assembled, under the care of an inspector or inspectors of weights and measures, to be by the said magistrates ap- pointed and dismissed as occasion may require. Copies to be VI. And be it enacted, that in Ire- grand 'juries in 'an*^ ^^^ S"°^ J"'^ °^ ^^^'y county, Ireland. county of a city, or county of a town shall, at the spring assizes next ensuing after the passing of this Act, determine the number of copies of the imperial standard weights and mea- sures ^which they shall deem requisite for the com- 438 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, parison of all weights and measures in use within \ their counties, counties of cities, or counties of towns respectively, and, where copies shall not have been already provided, shall direct that such copies, veri- fied and stamped at the Exchequer, shall be procured for the use of the same, and such copies shall be de- posited at certain central and convenient places, to be fixed upon by the said grand juriesso assembled, under the care of an inspector or inspectors of weights and measures, to be by the said grand juries appointed and dismissed as occasion may require ; and the expences attending the providing such copies of the imperial standard weights and measures, and for affording the necessary remuneration to the inspectors, shall be provided for and paid by presentments to be made by the grand juries on such counties, counties of cities, and counties of towns respectively. Judges may VII. And be it enacted, that in Ire- order copies in j^^j jhe senior judge shall, before the counties in Ire- J. » . ' . ., land when it close ot the sprmg assizes aioresaKl, has not been inquire whether one complete set of •lone hy grand g^^|^ -^^ ^^ ^^^ imperial standard juries. • 1 '^ 1 ^1 , weights and measures has been pro- vided or ordered in each county, county of a city or town ; and in every case in which it shall not appear to him that one set at least of such copies has been provided or ordered, such judge shall forthwith order the treasurer of the county, county of a city or town, to provide one complete set of sucli copies, and every such order shall have the effect of a presentment on the county at large for such sum as may be necessary to procure a complete- set of such copies ; and such treasurer shall, within three calendar months next after he shall receive such order, fully execute the same, or failing so to do shall forfeit the sum of fifty pounds sterling. Power of pro- VIII. And be it enacted, that in iSefwhe"; *=^^^^he number of copies of the im- requisite. penal standard weights and measures provided as aforesaid for comparison in any county, county of a city, or royal burgh, or county of a town, in the United Kingdom, shall be found in- sufficient, or that any of them shall have been lost or injured, it shall be lawful in England and Wales and in Scotland for the magistrates so assembled as afore- said, between the first and twenty-fifth day of October in each year, and in Ireland for the grand juries at the spring assizes in each year, to direct that new or additional copies shall be provided for the use of their respective counties, counties of cities, royal burghs, and counties of towns, and to determine the places in which such copies shall be kept, and to appoint an additional inspector or inspectors for the care of such copies as occasion may require, and that all expenses incurred thereby shall be provided for and paid accord- ing to the modes herein-before set forth. Return to be IX. And be it enacted, that the rtt7eac"on f^\o{ the peace of every county of 1st of March the United Kingdom shall, on the first 1836. day of March one thousand eight hun- dred and thirty- six, transmit a return to the secretary of state for the home department, which return shall be forthwith laid before parliament, specifying the dates and terms of all determinations of magistrates of counties, or of counties of cities, or of counties of towns, or of magistrates of roval burghs, as to number of copies of the imperial standard weights and measures which they shall have deemed requisite for their counties, counties of cities, or coun- ties of towns, and burghs respectively, as also of all such determinations made by any grand jury, or of orders made by any judge of assizes, in Ireland, and which return shall specially set forth how far such de- terminations and orders have before the date of such returns been complied with by the weights and mea- sures so ordered having been provided in the several instances set forth in such deteiminations or orders ; and any clerk of the peace who shall neglect to make such return shall be liable to a penalty of fifty pounds. Power to ma- X. Provided always, and be it en- fowns''^^&c tl 'icted, that in all other cities or towns, provide copies liberties or places, possessing corporate of the imuerial or other legal jurisdiction, and which standards. j^^^^^ j^^^^^ ^^ ^j^^j, ^^ hereafter sup- plied with copies of the imperial standard weights and measures, it shall be lawful for the magistrates of such cities, towns, liberties, or places to appoint an inspector or inspectors of weights and measures within the limits of their respective jurisdictions; and that such inspectors so appointed shall, witliin such limits, have the same powers and discharge the same duties as the inspectors of weights and measures appointed under this Act by the county magistrates or grand juries for their respective counties. \Veigh - mas- XL And be it enacted, that in every to'be\';Sed City or town not being a county of it- withbeamsand self, every individual or individuals or scales and ac- body corporate in Ireland, exercising curate copies. ^^^^ privilege of appointing a weigh- master, shall, on or before the first of July one thou- sand eight hundred and thirty-five, or within three- months after the set of copies of the imperial standard weights and measures for the county in which such right shall be exercised shall have been provided, sup- ply such weigh master with accurate beams and scales, and with a set of accurate copies in. respect of weight, capacity, and length, of the county set, under a pe- nalty of twenty pounds ; and the accuracy of such set of copies shall be certified under the hand of some inspector of weights and measures ; and such set of copies shall, for the purpose of comparison and verifi- cation, be considered copies of the imperial standard weights and measures required by this Act, and shall be used for no other purpose whatever, under a pe- nalty of five pounds ; and once at least in every five years, under the like penalty, the same shall be re-ad- justed by some set of copies of the standard weights and measures which shall have been verified by the Exchequer standard ; and the weighmaster shall pro- duce to every magistrate requiring the same, and to any person whose weights or measures shall have been detained on comparison with the copies under the care of such weighmaster, the certificate of the adjustment or re-adjustment thereof, under the hand of the in- spector in charge of the set of copies with which the same shall have been compared and re-adjusted ; and such weighmaster may demand and receive the same fees as may be demanded by any inspector under this Act. XII. And whereas by local customs in the markets, towns, and other places The stone weight, hun- dred weight, - . ' . » , and ton. throughout the United Kingdom, the denomination of the stone weight va- ries, being in the country generally deemed to contain fourteen pounds avoirdupois, and in London commonly THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 439 eight of such pounds, or otherwise, as may be ; be it therefore enacted, that from and after the first of Jan- uary one thousand eight hundred and thirty-five the weight denominated a stone shall in all cases consist of fourteen standard pounds avoirdupois, and that the weight denominated an hundred weight shall consist of eiffht such stones, and that the weight denominated a ton shall consist of twenty such hundred weight ; and all contracts made by any other stone, hundred weight, or ton, from and after the first day of January one thousand eight hundred and thiity-five, shall be null and void. All articles to XIII. And be it enacted, that from be sold by a- ^^^ ^f.gj. ^j,g ^j.^^ ^^y ^f January one cept as herein thousand eight hundred and thirty-five, stated. all articles sold by weight shall be sold by avoirdupois weight, excepting gold, silver, platina^ diamonds, or other precious stones, and drugs when sold by retail ; and that such excepted articles, and none others, may be sold by troy weight. All weights XIV. And whereas the bushel and measures n^gasure commonly called or known to be stamped •' , , , by inspectors, by the name oi the Winchester bushel, and also the lineal measure commonly called the Scotch ell, and other customary or local measures, still continue to be used in divers places in the United Kingdom, contrary to the provisions of the said recited Acts ; be it therefore enacted, that in T, u f England and Wales the magistrates at Penalty lor => . i i r i • making any quarter sessions assembled, and in other measures Scotland the justices of the peace at a u'sing''fny'un- "meeting called by the sherifiT. and in stamped, light, Ireland the grand jury of each county or ^ defective and county of a city or town, shall pro- curs for the use of the inspectors good and sufficient stamps for the stamping or sealing all weights and measures used or to be used in such county, which stamp, so procured, shall be taken to be the stamp for such county, and none others shall be considered legal stamps ; and that ail weights and measures whatsoever used for buying and selling, or for the collecting of any tolls or duties, or for the making of any charges on the conveyance of any goods or merchandize, shall be examined and com- pared with one of the copies of the imperial standard weights and measures provided under the autliority of this Act for the purpose of comparison by such in- spectors appointed as aforesaid, who shall stamp, in such manner as best to prevent fiaud, such weights and measures when so examined and compared as aforesaid, if found to correspond with the said copy, the fees for which examination, comparison, and stamping, shall be according to the scale contained in the schedule to this Act annexed ; and all persons who, alter the first of January one thousand eight hun- dred and thirty-five, in England and Wales and in Scotland, or after the first of July one thousand eight hundred and thirty-five in Ireland, shall make any weights or measures other than those authorized by this Act, or shall sell, expose to sale, or use any weights or measures which have not been so stamped as aforesaid, or which shall be found light or other- wise unjust, shall on conviction forfeit a sum not ex- ceeding five pounds ; and that any contract, bargain, or sale made by any such weights or measures shall be wholly null and void, and that all such light or unjust weights and measures so used shall be seized, forfeited, and condemned. Regulation as XV. And be it enacted, that in weights measures and to fiar prices Scotland, from and after the first day m S°"\rnd"" «f January one thousand eight hundred and thirty-five, the fiar prices of all grain iu every county shall be struck by the imperial quarter, and all other returns of the prices of grain shall be set forth by the same, without any reference to any other measure whatsoever ; and that any she- rifiT clerk, clerk of a market, or other person who shall offend against this provision shall forfeit a sum not exceeding five pounds or less than twenty shillings. Inspectors to XVI. And be it enacted, that every cognizance. "*' Prison appointed an inspector of weights and measures as aforesaid shall forth- with enter into a legal security to the king, to be sued for in any court of record, in the sum of one hundred pounds, for the due and punctual performance of the duties of his office, and for the safety of the copies committed to his charge, and for their due restoration immediately on his removal or other cessation from office ; and every such inspector shall, on receiving due notice, attend to examine, compare, and stamp, if so required and found correct, such weights and measures as shall be produced to him ; and he shall keep a book wherein he shall enter minutes of all such comparisons, and give a certificate under his hand of every such stamping or verification, if required so to do. Power to ma- XVII. And be it enacted, that it fpe'cf "weight's s^^ll ^^ lawful for any two or more and measures, magistrates of any county, or of any city or town being a county within itself, or for any sheriff" or magistrates of any burgh or town corporate in Scotland, within their respective districts, to enter any shop, store, warehouse, stall, yard, or place whatsoever, wherein goods shall be ex- posed or kept for sale, or shall be weighed for convey- ance or carriage, and there to examine all weights and measures, beams and scales, or other weighing machines, and to compare and try the same with the copies of the imperial standard weights and measures required or authorized to be provided under this Act, and to cause the same to be taken possession of and detained until they shall have been examined by the nearest inspector ; and if upon such examination it shall appear that the said weights or measures, beams and scales, or other weighing machines, are light or otherwise unjust, the same shall be forfeited and de- stroyed, and the person or persons in whose possession the same were found shall be liable in a penalty of any sum not exceeding five pounds : Provided always, that any person who shall neglect or refuse to produce for tha inspection of such magistrates, when thereto required, all weights and measures, beams, scales, or other weighing machines, which shall be in his pos- session, or shall otherwise obstruct or hinder such magistrates, shall be liable to a like penalty, and also that no such pecuniary penalty shall be incurred if he, she, or they shall prove to the satisfaction of such magistrates that such weights and measures, beams and scales, or other weighing machines produced or found in his possession, have not been in use since the passing of this Act. Penaltv for XVIII. And be it enacted, that if stTmT^"on^ any person or persons shall make, weights and forge, or counterfeit, or cause or pro- measures, cure to be made, forged, or counter- feited, or knowingly act or assist in the making, forg- ing, and counterfeiting, any stamp or mark now used or which may hereafter from time to time be used for 440 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, the stamping or marking of any weights or measures, to denote that any such weight or measure has been compared, adjusted, and approved to be of the due weight or measure required by law, shall for every such offence forfeit a sum not exceeding fifty pounds or less than ten pounds ; and if any person shall knowingly sell, utter, dispose of, or expose to sale any weight or measure with such forged or counterfeit stamp or mark thereon, every person so offending shall for every such offence ferfeit and pay a sum not ex- ceeding ten pounds or less than forty shillings, to be recovered in a summary way as herein-after provided ; and that all weights and measures with such forged or counterfeited marks shall be seized, forfeited, and condemned. Copies of the XIX. And be it enacted, that all weiglrt^s* and copies of the imperial standard weights measures, and measures, which may have been whicli shall vvorn by time, and mended in conse- have been worn c -j ^ i n and mended to quence 01 any wear or accident, shall be sent to the forthwith be sent to the Exchequer for Exchequer to the purpose of being again compared and verified, and shall be stamped as mended copies of the imperial standard weights and measures ; provided such weights and measures have been so mended that the auditor, comptroller-general, or other superintending officer appointed for such veri- fication shall deem them fit to be used for the purposes of standards, and every new comparison and verifica- tion shall be indorsed upon the original indenture of verification, and such weights and measures shall be so stamped upon payment of fees of verification only. Officer at Ex- XX. And be it enacted, that there f rSto'^'of s^all be kept by the auditor, comptrol- copies verified, ler-general, or other superintending officer at the Exchequer, an account or register of all copies of the imperial standard weights and measures, or the parts or multiples thereof,that shall have been verified at the Exchequer at Westminster. As to penal- XXI. And be it enacted, that in a^Kl I^elaX England and Wales and in Ireland all penalties and forfeitures which shall be incurred under any of the provisions of the said re- cited Act of the fifth year aforesaid, or this Act, shall be paid to the treasurer of such county ; and in case such conviction shall take place on information, then one- half to the informer or to the person who may sue for the same, and the remainder to the treasurer of the county or county of a city in which they shall be respectively recovered, and be applied to and make part of the county rate, or of such other funds as shall be liable, under the provisions of this Act, to the cost of providing and maintaining copies of the imperial standard weights and measures; any thing in the said recited Act of the fifth year aforesaid to the con- trary notwithstanding. Form of con- XXII. And be it enacted, that in all VIC ion. counties in England and Wales and in Ireland all penalties under this Act shall be sued for and recovered before two or more justices of the peace at petty sessions, or before the mayor or other chief magistrate of any city, borough, or place within whose jurisdiction the offence shall have been com- mitted, and that the conviction may be drawn up according to the following form, or in words to the like eflfect : •' Be it remembered, that on the day of in the year of our Lord yl.E. is convicted before me [or us] one [or two] of his Majesty's justices of the Peace for the \here sipeclfy the offence, and the time and place lohen and where com- mitted, as the case may 6e], contrary to an Act passed in the year of the reign of King [as the case may hel ; and I do adjudge that the said A. B. hath forfeited for said offence the sum of [/lere insert the penalty'\. Given under my hand and seal [or our hands and seals] the day and year first above written." Appealtonext XXIII. And be it enacted, that any fer"lesii?n?of Person convicted of any penalty under the Peace. this Act m England and Wales or in Ireland may appeal to the next Gene- ral Quarter Sessions of the peace for the county, or city or town being a county within itself, against such conviction, on giving security in double the amount of such penalty within forty-eight hours after the con- viction shall have been made ; and the decision there- upon made shall be final. Asto penalties in Scotland. XXIV. And be it enacted, that in Scotland all penalties incurred under the provisions of this Act, or of any of the before- recited Acts, shall be recoverable with expeuces, either before the sheriff of the county or the magistrates of the burgh or town corporate wherein the same may be incurred or where the offender may reside, or before two or more justices of the peace of such county, at the instance either of the procurator fiscal of court, or any person who may prosecute for the same ; and in the former case the whole penalties, after deducting all charges, shall be applied in aid of the funds liable, under the provisions of this Act, to the cost of pro- viding and maintaining copies of the imperial standard weights and measures in the place where such penal- ties shall be awarded ; and where the prosecution shall be at the instance of a private party, one-half of such penalties shall go in aid of the aforesaid funds, and the other half to the party who may prosecute for the same ; and it is hereby provided, that it shall be competent for the said courts respectively to pro- ceed in a summary way, and to grant warrant for bringing the parties complained of before them, and upon proof on oath by one or more credible witnesses, or on the confession of the offender, or on other legal evidence, forthwith to give judgment on such com- plaint, without any written pleadings or record of evidence, and to grant. warrant for the recovery of such penalties and expenses discerned for, failing payment within fourteen days after conviction, by poinding, or by imprisonment for a period, at the dis- cretion of the court, not exceeding sixty days, it being hereby provided that a record should be pre- served of the charge andof the judgment pronounced. Appeal in XXV. And be it enacted, that in ComSone?s Scotland if any person or persons shall of Justiciary at feel themselves aggrieved by the sen- Circuit Court, tence of any sheriff or magistrates of burghs or towns corporate, or justices of the peace, pronounced in any case arising under this Act, it shall be lawful for such person or persons to appeal to the Commissioners of Justiciary at the next Circuit Court, or where there is no Circuit Court, to the High Court of Justiciary at Edinburgh, in the manner and under the rules, limitations, and conditions con- tained in an Act passed in the twentieth year of the THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE- 441 reign of his Majesty King George the Second, inti- 20 G 3 c 43 tu'cd An Act for taking invay and abolishing Heritable Jurisdictions in Scotland, with this variation only, that such person or persons so appealing shall, in place of finding caution in the terms prescribed by the said Act, be bound to find caution to pay the penalty or penalties and expences awarded against him or them by the sentence or sentences appealed from, in the event of the appeal or appeals being dis- missed, together vi^ith any additional expences which shall be awarded by the court in dismissing the said appeal ; and it shall not be oompetent to appeal from or to bring the judgment of any sheriff or justices of the peace acting under this Act under review by advo- cation, suspension, or reduction, or in any other way other than as herein provided. 4 Anne (I.) XXVI. And be it further enacted, c. 110,'repM,Ied '■''''•'• '^^ ^^^ passed in the Parliament except so far of Ireland in the fourth year of Queen as iclate to Anne, intituled An Act for regulating weigli-masters. Weights used in this Kingdom, and that Salt and Meal shall be sold by Weight, and another Act passed in the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in the fifth year of his late Majesty King George the Fourth, intituled An Act for the Indemnity of Magistrates using unlawful Weights in Ireland, shall be and they are hereby repealed, except in so far as they relate to the appointment, duties, and remuneration of weigh- masters. Powers of XXVII. Provided always, and be it &e*.'^1io't''t'o^^be fui'^^ier enacted, that nothing in this interfered with. Act contained shall interfere with the powers of the ward inquests in respect to weights and measures within the city of London and liberties thereof and the borough of Southwark, nor prohibit, defeat, injure, or lessen the right of the mayor and commonalty and citizens of the city of London, or of the Lord JMayor of the said city for the time being, with respect to the stamping or sealing weights and measures, or concerning the oflSce of ganger of wines, oils, honey, and other gaugable liquors im- ported and landed within the city of London and liber- ties thereof. Rights of XXVIII. Provided always, and be pan" reserved: i* enacted, that nothing in this Act contained shall extend to prohibit, de- feat, injure, or lessen the rights granted by charter to the master, wardens, and commonalty of the mystery of founders of the city of London. In actions, XXIX. And be it enacted, that in mav'p[oad%he ^^' ^^^'""^ brought against any magis- geiicial issue, trate for any thing he shall do under this Act it shall be lawful for such magistrate to plead the general issue, and to give the special matter in evidence ; and if a verdict shall be given for the defendant therein he shall have double costs. Act may be XXX. And be it enacted, that this amended, &c., ^ , , amended, altered, or re- thisbcssion. , '■' . . , , pealed by any Act or Acts to be passed in this session of parliament. (except those appointed for the Cities of London and Westminster, or under the Authority of the Foun- ders' Company), and by all Weighmasters in Ireland. For examining, comparing, and stamping all Brass Weights, within their respective Jurisdictions : — For each Half Hundred Weight is 6d For each Quarter of a Hundred Weight .... Os 9d For each Stone , Os 6d For each Weight under a Stone Os l§d For examining, comparing, and stamping all Iron Weights, or Weights of other Descriptions not made of Brass, within their respective Jurisdictions : — Each Half Hundred Weight Os 6d Each Quarter of a Hundred Weight Os 3d For each Stone, and all Weights under a Stone Os 2d For examining, comparing, and stamping all Wooden Measures, within their respective Jurisdictions : — Each Bushel Os 6d Each Half Bushel Os 3d Each Peck, and all under Os 2d Each Yard Os 6d For examining, comparing, and stamping all Measures of Capacity of Liquids, made of Copper or other Metal, within their respective Jurisdictions : — Each Five Gallon is 8d Each Four Gallon is 4d Each Three Gallon is Od Each Two Gallon Os 8d Each Gallon Os 4d Each Half Gallon os 2d Each Quart Os Id Each Pint, and under , os 0§d SHEDULE OF FEES To be taken by all Inspectors of Weights and Measures WORKING OF THE NEW BASTARDY LAW. EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM A COUNTRY GENTLE- MAN IN WARWICKSHIRE. This afternoon, a poor old man came to me to ask me whether the overseer could now take his daughter before a magistrate to make her swear her child ; he said that he had heard that the new law wotdd save him from this shame, but he said the overseer said it would not ; he therefore came to me to ask me how the law was, and hoped I would be kind enough to stand be- tween him and the overseer. He wanted, he said, no- thing from the fellow who had used his child ill ; she was, he said, as good and dutiful a child as ever father had, and the rascal only prevailed over her under pro- mise of marriage. Though he was a poor man, he said, and had nothing but what he worked for, he would rather work for her and her child to the end of his days, and so would his wife, than that she should get a sixpence of the villain by undergoing the shame of going before a magistrate. Such a thing, he said, had never happened in his family, and it almost broke his heart to think of it— and the poor old man wept bitterly. When I told him that he might keep his daughter at home in spite of the overseer, his bur- then seemed lightened of half its weight. I have since inquired more particularly about him and his family, and find, though mere common labourers, they are very respectable people ; the girl, the neighbours told me, has never, since the matter became known, been seen out in the day time ; if she goes out at all it is with her mother at dusk. Such is the conduct of even the poorest when they regard character, and such as this poor man we may expect to find many now that they are not forced to consider it (character) of no consequence. What would the Bishop of Exeter say to this ? Let him ask the old man which law is the most cruel, the old or the new ? and which chain the strongest, that which is worn by principle, or that which is forged by penal enactment ? 442 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. CORONERS' INQUESTS. We have received from Dr. Wilkinson, of Bath, the following communication, which we consider of importance to all Coroners on their Inquests, where poison is suspected to have occasioned the deatli. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — At an Inquest lately held in the vicinity of the meti'opolis, an opinion was advanced, that ar- senic and prussic acid had been taken ; relative to the exhibition of the latter, some difference of opinion was entertained by the medical gentlemen attending on that occasion. It is unnecessary to observe, that, in such cases wlicn any shadow of doubt exists, the most liberal construction should be the result. When the tests recommended by Dr. Wollaston, Mr. Hume, and by Bruo;natelli, evince those changes which take place by the presence of arse- nious acid, a strong presumption may be enter- tained ; as the most satisfactory proof is that re- sulting from the reduction of the acid to its metal- lic state ; and particularly where the reputation of an individual becomes seriously involved, this should be required. Arsenic varies in its effects on different individuals. Sometimes a consider- able period elapses before an}' effects are experi- enced ; whilst in others, alarming s3'mptoms ap- pear in fifteen or twenty minutes. In all the cases where I have been requested to examine the con- tents of the stomach, I never experienced the slightest difficulty in detecting arsenic in sufficient quantities for reduction, when taken in that pro- portion as to produce death. Arsenious acid is very insoluble in water ; and firmly adheres to the coats of the stomach ; and when the stomach, with its contents, are agitated in a large quantity of water, particles of the acid, from their specific gravity, sonn subside; what animal and vege- table matter can be separated without Alteration should then be effected, and the liquid part sim- mered with some subcarbonate of potassa, which combining with the arsenious acid, forms the arsenite of potassa; a salt soluble in water andadmitsof filteration, and by evaporation the ar- senical salt is left behind ; a few grains of this resi- duum introduced into a small glass tube, with four times its weight of black flux (two parts of cream of tartar, and one of nitre deflagrated), the bottom of the tube exposed to a spirit lamp till red hot; if garlic fumes arise, and a steel lustre metallic coating about a quarter of an inch above the bot- tom of the tube — it is arsenic ; and which may be additionally demonstrated by detachinga small film from the tube and placing it between two polished plates of copper ; upon exposure to heat, the me- tallic surface becomes white, and in such cases I have never observed any good efiect from the sto- mach pump. As these experiments are very con- vincing, and do not require many minutes to per- form, it is my opinion they should always be ex- hibited to the coroner and jury during the inquest : and indeed in every case where poison has been detected, the person employed in the chemical ex- amination should be required to exhibit his differ- ent tests and results, i his principal proof of the presence of arsenic did not take place, owing, as stated, to the glass tube being unannealed, and breaking uuder the operation. I presume that all the arsenic collected was not in this experiment employed. If it were, the quantity detected would be too small for the decision of a jury : if not, in such an important case, the experiment should have been repeated. With respect to the prussic acid, great doubts were very properly entertained that this poison had been exhibited conjointly with arsenic. I have not had any oi)portunity of seeing the poisonous effects of this acid on the hu- man species. I have observed its influence on animals; but in no one instance where it proved fatal could the slightest trace be discovered in the stomach. It appears that, by some peculiar ac- tion on the nervous system, when this active poi- son comes into contact with the absorbing surface of an animal body, the functions necessary for life are suspended ; if even one drop be introduced into the mouth of a cat, dog, rahit, or lowl, the organs of respiration and deglutition immediately cease, without the smallest portion being deter- mined into the stomach. One drop of this acid in a quart of water is detectable by the sulphate of copper ; yet no effect was observed by this test in the above experiment : and, indeed, if exhibited at the same period with the arsenious acid, its im- mediate effects would prevent the results, as stated, from the latter. I am, Sir, &c., Sidney Place, Bath. C.H.Wilkinson. In riding from Portrush to the Giant's Causeway with some company, we had occasion to ford the river Bush, near the sea; and as the fishermen were going to haul their net, we stopped to see their suc- cess. As soon as the dog perceived the men to move, he instantly ran down the river of his own accord, and took post in the middle of it, on some shallows, where be could occasionally either run or swim, and in this position he placed himself, with all the eager- ness and attention so strongly observable in a pointer dog, who sets his game : we were foB some time at a loss to apprehend his scheme, but the event soon satisfied us, and amply justified the prudence of the animal, for the fish, when they feel the net, always endeavour to make directly out for sea. Accordingly one of the salmon, escaping from the net, rushed down the stream with great velocity, towards the ford, where the dog stood to receive him at an ad- vantage. A very diverting chase now commenced, in which, from the sliallowness of the water, we could discern the whole track of the fish, with all its rapid turnings and windings. After a smart pursuit, the dog found himself left considerably behind, in consequence of the water deepening, by which he had been reduced to the necessity of swimming. But instead of following this desperate game any longer he readily gave it over, and ran with all his speed directly down the river, till he was sure of be- ing again sea-ward of the salmon, where he took post, as before, in his pointer's attitude. Here the fish a second time met him, and a fresh pursuit ensued, in which, after various attempts, the salmon at last made its way out to the sea, notwithstanding all the ingenious and vigorous exertions of its pursuer. Though the dog did not succeed at this time, yet I was informed, that it was no unusual thing for hiux to run down his game ; and the fishermen assured me that he was of very great advantage to them, by turning the salmon to the net; in which point of view, his efforts in some measure corresponded with the cannonade of stones, which I mentioned at Carrick- a-rede. — Hamilton's Antrim, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 443 PRESERVATION OF GAME. Having said enough on the destruction, let me now proceed to the preservation of game. A man, who, as a friend, had heen hospitably entertained, or, as a stranger, accommodated with a day's shooting, would scarcely deserve the name of a gentleman, if he afterwards, clandestinely, set his foot on the ground of one, to whom he was thus far indebted ; and it is, therefore, extremely illiberal to infer, that a good shot cannot sport like a gentleman : or that, when invited to shoot, he would destroy an unfair quantity of game ; so far from it, a first-rate sportsman takes a pride in showing mercy to what is in his power, and piques himself upon strictly couforming to what he thinks would please his host, and being called a " nice gentleman " by an honest gamekeeper. Not only this, but, from being cool and steady, he has bet- ter nerves to withstand all temjjtation, than a raw shot, who has scarcelj'' any command of himself on springing a forbidden bird. There are many squires, however, so hoggishly tenacious of their game, that, in spite of all reason, they continue their prejudice against a cracked shot so far, as studiously to avoid his acquaintance ; because there are some greedy destroyers, who take an un- fair advantage of their own skill and their host's indulgence, and, on the other hand, correct men, who havrt been known to kill an immense bag of game, at his particular request, for the supply of an election dinner, or other reasonable purpose. Thus many lords of manors, who would rather lose an ounce of their own blood than a brace of their pheasants, have been striving to preserve every head of game by day, while the poachers, unmolested, were clearing it by wholesale during the night. Sometimes, too, notwithstanding all their caution, their manors are invaded even by day, with old stagers from a garrison, who select market days, when the tenants are absent, and windy weather, when they can manoeuvre to lee- ward, and outflank the keepers. Others, again, manage to create a diversion in favour of their trespass, by having the keepers drawn to opposite points with the discharge of double guns and pistols, or, getting some bad shots, on promising them a shere of the booty, to throw themselves in the way of the lookers out, and occupy their whole attention, first, by running away, to give them a chase that will prolong their distance from the real point of attack ; and then, by warmly arguing iu a wrong cause, so as to en- gross their attention with a triumphant explana- tion of their own knowledge and their prisoner's ignorance in the game laws. Many gentlemen poachers have, by running away, through pretended fear, drawn a game- keeper oft' his boundary, who, being possibly there followed by his dogs, and having only a game- keeper's licence, becomes so far in doubt as to his own safety against information, that he is too happy to compound for the day's sport being finished in peace by those before whom he may have committed himself. Some with a polite bow and a shrug of the shoulders, have pretended to be foreigners, who did not understand a syllable of English, and by this means have deterred keepers from asking those questions which, if once put, the usual pe- nalty of 20 pounds would bind them to answer. Others, regardless of either word or credit, most faithfully assure the keepers that they have got leave from their master, inquire after his health, pretend to be on the most intimate terms with him and his acquaintance, and (probably knowing him to be from home) have evenhad the effrontery to call at his house, in order to give still more plausibility to their word. A keeper should therefore always serve the notices on every one who is not per- fectly well known to him. This may be done with a degree of respect and civility, that could offend no gentleman, and would often be the means of out- witting many who are regardless of all pretensions to that name. Some attempt to carry their point by sheer bul- lying ; threatening to box with, or shoot the keep- ers, and (under a hope that their masters would not off'er themselves as a target to every puppy who came to poach on them) talk of " satisfac- tion— ." pistols — ," " fighting in a sawpit — ," and hold forth vaunting proposals, in which, if they were once taken at their word, they would, in all probability, like most bullies, or soi disant heroes, prattle too much about " fighting," be the very first to sport their white feather 1 They are not all men of war who strut about with colossal brass spurs, and ten shillings' worth of hair, like a mag- pie's nest, pasted round their jowls. Though last, not least, among the successful plans of the day poacher, is that of taking a double gun, and an old steady pointer, when tra- velling, and cutting out the game from the farther end of the preserved fields, which flank the turn- pikes (as a cruiser would a flotilla from under a battery) ; or, if the fields are so large that he might be coursed and caught, simply to draw them within a short run of his carriage. A keep- er, in thie case, would do well to gallop quietly round to some likely field in advance, for which our friend would be pretty sure to turn out sgiin, and here the keeper, by hiding himself, might pop on him, with all the necessary articles to put an end to his progress. For stopping one who car- ries a gun to shoot birds feeding as he travels along the road, the better way would be to tie down the innkeepers, by a threat of withdrawing your custom, not to allow their postboys or coach- men to stop for such purposes ; and, through a fear of getting in a scrape, these men would most likely contrive to pass by, or frighten up the game. Now, however, the power of seizure, and the £2 penalty, without notice .' alters the case ; though, unfortunately, this summary penalty is calculated to annoy only the open, and perhaps fair, sportsman, instead of the run-away shooter or secret poacher. If you owe a greedy shooter a grudge, give his dog, in hot weather, a carte blanche at a large tub of butter-milk, just before he takes the field. He will then have many points, but few birds. It would far exceed the limits of this work to in- sert every ruse de guerre that is successfully prac- tised, for a tolerable shot to come home with a full bag. All keepers and lookers out, therefore, should be constantly on the alert, and made strict- ly acquainted with the game laws, at least as far as they relate to themselves; but although this may be learnt by a little conversation with almost any attorney's clerk, or a few written instructions, yet not one in ten knows how to serve a notice cor- rectly, or even the most common points of what so materially concerns the duties of his situation. Keepers should be as widely distributed as pos- sible, by which means a marauder would have some difficulty to steer clear of them all ; but these men (like markers) are too apt to get idling and chattering together, instead of minding their busi- ness. Each gamekeeper would do well to have a witness, for which any common labourer would be 444 THE FARMER^S MAGAZINE. sufficient ; and, above all, a spy glass, by which he would most likely be able to distinguish any man who might beat him by being longer in the legs than himself, or having a horse which was a better fencer than his own, and who he may, by this means, be able to recognise hereafter, so as to find him out, and proceed against him. A few words more with regard to gamekeepers : Be careful how you trust any of them with guns under the pretence of their killing vermin ; for it is an undoubted fact, that many of those who are considered very honest men by their employers, are yet so much the contrary, that they will take every opportunity to destroy game, when not under the immediate observation of their master. For instance, a gamekeeper is in a covert ; he fires his gun, and pockets a pheasant or a partridge, or kills a hare and conceals it : his master, who is perhaps not out of hearing of the gun, comes up and says, "John, what did you shoot at? " " A d d hawk, sir," replies the trusty guardian of the preserves. "Did you kill it John?" "Oh, no, sir, he was too far off; but I'm sure I properly peppered him." "Where is he now ? " "Lord bless you, sir, he's been out of sight these five minutes ! " Be very cautious whom you trust with fowling- pieces ; they are not so often required as keepers would wish to persuade you they are ; and do not be led away with the mistaken notion, that it will be a protection to your game to have a dozen fel- lows running about with guns in their hands. It may be asked, How, then are the various kinds of vermin to be destroyed ? To which I would an- swer, that if a keeper cannot effect this by means of traps, gins, poison, and the various other arti- fices, he is by no means qualified for his place. And, with regard to hawks and other mischievous birds, these underlings have only to keep a sharp look out in the breeding season, to find their nests, and then take the head keeper or some one pro- per to be trusted with a gun to shoot them. In case it should be considered unsafe for keep- ers to go their nightly rounds without fire-arms, I should rather recommend the use of pistols than guns, though I have little doubt but a fierce dog and a sabre or a budgeon, would effectually an- swer the purpose of defence against poachers. If you have reason to expect a gang of poachers that may be too strong for your keepers, let some one go through your covers, and thrash away at all the trees till he has driven the pheasants from their roosts. Having then spoiled the night's sport, you may go home and sleep in peace. This was the plan of my friend, the late Mr. Ponton, who, with only one regular keeper, had plenty of pheasants in the midst of poachers. The poachers, when not in bed or at their work, generally frequent what were formerly called " bough houses," — unlicensed places where beer was sold, but now regularly licensed as " beer- houses ; " much increased in number, and there- fore a ten times greater nuisance than ever ! — the very ruin of the lower classes and their families. [If beer must be sold, it should be taken home by the poor man to his wife and children, and not guzzled by himself, in half a day's idleness, among, and perhaps under the tuition of, a den of thieves. We sadly want some amendment to regulate this abominable bill.] In haunts like these, it may be contrived to discover a whole gang of poachers, by having them closely watched, or buying over, for a spy or keeper, some well known" old hand." In short.if these fellows are never lost sight of, they must be taken sooner or later, but, if only watched for in the fields and woods, they may escape their pursuers till they have stripped a manor. The most scientific poacher, and the least likely to be detected, is the one who snares partridges in the open country, or catches hares and pheasants in covert, in the middle of the day. Take a covert, for instance, — the poacher, with snares and silk nets, goes through it, and quietly sets them. When this is done, throughout the whole extent of covert, where there are paths or runs, the cop- pice is then disturbed by a mute and unsuspected cur, and the destruction immense, if well supplied with game. The grand time for this is on a Sun- day, or on a wet day, when no sportsmen are likely to be out. The fellow, if caught, has of course some prepared excuse, such as that of nut- ting ; of cutting a stick — having lost his way, &c. You find no game upon him, and therefore can do nothing with him, while possibly his fifty brace are hid away in sacks to be brought off at midnight to the receiver — perhaps the ci-de- vant man- cook of a country inn, or some such " deep old file," who generally contrives to keep out of all scrapes, and pass himself off as a re- pectable man. The real way to keep up a good stock of game, we may rest assured, is, first, to be well guarded against such incursions as those previously alluded to. Secondly, to get the poachers watched at their own houses, by concealing people during the night, near both their front and back doors ; also to have, up the road, an eye on the stage- coaches ; and, above all, some spies over the wag- goners, who are often their very employers, and who are enabled to smuggle to London both your game and poultry, not only better concealed than if sent by the coach, but in much greater quanti- ties. Thirdly, to keep on good terms with the farmers, who, it should be remembered, have a right to tread on their own ground, though the nest of a partridge or pheasant be under their feet. In a few words, a gentleman who, living on his estate, is liberal and popular with his neighbours, his tenants, and the poor, will seldom have much difficulty in preserving his rights of every kind. Few will be disposed to infringe on them, while every one is ready to offer assistance for their pro- tection. But, on the other hand, the tyrant, hated and despised by all, when shot over by day, poach- ed on by night, or even robbed of his property, becomes only the laughing-stock of his villagers, who would perhaps rather succour than infoi-m against the offenders. Nothing will keep pheasants at home better than stacks of buck-wheat, oats, white peas, or barley, provided you dispose of them in coverts, where there is access to water. It is equally well known, that high turnips will be a shelter for your partridges, as that Swedes will attract hares, and strong furze be the means of preserving game of every description. I may add, that woodcocks have been often col- lected together by decayed apples. This discovery was first made in consequence of their having fre- quented the orchards in some parts of Dorsetshire, where they have appeared in great numbers, and are called " ditch-owls." — Hawker. CONUNDRUMS. 1. Why is a soldier who is punished, by being sent to exercise halt' a score times, like a bine ? 2. Why are most churches like a pack of cards ? SOLUTIONS. 1. Because he has ten drills — (tendrils.) 2. Because they have a nave (knave.) THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 445 AGRICULTURAL REPORTS. NORFOLK. The busy period of harvest is over in this county, and it has been one of the most favourable ever known. The weather, it is true, was chiefly exces- sively hot, so that the labourers with difficulty, on some of the hottest days, were able to keep at their employments from tlie excessive heat, and required more beer than usual to enable them to work at all, which was done as naked as decenc)'' would allow, and with a surprising loss of sweat. From the com- mencement to the end we had scarcely any rain, and none to cause any considerable loss of time. Indeed the harvest, as well as the summer, has been one of the old-fashioned sort, such as our fathers have told us of, butwe ourselves have hardly ever experienced. Heat — excessive heat — heavy thurider storms, which have done a vast deal of damage — unfrequent and trifling- showers, except in the time of turnip sowing, and fair and hot till the end of harvest. Lately we have had frequent and heavy showers ; and feed is now tolerably plentiful ; but we have had scarcely a field of corn abroad, except, perhaps, in the wood- land parts of the county, and with the afternoon, or rather the evening farmers, who, to their own disad- vantage, generally neglect the advice of poor Robin to " make hay while the sun shines." In these places, and with these farmers, here and there a field of barley may be seen yet uncasted, but nothing more ; and this we have frequently seen, in other years, at Michaelmas ; but although these are likely to be discoloured and to grow, they are not sufiicient to be of any general importance. The beans whicli are grown on the marsh lands on the borders of Lin- colnshire and Cambridgeshire, are yet chiefly un- carted, and many are not yet cut ; but to this we at- tach little importance, as they are grown to an in- considerable extent, and only for horses, and are worth as much, or nearly so, whether of a bad or good colour. We believe the staple products of the county — wheat and barley, and we might also add oats and peas — were hardly ever got up in better condition. The new samples of wheat which we have already examined are chiefly very good in quality — they are dry, and fit for immediate use, and the cast per acre is such as the farmers have no right to find fault with, indeed it is above an average crop ; but tbe price " c'est toute autre chose" — it is ruinous to the growers, and very many of them will not be able to stand the present expenses. A great many farms are already to let in this county, and although old Michaelmas (the time at which farms are ehiefly entered upon in Norfolk) is yet several weeks distant, the county papers are almost filled with advertisements of auctions, and chiefly of agri- cultural implements and fanning stock. Our farmers, almost to a man, are so far from hoping for any relief from the Poor Law Amendment Bill, as they were pompously promised, that they dread its introduc- tion, and declare that it must and will make a very considerable increase in their expenditure — in poor rates — in the building of workhouses — the maintain- ing entirely in these houses all tliose whom they have heretofore put off with a small weekly allowance, with no possibilitv of finding more employment tlian they have hitherto done — the number of bastard chil- dren and their mothers that they will be called upon to support, in addition to the number of paid officers now to be introduced into the management of the poor. All these must necessarily increase their ex- penses, and they can see no advantages to be derived by them as a set-off against this increased expendi- ture. We know that many of them are too ready to predict evil because they dread it, but many of them speak with confidence as to the coming winter being worse than any we have yet known, particularly if, with all our distresses, any attempts are made at raising a general resistance to the provisions of the recent Bill amongst the labourers themselves — a cir- cumstance they think by no means improbable, if the poor should be treated with greater severity than at present. Let it be recollected that the measure will not merely affect a single parish, as any par- ticularly severe measures have formerly done, while the poor in a neighbouring parish have been con- tented and happy, and ready to render their assist- ance to put down any riot, but this will be universal ; all will alike feel its severity (if severe) ; and will not many of the farmers, being also dissatisfied, cease to exert themselves to put these down, if they do nothing else ? Employment, and the means of em- ployment, are what we want. Barleys are got up well, but are, notwithstanding, but moderate samples. Many are discoloured, and others are thin and light, and we shall find but a few good malting samples, and those will realize a high price. As we have stated formerly, the cast per acre is greatly deficient ; and as barley will, in all pro- bability, not be malted before November, none is now bouo-ht up but on speculation, and no price therefore can be quoted ; perhaps from 29s to 30s for the average runs, and 34s to 36s for picked. Chevaliers mav be considered not wide of the mark. The low price of the best wheats, and the high price of the best barleys, may bring the two grains pretty nearly to an equal price per stone ; and if this, as we anticipate, should turn out to be the case, we may expect to see the brewers come into the market and buy wheats to make malt of. A mixture of the two grains in malt produces a rich and fine-flavoured beer. Such an interposition on the part of the brewers will prevent too close an approximation of prices ; barley wil!, in a certain degree, be kept from rising, and wheat from falling. Although the supply of oats is limited, and the trade heavy, still there is no alteration in price. The weather has lately been very favourable for the winter potatoes, and there is a prospect of an abun- dant crop, particularly with the late sown : those that were early sown were almost every where grown a second time since the rains. The turnip crop we never saw more promising ; they are already larger than we have frequently known them at Michael- mas. We stated in our last report that there was a very great falling off in the new layers, and recent experience has fully confirmed us in the opinion, and we cannot, therefore, more opportunely than at the present season of the year recommend attention to a prolific variety of trefoil lately introduced into these counties, and which, from all we can learn about it, possesses some very valuable qualities. The Trifo- lium Incarnatum is a native of Italy, at least it was from Italy that it was first brought to England. For some years past it has been partly grown in Berk- shire, Buckinghamshire, Surrey, and its neighbour- hood ; but we are not aware that it has been tried in our eastern district above a year or two. The great advantage that it has over the common clover, and most other varieties of trefoil, which are in use, consists in the greater rapidity of its growth. It is not necessary to sow it before the first or second week in September, and when thus sown its produce, which is said to be abundant, will be ready for sow- ing as green feed by March, or if intended for hay, it will be quite fit in April. Fourteen or sixteen pounds of seed will be enough for an acre, and as it is found to succeed best upon solid ground, it is suflScient merely to scarify the land, sow the seed, and roll it down. If a new layer should fail, a few 446 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. pounds per acre of tLis Incarnate clover might be sown after harvest with advantage ; a pair of light harrows may thea he drawn over the scarified land, and afterwards the whole rolled down. If a crop of spring feed is wanted, mow a wheat stubble which is clean and in good heart, cast off the haulm, scarify or plough the land, and sow the seed. It will in all probability be found a preferable crop to vetches, and the land may afterwards be got ready for turnips, if the season is not unkind. In stating the reputed qualities of this new clover we disclaim the respon- sibility of large experiments, for all experiments should be tried, at first, on a small scale. Fruit is more plentiful than we expected, and in the great number of ])artridges there seems a fine prospect for sporting gentlemen. — Aug. 29. HERTS. We are arrived at what may be deemed in our county (speaking generally) the conclusion of har- vest, and we are aware that so forward a wheat har- vest has not occurred for fifty-one years, and in one instance that harvest was similar to the present, that is to say, in the smallness of the bulk of straw ; and this may be reasonably accounted for, because as the sun is the parent of corn-seed and grain, so is rain and its attributes the producers of straw and grass. We are also in a degree enabled to state that, as re- gards the quality of wheat, (and had we not such superior qualities of that grain in the two preceding harvests), we should, as far as premature inning is not concerned, have pronounced it good, indeed it would be wrong to say otherwise ; and the flour from that which has been got in well is allowed bv millers to be capital. The crop of barley is so various that scarce an opinion can be formed which can be relied on, but we think more favourably of it than the gene- rality of farmers do. The oat crop appears to be an average one. Beans, peas, and tares, are as various as the soils they grow on ; and the quantity of good hay at this period is equal to the average of late years, for let it be remembered that great grass years are not always those years which produce the most good hay. Turnips and other vegetables are abun- dant. The Chevalier barley and the golden-nob wheats are retaining their superiority. A year like the present for making of tilth was never exceeded, — a thing of no minor consequence, and the seeds in the corn stubbles are excellent, and the gleanings of the poor prove well. With all this, there is gloomi- ness hanging over and about farming, which the late Premier's information, " That the only hope that the farmers of our island have of that gloom being dissi- pated, must come from their landlord;" and which we are afraid will go but a little way to accomplish their hope ; but that which will be the most probable means of effecting this, is the said Premier setting a glaring and bright example. The corn markets in our county continue to assume a most appalling ap- pearance ; wheat, os 3d to 6s 6d per bush. No corn so low in price as wheat. There is great appearance of being a shortness of agricultural labourers in the ensuing autumn or spring, but we hope some relief on this subject may arise out and from the New Poor Law. — Aug. 27. SUSSEX. We sit down to write our monthly report for Au- gust with considerable diffidence and distrust of our own judgment. After the recent great fiill in the price of corn, and more especially after the well- written postcript in your last paper respecting the duty of gratitude to a kind Providence, we are almost tempted either to fall in with the general opinion of the great abundance of the late harvest, or to refrain from advancing an opinion on the subject at all con- trary to that so generally entertained. Trusting, however, to the sincerity of our intentions, and giving our reasons for the opinion we hold, we now venture to state that, taking the harvest and crop through the south and west of England, the former has not been a very fwourable one, and the latter, that is the crop, not above aa average either as to quantity or quality. We will even go farther, and state our belief that in the eastern counties, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex, althougli the wlieat crop may prove a full average one, and generally well har- vested, still that barley, beans, and peas, which con- stitute so large a proportion of the gross produce, will be found very deficient both in quantity and quality. Beginning with Kent, and taking the maritime counties to the Land's-end, we believe that at least half the wheat has been carried in. very bad condi ■ tion, and will not be fit to use till the next summer. Barley is confessedly very indifferent in quality, and even where well harvested, a great proportion of it will be unfit for malting. Peas and beans are also generally a complete fadure. Of old Oats there is very few left, and allowing the new crop to be an average one, as the hay is so very short, the con- sumption of oats will be immense, and there is no chance of oats falling to 15s. or 16s. per qr. as they did last year. It must not escape observation that there will be a great demand for the bran pollard of the wheat. Taking these things into consideration, \ve express our opinion that nothing but the poverty of the fanners compelling them to bring their produce to market, combined with the bad condition of much of the wheat which must be sold as soon as thrashed, can reduce the price of wheat below what it is at present ; should the price of wheat fall on an average to 40s. per qr. as expected by some, it will be en- tirely owing to the two causes just mentioned, and the consequences must be most serious. All the theoretical ideas of our political economists as to the new Poor Law Bill raising the rate of wages will prove to be fallacious, for, even at pVesent, the farmer has the greatest difficulty in raising money to pay his labourers. The situation of the farmers of Sussex could be well shown by Cruikshank as up to their necks in water, one saving himself by resting his head on a bag of wool, the other on a pocket of hops ; all those who are neither wool or hop growers must be drowned, unless some unexpected succour comes to their aid. SUFFOLK. The past month has been most favourable for concluding the harvest, which with many farmers (perhaps a majority of this county^ was accom- plished by the middle of this month. We have had fine showers at intervals in some districts during the month ; they came ver\' opportunely for the barleys, which were high coloured, thin, and coarse, we be- lieve they are considerably improved by the rains ; we find on an extensive inquiry that the Chevalier barley is of decidedly better quality this season, and worth 2s. to 4s. per qr. more than any other kind ; whether the produce per acre will equal or surpass other kinds we are unable to say, but this we dare assert, barleys are decidedly a deficient crop, we never remember seeing so small a quantity of barley stacks after any harvest than the present. Peas, beans, and oats, we are persuaded, are below an ave- rage crop. Our opinion in former reports that the wheats promised a fair average crop, we think is fully supported. Turnips have flourished uncom- monly of late, and although generally backward, at THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 447 least we consider them the more so as harvest was finished before they were fit for the hoe, nevertheless should suitable weather ensue they may be as good as we can wish. Clovers are so short, that many pieces were obliged to be fed, but we are happy to have to report that almost every farmer is saving a small breadth for seed, probably about sufficient for his own use. We regret that this is not more fre- quently followed with respect to every kind of artifi- cial seed, &c., as the time is come when we must again (to use the words of an old melodist) " Shear our own sheep and wear it." The pastures, in those districts whei'e they have been favoured with rains, are now producing more feed than they have done at any time during the sum- mer; but, we are sorry to say, there is an extensive district abutting on the eastern coast of this county, where the pastuies are completely scorched up, and turnips are nearly a totnl failure for want of rain, but we learn they ]i:id a fine rain on the 24th inst. If an early harvest be disadvantageous to the farmer, by being proverbial for producing a short crop, it has enabled him to prepare his land in a superior manner for the ensuing crop, and we never observed so large a breadth of stubble turned in at this season of the year for mangel wurzel and Swedes as in the present. The markets, we need not state, are at a most miserably low ebb, but we cannot re- frain from making an observation or two on the sub- ject ; we lament to state that good wheats are sold at from 40s. to 46s. per qr., and any thing below super- fine under 40s per qr. We do not like to meet danger half way, nor yet deal in predictions, but it does not require much philosophy to foresee the cer- tain coming ruin to all engaged in agriculture, which the cessation of duty on '• shepherds' dogs" will not avert. — Aug. 29. BEDFORDSHIRE. The general harvest was got in in this county about the middle of last month, though many of our farmers have been incovenienced by having to wait for some unkind pieces of backward barley, whicii has been somewhat troublesome to catch, and what is still worse, it is worth but little when caught. We frankly confess, however, that after the con- gratulations which have appeared in your paper as to the result of the late harvest, we feel unwilling to say a word as to the crops, the more so, lest we should be considered as demurring to the duty which you have so very properly pointed out, of giving thanks to Al- mighty God for the abundant supply with which we have been favoured of the first article of human sub- sistence. On this subject we fully agree with you, and since the harvest the weather has been most pro- pitious for the growth of the turnips, the newly -sown rye, tares, clovers, and tlie pasture grounds in general, all of which have been doing well. Those farmers, however, who have their cloverseed cut, will, we fear, get it damaged by the repeated rains of the last few days ; and we perceive that several crops of grass have been cut, and the hay is still abroad, which must be doing badly ; with these trifling exceptions, we consider every thing so far most favourable, and we may certainly congratulate all that portion of the community in particular whose interest it is to be fed at the least possible cost. But, sir, the whole truth ought to be told, whereas if we stop here, we give but an ex parte statement. Let it be borne in mind that there are scores and hundreds of families in this county, connected with the cultivation of the soil, whose property is frittering away ; and we scruple not to say that if things continue as they are, many of them will be quite prepared to become the very first inmates of the district workhouses now in contempla- tion ; and bow should it be otherwise 1 after experi- encing tlie greatest reverses for a series of years, they are now called upon to sell their wheat at full one- third less than it costs them to produce it ; we speak advisedly when we say that the majority of the farmers of this county are now selling this crop (admitting it to be more than an average one) at the loss of from 16s to 20s per qr. for every quarter of wheat they bring to market ; while at the same time the Spring cropping is not at all more than two- thirds of an ave- rage. Of the barley crop in particular it is generally believed that there is, as near as may be, a deficiency of two quarters per acre. How then, we ask, in the name of common sense, are the outgoings of the farmer by any possibility to be met? And still we regret to say, that with few, very few exceptions, the more in- fluential members of society, appear to be looking on with indifference. They have saved the property tax, and yet in a variety of instances have hitherto obtained war rents. But this is not all ; for while they refuse to diminish ought of their demands at home, they equally refuse, in their legislative capacity, to lessen the real burdens of the farming community. — Sept. 11. KENT. What corn remained in the fields when last report was ient you, which consisted of beans and canary, was housed in good condition. Owing to the continuance of the dry weather the plough has in numbers of cases been unable to turn in the stubbles, that the spuddling plough, which only clears the surface, has been used to a greater extent this year than is commonly the case. Numbers have commenced thrashing, and as far as they have proceeded, it is generally allowed that the wheat will over-iun the average — the price at the pre- sent moment is quite ruinous, the top price with us for the best brown wheat is only 44s per qr, some weigh- ing 661bs per bushel, which all must know is much under what the farmer can grow it for. Very little barley or oats are yet thrashed, thinking to get a better price when the malting season com- mences, owing to the shortness of these crops, as we rate barley and oats not much above half an average on all our light lands. The want of grass has caused a number of beasts to be sent to market in not very good condition ; these have been sold at lower terms than for some months past, but there is very little variation in the price of prime stock. There has been no want of sheep and lambs at market of late; owing to the want of lain num- bers are obliged to sell, having very little keep in the pastures ; the same is likewise the case in the grat- tens. Hops have improved above all expectations formed of them at one period of dieir growth this season — they, by many, were pronounced past recovery, but they are now in most gardens a fair crop ; so much for this uncertain plant. — Sept. 11. OXFORDSHIRE. The important labours of harvest are now brought to a conclusion, and upon the whole the corn may be said to have been got in in pretty fair condition ; for although we have experienced frequent rains, and the weather throughout the month may have been inclined to be showery, yet there has continually been intervals when (if patience was duly exeicised) corn could be carried in good order. That in very many instances it has not been so secured, the fault will lay with the 448 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. owners. Now that the corn Is all in the barns and ' rick-yards, we are able to confirm what we have for some months predicted, namely, that the crop just gathered is altogether the smallest that we have har- vested for many years, and we hesitate not to affirm that in this, and perhaps we may add, the adjoining counties, not more than one so light has occurred for a number of years past, and we cannot but feel some degree of surprise that the Editors of many London papers should have copied statements from country- journals, so highly calculated to mislead the public in this respect, when the reports furnished by practical men have now for at least three months, almost with- out exception, declared that all Spring corn particu- larly, was likely to prove deficient. While we would be among the last to think lightly of the bounty of an indulgent Providence, we feel bound to enter our protest against such garret-written tales as we are year by year favoured with by men whose ignorance can only be equalled by their impudence. That barley is a very ordinary sample, is admitted by these gentry ; now whatcauses this unevennessof the grain ? It must be, and is doubtless owing to some part or parts of the crop not filling properly — now what tends to prevent corn filling properly, or not at all must (as in the case this season) prevent its filling the bushel, and yet these wiseacres, while they admit this leanness, tell us in the same breath that tlie crop is most abundant. But little new wheat has yet been brought to mar- ket— what has appeared was a fair quality, but some- what tarnished by the rain, but as ours is mostly red wheat it is tolerably free from sprouted grains. We do not expect anything like tlie quantity of last year. WMiat may have been thrashed and measured up damp is no criterion to judge by. Beans, now they are stacked, are even worse than they were thought to be ; the samples of some are also thin and slirivelled. An immense quantity of latter- math has been cut for hay, but the weather, together with the lateness of the season for hay-making, renders it both tedious and expensive — this, with the injury those late mowings do the land, makes it a questionable policy. It is almost superfluous to add, we abound with feed, but owing probably to the sudden transition or over suc- culence in the grass, beasts in some places have not done so well as before, and have required a small daily portion of hay. Our market for wheat has been ruinous in the extreme. Stock markets for fat and lean cattle, also pigs, rather better. Not much doing in wool of late. — Sept. 10. BERKS. The bulk of the corn, except in the vale of Berks, is now carried, and the little produce that is not se- cured consists principally of a few backward sown pieces of oats and barley, that did not vegetate until late in the season, and some of which will not be ripe for these two or three weeks. Those who had patience secured a part of their wheat crop in a dry condition, and the miller will be able to get the same through his mill ; but a great part of the wheat in this county is carried in a very soft and damp state, and ■will with vei-y great difficulty be converted into flour. It is generally considered that the county of Berks has had heavier rains, and more of the wheat is sprouted than scarcely any other part of England ; and there has not been so much grown wheat in the county ever since the year 1800 ; and we think that within the distance of twenty miles from Heading there is hardly a piece of wheat but what is uncom- monly stained and partly growed, but still we re- joice to say, that the bread made from the new wheat is far better than we expected. In some seasons, when the wheat has not been washed and sprouted near so much as it is at the present time, the bread would run about the oven, and could hardly be eaten; but that is not the case at the present time, and it is very probable that the beautiful sunny weather throughout the summer brought the grain to such a great perfection, that the strength is even now not all washed away, but will make a pretty good loaf of bread ; and it may also be remarked, that the weight is greater than it was ever known before after such a wet season, and so to be. In several of our last reports we have represented our barley crop as a very deficient one, and we were much surprised to see such good accounts from other counties, and we concluded that we were placed in rather an unfortunate situation, and that the fructifying showers had forgotten to visit the county of Berks, but had been paying their respects to the crops of spring- grain in almost every other county ; whether this has been the case, we cannot at present deter- mine, but we think we already perceive an alteration in the tone of some of the accounts, and the " excel- lent" and " bountiful " crops are already dwindled into "middling " and " inferior," and it is not un- likely that ere this time men of honesty and judg- ment have discovered that for once they have been mistaken ; we can only add that all our former state- ments respecting the deficiency in the crop of barley is completely verified in this county, and that it is only on the sandy soils that it even answers our expecta- tions : on the chalk and the strong clays the crop is really worse than we anticipated, and what is still more lamentable is, that the colour and quality of the grain is worse than it has been for many years past, and the greater part will be only fitting for seed, or to make porter malt, being so very thin and shrivelled ; it is be- lieved that the bad quality has principally arisen be- cause there was not straw enough to keep the sun from drying up the roots, and the grain consequently ripened most rapidly for want of moisture, and be- fore it had time to fill out. Many farmers have this year staddles without ricks, and some of the barley barns can actually be seen through, being nearly empty, and in some parishes a barley rick is a sort of curiosity, and the bulk of straw is certainly not half so great as usual, but if it yields well there may per- haps be nearly two-thirds of an average. Oats, beans, and peas, are all deficient in produce, but we shall be able to speak more fully of them in our next report. Vetches prove, as we have all along antici- pated, a most miserable crop, and the chief reliance is on the old stock that was left last year, for it is now pretty certain that the new crop will not average a sack to the acre, and hundreds of farmers will not sow any vetches at all this year, because they are un- willing or unable to give the price they are now sel- ling at, and it is very probable that not above half the usual number of acres could be sown, if the far- mers were inclined to do it, for want of the necessary seed. The breadth of cloverseed saved this season is very small, and except it yields well it must be dear in the spring. Sheep keep is now most abundant, and the turnip crop is nearly everywhere better than it has been for many years, and during the last fine week or two a considerable quantity of aftermath hay has been made and secured in pretty good condition, but the wea- ther for the last few days has been very unfavourable, and what has not been secured will be entirely spoil- ed. As conjectured in our last report, the sheep trade has again advanced, and sheep are worth more money than they were before the fall, and considering the quantity of feed and the defi-. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 449 ciency in the number of slieep (notwithstanding the low price of wheat) , yet they cannot at present get much cheaper, but if in the winter a general rot in the turnip crop should take place, and the hay should be all consumed, and there should be a backward spring, and not half the usual quantity of vetches to consume, then there will probably be a reduction in price, and they will pay little or nothing for winter- ing. Pigs seem to be gradually advancing in price, and it is not unlikely that they will get a little high- er, for there is a pretty good crop of beech nuts and acorns. The quantity of barley left in the fields on stony grounds is immense, although there were in some instances as many as seven or eight people to a team employed to rake after. Wool at present seems dull of sale, and those who have lately been determined to sell were obliged to take a shilling a tod less money. Bark at the present time is lower in price than it has been for many years. The soft and damp state in which much of the wheat was carried is a most unfortunate and ruin- ous thing to the needy farmer, — the harvest is finished, he promised to pay various bills as soon as his corn was secured, his creditors are now clamour- ous and pressing, and he is obliged to push his corn into the market ; the miller can use only a small quantity of damp wheat, and he cannot, whatever may be the price, buy more than he can make use of, because it will neither keep as wheat or flour, and the consequence is, that the market is glutted, and those who are obliged to force sales must submit to any price, and it is said that in one or two instances, the shameful price of half-a-crown a bushel has been submitted to. The needy farmer, instead of being able to satisfy his creditors, is now absolutely sa- crificing his property without effect, and bringing on speedy and irremediable ruin; and it is believed that many an honest farmer will be sold up and ne- ver be able to get in another harvest. It is very re- markable how near the prices of all kinds of grain ap- proximate to each other at the present time, and the oldest farmer can never remember the like; for at Newbury market on Thursday last a considerable quantity of wheat was sold at between 30s and 40s per qr., and beans were selling at from 36s to 38s, and barley from 28s to 3,5s, and good old oats actual- ly sold at from 28s to 30s per qr., so that there was scarcely 10s qer qr. difference in the price of any kind of grain, and wheat is now actually purchased for the purpose of feeding pigs, and considered by many the cheapest thing that can be bought. — Sep- tember 1. SOMERSETSHIRE. Except on the highest districts where there is a considerable breadth of Lent corn still out, the har- vest may be considered as nearly finished. Our own experience, and the information we have had from practical men, so little coincide with what we read, that we feel almost unwilling to offer an opinion. Truth, however, compels us to state, that of no sort of corn are we induced to believe there will be a full average crop. Wheat, by far the best, has gone into a small compass, while oats and barley, with great variations, will be deficient both as regards quantity and quality. Beans are worse than we ever remember seeing them ; in many instances it would have been wise to have ploughed them up months ago. Thousands of acres will not repay the mere expense of harvesting and thrashing them. The wheat which was cut in the two last weeks of July was exposed a long time to rain accompanied by in- tense heat, and the grain having begun to vegetate, induced many to carry it before it was thoroughly dry. The mows which have been since opened have presented a melancholy appearance, much being nearly rotten, and the rest seriously in- jured; but such as it is, it has been sent to market and sold for what it would fetch, to pro- vide in some degree for the pressing calls on the poor farmers, now forming, it is to be feared, an immense majority of the whole. The wheat which was not cut until the beginning of August has been saved far better, and will be fit for the miller when the sweat- ing is over. During the week preceding the 17th of August, a large surface was cleared of wheat, barley, and oats in good condition ; since that time rain has fallen every day, and corn has been carried in a very unsatisfactory way. The abundance of after-grass promises to make amends for the shortness of the hay. Turnips are for the most part excellent. Po- tatoes have greatly improved, and are selling at a very moderate price. There being more than the usual quantity of old wheat left, the full effect of wliat we consider a bad harvest is not so soon felt, but if the British farmer be allowed fair play, good sound corn of all sorts will soon be inquired for. The sale of good bred beasts for the grazier has been brisk everywhere. Ewe mutton for the butcher is worth 5d per pound. Good wethers for turnips find ready purchasers at 6d. For washed wool, whether Dorset, Down, or Liecester, the manufacturers re- luctantly give more than 17d, although some have bought at 18d. The outgoings from land are extreme- ly heavy. Rents have fallen a little, but tithes and poor-rates are enormously high. A professional man of eminence told us yesterday, that a pretty con- siderable property which he is commissioned to sell, now pays more to the lay impropriator for tithes than the whole rent forty years ago, when the average price of wheat exceeded that of the present time. — Sept. 4. DEVON. The Wheat crop, except on the borders of Dart- moor, is housed in fine condition ; and, notwithstand- ing the deficiency of the first three or four grains, in consequence of the sudden check it sustained during the drought in the spring, the grain in the remainder of the ear is so plump and well filled with flour, that the crop may be considered a full average one ; which, added to the stock on hand previous to the harvest, will prevent the possibility of wheat rising to a remunerating price during the next year. An- other circumstance which will tend to keep down the price, is the very considerable breadth of potatoes tilled this season ; for though the seed failed in many cases, owing to a fungus disease devouring the nature of the potatoe before it had power to germinate, yet the rows in general being too thick, assisted by re- freshing showers, has left quite sufficient to produce an abundant crop ; had the summer been very scorching and dry, a considerable deficiency must have occurred ; it therefore behoves all persons to be particularly careful to change the seed next year, to cut every potatoe in two, and on no consideration to plant any that are hollow in the middle, for this is the seat of the disease, which is sure to extend itself through the potatoe, and destroy its growth if planted, and infect the other potatoes all around it. Barley and Oats are a good crop both in quantity and qua- lity. Turnips never were finer, and I am glad to see that many active and industrious farmers, notwith- standing the gloom which pervades agriculture, have tilled many of their wheat arishes to turnips, which (with the favourable weather for their growth) will produce full half a crop, and continue good till late in the Spring. The apple-trees in some orchards are breaking down with fruit, whilst others are a slight 2 G 450 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, crop ; the average of the country will be more than half a bearing ; the fruit is full of juice, and particularly large and well formed. The intended use of the Pri- son of War on Dartmoor as a place of confinement for convicts will give a spur to agriculture for many miles around the prison. I was much astonished about a month since to see heavy crops of hay, of the finest herbage, cut on the Tor Royal Estate, adjoining Prince's Town, the plantations around which have made shoots a foot in length ; wild flax grows spon- taneously in the hedges, and is evidently indigenous to the soil. The New Zealand flax would answer admirably well, and furnish healthful employment to the convicts in the winter season ; the principal defi- ciency in the soil is the absence of alkaline salts, which may be readily produced by bringing salt in contact with lime fresh from the kiln, which absorbs tlie acid of the salt, and renders it one of the finest foods for plants that it is possible to obtain or pro- duce by artificial means. Another source of employ- ment for the poor of Dartmoor has sprung up this summer, and which will prove a lasting benefit; namely, the collection of Orchella lichens for dying scarlet — the price given by a manufacturer of the North, who has appointed agents to collect them, is from 3^d, to 4^6.. per pound ; the quantity collected already is very considerable, as almost every piece of granite has a portion upon it, which will be greatly increased in a few years by the gatherers distributing seed on those rocks where it does not now exist. Castle-street, 1st Sept., 1834. C. Dean. GLAMORGANSHIRE. The weather still continues extremely unpropitious for the conclusion of the harvest ; for the last three weeks we have not had two dry days in succession, which in the harvesting of corn is most harassing. The only fine harvest weather experienced in this county took place between the 10th and 17th ult., and the corn secured in that week, which fortunately included the bulk of the wheat crop, is in good order ; both before and after that period it is all more or less damaged, being either sprouted, stained, or stacked in a damp state. The excess of moisture which is known to exist in the western over the eastern counties cf the kingdom, was seldom more apparent than in the present sum- mer. In the eastern there are great complaints of drought, while here we have been suffering from an unusual quantity of rain, the average depth for the last three months being five inches for each month; so great a quantity in June, July, and August, has seldom been known even in this wet climate. The soil being previously very dry continued to absorb it for some time, but it has been long ago over-satu- rated and in a very wet state. Although the harvest commenced early we cannot even yet report the com- pletion of it. In the hilly districts, and on all the cold clays, and late soils in the vale, a considerable q weigh one part in of the quantity so measured, if the buyer shall require it, without demanding any additional fee. This provision is necessary, merely to provide against a possible demand on the part of patent or corporation officers, though it is believed that they would be willing to perform the additional labour witliout making any such demand, and that in some cases it is even now done. As to the quantity sufficient to be weighed, see Mr. Pal- mer's evidence. 7. That the buyer may require the whole quantity to be weighed as well as measured, at his own expense, except in those cases where disputes may arise as to tlie accuracy of measuring, and the returns made by the meter may differ from the invoice or bill of lading; and that in the latter case the expense should be borne by the party who may appear by the result to have been in the wrong. This provision explains its own purport; it is clear that %veighing the whole, in addition to measuring the whole, be- ing unnecessary, an additional charge ought to be made ; but in case of dispute, it seems to be the better plan to apply a new test to determine the accuracy of the flrst, instead of merely applying, untested, the same process over again, as is now frequently done. — (Seethe evidence of Mr. Craig, Mr. Stead, and others, as to the unsatisfactoriness of this metho'l. See also Mr. Page's evidence as to the practice of the port of London in the event of disputes.) S. That the act shall extend only to England, Wales, and Scotland, except as to the foregoing provision respecting Irish shipments. From the evidence that has been adduced regarding the practicesof Ireland, it does not appear that the system of that country is so perfect as not to be capable of improvement. The transactions between farmer and merchant would appear to be carried on in a very loose manner — first, the corn ie brought to market and sold in sacks, which gives an oppor- tunity to the farmer to insert adulterating articles, in order to make the corn weigh more; thedeception is covered by in- serting the inferior corn in the centre of the sack, the bottom, sides, and tops being corn of a better quality ; next, the corn is usually weighed at the private cranes of the merchants by whom, it is said, some fraudulent advantage is taken of the farmer. Under these circumstances, it would be desirable (for the same reasons which render it desirable in England and Scot- land) to introduce iiito Ireland the combined system of mea- sure and weight per measure, even in the transactions between the farmer and merchant, if it were not that the practice is uniform throughout Ireland, and that the prejudices and ha- bits of the people would render the task of accomplishing the change difficult, and perhaps impracticable ; at all events, there would be gi-eat reason to apprehend that the abolition of the established practice might, in tlie course of a change, lead to the introduction of many diversities. Though the general system be uniform throughout Ireland, it would seem from the evidence of Mr. Sullivan that the methods of em- ploying tliat system are divers. Upon the whole, therefore, it it better to confine the present matter, as regards Ireland, to the necessary measures to pre- vent the practice of Ireland from continuing to be injurious to that of England. If, however, it should be desirable to inform the Irish pub- lic of the value of the combined method, and by familiarizing their minds with it in order to prepare the way for making one law for the whole country in that matter as in others, it may be done by a very simple expedient. By Mr. Sullivan's evidence, 2,595, it appears that the ma- gistrates are empowered, by an act of the 58th year of the last reign, to decide disputes with reference to corn. It might be enacted, that in case of disputes with regard to the differ- ence between the quality of the sample and that of the bulk, the magistrates might take into account the weight per mea- sure of the one and the other. 9. That in all cases where the terms of the bargain do not exclude such latitude, or prescribe adifferent latitude, it shall be held to be a sufficient compliance with the bargain if corn be delivered weighing one-half pound, or within one-half pound per bushel, more or less than the sample, or than the weight per measure bargained for. A provision of this nature seems requisite to guard against frivolous objections, on the ground of slight differences be- tween the weight per measure of the sample and that of the bulk delivered. Another plan is adopted by the Government, namely, of fixing the lowest point of quality, and receiving corn of any weight above that quality : at the same time paying for she additional weight in the same proportion as for the lower weight. (See the Commissariat and Victualling-office Re- turn.) As the price of the superior quality is not paid for, the seller has every inducement to keep to the terms of his contract, while the contract is not broken by supplying corn of a much higher quality, Perhajis it would not answer the purpose of traders to give so great a latitude in one direction, as that might compel them to purchase a groat deal more corn than was bargained for. As there is nothing however to prevent such a circum- stance from being excluded by express stipulation, and this provision is intended only to meet peculiar case?, either one or the other of the methods suggested would be equally effi- cacious and convenient. In the case of wheat the latitude might be half-a-pound, but that would be too wide a latitude for oats and barley ; probably a quarter of a pound would be sufficient in the latter case, as the weight per bushel of these is so much less than the weight of a bushel of wheat. July 25, Geese at Michaelmas. — The custom of eating geese at Michaelmas must have existed much longer than is generally supposed. It is said, we well knovs', that Queen Elizabeth was eating goose when news arrived of the destruction of the Spanish Armada, and that it has since been the custom to have a goose on the table on Michaelmas-day in commemoration of that important event; but there seems to be no real cause M'hy that sort of poultry should be brought to our tables at Michaelmas, unless it be that geese at Michaelmas are better than at other times of the year. Our ancestors were in the habit of eating geese on Michaelmas-day as early as the fifteenth century, and that fact decides the story told of Elizabeth and the Spanish Armada. In Blount's Ancient Tenures of Land and Jocular Customs of JVfa)i?un-s, there is an ex- tract from the rolls, by which it appears that Johannes de lay Hay, in the reign of Edward the Fourth, took from Will. Barneby, Lord of Lastres, in the county of Hereford, a piece or parcel of land, paying for the same 22d. per annum, and a goose (pro prandio Do- mini in Festio S. Michaeli Archangeti) fit for thfe Lord's dinner on Michaelmas-day. 468 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. MANCHESTER AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. The aiinnal meeting of this society, which was instituted in 1767, took place on Tuesday, Sept. 23, in the yard of the Old Cloth Hall, Salford. At the TOorning meeting of the society at Hayward's Hotel, the premiums for crops and general improvements in land were voted to the successful claimants.— A specimen of the skinless oat was shewn by Mr. Robinson, of Stones, near Todmorden, and a paper, written by that gentle man, was read on the cultivation and qualities of this variety. A paper, describing a novel mode of applying lime to land, written by John Thomas, Esq., of Strines, was also read. — Mr. Thomas Ashworth tendered his resignation of the office of secretary, which was accepted, and the society's gold medal was voted to Mr. A. for his services. The stock exhibited at the yard was not so nu- merous as in former years ; but, generally speak- ing, the quality was better than has ever before been seen in this town. The society had offered a premium of 20Z. for the ox of any breed, showing the most symmetry, fat, and weight, and although only one was shown, the judges, in their report, expressed the opinion, that if a hundred others had been shown against it, the prize would most pro- bably still have been awarded to this fine beast. The judges also noticed, in terms of commenda- tion, tlie very great excellence of the fat cows. The sheepwere not considered very good. There was rather a good show of horaes for farm purposes, particularly of two-year olds, and those to which the premiums were awarded, were considered superior to those shown in former years. The pigs were very numerous and ver> excellent; indeed, the judges expressed their regi'et that it was not in their power to award more prizes to the exhibitors. One extra prize was given to Benjamin Swanwick, of Deal-street, Salford, for a fat pig 17 months old, and weighing about 26" score lbs. Machines and Implplements. — Mr. Vicars, of Deansgate, exhibited a newly invented turnip- drill, which put,- on bone dust, sows turnips, and covers both, all at the same time ; and also a cle- ver effective woodi a machine, for making hay or straw ropes. Mr. Haslam, of Moss Bank, near St. Helen's, showed some turnip and straw cutters, and Mr. Cartmell, of Liverpool, had a patent hay and straw cutter, and a patent mill for crushing all kinds of grain. One of Finlayson's patent har- rows (the depth at which the teeth work being re- gulated by a lever) was exhibited by Mr. Vickers, the patentee's agent in this town. A plough, and several othei agricultural implements were exhi- bited ; but^the exhibitors were fewer than in for- mer years. Seeds, &c. — Mr. Charles Bannerman, of Deans ■ gate, was the only exhibitor, Mr. Glbbs, of Lon- don, who usually attends this show, being absent. His stock consisted chiefly of natural or meadow grasses, and of the varietes of turnip, cabbage, mangel wurtzel, &c. The trifolium incarnahim, and other recently introduced seeds, were also amongst his samples. He .showed some fine Swe- dish and Yellow Bullock turnips, &c. — There were Iso shown some Swedish turnips grown upon shton Moss, being the first crop of any sort grown on that surface. They were very good. The exhibition was, as usual, very numerously at- tended ; and among the visitors at the yard, we observed the Right Hon. E. G. S. Stanley.— The receipts for admission to the yard exceeded 75/. THE DINNER. About five o'clock the members of the society and some invited friends, to the number of about • 150, dined together in the large room at Hay- ward's Hotel, Bridge-street. Wilbraham Egerton, Esq., of Tatton, the president, took the chair, sup- ported on his right by Peter Legh,Esq., of Booths, near Knutsford, Col. Cholmely, of Howsham, Yorkshire, and E. J. Lloyd, Esq.. of Oldfield Hall ; and on his left by Charles Cholmondeley, Esq., W. T. Egerton, Esp., M.P., the Rev. C. K. Prescot, rector of Stockport, and other gentlemen. The vice-presidents were Mark Philips, Esq., M. P. and John Ryle, Esq., M.P., Macclesfield. After the cloth had been drawn, and " The King," "The Queen and the Royal Family," and the " The Army and Navy," had been given from the chair, Mr. W. Reed, the secretary, read the list of prizes award- ed that day. The Chairman, in proposing *' Success to the Manchester Agricultural Society," said that when he looked around him, and saw so numerous and respectable an assemblage, it gave him great plea- sure as a proof that the society was well supported. The stock on the whole seemed to hav^e been cre- ditable to the district; and he trusted that by the exertions of the numerous friends of the so- ciety, the district would, at no very distant period, stand as pre-eminent in agriculture as it had al- ready become in manufactures. The report would convince them that its finances were imjjroving very fast, and he trusted that in two or three years they would be in as flourishing a state as the best friends of the society could wish. The toast was drunk with three times three. Peter Legh, Esq., next proposed the health of their President, Wilbraham Egerton, Esq. Ever since that gentleman had been president of the society, he had done all in his power to promote its useful- ness, and he practised the same benevolent con- duct towards all his tenants and neighbours. He had frequently won the prizes of the society, and it surely could not withhold from him its praise.— (Three times three.) The Chairman, in acknowledging the toast, said he claimed but little credit to himself — to the committee all the credit was due for its able ma- nagement— but if he could in any way assist the society in the promotion of its views and objects, it would be one of the greatest gratifications he could have. — He then gave the healths of " The Vice-Presidents," Mark Philips, Esq., Chai'les Scarisbrick, Esq., and John Ryle, Esq. — (Three times three.) Mr. Mark Philips said he should not have pre- sumed to have addressed the meeting in the first instance, had not his name been placed first on the list of vice-presidents. After tendering them his best thanks for the honour done him in con- nexion with his colleagues, and for the very cor- dial and hearty manner in which the mention of their names had been received, he proceeded to remark on the intimate connexion which subsisted between agriculture and manufactures, and ex- pressed the great satisfaction he always felt in the discussions which took place at these meetings, with respect to practical matters in connexion with agriculture. He hoped that the funds would before long enable every subscriber to receive a copy of each of those communications and essays on agricultural subjects to which prizes had been allotted by that society. He might perhaps be al- lowed to let bis mercantile feelings for a mo- ment break forth, and to say that it had appeared to hira for a long time that theie THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 469 was one thing in which agriculturists were greatly deficient, and in which they did great injustice to themselves. There was a great want of a more complete system of keeping ac- counts, in connexion with farms ; and if that in- stitution would allow him to propose a premium for the ensuing year, he should have the greatest satisfaction in offering one of five guineas to any owner or occupier of a farm of not less than one hundred statute acres, who should produce the best system of farm accounts, containing a register of the actual transactions on his own " fai m.— (Cheers). He was inclined to think that when the agriculturist found the times were against him and that prices were falling, he was sometimes not sufficiently aware of the exact quarter in which the injury arose; and he was quite sure that if the manufacturers and merchants of this town did not pursue a close system of book-keeping, and a rigid plan of accounts, and if they did not divide and classify all their sources of outlay and income, and inquire carefully into each particular branch, they would be far wide of the mark at the end of the year, and would not know, by the aggregate results, whei'ein their management was good and wherein defective. And the same argument would apply to the management of stock, the re- sult of grain upon a farm, the returns from the ap- plication of different manures, &c. ; and in every department and branch of the farm, it appeared to him the utmost economy, and the greatest possible quantity of knowledge ought at all times to be, in black and white, within the reach of those who wished to succeed in agricultural pursuits. He would not at present say any more on this subject, but that it appeared to him that there were great deficiencies in this respect in the agricultural counties, that it had long been a subject on which he had conversed with farmers, all of whom had admitted the existence of this deficiency ; and if he could be the humble instrument of supplying it, he should be glad to do so by proposing the premium he had named. (Cheers). — John Ryle, Esq., M.P., another of the vice-presidents, briefly acknow- ledged the toast. — The Rev. C. K. Prescot then proceeded to read the report, a task which he said he had reluctuantly undertaken in the absence, through ill health, of the valued chairman of the committee, Mr. Moore, of Sale. The report was brief, but there was one part at least which would be found satisfactory. It was as follows : — In the reports which the committee have made during the last two years, the state of the finances of the society have occupied a very considerable space, as it has also been an object of anxious in- terest. The truth of the proverb that " good often springs out of evil" has again been verified by the altered circumstances of this society. The attention of those who conducted its affairs having been roused, and the necessity for exertion being at once strikingly apparent, that exertion has been made, and also a call for assistance from those, who, though not concerned in the management, still felt it highly de- sirable that a society whose usefulness cannot be doubted, should not sink for want of public support. The result of the whole is, that the society's funds are nearly one thousand 2)0!t?!rfs better than they ivere two years ago ; and though something still remains to be done to place them in a situation of perfect free- dom from all incumbrance, the increased and in- creas'ng interestwhich the inhabitants of this district take in the objects of this society, as is evidenced by the numerous attendance at the show of this day, as well as the superior character of that show, and the large accession of new members, will not allow the committee to do otherwise than indulge in the hope that further perseverance wi'1 effect all that can be desired. Besides attending to the improvement of their finances, the committee have also devoted them- selves to amending the rules and re-adjusting the scale of premiums, and they hope that a comparison of lehat is with what was will show that their exer- tions in this respect have not been ill-directed. In societies of this nature, not only is it necessary that those who influence the distribution of its funds should be possessed of the most uncompromising integrity of purpose, but it is also necessary that those who compete for its premiums, as well as the public at large, should be assured of that integrity. Heretofore tlie members of the committee, being several of them rent-paying farmers, have felt that the circumstance of their gratuitously devoting their time to the interests of the society and directing its operations, ought not to preclude them from com- peting for its premiums. As, however, it cannot he denied that the committee, as a body, do to a certain extent influence the decisions of the society, they have unanimously adopted a rule that no officer of the society or member of the committee shall for the future be a competitor for a premium, except for stock. The animals exhibit d at the society's show are distinguished by numlers only — the owner of any and every animal, as well as the animal itself, is censequently unknown to those gentlemen who so kindly come from a distance to officiate in the difficult and arduous office of judges. Th« commit- tee hope it will appear evident that the usefulness of an agricultural society, (hus conducted, can only have one limit, namely, its pecuniary means ; and when they reflect on the intelligence and the wealth wliicl) pervades this district, they cannot doubt that as it has become, with respect to commerce and manufactures, a phenomenon in the history of the world, so it is both able aud willing to support a society for the encouragement of agriculture, which shall yield in importance to none in the kingdom. " The committee" was next toasted with three times three, and Mr. G. W. Newton returned thanks. — The health of the judges— Clark Hill- yard, Esq., of Thorpelands, Northamptonshire; Joseph Benn, Esq., of Lowther, Cumberland; John Webb, Esq., of Burton-on-Trent ; Mr. Wm. Henderson, of Justice-town, Carlisle ; and Mr. Oakden, of Booths, Cheshire, — was drunk with three times three.— Mr. Hillyard, in acknowledging the toast, said it was a most gratifying circum- stance to him to see in this great manufactering town — the greatest, indeed, in the world — the great manufacturers uniting heart and hand with the agricultural interest. He had never in his life seen a more gratifying sight. They had seen a stock in which there was undoubtedly a great number of good animals, — the beasts were very superior ; — but as to sheep, he came from a county (Northamptonshire) which possessed as good sheep as any in England. He should recommend, wherever there was a possibility of keeping sheep, that they should be tried, as they might look to their wool for a very important aid in paying rent. He should recommend them to extend the breed of sheep in this county. Those shown that day were good ; but he came from a county where there were a great deal better. As to the " Swinish multitude," although one of them had knocked him down when going into, the pen that morning, he would say they were the best he had ever seen. He did'nt see how they could improve the breed ; but however they could try. It was impossible to 47u THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. say to what purpose the land of this country might be appropriated. A friend of his at Walthamstow, near London, had let twenty acres of poor land at five guineas per acre, — to do what, would the meeting suppose ? Why to irrigate and grow water-cresses for the London market ! Another gentleman proposed to produce from his land as good Champagne as ever was made in France '. (Hear.) He wished he could mention anything that would lead them to expect better prices for their wheat, but ho was afraid he could not. In conclusion he most heartily wished pros- perity to the Manchester Agricultural Society. Mr. Webb next acknowledged the toast. Since he had last been a judge at their meeting in this town, he was happy to say he had observed a very striking improvement in the stock exhibited ; and he did not care whether the show was in Northampton- shire, Warwickshire, Leicestershire, or Smithfield, which was considered the best of all,— he did not think they would see a better ox, better fat cows, or better pigs exhibited. He agreed with his friend Mr. Hillyard, that better sheep might be found, but they need not despair; and he recom- mended crossing with the Leicestershire, Warwick- shire, and Northamptonshire breeds. The judges had experienced some little difficulty that day; but it was easily accounted for, and on a future occasion might be better arranged. It was perhaps right that the owners of the stock exhibited should not be present at the inspection by the judges; but it would also be better if more intelligent men were placed with the stock to describe to the judges the qualities of the animals. The Chairman next gave the health of the vice- presidents elect, George Wilbraham, Esq., M. P., Thomas Ridgway, Esq., Thomas Daintry, Esq., and Robert Garnctt, Esq. Mr. Daintry (the only one present,) returned thanks. "The towns and trade of Manchester and Salford," was acknow- ledged by Mr. T. Workington, of Sharston Hall, who said he was one of the oldest tradesmen of Manchester present. Mr. G.W.Newton next gave the health of Mr. Moore, of Sale, chairman of the committee, to whose efforts he said the society was mainly indebted for its improving condition during the last six or seven years. The toast was drunk with three times three. The next toast, " The in- spectors, Messrs. C. J. S. Walker, John Clarke, William Hancock, and James Beckett," was ac- knowledged by Mr. Walker, whe observed that he believed the farmers of this district were begin- ning to see that they must do better or they would sink. They would, however, he greatly aided, if the landowners would come forward as, in his opinion, they ought to do, but as they had never yet done. If they would, he had no doubt that they would be amply repaid. It would redound not only to their own advantage ; but to that of their tenants and of the community at large. Then, indeed, they might acquire and maintain an in- fluence in this country which nothing could shake. (Hear.) He implored them to do this ; for he knew that if the agriculture of this country were what it ought to be, they would have no occasion to fear foreign competition, and that, if they (landlords and tenants) did their duty themselves, they would have a much greater protection than any legislative measure coidd give them. The prizes of last year, consisting of plate and medals, were then distributed to the successful competitors — The next toast was " The Liverpool Agricultural Society."— Mr. Hillyard again ad- dressed the meeting in reference to some of the premiums. He had never been able to grow more than thirty tons of Swedish turnips to the acre ; while one premium was awarded here for forty tons to the acre. In mangel wurzel nobody could beat him in his own neighbourhood ; but here every body could beat him. The only way to get a good crop of turnips and a good fallow, was by the Northumberland drills. The Chairman next read a list of new members, fifty-one in number. At a late period of the proceedings, the following observations on the new variety of red clover in Italian, or trifolium incarnatuni, written by Mr, John Clarke, of Ashley, one of the society's in- spectors, were read : — " Letter sent to J. Clarke with the Trifolium In- carnaUim seed, viz :— Fawler, near Charlburg-, Ox- fordshire, 1833, On Tuesday last the 19tli inst. (September) I sent you 12lbs of Trifolium Incariia- tum, a new kind of clover with us. A friend of mine last September sowed 12lbs on a statute acre, which produced seven hundred weight of seed, and was sold for 39/,. 4s. It should be sown after wheat the same as winter vetches, and if seeded, (that is grown for seed) it will be ready to harvest the end of June or beginning of July ; you may take a crop of turnips after if you think proper. RICHARD TIDMARSH. This seed was sown on the 2d of October, 1833, one part after wheat that had been potatoes the year before, with a little rye grass and white clover for fear the seed might not come up well ; the land a light sandy soil. The seed came up rather thick and stood the winter well. I began to cut it on the 19th of May, 1834, and gave it to my horses, cows, calves, and pigs, which were all remarkably fond of it, but the rearing calves in particular seemed to relish it very much, and in my opinion it is the best kind of green food yet known for rearing calves before they are turned out to grass. That part that I kept for seed was cut the latter end of July (should have been cut sooner) turned twice over and was got into the barn. In about a fortnight after I happened to be walking over the land where the clover had grown, and observed something coming up very thick, tliis I found was the seed that was shed, and it is just now like a fleece of wool too tliick by lialf; I intend to let it grow to see how it will answer. I suppose I let the clover that grew for seed be too ripe before I cut it. — The second crop on that part that was cut early is very thin and light, hut will seed, and if harrowed and rolled, will about sow the land again. No dung or any kind of manure was used ; the clover was a most excellent crop, and has this advantage over winter vetches, viz. that it does not rot at the bottom, and whatever kind of cattle it is given to they will eat it clean up. The otiier part of the seed was sown after ley oats with a little dung, but it did not answer so well, as the land got rather foul ; this was likewise kept for seed, and what was shed came up, but not quite so thick as the seed sown after wheat. The seed is something like mustard seed, but rather smaller, has a sort of a rough husk or covering on it. I tried to thrash it out but did not succeed ; it answers as well sown in the husk or covering as if made clean." Another paper on the same subject, by Mr. Pontey, author of " The Forest Pruner," and '' The profitable Planter," was also read. Mr. Pontey recommended this clover to the attention of prac- tical farmers. With the exception of a few ob- servations from Mr. Webb, no discussion took place ; and it is to be regretted that one of the most important matters in connexion with the meeting should have been delayed to so late a period of its proceedings.— Amongst the other THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 471 toasts of the evening, were " The Lord Lieute- nant of the County of Lancaster ;" " Mr. Tlillyard, and success to the Northamptonshu-e Farming and Grazing Association ;f' " Mr. Colic, of Norfollc," (with three times three,) &c. ; and the company departed at an early hour. THE POOR LAW AMENDMENT ACT. Important Case under its Provisions- On Saturday, the 20th September, a case, the decision of which is of the greatest importance to all posts, towns, and parishes in which the fishing trade is carried on, was brought under the notice of R. W. Hall Dare, Esq., M.F., and a fidl bench of Magis- trates assembled in Petty Session, at the Angel-inn, Ilford, Essex. Mr. Griffin, the vestry-clerk of the parish of Barking, applied to the Bench for its order to re- move a young man, named James Wheeler, who had become chargeable to that parish, to the parish of Layton, to which he legally belonged. Mr. Griffin then proceeded to state that, about six years ago, Wheeler was bound by the parish- officers of Layton to William Gardener, then a fisherman at Barking, with whom he lived until about 18 months' since, when his master, becoming embar- rassed, was obliged to sell oif his smacks, and was at present in the employment of another owner as Captain. Wheeler was, in consequence, thrown on the parish of Barking, and the officer now sought to get rid of his burden under the 67th clause of the recently-passed Poor Law Amend- ment Bill, by sending him back to the parish to which he legally belonged. Mr. Griffin here read the clause referred to, which was as follows : — " And be it further enacted, that from and after the passing of this Act, no settlement shall be ac- quired by being apprenticed in the sea service, or to a householder exercising the trade of the sea as a fisherman or otherwise ; nor by any person now being such an apprentice, in respect of such ap- prenticeship," and contended that the pauper's case came clearly under this clause, and had not gained a settlement in the parish of Barking, as he had not concluded his apprenticeship at the time of the passing of the Act, and therefore the parish officers wished to have an order for his re- moval to the pai'ish from which he had been bound. Mr. Sterry (the Magistrates' clerk) gaveitashis opinion that the clause in question only referred to such apprentices as had not gained a settlement previously to the passing of the Act. The pauper had clearly gained a legal settlement under the old law, by sleeping 40 nights in the parish of Barking, after he had been bound, and therefore the present Act did not apply to him, as it could not supersede his previously-acquired settlement. The Chairman, in a most pointed maimer, di- rected the attention of the Bench to the case, which he remarked was one of very great import- ance to parishes generally, but most particularly to that of P>arking, and other parishes, where fisher- men resided. When he (the Chairman) had first read the clause referred to, he did not consider that there was the slightest difficulty about the case, and that the magisti'ates would, as a matter of course, sign the order as requested. After having the opinion of Mr. Sterry, which he be- lieved to be the proper legal construction to be put on the clause, he confessed he felt of a different opinion. Mr. Robinson agi-ccd with the Chairman as to the spirit of the Act ; but when he read the clause and viewed it in its ordinary English acceptation, the words were so explicit that he could not, as far as he was concerned, have any hesitation in sign- ing the order for the removal of the pauper. The Chairman and Magistrates retired into a private room, and after remaining in consultation for some time, returned into Court, when The Chairman observed, that the Magistrates, considering all the circumstances, declined to sign the order. They, however, recommended the pa- rish officers to draw up a case and lay it before some high legal authority for his opinion on the point, as it is of great importance to tlie parish. The officers said they would take the opinion of the Attorney-General, as there arc at present nearly (iOO apprentices in the same situation as the pauper, who may hereafter become chargeable to the parish, and which it will be relieved of should the opinion be otherwise. NEW POOR LAW AMENDMENT ACT. [to the editor of the globe.] Sir, — 1 trespassed on your columns on a former occasion in reply to Mr. Hilyard on the subject of a " Labour-rate," which, I am happy to say, vvitli the roundsmen and allowance systems, are done away by the new poor law act. The parties wlio dislike the new act may be classed as follows : — Attorneys, justices' clerks, and some of the magis- trates of the old school, who are fond of sitting for three or four days at a session to listen to the delectable quibbles of settlement cases by hiring and service. I am in hopes that the wasteful ex- penditure of parish money and the time of tlie public is passing away fast by the timely cheek of the new laws I hail this act as the renovator of the poor man's independence, and anticipate that the ancient dis- tinction between a pauper and an honest hard- working labourer may by its means be revived. An act of such length and importance is seldom passed without its blemishes, and I am of opi- nion that that clause which orders the overseers to take the mother of bastard children to the quarter sessions must be altered, and an easier and cheaper mode substituted for the poorer classes ; at all events the quarter sessions ought to be ad- journed from 20 to 40 miles, to meet the inconve- nience in populous districts. The other parts of the bastardy clauses seem to be generally ap- proved of. I regret tliat many of my Conservative friends will not take a dispassionate view of the new law, but, like a few of your contemporaries, abuse it merely because it was passed by the Whigs ! ! If the thanks of the country are due to Lord Brougham for any one thing, in my humble opi- nion it is for grappling with this momentous ques- tion in time ; and I can never too much a))pre- ciate the manly and honest conduct of the Duke of Wellington and Lord Ellenborough for sup- porting the main principle of a measure which they thought right, so far setting aside all purli/ fhe'iing on the occasion. — I remain. Sir, your most obedient servant, A Gloucestershire Justice of Peace, Who has attended 50 quarter sessions. 472 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ON THE HUSK IN CATTLE. Brockley, Lewishera, Sept. 22, 1834. Having a disease among my young cattle which appears to be but little understood, at least in this part of the country, and which threatens to be somewhat formidable in its effects, I am induced to communicate, as far as my observations enable me, although the results have not been very satis- factory, some account of it ; partly for the benefit of those who may have seen less, and partly to solicit information, through your useful columns, from those who may have seen more of the disease than myself. It first made its appearance among my weaning calves, from two to nine months old, twenty of which were weaned off, and seven younger ones still fed from the pail and kept near home; both lots became affected about the same time, which is about a month since, the whole twenty-seven have had it, eight have died, some have got better, scarcely any have quite recovered, some have died in a few days, others linger for weeks. They were reared on milk, hay tea, lin- seed jelly, gruel made from wheat meal, and pot liquor, with salt mixed, ami fed three times a day. The symptoms are, cough, (particularly when driven), short breathing, with a discharge of frothy saliva at the mouth, dulness and hanging of the head and ears. I first treated it for inflamma- tion on the lungs, by bleeding, blistering the sides, and opening drenches of Epsom salts with oil. When one or two had died, I recollected having seen in the Farmer's Journal, some years ago, an account of a disease with symptoms somewhat similar, caused by worms in the throat, and which was stated to have been cured by pouring turpen- tine into the nostrils. On opening those that had died, I found the worms inside the windpipe and down into and throughout the lungs, from one to three inches long, and very white, so that when the lungs were cut open, they had the appearance of being interwoven with white thread ; I exam- ined them with a microscope, they are somewhat like a common earthworm, but whiter, I tried se- veral experiments as to what would kill them quickest, I found lime, salt, and spirits of turpen- tine, all effectual, even mixed with water ; but the difficulty is in getting anything to the part so as to come in contact with the disease, the stomach and lungs being so completely separate. Mr. White, of Wells, in Somersetshire, in his Treatise on Cattle Medicine, says the " Hoose or cough generally attacks calves in winter, and is caused by very small worms being engendered in the branches of the windpipe. It is sometimes cured when attended to early, but if n glected at this period more commonly proves fatal. The re- medy that has been found most effectual is a drench, composed of a table spoonful of oil of tur- pentine, a little sweet oil, with six ounces of warm water, poured into the nostrils : probably the worms would be destroyed if the calf were made to breathe the vapour of oil of turpentine, or a mixture of turpentine and tar. I succeeded in one case, that was rather recent, by giving two ounces of common salt dissolved in water, and a mode- rate quantity of good hay morning and evening. The cause is probably a cold moist atmosphere, and an insufficient quantity of wholesome food." In the " Complete Grazier," a work of consider- able merit, the " Cough" in calves is treated on merely as a common cough, arising from frequent colds caused by vicissitudes of the weather, and the cure recommended is " half a tablespoonful of spirit of turpentine, poured into the nostrils." Mr. Green of Westerham, whois an experienced and practical man, says he has frequently had the disease in his cattle, and has never found any great difficulty in curing them, by giving about a quart of decoction of walnut leaves as a drench ; he termed it the " Husk," and had observed it to have been cause^l by worms in the lungs, and windpipe. I have been trying this remedy, among others, for the last fortnight, but without the slightest apparent success. The manner in which I did it was, to fill a copper with walnut leaves chopped fine, then as much water as the copper would hold, boiled it for five or six hours, and gave the liquor warm to the calves, some drank it readily from the pail. I allowed some to drink from two to three quarts, and repeated it every other morning, I have persevered with the turpen- tine and oil, both as drenches and in the nostrils, (having plenty of subjects to experimentalize up- on). To some I have given twenty grains of calomel, to others strong doses of sulphur ; rub- bing in oil of turpentine on their sides, thinking it jjossible it might do good by absorption, tarring the noses of all, sick or well, every two days, and giving salt frequently. Having ascertained that a small quantity of lime would kill the worms when taken out, it struck me that if the cattle were made to inhale the par- ticles of it when fresh slaked, it might be benefi- cial. I accordingly put them in a close building, put a quantity of lime on the floor, and threw a little water over it, keeping their heads over it during the emission of the gas, as long as they could bear it, and when run to powder swept and buftetted it about till some were i-eady to drop of suffocation ; this 1 repeated every two days, but, (although I still have as much faith in the efficacy of this, as in any remedy I have heard of,) I can- not boast of any very evident benefit from it, I think it may be possible that a sufficient quantity of the particles of lime may be inhaled, the caustic properties of which may destroy the worms with- out desti'oying the life of the animal. I have con- sulted several veterinarians, most of whom ap- pear to think the disease in some measure infec- tious, but are not very well agreed as to the cause and cure. Mr. Coleman, who is perhaps considered at the top of the profession, advises the affected ones to be separated from the healthy, and recom- mends the smoke of tobacco to be inhaled, and to allow them Oilcake to eat; he is of opinion that being kept in close stenched places is likely to cause it ; but this could not have been cause with mine, wliich were weaned in April, May, and June, and have been in the fields entirely. Some think they have taken the worms or something which may have engendered them in the water they have drank. But this could not have been the case with those still kept to the pail. Others think the worms originate from a fly, perhaps taken in with the breath, and some, even at the present day, are superstitious enough to attempt to keep off the husic by twisting a hazel withe round the necks of their cattle ; this shows it to be a disease not much understood. I have understood the disease is more prevalent this year than usual, and as far as I am able to judge it will not only affect the young, for I find several of my yearling heifers and milch cows have the same kind of cough, but it does not appear to take so great an effect on them as on the calves ; they appear healthy, except the cough, and keep their condition. Should any of your readers be able to furnish in- formation as to the cause, prevention, or cure, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 473 through the medium of your paper, I feel confident it would be esteemed a favour by many, but par- ticularly so by — Your's respectfully, GEORGE COLGATE. COBBETT'S RURAL RIDE. BiaiiiNGHAM, lOth Sept. 1834. — The turnips and grass have been equally fine all the way along, except on some of the thin soil in Oxfordshire, where there is never any grass, and where, I suppose, the turnips are never good. This is -ay eav o{ real plenty. The hops at Farnham (and, I suppose, in the other hop counties) exceed all that I ever saw before, both in quantity and quality. This town and its environs are always delightful to all those who are fit to live ; that is to say, to those who admire the most beautiful scener)', accompanied with the most fertile lands. Arthur Young, after making an agricultural survey of England, decided that the space from Farnham to Alton was the finest and richest fen )?ij/es in England. He must have begun eastward at Bourne Mill ; else it is only nine miles ; and then I join with him in opi- nion ; for here is every thing ; coppices, trees, corn- fields, meadows, hop-gardens, orchards, gardens, flowers, neat liouses covered witli grape-vines, a people (though they do go to bed a little la'e) well fed, well dressed, and able at work. At all seasons beautiful, this spot is peculiarly so at this time : the peach and cherry orchards of Long Island, the fields of lofty corn of Pennsylvania; these are very beau- tiful ; but nothing to be compared with hop-gardens in a year like this, when the hops (on poles from 14 to 20 feet high) of a whitish yellow, are hanging down amongst fresh and deep green leaves, those leaves varying in their dimensions, and the hops dis- tributed amongst them in a manner to exhibit both to the greatest possible advantage. This sight sweeps the Long Island orchards and Pennsylvania corn- fields from one's mind ; and, as to vineyards, they are, at even a little distance, mere masses of green stuff tied to hedge stakes. There is, too, an associa- tion of ideas here, which, though of a more vulgar character, by no means tends to lesson the pleasure derived from this sight ; namely, the value of the crop, which will this year be, on an average, in this parish, not less, I should think, than 150Z the statute acre. They say, that there will be 30 hundredweight on an acre in some particular gardens ! This circum- stance adds greatly to the pleasure of those who view the above-described scene ; except, indeed, in the minds of such persons as those who, when reckon- ing the gains of the hop-planters, wish to have them in their own pockets ; and to such persons I do not address myself. To wish for another man's strength, agility, or talents, is excusable ; but to wish to have his money is the sure mark of a dirty soul. Decrease of Public Executions. — The follow- i\\c- is a statement of the number of executions which have taken place in London, in each respective year, since 1816. 1816 1817 1818 1819 18 23 20 -. 26 1820 43 1821 33 1822 23 1823 18 1824 11 1825 17 1826 16 1827 17 1828 22 1829 28 1830(Wm. IV. Rex) 6 1831 4 1832 4 1833.... 3 1834 (no execution this year.) WELCH FARMING. Sir, — Having lately an opportunity of spending a fortnight in the most fertile and best cultivated part of Pembrokeshire, I am not aware that I can choose a more interesting subject to form the substance of my letter for this month, than of giving some ac- count of the agriculture of this part of the country — and truly a beautiful part of the world it is, combining fertility of soil with delightful scenery. I had completed my harvest at home about ten. days before I arrived in Pembrokeshire, and here I found they had about half finished ; a greater part of the corn was cut, and carried into mows, according to the custom of that county, but very few of these mows had been removed to the rick- yard. All the corn (wheat, oats, and barley) is tied into sheaf immediately on being cut, and is removed into mows of from one hundred to one hundred and forty sheaves ; this operation being completed, the corn is thought comparatively safe, and the event of fine weather is waited to remove it into stacks. During the first few days I was there it happened to be particularly showery, and I had a good opportunity to observe the effect of this system of mowing, and although I had a strong prejudice against what I thought to be an extra expense, and unnecessary trouble, I must acknow- ledge that after having witnessed the protection from injury to the corn this plan affords, that in so humid and stormy a climate as Wales, I am quite a convert to the custom. The scythe here appears to have pretty generally suspended the reaping- hook, and I saw many acres of wheat that had been mown. With cradles to their scythes, the Welch mowers carry the corn out as straight in swathe as need be, and thus have no more diffi- culty in tying the corn into sheaf than the English labourer has, who uses the hook, and places the corn in small hands-full. I think the corn throughout Wales must have been harvested in very indifferent condition ; pro- bably it may not be permanently injured, but in such a state as to render it unfit for immediate use. The crop in Pembrokeshire, with the exception of the oat crop, is calculated at about an average growth, but this last-named corn will, I think, prove very indifferent. The labourers in this county are a hai-d- working, contented, sober race of people; here you see no beer-shop I'ioting, nor excess of any description; with a shilling a day for his wages, and a few fragments from his master, — but mark, no pay for his children, as the allowance system is termed in England,— the Welch labourer is as well off, as regards the necessaries of life, as the English labourer is with nearly double the rate of wages, and for this obvious reason — that in Wales the poor man is a rigid economist; in Eng- land, I admit, pi-incipally as regards beer — a spendthrift. The women too, unlike the English, assist almost in an equal degree with the men iu the support of their families ; here is no idleness, no leaning with the arms folded, supporting the posts of the door that leads into the street or high- way, as you see the maVried women of England, at half the cottages you pass ; no, the Welch woman, if not at work in the fields, or at the neighbouring mansion or farm-house, is manufacturing articles of wearing apparel for her husband or children, and thus procures these articles by her labour, at about one-half the price the drone of an English labourer's wife is able to purchase them at. It is true, that in Wales, where there is a very nume- rous YOUNG family, there is a great apparent want of comfort ; but, as I have before observed, the 2 I 474 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Welch labourer appears generally to be as well supplied with the necessaries of life as an English labourer is. Of the farming in Pembrokeshire I am sorry I cannot speak very highly ; for, with the exception of the management of their beasts, (both as regards breeding and feeding, which is well and judiciously done) they are very indifferent farmers. I never have been more delighted than I was in looking over several lots of beasts in tlie neighbourhood of Castle Martin, for here I had an opportunity of seeing many specimens of Ihe best breeding of the country ; and this confirmed an impression that I have long entertained — that under general circimistances, the Welch breed of beasts is to be preferred to that of any other de- scription. The Welch cow, although far less pro- lific of milk at the commencement of the season than the Yorkshire or Durham — neither is the milk so rich or luxurious as the Alderney — retains both the quantity and quality, such as it is, to a much later period of the year, and her condition also, than any other sort of cow. Compact in frame, and strong in constitution, the Welch cow is less subject to those diseases and failings pecu- liar to the milch kine. For the plough, the Welch beasts are, I think, steadier and hardier than any other breed. In the season, when the fly is trouble- some, they are less fractious and irritable than other oxen ; this last observation I owe to an old ox-man, who once made the remark to me, and subsequent observation has satisfied me of the correctness of it. I once knew an experi- ment tried with four Sussex and four Welch beasts, being all kept and worked the same. The Sussex lost their condition, the Welch improved theirs. As regards their superiority for flesh, and the gene- ral purposes of the butcher, any market in England will fully exemplify the fact, as invariably the good Pembrokeshire beast will be the first in demand, and often realize a trifle per stone more than other beef. I have always thought the change of soil and treatment that an animal undergoes when sold by the breeder or rearer to the grazier, is of far more consequence than is generally attached to it, and here I was quite satisfied of the fact. Many of the fine steers that I saw in Pembrokeshire, will this Autumn be brought up to the English fairs, to be incarcerated from December to March in a farm-yard, at straw only. During former Winters these beasts have been fed on hay, and perhaps some turnips. The consequence is the great change for the worse in their living, reduces them so much in condition, that under these cir- cumstances, they will require the whole of the May month to bring them to the same state of flesh in which I saw them in September, and then possibly they may be turned on pasture to fat, of much worse quality than the land on which they have been bred. The great mistake which the English grazier falls into, is in his notion that the Pem- brokeshire beast, by being brought to England, without any thought relative to the quality of the land on which they are to be fed, changes for the better, which should, no doubt, to insure improve- ment, be the case; but the fact is often the re- verse of this ; for, from the day they are calved tmtil they are sold for the English market, they are generally kept better, and on better land too, than our young stock in Sussex are bred on. My conclusion is this : — That for the best land, and where they are to experience no difficulties during the Winter, the Pembrokeshire beasts are admirably suited ; but where beasts are required during the Winter for the straw-yard only, and in the Spring to go on land of second-rate quality, there being difficulties which they have not before experienced, are consequently not so well able to bear as beasts bred on different soil, and having been used to different treatment. It is an erroneous inference, that the Pembroke- shire farmer sells his beasts to the English grazier, because he has not the means of fatting them at home; the truth is, he has every means of fatting them within his reach, but then they mu«t be sent to the English market, because the demand for fat beef in Wales is very limited ; the consequence is, it pays him far better to send his beasts in the state of flesh in which they generally arrived here, than it would to attempt to send them fit for the immediate supply of the butcher, I must conclude this letter, pi-omising myself to continue the sub- ject in my next, and I beg to subscribe myself. Your old and very humble Servant, Sussex, Sept. 20, 1834, " AGRICULTOR. THE MONTHLY MAGAZINE. The following spirited article is only one of the many with which this Magazine usually abounds. There is no periodical which we peruse with more satisfaction. THE "GOINGS ON" AT BRAMSBY HALL. We are a very irritable family — we hate very much ; and I am not deficient in the family virtue. At three years old I hated my aunt ; I hated reading the bible backwards ; physic and advice soon after shared my aversion. At school I hated mutton, — morning chapel at college, — to this day I hate the Dean. Hard eggs I liate, and female worthies ; captains in the Guards and livery servants ; saints and flirtation ; charity schools and bazaars. — But, " greater than all this, than these, than all," I hate a would-be senti^ mentalist. That thing of starts and pauses, of strains and raptures, a fellovf that sits silent with the men, and sighing with the women, with folded arms in the ball-room, like the figures of Buonaparte at St. Helena, or with out-spread arms in the air, like one of Irving's prophets ; I mean an animal very like the frontispiece of Mr. Montgomery's work on Satan. It is now ten years since that I enjoyed the high happiness of gratifying my inbred malice against one of this fraternity ; and amid all the many hatreds of life that have been shooting up like thorns about me, I can look back to that day with an exultation of de- light known only to those who have a soul to hate, and power to gratify their hatred. If I ever loved any thing it was my uncle ; per- haps because no one else loved him. He was a coun- try squire of the genuine brown-stout kind — of that class, which the wide spread of cheap books and cheap claret has nearly swept from the halls of their fathers. All about him was inherited. His house, his port, his dress, his jokes, were all as old as Eliza- beth. His ideas ever moved in one unvarying circle, of which the centre was himself; with politics he troubled himself little. The Whigs he hated as his fathers had done before him ; and was perfectly sure that he should be burned alive in his own house if the bigotted bloody Catholics came in. He was charitable — that is, he gave much bone-soup to tha poor, though continually complaining of their ingratitude. He slumbered in church every Sunday morning, for the sake of setting a good example to the lower orders ; and made the parson drunk every Sunday evening, to show his respect for the cloth. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 475 My poor, dear uncle ! for years didst thou jostle on, hateful to thy neighbours, tyrannical to thy de- pendants, but dear to me, tliy reputed heir. How often have I laughed with thee at anecdotes, which from much use had lost their point. How have I railed with thee at the insolence of the press, or the audacity of paupers! How have I drank thy port wine ! Alas ! alas ! even now thou mightest have been holding on thy own old course. Still might the parson have guzzled thy beer ('twas a good beer^. The poacher might still have trembled at thy nod ; and thy smiling nephew might still have looked for the inheritance. But a concurrence of mis- chances, such as the fates keep in store for country 'squires, snapped all thy joys. A long continued frost ruined the hunting ; a wet spring killed all the young birds ; a canal was run through thy lawn ; a school was established at thy gate ; another parson, with new-fangled notions about the game-laws and bastardy, assailed thee on the bench ; thy servants became saints ; thy neighbours left off leather breeches ; and I went to London to prosecute my studies at the Temple. What could my uncle do? Reading he never loved; and riding, with nowhere to ride to, was worse than nothing. No longer could he dictate to the bench. Foxes — game — had disappeared. Poachers, the last sport of country gentlemen, had departed with the game. The 'squires (even the unbreeched reformed 'squires) were occupied with politics ; and his daughter Bessy could not drink. My uncle did the worst thing which a man in his condition could do — my poor uncle mar- ried. I have said nothing of Bessy; indeed, when I left Bramsby for London there was little to be said of her. She was a fine romping girl of thirteen, with dark hair and eyes, a short face, and glowing cheeks. If I thought of her at all, it was only to remember her lips and wrapper stained with blackberries ; her laugh more joyous than seemly ; her gambols with the groom, or her gallops on an unsaddled donkey. My new aunt I well remembered. Who could have spent a week at Bramsby without remarking her and her pink parasol ! She was the striking feature of the place. Every eye was upon her as she swam into the church on Sundays, when the service was half over; and every head was turned as she slid with swan-like motion up the aisle, and settled herself with much bustle of silks, directly opposite the 'squire's pew. She was ('alas 1 for the honour of the family) — she was a milliner. How my uncle could so far forget his Tory prejudices as to form such a mis- alliance, I know not; but "adversity makes a man acquainted with strange bedfellows.' I heard afterwards that the 'squire had betrayed an incipient passion to the knowing ones for some time. I saw it not, though, perhaps, the little god developes himself in strange symptoms, when he fires the hearts of gentlemen of sixty-five. Her dark eyes I did see, her dark and luscious glances floating in lambent fire ; the lids now gently raised, now slowly drooping to earth — " weighed with the fullness of her future joy." These things I saw ; but my uncle was twice her age ; and I — 'fore God ! I thought the milliner was in love with myself. It had always been understood that I was to mar- ry Bessy, and succeed to the Bramsby estates. Now, however, nothing doubting that the milliner would bring the old man plenty of children, I applied steadily to my profession, in the hope of working out a provision for myself. So earnest were my labours that for three years I could not spare time to visit jBranjsby, A hanjper, cramnaed wjth f£irjij-ygr,vith hearts accompanying your voices — I mean suc- cess to the objects of the present meeting, — the Li- verpool Agricultural Society. (Loud and long-cun- ilnued cheering.) Gentlemen, it is now four years 484 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, only, as I believe, since this society, over which I have, during that period, had the honour to pi-eside, was first instituted in a part of the county in which we were told, an agricultural society was sure to fail, as it had failed before ; and I have had the satisfac- tion of seeing, at the end of each succeeding year, an increase to the number of our subscribers, and an increase to the amount of our capital, — an improve- ment not only in the exertions of the society itself, but an improvement, which is infinitely more material, in the effect produced by that society in the neigh- bouring districts of the county. (Cheers.) I am well aware, Gentlemen, that oiirs is only aa infant institution, and that I am speaking in the presence of those who have done us the honour of visiting us from otiier and from older societies, but who will, I hope, look down with approbation on our endeavours to rival older-established institutions of the same kind. (Cheers.) Yet this I may be allowed to say — and I do it with the utmost satisfaction — that with us each succeeding year has witnessed an improve- ment ; we have been going on from worse to better ; and, in the course of time, by our exertions and your support, I hope that we shall be no unworthy rivals to the best. (Loud cheers.) Gentlemen, it was with very great satisfaction that I saw this morning a very marked improvement, perhans not so much in the number as in the quality of the stock exhibited, a very marked improvement over former years — and an improvement, no doubt, over that which we saw in the same place last year. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, there was a marked improvement in the young stock particularly, a favourable indication showing that which you have a right to know — that the farmers, the working farmers, are taking an interest in the improvement and success of the agricultural interest. ( Cheers.) Gentlemen, if the times of agricultural prosperity and excitement are those which most na- turally call forth the endeavours of the spirited capi- talist, and the enterprising agriculturist, the times of agricultural depression are surely those in which it is most incumbent on, and most useful for, societies instituted on the footing of the present, to show what may be done by increased industry and skill, — to show how increased skill may compensate, in some degree, for a deficiency of capital, — and to show how the farmer may best overcome the difficulties of his situation. (G-reat cheerins;.) It is, therefore, with additional gratification that I see tliroughout this great county a spirit of enterprise arising superior to the difficulties with which' we are surrounded, — a spirit of improvement so marked that it cannot but have struck the attention of every man who has wit- nessed the state of agriculture in this county within the last few years and at the present time. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, I have little more to add ; — I should, perhaps, confine myself to the task of congratulating you and myself on the improvement which we have witnessed, and which I boldly claim the merit of for institutions like the present, and for this infant society. There is, however, one part of the rules of this society which I cannot omit the present oppor- tunity of noticing, because it is one of even more im- portance than the increase of agricultural produce, and the excitement of agricultural enterprise, be- cause it reflects the highest credit upon a class of persons who apply for premiums in this society, — persons moving in humble life, wlio have great merit in the faithful discharge of their duties,-and, therefore, there is the greater reason to make it known to the country and to the world at large — I mean the pre- miums given by the society to the honest and faith- ful services of agricultural labourers in the employ- ment of the farmers of this county. (Clicers.) If I know one thing more calculated than another to keep up the character of the agricultural population of Great Britain, it is this. ( Apjjlause.) I well re- collect that it astonished a noble friend of mine from a southern county, who was present at our meeting- last year, when he saw what, in his own county, was a thing never to be hoped for under the existing system. I mean the number of farmers' servants coming forward to claim the premiums for long and faithful services in the employment of one master ; and labouring meia claiming their reward for having brought up respectably a numerous family, without any appeal to that degrading source of relief, the poor-rate. (Cheers.) It is with peculiar satisfac- tion I say that in this branch of competition for pre- miums has exceeded the power of the society to meet it ; and that not only has there been a more than or- dinary number of premiums awarded, but that in no one instance has a premium been awarded to a candi- date whose term cf service has been less than thirty years, whilst in many instances it reaches to forty- six years. (Loud cheers.) Gentlemen, as long as I have the hour of filling this chair, and presiding over a meeting like the present, I cannot think it time wasted to point out either to you, to the county, or to the country at large, the faithful services of these humble men. (Loud cheers.) Gentlemen, I will not tiespass longer on your attention than to ask you to give the society, for the future, that cordial sup- port which you have given during the past, to enable us to go on improving, as, I am proud to say, we have improved, year after year. (Cheers.) Gentle- men, I beg leave to propose to you, " The Liverpool Agricultural Society, and success and prosperity to it," (Loud cheers.) Gentlemen, If it were not in the ordinary routine of toasts given on occasions like the present, I should perhaps owe some apology to you for offering to your notice that which I next intend to propose, as being the health of one or two intimately connected with myself, for me not to feel a strong partiality in its favour. (Cheers) Gentlemen, it will not how- ever, be necessary for me to eater into any long- statement for the purpose of recommending to your notice the he-alth of the Patron of this Society, of whom I will say no more than that for now ne-arly a period of 60 years he has acted honourably and faith- fully, I will say, in the dischai-ge of the high duties of the Lord-Lieutenant of this great county, during which period I have the pride and gratification to be- lieve that he has made many friends, and the confident hope that he has not made a single enemy. (Loud cheers.) Gentlemen, I thank you for the manner in which you have received what I have said, and after the reception I have met with at your hands, I will not abuse your patience by saying one word more in tlie way of preface to the toast which I am about to propose, which is — " The Lord-Lieutenant of the county, and the Pa- tron of this Society, the Earl of Derby." (Drunk standing, with three times three, and, one cheer more.) J. W. Pattan, M. P., Esq., then rose and said that he considered himself extremely fortunate in having to propose the next toast. When it was first put into his hand he fe-ared that he should have g-reat difficulty in discharging the duty deputed to him, but when he saw the manner in which they received their President, and witnessed the -ability with which he had conducted himself, he felt that every difficulty was done awav with respecting the toast which he was about to give, nmely, the President's health. (Loud cheers.) In the speech which they had just he-ard from him, their worthy president had congra- tulated them on the prosperity of the Liverpool Agricultural Society ; there were many causes of that prosperity, amongst which were the exertions of in- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 485 dividual members, — but be was convinced tbat there yvai no individual member to Tsdncb the society ow^ed so much as it did to bis right hon. friend, who pre- sided over it with so much ability. (Loud cheers.) He was quite sure tbat it was only necessary for him to propose tlie health of " The President of the Societv, and thanks to him for his services." (Loud and long-continued cheer- ing.) The Chairman, in returning thanks, said, gentle- men, to say simply that I am grateful to you for the kindness with which you have received, and with which my honourable friend has proposed the toast which is now before you, would be very feebly to ex- press the sentiments which I more sincerely feel than I am able adequately to describe. I am well aware that your partial kindness has gone beyond any merits which I can pretend to claim, or any exertions which I can pretend to have made ; but this I may venture to say, whether in public or private life, my first, and I will venture to say my only ambition, has been this, — and I will trust it was an honest one — to discharge my duty in such a manner as, first, to satisfy my own conscience, next to deserve, and lastly, too happy, if I could obtain the approbation of my fellow country- men. (Loud cheers.) Gentlemen, when last I had the honour of appearing before you, as I have never omitted to do since the establishment of this institu- tion, wlien public and higher duties did not render ray presence absolutely impossible, when last I ap- peared before you, I appeared in the character of a public man, in an official situation, gaining from his duties a short respite to give to the society of those whom I was most desirous of meeting, and to those meetings which I was most anxious to attend. Gen- tlemen, I appear before you now in a far more envia- ble situation, — that of a man who is perfectly his own master. (Cheers.) Untrammelled by the shackles, and uninfluenced by the anxieties and the cares of an official life, I am now free to oflfer to you and to my own county all my public services — all the aff"ection and regard which I can bestow in furthering the in- terests of my fellow countrymen. (Cheers.) Gen- tlemen, I will venture to say one thing of myself, and one thing only : I trust, that in accepting office — I trust, that in discharging the painful and laborious duties of office — I trust, tbat in relinqushing office — I have not forfeited your good opinion (Loud Cheers.) This is no place for the introduction of any of those political topics which are wisely ex- cluded from meetings like the present, intended to embrace members of every party and profession, and I hope that I am not departing from the salutary law- laid down by the rules for our meetings, when 1 say, 1 trust that whatever public men may be at the head of aflPairs in this country, they will always have the wisdom to see, and the courage to act on their know- ledge, that it is neither wise nor safe to discourage the great agricultural interest of this country. (Loud and long continued cheering.) I speak in a mannfactaring county and in a commercial district, and I speak it with more confidence here than I should do any where else, when I say that that Government would be most unwise which, for the prospect — for the chance of a speculative advantage, should sacrifice the real and sterling weight given by the agricultural interest of this great country. I speak not of this or that system of protection : I do not venture to obtrude my own opinions, if I have anv fixed opinions on such a subject — but this I do hope, if changes are meditated, or if changes are to take place, thej' will be such changes as liave been maturely and well considered before they are entered upon, — that we shall not throw away substantial good for possible advantages, — and, above all, tbat public men will have in view one great object — namely, to secure to the country the great moral strength derived from the population engaged in agri- culture, and ever bear in mind tbat the agricultural interest — not unsupported by manufactures and com- merce— affords the surest stability for the best inte- rests of the country, and the greatest safeguard for its prosperity, independence, and happiness. (Loud cheers.) Before I sit down, gentlemen, I have to discharge a pleasing duty — that of proposing another toast, the health of those gentlemen who have kindly offered their services on the present occasion, an d have acted as my vice-presidents. (Cheers.) I am happy to say that out of the three gentlemen vv-ho have undertaken the office, I have the satisfaction of seeing two present, thus setting a laudable example for the imitation of future vice-pi-esidents of the so- ciety. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, I have the honour of proposing the health of " Richard Bootle Wilbraham. Esq., William Blun- dell, Esq., and John Ashtoa Case., Esq., the vice- presidents." (Cheers.) R. B. Wilbraham, Esq., begged leave to return thanks, as one of the vice-presidents of the society. He had attended the show tbat morning with great pleasure. He was as yet but a young and ignorant farmer ; but he trusted that in a few years he should himself be able to bring somenthig into that yard. He returned his best thanks for the honour done to him and the other vice-presidents, and hoped that the society would go on from year to year as it had al- ready done, — increasing in prosperity and success. (Cheers.) John Ashton Case, Esq., in returning thanks, said, that the interests of the society had been so well attended to by the chairman and by the committee, that they really had left the vice-presidents nothing to do ; if, however, on any future occasion the vice~ presidents could render any service to the society, they would be most happy to do so. (Cheers.) In conclusion lie begged permission to propose the health of the committee, who had taken upon them- selves the principal labour of the day. The Chairman. — Gentlemen, Mr. Case has stepped a little out of the ordinary routme of business, as 1 suppose I must call it on' this occasion ; but 1 have not the less pleasure in proposing, and I trust you will not have the less pleasure in drinking the health of- " The committee, to whose exertions the society owes so much." (Loud Cheers.) Mr. Robert Statter, steward to the Earl of Derby, and chairman of the committee, returned thanks. The Chairman. — Gentlemen, in acknowledging the oblio-ationswhicbweovvetothose who have taken part in this proceedings of the day, it is above all things right that we should not omit paying our tribute of gratitude to those who, at a great sacrifice of their own time and their own convenience, have come from great distances to take upon themselves the in- vidious duty of judges. 1 believe that the decisions tbat they have come to have given unmitigated satis- faction,'except, indeed, to those who have been dis- appointed in obtaining prizes ; but I believe that no complaint has been raised against the justice, still less against the impartiality, of their decisions. (Cheers.) I beg leave, gentlemen, to propose the health of the five gentlemen who have acted as judges, four of whom are present, and one of whom is very well able to speak for Jiiraself. I should, however, be very sorry to throw upon him the labour of re- turning thanks for the rest of his colleagues, for this is a sort of sweepstakes, in which we have a right to call upon every individual for a start. (Laughter 486 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. and cheers.) The only question is, whether the indi- vidual to whom I allude (and who has had so much practice in public speaking-) should not carry extra weight, and give us five minutes more on that ac- count. I vouch his running- for a long course, and also that he will run it tolerably fast. ( Laughter and Cheers.) Gentlemen, I propose the health of " \A m. Blamire, Esq. ; John Ellis, Esq. ; the Rev. Robert Berry ; John Priest, Esq. ; and Smith, Esq." And as four of these gentlemen are present, the least we can calculate upon is four speeches in return. The least we can do, therefore, is to merit those speeches, by giving the four judges present with four times four. (Loud c/ieers.) W. Blamire, Esq. iM. P., in returning thanks, said, that on the part of his colleagues and himself he felt the compliment which had just been paid to them most kindly, and most pointedly. He begged to re- mind them that it was no very enviable or agreeable task, that of adjudging the premiums at a meeting like the present. All that he could venture to hope was, that in the discharge of their duties they had not outraged the judgment of those men who were really competent to form one as to the value of each animal exhibited. If any gentleman went through the yard that morning, and, looking at certain ani- mals, was disposed to call in question the decision of the judges, seeing a premium awarded to one animal which was perhaps much inferior to the one standing next to it, that gentleman ought to have seen the list put into the hands of the judges, and to have known exactly the number of animals which in the first in- stance competed for prizes, before delivering any opinion on the subject. (Cheers.) The first quali- fication on the part of the judges was, first, the re- quisite quantity of skill, and next the honesty and the disposition to act fairly and uprightly upon it. How far he and his colleagues had been proper judges it was not for him to say. He was not so self-confi- dent as to suppose that the president could not have selected many individuals much better qualified than he could pretend to be, but he had reason to believe that his colleagues were as well qualified for the task imposed upon them, as any body of men could be. He hoped that there was not a man in the company who would dispute the truth of the assertion, that it was the desire of the judges to distribute the prizes in such a manner as should be most conducive to the interests of the societ}'. (Cheers.) The president had told them that the young stock exhibited that d-ay was infinitely superior to that which was more aged ; in that opinion, as an old and practical farmer, he begged to bear out the president in that observation ; the young animals were entitled to great admiration ; he wished he could say as much of those which were more aged, but it was foreign to him to say what he did not think. (Loud Cheers.) He should have ex- pected to see a greater number of good aged bulls in this ancient county ; but he must say that the show of young ones was very creditable to the farmers. The chairman had told them that in putting the saddle upon his (Mr. Blamire's) back, they had a right to spur him on ; the chairman had also told them that in periods of difficulty and distress, it was proper to promote and encourage meetings like the present. In that observation he (Mr. Blamire) cordially agreed ; but he begged to call the attention of the chairman and that of the meeting to a fact to which the chair- man had not alluded, viz., that they had now nearly arrived at that period when the manufacturing wants of the county would require, if possible, a greater supply of animal food than it would be in the power of this county to furnish. They would all recollect th^t when in the years 1801 an(J 1802, couQirierceand manufactures took a great start, there was a corres- pondent demand for an increase of animal food, and that the prices then obtained were higher than any that had been got since, though the value of money had materially altered since 1813. That increased demand must stimulate the farmers to furnish an in- creased supply ; and the pressure still continuing, the farmers would be induced, by greater enterprise and greater skill, to find out modes of fattening ani- mals superior to those which they had previously adopted. Fifty years ago, if they had been told that it was possible to bring sheep to a great weight at two years old, they would have laughed at the idea ; but now they knew that sheep might be fattened to a greater weight at that age than at any other. The in- creased demands of trade and commerce had thus been met by improved modes of fattening : but for his own part, he thought they were not far from ar- riving at that point when they could not carry im- provement any further. It was, therefore, the duty of every man who was a lover of his country to pro- mote the introduction of those animals which acquired the greatest weight with the least consumption of food. (Cheers,) The hon. gentleman concluded by returning thanks in his own name, and on behalf of the other judges. (Cheers.) The Chairman then said, that before they pro- ceeded to the distribution of prizes for the bringing up of legitimate children without assistance from the parish, they would, as it was rather dry work, drink to breeding in all its branches. (Laughter and ap- plause.) CLASS I. Premium 5. To Mr. Edward Williams, Burs- cough, being solely dependent upon farming, for the best cultivated farm, containing 58 acres — A piece of plate, value five sovereigns. 9. To Mr. Joseph Fairhurst, of Minshall Vernon, Middlewick, as tenant, for improving thirteen acres of meadow and pasture land, (not usually overflowed in times of floods^ by throwing water over the same in the most equal and judicious manner — A piece of plate, value five sovereigns. 10, To Henry Bold Houghton, Esq., as owner, for most effectually draining 96 acres of land, with 35,8063 yards of drains — The Society's silver medal. 12. To Mr. James Rose, of Halebank, as tenant of a farm containing 210 acres, for most efiPectually draining 29 acres with 11,028 yards of drains, being the greatest proportion for the size thereof — A piece of plate, value ten severeigns. 12.* To James Heath Leigh, Esq., of Grappenhall, as tenant of a farm containing 132 acres, for most ef- fectually draining 15f acres with 6,912 yards of drains — The Society's silver medal. 13. To Mr. William Backhouse, of Latham, as as tenant of a farm containing 272 acres, for laying the greatest length of drains, being 10,802 yards in 22 acres, in proportion to the size thereof — A piece of plate, value seven sovereigns. 14. To J\Ir. John Shuttleworth, of Tarbuck, as tenant of a farm containing 74 acres, for 3,792 in 7, in proportion to the size thereof — A piece of plate, value four sovereigns. 16. To Mr. William Boys, of Speke, as tenant, for laving down 22 acres of land for permanent meadow or pasture — A piece of plate, value four sovereigns. 21. To Mr. William Quay, of Neston, as tenant of a farm containing 132 acres, for making, in a sub- stantial and durable manner, a reservoir I'or the re- ception of dung-wafer — The Society's silver medal. 24. To Mr. Harvy Crackenthorpe, of Eastham, as tenant, far cutting, laying, and splashing 6624 yards of fencing — A piece of plaje, value three sovereigns. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 487 CLASS II.— CROPS, &c. 1. To Mr. William Tinsley, of Culchetb, for keep- ing nine horses upon green food in the stall during the summer season — a piece of plate, value three sovereigns. 3. To Mr. William Ashcroft, of Halsall, as owner, for the best crop of miingel wurzel, being 2§ acres — The Society's silver medal. 4. To Mr. William Palin, of Hapleford Hall, as tenant, for the best crop of mangel wurzel, containing three acres — A piece of plate, value five sovereigns. 6. To Mr. Michael Ashcroft. of Bank Hall, as tenant, for the best crop of Swedish turnips, contain- ing 24 acres — A piece of plate, value five sovereigns. 6.* Mr. Richard Almond, of Standish, as tenant, for the second best crop of Swedish turnips, not less than four acres, containing six acres — The Society's silver medal. 7. To Mr. Thomas Harrison, of West Derby, as tenant, for the best crop of Swedish turnips of two acres — A piece of plate, value three sovereigns. CLASS III.— REWARDS. 4. To Richard Ashton, farmer's man-servant to John Formby, Esq., for ploughing twenty-six acres of land with a pair of horses, double, and without a driver — Three sovereigns. 6. To George Barlow, of Ainsworth, near Bolton, farmer's man-servant to Mr. Wm. Laycock, for hav- ing conducted himself in an honest, sober, and in- dustrious manner, to the satisfaction of his employer, during a period of thirty-eight years — Four sove- reigns. 7. To James Case, farmer's man-servant to Mr. James Rose, of Woolton, for having conducted him- self in an honest, sober, and industrious manner, to the satisfaction of his employer during a period of twenty-two years' servitude — Two sovereigns. 8. To Benjamin Lowe, labourer to Thomas Clough, of Ashton-in-Mackerfield, for having conducted him- self to the satisfaction of his employer during forty- six years, his occupation being exclusively in agri- culture— Four sovereigns. 9. To Thomas Yates, of Bicker staff, farmers' man-servant to Mr. Thos. Mercer, for having con- ducted himself in an honest, sober, and industrious manner, to the satisfaction of his employer, during twenty-seven years — Two sovereigns. 10. To Betty Price, farmers' woman-servant to the Rev. J. Newton, of West Kirby, for having conduct- ed herself to the satisfaction of her employer during a period of years — Three sovereigns. ^ 11. To Elizabeth Potter, farmers' woman-servant to George Bromilow, of Halewood, for having con- ducted herself to the satisfaction of her employer for twenty-six years — Two sovereigns. 16. To Edward Potter, of Weston, for bringing up twelve legitimate children, the youngest two yenrs old, without relief fro.-n any parish or township — Six sovereigns. 13. To James Sephton, for bringing up twelve le- gitimate children, the youngest one year old, with- out relief from any parish or township — Four sove- reigns. 14. To Thomas Yates, of Bickerstaff, for bringing up twelve legitimate children, the youngest ten months old, without relief from any parish or town- ship— Three sovereigns. CLASS IV.— LIVE STOCK. Horned Cattle. 1. To Mr. William Bloor, of Holywell, for the best bull of any breed, two years and two months old — Fifteen sovereigns. 1.* To Mr. Richard Almond of Standish, for his bull, one year old — The Society's silver medal. 2. To Richard Pilkington, Esq., of Windle, for the best bull of any breed, two years and four months old — A piece of plate, value eight sovereigns. 3. To Mr. Samuel Scotson, of Toxteth-park, for the best bull of any breed, one year and eight months old — A piece of plate, value hve sovereigns. 4. To Mr. Robert Scotson, or Speke, being solely dependent upon farmhig, for the best bull of any breed, two years and four months old — A piece of plate, value eight sovereigns. 6. To Mr. John Dawson, of Gronant, for the best dairy cow or heifer — A piece of plate, value seven sovereigns. 7. To Richard Pilkington, Esq., of Windle-hall, for the second best dairy cow — A piece of plate value four sovereigns. » 8. To Mr. William Bloor, of Holywell, for the best two-year old stirk — A piece of plate, value five sovereigns. 9. To Mr. Richard Almond, of Standish, for the best yearling stirk — A piece of plate, value three sovereigns. 9.* To Richard Pilkington, Esq., of Windle-hall, for the second best yearling stirk — The Society's silver medal. 11. To Mr. Richard Jackson, of Knowsley, being solely dependent upon farming, for the best one- year-old stirk — A piece of plate, value three sove- reigns. 13. To Mr. Samuel Scotson, of Toxteth park, for the best fat cow, showing the most symmetry, fat and weight — A piece of plate, value five sovereigns. 15. To Mr. Thomas Pickton, of Liverpool, for the best cow of any breed for feeding after milking — A piece of plate, value three sovereigns. 16. To Mr. John Meacock, of Liverpool, for the second best cow for feeding after milking — A piece of plate, value two sovereigns. HORSES. 17. To Mr. James Heaps, of Little Hulton, for the best stallion for agricultural purposes — A piece of plate, value ten sovereigns. 18. To Mr. Thomas Robinson, of Bold, for the second best stallion for general purposes of agricul- ture— A pi°ce of plate, value seven sovereigns. 19. To Mr. James Sheppard, of Kirby, for the best brood mare for the general purposes of agricul- ture— A piece of plate, value five sovereigns. 20. To Richard Pilkington, Esq., of Windle Plall, for the second best brood mare, for the general purposes of agriculture — A piece of plate, value three sove- reigns. 22. To Mrs. Ann Brownbill, of Kirby, for the best vearling colt for the general purposes of agriculture — A piece of plate, value three sovereigns. 23. To Mr. Henry Mawdesley, of Tarbuck, for the two-year old colt for the general purposes of agri- culture— A piece of plate, value four sovereigns. 24. To Mr. William Howard, of Knowsley, for ;he best two-year old gelding for the general purposes of agriculture — A piece of plate, value four sovereigns. " 25. To I\Ir. Henry Rlawdesley, of Tarbuck, for the best three- year old gelding for the general purposes of agriculture — A piece of plate, value five sove- reigns. 26. To ]Mr. John Williamson, of Linacre, being solely dependent upon farming, for the best pair of horses for the general purposes of agriculture — A piece of plate, value five sovereigns. 27. To Mr. John Whalley, of Ford, being solely dependent upon farming, for the second best pair of horses for the general purposes of agriculture — A piece of plate, value three sovereigns. 488 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. SHEEP. 28. To J. E. Marshall, Esq., of Aigburth, for the hest pen of three yearling- Liecester Ewes — A piece of plate, value three sovereigns. 30. To Mr. Samuel Scotston, of Toxteth park, for the best Liecester ram — A piece of plate, value two sovereigns. 31. To IMr. Richard Johnson, of West Derby, for the best Southdown ram — A piece of plate, value two sovereigns. 34. To Mr. Samuel Scotson, of Toxteth park, for the best pen of five Liecester lambs — Apiece of plate value £2 10s. 35. To Mr. Harvey Crackenthorpe, of Eastham, for the best pen of five Southdown lambs — A piece of plate, value £2 10s. PIGS. 38. To Mr. Edward Webster, of Bold, for the best boar, one year and ten months old — A piece of plate, value four sovereigns. 37. To Mr. Thomas Robinson, of Bold, for the second best boar, one year and one month old — A piece of plate, value three sovereigns. 38. To Mr. John Dawson, of Gronant, for the best breeding sow, ten months old— A piece of plate, value three sovereigns. 39. To Mr. Richard Almond, of Standish, for the second best breeding sow, two j-ears old — A piece of plate, value two sovereigns. 40. To Mr. Benjamin Swanwick, of Salford, for the best fat pig, one year and five months old — A piece of plate, value two sovereigns. EXTRA STOCK. 42. To Mr. John Dawson, of Gronant, for the best cow — Five sovereigns, or plate of that value. 43. To Mr. John Dawson, of Gronant, for the best two-year-old heifer — Four sovereigns, or plate of that value. 44. To Mr. John Dawson, of Gronant, for the best two-year old heifer — Two sovereigns, or plate of that value. 45. To Edward Greenall, Esq., of St. Helen's, for the best stallion, to serve mares of his tenantry gratis — The Society's silver medal, SWEEPSTAKES. No 1. To Mr. Wm. Bloor, of Holywell, for the best short-horned bull — £3 3s. ; two years old. 2. To Mr. Wm. Bloor, of Holywell, for the best short-horned bull — £l lis. 6d. ; two years old. 3. To Mr. Richard Almond, of Standish, for the best short-horned ball — £2 12s. 6d. : one year old. 5. To Mr, Dawson, of Gronant, for the best short- horned cow, in calf or milk, and not fed for the butcher— £3. 8. To Mr. Wm. Bloor, of Holywell, for the best short-horned lieifer — £2 12s. 6d. ; one year old. 9. To Mr. Rich ard Almond, of Standish, for the best short-horned heifer — £2 12s. 6i.; two years old, 10. To Mr. Dawson, of Gronant, for the best bull calf — £1 Is. ; six months old. 13, To Mr. Thomas Robinson, of Bold, for the best stallion for agricultural purposes — £2. 18. To Mr, Edward Websf er, of Bold, for the best brood mare for agricultural purposes — £1 Is, 21. Mr. Stych, of Tanlayn, for the best boar — £1 lis. 6d. 22. To Mr, Richard Almond, of Standish, for the best sow — £1 lis, 6d. 23. To Mr. Richard Almond, of Standish, for the the best fat pig — £l Is. 24. To Mr. Michael Ashcroft, of Bank Hall, for the best Swedish turnip — 15s. 26. To Mr. Wm, Ashcroft, of Halsall, for the best mangel wurzel — 10s, EXTRA HORSES, 24, Mr, William Quay, of Neston, for a very pro- mising dray horse, 2 years old — The Society's silver medal. Mr. George Booth, of Liverpool, for his superior brood mare — The Society's silver medal. Mr. George Booth, of Liverpool, for a four-year old colt, from the above brood mare — The Society's silver medal. Mr. William Boyes, of Kirby, for a superior brown carthorse, shown for premiums 26 and 27, admirably adapted for the pui-poses of agriculture — The Socie- ty's silver medal. EXTRA HORNED CATTLE. Mr. Samuel Scotson, for a fat ox, three years and six months old — The Society's silver medal. IMPLEMENTS. M. W. Morton, of Leith, for exhibiting a broad cast sowing machine, a drill for sowing beans, and other implements — The Society's silver medal. Mr. Vickers, of Manchester, for a curd crusher — The Societj^'s silver medal. Finlayson's harrow was also exhibited. The judges, although the}^ are of opinion that this will prove, in many cases a very efficient implement, think that neither this nor any other farming imple- ment sliould he the subject of a patent right. SEEDS. Mr. W. Skirving, of Walton ; Messrs. Whalley, of Liverpool; Messrs. Thomas Gibbs & Co., and Mr, George Gibbs, of London. The judges recommend- ed the Society' silver medal to be given to each of the exhibitors. Mr. Edward Evans, for some excellent specimens of yellow bullock turnips, grown on Chat Moss — The Society's silver medal. After Mr. White had read over the report, which was received with the greatest applause. The Chairman said he was sure, after the labour Mr. White had undergone in reading over the report, he would be all the better for a glass of wine, and though in a short time they would call on him to re- turn them thanks for having his health drank, they woidd excuse him at that moment. (Applause.) Their tribute of admiration was due to their neigh- bours, who had so successfully competed with them for the prizes. He must give the meed of praise to those gentlemen from neighbouring counties, who had visited their meeting. He would particularize Messrs. Bloor and Dawson, and the agriculturalists from the Principality of Wales, who had so success- fully competed with us on the present occasion. (Ap- plause.) He believed he ought to say something to mark the superiority which he had observed on visit- ing the yard. The Welsh farmers had but sent 14 animals to the show, and they had carried away 14 prizes. (Laughter and applause.) Notwithstanding- they were met to represent the agricultural interests of Lancashire, they were honoured with the presence of Sir Edward Mostyn ; he was not, however, pre- viously aware that Mr. Dawson -and Mr, Bloor were his tenants. He was sure that Sir E. Mostyn would not dislike to be coupled with such tenants ; ha therefore should give the healths of Sir E. Mostyn, Mr. Dawson, Mr. Bloor, of Marsh-hall, near Holy- well, and the Welsh agriculturalists. (Great ap- plause.) THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 489 Sir Edward Mostyn begged to return his warmest aoinowledgments for the great honour conferred upon him in coupling his name with that of his worthy tenants. He was happy in attending the meeting of that morning, and he would not allow any gentle- man to he said to be more anxiously desirous than himself to advance the interest of the farmers. {Ap- ■plaiLse.) These were times in which every country gentleman ought to do everything in his power to promote the interest of his tenant. (Applause.) In promoting these meetings, gentlemen, were doing important service to the agricultural interest. An immensity of good was done by the premiums distri- buted to the poor l-abourers who had lived a long- time with their masters. Not only in that respect, but in all that he had seen in this country, he was led to promote every species of agriculture. (Applause.) When he could he always lent a hand, and when he could lend a hand they never found him afraid of putting his shoulder to the wheel. (Applause.) He was proud to be classed with two such men as Mr, Dawson and Mr. John Bloor, men of whom he was proud, and if they came to see him every day in the year he should always be glad to see them. (Great applause.) The Chairman was very happy to acknowledge that, although as in showing stock our neighbours in the Principality were superior to us, they were also ably represented in the gentleman who had just re- turned thanks for them. (Applause.) He had very great pleasure in congratulating them upon the pre- sence of Sir Edward Mostyn, a gentleman who was not content with doing what he could for promo- tion of agriculture in his own district, to which cause he was a contributor of fifty guineas a-year, but he also contributed, in no trifling degree, to the encou- ragement of agriculture in other counties. He as- sured them that he was not only proud to enter the field with such rivals, but he was not ashamed to be beaten by them. (Applause.) He congratulated them upon the presence of a gentleman who was the chairman of another agricultural society; and he might remark that the attention of neighbouring- counties was daily excited towards Lancashire. He would propose to them the health of " Mr, Hillyard, the President of the Northampton Agricultural Society." (Applause.) Mr. Hillyard said that he really came among them without the least suspicion that he was known by a single individual present, and could assure them that, thinking so, he had been most unexpectedly called upon. He wished to say something, but as on his journey he had contracted a most unpleasant hoarseness, he could not acquit himself as well as he could have wished. (Applause.) He returned his best thanks for the compliment which had been paid to him. He had been president of a similar institu- tion since 1819; it had flourished very well, — not from his humble endeavours, but from the liberal encouragement which had been afibrded to it by its patron. Lord Althorp, — (great applause) — from whose place he had just arrived. He might say, — and it was a proper time to say it, — without the fear of con- tradiction, that Lord Althorp had the finest herd of short-hprned cattle in existence. He wished that some of them were there, — not that he meant to find any fault — (laughter) — but because they were better. This he could truly s-ay, that, in the third year's show of their society, their show of c-attle was not superior to that he had seen that day. (Applause.) He was, perhaps, stepping out of his way, and assuming the part of a judge ; but he must be allowed to say, that he considered this county far behind others in the show of sheep. He was not, however, quite certain that the very fat sheep of hia county would be quite so valuable in this, as the mutton was so excessively fat that he doubted whether the persons cooped up in manufactories had stomachs sufficiently strong to digest it. (Mxich laughter.J Be that as it may, the best breed of sheep that could be produced was that from which could be obtained the best mutton. In the course of time he thought that this county would rival other counties : and he much doubted whether fourteen beasts from Wales would in another year carry off fourteen prizes. Though beaten by the Welsh farmers, he was not sorry for it, because it would be an inducement for their Welsh neighbours to send more cattle on future occasions. (Applause.) Every person fancied at home tliat his cattle were faultless; and it was only by exhibitions of that kind that he could expect to be convinced to the contrary. (AppLame,) In his opinion there was no necessity for importations of corn or cattle (except from Ire- land^ from foreign parts : they might as well think of importing foreign children. (Laughter.) He was rather disappointed in one part of the report ; the weight of Swedish turnips had not been men- tioned, Mr. White — Thirty-six tons per statute acre. Mr. Hillyard, although he could not congratulate them upon having the best sheep, he must congratu- late them upon raising the best turnips in the king- dom. (Applause.) He knew he was not a bad farmer ; he had the best land in the kingdom, and he had won every year the sweepstakes of Lord Al- thorp, but he had never been able to raise turnips of equal quality. (Loud and coiitinued applause.) The Chairman was sure that theymust have expe- rienced very great satisfaction in hearing the observa- tions which had just fallen from a gentleman who was so experienced, and had so much practical knowledge upon his subject; and he congratulated the meeting upon the obligations they were under to the farmers of neighbouring districts, who not only contributed their presence, but also their experience, at their meetings. (Applause.) If there was one virtue above another, on account of which their agricultural meetings were entitled to support, it was because they tended to show the agricultural interest, as had been very justly remarked by Mr. Hillyard, that every man's productions were not as faultless as he supposed. With regaid to the prizes for sheep, he must remark, in reply to the observations of Mr. Hillyard, that in their Society, prizes were only awarded to those sheep which had been actually bred within the precincts of their district : this he did not consider advantageous, as they thereby lost the opportunity of seeing the improvements made by their neighbours in the difi"eient breeds, and which, owing to the great facilities of hand carriage by means of railroads, &c. could be brought to our show with very little deterioration in quantity or quality, from evei-y county. He would suggest to the committee whether it would not be expedient, in the case of sheep, to admit to the best competition all breeds whether bred in our own or other districts. (Applause.) No man sent his sheep to the show for the mere pur- pose of making three or four sovereigns, but for the sake of improving his stock. (Applause.) If com- petition was free the farmer would have an opportu- nity of learning by what means the sheep to which the prizes were awarded had arrived at their perfec- tion, and would acquire a mode of remedying his own defect. He should -allude to turnips in a few words : he had seen with great pleasure the great increase in their cultivation, and had witnessed the great advantages which farmers had derived from the failure of the potatoe crops of late, as it had been the means of inducing them to turn their attention to the gi-owth of turnips. With every respect to Mr. Skir- 2 K 490 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ving and the nurserymen who had gained prizes during the last year, he considered it unfair that no diflfereuce had been made between turnips grown in nurseries and in the open field, and he hoped a dis- tinction would be made in the ensuing season. (Here the Right Hon. Gentleman was whispered by the Secretary.) He was just informed that a distinc- tion has been made between the two growers, and distinct premiums had been adjudicated to them. He should detain them no longer than by proposing the health of a gentleman who had been a contributor on various occasions, and who would carry away a number of prizes on the present occasion — " Samuel Scotson, Esq." (Applause.) The Chairman — Gentlemen, I am given to undsr- stand that Mr. Scotson is more in favour of doings than of sayings, and I am not quite sure that he is not quite right ; but I am informed that there is a gentleman present who has often, on former occa- sions, favoured us with a song, and I therefore call upon our poet laureate, Mr. Shaw, for a song. (Cheers.) THE LIVERPOOL AGRICULTURAL LAU- REATE'S ADDRESS TO THE SOCIETY FOR 1834. Mester Chairman, — what's now to be dun ? I'll gladly attend to your wish. It seems they're all mellow for fun. And I'm here like an owd standing dish; But the muse wants fresh subjects to stock it. For all her owd fallows turn'd o'er. So I've brought a new theme in my pocket, I'm shure yo nare hard it befoor. Tol de rol de rol. I've tou'd of that five-acre field That with Parliment men had been sown, But I nare tou'd what crop it did yield. And to what soort of members they've grown ; To each place where members I've planted , To lam their past deeds I resort. My request they've moost cordially granted. By sending this copious report. Tol de rol,&c. " FRO OWDHAM. " The plant that yo sent, Mester Laureate, Is a species we cannot find out. At first it clear'd all things before it. And splutter'd sum venom about ; Its odours delighted each bumpkin, 'Tvvas a promising plant yo may tell, But the fruit that it bore was a pumpkin. And 'tis thought it '11 die ov itsel. Tol de rol, &c. " FRO A3HT0N. " We've got the new plant that yo bred, But we think it's been changed in the carriage, For nowt seems to run in its yed. But to aid kings and princes in marriage ; If all that he wants should be granted. There's no knowing where it may stop. In reforming those things so much wanted. He thought he'd begin at the top. Tol de rol, &c." To benefit tillers of soil. Grain shall yield no more spirits so tainted. On this genus Johanna doth smile, And her converts will soon have him sainted ; He's a bulwark of strength to tiie Whigs, Who rejoice in his glories to cum. For our barley and oats mun feed pigs, And we'll drink nowt but brandy and rum. Tol derol, &c." I'd a plant was so selfish and greedy. It suck'd all the marrow fro th' land, Tho' bloated with fat — 'twas still needy, — And turned my rich soil into sand ; When I found my plantation was troublin, I cast this huge plant in the sea, I believe it wor pick'd up at Dublin, For sum sed it floated that way. Tol de rol, &c. I'd a plant that with caution my men drew, Which prickling burs had shot forth, Are chaps cau'd its species Sir Andrew, And soon pack'd it off for the north. To the round yeds it shure belong'd one day. Its leaves wor so meager and grim, If a cock crow'd or dog bark'd on Sunday, This new member fin'd um for sin. Tol de rol, &c. Now Lerple, of members bereft. Applied rather late in the year. So I sent um such plants as wor left, Tho' at that time they'd got rather dear : As thoose folke in extremes do all glory. And nowt shutes their taste that's between, I sent um a Whig and a Tory, To ballance th'owd nation's machine. Tol de rol, &c. I to Lancaster sent 'um a link-eye, Whose value no statesman could weigh ; Sum thought 'twas a Lancashire pink-eye. Sum thought 'twas a marrowfat peigh ; When itflowr'd all disputing was o'er. For it proved to be Grey's early nimbles. In the swads they'd got peighs in gallore. And on'th tops they'd a rar^e crop of thimbles, Tol de rol, &c. That farmers mun have sum relief The statesmen's been tou'd o'er and o'er What they've granted will shurely save beef, By refined modes of starving the poor If their wisdom had not lagg'd beheend. They'd have filled the whole land with content. And begun their reforms at ih'right heend By vouchsafing to lower our rent. Tol de rol, &c. Now my five acre's clear'd of its crop. And rais'd plants that went different ways. In that sort of culture I'st stop. For I don't think as yet that it pays. I sent to the East for some wisemen. But the plants were too scanty and dear, S t raise sum new bishops and tithemen. And lay down my fallows next year. Tol de rol, &c. Mester Chairman, I don't mean no harm, But they sen yo'n got nothing to do. So perhaps yo'll be takin' a farm — We just want such a leader as you. Sum sen that yo play'd the rung card ; Sum sen yo'd r.ot help 'um to rob ; Sum sen that yo work'd 'um so hard That yo've work'd yoresel out on a job. Tol de rol, &c. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 491 The Chairman rose, and proposed that before they called upon the poet laureate to repeat such exertions as those with which he had already favoured them, they should show their gratitude by drinking his health, and allowing him to sing his thanks for it. (Laughter and cheers.) The laureate not being ready with his song, The Chairman said he had already had the plea- sure of proposing a toast which had been received as it ought to be in this great county, viz. " Breeding in all its branches," And, as Mr. Hillyard had already told them, there was one branch of which they had no need, viz. the importation of children. (Laughter and cheers.) In this description of breeding, as in all otliers, he (tlie Chairman^ had a prejudice in favour of the dam's side, and also in favour of his own county : nay, he did more than feel such a prejudice j he had shown it. (Laughter and cheers.) He now therefore pro- posed health an-d prosperity, and success to all the honest endeavours of a cross which was nothing but a real Lancashire cross. {Cheers.) They had no need of importation in this class of breeding — they ought to be quite satisfied with their own. (Laugh- ter.) If there was one single individual present, or in the county, whose whole heart, soul, and affections, were more centred in the county than another, that individual was his noble friend Lord Molyneux. (Loud cheers.) On an occasion like the present, it would be most ungracious, nay, he would say most ungrateful in a Lancashire meeting, to forget that they now, for the first time, met to celebrate his marriage (cheers) — that in marrying he had not gone out of this his native county, — that he had connected himself with one of the most respected and respect- able families in it, and married one of the real old Lancashire breed. (Laughter and cheers.) Of this stock he thought he might venture to say that they could not have too much, and that the Molyneux and the Hopwood cross must be real Lancashire to the back -bone. (Cheers.) He therefor pro- posed, without further preface, with three times three, " The health of Lady Molyneux, with luck and a lad." (Laughter and cheers.) Lord Molyneux, in returning thanks, said that on many occasions he had been received in this county with kindness and cordiality ; but when he had had to acknowledge such favours it had always hitherto been for himself alone. (Cheers.) On this occasion it was not in his power to express what he felt for the honour done to himself and to Lady Molyneux. (Cheers.) On former occasions he liad expatiated on his admiration of the Lancashire witches, and though what he had then said had not been approved of by all parties, he certainly had not abandoned his principles, but had acted up to what he professed. (Laughter and cheers.) He was particularly flattered by the manner in which the toast had been received, because he knew that he was now in the presence of gentlemen to whom he owed a great deal of duty, which it had not been in his power to perform ; but if he had abandoned his duty in the last session of Parliament, the reason of it was plain before them, he had been occupied in a manner which, he felt assured, would claim the in- dulgence of liis constituents. If before this period he felt attached to this county, and disposed to serve it to the best of his ability, he was now connected still more closely witli it, in such a manner that no- thing could sever them. (Cheers). He had nothing more to do than to express his thanks to his old school-fellow and friend for the manner in which he had proposed his health, for the manner in which he had conducted this business, and for the manner in which be had served the interests of the society, — and to drink all their good healths in return. (Loud cheers.) The Chairman, in proposing the next toast, said, they must not forget to what they owed their prospe- rity,— he meant the consumers of their produce ; he, therefore, had great pleasure in proposing, " The town and trade of Liverpool." (Cheers.) The Chairman then said that they had endeavour- ed to pay the debt of gratitude as far as it could be paid by the expression of feelings of gratitude towards those who had assisted at the present meeting ; there were, however, two parties to whom they owed a debt which they ought not to separate without pay- ing, he meant those who had contributed to the meet- ing that morning, and also those who had contributed to the meeting in the evening. He therefore had great pleasure in proposing, " The health of the Mayor and Corporation of Li- verpool, with many thanks to them for the use of the ground on which the Show took place." (Loud cheers, and cries of " Mr.Staniforth, Mr. Staniforth." ) Samuel Staniforth, Esq. returned thanks. The Chairman said he had a toast to propose, which if they did not drink in a bumper, with three times three, as their President, he should feel ashamed of them, and think them not Lancashire-men, nor Welshmen either. He then proposed " The Lancashire Witches," which was drank amidst great enthusiasm, with three times three, Mr. Shaw was then unanimously called upon for another song. Mr. Shaw then sang, amidst great laughter and ap- plause, the song which he repeated last year, and, upon its conclusion, retired to his seat amidst hearty cheering. The Chairman begged to propose what had always been drunk at their meetings with great satisfaction, as, indeed, it always ought to be, " Liberal landlords and industrious tenants." (Great applause.) The Chairman then said that, on former occasions, it had been customary for the chairman, in his place, upon the same evening, to dirtribute the prizes among the successful candidates ; but if they would look at the long range of prizes suspended above him, and then at their watches (though he did not wish them to look at their watches,) they would be convinced that if he were to follow that practice on the present occasion, they would not be able to gain their beds at that early hour which was befiting them ; and, there- fore, instead of delivering the prizes one by one, he would combine the successful and unsuccessful can- didates together in one toast, with the wish that the successful candidatesboth of this and from other coun- ties, might be encouraged by the success they had met with on the present occasion, to contribute to the ex- hibitions of future years ; and that the unsuccessful candidates, particularly from this county, might be encouraged to competition with their neighbouring- agriculturists next year. (Applause.) He would diink all their healths together, particularly of the successful candidates, with a hope that there may be more of them next year. (Apjilause.) Mr. Dawson said he, as one of the most successful candidate, was very much obliged to them for the manner in which they had drank their healths. While they had such liberal landlords in his county to encourage them in the improvements of their stock, they would be proud to bring their stock to the exhi- bition, and all he could say of his landlord, Sir Ed- ward Mostyn, would not be more than he deserv- ed. (Applause.) The Chairman, in conclusion, saidhe had one more toast to propose before he took his leave of tliem. 2 K 2 492 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, They had invariably met on occasions like the present, with increased numbers, — and always with undimi- nished— be might say with increased harmony and good will. In taking his leave of them that evening, he should do no more than express bis cordial wish that such feelings may be extended to future occa- sions. He trusted that their next meeting might be chai'acterized by the same cordial good nature which he had witnessed in the morning and the evening, and which, in fact, had always characterized the meetings of their society. (Loud and continued ap- plause.) He was not leaving them in inexperienced hands, for the Chairman who would succeed him was his brother-in-law, Bootle Wilbraham, Esq. (Applause.) He would ask them to drink one more toast in remembrance of their {former meetings, and in anticipation of their next, " Their next merry meeting." which was drank with great applause, and three times three. The Chairman then vacated the chair, at a quarter to ten, amidst the most hearty cheering. R. BoOTLE Wilbraham, Esq., then proceeded with the distribution of the prizes, after which the com- pany dispersed. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE LIVERPOOL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. It has again become the agreeable duty of the Committee of the Agricultural Society to draw the attention of its members to the progress which it has been enabled to make, and its prospects for the future. With respect to its progress, it seems sufficient to appeal to Hie exhibitions of this day for proof, that the Society has amply and satisfactorily real- ized every thing which was hoped from its institu- tion, and which the brief period of its existence has permitted. An exhibition of stock, surpassing in excellence that of any former year, sufficiently denotes the change for the better which is rapidly working, under the auspices and encouragement of the Society, in that important and hitherto greatly neglected branch of rural economy of its district. That the advantage thus promised to the neigh- bourhood is likely to be rendered substantial and permanent may be inferred, from the superior spe- cimens of roots, the mangel wurzel, and turnips in particular, also exhibited, evincing that the in- creased provision of animal food, on which the Society justly calculates as a consequence of its exertions, will be duly sustained by an increased production oi food for animals. The number of claimants for that necessary im- provement, draining, is also particularly encourag- ing. It is the first step in a system of rational forming, and, applied to localities hitherto wholly or nearly unproductive, will not fail to extend very materially the supply requisite to the wants of a rapidly increasing population, whilst it must continue greatly to individual advantage. One feature of the present anniversary, the Com- mittee cannot but regard with the most lively sa- tisfaction. It is the number of claimajits for long and faithful services, any agricultural institutions which should leave out of its arrangements a due proportion of reward for industry and honesty, the only property which the poor man can call his his own, would be negligent of the duties of hu- manity, careless of the morality and welfare of the labourer, and inoperative as an instrument for the diffiision of general good. With respect to the prospects of the Society, their cheering character is highly enhanced by a still increasing list of subscribers; and here the Committee is in duty bound to express its sense of the conduct of those subscribers who, though unconnected with agriculture, have taken taken liberal and enlarged views of the question, and by their support rendered the Society what it is, injlnential in every respect, but most particu- larly in doing good. It eannot be denied that without this support of her sister, commerce, the interests of agriculture must languish. It is confidently expected that this liberality will continue unabated, and that the two interests will still proceed amicably co- operating for the advantage of all. It now remains only that the Committee on be- half of the Society, respectfully tender their thanks to the Mayor and Corporation of Liverpool for the repetition of their kindness in allowing the use of the yard, in which the exhibition has been held. Cautious, but not enough so. — An individual of sporting notoriety, residing in a neighbouring county, had long been expecting, as visiters those well-known " limbs of the law," John Doe and Richard Roe, and, entertaining for them the greatest antipathy, naturally desired to avoid meet- ing them. To do this the more effectually, it is said that the windows of his house were barred, and the doors locked and bolted. Such precautionary mea- sures, therefore, put these pnrc7^me/lt«^^a»s quite hors de combat ; consultations deep and long were held by them, and enticements of the most alluring kind were offered, to induce their friend >to accept their " congratulations," but the result of their meetings was for a long time useless, and their enticements not sufficiently alluring. At length a well-laid scheme was practised, and (disclaiming the idea of any per- sonal allusions, not having the slightest knowledge with whom it originated,) it certainly reminded us of an old adage about catching rogues. The sheriff's officer took his gun and went on the premises of the person he wished to seize, and began firing away, as though coveys of birds were in abundance. Ac- cording to his expectations out came his retired friend, and with an air of consequence demanded by whose authority he shot there ? " Why, I beg your pardon, sir (says he), I have shot only a bird or two as yet, and I hope you'll excuse that, for I mean to shoot a man before I go home, and so here goes at you with — a writ." We shall not attempt to de- scribe the vexation of one party, or the pleasure of the other, but we must congratulate Messrs. Doe and Roe on having so very clever an officer. The man- ner in which he performed bis unpleasant duty was very creditable to him. — Windsor Express. The dahlias are natives of Mexico, where they were found by Baron Humboldt, growing in sandy meadows at 800 or 900 toises, or from 1,600 to 1,800 yards above the level of the sea. Specimens of them were transferred to the Botanic Garden at Mexico, and thence to Madrid. Lady Holland introduced them into this country. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 493 THE CURLEW. The bill is long, equally incurvated, and termi- nated in a blunt point ; the nostrils linear, and longi- tudinal near the base ; tongue short and sharp- pointed ; and the toes are connected as far as the first joint, by a membrane. With the curlew, Linnaeus begins a numerous tribe of birds under the generic name of scolopax, which in his arrangement includes all the snipes and godwits, amounting, according to Latham, to forty-two species and eight varieties, spread over various parts of the world, but nowhere very numerous. BufFon describes fifteen species and varieties of the curlew, and Latham ten, only two or three of which are British birds. They feed upon worms, which they pick up on the surface, or with their bills dig from the soft earth ; on these they depend for their princi- pal support ; but they also devour the various kinds of insects which swarm in the mud, and in the wet boggy grounds, where these birds chiefly take up their abode. The curlew generally measures about two feet In length, and from tip to tip above three feet. The bill is about seven inches long, of a regular curve, and tender substance at the point, which is blunt. The upper mandible is black, gradually softening into brown toward the base ; the under one flesh-coloured. The head, neck, upper part of the back, and wing- coverts, are of a pale brown, the middle of each fea- ther black, edged and deeply indented with pale rust colour, or light grey. The breast, belly, and lower part of the beak, are dull white, the latter thinly spotted with black, and the two former with oblong strokes more thickly set, of the same colour. The quill-feathers are black, the inner webs crossed or spotted with white ; the tail is barred with black, on a white ground, tinged with red; the legs are bare a little above the knees, of a blueish colour, and the toes arc thick, and flat on the underside. These birds differ much in size, as well as in the different shades of their plumage; some of them •weighing not more than twenty-two ounces, and ethers as much as thirty-seven. In the plumage of gpf^e !tJ)0 white p^rt? are muc]> more distinct apd cle^r than in others, which are more uniformly grey, and tinged with pale brown. The female is so nearly like the male, that any particular description of her is unnecessary ; she makes her nest upon the ground, in a dry tuft of rushes or grass, of such withered materials as are found near, and lays four eggs, of a greenish cast, spotted with brown. The curlew is met with by travellers in most parts of Europe, from Iceland to the Mediterranean islands. In Britain their summer residence is upon the large heathy, boggy moors, where they breed. Their food consists of worms, flies, and insects, which they pick out of the soft mossy ground by the marshy pools, which are common in such places. In winter they depart to the sea-side, where they are seen in great numbers, and then live upon the worms, marine in- sects, and other ^shy substances which they pick up on the beach and among the loose rocks and pools left by the retiring tide. The flesh of the curlew has been characterised by some as very good, and of a fine flavour — by others as directly the reverse ; the truth is, that, while they are in health and season, and live on the moors, scarcely any bird can excel them in goodness ; but when they have lived some time on the sea shore, they acquire a rank and fishy taste. — Bewick. Affection and Sagacity of a Dog. — A brick- layer, by the name of B. Riley, lately left Philadel- phia and arrived at Cumberland, Maryland, where he was left at the stage-house, on the 16th ult., in consequence of being insane and subject to fits. A day or two afterwards he walked out, and no more was seen of him. On the 6th day after his disapear- ance it was observed that his dog, which had been absent during the same time, had returned. He was fed, and immediately left the house again, and re- turned in the evening. Hewasthen fed a second time, and the persons present determined to follow him. The dog, upon discovering that they were following him, appeared to be much elated, prancing along before them until he came opposite vzhere his msster lay, ^Jien ]is immediately left tlie foa^, }!^^ t,o biiR, 494 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. and barked ( * * * The dog- had thus watched his master five days after his death, and then deliver- ed him to the citizens ! — Neiu York Paper. JOAN OF ARC. Maiden ! — in humble quietude were past Thy years of childhood, — they at least were free From wild and burning hopes, — thy lot was cast Far from all splendour ; and the path for thee Seem'd sketch'd through solitude ; but visions rose (Strange, in their mighty and unfading power,) Before thy young heart, breaking its repose ; (A spell of restlessness to every hour,) And thou did'st muse o'er those quick dreams, until No voice could bid that storm of mind be still ! No gentle voice of home. — Oh ! not for thee. Thou high and favour'd one, could tones arise From earth, to break the chaining phantasy Bound round thee by a magic from the skies ! For the bright stars, and whisper'd winds of heaven Breath'd but one tale to thy impassion'd soul : " Maiden, to thee the saving sword is given ; Go where the thunders of the batttle roll ! — Hence, as a conqueror ! " — and nobly won Was that proud title, ere her course was done. She fainted not ; and mighty beings rose Again within the land : beneath her eye Men fought as victors — and her country's foes Ilush'd, awe-struck, from their strong security j And lier reward — (Do, master spirits, share Ever the joy that they have thrown around ?) 'Midst the rejoicings, one smile was not there, — When all beside were free, one step was bound ; — She was a captive! — and the captive's pain Was ended by the death which broke the chain. Kimbolton. B.B.B. A serval, or wild cat, which was lately being brought to the Museum of Natural History at Paris, contrived to escape from its cage, between Beau- gency and Mer, in the Loire-et-Cher, and after run- ning a short distance along the road, entered a farm- house unperceived, and took shelter in a beaufet. Soon after a child, who went to the closet, found the animal in a corner, employed in eating. Thou<^h much frightened, the child had sufficient presence of mind to shut the door, and go and tell its father what it liad seen. The good man immediately came with his gun, and opening the door of the beaufet wide enough to admit the muzzle of his piece, fired, and wounded the intruder. The cat became furious, and in its rage burst through one of the panels of its prison, but some of the farmer's men killed it with the bars of a wine-press. They afterwards dressed and ate the flesh, and sold the skin at Beaugency. Galignam's Messenger. Perhaps the largest viaduct in the world is that upon which the Colombia and Philadelphia rail-road crosses the river Schuylkill, about three miles above Philadel- phia. At the site of the bridge the stream is about 850 feet wide. On one side the depth of water under the bridge is only four or five feet, but in increases gradually to within 20 yards of the opposite shore, where it is 22 feet. The bed of the river is a soft black mud overlaying the solid rock to a depth of from four to ten feet. The bridge consists of seven arches, six piers, and two abutments ; five of the arches span 13S feet each, and the remaining two 125 feet each, making with the piers, which are 13 feet broad at top, a total of 1,018 feet in the clear between the abutments. THE NEW POOR LAW AMENDMENT BILL. TO THE EDITOR OF THE OBSERVER. Chelsea, Oct. 2, 1834. Sir, — Your statement of the " reduction which has been effected in the out-door relief" dispensed in this parish, is strictly correct : it is full 90/ per week ; and these reductions have been judiciously and justly made. In proof of this, at the com- mencement of the present year, upwards of 400 of the casual poor were paid at our board-room weekly. We have now the examinations of be- tween 500 and 600 cases reported, in which the means, necessities, &c. of the applicants are de- tailed ; and thus, while we have on the one hand detected the impostor, on the other we have been enabled to dispense the rates with a more equitable hand to those who most required and most de- served assistance. We had prepared our poor for the alterations we have made (and are making), as soon as the Bill was proposed to the House of Commons ; and upon the subject of which I will, Sir, with your permission, add a few comments. I see, with regret, that there is a strong preju- dice entertained against this Bill by public writers, whose opinions (agreeing with them or not) I have been accustomed to treat with respect. But with- out implying that the Bill is incapable of improve- ment (and which of our Parliamentary enactments, since the passing of the Bill of Rights, is .^) as matter of opinion, already corroborated by fact, I have no doubt whatever of the practical excel- lence of its results. That some, but comparatively very few cases of extreme hardship will occur, there can be no doubt ; were it otherwise, the bill itself would be an exception to all other Bills enacted for the pub- lic benefit. Are not the great discoveries of ma- chinery and steam hardships to those who are in- jured by their operations ? Who is not aware of the mourning and malediction of the inhabitants of Liverpool when about to lose their emoluments, derived from the traffic in the blood of their fel- low-men ? Yet they are now prosperous — en- grossing the chief part of our American trade, al- though England has abolished West Indian Sla- very for ever. How many thousands of individu- als were there who not only expatiated upon the evils to be apprehended from the passing of the Reform Bill, but who actually denounced it as a most consummate national curse .' I never yet heard of any great measure of public utility which was not, by some persons, consider- ed to be an evil, and so with the Bill in question ; but I will venture to affirm that the most vehe- ment in their denunciations of it, as operating up- on themselves, will be the idle and the impostor. The terms of asperity applied by those opposed to the Bill towards all who are of a contrary opinion, although they may mislead the inexperi- enced in parochial matters, yet they can neither create nor destroy a single fact. They must fail to prove that thousands of poor industrious rate-pay- ers have not been grossly driven to the most ex- treme privation (often the very cause of the pau- perism deplored^, to defray the expenses of breed- ing up paupers who fared better than themselves ; they must fail to prove that the out- door re- lief was not a bounty offered to the drunken or indolent, and at the exj)ense of the sober and industrious : and they must fail also to prove that the long-standing abuses of parishes generally, were not held in veneration by all interested in THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 495 their continuance, and connected with the jobbing sanctioned by precedent. Those who imagine that the great mass of the 8,000,000?. of Poor's Rates which have been annually collected, was fairly distributed among the deserving and necessitous poor, are in error. Independent of the great portion of it which was paid to the worthless, large sums returned into the pockets of not the poorer, but the more wealthj', rate-payer : not, indeed to the tenant, but to his landlord. In many parishes vile neighbourhoods have been erected, the rents of which have been paid (weekly) out of the rates ; and where the oc- cupants of such places, although known to indulge in every vice, were recommended to parochial boards as lit objects of " relief;" since, whoever might suffer by their excesses, they knew their in- terests too well to admit of ingratitude towards their " humane" landlord. What has been the "system" pursued in the agricultural districts ? Nothing less than to de- moralize on a larger scale. The last averaged Parliamentary Returns that I saw gave the earn- ings of each labourer to be 7s. per week ; and these wages were made up (according to the num- ber in the family) from the Poor Rates, The far- mer could not afford to "pay the labourer his hire," and the parish at large was called upon to do so. Those who were in the rural districts, our once boasted "Nation's pride" — our "Sturdy Peasantry," driven, sometimes, by a feeling of self-degradation — by recklessness — or absolute despair, became poachers ; and, until the repeal of the late Game Laws, filled our gaols. Prisons never were the schools for the encouragement of the " rough virtues of our clime ; " and those who were sent <-here for wiring a hare, too frequently came out ready and willing to commit a burglary. I merely allude to facts as I have known them to exist under the operation of the late Poor Law Acts, and which it appears to me our government are resolved, as 1 am sure they may do, to amend. With respect to the Bastardy clauses of the New Bill, I would say there is not one strictly impartial man who is practically acquainted with the work- ing of the infamous system carried on under the sanction of the old law upon this subject, who will not admit that it held out a premium for prostitution and all its concomitant evils. As the father of a family, respected in my pro- fession, and of many years' standing among my fellow-parishioners, I would repudiate with scorn the charge of " inhumanity," uttered as it is by the lips of every canting hypocrite who would not bestow a sixpence from his otvn purse to save an unfortunate fellow-creature from starving. But, towards the weaker class, and to the more unfor- tunate portion of it, he must be a wretch indeed who could deliberately sit down to advocate an addi- tional burden to their already over-charged load of ill. Such, Sir, are my sentiments, and with these, after some years experience of the effects of the Bastardy Laws, I hesitate not to aver that the clauses relative to this subject as contained in the New Bill are some of the very best that could have been devised for the correction of a truly "national curse," the encouragement of youth to vice. By the old law, any ill-disposed female could "swear her child " to whomsoever she pleased; whether the man had ever seen her or not was a matter of no importance to her case ; since, however respectable he might have been, and however depraved the woman, her oath was im- perative and his rejected. On this subject the Bishop of London lately gave some illustrations in the House of Lords, which he stated to have re- ceived, I think, from a friend at Leicester. I could have furnished his lordship with some, perhaps, stronger instances than those he adduced, and which occurred only a week or two before he named them. I will givej one of these as a fair sample : I was present when a young female came to " swear her child ; " but she declined doing so, stating that "She did not know who was the fa- ther, and that was the truth." She was obliged to be taken into the workhouse, where she was brought to bed ; and afterwards, not liking con- finement, and requiring out-door relief, in the very teeth of her previously recorded assertion, she ac- tually swore to the father of her child, and her oath was taken ! Some public writers appear to think that every female who swears a child has been the victim of seduction, and is an interesting object of sym- pathy ; as far as a lack of religious education can make them so, they are indeed lamentable objects ; but the gentlemen who write most fluently against depriving them of the revenue of their shame have had but slender practical experience at Parochial Boards. Last week I heard many told that if they required further parochial aid they must send their children into the house. The generality of them said, " and so they would ;" many with the addi- tion of, "for they would not keep them;" and some few, " that they would bring another or two." I give their own words. It is the money which has been paid in these cases which has led thousands of our humble countrywomen to become callous to shame. A ma- gistrate had the power of awarding whatever sum he pleased, according to the station of the putative father, and I have known 8s per week to be grant- ed to " a most interesting " case ; and which I must confess I believed to be so in common with others. This case was examined, and it turned out that she had made/oM>' " sympathetic " errors, the proofs of which are at this hour extant. In justice to the lady I must add that she contended that to only two fathers was she indebted for her " love children." The effects of the new law will be, as it ought to he, viz, that if unprejudiced judges are satisfied of the mother's veracity, the father of her child must pay for its maintenance to the parish bound to nurture it ; but she will not, as formerly, receive a bounty for her indiscretion ; nor in future will a plurality of illigitimate children place her in a more comfortable situation than the most re- spectable widow, with a similar number in family, and compelled to seek parochial aid. " The excellent introduction relative to the " Law of Settlement," as provided for in the new Bill, is passed over in silence by its opponents ; so that it may be presumed they either understand little about it, or think it an improvement ; and, in truth, a very great one it is. In a word. Sir, did uninterested opponents of the Bill know (particularly in the manufacturing districts) the contaminating influence of the old Law, they would change their belief. The public, generally, require but to be shown their way clear- ly, and they are ready to judge correctly. Time, however, is the best expounder, ; but even the few cases which have been brought before Magistrates might surely have been sifted a little more than they have been by those who undertook to pro- claim their "cruelty." I do not know the inter- ' nal regulations of Ratcliffe, but assuming them to by like those of other workhouses, I should think 496 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. that any widow with three children would, for her children's sake, rather work for them where they would be comfortably housed, cleanly kept, fed on wholesome food, and taught to read, &c. than prefer her "liberty " and starvation, rags, and neglect with them, upon six-shillings per week. I cannot help thinking that there are but few indeed of affectionate mothers who would not. I would fain have urged a further remark or two, but I fear I have already trespassed too far upon your indulgence. I remain, Sir, yours respectfully, VERITAS. ON HIPPOPATHOLOGY. [from the quarterly journal of AGRICUL- TURE.] HippopatJiology : a Systematic Treatise on the Dis- orders and Lamenesses of the Horse, Sfc. By William Percivall, M.R.C.S., Veterinary Surgeon in the First Life Guards, 1834. We believe we may say it with truth, though we say it with regret, that the English language does not contain a single work on Veterinary Me- dicine, displaying a complete view of that science, as it exists in its present improved condition. We are well aware of the existence of many excellent monographs, lately published, which contribute to throw much light upon various departments of this branch of the healing art ; and the names of Coleman, Dick, Sewell, and others, are familiar to us as household words. But we know not where to refer the English student for a general treatise, marked throughout by that cautious spirit of in- duction, which, leaving nothing to chance, builds principle upon principle, and conducts the mind warily from deduction to deduction, until it forms for itself a groundwork, upon wliich a system of scientific practice may be finally estabhshed ; or, at the worst, places its dependence on a ra- tional empiricism, the precious result of protracted, extensive, and well-weighed experience. Still less do we know where to refer him to a treatise, adding to this the merit of possessing that rich- ness of detail which provides information for al- most every exigency and every variety of case ; and farther distinguished by that lucid plan of ar- rangement, which renders the mass of instruction more easily accessible, and consequently infinitely more valuable. Perhaps the best treatise, every thing consi- dered, on the diseases of horses which has yet ap- peared in the English language, is that of Gibson, who flourished upwards of seventy years ago. Certainly, if we view tlie work of this author witli reference to the period at which he wrote, when pathologists of far higher reputation were in gene- ral bewildering themselves with vague theories, more indebted to their fancy than to observation, we can scarcely abstain from acknowledging its extraordinary merit ; but the subsequent progress of the art has rendered much of it obselete, and it becomes necessary for us to look for a writer to illustrate the state of the science, as it now displays itself, after the same excellent fashion in which the task was achieved by Gibson for his own period. But, for a long time after the death of Gibson, we meet with no other writer capable of following in his traces, at however great a distance. The shal- low and presuming Taplin, whose work we are ashamed to state passed through upwards of a do- zen editions, while he was loud enough in his vitu- perations against the most eminent of his prede- cessors and contemporaries, was yet able to throw but a flimsy veil over his own ignorance; and ven- tured, amid his countless niaiseries, to ascribe jaundice in the horse to obstruction of the gall- bladder, though that animal possesses no such vis- cus. The merits of such works as those of the Claters, the Ephraim Blaines, et hoc germs omne, we shall not pause to discuss, though they have hitherto exerted too great an influence in depres- sing the condition of the veterinary art in this country. We trust their day is now nearly over, and that the public will henceforth demand something better than such pitiful compila- tions, crammed almost exclusively with what may be termed the offals and garbage of science, eagerly seized and retained by them, after being rejected as impure or noxious by the nicer discrimination of better instructed men. In this general censure, however, we should be sorry to include the works of White and of Rydge, which really contain some scattered portions of considerable value. Yet neither are v/e willing to make them the subject of high praise. The valu- able part is in too small proportion to the rest ; empiricism prevails too extensively throughout ; and the former, especially, is too destitute of pro- per arrangement, for them to be ever of much value to either amateur or student. Of a very different character from the preceding, indeed not far inferior to Gibson's treatise in talent, and cer- tainly superior as to its materials and their ar- rangement, inasmuch as many of the latest impro- vements of modern science have been brought to its aid, is the work of D. Blaine. But we can scarce tell to what class of readers the respectable author has best adapted his treatise. The pre- liminary anatomical details are too scanty for the regular practitioner, and too profuse for the ama- teur ; while, in the practical part, we believe that the latter will be able to glean more extensive and more valuable information than he can easily meet with elsewhere ; though the former will often have cause to regret the slight way in which many weighty topics are passed over, and the little re- ference which is made to the important lights to be derived from the study of physiology in the living, and pathological anatomy in the dead. The works of which we have given the names, or rather the authors' names, and of the merits of which we have briefly hinted our opinion, are those which are in the most common circulation in this country.* Admitting us to be correct in our esti- * We have by no means pretended to give here a full list of English systematic works on Veterinary Medicine ; among others, we have omitted the pub- lication of the elder Percivall, and the treatise on the Horse, published by the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. We must confess tliat we have never had an opportunity of becoming inti- mately acquainted with the former work, though what little we do know of it induces us to rank it beside those of Gibson and Blaine. The plan of the latter valuable treatise, ■wld^'hf notwithstanding eoiae THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 497 mate of them, it will be evident that there is still ample room for the appearance of another work on the veterinary science ; and feeling interested, as we do, in the progress of that science, — the importance of which, whether we regard its osten- I sible and primary object, or the secondary influ- ence which it is calculated to have on the practice of human medicine, has not, we believe, been often fully acknowledged, — we were inclined to receive the publication, the title of which we have placed at the head of these remarks, with a full welcome. Mr. Percivall, who has served twenty years as a veterinary surgeon in the army, is already' advan- tageously known as the author of a treatise on the anatomy of the horse, and as one of the editors of the Veterinarian, a perodical which cannot fail to prove a powerful agent in the work of improve- ment which it is our wish to advocate ; and it was therefore natvu'al for us to expect that the new performance should be one of high merit and use- fulness. Whether or not we have been disappoint- ed in this expectation, will be seen in the sequel. The author announces that his work is to consist of three volumes, one only of which is yet pub- lished, and is that now lying before us. In it he professes to treat especially of the external disorders of the body. The second volume is to compre- hend those which are internal ; while the third will be devoted entirely to the consideration of the dif- ferent kinds of lamenesses. The principles which he has laid down are deduced, he tells us, from their natural and legitimate sources, the anatomy and physiology of the animal ; modified, where modi- fication appeared needful, by the lessons of expe- rience. The volume opens with a brief sketch of those signs which denote the healthy condition of the horse, He notices the comparative immunity from disease enjoyed by that animal in his state of nature, and describes the changes effected upon him by domesticity, which he justly refers to the altered situation in which he is placed with regard to air, food, exercise, &c. His observations on the first of these are deserving of attention : — " The air," he writes, " an animal respires, is to be regarded in reference to its temperature and its purity. By nature the horse appears especially to require not only air that is cooling and refreshing to his nostrils, but such as is pure and fully fitted for the purposes of respiration : he is an animal of speed; his speed depends on his bodily strength ; and the endurance of that strength is dependent on his wind ; it therefore becomes necessary not only that he should be furnished with a capacious and complete respiratory apparatus, but that the air he respires — his pabulum vita — should be of that description best calculated to fulfil the ends of respiration. This he finds in the open field ; but does he meet with it likewise in the stable? No ! There he encounters an atmosphere confined within certain limits ; and, from that circumstance alone, of a higher temperature than the one he has quitted : in addition to which it becomes heated even from his own breath and body, as well as from those of other horseswho may stand withhim: worse deficiencies, wq would wish to see in the possession of every farmer, does not bring it within the scope of our remark0, than this, however, its oxygenous orvivifying prin- ciple become more or less consumed by the num- bers who respire it ; and, worse than all, it be- comes impregnated with eflfluvia exhaled ftom the breath, the dung, and the urine, just in proportion to the number of inhabitants the same stable may contain, and to the circumscribed limits of the stable itself." We recommend this to the atten- tion of those who still delight in windowless stables, and straw stuffed into the key-holes. We can assure them that we have often observed such extreme precaution in avoiding cold, lead to the very evils it was intended to ward off. The animal whose system has suffered from being immured in such an atmosphere, acquire inevitably a prone- ness to disease, which may exhibit itself in a variety of forms, proceeding not the less from this one origin, though capable of being modified by their more immediate exciting causes, or by individual predisposition or peculiarities of constitution in different animals. Mr. Percivall then proceeds to point out the manner in which the transition from health to dis- ease is usually effected ; and it is here especially that he brings forward those anatomical and phy- siological details which are to serve as a ground- work for what is advanced afterwards. With this division of the work we are, upon the whole, well satisfied, but we have our exceptions to several parts of it, where we think the author has either misunderstood his object, or has expressed himself with regard to it loosely and incorrectly. Thus it appear-s to us, that it is by no means strictly and scientifically correct to say, that the process of nutrition consists " in the renovation or repairs of parts ivorn out and in a state of decay." Neither can we agree with him in thinking, that what is termed condition in the horse, ought to be consi- dered (page 15.) as one of the forms of plethora. Co7idition means simply the presence of health in its most perfect state, when the organic functions are performed with undeviating regularity and suc- cess, and when the animal functions, especially that of locomotion, can be exercised with the fullest vigour and endurance of which the living frame is capable. This is undoubtedly a state in which there is much proneness to plethora, but it is one in which plethora does not exist ; it is not a form of plethora. They are in fact incompatible, and the absence of the one is essential to the existence of the other. By plethora is understood a superabundance of blood in the system, a con- dition which must manifest itself, and be appre- ciated by certain signs, if it is to be appreciated at all. In what may be termed physiological ple- thora, where the superabundance has not proceed- ed so far as to produce actual functional derange- ment, though it have given birth to a greatly in- creased lialDility to disease, these signs are percep- tible in the dulness of the animal, his tendency to sleep, and his little aptitude for sustaining pro- tracted labour. Are these among the tokens of what is termed condition ? Again, in the still more advanced degree of pletliora, where it has pro- duced symptoms which constitute something like the presence of an actanl disease; and which may be termed its pathological state, we meet with want of appetite, lassitude, increased somnolency, 498 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. and frequently a turgid condition of tlie vessels of the head, with a strong tendency to fall into serious states of disease, especially after any ^^olent exer- cise. Is not this the very opposite of what is un- derstood by condition ? It would, in fact, he nearly as logical to term condition a state of ane- mia as to style it one of plethora. It is the inter- mediate state between tlie two ; and it depends W'holly upon tlie after treatment of the animal, to- wards which side this condition, or health in its most perfect form, may lapse. But not only does our author tell us that "■ con- dition is a form of plethora," but he surprises us by proceeding to state, in the succeeding chapter, that local plethora (whiich, if it be correct to say that it exists at all, can only differ from general pletiiora in extent or degree) is but another name for congestion, evidently meaning by congestion that partial disorder of the circulation which everypre- vious pathologist has described as a greater than usual afflux of blood to a part which has been sub- jected to some cause of irritation, evincing itself chiefly by an increased degree of heat and sensi- tiveness in the part. " Congestion," he says, " is in fact local plethora ; at least this is the sense in which it appears to be most correctly used." And farther on he tells us, that " this congestion does not necessarily amount to disease." Sanguineous congestion is manifestly here alluded to, and yet in the following page (16) he writes: "Sanguineous congestion is that which, in its developed form, is characterised by the name phenomena as inflamma- tion itself, from which it is only pretended to dis- tinguish it in a general way, by there being no ex- travasation or effusion, no formation of new pro- ducts or change of structure ;" — which said distin- guishing marks, by the way, are, strictly consider- ed, no phenomena of inflammation at all, but are simply certain results in which that process is fre- quently know^n to terminate. Now, let us take a glance at the curious train of deductions which \^ e have here before us. Condition, it appears, is plethora, or a form of plethora ; plethora and con- gestion are convertible terms ; and congestion is characterised by the same phenomena as inflamma- tion. Therefore condition, which we have shown to be the perfction of health, is identical with in- fianvnation, which all know to be the most active and dangerous form of disease ! Now, we are well aware that all this is by no means what JMr. Percivall intended to express ; yet it is the impres- sion which it appears to us must be received by every one who peruses his treatise with attention, without possessing the advantage of a previous knowledge of its subject ; and it is an impression which must reflect any thing but honour upon the author. Mr. Percivall should consider that more and more will now be expected every day from the writer on Veterinary iNIedicine ! for the science has become an object of such general attention as cannot fail to act as a stimulus on the exertions of its professors, and will eventually reward them by bestowing a wider fame upon a fairer field. He should endeavour to throw aside that vagueness of thought and of expression, of which we have given an example in the above somewhat remarkable sorites, the materials of which we believe to have been feirly transferred from his pages ; and should aim at attaining that distinctness and precision of thought and clearness of arrangement, which are ever the best evidences of a pliilosophical mind, as they are also the best instruments for philosophical investigation. While we thus express ourselves, we should be unwilling to be suspected of any wish to deny to our author that meed of praise which we believe to be honestly his due. In the brief part of his volimie which we have gone through, and in much of what follows, especially in what refers to the doctrines of inflammation, there are constantly oc- curring proofs of a reflecting and understandmg spirit. There is no striking display of originality, but there is frequent evidence of the author's ca- pacity for appreciating what has been advanced by others ; and evidence, too, that he has many times gleaned from the newest and most approved sources. It is true that we sometimes meet with a repetition of faults similar to those already no- ticed, and to some of which we shall still have to advert, but these form a limited portion when com- pared with the mass of valuable matter which the work really contains. The following extract from his account of the symptoms of inflammation, makes us regret that he had not thought tit to ex- tend farther his preliminary chapter on general symptomatology, which, as it stands, is too brief and sparing in its details to be of much value : — " Pain, though equally present as a symptom of inflammation in ourselves and in brutes, and pro- bably equally variable in the one and in the other, yet is one concerning which we naturally gain more information from observation on our own than on animal bodies. Animals, it is true, at times most feelingly and impressively exhibit their sufferings, bemoaning our aid, though not in speech, yet in the language of signs too plain and palpable to admit of being misunderstood: for all this, however, though they may, in a great measure, make us sensible of the intensity ,oi their pain, they leave us often much in the dark— or rather would leave us so, were it not for analogical rea- soning on what happens in similar cases in our own persons — respecting the kind or nature of the pain they sufler. In the generality of cases we are much assisted in our investigation into this symptom, by recurrence to the facts — that pain is augmented by any use, or motion, or exertion, of the part inflamed, and that it is likewise increased by pressure upon it. The poor sufferer labouring under fever in the feet, advances his hind legs as far under his body as possible, in order to relieve the fore ones, in which eftbrt he puts himself into such a characteristic posture, as denotes, at once, to the experienced practitioner the nature of his complaint. In cases of lameness, it is the jiain that occasions the halting, whereby we are informed that disease is going on somewhere in the limb, concerning which, but for tliat symp- tom, we should probable remain in ignorance, un- til such time as the work of destruction had made too great advances to admit of remedy ; an event apt to occur in neurotomized horses, in whom the hoof may be shelled even before we are warned of the presence of disease, and thus the animal be- comes for ever ruined. In inflammations about the body within our search — in strangles for in- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 499 stance — we ascertain the degree of pain felt in the tumour by pressure : we apply our fingers upon the part and press it, or we grasp it and squeeze it, and accordingly as the animal shrinks or flinches from these tests, we estimate the pain he feels. It must be remembered, however, that there are dis- orders of the most painful and grievous nature, in which inflammation has not been discovered, either to exist at all, or but in a secondary or incidental form : such are spasms (' gripes,' as they are vul- garly denominated), and tetanus." The sound sense and humanity displayed in the above pass- age may be safely left to be appreciated by the reader. What follows upon the other symptoms of inflammation is equally valuable. It would have given us much pleasure to have entered more minutely with our author into a con- sideration of the much controverted topic of fever ; but, interesting and important as we believe the wliole subject of veterinary medicine to be, we fear our readers will accuse us of having already dwelt too long upon the details which have no direct practical bearing. And yet, perhaps, we are the more ready to offer this apology, and to suppose its prompt acceptance, inasmuch as it affords us a fair opportunity of escaping from the difhcult task of analyzing the conflicting opinions of A'olpi, Solleysel, Bourgelat, Coleman, Huzard, and the many others who have published their views on the important questions involved under this head. Mr. Percivall's own notion of what constitutes fever, is as extraordinary as many of his other pathological ideas. He considers it as " but a general or diffuse irijiammation." We shall not stop to disprove tlris doctrine, but shall merely assert, that we hold it to be untenable. Indeed in most cases of fever in animals, we believe it will be safest to hold with Broussais, and to look to the condition of the stomach and intestines for the cause of its development ; though we are also inclined to admit, that there is scarcely an organ in the living system to the derangement of which we may not occasionally refer for the origin of this disease. The fourth section of the volume is occupied by the consideration of the nature and treatment of the various injuries to which the horse is liable. Tlie chapter on •' Fistulous Parotid Duct," we read with much interest, and would willingly tran- scribe did our space admit of it. The author should have mentioned in his notice of Hurtrel d'Arboval's case, that caustics were employed by that practitioner with the view of " disorganizing tlie gland, or of extinguishing its secretory action," though without success. But was it not the hint thus afforded which induced him, with better for- tune, to apply the same species of remedy ? V\ hen treating of Fistula in the Withers, he gives some hints with regard to the fitting of saddles, wfiich may be useful to many of our readers. Under the head of " Inflamed \'ein," we were surprised by the following passage ; " Should there be a foid bloody open wound, with a discharge sticking about it, and excoriating the neck, and the vein al- ready chorded up to the iiead, and exceedingly tender on pressure, commence with fomentation, and give strong physic, the same as before ; but in this case, as soon as the physic has operated; and we have procured some little subsidence of the swelling, the wound is to be dressed with the fol- owmg caustic mixture : Take about a drachm of blue vitriol in fine powder, and pour upon it sul- phuric acid, until the mixture becomes of the con- sistence of thick paste. Dip a whalebone probe into this, and work it, little by little, thoroughly into every part of the soft grumous matter filling the wound, allowing it to remain in for some time (during which the iiorse's head should be racked up) before the fomentation be renewed." If this horrible application be the fittest remedy for an nflamed vein, the wound open, evidently in a state of high irritation, and " exceedingly tender on pressure," — or for an inflamed vein in any of its stages whatever, — then must we be content hence- forth to plead guilty of total ignorance of the healing art. Certain are we, that no horse of ours, nor any horse over the management of which we possess any influence, shall ever be so treated, un- less we see strong reasons for changing our present views. In such a case, emollients, and the assi- duous application of anodyne fomentations are called for, and, combined with proper general re- medies, could rarely fail to reduce the action to its just standard, and to advance the cure. In the remainder of this section, we meet with some ex- cellent remarks on wounds of the feet, and their consequences ; and a series of observations on fractures and dislocations, a subject which, he con- fesses, has not received much attention from Eng- lish veterinarians, though it has been treated by the French in iheir usual copious and systematic style. The fifth and sixth sections relate to diseases of the skin, and of the cellular tissue. The remarks on Hidebound, occupying little more than a page, are yet of the best description, evincing correct and discriminating views. The more extended observations on Grease are entitled to still higher praise. There is not a line of them which we would wish to see altered. The observations on diseases of the Cellular Membrane are also gene- rally judicious ; but may we ask how it happens that the accident of " Punctured Belly" comes to be ranked among the external dropsies ? But it is not our intention to extend our re- marks upon the author's nosological arrangement, because we have not yet the whole of it before us, and because he himself deprecates criticism, by acknowledging its imperfections. We agTee with him in admitting the difficulty, if not the impossi- biUty, of forming a correct system of nosology, in the present state of the veterinary art, more espe- cially burdened as that art is wnth a faulty and corrupt nomenclature. Perhaps the best arrange- ment, under present circumstances, is that which we suspect Mr. Percivall will \e found to have, in some measure, adopted ; that, viz. of classing the diseases according to the parts or systems of the animal fabric in which diey are found to occur. We shall thus have diseases of the skin, of the digestive apparatus, of the resph-atory apparatus, of the circulatory and absorbent systems, of the organs of locomotion, &c. ; an arrangement, by the way, adopted by Billard in his truly excellent trea- tise on the diseases of children, a subject in a cer- tain degree akin to that Oi veterinary medicine, in- asmuch as it must be studied under similar disad- 500 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. vantages, the diseases of both being to be appre- ciated by external signs only, such as can be de- tected without the aid of language. Upon the whole, we think ourselves justified in anticipating that the work of Mr. Percivall, when compared with its predecessors in this country, will prove to be an advanced step in veterinary science, and as such, we shall look forward with pleasure to tlie period of its completion. The general ex- cellence of his materials we are most willing to acknowledge, and we are not unconscious of the additional value which they acquire from the man- ly and intelligent style in which they are displayed. By what he has already accomplished he has con- ferred a benefit upon Iris profession, and we invite him to persevere. That he has done all that we are entitled to expect from a leading practitioner of the modern veterinary school, is what we shall not assert. It is not likely, we fear, that it will ever be his to achieve the proud task of destroy- ing that pre-eminence which the French vete- rinarians now possess over those of this coun- try. We are constrained to confess that the Dic- tionary of Hurtrel d'Arboval, published at Paris a few years ago, in four octavo volumes, advances the most closely to that standard which, it appears to us, a work on veterinary medicine ought now to attain ; and, wliile we thus award the palm to a foreigner, we must add, that we are indeed re- joiced to see the art assume that respectable place beside its elder and more honoured sister — the science of human medicine — which the author just mentioned has proved it to be entitled to claim. We should certainly be forgetful of our interests as agriculturists were we to feel otherwise. Duty of Landlords. — We have great pleasure in recording the following very sensible remarks of the Duke of Buccleugh, at the dinner given after the Eskdale and Liddesdale cattle-show. We recommend them particularly to the considei'ation of Irish landlords : — " I consider that it is not the right of the landlord to look merely to the utmost that can be taken from the soil which he has in- herited : his principle should be that of ' live and let live' — a princixjle by which the cultivator is, in the first instance, entitled to a comfortable sub- sistence. (Hear.) He should not take from the means of the tenant — means which he has raised by the sweat of his brow — so much at the begin- ning of one year that it may be difficult for him to live till the next. No ! it is the duty of the land- lord to enable the tenant to take the full benefit of a period of prosperity — to enable him to lay by for an adverse season — and when that does come, he will then the less grudge his landlord his due. (Hear, hear.) This feeling has always pervaded my mind, and I trust always will " (Cheering.) Value of Land in Ireland. — A mountain tract of land in the county of Limerick, called Chonle- harde, which was purchased in the year 1764 by the late Archbishop of Tuam from the Earl of Du- raven's ancestor for 4,500i, has been lately sold by the Archbishop's son, Lord Decies, to Stephen Dickson, Esq., for 25,O00J. This is a rise in price more than sixfold in 70 years, taking the change of currency into accoiiutr What wijl the repeal 6ps gay to this ? THE NEW BEER ACT. (Which came into operation on the \Qth of Oct. last.) An Act to amend an Act passed in the first year of his present Majesty, to permit the general Sale of Beer and Cider by Retail in England. — [15ih August, 1834.] Whereas much evil has arisen from tlie manage- ment and conduct of houses in which beer and cider is sold by letail under the provisions of an act passed in the first year of the reign of his present Majesty, ) W 4 p fii intituled An Act to permit the general Sale of Beer and Cider by Retail in England, and it is expedient to amend the provisions of the said act in certain particulars ; be it therefore enacted by the King's most excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the lords spiritual and temporal, and commons, in this present parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same. That T-„„ .„„ ♦„ from and afler the commencement of Licences to ... .,,,,, r ■, r i be granted for this Act it shall be lawful for the corn- Sale of Beer, missioners of excise, or other persons Hiori'se' '"co'ru' ''"'^ authorized, to grant licences for sumption there- the sale of beer, ale, porter, cider, or of on the pre- perry, under the provisions of the said gli'nted ""pofi "recited Act, to any person applying for certificate. tlie same, but that such licence shall not authorise the person obtaining it to sell beer or cider to be drank or consumed in the house or on tiie promises specified in the same licence, unless the same be granted upon the certificate here- in-after required. Every person H. And be it further enacted, that hcence"^ti°sel1 ^^^'T Person applying for a licence to beertobedrank sell beer or cider by retail, intending on tlie premises the same to be drank in the house or thetZnisTot ^^ the premises, shall, in addidon to ers of Excise a the application setting forth the par- certificate of ticulars required by "the said recited fig°ned''"rli.x ^f^t' annually produce to and deposit rated inhabi- with the commissioners of excise, col- tants of the lector, supervisor, or other person au- and certified by thorised to grant such licence within one of the over- the parish, township, or place in which ^P^i^s- the person so applying intends to sell beer or cider by retail, a certificate signed by six persons residing in and being and de- scribing themselves to be inhabitants of such parish, township, or place, and respectively rated therein to the poor at not less than six pounds, or occupying a house therein rated to the poor at not less than six pounds, none of whom shall be maltsters, com- mon brewers, or persons licensed to sell spirituous liquors or beer or cider by retail, nor owners or proprietors of any house or houses licensed to sell such liquors or beer or cider by retail, stating that the person applying for the licence is of good character, and that at the foot of such certificate one of the overseers of the parish, township, or place shall certify (if the fact be so) that such six persons are in- habitants respectively rated as aforesaid ; and such certificate and licence shall respectively be in the forms of the schedule annexed to this act: Provided If not ten "^'^ays, that in any parish, township, rated inhabi- or district maintaining its own poor in tants in the which there are not ten inhabitants SoKna- '■'^'^^ *° ^^® relief of the poor to the jorityoitiiietfi/ momu \)f m pptjnds pch, pf op^ 9P» THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 501 cupying houses respectively rated to the poor at six pounds each, (not being maltsters, common brewers, or persons licensed to sell spirituous liquors or beer or cider by retail,) the certificate of the majority of such inhabitants of such parisli, township, or district maintaining its own poor, as are rated to the amount of six pounds each, shall be deemed to be a sufficient certificate for the purposes of this act. Penalty on HI. And be it enacted, that if any si'nTto'l-ert^fy Overseer of any parish, township, or as required. place shall, after application made to him by or on behalf of the person ap- plying for the licence lequired by this Act, refuse or neglect to certify, if the fact be so, that the persons who have signed such certificate are inhabitants rated respectively as aforesaid, he shall forfeit and pay any sum of money not exceeding five pounds, to be re- covered before any Justice of the peace acting for the county in which such parish, township, or place shall be situate, on complaint of the person by whom the application shall have been made, unless such over- seer of the poor shall show to the satisfaction of such justice reasonable cause for such neglect or refusal. Permitting IV. And be it further enacted, that drinking beer ^f ^ person licensed to sell beer or 111 a neighbour- . •' i , , ing house or in cider not to be consumed upon the any shod, &c., premises shall, with intent to evade rvade'uie" pro". ^'^^ provisions of this Act, take or carry, visions of the or authorize or employ or permit or Act, to be suflfer any person to take or carry, any fnr''on''""the ^^^^ ^^ ^^^^^er out of or from the house premises. or premises of such licensed person for the purpose of being sold on his ac- count, or for his benefit or profit drunk or consumed in any other house, or in any tent, shed, or other building of any kind whatever belonging to such licensed person, or hired, used, or occupied by him, such beer or cider shall be deemed and taken to have been drunk or consumed upon tbe premises, and the person selling the same shall be subject to the like forfeitures and penalties as if such beer or cider had been actually drunk or consumed in any house or upon any premises licensed only for the sale thereof as aferesaid. To what per- V. And be it further enacted, that for^ ^biUeulnff *^^ provisions in respect of billetting soldiers under soldiers in victualling houses contained Mutiny Acts in any Act of Parliament for punishing mutiny aud desertion, and for the bet- ter payment of the army and their quarters, shall ex- tend only to such persons licensed under this and the said recited Act as shall be licensed to sell beer or cider to be drunk and consumed in the house or on the prenises, and shall not extend or be deemed or construed to extend to such persons as shall be licensed to sell beer or cider not to be consumed on the premises ; any thing in the said recited Act or this Act to the contrary notwihstanding. " Justices of VI. And be it further enacted, that ^g^ulateXumes '^ shall be lawful for the justices of the of opening and peace of every county, riding, division, closing houses, franchise, liberty, city, town, and place, in petty sessions assembled, and they are hereby re- quired, to fix once a year, within thirty days after the passingof this Act in this year, and in every future year, in the counties of Rliddlesex and Surrey within the first ten days of the mouth of March, and in every other county on some day between the twentieth day of August and the fourteenth day of September inclu- sive, the hours at which houses and premises licensed to sell beer under this Act shall be opened and closed ; , provided always, that any person think- ing himself aggrieved by any such order to be so made may appeal to the justices of the peace in quarter sessions assembled, at any time within four calendar months after the making of such order, giving to the justices by whom such order shall have been made fourteen days notice of his intention to ap- peal, and the decision of the said justices so assembled in quarter sessions shall be final and conclusive; „ . . Provided also, tliat the hour so to be Proviso as to '. , , the hours to be fixed tor opening any such house shall fixed for open- not in any case be earlier than five of ing and closing ^j j^ ]^ -^ ^^^ morning, nor for closing houses. , , , ,"„,,? the same later than eleven of the clock at night, or before one o'clock in the afternoon on Sunday, Good Friday, Christmas Day, or any day ap- pointed for a public fast or thanksgiving; and the hours so fixed from time to time by such justices, with reference to the districts and places within their re- spective jurisdictions, shall be deemed and taken to be the hours to be observed, and complied with under this Act as fully as if the same had been specially appointed by thi:* Act. Empowering VII. And belt further enacted, that to visiUken^ed " ^^^^^ ^^ '^^^"1 f°^ ^11 constables and houses. officers of police, and they are hereby authorised and empowered, to enter into all houses which are or shall be licensed to sell beer or spirituous liquors to be consumed upon the premises when and so often as such constables and oflicers shall think proper ; and if any person having such licence as aforesaid, or any servant or other per- son in his employ or by his direction, shall refuse to admit or shall not admit such constable or officer of police into such house or upon such premises, such person having such licence shall for the first oflPence forfeit and pay any sum not exceeding five pounds, together with the costs of the conviction, to be re- covered within twenty days next after that on which such offence was committed before one or more justices of the peace ; and it shall be lawful for any two or more justices before whom any such person shall be convicted of such oflfence for the second time to adjudge (if they shall so think fit) that such of- fender shall be disqualified from selling beer, ale, porter, cider, or perry by retail for the space of two years next after such conviction, or for such shorter space of time as they may think proper. Penalty for VIII. And beitfurther enacted, that fa?^"'^°cmifl? 'f ^°y P^''^°" shall, in any certificate cates. required by this Act, certify any matter as true, knowing the same to be false, or shall make use of any certificate for the purposes of this Act, knowing such certificate to be forged, or the matters certified therein to be false, every such person shall, on conviction of such offence before two or more justices of the peace, forfeit and pay tbe Licences nb- ^""^ °^ twenty pounds ; and every tained on false licence for the sale of beer or cider by certificates to retail which shall be granted to any ® ^°' * person who shall have made use of any such certificate in order to obtain the same, such person knowing such certificate to be forged, or tiie matters certified therein to be false, shall be void to all intents and purposes ; and any person who shall have made 502 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. use of such certificate shall for ever hereafter be dis- qualified from obtaining a licence to sell beer or cider by retail under the provisions of the said lecited Act or this Act. No licence IX. And be it further enacted, that dl-ank" on*° the "° ^^^^"'^^ ^°'' "^'^ ^^'^ °^ ^'^^^' °'' ^^"^^^ premises to be by retail to be consumed or drank in granted without the house or on the premises shall be a cei-tificate. granted, except upon the certificate hereby required : Provided always, that in all extra- parochial places the certificate required by this Act may be signed and given by inhabitants rated to the poor at six pounds in any adjoining parish or parishes. R-etailers com- X. And be it enacted, that in case Sacf theh-'^H-' ^"y (complaint shall be laid before two cences on re- justicesof the peace against any person quisitionoftwo licenced for any offence against the magistrates. ^^^^^ ^^ j^j^ licence, or against this Act or the said recited Act, it shall be lawful for the said justices (if theyshall think fit^ to require such person to produce his licence before them for their examina- tion ; and if such person shall wilfully neglect or re- fuse so to do he shall forfeit and pay for such offence such sum, not exceeding five pounds, as the said justices shall think proper ; and such person shall and may be convicted, proceeded against, and dealt with for such oflfence in all respects in the same man- ner, muLatis mutandis, as is directed by the said re- cited Act with regard to persons guilty of a first of- fence against the said Act ; and the penalty imposed for sucii offence shall be applied in the same manner as a penalty for a first offence against the said Act is thereby directed to be applied. The powers. XI. And be it enacted, that all the peMltieT'or\ powers, regulations, proceedings, forms, VV. 4. c. 64, to penalties, forfeitures, and provisions apply to per- contained in the said recited Act with sons licensed <• , i- i j »i under this Act leierence to persons licensed under the and to their said Act, and to the offences commit^ sureties, &c. tgd by such persons against the said Act, or against the tenor of any licence granted under the said Act, and also with reference to the sureties of such persons, and to persons doing the things thereby prohibited without the licence re- quired by the said Act, shall (except where they are altered by this Act or are repugnant thereto) be deem- ed and taken to be applicable to all persons licensed under this Act, and to all oflfences committed by sucli persons of ^the same description as the offences men- tioned in the said Act, and to the sureties of all such persons in respect of such offences, and to all persons doing, without the licence required by this Act, things of the same description as the things prohibited with- out the licence required by the said Act, as fully and eflPectually as if all the said powers, regulations, pro- ceedings, forms, penalties, forfeitures, and provisons had been repeated and re-enacted in this Act, with reference to persons licensed under this Act, and to the sureties of such persons, and to persons acting without the licence required by this Act ; and also that all tlie powers, regulations, and provisions in the said Act contained, authorizing any party convicted to appeal to the general session or quarter sessions of the peace against any conviction under the said Act, shall also extend and apply to any convictions under this Act. Recited Act XII. And be it enacted, that all the force!exce"pUs pi'ovisions of the said recited Act shall hereby altered, be deemed and taken to be in full force, save and except where the same are altered by this Act ; and that so much of the said Act as relates to the interpretation of certain words therein mentioned, shall be applied to the interpreta- tion of the same words where used in this Act. be?i"*'^licen °" ^^^^' ^'^"'^ '^^ ^"^ further enacted, under the 1 w . '•'^^'- ^™'^ "^^^ after the passing of this 4. c. 04. repeal- Act the duties payable on excise pd, and new licences for the selling of beer by retail duties granted i ^, • • p .■ • i ■ i in lieu thereof, under the provisions of the said recited Act shall cease and determine, and that in lieu of such duties there shall be levied, col- lected, and paid upon the licences hereby authorized to be granted the duties following; (that is to say,) For and upon eveiy licence to be taken out by any person for tlie selling by retail of beer not to be drank or consumed in or upon the house or pre- mises where sold, the annual sum of one pound one shilling : For and upon every licence to be taken out by an)^ person for the selling by retail of beer to be drank or consumed in or upon the house or premises where sold, the annual sum of three pounds three shillings. Such duties XIV. And be it further enacted, that management'of the said last-mentioned duties shall be Commissioners under the management of the commis- of Excise, and sioners of excise, and shall be raised, to be recovered i • . n ^ i i i j and accounted levied, collected, and recovered, and for under the accounted for and paid in the same provisions of re- manner and by the same means, and under the same regulations and provi- sions, pains, penalties, and forfeitures, as are pre- scribed in the said recited Act with respect to the duties hereby repealed; all which said regulations and provisions, pains, penalties, and forfeitures, shall apply to the duties hereby imposed, and shall be en- forced in respect of the same as fully and effectually as if repeated and re-enacted in this Act. Not to affect XV. Provided always, and be it ?o"'ret"ail'dder f"'''^^'" enacted, that nothing herein and perry ; but contained shall affect, or be deemed or such licences to construed to affect, the amount of duty lafs! ^^''*'*^^" payable according to the provisions of the said recited Act on licences to re- tail cider and perry ; but in every such licence shall be specified whether the same is granted for the sale of cider and perry by retail to be drank or consumed not in or upon the house or premises where sold, or for the retail of cider and perry to be drank and consumed in or upon the house and premises where sold. Licences un- XVI. And be it further enacted, that to' "^authorize "° hcence to be granted under tlie said persons to hold recited Act and this Act for the sale of licences forsale beer or cider shall authorize any per- wine. g^^ ^^ ^g^j.g ^^j. ^^. j^^j^ ^^y licence for the sale of wine, spirits, or sweets, or made wines, or mead, or metheglin : and if any person licensed under the said recited Act and this Act to sell beer or cider shall permit or suffer any wine or spirits, sweets or _ made wines, mead or metheglin, to be sons licensed hrought into this house or premises to under this Act be drunk or consumed there, or shall THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 503 permitting wine suffer any wine, spirits, sweets, mead or spitits tu be metheolin, to be drunk or consumed consumed on . , . , ^ ' . , the premises. m his house or premises by any person whomsoever, such person shall, over and above any excise penalty or penalties to which he may be subject, forfeit twenty pouuds, to be recovered, levied, mitigated, and applied in the same manner as other penalties (not being exxise penalties) are by this Act to he recovered, levied, mitigated, and ap- plied. Penalty on XVII. And be it further enacted, sonf^selfi:^ that every person Bot being duly li- beer and cider censed to sell beer, cider, and perry as by retail to be the keeper of a common inn, alehouse, vremi'se" 10/^ ^^ victualling house who shall sell any to be dranl< on beer or cider or perry by retail not to tlie preir.ises, jjg drank or consumed in or upon the house or premises where sold, without having an excise retail licence in force authorizing him so to do, shall forfeit ten pounds ; and every per- son not being duly licensed to sell beer, cider, and perry as the keeper of a common inn, alehouse, or victualling house who shall sell any beer, cider, or perry by retail to be drank or consumed in or upon the house or premises where sold, without having an excise retail licence in force authoiizing him so to do, whether such person shall or shall not be licensed to sell beer to be drank or consumed off the premises where sold, shall forfeit twenty pounds ; which said penalties shall be sued for and recovered, miiigated and applied, by the same means and under the same provisions as any other penalty may be sued for and recovered, mitigated and applied, under any law or laws of excise. Tiie board over XVIII. And be it further enacted, state '"Not to ^^^^ every person who shall be licensed be drunlc on to sell beer or cider or perry by retail, the premises," under the authority of the said recited drunk o^n the '^'^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^' shall, on the board premises." by the said Act required to be placed over the door of every person licensed under the same, paint or cause to be painted and kept thereon, after the words " Licensed to sell beer or cider by retail," the additional words " Not to be drunk on the premises," or " To be drunk on the pre- mises," as the case may be, on pain of forfeiting the penalty by the said Act imposed for not having such board afBxed and continued over the door. What is a re- XIX. And whereas doubts are en- cUler^o" perrv' Pertained as to what is a selling of beer or cider or perry by retail ; be it there- fore enacted, that every sale of any beer, or of any cider or perry, in any less quantity than four gallons and a half, shall be deemed and taken to be a selling by retail. Persons li- XX. And whereas doubts have been ?.t!l?.^ '" -j^'' entertained whether persons licensed beer or cider ,, , . , ^ , , . , under tliis Act to sell beer or cider under the said liable to penal- Act of the first year of his Majesty's sifirits° orwine ^^'o"' ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^'^ spirits or wine, or without li- sweets or made wines, or mead or me- o^'K^B. theglin, without being licensed so to do, are liable to the penalties imposed by the laws of excise for selling spirits or wine, or sweets or made wines, or mead or metheglin without licence ; be it therefore declared and enacted, that all persons li- censed under the said recited Act and this Act, sell- ing wine or spirits, or any sweets or made wines, or mead or metheglin, shall be liable to and shall incur all the penalties imposed by the laws of excise for sell- ing spirits or wine, sweets or made wines, mead or metheglin, without licence. Certificate not XXI, Provide J always, and be it for houTs'^n ^i^rt'ier enacted, that such certificate certain situa- shall not be required as to any house tions if pnpula- situated within the cities of London S.^OOO. ^^"^^^ and Westminster, or within any parish or place within the bills of mortality, nor within any city or town corporate, nor within the distance of one mile from the place used at the last election as the place of election or polling place of any town returning a member or members to parlia- ment, provided that the population, to be determined according to the last parliamentary census that shall have been taken in such city, town corporate, or town returning a member or members to parliament, shall exceed five thousand : Provided always, that no licence for the sale of beer, ale, porter, cider, or perry by re- tail on the premises in the cities of London and West- minster, or in any parish or place within the bills of mortality, or in any such city or town corporate, or town returning a member or members to parliament as herein-before mentioned, shall be granted from and after the fifth day of April one thousand eight hundred and thirty- six, unless the house or premises required to be specified as the house or premises in which beer or cider is intended to be sold shall be of the value of ten pounds per annum. Service of XXII. Provided always, and be it summons or or- <• . i ^ j ^i » "^ der. lurther enacted, that no summons or order issued by any justice of the peace or other magistrate shall be deemed to be legally served unless it shall be served by some constable, special constable, police or other peace officer. Commence- XXIII. And be it enacted, that this ment of Act. Act shall commence and take effect from and after the tenth day of October in the present year. SCHEDULE to which the foregoing Act refers. Form of Certificate. We, the undersigned, being inhabitants of the pa- rish [or township, us the case may &e,] of and respectively rated to the poor at not less than six pounds per annum, and none of us beino- maltsters, common brewers, or persons licensed to sell spirituous liquors, or being licensed to sell beer or cider by retail, do hereby certify, that A. B. dwelling ji street [here specify the street, lane, c^c] in the said parish [or township, &;c.'] is a person of good character. [Here insert the day ofsigni7ig the certificate.] (Signed) E. F. ~) 2 't^ ' I [Here state the residence l' M f *^" ^'"''^ "^ ^^^ persons N. O. I ^'Sni'ig-] P.* Q.* J I do hereby certify, that all the above-mentioned persons whose names are subscribed to this certificate 504 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. are inhabitants of the parish [oc township, ^c] of rated to six pounds to the relief of the poor of the said parish. C. D. [Overseer of the parish or township, (?ff .] Date. Form of Licence. We, the undersigned, being of the commissioners of excise [o- 1, llie undersigned, being a person authorized and employed by the commis- sioners of excise to grant licences for selling beer, ale, and porter [or cider and perry, as the case may require,^ by retail, or being a collector or supervisor of excise for the collection or district of ] do hereby authorize and empower A. B., now being a householder, and dwelling in a house in [here specify street, &jc.'] in the parish [or township, &,c,'] of within the limits of the chief office of excise [or within the limits of the said collection or district], to sell beer, ale, and porter [or cider and perry] by retail, in order that it may be consumed in the said dwelling house of the said A. B. and in the premises thereunto belonging, the said A. B. having duly entered into a bond with D. S. of and E. S. of as his [or her] surety [or sureties], and having depo- sited a certificate, signed by six persons, videlicet, [here set out the names and residences of the persons signing the certificate,'] and by C. D. the overseer of the said parish [or township, ^t.] according to the statute in such case made ; provided and upon con- dition that the said A. B. do not sell any beer, ale, or porter made otherwise than from malt and hops [omit these words in licences to retail cider and perry], nor mix or cause to be mixed any drugs or other per- nicious ingredients in any beer, ale, or porter [or in any cider or perry], nor fraudulently dilute, deterio- rate, or adulterate any beer, ale, or porter [or any cider or perry], nor sell any beer, ale, or porter [ar any cider or perry] knowing the same to have been fraudulently diluted, deteriorated, or adulterated, nor use, in selling any beer, ale, or porter [or any cider or perry], any measures which are not of the legal stand- ard, or wilfully or knowingly permit any drunkenness, or any violent or quarrelsome or other disorderly con- duct in his [or her] house or premises, nor knowingly suffer any unlawful games or any gaming whatsoever therein, nor knowingly permit or suffer persons of no- toriously bad character to assemble and meet together therein, but do maintain good order and rule therein, nor have or keep his [or her] house or premises open for the sale of beer, ale, or porter [or cider or perry], nor sell any beer, ale, or porter [o?- cider or perry] nor suffer tiie same to be drunk or consumed in or at such house or premises at any time whicli, by any order of the justices of the peace made in pursuance of an Act passed in the fifth year of his present Ma- jesty's reign, intituled an Act to amend an Act passed in the first year of his present Majesty, to permit the general sale of beer and cider by retail in England, shall be declared to be unlawful, or at any time before the hour of one in the afternoon, or between the hours of three and five of the clock in the afternoon, or after the hour of ten of the clock in the evening, on any Sunday, Good Friday, Christmas day, or any day ap- pointed for a public fast or thanksgiving ; and [incases ivhere the licence shall he granted for beer or cider to be consumed on the premises,] all provisions for billetting officers and soldiers in victualling houses contained in any act for punishing mutiny and desertion, and for the better payment of the army and their quarters, are to extend and apply to the house and premises mentioned in this licence ; and this licence shall con- tinue in force from the day of next until the day of then next ensuing, and no longer ; provided and upon condition that the said A. B. shall not in the meantime become a sheriff's officer or officer for executing the process of any court of justice ; nor shall the said A. B. in the meantime cease to be rated to the relief of the poor in respect of the said house and premises ; and this licence shall cease and deter- mine and shall become void in case any of the condi- tions or regulations contained therein shall be trans- gressed, or shall not be observed by the said A. B. Given under our hands and seals [or my hand and seal] this day of one thousand eight hundred and at New Poor-Law. — Question of Settlement — At the Maldon Petty Sessions, on the 25tb ult., the overseers of Steeple applied for orders of removal from their parish of a pauper, who had gained a clear settlement at Beckingharn, by renting a large estate some years before. The 68tli section of the Poor Laws Amendment Act says, that " no person shall be deemed, adjudged, or taken to retain any settlement gained by virtue of any possession of any estate, or interest in any parish for any longer or further time than such person shall inhabit within ten miles thereof." The magistrates doubted whe- ther the words " interest in any parish," were to be understood as applying to the occupiers as well as owners of estates ; and if they were, then another question arose as to the distance. The overseers of Steeple admitted that the distance from their parish to Beckingham, by the nearest road or footpath, is considerably more than ten miles ; yet, by crossing the river Blackwater in a boat (but there is no regu- lar ferry -boat), it is certain that it is much less than the ten miles. The magistrates, under these circum- stances, doubted if they could remove the pauper to Beckingham, and postponed the further consideration of the case to the next Petty Session. Under the Reform Bill the revising barristers very generally decided that the distance from one place to another was to be determined by the nearest footpath. Consumption of Food &c. in London. — The annual consumption of oxen in London, is 150,000 ; calves, 50,000 ; sheep, 700,000 ; lambs, 250,000 ; hogs and pigs, 200,000 ; the total value of butcher's meat consumed in the year is estimated at 8,500,000Z. There are 8,500 cargoes of fish of 40 tons each, brought annually to Billingsgate, besides 20,000 tons by land carriage ; 1,000,000 quarters of wheat ; about 80,000Z in value of poultry ; 21,000,000 lbs of butter ; 25,000,000 lbs of cheese ; vegetables and spirits to the value of 1,000,000/; 2,000,000 barrels of ale and porter of 36 gallons each ; 11,000,000 gallons of spirits and ccompounds ; 65,000 pipes of wine ; and 7,900,000 gallons of milk, the produce of 9,600 cows are annually con- sumed. The Highlands of Scotland. — The value of the exports of the Highlands are estimated roughly at upwards of a million sterling per annum, made upasfollows : — viz. sheep and wool, 250,000/; black cattle, 250,OOOZ ; herrings, 200,000/ (of which about one-half from Caithness) : grain, 100,000/; salmon, kelp, wood, pork, &c., 100,000Z; whiskey, 200,000/; total, IjlOOjOOOZ. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 505 4463 1182 wh9 received 848 Cases -{ ►280 Cases 66 ;£10304 16763 903 Persons* ^07336 0 0. r poor"^ when I com- f ...9«3j ST. GEORGE, HANOVER-SQUARE. THE LAST YEAR OF THE OLD SYSTEM OF EXPENDING THE POOR-RATES IN THE PARISH OF ST. GEORGE, HANOVER- SQUARE : Viz., from Lady-day, 1832, to Lady-day, 1833, com- pared with the First Half of the Second Year of the New System — viz., from Lady-day, 1834, to Michaelmas, 1834. OLD SYSTEM. NEW SYSTEM. „ . From Lady-day, From Lady-day, S c IS3-2, to 1834, to gS Lady-day Micliaelmas, g 5; 1833. 1834. a o. 1974 Persons. ^Admitted to the Workhouse. .621 Persons 37 "The number of Overseers'") orders for money, without i work ijiveu durinjj the ! gon qci non-sittings of the Go- f"''" °°^ vernors and Directors of I ^ the Poor J The numbers on the esta-"] blished or permanent re- V633 37 lief, including Bastards.. J who received .£6469 0 O-.The sum pahi to whom .£2473 7 0 fThe average number of cases weekly on the casual I relief paid by the Govern- ors and Directors of Poor. Many of the Cases were I families, but in this state- I ment the head of the fa- L mily only is reckoned. . .J 4.. To whom were paid .£17 . 5 'f he total amount of money- 1 ..n, ,_ *l relief ../ ^'»' '^ ■ The number of In-door poor at Lady-day, 1833, " the New System menced, was The number of In-door poorT atMichaelmas, 1834, after [-Anv^..^^^ lo the New Systemhad been T'^" P"'""' ^^ ^ in operation 18 months . . J 'The Sum assessed on the^ Rate-Payers for the poor, police and county, for the year Lady-day, 1832, to Lady-day, 1833, was .£67,336. The Sum assessed on the' Hate-payers for the poor, police, and county.for the ^£27391 0 0 59 year Lady-day, 1834, to (^ Lady-day. 1835, .£27,391 J RECAPITULATION OF SOME OF THE EFFECTS OF THE AL- TERED SYSTEM OF PAROCHIAL MANAGEMENT. Fewer in-door poor to support 163 Fewer on the established relief 549 Fewer cases weekly receiving money-relief from the Governors and Directors of the Poor 568 Fewer Overseers' orders for money given in the half-year 2,078 No case put on the established relief since the new system began, Lady-day, 1833. Time of the Governors and Directors of the Poor taken in the old system to pay casual poor, every Tuesday and Wednesday, for many years. Time now taken, one hour every week. Saving, in money-relief only, nearly lO.OOOi per annum. The assessment decreased 40,000i. came down upon me in reply, with the evidence of Mr, Jacobs ; and I must confess at that time I felt no disposition to contend with the champion of the corn laws I refer to. But since then things have been brought to their proper level ; circum- stances, times, and more especially your animad- versions on the calculationsof Mr. J., have thrown additional light upon the subject. I imagine, therefore, that I am now justified in resuming my correspondence on the same ground I before occu- pied, viz., the inefficiency of those laws to pro- mote national good, and leaving it again to time to develope still further the accuracy or inaccuracy of my views, in a matter of such vital importance to the community at large. If I understand the corn laws aright, the object they were designed to pi'omote and secure was DEAR BREAD, without any consideration as to what effect it might have upon the manufacturing interests of the country ; but the advocates for this measure, have been deceived in their expec- tations, and foiled in their efforts (the means not answering the end), and it seems are now deter- mined to await the final issue, before they move again. The present low price of grain, by-the-bye, I am not advocating, — I do not advocate ; but to matter of fact I call your attention and that of your readers, — to the present and consequent ef- fect of the corn laws, — to what is seen, felt, and acknowledged, viz., that we are neither encoui'ag- ing the English farmer nor the foreign farmer to produce ; and what will be the result of the pre- sent system, if it exists much longer, no one can tell; but this I know, that action and re-action are always to be calculated upon as certain. I hope, however, that the corn law gentlemen will shake hands with Joseph Hume, Esq., the next session of Parliament, because it is more than pro- bable that it may be the last opportunity they will have of making a ffood bargain, or the best of a bad one. I am, Sir, yours respectfully, Leeds, Oct. 14, 1934. I. B. TO THE EDITOR OF THE " MARK LANE EXPRESS." Sir, — About ten months ago I took the liberty of communicating my ideas to you in a short let- ter, on the effect of the present corn laws, which you were kind enough to insert in the " Mark Lane Express," Dec. .30, 183.3. The following week a gentleman subscribing himself a ** Constant Reader," at Chichester, Three excellent cricket matches were played last week in Sussex, between eleven of the Earl of Winterton's players and eleven of Col. H. Wyndham's. The first was played at Slade Land, the seat of the gallant Colonel, which was won by him by 19 runs. The return match was played in Shillingbe Park, the seat of the Earl of Winterton, on Tuesday, and was won by the noble earl, with 28 runs to spare. It excited considerable interest from the well known merits of the parties, and brought together upwards of 2,000 spectators from different parts of the county, for whose accom- modation a splendid marquee was erected, and a band played during the day. The conquering match was played at Slade Land on Thursday, and won by the Shillingbe side, with eight wickets to go down. The noble Earl played with his usual spirit, and suc- ceeded in getting 19 in his last innings, besides lowering six wiclcets of the other side. Amongst the company present we observed the Hon. Heys Tumour, Captain Osborn, Captain Pole, Mr. Lad- brooke, Mr. King, and a long list of fashionables, who seemed highly delighted. Conolly, the jockey who rode Plenipo at the late Doncaster Meeting, declares that he lost two thou- sand pounds by the failure of that horse. * L 506 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. PLACES OF WORSHIP IN ENGLAND AND WALES. Abstract of the total number of parishes in each Diocese of England and Wales, containing a population of 1,000 persons and upwards — the number of churches and chapels therein — num- ber of persons they will contain— and the num- ber of dissenting places of worship therein. — Dated May 20, 1812. Memorandum. — The population for the Diocese of Bangor, Bristol, Chester, Lincoln, Oxford, and Salisbury, has been collected, for this Abstract, from the population returns in 1801. DiOCKSE. 5 "3 o = rt » Number of Persons they will contain. 00,2 II* 2; '" Asaph St Bangor Bath and Wells . 41 40 55 41 67 29 257 41 75 14 159 35 33 II 129 129 132 70 30 17 24 83 120 40 108 194,708 52,836 129,9')5 83,766 175,625 58,459 5H8,826 73,313 298,755 32,425 362,551 87,934 82,567 28,200 430,231 21.3,033 661,394 135,900 36,251 34,825 105,142 142,609 371, 20n 75,239 591,972 49 52 78 58 83 49 35 1 47 113 22 176 46 51 21 189 165 186 78 .".O 20 36 134 193 66 220 45,280 27,141 57,800 40,216 67,705 25,108 220,542 34,690 63,259 14,810 162,019 46,931 39,483 12,.350 122,756 104,644 162,96? 64,668 35,520 19,450 25,280 72,243 115,711 36,263 149,277 96 100 103 71 Canterbury .... 113 39 439 Chichester David's, St Durham Elv 58 173 33 234 Gloucester Hereford Llandaff Lichfield and > Coventry. . . 5 Lincoln London Norwich Oxford Peterborough. . . Rochester Salisbury Winchester Worcester York 70 42 42 294 269 265 114 38 37 44 142 165 59 392 Totals .... 1881 4,937,782 2533 1,856,108 3438 THOS. B. CLARKE, Receiver, &c. of Diocesan Returns made To his Majesty in Council. COURT OF REVIEW. WILLIAM LAVENDER'S BANKRUPTCY, IMPORTANT JUDGMENT. la the present case the bankrupt was a farmer of Hertfordshire, and a question of some consequence both to the agricultural and mercantile interests was involved in the case. A fiat was issued against the bankrupt in July last, and after the usual proceed- ings had been heard before Mr. Commissioner Fane, who was of opinion that the trading of the bankrupt proved the act of baukruptcy fully established, an appeal was promoted to the Court of Review, to make the bankruptcy null and void, on the ground that the fiat had not been established legally. On both sides arguments have been entered into for some days before the Chief Judge of the Court of Review, Mr. Serjeant Wilde, having been retained with a bar fee, and Mr. Montague appeared on the part of the alledged bankrupt, in supporting a petition to set aside the fiat; and Mr. Temple on behalf of the pe- titioning creditor. The Chief Judge, the Hon. Thomas Erskine, hav- ing named this day (Tuesday) for giving judgement in the matter, he took his seat at eleven o'clock, andj after the case had been called on, said the applica- tion to the Court, was made on behalf of William Lavender, to annul a fiat issued against him, the act of bankruptc}^ being denied, and it being stated that he had ample means of liquidating all claims upon him. Two points had been strongly urged in sup- port of the trading of the petitioner, and of the act of bankruptcy. Tlie act of trading relied on were the purchasing and disposing of sheep by the alleged bankrupt in 1828, 1829, and 1830. It appeared that Lavender had been a farmer up to the year 1828, R-hen he parted wth a farm in Bedford, and returned to Hertford, which was his place of birth, to settle tliere ; but this intention was not carried into action for some time, and during the interval it was proved and admitted that he had bought and sold sheep, and before he entered upon his new farm. The question to be decided by the Court was, whether this was a trading within the interpretation of the Bankrupt Act, and whether these dealings in sheep were entered into with an intention on the part of the petitioner of dealing generally. If the Court was satisfied that it was the intention of Lavender to deal, the opinion of the Court would coincide with that of the learned Com- missioner, in finding that the trading on the part of the petitioner had been established. An act of bank- ruptc}'- depended on the intentions of the party. La- vender was indebted to one party 573/. 10s., on ac- ceptances which were not duly honoured. At the time the bills were in circulation. Lavender was ne- gotiating for a loan ; and, on the promise that the bills would be taken up and security given, time was given him by the holders of the bills. The alleged bankrupt was arrested, when it was proposed to mortgage some property, and give a joint covenant to secure the debts; but the following day Lavender went to London, and did not return till the 18th of July, and in the mean time an execution was levied on the farming stock, &c., by virtue of a power of at- torney. A docket was struck against Lavender, and it was contended that his absence from home was for the intention of causing delay to bis creditors, and the whole question rested on the fact, whether, by his absence, he had such intention ; if so, it was an act of bankruptcy. A point of law had been raised, whether, as Lavender had not kept his appointment to meet his creditors in order to give security for the debt, instead of which he had left his home, an act of bankruptcy had not also been committed. In the case of Windier and Brown, Lord Tenterden had left it for the jury to decide whether, when the party had promised to meet his creditor, but had failed to do so, it was an act of bankruptcy. It was not to be inferred that the absence of the party was to delay and defeat the creditor, without proof. Another in- stance was referred to by the learned Judge, by which it was plain that the debtor absented himself to delay his creditors, he having made a declaration that he was afraid of an arrest, and therefore abseint ed himself. It was clearly laid down by a decison- of Lord EUenborough, that where it was the inten- tion of the party to delay a creditor, an act of bank- ruptcy was committed. In the present case how- ever, the party had gone to London to endeavour to raise the means to pay oflf his debts due from him. It was known that a loan was in progress of being obtained for him — the title-deeds of the estate were approved of — and the draft of the agreement drawn up. The excuse of friends, therefore, for his absence, was ho- nest : he was endeavouring to procure money to pay the claims upon, in order that he might still keep on his farm 5 and the creditors could not have bee» de- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 507 layed by this act, within the meaning- of the bank- rupt law. There was a furiher point. Supposing Lavender had proceeded to London to get a loan, and was defeated in his endeavour, and had remained there, this would have constituted an act of bankrupt- cy. The Judges had decided, that where a debtor had tried to raise the money to pay his debts, but foiled, and kept away from his creditors, an act of bankruptcy would be established ; but, in the pre- sent case, such was not the fact. The negociation was nearly complete when the fiat was issued ; and, considering all circumstances, it was his (the learn- ed Chief Judge's) duty to pronounce that the fiat ought to be rescinded with costs. Mr. Temple applied for an issue. The Court thought the application too late, and that it ought to have been made before the case was decided. ftlr. Temple said the question was of importance. The decision might, in this instance, defeat the bona fide creditors. The Court stated, that though they had every de- sire to do justice to all parties, there appeared no- thing in the case to induce it to depart from the usual course, and to rescind the fiat with costs. Mr. Temple then intimated that an application would be made for a re-hearinsr. TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES. Sir, — In your paper of this day you refer to the present price of bread, as bearing a disproportion to the price of (wheat, with a hint that the bakers are making an undue profit. There is at this moment a strong prejjjjdice in tbe minds of many persons that this is the case, and as several of my poorer neighbours have complained to me on the subject, I have taken some pains to ascertain what the price of a 41b. loaf made of the best wheaten ilour ought tobe, with refei'ence to the price of flour. The present price of a sack of flour is 45s. If a baker, however, sends his sack to the mill and pays ready money he may purchase it for 40s. As many do this, I will take the average between the two prices, viz., 42s fid. A sack of flour will make on an average 90 loaves of 41b each which at 8d a-loaf amounts to £3 0 0 Deduct price of a sack of flour 2 2 6 Difference £0 17 6 From this 17s 6d is to be deducted the wages of journeymen, fuel, yeast, salt, wear and tear, a horse to take out the bread, and bad debts — from the last of which bakers suffer severely. These expenses may be put at 8s a sack, leaving a profit to the baker of 9s 6d a sack, or nearly l§d a-loaf — aijrofit I think which cannot be considered exorbitant. It is always difficult to get at the profits of a miller, because they will always depend so much on the price at which a distressed farmer is obliged to sell his wheat, and also upon its dryness. Taking the average of wheat at \\l a-load, and supposing a load produces 5^ sack of household flour, at 42s 6d a-sack, it will come to lU 13s 9d, and in addition there is a sack of seconds to each load, which is worth about 35s, making together ]3i 8s 9d, leaving a profit to the miller of 2/ 8s 9d on every load of wheat. I may fairly set the value of the ofFal against the expenses of grinding. In making these calculations I have reason to think that I am tolerably accurate, and they will enable you to put the saddle on the right horse. I should add, that the profits of the miller are fre- quently much increased by mixing an inferior flour with prime samples. I am, &c., E, J. LIVERPOOL, Oct. 21. In our weekly Circular Letters, particularly of the last three months, we have occasionally made such remarks on the weather, and consequent pro- spects for the harvest, as we deemed useful ; — the result thereof in this district might have been pretty correctly stated some weeks earlier, but we have postponed this letter for the purpose of ob- taining more extended information by a careful re-perusal of letters on this subject from almost all the corn districts in the United Kingdom. Although an opinion pretty generally prevailed, in which we were inclined to acquiesce, that the harvest this year was a little earlier than the one of 1833, we believe we may report nearly as we did on the 22d of last October ; — it commenced partially in this district, and generally throughout the whole kingdom, in forward situations, about the second week in August, (in the southern counties a little earlier, in the northern a little later,) and was completed generally every where about the end of September ; — in many of the counties to the south, and north-east of London, and pretty generally along the east coast of England, they had upon the whole favorable weather, and their crops were well secured early in September, but in many districts to the north- westward of the Metropolis — in this county, and throughout the north of England, the whole of Scotland, Ireland, Wales and the Isle of Man, the operations of harvest were frequently impeded by heavy rains, by which the crops are reported to have suffered considerable injury, and in conse- quence have been in many instances housed in but very middling condition, although during the chief part of September the weather was favourable for saving the crops in the most backward situations. Reports and opinions on the subject of the re- cent harvest are as usual very various ; — in the chief corn districts on the east coast of England they appear to have had good crops of wheat, in quantity and quality, and nearly similar statements are made from some of the best corn counties of Scotland, and in the north of Ireland, and this remark is applicable to most parts of our own dis- trict ; but pretty generally from Ireland, especially from the southern districts, and also from several counties in Scotland, Wales, and in the west cf England, very unfavourable descriptions are re- ceived both as to the quantity and quality, not only of wheat, but of all kinds of grain ; and although, we are aware that considerable tracts of land, which owing to the wet weather towards the end of last year could not be sown at the usual time, were sown with winter wheat in February and March last, and have produced pretty well, we unite in the opinion formed by most of our re- spectable neighbours, that the crops of wheat throughout England and Scotland will prove not to exceed a fair average in quantity and quality, but that in Ireland they will be found deficient in both respects ; — Oats and Barley are every where reported materially deficient, and Beans and Pease still more so, caused by drought and ungenial weather — no doubt in some degree also owing to land usually appropriated to those articles having been recently turned to the cultivation of wheat. Hay has proved generally, like last year, a very light crop, but well saved, and the second crops will nearly make up the reported deficiency. Potatoes are likely to prove every where a much better crop than at one time expected. 508 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. From Canada, and from all parts of North America, accounts are favourable of their crops of wheat, in quantity and quality; equally so from most of the Corn Provinces in the north of Europe; but Portugal, Spain, and some districts of France are reported as likely to require con- siderable importations of grain. — Annexedarestate- ments of the Imports of grain into this port for a long series of years, and a more particular com- parison of the imports of last season with those of the one immediately preceding, up to the 1st of October in each year, a period which we have always considered the most proper and useful for such investigations, which we have been in the practice of extracting iveekly from authentic sources, and of making up with every personal attention about this time, and on the correctness of which we think every reliance may be placed ; — it will be observed that there is a material defi- ciency in the imports from Ireland of Wheat, Oats, Oatmeal and Flour this year, (in which arc in- cluded those passing up this river direct to Run- corn,) compared with the two years preceding ; — nevertheless the stocks here of free Wheat, in- cluding the Canadian, considerably exceed those at this time last year— they are estimated at about 150,000 qrs ; of Oats and Oatmeal they are very much less— about 30,000 qrs j and of every other article, the stocks have seldom been smaller. The stocks of grain in bond here on the 1st inst. were about 96,000 qrs of Wheat, about 125,000 barrels of Flour, chiefly sour, about 10,000 qrs of Oats, and about 15,000 qrs of Beans, exclusive of all Canadian Grain, which although in bond we consider free. The stocks of Bonded Grain and Flour in the United Kingdom on the 5th September, 1834, were with a diminished importation during the past year, we may remark, that the demand for wheat from this port has been confined in the most unprece- dented manner to a very small district around us ; the principal millers beyond Manchester towards Yorkshire, — and even those in that town and its vicinity have been fully stocked with Wheat by imports through the river Humber into Wakefield and Leeds, and by supplies through the canals from the southern intei'ior counties ; for low as our prices have been here, they have been during the whole season equally so, proportionably, in Yorkshire, until within the last few weeks, and the quality generally of the wheat there has been better than ours ; the prices of Wheat throughout the kingdom are lower than at this time last year by about 10s per qr, and lower here by Is 6d per 70 lb, — as low as ever remembered, in proportion to qualities — even in the Autumn of 1822 '. and we have not now, as then, large stocks of Wheat of the wretched quality of 1821 forcing on our markets at 3s 6d to 4s M per 70 lb, nor have we now, as we had then, a considerable portion re- maining on hand of the importation of fully two millions and a-half quarters of Foreign Grain, and of 700,000 barrels of Flour, which had been re- leased in England for home use during the two preceding years ; — the present may therefore be considered an unprecedented and unwarranted de- pression, and can Viardly be accounted for, even by the extreme povei ty of the farmers generally, which however may continue to influence our markets for some time, until Christmas Rents are provided for ; almost all other kinds of grain bear a higher relative value than wheat, the consump- tion of which for humatfand Cattle food and for distilling must continue immense, and justifies an r.n ^„n« » 1- ± t> t n ^r^n - ' UlOLllllIlti 111 US b V^U 11 tl 1 1 liC 1111 111 C IISC , CtllU UablllCOtLH IJ }^r. ■■^1>Sn ^^^ n^ ,*^"^''^'[.'.u°^ Yov^\gT^, expectation that a great reaction and a very ma- and about 39,000 qrs of Colonial Wheat, about - - 215,000 barrels of Foreign, and about 21,000 barrels of Colonial Flour ; about 312,000 quarters of Foreign Oats, 141,000 qrs of Barley, 5700 qrs of Rye, 800 qrs of Pease, and about 56,000 qrs of Foreign Beans. As to the future prospects of the Corn Trade, we shall not presume to oifer any opinion with confidence, fearful of misleading our friends ; the few following observations may assist them in forming their own opinions more decisively. To account for our increased stock of wheat here I terial increase in the value of all grain will occur before another harvest ; and sooner than at present anticipated. — Therecentimports of wew grain from Ireland have generally been in nocondition to keep, and have been forced on ex-ship at a weekly de- cline, but as it may shortly be expected to arrive in better prepared condition, it ^vill become an object of speculation, for which purpose a great deal of the old wheat has already been taken, — induced by the very low value it now bears here. SCOTT and PARKE, Corn-Factors. GENERAL IMPORTATION OF GRAIN AND FLOUR INTO LIVERPOOL FOR TWENTY-SIX YEARS. From From From From From From From From From From From From From From From From From From From From From From From From From From 1st October, 1808, to 1809, to 1810, to 1811, to 1812, to 1813, to 1814, to 1815, to 1816, to 1817, to 1818, to 1819, to 1820, to 1821, to 1822, to 1823, to 1124, to 1825, to 1126, to 1827, to 1828, to 1829, to 1830, to 1831, to 1832, to 1833, to do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do, do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. 1st October, 1809 do. 1810 do. 1811 do. 1812 do. 1813, do. l&H. do. 1815. do. 1816. do. 1817. do. 1818. do. 1819. do. 1820. do. 1821. d«. 1822. do, 1823. do. 1824, do. 1825. do. 1826. do. 1827. do. 1828. do, 1829. do. 1830. do. 1831. do. 1832. do, 18.33. do. 1834. Wheat Oats. Qrs. Qrs- 114000 460000 16000C 338000 137000 150000 115000 205000 166001) 484000 211000 336000 261000 359000 112000 354000 218000 342000 240000 417500 2389S6 396720 344545 318505 348371 366834 320863 251081 332609 293802 1 89947 382S46 3*17082 628992 325619 388277 404531 499169 352298 605968 435961 472147 466046 486739 727443 447319 484859 471857 528759 37941 1 460814 317062 Barley. Qrs. 30000 26000 9000 5 1 000 72000 34000 37000 46000 78000 6)700 65502 66635 59902 43412 27224 36412 49411 62736 98807 56849 62151 71341 69837 5430H 60600 60166 Beans Qrs. 7000 14000 SOUO 4000 6000 17000 22000 16000 ISOOO 19700 383?6 18759 26 ■'75 22214 23814 27694 25795 22049 51295 34563 25202 32903 28918 27389 20275 41026 Malt. Qrs. 11000 54000 25000 20000 30000 341100 50000 38000 35000 43000 366.33 38202 44273 46890 49047 50545 62218 64904 55814 75105 59972 S0340 91800 78689 79162 84197 Flour. 13000 12000 21000 270(10 52000 60000 59000 37100 4500 3000 35017 376/9 80194 71065 115848 55292 97949 91828 9.S038 163584 100326 96605 82487 1 73566 293665 270357 ^rls. 170000 109000 28000 13000 80000 520000 371000 49606 127429 89975 16031 5568 91776 37101 17736 60914 26881 156112 239458 699910 81662 46639 46437 Oatm. Sacks 58000 59000 48000 13.i920 117000 112000 136000 176800 210000 1 44100 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 509 HJ f° g-3 c o p r! £»*<> O CO O tr^ 00 W Cn 00 IC CO Ol m to Ci Oi O O O 5J J» 0^^ O CO — Cr> "vj Cn to 4:^. KJ to — O ■v.t 00 rf^ "^t tn O) CnCO CO «D Cn to hftw — < ly^ O W^^- fcO — « JO to to 00 "vj tT o CI I 0» to — CO "vi ci I ic* — CO en *» o c- o o 4^ C; CJi CO O tn CO '-I 00 Cl 00 OD ! X vj VI cr ►t^ t^a rf^ n> t<^ UO Ci O CO •— CO CO ^ to ^- *** «-- O ** O Ut 13» OVI Cl (O O rf^ Ci CO CO — 3 "- _ .^ '■" (JO ^,0,0-,=;. a p *. j:^ a CO w CO*. f» bS ^ O to OOO I o o to I I- > !> Cl. CO S-CX) 05 • — . N- 00 i° S 510 THE FARMER^S MAGAZINE. AGRICULTURAL REPORTS. SUFFOLK, Sept. 26.— We havehadno rain, and water was scarce in tlie uplands ; in several places it haslongbeensold at Id perpail. Itnowseems set in for rain. The manure is chiefly carted for wheat. The ploughs have been employed in turning over the fallows on stiff soils, as other lands could not be ploughed. Wheat is the only good crop, all other, taking the average, much below an average. Early turnips are greatly injured by mildew and aphis ; the latter sown are fresh and growing, and rain will greatly benefit them. A great breadth of tares has been sown and are sowing; many have drilled them over their failing layers. New layers fail to a great extent, some are thin of plant, others totally fail. The scarlet trefoil is exten- sively sown. AVe are obliged to Mr. Foakes for bringing it into notice in this district, but Mr. Ellman first introduced it into field culture. The greater the variety of cattle crops the more safe we are from want of keep. Mungel wurzel and kohl rabiare splendid crops where a plant was ob- tained (and it is the farmers' fault if they do not obtain a plant of these roots) ; they are not affected by the drought apparently, nor are they subject to mildew, or to be injured by the aphis, even where grown alongside Swedish turnips, which are nearly destroyed by these pests. We do not recommend the growth of Kohl Rabi to any great extent, as being a great exhauster ; mangel wurzel, on the contrary, being a tap-rooted plant, draws all its nourishment (after it is well established) from the sub-soil and the air. Seed clovers are chiefly up, and well harvested ; the produce not great ; fed crops fair, the mown moderate, but chiefly a good sample. Potatoes are a failing crop, few good, and some very bad. Apples abundant and of good quality, barring, that it is presumed they will not keep well. Potatoes are dearer than apples, which is unusual in this county. Lean beasts are too high in price to pay much for grazing, and the proba- bility is that loss rather than gain may occur, as there is but a small breadth of root crops fit to feed them. Sheep of all grades are in great demand and high in price. Lambs and crones beyond all all jjresident ; the change in the currency do not seem to afffect sheep, nor hay and potatoes. Swine stock can scarcely be turned into money, and the country teems with hog stock of all sorts and sizes, many farrows of pigs have been killed rather than rear them ! The Sister Island it seems deluge us with pigs and pork, as well as labourers, she is very pioliffic, too much so for our advantage. Labourers have been generally employed, but as the farm work is in an advanced state, and the thrashing will require but few hands, there will be great want of employment during the winter ; few farmers can aiford to make improvements, and few indeed will be induced to lay out their money on a more than doubtful speculation. The lower the interest of money the more capitalists will en- gross farms ; a small farmer cannot exist on 4 or 5 per cent interest on his capital ; a large farmer may and will so employ his capital whilst there are no means of making more of it. Besides, a farming " pluralist" has an advantage over a small occupier; he cottages ofl"the farm-houses, and re- duces the rent on the land ; thus small farmers are ousted to take the benefit of the new poor law, after being ruined by the present system, and im- port of foreign produce. " Murder will out." This nation (nor few others) can never prosper with a ruined agriculture. France never flourished since the time of the great Colbert, who encou- raged agriculture as being the basis of all prospe- rity. All nations who have sacrificed agriculture at the shrine of trade and commerce, are exam- ples of the futility of such measures. Trade and commerce based on a prosperous agriculture in- sure permanent prosperity, is built on a rock that will never give way. " There seems to be but three ways for a nation to acquire wealth. The first is by war, as the Romans did, in plundering their conquered neighbours ; this is robbery. The second by commerce, which is generally cheating. The third by agriculture; the only honest way wherein man receives a 7'eal increase of the seed thrown into the ground, in a kind of continual miracle, wrought by the hand of God in his favour, as a reward for his innocent life and his virtuous industry."- — B. Franklin. The advantage of manufactures consist in con- verting rough materials (the produce of a country, or the means of purchasing such to convert) into exportable articles, as being more portable and suitable for exchange than rough produce, whilst the manufacturers of such consume the produce, and thus create a demand for other labour and produce. A free trade with all the world would be desir- able, where all countries situated alike ; but our forefathers having mortgaged not only the land but our labour, disable us from competing with the untaxed foreigner. If artificial produce is reduced in value to a level with the produce of untaxed countries, land will go more and more out of cul- tivation; viz, land will be laid in pasture till pas- ture produce is reduced to a lower standard than corn (however low that may be) ; there will be still less demand for labour, not only in husbandry, but for blacksmiths, wheelwrights, collar-makers, &c., and all dependant on them ; for iron, and all manufactures for home consumption, and also of colonial produce. It is the wages of labour that keeps the state machine a going. I am led to give my opinion on domestic policy from the ero- neous view taken of the cause of pauperism, and of the ruin of the farmers, and depreciation of landed property, in hopes of promoting discussion, as a means of coming to a right understanding of the subject, — of arousing the landed interest from their apathy, and inducing some jiatriotic indi- viduals of property and influence to exert them- selves to save the country from destruction. 'Tis true our case is almost hopeless ; we are divided in opinion amongst ourselves ; the corn-grower, the breeder and feeder of cattle and sheep, the dairy- farmer, &c., all have separate interests, or are not equally affected by foreign competition, but the time is not far distant when produce of all kinds will gravitate to continental prices. BRISTOL, October 16.— We estimate the Wheat crop this season to be a full average, and the quality, in most of the counties with which we stand in connexion, is nearly equal to that of last season. In many, however, of the western and southern dis- tricts, it is very inferior, though much less grown and sprouted than was anticipated. The bulk of the harvest has been secured in unfavourable condition, and will not be fit for market until after frosty wea- ther. The deliveries in this immediate neighbour- hood have been, up to the present, less than usual, and generally of secondary quality. The crop in Ireland will be productive, taking into consideration the increased quantity of land sown with this grain ; the quality is not well spoken of, but it is the opinion in many parts, that as the deliveries increase it will improve. Our opinion last harvest was, that the THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 511 fanners held more old Wheat than for many years past at that time of the year ; this has since been fully borne out by the large deliveries throughout the year, and we entertain similar views this season, be- lieving the farmers to be very large holders ; and, further, that the merchants and millers, hold much more than they did last season. Barley will be about one-quarter short of an average, and the qua- lity in general inferior ; but, judging from its appear- ance, it will be found to work better than may be supposed, Oats are mostly a bad crop, the quality worse than last year, and the breadth of land sown last season less than usual. Beans are very defi- cient, and the quality not generally good. Peas will be something under an average, but the quality, in most places, is good. Potatoes, which have been in many parts planted twice over, threatened at one time to be nearly a failure, but from the subsequent rain they have greatly improved, and there is now every appearance of the crop being productive. In reviewing the past year's trade, we see no reason for expecting much better prices. Last year's crop of Wheat has proved to be greater than was antici- pated ; consequently a great stock of old is in the growers' and dealers' hands, larger probably at this harvest, than fcr some years past. Another circum- stance, perhaps not very generally looked at, which will have a material eifect on prices is, that in many of the southern counties, thousands of acres of Fen land, which formerly grew Oats, are more and more brought into cultivation for Wheat, and the crops are very productive ; this in a national point of view cannot be considered to have much effect; but as the crops from these Fen lands, ai'e, for the most part, shipped to one market, (London), and as the fluctuations of that market influence the prices of the whole Kingdom, the result will be found to be very important. YARMOUTH, October 21.— Our harvest was finished early in August, generally in tine condition ; the deliveries have been considerable, and I beg to advise the result. Wheat is a most productive crop, of fine quality nearly, equal to last season; and ex- ceeding an average in quantity, considerably — the best weighs 63 to 641bs per bushel. Barley was much affected by the dry summer, and this has caused a variety of samples — the produce generally will be one-fourth, and on the light lands one-third, short of an average growth. The Chevalier, this season, is the best in quality, as well as produce ; weighing 52 to 541bs per bushel, and upwards — the common Bar- leys do not weigh so well by fully lib per bushel ; and many thin samples will only weigh 48 to 501bs per bushel : they are unfit for the Maltster's use. The best Barleys never swelled more nor worked better than they now do, and promise to make supe- rior Malt. The early harvest, and ripe state in which Barley was secured, after being mellowed by bene- ficial rains, just before being cut, seem to have ma- tured them for malting purposes. It is only the low price of Wheat which prevents fine Barley being- dear this season. Beans are a very short crop, but very handsome. Peas vary. Oats very deficient. Turnips have been mildewed, and the crop nearly ruined by a continuance of dry weather. Hay was a very short crop, and the price advanced to 51 and 61 per ton. There was some quantity of Old Wheat remained at harvest, but it was mostly shipped oft" a month ago. No old Barley, or other grain, and but a small stock of Malt, remains. By the parliament- arv Returns, we perceive that the average prices of Wheat paid by the Victualling Board, (who purchase none under 601bs per bushel) was in 1822, 'l4s Id ; in 1821, 5ls 3d ; in 1823, 573 6d ; being the three cheapest years between 1815 and 1833. So that the present prices of Wheat are still lower than the lowest average of any recent season, although we have a defective crop of all spring corn and feed at much higher prices than 1822." Freights. — To London, Is 5d per qr ; English Channel, 2s do. ; Bristol Channel, 2s 3d do. ; Liver- pool, 2s do.; Hull and Newcastle, Is do. BRECHIN, Oct. 21. — The harvest in this neighbourhood lias been some time completed, and the crops all secured in fine condition. We believe the following to be a correct statement of this year's crops of Wheat, of which much less is now cultiva- ted than there was some years ago, will be a full average as to quantity, and the quality is almost uni- formly fine, weighing 621bs. to 631bs., and in some instances 641bs. per bushel. Baidey, although con- siderably short of last year's produce, will, owing to the breadth sown, yield a fair return ; the quality is variable, weighing from 5llbs. to 551bs. per bushel ; of the latter weight it would be difficult to select any quantities, and we could scarcely reckon upon keep- ing the average of our shipments for malting beyond 531bs. to 541bs. The Chevalier description, of which our farmers highly approve, is a full crop, and the quality in general good, weighing o41bs. and 551bs. ; only partial quantities, however, of this kind, will be got for shipment, as the greater portion will be kept for sowing next season. While our neighbours a little to the west and south of this, had a considerable portion of their Barley sprouted by a tract of wet weather about a month ago, we had then only two days of rain, and we do not consider that any injury whatever was done to the very trifling- quantity at that time in the fields. The report of its malting properties are very favourable. Oats will be deficient in quantit}^, and the quality will not be quite so fine as last year, either in point of colour or weight, owing principally, we presume, to their being too prematurely ripened ; the few that have as yet been brought to market have been bought readily by our millers ; the Potatoe kind weighing 411bs. to 43lbs., end the earlv Angus 401bs. to 411bs. per bush. Beans and Peas will yieldjwell in some districts, while inothtrs they are not beyond half a crop ; the quality, however, is very fine, and from what we canjudgeby their appearance, they will weigh from 621bs. to 651bs. per bushel ; the condition we never saw so good at this early period of the year, but none have as yet been offered for sale. Potatoes are a capital crop as regards quantity and quality, and Turnips we have never seen surpassed. We subjoin tlie present prices of grain to the farmers. Shippiug- and Commission amounts to about Is per qr. Wheat, 62lbs. to 641bs., 45s to 48s. Barley, 51 lbs. to 531bs., 23s to 25s 6d ; ditto., SSjlbs. to 551bs., 26s to 28s ; Chevalier, 541bs. to 55lbs., 28s to 29s. Potatoe Oats, 411bs. to 431bs., 20s to 22s ; common, 401bs. to 411bs., 19s to 20s. KIRKCALDY, Oct. 22. — Our harvest has been completed some time, and we have had sufficient deliveries of new Corn now to form a tolerably cor- rect estimate of the crops. Wheat is again, as last season, decidedly above an average produce, and the bulk of it seeired in good condition. The quality generally fair, but not equal to last year's growth. Our weights hitherto have ruled from 60lb to 641b per bushel ; we have occasionally seen parcels 651bs per bushel. Barley, in regard to yield per acre, is at least one-sixth short of an ave- rage ; bnt as this grain is cultivated more extensively 512 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. than usual, we estimate the increased breadth sown will bring up the quantity to an average produce ; the quality is very various, some parcels weighing 551bs to 56lbs, while some part of it will only be from 491bs to ollbs; our average runs are from 521bs to 541bs per bushel; the Chevalier description is an exception to the above, as it is both a full crop and of fine heavy quality, but the bulk of it will be re- tained by our i'armers for seed. Oats are less ex- tensively grown, as Barley is more so ; they at one time promised well, but they ripened much too pre- maturely ; they are generally small in the pickle, yet they are mealing well to their weight; the produce we should estimate at one-fourth below an average ; weight, from 391bs to 431bs, in some in- stances 441bs per bushel. Beans and Peas are not grown to the same extent as they used to be, their place is taken by Potatoes ; both are deficient in quantity, but the quality superior to last )^ear's. Potatoes are well reported of; and we have seldom known a better crop of Turnips. AGRICULTURAL INTELLIGENCE, FAIRS, &c. WEYHILL FAIR. — Second Report.— The Sheep Fair commenced on Oct. 19. Preparations or the fair in general had been making for some days : indeed, shop-waggons more or less, had con- tinued to arrive ever since the oOth of September. The morning was very fine, and sheep were penned at an early hour. The high condition of the sheep generally was admired by all, and the number fairl}^ estimated this year approached to nearly 100,000. Prices may be quoted as follows : — Down Ewes, from 28s to 30s to 42s ; Down Lambs, from 20s to to 28s to 34s ; Wethers, from 30s to 35s to 44s. Of course some variations as to price may be expected, according to condition and stock. By two o'clock, most of the sheep on the Hill were sold off, and we understand that if a few were left, it was not owing to any backwardness on the part of the buyers ; but there are some persons so tenacious of the price they first fix on, that they will not alter, even at the ex- pense of driving them home again, and repenting at eisure. I'here were many coups of remarkably fine lambs this year, from the high breeders of sheep, twenty miles round, which claimed the close atten- tion of purchasers and others who came from a dis- tance. A pen of superior lambs, bred by Thomas Osmond, of Axford, near Ramsbury, were much admired and allowed by competent judges to be the best ever penned on the hill, and which realized 40s per head. There was a fine show f useful saddle and harness horses, mI h a good supply of cart colts. We did not notice so many hunters as on former sheep-fair days. Those sold realized good prices. A drove of Welsh horses, of all sizes, kinds, and conditions, arrived on the Hill about one o'clock. The shouts of the drivers, and the wild appearance of the horses, claimed the attention of the whole fair, and in an hour after their arrival many a Welsh cob was trans- ferred into other hands. Not less than from 80 to 100 hop waggons were met going to and from the Hill on Saturday. The duty is estimated at from 175,000/ to 180,000/, consequently the number of pockets grounded this year will exceed any growth for the last fifteen years. IMoNDAY. — This day was looked forward to as a day of much business in the Hop fair; but notwith- standing more buyers and sellers met together than on most former occasions, yet there was little or no business transacted. Indeed there did not appear to be 100 pockets marked off in the whole lair. The quantity and quality of the growth this year was so generally understood, that it was expected purchasers would pause, when the opening prices were an- nounced, before they supplied themselves. On the other hand, the growers being well informed as to the scarcity of old Hops, took care to make the figure pretty high ; hence the prices first started were con- sidered objectionable, and the buyers very contentedly looked on until the morrow. The number of Hops grounded this year amounted to nearly 8000 pockets, which may be classed in the following order : Farn- Lams, 3,500 ; Country Rows, 4,340 ; and from Kent and Sussex about 100 pockets. The prices on Tuesday were nearly as follows : — Farnhams from 8/ to 9/ 10s; country from 61 to 71 10s, and 8Z 8s. When our accounts came off on Wednesday morn- ing, not half the hops were sold, but many buyers still remained. Cheese. — The usual quantity of Cheese was pitched ; but the sales were remarkably heavy. The prices were full 3s per cwt under those obtained at Reading. The Horse fair continued to be large on Monday, and many good ones remain on hand. Wedneshay. — Hops gave way at least 20s per cwt. when considerable sales were efiiected. RETFORD FAIR was the best in almost every respect we have witnessed for a long series of years. The show of sheep was not extensive, but the whole was sold at great prices ; fat ones sold from 6d to 6Jd per lb ; ewes fetched from 30s to 42s per head , with a great demand ; and lambs obtained from 27 s to 31s each. The quantity of horned cattle was more than an average ; fat beasts fetched full 6s per stone, and in some instances a little more ; lean stock was dearer in proportion than fat ones, most of them fetching very high prices, particularly in-calrers, many of which obtained from 16/ to 18/ each, at which, and similar prices, in proportion to their con- dition, nearly every head found ready purchasers. The show of horses was meagre in the extreme, and, as is usually the case, prices were accordingly. As we had anticipated, the quantity of hops oiiered was considerable, amounting to 3,261 bags, including about 120 bags of yearlings, (last year, the quantity of new and old amounted to 1,557.) The quality of the new produce is, generally speaking, fine, but they have weighed off lighter than was expected, owing- principally to two causes, first the very short period in which they made their growth, and secondly, to many of the growers commencing to pull them full a week earlier than they ought to have done. From these causes, the crop is not only light, but will prove somewhat inferior in strength to those of 1832. On the first day of the fair prices seemed to be some- what drooping, and what purchases were made, were done very tardily ; a considerable quantity of Kent and Sussex hops, however, were sold, at fair remu- nerating prices. On the second day, the market opened in a very brisk state, and continued so until evening, with prices a little creeping up. At the close of the fair, nearly every bag vi-as purchased, a circumstance altogether unprecedented here, and at prices too which were generally considered satisfac- tory to both sellers and purchasers. The samples of Kents and Sussex which were shown were fine in colour, but we have seen them much better in former years ; and the difference between the growth of these counties and the North Clays was strikingly apparent, proving the general superiority of the hops grown in this district over all others in the kingdom, Farnhams, perhaps, excepted. Mr. Atkin Ogle, of THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 513 OUerton, sold upwards of 300 bags ; Mr. William- son, of Rufford, 130 ; and Mr. Gravenor, of Bell- moor, 103 ; this latter gentleman's hops realized the highest price in the fair. The Earl of Scarborough's produce was good, and so were the whole of the Beastwood plantations ; Mr. Wm. Bullivant, of the latter place, sold at prices nearly as high as Mr. Gravenor. The produce of the Elksley jilantations was beautifully fine, especially Mr. T. Johnson's, which were supposed to rival the whole district, but it was disposed of previous to the fair. The sam- ples of IVIessrs. Fisher, wheelwright, and Hudson, of Clarborough, were greatly admired, and all found ready purchasers. The prices obtained may be stated as under : — £ s. £ s. £ s. £ s. Clays . . 5 5 to 6 0 choice. 6 10 to 7 0 Kents . . 5 0 to 5 12 best... 6 6 to 6 15 Sussex . . 5 0 to 5 10 fins . . . 6 0 to 6 6 Yearling Clays were not much inquired for until the second day, when several parcels were sold at prices varying from 41 to 4/ 12s. A few good Kents, of the growth of 1832, were offered at 31 3s but with- out finding a customer. The quantity of cheese pitched was not so large as we have formerly wit- nessed, but nearly the whole found ready purchasers. The inferior qualities obtained from 45s to 48s per cwt ; the best dairies from 50s to 55s per cwt ; whilst a few prime small lots reached as 60s per cwt. At the HULL ANNUAL FAIR for foals.goodones were much inquired for, but the number shown was smaller than usual. A few of the best were sold and obtained good prices, but many, of middling and in- ferior descriptions, remained unsold. The breeding of superior foals, this season, has been more exten- sive than usual, and the scarcity of such in the mar- ket can only be accounted for by the present good prices for the better descriptions of horses, holding out to breeders the prospect of realizing more money by keeping them. A few cows, sheep, and inferior horses were in the fair, but the business done among such did not exceed that of an ordinary market day. 5s to 5s 9d per stone ; sheep, from 5d to 5^d per lb. Of lean stock there was a very large supply, whicli brought fair average prices. It may be observed, that from the great abundance of fodder, the condi- tion of the lean beasts is very superior to that of former years. FALKIRK OCTOBER TRYST,— The last of the three great tyrsts for the year commenced on Monday, the 13th inst. The number of sheep was computed at 70,000 to 80,000, being from 10,000 to 20,000 more than last year. In the early part of the day sales looked flat, about 11 o'clock busines com- menced, and the following prices were realized. Che- viot wethers, top price, 31s ; current prices, 28s to 30s. Best lots af black faced wethers, 26s, current, 20s to 24s. Inferior small sheep, 15s to 20s. Che- viot ewes, best lots, 24s ; current, 20s to 22s. Black faced ewes, best lots, 18s ; current, 15s to 17s. In- ferior small ewes, 123 to 14s. The wethers experi- enced a duller sale than at the September tryst, prices, however, were not lower, and all the principal lots sold. All sorts of ewes were from Is to 2s a-head higher than at the September tyrst, and all sold at an early part of the day ; and tlie supply was not equal to the demand. — On Tuesda)', the day was equally fine ; the number of cattle was believed to be fully 80,000. Sales began about 10 o'clock, and continued good through- out tlie day; the best Aberdeen and Angus- shire breed of heavy cattle, four and five-year-olds, brought 17/., being the top price ; current, from 12Z to 15/ ; three-year-olds, 8/ to 11/ ; two-year-olds, 61 to 8Z, 8s for wintering. Best West Highland Stots, four- year-olds, 9/ to 11/ ; two and three-year-olds, from 61 to 81. West Highland Heifers, 5/ to 61 10s ; smaller size do., 4/ to 5/. Milch Cows a poor show, the best 10/ to 121. In the Horse market the num- ber was considerable, but very few superior horses were shown, and not much business done. The re- sult, compared to last September Tryst, in respect to the best descriptions of heavy cattle, and indeed including the other sorts, was considered to be about five per cent, higher. The sales were good ; the few unsold was excepted to be moved off on the following day, as many buyers remained with views of purchasing. A great proportion of the sheep and cattle went to East Lothian and Berwickshire. CAISTOR MICHAELMAS FaIR.— This fair having of late years gained considerable notoriety from the excellent show of stock exhibited, and the numerous attendance of eminent spirited breeders, buyers, and sellers from the neighbourhood and dis- tant parts of the country, on Friday and Saturday week fully maintained its accustomed importance. The show of Sheep was not so large as last year, but brisk sales were effected for the whole at the follow- ing prices : — Hogs, from 35s to 37s ; drape ewes, 30s to 40s ; shearling wethers, lower than last fair. Saturday — Such a fine show of horned cattle was never before seen at Caistor, and all were sold at brisk prices. Horses were disposed of on better terms than at any of the late fairs in the neighbour- hood. AXMINSTER FAIR was very fully attended. The bullock fair was generally flat, and sales were at very low prices. About 3,000 sheep were penned, which went oft' readily at good prices. We do not remember ever seeing so large a quantity of cheese pitched as there was on this occasion, and most of it went off briskly. The show of horses was large, but only a few were sold. At PARTNEY FAIR, Mr. Allitt, of Langton, near Spilsby, sold a bullock and 12 sheep for 80/. ! The bullock was allowed by all who saw him to be a very extraordinar}^ animal, considering the keeping- he has had. Mr. Jas. Artindale, butcher, Boston, was the purchaser. BREEDING BETTER THAN FARMING. — Mr. Abraham Brackenbury, of Gedney, has this year sold his wool to ftlr. Piggins, which averaged 18s per fleece, and his entire lot of lambs to Messrs. Johnson and Larrington, for 40s each, all of which sucked double. At WOLLAVINGTON FAIR there was a con- siderable number of beasts exhibited for sale, and prices were rather lower than at the fairs lately held in this part of the county, being about 7s 6d a WARWICK FAIR was well supplied with beef and mutton. The prices were — beef, 5d to Ojd; mutton 5d to 6d per lb. Lamb sold dear for stores. AT ST. FAITH'S FAIR, NORWICH, more business has been done, and done well, than we have known for many years. There were not so many Scots as we have seen, but those that were in full condition sold readily at from 5s to 5s 6d per stone ; and a grent many were sold at that price. Home- breds were not very numerous, -but there were a good many Short-horns, and all things that were in a fleshy condition sold readily at high prices. The reason we presume is, that the turnips are mostl)^ mildewed, and the farmers are desirous of feeding them off quickly. Lean beasts were a veiy flat sale, and the prices the same as those in the market at Norwich. Many fresh lots were driven up on Monday, and fresh Scots were selling, at from 15/ to 16/ very rea- 514 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. dily ; but only those in high condition. The cheese is chiefly sold in Norwich, but there was a small portion at the fair. Price from ol 10s to 61 per wey. Butter, 46s a firkin. ASHBOURN FAIR.— At this fair there was a good supply of cattle, the best sorts were readily disposed of at good prices. Beef fetched Sjd, and mutton 6d to e^d per lb. The show of rams was considerable, and such as possessed symmetry, witli a good portion of mutton and wool, were sold or let at their full value, and weie principally to be found in the hands of Mr. Smith, of Blore, Sir. Critchlow, of Mayfield, and Mr. Smith, of Calwich, noted breeders in tlie neighbourhood. Store ewes were much in demand, and consequently realized high prices. The previous days for cart horses and colts so celebrated for quantity and quality, exhibited a great falling off from former times, giving a sufficient proof of the unproductiveness in value of arable pro- duce ; at the same time it may be stated, that the most useful found customers willing to purchase according to circumstances. There were but few good nags or hai'ness horses, which were as is generally the case, sold at their full value. BAKEVVELL FAIR.— This fair was suppl ed with an unsual quantity of cattle, of every descrip- tion. Fat stock fetched good prices, and many changed hands. Store stock was not so well sold. The supply of cheese was likewise larger than usual, and a great quantity was taken back unsold ; prices from 47s to 50s per cwt. ASHOVER FAIR.— At Ashover fair, there was a good show of store sheep, which went off briskly at fair prices ; but the supply of horned cattle was very moderate. CHESTER FAIR.— The cattle market was not well stocked, there being a great scarcity of fat Eng- Irish beasts ; but of well-fed Irish there was a good supply. There were a few poor Shetland cows, but we did not hear they were sold. The prices generally were rather lower. Pigs were most abundant, and to be had for next to nothing. The sheep fair was scanty. The prices were higher, in consequence, no doubt, of the short supply. A^ery little leather was pitched for sale, scarcely any business was done in it, but the prices are steady. Of wool the business done was most trifling at lower prices. In the hop market there is a moderate supply, but of late years there has not been any great bulk exposed, the busi- ness having mostly been done by sample. A tolera- ble quantity changed hands on Friday and Saturday. The following are the prices: — New Kents, 5/ 12s to 8/, choice samples higher ; Sussex, 51 to 61 ; Worcester, bl to 71. Yearlings — Kent, 5/ to 61 6s ; Sussex, bl to 61 ; Worcester, 5/ 12s to 71. 1832's— Kent, 4i 10s to bl 10s ; Sussex, 4/ 5s to bl 5s ; Wor- cester, bl to 61 ; old, ol 10s to 4i 4s. HEREFORD FAIR exhibited the usual fine show of cattle. A considerable portion of the finer animals were soon disposed of, but the supply was more than equal to the demand, and towards mid- day some declension in price took place for steers ; but still the sale continued tolerably brisk, and an im- mense number were sold, though many returned to their pastures, partly because the owners were not inclined to take the prices offered, and partly owino- to the graziers and dealers having amply supplied all their wants. Fat animals experienced a declension in price, going from 5d to Sjd per lb ; none but the choicest things obtained the latter price ; and 5dmay be called the average. Steers and stores went lower than last year ; but, considering the vast supply, ge- nerally we believe most of the sellers were as well satisfied with the prices they obtained, as the buyers were with their purchases ; but certainly in luany instances the cattle sold nearly ten per cent lower on Monday than those of similar quality did on the pre- ceding Saturday, owing, probably, to the immense number brought for sale on the former day. There was rather a small show of sheep ; and fat animals were in demand, at prices from 6d to djd, and a few very excellent nearly 7d per lb. Pigs went very low. The horse fair was amazingly scanty as to fine ani- mals. The quantity of hops was smaller than ex- pected, and the quality was not first rate. The num- ber of pockets and bags weighed, which were sold on Alonday and Tuesda}^, were 285 ; and the number in market, 340 — prices from bl to 6/ 6s per cwt, and one very superior sample obtained 6Z 15s. The supply of salt butter was not large, and tubs sold from 9s to 10s per stone. Cheese, best, averaged 56s to 60s. Twc-nieal, 48s to 50s ; and family, 34s to 40s. At MITCHELL FAIR the supply of cattle was good, and that of sheep abundant — the former sold freely at prices fully equal to those obtained at the neighbouring fairs. Sheep averaged about 6d per lb and were in considerable demand. Several eastern dealers were present. COLCHESTER FAIR.— Our fair was extremely well attended with stock of every description. The horse stock, both of the nag and cart kind, was very numerous, but excited little or no attraction from purchasers. The beasts were much admired, but from the scarcity of feed, few purchasers could be found at the low prices asked. On the whole we may say, we never remember to have seen a larger supply nor less business transacted. YARM GREAT OCTOBER FAIR. — On the first day are shown cattle and horses, and on the following day Sheep and Cheeses. The show of short-horned cattle, on the former day, was very large indeed, and (the buyers being very numerous both from the northern and southern counties) , met with ready sale ; beef from 5s 3d to 5s 9d per stone. The show of horses was unusually large, and the fair for this stock is decidedly on the increase, seve- ral of the principal south country dealers being in the market Prime things met with a good sale, and other inferior kinds were in fair demand. On the second daj' a large stock of sheep was offered, and were in good demand, at from 52d to 6d per lb. The show of new and old milch cheeses was quite equal to former years, and from the great influx of buyers from the adjoining counties, were readily quitted ; new milch from 40s to 50s per cwt., old milch from 24s to 28s per cwt. WINCHESTERSHEEP AND CHEESE FAIR. — The number of sheep penned was about 3i),000, The sale was dull, and prices — wethers, 30s co 35s per head ; ewes, from 28s to 38s ; and lambs, from 17s to 30s. Nearly the whole were, however, dis- posed of, but the prices obtained at Weyhill were hardly realized. The quantity of cheese pitched on Friday was 'above the usual average, and of superior quality to that supplied at the late fairs. It met with a brisk sale, though at a price somewhat lower than at Magdalen and St. Giles' Hill. The prices, as far as we could collect them, were as follows': — Fine old Somerset, from 63s to 70s per cwt ; fine new ditto, from 50s to 60s ; good middling, 42s to 48s ; good ordinary, from 30s to 35s ; skim, from 21s to to 28s. The horse fair was badly supplied, and the horses of a very inferior description ; but little busi- ness was done in it. AtWOOLER FAIR there was a good show of Sheep. Best bred dinmonts brought from 36s to 40s, and some principal lots something higher ; half-bred dinmonts, from 32s to 34s. There were some lots of bred ewes shown, which brought from 33s to 37s. Cheviot ewes were much sought after, and brought THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 515 from 21s to 24s. There was a poor show of cattle ; useful beasts, for turnips, brought from 111 to ISl. A short supply of milk cows, and very little de- mand. DALKEITH FAIR.— At this annual fair, three- year old heavy cattle brought 15/ 10s; two-year olds, of the short-horned breed. Hi to 12^ Stirks, one- year old, sold as high as 61 to 71. Best Highland stots, 9i to lOZ. Cows at calving, lOZ to 13/, very scarce, and in demand. Sales were by no means brisk, and a dull market. AtEARLSTOUN FAIRthere wasamiddling show of turnip cattle, which brought from 101 to 12/ 10s. A great many good high year-olds were shown, which brought from 61 10s to 7/ 10s. RENFREW FAIR.— At this fair the supply of cattle was not equal to the demand. Good milch cows sold from 12/ to 151. A tew good beasts sold from 9/ to 12/. From the number of dealers who attended the market, there is every prosjiect of this fair doing well. Tlie show of cattle aiforded much satisfaction. At CRIEFF MICHAELMAS MARKET, the number of Cattle brought forward amounted to nearly 600, being considerably above the ordinary supply. Fat beasts sold freely, and brought fair prices, — be- ing from 6s 6d to 7s per stone. Milch cows had a good demand, and sold readily — prices from 7/ to 9/ The horse market was also v/ell supplied, there being upwards of 200 present ; good draught horses brought from 23/ to 30/ ; ordinary kinds from 14t to 18/ ; inferior sorts at all prices, from 10/ and down- wards. At REDRUTH FAIR fat beasts brought about 46s per cwt. Store cattle were in demand, and fetched oigh prices. Carrick-on-Suir. — The October Fair of this town was held on Thursday ; the prices were far from encouraging, and scarcely any sales of stock effected. This fair was hitherto considered the best in the year, and the farmers were conse- quently dispirited on account of its failure : with the exception of pigs, of which a tolerable supply was sold at about 30s per cwt., no business of any importance was transacted. The question now most generally asked is, how rents are to be paid? — Tipperary Free Press. A larger number of slieep was penned at Devizes Greeia Fair than for several preceding years ; and although it was considered a " hanging" fair, yet nearly every lot was sold. The prices were on the average from 6d to Is a head under those obtained at Weyhill. There was also a large quantity of horned cattle, which sold at pi'ices recently quoted. In the horse fair there was very little business done, though there was a great variety of horses exhibited. A pen of down ewes belonging to Mr. Mark Sloper, of Bishops Cannings, attracted general admiration. They were purcliased by Mr. Ferris, of Bulkington. EXTRAORDINARY LAMB.— A lamb, belong- ing to jMr. R. Simpson, of Cowlam, was lately killed by Mr. Ringrose, butcher, of Langtoft, aged 18 weeks, the four quarters of which weighed 731bs. At the sale of a portion of the Marquis of Exeter's breeding stock last week, fine chosen cattle expe- I'ienced a depressioii of 50 per cent, compared with the prices of the same period last year, which is at- tributed to the present depressed state of agriculture. A beautiful boar, of a peculiar breed, and a sow in young, ai-e now in the stables of Mr. Robert Watson, High Bridge, in this town, on their way to Howick, as a present from the King to Earl Grey. — Newcastle Journal. LARGE CUCUMBER.— Last week, Mr. Mar- shall, or the Witham Bank, Boston, cut a cucumber. of the species called Prize-fighter, which measured two feet three inches and a half in length. We saw another, grown in the same garden, which was con- siderably more than half a yard long. WOOL. — Letters from Hamburg have brought accounts of mercantile failures rather considerable in amount. Two have taken place in Berlin ; the first, the house of Bahr, Abraham, and Son, said to be the largest dealers and speculators in wool in he Prussian dominions, and the other that of A. Stre- litz. In consequence of the fall of the house first mentioned, that of Louis Bahr and Co., of Ham- burg, has also stopped payment. The Berlin failures are said to amount together to 1 ,000,000 dollars. In St. Petersburgh, the house of Schroder, of old stand- in the tallow trade, and that of Kappherr and Co., also higlily respectable, have failed. The connec- tions of these lay principally among the Hamburg- bankers. Those at Berlin may affect some of the London houses, but not, as it is believed, to any se- lious extent. Truro Wool Market. — -The market for the sale of wool at 'J'ruro, was held on Wednesday Oct 8, when a number of respectable farmers dined together at Pearce's Hotel, James Hendy, Esq. in the chair. After dinner business commenced, when Mr. Hendy, Mr. J. P. Peters, and Mr. George Simmons, offered a considerable quantity of wool at Is. 2d. per lb. of six- teen ounces, but the offer was not accepted. Mr. Hewes, steward of the Earl of Falmouth, said he had sold some wool at Is. 2d- per lb, os sixteen oun- ces, and that he expected to receive a commission in the coming week, to purchase all he could get at that price. Shortly after this, three extensive wool-dealers entered the room, and one of them, Mr. A. Plummer, offered to sell 100,000 cwt. of wool in excellent order, at Is. 2d. per lb. of sixteen ounces. No business whatever was transacted, and an adjourn ment took place to the first Wednesday in November, A young apple-tree, of the Hawthornden Pippin, after having produced 42 large apples this season, is now in full blossom, and may be seen in a garden belonging to Mrs. Handy, of Ryhope. The famous trellis of vines in the park at Fon- tainbleau, planted by Louis XV., which is nearly 1,500 yards long, produces, it is said, 7,0001bs weight of grapes annually. To MAKE Old Seeds Germinate, — Put them in a bottle filled with oxalic acid, let them remain there till the germination is observable, wliich generally takes place in from twenty-four to forty-eight hours, then take them out and sow them in the usual manner. Another way is to wet a woollen clotli with oxalic acid, on which the seeds are pat; it is then folded up and kept in a stove ; by this method small and hard seed will germinate equally as well as in a bottle. Also very small seeds maybe sown in pots and placed in a hot bed, and oxalic acid, much deluted, applied twice or thrice a-day till they begin to grow. Particular care must be taken to re- move the seed out of the acid as soon as the least vegetat:on is observable. By this means seeds from twenty to forty years old have been found to grow whilst the same sort sown in the usual manner did not grow ut all. — M- Olto. — Prussian Gardening Society. A discovery is said to have been made at Swan River of a number of wild cattle, supposed to be some of those that went astray about three years since from the herd of Colonel Latour, and wliich had found their way to a rich and beautiful tract of pasturage on the banks of the Mun-ay. The aborigines are represented to be still in a disturbed state. 516 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Hoi- Plantations. — The exact perioJ when hops were introduced into England is not known ; but in the parish of Bourne, and neighbourhood of Canter- bury, there is a plantation or garden, which is known to have been under the same culture since the reign of Queen Elizabeth. For long, however, the preju- dice lingered that the perennial-rooted plant in ques- tion spoiled the ground ; and Rlr. M'CuUoch, in his Commercial Dictionary, quotes from an old author, who says — " Hops were then grown to be a national commodity ; but not many years since, the famous City of London petitioned the Parliament against two nuisances ; and these were Newcastle coals, in regard to their stench, &c., and hops, in regard they spoyl the taste of the drink, and endanger the peo- ple." But the rulers were fortunately wiser than the ruled, and would at all times, we suspect, require to be somewhat in advance of the mass of the nation. Queen Elizabeth and her maids of honour breakfasted at seven o'clock, on beefsteaks, and horns of porter, and if hops had spoiled her drink, the evil would have been but of short continuance. Rochester, Sussex, and Canterbury are the three great districts ; and the duty, which is levied at the rate of 2d per pound, produced, in 1830, upwards of 153,000/. The cost of farming plantations is very great, and we are aware of three acres that were cultivated at an expense, apart from picking, of 451, The land thus occupied amounts to about 50,000 acres, and the general calculation is, that one good year in three Eaves the cultivator. From the variable nature of our climate, and the necessity of the article in brew- ing, hops not unfrequently form the subject of specu- lation, and in repeated instances fortunes have been lost and gained by the business. At the commence- ment of the present season, the prospect was deemed so bad, that a lady in Kent sold her crop on the ground at 11/. per cwt. But matters rallied greatly, and the general return has proved so good that prices have fallen to from 61. to 6.. 10s. for the same weight. Hop harvest or picking is an animating scene, and, together with the cleaning processes, gives employ- ment to great numbers of people. A hundred and fifty persons, including both j-oung and old, may be seen in one field, with so many small baskets, the whole of which are emptied into large ones, placed in bags, and carried to the drying-house with the greatest care. The stalks or bines are preserved for binding the corn in harvest, and various other do- mestic purposes. Planting Vinesies.— Mrs. Dowding, the grape grower, at Oakhill, near Barnett, lays the ball of the plant on its side, about five feet from the front of the house, and covers the shoot with not more than two inches of soil from the root up to the front wall, where it is introduced into the house. A vinery was in this manner planted in June, 1833, and immediately after planting three large hand- glasses were placed over each stem, in order, by concentrating and retaining heat and moisture, to cause the stem to root more freely. They grew ad- mirably the first year, and they are now making such strong wood, and throw such strong eyes, that a very superior crop is anticipated by the third June after planting. — Gardener's Magazine. Food of Plants. — If manure be considered as the food of plants, lime and salts of different kinds may perhaps be considered correctives or condi- ments. There seems no other mode of accountino- for the productive effect of lime on soils where dung- will do no good, than by supposing that it acts by dissolving or neutralising poisonous matters in the soil. These poisonous matters may in some cases be those exudations from the roots of plants, which of late years have given rise to the new theory of the rotation of crops. — Gardener's Magazine. REVIEW OF THE CORN TRADE IN 'MARK LANE' DURING the MONTH OF OCTOBER. The Corn Trade, with the exception of the last week, has continued throughout the month of October in a depressed and languid state, as well in Mark Lane as at most of the leading coun- try markets throughout the kingdom. Selected samples of wheat, particularly of white quality, which have proved scarce, have maintained their quotations, and at the close of the month have, in consequence of the change in weather affording a supply of wind and water, thus enabling the millers to work and to purchase more freely, realised an advance of Is. per qr. ; but the currencies of other descriptions have ruled extremely low, and bore no proportionate value to other grain. Wheat, in former years, has been estimated at nearly double the value of barle}', two-thirds more than oats, and two -fifths more than peas. On referring to the quotations of last Monday, we find barley is within 6s. per qr. of the price of the best red wheat. Oats, I7s., and peas, 2s. Such a discrepancy, however, in the price of grain, must be soon counterbalanced, and wheat approximate neax'er its true standard value. The last general average of the kingdom barely exceeded 41s. and the aggregate average of Lancashire was not more than 36s. 5d ; and at Uxbridge, which is generally one of the dearest markets in the kingdom, the average rates are only 4'2s. 2d., evincing the injury the quality must have sustained in that district from the weather. This ruinous state of the currency to many grow- ers, has not, we apprehend, much chance of ex- periencing any material revival until the com- mencement of the ensuing year. Towards Christ- mas the markets will be no doubt well supplied by those farmers who are forced to realise, in ord to meet their rents ; owing to the depreciation |in the value of the article, must thrash out nearly one-third more in quantity to make up the requi- site amount of money ; after which, the deficiency in barley, beans, peas, and English oats, beginning to be more sensibly felt, will have the effect of en- hancing the prices of these articles, and wheat will in all probability sustain a proportionate ad- vancement, as, being so much below its relative value, it is forcibly alive to any casualty that may occur to effect its improvement. At present the consumption of wheat is extensive, as it is not only used for mealing purposes, but the lowness of the price, and cheapness — pound for pound, as compared with other grain — has rendered it an ar- ticle deserving the attention of the distiller as wcU as the maltster. During the month from the 23d Sejiteniber to THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 517 the 25th of October, the following quantity of grain has arrived in the port of London :•— English . . Scotcli . . Irish .... Foreio-n . . English Scotch Irish . . . Foreion . Wheat. Qrs. 43,754 429 907 Beans. Qrs. 9,647 57 Barley. Qrs. 21,617 3,787 3,646 4,1(55 Peas. Qrs. 2,749 30 7,189 Oats. Qrs. 10,824 20,106 82,307 4,342 Flour. Sacks. 30,405 180 1,556 The principal difference, as compared with the supplies of the month of September is in the arti- cle of oats, in which there is an excess of 74,214 qrs, the bulk of which is the produce of the new Irish crops. In the early part of the month, the calmness and dryness of the weather having prevented the mills from working, caused a very limited demand to exist on the part of the millers, who bought sparingly the finer qualities, particularly of white wheat, and no speculative feeling existing to re- lieve the market, all secondary and inferior quali- ties became depressed, and nearly unsaleable, un- less at very low terras, having suffered a decline of full 2s per qr., and for good Kentish runs of red wheat, only 40s. was offered. Distillers even of- fered more money than millers were inclined to give for ordinary qualities, having paid from 36s to 42s., the latter for red wheat weighing 62 lbs., but in instances rather infected with smut. Since, however, the 20th of the month, the millers have evinced more disposition to purchase ; and good red and white wheat, at the close, advanced Is. per qr., and the trade having assumed a firmer as- pect, it is to be hoped that prices for the present have attained their minimum range. New Irish wheat of 54 to 58 lbs. would meet a very limited demand, though offered at from 33s. to 37s. per qr. ; fine picked samples, weighing from 60 to 62 lbs,, might realize 39s. to 40s. The business transacting in bonded corn has been confined principally to purchasers of Kubanka wheat, at 30s to 31s, and a few parcels of soft Russian, chiefly for export to Portugal and Madeira. The flour trade throughout the month has re- mained steady in price, owing to the shortness of the stocks and supplies of ship qualities proving very limited ; which may be attributed to the want of v/ind and water existing to an unusual extent, and forcing the miller, unless supplied with a steam engine, only partially, and in many in- stances depriving him entirely of the power of working his mill. -4>s, however, the weather has changed, and wind and rain have been experienced, we may soon expect increased arrivals, and a tendency in prices to decline, as the small extent of the stocks on hand have hitherto been princi- pally the means of sustaining the quotations of town-made flour, prices of which range from 38s. to 44s. ; ship qualities, 32s. to 37s. per sack. The alteration in the duties has consisted of an advance of 4s. per qr. on wheat, making the duty 44s. 8d. ; Is. 6d. per qr. on oats, the duty being 15s. 3d. ; 3s. on rye, duty 21s. 3d.; beans Is. 6d., duty 15s. 6d. ; peas 3s., duty 9s. 6d. ; on barley the duty has declined Is. 6d., leaving it at IBs. 4d. per qr. As several parcels of here have been sold in the market, amounting together to 962 qrs., and averaging 22s. 3d., it was apprehended by spe- culators in foreign barley, that here would be in- cluded in the averages of that article, and have a prejudicial effect in advancing the duties. The subject, however, was submitted to the inspector- general, and here was allowed to be taken as a dis- tinct article, forming its own average. The weather continuing too warm at the begin- ning of the month to allow maltsters to work, caused the trade in barley to rule dull, particularly as the distillers supplied themselves with the coarser wheats, in preference to barley, and pre- vented the market from being relieved of the se- condary qualities. The supplies, however, con- tinuing extremely limited, considering the high re- lative value of the article, which would indicate a deficiency in the crop to a greater extent than was anticipated, has caused maltsters to take off the finer qualities of Norfolk and Suffolk, and espe- cially Chevalier samples, at improving rates, and as from the change of weather they are now generally at work, the latter descriptions have ad- vanced altogether about 4s., fine malting, Is to 2s. The ale-brewers have purchased freely the fine Che/alier samples at the top quotations of the market, which have been 37s., 38s., 39s., and 40s. per qr. ; extra fine rather higher. Norfolk and Suflblk are worth 34s. to 35s.; extra 36s. In a few instances secondary wheats have been taken for malting purposes. Distilling and grinding sorts have hung heavily on hand, without sustain- ing any improvement in their currency ; distilling being held at 28s. to 30s.; grinding 24s. to 28s. Irish barley, for grinding purposes, sw-eet, clean, and well dried, is worth 25s. to 26s. ; but some heated and inferior parcels have been selling as low as 21s. to 23s. Inferior wheats have been taken instead of grinding barley for pig-feeding. Foreign barley has been in request, and several purchases effected of Holstein and Mecklenburg qualities at from 12s. 6d. to 14s. The Holstein qualities are remarkably fine this season, and adapted for malting purposes. New supplies from the Saale and Magdeburg had not yet arrived at Hamburg, but were anxiously looked for ; prices were quoted at from 16s to 18s. The malt trade has sustained little alteration ; the large porter-brewers not having yet come into the market, has prevented any business in the ar- ticle. The new barley proves thin-skinned and kindly in malting, though light in weight, and will no doubt brew better than for many seasons. Some 518 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. samples exhibit the unfavorable effect of being malted during the late warm weather. The large influx of late of Irish oats, has not depressed the trade so much from its quantity, as the inferiority of the quality of the new growth, the trade having been extremely bare of stoclc, and consumers and dealers having refrained to the last from purchasing beyond their immediate wants. Old fresh corn comes very sparingly to hand, and being in request, has steadily maintained its previous quotations. The new growth of corn throughout the kingdom is inferior to that of last year in quality, and in England and Scotland in quantity. In Ireland the grain is full 2 lbs. per bushel lighter than the crop of 1833, not averaging more than 38 lbs. The better qualities of new oats generally are 6d. to Is. per qr. lower than at the beginning of the month, and inferior descriptions, 2s. to 2s. 6d per qr., as many of the Irish are ex- tremely light and out of condition. The black samples being foxy in colour are out of favour, and sell slowly at 17s. to 19s. ; those out of condi- tion are nearly unsaleable. The free-on-board sales in Ireland have latterly been very limited, as the decline in price on our market has prevented the previous purchases from turning out profit- ably, and, owing to the shortness of the supplies from the farmers, who are engaged in pota- toe-digging and sowing, prices are on the advance. Quotations are now 10s., 10s. 6d., 10s. 9d., to lis. according to the port from whence they are shipped. Foreign oats in bond remain nominal at from 9s. 6d. to lis. A large cargo of Archangel quality have been sold at 9s. 9d. Beans, both old and new, having, during the last fortnight, attracted more attention, sustained an improvement of 2s. per qr. From 6,000 to 7,000 qrs. of foreign quality have been entered for the home consumption, at a duty of 14s., and which, with the late enhancement in price, can, in a few instances, be disposed of with a slight pro- fit. The large quantity of foreign peas pressing on the mai'ket has caused the prices of secondary white qualities to recede full 2s. to 3s. ; and which would have become much cheaper had not the ra- pid advance in the duty induced holders to be more firm in their demands. Inferior qualities were forced off at very low terms ; maple and grey were also Is. to 2s. lower. The weather, however, hav- ing become cooler, more demand has been experi- enced for the finer descriptions of boiling samples ; and as English samples are scarce, holders are now demanding an advance of 3s. to 4s., and other qualities have nearly regained their previous de- cline. Though prices at present in France are rather improving, owing to the advanced rates paying for sound good corn for seed, and the averages, in consequence, are rather higher, yet it is the gene- ral opinion that when seed time is finished, water again fills the rivers, enabling the millers to work, and farmers can bestow their attention on thrash- ing, that the currencies will again decline. The markets are at present scantily supplied with wheg,t, and difficulty is experienced in procuring labourers to thrash, owing to the abundance of af- ter-grass requiring mowers and hay-makers, as well as the vineyards hands to secure the fruit. The last general average price of wheat through- out the kingdom was 14 francs 64 cents, the hectolitre, or about 32s. 9d. per qr., and is the low- est range of price, within II centimes, that has been experienced since 1824. The fine weather has caused the crop of cloverseed to be safely housed in the northern departments, where the greater consumptive demand exists, and the farmers being thus enabled to supply themselves from their own resources, is by no means advantageous to the gi'owers in the southern departments, who are generally sellers and exporters to the northern districts of the country : prices, in consequence, have become dull. Good seed from Lorrain, though of small grain, was oflTering, deliverable at Paris, at 40s. From Bordeaux, fine seed may he obtained at from 35s. to 38s., and 40s., free on board. The predictions of an eye-witness, which have been widely disseminated in print, who had travelled through the districts of the Gironde, Loire, and Garrone, as well as the northern de- partments, have been entirely frustrated by the al- teration in the weather ; on the state of which it appears depended entirely his partial report, being perhaps at the same time a speculative holder of old seed. In Portugal much disappointment has been ex- perienced by the Lisbon merchants, at the non- opening of the port of the city for the admission of Wheat, as anticipated at the end of September, and as some supplies had been received from the Western Isles, the admission of the bonded corn in warehouse would be further retarded. The amount of Foreign Wheat in store amounted to about 56,000 qrs, three-fourths of which consisted of soft qualities, and part, owing to its being out of condition and inferior, would be inadmissible. The fresh arrivals have, however, been very ex- tensive, and it was not expected that more than 57,000 qrs would be required. The Italian markets have become depressed from the want of demand. In Puglia, Manfredonia, and other parts of Italy, the stocks of Wheat are con- siderable, and may be estimated at nearly equal to a crop and a half, as almost half the produce of 1833, for want of foreign demand, has been left on hand at the commencement of last harvest. Bar- letta Wheats by the latest accounts had rather ral- lied, and were held at 30s 6d to 31s per qr ; White Tuscan, 48s Id; Red ditto, 45s 3d ; other Italian qualities 24s 7d to 31s 5d. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 519 In the United States of America the currencies of Flour have receded as the supplies have aug- mented. The average rate per barrel may be esti- mated at about 23s Id. Wheat has also declined in value, the new crop having come to hand which is represented as a full average produce ; prices may be taken at about 38s 66. The business at Quebec and Montreal has of late been much impeded by the ravages of the Cholera. Agricultural produce was realizing low rates, and in many instances barely remunerative to the grower. Upper Canada Wheat was obtain- ing 5s to 5s 3d the 601bs. The Wheat crop has proved a fair average produce, tnough it has suf- fered on the light lands from the drought, and in places by the ravages of a small brick-coloured worm in the grain, which was first extensively noticed in 1832. The germ of these worms seems to be deposited in the ear about the time the Wheat is in blossom, or soon after, and at its coming to maturity nothing is left of the grain but the husk. Potatoes and Turnips have suffered most from the dry weather, and will be a short crop, excepting on new lands. Peas have also sustained injury on the dry land, where they are usually sown. Oats are generally favourably spoken of j and live stock in good condition. At St. Petersburg prices of grain had rather im- proved, Kubanka Wheat being held firm at 27s lOd. Rye readily obtained 23s 8d. Barley, 17s 5d to 18s Id. Oats arc the only article for which a demand is at present experienced, and best qua- lities are held at 16s 6d to 17s lOd per qr. At Riga no business was transacting in the grain trade, and prices stationary. Courish Wheat was noted at 24s 2d to 28s 7d. Oats at 13a. The sup- plies of Linseed were moderate, and most of the samples consisted of sowing quality ; crushing descriptions were worth 42s lid to 46s 4d ; at St. Petersburg Linseed had rather declined. The dry weather, accompanied by gales of wind, which had prevailed at Danzig, had rendered the water so low in the river Vistula, that the supplies had been ex- tremely limited, but the few samples offered on delivery, found ready purchasers at 30s for fine high mixed Wheat, and 31s for the finest ; as, how- ever, the autumnal rains had commenced, arrivals were speedily expected, but it was apprehended that they would be eagerly purchased, and any farther depression in the currency was not looked forward to, more particulai'ly as extensive sales have been made in the interior for Berlin account* At Konigsberg, with the exception of Linseed, no- thing transpiring in the trade, and prices nominal. At Stettin the trade was dull, and confined to the local wants. Wheat was held at 24s 6d. The samples of red Cloverseed which had arrived from Silesia were fine in quality. In Mecklenburg and Holstein prices of Wheat had rather receded since the export had ceased to Portugal ; good Wheats were to be obtained at 22s 6d to 23s. In Mecklen- burg the quality of the Barley is complained of, much being thin and unfit for shipment; new qua- lities were also in less demand, and could be pur- chased at from 12s 6d to 13s 6d. White Peas de- liverable in the spring, 23s per qr, free on board. Rapeseed was scarce, and the stocks nearly ex- hausted. Few new Oats appeared at market, and the produce in many parts would hardly exceed the local demands. At Copenhagen some few thou- sand quarters of Wheat had been exported to Ma- deira at 23s per qr, free on board. Barley was in less demand for English account, and owing to the advancing duties, on Peas in England, the article was meeting diminished attention. At Hamburg sales of Mecklenburg and lower Elbe Wheat had been readily made for the consumption at from 24s 9d to 26s, and fine 27s 9d. In old Marks and Saale Wheats, nothing transpiring on speculative account. Purchases of Rapeseed had been mak- ing for English account, and most of the parcels offering on the Elbe had been taken at 26^ 15s to 271 6s per last. The new Rape plant in many places in Holstein and Schleswick, had almost en- tirely failed. At Rotterdam the Wheat trade re- mained dull, and prices unaltered, but for oleagi- nous seed, a brisk demand was experienced. Rape- seed was being purchased on Rhenish account at 30^ 10s to 31/ 10s. Hempseed had advanced to 32s; and owing to the drought and failure of fod- der. Oil Cakes was expected to meet with much attention during the winter and ensuing season. In Belgium the prices of Wheat were firm at about 30s to 32s 6d per qr. CURRENCY PER IMPERIAL MEASURE. BRITISH. Oct. 1. Nov. I; s. s. s. s. Wlieat, Essex, Kent, and Suffolk, new. 40 to 46 40 to 47 Old 45 50 46 48 White, new 41 53 46 63 Ditto, old 50 55 50 55 Norfolk, Lincolnsliire and Yorkshire. .. 40 46 40 46 White, do. do 42 52 42 53 West Country Red 40 46 40 46 White, ditto 46 SO 46 61 Northumberland and Berwickshire Red 40 44 40 45 White, ditto 41 48 40 47 Irish Red 34 40 34 39 Ditto White 33 41 36 40 Barley, Malting, new 31 34 30 36 Chevalier, new 35 37 32 40 Distilling 29 36 28 30 Grinding 2/ 29 24 28 Malt, Brown. -37 42 _ _ Ditto Norfolk pale 52 66 52 58 Ditto Ware 58 63 58 61 Peas, Hog and Grey 36 40 36 38 Maple 39 41 38 40 White Boilers 40 45 38 44 Beans, small 34 39 34 42 Harrow 33 .^5 31 39 Ticks 32 3> 32 37 Mazagan 31 33 32 36 Oats, English feed 21 24 19 22 Shortsmall 23 25 21 23 Poland 22 25 20 24 Scotch, Common 24 25 22 25 Berwick, &c 25 26 22 26 Potatoe, &c 26 28 22 28 Irish, Feed 2Is0dto23s0d l/s Od to 199 Od DittoPotatoe 23s Od 24s Od I9s Od 248 Od DittoBlack 22s Od 23s Od I/s Od 2Is0d Brau lisOd to 12s 6d per 16 bushel. 520 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Nov.l. PRICES OF FLOUR, PerSk. Oct. 1. Town-made 40 to 45 Norfolk, Suffolk, Kent, and Essex 33 36 Sussex and Hampshire 34 37 Superfine 37 39 Lincolnshire, Yi.rkshlre, and Stockton. 35 37 Northumberland, Berwick, and Scotch. 33 33 Irish 34 36 Extra 37 — AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF THE LONDON AVERAGES, From the 21st of September to the 23rd of October. (|rs. £ s. d. qrs. .£ 9. d. Wheat 44,650 2 SlIIBeans 663} 115 9 Darley 25,428 111 1 Peas 3092 2 4 3 Oats 90,447 1 3 0 Bere 952 12 3 llye 157 1 16 11 1 40 to 45 31 35 32 36 3G 37 30 34 .^1 33 32 34 35 — IMPERIAL AVERAGES. Wheat Barley Oats Rye Beans Pe^s. Weekending 12th Sept. 43 4 29 9 21 6 33 7 36 i; 39 10 19th „ 43 2 30 1 22 6 33 8 37 9 40 9 26tli „ 43 7 30 3 21 9 33 2 36 5 40 2 3a Oct. 42 9 29 9 22 7 ?,2 1 35 11 41 7 10th ,, 41 10 29 6 22 1 31 6 36 9 40 0 17th „ 41 1 29 8 21 7 32 3 36 8 40 7 Aggregate Average of the last 6 weeks 42 7 29 10 21 11 32 9 36 9 40 6 DutiestillOct. 29.. 44 8 18 4 15 3 21 3 15 6 9 6 Do, on giain from British possessions out of Europe.. .. 5 0 2 6 2 6 3 0 3 0 3 0 Foreign Flour 22s per 1961bs. Bri ish posaession Do. Ss per 1961bs. PRICES OF HOPS IN THE BOROUGH. Oct. 1. Nov. 1. £ %. £ s. £ s. £ s. East Kent Pockets 7 15 to S 12 5 10 to 7 0 Mid-Kent Pockets 5 18 / 10 4 10 6 0 Weald of Kent Pockets...) ,q ^ n a m% rm Sussex Pockets \ ^ ^ '^ '^ ■* '" ^ 10 Yearling, Pockets 0 0 0 0 3 0 4 0 Bags ,...0 0 0 0 3 0 3 10 Old Olds 1 1 3 0 0 15 2 0 An AccouQt of the Quantity of Graia and Flour imported into the United Kingdom during- the month ending the 10th of October; the Quantity on which the Duty has been paid for Home Consump- tion, and the quantity remaining in Warehouse. Wheat. |rs. Quantity imported .... 18,510 Do. entered for home consumption 3,544 Do. remaining in ware- house 6/0,933 Peas. qrs. Quantity importe 1 16,966 Do. entered for con- sumption 16,622 Do. remaining in ware- house 1,106 Barley, qrs. 12,160 323 151,507 Beans. qrs. 6,265 11,743 49,511 qrs. 19.411 3,114 327,336 Brank qrs. Rye. qrs. 5,716 Flour. cwts. 11,653 5,495 395,834 BOROUGH AND SPITALFIELDS MARKETS. Per ton. Oct. 1. Nov. 1. -£ s. .;£ s. ^ 8. .£ 10 Ware, Scotch reds 0 0 to 0 0 2 2 to 3 5 York kidneys 0 0 0 0 2 10 3 10 Marsh Champions 0 0 0 0 2 5 3 5 London whites 0 0 0 0 2 2 3 3 Shaws 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 0 Middlings, Scotch reds 0 0 0 0 1 15 2 2 Yorkkilneys 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 10 Marsh Cham lions 0 0 0 0 1 15 2 5 London whites 0 0 0 0 1 12 -2 0 Shaws 00 00 110 20 Chat Potatoes, . . . , 20s to 25s per ton. SMITHFIELD MARKET. Per stone of Slbs. to sink the offals. Oct. 1. Nov. 1. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. Inferior Beef 2 0to2 2 2 0to2 2 Do. Mutton 2 6 2 8 2 6 2 8 Middling Beef 2 4 2 8 2 6 3 2 Do. Mutton 3 0 3 4 3 0 3 4 Prime Beef 3 6 4 0 3 6 4 0 Do. Mutton 3 8 4 4 3 10 4 8 Veal 3 0 4 4 3 0 4 6 Pork 2 -8 3 10 3 2 4 2 Lamb 40 50 40 50 BUTTER, BACON, CHEESE, AND HAMS. Oct. 1. Nov. 1. IRISH BUTTER, NEW. s. s. s. s. New Carlow 0 to 0 70 to 75 Waterford 0 0 68 72 Belfast 0 0 74 76 Cork 0 0 70/2 Limerick 0 0 68 72 ENGLISH BUTTER. Dorset per firk. 0 to 0 40to42 Cambridge 0 0 40 — York 0 0 38 — CHEESE, NEW. Double Gloucester 0 to 0 4Sto68 Single Ditto 0 0 44 48 Cheshire 0 0 54 74 Derby 0 0 S4 60 Edam 0 0 42 44 BACON. Belfast middles 0 to 0 28 to 34 Waterford sides 0 0 30 32 HAMS. Irish York Cut 0 to 0 46 to 66 Westmoreland 0 0 .50 60 Cumberland 0 0 50 00 ■WOOIi MARKETS. BRITISH. Oct. 1. Nov. 1. s. d. s. d. s. d. 8. d. North and South-Down Hog- > j 9 to o 0 1 9to0 0 Half-bred DiUo '."!!!"'.'.!!!.. 1 10 0 0 1 10 C 0 Ditto Ewes, cloathing 13 0 0 13 0 0 South-Down Ewes 14 0 0 14 0 0 KentFleeces .., 16 10 17 10 SkinCombing 14 16 15 0 0 Leicester Wethers 1 4 O" 0 14 0 0 FlannelM'ool 1 117 14 18 Blanket Ditto 0 0 15 0 10 1 2 Leicester Hogs 19 0 0 19 0 0 In Yolk— Devon Oil 11 Oil 1 1 SCOTCH. Per Stone of 24 lbs. Oct. 1. Nov. 1. s. d. s. d, s. d. s. d. LaidHighland Wool, from. 13 6 to 14 6 13 3 to 14 3 White Do. Do 15 6 16 8 15 6 16 6 LaidCrossed Do ..15 6 16 6 15 6 16 6 WashedDo. Do 18 0 19 0 18 0 19 0 Laid Cheviots 18 0 20 0 18 0 20 0 Washed Do 23 0 27 0 23 0 27 0 White Do 36 0 40 0 36 0 40 0 FOREIGN. Electoral Saxony"! . Wool, from J* 1st. Austrian, IJo-"| liemian, & other ^4 German Wools. J 2nd. Do 2 Inferior dittu in "In Locks and Pieces J Lambs' ditto 3 Hiingy.Sheep'sdo 2 Leonesa ditto.... 2 Segovia ditto 2 8 Soria ditto 2 4 Cacares ditto 2 0 Nov.l. s. d. s. d. Nov.l. s. d. s. d. Spanish Lamb's Wool 1 6 2 10 German &Spanish cross ditto.. 18 3 0 Portugal Sheep's do 1 6 2 3 Ditto Lambu' do 13 2 0 Australian fine crossed ditto 2 9 4 9 Ditto Native Sheep'sditto 2 0 2 7 V. Diemen's Land ditto ditto.. 16 2 8 s f-i! THE FARMER^S MAGAZINE. DECEMBER, 1834. No. 8.] [Vol. 1. SOME ACCOUNT OF THE FAIRS IN SCOTLAND. BORDERS OF NORTHUMBERLAND AND BERWICK- SHIRE. (From the Quarterly Journal of Agriculture.) Every one who has been in the habit of attend- ing fail's in Scotland must have observed how in- accurately tliey are generally reported in the news- Ijapers. Nay, different newspapers give different reports of the same fair. The truth is, these re- ports are furnished by people interested in the state of the markets and of the current prices. Hence the accounts of them receive the particular bias of the individual who reports, according as he is a buyer or seller, and no man of experience and of extensive dealing depends on these reports. He relies on much more authentic information, derived from both thebviyer and the seller, as well as his own observation. Till returns are made by authorized individuals, in the manner of the corn returns, no reliance can be placed in the newspa- per reports of cattle markets. Besides their inac- curacy, these reports are very unsatisfactory. Notice is given of cattle and sheep having been exposed to sale ; their numbers are particularised, and their condition, whether fat or lean, or both, are generally stated ; but how can any one know from these particulars merely, uhat were the dif- ferent breeds of cattle and sheep present, what proportions the fat bore to the lean, and in what proportions the different breeds bore to one ano- ther ? How could a stranger, living at a dis- tance, discover from such reports whether he could purchase the kind of cattle or sheep which he desired at an}' given fair. To remedy this acknowledge d ficiency, we pur- pose to give a pretty minute description of all the principal fairs in Scotland, — by enumerating the cattle and sheep which generally attend each, — by naming the different breeds which compose their numbers, — by specifying the proportion which the different breeds bear to one another, — by stating the proportional number in regard to condition, — and by indicating the quarters to which they are generally driven from each fair. To accomplish all this we know we have im- posed upon ourselves a very arduous task. It cannot be performed without much personal trou- ble, but, apart from this obstacle to its accom- plishment, we think we shall confer a considerable benefit on English dealers, and through them to breeders in this country, by attempting it. Deal- ers may rely on the accuracy of all the accounts which shall appear. There may be omissions of particular fairs, but the omissions will not be found to be important. In conformity with the spe- cimens which we exhibit iu this paper, we hope our friends at the most distant and inaccessible parts of the country will favour us with accurate accounts, as above specified, of all the markets in their neighbourhood. Such accounts derived from local residents, will serve to check the accuracy derived from other resources. We propose commencing with the fairs in the Border counties of Scotland ; but as considerable barter is carried on on both sides of the Border, we shall, in the first place, give an account of some of the fairs in the Northern division of Northum- berland, as at Alnwick, Whitsunbank, St. Ninian's, Wooler. 1. Alnwick. — Alnwick is the county town of Northumberland. According to the census of 1831 it contains 6,788 inhabitants. It is situate on the great road between Newcastle and Edin- burgh, being thirty-five miles to the north of the former town, and thirty miles to the south of Ber- wick-upon-Tweed. There are several fairs held in Alnwick, the first of which takes place on the 12th May. About 3,000 cattle are generally at this fair, almost all short-horns ; about one-half of which are superior fat steers and heifers, two and three years old, and weighing from 40 to 80 stones imperial ; and in some instances three- year-old steers are shown from 90st. to lOOst. They are bought by dealers from Morpeth, Dur- ham, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, &c., excepting the few which are bought by the Newcastle, Shields, and Sunderland butchers. Very few of these fat cattle are bought for the Edinburgh market. The other half consists of half-fat and lean short-horn steers, heifers, and milch cows, and a few fat north country black-coloured cattle. The great bulk of the lean or growing cattle are taken to the south ; although occasionally a few are bought by the Tweedside and more northern graziers. Most of the old cows, newly calved, and to calve, are bought by the Edinburgh cow-dealers, and a few for the Newcastle dairies. Heifers in calf are mostly travelled to Yorkshire ; and calved heifers and young cows are bought for the use of the surrounding country. A horse market is held at this fair, but there are not many of the best description, although, occasionally, a few good horses may be picked up here. Alnwick second fair is held on the last Monday of July, but the show is far inferior to that of the May Fair, both as to quantity and quality. Gene- rally 700 or 800, mostly short-horns, constitute the whole show. The fat cattle are bought by the Morpeth dealers, and by the Newcastle, Shields, and Sunderland butchers ; the half-fat and lean by the Yorkshire and other south-country dealers ; and the milch cows for the Edinburgh and New- castle dairies. A middling show of horses. The fair on the first Tuesday in October is not deserving of notice. The short-horns shown at the first fair at Aln- wick are considered the best in England, Nor- thumberland having long been famed for that emi- nent breed of cattle. The greatest number of 2 M 522 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. them are bred and fed on the estates of the Duke of Northumberland, whose tenants and those of the Earls Grey and Tankerville, have long main- tained a reputation for breeding and feeding prime short-horns. It is questionable whether any te- nantry in Great Britain produces so much good stock as those of these noblemen. To those who admire well bred short-horns, Alnwick Fair is a perfect treat. Their good breeding, fine sym- metry, and bright colours, give a splendid ap- pearance to this market. How different to some otlicr markets, — where the cattle show bad breed- ing, are void of symmetry, and present dingy co- lours ! As the quality of the fat stock shown at this fair is very superior, and as at this season there is generally a good demand from Yorkshire, prices are generally high. Since the war 6s. per stone of 141bs., may be about the average price ; ^s. to 83. have been given in scarce times ; and 5s. to 5s. 6(1. have sometimes been the top price, farmers and feeders need not complain if they can obtain a price from 6s. to 6s. 6d. per stone for their best fat ; but any thing less is not a remu- nerating price according to the rents of land. 2. Whit&unbank Fair is held on the top of Whitsunbank Hill, a considerable rising- ground, five miles to the south-east of Wooler. There is no direct road to this site, but it is accessible by cross-roads from Wooler, Belford and Whitting- ham. It is always held on Whitsun-Tuesday, about the latter end of May or beginning of June, a moveable period, regulated by Easter. The cattle at this fair amounts generally to 1,000 or 1,200, almost all short horns; nearly one-half of which are excellent fat steers and heifers, two and three years old, weighing from 40 to 80 stone each. These are mostly purchased by dealers for the Morpeth, Newcastle, Darling- ton, Skipton, and Wakefield markets. The re- mainder are half-fat and lean steers and heifers, two years old, for grazing, and a few milch cows. The grazing cattle are purchased by dealers from Durham, Yorkshire, and Lincolnshire, &;c., ex- cepting what may be bought by farmers and gra- ziers in the neighbourhood and adjoining counties. The aged milch COVE'S are bought by the Edinburgh cow-dealers, and the young ones for country use. AVe remember, a few years ago, of Mr. Smith of Grindon selling four three-year short-horn oxen at this fair for 4il. a-piece. Some years ago, the show of sheep at Whitsunbank used to be the great- est in the noith of England, but since the estab- lishment of so many markets in spring in the neighbourhood, it has fallen very much off in point of numbers, though not of quality. From 12,000 to 20,000 may be about the number now present- ed, chiefly rough hoggs, two-thirds of which are Leicesters of the best description ; the remainder half-bred (between the Cheviot ewe and the Lei- cester ram,) and Cheviot hoggs and Cheviot we- thers. The greatest proportion of the sheep are bought by dealers and graziers from Yorkshire. The Leicester hoggs are generally in high condi- tion at this tair, and only require a few Veeks good keep after they are clipped to prepare them for the fat market. Indeed many of them are sold for fat immediately after being clipped. The price of hoggs at this market is a good deal re- gulated by the price of wool, and the state of the mutton market at Morpeth. This year, Leicester hogg wool being worth Is lOd or Is lid per lb, a 61b fleece is worth lis 6d, a large proportion of the price of the sheep ; but when it is only at Is per lb, which it has frequently been, the fleece is not wortli so much by 5s 6d. That of the leaner sorts is regulated by the quantity of keep, and demand for grazing stock, over which Morpeth market has no control ; but, generally, in no market in Great Britain does the i)rice of wool influence the price of sheep more than this. Wc have seen the late Mr. Thomas Laidler of Chatton receive 40s a piece for his rough wether hogs at this fair, and even 45s have been given. There is also a large show of horses at this market, many of which are of the better sorts for the field, road, and draught; and which generally meet here with a ready sale. The south country horse dealers buy up the most of them, and the remainder pass into the hands of farmers and postmasters. Like all horse markets, inferior things, are, of course, to be seen here. This fair is also a hiring market for single and un- married men and women servants. The large as- semblage of healthy, clean, well-looking peasantry at this fair is a credit to this part of the country. Booths for the sale of every commodity which can attract the hard-earned wages of the preced- ing half-year, are here displayed in glittering al- lurement. 3. St. Ninian's Fair — is held on the 27th Sep- tember, or the Monday after, should the 27th fall on a Sunday, on a field or fields on the farms of Fenton or on Kimmerston, to the eastward of the river Till in Millfield Plain. A stubble or grass field previous to breaking-up is generally selected for this purpose; which being partly manured by the stock is rendered valuable to the ensning crop. These farms are situate about six miles to the north-east of Wooler, on the Berwick-upon-Tweed road, and from twelve to fourteen miles fiom the latter place. This is rather a sheep than a cattle fair. The number of cattle amounts to between 700 and 800, chiefly short-horns, with a few black- coloured cattle from the northern counties, fed in this neighbourhood, and a few milch cows. About lOO of the cattle may be termed fat, but there is seldom any prime fat shown ; they are bought by the Morpeth dealers, and butchers from Newcas- tle, Shields, and Sunderland. Most of the cattle are half-fat and lean short-horn steers and heifers, two and three years old, which are bought by the farmers and graziers in Northumberland and ad- joining counties in Scotland for turnip feeding, and being wintered on half turnip and straw. Very few short-horns are driven south at this season of the year ; on the contrary, Tweedside graziers buy at Newcastle, Yarm, &c. and bring them to the borders to feed on turnip. The north countrj-^ cattle at this fair are generally middling fat, and are bought by the Berwick and country butchers. The few milch cows about to calve are picked up by the Edinburgh cow-dealers. The show of sheep at this fair is yet very ex- tensive, but, like Whitsunbank, it is falling off in point of numbers. About the same number, from 12,000 to 20,000, is now presented at both. Some years ago we have seen more than double these numbers at St. Ninian's, the most of which were draftewes — afact which will serve to give someidea of the number of sheep raised in thisneighbourhood. At least three-fourths of the whole are Leicester draft ewes, generally four years old, and of the best description. In fact, the Leicester ewes at this fair may challenge all England for quality. They are almost all bought by dealers from York- shire, who drive them to the different markets in that county, or show them at their own homes, to be disposed of to the farmers as breeding ewes, in such numbers as they may require. A lamb is taken from them next spring, and both lambs and THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 523 ewes are fed in the following summer and sold to the butchers. A few of the draft ewes are pur- chased by the East Lothian farmers, to produce early lambs for the Edinburgh markets. The price of I,eicester ewes at this fair varies accord- ing to their weight, condition and quality, and the state of the mutton market. The best lots are some- times as high as 55s., and in other years not above 30s. a-piece. Some of the best lots are shown by Mr. Grey, Millfield Hill ; Mr. Hunt, Thornton ; Mr. Smith, Norham ; Mr. Burns, Millfield ; Mr. Smith, Grindon. But the late Mr. Robertson of Ladykirk, and Mr. Smith, Marledown, generally showed the best lots, and obtained the highest prices. Although nearly all the Leicester ewes at this fair are fit for the butcher, they are mostly bought to take lambs from, being almost all only four years old and under, the age at which Leices- ter ewes are usually drafted and sold. The remainder of the sheep shewn are Leicester and half bred dinmonts (shearlings), mostly fat ; half-bred ewes, and a few Cheviot?, and generally about 100 Leicester rams. The half-breds are obtained by crossing Cheviot ewes with Leicester rams. The dinmonts are bought by Morpeth dealers, and by farmers to feed on turnips. The half-bred and Cheviot ewes are bought tor lambs by farmers in the neighbourhood, and adjoining counties in Scotland. Not many of this sort are taken to Yorkshire. The Leicester rams are brought for sale and hire for the season, and are bought or hired by the best breeders. Some of the best shearlings are sold, or let as high as lOl. to 15/. each, but the current price of a good sheep is now from 5/. to 8/. Some years ago much higher prices were given, but there are now so many breeders of fine Leicester rams in this part of the country, that prices are kept down by keen competition. Some of the rams brought to this fair are probably as good as can be obtained at the tup shows of the most eminent breeders, where much higher prices are realized. St. Ninian's may be said to be the ruling mai'ket for Leicester ewes in the north of England, and it is perfectly entitled to be so, both from the quan- tity and quality of that species of stock which is annually shown here. We would recommend young farmers at a distance, who have never had an opportunity of seeing fine and large shows of Leicester stock, to attend this market, especially if they desire to become breeders or judges of this superior kind of stock. A pretty large show of horses may be seen at this fair, but they are mostly of the inferior sorts, al- though occasionally a few good ones may be picked up. 4. WooLER Fair. — Wooler only contains 1926 inhabitants. It is situate on the great road be- tween Newcastle-npon-Tyne and Edinburgh, by way of Morpeth and Whittingham. It is 46i miles from Newcastle, and 15 1 fj-om Coldstream on the Tweed in Berwickshire. The fair is held on the 17th October. The show of cattle is generally about the same in regard to quantity and quality as that of St. Ninian's, and the same remarks may of course ap- ply to both. The sheep stock differs a little from St. Ninian's in kind and quality, the numbers be- ing generally the same. Only one-fourth of the ewes are Leicesters, which are bought by York- shire customers ; one-fourth half-bred ewes, part of which are bought by Yorkshire dealers and part by graziers in Northumberland, and the adjoining counties of Scotland, for the purpose of taking lambs from j one-fourth are Cheviot ewes, a very small proportion of which go to Yorkshire, the remainder being bought by graziers in Northum- berland and Scotland ; and the other one-fourth consist of fat and half-fat Leicester and half-bred dinmonts, Cheviot wether and rams. The fat dinmonts are bought for the Morpeth and New- castle markets. Part of the half-bred dinmonts and Cheviot wethers go to Yorkshre ; but the largest proportion go to be fed off on turnips in Northumberland, Roxburgh, and Berwickshires, and East Lothian. With respect to rams, the same remarks apply to them as to those at St. Ninian's. There is a very middling show of horses at Wool- er, mostly of the inferior sorts. The remarkable feature at this fair is the large show of store pigs, numbers of which are driven by pig dealers to Morpeth, Newcastle, &c. A great many are bought by farm servants. The Cheviot sheep shown at Wooler are of the best description, Wooler being closely situate to the range of the Cheviot hills abounding with superior pasture. There they are bred with the greatest care attention, and skill. 5. Tankerville Arms Saow. — As the name implies, this show is held at the Tankerville Arms Inn on the side of the Edinburgh and Newcastle road, about a mile to the north of Wooler. The premiums awarded at this show are raised by Sweepstakes among the farmers in the neighbour- hood. A fine selection of short-horn bulls, cows, heifers, and steers, and stallions, may be seen at this meeting, which is held on the first Thursday of April. "We would not have noticed it at present, had it been strictly confined to a competition for premiums, although as an exhibition of fine stock, it deserves the attention of strangers, and is highly creditable to the celebrated breeders of this dis- trict ! of whom the tenants of the Earl of Tan- kerville muster numerously on the occasion. Our object in noticing it, is to inform purchasers of cattle at a distance, that a market for the sale of very superior cattle is held at the same time. About 700 or 800 superiorly fat steers and heifers are exhibited, which deservedly attract the atten- tion of Morpeth and English dealers. The preced- ing weekly market at Morpeth generally regu- lates the price of fat stock at this meeting. The Haw of the Eye of a Horse. — This is not like the membrana nictitans of a bird, but it is a car- tilage covered convexly by the membrana conjunc- tiva : there is appended to it a mass of fat, and next to the fat is the retractor muscle ; whenever the eye is excited there is an action of this muscle ; the eye- ball is retracted, the mass of fat is compressed, and by the compression of this the haw, as it is termed, posses over the eye, so that you never see anything- like dirt, or an extraneous body in the eye of the horse, unless a bit of grass gets entangled there. But in the most dry road a horse never suffers Iroin dust, as his rider does, and it is owing to this provi- sion of nature, a third eye-lid, as it were, wliich runs over the eye. At the moment the eye is turned in- ward, the haw passes over the eye, and having a glan- dular secretion it removes whatever is offensive (o the inner corner of the eye when it is conveyed out. — .Sir Chaiies Bell. ?vIuTTON AND NO MuTTON. — It is odd enough that a sheep when dead should turn into mutton all but its head; while we ask for a leg or a shoulder of mutton, we never ask for a mutton's head ; but there is a fruit which changes its name still oftener ; grapes are so called while fresh, raisins when dried, and plums when in a pudding, — The Parterre. 2 M 2 524 THE FARMEPv'S MAGAZINE, THE HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTU- RAL SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND'S MEETING. ABERDEEN, Oct. 3.— The great agricultural meeting held here this day by the Highland So- ciety of Scotland passed oft' with great eclat, and being the first of the kind in this quarter, the most sanguine hopes are entertained that it will be pro- ductive of more permanent useful effects than the passing euthanasia of the hour. The nature of this society is probably little understood in Eng- land, and its name of Highland Society might tend to mislead, as if it were confined to the Highlands of Scotland. It was begun after the termination of the American war by a few patriotic noblemen and gentlemen who wished to encourage the pro- motion of agriculture, and were sensible of its great defects in this part of the United Kingdom. The landlords and tenants were then suffering from the effects of the great failure of the crops which occurred in 1782 and 1783. It is stated on the best authority, that for some years after that time, that is, till 1793, it was often difficult for the proprietors of the soil to find any good tenants for their farms. Though considerations of this kind were not at the time stated to the public, yet they imdoubtedly had a great influence in modelling the proceedings of the society : the objects, how- ever, held forth to the public were somewhat of a different nature — the promoting of civilization and agricultural improvement in the Highlands of Scot- land, a vocation in which the society laboured for some years with but tolerable success ; indeed, it could scarcely be otherwise, when it is recollected that some of the earlier publications were devoted to the then celebrated but now forgotten Ossian's poems. Gradually the society descended to more himible but far more useful objects. It was found that the Lowlands of Scotland required improve- ment as well as the Highlands — that every field might be drained, or its draining improved, far better rotations of crops established, superior im- plements of husbandry introduced, and plantations made to rise over extensive tracts which had long been remarkable for their nakedness of landscape. To these useful objects this society has for many years devoted its principal attention, and at last became so sensible that its appellation did not cor- respond with its present bearing on the prosperity of Scotland, that not many months ago the title was altered to that of " The Highland and Agri- cultural Society of Scotland." The association comprehends almost all the nobility and gentry of note throughout Scotland, and even a custom has been introduced of enrolling ladies of the high- est rank, as the Duchesses of Gordon and Suther- land, among its associates. When this last occur- rence takes place, it is not by ballot but by accla- mation. The society have an elegant house in Edinburgh, where they hold their meetings, and possess a small library, and a useful collection of models of agricultural implements. They have published ten or eleven volumes of transactions and prize essays. Within these few years they have fallen upon an excellent plan of carrying im- ])rovement home to the door of every farmer, by holding an annual meeting of the society in the large towns of Scotland ; they have visited Perth and Stirling, and next year are to proceed to Ayr. The meeting at Aberdeen, fixed two years ago, transported to this large city during the present week the whole materiel of this society, its Presi- dent, the Duke of Buccleuch, vice-presidents, di- rectors, treasurer, and the indefatigable secretary, Mr. Charles Gordon, to meet here all the gentry and principal farmers of the four counties of Aber- deen, Kincardine, Banff, and Forfar, besides many from greater distances, who resorted to Aberdeen in the course of the week, many of them coming earlier than the rest to attend the four days of a musical festival, which was got up under the di- rection of Mr. Crombie, in a style hitherto unknown in this part of the country, there being 120 per- formers, engaged mostly from England, including Madame Stockhausen, Phillips, Cooke, &c. This morning, before daylight, crowds of horses, bulls, oxen, cows, sheep, pigs, &c., were approach- ing the links, or downs, close to the sea beach, where a large stockaded enclosure was prepared to receive them. In the principal line of roads lead- ing to these fine downs, it was interesting to ob- serve the critical acumen with which the various animals were treated as they passed through the dense rows of spectators who were examiningthem at all points, and giving their opinion upon them. By 8 o'clock the enclosure, which contained three acres, was filled, and many of the animals certainly afforded fine specimens of the perfection to which breeding has been brought in this remote part of the kingdom. The show of horses was peculiarly good, and consisted principally of the Clydesdale breed. The prizes for the best draught stallions were 50 and 30 sovei'eigns, and so near were the qualities of three of these animals to each other, that the judges, who began at 10 o'clock, were oc- cupied about two hours in deciding. These pre- miums were the only ones ojjen to England. There were some fine specimens also of the Cleve- land breed among the extra stock, among which was a fine two-year old colt, bred by his Grace the Duke of Gordon. For cattle premiums were given for the short-horned, the Angus, the West Hlgh- laiul, and the Aberdeenshire breed, so long cele- brated for its quality of fattening rapidly in the pastures of England, and forming a large portion of the supply of Smithfield. One very large ox, bred and fed by Lord Kintore, attracted great at- tention when itdescended from the enormous cara- van in which it was brought within the stockade. The live weight of this animal was said to be 228 cn-t., and a butcher is said to have offered 100 sovereigns for it. It was of a cross between the Aberdeen and short-horned breeds, and was on the whole a fine animal, although not symme- trical. The principal prizes for cattle were gained by his Grace the Duke of Gordon, Lord Kintore, Captain Barclay of Ury, the celebrated pedestrian, and a gentleman whose name I did not learn. In the pens for pigs there were many fine specimens, some of enormous size, not more than 14 mouths old. The best prizes for this stock were awarded to Mrs. Walker, of Fintry, Mr. Boswell, and the Duke of Gordon. The symmetry of those of the latter, of the Tamworth and Neapolitan breed, was much admired, although in fatness they were exceeded by Mr. Bowell's, to whom was awarded the first prize. This city has long been celebrated for its mess pork, and it is expected that the pre- sent exhibition will assist in sustaining its charac- ter. At one side of the stockade a large stand was erected, the lower part of which was laid out with collections of grasses and grains, roots and seeds, which attracted great attention. The stand was crowded with elegantly-dressed ladies, and on the surrounding heights of the broad hills the eye looked upwards to a dense crowd, who were enjoying a bird's-eye view of the whole. The day was fortunately bright and warm; the entrance to the stockade was besieged by thousands anxious THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 525 foi" admission : numbers were repairing to large tents and booths upwards, where refreshments were provided for those who had joined temper- ance societies, and for those who had not. The bustle and excitement continued till after 4 o'clock, when Major Johnston and the officers of the 42d Royal Highland Regiment gave, at the barracks, a dejeuue a la fourchette, which was attended bj nearly the whole of the nobility and gentry at the meeting. Soon after 5 the company repaired to the public rooms in Union-street, where the dinner of the society was to take place. The banquetting- room, the ball-room, and the tea-room were laid out with dinner tables, which were presided over respectively by the Duke of Buccleuch, the Duke of Gordon, and the Marquis of Tweedale. Up- wards of 800 sat down to dinner, and tickets to the amount of 300 or 400 more were unsuccess- fully applied for. Great credit was due to the committee of management for their arrangements on the occasion ; all were seated without confu- sion, lots being drawn at the doors by the holders of tickets for the rooms in which they were to take their seats, and coloured tickets delivered which directed them to them, a flag of the colour being over the doors. Venison and game were supplied in abundance ; among the foi'mer was a splendid red deer, weighing near 4 cwt., killed near Gordon Castle, and presented by his Grace to the meeting. The harmony of the evening was greatly enhanced by the deputations which passed from the different rooms, with the pleasing inten- tion of imiting the whole, as much as possible, into one company. The King, the Queen, the Duke of Wellington, and the peers of Scotland were drunk with an en- thusiasm and ardour never before exceeded. The health of the Duke of Wellington was introduced in a manner which must have disarmed any politi- cal feeling that might have been connected with it, His Grace of Gordon saying, that in the toasts he would adhere to agricultural subjects, and therefore he would give the Duke of Wellington as the best drill in Europe. The Duke of Gordon's health was drunk twice with immense enthusiasm, the latter time under the appellation of " Cock of the North," a cognomen by which he has long been known in this country. It was, in short, a most joyous meeting, and one with which, as a stranger in Scotland, I was not only astonished, but most highly gratified. The good feeling evinced when the Duke of Gordon gave the toast of '* contented tenants and kind landlords," and the way in which his observations upon their mu- tual dependence was received, were most gratify- ing. MR. ATTWOOD AND THE POOR LAW BILL. The following is a passage from Mr. Attwood's speech at the Birmingham dinner : — " I now come to the horrible poor law bill, which, of all things, I must notice. We have been told, in high quarters, that it is absolutely neces- sary ' to save the estates' of the nobility and gen- try. Now look at the facts ; the poor-rates of England for the last year amounted to only 6,700,000^; the rental of England amounted to thirty millions Stirling. (-^ voice in the crowd ex- claimed ' thirty-two millions.') Well, thirty-two millions ; now the wildest imagination cannot conceive it possible that this atrocious bill should reduce the poor-rates more than one-half, which is about three millions sterling ; I ask you, as I have asked the House of Commons, how is it pos- sible that the saving of three millions should pro- duce the safety of thirty-two millions ? Be assured, my friends, there is something more in this than meets the eye or the ear. I will ex- plain it to you. The agricultural report shows the wages of agricultural labour in England to amount to about forty millions sterling per an- num, or to about 12s or 14s per week, for each la- bourer's family. The wages of the Irish labourers, it is well kuown, do not exceed 4s per week. A great number of the agricultural labourers of Eng- land derive only 6s or 7s per week for their wages, but the remaining os or 6s per week is made up to them (as in justice it ought to be) by what is called the allowance system. Now this horrid poor law bill expressly deprives all able-bodied labour- ers of all possible relief of this nature ; it possi- tively refuses all relief to such labourers, except upon the hard condition of forcing them into great dungeons, where the husband is to be separated from the wife, and the children from their parents, and all are to wear badges of slavery upon their shoulders. (Loud cries of shame, shame.) This is frightful power, and the horrible duty which is entrusted to the poor law commissioners by this galling bill. And now, mark the object of this measure, which will give you a glimpse of the way in which it is really intended that the estates of the nobility and gentry are to be preserved. The able-bodied labourers will never submit to be treated in this murderous and disgraceful way ; they will therefore refuse all parish relief upon such terms, and it is thus that they are to oe forced, hungry and naked, into the markets of la- bour, with 5s or 6s per week only, to exist upon, in order that they may thus force down the prices of English labour to the Irish level ! You are aware that in this way the agricultural wages of England would be reduced from 40 millions per annum to much under 20 millions per annum ; and here you will perceive a pretty round sum of full 20 millions per annum to assist in saving the I'en- tals and estates of the landowners. Twenty mil- lions saved in this way may do something towards saving the 30 millions of the landed rental, hut three millions can do nothing. (Hear, hear.) 'This, then, is the real and ill-concealed object of the poor law bill ; I stated it to the House of Com- mons, and no one contradicted me; and lam con- firmed in this view, because I heard Mr. Cobbett assert in that house, in the presence of the minis- ters, that he had the best authority for saying that the instructions from government to the poor law commissioners contained the expression of an opinion that it was desirable to bring the labour- ers of England to live upon coarser food. I never heard the ministers deny the truth of this terrible fact. I believe they did not deny it. Here, then, we come to a pretty good proof that the grand ob- ject of the poor law bill is to bi-eak down the wages of English labour, and to reduce the comforts of English labourers, in order that, out of the plun- der and degradation of these honest and good men, the rents of the landlord may be preserved from that necessary fall to the continental level which the monetary measures of the government have imposed. It is singular that ministers should think of coarser food for the people of England. 1 went to parliament, as you know, principally for the purpose of giving them better and more food than they have been latterly accustomed to. The agri- cultural report complains that the price of agricul- tural produce is not remunerative, because the 626 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. people cannot consume the food so fast as it is brought to market, and yet we are now told it is necessary to reduce the consumption of food still further. Is this madness, or is it mere folly? Is it not madness, as well as guilt, to attempt to re- duce the consumption of food at the very moment when the labourers have been put upon short al- lowance, and the farmers are every where com- plaining of the want of a market? All I have to say upon the subject is this : we have had good food before us to-da}^— bread, beef, and beer- such as our fathers have been accustomed to ; may the people perish, if ever they submit to be placed, generally, upon a worse allowance. (Loud cheers.) The old poor laws are, undoubtedly, the Magna Charta of the working classes ; they give protec- tion to the people, and Blackstone and all the great lawyers declare that obedience is only due from the people in exchange for protection from the go- vermnent. The land is the people's farm, in which the landowners have only a limited interest ; they have inherited or bought their estates, subject to the proper maintenance of the poor, and they have no right to shake oif that burden in order to pro- tect their own rents. The right of the labourer is prior atul paramount to that of the landlord ; no rent ought or can be justly paid in England until the wants of the labouring population, giving hon- est labour in exchange for bread, are provided for. CApjjlatise.) This has been the law of England for nearly 300 years ; and for centuries before the barons of England were bound by law to maintain their vassals. What, then, is tliis new madness which attempts to shake oif a right which has ex- isted for so many centuries, and which is coeval with the very foundation of society itself?" SUMMARY OF SAVINGS' BANKS, &c. IN ENGLAND, WALES, AND IRELAND. (From Mr. Tidd Pratt's Pamphlet.) In England, Wales, and Ireland (the population being- 21,661,975) there were, on the 20th November, 1833, 484 Savings' Banks. Two have made no return. The remaining Banks contain — Aver. Beposi- Increase or Decrease of ea. tors. since 1831. Amount. Bep. 244,575 under ,£20 . 25,409 inc, ..;£ 1. 734,709 . ^7 133,968 . 50 . 15,207 inc. . 4,107,435 . 30 56,415 . 100 . 2,594 inc. . 3,856,827 . 6" 19,306 . 150 . 909 inc. , 2,315,957 . 120 6,552 . 200 . 1,174 inc. . 1,610,419 . 168 3,375 above 200 . 545 dec. . 849,606 . 252 467,191 Depositors . 44,748 inc. . .£14,473,953 . .£31 4 593 Friendly Societies 34 inc. . 1,016,107 . 221 3,365 Charitable do. 973 inc. . 225,051 . 6/ 475,155 Accounts . 45,755 inc. . .£15,715,111* . ^33 * The increase in amount invested since November, 1831, is 1,403,464;. IRELAND. In Ireland (the population being 7,767,401) there were, on the 20th November, 1833, 76 Savings' Banks. One has made no return. The remaining Banks contain — 23,630 under .£20 . 4,655 inc. . .£173,525 . .£7 18,262 . 50 . 5,271 inc. . 550,557 . 30 5, ,579 . 100 . 957 inc. . 367,161 . 65 1,242 . 150 . 260 inc. . 148,432 . 119 419 . 200 . 126 inc. . 70,840 . 169 68 above 200 . 3 inc. . 10,667 . 244 49,170 Depositors . ll,272inc, ."^£1, 327,122 ..£27 210 Friendly Societies 24 dec. . 13,089 . 62 492 Charitable do. 149 inc. . 40,507 . 82 49,872 Accounts . 11,397 inc. . .£1,390,718* . .£28 * The increase in amount invested since November, 1831, is 334,893/. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUFFOLK CHRONICLE. Sir — If ever there was a time when the public voice ought to be loudly proclaimed, and their energies exerted against injurious monopoly, surely the present is the time, and I feel much astonished at the long silence of the public under such an in- fliction ; for while almost every article of the ne- cessaries of life, from the great competition, are to be so cheaply purchased, that Flour, the most ne- cessary of all, the very staff of life, is subject to this cruel bane monopoly. The best Red Wheat is now selling from 18s to 20s per coomb ; which, when manufactured, will produce fifteen stone of good Flour, exclusive of the Bran, Pollard, &c., and the general price of Household Flour is 2s per stone — a profit of more than fifty per cent, is too bad. But, Sir, this monopoly, with the millers, is sup- ported by an organized system in Mark Lane, aided by the Farmers themselves, and its injurious effects are most felt in the country. I trust the Poor Law Commissioners will lend their powerful assistance in remedying this evil, and by their efforts break down this nefarious system, by a compulsory order for mills to be erected in Unions and Parishes to grind their own corn by manual labour, thus will two objects be accomplished, employment, and cheap Flour. By inserting the above, you will oblige Sudbury, Oct. 24. AN OLD FARMER. Landlord and Tenant. — It would appear from the proceedings at the different public dinners, that have lately taken place both in England and Scotland, that there is a pretty general wish all over the island on the part of the landholders to give relief to their tenantry, in consequence of the unprecedented low prices of grain ; and that the hackneyed argument of " a bargain is a bargain" is about to be abandoned. We have seen with pleasure, that in the south Earl Talbot has lately had all his extensive farms re-sur- veyed, with a view to a reduction of his rent roll, and although thj report of the surveyors average a dimi- nution of no less than 1 9 per cent, it was immediately acted upon by his lordship. It was stated at the dinner lately given to Sir George Chetwynd, that he had reduced the rents of his tenants for the present year from 20 to 30 per cent. Lord Bagot and seve- ral other noblemen and gentlemen in England have followed the praiseworthy example thus set them, so that English farmers are again lifting up their heads with fair prospects before them. In Scotland, too, the symptoms are encouraging, and not a few of our landed proprietors have also of la^e acted most libe- rally to their tenants. When we hear Earl Grey telling tlie countr}^ on his retiring from office, that nothing can give relief to agriculturists hut landlords reducing their rents — when we are told, as we were by Sir George Murray the other day, in addressing his constituency in Perthshii'e, that he was perfectly convinced the present low prices of grain would never enable tenants to pay rents so high as they generally were, and that he was determined to strain every nerve to obtain lor farmers an adequate relief in some shape or other, we think we can anticipate the near approach of by-gone daj's, when the chief happiness of a proprietor was found in seeing his tenantry thriving under him. If the generous doings of Earl Talbot — the advice of Earl Grey — the opinion and promised exertions of Sir George Murray, and many other liberal and patriotic gentlemen in the country, make no impression in the way of reducing THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 527 rent, we fondly hope our landed proprietors may take a hint from the speech which the Duke of Buccleuch addressed to the members of the Eskdale and Lid- desdale Cattle Show, which appeared in our paper a few days ago — a speech which every landlord and tenant thronghout the country should frequently pe- ruse, particularly when about to enter into contracts with each other. Corn Rents. — Some idea of the great reduc- tion in the average price of Wheat during the last year (says a correspondent) may be gathered from the fact, that a farmer 'of this neighbourhood, who rents his farm at a corn rent (that is, according to the average price of wheat in Devizes market), and which farm consists of about 700 or 800 acres, 200 acres only being corn land, will have to pay three hundred pounds less rental this year than he did last 3^ear. ]MusHR00MS. — It is generally supposed that boiling an onion with mushrooms is a sure test of their goodness, since the onion becomes black if the)^ are unwholesome. This test, however, has been re- peatedly tried and found ineffectual, the onion pre- serving the same colour when boiled with toad-stools as when with genuine mushrooms. Curious Statement concerning the Peri- odical Mortality of the Human Race. — Our limits are insufficient to enable us to give the entire table of mortality as furnished by the official autho- rities ; we have yet thought it necessary to note the first seven periods separately, as illustrative of the great excess of mortality among infant males compared with females. The average of the quinquennial periods (except in the cases annexed), will in general furnish the annual sum of mortality. At the termination of the first twelve years about one-third of those born are with the departed ; the proportion being against males in the ratio of 855 to 732 females (nearly). After this term (12 years) to the age of 44— the middle period of life, and by far most hazardous to women — the com- parative mortality shows a different result ; being as 46 females to 41 males. At the termination of this period, when procreation ceases, female life is compa- ratively the most secure ; the average mortality from the ages of 45 to 65, being about as 63 males to 60 fe- males. The comparative security of life subsequent to this is slightly in favor of males. The tables show a great excess of mortality among females ; but it should be remarked, that the excess of female population after this period of life is nearly twelve per cent, over the male (see table of ages), and the ratio of mortality is hence by so much greater, without indicating any com- parative insecurity of life. In collating this table from the official documents before us, we cannot but remark the extraordinary mortality it evinces at the termi- nation of each decade of man's life, from the age of thirty years. In every instance from thirty years of age and upwards, the mortality in the year which ter- minates the decade, very greatly exceeds that in the preceding and succeeding years : as a matter somewhat curious, we shall show these instances : — A PARODY Age. Mortality. 29 26,630 Kf-SO 31,627 31 23,201 39 23,778 B^-40 33,513 41 20,939 49 23,689 Bd-SO 33,527 51 20,911 Age. Mortality. 59 25,782 03-60 43,273 61 26,084 69 33,038 B::^70 53,953 71 32,162 79 32,009 K^80 45,617 81 27,425 This strikes us as something extraordinary ; it seems to say, that at these periods a man is under the influ- ence of some physical change, when he either surren- ders or renews his life lease. The disciples of the pro- found Cuvier can perhaps explain this. — Domestic and Financial Condition of Great Britain. On the Song of the " Fine Old English Gentleman." I'll sing you a bran new song. Concerning the empty pate Of a fine young English gentleman, Who had a fine estate ; But who pulled down the old mansion Of his fathers in great haste. And built a cumbrous costly pile In the modern Gothic taste. Like a fine young English gentleman. One of the present time. Unseemly paintings filled his hall. And sporting prints in rows. And fencing foils and boxing-gloves To ward inglorious blows ; And there the roue sat, a sight. In stays and padded clothes, And smoked cigars by scores, to warm His relic of a nose. Like a fine young English gentleman, &c. When not away at race or ring. For Folly's motley host He'd open house by night and day. And made each vice his boast. To women, wine, and chance — a slave ; His health, his wealth, he lost ; And, whilst he kept the game alive. Ne'er stopped to count the cost. Like a fine young English gentleman, &c. But he has mortgaged his last acre To a Jew for ready cash ; Has sold his last ancest'ral oak. And heard its falling crash. The King's Bench now has claimed its own, And settled is his hash. And quondam friends seek other game. As rich a fool and rash. Like a fine young English gentleman, &c. Behold the end of folly here. Of fashion and parade. Of West End hells and fancy belles. Of turf and masqueiade. Avoid the honest tradesman's curse. Whose bills are left unpaid. And the whims and wild vagaries, The unprofitable trade. Of a fine young English gentleman, One cf the present time. S. B. Travelling in Finland. — Travelling in Finland, if we are to credit the Cabinet de Lecture, is ex- tremel)"- cheap, not more than six Hards (or about a penny) a mile for each horse. The light carriages made use of are transported with almost incrediblo celerity, so much so as to frighten most travellers, although unattended with actual danger, attributable exclusively to the skill of the drivers, wlio are fre- quently not more than 12 or 14 years of age. Tra- velling carriages of a light description are drawn by- three borses, of which two are placed in front as witli us, and the third is secured at the side with a single rope ; this lust horse is only made use of to amuse the traveller with his gambols, as he has a long rope to let him out to some distance. Sometimes he puts his nose into tlie windows as if to look at the tra- vellers, and then the conductor is obliged to dis- mount to turn him away, which is invariably done vrith the utmost gentleness, the conductor treating his horse like a pet child. The quickness with which they change hoises at each stage is astonishing. 528 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. SANDFORD PLOUGHING MATCH. This interesting rural Fete took place on Mon- day, Oct. 27, in a field called Soapershill, sixteen acres, on Coomblancy Farm, in the parish of Sand- ford, in the occupation of Mr. John Uphani. The morning was ushered in hy merry peals from the parish hells, and salutes from cannon, which, at an early hour, roused the inhabitants, and all was gaiety throughout the day. At the hospitable mansion of Sir Humphrey Davie, there were several visitors from Exeter and the neighbour- hood. At nine o'clock, the ploughs and teams being all ready (twenty-four in number,) started, at a given signal, and the sight was most gratifying. There were three teams of oxen, the remainder being horses, and the old plan of boys for the purpose of driving was continued, it being considered, by the Sandford Agriculturists, that boys are best brought to be good ploughmen in this way. The work went on with considerable spirit, their being a very numerous attendance of spectators, amounting to above one thousand, among whom were a number of ladies. Sir H. Davie, the patron of this match, liberally provided a most splendid and tasteful dejeune a la fourchette, at his Farm- house, near the field, for the ladies, and a sub- stantial cold collation for the yeomanry and other visitors, of which a large number partook. The ploughing concluded at half-past one o'clock, the work having been admirably executed, with very few exceptions. The following were the ploughs in the field, which competed for the prizes : — OWNEHS. Mr. Norrish Mr. J. Pope, Nathan W.Pope, Esq., Ash. Sir Humphrey Davie Mr. Upham Mr. E. Tremlett(6 oxen) Mr. W. Lake Mr. T. Lake (C oxen) . . . Mr. Norrish Prowse Mr. D. Henwood Mr. Partridge (2 oxen) . . Mr. Harris Mr. Burrington Miss Wreford Mr. Norrish Mr. C. Tremlett Mr. Burrington Mr. Pope, Henstile . . Mr. Partridge, AUer Mr. G. Wreford . . . . PLOUGHMEN. Robert Turner. John Cann. D. Field. William Fisher. Elias Mills. William Drake. Samuel Speare. George E wings. John Roberts. John Lake. John Cann. John Symes. Samuel Horrell. John Bawden. Thomas Forward. PLOUGHBOYS. George Braggs. John Case. Elias Elston. E. Smale. Mortimer. Wm. Morrish. Eddiford. Mr. Snell's plough, worked by John Drew, (a youth who bids fair to become a first-rate plough- man,) in consequence of some irregularity did not compete for the premiums. Mr. Bright's newly- invented plough, which attracted notice, was worked foi- experiment, and not to compete with the others. THE DINNER. About half-past two o'clock, upwards of 120 gen- tlemen and yeomen retired to the spacious and neat girls' school-room, pavtof the building erected by the munificence of Sir H. Davie for the accomodation of the poor children of the parish, who receive a Scriptural and useful education. The Room was handsomely decorated for the occasion, with vvreaths of laurel and other evergreens, interspersed with dahlias and various flowers of the season, which had a very pleasing effect. Sir Humphrey Davie presided on the occasion, with his usual urbanity and social feeling. The Hon. Baronet was supported, on his right, hy the Rev. Hugh Bent, rector of the parish ; H. Brutton, Esq., surgeon; Mr. E. Tremlett, Mr. W. W. EUacott, &c. ; on his left, hy the Rev. W. Babh, curate of the parish; Mr. W. Madge, Mr. P. Francis, jun., W. Pope, Esq., Capt. Clefield, S. Browne, Esq., &c, ; J. Browne, Esq., Sandford, was the Vice-President, and contributed much to the good humour of the evening. 'J'he religious duties, before and after dinner, were performed by the Rev. H. Bent. The dinner was, in every respect, excellent ; and the dessert, from the gardens of the worthy President^ was most handsome. The cloth being removed, the Hon. Chairman pro- posed " The King, and God bless him," which was drunk with three times three, and tremendous cheer- ing. " The Queen and Royal Family," with similar honours. The Chairman then, in a warm eulogium on the rev. gentleman's character, proposed the health of the much respected rector of the parish, the Rev. Hugli Bent, which was drunk with three times three, and one cheer more. Rev. II. Bent rose and returned thanks, amidst much applause. The Rev. Gentleman expressed his warm acknowledgements to the Chairman, for the handsome manner in which the toast had been pro- posed, and to the company for the flattering reception they had been pleased to give it. 'i'he Vice-President then gave " Our worthy Patron, Sir Humphrey Davie." — Drunk in bumpers, with nine times nine, followed by long-continued cheering. Sir H. Davie, Bart., rose to return thanks, and was again greeted with a volley of cheeis. He thanked them for the manner in which the toast had been pro- posed, and for the cordiality with which it had been received. If there was any time or any place what- ever, which could afford him the greatest possible gratification, on hearing such a toast, it was in that room and in that place, surrounded as he was by his parishioners and neighbours ; they could scrutinize his errors but he must say that their conduct towards him was in accordance with the words of a celebrated poet, for they were indeed "To his virtues very kind. And to his vices very blind." — (Laughter and applause.) Having passed the earliest time of his life in the parish of Sandford, although he had been long out of it, yet the recollection of his early days had never forsaken him ; and the man- ner in which he was received on his return among them, and the continued good feeling he had ex- perienced was such, that it called upon him to do all he could in return, and this he should he always most happy to do. In adverting to the business of the day, he said, he had to apologise for taking the chair a second time on such an occasion. (No, no.) He was very friendly to such societies, and he would do all he could to support them annually, especially in Sandford (cheers) ; but he must protest against being the annual chairman, as there were many gentlemen among them who could better explain practically the result of their proceedings. He did not profess to he a competent judge of ploughing, and therefore he could only state generally, that there was a great improvement in the work over last meet- ing, especially amongst the boys, which was likely to prove a great benefit. (Cheers.) They did not profess THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 529 to be a general Society, but a branch of the Devon Agricultural Societ}', and were de-irous of seeing such brandies spring- up in other ]iarishes ; but from various difficulties, that object had not yet been ob- tained. He thanked those gentlemen who liad, from other parishes, honoured them with their attendance, and begged to assure tbem that there was not the least feeling of envy, but that they were fully awai-e tliat nothing but the difficulties of obtaining a field sufficiently large, and other accommodation, pre- vented malcliesbeing got up in other parishes. ( Hear, hear.) 'Jhe iion. baronet then noticed, with regard to the ploughs, a stranger who was in the field, tlie implement being the invention of the owner, and said, he lioped if any advantage was to be derived from it, the inventor would have its full benefit ; as It must be obvious that in improvements in this valuble instrument ought to be encouraged. He trusted tlie sti angers who had been present on the occasion and witnessed the proceedings of the day, had been gratified, and that the arrangements had been such as would induce them to come again on anotber occasion, and be the means of causing other societies to spring up in otlier parishes. 'Jhe hon. baronet concluded by proposing " Success to the Sandford Annual Ploughing Match." — Drunk with three times three. " The healtlis of the gentlemen who have so kindly acted as Judges on the present occasion, Mr. Francis, sen., Mr. Norris, and Mr. Snell," was proposed by tlie Chairman, accompanied with well-merited re- marks on their ability as practical agriculturists, and the impartiality of their decisions. — Drunk with three times three. Mr. Snell returned thanks. He said, if they had erred in their judgment, it was from the head and not from the heart, for they had been most desirous of deciding impartially ; they had done their best, and he hoped to the satisfaction of all concerned. fCheers.J Mr. NoRHis said, in allusion to the work in the field, the boys had come on exceedingly well, not having been beaten by above one or two of the men. (^Hear, hear.) Mr. Francis, sen. admired the plan of these Societies, which he considered of great utilit)', not only f.r the advancement of agriculture, but also of morality, by the premiums awarded to servants and apprentices of good character. He wished such a society was established in his parish, (Crediton,) but iliey were not so fortunate as Sandford, in having so noble and generous a leader as the worthy Presi- dent, Sir H. Davie. (Immense cheering.) Mr. Francis then adverted to the ploughing, noticed several of the pieces of work, and recommended one or two who had not been awarded premiums, as worthy of some reward from the Commitiee, the particulars of which will be seen by a reference to the list of premiums. Mr. Snell then proposed as a toast, " The Yeo- manry of Sandford, and success to their undertaking." — Drunk with three times three. " The Committee of Management," with three times three. Mr. Elias Tremlett, one of the Committee, being loudly called on, i-cse and returned thanks for him- self and his brother Committee-men, amidst loud cheering. He said it was highly gratifying to them to see so many of the parish and neighbourhood pre- sent ; they had expected more of the aristocracy of tlie district, from whom he had had personal as- surances of their best wishes for the success of the Society, and that they would be present on the occa- sion, and he had no doubt unavoidable circumstances had prevented them. (Hear, hear.) They were but an infant society, which had sprung out of the Parent Society, and he hoped they would go on progressing ; but it could not be expected that the child should all at once become as strong as the mother, or carry on its operations on so extensive a scale. (Hear, hear.) He was gratified that an improvement had taken place on the present occasion over the last year ; and hoped they they would still go on improving. He did not desire them to be like the frog in the fable, swell till they burst — (laughter and loud cheering) — but rather like tlie mole, to pursue their course silently, but surely, doing the work. (Great ap- plause.) As to the operation in the field that day, there was a marked improvement in the boys, and the men, generally speaking, had done their work well. He trusted the premiums to be given would have the effect of stimulating both workmen and boys to incre;ised exertions, and especially that the rewards to the apprentices who had not been long- out of their times, would prove an incentive to honesty and industry. (Lmid cheers.) After a few other observations, the worthy yeoman, in a just eulogium on the charitable disposition, amiable man- ners, and general excellent character of Miss Davie, (sister to the President) proposed that lady's health, which was drunk Avith nine times nine, and con- tinued applause. The President, on behalf of Miss Davie, returned his acknowledgment for the handsome manner in which her health had been proposed and drunk. She was, he said, devoted to the good of the poor of the parish, and a warm supporter of this Society. He was happy to state, that since the new regulations had permitted it, Miss Davie's name was added to the list of annual subscribers. (Loud cheering.) Sir H. Davie then read the following- List of Premiums, For Men above 21 years of age : Best, Wm. Fisher, ploughman to JMr. W, Pope £l 10 0 2nd, Dan. Field, ploughman to Mr. Geo. Field 15 0 3rd, John Roberts, ploughman to Mr. Wm. Lake 0 15 0 4th, John Cann, ploughman to Mr. Wm. Norrish 0 10 0 For Youths under 21 years of age : 1st, E. Elstone, ploughboy to Mr, E. Tremlett £l 5 0 2nd, W. Morrish, plougboy to Mr. T. Partridge 1 0 0 3rd, S. Smale, ploughboy to Mr. G. Bur- rington 0 12 6 4th, John Case, ploughboy to Mr, R. Norrish 0 7 6 The two labourers, to whom the premiums for living longest on the same farm, or under one master, were also called on ; the first premium of 11, for an Agricultur-al Labourer belonging to the parish, who had served the longest, either on the same farm or under one master, and who can bring the best testi- monials for honesty, sobriety, and general good con- duct from his employer, was awarded to Thomas Lock, who had served 45 years on the same estate. The Agricultural Labourer who has lived as above, and whose testimonials are in the next degree satis- factory, a premium of 10s, to Edward Lake, having served on one est-.ite 38 years. The premium for the Agricultural Labourer who has brought up the largest family with the least paro- chial aid, and who can bring the best testimonials as to character, 1/, was given to Robert Dally ; and the 530 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. next premium to the Agricultural Labourer, as ahove, and whose testimonials are in the next degree satis- factory, a premium of 10s, to Robert Galling, The last premium was for a certain sum of mone}- to the best Male and Female Apprentices, whose Indentures have expired tince the 4th of November, 1833, and who can produce the best testimonials as to character for honesty and sobriety to the Com- mittee ; To George Horrel), who has served hisap- prentice at the Farm of Sir H. P. Davie, Eart., and has produced a character as above £0 10 0 To John Bowden, who has served his ap- prentice with ftlr. W. Harris, and has produced a good character 0 10 0 To Wm. Billing, who has served his ap- prentice with Mr. Wm. Partidge, at West Sandford, and has produced a good character 0 10 0 Several other Labourers were recommended as deserving reward, which was agreed to be determined on at some future day. The successful candidates (who with the other competitors had been regaled with a good substantial dinner and a plentiful supply of beer in an adjoining room) were then called in, and on being informed of the prizes respectivelyawarded them, were addressed in a most suitable manner by the President, who dwelt particularly on the great value of long and faithful services, accompanied with good character, and impressed upon servants and apprentices, that however desirable it might be to become skilful ploughmen, a good character was esteemed of still greater value. Mr. TnEMLETT then proposed, that those who re- ceived premiums for good character, should have a statement of it written out, together with the pre- mium awarded, date, &c., which they might take with them in case of removal. — -The suggestion was received witli loud cheering, and unanimously agreed to. " The health of the Visitors who have honoured us with their company this day." Drunk with three times three. S. Browne, Esq., Crediton, returned thanks for himself and the other strangers present. They had all experienced much gratification at the progress of the day, and ielt much pleasure at its result. Rev. H. Bent proposed in com[ilimentavy terms, the healths of the esteemed relatives of the President, Col. and Mrs. Ferguson. Drunk with three times three. Sir H. Davie returned thanks. Mr. W. Moore, Crediton, as one of the visitors, expressed his acknowledgments for the manner in which they had been mentioned. He felt very great satisfaction at the sentiments expressed by the Rev. H. Bent on the tithe question ; as, if his principles upon the subject were acted upon all over the king- dom, it would have the effect of producing peace, good feeling, and tranquillity among tlie wliole body of the landed interest and the Clergy throughout England ; whereas without it, he saw nothing but an apprehension of anarchy and confusion. He made some very apt allusions to the great value of the plough, and concluded by proposing — "May the plough for ever flourish!" Drunk with three times three. " The healths of the Vice-President, Mr. John Browne, who had so mucli contributed to the con- viviality of the evening." Drunk vrith three times three and a volley. The Vice-President returned thanks, and proposed the health of Capt. Clefield, which was drunk with three times three; and the Gallant Captain acknow- ledged the compliment. The healths of the Rev. ]\Ir. Hunt and the Rev. Mr. Babb were drunk with due honours, and the rev. gentlemen returned thanks in appropriate terms. air. H. Brutton, of Morchard, Mr. W. Morgan, Mr. C.Tremlett, Mr. Amory, delighted the company with favourite songs ; and the health of these gentle- men was drunk respectively, amidst loud cheering ; after which each acknowledged the compliment, in suitable terms. The liealths of Mr. Philip Francis, Jun., and other yeomen, were also drunk with great applause. ]Mr. Ei.iAS Tremlett proposed " The Public Press, and the gentlemen of that profession who have honoured us with their attendance this day." Drunk with three times three. Mr. R. Trewman, Proprietor of the " Exeter Flying Post," returned thanks in a very able address, in the course of which he alluded to the necessity of supporting the agricultural interest ; the interesting proceedings of the day, which had given general Scitisfaction ; and the estimable character of the worthy President, — amidst great applause. Mr. Samuel Carey Richards, for the "Exeter and Plymouth Gazette," also acknowledged the to;ist. Soon after eight o'clock the President retired, amidst the most deafening plaudits, which continued for several minutes. Mr. Elias Tremlett was then called to the Chair, and presided over a jovial party, which broke up at an earl}' hour, the wliole of the interesting proceed- ings of the day, in the field and in the dinner-room, having passed off most admirably. The Brewer. — He comes over-night to see to the sticks and coal ; and just tastes how the old ale is, and pronounces it capital. He takes a crust and a half- pint or so, to recruit his strength against the next day's work. He looks out his candles and sees whether the malt be ready ground, and in the right place. If a careful man, he also fills his copper. He is generally a man of great fore-knowledge — asticipating over- night that he shall want something to eat before break- fast in the morning. He, therefore, takes a store of provisions and a bottle of the old ale, with the key of the brewhouse, to be in readiness. The morning's work commences at two, and by the time you have arisen, he has mashed doum the malt in yoHr vessel, and the eating and drinking in his own ! and is now ready for breakfast. After breakfast he lets off the wort, of which he tastes, to see how it is ; and takes another pint of the old before luncheon. At luncheon he takes some cold meat and a little moi'e of the old, and an- other pint between that time and dinner. Before din- ner he inquires about the hops, and always advises you to have the highest in price. He generally gathers a short qnantity — because (as he says) too much water spoils the beer. At dinner time the beer is ready to boil, and you are all in the fidgets lest he should let the copper boil over whilst trying another pint of the old. He has another at four o'clock, and another or two at supper. The new beer having been set a working for the night, the next morning early the brewer is with you again to see that all is right ; when he will call in two of his old cronies, Jack Drinkwater and Tom Hatemalt, to help him taste of the new. He will then ask for another pint of the old, and prepares for tun- ning, tasting of the new all the time, whilst you eja- culate to yourself inwardly, " I wonder how he finds room for both old and new." A few days elapse, when he calls again to " hop down," and he takes his fee with another drop of the old, drinking your health at the same time, and wishing (you have no doubt con- scientiously) that the new beer may be no worse than the old. ' G, P. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 531 THE WOOL TRADE. FAILURES. LATE Embarrassments such as have lately been experi- enced in the commercial world, cannot be expected to occur without prejudice to the state of trade in general. Not only is mercantile confidence in the undercurrent of transactions impaired, but portions of real active capital find their usual avenues of employment closed upon them, and thus a stagnation ensues far greater in extent, than the individual case of misfortune, out of which it arises, might appear likely to produce. But in addition to the share which the clothing trade of this district has to bear of the mischief caused by the recent domestic failures, it has a new and sepa- rate difhculty to contend with in the unlooked-for stoppage of some great wool houses on tiie continent, in consequence of which an apprehension has seized upon the public mind that large quantities of wool will have to be forced upon the market at a great sa- ciifice, and that a serious reduction in prices generally will therefore be submitted to. It is worth while to inijuire how far this apprehen- sion is likely to be realized. It seems to be pretly generally established, that the prices obtained for wool during the clip, and at the fairs of 1833, were fair and reasonable ; remunerative to the grower, and af- fording the manufacturer an opportunity of realizing a profit upon his goods. But from that period of time began the rage of spe- culation for higher prices, and up to the end of that year, the advance upon the prices of the clip in sum- mer had reached full 50 per cent. Then came the subsequent stagnation — the advanced prices became merely nominal — the manufacturers suspended their operations, and at last it was found necessary to give way. As the period for the new clip of this present year approached, the necessity for clearing off the old stocks became more and more pressing ; at length the old prices were again submitted to, and, taking the clip of 1834 throughout, the prices fetched were not higher than those of 1833 — so they have continued since, and so they appeared likely to remain, buyer and seller, grower and consumer, mutually satisfied, until the present moment, when these untoward failures of certain German wool houses, occurring, unfortu- nately, just at the same period as the recent failures in London, although perfectly distinct from them in every respect, have thrown a gloom over the market and led to a feeling that the article is an unsafe one to purchase. The glance here given, however, at the progress of prices from the summer of 1833 to the summer of 1834, must make it sufficiently clear that no great mischief can have been done by speculating houses, in their purchases at the latter period, because the prices then current were the prices at which the flower and bulk of the clip have been freely bought, and wrought up, by tiie consumer. Some houses tiiere were— it was stated at t!ie time, five months ago, in this paper, and in other sources of intelligence — who did purchase ratlicr freely, with the view of warehousing tlieir stock, under the expecta- tion that prices would again reacli their extravagant elevation of last winter. Such houses may in all pro- bability have embarrassed themselves, in otherways.by their tenacious adherence to this unfounded expecta- tion, but still they will have bought in at the same reasonable prices as others, when all excitement had passed away, and the quantity to be thus unduly forced upon the market, in consequence of theii im- prudence, cannot be so large as to effect a ptnnanent general reduction on the whole existing stocks. The speculation was foolish — the parties pay the penalty in their own ruin, and this, it is to be hoped, will be the extent of the mischief without involving the inter- ests of the trade in general. The London Press, however, has been very loud, and has expended much virtuous indignation on the theme. The speculators have been denounced as having by their practices raised the prices of Foreign wool far above their natural level, to a poirt at which it is quite impossible they can be maintained. We have endeavoured to show the fallacy of tiiis notion — we think we can explain its origin. The same period, between the middle and the end of 1833, during which foreign wools were rising so rapidly, witnessed an equally rapid advance in Englisii wools also, but here the parallel ends ; for although the latter did give way, something, before the follow- ing clip of 1834, yet they never came down to within 30 per cent, of the prices which existed before the ad- vance began, and at this present moment long wools are again at least 50 per cent, higher than those prices. Here then is the sore point — here is the ano- maly which may have induced an opinion that the wool trade in general is in an artificial state. Take the English wool trade alone, and there is ample room for the application of such an opinion. The worsted trade, for the last twelve months, has languished under the oppression of these high prices — the spinners and manufacturers have all along loudly complained that adequate prices, in proportion, were not to he had for their goods — the mills have conse- quently been kept running short time, or oliiorwise partially employed, and purchases of wool have been made as sparingly as possible, yet prices have been maintained in this unreasonable manner. Under all these circumstances it cannot be questioned that a great deal of wool must be in existence, held on spe- culation, somewhere. The produce of the last clip was abundant, and the consumption since has been comparatively light. The probability is that a much larger portion than usual remains in the hands of the growers. 'I'he spectacle of the advance in prices which took place for six or eight months, after they had sold their clip of 1833, raised their expectations prodigi- ously, as to the prices they would get for the following clip of thi; year, and when the time came, although circumstances were altered, yet they were very diffi- cult to deal with. They are not so readily wrought upon as tlie mercantile part of the community in periods of excitement, but when they once gave way to the illusion, they cling to it with proportionate ob- stinacy, yet we may expect that the moment they are convinced of the insecurity of their position, it will be a sauve qui pent movement with them, who shall be first in the market. In the meantime, the same flattering appearances have induced them, for some time past, to turn their attention more to the production of wool, and the low prices of other agricultural and grazing produce have also contributed to elevate wool into an article of pri- mary importance in their estimation. A Northern Paper, in an intelligent review of rural affairs, and of the late harvest, says, — " In former limes there used to be a connexion or relation between " horn, corn, wool, and yarn," but judging from the experience of the present season the analogy no longer exists. In fact, the statistics of sheep and wool, when weighed against the statistics of grain and cattle, will be found completely at the antipodes of each other. Cases have been mentioned 632 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. to us in which an ewe grazed for twelve months left fully as much for keep — say from 20s. to 30s. as a two-jear old bullock, wintered and summered for the same space of time. This is astonishing, and but fur the great rot in England, and consequent short stock of wool, would almost induce the belief that mutton is generally preferred to beef, and that the flocks that bleat are fast superseding the herds that low. In or- dinary times tlie good not unfrequently helps the bad ; but when grain and black cattle arc alike low in price, it is impossible to conceive how the bulk of ara- ble farmers can, in the nature of things, rceet their engagements, unless it be by breaking in on capital. All of them are not sheep-feeders, and even such as are, know not what may happen in spring, 1835." This statement indicates the stimulus which has been given to the breeding of sheep in the North, and no doubt the like effect will have been produced in other parts. The concluding remarks are signifi- cant : — " Wool is at present steady in price, and is ex- pected to continue so for some months to come. The manufacturers and staplers are looking at each other ; and were the latter to give way, and overstock the market, however slightly, the consequence, it is be- lieved, would be an immediate fall." The prices of wool — English wool in particular — appear for the last dozen years or more, to have obeyed a pretty legular law of ebb and flow, each movement oc- cupying a period of about four years. Up to the end of 1825, when the panic set in, prices had been pro- gressively advancing. From that period to December 1829, there was a regular fall, and prices then reached the lowest point at which the present mercantile ge- neration have perhaps ever known ihenr — thence up to December 1833, the flood set in again, and a maxi- mum was reached — 28/. per pack became the price for a sort, which at the preceding point of time had been a drug at 10/., and which, even the bubble year of 1825, had not fetched more than 18/ ! We appear now to have again passed the culminat- ing point. Every thing tends to encourage the ex- pectation that the supply, for some years to come, will be regularly on the increase, whilst we have small prospect of an augmented demand foi goods in pro- portion. Unless, therefore, we vote history " an old alma- nack," and experience of no value, we ought to pre- pare ourselves for what is to come. — Leeds Intelli- gencer. WELSH FARMING. (continued.) With their sheep in Pembrokeshire they have but little good management, in fact, all their skill, capital, and best provision of food is alike con- fined to the breeding and feeding of the beast. The sheep have to rough it. I saw one or two farms where sheep were professedly made a prin- cipal stock, but even here there was nothing like management, little or no preparation for them in turnips, rape, or other esculent crops, and for which system of farming a great portion of the land is exactly suited. Instead of consulting the peculiarity of the sheep in temper and constitution as to the frequent change of lood, and, above all, keeping the ground on which they are feeding as free from their own soil as possible, by driving them off at night, and when intended to be fatted by putting them separate, and in small lots of ten, fifteen, or twenty, the Welsh farmer drives all the sheep in his possession into one field, whether it be pasture, seeds, or clover, and there they remain day and night as long as the field will hold them, stenched, lapped, and scoured, on feed that would keep them in a healthy thriving state, provided it was properly managed. The \Velsh breed of sheep is seldom seen in Pembrokeshire, and one would naturally suppose what few sheep they have would be chosen for qualifications peculiarly adapted to local ch'cumstances, as for instance, to contend with a humid showery climate, a sheep with a short impervious fleece would be one essential ob- ject, and where, as stock, they are not made a first consideration, but as they are in Wales entirely subservient to the beast, that the constitution and hardiness of the sort would be attended to ; but unless I am mistaken in my estimate of the Lei- cester sheep (for with a very few exceptions the sheep here are Leicester, or Leicester crossed with the West country Down) , they have a complete dis- regard to the above observances. It appears to me that the South Down sheep with their short thick fleeces and capital constitutions are better suited for the purpose of the Welsh farmer than any other description. I am now about to send a few young ewes into Pembrokeshire to raise a stock from, and as they are going to gentlemen who have both the means and inclination to give them a fair trial, I have no doubt but in a few years the Soutli Down sheep will become the favourite breed of that part of the world. As I have before ob- served, the skill and capital of the Welsh farmer is principally directed to the breeding of beasts, so it follows as a matter of course that their prin- cipal attention ami best manure is bestowed on the pa^ture land. The richest and most level land is generally in grass, and the plough is pretty much confined to the land of inferior quality (I wish to be understood that I advance this as a principle, being quite aware of many exceptions, indeed I saw some very excellent arable land, and under a good system of cultivation, too.) This being the case, it will easily be imagined that there is an immense difference in the apparent fertility of the soil, and this difference occurs in fields that adjoin, where, of course, it is more perceptible, and it is often diflicult to reconcile the fact to one's mind, but when it is considered that land of " hill and dale" always varies in quality, and added to this, the fact that the best land here is laid to grass, and has the best manure bestowed on it, and that the poorest land is generally ploughed and kept under what an English farmer would term a very inju- dicious system of cropping, is deprived of farm- yard manure, for whenever it gets a dressing, it is usually of lime and mould, it will not be so much a matter of surprise that on looking over the hedge of a rich meadow, you see a very poor arable field immediately adjoining ; for although lime no doubt is a very valuable dressing, if used as an alter- nation with manure composed of decayed vegetable, still if it be used time after time on the same land, and no other description of manure laid on, it will undoubtedly not only lose its good effect, but he- come an injury to the land. The greater part of the arable land that I had an opportunity of seeing is of a light friable nature, and what we should term in England a good four lain soil ; the general character of the land is dry, but there are many instances of springs which might very easily be carried off, but being often neglected, the water arising from them injures several acres, when per- haps at a trifling expense they might be reduced to a local injury of a few rods only. Draining in I Wales does not appear to me to have as yet become THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 533 general, at least I saw a great deal of land very much injured by springs, and wiiich injury might by a comparatively small expense be entirely ob- viated. The famous system of wedge draining, which costs in this country only 3d. per rod, could not generally be adopted in Pembrokeshire, on ac- count of the subsoil which is generally stony, but where a stratum of clay forms the subsoil, it is the cheapest and most effective of any plan of drain- ing I have ever yet seen. There is no source in agriculture to which capital can be so profitably directed as in draining wet land, and especially in draining suchland,thatis wet from springs, and not from a retentive subsoil ; because in the former case the carrying off of one spring will often lay many acres dry ; on the other hand, in case of a retentive subsoil, the drains are required to be placed very nearly together, and this not locally, as in case of springs, but generally throughout the field. I have spoken of the greater part of the arable land that I saw in Pembrokeshire, as being calculated particularly for the growth of turnips and barley, and having also observed that the Welsh are but sorry arable farmers. I will merely instance the usual rotation of cropping this de- scription of land, and which I think it will be ad- mitted is sufficient to warrant my observation on their farming skill. On almost every farm I ob- served a portion of the arable land in temporary grass of from three to four j'ears Lay. A part of this old Lay is broken up every spring, and forms the wheat Lain for the ensuing year, by be- ing made a summer fallow. On this land, during the summer, there is of course an immense deal of work to do to get rid of the couch grass which has grown and luxuriated during the time the ground has been laid down ; in fact, unless it be a very fine summer, it must be quite impossible to get this land into any thing like fair condition, being of a light and easy tillage, the couch grass has formed the whole field into one complete wig. and although the past summer has been })eculiarly favourable for fallowing, nevertheless when I was in Wales early in the autumn, I saw many acres of fallow that appeared to have triumpheil over all attacks from the plough and harrow. Neither in this case is the farmer to blame as far as regards the carrying on with spirit attempts to clean this foul land, but it is the badness of the principle of laying this description of soil in grass for more than one year, that occasions his unremitting la- bour to be " labom- in vain." The consequence is that in nine summers in ten it must be impossible to get these, old Leys by the process of one summer fallow clear from grass, and thus when the wheat crop comes off the land is in a state that an Eng- lish farmer would despair of bringing round for turnips b}' the ensuing iMidsummer ; but here this land is to be sown with barley, and if the land is to be used easy, as it is termed, seeds are sown with the barley, and the field is again laid down for three or four years ; and if, on the contrary, from circumstances, the land lie under a severe regimen of cultivation, seeds are not sown with the barley, but the ground, is prepared, at least attempted to be'j prepared, for oats the ensuing spring ; thea after the oats are off another crop of barley is taken, with which seeds are sown for the purpose of again laying tlie ground to temporary grass, and this is a system followed on land tliat is generally adapted for the four course husbandry. I am. Sir, Your obedient and very humble servant, AGRICULTOR. ANCIENT BRITISH AGRICULTURE. The agricultural picture of the kingdom, as it is represented in Doomsday Book, at the Norman con- quest, describes the country as generally in unin- closed pasturage, or covered with vast tracts of forest and unproductive coppice. Arable land is, indeed, constantly specified in the surve)^ and seemingly bears a large proportion to the size of the manors ; but this arises from the omission of the waste and common pasture, which usually formed the largest part, and we may judge how small must have been the quantity actually under the plough, from the amoimt of the population, which have been calculated at only l,504,9i?5 souls. The woods were preserved both for fuel and for the sujiport of hogs, which fed upon the oak and beech-mast, and formed a large portion of the sustenance of all classes ; and numerous rabl)it-war- rens were maintained, chiefly to supply furs for the dress of the higher orders. Great part of the north- ern districts, which were then less peopled than the rest of England, was tenantel by numerous herds of deer, — among which it has been conjectured, that the moose existed,— together with the wolf, the wild- boar, and the wild-bull. Some descendants of the latter are still preserved in their wild state at Chil- lingham Castle, and a few other ancient mansions in the north : they are invariably of a cream colour ; their muzzle and the tips of the horns black, and the whole inside of the ear, with a portion of the up- per part of a pale red ; but it is somewhat singular, that those at Gisburne Park, Yorkshire, are hornless. They are noticed by Lbland, in the reign of Henry, VIII. ; and even so late as that of Queen Elizabeth, swine ran wild over the fells of Lancaslure and Cumberland, and in the Weald of Kent. It is com- monly supposed that the race of wolves was destroy- ed in the reign of Edgar, about the middle of the tenth century ; but their existence in that of Stephen has been proved by the discovery of the record of a grant by Conan, Duke of Britany, to the monks of the abbey of Fois, in Wensley Dale, " of pasturage and grass in the adjoining forest," but forbidding them to use any mastiffs to drive away the wolves. AVith such incentives to the chase, we cannot won- der that it was pursued with ardour, both as a pas- time well-suited to the robust habits of the age, as well as an agreeable means of procuring many deli- cacies for the table, which, in winter especially, was otherwise but ill-supplied. Rigorous laws were ac- cordingly enacted for the preservation of the game : poaching was more severely punished than by mo- dern landlords ; and it was even more penal to kill a stag than a man. Those edicts have been attributed to the Norman kings ; but a code of laws reserving the right of free-warren to the monarch and his no- bles is supposed to have been promulgated in the reign of Canute. By lh°se, the freeman forfeited his liberty, and the slave his life, for slaying a stag- gon, or royal beast; though the murder of the for- mer might be commuted on the payment of two hundred shillings, and of the latter for half that sum. But after the Norman conquest, freemen trespassing against the king's venison \vere punished by mutila- tion, or the loss of sight— pen.d ties which appear to have been inflicted with no sparing hand under some sovereigns, and existed, with some modification per- haps in their execution, until the accession of Edward I., when all the sanguinary part of the code was re- pealed, and pecuniary fines were substituted. Although it cannot be denied that the severity of these laws was inconsistent with a liberal spirit of legislation, it is yet probable that the security of the game was not their only object, and that their aim was partly the prevention of greater crime than its 534 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. destructiou. The great abundance of animals of the chase held out a most alluring encouragement to idle vagabonds, who were thereby enabled to live in plenty and in freedom: the vast extent of the covert aftord- ed them protection; and, from poachers, they becanie robbers. There was not, indeed, the same incentive to petty thieving that exists at present, nor were their depredations committed with the lurking caution of the midnight poacher, who steals upon his prey and snares it ; they pursued it openly, and there was that manly daring in the wild adventure of their woodland lives, which excites an interest in its suc- cf ss, and creates an excuse for its lawless violence ; but, however romantic the feats of Robin Hood and liis associates, and, however hallowed in our recol- lection bv^ the charms of poetry, they were not the less the deeds of outlaws and of ruffians. 'Ihe privilege of free-warren, although widely ex- ercised, was not so injurious to the farmers as might be supposed, for the greater part of the land in their occupation was in common-field, and the alternate system of corn and green crops not being understood, tlie onlv crop upon the ground in winter was wheat ; there were no fences to break, and few trespasses could have been seriously complained of. Neither was the game generally pursued on horseback. The stag was more frequently the victim of the bow and arrow, than of the regular chase : a document in the department of the Comptroller of the wardrobe to Edward I., stating that the expense of bis majesty's fox-hounds for the year 1300, contains no ch-.irge for horses except for one to carry the nets; from which it has been inferred, that even the attendants of the royal hunts followed the sport on foot. It may in- terest some sportsmen of the present da^ to know, that the entire charge of the pack amounted to 231. 7s. Id. The expulsion of the inhabitants from part of Hampshire, by William the Conqueror, to form the hunting-ground of the New Forest, has been a theme of repi'oach with all historians ; but tyrannical as was that act, and a similar devastation of the country be- tween the Tyne and the Humber, under pretence of guarding against an invasion of the Danes, yet neither these, nor the subsequent encroachments of succeeding monarchs, in extending the bounds of the forests, could have had any very sensible effect on the agriculture of a country, the far greater portion of which was still in a state of absolute waste, and as little valued as the wilds of America at the pre- sent hour. There is, indeed, reason to suppose that it suffered temporary injury through the rapacity of the nobles in dispossessing the ancient proprietors of the soil ; and we are told by an ancient writer, that in the reign of Stephen, " to till the ground was to plough the sea ; the earth bore no corn, for the land was all laid waste." But the accounts transmitted to us by Saxon chroniclers, of the conduct of their invaders, are to be regarded with suspicion : the Nor- mans were certainly more advanced in the knowledge of agriculture than tlie inhabitants, and, from their superior civilization it may be presumed that they were at least as solicitous to enjoy its benefits ; nor can it be doubted, that their example finally tended to its improvement. — Hereford Times. A fat ox was slaughtered at Llanfair, Montgomery- shire, last week, by Messrs. Newton and Williams, butchers, of Newtown, the four quarters of which weighed 2,028 lbs; the hide, 188 lbs; rough fat, 168 lbs. He was fed by Mr Edwards of Rhewhiri- arth, near Llanfair, Montgomeryshire. THE POOR-LAW AMENDMENT BILL. The most important of all the changes which tills measure effects in the poor-law relates to the power exercised by Justices of the Peace in its administration. The BjH, as originally framed, took from the magistracy every particle of the authority tliey have exercised in ordering relief from the very first institution of a compulsory provision for the poor in tlie reign of Richard II. up to the present day. The board of guardians were made sole judges of the propriety of relieving or not in all individual cases, though bound to follow the general rules of the central commissioners. This was a fearful change in tlie fundamental machinery of the ancient poor-law. Some little improve- ment has howe\er been made in this part of the bill, but it still remains in an unsatisfactory state. In parishes which iiave neither a select vestry, nor any local act. Justices may still order relief in the workhouse, mider the limitations of the 9th of George I. In unions, established under the act, two Justices may order relief om^ of ihe workhouse to persons whom they can certify " of their own knowledge" to be wholly incapable of work, from old age or infirmity. While by a strange incon- sistency, no power is left to them to make such an order in parishes not forming part of an union — in which their interference is far more likely to be needed . In all parishes power has been reserved to magistrates to O'-der temporary relief to casual ])Oor, in cases of sudden and urgent necessity ; but there is no appeal given to the settled pauper, not visibly incapacitated from doing any work, who may be refused relief in any extremity, however pressing, by a select vestry or board of guardians. This is, in fact, establishing the rate-payers, or their chosen instruments the guardians, as sole judges in their own cause. The pauper claims relief out of their pockets ; but he is not to have it unless they choose to allow it him. The ancient right of the poor of England to be relieved in destitution at the cost of their parishes, is then, so far abrogated ; they can no longer demand sup- port, even when in absolute necessity ; they can only ask it as beggars, and if it be refused, they liave no available means of redress. The ancient laws — laws as ancient as the titles to nine-tenths of the estates in the kingdom — compelled certain officers to support the poor, and gave to magis- trates the power and ministerial function of seeing that tliese officers perforin their duty. The pre- sent act compels no one to support the poor ; it says that certain individuals may give relief, but does not say that they shall give relief ; nor does it empower any one to see that they do give relief. Is not this a total repeal of the poor man's rights and securities — rights and securities as sacred, as ancient, as fully recognized by statute, and by judicial authorities, as any right to property, to title, or to prerogative, possessed by the highest in the land ? It may be possible that the poor will still be relieved in all deserving cases, as when they had the power of appeal to the neighbouring magistrate ; but this is at best doubtful. We «aa imagine the appointment of some individuals t > the office of guardian, especially in agricultuml districts, by whom relief may be refused to poor persons really in extreme necessity, and liable to THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 535 perish for want of it. We can imagine parishes and unions in some situations vying witli each other in severity towards their poor, with the view of driving them to quit the place, and migrate elsewhere. We may be answered that this is not probable— that a sense of propriety and feelings of humanity in the guardians will prevent their acting with harshness towards their poor. But the obvious reply to tliis is, that it was because the feelings of humanity and propriety in the wealthy were not found to protect the poor against ex- treme misery and starvation, that the law enacted a compulsory provision for t[)em. And if the law be now made permissive only, instead of compul- sory, is not this a removal of that which has hitherto been the real and effective safeguard of the poor ? Is it right even to leave any doubt about the matter — to remove any portion of that legal and effectual guarantee which the poor of Britain have possessed for nearly three centuries against destitution ? There is no little danger in in the present times in thus trenching upon the acknowledged rights of the poor. If these are not respected by the rich, their rights will not long escape invasion by the poor. The security which the humbler classes of this country have so long enjoyed for relief in necessity has been the best and strongest security for the ease, peace, and property of the wealthy classes. The first safe- guard cannot be abrogated without greatly en- dangering the last. It is very questionable how this most important part of the new poor-law will be found in practice to work. The law as to pauper removals is main- tained with some judicious modifications ; but it seems open to doubt whether in future there will be any removals at all. If the guardians suppose that an applicant for relief is not settled in their rniion, is it likely that they will relieve him, and undertake the trouble and charge of removing him to a distant parish, when by refusing him any relief at all, except a shilling or two to help him to find his way towards home through the next parish, where he must be t7eated as casual poor, tliey can quit him at once and for good ? Will not parishes be tempted to relieve themselves of all their unsettled poor in this manner, perhaps even of many of their settled poor ? And must not the result be to fill the country with men- dicants and vagrants, asking relief from parish to parish as casual paupers? — in short, to bring back much of the evil which the pocr-law was instituted to prevent, and which exhibits itself so frightfully in Ireland, where there is no such provision ? We are unwilling to prophecy in this case ; but if analogies and the obvious dictates of interest are to be relied on, it would seem impro- bable that the poor will be as adequately relieved under a voluntary, as they have been under a compulsory, system. — Quarterly Review, No. 103. Somewhat Remarkable. — The parish of Rufford, near OUerton, which contains 10,320 acres of land, does not contain a church or a chapel, a public house, or a beer-shop, nor any other public building- to hold the parish meetings in ; these are genei ally held at Mrs. Boot's, the White Hart Inn, at OUerton. TO THE EDITOR OF THE "FARMER'S MAGAZINE." Witnesham, Nov. 8, 1834. Sir, — I was glad to see by your last Monthly Re- porter, that the agricultural interest is gathering strength by detachments, but it is to be hoped tliat the heads of the associations will effect a combined effort for a redress of grievances ; experience, how- ever, leads me to doubt the practicability. The East Suffolk Association have advertised a meeting to con- sider of the propriety of petitioning the King to call the attention of ministers to the distressed state of those who are dependant on agriculture, and to esta- blish a board of agriculture. This may be advisable for what I know ; at any rate, the oftener they meet the better, and I hope I hey will prepaie i)etitions for the repeal of the malt tax immediately ; there is no time to be lost, as it takes so long to obtain the sig- natures of the dilatory farmers in some districts. The mode adopted last year to obtain signatures in one instance, was to place the petition in some convenient spot at the several market towns, but three-fourths of the farmers passed it without troubling themselves to sign. On another occasion a skin of parchment was sent into each parish, to the care of some one to obtain signatures, many of these were returned with few signatures, and such as were obtained, signed mostly in one column, so that it was useless to attach them to the general petition; these and such as these are the difficulties to encounter in ob- taining the signatures of the farming interest. I am not a member of the association, and do not know bow they intend to proceed in future. I took an ac- tive part in obtaining signatures during many years in the hundred of Carlford, in which I reside, and after trying every means I could devise, I found no one equal to fixing on stations as nearly equi-distaut between two parishes as pos- sible •■ — we first appoint a few persons to attend theje stations, taking one each, the next in rotation attend- ing to take the petition to the next station, and so on, we forward hand-bills to these deputies a few days previous to the time appointed to distribute, and thus all are aware of the place, time, and pur- pose ; by this means we have obtained the signatures of all such as are interested or inclined to sign with little trouble, and at as little expense as possible. The persons who attend see that the columns of the petitions are regularly filled, and as every one is aware that the signatures follow each other as the pe- tition progresses, no offence is taken from those of a lower grade signing first. I enter into detail on this subject in hopes of pointing out means of obtaining signatures, and which has been found to succeed. The public-houses have been filled as at a village fair, and as much anxiety to sign (a petition for the repeal of the malt tax, at least) as to vote for a mem- ber of Parliament. I am aware that in some districts a less inclination to sign exists ; some must consult their landlord or his agent, others think that petition- ing is useless, that no attention will be paid to it, that it will be presented and thrown under the table, and the like ; but it should not be inferred that those who sign i^etitions are less satisfied with the acts and deeds of the government, but rather other- wise, as I have reason to know. The sufterings of the labouring classes Lave been greatly increased this long diy summer by the baneful effects of the malt- tax; water fit for a human being has not been to be obtained half over the county, but from a long dis- tance ; and beer could not be afforded, and this has increased the bad feeling towards our rulers. The all-important question to the owners and occupiers, is the price of produce, but the malt-tax is the most 536 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. important to the community. I do not advo- cate the repeal on self-interested motives. I do not admit that it would increase the farmers' profits so much as is stated, vor anything; like it; it niiglit increase the price of barley 4s per quarter, — - it could not increase it more on an average ; and this on the surplus (after deducting seed) might he about 14s per acre on the barley crop, and allowing one acre in twenty acres of spring corn for oats for horses, it will give only 3s per acre net, over the whole breadtii of arable ; but the farmer in common with other con- sumers (and by so much the more as his consump- tion is o-reatur), would be benefited by the less cost of malt; whilst this tax exists, every gale of wind that ruffles our stacks, every accident that befalls our cattle, or retard our progress in harvest, hay sell, or seed time, in fact, something or other ever day we live, brings the exciseman's hand into our pockets. 1 remain. Sir, yours, &c. C. POPPY. TRAFALGAR AGRICULTURAL SO- CIETY. The annual meeting of this Society took place on Wednesday, Oct. 29, when the following sweep- stakes were awarded by the judges— Messrs. Rus- sel, Newton ; Balingal, Treuton ; Thomson, Rath- let ; and Tod, Aberdalgic, to the successful com- petitors : — For the best pair of calves, to Mr. Dudgeon, Falklandwood ; one pair best year-old stots or queys, excluding short-horns, O. T. Bruce, Esq.; one pair best two-year-old stots oi queys, excluding short- horns, O.T.Bruce, Esq.; one pair best two-year-old stots or queys, excluding short- horns, O. T. Bruce, Egq. ; best ten calves, O. T. Bruce, Esq. ; best five-year-old stots or queys, ex- cluding short horns, O.T. Bruce, Esq. ; best one- year-old black horned bull, Fife breed, Mr. Thom- son of Orkic ; best cow, Fife breed. Colonel Lind- say; best Teeswater cow, Mr. Dudgeon; best draught foal, to be weaned six weeks previous to the meeting, Mr. Burn, Kilgour ; best year-old filly for agricultural purposes, and bred by the ex- hibitor, Mr. J. Robertson, Reedieleys ; best year- old colt for agricultural ])urposes, J. Thomson ; best draught two-year-old gelding, Mr. Thomas Adamson, Balmalcom ; best draught two-year-old filly, Francis Balfour, Esq., of Fernie ; best draught three-year-old filly, Mr. James Carstairs, Lcckiebank ; best draught three-year-old gelding, General Balfour ; best pair work horses, Mr. J. Carstairs ; best four-year-old draught stallion, west of Cupar, and bred by the exhibitor, Mr. Butchard, Lumbenny ; best three quarters of wheat, produce of farm for seed, Mr. Adamson, Balmalcom ; best three quarters of barley fit for malting, excluding late Lincolnshire barley, Mr. James Thomson, Orkie, 57 1b. 5 oz. ; best three quarters Lincolnshire barley, fit for malting, James Thomson, Esq., 57 lb. 7 oz. ; best one quar- ter Chevalier barley, Mr. Burn, Kilgour, 58 lb. 11 oz., beautiful grain. The other samples were also very superior. Mr, Thomson of Orkie's weighed 59 lb. 2 oz. ; and Mr. Bonthrou's, 59 lb ; for the best and greatest extent of turnips, in proportion to the arable acres of the farm, quality of soil considered, Mr. James Landalc : best and largest extent of turnips, in proportion to the arable acres, raised by extra manure, excluding dung, quality of soil considered, Mr. Moodie, Denbog ; best five acres of best globe or white turnips, raised upon any land, with any manure, and under any circum- stances, Mr. A. Dudgeon; best three acres of globe turnips. General Balfour; best five acres Swedish turnips, Mr. D. Landale Lindifferon ; best three acres Swedish turnips, Mr. D. Landale ; best ten Hybrid turnips, Mr. J. Robertson, Reedieleys; best, cleanest, and cheapest cut farm in the pos- session of the subscriber, Mr. George Moodie, who cut a considerable proportion of his crop with a reaping-machine, about 90 acres out of 200 ; best two bolls of perennial grass seed, Mr. George Dun ; and a pen of the best five black-faced wed- ders, not exceeding five-years-okl, Francis Balfour, Esq. After the competition about 60 agricultur- ists sat down to an excellent dinner, in the Trafal- gar Inn — D. Maitland Makgill, Esq. of Rankeil- lour, in the chair, Frederick Johnston, Esq., Nis- betfield croupier. Among those present were Mr. Balfour of Fernie, Colonel Craigie of Ferry Bank. Major Anderson of Monthrive, Mr. Fernie of Kil- mux, Mr. Pitcairn of Kiimaird, Mr. Raitt of Car- phin, &c. &c. SHOW OF STOCK AT CALANDER. The Annual Show of Stock, under the patron age of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, in the District of Monteath, &c., was held at Callander, on the 16th instant, when the following premiums were awarded : — West Higiii.and Stock. — For the best Bull, to Mr. John Macdonald, Inverlochlairg, Balquhiddcr, Six So\'ereigns. For the best Cow, to Mr. John Stewart, Grodich, Glenflnglas', Callendar, Two Sovereigns. For the best two Queys, three years old, to Mr. Donald Stewart, Strone, Callendar, Three Sovereigns. AYRSHIRE SrOCK.— For the best Bull, Mr. Sands, Cardross parish of Port, Five Sovereigns. For the best Cow, Mr. Daniel M'Farlane, Ballach- neck, Kincardine, Two Sovereigns. For the best two Queys, two years old, Mr. Sands, Cardross, Three Sovereigns. The honorary premium for the best Bull, of the West Highland breed, shown by any proprietor or tenant within the district, was, after a veiy keen competition, awarded to Mr. Donald Stewart, tenant, Strone. The show of stock was fully equal in number and quality to any previous exhibition. The show of Bulls of the West Highland breed was particu- larly remarkable — no less than ten, all of first-rata quality, having been exhibited. After the show, about forty gentlemen sat down to dinner in M'Gregor's Inn, and spent the evening in the ut- most harmony and conviviality. ftlr. Stewart, younger of Ardvoirlich, iir the chair; with Mr. Graham of Leitchtown, and Mr. M'Laren, ban- ker, croupiers. Several sweepstakes were, in the course of the evening, entered into, to be decided at next year's meeting. The Earl of Kilmorey's Estate. — The immense freehold landed property of the late Earl of Kilmorey, in Huntingdonshire, and which has been sometime in the market for public competi- tion, has been sold by private contract by Messrs. Farebrotber. It comprises the fine manor and do- main of Waresley, including the whole parish and village thereof, consisting- of the mansion house, with offices of every description ; a finely timbered park, stocked with deer and game ; extensive pleasure- grounds, gardens, orchards, conservatories, grape- ries, fish-ponds, woods, several farms, with farm- liouses and agricultural buildings, cottages, and nearly 2,600 acres of meadow, pasture, arable, and wood land. Rental and estimated value. 2,467/ per annum. The whole was sold for 53,900/. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 537 ON THE ADVANTAGES OF EARLY CUTTING. TO THE EDITOR OF THE " TEUTHSHIRE COURIER, ETC." It is generally admitted that the Scotch are good farmers, yet there is one period, at which there is great room for amendmeut, viz. at the time of har- vest. It is painful, in travelling through Scotland in autumn, to observe, year after year, that the crops are left to the mercy of an uncertain climate, so long after they are ready to be cut — and even after they are reaped. People, unacquainted with farming, ima- gine it to be owing to the weather, that they see the hay, wheat, and oats, out so long after they have been stacked in England, and in places where activity reigns ; but, although the crops are necessarily later in the north, owing partly to late sowing, and partly to a less degree of heat in summer, other causes also contribute to this result. With respect to grain, Scotch farmers, overseers, &c. require the crops to be more than generally ripe, before they ari satisfied it is safe to cut them. Some- times the excuse is want of hands, but often this is made by the very people who have been sitting with their hands in their pockets for a fortnight after they might have commenced with what was first ready. If one ear out cf a hundred be green, some will risk the whole ninety-nine in the vain hope of adding it also ; by which, between wind and rain, they lose great part of what they might have secured. Some think the ear not full, or fear it will shrink. Some seem to entertain the Irish wish for it to be fuller thaa it can hold. The fear of carrying the grain too soon also produces mischievous results. When the opportunity is once lost, and the weather, after being long fine, becomes unsettled, the injury is incalulable. The desire to get the crop unnecessarily dry, so that it may be dead, frequently causes it to be soaked till it sprouts. But, unfortunately, it is difficult to con- quer prejudice. ABSTRACT OF REASONS IN FAVOUR OF THE SYSTEM OF CUTTING AND CARRYING CROPS EARLY J WITH A EEW EXAMPLES. 1. It gains a fortnight, at least, in the choice of harvest weather ; and thus storms of wind and rain may be avoided, and the whole crop saved from da- mage. 2. It increases the quantity, and raises the value of the grain, by preventing its being shaken, broken, or blackened. 3. It secures the top pickles of oats, which are the best, but are often lost by delay ; the rest, if full, will ripen in the stock. The straw, also, is much more nutritious ; and being less brittle, is not so apt to have- the ear broken off by rough usage from the hand, the sickle, and th? pitchfork, THE FOLLOWING ARE THE PROOFS : 1. Mr. Birkett, a great corn merchant in London, when he visited Scotland, mentioned that the chief cause why Scotch wheat brings an iuferior price in the English market is, that it is generally left so long exposed to the weather that it becomes discoloured. 2. An East-Lothian farmer lately, as an experi- ment, cut one-half of a field of wheat a i'ortnight be- fore it was ready, according to the common opinion and practice, and got two shillings a boll more for that half than any wheat of the county fetched that season. 3. The farmer of Stenhouse Moor, where the Fal- kirk Tryst is held, was half inclined to leave his an- nual crop of oats to be trampled down by the cattle one late year, despairing of so green a crop being worth cutting ; but he afterwards acknowledged that he had never had a crop that mealed so well. 4. In Norfolk it is now established, havino- been introduced by Mr. Coke, I understand, from Dun- noon in Argyleshire, where necessity invented the plan to escape the eifects of a rainy climate. In Suffolk also the system prevails. 5. In Linlithgowshire, on a large farm, this year, when only four staclcs had been secured, the foremaa urged the farmer to carry the rest while the season was fine j but he wanted it to be drier. The conse- quence was, the weather changed, and most of his crop was overtaken by heavy rains, which lasted so long that it either turned black or green. May this statement induce farmers to try the sj^s- tem, on a small scale, as an experiment. ALEX. SINCLAIR. CINCINNATUS; OR, FORTY YEARS' EX- PERIENCE IN AGRICULTURE. % a Cambridgeshire Farmer. Slienoood unci Co , Lojidon. The object of the author of this little pamphlet appears to be, to point out a method or plan by which all the surplus agricultural labourers in the country may be profitably employed in the culti- vation of tlie land. — We give an extract : — " The following method of spade husbandry has been successfully tried on poor lands of thin staple, or on a small scale, the rent of which varies from 10s to 20s per acre, not altogether accordino- to quality but according to the pressure of the poor-rates, and other local circumstauces, which the quality of the land has nothing to do with. There is a great quantity of land let for less than 10s. per acre ; even in large faims under cultivation, some is let for 5s. per acre, any portion of which might be cultivated, on this plan, at a profit; and there are farms, and portions of farms, that have been entirely, and others partl}-^, out of cultivation for two or three years ; upon which the surplus able- bodied labourers might he set to work, on which there would be a certainty of no positive loss, and I think a profit. " Six able-bodied labourers can dig an acre in a week, six inches deep, commonly called half spit, on such land as above described, they might go deeper, where the soil would bear it, but that would not be poor land ; for which labour as much as, and not less than. 10s per week, should be paid them ; for it must be borne in mind, that this sort of labour is hard work, and requires the labourer to be in full healtli and vigour; to support which (and the system will pay for it), he must receive sufficient wages to enable him to get a bellyful of good plain substantial food, and a moderate portion of good ale. " There is another class of labourers that will be found, more or less, in every parish, who, from na- ture, disease, and other causes over which they have no controul, are not able to do a day's work as we term it, but the major part of them might be set to work on this plan, profitably, at the rate of eight to an acre, per week, instead of six, and receive 8s. 6d. each, or 9s. for twenty poles. " There is another class, although equal in liealth and strength to the first, who will not, as we term it, put it out ; such being the case, they must be con- tent with the wages of the second class, till they prove by their quantity of labour, that they are both willing and able to belong to tlie other class : with numbers of such men as tliese, example will do won- 2 N 538 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ders ; and the degradation of being considered in the second class, provided they have health and strength to emancipate themselves from it, will make them do their best. " I would have given to every labourer that per- forms the quota of work set out for him, a pint of good ale on a Saturday night as a stimulus to indus- try, in addition to his wages, to whichever class he might belong. " This measure must be held out to them, as one calculated to raise them from their present depressed state, and place them in a situation or condition to be able to earn an honest living by their labour, and ne- ver more to be without work when they are able and willing to do it. " There is one sentence that must be erased from every act of parliament, made, or to be made for the better regulations of parishes, and that is the term, " able-bodied agricultural paupers." Legislators can have no idea how much the honest industrious la- bourer who cannot find work considers himself de- graded by this degrading term, and the angry feelings engendered in his mind by it too often lead him on to crime. Erase the term, ' able-bodied agricultural paupers,' for which insert ' able-bodied surplus la- bourers,' and carry this measure into eflSect success- fully, and there will be such an endless source of em- ployment, that the name of ' able-bodied agricultural pauper,' in less than seven years, will be nearly for- gotten, and surplus labourers will cease to be. " This plan may be acted upon with success on cold clays or woodland, gravelly soils, and sandy loams ; and no doubt many other soils, that have not come under my immediate observation, particularly poor lands, where there is generally the most dis- tress." " This method or plan must not be made use of to coerce the labourers, or they will spurn it and its proposers ; it will defeat itself, and the end for which it is designed ; but mildly endeavour to make them understand that it is intended to provide constant employment, and fair wages for all that are able and willing to work ; they will set their shoulders to the wheel with cheerful hearts and free good will, and do all that lies in their power to make it pay, when once M-ork can be found by applying for it. Then the ex- ample of others will work wonders with many, who now go about and pretend to seek work, but never wish to find it; as to those men who are such thorough-paced idlers that they will not work, the finger of scorn will be pointed at them by all well disposed persons of both sexes, in the class of society in which they have been accustomed to move, and they will meet the reward of their idle dissolute habits in some shape or other ; and none will be found to pity them, not even their own associates ; it will separate the sheep from the goats ; they will no longer be able to come under the head or cloak of un- fortunate persons unable to find employment, as they have done hitherto, and the state of the agricultural labourers would, in a short time, become completely renovated; the tide of emigration would be complete^ ly stopped ; the farmer's occupation would again be- come worth following ; and such a good feeling vrould arise between master and man, that the farmer would go to bed without fearing his stacks would be fired when he was asleep, as he formerly did, in more prosperous times." The sale of the Miss Tompkin's fine stock of cat- tle on the 21st inst. sufficiently proved the high esti- mation in which that celebrated breed is justl}^ held. A two-year-old bull sold for upwards of 80Z., and two yearling bulls for more than 30/ each, and most of the stock wfnt on similar teims,— -Hereford Journal. FRENCH WOOLEN MANUFAC- TURES. An inquiry has been instituted in Paris on the subject of the woollen manufactures of France, and several proprietors of factories have been examined. The report is given in in the form of question and answer. It is stated that there is no longer occasion for a prohibition of foreign woollens, but that a protect- ing duty would be requisite, especially as regards the manufacture of Saxony. The quantity export- ed amounts to two-thirds of the produce of the ma- nufactories to the United States, South America, England, Holland, Italy, Belgium, and a trifle to Russia. The only competition feared is from the Saxony make, even in America, which oppose us more than English goods. The lower kinds of goods oppose us most, and in the fine sorts we have nothing to fear as our own are infinitely su- perior. The quantity made annually is estimated at the value of twenty millions of francs of un- dressed goods. The increase has been such as to induce the belief that this branch cf industry has reached its apogee. Prices during the last ten years have declined very considerably. An ell of merinos, which now sells at 9f. was well worth at the beginning of the manufacture 3Gf. to 40f. A great deal of the wool is bought in Germany. Mr. Lupin being asked how much wool he bought annually, answered, sometimes more and at others less, but the quantity might be to the amount of four millions of francs ; that he picked out of it what was suitable for merinos and bom- bazines, and sold the rest to make cloth. " 1 do not care much about the import duty on foreign wools, as it is returned to me on my exports." The reduction of 10 per cent, is a good measure, but has had but little influence on the price, which is determined by the wants and consumption. A great outcry was made by the growers of wool on the reduction, but they still obtained the same prices for their wool. The usual cost of the wool used for merinos is 2^f. to 4|f. for washed per pound." The bounty on export is thought sufficient, but a desire is expressed for a further redaction of duty, to facilitate trade, and prevent abuses. A duty on merinos of foreign make, of 10 per cent, would be sufficient, to be levied in proportion to the bounty allowed, as reimbursing 360f. duty, with 360f. bounty, would be equivalent to 396f. or 10 per cent., and perhaps even less than 10 per cent, would suffice. The difl^erence between French and foreign mar- kets is about 10 per cent., that is to say, that what we sell at 9f. they sell at 8jf. [The deponent could not undertake to give such information on other goods than merinos and bombazines, though he thought cloths would be benefited by a reasonable duty.] Mr. Lupin stated that he employed from six to seven thousand workmen, and made from sixteen to eighteen thousand pieces of merinos. The capital employed, including every thing, cannot be exactly stated, but is on the whole esti- mated at 25 millions of francs (about a million sterling). Coals, from Mons, are used as the fuel, but a reduction of the duty would be very de- sireable. Flannel is made with carded wool, and merinos and bombazines with combed wool. The propor- tion of silk in the bombazine is about one-eighth of the weight. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 539 POOR LAW AMENDMENT BILL. TO THE EDITOR OF THE DERBYSHIP.E COURIER. " Strike, but hear me. " Mr. Editor, — I am sure you will excuse me in the desire which I feel to intrude on your pages, ■ — my apology must be the subject on which I wi'ite, than which, perhaps, none ever occupied the public mind of more importance, nor do I think there ever was a subject on which tlie public mind was more abused and misdirected, than that to which I refer, and on which I should like to put forth a few considerations and reflec- tions in a future communication or two, in your journal — I mean the new Poor Laws. Which ever way I look or listen, I am met by a sort of crying cant against the abominable nature of the new Poor Law Bill — its cruel provisions — its demoralizing tendency ;— thepress — the peasant, and the pauper, are alike ready with bitter invec- tive against it — the leading journal of Europe (as the Times newspaper has modeUlij styled itself) can wade through its clauses, with its well known impurtial ken, but cannot find a single line of it but what is bad, very bad indeed. Even the Herald — the cautious, — look-hefore-you-leup Herald — pronounces it, after due deliberation, to be bad, very bad indeed, — and the True Sun bolts out its fire and thunder — crude and undi- gested as it generally is — against it, and de- nounces it bad, very bad indeed. Differing as these journals do on almost every other point, and in almost every other political view, they jointly meet and agree — quote, requote, and compliment each other on the new Poor Law Bill. Individual malpractices in parishes — garbled extracts from exparte statements, or highly-coloured reports of the proceedings at the police-offices, are puffed out by these independent chroniclers, and retailed out again and again by their readers, as undeniable proofs of the evils in store for the country when the new Poor Law Bill is in full practice ; and yet, notwithstanding all that they have brought forth against it, in its piinciplesand its practice — strange as it may appear, and bold as may be considered the assertion — not one sound argument— not the shadow of a shade of a pioof have they, or any of them, as appears to me, advanced to satisfy the mind of any impartial individual of the charges which they made being just and reasonable, against that which (for all they said to the contrary) is indeed and verity the Poor Law Amendment Bill. And the public — the discerning public — and discerning they are, I must allow, generally speak- ing— are ready with their expressions of horror, disgust, and dismay — their dark forebodings and gloomy anticipations on the subject. Now as this way of thinking on the subject, must cause un- comfortable feelings in the minds of those who do so think, and as I never found one among those deepest read on the subject of poor law, who pretended to argue that the new laws are worse than the old laws were, and seldom find one among the opponents of the new who does not ac- knowledge them to be a manifest improvement, taken as a whole, on the- old system, I would advise all those good people who in general stay at home to take care of themselves — read tales of horror and fancy, the worst of every thing, till they go far towards sinking into a misanthropic melancholy,— I say I would advise those good people (and I give the advice from the purest motives, and grounded in experience), before they alarm themselves on the subject — a subject second in importance to none — to turn their attention to the causes of pauperism, its effects on the com- munity, and its inevitable consequences if un- checked, and then beg or borrow the Poor Law Amendment Bill — read it — mai-k it — and learn it, — and, making allowance for the imperfections in every thing that is human, decide the matter in their own mind, uninfluenced by paper, party, or prejudice, and they will not go very far, I think, in opinion from me, that the Poor Law Amend- ment Bill will prove a boon and a blessing to the country, and, if not perfect as a whole, is a very great improvement on the old system of poor law legislation. This I shall, as convenience serves, endeavour to prove in a future letter on the sub- ject, calculating, as I have reason to do, that, not- withstanding your opinions may differ from mine on the subject, you will not deny me a place in your excellent journal, (which I believe to be " open to all parties, and influenced by none") for stating mine. FARMER FRANK. Ashford, Oct. 22, 1834. Information foe Travellers, — A plan has been under the consideration of Government, and is likely to be brought into operation, which will be of considerable importance to travellers. It is pro- posed, along- the line of mail roads throughout Eng- land, to erect labourers' cottages at a distance of one mile from each other, to be occupied b}' discharged soldiers having- pensions ; each man to have the care of one mile of road, to keep it in order and render every assistance in case of any accident. This plan will, of course, be connected with the long--talked-of abolition of turnpikes and road-trusts (in many in- stances a great nuisance), which are generally leased out to speculators, who in some instances receive double the amount which is actually expended on the improvement of roads. The adoption of this plan will aftord great protection to travellers ; and in case of accidents assistance may always be ob- tained within the distance of half a mile. The in- habitants of each cottage will be provided with every necessary to render assistance in case of accidents or robberies, and will also be provided with a large bell to give an alarm along the road in case of need. Improvement in CAnniACE Drags. — An im- provement in coach-building has been introduced by Mr. John Croal. In putting the drag upon a carriage for going down a steep hill, accord- ing to the present system, the horses have to be stopped, the guard to dismount and secure the book in the spoke, or the slipper under the wheel, as the case may be ; and in removing these impediments, the horses have not only again to be stopped, but to be forced back, before the guard, who must dismount for that purpose, can disengage the hook or slipper from the wheel, and sling either up. But by Mr. Croal's plan all this can be done by the guard with- out quitting his box or impeding for one instant the speed of the horses. The improvement must tend greatly to prevent waste of time in travelling. — Scotsman. 2 N 2 540 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. THE PROSPECTS OF AGRICULTURE IN 1835. TO THE EDITOR OF THE YORK HERALD. Sir, — I think I shall not be accused of exceed- ing the bounds of truth when 1 say, that British Agriculture was never so much depressed as it is at the present period. It appears indeed almost approaching to a crisis ; — year after year has passed, in the vain expectation of remuneration or profit, and instead of such expectations being realized the agriculturist has seen his capital go to meet the demands of his landlord : many have been reduced to pauperism, and a few more such years as the last two or three will drain from their pockets the last remains of their original stock. It appears, therefore, quite natural for them to inquire what are the prospects of the year before them, and glad should I be if I could hold out any sanguine anticipations, with any probability of being realized. It is not my wish to colour the picture too deeply, — it would serve no good pur- pose, but sooner or later I am much afraid the awful truth will discover itself. Many are looking with painful anxiety to the year before them ; — all their little is at stake, and they are speculating in what manner they can best exert themselves, in order to remunerate themselves, and by their ho- nest earnings, satisfy the demands of their land- lords. During the present year undoubtedly the farmer's sheep have paid him the best of any part of his farm produce. Their flesh, as well as their wool, have sold in such a manner as to make him a fair return, and the consequence will no doubt be, that such as have a stock of sheep already, will endeavour to increase that stock, and such as have not, will probably turn their attention to them, in order to bring a number into the market. This is generally the case, when any part of farm pro- duce is selling to more advantage than another ; — every one endeavours to make it a part of his outlay. In the year 1830, when so many sheep died of the rot, it was generally believed that the markets would never be supplied, and that mutton would sell remarkably dear; — with this view all kept their sheep back as much as possible, and brought them into the market in the autumn and spring following, expecting a considerable advance, in consequence of a deficiency of supply. The effect was, that r Bushe 1, oaf. Date. per Bus hcl Loaf. s. d. s. 'd. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. 1792, 6 4 to 7 0 .0 8j 1811, 10 10 . 1 Oh 1/93, 6 9 to 7 3 '. . 3 84 1815, 7 Hi . 0 9J 1/94, 7 6 to 8 2 . . 0 9 1816, n 0 . 1 1 1/95. 8 8 to U 6 . . 0 n 1817, 9 6 . 0 11 1/96, 8 0 to 10 10 . . 0 lOJ 1818, 11 7 . 1 1 1/97, 7 10 to 9 8 . . 0 9i 1819, 8 11 . 0 9 1798, 6 10 to 7 4 . . 0 sS 1820, 7 H . 0 9 1799, 11 Oto 12 4 . . 1 r 1821, 9 G to 12 9 . . 1 1 1 800, 19 6 to 22 0 . . I 9 1822, 4 S to 5 6 . 0 7i 1801, 10 0 to 13 0 . I 1 1823. 6 4 . 0 8^ 1802, 7 8 to 8 8 . . 0 8 18-24, 7 6 . 0 9 1803, 8 to 7 1 . . 0 6A 1825, 8 8 to 9 4 . . 0 10^ 1804, 8 Oto 9 2 . 0 9 1826, 7 4 to 7 10 . 0 9 1805, 10 8 to 13 0 . . 1 0^ 1827. 6 10 to 7 8 . 0 9 1806, 10 Oto 12 0 . . 0 lU 1828, 7 8 to 9 0 . . 0 10 1807, 9 0 to 10 3 . . 0 11 1S29, 8 0 to 9 0 . t) 9i 1808, 11 8 to 13 4 . . 1 1 1830, 8 0 to 8 8 . . 0 10| 1809, 15 Oto 18 0 . 1 3 1831, 7 4 to 8 4 . . 0 9J 1810, 15 0 to 16 6 . . 1 H 1832, 7 6 to 8 0 . 0 8i 1811, 15 0 to 15 8 . , 1 3 1833, 6 0 to 7 2 . . 0 8| 1812, 14 Oto 16 0 . . 1 3 1834, 4 6 to 6 0 . 0 7 1813, 14 Oto 15 0 . . 1 2i The Pig. — When we regard the numbers of mankind fed upon the flesh of this animal, it must be seen that he occupies an important place in the do- mestic economy of countries. His ilesh is perfectly nutritive, and, from its ready reception of salt, it is better fitted for preservation than that of any other animal. It is thus eminently adapted for sea voy- ages, for which purpose it is largely used. It forms » great part of the annual food of the labouring classes of Europe. The pig is truly the poor man's stock, since it may be raised by the cottager, as well as by the breeder on the larger scale. There is no animal which, in proportion to the food consumed, yields so great a quantity of muscle and fat. His flesh, in deed, may not be so profitable as that of the sheep and the ox, but this arises from the facility of pro- duction, and the consequent tendency of the market to be overstocked. To the settler in a new country, the pig is the most valuable of all the larger domes- tic animals used for food. He is beyond every other quickly multiplied, reared, and brought to the re- quired maturity. The clearers of land in the Ame- rican forests could hardly subsist during the first year of labour and danger, without this creature. And in our own country, it is a greater error for a farmer, however extended his concerns may be, to disregard this branch of farm stock ; it is to him a source of household economy and comfort. He can raise the most delicate pork for use at all times, and with the greatest facility, and will always derive a sufficient profit by the sale of the remainder to repay him for his feeding, and induce him to give attention to this branch of economy. — Professor Low's Elements of Practical Agriculture. The Wisdom of our Axcestoes. — Three thousand Witches were executed in England, uuder the Long Parliament. Sir Matthew Hales burnt two iu 166 !■ ; and, in 1716, Mrs, Hicks, and her daughter, aged 9, were hanged at Huntingdon, Statutes against this supposed crime were passed by Henry Vlll., 1541; Elizabeth, 1.562 ; and James I., 1602. Barrington estimates tho judicial murders for witchcraft in England, in 200 years, at 30,000. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 547 DEVON AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. SHOW OF CATTLE, SHEEP AND PIGS. The sixth exhibition of this society took place in the Castle Yard, Exetev, yesterday (Thursday), ex- tensive and judicious-accommodation for the purpose having been previously prepared. Of cattle, there was a large muster ; and they were, generally, ex- cellent in quality. The sheep and pigs, although not numerous, weie first-rate specimens. The exhibition attracted a numerous attendance of the gentry and yeomanry of the county, and many from Somerset, Dorset, and Cornwall ; and the greatest satisfaction was evinced at the grand display of useful animals, of high breed and quality, the produce of our native county. On entering the Castle-yard, our attention was first drawn to tlie Bulls — Fresh interest being given to the exhibi- tion of these animals by the Sillifant prize of \0l for the best yearling bull, under 18 months, exhibited by the owner and breeder, viraong those on the ground we first noticed a prime bull, about four-years old, the property of Mr. Harris, of Bovey Tracey : this animal possessed such capital qualities that it was purchased early in the morning. Mr. Hole, of Plym- tree, liad a very noble eight-year old, and Mr. W. Tapp, of Titchen, near Southmolton, a superior six- year old ; there was also a good specimen, four-years old, from Mr. Reynolds, of Raddon Court. Among the number of two and three- year old bulls, we ob- served some promising ones, belonging to Mr. Thos. Rose Ash, Mr. John Tuckett of Stockleigh, and Mr. Turner of Exminster Barton for the Sillifant prize, Mr. Cade, Shobrooke, Mr. Cleeve, Rew, and Mr. G. Turner, Exminster, exhibited yearlings, but which presented nothing extraordinary so as to give promise of very superior animals. Fat Oxen, Heifers, &c. — Of this discription of stock the number was large, and many of them were very superior. Mr. Beedle, butcher, North-slreet, exhibited four North Devons, fed by himself, which were much admired for their fatness and symmetry. Mr. Manley, of St. Thomas, had two capital South Hammers, one of the North Devon, and another of the Durham breed. Mr. Trood, of Exminster, pro- duced two oxen of immense size ; a fine Durban ox, and also an excellent heifer, from the farm of the Rev. Mr. Elliott, Rockbeare. Mr. Darke, butcher, of Eastgate, exhibited an extraordinary fat heifer, one of the finest, taken altogether, we have ever seen : also a fine ox. From the farm of Mr. R, Rookes, there were two choice beasts, which we understood were sold to Mr. Knapman, butcher. Mr. George England had a prime ox. Two fine oxen, and two first-rate heifers, were shown by Mr. Smith, of Traies- heare. Mr. Quarterly, of Molland, produced one of his superior fat heifers, a most beautiful animal, of small bone and admirable symmetry. Mr. John Gould, Poltimore ; Mr. Trood, Exminster ; Mr. G. Turner; Mr. John Holman ; Mr. Bodley, of Stock-- leigh, — had choice specimens. There were also a great number of other prime beasts, the names of the owners of which we were unal)le to obtain. From not having seen in the owners' possession the time named by the society, and other circumstances, many of the above were shown as extra stock. Milch Cows. — We were liiglily gratified at the large number of this kind of stock, as for no descrip tion of animal can premiums be awarded withsogrea a probability of producing benefit, by exciting farmers to use every endeavour to keep up our well-known breed. We observed many excellent specimens, as regards their fattening qualities whilst giving large quantities of milk, from the farms of Mr. Quartley, Molland ; Sir H. Davie ; Mr. G. Turner, Exminster ; Mr. Osmond, Newton St. Cyres; Mr. Whippell, Brentor ; Mr. Thomas, Silverton ; and Captain Adney, Lympstone. A few of these were of the Durham and half Guernsey breed, and many were shown as extra stock. The heifers, from one to two years old, were generally of the most promising discription: the princi- pal exhibitors were, Mr. Porter, Mr. T. Cleeve, Mr. Turner, Mr. J, Whimple, Mr. Tapp, Mr. Bodley, Mr. Hutchings, Mr. Lendon, and Mr. Kingdon. Working Oxen and Steers were shown by Mr. George Turner ; Mr. Thomas, Rose Ash ; Mr. Col- mer, Newton St. Cyres ; Mr. Whipple, Exmin- ster ; Mr. Edward turner, Upton Pyne ; and Mr. Quartley of Molland. These were good specimens. Sheep.. — There w'ere but few sheep, but most of them of an extraordinary description. Mr. Francis's (of Crediton) three fat wethers were unparalleled, as regards their beautiful symmetry, fatness, and breed : we understood a gentleman came from London on purpose to purchase them — indeed, one was of that peculiar quality, that we doubt if there is a butcher in England who would refuse to pay for a sight of it. Mr. Francis also had a pen of fine two-year old we- thers. Mr. Whipple, of Exminster, had three prime fat wethers. A pen of extraordinary wethers ex- hibited from the choice flock of Mr. Huggins, of Shobrook ; — Mr. Pidsley, of Pinhoe, Mr. Lear, and Mt. John Clench also had capi'al specimens. Pigs. — There were many fine specimens, some of which, from a superabundance of fat, could not be in- duced to display their loco-motive faculties without much trouble, Mr. Cleeve, of Rewe, showed two, one of which was of an immense size. Mr. R. Spark's two large and fat Westphalias attracted much notice. Mr. John Beedle's and Mr, Heath's were very superior. A store pig was exhibited by John Beare, of Kenton, to show its high proof ; it was fit to kill for the stall, although it had fed on grass and raw turnips only. Many useful Agricultural Implements were exhi- bited ; and when we left the yard we had to make our way, with difficulty, through a dense crowd of highly-respectable gentlemen and yeomen, who were anxiously waiting the closing of the Judges' inspec- tion, when the doors would be opened. The Judges were, for Cattle: — Mr. Cleveiton, Trebarthan-Hall, Cornwall ; Mr. Lowraan, near Crewkerne, Somerset : Mr. Swete, of Zeal, near Bow — For sheep and pigs ; Mr. John Beare, Kenton ; Mr. G. Gater, Cadbury ; and Mr. Haydon, Castle, Tiver- ton.— For agricultural implements : — Mr. Sillifant, Mr. A. Smith, and Mr. Cleeve. THE DINNER took place at Cockiam's New London Inn, and was attended by upwards of one hundred and fifty of the gentry and yeomanry. Slit J. B. Y. BuLLER, Bart, took the Chair, and was supported on the right by J. Kennaway, Esq., and on the left by J. Sillifant, jun. Esq. The Vice- Piesidents were Thomas Snow, Esq., Capt. Adney, and F. Leigh, Esq. At the side tables, Sir H. Davie, Bart., and E. S. Drewe, Esq. of Grange, presided : they were sup- ported by S. T. Kckewich, Esq., Dr. Shapter, Dr. Macgowan, J. B. Lethbridge, Esq., el lest son of Sir J. B. Lethbridge, Bart., Somerset, — Hunt, Esq., — Hendy, Esq., Cornwall, J. Ley, Esq., H. Ley, Esq., 548 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. J. Pitman, Esq., A. Smith, Esq., A. Stowey, Esq., &c. — The cloth being removed, Non nobis Domine was admirably sung by Messrs. G. Risdon, Ware, Car- penter, and Callway,who during the evening gratified the company by signing many excellent glees. " The King," " The Queen and Royal Family," were drunk with the usual honours. The President said the next toast he should pro- pose might be considered as two : but there were a great many others it would be desirable for them to drink as an Agricultural Society, and, therefore, as the toasts were connected, he would give them as one. He had not had an opportunity since the establishment of the Society of before attending a show of cattle, and therefore he could not take upon himself to say if it was a superior show, contrasted with those which had preceded it ; but this he would say, that it was a su- perior show of cattle contrasted with what he had seen in other places : he had witnessed those exhibitions in Staffordshire, Liverpool, and Manchester, and he could say that there was cattle in the Castle-Yard that day which might be shown with advantage against any of their fine breeds. (Loud cheers.) There was a number of fine cattle in the yard, but he had been given to understand that many excellent specimens were kept outside, owing to a notice as to the time of attending not being generally known : that notice, he understood, had been printed so small that many farmers could net read it, and he hoped the statement of that fact would be a hint to the Com- mittee another year, and induce them to cause the notice to be printed so large that any one going through the stieets of Exeter might be enabled to read it without spectacles. (Cheers, and laughter.) Although he was not enabled to say anything of the relative merits of the cattle exhibited on tliis and other occasions, yet he was happy that he could state that the Society was in a flourishing condition ; its good had extended all over the county, and was now known, he believed, to all who were connected with agriculture. (Cheers.) Having said so much on the first part of the toast, he would pass on to the second , which should be considered in a more serious manner; tliey were a large number met together, but the lime would come, when from age they would be deprived from enjoying such convivial meetings. Such was the case with the worthy President of the Society whose absence he much regretted. He tlien proposed— " The President of the Devon Agricultural Society ('Earl Fortescue), and Prosperity to the Society over which he presides ;" which was drunk with three times three, and a breeze. Mr. Dymond, the Secretary, (the labourers having been introduced), then read the PREMIUMS TO AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS To the Agricultural Labourer who has lived the longest either on the same farm, or under one master, and who can bring the best testimonials for honesty, sobriety, and general good conduct from his employer. To James Irish, servant of Mrs. Woolcott, of Knowle, near Sidmouth, who has worked for Mrs. Woolcott's late husband, and his father for 60 years without intermission, £5 5s. To the Agricultural Labourer who has lived as above, and whose testimonials are in the next degree satisfactory. To Thomas Worth, who has workel for Mr. Charles Palk and his predecessors, in the pa- rish of Littlehempston, 45 years, £3 3s. To the Agricultural Labourer who has brought up the largest family without parochial aid, aod who can bring the best testimonials as to character. To Richard Vanstone of Hatherleigh, who has brought up and maintained 12 children without as- sistance, £5 5s. To the Agricultural Labourer who has brought up a family as above, and whose testimonials are in the next degree satisfactory. To William East, 39 years servantin the employ of Mr. Edward 0?mond, of Newton St. Cyres, who has brought up 9 children, &c.,£3 3s. To the servant who, having served out his or her apprenticeship, has remained the longest period with the same master since the expiration of such appren- ticeship. To William Scott, late workman to Mr, Francis Splatt, of Wood Farm, in Kenton, who serv- ed an apprenticeship of 12 years, and worked for Mr. Splatt and his predecessors on the same property 58 years, £3 33. To the Servant under similar conditions, the length of whose servitude has been of the third degree. To Sarah Gardener, servant of Mr. James Loosemore, of Woolland : apprentice 9 years; worked since 27 years, £1 Is. The workmen having received their respective Pre- miums, The President said, he thought, after they had seen these meritorious men, and rewarded them in a manner which they had justly deserved, they could not do better than drink their health, in the hope, that it would be continued to them as long as Providence should be pleased they should live in this world. (Cheers.) There was no class of men, when they did their duty, more valuable to society than the peasan- try. He would therefore propose, "An honest pea- santry, their country's pride." Drunk with loud cheers. John Kennawoy, Esq. then rose for the purpose of proposing a toast, which would, he felt assured, be received with the greatest satisfaction ; it was a toast which could not be proposed from the Chair, and they would therefore anticipate the nature of it. (Cheers.) It was most gratifying when gentlemen in the rank of life of the Ifon. Baronet in the Chair, not consi- dering themselves satisfied with drawing their re- sources from the soil, came forward to do all the good they could for their tenants and the labourers who were under them. (Cheers.) Such, they well knew, was the character of their worthy President. (Cheers) It must also be satisfactory to them that the Hon. Baronet had not, when sojourning in other counties, passed over without observation the produce, but that he had drawn his comparisons with them and this county — a county not only rich in soil, and beautiful in scenery, but calculated, as had been proved, to produce not only all kinds of vegetables, but also the various descriptions of live stock, equal to any county in England. (Cheers.) He had heard it said in the Castle- Yard tliat day, that the Eastern part of the county had not done its duty to the AgricuUural So- ciety ; indeed it had been said that that part of the county was almost unknown in this respect, and there- fore it afforded him much pleasure when he heard that the first prize to the labourer for long servitude and good character had been gained by an Eastern pea- sant. (Hear, hear.) The hon. gentleman, after further expressing himself in support of the Society, and especially that part of its plan which rewarded meritorious labourers, proposed the health of the Pre- sident, Sir John BuUer Yarde BuUer, which was drunk with nine times nine. Sib John BuLLER,oa rising to return thanks, was THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 549 again greeted with a voile}' of hearty cheers. He said, the honour they had just conferred upon him, and the manner in which it had been conferred, could not but be highly gratifying to his feelings ; it was, indeed, a source of great satisfaction to him, who was a mere dabbler in Agriculture, to find himself so heartily re- ceived in a compan}'' where there was so many practi- cal agriculturists. Although he did not pretend to be a practical judge of agricultural pursuits, and was un- able himself to effect improvements, yet he could see when improvements had been made ; he felt highly gratified, therefore, in being enabled to state that in this county great improvement had been effected of late years, especially since the formation of this So- ciety, (Cheers.) He hoped they would still continue to go on improving under the auspices of a So- ciety, established and supported by those whose wish it was to do all they could for their native county. (Cheers.) If they went on improving as they Iiad for the last lew years, they would hear no more of De- vonshire farmers being behind hand : indeed he be- lieved it would not be long before they would hear of the Devon cattle rivalling the Durham fat ox and cow, which were brother and sister. (Clieers.) In othei' parts of the country where he had been, he heard it spoken of by practical men, that a great improvemcKt had taken place in Devon, not only in its cattle, but otherwise ; and such was the high state of its agri- culture, that even Norfolk could not produce finer crops of turnips than were now growing in this neigh- bourhood. (Cheers.) Sir John proceeded warmly to support the objects of the Society, and concluded, after thanking the meeting for the kind manner in which they had drunk his health, by proposing " The health of the Judges, with many thanks to them for their exertions on this occasion. '^ Drunk with three times three, and one cheer more. Mr. Sv/ETE, for himself and brother Judges, re- turned thanks. He said they had done their best, and he hoped to the satisfaction of the Society ; if any error had occurred, it was unintentional ; and he assured them that he should be happy on all occasions, to do all in his power to further the Society. Mr. R. Dymond, the Secretary, then read the List of PREMIUMS FOR CATTLE. Best old bull, lOi 10s to No. 3, Mr. Reynolds, Thcrverton. Second best ditto, 5/ 5s to No. 2, Mr. John Tuc- kett, Stockleigh Pomeroy. Best pair of working oxen, bred in the county, 3^ 3s to No. 4, Mr. John Whipple, Exminster. Second best, 21 2s to No. 3, Mr. John Thomas, Rose Ash. Best pair three-year old working steers, ditto 31 3s to No. 1, to Mr. James Quartley, Molland. Second best ditto ditto, 2/ 2s "to No. 2, ditto Best two dairy cows, 6/ 6s to No, 1 , ditto Second best ditto, 41 4s to No. 2, ditto. Best single dairy cow, 3/ 3s to No. 4, Mr, Francis Quartley, MoUaud. Second best ditto, 21 2s to No. 1, Sir H. P. Davie, Bart., Greedy. Best three-year old heifer, in milk, 31 3s to No. 1, Mr. Francis Quartley, Molland. Second best ditto ditto, 21 2s to No. 4, Mr. Ed- ward Turner, Upton Pyne. Best two-year old lieifer, 3/ 3s to No. 4, Mr. George Lendon, Netherexe. Second best. 21 2s to No. 2, Mr. F. Quartley, Mol- land. Best milch cow, of any breed except the Devons, 21 2s to No. 4, John Adney^ Esq. Lympstone. FAT CATTLE. Best pair of fat oxen, to have been in the posses- sion of the exhibitor nine months, 51 5s to No. 1, Mr. Thomas Beedle, Upton Pyne. Best fat ox, ditto ditto, 31 3s to No. 1 , ditto. Second best ditto ditto, 1/ lis 6d to No. 6, Mr, John Manley, of Exeter. Best fat heifer, ditto ditto, 31 3s to No. 1, Mr. Francis Quartley, Molland. Second best ditto ditto, IMls 6d to No. 2, Mr. Joseph Clinton, Down St. Mary. At a meeting of the committee. Sir J. B. Y. Buller, Bart., in the chair, the society's prizes for yearling bulls, and Mr. Sillifant's premium, were withdrawn, it being the opinion of the judges that the cattle were not worthy. Mr. Troodstatedthat he understood that Mr. Manley had not had the bullock in his possession long enough to entitle him to the premium awarded for it ; and he suggested that the matter should be referred to a com- mittee, which was agreed to. The Chairman, after a few brief prefatory obser- vations, proposed the health of Mr. John Sillifant, jun , the liberal donor of the ten guinea prize for the best yearling bull ; and thanks to him for his zeal in behalf of this society, and for his uniform support of the agricultural interest ; which was received with enthusiastic cheering, and drunk with three times three and a volley. Mr. Sillifant, in acknowledging the compliment paid him, said, he really felt that it was for him to thank them for having given him an opportunity of evincing his regard for the society and for agriculture in gene- ral, rather than for them to thank him for the premium in reference to which his name had been mentioned. The reason which had chiefly drawn him to support the society was the admirable manner in which the ploughing matches had been got up, from which he was satisfied much good had resulted, and would con- tinue to result. His hon. friend in the chair had called himself" a mere dabbler in agriculture ;" and he (Mr. Sillifant) was but a cottager with an allot- ment, for he had but about half an acre of land alto- gether, with a neat cottage erected thereon ; and as he did not think 23 ploughs could be well worked in that space, being desirous to have a ploughing match, he applied to the agricultural society, and they kindly lent him a field for the purpose. He was, therefore, desirous of doing something to support the society ; and on considering the situation of the breeders, who ran great risks, as to the decay of their stock, from constitution and other causes, he thought no class connected with agriculture were better deserving of encouragement, which had induced him to give a pre- mium for the best yearling bull, that the breed of cat- tle might be improved. (Cheers.) As to the exhibi- tion of yearlings that day, he did not think that any criterion to judge by, for the breeders had not yet had a fair chance, considering that the premium had been announced but so recently ; and he readily acquiesced in the recommendation of the judges, to withdraw the premium for tlie present. (Hear, hear.) He looked forward to another year, when he had no doubt there would be a greatincrease of competitors, and he hoped the same praise would be awarded to the exhibitors of yearling bulls as had been that day bestowed upon those who had shov^n other cattle. "The successful candidates for cattle," was then proposed, and drunk amidst loud cheering. 550 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Mr. QuARTLEY.of MoUand, beingloudly called on, returned thanks. He expressed his great gratification at his success that day, for it was much beyond his expectation. He did not certainly expect, seeing the large number of cattle which had been exhibited, to have carried off every prize for wiiich he had contend- ed. (Hear, hear.) He hoped, however, his success would be a spur to others to improve the breed of their cattle, and that in a few years they sliould see the Castle-yard grand with a glorious show of the pure North Devon breed, which he was sorry to say had been so much neglected that it would take a great deal of trouble to recover it. (Hear, hear) This society, however, from the competition it caused, and the encouragement it held out was well calculated to effect that object, and he hoped it would be effected, for he should rejoice much more to see this than in gaining the premiums. Mr. Reynolds said, he was particularly obliged to the meeting for the honour conferred on the success- ful candidates. He heartily wished the society suc- cess, and was extremely happy to see so numerous and respectable an assemblage. (Cheers.') " The Fleece" was next drunk amidst great cheer- ing ; after which the secretary read the list of PREMIUMS FOR FAT SHEEP and PIGS. Best pen of not less than three fat wethers, under three years old, lot 1, Mr. Philip Francis, Credition. Best pen of not less than ten ditto, under two years old, lot 2, Mr. James Huggins, Shobrooke. Second best ditto, 1^ lis, lot, Mr. Phillip Francis, Credition. Best fat pig, 21 2s to No. 7, Mr. R. Spark, Exeter. Second best ditto, 1/ Is to No. 1, Mr. Thomas Beedle, Upton Pyne. The health of the successful candidates for fat sheep and pigs was drunk, with three times three. Mr. Pliilip Francis and Mr. Huggins were loudly called on ; and Mr. Huggins returned thanks for the honour con- ferred on him in having been awarded a premium for the best sheep, which was more than he expected, knowing that he had a gentleman to compete with who had before carried away most of the prizes for sheep. Mr. Thomas Beedle expressed his gratification at the premium awarded hirn, and observed that he in- tended to slaughter the prize ox at Christmas. He hoped that no gentleman who had been a competitor would think him undeserving the prize awarded him, and he hoped honour and honesty would always pre- vail in the society. (Cheers.) Mr. R. Sparks returned thanks for the honour of a premium. He said he should do all he could to bring into the county the best possible breed of pigs, (cheers,) and should be always ready to compete with any party. The Chairman proposed, "the gentlemen of other counties who have this day honoured us with their company." Drunk with three times three. Mr. Lethbridge of Somerset, as a stranger re- turned thanks. He said he had in a former time of his life lived in Salop, and had visited other places ; and he could bear testimony to the high estimation in which the cattle of Devon was held. He had heard of Mr. Quartley, who had exhibited stock with so much credit that day, and he had the satisfaction to be en- abled to state, that at a large cattle show in Shrop- shire, almost all those which carried off prizes were from Mr. Quartley's stock. (Cheers.) He had wit- nessed the show in the Castle-yard that day with very great satisfaction, for it did honour to Devon. He begged leave to propose a toast, which he had no doubt would be received with enthusiasm. He had been in 45 counties, and he was sure he could not have picked out anywhere a better specimen of the old English country gentleman than his friend Sir Humphrey Davie. (Immense cheering.) He then proposed the hon. baronet's health, which was drunk with three times three, and " one more." Sir H. Davie rose to return thanks amidst tremen- dous cheering. He expressed his acknowledgments for the manner in which the toast had been received, after having been proposed in so flattering a manner by his friend Mr. Lethbridge, to whose family, if not to himself, agriculture has been much indebted. He (Sir H. D.) was not a practical agriculturist, but it was his wish to promote the interest of all who were, and for tiiat reason he supported the Agricultural So- ciety. (Cheers.) The show of fat cattle that day had far exceeded any that had been before shown; this he could say without hesitation, for he had at- tended all the previous exhibitions, and had paid suffi- cient attention to them to be enabled to speak as to the superior merit of the present show. (Hear, hear.) The hon. baronet then proceeded to point out the great advantages of the ploughing matches, in the en- couragement it held out to the workmen and appren- tices, by which a great improvement had already been made in this essential branch of husbandry. He ex- pressed his regret that parochial matches had not been established throughout the county, but hoped that ob- ject would soon be effected ; he alluded to the parish of Sandfoid as an instance of their good effects, not merely in improving the operation of ploughing, but in encouraging industry and good character, keeping up a social intercourse between landlord and tenant, master and workman, by which good feeling was en- gendered, out of which arose benefits incalculable. Sir Humphrey, in conclusion, proposed — " The spi- rited Yeomanry of Sandford." — Drunk amidst great applause. Mr. Simmons, a gentleman ffom Cornwall, here rose and addressed the meeting at considerable length, as one of the strangers alluded to in a former toast. He said he believed he was the only Cornishman pre- sent, and felt he should have compromised his friends in that county, who boasted also of an Agricultural Society, if he had neglected to make a few observa- tions. (Hear, he?kr.) As a member of that society, he could state that " one and all," they took a lively interest in all that was passing in Devonshire respect- ing the agricultural interest. (Loud cheers.) As an agriculturist, he had felt great pleasure in witnessing the exhibition of that day — the stock produced was such as might well cause a feeling of honest pride in every Devonshire farmer, and all others connected with the county. (Cheers.) He expressed his entire approval of the admirable plan of giving rewards to agiicultural labourers for long servitude and good con- duct, which togetlier with the whole details of their proceedings, he should feel great pleasure in commu- nicating to the society in Cornwall. ( Land cheers.) He hoped they would be able to improve by what he had witnessed here, and that the Cornishmen would soon become, what they desired to be, agriculturists indeed. (Cheers.) From the number of gentlemen he saw present, and the sentiments he had heard, the tenantry of Devon had, he thought, good reason to be proud of their landlords ; and when he considered the excellent quality of the stock, it was a proof that there must have been good management on their parts, and THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 551 therefore the landlords had good reason to be proud of their tenants. (Loud cheering.) The Chairman observed, that the gentleman who had just addressed them with so much ability, had stated his belief that he was the only Cornishman in the room. Now he begged to state that the reason why he did not mention the Coinwall Agricultural Society was, because he (Sir J. Buller} was himself a Cornishman, and a member of that society. (Hear, hear.) He believed there were many other gentle- men in this county also connected with Cornwall, and he was desirous that Devon and Cornwall should be considered as one. The hon. baronet then remarked in reference to agricultural societies, that there was nothing like stimulus to cause improvement in any art or science, in proof of which he alluded to the prizes gained that day by new competitors, who had beaten those who were considered the best breeders in Devon. In conclusion, he proposed " The benefits of compe- tition, and thanks to those who have exhibited this day, although they have not been successful." — Drunk with loud cheering. The President proposed the healths of the Vice- Presidents of the Devon Agricultural Society, and particularly Mr. Kekewich,- — which was drunk with three times three and a tremendous volley. Mr. Kekewich rose amidst reiterated plaudits, and delivered a most eloquent and powerful address in acknowledging the toast. The hon. gentleman said, he assured them he had much need of their kind indul- gence on the present occasion. They liad had six meetings, and at every one of these they iiad been kind enough to drink his healtli with increased ex- pressions of good feeling towards him, which he felt to be far beyond what he was deserving of, for the support he had been enabled to give the society. He did not wish to disguise from them that he took credit for having interested himself in the establishment of the society, which he conceived would be very bene- ficial ; and he was therefore highly gratified at the progress it had made, and the improvement that had already arisen from it. (Cheers.) At the last meeting his gratification was great indeed to hear a practical farmer of the rich plains of Leicester, one who was a competent judge of these things, say that the sheep exhibited on that occasion were superior to any he had ever seen in other parts of the country. (Cheers.') They might then well conceive what delight he felt at seeing the splendid exhibition of cattle in the Castle- yard that day, particularly after hearing an excellent practical breeder say, that the society would be the means of restoring that fine breed — the true North Devon — whicli had been justly termed the Aristocracy of Oxen. (Immense cheering.) This society was now, he was happy to be enabled to say, established on a firm basis; and although it might, at some future time, share the fate of all other human institutions, but which he heartily hoped would not be the case — (citeers) — he should never regret the part he had taken in its establishment. If the society should ever de- cline to nothing, they could not deprive it of the good it had done — they could not destroy the good effects of the union it had caused, and the improvements it had been the means of eflFecting — they could not take away from the honest labourer his gratitude for the rewards conferred upon him, (Loud clieering.) The society had already achieved much ; it had repudiated the mischievous doctrine, that the landlord, the te- nant, and the labourer, had separate interests, whereas the interest of all were identified — (cheers) — for the landlord must know that the tenant requires a fair re- muneration to live as he ought to live 3 and all who give the subject a moment's thought must know, that for every bit of bread we eat, we are indebted to the sweat of the labourer. (Cheering.) This society united them altogether in one firm bond, which he hoped would never be broken. (Cheers.) He then proposed — " The Citizens of Exeter who have contri- buted to the society, and particularly those who have honoured us with their presence this day ;" which was drunk with three times three. Dr. Shapter having been loudly called on, rose to return thanks amidst loud cheering. He expressed his warm acknowledgments for the handsome terms in which Mr. Kekewich had spoken of the citizens of Exeter, who he assured him felt deeply sensible of the great i nportance of the agricultural interest, and of the beneficial tendency of the society. For himself, who as a member of the society, and most anxious for its prosperity, and on behalf of his fellow-citizens, he begged to thank them for the manner in which the toast had been received. (Cheers.) The Chairman observed on the great utility of ploughing matches, and expressed his desire that they might become more general in the parishes. He then proposed " The gentlemen who have promoted plough- ing matches in their own districts, with a hope that others will follow their example." E. S. Drewe, Esq., of Grange, rose, and was re- ceived with continued cheering. He said as his friend Sir Humphrey Davie appeared to decline the task, he felt himself obliged to oifer a few remarks for the kind manner in which the last toast had been drunk. He considered ploughing as one of the first objects of the society, and therefore he was most anxious for im- provement in that branch of agricultural work. (Cheers.) When the society was formed, he hailed it as a great blessing, for although nature had done much for them in this county, yet that was a leason why they should also endeavour to do something for themselves. Their child was some time since born, when they drank their caudle ale over it ; and they now saw it increasing in strength and stature. (Cheers.) He hoped, however, they would not neglect the care of their child as it grew into manhood, for it would re- quire their continued and watchful support. In re- ference to the ploughing match in his parish, the hon. gentleman said he had been induced to establish it, as he considered that many men before went into the fields and did not do that justice to the masters which they ought to have done — (hear, hear) — but he must say he was indebted to the Agiicultural Society for the example they had shown in this respect; he then proceeded to detail the nature of the competition, which took place between the ploughmen at the Grange, when there were at the match no less than 28 ploughs at work, together with two strange ones, and two refused on account of the bad character of the candidates, a practice he was determined to adhere to, considering that nothing could be more beneficial than to impress upon the workmen the value of good cha- racter. After a variety of judicious observations in support of the society, and expressing a desire that ploughing matches might become general in the dif- ferent parishes, which must effect great good by caus- ing a spirit of emulation, which had already led to considerable improvement in his parish, the hon. gen- tleman in conclusion thanked the meeting for the manner in which he had been noticed with Sir H. Davie, and assured them he had come forward witli no other feeling than a sincere and honest desire to do his duty in the state of life in which he had been placed. (Loud cheers.) Mr. Pile of Tallaton, addressed the meeting, and 552 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. the blunt and earnest manner in which the worthy Yeoman delivered his remarks, highly complimentary to Mr. Drewe, of Grange, were received with loud cheering. " Liberal Landlords and good Tenants" wa* then drunk ; after which was announced THE MEDAL PRIZES. To the Master or Mistress who has retained a ser- vant in Husbandry under his own roof for the longest period. To Mis. Heller of Bishopsteignton, who (with her husband), has had R. Densham as an in- door servant 45 years, a Silver Medal. To the Agricultural Servant who has lived the longest under his or her master's roof. To Robert Densham, the above servant. To the Renting Farmer who shall have paid the greatest sum for agricultural labour, in proportion to the size of his farm, from 30th Sept. 1833, to 30th Sept. 1834. To Mr. Elias Tremlet Ward, of Lang- ridge, in Crediton, who, on 200 acres, has expended 425/. 10s. Id. in labour, a Silver Medal. To the Farmer of his own Estate, who shall have paid the greatest sum for agricultural labour, in pro- portion to the size of his farm, from 30th September, 1833, to 30lh September, 1834. To Mr. William Sharland, of Cheriton Fitzpaine, who on 95 acres has expended 155L 4s. 4d., a Silver Medal. To the individual who shall have allotted the greatest portion of ground at a low rent, in portions not exceeding half an acre each, to Agricultural La- bourers. To the Right Hon. Earl Fortesque, who has made 76 allotments of land, containing 22a. 2iv. A Silver Medal. " Earl Fortesque, and the other successful candi- dates for medals," was then drunk ; and " Hearts of Oak, the Yeomanry of the County of Devon," with three times three, proposed by Mr. Drewe of the Grange. Mr. Pile returned thanks. " The Committee ■who have conducted the proceedings of the day, and many thanks to them for their judiciou? arrange- ments." Mr. S. Drewe returned thanks in a very able manner. The health of Mr. Robert Dymond, the respected and able Secretary, was proposed in the most compli- mentary terms by Mr. Drewe, of Grange, and drunk with three times three and one cheer more ; after which Mr. Dymond returned thanks in the most appropriate terms, and concluded by announcing the PREMIUMS FOR AGRICULTURAL IMPLE- MENTS. — Toby, of Rockbear, 21. 2s. for an improved turnip cutter. John Bright, \l. Is for his plough. "Prosperity to the county of Devon," and several other toasts were drunk. ExTRAORDiNAny Potatqe. — A potatoe was gather- ed in a field belonging to Mr. William Richmond, the property of Mr. Denney, both of Haxby, the weight of which was 1 lb 14 oz., and measured in circumference 17 inches. Extraordinary Productiveness of a Common Field Pea. — As Mr. John Lumsden, atLucklawhill, was engaged during the late harvest in reaping his peas, curiosity prompted him to number the pods sprung from one root, which amounted to the almost incredible number of 428. This so far exceeding what he or any one present had either seen or heard of, induced him to number the peas, which amounted to no fewer than 2,020 ! CHARACTERS OF THE HORSE. The horse is vastly modified in his form and characters by the physical condition of the coun- tries in which he is naturalized. If fed in a coun- try of plains and rich herbage, he tends to become large in his form ; and such is the character of the horse of the plains of Northern Europe, as of Holstein, England, and other countries abounding in rich herbage. But in an elevated country, where the herbage is scanty, the size and form of the horse vary with the circumstances in which he is placed. There he becomes small, hardy, and capable of subsisting on the scanty herbage with which the mountains supply him. No contrast between animals of the same species can be greater than that between the horse of the mountains and the horse of the plains. The pony of Norway or the Highlands of Scotland, as contrasted with the Imge horse of the Lincolnshire fens, presents such extremes of strength and size, that it is difficult to believe that creatures so difterent can be of the same species. Yet all this great diversity is pro- duced by a difference in the supplies of food, as influenced by the effects of situation. Nor is this peculiar to the horse ; the domestic ox and the sheep are subject to the same law, and in a no less remarkable degree. These animals are essential to the subsistence of the human race, and, by a beneficent provision of Nature, they are formed to adapt themselves to the circumstances in which they are placed. The horse fed on the arid plains and scanty herbage of warmer countries, assumes characters and a form entirely distinct from those of the large and massy animals fed on the rich pastures of tem- perate countries. It is from this cause that the large horse of England and the northern plains of Europe contrasts in a striking manner with the lighter shape of the horse of other regions. As we pass from the northern to the southern parts of Europe, this change of form and character appears, but yet more when we have crossed into Africa. There the horse of the desert displays the light form and agile shape, which fit him for his condi- tion. We see that he is here the creature of the circumstances in which he is placed. The heavy horse of the plains of Germany and England could no more subsist on the dry and scanty herbage of Arabia than on the heaths of Norway. The species would perish in conditions so different did nature not provide a remedy, by adapting the animal to its condition. The ancient horses of the north of Europe must have consisted either of the smaller horses of the mountains or of the larger horses of the plains. The horse which was chiefly employed for common uses, for war, for the tournament, and even for the chase, seems to have been of the latter kind. This appears from the accounts and representations given of him, and from the form which he yet re- tains when unmixed with the blood of the lighter races of the south and east. It is to this inter- mixture that the technical term blood is applied. Importations long ago took place of horses from Spain, from Barbary, and the Levant ; and, at a later period, from Arabia. The African and Ara- bian horses accordingly have given their characters THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 553 to the blood horse of England and its innumerable varieties. Tlie animal in which this effect of blood is the most remarkable is the English race-horse. For the combination of speed with the necessary strength, this creature can scarcely be surpassed. He forms, however, a race of artificial creation, admirably suited for a particular purpose, but not otiierwise deserving of cultivation, except from this, that it is the stallions of this race that continue the excellence and purity of the pai-ent stock. The superior class of riding-horses generally termed the hunter, is perhaps the finest race of horses known. It combines the blood of the Arabian, and other races of the south and east, with the powerful form of the horses of the north of Europe, in a much happier proportion than the race-iiorse. From the hunter downwards to the races where no mixture of southern blood can be traced, the gradations are innumerable. It is in this class that our road-horses and hackneys, the horses em- ployed in our coaches and carriages of all kinds, nay, often in the mere labour of heavy draught, are contained. It forms the most numerous class of horses in the country. But a large proportion is bad, having lost the hardiness and strength of the native race, without having arrived at the speed and other qualities of good breeding. The remaining class of horses consists of those in which no mixture, or ' a very slight one, of stranger blood is found. These are the ponies of our mountains, or the larger horses of the plains. It is these last that interest the fai-mer as the ani- mals of labour, and to them we commonly apply the term cart-horse, or farm-horse. — Professor Low's Elements of Practical Agriculture. ^'MALTHUS AND THE CORN LAWS." Mr. Editor, — Permit me, through the medium of your valuable paper, to call the attention of the public to the following short extract from the last Agricultural Report for October, 1834, as compre- hending in a few words, the completest refutation of the foul calumnies of Malthus against the God of Heaven ; and the no less satisfactory confirma- tion, that, under Divine Providence, to our pre- sent Corn Laws it is that we have plenty at home ; and that it is onr own fault if we are not, as a na- tion, happy and contented. " There is no concealing nor altering the fact most momentous to the Lauded Interest and the country at large, that the produce of the harvest of the United Kingdom is beyond the average of two years, both in quantity and quality ; and since the supply of the last two years has been found equal to the demand, the price must be low." Do we not all remember, that the cry was, when the Corn Bill was passed, that never again would Wheat he less than 80s a quarter in this country .' Now, mai'k the price in London — Superior old wheat 46's to 48s, whilst ordinary is 36s to 38s — just about half what was predicted. I add not another word; but am. Sir, your con- stant reader, A BORDERER. 5th November, 1834. The Comic Offering; or, Lady's Melange of Literary Mirth, for 1835. Edited by Louisa Henrietta Sheridan. London, Smith, Elder, and Co. This is the fifth year of the Comic Offering, which, as heretofore, does great credit to the ta- lents and ingenuity of its fair editress. It is very difficult, however, to keep up the spirit of such productions, with equal effect, for a long continu- ance of time. The mine of wit refuses to be con- stantly wrought ; and at last the labour becomes more conspicuous than the ore. Still, if a thou- sand puns, twisted in every possible way, can be reckoned a supply worthy of the public favour, as contributing to the public amusement in a light and harmless manner, the present volume will be found abundantly to sustain its acknowledged claim to patronage. The frontispiece represents a " 'Wag-on of Fun ;" and the description of this sign is as good a sam- ple as we can ;; acted, that frotn and immediately the uses affecting atter^ such deed ot exchange as them at the time, herein- before is mentioned shall and to become h^ve been duly executed by the subiect to such .: -v i j i • i uses as affected necessary parties, the land which the lands taken. by such deed is given in exchange shall be exonerated and discharged from the uses, trusts, powers, conditions, limita- tions and restrictions, charges and incumbrances then affecting the same, and shall be and become subject to such and the same uses, trusts, powers, conditions, limitations and restrictions, charges and incumbrances, as affected the land taken in exchange at the same date ; and the land so taken in exchange shall be exonerated and discharged from all uses, trusts, powers, conditions, limita- tions and restrictions, charges and incumbrances then affecting the same, and shall be and become subject to such and the same uses, trusts, powers, conditions, limitations and restrictions, charges and incumbrances as affected the lands given in exchange at the same time. After exchange XXV. And be it further enact- evkted"°' '" "^"^ ^^' *^^* "° person to whom any land shall have been granted or conveyed in exchange according to the provisions of this Act shall at any time there- after be evicted from the peaceable and quiet pos- session of such land by reason or in consequence of any person claiming right thereto through any title prior to that of, or through any defect of title in, the person by whom such land may have been granted or conveyed; but nevertheless it shall be lawful for the person claiming such right, and he is hereby authorized andempovvcred, to use, exer- cise, and enjoy all such and the same powers and remedies in trying his right to and in obtaining and recovering possession of the land which shall have been granted or conveyed in exchange as the person so claiming would in case this Act had not been made have been enabled to use, exercise, or enjoy in trying the right to and recovering the possession of the land in exchange for which the same shall have been so granted or conveyed un- der the authority of this Act. General saving. XXVI. Saving always to the King's most excellent Majesty, his heirs and successors, and to all and every other person, bodies politic, corporate, and collegiate, his and their heirs, successors, executors, and ad- ministrators, (other than and except the several owners and proprietors of the said exchanged lands, and the several persons and parties who shall ha/e consented to such exchange, and all other persons claiming under them, or under the same will or deed or other conveyance as the said owners and proprietors, any right, title, estate, or interest to or in the said exchanged lands,) allsuch estate, right, title, interest, claim, and demand whatsoever as they, every or any of them had be- fore the making and confirming of any such ex- change, or could or might have had or enjoyed in case such exchange had not been made. -Meaning of words And be it further enacted, that in the A( t. ^jjg words and expressions herein- before mentioned, which in their ordinary signifi- cation have a more confined or a different mean- ing, shall in the construction of this Act, except where the nature of the provision or the context of the Act shall exclude such construction, be in- 568 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. terpreted as follows ; that is to say, the word *' person" shall extend as 'well to an individual as to a body politic, corporate, or collegiate, and to a corporation as well aggregate as sole, whether such coporation be eleemosynary or civil, ecclesiastical or lay ; the word " benefice" shall extend to and be taken to comprehend rectories, vicarages, do- natives, perpetual curacies, parochial and consoli- dated chapelries, district parishes and district chapelries, and churches and chapels having a dis- trict assigned thereto ; the word " land" shall ex- tend to every species of land, whether arable, meadow, or pasture, and whether freehold, copy- hold, or customary, or held by any other tenure, and as well to one piece or parcel as to any num- ber of pieces or parcels of land ; and every word importing the singular number only shall extend and be applied to several persons or things as well as one person or thing ; and every word support- ing the masculine gender only shall extend and be applied to a female as well as a male. To extend to XXVIII. And be it further en- England and acted, that this Act shall extend Wales. ^j^jy ^Q ^■^^^ pg^^.j. pf j.jjg United Kingdom called England and Wales. Act may be al- XXIX. And be it further enact- tered this ses- ed, that this Act or any of the pro- ®^°"- visions thereof may be altered or repealed by any Act to be passed in this present session of parliament. THE SCHEDULE TO WHICH THE FOREGO- ING ACT REFERS. This Indenture, made the day of in the year betweet A. B. of of the one part, and C. D. of of the other part, witnesseth, that in pursuance and under the au- thority of an Act passed in the year of the reign of His Majesty King William the Fourth, in- tituled [here set forth the title of this Act), the s&\A A. B. doth grant and convey all the land comprised in the first schedule hereunder written, marked with the letter A., unto the said C. D., in lieu of and in exchange for the land comprised in the se- cond schedule hereunder written, marked with the letter B., to the end and intent that the land com- prised in the first schedule may be held and enjoy- ed by the said C. D. and the person or persons who for the time being shall be entitled thereto, and be and become subject to such and the same uses, trusts, powers, conditions, limitations, re- strictions, charges, and incumbrances as the land comprised in the second schedule now is or may be subject or liable to : And this indenture fur- ther witnesseth, that in pursuance of the said Act the said C. D. doth grant and convey all the land comprisedinthesecond schedule hereunder writLen, marked with the letter B., unto the said A. B., in lieu of and in exchange for the land comprised in the first schedule hereunder written, marked \\ith the letter A., to the end and intent that the land comprised in the second schedule may be held and enjoyed by the said A. B. and the person or per- sons who for the time being shall be entitled thereto, and be and become subject to such and the same uses, trusts, jiowei-s, conditions, limita- tions, restrictions, charges, and incumbrances as the land comprised in the first schedule now is or may be subject or liable to. In witness, &c. Schedule A. containing the land conveyed by A B. to C. D. Schedule B. containing the land conveyed by C. D. to A.B. Witness E. F. G. H. A. B. (l. s.) CD. (l.s.) THE MILLERS' MONOPOLY. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUFF0I.K CHRO.VICLE. Sir, — I observed in your Paper of last Saturday a letter signed " An Old Farmer," wherein he says, the best red wheats can be bought at 18s. to 20s. per coomb. That is too cheap to be true. He also says, that a coouib of wheat will, when manufactured, pro- duce 15 stone of good flour- Tiiis is false : had he said 12 stone, he, perhaps, might have been believed. The price of flour, he says, is 2s. per stone ; a profit of 50 per cent, h too had. This is a very erroneous calculation, and totally undeserving notice. The " Old Farmer" should know that the miller don't retail his flour, but allows the bakers and dealers a profit for selling it. The wholesale price of flour is not more than Is. 9d. per stone, and the price of the best red wheat is 23s. to 25s. per coomb, and flour every body knows to be proportionably cheap. He says every other article is to be purchased so cheap on account of the competition. Let him look at the price of meat, butter, and cheese. These articles he don't mention (all of which are much dearer than flour) ; therefore I judge he is a rfri/ bread farmer; if so, the prices of the last mentioned articles don't affect him. Then again, he trusts the Poor Law Comissioners will take up the business, and erect mills, to grind by manual labour. Now, if the Commissioners should erect mills, they will, of course, employ persons to superintend them, and if the " Old Farmer" has had any practice, and is an experienced hand at the labour mill, he could instruct the inexperienced, and be, no doubt, a great acquisition to his employers, more especially if he can make a coomb of wheat produce ^/t;e?i stone of good four. I am, Sir, your obedient Servant, Oct. 31,1834. J.Albion. MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS, AT THE BATTLE OF LANGSIDE. (See Robinson's History of Scotland.) She gaz'd upon the fight — that anxious Queen ! With fever'd cheek, and brightly flashing eye. Breathless she watch'd the wild and passing scene, For in its fate was writ her destiny. The trumpet sounds — the war-steed's tramp is heard, The clash of arms, the warrior's battle cry. And j oy and dread within her breast was stirr'd, And Hope fthat lingerer the last to die) Had chain'd its unrest there — her stay was cast On a brave, faithful few : she saw them bound Onward as if for victory — then past A sliadow o'er her sight, a fearful sound Of" Lost ! all lost," was heard, — and then despair Haunt'd her heart, and was the victor there. Kimbolton. B.B. B. It is supposed that the value of Irish pigs im- ported into Bristol, in the course of a year, amounts to upwards of 250,000^. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 569 SKETCHES ON IRISH HIGHWAYS.— THE IRISH JAUNTING CAR. BY MRS. S. C. HALL. " A beautiful car ! Won't yer honour go with Shaun Langly ? Sorra such a horse from Passage to Waterford, Stand out o' the way, ye pack of impostors ! Sure it isn't such a garron as that you'd put before his honour? Look at his shandrum- dandy ! Whew ! it hangs together by nothing at all !• — it'll go to pieces the first bit of bad road that comes in its way." This was the first specimen of genuine Irish brogue I had heard for more than sixteen years, and I felt an indescribable sensation as it fell upon my ear, while once more standing on my native soil. Our reply to the invitation was, — " We don't want a car." " Oh ! I ax yer honour's pardon. Then it's for you the Swish car is waitin there are the morn- in forenint us at the side o' the hill. Holloa ; Misther Ally's man ! Come down ! will ye ? Here's the English company. Come, step out. Holloo ! hoUoo 1" The truth is, our friend " hoUooed" so loudly, that he would have been invaluable on board the steam-boat we had just quitted, as a speaking- trumpet. In answer to his summons, half tumbl- ing, whole galloping down the hill, came the " Swiss car." " Is the sun too much in yer eyes, Ma'am, dear ?" exclaimed a kind voice at my elbow, just as the driver was mounting. " Put up yer num- parol, my darlint. Yer bonnet's too small, my lady : which, though an advantage to me, is the contrary to you. It's a beautiful sun, God bless it, for the harvest ; — but I'm doubtin if it's as bright over the wather as it is here. Well, glory be to God, they can't take the bames of the sun from us, any way. There, now you're not so sensible of the heat ! A safe and plisant journey to yez here and hereafther ! Take the baste asy, Michael up the hill. Sure Ireland's bothered entirely wid the hills, — but the roads are as smooth as wax from this to Bannow." And on we went. It was found that the Swiss car could not take our luggage, so we determined to hire a machine which we heard was " wonderful strong," and a horse that " would go to Bannow and back in less than no time." Now I am anxious that my experience should warn others against the evils of Irish travelling, — at least in so far as concerns the confiding of life and limb to the tender mercies of " an outside jaunting car." Public or private, they are all execrable. Had my English readers ever the good fortune to behold one ? If . not, let them imagine a long box, elevated upon what are called springs ; this long box forms the centre of the machine, and to confess the truth, is a convenient place for conveying luggage ; at each side of the under part of this box projects a board, which forms the seats, and from these depend narrow, movable steps, upon which it was intended the feet of the travellers shall rest ; the driver's seat is elevated over one end of the box, and is generally composed of crooked bars of iron, while the har- ness, perfectly independent of oil or blacking, is twisted and patched, and tied so as to leave but little trace of what it originally was, either in for- mation or quality. Upon one of these atrocities was I seated, my feet hanging down upon the " step," — if I leaned back, I bumped my head against the driver's seat; if I sat forward, 1 must inevitably have fallen upon what our charioteer called " " Sran new powdher pavement,^' the said powd/ie?- pavement consisting of a quantity of red granite broken into lumps the size of a giant's hand, and strewn thickly over the hills and hollows of a most wicked road. Our party consisted of three. Now, on these cars you are placed doa-u-dos, and as three could not possibly sit on a side intended for two, I had half the vehicle to myself; the gentlemen chatting of politics on the back opposite (to invent an Irish- ism) seat. " I hope ye'r honour's comfortable ?" inquired the driver, after a terrific jolt, with that familiar, yet respectful manner, which distinguishes a race now almost extinct even in primitive Ireland — the race of old servants. " I hope your honour's comfortable. I think this a dale pleasanter than them Swish cars, though I did my best to make that asy for you this morning." " Indeed ! What did you do to it, Michael?" " Faith, then, just put half a hundred of stones in the bottom of it, and plenty of straw over them to keep it steady, which you'd ha' never knowd — only I'm afther telling you — these mighty fly-away cars, them _/«rrm ones, are not asy and steady like these" — (another terrific jolt that would have de- stroyed the springs of the best made London phaeton.) — Michael looked round at me, and then repeated, " I hope yer honour's comfortable !" It seemed a bitter mockery of comfort, and yet poor Michael did not mean it so. At last, we got over the " powdher pavement," and even the gentle- men congratulated themselves on the event. When, lo and behold ! we stood at the foot of what I was told was a " little liill;" the poor horse eyed it with strong symptoms of dislike. " It's a fine mornin', said Mike, pulling the horse to a dead stop. " So it is," said I. " Gintlemin, there's a beautiful view from this hill," persisted our driver, " and the sweetest of fresh air, and to walk it up would do ye a dale of good. You might travel long enough in England widout comin' across such a prospict." " Shall I walk also, Michael ?" " Oh, sorra a step ! Sure Nimble (diat's the haste's name) will go a dale the better from havin' a lady to carry. Gee up, my man ! Cushla machree was every inch of ye. Nimble, my darlint ! it's yersfclf that was the beauty — onct !" " It is a long time ago, then," replied I, look- ing with compassion upon the poor, longboned animal. " Indeed you may say that, lady dear. You see he's kilt entirely with tlie hard work and the poor appetite, though that last is lucky, for it'.s little tlie man that owns him has to give him to eat." " How is that, Michael ?" " Faith, it's myself can't tell you, my lady, only sorrow has long legs I and his landlord's as hard 2 P 570 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. as the devil's forehead" — (another jolt, I thought the car was broken to atoms.) " Michael, what is the matter V' " Troth, Ma'am, we're done for ! I wish T hadn't sent the gintlemin on ; but you wouldn't have a knife, or piece of ould leather, or a taste ot rope m yer pocket — asy. Nimble — bad luck to ye, will ye stand asy ? Small blame to the baste to want to get on ; tliere's a black cloud comin' over Knocknaughdowly will soak every tack on our backs in hve minutes, and sovra a house nearer than Kilborristhane. Come here do, you little gossoon ; run afther thim gintlemin, and call thim back ; and harkee ! give me that piece of siring that's round yer hat. Now run, run for the dear life. Och, faith, we're in for it ; this harness 'ill never reach Bannow ; an' deed an' deed poor Nimble seems unasy." " Was he in harness to-day, before ?" — " He was." — " Did he go far?" — " Not to say far, only three mile. I mean three eoin' and three comin." — " Had he a heavy load V " Faith, he had. Mrs. Graham and seven of her children, and two nurses, and the bathin' wo- man, goin' and comin' to the salt wather, to say nothing of the fish and stones and things they brings home afther bathin.' " " I think," I replied, jumping off the car " that I will v.alk on to the next village, and send you some assistance ; it is evident the horse can never achieve the hill." " God bless you, Ma'am, dear, isn't he like ourselves, used to all niunner of slavery ! I ax yer pardon ! but if yer ladyship would lend me a loan of the string of your cloak, it would mend this little fray in the harness, and the never a bit of harm would I do it." To Michael's great astonishment, I did not feel disposed to part with what he so irreverently term- ed the string of my cloak, but climbed up the hill until I overtook my companions. One of them a native of the soil, only laughed at my dilemma ; he was accustomed to such adventures ; and said that, within less than a quarter of a mile he would procure a capital horse from a Mr. Matty Byrne ; and the poor animal who had been previously worn out in the service of Mrs. Graham and her count- less childien, might fare as he best could by the roadside till the jaunting car returned. We posted on as fast as possible to Master Byrne's, and found his residence in good time, that is, just before the pelting of the pitiless storm commenced. " Had he a horse ?" " To be sure he had — three — beauties ! Would flog the country to pro- duce three such !" " Would he lend it ?" " To Mr. Allay troth he would, and the veins of his heart with it, to one of the name ;" and imme- diately he hallooed to a strapping youth, who popped up his head from out a potato pit, and commanded him forthwith to bring " Spanker" from the plough. « * » * * ^. The shower was over ; " the valley lay smiling before us." Michael and the car had arrived; the luggage, which was piled up in what they called — ^just then very appropriately — the well, soaked through. Spanker, a bright bay, bony horse, with an exceedingly quick eye, stood meek and quiet enough at the door. I resumed my seat, and looked on the beautiful prospect, which, as the road was tolerably good, 1 was enabled to enjoy. " Master Byrne," I inquired, " is your land- lord resident here ?" " No, thank God, Ma'am !" " Indeed : who is your agent then?" " A born gentleman — God's fresh blessing be about him ! As long as he is over us, we'll make a free present of the landlord to the English ; and much good may he do them !" At this moment Spanker made a dead stop op- posite the door of a small public-house. " Make the horse go on," said our friend in a cold, determined tone. Byrne looked round at him precisely with the expression of a dog when disappointed of a long-expected bone. " He has a laning this way," he replied. " I fear, Byrne, you go there more than once a-week." — " Some- times I do, my lady." — " Every day, Byrne?" — " Not always. Ma'am, dear." — " Twice a-day, Byrne?" — " Faith, Ma'am, if I do it's Spanker's fault, and not mine. When I gets on his back, thinking a trifle of exercise would do me good, as sure as fate he makes for the public — and no mis- take." " Believe me, it is a ruinous habit." " No disputin' it, my lady ; but ruin has fol- lowed ordd Ireland so long, that it would be heart-breakin' to part company now." We were at the commencemeut of anotlier hill. " I must trouble ye all to get off," said Byrne. '' It would take more wit than would reach from this to Cape Clear to make Spanker go either up or down a hill with any body behind him." We submitted to necessity, and walked. « * if- * ^ * * " You may get on the car now, Ma'am, dear. — Spanker, stand still, will ye? — Up wid yez now, wliile he's picking Jimy Rape's barley through that hole in the hedge, for if he knowd you were getting up, all the samts in the calendar wouldn't hold him." Another mile or two of bad road — -not powder- pavement, however, but an odd jumbling together of sand and stones upon a foundation which had never been properly levelled ; our driver com- menced chattering at a great rate. The horse ei- ther could not or would not increase his speed be- yond a walk ; and to the oft repeated question of " How far are we from Bannow now?" the changes were rung as follow : — " Near upon four miles." — " Three miles and a perch." — " Four miles good." — " Whatever you may think, the baste counts it four mile and quarter." And once, when I inquired of a smith wl.o had left his iron cool- ing at the door of his forge to run and look at us, he replied, after the true Irish fashion, " Why thin, is it to Bannow ye're going ?" They certainly are the most amusing and the most provoking people in the whole world. My patience began to ebb ; I think — I do not mind confessing it now — but I do think I was getting out of humour ; I was fatigued beyond the power of saying what fatigue was. The evening clouds THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 571 were overshadowing us, and the road looking dreary, and the cabins very unlike the sweet cot- tages at Saltmills. " How far is it, as the crow flies, from Ballyhay to Bannow?" " About three miles." " And by your road ?" " Faith, Ma'am, dear, I wouldn't say but it's eleven." " One would think you delighted in making long instead of short roads." " So we do — that is the county does ; the longer the road the longer the job — the longer the job, the more money for the job-makers. But murder in Irish — if there is'nt a stream." "■ Well, it is not a foot deep." " Sure I know that ; but Counsellor Dan him- self wouldn't argufy Spanker over a running stream, though he says to the King, they say, ' William, my dear, do this — and Billy, my darlint, sign tother;" yet he wouldn't get Spanker over a stream." What was to be done ? Off jumped Matty and commenced unharnessing the abominable horse. " What do you intend to do ?" we inquired "Just then carry him over." " Cany what over ?" " The baste to be sure." " What, that vicious brute ?" " Ay, or go back to Ballyhay." The man was perfectly in earnest ; he succeeded in assembling two or three countrymen, who fairly lifted the horse over, and then pushed the car on to the opposite side. " And njw," says Byrne, turning to me with no gentle countenance, " if you wasn't every inch a lady, I'd tell you that it was very cruel to call that sinsible baste a vicious brute — he has come a'most the whole road wid ye with- out a kick or a stumble to signify, or a stoppage, or anything but the heart's blood of good manners. Didn't I rare him from a foal, trotting at my knee ■with my own childre ?''• — -and hasn't he the sense of a Christian ? It's little I thought a lady would turn her tongue to sail him a brute." " I believe. Ma'am," inquired Matty, after a pause occasioned by the car's jolting so loudly over a quantity of bad road, that it would have been impossible for us to hear the discharge of a cannon, " I believe you have no such convanient ways of travelling in your country as this ? You are always shut up in coaches, and such kind of things, so that the fresh air can't get about ye, and you have no sort of exercise ; the English peo- ple as well as the English carriages are mighty asy going : there's no such thing as a post-chay used this side o' the country on account of the cars." While my heart felt swelling within me, a sad train of thought was broken, by our driver exclaim- ing to one of my companions — " What did you say, Sir?" " I was observing," was the reply, "what you can know little about, Matty ; that it is supposed the lost books of Spenser's * Fairy Queen' are still in Ireland." Byrne cast a contemptuous look upon the gen- tleman, as well as to say, " May be I don't know indeed !" then with a changed expression of coun- tenance, while with his whip he pointed exultingly to a neat, pretty cottage whose white chimneys peered above the trees which clustered round it, he replied — " There's the man that has them ? " What!" exclaimed my companions, in na- tural astonishment, " do you mean the man who lives in that cottage possesses the lost books of Spenser's ' Fairy Queen?" " Faith, I do — mean what I say, the very books. Every book that's printed at all at all, he gets, and the ' Dublin Pinny Magazine ;" and a mighty fine man he is, own brother's son to Father Goram, with a power o' larnin ; and since yer honor's so euros about thim books, shall I step down and say you want a sight of them ? He'll lend them to you with all the pleasure in life, I'll go bail." At first the gentleman's blank look of diappoint- ment was exceedingly amusing. Matty's earnest- ness had misled him ; they forgot for a moment that an Irishman pretends to know every thing ; that he is never at fault ; and within that moment, brief as it was, visions of the extreme splendour with which the concluding books of the " Fairy Queen," would burst upon the reading public in this time of poetic drought, dazzled their imagi- oations ; even the mention of the " Dublin Penny Magazine" hardly reduced them to so1«er prose. Poor Byrne ! he was much annoyed at not being permitted to display his friend's store of informa- tion to the " Strange English." We had entered upon our last mile : we were in the " charmed district," where the benefits aris- ing from resident landlords, and the advantages of education and cleanliness, are too evident to be for a moment questioned. Poor Spanker had climbed his last hill, and stood panting at the summit. The sun had sunk behind the old church of Baiwow, and steeped the ocean in a flood of golden light. What had once been, and still is called the Moor, lay beneath our feet, gemmed with neat and tranquil cottages, in- habited by contented and cheerful inmates. In the background rose the mountain of Forth, cele- brated in the history of the Irish rebellion ; and somewhat in the shadow of the windmill which crowns the hill, stood a tall, picturesque figure, his hands folded, and resting on the top of his staff, and a pretty little sylph-like girl, of about five or six years old, clinging to the skirt of his coat, which was belted round his waist by a lea- thern belt. " I'd be mighty grateful to ye, Ma'am, if ye'd walk down this bit of a hill. Ye seem to know right well the auld place, and can't mistake it ; and I'll lade the baste down. It's small throuble, I'm thinking, to ye to be done with the jaunting car?" said Matty Byrne. Tlie Banbury Agricultural Association is rapidly increasing. Several noblemen, gentlemen, farmers, and tradesmen, have added their names during- the preceding week. Tlie number is now 162 : the ad- ditional amount during^ the last fortnight, in dona- tions, 121 Is i in subscriptions, 201 15s. 2 p 2 572 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. IMPORTANT AGRICULTURAL DIN- NER AT MARKET-HILL. (From the Newry Telegraph.) Sir, — As the public were much interested by the account which I sent you of the dinner given last year by the Earl of Gosford to the successful com- petitors for the premiums given by him for the en- couragement of agriculture on his estate, I pre- sume yon will be glad to hear some account of a similar dinner given this season to promote the same object. It is much to be regretted that the room in Market-hill, where the dinner was given, is not of dimensions sufficient to accommodate a larger party — there being great anxiety expressed by many gentlemen to be present, which his Lord- ship found it impossible to gratify, as it could not be done except to the exclusion of those who had a more special claim to be invited. Among the visitors were to be seen, besides the principal gentlemen of Market-hiil, J. M'Clenaghan, Esq., Agent to Rev. F. Gervais, of Cecil ; Mr. M'Kean, of Ballyharridan ; Mr. Nathaniel Greer, of Bally- nahinch ; Mr. Still, agriculturist on his Grace the Lord Primate's estate in County Cavan ; Mr. Fyfe, agriculturist on Lord Gosford's Cavan estate ; Mr. Robert Bruce, agriculturist on Lord Leitrim's estate in County of Leitrim ; together with Mr. M. Black, the Mr. Martins, Mr. Acheson, and several other principal tenants on Lord Gosford's Armagh estates ; and Mr. Biggers, a very improving tenant from his Lordship's Cavan property. ilis Lordship took the CHiair, accompanied by Lord Acheson, at six o'clock ; and the meeting, consisting of between fifty and sixty persons, sat down to an excellent dinner, provided, as usual, by Mrs. Stratton. After the customary toasts were given, his Lordship requested the premium sheet should be read out by Mr. Blacker, who ac- cordingly commenced by announcing- Moses Greer, of Corlust, as entitled to the 1st premium, for best stock fed upon the smallest quantity of land : it appeared that he had fed his stock, of four cows and two calves, upon the astonishing small quantity of 1 acre and 2 roods of land all summer — being about 1 rood and 4 perches for each cow, after allowing for the calves, and had 3 roods of turnips and 1 of rape, for winter; 2d ijremium, to James Rolston, of Druminis; 3d ditto to Robert Beck, Mecantrim ; 4th ditto to Joseph Thompson, Grayhilla ; 5th ditto to Arthur Jamison, of Drumgaw ; 6th ditto to Patrick Parrel, of Garvah ; 7th ditto to JamesM'Connell,of Cornicrew; 8th ditto to James Cully, of Grayhilla. MosF.s Greer, being called on to give an ac- count of his farming, said : My Lords and Gentle- men, I hold 8 acres and 3 roods of land, which I have now got into the highest condition ; and I shall, in future, be able to keep it so, without going to the expense in lime which I have hereto- fore been at, by reason of the great quantity of manure I make from my increased stock of cattle, consisting of four cows and two calves ; and it will surprise you to hear, my Lords and Gentle- men, that this stock has been fed this last summer, and up to the present time, on clover and vetches, upon the identical same piece of ground which, wlien formerly in grazing, fed only one cow, and that very poorly. My land is held, partly at 23s, and part at 8s 3d per acre, and my rent amounts to 71 14s 6d yearly ; and I have already sold butter to the amount of lU4s, clear of all deductions, and have had enough of milk and butterfor myself and my family besides. The abundance of manure has enabled me to set as many potatoes as my neighbours, holding same quantity of land, and I have as much crop too, besides having my turnips likewise. In conclusion, my Lord, I am satisfied there is no way in which land can be made to pro- duce so umch, or by which it can be brought into such heart, as by the soiling system and four- course rotation of crops, from which I expectevery year to derive greater advantage ; as I may say I am only just now beginning to feel the benefit arising from it — my land being now all perfectly clean — every inside ditch levelled — not a spot in the whole that is not productive, and not any of it whatever in pasture. Here the toast of " Live, and let live," was given from the Chair, and met with the usual enthu- siastic reception. James Rolston, being next called on, said : I am likewise an advocate for green feeding : I had more clover than fed all the stock I had, although I had more than doubled it, and I was enabled to save three five-fathom cocks of hay, which will leave me all my straw for manure. After cutting my early vetches, 1 sowed the ground, ridge by ridge, as I cut it, with rape, which I am now cut- ting a yard long, and giving to my cattle ; so that I shall not have to begin to my turnips for some time; and it will be again fit to cut in April next, when the turnips begin to fail. I have also level- led every useless ditch ; and my land, so far from being exhausted by the four-course rotation, is every year becoming better. A discussion here took place whether it was better to cut rape now, and again in Spring, or to let it stand, and by that means have one heavy crop ; in which Mr. Mathew Black, Mr. Bruce, and several others, took a share — from which it appeared that their opinion was, there could be no very great difference in the weight, but that if very far forward, the danger of snow injuring it, and the convenience of having it to come in when the clover failed, made it eligible to cut it at this season, when there were no late vetches to supply its place. Mr. M'Kean stated, that it would be much more substantial food by letting it stand to Spring, in which Mr. Black agreed. The reading of the premium sheet being now resumed, it appeared that the 1st premium for best cultivated farm, was adjudged to Mr. Thos. Ingram, of Drumhony ; 2d to Samuel Bodle, of Druminis ; 3d to Thomas Scott, of Cregans ; 4th to James Lennon, Garvagh ; 5th to Michael Clarke, Hamilton's Bawn ; 6th to George M'Conneil, Drumblack. Mr. Ingram, being called on to give an account of his management, said : I am still of the same opinion as I have formerly expressed, of the benefit to be derived by green crops and house- feeding, which I continue to practice. I find I can thereby increase my stock, and my crop also, and have manure for my potatoes and my turnips; be- sides, by this means, I find my land improving under the foui--course rotation, and though I am paying according to a late valuation, I am still able to say, as I said last year, I shall be able to make my rent from my dairy. in allusion to this declaration, his Lordship here gave, "Farmer's wives and farmer's daughters ;" which was drank with loud cheers. A discussion here arose, whether, by growing turnips, and the practice of house-feeding, the manure would always be so increased that there THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 373 would be plenty for every purpose ; and that any farmer might thereby have a greater abundance of potatoes than he otherwise would, and have plenty for his turnips besides. This opinion seemed de- cidedly to pi'evail, and Mr. M'Kean expressed his belief, that there would be a still greater abun- dance of manure from both than there could other- wise be from either. The next premiums were for those who should render profitable the most land, by levelling use- less ditches, or reclaiming cut-out bog, or other waste places. The first premium was adjudged to Andrew M'Ferran, of Cordrumrauck ; 2d premium to John Hog, Drumgaw ; 3d d'tto to Edward Hanlon, Garvagh; 4th ditto to Barkley Kenny, Ballyoigan ; 5th ditto to John \Vhilley, Drumbeecross ; 6th ditto to John Cullins, Ballindaragh. Mr. Blacker, on reading out the list, observed that the reason why Barkley Kenny, who had last year gained the first prize in this class, now stood so low, was, that by his great exertions then, he left himself little or nothing more in that way to do ; and he would now expect to find him com- peting hereafter in the other classes. Andrew M'Ferran, being called on, stated the improvements he had made since he became pos- sessed of the farm which, it appeared, the former owner had sold, in arrear, and he had given 9bl. for it, consisting of 14 acres, which was too much, considering the quality and condition of the land, but he had no doubt of doing well on it, by his in- dustry and the assistance he had received, and following the new mode of farming, which he found the true way to improve the soil. His Lordship here gave, " Speed the plough, and success to Mr. M'Ferran's honest endeavours." Mr. M'Kee here begged leave to give a toast, and, after an animated encomium on his Lordship, proposed " the health of their Noble Host, the Earl of Gosford," with three times three; which was received by the company with every demon- stration of respect and attachment. After the cheers had subsided, his Lordship rose and thanked the company in the warmest manner for the compliment paid him, and stated the great satisfaction he had received from hearing the state- ments which had been made, which so fully esta- blished the advantage of the plan they were pur- suing. He was glad to see that several gentlemen from other estates were present, and would be able to state, in their respective neighbourhoods, the advantages derived from it ; they had no selfish feeling, and would be glad to see their neighbours adopt what was so useful to themselves. He next adverted to the spirit of industry that was excited, and the employment which the increase of tillage must always afford — the comfort and independence that must arise from it, which he considered of the greatest national importance, and would tend more to give contentment and tranquillity to the country than any other thing that could be de- vised, and concluded by again thanking the com- pany, and drinking to all their good healths. Mr. Bi ACKER then read out the list of the re- maining premiums, for the best crop of turnips, in which the first premium was adjudged to Mr. Thomas Bruce, of Drumblack ; 2d premium to Mr. Thomas ]'>ell, Druminis; 3d ditto to William Campbell, Ardgonnell ; 4th ditto to Robert Maxwell, of ditto; 5th ditto to Edward Coyne, of Drumgaw; 6th ditto to Thomas Grant, of Mecantrira, Thomas Bruce being called ou to give an ac- count of his farming, said : When I came into possession of my farm in 1831, there was no more than about half au acre of potato ground, and this in such a dirty, bad condition, that it had to be dug over with a grape, in order to clean it before it could be sowed with grain and clover seed. The rest of the land was in a miserable exhausted state, not fit 10 produce any thing, and I was then pos- sessed of but one cow, and had no meat to feed more ; that year I sowed a few turnips upon what manure I had to spare, by employing lime compost for my potatoes, and the next Spring, between compost and cow-house manure, I was able to set an acre and a half of potatoes, and half an acre of turnips. That year I was able to house-feed upon the clover and some vetches, two cows, and had plenty for them all Winter. Next Spring I had so much manure, that, with some assistance from lime compost, I was able to set two acres and a rood of potatoes, and three roods of turnips : and having sowed more clover, I was enabled that season to keep three cows and a horse — which stock I still have, with the addition of a calf, and have fed them this season on five roods of clover, two roods of vetches, and one rood of grazing, which, being chiefly on a rocky bottom, cannot be broke up ; and if an acre was allowed for the keep of the horse, and 20 perches for the calf, this would leave only one rood and four perches for the Summer feeding of each cow, and this, with one rood of turnips for each during Winter (which would allow, at 34 tons per acre, near 901bs. a-day for each for seven months) , would only make 84 perches, or little more than h;:lf an English acre for the year's keep ; and I have a rood of rape as a stolen crop besides, so that I ha.ve plenty of food for them ; and my land is im- proved to such a degree, that there is more than three times the return from it than what it for- merly gave, and I shall now be able to keep it in heart by the man»ire made by house-feeding, with- out any of the expense for lime which I have been formerly at. When Mr. Bruce had sat down, his Lordship, who seamed never to be at a loss for an appropriate toast, gave — " The soiling system—cut and come again." A very interesting discussion here took place, upon the comparative value of the potato and tur- nip crop, as food for cattle, in which several of the company took part. Dr. Blacker's Steward gave in a statement of the weights, per acre, of Swedish and white globe turnips and mangel worzel, which astonished all present, being at the rate of 57^ tons;, per acre, for white globe ; 48 tons, per do., for Swedish ; 47^ tons, per do., formangel worzel, the tops, which were about 3 tons per acre, included. He described the mode of cultivation which had been adopted — early and deep ploughing in No- vember, and repeated ploughingSjharrov/ings, and rollings in spring, until the ground was completely pulverized, and the manure put in in a warm state into the drills, and the seed sown nearly a month earlier than the usual practice of the country, which left the crop the' entire benefit of the grow- ing season to come to maturity ; and gi'eat care had been taken to keep the soil loose and free of weeds, until the plants had fairly got possession of the ground. In addition to this statement, in fa- vour of the turnip crop, Mr. Mitchell declared, that by an exact measurement, it appeai-ed that his crop of red Norfolk turnip produced 60 tons of roo^s to the acre, the tops having been taken off before the weight was taken. 574 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Mr. Blacker then read a statement from the Rev. Edward Chichester, by which it appeared he had raised a crop of potatoes of the kind called " Copperduns," by planting the potato uncut, a yard distant from each other, with about the full of a hat of manure to each, which produced at the rate of 32 tons to the Irish acre, and far exceeded the produce in any other mode of cultivation which he had tried in the same field, with the same seed and the same soil. Mr. Bruce aUo produced a sample of the same sort of potatoes, which he had raised in drills, with the sets cut as usual, the manure put in the ground at November, in broad beds, drilled across, in the manner recommended by Mr. Blacker, in the last edition of his printed address ; which had produced 20 tons per English acre, which exactly corresponded with 32 tons the Irish acre. Nothing could exceed the fine appear- ance of the sample, but it was observed, that as the size increased, the nutritive quality always de- creased. And Mr. Herd, Steward to the Earl of Gosford, declared that he considered Swedish tur- nips as being equally nutritious as any potatoes of that kind, and much more wholesome food — that although raw potatoes might fatten stock for market, yet as a permanent food there could be no doubt they were unwholesome ; and mentioned the result of a wager in Scotland, as to the effects of potato and turnip water on cattle, to decide ■which, two cows were put up, one of them having potato water mixed with her food, and the other turnip water — the consequence of which was, that the former declined daily, and finally died, whilst the other continued to thrive as well as could be wished. This showed that there must be some- thing unwholesome in the raw potato, for if it was not in the potato it could not get into the water. Mr. Bruce coincided with Mr. Herd, in regard to the injurious eifects of potato water and raw po- tatoes, which produced, in a year or two, inward unsoundness. Mr. Nathl. Greer stated, that he likewise dis- approved of the use of potato wash and also raw po- tatoes, as a permanent food, but that he considered boiled potatoes and crushed oats to be the food that fattened cattle quickest ; which was universally assented to ; but the addition of oats destroyed the comparison, and it was said, that in general those who favoured potatoes almost always gave some addition of that kind, which was not fullypiit forth in their calculations. Mr. M'Kean said, that even when cattle were fed on boiled potatoes after turnips, they always fell off in their condition, but when changed from boiled potatoes to Swedish turnips, no falling off, but an improvement took place. On the whole, it appeared that Swedish turnip had the advantage, in the opinion of the company. Captain Barker here begged to propose "The health of Lord Acheson ;" introducing the toast in a manner highly complimentary and as highly de- served by his Lordship. In returning thanks, Lord Acheson said, that he was sorry he could not pretend to afford any agricultural knowledge to themeeting, but was glad that his deficiency in that respect was so well sup- plied by the several gentlemen who had addressed them ; that notwithstanding, however, his igno- rance of the subject, the advantage of the system now acting on could not but be apparent to him and every one else — that he saw with pleasure the spirit that had been excited. To " live, and to let live," was a sentiment in which he most cor- dially joined; and it wds with the greatest satis- faction he had heaid the statements which had been made, and hailed with pleasure the prospect of ad- ditional comfort and independence which they af- forded to those who, by their exertions, had shown themselves so well deserving of both. He con- cluded, by observing how much they were indebt- ed to Mr. Blacker for introducing among them what was so evidently beneficial ; and hope the plan recommended by him would soon be more widely spread over the country. In conclusion, he begged to propose that gentleman's health, with three times three. Mr. Blacker, after returning thanks to his Lordship, and the company for the compliment paid him, said, that if any stimulus was wanting the approbation of his exertions, which had just been shown, would amply afford it, but that in reality, no additional stimulus was wanting. The pleasure of seeing so many industrious men as- sembled— to hear their own statements of the ad- vances they are making, and to think that he had been in any degree instrumental to their prospects of additional comfort and prosperity, was quite sufficient to make him continue those exertions, which he hoped, in the end would meet with en- tire success. He alluded to the anonymous attack that had been made upon him by the ' Ulster Farmer, 'for having said that two acres of land would support three cows, viz., two-thirds of an acre, or 117 square perches to each, and referred to the statements they had heard from Moses Greer and Thomas Bruce, in both which cases less than yO persons had sufficed ; and if the rood of tur- nips should always be so productive as some of the instances stated, no one cow could eat the produce, it being, in such a case, fully sufficient to keep two cows in good condition for the six winter months. He regretted he could not boast of having succeeded in making farmers attend to the preservation of the strength of their manure heaps, and contrasted the care with wliich they preserved their potatoes from all external injury, with their total neglect and want of care of the manure upon which their potato crop depended, by leaving it in such situa- tions that the rain water ran through it two or three hundred times in the year, and of course dis- solved and carried away the principal strength of it. Being here asked whether he would recom- mend manure to be put in a pit, he said, this was of course, not so bad as letting the rain water con- stantly run through it, but that there must always be a fiow of water into such pits, and of course proportionate injury would be done ; and it ap- peared to him that people did not draw the proper distinction between the practice of converting mixtures of bog and earth and vegetable matter into manure, in what was called souring pits, and the proper care of cow-house or stable manure — the formerwas nothing more than trying to produce pu- tridity and decomposition, to which stagnant mois- ture was necessary, but it was wholly unnecessary and injurious to cow-house or stable manure, which required nothing more than the moisture flowing from itself or the cow-house, to be thrown back on it, and must lose its strength by any other mix- ture. He then alluded to the increased growth of flax that had taken i)lace, and read a letter from Scotland, describing the quality of Irish flax as very much resembling Flemish, which was the best adai)ted of any, for the use of spinners, but that the quality was injured by a defect in the clean- ing ; and strongly recommended that some of the owners of scutch mills should go to Holland, which they might do at a trifling expense, to see the mode there adoj)ted. After apologisingfor the length of time he had taken up, Mr. B. concluded by point- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 575 ing out the defect in the mode at present adopted in ploughing out of ley, by which a wide space in each furrow was stripped of the sod, and left un- productive ; and recommended that a larger space should be commenced upon, by which means, though the land would be left in the same shape, there would be only one furrow stripped of the sod, where five or six would have been in the way now practised. He pointed out the error of the idea existing in this country, that liming and pul- verizing the soil was injurious to the flax crop, and instanced the culture he had adopted in regard to Widow Feris's lay field, the crop on which was not only more productive, but 2s. a stone better in quality, though limed and ploughed, harrowed and rolled, until it was perfectly fine, than what she had after lay potatoes, which liad been manured with dung. The " healths of the Judges, and the unsuccess- ful Candidates," were then given, after which, Mr. Alex. Small requested leave to express his opi- nion, and that of the tenantry at large, of the system introduced by Mr. Blacker, which he de- scribed as highly favourable to it — and said that, to his own knowledge, there were hundreds deriv- ing benefit from it upon the estate, although they had not distinguished themselves by competing for the premiums offered. His Lordship here gave, " the health of Mr. M'Clenaghan and Mr. M'Kean, and the other visitors who had honoured them with their com- pany." Mr. M'Clenaghan said, after returning thanks, that he entirely concurred in everything that had been said in commendation of the exertions used by Mr. Blacker, and the plan which had been so successfully introduced by him, the great advan- tages of which he was perfectly sensible of, and must, when more extensively diff^used, as soon it would undoubtedly be, jirove a national advantage. He stated he was land-agent to the Rev. Mr. Ger- vais, one of the most active and improving Land- lords in the North of Ireland, and by means of his exertions, he had improved the division and laying out of the farms, the planting and ditching upon his estate, to such a degree as gave it a su- perior appearance to the adjoining country, but that he had not been able to make any progress, until lately, that he had been acting on the plan pointed out by Mr. Blacker, in the agricultural im- pi-ovement of the property. When he (Mr. M'C.) had been appointed his agent about five years ago, it was the common practice to take two or three crops of grain in succession, and sometimes four or even five, until the land would yield no return, when it was left out at rest ; but now he was suc- cessfully getting the better of this ruinous prac- tice, and felt no doubt of being aDle to introduce in its stead the growth of green crops and house feeding ; and mentioned a remarkable instance of the advantage derived from it this season by a poor widow, who never liad a cow, and to whom he had lent .50s. to assist her to buy one, which sum she hnd repaid, and was now struggling to raise money to buy a second cow next summer, which she would have ample means of feeding upon her small patch of land. He also alluded to the necessity he felt for introducing better farm- ing implements, some of which he had procured from that neighbourhood, and concluded a very interesting speech, by expressing his pleasure at hearing the statements which had been made. Mr. M'Kean, of Ballyharridan, declared that his opinions entirely concurred with all that he had heard, to which he really could not add any- thing that he could consider as an improvement. He merely ventured to state a fact, in regard to the cultivation of potatoes, which had been forcibly pressed upon his attention by having been ap- pointed a judge of the crops at the Armagh Farm- ing Society for several years in succession, and he had invariably found that the produce of potatoes planted in drills was vastly superior to those planted in ridges, which he begged to recommend to the attention of the company. His Lordship here addressed the agriculturists, stating, that it would be interesting to the company to hear how they were succeeding in the diifer- ent estates upon which they were situated. Upon which, Mr. Still, agriculturist on the Primate's estate in Cavan, said : My Lords and Gentlemen, I am happy to say, that on his Grace's estate, the te- nantry in general are well disposed to the system of green crops. Many of them have stated to me, in writing, the advantages they have derived, and, with the permission of the company, I beg to read a few to satisfy their minds as to the successful progress of the same system there, which is here acted on. (Here Mr. S. read several letters, out of a large number, which fully supported his statement, and showed a uniform increase of stock in all those who were acting under his instructions. Mr. Still ^concluded by bearing strong testimony to the anxiety of his Grace to benefit his tenantry, and his liberality in giving them every encourage- ment, as well as the attention paid by his Agent, Mr. L' Estrange. Mr. Fyfe gave an equally favourable picture, and referred to sundry statements in Mr. Blacker's possession, from the tenants, admitting the advan- tage they were deriving from the change in their mode of farming, and referred to Mr. Biggers, one of the tenants, who had come down with him to see the improvements at Market-hill. He also stated, that the spirit of improvement which had been awakened, was showing itself in the levelling of useless ditclies, by which several had gained near a plantation acre of land— the draining and reclaiming of waste places on their farms, and tlie invariable increase of stock wherever green feed- ing was practised. Mr. Biggers stated, that he held about 5 Irish acres of land — that he formerly kept but one cow, and had barely food for her. He now kept three, and an ass, and part of the year a horse, and, after all, had clover to spare, to consume which he had bought fourteen young pigs, some of which he still had, and was feeding on potatoes, and had besides sold ofi^ the same farm 10/ worth of wheat. Mr. RoBT. Bruce, agriculturist on the Earl of Leitrim's estate, then said, that he had arrived at his post too late in the present year, to be able to mention such favourable results as others, but he could state, that the people among whom he was placed, were well disposed to try the plan recom- mended to them, and that owing to the great interest which Lord Clements had taken, and his going round the tenants personally with him, they liad been prevailed upon to sow above 18 cwt. of clover-seed, in a district where it had been before almost unknown, and a stone or two at most only sown — that about 150 had made trial of turnips, but the great majority, upon so small a scale, as not to be worth much — that some, however, had fine crops of a rood and upwards, which would serve to show their utility ; and he had no doubt in another year he would be able to show as great an increase of stock as could be expected in so short a time. 676 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Mr. Blacker here mentioned, that he had not thought it necessary to detain the company with a specification of the increase of stock of each com- petitor for the premiums, but that he had a return from the agriculturist in that respect, which amounted to 63 cows, 5 horses, besides heifers and calves, of which no notice had been taken ; the whole taken together would perhaps be equal to an increase of 70 head of cattle among 45 com- petitors. The " health of Mr. Nathaniel Greer, and our rival improvers on the Richhill estate," being next given ; and Mr. Greer, being called on to say whether he still persisted in his former declaration, that he could winter-feed his stock cheaper on turnips than he could upon straw, charging the straw at market price ; he rose, and after return- ing thanks, stated that he had expected to be questioned upon this subject, and had therefore put on paper what he had to say, which, with the permission of the company, he would read : — My Lord and Gentlemen, — I find that it is expected that I should demonstrate an assertion which 1 made at a dinner here this time last year, viz. — Thatturnips were cheaper feeding than straw. Although I am more ia the habit of feeding catt'e than explaining or making calculations, I hope to satisfy the company that I have not been wrong in my assertion. But, before I enter into an explanation, I beg leave to state how this subject was first introduced. You are all aware, Gentlemen, of the attention that Mr. Blacker invariably shows to the tenantry, over whom he presides, regarding their improvement in every branch of farming. And, when this subject was first introduced, it was in conversation wit'i him respect- ing house-feeding, when he was agent to the Misses Richardson, whose tenant I am ; and on last year, at the farming dinner, here, being reminded of what I had stated to him, that turnips were cheaper feeding than itraw, I acknowledged it without explaining any thing more than taking into consideration ivhat the straw had brought me in the market. The price of straw at the time was Is 8d per cwt, the price of turnips was 6d per cwt ; and as the Market-hill people like to purchase by the long cwt, I shall calculate accord- ingly, say, £ s d SOlbs. of straw per day to a cow, for four days, will make 120 lbs., or one long cwt., at Is 8d per cwt 0 18 721bs. of turnips per day, for five days, will make o60lbs., or three long cwt., at fid per cwt 0 1 6 0 0 2 leaving a balance of one days' feeding and 2d. in fa- vour of turnips. I know it many be asked, will not the cow fed on turnips require straw also? I say, she will. And to procure this there is the value of the extra day's feeding and 2d., which will amply provide for the cow getting turnips, and which, I think, proves that turnips were, at the time, actually cheaper than straw. I have now stated the value of the two articles at the time this subject was first introduced, say about three years since ; and am sorry to say, that since that time, markets have not improved to the farmers' benefit. But although straw has fallen in price nearly one half since that time, I am still of opinion, in which, I think, you will all join, that when two cows are brought into market and so!d, the one fed on straw, and the other on tur- nips, that, whoever tries the experiment, will also join with us, when he calculates the difference of price that the two animals have brought, and say that tur- nips are the cheapest feeding. J have thus endeavoured to give you as much as I can recollect of what passed, but confess myself totally unable properly to report all the valuable information which was afforded in the discussion of the different subjects interesting to the farmer, which occupied the attention of the company to a late hour. The known affability and kindness of manner peculiar to the Noble Chairman, is a sufficient guarantee that cheerfulness and conviviality will never be absent where he presides ; but the agri- cultural character of the meeting was completely maintained throughout, and, though the interest which their Lordships took in what was passing, induced them to remain until a late hour, there was not the most remote appeai'ance of the slight- est approach to intemperance in any individual ; all was orderly and respectful ; and the general anxiety to hear and observe what was going on, would appear almost to have made the company forget their glasses, had they not been recalled to their recollection by the appropriate toasts which came from the chair. In the course of the even- ing, the healths of Lady Gosford and Lady Ache- son were proposed, and introduced with just en- comiums by Mr. M'Kee and Mr. M'Anally. The noble host replied to the first, and lamented that bad health prevented her Ladyship from residing at Gosford, which she would otherwise be most anxious to do ; and for himself he would say, there was no place in the world he was so anxious to re- main at, and that he never did leave home, except when he could not avoid it. Loid Acheson, in returning thanks for Lady Acheson, said, he might be supposed a partial witness, but that he did firmly believe shefully merited every encomium that had been bestowed upon her ; which drew forth the repeated cheers of the company. But no toast during the evening seemed to afford more genuine satisfaction than that of the Ladies Mary and Millicent Acheson, who have lately arrived from England on a visit to their native place, and which was proposed by Mr. M'Kee, to welcome their return with three times three : to this toast was added by the company, " one cheer more" for the Irishmen's health who may have merit to please them and make them remain ! Mr. Alex. Small had, as usual, acomic song for the entertainment of the meeting, which proved, on the present occasion, to be a humourous com- plaint on the part of the potatoe, for the undue preference shown of late to turnips and mangel worzel, which it had revenged by the late failure in the seed. Previous to singing, he begged of Mr. Blacker not to be offended at his entering into the mortified feelings of this valuable root, as he had himself, notwithstanding that, an acre of as good turnips as any in the estate. Mr. Blackeii assured him that he could also fully sympathise in the po- tatoe's feelings for the slight thus shewn to it, and encouraged him to proceed, which he did with all the point and humour for which he is remarkable. I cannot quit this subject, without suggesting to Mr. Blacker how satisfactory it would be to the public to know, not merely the increase of stock among the competitors for premiums, but the ge- neral increase in that respect upon the entire pro- perty, because this would bring any advantage arising from his plan in some degree within the reach of arithmetical culculation. Every one knows that a cow is worth, on an average, .£5, and that her annual produce in milk and butter amounts nearly to the same sum : this, therefore, is a gain which may be calculated, and every one may form a pretty accurate notion of the further benefit likely to arise from the enriching the ground by THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 577 clover and vetches, and the additional manure. It is a very small farm in which this change in the cnltivation, and the increase of manure, will not make a further improvement of £5 a-gear at least in its produce. Markethili, Nov. 14. INGENIOUS DISCOVERY— PRINTING IN OIL COLOURS. The restoration of an obsolete but valuable art must rank next to the invention of a new one. What artist in modern times has ever leant over the illuminated capital of a missal without envying the skill of the secretary monks of old? What painter ever gazed on the tints of a cathedral window without co- veting to know how those colours were made to glow so freshly as of yesterday, and are yet enduring as the massive fabric they adorn ? The French painter, David, in one of his conversations with Napoleon, alluded to the immortality conferred by art. " How long, " asked the Emperor, " will a well-prepared picture last 1" "Three or four hundred years," was the reply. " Bah !" exclaimed the disappointed despot, " so brief an im mortality \" Who has ever lingered over a sunset of Claude's without an emotion of regret that such hues of the sky should be dependent for their existence, on the frail fabric of canvass on which they are impressed ? We have good cause to congratulate the lovers of art in announcing to them that, Mr. George Baxter, of King-square, has dis- covered, or at least reduced to practical feasi- bility, the 'means of multiplying the most exquisite paintings with as much facility, and in as rapid succession, as the printing press can pour forth copies of writings. We allude to his printing in oil colours. Shortly after the invention of printing, at- tempts were made by the enterprising men to whom the human race are so deeply indebted, to print in colours, but their eftorts in this decorative department were never carried to any great or successful extent. Specimens of an early date, of attempts in printing topically from colours, are in exis- tence, but on minute examination, they will all be found to be completed by the pencil. Papillon, the celebrated Parisian engraver in wood, who wrote upon the subject so late as 1766, never gives directions for a suite of more than three blocks, and usually for two ; but these, and other attempts, never attained that facility of production which can alone render printing in colours extensively useful and desirable. The elaborate production of a single speci- men may awaken curiosity and win admira- tion, but it is only the ready multiplication of copies that can confer national benelit. The solitary monk in the scriptorium of Glastonbury, or tho Chartreuse, could in years of patient toil write a more seemly volume than Ebzerir or Bodoni could pro- duce ; but the printing press alone can satiate expectant myriads. So it seems to have been reserved for Mr. Baxter to restore, and from his amendments we may almost say discover, the art of multi- plying the most rare and costly paintings as readily and cheaply as the common {fVinting press can multiply manuscript. Hitherto coloured prints, as they are called, have been but the tawdry ornaments of an ale-house tap-ro jm, or the embellishments of a, volume of nursery tales, alike distasteful to an artist's eye. But Mr. Baxter has attained an ability of using blocks for coloured prints as varied in tints as the artist's pencil can bestovv. In this age it is needless to descant on the blessings which the printing press difl'uses, but we may be permitted to hail this novel mode of dispersing abroad in rich abundance the hitherto inaccessible works of art as one of the most estimable discoveries since the tera of Guttenberg and Faust. This age is fraught with wonders, for scarcely have we ceased to admire one invention, before we are summoned to inspect some fresher and more momentous discovery ; but greatly do we err in our estimate of Mr. Baxter's amendments in decorative printings, if his labours do not promote the amenities of life as widely as the fathers of typography diffused the blessings of knowledge. IMPROVEMENT OF BREEDS OF OXEN. When a breeder is to improve his stock bj'' cross- ing, he ought to select a male of undoubtedly superior blood. And he should not generally, after the first cross, resort to the males of the de- fective breed, but to those of the superior one, until he has formed, as it were, a breed for him- self. There are, indeed, numerous cases in which a single mixture of better blood will do good, as in the case of those inferior breeds which have no fixed characters. These will be improved by even the slightest intermixture with the blood of a bet- ter race ; and a farmer who is in a district where this class of animals prevails, may safely avail himself of a good male, in the same manner as a breeder of horses would do, although the stallion were of a different character from the native stock. The cases where crossing of any kind is to be at- tempted with caution, are when a breed of esta- blished good characters, or of characters which fit it for <-he nature of the country and the state of its agriculture, already exists. In crossing, then, the rule is, to breed from a male of superior stock ; and, fortunately, in this country we have now a breed of such established cbai-acter, that no mistake can arise in the selec- tion of males. These have been formed to our hand, with all the care that art can bestow in im- proving the form of feeding animals. There is no need, therefore, for those mistaken attempts at crosses which were sometimes made with males of questionahle characters, as between an Ayrshire cow and a Galloway bull, and vice versa. We can predicate nothing securely of the progeny of such crosses as these, the effect of which will probably be to destroy the good properties of either breed, 578 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. as the aptitude to yield milk of the Ayrshire, and the hardy and feeding qualities of the Galloway. But in crossing with a breed so highly cultivated as the short-horned, the breeder has the assurance that he will produce animals of large size and good feeding properties. He is to consider, indeed, whether he has the means at his command of rearing the larger animals ; and if this be so, it will be better that he at once form his stock upon the best model, than run the hazard of wasting time and capital on questionable crosses. And it must be regarded as highly important as a mean of improving the live-stock of Great Bri- tain, that a breed has been actually formed, by long-continued selection and care, which may always be resorted to, to effect the purposes re- quired, in the same manner as recourse is had to horses of known pedigree, to communicate their characters to the progeny. In this manner the labours of those who have improved the short- horned breed, have extended far beyond what the original breeders contemplated. They have not only improved a peculiar breed, but have furnish- ed the most efficient means that can be used of improving the live-stock of the entire country; and it is to be trusted that the breeders of this class of animals will have encouragement to main- tain the characters of the breed with as much care as is used in the case of the race-horse, seeing it is for a far more important object. — Professor Low's Elements of Practical Agriculture. TuK Window Duties. — It is not generally known that all persons assessed to the window duty are, by an Act passed the last Session of Parliament, empowered immediately to open, free of extra duty, any additional number of windows in their dwelling- houses. But if any new building be attached to a dwelling-house, or any communication be opened with any adjoining premises, the windows in the same will be charged with the duties already assessed. The same exemption will apply to persons not as- sessed, by leason of their being less than eight win- dows (exclusive of the front shop windows) in their respective dwelling-houses. Composition for win- dow duties will entirely cease on the 5th April next. The above important exemption will prevent sur- veyors from making surcharges on such duties, and it is anticipated that it will be the means of giving considerable employment to carpenters, masons, &c. March of Humanity. — At a recent meet- ino- of butchers at R , after discussing reform and the corn laws, the subject of rail-roads was brought forward, when one of the orators spoke enthusiasti- cally in praise of the improvement, " Among other advantages," said he, " look at that which affects the pigs brought to market ! They will be saved the fatigues of their journey, poor things ! They will not, as now, run down all their flesh, poor thinos ! They will not, as now, run down all their taste and flavour, poor things ! !" — (loud cheers.) — hit. Gaz. Price of the Quartern Loaf. — At Taunton the price of the quartern (4 lb) loaf of best wheaten bread is now sixpence; that of second best bread 5d. We need not say that in London we pay eio-htpence, or 25 per cent. I How is this ; or rather is this requisite"! — Mm-ning Herald. AGRICULTURAL REPORT. GLASGOW, Nov. 7.— Although the harvest of this year has been an early one, I have delayed till about the usual time in making up my report upon it ; and I trust, that this may not have contributed to its being the less generally applicable, in regard to the more prevalent opinions, as to the produce and quality of the several crops. In Scotland, Wheat seems to be considered, at least, not under a fair ave- rage produce, and, I think, equally so in point of quality, tlie more general quotations of weight rang- ing from 61 to 631bs per bushel, and in some in- stances even higher. Barley will not come up to an average (juantity : and still more, it will be de- fective as regards the quality, being too generally of a thin description, coarse, and high coloured — and, though there will be much that is heavier, yet it is more frequently estimated 50, 51, and 521bs per bushel. Oats will be likewise short of an averaj;;e produce, with a good deal of variation in quality, and generally of a light description, although of a good colour. The Angus, or common sort, are quoted 38 to 40, and the Potato k-nd 41 to 43 lbs per bushel. Beans, also Peas, are considered below an average produce ; but, with partial exceptions, are reported of good quality, more particularly the former. In England, the crop of Wheat appears to be estimated a full average in point of produce — the quality also good, and in some districts, reputed even equal to that of 1833. Barley, without doubt, will be mate- rially inferior on the whole, as to quality, being, as in Scotland, of a thin coarse description. Many samples will not exceed 48 to 501bs ; while, even for the best, a liigher quotation is not given than 52 to 541bs per bushel. The cjuaniity is reported very variously ; hut, on the average, it appears to be con- sidered not less than from a fourth to one-third de- ficient. Oats are generally of a fair colour, but, in consequence of the dry summer, it is computed, they will yield poorly ; and even the quantity is not sup- posed to exceed three-fourths of an average. The accounts as to Beans, also Peas, are s good deal dis- similar—iqion the whole, they seem to be reckoned materially short in produce, but both, and more es- pecially the former, reported as of good quality. In Ireland, and at an early period of the season, very favourable expectations were entertained as to the harvest, but which have not been confirmed in the issue. The crop of Wheat is not considered an average quantity ; while Oats are reported, and in some material degree, to be still more a defective one. Barlejr may be deemed nearer to an average quantity than Wheat or Oats ; but there is a de- ficiency throughout in the quality of all three, al- though this appears to be less so in the northern than in the southern districts of the Island. If we are to judge of the whole country, by the quality of the im- portations already into Clyde (and they have been extensive), the falling oft' in that of Oats from crop 1833, will be considerable. The weights here of that growth, ranged generally from 40 to 431bs ; but of this year's crop, they have not yet exceeded 37 to 42lbs per bushel. I subjoin a note of our present prices — also, of bonded Corn as at 10th ultimo. Of free grain, the stock of Wheat may be computed a fair one — moderate only of Oats, and quite light of other Corn. I embrace the occasion to renew the tender of my best services, whether in the sale, or in the purchase of corn here. From our proximity to Ireland, from which such abundant supplies are generally flowing in, there is frequently opportunity for purchases — and equally of other Corn, as of Irish — being favourably accomplished upon this market. Wheat, British old 21s to 25s, new, 18s to 22s per THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 579 240 lbs. Irisb, do. 18s to 2.Ss ; do. 14s to 20s. Canada, 24s to 29s. Barley, Scotch, 23s to 25s per 320 lbs. Irish, 17s to 2U. Oats, Irish, 143 to 17s per 264 lbs. Beans, British, 28s to 40s per qr. Foreign, 18,686 qrs Wheat ; 33,333 qrs. Oats ; 177 qrs Beans. Colonial, 2,22 j qrs. Wheat. AGRICULTURAL INTELLIGENCE, FAIRS, &c, Al SHREWSBURY FAIR, a very good supply of fatted cattle was shown, but the prices offered were not equal to those of last fair, 4^d to 5d per lb. be- ing the general prices ; some few reached 5^d. Stores were not abundant, and sold much the same as at the former fair. Sheep, well fatted, from 14lb to 161b a quarter, were worth 5^d to 6d a lb ; above that weight the value diminished. Stores were few, and sold readily. Pigs took a slight start in price — small ones being worth 3s to 5s a head more than at last fair ; bacon pigs were also rather higher in price, it being noticed lately that the import from Ireland has abated. The cheese fair was nearly as last month. Butter was a large supply, atid on Wed- nesdajr morning, picked qualities sold at 9d per lb ; but, in the course of the day, 8^d was got with diffi- culty. Bacon was in a very poor supply, and brought from 5d to 5^d per lb. STAMFORD, ST. SIMOM, AND ST. .TUDE FAIR. — Tiiis great annual mart commenced on Sa- turday, for the jale of horses, and was numerously attended by both buyers and sellers from a distance. Horses of a moderately good sort, for nags, met with ready sale at good prices, for exportation to the South. Monday's fair was filled with horses almost exclusively for agricultural purposes, some of which, however, fetched very high prices, and there were a great number more within a few stages of the high- mettled racer's goal, there to be " sold for the hounds." Had the Saturday's and Monday's atteu- dince been united, this year's would have been the largest horse fair in the memory of the oldest inhabi- tant of the town. The sheep fair on this day was also more numerously attended than it has been for years ; and, (what is better intelligence still for our firming friends) the sheep were nearly all sold, and at better prices, 6d per pound being freely given for fat sheep, and lambs fetching from 33s to 37s per head. Indeed, tlie farmers, almost to a man, went home with their money in their pockets, instead of driving back their flocks. On Sunday and INlonday cheering symptoms of an extraordinary Benst Show[were visible, in the numerous droves which arrived from all quar- ters, but especially from Scotland and Ireland ; and by Monday evening all the closes to be obtained within a mile or two of the town were filled for the night. Longbefore day break in the morning the turn out filled Broad-streat, the Butter-market, St. John-street, Peter-hill, the Sheep-pens, and All Saints' -place, and droves were scattered about in several other places ; but the open fields presented a scene that has never before been witnessed, the Irish and Scotch droves forming one dense mass from the Brick-kilns to the back of Scotgate, and extending far beyond the crown of the hill. Fat beasts sold readily, and other descriptions changed hands at a rapid rate, and at advanced prices. On the whole, we may safely aver tliat this fair holds out a flattering promise that the Stamford fairs will speedily resume their wonted im- ]»ortance in the estimation of both buvers and sellers. EDINBURGH ALL-HALLOW FAIR.— This great annual fair, whicli may be said to be the finish of th;^ transactions of the cattle dealers and graziers of Scotland, for the current j^ear, took place on the lltli instant, on one of the fields of Dean Farm, on the Queensferry road, about three miles from Edin- burgh. The number of cattle exceeded that of last year, and was computed at 25,000, Prices for Aber- deen and Augus-shire, four-year-old, lOi to 14/ ; three-year-olds, 61 8s to 11/ lis ; two-year-olds, 61 to 81. Three-year-old West Highland stots, 8^ to 10/; two-year-olds, 51 to 71 10s. Three-year-old High- land queys, 5/ to 7Z ; two-year-old, 4Z to 51. Milch cows, 12/ to 15/, and in demand. The result of the market, compared with the last year, is fully 5 per cent, loss, and considered to be a very dull market, from buyers keeping off to make their purchases, and the general opinion is, that on Wednesday a further depression will take place. A considerable number cattle remained unsold. At BEDFORD ST. LEONARD'S FAIR, there were not so many sheej:) penned as we have seen on former years. They^ were, however, mostly sold readily, and the trade seemed brisk. There was a large supply of beasts, particularly of Herefords, which went off at somewhat improved prices. LEEK FAIR. — There was an abundant show of both cattle and horses, but the prices asked were very grea^, and but little business was therefore done. LAUNCESTON FAIR.— A larger number of bullocks than was at this fair, has not been seen in the town for many years. Beef was plenty but not fine in quality, and fetched from 42s to 45s per cwt. Oxen and steers were very numerous and a fair pro- portion sold, but at no better prices than might have been obtained at previous fairs where many of them had been exhibited. Of sheep there was a very li- mited quantity, and the best wethers of about iSlbs a quarter, fetched 6d per lb. Wool (21 lbs for 20) was lOd per lb, and buyers very scarce at that price. TAVISTOCK GREAT MARKET for cattle ex- hibited a most plentiful and choicesupply of all sorts ; but the very prime show of oxen exceeded consider- ably, in most respects, that of the different summer fairs, inducing the butchers to purchase freely for the Christmas markets. HAWICK WINTER MARKET.— The demand was dull, and cattle sold slowly though, in the course of the day a good deal of business was done. The following may Lie stated as the prices: — Stirks, 5/ to 61 10s, and even 7/ ; and a few superior sold so high as 8/. Two-year olds, 8/ to 9/ ; and two-year old calving queys fetched 10/ to 12/. Three-year olds, 10/ 10s to 11/ lis. A considerable number of milch cows wore sliown, part of an inferior description, which sold very badly^, but good calvers readily found buyers at from 10/ to 14/; the other kind may be at from 61 to 91. Fat Kyloes brought from 61 to 7/ 10s. BRECON FAIR was tolerably well supplied with cattle, the prices obtained for which were low, but something better than the late fairs. The show of horses was very indifferent and little doing. The number of pigs brought to town was considerable, and great many sold, prices from 2Jd to 3d per lb. DUNKELD MARTINMAS MARKET.— The turn-out of cattle was handsome; and fat met with a ready sale at remunerating prices. Lean stock, of which there was a great supply, appeared to be in little request, and the prices of course were but low. Milch cows of good size and breed brought good prices. Mr. Edward Mil ward, of the parish of Alveley, in this county, has a cow, 19 y^ears of age, which has brouglil twenty-three calves in the last five years ! She brought eight calves all alive and perfect. (A respectable name assures us of the truth of tliis para- graph.) — Shrewsbury Chrnnice. 580 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. DONCASTER FAIR.— The supply of Cattle at this fair was very numerous, but the demand was not so extensive as had been anticipated. The show of Horses was chiefly of an inferior description, and little business done. YEOVIL. — The fair here was more numerously attended than for many preceding years. The stock- exhibited was also plentiful, and upwards of 6,000 Sheep were penned. The show of horses was not so good as we have noticed on former occasions, but those of the better kind fetchod good prices. We are informed the Sheep, on an average, did not realize so much by 4s a-head as they did generally at other fairs a month or two since ; whilst Beef would scarcely yield 6s. YORK SOULMAS FAIR.— At this annual fair, the supply of steer beasts was large, and the demand not brisk, buyers being very backward in making bargains ; of fresh in-calvers the supply was pretty large, and they appeared to be bought up rather briskly, not many having to be driven from the mar- ket unsold ; there was also a large sliow of Scotch and Irish beasts, for which the demand was rather large, as to numbers being driven away unsold ; buy- ers appearing to be desirous of not making any sales until the Martimas f lir, which takes place on this day week. In the fat beast market the supply was but small, and keenly bouglit up, at from 3s to 3s 6d per stone. The Horse Snow. — In the horse show the supply of good horses was but small, and the de- mand verv brisk} of inferior horses the market was full, and there appeared to be more done in the way of excliange than sale. SALFORD ■' DIRT FAIR."— This fair may be said to have lost its charter, if its tenure were in the dirt which gives it a name ; for there has not for many years been remembered so fine and clear wea- ther at this period. This had no doubt some bene- ficial influence on the fair, which was very well at- tended, both by sellers and buyers, and a great deal of business was done. Of calving cows there was a good shosv, and they went oft' at an advance in price upon recent fairs and markets. The barren cows were not so good a show, but they sold well. Of drauglit horses, particularly of the large, strong, cart breeds, the exhibition has scarcely ever been surpassed, and notwithstanding the numbers shown, which were considerable, high prices were obtained ; indeed, we Iraveheardof as much as 60/ and even 701 being given for a good draught horse. The show of hacks and roadsters was not so good ; but they, too, fetched higher prices. Of pigs the exhibition was of course an excellent one, both in quantity and qua- lity ; and the demand being brisk, an advance was acceded to, and many sales were made. Altogether, the fair was one of the best known for many years past. HIGHLAND SOCIETY'S SHOW OF STOCK AT PERTH.— We are happy to be able to inform our agricultural friends of this and the adjoining counties, that the Directors of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, at their meeting on the 10th curt., unanimously resolved to give the Ge- neral Show of Live Stock for 1836 to Perth. We also understand that the Committee appointed for reporting on such alterations in the regulations as experience recommended, are of opinion that no pre- mium should be offered for any animal in the class of Oxen, above 4 years old — that stock may be shown from anv part of Great Britain, and that farther no- tice should be taken of the breeders than has hitherto been done. — Perth Courier. EXETER WOOL MARKET.— In this market things were almost stagnant— dull in the extreme — the principal evidence of business among the mer- chants, manufacturers, and staplers, being a desire to get rid of the stocks on hand, rather than a display of that cheering, because best proof of an extended and healtliful activity, an inclination to provide themselves with the material for future operatioBS. An almost natural consequence of tiiis state of things is a further depression of the market ; — Wool in sorts is gone back 2d per lb : — stripped wool would now scarcely reach 1.5d, and greens and pinions arn at 12f d to 12^d per lb. To this deplorable state of things in the West many causes have contributed — the most prominent among which is probably the loss of the Eiist India Company's market; the change, it is hoped, may produce national good, but it has, to a great extent, unsettled things, and the consequences are most serious here. To this must be added the late distressed state of the money market, and the many failures that have taken place, by which not only has great loss been sustained, but confidence is abated. With regard to yolk wool, a great portion of the last clip is still in the growers' hands ; the amount purchased since that period to the pre- sent, in some instances not amounting to a sixth of the quantity the same persons had bought and packed bv this time in the last year. And yet, notwithstanding tliis, and with every desire to keep it low, there are merchants who find their stocks of wool on hand to be what circumstances compel them to deem much too large. Hence, then, an ad- ditional cause for the apathy that prevails, and on Friday, those houses that, on the previous week, had given lid, declined any longer to do so ; indeed, it was signified tliat for quantities no hieher price than lOd would be given, and for this description of wool the market closed at a quotation of from lOd to lO^d ; and for washed wool at from 14d to 14^d per lb. On Thursday a numerous meeting of the inha- bitants of Romse}^ Extra, and Infra, was held at the Town Hall, to meet one of the Assistant Com- missioners of the Poor Laws, Col. A'Court, who had previously investigated the general management of tlie two parishes, with regard to the Expenditure, mode of relief to Out-Paupers, and the discipline and classification of the Poor in the workhouses. The Commissioner, in the course of a long address, animadverted on the evils that had been entailed on the country, through the imperfect administration of the Poor laws ; and after pointing out several me- thods, by which, he stated, a great reduction in the Poor-rate Expenditure might be effected in Romsey, concluded with recommending that a union of the two parislies be immediately formed, for workhouse purposes only, both Poorhouses to be occupied, by which the condition of the aged and infirm would be bettered, agreeably to a scale of classification, each Parish to pay at a proportionate rate for tiieir own paupers. A Committee, consisting of Messrs. R. Withers, and G. Jenvev, for Romsey Extra, and Messrs. G. Sharp, and George, for Romsey Infra, with W. E. Nightingale, Esq., as Chairman, was appointed. The thanks of the meeting were unani- mously voted to Col. A'Court, for the satisfactory and lucid statement made by him. REVIEW OF THE CORN TRADE IN MARK LANE DURING THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER. Since the commencement of thepast month, the trade has exhibited the extraordinary fact of an improvement being experienced in the value of all grain and pulse, with the exception of wheat, the THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 581 currency of which has acted in an inverse ratio, — until the price of Chevalier barley has been equi- valent to the finer descriptions of red wheat ; beans and peas bearing also the same value. The higher relative value of barley has latterly induced the farmers to send to market a larger quantity of the article, and though the crop is acknowledged to be materially deficient, yet the supplies from the middle of September to the 22nd of November, have amounted to 68,000 qrs., being within 2,000 qrs. of the largest arrivals we have had, during a corresponding period, for the'last five years. The average price of wheat has declined as low as 403 8d, and large quantities are being sold for pig food. The prices, therefore, still being realized by the farmer are compelling him to make a ruinous sacrifice in the disposal of his wheat, and requiring at the same time full one-third more in quantity to be quitted, in order to raise the amount equivalent to the rental of many farms, the value of which has been estimated at a rate of 60s j)er qr, which was then considered only as a remunerating price to the grower. In 1646, the earliest average price which is officially noted, wheat was 49s 2d. In 1771, in which year the Act of 10 Geo. 3, c. 39, for registering the prices of corn came into opera- tion, the average was 47s. Thus the average price of wheat was nearly 7s to 9s more than at present, while rents have at least increased fourfold. From the 25th of October to the 22nd of No- vember, the following quantities have arrived in the port of London. Wheat. Barley. Oats. Qrs. Qrs. Qrs. English 35,256 25,555 3,150 Scotch 428 9,228 17,904 Irish 1,767 3,515 59,831 Foreign 312 4,965 English . Scotch Irish . . . Foreign . Beans. Qrs. 5,207 65 50 184 Peas. Qrs. 2,036 47 Flour. Sacks. 34,453 259 463 4,221 3552 bris. The difference as compared with the supplies of October, consists of an increase in the article of barley of 9,248 qrs, and 3,034 sacks of flour, and a diminution in wheat of 7,639 qrs, and in oats of 32,352 qrs. At the close of the month of October, the change in the weather having partially supplied the mills with wind and water, the millers purchased wheat more freely, and red and white samples advanced Is per qr ; during the commencement of Novem- ber, the currency remained firm, and fine white samples continuing scarce, realized rather more money ; for though the amount of arrivals was apparently large, yet as many of the parcels have gone novv direct into the hands of the manufac- turer without being offered on the mai-ket, the show exhibited on the stands was by no means equal to the reported supplies. On the 1 7th the trade ruled dull, and the general run of samples receded Is per qr, with a very limited extent of business, and as the receipts continued liberal, with an increased supply of floui-, and the millers in consequence having become unwilling pur- chasers, the quotations further gave way ; the trade at the termination of the month having de- clined 2s per qr, for the better qualities, and 2s to 3s for middling and inferior descriptions. Irish wheat has been selling at low prices for feed, and has in instances been applied for the feeding of ■oheep. As the port of Lisbon has been opened for the admission of a certain quantity of wheat, and the supplies already arrived in the Tagus being much more than sufficient to meet the demand, the business transacting in bonded wheat has been trifling. Some Kubanka quality has realized 31s, and a large parcel of soft Russian, 23s to 24s ; a few exports also have been made to Rotterdam. The flour trade at the beginning of the month, remained steady in price, but the mills being better supplied with water, and the arrivals increasing, ship qualities barely supported the previous cur- rencies, but the anticipated reduction of flour did not take j)lace, the influential millers arguing that the top price of wheat remaining at 55s to 56s for extra quality, did not authorize any alteration in the top price of flour, though the quantity sold at these rates was so trifling as to hardly bear out a fixed quotation, forgetting at the same time that there was a diflference of 10s per qr between these rates, and the fine red wheats. Wheat however, having the two last weeks declined in value, forced the miller to give way in his demands, and flour has been noted 3s per sack cheaper, the top price being 42s, though by far the greatest portion is sold under 40s. The duties have advanced on wheat, which is Is higher, the duty being 45s 8d, and Is 6d per qr on rye ; but on barley, beans, and peas, the duties are Is 6d per qr lower on each ; that on oats remaining unaltered. At the beginning of the month, the supply of barley for the season of the year, and the high re- lative price it was bearing, was extremely limited, but the two last weeks the impoi-ts have increased. The proportion of really fine malting barley, how- ever, proving scarce, prices of the finer Cheva- lier and Norfolk and Suffolk samples continued to advance, until the former qualities were quoted at 44s, and selected parcels even higher, showing an improvement of 4s per qr from the first of the month. The ale brewers have been the chief pur- chasers at these advanced rates, the principal porter brewers not having yet commenced pur- chasing. Norfolk and Suffolk common malting qualities obtained 37s to 38s, distillers* and grind- ing sorts advanced also Is to 2s per qr. As, how- ever, the supplies have increased, and maltsters being in stock, the demand became curtailed, and prices gave way 2s per qr, and Is per qr on Che- valier, with a heavy sale. Many Irish samples 582 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. proving light, and out of condition, have been pressed upon the market at very low figures, and are likely to act very disadvantageously on the averages, for those speculating in foreign barley, more particularly as the bulk of our own growth is of light, thin description. The quotations of Chevalier bailey having assumed a dispropor- tionately high rate of currency compared with the principal commodity, wheat, is not likely to pre- serve its disparity in value, but to approximate nearer its relative worth, and is therefore likely for the present to have attained its highest range ; more particularly as wheat is now being used to a considerable extent in malting as well as distilling, which will have the effect of materially diminishing the quantity of barley required to meet the aug- mented consumption of malt. The prices of old bonded barley have advanced 2s to 3s per qr, and one or two parcels of new Holstein and Danish, which have arrived, proving of fine and kindly quality, have realized 40s per qr free, or 23s per qr in bond. Old samples are held at I6s to 18s. In the Baltic as well as at Hamburg, prices, owing to the demand for England, as well as the Russian breweries, have lilcewise improved, and must be noted Is to Is 6d per qr dearer, best qualities of Holstein being noted at 14s 6d to 15s per qr for spring delivery, and Saale and Magdeburg barley, 20s to 21s. Malt experienced a more animated demand, particularly the Chevalier qualities, which ob- tained 65s to 66s, prices having advanced fully 2s per qr, and bringing the manufactured article more on a par with the raw material ; about the middle of the month nearly all the samples of new were taken off the markets, since which the trade has been dull, but prices unaltered. By the accounts published by the Brewers' Company, regarding the annual consumption of malt in the metropolis and environs, it appears, that the total amount for the year ending the lOth of October was 662,713 qrs, of which the largest consumer was Messrs. Barclay and Co, whose return for the year was upwards of 99,000 qrs. Though the importation of oats has been large during November, amounting to 80,885 qrs, of which 59,831 qrs were Irish, but only 3,150 qrs English, yet dealers in the early part of the month exhibiting an increased disposition to get into stock, added to an extensive country demand, the prices of good fresh corn have advanced 2s 6d per qr, and secondary and lighter descriptions Is to Is 6d per qr ; latterly the supplies have decreased from Ireland, and in one week from England only 40 qrs were received. The Scotch arrivals, how- ever having on the contrary rather augmented, these qualities have receded 6d to Is per qr. Bonded Oats have improved fully 3s per qr, and in some instances more money is being demanded ; fine heavy Friesland, and even Danish, being held at 23s, and for common feed 15s has been refuscl. These continued high demands prevent much business from being transacted, though an inclina- tion is shown on the part of speculators to get into stock. The shortness of the supplies of Oats in Ireland has caused an advance of Is to Is 6d per hi, and an unwillingness has arisen on the part of Irish merchants to enter into further contracts at pre- sent for spring shipment, though a strong specu- lative feeling exists to make free on board pur- chases, jiarticularly in the South of England ; for good qualities of 39 to 401bs, lis 6d has been freely offered, or 18s 3d to 18s 9d per qr on board, without meeting sellers, and 12s per brl has been paid for prime Londonderry, other qualities being held at proportio late rates. The amount in bond in the kingdom comprises 328,451 qr^. Beans, which always are more or less affected by the price of Oats, advanced in value 2s per qr at the beginning of the month, but towards the close, an increased supply of old qualities, caused the currency to give way Is per qr ; new remaining steady in value. Bonded beans have been much in request, and good small were held at 27s to 28s, Ticks at 26s, and several orders transmitted abroad, where, as the article has been ranging low, they are likely to be executed. During the month end- ing the 10th November, 9480 qrs had been entered for home consumption in the United Kingdom. White boiling peas advanced Is per qr, but the quantity of foreign pressing on the market, check- ed further improvement. Grey peas have become extremely scarce, and are 2s to 3s per qr. dearer. Maple have also been enhanced in value. Bonded peas, owing to the high London averages, have met renewed attention, but holders are asking more than speculators are inclined to give, and therefore fresh orders have been sent abroad, par- ticularly to the Baltic, where the quotations are from 24s to 25s for best qualities 4 and as the fai-- mers in Holstein and Mecklenburg still hold some stocks, prices are not likely much to advance for spring shijunent. In France the grain trade remains in a languid state, and prices have shown only a partial inclina- tion to advance. The last average rate of wheat throughout the kingdom was 32s 6d per qr. At Paris the supplies consisted principally of old wheat, which was more or less infected with wee- vil ; new qualities came sparingly to hand, and prices rather better, and as thrashing proceeds, the accounts from the farmers generally report the yield less than was anticipated at harvest, and much below the growth of the previous season. Sowing has been nearly completed throughout the country, but in parts the seed has been positively sown in (hist, and its gxrmination therefore with- out rain very precarious. In places the ravages of the field mice are again this season much com- plained of. At IVIarseille a probability appeared of the stock of bonded wheat being worked off for export to the south of Spain, particularly Catalo- nia, where prices were ranging high from the want of supply ; and it was stated to be the opinion of THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 583 Spanish merchants, that the government would soon be induced to open the ports. The prices of wheat in the Italian markets re- main firm, and the trade likely to be influenced by the probable opening of the Spanish ports, which will release the stocks of wheat in ware- house at Genoa and Leghorn. At Naples extensive speculative purchases have been entered into for wheat, deliverable the end of October. The Portuguese government have authorized the admission into Lisbon of 25,000 moyos of AVheat, or about 72,000 qrs, one half hard and the remain- der soft quality. The admission taking place ac- cording to priority of arrivals, and entry at the Custom House ; and as several of the first cargoes were rejected owing to the bad condition, some of the later vessels have been admitted. So little hope was entertained of any further admission for some months, that 16 vessels had left the port with their cargoes of soft wheat. In the United States of America, flour as well as wheat, owing to the increased supplies, had given way in value; flour averaging about 23s Id per barrel, and wheat 36s 8d for best qualities. In Canada the trade was dull, Upper Canada wheat remaining at 5s to 5s 3d per 601bs. At Sydney, New South Wales, the weather favouring a mono- poly on the part of the millers, had forced up the prices of wheat to 9s and 10s ])er bushel, and ad- vanced flour 40s per ton. At St. Petersburg the prices of wheat, as well as rye, barley, and oats, have rather improved, fine parcels of rye have obtained 25s 3d, and dried Courland quality 26s 7d. Wheat is firm at 30s 9d. Oats are held at 15s lOd, for fine white foreign sam- ples. At Riga no alteration has taken place in the price or demand for wheat, Courland remaining at 24s 2d to 28s 7d. Linseed is again in request, and Morschansky descriptions have obtained 41s 8d to 42s 4d per qr ; other qualities for crushing 39s 9d to 41s 8d. At Riga fine descriptions were realizing 46s 6d, and on contract 4'2s 8d. Hempseed firm at 26s 3d per qr. At Danzig the supplies had in- creased, and though the demand had been more animated, yet purchases had been eifected on rather lower terms ; new fine high mixed wheat having been bought at 28s to 29s, and during winter it was expected, the article for spring delivery would be bought on still lower terms. In Poland, rye, barley and wheat, were nearly the same in value, being quoted at 22s to 24s, and the charges of conveyance down the rivers to the port of Danzig would be about 9s or lOs. Rye however being the principal article of consumption, wheat, it was thought, during the winter, might decline in value, and make the price of delivery on board in spring, about 30s for the best qualities. In Polish Pome- rania. Eastern Prussia, and the frontiers of Lithu- ania, the frost had already been severely experi- enced, even as early as the end of September. At Konigsberg wheat was dull at from 24s to 28s. Linseed, 44s 3d to 46s. Beans, peas, and tares, were held at low figures. At Stettin, prices of grain for delivery in spring, were ranging high. Wheat was not to be obtained under 26s to 27s. Barley, 16s 6d. In Mecklenberg, and particularly Holstein, prices of barley had advanced, owing to the English as well as Russian demand, best qua- lities being at 14s to 15s. Oats, of 37 to 381bs., deliverable in spring, were offering at lOs 6d to lis. Several parcels of peas still remained in the hands of the growers. Rapeseed very scarce. At Copenhagen, and in the Danish Isles, barley has also advanced Is per qr. Tares also have been in demand at 22s to 23s and 24s; freights from the Lower Baltic ports were for barley 5s to 6s. At Hamburg, the business passing in wheat was confined to the local consumption. Marks and Upland qualities, of 611bs., were held at 25s to 26s. Holstein and Mecklenberg, of 62 to 63lbs., 21s to 22s 3d. Upland barley had advanced in value, and was njted at 20s to 21s. East coast of Holstein, 14s 6d to 15s. At Bremen, the range of prices was too high to induce any purchases for export, Brunswick wheat being held at 26s to 29s. Barley, 13s 6d to 18s. Beans were the only article that come within the limits of our currency, small being obtainable at I9s 6d to 20s ; large, 18s to 18s 6d. At Rotterdam, prices of Wheat and other grain were steadily improving in value, partly owing to a shortness of supply of ihe former article, and the anticipated alteration in the duties on the ad- mission of foreign corn. The King, in his speech from the throne, in alluding to the agricultural distress which existed, stated that the means of relief was in the contemplation of the government, and which, it is conjectured, will be an advanced scale of duties, or rather a return to the amount of the impost levied on corn, when Holland and Belgium were united, and which consisted of 24 florins per last, and other grain in proportion ; since the separation of the two kingdoms, the duties in Holland were lowered to 7J florins per last ; but should the old system be reverted to, it will make an additional duty of 3s per qr. on wheat, as a protection to the native grower, and therefore exports to Rotterdam and Amsterdam before the alteration takes place, may turn out to advantage. CURRENCY PER IMPERIAI. MEASURE. BRITISH. Nov. 1. Bhc. 1. S. S. S. 8, Wlient, Essex, Kent, and Suffolk, new, 40to47 40to44 Old 46 48 44 45 White, new 4C< 33 42 45 Ditto, old... 50 55 48 56 Nortcilk, Lincolnshire and Yoikshire... 40 46 36 42 H'hite, do.do 42 53 42 46 West Country Red 40 46 — — White, ditto 46 51 — _ Northumberland and Berwickshire Red 40 45 40 44 White, ditto 40 4/ 44 45 Irish Red 34 39 32 36 nittoWhitP 36 40 .18 42 Barley, Maltinjr, new 30 36 .34 3/ Chevalier, new .32 40 38 42 Distilling 28 30 .lO 34 Grinding 24 28 28 30 584 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Nov. 1. Malt, Brown >- — Ditto Norfolk pale 52 58 Ditto Ware 58 61 Peas, Hog and Grev 36 38 Maple ". 38 40 White Boilers 38 44 Beans, small, old 34 42 Harrow, do 31 39 Ticks, do 32 37 Mazajfaii 32 36 Oats, ExGLisH feed 19 22 Short small 21 23 Poland 20 24 Scotch, Common 22 25 Berwick, &c. old 22 26 Potatoe, &c 22 23 IiusH, Feed I7s0dtol930d 18s Od Ditto Potatoe 19s Od 24s Od 24s Od PittoBlack !7sOd 2!s0d 19s Od Bran llsOd to 12s 6d perl PRICES OF FLOUR, Per Sack of 280 lbs. N o v. 1 . s. s. Town-ma'le 40 to 45 Norfolk, Suffolk, Kent, and Essex 31 35 Sussex and Hampshire 32 36 Superfine 36 3/ Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, and Stockton. 30 34 Northumberland. Berwick, and Scotch. 31 33 Irish 32 34 Extra 35 — Dec . 1. 44 54 40 42 42 45 38 40 38 44 38 41 36 41 22 24 22 25 22 26 55 27 27 3i> 27 30 to 20s Od 25s Od 21s Od 6 bushel. Dkc. 1. 40 to 43 34 38 35 37 39 — 33 35 32 34 33 35 30 — AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF THE LONDON AVERAGES, From the 25th of October to the 22nd November. .£• 8. d . I 18 I qrs. ;£ 3. d. Wheat 35,889 2 6 3 I$arley 26 582 1 13 3 Oats 124,894 1 2 2 Jive 89 1 13 9 Deans 5':89 Peas 1460 Bere or Bigg. 851 1 5 IMPERIAL AVERAGES. Wheat. 22 1 21 7 21 2 21 4 21 5 21 5 21 6 Weekending Oct. 10th ,, 41 10 29 6 17th „ 41 i 29 8 24th „ 40 8 29 10 31st ,, 41 6 30 5 7th Nov. 42 4 31 6 Uth ,, 42 G 32 0 A ilb'i'eg'tfe Average of the six weeks which regulates the duty 41 8 30 6 Duties payable in London till Wed- nesday next inclu- sive, and at the Outports till the arrival of the Mail of that day from London 45 8 16 10 Do, on gi iiiM from British (losscssions out of Europe .. .. 5 0 2 6 2 6 Foreign Flour, 22s per 1961bs. British per 1961bs. Barley Oats Rye 3) 6 32 3 30 1 .32 (I Bean: .■36 8 36 9 37 8 37 8 38 0 31 11 3 0 possession Peas 40 0 40 7 41 9 40 1 42 8 42 11 41 4 8 0 3 0 Do. 3s. An Account of the Quantity of Grain and Flour imported into the United Kingdom during- the month ending the 5th of November ; the Quantity on whicli the Duty has been paid for Home Consump- tion, and the quantity remaining in Warehouse. Wheat. Barley. Oats. Bye. irs. Quantity imported 4,390 Do. entered for home qrs. 2,622 qrs. 5.679 qrs. 10 consumption 2,517 172 604 Do. remaining in ware- house 663,017 153,042 Beans. 329,451 Brank 5,726 Flour. Peas . qrs. Quantity importei 5,172 Do. entered for con- qrs. 1,050 qrs. cwts. 10,616 sumption 2,835 9,480 1 5,162 Do. remaining in ware- liouse 2,675 41,129 33 387,810 PRICES OF HOPS IN THE BOROUGH. Nov. 1. Dec. 1. .;^ s. ^ s, ^ B, ^3. East Kent Pockets 5 10 to 7 0 6 0 to 7 7 Mid-Kent Pockets ..4 10 6 0 5 8 6 15 Weald of Kent Pockets... ) , ,o ^ ,5 g „ Sussex Pockets ) Yearling, Pockets 3 0 4 0 3 10 4 15 Bags ....SO 3 10 0 0 0 0 Old Olds 0 15 2 0 11 2 1 BOROUGH AND SPITALFIELDS MARKETS. Per ton. Nov. 1. Dkc. 1. .£ s. .£ s. jf R. .£ 10 Ware, Scotch reds 2 2to3 5 2 2to3 5 York kidneys 2 10 3 10 2 10 3 10 Marsh Chauiidons 2 5 3 5 2 5 3 5 London whites 2 2 3 3 2 2 3 3 Shawf 2 0 3 0 2 0 3 0 Middlings, Scotch reds 1 15 2 2 1 15 2 2 Yorkkidneys 2 2 2 10 2 2 2 10 Marsh Cham rions 1 15 2 5 1 15 2 5 London whites I 12 2 0 1 12 2 0 Shaws 1 10 2 0 1 10 2 0 Chat Potatoes 20s to 25s per ton. SMITHFIELD MARKET. Per stone of 81bs. to sink the offals. Nov. 1. Dec. 1. s. d. s. d. 9. d. s. d. iMfeiiorBeef 2 0 to 2 2 2 2to2 4 Do. Mutton 2 6 2 8 2 4 2 6 .Vliddlins Beef 2 6 3 2 2 6 3 0 Do. Mutton 3 0 3 4 2 10 3 4 Prime Beef 3 6 4 0 3 4 3 10 r;o. Mutton ....3 10 4 8 3 8 4 4 Veal 30 46 32 46 Pork 3 2 4 2 3 0 0 0 Lamb 40 50 00 00 WOOL MARKETS. BRITISH. Nov, 1. Dec. I. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. North and South.Down Hog-? , 9 to 0 0 0 OtoO 0 fcts \ Half-bred Teggs 1.10 0 0 1 8 i 9 Diito Ewes.Cioathing 13 0 0 13 0 0 South-Oown Ewes 14 0 0 13 14 Kent Fleeces 1 7 1 0 0 0 0 0 Skill Comhing 15 16 14 0 0 Leicester Wethers 1 4 0 0 14 0 0 FlannelWool 1 4 18 14 18 BlanketDitto 0 10 12 0 9 11 Leicester Hogs 19 0 0 17 0 0 In Yolk— Devon Oil 11 0 0 0 0 SCOTCH. Per Stone of 24 lbs. Nov.]. Dec. 1. s. d. 8. d, s. d. s. d. Laid Highland Wool, from. 13 3tol4 3 13 0tol3 6 White Do. Do 15 6 16 6 15 6 16 6 LaidCrossed Do 15 6 16 6 15 6 15 6 Washed Do. Do 18 0 19 0 18 0 19 0 Laid Cheviots 18 0 20 0 18 0 20 0 Washed Do 23 0 27 0 23 0 27 0 White Do 36 0 40 0 36 0 38 0 FOREIGN, Per lb. Nov. 1. s. d. s. d. Electoral Saxony Wool, from ,4 6 to 5 9 Isi Australian, Bohemian, 14/1 d d and German Wools j 2nd Do ..2 6 3 6 Inferior Do. in Locks and Pieces 2 0 2 4 Lambs' Do 3 6 4 6 Hungary Sheep's Do 2 2 2 6 Leonesa Do 2 6 4 6 Segovia Do 2 8 3 2 Soria Do 2 4 3 0 Cacares Do 2 0 2 6 Spanish Lamb's Wool 16 2 10 (.ermau and Spanish cross Do. 18 3 0 Portugal Sheep's Do 1 6 2 3 Do. Lambs' Do 13 2 6 Australian fine crossed Do ... 2 9 4 9 Ditto Native Sheep's Do 2 0 2 7 Van Diomen's Land Do. Do. .16 2 8 Dec. 1. s. d. s. d. 4 6 to 5 9 4 0 4 4 4 2 4 3 3 2 6 2 10 3 0 iQt '§m.€Wl iiriitam THE POLITICAL COMPANION TO THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, J^lAY^ 1834. No, 1.] [Vol. L WILLIAM THE FOURTH. AViLLiAM Henuy, third son of George the Third, was born on the 21st of Aup;ust, 1765. lie is de- scribed, in his childhood, by IVIrs. Chaponn, niece to Dr. Thomas, Bishop of Winchester, as boing little of his ag-e, but so sensible and en that under a reform ministry even our courts of justice are in that Scotch mist which envelopes every de- partment of state. UTILITY OF THE CHURCH. (From the Quarterly Review.^ This system of voluntary churches would be ab- solutely fatal to all efficient pastoral intercourse of the minister with his people ; that however it might provide places of worship for the Sunday, it would provide no adequate parochial superintendence dur- ing the week ; for the class and band-meetings of the Methodists amount to nothing of the sort, and produce none of its fruits. As it is, there are some ten thousand men circulating throughout this coun- try for two or three hours most days of their lives, upon various home-missions of charity, of piety, of exhortation, of reproof, — each man of them all knowing precisely the district within which he has to walk ; confident m the soundness of the warrant by which he enters every house in it uninvited ; and, in general, hailed by the welcome of all, as one of those whose feet are beautiful. What a mass of misery is thus daily explored and relieved ! what heart-burnings are quenched ! what complaints hushed I what follies withstood ! what knowledge imparted ! what affections stirred up ! Who would rashly disturb this under-current of good- will which IS diffusing itself, silently and secretly, throughout all the darkest and most dismal recesses of society, and mitigating so much that is evil in this hard-hearted world ? Yet, withdraw the Church Establishment, and it is done. Tliere will then be no minister who has a district assigned to his pe- culiar care and keeping, where he individually feels himself answerable for the souls that are therein. He will share it with other parties of other per- suasions. The latch of the door will no longer be lifted with the same boldness as now. The whole parish will be debateable ground, and no man will know in it his own. The several ministers will find it no pleasant thing to encounter one another in the sick man's chamber, under a temptation, perhaps, to wrangle out points of divinity over the couch of death ; or, at all events, each uncertain whether he is not trespassing on the province of the others ; and so the patient will probably be aban- doned altogether. This is no speculative objection: the inconvenience is already felt, in a small degree, in parishes where Dissenters abound ; and the mi- nisters of such parishes feel themselves under some embarrassment in the discharge of their pastoral duties to that portion of their flock, even with the advantage of their present position ; and yet we believe, were they to abstain from making their call upon such persons from any false fear of intrusion, their absence would not often be supplied from any other quarter. We are most anxious to press this THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. consideration upon all whom it may concern — that perhaps the most comely parts of the Church of England are those which are least displayed. Doubtless her ritual is spirit-stirring — her pulpits are fountains of religious knowledge — her cere- monies full of solemnity — her temples worthy of being dedicated to God ; but these are only the grosser features of her beauty : they may be all done away, and some calculation be made before- hand of the amount of that portion of the loss ; but the unobtrusive provision she makes for the per- petual disasters of a working-day-world — for the things which are happening out of sight — this is the province in which she wanders amongst the people unseen ; her services here are not easily appreciated, because noiseless ; in this department, even more than in the pulpit or the senate, she repays the state for its protection and support; and whatever power for good of this kind she possesses, be it never forgotten, she owes entirely and altogether to the situation in which she stands as the sole accredited guardian of religion in this land, according to its parochial divisions. FARMING CAPITAL— AGRICULTURAL OVERBREEDING. (^From the Spectator.) Sir Henry Pamell told the landed monopolists of the House of Commons a useful though disagree- able truth, when he declared that the interest of the farmer was not identical with that of the landlord in maintaining the corn monopoly; but he gave a needless advantage to his opponents, which they have not been slow to take hold of, when he spoke of the farmer merely as a capitalist, whose interests could be set to rights by a reduction of his rent in case of a fall in the price of produce ; without taking into consideration that he is also interested in the quantity of occupation for farmers. This error is exposed in the new number of the "West- minster Review."* The Globe makes sport of the idea of treating the farmer as a capitalist ; and has presented its readers with a humorous dialogue, in which a Political Economist and a Ragged Man, once a farmer (one of Sir H. Parnell's capitalists'), discuss together the cause of the ruin of the latter, and a chorus of Statesmen chimes in with the common places of the Economist. But the Globe assumes, that, at the present time, the farmers are possessed of capital, which a reduction in the price of corn would de- prive them of; forgetting that the work is done already; that the effect of the corn laws in regard to the swallowing up of capital has already been exactly the same as that which their supporters ex- pect to ensue from their repeal. The peculiarly pernicious operation of the land- owner's monopoly, over every other, in checking the possibility of finding profitable employment for in- dustiy, is admirably illustrated in the following passage taken from the article in the " West- minster:"— " Suppose the working printers in London could procure an act of Parliament, confining all printing in the United Kingdom to the existing * Article XVI. " Quarterly Review, Globe, &c., in support of Corn Monopoly." London operatives— would there be any use in telling them, in the simple case, they did not gain by it ? If some collection of stupids should frame a plan for giving every other kind of workmen a similar monopoly, so that all kinds should finally eat of the common folly, this would be something like the existing state of things ; and their condi- tion might, like Touchstone's shepherd's, be damnable enough — but this is not the simple case. If they got a monopoly by themselves, they would gain, to a certain extent and for a certain time ; and the farmers, when they got the corn laws, did the same. When the printers had lived up to the increased profits, and filled all existing printing offices, however many, with their children and re- lations (which may reasonably enough be accom- plished in twenty years), they would be much where they were before ; and the farmers might be the same. But there happens to be two or three new consequences arising out of the fact, that corn is not types. When the printers have got to the extremity of their new tether, they are, at worst, much about the point they were at before. Printers may be full ; but they have pretty nearly the same chance they ever had, for making their children hosiers, hatters, haberdashers, or any other of the vocations on the list. Not so the farming conjuror. He has had the wit to lay an embargo on the whole progress of the country's industry. He has said, not a step shall you ad- vance beyond what can be kept upon a certain quantity of corn ; and then stands admiring the fact, that cousin Jack's six long boned lads can- not all take snug farms within the county. And cousin Jack discovers, if he tries, that there is just as much difficulty to make them tailors. Coats must come by wearers, and they by corn ; there can be no infinity of shop-board, where there is an act of Parliament upon the meal. In this way the plague comes round upon the authors. They, and their labourers, are screwed to the last pinch by the competition in their line. At this very moment, they have half-a-dozen children each, for whom there is not the smallest chance of escape from the squire's coffee-mill, the poor-house. It is quite right— it is a thing to sing anthems for— so fall the foes of honesty every where, and honest men will the sooner come by the power of living by their work !" This passage is only one of many, of equal felicity and force, which ai-e to be found in this number of the Westminster. The master spirit of the journal has been more than usually active in exposing the sophisms of "the opponent." SMUGGLING IN FOREIGN CORN. (From the Mark Lane Express.) "We sometime since adverted to tlie system of smuggling foreign grain and tiourinto this country under the semblance of its being of Canadian growth. The facts which we then stated have since been corroborated by evi- dence from several unimpeachable quarters. We were not, however, aware until within these few days, that a similar trade was car- ried on, and to a very considerable extent, much nearer home. We have seen a copy of the freight note of a vessel from Hamburgh to Port Douglas in the Isle of Man, vphich con- tains the following items — Barley, 198 qrs., at 43. per qr. ; Wheat, 590 qrs., at 4s, 6d, per qr. ; CloverSeed, 10 tons, at 21. 5s. per ton. 8 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. The following is an extract from a letter re- ceived from Port Douglas — " There is a yreat deal of grain imported here, and sent to Liver- pool for British every day." It has for some time past been matter of surprise to us, as well as to those who are engaged in the Corn trade, that some trifling advance at least had not taken place in the price of grain. We can now no longer feel any astonishment upon the subject, the wonder rather being that it should have maintained even its pre- sent price. Whether as regards the farmer, the corn-dealer, or the revenue, this subject demands the attention of Government, and we trust that forty-eiglit hours will not be suffered to elapse after the House of Commons shall again meet, without the matter being- brought under the notice of ministers. With respect to the farmer, any connivance at the introduction of foreign corn witliout payment of duty deprives him of that protection whicli the Corn Laws were intended to afford, whilst he bears all the opprobium cast upon him by the " anti-Corn Law advocates" of enjoying a monopoly in that article, and levying a tax upon the community generally for his own benefit. The secret import of foreign grain tends also to mystify the question of free trade in corn, by inducing the belief that the present Corn Laws operate in a manner dif- ferent from what was expected. With refer- ence to the corn-merchant, it acts in a man- ner highly prejudicial to his interests, by de- feating his calculations, and giving the con- traband trader an unfair advantage over him j and with regard to the revenue, a loss is oc- casioned in the non-payment of duties by which no person is benefltted but the indivi- dual engaged in a fraudulent traflic, in open violation of the law. If the Corn Laws are inexpedient for the nation at large, in God's name let them be repealed openly. Let the landlord know atoncethatheis to expect little or no rent from his estate, and let the tenant be placed in a situation to contract witli his landlord upon taking his farm, at a rate in accord with the reduced price of his produce. Let him not be deluded with the vain expec- tation that a protecting duty will, by uphold- ing prices, enable him to fulfil his engage- ments, while a hidden operation is going for- Avard which is in a slow, but sure and almost imperceptible manner melting away his capi- tal, depriving him of the ordinary comforts of life, and reducing himself and his family to the level of the growers of cheap corn on the Contine it. With respect to cheap bread, we would call the attention of both farmers and manufacturers to the observations made by Mr. Tallant, at the Agricultural Meeting, held at Northampton a few days since. To the artisan we would say, weigh well the facts there stated, more especially as re- gards the decreased value of labor con- sequent upon cheaj) bread. To the farmer we say, " It is high time to look about you." " Could any man, he would ask, afford to sell wheat at 47s. per quarter ? Three years ago, he deteiniined to go abroad, and to see with his own eyes the countries which were throwing such quantities of corn into the markets. He landed at Denmark, and there he was offered a farm of 2000 acres, unin- cumbered with any of the local burthens which here pressed so heavily on the farmer, and of as good a quality as, on an average, was 1o be found in Northamptonshire, at 3s. 6d. an acre. He wished to know what British farmer could compete with persons occupying farms upon those terms. It was, he contended, morally impossible to compete with them. The Shoemakers, he knew, were accustomed to fancy that by getting cheap bread they should go on as coml'ortably as they could desire, and live well. He would just show them how greatly they were mis- taken. He himself bought a gross of shoes at Hamburgh for 3s. 6d. a pair, and these shoes were actually manufactured for 6d. a pair only. This was the ellcctof the cheap bread system. Being determined to see every thing with his own eyes, he went into their fields, and tried with his own hands their ploughs, their scythes, and their other agricultural imple- ments ; and he there found the agricultural labourer working for 6d. a-day. Had he a chance to get drunk on Saturday night? No, he might get bread, bread, bread ; but very little beer did he get all the time he was there. This was not the condition of the English labourer. There were 1,690,079 quar- ters of foreign wheat raised under these cir- cumstances, in bond in England at that mo- ment, and he knew by letters which he had that morning received from Hull, that the Hull merchants were then getting up a peti- tion praying for the admission of foreign corn into this country, duty free. It was time for the farmer to look about him. 2'he foreigner, lie asserted, could yrow ivheat at one quarter the cost of raising English wheat. FREE TRADE IN CORN. (From the Herald). Public discussions upon questions of vital im- port to the community too often bear tlie bias of party or the influence of private interest, and fre- quently we find that certain parties, in order to support the views of those in power, in their mis- taken zeal, advocate theories totally inimical to the present condition of society, as pressed upon by the public burdens of the country, and, by conse- quence, to its various component parts. In dis- cussing these important questions the gradual infl- ence of past events, the acceleration given to our present position with regard to the agricultural and manufacturing interests by the adoption of a forced system of legislation, founded upon crude theories, totally inapplicable to that growing influ- ence, and the abuse of laws intended to secure the humblest character from want, have all been over- looked; and we are daily pestered with fashionable dogmas derived from the opinions of such political economists as a Mai.tuus, a Maccui.looh, or a Martineau, simply because it appears most libe- ral in a Whig Ministry to chaunt the merits of free trade, aqd because it suits some of their supporters THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 0 to advocate free trade in corn, especially a part of a system that would be a blessing to this country if we had not to support the burden of a national debt of 800,000,000/, but which, if now forced upon us, would only benefit a few connected with the Baltic trade, at the expense of the many. We have been led to these remarks in consequence of an attempt on the part of an evening contempo- rary, the Courier, to force Mr. Poulett Thom- son's memorable speech in defence of a free trade in corn, in the House of Commons, on the 7th of March last, again into notice, and which, we be- lieve, was lauded but by the few who have capitals embarked in the Baltic trade. We are glad that our worthy contemporary has given us another op- portunity to deprecate that gentlemen's Ime of argtHaent us unworthy of a professed independent Member of the British Senate, whose main object we presume to be the happiness of the community of which he forms a part. The Conrkr, in arguing against a fixed scale of duties, tells us "that the fluctuations had been much gi-eater in the years 1828, when it was 19s 3d; 1829, 19s; 1830, IGs lOd; and 1832, lis, limn in the years 1784, when it was 6s 4d ; 1785, 2s lOd ; 178b, 2s 4d ; 1787, 8s 9d ; 1788, 2s 4d ; and 1789, 2s lid;" and then maintains that, by referring to these data, Mr. Poui.ett Thomson had not given to his arguments all the force of which they were susceptible ; but, on the principle that the wider the circle is from which we draw our supplies, the less are the chances of fluctuation. Therefore, as our commerce was not so extended in 1785 as in 1830, our contemporary supposes the chances of increased supply must be extended, and then goes on to reason most darkly that be- cause the world was forty-five years older the fluctuations in the price of corn ought to have been much less in 1830 than in 1785, instead of more, and no doubt v/ould have been, had there been no varying duty upon the importation of corn. We have been puzzling ourselves to arrive at the drift of this singular- strain of reasoning, and the only in- ference we can draw is that it is an attempt, vul- gtirly speaking, to help a lame dog over a stile. But, supposing the paragraph alluded to to aim at the defence of a theory, the Courier has entirely forgotten that the population of all foreign States, with but little exception, has increased, during the past forty-five years, in a relative proportion with our own, and by consequence their power to con- sume the fruits of the soil must have increased in the same ratio; — it ought to have been borne in mind that on all large continents corn crops are very un- certain, both from the eflfect of seasons and the chances ofwar ; so much so,thatGreat Britain's pow- er would soon be annihilated were we to import corn freely from the Continent, or the United States, in exchange for our manufactures. We should then also, as we have often urged, become dependent upon the will of the Governments of those coun- tries, to a great degree, for the first necessaries of life. They may choose to interfere with our sup- ply ; we then should further become dependent for that supply upon the rate at which capital, po- pulation, and agriculture may happen to progress among their inhabitants — a rate we can neitlier govern nor accelerate. If the advance in their pro ductive power do not keep pace with our own, we shall carry on a losing trade with them, because we shall be compelled continually to exchange larger quantities of the produce of our industry for less quantities of theirs. Under such a short-sighted system this must be the inevitable result, if their population increases in the same relative proportion with our own, and we know that political econo- mists cannot interfere with the laws of nature, though they reason frequently as if they could. Our manufacturers might for a time be benefited by a free trade in corn, but as our agricultural interests would gradually decay under this artificial system, they would be totally incapacitated from supporting our manufacturers when wars and the caprice of foreign Governments, whose interests are by no means identified with those of Great Britain, inter- fere with the system of free trade so ardently advocated by our modern political economists and would-be Statesmen. Hence the palpable neces- sity for the encouragement of the growth of corn in in our vast colonies, whose interests are interwoven with the security and prosperity of the mother country. At the conclusion of the article which we have treated so freely, we are gravely told that our situation is totally different from what it was in the year 1770 : of this every tyro from the parish school can tell us, and therefore we agree, in one instance, with our contemporary; and we are also told that, with the aid of Ireland, we are compelled to miport. The Irish corn and cattle grower, from the pressure of agitation and absenteeism, coupled with the want of poor laws, cannot eat the food his labour raises ; he sends it to England, to raise the rents extorted from him under a pernicious system. By consequence, the English corn-grower is op- pressed almost to the annihilation of his capital, and his labourers, under the same hiffluence, can scarcely buy the cheap food they assist to culti- vate. Yet our contemporary would further reck- lessly expose our agricultural and manufacturing interests to the grinding competition of the untaxed foreign corn-grower, to support a theory which, as far as it has been put into practice, has been proved to be inconsistent with our political circum- stances. In conclusion, we shall merely state that our public debt was under 150 millions in the year 1770; in the year 1834 it is upwards of 800 millions, 600 of which were created in paper; and now the interest of the whole is paid in gold. Can the Courier reconcile the anomaly of its argu- ment with such facts to meet it ? STATE OF CRIME. {From the Courier.) There has just been printed, by order of the House of Commons, one of those frequent returns of the number of criminals in England and Wales, which at the first inspection are so well calculated to fill us with despondency and even with despair. By this return, dated March 20, it appears that the number of persons charged with criminal oflences in England and Wales, was in the seven years endin- with 1819, 72,216; in the seven years ending with 1826, 95,628; and in the seven years ending with 1833, 131,818; the number, therefore, in thelast seven years, as compared with the first, having almost doubled in the short space of fourj 10 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. teen years. That certainly is a frightful addition to the criminality of the people, and might make us aager and anxious to embrace some other system were this hideous picture without any redeeming feature. Let any man add to the mass of depravity and miseiy which this single enumeration presents, the number committed to gaol by the summary jurisdiction of magistrates not included in this re- turn, and add to that the number of relatives and friends who participate in the depravity and misery of every criminal, and the swelling amount is quite enough to fill the imagination with terror and dread of what must be the ultimate result. The first thing, however, which we discover on looking closely at the tables is, that while the whole number of criminals has latterly increased so rapidly, the number of persons sentenced to death for murder has diminished ; it having been in the last seven years 104, while in the first seven years it was 156 — there being a positive decrease of one-third, and a relative decrease, compared to the increase in the whole number of criminals, of almost two-thirds. We observe, however, that in the last seven years the number of persons sentenced to death for shoot- ing, &c., with intent to kill, has increased in a greater proportion than the number of criminals, it having been, for the seven years ending 1819, 90 ; and in the seven years ending 1833, 293. We take that to be an indication that many of the crimes charged as murders during the first seven years, were in the last seven years charged as shooting, &c., with intent; but, putting both togedier, we find that the proportionate increase in these crimes has not been near so great as the increase in the whole number of criminals. But the number of persons executed foi murder is a still more satis- factory test. That revolting crime, when actually committed, is rarely pardoned, but the number of executions for murder during the last seven years, was only 8, while the number executed in the first seven years, was 1 37. Again, the number of per- sons executed for shooting with intent, &c., during the first seven years, was 28; in the last seven years, 32 ; makmg the total executions for these crimes of violence in the last seven years, only 40, while the number executed in the first seven years, was 165. It is further to be observed, that the whole number of executions in the seven years ending with 1819 was 662, while the number in the last seven years was 391. The judicial deaths, therefore, have diminished a half, notwithstanding the increase of the number of criminals. Thus, latterly, the dark and revolting crime of murder has diminished, and there has also been a more merciful administration of the law, showing that both the law and the people are becoming re- pugnant to crimes of violence. Another redeem- ing feature of these returns is, that the number of persons acquitted, and against whom no bills were found, is, in proportion to the number of persons committed, gradually diminishing. In the first seven years, out of 72,216 it was 25,565, or more than one-tliird ; in the last, out of 131,818, it was 38,239, or not much more than a fourth. This is a large enough proportion ; but the diminution is a proof that increasing care is taken in the pre- liminary investigations, and that men are not com- mitted to prison without some sufficient reason The increasing care in the administration of the law may acconnt too for much of the increase in the number of criminals, who are now better looked after than formerly. The improved administration of the law, and the diminution of violent crimes in the community, afford us .some consolation when looking at the vast increase which this return shews of criminals. THE CORN LAWS. (From the Globe.) Tables have been printed by order of the House of Commons, showing the average annual prices, since the war, of wheat and the funds. They are intended, we presume, to illustrate some theory ; but we notice them with a view to the question which has been discussed in and out of parliament, whether the present corn laws have a tendency to render the price of corn steady or unsteady. Even on the matter of fact — whether the price has fluc- tuated greatly or not — there is, strange to say, a difference of opinion. Such a difference of opinion can only a ise, of course, from taking the averages of very different periods of time for the basis of the calculation. If the averages be taken of the prices during the whole of each year, the price appears certainly steady, and, indeed, considering the great variation in the amount of produce throughout not only this king- dom, but all Europe (which must be followed by a variation in the yearly consumption), as steady as can be expected or desired. The yearly averages since the coming into operation of the recent law have been — 1828 . . 60s. 5d. 1831 . . 66s. 4d 1829 . . 66s- od. 1832 . . 58s. 8d 1830 . . 64s. 3d. 1833 . . 52s.lld There is no possibility of disputing the fact that these yearly averages are steady as compared with any former period of which accounts are preserved ; and, we believe it may be said with confidence, steady as compared with the prices of any consi- derable market or set of markets for grain in Europe. If, on the other hand, the price for one week or day be compared with the price of another week or day, the fluctuations will be made to appear more con- siderable ; and though not formidable, we think it appears very possible that the law has in some de- gree contributed both to the average steadiness and to the occasional variations within a short period. In considering the effect of the law, we must ask the question whether the occasional rise and fall of price for a short time is an evil which outweighs the benefit of steady average prices ? We think not. Our own impression, however, is, that the fluc- tuations which some persons have found to be very formidable in the tables have been exceedingly in- considerable. If such fluctuations in the price of grain had been really considerable, they must have been felt in great and sudden falls and elevations of the price of bread. A sudden fall would not be complained of, and might have passed unnoticed ; but we do not recollect that during the last five or six years (though we have always paid some atten- tion to the subject) there has been any one great or sudden rise of the price of the loaf. It is notorious that there have been no meal mobs — no riots on account of the price of bread j nay, further, there THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 11 has been no one increase of price which has created any " sensation" among the poorest classes of the purchasers of bread. In fact, these formidable fluctuations have existed only in the average tables, or at any rate have so slightly affected bread as not to have been felt by the people ; the price of bread has been as steady as the yearly averages, and though we justly attach great importance to steady prices of grain, it is a reasonably steady price of bread which every one wishes to secure. As this result has been obtained, the fluctuations of Mark -lane are rather a matter of curiosity than of importance ; but it is probable enough, if any one would take the trouble to investigate the matter, that the variations which have been observed be- tween some one week in the spring and some one week in the autumn would be found to arise in part from the manner in which the averages are necessarily struck. In some one week the total sales may happen to be small, and of that small quantity a large proportion may happen to be very fine or very bad corn — and this must affect the averages. In taking the averages these circum- stances are not attended to, and in the course of a year one accidental variation of quantity or quality corrects another. But it is the average price throughout the year and the season which is important to the consumer. If the loaf varied in price very considerably from month to month, while it was steady from year to year, it would be of little consequence to all but those whose improvidence would always find them causes of misery. If a man's provisions cost him nearly the same sum in one year as in another, it matters exceedingly little whether in a particular week or month some one artic^le — his fish, flesh, or bread — is a little dearer than in another ; but we repeat that it is notorious that by the consumer no such fluctuations have been felt. With the farmer the case is nearly the same ; if he distributes his sales throughout the year he will obtain the average price of the year — if he sells all in a week he knows that he is speculating, and takes the risk of speculation. For any practical purpose the fluctuations have been merely ima ginery. THE POOR LAWS. (From the Herald.) The important question of the poor laws is at length fairly before parliament. It was introduced last night by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in a speech that was complimented from all sides of the House, as containing a clear and satisfactory expo- sition of the subject This was rather an unusual felicity with his Lordship, whose explanations upon ecclesiastical or financial matters have not been very remarkable for perspicuity, either in the present or the former session. But the poor laws, or the Poor- law Commissioners have, it would seem, inspired him, and the result is a statement which no man has yet pleaded his inability to comprehend. If \ve may judge from the reception of the plan proposed by Lord Althorp — and it is tlie very same plan sug- gested by the Commissioners for the amendment of the present system — there is little doubt but that it will be carried into immediate effect, so far as an Act of Parliament can give effect t. leed, indispensible necessity of the Ballot. Is it not an " un-English" vice for the head of a British College to dismiss his gar- dener because he will not violate his conscience by voting at the dictation of his master 1 Is it not an infamous offence against the rights of the people to prevent electors from exercising their franchise, in the fear of persecution and loss of business ? We do not doubt that under the Ballot Mr. Rice would have polled two-thirds of the constituency, and that in secret voting he would have recorded in his favour the votes of almost all the electors who sneaked from the exercise of their elective fran- chise. Indeed, we know no country in which the Ballot is so essential to its representative system. The class voting — the illegitimate influence of property — the oppression of the Aristocracy — the corrupt and habitual expenditure of money — the absurdly-varying number of the constituencies, unite to make open voting a curse, and the source of every evil in elections. But we are on the road to political improvement. The Cambridge elec- tion is a most gratifying event, and the Reformers throughout the country are greatly indebted to the public-spirited electors of that borough. It is not a little singular, and it allows us to indulge in the most sanguine hopes for the future, that the elec- tors of Oxford and Cambridge have returned libe- ral representatives, while their Universities are the hotbeds of intolerance and Toryism. The learned Doctors of Oxford, newly made, will do well to chew the cud of reflection on this. What has oc- curred at Cambridge ought to be a lesson to them ; and we are much mistaken if they do not soon find cause to regret the part they have taken. POOR LAW BILL— RATING OF COTTAGES. (From the Courier,') Lord Darlington has given notice of his inten- tion to move a clause in the Poor Law Amend- ment Bill, " to make all tenements of the lowest description rateable property, and to be assessed to the relief of the poor ; but that in all cases where the annual rent does not exceed lOL, the owners, and not the occupiers, shall become chargeable for the said assessment." If this clause be incor- porated into the bill, it will, we firmly believe, do ten times more to suppress the spread of pauper- ism, than all the other clauses of this ill-digested measure. Every one acquainted with the real in- fluence of the Poor Laws, is aware that the wish to relieve themselves from the obligation of sup- porting all who through accident or misfortune could not support themselves, has made all con- siderablee landlords in every part of England and Wales exetrt themselves to pull down surplus cot- tages, and to prevent their undue increase, and consequently, also, the undue increase of the labouring population; and it is to the practical operation of this principle, more than to anything else, that we are inclined to attribute the 'fewness of cottages in mostparts of the country, and the comparatively slow increase of the agricultural population. But since 1795, when the rprevious administratio of the poor laws was changed very much for the worse, the overseers of the poor m some of the southern counties have been in the habit of paying the rent of cottages occupied by paupers, and as these are not rated, the owners of small farms and pieces of ground have been tempted tocover them with cottages. They have 46 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. done this because they knew, in the first place, that they would be able to let them on advantage- ous terms to the overseers; and second, because the cost of providing for the paupers produced by this increase of cottages would not fall on them, but on the larger class of owners and occupiers. This mischievous practice has been carried to a very great extent in some parishes; and the owners of considerable estates have frequently been obliged to purchase up small patches of land at twice or three times their worth, merely that they might protect themselves from the risk of having a colony of beggars established upon them.. The mischievous effects of this pernicious practice were set in the clearest point of view in the able and instructive evidence given by Mr. Hodges, member for Kent, before the Emigration Commit- tee. This intelligent gentleman gave it as his clear opinion, that unless a stop were put to the in- crease of cottages, all other regulations with re- spect to the poor would be absolutely nugatory. " I am quite satisfied," said he, " that the erec- tion of cottages has been a most serious evil throughout the country ; and I have been induced, acting on that conviction, to concur with othe rcot- tage proprietors, who are going to take down from twenty-six to thirty cottages as soon as their occu- pants are out of them, if they emigrate, as we think they will do ; for if we leave the buildings standing, young people of seventeen or eighteen years of age, and even still younger, would marry immediately, and thus the evil would still con- tinue." (Report p. 38.) lu a subsequent exa- mination, Mr. Hodges said, — " Perhaps I am taking a liberty in referring to what I stated the other day, but without an attention to the fact then disclosed, of the prodigious increase of cottages of late years, all other regulations will be nugato- ry ; and I cannot forbear urging again, that this, or any similar measure, having for its object the relief of parishes from their over-population, must, of necessity, become perfectly useless unless the Act of Parliament contain some regulations with regard to the erecting and maintaining of cottages ; this may be done in parishes taking the benefit of such act, either by rating the proprietors of them, and not the occupiers, or perhaps it might be thought advisable even to rate the proprietors of every cottage whose inhabitants might become chargeable, for want of regular employ, to the maintenance of that pauper, to the full amount of the rent agreed to be paid to his landlord by the said pauper." (P. 185.) Had Mr. Hodges ended by proposing the esta- blishment of a commission, or board, to carry his suggestions into effect, they would, we venture to say, have met long ago with the attention due to their importance. But Mr. Hodges not being im- bued with the new doctrines, thought that the measure he proposed would be best administered by those naturally interested in carrying its provi- sions into effect, and in consequence his valuable suggestions have been allowed to lie buried for some half dozen years amid the rubbish by which they were surrounded. But now that we are to have Central Boards, triumvirs, itinerant commis- sioners, et hoc genus omne, there is some little chance that Mr. Hodges's proposals may be at- tended to. It is not to be endured that the owner of a few acres should be allowed to enrich himself by founding a plantation of beggars to be supported at the expense of his neighbours. We protest, however, against the triumvirs being allowed to interfere in the matter. — The adoption of the clause proposed by Lord Darlington will do a good deal to check the improper increase of cottages ; or if it be found ineffectual to its object, it maybe easily strengthened by the adoption of one or other of Mr. Hodges's suggestions. Much as the peo- ple of England have been practised upon, and do- cile as the landed gentry would seem to have be- come, we hardly think they will consent to have the building of cottages made to depend on the fiat of a little junto of Westminster dictators, or of the delegates they may please to inflict upon the provinces. LORD DURHAM'S EXCLUSION FROM THE CABINET. {From the Spectator.) The government journals have been instructed to state positively that the cause of Lord Durham's exclusion from the amended cabinet is the " im- practicability of his temper." This is expressly asserted in the Globe and the Courier. Tlie latter journal says — " Lord Durham has already been a member of the cabinet ; and the objection to bis return is not one urged by the Lord Chancellor, as most erroneously stated in yesterday's Spectator — it is the objection of every member of the late cabinet — that they will not be members of a cabinet with his lordship, on account of the impracticability of his temper, and the impossi- bility of his being able to bring himself to submit to the control of his colleagues. We repeat, in express terms, that the Lord Chancellor is no more concerned in the exclusion of Lord Durham than every one of his late colleagues." The Courier, be it observed, denies our assertion that the Lord Chancellor objected to Lord Dur- ham's admission into the cabinet, and in the same sentence asserts that " every member of the late cabinet objected to be a member of the same ca- binet with his lordship. We would ask whether Lord Brougham was not one of the late cabinet ? He was, and the Courier therefore confirms the fact which we asserted. But this slip of our con- temporary, as regards ourselves, is of little mo- ment. The important fact to which we wish to direct attention is that which the Courier twice positively asserts, and which, as we before ob- served, the Globe also agrees in stating — namely, that " every member of the late cabinet" declares " that they will not be members of a cabinet with his lordship, on account of the impracticability of his temper, and the impossibility of his being able to bring himself to submit to the control of his colleagues." Control of his colleagues ! Why should he ? Was he not, would he not be, their equal in the cabinet — equally competent to control them as they to control him ? We firmly believe diat all these stories about the impracticability of Lord Durham's temper have been put in circula- tion by men who, dreading, as the Times observes, " to meet over a council-table the enlightened and resolute boldness of men fixed in their own opi- nions and resolved in their measures/' vilify them THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 47 as "ill-tempered," and proscribe them as "im- practicable." Here we have the secret of the aversion of the shufflers and red-tapists to Lord Durham. He pursues a manly, direct course to- wards his object ; they move tortuously. But they will never sit at the council-board with him. We shall see. The time is probably not far distant when Lord Durham may be called upon to form a cabinet himself; and then, we suspect, many of those who now object to his temper, will discover that he is at least as " practicable" as Lord Broug- ham or Mr. Stanley, and quite as free from petu- lance as Earl Grey. The Courier has been also instructed to deny the truth of our story that the King had found out Lord Brougham's " tricks," and made no secret of his disgust at the discovery. Now, this is rather a delicate subject to handle. We certainly do not pretend to have had a reporter in the room to take down his Majesty's words — although as a long speech, asserted to have been correct verbatim, has lately been attributed to the king in the newspapers, itis not beyond the bounds of possibility that our iistoriette was taken down in short-hand as it fell from the Royal lips. Our belief in it is not shaken by the Courier's denial : for that appears to rest on very slippery ground. " The fact ('says the Courier) that the King never received the Lord Chancellor more graciously, and never expressed more unbounded confidence in his lordship, than since the late resignations, is matter of notoriety. Those who know the straightforward manly character of the Sovereign, will admit that his Majesty never fails to express his real sentiments. There is no finessing in that quarter." We could easily prove the truth of what we stated in the same manner : thus — the fact is noto- rious that Lord Brougham is a tricky man ; it is equally notorious that the king is discerning and plain-spoken ; it follows therefore that his Majes- ty has found out Lord Brougham's tricks, and has openly expressed his disgust at them. That he has behaved courteously to the Lord Chancellor during the late troubles, is no proof that his Majesty has not at other times spoken his mind freely in regard to his zigzag courses. Seriously, however, we con- clude with saying, that we had the story from good authority, and that we still believe it. THE IRISH TITHE BILL. (From the Times.) It is said that there is an intention to damage the Tithe Bill in the House of Commons, and eventu- ally to reject it altogether in the House of Lords, as the first step to a spoliation of the Irish Church; and that, elated by their triumph at Oxford, the clergy think that they shall induce the people of England to join in the cry of " the church in danger." It is necessary, therefore, to inquire what the Irish Tithe Bill really is, if the alteration that has been reported to have taken place is agreed to by parliament, — viz., the removal of that enact- ment which enabled the clergy to convert the whole of their tithe into land. The amended bill declares that tithe, as at present collected, shall cease in Ireland on the 1st of November, 1834; and that in lieu thereof, a land-tax shall be raised, and paid over to the tithe-owner, subject to a deduction of fifteen per cent., to be collected by the crown, for the first three years from the tenantry, and after- wards to be collected as rent charge upon the land from the owners of the first estate of inheritance. The State guarantees to the owner of the tithe 80/, for every lOOl. at present paid to him, subject only to a deduction of 2i per cent, for collection; and this 80/. is directed to be paid over to the cleigy without the risk incurred in the collection, or any of those casualties to which they have heretofore been subjected. Then, if the clergy choose to re- ject this offer, let them revert to the old law, but then let it be clearly understood that they take the risk on themselves, that the army and police are not to be arrayed in every parish to assist in their col- lection, and that the government will confine them- selves to the duty imposed upon them by law — the prevention only of a breach of the peace. But it is right also to understand how the law stands in reference to this subject, if the present Tithe Bill should be thrown out. The clergy will then have to revert to the mode of collection that arises out of Mr. Goulburn's Composition Act, which has since been made compulsory upon the whole of Ireland by Mr. Stanley's act, which would still leave them to collect from the occupiers of the land in all cases where leases still subsist. They have consequently no other facility afforded to them in the collection of tithe than they possessed for the last three years ; but by the act of the last session of parliament, their properties become liable to the repayment of the first instalment of the million, and Lord Althorp stands pledged to parliament and to the people of England to recover the amount. THE CHURCH. {From the Couriev.) Too great pains cannot be taken, or too frequent- ly, to convince the public of the utter groundless- ness of the reasons assigned for the present at- tempt to revive religious contentions and animosity in this country. What has been done to give oc- casion for the cry, " the church is in danger ?" The only measures now in progress in which the church is at all concerned, are, we fearlessly assert, calculated to remove glaring abuses, and are dic- tated bp a sincere regard for the interests and the permanency of the Church of England. A clear explanation, therefore, of these measures may not be without use in preventing the unwary from being misled by the artifices now resorted to with a view to impose on the public. 1. The Lord Chancellor has laid before the House of Lords two bills, the one to prevent, ex- cept in very particular situations, clergymen from enjoying more benefices than one, and the other to enforce the residence of clergymen of all degrees, from the highest to the lowest, each within their diocese or on his living. 2. A Commission has been issued from the crown for the purpose of collecting information, by which the Government and Parliament may re- gulate and appropriate the revenues of the Esta- blished Church of Ireland. The Government have taken no steps, and insti- tuted no proceedings, but those now noticed, re- 48 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. specting the Established Church, either in England or Ireland. With respect to the first measure — the Bills in- troduced by the Lord Chancellor — their obvious propriety is allowed. The bills may be erroneous in details or minute provisions, but these will, of course, be altered in the Cornmittees of the one House of Parliament or theother. The Archbishop of Canterbury has declared in his place in Parlia- ment, with reference to those bills, his " anxiety to see all abuses abolished, wherever it is practicable. He was not prepared to say whether the total abo- lition of plurahties, considering the great diminu- tion of the church revenues consequent on the re- formation, would be advisable, or whetlier a strict enforcement of residence was in all cases desir- able." " He should feel it his duty to attend and watch the various provisions of the bills, and to give, upon all occasions, his best advice as to the mode of framing them, so as to render them most beneficial to the interests and efficiency of the Church of England." Lord Harrowby advised delay, until the report of the commissioners ap- pointed to inquire into the revenues of the church had been received. But no one peer objected to the principles of those bills, or denied the existence of the abuses which they are intended to put an end ro. The Lord Chancellor, in his reply, ob- served, that " by removing this abuse of plurali- ties and non-residence, they would remove the greatest danger which threatened the establishment, by increasing its favour with the people, and insur- ing its respectability and stability." No rational person can therefore maintain that the church is endangered by the Lord Chancellor's bills, and, if not by those bills, far less, so far as we can perceive, is it endangered by the very cau- tious proceeding which the administration have adopted, iniespectto the Church of Ireland, The Established Church in Ireland is in a most peculiar and anomalous situation . The population of Ireland amounts to about eight millions of inhabitants, of whom only about seven hundred thousand belong to the Church of England. Yet the Church of England is main- tained on the same scale as if the whole inliabitants, the great mass of whom are Roman Catholics, were members of the Church of England. Nearly one half of the clergy of the establishment are non- resident. This fact can excite no surprise, as in many parishes there is not a resident Protestant. Mr. Finn, member for the County of Kilkenny stated a few days ago in the House of Commons, that he knew twenty parishes in the county which he represented, iu lohkh not a single Protestant is to be found. The expense of the Irish Church amounts to very nearly a million sterling per annum. The dissatisfaction produced by the enormity of the abuse of maintaining a Church so entirely dispro- portioned to the population, has become so great, and the collection of tithes has been attended with such difficulty, that the police force chiefly required for enforcing the levying of tithes, costs nearly 300,000/. a year from the funds of the state ; and the yearly cost of the ai'my, quite as numerous as that required for the safety of our Indian posses- sions, but which is necessary to preserve tran- quility in Ireland while such a state of things exist, is a prodigious burden on the people of this country. The Estabhshed Church of Ireland, therefore, as at present constituted, so far from being a sup- port to, is, in fact, a mill-stone hung round the neck of the Church of England, which, if not de- tached from the latter, will drag her to the bottom. Even if the effectual reform of the Irish Church were not necessary, that the foundations of peace and prosperity may be laid in Ireland, it would be imperatively called for, that the Church of Eng- land may escape the disgrace of an alliance with such monstrous abuses. The proceeding resorted to by Government, with a view to abate this gigantic and most dan- gerous nuisance, is of a safe and prudent descrip- tion. Instead of at once declaring, as Mr. Ward proposed, that the existing Church Establishment in Ireland exceeded the spiritual wants of the Protestant population — that it was the right of the State to regulate the distribution of Church pro- perty, and that the temporal possessions of the Church of Ireland ought to be reduced — they have adopted a step which it must have required con- siderable ingenuity to convert into an engine on which to sound the tocsin of alarm. A Commission has been issued for the purpose of ascertaining and reporting accurate information respecting every parish in Ireland, the number of inhabitants, their religion, their education and means of education, the number and denomina- tion of the places of worship, the number and rank of clergymen in different places of worship in each parish, the number of persons attending worship in each church or chapel, the periods at which divine worship is performed, &c., and in general respecting the moral and political relations of the Church Establishment and the religions institutions of other sects. The Report of this Commission cannot be made until next Session of Parliament. We can afford patiently to wait for it, because we have no doubt that the real state of the facts when authoritatively made known will convince the most zealous churchmen of the necessity of effectually reforming the Irish Church, and regulating and appropriating its revenue in such a way as may conduce to the general interest of the people. In the mean time we have shown by minutely referring to the only measures hitherto adopted, that there is not the slightest cause for alarm. And we, therefore, entirely concur in the sentiment ex- pressed a few days ago in the House of Com- mons, by Mr. Methuen, the Member for Wiltshire, that the only danger to the Establishment arises from those who are termed its friends, who uphold pluralities and non-residence, and abuses of every description, but whose real object is not so much intended for the support of the Church, as of that party who think they uphold the Church by up- holding its abuses. ENTS5RED AT STATIONER'S HAIiI.. Published at 19, OldBoswell Court, Temple Bar. Printed by Joseph Rogerson, 24, Norfolk-street, Strand. Tlim MAMQUiLg. 'OF €]HIAKB©s^, THE POLITICAL COMPANION TO THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. AUGUST, 1834. No. 4.] [Vol. 1. THE MARQUESS OF CHANDOS. Richard-Plantagenet Brydges-Chandos-Temple- Grenville, Marquess of Chandos, M. P. for the county of Buckingham; born lUh February, 1797 ; married 13th May, 1819, Mary, youngest daughter of John, Earl of Breadalban, and has two children, viz. Richard-Plantagenet-Campbell, Earl Tcmi)le, born 10th September, 1823. Anne-Elizabeth, born 7th February, 1820. Is the eldest son of the Duke of Buckingham, (Richard Temple-Nugent-Brydges-Chandos-Gren- ville, D.C.L. and F.S.A.) Earl Temple, Viscount and Baron Cobham, in the peerage of the United Kingdom, Earl Nugent, in the peerage of Ireland, K.G., lord-lieutenant and custo-rotulorum of the county of Buckingham ; who was born 20th March, 1776 ; and succeeded to the marquisate of Buck- ingham, earldoms of Temple and Nugent, and barony of Cobham, upon the demise of his father, 11th February, 1813, as second marquess ; he ob- tained the dukedoms of Buckingham and Chandos, and marquisate of Chandos, by creation, 4th Feb- ruary, 1822. His grace married 16th April, 1796, Anne-Elizabeth, only daughter and heiress of James Brydges, third and last Duke of Chandos of that family. Her grace of Buckingham, is sole representative of Henry Grey, Duke of Suffolk, and of h:s wife, Frances, eldest daughter of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, and his wife, Mary, Queen dowager of France, sister of King Henry VIII. ; whose issue, by the will of that monarch, were named, under certain contingencies, in the succession to the crown of England. She is also one of the co-heirs .to the ancient barony of Bourchier. LINEAGE. The family of Grenville, Gricnville, Grenevyle, or Greenfield, as it has at different times been written, has been incontestibly seated at Wootton- under-Barnwood, in the county of Buckingham, from the reign of Henry I., where it maintained the higliest station amongst the neighbouring gentry (serving the office of high-sheriff, &c.) Richard Grenville, Esq. succeeded to the family estate of Wootton, at the decease of his father in 1618. He served the office of sheriff of Bucking- hamshire in 1636 and 1642, and represented that county in Parliament in 16.'j4, 1656, and 1658. He married first, Anne, daughter of Sir William Bor- lase, jun. of Marlow, in the county of Bucks, by whom he had a surviving son, Richard, and a daugl)ter. He espoused, secondly, Eleanor, daughte of Sir Timothy Tirrel, of Oakley, and widow o Sir Peter Temple, of Stanton Barry, Bucks, bn had no issue. Mr. Grenville died in 1665, and was succeeded by his son, Richard Grenville, Esq. of Wootton, who mar ried Eleanor, daughter of Sir Peter Temple, of Stanton Barry, and dying in 1719, was succeeded by his only son, Richard Grenville, Esq. of Wootton, M.P. for Andover, and afterwards for the town of Bucking- ham. This gentleman espoused Hester Temple, elder daughter of Sir Richard Temple, Bart., of Stow, in the county of Buckingham, who upon the decease of her brother, Richard, Viscount and Baron Cobham, 13th September, 1749, inherited these dignities as Viscountess and Baron Cobham, and was created Countess of Temple 18th October, 1749, with the dignity of Earl Temple to her heirs male. Her ladyship had isssue by Mr. Grenville, Richard, her successor. George, born in 1712, M.P. for the town of Buckingham. This gentleman was a dis- tinguished political character in the reigns of George II. and George III. In the former he was treasurer of the navy, and a member of the privy council. In the latter, he was secretary of state ; afterwards first lord of the admiralty ; and in 1763, chancellor of the exchequer. He married in 1749, Eliza- beth, sister of Charles, Earl of Egremont, and daughter of Sir William Wyndham, Bart., and had surviving issue, George, who succeeded his uncle as Earl Temple. Thomas, born 31st December, 1755, and succeeded his brother in 1779, in the representation of the county of Buck- ingham, and held subsequently some official employments. William Wyndham, born in 1759, created Lord Grenville. Charlotte, married to the late Sir Watkin Williams Wynne, hart. Elizabeth, married to the Earl of Carys- fort. Hester, married to Earl Fortescuc. Catherine, married to Richard, Lord Braybrook. James, a privy councillor, born in 1715, married in 1740, Mary, daughter of James Smyth, Esq. and dying in 1783, left issue, James, born in 1742; created Lord Glas- tonbury, died unmarried, in 1825, when the title expired. Richard, a general officer, died in 1823. Henry, Governor of Barbadoes, in 174(m; mar- ried Margaret, daughter of John H. Banks, Esq., and dying in 1784, left an only d 50 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. daughter, Louisa, married to Charles, late Earl Stanhope, and died in 1829. Thomas, Captain R. N., killed in an engage- ment at sea, 3d May, 1747. Hester, married to Right Hon. William Pitt, afterwards Earl of Chatham ; her ladyship was herself created Baroness Chatham. Mr. Grenville died 17th February, 1726-7, and the Countess Temple dying 6th October, 1752, was succeeded by his eldest son, Richard, first Earl Temple, K. G. This noble- man, who in 1757 was sworn of the privy council, and constituted lord privy seal, made a conspicu- ous figure as a statesman and leader of a party in the beginning of George III.'s reign, particularly during Wilkes's popularity. His lordship married, Anne, daughter and co-heiress of Thomas Cham- bers, Esq., of Hanworth, Middlesex; but leaving no issue, the title devolved, at his decease, 11th September, 1779, upon his nephew, George, second earl, who, on marrying, 16th Api'il, 1775, Mary- Elizabeth, only daughter and heiress of Robert, Earl Nugent, of the kingdom of Ireland, assvimed, by royal per-mission, the sur- names of Nugent and Temple, before that of Gren- ville, and obtained the privilege of signing " Nugent" before all titles whatsoever. His lord- ship was created 4th December, 1784, Marquess of Buckingham ; and, upon the demise of his father-in-law, succeeded to the Irish earldom of Nugent, in consequence of a limitation in the patent. The marquess had issue, Richard, present Duke of Buckingham. George, who inherited, at the decease of his mother, 16th March, 1813, the Irish barony of Nugent, conferred upon her ladyship, 29th December, 1800, with remainder to her second son. Mary, married in 1811, to Everard, Lord Arundel, of Wardour. The Marquess of Buckingham was twice appointed viceroy of Ireland, in 1782 and 1787. He died 11th February, 1813. THE ADMINISTRATION. (From the Times.) The actual completion of the (query, new ?) Ministry, which was announced last night to the House of Commons, does not suggest either surprise or observation, or interest of any deep or eager kind, seeing that the composition of it is precisely what had been expected and predicted in the jour- nals for two days past. The only announced ac- cession to the Cabinet is Lord Duncannon, a good man of business, as we have already stated, and a nobleman of great worth and honour ; but, as he had belonged to the Government before, though not as a member of the Cabinet, it cannot be said that his lordship adds any positive strength to the general mass of the administration. Sir John Hobhouse, who succeeds Lord Duncannon, is a scholar and a gentleman, a man of elegant taste, of various talent, and of liberal politics ; as such, the Right Hon. Baronet must be consider- ed an acquisition to every society of which he be- comes a part. We do not know that he has yet undergone any very arduous ordeal as a states- man, but his short administration of the AVar Of- fice, in which Mr. Edward EUice succeeded him, appears to have gained him the goodwill of those with whom he had intercourse. It cannot be denied ihat whatever metal the Ministry may be composed of, it was somewhat loudly and roughly .rung upon by certain noble lords in the course of yesterday evening. An in- timation having been given by Lord Melbourne, that the Irish Coercion Bill, as introduced by the present cabinet, was not to contain the clauses against seditious meetings, destruction broke upon the noble viscount and his colleagues from the op- position side of the house, as if the contents of the cave of .^Eolus being consigned to the keeping of '• Narcissus," the self-charmer had forgotten his trust, and let loose a whole hurricane upon the heads of the devoted Ministers. The noble lord, however, was met by a counterblast which was enough to frighten the ^Eolus himself, much more to blow away a Narcissus. " I now," said Lord Melbourne, " tell that noble earl, as I told him on a former occasion, that with him I wil[ not enter into a contest of insult and contumely. I could call, I might call, as hard names as that noble earl. I might impute to him base, and factious, and personal motives. I might im- pute to him that he was actuated by two passions, the strongest that human nature can he actuated by — mortified vanity and disappointed ambition." With regard to this Coercion Bill, let us endea- vour to state the real facts of the case. The deci- sion of the matter ought most assuredly to rest on facts exhibiting the state of Ireland ; and it would appear that on the facts contained in the mass of Parliamentary documents lately printed respecting Ireland — 1st, Lord Wellesley demanded the renew- al of the Coercion Bill minus the court-martial clauses — his Excelleny holding the pi-eedial distur- bances to be indissolubly connected with theinflam- matory meetings of O'Connell and his gang. 2nd, After some bandying about of secret correspon- dences and verbal communications, which had many of them too much of the character of intrigue attached to them, the Cabinet adopted the first impressions of Lord Wellesley, and carried the Coercion Bill, such as that noble Marquis had re- commended it, through the House of Lords. It is true, that on representations being made to Lord Wellesley of the state of parties here in England, and of embarrassments which might thence arise to the Ministry from the enforcement of the Lord- Lieutenant's full demand, that nobleman thought fit to wave the part objected to, and to express his willingness to carry on the Government as well as he could without it : but, not to dwell upon details, the result was, that the bill unaltered received the final approbation of the same Ministers, who now come forward with another bill, far different from that which they so recently approved ; and omit- ting, too, those very portions of it which the Lord Chancellor had declared to be no less essential than the others, which were directed against what is called in the jargon so properly denounced by Lord Melbourne, " praedial " disturbance. We like, however, the disposition to be liberal, and think that a good deal is to be said for the gene- rous confidence thus i-eposed by Ministers in Par- liament, and great credit due to Lord Melbourne for his manly resolution to summon Parliament, should it he necessary, at a day's notice, and for noother objectthan the passing a stronger Coercion Bill, although it may be dreaded that from a mere appetite for confusion, if nothing better, the agita- tors may take care to impose that serere and irksome alternative on the Government, and at the most inconvenient season. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 51 THE POOR LAW BILL. {From the Herald.) In our paper of Friday last we exposed the in- justice, absurdity, and immoral consequences Or- that portion of the Poor Law Amendment Bil which relates to the maintenance of illegitimate children. The evening organ of the " preventive check school" expressed its especial admiration of the monstrous provisions of the bill relating to this subject in terms worthy of that sound and en- lightened philosophy that would improve the morals of the nation by taking away all legal re- straints from the licentious passions of profligate men. The charity of Malthus and the ethics of Miss Martineau were mixed up togetlier in this precious compound of cruelty and folly, on which we did not intend to say more until the bill, which has absorbed all the energies of our Whig Mi- nisters, came into the House of Lords. As to the Reformed House of Commons it has discovered such a fund of wisdom and public virtue in Lord Althorp that in following him wherever he leads, forward or backward, in the straight line, the zig- zag or the serpentine, its patience is never tired, its confidence never exhausted. So it will be as long as this idol of lean and hungry patriots and suc- cessful breeder of fat oxen wears the robes of Chan- cellor of the Exchequer, whether he conducts the " march of Reform" in the back step of a minuet, or bounds along in all the gay celerity of an intel- lectual gallopade. It is not, therefore, to be ex- pected that the House of Commons should be- come ashamed of any of the legislative measures of Lord Althorp until he becomes ashamed of them himself. Luckily it has happened more than once that his lordship has been touched with a sense of shame before his flatterers ; but we must do them also the justice to say that their contrition follows very quick upon his penitent avowal of an act of folly. At least his patriotic admirers in the house usually hail his repentance with acclamations as loud as those with which they had applauded the sin. So it has been in reference to his change of opi- nion on the bastardy laws, or rather on the legisla- tion by which he proposed to reform them. His proposal to emancipate all male libertines from restraints upon their profligacy, in purse or person, was received by the reformed house with cheers. His still more monstrous proposal to transfer the obligations of maintaining an illegitimate child from the guilty father to the innocent and injured parents of the sednced girl, was received with no less general and marked approbation. There wanted but one step more to top the climax of this legislative iniquity, and that was to place the pa- rents of the seduced girl, on the treadmill, while the seducer went laughing away. The author of a pamphlet, entitled " The Case of Hlegitimates considered in reference to the abo- lition of the Poor Laws," addresses the two learned prelates, upon whose recommendation, along with that of other commissioners, the bill has been drawn, in the following terms : — " If your lord- ships, having had ample time, had weighed and reflected upon the evidence, opinious, statements, and inferences before you had signed the report, you would have hesitated to assign to the female sex alone all the perjuries and licentiousness stated to have been perpetrated in these cases — but, n'importe, my lords, the female sex has, I fear, but few defenders in such cases. The destruction of their virtue and peace is an affair of gallantry. The question touches, even, perhaps, some honourable members of the house, and the idea of being free from such legal restraints or obligations is hailed with 'hear, hear,' and acclamations within the house, and descends even to the lowest of unprin- cipled debauchees out of it, who will revel in the thought that the parish will have to pay the price of their infamous practices, perjuries, deceptions, and seductions." Yet, notwithstanding the acclamations of the re- formed House of Commons in favour of the two monstrous provisions of the bill which we have de- scribed, the parents of the seduced daugher are not to be compelled to pav for the maintenance of the seducer's child — nor is that honour and happiness to be transferred to the parish by the way of reliev- ing it from the pressure of the poor rates. And why has the excellence of this Malthusian measure been broken in upon ? Why has that which met the zealous — we might almost say the enthusiastic support of our Grotes and our Haweses, our Peels and Peases, been discarded from the bill ? Simply because Lord Althorp has not, with all his inclina- tion to gratify his instructors under the gallery, suf- ficient of that bad courage which might enable him to brave public opinion any longer. He got ashamed of the clause which transferred the obligation of maintenance from the father of the child to the pa- rents of the betrayed girl, and withdrew it. He has since become ashamed of the principle which left no alternative but that the child should starve or be supported at the expense of the parish, in the event of the mother not being able to support it. A clause proposed by Mr. Miles on Saturday, as our readers are aware, demolishes the Malthusian principle of complete impunity to the guilty father. That clause recognises the right of the parish at least to extract from his pockets the means of maintaining the offspring of his profligacy, or if he cannot or will not pay in purse, it makes him pay in person by imprisonment and the treadmill. This is indeed a great alteration in the bill as affecting the case of illegitimate children. The Globe, which had an intense admiration of the bastardy clauses of the bill, as thay origmally stood, almost breaks through its accustomed servility to Lord Althorp in relating this last instance of his lament- able apostacy from the perfection of the Mal- thusian code into something like Christian and moral legislation. It ventures to whine forth its gentle disapprobation of the noble lord's fickle- nass of faith in the following terms : — " Lord Al- thorp consented to the introduction of Mr. Miles's clause (he must best know whether he was justified in doing so), notwithstanding his expressed opinion that its operation would be injurious. Certainly the Chancellor of the Exchequer did sturdily maintain, until a few days ago, that the change to be operated in society by the oringinal clauses in his bill relative to illegitimate children constituted one of its greatest merits." The mortification of the Globe at his thus "turning his back upon him- self," and the philosophy which he had embraced, d 2 52 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. is, no doubt, very great — for great indeed must be the irritating cause that could provoke the gentle spirit of our Contempoary to perform the intem- perate act of imputing blame to a minister of State even in a parenthesis. When we wrote upon this subject on Friday, after giving a view, rather under-coloured than overcharged, of the bastardy clauses of the bill, as they originally stood, we said — "The existing laws have been sometimes abused, by the overseer giving to the mother the money which the law orders to be paid by the father to indemnify the ■parish. Sometimes the mother is paid enough to enable her to make a profit of the consequences of criminality. The proper remedy was to compel tlie money for the support of the child to be paid by the father to and for the parish, who should allow the mother just enough for the child's sub- sistence and no more." Mr. Miles's clause is upon the principle which we recommended, as far as it goes ; but it does not go far enough. We wait to see what the lords will do to bring this bill nearer to die principles of the constitution which it has violated, and of Christian morality, which it offends, and which, but for the Public Press, it would liave still more grossly outraged. It will be curious to see by and by what resemblance there is between the bill brought in by Lord Althorp and that which tlie Legislature passes, if ever it does pass the bill in any amended form, which we de- voutly hope it will not, unless it takes away all unconstitutional powers from that anomalous body called the Central Board, and gives to the rate- payers the control and management of their own funds. The patronage of the Ministers of the Crown is already far too great to be beneficial to the country. CRIMINAL LAW. (From the Chronicle.) In moving last night for a copy of the first Re- port of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the Criminal Law of this country, with a view to form a digest of it, the Lord Chancellor stated that tlie Report would be found to con- tain not only the discussions upon this subject, conducted by men of the highest practical know- ledge, but also that without which these discus- sions would be of no avail — namely, a specimen of a digest ; and it would be found that the Com- missioners had given a most elaborate and mas- terly specimen of a digest of that extensive part of the criminal laws of the country, both written and unwritten, which related to the offence of theft. The Report, when laid on the table of their Lordships, is to remain over for some time, in or- der to allow of a thorough discussion of it by the lawyers during" the recess. It was, he might fairly say, the most masterly digest that ever the labours of lawyers had produced, and it would be decisive of the question of a code one way or the other. Lord Wynford said he would employ the inter- val of leisure afforded by the recess thoroughly to examine tlie Report, and see whether the expe- riment of a code could be made with safety. He should be glad, he added, to see it made, though he was not mucli in favour of reducing the law to the state in which it was in France, whei'e the shortness of it almost put absolute power into the hands of the Judges. Lord Wynford here touched on a point of some nicety. A law may be very circumstantial and yet very defective, as is proved by almost all English Acts of Parliament. On the other hand, there can be no cjuestion that laws like the French code are so general, that every single provision opens a door to interminable controversies. And here, we think, the Lord Chancellor's praise of the Scotcli Acts of Parliament, on a recent occasion, on account of their brevity, was calculated to mis- lead his hearers. The Scotch acts aie liable to the accusation brought by Lord NVynford against the French code: they almost put absolute power into the hands of the Judges ; and we believe we shall not be contradicted when we affirm that there is not one of those short Acts of Parliament which has not given rise to long suits before its applica- tion could be determined. The French have one great superiority over us — the language of their laws is freed from verbiage and tautology — the style is clear and natural ; while an English Act of Parliament must be cur- tailed of its endless tautologies, and translated into common language to make it intelUgible. We .should like to see the figure the Ten Command- ments would cut expressed in the language of an English statute. " Thou shalt not steal," though sufficient as a mandate, is not of course sufficient for a penal law, as value, and the circumstances under which the theft takes place, determine the character of the offence, and the amount of punish- ment. Laws are, in all countries, made by ricli men, who naturally look to their own protection rather than the guilt of the offender. To steal from a poor man a shilling, may entail more suf- fering on him than the stealing of a thousand pounds might occasion to a rich man ; and the moral culpability may be actually greater in the former case than in the latter : but men with many shillings in their pockets naturally view the object with reference to themselves exclusively, and be- cause diey value a shilling little, they make their own feelings the standard for measuring the guilt of the thief, and determining his punishment. But when we have once ascertained that value, as well as the circumstances under which the theft takes place, to determine the punishment, we may surely frame a law upon some principle of classification, instead of attempting to enumerate every particu- lar, consequently omitting many, as is the prac- tice in England. We do not see why the law of England is unsusceptible of the benefit of philo- sophical arrangement any more than any other science. The French code cannot lay claim to any thing like philosophical arrangement, and is open to the objections taken to it by Lord Wynford. In dis- cussing tlie question, the French experiments ought to go for nothing, or next to nothing ; they prove merely that the French lawyers who framed these codes had no idea of the benefit which law might derive from philosophy. THE CHURCH. ( From the Courier. ~) There is just now, as might be expected, no in- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 53 considerable discussion going on in the public press, as to the property of the Church. If we might advise those who enjoy that property, we would recommend them not to encourage this discussion, because we apprehend tliat it will not tura out to their advantage. For example, an ad- vocate of the Irish Church, in the I\Iorniiig Post, has a long article on the subject this day, in which such words as " grant," " confer," " bestow," in relation to the property of the Church, occur not less than twenty times. But what was bestowed, granted, or conferred ? Let the Post ask the Ca- tholic peasant, who objects to giving tithes of milk, pigs, potatoes, and hay to the Protestant Clergy- man. If the Post looks to facts and not words, it will see that was gran ted, bestowed, or conferred — and granted at the time with the full consent of the then living people — was the right of receiving from them a certain share of the annual produce of the lands they occupied, and that what is now granted or bestowed, is a similar right, which the people of this day resist. We presume it must belong to the power which granted or bestowed, with the ap- probation of the community, to reconsider the propriety of the grant when the community will willingly consent to it no longer. If it be con- ceded that the property of the Church was at any time granted, and that then the grant had the cor- dial assent of the people, while it now has their cor- dial opposition, that great difference in the circum- stances makes it the duty of his Majesty's present Government to take a totally different view of the grant from that which was taken by the Govern- ment of a former period. It may, as the circum- stances are imperative, resume the grant, or it may, we think very properly, refuse to engage in hos- tihty widi the great mass of the Irish community, who are its subjects, and whose property it is boimd to protect, in order now to enforce on them obedience to claims which their ancestors willingly conceded, but which they resist. But the important matter for consideration, which constitutes the great difference between Church property and all other property, lies in the word '■^ grant." Whoever heard of the state or any per- sons bestowing on, or granting to, bankers, mer- chants, manufacturers, or farmers, the property they possess and enjoy ? They would laugh at the Post, or the Duke of Wellington, or the Arch- bishop of Canterbury, or Sir Robert Peel, to scorn, who sliould tell them tliat they derived their property from tlie gift of any man. In all cases, too, where the land has been at any time pur- chased, or mortgaged and redeemed, and that is now probably the case with nineteen-twentieths of the soil of the whole empire, the owners must mock at any assertion tliat their right is derived from any grant or gift whatever. We know that some law books and law fictions speak of tlie land as all held from the Sovereign, but that is a mere fiction wiiicii can lead no rational I eing astray. No man, except in a few cases where the King may have bestowed from his personal possessions gifts on his favourites, holds his lands by grant from the Sove- reign. He has purchased, or acquired, or inherited it. ^^'e have no faint recollection of a somewhat celebrated passage which may set this matter in a clear light. When the title of the Scotch Barons was questioned by their Sovereign, what was the reply — " By these swords we won our lands, and with these swords we will maintain them." They scorned then, and their descendants may scorn, with equal pride, now, tlie nonsensical legal fiction that they hold their estates by gift or grant from any man. Between the property of the Church, then, and all other property, there is this wide dis- tinction. That was and is at all times granted by some other men ; this never was and never is grant- ed by any other men. What is the plain result ? The revenues of the Church are, in Ireland at least, not voluntarily paid ; the revenues of the landowner, of the mer- chant, of the banker, of the farmer, of the labourer, are, in all cases, the result of buying and selling, or the fulfilment of a voluntary contract, as in the case of agreeing to pay rent, and are therefore in all cases voluntarily paid. Now when the State must continually interfere to levy and enforce the pay- ment of the revenues granted to the Church, while it is only required to interfere with other property when contracts voluntarily entered into are not ful- filled, it seems to us clear that the State may with- hold its interference in the case of Church pro- perty, or direct it in a different manner, without subjecting other property to the smallest danger. If the Church require the interference of the State, it must pay the price of submission to tlie State for that interference. The State has to decide how far it will interfere, and if, as in the case of the Protestant Church of Ireland, that Church would not have a penny unless the Government were to enforce its claims upon those who never consented to them, it seems to us that die State may object to enforce those claims, or decide to what extent and in what manner it will enforce them. In other words, if the property of the Church be, as the Post says, a grant, the grantor may, when he thinks proper, revise the conditions of the grant. We may further say, that the Sovereign, in the legal sense, is the whole nation; that the Slate is no- thing diflerent from the whole nation ; and it therefore, becomes a grave question, whether tlie majority of that nation shall compel the minority to make payments to which they reasonably object for tlie sake of the Protestant Clergy of Ireland, when enforcing those payments has for years past been a source of contention and bloodshed, and will be for years to come if the State should persist in enforcing them. THE POOR LAW BILL. {From the Herald.) The great measure of relief to the agriculturists, and the " boon to the female population," as Lord AUliorp described the Malthusian Poor Law Bill, has passed through the Committee of the House of Commons, and is to be read a third time to-morrow, when of course it must take precedence of all other business, it being the only measure of " reform" about which our Whig ministers seem to be in earnest, as it is also the only one which has not had even a solitary petition presented in its favour. It has the recommendable quality, ho. vever, which our Whig ministers know how to appreciate, of swel- ling the already overgrown patronage of the crown, and multiplying the ministerial loaves and fishes, 54 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. for which the teelh of hungry dependents water. As to the people, they may well say, " If such be the fruits of the tree of reform it was not worth the planting." What, indeed, can the people think of the understanding or integrity of their rulers and their representatives, when they hear both the re- form ministers and the reformed parliament declare the exalted pauperism of the pension list to be in- violable, and enact almost in the same breath that the poverty of the lower classes shall be treated as a crime ? We observe that among"' the obsequious majority of Lord Althorp in the House of Commons there has been found one zealous supporter of his Poor Law Bill, who has ventured to try the experiment of intimidating the press for describing this bill as it ought to be described, in a country where moral principle, humanity, and Christian feeling are not altogether extinct. Thishon. person declared the other night that if he ^^ ere not a young member of the house, he would have moved that the printer and publisher of a morning paper should be called to the bar of the house to answer for an article which had appeared in that day's paper, relative to this bill — this arbitrary — this unconstitutional bill — this precious specimen of heartless and immoral legislation — relieving profligate men from the con- sequences, in person and pui se, of their licentious practices against female chastity — throwing on the female victims of perjured vows and violated pro- mises all the penalties of the crime of the sordid seducer — and investing an irresponsible divan of central bashaws with the repugnant powers of law-makers for all the parishes of England, and administators of their own laws — giving those ba- shaws also a vast control over the application of the money of the rate-payers, and thus uniting le- gislative, executive, and fiscal powers in the same hands, in a way never heard of before in a country understanding any thing of constitutional liberty, and the principles which constitute its strength and protection. We can tell the honourable member that his threat shall not have the effect of intimidating our- selves from discharging our duty to the public in this matter. We have exposed the viscious cha- racter of this bill, and predicted its evil conse- quences as strongly as any of our contemporaries. If we have applied to it strong epithets, we have also given our reasons. If our arguments can be answered — well ; if not, threats against the press, thrown out in the reformed House of Commons, will not answer them. We shall still, in spite of all such " hostile demonstrations," whether from young or old members, call " a spade a spade." We care not who it is that desires to throw around unconstitutional, immoral, and unchristian doc- trines, the fence of parliamentaiy privilege. We shall still describe this bill as one of the most mis- chievous pieces of quackery that was ever attempt- ed to be imposed upon an enlightened country imder the name of improvement. We wait to see what the House of Lords will do with this bill, as it is quite certain the House of Commons have resolved to pass, by a sweeping majority, this " boon to the female population." Yes, this is the measure of relief proposed by Lord Althorp amid the acclamations of that re- formed House of Commons that, under the influ- ence of the same leader, refused to address the crown for a revision of the pension list ; refused to abolish the Whig Septennial Act, by which the people were robbed of their greatest constitutional check upon the corruption of parliament; refused to deliver the light of heaven from the grasp of taxation in this nearly the twentieth year of peace ; refused to abolish military torture and the white- slavery of the factories, against the former of which disgraces upon a civilised age and country Lord Althorp himself had voted before he and Sir J. Hobhouse discovered the value of the British knout to the discipline of tlie army ; refused to abolish the malt-tax, to give a real relief to the farmer, and to the labourer the means of procuring a cheap and nutritious beverage without the inter- vention of the impoverishing and demoralizing Beer Bill. Need we go on ? The acts of the re- formed House of Commons, are they not written in the violation of solemn promises, the desertion of great principles, the majorities of the no-princi- ple administration, and the disappointment of the people of England ? The " young member," who talked of the ne- cessity of suspending the terrors of privilege of parliament, like the sword of Damocles, over the neck of the freedom of the press, stated in the same breath that all that had been written against the Malthusian Bill had produced no effect, and the people of England had too much good sense to be led away by declamation. Why then pro- pose to persecute this declamation if it were so innocent and harmless ? Men are not apt to be alarmed at that which they despise. When we attacked Sir Robert Peel's Forgery Bill in as strong terms as we have attacked the Central Ba- shaw Bill, that Tory statesman did not threaten to clap the extinguisher of parliamentary privilege upon the liberty of the press. But the Whigs have ever distinguished themselves by being when out of office the greatest flatterers of the press, and when in power its worst persecutors. To all who wish to see the leading provisions of Lord Althorp's Poor Law Bill ably handled, and its vicious principles and practical consequences clearly and forcibly exposed, we recommend the perusal of the speech delivered by Mr. Walter,the member for Berkshire, on Friday night. TITHES.— IRELAND. {From the Courier) The subject of tithes iu Ireland, fruitful as it has been in complexity and confusion, seems to be growing more and more complex and confused. Mr. Littleton, in moving last night that the house should go into a committee on the Irish Tithe Bill, proposed another considerable alteration in that previously altered bill. We must at once say, without reference to the merits of those alterations, that thus to propose changes or new laws day after day, is not calculated to enhance either the law or Mr. Littleton in public estimation. Whatever maybe thought by the members of the House of Commons, who perhaps lose their respect for legis- lation from the familiarity which they have with its details, the public at large have as yet a sort of so- lemn feeling in regard to the law — looking upon THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 65 it as intended to be a guide at all times, and not cut out for an occasion, or like the patterns of a lady's flounce, which are old and unfashionable at the end of a month ; and diis solemn feeling will assuredly no more be promoted by continual pro- posals to change the law than by actually changing it, Mr. Littleton, by the last alterations he pro- posed in the Irish Tithe Bill, left the Irish land- lords subjected to land tax in lieu of tithes, without the means of redeeming it. He now proposes, as he finds the Irish landlords object to this, quite a new method of allowing them to convert the tithes into a rent charge, and provides them with a means of redeeming it. He proposes that any landlord who will voluntarily subject his estate to a rent charge, before November, 1836, shall then be re- lieved from the land tax, which is to be converted into a rent charge, and to induce the landowners to do this, he offers them, as it is explained by the Chronicle, the following bonus : — " The number of years' purchase of the yearly rental at which the land in each county of Ireland would sell, is to be ascertained. Four-fifths of that number is to be taken as the proper rate of redemp- tion for the tithe ; but, instead of the redemption money beings raised, it is to remain as a rent charge upon the land, yielding an interest of (not to exceed) three and a half per cent. As the deduction to he made from the payments to the tithe owners in lieu of tithes is in no case to exceed 20 per cent, and the bonus afforded to the landlords will vary from 20 to 40 per cent., the fund applicable to the payment of the tithe owners must necessarily be defective by the amount of the difference. That difference it is pro- posed to make good out of the Perpetuity Purchase Fund, arising out of the Church Temporalities Act of last year." As it might be expected, this change, because it was new, met with opposition. Mr. O'Cbnnell and Mr. Stanley united against it, and at their re- presentation the committee on the bill was post- poned till Friday. We may readily be excused from entering into a consideration of this plan if those who heard Mr. Littleton's explanations were in doubt as to his meaning, and therefore requested postponement. We can readily believe, however, that the landlords in Ireland, who, in all the changes yet proposed seem to have gone on steadily obtaining advan- tages, under the idea of making them the willing agents in levying the tithes, should be likely to oppose and delay the measure, in the expectation of getting further advantages, and even of getting rid of the tithes altogether. Nor can we wonder at this. It has been stated, and admitted by the friends of the system, tliat the tithes cannot be le- vied at present. No government will, we believe, think itself justified in levying them at the expense of the money alone, putting aside the expense of life, which would now be necessary to enforce the payment. It is not surprising, therefore, that the landlords, seeing this, should delay the settlement of a question, when, in tlie chapter of accidents, the chances are, that they may settle it to their own perfect satisfaction. Mr. Littleton now proposes to give them, as we understand, a bonus of from 20 to 25 per cent on the tithes, and that sum is to be made good out of the property arising from the conversion of bishop's leases into perpetuities. That fund, if it belong to the state at all, belongs to the whole state, and the proposed bonus, there- fore, will come as much out of the pockets of the public at large as if it were taken from the Conso- lidated Fund. Now, when it is admitted that the tithes, as such, cannot be equally and generally levied in Ireland, it seems to us idle to talk of vin- dicating the tithe law in Ireland. In that admis- sion the vindication is given up. When it is also proposed to give 20 or 25 per cent of the value of the tithes to the landlord, it is equally idle to talk of preserving the tithe property for the disposal of the state. In substance and in fact the tithes of Ireland are nearly at an end. To keep up the name and the apparatus for levying them, is, there- fore, to keep up irritation and inconvenience, and provoke mischief without either vindicating the law or securing that revenue. It seems to us, therefore, that it would be far better at once for the nation to provide for the Irish clergy out of the general taxes of the nation, and give up a system which it is found impossible to amend. The revenue of the Irish clergy was esti- mated, we think, by Lord Althorp at about 750,000/. a-year, and if double that sum would purchase peace in Ireland, and give security to life and property, it would be cheaply bestowed. The Reformed Parliament must not ruin the country by a chace after the will-o'whisps which fixed the unreformed Parliament inextricably in a bog. THE POOR LAW BILL. (From The Times.J The Poor Laws' Amendment Bill, than which a more dangerous, a more mischievous, or a more unconstitutional measure was never penned, stands for a third reading to night in the House of Com- mons. That it will be hardly fought at the last stage we hope and believe, but that success will wait upon those who deserve to succeed in the contest we do not anticipate. Still, however, there should be no flinching on the part of the oppo- nents of the measure ; above all things, no false shame to prevent them walking out in small mino- rities, for at no very distant period it will be sub- ject of pride and satisfaction to every man who has recorded his name in abhorrence of such a bill. One hope, and one hope only, remains. The supporters of the measure justify themselves in voting for it, because no substitute is offered them. We have thought of this matter, and knowing that the substitute must be one that will not shock the prejudices of the people (as of course the Poor Law Bill, in its bastardy clauses especially, does not), — ^knowing, moreover, that to obtain Lord Althorp's sanction it must, like the Poor Law Bill, be something perfectly strange and novel, and at once " a boon to the female population," and a " popular measure,'' — we do not apologize for coming so late into the field, with a plan so perfect as that which we now produce, and which contains all these most desirable recommendations. It is not, however, our own. We borrow it from Dean Swift, and we offer it respectfully to the con- sideration of the House, ,who, we have no doubt, will refer it to their sage guides and mentors, the 56 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE Poor Law Commissioners, for the purpose of adapting it to the present condition of the times, and rendering it a more " innocent palliative" of the evils of pauperism than any portion of the Poor Law Amendment Bill is, or can be made. The document from which we take our plan is entitled " A modest proposal for preventing the children of poor people in Iretand being u burden to their parents or country, and for making them beneficial to the public^ Now that the two coun- tries are united, we suppose that there can be no objection to entertain this scheme, on the ground that it was originally intended for the exclusive benefit of the sister kingdom. The Dean reckons that in Ireland there were born annually of poor parents 120,000 children ; and upon this calcula- tion his plan proceeds. It is obvious, however, that it will hold good as to any number, and we mention the Dean's data only for the sake of mak- ing the development of his plan more clear. The Dean then goes on thus : — " I have been assured by a verv knowing Ameri- can of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy child, well nursed, is at a year old a most de- licious, nourishing, and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled ; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricasee or a ragout." Of course we cannot vouch for this fact, as we never had the curiosity to taste a child, either dressed or undressed ; but if Lord Althorp doubt what the Dean says, it will give an excellent op- portunity to Ministers to appoint another commis- sion to inquire into and to report thereon to the House. " I do, therefore, humbly offer it to public consi- deration, that of the 120,000 children already com- puted, 20,000 may be reserved for breed, whereof only one-fourth part to be males ; which is more than we allow to sheep, black cattle, or swine ; and my reason is, that these children are seldom the fridts of marriage — a circumstance not much regard- ed by our savages ; therefore, one male will be suf- ficient to serve four females. I'hat the remaining 100,000 may, at a year old, be offered in sale to the persons of quality and fortune through the kingdom ; always advising the mother to let them suck plenti- fully in the last month, so as to render them plump and fat for a good table. A child will make two dishes at an entertainment for friends ; and, when the family dines alone, the fore or hind quarter will make a reasonable dish, and, seasoned with a little pepper or salt, will be very good boiled on the fourth day, especiallv in winter. " I have reckoned upon a medium, that a child just born will weigh 121b., and in a solar year, if tolerably nursed, will increase to 281b. " I grant this food will be somewhat dear, and therefore very proper for landlords, who, as they have already devoured most of the parents, seem to have the best title to the children. * • * * " I have already computed the charge of nursing a beggar's child (in which list I reckon all cottagers, labourers, and four-fifths of th" farmers) to be about 2s per annum, rags included ; and I believe no gen- tleman would repine 'to give 10s for the carcass of a good fat child, which, as I have said, will make four dishes of excellent nutritive meat, when he hath only some particular friend or his own family to dine with him. Thus the squire will learn to be a good land- lord, and grow popular among his tenants ; the mo- ther will have 8a neat profit, and be fit for work till she produces another child. " Those who are more thrifty (as I must confess the times require) may flay the carcass, the skin of which, artificially dressed, will make admirable gloves for ladies, and summer boots for fine gentle- men. " As to our city of Dublin, shambles may be ap- pointed for this purpose in the most convenient parts of it, and butchers we may be assured will not be wanting ; although I rather recommend buying the children alive, and dressing them hot from the knife, as we do roasting pigs." Tire new market at Islington will be serviceable in this matter for the metropolis, and the Central Board may be empowered to join country parishes together, for the purpose of giving them a " com- mon abattoir," instead of a " common work- house." " A very worthy person, a true lover of his coun- try, and whose virtues 1 highly esteemed, was lately pleased in discoursing on this matter to offer a re- finement upon my scheme. He said, that many gen- tlemen of this kingdom having of late destroyed their deer, he conceived that the want of venison might be well supplied by the bodies of young lads and maidens, not exceeding 14 years of age, nor under 12, so great a number of both sexes in every county being now ready to starve for want of work and ser- vice : and these to be disposed of by their parents, if alive, or otherwise by their nearest relations. But with due deference to so excellent a friend and so deserving a patriot, I cannot be altogether in his sentiments ; for, as to the males, my American ac- quaintance assured me, from frequent experience, that their flesh was generally tough and lean, like that of our school-boys, by continual exercise, and their taste disagreeable, and to fatten them would not answer the charge. Then as to the females, it would, I think, with humble submission, be a loss to the public, because they soon would become breeders themselves ; and besides, it is not improbable that some scrupulous people might be apt to censure such a practice (although indeed very unjustly) as a little bordering upon cruelty ; which I confess hath al- ways been with me the strongest objection against any project, how wellsoever intended. * * * * " Some persons of a desponding spirit are in great concern about that vast number of poor people who are aged, diseased, or maimed ; and I have been de- sired to emplov my thoughts what course may be taken to ease the nation of so grievous an incum- brance. But I am not in the least pain upon that matter, because it is very well known that they are every day dying, and rotting, by cold and famine, and filth and vermin, as fast as can be reasonably ex- pected. And, as to the young labourers, they are now in almost as hojjeful a condition : they cannot get work, and consequently pine away for want of nourishment, to a degree that, if at any time they are accidentally hired to common labour, they have not strength to perform it ; and thus the country and themselves are happily delivered from the evils to come. " I have too long digressed, and therefore shall return to my subject. I think the advantages by the proposal which I have made are obvious and many^, as well of the highest importance. * # * # " The poorer tenants will have something valuable of their own, which by law may be made liable to a distress, and help to pay their landlord's rent, their THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 57 corn and cattle being already seized, and money a thing- unknown. " Whereas, the maintenance of 100,000 children, from ti years old and upwards, cannot be computed at less tlian 10s a-piece per annum, the nation's stock will be thereby increased 50,000^. per annum, be- sides the profit of a new dish introduced to the tables of all gentleman of fortune in the kingdom, who have any refinement in taste ; and the money will circulate among ourselves, the goods being ea- tirely of our own growth and manufacture. " The constant breeders, besides the gain of 8s. sterling per annum by the sale of their children, will be rid of the charge of maintaining them after the first year. " This food would likewise bring great custom to taverns ; where the vintners will certainly be so prudent as to procure the best receipts for dressing- it to perfection, and consequently have their house frequented by -all the fine gentlemen, who justly value themselves upon their knowledge in good eat- ing: and a skilful cook, who understands how to ob- lige his guests, will contrive to make it as expensive as they please. " This would be a great inducement to marri-age, which all wise nations have either encouraged by rewards or enforced by laws and penalties. It would increase the care and tenderness of mothers towards then- children, when tliey were sure of a settlement for life to the poor babes, provided in some sort by the public, to their annual profit instead of expense. We should soon see an honest emulation among the married women which of them could bring the fattest child to the market. Men would become as fond of their wives during the time of their pregnane}-, as thev are now of their mares in foal, their cows in calf, or sows when they are ready to farrow ; nor offer to beat or kick them (as is too frequent a prac- tice) , for fear of a miscarriage. " Many other -advantages might be enumerated. For instance of some thousand carc-asses in our ex- portation of barrelled beef; the propagation of swine's flesh, and improvement in the art of making good bacon, so much wanted among us by the great des- truction of pigs, too frequent at our tables ; which are no way comparable in taste or magnificence to a woll-grown, fat, yearling child, which roasted whole will make a considerable figure at a Lord Mayor's feast, or -any other public entertainment. But this, and many others, I omit, being studious of brevity. *■ * » * " I can think of no one objection that will possibly be raised against this proposal, unless it should be urged that the number of people will be thereby much lessened in the kingdom, Tliis I freely own, and it was indeed one principal design in offering it to tlie world. " After all, I am not so violently bent upon my own opinion as to reject any offer proposed by wise men, which shall be found e(|ually innocent, cheap, easy, and effectual. But before something of that kind shall be advanced in contradiction to my scheme, and offering a better, jl desire the author or authors will be pleased maturely to consider two points. 1st, As things now stand, how they will be able to find food and raiment for 100,000 useless moutlis and backs. And, 2dly, there being a round million of creatures in human figure throughout this kingdom, whose whole subsistence put into a com- mon stock would leave them in debt 2,000,000/. ster- ling, adding those who are beggars by profession to the bulk of farmers, cottagers, and labourers, with their wives and children, who are beggars in efl'ect; I desire those politicians who dislike my overture, and may perhaps be so bold as to attempt an answer, that they will first ask the parents of these mortals, whether they would not -at this day tliink it a great happiness to have been sold for food at a ye-ar old, in the manner 1 describe, and thereby have avoided such a j)erpetu-al scene of misfortunes as they have since gone through, by the oppression of landlords, the impossibility of paying rent without money or trade, the w;int of common sustenance, with neither a house nor clothes to cover them from the inclemen- cies of the weather, and the mostjinevitable prospect of entailing the like, or gre-ater miseries, upon their breed for ever. " I profess, in the sincerity of my heart, that I have not the least personal interest in endeavouring to promote this necessary work, having no other mo- tive than the public good of my countrj^, by advanc- ing our trade, providing for infants, relieving the poor, and giving some pleasure to the rich. I have no children by which I can propose to get a single penny ; the youngest being nine years old, and my wife past child-bearing." EARL GREY. (From the Chronicle.) The final retirement of Lord Grey from public life, or rather from the public service of his country, is an event too momentous not to com- mand intense national interest. The personal cha- racter of such a Statesman — associated -with poli- tical circumstances of deep importance to the pre- sent and future interests of Great Britain and the whole world — impose a moral obligation on the Journalist, as well as the future historian, which ought not to be disregarded. The Minister who swayed the political destinies of this great Empire during the last four eventful years is entitled to the grateful regard of his countrymen. We should be insensible to the best feelings of our nature (and it is the peculiar duty of T/ie Morning Chronicle, the original and constant advocate of the Whig Oppo- sition, in perilous times), if we did not publicly record, on such an occasion, the debt of gratitude due by our generation to a long life of patriotism, and the uniform devotion of great intellectual superiority to the cause of civil and religious li- berty. We disdain, at this particular moment, to weigh the character of Lord Grey with grains and scru- ples. The broad lines of his political life will alone be regarded by posterity in estimating his public reputation. The evanescent shadows of party distinction — the variations of private opinion — the errors of a public career of half a century — occupy only the regard of narrow and ordinary minds. We now desire to value Lord Grey as an honour to his times — as a splendid example of po- litical integrity — as a Statesman who has conferred great benefits on his country — who in life has gained the attachment of a great nation, and whose inte- grity and honour in private and public will in death secure the respect of future ages. Lord Grey has now been connected with the public affairs of this country nearly fifty years. Ilis reputation is not to be alone estimated by his policy as Premier during the last four years, although he has been the chief agent of the most unparalleled Constitutional Revolution which history records. 58 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Lord Grey was born in 1764, and educated at Cambridge. In 1786 he was returned to Parlia- ment for his native county of Northumberland. Mr. Pitt was in the zenith of his power, obtained by the sacrifice of early principles on the altar of ambition and apostacy. Liberal opinions were then the drawback of a young aspirant to political station. But Lord Grey honourably attached him- self to the principles and party of Mr. Fox. The terrific evils of the French Revolution did not tempt him from his worship of liberty, or scare him from his confidence in the cause of freedom. He stood the test of that severe and memorable trial, and was distinguished in the small but chosen band of patriotic Whigs. He joined Mr. Fox in the powerful advocacy of Parliamentary Refoim, and was a member of the celebrated association of the " Friends of the People." We believe that he is the only surviving Peer of Parliament belong- ing to that patriotic society, with the exception of the apostate citizen Lauderdale ; and that in the present House of Commons his only living asso- ciates are Mr. George Byng, Mr. Robert B. Clive, Mr. M. A. Taylor, and Mr. Joseph Denison. In the spring of 1792 Mr. Grey was selected by the " Friends of the People'' to introduce a motion in the Commons for a Reform of the Representation, by public resolutions signed (on the unanimous order of a public meeting) by Mr. Lambton, the father of Lord Durham. On the presentation of the petition and Reform scheme of the Society, Mr. Grey, on the 6th of May, 1793, moved " for the appointment of a committee to take the petition into consideration, and report such mode of reme- dy as should appear to them proper." He was ably and eloquently seconded by Mr. Erskine, and after two days' debate the motion was lost by a majority of 241, forty-one members only supporting it against the overwhelming number of 282. The principles of Lord Grey at this period may be dis- tinctly stated from the following conclusion of the petition on which the motion was founded : — " That your honourable house will be pleased to take such measures, as to your wisdom may seem meet, to remove the evils arising from the unequal manner in which the ilifFerent parts of the kingdom are admitted to participate in the representation. " To correct the partial distribution of the elective franchise, which commits the choice of representa- tives to select bodies of men of such limited num- bers as renders them an easy prey to the artful, or a ready purchase to the wealthy. " To regulate the right of voting upon a uniform and equitable principle. " And finally to shorten the duration of Parlia- ments ; and, by removing the causes of that confu- sion, litigation, and expense, with which they are at this day conducted, to render frequent and new elections, what our ancestors at the Revolution as- serted them to be, the means of a happy union and good agreement between the King and the People." On the 26th May, 1797, he again moved for " leave to bring in a bill to to reform the represent- ation of the People in the House of Commons." On the division there appeared — ayes 93, noes 258 ; majority 165. The Parliamentary Register (1797, vol. ii., 577 — 637) thus records the substance of his plan — Mr. Grey proposed that, " Instead of ninety-two county members, as at present, there should be 113 ; instead of two for the county of York, for instance, two for each riding, and so in other counties, where the representation is not proportionate to the extent of soil and population ; that each county or riding should be divided into grand divisions, each of which should return one representative, and that the right of election should be extended to copyholders, and to leaseholders for a certain number of years. That the other members should be returned by household- ers ; that greattowns should require a greater number of electors to one representative ; that the country should be divided into districts, and no person per- mitted to vote for more than one member ; that the poll should be taken through the whole kingdom in one day ; and that the duration of parliament should be limited to three years." In 1803, April 25th, he again moved "that it be an instruction to the Committee to consider of his Majesty's most gracious message respecting the Union of Great Britain and Ireland, to take into their consideration the most effectual means of pro- viding for and securing the independence of Par- liament." This motion was rejected, on a division of 34 to 176. His comprehensive and liberal views at this time may be collected from the fol- lowing extract from his speech : — " Although I do not agree that it is necessary for those who disapprove of any specific plan, to propose a substitute, I am ready to state what I consider cal- ctilated to remove some part of the inconveniences which we apprehend. I would suggest that forty of the most decayed boroughs should be struck off, which would leave a vacancy of eighty members. I should then propose that the ratio, on which Ireland is to have 100 representatives, should be preserved : and the proportion to the remainder 478 would give us 85 members for that country. The county elec- tions would give 69 members, and 16 remain to be chosen by a popular election, by the principal towns. By this motion it is only intended to keep Parlia- ment in its present state, to prevent it becoming worse." In 1806 he joined the Coalition Administration, as First Lord of the Admiralty, and succeeded on the death of Mr. Fox to the Secretaryship of Fo- reign affairs. Having been defeated in his contest for Northumberland, he was returned for Appleby, and in 1807 he succeeded to the peerage of his father. His political consistency and judgment as a British Senator during the administrations of the Duke of Portland, Lord Sidmovith, Mr. Per- ceval, Lord Liverpool, Mr. Canning, Lord Goder- ich, and the Duke of Wellington, has never been questioned by the friends of liberty, except in his celebrated speech against Mr. Canning, in 1827. We well know that his course on that critical occasion was variously viewed, and it was animad- verted on at that the time with some bitterness in this Journal ; but a recent and more mature con- sideration of his eloquent and forcible oration, in- duces us to believe that he was singly influenced by principle, and that he really thought he could not conscientiously or wisely support a doubtful though improving politician, who subsequently denounced Parliamentary Reform, and repudiated the great principle of equal civil rights to the Dis- senters. Tiiroughout the whole of this memorable period of British history. Lord Grey was the never- failing advocate of the popular interest. His steady THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 59 and enlightened support of Catholic Emancipation — his known refusal of office without the conces- sion of that critical question — his opposition to the Tory crusades against the liberties of Europe — his protests against the profligate expenditure of Mr. Pitt and his successors — his opposition to the frau- dulent alterations of the currency in 1797, and to the subsequent robberies of both creditors and debtors— greatly distinguish him among his politi- cal contemporaries. Summoned to the councils of his Sovereign in 1830, he was obliged to con- struct his Cabinet of dissonant materials. This composition of his Administration necessarily cre- ated difficulties and disadvantages. On his acces- sion to office he gave three great pledges as the rule of his Ministerial conduct — Reform, Peace, Eco- nomy. He lost no time in redeeming his chief pledge, committing to Lord Durham, Lord John Russell, Lord Duncannon (and that degraded member of his late Government, Sir James Graham) the arrangement of a broad scheme of reform of the representation. Tlie people approved and nobly seconded his views. We need not recapitulate the memorable scenes of national enthusiasm which bore him triumphant through the desperate oppo- sition of the Tory Aristocracy. L'nder his direc- tion was achieved the most remarkable moral vic- tory ever gained by a patriot Minister and a deter- mined Nation. Perhaps Lord Grey would have best consulted his personal reputation if he had then resigned the Premiership ; we cannot, however, believe that he retained it from selfish or vulgar considerations. But the error, or perhaps the natural failing, of Lord Grey, was a limited per- ception of the objects of the great measure of Par- liamentary Reform. We should be grossly unjust to assert that he viewed the amendment of the Representation as a formal revolution. His mis- calculation appears rather to have been in his erro- neous estimate of the necessary consequences of the gxeat constitutional change — his views being apparently restricted to the political requirements of the preceding century. The effects of such a measure before 1793, would doubtless have been far more latent than under the altered feelings of our times. Lord Grey also, in the interim, had become more enamoured of the aristocratic balance of the Constitution. But, whatever the " Conser- vative " influences on his mind, he was unques- tionably averse to the immediate or extensive use of his own instrument of good government ; and probably at his advanced period of life, from the political events of France, and the vast diffusion of knowledge among the people, he became alarmed lest the further extension of democratic power should be premature, and produce dangerous changes in the Constitution. Much also is to be ascribed to the political differences of opinion among his colleagues, and to the moderating cha- racter of his personal relation to them as the head of the Cabinet. Impartiality demands some con- sideration for his cautious policy, as connected with the opinions of his Sovereign, and the rank opposition of his " Order." Further, Lord Grey was educated as a ^^ parti/ man," and avowedly conducted his administration on old associations. But when it is boldly and unjustly asserted that he has allowed the country no benefits from reform, we deny the accusation. The sweeping amend- ments of the Law — the important, though insuffici- ent, plans for the modification of the Irish Church, Tithe, and Cess — the necessary experiment of the Poor Law Bill — the Burgh Reform of Scotland, and the searching inquiry into Municipal Institu- tions of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland — the commencement of enquiries into the State of Education — his strong, but measured declarations on the Public nature of Church property — his un- qualified admission of the remaining grievances of the Dissenters — his cultivation of the liberties of the west of Europe— even his moderate measures of economy, and diminution of official patronage, constitute a great and indisputable gain to his country. We will not now recur to those matters of alleged error and omission which have been the frequent subject of debate and condemnation ; but we gratefully record facta of unquestionable truth, and we boldly ask — what would have been the popular worship of Canning and the Duke of Wellineton if they had contributed to their times one-half of such reformations 'I And how great the political results and future effects, compared to tlie miserable, nibbling, and sham reform policy of Sir Robert Peel ! When severe, let us be just, and admit Lord Grey's true merits, though we may regret what he has failed to accomplish. The sena- torial conduct of Lord Grey, also, has been of the highest character. In a hostile legislature, the dignity and manliness of his deportment will bear comparison with the displays of the most celebra- ted times of senatorial eloquence. He has never committed his Government by want of temper or discretion in the House of Lords ; and the simple and touching vindication of his public conduct, even on topics wherein we differed from him, will never be forgotten by those who were present on Wednesday night. We deem this acknowledge- ment of public gratitude justly due to Lord Grey, as it will be cheerfully offered by the great body of reflecting Reformers. No public man has been more grossly or scandalously assailed by vulgar and virulent opponents; but such a Statesman, notwithstanding personal errors or defects of policy, will outlive his calumniators and detractors — the present and future times will do honour to his worth and eminent public services ; and among the brightest ornaments of British History, few names will descend to posterity with more unsullied repu- tation than that of Lord Grey, to whom we shall soon owe the inevitable consequences of Parlia- mentary Reform. THE CORN LAWS. (From the Courier.) The debate on the state of the agriculturists last night establishes beyond a doubt tliat the Corn Laws, while they mock the farmer with a promise of high prices, and therefore lead him to engage in ruinous contracts, do not give him any real protec- tion. Mr. Baring showed that American corn is imported from Canada, and French corn from Jer- sey ; or, what is the same thing, the Jersey people wisely eat only Frencli wheat, and send us all the corn they grow tliem selves. The Isle of Man, too, is made the means of supplying us with Dantzic meal. The pseudo friends of the farmers talked of 60 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. stopping these sources of supply, but then the colo- nists would justly cry ruin ; and, however feeble the English manufacturers may be, the Canadians — as witness the timber duties — are too powerful to be sacrificed for the English landlords. Mr. Baring also demonstrated that the English fanner and landlord are ruined by a competition with the Irish landlord and the beggar peasantry of the sis- ter country. And, while this is the case, there is a bill in progi-ess through t!ie House of Commons lo give a bonus of 40 per cent, on the tithes, to the Irish landlord, and the Bill to commute tithes in England is thrown aside till next year. We know no class of men in the community less worthy of receiving any additional advantages than Irish land- lords ; and when we hear from tlie last night's debate that they will receive these partly at the expense of English landlords and farmers, we must repeat the opinion we yesterday expressed, that the " whole of the Irish tithe regulations ought to be deferred to another session." Mr. P. Thomson proposes by his new customs' bill to reduce the duties on such things as dried apples and plairtains, which are nice succulent eatables, well calculated to supersede many of the productions of our own soil, and a probable consequence, therefore, of the pertinacious adherence of the landlord to corn laws, which afford the farmers no protection, will be to drive the people to a habit of consuming other things instead of bread, which it will not afterwards be very easy to eradicate. If the landed gentlemen, therefore, are not careful, they will permanently injure themselves by their fruitless efforts to obtain by law a protection, which laws, as Mr. Baring proved, cannot give. TITHES. [From the Courier.) Whatever else may be thought of Mr. Stanley's s]tcech we agree with the right hon. gentleman in thinking that redemjHiou is the best method of getting rid of tithes ; the only way, perhaps, in which they may be completely extinguished with justice to all parties. But since there are very many practical difficulties in the way of redemp- tion, the next best thing that could be done with tithe would be to commute it for a fixed and in- variable rent-charge — we say invariable, because the principal grievance of tithe is, that so long as it is not fixed, it operates as a bar to improvements, and hinders capital from being laid out on the land. Tlie proper method of proceeding would be to get the net annual value of the tithe payable by every landlord ascertained by a jury, and to impose an equivalent rent-charge on the land, giving to the landlord the power of reducing such charge at any future i)eriod, by assigning to the church, or to tiiistees appointed for that purpose, a correspond- ing value in land. At all events it is essential that the burden be permanently fixed and limited. Until this be done, tithe, whoever may pay it, will be a perpetual and copious source of irritation and disgust. It is supposed by many gentlemen that tithes do not exist in Scotland; but this notion is correct in so far only that they cannot be taken in kind, and are not a fluctuating charge. In the vast majority of instances, they were long ago com- nuited for a certain specified annual payment, which cannot be exceeded. They have, therefore, no influence on the management of land ; they do not retard in any degree the spread of improve- ment, nor have they the least influence in exciting jealousies and heart-burnini^s. The same princi- ple should be adopted in England and Ireland. The comnmtation ought to be made at once and for- ever. It should be a final arrangement, never again to be questioned or disturbed. To prevent the clergy from suffering from changes in the value of money, the rent-charge on account of tithe should be declared to be a certain quantity of corn, made convertible into money at the prices of the day. A plan of this sort would effectually secure the just rights and interests of all j)arties, and it would be simple, clear, and easily carried into effect. But the adoption of the plan now be- fore Parliament cannot possibly do any good. It is so complicated that no one — not even its authors — can understand it ; and the only thing clear about it is, that it will be impossible to carry it into effect; and that the attempt to do so will as- suredly end by entailing a heavy charge on the public purse. The whole thing should be deferred to another session. It is utterly impossible that a complicated and difficult question of this sort, can now be settled on fair principles, or to the satis- faction of any one. AGRICULTURE. [From the Standard.) The Marquis of Chandos, pursuant to his notice, introduced the subject of agricultural distress, in a short but very able speech. The noble marq\iis, by the way, is the only speaker now in the parli- ament, of whom the flattering complaint is made that his speeches ai'e not long enough. He is, however, the leader "fatal to all those who wear Whig colours," for he never engages with the Ministerial party without virtually defeating them. It will be remembered that his was the single Conservative victory on the Reform Bill — that, upon the agricultural question, he ran the Whigs, at an earlier period of this sessiqn, within five or six, and last night, in a very full house, he redu- ced their majority to 16. We do not suspect Lord Althorp of ingenuity — he is the last person in the world upon whom any exercise of intellect, perverse or useful, ought to be rashly charged — but we will maintain that if the most ingenious were to task his faculties to contrive an insult the most contemptuous that could be offered, he could not surpass his lordship's invention — so hollow va the victory that chance and dvdness often gain over talent. The agricid- tural interest complain of distress, and what is the measure of relief extended to the growers of hay and cf corn, and the graziers? Reader, pause; take time to consider ; we promise that Lord Al- thorp will go beyond your guess, however extra- vagant, in the insolent absurdity of his projected boon — a repeal of the tax upon — shepherds' dogs ! .' There is somethiny ! The tillage farmers are riuned — the sheep farmers suffer less than any other class of agriculturists : in practice, the latter never pay any tax for their dogs ; and Lord Althorp proposes to relieve the former by the repeal of a tax to which they are not liable by law, and which the latter never pay, in fact, and which, even if paid, would be so trifling in amount that its repeal would not insure a spoonful of salt the more to each individual farmer in the year. Were we wrong in saying that the affronting stupidity of the suggestion distances competition i THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE, 61 THE AGRICULTURAL QUESTION. (From the Morning Herald.) The Marquis of Chandos deserves well of his country for his motion in the House of Commons on Monday evening, to address the throne upon the continued distresses of the agricultural part of the population— a subject which his Majesty, at the opening of the present session, condescend- ed to dwell upon in terms of such deep regiet that we, and the country at large, had antici- pated that his Majesty's present advisers would, ere this, have made some effort, some at- tempt to relieve so large a portion of his Majesty's subjects (upon whose prosperity the welfare of the manufacturing and commercial in- terests mainly rests) from some of the bxn-dens ■which press the greater part of them into the low- est scale of human existence. But his Majesty's ministers have been too fully occupied to attend in practice to this national question. The 250,000 unfortunate occupiers of land, whose contracts were formed under a paper currency, but whose property and interest in the soil they cultivate, has been reduced full one-third, whilst tlieir engage- ments have been doubled by the operation of Mr. Peel's Currency Bill, have met with but little sympathy from his Majesty's ministers this ses- sion; however, they have received plenty of pro- mises for the future, but, from the ticklish posi- tion of the present Cabinet, it is very problemati- cal that they will ever be fulfilled. Mr. Hume, who, pedant-like, confines his notions of political economy in all questions of real import to the na- tion to the narrow limits of the M'Culloch and Malthusian schools, and who, in that spirit, is ever ready to support the doctrines of the President of the Board of Trade, has discover- ed a salvo for all their ills in the abrogation of what he is pleased to consider the corn law mono- poly. There was a time when the hon. gentleman would have declaimed, with a vehemence equal to that of the agricultural interests, against the abro- gation of the salt monopoly in the East Indies ; but the position of the parties are different, tlie one being then prosperous, whilst the former are now in the opjiosite extreme. The noble Chan- cellor of the Exchequer promises, that is, if he is in power the next session, to reduce the tax on lioys under 15 years of age doing hoilt^^old du- ties, and upon shepherds' horses and dogs — mark the words ! with some other trivial reductions of direct taxation. A mighty boon truly — a mere drop in the ocean ! Does not his agricultural lordship know that all these promises are merely mockery — a tantalization of the unfortunate inte- rests it will ever be oxir pride to uphold ? Can the noble lord be so ignorant of the condition of his fellow-agriculturists as not to know that,^ in three-fifths of the agricultural families, the boys under 15, employed about their houses, consist of their own sons, and are, therefore already exempt; and further, that to the same extent, nearly all farmers are already exempted from paying the tax for one dog, he being considered as a sheep dog. It is therefore only among the larger and few sheep- down districts tliat these petty reductions will avail. We cannot longer dwell upon such trifling. This, however, with the reduction of the window duties, which will prove no boon at all, and the tax upon farmers' riding horses, is all that is promised. The Tithe Commuta- tion Bill is to be sent to the winds until an- other session, pi-ovided again (it must be under- stood) the Cabinet should stick to their seats; but, in the mean time, the gap of agricultural misery is to be stopped by the prospective bless- ings of the misnomered Poor Laws Amendment Bill — a measure containing clauses at variance with the spirit of the constitution, at once dread- fully oppressive in their operation, and destructive of morality. The present local taxation of the country in highway, church, poor, and country rates, independent of the tithes, amounts to 8,6b2,37i)l., of which the agriculturists, as we have before stated, pay seven-tenths, which the pro- spective blessings of the new poor law, should it pass the House of Lords — though Heaven forfend ! — are not very likely to diminish under the new workhouse system. Such, then, is the short and hasty summary we have made of the blessings, past and prospective, to be heaped upon the agri- cultural interests of Great Britain under Whig guidance in a reformed House of Commons. These are the results of the good intentions of which they have so often boasted ; but, nevertheless, they are of that useless class of good intentions upon which Dean Swift has so quaintly commented. The smallness of the minority on this occasion, defeated as ministers and their adherents were in argument, must be a source of congratulation to the country interests (in using this term we must be understood as not singling out one interest more than another, for the prosperity of all are based upon that of the former ;) and we trust that the attention of parliament will often and repeated- ly be drawn to the question until reasonable means are devised to raise them from their present melan- choly condition. But general taxation presses equally with loca.1 upon the land occupier ; therefore the malt tax should be taken off, and a countervailing additional duty be imposed upon that demoralising curse to the poorer classes in the shape of gin. This is not all, neither will it avail until our markets are relieved from the influx of Irish pro- duce, and our jjoor rates from the charges of dis- tressed Irish emigrants ; but this cannot be effected without the introduction of a sound poor law system into Ireland, or without the annihilation of absenteeism ; then may we hope that the Irish agricultural population will become the chief con- suming power of their own productions, which their present poverty prevents. Yet, unless the demon of agitation is checked in his fiend-like march over Erin's fair plains, — until the people of Ireland can be induced to believe that peace and quietness are far preferable to daily outrage and midnight murder — nntil the sanctity of property becomes universal in that part of the united king- dom, little indeed, we fear, can be done ; but as it is the bounden duty of governments to endea- vour to secure the hap[)iness of the governed, we trust that the miserable picture which Ireland at present presents will not deter,but rather simu- late ours to attempt something to raise her popu- lation in the scale of humanity. Under the present unhappy circumstances of the sister kingdom, capital cannot be safely introduced ; tiierefore, under the continuance of Irish poverty, whatever may be done for the British agriculturists, they will still have much to contend with ; but this circumstance makes it more imperative that some- thing should be attempted for them, whether the Cabinet is Whig or Tory. THE J^IINISTRY. (From the Morning Post.) We yesterday applied harsh terms to the conduct of Lord Althorp, supposing Lim to have resumed 62 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. office under Lord Melbourne. When we consider more attentively the extraordinarjf position in which public affairs now stand we feel that we have done but half our duty. We ought to have applied terms not less harsh to Lord Melbourne, supposing him to have offered office to Lord Althorp. The Cabinet of Earl Grey is broken up in conse- quence of a dispute regarding- three important clauses of the Coercion Act. In other times we should have scarcely ventured to conjecture the particular opi- nions of individual members of the government upon a point like this ; but Lord Althorp has partially drawn aside the veil. We do not suppose that we shall be contradicted when we assume that Lord Melbourne supports the renewal of these clauses : — we are sure that we cannot be contradicted when we assert that Lord Althorp recommends the rejection of these clauses. Now the matter ia dispute is one of no trivial im- portance. The decision of the struggle must deter- mine whether there shall be in Ireland peace or strife, security or alarm, the dominion of the law or the despotism of the demagogue. It is not long since Lord Melbourne assented silently to the assurance of Earl Grey, that, however much he might regret the necessity of proposing " the renewal of an act which he admitted to be inconsistent with the general prin- ciples and the ordinary practice of the consLitution," still he should be un-vvorthy of his office as a mi- nister of the crown, and of his rank as a peer of parliament, if he hesitated one moment " in repro- posing a measure which he conceived to be necessary to the preservation of the public peace and to the safety and security of his Majesty's subjects." Lord Mel- bourne must have seen, with Earl Grey, that the Coercion Act is " inconsistent with the general prin- ciples and practice of the Constitution." He would not have supported the revival of it if he had not also felt, with Earl Grey, that the Coercion Act is " ne- cessary to the preservation of the public peace and to the safety and security of his IMaJesty's subjects," With this sense of the unconstitutional tendency of the measure, and this opinion of the paramount ne- cessity for its enactment. Lord Melbourne is called upon to form an administration. It is to be expected that the new premier will se- cure at least a temporary concord among the followers he musters around him. Differences may arise in the next session which contrivance may in the next session compose. But in the measures actually be- fore the house surely some appearance of sympathy is desirable and attainable. " I can only say," aays Lord Melbourne, announ- ing the commission with which the King has en- trusted him, " that I would not have accepted such a commission unless I had been assured of the cordial co-operation of my noble friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer." To a mere looker-on this is inexpressi- bly ridiculous and infinitely disgraceful. Lord Melbourne must undoubtedly be deeply persuaded of the necessity of the enactment of these disputed clauses ; and he must know that the adoption of them is certain in the House of Lords, — the rejection of them probable in the House of Commons. With ■what semblance of honesty does he deliver the lead of the House of Commons to the very man by whom in the House of Commons the measure which he be- lieves necessary will be most powerfully opposed ? Lord Melbourne will not stand alone in this shame. Lord Brougham has defended the provisions of the Coercion Act in a very elaborate and forcible haran- gue. What will be said of Lord Brougham's sin- cerity when — after setting forth the " overruling ne- cessity" for the renewal of the act, and declaring that he " has no longer a choice except that of suffering great evils to prevail, or of continuing this act," — he shall finish by sitting on the woolsack as a member of a government whose representative in the House of Commons wholly denies the " overruling necessity," and rather than continue the act would " suffer the great evils to prevail"!" These considerations lead us to attach some weight to the suggestions of some speculators who explain away the signification of Lord Althorp 's asserted co- operation, and refuse to anticipate any thing so dis- creditable to all parties as the return of the noble lord to his place. THE MINISTRY. (From the Chronicle.) The political course of the present Ministry is ob- vious, and not difficult. The country will expect much from a Cabinet comprehending the names of Lord Melbourne, Mr. Abercromby, Lord John Rus- sell, Mr. Ellice, Lord Duncannon, Sir John Cam Hobhouse, and other public men, who cannot but discern the signs of the times. The Premier has already exhibited a strong and decided understanding, justifying the hopes that were formed of him in early youth. The great fault of the late Ministry appears to have been a want of union and preparation for the Session. If similar variations of opinion arise in the new Cabinet Lord Melbourne must weed it out. VV e do not assert that any number of Ministers can be associated in Council without differences of opi- nion on many important subjects ; but if on vital questions, such as tlie "inviolability" of the Irish Church, the Cabinet is divided, it must be winnowed. These are not times for paltering policy. Unity of design is essential to an effective Executive. Min- isters must next year be prepared, beforehand, to submit to Parliament perfected measures. The delay of this necessary public duty is fraught with evil. The late meeting of Parliament, a month de- layed beyond its proper period of assemblage, and the apparent want of due preparation of the intended Ministerial legislation of the yeJir, oppressively pro- longs its duration and naturally postpones much of the most important business of the Session till after Easter, when crude measures are hurried into Parli- ament, and crowded together, and in the end neces- sarily thrown out or postponed to a future Session. Another nuisance is the latitude it allows for that mass of speechification and busy legislation which has lately become so intolerable and injurious. As we cannot hope for some time to reduce the number of Babel discussions of our Representatives, we should at least do everything to alleviate the evils occasioned by the overplus. The noodles and dum- mies of the Unreformed Parliaments unquestionably kept down this crying nuisance ; but the raw and industrious legislators deputed from the populous counties and enlarged constituencies, especially in the first inexperienced House of Commons, are na- turally active, and estimate with self-complacency their own legislative qualifications. This excrescence would be much reduced if Ministers were prepared with their measures earlier in the session. The exchange of a bad for an improved system, is also the more important, as regards the legislative objects of the Government, because the many difficult and perplexing subjects of practical reform necessarily require all the advantages of mature deliberation and impartial decision. Such an alteration would further beget a new habit in Parliamentary proceed- ings, and much curtail the length and tedium of speeches really intended for effect " out of doors." THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 63 A few good Ministerial propositions will stamp the character and permanency of the new Ministry. We cannot play at leap frog in legislation, or accomplish the redress of every political grievance, or the deli- berative perfection of every required act of remedial legislation, in one year. But to promote this impor- tant change in the conduct of the British Legislature, we must resort to a subdivision of labour. The in- cessant toil of the move active and intelligent mem- bers of the Parliament— the crowds of committees sitting on various subjects, where a member of differ- ent committees c mnot be ubiquitous — the enormous exjjence of local acts of Parliament, which greatly restricts public enterprise and investment of capital — the absurd discussion of every minor detail of an act of Parliament — are serious obstacles to legislation, capable of considerable remedy. We may wisely adopt many useful iiujjrovements from the legislative procedure of other countries, and when so much is borrowed from England, we need not be ashamed of a political importution in return. The session is now nearly concluded, and we hope that next year will be distinguished by a different Ministerial course and some reform of the Reformed Parliament. THE MINISTRY. (From the Spectator.) The additions to the Cabinet are worthy of praise. Every one speaks well of Lord Duncannon. He is beloved in Ireland, and esteemed everywhere, as an upright, amiable, and clear-headed, though by no means brilliant person. Mr. O'Connel, and the Irish Members generally, are pleased with this appoint- ment. Sir John Hobhouse is well known as clever, accomplished, and industrious. His powers ofspeech will be of service in debate, and will be much need- ed, for the crack orators are all on the opposition benches. Sir John has now an opportunity of re- covering the false step which ruined him in West- minster ; it remains to be seen whether he will make a good use of it. The aspect of affnirs has, we are inclined to hope, been considerably improved. The Cabinet contains, it is true, no person of first-rate abilities, except the Lord Chancellor, who cannot be relied upon. But, on this account, they must be the more painstaking, and adhere the firmei to sound principles ; the pub- lic cannot be dazzled by the brilliancy of their talents, and must be conciliated and won over to their support by the excellence of their measures. Lord Melbourne must bear in mind, that much was pardoned in Earl Grey, which will not be tolerated in him. The country kept constantly in its thoughts the great services of the late Premier; wliereas Lord Melbourne has scarcely any public reputation. He is an untried man, and will be judged of by his actions, and rewarded or spurned accordingly. It is in his favour, that the few who do know him, speak well of his talents, steadiness, and decision of cha- racter. His speech on Thursday night, in reply to the Earl of Wicklow and the Duke of Wellington, confirmed this favourable opinion. He defended his abandonment of the late and promised support of the new Coercion Bill on tenable grounds,- — namely, that the House of Commons would not agree to the former, and therefore another must be tried. He did not pretend, like Lord Brougham, that the omitted clauses were of secondary importance. He admitted that he should have preferred to see them retained, but then, the House of Commons would not pass the bill, and therefore they could not be retained. Lord Melbourne galled the opposition, by throwing in their teeth the mortifying fact, that even if they broke up his Ministry, they could not replace it. This is the right mode of dealing with the Peers. Conciliation has been tried to no purpose. Their actual position should be clearly pointed out to them on all occasions, and their power to do mischief set at defiance. A remark in the speech of Loi'd Althorp inclines us to hope that the Obstructives will at last be fairly grappled with : — he said that Ministers might meet with obstacles in their course of following out the Reform Act to its reasonable consequences ; but he added, " If we do meet with such obstacles, we wi/i try to remove them." It is also a good symptom, that the rage and mortification of the Tory Peers at the open revelation of their weak- ness, was too bitter and violent to be kept within bounds. Like the heathen, " they furiously raged." THE POOR LAWS AMENDMENT BILL. (Prom the Chronicle.) The Poor Laws Amendment Bill has been read a second time in the Lords, The division will, no doubt, have an influence on the lucubrations of one of cur contemporaries, who has been labouring most assiduously to persuade the Peers that they had only to surrender the rents of their estates, in order that a number of persons might be main- tained in their respective parishes in idleness, to merit the everlasting gratitude of the country, and recover their lost popularity. The numbers were 76 to 13, being a majority of 63. The existing abuses of the Poor Laws are so well known, that it would be trespassing on the patience of our readers to enter on them. It is sufficient to say, that in many parts of the country these abuses have led to a heavy taxation of the worst kind, nut for the benefit of the poor, but to degrade and pauperize the whole labouring population. A variety of causes led to the abuses, but there is one way only by which we can hope to escape from them — the being able to distinguish between the labourer and the pau- per. The great object of the Poor Laws Amend- ment Bill is to cflect that distinction. By prohi- biting all application of rates in aid of wages, con- fining relief to paupers, and compelling them to receive it in workhouses, the motives to indepen- dent exertion will be strengthened, and the labour- ing population will in time adjust itself every- where to the demand for labour. But as the parishes in England are often so small as to pre- clude the possibility of erecting workhouses, in which alone the discipline necessary for the above purpose can be introduced with effect, the Poor Laws Amendment Bill gives to the Commissioners to be named under it, the power of uniting a cer- tain number of parishes, and of ordering the ex- penditure of a certain sum of money, equal to a certain proportion of the rates on a common workhouse. It is so obvious that where parishes are too small to allow of the introduction of a system of discipline, calculated to effect a distinction between the independent labourer and the pauper, the only way of proceeding is to unite parishes, that, of all senseless ravings, the raving against these unions of parishes, as the introduction of centralization, seems the most absurd. If the labourers of two or three contiguous parishes exceed the demand, and no one of the parishes can afford to erect and maintain a workhouse, in which a system of dis- cipline calculated to restore the distinction between independent industiy and pauperism can be en- forced, as a matter of necessity, if they want to 64 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. cure the evil, they must unite. There must be a centre in every thing; and, in one sense, the common workhouse may be described as the cen- tre quoad the affairs of the poor. But unions of parishes, like other unions, are good or bad, not because they are unions, but when they exceed or fall short of the objects for which the unions are required. If there be superfluous moisture in a district, it will be often impossible to drain it, witliout entering on a system of operations em- bracing a considerable extent of country. If the drain embrace only a part of the country affected with the superfluous moisture, it will be inopera- tive. In such a case the operation must embrace the whole. But it would not be more absurd in a I)roprietor of the Bedford Level, or of any of the great tracts under drainage in Cambridge or Lin- colnshire, to complain of centralization, because he is not left to carry on his operations by himself, than it is in a parish too small to maintain a work- house to complain of centralization, on account of a system by which the deficiency may be sup- plied by union with others. What is the meaning of centralization ? Our French and other continental neighbours are sup- posed to have been less fortunate than ourselves in distinguishing between what ought to be done by a common central power, what ought to be done by local authorities, and what ought to be done by individuals. In England there is a central power as well as in France ; but in England the central power provides merely for external and internal defence, and the administration of justice ; while in France the central power exercises, besides, a control over a variety of local matters, which can be best attended to by local authorities, and by individuals. Centralization, as commonly under- stood, means the vicious assumption of power by the central authority, which cannot be exercised with advantage by it, and not an exercise of power by a central authority. As everything must have a centre, centralization, if it have any force as an accusation, must mean that what is united for a particular purpose is of greater extent than is re- quired for that purpose. The charge is, in any other sense, utterly devoid of meaning. But it cannot be shown that any imions under the Poor Laws Amendment Bill are too extensive for the purposes, or that any of the powers given are not wanted. We are almost ashamed of being under the ne- cessity of stating such obvious truisms, in order to meet the ridiculous rhodomontades of The Times on this question of the Poor Laws. " The Tories (we^are gravely told by our contemporary) left us our Municipal and Provincial Governments, our County Courts, and our Corporations, the protec- tion of the Magistracy, and of other district and local authorities, our Grand Juries, our Parish Vestries, and the like ; but it is hardly to be hoped, and most assuredly it is not to be expected, that any of these ancient features of our social and domestic economy will long remain to us, if the chief persons of our Government be affected with the centralization mania ; nor do we see the slight- est reason to believe that the liberties and proper- ties of the King's subjects are worth one single year's purchase, if the Legislature shall lend their sanction to a measure whichis to place the persons and pockets of all the inhabitants of England and Wales at the disposal and control of these novel and irresponsible functionaries." We know not whether our contemporary means, by this intro- duction of Corporations, to extend his protection to the abuses in them, which a Royal Commission has exposed ; but there really does seem equally good reason for maintaining that the arbitrary power of taxation in their respective communities, claimed by most of the Corporations, is indispen- sable to the security of property, as far as main- taining that property will be endangered by depri- ving parish vestries of the power of continuing a heavy taxation to make paupers of tlie whole la- bouring population. Parliament cannot give any power to the Commissioners which it docs not itself possess ; and if it gives the power to Com- missioners, it can of course withdraw it, should it be abused. The object for which the power is given is to diminish taxation, and not to increase it. Should tlie bill fail to answer its end, parlia- ment can, and no doubt will, repeal it ; for what motive can the gentlemen of England have for continuing a power which proves injurious to themselves.' When The Times speaks of " the beloved bill of the Lord Chancellor," as about to work all manner of ruin, the extravagance of the language excites pity for the intellect of the writer. " Although (be says) the bill extends only to mat- ters connected with the relief of the poor, yet nothing can be more clear than that it will furnish a precedent for any act of tyranny and spoliation, any violation of the liberty of the subject, and any infringement on the rights of property, which, in time to come, another Ministry may be base and bold enough to attempt. The principle of the bill has this extent, no matter by what limits its practice may be bounded for the present : the fetters are forged, and they will fit others besides paupers : the doctrine which has hitherto regulated the taxation of tlie peo- ple is repudiated so far as the tax for the relief of the poor is concerned, and it may be equally disre- garded when the question becomes one of taxa- tion for the support of the rich : the controul of parochial taxation is wrested from the parishes — why not the controul of national taxation from the nation ?" No Peer of any note opposed the bill last night. — The Duke of Wellington observed that " every Administration that had existed for many years past, had considered the means of applying a re- medy for tlie evil. None, however, had been found till this scheme was proposed by the Noble Lords opposite, for which he (the Duke of Wel- lington) returned them his sincere thanks. {Cheers). No measure that had been before de- vised could apply a remedy, or was supposed ca- pable of applying a remedy to the evils. He admitted that if the Commission were appointed, it must have extraordinary and full powers." 'i'he Noble Duke also observed, "that into no one of the parishes into which abuses had crept, were the abuses the same ; and some Central Board was therefore necessary, in order that throughout the country some j)rinciple of administering the Poor Laws might be introduced." The Lord Chancellor, in introducing the subject to the House, travelled somewhat beyond it ; for a great part of his speech went to the question whether there ought to be Poor Laws at all — which he was not called on to discuss. We differ from him toto ccelo, in his views with respect to Poor Laws in general, though we go all the way with him in this bill, and conceive that for his share in promoting the inquiry which led to it, the country is very greatly indebted to him. Published at 19, OldBoswell Court, Temple Bar. Printed by Joseph Rogerson, 21, Norfolk-street, Strand. THE POLITICAL COMPANION TO THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. SEPTEMBER, 1834. No. 5.] [Vol. 1. THE CATHOLIC CLERGY. (from the Courier.) Some of our Contemporaries who arenot usually so scrvipulous, affect a great delicacy about giving any opinion as to the expediency of providing for the Catholic Clergy. It is said that such a mea- sure would not be popular with the Catholics themselves ; and if by Catholics be understood the party of the agitators, we believe the fact to be as stated. But this very circumstance forms, in our estimation, one of the strongest recommendations of the measure. So long as the Government treats the Catholic Clergy with neglect, and showers all its favours on the Clergy of a small sect, so long will the former be hostile to their interests, and opposed to the English connexion. The agitators are well aware of this, and hence their opposition to any measure that would, by attaching Catholic Priests to the interest of Government and the sup- port of the Union between the two countries, con- vert those that are now their most efficient allies into their most formidable enemies. Had the agi- tators supported the proposal for securing a State provision for the Catholic Clergy, we should have been more than half inclined to doubt its expedi- ency. It were worse than absurd to suppose that those who derive their whole importance from the continuance of disturbance and dissatisfaction should ever willingly promote any measure that would tend powerfully to restore tranquillity and good order. The Catholic Clergy have ten times miore influence than any other body of men in Ireland ; and we may be assured that those hostile to the Union, and the existing order of things, will oppose to tlie utmost whatever might make this great influence be directed against their pernicious projects. For the same reason tliat the agitators are oppo- sed to a provision for the Catholic Clergy, they are opposed to a provision for the destitute poor. Lord Bacon has truly stated, that of all rebellions that of the belly is the worst — but, while everji landlord who has covered his estate with mud hovels, is authorised, on his finding he has made a bad speculation, to turn adrift the wretched occu- piers, this worst species of rebellion will flourish ill Ireland. Let this enormous abuse be put an end to — let landlords be obliged to provide for the destitute population they have hutted on their estates, and we shall hear no more of the endless subdivision of the land, nor of the bloodshed and murder consequent to the ejecting of poor wretches unable to pay the exorbitant demands made upon them. The insuring a public provision for Catholic Clergy, and for the destitute poor, are measures indispensable to the well-being of Ireland. If they be rejected, none else that can be adopted in their stead can be of any material service. They go to eradicate the seeds of disease, while the rest can barely alleviate some of its symptoms. The squab- bles between the Protestant Clergy and the land- lords as to the division of the tithe are of very infe- rior importance. The competition for land in Ireland is so intense, that the poor cottier will always be ready to engage to pay all that it can be made to produce, after deducting a miserable pit- tance for himself and his family. Whether he pay one portion of this surplus to a landlord, and an- other portion to a tithe owner, is of exceedingly little consequence. He must pay it, if not to them both, to one of them. And, as matters now stand, he is further liable, in the event of his not being able to satisfy his task-masters, to be turned out of his possession, and left, in accordance with those principles of which we have recently heard so much, to die, not in a workhouse, but by the road side ! We, therefore, care very little as to how the quarrel about tithes may be adjusted. Instead, however, of grudging a bonus of 40 per cent, of the tithe to the landlords, we should gladly see them get the whole 100, were they, at the same time, compelled to provide for the destitute poor. The lands in possession of the Church are more than sufficient, if properly managed, to provide amply for both the Protestant and the Catholic Clergy. Tithe, consequently, forms a free dispo- sable fund that cannot be in any way so well em- ployed as in providing for the poor. At all events it is quite clear that the Clergy vvrill never get an- other shilling from this fund ; and as the landlords have done nothing to entitle them to so great a gift, the opportunity should not be lost of providing, without injury to any one, for the destitute poor, and, consequently, for the tranquillity of the country. MEETING AT HOLKAM. (From the Norfolk Chronicle.) Every body in this district knows the generous delight Mr. Coke enjoys in communicating with the Yeomanry upon agricultural topics, and the hospitality with which he opens his halls and his domain to them. Since the discontinuance of the sheep shearing, he has at this season of the year invited large parties to inspect his cattle and his crops, his plantations, and the various processes of building, planting, and tillage going on upon his estate. About fifty of the principal yeomanry from East Norfolk and his own neighbourhood assembled at Holkham on Monday, and on Tues- day viewed the transactions of this most interesting e 66 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. farm. No one who lias not bad the satisfaction to pass over these fields and woods under the guidance of the Proprietor, can imagine tlie magnificent scale upon which all that relates to planting, farm- ing, the breeds of cattle, and sheep, and building is conducted. The mind of this most amiable gentleman appears to be directed with unabated energy to plans so beneficial to his neighbourhood, and of such general utility. His crops are super- abundant, his fields like a garden. Throughout this extensive demesne, the mangel wurzel and the turnips exhibit an uniformity of excellence, that proves the certainty of the principle, while the nu- merous stacks, (amounting at least to one for every week in the year,) attest the general productiveness of his system. Tlie Devon cattle are beautiful, and one beast, supposed to weigh between 110 and 120 st. was admitted by the best judges to be incomparable in shape and symmetry. But what must most gratify the spectator is the order, and so to speak, the affluence of comfort which is to be observed throughout all the habitations. The cot- tages are neat as they are spacious and airy — gar- dens kept in the very best order, and rich in the produce of culinary vegetables, give assurance of industrious habits, and there is not the slightest exaggeration in asserting, that discontent is unknown alike amongst the tenantry and the labourers. It is impossible to see all these signs of good manage- ment, without being convinced to demonstration, that the attention of country gentlemen to their estates, discernment in selecting men of capital and skill for tenants, the encouragement of leases, and the application of labour to land, are the true re- medies for national no less than for agricultural distress. We never visit this charming, this as- tonishing domain, without feeling, profoundly feeling, the blessings which such beneficent super- intendence, such means, and such skill are compe- tent to bestow upon mankind. THE LORD CHANCELLOR AND THE POOR LAWS. (From the Courier.) The speech of the Lord Chancellor, of which a corrected report is now laid before the public, makes an epoch in the progress of opinion on the evils and remedies of pauperism. We do not, in- deed, coincide on every point with the views ex- pressed in it as to poor laws in the abstract, or to the system established by Queen Elizabeth, and departed from so widely in later times; but we re- gard it on the whole as presenting by far the most condensed and striking rhetorical view of the whole subject which has been yet given, and as seizing with the powerful grasp of genius, and dragging- to light, the skulking forms and the in- dispensable cure of the evil. It was indeed high time that the stream of non- sense and misrepresentation should be met with a reply like this from some seat of authority. It was high time that some such vigorous antidote should be given to the sophistries of the two op- Tiosing sections of the press, which with curious felicity, coalesced on this question only. The first question whidi should have been asked of tliese daily assertcrs of the ])Oor man's ancient :ind sacred right to the degradation of jjarish allowance is, — If this I'ight in its present construction, really be 80 ancient and sacred as these veracious chro- niclers describe it, hov»f does it happen that even within the memory of man it was deemed a matter of shame and disgrace for the peasant to resort to it — that the epithet of parish-bird conveyed a keener and deeper reproach than any other which could have been drawn from the stories of the slang dictionary— that, in the words of the dis- course before us, "it was deemed aforetime a shame such as no man could bear, to be depen- dent upon parochial aid, the name of * pauper' coming ne.xt in the estimation of the peasant to that of ' felon.' " It is curious, and not uninstructive, to trace to their original sources the confluent streams of virulence which have been poured forth on the poor law amendment, and on this speech of the Lord Chancellor m particular, by the noisiest organs, as we have stated, of very opposite parties. In the first place, the ultra section of that party who cherish hopes of restoring the lost reign of oligarchal ascendency, have, consistently enough, and that not of to-day nor yesterday, endeavoured to work the machinery of pauperism to preserve in the labouring class the feelings of tutelage and dependence, in lieu of the honest pride of self- supporting and independent industry. There is no doubt that this idea entered largely into the views ofthosepoliticianswho.whetherasmembersof par- liament or as local magistrates, exerted themselves so strenuously, and, unhappily, with so much suc- cess, to extend the system of relief in the early years of the French war. When these abuses had once struck root, when the system of allow- ances to able-bodied labourers had once obtained its present extension, when pauperism had grown to that gigantic height which it has now reached, another class of advocates became enlisted in its defence. Not to mention the pauperised classes themselves who have been taught to prefer the parish dole to the fair wages of independent la- bour, a prodigious mass of interests has been cre- ated in every town and village by the expenditure (that we may not say the erabezzlementj of the parish funds. A class of men has in fact been created, who calculate on benefitting in some shape or other by the increase and abuse of those funds. Considering the probable numbers and influence ot that class, it well might seem not a bad speculation to a section of the press, who certainly cannot be charged with ultra principles, to address itself to the fomentation of that repug- nance to poor law reform, the vigour of which might be reckoned upon with confidence. We have already said that we cannot altogether coincide with the views of the Lord Chancellor as to the character of our poor law system establish- ed by the 43d of Ehzabeth. We may find an op- portunity, in noticing the article on that subject in the Qiiarterly Review, to re-state our own opi- nions on the general subject. But in the mean time we strongly recommend the present pamphlet to the re-perusal even of those who may have seen the original speech. The antidote may not be worse for repetition, to the poisonous stuff which they cannot have helped swallowing on the sub- ject elsewhere. The main drift of a portion of the press has been to treat pauperism as the geyie- ral rule, as the natural condition of the class which they distinguish as " The Poor." On the other hand, the pervading aim of the elo- qtient discourse before us is to drive back that de- graded state within its former and wholesome li- mits, and to treat it as an eace^itow (which it ought to be made, and could be made) to the general lot of the labourer in a civilised and industrious na- tion. THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 67 SPEECH OF LORD BROUGHAM, UPON THE SECOND READING OF THE POOR LAW AMENDMENT BILL, IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS. Lord BROUGFIAM said, in rising to address their lordships on the present occasion, he was abundantly sensible of the difficulty of the task he had undertaken. He approached this sub- ject of vast importance, fully impressed that its difficulty in principle, and its complexity in de- tail, were at the very least on a level with its importance. Their Lordships were aware he had not, on the present occasion, the satisfaction of knowing that the subject of this bill had attracted equal favour among the people of this country at large with other measures of reform which it had been his duty of late to propound to their Lord- ships ; that the people were, generally speaking, more indifferent to the measure than their own natural interests, and intimate connection with its evils, might make it desirable that they should be ; that they did not buoy up with their loud approval tliose who brought it forward ; and that though they had manfully and rationally resisted all at- tempts that had been made to pervert their feelings, and lead them to join in the clamour adverse to the principles of the measui-e, yet that they were more or less indifferent to the prospect it held out ofmitigation and improvement. {Hear, hear !). It must be admitted, however, that, generally speak- ing, the people were not opposed to the measure. It must be admitted that the reflecting part of the community were decidedly with it, and that the portion wbo were decidedly hostile to it were com- paratively a very small portion of the community indeed. (Hear.^ hear !). But their Lordships would probably believe him when he declared, that if the proportion opposed to the measure were much more considerable, and if they were as decidedly against it as were some individuals of great ability, of much knowledge, and of well-gained influence over the public opinion in political matters, though more especially in the ephemeral topics which arose from day to day— individuals of whom he would say, that no doubt they acted from the best of motives, though, unfortunately, their feelings, having been wrongly excited, had taken a false direction ; and if the efforts of those persons had been as successful as it was manifest — as it was notorious, most creditably to the good sense of the people of England, they had failed entirely in the object of raising an outcry against the n)easure ; still he should have stood up in his place this day and propounded the measure, and argued in its behalf the self-same arguments which he should now address to their Lordships, on which he should claim the deliberate judgment of this House. He would be diverted by no false feeling ; he would be interrupted by no clamours from without ; he would address to their Lordships the same argu- ments that he would address on this subject to the people out of doors, with this only difference, that the topics he would urge in this House, if addressed elsewhere, would be offered to a less calm, a less rational, and a less deliberate assembly. The sub- ject, he had said, was one of deep importance to the interests of the community, and their duty was correllative to the importance of those interests. It was, indeed, of a sacred nature, rendering it impossible for any one who supporteti the name of statesman, or who had taken on hiinseit'to coun- sel his Sovereign, to listen to the diciatcsof clamour or to sacrifice his duty to pojju'ar applause. He bclieycd tliat they would best recommend them- selves in the end, as they assuredly would from the beginning, to the rational part of their fellow- countrymen — that they would in the end best re- commend themselves, even to those who were not able, from want of the habit, to direct their judg- ment to the calm discussion of the question — that they would best recommend themselves, ultimately to unanimous approbation — to the surely -expressed gratitude of the people, who should manfully carry through, with the aid of their lordships, a system of provisions, which, in his conscience, he believed to be the most efficacious — to be the least objection- able in point of principle, to sin least against any known rule of politics, or of the constitution, or of the legislation, and at the same time, to afford the nearest and surest prospect of any plan that had yet been devised for terminating the evils, the extent of wliich, at present, no tongue could adequately describe — the terrible extent of which, no party could adequately pourtray- — evils, which bad laws, and which the lawgiver, having been outstripped in his course by the bad administration of mischievous laws, had made unequalled in this country — evils, which would leave, if allowed to continue, nothing in the ])roperty of the country that coidd be held secure — nothing in the indus- try of the country that could be held safe of its due reward — nothing in the character of the country that could claim for it the respect which the character of the English peasant always de- manded— evils, ^Ahich had led to the multiplica- tion of misery, to the increase of many excesses of crime, but which once arrested, the country would be restored to a state of things, in which industry, stripped of its reward, idleness, profli- gacy, and vice would usurp the just and lawful rights of property no longer (great cheering.) A continuance in the existing system would occasion, he would not say, an agrarian division of pro- perty ; he was not sure it would not be worse. Peace itself had returned to them without its na- tural fruits. Disturbances had jjrevailed in dis- tricts where disturbances never existed before. Such had been the result of the old system ; and they were now called on to adopt a remedial mea- sure with all the evils full before them. He de- rived consolation from the conviction that this measure would not involve them in political fac- tions, or, to use a milder term, party discussion, (Cheers.) They had met together on this question, having no party to divide,— having no interest to bear them against each other. (Cheers.) No personal feeling would interfere from the begin- ning to the end of this discussion, which would indeed take place on the principle of the measure, and which would be followed hereafter by an in- vestigation of the details. Alost of their Lord- ships had had ample experience of the existing Poor Laws, — most of tbem were familiar with the exposition of the statutes of Elizabeth ; others had no doubt refreshed themselves by looking into the able report of the Poor Law Commissioners. He presumed, therefore, that they were all well qua- lified to enier into an examination of the present bill. He begged to call their Lorships' attention to the origin of the existing system, of its evils, and of the progress they made in the early part of this century. By some, the origin of the Poor Laws was attributed to the abolition of the monas- tic orders, and to the seizure of church property in the reign of Henry the 8th. It was not correct, however, to a'^cribc the origin wholly to that. But more incorrect still would it be lo deny that altogether as a cause. Those who had done so, rested the denial on the fact, that the 'J^d Eliz;t- e 2 68 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. beth followed the seizure of the monastic lands by about twenty j'ears. Unquestionably it was a fact, that this was the first poor law which made a compulsory provision for the poor. Out of this arose an argument against the Church estates, and they had the question of tithes constantly, and not very fairly, pressed into the service of the question of the Poor Laws. It was said that the original division was one- fourth for the bishops, one-fourth for the parsons, one-fourth for the repairs of the church, and one-fourth for the poor. But this had been dis- co%'ered to be a mistake. The proper division was atripartite division, — viz. one-third for the church, one third for the parson, and one-third for the maintenance of the poor. That principle of divi- sion existed long after the 15th of Richard the Second, when an act was passed in which the Le- gislature still recognized the right of the poor. In the reign of Elizabeth, it was also evident, from a quaint sentence attributed to the judges, that the principle was recognised by the courts of law. It was thought that if the poor recovered their right to maintenance from the Church, that this would put an end to the whole difficulty ; but he could not conceive any thing more mischievous, he could not imagine any thing that wovdd be more likely to militate against the interest of the poor, rather than in their favour, than to declare that there was any regular fund on which they could throw themselves for support. The consequence of the 43d of Elizabeth had been if not positive advantage, no particular evil. So long as the principle was to relieve only the impotent — the disabled in body or mind, to the exclusion of the able-bodied, the provisions proved no detriment. But those unfortunate words in the act, giving the overseers the power of taking an order for setting the poor to work, interpreted as it at first was, to find work for the patiper, and if it could not be found, to feed the pauper, followed, too, by the 36th George III., occasioned as much mischief as ever had resulted from the construction of any statute. He blamed not those who jjut that con- struction on it, it might have been a sound con- sti'uction. All he did was to call attention to the consequences. He knew that blame had also been imputed to the magistrates of the country for the manner of their administration of the Poor Laws. He was not one of those who would entertain that charge. The magistrates were a class to whom this country was much indebted, and on this sub- ject all that could be said of them was, that they were not before the age in which they lived. It was charging them with the want of more than human sagacity, to charge them with not having seen the effects of the system. They had the coun- tenance of the first men in the country, of legisla- tors, who had, over aud over again, laid down the principle ; of courts of law that had given it their solemn sanction. He did not know one instance in which a liberal construction had not been given to the enactments of the law, and in consequence the magistrates were encouraged in the system laid down. They had the most eminent authorities in their favour. He would not allude more particu- larly to Gilbert's Acts. But there was Mr. Pitt's plan in the year 1795. The plan of an individual of most masculine understanding, first as to de- tails, and next as to practical policy, as well as scientific principle. That plan said that the pau- per had a right to be comfortable in his own dwelling. This plan was not carried into effect : if it had been, it would have legalised the allow- ance system. It laid down the notable principle, that every poor man was entitled to comfortable support for himself and family in his own house, and that, for their better sustenance, they should be provided with a cow, a pig, and other whole- some and reasonable food. C-^ latighj Thus they had mistaken the only good principle, that men should be fed according to the work they did, and that men should be employed according to the de- mand for their work. (Hear, hear, hear.) The industrious man ought surely not to live worse than the idler, nor ought the idler to be allowed to run away with the portion properly belonging to him who worked. All this was as evident as that two and two made four. It was useless and superfluous to say so. The very proposition was as manifest in policy, as that two and two made four was true in arithmetic. Yet, against this principle, the Poor Law, and the whole adminis- tration of the Poor Law, seemed constantly, deli- berately, every instant, by night and day, during winter, and in good weather, — in famine and in plenty, — ^in peace and in war, — outrageously, per- petuallj'-, without change, or the shadow of change. (Cheers,) But it woidd be said, that though every man ought, as a general rule, to be made to depend upon his own resources, and that no man should be permitted to sit idle and eat the bread of another man's industrj'', yet that there were oc- casions when this rule must bend to necessity — such as in cases of sickness, or where the party, if not supported by the community, must die. Un- doubtedly such cases do occur. His own opinion was, that the sounder principle wovdd be, that this should be left to private charity, which he held to be much the greater blessing, both to him who received and him who gave : this, however, was not the question i-aised on the present occa- sion ; nor did he mean to say, that, under exist- ing circumstances, be objected to the compulsory principle. Of all doctrines, the least safe was that which provided a fund, payable by the State or a parish known to all the community, and so ad- ministered that all sorts and classes of men, the deserving and the undeserving', the idle by neces- ity and the idle by choice, considered themselves as entitled by natural and indefeasible right, to apply to it at any time they chose to do so. The existence of such a fund led to two evils — the first, that from the very nature of its existence it could not be otherwise than abused in its distribu- tion ; for the feelings of magistrates and over- seers could no more be trusted to in tVie distribu- tion of this public charity than those of individuals in the bestowal of private charity. The other evil consequence of the system, and by far the greatest evil of the two, was this, that, in the knowledge of the existence of such a fund, young people en- tered into improvident marriages, in the full confi- dence, that however great the number of their children might be, those children, as well as them- selves, would be supported from that fund ; and this feeling induced them not only to marry im- providently, but to act improvidently. He trusted the House would not think he was occupying over much of their time by too didactic arguments, but he felt himself bound to state his opinions on this most important subject. As he had said before, he objected to this system as most unsafe and im- politic: the safest, and, indeed, the almost only safe charity, was a hospital for accidents, for the existence, however generally known, of such a hospital, would in no degree tend to augment the number of the persons who derived a benefit from it. The next safest charity was that of a dispen- sary, though he did not entertain so unmixed an THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 69 Opinion in favour of this species of institution, be- cause, as a man was more liable to sickness than to accident, he was, for that reason, bound to an- ticipate its occurrence, and to do his best to pro- vide accordingly, by putting by a portion of his earnings. To dispensaries, however, he would not go to the rigorous length of objecting: but when he came to the third species of charity, that of an institution for the reception of the aged and in- firm, he felt a much stronger feeling of objection, for old age and its consequent infirmities were a goal which every man must necessarily look for- ward to, and which every man, therefore, was bound to his utmost to provide for in some way or other. But the institution which most sinned against every sound principle, was that which pro- vided fer the support of children. Of all our pub- lic institutions, that which had beeen the greatest outrage against sound principle, was the Foundling Hospital, an institution, however, which, to show the great advance we had made in the science of political economy and good government, from be- ing considered the greatest ornament of the me- tropolis, and richly endowed, now no longer re- tained its original features or appropriation, for it had not for many years received any foundlings ; and the same was the case with the Dublin Found- liug hospital. Indeed, he considered a foundling hospital a public nuisance, which ought to be sum- marily abated. The great evil of the poor laws of of this country was that it sinned against the lead- ing doctrine, that reward should be connected with labour, and the idle should not eat the bread earn- ed by the industrious. The distribution of charity by parishes was the more injurious in its effects, be- cause more liable to abuse, fi'om being more cer- tain its nature, more known in its existence, and because, from the nature of its existence, it gave rise in the minds of the poor people to a notion of which nothing could divest them, that they had a strict, an undeniable, and a general right to ap- ply to it for support whenever they pleased. That pernicious practice, which was known under se- veral denominations, but which was generally called by the comprehensive name of the allow- ance system, which arose out of the scarcity of 1/95, was a complete developement of all the evils which lurked in the 43d of Elizabeth, but which it required a length of time and a succession of hu- man improvidence and want of foresight to educe. He had known only two excuses ever proffered for this pernicious system, which he would shortly advert to in order to show their utter fallacy. The fact was, an opinion which had been stoutly main- tained by an excellent and talented friend of his in the other House, who, though possessed of much local knowledge and experience, had by no means taken an enlarged view of this important question, — this gentleman had approved of the system, because he considered it calculated to support the character of the labourer, in enabling him, when in distress, to come with an erect and dignified port to demand, as a right, that support to which, as an Englishman, he was entitled, but which, otherwise, he would be compelled to beg and pray for like a slave. Nmv, he (Lord \'>.) could not imagine any more fallacious argument than the one here advanced ; for, so far from the system having any such tendency as the one here alleged, it had a precisely contrary effect, for it had almost wholly destroyed the character of the labourer; for, where the nari;e of pauper had heretofore been considered by the individual and his family as a name of disgrace — little better than that of yis/on,— it was now no longer felt as a scan- dal ; the labourer, indeed, came with an erect port to demand his money, but it was not with the dignity arising from the feeling of worth plunged into unmerited distress, but with the "sturdy" air of "masterful" beggar — a beggar by choice, and not by necessity, who insolently tramples upon the honest rate-payer by whose in- dustry he is fed. (Hear, hear.) This was not, then.'a system which raised the character of the labourer, for, on the contrary, it lowered, if it did not entirely destroy it, and rendered him vicious in action, and base in jn-inciple, if it did not de- prive him of every principle whatever- The other excuse made in defence of the system, was one which he spoke of with great respect, as proceed- ing from a man whose experience he highly esteemed ; that gentleman approved of it, as con- sidering it an effective check upon a surplus popu- lation ; for, said he, while no laws which human legislatures could desire, or still less execute, could prevent improvident marriages, the poor laws presented an effectual check upon them, from the manner in which relief was distributed. Now, certainly, a more short-sighted argument than this, or one made use of with less reference to facts and circumstances, had never been advanced in the whole history of human error. The very reverse of this effect was palpable in this fatal law ; for the corner-stone of the pernicious build- ing was the incentive and encouragement it held out to improvident marriages, {hear, hear.') What more direct encouragement, indeed, could have been thought of for such marriages, than the say- ing to a young couple, " Here's a fund at your service ; you have only to marry and have child- ren, and we will not only support you and your children, but we will make you more comfortable than the industrious man, who labours hard and does not marry, from an honest determination not to have a family till he can support one ? " Be- fore he (Lord B.) concluded his observations on this subject of population, he could not feel satis- fied if he did not do justice to a most learned, a most able, and most virtuous individual, whose name had been mixed up with more odious misre- presentation than any other name of science, he believed, in this protestant country, or in the pre- sent enlightened age. Every man would under- stand who he meant, when he named as that great man's attributes, — talent, honesty, integrity, the strongest sense of public duty, the most amiable feelings in private life ; when he described him as the distinguished ornament and delight of his pri- vate and literary circle, as one of the most blame- less and virtuous men that ever breathed ; when he had stated these attributes, no one could hesi- tate at pronouncing the name of Professor Mal- thus, a man who, though he had made one of the greatest and most beneficial discoveries in political and social science ever conceived, whose abilities were as original as they were transcendant, had been the subject of the malignant and flippant attacks of the low-minded and the ignorant. He (Lord B.) would now pro- ceed to call the attention of the House to one of tiie most important steps which the Government had undertaken— the issuing of the Poor Law Commission. He had been one of tho^e who thought there was sufficient information already before the House ; but on more close inquiry he found that, to obtain a full understanding of the practical effects ot the Poor Laws, it would be in- dispensible that such a commission should issue, and the labours of the Commissioners had fully satisfied his anxiety for such information. The 70 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. country was highly indebted to those gentlemen for the unexampled industry and talent they had so eminently displayed in obtaining information, and compiling their admirable and most eminently useful report. The judgment in the selection of these Commissioners had been fully evinced in the result. The Rev. Prelate the Bishop of Lon- don. Mr. Sturges Bourne, Mr. Coulson, Mr. Chadwicke, and the other gentlemen, had fully deserved the highest commendation which the country could bestow upon them. Their report was one whose details were of the highest interest and importance. From it it appeared that through- out the country able-I)odied labourers preferred small sums paid them by the parish, which they did no labour to earn, to large sums obtained by wages for labour perfnrmed. Many instances were adduced of young men saying they preferred 3s. fid. a-week parish money, and the liberty of being idle, to 10s. a-week earned by labour. But it was not to be supposed that these parties were merely idle ; alarming facts proved that these very idle paupers were always amongst the first to originate and take the lead in executing mischief and crime. Nor was this feeling confined to the lazy agricultural labourers, for the evil had spread itself among the hard-working seamen and fishermen, who heretofore would have dared every danger of every season of the year on the ocean, in order to keep themselves and fami- lies from the parish, but who now, as a matter of course, threw themselves upon their parish for ■unearned sujjport during the winter months, de- claring that they would never go out in bad wea- ther while they could remain at home comfortable and get supported by the parish. These were facts which required no commentary. [Hear, hear.) And not only did these paupers assert their right to as much money as was earned by the indepen- dent labourer, but, in many parishes, they assert- ed their right to be exempted from working as hard as the independent labourer, and, indeed, in one or two parishes, the grounds of appeal by paupers, from the overseers to the justices, was that the ox'erseers wanted to make them work as hard as the independent labourer. {Hear, hear.) The next evil was, that paupers had not only less work to do than the independant labourer, but they were better off in many places ; their ac- tual receipts were considerably larger than those obtained by persons who supported themselves by their industry. [Hear, hear.) This disparity was particularly observable in some parts of Sussex, where, according to the report, each pauper re- ceived sixteen shillings a-week from the parish, while no independent labourer, work hard as he might, could earn more than twelve shillings ; and, in the Isle of Wight, a case occurred of two hun- dred paupers rebelling because they were paid no more for doing nothing than the independent la- bourer, and they succeeded in getting a rise ac- cording to their demand. He did not so much blame the men as these laws, which made them what they were. Again, the law of nature declared that parents should support their child- ren ; and that, as a general rule, all distressed re- latives should be relieved by such of their kindred as were better off than themselves ; but the Poor Laws said no such thing ; on the contrary, they said, " Don't trouble yourselves about support- ing your parents, or your children, or your dis- tressed relations, the parish will do all that for you; " and hence arose the most disgusting con- duct in such children, for parents said to the parish officers, "If you don't give me more to support my son, I shall turn him out," and, as in a case mentioned in the Report, a son comes and says, " If you don't give me some money for the support of my mother, I'll take her out of my house and lay her down in the street, or at the door of the workhouse." This was, then, a sys- tem which not only tended to destroy the best feel- ings of humanity, to counteract the law of nature, but it had a direct tendency to ruin the country. If it were persevered in, parish after parish would be thrown out of cultivation, for where one parish wa-i thrown out, the unavoidable tendency would be to throw out three or four of the surrounding parishes. Some people seemed to think it would be better to remain as we were, and to avoid any attempt to better things, least they should become worse, but he was decidediy of opinion, that things were in such a position that we could not stop short with impunity. The picture presented by the report was a most harsh, a gloomy, and awful one, and the most determined, though still cautious legislation, was necessary to avert the calamity. The laws we had made had reversed the original curse on man — " by the sweat of your brow shall you live," but the Poor Laws, took from the labouring man the rewards of the sweat of his brow, and bestowed it upon those who worked not. The Poor Laws, too, took from the poor man that safeguard from vice, which consists in labour and industry, for the pauper spent his time in that idleness which invariably produces vice and crime. The crimes which the calendar were swollen with, murder, infanticide, incest, were in a very great part attributable to the Poor Laws. The sole exceptions to the general report of de- pravity and corruption detailed in this volume, were to be found in the manufacturing towns, those flourishing seats of art, which alone seemed to oppose any resistance to the entrance into them of this fatal evil ; but it would be in vain to ex- pect that even such places as these, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, should long remain as they now were, so many oases in the desert, it be- came, then, the bounden duty of the Legislature, before all was involved in one common ruin, to make a firm stand, and to bring into effect real and practical reformation of these manifold and destructive evils. He did not for the present say anything about repealing these laws, which he should look upon for the time as the fixed la.w of the land ; but much might be done in amending their administration, (hear, hear,) and to this they should apply their best attention. One thing to be attended to was the separate jurisdiction. At present the utmost want of uniformity and regu- larity prevailed, and the consequences were very mischievous. One magistrate laid down one rule ; another, another ; one set of over- seers had one system, another set had another; one bench of justices one rule; another, another. Now, as everything depended upon unity of system in the persons who adminis- tered these laws, the present want of unity must be fatal to good administration. So differentwere the plans in different parishes, that though next to each other, one would suppose them to be in different counties. The change which was wanted might be very simple ; for several cases had oc- curred where a simple plan of action carried fairly into effect, had effected the most extraordinary im- provement in the respective parishes; the poor- rates diminished one half, tlie idle reclaimed and set to work, and the industrious rewarded accord- ing to their works. Scotland, in the matter of her poor law administration was an example which THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 71 the House would do well to attend to. The English and Scotch laws relative to the providing further power were not very diflferent in their nature ; but they were very different in their administration. The Scotch, with that prudence and caution which characterised their proceedings in everything, took care in all possible cases to avoid assessment. It was only in extreme cases that they consented to it. In Glasgow, and some of the parishes in that part of Scotland which were most exposed to the influx of Irish labourers, it was necessary to have recourse to assessment ; and it had also been found proper to resort to it in other parts of the country, in cases of scarcity arising from famine, or other causes, as was the case in 1795. But it was always with the greatest reluctance they did so. The Scotch administered relief to their poor on a most sensible and judicious plan. But it was far differ- ent in England. Here there were great abuses in the administration of the Poor Laws, and never could those laws be properly administered until we had a rigorous and uniform system for the pur- pose. It had been said, in objection to the jjro- posal to have a uniform system of Poor Laws, Why not leave the administration of the affairs of each parish in its own hands, in the same way as the administration of an individual's own affairs is left in his hands ? He (the Lord Chancellor) would never expect that where there was a combination of men with interested views, the affairs of others would be administered by them with'that careful- ness and prudence, with which an individual managed his affairs. This fact was confirmed by the history of too many Charities. The noble and learned lord here referred to several cases illustra- tive of the abuses to which he alluded, and then proceeded. Does not this show how long a bad system may prevail before people open their eyes to its evils ? The bill to which he was directing the attention of their lordships, was to put an end to these abuses and evils. At present there was a great want of proper persons to superintend the affairs of parishes. With regard to the Poor Law itself, he would at present say nothing. When the administration of its provisions was corrected, then they might take the law itself into their con- sideration. He had now to entreat their lordships' attention for a short time longer, while he referred to another point. He knew that a prejudice had been attempted to be created against this measure, by associating it with political economy and poli- tical economists. It had been said, that the authors of the measure were theorists, spcculatists, vision- aries, and, to sum up all, as if that were the worst charge which could be brought against them, that they were political economists. This was said as if political economists were necessarily theo- rists, speculatists, and visionaries. Why, he hoped, and indeed he was sure, it was un- necessary to state to their lordships that many of the greatest and most celebrated men of modern times, heads of academies, and the most distinguished seats of learning of the present day — men whose names would be venerated long after they were dead, wei'e political econo- mists. The greatest men of his (the Lord Chan- cellor's) day, were political economists. Pitt him- self was a political economist. The name of Adam Smith, popular as he has since been and now is, was scarcely known, and certainly his works ex- cited little attention, until brought before the country by Mr. Pitt quoting and praising his writings in the House of Commons. That great statesman was fond of the science of political economy. He (Mr. Pitt) was a bad political eco- nomist, it must be admitted ; but still he was fond of the subject, and was perhaps as good as any statesman of his time. Will any one, then, say that Mr. Pitt was a visionary or a theorist ? Mr. Canning also was a political economist : was he a speculatist or a visionary ? He (the Lord Chan- cellor) had heard many objections to Mr. Canning on other grounds, but never on this. Mr. Hus- kisson, likewise, was a political economist. He supposed their lordships would be told that that gentleman also was a visionary, a mere theorist, and that he knew nothing of the true principle of trade and commerce, and national finance. Why, if he (the Lord Chancellor) were to search all England, he did not know where he could find a more practical statesman, or one who more dis- liked theory, than Mr. Huskisson. Henry Thorn- ton was another political economist ; yet he was a banker, and possessed a tliorough knowledge of business. The French political economists also numbered among them some of the greatest men that country ever produced. But ignorance was always absurd. Science sometimes proved the parent of ridiculous notions ; but the absurdities of ignorance were endless, were boundless. It makes men " dressed in a little brief authority," play the most fantastic tricks. With respect to the French economists, they were charged by those who knew no better with being levellers and re- publicans ; whereas those who knew anything of them, knew that they not only flourished under a despotism or absolute Monarchy, but expressed themselves satisfied with that system of Govern- ment. In fact the greatest objection which he had to the French economists was, they were too much attached to our own absolute Monarchy. If he (the Lord Chancellor) could be charged with being a theorist, a speculatist, and a visionary, be- cause he approved of those papers [it was supposed the noble and learned lord referred to the report of the Poor Law Commissioners,] he would willingly submit to it, consoled by the re- flection that he shared it with such eminent men. With respect to the report of the Commissioners, they (the Government) had rejected the one half of their suggestions — some of them of very great importance, because they were anxious not to adopt so many at once. If those which they had adopted, and which were introduced into the pre- sent measure, should be found to operate bene- ficially, the others would certainly receive from him his best attention, and they could, if approved of, be afterwards acted on. He now begged their lordship's attention for a little, while he adverted to the plan which Ministers had devised for the better administration of the poor laws : first, the uniformity of the system, which was so important a feature of the plan, could only be carried into effect by a central board of commissioners. Se- cond, those commissioners must not be political persons — that is to say, not Members of either Plouse of Parliament, and not in any way connec- ted with the State. And when he (the Lord Chan- cellor) should be shown a man, who, by his sound judgment, amiableness of disposition, and practical knowledge of the subject, was qualiffed for the situation, he would at once, however different might be that person's politics from his, vote for his appointment to the office. Or, if two men were proposed, with one of whom he difteredin opinion on political topics, while he agreed with the other, he should decide in favour of the one from whom he differed in opinion, if he thought him the best qualified for the appointment. (Hear, hear .') It was necessary that the commissioners should 72 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. possess large discretionary powers. Unless they had large discretionary powers conferred upon them, they could never administer the poor laws under the new system to advantage ; for when anything went wrong, which they would not have sufficient discretionary powers to enable them to correct, they would have to wait until they got a new act of Parliament, and thus everything would be at a stand-still until next session. Again ; it was necessary that the commissioners should possess large discretionary powers, because the circumstances of different parishes were different. The circumstances of agricultural parishes, for example, were different from those of commercial parishes; and, as it was impossible the Legislature could be acquainted with the peculiar circumstan- ces of each parish, it was necessary to give discre- tionary powers to the commissioners. The powers which it was proposed to give to the commissioners were called arbitrary by some ; and by others un- constitutional and novel. He (the Lord Chancellor) woidd admit that they were novel as to their ad- ministration, but certainly not as to their existence. With regard to the extent of their powers, he would simply say they were really irresponsible bodies which existed under the present system that possessed such large powers. The fears which were entertained lest the povvers of the Commis- sioners should be abused, were, in his opinion, groundless. But, supposing that there really were danger to be apprehended from the exercise of those powers, he would ask their Lordships were those times which required nothing out of the usual way ? Need he remind their Lordships of the state of things to which the present system of Poor Laws had brought the country. What was the unanimous testimony to the existing state of matters as brought about by the operation of those laws .' Judges of the land, magistrates, men of science, tradesmen, as well as landlords and farmers — men in every class of society — all men, in short, whose testimony was worth having, con- curred with one voice in representing the present state of things as frightful — a state of things which made industry and idleness, and honesty and kna- very change places, and which had nearly annihi- lated commerce and agriculture. He would not have referred to the melancholy condition to which the existing system of Poor Laws had brought the country, and especially the labouring classes of the country, if he did not believe, if he were not satisfied that the hand of the Legislature could raise up and elevate the degraded character of the English peasantry — a peasantry, whose character for independence of mind, and all that is noble and virtuous, would, but for the operation of the present Poor Laws, have been to the remotest ages of the world, the wonder and admiration of their country. (Cheers). With respect to birth-settle- ment, the bill said nothing. He (the Lord Chan- cellor was a great friend to birth-settlement, and he hoped that ere long something would be done relative to it ; but, at the present time, he thought it better not to attempt doing anything. Then came the point of hiring service-settlement. That was extremely objectionable : it was so objection- able as to be given up by all. It led to a great deal of evasion of the law, which it was very easy to do. And another evil which already resulted from it, and of which it had long been the prolific source, were the differences to which it led between the master and the man. Formerly the most friendly feeling existed between masters and men- servants. It was customary before 1795 for them to dine together, which in the poorer class of far- mers not only fostered a spirit of mutual good feeling, but the consequences were most beneficial in many respects. When a young man intended to marry, he generally informed his master of the cir- cumstance, and|the master thoughtithis duty, when the case was such as to justify the thing, to warn him against the consequences of marrying before he had any prospect of being able to support a wife and family. The advice, from the moral influence the master possessed over the servant, was often acted on ; and the mistress of the house had ge- nerally a similar influence on the female servants. In short, the masters and mistresses of farm- houses, before the Poor Laws had brought on the present state of thing, did exactly in this respect what Professor Malthus has had so mucVi obloquy thrown on him for attempting to do, namely, to prevent imprudent marriages. At the time to which he (the Lord Chancellor) referred, the crime of bastardy was not a twentieth part so common as it is now. The hiring service settlement was also most injurious to the character of servants. The three weeks in the year which they went about idle to evade the law, opened the road to crimes and led to the contraction of bad habits, from which they were seldom afterwards reclaimed. They went about during these three weeks to fairs and other places, where their morals were cor- rupted and where they formed idle habits. And as regarded female servants, they often, when thus going about idle to evade the law, lost their character altogether. Their parents often resided at a distance — it might be of fifty miles, and they could not afford the expenses of a journey to see them. Hence they fell into bad company, and often were ruined altogether. Apprentice settlement was bad also. It was now abolished, and he was glad of it. All these settlements had been left out of the bill. The only other change was that which related to the law of bastardy. That was, he would say it, a bold, yet it was a most necessary change, and he was sure it would prove a most salutary one. The existing law with regard to bastardy was a most injurious- one, both as re- garded the woman and the man. It left both in that state that the one trusted to the consequences falling on the other. He (the Lord Chancellor) would go one step farther than this. He would say that it stirred up the frailties of the flesh ; for the woman reasoned in this way — ;•' If I become the mother of a child to this man, I will compel him to marry me." In addition, then, to the natural infirmities of the flesh, the woman often proceeded to the commission of the offence from a cool calculation of the advantage, in this point of view, to which she might turn it. It furnished a soporific to her conscience, by looking forward to marriage as the probable result of her crime. The new law with regard to bastardy was the same in principle as that on which the Judges of the land legislated every day in cases of conjugal infidelity. It would make the woman trust to herself; it would make her the preserver and protector of her own virtue ; it would prevent her yielding to the solicitations of her seducers, when yielding would gain her nothing, but make her lose every thing. The seducer in that case would storm the citadel, and beat at the door in vain. He had now gone through all the important parts of this measure. In addressing their lordships at such length on the measure, he certainly had not been led into the question by the seductions of the subject. He had no pleasure, no delight in contemplating the scenes of degradation and unhappiness which the state of the labouring classes of this country presented, THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. n and to which he had called their lordship's atten- tion. In unflertaking the performance of the task, he was actuated solely hy a sense of public duty, it was this sense of public duty which alone vanquished the reluctance he felt to bring the subject before their lordships. Never in the whole course of liis life did he feel so relieved, as when his noble friend, late at the head of his Majesty's Government, consented to move the second reading cf the bill. He had in the whole course of his j)olitica] lii'e taken a lively interest in the subject of the Poor laws, and as soon as he came into office he had resolved on bringing their present state under the consideration of Parlia- ment, and was only deterred from doing so by the all absorbing subject of the Keform Bill. After the Reform Bill, the Commission for an inquiry into the State of the Poor Laws was issued, and it became needless and of no effect to bring the mat- ter then forward till such time as the Report of the Commissioners was made. Those circum- stance had retarded the bringing forward of this measure; but having been connected with the subject, from the circumstances wliich he had mentioned, he did not shrink from the duty which the bringing forward of it imposed upon him. He declared that he had no sinster motive in bringing it forward. He neither wished to distinguish him- self, nor did he wish to court popularity for the Government of which he was a member. He felt that, with the greatest portion of the country, no apology was necessary for having brought forward this measure. It was only necessary to those who did not understand the subject. The only risk the Government ran was from misconception among "•^he more ignorant of the people, arising from misdirection and a mistaken notion of the views and objects which the Government had in bring- ing forward the measure. The Government sought no advantage from the measure in any manner as a party. They resolved manfully to do their duty — neither looking to the right nor to the left — regardless whom they might irritate, or whom alarm, but resolved to act for the good of the people themselves, who had hitherto cordially trusted them — (hear, hear,) — determined to con- sult the real good of the people, and trusting to the support and co-operation of the enlightened, the rational, and the honest portion of the commu- nity (cheers). THE BUDGET. {From the Morning Herald.) Lord Althorp's budget, though delivered in somewhat more intelligible language than his lord- ship has generally the faculty to attain to, partakes of all that littleness of mind, of tliat preponder- ance of small matters over large, for which his financial schemes have become familiarized to the country. Will it be believed, for instance, with any other man at the head of its Exchequer, the country could witness any thing so puerile and in- sulting as the noble lord's treatment of the agricul- turists— a class the most important of any in the country — one whose distress and depression are universally felt and acknowledged — and to the re- lief of whom his Majesty, in his speech at the opening of the session, was advised to call the par- ticular attention of his " faithful Commons ?" Yet to this class his lordship offers various paltry boons, amounting in the whole to 70,000/., not equal to the duty on starch (the remission of which, by the bye, may be considered a boon to the agriculturists, though not taken credit for by Lord Althorp as such,) and not more than one-third of the relaxed duties on prunes, currants, and sun- dry other articles of foreign produce, on which no reduction was called for or expected by the coun- try. Now putting all Lord Althorp's nothings to- gether, and combining them with the flourishing state of the revenue on nearly every head, can there be any doubt but that a more enlarged mind had the fairest possible opportunity of doing some- thing which might have been really useful to agri- culture, in lieu of a tribe of paltry concessions alike contemptible in their nature, and valueless in their consequences ? Can there be now any doubt but that the whole, or greater part, of the malt tax might have been remitted, by means of which not only wou Id the greatest possible benefit have been conferred upon agriculture, but the people at large might have been weaned from the pestilent gin- shops and beer-shops, to enjoy at home, once more will) their families, the wholesome, home-brewed, staple beverage of the country ? But no ! to the mind of our enlightened Chancellor of the Ex- chequer the increased consumption of liquid fire is courted and calculated upon as a financial bless- ing ; while shepherd curs may bark unmuzzled at the tax-gatherer, and boys of eighteen jare allowed to clean the farmers' boots and groom their steeds exempt from a charge of 24s per annum. " O fortunatos nimium, sua si bona norlnt, Agricolas." IRISH TITHES. {From the Morning Chronicle.) We yesterday stated the effect of the proposition carried by a great majority evidently not in hos- tility to tiie government — viz. to reduce the stand- ard of tithe-coraposition two-fifths or 40 per cent. ; to exonerate forthwith all tenants and occu- piers of lands in Ireland from the payment of tithe ; and to compel all the landlords to pay the remaining three-fifths. The original bill introduced by Lord Althorp and Mr. Littleton offered the bonus of 40 per cent., to the landlord to assume the payment as an option ; the amendment of Mr. O'Connell makes that compulsory and general which was only optional and partial. The pecu- niary effect of this bill, when it passes into a law, will be to relieve the land altogether from upwards of 270,000/., or two-fifths of the present amount of tithe. The church will be no real loser. Up- wards of 20 per cent, of the Irish tithe being cost of collection, never reached the pockets of the clergy ; that portion of it will be wholly extin- guished. The remaining deficiency of 150,000/. will be partly supplied by about 60,000/. per an- num, the present surplus of the church tempo- rality fund, leaving about 90,000/. at present chargeable on the consolidated fund or state re- venue— but which advances will be ultimately re- funded to the state as the temporalities fund in- creases. We do not deny that this sweeping bill may operate as a hardship in particular cases ; and we admit that the integrity of property is partially affected by its principle of reduction of 40 per cent, in favour of the landlords. But view- ing the measure as a whole — considering the enor- mity and magnitude of the evils the bill will ex- 74 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. tinguish — and considering also the advantage of transferring the burden and legal responsibility of payment from tenants and occupiers to the land- lords, we think the balance of good is in favour of the measure ; and we do not attacli much weight to the objections of fraud on tlie churcli and par- tiality to the liish landlords. Taking the average cost of collection at 23 per cent. — in some districts it is much less, in others more— the landlords really receive from the state but 17 per cent, boiius for their obligation of tithe payment. It by no means follows, or is probable, that tlie landlords will generally recover the whole additional burden of their payment of tithe by a proportionate in- crease of rent from their tenants ; some allowance was therefore due to them on this account. And what do the clergy gain ? The substitute of a fixed and perpetual rent charge in lieu of the present obnoxious and uncertain impost— the advantage of an improved security, and the freedom from colli- sion with the mass of the people. The state also secures 60 per cent, of the gross tithe of Ireland from the grasp of tlie landlords, who were evi- dently seeking to pocket the wliole tax. Thus, the tithes being equally " applotted," and com- muted in the reduced value of a land tax, will be preserved for parliament to deal with as may be hereafter determined ; and when the dimensions of the Irish church are further reduced, a state fund will exist for purposes of moral instruction, and for the demands of emergencies. Objections are easily made, but legislators must take all cir- cumstances into consideration, and, like surgeons, they must sometimes resort to the amputation of a limb to preserve the rest of the body. TITHES, (From the Globe.) It is greatly to be lamented thatother, and perhaps more pressing matters have prevented the measure for a commutation of tithes in England from being matured and passed into a law this session ; and we trust that no exertion will be spared to make the final settlement of the English tithe question one of the first measures of the next year. The turn the Irish tithe question has taken, makes it still more important than before to settle the ques- tion in England. The Irish farmers, whose pro- duce is admitted into England on terms of equality with the produce of this island, are, by the Irish tithe bill as it is now altered, wholly relieved from tithe — a large fraction (two-fifths of the moderate composition which was previously paid) being altogether extinguished, and the residue being to be paid by the landlord, who is not, as we under- stand the arrangement, to exact on this account any increase of rent from his tenant. The Irish fai'mer, having previously the advantage of being exempt from much of the weight of local burthens to which the English farmer is subject, will now be legally as well as practically relieved from the only charge by which it can be alleged that the cultivation of the fertile land in Ireland is in any degree affected. Irish and English farmers under these circumstances do not meet one another in the market on equal terms, and the inequality will te naturally felt. In England, therefore, the effort should be made, as in Ireland, to make the burthen of tithes ultimately a landlord's tax, and to prevent it in any case from operating as a discouragement to cultivation. The footing on which the question may be best settled has long appeared to us to be redemption, and the substitution ultimately of lands for tithes. A fixed money rent is full of inconve- niences— a corn rent is not free from them ; but if inducements be held out to the owners of land to buy up the tithes, and the purchase-money be laid out in lands, a permanent and increasing provision for public instruction is secured without any evil arising from that provision to the agriculture of the kingdom. In effecting this settlement some con- cession of strict right may be required, but it will be surely wise, both for landlords and tithe owners, to make some concession for the sake of a speedy settlement. THE IRISH TITHE BILL. (From the Times.) The Irish Tithe Bill made considerable progress during the last week, but we are not ashamed to confess our strong dissatisfaction not only with the principles on which that measure has been constructed, but on the change which has been wrought upon it by Mr. O'Connell's motion. But if there has been one truth more forcibly stated, and more freely and universally recognised, than another, imtil within these late unfortunate proceedings, it was, that in no case, and under no circumstances, should the property of the chuiJ'Ili be transferred to any other body not a claimant for public remuneration, support, or bounty, on the score of services rendered to the state, or of neces- sities or privations inflicted by it. Least of all was any advocate of tithe adjust- ment so bold as to recommend that little short of a moiety of the church revenue should in the first stage of the proposed measure," nay, as a prelimi- nary to it, be at one daring stroke swept away from the clergyman, and into the landlord's pocket ? We are sensible that this purpose has been dis- guised under many plausible names, and dressed up with various fine pretences, but it is neverthe- less a downright and most impolitic spoliation of the weak, for the profit of the powerful. It has been described as affording " relief to the occupy- ing tenant." The occupying tenant is undoubt- edly the party by whom tithe has hitherto been paid. But what follows, if he happen to be a te- nant at will or year by year ? His landlord comes to him and says, " Now that you are no longer to be charged with tithe, you can afford to pay me so much more rent, and accordingly next year I must lay on 8s. or 10s. (as the case may be) additional per acre." So with every longer lease near expir- ing, or whenever the day of its expiration arrives, the same language will be held before the renewal and a larger sum will be imposed in rent than ever was charged in tithe. Then again, with regard to the landlord himself ; see how this transfer must necessarily work, should there be a large proportion of hi? estate leased out for long terms, as 21 or 31 years (frequent in Ire- land) against him. Where his tenant formerly THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 75 paid 25/. of tithe, be (the landlord) will hence- forth be saddled with 15/. Where the whole te- nantry of an estate paid 200?. before, the landlord will now have to come down with 120/., and the church loses no less than 80/. Of course we are told that the consolidated fund is to make up one half this dehcit. But for how many sessions after the proceedings of last week will such a compen- sation be vouchsafed to the clergy, or to the chari- table or other establishments by which they may be nominally represented? The operation of this tithe measure, therefore, is — 1st, A relief to the te- nant for term of years at the expense of the land- lord, who let his ground with an understanding that the tenant was to pay the tithe. 2d, It vvill, after the termination of existing leases, re-impose the tithe in an aggravated form on the tenantry, the landlords requiring to be indemnihed for their preceding loss. 3d, It will be a spoliation of the church establishment both immediate and perma- nent, and an extinction of every hope of surplus income, applicable to the general wants and ob- jects of the state. Finally, it has created a prece- dent for the wholesale breaking up of that thing called " property," which, it is manifest from the menaces put forth by Mr. Shell, there will be no reluctance even a few months hence to follow. Once more, we must guard ourselves against the imputation of a desire to limit the whole Irish church revenue at its present level to the uses of the parochial clergy of Ireland, however much on inquiry it might appear disproportioned to their wants or services ; but we dread the example of such an experimental change as this. These are the difficulties which show themselves on the face of the transaction. We are nevertheless bound to acknowledge that the case of the Church of Ire- land seemed almost desperate before the tithe mea- sure was brought in, and that if the question should really be whether the clergy are to lose a severe per centage on their income, or, as is feared by their ministerial friends, the whole of it, which may be possible from the existing state of Ireland, we can do nothing but supplicate the lords to con- sult their lordships' means at the expense of their wishes, and to save a remnant of the Irish church by sacrificing those of its appendages, which en- danger the whole body of the institution. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE DRUNKENNESS. O.V (From the Herald.) Of the remedial or preventive measures really recommended by the Committee in their report, tliere are some which we do not hesitate to say would be highly beneficial if adopted, and of dieir practicability there can be no doubt ; for instance, the reduction of the duty on tea, coffee, and sugar, and all healthy and unintoxicating articles of drink in ordinary use, so as to place within the reach of all classes the least injurious beverage on much cheaper terms than the most destructive. It is our opinion that the heavy duties to wjiich the wholesome stimulants coffee, tea, &:c., have been subjected in this country, have greatly tended to cherish the baneful passion for ardent spirits, and thus does the cupidity of the Exchequer demor- alize the people and create crime for our death-de- novmcing laws to punish. Again, is there anything absurd or impracticable in the suggestion that the payment of the wages of workmen in public-houses or in any place where intoxicating spirits are sold should be prohibited ? The Legislature has already made one step of re- form in that direction by the Act of the 9th of the Geo. II., cap. 23, which provides that " if any master or other person shall agree with any journeyman, workman, servant, or labourer, or other person employed by him or for him, to pay to him so much money for wages, and so much spirituous liquors, as, together with the money, sh;dl amount to the value of the wages usually paid in such cases, or shall set off" or deduct any part of the wages for any spirituous liquors, he shall be deemed a retailer, and forfeit 20/ over and above the other penalties, and such servant shall be entitled to his whole wages." What is there, we say, more deserving of sneers and ridicule in at- tempting to put down by legislative enactment the one pernicious practice than the other ? Why was the 24th Geo. II. passed to prevent the selling of spirituous liquors within any gaol, prison, house of correction, or workhouse, or in any house of entertainment for the parish poor ? Why, but be- cause the iise of spirituous liquors was found to be utterly subversive of habits of subordination, and an insurmountable obstacle to moral improve- ment, yet those intoxicating beverages are still not only permitted but supplied by the Government to the army and navy, where implicit subordina- tion is considered the chief of virtues ! Thus the incentives to violate discipline are thrown among our brave men, and then the cat-o'-ninetails tears the flesh from their backs, in the brutal process of reducing them to that state of military obedience from which the demon of the canteen has been licensed to seduce them. Now, another recommendation of the Com- mittee is the discontinuance of all issues of ardent spirits (except as medicine, under the direction of medical officers), to the navy and army, on all stations, and to every body of men employed by or under the control of Government, and the sub- stitution of other nutritious and wholesome ar- ticles of refreshment. The Committee also recom- mend the abolition of all garrison and barrack canteens, at home and abroad, and the substituting some other and better mode of filling up the leisure of men confined within military forts and lines than what such canteens afford, and what au- thority do the Committee proceed upon in making this recommendation ? They state that they do so in conformity with the opinion of most of the military oflScers examined on this point, who state that the drinking in such canteens is the most fer- tile source of all the insubordination, crime, and consequent punishment inflicted on the men. The soldier who was executed at Chatham the other day, for the murder of his serjeant, committed that dreadful act while staggering in the ranks from in- toxication. The Serjeant had threatened to send him to the guardhouse for being drunk, and, in the temporary madness of inebriety he presented his musket and shot him. We have scarcely ever heard or read of the murder of one of his officers 16 THE FARMER^S MAGAZINE. by a soldier that has not been committed in that state of %vhich the Venetian Lieutenant so bitterly repented, when he exclaimed, " It hath pleased the devil drunkenness to give place to the devil wratli." In the United States of America the Secretary at War has already acted upon the suggestions of the friends of temperance by substituting whole- some beverage in the army for spirituous liquors. Upwards of 700 American vessels now traverse the seas in which tea and coffee are used in place of intoxicating drink, and, as the report says, such vessels are more readily freighted, and are also in- sured at a lower rate of premium because less liable to destructive casualties, especially from fire, than those vessels which carry with them those dangerous stimulants that have so often caused the most direful calamities on the seas to property and life. THE DISSENTERS. (From the Globe.) High church has triumphed in the Lords over dissent — we will not say the church has triumphed, first, because there are many churchmen who, we trust, will feel on this occasion witli Maltby, Butler, Arnold, and Whately ; and secondly, be- cause the clergy, even supposing them united, have no right to monopolize the title of the church, or to represent the exclusive aims of their order as the cause of the church. The common inaccuracy of speech by which church is opposed to laity, in- stead of clergy and laity being considered as con- stituting the church, will be more extensively mis- chievous than most verbal inaccuracies, if it lead the clergy to reject all conciliatory overtures from those dissenting branches of the Christian church in England which now press for admission to the national universities. What is this but to perpe- tuate schisms in the body of the church, and to throw away the chances of union offered by tlie as- sociation of the youth of all communions in the common pursuit of knowledge ? In order to appreciate the whole injustice done to Dissenters by excluding them from the higher opportunities of public instruction, it ought to be remembered how much gratitude is due to them for the general extension of that blessing. How has the chasm in moral and religious instruction been chiefly filled, which arose from the rapid in- crease of the town population in later times, unac- companied as that increase was by any efficient public measures for the health, police, education, or morality of its chief receptacles? Who first introduced those methods of popular instruction which have since been followed up in the national schools supported by churchmen ? And, in the higher sphere of scientific and literary culture, who were the most active (as undoubtedly the most interested) movers of those spirited under- takings which have already conferred on the me- tropolis two collegiate foundations ? In putting these questions to the conscience of high church- men, we have no wish to draw ungenerous infer- ences from the answers whicli truth cannot but wring from them as to priority in recent improve- ments. There are obvious reasons why an esta- blished clergy cannot exhibit the same qualities as those which are essential to the success of Dissent- ers. We would, however, remind the former body that if their own comparative slowness in minis- tering to the peculiar wants of the age in which we live have not taught them to acknowledge (as their liberal members do most freely) the value of the services done by dissenting sects as their pi- oneers, it should teach them at least not to con- test the just claims and legitimate station due to that combined and powerful interest, which now adds the weight of parliamentary representation to all their former titles to respect. To sum up — on the 28th of July the House of Commons passed the bill for admitting Dissenters into the universities by a majority of 89 ; on the 1st of August the House of Lords threw it out by a majority of 102. Thus, at the close of the se- cond session of the reformed parliament, the colli- sion between the two branches of the legislature has commenced. What will be the issue ? How will the contest terminate ? These are important questions. We will endeavour to arrive at the so- lution of them. We may assume it is certain that the Dissenters will not remain quiescent. Disappointed in their reasonable hopes of obtaining the redress of prac- tical grievances, they will now gather up their strength for more vigorous efforts ; they will call upon the representatives of the liberal party to as- sume a bolder tone and a more determined pur- pose ; and at the commencement of the ensuing session the collision will be renewed, not merely with respect to the admission of Dissenters into the universities, but upon all the stirring questions of liberty of conscience and religious freedom. What is to be the end of this ? Will the Com- mons submit to the Lords, or will the Lords con- cede to the Commons ? It is obvious that the Commons have not in themselves the power to make any permanent con- cession to the Lords. Were -the liberal members of the lower house to a,bandon their principles, and to betray their constituents, the constituent body, at the next general election, would drive them from the hustings, and return in their places determined democratic leaders, pledged to more sweeping change and further organic reform. On the assembling of the new parliament the collision would be renewed in a fiercer spirit than before. The Commons do not possess the power of termi- nating the collision by yielding to the Lords, and therefore the Lords must bring it to a close by yielding to the Commons. THE IRISH TITHE BILL. (From the Globe). Ministers have been thwarted in the most appa- rently promising attempt to provide for the mainte- nance of the Irish clergy ; and having- disclaimed, b}^ the mouth of Lord Melbourne, all idea of calling again on the House of Commons to relieve them from their difficulty by voting another million for the purpose, the only immediate consequence, there- fore, will be that the Irish clergy will have to get through another year without their incomes. A more important result is, that any future plan of tithe-commutation must be based upon ajuster ap- propriation of the revenues of the Irish Church. It ia not to be denied that the bill just rejected THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 77 has given almost as mucb dissatisfaction to many persons of liberal politics as to the bigoted partisans of ecclesiastical abuses. The liberal party maintain that a change in the application of this revenue ought to have preceded any alteration in the mode of collection, and that under no other circumstances could the bargain be made with due regard to the permanent interest which the public has in these funds. As parliament has refused to enter on the subject of appropriation in this session, but as a pretty distinct promise has been given that it will be taken up next year, they contend that the question of commutation ought also to have been deferred until this necessary preliminary had been settled. The truth of these arguments could not be abso- lucel}^ denied ; they could only be answered by the urgent necessity that existed for an immediate com- mutation of tithe in order to secure the existence of the clergy for the passing year. The House of Lords having hazarded the rejection of the tithe bill, this argument is of course cut away from the ministers. In a future session they will find it impossible to propose any plan of tithe commutation without pre- viously entering on the whole question of the future extent of the church establishment of Ireland, and deciding what amount of the revenues of the Irish nation is hereafter to be applied to upholding the church of a small minority. All that the Tory lords will effect in the long run will be increasing the urgency of a settlement of this great question. Could we be sure that no danger or evil would inter- vene, the friends of that most necessary reform would not have tlte greatest reason to complain of the House of Lords for furthering a purpose so re- mote from Tory views. For the present, the blow will fall on the heads of the Irish clergy. We certainly think it no slight evil that the law should be found inoperative to pro- tect the rights of individuals, and, that the whole suffering of a great and necessary change should fall on the heads of a class of men who are not chargeable with the blame of the system in which they are pecu- liarly involved. But this is a matter in vehich the interests of these individuals can only be upheld by sacrificing the welfare of a nation. It is a great mis- chief that a government should be compelled to look in silence on the violation of private rights, and ac- knowledge its powerlessness in enforcing the law ; but it would be far worse that laws revolting to every feeling of justice and policy should be enforced by violence and cruelty. The collection of tithe for the maintenance of the Irish church not only is unjust and impolitic, but it is acknowledged to be so by the government which is called on to enforce it ; it is doomed by the very authority which we are told ought to be exerted to exact the payment of the uttermost farthing. To collect it, with no change in the man- ner of its collection, nor in its destination, is impos- sible. It is idle to talk of vindicating the law under circumstances such as these. There is nothing in the violation of law which would shock public feeling half so much as the attempt to enforce it, in spite of its decliired impolicy and injustice, by tlie military massacre and jilunder of an unhappy people. It is time that the tone of moral indignation should no longer be monopolized by the supporters of an odious system, as repugnant to morality, as to good sense and rational freedom ; that justice should no longer be invoked only by partisans who bluster in defence of a monstrous spoliation, and that those who are earnestly supporting the cause of wise and just government, should lav aside the language of apology and excuse, and boldly give utterance to the sentiments which the sympathy of the whole civilized world encourages them to assert. We will not be led into contemning the sufferings of the Irish clergy ; we regret their privations — we deprecate their total destitution. But we do not suppose that they will actually starve. Deprived of legal exaction, they will surely find a temporary resource in the " volun- tary principle." Those who maintain the absolute necessity of the existence of a Protestant church in Ireland in its present dimensions will not, surely, let it fall to the ground for lack of one year's suste- nance. At any rate, it is better that its ministers should remain without any, than that it should be exacted for them by bloodshed and oppression in despite of the opinion of the EngUsh as well as the Irish people. IRISH TITHES. (From the Courier,') The observations of the Lord Chancellor, clearly shew that the law recognises the produce as it comes from the land of Ireland — herein conforming to com- mon sense and all the feelings of society — to be the property of the occupier of the soil. It is also well known, as the occupier is the owner of all the pro- duce, that it is upon him and not upon the land- owner, unless he be also the occupier, that tithes are levied. If the law did not recognize in the occupier of the soil a title to own its produce, how could it hold him to the fulfilment of the engagements he en- tered into upon the faith of having it to dispose of .^ How could It require him to fulfil his contract to pay rent, or subject him to imprisonment, did he not pay it, or how could it prosecute him in any ecclesiastical court for not paying tithes ? 1'hat the occupier is the owner of the produce, both in law and equity, whatever engagements he may undertake, requires, in fact, no proof. That the titheowner has no claim on him, independently of what the law orders, no property in the soil, is, we think, clear, from the fact that if the occupier does not choose to labour he has no tiihe to pay, and owes nothing to the clergyman. If his farm bring forth only thistles and brambles, he may patiently allow the clergj-man to take tithes in kind. But the case is not the same with the landowner. Whether the farmer labour his field or not he must pay that rent which he contracts to pay. The tithe is a tax upon the produce of his labour, and if he labour not, there is nothing for the tithe owner. Has the Legislature, then, a right to compel him to labour in order to support, not his own family, but the fami- ly of the tithe owner ? We answer, no ; and that the Legislature did wrong by ordering tithes to be levied in Ireland against the will of the people, and does wrong by now continuing such a law. It is the duty of the Government to execute the law ; and it is therefore now placed in the painful situation, by the vote of the Peers on Rlonday night, of being obliged to execute a law which is universally condemned. The Duke of Wellington will not say that placing the executive Government in that position, is calcu- lated in these perilous times to add to its strength. The plain fact that tithes are now levied on the oc- cupier and are a tax on his industry, confirms us very much in the doubts we have already expressed, whether if they were removed, the whole pecuniary benefit of the removal would go to the landowner. The Tories generally say it would ; and they exclaim against what they call despoiling the Church for his benefit. But they accompany that with another argu- ment addressed exclusively to the landlords. " Take care (they say) that you do not endanger rent by at- tacking tithes." W'hat wretched inconsistency ! They oppose the measure because it will increase the 78 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. landlord's share of wealth, and they tell him to op pose it, because it will diminish his share. They endeavour to beget alarm as to the voluntary pay- ment of rent, should the Legislature abstain from in- sisting on the compulsory paj'^ment of tithes. If rent were, like tithes, a tax levied by the law, and the Legislature settled how much land the Duke of De- vonshire or Mr. Baring should hold, and how much he should exact from the land occupiers, as it settles the proportionate income of every tithe owner, there would be some analogy, and perhaps some ground for the pretended alarm. But till rent be a compul- sory pa\Tnent — till, like tithes, it becomes necessary to employ an arm}^ of horse and foot to levy it, the cries of apprehension put forth by the Tories are as fictitious as they are groundless. Should the time ever come, indeed, that rent must be levied at the point of the bayonet, men will think it ought then to cease; but we believe thattlie gentlemen of England have too much of the pride of honest industry, what- ever the Clergymen of Ireland may have, to extort any thing from the occupiers of the soil by fire and sword. THE POOR LAW BILL. ( Fi'om the Herald). The Malthusian gentlewoman of the Globe, who has been employed during the greater part of the late session in giving her obstetric assist- ance to deliver mother Althorp of the " boon to the female population," and whose assistance went nearer to strangle the little monster than the jna- lice prepense of any of its enemies — this Malthusian midwife to all the disousting productions of the " preventive-check school" made the other day a ridiculous and pitiable exhibition of the impotent rage with which she is animated against us for our uncerimonions mode of handling the principles of the petticoat philosopher, Miss Martineau, and her unmanly accomplices in the dissemination of the doctrines of the Westminster propaganda, for the full developement of which we must wait un- til the Malthusian Poor Law Bill shall have worked its degrading effects upon the minds of English- men— if, indeed, it be allowed to continue in ex- istence long enough for that purpose, which we much doubt. We passed over that ludicrous ex- hibition of the wradi of the beldame with silent contempt, as we have many others ; but, em- boldened by impunity, she persists in flinging dirt at us; nay, she plays gambols in her spitefulness with that heavy sort of vivacity which makes a joke a very serious thing. To improve her man- ners, which are become very unseemly and licen- tious since her dear Althorp got safely through the painful parturition of his bill, we must give her a taste of the rod of a schoolmaster who teaches the very opposite of a priori logic, though some per- sons may think we had better leave her to the ten- der mercies of her own sex, at whose hands she richly deserves to receive that sort of castigation which it may appear ungallant and even indelicate for us to administer. For the purpose of flagellating her properly we must mount her on the back of the new police system, of the cliarms of which she is so despe- rately enamoured, tliat we are sure we could not choose any flogging-horse for her that was moie to her taste. Well, there she is mounted, and kick- ing more vigorously than she ever wrote, and not at all approving in her own person of that severity of punishment which she prescribes as a cure for the rebellious grumbling of the half-starved agri- cultural labourers and oppressed operatives of England . This old lady, who was once the " Lady Blar- ney" to tlie Wellington administration, until she was smitten with the official wisdom of Lords Al- thorp, Palmerston, and Co., and is allowed the sweepings of the intelligence of Downing-street as her perquisite, though her hankerings after her old friends, the Tories, are still visible in the midst of her praises of the superlative virtues and profound sagacity of the Althorpian dynasty — this old lady, we say, attempts to be exceeding smart upon us for throwing a little light on the Parliamentary process which has been had recourse to by our Whig rulers to purify the new police in the eyes of the public, and reconcile the people of England to the practical excellences of that most unconstitutional and dangerous force, which, what- ever its political patrons may say of it, is a bad English transcript of a Bourbon invention, and wholly incompatible with the genius of a free Constitution. To the Duke of Wellington and Sir Robert Peel, in the hey-day of their Tory as- cendancy, we owe the importation of that French gendar7nerie which the ancient female of the Globe, with seeming satisfaction, told the public, the day or two before the great assemblage of the workmen of London to petition for the remission of the vin- dictive sentences on the Dorchester Unionists,were to be armed witli pistols and cutlasses. But this display, upon consideration, the Globed patrons thought it better to avoid ; and then we were in- formed tliat this ostentatious announcement was an inadvertent paragraph. — Credut Judaus ! The Malthusian lady now says — " The proces- sion of the Trades Unions was among one of the many instances in which the judicious distribution of that force, on certain points, was a measure, to say the least, as effective in guarding against dis- turbance, and far less offensive to popular feeling than would have been any deminstation of mili- tary force, which was judiciously kept in reserve. The events of that day dissolved at once, and for ever, the prestige of the Grand National Consoli- dated Trades Union," &c. Now, the simple fact is, that Ministers, having reaped a little wisdom from the results of their own unspeakable folly, in provoking, by the wanton and reckless employ- ment of their police force, the disastrous events of the Calthorpe-street affair, abstained from such wanton interference witli the Trades LTnions going in procession to petition the King, through his Se- cretary for the Home Department. We can say, from our own observation, that a more peaceable body of men never passed through the streets of the metropolis ; but if the police force had been let loose upon them, and if the head-splitting truncheons had been used m promiscous onslaught — as they were used in knocking down men, wo- men, and children, in Calthorpe-street — the events of the day wov.ld have been far more deplorable ; and the streets of London might before the sun went down resemble the streets of Paris or Lyons, under the paternal sway of the liberal LouisPhillippe — the two great cities of a country where the original THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 79 gendarmerie, of which our own is yet the imper- fect copy, flourishes in all its perfection. It is, at least, highly probable that there would have been more verdicts of Coroners' Juries for the Court of King's Bench to quash, and other testimonies equally satisfactory to the abilities and humanity of Lord Melbourne. Perhaps the Malthusian gentlewoman can in- form us whether they werp of the rabble who not long ago in the Ilonse of Commons applied to the conduct of some of the police force, whose inso- lence Members of Parliament had experienced, the epithets "brutal and disgusting;" — but \ve war not with the individuals, but with the system. We say that we pay too dear a price for the pro- tection of our silver spoons and pocket handker- chiefs, which, if we are to judge from the state of crime in the metropolis, are badly protected after all. We say that those who are appointed to pro- tect the property of the citizens of a free country from depredation should be responsible to the citi- zens themselves. The old system — like the House of Commons — ^wanted reform, but that was not "reform" which subverted the English principle of watch and ward, and substituted for a constitu- tional constabulary force these Pretorian bands — this spurious civil force with military organization — copied from the Bourbon original — and depen- dent upon the Minister of the Crown, who, if he be so minded, can always employ this body, as it is chiefly employed in France and in other parts of the Continent, as a political machine, and for the vilest purposes of oppression and espionage. We observe that the Duke of Wellington has recommended the extension of this unconstitution- al force all over the country — a recommendation to which Lord Melbourne promised the most se- rious attention. The Malthusian lady will not surely consider this recommendation a proof that "from Marlborough's lips the streams of dotage flow." We rather think the Duke shows a great deal of sagacity in tliis matter. He expects to come into office again, and he wishes previously to that to have "the House sweptand garnished" by the Whigs. He knew that in supporting the Mal- thusian Poor Law Bill he was increasing vastly the patronage, and of course the influence, of the Ministers of the Crown. He knows that by ex- tending the Pretorian bands of the new police all over the country, he will create a force which he may render available for the worst Tory domina- tion, when the time is ripe for cutting the connec- tion of the Whififs with the throne. IRISH TITHE BILL. (From the DuWm Epening Post.) SENTENCE OF STARVATION BY THE PROTESTANT BISHOPS UPON THE PROTESTANT CLERGY. The die is cast. The Radicals of England, the Repealers of Ireland, have obtained a signal triumjih. And they owe this triumpli, not to any efforts of their own — not to any power they ex- hibited in I'arliament — not to any Influence they possessed over the intelligence of tlie country — not even to the necessities of a crisis in which they might have turned the scale, but solely and indis' putably to their sturdiest and most determined antagonists. The bishops and the Tory lords have obtained that which lliey never dreamt of accomplishing. The bishops and the Tory lords have, to do them justice, far outstripped the veriest hater of the Irish Church Establishment in hostility. We never met a man yet, and our acquaintance is pretty exten- sive amongst liberals and ultra-liberals, who did not acknowledge that the present incumbents ought at least to have their incomes insured to them. There is not a man, in fact, with a grain of sense, or a spark of feeling, who did not con- template with horror the possibility of consigning a large, and in many respects a worthy, class of men to utter starvation. Their superiors, however — those persons in the church, who do not derive their income from tithes —that Beresford, who takes 20,000/. a-year from church lands — that Laurence, who derives 10,000/. or 12,000/. from the same source — that fat and plethoric bishop, who wallows in the wealth of a central diocese, and who is sure of his tens of thousands, while his rectors around him, and their miserable families, are starving ; those function- aries, with the aid of their right reverend brethren of the Anglican branch of the Established Church, have consuumiated this cruelty — have, without a blush, without, apparently, a misgiving, without a pang for the misery they are inflicting, or the deaths that may ensue in consequence of, we were going to say, the murderous vote they have given — those guardians of our holy religion — those per- sons specially called by the Holy Ghost to the government of the church — safe themselves in their own income — secure themselves in their own palaces — glorifying themselves in their own coaches — in their luxmnous tables and liveried menials, denounce the second branch of their order, and tell them, in effect, to lie down and die. We repeat it — this is the deed of the bishops. Had they listened to the voice of humanity — had they attended to the suggestions of their clergy, they would have supported the bill, and the Tory lords would never have dreamt of resisting it. On their heads, therefore, be the consequences — on their souls be the guilt. The bill would secure, quietly and comfortably, we are ready at any time to maintain, the full amou.it of their income to the clergy. They were perfectly satisfied ; nay, those who durst to speak, and owing to the cruel slavery which prevails in the Irish church there are few who dare, express their gratitude. There was a prospect of peace at least in their time. There was a prospect of their being enabled to live in tranquility, and to support their families with decency. That prospect has been utterly blasted by the bishops. Well indeed may the protestant clergy exclaim that there should be another reformation in the church. But we doubt whether it is not now too late. We hoped that the reformation would pro- gress quietly, and with the tacit consent of all parties. The Catholics of Ireland were consenting parties to the settlement. The lay impropriators consented, — there was every prospect of peace. The agitators were silent. Repeal was only heard as a distant and dying echo. The landlords, Pro- testant and Catholic, were ready, — nay, anxious, to make a great sacrifice. Indeed, to their honour be it s])oken, the proposition was theirs. E\ ery sign in the firmament was propitious. But the Irish bishops said, " Let there be war, — let there be starvation, — let tljere be death." 80 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. We shall not insult the understandings of our readers by any formal argument to show that not a sixpence of tithe can ever again be collected in nine-tenths of Ireland, — nay, the attempt will never be made. We rather suspect that even Parson Whitty, who has been employing dragoons, infantry, and police, to such little purpose, will abandon the crusade. And as to another million, — or the millionth part of a million, — being ever voted by the House of Commons for the sustenta- tion of the Irish clergy, it is an absurdity too mon- strous even for a Conservative to dream of. What then is to be done ? Oh I the Tithe Compulsory Compostion Act comes into operation in November next, and the parsons are to be let loose — to distrain, drive away, impound, and sell. And this is the argu- ment of the bishops ! This is the argument of the men of peace — of the servants of our Redeemer ! But it is as silly as it is wicked. That act, or five hundred acts of the kind, will he found to be wa'^te paper. Then we are told, there is the power of the State. What power? A hundred thousand men. But the State will not vote a hundred thousand men for the purpose. This surely the Irish bishops ought to have known. But they are infatuated. They are afflicted with a moral blindness ; there is a mental fatality upon them ; the New Zealand Firm has taken possession of their vitals ; they are tabooed — there's a curse. Why at present — when there are only a few parishes in rebellion, and when the clergy may have the command of troops and constabulary, it is found impossible — witness Parson Whitty's campaign — to collect tithes. When two thousand parishes shall be placed in the position in which that gentleman has placed his benefice, we would ask even the most paper-pated fellow of Lord Roden's meeting, koto could the Government serve them. Again 160,000Z. is to be repaid next winter to the Consolidated Fund. Where is it to be had 1 And Goverment have no option. They must exe- cute. But though the bishops have consigned the parsons to the penalties of nature — to those penalties so forcibly and philosophically described by Parson Malthus— when the public table is full —though the bishops tell the parsons to starve, — yet they do not leave altogether without consola- tion ; they will agitate, so they will, and while we are are writing, we understand that the Earl of Roden, the brother of Jocelyn, bishop of Clogher, assisted by a mad Tom Hatton, the Earl of Mayo, and others, is commencing the holy work. When our reporter left, he was denouncing the Government, the priests, the Board of Education, the Church Commissions, and all other things visible and invisible. In fact this sinccurist (2,500/. a-year) was making a declaration of war against the peace of the country and the sovereignty of the King. We wonder will the speech purchase an ounce of tea for the clergyman's wife, or a rag for her little girl. No matter. The curate trembles, and the rector nods — Die all ! die nobly ! die like demi-gods ! No matter — the Lord Roden will have his speech, and it will be reported — (and we shall take care to give a special report of his Lordship's oration) — and there will be hurraing and clapping of hands, and shouts of " No surrender." But will these shouts put a pullet in tha parson's pot, or heap an additional fagot on his hearth ? Vulgar consideration ! How could such low thoughts occur to the sublimated mind of a noble and reli- gious lord, who rejoices in a coach-and-four and a handsome sinecure ? Ay, but the effect upon the county ? No doubt it will be injurious : no doubt it is calculated to lead to a breach of the peace. No doubt this is the object of the meeting. We shall immediately, iti the first place, have counter-assemblies. The Trades' Union, we understand, are about to assemble with their banners and paraphernalia — and the Political Union, which has been so long at temperate, is rising to blood-heat, and the re- porters are paring their pencils — and who knows butO'Connellmay come from Derrinane, although, to do that learned gentleman justice, we have reason to believe, that, if lei alone, he was very willing to enjoy his vacation, like a patriai'ch of old, among his native hills. But we should do injustice to our own convic- tion as to the eflfects of the present crisis, if we did not state our belief, that the chief, perhaps the only sufi^erers, will be the Protestant clergy. And this brings us to a passage in The Globe newspaper, which we shall take leaf to quote: — " Who could have anticipated that a measure cal- culated to produce the beneficial consequences which we have thus inadequately endeavoured to describe, would have been rejected even by heredi- tary wisdom ! What a statesman is the Duke of Wellington ! He lives in utter ignorance of the temper of the nation. His declaration that there should be no reform, drove England to the verge of insurrection. We pray to God that his decision that there shall be no relief from tithes, may not plunge Ireland into actual rebellion. The mindless inanity of his speech on this most important subject, brings a melancholy recollection of the vanity of human wishes, and of the end of human greatness — ' Down JMarlborough's cheeks the tears of dotage flovr.' " There will be no actual rebellion, nor anything like it. People will not pay tithes, that's all. And Government will not be able to force them. Nay, the Duke of Wellington's Government would be utterly powerless, even if his Grace were invested with the full authorit)^ of Prime Minister. Nor is there any occasion — not the least — for people to AGITATE. The thing will work without any extraneous impulse. If we might ventwre to advise the people of Dublin, wc should say, let Lord Roden and his people alone. However, men will take their own course. It is needless to add that we have given a very full report of the animated debate in the House of Lords. We should not be surprised if there was a call of the House of Commons. And yet it is more probable that the session will close re infecta. Ministers and the House of Com- mons performed their duty. But the Lords voted for Revolution. There will be no revolution; and though the faction pretend they are quite ready for office, there will not be a single change. The parsons only will be ruined. Published at 19, OldBoswell Court, Temjjle Bar. Printed by Joseph Ptogersoii, 21, Norfolk-street, Strand. THE POLITICAL COMPANION TO THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. OCTOBER, 1834. No. 6.] [Vol. 1. LORD BROUGHAM. (From the Morning Chronicle.) The Lord Chancellor has been received every- where in his Scotch tour in the most enthusiastic manner. Not a city, burgh, village, or hamlet, in Highlands or Lowlands, but has poured forth its population to meet and welcome him ; and his journey has been a sort of civil triumph. Depu- tations of magistrates came 50 and 60 miles to present addresses to him ; and in places where there were no magistrates, the people met and chose delegates to draw up addresses, in the tone and spirit of that from Inverness, which we have given in another column. At Aberdeen the Chancellor's patience seems to have been put to a rather severe trial. He was obliged to speak when presented with the fi'eedom of the city, in answer to the address from the Society of Advocates, in answer to an address from the Marischal College and University of Aberdeen, in answer to an address from the Incorporations, besides speaking to the crowd from the ^vindow of his hotel, and then a few times at the dinner given to him in the County Hall. We were prepared for the flattering reception Lord Brougham every where met with in his na- tive country. The people of Aberdeen, Dundee, and Inverness, &c., feel, with the people of every other town in the island, that his Lordship has rendered far greater services to the public than any other statesman now living. The private feelings which have filled one journal CThe Times) with such implacable hostility towards him, are not of course shared by the public in general ; and the honest citizens of Aberdeen and Dundee may therefore be well pardoned for viewing in Lord Brougham the advocate for thirty years of every beneficial and enlightened measure, and the great patron of improvement. The unsophisticated feelings of the people saved them not only from sympathising with The Times, of which the un- principled malignity was obvious, but also from being the dupes of certain journalists who delight in running down men like the Chancellor, for the reason that a reputation for acuteness and inge- nuity may, they think, be easier acquired by de- tecting and exaggerating the faults of a great pub- lic character, than by failing in with the general opinion. There is no man in the present ministry (and we say not this with any wish to undervalue Lord Brougham's colleagues, some of whom are able and upright men) who has laboured like Lord Brougham in the cause of improvement. The very ardour which led hinr to make the extraordi- nary exertions which we have v^itnesscd, during a period of thirty years, may have betrayed him oc casionally into the use of language less cautious, perhaps, than would have been used by cold and cautious individuals, more occupied with them- selves tjiaj) with the public, Bu^^ how nflgeRtrcus to pass over a long career of public exertion, and to twist a few detached sentences into a proof of abandonment of the cause of the people ! There is not one of his Lordship's detractors who in his heart believes that Lord Brougham is less inclined at this moment to promote every description of improvement in education, in our laws and insti- tutions, than ever he was at any period of his life. " My opinions and sentiments (said his Lordship, in answer to the Corporators of Aberdeen) have been always the same that they now are since I entered life, and at my years are not apt to be changed without strong reasons. When I change these principles — when I cease to respecttheHouse of Commons — when I cease to love liberty — when I cease to wish for the safety and continued pros- perity of those institutions under which we have so long prospered, and, under their improved state, are likely still more to prosper, then my mind will be near a close ; and if I retain any sense, I will send you notice of it. (A laugh.)" He added, however, significantly, " Only I hope you will take the notice from myself, and not from other people." That Lord Brougham is infallible — that he is less liable to err than other public men, is what no man would think of maintaining. But we think it hard that because he has done more than other men, a less measure of indulgence should be shown to him. There is something unaccountable in the con- duct of one or two of our contemporaries with regard to Lord Brougham. The Times began to attack his Lordship at the time he was exerting himself to promote the success of the great mea- sure of the Poor Laws' Amendment Bill, which, indeed, may be said to be his measure, as the Commission, the labours of which exposed the evil in all its hideousness, originated with him. The Times, actuated by motives of the most dis- creditable nature, endeavoured to defeat the mea- sure. That its animosity towards his Lordship was altogether owing to his share in the bill in question, we do not intend to maintain. It is even possible that a private grudge to Lord Broug- ham may have converted The Times from an advo- cate of the bill to its opponent. But this we main- tain, that the hatred of The Times manifested itself when his Lordship was labouring for the good of his fellow-citizens, and more particularly to raise the great body of English labourers to in- dependence. Yet the indignation of the^ writers in question was not only not directed against The Times, but the glaring immorality and want of principle of that journal, so conspicuously dis- played in the case of Lord Brougham, were par- doned to it, in gratitude for the virulence displayed against him. It may be necessary to censure Lord Brougham as well as other public men, when they err. But it is ungenerous, nay, mean, to select a time for assailing him, when an unprincipled ad- versary, actuated by private naailig^j was end^a,- 82 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. vouring to destroy his reputation. It was impos- sible, however, that the public should share this moral obliquity. And the warmth of the recep- tion of Lord Brougham, wherever he has appeared in Scotland, sufficiently proves that public grati- tude is not a mere name, and that the man who devotes the days and nights of thirty years to the good of his countrymen is in no danger of being abandoned by them, because a writer in a news- paper chooses to make it the vehicle of private malice against him. We hold it to be immoral to praise a public man beyond his deserts. We may think highly of the Chancellor ; but no mortal, perhaps, ever deserved the extravagant praise for almost all conceivable excellencies which The Times bestow- ed for years on Lord Brougham. However, indis- criminate censure of public men is not less immo- ral. Fortunately, the success of journalists, in their endeavours to detract from the merit of public men, is often by no means equal to their wishes. Were it otherwise, were reputation to be held by the precarious tenui-e of an opinion which any public writer could shake, a jjowerful motive for doing good would be destroyed. We look upon the manifestations of public feeling in Scot- land in favour of the Chancellor as of great value in the way of encouragement to public men, while it ought to afford an useful lesson to public writers. THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE CRI- MINAL LAW. (From the Herald.) However desirable, on some accounts, it may be that a more summary mode of dealing with juve- nile offenders and small offences than now exists should be provided, it is not from juries that we like to see recommendations for curtailing their own powers and labours come. The Middlesex Grand Juries, which, it must be admitted, speak from experience, are continually favouring the public with their opinions in this way. On the last occasion their observations to this effect seem to be particularly ill-timed and inappropiiate ; for as the new Central Court Bill is coming into almost immediate operation, it would be as well, we should imagine, to wait and see how that measure works, before new and more sweeping alterations in the criminal justice of the metropolis are sug- gested. One thing is quite certain, that it must work a remedy for one, at least, of the complaints of the Clerkenwell Jury, that of twenty- three per- sons being kept so many days from their homes and occupations. What has hitherto been per- formed by one Grand Jury will now be the work of two ; the Clerkenwell Jury being thus eased, besides, of all its most onerous labours, and that which is to assemble at the Old Bailey being taken from the four counties to which the Act applies. We have said that it may bo desirable that some new and summary method be adopted of dealing with juvenile offenders and small offences. We speak thus doubtingly and undecidedly, from a conviction that the reasons are far from being all one way. We have what may be considered by some a sort of antiquated jealousy in favour of trial by Jury ; nor do we consider it any very fa- vourable sign of the times when Jurors themselves are anxious to dispossess themselves of that high and important office. Our respect for the sum- mary powers given to Magistrates is exactly in an inverse ratio ; arising, not more perhaps from principle, than from the manifest abuse of such powers, of which we unhappily every day witness such striking instances. In the country the Wilful Damage Act and the Game Laws are fruitful sources of interested and intenij)erate convictions and punishments ; while in the metropolis no small proportion of summary commitments are said to take place, in cases where the Magistrates feel conscious that no Jury would be found to convict. It is much easier, too, to talk of minor offences than to define exactly what they are. Value is very far indeed from being an tmerring test. To rob the poor widow of her mite is in- finitely more heartless and atrocious, and conse- quently deserving of heavier punishment, than to steal a diamond from the shop of a wealthy jew- eller ; yet those who are so anxious to create what may be called an aristocracy of crime, would fain have the principle of de ininimus non curat lex car- ried to an extent which would deprive both the plunderer and the plundered in all cases, up to a given amount in value, of that equal protection with which the wisdom of our ancestors guarded the persons and property of the citizens, without reference to the rank of the one, or the mere in- trinsic amount of the other. At present it may be fairly doubted whether the summary powers with which Magistrates are invested do not in the end greatly swell the catalogue of crime ; and if it be desirable that fifty guilty persons should escape, rather than one innocent one unjustly suffer, what can be thought of a system which actually makes the absence of legal proof its ground for punish- ment } We are inclined, then, to pause before we recommend the increase of powers which we al- ready see so much abused, and with which so few men are fit to be trusted ; while we tremble at every inroad upon and abandonment of that sys- tem under which our liberties have grown up and prospered, and without the continuance of which they would soon cease to exist. THE SITUATION OF PERSONS WHEN DIS- CHARGED FROM GAOL. (From the Courier.) Every now and then there are persons discharged from the Middlesex House of Correction in Cold- bath fields ; and it is very frequently our lot to observe them come forth, and see the manner in which they are received. Generally, when any persons are to be discharged, that may be known by the number of strangers who gather around the doors of the prison. We have noticed, though not frequently, hackney coaches waiting to carry oft' in secrecy those who are discharged ; but, gene- rally, they are not so well provided. Most of the persons who attend to receive and accompany the discharged culprits are women, and what is espe- cially worthy of remark is the manner in which they receive their old friends and acquaintances. One brings a pair of shoes, another has a hat, a third has some other article of dress or comfort, and most of them have something in the way of a cordial, which is handed out directly the rescued person is beyond the walls of the gaol. We have seen eating and drinking immediately begin in the street, and no doubt the parties, in most cases, immediately betake themselves to some public house for comfort and consolation. When we THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 83 have witnessed this scene we haxe asked ourselves in what manner the imprisonment could operate as a punishment. Nobody sees the prisoners — few know of their incarceration, and when they come forth they are welcomed with jubilee and triumph. The bystanders may almost envy the persons discharged the congratulations of their friends. There is something more than even this. The women who go thither are most of them of the lowest class ; the persons they welcome, whose wants they supply, and to whom, turned out, as they otherwise are, destitute, their presence is a balm, are thus enabled to bind them by the strong bonds of gratitude. After relieving the wants of the men, how can the men neglect to serve them in turn .' To what reproaches would they be sub- ject from their companions if they added ingrati- tude to their other crimes .' The result of course is, that when honest means fail, as fail they soon must in such company, the dishonest are again had recourse to, and thus we see how, by no cir- cuitous route, the virtues of the human heart, even gratitude, may be made, under our careless — we had almost called it profligate — system of punish- ment, the panders to the worst of vices and of crimes. But suppose one of these persons, thus thrust out of our gaol doors and received with open arms and caresses, and many soothing attentions by the profligate of both sexes, should wish to return to the ways of honesty, how is the road barred by this public exhibition of escape from gaol. The only companions he finds under such circum- stances, and the only persons who help him, being acquainted with his previous failings and previous attachments, must treat as hypocrisy or faint- heartedness all his longings for an honest reputa- tion. Naturally and necessarily the prudent and the good exclude those who behave ill from their society, and the imprudent and the wicked as na- turally and as necessarily form a society of their own and keep each other in countenance in their peculiar pursuits, so that there does not seem a possibility of a person ever escaping from misery and crime who once gets branded by the law. A reformed drunkard may perhaps be found, — gam- blers who have been won back from their danger- ous pursuits are not uncommon — but for a man to reform who has ever been sent to gaol as a crimi- nal, though for ever so short a period, would seem, under our indiscriminating system, to be little less than miraculous. From being condemned to one kind of society, he cannot have the benefit of either good precept or good example. He seems con- strained to be vicious. If, indeed, he saw in the great world that industry always throve — that wealth was always the reward of honesty — that respect followed virtue, not wealth however ac- quired— there would be a gross and palpable con- nection between good behaviour and a reward which all would understand — and there would be some clue to guide even criminals out of the laby- rinth of their unfortunate associations. But there is no such clue.: and our system seems well calcu- lated, though we cannot think it is wise, by brand- ing a great number of trivial offences with the gaol marks, to separate the community into two great classes, and to doom one of them to perpetual cri- minality and perpetual punishment. There is much in the principle of our criminal law which needs amendment, and it would be proper that the attention of the community should be turned to that rather than to the theoretical changes in the political form of society, about which so ranch is now said. THE TIMES AND LORD BROUGHAM. (From the Morning Chronicle.) There is not perhaps a journal in the British dominions which has not at times been supposed by some class of persons, to be honest and sin- cere, with the single exception of The Times. We believe that journal may fairly claim the distinc- tion of having- never been once supposed, even by those wiiose cause it v.'as advocating, and power- fully advocating-, to be actuated by any re^-ard for trutli and lionesty. We say povrerfully advo- cating-, because tiiough The Times is often coarse and vulgar, both m sentiment and language, -we will not be so unjust as to deny to our contempo- rary the praise of thundering occasionally to some purpose. Its mercenary character and its energy are c^uite distinct. Its advocacy may be insincere and yet effective. A hired assassin may deal as heavy a blow as if his arm were raised in a good cause. The Times knows that it is necessary for its interest that it should be thought capable of doing mischief; and provided it to do the job effectually, it is never scrupulous as to the means . The object of The Times has been for some time to break up the present IMinistry. Knovvino- that Lord Brougham is an important and influen'^ tial member of the Cabinet— that he is a man who occupies a large space in the public eye, its blows are now more particularly directed against his Lordship. Availing itself of scraps of information derived from its late connection with the Govern- ment, it prepares, day after day, a dish of scandal for the public at the expense of his Lordship, in which, though all may not be falsehood, yet a false colouring is given to the whole. His Lordship may not be without his faults (who is witliout faults ? j, but where is the man wlio lias laboured more for the public good than he has done ? Has he not done more than any other public man for the re- formation of our laws ? Was it not to him that the nation chiefly owes the impulse which the pub- lic mind has received towards education .' Did he not labour assiduously with Wilberforce for the abolition of the Slave Trade ? Has he not contri- buted largely towards the exposure of the abuses of the Church ? In short, what reform in Churcli and State has not been advanced by Henry Brougham? Is he yet suspected of entertaining any wish which has not the improvement of the country for its object ? The Times says that for fifteen years it believed Lord Brougham to be " actuated by honourable -and elevated "motives — guided by fixed and enlightened principle" — and all at once it sees him possessed of every vice and meanness that can deform a character. Tlie base lie carries with it its own refutation. To wlioni is so glaring an incongruity addressed ? They must be ideots and drivellers indeed, who can believe-- that any other than base motives dictate the accu- sation. Disappointed ambition, or mortification of some sort, has led to the disgusting exliibition of a journalist endeavouring to destroy to-day the public man who was yesterday his idol. We are not blind to the faults of Lord Brouo-- ham — we liave never been his flatterer — we liave unsparingly pointed out his inconsistencies, and f 2 84 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. are not unaware of the source of most of them ; but we should despise ourselves if we saw a base attempt to assassinate morally a great public man, and not contribute what in us lies to defeat it. Why, we ask, has Lord Brougham so constantly been an object of hatred to all who live on cor- ruption ? Why has he been singled out as the special object of the vituperation of The John Hull and other slanderous papers devoted to the enemies of good government? Why is he so hated by all High C'hurchmen and Ultra Tories ? Because they did not fail to see that he was ac- tuated by a restless ambition to introduce im- provements into the institutions of the country, and to destroy abuses. They were not deceived into the belief that Lord Brougham ever was or could become their ally. They were not taken by the attempts occasionally made by Lord Brougham to stand w-ell with them. If Lord Brougham has any weakness, it is that he thinks himself more cunning than he really is. He does not, however, deceive his opponents by what sometimes alien- ates from him his friends. But w^hy dwell alone on the weaknesses of a man, who has done more than any public man of his time for the public good? We are sure that a generous people like the English will resent this base and unmanly attempt to run down a great public character. Who would be ambitious of serving the public, if his services are to obtain the reward of his being held up by the press as the basest and most unworthy of man- kind ? The Tory Journals are, of course, all over- joyed at the exertions of The Ti?nes. The Morn- ing Post is pleased to assume that Lord Brougham is as tricking and slippery as The Tw/es, and hints that it may be doubted whether the conflict be any more than a sham fight. The cha- racter of The Times, drawn by our contemporary The Post, may be admitted as true, because The Times has always acted from selfish motives : but Lord Brougham, we may be sure, is not hated by the Tories because he is an enemy of the people. THE POOR LAW COMMISSIONERS. (From The Morning Advertiser.) Whatever has caused The Times to adopt the course recently pursued, it is perfectly dissimilar to that which influences The Herald. We hardly know how to express our dislike of the conduct of that journal. It has scarcely had manliness enough to praise or dispraise decidedly any measure for the last three or four years. Its support of re- form was equivocal — sometimes blaming for its approximation to Toryism, and then alarming the fears of another party by stigmatising it as an ultra-radical measure. Look again to its articles on tbe police, church, poor laws, tithes, and last, though perhaps the most important, its articles against free trade, and in abuse of the principles which are now happily regulating the reduction of taxation. What is this principle of centraHzation ? If we are to judge from the application of the term by the writers in the cokunns of our contemporaries, we sliould be inclined to say that it is that princi- ple of government which places the execiUive power necessary to enforce the provisions of its various statutes into the hands of a Board ap- pointed by the government, and responsible to it and to the parliament of the country. Our readers must recollect that it is only the executive power — the jiower to enforce the provisions of particular statutes. The authority of those who form and enact these statutes is not, and cannot be, included in this principle of centralization. Now this power has been recently given to two Boards, viz., to the Commissioners of the Metropolitan Police, and those just appointed to superintend the amended system of poor laws. This is the extent of the recent application of the principle which has so frightened our contempo'^ary of The Herald and his coadjutors. Now, before we enter into the question of whether this application of the system is useful or not, or whether it tends to increase or diminish the liberty of the subject, we will just ask our friends whether it be a principle of recent introduction ; and if we can show that it is not, it will be difficult to account for their alarm. But we will show more, we will prove that other Boards exist with almost irresponsible power — Boards containing within themselves Courts of Record, from which there is only a very slow and expensive appeal. Are not the Boards of Cus- toms, Stamps, and Excise very superior specimens of the application of this principle of centraliza- tion to those recently constituted ? Where do you find in the constitution of these Boards the neces- sity of reporting their proceedings annually to par- liament ? Are the salaries of the Commissioners annually voted ? Is any publicity given to their proceedings ? Look again at the Court of Excise Commissioners sitting with closed doors, and hear- ing appeals, and passing sentence upon those who have been previously condemned by their officers, W'ho examines the bill or inquires into the vexa- tious proceedings of the Solicitor of Excise ? What appeal is there against any harassing pro- ceeding which he may choose to originate ? and all who are under this Boaad well know the haughty and consequential demeanour of that im- portant functionary. Every small trader knows that if the penalties in the acts vinder which those duties are collected were to be enforced, he would be ruined, and he is therefore allowed, either in consequence of his liberality to the inferior officers, or by his obsequiousness in the solicitor's office, to carry on his business as near to the letter of the law as he can, and subject at all times to the threats and annoyances of every officer, from the assistant to the Commissioner. Here, indeed, is a principle of centralization in its most hideous form — an irresponsible Board, with enormous powers, — one which can, under an excuse of suspicion, send its officers into any house in the kingdom, — one which can expose the improvements and knowledge of one manufacturer to all his competitors. Why are not our contem- poraries frightened at the existence of such a Board ? Those of the Customs and Stamps have also great power, but nothing to be compared with the Excise ; and they have always been conducted on much more enlightened principles than the former, almost as if the revolting nature of the duty in the pne case prevented men of liberal opinions froirt THE FARMER'S MAGAZINfi. 85 accepting Board . the office of commissioners of such 'a THE IRISH CHURCH. (From the Courier.) We stated on Thursday, that tliough the law is on the side of the clerical tithe owners of Ireland, the right is against them. We said that, because we hold that the State, and particularly a Protest- ant State, cannot justly ibrce any class of its sub- jects, against their will, to pay for any particular form of worship. Admitting, for the sake of argument, that tithes — that the setting apart of the tenth of the produce for the service of religion is of divine origin, it is quite clear that it must be for the religion of those who pay the tithe, and not for anotlier religion. But tlie tithes are paid by the occupier of the soil, the occupier is generally a Catholic, and to us it seems the height of injus- tice to make him pay one penny for the support of a religion wjiich he regards with aversion. The Protestant insists, as against the Catholic, on every man's right to read and interpret the Bible for himself; and surely he cannot deny to the Catlio- lic that right. The Catholic says, on the Protest- ant principle, he interprets the Bible to mean something different from the Protestant; and he interprets it certainly to mean that he is under an obligation, if he give tithe at all, to give it to the priest of his own religion . He is bound to pay those who teach and console him, not those who denounce the faith of his fathers. The right of self judgment claimed by the Protestant is a con- demnation then of the demand he makes on the Catholic. Though the law is on tlie side of the Protestant clergyman, his own faith cendemns that law. That the law is unjust, and is the source o the* evil, is especially worthy of notice by those who, both in London and Dublin, are stimulating the Protestant clergy to process the Catholics be- cause the law is on their side. Do the clergy, then, expect to recommend their religion by injus- tice ? We speak openly and strongly, because the foolish advocates of these clergymen, whose mis- fortunes we sincerely pity, have endeavoured to frighten the public by such words as spoliation and robbery, into an acquiescence in the injustice committed by the State, of levying a tax on Catho- lics for the support of the Protestant clergy. THE IRISH CLERGY. (from the Courier.) Our private accounts from Ireland make us believe that the importance attached by our Iris h fellow-subjects to the late Protestant Meeting in Dublin is very inferior to that which has been not unnaturally ascribed to it in this country. The announcement of a great religious convention, and the violence of tone and manner which were said to have characterised its proceedings, were well calculated to make a serious impression upon those who were at a distance from the scene of exhibition : but a proof may be found of the exaggeration em- ployed in the description of its value and conse- quences, ill the indifference with which it appears to have beeu regarded by the numerous and sus- ceptible population against whom it was designed to operate as a hostile demonstration. It has not as yet produced the slightest indications of an angry re-action — while the tone of those journals which represent the popular sentiment, continues to be that of unalloyed contempt for the empty menaces . and impotent rage of the prostrate faction. The resident yeomanry and gentry must understand better than we can the materials of which the late angry assemblage was composed ; and we are glad to find that the language employed at the meeting is rather hailed as an index to the complete dis- conititure of a desperate party, thaa regarded as a defiance which warrants retahation. It is needless for us to say, that we heartily approve this display of prudence and judgment on the part of the Irish population, and of those who have influence over their conduct. It will ensure and accelerate the annihilation of that party, who in their efforts to regain — or rather in their rage for the loss of — their old monopoly — would engender a civil war with which even the cravings of the Rev. ^Marcus Ber- esford might be amply satisfied ; and, inasmuch as the immediate objectof creating the intended dis- order was obviously to overthrow the present Ad- ministration, there can be little difficulty in arriving at the conviction that the general tranquillity of Ireland will be the best auxiliary of Lord Mel- bourne's Cabinet in effecting those measures of national improvement w^hich it is equally the de- termination of his Administration to achieve, and the interest of the Orange fiiction to oppose. To embarrass the present Government, even at the risk of a rebellion, and thus to take the chance of restoring the old ascendancy of Orange title to emolument and oflice— this, and not the defence of the Protestant Church or religion, was the object and motive of the Roden and Winchilsea alliance. The Noble Lords themselves were, perhaps, com- paratively innocent of the real purpose for which their fanatacism was pressed into the service of the greedy crew of rapacious place holders, from whom a Whig (jovernment had wrested the exclusive privilege of distributing amongst themselves alone the sweets of patronage and power. The Catholics and the great majority of the Protestants of Ireland at length appear to understand the diplomacy of the faction ; and thus, we hope, we may explain their judicious disregard of the late insane attempt to revive an odious ascendancy under the name of protecting the Protestant religion. How far tliat professed protection willbebeneficial to the Clergy is already, we apprehend, but too obvious. The organs of what may be called the movement party, (now that agitation has changed sides) triumj-jhantly assert that every shilling of tithe arrears will be re- covered by means of the effective litigation which the subscriptions of Lord Winchilsea and his asso- ciates will put mto motion. We shall leave it to time to determine the truth and wisdom of this assurance; but if it have any foundation even in probability, it is strange that several Protestant clergymen should have written letters bitterly de- ploring the loss of the Tithe Bill, and stating tlie conclusive fact that on its passing through the Lower House they had successfully concluded neoociations for extensive pecuniary advances, which, immediately, on its defeat in the Lords, were peremptorily withheld. 86 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. EMIGRATION. (From the Morning Herald.^ One of the most striking of the political errors of the present age is that of overlooking our home resources, and resorting to external remedies, when internal ones, and those of a valuable character, are much more readily at hand. In the recent number of the " Quarterly Review'-" we have an instance of this, which, coming from the quarter it does, rather surprises us. In an otherwise ex- cellent article upon the new Poor Law Act, the writer says that " one of the clauses in the act on wliich we set the highest value is that which ena- bles parishes to borrow money from the Exche- quer Bill Loan office, on the security of their rates, to be expended in defraying the emigration of such of their able-bodied poor as are desirous of ex- changing a life of pauperism in this country for one of industrious and comfortable independence in her colonies." When we call to mind the valuable and convincing article which, not any great while ago, appeared in the columns of the same journal on the subject of " Home Colonies," we were not prepared to tind the same authority extolling emi- gration as a remedy for an assumed excess of po- pulation. We say assumed, for till it can be shown that profitable occupation cannot be found at home, it surelj is begging the question to look upon any part of our population as redundant. Where there is a permanent redundancy of la- bour," says the reviewer, " we can see no adequate resource but emigration." In the article before alluded to, on the establisliment of "■ home colo- nies," the same journal saw, as we still see, a very adequate resource for a far greater redundancy of population than the country has ever yet expe- rienced. With thousands upon thousands of acres of valuable soil still uncultivated, and only await- ing the hand of man to convert its produce jnto wealth, it is a species of political insanity to pass such a resource by, and, instead of it, to prescribe a forced emigration, at the public expense, of those who, rightly dealt with, are the true source of na- tional wealth and power. Our observations only apply to forced emigration, and to that effected at the public expense. To voluntary emigration there ought to be no objection or obstacle; nor is it otherwise than desirable that such emigrants should be courted by every reasonable inducement pnd facility to people the colonies of their mother country. But, reverting again to the subject of our home resources, what greater error can have been committed, even in a measure so replete with error and objection as the new poor bill, as that these should be overlooked and unthought of, and emigiation, brought about by taxation, substituted in its stead ? ^Vhere would have been the harm had the central board (if such an anomalous spe- cies of authority must have existence) — where would have been the harm, had it been made the medium of establishing home colonies ofbringino- redundant labour into action by the cultivation and improvement of our uncultivated soil, and other a^ ailable resources? Would not this have been preferable to the workhouse system, with which the act in question threatens us ? and wliich, if carried into effect, will, in the words of the " Quarterly Review, " Stud the country with work gaols ; for their management and discipline is to be precisely similar to that of a penitentiary or bridewell." From such a kind of pauper-barrack system as this, to be sure, emigration upon any terms must be a deliverance, both to the country and to those who are destined to be the unfortunate objects of such a mistake — for such we must in the mildest terms call a remedy which in fact en- hances this disease, while the legislature had before it, in the extensive field we have adverted to, the the means of converting redundancy of population into public wealth, and substituting for the new- fangled doc'.rines of a hard-hearted philosopliy a method consistent at once widi the dictates of reli- gion, of nature, and humanity. O'CONNELL AND THE MINISTERS. (From the Courier). Some of our Tory brethren have amused them- selves of late by condemning the Ministers for being, as they say, willing to accept Mr. O'Con- nell's assistance in the government of Ireland. We know nothing about the fact ; but we do not believe that they have offered, or mean to offer, him a place. But why should they not ? No Government can rule either Ireland or England, in opposition to the will of the nation. Mr. O'Conuell is acknowledged to be the most influ- ential man of the Catholic party, composing the great majority of the Irish nation, and if Ireland be not governed by means of, and with the sup- port of that party, by what means can it be go- verned ? The Orange party are in hostililty to the Catholics, but they are too few to enable any Government to preserve its dominion over Ireland. Besides, the experiment has been tried and failed. From the expulsion of James II. to the passing of the Catholic Emancipation Act, the attempt was made to govern Ireland by the Orange faction, and what were the consequences ? Why, con- tinual broils, disturbances, and even rebellions, compared to which, any thing that has happened since 1829 is a mere trifle. At the same time the attempt to coerce the Catholics did not prevent their increase in wealth and power ; so that the Government which attempted to rule Ireland by the Orange faction saw its means of preserving the country in obedience daily decrease, while the people to be coerced were daily augmented, and their hostility continually embittered. It had be- come, before 1829, utterly impossible to govern the Catholic population of Ireland by the Orange faction. Since 1829 the Reform of Parliament and various other circumstances have increased the political power of Catholics, and strengthened the impossibility to govern them except by means of themselves. It would be madness now to think of governing Ireland by the Orange party. It may be well enough in the Tories to dream of go- verning a community in opposition to the wishes of the people, but for such a scheme there are no elements here. As a matter of principle, there- fore, Go\ ernment must rule Ireland according to tlie wishes of the Irish ; and if they are expressed by Mr. O'Connell — if he lias their complete confi- dence— it would probably be prudent and wise to employ him. We long ago recommended the THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 87 same plan, and do not now shrink from it. At the same time, we neither wish to see the Catholic Church established as the State Church in Ireland, nor do we believe that Mr. O'Connell wishes it. That Church answers for the Catholics very well as it is, and while we recommend paying the Ca- tholic Clergy, we would resist all attempts to make it in any manner similar to the Protes- tant, Church in England, a dominant State Church in Ireland. SPANISH RESOURCES. A work just published at Paris " On the Pub- lic Debt [and Finances of the Spanish Monarchy, by A. Borrego," gives a highly-favourable view of the financial resources of the Government. M. Borrego states the whole of the debts bear- ing interest at 3,981,315,933 francs of capital, tlie interest on which is 179,104,270 francs. But, including the debt without interest, the whole of the capital is 8,992,021,750 francs. Tlie period to which the statement applies is the 31st De- cember, 1833. The property applicable to the discharge of the debt is thus stated : The actual Revenue arising out of Lands, Houses, Flocks, and other rents belonging to tlie regular and Francs. secular Clergy, amounts lo 175,000,000 The tithes, according to a Report of the Committee of the Cortes in 1823 85,729,555 Estates of the Jesuits 1,250,000 Produce of the Ecclesiastical Tax San- ta Cruzada 5,000,000 Produce of the Ecclesiastical Land Tax called Primicia 15,000,000 Revenue of Pious and charitable esta- blishments 15,000,000 Edifices, such as Monasteries, Con- vents, Churches, &c 4,902,450 336,982,005 The Ecclesiastical property, says M. Borrego, over and above all special application, affords in the last resort a security of which the value ex- ceeds that of the whole of the debt by near two milliards and a half of francs. Even in the supposition of Spain having to provide for the extinction of all its debt, both liquidated and not liquidated, such is the abun- dance of the resources at the disposal of the na- tion, that they far exceed the burdens. But, says M. Borrego, " the question is not whether Spain is solvent, but in what mode her liberation is to be effected. Iler means surpass greatly the amount of the engagements she is bound to satisfy. But then her means consist almost entirely of real pro- perty, the ayjpropriation of which to the wants of the Treasury presents difficulties which are yet to be resolved, and as to which modern theories leave us in great uncertainty." It would appear that Spain possesses great resources, which are still not applicable to her debts. The property cannot, he says, be real- ized. Upon the whole, the work of M. Borrego is not much calculated to induce foreign capi- talists to advance money for the exigences of Spain. BLACKWOOD AND THE PRESS. (From the Courier.) We are inclined to think that the writer in '• Blackwood" both mis-describes and generally overrates the influence of the Press, which is an error into which most journalists are apt to fall. They, like other workmen, magnify the importance of their particular occupation, and their estimate of the Press is the old story of " Nothing like lea- ther." That part of the writer in " Blackwood's" statement, which we have printed in italics, and which is obviously an error, should have led him to reflect somewhat more closely on the subject. We remarked, on Monday, that the great bulk of the Newspapers must inculcate doctrines in sup- port of property, because they are in accordance with the opinions of the great bulk of the middle and upper classes. That is not only true at this moment, it has been true ever since we can recol- lect. The great bulk of the Newspaper Press and of all the Books which have been written in our time, have been directed to the support of the property of the country. The law has been on the same side and has punished in many instances very severely those authors who have assailed the very institutions which the conservative writer in " Blackwood" now wants an organized militia of the Press to defend. The two Universities and all the public means of education have been en- listed on the same side. By far the greater num- ber of the Provincial Papers were originally, and still are favourable to the institutions of the coun- try ; we know of none which assails property. Of the Reviews and Magazines we know only one which can be said to be thorotighly radical, and all the rest are more or less hostile to those doctrines against which the Reviewer declaims. It is not, as he asserts, that the democratic tendency of so- ciety of which he complains has arisen, because the Press has been enlisted on the side of it, but in spite of the Press being engaged in combating it. He must seek, therefore, for some other solution of the present democratic tendency in society, than the influence i!>f the Press. In fact, this is a cur- ious branch of the study of mind, and we would recommend those who wish to go to the bottom of it, to inquire into the natural laws which preside over the formation of opinion. They will find that opinions are formed independent of news- papers, which merely give expression to general opinions already in existence. In the meantime we will offer one remark. On Monday we stated that newspapers, to have readers must support the rights of property ; and, there- fore, the question really is whether property has a tendency to gather itself up in accumulated masses, or to diffuse itself with tolerable equahty through the whole society. The former is the prevalent, but, we think, hasty, while the latter appears to us to be the more correct opinion. All the enjoy- ments of the very rich consist, not as in former times, in hiring the personal service of an army of retainers, but in purchasing the works and pro- ductions of a variety of tradesmen, almost all of whom belong to the opulent middle classes. The booksellers, silk merchants, wine merchants, pain- ters, sculptors, and the hundred other artists who 88 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. inmister to the wants of the great landowners, are themselves rich, and require a great deal more than the rude menials who used to be the only de- pendents of the feudal nobility. When we speak of propei'ty we must consider not the mere nominal power of the landowner or the capitalist, but all the wealth possessed by all the people ; and the equal manner in which the great majority of our countrymen are clothed, fed, and lodged, is a de- cisive proof that, to a great extent, a practical equality of property exists in the land. "Where there is one Baring, or one Arkwright, or one Duke of Sutherland, there are hundreds, or even thousands of persons, who are as well clothed and fed as they are, with a revenue a hundred times less than theirs. The interest of money is low, and there is, therefore, a comparatively less means of rapidly accumulating wealth than formerly. Competition, too, in every branch of business, is very great. The mass of those who live in opu- lence look after their own capital, and must unite the wages for their labour with their profit in order to live comfortably. The great accumulation of land in the hands of individuals, which formerly took place when one man owned half a county, have ceased, and the landowner has shared his power with many capitalists. In our opinion, therefore, there is a tendency in wealth to difi'use itself tolerably equally through society ; and if that be so, and if the Press, as we believe, will al- ways be directed to support property whatever shape it may exist in, it follows that the democratic tendency of opinion of which the writer in " Black- wood" complains, is a necessary consequence of that tolerably equal diffusion of wealth which now takes place among all classes, and which they agree with us in thinking, is one of the greatest blessmgs. If our view be correct — if the democratic tendency of opinion as far as it goes, be tlie result of the general diffusion of wealth, not only would it be impossible to stop it, without having recourse to some expedient like that which existed in ancient times, of dividing the community into castes, and settling by law the relative condition and enjoy- ment of each ; but it would be wicked to attempt it, inasmuch as it could only be accomplished by suppressing enterprize and destroying the increas- ing comfort of the people. At the same time it must be stated, that the tendency is rapid enough ; and if it have hitherto gone forward, notwithstand- ing the stamp duties and other restraints upon the press, it would be neither wise nor prudent to ac- celerate it by removing them. LORD BROUGHAM. (^From the Hull Rockingham.) Lord Brougham. — This distinguished noble- man is now paying the accustomed tribute, with every distinguished character — whether political, legal, scientific, or literary — this country has had the honour and happiness of producing. The leaduig journal of all Europe, and other soi-disa7it leading journals in a rather smaller circle, jealous, it may he, of his lordship's rivalry in men's esti- mation, have fallen foul on him ; but, unable to diminish his reputation as a man of talent, liave directed their vituperation to his moral charactei-, which, according to them, is divested of all tliose features which entitle him to the reputation of a man of honour, or even of common honesty. With evidence fjr the heavy charges against him, his assailants do not trouble themselves. His right to entertain opinions of his own, is considered as a species of high treason against the leading jour- nals, of which we niight, with much more reason, say, that they are putting up their praise to auc- tion, than they of Lord Brougham, that he is a great criminal, because he has not thought fit to take them under his especial protection, and con- sult their worships as to the course he ought to pursue. It is no design of ours to enter into a defence of the noble lord, because he requires none ; but for curiosity's sake, we will just inquire into some of the grounds on which the charges against him are founded. He is accused of having " betrayed Lord Grey," and, in connexion with the charge, is designated as " a liollow lawyer, seeking profit by deceiving ; servile and arrogant, blown about by every suggestion of selfishness." He is accused of defending tlie House of Lords as a distinct and useful branch in the legislative body. He is accused of having defended the Poor Law Bill, and called a turn-coat because he disapproved of a particular clause in it. The charge relative to Lord Grey originated in The Standard, a tho- roughgoing Tory journal, capable of every species of malignant invention to depreciate a political rival. We ask, in regard to it, where is the proof? Has a single fact been stated in any quarter, that affords the slightest countenance to the existence of any intrigue in the Cabinet ? Has any com- plaint been made by Lord Grey or his friends? We have heard of nothing of the sort ; nor do we believe that anything of the sort is felt in any quarter but that, where the ;.,ood name of Lord Brougham is envied. To answer what end could Ijord Brougham wish for a separation from Lord Grey, or what end can he have in view of it ? He cannot rise higher than he is in tlie scale of promo- tion. He is not associated with men of a more unbending disposition than Lord Grey. Suppose him selfish in a still higher degree than he is as- serted to be, what particular objects can he have in view, which he can more easily effect than he could in assoctation with Lord Grey ? None have yet been developed of which we ever heard. The charge is as gratuitous as it is malignant, and springs from sheer envy, sharpened by disappoint- ment of some sort. It was one, made before, and refuted in the House of Lords in the most tri- umphant manner. Lord Grey himself declared in his place, that he resigned because he was anx- ious to retire from public life. He threw no blame on a single individual. Even the indiscretion of Mr. Littleton he attributed to good motives. Not long ago drunkenness was alleged against the noble lord as a besetting failing, and alleged in the fice of exertions both in Chancery and the House of Lords, greater than which no Lord Chancellor ever made, or more satisfactory both to the bar and the public. Habitual intemperance is not a common associate with correct sentimesit, nor very likely to place the mental powers in a state fit for deciding upon intricate points of law ; yet we do not hear that a single judgment pronounced by Lord Brougham has been called in question or ap- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 89 pealed against, and he has pronounced more than any other Chancellor has done ui the same space of time. No longer an habitual drunkard, lie is hollow and selfish. Give us, as '-re have said be- fore, proof, and we will not only believe, but use our exertions in placing him before the public in his proper light. In the absence of tliat proof — not even seeing the shadow of any, we still trust in his integrity, and presume on great improve- ments both from hi-; talents and endowments. Far be it from us, in thus pronouncing, to avow that we adopt all his sentiments, or approve of all that he does. There are important points in which we differ from him. His manner and his matter in the House of Lords are not always to our minds. But is he a drunkard and a scoundrel because he may happen not to take a coarse that suits us ? Are a man's opinions in some things varying from ours, to stamp him as worthless, base, and trea- cherous ? Tlrat may do for leading journals ; but decisions so founded in others are distinguished nei- ther by good sense nor rectitude of principle. ^\e think Lord Brougham might have as well spared his eulogy on the House of Lords ; but surely he is not a traitor and a wretch because he happens to think, with great men of every age, and even till of late with the leading journals, that the con- stitution, as consisting of King, Lords, and Com- mons, is a good one, and tliat he would not have the Upper House extinguished. He may be ho- nest and think all this ; and he may think all this and yet be a great Reformer, as we believe he is. We do not admire his hostility to the clause in the Poor Bill authorizing Dissenting ministers to be admitted to see the inmates of the poor-house ; but a dispassionate reader of his protest would have seen that his objection did not rest on the principle of the clause, but altogether on its non- necessity. We like the clause, but should have been satisfied had it not been insisted upon, be- cause we never doubted for a moment that the liber- ty it enacts would have been fully enjoyed without it. Lord Brougham thinks tlie same, and would not on any consideration whatever curtail the religious privileges of the poorest subject in the country. Is he hollow and selfish, pursuing purposes of am- bition, because he prefers one mode of doing a thing to another ? He is accused of time-serving an ! other baseness, for the part he took in the Warwick Election Bill ; of truckling to the Earl of Warwick, and of encouraging bribery and cor- ruption. But why should he bear all the blame, if blame there be, on that subject, when every no- ble lord present agreed witli liiin ? when even the Earl of Radnor himself, a quondam friend of Cobbett, and a Radical Reformer, admitted that the evidence was not sufficient to justify the enact- ments of the bill ? T/ie Morning Chronicle says that the object of the The Times is to break up the Ministry, and to do it by heaping infamy on the head of the Chancellor. We predict, if that be the case, that the effect will be the very reverse of what is prognosticated. The censure of The Times has long since lost its sting. It has ac- quired to itself the reputation of being the most inconsistent journal in the world. Its likes and dislikes vary with the moon. Neitiiercan now af- fect any man or body of men, unless it be in a way directly contrary to that intended. It admits that Lord Brougham, for fifteen years, distinguished himself as the friend of the people. In what he has now deserted them, we are at a loss to discover. The Ministry, of which he is a member, is more unequivocally reforming than any that has hitherto had the management of the affairs of the country He has given notice of very great reforms for the next session, both in the law and the church. He has just eslabUshed a society in London, for the promotion of political knowledge. His ambitious projects will, perhaps, be revealed by and by. He is now on a visit to his venerable mother, whom he has not, that we have heard, after the example of former ministers, yet pensioned. He has dimi- nished his own salary as Chancellor, and lessened the patronage attached to his oihce. The patronage he has bestov/ed on favourites is yet behind the curtain, as are his intentions of personal aggran- disement. But the leading journals are in the se- cret, and, doubtless, they will justify themselves at the proper season. In the meantime, not being in the secret, and unable to discover guilt in a man's not subscribing to what we, in all castas, think right, we rest our hopes on Lord Brougham as the friend of the people. — Prove him, we repeat, to be hollow, selfish, and corrupt, and our attachment to him is Qone forever. NEWSPAPER STAMPS. (From the Chronicle.) We are glad to find that the opinions we yester- day expressed with regard to the consequences which might be expected to follow the repeal of the Stamp Duty on Newspapers, are shared by our sensible contemporary. The Scotsman. We quite agree with Lord Brougham and The Scots- man., that the lower classes care nothing about the private history of a public man, the lapses of his ancestors, or the peccadillos of his wife and sis- ters ; that, on the other hand, among the upper and middle classes, there are always a number, who, horn malice, envy, or a depraved disposition, delight in traducing character and disturbing the peace of families, and that " the slander and ob- scenity, the worst filth of which the press is the vehicle, is served up for the drawing-rooms of the wealthy." While the Conservatives have nearly the monopoly of private libels and obsce- nity— " a fact the more striking, from the contrast it offers to their professions, since virtue and reli- gion are ever in their mouths," — the lower classes, •' finding their lot comparatively hard, are strong- ly inclined to discover the evils they complain of in the frame-work of the social system," and are generally disposed to lend a willing ear to whole- sale abuse of the state of things under which they are condemned to toil, and scanty fare, wlhle others are feasting, and driven about in splend.d coaches. It is not easy to convince a man who has difficulty in maintaining a large family by his toil, that he is benefited by a state of things in which another man expends on horses ailddogs, and menials, five hundred times more than his earnings : and yet nothing is more true than that, if the utmost protection were not given to pro- perty, and the utmost latitude to the mode of en- 90 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. joying it (compatible with the rights of others), the poor would be worse off than they are at pre- sent. The poor do not err in want of kindness towards each other ; on the contrary, the experi- ence of suffering and want disposes them greatly to commisseration ; and a tale of misery may fail to reach the heart of a rich man, who never ex- pects to be in want, but almost always succeeds with the poor. But the poor, especially the la- bouring poor, who are not corrupted by the lar- gesses of tlie rich, are generally what the French call " Ffoiideurs." The Scotch are in this respect fully more intolerant than the English, because they depend more on their own resources. The cheapening newspapers would certainly have the effect of extending somewhat the range of the opinions most palatable to the labouring classes. But we are quite satisfied that so far from the repeal giving increased currency to licentious pro- ductions, or to publications advocating atrocious crimes, the effect of it would be to render papers more austere in point of principle than they are. The papers of the United States are fall of abuse, and the most respectable statesmen are assailed in the coarsest style ; but there is no obscenity, no irreligicn in them, no incitements to crime. Were a newspaper supported like some of those by the higher classes here, especially dignified clergymen, to appear in a town of the United States, tlie pub- lisher would at the least be tarred and feathered. The reason why unstamped newspapers in this country offend at present, in stimulating to crime, was stated by us yesterday ; and The Scotsynan shares our views. " While the law remains on its present footing (says our contemporary), the publishers of unstamped papers, like other illicit traders, must generally be men of broken fortunes and desperate character. Their interest induces them to pander to the prejudices and depraved appetites of the class to whom they address them- selves, and their own taste and propensities lead them to assail every thing sacred and honourable. They are, moreover, almost necessarily ignorant and vulgar-minded, and if disposed to seek the favour of a better class of persons, do not know how to accomplish their purpose. We maintain, however, that their writings are baneful, not be- cause they are unstamped, but because they are illegal, and proceed from men who would not re- sort to such an occupation if they had not previ- ously thrown off the restraints of law and morality. Abolish the stamp — that is to say, legalize cheap newspapers — and you will have intelligence, character, and capital, with all the guarantees at- taching to them, embarked in this department of literature. Look at the journal of our neighbours, the Messrs. Chambe'-s, a private speculation, of course conducted chiefly with a view to profit, and circulating- to a vast extent among the humblest classes. Is it less pure in morals, less the friend of religion and order, than the generality of well- t^xed newspapers ? Quite the rever-e, we appre- hend," The time is not remote wlien newspapers were chiefly read by the opulent. Rich men hate v/hat is serious, and newspaper-; were then light and amusing, but by no me ins instructive. As the circle of readers widened, the taste of the higher classes merged in the taste of a more sober and serious class ; and newspapers in the present day are distinguished by great earnestness. If we stijl extend the range by embracing a still lower class of readers, we may expect that there will be no falling off in the way of seriousness. Where there is an honest desire to know the truth, the result, in the long-run, must be the impi-ovement of both readers and writers. On this point it is happily observsd by I'he Scotsinaii that — - " Were the stamp-duty abolished, the first effect of it would be. to create a shoal of journals, in which the had would predominate, as three to one, over the good. We hare unbounded confidence, however, in the supremacy of moral principle, and the ultimate ascertdancy of truth. The first outpourings of radi- calism would no doubt be hot and deleterious ; but sounder doctrines would gradually prevail. It should be remembered, that subservience to the prejudices JL re;ulers is indeed one, but not the only means of promoting the success of ajourn:il. Flow much de- pends on the capital which commands superior sources of information ; on the talent and science which combine, illuminate, and apply it ; and on the good faith whicli builds up consistency of character, and gains an influence even over the minds of the ignorant and prejudiced. There are errors inspired by the social position of certain classes (witness the doctrines of the agriculturists on the corn trade,) and interwoven with mistaken views of interest : these are no doubt difficult to eradicate ; but still they will yield to experience and reason. As for those wlio assert that the human mind is instinctively disposed to embriice error rather than truth, the wrong rather than the right — we consider the whole frame of ci- vilized society a confutation of their opinion. Is it not, with all its faults, a proof of the ascendancy of justice over force 1 And do not the minds of nine- teen men out of twenty acquiesce in tins as the na- tural order of things ? . . . With how much more plausibility might it have be^en maintained, that the Reformation, which destroyed slavery in matters of faith, and left a man free to attach himself to any creed, or to none, would ruin religion and morals ? But does any Protestant say that this has been the case '! ON PROTECTION TO MANUFACTURES. (From the Globe.) We inserted from a New York Paper, on Satur- day, an account of the failure of the sterlag woollen-factory in the United States. The estab- lishment in question, it was stated, cost 310,oOO dollars, and gave employment to 423 persons. Its disbursements, in labour only, were 108,000 dol- lars per annum. The value of its products last year was 414,000 dollars, and it manufactured annually 37.5,000 lbs of wool. The journalist proceeds to lament that these 423 labourers must seek employment in business to which they are not accustomed ; that the neighbouring farmers, meciianics, and traders, wdl lose an accustomed source of profit in the ready market for artisan la- bour and agricultural produce ; that the wool- grower will suffer loss on his staple ; that the owners of village property will find their lots de- preciated in value, and, on the v.'hole, that 1,500 persons (including boarding-housekeepers), hither- to entirely dependent on this establishment for THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 91 support, must abandon the village, and obtain a settlement elsewhere as they can. The scale of the catastrophe described in the above extract does not strike an English ear with any great emphasis. In this country the number of existences depen- dent on that of a first-rate manufacturing estab- lishment may be reckoned not by hundreds, but by thousands ; one leading firm in Manchester is said to pay a million in wages ; one branch of ma- nufacture, cotton, m England, exclusive of North Britain, is calculated habitually to employ in fac- tories, exclusive of hand-loom weavers, printers, bleachers, dyers, cotton-thread lace makers (an important and increasing branch of industry), no less than 212,800 individuals, and to distribute amongst them in weekly wages 5,777,434/. 14s. Id. It is contended, we think justly, that where ad- vantages exist so decided as those wliich England possesses for carrying on her staple ma,nufactures, to force competition in those branches m lands where the resources of nature are less exhausted, where those of art are in consequence less called forth or required, is comparatively a waste of eifort which might find a field of employment more pro- ductive and less precarious than the above-men- tioned occurrence indicates. The pursuit by every people of those employments, and those only, in which they have some natural and local advantage over tlieir neighbours, and the free and unfettered exchange of the surplus products of their special department for commodities produced under ana- logous advantages elsewhere, is the true principle of trade ra its full, and, we trust, future develop- ment. If trade is to be carried on at all between countries, in each of which, by a monstrous mutual waste of time and labour, it is possible to mimic the other in every branch of production, it must be carried on xipon the above principle and no other ; and the more closely that principle is ad- hered to, the more plentifully, with the less pro- portionate labour, will both countries obtain the desired commodities. We say with the less pro- prolionate labour to guard against the vulgar no- tion that any labour in either country will be left unemployed by such an arrangement. Euch must labour in order to make returns for the fruits of the other's labour; and the ouhj disudvuntage to either is, that each gets more for his pains by inter- change than he could have got by solitary toil. It is a whimsical objection which is sometimes brought against this doctrine by those who are not blocklieads enoua^h to deny its direct results, that every country is naturally ambitious to exert ma- nufacturing skill at home instead of importing fo- reign commodities. Now, surely, the culture of corn, tobacco, cotton, vines, sugar, or rice, may task the spirit of progress no less honourably than spinning or weaving; and if the national genius really turns irresistably to the latter employments, it is paying it a very poor compliment to bolster it up by means of protective duties and lines of Custom-house officers. Such a course, especially with an extent of frontier like that of the United States, encourages no branch of industry half so much as the smut^gler's, and stimulates illegal fo- reign adventure at tl e expense of American navi- gation and trade. The American tariff, like every other barrier between trading nations, daily receives and must finally give way to assaults from within and with- out. In the meantime it has recently found an apologist in England ! It is argued by a very acute writer of our own,* that the encouragement of a manufacturing system in America, even if economically disadvantageous, presents advan- tages social and political which outweigh all eco- nomical considerations. The tendency of the po- pulation, according to this writer, encouraged by the easy acquisition of fertile land, is to scatter over a wider tract of territory than consists with that division of employment and combination of labour indispensable to the advance of civilization. To encourage manufactures, then, is true national policy, as encouraging the foundation of towns by which the people are drawn together, and those results of co-operation for social objects realized, which would be lost if the nation continued purely agricultural. Surely this is a somewhat rapid conclusion. Trading towns may exist without a forced manu- facturing system. Towns on the coast, or the great rivers and principal lines of communication, might rise and flourish as entrepots for the objects of import and export trade, without (and better without) a restrictive tariff; and such towns might give even greater and far more stable encourage- ment to the artisan or agricultural labour of the surrounding villages than that which is said to be given by the seats of manufactures — which fail. And surely it is rather paradoxical to say that people who do contrive to combine their labour for manufacturing purposes, ho^vever untoward events disperse it again, would not equally coiv- bine it in raising articles of produce exchangeable either directly or indirectly for manufixctured goods. Either occupation, therefore, would draw the population together — with this difference, that towns which flourished nnturallij as seats of trade, based on the staple productions of the country, never could experience reverses of that crushing- kind which appear from the narrative before us to come upon places which solely depend on a system that puts, in familiar phrase, an old head upon young shoulders. LORD BROUGHAM. CFrom the Chronicle.) If it is by the labour of the artisan, aided by the capital employed, that profit is derived and the community enriched, how necessary and politic it is to keep and preserve the industrious working man in a state which will enable him to " labour, working with his hands the thing that is good," by guarding and protecting him under unmerited casualties or oppression. This is an axiom ad- mitted in political economy, and it is applical)le to all classes of society, high and low, rich and poor, in their res])ectivc vocations — to none more than the conductors of the public press. The opi- nion of the public as to the measures before and about to be brought before them — the labour of the leading and pojjular advocates and pioniofcers of these measures — it is that on which their capital is employed and the " profit" derived. * England and America. 92 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. " Whatever (as The Times paper justly observes, Dec. 25, 1833.) therefore, relates to the upright- ness and honour of public men at the head of affairs, and especially of those connected with the administration of justice, is a matter of interest and importance to all." Now, the two most for- tunate hits on which the labour and capital of The Times were expended were — their advocacy of the cause of the late Queen Caroline, and the great question of Parliamentary Reform. In " patronizing" Harry Brougham in both these great measures, they took the popular side, in which his labour was employed ; and if he ob- tained their justly-merited eulogies, ami they were the means of first bringing that great man into public notice, the obligation was mutual, his la- bours contributing materially to their " profit," in the progressive increase of the circulation of their journal ; and surely they could never have passed over his speeches, or all that he then did and has since done, without drawing down upon themselves the imputations which they passed on the Speaker of the House of Com- mons. Times, Sept. '2, 1833. — "It is strange that the Speaker, in enumerating the measures that had been completed by the Commons, made no men- tion of the Lord Chancellor's admirable Law Re- forms, though the Sovereign thought them worthy of a very distinguished notice !" In despite of all the unmerited attacks, insinua- tions, and inconsistency of The Times, we should hope that Lord Brougham will not (to use the powerful and emphatic language of that journal {Times, Aug. 23, 1833,) " as a man of less firm purpose of soul might have done, relinquish the People's cause. Having triumphantly proved the utility of the measures which he pro[)osed — hav ing refuted all the arguments which have been al- leged against him — he will still persevere in his career of public utility, and in future bring for- ward measures of reform calculated to serve the public to the utmost extent which they by whom these measures must be sanctioned will allow. The right mode of answering false imputations is to put the accuser to open shame by the clear light of truth." LORD BROUGHAM. {From the Standard.) If Lord Brougham were not so extremely versa- tile a politician, we could have much pleasure in referring to his speech at Inverness. At all events, the speech contains an important truth, and an encouraging promise, if the latter is to be relied upon. His loi-dship says that the reformed parlia- ment has done too much instead of doing too lit- tle, and engages for it that it will do less in the next session than it has done in the last. Why will not Lord Brougham always speak the same language .' Why give his personal enemies, for personal enemies he has, though we believe few men less deserve such, the opportunity of saying there are two Lord Broughams .'' For ourselves, though diametrically opposed to nearly all the noble and learned lord's essential opinions, in po- litics and religion, we never can hear him charged with an offence so nearly connected with moral wrong as political duplicity, without great pain. When we accused him (whether justly or unjustly time will tell) of seeking to succeed Lord Grey, we were not ignorant that the apparent advantage of success would be attended with pecuniary loss — a loss which, we fear, the noble and learned lord's circumstances, impaired as they have been by a too generous confidence and a boundless li- berality, could ill afford. But this indifference to pecuniary loss, where ambition seemed to point the way, did not appear to us at all inconsistent with Lord Brougham's character. Whether he ever pursued the object Or did not, it is now, we believe, plain, that Prime Minister Lord Brougham can never be. What possible motive then can a man, who certainly despises pelf, and can now have no ulterior object of ambition — what possi- ble motive can such a man as Lord Brougham so circumstanced, find fur seeming to play the sor- did double part of a mere fixture to place ? What can he see in office for which it is worth bartering the good opinion of all those men whom he must respect — the candid and fair-judging ; political opponents as well as political friends? As retired Chancellor, he would be a richer man than as ac- tual Chancellor, even were his retire;r,ent the ne- cessary consequence, which it is not, of his acting a single and intelligible part. We confess that, with all allowance for the way- wardness which rapid success naturally suggests in an energetic temperament, Lord Brougham's conduct is still a riddle that we caimot solve — he has talents to be a great man, a very great man — he has, we believe, too, amiable dispositions to give these talents full play — and if he would content himself with one line of thinking — a right direction — let him then be contented with being a very great man — it is all that humanity can aspire to. Nobody was ever yet two very great men. THE POOR LAW AMENDMENT ACT. (From the Mark Lane Express.) As the act is now gradually coming into operation, cases must constantly occur wliicli will afford opportunity for comment. About a fortnight since three widows applied to Mr. Broderip, at the Thames police-office, stating that they had been deprived of their customary relief as out-door poor by the overseers of the parish of Ratcliff. The worthy magistrate said that since the passing of the l;ite act, the power to order relief was taken out of his hands, and he could not interfere. The Times expatiated very pathe- tically upon the hardship of these cases, and represented the applicants to be together with their childrenin a stateof extremedestitution. An active rate-payer of the parish, howevei, with a very laudable zeal, visited all the par- ties, enquired into the facts, found that they were all in a situation to maintain themselves and families, and would have submitted quietly to the refusal had they not learnt that Mrs. Such-a-one had received money from the officer, and they saw no reason why they should not have some. This Ratepayer of Ratcliif further stated, that by discontinuing the money allowances, and offering the workhouse where it was deemed right, in lieu of money, the out-door relief had been already reduced from 34/. to I8Z. per week, and out of 100 cases in which relief in the workhouse was offered, only live persons accepted the offer. The following letter from an active parish THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 93 Officer, still further corroborates the benefi- cial operation of the new system. Extract of a letter from the active and intelli- gent assistant overseer of Tring, Herts, to the vestry-clerk of St. Giles-vpithout, Ciipplegate : — " Tring, Sept. 7 : We have made a very great difference in relieving, giving no out-door re- lief to able-bodied labourers, except in case of ill- ness, or some emergency. I had bedsteads built the other day to accommodate 54 men in one room, but have not had one occupied as yet, all i)veferring their own exertion to obtain labour to coming into the house. I have no doubt but I shall by my ma- nagement, aided by the act, reduce the expenditure 1,000/. this year below the last. " J. Thohn." As every means will be used by the enemies of the Poor Law Bill, to depreciate its good effects, it is necessary to correct as early as possible, a statement made, and hitherto believed, that a reduction had taken place in the amount of tlie Poor-rates during the past year, and which decrease was attributable to the exertions of parish otficers, and the intro- duction of a better mode of management. The truth is, that by a mistake of the clerks, some items were omitted, and the corrected statement stands thus : — Up to the 25th March, 1831-2 £6,498,888 Up to the 25th March, 7 832-3 £7,045,212 Increase of 1832-3 £ 246,324 We shall anxiously watch and observe upon the vv^orking of the bill from time to time, being every day more and more con- vinced that with an efficient management of the details, the prospective advantages are underrated. The Assistant Commissioners under the Poor Law Amendment Bill have not been appointed, nor is it likely that a selection of the individuals for that office will take place until the Central Board shall iiavc accurately determined the precise nature of the duties which they will bs called to perform. With a view of ascertaining information as to the condition and management of the poor in the different parishes throughout the country, the following questions have been addressed to the Parochial Authorities by the Central Board: — " Office of the Poor Law Commissioners for England and Wales, " 4fli Septoiiibei-, 18:^4. " You are requested to forward, with the least possible delay, to the Board of Poor Law Com- missioners for England and Wales, answers to the following preliminary queries : — " 1 . Have you any Local Act for tlie manage- ment of the Poor in your Parish? If so, trans- mit a Copy of it to the Board. " 2. Is your Parish united or incorporated willi others for the management of its Poor? If so, name the others. " 3. Have you a Board of C!uai-di;uis or an ;^lf.9tecl y^str)^ established under JVIr, Sturgcs Bourne's, or any other Act, and how often are their Meetings held for the transaction of busmess re- lating to the Poor ? " 4. Have you a Poorhouse, or Workhouse, or any other Houses belonging to or held by the Parish, for the reception of Paupers ? " 5. State for what number of person there is room in such Poorhouse, or Workhouse, or other Houses, and also the greatest number which have been in the Workhouse, Poorhouse, or other Houses at any one time ? " 6. Have you any Rules or Regvilations for the management of your Poorhouse or AVorkhouse ? If so, transmit a Copy of them to the Board. " 7. State whether your In-door Paupers are Farmed by Contract, or how otherwise supplied ? " 8. What is the gross cost per head weekly of the Paupers in your Poorhouse, or Workhouse, in- cluding clDtlies, fuel, and medicine, and what is the total amount of the moneys expended for the relief of vaur In-door Paupers for the year ended Lady- day, 1834? " 9. Do you give any reliefer allowance to the able-bodied Poor — in employment- — ^ in money, without employment — in payment of rent, or how otherwise ?— If in employment — state the kind of work provided for the able-bodied as accurately as you can, whether on tlie roads, or as Roundsmen, or otherwise.- — If in money — state the rate of relief or allowance per head weekly given to the indivi- dual and his family ? "10. State the number of persons relieved in your Parish during the year ended Lady-day, 1834. " 11. Have you any paid Officer employed in tlie management of the Poor in your Parish ? If you have, specify whether Vestry Clerk, Perma- nent or Assistant Overseer, Schoolmaster or Mis- tress, Master or Matron, or what others ? " 12. Name the Unpaid Overseers and Church- wardens now in Office in your Parish ?" THE EDINBURGH BANQUET. (From the Standard.) The ministerial jom-nals are, naturally enough, exerting themselves to the utmost to make a tri- umph of the Edinburgh dinner. It behoves them to do so i for such experiments allow no middle course between complete success and disgraceful failure. Failure more disgi'aceful, indeed, never attended any national appeal ; but, as our contem- poraries can scarcely be expected to admit this, they arc under the necessity of claiming a great victory. 1 he claim, to be snie, is made in terms the most safely vague and general. The Globe speaks of " the memorable i)roceedings in the northern metropolis" ore rotundo, but very care- fully omits to notice the rank, conditions, and manner.', of the parties engaged in these jjrocecl- ings ; even the graphic descriptions of the sum- mar)' disapijcarancc of the viands, given respec- tively by the Times' and Morninr/ Ckroniclp'y re- porters, arc carefully omitted by the Gloije — a journal which is a perfect adept at that most diffi- cult of a writer's tasks— the art of blotting, The Mommy Clironkk^ less skilfiJl, or lesp scrwpqlgiiSj 94 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. having faithfully depicted the blackguard scene, gravely assures its readers, that " there seems to be but one opinion with regard to the great display at Edinburgh. The feeling in which the meeting originated pervaded aW classes. The demonstration was truly national.''' In England, we are sure, in Scotland, we believe, however, that such proceed- ings as the Chronicle has described, are character- istic only of one class, and that a class of the least imaginable weight in public affairs, and the lcaf>t sympathised with by any other class or order, %iz. the lowest rabble of the streets. But it is all fool- ishness to waste words upon this part of the mat- ter, after the demonstration which we gave yes- terday, that the nsserably of xMonday no more re- presented the nobility, gentry, clergy, literature, property, and intelligence of Scotland, than it re- presented the corresponding classes of the Celestial Empire. \Ve may be thought to have already attached undue importance to the wretched and unhappy farce, the very authors and actors of which will be glad to sink it in contemptuous forgetfulness a week or a fortnight hence ; and from that inevi- table destiny we certainly should not care to re- spite it, even for a week or a fortnight, were it to be hoped that the actors would sink with it — un- fortunately, however, there is no such hope pre- sent— unfortunately, the two principle performers are still likely to molest the public quiet, and, therefore, without reference to the loOO or 2000 congregated by the de>ire of food, or the itch of faction, who may be safely left to find their way to proper obscurity, we must fix attention upon the conduct of these two persons. We say two, be- cause, though Lord Grey pretends to have retired from the public scene, we firmly believe that am- bition, or, perhaps, avarice, suppl3'ing its place, is at this moment as active a principle in his lord- ship's mind as at any period of his life. Of Lord Brougham, the less dishonest of the two, it is a necessary duty to speak, while he as- sumes, as he does, to be the de facto government of the country. A few words, therefore, with re- spect to the agitation duel, for such it was, fought between these two noblemen. It is well remarked by the Times, that " The public will be forcibly struck by the signifi- cant silence of Earl Grey as to the causes of his resignation. Vv'lien alluding to liis descent from office, by one word he could have cleared away the cloud which hangs over the conduct of the Chancel- lor, but that word was not spoken, and that word was not challenged by him so deeply interested in the utterance of it, if it could be uttered by lips that have never moved to falsehood. The suspicions (if so faintly we may describe what so nearly amounts to a direct charge) have not been whispered in a corner ; they have been the topics of the Press, and the talk of the country. With a breath Lord Grey could have dissipated them, for all know that Lord Grey is incapable of untruth or evasion, but he made no sign. Is he the man to leave the fair dealing of a colleague in doubt if he could deliver it from suspicion"! Is he the man to allow himself to be thought to be wronged if he could with a word show faith where treachery has been imputed, and clear an honourable man of the odium of having contrived against him ? " This is certain — that if Lord Brougham has not done what be ought not to have done, Earl Grey has left undone what he ought to have done, and the pro- babilities on either side will be weighed in the public judgment." We of course wholly dissent from the com- pliments paid to the truth and candour of Earl Grey. We believe that were a balar.ce struck, in this respect, between his lordship and the Chan- cellor, the excess, small as the latter's stock is, would be greatly in favour of the Chancellor. Is it forgotten that Earl Grej'' attempted to intrigue with the Duke of Wellington against the Whigs, in 1827 ? Has his lordshij) denied that, within two months, he advised the King of the necessity, to his Majesty's safety, that his next Cabinet should be Conservative ? This dinner-duel throws a strong backward light upon the whole scheme of Earl Grey's policy. The public is already aware how very reluctantly Lord Brougham was admit- ted into the Wnig Cabinet — how much more reluctantly he was admitted into the House of Lords. This ungracious reception of a colleague, who really possessed more of intellectual power than Lord Grey, and all the other members of the Administration put together ; of a man who esti- mates his own talents at their full value, was not very likely to conciliate the Chancellor ; and from the first day they sat together, the Lords Grey and Brougham have carried on a war, more or less secret, the one against the other. When the his- tory of the Reform Bill shall come to be written, it will be seen how much of the worst parts of that measure is to be ascribed to the dishonest emulation of these two ministers. Earl Grey started with some a,dvantages — he was the head of tlie Government — he was connected with the peerage — he had " two strings to his bow;" a communication with the Radicals, through Lord Durham and Mr. Edward Ellice — a communication with Conservatives, through Mr. Charles Wood and Lord Ho^ick. These were fearful odds in the competition with his rival ; but talent and energy, like Lord Brougham's, dread no odds, and "need dread none —one only ground of superiority excepted — honesty — and this was ground which Lord Grey was neither able nor willing to take. THE GREAT NORTHERN RAILROAD. [From the Mark Lane Express.) The advantages which have accrued not only to the proprietors of those railvvays which have already been laid, but also to the owners of property upon tlie respective lines, begin to be perceived in ditferent parts of the country, and active steps are now being taken to be prepared for applicati ais to Par- liament early in the next session, to carry into eliect that v/hich may be truly consider- ed a great national work — The Grand NoiiTiiERN Railroad. Mr, Cundy, vvhuse talent as a civil en;;ineer is well known, lias contributed much to enlighten the public with sound practical information in a valua- ble work whicli he has recently published, on "The Practicability, Utility, and Benefit of Railroads, with Plans, Sections, and Esti- mates of the proposed Grand Southern and Northern Railroads." This publication also contains a general description of the railroads THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 95 now in progress of formation. One of the most, if not the most important, of the undertakings which he has noticed, is called " The Grand Northern Railroad from London to York and Leeds," witii brandies to Norwich, Notting- ham, Shelliehi, and Hull. The route pro- posed by Mr. Cundy is to cominence at Kingsland near Shoreditch, and to run through Tottetiliam and Walihain to Bishop's Stortlbrd, (with s'jort branches to Hertford and Ware) to proceed from Bishop's St.rt- ford by Saffron Waldeu and Linton to Cam- bridge, Peterborough, Stamford, Grantham, Newark, Lincoln, Gainsborougii, and Snaith, mceiini;' the Leeds Railroad at Selby, and thence to Y(jik, with a branch from Cam- bridge by Newmarket, ]3ury, and Tlsetfoid to Norwicli, distasit about sixty miles. Of the advantages which will be derived from this particular line, Mr. Cundy speaks thus: — " It cannot adiiiit of doui)t that great advan- tage would accrue to landowners, cultivators, breeders, and dealers in cattle, grain, &c. in the counties throiigli whicli tiiis railroad would pass, by the facility they would find in transmitting their timber, coals, iron, stone, lime, bricks, grain, hay, straw. Hour, cattle, sheep, calves, pigs, butter, butcher's meat, and all oilier landed produce, to the London markets, at tiie rate of twenty miles per hour, without loss or damage, at a tiiird of the former expense. This railroad will prove of incalculable advantage to the manu- facturers of Norwich, Bury, Peterborough, Ely, Stamford, Nottingham, Newark, Lin- coln, Sheffield, Barnsley, Wakefield, Brad- ford, Leeds, Hull, and Glasgow, and the other northern districts by enabling them to send their goods by a rapid transit to the metropolis at a small expense, and receive by back-carriage the raw materials necessary for their respective trades. By official re- turns it appears that about one half of the home produce of grain, flour, malt, cattle, sheep, calves, pigs, meat, poultry, and butter, sent to the London markets, arrives from the counties of Hertford, Essex, Cambridge, Suffolk, Norfolk, Huntingdon, Northampton, Rutland, Lincoln, Nottingham and York, and that the average number of sheep travel- ling this road weekly, exceeds eleven thou- sand, with other live stock in proportion ; besides which woollen and other piece goods, Sheffield hardware andothermanufacturesare to be taken into account." At Norwich the measure is taken up with great spirit. A meeting was held on the 13th inst., at which the Mayor presided. We cannot give a bet- ter idea of the prospect of its being carried into execution, and the view taken of it by those most interested, than by quoting a part of the speech of Mr. Cundy upon that occasion. He stated " that the faciliies for a railway from London to Norwich were su- perior to any he had ever met with. In no place would thei/ have to cut more than six feet below the surface. The central committee would act with great caution, and the first section undertaken would be from London to Cambridge. This vvould be 52 miles on the Norfolk road as well as that to the North. The transmission of letters was so important an object with the government, that they had offered a loan of from 250,000/. to 300,000/. from th(jgpost-office revenue to carry the object into effect. Many great landowners had of- fered their assistance. Lord Yarborough had declared he would give half his estate of 19,000 acres to see the work accomplished, as he believed it would double the value of the re- mniiuler. Sir W. Ingleby had expressed a similar anxiety on the subject. Twenty-one peers were patrons of the undertaking, but tiiey must also have the support of landlords and tenants, metchants and traders. The eastern branch of the road would approach Norwich by Bury and Thetford, and proceed to Yarmouth. Here was a population of 212,000 people, and he would venture to say that the railway would yield a profit of 15 per cent, upon the whole outla}^ The coun- tri/ was ulmosc a tide level, and he could not conceive that the average expense would ex- ceed 8,000/. per mile. Lord Althorp fully approved of the design, and one of his Ma- jesty's ministers was a patron. A bullock, which now independent of expense, lost much in waste and deterioration of quality, would be carried to London out of this county in about six hours, and would be as fresh when it arrived, as when it set off. A passenger would perform the distance in three hours and a half. It would be a most important work for the fisheries of Yarmouth, and for the communication of this country with Ger- many, Yarmouth being the most eastern part of the kingdom. It would also give this city the benefit of a cheap and rapid communica- tion with the mantifa'cturing and mining dis- tricts, and enable them to fetch coal for 8*. or 9s. per chaldron, and stone at the same price. The Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor of Cam- bridge University had given their support to the design, and the latter had offered to pre- side at any public meeting. The Commis- sioners of the Bedford Level, with the Duke of Bedford as their chief, had offered to co- operate with him, and the gentlemen of the Bury Corporation had done the same. He considered the expence of this branch would not exceed 650,000/., though he had stated it at 800,000/. The people of the North were very anxious for the success of the work, and f),0!)0 shares had already been taken at Sheffield." We rejoice to find that the land owners take such a sound view of the eftccls likely to be produced by an extensive, and we hope soon to be enabled to say universal adoption of rail- road conveyance. The absurd notion of the probable injury which vvould be sustained by the agriculturalists from the decreased use of horses, and the consequent lessened demand for horse provender, is fast dissipating, and we trust ere this time next year, the first section at least of " the great Northern Rail-road" will be in course of foundation. 96 .THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. ON COTTAGE ALLOTMENTS. (From the Mark Lane Express.) The evil consequences resulting from the presumed legal right of the poor to demand support when unable to provide for them- selves, from want of employment or otherwise, have not been confined to its immediate ope- ration upon themselves alone, but have, by an indirect influence upon the wealthy, con- duced much to sink the labourer into the miserable state of moral degradation and personal privation in which we now find him. Before this pernicious system pre- vailed, the gentry, tlie landowner, and the tenant-farmer, feeling the claim which poor families had upon their charitable feelings when suflering from want or sickness, kept a more watchful eye over their habits and con- duct, and by their advice and direction con- tributed much to guard against contingencies and prepare for the evil day. As soon, how- ever, as the overseei, like a second tax- gatherer, became a frequent visitor, levying heavy contributions, every one thought it a sufficient performance of his duty if he paid his rates ; that which was really the charita- ble donation of the rate-payer, was distributed by the liand of the overseer ; the good feel- ings attendant upon the exercise of acts of kindness were destroyed; and attachment and gratitude, the almost uniform result of such acts, ceased to exist in the bosom of the receiver. The state of destitution in which the agricultural Ial)ourer was placed three or four years since, urged him to the adoption of a desperate mode of attracting attention to his situation. The gentry and landed pro- prietors, roused from their apathy, are now exerting themselves to improve the condition of the working classes. Associations under the title of " Labourers' Friend Societies," and others of a similar kind, have been formed, the beneficial effects of which are manifesting themselves in a manner highly satisfactory, It is most extraordinary that whilst we find whole parishes deserted by tenant-farmers, and the lands unlet in conse- quence of the heavy pressure of the poor- rates, no steps should have been taken to locate the labourers upon the land, and en- able them to do that which, with a little as- sistance, they would easily have efi'ected, namely— to supply all their wantsby their own personal exertions. The low price of ai?ri- cultural produce having corrected tliat co- vetousness for land which once existed in the mind of the farmer, and a growing disposition to allot small portions of land to every cot- tager having manifested itself, we are led to hope that the prospects of our poorer fellow- countrymen are brightening, and that re- lief will be afforded to the other classes of the community, by a corresponding reduc- tion of the poor-rates. The inestimable ad- vantages derived from the adoption of the allotment system upon a more exten- sive scale than we should deem judi- fipiiSj witi} rejereflp? to ilie 3^riculti?rfil labourer in England, are very clearly explained by Mr. Blacker in his essay " On the Management of Landed Property in Ire- land, the Consolidation of Small Farms, Employment of the Poor, &c.," and for which that gentleman most deservedly obtained the gold medal of the Royal Dublin Society. He asserts with full confidence the result of pr-ac- tical experience, that the occupier of from four to eight acres can pay to the full as high a rent as the large farmer, if a proper system of cultivation and cropping be pursued. He describes the effect produced upon the moral energies of those who have adopted the plan under his own direction in the following lan- guage:— "I could point out many indivi- duals who, up«n such small patches of land, were, three years ago, sunk iu misery and despondency, living without hope and acting without energy, who, under the operation of the treatment recommended, have already re- covered their spirits, some of them their hfalth, (which was injured by the hopelessness of their situation,) and are at present full of energy and exertion, working with all their might the more speedily to arrive at that com- fort and independence which nosv, for the first time, appears within their reach. I say it is impossible for any one who has not seen it to calculate beforehand the total change of ha- bits, character, and circumstances, that takes place in a man who is raised from the depths of despondency to to the buoyancy of hope." This is the language of a man living amongst those very individuals whose feelings and situation he describes, and who has directed the utmost attention and bestowed the most minute observation upon the working of^ a system which he hns himself introduced in the neighbourhood in which he resides, and which has been equally successful in other parts of Ireland, where the landowners have been wise enough to follow his example. There is this material difference in the species of employment to which surplus labour is directed, and which should never be lost sight of, that, when employed in producing any ar- ticle ot manufacture, our power of production being much greater than our channels of con- sumption, it fails in its object, by displacing the labour of some other individual. But when direcled to agriculture, the labourer produces that which supplies the immediate wants of himself and family, and the surplus produce is of a nature to obtain an immediate market in exchange for articles which call into action the labour of others. This essay of Mr. Blacker's should be perused with at- tr;ntion by every landowner in the United Kingdom.* * See an article " On tlie Squaring and Consoli- dation of Small Farms," by W. Blacker, page 417, of this number. PullhTied fl^ 19, Old Bos well Court, Temple Bar. Pfintea by Josepli figgei5romulgated,and we believe there is reason and good feeling enough among the British people to listen to the truth rather than to the crude fancies of the free trade theorists, who, even at this time, are busily raising their senseless clamour against all corn-laws. Let petitions to the legislature be freely presented, and supported as they ought to be ; and when the next general election affords the opportunity, let the agriculturists profit by the experience of the past, and casting away all petty divisions, unite to a man in supporting those candidates on whose support in Parliament they can rely, remembering that the stake thev have at issue is the fearful one of life. THE CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. (From the Herald.) The Central Criminal Court Act, as our readers are aware, came into operation on the 1 st instant, the ceremony of opening the Court of the Old Bailey for the administration of justice according to the provi- sions of the new Act having been reported in our Paper of yesterday. The main principle of this Act must meet with tlie ready approbation of every person who would rather see justice administered according to law by learned and discreet judges, than according to caprice and temper, and misconception, by vain and ignorant magistrates. The importance and extent of the ju- dicature which the Middlesex justices possessed for a long succession of years up to the day when the new Act superseded their authority, ought never to have been intrusted to any man, or body of men, for whose qualifications to administer it wisely and well, or even to protect it fiom the admixture of ignorant errors and gross absurdities, the public had no gua- rantee or cause of confidence whatever. Butthiswas not the mistake of our ai:cient constitution. Long as such promiscuous bodies of men unlearned in the law, like most of the Middlesex and Surrey justices, have continued to exercise extensive powers of cri- minal judicature, yet in comparison with the historv of the law their power is of recent origin. Though in very early times there were magistrates called conservators of the peace, their functions were rather different from those of our modern justices. They were not permitted, nor did they aspire to usurp the functions of the King's judges — men trained by a severe course of education and familiarised by long experience to a knowledge both comprehensive and exact of the theory and practice of the laws. The alterations in the criminal law which have been carried into effect within a few years, and which have so wisely and beneficially substituted punish- ments more worthy of a civilised nation, for penalties of blood, were clogged with one disadvantage — they tended incidentally to inciease the already too great power of justices in session — because, being allowed to try any crime almost that was not capital, the re- moval of the capital penalty at once transferred the jurisdiction of the offence from the judges of assize to the county or borough justices, unless the judges of assize previously to the sessions came into the county or horough ; but so many adjourned sessions are held of late years, that the greater proportion of the non-capital offences are, we believe, tried at ses- sions, sometimes nearly all. To those who know how defective the criminal law is with regard to the means of revising a wrong decision, either in point of fact or law, compared with the laws affecting property, the danger of intrusting such extensive jurisdiction to either shopkeepers in towns, or country gentlemen, will appear sufficiently great, however well disposed such persons might be to administer the laws fnirly, as far as they understood them. In taking away such jurisdiction from magistrates in the metropolis and its vicinity, and in rendering back to the King's judges the authority which ought never to uave been parted with, the Central Criminal Court Bill is good ; but we have other observations to make uponit, which we must for the present defer. JOINT - STOCK BANKS AND THE BANK OF ENGLAND. (From the Herald.) The intimation which we have lately been able to give relative to the intended crusade of the Bank of England against the joint-stock banks of issue has created the deepest interest in the mone- tary world ; but it may be thought we are too se- vere in our strictures on the conduct of the Bank Direction : so far from this being the case, we can state that we make use of but a small portion of the materials with which we are furnished from authentic sources to expose the system of that Corporation, by which the interests of the people of England are endangered to preserve those of a small body of proprietors. The Bank of England, when first constituted (in 1689), and even for 50 years afterwards, was fully adequate to administer to the general watits of the empire, but to suppose that this or any other single establishment can feed the growing and natural wants of this great commercial, agricultural, and manufacturing com- m.unity now is an absurdity too palpable to defend. The population alone has increased from eight to twenty millions, our commerce twenty-fold, our colonial — nay, all the various branches of our trade which can exist only upon the full and even- tide of a circulating medium, are all bursting to find a vent, restrained only by the narrow-minded l)olicy of the Bank Direction, too frequently formed from a class of men who, however respect- able they may be individually, possess but little of that knowledge which should guide the operations of the assumed first monetary Corjjoration in the world. In our rensarks of yesterday on the distri- bution of the circulation throughout the kingdom, we should have stated that out of the seven mil- lions supposed to be in the pockets of the people of England, not less than four millions are circu- lated in the county of Lancaster alone ; hence that soreness which we have previously noticed against banks of issue in that county. It has been said that much of personality has been mixed with this opposition to the joint-stock banks, and the affected regard for the pockets of the people, which has been thus assumed, is merely a cloak to feelings which ought not to animate a public body. We again repeat that we are advocates of none but respectable joint-stock banks. With this limit of our praise we shall rest ; it only applies to the few whose paid-up capitals amount to treble the sum of their issues, and the security derived from the individual property of all the proprietors THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 117 — ill one case to not less than live millions ster- ling. It is evident that this great community is becoming rapidly and sensitively alive to the past errors of our monetary system, and that the sup- posed magic of a Bank of England note has lost its influence — a note once declared by Parliament to be worth a pound sterling, whilst it only pro- duced 14 shillings ; and though custom and usage may go a great way, still custom, usage, and pre- judice must have their limits, although they may for a time impede the prosperity of the nation : reason and common sense will, sooner or later, resume their influence, and the conviction of a great truth will overciime all difficulties. Upon the intrinsic value of Bank-notes we need not re- mark, even by comparison : three-fourths of their capital is locked up by the debt due to them from Government. When a demand for the precious metals takes place, the Bank flies to that Govern- ment for protection, by a legislative interference. Thus entangled in each other's embraces, and ex- ercising their power, for the benefit of the few in- stead of the many, both must stand or fall toge- ther. As such a monopoly, exercised, in fact, through necessity, for self- preservation, tends only to the aggrandisement of one or two leviathan firms, by the unlimited credit given to them, and is at once dangerous to the Bank itself, and at variance with the true interests of the country at large, it becomes more than apparent that it should be abrogated upon correct principles — principles that will nullify the alternate expansion and contraction of the Bank issues, which first entraps the people into siieculations that, half completed, are snapped asunder by their contrac- tion, and thus ruin all who are not alive to the baneful operation of such a nefarious currency system. We have, however, much reason to ex- pect that great exertions will shortly be made to remove this incubus of our monetary system from its unnatural pressure upon the industrial power of the country, a pressure which has been much augmented by the operation of Mr. Peel's Bill, since the passing of which, as a curious illustra- tion, we may say tliat more failures of parties connected with the Bank of England Direction have taken place than during the whole time pre- vious from the first establishment of the Bank of England. For the present we shall leave the sub- ject, with the intention of recurring to it on the first opportunity. THE CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. (From the Times.) We are sometimes absurdly accused of seeking opportunities of attacking that noble person who is, to use his own often-repeated phrase, " at the head of the law." So far from deserving this accusation, we studiously avoid any mention of him, except when he forces us to notice some ex- traordinary exhibition of himself injurious to the public interest, or unjust to the well-founded pre- tensions of individuals who have not the same ready means of making their pretensions known. On the present occasion we are compelled, by the presumptuous importance of one of his hired trumpeters, and by a knowledge of the real facts of the case, to assign the merit of an excellent measure to its proper author, and to strip the usurper of tiie laurels he has purloined. We described in Saturday's pajjcr the objects of the Central Criminal Court Bill, and we took pains to explain its usefulness. If this bill had really been the offspring of Lord Brougham's own knowledge and judgment, we should not have al- lowed our disgust at some of his late strolling ad- ventures to prevail over our sense of justice — we should immediately, and even anxiously, have ascribed to him that which was his due. We knew, however, that the bill was none of his, though we did not think it worth while to say so ; but when we see that he is not ashamed to appro- priate to himself that merit which belongs of rights to others — when we see that he allows his sycophants, some of the lowest myrmidons that ever formed the tail of any Pretender, from Clcon to O'Connell, to laud him as the author of good which has been the work of others, we think it a duty to state, that the great head of the law has nothing to do with this measure except with that part of it which may be denominated its jobbery — a part of the measure which does not appear in the act itself, but which it is understood is to be one of its " legal" consequences. The bill itself, we have reason to believe, was drawn many years ago by Mr. Shelton, the Clerk of the Crown at the Old Bailey, and was settled by that experienced Judge in criminal causes. Sir John Sylvester. It was found among the papers of Mr. Shelton, and was given to the Lord Chan- cellor by a gentleman who certainly expected to have some remuneration for so valuable a present. The Chancellor saw an opportunity of acquiring some reputation by this well-digested measure; he seized it eagerly, and in the first burst of his grati- tude wished to repay the donor with a gift of even " Oriental magnificence." The donor, however, had no wish to go further cast than the Old Bai- ley. Under these circumstances what was to be done ? Only this : the Chancellor is to enjoy the full reputation of being the author of a measure of which he probably has never taken the trouble to understand more than half the details, and for the donor, who prefers the water of the Thames to that of the Ganges, some appropriate place must be created — at the Chancellor's expense? No ; out of the public purse. We attach no blame to the gentleman who is the object of the Chancellor's patronage ; indeed, we even think he will be in the situation of those who, in the Irish phrase, " gain a loss ;" but what shall be said of him who is content to strut about and claim our homage by the display of property clandestinely withdrawn from its rightful owner ? THE JOINT-STOCK BANKS AND THE BANK OF ENGLAND. (From the Herald.) We are still assured that the measure we alluded to yesterday as being comtemplated by the Bank of England, that of refusing to discount the ac- ceptance or endorsement of any joint-stock bank issuing its own notes, is reallj^ intended to be acted upon after the 1st of January next. Should this prove to be the fact, we have every reason to be- lieve that not a moment will be lost in calling a meeting of the managers of all the respectable joint-stock banks in the kingdom, for the purpose of resisting a species of tyranny and monopoly that could hardly have been anticipated in the nine- teenth century ; we say respectable joint- stock banks, because we arc the advocates of none other, and we have long endeavoured to guard the pub- lic against that mischievous and delusive system, or riither mania, of banking lately introduced, wherp only a sttjpII portion of capital has been lis THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. paid up, and trading, in fact, is carried on upon the mere names of the proprietors. To this de- scription of banking, so full of mischief, and fraught with eventual misery both to the public and the proprietors, we have not only ever been decidedly opposed, but shall never cease to caution all parties against embarking in. But where the law (expressly made for the purpose) authorises the establishment of joint-stock banks, with a full paid-up capital, to issue their own notes, and the Corporation of the Bank of England, presuming to set itself above the law, declares that any bank so doing shall incur their high and mighty dis- pleasure, it surely is full time for the people of commercial and agricultural England to look about them, and inquire by what authority, and for whose benefit this extreme stretch of power is in- tended. It is to be regretted that the Bank Direc- tors should have adopted, even by anticipation, a course that must draw upon them more of the public attention than was absolutely required ; but, in truth, there has been too much of unquiet meddling and officious interference with the affairs of others exercised by that conclave ; our meaning will be well understood by them and the monetary world, and if rendered necessary, we shall not fear to speak more openly. The last exhibition of their weakness has not taught them prudence, but it should be remembered, Quem Deus vultperdere, prius dementat. At present there are, upon a rough calculation, about eighteen millions of Bank-notes in circula- tion, thus divided : sixty London bankers using and holding about three millions of them daily ; 450 private country bankers using three millions more, and 100 joint-stock banks using an addi- tional five millions, the remainder, say about seven millions, being in the pockets of private indivi- duals. Should a union of the first-rate joint-stock banks which have paid-up capitals take place, and at once issue their own notes, it becomes obvious that the notes of the Bank of England would have no preference, since the security of the joint-stock banks would be tenfold, They would neither be hampered by a dead capital lent to the Govern- ment, nor endangered by the fear of stoppage from a periodical scarcity of the precious metals. They would be supported by the people of England — all interested more or less in their welfare, and the Bank of England would formally descend into a mere Government agency ; for under its present constitution it is but little more, and evidently un- equal to administer to the pecuniary wants of up- wards of 20,000,000 people. AGRICULTURE. (From the Times.) Lord Chandos has again been haranguing the farmers of Buckinghamshire upon the necessity of repealing the malt tax, and in praise of the corn- law system. Will Lord Chandos inform the House of Commons how the 3,000,000Z. produced by the malt tax are to be replaced .■' If he does, we will join him, but on the further condition that he can assure us of the farmer, and not exclusively the landlord, being the gainer by its abolition. As for the corn duty, his Lordship's attack upon it is not reniarkable for logic or for a knowledge of the effects of taxation upon commerce. He founds his recommendation of the corn law, if we understand him, upon the fact of wheat being smuggled from Guernsey and Jersey into England. What gudgeons must you have had for auditors, my Lord Marquis 1 RAIL-ROADS. (Frcrm the Mark Lane Express.) Notwithstanding that we have upon many former oceasions called the attention of our readers to the immense advantages which must result from the general adoption of rail- roads, we make no apology for again referring to a subject, the contemplation of which al- ways inspires us with feelings of delight. The evidence given before the select commit- tee of the House of Commons on tlie London and Birmingham Railroad, as also on the Grand Western Railroad, furnishes a body of information, which although obtained at a very heavy cost to those particular companies, will be of infinite service in removing those prejudices which might induce opposition to other new lines which may be proposed. One ground of objection frequently made by the owners or occupiers of magnificent houses and grounds near which railroads were likely to pass, has been the noise and smoke of the engines, and the exposure of the premises by the intrusion of great numbers of persons pass- ing and repassing. Upon this subject a Mr. Hardman Earle, a Liverpool merchant, whose family had built a house, and laid out pleasure grounds, at a cost of £12,000, and througli which the Liverpool and Manchester Railroad now passes, was examined before the Com- mittee on the London and Birmingham Rail- road. In answer to questions put to him, this gentleman stated that apprehension of inconvenience from the causes above enu- merated, had induced him to oppose the bill, but that experience had entirely changed his opinion. A second objection, still more for- midable, and at the same time more ground- less than the first, has been urged by landed proprietors, namely, that the land adjacent to railroads would be depreciated in value. Upon this point Mr. Pease, M. P. said that he had been ten years a director of the Stock- ton and Darlington Railway, that he had nar- rowly watched its effects upon the landed pro- perty through which it passed, that such pro- perty had increased in value, and that when land is offered for sale or letting, it is invari- ably stated by way of recommendation that the railroad passes by or through the estate, as the case may be. This statement was confirm- ed by Mr. Lee, a surveyor and agent to several gentlemen possessing property adjacent to the Liverpool and Manchesterline,and whose rents had been increased by it. Some advantages are pointed out, and which are entitled to the highest consideration, affecting, as they will, the interests of a body of men confessedly suffering under the most severe pressure of distress, we mean the tenant farmers. Seve- ral eminent farmers, graziers, and butchers, were examined, and concurred in stating, that railroad conveyance would be used with great advantage in carrying lambs and calves to the metropolis, and that if they paid for transmitting cattle by railroad double what it now cost them in the ordinary way, they THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. Il9t would still be great gainers. Mr. John Sharp, who has been for forty years an extensive butcher in Marylebone, stated that the value and quality of meat were much deteriorated from the animals being slaughtered in a feverish state, occasioned by their being fatigued and over-driven. The reduced cost of transfer, by lowering the price of dairy produce in a manner wliich will not affect the production of the article, will increase con- sumption, and necessarily benefit the pro- ducers. To the commercial world, increased speed of transit, and frequency of communi- cation, are advantages which can scarcely be over-rated. The distance between Liver- pool and Manchester is thirty-one miles, and there are now three deliveries of letters daily between these places. When the lines from London to Birmingham, and from Birming- ham to Manchester, shall be completed, let- ters leaving London by the mail at eight o'clock in the evening, may be delivered in Liverpool by nine the next morning, and let- ters dispatched to Dublin at the same time, and by the same conveyance, will reach that city the following evening. So that an answer to a letter from London to Dublin may be obtained in about forty-eight hours. If we may take the Liverpool and Manches- ter railroad as a precedent, and which we may fairly do, there being no populous towns on the line, the intercourse between distant places -will be very much increased. It ap- pears that the number of persons travelling from Liverpool to Manchester by coach before the establishment of steam conveyance, was, upon an average, 450 per day, it now is 1209. We learn from public documents, that half a million of persons pass annually between London and Liverpool. Preserving, there- fore the same proportion, this number would be increased threefold. Should the principal towns contiguous to this important line, form branch railways into it, the distances in time will, it seems, be as follows : — HOURS. MINUTES. Aylesbury 2 .... 30 Bedford 3 .... 30 Birmingham 5 .... 30 Dudley 6 .... — Kettering 4 .... 15 Kidderminster 6 .... 30 Leamington 5 .... — Northampton 3 .... — Rugby 4 — We trust that in any future applications to Parliament for laying down new lines, greater respect will be paid to public advantage than was evinced in the last two sessions, and that, as is said to have been the case of the great Western Railway, no single Peer will deem it advisable or have the power to occasion the useless expenditure of 40,000/. by a company formed for the purposes of carrying into effect a great national work — to cause the bill to be thrown out, and to render another application to Parliament necessary at a still further expence. THE CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT. (From the Moi~ning Chronicle.) The following letter fi'om Mr. Charles Phillips gives so clear and so satisfactory an account of the circumstances in which the Central Criminal Court Bill originated, that if any person has at- tached the least importance to the absurd charge in The 7\'?wes against Lord Brougham, with regard to the Bill in question, the perusal of this letter must disabuse him : — " TO THE EDITOR OF THE MORNING CHRONICLE. " November 5, 1834. " Sir, — The introduction of my name in your paper of to-day, on the suhject of the Central Criminal Court Bill, must be my excuse for explaining the origin and progress of that most important measure. In consequence of some unfortunate occurrences which had taken place at the Middlesex Sessions, the Lord Chancellor intimated to me, as one of the bar, his deep regret, and his anxiety, if possible, to prevent their repetition. Amongst other things, in the course of conversation, his Lordship suggested the propriety of transferring much of the jurisdiction of the Justices to the King's Judges — of creating a permanent court for that purpose, and of concentrat- ing within its control all the dense population for some miles around the metropolis, without distinction of counties. This idea originated entirely with him- self. I said it was a curious coincidence; but that really Mr. Alley had, a few days before, mentioned to me some such plan as having been thirty years ago in the contemplation of Sir John Sylvester and Air. Shelton, and that he believed some memorial of it might be found in the papers of the latter gen- tleman, then in the possession of his nephew, Sir. Clarke. The Chancellor naturally expressed his sur- prise, as he had not been personally acquainted with either of these gentlemen : he said, however, that he would consult Lord Melbourne, then at the head of the Home department, and if that nobleman agreed with him in the absolute expediency of the govern- ment's interference, I should hear from him again. In the course of a week, accordingly, at his Lord- ship's desire, I attended him ; when he informed me that Lord Melbourne had at once recognised the great utility of the principle, and would gladly co-operate in carrying it into effect. He added, that if Mr. Clarke could find any such document as that to which I alluded, it might be useful with respect to the details. I asked whether I had his Lordship's permission to make use of his name ? He said, ' Certainly ; there was no occasion for secrecy : and I was to give his compliments, and say he would feel much indebted for any suggestions on the sub- ject from so experienced an officer.' I executed my commission. Mr. Clarke gave me a copy of the rough sketch which remained in his uncle's hand- writing, with that ready courtesy for which he is re- markable. That gentleman knows there was no sti- pulation whatever for secrecy ; he was at libert)^ to mention what had occurred to all the world ; and if he did not do so, was only restrained by that innate mo- desty which every one who knows him must know is his characteristic. No two things4can be more dif- ferent than that mere sketch, and the matured mea- sure prepared and carried by Lord Brougham. I ought, in justice, to add here, that the Chancellor expressly told me he meant this measure merely as an experiment; that if it succeeded, he would extend its advantages to the entire country, but tliat he wished first to ascertain whether its operation would turn out really beneficial. I mention this 7iow, in order that if he should be enabled hereafter to reduce this great 120 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. design to practice, he may reap, without cavil, the credit which shall appertain to it. The principle of the bill having been thus recognised by the Cabinet, it is quite true that the Lord Chancellor occupied himself in rendering its details as perfect as possible. To my own knowledge, he was nearly three months actively employed on it. It is quite true that he did not trust implicitly to his own judgment. He consulted the law officers oi the crown, he consulted tlie learned Recorder, he consulted Mr, Clarke, he consulted every one who could give him any practi- cal information — he laboriously weighed their various suggestions, and at length introduced his measure with a speech of such surpassing power, that, neither in Parliament, nor out of Parliament, from any party was there heard a dissentient voice. To Lord Brough- am, and to Lord Brougham alone, are the public in- debted for this vast improvement. Even suppose IWr, Shelton's bill had been adopted hy him, and carried without amendment — the very reverse of truth — the country would still owe him all its gratitude for hav- ing called it into activity. But for him it might have slumbered peaceably for another thirty years amid the dust of the Old Bailey. But, I repeat, the hill, as it is, is Lord Brougham's bill, embracing in its conception and details, the rare combination of his industry and genius ; and destined long to remain, I hope, a monument of both, ' • So much have I felt myself called on to state, in strict justice to the Lord Chancellor, utterly regard- less of any imputation to which I may be subjected. Lord Brougham knows better than any one else, whether 1 am justly chargeable with any unworthy motive. He knows that I have never shown myself solicitous for his favours, though there can be no one who feels more than I do, Loth gratiiied and honoured b}^ his friendship. 1 am. Sir, with great respect, " CHARLES PHILLIPS." If Lord Brougham had found a bill drawn by Mr. Shelton in so perfect a state, that, without material alteration, he could have at once sub- mitted it to Parliament, no rational person would think of blaming the Chancellor for his readiness in giving the country the benefit of the Bill. But Mr. C. Phillips informs us, that " no two things can be more different than that mere sketch (left by Mr. Shelton) and the matured measure pre- pared and carried by Lord Brougham." Mr. Phillips adds, that the Chancellor told him that he meant the measure as an experiment, and that, if successful, the measure would be extended to the whole coumry. The Standard, in an able article on the subject of this strange accusation, after dwelling on the im- menseadvantage to the coimtryof this Bill, in " the more certain punishment of the guilty, by bring- ing them to trial while the evidence of their of- fences is still fresh in memory — before witnesses can be conveniently tampered with, and while there is less likelihood of business or casualty re- moving them from the jurisdiction of the Court," and " the abridgement of the unjust suffering of the innocent," proceeds to observe — " We need say the less of the merits of the Me- tropolitan Bill, because there seems to be no second opinion upon the point ; but it is necessary, injus- tice to the Chancellor, to recite these merits more specifically, because they are, in fact, the objects which his Lordship had pursued in a measure of a much more comprehensive description — pursued, we shall ever regret it, unsuccessfully, but certainly with sincerity and ardour. The Metrepolitan Bill is, in fact, but a circumscribed application of the principle pf the unlncky Local Cosirts' JBiJl j and of that principle it cannot be denied the Chancellor was the original patron ; and as far as a man can be called author of a principle, the original author. The case, then, just comes to this — tlie Noble Lord has obtained for the metropolitan district, that which be would have obtained, if he could, for the whole kingdom. That in adapting his principle to the metropolitan district he availed himself of the Crown-office experience of Mr. Shelton, of the legal learmng and Home-office experience of Mr. Secre- tary Phillips ; and of the learning, talent, and, if we may make another distinction, forensic experience of Mr. Charles Phillips, seems to us a just topic of praise, rather than that of reprehension. Our fault, with Lord Brougham, is very much the same which he finds with the houses of Parliament. We think he is always doing too much ; that he undertakes more than he, or any other man is, ever was, or ever can be, competent to : and we are happy to find that, in this case, he has preserved one attribute of a great mind — namely, not to occupy himself with details, without preserving which, ten greater men than Lord Broug- ham could not usefully complete one-half of all he undertakes. We should, indeed, have thought meanly of his Lordship if we had found him med- dling with the particular clauses of the bill Mr. Chas. Phillips has, in the course of a few years, by the mere force of his talents, obtained the undisputed lead in the court about to be modified ; and obtained that undisputed lead from men of great learning and talents, many, very many years his seniors. Let us add, that as he has won his position well, he wears it honourably, .ind with the full and respectful approbation of the competitors whom he has left behind — a felicity of success rare anywhere, most rare, we fear, at the bar. As this gentleman's name has been brought in question, we owe it to the cause of truth to give our humble testimony in support of his great talents ; the sincerity of that testimony cannot be questioned when its nature is known. Upon an occasion when we thought it might be necessary to defend the liber- ty of the press against a criminal prosecution, with the whole bar before us to choose, Mr. Charles Phil- lips was the advocate of our choice. It would be unbecoming to say more, but it would be ungenerous not to say so much. " Now, if in new-modelling the metropolitan cri- minal court, the Lord Chancellor had overlooked the suggestions bequeathed by Mr. Shelton, or neglected to avail himself of the aid to be had from Mr. Secre- tary Phillips and Mr. Charles Phillips, how much would he have been to blame 1 And yet, that be did not deserve this blame, seems to be the main ground of accusation against him." The malice of The Times has thus only served to draw forth testimony to the Chancellor's merits, and to place them more conspicuously before the public. Balaam went to curse, and was made the instrument of blessing the children of Israel. If Lord Brougham remain true to himself, he may pray for a succession of such attacks as those in The Times of Monday and Tuesday last. AGRICULTURE. (From The Standard.) We are recalled by the Times to the consideration of the Buckingham farmers' dinner. Our contemporary says that the JMarquis of Chandos harangued upon the necessity of repealing the malt tax, and in praise of the corn law system. This is not strictly accurate ; Lord Chandos spoke certainly, and spoke well, as he always does, agajnst thf malt tax, but he said ^othiJlg THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 121 in praise of the corn laws, though he pointed out an artifice of great and most injurious efficacy by which the protection that these laws promise had been al- ready rendered illusory, in some degree, and is likely to be rendered so in a much greater degree. This fraud upon the revenue it was his duty to expose, it having come to his knovvlege, even thougli his lordship were not possessor of a single acre. With regard to the malt duties, the Times asks, how the three millions, produced by them, are to be replaced 1 The House of Commons ought to have tiiought of tliat last year, when it voted for the abolition of these duties- When it was taking off the tax, and again, when it was taking off the tax upon tiles, and dogs, of a certain brevity of tail, &c. &c. However, we recur to the good old Wiiig maxim, Whig though it is — when a tax is found bad take it off, and trust to the Finance IMinister to find a sub- stitute. Now the malt tax we hold to be the worst of all taxes, in every aspect in which a tax can be bad. In the first place, it is collected at an enormous ex- pense to the fiscal de])artnient of the goverment itself. In the second place, it is vexatious beyond any other tax, inasmuch as it restrains a man from the use, according to his own fancy, of the fruit of his own labour upon his own ground. Again, it is a tax more expensive upon the industry of the country, in propor- tion to its produce, than any other ; at the same time that it is most productive of monopoly. The farmer has not merely to meet the expense of growing his barley, he is to meet the farther expense or loss, as the case may be, of sending it to a distant market, while nobody is the better of all this, his waste, but the overgrown brewer. Next, the tax operates as a most serious abridgement of the comforts, or of what liabit.if not climate, has made the necessary wants of the people Finally, it is the most demoralising tax that the most perverse ingenuity could invent. It breaks up family enjoyments, disperses the natural society of the farm-house, strips men, in the humble and uninformed classes, of all domestic restraints upon dissoluteness ; in one word, naturalizes every labour- ing Englishman in the ale-house. Tb.e Times adds an intimation that it is in a capacity to prove that landlords alone would benefit by a repeal of the malt- tax. We cannot afford to grantthis — we cannot un- derstand how landlords are to benefit from the repeal, except by the greater consumption of beer : and from this greater consumption, it seems plain to us a long succession of benefits must precede the gain to the landlord. The man who now drinks beer, and used to to drink ditch-water, is surely, a gainer. The man who drinks his beer for twopence, where he used to pay fourpence, cannot fail to be a gainer. The man who brews his own beer, instead of sending to the ale-house for it, is a gainer. The farmer, who sells his barley in September, in his stack-yard, or in the next market town, instead of keeping till Maxch, and sending it to the overgrown brewer, some fifty miles off, as well as now selling it at a higher price, has surely to congratulate himself upon an advantage gained. W^e might name fifty more classes who will be gainers, but we will name two, the most interesting of all — wives and children who will share their hus- bana's and father's beer and his company at their own fireside, instead of blushing to bring him home staggering from the ale-house. These will be gainers. But, in the name of wonder, by what process can ihe landlords obtain an original and independent, instead of a derivative and common advantage, from the re- peal of the malt tjix 1 ON JOINT-STOCK BANKS. (From a Correspondent of the MarJc Lane Express.) We last week took occasion to animadvert on the opposition now offered to the Joint-Stock Banks by the Bank of England and the private bankers in London, and the daily press has since made frequent allusion to the subject. It has been stated (we know not with what truth), that the Bank of England has resolved to deny dis- counts to all bills having the indorsements of Joint-Stock Banks. The despotic and injurious nature of a resolution of this kind, so destructive to the interests of the country, and so partial and vindictive in its operation, is so gross and glaring that we are strongly disposed to question its cor- rectness. And yet in following up the train of reasoning submitted in our last number, such a resolution would seem no more than " a move in the game" which is now playing against these es- tablishments. If there is any truth in the state- ment, we may conclude that hostilities will not terminate here, and that we may next have occasion to notice that the London bankers have determined to discontinue all Joint-Stock Bank accounts. In that case, the Joint-Stocks must of necessity be thrown on their own resources, and vvill have to consider how far they can successfully establish agencies in London for themselves. There can be no doubt that they are clearly authorised to do this, as the law which prohibits Joint-Stock Banks from having a branch in the metropolis for the purpose of " banking business," still provides for their having agencies here for the payment of their notes and bills. This clause is a singular protec- tion to these banks, if they are driven to avail themselves of it. Were they to unite in the esta- blishment of a general Joint-Stock Bank Agency, which, from the circumstances in which they seem to be placed, they are likely to resort to, it is more than probable that the Bank of England and the others will discover, when too lale, that their hos- tility was more remarkable for its selfishness than for its sagacity. As if in confirmation of what we formerly mentioned on this subject, the Bank of England has found it necessary to shut up its branch in Exeter. We may prophecy that, before long, they will find it necessary to shut up their branches in other places, and even in that very district where the whole bitterness of their opposition is at present chief- ly directed. The branch in Manchester (perhaps the most important, and likely to have been the most profitable which they established, had it not been chained down by the policy which governs the mother bank) is now notoriously unavailable — " its occupation's gone" — the people there have become identified with banks of their own, and they understand too well that an establishment on which they cannot with any certainty rely for ac- commodation, is not what is wanted in a crowded manufacturing district. The objections which have been raised against the Joint-Stock Banks are, however, deserving of the deepest consideration. These objections ap- ply, not only to the wide distinction which exists in many instances between tlieir nominal and sub- scribed capital, but also to their indiscreet manage- ment, and the facilities they offer for imprudent 122 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. speculation by an excessive issue of paper. Witb respect to the capital, there can be little doubt that the public ought to be satisfied ; but it is very questionable whether the kind of satisfaction which has been suggested, namely, that a considerable portion of the capital should be invested in Go- vernment Securities, for the protection of the pub- lic, would be a proper or desirable remedy — as the eftciency of the bank would be to a great extent neutralized, its operations being impeded in pro- portion to the amount of its capital thus with- drawn. But it is also objeclioziahle in principle, as it would be an improper, not to say unneces- sary, interference with the trading interests of the community. If, however, such a protection were considered indispensible, it would, with equal, and ' even greater propriety, apply to those private bankers issuing notes than to the public Joint- Stock Banks, which, from the wealth necessarily represented by a large proprietary, already offer ample security to the public. It is doubtless the object of all banking esta- blishments, in order to promote the interests of their subscribers, to extend their issues as far as possible, consistent with safety, and to do so also with the smallest amount of available capital, as their dividends must, of course, mcrease in an in- verse ratio ; and in well-managed establishments, they ought to have no surplus capital, but what is productive, in some shape, to the general stock of profits. The public, how- however, have a right to expect that in case of necessity the whole amount of nominal capital may be called in ; but it is well known that this is not imperative, and is not likely to be acted upon. W^e are not advocates iov fictitious capital in such establishments ; on the contrary, we consider the system altogether bad, which is so calculated to mislead ; but the only remedy which we conceive can with propriety be proposed, is that the amount of the actual capital (paid up, not nominul) should be advertised for the information of the public. As a principle, therefore, we hold that the capital of the Bank ought to he fully paid up, and if the argument which the joint-stocks themselves use, (that were such the case the capital would be excessive for the purposes of the Bank, and would consequently produce an inadequate return to the shareholders,) is good for any thing, it is an argu- ment in favour of reducing the shares from 100/, or 50/., which were never intended to he paid np, to 10/. or 5/., which would be immediately sub- scribed. The effect of this would also be more beneficial to the Bank itself, as it would distribute the interest over a wider surface, and create a deeper anxiety on the part of the shareholders to uphold the credit and character of the establish- ment. We believe that much which has been stated respecting imprudent management, and the excessive issue of piper, is to be received with much caution. The ])rivate bankers (to whom these banks are so formidable) are very likely to create fears of this kind, which are more theoreti- cal than practical. The issue of paper will always be governed by the public demand for accommo- dation, and it is well known that the paper finds its way immediately to London, where it is speedily converted. It is not to be supposed that if such joint-stock issues have appeared excessive, that a corresponding provision is not made for them in the hands of their London agents ; but we believe that tliis apparent excess may with greater truth be attributed to the corresponding amount of private bankers' notes, which the ope- ration of these joint-stocks have withdrawn from circulation, and this in a great measure explains the virulence of the opposition ^Nhicii has been raised against them. The surpassing interest of this subject has in- duced us to dwell upon it at more length than we intended, but the value of all property, manufac- turing and agricultural, is deeply involved in the question, and its importance cannot be too forcibly impressed upon the attention of our readers. POOR LAWS— IRELAND. {From the Herald.) The observation of Dr. Doyle, in his able pam- phlet on the necessity of some legal provision being made for the destitute poor of Ireland, — " That no doubt till within these very few years every administration of public money or business in Ireland was most corrupt," is, v^efear, still too justly applicable to the present mode of managing matters in that country. Every thing connected with Ireland, whether under the guidance of Pro- testants or Catholics, whether it is a Bill for build- ing a bridge or making a road, whether an inquiry into the state of the Church or of the poor, ap- pears to be fated to degenerate into ?).joh. The above remarks are immediately called forth by the state of the Poor Law Commission, which professes to be at work in Ireland at the present time, and which appears likely, we I'egret, to add another example of the justness of the above ob- servations. And first who, or rather what, de- scription of persons have been appointed to con- duct this inquiry ? \^'e ask this question, without meaning any thing in the least personally offensive to the youtfis and embryo Barristers who have been made Commissioners on the one hand, or even the few older persons, who, for various reasons, we consider totally incompetent to such an ap- pointment. With the exception of one or two English gentlemen, we have no hesitation in saying that nearly every one of the appointments have been made without the most distant reference to the qualifications of the individuals appointed, unless indeed it has been considered an inquiry of so simple a description that any one who could read and write, and who had any interest or con- nection must, ex necessitate, be able to conduct it. We will merely mention one fact, which appears to us to savour strongly of a suspicion existing in some quarter that these Commissioners were not quite fit to be trusted out of leading strings. It appears that numerous questions, ranged under their respective heads of " aged poor, bastardy," &c., have been printed for the guidance of the young Commissioners. These are printed in folio books, with large blank spaces for the insertion of the answers which they may receive. A Court is then held, which a few persons are asked to attend, and to which a few more may go from curiosity ; and then it isasked by the Learned Commissioners if any one can give them any information — we will say on bastardy ; and on any one offering any information the book is opened, and the questions gone through, some of which questions, by the way, possess a ndivetU and innocence quite amus- THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 123 ing. It will be perceived, then, that, instead of the inquiry being conducted by men of business- like habits and of some experience, by those who know something of the value of property, and of the feelings and habits of the people amongst whom they are sent, and to whom the very locali- ties of some places and the appearance of their population would suggest most important inquiries and observations, we have these Tyros reading through a string of printed questions, supposed to be applicable to all pla.es, and to which, we understand, the majority adhere with the most religious observance. That this is in substance cor- rect, though, as we before said, there are one or two exceptions, we challenge any one acquainted wi':h the subject to deny. Our Irish Correspondent observes on tliis subject : — " The Poor Law Com- mission, I regret, will turn out the most useless of the numerous Commissions at present roving througli the country." The following extract is from the Londonderry Paper : — " The Commissioners, on Saturday, were attended in our Court-house by a number of persons who proffered tlieir ojiinious with regard to the poor. » * # * q Jig extreme youth of the two Com- missioners, as well as that of their predecessors, ex- cited some merriment, and also a spirit of criticism among all classes of the community. We must say, and we say it witli pain, that Government has been most grievously imposed upon by its underlings in the selection of Poor Law Commissioners generally. The subject of inquiry is one of the most moment- ous nature ; and though comparatively simple in itself, it has been rendered complicated by the vari- ous theories which have been entertained regarding it by men of the most splendid abilities." The writer goes on to observe that it might have been expected that persons of some experience and acknowledged abilities, and of sound under- standing, would have been appointed ; but, instead of that, it is observed " We have a set of boys just emancipated from, the bondage of their schools — most flightt) in their notions, and, as may well be imagined, some not a little defective in their gene- ral attainments." We fully agree with our Con- temporary, that an inquiry of so grave a nature thus conducted, will not be likely to produce any beneficial result. Nor can we imagine that a re- port emanating from such a source will have much weight ; but we will now merely add, without at all touching on the absolute necessity which exists lor some relief being afforded to the destitute poor of Ireland, that we most sincerely regret that this Commission, from which we h^d augured much, cannot, even should it produce no injury, be pro- ductive of any benefit to the country. COMMERCIAL ALLIANCE — FRANCE AND ENGLAND. (From the Herald.) The project of a commercial alliance, or, more properly speaking, of a commercial incorporation, for to that it must come, between Great Britain and France, suggested in Lord Durham's Glasgow speech, appears to be more justly estimated by our neighbours than by the people of Great Britain. There is good reason, perhaps, for this : the la- bouring classes in France are in a much worse condition than the labouring classes in this coun- try ; any further depression must, therefore, sink the former still more near to absolute starvation. The transition from bread to potatoes is bad enough ; but the privation of the potatoe is infi- nitel}' worse. It looks like a paradox to assume that an opening of commerce, which we know has been injurious to the English artificers and labour- ers, must be injurious, in a slill greater degree, to the artificers and labourers in France, let into partnership with them. It would seem that what one nation loses the other nation would gain ; and such would, undoubtedly, be the case, were local divisions the only divisions of which the com- mercial classes admit. Such is not, however, the fact. The great division in commerce, the division which would render commerce a curse instead of a blessing to mankind, were it not counteracted by local separations, and the artificial checks in which local interests entrcncli themselves, is the division between rich and poor — the division be- tween the capitalist who profits upon the toil of others, and the labourer who toils lor the gain, a very small share of which reverts to his own sus- tenance. Now, the effect of Lord Durham's plan would be to surrender the labourers both of England and of France, in a far greater degree than they now are enthralled, to the tyranny of capital. The principle of tlie political economists, a school in which Lord Durham's Mentor, Mr. Poulett Thom- son, is a doctor, is to purchase all things wherever they can be had cheapest. In commerce labour is the earliest and most diffused of all the commodi- ties to be purchased. But the minimum price of labour is, of course, regulated by the minimum, of the means of subsistence that can support life. The principle of the political economists amounts, therefore, to this — pay for labour no where more than life can be supported for by the most famish- ed, ragged, and miserable of the human race. This, as far as it goes, is the principle of Lord Durham's commercial incorporation scheme which extends, indeed, no farther than France, at pre- sent, but which the Poulett Thomson school would render universal if they could. Give us, says Lord Durham, a free trade with France. Let the coal of the Tyne, and the Wear, and the Humber, find as free a transit to the Seine and the Garonne, as they have to the Thames. Labour is cheaper by a great deal in France than in England. The capitalists will, therefore, flock across the Chan- nel, to establish manufactories in Normandy and Gascony. Capital will, in consequence, afford a higher rate of profit, to say nothing of the benefit to English coalowners, and it is not impossible that cotton stockings and pen-knives may be sup- plied generally cheaper on the continent. True, this will deteriorate the condition of the English manufacturers, and the trade and property of wood-cutters and wood-owners in France ; but it will enhance the gains of capitalists and coal- owners, and that is the desideratum of the political economists. The scheme is perfect as an engine to equalise the remuneration for labour to the whole extent of its sphere ; and not only to equalise that remuneration, but, by the effect of competition, to equalise it at the lowest rate at which the human animal can be kept ali\e and in working condition, up to the termination of the working period of life. There was but one thing wanting to i)repare the people of Great Britain for this horrid tyranny of money, and that one thing has been accomi)lished in the Poor Laws' Amendment Bill. Before the passing of this bill, neither Lord Durham, nor Mr. Poulett Thomson, could ever hope to bring down the labouring classes of England to the '• coarser food " of France or Ireland ; neither 124 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. could, in consequence, expect to equalise the re- muneration for labour in these several kingdoms. The obstruction, however, offered by the Poor Laws of Elizabeth is now removed, and all that remains to prevent a complete desolation to pau- perism, of all the non-capitalists in Great Britain and France, is to be found in our illiberal prohibi- tions— those prohibitions which give respectively to the English artificer and labourer, and to the French artificer and labourer, a localised property in their labour — the only property that they have at this side of the grave. We have designedly abstained from alluding to the fiscal value of protecting duties ; though we think it is only fair that if Lord Durham is to give to France a free partnership in the commerce of England, France should undertake a rateable pro- portion of our debt and taxes; — we have, we say, diligently abstained from alluding to prohibitory duties as sources of revenue, because the principle upon which we would stand is a principle of a much higher natnre — it is the principle of vested right ; the principle which, if justice were to have due weight, would secure the English weaver or nail-maker, the English farmer or farm labourer, as firmly in his exclusive privilege, or, if the word be thought better, monopoly, as the Duke of Bed- ford is secured in his estates. The working classes of England have now, unfortunately, little left to lose ; but let them look about them, before they lend their voices to a clamour for free trade, and a French commercial alliance. It is a fine thing to howl at corporations and bellow after bishops, and rail at a law church — the scare all excellent holiday sports ; but we would implore the working classes to look at what has been al- ready done by the promoters of these sports, be- fore thev commit themselves absolutely to such guidance. Let them bethink them in time of the Amendment Bill, before the " thimble-rig" per- formers abstract from their pockets the cold po- tatoe substituted for a crust. JOHN BULL AND HIS WINES. (From the Old England.) No class of merchants have suffered more or complained less than the wine merchants. They have long afforded and protected a great revenue, and stood, in regard to the wine trade, as the East India Company have done to the tea trade. They procured a superior article for the consumer, and paid a proper duty. What is now likely to happen in teas by the abolition of the East India Company has been long passing in respect to wine. Since the free trade in small packages of wines the wine merchant is the first, the consumer the next, sufferer. The greatest encroachments are made on the established wine trade by a small fry of foreigners, French and Germans, who come here with cargoes of vinegar in three dozen cases, which they persuade unsuspecting John Bull to buy as genuine wine. Their broken English and piteous grimaces give these rogues an air of sim- plicity, under cover of which they play the Jew with a vengeance. They worm themselves into private families, for they dare not show their trash to a wine merchant; they bribe butlers, and make love to housekeepers, until they have vended as many casks and cases of poison as they think the heads of families may swallow without involving them in criminal consequences. Spaniards ship quarter casks of wine resembling sherry ; shabby private gentleraei> take gomijiis- sions for persuading their friends and acquaint- ance to buy this direct spurious wine and so get their own wine gratis. Broken down merchants fix themselves abroad and send emissaries round this country for orders from simple country gentlemen, who at last dis- cover that they have their cellars filled with an article not worth eighteenpence a bottle, which they thought remarkably well laid in because it only cost 3s, and was quite genuine. Foreign Consuls eke out their small salaries to very handsome incomes by shipping the very mid- dling wines, which alone they can have means of procuring, or can possibly have access to, at double their value, which are received as superior wines because drawn for at an enormous price. For fear of getting two good wines mixed to- gether, or a weak wine improved by a stronger, which are the only sort of mixtures ever heard of in a wine merchant's cellar, John Bull buj-s unmixed unpalatable, and undrinkable trash. This notion about mixing is truly absurd. When will the Eng- lish public comprehend that there is no degree of vileness of quality in wine which may not be found pure and unmixed, and genuine as imported .' Let those who go to the docks to select for themselves answer for this, or those sagacious travellers who select wines at Bordeaux or other foreign parts. It is lamentable to see to what a degree tut health and pockets suffer for want of .confiding in the home wine merchant, in men bred to the business, honourable and scrupulous as to what they sell, their character and livelihood depending on the excellence of what they deal in. But it may amuse some atul instruct others to inquire a little more into the subject of mixing wines. Did the gentle- men who express such a horror at the word ever consider what was mixed wine and what was not .' If not, it is time to tell them that they never tasted a drop of good wine in their lives that was not a mixtiu'c. To begin with the great tun of Heidelberg. What was this in its best days but a perennial mixture .' Every large vessel or cask of old wine abroad must be filled up with a newer and^different wine, and is therefore mixed. _ The finest glass of port wine that John Bull ever sits in raptures over is a mixture of several select vintages, the earlier refreshed by the later. The most costly sherry that ever exhibited its golden hues on the table of Princes is a mixture of vint- ages from ten to thirty years old or upwards. The boiled wine, said by a monthly reviewer to be used in Spain for mixing, is, in fact, a concentrated essence of sherry reduced to one tenth of its bulk, for giving strength to wine in place of using brandy. Brown sherries may have a portion of this essence, or they may have become brown by age alone. Ihe cheap pale wines, with a face of greater purity, are largely fortified with white brandy to keep them sound, being made from unripe grapes and shipped very young. Neither colour nor freedom from mixture are any guide to goodness in white wines. Price alone is, unless you are imposed upon. The finest claret prepared by the English houses at Bordeaux for England were all mixtures of se- lect vintages and valuable hermitage wines com- bined, so as to make a moi'e exquisite drink. It rather tells against the advocates for unmixed wines tiiat it is onlj' since the judiciously-mixed clarets of the English houses at Bordeaux have been neglecte