MASSACHUSETTS
STATE COLLEGE

GOODELL LIBRARY

P<

ev

No. 1, Vol. LV.] JANUARY, 1879. [Third Sekibs.

THE

/

FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

AND

MONTHLY JOUKNAL

01

I r

THE AGRICULTURAL INTEREST.

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THE FARMEirS MAGAZINR

JANUARY, 1879.
PLATE.

1) K S I D E R A T U M.

A sportiiio: writer of few years ago, when k-
nioatiiig over the days that are gone, asks " Where
is the old furiuer, who was to be found with his
pipe in the settle of tlie ale-liouse, and his son, the
good looking, civil lad of eighteen in fustian and
leather leggings, who was to be seen at the covert-
side on the almost perfect four-year-old hunter
that was to be bought for forty pounds ?" Where ?
Why gone to ground with Sir Timothy Thicket,
Sjuire Bumper, the mottled- faced stage coachman,
and all his wrappers, the jolly waggoner with his
broad brimmed hat and the still broader wheels
of his waggon, and the parson who was reckoned
rich on forty pounds a year. The desideratum of
the day, now all the world and his wife have taken
to the chase, is a weight-carrying hunter, and our
plate represents a fox-hunting agriculturist quietly
p itting a four-ye.ir old, up to double his weight

over a fence, a nag for which he would ask, not
forty pounds, but two or three hundred, or more of
a " man possessed of aught to give," although he
stands but a poor ohance of catching the man on a
grey going like the fire-king on his hot copper filly,
while the swell behind appears to be pounded, as he
evidently is, on a nag with a temper like that of
the " missus, for if she will she will, but if she won't
she won't, and there's an end on't."' But a ru",
like life, is full of ups and downs ; so, u^ or down,
don't let us forget that we are but men, and how
soon we may want aid, for we may be sailing
beautifully over one field and in the next playing-
the part of Richard, and shouting " My horse ! my
horse! Half a pint of beer for any one that will
catch my horse I Have mercy, Johnny, I meant a
pot I"'

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

ROYAL OF ENGL A N.D.

Monthly Couxctl, Wednesday, December 11, 1S78.
Present: — H.R.il. t!ie Prince of Wales. K-O. (President),
iu the chair ; the Duke ot Bedford, the Duke of Kich-
inoud and Gordon, K.G., Earl Cathcart, the Earl of
LichSeld, Earl Spencer, K.G., General Viscount Bridport,
],ord Cheshnm, Lird Vernon, the Hon. W. Etjerlon,
:M.P., Sir A. K. Macdonald, Bart., Sir Walkin W.Wynn,
Bart.. M P., Sir Brandreth Gibba, Mr. Aveling, Mr.
Bowly, Mr. Cantreli, Mr. Chaudos-Pole-Gell, Mr. Dent,
Mr. Druce, .Mr. Edmonds, Mr. Evans, Mr. Prankish,
Mr. Ilemsley, Mr. G. Howard, Mr. J. Howard, .Mr.
Bowen Jonee, Col. Kingscote, C.B., M.P., Mr. Leeds, Mr.
M-Intosh, Mr. Martin, Mr. Odams, Mr. Pain,Mr.Uandell,
Mr. Ransoine, Mr. Russell, Mr. Sanday, Mr. Sheraton,
Mr. ShiUtleworth, Mr. Siratton, Mr. Torr, M.P.,
Lieut.-Col. Picton Turbervill, Mr. Wakelield, Mr. Wells,
Mr. Whitehead, Mr. Jacob Wilson, ^Professor Brown,
Prof. Simoiids, and Dr. Voelcker.

The followiug new members were elected : —
Armita?*", Elijah, of ll'gh House, near K^nd 1.
Beart, Fr.-derick Robert, of Godrnallcbe^te^, liuitingdnn.
Bfll, Geo. Graham, of 11, Pall Mall East, Loudon, 6.W.
Bennett, Josf pb, of Down House Farm, Cam., Dursley.

Old Sexies.

Blundeli, Edward, of Birchrnoor, Woburn.

Brain, William, ol Greet, VVinchcomb.

Brahdreth, Henrj C. G , of Houghton HhII, Dunstablp.

Burrell, J. P., of Manor House, I'limley, Faruhorough

Station.
Gattley, William, of Nortbbrook, Godalmin^.
Cazalet, E J ward, of Fairlawn, Tonhridi;e, Kent.
Golville, Hu^h Ker, of 4;, Ovington Gardens Broniu'on

London, S.W.
Crnwhnrst, Charles, of iVIaidstone.
{-■rump, Henry Til.ton. of White Crocs Street, TJuion Street,

Borou'jh, London, S.E.
Davids, Charles Henry, o( Bod!corp Liwn, Binbnry.
Diippa, Q-orge, of HoUinifbourMP House, Maidstone.
Fortescup, Captain Cyril D., of Boconnor, Lustwithiel.
Freeman, James of Ottord, Sevenoaks.
Qibbc, Thomas B, of 50, Clissold Road, Stoke Newiogfon

L)udon,N. *

Gr'flirh, Geor(;e, of Wolverhampton Road, StafTurd.
Hall, Collioson, of Uytchlejs, Brentwood.
Hnrdin/, J sepli, of Moorend Enlatp, Slimbrid^e. Stonehou^e.
tiarrix, G-orge, nt C> urt House Firm, Cam Durslev
Hogp, Robert, LL D., of 99, St. 0.ot^t\ Road, Eeclestou

Square, London, S.W.
Ind, Edward, of Great Warlpy, Brentwood.
Keeling, F. J., ol The Park, Coven, WolverliamptoD.
Lewis, Cliarles E., ot Sr. Ticrre, Chepstow.

■B Vol. LXXXV.— Ko. 1,

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

LiamorP, Viscount, of Slianbally, CIoRlienn, Ireland,

Myatt, J lines, of Kuaou Moor, Stone, Stalfs,

Pound, Pciilip Giles, of Horncliurcli, E<^ex.

K-.y, Clmrk'a, of Foxeartli, L 'ng Meliord.

Kiijlx,', 'I'lioiiias, of L-.a OM ILill, Pre^toa.

K)ife, Geoffje Unrler, of Plumpton, Wye, Ashford, Kent.

Sliroeter, Charles W., of Tedfulil, Billinglmrst, Sussex.

SliHiiks, Frederiik, of -t, Great Queu Street, London, W.C.

Sinilli, Georsjfi of Puddockliurs', Crnwley.

Stul)l)s, John, of Langrish Fdnn, PetersJield.

Stunt, Warwick, of lloo, Kochcster.

'I'hoinas, William, of Sully. Cnrditf.

Tower, Christopher J. U., of Weald Hall, Brentwood.

Wiijan, Frederick, of 15, Southw-irk Street, Loudoa, S.E.

Wiuan, Lewis U., of Oakwood, MiiiKtoue.

"WiStC J"''n Stone, of Sloneleitili, 'funbridge Wells.

Wilkin, A. C, of Tiptree death, Kelvedon.

Woodward, John, ol Uckiustou, < hrlteuhani.

W'jrtley, N. W., of Kidliogton, Uppingham.

FINANCES.

■:Mr. Randell presented the report, from which it ap-
peared that the Secretary's receipts during the past month
had been examined by the Committee, and by Messrs.
Quilter, Ball, and Co., the Society's accountants, and
found correct. The bal nee in the hands of the bankers
ou November 30th was £1,942 V.h. l<Jd.

The Committee had met nine times, and made nine
•reports ; they recommended that Mr. Hrankish be added
to the Committee. This report was adopted, aud Mr. D.
11. Davies \fas added to the Committee.

JUUKiNAL.

Mr. Dent (Chairman) reioted that gentlemen iia-

«7ited had accepted otlice as Jadges of Sewage Farms.

' Two entries had been received in each of the two classes of

Market Gardens, and three entries iu the class for Market

■ Gardens — viz. : —

' SfiCTion XL— Market G irdeus within a radius of twenty miles
from the Mansion House.
Glass 8.— Market Gardens exceeding ten and not excediu g
fifty acres in eiieot. first pri^e, £bQ ; second, £25 ; bird
-£10.

William Gay, Corbetstye, Romford.
William John Ga\ , Axe-street, Barking.
Class 4. — Markei Girdens above fifty acres iu eKleut. First
V prize, £50; second, £35 ; third, £10.

John Lancaster, Vine Uonse, Canning Tov/n, E.
Thoraas. Patch, i'aircross. Barking.
. Skction ill — Market-;fard«n Farms, citnated in one of the
tive Metropolitan CountieK— viz., Kent, Surrey, Middle-
sex, Hertford, and E>.sex ; or if situated in any other
oounty, such farms to be within a radiusof iifiy miies from
the Mansion House.
Class 5. — Market-garden farms on 'Which market-garden
crops alternate with corn crop-;, above one hunHred acres lu
extent, .first price, £50 ; second, £25 ; third,. £10.
William Wallis Glenny, of Cecil House, BarkiUfi'.
(Henry Swann (Manager to Tiustees of the late John C.

Circuit), Kainham, E^spx.
^Major Walter, Slinlold, Horsham.

■<The Committee had met nine times and made nine re-
ports, and they recommended that the following be the
Commitiee for the ensuing year.:— Earl Cathcart, Sir W.
E. Welby-Gregory, Bart.^ Sir M. White Ridley, Bart.,
Mr. Chandos-Fole-Gell, Mr. J. D. Dent, Mr. W. Frank-
ish, Mr. J. Hem«ley, Mr. J. Howard, Mr. J. Bowen
Jones, Colonel Kingscote, Mr. R. C. Rausome, Lieutenant-
Colonel Turbervilf, Mr. Williatn Wells, Mr. C. While
head, Mr. Wise.

'this report was adopted.

CHEMICAL.

Mr. Wells (Chairman) reported that Mr. Christopher,
the Society's surveyor, had attended the Committee, and
expressed his belief that the laboratory would be finished
«nd ready for use by the Ist of January, 187'L Dr.
Voelcker had read to the Committee his auuual report,

and the ('ommittee recommended that it be published as
usual in l\\e Jounia/. The loUowiug is an abstract of the
report : —

S' ven liuudred and twenty-four samples of artificial
manures, oilcakes, seeds, &c., were sent for analysis by ineni-
bers of the Society between the period of December, 1877>
aud December, 187S, which number exceeds tliat of lasl year
by eighty-two.

Sfieakiiig of nitrate of soda. Dr. Voelcker called attention
to its use as a manure for mangels, and made reference to an
adulteration case ot nitrate of »oda, the buyer of which was
nllowed by the seller to deduct no less that £62 from the bill,
which amounted to £163.

Of tlie lorty-one samples of bone-dust analysed in 1878 by
the consulting cliemist, most were found pure, but some pur-
chased as raw bone-dust consistt-d of a mixture of raw and
steamed or glue-makers' refuse bones.

As usual, a number of samples of drinking water on
analysis proved to be contaminated more or less with injurious
drainage products, and some were totally unfit for drinking
purposes.

Fourteen poisoning cases were brought under the notice of
the consulting chemist. In one of these cases arsenic was
discovered in the contents of tl e stomach of a pig, a number of
which animals had died suddenly, and were suspected to have
been poisoned. Id another instance castor oil beans were
found in a compound leeding cake, which did injury to cattle.

Notwithstanding the repeated warnings not to give to stock
stale and mouldy cakes or corn. Dr. Voelcker had received iu
the past season several cakes, which were alleged to have
killed or seriously injured the health of sheep and oxen, and
in which no raiueral or organic poison capable of being de-
tected by analysis could be found i and he referred specially to
the case of a mouldy and stale compound feeding cake which
when given in the small proportion of five ounces daily per
«'ieep, had caused the dea h of two sheep by irritation of tho
oats of the stoinaclu

Allusion was made in the report to Black Sea rape-cakei
which consists largely of the siltings from foul linseed and
other oleaginous seeds, and contains but little rapeseed, aud
much dirt, aud a great variety of we d-seeds.

Dr. Voelcker, since April, had paid thirteen visits to the
experimen'al field aud Crawley Mill Farm.

The followiiij; papers had been coulributed by Dr. Voelcker
to the Ju'iriiir/ ij( the Royal iVgricultural Society for 1878: — •

1. Ou Bat's Guano.

2. Annual Report for 1877-

3. Joint Rpport with Mr. Lawes on the Field anti Feeding
Experiments at Woburn.

4. The Inlluence of Chemical Discoveries on the Progress
of Englisli Aijriculture.

Dr. Voelcker's quarterly report, containing only cue
case of adulteration, had been received, and ordered to be
priuted for consideration as usual. The Committee re-
commended that in the revised schedule of *' Members'
Privileges " the words " and an estimate of its value " be
altered as follows, at the end of Nos. 3, 4, aud 5 : — " In
all cases where the prices at which artificial manures or
cakes have been bought, or are ollered for sale, has been
previously ascertained. Dr. Voelcker's estimate of the
money value of such articles will be given." They also
recommend that No. 11 run as follows : '' Personal con-
sultation with the consulting chemist. The usual hours
of attendance for the Director (Monday excepted) will
be from 11 to 2 ; but, to prevent disappointment, it
is suggested that members desiring to hold a consultation
with the Director should write to make an ap])ointment."
The Committee had met 9 times and made 9 reports,
and they recommended that the following constitute the
Committee for the ensuing year : — Duke of Bedford,
Eavl of Lichfield, Lord Vernon, Sir A K. Macdouald,
Bart., Sir W. B. Welby-Gregory, Btrt., Mr. J. H.
Arkwright, Mr. T. Aveling, Mr. W. Carruthers, Vlr. J.
D. Dent, Mr. W. J. Edmonds, Mr. Charles Howard, Mr.
J. Bowen Jones. Mr. J. B. Lavves, Lieut-Col. Turbervill,
Mr. W. H. Wakclicld, Mr. R. A, Warren, Mr. Wm.
Wells, Mr. Charles Whitehead, Dr. Voelcker. This
report was adopted.

THE FARMEll'S MACAZlNft

SFEDS, AND Pr.AN'T I)ISKASE3.

Jfr. Whii'kukad (Oliainiiaii) iirtseuttd the following
aiiuiml repuri of the coiisultiiK butaiiist : —

"The samples of seeds vvhicli have been exiraiiied liy me
duriiij; tlie past year iiHve been on th- « hiilf, satisfactory.
Tlie wur>t that have pn.ssed through my luiids are SHinplfs of
pirinaiieiit jrrass, several of wliicli were extremely bad from tiie
adiuixtiire of worthless aud injiirioiis weeds, aud from the
quaiility of husks, fragmenis ot si raw, and other iiopuriiies.
Thnuih tlie reports ou tliese speiiineus saved members of
the Society wiio submitted tlieiii for examiuaiioa from ^ulpo•^i-
lioii, and led to arraniemeuts with the dealers which were
satisfactory to them individually, I jailed to secure advautHge
to the Society at large, from the refusal of the members to
commuiiirate the names of the dealers.

" luforuiati.m h'ls been supplied by me to members as to the
nature of the weeds iiifestiut; their ground, and the best means
of eradicating them ; the trettment oi ditferent soils in relation
to the lile of the plants cultivated on them ; the character of
tiie permantut pastures titled lor particular soils ; aud other
suhjects.

"The attention of the botanist has been directed to the
subject o' inip'oviii.f our cultivated cereals, and after a report
submitted to tlie Commiitee, pr ip^sMls were ad'ipted for oirtr-
ing prizes lor new varieties of seed, which have been approved
by the Council and been published.

"The alarui created in J 877 by the threatened appearance
of the Colorado btetle happily did not reappear during the
past year, Tiiis wa-i no douiit largely due to the action of the
Society in distributing so extensively accurate inorination and
coloured figures of the beetle. Tiie inquiries during the year
in relation to insects leferred chiefly to the roul-eating larvae
of click beetles (wire worms), and of the daddy long-legs,
which are incorrectly called wire w mis. These latter were
extremely abuudaul iu some districts of England and Ireland
during the past summer, and proved most injurious to the
crops. iQi'oriiiaiiou was supplieii to thememiiers in tefereoce
to thes=; and othfr insect pests by the experienced entomologist
who has undertaken this department."

The Committee had met four times, and made four
reports. They recommeuded that the followinsi onstitute
the Committee for the ensuing year : — Lord Vernon, Sir
"W. £. Welby-Giegory, Bart., M.P., Sir Brandreth
Gibbs, Mr. J. H. ArkwrigLt, Mr. W. Carruthers, Mr. W.
Frankish, Mr. J. Boweu Jones, Lieut. -Cul. Turbervill,
Dr. Voelcktr, aud Mr. Whitehead. This report was
adopted.

HOUSE.

Genera! Viscount Bridport (Chairman) reported that
the Committee had met twice, and made two reports.
They reconitnended that Colonel Kingscote's name be
added to the Committee. This repoit wa3 adopted.

IMPLEMENTS.

Mr. Hemsley (Chairman) reported the recommenda-
tion of the Committee that the secretary be instructed to
write to the different Agricultural Societies, and others
likely to assist in the loan of old and antiquated agiioul-
tural machinery for the " comparative museum" iu the
London showyard ; and that entries for agricultural im-
plements and machinery close ou April 1st. A letter
having been read from the Mayor of Carlisle, asking what
implements would be tried iu 1880, the Committee
recommended that trials of new inventions conaected with
steam-cultivating machines be held iu coiinectioa with
the meeting of that year, and that the Committee be
authorised to submit a draft of a prize sheet to an early
meeting of the Council. The Committee had accepted
the offer of the Mansion House Committee to give a
special prize of a gold medal and £50 for the best waggon
for conveying perishable goods — meat, poultry, fish, &i-.
— by railway at a low temperature. The Curumitlee
further recommended that the Society should offer the
following prizes for plans of farm buildings: — For arable
farms, iiA txji.-J;;- 3'JO a:ie3, .-H30 , "ovei 300 acix-s.

£50. For dairy farms not exceedinsr 100 aeres, Cat);
over 100 acres, iuO. Plans (scale 8 feet to the iiicli),
with com|)lele specilications aud money bills ot quantities,
to be sent in, addressed to the Secretary, by June 26th,
1879. Tiie Committee had met five times, aud mado
five reports, and they recommeuded that the following con-
s'itnte the Cmniittee for the ensuing year :--Lord Vernon
Sir Brandreth Gibbs, Mr. W. Audcrsoa, Mr. T. Aveling,
Mr. C. S. Cantrell, Mr. W. J.Edmon.ls, Mr. W. Frankish,
Mr. J. Hemsley, Mr. C. HowarJ, Mr. J. Howard, Mr.
J. Bowen .loiies, Mr- J. Martin, Mr. R. C. Ransome, Mr.
G. H. Sanday, Mr. W. Sheraton, Mr J. Shuttleworth,
Mr. R. Stratton, Lieut. -Col. Turbervill, Mr. Jabez Tur-
ner, Mr. C. Whitehead, Mr. J^cob Wilson, aud Ihe
stewards of implements. This report was adopted.

STOCK PKIZES.

Mr. Chaxdos-Pole-Gell reported that the Com-
mittee had revised the prize list for the London Exhi-
bition, which will he printed aud sent to members of
Council and probable exhibitors. The Committee had
met three times, aud made three reports ; and they re-
commended that the following constitute the Committee
for the ensuing year: — Earl Sjieucer, General Viscount
Bridport, Sir Brandreth Gibbs, Mr. J. H. Arkwright,
Mr. Hugh Aylmer, Mr. Edward Bowly, Mr. H. Chandos-
Pole Gell, Mr. W. Frankish, Mr. John Evans, J. .iems-
ley, Mr. C. Howard, Mr. D. Mcintosh, Mr. R. H. Mas-
fen. Mr. T. Pain, Mr. G. H. Sanday, Mr. W. Sheraton,
Professor Simouds, Mr. 11. Stratton, Mr. John Torr,
M.P., Mr. Geo. Turner, Mr. W. H. Wakefield, Mr.
Jacob Wilson, Mr. Geo. Wise, aud the stewards of live
stock. This report was adopted.

VETERINARY.

The Hon. W. Egekton, M.P. (Chairman), reported
that four competitors had entered for the Society's
'eteiiuary prizes and medals. Dr, William Smith
Gieenhfld had been appointed Professor Superintendent
of the Brown Institution. Subject to the approval of
tie Governors of the Royal Veterinary College, the Com-
mittee were desirous of obtaining the services of the
Inspector of the College for the members ou the usual
terms, any special report required, or investigation of
outbreak of disease, to be paid for like any other special
report. The Committee recoiumeuded that the graut of
£250 be made to carry out experiments on the nature
and mode of propagation of anthracoid diseases, under
Dr. Fuirdoii-Sanderson. The Committee furluer rec^oin-
meiided that the Secretary be instructed to ascertain from
the General Steam Navigation Company whether, and on
what terms, they would place at the disposal of Ihe
Society a quadrautiue station for the reception of foreign
animals entered for exhibition next year, aud also the terms
on which tlie Company would provide special steamers
for their conveyance. The Committee had met six times,
and made SIX reports; and they recommended that the
following be the Commit'ee for the ensuing year: — Earl
Cathcart, General Viscount Bridport, Sir M. White Rid-
ley, Bart., the Hon. W. Egerton, Sir Brandreth Gibbs,
Professor Brown, Mr. Cbaiidos-Pole-Gell, Mr. W. Pnguid,
Dr. Wm. Smith Greentirld, Mr. M. J. Harpley, Colonel
Kingscole. Mr. James Odams, Mr. G. IL Sauday, Dr. J.
Burdon-Sandersou, Professor Siiiionds, Mr. W. H. Wake-
field, Mr. Wm. Wells, Mr. Jacob Wilsou.

The Hon. Mr. Egerto.v added -.hat it would be ob-
served that the last paragraph but one alluded to the nevv
orders whicti had ju t been issued, and in cousequence of
which it would be necessary to provide quarantine ground
for animals coming from certain countries. In all probR-
biLty (cattle plague having broken oi:l in Gcrmauy) Hoi-
land, and Belgium, would be unable to send animals to the
foriucomiui^ esLibili.>;i ; but, agsuoiiug i-Vei-'.-b r?_«»l" tr

THE FARiTER'S MAGAZINE

bi'l^a a 'healthy state, of course, it was desirable that
quarautiiie shouU be made. lie did not think the Coun-
cil could ask for a relaxation of any restrictions that
inieht be deemed necessary.

The Duke of Richmoxd axd Gordon, K.G., said,
iu tlie first place he must ai)olo!j;ise to tke Council for not
appearing to assist more in carrying on the business of a
Sociity iu which he took the deepest and most lively
interest — an interest vvhich he had inherited, and which
he hoped to pass on to those who came after him. lie
appeared before the Council of the Society now partly as
a member of that Council, partly as an aj;ricr.lturist, but
more particularly, probably, as Lord President of the
Council ; and he must say that wheii he received a copy
of the proposed prize list, he was struck with the incon-
sistency of his colleagues on the Council and in the Short-
ho! n Society, in issuing a prize sheet ia which was
included a list of prizes for a number of animals that were
invited to come from foreign countries. Without wishing
• to say anything personal to his colleagues, he thought
they would all bear him out when he said that since he
had had the honour of being Lord President of the
-Council, they had continually requested him to legislate
for the prohibition of the impoitatiou of foreign animals.
The views entertained by the Royal Agricultural So-iety
and by the Shorthorn Society were these : — That to get
rid of those diseases which, a* they stated — and he
thought perfectly rightly and justly — had affected so
preju lici&lly their interests iu this country, it would be
necessary to pass a law enacting that all foreign animals
should be slaughtered upon the other side of the water.
(Hear, hear). Of course it became his duty to ^.ouk into
the matter very closely, and he found it was inspracticable
to carry out those views ; and he therefore endeavoured
to lind a mode of solving this dillicidly, and accordingly
he brought in what he thought a good measure, but
which at the same time was a very stringent one. It
dealt with foreign animals in a very active manner. That
measure, however, did not pass through both Houses of
Parliament; it did pass eventually in a modified form, but
still in a form which he believed would be extremely
advantageous in the way of kec;[)ing down disease, and pre-
venting it from appearing in this country. (Hear, hear).
He was perfectly aware that iu consequence of the ^reat
kindness and hospitality which was shown in Paris to all
their friends duriug the past year, it had beeu thought
advisable to make some return to the foreigner for what
he had dont to u?. (Hear, heai). If that could be done
with safety, he would be the first to agree to it; but he
did not think that in doing so they should run aay risk
flf disease being intfoJnced into England, by admitting;
foreign animals with all the diseases which they could
bring with them. That there was a great danger iu coming
into eoutact with these animals, those who took any
active part in the Exhibition at Paris would, he was sure,
be ready to adjait. English animals went there free from
■ disease, and came back with foot-and-mouth disease, so
■-much so that he had to establish a quarantine station near
I^ondon, to receive them on their return ; and he was
afraid that he had incurred the displeasure of some of his
9gricultni^l friends in the far north iu consequence of
their lotig detentiou in quarantine. There were certain
couotrieg from v;hich no aaimal of any sort
or kind could come at the present moment —
vir., Russia, Austria, Italy, Greece, TurJiey, and the
•Principultties. Then, again, no cattle could come
from Belt(ium or Germany ; and when the Contagious
Diseases (Animals) Act, 1S73, came into operation, inas-
much as there was an outbreak of disease in Germany at
the present moment, it was almost certain that on the Ist
of January Germany and Belgium would continue to be
/orvbibiteJ cuuatriea. Q.ttr fcrc'.gn auim^la were

a'aughtered at the port of landing from all countries except
Norway, Swedeii, Denmark, Spiiu,aud Poitngal, and Irom
.\merica and Canada. The Act provided that animals
coming I'rom countries subject to slaughter might be sent
for exhibition subject to quarantine regulations made
under an Order in Council. That Order in Council pro-
vided thit the landing at a port of foreign animals is
subject to the following regulations-i The animals must be
accompanied by adeclaraiion of the owners, assignees, or
agents, to the effect that the auitEals are intended for ex-
hibition, acclitnatisatioQ or domestication ; secomily, the
animals when landed are to be detained in the quarantine
station for a certain period (which miy be seven, or four-
teen days or any longer period according to circumstances)
and, thirdly, whea moved they are to be accomp mied by
a certificate of an inspector of the Privy Council that they
are free from disease. These were the regulations issned
under the Foreign Animils Order, and made under the
provisions of the Contagious Diseases (Anim'^ls) Act of
this year ; so ttiat from a country like France, for ex-
ample, they would be able to sand animals for eshibitioa
under these conditions, subject to such quarantine regula-
tions as might be issued by the Privy (Jouncil; and he
thought the foreign exhibitors ought to know the exact
regulations not only that had been made but which might
be made. It was quite obvious that the regulations which
he might make would depend npon the state of matters at
the time, but he thought it should also be shown to the
foreigner that a country which was called a non-prohibited
country to-day, might be a prohibited coun-
try to-morrow; and if a foreigner got up
his animals with the intention of exhibiting in
London next year, it might be necessary bct.veen this
time and next .Tune to declare his country a prohibited
country. Therefore the foreign agricult :rist ought to
know the exact condition in which he might tind himself.
Before consenting to admit foreign animals, very stringent
regulations wouhi be imp sed by the Privy Council. Of
course the Royal Aiiricultural Society would know that
when he pnsssd orders for quaraniine they would be solid
and bona fide\ and that he was bound to carry out, under
the Contagious Diseases (Anirails) Act, and by. these
Orders in Council, a real and honi fide quarantine. What
he intended to do was to have such a quarantine as should,
if possible, prevent us getting any foot-and-mouth disease
into the show-yard at Kilburn. By some means or other,
whether by the regulations which have been in operation
or by the more thorough inspection of trucks and railway
stations, there has not been for some years so little foot-
and-mouth disease in the country as there is at present ;
aud therefore he should be extremely sorry if, by a too
lavish hospitality to foreigners we should bring over those
diseases which foreign cattle were somewhat prone to. He
would beg and urge upon the Council that before the
prixe-sheet was issued to the foreigner there should be a
clear notice as to what he would undertake by entering
his animals to be shown at Kilburn ; and that it was
quite possible that, though he might enter his animals
within the time specified, circumstances might arise before
the Exhibition took place which would entirely prevent
his animals from coining to this side of the water. He
understood that the Society were go4ng to provide a qua-
rantine station, but he apprehended that would be done
under the Orders in Council, and that some quarantine
station might be provided nearer to London than South-
ampton. In any Ordars iu Council issued in accordance
with the Act he should only make such regulations as ho
deemed necessary to prevent the introduction of diseases
into the country.

Mr. Jacob Wilson was sure that the very best tbaiiks
of the Council were due to the noble Duke for attending
the Council to give so complete a .'tatemeut of bis views;

THE F:A-RMEK"S MAGAZINE.

but his Grace would doubtless adiuit that he had painted
his picture in the darkest possible colours. With reo;ard
to the ])ropusal to hold an iuternalioual show, Mr. Wilson
reminded the C luncil that on the occasion of the Society's
last exhibition in London, when the late Prince Consort
was President, it was international, and it was therefore
considered desirable to make the coming exhibition inter-
national, fspecialiy as they had the honour of having the
Prince of Wales aa Presi-dent. lie did not think that
English agriculturists had anything to fear from foreign
competition, but he thought that both Englishmen and
foreigners might learn a great deal from an International
Agricuilural Exhibition. The \vho!e question was, no
doubt, of greater value to the consumer than to the pro-
ducer of meat, and it was this view which induced the
Mansiou House Committee to otfer the very bandeorae
prizes for Foreign Stock and Produce shown in the prize
list, and otherwise to make the character of the show
international. Curing the whole of the time when the
subject was receiving the anxious consideration of the
Block Prizes Committee it was understood that precautions
of a very stringent character would have to be taken, an<l
foreign agricultural societies had already been warned of
the fact. He could not sit down without alluding to the
charge of inconsistency broi>ght against the Council of
the Society, because the importation of specially selected-
animals for exhibition ha<l always been contemplated by
the Government ; and when the Council asked his Grace
and the Government to bring in some measure to prevent
d.seases being introduced into- the country, it bad in its
eye the scujn of foreign animals which were imported in
the ordinary course of trade from week to week, in vessels
reeking with disease, and not animals specially selected
for exhibition, in specially chartered steamers. He begrsed
to move the fallowing resolutioo : — "That the Phivy
Council be respectfully requested to inform th* Society,
as far as possible, under what condrtiona and regulations
foreign animals from different countries will be allowed
to be exhibited in the Society's showyard next year, in
the event of the countries from which the animals are
sent being declared free from disease at the time when
animals are exposed."

The Hon. W. Esertom thought tbe-Coimcil should b
satisfied' with his Grace's explanation, and the only thing
they could do was to furnish the foreigner with particulars
of all the regulations which might be enacted.

Colonel KiNGSCOTE seconded Mr. Wilson's proposition.
The offer of prizes for foreign animals had not emanated
from the Society, but from the Mansion House committee,
whose views the Council had endeavoured to carry out. The
one object they had in view had been to bring over foreign
animals under such regulations as happened to be in force
at the time whatever they might be. The proposition of
Mr. Wilson would be very useful, beeause it would enable
the Society to publish to the countries abroad esacily
what they would have to expect if disease broke out in
May or June.

After a conversation in which 'Mr. Randall, Mr. Dent,
Mr. Pain, Earl Cathcart, and the Duke of Richmond took
part, the Conmittee's report with the addition of Mr.
Wilson's motion, was unanimously adopted ; and on tils'
motion of the Hon. W. Egerton' the renewal of the
veterinary grant of £250 for the year 18T0, for general
purposes and for special acientific inquiries, was also
agreed to.

LOXDON e>::hibit!ON.

Colonel Ki^TGSCOTE (chairman) reported the arrange-
rr 3 ts they had madein reference to the water supply for
the London Showyard ; that several applications having
been received for permission to exhibit preserved meats
and provisions, it had^been decided to admit only those
fr,>£ which prizes were offered ; that the offer of Mr. >L

BIdJulph, M.P., of prizes to the value of £100 for cid''"
and perry had been accepted; that a communication had
been received fron the Essex Agricultural Society offerinf<
ne^v terms of ainalgunation, but that the coniinitlee had
decided to adhere to their original otfer ; tt;at the olTer
of Messrs. Fowler and Co. to lay do vn a traiiiway in tha
show-yard, nndei the supervision of the Society, had been
accepted ; that a memorial having been received from the
inhabitants of Kilburn asking far the extension of a roa i
to provide better means of entry into the shcw-yard, it
had been resolved to write to Messrs. Clntton, the agents-
of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, supporting the ajv
plication ; that the Committee had accepted Professor
Church's suggestion respecting tha loan of the " (Jircn~
lating Food Collection," prepared for the Science and Art
Department. The Committee had met ten times and
made ten reports ; and Mr. Bowly and Mr. Pain were
added to the list of the Committee. This report was
adopted.

SHOW YARD C0N'TR.\CT3.

Mr. Jacob Wilson (chairman) reported the recom-
mendation of the Committee, that Jlr. Unite's tender for
the supply of new canvas to the sheds in the London
shovv-yard be accepted according to the sample and spe-
cification placed before the Committee. The (Jotnmittee
had received a report from the surveyor relating to the
drainage and r<iiKvay siding, and the Suri^eyor had also
subiijitted plans for the show-yard, one of which was
approved, sul)ject to certain minor alterations. The
Committee had met twelve times, and made nine reports ;
and ihey recommendeti that the following be the Commit-
tee for the ensuing year: — General Viscount Rridport, Sir
Brandreth Gibbs, Mr. C. E. Amos, :Mr. T. Aveliug,
Mr. H. Chandos-Pole-Gell, Mr. W. Frankish, iMr. J.
Hemsley, Mr. C. Howard, xMr. C. Randell, Mr. .J.
Shuttleworth, Mr. R. Slratton, Mr. Jacob Wilson. Thia
report" was adopted.

EDUCATION.

The Duke of Bedkord (chairman) reported the follow
ing result of the last junior examina'ions : —

1

o

U5'

d

s

'^

d

121

15
to

6

o

ee

o

i'

1

(^

6

Schools.

Canihdates.

?

o"

^

I

if

C3

g

4'

?

%

B

O,

5-

>i

'2

a

.3

"3

'3

03

3

CO

O

%

a

<u

be

si
O

S

t3

1

__

7-t

191

SoiTey County School C'aldecott, 0.

17

130

1S4

106

1st

UVn.yle.s, F.

17

9S

156 135

70

1561

2Efl

Devon County School; Chope, R. P.

16

13=>

961 U7

70

4521

<id

Glasnevin Colleire ... Roche, J.

17

160

116,101

61

138

4th

Surrey County School

Wa:<horn, A. J.

17

130

110 130

'!3

4.3

oth

„

Furnival, B.

16

too

101127

67

398

6t,h

Sandbach School

Rigby, J.

In

9.i

1-lOj 91

0

386

7th

Devon County School

Haynes, J.

17

lo.-^

961125

50

376

Sth

Sandbach School

Leese, T.

17

90

1'20

91

.^s

••ifici

«H

The examiner in agriculture (Mr. J. C. Morton) re-
ported that there were two or three unusually good papers,
indicating a very thorough aco^iaintance with many of the
subjects to which the questions related. The examiner iu
chemistry (Dr. Voelcker) reported that the paper by
Charles Caldecott was deserving of the highest praise,
nearly every question having been answered by him fully
and satisfactorily. The papers by F. Wyles and Rigby
were also very good. The majority of the candidates h-wl-
acquitted themselves satisfactorily in this examination,,
and their answers afforded a clear evidence that, ilw

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

elenientu of chernia ry «rrc intelligeii'ly liiug'it in most
of the : chools num whit-li |ni|)ils came up for exatniuatiou.
'I'lie exiiiiiiiK-i- ill ini'cliaiiics am land surveying {l?ev.
l'rofes?:nr Twisdi'iil reported ihat, on the whole, the ex-
»ininntioa had brought out results quite as eood as the
usual averafie. Uue of the boys — Choj)e — did distinctly
lust in both subjects; and it was only fair to him to say
that his work was very arood in point of style and neat-
]ies8, as well as in other respects, thonnh he had failed to
answer a few of the questions. The Coinniittee recom-
mended th it cheques be drawn for the scholarships won
at the November examination of 1877. They also re-
pommended that the senior examination be held as usual
in April, 187'.). The Ci mmittee had received from
I'rol'essor Tanuer a statement iu reference to the examina-
tions in the principles of agriculture held by the Science
and Art Department of the Committee of Council on
Education. The Committee moved for a renewal of the
education grant for the ensuing year ; and they had to
report that the expenditure during the current year
amouutsd to £235 8s. Gd. The Committee had met four
limes, and made four reports, and they recommended that
the following be the Cuminiltee for the ensuing year : —
The Duke of Bedford, Mr. T. Aveling, Mr. W. Gar-
ni! hers, Mr. J. D. Deut, Mr. J. Bowen Joues, Colonel
Kiugscote, Lieut. -Col. Turbervill, Dr. Voelcker, Mr.
Charles Whitehead, Mr. G. Wise. This report was
adopted.

SELECTIONS.

"Earl C.\ THCART (chairman) reported the nomination
by the Committee of members of Couucil to fill vacancies.
Tbi! committee had met five times and n)ade five reports,
and they recommended that the following constitute the
<»mmittee for the ensuing year : Earl Cathcart, General
Viscount Bridport, Mr. Chandos-Pole-Gell, Mr. Dent,
;Mr. Ilemsley, Colonel Kiugscote, Mr. Jacob Wilson.
This report was tidopted.

On the motion of Earl Cathcart, seconded by Colonel
KiXGsuoTE, Mr. William "Wells was elected a trusteee in
the room of Mr. Milward, resigned.

Lord Veenon observed that Mr. Milward's resignation
should not be accepted without a word being said res-
))fctiug his services. During the last twenty years Mr.
Milward had been a most prominent worker for the
S 'ciety, and the Council would always recognise his long,
active, and valuable services.

Earl Catiicaut entirely concurred with Lord "Vernon's
r''m>r'<s, aud proposed that a letter be written to Mr.
Milward expressing the regret of the Council at the
retirement. No man had done more for the Society than
!Mr, Milward.

The resolution was unanimously adopted.

On the motion of Earl Cathcart, seconded by Colonel
KiN'GSCOTE, Mr. J. B. Ijawes was elected a Vice-Presi-
dent in the room of Mr. Wells, elected a trustee, Lord
Cdthcari bearing testimony to the value of Mr, Lawts'
services to the Society aud to the nation both io person
and iu purse.

Oil the motion of Earl Cathcart, seconded by Colonel
KiN'oscoTE, Mr. D. R. D^ivies, of Agden Hall, L>-mm,
• Uieshire, was elected a member of Conu(-il in the room of
Jiord Skelmersdale, elected Vice-Pre.sideiit ; and on the
motion of Mr, Randell, seconded by Colonel Kings-
cote, Mr. Davies's name was added to the Finance
Committee.

It was announced that 40 entries had been received to
compete for the prizes oifered for English hops, and that
the entries of foreign hops would close on March 1.

A letter was read from Mr. W. II. Dki.ano, accepting
theotHceof Honorary Agent iu France for the Loudon
Exhibition, 1870.

Le'ters respecting carriage of cattle iu horse-boxes, were
r;ad, and

Mr. Jacob Wilson remarked that Australian ports
have been opened for the conveyance of cattle from this
country, but one of the conditions is that there shall be
ninety days' quarantine on arrival, and the other condi-
tion is that conveyance in England shall be by horse-boxes
only.

The report from the Council to the general meetiug
was prepared.

The usual holidays having been granted to the Secretary
and Clerks, the Council adjourned until Wednesday,
February 5th.

THE ANNUAL MEETING.

The Annnal Meeting of this Society took place on
December 12, at Hanover Square. Iu the unavoidable
absence of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales the
chair Was taken by Sir Brandreth Gibbs.

The Secretary (Mr. H.M. Jenkms) read the Report
of the Council, which was as follows : —

"The Council have to report that durine the year 1878 the
number of Governors and Members has been increased by the
election of 4 Governors and 451 Memliers, .snd diminished by
tlie death of 5 Governors and )1U Members, and the removal
of 183 Members by order of the Couucil and by resignation.
The Society now consists of —

79 Life Governors,

73 Annual Governors,
2377 Life Members,
424"3 Annual Members,

26 Honoiary Members,

making a total of 6797, and showing an increase of 157BIem-
t)ers during the current year. Tlie Conncil announce with
deep regret the death ot their most valued colleagues. Sir
William Miles, Bart., a "Vice-President, and Mr. T. C.
Booth, of Warlaby, Northallerton, a Member of the Council.
They have also to report the rpsignation of Mr. Milward, of
Tiiurgarton Priory, Notts, as a Trustee of the Society. The
vacancies thus cansed have been tilled up by the election of
Mr. Wells, of Holmewood, Peterborough, as a Trustee, of
Lord Skelmersdale as a Vice-President, and of Mr..D. R.
Dtivies, of Agden Hall, Lymm, Cheshire, as a Member of the
Couucil. The half-yearly statement of accounts to the 30' h
June last has been examined aud approved by the Society s
Huditors and accountants, and has been pnblisl'.ed for the in-
formation of the Members in the last number of the Journal
The funded property of the Society remains the same as at tlie
last General Meeting, namely, £26,511 lis. 5d. New Three
per Cents. The balance of the current account in the bands
of the Bankers on the 1st inst. was £9i2 19*. lOd., and the
sura of £11)00 remained on deposit. The Bristol Meeting
was in every respect highly satisfactory. The entries of Live
Stock and Implements were very large, the attendance of the
public was good and the result to the Suciety profitable. The
visit of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales gave the
citizens their loug-wished-for opportunity of showing their
loyalty, while the Mayor of Bristol, the L'lcal Cominiriee, aud
the Merchant Venturers, vied wiih each other in their hos-
pitality to the Society. The trials of Dairy Appliances were
most successfully carried out in the show-yard, and weie daily
watched with interest by numbers of dairy-farmers aud others.
The trials of the Sheaf-binders which competed for the
Society's Gold Medal, took place at harvest-time on I\Ir.
Miles's farm at Lfigli, near Bristol, and resulted in the award
ot the Gold Medal to Messrs. Waite, Bnrnell, & Co., for
McCormick's sheat-hinder, the l)inder exbihited by Mr. Waltei
A. Wood being highly commended. The prizes offered by the
Local Committee lor arable and dairy farms attracted only 3
competitors in the former class but as many as 15 in the
latter. The reports on this competition, on the trials of sheaf-
binders and dairy apidiances, and on the exhibition of stock
and implements, will he published in the forthcomins number
of the JoiiriKil. In connection with the Paris T'niversal
Exhibition, an Agricultural Congress, at which the Society was

THE FARMIR'S MAGAZINE

nfluentially rppfcspnted, was lipid at tliR Palace of thp,
TiocHilero. At tlie desire of the SuciPty of French Auricul-
turists, tilt- Council cau'^ed a iiiemoir on English agriculture to
be prepured and hi id before the Congress, That memoir has
since bi-ea issued to the members of the Society iii lieu of the
usual iintunm number of the Journal, and the Council be-
lieve that this pioceedinj; h.as met witli f;eneril approval. The
prppnration for aext year's meeting of tlieyociety, whicli will
assume the form and proportions ot an luternatioual Agri-
cultural Exhibition, are in active progress. A very convenient
si'e at K Ibnru, one hundred acres in exteivt, has been obtained
from tlif Ecclesiastical Commissioners, whose agt-nts have
shown themselves most desirous of furtliering the objects of
the Society. The laud selected is situated between the London
and North" Western and the North London Railways.and adjoins
the new Silusbury-road station on the former and the Kensal
Green station on the latter line. It is three-ciuarters of a mile
from the West-end station on the Midland lliilway, the same
distance from the Westbourne-park station on the Great
Western Riilway, and two miles and a half from the Marble
Arch. The prize-sheet will conta'n classes for all the distinc-
tive breeds ot Engli>h horses, cattle, sheep, and pigs,
and also for the distinctive breeds of Foreign stock from
countries which are not prohibited by any Orders in Council
issued under the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, 1878.
Prizes will also be offfred for asses, mules, goats, butter, cheese,
wool, liops, seed-corn, and meat. The Shorthoru Society have
offered prizes for Foreign Siiorthorns, the hop-growsrs have
offered the prizes for English grown hops, and the Mansion'
House Committee have offered the prizes for Foreign stock
and produce.. The Mansion House Committee have also
offered handsome prizes for sewage farms and market gardens,
and the Counoil ire glad to report that there will he a fair
competition in all the classes. In addition to the exhibition
ot British and Foreign implrnients, live-stock, and produce, it
is proposed to euchauce the interest aud the instnictivenass
ol the meeting by showing some of the processes ot Foreign
dairying in acUinl progress in the enclosure, as well as traction
engines and automatic implements in action. It is also pro-
posed to exhibit side by side representatives of ancient and of
modern farm implements and machines, which the Council
trust will be lent by their possessors for the purpose, and thus
aid in the comprehension of the great advance which has been
madi! in agricultural machinery during the forty years which
have elapsed since the Society was established. The Exhibition
will commence on Monday, .lune 30th, and will close on Mon-
day evening, July 7th. The district assigned for the country-
meeting of 1880 includes the counties of Northuraberland,
Purham, Cumberland, and Westmoreland, and the Council
have already received a pressing invitation for that year from
the Mayor arid Corporation of Ca^ii^le. During the past year
the Legislature have amended the law relating to the Con-
tagious Diseases of Animals of the Farm, giving additional
protection against the importation of such diseases with
Foreign animals, and securing greater uniformity of action
amongst local authorities in tlie event ofoutbreaks within the
United Kingdom. The Council have continually urged the
necessity of adopting measures based on these principles, and
they trust that the recent Act, and the Orders of the Privy
Council based upon it, will not only prevent to a great extent
those losses which English larmers have hitherto suffi-red trora
the outbreaks ot Contagious Diseases amongst their flocks and
herds, but also enable tliem to increase their stock profitably,
on account of the diminished risk which breading oa an
extended scale will henceforth entail. The experiments upon
pleuro-pneumonia have been continued during the greater part
of the year at ihe Brown Institution, under the superintend
ence of Dr. Burdon-Snnderson whose complete report will
appear in the next number of the Journal. Very valuable
indications have been obtained, but unfortunately one of the
provisions of the new Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act
prevents the further continuance of these investigations. With
the sanction of the Council, Dr. Burdon-Sanderson has com
menced a series of researches into such diseases as^ splenic
ajioulexy and quarter-evil, the nature, and causes of whicli are
at present more or less obscure. The experiments at Wobiirn
are being continued on the plan originally laid down, and Dr.
Voelcker's report on the results obtained during the past year
will appear in the next number of the Jonrnal Further ex-
periments on feeding stnff.s have also been coiniiu need, and
purposes is in coutemplatioi::'. As reported at the last auiiual

the utilisation of a portion of Crawley farm for exp-ri mental
meeting, the Council have decided to furnish the Consulting
Cliemist with a laboratory and all its adjuncts, so as to reduce
the fees for analysis to be charged to members ot the Society
to about one-half their present amounts. The structure of the
laboratory is now finisliad, and the Council expect that the
ftttiiigs will shortly be in place, so that the operation of the
new scheme will commence with the approaching year. The
advantages thus offered to members of the Society are so great
that the Council confidently expect them to attract a large
accession to the roll of members. Twenty-nine candidates
were entered for examination for the Society's Junior
Scholarships from the following schools : — Aspatria Agri-
cultural School (i), Bedford County School (2), Devon County
School (2), Glasuevin College (1), Sandbach Grammar School
(4-), and Surrey County School (16)- The following candidates,
arranged in order of merit, have gained scholarships : — Ist,
G. Caldecott, 2nd, F. Wyles, (Surrey County School) ; 3rd,
R. P. Chope, (Devon County School) ; 4tlu J. Roche,
(Glasnevin College) ; 5th, A. J. Waghorn, 6th, B. Kuruival,
(Surrey County School) ; 7tli, J . Rigby, (Sandbach School);
8th, J. Haynes, (Devon County School) ; 9th, T. Luse,
(Sandbach School). Four candidates have entered to compete
for the Society's medals and prizes offered to veterinary
surgeons of not more than fifteen months' standing, for
proficiency in cattle pathology, and the examination will he
held at the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in the course
of the ensuing mouth.

By Order of the Council,

H. M. JENKINS,

Secretary^.

^fr. Moore, in moving the adoption of tbe Report,
said he knew the Council of that Society desired that
members of the Society should express their opinions ou
occasions of that kind, and he wished to say a few woids.
H« would first remark that they mij,'ht well congratulate
each other upon the snccess of the past year, and he
thought they might anticipate still s^reater succass ia the
coming year. It was aatisfaitory to 'earn from the
Report that there had been an increase in the number of
members, and he knew from personal observation how
very successful was the Soeiety's Meeting at Bristol. The
last number of the Journal vi&^ oiie of the most valuable
numbers issued since the Society was formed (cheers).
It contained several standard artich'S in which a compre-
heuaive view was taken of the subject treated. He was
glad that the question of diseases aifdcting stock had been
recently dealt with by the Legislaluie in the right direc-
tion, and he believed that, with the co-operation of far-
mers throughout the country, they would all be preserved •
to a ranch greater estent from any risk of disease being
spread, as it had been, through the moving of animals
about the country. Of course tbey were all looking
forward to the Great International Exhibition which was
to take place in London nest year, lie well recollected
that the last Metropolitan exhibition — that at Battersea — -
was very much like 8 failure ; but he had no doubt that
the Council of that Society would take the necessary
steps for giving the approaching Exhibition such a cha-
racter that it would interest and attract, not only agricul-
turists, but also the inhabitants of the Metropolis and of
other towns. He thought it was well for the Society to
imitate in some degree the Bath and West of England
Society, and without losing its special character, or doing,
anything which was foreign to its object, endeavour to
attract large numbers of persona to the annual shov,*.
As regarded the Woburn experiments referred to iu the
Report, he felt certain that they would prore of great
value, and he hoped the Council would give as much
publicity as possible to them when fhey were completed,
or as they prog.'essed. The crrangeraents made for the
reduction of the cost of analysing soils, artificial feeJing-
stuffs, water, &c., for the benefit ot members, should be
known to all the members, as they could not fail to prove
very useful,. lu proporliou a& scicace was combined with

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

practice in fanning operations farmers nii^iit- he expected
to riiaiiifest greater interest iu that department of the
Society's worit, and he believed that Dr. Voeleker would
pow be more Ironbled with coiuniunicalions from farmers
lliau he had been.

Mr. Taylor, in seconding the motion, said he had
been often asked why the yooiety retained sneh a large
anjount of fnnded property — the aimunt now reported
by the Council was Ji'IQ.hOi) — instead of applying a por-
tion at least iu furthering the objects for which it was
formed.

The Chairman said he would answer tliat question at
once. The accumnlalioa of funded property was partly
the result of two very successlul meetings — one at Bir-
mingham, the other at Liverpool. It was desirable that
a Society like that should have a large araouut of invested
capi al to meet any contingency which might arise iu the
future (Hear, hear) ; but that the Council were willing
to expend a portion of the capital was evident from the
fact that they had just erected a new laboratory, which
he hoped would be of great service to the members of the
Society (cheers).

Mr. \V. BoTLY said the increasing interest of the con-
tents of the Jourri'il obviously made it desirable that it
should be read more generally by the agriculturists of the
whole kingdom, lie would, therefore, ask whether, with
the ample funds at the disposal of the Council, it would
not be wtll to do something to promote that object ?
Might not landlords be supplied with copies at a reduced
rale for circulation among their tenants, so that the
iutereitiug articles which appeared from time to time
might become more practically and extensively useful ?
If some plan could be devised for issuing a number of
copies at 2s. each, the Journal would, he believed, he far
more widely circulated, and he hoped the Council would
lake his suggestion into consideration.

Sir J. H. Maxwell expressed a hope that the invita-
tion to hold the meeting in 1880 at Carlisle would be
accepted, and his belief that the Corporation of Carlisle
aud the people of the town and district would in that
case do everything in their power to ensure success.

Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., said the interesting report
ju t preseuted embraced many points, and seemed to him
deserving of notice. It was a very happy feature that in
thste dajs of agricultural depression that Society had
such a good balance at its bankers, some moKey on deposit,
and a large iuvestcd fund. As regarded the invested
fund, he apprehended that it represented in a great
mjasure the impositions paid by life members (Hear,
Lear) ; and when there were so many members of that
kind it was necessary that a considerable amount should
re uain iuvesttd (Hear, hear\ The next point to which
he would refer was one of painful interest and deep regret ;
he alluded to the deaths of that thoi'oughly good old
English gentleman, Sir William .\iles, aud their most
excellent friend, Jlr. Booth (Hear, hear). He did not
think a meeting of that kind should terminate without
some speaker's adverting to the great loss which the Society
aud agriculture generally had sustained in the death of
Mr. Booth. Not only was he a champion breeder of
Sbori horns, aud an excelleut agriculturist, aud an cxcelkut
maa iu all the relations of life, but the scrvic'S whieh he
rendered to farmers by the course he pursued in cou-
juucliou with their friend Mr. Jacob Wilson for the pro-
txiion of their interests ^ring the progress of the Cattle
Diseases Bill through the House of Commons were such as
no outsider could form any idea of (Hear, hear). Not
only were those two gentlemen at the House every day
but he thought he might say almost every hour during
the discussions, aud by the sound |)raclical advice and
(l^>ocl sense, and by the frieadiy prcssuie which they brought

to bear upon weak-kneed members they Very maferially
contributed to make the Act as good as it was. It w.is
not perfection, it was not the same as it was when
originally introduced ; but it was a very great improve-
ment (m previous legislation, and he hoped it would do much
good in the country. He wished to say one word about
the Journal xVlthough there had been several very good
numbers of that periodical since the Secretary became the
eJitor, there ha 1 been none, in his opinion, that could be
compared with the one recently issued (cheers). lie
hoped that after being read, it would be bound in calf,
and placed in a good position on a shelf. It was not a
work to be read aud then laid aside, and not thought of
in after years, it was a book of reference for the next
generation. The different essays were marvellous in
accuracy, nice in language, and remarkable for wisdom.
Things were presented to the mind iu a very readable
form. There was a great deal that was iuterestiug to
farmers as a body, and a great deal that many of them
did not know, and would do well to remember. Mr.
Caird's remarkable essay was written from an English
point of view, for tl:e enlightenment of their brethren on
the other side of the Channel, and it was desirable that
it should be kept iu the front. It was quite uunece-sary
to tell the world that when Englishmen plough the sea or
the land they were successful ; but he doubted whether
such great stress ought to be laid on the notion that the
success of agriculture had resulted chiefly from the
fiaancial policy of the last few years (Hear, hear). He
trusted the farmers of England would never hanker after
protection (Hear, hear). Free trade was imposed on
them by those who did not seem to like it quite as well as
they did afew years ago — (hear, hear)— but let that pass.
It did not follow as a matter of course because land sold
at a higher price in some localities than iu others, and
some articles of foreign produce were of greater value
than they were a few years ago, that landlords were
better off or farmers more prosperous. He believed
exactly the contrary. In the first place, as to the high
price of land he found that in those remote districts
which were not affected by great population or railway
commuuication land did not sell for a penny an acre more
than it did 35 years ago. That he could prove fi'om
facts connected with his own district more especially.
Then with regard to the management of estates,
gentlemen who were connected with large landowners
knew peifectly well that the expenses of management
had, of late, considerably increased, aud he was not aware
that in rents geuerally, as corapai-ed with those of five
and twenty years ago, there was any considerable
advance. As to farmers themselves it was quite certain
that all animal products had risen very much iu value ;
but as the cost of producing meat, milk, butter, &c., had

ncreased in like proportion, and it did not follow as a
matter of course that profits had largely increased ; but
it did follow as a matter of course that there must now
be a very large amount of capital invested iu farming.
Those observations had appeared to him to be necessary
under the circumstances. He highly appreciated the freedom
with which writers now put forward their political views
in the Journal of that Society, although perhaps the
result might be that hereafter writers who held political
o|)iuions of a dilfjrent kind might express their dissent
from some of the advanced views which had been
previously exjircssed (Hear, hear). He thought Mr.
Caird's most comprehensive essay ought to be more

widely circulated, aud he hoped it would be published
separately by the author — (a member: "It has been
published by him.") He was sorry to say he had not
seen it. He hoped, however, that it would be published
iu such a form aud at such a price that it would be read
bv almost every farmer in the kiugJom. lie had

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

9

Untiling list; fo say, luik'ss it were to oxprcss his fervent
Jiope that the great luteraalioual Exhibition of the
coining yeivr would prove a greater success ihan that
held at Battersea Park souie years ago. lie believed the
measures taken by the iMaiision House Comniiltee would
do very much to popularise the approaching Exhibition
among Londoners; and, alihough of course he earnestly
iiud especially desired agricultural success in connection
with the exhibits, yet he would impress on the Council
the necessity of securing for remunerative purposes a
large attendance of the people of Lo .don.

Mr. Jacob Wilsox, in proposing a vote of thanks to
the auditors, observed that although that Society had
a very efiicient ^tinance] commitcee,' the , duties of the
auditors were important, aua there could be no
doubt that they had been and were performed in a very
siiisfactory manner.

The motion having been seconded byCoI. Turberville,
w IS i)ut and carried.

The Chairman said he had now to ask if any gentle-
man present had any question to ask or suggestion
to oiffr that might be relerred to the Council for con-
sidcratioa.

Mr. ,BowiCK expressed doubts whether the Society
hid done as much as it ought to have done to improve
t!ie condition of agricultural labourers, embracing in his
remarks the question of education and that of labourers'
d% tilings; he concluded by making the following sug-
gestion : — " That the Council of the Royal Atjricultural
Society be respectfully asked to appoint a Commission to
inquire into the working of colportage in the country
districts, to receive evidence, and to report on the same,
and otherwise to carry out the objects of the Society 8
Charter of Incorporation, with special reference to the
condition and welfare of the labourer,"

Mr. AvELiNG remarked on behalf of the Council that
it had not neglected the objects to wliieb Mr. Bowick
filluded, and in illustration of this referred to what had
been done for the improvement of labourers' cottages aad
gardens.

Professor Coleman said he hoped the Council would
take some action in reference to the scheme the Govern-
ment had inaugurated for teaching in elementary schools
the science of agriculture. So far as he understood that
scheme, it appeared a very aduiirable one ; but it did not
begin at the right end. What was especially needed was
a better educatiou for the sons of small farmers, and for
that purpose agricultural teaching should be introduced
into the parish schools. If the Government would allow
agriculture to form one of the subjects of examination
fur certificated teachers, the result would be they would
prepare themselves for the work of teaching the principles
of agriculture to boys in schools, and that would ulti-
mately be of very great value to the sons of small
farmers. Many sons of farmers in his own district had |
to commence and finish their education in parish schools,
and teachers generally had sufficient intelligence to acquire
the kind of knowledge requisite for the purpose to which
he alluded.

Mr. Bell (Newcastle-on-Tyne) called attention to
what was done at the meeting of the Central Chamber
of Agriculture on the previous day, for the purpose of
showing that it was moving in the direction in which
Professor Coleman desired the Council of that Society
should move.

The Secretary said perhaps he might be allowed to
state that the whole question of the education of agricul-
tural labourers and small farmers was at present under
the anxious consideration of the Education Committee.
It had been discussed very carefully for the last two
months, and only on the previous Monday the Committee
had an interview with the Examiner in Agriculture who

acted far the Government and awai-Jed the certificates
which they ottered to teachers as a recoin])ense for their
elf irts to prepare themselves to instruct pupils in agri-
culture. No less th n 1,200 pupils in the elementary
schools throughout the country had submitted themselves
for examination in agriculture this year.

Mr. C. S. Read, M.P, said ho hoped the Council
would ask the Education D.'partment to provide better
text bjoks on agriculture than those which had come
under his notice. The text books which were issued by
the Privy Council for Ireland were infinitely superior to
those in use in England,

Tne Secretary said that the question was asked on
Monday, and the Privy Council simply declined to re-
commend any text book at all.

Mr. FiNLAY Dunn said that having had some
experience of the working of rural schools, he believed
there would be little ditliculty in introducing two or three
times a week, for half an hour each time, consisteutly
with the time tables, a few lessons in elementary agri-
culture ; and he thought every gentleman in that room
who had had anything to do with labourers and the poorer
class of fanners, must feel that by giving boys a certain
amount of elementary teaching in the principles of agri-
culture, they would be doing a vast amount of good, and
implanting in their minds a taste for subjects which
would carry them into the science classes. It seemed to
him that unless some arrangement were made for that
purpose in the ordinary parochial schools it would be
impossible to accomplish the object. It would be far
better for boys to be taught that which was connected
with their future occupation than to have their minds
ground up with history, grammar, and geography (Hear,
hear). By passing an examination in special subjects
boys enabled teachers to earn a little more money them-
selves, and he saw no reason why agriculture should not
have the benefit of that system.

Mr. Wells quite agreed with previous speakers as to
the necessity of providing a better education in the science
and theory of agriculture for the sons of small farmers.
In large schools which were originally founded in
Devonshire and Bedfordshire for sons of small farmers,
practically such persons were not seen at present. He
believed there were now only four or five. The suggestions
of Professor Coleman on that subject ap^)eared to him
very valuable.

Mr. Finlay Dunn said he had to ask the meeting to
accord a vote of thanks to Sir Hrandreth Gibbs for his
conduct in the chair (cheers). The name of the Chairman
was known not only in this country but throughout the
world as that of one of the most industrious, hardwork-
ing, and indefatigable promoters of agricultural progress
in all its phases that had ever existed. Sir Brandreth
was an admirable example of the motto of the Royal
Agricultural Society. He united most thoroughly in his
own person " Science with Practice," and for many long
years he had devoted a large amount of his excellent
abilities and his remarkable energy to the development
of agriculture, not only through that Society, but also
through other important kindred associations. Loii"-
might he live to continue to apply his powers to the
promotion of their common interests (cheers).

Sir J. II. Maxwell, in seconding the motion, said it
must be exceedingly gratifying to every one present to
see a gentleman who had rendered such eminent services
to the Society in the chair ; and he would add that it
must be also gratifying to them to know that Her Most
Gracious Majesty had recognised his services to agricul-
ture in the manner she had done recently (cheers).

The motion having been carried by acclamation, the
Chairman said — Gentlemen, I regret exceedingly thnt in
the abscuce of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales,

lo

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

oui- I'rosiJeiit, it has rillcn to rTiy lot to take the chair to-
H;iy, becimse feel jierfeetly inadequate to the disoharKC
ut such duties as have devolved on nie. I also fiud ^reat
dirtii-ulty in ackiiowleda;iGg the very flittering coiiipli-
ment which the mjver and seconder and the meeting
have been good eaough to pay me. I will not detain you
by anything like a speech, especially as many have heard
perhaps sufficient of my voice elsewhere
during the last few days (laughter). Allusion
has been made to the show which was held
at Battersea some years affo. For my own part, I have
no apprehension whatever that the next meeting in the
metropolis will not prove a very great success (Hear,
hear). The Battersea show had to contend with the
Great Exhibition at South Kensington, which drew away
a vast number of visitors who would otherwise have come
to us. Moreover, it is within my own knowledge that so
great was the difficulty of getting to Battersea that
numbers of persons were waiting in diifereut parts to
obtain conveyauces to take them there; but in the admir-
able position in which the show-yard will be placed next
year, there is a guarantee against anything of that kind.
1 cannot allow the meeting to close without expressing
iudividually my deep regret at the loss which the Society
has sustained by the death of Sir William Miles and Mr.
Booth. It so happens that I am, I believe, the only
surviving officer of the Society, who worked with Sir
William Miles in the early period of its history. When
I became the director of the show at Southampton, Sir
AVilliam was one of the judges of implements, and I can

well lecollect the enconra::ement he gave me at thnt
period. I do feel very much the loss which has been
sustained through the death of any former colleague. Of
Mr. Booth I need not speak, because you must all know of
his good qualities, and some of you have witnessed their
exhibition lately. .One advantage of these general meetings
is that every tnember of the Society has an opportunity
of bringing before the Council any subject that he con-
siders important, and a very long experience with regard
to the proceedings of the Council enables me to declare
that they are always most ready and anxious to take
suggestions into consideration. Suggestions made on
occasion like this ares not, I can assure you, shelved
(cheers). They all in many cases referred to committees
who devote to them most anxious deliberation, and they
are afterwards brought before the Council for final con-
sideration. The suggestions which have been made to-day
will also be brought before the Council in due conrse,
and I am sure they will all receive the attention, they
deserve. Before sitting down it is my duty to cal your
attention to the fact that the entries for live stock next
year, instead of being closed on the 1 1th of June, as has
been the case hitherto, will, in consequence of the earlier
date of the show, be closed on the 1st of May, and that
the entries for implements, instead of being closed on the
Ist of May will be closed on the 1st of April (Hear, hear),
t has been thought desirable that these changes should be
mentioned thus publicly, lest any intending exhibitors
should be disappointed (Hear, hear).
The meeting then separated.

CENTRAL FARMERS' CLUB.

The usual December meeting of the Farmers' Club took
place on Monday, Dec. 9, at the Caledonian Hotel, the
attendance being, as in previous years during the Cattle
Show week, very large. The Chairman for the year, Mr.
J. Brown, of Elwyn Orchard, March, presided. The
subject for discussion was introduced by Mr. J. K.
Fowler, of the Prebendal Farm, Willowbank, Aylesbury ;
being "The Paris Exhibition: its Agricultural Teach-
ings."

The. Ch.mrman, in opening the procepdinjs, ssiid : Gpntlfi-
jnen,— The reader of the paper to-night (Mr. Fowler, of
Aylesbury) is so well known to most of you that he needs no
introdnction from nie ; but I hope and trust that he is not the
only gentleman present who has been to Paris this year, and
tiiat he will not have it entirely his own way. I am quite
sore that you will all be ready to listen to his paper, and I
now call upon him to address you (cheers).

Mr. J. K. Fowler then read as follows : — Before reading
my paper, I must apolot;i-e for what you may think its short-
comings, as to " the Agricultural Teachings" of this sliow ;
but 1 found, as I went into the subject, that it would he so
lengthy, and embrace so many h^ads of discussion, that rather
than bore you too much I would confine myself to-uitiht lo a
description of the live stock, and a glance at the implements ;
and leave for the future, and for others, to take up the various
departments thar wonld interest every one ot yon. I may
mention "The liorse Sliow," " Trees and Foiestry," "Fruit
Growing and Market Gardening," " Bfe-kee pinn" — which in
some parts of France return over two hundred thousand
pounds sterling a year, — a source of profit from the land
much neglected in tliis country — and the " General condition
of the French farmer and peasant." These would form a
whole year's description for the Chih, if found advisable.

Some few years since I had tlie hononr of reading at your
Club a paper on the " Influence of Hailways on Aiiricultnre,"
and 1 think a paper on the " Influence of Railways on Agri-
cultural Eihibilious" would be of additional value ; at all

events, without the great nef-work of railways, both here and
on the Continent, it would have been impossible to have
gathered together so great a display of live stock and agricul-
tural implements as were exhibited in Paris in the first fort-
night of June. This great International E<hibitiou has
occupied so large a ?hare of the attention of the civilised wortd
during the year now drawing to a close, that it would be well
to look to the lessons, if anv, which they have taught the
British agriculturist ; and I hope it will not be deemed pre-
sumptuous in me to endeavour, as concisely as I can, to give
you some of the views I have drawn from that Exhibition.

Yon are doubtless aware that I had been appointed to lake
charge of the live stock and poultry, both goiug and returning,
and to assist Mr. (now Sir) Brandrelh G bbs in the manage-
ment whilst in Paris. I had thus an opportunity of making
myself acquainted with the general characlerisiics of the
various breeds shown, and also to gain some information as to
their agricultural position in comparison with us.

I shall first briefly describe the arranzements made for the
transit of the live stock from this country. On June 1 we
led St. Katherine's Wharf about 2 p.m., after loading the
catile and poultry, and sailed down the Thames for Boulogne
direct, and arrived there about I1'30 the same night, and at
daylight the next morning commenced unloading them from
the ship into the railway trucks — the train consisted of filty-
five large cattle trrcks and vans, and was over a quarter of a
mile in length — and we arrived at La (Jhapelle Station, in
Paris, about two o'clock on M )nday morning, and the cattle,
&c , were conveyed in large cattle waggons to the " Place des
Invalides," where the eliow was to be held, and all safely
deposited by about six o'clock in tlie afternoon. The large
space in front of the Invalides was fitted up with commodious
lofty cattle sheds, with every convenience, which filled the
centre ; and on the east side of these sheds were the French
slieep and pigs, and on the west the English, whilst the poultry
occupied a lar^e space in the south-west corner of llie enclosure.
Everything done by the French Goveruiueut is with the
strictest routine, and all the arrangements were carried out
ino»t scrupulously. Down the centre between the cattle sheds,
in -a line with tlie dome of the Invalides, the broad road was
laid out with green turf and flower bods, brilliant with scarlet

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

11

gpranin >is nnd oflier 11 )wers, und at each end of tlie shedding
wi-rt^ groups of hai'duoine evtrgreeu slirubs. There *ere tillices
for tlie Kri-nch Hiid furrigii auMiorities, a reslaiKHTit for the
men in attendance, wliere Sir I'. C. 0«en, tlie iiiilispens;ible
ami euthuaia.stio Secretary to ihe British Ouiuiuissiun, iiad pro-
vided daily a ho. diuuer at a clieap rate lor the men ; h1-o a
first and second class restanrant lor the gentiral visitors. Water
was laid on at each end ot the sliedding, and very large build-
ings for the storing of forage, med, &c.

It will be useless (or me to trouble you with a lengthy
description of our English live ^tock, as you all know the
characteristics of our varions breeds ; most ol them were fairly
represented, except the li.-refords, where Her Majesty the
Queen was tlie only exhibitor. The Shorthorns were repre-
sented from the sheds of Her Majesty, the Marquis of Exeter,
Earl Becti>e, Lady Figot, Mr. Eox of Elmhirst, and myself.
The Uevons and Sussex by the Queen, Mr. Walter Farthing,
Messrs. Stanford, and Mr. Rolls Foyer. The Seois, nobly
shown by Mr. M'Combie, Sir Macpherson Grant, Mr. Colraan,
and Mr. Duncan. Loughorns, by the Duke of Buckingham
and Mr. Farmer ; and 'he little Kerrys by Messrs. Ivibertson,
from Ireland. No Aldemeys were sent, and only one Ayr-
shire. Altogether, it is to be regretted that so few were sent;
but, as 1 have shown, most of our breeds were represented. It
was ditfereut with our sheep, where some of our classes came
out exceptionally strong. First on the list were the South-
downs, and Lord Walsinghain, as usual, sent some very choice
specimens, as did also His Koyal Highness the Prince of
Wales. The French are great admirers of this breed, and do
not seem to care so much for others, as tliey do not require
large fat mutton for their tables; and they use them also for
crossing with their Merinos. Tne Oxfordshires were an excel-
lent class. The Hampshires were only represented by Mr.
Kobert Russell, and the Dorset Downs lost nothing in the
hands of Mr. Homer, of Athelhainpton. The Leicesters were
Jully represented, and some Kents and Cotswolds made up a
good show of longwools. There were mountain sheep from
Scotland, and Roscommon sheep from Ireland. Amongst the
most noteworthy were some Dorsets wlth/oiir horns, sent by
Mr. Isaac Watts, of Devizes, I refer especinlly to these
sheep, which excited considerable interest. Mr. Watts had a
desire to produce his Dorset sheep with four horns, and whilst
he was in South America he had seen some four-horned
mountiiu sheep, and succeeded in bringing over a four-horned
ram, and 1 is t^rst cross with his Dorsets produced four fully-
developed horns ; and from putting this wild sheep again upon
liis own daughters, and breeding continually from only four-
horned sheep, he has succeeded in establishing the type. One
of the tups shown was a rexUy excellent sheep of full Dorset
character, and was greatly admired by all wlio saw him. I
have mentioned this as another illustration of the influence of
the male on external appearances. Altogether, considerable
interest was excited amongst the French and other foreign
agriculturists by our exhibition of sheep.

The pigs Were a superior cIhss, and the large white breeds
were purchased rather freely by the French ; but those raost
excellent pigs, the Berkshires, were almost ignored. This
wjs somewhat strange of the French people, wlio have great
ohjoctions to very fat meit, and did not seem to understand
the great merit of the B^rkshires, who have always plenty ol
lean meat with their fat.

Mr. Sexton's black and vrhite SufTolks were greatly admired,
and very deservedly had the premier prize I nave thus
glanced at tlie live stock sent by the English exhibitors, and
wish time permitted me to go more fully into detail.

In describi'ig the French Department I shall take tliera
according to their catalogue, aud first on the list are their
Dutch. I need not dilate too much on these, as they have
become familiar to most of you as dairy co*s, chieflf in the
London sheds ; almost all were black and white. The bulls
were large-framed animals, but very coarse and ill-looking.
The cows had large udders and very hard skins ; they are deep
milkers, but t*ie milk is not rich. Next came the Danish,
Swedes, and Norwegians; these were mostly a dark red, ex-
tremely thin, poor creatures, like very poor Alderneys ; neat
ulders, but their backs like razors. Next were races from the
centre ol Europe. Tiie bulls were large and massive, hollow
rumps, and flat sides, good chines and backs, but very hard to
the touch ; in colour, light red and white, or more like what
tie should call dark cream aud white. The cows did not

seem to be very great milkers. Then came the Swiss and
ki wired races ; and, with the exception of the E iglish, were
the only foreign race exhibited. These were beautiful grey,
or mouse colours, with dark muzzles, very hard skins, deep and
massive, and the cows apparently good milkers, b'ollowinij
these were the Piedinontese, Romagnole, aud Portuguese. The
forjier were euor'nous auinmls, high on ihe tail, large heavy
dewlaps, drooping ears, colour light grey and dun ; they
seemed very usetul for draught purposes. Some, apparently,
had been crossed with Shorthorns, and the cro»8 was very
successful; their hides had become more supple, and the bone
smaller. The Filth Class was for diverse races not comprised
in the former list, and were chiefly crosses with our Durhams
or their various native breeds ; some had hit remarkably well.
I think in this class the English exhibitors had a fair right to
complain. The Duke of Buckingham's and Mr. Farmer's
longhorns were placed in this class, and the first prize was
given to one of the worst animals I ever saw exhibited — a
crossbred cow, wit^h a broken tail; a short, contemptible
animal with black horns, and not worth £30 in any market in
England, and this against some of our best bred longhorns
the kingdom could produce. This prize was awarded, I am
told, without the knowledge of the English judges. The long,
horns were admirable specim_ens, and the whole of the re-
mainder of the class very bad indeed. The Second Division
comprised first the Normandy, which were a remarkably fine
race of cattle, colour nearly all red aud brindled. Bulls, plain
animals, with hard hides ; but the cows were short-legged,
large, fine beasts, with immense udders. The first priie cow
was one of the finest animals I ever saw; she was a tall
brindled cow, with a great but very symmetrical udder, a
famous rib, and great substance, but somewhat coarse. She
was a wouderiul cow, and some of her class were nearly as
good as herself. If ever I were inclined to cross our Short-
horns, it would undoubtedly be with such cows as these ; a
good Princess or Knightley bull put on to these cows ought
to bring the perfection of a diiry herd, or eveu the Flamande
race, which came next in succession. These had great frames,
very narrow over the chines, very massive, deep milkers, and
in colour nearly all red. The bulls were coarse, but, singular
enough, had good chines, thus differing from the cows. M
Bosse gained the work of art, valued at 2,5(J0 francs, for the
milking prize with this race. We now come to that famed
race, the Charolais. They are extremely beautilul, but I
could not perceive much utility in them ; they had a bad
touch, were very deficient in hair, and had but little milk
about them. Their colour, a creamy white, and their general
bearing and fine countenances, made them a most noticeable
tribe. The Gascony were a light dun, with thick h des, and a
very inferior class; they were like large silver grey Jerseys.
Following these came the Garronaise, which were a striking-
looking class, of a dark cream colour, with heavy jowls, rather
small, with short rumps, but good heavy thig'-s. The females
did not seem to have much good milk about thera. The
females of the Bizadaise were very pretty, some buff coloured,
others cream, and these races brought me to the Race des'
Pyrenees. The males shown from the Lourde district had
beautifully curled and very handsome heads, again cream
coloured, but with bad runps, tails set up high, and hard
skins. The Bearnaise and Basques were also pale buff, occa-
sionally with buffalo-shaped horns. Tne Salers were the same
colours, had tiat sides, hollow backs, aud high crests, but
capital thighs. Tne Parthenaise were very grand animals,
especially the balls, but with hollow backs. All these, both
male and female, were rich buff or grey in colour, and the
fem-iles very handsome. The Tarentaise was very pretty buffs
and greys, with black noses and black horns. The Brittany
cattle are well known in this country, being pretty little
animals of black and white or grey in colour. There was a
cow shown by Mr. Le Floch, from Finisterre, equal to any
little animal 1 ever saw, wonderful chine and good back, and
beautiful udder. 1 must conclude my notice of the French
breeds by briefly alluding to the Algerian and other kindred
races. These were rich cream and cream and white colours,
good hair, and capital thighs. This paper would not be com-
plete if I did not mention the great strides the French agri-
culturists have made in breeding Shorthorns during the past
ten years ; many exhibited here would have been dangerous
opponents in any showyard in England. The bulls, as a rule,
were not so pood as the cows ; I must characterise them as
evidently having been bred with a good form lor the be»t

12

THE FARMER'S .MAC'AZLXB.

roastin? tnpa', as all had famoiia chines, first-rate b ick? and
1 .ius, Htid PxcpUi'ut llii^'is, well let do.vn to their hocks. Tiie
hulls were rather coarse iii the bone, and had not that ex^juisite
t'jucli so iiiiich son ^hl alter by liie Eut^lish breeder ; and the
I'ows liad not beea bred for their inill.ing qualities, but for
i] sh-foruiing purposes. It will be useless for me to mentiou
their names aud pt-digrces, as they are entered with re erence
lo the French Herd Bo'jk, which differs in the numbering to
ours. There was a tendency to loss of hair upon them, but
their rich roaus, deep reds, and general appearance, did no
discredit to their breeders, and showed again how well the
Shorthorn race adapts itself to all countries an I all climes.
]\Iost unmistakably, this race, "Durhams," as the French c*ll
them, takes the lead now amongst all their cU>ses. Several
of their Darhain crosses with some of their own breeds were
exhibited; but it struck me that the best cross was with the
F.einish or F\amande, as there seemed plenty of milk, and
good flesh on a large frame. I thus conclude my notice of
the cattle, and vvill now, as closely as I can. pass on to the
sheep. Amongst the Southdowns were some excellent speci-
mens, bred in France ; but the chief interest centred in the
]\Ierino3, there being over 250 entries, and numbering nearly
500 .sheep. To us, as Eoglishraen, this race seems peculiarly
ugly ; but the great value of their fleeces, and their absence
oi lat, makes them the most favoured amongst the French
sheep classes. Perhaps some of the finest of this race in
Europe were exhibited here— many of large size — and every
part of their frame, excepting a small portion of the face,
even down to their feet, was covered with wool ; but as there
is a tendency ol a demand for a longer staple of wool, they
have found it advantageous to cross thera with some of our
longer-woolled sheep ; but they do this very reluctantly, as
they find our Lincolns, Cotswools, and Oxlord^hires get their
mutton too large and too fat; for I find the Frenchman's
chief glory of mutton is a good cutlet, and they naturally
complain that we are obliged to cut off a large portion of fat
from our necks, backs, aud loins, which is wasted, aud goes
into the dripping-pan. They are extremely prejudiced in their
opinions of our various breeds of sheep ; and it is extraordin-
ary how they stick to the old types that they saw fur the first
time many years ago, which were introduced from this
country; and they never tire of speaking of '' race Jonas
Webb," and " r-ice Di.'-hley ;" and the names in their cata-
logues of " Dishley Merino," " Dishley Normand," " South-
down Merino," "Southdown Berrichounes," "Southdown
Dishley" — meaning our " Half-breds" and " Dishley-artosien-
iies" — and " Southdown-cauchoises" fill up a class numbering
160entries,andmorethan300 sfieep, Tiiere were most excellent
specimens of these crosses, aud only three entries of Slirop-
shires, and not one of Oxfords or other Downs, exeept South-
downs. There was one native breed calied "LaCharmaize,"
which were excellent — the ewes rather small, but all of hitrh
quality — those shown by the Comte de Montilivet I thought
particularly good. I must give a brief remark on the pig
classes, and am sorry to differ with many of my English
friends, who though'; the French pigs very good. I saw but
few worthy of notice ; the general run of their specimens were
ugly brutes, long and coarse legged, with great lopping ears
lianging over their eyes, and devoid of all the characteristics
of what I cons'der a good pig should be. I do not deny there
were some extraordinary good animals, but contrary lo their
views about mutton and beef, they seem devoted to the large,
coarse Yorkshires, aud cared but little for our small breeds ;
but their antipathy to the Berkshires is inexplicable, and it
must he from ignorance of the merits of this breed, and scarce-
ly a notice was given to them and to our choice little Essex
breeds. More than tl.ree-fourliis of their pigs wrre white, and
if any superior animals were seen, they had evidently been
crossed with oiir Kuglisli breeds. Following my notice of
cattle, sheep, and pijis, we come to " Ls Anininu.c de Basse
Cour," or, as we call them, " Poultry." A large collec'iou was
formed, numbering 1,755 pens; and as many were shown in
threes and fours, and even larger numbers, there must have
been over 4-,()Q0 head exhibiieJ — 518 pens of pigeons and 893
of rabbits. I shall not tire jou with a lengthy description of
these most valuable adjuncts to the live stock of a farm, as a
rule so \atnentably negl cted by my brother farmers, and so
strangely ignored as a source of profit ; but as far as superiority
of dillVrent races go, we English are far in advance of them in
every particular. Our FJ ^glish juilges can corroborate all I
iay ; but as we had two judges only there — both cmiueut

breeders and authorities in this country— thfy were ou'-voted
on all occasions when they stood up for the recognition of our
superiotiry. We sent there nearly 4'' JO pens, uuinhennif cuu-
silerably over 600 specimens, aud there is no doubt the French
saw plenty to a-.tcmi3h th^iu ; but as they /i we no sfandird uf
excellence whatever, and decide entirely by caprice, I do not
wonder h' the ahsolite inferiority of their poultry. I never
was more a.stonished tlnn I was at their ignorance of almost
all which conslituies perfection in poultry. Was it beauty of
pluuiHge that was their obj-'ct? IC so, they tailed. Wtts it
uniformity of breeding ? It so, they failed. Was it size they
aimed at P If so, they utterly tailed also, even their own noted
breeds, such as the Be le Coe irs and the Houdans. There
were only four pens sent frjin England, against nearly 600
from France, and they all four obtained prizes. The main
reason why the French are so ignorant of the proper points of
the best varie ies of our poultry is that the exliibirors are
generally common poultry dealers, who shiw merely for trade
purposes; whereas in England, most exhibitors take up iiie
fancy as an amusement and from pure love of it, regardless of
expense; and the result is on improvement in the various
breeds during the last twenty years which astonishes everyooe.
The truth is, the French people f ed and dress tiieir poultry so
much better thau we do ; as in E iglaud a fowl or turkey is
sent to table ofieutimes dry and tasteless, the same birds in
FVance would be juicy, tender, aud succulent. As a proof
that the French do not orer-value the products of their
poultry yard, I find from statistics tliat daring the year
1877 they sold for exportation a ihousaiul millij/t of eggs,
beside supplying their home markets, which we know h ive
extensive derainds on them. The total value of eggs for ex-
portation thus amountfd to over £3,500,000 sterling. I have
now but slightly glanc-d at the various breeds of cattle, sheep,
pigs, and poulry at this great show, and must not forget its
purp rt — " its agricultural teachings." And first, as to judg-
ing, the system of awarding prizes appears to nte most ojec*
tionable. The judges, so far as I could ascertain, acted more
as reporters than adjudicators ; for after delivering in their
awar.ls, these awards were revised by oBkiials, supposed to be
of a higher capacity and occupying a more elevated rank.
This is a point that must be settled in future — viz., the po-i-
tion which jurors are to hold, before Englishmen again take,
pirtin any other exhibition, in France. One other of the
"teachings" of this show is that they classily their ammals
for various purposes — viz., for meat production, milk produc-
tion, and for beasts of burthen and sheep. For meat
production, and for wool production, fve use our
classsilication of the latter under the various hea'ds of
Ion? and .'•hort-woolled sheep ; but I think at our leading
stock shows we might more generally adopt the clasji-
fication of meat and milk-producing cattle. You may possibly
have lieard that an auction sale vuas to be held the day before
the closing of the Exliibi;ion: and it was generally believed
that a large portion of the English live stock would be retained
in France, as it was probable that all woii d he purchased by
enlightened Frenchmen. The members of this Club will
U'lderstand the position of matters when I state that Mr. Joliu
Thornton, who undertook to look after the interest of the
English exhibitors at this sale, that with all his well-kuown
assiduity and energy he was unnble, as far as I know, ta
coramaiul a single purchaser by auction. One W3uld have
supposed there would have been no lack of enterprise amongsft
our intellectual neighbours ; bat I regretted to fiud they had
no appreciation of our careful selection of animals for breeding
and do not take iuto consideration the distinguished lineage
of our choicest pedigrees, and the freedom from the chance
of transmitting inferior blood through the germs which-
modern physiologists maintain are stored up in the system of
animals of short or inferior pedigree. Il, was utterly sor
prising to me that so inlelligsnt a people as the French un
questionably are should liave lost the opportunity which this
fine display offered them of obtaining possession of sncit
materials for improving their own races-. Slow as the English
bucolic mind is said to be, I haive not tlve shadow of a douhfc
there would iiave been the keenest competition for the posses-
sion of such animals. Nothing can show more conclusively
the slowness of the French proprietors and agriculturists to
avail themselves of this splendid opportunity than tlie fact that
they allowed many of the choicest specimens of cattle, sheep,
and pi,'s that England could produce to be returned home,,
alihouijh olfered at little over butchers' prices. This waa

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

13

mire exempl lied in jioultry than ui cattle, as you could not
iiirke them believe our specimens were worth two to five
guiuens each ; and I saw several of their own es'iibiteJ birds
sold by auction at"ter the show at two and tliree franos eich,
not ra iJiir.j^ as much hs a common IoaI or duck would m ikn
at any country mtrket in Kn^'and. Not so the Girmans and
Auitriaui; as I sold uiue pens of poultry at large prices to a
German count, and seven pens to go to tlie neighbourhood of
Vienna, and only one to France, and that was to an E ig'ish
lady ; and, excepMng a few game c )cks, 1 do not believe hall
a-Jozen pens of English puultry were sold in i'rince.

With respect t& the condition in which animals should be
shown, 'I tliink we have sometliing to learn from the French.
Neither in the show-yard nor the market will they tolerate the
iaordinstei/ over-fed animals which fi'id f^vou•■ in England.
Tne question arises are tiiey rvjhl or wong / I hold they are
ri/ht. If you aijree with me, what is the remedy ? In the
fi'st place, the jud^jcs in our show-yards must show by their
decisions their determination to disc<mr.ige such over-feeding.
So lung as the higliest-fed animal ttands the best chance — as
ui'd'iestioiiably it dues — of carrvinj olT the honours, so long
■will ihe loading of tlie aniratls witii fat still continne ; and
tlie exhibitor who vainly supposes that he cm carry otf a prize
^ith tl'e best animtl in a fair store state will be disappointed
And th •■°sult of setting this fashion in our show. yards has
been tj D".;et. a tendency in the favourite breels to liy on fat
instead of developing the milking properties, and such meat as
the butcher finds most saleable. My remarks upon the
exhibition of live stock will not be complete without alluding
to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, which we unfortu-
nitely brought away with us on our return. We cime back
b ' the same route, via Boulogne, and on our entering the
Tl ames we were informed that Brown's Wharf at P >plar had
be-n titled up lor us as a quarantine establishment', and we
iinded tlie whole of the cattle, &"., before 3 o'clock on
the i'riday afternoon, June 21 ; and I visited the place on the
Monday following, in conjunction with the inspector of the
Privy Council ; and after a careful examination the two Sussex
bulis belonging to Messrs. Stanford were found to be infected,
and evidently of more than a week's standing, as the disease
was passing otf; and I t'leu learned that one of her Mijesty's
Shorthorns had been le't behind in Paris with unmistakable
signs of the disease, showing that it must have been engen-
dered there. It will be too long a story to tell you of the
great trouble and anxiety this caused us all, as after every
fresh outbreak we were bound to remain another fourteen
■days in quarantine ; it was thus several weeks before the
place was declared free from disease. Lady Pigott lost one of
her finest cows ; and several others, myself amongst the
auraber, had their cattle and sheep slaughtered, and their
carcases sold at poor prices, rather than risk the chance of
bringing bsck the disease into their own neighbourlioods. It
will, perhaps, greatly surprise you to hear of the enormous
cost of this quarantine to the exhibitors. I have been to
florae pains to arrive at this amount, and find the standirg
alone co-t us above £375, which went into the pockets ol the
General Steam Navigation Compmy, who are the owners of
the wharf, and who fitted up the place in a very rougli way ;
and with forage, various charges, and m'-u's expanses of
attendance, the amount was over £1,000! I mention these
facts, as it has been often thrown in our teeth, as farmers, that
we would resist the heavy burden if ever we should be placed
in the position of the foreigner in this matter. What
we do complain of is, that there should have been no place
provided for our reception by the Giveratneot, and I think it
very hard that the heavy charges made for the s'anding of our
animals should have fallen upon the exhibitors, I more espe-
cially allude to this, as it is proposed to admit foreign cattle
to compete with ours at the great show of the Royal Agricul-
tural Society next year in London. It is not foreign cattle we
fear, but foreign disease. I liave written so luUy on the live
stock that I cannot possib y do otherwise than speak but
slightly of the Agricultural machinery. In looking through
the iVeueli Department an English farmer iias to inquire, and
to make far more inquiries, as to the purposes for which the
machines were intended, than he would have to do in an
English showyard. The French p"ople in tillage, as well as
in other operations on the farm, seen to rae to have a pecu'iar
method or gift of going in a roundabout way to accomplish
the end ia view ; and I cjuid not but aotice that their imple-

ments and machines had not tlut olviously direct ptirpose w;
finil in England. I think it was Sir Jo-epli Wiiitworlii wiio
once said ; " The machinery of a natiiu would naturally cor-
respond with the wants aud intelligence of its people ; and so it
i-i with the agriculturists of a nation, because the better the
inachiui.'ry will become with which they are ."Ujiplied, It will,
therefore, be needless for me to enumerate the splendid show
o'' implements sent by all our leading makers, whose names
are household words amo igst ua ; sulEeient lo say, they far
surpassed every other nation, an 1 showed what enterprise the
British agriculfurists possess, and what success has attended
the manufacturers of such a mignificent display. '1 he general
t-achings of this world-wide show were that we have little or
nothing to learn Iroiu our French neighbours, nor any
Other nation which exhibited there — especially Iron Frame,
where their smiill holdings, the custom ol breaking up proper-
ties, and the general desire and aim of the generality of their
people when they f.sve gained wealth to gravitate to the larg^
towns, keeps a^ricuUde too much in the back ground. But;
the ihriftiuess of its people, aal in some parts of France the
cleanliness of their farming, is a p ittern for many British
farme s. The French are becoming, very much more than
they used to be, a meat-eating people, aud a very exten-
sively beer-Jrinking people also; an 1 I feel sure, with their
increasing knowledge of the superiority of English live stock,
a considerable trade will spring up lor our best breeds of all
descriptions of cattle, as also lor otir best samples of seed corn.
We have nothing to fear from Couiiuental agriculture ; aud,
after all I have seen at foreign agricultural exhibitions at
Altoua, and especially at Vieaai, as well as at Paris, I still
feel proud of

" This precious s'one set in the silver sea,
Tliis blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England."
Mr. Coi.EMAN (Ricill, York) who rose, after a pause, ii
response to a call from the Chair, said, having had an oppor-
tunity of seeing that wonderful exhibition of cat'ie at the
Paris Exhibition, upon which they had had ?uch an admirable
report from Mr. F'owler, he must declare that he was exceed-
ingly interested and surprised. One lesson which it taught
them was the great variety of the resources of a couutry wiiicli
could produce so many different des.crip'ions of cattle, each,
no doubt, being especially suited to the particuhr conditions
under which it was bred. He did not entirely agree with Mr.
Fowler in his rather depreciatory rerairks respecting the
Charolais cattle. He supposed that such an authority was
perfectly correct in stating that the milking properties of that
b e.'d of cattle were not very good ; but as beef-producers and
as working cattle — a purpose for wliicli they were very much
used — they stood very high indeed. He thought that Eagliah
agriculturists might take some credit to themselves for
the present condition of those cattle, because tlie
Charolais caltle, and e-pecially the Charolais Nivernais
breed, had been often crossel with their Shorthorns,
many of the male animals in tlie herds having a head which
was very suggestive of the English Shorthorn cattle (Hear).
Mr. Fowler had alluded to the splendid display of agricultural
machinery which was contributed by the leadiug Eugliih ex-
hibitors. Up to the present time Englaad had shared with
America probably the bulk of the export trade into France ;
and he regretted, for the sake of the English manufacturers,
thai it was the opinion of one of the largest agents in France,
both for English and American machinery, that so great and
progressive had been the advance recently made by the agri-
cultural machine manufacturers of France tnai in ten years his
business as agent would be extinguished, and he roust lookout
for some other occupation, lie thought that the deiatud for
English machinery would probably by that time have ceased.
He regretted very mucli to hear that expression of opinion.
Although, alter having gone, somewliit rapidly, through the
Pans E^thibition, he thought that lu constructioa and qu ility
the French machinery was very iulVirior to their own, yet, on
the other hand, he must say that it seemed to him there was
an adaptation to the wants of the French fnr.ners which was
very creditable to the leading manufacturers, and that the
machinery generally was much better than he haiJ expected t)
find it (Hf-ar, hear). He did not think the E iglish skould
g.ve place to any other nation as regards the merits ol their
michiuery, but he would have liked Mr. Fowler to have said
on' or two words commendatory of the A neric m secioi
(il-ar, hear). That section WaS small, but it was remarkably

14

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

(rood (Hp:ir, liP'ir). Atnnns the forcifia i-oplrmeiits the
Anierit'Hii liai' perliiuia bfeii mor>; hiry^f'ly iia^-d in b'rHue« lUati
thi-ir <)«'U, aud tliat was perhnps owiiifj; to tlieir bem^ o' soine-
wliat li;{hler construction. Tli^ a^eiit to«hoiii lie liad just
alluded told him that some of ihe, American macliiues sold
very readily, and that tie had a great dunl of tr ubie in selling
Eugli^li niHchiiies. It was cerlaiuly not well lor them always
to imaiiiiie that tliey were so superior to others (dear, hear).
Having been in America, and having al-o visiitd ihe Paris
Exhibition, he had seen a gteai deal of iht) American
iiiarhiuery. He must say it liad appear.d to him that a word
of acknowledgment \r s due in regard to the admirable collec-
tion of Americau macliiuery recently seen lu the French
capital (Hear, hear).

Mr. Jacob Wil-^on (Woodhouse Blanor, Mdrpeth), said
he like his friend Mr. Golenian, had come there lully intend-
ing to be only a listener, bnt after what he had heard he would
gay a tew words. He must lirst remark that a more interesting
ubiect could not have been selected for discussion that even-
n? nor could it have been entrusted to anyone of more practi-
oarknowledne and experience than Mr. Fowler, to which he
would venture to iidd that it must be the opinion of all who
heard him that that gentleman had treated his topic in a very
exhaustive manner. Like his friend Mr. Coleman, he could
not concur in all the conclusions drawn by Mr. Fowler. He
tJiou^ht it was a very dai gerous thing indeed to assume that
they had nothing to "learn from tlieir French or Continental
neighbours (Hear, hear). He most freely admitted that they
miglit learn from them very considerably in many ways,
especially with regard to little matters of detail connected with
the arrangement of the show-yard. Perhaps that was a sub-
ject which did not much interest that meeting (Cries of" Oh
yes"). It was an element in which he felt personally con-,
siderable interest, and he knew that many of them, having a
proper regard for their own comfort and Gonvenience, fully
appreciated its importance (Hear, hear). He was rather sur-
prised to hear Mr. Fowler speak depreciatingly of the Charolais
cattle, because if tliere was one element more remarkable than
ano her in that department of the Paris Exhibition it was the
beautiful white cattle (Hear, hear). And they might depend
upon it that as the French became a more beef-eating people
that breed of cattle would be developed more than any other,
probably with a cross of Shorthorns upon it (Hear, hear). So
very important was that mixture considered iu France that
Frenchmen, in buyinj Shorthorns in this country, made it a
point that there should be three or four crosses of white
animals. As a breeder, he looked with astonishment at the
Shorthorn exhibition in Paris. He maintained that many of
the animals bred in France were tit to compete with a large
por'ion of those bred in this country, aud he hoped that if
mittters went on well in the interim, if there were no disease
prevailing on the Continent, and proper securities were pro-
vi ed for the protection of English stock, the managers of the
exhibition next s-ummer wuuld he able to show English exhibi-
tors that they had very formidable competitors on the other
side of the witer. He wonld not occupy any more time on that
subject, which was completely exiiausted in Mr. Fowler's
paper; bnt lie must remark that tie sympathised very much in
what Mr. Fowler said with regard to the French system of
judging by means of juries, involving as it did the practical
question wliether that system was adapted for this country,
either as regarded poultry or cattle. He thought that any-
t'ling more absurd and unsystematic than that system of judg-
ini; could not be devised (Hear, hear). It really came very
much to a question of judging a country independently of the
stock— (Hear, hear) — aud although he would be the last per-
son to say anything derogatory of his late colleagues or of his
friend Mr. Aylmer, and others, who had on the whole treated
the matter in a very excellent way, still he must say that there
was a want of that practical system of judging which was
found to prevail in England. He could only point to the
cause by saying that the judges were not selected fiom a
practical class of men corresponding with the juik'es in this
country. They appeared to be representatives of large pro-
prie'ors, who might perhaps understand form but had no idea
of handling, and bethought Mr. Aylmer and others, who
knew what occurred, would bear him out in taking that view.
Probably one man's eyes were as good for judging as another's,
but there were lew persons with practised hands, very few
persons who knew what real fl' sh and quility were, or what

was to be fouiid in the best meat-prodiicini; anim ils (Hear
lu'ar). He had learnt from ttie F.ins H^liiljilion ll.a the
French system could never tje adopted in Knglund. He h^id
learnt also that tlfy knew how to arrange for a good show ;
au I, furtlier, he had leirut that they knew how to euteriam
tin ir visitors (cheers).

Mr. G. Street (Ma'den, Amphill), said it was an axiom of
his lather's, and he thought it was a very good one, thnt you
might learn something wherever you went. He was an old-
fashioned I'ariner, and in looking at other people's farming lie
saw something to copy and something to avoid. Ii was with
that kind of feeling that he himself went to Paris. The
very ftr^t tiling which stiuck him on entering the sli^w-y ird
was ihe admirable arranaements made for the show (Heir,
hear). Tiie buildings erected for the beasts, the sheep, and
the pigs were far superior to any that he had seen in England,
and he thought a similar couclusi'm was arrived at by the
English exhibitors and visitors generally (ll^ar, hear). The
arrangements of the buildings were exceedingly good. You
could pass up one side and down another, feeling that, wiih
the catalogue in hand you cou d follow out lirst one class and
then another, aud that there was full provision made for
avoiding any danger of contagion as between English aud
loreigQ stock. For instance, the English sheep were put on
one side aud the French on the other, and the beasts were
placed between the two. In that respect everything was admi-
r ibly arranged. Again, it was a noteworthy fact that the
French took care of the English shepherds and herdsmen, and
he thought that ought not to be lost sight of. The Freucli
did what he never heard of Englishmen doing when foreigners
had come over here under similar circumstances. They ascer-
tained what number of shepherds and herdsnieu were coming,
and they had made full provision for them. He did not know
how much they were indebted to their friend Mr. Fowler for
the carrying out of the arrangements, but he supposed that he
had somelluug to do with it. The men were all supplied with
sandwiches and ale on their arrival, more substantial fare
than sandwiches being, he believed, afterwards provided lor
them ; and instead of having to look for places to sleep in
they found capital arrangements lor that purpose, bed
rooms being provided, beds laid out, and every possible
convenience which was requiied for their accommodation The
men showed that they appreciated what was done for them. One
of his own men, at Paris, came up to him with a beami.ig
countenance and said '' They treat us all uncommonly well ;
the other day half of us had tickets given us to go
to the Exhibition, and the next day the rest had tickets to go
there, and a guide was sent with us." The shepherds and
herdsmen as a body were certainly well treated, and well
supplied with food, and in that respect everything was very
satisfactory. Let him now turn to another side of tlie
question. Mr. Jacob Wilson had alluded to the judges, and
he quite agreed with Mr. Wilson on that point. Although
he Was fortunate enough to secure some little success at the
Exhibition, yet, when lie saw tlia'jit took about half-a-dozen
Frenchmen, with two good Engashmen, to do in four day
what one good Englishman could do in a day, Sun
day beiug one of the four days, then he thought he saw somej
thing in the system of judging to avoid. He believed that oil
the first day the judges began about tlie middle of the
day. They looked over a class or tw, and then
they thought they had had enough of it (laughter). 'I'hey
said, " Well, to-morrow we will go to work early." They
hejan early iu the morning, and did a little work.
About twelve or one o'clock they said, "Now we must go to
breakfast." The English judges were sauntering about, and
even if they were not inclined to smoke, had nothing else to
do because their French colleagues were at breakfast. About
two hours after the work ceased they learned, perhaps, tliat
their colleagues were still s.t breakfast, and the result was that
very little work was done that day. Ou Saturday, after
most of the cUsses iiad been got through, the French
judges said, " We must leave the champion classes till to-
morrow." Of course every English judge objected to anything
of that kiud beinir done on Sunday; but their French col-
leagues replied, " Weil, if you don't work with us we shull
have to do it Dy ourselves." Uuder these circumstances t'lS
English judiies said, " What are we to do? Tlie question is
not one which merely concerns our own interests ; the in-
terests of our countrymen aud tlie honour of our cjuitry are

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

15

at stalcp. ;" and the result was that very many of them yielded
and consented to act a." judges on Sunday. Tiiere was one
judae — lie was, he thought, a Scotcliniau — wlio stoutly
re used, saying that he was not accustomed to tliat sort of
tiling in his own country, and lie would not have ir there ;
and he (Mr. Street) was not aware thai the exhibitors of
pi)js suffered in consejuenc?. In that case llie judges
waitea till Monday uiornins; ; and the clianipion prize (vas
ob;aiiied liy an Euglish exhibitor. U'li h respect to the remarks
made by Mr. Fowler respectmjj the French cattle and sheep, bis
OWQieelins was ihat tlii-y nuistiiave astonisind any visitor who
had not seen French cattle and sheep before; and lie had no
hesitation in saying- that the Sliorthorns, and other chisses of
animals, to which allusion bad been made, surpassed anything
which he had supposed likely to be produced in France
(Uear). As regarded sheep, he thought their display of
SMutlidowns was exceedingly creditable lo the French exhibi-
tors. If the English judges had stood aloof, and refused to
do anything on Sunday, the champion priz°s in that depart-
ment would probably have gone to the French Soulhdowns. He
repeated that his own impression was that the display of Eng-
lish Southdowns was a most creditable one, and be could only
wish that the exhibitors had notbing to reflect upon more
strongly than whattbey met with in Paris. He considered that
those who were not fortunate enough to ^ell all their animals
II France bad strong ground for complaint. He had some
hesitatiou in speaking ou that point, because he mu^t necea-
sarily speak personallv. His brother and himself had four
sheep each uu^old. He had one shearing ram, which was
selected by the French jurors as the best of the lot, their
•opinion being, however, over-ruled by that of the English
jurors. He had also three shearling ewes — shearling ewes
winch for breeding purposes were ([uite equal to his
commended lot of theaves. Further, his brother bad a
favourite ram and three ewe?. Those eight sheep were pnt
into quarantine. Directly his brother heard of the enormous
charges made at Brown's Wharf he gave instructions to Mr.
Jiidkin lo have his animals killed, and wrote to him from Lon-
■don asking hira for iiis opinion about the matter, the result
being that he (the speaker) wrote to Mr. Judkin — " Have ray
sheep killed too.'" Notwithstanding the prompt measures
which were taken, the charges were found to be so
heavy when these eifilit sheep were killed, only about one
-shilling per head was lelt a'ter deduclinz expen'^es (Hear,
hear). When be told them that he himself made a special
journey from Bedfori shire to Brown's Wharf on account of
those sheep, and that his brother lost two or three days over
them, they might easily imagine that the matter was anything
but profitable or satisfactory. Although he was fortunate
enough to get an exceedingly nice medal at Paris, yet he could
not help leeling that even gold uiight be bought too dearly,
-or might be sadly tarni-hed by the manner in which one was
afterwards treated by people at home. Lest he should be
misunderstood, be must rem rk rliat their own representatives
in Paris — the Prince of Wale.s, who made biiuself deservedly
popular in France, Sir Cunliffe Owen, who, next to His Royal
Highness, was the most popular Englishman connected with
the Exhibition, Sir Brandreth Gibbs, and Mr. Jacob Wilson
did everything that it was possible for Englishmen. to do to
promote the interests of exhibitors.

Mr. J. Treadwell (Upper Winchendon, Aylesbury) said
as one of the exhibitors at Paris he failed to .•■ee what the
gentleman wt o bad just sat down would require as regarded
quarau'iiie here for foreign animals. They all knew that quaran-
tine rauft be expensive, but he felt very thankful that bis
animals and others when brought back had to go into quaran-
tine and were thus prevented Irom spreading disease over the
length and breadth of the land (Hear, hear). The Paris
Exhibition had taught him that if they took animals to any
foreign country they must take their chance of contrac ing
disease. English farmers were led to believe that, France was
healthy, but somehow or other disease got into tlie showyard
and was brought to En^iland, and he repeated that he was
very thankful that our own country was protected by means of
quarantine. He rose chiefly for the purpose of asking the
authorities of the Royal Agricultural Society to see that
proper quarantine precautions were taken before foreign stock
was allowed to enter the showyard ol the Exhibition next
summer, and to mix with their own. It would he the greatf t
misfortune to them if disease were to break out in the si cw-

yard in the neighbourhood o*' London. It mus' be home in
mind that in that case their stuck vvcnihl all be lucked up lor a
considerable time, it was bad enough to have it locked up
as it bad been at BlMuk'v-ill, but that was no'hing to the evil
of having it lockcil up at the showyard in London. For Ins
own part, he must say that be viewed with a great deal of
alarm tlie prospect of the International Exhihiliou next suui-
mer. He was not quite sure that lie should ex'nibit there,
although he bad been a constant exhibitor at the shows of the
Royal Aij'icultural Society ; but he hop( d that the council of
that society would take such steps as wuuld drive away all
such fears as he bad expressed, and enable all to exhibit with
safety. They all knew that the quarantine at Blackwall was
a very expensive aff.iir; but all the arrangement^ had to be
made and everything- had to be put up hastily, and he saw no
reason why those who had to make all the preparations and
to keep men to take care of the animals should not be repaid
for their outlay and tiouble. The result was iu many cases
unfortunate. It would have been much better perhaps lor
many exhibitors if their animals had been thrown into the
Seine at Paris instead of being brought home; but that was :*
thing wbich could not be foreseen, and lie did not think tlieyhad
quite as much reason to complain as soine appeared to suppose.
With regard to the agricultural teaching of the Paris Exhibi-
tion be did not quite agree with Mr. F"owler in what be said
about prizes not being given for fat animals (Hear, hear).
They all knew that iu England there was no use in sending au
animal to a showyard without some fat upon him, because if
animals were not fat it would be impossible to tell that the
owner had not tried to fatten and had failed in the attempt
(Hear, hear). In that matter they hardly knew, iu fact,
where to draw the line, at least he did not know where he
would draw it. Of course il an animal were so fat that he
cjuld not carry his carcase, that was another question, but
short of that he really should not know what ought to be the
limit. He did not think they had much to learn from he
French as respected style of living. The French nation
wanted lean meat without any fat, but that was not a tempting
kind of meat to Englishmen, and if he lived in France he
would like to see a little more fat put upon the animals which
he helped to consume. He liked the way in which the Paris
Exhibition was prepared lor, and he agreed with Mr. Jacob
Wilson that in the arranijeraents of the sheds there was a
good deal that might well be copied at the shows of the
Royal Aaricultural Society. No doubt the French did th'ngs
of that lind much cheaper, and in some respects better, tbau
they bad been done here. Probably they might learn from
what they saw at the Paris Exhibition how to make improve-
ments in the arrangements for their own exhibitions, but he
did not know that there was much more for them to learn.

Mr. Jamis Howard (Clapham Park, Bedford), being
called upon, remarked that as the paper bad so exclusively
dwelt upon the cattle department, and as he had seen so little
of that department, he dnl not feel in a position lo discuss it.
He, however, bad seen sullicient to convince him of, and to
enable hira to bear testimony to, the great advance which the
Freuch bad made in the production of beef and mutton and
of milch cattle since the year 1855, when he fir.st visited a
cattle show in the country. He h'd had many oppir-
tunities since then of attending both their breediig and their
fat stock shows, and the progress which they had marie
had been certainly most remarkable (Hear, hear). Ahhough,
upon the whole, there could be no question of the very great
superiority of English agriculture over the as;ricultuie of
France, or perhaps any other portion of the Continent, yet he
could not endorse the opinion expressed by Mr. Fowler that
the English farmer had nothing to learn from the French
farmer (Hear, hear). On the contrary, he thoaght that if
Mr. Fowler had visited some of the French homesteads, and
any other English farmer who paid a visit to Paris had done
so, they would have been very much struck by the order and
reiiularity displayed by manv of the French farmers, particu-
larly in the managem n of their dairies (Hear, hear). K''
(Mr, J. Howard) had had an opportunity of visiting a few of
tlie best homesteads in France, and of inspecting the daily ma-
nagement of the dairies and he had been very much struck wii h
the precision which was there observed. Every ounce of tood
of every animal was weighed daily and accurately entered, and
tiie produce given \a miJk by every c .w wastahulaieu daily on
a slate. And he thought it no small matter when a Fiencli
farmer at the end of the year was able to tell what every covr

15

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

had coxt fo keep and what it hsd yielded in the shape of
proiiice (ll-ar, hear), lie kuew very lew English farmers
who could do Huythiui approacliiui to that precision. Tnere
Wis another lesson whicli they could learn (roTi tlie French, viz.,
the ordi^r and neatness of their ho^Ufsteaa.s, aud in tlie greater
care wliich they took of expensive agricaltur^l imple-
inents, which they bought very treely. Perhaps his brother,
whom he saw opposite, would ri<e and say that that
was a p lint in which his (the sp?aki'r's) own homes-
tead did not particularly shine, but he would forestall
any such ob.-erwtion (laughter). [Air. Charles Howard:
Then I have notliing to s^av.] (laughter). [Mr. James
Howard then continued] He did not mean to say that every
Frfncli farmer deserved iliat commenUtion, but in tiie main,
wheu the hoTiestead of a respectable and intelligent tanner in
France was vi ited, the ereates; order and n-atness would be
found displayed. There was yet another point in which the
English (armer might learn something from the rrench fumer.
Those English farmers who had walked through the French
agricultural implemeni department would htve been naturally
struck by the large number of huge ploughs with their mould
boards as high as a table, and they would naturally inquire what
those implements were required for. They were very exten-
sively used on the great beet-root farms by bullock teams
in deep tillage for root crops. The French farmers paid
more a tention to depth of tillaze for their root crops
than any Eoglish farmer with whom he was acquainted.
(Hear, hear). They devoted as much attention to this
matter as we did to the quantity and quality of the
manure applied to the ground. Many ol the me iibers
of that Club would be astonished at the enormous
crops of beet-root which the Freach managed to gro*.
Then there was another mitter in which it had always struck
him we were behind the French, and that was educa-
tion. He did not mean to say that they would find tlie
peasaut class of farmers in France superior to our own in the
matter of education ; but it would be perceived that there was
a much larger proportion of farmers in France who under-
stood the theory of agriculture, and who could converse upon
the science of most of the departments of farming. That
class of men would be found in much larger numbers m
France than in England. The French Government
had devoted considerable suras of monpy for many years
past for the purpose of teaching theoretic U agriculture.
It was not lor him to canvass its advantages or
otherwise; he merely stated that which he believed
to be a fact — namely, that there was a much larger
proportion of farmers in France who were acquainted with the
science of different departiaents of agricu cure and pastoral
atfairsthan were to be found in England. Upon the whole he
did not think the Pans Exliibit,ioii was likely to have much
influence upon the farming of this country (Hear, hear). He
lliousjht we had learnt very little by the Ethibitiou proper ;
however, a very siugu'ar oulome cf the Exhibition was that
it had put England iu'o the posst-ssion of a most valuable series
of papers upou the law, the chemistry, the taxai-n, tlia
practices, and the history of its own agriculture. (Hear,
hear). He thought that the memoir presented by the Royal
Agricultural Society of England to the French Agricnitural
Society was calcu'ated to do a vast amouat of gool (H»ar,
hear). Although practiclly we might not derive any very
marked advantages from th'; French Exhibition, he thought
that those papers were calculated to confer very great benefit
upon the agriculture of our c.untrv, and were worthy of a
careful perusal by every member of the Club.

The Chairman said that several complaints had been
made by Mr. Fowler, Mr. Street, and Mr. Trealwell as to
the way in which the cattle were treated in quarantine : but
there seemed to be but one opinion ab lut the desirability of
taking care of the cattle, and every one nppe^red to feel that
they bhould not he brought into this country to inlrct our
flocks and herds (H.^ar, hear). Not only had thfir animals
been taken care of at Brown's wharf, but the o*ner appeared
from tlie heavy charges exacted to have taken too good care
of lii nself. Tliere certainly ought lo be so'ne means
provided whereby persons obliged lo put their cattle
\r\'') qu;-iraiit!ue sh>u!d be able t.) hive those cattle
taken care of at less cost. He meulioaed that, beciuse it
might become an imporUot question at the luteraalioual Ei-
Libitioti next suaimcr (Hear, liear).

Mr. Dkxt, in his ad Ires^, said tha*', having piid a shirt
visit to the agricultural department ol the Pans K'ihibi'iou,
he had been desirous of hearing what Mr. Fowler had tosay on
the subject. He did not quite concur in all the observations
in the paper, and he thought that EhjUjIi agriculturists mig'it
leara a great deal, perhaps not from the Paris Exhibition, but.
from the agriculture abroad (Hear, hear). Previous to
1877 he had not travell d abroad for twenty-five years. .\t
that period he went through France and part of Northern
Italy, and he was then struck with tlie fact that at nearly
every hotel he was able to get a good supply bo;h of milk and
butler (Htar, hear). There wai scirceiy an English or a
Scotch hotel where one could get anything like a plenti'ul
supply of good milk and butter Ike that which could be
obtained abroid. Tiiat was a fact which English farmers
and English hotel keepers might study with alvintnge;
because iu these days of temperance we were told by medic»L
meu that there was nothing so requisite and as refreshing and
good for Immauity as a plentilul su^ipW of pure milk (Hear,
hear). He thouglit that English farmers, to a very great ex-
tent, did not cultivate the producti m of milk in the way that
that foreign farmers did. He had nut had much opportunity
of going about and visitiug the larras in France, and ra ist
of what he saw was chietly from the rail-road, but he was
perfectly astonished to perc ive such adinirable cuUiv^'iou
of the soil in many parts of France, anJ to observe the cletn-
liness which prevailed. H-; saw more weeds in the one dayN
trivelling in the neighbourhood in which he lived, in the
north of E igland, thju in the whole two months that he was
travelling abroad. That, perhaps, partly aiosefrom the sraill
number of hedges abroad (Heir, hear). He hid not had
the opportunity of seeing the, .'nplements taken care of abroad,
but he had ^een many implements neglected at home
(laughter). When Mr. James Howard was referring to tint
point he (Mr. Dent) thought of the half-dozen i nplements —
th; Cambri Ige roller, the turnip .-culHir, and the grass-cutting
machine — -winch he had seen lett in tlie state and in the place
where they had finished working. With respect to poultry
Mr. Fowler said that the French did not appreciate hi»
beautiful poultry; that they did not understand the leathering
or the shape; but if they did not unlerstand the making or
shape, they contrived, besides having a good lot for the
people to eat, to send a very large quantity of poultry and
eggs to this country (H-ar, hear). Tnat was another source
of profit. Perhaps they were small profits, but in the present
hard times he thougtit we should look to small as well as lar^e
profits if we wished the agrioulture of this country -to be
successful (Hear, hrar). There was another thing
he wished to mention. He was immensely struck
by the beautiful foreign Shorthorns. He was not a breede',
but he had seldom seen anything in a Royal Agricultural
Show better than the Shorthorns he had seen at Paris. He
had spoken to many of his breeding fne.ids on the subj ct,
who said the French cattle had no pedigree'^, and mentioneil
several bloods which were wanting. He was, however, ni t
sure that in the Shorthorn world blood was thought too mu ll
o', and possibly the high prices asked for Shorthorns, beciuse
they had a beautiful show of blood, and becanss they weie
descendt-d from certain animals, was one rea-.ou why f e
French did not buy the English cattle — a matter of which
complaint had been made that evening. They di.l not like to
give such extravagant prices, and they may have thought that
they could breed as good ani:n ils as any in the English show-
yards. Some alarm liad been expressed about the exhibitioa
in London next year. He c ontessed that he saw a wonder'i 1
show of French cattle at Paris, and there was a great uni-
formity ot type amongit them. He wished that there might
not only be an exiiibition of our E iglish breeds next year, but
that we should also invite our ho>ts to come over aud show
us what they had got, and then Eiglishmeu who had not been
ab e to go to P.iris could see ihos' citt e in this country. ]5ut
when he heard what had been said a'lout the qu irantiae he
was a''raid ihit the French would not bring miiiy of their
cattle here, if they were charged what gentlemen said h .J
been charged at li oau'j Wnarf. He tr stel proper precau-
tions would be taken agiinst disease, anlat the same time
arrange'uei'ts made to enable the English producers to S'-e
soineiliiog like what the French breeds were. He must con-
fess that tie did not come back from liis little excursion with
the impresiion that Engll^h fanners had iiolhiu^ to fear or
{Codfi/iKC.l on p iji Oil.)

THE FARMERS MAGAZINE.

17

FARMERS AND THFJil MBX.

The following letter, from Mr. W. RuKtrocJe, nf Cook-
ham Dean, Berks, has appeared in the Standard : —

The tyrannictl, exac'ing landlord, the brutal, pnimbiing
farmer, the helpless, down-'rodilen Itbuvirer, niiy serve Wv'll
enough to poiul a speech or furnish :\ cnrieatnre, and speci-
irifiis of etch nisy, no doubt, be found; but exceptional
specimens are nut the representiitives of a elias, and if we
renlly want truth instead of sensation we shall find it easy
enough to get facts.

The mystery which once attached to the agricultural classes
h 18 been dispelled ; the laboureri' wasres, perquisi'es, and
prievAnces, the farmers' profits, balance-sheets, and misdoings,
the landowners' liabilities and rent rolls have all been dragged
to the liijht and exposed to pu'nlic scr'jfiny and criticism.
A"d whtt h'>s be?a the result o' this searching investigation ?
Why, Sir, it has proved to the ]iublic what the fanners well
knew before, that at the present time the labourers are well
otf, the farmers lo ing money, and the inc?meof the landlords
likely to be s-eriously atfected.

The spectacle of a body of f-irm labourers, each with an
income of £50 per annum, niarcliing np to Loiulou and ap-
pe-(ling to the syrapat'oy and charity of men far worse otf Ihaii
the.nselves was as cont-mptihle as it was ridiculous. The
fallicies and lalseiioods by wliich such absurdities were once
sapported have exploJed.

Alio* me to state a few facts, which I challenge practical
meo to disprove if tliey can. When you hear of l+«. per
week it means that a labourer's place is worth £53 per
annum. When you hear of a poor fellow having to support
himself, a wife, and eight or ten children on Its. per week,
it means in very many cases, that the income of the family is
from £70 to £100 a year. When you hear of the fifteen
hours of hard incessant work under a broiling tropical sun, it
means twelve hours' work, with seven pints of beer, and
plenty o'' time to drink and enjoy it. And wlien you hear of
the wretch.'d pittance io wiuter, it means thbt young fellows
of 18 or 20 who have drifted into farming with haraly any
training and a corresponding knowledge of farm work, and
old men of 70, unable lo do a da)'s work, are, like their more
able-bodied and competent fellow-labourers, receiving l+s. per
week (or 8^ hours a day, spent at what is called work. It
is perfectly a'jsurd, in these days of telegraph'!, penny news-
papers, and rheap travelling, to talk of men being tied to the
farm. If they are dissatiffied, what is there to (irevenl them
givinj their employers a wetk's, or evf n a day's notice, atid
carrying their labour to anotiier part of Enjjland, to another
occupation, or to any other ctuntry of the world ? I do not
pretend to deny that a man with a wife and eight children,
all unable to earn a penny, has a hard time of it ; but I do
say that he is not more to be pitied than the poor curate, the
poor clerk, or the little shop-keeper, whose quivers are as full
as his.

It is not reasonable that sinsrle men and family men should
stand on the same pecnnia y level, but I canuot conceive whv
the single man shou d be expected during his yea'-s of single
Itlest^eduess to spend all ins earnings on himself instead of
1 tying by sometliing for future needs; nor why the farmer
who employs 20 men should he bi und to pay sucli wages as
sbal', or might, comfortably support and maintain 200 o! h.s
fellow-creaiures. L. t me add a word here on behalf of the
real, honest, thorough English labourer — a man who, in
general knowledge and general fitness to take his place in the
world »nd fulfil the duties attaching to hi.s position, will com-
pare favourably «ith workmen in any other cla'-s. I have
had and have experience of many fuch in my oun and other
counties, and i have learned to respect them. It is not from
such that the disc mfent and agitation arises. Tlify know as
well as their masters that their posiiion will contrast lavour-
sbly with that of the unskilled town labcurer, and ttey know
as well as their m.asters that a nominal wage of l-is. p^V week,
with a nominal rent of Is. 6d. per week for a good cottage
and ample parren, is not lightly to be thrown up lor a
single room in London at 5s. per week and the privilece
of having to pay tor every dish of vegetables out of their
earnings.

Now, Sir, for the farmer. With good wheat at 40». per
quarter, reuls higher than tiiey were thirty years ago, and
labour costing oii au average £30 a year per niaa, it needs uo

elaborate calculation to decide upon whom the bnrdrn of bad
times falls, nor does it need a prophet to foretell that a most
important change cunnot be lar off. Free trade in corn has
been a vast blessing to the country; but at the present
moment the burden of that tree trade rests almost entirely on
the farmer, and it is surely and steadily overpowering him.
It is easy for outsiderd to talk of the need for energv and
enterprise, but energy is seldom found in persons sufficing
from decline, and eiiterpri-e is not most judiciously exhibited
by sticking close to a sinking vessel. The great qaes:ion be-
fore us ie whether ttie present position of the farmer is but a
passing depression, or the natural result of the operation of
free trade. If, as I believe, the latter is the case, and if, as is
generally accepted, this free trade is for the good of the
country, our course of action is not difticult to decide on. We
cannot increase our r."turns, therefore we must diminish o'lr
expenditure. There are numerous practical minor alterations
in cropping and giaziug which will affect exceptional cases,
but the broad fact will still remain as I have stated. Now,
the two great items of a farmer's expenditure are rent and
labour. Rents must fall, but the iall will tike time. Li-
bour must follow the inexorable law of supply and demand ;
the price of that, too, must fall, and this fail may be imme-
diately enforced, but, unlike ren*, it may rise again, even in
spite of a continuance o:' low prices, if the supply, o-ving to
emigration or other disturbing causes, proves unequal to the
demand. Should this, ho-tevcr, prove to be the case, the de-
pression in rents will be proportionately increased.

Turning to the landlords. Is it reasonable to suppose th t
while they can obtain the rents of the past from g' ol and
substantial tenants they will come forward in a bcdy a;id
suggest reductiiins? Dies any one imagine that the interest
on capital invested in land is so excessive that the consciences
of the landlords should prick them on the score of uniry ?
Most assuredly not. Trie resistance must corae from the points
of pressure, and if, as I hold, the operation of free trade is
the cause of our low averages-, nothing can prevent the down-
ward course of rents.

F(;r uood or ill, tlie feudal relationship has been superseded
by the comin. real one, wh'ch the example of many of our
merchant princes conclusively proves need not be a hard or
unsatisfactory one. Landlords, especially in poor, or pnreiy
corn-grjAing lauds, must be content with lower rents. F-.r-
raers must inakn their cilcnlati ms as commercial men, ami
have the sense and spirit to act upon them in their arrange-
ments with both landlo.-ds and labourers. Labourers must
ar-cept the wai;es fixed, not arbitrarily by the farmers, hii*^ by
the tar more potent and unyielding law of supply and demuid
in their native country — or resolve to emigrate, a resolve wiii, h
has proved the fir^t step to fortune wi'h .some, but with many
Others has aptly illustrated the v/ell-known proverb of "jump-
ing out of the frying-rian into the fire."

THE PARSON'S GRA I'ES.— Mr. Mechi, Tiptree Hall.
Kelvedon, writes to sa>'- that some idea nisy be formed of the
discontent with our prH^pnt s\s'em o' warminu from the fact
that 1 have received in ten rays more than LOGO letters coai-
pliinin;; of iiiMiflioient wanmng, and requesting iDStrnetions
for constructing the parson's grates. The letters still cot. tinu.^
to come at the ra e ol 70 or more per day. I would vf nlu'e
to suggest that the^e grates are especially desirable in railway
stations, board rchools, and other large areas, for they can be
inexpensively adapted to the ;>gricnltural labturer's cottage or
to rooms of large dimensions. I speak from more than tiielvo
months' experienoe of their use. For a room 30 feet by 20
feet a grate 24- inches wide and li inches high would give a
superabundance of heal, and its cost, including setting, netd
not exceed about £.3. If required lor richly furnished room*
tile ornamentation n.iiiht be costly, according to desire. At
present our railway stations are cheerless in winter. Not only
do we get much more heat for a like quantity of fuel, but Ilia
cost of attendance is considerahly less. As at present con-
structed the heat is carried up the chimney instead of being
diffused in the room. Tliedryingeffetofthe.se grates is M^r
prising and espec. ally valuable in cuuntry districts during the
moist cold season. Instead o' drawing the outside air tlirou"h
every crevice, as is done by the strcng drawing registers,
these grates heat, dry, and e.xpsnd the air'whieh is in the room]
so that one feels warm all over. All a|>plicalions for ipstruc-*
lions as to constructioa should be accompanied by a postage

18

TETi: FAUMEK'S MAGAZIJfE.

FOREIGN AND BRITISH WAGES-FAKMING.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MAUK LA^NE EXPRESS.

Sir, — If the English Press performed its most obvious
(iuty to the public, the returns you have collected of the
wages of agricultural labour would appear ia every
journal throughout the empire. The exterior community
Jiave yet to learn that " oppressiou " has to be translated
into 2-8s. jier week ; and ihat " down-lroddeu serfs" is
a paraphrastic enphoiiisni for an annual iucome ranging
from io'J to £120. Hird as is the lot of the Cl«rken-
•well Greeu pilgrims and the forlorn vicliras of Exeter
Hall, the time is, perhaps, not far distant when foreign
competition may drive tUe sous of the spindle, the blast-
furnace, aud even the trowel back upon the plough.
India musliu and Nankeens long ago proved' -.vhat the
spiuners aud weavers of the east could do. The receut
discoveries of coal in the various presidencies, the ex-
tended culture of cotton, the erection of English ma-
chiuery, and the applicatioa of British capital, show what
llindostan !s doing. Manchester must prepare to look
in the face two hundred millions of workers, quite as
c-apable of spinning and vieaving a« men ia Lancashire
who are paid five or six times their wages. How long
will the lexiile industry maintain its supremacy among-it
us against Bombay and Madras— already busy with Ihi-ir
many thousands of spindles — and America, even now to be
found in every London draper's shop? Within the year
India has sent £717,000 in value of piece-goods to
Manchester, and has progressed so rapidly ia spinning
that she exported 7 9-i(j.0001b. of twist in 187-7, and
nearly as much in the first, six months of the present
year. In iron and steel fabrics Sheffield, indeed all
Britain, is invaded by Belgium and the United States.
Ask our visitors to the Paris Exhibition what th y think
of the American watches aud Canadian sewing machines.
In woollen goods France iu her wooden shoes so galls
our kin that, luiless Yorkshire and the West of England
cau improve in quality, and reduce ia price, their
ascendancy will most certainly be disputed. Reciprocity I
The time is -moviDg on when, if present conditions con-
tinue, India, America, Erance, Belgium, perhaps even
Germany, will be quite able to dispense with di.lFerential
duties, and compel many of us to change our cry from
reciprocity to ])rotection.

Most of these brani-hes of indnstfy are, however,
tlirealened by only a siuy'le competitor, 'and he, as yet,
looks to stand his ground scar<:e!j within our bordt-rs,
■but only in his own or neutr, 1 markets. But agriculture I
JVoHi " farthest lud " to our nearest neiglrbour, from
•Australia, California, Russia, aud the Cape —

The cry is still they come !

And not iu single file, but in battalions !

The telegraph beokons, the steam-ship carries, the sea
•bears, the insular coast-receives supplies from every point
of the compass ; railroads made by our own contractors,
and coin]jleted with our own capital, reduce distance and
-cheapen cost. 'J'he hides of i5nenos Ay res, the wool of
"the fifth quarter of the globe," even the glue and bones
of cattle and sheep, of nothing our farmers can produce are
ihey left a monopoly. The Hindoo rayah, the "herftheu
Chinee," the Russian bocr — we open our ports to them
all; while our commercial ecouomy and the course of
shipping trade are «o contrived as to reduce the cost of
transport bithwr to a miniinuni. What country is there
outside lhw4ntit\ide of the frigid zone that cannot pro-
duce the couiijQudity iu which our farmers deal — what

region fails to meet us in our own markets? And hoV?
do they meet us? The Hiudo3, with a yard of calico
round his loins for his clothing, a handful of rice for hrs
diet, the tierce sun for fire aud fuel, an integument ot
bark for shelter, sends us rice aud wheat. A groat covers
his wages. Tbe " heatheu Cbinee" is already denounced
by the native American for so underselling his labour that
a liviug carnot be earoed by his side. According to
V'^illari, in Aptilia the peasant works fourteen hours a day
for 36 centimes^— less than fonrpence. M. Cardani states
in fertile Loinbardy the farmer's man never tastes meat
or wine; and the wonien earn only lOJ. per week. j\L
Porter, iu his "*' Protrress " of that nation, states that the
farm labourer in Belgium earns -7-i. per day, in Sweden
7d. or 8d., the family^ expendiiure of the fanner himself
being about £10 ISs. -lOJ. pe ■ an/iUni. In Deumark a
man, his wife, and four children, all working every day,
Sunday included, have among them about Is. 9d. per dav.
In Mecklenburg the wages are 3s. 6J. per week, a
dwelling with a garden, and pasture for a cow and two
sheep ; iu Wurteinburg ds. per week, iu Bavaria 4^
In Erauce a peasant, his wife aud fuur
children, earn among them '4s. 8d. per week ; ia
Holland 6s. to 73. 6d. Where far.m servants are boarded
they, iu various ])arts of Erauce, receive from £7 to £12
per annum ; in Germany, from £3 10s. to £5 ; in Hol-
land, from £8 to £12 ; iu the Netherlands, from £4 lOs.
to £5 4s. The Eellah of E,.;ypt thankfully takes about
4d. per day, while the Tuik and the Muscovite can
reckon on no more. Your space, perhaps your jiatience,
does not admit of a more lengthened detail, aud it ia
right I should add that although all the returns are those
of our oWQ Consuls at the respective States enumerated,
the figures refer to the -years circa 18 H, requiring pro-
bably some, but no material qualification to adjust them
to more recent quotations. But enough has beea said to
afiord your readers a vidimus of the sort of competition
with which the British farmer has to contend. -I have
Siiid nothing of our poor-rates, our tithe aud highway
rates, our sanitary in8j)ectors and sanitary doctors, our
income-tax, our school boards, with their clerk, expensive
triennial elections, inspector, aud informer, and their ab-
st^raction of the boys from their work to attend school.
But I have before me the statements of an Essex farmer
with which the foregoing quotations may be confronted.
'■ Our head ploughman has" lie proceeds "15s. per week,
one ton of coal per year, with house and garden , the
under horseman Is. less; aud the other men 14».
Women lOd. to -Is. per day. Two men with a little
assistance from their respective wives, earned in the har-
vest month of about'24 days, £24 each, being about 20s.
per working day." The strike in Keut and Essex which
has suggested the coilectiou of those significant returns
of the state of wages in the disturbed districts which
have appeared in your columns, and the extracts from the
books of fariuers iu the various parishes authenticate the
fact that iu Kent the farmiug men earn from £46 to £67
per annum, besides liviug rent free, and in some cases
receiving fuel-^or by the day from 17s. to 24s., aud
allowances at harvest. The outside public will be indeed
surprised to learn that the grievance which drives the
" bold peasantry," no lo-ugur " a country's pride," to the
Maidstone skating rink, and in third-class special train
to Exeter Hall, the time honoured asylum for " outraged
humanity," is an incouie running from £60, £76, £84,

THE ti^ARMER'S aIAGAZIJsE

19

i-^'j3. and £10(1 lip to a liomn, cnrJen, fuel. £104, even to
£120. In Ciiiiiberland the pay goes beyoiid even these
fi.iiures, and T believe that of Liiicoliisliire is in no degree
lower. Ill Scotland the absence nnlil of late years of
any lesal provision for the poor, by re'jjressing a redundant
popnlation has conspired with the inteilijence, foree of
character, and cnpacity for work, and for migration of
the peasantry to enable them always to exnct high terms
from their employers, and there is reason to believe that
in the Northern and Midland counties the scale of re-
muneration is at least as high as prevails in Kent, Sussex,
and Essex.

Now this qnestion has to be answered by all concerned,
and especially by Mr. Simmons and his unionists, includ-
ing the pilgrims of Clerkenwell Green — a question as
between man and man — Is it reasonable that our tenantry
can be expected to stistain sach n rate of wages with the
prevailing averages of prices for their produce ? Can
husbandmen, against all the drawbacks of our climate
and oppressive taxation, continue to pay from los. to 2Gs.
weekly wages with wheat at 40s. per quarter, in compe-
tition with farmers who conimaud the services of plough^
men at ;>g. Gd. and of women at from lOtl. to Is. 8d.
dust think of it. Our farmers have to give a quarter of
wheat for every fortnight's labour. At the end of the
year " Ilodge" has received twenty-six quarters — the
uveia'ge produce of eight acres — to his own share, free of
rent, rates, and taxes. Put it another way. There are
masters and men alive now who half a century ago
faiiucd and worked upon the acres they till at this day,
when one week with another wheat averaged SGs. per
quarter and wages 8s. per week — so that in place of a
quarter for two weeks' labour as at present, the ploughman
had to plod for eight or ten weeks for the sarae payaent
in kind.

The plain truth is, the peasant's v/ages arc the result
of the reSex action of the vast strides made by our
inanufacturing and mercantHe industry. In the times of
the handloom weavers, when there was little machinery,
steam, and capital, to multiply the productive powers of
the journeymen, the towns had small attraction for the
ploaghmen. Then predial labour stood on its own merits,
and had to produ.^e its own wages. In so far as the
farmer aad his profits are concerned, it must do so now.
He is contented with a profit wholly disproportioned at
the best to his skill, tervices, and risks. Five per cent,
interest on -capital, and five per cent, for personal superin-
tendance, yield areturu so inadequate that I can but express
my surprise that any man of intelligence should throw
away himself and his means on a call'ng so precarious.
Yet there are many who cannot by farming realise the
interest they could derive from mortgage or other secure
iuvestment, without either hazard or labour. Greece
and Home were civilized — their citizens free. Yet read
their poets, historians, philosophers — is there to be fiuind
the least hint in their works of anything approaching to
the scale of living among their labourers to which ours
have arrived ? Sparta-broth was the diet of man, who
only allowed their helots to get drunk, as an example to
disgust their children. Compare the diet of the French-
man, Italian, Spaniard, the German, the Hindoo, the
Chinaman, even the Swede or the Dane witli that of |
" Hodge," and, to any impartial neutral, the relation of j
the services of the latter, to the cost of his subsistence, j
will seem to be simply preposterous. They do the very i
same work, produce the same material, labour and till
90 effectually as to chase us round our own Corn Exchange,
and threaten to drive our peasantry out of the field. They
overcome alit he difficulties of transport, all the attendant
cost, and risk, and outgrow and outwork ns in our very
market place. We scorn the diet of frog- eating French-
men, but on their frugal rations, they carried their flag

triumphant over Europe, and now are, in the arts of
peace, equally pre-emiucut. The Euglishmau is by far tlie
most exjiensive human animal in the world, lie is also
the least provident. A rainy day is unknown in his
moral and economical meteorology. Ryo'-brcad may do
for the Norseman, soup and lard for the Frenchman,
olives, garlic, and a crust for the Spaniard, a melon and
a bunch of grapes for the Italian, a handful of rice for
Hindoo ; but '' tlodge," who produces no more, who pro-
duces nothing else, who cannot hold his owe in bis owa
market, exacts tribute from the East Indies and tfee West,
draws luxuries from all parts of the compass, and
raises his exactions on his employer in the very ratio
apparently of the decrease in his profits. Nay, passing
from the comparison of nation with nation (o that of
class with class, how many clerks, nay, how many
CGJ'ates, receive more than the average incomes before
quoted P Why even a cornet of dragoons or a lieu-
tenant of infantry on full pay does not receive as niucli
as the maximum reported from the Weald of Kent. I
i>m appalled at the statements I daily continue to receive
of the losses of farmers cf large capital, well skilled, and
favourably situated as to the size and fertility of their
holdings. It is of no use for the " British Lion" to
growl, that Englishmen are "accustomed to," and are
" entitled to look" for, very different scales of subsistence
from those of the " miserable serfs" of other countries.
" Tall talk" cannot get the better of the multiplication
table. Take the slate and cast it np. Facts may bu
vulgar, cruel, and sordid, but they are plaguy stubborn,
and will have their way in the loug run, let us vapour as
we may. The gas of patriotic philanthroijism must
" pale its ineffectual fire" before the steady electric light
of inexorable arithmetic. As fot the empty threat of
emigration, and the bribe of grants of land in Canada,
why don't the tens of thousaiids who haoe migrated, and
are starving in the streets of Canada and the States avail
themselves of the offer ? Why is every American em-
p'oyer reducing wages? Why has there been almost a
civil war raised by the railway servants? What is the
meaning of Horace Greeley's lament that his countrymen
are everywhere giving up agriculture, ceasing to settle on
the land, flocking to the towns? How is it that Australia
and New Zealand protest against the further encourage-
ment uf emigration ? Nay, why is it that the t'de of
migration has ebbed from North America and has flowed
back from the New World to the Old ? The richest man,
said the Greek, is he who has the fewest wants. Our
peo])]e must be taught, if not by reflection by necessity,
quantum vectigal sit in parsimonia. They must not
look to be exempted from the common harder l.^t of
general humanity. All the fine feelings in the world will
fail to extract from the soil more than the produce and
the price will yield. It is "palpable as a mountain"
that our labourers have for many years been consuming
more than they have produced, gradually drawing from
the capitalist his accumulating profits. The President of
the United Slates has felicitated Congress on the fact
that the many millions of American Stock and Bonda
held by British investers had been rapidly spirited back
in payment of the breadstutfs we had imported. While
from 18G0 to 1873 the balance of trade was £2:^1,000,000
against the Republic, in the last three years it has bceti
£100„000,000 iu its favour. "Instead," observes Presi-
dent Hayes " of paying to foreigners the ten milliooa
sterling we used to pay, our present paymeuts are reduced
to £2,400,000." Messrs. Cross, Benson, and Co., add
" these observations indicate that more than one hundred
millions of Bonds have returned from Europe to the
States. If £100,000,000 have been taken back in so
short a lime, there would necessarily be large sLipuunts of
gold to pay lor our continued excess of export." In

C 2

20

THE FARISIER'S MAGAZINE.

every year from ]697 to 1S23 onr exports exceeded our
imports to an average extent of £4, 071, 52 i, and in the
vhoie by £513,0] 2,007. lu llie three years ending 1833
our exports exceeded the imports by £101,000,000. But
in 1876, the hxst of wliicb I have record, the imports
exceeded the exports of British produce by £174,515,499,
ind of this £139,021,744 went down our throats, repro-
ducing nothing, but perishing in the use, and that in
addition to an estimated consumption of spirits, beer,
and tobacco of £163,000,000. As the wage-receiving
classes exceed the aggregate of all the others by at least
eight to one, it is very clear at whose door this prodigious
waste must lie, and it is equally plain that this depletion
is rapidly transferring the profits of capital, to the ex-
cessive wages of thriftless consumers. All Macculloch's
quackery fails to explain this alarming fact away ; and it
is only too certain that if the prolits of production con-
tinue not to be absorbed in reproductive industrial enter-
prise, but to be dissipated in excessive wages, which all
go for mere eating and drinking, the end of our com-
mercial supremacy, and the utter ruin of the labouring
classes cannot be ultimately averted. Capital is of no
country. It may be invested in securities. It may be
applied to foreign enterprise, where labonr is glad to
work longer hours, and is contented with smaller wages.
Tiie Paris Exhibition may warn us of what foreign
■workers can do in every department of skilled or agri-
cultural industry. Already I hear of British employers
turning wistful eyes to the Continent as a refuge, which
presses upon them almost as a necessity.

I have a daily receipt from farmers of letters and their
balance-sheets. Many put to me the inquiry, " How

about the land, the owners, and rent ?" "With your kind
permission I would, in a concluding letter, say a word or
two on a subject which is not adequately understood.
I am. Sir, &c.,

Sidney Smith.
The Minor, Feltham, Nov. 19^^.

¥AIIMEES AND THEIR FRIENDS.

TO "THE EDITOR OF THE MARK LANE EXPRESS.

Sir, — Oae of the principal obstacles to Lind Law Re-

form and Tenant Ei , lit Uhroughout the Empire, is the
Conservatism of the English tenant farmers. lam not
concerned in a defence of Whiggism in conti'adistinction
to Conservatism. Thei'e is such a thing as political inde-
pendence of both the one and the other, and if English
tenants would but consult their true interests, they would
unite their overwhelming political power in this indepen-
dent direction. Instead, the great m jority of them,
judging by the representatives they return to Parliament,
are Tory or Conservative. The reason for this, probably
no Conservative English tenant farmer is able lucidly to
explain. Doubtless the Conservatives are cpUed the
" farmers' friends " and that they are so a majority of
English tenants as doubtlessly believe. That the belief is
not a rational, era reasonable, or an intelligent belief, the
following histoi'ital facts will show. To go no further
back ; the statesraanstiip of the Conservative Ministry of
the late Sir Robert Peel, and the one sided Free Trade
inaugurated by them in corn and cattle from foreign
sources, the present difficulties of tenants are to be traced.
Had the late Sir Robert Peel and his associates been
statesmen enough to have then proposed and carried
universal Free 'trade and so emancipated the agriculture
of tha Empire from the tramraelliugs of antiquated Laud
Laws, Game Laws, distraint, and everything else which
handicaps the home producer in his race against his
foreign rival, their Statesmanship would have been then
and now entitled to respect. lu that case, too, English
farinsrs would Lava some jmtilication at least, for that

traditional Conservatism they believe in, to the prpsent
hour. But in the one-sided Free Trade in foreiijn corn
and foreign cattle, and in the refusal to coincidently
emancipate the home producer to enable him to compete
successfully in his owu markets with the producers of the
world, in respect to these commodities, all wliich is due to
C'^nservative statesmanship, there is nothing to justify
English tenant Conservatism, but on the contrary, every-
thing to make them detest the very name of Conservative.
Is this the only instance where the " farmers' friends"
sacrificed the interests of the farmer? Certainly not.
When the C^onservative Ministry of the late Earl of Derby
took its famous " leap in the dark" and proposed to giv^
household suffrage to the boroughs and not to the couu"
ties, it not only did what was on the face of it unfair, but
it gave a preponderating power to boroughs, which was
proved in the last parliamentary Session in determined
ojjposition to the prevention of the introduction of foreign
cattle disease. Here then is a second instance of Conser-
vative statesmanship, highly detrimental to farmers'
interests, and clearly proving the rottenness of that Con-
servatism English tenants support.

Nor is this all to shew the folly of English tenant
farmer Conservatism. There is a further instance in
proof of that folly in the fact that to the Tory party itself
was mainly due the emasculation the Cattle Diseases
Prevention Bill of last session underwent. Moreover,
what have the present Conservative Goverument done
for Malt Tax Repeal during the eve sessions they have
been in power with a large majority at their back ? The
party were ardent Malt Tax Repealers while in oppost^
tion. Again, there is that precious piece of sham and
humbug — the Agricultural Holdings Act. Very conser-
vative it is no doubt to landlords, but how conservative
in regard to tenants it is irapossib'e to understand. What
else have the Tories done or proposed to do for those
tenants who love them dearly ? Well, there is the
County Government Bill of last session. Tc) use an old
adage, it was a thing of *' one step forward and of two
steps backward" in the way of progress for the Conser-
vative farmers' advantage. Possibly much more of a
similar value the Conservative English farmers hope for
from their Conservative friends. Audit is for the sake
of all they have got and all they expect to get the English,
tenants keep up the Couse vative cause and neglect the
power inherent in theraselres. Worse, it is for the sake of the
Toryism they have i.ad so much sham and deception from,
they, the English farmers, send representatives to Parlia-
ment, not only to recompense them by deceptive shams
and measures of veritable mischief and injustice, one-
sided Free Trade, unequal franchises and the like, but to
frustrate the every elFoit of Scotch and Irish tenants
to obtiin those reforms of hypothic repeal, fre trade in
land, tenant right, and such changes as the requirements of
modern husbandry imperatively demand. How long is
this dog in the manger policy of English farmer Conser-
vatism to continue? How long are the aspirations for
reform of Scotch and Irish tenants to be b^filfd by the
votes in Parliament of those Tories the English farmers
will send these to oppose every thing but their own " pro-
tected" position and the selfish and mercenary interests
they will maintain for their own benefit, although at the
cost of the ])rosperity of the general commnuity — that of
Conservative tenant farmers included ?

I am, Sir, &c.,

Thomas Robertson.

TURKISH BATHS FOR HORSES.— Mr. Wra. M.
Singerly, of I'liiiadelpliia, has provided in his private stables
facilities for treating his favourite steeds to the luxury of a
regular Turkish balh. It is said that the horses seem to
enjoy the treatmeat, and receive benefit from iU—New Tork
Tribune,

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

2r.

COLONIAL AGRICULTURE.

Mr. W. IT. Sotham writes to us from Abilene, Kansas,
nuder tlie title of " A Trip to the West" :—

At Kansas City tLe stock yarJs are complete, though
nol nearly so extensive ns those at Chi(^ago. The immense
siau<;hterhouse for packius; beef aHurds a market for that
kind of stock produce. The better class, fed in Kansas
and Missouri, a e shipped to the Eastern markets. The
JMissouri sale of Shorthorns at Kinsa'^ city, on October
22nd, was comparatively low, averaging a little over
85 dollars. The sali of the Messrs. Hamilton on the
23rd, was a little better, one of IMr. Abm. Reuick's
young bulls selling for GOO dols. ; the average 105 dois.
The second day another yearling bull, bred by Mr. Abm.
Renick, sold for 1,060 dols. All containing the blood of
this gentleman sold well. Messrs. Vanmeter and Hamil-
ton having purchased 43 head of heifers and cows of
Mr. R. last spring, will hereafter have more of that blood
ill their annual sales at this city. All who have seen his
t rd will admit that it is one of the best aud most uniform
herds of Shorthorns in the world, thus mado by his and
Mr. Be.ij. Vanmeter's combined good judgment in qua-
lity, symmetry, and compactness in the selection of bulls
t) produce good breedinsr, avoiding those long-legged,
e)arse-boned, paunchy, flabby, and nnsymtnetrical bulls of
fa-ihion called stylish. This was the secret of Mr. Reuick's
SdCi-ess, and thus his command in price.

There is one of the most extensive packing houses for
beef at the Kansas City stock yards that can be found in
this country ; consequently there is a good demand for
that class of cattle through the packing season, and there
being an immense amount of feed in Kansas and Mis-
souri, a great many are herded to meet that demand, the
best ones being selected aud fed for higher-class markets.
There are more of the latter class of cattle held in Kansas
to be fed for first-class beef than any other, and numerous
herds abound there ripening for either of the three mar-
kets, Kansas City, St. Louis, or Chicago, or contiaue on
to Buffiilo, Albany, or New Yoi-k, finally England, when
the quality suits. The probability is that they change
hands at each of the last three American markets before
destined lor England. I have travelled over a great portion
of Kansas, and tirid it to be full of cattle of all classes ; it
is also full of corn, oats, and hay to feed them with, and
the best griziers are looking to the English demand for
their profit- I have visited Kansas annually for the past
five years. The first year I saw nothing comparatively
but Texas caitle, brought here in very low condition, to
be wintered on hay and corn, aud, bemg cheap, the
graziers thought there muse be a proQt on ttem. I
remember going out twenty miles from Omeha to see
two hund'ed head of Texas steers that had been herded
and corralled two years in Nebraska. They vvcve brought
into a large field for the purpose of sending them to
market, and 1 ad been fed in the grazier's corral all the
previous winter on corn in cribs, so that they could resort
to it at pleasure. The cribs were never allowed to become
empty ; consequently the cattle did not crowd round the
crib while the feeder was tilling it. Thus fed they are
never cloyed. The best graziers feed in this way in pas-
tures through winter and summer, corn being about as
cheap as grass. Although these cattle were four years
old, it took two years to put the beef upon them, which
was of fair marketable quality. "When we went into the
field to look at them they all ran off in a body like deer.
I afterwards saw these steers sold at Chicago stock yards
at 3f cents, per pound, while the best beef was worth
5 cents. Kansas now contains a very different class of
cattle. In all the herds I have seen grazing on the

prairies half and three-quarter breeds of Shorthorns are
mingled. Numerous car-loads of Shorthorn and Hereford
young bulls are coustautly going to Texas, Colorado,
Wyoming, and Montana, to improve the stock on the
plains, and that improvement is plainly visible in the
stock now coming from either of these cattle-producing
regious. The Grade Herefords are just now beginning to
come, and are highly approved by their producers aud by
those who purchase them. The demand for thorouglibred
bulls canuot be supplied until more are bred. This supply
will increase in quantity and quality as time passes. Swan
Brothers, of Cheyenne, and the executors of the late Mr. J.
W. Iliir, of South Piatt, Colorado, alone have 56,000 head,
haviu": a range of 200 miles to feed them upon. Although
these gentlemen are not partner?, their herds mingle, and
earh knows his own by the brand. Other herds mix in,
but the brand retains the claim when sent to market.
Jlessrs. Swan Brothers, who have a herd of 6,000 cows,
are now using Hereford bulls. Their cows are kept sepa-
rately from the main herd. From what they have seen
of other herds, in which Hereford bulls have been used,
and from what their own experience tolls them, th>.y are
convinced that the offspring of Hereford grades lay on
flesh faster without care, are more active in search of their
food, and carry their flesh to market better than grade
Shorthorns. Ileuce Swaun Brothers siiy they intend to
breed up to the Herefords as near as they can, and in
time hope to obtain a herd of white faces. Mr. Iliif had
formed the same opinion, and was about contractiag for
a lot of Hereford bulls when death overtook him. His
immense estate, containing many ranches, is now un-
settled. These men, and others of similar experience in
Shorthorns, have been looking to great size, regardless of
symmetry, quality, and compactness. A Dukp, no mat-
ter how long aud coarse his legs, how deep his flabby
brisket, how thin his hide or slack his crops, or how ex-
tended his paunch, was in great request. They now see
their error, and are satisfied that, had they gone to a less
fashionable Shorthorn, on shorter legs, with finer bone,
thicker hide, symmetry and compactness, they would
have produced more beef of better quality, and retained
the constitution. Had this practical knowledge been ob-
tained some years ago the Shorthorn mania would have
had a check in time. Those men ruined by Dukes,
Duchesses, and Thos. Bates would now be pursuing a
course of good breeding beneficial to the country.

From the first time I visited the State of Kansas I have
thought it was the best in the Union, and I still think so.
At the present time it can support a hundredfold more
cattle than it now does. Much of its natural produce is
burnt annually in the standing prairie grass. There are
more wheat, corn, and oats raised within forty miles of
Abilene every year than in any other part of the
United States, and men of capital are flocking in rapidly,
with their studs, flocks, aud herds, and with ample capital
to sustain them. Jjast year Mr. George Huaton, from
the State of Michigan, purchased a farm of upwards of a
thousand acres, equal to any track of land I ever beheld.
Aylesbury Flats, in ray opinion, cannot equal it, and
when brought into permanent old pasture it will carry fully
as much stock per acre. The meadow grasses of England
are congenial to the soil, and time will make the pasture
as rich as any old pastures in England. Mr. Hunton has
added a splendid mansion to this purchase, on the border
of the city, overlooking the whole of his estate, and from
which I am now wilting. There are forty acres attached
to this mansion, containing almost every kind of fruit.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZIN-E.

I^Fr. ITunlou intends to bring the whole farm to a
proper state of culture, thus pi-epiiriug it lor inixtd
liuslwudry. lie will keep a small stiul of heavy hoises,
a herd ot cros^-.bred Hereford and Shorthorns to breed
beef for the English m;u'ket, a tiock of Merino sheep for
scaviugers, to eat up the weeds, and a herd of Berkshires
lor pork or bacon. All but the Merin is he has now on
liiud, sulUeient for an excellent foundation. The- whole
of this esoellent land is underbedded with linie-stoue,
:ind that stone comes from the quarries in such shape as
ta be easily worked for building purposes. This same
stone is also made iuto good lime. There is an ines-
haustable bed of fine brick-clay on the border of the
city ; therefore the only lacking building material is
>:i liber. The increased emigration of men of capital has
been the means of adding many hooses and three churches
t J the city during the past year. The beautiful and
t' riile country that surrounds this city will sustain the
enterprise coi.tained in it. and make it one of the most
P'lpular cities in the Union. Such men as Mr. Hi;nrj-,
ilr. linnton, Mr. Lebold, Mr. Fisher, Mr. Warfield, and
many others have been the pioneers to build up this
enterprising city, which five years since contained but a
very few houses; uow the popiilatiou consists of upwards
o two thousand. These gentlemen are turning, the
iieglecteU prairies into highly cultivated farms, and will
ulamately reap ten-fold reward for their improvement.
Mr. llunton is building a very cosy cottage for his
lirmer, preparing his yards and sbeds for his Shorthorns,
which he does not intend to pamper. They will be here
by the time all is finished. He will breed and feed for
]u-otit, and not for fancy. He is determined to banish
the weeds, which he has successfully done on the 40 acres
surrounding his house, which inexperienced men thought
was impossible from the immense growth during a long
period of careless culture, The wild sun-flowers were so
tall ;uid strong, with other weeds so thick as almost to
hide the three-year old peach trees. I saw it then — I
Eee it uow. ; the contrast is a mark of superior culture,
well worthy of praise.. Tne fruit trees and those sur-
rounding them for protection are thoroughly trimmed,
the former well on their way for an abundant beiring. So
much for a beneficial change. Mr. Heavy's orchard
adjoining is two years older, well protected
and well cultivated, and has borne abundantly
It is surprising to see the growth of the wild
sun fiowers after the wheat is off if left unplonghed
until late fall. i3ut wheat after wheat is the rotation
here, and the crops improve as culture improves, evea
■withont manure. But most -..f the farmers put more in
th; n they can properly cultivate, and miny nuderlake
more than their capital will support. Sucli frequently
get in debt and leave ; hence spring up the weeds. When
the land in the neighbourhood of Abiline is in the occu-
pation of practical men of capital in smaller farms, sub-
ject to mi.xed husbandry, it must be the garden of the
wi rid. Such a deep, rich, soil, so much impregnatid
with lime, and with a climate so genial, is capable of
bearing any kind of vegetable,' or supporting any k'nd of
animal. \Vheat has been the prevailing crop, and the
number of thousands of acres sowir here has promoted
Kansas to the highest average and the greatest quantity
of any State in tile Union. This is doing mn.ii for a
State so young. If exteusive farms are sought after
they must be made suitable for mixed husbandry to be
made profitable, and when they are established the same
amount of wheat will be raised on half the number of
acres with projjer culture. Men of cajiital are constantly
coming from all quarters. A aon of ^Ir. Murphy has
])nrchased near by, and has just received from the firm of
.Messrs. Avery and Murphy, of JJetroit, Micliiiian, two
car loads of Sh.jrlhorub aud heavy huroes. This farm

contains 1,200 acres. Mr. Charles Mn -phy, the occu-
p.mt, is a young man of brain, muscle, and jiluck, backed
by perseverance and a proper taste for good culture.
There are many more of this calibre on their way here.
This city is situated on high ground, overlooking the
country for miles, and is very healthy. It was formerly
the shipping point for Texas cattle. Ellis, 150 miles
west, met the new trail, making the drift shorter.
Immense nU'inbers of cattle are being shipped on Kansas
Pacific Railroad. It is wonderful to see tbe number of
Cattle trauis passing Aqilene daily, giving Kansas graziers
an opportunity of selecting stockers to advantage.

A trip to Brookville further west was quite gratifying.
Extensive wheat and cornfields, abound. One would
suppose that the extent of wheat grown on either side of
the rail-road from Abilene to Brookville, an extent of
sixty miles, would half support this country with bread.
It extends for miles each way. The farmers make biit
little use of their wheat straw, most of which is burnt
soon after it is thrashed, the laud ploughed again for
wheat ; the strength ia this soil, and its genial character
f.jr wheat has led occupiers to believe that wheat cannot
exhaust it. Finer corn I never saw grow. When the
Texas drovers could no longer continue their trail to
Abilene, on account of the crops of wheat and corn they
steered for Brookville. Wheat and corn fields were again
their barrier.. They then shortened their trail to Ellis,
100 miles furthei' west. It costs much less to drive across
the plains when grass is good than to go on the rail-road,
as they carry their provision along in their waggon, and
their horses and droves feed free. When at Brookville a
drove of Cherokee cattle was^ driven into the stock-yards,
and two large droves of Texas brought to be wintered iu
corrals on corn and prairie hay, put up at a dollar and a-
quarter per ton. I he drovers cautioned me not to go
near the Texas cattle, as thev ran from men on foot in a
fright,, and it was ver) dilficnlt to stop them. Being
familiar with men on horse-back, they had no fear of
them, and riding was the only way to drive them. At
the hotel the landlord keeps six brace of greyhounds, bred
from a brace of imported ones. He keeps them to catch
the " Jack rabbits" (so called here), they are precisely
like the Flnglish hare, except in iheir long black ears, and
they can run as fast. They are very plentiful all over
the prairies, and aff'ord much sport to the inhabitants of
this town. ^lany of them sally out on horseback, and ou
foot to see the sport. A brace only would alFord no ex-
citement, so he took seven.- To see them all after one
" Jack rabbit" was a sight I never saw before. Some of
them had learned to " run cunning,'* one on each side ;
the leader watched to catch on the first turn, but tlii't
was sometime coining, as the ' Jack" is very fleet at
the start, but gives up after the first half-mile, and is
almost sure "o^ be overtaken at the first turn by a dog on
either side of the leader^ The owner had trained them to
this kind of sport. The " Jack" being plentiful on the
prairies they soou killed four of them. In many places
there are as many " Jack rabbits" as hares in English-
preserve, and the prairies are as level as the Downs-
there.

Two bevies of quail, of .about twenty jachj almost
divide their time between Mr. Hunton's and Mr.
Henry's ori-harJs, and are very tame. Yo« cannot drive
over the prairies without flushing lots of Prairie chicken
(grouse) and quail, many of which have been killed for
market, but the i3^,ate law protects them now from " pot
huQters." Wild ducks of various^ kinds are abundant;
geese and berant are plentiful, and there arc a few wild
swans. Woodcocks, snipe, and plovers are also plentiful
in the seasjn. Deer and antelopes are frequently killed,
but work on further West as the country becomes settled.

The lion. T. Cavcuaugh, near fcjeliua, Kauaas, has a

THE FARMISR'S MAGAZINE.

2S

well -b red 'herd of Herefords. wiili wtiii-h he has taken
n\Hny prizes in this Stale, and ihev are liked very miieh
where they are known. This is his first fiiil of showint;.

The ^■f. Paul Prets says : — By dint of vigorous
writing in agricultural journals, a concert of vigorous
talking by breedtrs, and by some rather ([ncstionable prac-
t-ices at public salei^, the taucy pricts of Shisrthorns were
kept npcousidcrably longerthau many shrewd men expected
that it could be "done; but tiie days of 30,00()-uollar
cows and 15,000-dollar bulls are at last numbered in this
country, for the present generation at least. And this is
Boihiug against the bre-d as such. Il is too late in the
century to say aught against the^e cattle as btef-pro-
ducers. Their record is a long and most honourable one.
Shorthorns have simply got down to prices to which in-
trinsic merit entitles them. And now is the time for
farmers to iuvest in them for the purpo^^e of improving
their herds (f ordinary cattle. "When trood young bulls
can be purchased at from .")() doU. to 15,0 dols. no better,
investment can be made.

Our New Zealand correspondent writes :— The wsa-
ther is truly deliKhtful, and growth advances with aston-
ishing rapidity — pastures, which a few weeks ago were
able only to keep stock at the starvation point, being
now absolutely clothed with verdure, and attordinga full
bite for the heaviest animals. After an unusually length-
sued and severe winter tine wenthei- set iu very suddenly,
benetitling bot-h the pai-tcTal and agriculiural farmer
in the north to an incalculable extent, as it at once pro-
videil food for stock, and snabled field operations- to be
proceeded with, that had fallen very much in arrear during
t'he excessively wet period throughout' the months of
June, July, August, and early part of September. In the
South Island, however, the effect of the sudden setting-iu
. of warm weather has been very dift'ereut — the siiovv on
the lofty mnuntain ranges of Canterbury and Otago, liav-
iug melted quicker than the rivers could carry oft' the
water, and the conseqnen»'e has- been that the country
his been devastated by a series of most disastrous floods.
Ijive stock have been swept away in great numbers,
bridges, fHrin-honses, and even streets destroyed, and
tnaiiy farms have been so covered with debris as to be
rendered completely sterile and waste. Lirge numbers of
families have lost ail their posjessioiiS, and so urgent is
t'le distress which has resulted, that subscriptions have
hid to be instituted in which every province of the
Colony has been requested to join. In the neighbourhood
ofDuuedin railway communication has been repeatedly
stopped by the submerging of the line for great distances,
aid in some instances the inhabitants of entire townships
have had to leave their hom-s. The tine weather here
has enabled sheep-shearing to go on without interruption,
and all store sheep are in)W shorn, but ewe flocks are just
being washed, the severity of the spring having rendered
them so low in couditiim as to make it too great a risk to
clip early. The sudden setting in of fine weather and
consequent rust of grass, has at once brought down the
price of meat, and thirty-two per cent of one hundred |
pounds is about the top price to the producer, while mut-
ton scarcely reaches an averatte 3id. a lb. for best quali-
ties, the latter rapidly approaching the desirable state of
ripeness, but beef is light on the rib, and will take a
month yet before it reaches the necessary excellence. But-
ter has comedown in the short space of a fortnight from
Is. 9d. a lb., to Is., and will be lower by a fourth very
shortly, this low value affecting the small farmers most
severely, as it is by the production of this article large
numbers ofthem make the greater part of their living,
but there are so many at it in proportion to the popula-
tion, that it is uHerly impossible it can command a pay-
ing rate during the height of the season. Spring corn

has been got iu in much better order than was at one
time anticipated, the liuisii having been tavourable, and
most fields are now green. Wheat was greatly benefiied
by the ai'i)lication of the Cambridge roller, to break the
winter crust, Cro^kill's heavy clod-crusher being ever
used for this pur >ose with manilcst advantage, and most
fields look well, although blank-s on low lying laud still
testify to the severe and wet character of the winter, A.
great hreadili of potatoes has been planted all- over the
country, this being one of the best paying cro[)s grown, as
it mostly does well) disease beintr unknown, and labour of
l)ix)diiciiig it being simply confined to the cultural opera-
tions, farm yard dung being never given, and artificial ma-
nures but seldom, although their use is gaining gj'ouiid>
but the newness of the soil and the still-almost uniuipaiied'
condition of its permarient resources-will enable it to raise
paying crops without much assistance for many years to
come.

TUE FliESir AIR.— "It's indoors, sir, as kills half tha
people ; bring indoors three parts of the day, and next to th.i!^
taking too much drink and vittals. "ffi^iving's as bad as drink
ing ; and there ain't nothing like f'rssh air and tlie smell of Wie
woods. Yoa should come out liere in.the .^jiringi.wlien the
oak timber is t'lrowed (heciUHe, you see, the sap be riaiiij;, and
tlie bark strips then), ami just s-it down. on a stick frenh peeled
— I. means a trunk you know — and sniff up the sceut of that
tbere o.-ik bark. It goes right down your throat, an J preserves
yi'Ur lunjs, as the tando leatlier. And I've Inard s-iy a< iidk
who work in tan-yards never iiave no illne.'<s. There's alwH\s
a smell from trees dead or living — I could tell you what; wood
a log was iu the dark by my nose, and the air is bettei where
the woods be. The ladies up iu the great houses sometimes
goes out in o the fir plantations — the turpentine scents strong,
you see — and they say its good fur the chest ; but, bless yoi;,.
you must live in it. Peuple ko abroad, I'm told, to. liVi; ar,
the pine fores's to cure 'em ; I say these In-re oaks have got
evtry bi' as much good in that way. 1 neven eat hut tw.»
meals a day — breikfast and .supper: whal you would call
dinner — and maybe in the middle of the day a^ liannch of dry
bread and an apple. I take a denl for hreakast, and I aia
rather le.ir (hungry) at supyer ; butyou inivy lag your 'lalli
that's why I'm what Lain. in the way of liealth. i'eople stulfi
themselves, and by. conseqeuce it breaks out, you see. I'ls tlio
same with cattle ; they're overfed, tied lu in stalls and s-tulTed,
and never no exercije, and mostly oily food too.. It stands to
reason t.'iey must get bad; and thii's the real cause of these
there rinderpfsls and pleuro-pneuaiuuia and what-aots. At
lea.^t that's mv notion. I! n in the woods adl day, and never
comes home tdl supper — 'cepr, of course, in breeding ti ne, to-
fetxh the meal and stuff for the birds-sol gets the fresh air,
you see ; and the fresh air is the lite, sir. Tliere's the smelt
of the earlli t;io— 'specially as the ploagh turns it up — which
is a fine thing ; and the liedg.'S and tlie grass are as sweet as
sugar after a shower. Anyiliing with a green leaf is the
thing, depend upon it. if yon wnnt to live heilthy." — Game-
keeper at liome, in Pall Jla'l Guz'.lle.^

A SNAKE IN TIIE GRASS.-Tii the colduring of
artificial flowers aniline dyes are now largely used, as for
inNtance, in dyeing dried and artificial grasses. Tilete b.'onze-
green and similar colours, uo* s'l much- worn by litiies, are
not '" fixed," and when v/orn iu bonnets,, caps, wreatlH, Sie^
the dye is apt to become transferrad to. the skia of the head
producing local symptoms, .whiclv not only cause much annoy-
ance by dyeing the skin, but may also produce uaplea.siut
irrit.nion, and even, under severe circumstances, iuHimniariou..
Of the reprelie&sib lity of employing arsenical pigments i>\
artificial fluwcr making there cannot be two opinions, if we
go no further than the liability to chronic poisoning, or at any
rate to seriously debilitated health, of the crowds of women
and girls who are busy through every lo!>g working day in
preparing the pretty floral ornaments, which deck the liead-
gear of our wivfs and sisiers. Legi.»lation is much wanted cu
the snfiject, and in this age of progress in sanitation we hope
to see in our owu generation the passing of an Act which slial.t
abolish the u-e of arsenic not only in wall p,ip; rs, but in arti.i;if»i
of wea-ring apparel. — 'Su'tilin-j Iticord.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

SHORTHORNS AND HEREFORDS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MAUK LANE EXPRESS.

Sir, — "Vigil" says in the E.rprfins of Oct. 21 :
"Oue of our best aud most famous Shorthoru breeders
told me this — he never saw a Shorthorn so good as the
first-prize iereford heifer at the Oxford Show. Pity the
Hereford gentlemen cannot be equally impartiil." The
above testimony of one of Kugiaad's most famous Short-
horu bree 'ersin support of the award rendered at Oxford
ii favour of the Hereford heifer is well, aud will go some
•Wiiv to convince Shorthoru men ou this side thit the
award was an honest one. But to talk about the impartiality
of Hereford writers on both sides of the Atlantic as coin-
]>ired with Stiorthora advocates — As to the English
standpoint I can only speak from observation.
I fiad in your columns last year a wholesome condduina-
ton of the Shorthorn inflae;ice iu the jndiriug at S>aith-
tield. I hud by the records of that Society that the
Jlerefords at any given age snore as gooJ weight as do the
S'lorlhorns. I turn to the Market reports aud find the
Hereford is quoted at a higher market price always than
the Shorthoru. If then tbe Hereford will make equal
wei'.;ht with the Shorthorn at any giveu age and always
commands a price that tons the Shorthorn, will Vigil show
where the impartiality is? The Hereford breeder in Eng-
land has been for a quarter of a century taking his cattle to
Sinithticld, showingequal weights with the Shorthorn,
aid from the show-yard to the butcher at a penny a
pound better figures, and still the Shorthorn has the
champion awards. Is it surprising that the Elereford
b eeder is somewhat out of temper ? We should be glad
ti see the Hereford and Shorthorn question discussed on
your side, ou these points — to wit, if the Hereford and
Shorthoru make equal weights at any given age, and the
Hereford will command a higher price, how is it that
the Shorthorn can command the champion awards?
As to the comparative impartiality of the
Hereford and Shorthorn advocates on this side,
your old correspondent, Mr. W. H. Sotham, forty years
since, brought Hereforda to this country, securing the
aid of one of the best men in this country to aid him, but
the Shorthorn breeders, by their " impartiality," beat
him. And they have been able, by the control of our
a^ricuUural societies, to keep the Herefords down and
build up the Shorthorns until now. On this side the
ilerefords are fast assuming the position their merits
entitle tiiem to hold. And in advocatina; their merits we
make the fight an aggressive one. We claim that the
Herefords are tbe better beef animals in all conditions
aud all circumstances. We offer to make the test on any
basis the Shorthorns may desire, only stipulating that it
shall be on a scale sufficiently large as to make the test of
value ; and there are none of them that dare make the
test.

If I am not mistaken, the general verdict will soon be
issued that the Shortharns asa breed are not equal to
the Herefords. Again, " Vigil," iu the same article.
Bays: — " There is room for both. If the Hereford kine
could have their faces coloured, so that they could be used
for crossing purposes, they would make a leap at once
in increased popularity." This is an admission of merit
that Shorthorn men, with all their " impartiality," seldom
make. But it is a difficult thing to colour their faces. The
S.'iorlhorns can't do it, and the Shorthorn men might
accept of the colour to obtain the quality. I have
noticed that some of the advocates of the Shorthorns are
taking considerable credit to themselves, because the
Galloways, with even a Shorthorn cross, can still maintain
their market value in London, and going still further aud
ehiimiug merit for the Shorthorns on this account. In

all the discussions as to the merits of the two breeds the
m ist uuj.ortant oue is not made prominent as it should
be — to wit, the cost of production. Aud Mr. Rogers, I
think it was, that maiie a statement at a public sale in
England, that five Herefords could be kept where four
Shorthorns could. This whs alluded to by you and other
English journals at the time. 1 have not noticed that
anyone has questioned the statement on our side.

One of tne leading Shorthorn journals on this side
!id iiitted it to be true as to ihree-year-olda and over ;
but. denied it as to ages under three-years-old. Those
who have bred both breeds in this country claim for the
younger ages as well as the older. A gentleman who bred
Herefords 40 years since in Vermont, sa_vs that the cows
were the best he ever owned, and that the young things
were always fit for the butcher. Personally I would not
discuss this question on any other basis than the simple
one of merit. We labour under many ditKcuUies on this
si'ie in reaching facts that yon do not. Your country is
full of men who have been breeders aud feeders for a half
century or more — men who know just how far feed will
go — just which kind shall be used, and when. Onr best
feeders are Englishmen. It is possible that I reach the
authorities thatbhow therLerit of tbe Herefords more fully
than the Shorthorns. I am trying to get at this question
'"airly. Beef on your side for a few years past has brought
prices that would [)ay the feeder: to-Jay, however, the
price is so low that feeders must work close to get a
profit, and they must get the best feeders to reach a gain.
Aud the shipping of beef from this side to yours must
make this question a close one for your feeders.

The positions then that I assume are these : —
That the question of merit is between the Shorthorn and
Hereford. That as between these they make at any given
age equal weights. That the Hereford always commands
the higher price in the English markets. If then the
cost of production is equal, the Hereford is so much the
better animal as he is worth mire to tbe butcher. Again
comes the question as to the two breeds as graziers and
feeders, or in other words, tbe cost of production. What
will the English breeder say on this poiut ?
I am, Sir, &c.,
Beech, r, 111 nois, U.S. T. L. Miller.

OAKHAM FAT STOCK SHOW.

The 48ih Christmas Show of the Rutland Agricultural
Society was held on Wednesday and Thursday, and not-
withstanding the depression which seems to pervade almost
every class of industry, agriculture not excepted, it was
on the whole a very fair average exhibition. There was
not quite so large a show of cattle as at some previous
shows, and the general quality of the animals ''as consi-
dered to be somewhat below the mark. Iu class 1 there
were ouly four entries, but the animal that took the
honours was a magnificent-looking roan ox, weighing
26 cwt. Last year it took a second prize at Oakham, a
second at Norwich, a first at Birmingham, Sieaford,
Boston, Louth, and Grimsby. This year a second at
Peterboro', a first at Lincoln and Northampton, and the
Prince of Wales's cup at Norwich. It was g.-eatly ad-
mired, and was pronounced by some critics to be a very
deserving animal, but slightly declining iu its under meat.
J. J. Colman, Esq's., 3 years and 10 mouths old steer was
a fair specimen, but it looked comparatively small beside
Mr. Bond's Mammoth. In Class 2 there were only two
exhibits, and there was not a very marked difiVreuce in
tlem, botli being a good class of heavy butchers' meat
In Class 3 there was ouly one animal, a b'ack Scot, but it
was well worthy of the prize awarded to it, being a very
fine animal. It had taken prizes at other shows. In
Class 4 there were three very compact Shorthoru steerst

THE FARMBU'S MAGAZINE.

25

the first pi-'ze heiiiu taken by r^ail S])tMifer witli a inau'ni-
(eiit animal that tuok a tiisl prize last year at this show
and aiiolher at Xorlhatnpton. The thirJ auiiunl in this
class )^ut ihe Karl of LuMsii:ile'8 prize of £15, it beiiii< the
only aiiiiiKil exhibited ibat bad b-eu bred and fed withiu
thud'Slrict of the Cottesmore Hunt. Li the next class
Col. Reeve was first with his roan cow PrisciU 94th, and
Mr. Mackinder, of Seinprinjihain, stcond. Mr. E.
Hubbard's ,May Queen, which took first prize iu Class 16,
was a very bulky i<ood animal, aud has taken no less thaa
13 prizes. The first prize in Class 8 was taken by Sir
^V. De Capell Brooke with a fleshy roan steer, aud Mr.
Swiu^ler was secoud with a compact little animal that
looked like training for auother year. The cow classes
were pretty well tilled, but weak as regards the quality
of the exhibits. Mr. T. H. Bland's Braziliaa
Bride, which took first honours in class 10, has been
a great prize-taker, bu^ has gone otf- The two
heiler classes were considered the best in the show,
and Mr. Hubbard's Qneeu of the Koses, which took the
first prize, was considered to be the best animal in the
beast department. It was a sjdendid uniform heifer, and
was greatly admired. The bulls, allhoua;h strong 3s to
numbers, were considered a very ordinary lot. The cot-
tagers' class was well tilled with a lot of useful animals.
The show of sheep was extraordinarily good. There were,
however, only two pens of Leicesters, aud this was stated
to be owing to the fact that this breed of sheep is very
much on the decline. The few shown were of reuaarkable
size and had very heavy fleeces. The Lincolas were a
" rent-paying" lot of animals, being full of flesh aud with
good Heeces. The Prince of Wales cup fell to a pen of
very fine fat wetheis belonging to Mr. Barge that took first
prize in class 21. Breeding ewes were very strong as to
numbers, and Mr. C. J. Bradshaw, an old prize-taker took
first prize with a very superior pen. Mr. J. H. Jj. Wing-
field's pen of long-wool theaves were a magnificent lot
being lull of meat and carrying very heavy coats of wool.
Mr. Wingueld also took a first prize for lambs, which
were considered also very good animals, the Marquis of
Exeter being secoud with a pen but little inferior. i\Ir.
T. Close was also a successful competitor in this depart-
ment. For cross-bred wether lambs the Marquis of Exeter
Was the only exhibitor, and he was awarded the first
piize, the pen being a very good one. Of odd sheep there
were only four, but all the animals were splendid speci-
mens of their kind, and the prize was awarded to a
grand animal belonging to Mr. T. Close, which has by
itself and along with others, taken 10 prizes. Pigs were
not very numerous, but what were exhibited were of
first-rate quality. The show of poultry was magnificent,
far surpassing any previous exhibition, both as regards
the number and quality of the birds, all of which were iu
excellent plumage. The Aylesbury aud Rouen ducks were
extraordinarily fine, as also were the geese and turkeys and
the Dorking fowls. The Earl of Gainsborough's £10
challenge cup was taken by Br. Snell, a renowned prize-
taker, with a very fine pen of pure Dorkings ; Mrs.
Einch's egg stand by ilessrs. Morris, of Oakham, with a
pen of most excellent cross-bred chickens; the Misses
Einch's silver cup by Mr. B. Smith, Cropwell Butler,
with a haLdjome coloured Dorking eock ; the Mar-
chioness of Huntly's silver cup by Mr. E. Kendrick, with
a dark Brahma cock, which he priced at £100 ; Lady F.
Cecil's cup by Messrs. Duckworth, with a pretty gold
and spangled Hamburgh cock and hen ; anothei
silver cup given by the same lady by Messrs. King,
of Hebden, with a graceful-looking little bautam cock and
hen ; and Lidy Augusti Noel's silver c^p by Mr. E.
"Walker, of Leicester, with a carrier hen, which he priced
at £200. A finer collection of pigeons has rarely been
steii before, the ruuts being of remarkable size. The

show of cart horses was exceeifiugly enod, and the brood
mares were a very fine class. Mr. T Pliwright's browti
horse that took the first priz; in Class 3t> was pronouui-ej,
by all to be an extraordinarily g"od animal, aud it was
readily sold for £200. Ponies were not considered a par-
ticului'ly good lot, but there was one or two nice locdilng.
animals ainonst them. The Ho... Hiign Lowlher's Little
Nell that took the first prize was an extrawdiuarily fast
goer. The weather ou Wednesday was very gloomy and
wet, and the attendance at the show was consequently
exeeedinijly small. Amonajst those who were present we-
uoti(;ed the Maiquis and Marchioness of Exeter, the Earl
of Gainsborough, Lady Augusta Noel, aud the Misses-
Noel, L-idy E. Gordon, J. L. Wiugfield, Esq., and Mrs.
Wingfield, Sir Heury Fludyer, Mr. Pinch, Mr. Lowther,
aud several other ladies aud gentlercsen of the county. Oa
the secoud day the weather was line, and the company a
large one.

PRIZE LIST,
JUDGES.— Be.vsts : Mr. J. Lynn, Stroxtou ; Mr. J. Pears,
Hac k thorn ; Mr. J. Parker, Iu:^leby. — SuEEi' A.rJD Pigs-.
Mr. C. Clarke, Asliby ; Mr. A. Hack, Buckn luster ; Mr. R.
Gritiin, Borjugh fen.— C.\RT Horses: Mr. H. Hodpkia,
Sandringhara ; Mr. H. Cross, Carlby ; Mr. R. Grillju,
Borough Pea. — Hunters: Mr. R. Heaihcote ; Mr. J.
Hornsby, Grautiiam ; Mr. Day Clarke, Ashby.
CATTLE.

FAT CATTLB.

Shorthorn oxen or steers exceeding three years and three
monlhi oM (open). — t'ir.>t prize, £15, T. Bead, North Tho.es-
by ; secoud, £7, J ■ J. Colraau, Carrow House, Norwich.

Osfu or stet-ra of auy breed, or cross or mixed breed, not
being pure-bred Shorthorns, exceeding three years and three
months oil (open). — First prize, £15, W. A. Prazer, Brackla,
Nairn, i\.B.; secoud, £7, J. S. H ick, Braunston.

Scotch Higlil-ind or pjlled osen or steers of auy age (open)
piece of plate, value 10 gs — Prize, J. J. Colraau.

Fat steers of any breed not exceeding three years and three
months old (open). — First prize, £10, Earl Spencer, Althi;rpe
Park ; second, £5, W. H. Potterloii, Buughton Grange,

Co.vs of any breed or age (open). — t'irst prize, £10, Colonel
Reeve, LRadenhara; second, £5, D. Mackiader, Seinpringham
House, Palkingham.

Heifers of any breed not exceeding four years old (open). —
irst pnz^, £10, E. Hii'ibirJ, Loaad, Liwestolt ; second, £5,
T. Bond.

S eers not exceeding two years and i=ix months old. — Prize,
£10, C. J. Bradshaw, Barley-oa-the-Hill.

Steers not exceeding one year and nine months old. — Jiss
prize, £7, Sir W. de Capel Brooke, Geddiugton Grange
second, £3, T . Sningler, Langham.

Fat beasts o f any breed, sho«n as extra stock, above tvva
years aud six "months old. — Prize, £5, G. Chapman, Brook
Farm, Exton-

Best beast hown in the above classes, a silver medal and

special prizecof £30. — Prize, T. Boml's Shorthorn ox in class 1

Best heas shown in the above classes bred and fed wittim

the district of the Cottesmore Hant. — Prize, £20, Earl of

Gaiubborough's Shorthorn steer in class i.

BREEDING CLASSES.

Cows above three years old, in milk or in calf. — First prize,.
£10, T. H. Bland, Mirkeo Harboro' ; second. £'i, G. Chap-
man.

Heifers above two and not exceeding three years old, ia
calf or in milk, bred withiu the disirict. — Fir>t priz-^, £7, (^',
Hubbard, LanRhaai ; second, £5, C. W. Grifhn, Warring.'on.

Heifers above one aud not exceeding two years old, bred
within the district. — First prize, £7, C. W. Grilfia ; secoud,
£-i. Marquis of Exeter, Burghley Huute.

Heifer calves above six aud not exceediu? twelve months
old. — First prize, £S, G. L. Watson, Rockingham Castle ;
second, £2, J. Woods, Langham.

Bulls not exceeding 15 months old. — First prize, £10, J.
H. Caswell, Laught^u Falkinghasn ; second, £5, Marquis of
Ex<'ter

Co>vs in milk. — First prize, £3, M.iry B.iiley, Slonesby ;
1 secoud, £2, G. Smith, A.5liv>eli.

26

TiiE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Ilei^ra umler three vearsoM. — First prize, £i-, ^l;iry Bai-
le)' ; second, £l, W. Alinoiiil, Luigham.

lleil'rr calves ab')V« six aua not exneedin? twelve months
< 1 1.— iMrst prize, £2, VV. Al uond ; second, £1, J. Williamson,
l.anpliHni.

Bri-eding beasts over two years o'd, in Ci>lf or in milk,
shown ai extra stock, a sold medal or 10 tis., G- Cliaptnau ;
an I a silver medal vahie 5 jjs., RlHrquis of E\ei»r.

L;er.t beast shown in clisses 10, L L, 12, U, 15, 10, 17, or
IS— Prize, £10, C. linbbard's bener in cl^ss 11.

Best beast in the Show. — Prize, silver cup, value 10"gs.,T.
Bund's ox in class 1.

SHEEP.

r\T SHEEP.

Three fat L'Mcester wer.iiers, one year old (open). — Pirst
priz', silver ciip or £10, B. Fainter, Burley-ou-the-liill ;
second, £5, T. Svviugler, Langhan.

Tliree Lincoln long-woo leil fat wethers, one year old (open),

— First prize, £10. C. Sell, Bassingbourue ; second, £5, J.
H. L. Wingfield, Tickeiieote.

Best pen in classes 19 and 30.— Prize, £5, C. Sell.

Three shortwooUed fat wethers (open). — First prize, £10,
C. B irge, Weedon ; second, £5, Duke of Buekiflgham, Buck-
ingham.

Tliree crosa-hred fat wethers, one year old (open). — First
prize, £10, W. Wells, IVterbo-o' ; secMud, £5, U. Sell.

For tiie best pea in classes 21 and 22. — A silver cup,^ value
10 gs., C. Barge.

BREEDIN'J AND STORE .SHEEP.

Four long-woolled breedini; ewes, bied within the district.

— First prize, £5. C. J-. B:adahaw ; second, £3, M'rs. Anne
Orson, Sy.sonby, Melton.

Four long-woolled tlieave?, bred and fed v»itliiu the district.

— Fir-it prize, £5, J. H. L. Wiufieid ; secoud, £5, T. Close,
jiin., B;irnack.

Four long-woolled wether Iambs (ram lambs accepted), bred
and fed williin the dijtri-ct. — Firbt prize, £5, J. H. L. Wing-
field ; second, £.3, Marquis of Exeter.

Four long-woolled ewe lambs, bred and fed within the dis-
trict.— First prize, £5, T. Cloie, jnn. ; secotjd,^ £3, J. H. L.
Wingfield.

Fur the best pen in classes 23, 2 1-, 25, or 25.— Prize, £5,
J H. L. Winsfield, in class 2)<.

Four cross-bred wether limbs, bred and fed within the
district. — Prize, a silver cnp value 5 gs.. Marquis of Exeter.

Long-woolled sheep of any aae, shown as extra stock
(open). — A silver cup, value ±'5, T, Close, jnn.

Sliort-woolled sheep, shown as extra stock (open). — Prize,
£5, W. Wells, Holme.

PIGS.

Fat pigs nnder 18 months old (open), — First prise, £5, J.
Harris, Langham ; second, £5, W. Carver and Sons, Ingarsby,
Leicester.

Fat pigs under 10 months old, not exceeding 30 stone live
weight (opej). — Fir.'t prize, £5, Cjrver and Suns ;. second,
£3, S. Thorpe, Greetham.

Tenant occupiers in the district for fat pigs o any weight. —
First prize, £2,, W. Martin, Exton ; second, £1, A. Alexander,
Pickworth.

HORSES.

Cart mares four years old and upwards, — First prize, £10,
G. H. I'inch, Oakham ; second, J. Bromliead, Burley-on-the-
Hill.

Cart fillies under fonr years old,. bred within the district. —
First prize, B. E. Bennett, Market llarborough; second, i'S,
T. Stokes, Caldfcott.

Cart horses above fonr and under seven years old. — First
prize, T. Powrighr, jnn., Plnclibeck; second, £5, J, D.
Westerdale, Melton Mowbray.

Cart colt^ under four years old, hred within the distnot. —
First prize, £10, T. P!owright,jun.; secoud, £5, il. Ward,
llarringwoith.

Cirt stallions travelling within a radius of 15 miles of
Oakham.— First prizu3, £30, 11. Ward; secoud, £10, Ncale,
Baston Fen.

Mares adapted for breeding hiinter.', in foal or having a
foal by a thoroughbred horse (open to tenant farmers or
tradesmen in the dtstrict). — First jirize, £10, A- Hack, Buck-
uiinbltr, (Jrunthaoi ; secoud, £5, 11. Cnjt«ucc, M<<ntou.

Ponies not exceeding 13.^ hand*. — Firsi priz', £3, Hon. IL
Lo v'her, O.iklum ; second, a hunting whip, W. Close, CoU^-
weston.

Hunting mares or geldings above four years old, in riding
order (wpen).— First priz"^, £20, R. Phipps, Northampton;
second, £10, Lord Esnie Gi)ri;oii.

Fiiur-year-old hunting ni ir-s or geldings, in riding order,
bred wilhin the di.stnct (open to larniers or tradesmen) — ■
First prize, £3U, A. R. AiJock. Ecton, Northampton ;. aecoini,
£15, G. S. Siinth, Stowe Stamford; tliird, £5, J. Sraeeton,.
llu(;by.

For the best hunter in classes AOand 41. — Priw, silver cupy
value 10 gs., G. S. Smith, in class ii.

For the best liiintijg mare or gelding in clashes 40 and 41,
able to carry 15 stone to h(mnds. — Prize, £10, G. S.. Snitth.

Three-year-old hunting mares or geldings, bred wiihiti the-
district (open to farmers or tradesmen) . — First prize, £10, J.
Slaplee, Peterhorough ; sicuud, £5, J. Lmgley, Uppingham.

Riding mares or geldings under seven ^ears old, not
exceeding 15 hands I in. (open to f,.rmers or tradesmen) —
First prize, £1(1, J, H. Smokes, Market Harborough : secoud,
£5, 11. IL Whihcup, Wittering.

Horses for jumping. — First prize, £10, R. Bland Baston ;
secvind, £7, J. Cant, Great Easton ; third, £3, E. Worrall,
Asliby Folville. lu this class Mr, Bland's horse was ma'cled
against Dr. Waller's, of Peterborough, for £520 to jump the
water jump,- — Slamford Mercury.

NEW ZE.ALAND STATISTICS.— 'I'rom advance sheet
of part of the " Satistics of New Z-.almd, 1877," we cu I
the ioWiimng data: — I'lie total estimated popuhitioii of the
colony on December 31st, 1877, was 417,022, exclusive of
35,470 Maoris. This shows an increase over th<! population
of 1876 of 18,547, of which 12,171 is due to excess of births
over deaths, and 6,S7fi to immigration. A regular census
was taken in M'<rcli last, but the results are not yet pu -
lished. The population has nearly doubled during the lasc
ten years. Of the 4,685 deaths one-thiid. were of children
under one year, and nearly one-half under five years. The
total number of vessels that entered inwards during the year
1877 at the various ports of ihe colony was 812, of 318,568
tons. This number shows a failing, off from 18 ?6, when 878
vessels entered. The number of vessels thai entered coast-
wise was 17,260, of l,75t,158 tons,_as compared with 18,553,
of 1.905,317 tons in 1876. The number cleared was 17,239, of
1,738 224 tons, as compared with 18,318, of I,876i8l3 tons
in 1870. Of the British- vessels entered inwards- 112 were
from the United Kingdom, 335 from New South Whiles,
105 from Victoria, and 70 from Tasmania ; 43 vessels, ot
57,450 tons, were American. Of the shipping outwards,
70 vessels, of 04,427 tons, were for the United Kingdom ; 381,
of 183,192 tons, for New South Wales; 136, of 41,772 tons,
for Victoria ; 13, of 9,294 tons for the United States. Five
hundred and thirty three sailing and steam vessels were ia
the register of the colony ot December 31st, 1877, as com-
pared with 538 in 1876. The total value of the imports
of the colony in 1877 was £0,973,418, and the total duty
received £1,213,478. Of this sum, agricultural implements
are valued at £20,626; app.irels and slops, £17.0,705 ; arms
and ammunition, £33,300 ; bags and sacks, £71,500: birk,
£16,952; beer, £7.8,000; bones and bone dust, £ll,53i;
books, £118,707; bo ts and shoes £181,300; hmshware and
brooms, £15,254; candles, £9'i,412 ; canvas, £14,932 ; car-
peting, &3., £31,000 ; cement and plnst-r of P..ris, £50,(J00 ;
coals, £240,638, of which £230,082 c-ime from Neiv S.mtii
Wales ; cottons, £83,000 ; drapery, £558;345 ; laney goods,
£79.000; drapery , £858,345; fancy goods, £79,000 ; flour,
£87,480 ; fruits,, preserved and ttreen, £95,U0O ; furniture
£62,000 ; kIhss and glassware, £63,000 ; Krtui, £90,00t), of
which £20,000 worth of rice came from Victoria and £28,000
worth of wheat came from South Australia; guano, £2,195 ;
haberdashery, £79,000 ; hardwHre and iroumoi'gery,
£-231,000; instruments (musical, scientific, &.-.), £60,000;
iion, ot various kinds, £320,000 ; j^-wePcrv, £10,000 ; leather,
£57,000-; horned cattle, £o,8.iO ; horses, £6,975; sheep,
£12,231; maobinerv, £142,000; oils, £120,000; printing
paper, £46;000 ; railway pUnt, £01,583; seeds, £73,000;
silks, £3l-,987; specie, £il8, 150 ; spiiits, £230,000; sugar,
£29,00u; tea, £113,0)0; ti-uber, £76,OJO; tobaecJ,
L 118,00 1 ; wine, J.95,(.0'} ; woollen.s £ 107,000.— YVwci.

THE I'AUMEK'S .MAGAZINE.

FREE" TRADE IN LAND.

No. X-IV.

{From the Mttnchester Eximiner.)

[We lave k melaacholy fatia'actiou in bpiiie nble to add tlie
foliowiiigto tlie itnpiirti t leUtH on ihe Linil Q, ie!.tion, by the
lite Mr, Joseph K<y, whicli have been puolialiej in uur
columns at intt-rvals lor soiiih time p^st. 'I'he lines we now
publish were the last that M\ from his p- n, lie was euKageJ
in writin;; this leiter wiven tlie shock of illness seized him
whioli ended in his sudden decease.]

. I iiave now endeavoured to present to nvy readers as fair
and dispassionate an account as I was able to eivR of the efT-cts
of the French system of laud laws in those European couutnes
in which they have been in force lor such a length of time as
to enable a fair jiwige to form a reliable opinion on such a
subjeet. i have shown how those laws are working in France,
Beliiiura, the Channel Islands, Switzerland, the Rhine provinces
of Germany, Holland and Norway ; and I have cited the
opinions of many able, experienced, and moat distiujfuislied
men of different countries in suppoit of the statements I have
made.

The same system of land laws has been put in force in
Southeta Italy smee she shook^herself free ol foreit;n clerical
roasters. It is too soon to inquire into the etfect ot these
laws in Italy at present, but it requires no great tfi't of pro-
phecy to predict that the vast, iii-mana:ied, and badly-culii-
vated estates of the great nobles of the Roman, Neapolitan,
and Sicilian provinces will soon follow the fate of tlie once
similar estates of the French no'iles, aud be soUi and diviled
among jeomeu and peasant farmers, who will reclaim the
wastes and marshes, and brin? health, plenty, and comfort,
where disease, misery, and sterility now prevail.

Even since I wrote the account of tlie condition of the yoe-
men and peasant farrners of France and showed how 'ar removed
they were, spite of all the disast.'irs ol the late war, from being
"pauper warren" which had been prophesied, remarkable stae-
raents have appeared in two of our leading journals, one of
whidi, tne TtiMS, has at all times been a vehement opponent
of " free trade in land," or of any system approaching in
character to that of France.

The Times of the 12th of September, 1S78, in a leading
article upon the immense and costly works projected and
already coramencad with wonderful success by M. de Freycinet
the enterprising Minister of Public Works, and warralysupporled
by M. Say, the cautious financier who now controls the
Erench Exchequer, atid by the aged and cautious M. Dufaure^
who is the head of the French Ministry, says : " On one sub-
ject he (M. Say) spoke with a confidence on which France
may be congratulated. The increase of national wealth con-
tinues as great as ever. The accamulations ot France asto-
niihed Europe in 187S. M. Say reckoned the savings of the
country available for investment since the beginning of the
year at 281,000,000 f., and referred with natural pride to the
e»se with which during the last two months he had raised a
loan of over fonr-and-a-half mill ons sterling at three per
cent. The success of this great operation was the more re-
markable as the ordinary machinery foi reaching inves ors
was dispensed with. With such resources to look to, he had
BO apprehensions that the country will be unable to meet the
obligatous which the development of public works will
entail."

It should be remembered that to defray the expenses of the
g'gantic works of which M. Siy and the Times speak, about
600,000,000f. a year will be required for the next ten years.

And the Speclafor of tiie 14th day of September, 1873,
writing on the same subject, says : "So great are the saviiigt
of the people that more than £10,000,000" sterling has been
deposited in the savings banks in the past seven months.

. . . .. .. 'J'he Government cm obtain money more

oheeply than at any time in the past 35 years

W hatever the other consequences of tlie law of equal partition
in France, it certainly has developed the passion of industry
to an unprecedented degree.. The French peasaut, owning his
land, works and saves as no man works and saves — certainly not
the Englishman, who, t'.ough industrious, lijs not acquired
irom the possession of propertv the iiutinct of thrift."

But I shall be asked, if the French system of land laws make
the yeomen and peasaut farmers, who culiivate their own land,
80 pfusptrous and happy in all these cuautrieo into wliiclrthis

system of laws has b"eii introduced, wbiit oiiiec'ion can le-.-
reasiina'ily raised against n ? Tius is a reasonable q-Jcstioiii
wh eh 1 «ill try to a'is>\er.

1. ll must be remembered, from what I have said in No.
IX, that il a at'ier has a liriC family this law leaves him
tlie DOAOr of leaving by will lo any one wiiom liec'ioose-; only
a very small portion of Ills lind. For example, if lie had
six cliiliireii.at the time of his death, he could only devise as
he cliose one seventh of his esta'e ;. if lie had eight children,
one-ninth ; and so on. All tiie rest of tlie lanJ is divided hy
the law among the ohildreu equally, if they, ciioose to clai'ii
their shares. Of course, in a vast number of cases they do
U'lt so chouse. Before the lather's de ith they have generally
chosen their mode of life. Some go to tlw tiwas, some to tha
army, some to artisan's work, some to service, and so on. AH
these kuo V nothing about farming whatever. M-ireover they
know that there would not behind enough for all if. they clio.-e
to divide the estate, and, also, that farm buildings would have
to be builr, and that farm stock would have to be purclias 'd
for each portion ; so that, as any re.asonalile mail will perceive,,
although the law gives each child a share of the land if he
chooses to take it,. it continually happens that the circumstan-
ces I have just meutioned make them un*iliini to divide the
farm. And in this case, either the farm is sold in one lot in
the maiket, and the proceeds divided among the children, or
one of the children takes the farm, and gradually pays off the
shares of his brothers and si-sters. All this is forgotten or
misunderstood by English writers on the suhject, who are
CO istantly treating the subject as if the farm must necessarily,
be divided, because the law says each child shall be entitled to
a-'certain share. The great estates go on gradually dividing,
partly because they consists of mmy separate farms, each of
which can be sold separately, and partly because many of ilio
3-maller proprietors are always looking out for a chance of
baying small plots of land wherewith toealarge their small
estates.

But althouah this is so, still, no doubt, there are many cases
in which, spite of all these considerations, the land is actually
divided when the whole extent of it is so small as to make di-
vision higlily inexpedient. And this, no doubt, is a bad effect
of this sys'em of laws. How far this evil, where it does exist,
is counterbalanced by the vast benefits conferred by this law
upon the rural classes, time and experience alone can iufti»
cieutly explain.

2.. Another evil wliich results from this system is that i*"
often diminishes the authority and influence which a father
ought to exercise over his laniily. In a family in wliich there are
five or sis children, all know that the law gives them an equal
share of the property on the death of the lather, and in such
a case the father would be able to leave as he chose only a
seventh of his land. The children know that, no matter how
badly tluy behave or how little respect they show to tli' ir
father, they are sure of their share when he dies, and that he
cannot in any way deprive them of it. The portion of which
he can dispose in such a case is too small to be worthy of much
consideration. The father is ir this nay deprived of much of
the moral influence which he ought to exercise, and which it
is highly expelient he should exercise, if he is a worthy and
moral man. If his family consists of only one or two children,
this reason against these laws is deprived of much ol its weight.
In such cases the law allows him to leave one-half or one-
third of the whole land, according as lie has one or two children,
to any one he pleases, and const quently he is able to affect his
child or children seriously by his will if they prove unworthy.
The English law is siill more open to this otijee.tion.. When
an estate is settled and tied up for several lives or many years,
the son, who is to succeed knows that, nothing he does, no dis.
obedience or disrespect he shows, no immorality or. debased
character he exhibits, can affect his rig hts as successor. He
may show himself to be a spendthrift or a villain ; he may
treat his father with u ter contempt ; he may become the
companion of swindlers of the worst description ;. but the es-
tate is sure, if he lives, to become his own. And it is tliis
knowledge and this resnlt of our settlements, deeds, and wills
which have utterly destroyed the influence of many a good
father, and ruined in morals and character thon ands of son.s.
How far the limited effect of this consideration, so far as the
French system is concerned, militates again&t the vast bene-
fits cou'e.-red by that sysiem, ouly tiiiie, education, and
experience can cxpliiu.

28

THE FARSliCR'S MAGAZINE.

3. Another evil arisinjc from the French sy4e'n of com-
pulsory subdivisiou on [h« dentil of the owner in tiiose coun-
trirs iu »hii:h Uiissjs.em is in furce, and in which iheyeoinan
and peasant farmer are nut tduc-ileil, is Uus; A great number
oi farms come into the possession and ownership of uneducated
ye'Jiiien and peasant farmers. Where ikese men are educated,
and where many of their sonj pass through good agricultural
8:liools, as in Switzerland and Germany, there jou find tiie
larmers consulting one another about iiiiproveinent<, upon ihe
ij[nalitifs of manures and raacliintry, and upon tlie best means
o m .king the most of their land. You tiud there also scien-
tiiic farming advancing Ironi year to >ear, and the produce of
tiie laud mcreasinn and improving. But where little or nothing
has beeu done for the real education of these classes, or tor
their training in scientific farming, although yew may find
wonderful industry, self-denial, and economy, and the most
careful cultivation of the f*rm.s, you will also find that they
farm, if I may say so, from tradition, from what they have
heard from tlieir fathers and nciglibours; and you will find an
unwillingness or an inability to receive new ideas, or to avail
themselves of the improving knowledge of their own time in
other countries. Of course this is an evil which education and
time will care, but it is an evil which, where education is
wanting, is mote observable in countries in which the land is
jnich subdivided, than in those ia which the land is
cultivated by men of more capital and with better means of
educating and training their children.

4 Another evil which results from this French system is
that, as a general rule, it has a tendency to subdivide nearly
all the great estates. I say a tendency, because iu some coun-
tries, as in Belgium and France, spite of the stringency of
tliis law, many large estates remain uudiifided and in the hands
of the same family from general. on to generation. But still,
the tendency of the French law is as 1 have said. Now, I
must say that, while i think it a vast evil to do as we have
done, and to shut out the peasants Irooi all chance of buying
land, and the small larmers from almost all chance of buying
any, and to have so framed our laws tliat by far the largest
proportion of land is tied np for generations in the hands of a
few great owners, still, 1 think it is also a great evil to do
a«vay with large proprietors altogether. If they are good and
intell'gent mea, they perform great and most important func-
tions in the body puhtic, and are able, by their larger command
o capital, to try experiments iu scientific agriculture and in
e stly machinery, and to encourage and promote many new
improvements wuich poorer men would not venture upon until
tneir success had been proved by others. Of course, this is
only true where the great landowner is an educated, scientific
man of business, who makes the scientific care of his estate
the business of his life. No due grudges such a man the pos-
session of many acres ; and such a man, if he knew that he
cjuld not, as at present, prevent by any deed or will his estate
from being sold alter his death, would bestow infinite care on
the proper education of the son whom he selected to succeed
him, so that the estate raiglit continue to be well and scienti-
fically managed, and might not be sold or divided after his own
death. And the son, as I h ive already pointed out, under
such a state of law, knowing that the law did not secure the
buccession ol the estate to him, as it does now, and that his
father would not leave him the estate unless he fitted himself
to manage it properly after his father's death, would be much
more likely to fit himself by study for such management than
now wnen our law seems to do all it can to render the son,
under one of our settlenoeuts or wills, wholly independent of
the lather's influence and wholly indifferent ,and indisposed to
educate himsell for the scientific management of the e>tate.
Iu these respects 1 have always been strongly of opinion that
the immoral influence and results of our system of Laud Laws
was about as bad for the common weal as it could be.

And if the only clioice before us lay between, on the one
hand, continuing tlie injurious unfairness and the great moral
evils 'resulting from our present system, or, on the other hand,
adopting the French system even with its defects, I, for one,
ihould not hesitate a moment in el cting the French system,
which, allhougli opeu to the obj ctions I have mentioned, at
tlie same time promotes in such a wonderful degree the self-
denial, Ihe loresight, the wonderful industry, and the moral
Laljits of the French yeomen and peasant farmer?.

The following sentences extracted from Mr. Kiy's previotts
letters seem to form a fitting conclusion to ihe above frag-
ment : — ■

There is an intermediate system of Land Laws between the
French system and our own, and my belief is that this system
of laws, which is iu force througluut the greater part of Gei-
many, and other parts of Europe, is the right one.

It allows the owner to give, sell, or devise his laud, or any
part of it, to any one he pleases ; but it does not allow hiiu
to tie it up by any instrument, so as to prevent its being sold
after his death.

* :* * *

The land is always saleable. It is never tied up in tlie
hands of men who have neither tiie capital nor theiudustry to
cultivate it properly.

It is this system, and not the French or the Eaglish system,
that I am in favour of.

THE BRITISH FARMER'S POSITION.

At the last meeting of the Kingscate Agricultural
Society, Mr. Henry Holbokow, of Willesley, Tetbury,
read a paper on this subject, as follows i —

" The British farmer" is supposed to stand at the head of
his profession all over the world. He is the producer of the
best caltle, the best sheep, the best pigs, and perlups the best
horses, that are known ; and whatever improvements in live
stock have been fccomplished by the agriculturists of other
countries have been brought about by their having recourse to
the English breeder's herds and flocks. And as to the cjm-
parative amount ot capital employed, of crops grown from
soils anything but what may be termed "virgin;" of meat,
clieese, and other farm produce, both as to quantity and qua-
lay, there is none tiiat can come up-side with his. And if
you consider him on the ground of progress, those who can
remember some lorty to filty years back will be bound to
admit that iu general knowltdg-, in education, in iiuprove-
meuts of all kinds, whether of living animals, of implements,
of the general productions of the farm, or iu any other parti-
culars, his advance has been both rapid and striking. And
putting all these things together, one would reasonably expt'Ct
to find him now, not only going on to improve and increase
his productions, but also that he himself had prospered in his
undertaking, and had become comparatively rich. But such,
alas I has been his disappointmnnt from various unroward
circumstances that we are come here tJgether this evening to
consider

HIS PRESENT POSITION.

[t is not the fanner's status iu society which is meant by
the word " position," but rather his pr^^sent circumstances
with regard to profit and loss ; and I think I shall be able, to
prove to you as clear as daylight that the word " profit" is
altogether out of the question. If you ask a banker, he will
tell you that his farming customers who used to have a fair
balance of account to tiie good have now a heavy amount to
the bad, and still ask for more assistance. Ask the auc ioneer,
the cattle dealer, the corn merchant, the manure seller, the
dealer in feeding stuffs and the like, and each and all will tell
you that they cannot gel in their accounts again<t farmers,
whilst if they buy of them the money is immediately required.
Ask any other tradesman in the habit of selling his warei 'O
farmers, and he will tell you that he cannot get his bills paid.
Only the other day I heard what two townsmen had to say
oa this milter, and men not far away. One said, " I have
been forced to overdraw at my banker's to the tune of £6l.O,
simply because the farmers do not pay my bills;" and the
other said, " I have been oblised to put £1,000 more into my
business from the s;ime cause." A gentleman in S'afTordshira
g,ys — '' Farmers are becoming poorer every day, if men are to
be believed ;" aud, further, " Many farxs are giveu up, and
all the cold land and game farms are unlet, or let at reduced
rents." An extensive valuer and land ageut in Wihshire
s>,ys — " The past years have undoubtedly been disas'rous to
arable farmers ; a great many farms change liaii'ls, and gene-
rally speaking at a reduction of rent, whilst a good miny are
unlit, aud tlieir numbers increase from year to year." This
person also told me a short time ago that he had 4,000 acres
on hand that he could not relet. [Mr. Iljlborow proceeded
to give a long list of witnesses to tne same cllcct iu all pari*

THE FARMEKS MAGAZINE.

2<)

of the conntry.] So much, then, as to the Britisli farmer's
present positiou ; and let us now ^o ou to cousiJer some of

THE LEADING CAUSES

of all this ; (1) the condition of tlie land. Here, at once, the
question of cost of manual labour jireseiits itself", as well as the
diRiculty in obtaining the kind of bands required. If you a'<k
a tanner why bis land so abounds witb docks and thistles, he
will at ouce reply, " Because I cannot no^v obtain tlie assis-
tance of women, or cheap labour of any kind, as I could use
to ; the raen are now so well paid that they can afforcl to keep
their wives at liora*"; the younger women are above goina out
to fii^ld work, and since the Education Act I cannot get boys as
before." B t this is not all, for the farming of the present
day — to do it well — requires more hands than it ever did,
and the rural population diminishes instead of increasing,
whilst all the best of the men are eitlier drafted off into
the police, on to railroads, or migrate into the large cities,
leaving the second-rate and the aged to do the farmer's work.
This is a complaint urged by many, but I have not myself to
omplain so much as some of this dilHimlty, and I wish to be
rightly understood. (2) 'I'hen, a^ain, you have the large
increase in wages, which is a serious item, i'orty years ago
au ordinary labourer's w!-<ge was reckoned at the rate of the
value of a bushel of wheat per week: 35 years asro it did not
much exceed that calculation, whereas now it takes nearly the
market value ot 3 bushels to pay the man for the same time ;
but this is not all, for the general testimony goes to show that
that much less work is now done for the increased pay. I
will call your attention, for a few minutes, to the replies I have
r- ceived from several counties on this head. My Dorset
f lend says " labour is dearer by 30 per cent, than it was 15
years ago, whilst it is a commonly received opinion that men
are not now as good by 13 to 15 per cent, as tliey were before
their minds b'came corrupted by the Union delegates." [From
North Wilts, from Staffordshire, from Berks, from
Lincoln, from Oxon, and from G oucester, similar
testimony was quoted. J Gentlemen, this is a
serious matter, and it is certainly one i;reat cause of
the tena t-farraer's difficulty, for an addition of 25 per cent.
to his expenses is equivalent to a large increase of his rent.
(3) Then as to other expenses, the carpenter, the blacksmith,
the sadder, and all other tradesmen have added fully one-
third to their charges also. (4) Another thing that has told
seriously against the fanner has been the untoward seasons of
the last tea years ; more especially the last four. In 18G8 we
had a dry summer ; again in 1870, 1874, and 1876 very dry
summers occurred, and each of these told strongly against the
occupier of the soil. Much might be said on this head, as
having to a great extent helped to diminish the amount of live
stock in the country, from causing half-fatted animals to be
killed from the want of food for properly making them up,
thus causing three to bj killed to make up for the wei)jht of
meat that would otherwise have been found in two. Add to
this the foot-and-mouth disease that traversed the] country in
1873, the loss to the farmer from which would doubtless
amount to millions of pounds sterling, could the real facts be
got at. An average loss of 50s. to every head of cattle
attacked, of 5s. to every sheep, and of a much larger per-
centage to every pig. But the corn crops of the last four
seasons are well known to have been below au average, whilst
the prices obtained for the same have bee une increasingly
less UHtil they may now be said to be ruinous outright.

THE TARMER'S future PROSPECT.

Will his expenses become less? Will his labour cost less?
Will his produce become more valuable in the market ? I
greatly fear that neither of these questions can be answered
in the affirmative, and if not, then is the prospect bad indeed,
and at the risk of being laughed at as a "croaker," I will
unhesitatingly say that never in my life before did the out-
look seera so cheerless. It is a common saying that, " When
things have come to the worst they generally begin to mfud,"
but whether they are come to the worst or not no one can tell.
Seasons may be better, and of the seasons we should not raise
a murmuring complaint, but supposing they are, and the crops
good, yet uo one can afford to sell them at the present low
prices, whiht the foreigners show that they not only can, but
that they will supply our market to any extent at the present
lof/ prices; and this does not apply to com only, for cheese
and other provisions, on the sale of which the British farmer
depends, are literally flooding oar markets, whilst the same

prospect seeras to be looming ahead with respect to the supp 1^
of meat. The legislature throws increased burdens, in the way
of rates, upon him ; everything thit cm be done is done to
lower the price of his produce ; all the world thus Irecomrs
his competitor; and hitherto his rent has been strained to the
highest pitch ; whilst his hands have been more or less tied by
restrictive c >venants,and by lack of pruper building accommo-
dation for his live stock.

REMEDCES.

Reduced rents at once present themselves as first require-
ments. Come they will, and I think I have already shown
pretty clearly tliat cjming they are. Tliose landlords who
first submit will eventually prove to be the wisest men, for the
Others have every chance of getting their land thrown on to
their own hands, and that will be tantamount to no rent at
all. But there is yet a way open, if chey will but accept of it.
Increased cottage accommoiation is a positive necessity,
whether the mere interest of money expended be realised or
not ; and surely everybody must perceive that the greater the
population in any place the greater the value of the land
around. Increased accommodation for live sock is another
necessity on by fir the niijority of farms, and this must be
provided — not on the principle of increased rent, but on the
principle of helping the farmer to compete with his rivals in
the market. All other necessary improvements and accommo-
dations must be provided ; in fact, nothing must be left undone.
But above all things the landowner should be careful to place
his property in the hands of an atjeut who well undi'rstands
I the fanner's requirements, the way to meet t'lem, how to "ive
I him full liberty of action, and yet kiiO'* when and how to re-
i train the unscrupulous and exhausting tenant. For this pur-
I p se a re^ident agent sIimuM be a l-almg desideratum, wlieio
I the property is of sufficient extent, and not (as now in so many
I cases) a person living right away, almost inaccessible to the
I tenant, and in lots ot instances as ignorant of fanning matters
I as the farmer is of law or physic. But some will urge that a
better class of tenants should be selected, and especially men with
plenty of capital ; but what sense is there in talking about
selection when no tenant at all is forthcoming? and where
is the man with large capital so foolish as to employ it in a
business that is already shown not to pay ? Of course every-
body knows that a thing must be done well to answer well
hut the cry of increased capital in a losing g^irae will spend
itself in vain unless some inducement can be shown to attract
it. This, with luHh rents, bad accommodation, restrictive
covenants, and bad security, is not likely to come to pass.
Others propose that the farmer should return to the old
style of early rising, a smock frock, and bacon for dinner ;
and yet, forsooth, he must be a man of capital! Ah, yes, a
" varmer"— just a step above his labourer, but not quite so
well educated ! But these wiseacres must yet learn that capi'al
and intellisence must have their position and reward as much
amongst farmers as any other class. Tlie legislature should
do their part, by ameliorating the burden of rates instead of
increasing it ; by moderating the income-tax to one-third
instead of one-half the rent as a criterion of profit, and by
removing that unjust thing, the malt tax. To ask for pro-
tection is at present useless, and any attempt to force down
the cost of labour is not to be recommended. Of course the
practice of economy should be resorted to as much as possible
by all those who find their means diminishing, wliilst those
who still have a little capital left had better quit at once
than stay till all is lost. Before sitting down, I am desirous
to state that in all I have said not one single shadow of
reflection has been intended towards any one person or estate
either as to management or otherwise, whatsoever.

CHEAP LAND. — The following story, which comes ot
me from Bath, will be read with interest by all concerned in
the nature of the securities of the City ot Glasgow Bank. An
e^teeraed officer of the Corporation met the other day with a
friend who had lately returned from Australia. In the course
of conversation, the Australian gentleman mentioned hat he
huQ left behind him an estate of ten thousand acres, " and,'
he added, " I'd willingly sell it at a penny a thousaud."
"Done,' 'said his companion," drawing a shilling from his
pocket. The vendor was as good as his word. He brought
the title deeds, and the transaction was completed on the
spot.— ifaj^'ajr.

50

THE FAllMErt'S MAGAZIN-B-

BlR^imGHAM AND MIDLAND COUNTIES FAT STOCK SHOW.

The thirtieth annual show o5 fat cattle in connection
with this Association was opened at Bingley Hall on
•Saturday, the 30lh of November. The first impression
•we received of the Cattle classes was a disappointiug one,
and an examination in detail did not altogether remove it.
But, whilst the absence of any very extraordinary good cat-
tle gives a sort of mediocre tone to the exhibition, the gene-
ral quality is good. It cannot be said to be a better show
•than thai of last year, yet we think the animals are better
finished than they were then. The chainpi!)nbhip falls to a
■cross-bred Scot possessing some points of great Rierit, but
■not a very perfect animal: undoubtedly it is the best
l)ulcher's beast in the show^ and fairly wins its honours.
There are one or two first-rate show animals in each of the
divisions very nitich out of the oommon way of show
things. The Sheep are good ; the Shro[)>.hires
aud Southdowus form two divisions of very considerable
merit. There is also a good show of Pigs. The entries
•compared with last year are as follow : —

1878. 1877.

Cattle 124 113

Sheep 91 69

Pigs 78 04

To'.al 28S Total... 246

But a considerable percentage of them were not in their
places. The prize list is on the usual liberal scale, and
there are additional prizes offered this year of great valae,
-which will be noted in their places. All ava lable space
in the Hall is crowded with exhibits of machinery, corn,
roots, &c. ; and there is a large show of poultry.
CATTLE.
Pirst on the list are the Herefords ; a small division
with not more than two really tirst-clasa animals in it.
In the class for oxen exceeaing four years old there are
only two entries, and only one exhibit ; this is a five-
jear-old ox bred by Mr. D. Edwards, of Briusop Court.
and exhibited by Mr. H. Page. It takes the first prize,
and is an animal of some merit, being fine in the bone,
deep and thick in front, good on the loin, back, and
■chine ; but he handles loose on his ribs, is a little flat on
his sides, and falls off in his thighs and Hank— just as
over-aged beasts will do. However, his quality is unde-
niable. A very different animal is the first prize exhibit in
the next class, for steers between three and four years of
8ge, which takes the additional prize of lilOO for the best
Hereford in the Hall. This bullock was bred by Mr. J.
Price, of Ptmbridge, and is exhibited by Mr. F- Piatt,
and handles very dilfereutly to the last ; be is full of lean
fiesh, very deep and th'ck, and is square and level, though
rather short. His roasting meat is first-rate; he has
full rounds and twist, and a level rump, but is rather
coarser in the bone than Mr. Page's bullock. Altogether
this is a first-class Hereford, and would hold hi.s own in a
much stronger class. The second prize fell to Mr. P. A.
Pike for a liiirly good show bullock, a good handler, and
a butcher's beast all over. ]\lr. Prichard's bullock, which
takts the third priee, is rather shelly for a show beast,
and light in front. This completes the class. The steers,

not exceeding three years oM, are only four in number-
Mr. Piatt is again first with an aniin i! bred by Mr. F. Evans,
of Bredwardiue, a small and neatly-fi'iished steer; Mr.
W. Taylor takes second with a thicker fie.<hcd animal of his
own breeding ; a'..d Mr. Rees Keen's third-prize bullock,
of his own breeding, though faulty in his rump,
handles well and is full of fiesh. One cow
exIiTbited by Mr. T. Farmer, a very fat, unevenly-
fed animal, constituted a class by itself, and was
awarded a first prize. Tire heifers were four in
nnnn.ber, Mrs. Sirab. Edwards' Beatrice being first on the
h<t, and coustilnting the .'econd first-rale Hereford iu
the Show. Mr. Prichard takes second piize with a fairly
good heifer of his own breeding, rather li^ht in front.
Mr. Alfred Darby sliows a r.ice quality heifer, good iu
his chine and back, but with very unsightly bind quar-
tt-rs, and Mr. Pike's heifer is very thick and heavy,
though unevenly fed. As a division of the Show the
Herefords ivere feiv in number, and as a whole not as
good as they were last year. Compared with 1870 they
are a long way behind.

The Shorthorns are in good nnmerical strength, and
•in the several classes some very useful be^ists may be
found ; bnt perhaps there is not more than one really
first-class animal — the heifer brel and exhibited by the
Rev. Bi'uce Kennard. In the class for oxen exceeding
four years old there are only three exhibits, the first
prize going to a fairly good and very heavy Shorthorn
bred by Mr. Bedford, of Paris, Kentucky, and
exhibited by Messrs. Bell and Son, of Glasgow. The
other two bullocks are a big rambling beast exhibited
by Mr. R. Fowler, and a very uneven bullock with some
few good points shown by Mr. II. Wright. But neither of
them were considered by theju'lgcsto be deserving of the
second prize, and consequently it was not awarded. None
of the prize animals in the class for steers between three
and four years old are much out of the common way, or
above the ordinary Showyard standard. Amongst steers
not exceeding three years old there is better competition
for the prizes, and the quality is somewhat better. The
cows form a fairly good class of 14 entries ; and the
heifers form a small but good class of four animals. Mr.
E. Hubbard's first prize animal, bred by himself, which
takes the £100 extra prize awarded to the best Shorthorn
in the Show is rather bare on the shoulders, and faulty in
her quarters, having a plain rump, narrow thighs, and
small twist, but is good over the back and loin. Colonel
Lloyd-Lindsay's second prize heifer is very nice quality,
and better beef than the other, but 14 months difference
in age is too much vantage ground to give her opponent.
The Rev. -- Kennard's heifer is in an extra class and will be
noticed in due course. Iu the Shorthorn classes, proper,
the animals were useful, but not of any great show merit.

The Devons were a small division. In the class for
oxen or steers of any age Mr. S. Kidncr's thi^ce-year-old
bullock took first honours, and the fifty guineas extra
prize for the best Devon. This is a pretty little bullock
of no great thickness, but very ripe and level ; a long way
behind Mr. Kidner's ox of two years ago. Mr. Bates's
second prize is an excellent bullock, very firm, and good
all over. Mr. llisden's cow would be a first-class animal
if it were nut for a faulty rump. The Longhorns number
ten animals in the two classes ; .^ome of them are very
full of tirtn flesh, but they are unsightly and very uneven ;
their backs are well covered, but they are fiat ribbed, and
carry very hard thick hides. The Scotch polled cattle
are good, but not so good as they have been at Birming-

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

ni

ham. Mr. jMcCombie's first prize bullod; is a first rate
auiinal, Kiid full of such n'eat us can only be found on
Scots or Scots crosses. lie takes the £50 extra prize
for the besL Scots in the pure -bred classes. The Enrl of
Galloway's second prize animal is smaller, but of excellent
quality- Mr. McCombie's tirst prize cow is not peifeet,
but still a very capital Scot. There are four West
Highlanders, all of them good butchers' animals, but
nothing of unnsiial excellence. The Duke of lloxburiihe's
first prize bullock is a mellow handler and well furnished
with excellent beef. Sir Walter Trevelyan shows two
good heifers. The cross-breds, as a division of the show,
are not as good as they were last year ; but they furnish
the champion of the show, and a very capital bullock he
is. This beast is out of a polled Scot cow by a Shorthorn
hull, a cross which furnishes the best butchers' beasts iu
this country or any other ; nothing can equal it for size
and wealth of first-rate beef. It is highly satisfactory to
to find the first honours of a fat stock show fairly awarded
to a butchers' animal, for this is by no means the case
as a rule;had thejndgeilbeen butchers and salesmenth' ycould
not have done better in this parliculkr instance. Indeed, tlie
judging at^Binglcy Hall leaves very little to liud fault with;
they ignoffd every consideration but beef, and set an
example which we trust will be followed on similar oeea-
sions. This cross-bred is very massive in front, of wonder-
ful thickness, and a ptrlect handler, but he is a tritle
uneven all over — ^,iust sufficiently so to take him out of the
list of superlatively good animals — such as Mr. McCour-
tie's Blijck Prince, and Mr. Kiduer's Devon, in their day.
He secures the £50 extra prize for the best animal in the
cross-bred and extra classes, Messrs. Gibb's 100 Guinea
Prize for the best animal in the cattle classes, aud the One
lluudred Guinea Elkintrton Challenge Cup, which was
won in 1873 by Mr. E. Wortley, Ridlington, Uppingham ;
in 187-1 by ilr. Robert Wright, Noctou Heath, Lincoln ;
n 1875 by Mr. Richard Stratton, The DufiVyn, Newport,
Monmouth ; in 1876 by Mr. Samuel Kiduer, Bickley
Farm, Miiverton, Somerset; in 1877 by Mr. Richard
Stratton, The Duffryn, Newport, Monmouth. He also
Mr. Thorley's prize of£30.

Amongst the cross-bred cows and heifers, Mr. RatclifF's
cow is an excellent show animal and a good butcher's
beast ; the two other exhibits are mediocre. Amongst
the oxen, steers, cows, and he'fers "not eligible for any
of the preeeeding classes," there is to be found the best
Shorthorn in the show — Rev. Bruce Kennard's 4 years
aud 3 mouths old heifer lole, her age preventing her
being exhibited in the Shorthorn heifer class, and as a
barren she could not compete in the cow class. This
animal is of tine quality, hut handles soft and is doubtless
covered with fat ; but she is level and tiue in the bone, has
a perfect chine, back, loin, and rib, is first-rate behind
her shoulders, in her rump, and in her rounds and twist
— altogether a first-rate Shorthorn, good where Shorthorns
are usually weak or bad. She contested with Mr. Mc-
Combie's Scot, the President's prize for "the
best animal of any breed or age, to be bred
and fed by the exhibitor," and the decision
VFas a very slow one; eventually, however, the Scot was
sent empty away and the heifer took the cup
value £25. No d^ubt the Shorthorn was a bet-
ter Shorthorn than the Scot was a Scot, for he is a little
■weak behind his shoulders; but there can be as little
doubt that the Scot was a better butcher's beast than the
Shorthorn. He is worih more per lb., and- is a heavier
beast ; if the judges had been butchers they would pro-
bably have given the cup to the Scot. This is about the
only fault we have to find with them, and it must be con-
fessed the point is a difficult one which requires to be
clearly defined ; it goes to the very bottom of fat-stock
judging. There ia nothing else in those classes of special

interest except a bisr rambling American bullock exhibited
by Messrs. J. Bell & Sons ; he has good ('hine and Ciir-
ries some meat on him, hut is hare on the shoulder and
flat-ribbed. Altogether the cattle classes cannot be said
to be first rate at Birminghun this year,
SHEBP.

The standard iu this department of the show is a high
one, and probubly has not been exi^eeded at Birmingham.
The Shropshires were in strong force, as might be ex-
pected from the locality, aud they are good. Lord
Chesham's pen of three wethers not exceeding twenty-
three months old is turned out of hand iu his usual style ;
the sheep are very neat and very fat ; they take the first
])rize. Lord Chesham also tikes second prize with sheep
of good scale and quality, not so evenly matched. The
third award gies to Mr. J. Beach for rather small sheep,
but they are excellent handlers and perhaps better Shrop-
sliires than those put befi re them. In the class for
older wethers Mr. J. Cuxon, of Lichfield, is first wi h a
pen of veiy capital sheep of good Shropshire character,
good legs of mutton and handling well all over. Lord
Chesham's second prize lots do not handle so well, and
are narrow behind. Iu the class for single wether sheep
Mr. H. J, Sheldon is first with a very
pretty and very excellent sheep, but he is
a little weak in his back. Mr. R. E. Oliver's
second prize is a bigger sheep, good in front, but not
particularly so in his twist. Mr. F. Beach's third prize
sheep is a soft handler, cut very neat. This is scarcely
as good a class as the preceding. Of Southdowns there
were 12 eutnes, and Lord Walsinghara was, as u*ual, to
the frcmt. His first prize pen of wethers were small but
perfect, of rare quality and full of mutton ; these sheep
take Messr -.Gibb's £50 ixtra prize '"o ■ the best pen o''8heip
in the show, and they fairly earn it. Lord Walsiugham also
takes the second prize, with a pen of undeniably good
quality, well breeched but not handling all alike. Sir F.
M. Fitzwygram is third, with a pen of Mr. Penfold's
breeding. Mr. A. Brassey is first and second with good
wethers iu the Oxford Down Class, aud a very useful pea
of sheep bred and exhibited by Mr, C. Howard takes the
third pla^e. For Hampshire Downs Mr. A. Morrison
meets with no competition and secures first and second
prizes, as well as a high commendation, for his three
exhibits. The small show of Lincolns, Leicesters, and
Cotswolds were all fairly show sheep. Mr. Walter
Farthing is awarded first and second prizes for his two
pens of Dorsets, which are excellent sheep of their kind ;
and Sir F. W. Fitzwygram takes a first prize for a pen of
cross-breds from the flock of Mr. E. B. Green, of Stan-
stead- These sheep are of Southdown character, but
have plenty of scale, and are firm handlers. The Ewe
Classes are badly filled, except the one for Southdowns,
iu which Mr. Coleman is the winner.
PIGS.

There are more entries than last year, and the qualify
throughout is good. Mr. R. Hall's pen of three not
exceeding ten months old, and of one litter, are very fine
animals indeed. Lord Chesham's pen of three older pigs
are large and very symmetrical black pigs. For single
pigs, over fifteen months old, the Earl of Ellesraere wins
with a white pig of great size and yet good quality. The
Berkshire breeding p'gs are very nice, and very excellent
quality as usual. Mr. T. Holford, of Market Harborough,
takes the first prize with very neat animals, but they have
not mnch hair on them. In the classes for " other large
breeds," the " middle breed," and a "small breed," the
nimes of the Earl of Ellesmere, Mr. Peter Eden, and Mr.
Duckering occur with the usual regularity, and the red-
haired Tamworth breed still retain a place in the show.

Those who had not finished a critical examination of
the stock in Bingley Hall by the time the electric light

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

fNperiment came into play found great iTiconvenience
therefrom. The liiibt was intermittent, and very trying
to the eyes : at no time giving a nscful and piactix^al
liiiht in the Ilali, but produoiu" a variety of undesirable
•etIVetsi. A lurid gl: re, as Irom a contliigrdtion, would be
thrown over the im?nedia1'e vicinity of the appnrntn9, at
each end of the Hall, and the next moment it reminded
one of moonlight in th^e tropics ; then a tew trashes as of
sniniiier lightning, to be sunceedi-d by the gloom of gas-
lights tnniid down low. Perhojis it will be adinissable
to describe the pictuie presented by BiiiiiWy Hall under
flectric light as a " nocturne " in which
Bothing was distinct but the shadows. As an
experiment it might have been interesting, but the effect
—up to six o'clock at least -was anything but pleasant.
Perhaps it may be better managed during the remainiag
■term of the show.

LIST OF JUDGES.
CATTLE.

J. Bruce, Ruthwell, Annan, N.B.

G. Garne, Churchill Heath, Chipping Norton.

J. W. James, Mappowder, Blaudford, Dorset.
SHEEP.

T. "FULCHER, Elmham, Dereham, Norfolk.

O. HoBBS, Maisey Hampton, Fairford.

T. Mansell, Harrington Hall, Shifnal,
PIGS.

J. Dale, Spetchky, "Worcester,

C Randell, Chadbury, Evesham.
COKN.

R. F. Todd, Calthorpe Road, Edgbaston,
ROOTS.

C. CoRBETT, Broad jMarsion, Stratford-upon-Avon.

A. Wayte, Prescott Manor, Banbury.
POTATOES.

A. r. Barron, Chiswick, Loudon.

\V. Miller, The Gardens, Combe, Coventry.
POULTRY.

J. BailT, Mount Street, Grosvenor Square, Loudon

J. Dixon. North Park, Clayton, Bradford.

E. Hewitt, Eden Cottage, Sparkbrook, Birmingham.
\V. R. Lane, New Street, Birmingham.

J. H. Smith, Skelton, York.
R. Teebay, Fulwood, Preston.
PIGEONS.
T. J. Charlton, Blenheim Road, Manningham,
Bradford.

F. EsQUiLANT, Effra Road, Brixton, London.

H. Child, Long Street, Sparkbrook. Birmingham.

PRIZE LIST.

HE RE FORDS.

Hereford Oxen, exceeding four years old: 1st, H. Page,
Walmer, Kent.

Hereford Steers, exccpdinsr three and not exceeding four
years old : 1st, and also £100, for the best Hereford in the
show, F. Piatt, Hereford ; 2nd, P. A. Pike, Mitton, Tewkes-
bury ; 3rd, J. Prilchard, Stanmore, Bridgnorth.

Hereford Steers, not exceeding three years old : 1st, F.
Piatt, Hereford ; 2nd, W. Taylor, Ledbury, Herefordshire;
3rd, R. Keene, Caerleon, Mon.

Hereford Cows : 1st, T. Farmer, Bromfield, Salfip.

Hereford Heifers, not exceeding four yexra old : 1st, Sarah
Edwards, Leominster, Herefordshire ; 2ud, J. Piiichard, Stan-
more, Bridgnorth.

SHORTHORNS.

Shorthorn Oxen, exceeding lour years old: 1st, R. Wright,
Noctou HcHth, Linculn ; no second prize was awarded.

Shorthorn Steers, exceeding three and not exceeding four
years old : 1st, R. Stratton, Newport, Mon. ; 2nd, J.J. Col-
man, M.P., Norwich; 3rd, R. Worlley, Aylsliam, Norfolk.

Shorlliorn Steers, nol exceeding three jears old : 1st, A. E.
W. Darby, Shrewsbury; 2nd, J. L:iycock, Newcastle on-
Tyne; 3rd, W. H. Potttrton, Northampton; highly com-

mended, \V. H. lleweH, Taunton.

Sliorthorn C.iws : 1st, \V. ColtrMl, Th.ime, Oxor\ ; 2 id, R.
Siratton ; 3rd, II. Chesters, Nai'twieh ; hiiilily ci) Mnipnde.*'
J. A. Rolls, M'lnmouth, and R. Ra^-liffs Burion-nn-Trent.

Shorthorn Hei'ers, n it excredi lU fmir yenrs old : 1st, E.
Hnbljard, Lowesto't, SiilT^ilk ; 2nil, Col. R L'.vd-LindiHV,
V.i:., M.P., Wantage, Berks ; 3rd, W. O. Foster, Shilual
Saloii.

DEVONS.
Devon Oxen or Steers, of any age: Isl, S. Kidner, Mil-
vertoD, Somerset ; 2nd, L Btie, Kiiia's Heatii ; 3rd, W. Fryer,
Poole, Dorset; hichly comnoended. Prince of Wales, K.G.

Devon Cows or Heifers : 1st, T. H. Risden, Taunton ; 2ad,
J. Walter, M.P. ; 3rd, Mrs. Maria Langdoa, North Mollon,
Devon.

LONGHORNS.
Lonahorn Oxen or Steers, of any a^e : Ist, R. Hall,Thul-
stun, Derby ; 2nd, S. Forrest, Keiiilworth.

Lonuliorn Cows or Heiiers : 1st, R Hall, T'linlston, Derby ;
2nd, W. P. Barbery, Strat(ur('.ia- Avon.
SCOTCH BREKDS.
Pulled Oxen or Steers, of any aae : 1st, W. McCombie,
Aberdeen ; 2ud, The Earl of Galloway ; coinmeaded, J. Reid,
Aberdeenshire.

Scotch Polled Cows or Heifers : 1st. W. McCorabie, Aber-
dcpn ; 2nd, W. Harvey, Bury St. Edrannds.

West Hiithland Oxen or Steer: lat, The Duke of Rox-
burshe, K.T.

Sco'ch horned Cows or lipi<'ers : 1st and 2nd, Sir W. C.
Trevelyan, Bart., Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

CROSS-BRED ANIMALS.
Fat Oxen, exceeding lour years old : 1st, Lord Lovat,
B^auly, Inverness-shire ; 2nd, W. S. Cragg, Caruforth.

Fit Sieers, exceeding three and not exceedinj four years
old : 1st, Lord Lovet, Beaufort Castle ; 2nd, R. Wortley,
Norfolk.

Fat Steers, not exceeding three years old ; Ist, W. H.
Hewett, Taunton; 2iid, J. and W. Martin, New Market,
Abfrdeen ; 3rd, R. Ihomas, Baschnreb, Sutop.

Fat Cows or Heifers : 1st, R. Ratcliff, Burton-on-Trent ;
2iid, J. Reid, Greystone, Allord, Aberdeenshire ; 3rd, Lord
Lovat, Beaufort Castle.

FOR ANIM.\LS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR ANY OF THE
PRECEDING CLASSES.
Oxen or Steers, of any age : 1st, J. Walker, M.P., Bear-
wood, Wokingham ; 2nd, J. J. Colman, M.P., Norwich.

Cows or Heifers, of any age : 1-t, the Rev. R. B. K>innard,
Marnhull, Blandlord ; 2nd, the Rev. W. Sneyd, Newcastle,
Staffordshire; highly commended, J. J. Colman, M.P., Nor-
wich ; commended, the Rev. W. Sneyd, Newcastle, Stafford
shire.

SHEEP.

LEICESTERS.

Three Fat Wethers, not exceeding 23 month? old : 1st, Mrs.

Herrick, Leicestershire; 2iid, B. Painter, Oakham, Rutland.

LINCOLNS.

Three Fat Wethers, not exceeding 23 months old : 1st, C.

Sell; 2nd, C. Lister, Lincoln.

COTS WOLDS.
Three Fat Wethers, not exceeding 23 months old : Ist, S.
Smith, Deddington ; 2ud, T. R. Hulbert, North Cerney,
Cirencester.

SOUTH DOWNS.
Three Fat Wethers, not exceeding 23 months old : Ist and
2nd, Lord Walsingliam ; 3rd, Major-General Sir F. W. Fitz-
wygrain, Bart., Havant, Hants.

SHROPS HIRES.
Three Fat Wethers, not exceedini 23 months old : 1st, Lord
Cbeshani ; 2nd, Lord Chesham ; 3rd, J. Beach, Penkridge ;
4'h,F Bach, Salop ; highly corameuded, U. Lovatt, Wolver-
haniijton.

Fat Shropshire Wether, exceeding 25 and not exceeding 35

months old : 1st, John Coxon, Lichfield ; 2iid, Lord Chestinm.

Fat Shrupshire Wether, not exceeding 23 iiionths old : Ist,

H . J. Sheldon, Warwickshire ; 2nd, R.E. Oliver, Towcesler ;

3rd, J. Beach.

OXFORDSnittES.
Three Fat Wethers, not exceedine 13 months old : Island
2Qd, A. Brassey ; 3rd, C. Howard, Bedford.

tHE KAIIMPJR'S MAGAZINB.

33

IIAMPSIilRE, \VILTSHIRE, AND OTHER DOWNS.

Three Fat WnMiprs, not PKeefdiniC 23 nion'ln olii : Isf, '2iiil,

anil liiirlilv coniin.'"'iil'>d, A. Morrison, 'Pitburv, SilivbiKV Wil'i<.

SHEEP NOr QUALIFIEIJ 10 COMrEI'F, IN ANY

OTHER CLASS.

Threfl Fat Wetlipra, not exceeding 23 moiitlia old : Ist and

2ai, H. Fartliing, Bridsewntpr.

CR03SHRKDS.
Thrrfl Fat Wethers, not exoeding 23 months old: 1st,
MajiirGenerHl Sir F. \V. Fitzwy^'-am, liirt., Ilavant, ILiiifs ;
2'V(i, W. Wells, Peterborough ; highly commended, C. Sell,
Royston,

EWES.

Fat Leicpstpr Eve, liavias; bred onn or more lanbs : Silver
medal, Eric Sutherland, Morayshire, N.B. ; highly coinraended,
E. Sutherland, !\toravsliire, N.R.

Pat Lincoln E*e, having bred one or more lambs; Silvp.r
medal, (\ Sell.

Fat Cotswoid Ewe, bavins; bred one or more lambs. Tn
this cl»ss the prize was withheld, the exhibits not beiug of sufii-
cient merit.

Fat Sijuthdown Ewe, haying bred one or more lambs ;
Silver mpdal, J.J. ColTian; highly commended, M^jor-
n>neral Sir F. \Y. Fitzvvygram, Bart. ; highly commended, C.
C lapham.

Fat Shropshire Ewp, havinz bred one or more la libs ; 1st,
H. J. Sheldon ; 2nd, R. Wyatt.

Fat Oxfordshire Eve, havia'j bred one or more lambs;
Silver medal, A. Bra-isey, Chipping Norton.

Fat e>vp of any other pure breeJ, having bred one or more
lambs : Silver ]Medal, A. Morrison, Tisbury ; comneiiied, H .
Farthing.

FAT PIGS.

Three Fat Pigs of one litter, not exceeding 10 nonth« : 1st,
R. Ilall, Thulstoii, Derby ; 2nd, A Crowlher, Bury, Lanca-
Bhire.

Three FatPi^s of one litter, not pxeepding 15 months old :
Ist, Lord Che>ham ; 2!id, W. Wheeler, Shipston-on-Sfonr .

Fat Pig, exceeding 15 moatlis old : 1st, The E irl of EUes-
mere ; 2ud, R. Licey, Wultoa, near Loughborough.

EXTRA PRIZES

Messrs. Gibbs's 100 guineas prize for the best animal
in the cattle classes — Lord Lovat. The Elkiogton Chal-
lenge Cup— Lord Lovat. The £100 prize for the best
Hereford— H. Page The £100 prize for the best Short-
horn— E. Hubbard. The 50 guineas prize for the best
Devon — S. Kidner. The £50 prize for the best pure-
bred Scot — W. McCombie. Lird Cheshara's prize of
£25 for the best animal bred aud fed by the exhibitor —
Rev. R. B. Kenuard. Mr. Thorite's £30"(with £10 to the
herdsman) for the best animal fed on Thorley's condiinerit
— Lord Lovat. Messrs. Gibbs' £50 prize for the best
pen of sheep — Lord WaUinghain.

CORN.
There were 21 entries iu this division of the show,
nearly all of which were tilled up. There was, however,
only one entry of Talavera — a rather coarse sample, and
not a particularly bright one, grown by Mr. Hopkins, of
Tewkesbury : the first prize was awarded to it. There
Were nine entries of other white wheats in place. The
first prize fell to Sir G. A. Clayton, of Maidenhead, for a
clear, thin-skinned sample of Chidham ; Mr. R. Fowler,
of Aylesbury, takirg second with a fairly good saiiuile of
Essex rough chaff. The red wheats were poor, and
showed plainly how much the season has told on
quality ; in fact, this is only now beginning to be realised)
and the earlier pictures of the harvest of 1878 are sen-
sibly lading under the light thrown upon them by the
thraahing machine. Closer observers, however, have
never held very sanguine exptctations as to the quantity
or quality of this season's crop. Mr. J. Greatorex, of
Burton-on-l^■ent, took first prize for a middling sample
of what appeared to be uurserj wheat. There wag a
faii siioir of .barleya, numbering tuo entries. M. J.

Maiden, of Biggleswade, was a^^4^1ed first pr le
for a flue sample of Hallett's Pedigree, which
wanted a little more chumping, as there was
here und there an awn to be found in it. Mr.
Lythall's second prize lot was full-bodied^ but not so even,
nor as good in colour. The while oats were very credit-
able. HIack oats were not equally good, Mr. Sr.ilgoe's
first prize sample of Ilallctt'ci Pedigree being the only
decent lot, and that not first-rate. There were seven
entries of beans, and the quality was fairly good in all —
nothing out of the way in any one instance. The peaa
were not quite as good a class as the beans; but Sir G,
A. Clayton's sample of blaes was a very pretty one.

ROOTS.

These for.iied a large and very interesting part of tbi»
show, both ill respect of the competition for special
prizes and the displays made by tha leading seedsmen.
There are no very s3'-mmetrical roots to be found
anywhere this season, not even in shows, but that ha*
bi'en the effect of a very unfavourable season, and is not
the fault of the firms whose seeds have now become above
all suspicion, and thoroughly to be depended on for quality
and genuineness. Mangel crops throughout the country
are variable, and Swedes are short — the average short —
in quantity, and not as shapely as usual ; but there ap-
pears to be no deficiency in the feeding value of any of
tae root crops, and the common turnips have seldom been
belter. Tlie first class in this section was for a silver
cup, c- other article of plate, of the value of six guineas,
offered by Messrs. Proctor and Ryland, of Birmingham,
as a prize for the best collection of the three following
varieties : — namely, Long Mangel Wurzel, Globe manirel
Wurzel, and Swede — six roots of each to be shown. The
competition was g')od, ten entries being shown. Mr.
Burn Blyth took the cup with roots grown from Messrs.
Sutton's seeds, not very shapely, but sound useful feeding
stuff. Mr. Grist's roots were heavy, and Mr. Peun
showed some large Kinver Globe mangels from Messrs.
Webb's seeds. There was also a decent exhibit from
the Birmingham Sewage Farm. Class 2 was for a silver
cup, value six guineas, offered by Messrs. Morris and
GrifBn, Ceres Works, Wolverhampton, for the best twelve
Swede turnips and twelve Globe mangels, in which
Messrs. G. and J. Perry were the winners. Their ex-
hibit consisted of large anc" good Swedes, and small but
pretty quality mangels. Mr. Burn Blyth also showed
some excellent mangels grown from Mtssrs. Sutton's
seeds. There were six entries. Class 3 was for a silver
cup, value five guineas, olfered by Messrs. Sutton and
Sons, Royal Berkshire Seed Establishment, Reading, as a
prize for the best collection of the three following varie-
ties : — namely. Six Mammoth Long Red mangels, six
Globe mangels, and six Golden Tankard Yellow-fleshed
mangels, for which seven entries competec', Mr. Cham-
pion, of the Reading Sewage Farm, won this cup with
some of the very fine roots shown at Messrs. Sutton's
Reading Show, and wonderfully good roots they were, as
has already been stated in these columns. Mr. Anscombo,
manager of the Birmingham Sewage Farm, also had some
large good roots, and Mr. Burn Blyth's were of excellent
quality. Class 4, for a silver cup, value five g'liaeas.
( tfered by Messrs. James Carter and Co., of
Ilisih Holboru, Jjondon, as a prize fur the best
collection of the four following varieties :— -namely, Six
Imperial Hardy swedes, six Mammoth Long Red man-
gels, six Prize Yellow Globe Mangels, and six Interme-
diate Mangels, was won by Mr. Cave, of Rickmansworth,
with a very capital lot of roots; the long reds were
shapely and heavy, end the Globes and Ljterraediates were
exceptionally fine. The Birmingham Sewage Farm also
contributed soHiS capital marigels ; and Mr. Lvthall'a

o4

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINR

exhibit was p '^cocI one. Class 5 was for the best six
■tpeciineiis of kohl-rabi, the first piize bbiag taken by
Measi-p. G. and J. Perry, and the second by Mr. Hutt,
iviih Messrs. ^Ycbb's seeds. The class was a fairly good
oiis of seven exhibits. Class 6, for L^ug Mangel Wurzel,
^vith an extra prize offered by Messrs. Proctor and Rylaud,
was headed by Mr. Champion, of the Reading Sewage
I'arni, and tlie second prixe was awarded to Mr. Ans-
conibe, of tlie 15Inningh;\m Se?.-d2e Farm. The mangels
•were good in this class, and it is a little singnlar that Long
•Red nix- gels — nsnaliy so diHlcult (o grow in good shape —
are seemingly more true to type than any other roots this
year, common turnips excepted. There were eleven good
entries iu tiiis class, Mr. Burn Biyth and Mr. Cave ob-
taining commendations. Class 7 was for Globe and
Intermediate varieties of Mangel wnrael, with an extra
prize added by ^lessrs. Proctor and llyland. This was a
Jarge and good class of 15 entries, in which Air. Champion
won with large and shapely specimens of Sutton's yellow
Intermediates, grown on the Reading Sewage Farm.
Jlr. J. Cave's second prize entry of Intermediates were
•large and of sound quality, but not quite so uniform.
Mr. H'ltt showed some heavy Yellow Globes grown from
Messrs. Webb's seeds, and Mr. Penu's exhibit of Webb's
•Colonel North mangel was a very creditable one. Messrs.
G. and J. Perry also showed some very pretty Kinver
"Yellow Globes, small but neat and true. • Clasi 8 was for
a silver cup, value live guineas, offered by Messrs. Sutton
and Sous, for the best twelve specimes of the Champion
Pnr|de-top swede, in which Messrs. G. and J. Perry and
Mr. J. W. Griffin were the only exhibitors, the former
obtaining f'.e cup. These roots were not particularly
good. Class 9, a silver cup, value five guineas, olTered
'by ^lessrs. Webb and Sons, Wordsley, Stourbiidge, for
the best twelve roots of the Imperial swede, was fairly
won bv Messie. G. and J. Perry with large and good
roots, Mr. Foster's esbibit being of nice quality, small iu
iJie neck and of good shape. In a much larger open
flass of 13 entries for swedes of any variety, Messrs.
Perry are also the winners. There was a good class for
■•Comnion Turnips, a small one for Yellow-fleshed turnips,
•and -some capital carrots. The cabbages were a fairly
good show. There was alaige and giod collection of Pota-
toes, Mr. Peter McKinley and Mr. James Pink being
the principal prize-takers.

The entries .of corn were 58, of roots 112, and of
^potatoes 116.

•SEEDMENS' STANDS.

The several root shows of our leading seedsmen have
■recently been described in detail in these columns, so that
■a short notice of each stand must now suffice. Those
who have been iu the habit of seeing these displays will
'be prepared to believe that in each case they were taste-
fully arranged, ard did great credit to the respective
%m3. Messrs. Carter and Co., of High Ilolboru, Lon-
don, had an imposing stand on which a large number of
roots grown from seeds supplied by them were exhibited.
■Amongst the growers whose produce contributed to make
this stand were to be found the names of Her Majeity
the Queen, and his lloyul Highness the Piinee of VVa e?,
his Grace the Duke of Norlhumbe.'-Iand, the Right Hou.
Lord Redesdale, the Waht Hon. Lord Cliuton, the Kight
ilou. Lord Foley, the Kight Hon. the Earl of Harriugton,
the Right Hon. Lord Warwick, the Ritibt Hon. Lord
Sondes, Sir William Farquhar, Sir Curtis Lampson, Sir
'Charles Russell, Admiral Sir G. N. B. Middletou, Sir
Richard F. Sutton, Major AUfrey, Central Loudon Dis-
trict Schools East Barnet Local Board, Mrs. Morten
(Bailiff, Mr. Cave), Her Majesty's Convict Prison,
Woking; Bedfuid Urban Sanitary Authority, Middlesex
County AsyUitn, South Metropolitan District Schools,
Fsofesiui i'tickaian, L-jrd Warwict. aad Birmiugham^

Tame, and Rea District Drainage Company, Express Milk
Company, Eton Local Board, and a whole host of lauded
gentry representing customers of Messrs. Carter, and
as these customers are not confined to the Uuited King-
dom there were to be seen specimens of mantcfl from
Canada grown from their s^eds, amongst which a long
Led wei^ihing 541b., and a Yellow-Heshed Tankard weitrb-
ing 82ilb., were subji-cts of iuterest to on-lookers,
Their Warden Yellow Globes were well represented, and
amongst the turnips Miose from the Euke of Northumber-
land, the Pomerauiau While Globe, were especially notice-
able.

Messrs. Sutton and Sons, of Reading, had, as usual, a
very effective Stand, on which was an excellent collection
of their well-known varieties of roots. Their Golden
Tankard yelhw-fleshed mangel, though not so perfect and
handsome as in more favourable seasons, was still very
excellent, and added greatly to the effect of their display i
the Berkshire Prize yellow globes were large and go id,
and the Mammoth long reds could not be surpassed by
anything grown this season. Amongst the numerous
exhibits were some roots taken from Mr. Champion's
collection which attracted so much attention at Reading,
and which were taken from very heavy crops grown on
the Reading Sewage Farm. Their kohlrabi was par-
ticularly fine and good, as were their varieties of commoa
tnriiips. The quality of the swedes was very noticeable.
Their collection of grasses was interesting and practically
useful. The principal contributors to the stand were
Her Majesty the Queen, his Royal Highness the Piince
of Wales, the Duke of Northumberland, the Duke of
Portland, the Marquis of Ailesbur)-, the Marquis of
Donegal, Earl Bathurst, the Earl of Craven, the Earl of
Norlhbrook, the Earl of Redesdale, the Earl of War-
wick, the Countess of Yarborough, Lord Calthorpe, Lord
Cauiovs, Lord Chesham, Lord Eversley, Lord F. Kerr,
Lord Moreton, W. H. Smith, M.P., Sir W. Heathcote,
Bart, Mrs. Hay, Sir S. Dyer, Bart., Sir Gilbert East,
Bart., Sir C. W. Lampson, Bart., Sir P. Hunter, Btrt.,
Sir P. Rose, Bart., Sir C. Russell, Bart., M.P., Sir R. F.
Sutton, Bart., Sir F. Smythe, Bart., Col. Loyd Lindsay,
V.C, M.P., J. Walter, M.P., C. R. M. Talbot, M.P.,
Major General F. Spcnce, C.B ,Col. Freemantle, Coi. Gray,
Colonel Lane, Major AUfrey, Major Baskerville, Mijor
Thoyts, Captain Col)ham, Captain R. B. Fellowes, Capt.
Johnson, Professor J. Buckmau, R. B. Blyth, and many
other well known agriculturists.

Messrs. Webb and Sons, Wordslev, Stourbridge, had
a stand which was worLhy of the great and increasing
trade done by the firm. Their specimens of Improved
Col. North, New Kinver Globe, Yellow Intermediate, and
Yellow Fleshed Tankard mangels were very creditable to
both seedsmeu and growers ; their Imperial Swedes have
been very successful iu New Zealand, growing there to a
great size and weight. There were also specimens of
their cereals which, in the shape of seed corn constitutes
an important feature in their business. Contributors to
Messrs. Webb's stand included Her Majesty the Queen,
H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Sutherland, the
Duke of Portland, Eirls Beauchaiup, Dirtmouth, North-
brook, Powis, Redeslale, Stamford and Warrington, War-
wick, Wemysi and March, Lords Bateman, Forester,
Hampton, Moreton, Northwickand WiUoughby de Broke,
Sir C. H. Rous Boughton, Bart., Sir Geo. Chetwode.
Bart., Sir Geo. Chetwynd, Bart., M^jor-Geueral Sir F.
Fitzwygram, Birt., Sir F. Smythe, Birt., Sir R. F. Sut-
ton, Birt., Sir W. W. Wyun, Bart;, Sir Josiah Mason,
Colonel Gunter, Major Cholmondelev, Mr. C. C. Cotes,
M.P., Mr. R. N. Phillips, M.P, ani others.

Messrs. Harrison aud Sons, of Leicester, had also a
Stand, displaying a small but good euUectioQ of roots
■grown ftCiii that: .sua et-eds, ineludt»g ■*p«6in>e'« of titan

THE FARMER'S MACIA-ZINE.

Nofinantou Globe mangel aad D^limse sweJe.

\Vit!i this class of exhibits it will ba coQvenieut to notice
the Stand of Mejsrs. Dickson aad S ms, of Cliester, the
we!l-kuo\VQ nurservraea, fl jrists, aud seedsmen, on which
epeciinens of plants suitable for lawus, pleasure grounds,
plantations, &c., were shown.

MANURES AND FEEDING STUFFS.

l^Tessrs. Morris and Griflln, of Wolverhampton, showed
samples of artiliuial manures, and specimens of roots and
cereals grown therewith, from the far.ns of the Earl of
Gallo*vay, Sir F. Smythe, Sir R. F. Satton, Mr. W. O.
Foster, Mr. Patterson, .\Ir, B. Wilsni, and others. Their
customers, with the aid of roots grown with their niinures,
have succeeded in taking the following prizes in the show :
4 silver cups, 3 lirst prizes, 6 second prizes, and 7 com-
mendations.

Messrs. Proctor and Rylands, of Birmingham, who
contributed many of the extra prize money in the root
clashes, also showed samples of artiticial manures spe-
cially prepared to suit various crops, aud specimens of
cereals and roots which had been grown by their aid,
some of which were very excellent.

Messrs. Gibbs aud Co., Mark Lane, Lonlon, showed
their pure feeding cake, which is well known to inost-
agriculinrists asa feeding-stutf of great purity and prac-
tical value. The muniticence of this lirm in offering a cup
of the value of one hundred guineas contributed very
greatly to the success of the show. It is a very handsome
two handled goble*', and was won (as stated in report
of the live stock) by Lord Lovat, with a cross-bred Scotch
bullock, weighing 25i3wt. Oqr». 161b, — nadoabtedly the
best as well as the heaviest animal iu the show. Tills
firm also contributed a tifty-guinea piece of plate for the
best pen of sheep, which wa* won by Iwrd Walsing-
ham's Southdowusv

Messrs. Baach, of Dudley, showed samples of their
farinaceons food for cattle, sheep, aad pijs; Messrs.
Ayres, Chimbers, and Ayr, of Hull, exhibited their well-
known ronnd " Waterloo " cikes ; iiessrs. Hope and
Sons, of L uidon, had samples of their cattle -food, con-
diments, Hul spice; ilessrs. Spratt, of Bermjndsey,
L-iadon, their dog and poultry biscuits ; Mr. G. Clarke,
of L'meli'iuse, Lindon, their granulated meat, and
" Buffalo " biscuits, &c. ; Mr. J. Miller, of Tewkes-
bury, his cattle food aud artficial manures; Messrs.

33

their double plough and cultivator, and verticil engines;
Messrs. THi's^yle Brothers, Birmingham, their horiz )nt 1
Gna,ine, " Soles" engine, &\ ; Messrs. C. i'owis and Cj..,
L>n(lon, their very excellent new combined circular and
band sawing machines, and their liaudpovvar ma'jhincs on
the same principle; and Messrs. Turner, of Ipswich, h :d
an assortment of kibblers aud corn crushers. Messi-s.
Clayton and Shuttleworth, of Lincoln, exhibited their
well-known portable steam engine, and also their com-
bined thrashing and finishing nuchine, which c.innot be
surpassed, for practical utility and for strength of work-
manshipv Messrs Barford Perkins, of Peterboriud), had
a novelty iu the shape of a cultivator, which is "so con-
structed as to adapt itself to the uneven strain of the
rope; they aisi showed their usual steara-cnltivatin!<
apparatus, grinding mills, &c. The Bristol Iron Works Co.
hid a display, consisting of carts, a Float, anl Whcston's
seed distributors; the horse power distributor intendied
to sow artificial mauurea as well as seeds and grain,
is an implement which will likely comj into very
general use. Messrs. S. Corbett aud Son^ of Wellington",
showed their potato-digging plough, mills, and pulpors,
&8 , &o. ; Messrs. Corbett and Peele, of S-hrewsbury, their
turnip cutters, horse hoes, seed barrow, and niinp other
implements ; Messrs. J. Elwell, of BJrmiugliam, their
portable cattle cribs, troughs, hurdles on wheels, &'g., &.'. ;
Messrs Baylis, Jones, and Baylis, of Wolverhampton,
their sheep aud cattle hurdles and fencing ; Mr. Ilaudley,
of Birmingham, his French millstones, &c., &c. ; Messrs.
Harrison, WcGiogor and Co., Manchester, their pulpers,
chaff cutters, reapers and mowers ; Messrs. Barrows and
Stewart, of Banbury, their portable and vertical euginea;
Messrs. Ruston, Proctor, and Co., Lincoln, portable an-d
vertical engines, and circular saw ; The Atlas Engine Co.,
Birmingham, their horizontal and vertical engines ;
Messrs. Ransoms, Sims, and Head, their portable eugiae
and "A 1" finishing, thrashing machine; Messrs. May-
shall aud Sons, Giiu^borcugh, their portable s'.eam engine
and " A 2 " finishing thrashing machine ; Messrs. Hornsby
and Sons, Grantham, their portable engine, and combined
thrashing and finishing machine, together with mowers,
reapers, ploughs, turnip cutters, &c. ; the Maldoa
Iron Works Co., MUdon, their pulper-!, mills, crushers
chaffcutters, & ;. ; Messrs. Ilobey and Co., Lincoln, their,
! sixseen-horse-power (nominal) double-cylinder patent Roby
" Electric Light " dr^ed engine aud locomotive boiler com-

Tipper and Son. of B.rmingham, their game and dog I ^ined, in motion, fitted with a pair of steam ja.keted
cakes aud "round oilcakes; Mr. John Eagles, ot , nvii„rii.,.a ■ , . . . ' J

R,.h »,;, « P.i, ;,„" ..,ti_ _„i.,. ^r.„,.., ij.... .„,! '->""uera.

Bath, his "Champion" cattle cake; Messrs. Barr and
Co., Liverpool, their various and excellent feeding-stuffs ;
and last, but not least, the well-known name of Mr.
Joseph Thorley, of London, appeared over a stand in
which his famous "cattle food" was offered to the pub-
lic notice. It would be difficult to find a locality in the
country to which the name of Thorley has not pene-
trated.

MACHINERY AND IMPLEMENTS.

Messrs. S imnelson and Co., Banbury, had on view
their " Gem" grass mowirig machine, their " Handy"
manual delivery reaper, and various root pnipers aud cut-
ters. Messrs. Beutall and Co., Maiden, showed their
root pulpers, turnip cutters, chaff cutters, aud oilcake
mills. Ttie Albion Iron Works Co., Rageley, an assortment
of grist mills, corn mills, chaff cutters, wiih bagging and
blowing apparatus, self-acting horse rake, horse geir, &c.
Messrs Waite, Burnell, Hnggiugs, aud Cj. exhibited a
McCormick patent harvester, aud self-binder, and as far

improved feed-water heater and tank, founda-
tion plate, and patent high-speed governors, for ensuring
regularity and uniformity in working; Messrs. Pickiu, of
Birmingham, chaff cutters, mills, &c., &3. ; Messrs. Per-
kins and Sons, Lichfield, their double and single furri>w
ploughs ; Messrs. Woods, Cocksed^e, aud Co., Stowmarket,
their horse gtAvs, mills, pulpeis. aud a two-horse steam
engine ; Messrs. Hempsted and Co., Grantham, show a
very excellent vertical eugiae, which is strong, and adapted
for all kinds of work ; and Messrs. llichmoud and
Chandler, of Salford, their " Royal " cnaff cutters^
pulpers, slicers, corn crushers, &;!., &:;.

Amongst the miscellaneous exhibits- vro noticed the
stands of Messrs. Day, Son and Hewitt, I^ondon, with aa
assortment of their cattle medicines; .Messrs. I^aivreuce
and Co., London, showed refrigerati>r3 : Messrs. F. aad C.
Handcock, of Dudley, butter-washing machines; Messr.s
Daw and Sons, of Crewe, their " Drillield oils " &c .
Messrs. Binuey and Sou, Birmingham, their patent pacit-

as the limited space would allow, the action of this highly i ing for steam engines, which is of well-known quality ;

interesting macnine was demoiistr*ted. Mes.'srs. Handy- ; and lastly, the cup given by Messrs. J. Gibbs and Co.,

side, Andrew, and Co., Derby, showed their reapers and i for the best beast in the yard. Every foot of available

mowers ; Messrs. Hill and Smith, Brierly Hill, their ! space in both grouud floor aud galleries was fully

iron hurdles and fencing ;. .Messrs. Underbill, of Newport, I occupied.

35

THE FARMSRS magazine.

LIST OF PRIZES.
CORN'.
,, Tftlavf ra wlieat. — Prize, J. Hopkins, CLacsley, near
Tewkesbury.

Whi^e wheat — First prizR, Sir G. A. Clayton East, Ilall
T\<in' Farm, re;ir MaidenlieHd ; second, R. i'owler, BruugUton
F. m, aea'r Ayleslmry.

bed wkrat. — I'irst prize, J. G'paiorex, Stretton, near
]5ait m-on-Trent J secoud, J. W. Giffin, Towersey Manor,
Bucks.

Bit: ley. — First priz", J. J. Maiden, Hill Farm, near Big-
gleRwade ; second, E. Lythali, Rndford HhII, LeaminKt m.

Wliile oats. — First prize, J. Greatorex ; second, L.
Cnt'erell, llushcnmbe, near Twjfjrd, Berks.

BlacK oals. — First and second prize, N. P. S ilgoe. Adder-
bury, Oxon.

iJeans. — First prize, W. H. Toomer, Grove Hall, Twyford ;
secnnii, b. Cotterell.

While peas, — First prize, J. Hopkins; second, J. J.
Mald-n.

Blue or grey peas. — Prize, Sir G. A. Clayton East.

ROOTS.
Collection of Long Globe maagel and swedes. — Vnz?:,
va'uR 6 guineas (given by Messrs. Proctor and Ryland,
Birminniiam), R. 13. Bl>tli, Woolliampton, near Reading.

Swede turnips and Glolie mangels.— Silver cup. value 6
guineas (given by Messrs. Morris and Griffin, Wolverlismptou),
G. and J. Perry, Acton Pigott, Condover, Salop.

Collection oi Mammoth Globe and Golden Tankard rnangeU.
— Sliver cup, value 5 guineas (givea by Messrs. Suttnn and
Sons, Reading), W. VV. Cliaaipion, Manor Farm, Whitley,
Reading

Collection of Imperial Hardy swedes Mammoth and Prize
Yellow Globe and Champion Intermediate mangels. — Cup,
vahiR 6 guineas (given by Messrs. J. Carter and Co., London),
J. Give, Pinesfield Fann, Rickmansworth.

Kobl-Rabi.— First priie, G. on J J. Perry ; second, J. Hatt,
Thrupp Farm, Kidlinsiton, Oxon.

L'jng uiaugelj. — First prize (with 2 guineas added by
Messrs. Proc'or and Ryland), W. VV. Champion; secoud, the
Birniingham Tame and Rea District Draiiiage Board.

Globe and lutermediHte mangels. — First prize (with 1
guinea added by Messrs. Proctor and Rylind), W. W.
Champion ; second, J. Gave.

Swedes. — Silver cup, value 5 guineas (given by Messrs.
Sutton and Sons), G. and J. Perry.

Imperial swedes. — .Silver cup, value 5 guineas (given by
Messrs. Webb and Sous), G. and J, Perry.

Swedes of any variety — First prize (with 2 guineas added
by Messrs. Proctor and Ryland). G. and J. Perry; secoud,
Thomas Wardley, Hatlon, Market Drayton.

Common turnips, white flenh. — First prize, Jos. Hutt,
Ki'Jlington, Oxon ; second, Thomas Penn, Worminghall,
Oxon.

Common turnips, yellow flesh. — First and second priae, T.
L. M. Cartwrielit,Ladybank, Fife.

Carrots, with Belgian,— First and second prizes, U. Grist

■VWstbury, Wilts. ,

Carrots, of any other variety. — First prize, E. Pease, Green:

croft West, Darlington ; second, \V. Kerr, Dargavei Farm,

Dumfries.

Ox calibage. — First and .second prizes, S. Robinson, Derby
Koad, Melbourne, near Derbv.

POTATOES.
Twelve varieties. — First prize (also silver cap, value 5
guineas, given by Messrs. Sulton and Sons ; and silver medal,
value 2 guineas, given by Mr. Ottley, Speticcr Street, Bir-
miEgham, for best dish in llie show), Peter McKiiilay,
Jieel-enhara ; second, ,J. Pink, Sheldwicli, Faversham ; third,
H- W. Woods, Clipstone Park, Mans-field, Notts.

Eii^ht varie'ies. — First prize, cup, value 5 guineas (given
by Messrs. J. Carter and Co.), J. Pink ; second, G. and J.
Perry ; third, W. Finlay.the Gardens, Wroxton Abb.y, Ban-
bury.

Six varieties. — First prize, P. McKinlay ; second, G. and
J. Perry ; third, J. Pink.

tour varieties. — First prize, P. McKinlay ; second, J.

Pink ; third, H. W. Woods. The prizes in this class were

"■ivpD by ?-Iessr«. T. B. Thomson, Hiffh Street, Birmingham.

.F'iiht Varieties of new toilu lulrouuted iiiId cunuurrc<; in

1877or 1878.— Krstpriie, P. McKinlay; second, J. Piuk ;
third, T. Pickworth, Loughborough. The prizes in thi^ cUs*
were given by Mesrs. Hooper and Co., Coveut Gardeu
Market, Ijondon.

Astileat'kidnev. — F.rst prize, R. Dean, Bedfont, Hounslo^T
second, H. W. Woods, Mani-tield; tliird, W. Finlay.

Lanstoiie kidneys. — First and secoud prizes, H. W- Woods ;
third, R. Dean.

Regents or Dalraahoys.— First prize, R. Dein ; second, T.
Pickworth, Loughborough; third, W. Kerr, Dumfries.

Victoria. — First prize, T. Pickworth ; secoud, H. W
Woods.

Magnum Bonn -n. — First prize, 11. Dean ; second, G. Wise,
Woodco'e, Warwick.

Vermont Beau'y or Brownell's Beauty.— First prize, R.
Dean , second, 11. W.Woods.

Siiowflake, or other white-skinned Aiuericm variety.—*
First prize, W. Kerr, Dumfries ; second, R. Dean.

Any «liite-skinnea variety not provided for in classes 21 to
87. — First prize, W. Kerr ; second, R. Dean.

Any coloured-skinned variety, not provided for in classes 21
27. — First prize, P. McKinlay ; secoud, R. De.ru.

HULL AND EAST RIDING FAT STOCK
SHOW.

The annual fat stock and poultry show in connection
with the Hull and East Ridiug Society was opened oa
Dec. B at Hull. The show was held in the Rifle Bar-
racks and Grounds, where a temporary building had beea
erected. This is only the third show of the Society, but
such progress has been made that it was found possible on
this occasion to offer prizes aoiounting to over £1,000,
this being £300 in advance of last year, and double the
amount offered at tlie first exhibition. la addition to
numerous valuable cups three were offered, each of the
value of £100, but one of these — the challenge cup — has
to be wuu three times by the same exhibitor before it
becomes his property. The entries ia the different depart-
meuts numbered nearly one thousand, thus being con-
siderably in advance of last year. The entries of fat
cattle numbered 113, against 95 last year, and the entries
of bulh 9, as against 5. Sheep numbered 40, as against
30 ; and pigs 43, as against 46. 1q poultry and pigeoas
there was a large increase.

A finer exhibition of animals than that at Hull has
rarely been seen at any fat stock show throughout the
country. Geutlemen who visited Birmingham on J\Ion-
day say that the quality of the animals shown here far
surpasses the display at that well known show. Probably
the three prises of plate, valued at £100 each, has led to
the success which has marked the show, aud the Society
is to be congratulated on the result of its enterprise.
PRIZE LIST.
CATTLE.

SHOKTUORKS.

Ox, exceeding three years old. — First priae and cup, T,
Bond, North 'Ihi.resby, Louth; second, Tne Earl of Llles-
mere, Worsley Hall, Manchester; third. Sir J. D. Astley,
EUham Hall, Brigg.

Ox, not exceeding three years.— First prize, E. Abraham,
Barnetby-le-Wold, Lincolnshire; second. Earl Spencer, AJ-
tiiorpe Park, Northamptou ; third. Sir W. C. Trevelyan,
Waflington, Northumbeiland.

Cow, any age.— First prize, T.Willis, Carperby, Bedale;
second, R. N. Morley, Leadenham, Grantham; third, T. F.
Earle, Bolton, Caiterick.

lleiter, not exceeding four years.— First prize, J.Bruce
Buiuside, Fochabers, N.B. ; second, Tlie Etrl of Zstland'
Aske, Rishmond ; third. The Earl of Ellesraere ,

CROSS BliEtDS A^D SCOTCH BREEDS.

Cross-bred ox, exceeding three years. — First prize. Lord
Lovat, Beaufort Cast'c, Inverness ; second, J, and W. Martiu,
New Market, Aberdeen.

fToss-breil ox. not exceediag three years. — Fir«t pri.'r. Sir
^V. C. TrevelvH!! ; second, J. Tait, CritcUiP, Inr«fUi»».

THE FARMER'Js MAGAZINE.

57

Cross-bred row or heifer, any age. — Frrst prize aad civp, J.
Bruce ; secoud, tlie Exorf. ol t'. J ordau, Ets burn, DriffirlJ.

I'olled ox, cow, or lieiier, any age, — First prize, J. J. Col-
maa, Carrow Housp, Norwich ; secjnd, J. Keid, Grcystoue,
Aberdeen V tbird, W. MCoiubie, Tillylour, Aberdeen.

Hi.rned IligUliud ox, C)*,or beilVr, any ax?. — First prize^
The Diike ot Sutberiand, Golspie, Sutlierlaud ; secoud, Sir W>
C. Trevelyan.

HEREFORDS, DEVON'S, OR AXY OTHER BREED NOT
PRiVlOUSLY KAMEU.

Ox, COW, OS lieifer, any age. — b'lrst and second prizes, T.
- Nott, Lettun Court, l'>r»m)>ton Briarn, Hereford.

Two oxen, cows, or lieiiVrx, any age, brefd, or cros?. — First
prize, r. Bond ; second, J. Bovtujan, St. Mo»ance, Fiteshins-;
Ihird, J. Beid.

Tenant Farmers' Classes.

Shorthorn ox, any age. — First prize, VV. T. Wells, Withern,
Allord ; Btcond, J. il. Stephenson, Sanc'.ou, Brougli ; third,
T. Bond.

Shoithorn cow or heifer, any age. — First priie, R. VYright,
Nocton Heath, Lincoln; second, \V. Kuaptoo, K-ik, Low-
Uiorpe, lluil; third, J. Mashill, Brandsby, Ensingwold.

Ox, Cow, or heiler, any age, any other breed or cross. —
First prize and challenge cup, P. Dunn, Sigglesthorne, Hull;
becouU, W. Sadler, Whitkir'i, Leeds ; third, W. Colby, 'J'hol-
Ihorpe, Easiugwold.

Two oxen, COWS, or heifers, any age, breed, or cross. — First
prize, Messrs. Freshnsy, South Siimraercoatet, Grimsby ;
«eciind, VV. Wright, Hunihlcton, HuU.

Dtiiry cow, any age. — First prize, W.Waddington, Newing-
toD, Hull; second, G. Sargeut, Hull.

Shoitiioru bull, between the age of six and fifteen months.
— First prize, J. Rowley, Stubbs VVaideu, Pontefract ; secoud,
W. Linton, Sheriff Hutton, York.

SHEEP.

Three Leicester or longwool wethers, under twenty-two
niODihs old. — First prizn and cup, P. Dunn; second, J. P.
Ciarke, North Fernhy, Hull.

Three South or other Down wethers, under twenfy-two
months old. — First and second prizes. The Eirl of Zetland.

Three wethers, whitefaced or Down cro^s, under twenty-tvfo
mouths old. — First prizf, J. D. Gotland, Widdington Manor,
York ; second, J. Horub), Watlon Carr, Driffield.

Single sheep (not a ram) of any breed or cross, aay age.—
first prize, J. Hornby ; secon(', J. P. Clark.

PIGS.

Pig of large breed, any age. — Prize and cup, R. E. Daeter-
icg, Nortnorjie, Kirton Liudsey.

Pig of sjuall breed, exceeaiug twelve mouth''. — Fir«t prize,
R. E. Duckering ; second, T. Nicholson, Jvowtber Street,
York.

Pig of small breed, not exceeding twelve moDtha. — First
prize,'!'. Nicholson ; second, T. D. Lickiss, Skirl^ugh, Mull.

Piif of middle breed, excpediog twelve months. — First and
secoud prizes, \V. H. Ellis, Iloiderness Road, Hull.

Pig of niiadle breed, not exceeding twelve months. — First
prize, J, Wright, Cottingham ; second, R. E. Duckering.

PitC of black or Berkshire breed, any age. — First prize, C.

E. Duckering, Whitetioe, Kirton Lindaey ; second, J. Tenni-
»j", llcdon kuad, Hull.

Three pork pigs, under twenty weeks old. — First prize, C.

F. dallas, Alaucnester Road, lludderslield ; second, R. Wiles,
Leon&rd Sireet, Hull. — Lieds Mercury.

NO WORK ANDG001> PAY.— A curioas instance was
afforded at Woolwich, ou Monday, offhe practical working o
a strike. A wire drawer, named Thomas Bale, was summoned
by the PoorLiw Guardians for negltciing to support his wile.
Tiie accused said he was on strike from Middlesborough, and
had been receiving strike piy of £1 a week lor the last year
and nine months. h\ answer to the magistrate's suggestion
that he would have been better off by working, he exclai;ned,
in surprise, " What ! work for 2;2s. a week when I could get
2iJs. lor doing nothing '. "' Ue was ordered to pay Os. a week
to vardb the support of lU family.— rc^.?.

THE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ACT.

A meeting of the members of the Truro Agricultural Ex-
hange was held oc Wednesday, Dec. 4, lor the puipose of
di-cus4ig the Weigats and iVlsasurei Act and tie Highway.
Act. Mr. Jonalhiu Rashleigh, tlie president, cccmpieU tliw
chair.

M2. Branwell proposed that wheat, birley, and o:it»
should be sold by ihe imperul measure ot eight gallons, that
the weights should he such as hilherto obtained in tnat
market. Whrat Gulb,, barley 62ib., and oats 3Slb. to the-
bushel.

Wr. Joskpu Thomas thought the weight for the bushel of
Oats slionid be 371b.

A long discussion followed.

T'te ChaIkjivn rematKed that his opinion was that they
could sell either by »eif.'hl or measure, provided the projier
st mdard were used. He had prepared the following memorial
lor their approval or ociierwise ;—" The agricuLluraL exchange
of Truro respectfully reeomineud to tUs Board of Trade the
adoption of the weight of lU) inipeiial pounds, to be ust-4
alter January l>t, 1S79, as tue only standard weight, wilh its
ulicpiot part, for selling corn and all other S'llid agriculiural
products, excepting the sale of c<iutract3 relating to growing
corn. They also recommend that the lOU imperial pounds
weight should be given the name of 'cental."*

Mr. John MAGORuuvrfd tuu as an auieadaient, and Mr
Sara seconded.

The Amendment was put to the meeting, and 25 voted for
it, and 2i against.

SHALL WE KEEP GOATS?— A correspondent of the
Journal of Fureslry gives the lollowins; account ol the habits
ol these animals : — " Adjoining my premises are some young,
poplar trees, balsams, abeles, anl bUck Italians, from l>io to
four inches in diameter. Tliey are pkuied round a neigh-
bour's garden, and into this garden a )oung hall-grown goat
was turned for the amusement of his children. It was at first
tethered on the grass-plot, but it made such a perpetual
wailing cry, like a child iu pain when left alone, that iu con-
siueruiiou'ior those within ear-shot it wa>, towards midsummer^
lei loose to run about the garden at will. Of course it de-
stroyed everylhiog green wiiliiu its reach, exc p'- the c/rass^
whicu it never seemed to care lor. Yet the looJ ol its choice was
the bhtk ol trees, and by the end o' J uly it had completely pared
all the poplars of three or lour iuchss girth up lO auont lour
f et high, that is high as it coul . reach, standing on its hind
legs. Up to that height irom the ground it lelt theJi as cleua
and as bare ol bars as your offiae rul r."

our OF CHARACrEa.— Mr. Auberjn Herbert and his.
colleagues are surely badlv advised in the selection maue hy
them ol lo -ked-out labourers to parade the streets. Tlie
intention, I suppose, is to enlist the sympatliy of the Lon-
doners. But IS that the objt-ct best attained by turniug looss
bodies of apparently well-naunshed hearty-looking felloes,
the majority with short pipes in their mouths? " VVe grow the
corn, but must not eat the bread," may be a taking, though
not very truthful, moito. Siill spectators are apt to reply that
the money which is abundant enough to buy tobacco might
possibly be belter employed iu the purchase of bread. And
surely there are not a few London publicans who, when tha
labourers assert that they " gruw the hops, but must not
drink the beer," are iu a position to prove that this rule, like
all others, has it exceptions. — ff'arld.

"THE WRONG MaID, SIR."— A few days ago a couple
residing in the neighoourhood ot Bndestowe, Devon, went to
tlie parish church to he married. Ti'e bridegroom, instead of
taking his intended bride at the church ddor and accompanying
her to the altar, walked thither with the bride's sister, who
was one of the hridesfUiids. Tue bride appeared to Ivavo
thought that her iuteuded husband had changed his raiud a
the last moment, and she retired into a pew lu a very dejected
state of mind. The ceremony proceeded, and it was not uulil
the clergyman came to ihe very important question, " Wilt
thou have this woman to be thy wedded wiieP" that the
bridegroom wa< conscious of his mistake. lie then looked
round the church with astonishment, awd exclaimed, "T'lus is
the wrong maid, Sir ?" Tne right maid was soon lound ; the
ceremony was again commenced, and tiie rigiit mtid was mar-
ried to the right mnn, niach to thy satisfaction of all parties.

38

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

THE FOREIGN ANIMALS ORDER.

"At the Council Chamber, Whitehall, the 6th day of
IkcemDer, 1878. By the Lords of Her Majesty's Most
Houourable Privy Council. Present — Lord Prf sident. Marquis
of Silisbury, Mr. Secretary Cross, Mr. Cliaucellor of tiie
Excheiiuer,

•' The LorJa and others of Her Majesty's Most Honourable
P'ivv Council, by virtue and in exercise of the powers iu thera
vosied und-ir the Contagious Diseases (A.niiiial-) Act, 1878,
aal of every other povver enablin^f tiiem in this behalf, do
order, and it is hereby ordered as follows : —
" Preliininnry.
" 1. This Order shall take effect from and immediately after
the 31st day of December, 1878.

"2. Tiiis Order may be citfd as the Foreign Animals
Order and is divided imo p^rts as follows: — Part 1, Prohibi-
liou ; Part 2, Foreign Animals Wharves ; Pait 3, Quarantine ;
Part 4, Foreign Animals not subject to slaughter; Part 6,
General.

•' 3. This Order extends to Great Britain only.
" 4.. Iu this Order, the Act of 1878 means the Contagious
Diseases (Animals) Act, 1878, Customs means Her Majesty's
Cuitoms. Master includes a person liavin^j the chirge or
command of a vessel. O.her terms, unless it is otherwise ex-
pressed, have the same meaning as in the Act of 1878.
" Part I.— Prohibition,
" 5. Unless and until the Privy Council otherwise order,
animals brought from any of the following countries shall not
be landed in Great Britain:— Tne Austrian-Hungarian E npire,
the dominions of the Kinf of the Hellenes, the dominions of
the King of Italy, the Principality of Montenegro, the Prin-
cipality of Rouraania, the dominions of the Emperor of Russia,
and the dominions of the Sultan, including the Provinces of
Bosnia and Herzesjovina.

"Part II.— FoREiriN Anihais Whauves.
"6. The following are the port; at which parts have been
by special orders ot the Privy Council defined as foreign ani-
mals wharves :—Goole, Grimsby, HartJepool, London, Ply-
mouth, and Sunderland.

"7. Animals landed in a foreign animals ivharf shall be
slaughtered within ten days after tha landing thereof, exclu-
sive of the day of landing. The slaughter of the animals may
be commenced at any tine after the landing thereof with the
permission ot an Inspector of the Privy Council.

"8. No carcase, fodder, litter, or dnng, shall be moved from
a foreign animals wharl, except with the permission of an In-
specior ol the Privy Council. It the Inspector is of opinion
that any such circase or thing as aforesiiJ may introduce
diseas", the same shall be des'royed or o'Jierivise dealt with
iu accordance with instructions from time to time given by
the Privy Council.

" 9. Dung and manure shall before being moved out of a
foreign aniranls wharf be disinfected to the satisfaction of an
Inspector of the Privy Council.

" Pakt III. — Quarantine.
" 10. The following is the only port at which a part has
been by special order of the Privy Council defined as a foreign
animals quarantine station : Sjutiuimptou. Tiie foreign aui-
mah there landed iru-t be intended lor purposes of exhibitiun,
acclimatization, or domestication.

" 11. The landing thereof foreign animals is subject to the
following conditions :— First. The animals must be accom-
panied by a declaration of the owner or consignee or his
anient, to the effect that each animal is intended for one of the
ab ive-mentioned pu'poses (distinguishing the same). Second.
Tlie aninials when landed are to be det:iined in the sta'ion for
such period as the Privy Council iu each case according to
the circumstances direct. Third. Wlien moved thereout they
are to be accompanied by — {a) A certifi;ate of an Inspector
of the Privy (^,ouncil cerlifyinj; that they are free from di ease;
(4) A licence of the Inspector specilymg the place to which
hud the person to whom they are to be taken. Fourth. The
Inspector is to send a copy of his licence to the local authority
for that place. Fifth. They are not to be laiien to any other
place or person.

" 12. Ding anl manure shall before being moved out of the
station be dit infected to the sati-factiou of an Inspector of the
I'rivy Council.

" Pakt IV'. — Foreig.n Animals not subject to

SLAUGiriEK.

"13. Unless and un'il ihe Privy Council otherwise order,
foreign animals brought fr 'in any of the following countries
are allowed to be landed wi'hout being suljeot und-r the Fifth
Schedule to the Act of 1873. or under this order, to slauahfer
or to quarantine ; — Her Mnji'sty's possessions in Nortii
America, the United Sta'es of America, Denmark, Norway,
Sweflen, Spain, Portugal.

" ll. Forei^jn animals under Part IV. shall not be landed
at any place except at a dock, quny, wharf, or other place of
landing approved by the Privy C'lunei! within one of the port^
following : — Bristol, Cardiff, Falmouth, Glasgow, Gonle,
Granton, Grimsby, Hartlepool, L^ith, Liverpool, London,
Newcastle-jpon-Tvne, Plymoutfi, Portsmouth, Southampton,
Sunderland, and Weymouth.

" 15. The landing of foreign animals under Part IV. is
subject to the fallowing conlitions. lirst. — That the vessel
in which they are imported h^s not, within three months
before taking them on board, had on board any animals ex-
ported or carried coastwise from a port or place in any country
other than a country before named in this Pirt or the Channel
Inlands, or the Isle of Man. Second. — That the vessel has
not, since taking on board the animtils imported, entered any
such port or place. Third. — That the animals iaiported have
not, while on board the vessel, besn in contact with any
animals exported or carried coastwise from any such port or
place. Aud the animals imported shall not be landed else"
where than in a foreign animals wharf, unless and uitil (i)
the owner or charterer of the vessel in which they are importe'*
or his agent in Great Britain, has entered into a bond to He'^
Mhj 's'y the Queen, in a sum not exceeding £1,000 with or
witliout a sure'y or sureties to the satisfaction of the Com-
missioners cf Customs, conditioned for the ob^ervance of the
foregoing conditions ; and (2) the master of the vessel has on
each occasion of importation of foreign animals therein satis-
fied the Commistioners of Customs or their proper officer, by
declaration made aud signed or others i^e, tliat noue of the
animals then imported therein have been exported from such
a port or place as in this article mentioned and thit the fore-
going conditions have been observed in relation to all the
aiimals then imported therein.

" 16. Foreign* anima's under Part IV. shall not be moved
from the place of landing or laid adjacent theret ', or be
allowed to come in cimtact, witn any other animals until
they have been examined by an Inspctor of the Privy
Council ; and according to the result of that inspection the
following consequ -nces will ensue — (I) If the Inspector cer-
tified that all the animals landed from the same vessel are free
from disease, tl'ey shall thereupon cease to be deemed foreign
animals. (2) It the Inspectcr certifies, with respect to any
one or more of the auimah l^iiled from the vessel, that it or
tlii'y is or are affected with disease, all the animals then im-
ported in the vessel bliall be dealt with according to tlie fol-
lowing rules : —

" A. Cattle Plague. — If the disease is cattle-pla;ue, the
Inspector is to detain the diseased animal, and all animals
brought in the sime vessel therewith, and report immediately
to the Privy Council.

" B. Pieuro-Pneuraonia. — If the disease is pleuro-pneu-
monia, the Inspector is to cause the diseased cittle and all
cattle brought in the same vessel therewith, to be denlt with
as follovvs : — 1, The diseased cattle are to be slauglitered at
the plnce of landing ; 2, The heilthy cattle are to be
slau'htered at the place of landing, or, it landed at a port at
which there is a forei,;n animils wliar', the Inspector may
periiii- thein to be removed into that wharf for sliughter, but
not elsewhere.

'' C. Foot-and-Month Disease. — If the disease is foat-and-
moutli disease, the Inspector is to cause the diseased animals,
and all caitle, sheep, and swine brought in the same vessel
therewith, to be dealt with as follows; — 1, The aise-ised cattle,
sheep, and swine are to be slauglitered at the place ot landing.
2, I'he healthy c ittle, sheep ami swine are to be slauglitered
at the place of landinir, or, if landed at a port at which there
is a foreign animais wharf, the Inspector may permit thera to
be r -moved into that wharf lor slaughter, but not elsewhere.

" D. Sheep-pox and Sheep-scab. — If tlia disease is sheep-
pox or sheep-scab, the inspector is to cause the diseased sheep
and all sheep brought ia the s.<«iue vessel therewith, to be dealt

THE FAKMER'8 MA(iAZI:^'E.

39

with as follows: — (]) The disfased sheep are to be slaughtered
atthepUceof landing. (2) The healthy ^l^eep are to be
slaughtered at the pince of landing, or, i' landed at a port at
which there is a foreiijn aiiiirals' whjirl, theiuspector raiy per-
mit them to be removed into that whan for slaughter, but not
elsewlierp.

" 17. Forpign animals nuder Part IV. shall he detained in
some lair or other proper plnce adj icent to llie place of Nnding
and shall be inspected by an Inspector of tlie Privy Council,
ihe detention shall continue f')r at lesst 1"2 hours reckoned
from the time of the findintc of the la>t animal of the carjjo,
whether the whole cargo is landed ."ontinuou^ly without inter-
misiiion at one pUc, or part thereof is Itnded at one pl<c»> and
part at another place, or parts thereof are lauded at different
times at the sxnie pl-tce.

"18 If an Insp-ctor of the Privy Council finds disease in
any animal of a car.'O, every animal in each separate part of
the cargo shall he de^tlt with as if that disease had been found
in an animal in each sepurnte p»rt. Il he finds nore diseases
than one among the animals of a cargo, all the auiinals brought
in the sinie vessel therewir.li shall be dealt with as fullow.s : —
(I) If one of the diseases is cattle-plasue, every animal in each
separate part of the cargo is to be d> alt with in accoid-mce
with rule A of article 16. (J) It'the diseases are pleuro-pui-u-
Itania and slieeppox or sheep-scab, the cattle ia each separate
p*rt (if the cargo are to be dealt, with in accordance with rule
B, and the sheep in each separate part of the cargo are to be
dealt with :n accordance with rule D of that article. (3) If
one of the diseases is foot and-month disease (there being no
caltlfl-plngue), every animal in eaeh separate part of the cargo
is to be dealt with in accordance with rule C of that article.

" 19. Where ao animal forming part of one cargo of forrign
animals under Part IV. has not been kept separate from an
animal forming part of another cargo of foreign animals, all
the animals fonuin^- those two cargoes shall be dealt willi as
if they formed one cargo.

"20. An Inspector of the Privy C luueil may detain, for
any period that he tliinks necessary or proper, any foreign
animal under Fart IV. which he has reason to suspect is
<lisp»spd or may introduce disease.

" 21. No animal, carcase, fodder, litter, or dung shall be
removed from the lair or other place adjacent to the pUce of
landins; where foreign animals under Part IV. are detained,
except with the permissiun of an Inspector of the Privy
Council. If the inspector is of opinion thnt any sueli animal
or thing as aforesaid inaj introducf' distase, the same shall
be flantrhtered, destroyed, or otherwise dealt with in accord-
ance with instructions from time to time given by the Privy
Council.

''22. Nothing in Part IV. shall prevent the landing of any
foreign animal at a farei/jn animaU' wharf if the owner of the
animal or his agent in Great Britain or the consignee thereof
ao desires.

'■ Cn.\XNEL Islands. — 2.3. Unless and until the Privy
Council otherwise order, animals brought from the Channpl
Islands shall he snhjpct to the foregoing provisions of Purt IV

" IsLE OF Man. — 2i. Unless and until the Privy Council
otherwise order, animals brought from the Isle of Man are
allowed to be landed without being sutjpct under the 5th
schedule to the Act of 1878, or under this Order, to
slaughter or to quarantine, or to the foregoing provisions of
Part IV.

"Part V.— General.

" 25. All foreign animals when landed at a port in Great
Britain shall when lauded, be placed under the charge of an
Inspector of the Privy Council.

" 26. All animals for the time being in a foreign animals'
wharf, or in a foreign animals quarantine station, or in a
place of landing for foreign animals, within Part IV. shall be
deemed foreign animals, and the regulations wliiidi apply to
the wharf, or station, or place of landing shall apply to all
th'ise auirr.als.

" 27- Where an Inspector of the Privy Council or the person
in charge of a (brtign animfll.s' whiirf, or of a foreign animaU'
quarantine *.tation, or of a phtce uf landing for foreign animals
witliin Part IV. sthxes at or near thp entrnnce thereof a notice
to the effect that pi-rsons entt-riiig that whart, or station, or
placenill be required before leaving to disin'ect themselves
an their clothes, then every person shall oa being requested
comply with the terms of that aatice.

" 2S. Notwithstanding anything in this Order, where a ves-
sel comes into port having on board foreign ani nals maimed
or injured oa the voyage, the owner, consignee, or other per-
son in charge thereof, or the master of the vessel, shall, if di-
rected by the ^Inspector of the Privy Council, or may, if he
thinks til slaughter tho^e auima's or any of them i ninediately
on their being lauded; but the c^rca^sor any such animal is not
to be moved from the place of landii'g, or aomela;r or slaughter-
house adjacent thereto approved by llie Privy Council, witiiout a
ceriificatrt from the insp utor cerliiying that it is not likely to
introduce disease.

" 29. Where any regulation relating to foreign animals
is in operation, the local authority and all constables and
police offieers shall assist the iuspector of the Privy Council
to carry the sam« into elfect and to eufoice the same, and
shall do or cause to be done all tilings from line to time
necessary for the effectnal execution ol the same.

" 30. It a vessel arriving has on board the carcase of a
foreign animal, horse, ass, or mule which was taken on board
for the purpose of importation, but lins died (m the voyage,
the m",ster ot the vessel shall, immediately on arrival, report
the fact to the principal officer ol Customs at the port. Tiie
carcase shall not be iandrid or discharged from the vessel with-
out the permission in writing of the principal idficer.

"31. Where it appars to the principal officer of Customs
with respect to any foreign auiinal, or any lodder, or other
article, brought by sea that disease may be thereby convened
to animals, he may seize and detain the same, and he shall
forthwith report the fact to the Commissioners of Custom,
who may give such directions as they ihink fir, either for the
slaughter or destruction, or the lurther detention thereof, or
for the restoration th'reof to the owner on such cunJiliuns, if
any (including payment by the owner of expenses incurred
bytiiera in respect of detention thereof), as they tiiir.k fit.

"C. L. PEEL."

LIVE STOCK NOTES.

At length a gleam from behind the clond ! Certain it
is that there is no demand for any wool bales that tha
farmer may have nursed in hope. Barley, except of
the priuiest snmple, obtains no offer. But the papers of
this morning give new and welcome hope; and that, in
accordance with, and support of all, I have ever iireached
ia these culuitius. Next year, the Premier trusts, will
see another state of things. Already he thinks the corner
has been turned; and moreover, in the more determined
energy of America over Europe he sees au opening — he
finds grounds for expectation of our conatry's renewed
pros^)erity. A Welsh paper of this morning, moreover,
gives a report of a lecture by that intelligent observer,
Mr. Vivian, M.P., vi'ho has recently spent some time ia
study of the resources of America. There is much in
his remarks to interest and encourage all classes of the
community ; but what applies more directly to our liue
of thought is his statement that \a the comparatively
"settled" parts of America he was surprised to find lots
of forest ground yet unreclaimed, lots of trees yet uu-
felled — so much the better obviously for the future. A
large old pear-grove on my farm I decided to save from
the axe, as a reserve fund of fuel in case the supply of coal
came seriously to wane — we were so terribly frightened
on that score a few yenrs since. Incidental ly one gains
new courage from Mr. Vivian's assurance that the w^orld
must really be an " old one " be'ore, at least, the Trans-
atlantic coal-tields are exhausted. Now that gas has had to
draw in its horns before the electric light there is yet
better hope for the lasting of the supply. But, to retura
to the trees ; of course when it does come, through the
revival ol energy and the spread of colonists, this timber
is utilised, and the laud of its occupation tilled, there will
be new demand fur stock of all kiuds to furnish it with.
Cheer up, then, breeder 1 Thiu off, clear off only such
as you " Biust, for cash" reasons, 6cad to market ; pre'
serve, nurse the beet. Above all things, don't kill tha

4lO

THK FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

goose that lays t!ie gollen esas ! Do all you can, strain
every muscle' and nerve to be enabled to reserve for the
future 1 be material for reproduction. This distress cau-
not last much longer. Don't hope to make much of
«orn. Straw for litter you must have ; and a fair sup-
ply of mood firain you may secure, by dint of care and
outlay, if you are" smart at your occupation: but don't
look for improved prices. Mr. Vivian informs us that
they are meditating a canal from Lake Erie, by help of
vfhich the conveyance of grain vpill be even yet greatly
cheapened. This will be a glad fact so far as the feeding
of stock is concerned. England, as we boast, is the
breeding stilion of the world as far as regards cows, pigs,
sheep, and horses. Even ihoutrh France may claim to
rival us in regard to the last, it is to be remembered that
thev obtained the root from us; and they will be con-
tinually comine: over for the elements of improvement.
Let us do our best, not only to hold our own, but to add
to their excellence. There is room in many ways and
places for improvement. By selection, by new crosses,
byjiidicisus feeding much remains to be done. Some
families snfFer from an excess of in breeding, others need
its adop'ion. The various new herd and stud-books that
ure being compiled wil have their eminent use in afford-
ing information where to obtain the most carefully-
protected strains, the bluest blood. And the breeder then
must be a man of method, of thought, and energy. In the
coming year there will be many opportunitii.'S of securing
good animals. Some of the most famous Shorthorn
breeders will be selline drafts, notably Lord FitzhardiQf<e,
Colonel Kingscote, Lord Sktlmersdale, Rev. P. Graham,
&c., &c. ; when herds get overfull a thinning must occur;
in fact, excellent animals are continually being sold in one
corner or another of our island home. There is now theop-
portunity, too, of trying, as Cwlonel Gunter bravely s^'ows
the way,* to recover "constitution and milking aptitude iu
the cow without sacrificing type. Theday must come when
breeders buy again, as the Collings and men of their day
did, animals for their thorough personal excellence as well
as for their paper (where reliable) pedigree. I introd'uce
the words between paientheses, because, unhappily, there
are cases in which more than suspicion attaches to given
pedigree. Terrible is the temptation to the needy and
unprinciple-' ; and there is no protection to the buyer
against itj except in the physical character of the animal
itself and the reputation of the breeder. I mentioned
lately a cabal amongst the local breeders to carry off the
prizes at a recent country show, by sorting their re-
epective herds, pairing this cow with that bull, &c., so as
to sweep the board and share the spoil. I could not have
believed it possible if it had not occurred.

A very successful exhibitor of fowls, and a thoroughly
good fellow, replied to me lately, " 0 yes, I have lent
dozens of fowls for other people to show, but they won't
let us do that now." lie evidently saw no harm in it,
and he is a man that any of his acquaintances would irnst
implicitly. It only shows how elastic is the tie of mo-
ralitv. An excellent judge, remarkins to me lately
on the pedigree of some animals sold, said, " T/iey don't
look\i. I'll have nothing to do with them." There is
no doubt that the different families established by various
breeders have their own peculiar shape and style which
are eas'ly discernible by the initiated. You can distin-
guish between them as easily ri you can between the
schools of modern painters. It only requires study, and a
love of the art. The only danger of breeding is the
" losing g..od qualities," whelher type, aptitude to faUen
or milk, size, &c. There is no donbt that Mr. R. Booth,
through Mr. R. CoUiutj'a Red Rose blood, and Mr.
Bateg^ through Duchess, managid by excessive in-
breeding (which has quite attained its limit) to establish
typta of excellent character, which the bulb of Warlaby

and Kirklevington impress upon any cattle with whick
they are paired. The eye, I insist upon it, in the future,
must have its weight in deciding t'.pon the merits of a
tribe. It won't do to talk nonsense about " pure T," or
" pure Cj" " pure D ;" there is no siicAthinj. Tlie
expression may be leading-strings for the beginner; but
great breeders have never allowed themselves to be fet-
tered in that way.

There have been many losses from sheep " doing too
well" on turnips. Many have had to be "stuck," and
many have died before the vet. has arrived. Shepherds
and farmers seem thunderstruck when the raoriality
begins. An immediate and certain care is to dose them
with a wineglass of water in which a teaspoonful of
citrate of magnesia has been dissolved, twice over at inter-
vals, and oftener if required, and then insist upon the
turnips being pulled and clipped some days before they
are used. A half-crown bottle of " citrate " does a lari^a
number. " Last year," Mr. Vivian informs ua,
" 2, 320, 840 of these animals (pigs) were slaughtered ia
Chicago, that was to say, 7,736 per day, or five every
minute through the twenty-four hours throughout the
year." Terrific, but most interesting calculation 1 This
ought to stimulate tbe Berkshire men to ne-v exertions,
their breed being popular in America. The value of a
breed evidently depends upon its use, not only per se,
ut in giving a fillip to other breeds. The relative merits
of the Hereford and Shorthorn cattle have long since
been discussed in the pages of the Farmers' 3htgazine.
There is no Uie reviving the subject. Facts are facts, and
seeing that in Herefordshire itself Shorthorn bulls are
bought and used on the native cows, what are we to con-
clude? I might state much more, but as there is excel-
lence in both sorts, let the breeders of each, in their
respective vocation, do their best to maintain, if they
cannot improve, the one they have adopted for their own.
A friend iu Queensland tells me that they object to the
Hereford cattle, as they get so " wild in the bush you
oannot get ride within a mile of them ;" who would have
expected this of such a civilised breed?

Vigil, Dec. 7.

RABBIT TRAPS.— A lady writes to the Worhl:—"\
don't know it you know it, but )ou are extensively read by
country gentlemen ; and I want you to say a few words to
llietn about tlie brutality of the traps in use at present for
catching hares and rabljits. I d^re say you are familiar with
the sight of the odious tilings, so I won't; describe tUera ; but
I am sure no one can think of what tliey rciilly are, or in tin
civilised age they must have been done a^vny with long ajjo
When I tell you that the, otiier day my consiu and I were ou
for a walk in a lovely part of these Purbeck HilN, and wer
frightened dreadfully by loud screuns (mil you remember Im
not nervous), and wheu I also tell >ou ihat these sceam
went on lor lialf an houfj and proceeded from a poor little
so't-ejei bunnie, I am sure you will do something m their
cause. The trap is attached to a chain and pe^ijed down,
and the poor little tlii'isis are C'.ugiit in a vice, that goes
through one leg and breaks it wh:le holding it tightly, and
they run round and round in their sgony, until the ga nekeeper
takes his evening walk, unless ti.ey are liappy enough to be
8 en by some passer-by and kiailly knocked on the head. We
tried our host to release the rabbit we found but couldn't open
the trap ; and I am (jlaJ to say we unset all we could find,
and we f mnd five before we left. But surely, surely some
one chu invent either a painless way of catcliing tliera, or a
trap that c;in kill them as soon us cauf^ht. A triendofours
told me that he always takes a stick out *ith him, simply so
tlut lie may be able to ftnish the misery of the little captives ;
and be said he had seen a field where the turnip-beadu were
all knocked otf in complete circles where the trapped liares
and rabbi » had run round and round while in the traps. Do
pleabe write a few lines about tliis,"

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

41

THE SMITHFIELD CLUB SHOW.

The Slat exhibition of the Sinilhfield Club, which
came to a close on December 13, has been one of the
most successful the Club has ever held, as far as llie
creditable nature of the" Show itself is concerned. With
respect to the attendance, there is a discrepancy in
the accounts which have appeared, and the oflicial
statement which wo expected, has not yet arrived.
The arrangements of the Show were excellent,
in spite of the absence of the Assistant Secretary (Mr.
I'ullen). Sir Brandreth Gibbs has been busy with the
ad'airs or the Club since September, and by his exertions
he has been able to make np for Mr. Pullen's absence.
During the Show week the firm, of which he is the head
(Messrs. Thomas Gibbs and Co., of Piccadilly), placed
their staff at his disposal, and were on that account
obliged to give up their usual exliibition of roots, &c.
A considerable number of the fat stock were sold at fair
prices, but a good mauy remained for sale at the
Christmas market.

The numbers of animals shown in the different cattle
classes were as follow : — Devons, 29 ; Ilerefords, 22 ;
Shorthorns, 39 ; Sussex, 30 ; Norfolk and Suffolk Polled
•t; Scotch, IS; "Welsh, 3; Cross-bred, 32. Of sheep
there are, Leicesters, 9 pens ; Cotswolds, 9 ; Liiicolns
8; Kent, 7; Southdowns, 33 ; Hampshire and Wiltshire
Downs, 2-i ; Shropshire Downs, IS ; Oxfordshire Downs,
11; Cheviots, 5; Mountain breeds, 10; Ryeland and
Dorset, 7 ; Cross-bred, 16. Of pigs there were G3 entries.
Thus, the totals present are Cattle 177, Sheep 150, Pigs
G3- The entries, which should be given to compare with
those of previous shows are stated in the following table,
it will be seen that there wee only live absentees : —

Devons

Ilerefords...
Sliorthorns..

Sussex

Scots & other

breeds ...

Sheep

I'igs

Total entry..

1870

1871

1872

1873

1874

1875

1876 1877|

.S3

40

3:

46

33

31

45

30

43

30

2'-

33

23

22

33

21

45

41

4:

65

32

33

53

32

26

28

2J

33

32

27

36

31

2S

2fi

2-i

16

54

72

74

59

182

149

16^

18 S

177

161

153

172

5.5

6(.'

5(.

49

47

46

61

52

in

411

42i

486

398

392

455

391

1878

29
23
41
30

59

156

63

401

Coming to details, there is much to be said in
praise of the show, for the quality was good, and the
general average of the horned stock was more practically
useful than we have ever seen in a fat stock show. There
were very few overdone animals, and fewer still that had
run into age, waste, and unsightliness ; the finish of most
of the stock was good — much better than last year — and
in certain divisions of the show the general improvement,
and progression toward practical utility was very marked
indeed. In some divisions the merit was not of a high
order, and, as we remarked last week, there was no star
of great magnitude to be found in the Ilall ; but the
animals iu the great majority of instances had been vidl

bred and well-fed, were useful if not gaudy, and whilst
thsre was only hero and there a (list-rate show animal to
be found, the butchers showed their judgment by buying
up quickly many good bullocks, which the Suiithfield
Club judges had been obliged to pass over entirely.
Nevertheless, whilst paying our cheerful tribute to the
real worth of the show, wc cannot say that the first-prize
standard, if we may be allowed such an expression, was a
very high one. When the musters were made for the
champion prizes, the class-prize winners were not a
very grand lot of show animals; but this is not the stand-
point from which we judge of the real merit and useful-
ness of the Show. We were far more giatified to see the
general average good, and practically useful, than to have
spent the greater portion of our time in admiration of
some one or two animals greatly out of the common. It
would have added considerably to the interest of the Show if
the competition bad been open to the animals fromBinglcy
Hall, and we should particularly have liked to see Lord
Lovatt's cross-bred, the liev. Bruce Kennard's Shorthorn,
and Mr. McCombie's polled Scot, at Islington. How-
ever, in spite of the absence of the best Birmingham
animals, and notwithstanding two weak divisions, the
cattle at Islington weie greatly to our mind; and we
trust another year to see a still greater improvement
worked out on the same Hues.

The Devons were put first on the catalogue, as is the
usual plan at Islington. These, as a whole, we considered
a very useful lot of cattle con tain ing some excellent butchers »
beasts. The quality could not be grumbled at, but the
character of many of them was not of the South Devon
or " South Ham," type, than that of North Devon. Yv'"e
fail to see any improvement in the Devon classes; they
appear to remain at about a dead level. ossibly the
breed may bo goingbackalittle, as it is difficult to maintain
a stationary position in any competitive struggle; atany rat„
the Devon classes were no better than they were at Isling.
ton last year. The younger class of Steers was not a very
good one ; Mr. Senior's first prize animal was firm under
the hand and had a well-covered back, but he was nr^
really good at either end, and the second prize animal
belonging to the same exhibitor was nothing out of the way.
Both these Steers were bred by Lord Portraau.
The Prince of Wales obtained a commendation for a
good handling little bullock bred by Mr. Stranger ; but it
was noticeable that none of the prize winners in this class
were bred by the exhibitors. The next class, for Steers
not exceeding three years and six months old, was certainly
a better one, but yet not a good one. Mr. Overman's
bullock, which took the first prize in the class, and also
the Breed Cup as the best Devou in all the classes, was
very fat, and rather a soft handler, bare on his shoulders,
aud plain in his rounds ; but he had a good back and loin,
and an excellent flank. The Prince of Wales's second

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•.^2

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

prize boast was rather (lat-ribbed, and had a plain rump ;
it was bred by Mr. Stranger. Her Mnjesty the Q'leen
sliowed a plain buUoclc— as usual. In the class for elder
oscn, ^U: W. Suiith's fust prke beast, bred by himself, is
a. very useful butchers' animal, rather uneven, aud not a
first rate animal. There was not much to choose between
liim and Major Bailor's second ; both are useful, and
neither very ornamental. It will be seen that both the
Prince of "Wales and Major BuUer win with Mr. R.
Strar^ger's blood ; and the cup animal, exhibited by Mr.
Overman, as wtU as a third prize older buUocfe, were
bred by Mrs. Clark, from the stock of the Earl of
Leicester. Tiie three heifers exhibited obtained the first,
second, and third prizes. Mr. Walter's was fnll of flesh,
but a poor first ; Mr. Smith's second was flat-sided, and of
no thickness even for a Devon ; and Mr. Overman's third,
was a deep barrelled, short-legged, useful animal which
m-'ght as well have been placed higher. The cows were
perhaps a trifle better, Mrs. Langdon's be'ng very fat
along the back, and Mr. Walter's a fairly good Devon.
This division of the Show did not contain anything very
good or particularly bad, and very few of the winners
were bred by the exhibitors,

Hefcfcrds certainly disappointed us. There was
Kothintr as good as was Mr. Piatt's champion Hereford
ox at Birmibgham, The winner of the cup as the best
Hereford was an ox bred by Mr. J. U. Farmer, and ex-
hibited by Mr. R. Wortley. He was over four years old,
with good loin and back, and a deep animal ; but he was
■oi .no great scale nor thickness, and was rather plain on
his rump. Considering what an Hereford ox ought to be,
and often is, at our great stows, this was a poor cham-
pion. The only other ox over four years was a very
plain one exhibited by the Earl of Darnley. The class
for steers not exceeding three years and six months old
was a fairly good one, containing some useful animals,
it will be seen that there is an advantage of three months
in this class over the corresponding one of last year,
and it will be remembered that there was only one entry
in it then, whereas, this year there were six entries.
This is an improvement, as the class is the most impor-
tant of all. Last year there were six entries in the class
for oxen above four years old, and this year only two ;
this, too, is a change in the right direction. As we
• remlrked at the time, there can be no advantage to
either breeder, fteder, or consumer in keeping animals a
year after they are ripe to feed them into waste and de-
formity, and we say again, thit there is no necessity for
the aged class of bullocks in any of the pare breeds, ex-
cepting, perhaps, the Highland Scots. The first-prize
Hereford in this class was exhibited by the Earl of
Powis, and bred by Mr. J. Price, of Pembridge. This
animal was first in the nest younger class last year, and
has greatly improved. H« is tk)w well finished and
handles to perfection. Kis chine, back, and loin are excel-
lent, but he falls off m his hind quarters. He is in some
reflects better than Mr. Wortley's champion, but rightly
■nbccd below hini on the whole. Both are good Here- j

fords, but neither of thera belong (o the very fron
rank. Mr. Wortley's ox weighed 2) cwt. 3 qrs. lO lb.,
and the Earl of Powis's steer 17 cwt. 3 q:-s. 1 lb., live
weight. Mr. Lewis Lloyd's second-prize animal was a
particularly useful bullock, rather plain in front of his
shoulders, but having good back, ribs, and rounds ; he was
not by any means to be despised. Another beast of the same
kind of merit was Mr. Groves', bred by Mr. T. L. Meire.
Altogether these bullocks were a very creditable lot, aud
the class is one which requires to be encouraged in all thg
divisions. Those who intend an animal for this compe-
tition are beginning to see tliat it must not be overdone
in the next younger siage, and that may be the reason
why the yonnger steers are not so well finished, or
rather not finished at all. Thus the Earl of Powis
showed a promising animal, bred by Mr. J. Price, in the
class for steers not exceeding two years and six mouths
old ; he stands rather high, but is of nice quality, aud
may come out well another year, and obtained second
prize. Mr. Wortley was to the front with one of Mr,
P. Turner's breeding, which was very fat, but rather
plain and narrow behiud. Mr. Lewis Lloyd's steer is a
very promising beast, and the one shown by Mr. J.
Morris was also a faiily good one. Mr. Justone's steer
is of a very taking style, and may be heard of again.
There were only two cows and two heifers in this divi-
sion, and one cow and one heifer worth showing. These
were- a very nice quality heifer, low, deep, and square,
bred and exhibited by Mr. James, of Mappowder,
Dorset, and Mr. C. Williams's cow, bred by j\Ir. S,
Yeld, of Leominster; both of these were excellent
animals and (airly good show Herefords. It cannot be
said that the white faces looked very well as a whole, or
that they improved at all in detail. They have not improved
as a division either at Islington or at Birmingham the
last two years ; and this is greatly to be regretted, as
the stock in breeders' hands was probably never better
than now, and the breed itself is as popular as ever
amongst those who know how to keep it in its proper
place. We should be sorry to think that Hereford
breeders and feeders were losing interest in public compe-
titions^ and yet we scarcely know how else to account
for the facts.

The Shorthorns were better, as a whole, than we have
seen them before in a fat stock show. Last year we did not
hesitate to call them a " mixed" lot, and a very mixed lot
they were ; this year they ai-e the best division in the show.
We do not say that all the Hhorthorns were good, but we
say that the classes were all good, and amongst all the
exhibits there was not one really bad, or very indifferent.
The animals were less -uneven than usual, less patchy,
and, as a rule, far better bntchers' beasts. Gi eat gobs of
fat were not common, aud to the best of our knowledge
there was not a very unsightly animal in the whole lot
There was more beef than tallow, and we are happy to
ehronicle the event, giving honour where it is due with
greater pleasure than censure where that is due. The
-Champion beast of the Show was a Shorthorn heifer

THE FARMER'S MAGAZI^TE.

(Tcicif), 3 \cars 10 months '2 ncLks olil, bred aiiil cxHi"
bited h\ ilr. E. Slraltoii; Tlie DulTiyn, Newport, Mon-
nifuthsLire. Her live weight was IS cwt. 3 qrs. S lb.,
atiil ber girth was about 9 fret. Tlie piizcs won by th's
hnfer were the 100-guiiicas Cliainpioa Plate for the best
beast in t^e Show, the £50 silver cup for the best heifer
or cow in (be pure-bred classes, the £40 silver cup for
the best Shorthorn, and the first prize of £20 for the best
heifer in class 14. We do not consider this lieifer as
^ood a Shorthorn as the Rev. Bruce Kcunard's lole at
IJingley Ilali, whijh weighed over one cwt. more, and
was of better style and character ; but still she was un-
doubtedly a first-rate animal, very level and evenlj fid,
and as round as a barrel. The quality was undeniable,
the bone small, no patches and excrescences of fat, and
the animal itself bu It on a small scale, with nothing
coarse about her. She won fairly enough. The second
prize lieifer was bred and exhibited by Mr. J. J. Ratcliff,
and is a Shorthorn of great merit, whi3h may be heard
of again. Mr. Slocomb's third prize animal was another
real ^ood one, with exceUeiit cliinc, back, and vunds
short on the legs, and of great thickness. Sir John
Swiuburi.e's heifer — hig'ily commended — had a faulty
rump, and scaicely deserved to be placed before the capital
heifer exhibited by the Administrator of the late Mr. T.
Simmonds. Altogether this was an excellent class, very
creditable both to breeders and feeders. Shorthora cows
arc often one of the worst classes in the Show, but that
cannot be said of them this year. They were not as good
as the htifers, but were a far more level lot than usual.
Amongst them was the well-lraown Blooming Bride from
the Stand Stud Company, which obtained a commendation
only. That in itself speaks well for the cows. Amongst
the oxen, of which there were five entries, was Mr. S
J?ult's benst which obtained the £oO cup as the best ox
or steer in the pure-breed classes, and, of course, the first
prize in the class as well. lie bad a struggle with Mr.
Wortlt-y's nereford to obtain the former award, but he
was honestly the better beast, although there is room for
fault-fiuding. lie is a massive beast, weighing
22 cwt. 2 qrs. 15lb., very thick through the henrt,
and full of firm flesh ; but he is not a very first rate
show animal, being somewhat plain on his rump, flat in
the outside flank, and small in the twist for a beast of his
scale. Sir R. Musgrave's second-prize ox was also a good
one, and Mr. J. Mackessack's third-prize bullock was a
square made, wealthy Shorthorn, full of good quality
beef. The Kentucky bu'lock was coarse. The Shorthorn
steers not exceeding three years and six months old were
a strong and- good class of ten entries, against only one
ent y in the corresponding class last year. This again is
highly satisfac'ory. The first prize winner, exhibited by
!Mr. J, J. Coleman, and bred by Mr. E. Hubbard, was a
fairly good Shorthorn, nothing out of the way, but
not one of the front rank. His live weight was IS cwt.
and 2.3 lb., and the quality of his meat was good. The
second and third prizes went to Mr. D. M'lutosh for
bullocks of his own breeding', both of good quality and

very creditable. The whole of the diss were mno'i
better Shorth )rn bullocks than one usually sees. The
yoiiuger steers bore examination wtll, aud amongst them
were some praniising an'mals, such as Mr. C W.
Schroder's stylish liltle steer, short, but well fed aud a
good handler; Mr. J. Slratton's steer was bare in pt.ices,
but of good quality, and the third-prize steer, bre>l and
exhibited by Colonel Lloyd Lindsay, was a white bulbck
of good scale and not at all coarse. Mr. Greeu's com-
mended s'eer was of nice quality, but not made out.
This class again wa" very creditable; iu fact, tlie Sli rl-
horns won fairly mough this time.

The Sussex Cattle were again in strong force, an 1
formed a very interesting division of the Show. There
can be no doubt that the Sussex breeders are paying
great attention to their stock, and the improvement year
by year is very noticeable. To th« butchers they arc
probably of more interest than the smaller and liner
Devons, and evidently the breed is progressing instead of
standine; still. A lot of very excellent beef stood iu the
Sussex row at the Agricultural Hall. The younger steers
were not a very showy class ; Mr. Coote's first-prize
bullock was of nice quality and had a well-covered back ;
but his quarters were light and he was rather narrow.
Mr. Stafford's was not so stylish, but his quarters were
better. The nine entries in the next older class contained
some good and very useful bullocks. Mr. Agate's was full
of flesh and weighed 20 cwt. 0 qrs. IS lb. ; Mr. Coote's
second-prize beast was short but deep, well furnished over
the loin and a good handler ; and Mr. Child's bullock \\r^
a capital butcher's beast. The oxen were very big; one,
bred and exhibited by Messrs. J- and A. IIeasm*n (vas
the heaviest beast in the Show and obtained a commenda-
tion from the judges. Mr. J. and C. Lee obtained first
prize for another very heavy animal neighing 22 cwt.,
and all four animals iu the class' were full of flesh an I
of great weight. The rump seans to be a dt.'-
fective point with Sussex caltle, aud lliey are
often bale on and in front of the shoulder?.
This was a fault in ^Ir. J. Woodruff's heif<.r, bred by
Mr. J. Kirkpatrick, but she was one jf the best fiinales
iu the Shew, and possibly the best Sussex beast which has
been seen in a show. She took the first prize and ihu
£40 cup, for the best animal in the Sussex division, and
her entire middle was first-rate. Mr. Wocd's heifer,
placed second, was short and thickset, made like a Short-
horn. Mr. Stamford showed a very nice small ripe heifer.
The class was agood one. The three cows all obtained prize-",
Messrs. J. and A. Ileasman being first w'th a good ani-
mal, Mr. Neame's cow was level and well ribbed, but Mr.
Campion's had no great merit. The Sussex cattle, as a
whole, were highly creditable. There were three entries
of Norfolk polled cattle standing next the Susstx, only
one of which was at all a good one, and that one not
much to speak of.

The Scotch breeds were quite a disappointmeut. Tl e
Highlanders last year added gieatly to the tone of the
Shew, aud were a source of great attraction; this yat

E 3

u

THE FARMER'S MAGAZII^S.

however, there was nothing w^-fl could at all compare
with Sir W. Gordon Cumraing's maguificent animal, or
even with either of the prize takers of 1877. The Prince
of Wales exhibited a good Highlander, no doubt, and
like all good Highlanders he was full of the best possible
beef, but he was nothing after last year's performance.
Of the other two oxen it is not necessary to speak. The
heifers, too, were not particularly good, and Sir W. C.
Trevelyan's second prize animal was particoloured, and
had upright horns like an Ayrshire— looked altogether
like a cross-bred. The Polled Scots were another weak
division. Sir W. Gordon Cuniming's first prize winner,
taking also the £40 Cup for the beet animal in the Scotch
classes, was not a first-rate Scot ; hewas uneven, and
had little in front of him compared with what a Polled
Scot usually has, and his hind-quarters were rather
narrow. Mr. McCombie did not send one equal to th
usual excellence of his exhibits; the ox, which took
second prize, was narrow along the top and had badly-
sprung ribs. Ilia ve weight was 20 cwt. 2 qrs. 14 lb.,
being 7? lb. lighter than the one he sent to Birmingham,
and nothing like as good a beast. The polled heifers or
cows were poorer still. Mr. Stevenson's first prize heifer
was a Tery indifferent show beast, hut had some good
beef about her. Mr. Adamson's heifer was still more
moderate, hollow-backed and small through the
heart. There was one first-rate Scotch polled heifer,
:hnt she stood in another place and will be noticed further
on. We could not help thinking with regret of the
beautiful heifer exhibited last year by Sir W. Gordon
Cumraiug, which with his Highland ox, formed, to our
mind, the best male and female beasts in the show,
although they were not so placed. Bearing these circum-
stances in min4, and considering, too, that the Scotch
Classes were better this year at Bingley Hall, we were
not a little disappointed. There were three very big Welsh
Hunts, one of which weighed 21 cwt. 3 qrs. 3 lb.

The Cross or Mixed-bred cattle formed a good division,
ond the great majority of the animals were very useful
indeed ; the average merit was such as could not be
complained of, yet there were no extraordinarily good
animals amongst them. These crosses, usually between
a Shortkrn sire and a Polled Scotch dam., are usually the
best butcher's beasts in any show, and so they are this
time at Islington ; but there was nothing amongst them as
good as Lord Lovat'a cross-bred at Bing!ey Hall, nor
anything approaching it Amongst the steers, the Mar-
quis of Exeter showed a cross between Telemacbus gth
and a Highland cow, which had the hair, hide, and colour
■ of the Sgot and the form of the Shorthorn ; he was not
noticed nor did he call for it. The oxen were of course a
good lot. Mr. G. Sband's ox won the first prise and the
£40 cup zs the best Cross-bred ; this was a remote cross
-with Shorthorn blood on the side of the dam — not a very
ysuai form of crossing, and his weight was
51 €wt. 1 ^r. 5 lb. ; he was not very level, but was
<eocer-ed with good meat, had excellent ror.nds, ramp,
{v.;lc guarterfij and v:a£ a lirin Jiandkr. Lord lovat's

second prize weighed 111b. more, and mr.st have pushed
the last-mentioned very hard indeed ; his hiud quarters
were not as good, but he was perhaps better in some few
points. Both had prominent shoulders, and both were
uneven, but both were capital butcher's animals, Messrs.
J. and W. Martin showed a very square made, heavy
beast ; Mr. Bruce's ox was very fat, but his chine, back,
and loins were excellent ; Mr. R. H. Harriss and Major
Thompson both had good animals : and Messrs. Bell and
Sons, of Glasgow, had an American ox, bred in Kentucky
from a Shorthorn sire and a " native" cow, which had his
manger filled with corn cobs to show us how he had been
brought up. The whole class was very rightly commended
by the judges. The heifers, too, were good. Messrs.
Martin's Shorthorn and Aberdeen cross was small boned
and very thick ; Lord Lovat's second prize heifer was
from a Shorthorn bull and cross-bred Scotch cow,
weighing 19 cwt. 0 qrs. 26!bs., very massive, but rather
flat-sided ; and Mr, J. O. Stephenson's heifer was a very
pretty, small, compact animal of excellent quality — a
cross between a Shorthorn bull and an Irish Kyloe.
Amongst the steers, oxen, cows, and heifers not qualified
to compete in any of the foregoing classes, were
to be found two big oxen of no particular merit : two
Danish cattle which would have been more in their place
at the oaltle market than at the Cattle Show, and perhaps
safer at Deptford than at either place ; two or three un-
even Shorthorns, amongst them Baroness Pawlett from
the Prinknash herd ; one Shorthorn of considerable meri t
bred and exhibited by Mr. J. G. Wilson, which took
second prize ; and a first-rate polled Scotch heifer exhibi-
ted by Messr J." and W. ^Martin. She has deteriorated since
she was shown by Sir W. Gordon Gumming last year;
but she was a long way before anything in the Scotch
classes this year. It is not a little singular that such
animals as this Scot — bred by Mr. A. Paterson — and the
Rev. Bruce Kennard's Shorthorn at Bingley Hall should
have appeared, one at each show, in a position which
debarred them from taking honours due to breed. Bu*
as they had not bred a calf they were ineligible for the
cow class, and th^y were too old for the heifer class ;
consequently becoming extra stock.

This Scotch heifer was long, and had excellent chine,
back, ribs, loin, and her shoulders were covered to perfec-
tion, giving her the appearance of having no neck. Her
meat was beautiful, and she was covered with it ; hut her
rump was a little narrow, and her twist small, giving her
the appearance of standing close behind and immensely
wide in front, as the thickness of her forehand was
extraordinary ; and she was not perfectly level. But for
these defects she would probably have taken the Champion
Plate of 100 guineas as beet beast in the Show, for which
she held the reserve number.

in closing our notice of the cattle classes we can but
xcmark that the Scotch and Hereford exhibitors did not
send their plums to London this year, as was talked about
in J3iDsley Hall; aad that there was leas distance between

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

45

the fii-sl pri/Tc aiiimala and the ical of the Show at I .ling-
ton than wc have ere* seen before — which we take to
mean well for the future.

The heaviest beast at Islinston was ]\Iessis. J. and A.

easiiian's Sussex ox, which weijihed 23 cwt. 3 qrs. 31b.;
and the heaviest at Bingley Hall was Mr. U. Wright's
SliorLhoru ox which weighed 26 cwt. 1 qr. 7 lb.

SHEEP.

Tiic show of Leicesters, numbering nine entries all in
their places, was a fairly good one, but Mi*. Painter's first
])ri/,e wethers, which took the breed cup, were not par-
ticularly good handlers. The one entry of lambs belonged
to the same exhibitor. The Cotswolds were a small but
good division, Mr. Smith winning with wethers, which
took the cai> as well, and Mr. Swauwick with ewes ; there
was no entry of lambs, and Mr, J. GiUett was this time
quite out of the hunt. The few Lincolns were excellent.
Mr. Lister's wethers defeated those of Mr. Pears and Mr.
Sell, but Mr. Sell's ewes took the breed cup, the pea of
three sheep weighing 9 cwt. 0 qrs. 11 lb., one pound
heavier than Mr. Pear's pen. Mr. Sell also to&k first and
se-ond prizes with lambs which were highly creditable.
Tue five pens of Kentish sheep were headed by Mr. Pagfe,
a-id they were all of them very useful sheep. There were
also two pens of lambs shown against ^Ir. II. Parthing's
Dorset lambs which took the prize over their heads ; Mr.
II. Farthing also showed two pens of Dorset wethers and
two pens of Dorset ewes, which were awarded first and
3'cond prizes in each case, being very excellent sheep.
There were a few good Cheviots, and a rather strong entry
of Mountain sheep, the D-ake of Roxburge's having
extraordinary fleeces. The Cross-bred sheep were a very
useful lot indeed, the whole of the thirteen entries being
of considerable merit. The first prize pen exhibited by
Mr. W. liobinson were by a Hampshire Down ram, out
of Leicester and Lincoln cross-bred ewes ; they were only
6 cwt. 2 qrs. 1 9 lb. the pen, but the quality was
excellent, and they handled firm and well. Mr.
11. Overman's second and third prize pens were by a
long-woolled ram out of Southdown ewes, and the latter
pen weighed no less than 8 cwt. Oqrs. 101b. ; both these
pens were beautiful sheep, full of mutton, but we cannot
say they were better than Down sheep. Mr. Rush
showed two pens of crosses out of Southdown ewes by a
Cotswold ram, and Mr. Crawshay two pens of crosses out
of Hampshire Down ewes by a Cotswold ram ; the former
were commended, and the latter one was very useful. The
eross-bred lambs were big, but rather coarse, Mr. Robin-
son's first prize pen weighing 5 cwt. 1 qr. 11 lb., and
were by a cross-bred ram out of Hampshire ewes, and
therefore mongrels. Mr. Lewin's pen of crosses between
Hampshire Down ram and Lincoln first cross ewes were
more to our mind in every way.

The Down classes were filled with as good a lot of
sheep as have ever been seen at Islington, taking them all
together. The Southdowns were in strong force, the pens
•.>f three wethers numbering IS entries. Lard Walsingham

— as usual we may now say — tool: first and second prizes
away from avery strong competition. Neither of these
peu3 were, perhaps, as good as some of his exhibits on
former occasions, but they were very first rate aud hard
to beat. Thu Merton sheep are always in excellent show
form, and they are nearly always good in front ; they
always meet one well, and that is a great point in their
favour. Neither of these pens were very evenly matched'
for show sheep, still they won fairly enough, and the
quality was beautiful ; the weights were &
cwt. 3 qrs. 191b. aud 6 cwt. 0 qrs. lllb.
respectively. Mr. Humphrey's third i)rize pen were
excellent sheep, but not so fine, though their weight was
Hot muGO greater — 6. cwt. 1 qr. 61b. The Prince of Wales
showed two pens, one of which might have been com-
mended, as the quality was excellent, but they were
not very firm under the hand. The Goodwood-
fiock was represented by a pen of very pretty sheep,
which were highly commended by the judges, aud another
pen not so well made up. Messrs. Emery's and Mr.
Coleman's sheep also came in for honours, though the
latter had mere fat than esh, aud are soft handlers. Tiio
Southdown ewea were also very ezcelleat ; Mr. Penfold's-
pen taking the breed cup for the best pen of Southdown
as well as the reserve number for the Champion plat
It would be diilicult to find better ewes thau these, fo)
their character and get up v/as first-rate ; they handled to
j)erfectioD, and their weight was 5 cwt. Zqvs. 10 lb.
The whole class was very justly commeuded by the
judges. Some good hmbs were shown, and the first
prize taken fairly by Mr. Coleman for a very pretty and
even pen handling like wethers. Messrs, J. and A.
Heasmau's second prize lot were very handsome, and Sir
F. W. Fitz-Yv'^ygram also exhibited good lambs. Tlic
Hampshire Downs were another capital lot of sheep, Mr.
A. Moriison taking first prize with wethers, and also the
Breed Cup ; they were good backed, firm handling sheep as
his generally are. There was also a good show of ewea.
The lambs in this division were not better than last year,
but there were some capital pens in the eight entries.
The Shropshires made a capital show, eleven pens of
wethers being in place. Lord Chesham took first and
third, also the Champion Plate of £50 for the best peu
of sheep in the show- ; they weighed 6<;wt. 3 qrs. 20 lb.,
and had a long tussle with Mr. Penfold's Southdown
ewes for the Champ ionship, which was ultimately decided
in their favour. These sheep were very neat, very stylish,
and vary good all over, but they did not handle to our
mind like ewes ; size and weight appeared to decide it.
It is a hard thing for ewes to win champion plates, un-
less they are a, very long way ahead, likes Mr. Pear's ewes
last year. Mr, T. Nock's second prize lot were much
bigger sheep and of a very different style and character ;
we think it not unlikely that the generality of breeders
would consider them more useful Strops. He also
won with his lambs, Mr, Beach, of the Hattons, also
showed two good pens of wethers. The Oxford Djwns
were a small show, but the quality was good, Mr. Brasscy

4C

THE FARMIOR'S MACiAZINE.

anil C. TiovarJ lukiiijj; fust aiul -•iocoiid j)rizos for wetiiera,

and the latter bfin^- (irsl with lambs, which were very

j;oo(l quality and heavy weights. The sheep classes were

j;oud throughout, aud the fu'trage quality has probably

never been belter.

PIGS.

The crowded state of the lower hall, where the piijs
ire shown, readered it impossible for us to n>a c aiiy-
tliiiig like a careful iuspeetiott of vfhat appeared to be a
very excelleutshow ; the entries generally seemed to txe

good quullty and all the breeds were well repreacnlci'.
Sanitas smelt even more strongly than the pig^, aud, of
the two, was less objectionable.

THE £00T STANDS.
After inspecting the live stock nnst people are clis-
])(>sed to say " Let us go and look at the roots," aud, it
may be added, those who form that deterrainatiou early
in the day have the best chance of seeing what they go to
look at, as it is ahoost impossible to get near these very
at4,racive portions of the show in the afterpart of the
diiy. Messrs. Sutton and Sons, of Reading, had a mag-
n'ficeut show of loots this year — certainly the best we
h'.ve seen ia the Hall for many years, if not the best we
hive ever sera. For this essellence they have to some
e vteut to thank the Reading Sewage Farm, which appears
t ) have quite taken the lead in root growing. Roots
grown on this farm were exhibited on the stmd, taken
from crops said to be of the following enormous weights
per acre: Mammoth Long Red, 110 tons; Golden
Taakard, 88 tons ; Berkshire Prize, 77 tons. The roots
were, of course, weighed as pulled, with their tops
OQ. We believe the Steward of the Reading
Sewage Farm is responsible for the stateaicnts as
to wtiglit, and we are informed that he ia each
case weighed the roots off a perch of land in dif-
ferent jwits of the field, taking the best, worst, aud
medium, with the intention of getting at a fair avernge.
T'le Mammoth Long Reds are said to have grown so large
as very frequently to touch each other ia the rows, and
tve.i to prevent each other from growing to the full size
vhiub they otherwise would have attained. The Berkshire
Pyize mangels struck us as being theHucst coUectiou of all
oil the stand, and we have never seen a better lot any-
wLcre; but the Mammoths, Golden Tankards, aud Inter-
mediates were remirkable both as to siM and form.
Champion swedes and the various kinds of white turnips
were well represented. Messrs- Sutton also showed some
silendid specimens of kohl-rabi, a fine collection of po-
t itoes, 250 varieties of natural grasses, ouious, carrot?,
c ibaages, aud other vegetables.

In going round the galleries the no.it ro«t stand we
came to was that of Messrs. Harrison aud Sous, ol
li'Jcester, on which were displayed field roots
and garden produce of various kinds. Their Normantou
Globe aud Giant Long Red maugels were very
line and well formed specimens, aud their Defiauce
BV.idea showed quality iu addition to large size. They

exhibited also some new varieties of po'ators, onions
carrots, and other vegetables. Tae rout^ ou this stand
were remarkable for symmetry an. I qn ility.

To Messrs. Webb and Son-s, of Stourbridge, belongs the
credit of Laving exhibited the (iuest specimen of a mangel
root in the Show. This was a vtrj remarkable Mammoth
Lonsr Red, v-eighing, when trimmed, uo Irss than 62.Tlb«
a great weight which we believe has never been equalled.
For a root of such a size the cjualiiy and form were also
remarkable. There was also a display of very Giie roots
of the same variety, and a capital show of Webb's Kinver
Globe, Yellow Intermediate, and Yellow-fleshed Tankard
Mangels. Webb's Imperial SAode, a variety said to
have produced the enormousc rop of it tons 16 cwt. 1 qr.,
26 lb., was also admirably represented. There were also
some very fine specimens of Greeu Giobe, White Globe,
Grey Stone, and Beef Heart turnips, aud some large and
well-grown kohl-rabi. A special feature of Messrs
Webb's exhibition was their collection of selected cereals,
comprising their Challenge wheat. Prolific Blaek aud
White oats, aud Kuiver bailey; also their collection of
natural grasses. Messrs. Webb are doing a very useful
work in paying careful attention to the improvement of
our stocks of coi-u,, and uow that the Royal Agricultural
Society has offered prizes for seed corn we may expect thi*
department of seedsmen's enterprise to come into greater
prominence than it has previously attained. There is a
wide fi«ld for improvement, and if the very great success
which has been secured in the perfeetin;:; of the various
strains of roots should be equalled in respect of white
straw crops there will be occasion for sincere congratula-
tion. Messrs. Webb, with Major llaUett, Mr. ShirrifF,
have already done a great deal, and we may expect that
aud others the new impetus giveu to their efforts by the
Royal Society will sti.nulate their further eftjrts.

Messrs. George Gibbs and Co., of Piccadilly, bad a
grand show of roots and other vegetables. We noticed
particularly their fine specimens of field cabbage, aud
their collection of mangels, swedes, and white turnips con-
tained some admirable specimens. Messrs. Dick Rad-
clyffe and Co. also had a stand displaying various kinds of
field and garden produce, and requisites. Messrs. Raya-
bird, Caldecolt, & Co. showed seeds^grasses aud roots.

We eame next to the large and well-
arranged stand of Messrs. Carter and Co. who
had a magnificent display of roots and various vegetables.
Their Warden mangels were a remarkably tine lot, and their
Intermediates, if pcfsible, were, for their kind, better stilK
There was a let of very large Mammoth mangels, the va-
riety which a few years back was credited wiih producing
the grea weight of 'J7 tons per acre under ordinary cul-
tivation witbout sewage. In our notice of Messrs. Carter's
root show we referred to a novelty in the form of aa
exhibition of mangels grown by their crtstomers iu
Canada, one of which, when palled, is said to have
weighed no less than 63Ib. Their Imperial Prize-winner
swede also put in a good appearance, being represented
by sjiecimens fr>>m a crop v\hich, we are infoimtd,

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINR

47

weigheil no less than 43 tons per acre on a large piece of
42 acres. This remarkable crop was grown in Somerset-
shire, OQ Mr. Askell's farm, wbich recently won one of
the Royal Society's prizes. In turnips, Carter's Iin-
])roved Purple-Top Maminolh, Pomeranian White Globe,
Devonshire Greystone, anJ Lincolnshire Red Globe were
represented by some very fine and well-grown specimens.
Their Imperial Green kohl-rahi also showed up well, as
we fully expec'el it would, judging from the remarkably
fine display of this root which we saw at the root show
of the iirm. Growing Grass seeds, for which Messrs. Carter
obtained a gold medal at Paris, were also shown, and the
collection of potatoes, and field and garden vegetables of
various kiuds, made up a very attractive display.

Mr. King, of Coggeshall, had a stand of roots which
did credit to the Eastern Counties. They had a nice
show of their Champion Orange Globe mangefs, the loots
being large and well grown. The Orange Tankards were
excellent specimens, as were also ihe Yellow Globes, Red
Globes, and Intermediates. There were fine specimens of
the Long Red ard Long Yellow varieties. King's Fn-
r'.valled and Skirviug'^s swedes were well represented.
They also showed some fi:ne roots of white turnips, and
s^jme very nice kohl-rabi. The roots on this stand were
the produce of ordinary farming, without the use of
sjwage, and it is to be noticed that Ihey were grown in a
district which sufltred more than almost any other from
the drought of last summer ; yet they were very fine, and
generally of uncommonly good quality.

jMr. linpey, of Street, Somerset, showed some remark-
able globe mangels and their roots.

IMPLEMENTS.

Of the implement stands on the ground ffoor of the
Hall, JNIessrs. Ro y and Co-.„ of Lincoln, occupied No. I,
with their improved traction engine, and portable and
vertical engines. Messrs. Wallis and Stevens, of Basing-
stoke, come neit, with engines and a thrashing machine.
Messrs. Richard Garrett and Sons, of Leiston, Suffolk,
showed a 6 h.p. portable engine with wide fire-box with
corrugated crown-plate, mouuteJ on a steel-flanged fore-
ctirriage,and fitted with Graham's spark exlinguisher,which
Las been successful in recent trials in Germany. This
eugine is filled for burning logs of wood or saw-mill refuse
as well as coal. They also exhib'ted an 8 h.p. sem^i-
portable engine, the fire-box of which is corrivgated both
iuternally and externally, made by way of testing what
can be done in this way to increase the capability of
expansion, without diminishing strength, by doing away
with stays and bolts. There were also on this stand a
thrashing machine embodying various improvements, and
a good collection of the drills, and horse hoes, for which
Messrs. Gar'xtt have so long been famous. Amongst the
liorsehoes is No. 11, an implement of new and improved
design, Messrs. Garrett have this year celebrated the
centenary of the establishiaent of their firm.

jlcssrs. Ilorusby and Sons, of Grantham, are always
giving someihiug new iu the form. of a. fresh adaptation of j
their reaping-machine ap])!iances. Ou this occasion they i
showed a new riai'erj the "Matchless," a mathiue of

great simplicity, to be work-d with four or six rakes, one,
two, or three of which can be used to deliver the sheaves,
or all for swathe delivery. It has adapted to it a new
arrangement, placed wilhiu reach of the driver's hand, for
altering the height of cut instantaneously, working
through the main axle ; also a lever, to be worked by iiie
foot, for putting the cuMing apparatus in or out of gear.
The Spring Balance reaper, with controllable rak'es, ai»d
the other reapers and mowers so well known were Sils
exhibited. Amongst a great coUeclionof ploughs we
noticed a new two-furrow plough, with iron-plated wood
beam, which can he altered into a single plough in ten
minutes by taking out two bolts. Messrs. Ilornsby aho
showed a new tvvo-kuife turnip cutter, " M.C.D.," jvi'.h
wrought-iroa grating hopper,, so arranged that the roots
all fall to the disc,thus rendering the machine as nearly a
self-feeder as- practicable. llornsby's hedge-cutting
machine, thrashing machine, and other articles were also,
exhibited, Messrs. Barrows and Stewart, of Banbury,
showedaverlicalengine onthree travelling wheels, intended
especially for chaff-cutting and grinding operations; also
a portable engine improved and rendered as simple as
possible iu its working parts. Messrs. Tasker and Co.,
of Andover, exhibited portable engines, dressing machines '
and a thrashing machine with drum guard. Mr. T. C.
Darby's "Pedestrian Digger" attracted great atlenlion,
there being constantly a crowd of visitors round this uew
and strange looking implement.

Messrs John Po vler and Co., of L^els,. hvl their
usual large display of their farmers' cultivating machinery
and engines. The engines have been greatly improved,
by the use of steel ^'ciring, the adoption of single cylinJers
wroughl-iron crank shaft brackets, and other adaptations.
The fire-box is now constructed with a circular top, in -
steid tf the crd n ry square t p, and is a lycd ou the rtof
partly by three ordinary stays. This prevents the
accumulation of mud on the top of the box, and greatly
lessens the danger of burning it when the water is low .
The mechanical arrangement by which the slow motion o!*
the coiling goar is obtained has been simplified and g'eafly
mproved duriiig the last year. As compared with the
arrangement formerly used, a greater height of the coilii'g
gear above the ground, and an increased depth of
the drum brush, has been obtained by the new construc-
tion. The patent 8-b. p. road locomotive exhibited is cf
a new design, and if intended to do the heaviest class
of haulage, and to be continually working under varied
circumstances, and with very heavy and unequal strain9.
Messrs. Fowler also showed a model of their portable rail-
way, which requires no sleepers, and a specimen piece o^
the railway, with a truck. Messrs, Clayton aod Shuttle-
worth exhibited portable and traction engines, a stacking
raachiue, and a thrashing machins with self-feeder and
drnm-guard'. Messrs. Humphries, of Pj-rshorc, have
adapted a very simple drum-guard, consisting merely of
folding boards, to their thrashing machine. - Messrs.
Burrtll^and Sons, Thetford, exhibited 8 nnd in h.p.
engines with patcut wiudiug drum.

48

Mr. F. Savage, King's Lynn, sbowcJ one of his patent
"AgriculUirist" 10 h. p. winding and tractioa engines
with spur-gear, suitable for steam cultivation, thrashing
and general traction purposes. It is well adapted to Mr.'
Savage's special system of steam cviUivation which we have
noticed on previous occasions in these columns. Messrs
Allchin, of Northampton, and McLaren, of Leeds, showed
their respective traction engines. The latter has been often
noticed in these columns ; it has been fitted with recent
improvements. Messrs. Davey, Paxman nnd Co , of
Colchester, had an 8 h.p. portable engine, fitted wiih
patent -water-heater, and wrought-iron carriage and
wheels ; a 4 h.p. and a 3 h.p, vertical engine and boiler ,
with patent water-heater and expansion slide ; and a 1
li.p. horizontal engine.

Messrs. Howard, of Bedford, showed their farmer?-
c igiue and apparatus, which is now well-known as an
eicellent single engine system for the farmers own
use. They also exhibit a variety of ploughs, including the
Champion plough, with a novel arrangement of screwed
wheel fastenings ; a new wood beam double plough, wliich
J8 readily convertible into a single plough ; a triple
plough ; a reversible double plough for ploughing the
farrows all one way, and their new turnover pi ough
Messrs. Howard also show their zigzag harrows, their
self-lifting drag harrow, and their flexible steel chain
hnrrow for cleaning pastures, their new self-acting horse
rakes, and their hayma ing machine, with a seat for the
driver. The " Simplex ''mower is steel geared, is fitted
with a tapered steel finger-bar, has a wrought iron drag-
bar, and a very pretty device for instantly releasing the
knife from the connecting rod. The quick running crank
spindle is hollow, and serves as an oil reservoir. The
'' Simplex " reaper is steel-geared, and the main wheels,
'iKC those of the mower, are niortice-geared to prevent
clogging in damp weather. This machine is fitted with a
lever for giving pitch to the finger-bar to deal with laid
crops ; the rakes are controllabls t j regulate the size of
sheaf, the height of cut can readily be adjusted, and the
platform can be folded up for travelling. It has been
much improved since we first noticed it. Messrs. Aveling
and Porter, of Rochester, showed their new agricultural
locomotive engine, one of the chief features of which is
the arrange ent by which the crankshaft and counter-
shaft gearing is mounted on shafts between bearings, and
not on the overhanging ends of shafts outside hearings.
]5y this arrangeirsent it is claimed that the bearings are
more fairly worn, the gearing is maintained rigidly ; small
pinions and large spur-wheels are alike dispensed with,
the employment of an intermediate countershaft securing
the reduction of speed between the crank shaft and the
driving wheels without resorting to large differences
between the diameters of wheels. Other improvements
have also been adopted.

]\Iessrs. Holmes and Sons, of Norwich, have improved
tlieir excellent seed shellcr, by fitting to it a new drum
and improved shells. Wc know from practical experience
that this machiae as a shtller of clovcroccd is a very good

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

one — the best manufaclaied, we believe. Messrs. Holmes
and Sons also sliowedtheir thrashing machine with truss' d
frame, and fitted with a drum guard lielJ by a ralcliel
and spring ; also drills, turnip engines, &e.

Ou Stand ly a new traction eni;ine, on a principle in-
vented by Mr. George ^Viltshi^e, of 40, Graccchurch
Street, attracted much a'tention. We shall describe
this engine on a future occasion. ilessrs-
Eddington and Co., of Chelmsford, showed a
new contractors' portable CLgine. This engine is con-
structed with a large amount of boiler room and heating
surface. The fire-box of the boiler is circular, without
stays, and by taking out one row of rivets and tubes it is
readily taken out and replaced- There is ample room for
a person to get inside the boiler and examine and clean
it in every part — a very great consideration when it ig
used as a fixed engine or with hard or muddy water.
The blow-off cock being placed at the lowest i)oint iu the
boiler, all the sediment is easily blown ont.

Messrs. Ransomes, Sims, and Head, of Ipswich, showed
heir new G h.p. traction, 12 h. p. semi-portable, and 8
h.p. portable engines, their thrashing machine fitted with
latest improvements, new convertible double plough,
prize Kent plough, new large horse-rake, self-acting horse
rake, improved haymaker, and their usual variety of
ploughs and other implements. They also exhibited their
new patent drum guard, which is so constructed that it is
almost impossible for anyone to fall into the drum of the
machine. A self-acting flap or shutter which, when down,
completely closes the mouth of the drum, is so arranged
that when open it does not interfere with feeding the ma-
chine, but will drop instantly and close the drum if any-
one falls either on to the hood or feed board. Sweepings
can be swept into the drnm as usual. The parts are so
arranged that the mouth of the drum can be opened
wider when required ; a piece of board can be removed
from the platform at the back of the hood, and allows the
hood to be set back, which makes the month wider.

The Beverley Waggon Co. exhibited specimens of their
well-known agricultural carriages, a portable steam en-
gine, thrashing machine, bone mill, wheels, and axles.
Messrs. Turner showed their portable engine, vertical and
horizontal " Gippeswyk" engines, mills, &c. OnSIessis.
Jeffrey and Blackstone's stand we noticed the haymaker
which obtained a prize medal at Paris ; also horse-rakes,
chaffcutters, and vertical engine. Messrs. W^oods,
Cocksedge, and ('o., of Stowmarket, had a new treble-
action rootcutter, which cuts in large slices, iu finger
pieces, or pulps at pleasure. Their crushing mill re-
ceived a gold medal at the Paris Exhibition. To their
compact and simple vertical engine was awarded a bronze
medal at Paris. They showed also a large assortment of
mills, chaffcutters, farm carts, and other agricultural
requisites. Messrs. Marshall, Sons, and Co. had a trac-
tion engine fitted with two speeds, steel gearing, winding
drum, and other improvements, an 8 h.p. with pa'ei t
automatic expansion gear, adapted for driving apjjaratus
fur producing the tkctric light ; a thi-ashiuii machiuc

fitted vrit?! patent self- fi'fdi r anil drum guard; a 5 li.p.
porlably engine ; aud an 8 h-p. aulouiatie portable en-
gine. The Reading Iron ''Vorks Co. exliibitcd tbcir spring
pulleys, as shown at Bristol, portable aiid horizontal
engines, nozzle boiler, chairculter, mills, and horse-power
thrashing machine.

Messrs. Huston, Proctor, and Co., of Lincoln, exhibited
their traction, 8 h. p. portable, 2 h.p. portable, double cylin-
der, and horizontal engines, and their tbrashiiig machiuo
with patent sell'-feeder and drum guard combined. Thoy
received four piize medals for their engines and machines
at the Paris Exhibition. -Messrs. Gibbon's S h.p. portable
thrashing machine, with self-feeder and drum guard, has
an improved chafF-bagging apparatus fitted compactly
between the wheels, so as to pass anywhere where the
wheels will pass. Messrs. Nalder and Nalder showed
thrashing machine ; Messrs. Brown and May, engines ;
aud Messrs. Croskill aud Co., a bone mill, and agricul-
tural carriages.

Of the machinery in the galleries we first notice what
we regard as the most important* novelty in the Show,
Messrs. Burgess and Key's self-binding reaper. In writ-
ing previously on self-binders we have remarked on the
advantage of having a binder platform on a level with the
reaper platform, aud this desideratum Messrs. Burgess
and Key's machine realises. Of course, without having
sjen their binder at work we cannot speak with confi-
dence as to its success ; but we are so much pleased to see
a binder of that form that we shall be greatly disappointed
if it does not prove itself all that it should be in the field.
This new patent consists of a second platform placed at
the delivery side of the ordinary collecting platform of
Messrs. Burgess and Key's self-raker reaper, with knott-
ing apparatus at its rear end. The sheaf as it leaves the
original collecting platform is received by the second
platform precisely as it would ia the ordinary course fall
on to the ground ; it is then drawn by a gatherer com-
posed of a set of prongs projecting upwards towards the
rear end of the machine ; then a string led up through the
platform and stretched across the middle of its path re-
ceives the sheaf immediately under a pair of compressors,
hinged from above, which close upon the sheaf at the
same time that the upper end of the string is lowered
over it and tucked in behind, so as completely to encircle
the sheaf. The string is then tied with a firm double
kuot and cut off. The compressors then open, a fresli
length of string stretches across the opening, the
hound sheaf falls off behind, and the gatherer returns to
the other end of the platform ready for the next sheaf.
The mechanism of the knotter is such as would hardly be
ui/derstood without the aid of drawings; hut it is very
simple and apparently quite certain in its action. The
general appearance of the binder is strikingly simple,
and the fact that it can readily be removed and the reaping
machine used without it as an ordinary self-raker is an
additional recommendation.

Mr. Le Butt, of Bury St. Edmunds, exhibited barley and
malt screens, a haymaker, aud hand drill. 3Ic3srs- J.

THE FAIUIEE'S MAGAZINE. 49

H lih'js atul Sons, of Great Dover Street, London, show d
samples of niill-stoncs, c .rn bushels', sack-barrovvs, mill
bands, kc. Millers requ'sites are prohibited, as not agr'-
cultural, by the Smithfield Club, so that Messrs. Hughes
could not make their usual effective disi>lay. Mr. Mum-
ford, of Ccdcliester, has greatly improved his seed (leaner,
by makiug the splices easily adjustable, so as to suit
various kinds aud conditiuus of seed and corn. This is a
great advantage.

General imjjrovcnents in detail have been made in
Mr. Walter A. Wood's self-binding harvester, to which
was awarded a prir unique at the Paris Exhibition, and
which also obtained twenty first prizes in 1878. Mr.
Wood has received a large number of testimonials certify-
ing the success of his machine. Jlessrs. Coleman and Mor-
ton, of Chelmsford, exhibited specimens of their famous
water carts, cultivators, adjustable rotary corn screens,
garden engines, Sic. Messrs. Picksley, Sims, and Co., c.£
Leigh, showed their strong and etfective reaper, mower,

ehalTcutters, mills, and horseworks. We noticed the good
work done by their reapers and mowers in our reports of
the Oxford Show,

A formidable list of awards, given to ^Messrs. Harrison
and McGregor for their " .\lbion" mower during the past
season shows its general appreciation by those who have
tested it. They showed this and their self-raking reaper,
and their one-horse combined mower and reaper. They
have adopted several improvements for the coming season.
Messrs. D. M. Osborne and Co., of Liverpool, exhibited
their self-binding harvester, mower, grindstones, &c. The
self-binders were favourite objects of attention during tho
show, and Messrs. Osborne's came in for its full share of
attention. It has been improved by widening the cut aud
adopting arrangements for opening the elevators and for
raising or lowering the height of cut. Messrs. Edmoud-
son and Co., agents for Aultman and Co., showed " Buck-
eye" mowers and a hand delivery reaper.

Messrs. Waite, Burnell, Huggins, and Co., of London,
exhibited McCormick's Royal Agricultural Society's
Gold Medal self-binder, which has also obtained the
grand prix at Paris and numerous other prizes in Grc^t
Britain and foreign countries during the past season.
They also showed a selection of manure forks, hay and
straw forks, &c.

Messrs. Vipon and Ileadley, of Leicester, showed the
milk-cans which we referred to in terms of praise in our
report of the Dairy Show, where they obtained the second
prize ; also ploughs, milk carriages, horse hoes, new root-
pulpers for hand and steam power, &c. Mr. J. II. Knight
of Weybourne, Farnham, exhibited his steam digging ma-
chine, referred to as a strong and effective implement in
previous show reports.

We do not remember to have previously seen the sel.''-
adjusting horse-hoes invented by Messrs. Barnardaud
Lake, of Braiutrce, although they have been out two years.
The arrangement for altering the width of cut is extremely
simple and easy, and the alteration can be effected in a
moment, which is a very groat advantage, as it cnabica

50

the driver to adjust tbe width of his hoes so as to suit

varyinu; distauces betweeu the rows of plants as be goes

siloiig.

Messrs Ci)rbett and PlcIc, of Shrewsbury, showed
their "Eclipsrc" combined corn winnower, elevator, and
wcitjhing machine, for which they obtained a silver
medal at the Paris Exhibition. If we are going to sell all
corn by weiglit some such combination as this will be
invaluable to farmers and merchants. The weighing
apparatus is self-acting; that is to say, the corn is shut off
as soon as the scale turns. If by this means a sack of
corn can hs weighed exactly, the advantage of using the
combination is obvious. The dressing machine, which
lias obtained a Royal and several other first prizes, is too
well known to need description. Messrs. Corbett and
Piele also showed some of their ploughs, a drills,and other
implements.

We mentioned in our report of the Royal Show at
Bristol that Messrs. James Sraytlie and Sons had effected
some important improvements in their excellent corn and
seed drills, which we then described. It has been still
further improved since, by the perfecting of the new
adaptations. These consist of newly patented hoppers,
which do not require to be removed when the cup barrel
has to be taken out of the box ; ne«ly patented support
bearings, whijh drop away instantaneously when the
cup barrel has to be removed ; newly patented cog wheel
gearing, which gives more variation in quantity of seed-
ing with eight cog wheels than wa^ formerly attainable
•with 12; and newly patented cog whe^il arrangement for
Lilly land.

One of the simplest and easiest Eteerage horse hoes that
we have ever seen is that shown by Messrs. Brown and
Son, of Leightou Buzzard. Not only can the imple-
ment be steered with uncommon facility, bat the pitcli of
the hoes can be altered instautaueomly by simply turniug
a wheel close to the steerage h?ndles. Thus the driver
can alter the depth of hoeing at pleasure, and without
stopping. Any farmer will readily appreciate the
immense advantage of this. The levers work iudepen-
dcutly.

Woods and Whewell's Patent Turning Steam Plough,
shown by Messsrs. L^eming and Son, of Bradford, was
one of the most striking novelties in the Mall. The
inventors claim for this turning plough great advantages
over the old balance plough. The advantages claimed by
the inventors for this implement are the saving of land at
the headlands, and the avoidance of delay at each end of
the field caused by the ploughm.an having to change ends
and to get into position for the return journey, both of
which are secured by the turning arrangemout, which
enables the plough to be drawn close up to the wiudlass
or engine and turned quickly at the headland, the plough-
man never leaving his scat. It is aLo stated as an ad-
vantage that there is also no necessity for the ploughman
1o put pressure upon the plough frames to keep them iu
the ground, as is sometimes the case with the balauce
jdough; neither is there any occasion for any pressure

THa FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

to be put on the slack ro])e in order to add weight to the
end of tlie frame- I'util we have seen this plough at
work we can, of course, pronounce no opinion oa its
merits-

At agricultural shows we are all on the alert to look
out for something new, but old favourites demand a
notice, if only for old acquaintance sake. Fortunate is
the manufacturer who, having brought out a good thing,
can go on making and selling it for years without linding
it superseded by later inventions. Few machiues have
held their ground as long as Boby's famous barley screen.
At every great show, for more years than we can exactly
state, we have seeu it; but we have yet to see its con
queror.

Aspinwall's Potato Planter, improved for the coming
season, was shown by Messrs. J. W. Robinson and Co., of
Liverpool. The same inventor's Potato Raiser, with
recent improvements, was also shown on this stand.

The " Farmer's Bone Mill," a new machine, was ex-
hibited by the Savill^ Street Co., of Sheffield. This
mill is entirely self-contained with its revolving screening
apparatus. It can be mounted upon wheels for travelling,
aid moved comfortably with one horse. The rolls can
be expanded for rough crushing, large bones, knuckles,
&c., by a simple screw arrangement, and then set up to
reduce to dust and half inch. By the use of Hall's patent
diffei-ential gear the high velocity of the belt running
from the llywheel of any portable engine is at ouce re -
duced on the roll shaft, multiplying the power — say 16
times. The rolls are driven by an improved frictiou
arrangement, enabling them tc slip in the event of any
foreign substance getting in. The frame consists of a
simple strong box casting, giving great strength and
rigidity. The rolls can be removed at any time, and plain
chilled rolls inserted in their places for crushing coprolites,
phosphates, guano, &c. We are informed that this mill
will crush, fit for manure, about four tons of bones per
day. The rings of teeth are mounted upon the rolls, and
can be easily removed or renewed at slight cost in case of
breakage. Separate cleaners are fitted at the top of the
frame for cleanii.g the teeth of soft bones, &c. The
whole is substantially built, of recent design, and can be
driven by a three horse-power engine, or bullock gear.
On the same stand were shown some chilled rollers for
grinding middlings.

Messrs. J. Rollins and Co., of London Bridge, exhibited
the " Farmers' Friend " grain drill, which obtained a prize
medal at the United Stales' Centennial Exhibition, and a
gold medal at the Paris Exhibition. One of the chief
peculiarities of this drill is its arrangemeut for distril)ut-
ing or '■ feeding" the grain. The feed wheel is cylindrical
in shape, slightly concave, and has eight zigzag ribs *on
its surface, which elevate the grain and force it out.
These alternating ditigonal ribs workiuic in conjunc-
tion, force the grain from either side of tiie cup toward,
the centre, making the flow of seed continuous and regular
and from these two distinct actions or motions the term
' double force feed " is derived. The ribs do not serve

THE F A KM E res

»' nijitators, hill Rs rariTers for (he Ki'^in which occupies I
lie cavities formed by Iheiii and the spice beneaih in ihj
cup, ill its passage around the wheel; au I they are so
foMiicd that at uo point "S tiht dischargecf j^rain obstructed^
hut wiiether sowing a large or small quantity the How is
unceasing, and bunching or skipping an impossibilily. It
is especially adopted' for sowing oats, builey, and any
bearded grain, as the feeder will draw in anything that
cojfies to it, and as the ribs take it ftrst frono one side, and
then the other, it is constantly forced forward toward the
discharge opening. Other special features are the cone
geariflg, for regulating the quantity to be sown without
looseuiagor changing the parts r a cog geari-ag,. withou't
looss wheels, t» vary the amount of seed sown, as may be
necessary on account of the different strength or richness
of the soil, without stopping the team ; the " rear
shifter," for cK-aring the hoes or coulters of rubbiali : and
the "surveyor," for ascertaining the acreage sown.
Messrs. Rollins also showed a- " Holliugsworth " horse
rake, with adjustable spring teeth, and a large selection of
A-inericaa tool*, including B'alcheHer's highly-tempered
elastic cast steel hay and manure forks. Messrs. West
aivd Co , of liromlty, showed Wiles's Patent Ring Gover-
nor, a new invention, which we cannot elFcctually describe
without the use of diagratas.

Messrs. Crowley and Co., of SheHa-ild, esbibited theic
Safety Lever Chaff Cutter, for which they obtained a gold
medal at the Paiis Exhibition. In these machines the
feed can be reversed, the length of cut changed, and the
laachiues stopjjed by the use of ooa lever only,

Neale's Self-biudiug Reaper, which has been several
times referred to in our columns, was shown ia an iiii-
proved and simpliOed form, and attracted much attention.

Messrs. Samuelson and Co , of Banbury, showed their
well known reapers and mowers, in which vte did. not
notice any tUteration callkig for 3orame;;t.

;Mr. W. Anson Wood showed the nn^wer which was
used as a trophy on the occasion of the awarding of prizes
at the Paris Exhibition, and which, we believe, obtained a
priae. Messrs. Ord and Maddison,of Darlington, exhibi-
ted the Koldmoos Weed Eradicator, repeatedly noticed in
our reports,

Araoujst the sheaf-biudlng reapers was King and Bom-
ford's patent, sliovrnby Messrs. Hetherington and Co-, of
JIauchester, roticed in our report of the Royal Show at
Bristol. The corn, deposited on the plalform of the
reaper, is by means of rakes quickly drawn together in the
sireaf form ; it is then bound by string, which is eul off to
the length required to make a secure fastening ; the ends
of the string are then twisted together by a special appa-
ratus, and afterwards doubled under and over the band of
the sheaf.

Pjmphilon's farm^yard Manure Distributor has been
improved since we last saw it by the introduction of a new
cleaning fork, which, besides cleaning the spreader, keeps
the manure for a longer time under its action. This ohjecl
has also been still fuilher atiaiued by iucrciisiug the Jeplh

MACMZINE. 51

of the machine. A ncwly-piiteiiteirmeans of attachment, ;»
single rod of iron, has also been ad.)|)ted, by vvhicll
means the nnchiiie can be altiched to and dtt clul fro n
the (hiiig-cart from before, by the laim who drives it.

Mr. H- ihiiiton, of \VolverhanT;)tc)ii, slnwecl hi*
patent grass harrows, " l;nivers;il " lursc hoc, horsJ
works, improved turnip hoe and grubber, rollers, &«.
Jlessrs- Hart and Co., of City Road, exhibited a speci-
men of their w eighing ra-achrue- for live stock, which, we
predict, will some day be more generally used than they
are at present. He also sho'Aed other weighing machines
without loose weight s. Mi . lltnry Gooch, of Harlestoa
showed his prize dressing machine, fitted with a corn-
elevator and sacker, a combination which will come
generally into use if corn should be sold universally by
weight.

MANURES, FEEDING STUFFS, &g.
Messrs. Proctor and llylaud, of Birmingham, showed
samples of their manures, and some fine roots of variou.4
kinds grown witli the aid of the same. Amies' Ciiemical
Jlanure Co , of London, also showed their manure, toge-
ther with some remarkable potatoes, roots, and cereals
grown with its use. This manure is also used for fruit
and flowers. Mr. Tipper, of Birmingham, exhibited hia
cattle foods and " Medicated Mystery." Messrs. Ayres,
Chambers, and Ayres, of Hull, showed oilcakes ; Mr_
Barr, of Liverpool, cattle food - the Agricultural and
Horticultural Association, manures, feeding stuffs, &c- ;
Messrs. Day, Son, aud Hewitt, of London, their cattie
medicines ; «?• Beach and Cj., Dudley, Beach's Farina-
ceous Food ; Day and Son, Crew, cattle medicines ; the
Driffield Co., Driffield, cakes; Mr. W. Hjpe, Islington,
cattle and poultry food ; Joseph Thorley, cattle food
Messrs. Ohlendorff and Co., exhibited their dissolved
Peruvian guano, for which they gained a gold medal at
the Paris Exhibition. Jlessrs. JLitthews and Son^
of Driffield, inform us that they were too late for entry.

LIST OF J. U D a E S ..

CATTLE.

Division 1. — Devons, Herefords, Sussex.

Walter Farthing, Stowey Court, Bridgewater, Somerset..

H. Heywood, Blakemere Ho, Nr. Hereford.

Thos. Cooper, Norton, Bishopstone, Lewes.

Division 2. — Shorthorns and crossed or mixed.
Hugh Aylmer, West Dereham. Abbey, Stoke Ferry^

Norfolk.
Thomas King Harding, Kodmead, Maiden Bradley, B.ith.
Chris. Stephenson, Woburn, Beds.

Division 3.. — Norfolk or Suffolk Polled, Scotch (all classes),
and Welbh.

Jerh. Seago, Stoke Holy Cross, Norwich.
Jno. Thompson, Badminton, Chippenhnm..
Robt. Bruce, Gt. Sineaton, Northampton, Yorks.

SHEEP.
Divisiox i. — Leiceaters, Cotswold, Lincolns, Ktjntish oc

Roiwney Marsh.
T. II. Hutchinson, Manor Ho., Cottcrick, Yorks.

52

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

^V. T. r.iiriip, AlJsworlh, Northleach.

EJwd. J. Davy, Owersby, Market R;iscn.

Division 5. — SoutliJowns, Hainpslare or ^Yiltsliirc

Downs, Cheviot, Mouutain, Ryclaud, and Dorset, &c.
(f. T. W.illiama, Bucklaud, Faringdon, Ikrks.
G. ijjiiiouds, Moukton, Dorchester, Dorset.
G. KutherforJ, rnutsuaii, Coldstream, N.li.
Division G. — Shropshire, Oxfordshire, aud Cross Bred.
K. H. Miisfen, Peudel'ord, Wolverhampton.
A- F. M. Drucfc, Fylield, Abingdon.
Edwd. Little, Lauhill, Chippenham.
PIGS.
Division 7-
lleber Humfrey, Kingstone, Ashbury, Shriveuham.
Jno. Tazewell, Haygrove, Bridgewater
Manfred Biddell, Playford, Ipswich.
Special J uivGES for £50 cup, steer or ox; £50 cup,

heifer or cow ; 100 guinea champion cup,
John Thompson, Badminton, Chippenham.
Chris. Stephenson, Woburn, Beds.
Jerh. Seago, Stoke Holy Cross, Norwich.
£50 Champion Cup, Sheep.
Edward Little, Lauhill, Chippenham.
G. T. Williams, Buckland, Faringdon, Berks.
Edward Davy, Owersby, Market Rascu.

PRIZE LIST.
CATTLE.

DEVONS.
Class 1. — Steers, not exceeding 2 years and G months old
First Prize, £25, to II. Senior, Kushton, Blandford,

Dorset.
Second, £15, to 11. Senior, Rushton, Blandford, Dorset.
Third, £10, to ilajor EuUen, C.B., Downes, Crediton.
Commended. — ILK. II. the Prince of Wales, K.G., Sand-

riugham.
Class 2. — Steers, not exceeding 3 years and C months old.
First prize, £25, to J. II. Overman, Burnham Sutton,

Lynn.
Second, £15, to H.R.H. the Prince of \Valcs.
Third, £10, to Messrs. Jackman and Biekle, Hexworth,

Launceston.
Cummtnded. — John AValttr, Esq., M.P,, Bearwood,

Wokingham.
Class 3. — Devon Steers or Oxen, above 3 years and G

months, and not exceeding 4 years and G months old.
First prize, £25, to W. Smith, Whimple, Devon.
Second, £15, to Major Buller.
'i'hird, £10, to J. Overman.
Commended. — Major Buller.

Class 4. — Devon Heifers, not exceeding t years old.
First prize, £20, to J. Watter, Esq., i\l.P.,
Second, £10, to W. Smith, Whimple.
I'hird, £5, J. Overman.

Class 5. — Devon Cows, above 4 years old.
First prize, £20, to Mrs. Maria Langdou, Flitlon Biulon

Devon.
Second, £10, to J. Walter, Esq., M.P.
Third, £5, H. Kelsey, Crowhurst, East Grinstcad.
Commended. — W. Smith, Whimple.

IIEREFORDS.

Class G. — Ikrvford Steers, not exceeding 2 years and G

months old.

First priz", £25, to R. Worlley, SuliieM, Avlaham,

Norfolk.
Second, £15, to The Earl of Powis, Ljdbury, North

Shropshire.
Third, £10, to L. Loyd, Addington, Croydon.
Highly commeoded, J. Morris, Madeley, Hereford.
Commended, 11. lustone, Counde, SUre»vsbury.
Class 7- — Hereford Steers, not exceeding 3 years and G

months old.
First prize, £25, to The Earl ol Powis.
Second, £15, to L. Loyd.

Third, £iO, W. Groves, Bron.ptou, Shrew.sbury.
Commeuded, L. Neame, Harelield, Selling, Norfolk.
Class 8. Hereford Steers or Oxen above 3 years and G

months, and not exceeding 4 years aud G mouths old.
First prize, £25, to K. Wortley.
Second, £15, to The Earl of Darnley, Cohham Hall,

Gravesend,
Third, £10.

Class 0. — Hereford Heifers, not exceeding 4 years old.
First prize, £20, to J. W. James, Mappowder Court, Dorset

(Nelly Care.)
Second, £10, to T. C. Baker, Blandford, Dorset (Totty).
Third, £5.

Class 10. — Hereford Cows, above 4 years old.
First prize, £20, to C. Williams, Glyu Teg, Cardiff (Queen

of the Arrow).
Second, £10, to W. B. Peren, South Petherton, Ilmin-

ster (Lady Lavender).
Third, £5.

SHORTHORNS.
Class 11. — Shortherned Steers, not exceeding 2 years and

G months old.
First prize, £25, to C AV. Schroeter, Tedfold Billing

hurst.
Second, £15, to J- Stratton, Alton Priors, Marlboroii«li.
Third, £10, to Col. R. Loyd-Liudsay, L.C., M.^'.P

Wantage. ■
Commended, D. A. Green, Colchester, Essex.
Class 12. — Shorthorncd Steers, not exceeding 3 years

and 0 months old.
First prize, £25, to J. J. Colman, Esq., M.P., Carrow

House, Norwich.
Ser-ond, £15, to D. M'Intosh, Havering Park, Romford;
Third, £10, to D. M'Intosh.

Commended, J. Stratton, Manningford Brace, Marl-
borough ; D. A. Green, Colchester.

Class 13. — Sliorthorned Steers or Oxen above 3 years

and G months, and not exceeding 4 years aud 6 months

old.
First prize, £25, to J. S. Bult, Kingston, Taunton.
Second, £15, to Sir R. C Musgrave, Bart-, Eden Ilall,

Penrith-
Third, £10, to J. Mackessask, Kinloss, Forres.
Commended, J. Cridlan, Great Malvern.
Class 14. — Shorthorned Heifers, not exceeding 4 years

old.
First prize, £20, to R. Stratton, Newport, Mon. (Icicle).
Second, £10, to J. J. Ratcliff, Beech Hill, Reading (Priory

Princess).
Third, £5,to W. Slocorabe Gibbs, Cothelestoue, Taunton

(May Queen).
Highly commended, Sir J. Swinburne, Bart., Cap-

heaton (Grand).
Commended, Administrators of the late T. Simonds,

Arborlield, Reading (lleythorpe Rose 2ud).
Class 15. — Shorthorned Cows, above 4 years old.

First prize, £20, to A. Longmorc, of Retlic, Banff, N.B
(LoveleUer).

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

53

Sewnd, tlO, to Sir W. Trevelyan, Wallington,
(Countess) .

Third, £5, to J. A. Mumford, Thame (Lady Diicic).

Coninieuded, Sland Stiid Compauy, Wliikfiuld, Man-
chester (Blooming Bride).

SUSSEX CATTLE.

Class IG. — Sussex Steers, not exceeding 2 years and G
months old.

First prize, £25, to G. 0. Coote, Fortington, Arundel.
Second £15, to J. Stanford, Edenbridge.
Third, €10, to R. Neame, Faversham.
Commended, — W. R. Kiilick, Broxham, Edenbridge.

Class 17. — Sussex Steers, not exceeding 3 years and
6 months old.
First prize, £25, to A. Agate, Warnham, Horsham.
vSecond, £15, to G. C. Coote, Fortington.
Third, £10, to C. Child, Sliiiford, Horsham.
Commended. — G. Smith, Paddockhurst, Crawley.
Class 18. — Sussex Steers or Oxen, al)ove 3 years and 6

months and not exceeding 4 years and C months old.
First prize, £25, to J. and C. Lee Steere, Jayes, Ockley,

Dorking.
Second, £15, to L. Huth, "Waldron, Hawkhurst.
Third, £10, to W. Burch, Selling, Faversham.
Commended. — J. and A. Heasman, Angmering.

Class 10. — Sussex Heifers, not exceeding 4 years old.
First prize, £20, to J. Woodruff, Weddington, Ash.
S.cond,£10, to W. Wood, Ifield Court, Crawley.
Third, £5, to J. andC. Lee Steere.
Commended. — E. and A. Stanford, Batons, Ashurst,

Steyning.

Class 20. — Sussex Cows above 4 years old.
First prize, £20, to J. and A. Heasman.
Second, £10, to R. Neame, Fairbrook, Faversham.
Third, £5, to W. H. Campion, Danny, Hurstpierpoint.

NORFOLK OR SUFFOLK POLLED CATTLE.

Class 21. Norfolk or Suffolk Polled Steers or Oxen of any

age.
First prize, £15, to,J. J. Colman,M.P. Norwich, Norfolk.
Second, £10.
Class 22. Norfolk or Suffolk Polled Heifers or Cows.
[Heifers not having bad a live Calf not to exceed 4 yrs. old.
Cons above 4 years old must have had at least one live Calf.]
First prize, £15, to Mrs. Gerard Cresswell, Sandringham.
fcecond, £10, J. J. L. Lubbock, Norwich, Norfolk.

SCOTCH HIGHLAND CATTLE.

Class 23. — Scotch Highland Steers or Oxen, of any age*
First prize, £25, to H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, K.G.
Second, £15, to Sir Dudley Coutts Marjoribanks, M.P.,

Guisachan, Beaulv. Inverness.
Third, £10, to Sir W. C. Trevelyan, Bart., Wallington.

Class 24. — Scotch Highland Heifers or Cows.
[Heifers net having had a live Calf not to exceed 4 yearS

old. Cows above 4 years old must have had at least

one live Calf].

First prize, £20, to J. INPTurk, Ulliock. Castle Douglas,

Kirkcudbright (Bindheag) .
Second, £10, to Sir W. C. Trevelyan, Bart., Walliugtou,

Newcastle-on-Tyne.
Third, £5, to Sir J. Sv.iuburne, Bart., Capheatcn, 'Ke'K-

castle-oa-Tyne.

Class 25. — Scotch Polled Steers or Oxen, of any age.
First prize to Sir W, Gordon Cuniming, Bart.

Second to W. M'Combic.

Third to H.I\I. The Queen.

Class 2(i.— Scotch Polled Iloifers or Cows.

First prize to C. Stephenson, liOiig Benton,

Second to II. D. A damson, Alford.

Third to J. Reid, Alford.

; Class 27. — Welsh Steers or Oxen (Runts), of any age.

First prize to S. Garratt, Maiden.

Second to Lord Kensington.

CROSS OR MIXED BREED CATTLE.

Class 28. — Cross or Mixed-breed Steers, not exceeding 3
years old.

First prize. £25, to J. Stephens, Conglass, Inverurie.

Second, £15, to U, D, Adamson, Balquharn, by Aber-
deen.

Third, £10, to J. Bruce, Inverquhomery, Aberdeenshire.

Commended. — A. Lonf:;more, llettie, Banff.

Class 29. — Cross or Mixed-bred Steers or Oxen, above 3
years and not exceeding 4 years and G months old.

First prize, £25, to G. Shand, Ordeus, Banfl".

Second, £15, to Lord Lovat, Beauly, Inverncsshire.

Third, £10, to J. and W. Martin, New Market, Aber-
deen.

Highly commended. — R. Heath Harris, Earnhill, Foires.
J. Bruce, luverquohomery.

Commended. — The class generally.

Class 30. — Cross or Alised-bred Heifers, not exceeding
4 years old.

First prize, £20, to J. and W. Martin, New Market,
Aberdeen.

Second, £10, to Lord Lovat, Beauly, Inverness.

Third, £5, to Sir W. C. Trevelyan, Bart., Wallington.

Highly commended. — Sii J. Swinburne, Bart., Cap-
heaton, Newcastle-on-Tyue. H. D. Adamson, Balqu-
harn, Alford, Aberdeen.

Commended. — J. 0. Stephenson, Norton, Stockton-on-
Tees.

Class 31. — Any breeds of animals (not qualified for the
other classes). Steers or Oxen, not exceeding 4 years
and 6 months'old.

First prize to G. Taylor, Pet worth.

Second to G. Smith, Eppiug.

Class 32. — Heifers or Cows.

First prize to J. and W. Martin.

Second to J. G. Wilson, Darlington.

SHEEP.

LEICESTERS.
Class 33. — Fat wether sheep of the Leicester breed, 1 year

old (under 23 mouths).
First prize, £20, to B. Painter, Burley-on-the-Hill, Rut-
land.
Second, £15, to Jlrs. Sophia Perry Ilerrick, Lough-
borough.
Third, £5, Mrs. S. Perry Henick.
Class 34. — Fat ewes of the Leicester breed, above 3 years

old.
First prize, £10, to T. Marris, Croxton, Ulceby.
Second, X5, to J. Green and Son, Silsdeu, near Leeds.
Class 35. — Fat wether lambs of the Leicester breed born
in tlie year 1S7S.

First prize, £10, to B. Painter, Burley-ou-the-IIill, Oak-
ham.

COTSWOLDS.
Class SG. — Fat wether Sheep of the Cotswold breed, one

year old (under 28 months).
First prize and Breed ( up to S. Smith, Deddingtou.
Second to T. R. llulbert, Cirencester.
Fat wtther Sheep of th e Cotswold breed, 1 year old
under 23 montliB-)

51

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

First pnzp. £?0, to S. Sniitli. Someiton, Oxon.
Second, £15, to T- R. llulbcit, North Ceruty, Ciren-
cester.
Cla=s 37.— rat Ewes of the Cotswold breed, above 3 years

vld
First prize, £10, to R. Snanwick, Cirencester.
Second, £5, to J. Craddouk, Eustington, Northleacli.
Class 38. — Fat Wether Lambs of the Cotswold breed
bora in the yea's: 1678.
No entry.

LINCGLNS.
Class S9.— Fst wether sheep of the Lincoln breed, 1

year old (under 23 months).
Eirat prize, £30, to C. Lister, Coleby Lodge, Lincoln.
Second, £15, to J. Pears, Mere, Lincoln.
Third, £5, to C. Sell, Bassingbourne, Canibs.
Class 40. — Fat ewes of the Lineoln breed, above tkree

years old.
First prize, £10, to C. Sell
Second, £5, to J. Pfears.

Class 41. — Fat wetter lambs of the Lincoln breed, born in

the year 1878.
First prize, £10, C. Sell.
Second, £5, C. SelL
Clasd 42;— Fat wetber sheep, of tbe Kentish or Romncy

Marsh breed 1 year oli (under 23 uwalhs).
First pri/.e to II. Piige.
Second to W. T. Bradbury.
Class 43.— Eat ewes of the Kentish or Romney Marsh

breed abope 3 years old.
First prize to J. S. Godwin.
Second to W. de C. Baker.

SOUTHDOWNS.
Class 44.— Fat Wether Sheep of the Southdown breed, 1

year old (under 23 Tnonths).
First prize, £20, to Lord Walsinghani, Thetford, Norfolk.
Second, £15, to Lord Walsingham.
Third, £5, to 11. Humphrey, Pulborouuh.
Highly commended,— The Duke of Richmond and Gor-
don, K.G., Goodwood ; E. and R. Emery, Slorrlngton,
Sussex.
Commended.— J. J. Colman, Esq., M.P., Norwich.

Class 45. —Fat Ewes of the Southdown breed, above 3
years old.

First prize, £10, to IT. H. Penfold, Selsey, Chichester.
Second, £5, to Major-Gen. Sir F. W. FitzWygrara,

Bart., Havant.
Highly commendeiL— Lord Walaiugham; E. and R.

Emery.
Commended. — The whole class.

Class 46. — Fat Wether Limbs of the Southdown breed,

born in the year 1878.
First prize, £10, to J. J. Colman, Esq., M.P.
Second, £5, to J. and A. Heasman, Angmoring, Sussex.
Commended.— Major-Gen. Sir. F.W.Fitz-Wygra-n, Bart.

II.VMPSHIRE OR WILTSHIRE DOWNS.
Fat AVether Sheep of the llampshir'^ or Wiltshire Down

Breed, 1 year old (uuder 23 mouths).
Class 47. First prize, £30, to A. Morrison, Tisbury,

Wilts.
Second, £15, to L. T-1ny<l Ad.^insjtnn, Surrey.
Third, £0 to R. 11. KiiiL', Southstocke, Walliin;ford.
Commcded R. P. King, Southstoke, Wallingford.
Class 48.— Fat Ewes of the Hampshire or Wiltshire Down
breed, above 3 years old.

First Prize, £10, J. Read, Ilorn'nutoii, hiiry.

Second, £5, G. W. Homer, Do chester.

Highly commendid, \V. Parse is, West Strattou, Jlichel-
dtver (2 entries).

Commended, J. Barton, Bas n ;stoke ; the class generally.

Class 43. — Fat Wether Lambs, of the Hampshire breed,
born in the year 1878.

First price, £10, W. Newton, Crowmarsh, Battle Wal-
lingford.

Second, £5, F. Parker, Nasham, Alton.

Highly commended, E. Lyne, Compton, Wmcliester ; the
class generally.

SHROPSHIRES.
Class SO. — Fat wether slieep of the Shropshire breed, 1
year old (under 33 months).

First prize, £20, to LordChesham, of Latimer, Chcshain,
Bucks.

Second, £15, to T. Nock, Sutton :\Iaddock, Shifnal,

Third, £5, tJ Lord Chesliam, of Latimer.

Highly commendad. — J. Beach, Breweod, Stafford,

Commended. — J. Beach, Brewood.

Clas." 51. — Fat ewes of the Shropshire breed, above 3
years old.

First prize, £10, to the Baron von Schroder, Nant.vich,

Cheshire.
Second, £5, to Lord Chesham, of L^itimer.
Commended. — G. Cooke, Linton. Cambridgeshire.
Class 52, — Fat we'her lambs of the Shropshire breed, bora

in the year 1878.
First prize, £10, to T. Nock, Sutton Maddock, Shifual.

OXFORDS.

Class 53. — Fat wether sheep of the Oxfordshire breed, 1

year old (under 23 mouths).
First prize, £20, to A. Braspy, Chipping Norton.
Second, £15, to C Howard, Biddeuham.
Third, £5, to W. Cooper-Houghton, Regis Dunslable.
Class 54. — Fat ewts of the Oxfordshire breed, above 3

years old.
First prize, £10, to A. Brassey.
Class 55. — Fat Wether Lambs of the Oxfordshire breed,

bora in the year 1878.
First prize, £10, to J. and C. Howard, Bedford.
Sfcond, £5, to the Eail of -Jersey.
Highly commended. — A. Brassey,

CHEVIOTS.

Class oG. — Fat Wether Sheep of the Cheviot breed, of

any age.

First prize, £15, to T. Irving, C irriestanes, Du nfries.
Second, £10, to T. living, Ourriestancs.
Commended. — The Duke of Roxburghe, Kelso.

MOUNTAIN SHEEP.
(Not being Cheviots.)
Class 57. — F'at Wether Sheep, of any white-faced moun-
tain breed, of any age.
First priz?, £15, (0 R. J- Stranger, North Multon.
Second, £10, R. J. Stranger.
Class 5S. — Fat wether sheep, of any black-faced or

speckled-faced mountain breed, of any age.
First prize to J. Peel, Knowlinere.
Second to J. G. Wilson.

Class 59.— Fat wether sheep of the Ryeland, Dorset, or
any other pure breed, not, specified in any of the fore-
going classes, 1 year old (under 23 mouths).
Fi^^t and second prizes to II. Farthing.
Cla.'-s GO. — Fat ewes, of the Ryeland, Cheviot, or Dorset,
or any other purebred, not sprcided in any of the
foregoing classes, above 3 years eld.

TnE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

First anJ sernnd pn'zos to T^. Farthing.

Class Bl.— Fat wether lambs, of the Ketitis,!), Rvcland,

Dorset, or aiiv othir pure b/tcd, uol belbic spcciiicd,

born in the year 1S7S.
First prize to IT. Farthiug.
Second to F. Neame.

CROSS-BREDS.
Class C2.— Cross-bred fat wether Sliecp, 1 year old

(under 23 months).
First prize, £20, to W. Robinson, Sharmbrook, Bedford
Serond, £15, to J. R. Overman, Burnham Sutton,
Third, £10, to J R. Overman.
Highly commended. — T. Rush, Babraham,
Class 63 — Fat Wether Cross-bred Lambs, born in the

year 1878.
First prize. £10, to A. M. Robinson, IMilton, Cambs.
Second, £5, to J. Lewin, Wytcn Hill, iluntintjdou.

PIGS.

WHITE BREED.

Class Gi. — Pigs of any white breed, not exceeding 9

mouths old.
first prize, £10, to the Earl of Radnor.
Second, £5, to J. Saunders, North Leaze, Castle Carey.
Class 65. — Pigs of any white breed, above 9 anl not

exceeding 12 months old.
First prize, £10, to J. T. Homer, Hemsworth, Wim-

borue.
Second, £5, to the ^Marchioness of Camden, Lamberhurst.

Class, 66. — Pigs of any white breed, above 12 and not ex-
ceeding 18 months old.

First prize, £10, to The Earl of Radnor, Ilighworth,
Wilts.

BLACK BREEDS.
Class 67. — Pigs of any black breed, not exceeding 9

months old.
First prize, £10, to Cul. Hussey, Bredy, Shipton.
Second, £5, to H. Denis de Vitr«>, Wantage.
Highly commended. — J. A. Smith, Akeuham, Ipswich.

Class 63.— Pigs of any black breed, above 9 and not

exceeding 12 months old.
First prize, £10, to J. Coate, Hanmoon, Blandford.
Second, £5, to J. A. Smith, Akenham.
Class 69. — Pigs of any black breed, above 12 and not

exceeding 18 months old.
First prize, £10, to W. Wheeler, Long Compton, Ships-
ton-on-Stour.

BERKSHIRE BREEDS.
Class 70. — Pigs, of the Berkshire breed, not exceeding 9

months old.
First prize, £10, to E. Tombs, Thilton, Bampton.
Second, £5, to Harris and Biggs, Cublington, Bed'.
Highly commended. — Lord Chesham, of Latimer ; J.Pitt-
man King, North Stoke, Wcllingford.

Class 71. — Pigs, of the Berkshire breed, above 9 and not

exceeding 12 months old.
First prize, £10, to R. Fowler, Aylesbury.
Seeon 1, £5, to C. L. Sutherland, Coorabe, Croydon,
Highly commended. — C. Purvis, Beckenham, Kent.

Class 72. — Pigs of the Berkshire breed, above 12 and not

exceeding 18 months old.
First prize, £10, to Lord Chesham.
Second, £o, toN. Benjafield, Motcombe, Shaftesbury.
Highly commended. — F. Tombs, Thilton, Bampton.
Commended. — The Marquis of Exeter, Stamford.

OTHER BREED?.

Class 73. — Pigs of any other bread, uot excecdinu; 9

months old.

lirst prize, £10, to J. Saunders, North Leaze, Castle

Carey.
Second, £5, to N. Benjafield, Motcombe, Shaftesbury.

Class 7i. — Pigs of any other breed, above 9 and not

exceeding 12 months old.
First prize, £10, to T. Conte, Sturminster Newton.
Second, £5, to The Earl of Radnor, Ilighworth.

Class 75. — Pigs of any other breed, above 12 and not

exceeding 18 months old.
First prize, £10, to The Earl of Radnor, Highworth.

Class 7G.— Single Pigs, of any breed or age.
First prize, £8, to A. Ingram, Blandford, Dorset,
Second, £4, to J. Pittman Kiug.'North Stoke, Walling-

ford.
Highly commended, H. Wheeler, Long Compton, 'Shiptoa-

on-Stour.
Commended, The Ea'l of Radnor ; N Benjafield.

SILVER CUPS.

For best Steer or Ox. — Silver Cup value £50, to the
Exhibitor, for the best Steer or Ox in any of the Classes
(except in Class 31) to J. S. Bult, Kingston, Taunton.

Heifer or Cow. — Silver Cnp value £50, to the Ex-
hibitor, for the best Heifer or Cow in any of the Classes
(except in Class 32) to R. Stratton, the Duffryn, New-
port, Mon.

BREED CUPS.

CATTLE.
Silver Cnp value £40, for the best Devon Beast, to J. R.

Overman, Biiruham. Sutton.
Silver dip value £40, for the best Hereford Beast, to

R. Wortley, SufField, Aylsham.
Silver Cup value £40, for the best Shorthorn Beast, tj

R. Stratton, The Duffryn, Newport, Mon. (Icicle).
Silver Cup value £40, for the best Sussex Beast, to J.

Woodruff, Weddington, Ash.
Silver Cup value £40, for the best Scotch Beast.
Silver Cup, to Sir Gordon Cummiug, Bart , for the best

Scotch polled beast.
Silver Cup value £40, for the best Crossbrel Beast or

any other Breed not before specified {i.e., not being

Devon, Hereford, Shorthorn, Sussex, or Scotch) tj

G. Shand, Ordeus, Banff.

SHEEP.

Silver Cup value £20, for the best pen of Leicesfer

Sheep, to B. Painter, Burley-on-the-Hill, Oakham.
Silver Cup, value £20, for the best pen of Cotswold

Sheep, to S. Smith, Somerton, Oxon.
Silver Cup value £20, for the best pen of Lincoln

Sheep, to C. Sell, Bassingbourne.
Silver Cup value £20. for the best pen of South-Down

Sheep, to H. P. Penfold, Selscy, Chichester,
Silver cnp value £20, for the best pea of Hampshire or

Wiltshire, to A- ]\Iorrison, Fisbiiry, W^ilts.
Silver cup value £20, for the best pen of Shropshire

Sheep, to Lord Chesham, of Latimer,
Silver Cup, value £20, lor the best pen of Oxfordshire

Sheep, to A. Brassey, Chipping Norton.
Silver cup value £20, for the best pen of cross-bred

Sheep of any kind, to T. Rush, Babraham.

PIGS.
Silver Cup value £15, for the best pen of Pigs of anv
White breed, to The Earl oflladior, Ilighworth.

5 '3

Silver Clip valine £15, for Iho liest pen of Piir' of any
iMack breed, to AV. Wheeler, Long Coiiipton, Shipslou-
on-Stour.

Silver Cup value £15, for the best pen of I'igs of the
Berkshire breed, to Lord Chesham of Latimer.

Silver Cup value £15, for the best pen of Pigs of any

other breed, to The Earl of Radnor, Ilighworth.

CHAMPION PLATES.

I'OR BEST BEAST IN THE SHOW.

A piece of plate value 100 gs., to the exhibitor of the
best Beaat in the Show to Richard Stratton, The Duffryn
Newport, Men., for Lis Shorthorn heifer.

A Piece of Plate, value £50, to the Exhibitor of the
best peu of 3 Sheep iu the Show, to Lord Chesham's
Shropshii'e Wethers.

THE GENERAL MEETING.

The annual n.eeting of the luerabBrs of the Srait.hfield Club
<ook place ou December 10 at the Agricultural Hall, and
was well attended. The chair was taken by the President, the
Duke of Bedford, who was supported by the Duke of Rich-
mond, the Marquis of Exeter, Lord Cliesliam, Lord Walsing-
ham, &c. ; the following gentlemen, among others, being
present: — Sir Braudreth Gibbs (llou. Sec), Mr. Charles
Howard, Mr. James Howard, Blr. Joseph Druce, ]\Ir. Hi;a:H
Gorringe, Mr. F. Jonas, Blr. E. raddison,Mr. R. Game, Mr.
T. Pope, Mr. J. Hemsley, Mr. Barnett, Mr. E.W. Moore, Mr.
H. Overman, Mr, J. Thonapson, Mr. J. Treadsell, Mr. Liitle,

After the usual preliminaries,

Tlie HoNORAUy Secret.\.ry (Sir Brandrcth Gibbs) read the
Report of the Council, which was as follows :—

The Council begs to lay before the general meeting the
annual report of its proceedings during *he pa^t year. Five
meetina;s have been held in addition to tlie ordinary business
of the Club and matters connected with the last and present
shows. The following subjects have had the careful considera-
tion of the Council: —

I. — The preparation of the prize sheet, and the rules of
exiiibition for this year's show. Tiie Couucil at its meeting
last FebruHry, came to ihe following decision : That the Coun-
cil being desirous to throw the show open, and to abolish the
speciil restrictions, rules No. 1 and 3, provided the stock of
the country have a clean bill of health, resolved that the same
be rescinded, subject to the confirmation of a special Council
to be held on the first Tuesday in October, next ; viz. : —
October 1st.

The rules above referred to are as follows :—

Rule 1. — That no animal (cattle, sheep, or pigs) exhibited at

any o her show after the 1st November, 1878, be allowed

to be exhibited at the SiuithQeld Club's Show this year.

Rule 2. — Tliat each exhibitor be required to certify ttiatany

animal to be sent by him lor exhibition at the Smithfield

Clab's Show this yeftr, has not been, and will not be

showQ at any other exhitiition after the 1st November,

1878.

A meeting was therefore held on the 1st October. The last

ofticial rcturas from different parts of the country, as regards

pleuro-pneumouia and foot-and-mouth disease, v/ere laid before

tlie meeting, together witii communications from Professor

Simonds, the honorary veteriuary inspector of the Club, and

Professor Browu, the veteriuary inspector. Atter duly cou-

bidering these returns the Council, much to its regret, did not

feel justified in rctciuding the special rules for the present

year.

The Council also felt that if any contagious or infect'ous
disease should break out in the yard, consumers mijiht object
to the meat, and consequently the marketable value of all the
animals exhibited might be considerably deteriorated.

Tue Council trusts, however, tiiat it may be in its power to
throw open the show for the coming year,' as there can be no
doubt that, provided it c^n be done without the risk of expos,
iug the animals to contagion or iufection, the removal of the

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

restrictions would be a great ndvantaje to tlie pxhihitors, and
would materially increase liolh the number and (leneral excel-
lence of the sent animals to tli« Club's exliibitions.

For many years the nietbod of adjudicating on tiie.animals for
the champion plate has occupied tlie attention of tlie Couiu-il,
and several dilTerent ph-ins have been tried, amongst others
the following : —

1st. — 'When there were only G judges for cattle, the whole
adjudicated OB the champion plate; this however was r.ot
satisfactory, and more than once resulted in an umpire having
to be called in.

2nd. — The number of judges was increased to 0, and the
whole of these decided by a majority of votes. This, however,
was not deemed satisfactory.

3rd. — The [* judges selected 3 out of their own number to
act, but this method was in its turn rejected, and last year the
whole of the 9 again adjudicated.

The Council, after considerable discussion|and consideration,
determined that on the present occasion the judges selection
committee should appoint 3 selected by them out of those
judges who act for cattle and sheep respectively.

It may here be observed that the judges committee consists
of the G stewards of Live Stock, and such of the 8 senior
members of the Council in each year as shall not be exhibitor
at ensuing exhibition.

The Council thinks that the plan adopted this year has so
far proved satisfactory. The Council decided that the £50
cups for the best heifer or eovv shall be decided in the same
manner, and also the champion plate for sheep. Tlie ages lor
the steer classes in the D^^von, Hereford, Shorthorn, and Sussex
cattle have been altered from a maximum of 3 and 3 months
to 3 years and 6, and tlie prizes for Sussex cattle (of which a
considerable number h-ive been shown annually) liave been
raised to the same amounts in each class as are offered for
Devons, Herefords, and Shorthorns. A special breed cup for
the best pen of Cheviot or other UiOuntain sheep has been
given.

II.— The prizes in the lamb classes have been increased.

The Council have appointed a committee to confer with the
Agricultural Hall Corap:iny, with a view of ascertaining if hiiy
additional sp;>.ce can be obtained for the exhibiliou of imple-
ments ; but it is fouud that at present this is impracticable.

III. — The Council baa in accordance with the Bye Laws,
prepared as usual the list of 16 members of the Club, fr)in
whom it recommends 8 for election on the Council, to succeed
the 8 who retire by rotation, and are not re-eligible for one
year.

The Scrntineers' report of those elected to serve ou tiie
Council will be presented before the close of the general
meeting.

IV. — The Council lays before the general meeting the usual
printed balance sheet up to December, 1st inst, Showing. —

Balance in hand amounting to £3,4tl Os. 75d. Of this
howev;r £783 5s. belongs to the Life Composition account.

In addition to the above, the Club has to receive £1,355
from the Agricultural Hall Company, Limited, for this year's
exhibition.

Against those amounts there will be, as usual, the payment
of prizes and other expenses connected with the present show.

The total amount oli'ered in prizes and cups is as follows ; —

£ s. d.

Cattle 1,320 0 0

Sheep 755 0 0

Pigs 192 0 0

Champion and other plates 7-15 0 0

Total 3,012 0 0

The invested funds amount to £1,357 93. 9d. Stock stand-
ing in the 3 per cen*. Consols.

V. — The Council regret that (in consequence of severe indis-
position) tiie Assistant Secretary, who has not been enabled
to attend to the ollice work during the prepar.atious for the
present show, the Council therefore authorised arrangements
beiug made far such temporary assistance as might be neces-
sary, and in order that the business of the Club might be
transacted with the usual punctuality and exactness, the whole
of tlifc details have been carried out under the constant personal
supervision of the Honorary Secretary.

The Council whilst again able to congratulate the members
on the general prosperity of the Club, begs aguiu to impress

THE FARMER'S MAUAZlNfi

ontliem t1ie ntlvisability uf tlieir iiK'nciiii? tlieir fripiuls to join
aud tliiis euHhle tlie olijfcis of llie (J ub lo be exteuded even
■iurlher thua tliey are i.t tlie present time.
By Order ol the Cuuneil,
(Si^ntd) 13. T. Buandreth Gibbs,

Iluiiorar) Stcretsry.

'The B.tlauce Sheet was also presenteJ.

The Chaihman having moved the adoption ot the Report,
Mr. CuossKli L said lie wshed to ka w whether the num-
ber of mem bers liad increased or diminished duriug the last
twelve months.

Sir BiiANDRETii GnsKS said he could hardly answer that
question. He liad not received notice that it would be put ;
otherwise lie would have been prepared with a reply.

The motiou was then adojited.

On the question of the election of olUoera for the euiuiug
year,

Sir BRANDra'-.Tii GiiiiiS said it would be rememhpred that
at the last meetius;, the JJuke of Sutberlmid was elected Fre:-!-
deiit for 1S79. He was sorry to say that lie had thtit morning
received a eonirauiiicatiou from Col. Kiiig>(Ole to the etfrct
that his Grace would not be lu England at the time of their
meetings, and, therefore, would nut be able to act.

The Duke of Kicumund then proposed that Col. Kingseote
should be tlie President lor the ensuing year.

ilr, Tr.vsk said he lelt gr; at p'easure in seconding that
mi tion, Col. Kingseote being a guod man and a good laimer.

The motion was then adopted.

On the motion of Lord Wdlsingham, secondfd by the Mar-
quis of hxp'er. Lord Tredegar whs fleeted President fi)r 18S0.

Mr i?'. Street moved the re-election of 'he Vice-pie^idents,
and the addition to the list of tlie names of the Duke of Man-
cliester, and the Earl of Ellesraere.

The motion having been put aud carried,

Mr. Joseph Druce proposed that Sir Brandreth Gibbs, who
he observed was one of the olleirt members, should also be
added to the number of Vice-presidtuts (oheers). He also
TOnde s similar proposal with regnrd to ihs Kirl of Jersey.

Both motions were agreed to.

On the motion ot Mr. C'rosskill the trustees were re-elected,

Mr- E.W. Moore said lie had the greatest jiossible satisfac-
tion in proposing that their Honorary Secretary should be re-
elected (cheers). That gentleman had bten tor many years
a member of that Club, which they all knew was much in-
debted to him; aud he was sure they would all heartily cou-
erdtulate him on the well-deserved honour which had recently
been bestowed upon him (lond cheers). The Smithlicld Club
could scarcely be regarded as comp'eie wi huut Sir Braudreth
Gibbs as its Honorary Secretary (caeer^).

Mr. EooKES having seconded tne motion it was earned by
acclamation.

•Sir Braudreth Gibbs, who rose amid cheers, s-iid —
My Lord Duke and gentlemen, I have never detained .\oii
betore beyond uttprinsj a single sentence or two in n turning
thanks (or the honour you have doue me in re-electing me
Honorary Secretary. On the present occasion, however, 1
thir.k I ought to say one or two weirds more, because )l has a
sort of speciality attaching to it. I liav^ always fell it a very
great honour to hold the post which you have again conferred
upon me, and it is an additional honour you have done me
in kindly electing me a Vice president of the Club
of which 1 am now the oldest member (cheers).
Those of you who have ever read a litle pamplilel
■which I issued some years ago, containing a history of the
Smithfield Club, will recollect tha^ when the Club was first
founded' and established a Francis Duke of Bedford occupied
the chair. At that time the AVoburu experiments were goi'ig
on, and they were continued for some time. Ou that occa-
sion, also, a very celebrated nvin was elected your Honorary
Secretary — I mean Artliur Young (Hear, hear). At this
moment we have again the pleasure if seeing a Francis Dake
oi Bedord occipying the chair of the Club, and again th«
Woburn experiments, wliich I expect will be of great practical
value to agriculture aud the country, are going on. But
here comes a distinction - instead of electing a man like the
late Arthur Young to be your Secretary, you arc electing one
whose only claim upon your kindness aud consideration is tint
he has always doue nis best o promote the welf ire of th^
Club (load cheers).

The scrutiiifcrs reported the election of ihi- following rneTu-
bers of the Council, in tlie place of those who retired lur
rotation : — Mr. Hei,ry Ovrn an, Mr. John Trea.lwell, Mr. H.
Gorringe, ]\[r. Juiui Hornsby, Mr. Henry Fookes, Mr. A.
Cros.'kill, Mr. F. M. Jonas, and Mr. John Brown. Th-^ re-
tiriiiT meii,b-rs were Mr.A. F. M Iton Druce, Mr. John Ford,
Air. R..berl GHrne, Mr. John Greetham, Mr. Robert Charles
U:ns.inie, Mr, Joseph Shutileworth, aud Mr. Henry
Trethewy.

Tlie business of the meeting having terminated with the
election of several new members,

Tlie Diike of BiciiMO>'D said— Gentlemen, I mmt takfi tl e
sense (f the meetiuK as to whether betore |iarting we oiig t
not to olfer our best thanks to the Diike of 13ed ord, not on y
for his conduct in the chair to-day, but a'so for his conduct
as President of the Club during the past jear (ch-ers), lain
s^ire we all share with our Honorary S-'crstary, Sir B andre.ili
Gibbs, the feeling of satis''ac ion tliHt this Club has in t! e
Inst twelvemonth had the same n^me attucUed to die office nf
President that was borne by the nobleman who orijiiuated iln
Club many years ago (ch(ers). This shows t'lat tint fa'iiily,
like many others, has an hereditary interest in the agricilltiir.-)
of this country; and 1 do not think agritul ure will (.uiT r
much so long as so mu^h attention is paid to it, and so niucli
interest taken in its affairs by [ersins like my noble frie. d
who is now the Pre.,ident of tli-i Club (cbiers). I beg,
gentlemen, to move thai the thanks of the Club be given to
the Duke of Bedford (cliee s).

The motion having been seconded and cordi lly adopte:!.

The Duke of Bedford said— Gentlemen, I brg to re'ura
you my most gratel'ui tuanks for the high honour which you
have done me iu allowing me to occnpv the chair during the
past year. I confess that it was an object ef arahiiion with
me to occupy a chair which was occupied by the first President,
who early iu liff, and early arno gst his contemporaries, di —
cerned that the interests of a-riculture were not o .ly the
first interests iu the country, hut the soundest and best that
could be promoted, and, that it was the d ity of all landlords
to make themselves acciuainted with the requirements of agii-
culture, and, having made themselves acquainted with them, to
promote them to the utmost of their power (cheers).

The meeting then separated.

SMITHFIELD CHRISTMAS CATTLE
MA.RKET.

The usual annual market for tlie sale of fat st ick ''or
Christmas consumption was held on Dec. 16 at Islint- on
and, as we were ltd to exprct, has proved a lair si.c
cess. At the As;ricultural Hall this year the Show whu
undoubtedly a good representation of what the cattle-rearing
interests ol this country are capable of; i.ut as we x( -.
so accustomed to seeing a choire display ot prize stocK atlhe~n
bhows uo surpri-e was felt at the excellent appearance tnn
ye^r. A relrr^grnde movement i.5 not likely to occur on nm-
side when it is considered that foreign competition is steaiilvr
iucreasinif, and that we have theretore to strain every ntrve
and make the most strenuous exertions to keep the fiist, phicr;
iu the race. The dejiVee ol excellence to which we liav^
already attained must not be allowed to pass as an excime f,ir
us to rest on our laurels or indeed to pause in our tlfort tn
attain a still higher standa d of elKaiency. How to pr^vi^ie
for the growing requirements of the increasing populitiun of
the L^uitHd Kingdom is one of those social problems, tlr;
?olution of which must not be delayed or iri^ny way overlooked.
Next to cheap bread cheap meat is the prim? necessity, an.l
it is for our grazi rs and breeders to so employ tiicir capiral
and utilise the means at their disposal that they may continor!
to command the bulk of the trade. It is an. old axiom tii r.
the consumption ol articles of paramount necessity augmei t<
in a corespoudiiig ratio to the reducliou in the cost ol I s
productiin, ami conseituently to the easirr terms on which t
is offered to the public. So long as animal food is an,
thing like cheap its consumption by the labonrincf c'ass nn
hardly fail to become greater; but if its value b^ UTih'ly
enhanced but one result will inevitably follow— uamelv, Hib
demand will be curtailed.

Both iu point ol number and quality the market tod i\ w.vs
fairly supplied. All the best breeds were wt-il re,.rehei.t- J.

^3

It would inJff d, be a tad siffo were they not, ns the choicest
animals are, ns a nil., kept back to be forwarded on ths
special occasion. Tlie pnsl season it must he home in mii.d
h\s been esceptionally favourable. Throughout there was an
«buad.nce of food. The hay crop was imusua ly heavv and
iumo8tdistrictf.aK0odaftera.atW was secured, {n addition
the condition of the pastures h*3 enabled gr^r.iers to keep
ca tie on the grass unusually late. At the present moment
tiie best hay does not reach its value of this time last year
bv about 20s., whilst choice clover is some SOs. per l>ad
cheaper. Rcots and feeding stuffs generally also nave b «n
had on eaey terms. Tliese are imp. rtant pouts to take in<o
considerafion v/hen estimating the results of the year s work-
ing Basin<roiir expectations on tbe«e facta, and on the large
proportion of choice stock offtrcd at the bi-weekly markets,
we anticipated a good display to-day Kud it is satisfactory to
know that we have not been disappointed, but that our expec-
tations have been, to a large extent, realised. 'iMie Christmas
market is an event quite as important as the annu>il bhow at
the Agricultural Hall. There, of course.only the choicest spe-
cimens are exhibited, but at the market we have
tlie contents of the -jards, and whilst in ihe oae case oniy
isolated and picked animals are offered, in the other, by an
lamination of a number, we are in a position to str ke an
avprage and thus form a more accura'e judgment of the
m.>rit8 and advantages of each breeder. In some seasons the
scarcity of fodder had compelled grar.iers to dispose nf their
stock earlv, and in a hall-fat state, but con itions this year
have not' been such as to render this necessary, \¥e ha-e
therefore had full vards to draw upon, and have been well
mipplied in consequence. To those who remember the
Christmas market some dozen or so years ago, and who con-
sider the enormous growth of the metropolis in the interim,
it may at -first glai.ce appear a matter for surprise that no
great increase has occurr«d in the numbers offered, or indeed
that they shou'd barely remain stationary, but they must nmke
an allowance for the extraordinary development which the
dead meat trade has underKone of late years^ Many graeiers
in the North who 'brmerly contributed very freely now seud
but sparingly. By some it i-a maintained that as good a mar-
ket ia offered in their neighbourhood as in London. Hides,
also, have been fetching full prices in the North, and the
result has been that whereas years ago nearly -the whole of
the supply from the North was despitched alive, jt is now by
many considered better to send it in the shape of dead meat,
hence, whilst the live trsde has scarcely remained stationary,
' t le growing wants oi L^ndon have been me^ out of the vast
extension which has occurred in its eister branch at Smith-
field. , . , , .,.
-The market afforded another illustration of the familiar
• endeavours to do away as much as possible with heavy cross,
grained stock, and s-ubsiitute in it« stead the smaller animal.
Experience has proved thatthe latter is the more remunerative
in the long run, and mikes a higher return to the producer, as
the quality generally is better, and the stock therefore more
readily saleable. Continued judicious crossing must eventually
bring about the desired end, and year by year we. may con-
fidently look for an improvenr'ent in ;he. quality of our meat.
.Examp'.esof some of our best strains have lonj ago been
vurchaced by foreigners for breeding purposes, and it is therec
•fore very evident that caterers abroad for the English marke
•are not likely to abate in their efforts to compete with us on
more equal terras.

It was in 187G that Atnerican stock Prst arrived in anything like
numbers in the English markets. With the knowledge of what
the United .S-afcs had done, and are still doing in the grain
trade and fully cognisant of tlie enterprising character of the
people, we ventured tc predict that the then novel idea of
•applying us with live stock was not likely to languish so long
as it could be made remunerative. The result has more than
<>uaallpd our expectations. American has now secured a firm
hold on our market, and it would belie the national character
for energy and shrewdness were she to relinquish her position
so long as a profitable return can be realised, tt is much more
probable that this branch of the trade will increase, and hence-
forth America will become a jet mere im|K>rtant factor. The
. show of American stock to-day was not, however, so large as
■was loflked for, only about 400 head having come to hand, and
there was nothing special to notice in their quality or condi-

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

T\\c Sco'ch supply as usu^^l forms the most atlractiTe porlioii
of the show. 'I he number is hardl> up to last year, biu tlm
quality and condition have again been excellen' ; in fact,
taken ahogelher, this portion of the market wis a m irked
success. T'lere was a good show of cross-bred stoc'<, and a
fair display of D'vons and H^refords, Nominally spf>;ikin;
Ireland was well represented, but plenty of room for improve-
ment both in qu-iMtity and condition was apparent.

Tlie I'ureigM side of thf market wis not well stocked. In
addition to the Anericans above mentioned, there wer- a few
Danish, which did not call for any parlicui ir remark'*. About
3I>0 Bens's were delivered at Deptford.

The fol'ewing shows the number of stock exhibited aiid the
pri'.«< re.ilised at the annual markft-s held since 18 H: —

Bea>t3

Prices.

B.'asts

Prices.

Yeir,

sIkiwh.

s.

d.

s.

d.

Year.

shown.

a.

d.

s.

d.

lS4t .

. 5713 ..

.4

0to4

6

1863 .

.. 8130 ..

. 3

4t

5 5

0

18 15 .

. 5326 ..

. 3

6

4

8

1863 .

..10370..

. 3

0

5

2

1846 .

. 4570 .

. 5

0

5

8

186t .

.. 7130 ..

. 3

8

5

8

181-7 .

4283 ..

. 3

4

4

8

18 i5 .

.. 7530 .

. 3

4

5

4

18-t8 ,

. 59t3 .

. 3

4

4

8

1866 .

.. 7310 .

. 3

8

5

a

1819 .

. 5705 ..

. 3

4

4

6

1867 .

.. 8110 .

. 3

4

5

0

1850 .

. 63H .

. 3

0

3

10

1868 .

.. 5320 .

. 3

4

5

8

1851 .

. 0103 .

. 3

8

4

3

1869 .

.. 6728

3

6

6

2

1852 .

.. 6^71 .

. 2

8

4

6

1870

.. 6t35 .

. 3

6

6

2

1853 ,

.. 7)37.

3

2

4

10

1871

.. 6320 .

. 3

10

fi

2

I85t .

. 618L .

. 3

6

5

4

1873

.. 7560

. 3

8

6

0

1855 .

.. 7000 .

. 3

8

4

2

1S73

.. 6710 .

. 4

4

G

6

18 ■■•6 .

.. 6748 .

. 3

4

5

0

1871

.. 6590 .

. 4

4

6

8

1857 .

.. 6856 .

. 3

4

4

8

1875

.. 7660 .

. 4

6

G

6

1858 .

.. 6434 .

. 3

4

5

0

1S76

.. 7020 .

. 4

4

6

4

1859

.. 7560 .

. 3

0

5

4

1877

.. 7olO .

. 4

6

6

0

1860

.. 7860 .

. 3

4

5

4

1878

. 6830 .

.. 4

6

G

8

18G1

.. 8840 .

. 3

4

5

0

Annexe 1 are the particulars of some of the best portions of
the raorniug's market ; —

Mr. George Deckson had 450 Scotch fed bea-ts ofexcellent
qualities 'orwarded from the counties of Aberdeen and Banff.
The principal consignments from Aberdei-nshire were from
Messrs. A. Beddie, Stri'cheK ; John Morrison, Tariff; Win.
Wallace, Auchterless ; James Lawson, Iluiifly ; Tait and Sons,
Inverarie : John Frost, Monymusk ; G. Paterson, Whi'ehouse
Alford A. Brut-e Muntlaw, Captain Mitchell, t'overn and
\¥ishart, Backner, Lai&g, M'Tosh and others of Aberdeen.
The reoeipis from Banffshire were frara Messrs. Milne, Pirie.,
Bartle t, of Banff, Longmore, llettie, Wva. Hay, Patsoy, James
Hay, Cullen and others.
At the s'and of Messrs. Hicke and Son were over 600 head.

Amongst the senders were Messrs. J. and W. and
W. Martin, ot Aberdeen, Wm. Wallace, Chapel
of Leggatt ; A. Beddie, Strachan ; Geo. Wilson
Milton, of Nott. ; J. Macdonald, J. Dividson, Jiio. Bruce,
Jas. B )oth, Petprheid ; A. L'ing'n ire, B luff ; 15 irt'e't fetre
Milne, Banff; W. Hay Portsoy. Ttiere were besides 50 Here-
fords from S. Thompkins, E-iq., Leckhampvtead.

At ^lr. Biildrell's stand was a large show of choice stock
frorn the b^'st breeders.

At tlie stand of Messrs. Gillett and Sons was a choice shoer
of Scotch beasts. There were about 50 from Wm. Me
Conchie, Esq., besides receipts from such well known breeders
as H. Adamson, Alford ; It. H. Harris, Forree; A. Neame
Hantly. There were also about 50 American.

Mr. Alfred Welch had for sale some choice Soots and Here-
fords forwarded by S. Thompkins, Esq., and Weekes, of Tor-
bay ; r. C. Howland, L. Cirwardine.and T. Davies.

The stand of Messrs. Duckworth was well stocked with
choice Herefords, &c.

Messrs. Maydwell and Hoyland had for sale some good
stock, forwarded by G. Copemau and Co., Dulliam Lodge,
Norfolk.

The other portions of the show were equally good, bu'/ the
apace at our disposal is too smal' to allow us to deal with
them.

The supply of beef wras hardly so large as last year, but IIia
oiiality and condition were good. Some pens were of marked
excellence. Messrs. Lint oil and Suns had some fine sheip
from Colonel Bartlett, <if Sussex, and som" good Hampshina
from Messrs. Langford, and a few firie specimens from T.
S-iunders, Porchcst'T

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

STATK OF THE TKAHK.

X (lull tone has prevailed. J5easts liave 'neftn difticult to
move. Occasionally G^. was realise', but it was quite
exceplionsi, and must not be taken as tlie current ciuotation.
The general top price was as. 6d. to 5s. Sd. per 8 b, and even
»t tile quotations business was very sliii;gi>li. Mai.y really
fine an.mals have gone off at a very low ti.:ure.

As regcrds Sheep business prcjjressfd very slowly, and as in
the case of l>fa'>ts the tendency was towards wvakness. Tie
best Downs and lialf-breds were disposed of at Gs. lOd. to 73.
per 81b.

Calves were quiet of ssle at about late rates,

i'igs dull, anl unaltered.

At Depll'ord were about 300 Beasts and about 6,000 Sheep

CLOSE OP THE MARKET.

The m&rlcet closed flat at about the opening prices.

From Scotland we recMved about 2,000, Ireland 700, Nor-
folk, Suffolk, and Essex 500, Midland and lloiue Couuties
2,050, Western Co-anties 33 J.

EDINBURGH FAT STOCK SHOW.

The twelfth annual exhibition of fat stock, sheep, as
■well as of poultry and fowls, ia connection with the
Edinburgh Christmas Club, was held in New Burnley
Market, Edinburgh, on December Hand the two suected-
ing days. Fotwithstauding the general dc|)ression of
trade in the kingdom, aud the cuiaintrcial excitement iu
the North, caused by the recent enortnoiis failures there,
the show was quite a success — not so iiuicli, however, in
respect to the number of entries over the whule show, as
to the character of the slock exhibited. There was, no
tlonbt, in the cattle classes, a number of vei'y aiediucre
animals, but those above mediocrity aud those of really
superior style and quality were as numerous as on former
occasions. Sheep were not such a large display, nor could
we sny that in every instance the prize-wiuuing style and
quality were up to what we have seen here before. The
Barneyman's Cheviots, which are generally of great size
and vigour of constitution, and have abundance of wool,
were conspicuous by their absence. Pigs were very
delicient in numbers, but then the breeding and quality
were remarkably good. The pasi season having; been a
splendid one for growing roots, there was a large and
magnificent display in this deparimeut — indeed, there has
seldom been a better. Tbe poultiy display formed as
proniinenc a feature of the exhibition as ever. The fol-
lowing are the entries, along with those of last year,
vvhich will show that in the total there is a decrease,
which has taken place principally in the sheep aud poultry
departments: — Cattle, entries for 1877, 101; sheep
(animals), 175 ; pigs (pens), 14 ; rotts, 1G4 ; pon'trv,
1,380 ; total, 1,834. The cattle entries for 1878, 104 ;
shee[) ''auimals), 140 ; pigs (pens), 7 ; roots, 142 ;
poultry, 1,330; making a total of 1,723. It has to be
noted in connection with tbe slight decrease in the cattle
entries that it arises solely from there being more paTs of
cattle than last year taken into account as single entries.
The show was well attended by the public durins; the
three days it was open, but it is not expected that in
these dull limes so much money as that of last year wdl
be drawn at the gates. According to custom the magis-
trates and town council formally opened the exhibition,
aud Bailie Cranstoun, who spoke in the absence of the
Lord Provost, made felicitous reference to the late Mr.
John Swan, cnitle salesman, Edinburgh, who was the
originator of these Christmas shows in that city about
twelve years ago, and consratulaled the members of the
U'ub on its prosperity as far as its siiows were concerned.

Proceeding to make an in-pection first of the cattle !
sihibited, we find that the Shorthorn young ok class j

only contiins four animiilf, aud is hoadel l)y a dei p-
carcased, stylish, weilthy roan, tvvo years and nne moniln
old, belonging to Mr. Jas. T. S nitb, Duloch, Inverki-i-
th n,', who is followed by Mr, C. Alexander, Eas it'
Kuovve, with a roan three months younger, possess 'I'X
better hind-quarters, but waning in the general style and
substance ol its rival. Jlr. Riibeit Scott, of Philiphanglt,
a well-known and successful breeder on the other side of
the Tweed, only secures third honour with a large, mas-
sive animal, a month older than the fii'st prize one, bwt
flatlish oti the ribs, and not in high feeding condilion.
With a three year and eiiiht months old lengthy, finnlv -
touching, deep roan, Mr. Scott, Philiphaugh, lakt s
deservedly the lirst honour in the aged Shorthorn ox
chss, iu which stands second and third Messrs.
John Bell and Sons, Glasgow, with two large, snbstanti.d
oxen, but with rather too much hone to catch tlii!
butcher's eye. The young cross oxen were a good clas-,
iu which came first a red and white, two years and eiglt
months old, of fine quality, splendid touch, wealthy,
thick frame, but not so well covered all over on the
back, bred by the Dnke of Sutherland, and belongiug tn
Mr. Lawson Brown. This fine ox also took Messrs.
Swan's cup for the best male animal iu the yard, but of
this competiiion wc shall speak more in detail hereafter.
Second and third to Mr. Lawson's ox stood i\Ir. Elliot's,
of Hindhope, tvvo greys, which were not large, but.
fl shy, aud finely textured, and symmetrical. Mr. Lawson
also got a commended, and Lord Lovat a highly coni-
ifiended, for two shapely beasts. The old cross ox class
was not a large one, only seven animals being in it, and
here Lord Lov:it's Birmingham champion polled ox, four
years and nine months old, with remai kible thickne^s
and wealth of tlesh all over. It stands low on its legs,
touches splendidly, aud for weight — it is 25 cwt. —
symmetry, and maturity it is, perhaps, the most attrac-
tive auinial in the yard. Siill, however, the judges con-
sidered a long while before they gave it the premier
honour in preference to the roan belonging to Mr- William
JMerson, Craigcoiliin, Huntly, which was a year younger
than its more fleshy rival, but had many fiae points to
recommend it, such as grand loin and rib, and rare
style. One of three judges was warmly in its favour,
bit of course he ha I to give into the other two. Lord
Lovat's ox, it may be mentioned, took two £100 prices
aud a £15 priz;; at Birmingham, and was also first this
year at some of the northern Scotch fat shows. Therj
were no polled cattle in their class proper exhibited on
this occasion. Mr, McCambie, Tillyfour, had Uv
entries in the catalogue, but his animals, which had been
taken south for exhibition, were not forwarded here, so
that divested the exhibition of one of its good features.
The Highland cattle were a small though a good lot, at
the top of which was deservedly placed the Earl of
Lentield's sweet aud stylish dun, four years and seveu
mouths old, which took the first honour at the Hgh-
land S ciety'sshow at Dumfries, and also at Inverness
this year. He was the admiration of al', being a raio
specimen of that shaggy breed. A thick, substantial,
though less stylish animal from Mr. C. S. Home, Drum-
m nd Murray, was placed second, while another of four
sent from the same place secured the third ticket.

The heifers formed a large and attractive class. Thoso
not exceeding three years of age were headed by Mr.
Merson's firmly-touching, shapely grey of two years and
tight months, while Mr. Elliot, of Hindhope, was sue
cessful in securing the next two tickets with a pair of
massive, well-fed animals- Mr- Allan, of Billie Miins
Avion, got first honour in the aged heifers with a roan
and white of great wealth of flesh, remarkably broad loiu,
splendid bnsom, but with only a rniddliag back au.l tail
bend. This he-fer was second iu the younger class ]yst

F 8

■«jO

THE FARMEH'S MAGAZINE.

year, ttml got Iiere at a stibseqiieut stnfre of the judging
tlie special prize for the best feuKile auiiiial in the yard,
•between which heifer and that of Mr, Merson there was a
s'ilF tussle for that prize. The second hono.ir for the
iiSied heifer was awarded toihe Duke of l><iccleuch for an
animil of fair quality and style, while i he third ticket
went deservedly to Messrs. A, and A. Mitchell, Alloa.
Mr. MoConibie, Easter Skene, srot first priz'i for two
plump, well bred bullocks, while Mr. Allan merited aud
gjtthe second for a-couple of shapely ones.

The cows were a lar^^e class, and included some very
fine animals fndeed. Hon. B:iilie IlamiKou's first cow (of
any cross or breed) is lone, broadly-lniiier\ and very
stj'lifh, while Mr. Thos. Rov. Ballendrish, Bridge of
Earn, and Mr. A. Lillie, Earlston, jrot the next two
tickets. In ihe fat dairy cow class (Shorthorn or any
cross breed) Mr. Balfour Crichton, Paikhouce, Fife, srot
first with a handsome animal, which also carried away ?ilr.
Burst's cup, and the D.iiiymeu's cup for the best cow iu the
yard. Mr. White, Edinburgh, got second, with a g«od,
useful, white. In the Ayrshire cows Mr. Wrn- Colthart,
Edinburjih, was fii-st with a sweet, styli-h cow, which also
carried away Mr. Burst's medal, also Begbie, Edinburgh,
■worthih got second.

There was considei-able delay before the judges conld
'make up t'leir min-ds as -to which animal they should
award Messrs. Swan's cup for the 'best male animal in the
yard. The two sets of judges — those for the heifers and
VuUocks, and for the cows — were the adjudicators of the
cup. Three of them were of opinion that Mr. Merson.s
Kged cro«s os, which stood second to that of Lord Lovat,

the evening of the l:5ih ult. The entries were more
numerous, and the quality of the slock generally was
better than usual. The house-fed cattle take precedence,
and of these the more notable beasts weie ilr. J. I,.
Naper's prize two-year-old OK, the first- prizi; Hereford
cow, belonging to the same gentleraau, and Mr. Patrick
Ball's four-year-old ht-ifer. These were, without excep-
tion, very superior beasts, aud the other prize cattle, as
well as many not distinguished by the judges, were of a
useful class for butcher aud consumer.

The prizes awarded at Eublin for out-fed cattle were
instituted to meet the case of a number of graziers who
fiuish on grass without housing their cattle. For some
years the out-fed beasts at these shows were but a sorry
lot, but of late graziers have found out the advantage of
giving artificial fuod to their cattle, especially iu the
lattei part of the grazing season. Some of the out-fed
oxeu exhibited last week at Btibliu appe:ir, from the
statement of feeding given in the entries, to huve got as
much as i41b. per day of linseed-cake and Indiau-meaL
Major Kearney was in the aged class of oxen, two in each
lot, withapairof thoroughly good three-year-old Hereford
bullocks. Out-fed cows and heifers were both good
paiticularly the latter, in which the pr'zes were awarded
to Mr. O'Counell Mnrpiij and Mr. 11 chard Walsh. In
the sections comprising siuile out-fed beasts ^lajor
Kearney took the first prize with an txcelleat Hereford
ox — a mass of fiist-rale beef. The heifers were remark-
ably good, and Mr. Leonard took first and second prizes
iu the section, the heifer which got the second prize
beinn better than the first. M^jor Kearney's very highly-

should be brought into the ring for the cup along with i commended heifer was, it was said, disqndified from ge

■the fi st prize ammals ia each section, and the point in
dispute was remitted to the committee, who decided that
the usual cou^ise should be followed — namely, that the
■first prize animals only of each section should be taken
Out, and thus Mr. Mersou's 0£ was allowed to remain ih
its stall. It was thought to have a good chance of the
cup. These judges itferred to asked out Mr. Mersou's
ox for the reason that it had made a st tf second to what
was then considered the best auimal in the yard — Lord
Lovat's, but this latter animal, in tlie opinion of some,
-was too highly fed, while the regu'atiou of the club stated
t'riat the aim of the promoters of the exhibition was to
--encourage profitable and not excessive feeding. As we
-stated above, howev-er, the cup does Hot go to Lord Lovat's
. animal, but to one in a much youager class — namely,
Mr. Lawsoa's white and roan.

As we have stated, the sheep were a small but a fine
display. Iu the ynung Chevoit wedder class Mr. Thomas
Irving, Ballencrieft', Drew, was first with well-wooled,
stylish, large sheep, aud with equal success took the first
h< nour iu the old vvedder class. iMr. V/hite Spott,
Kirriemuir, was av;arded the first ticket iu the black-
taced wedders, with age considered, Mr. iMuller, 'Perth,
cominK second, while iu the -cross breeds iMr. Thos. Irving
and Mr. JohniMickle, Ayton, came to the front with large-
sized, shapely sheep with €ue coats. Mr. Andrew Leslie,
Royal Asylum, Edinburgh, carried away. most of the prizes
I f jr pigs with well bred aud fed animals.

S\Lt;s OF .STOCK,

As was to Lave been expected, the demand for fat stock
was limited, and prices low. Compared ■with last year, the
, prices show a dceliue of from 15 to 20 per cent., while for
over- fed animals there wiis ha dly any demand-
(We have not any space for prize list).

KOYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY.
WINTER SHOW.
The winter show of fat stock held by the Royal Dub-

i*).iu SjcJety

3oramenced on the 10th ult. aud closed on

ting a money prize in consequence of beiug too fat. Sh
was c-crt-iiiily finished in great perfection. A pair o
highly-bred Hereford cows, exhibited by Mr. Stegcham
were very highly commended. They handled a little
soft, otherwise we cinsidered theoi superior to the first
and second-prize cows iu the sectio-a.

Of the three sections of long-woolled sheep the best
lot was Mr. Walsh's peu of five shearling wethers ; at the
same time the other entries were of a very useful descrip-
tion. In the short-wooUed classes Mr. Naper's two
pens of shearling Shropshire wedders were raraarkable for
ti eir excellence, and it is doubtful if a better pen thau the
first-prize lot of five have been exhibited at any show this
year. They were estimated to weigh (dead) about 371b.
per quarter. Mr. Hamilton had a capital pen of well-
bred and well-fluished Shropshire evve-s, which got the
first prize. The sections of Roscommon sheep were
tilled with ordinary Balliuasloe wedders, and presented no
feature calling for special remark.

There were but few pigs, the best being Mr. Naper's
firaall Yorkshire pig, eighteen mouths old. The G-uardians
of the North Dublin Union showed their excellent pigs,
which hal been fed upon the offal of the workhouse.
There nigs wers a cross of the large York on the
large Irish pig, and possessed more quality thau ordinary
Irish.

The show of poultry was large, and the Dorkings and
Brahmas were very good.

The department occupied by cereals, roots, &c., was not
«o well filled as usual ; but the quality of the various arti-
cles exhibited was much better thau was expecteL People
have got tired cf the monster routs run upon in former
years, having found that large roots are a great mistake ia
respect to their feeding value compared with smaller and
more compact roots.

A heavy saowstorm was against persons attending the
show.
1 (We are unable to give the prize list.)

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

6iC

YORKSHIRE FAT STOCK SHOW.

On Decembpr 3 the twenty-sfcond annual sliow of ilie ,
Yorkshire Society for the Clirisltnas exhibition of 8'ock, ;
poultry, and root-s, was opeued at York. Trie arrangeineuts |
are much the same as those of former yean, but t'lere was a
slight f:<l!ii>z olT in the entries. They were as follows :— 1
Cattle 00, i-heeo 4S, pigs 3B, poiiltry 410, ro.ts 00, raliliits |
103, pigeons HI, butter 61, dressed geese 26, stands fur seeds, i
fcc, 16; total 1,013. for the purposes of comparison, it |
may be stated tliat the entries for last year were i,168, of ]
rittle 97, slieep 45, piiS 61, bulls 13, poultry 4J3, pigeons j
213, rabbits 143, roots 1 19, an 1 butter 56. Tlie falling-off
wliicli i-i thus visible— tho-igh mtinly in the more ua^mpor- i
taui clxsses — is doubtless the rc-iult of the sirailir exhibition |
at Lerds. The judging co-nnieiiced at a litile after ten in the •
morninj, and progressed with such rapidity that the show- I
yard was open to the public by one in the al'teruoon. Tlien i
it was generally seen that in the quality of the entries f'le
show was fully equal to those of past years, and tlint the j
success of the exhibition in this re^pct was beyond doubt. I
This resiult .Tiay be maiuly attrihutible to the liberal prizp-list ]
whi. Ii the cnnimit'ee had issued, and the total value of which
was about £400. The special pr'zi-s were as numerous as
Usual, and included a £25 cup. given by Lord Leacnofield, the
I're.-ideut of tt.e Society ; a £20 piece of pldte, given by the
Corporation of York ; and other pieces of plate, given by the
es-Sheriff (Aid. Bllerby), the (rades-nen of York, the York
licensed victuallers, the late Mr. Juo. Roper, and other.".
Amongst the priru-ipal exhibitors were the Duke of Sutlier-
land, the Earl of Foersliam, the Earl of Zetland, the Earl of
Harewood, Lord Lovat, Sir W. C. Trevelyan, 13 irt., Lord
Mowljray and Stourton, Sir G. 0. Wombwell, Bart., the Earl
<if Durham, the Hun. E. Lascelles, Jl^jur Stapjlion, and most
ol the principal breeders and feeders in the north of England
and Scoilaud. The show-yard was, as usual, tastefully deco-
rated, and the attendance exceedingly large. — Leeils Jlercifry,

content with second position, the second beast at riailslinm
being placed first at Lswes. Tnis year, luiwever, the hand
some Sussex steer exhihited by the Captain has been placed
first at both competitions, its splendid quality, true symmetry,
and extraordinary growth carrving it tar above other compe-
titors. In class I., Mr. Williiun Verrall exhibited two
splendid Sussex oxeu, winning both priiws, bui by the con-
ditions taking fi'St only — the second reverting to the funds.
Next to the Champion Prize ani rial of C.iptain T.iylor'.i,
which als) took fiist prize iu its class, came, for quality ami
general beauty, the sis heifers exhibited by Messrs E and A.
Stamford, of Ashurst, and the Shoithorri heifer shown hy
Mr. F. B^rchprd, of Ilursted I'lace, while as a Sflection cf
animals, Mr. Throphilus Ba-ge, of Ringiaer, exhibited thrrB
Sussex heifers of superb quality, each of which wouM have
stood well lor single corapetitiou. There were, unforturntely,
but few sheep in the show, but those sent were exceedingly
good, and the lamb« of ilr. C. Ellis, of Beddingham, weie
iilinost ejual in size to many four-tooth animals, and amply
proved what could be done with this ejass of sheep when
well self cted and properly fed, giving as they did tl:e acr
kuowledged desideratum of the greatest possible weight lo .
age. In the pigs, competition was very poor, these animal* •
eviden'ly findiruleis favour among agcLcultarists year by year.
— Sussex Daili/ News.

THE CANTERBURY CATTLE SHOW.

The cattle show was opened on December 13, the entries
being as nearly as possible the same in number as those of last
year. There are several exhibitors who make their appearance
in Kent for the first time, notably some reputed breeders and
feeders of stock in the sister county of Sussex. There are no
new exhibits of superlative merit, about which connoisseurs
and all men who have to do with farm animals speaK with
enthusiastic praise, but at llie same time it cinnot be denied
that a V ry large proportion of the cattle possess marked ex-
cellence, and are equally objects of admiring interest to the
breeder, ihe feeder, the butclier, and the genera] public.

Iu the catalogue the first place was given to the Shorthora-
class, which, although a good one, was by no means so nume-
rous, and was also soiuewhat under the average quality of
some previous eihibiJtions,^ notably the earlier ones. The i
Sussex class was a much more numerous one than the Short- \
horn, and the steers under three years were uncomnionly well I
represented. Ihe open class was of an uneven character. Tiie |
sheep exhibited were numerous, pigs were few in liumber, and I
roots were a fair collection. The cliaiapion beast in the show 1
was a steer, the property of Mr. B. W. Tasseil, of Patrixbi.urne, |
it having gained no less thno five cups, and a £6 premium, |
representing in all £73 Ss. The animal is apure-hred Devon,
and tiiough small is wonderfully well made. Akhough not j
of gigantic frame it is finely and compactly built. Its weight i
is computed at 130 stones. — South Easler:i Gazette. j

BARNSTAPLE ANI>' NORTH DEVON
CATTLE SHOW-

The first show of fat cattle that has ever been held in Nor k. ■
Devon was opened on. Dec. 18 in the Market Place, B<ru-
staple, under most auspicioiw circumstances, and afforded every
eocouragemei.t to the proinuters to make the Fat Slock Sliow
an annual event.

The sho V of cattle, especially in the classes for Devous. was
exceedingly food. In these clashes there were no f wer thau. .
thirty-two entries, &nd the stock exhibited included some
beasts of excellent quality. Tu shtep there waa not a largs
show, but the exhibits compii-ied some really e&csllent stock.
There were only three classes of pi;is exhibited. Iu the small
black brsed, iu the class for the best pig any age, there was
considfrable canpetition, and. the quality of the exhibits was
so excellent that the whole class was commendeJ. — XortJi
Ddfon Herald.

LEWES FAT STOCK SHOW.

The last of the seas^n's fat stock shows for this country
was held on Dec. 17 at Lewe'. On the whole the show was
universally admitted to be ths best seen iu the o'd county
town. The general publis were adruitted immediately the
judges had concluded their labours, about noon, and an in-
spection showed that this year tliere was an unanimity as to
the best animal. For tw'o years previously it has been re-
marked as somewhat pecu i ir that the judges at IlaiUham
and Lewes have reversed each o'her's decisions, for while at
the first-named show Captain Taylor has been on both occa-
lionj awarded cliampioa honours at Lewes^ he has had to be

A HINT TO MOTflERS.— Iu an article headed " Starvi.
tion in the Nursery," the Luicet cAh attention to what it says
is a fact established by daily experience : that large numbers of .
persons occupying decent posit ons in society system.itically -
starvn tlieir chillren iu respect of ihat article of loud which ii
the most essential to their nutriiiorv Even to very young and ■
fast-growing childrea they give cocoa with water, and not
alwajs even a puspiciou of milk, corn .<lour with water jni-t
clouded with nnlk, tea, oa'ireal, baked-tlju', all suits of nia-
teriils, ind(ed,as vehicles of milk, but so very lightly laden
with it that the term is a sham. The consequence of this
misplaced exonoin.y is that tiiereare thousauds ol households in
which the children are pale, slight, 'aawlio!esc).nelookiag, and,
as their parents say in sonething like a lone of remons'raiic-p, .
" always delica\e."^ Ignorai.oe, no doubt, is ofieu tie Kiue.
The parents do not know that, supposing ihere «ere uo reason ,
their wisest economy :s to let their g;ro*ing young ones have
their nnstintfd iiil of milk, even though the dairyman's bill ,
be nearly as much as the wiae raerchaul's iu the course of the
week. But in many (Ihe medical paptr is of opinion) tlia
stint is a simple meanness, a pitiful economy in respect of tha
which. It is supposed, will cot te opea to ll.e oritiei&m of oh- .
st.T nt frien'ls.

A FINE DIGESTION.— .\rteraas Ward's ostrich has been •
eclipsed as a digester of unconsidered tritks. The following is
a list of the contents of the.stomacliof a beast slaughtered a
few days ago by Mr. Joiiu Charles, butcher of Market Itasen :
— " Fi7« linen cuffs, six collars, a chemise, portions of other
linen, and part of a newspaper containing selections (rem a
lecture recently delivered in tiie Market Hall by the "Singing
Preacher.' " This combination of a taste lor linen and a tliir-t
for knowledge in the intelligent be*st is a somewhat remark-
able phenomenon. I have hopes now of the intellectual
development of | the agricultucal labourer.— ^^en'!''/ and4
DraiiKlic Xttvs.

62

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

CENTKIL FARMER'S CLUB.

(ContiQued from pige 16.)

1 '-T1 from Contiuental agriculture (Hear, hp?,'). He siw
ina?nitic-ent crop* in I'rauee, anJ ev .ry bit of l<md m?/dp, the
m ■^i of. T.iere were ro idle corners, and no nests of rubbish
)i re and .there. Ha tliought they ia'"g'it live and learn
p t^rywhen^, and especially was that the ca<e as respecteil some
«i the best larming districts ia Fsince, Northern Italy, and
33 leium (cheers).

Mr. J. J. Meciii- (Tfptree Hall, Kelvedon, E<ssx) was
a' aid that they were jumping to the couclusion Ih it British
H liculture ousht to liave soraethin.; to learn frou French
R riculture. For many years he h^d been thrown in the way
f> French agriculture, and he had the pleasure of knowing M.
J.c ince Livergne, one of the greatest statisticans in France,
who knew more abjut the comparative raeriis of E iglish and

I r-uch a,gnculture than perhaps ar.y other man in France.
AlihoBgh he (iVIr. Jlechi) was not in Faria at the time of the
Fxhibinon, he had beea tiiere many times as a juror, and in
iiMier ctpaci:ies, and he could not forget tliat M. L>vergne, iu
h's popular book for Frenchmen — " T'ue Roral Economy of
F i-gl'i'id," which had been translated by a Scotchman, Mr.
J udgeoa, of Spylaw — liad made the remarkable statement that
<-. coinoaring the !<ind of France with tlie land of ilie United
Fuig-lom as a whole, he had found that the agricultural pro-
d I e o'' England was esic'ly double that of France (liear,
liear). Tiiat showed that F.auce hid a great deal to learn
< ■■in US. But it wa>! far from his wish to say that we iiad not
^l ij also a great deal tj learn from France (liear, h^ar). Iu

0 gauisatiou and arrangement they altogether excelled us^ and
thr^y showed a superiority in their pleasure as well as in busi-
luss. In the ac;ual result of producing food &jr the people,
!■ • ev'.r, we were in money valae actually 100 per cent, in
advance of French agriculture (Hear, hear).

Mr. H. M. Jenkins (Fbiyal Agricultural Society, Hanover
S lare) v-as a little surp-ised that Mi. Fowl-r, who was Agri-
ea urailv and Exhibitionally so great an " Internacionalist,"

II .u not found more to admire in the French Ediibition than he

1 a 1 expressed in his paper. It was, of course, a different raat-
tr Roinginto an eshibirion to goicg into a country to learn
i's agriculture. But as regirded ti;e Paris Exhibition, he
( *lr. Jenkins) thought that what be termed some of the
b -pirts of the Exhibition were more interesting in the
lavestiga'ion, and more instructive to the agriculturist, than
fmc, of the more attrac'ive divisions, suon as the
e hibilion of stock. In some of those side alleys there
would be found collections sent from different parts of
F-ance which showed the rains taken by the Government and
by private institutions to improve the agriculture of the coun-
tr and to bring home to the mind of the smallest farmer the
b-st methods of cultivating the land and utilising its produce.
( )f cou'se the object of a farmer was to make money if he could
ri'i so (Hear). But the individual result of success might be
vf.rv different from the national result; and if the Preuch larraer
b.- Iiis methods did the best for himself and liis family his iudi-
V ,lual obiect was obtaiued (Hear, hear). It should be re-
in mbered in estimating the merits ot French stock that
t . object of the French farmer who bred the stock was not
i.^cessarilv the same as that of the English breeder of Short
I'ln-f. The French farmer had generally something iu his
iriind very d fferent from meat, for be bred either for work of for
I' Ilk. Meat was in almost every case a secondary object.
Tmp brei d -rs of tlie Charolais cattle, lor examp'p, judged tliera
Ml' by the cmaunt of their meat or their perfect squareness of
^ rm, but lather as we sliould judge a cart-horse — that is, by liis
*iuauiiy for work. Alter keepng a kullock for three years the
Weder Mould sell it for a large pr ce, and all the purchaser
<■ ifPii' far was a beast tliat would do his work and bring him a
l-odd price afterwards. And the case was the same with the
I rtedrr of dairy cattle. AVIiat he wanted was to breed a cow
vhieh wi.uW produce a large quantity o! milk, and he trusted
til tiie>kiil ol hio wife to turn that milk into line butter, or
Hit > stil' finer cheese. The butter the French dairies produced
b- a' our own. butter out of the market. He had met with a
(I 'iry farmir in Franca who c .uld bring his books— and such
1. .oks wer^, as was stated by Mr. James Howard, admirably
Vept — ti) show that he had male liis cows produce a gross
i-(uru of i'+O a year each. That was rather a startling fact ;
Ijni the olje t of the individual faruer was to get money, and;

if he could get it bv his method it was worthy of i '((niry w'x?-
o 'er we could not find something to imitate in his pr.otie.e.
Up regretted tint Mr, Fowler should not hive been a'lle to
finl, after all iiis psoeri.nce of intematiou-al .shows, a little
mire to admire in French farming. He (Mr. Jenkins) Siaviuj?
s.ient three months of tlie present j ear in France, telt that
1 11 re was a very greal that was admirible, and some thing*
winch were even startling ; and he hoped that when the result*
&l his j )urney were published — as they eventually would be —
anybody who wished to criticise tbem would do so without
reserve (Hear, hear).

Mr CiiARLEi* How.\Ri> (Biddenham, Bedford), was glad
that Mr. Treadwell had made allusion to the show of next
y ar, and that that statement had been remarked upon by
Mr. D,'nt. He thought tint every facility should be gi»en to
t'lelr foreign friends consistently with the safety of Eislish
stick, for the exhibition of their animals next year (Hear,
hear). He would retiuind the nweting that their FrencI*
friends took the English cattle with open arms. There was
no quarantine on the other side ; and he thought that it
W3u!d only be a gracefal act to- treat them as liberally as wa»
possible, consistently with the safety of our own ciflc (H'-ar,
hear). As Eaglish exhibitors, no men could ha''e been more-
handsomely t-eated than they were at the French Exhibition^
and that it would be long remembered, not only hy them, but
by the shepherds and herdsmen He, like many others, weut
over to France expecting to find very little io observe ard
very little to cony. In some respects h& was disappointed,
bat in others he was particularly pleased. The perfection of
the arrangements of the showyard had b.^en renarked upin ;
b'lt that which had not been remarked up in was that the-
Ereach als • knev7 how to sli&w the r animals (Hear, hear), lie
was thoroughly t-iken aback by the manner in which their
cattle and shi-ep were shown ; and he did not thiuk it possible
to exhibit animals iu better trim, or to have them bett-r
taken care of than was the case Vrith t e French animals.
He considered that the French heists pres?nted a good exam-
ple with regard to the Engli-'h, for,, whilst the French f.rraTs
neglected mea^ we perhaps went too fir inthfit direction, and
npg'ected that whch was the best paying tiling on' the farm —
milk. It Wis quite possible for our Shorthorn breeders to
cultivate milk-pro lucing properties without any loss of tie
mea'-producing properties ; and that that remunerative branch
of farming ought not to be neglected. V/ith regard to the
cultivation of the soil, and the care tak^n of implements in
France, he must say that all the implements he saw were ot
an antediluvian character, and sush as he should not think if
worth while to spend money to protect (Laughter).. The
sooner the French adapred themselves to the English i'lipls-
ments tlie better. As regarded the French farmers, some of
the speake-s that evening had been spreading their Ipgg,
under the best tables (Laughter). They did not go to tlig
French farmer proper, but they went to the French proprie
tors. The French farmers would just suit Mr. Driug
(Laughter). Fur they did all tlie work themselves, and sold
all their produce, and what they lived upon no one knew
(Laughter). He was sorry t lat iiis brother was not so much
impressed with what he saw of the accounts kept by French'
farmers as to follow their example (Laughter). IIis brother
was a dairy farmer, and had a large number of cows ; but he
(Mr. C. Howard) iiad yet to learn that the food and produce
of each cow was weighed daily (Laughter). The Engli.^li
farmer coald not now get a living, and he did not know how
they would fare if they had to support half a dozen clerks —
(hear, hear) — which keeping such accounts would necessitate
in some cases, lie was sorry that more E iglish farmers did'
not pay a visit to the Faris Exhibition. But as to seeing
anjthing extraordinary there in the way of farming he did
not S'e it. He thought Mr. Dent did not look about
so critically for weeda in France as lie did in England
(laughter). He (Mr. C. H-oward) would remind them that-
our climate was very different to that of I"rance, and that
owing to various ckusos weeds had grown iu England nue'i
more extensively than the British farmer liked (Hear, hear)*
Over that matter they had no control. The seasons and
other adverse circurastauces had been the means of making,
the land of this country in a more uacleauly state than he ever
before remembered it to have been, and he hoped the time-
might soon arrive when we should see a better state of things-
in this country than now prevailed (Hear, hear).

Mr. FuWLER, in replying, said that had hctouchcd-at

THE FAEMER S MAGAZINE

length on the subj°cts alluded to in tiie discus-ion liis paper
Would iidve br-eu of inordimte 1-ngth. Many of ilioae topics
Would be ^urti^;lellt of tli -mselvt^s to form a separate ptper,
Hrid give riie to a separate di^cnssion. Dairy produce aud
Kiauagpin tit »as a tiou^; ihe subj cts to which he h )ped the
L'oinmiitfe and tlie cluh wou!d b- able to devote a iiigb' in the
ensuiiiii year. Wlipu he said there was uotliiiii to be learnt
from Freaeli agriculturists, he meant that there was 1 tt!e or
ii ithiiig startling in tlieir macbiaery or their herds of cattle.
As he said before, there wasagreat deal to learn from the thrifti-
>iess and c'.ean iuess of tiie farmers, who in thit rps*p='ct were
a pattern to English Farmers. As to the charges for cattle at
]5ro*u's VVliart, he meant to siy that exhibitors were put to
great expense, anl tbat the Government outflit to have pro-
> ded them more cheaply with places tor their cattle. The
i.nalili farmers were ciarged 5-i. for the standing of every
liea.' of cattle, and 3s. 6.1. per h'^ad for the sheep. Thus for a
week's s'anding-rooin for slieep they had to pay '24s. 6d., »nd
some of the sheep were snail mountain slieep, which caiue to
Jt)i7 to i'lS Sir B;andreth O bbs and himself went to the
titeani Navitjatiou Company aud s-uoceeded iu )j;etting tlie
tiiarge reduced to Is. p^r bead. Mr. N-aylor bougbt five little
Kerries which were not much bigger tliau NeAibundlaud dogs.
Tiiej were placed in quarantine, and he had to pay £53 for
those animals. lie actually paid more than their value for the
maading. Tberei'ore he thought tlie G-Jvernmeut ought to
)irovide standing places for tlie stock in fature. As to the
French appreciation of his poultry, at the req-iest of the
French Minister oi Agriculture, he (Mr. Fowler) received a
gold medal.

Mr. Lit rLE moved and Mr. Marttoj seconded a vote ot
tinnksto Mr. Fo*ler, which was briefly acknov\ledjied.

Mr. James Wooi> then proposed and -dr. J. J. Mechi
feconded a vole of thanks to the Uliairinin, which being aai-
ried and responded to, the meeting separated.

THE FARMERS' CLUB DINNER,

Tlie annul', dinner of the Farmers' Club was held on
De ember 10 at the Criterion, under the presilency of Mr.
John Brown. Tliere was a lar;;e attendance, iucluding Mr.
Pickering Thipps, M.P., Mr. Simuelson, M.P., Mr. Storer,
M.P., Caj.tain VV. Delf, Mr. Charles llj*ard, Mr. James
Howard, Mr. J. J. Mechi, Mr. J. K. Fowler, Mr. Odams, Mr.
F. Street, Mr. G. Street, Mr. AViUum. Eve, Mr. Treadwell,
Mr. S. B. L. Druce.itc.

The table having been cleared the Chaiioian proposed the
fit st toast — that of ''The Queen" and next 'The Prince ol
Wales and the llest of the lloyal i'amily." In gl'ncg tht
latter he said that those v/iio saw the Prince of Wales at tlie
Agricultural Sho* on the previous day must necessarily claim
him as one of their n-araber (Hear, hear).

The Chairman ia proposing " Tiie Army, Navy, and Pie-
serve Fori'8*," re.uark'-d that they couldalways be reli<-d upon
as loyal lo the Queen, aud as the defenders of the liberties and
honour of ihe country.

Captain W. Delj in responding, observed that recent eveuts
)idd proved that bolh forces had a moral as well as a physical
tifecl (Hear, hear). When we remembered the great moral
tfffct which the presence of our fl et in the Black Sea at a
very criticil juncture of this country's aifa:rs, and, more re-
cently ol the calling: of o loured troop? to the liliud of Malta
when another great Power was suppo. idtj be threatening the
interests of this country, lie thought il would be admitted that
the presence of the fl et aud of those troops was sulficieut to
curb the ambition of an aggressive power (applausi-).

Mr. Charles Uowaui>, iu giving the lieaUh of " The
Chairman," spoke of the able nianner in which he had pre-
sided over the Club meetings during his year of office, and of his
stf rl ng integrity, his busiuess habits, aud bis good comraou
se se. When he firat took oBi^e aa Chairman he held tlve
hig'iest appointment which any genth-raan cou d rec ive in l.i..
own county — namely, that of High Sheriff of Caiabridgesh.ire
jiiar, hear). H.» had iiafortuaaely held olBce during one of
the moat adverse seasons that rae-Tubers of the Club had had
to contend against. That bid couditi n of things was partly
owing to the state of agriculture, but very much more so to
ine uncomfortable quarters in which the Clab was placed
(Hear, hear). He wa,i glad to state that they were soon to
isaiove into q^^iartcrs 5U]^cnor lo any yet occupiet by the Club,

aud he, therefore, hoped' that its infldeuce wou!d be widely
extended. Mr. lircwu would be (ileased that he was to bs
succeeded by a gentleman who was wr.ll known, and wlio also
h Id a high position in liis county — Mr. I'hipps, M.P.
(cheers)..

The CuAiRMAN said that although he retfuired the iuduce-
raents of his friends to act as Ciiairman for the past year, slil!
tliB duty hal beeu a p'easure to him, aud if the interests of
the Club had not suffered uudar his presidency he was amply
repaid for what he had done (Hear, hear), it was a great
pleasure to him to know that bis successor would well sustain
the office. He tlwu proposed " Suceejs to the Farm rs' Club,"
and "Thanks to the Meiabers- who have read Pupers during
the Past Year." It was possiule, he said, that the gentlemen
who difl not attend the monthly meetings thought tiiai. the only
obJBct of tlie Cub was the annual diuuer. That was not so ;
lor any matters interestinu to agriculli^re generally were
brought before and discu«sed by the Club; and g-reat attention
was paid to measures aSecting agriculture, which were passing-
through the Houses of Parliament. The I'armera' Club was
the stepping-stone to the for natiou of the " English Cart-
Uorses aud I'eaigree Association," which emanated from a
paper read at a meeting of the Club by Mr. Street (Hear,
hear). Another subject taken up by the Club, and entered
into conjointly with the Central Chambe.-j was the Co.Tlagioui
Diseas.'S (Animals) Bill. Together they attcaded before the
Duke of Richmond, and after the expression of their views
his Grace was fully convinced that the measure was one
required by- the country. It was Franklin, he believed, who
said " Three removes are as bad.aa a fire ;" but still the ques-
tion of a removal of their quarters had occupied much of
the attention of the Secretary and of the Committee. He
thought tliat the rooms now taken at the Inns of Court
Hotel would be pleasing to all ; and iu addition t& being the
means of adding to their comfort he hoped it v/ould tend to
increase the number of members (Hear, hear). The present
number was 000, but, considering liie immense interest which
was at stake, and the aniouut of capital employed by the tenant
farmers of this couu try th( irnumbers certain!} ought to bs doubled
(Hear, iiear). Tie <.;iub was very much indebted to those
gentlemen who had volunteered to cone forward and read
papers. There had been a great improvement in that direc-
tion of late; for whereas formerly the papers were long anj
exhaustive, and left nothing to be said in the discussion, no.v
they were shorter, and the various opinions entertained could
be expressed by other persons besides the readers of the papers
(Hear, hear),

Mr. J. K. Fowi.ER, whose name was coupled with the last
portion of the toast, said the Farnvrs' Club exercised very
great inf.ueiice,_ and that not a sileut inlluence, amongst his
brother farmers wholooked forward to the a«tion of the Club
and the Committee ior a great deal of support ia many of
their troubles (.Hear, hear). List year's papers sliowi-d i he
almost u-uiversalily of the Club. 'I'hey bf-gan with " Traetiou
Engiues" by Mr. Aveling ; then they had " Ctrt Florses" by
Mr. Sireet; then "Farm Work in H'lrvest" by Mr. Hose ;
then "The Coiiuty Government Bill;" then " The Need of
Gr-ater Unity aino-ugst Farmers ;" and lasitly, the paper
which he had the misfortune to read tlif> previous evening
('■ No, no")^ Those paptrs showed tha great aeo, e which tlie
Club took in looking a'ter the interest* of agriculture. WitU
regard lo the Contagious Diseiwes Bill the Gavernraent had
shown a little cuBsideration for the wish s of the agricultural
interes*", aud had done soiae jus ice to their long-needed re-
quiiements. lie hailed the County Government Bill with
satis'action, and he hoped the Highways Bill would be also
foj- their benefit (Hear, hear). Mr. Fowhr then-spoke of the
representative character of Mr. PliipfS, aud of his excellent
qualifications for the Cliainaansbip of the Club during the
year ia which the great International Eihibitioa was to be
heid iu London.

Mr. Samqei-sox, M.P., proposed " The P..oyal Agrirul-
t'jral Society of Eigland, the UigliUnd Society of Sco' land,
and lh3 Royal Agricultural Society of Ireland." He thought
that the farmers who could remember the state of agriculture
in this country when those Societies commenced their opera-
tions mnst be very uuthaukl'ul to the promoters of those
Societies if they did not express their gratitude to the founders
(Hear, hear). Thanks to railways, and other facilities and
circumstances, socif tiesof the kind nrrrf no longpf the absolute -
necesii'y they once were , but still, bo lac as itie.v wcr? ctirrkitij

64

THE FARiMMR'S MAGAZINE

on wi'h inWlJgence, they were at the present dayaffreaK
Bfrv.ce to tli>- c;iiis8 of agriculture (Hear, hear). Among other
iilusirati >n!' ol' tlie p'osircsB ot those Societies was the In'er-
n tioual Exiiibiti'ju wliieli whs to be htlJ urxt year. The
Ixayai A^riciln-^al Socie'y was also mAitis; strides in agrim'-
tura! teachiun. A'liougtlie nmsr important of these societiis was
the J'sriMPr!.' Club. The discussions at its niejtiu^rs were
very iivs rue ive, and its indu'-nce upon ths progress of aiiri-
culture was more. direct than tliat of the Agrj.mltiiral Societies
(Hear, hear). There was less of rfi/f '/<'«/w'» in the discussions
than in the operations ol the socle' i'-s,aud the Club had a more
direct actit)u U(jon the Legislsfure than it wao possible for such
societies to exe: cise (Hear, hear). He remeiibered attending
their November meeting, and tellinu them, capitalists as they
were, that if their wives would look a little mrre &f;er the
dairy and their daughters would pay a liule less attention to
the piario'orte it would be belter for the profession ot farming ;
("Oh! oh!" and laughter). They could not reg-rd that :
remark of his as anything more than a joke; but stiil he .
thongiit the way that joke was receive i, and the di-cussion !
•niiidi w«s dissfminAted tiirousjh the Piess, had had a great '
influence — more than was, perhaps, contemplated at the time.
It was irapossib'e to exciuda politics from the Clabiftliey \
M'ished it to be a real service ; lor subjects rau'<t from time to ,
time crop i>p before the 1 egislalu e in whch their interests I
were dir^ ctly concerned, and it was necessary th-it I hey should |
watch i hose matters, liewonU ask them to excuse his pre- j
sumption in intending to bring before tiie House of Comaions
theque^tion of tlie Agricultural Holdings Act of 1875 ; and if j
they considered the dii-cussion of the su'joct desirable he '
hoped they would assist liim in making a house when the
suhjfct came ou (cheers).

Mr. OoAJts, whose name was a-S)ciafed with the toist, said
he could bear re>tira',iDy to the use ulness of the societies and
to the business-like way in which they de It with all questions
brongh' before them He tliougi.t that from those societies
Parliament might learn a less >n as to liow to keep good hours,
have less obstruction, and gjt home to tlieir families in btSter
time (Hear, hear).

Mr. Storer, M.P., in giving the next toast, that of " The
Chairman Elect ,"said hedi! not know a more upright, straight-
forward member of Parliament. His value was recognised in
the Central Chamber of Agriculture, where he was always
ready and foremost in promo ing useful mea ures for the
benefit of the landed and farming interest of tiie country (Hiar,
h^ar). The Club would have ful justice done it in the year of liie
luterua'iontl Eithibilion by th.-ir new Chairman. He could
not congratulate the members of the C ub ou tne pos-i'ion of
t!ie farniinj interest, and there were very grave doubts in his
mind whether ot late agriculture had been at all successful.
Various estimates had been made as to its prosperity or other-
wise, but he thought there could be but one opinion — namely,
that at no time were agricultural affairs in so depressed and so
deplorable a condition (Hear, hear). Not only did that apply
Uj the present, hut the outlook of the future was not likely to
enc.'Urage those who had thought deeply on the su'iject. The
hou. nemle-nau llien procei ded to ay that he had always been
a protectioui>t. Thir,y years ago uiey were told that they
ought to adopt free-lriide, and that, then every other n ition oa
The eaith would follow their exninple ; but what had been
the resu't ? (Hear, hear). Foreigners were glad enough to
trade With u<, but they shut their gates agains', or impose a
tarilF »pon, our goods, and when, a- uow, we saw Russia, Ger-
many, aud Am'^nea, ail imposing such h'avy duties, how
could wecill itfrse-tradrt ? (' Qiesiion") He b^lievedMHt t le
Govcrntiieiit were desirous of bringing forward measures lik ly
to I eitiil the farming interest.

Mr. PiuKKRi.NG Pnipps, M.P^ alter he-irtily thanking
the a>semt)iy lor ihe corciiil lecepliou of his na ue, -Naid that ic
was throiitth no action of his own that he liad arrived at what
he con.-> dtr d to he the pr. u 1 pns limi he now occupied o'
CliH rman >,( the F.ir.ners' Clab (li.-ar, hear). It, was only
wi hill the last ew days that he hal liad ilic re-motest idea th.ic
thi ctioive v\ou!dtall upon him'-eif — a choice, which w^s rather
due to th if kiuduess liian to his own worthiness (" No, no)".
Ac the -am ; ti.iie lie could assure tliera that during the coming
ye,ir, whic'.i was likely to be a year of some importance lu
I'ounec tion with agricultural matters in this steal metrop dis
it HU'iuid n.>t he his lault il ih.'. Club did not peiform in a
pr.jpir ui.iuucr the fuictiona for wliich il was created

cheers). Diiiug the eveniui ino'e tli.in onn allusiton ImS
ben made to tiie dep and dire di^t^ess which prevailed
amongst agriculturists. Anyone coming upon the scene and-
witntssiiig tlieir dinner, for instance, or the great Show that
was being held in the Asricullural Hill would, as a stranger,.
C •: s d-^r that vigrieultural di-t'css was the very last thing that
ex sted in this mtion. But it had ever been a trait of the
British larraer energetically to cope with great difficulties
(Hear, hear). In liis opinion the rainner in which the agri-
cultural iiil-rest had copeJ with the diih -uUies of the last 20
years was worthy of emulation on the p,irt of tliose who were
engaged iu manufactures, and who were now bef;inning to
feel some of the evils which agrijulturists had long deplored
(Hear, hear). For his own part, he believed that the agricultu-
ral interest ot this country would be the last to clamour for
protection (cheers). It was necessary for the welfare of this
nation to that common substances oblained from the land
should not be taxed (Hear, hear). Reverting to his election as
Chairmau, the lion, gentleman said, besides sympathising to a
great extent with agriculturists, he had another branch of
business (He^r, hear). 'J hat was to hira of great importancp,
as it enabled hi'n to maintain that sympathy with agricultu-
rists which he always hoped to have. On the other han' it
might be that ias a Club tliey wished to express their be'lief
that of agriculturists as a body it was better to have two
strings to the bov,r tlHU only one (Hear, hear). He would
say that every agncul urist in the co<intry ought to have some
other good business at his back (Heir, hear). For many years
he had urged.to one of ihe most seri.jus matters oonnected with
ti euition was the fact that the agriculturists of the country
who employed more capital in the manufacture of the fool of
the country than any other siagle manufacturer in it — that
the capital invested in that manufacture should bear so poor a
?;turu (U<;ar, hear). P.-rhaps there was no one in the whole
kingdom who recognised the increase of prosperity to this
ni-tiou which accrued from a good harvest more than the
Chfucsllor of the Excliequer. There was no doubt whatever,,
that the greater part of the new capital that was created iu
this country must come out ol auricult^ure. He (Mr. Pliipps)'
was quit- aware that so far as regarded manufactures,. if a mtu
turned £1U0 worth of raw material into £200 worth of manui-
f ictured articles he created capital. Therefore he would say
that the basis ot the new capital of this country rested up )q
the efforts of the manufacturers, and amongst thoss manutac-
titrers he would recognise as holding a very hiiih position the
manufacturers of corn, and beef, and mutton for the nation at
, large (cheers). Although lor a long series of years great de--
I pression had affected the agricultural interest he believed that
I it mitfht be attribu'eJ more to adverse seasons than to any-
j thing else (Hear, hear). He did not believe it was possible
to legislate against, or to provide any bran new Act of Par-
liaraent that would remove their ditlieulties (Pl-ear, hear). Bat
j he did believe th^t if it should please Providence to bless the-
j Eritish tarmer witii a cycle of prosperous seasons in the same
measure that they had lately had adverse seasons much of the
distress which existed f.t the present time iu this c )untry would-
disappear (Hear, hear). Thanking them for the kind manner
j iu which they hid inaugurated his year of oltice, he assured
I them that he lelt deeply interested in the success ol the Farmers'
j Club. He congratulated the retiring chairman upon the ••-uc-
cess which had attended the ckib during his year of office
i (c'leer.s). No one seeing the important and inftuential meet-
I ing that evening could suppose tlia; the iVmers' Clul) was in
j a retrograde position (cheers) ; but he would rather say that
i it was a proof that it was appreciatid more and more and was
an augury of future usefulness (Hear, hear). H; had been
; toaietimes told llut, b.'iug engaged in business aud beinif »
[ boruugli member, he eould hive nothing in sympathy with-
1 agriculturists,, but he desired to express his candid opinion that
, it woula have been a very bad time tor the country when dif-
; ferences of i-iterest between county and tOA-n were so m-irked-
I that a borough memier coul 1 have no sympathy with agricul-
, tare (Hear, hear). On the other hand, he believed that they
all appreciated tne borousrhs as providing their customers, anil
lie trusted that th'-y iiiiKl>.t continue to increase iu prosperity
I and provide more customers diy hy day. They raivrht be sure
Ihit whatever might be the etforts of agriculturists to produce
I f.od lor the nation, if they had not a nation to e.t that food
1 it would not be of any use to produce it (Hear, hetr). Hi*
opiuion was that tne int-^rests of the producer aud of the cun-
suiiiGr were identical, and he bilieved tlial whatever was done

THE FARMEirS MAGAZINE.

«^5

in prcrno'e tliR prosperity of tlie British fiiriuer would also
ill I lie loiiij run coiuiiu-e to tiie |)ros[)erliy ol' liritisli inauu'ac-
turea and toiinnTcc (Hear, lienr).

JMr. Ja.mks tlowAKD a»knlt!tK indulgence of tiie CliairrnHn
to oiler some remarks as to wliul liad 'leea said abimt protec-
tion, and observed tliat there was not t lie slightest chance tint
the people of Knsjland would ever submit again to see their
food taxed. They would unite as one nnu ia insisting that
the policy of free trade to wlii tli tliey liad been subjected for
tiirty year- siionld uot te reversed (Hear, hear).

The Chairman said tiiat lie was ai one time a protectionist,
but lie hoped that the farmers of England would nev^r again
ssk for protection (Hear, hear). Tney were too independent
for thU (Hear, hear).

M--. J. J. Mkchi in proposing the toast of "Tiie Snitli-
field Club," said lie could recjUect the time when the Shows
ot that Club were held m the side of a stable in Aldersgate
S reet. What were then considered beautiful animals were
deformities with inasaesof lat put on here and there, and com-
paring them with the animals of the present time he must say
the latter showed a great advance.

Mr. Tkeadwell, wli ) responded, expressed his belief that
the Siiitlilield Club had done a gre«t amount of good, and had
ieen the means of showing the public that animals could be j
improved. As to the Firniers' Club, lis hoped that in their I
BOW <{ lartP.rs t'ley would soon meet in increased number^, and
that in the di--cussions which took plice they would hear more
jiracticAl speeches, and no:; so much talking from persons who |
were but little ac'iuaioted with the subjects upon which they |
spoke. It had greatly grieved him to hear certiin things siid '
about farmers, and their wives and dmghters. H"? was sorry
that tliose remarks had been oircniated about the, country, and
he hoped that before gfnt emeu calling themselves farmers set
themselves to lecture farmers and their wives and daughters,
they would make themselves acquiintel with the real facts and i
not be satisfied with local kuon ledge (Hear, hear). Smh ;
gentle nen should visit some of ths farmers' dairies at five
o'clock in the morning, and they would then see that the [
farmers' wives and daughters did something besides playing ;
the piano (cheers and lauj;hter). I

Wr. George SriiEEX proposed "The Goumittee of Mnn- |
agement." 1

Mr. William Evb, in responding, said the last twelve j
monlhs had been a time of some anxiety in couseqienae of tlie
con'olainls respecting the accotnmodation at the Caledonian
Hotel, having necessitated a great deal of work to find a suit-
able pi ice for the C ub meetings. The help of the members wjs
Tea aired by the Committee in two ways. One way was by
iucteisiiig their numbers and having regard to the thousands
of persons intimately connected with agriculture in Great
Britain, he thought that the presjnt numiier of G(J) ought to
be doubled ; another way was by sanding su)jects of papers for
discussion.

T'he Chairman, in proposing the hea}:li' of Mr. Druce
^Secretary ) spoke of the great assistance he had received
uuring the past year from^ that ger>tleman. The Club was-
very fortunate, he rt-nsarked, in having selected Mr. Druce,
whose services in all matters com ng before the Club relating
to Bills in Parlia<nent were invaluable (Hear, lie^r). In lite
matter, too, of selec'ing a suitible pi ice for the Club to meet
ii he had been indefatigible, and it wa? chielly through his
energies that the central and very good situation had at last
been obtained (lieir, hear). lie had ako shown his grea-t
Tdlue in coming forward with one of the best papers during the
past Session, when through the failure of one of the readers
announced, the Club was ii> want of a su'bjeci (cheers).

Mr, Druce, in responding, after thanking the Chairman and
the assembly for the kind manner in which the toast had
been proposed and received, snid that not only was it his duty
but it was his pleasure also to do all he could to further the
interests of the Club (cheers). Althongli it was a great plea-
sure tor him always to work for the Club, yet that was n-ot
unraited with difficulties. Eor instance, in conn. 'ctioa with the
preparations for their dinner that evening, he might mention
ttiat he had received a post-oard liaving simply the post-mark
" London," and without any name being appended, on which
were the words " Dear Druci, A. B. and s. If will dine at Crite-
rion to-morrow ; pleass put us together" (laughter). There
was not a single word to indicate from whom the card came
(laughter), lie lyioted the instnuce simply ti^ show that tlvo

duties of the Secretary w-',rc not unattended with diffi'uUies,
altlioimh thev might be umiU, and he hoped that he liad
smoothed over all such small obstacles to the satisfaction of the
persons concerned, and that they had been able to enjoy tlieui-
selves. It was, he thought, ineunbeiit upon him to make some,
allusion to the snbscriplion sit on foot at the last annual din-
ner for the beiielit oi the gentleman who had preceded himself in
the offiie of Secretary — Mr. C )rbe,t. He (Mr. Druce) undei-
took on that occasion to recive sub^c-iptions, and lie wa»
happy to say that he had had the pleasure of sendin^' it
cheque to the amount of nearly £W0 to his predecessor
(cheers). As to the nieraber of Parliiraent who had stated his
intention to move for a committee to inquire into the Agri.
cultural Holdings Act, the Club had forestalled that gentle-
man. It had se- t out invitations inquiring into the working
of that Act, and he h id h «d the pleasure of reading a pap-.r
before the Club which embodied all the answers received from
many private gentlemen and from public bodies in every
county of EuiLiud and Wales. He mentioned that with
pride because the Club was the oily airicultural body i'l t e
country which had endeavoured to fin I out h iw far tlie Act
had been operative, and how far it had not (uear, hear). If
such a Commission as had been su',;gested were appointed, it
would be only right that the Club should send one or two
members at least as witnesses, in order to sho* the public and
the farmers throughout England that the Farmeis' Club was
not wanting in the desire and endeavour to further their in-
terests. That that Club wis in possession of a miss of statis^
tics which it would be ditlioult for a Committee to add to if
they sat from that nixht till Christmas (hear, hear). As to-
the question of protection he invited the gentleman who had
referred to it to send in that subject for discussion at one of
the Club meetings next year (liea', hear). Ever since he
became the Si-.cretary it had been his opinion that one of th»
greatest drawbacks of the Club was the fact that during the
time of their meetings the members who did not care to be
present had no place where they could sit down and meet and
converse with their friends. It seemed to hira that the rai-
soii d'etre of the Club was that every member should have a
place in which to meet his friends. He believed that the
arnngements which he had made at the Inns of Court Hotel
would prove thoroughly satisfactory. There would be a large
room 'or dining, a room for their discussions, and three Cluh
rooms which wjuld always be kept for the use of the ordinary
members (hear, hear). There was one otiier point which he
desired to mention, and it was that during the coming im-
portant jear for farmers, when so many persons connected
with agriculture would come to London for the International
Exhibition, the Farmers' Club should, in his opinion, be
in some way particularly distinguished. He should, for in-
' stance, like it to be the cause of such a conversation between
: two farmers — -a member and a non-raember ol the Club casually
I meeting in the country — that upon the farmer saying,"! am
going U3 to my Club in Londou, and I can there have or do
i so and so," the latter would remark, " Oh, I can't do that ;
1 wish you wou'd propose me as a member" (laughter and
! cheers), lie should be happy to receive suggestions from mem-
bers before February n-ext for the furtherance of the object.
They had btely been unfortsnate ia the premises, and he was
! remic'ded of the poet's words :

" Oh, Caledonia, stern ai>d wild,
I Meet nurse for a poetic child" (laugh'.er);

Their " Caledonia" had been very " stern," and in many res-
pects very " wild ;" bu-t it had cot been a " meet nurse" for
tlie Farmers' Club (la'ighter). Perhaps it was because they
were not suflioiently poetical, and were too practical. He
trusted that the " fresh fields" of Lincoln's Inn and the " pas-
tures ne*" of Holborn would bring them new strength, and
that that might be a new point of departure from which they
would go on increasing and progressing (cheers).
The company then separated.

i LOSING THE THREAD.— A little boy weeping most
piteously was interrupted by some unusual occurrence. Hu
hushed liis cries for a moment ; the thonght was broken.

; " 5Ia," said he, resuming his siiufflcj" what was I crying

I about just now 'i"

65

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

(EhainbcviB of Jlgvicultuvt.
_ — -♦--

CENTRAL.

A Council Meeting of tlie Central and Associated Chambers
o Agriculure' was held ou December 11, at the Society of
Arts, AiU'lphi. The ctinir was taken at nooa by Mr. C. S.
li:'ad, M.r., Sir George Jfiikiuson, M.r. (the rresident), being
absent iii constqueuce ol corUinueJ indisposition.

A' the cjminencetuent of the proceedings the Kendal Far-
mers' Club was admitted iuto association with the Central
Chamber.

Mr. P. PiiiPFS, M.P., presented and read the following
lleport of ilie Educati )u Committee : —

" In iiceordauce with tlie instructions of the Council on the
6th March last, tiie Educa'ion Committee caused the report
which tliey tlien presented to be circulated throughout the
Chambers of Agriculture, and in pursuance of the powers
given to tl em to add to their nu obers they have obtained tlie
c i-operatioii ol Mr. Boweu Jones and Mr. William Stratton.
Your OoiKMiitlee has had opportunities during the past year
lor more fully considering the system lor instruction in Agri-
cultur.il Science recently introduced by t!,e Government De-
partment of Science and Art, and is more than ever convinced
tliat this scheme enables science instruction to be brought
within the reach of a consider ible portion of farmers' sons at
a very small cost. They have to report tiiat these science
classes are now established in connfclion witli some of our
agricultural institutions, and are meeting with satisfactory sup-
port in tiieir respective luca ities, and are largely attended by
btudents whose privil. ge it thereby becomes to combine prac-
tice with science in their home training in ai;riculture. Tliey
would especially name the class formed in connection with the
Newcastle Farmers' Club, mainly through the instrumentfility
ot Mr. Thos. 13. 11, a member of your Cointni tee. They find
thai the weakest point in the entire arrange uents is the great
difficulty of obtaining properly trained Science Teachers, and
therefore recommend that your Council should make the fol-
lowing r presentations to the Department of Science and
Art:—

Ist. That it is of the utmost importance that instrnctio''
in the I'riuciples of Agriculture should be loribwith
given to those who are now in the Government Schools
at South Kensington, undergoing preparation for acting
as Science Masters.

2nd. That every assistance which the Department cin render
for giving instruction in the Principles of Agriculture
to Science Masters now settled in the country as
Teachers should be afforiled them.

Sid. That the study of the Principhs of Agriculture should
be encouraged in all Training Colleges in which Mas-
ters are educated, by allowing them the option of
taking this subject in common with other sciences, as
one which will carry marks toward their certificate.

In submitting this report your Committee further venture to
recommend that each of the Local Chambers of Agriculture be
iuvi'ed to appoint an Education Committee for the purpose of
co-operatintf with existing educational institutions m the pro
motion of Agricultural Education in their respective districts.
The Secretaiy of the Science and Art Department at Sou'h
Kensington will, on application, furnish iulorinaiion as to the
preliminaries necessary to start a class, and what assistance
(jovernment will render. And your Comniiltee understand
that an official representative of ihe Di partmeut will be sent,
fiee ot expense, to any l.icality where more detailed inloriiia-
tion is required in view ol the proposed lormalion ol an Agri-
cultural Science ClasH.

(Signed) PiCKEUiJNO Piiirrs,

Chair.-nan."

Mr. Piiirrs having moved " That the Report be received
and adopted,"

Earl ioirrKSCLE said he had very great pleasure in second-
ing ilie motion lor tlie adopiion of a Report which se med
to him a very well-considered ani \ery practical document.
It was quite clear that amid the severe competition with
Joreigners, to which agriculturists as well as all other manu-
(acturers — farmers might be called niaiiu!'aclurrr8 ol food both
in au animal and vegcl.tblc form — were ix^poscd, il was ivbau-

lutely necessary tint they shoii'd not cintent tlie:iisel»es wit
mere scieri'ific knowledge. Scientific kn )wledge wi.hoK
practical experience had over and over agmu brought misiui-
tune au.i loss upon persons who had undertaken to conduct
agricultural operations with the aid of science akne. But he-
thought lie might appeal to fo ne of the most practical as
well as scientific agriculturists in E;)gland connect. d witli
Chambers of Agriculture, as to whether practical experience
alone, without that recurrence 'o principles which science
had laid down as a necessity had not also tended to retard
agricultural improvement, and whether a great deal of money
had not been was ed in llii-.t way. The luoito of the Royal
Agricultural Society, " Practice with Science," seemed to him-
to be a scund one for the manufacturers of food, whether
animal or vegetable, as well as for iiiaaufactarers of other
kinds of produce (Bear, hear).

Mr. Jaspeu More said lie should like to know what sten»
had been taken for the formation of classes — whether
that object had been practically carried out in any of the
agricultural districts.

Mr. Beli^ (Ne*c«tle) said h^ bad great pleasure ia
suggesting that the Cliairman of the Educa ion Commitiee
(iVlr. P. Phipps, M.P.), should be asked to make the recom-
mendations included in the Repo.t to the Depurtineut of
Science and Art. In reply to che gentleman who spjke last
he was glad to be able to say th it at Newc istle they had
succeeded in forming a class in which the principles of agri-
culiure were being taught at ihe present time, and, as he had
reason to believe, verv successlully tauuht.

The ClIAIKM.v^' : In connection with what ?

Mr. Bell said it was in connection with the Newcastle
Earmers' Club (cheers). They had, perhaps, at Newcastle
special facilities for carrying that out, new science and art
schools having been recently "Opened there, and the whole of
the 24 departments ol science and art being includ' d in ihe
teaching. A communication was received (rom the
Chairman of the Committee to the effect that the Committee
would be very gUd if the Newcastle Earmers' Club would co-
operste with the Science and Art Department iu endeavouring
to form a class (or ihe 2-1 subjects. Owing to representations
made by that Chamber the su'iject had been before the Club
for some time, and they had talked the ma'ter over with the
Science and Art local comm ttee. The scheme which was ulti-
mately adopted was this. Thinking they would not be able
to secure to the teacher a sufficient salary to remunerate him
if he bad only one class, they determined to try and establish
a class in some of the neighbouring towns ot Northumberland
and Durham, so that the teacher might teach a separate class,
if possible, on each day of the week. The appeal made was
well responded to, and there was a great numlier of students
belonging to the class of young men whom they most desired
to gel hold of — sons of practical farmers. The advantages ot
combining practice with science did not require any proof.
As an agriculturist he had taken great interest in that subject,
esp cially since so much had bten said about agri-
cultural labourers getting a supf rior education to
thai generally given to the sons of midJie-chss farmers. If
any scheme could supply the deficiency iu tliat respect, it
was, he believed, that Government scheme, which would eu-
able sons ol farmers, close to their own homes, to get instruc-
tion adapted to the walk of life iu which t ley might be ex-
pected to etrn their living. They all knew ItiKt the sons of
men who were somewhat above the rank of middle-class
farmers liad ken sent to expensive schools where they were
tauglit many things which were not likely to be of much use
to tliem in after life, and here was the very iustructiou which
all must desire tliat such persons shiuild receive availible at a
small expense. There was bulto believethat il thatscliemewere
properly carried out it would prove an i.umense advantage to
ihe farmers of this country (liear, hear).

The motion was then adopted.

The Report of the Highways Committee was deferred
until the Eebruary meeting of the Council.

Cnptain Craigie presented a short rep-ort from the Weights-
and Measures Committee.

On the motion of Mr. Pell, M.P., seconded by Mr. Law-
KENCE, the annual Report ot the Local Taxation Coiumittee,
presented at the last meeting, was adopted.

Mr. Pell tiicn presented the 13th Report of the Council 35
prepared by the Bunuess Cotniailtce.

THTC FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

67

The (|ii'>(ioii of disrjro in | i^rs, in rcldtiuii to the Con'afjious
Di.seasts Ac, was t'leu di.'cnssnl, and

Jlr. Kkdwn called hltfii'.ijn to the omissiou of all mentioo
otthe Malt-tax ill tlie llepiirl.

A iiiii^ discussion eusufd, asid Mr. Bro*n moved as an
amciiduieiit to a iiiotiim lor rtceiving the ileport ; — " That
thfre is a serious oniis-iou in tlie ll"(iorl willi regard to the
Malt-tax, wliicli ought to he remedied."

Ou a sliow of hnuds the amendment was nej;ativcd, the
liuiuhers being for the amendment t), against it 23.

A similar profiosa!, witli regard to tlie prevention of diseases
among swiue fell to tht ground for want of a seconder ; after
w liich the lieport was adopted, with oul)' one dissentient.

At the annual mretiug of the Chamber, wliicli followed,
Treasurer, y\f. Clajtou, laid on tlie table a statem -ut of tlie
accounts, and observed that, owing to the illness of Mr,
yX'i Ison, the Auditov, it had not yet undergone an audit.

Oil the motion of Mr. L.wvkeisce, seconded by iMr. Jaue/,
TuKNER, Mr. Willson was re-elected Audi or lor the coming
>ear; and subsecjuently the following subscription members
were re-elected members of Council : — Captain Craigie, Mr.
Kead, M.F., Mr. I'ell, M.f., Mr. Phipps, M.l'., Mr. D.L.ug,
Mr. Jdbez Turner, and Mr. Storer M.P. ; and Lord I'o.tescue
in the room of Mr. Jasper More, and IMr. J^hn Trask in tlie
)>l.<ce of Mr. Trvtter (Lincoln hire) resigned.

The annual Report ol tlie Council was adopted, and on the
motion ol Capt. Ckaigie it was agreed that the Chamber, at
its rising, should adjourn until the February meeting at the
Council, in oruer to receive the Auditcr's report.

The Marijuis of liuutley was elected President for the en-
suing year.

WEST SUFFOLK.

A meeting of this Chamber was held at Bury S', Edmund a
on December 18, Mr. 'i'. Thoriiliill, M.P., in the chair. The
Jirst subject for discussion was "The Highways Act," iutri--
dnced by Mr. W. liiddell.

Some dicussion followed, in the course o'' which Mr.
G. IL NujJN proposed a resolution to the eff cl that the
Chamber was o' opinion that liigiiway districts should be
establishfd, and that the Union should be t'le area.

Mr. BiDDELL said hb should wish tj meet tliat, by a direct
iieg4tive.

T.ie Cii.viRM.vN put the motion, and three only voting for
it, it was lost.

Mr. BiDDELL then moved a resolution to the effect that if
the county was divided into sanitary diatncls the sanitary
areas should be adopted for such districts.

Mr, Kdjjn seconded the proposiiou.

Jlr. MANFitLD proposed an aueDdraent to the effect that
in the opinion ol ti>al Chamber the union area was too large.

The Ch,.v1R..ma>1 put the aiiisndment, when seven voted for
and seven against, and Mr. Tli jruhill gave liis casting vote in
favour of the original motion-, which he put, and it huj carried
fey a majority ol one..

Mr. BiDPELL then moved that there should be na division
sf roads into main roads in ordinary highways.

Mr. NuxN seconded the motion, which was agreed to.

The Uev. C. W. Jo>;^£S then read a pap-'r ou the Weights
and Measures Act, and cjQcluded by proposing •, —

1. Thit it is desirable that all grain and its dry prodiicts
be bought and sold by Wf ight,

2. That this weight be the cental of 1001b.

3. That application be made to the Board of Trade to
legalise the cental as an imperial denomination.

The discussion was adjaurned,

ROMAN IIISTORY.— A gallant young foihunter, tjuak-
fying for a seat in Parliament, amused tiimself recently by
giving instructiou in Komm hi^to^y to the schoolboys in his
village. Alter having elocj,nently exp^tiat>id on the death of
Caesar, which took place on the steps of the Senate house, he
proceeded to examine the children, in order to prove their
attainments. In answer to his question, " Where did Cteiar
sjeet with his deithr" one boy eagerly responded, " In the
synagogue ; " wliile another as prompt 'y corrected him by the
lemark, '"No; it was in the summer-house," 'J'he rural
iutellett does not appear quite equal as yet to the assiiuila- I
tioa of lectures ou Ivjmau history, — .J/(y Fuir, J

rilE AGR LU a L'L'U LIB OF La\IBARD\r,
No. 11.
The agricnllnral [)roJu(;tions of the country are many
and varied, and txtend from the ieinoii and olive-trees of
the Lake of Garda to the pasture-grouuds of the Alps.
Vines aud mulberry -trees, \\itli wheat, Indian coi'ii, ami
other grain are grown on the hills and upper plain ;.
while rice. f\ ix, and hay form the chief products o( the
rrigated lauds. Lombardy is rich iu silk, cheese, and
batter.

The characteristics of the different provinces, the
methods of cult vation, and the system of tenancies vary
according to the position, the degree of fertility and
nature of the soil, and the capabilities for irrigation
I am indebted to a report written by the I'resideiit of
the Milan Chamber of Agriculture, which divides the
whole territory into three great agricultural zones, marked
out by nature: — The upper, or dry i'-une, is formed of
that part of the district which faces the north-east,
commencing a few kilometres above the City of Milan, and
extending to the foot of the Brianzi hWU. It is bounded
on the uoith by the district of Moiiza and the Province of
Como, and ou the east by the Iliver Adda, which divides
the Provinces of Milan and Bergamo. The middle zone,
also looking north-west, comprises that portion of the
territory which lies between the upper ^one and the City
of MLlau. The lower or irrigated zone includes all the
southern portion of the district, and is bounded by the
Puvince of Pavia on the south, by the district of Lod»
and the Province of Crema ou the south-east, and by the
district of Abbiategrasso ou the south-west.

Jacini, in his work on the lauded property of Lombardy,
remarks that the country preseuts this peculiarity — that
iu one day's jouruey across its territory the traveller
meets with many varied systems of agriculture, and the
most different customs. The district of Milan, in a small
way, offers the variety shown on a large scale by the
whole region. Thus, in the north, proprietors in general
superintend the metayers on their estates. The peasantry
under the m-itayer system are more independent thau
in the lower zone. The population is dense and labo-
rious ; the fields are cultivated with corn, maize, viues,
and the mulberry-tree; but the produce is subject to
drought, to the oidium, and to atrophy.

In the middle district the crops are more flourishing
than in the upper, under the use of sewage manure
brought from Milan, and by means of irrigation, which,
if not very abundant, is sufficient to permit meadows and
lice-fields to alternate with corn, maize, and the plan-
tations of mulberry-trees. In the lower zone there are
no metayers; the population, not so dense, is less inde-
pendent, but production is more certain. The peasant
is not attached to the soil, but his daily bread is assured.
Here the farms arc of large extent, in order that the
mechanism of irrigation may be fully utilised, and oi^
them is found a class of fdrraers possessed of means,,
activity, and intelligence — the true representatives of
agricultural industry. With few escep-tions the estates
in this district are leased out to tenants for terms of nine
or twelve years. It is in this poi-tion of the territory
that tradition, study, and indefatigable labour h-ave pro-
duced that system of irrigation v/hich so justly forms the
admiration of strangers. Here wheat, the vine, the mul-
berry are either not cultivated or are of secondary im-
portauce, and their pkce is supplied by rice fields and
meadow-land.

Lombardy, Piedmont, and Einilia c'lltivate rice on a
large scale in permanent or temporary rice-grounds,
which last from two to three years, and occupy from one-
fourth to one-half of the arable kads, but more commonly'

6S

THR FARMEIR'S MAGAZINB.

oiie-lliird only, so that, in the rotiition of cropa, one crop
of rice is iisuHlly raised betiveeii tivo crops of maize, both
beiii? produced without manuring. The period of so wing
p^teiids from the betjiniiinp; of March to the bpg;inninf; of
May. The new rice-landa are sown first, those which
have been establislied for one or more years at a later
])eriod, as the soil is benefited by eiposiire for some time
to the heat of the sun. Rice in the busk (locally termed
7-i.<ioi)c is employed as seed, in the proportion of from
3 to 4 bushels per acre according to the nature of the
soil. It is sown by hand, and as the land is literally in
the state of mud, it is very laborious and very unhealthy
work for the cultivator. It is necessary not to sow
thick, and in proportion as the land is strong the quan-
tity of seed is diminished. It is usual to soak the rice-
seed in water for twenty-four hours previous to sowing,
with the double object of quickening its vesretation and
preventing it floating on the surface of the water as,
without this precaution, it occasionally does. If new
riee is employed as seed it requires to be sown early, that
is, in the course of the month of March : old grain is
siwa later in April or at the beginning of
May. Twelve or fifteen days after sowing, the
youn? plants rise above the surface of the soil, and,
as they increase in height, the sheet of water is' gradually
increased with them, so that merely their tops show
above it. The fields are kept in this flooded state until
the plant flowers, which, according to the time of sowing,
takes place between the middle of .Tuly and the middle of
Autrust. About this time the flooding of the crop is
replaced by regular but abundant irrigation, at intervals
of a few days. When the head becomes well formed,
the grain of food size, and the colour changes from deep
to lighter yellowish green, all use of water is discon-
tinued, the land is drained as dry as practicable, and in
ten or fifteen days afterwaads the crop is ready for
cutlins?, The rice harvest in the north of Italy ranges,
according to circumstances, from the middle of
September to the beginning of October : and the crop is
cut with the scythe when large compartmeuts are used,
and with the reaping hook in the smaller ones. The
grain is made into small sheaves about 25 or 301b. in
weight, and with a constant length of 18 inches.
"When the plants are longer than this they are cu*^^ higher,
and the stubble is afterwards ploughed in as manure.
The thrashing is etfected after the Oriental fashion, by
the treading of bullocks or horses ; and the grain is sub-
sequently dried for some days by exposure to the sun.
It is then stored, and during the winter, when water is
cheap and abundant, it. is cleared of the husks in the rice
mills atttached to the farms, which are worked by water-
power.

The proviuces of Brescia and Cremona produce rice to
the extent of more than one-teuth of their produce in
wheat ; the Bolognese produces one-fiftieth part ; as
regards the province of Pavia, all its cereal wealth con-
sists of this produce, which is more than four hundred
thousand hectolitres. Rice, with its husk on {risone) is
passed through the;;(»'/r/, a very imperfect machine, which
cleanses it, that is to say deprives it of its covering;
when it is afterwards bleached by means of a brush
specially invented for that purpose, made of a hempen
cloth. Rice is used for cooking or for flour, and no
Milanese will consider the mi^nu at his table complete
without the familiar dish of risorto or the potaqe riz.

The maize or grano turco is believed to have been a
product introduced from Spain in the sixteenth century.
Ja Lombardy the maize became the substitute for millet
as well as for oats, barley, and even wheat, when it had
the advantage of a soil in the plains and of irrigation.
The produce of the irrigable lands was thereby much

iicreased, to the great benefit of the rural population, in^
I let of the whole agricultural interests of the couulrv.
The uses which maize subserves are ve-y nuuierou'i
whether as semola, or as fiour for making polenta, which
has beer, consumed especially by all the rural population
f Lombardy since the last century. This valuable corn
ii subject to the mould, which is produced by the gene-
ation of the Sporisoriicm maydis and many persons
attribute to this alteration in maize, and not to the
nature of the grain itself, the j>el/affra, or, as it is-
called, the " poor man's disease,'' which, in France as
well as in Italy, follows the production of maize whenever
this corn has been used almost exclusively as the maiu'
article of food.

The production of milk and attention to the products
of the dairy is general throughout the Peninsula. The
greatest importance is given to these industries in the
northern proviuces, although large dairies exist iu
Lntium, Apulia, Campania, and Sicily, or wherever fresh
milk is sold for the consumption of populous localities,,
with the sole difference that in northern and central Italy
preference is given to the bovine race. It is only in the
mountainous districts, in laany cities of the South and in
Sicily that an equal consumption, or even the milk of the
goat is preferred- Fresh milk sells at widely difi'erent
prices, always greater in the south than in the north ; these
prices vary from a minimum of 15 cents the litre at Lodi
and -Milan, to a maximum of 40 to 50 cents at Naples
and Palermo. Yet, in spite of this diversity, no attempt
has been made at the preserved or concentrated milk, or a
quicker transport from one region to another. The making
of butter is equally carried on in proximitv to all cities,
the use of this condiment being general in Ujjper Italy,
wher'eas iu Ceatral and Southern Italy olive oils are con-
sumed. Butter, in sufficiently large quantities for
exportation, is principally produced from the irrigated
region of Lombardy ; the secondary place is held by
Piedmont, Venetia, and the Emilia.

The same dairies which produce butter in abundance
attend to the fabrication of the (jrana or Parmesan cheeses,
which are made with cows' milk boiled hard. liodi,
Codogno, Corsico, Milan, and Pavia are the chief centres
for the commerce iu butter, mostly of a superior quality
and manufactured with extreme care. It is sold fresh
and sweet, and when sent to distant parts is compressed
within barrels ; very seldom, and only to gratify the taste
of foreign consumers is the butter slightly salted in the
barrels, uo salt being ever added in the making. 'I he
exportation of fresh butter to France was 1,109,701
kilogs in 1871, 1,135,110 in 1875, and 1,244,'JOO in
1876. The production of eggs has takeu, of late years,
a wide extension in Italy, especially as an article of ex-
port ; and the regularity of increase to the dift'erent
European markets indicates how this occupation is becoming
a solid and remunerative one. The breed of Italian fowls
are held iu high esteem on the Continent — more especially
in Germany — -owing to their fecundity, their production
of eggs, and the weight and size of the eeg itself.

Through the courtesy of Vice-Consul Kelly, our repre-
sentative at Milan, I was enabled to visit a farm at
Villamaggoire, near Pavia, belonging to Baron Leonina.
This may be considered one of the most highly cultivated
of the Lombard rice and dairy farms, since the Barou
takes especial interest in the improvement of his property,
and it cannot therefore be considered otherwise than as au
example of the best class of agriculture. Although compara-
tively wanting in the picturesque, a richer expanse of
cultivation could scarcely be imagined, than these rice and-
Indian corn fields, which under the burning Italian sua
the eye glances over with supreme pleasure^
The iiicadows arc moistened by copious streams
of runuiug water which comnle' ■' ■ iuuudatc the

TOE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

fiO

•rice fiL-lils. The farm builJiags itau'l iu a large qiiad-
•raQgle haviiiij; on oue siJe llie residence of tlie farmer, or
bailitf and the buildings fur cattle, all of the most subs'antial
description i and on another side of the square is a range of
houses in which the peasauta reside. The cmpiours of
the farm are thus cnllicted in one spot instead of being
seatlered aljout a village, as in England. At the mill
close handv to this quadrangular ereeiion I found whole
families of peasants, women and children of all ages,
working together upon the rice floor. The mill itself was
drive'i by water power, as steam appears quite unneces-
sary amongst such powerful hydraulic appliances. The
construction of these mills is ordinarily the same at all
places. A small stream of water gives motion to a common
undershot wheel, about eight feet in diameter. The axis
of this wheel passes through the side wall ot the mill into
the interior, and by means of w)oden teeth it elevates
four (or as many more as are necessary) upright beams, the
ower ends of which are covered with sheet iron. At a
certain height the beams are detached and fall of their
owu weight into egg-shaped receptacles which contain the
uncleauel rice. These receptacles are formed in a great
block of granite, one being placed iminedi itely under each
beam. The coustaut pounding the rice is thus subjected
to breaking the husk which is then winnowed off from the
j)ure grain. The uncleaneJ rice is gathered iu great
granaries; and, as in the process of cleaning, the grain
is a good deal broken, the rice is itself separated and stored
according as it is in entire or fractured grains.

In the quadrangular farm builaing tlie cattle bad left
their huge stalls, the early morning operations of milking
being over ; but the casaro, or cheeseraaker,
and his assistant the sotto casaro, were engaged at the
•hydraulic machines. Toe produce of this farm is the
'jni',a, or Parmesan, and there was avi ample stock of
■these cheeses in the storehouse The sizes, I believe, are
jfencrally 45 centimetres in diameter, 16 centimetres in
height, and weiijhing 23 kilos. — about 551b. English.
To make a ybrwui of cheese per diem, that is, 50 kilos, of
weight, not less than fifty cows are required, and on some
firms as many as one hundred and twenty and one hundred
and sixty head are kept. The rjiana are made
at two different periods ; the one from April to Sep-
tember receives the name of Jna(jgenr/a, and the other,
from September to April, Is called invernenya — this is
poorer iu quality and less esteemed than the former.
\Vhen the cows on the farm are few iu number, the
owners either join together in making the cheese or sell
the milk to the professional cheesemaker. The casaro
himself is a person of considerable importance, who
stands iu a better position than the other emploijcs on
the farm. The casar-i form a species of caste, who sur-
round their craft with as much mystery as possible.
They are fully conscious of their importance as the
arbiters of the most valuable product in the country, and
are held in great consideration by the farmers, who
■treat with thesi upon terms of equality.

I'he cows are imported chiefly from the Swiss cantons
of Schwtz, Lucerne, Zug, Uri, and Untervvalden. Brought
riuto Lombardy when three or four years old, before they
have completed their full growth, and fed on the herbage
of the plain, they fill out and grow so rapidly, that a cow
of the largest breed, called inatronale, where there are
marctte, will give forty and more Milanese brenti of
milk per annum. The Siviss cows, born in a healthy
climate, fed on aromatic herbs, and carefully bred, are of
-sound constitution, and capable of resisting the inclemency
of the seasons. The grass of the Lombard plain is such that
■ any cow would give milk fit for 7ra«a cheese. Rice, In-
dian corn, and meadows enriched by these fine herds —
worthy to adorn the canvass of a Cuyp — are the character-
.iitic agricultural features of Central Lombardy., more es-

pecially the Milanese, and contrast witii the mountain di s-
tricts around the Likes of Maggiore, Co(no, and Lecc o,
here the vine, olive, and mulberry are the prominent
features of the landscape. Ei)W. T. BlaKkly, i'\ S. S.

EXCHANGE NO ROBlU'mY.— Two wedding couples
presented themselves at ttie ilaiie iu a suburb ot Paris, to
carry oit the civil p )riion ot lluir marri iire contract. They
r.iiigt-d thfiDSflvts onopposi e (•ides of the .Muor's ihrone, and
faced oue auoUier. Tut* Mayor was asking a question ot one
of the, bridegrooms, whose attenlioa was thus distracted froiu
his bride. On turning round to look at her when he had
answered the question, h- cauglit her making " aliee^i's e>e»"
at the bride^rojin opfiosite. Being of a jealous teiuperameat,
he l-iid his hand roughly on her arm, and said, sharply ;
"Mademoiselle, which of the two brides are you ? You are
raiae, I believe; then oblige me by coufiiiing your glances to
ine." The bride was a young woman ot spirit, and. resentiu.;
the tone in which the reprimand was made, retorted, " Ah,
monsieur, if you are jealous already, I am likely to lead a
pleasant life with jou !" Ttie j-aluus bridegroom made au
angry reply, and then the ottier must needs put his oar iu.
" Pall ! monsieur, why should you make such a fuss because
mademoiselle choo -< t to favour me with a glance."' ^ J hrren
liis bride turned sav agfiy upon lii n and exclaimed, Ha

monsieur, it would seen then that you like to h<ive ladies
make eyes at vou ! N-^-w I know what to expect from you ;
but you might at. least have had die decency to keep this proof
of your faithlessness conce'iled from me here!" and with
this thrust the burst into tear-^. In vain the M lyor attempted
to paci''y both parties. The bridegrooms stormed »t i aeh
other, and the brides, between their hysterical sobs, mutually
accused each other with perfidy. What was to be done r* At
last the Mayor, losing temper, cried out, " Am I to proceed
with the ceremony, or am I not?" The two brides, with one,
aCJord, screamed " No !" " ferhaps," said the Mayor, whose
wrath had again cooled down, ''you could arrange matters
between your.-elves if you were left alone. The clerk will
show you to my private room. I will give you half-an-hour."
At tlie expiration of that time the parties were summoned to
appear again before the Mayor. " Have you settled your
differences ?" he asked. "Yes, Monsieur le Maire," ex-
claimed both bridegrooms at once. "Oh, then ] may
proceed with the ceremony 1" " Yes, Monsieur le Maire,"
but — but—" "Well, what is it?" "We have effected a
change, Monsieur le Maire." " A change ! What do yon
mean ?" " A change of brides. Monsieur le Maire." And
so it was ; the jealous bridegroom had taken the jealous bride,
and the young lady of tickle glances had taken the gentleman
who liked ladies to " make eyes " at hira. The astonished
Mayor looked at them in silent amazement for a moment or
two, bat they met his look unabished, so he shrugged his
shoulders and said. " Well, it you are satisfied, it is no
business of mine. I '11 proceed with the ceremony." Ana
married they were.

AMBITION. — Down in a remote country village the
daughters of the rector annually get up a perforinance for the
benefit of the schools. It usually takes the form ol a burlesque
or extravaganza. Every year tle^s damsels qu-*rrel violently —
not as to who shall have the best business, or play the most
important characters, but as to who shall wear the shortest
petticoats. What a pity this coun'ry vilfige is beyond the
jurisdiction of the Lord CliamUrlain ! — World,

EMBARRAS DE LAIDEUR.— David Crockett once
visited a menagerie at Washington, and, pausing a moment
before a particular hideous monkey, exclaimed, " What a re-
semblance to the lion. Mr. X. !" The words were scarcely
spoken, when he turned and, to hia astonishment, saw stand-
ing at his side the very man whom he had complimented. " I
beg your par^ion," said the gallant Colonel; " i would noc
have made the remark had I kuowa you were near me, and I
am ready to make the most iiumble apology for my unpar-
donable rudeness ; but" — looking first at the insulted memler
of Congresd, whose face was tnytliiuiif but lovely, and then at
he animal compared to him — " hang it if [ can tell whether
I ought to apologise to you or to the monkey."

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

R m^ [ E \y O F THE COR N T R A D E,

FROM Till': MARK LAXE EXPRESS FOR TtIS WEEK EN'DIXl DR:)aM83[l 21.

Oespito soms in licationa of a tliaw wliicli were
appardiit diirin<r tlie earlier part of t!ie week severe
fro^t has prevailed for some days past, accompanied
h',' a heavy fall of snow. All inl m I navi^^atio:! has
consequently been seriously impeded, and in some
parts of the country entirely stopped. The atmos-
phere has, however, been clear and bright since
Fridav, and Christmas has once more come round,
attended by all those time-honoured weather
characteristics which serve to enhance our enjoy-
ment of the festive season. At the same time, con-
siderinc' the terrible amount of distress which
piBvails among the poorer classes just now in so
many parts of the kingdom, milder weather would
.<:cu-celybe regarded with dissatisfaction, when
the confort of thos; iscjasidered to whom a harsh
nnd inclement winter too often means privation
and siclniess. The frost has proved salutary from
an agricultural point of view, as the too rapid
growth of cereals has been checked. Field work
has of course been out of the question, but as most
of the laud intended for winter wheat has already
been sown, the interests of farmers have not suf-
fered materially by the delay. The snowfall in
Scotland has Deen very heavy, and has served to
protect the young plants in a great measure from
the action of" frost; while in France, where the
weather has also been very severe, a decided stop
has been put to the ravages of insects and field
vermin. Farmers continue to market their
wheat wich some freedom, but, notwithstanding
the improved condition of the offerings, the trade
has ruled very flat in the majority of the provincial
markets, as millers are disinclined to add to their
stocks at the close of the year. An equal amount
of dulness has marked the London trade, and
little or nothing could be done with home-grown
grain at Mark Lane on Monday on account of the
dense fog, which for some hours not only pre-
vented buyers from examining samples, but almost
defied personal recognition. Foreign wheat, of
which the imports are now assuming much nar-
rower proportions, has been dealt in sparingly, but
in spite of the limited nature of the demand
business has not lacked some features of steadiness,
and in the sales made last week's prices have been
repeated. At the same time clouds of doubt and
distrust obscure the commercial horizon, para-
lysing healthy trade, and shutting out the view of
p'ossible profit which might reward the judicious
action of speculators. With the holidays so close
upon us, it can scarcely be expected that any great
change can occur in prices, but there are suffici-
ently strong grounds for anticipating a revival of
demand, and consequent enhancement of values
after the turn of the year, having regard to the
diminished imports and increased requirements of
winter. With the exception of oats, the continued
heavy arrivals of which cause prices to droop, all
varieties of feeding corn have sold slowly at last

week's currencies, and the steadiness shown has
een more apparent in the general tone of the
tra le than in the actual amount of business trans-
acted. With small arrivals at ports of call during
the past week, the floating cargo trade for wheat
lias ruled steady for American sorts, whilst Oali-
fornian and Ghirkas have been easier to buy.
Owing to the absence of demand maize and barley
have decline at about 3d. per qr. The sales of
English wheat noted last week were
51,419 qrg., at 403. 8d., against 42,759 qrs., at 51s.
4d. in tlie previous year. The London averages
for the week ending Dec. 2Ist were 4ls. 3]. on 875
qrs. The imports into tlie United Kingdom fur
the week ending Dec. 14th were 707,937 cwts.
wheat, and 144,799 cwts. flour. With small im-
ports of all articles except oats, and a very mode-
rate attendance of millers and country buvers, the
market opened slowly on Monday last, and little or
no business was done owing to the deuse fog which
prevailed until nearly two o'clock. As soon as
bu^'ers could see the samples some sales were made,
and a certain amount of steadiness was apparent'
particularly fur the finer sorts of foreign wheat, but
transactions in other articles were of a most meagre
character. The week's supply of English wheat
was 3,9G;j qrs., and, with very little fresh upon
factors' stands, there was practically nothing done,
prices remaining nominally unaltered in the ab-
sence of business. The imports of foreign were
also very light, the return showing a total of only
23,463 qrs., of which quantity Germany furnished
12,018 qrs., the United States G,125 qrs., and the
East Indies 5,298 qrs. Tlie exports were 3,023
qrs., against 2,414 qrs. in the previous week. Bu-;i-
ness was quite at a standstill during the earlier
hours of the market, but between two and three
o'clock country millers ma le their purchases, and
a fair consumptive demand was experienced at the
currencies of the preceding Monday. There were
5,321 qrs. of home-grown barley and 9,434 qrs. of
foreign. The tone of the trade was steady, but
there was little actual business done, and prices
underwent no change for either malting or grinding
varieties. Of maize the arrivals were again very
light, the week's supply being limited to abc^ut
7,000 qrs. from New York. Both round and flat
corn was neglected, but prices were not quotably
lower. The imports of oats amounted to nearly
80,000 qrs., notwithstanding wliich the trade was,
if anything, less depressed than at the close of the
previous week, sales being practicable at the quo-
tations of the preceding Monday. On Wednesday
the return showed 380 qrs. of English wheat and
13,G90 qrs. of foreign. The demand was exceed-
ingly dull both for wheat and feeding stuffs, but
Monday's rates were maintained in thefe^v trans-
actions which took place. On Friday the supply
liad increased to 780 qrs. of English wheat and
32,780 qrs. of foreign. The market was thinly

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

l

^atfenJe.l, and the weather being again very foggy,
business was tlitiicult to transact. Au iaiictive trade
was experienced for wheat at i^oiuinally former
prices, while sjJiing' corn was dull and unaltered iu
value. The imports of liour into tlie United Iving-
doni for the week ending December 14ih were
141,799 cwts., against I9-!,0C)2 cwts. in tlie previous
week. The receipts into Londi-iTi were li),3G2 sacks
of English, and 7,108 sacks and 14,0()7 bairels of
foreign. American barrels are ottered for shipment
on rather lower terms, but on spot last weelv's
prices have been fairly supported both for sacks
and birrels. The trade, however, remains in an
inactive state. The week's arrivals of beans were
8,742 cwt., and of peas 34,225 cwt., showing a de-
crease of 14,245 cwt. on the former, and 11,277
■cwt. on the latter. No improvement has taken
]>lace in values, but beans have been in rather
better request at former quotations, while peas
have ruled steady. The deliveries of malt were
17,410 qrs., and the exports 1,050 qrs. There has
l)een no appreciable change in this branch of the
trade during the past week, trausactions
having been few and prices unaltered- As
13 usual at the approach of the holiday season,
business in agricultural seeds has moved within
very narrow limits, bitt the trade appears in a
healthy condition, and renewed activity may be
looked for after the turn of the y^ar. English
red clover has been offered rather less freely, and
really clioice parcels seem scarce. As regards
American the position remnins unchanged, the
markets on the other side keeping steady, while
the seed exported goes principally to Continental
ports. Alsike has been more inquired for, and
prices have advanced 2?. per cwt., but in other
descriptions no quotable change can be recorded.
The country markets have been fairly supplied with
grain from the farmers, and as a rule last week's
prices have been repeated for wheat and spring
corn, although iu a few instances a decline of Is.
per qr. on the former has taken place. At Liver-
pool, on Tuesday, a quiet tone prevailed, and the
uttendance was somewhat scanty, but at the close
of the market there was an average trade done in
wheat .^.t full prices. Flour was comparatively
•dull, but without change in value, while beans
were quoted Gd. per qr. lower. Maize met with
little attention, mixed American closing at 23s.
Cd. per 4301b. The week's imports included 87,000
qrs. of wheat and 15,000 qrs. of maize. At New-
castle the grain trade has been very quiet, and
prices have evinced a declining tendency for all
articles. At Wakefield millers have bought spar-
ingly, but as holders have shown less anxiety to
press sales the business passing has been at full
rates. Barley and beans have also suffered no
decline, but maize has given way 3d. per qr. At
Edinburgh the supplies have been large of barley
but moderate of other articles. Wheat sold slowly
at market on Wednesday at 6d. to Is. per qr. less
money, while oats ruled dull. At Leith the frost
has been severe, and a great deal of snow has
fallen. The arrivals from abroad have been light,
and Scotch wheat has given way Is. per qr. on the j
week, while foreign, with no pres-ure to sell, has j
not declined to any quotable extent. Malting
barlev has receded Is. ner or., but no chano:e has

taken place in the value of grinding sorts. M,ii/.,>
and beans have met a retail sale at former prices.
At (Jlasgow the imports of wheat have been small,
and the trade has ruled dull at unaltered rates.
Wednesday's market was fairly attended, but thu
business done was principally of a retail character.
Oats were 3 I. to C!,!. cheaper, and barley, maize, and
beans steady. At Dublin the weather has been
severe, with hard frost. Business in grain haa
been mainly confined to the supply of the wants
of retail buyers, and both wheat and maize remain
unchanged in value. At C,jrk the wheat trade has
been dull, and where sales were pressed
holders have had to make a slight concession. The
same remarks will also apply to maize, the con-
sumption of which is still small for the time of
year.

The following are the reports from Mark Lane Juting
the past mouth : —

Monday, December 2.

The arrivals during the past week have been : Entrlish
"Wheat, 3,808 qrs. ; foreign, 26,535 qrs. E.'(p)rts, 1.21)5
qrs. The supply of E iglisti Wheat fresh up to market this
morning was again small, and sales proLn-essed sloi/fiy at
about late rates. Ot foreign ibe arrivils were al.so verv
moderate, and with a fair attendance of millers an im-
proved demand was experienci d for all descriptions, at the
extreme prices of last iMonday.

Ciiuntry Flour, 21,885 saiks; foreign, 8,125 sacks,
10,G15 barrels. There was not a large amount of busi-
ness done, but where sales were made, previous prices
were obtained for buth sacks and barrels.

English Barley, 2,911 qrs.; Scotch, 4,055 qrs. ; foreign
5,070 qrs. Interior making descriptions weie the turn
cheaper, but grinding sorts underwent no quotable
change.

Malt: English, 20,307 qrs. ; Scotch, 1,654 qrs. E.t-
ports, 1,803 qrs. There was a quiet demand at last week's
cu rencies.

Maize, 8,913 qrs. Exports, 073 qrs. Round corn oa
spot was fully as dear, but flat was extremely dull, aud
the turn cheaper to sell.

English Oats, 4SG qrs. ; Scotch, 274 qrs. ; foreign
50,950 qis. Exports, 1,171 qrs. With continued heavy
arrivals the tnde ruled slow, and in some cases sellers
had to accept 3d. to Od. per qr. less money.

English Beans, 1,158 qrs.; foreign, 1,471
slow sale at nominally late rate.

Linseed, 10,279 qrs. Export, 523 qrs. Unaltered iu
value.

Monday, December 9.

The arrivals during the past week have been : English
Wheat, 4,481 qrs.; foreign, 09,985 qrs. Exports,
2,414 qrs. The supply of EDglish Wheat fresh up to market
this morning was light, and sales progressed very slowly
at about last Monday's prices ; of foreign the arrivals
were liberal, and with a fair attendance of millers a retail
consumptive demand was experienced at about late rates.

Country Flour, 18,820 sacks ; foreign, 7,758 sacks,
and 8,744 barrels. There was a quiet but steady tone
observable in the trade, and last week's prices were main-
tained for both sacks and barrels.

English Barley, 3,319 qrs.; Scotch, 4,580 qrs.;
foieign, 18,219 qrs. Previous currencies were obtainable
fur the finer sorts of malting, but infarior lots were
almost unsaleable. Grinding descriptions were dull, and
the turu cheaper.

qrs.

THE FAllMKR'S ^lAGAZLN'E

Malt: English, IS. 127 qrs. , Scotch, 1,S75 qrs. Ex-
jiorts, 285 qrs. A slow trade at ahout foi luer quotatlous.

Maize: 8.360 qvs. There was very little demainJ,
either off stands, or to arrive, and buyers were enabled to
satisfy thrir wants at 3d. per qr. less money.

0..'tR: Eoiilish, 213 qrs ; Scott-h, 77 qrs.; foreign,
93 871 qrs. Exports, 90 qrs. Business was depressed,
owins; to the heavy arrivals, and prices were the turn iu
bnytt's favour for all varieties.

15eau8: English, 1,057 qrs.; foreign, 3,200 qrs. A
quiet demand, at about late rates

Linseed, 33,309 qrs. Very dull, and unaltered iu value.

Monday, December 16.

The arrivals during the past week have been : English
\Vheat, 3,963 qrs. ; foieign, 23,i63 qrs. Exports 3.023
qrs. The supplies of both English and foreign Wheat at
market this morning were small, and sales were very dif-
ficult to effect, owing to the dense fog which prevailed,
Business was chiefly confined to supplying the immediate
wants of country millers, prices being nominally the same
as on this day week.

Country Flour 19,362 sacks ; foreign 7,108 sacks and
14,067 brls. Former quotations were maintained for both
sacks and barrels, but there was scarcely anything doing.

English Barley 1,480 qrs. ; Scotch 3.841 qrs. ; foreign
9,434 qrs. In the absence of business prices could only
be quoted unchanged for malting and grinding descrip-
ions.

Malt: English 15,800 qrs. ; Scotch 1,608 qrs. ; ex-
ports 1,030 qrs. In limited request at unaltered quota-
tions.

Maize 7,157 qrs.; exports 588 qrs. Notwithstanding
the light supplies, the trade ruled inactive, and prices
were the turn cheaper on the week.

Oats : English, 354 qrs. ; Scotch, 1,100 qrs. ; foreign,
79,817 qrs. Exports, 33 qrs. With coutiuued heavy
arrivals, all descriptions were rather easier, but owing to
the fog, so few sales were made that the decline was
scarcely quotable.

Beans: English, 972 qrs ; foreign, 683 qrs. A slow
Bale at previous currencies.

Liueeed, 6,888 qrs. Exports, 1,051 qrs. Unaltered.

Monday, December 23.

The arrivals during the past week have been : English
Wheat. 3,937 qrs. ; foreign, 43,608 qrs. ; exports. 2,384
qrs. Considering the holiday character of the season,
there was a fair attendance of buyers at market this
morning, but the actual business done was extremely
small. English Wheat sold slowly at about late rates,
while foreign, of which the arrivals were fair, maintained
a certain amount of steadiness, and sales were practicable
in retail at about former currencies.

Country Flour, 22,021 sacks ; foreign, 1,622 sacks, and
17,114 bi-ls. A quiet trade for both sacks and barrels at
previous prices.

English Barley, 2,186 qrs. ; Scotch, 4,434 qrs. ; foreign,
17,615 qrs. Malting descriptions were quiet but steady,
while grinding sorts were dillicult to move except at
rather less money.

Malt: English, 18,646 qrs.; Scotch, 1,837 qrs. Ex-
ports, 623 qrs. Business in this article was very slow,
but there was no quotable change iu values.

Maize : 10,296 qrs. Sound corn on spot was unaltered
in price, but to arrive the tendency was in buyers'
favour.

English Oats, 221 qrs.; Scotch, 175 qrs. ; Irish, 208
qrs.; Foreign, 57,246 qrs. Exports, 178 qrs. Notwith-
standing the more moderate imports the trade ruled dull,
but quotations uuderweut no alteration.

English Beans, 730 qrs.; foreijju, 1,623 qrs. A slow-
sale at former rates.

Linseed, 11,3(J3 qrs. Exports, 1,128 qrs. Price un-
changed, with little or no business jjassiug.

CURRENT PRICES OF BRITISH GRAIN AND FLODH

IN MARK LANE.

Shillings pe uarter

WHEAT, Esses & Kent, white old — to — new 36 to 4<J

,, ,, red old — — new 33 41

Norfolk, Linclnsh., aad York.sh. red old — new 3H 46

BARLEY Chevalier new 40 55

Gnnding 33 to 40 Distilling 33 36

if .ALT, pale newtfotoSl oldbrown 53 £5

RYE 26 i8

OATS, English, feed 21 to 27 Potato — —

Scotch, feed

Irish, feed, whiteSo

Ditto, black 24

BEANS, Mazagan ...34

Harrow —

PEAS, white boilers 36

FLOUR, per sack of 280lb3., town households

Best country households,

Norfolk aad Suffolk, ... .

Potato

26 Fine

25 Potato

3G Ticks

— Pigeon, old

40 Maple 37 to 39 Grey

3.-,

38

iO

48

34

86

36

4U

32

3«

30

31

FOREIGN GRAIN.

Shillings per

WHEAT, Dantzic, mixed 4.t to 50 extra

Konigsberg 48 50 extra

Rostock 48 50 old

Pomera., Meckberg., and Uc ermrk red

Ghirka 37 to 40 ..Russian, hard, 42 to 4<>,Saxon8ka

Danish and Holstein, red — — ...red Amuricau

Chilian, white 4.9 ..Califomian 50 Australian

East Indian, No. 1 Club white, 44 to 45; No. 2
,, Ord. white 40 to 42 ; red 36 lo 38 ; hard

BARLEY, grinding 20 to 22 distilling

OATS, Dulc 1, brewing and Polands 20 to 23 feed

Danish and Swedish, feed IS to 21...Stralsuud ...

Canaf'a XHoOd Riga 15 to 16 Petersburg...

BEANS, Fr^esland and Holstein

Itahan 37 to 33...Egj-ptian

PEAS, feeding and maple... 33 34. fine boilers

MAIZE, Black Sea 24

FLOUR, per sack, French 32

Hungarian, persack...41
TARES. Spring

Mixed Au:erican
36 ..Ppanish, p. sack
55 ..American barrel

48
44
48
51
41
3»
35
21
23
20

39
36
25
36
2t
33

BRITISH SEEDS.

Mustard, per bush., brown 10s. to 13s., white... 9s. to ll"".

Canary, per qr new 45s. to 47s fine... 48a. 508.

Clovers?ed, fine red and dark purple 90s., com... 60s. 64s.

Coriander, per cwt 223. 24?.

Tapes, winter, new, per bushel 4s. Od. 5b. Ot?.

Trefoil, fine new 18s. 22e.

Ryegrass, per qr., old and new 223. 24=.

Linseed, per qr. ...sowing 6tSs. to 68a., crushing 53s. 55i-'.

Linseed Cakes, per ton £9 10s. to £10 Os.

Rapeseed, per qr new... 60s. 66s.

Rape Cake, per ton £6 to £5 lOi.

FOREIGN SEEDS.

Coriander, per cwt 22s. to 21s.

Cloverseed, red 56s. to 648 white 76.-4. 90s.

Henipseed, small 32s. to 34s. per qr Dutch 36 1. 38-4.

Trefoil 183. 20s.

Ryegrass, per new Italian Bale of 2 cwt 32>, 3i"v,

Linseed, per qr Baltic 51a. to 62s. ... Bombay 50i. 61 j.

Linseed Cakes, per ton £9 lO.s. to £9 15s.

Rape Cake, per ton £5 to i.5 lOs.

Rapeseed, Calcutta 62s. 64*.

Carraway 34s, 35s.

FLUCTUATIONS in the AVERAGE PRICE of WHEAT

Pbiob.

Nov. 16. Nov. 23.

Nov. 30.,

413. 3d.

... 1 ... r

*~-~-1

413. 2d.

... i

408. lid.

... 1

... •-

■Ws. lOd.

... 1 ...

40s. 8d.

... 1 ...

408. 7d.

Dec. 7. Dec. 14

Dee. 21.

I'rinted by H.\zEM., W.vt.^on, i Vi.m y, 2(5,'),Str.ind, London.

IMPORTANT TO FLOCKMASTERS.

THOMAS BIGG,

Agricultural & Veterinary Chemist,

By Appointment to his late Royal Highness
The Prince Consort, K.G,,
LEICESTER HOUSE, GREAT DOVER STREET,
BOROUGH, LONDON,

BEGS to call the attention of Farmers
and Graziers to his valuable SHEEP and LAMB
DIPPING COMPOSITION, which requires no Boiling, and
may be used with Warm or Cold Water, for effectually
destroyiiijf the Tick, Lice, and all other insects injurious to
the Flock, preventing the alarmuip attacks of Fly and Shab,
and cleansing and purifying the Skin, thereby' greatly im-
proving the Wool, both in quantity and quality, and highly
fiontributing to the general health of the animal.

Prepared only by Thomas Bigg, Chemist, &c., at his Manu-
factory as above, and sold as lollows, although any other
quantity may be had, if required: —

ilb. for 20 sheep, price, jar included £0

6 1b.

30 ,

81b.

40 ,

10 lb.

60 ,

20 1b.

100 ,

30 lb.

150 ,

40 1b.

200 ,

50 lb.

250 ,

601b.

300 ,

801b.

400 ,.

ICO lb.

500 ,,

(Cask and measure
included)

0 10

0 15

1 0
1 3
1 7

1 17

2 6

Should any Flockmaster prefer boiling the Composition, it
will be equally effective.

MOST IMPORTANT CERTIFICATE.
From Mr. Hebepath, the celebrated Analytical Chemist :—

Bristol Laboratory, Old Park, January ISth, 1861.
Sir,— I have submitted your Sheep Dipping Composition to
analysis, and find that the ingredients are well blended, and
the mixtui-e neutral. If it is used according to the directions
gifeu, 1 feel satisfied, that while it effectually destroys vermin,
it wUi not injtire the hair roots (or "yolk") in the skin, the

I fleece, or the carcase. I thmk it deserves the nwnerou
testimonials published. I am. Sir, yours respectfully,

William Hbbapath, Sen., F.C.S., Ac, &o.,
To Mr. Thomas Bigg Professor of Chemistry.

Wcester House, Great Dover-street Borough London.

He would also especially call attention to his SPECIPie
or LOTION, for the SCAB or SHAB, which will be found
a certain remedy for eradicating that loathsome and ruinong
disorder in Sheep, and which may be safely used in all
climates, and atallseasonsof the year, and to all descriptions
of sheep, even ewes in lamb. Price FIVE SHILLINGS per
gallon— sufficient on an average for thirty Sheep (according
to the virulence of the disease) ; also in wine quart bottles.
Is. 3d. each.

IMPORTANT TESTIMONIAL.
" Scoulton, near Hingham, Norfolk, April I6th, 1865.
Dear Sir,— In answer to yours ot the 4th inst whick
would have been replied to before this had I been at home I
have much pleasure in bearing testimony to the efficacy of
your invaluable ' Specific for the cure of Scab in Sheep.' The
600 sheep were all dressed in August last with 84 gallons of
the 'NoN-poisoNous Specific,' that was so highly recom-
mended at the Lincoln Show, and by their own dresser th*
best attention being paid to the flock oy my shepherd aft«
dressing according to instructions left ; but notwithstanding
the Scab contmued getting worse. Beiug determined to have
the Scab cured if possible, I wrote to you for a supply of y our
Specific, which I received the following day; and although
the weather was most severe in February during the dressiiur
your iSpEciFic proved itself an invahiable remedy, for m
three weeks the Sheep were quite cure( I ; and I am happy to
say the young lambs are doing remaricably well at present
In conclusion, I believe it to be the safest and best remedy
now in use. " I remain, dear Sir,

"For JOHN TINGEY, Esq.,
" To Mr. Thomas Bigg. ' "R. RBNNEY.

K43' Flockmasters would be well to beware of such pre-
parations as " Non-poisonous Compositions :" it is only
necessary to appeal to their good common sense and judg-
ment to be thoroughly convinced that no "Non-poisonous"
article can poison or destroy insect vermin, particularly such
as the Tick, Lice, and Scab Parasites— creatures so tenacious
of life. Such advertised preparations n lust be wholly useless
or they are not what they are represented to be.

DIPPING APPARATUS ^H,£5, £4, & £9.

GENERAL ADVERTISING.

C. H. MAY k CO..

ADVERTISING OFFICES,

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AND TO GRANT

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DIRECTORS:

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Deputy-Cbairiaaa — B. F. SHEARER, Esq., 47, Gloucester-place, Portiurtu Square.

Richard L. Loveland, Esq., 4, Hare Cjurt, Temple.
John Reddish, Esq., 9, Highbury New Park.
Major F. Anderson Stebbing, 4, Clevelaud Grardsns,
Castle Hill, Ealing.

Thomas Henry Burroughes, Esq., 17, Lower Berkeley

Street,
\\illiam Glutton, Esq., 7, Clifton Villaa, Penpje.
A.J. Duff Filer, Esq., 10, Aberdeen Park, Highbury.
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FI^E. — Insurances at moderate ra s.

LIFE- — Insuraoces oa equitable terms. Profits divided every five years.
-' HAJlL, — Crops insured against Hail Storms at 5d. per acre.

LOSSES.— Settled i)ro:n^)ily and libe/ahy.

AMPLE CAPITAL AND LARGE RESERVES.

Prospectuses and Reports may be obtained of the Secretary, JOHN SHaRP, 3, Norfolk Street, Stran'*
London, W.C, or of the Agents.

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Chemists (Manager A. Anthony Nesbit, F.C.S., &:c.), undertake the analysis
of manures, feeding stuffs seeds, soils, waters, and all agricultural requisites.
And may be consulted upon the cause of the failure of crops, or any questions
in scientific agriculture. Laboratory : 38, Gracechurch Street, E.G. A
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THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE.

VOLUME THE FIFTY-FIFTH.

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V-J2- T

INDEX.

A.

Adultaration of Milk, 247
Agricultural Holdings Act, 292
Agricultural Law Cases, 89, 330
Agricultural Reports, 207, 228

Agricultural Societies: —

Bath and "West of England, 3&3

Birmingham, 164, 383

Boroijghbridge, l25

British Dairy Farmers, 171, 237, 305, 358

East. Berwickshire, 393

Enghsh Cart Horse, I7I, 237, 306, 360

Herefordshire, 16, 1G5

Highland, 73, 171, 235, 304, 353

Kingscote, 28

Leicestersliire, 75

Montgomeryshire, 165

North-East of Ireland, 165

Northumberland, 165

Eoyal of England, 1, 167, 232, 258, 300, 353,
417

Shorthorn, 17i, 304r, 358

Shropshire, l65

Srailhfield Club, 1 72, 363

West Glamorgan, 165
Agricultural Table Talk, 77, 281
American Cattle Trade, 199
Animal and Vegetable Food, l36
Artificial Aianures, 282

B

Bedford Sewage Farm, 376
Beef-producers among the Chief Herds, 99
Barnham Beeches, 38S
Capital required in Agriculture, l04
Carbolised Oil for Ewes, 249, 257
Cattle Diseases, 107

Chambers of Agriculture : —

Banbury, 306, 3&4
Bedale, 76
Bucks, 77

Cambridgeshire, 250, 344
Central, 66, 1 81, 260, 342, 366
Cirencester, 95, 262, 3S4

Cornwall, 262
Devonshire, 77
East Riding, 77, 166, 250
Essex, 140

Gloucestershire, 306, 384
Herefordshire, 166, 250
Leicestershire, 250
Lincolnshire, 307
Norfolk, 166, 344
Northampton, 250
Nottinghamshire, 166, 262.
Peterborough, 270

Scottish, 231, 278

Staffordshire, 385

Sunderland, 386

Warwickshire, 250, 3o7

West Suffolk, 67

Worcesfershire, 250

York, 280
Cheesemaking, 134, 164

Cirencester College, 102, 206, 2l4, 257,262, 373
Clydesdale Horses, 84,162
Condition of the Laboui'er, 52
Corn Trade Reviews, 70, 148, 208, 272, 350, 428
County Boards, 2l3, 269
Depression in Agriculture, 185, 3?4
DeRe Rustica, ll4

B

Earnings of the Working Classes, 197
Emigration of Labourers, 127
Engineer's Association, 137
Entomology and Agriculture, 321
Exhibition at Melbourne, 199

F

Failures in England and Wales, 8
Fall in Prices, 160
Farmers' Alliance, The, 406, 411-
Farrfiers and their Men, 17

Farmers' Clubs : —

Blandford, 76, 165
Botley, 338

INDEX.

Carmarthen, 1^5

Dorchester, 76, 165, 271

Framlingham, 338

Galashiels, 88

Ixworth, 76, 100, 165,259

Limerick, l23

London, 10, 173, 238, 331, 360

Maidstone, 271

Midland, ISO

Newcastle, 81, 341, 399

Seveuoaks, 3o6

Stowmarket, 341
Farmers' Grievances, 264
Foreign Notes, l3l, l42, 220, 312
Free Trade in Land, 27
Friendly Societies, l54

G

Game, 389

Grain Currencies, 72, 150, 212, 274, 352, 430
Heavy Land, 3G0
Herefords and Shorthorns, 24
Higher Farming as a Remedy for Lower Prices,
393, 413

Home and Foreign Farming : —

Buenos Ayres, 325
Canada, 118, l2l, 192, 255, b66, 39t
Colorado, 205
France, 10, 81, l9'2, 252
Kansas, 21
Lonibardy, 67
Minnesota, 120
New South Wales, 221
New Zealand, 23, 156, 204, 221, 409
Pennsylvania, 112
Queensland, 221
Eussia, 108
Switzerland, 2S3

United States, l86, 202, 248, 253, 368, 39l
Wales, 328, 377, 4l2
Hypothec Abolition Bill, 308

Income Tax, 401

Irish Land Question, 123, 137

139

Land Drainage, lOO

Landlord and Tenant, 124

Land Reform, 126, 275

Law of Distress, 140, 310, 320, 331, 402

Limitation Act for Land, 1 lO

Literary Notices, 344

Live Stock Notes, 39, 201, '284

London Corn Trade Association, 4o7

Malt Tax, 288

Mechanism of Agriculture, 386

Meetings of the Half Year: —

Ayr, 381
H.-mbury, 139
I'arustaple, 61

Bedford, 330

Birmingham, 30, 225, 24&
Canterbury, 6 1
Devonport, 421
Dublin, 284
Ldinburgh, 59
Glasgow, 229
Guisborough, 164
Hadleigh, 423
Hull, 36
Norwich, 259
Oakham, 24
Smilhfield, 41
Swindon, 3o7
Woodstock, 42:5
York, 61

Memoir of Mr. Henry Corbet, 105
Messrs. Downes' Circular, 113

N
NewlZealand as a Field for'E migration, 409*

O

Old-fashioned Winters, 83
Ontario and Emigration, 219'
Orders in Council, 38, 134
Our Food Supply, 267

Pleuro-pneumonia, 218, 328, 392

Politics and Farmers,? 138

Poor Relief and Friendly Societies, 103

Principles"of*Agriculture, 2S7

Position and Prospects of Farmers, 28, 117, l22y

1?0, 230, 238, 399
Potatoes, 147, 193
Proposed Land Conference, 308
Protection, 151

Quarantine, 94

Q

R

Rainfall for Twenty Years. 79

Rents, lI5

Review of the Past Year, 90

Sale of Horses at'Birminahara, 223

Sales of Shorthorns, 24r., 307

St'ptcnnial Avera<;es, 80

Straw Applied to the Soil, 147

Strikes, 135

Sussex Herd Book Society, 129

INDEX,

Taxation, l03

Teachings of the Paris Exhibition ,'10, 81

Tenant Farmers' Association, 2l6, 3l9

Tenants and Covenants, 86, 290

Tiptree Notes, 196, 277, 330

Typhoid Fever in Swine, 111

Value of Roo«s as' Food, 95
Various Notes, 131, 142, 220, 312
Verses, 9l
Veterinary Reports, 347

W

Wages at Home and Abroad, 18

Warwickshire Tenant Farmers' Association, 2l6y

319
Water Supply in Rural Districts, 125
Weights and Measures Act, 37
Wheat Crop of the Past Year, 85, 106
Wheat from America, 2l6
Woburn Experiments, 378
World's Yield of 1878, l36

Year's Food Imports, A, 121
Years of Drought and Frost, 415
Yield of 1878, The, 85, l06.

THE EMBELLISHMENTS

Desideratum ,

A Prize Horn Earn

Duke of Siddington 2nd

Tom King

The White Coleshill Breed

Tayistock

Paga
1

73

151

218

275

253

THE FAEMER'8 MAGAZIKE.

CONTENTS.

JULY, 1879.
Plate.— T HE EMIGRANTS

Description of Plate .

The Wild White Cattle of Great Britain

American Cattle

Alexandra Park Horse Show

Agsicxjltural Societies .

Lord Derby on Agricultural Depre sion

EOADS and EoADWAY3

The National Association of British and Irish Miller

The Importation and Feeding of American Cattle

Farmers' Clubs .

Wealth of Nations

Agricultural Depression in Ireland

The Depressed State of Agriculture

The Future of British Agriculture

Our Crop Prospects . .

The Nitrate of Soda War

The Tiptree Budget

The Farmers' Alliance .

Milk Preservatives

"A Bold Peasantry"

Depression in Agriculture

The Ratcatcher

The Bath and West of England Show : Meeting at Exeter

The Agricultural Hall Horse Show

Chambers of Agriculture

Various Notes .

The Cause of "Gid" in Sheep ";

Protection in Canada .

Review of Corn Trade .

Market Currencies, &c.

Page
. 1
. 1
. 3
. 4

6, 47
. 12
. 13
. 15
. 86
. 17
. 21
. 22
. 22
. 25
. 26
. 26
. 27
. 28
. 30
. 31
. 32
. 33
. 34
. 44
. 61
. 65
. 68
. 68
. 69
, 70

No. 2, Vol. LV.] FEBRUARY, 1879. [Third Skku..

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THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

FEBRUARY, 1879,

PLATK

A PRIZE SOMERSET AND DORSET HORN RAM

THE PROPERTY OF HERBERT FARTHING, ESQ., NETHER STOWEY, BRIDGWATER, SOMERSET.

This slieep was bred by Mr. Herbert Farthing
(brother of Mr. Walter Earthing, celebrated for
bis beautiful Devous, so well known in the yards
of the Bath and West of England p-ud Royal
Agricuitural Societies, as well as at the Smith-
field Club Cattle Show), and when 1 year 4
months and 3 weeks old was awarded the fii-st
prize, with another from the same flock second, at
the Bath and West of England meeting held at

Oxford. He is a long, level sheep, with good neck,
shoulder, leg, and loin, and will no doubt prove a
vary useful member of the flock in getting plenty
of early lambs, for the ewes of this breed are said
to be " in fashion " before any other species, and
are consequently much sought after for producing
house lamb to supply those who go in for every
delicacy of the season at Christmas. They are a
very hardy breed of sheep and good folders.

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL.

The monthly meeting of the directors of this Society was
recently held, Mr. Ferpuaon, KinDOchtry>, in the chair.

The followi'ig are the nanifsof tl:e noblemen and gentlemen
to be proposed by the directors for election at the general
meetins, on the loth current, to fill the vacancies in the list
for 1S79 :— Vice-Presidents— The Duke of Athole, K.T. ; the
Eirl of Sirathmnre, the Earl of Bred;;lbane, the Earl of Iloss-
lyn. Ordinary Dirpctors — Sir Michael R. Shaw Stewart, of
Blackball, Bart. ; Sir Alexander Muir Mackenzie, ofDelvine,
Bart. ; \Villiam Dingwall, Ramoruie ; .lohn Hendrie, of
Larbert ; Ilngh Kirkwood, of Killermont ; Thomas Ross, of
Bachilton ; James Seton Wigl\tman, of Courance. E.itra-
ordiuary Directors — The Right Hon. W. Patiick Adann, M.P. ;
the lion. George WalJegiave Letlie ; Sir John Ogilvy, of
Inverquharity, Bart. ; Sir Robert Menzies, of Menzies, Dart. ;
Sir Robert Anstruther, of Balcaskie, Bart,, M.P. ; John
Why'e-Melville, of Bennochy ; Colone, Drummond Moray,
M.P. ; ThoTias Richardson, Lord Provost of Perth ; \Vm.
Smythe ot Methven ; Barry Young of Cleisli.

The list of candidates for admission as members was sub-
mitted, and the Secretary stated that ailditioual names could
be received up till the morning of the 15t!i.

A slate of the lunds of the Society at 30th November, 1S78,
and abstracts of the accounts for 1877-73, signed by Mr.
Walker, of Bowland, C.B., treaiarer, ani Mr. M'lrray, of

Oi.D Series.

I Dollerie, diairraan of the Finnnce Conamiltef, and by Messrs.
Mackenzie and Smith, C.A., the Society's auditors, were sub-
mitted in terras of the bye-laws.

The report of the meeting of members, hold at Pertli on the

13th December, was submitted, from which it appeared

first, that a discussion arose in regard to the premium tor the

j stallion for agricultural purposes to travel in the district this

j season, in the course of which it was suggested that the

; directors should increase the amount; and a cora-nittee, coli-

j sisting of Colonel Williamson, of Lawers; Mr. Gnrdiner,

I Chapel Bank ; Mr. Chalmers, Shieihill ; Mr. Cru'vfurJ, Bal-

I garvie ; and Mr. Bell, Kennacoil, was appomted to correspond

through the secretary with the directors. iSccond, tliat Mr.

Chalmers, Shielhil', in suggesting that the Society should

offer £100 in prizes for the best managed arable f.irm.s, stated

that he believed the experiment could be eanied out at an

expense of £100 more, and wished that the proposil be

strongly recommended to the directors to inaugurate such a

scheme in Perthshire.

In connection with the first subject, the Board had before
them a letter from Colonel VVilliHmson in reffrence fo t!ie
amount of the premium to be offered for an agricultural
stallion, when the Board agreed to fix the amount at £100. lu
regard to the suggestion by Mr. Chalmers, ShielliilJ,"tlie
Board did not fe.^ their way to entertain the proposal of
offering prizes for best managed farms, the subject having beea
carefully considered last year, and deemed inexpedient.

Ct VuL. LXXXV.—Nq. 2,

..?4

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

■ The Secretary reported having atteuded a meetiag
of members at K^ho on tlie '2Uth Deceiuber, when the
list of classee for the sliow proposed to be held there ia
1880 was approved ol', subject tothe following sugge"tion3
for the consideration of the Board : — 1st. Tliat a family
prize for Shorthorns should be giveu at each annual
show, the breed being generally difiused ; and that prises
of a similar nature be given for tlie special breeds of
different localities — for eKample, Galloways at Dii-nfries,
Highland at Inverness, &e. 2iid, That there should be a
special prize for a stallinn for agricultural purposes, to travel
the district in season ISSQ. 3rd, That the family prize for
Border Lricesters should include one aged tup, two ewes, two
giramers, two ewe lambs, and two shttarling tups — the ewes to
liave lambs in season 1880, and all bred by exhibitor except
aged tup. 4th, That tiiere should be sections for half-bred
ewes, half-bred giramers, and half-bred tups— the latter a
cross between & Cheviot ewe and a Leicester tup.

The Board adopted the second and third sngge«ttcnr,
remitted the first to the General ShoA' Committee to decide
about family prizes for Shorthorns, and rejected the founh.

The Sfcreatkky reported that Dr. AitKen, the. chemist to
the Society, has arranged to give a series of lectures, free, on
chemistry as applied tu agriculture, in the Society's H^ll, No.
3 George IV. Bridge.

The anniversary general meeting of the Highland and
Agricultural Society of Scotland was held on January
15th, ia the Society's Hall, George IV. Bridge,
Edinburgh. The Marquis of Lothian occupied the'chair,
and there was a very uumerous attendance.

Votes of condolence upon the death of the Priuoess Alice
and the Marquis of Tweeddale were passed.
Ninety-one new members were elected.
Mr. MURKAY, of DoUerie, laid on the table a statement of
the accounts of the Society for the year ending the 30tli of
Kovember, which showed the funds, including a deposit of
£897 with the City of Glasgow B:\nk, to araoant to £63,5-81,
and the bnilding lund to be £.5,387. The expenditure men-
tioned in this bnlance-sheet included'^^£336 sp^nt on account
ot the printing of the report on the present state
of aericulture in Scotland for presentation to the Paris Agri-
cultural Congress, and £98 for pHyraent of the expenses of
the Secretary and i'role?sor Wilaon in attending that Con-
gress.

Admiral Mmtland Dougai., of Scotscraig, submtted an
abstract of the Argyle Naval Fund for_ the year, mentioning
that there were at present three vacancies in connection with
the fund.

Colonel GiLLON, of WMllhouse, gave in the financial state-
ment connected with the *how held last year at Uuralries, re-
marking that the surplus expected was £300. He also
reported that the arrangements for the Perth Show were
progressing satisfactorily, and that the premium list amounted
to £1,U36 more than in the case of the show of 1871.

Colonel Wii.t.iAMSON, ol Lawers, said the members of the
Local Committee were in every way satisfted with the arrange-
ments for the Perth Show except in one particular. What
the committee would suggest was 'hat the grant for a
Clydesdale stallion for service in the Perth district should be
raised from £100 to £150, and that this lule should be fol-
lowed not only this year bu*. at succeeding shows, so that the
best horse in the country would always follow the national
show. He moved accordingly.

Air. Gaediner, Chapelbaulc, seconded the motion.
Mr. Haddon, Honeyburo, liawi:;k, suggestBd that the
matter pliould be left to the di:C0Lors for decision.

Col. GiLLoN mentioned that this directors had already
considered the question, and hadcjmeto the conclusion that
j£ 100 grant was mfident. lie tUerefure ^iroposed that the
gum bs continued «8 at present.

Mr. Osv-'ALD, of Duatiikier, seconded the proposal.
On a V'ite beiug taken Col. Willianuou's motion was carried
by a Urge majirity.

The folo*ittj< uoblerasn and gentlemen were elected to fill
the vacancies in the list of office-bearers : — Vice-Presidents —
The Duke o( Atlioie, K.T. ; the Earl of Strathmore ; the
Earl of Bredalbane; ihe Eul of Rosslyn. Ordinary
Directors— Sir Micliael R. Shaw Stewart, of Bl^ickhall, Bart.;
air Alexander .\luir MickeEiie. of Delvine, Bart. ; WiUiam

Dingwall, Raraornie ; John Hendry, of Larbert ; Hugh Kirk-
wood, KiUermont ; Thomas Ross, Bichilton; James S-ton
Wightmnn, of Courance. Extraordinary Directors — The Riaht
Hun. W. Patrick Adam, M.P. ; the Hon. George Walde-
grave Leslie ; Sir John O^ilvy, of Inverquharity, Bart.; Sir
Robert M'-nzies, of Meuzies, Bart. ; Sir Robert An-
struther, of Balcaskie, Bart., M.P. ; jdhn Whyte M.Jvilie, of
Bennochy ; Col. Drummond Moray, M.P ; Thomas Richard-
son, Lord Provost of Perth ; William Smylhe, of Meihveu ;
Harry Young, of Cleish.

Colonel GiLLON brought before the meeting an application
made to the directors for a general show bein? held at Kelso
in 1880, which had been subscribed by the Mirquis of Lo-
thian and about 120 of the principal landed proiirietors and
extensive farmers connected with the harder coauties, and
expressed, on tlie part of the directors, a hope that the Society
would approve cf their action in resolving to comply with this
request.

Mr. Martin, younger, of Auchendennan, in accordance
with notice, moved: — "That a committee of members b
appointed to consider the whole que'<tion of the circuit of the
Sue ety's annual shows, and to report to the general meetin;;
in June ; also, that pending recei.t of this report, the Suciety
should delay until the June meeting decision as to pi ice at
-which the show of 1880 is to be held." In tirm^ing forward
this motion he was, he said, acting in the belief i hit it might
be the means of increasing the u-se'ulness of the Society.
Mr. J. Hesrie, Lnrbert, seconded the motion.
Lord PoLWAKTU said that, speaking as more immediately
representing the Kelso district, he had to mbmit that it would
be a very great raisfor'une wre that place excluded from the
ciretiit. On the general question he also believed that it
would be exceedingly detrimental to the interest of the Society
if any of the towns now visited were departed from. lie
moved the previous question.

Lord LovAT, in seconding this amendmen*-, pointed out
that their name was the Hiijhland Society, showing that their
origin had been in the north. Tlie Society was, it thus
appeared, at first iusiitated for the ben^ftt of the Highlands
alone ; and such being the ease, it wuu d be a great hardship
to deprive Inverness of the show. It might, perhaps, be said,
that their meeting at Inverness did not pay; but he would
remind them tiiat the object of the Society was not to hoard
money ; it was to benefit agriculture throughout the coun»ry
in all departments and in all districts ; and surely if that was
its object it was highly important that they should visit those
poorer and more ignorant districts where its benefits were
most required. He could assure the meeting that the visit
of the Society to Inverness really bore good results, as was
evident from the large number of new implements and the
great atten'-inn to stock observed afrer the last show.

Mr. Hethune, of Blebo, supported Mr. Martin's motion.
The Rev. J. Gillespie, Mouswald, proposed, as a third
motion, that the latter part of Mr. Martin's be omitted, but
that the first clause in it be agreed to, with the altered
proviso that the report be submitted in January next in place
of June.

The Duke of Buccleuch said he could not recall any
committee being appointed out.side the Directors' Board. The
usual practice, when there was a difference of opinion in regard
to any point, was to call the attention of the directors to the
subject, and it was then taken up by them, and he vras snre
the directors would now take up the point that had been
raised, and be prepared at a future meeting to state
their views and the reasons which had led them tothe con-
clusion they had arrived at. For himself he considered that
the Society was as much bound to go to the poor districts »«
the rich ones, and Kelso and Inverne.ss he believed to be both
places which should be visited. In all the circumstances, he
hoped Mr. Martin would not press for a division, but would
leave the matter in the hands of the directors.

Mr. Gf.orqe GaEiQ, Harvieston (of Messrs. Fowler and
Co.), argued, in reply to the Duke of Buccleuch, that if they
were to act on the principle that they had confidence in the
directors, and left everythiag to them, there nright as well
never be aay raeetinij of members at all. If they wished to
have business properly conducted they had no right to take
everything for granted. It was their duty to look into the
direction of the Society. There was an almost uuaniraoas
feeling tlirouj^hout Scotland in this direction. It was iield bj

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINI!.

many tliit the Rsjriculture of Scotland had not. progressed
thruuifh the elforta of the Socifty during the lust firteen or
twenty yeirs. That was the g-einral opinion. He should he,
sorry to appoint directors and not lewe to them what should
be left to them ; but at tiie same time he held it was the duty
of the Society to look into those fjrievauces which so gene-
rally prevailed among their members.

Lord Poi.WARTH having expressed his willingness to accept
the motion as thus altered, it was unaninaously adopted.

The Marquis of Lothiax, in declaring this fiading, said he
wasquite sure the meetin-r generallywas not in favour ofstrik-
iugoff luverness and Kelso. His own opinion was that, if
possible, other places might be included in the circuit ; and if
any district which thought it had a right to be visited were to
send in a requisition to the directors on the subject, he had no
doubt it would be duly considered.

Tlie Karl ofDu^fMORE next moved: — " That this meeting
approves of a general meeting of members being held annually
at the place and time of holding the samraor show, and retnits
to the directors to make the necessary arrangements for having
uch a meeting at Perth in last week of July, 1879."
After a discussion this was carried.

Un the motion of the Rev. Mr. Gillespie, it was unani-
mously agreed: — " Tliat a committee, composed of directors
and other members of the Society, be appointed to consider
and report what improvements, if any, can be made in the
transactions of the Society, and especially whether any change
in the present mode of procuring papers for publication can
be introduced with advantage — the report to be made public
before the general meeting of the Siciety in January, 1680,
with the view ol its being disposed of at said meeting."

Mr. Milne, Kiddrie Mains, reporte^t that the following
premiums had been awarded in 1878: — "£25 to John
M'Cuiloch, Denbie Mains, Lockerbie. £10 to John Scott,
28, Gloaces-ter Street, Regent's Park, London, N.W. The
medium gold medal, or £5, to John Ainslie, jun., HillenH,
Loanhead. The medium gold medal, or £5, to George G ant,
Alimichie Duff'own, Bauffshire. The medium gold medal, or
£5, to Thomas Lawson, Sandj-ford, Kirriemuir. £5 to Pro-
fessor Tanner, Abergele, Nor'h Wales."

In the Forestry Department the awards were: — " The gold
medal, or £10, and the medium gold medal, or £5, to Robert
Hutchison, of Carlowrie, Kirkliston. The medium gold
medal, or £5, to William Scaling, Old Manor House, Bar-
lord, Notts. The medium gold medal, or £5, to the Author
of a Report of the cause of Ring-shaking in Trees, with the
motto ' Excelsior.' The minor gold medal to John M. Aitken,
24, St. Andrew's Square, Edinburgh."

Captain Ton, of Howden, reported that, in consequence of
the Society's petition to her Majesty for a national charter for
Scotland empowering the Society to grant veterinary diplomas
having been refused, the directors, as had already become
known, considered it impissible to continue to grant certifi-
cates in the Veterirary Department.

Dr. AiTKE.\ submitted a report with reference to the
working of the Society's experimental statiors alPuinpherston
and Hareiaw, both of which were under turnips. The leading
observations made for the year were : — " Regarding the
various applications of p!io<pliates, it was noticed that the
dissolved phosphates took the lead from the first, and main
taioed it all through the season ; but the dilFerence was not
great, averaging, perhap'f, between one and two tons per acre.
These plots were »11 very much alike, no matter what was the
gjurce of the phoRphate. The same is true of the plots with un-
dissolved phosphates, except the bone-dusr plit, which was very
backward, Oi the nitrogenous manure , the nitrate of soda and
sulphate of ammonia plots were exactly on a par. The one
manured with shoddy was very backward, and that manured
with dried blood, slthough very slow to begin, improved latterly
with great rapidity, and was in the end equal to the best. The
plots containing no nitrogen did badly, especially at Pumpher-
8ton. The potassic manures tried v/ere only two — sulphate
and chloride ; and the plot manured with sulphate of potash was
decidedly b-tter than the other on both stations. The want of
potash did not seem much to affect the growth ; but those plots
manured with potash a^h alone were very poor, especially at
Paraplierston, where it was the worst plot on the station. On
both stitions the plot with sulphate coutainiug 30 per cent.
Holuhle phosphate of lime gave a better crop than that con-
taibing 10 per cent, soluble and that containing 30 per cent, j
solable. K.egaruing the espenmeuta with various qu&Q-

tities of manure, it was uniformly found that those plot*
most abuudiutly manured give the best crops. Ths
difference in time of sowing ererted a marked inflnenca
on the crop, those first sown being larger. Tlie effects
of thick and thin sowing were also very apparent ;
that which was thin sown "made a better crop. A fort-
night after thinning it was very evident that the thin-sown
seeds had made better roots and had a sturdier growth.
The draught at Pumpherston seemed to fell most on the plots
with undissolved manures, and especially on those containing
fatty matter, such as bone-dast, shoddy," dried blood, and also
rape cake and cotton cake, the latter of which was not equal
to the former."

Mr. Melvin, Bonnington, remarked that the result of
these experiments was interesting, as strengthening very much
the opinion held in his o^vn drstrict as to the great value of
nitrogen and dissolved bones.

Mr. Hope, Leith, suggested, in connection with this
subject, that a. committee should be appointed to consider how
the members of the Society could be put in possession of the
advantages at present enjoyed by members of local analytical
associations.
Tnis suggestion was agreed to.

LEICESTEESHIRE.

A general meeting of the members of this Society was held,
at the Bell Hotel, on January 1 1, Major Freer presiding

After the Secratary had read the balance sheet and report,
Mr. Glover suggested that about .£100 should be offered a«
an inducement for the exhibition of good stallions. The prizes
should, he thought, be given in the spring of the year, with
the stipulation that the winning animal should attend the
annual exhibition of the Society, and that each member who
paid a subscription of £1 1<, and upwards should be entitled
to its services. Mr. Glover also siugested that the Society
should secure the services of an analyst, from whom the mem-
bers of the Society might asertain the quality of manures and
cakes free of charge. He also advised the holding of two wool
fairs yearly for the purpose of creating a healthy competition
in an open market, Leicestershire being a wool-producing
county, and a great desirability existing for buyers aud sellers
to be brought mure into contact with each other.

The proposition was carried.

The consideration of the place where the forthcoming show
should be held was adiourned ; but the days fixed were the
30th and 31st of July."

WAGES OF THE DEVONSHIRE LABOURER IN THE
SIXTEENTH CENTURY.— The incidental notice.s of th«
cost of provisions and labour are not the least interesting items
in ancient records — the maximum rate of wages being settled
by the justices from time to time, and regultted according to
the value of corn. It has, we believe, been generally estimated
that a labourer received somewhere about the price of two
bushels of wheat for a week's work ; but, as a mnfter of fact,
the price of provisions flu<;tuafed, while the rate o? wages stood
still. A Devonshire farm labonrer in \:A)i was paid 3d. a day,
with meat and drink, or 7'l. a day without, during the winter
months, and id. and 8d. respectively in the summer months,
exclusive of special payments at harvest tiine. ii we give hiiu
an average weekly wage of 4s. 6iJ. we shall be rather over
estimating than under-ratin? iiis earnings, which on the whole,
compare favourably with tho.se which have been paid in some
parts of Devon within the last ten ye!<r-> — namely, 7<. or 8.s.- -
Academy. — [Where have the earnings been so little withiu
ten years ?— Ed. J/. L. E.'\

CLOVER AS A HUMAN FOOD,— According to Hon. J
Stanton Gould, ch>vcr has been used as human food for
generations by the Indians of the plains. 'I'he Dizger Indians
o' California eat it raw, and also cook it by placing a thick
layer of green clover between stones that had b^en previously
heated. When young onions nr chivas and srrasslioppers are
mingled wi'h the clover, the dish is considered as a great
luxury. The Apaches mingle together clover, pigweed, aud
dandelions in a vessel, which is then filled with water. Stones
that have been iieated in the fire are then thrown in, and
when they have imparted their surplus heat to the water they
are taken out and replaced by hotter ones, until the mass is
sufficiently oqo's.z^.— Farmen' Advocats.

G 2

76

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Jfavnuvij' (Elub0.

BLANDPORD.

A. {reneral meeting of tho members of tliis Club was held on

-January lltli. Jlr. G. Galpin took his place for the first

time as Chairmm for the year; Mr. J. T. H. Scutt was

unaniinoiis'y elected Vice-CliHirman ; j\Ir. E. O. lUcliards was

r -elected Secretary, and Mr. Cox-Bartlftt auditor.

In a discnssioQ of the "Weights and Measures Act which
followed the transaction of the business of the Chib, the
CiiAiRM.vN said it appeared to him desirable to take some
acfion ii; the matter, and to press for an uuiCorra standard of
■weight for the whole of the cuuutry. Oq taking up the Jlirk
Line Express he found in America corn was soli by the
cental, at Liverpool the same, at Birmingham by the bushel,
and at various markets by the quarter, stoue, or bushel , so
tliat one got bewildered in cal(!ula'ing the prices at different
-markets. There appeared to liiin to be a great need of uni-
formity, so that in quoting oae market all would be quoted.
According to the Act it appeared it would be il'egal to say 6s.
per stone, but they might say 6s. per 81b. What he wished
tj put before llie meeting was whether it was necessary to
Cime to some definite resolution on the subject. At several
meetings of Chambers of Agriculture the adoption of the cental
has been recommended, but he noticed a deputauon from
Manchester (where it liad been decided to sell all grain by
1001b. weight), who attended at Whitehall Gardens, were told
it was not intended to make the adoption of tliecental com-
p ilsory. Tiie lOUlb. s'andard would be legalised, ile cer-
ttinly thouzht it most desirable to have greiter uniformity in
the sale of dry grain ; w hether it was by the use of the bushel,
-O' quarter, or cental, was ano'her thing.

Mr. T. H. Scutt said be lully sgreed with Mr. Giipin there
s'lou'd be uniformity. He was for selling by the cental, but
ojjected to it except it was made universal all over the
country.

Mr.'C. RiCKMAX remarked it was a curious thing that in
Scotland if wheat was not struck by the cjuarter Imperial mea-
sure the party was liable to a fine of £5 under the provisions
of the Act.

Other members took part in the discussion, but no resolution
w&s passed.

DORCHESTER.

At the last meeting of this club, held on January 11,
Mr. Day, Medical Officer of Health for a portion of Dorchester
Union, give a lecture ou"Tiie Se*a»e DiiSculty," in which he
described the didereut systems of sewage in use, and concluded
by quoting a question of Dr. Letheby's, asking whether we are
not alto jether wrong in removing our sc.vage by the agency
of water. '

I X W 0 R T H.

A meeting of this Club was held at Ixworth on Ja.iuary
l-ith, Mr. T. Thornhill, M.P., in the ch«ir. Dr. Stevens
read a paper on " Healthy Dsellings," in which the ill effects
of over-crowding, want o I ventilation, bad baihiiug, impure
water, defective drainage, aiid other imperfections were re-
ferred to.

(Elxambcvis af ^griciilture.

-BEDALE.

The qiiarterly meeting of the Bedcile Chamber of Aericul-
tiire was held on Jan. li, when the President (Mr. C.
Clarkp, of The Hermitage) read a piper on " Aijricultaral
Depres-iion : its Causes and Remedies." In the course of his
remarks he 9^11: The subject for discussion was one upon
which not ranch could be said that was not unfortunately too
Mell known and filt by those whose hones were dependent,
upon agriculture. The protits from fanning were almost nil
aud, as a con-iequecce, there were more farms to let now than
ever there were in any previous year. Many of the poorer
class of tarm< were already ia the hands of the hndlords ;
i!ever«l landowners were either lowering their rents or returning
IWe. ten, and in sone cases fifteen per cent. That this state
of t(iiu''s could loiij coulijue with )ut seriously affecting the

landlord!", and nUim^tely thesho-jkeepers, nnd those dependeiiii
on the home trade, was an utter impossibili'y. After referring
to the great increase of foreign competition, Mr. Clarke went
on to s'jy that tliT^ were a nmnber o'' minor matters whicli
bore unfairly upon the British farmer, and r quired attennon ;
though small in amount in each case, when taken together they
am )unted to something considerable. He instanced the systsm
pursued by railway companies iu the carriage of grain. Foreign
corn was carried by rail from Hartlepool to L'^eds for a
less ra'e by Ijd. per bushel than they would carry home-
grown from Bedale to Leeds, half the distance. Again, they
would carry foreign corn from Nesvcistle to Newark for a less
rate than they would carry English 'grown fronn Leeds to
Newark. He gave these as examples of what he conceived to be
unfair treatment. la the distribution of this foreign produce
our conntry roals were chi-'fly the medium — roads which were
maintained iu a great measure at the cost of the British farmer.
There were 13 million quarters of breadst'.iiFs, also great quan-
tities of maize and other cirn, to which might be added cattle,
sheep, swine, &:c., and, iu fact, millions of tons which were
moved from place to place over our public roads, free of co>t
so ''ar as to the raaiuteoancs of those roads. Trie profits fro.n
this foreign produce were not available for either roads or any
other local institution. From these causes he h-id no doubt
but that the foreign pro:!ucer had an aivautage of from Is. 6d»
to 2s. over the British farmer. The milt tas was said to
amount to seven millions per annum. The question which
suggested itself was. If this tax were removed would more
bar'ey be required, and if so, would that extra demand cause it
to be d^ar.^r ? If so, it wa^ clear that the tax was ai inja t'c^i
to the farmer. In re'erence to this question, it seemt-d hard
upon the farmer that he could not convert his corn into
malt. A manufacturer of cb th would consider it a great
iiardship if, after he hai mide his c'oth, ha was con-
pelled to pay a heavy du'y (about iialf its value) before
he was allowed to convert it info garments. H^ had heard tlie
late Mr. Bjoth speak highly of the qualities of malt as a feeding
stuff for cattle. It was well understood that cooked food assimi-
lated with the syste n more quickly than food in its raw state —
instance the differencj in the feeding qualities between raw
linseed and lins?ei c ike. The next q lestioas which should
have a place here were the rents, teuure of land, freedom of
cropping, Sic, but as these questions had been already discussed
in the Chamber, he only noted that he trusted landlords would,
when the necessity arose lower rents, and meet their tenants
in a fair spirit in regard to the freedom of cropping. The next
great question for farmers was that of labour. It was 50 per
cent, higher than what it was t'^entyyeas ago, and was
admitted on all hands to have greatly deteriorated. They wese
led to expect great re=-ults from the Government system of
education. One thing farmer* must not expect to g^t was those
sturdy, sledge-hammer, plodding helps asof yore; but iast-iad
men of more intelligence and better capable to handle those
labou'-saving machines, which must become the order of the
day if farming was to be continued as a suceess'^ul business ia
England. Imperial and Iocs.! taxes pressed heavily upon ttie
occupiers of land, aud should be revised. He did not wish to
discuss a quetiou which had been so often before the Chamber,
but to draw their attention to two matters which would m
some degree relieve those ra'es. Four thousand vagrants
pissed the Bedale union annually. They had food aud lodging
supplied them at a cost, he would suppose, of Is. per night,
including necessary expense*, or £200 per year ; their earning-i,
of course, would be a set off. Other unions, no donbt, wers
burdened in the same way. The question which na'urally
suggested itself was, why were those va^r ints kept at t'ae cost
of the ratepayers only ? They owned but a small portion of
the national income. They might re:isonably conclude that
vagrants vvere nation il, and not local '• wai''s and strays," and
as such should be maiutaiued out of the national purse, and
under the supervision of the police. The question of how to
diminish our dis^racefnl aud wilful pauperism has been ably
answered by the ilev. William Lewery Blackley, in an article iu
the Nineteenth Century for November last, entitled " National
nsurance: a cheap, practical, and popular means of abolishing
poor rati 8." It was laid down as an axiom, "that to make
reasonable provision against occasional sickness and the inevit-
able feebleness and infirmity of old age is the du'y of every man
gifted with health and strength, and in a position to earn by
his d'^ily labour a wage from which such provision can be
made." Again, he states, " Tl»e argument against making

THE FARMER'S MAGAZUrE.

8'dVh provision h : Wliy shoulJ ws sa?e ? The parish mu4
keep us at a pinch. We have a ritjht to be snpporteil by t!ie
rates, f e. by the thrifty, and they are right iu law, though not
in equity, for though the G lardiaiis may see a man to-day
burn a fifty pound note, they cannot refuse to receive hiicinto
tiie workhouse to-morrow if ha apply as a destitute person.
That tliis improvidence is mean, base, and disgraceful is true,
but far worse is the fact tha- it is c)'nmon, and no legale
remedy exists for it at the present tiiui-." He further stiites
' That a pound a week is at the present time no tinreasonible
estimate to make of tlie average earnings even of a Itbourer.
But to put it beyond cavil, let us place the average
wages of a man of twe'ity at Ics. per week, or even less. If
on tliese wages hundreds of thousands support themselves,
their wives, and families, none will deny thnt a you-i? bichelor
cin, if he will, live, and live well, on 'Jj. If he would exercise
just so much self denial for one single year, lie might by one
ptyment of £1") secure aid in sickness to the amount of Ss. per
week till he reach 70 years of age, and a pension of 4j. a week
from that age until death. Thus,ive see there is a period in the
life of every working man iu which tie can, if he will, reader
himself independsut, during his whole lifetime, of ])arochisl
relief." In A:^va referring to agricultural depreisioa, they all
knew loo well it wis a great fact — i:s c!iief cinses were too
p-iteut to be mistaken. The relief the^ might liof>e to get was
b'lt little, but they must not cease their exertions on that ac-
count. Where a burden was vilacid wrongly upon them, they
must seek for its removal. First it cjild not be right to give
the foreigner the advantage in the carriage of corn, neither
was it right for the fariners t ) find roads for them to carry
tiieir produce. In regard to the malt tax, if it acted in-
juriously, let it be removed. Again, rents Rud land tenure
must be rectified. Also the labour rjnestion; and as regarded
the present maintenance of V3gra:its, it was a great wrong.
In reference to compulsory national insurance, if carried out
—and he saw no objection to it — it would be the greatest revo-
lution our old islanl had ever undergone, and one for good, as
the working public would then have a stake in the country
— th^y would be citizens in fact.

BUCKS.

A meeting of this Chamber was held at the Giorge Hotel,
Aylesbury, on Jan, 15. Mr. J. Treadwell presided, in the
absence ol the chairman. The meeting was for the transaction
of the annual busiuess ; at the c!ose of which a discussion took
place on " The working of the Elementary Education Acts,"
and a resolution condemning the enforcsraent of the fourth
standard as a tes': of etiiciency, and asking Government to
rt'djce it to tiie third standard, was passed unanimously.

DEVON.

The annual meeting of the Devonshire Chamber of Agri-
culture was held at Exeter on Jan. 17, Earl Fortescue, the
president, in the chair. His lordship was re-elected, and, in
re'urnlng thanks, said the interest of the land owner and the
land oceu|)ier were, if well understood, identical in the long
run, and it was of great advantage that ihey should have an
opportunity of meeting together to discuss ouestions of
eommoa interest.

EAST RIDING..

The annaal meefing of this Chamber was held on Jancary
11, at Beverley, Mr. J. Lee, of orjrdham, presiding.

The Secretary, Mr. T. Tcrxer, read ths report of the past
year, which stated that the committee had not to record any
very marked progress in legislation, so far as the agricultural
ijterest was concerned. The report was adopted.

The election of officers for tlie ensuing year resulted in the
appointment of Jlr. Lee as president, Mr. Fisher (of Lecon-
fi-^ld) as vice-president, and Mr. Tom Turner as secretary and
treasurer.

PRINTERS' ERRORS.— The editor of a country paper
wrote one evening : — " To day is the anniversary of the deatli
of Louis Philippe." When the printer's proof came up, the
name read " Sam Phillips." The editor wrote on the margin,
" Who the deuce is Sam Phillips P " N^xt morning the
article read : — " Tj-day is the anniversary of the death af
Sam Phillips. Who the deuce is Sam Phillips r"

^grirultural Utiihlt Calfu

At the annual dinner of the Berkshire Chamber of Agricul-
ture, lield at Newbury on January 9, Mr. Walter, JLl'.,
said : — One of his motives lor coming there was to express the
regret he felt fur vvli.t he believed to b" a partial agricultural
distress in that ci)uuty, ■ nd to express his adn iralion he un-
alfectedly entertained for the manly ami patient manner iu
which it had beeu met. (Hear, hear.) He thouglit there was
a remarkable contrast worth pointing out ia the way in which
events of this kind were met now jy farmers and all other
agricultural classes in the present day as compared with what
was the case 30 or -iO years ago. Those who cjuld remember
the Parliimi;utary debates of that time, about the year 183i],
would remember that the pages of 7/a«jrt'v/ were filled with
long reports of debates on agricultural distress. That was the
time vT-hen higii protective duties on corn existed. He attri-
buted the better temper and ilie more iiwnly spirit with which -
these periodical occasions of depression were borne to tho
education which tue agricultural interest had gone through-
daring the intervening period. It was now rather more than
a generation ago since the agricultural interest lud to leirn
what was then a very hard leason. They had been taught to
cjnsider the protection of what vvas called native industry,
chiefly that of agriculture, as a principle deeply rooted iu the
•Jonstitution, inculcated liy s'atesmeu of the greatest eminence
like Sir Rjbert Peel. They had suddenly to be taught by the
hard logic of facts and by the inexorable experifnce oftlie
human stomach that all these favourite and long-cherishsd
doctrines were to be separited and scattered to the winds, and
that by the very men who had spent the best part of their lives
iu promulgating tlie oppositejdoctnnes. Since that tinae we had
had no mure complaints made to Par'.iiraeot of agricultural dis-
tress, or the slightest idea entertained that it was a (^uestioa that .
any longer lay within the reacli of human legislation.
That lesson the farmers hud learnt — snd he believed they

ad thoroughly imbibed it and was part of- tl air
settled conviction. He knew that both in this country
and neighbuuriug countries many landlords had of
late been suQ'ering through having farms thrown on their
hands, especially iu the corn-producing districts ; but he was
told that in the dairy- districts times had been fairly and
reasonably prosperous, tliereby sliowiug that agriculture had
many corapensaiing advantage^,, and if one species of crop
failed the laud was cpable of b. ing turned to other productive

urposes. We were very far indeed from exhaustiug the
capabilities of the soil a*id turning them to profit-:ble account.
Up, as a landlord, was uo: one who felt much na'iic or alarm
as regards the prospect of a serious reduction of ren's. Hi
could- conciive it quite possible and probable that if in the
corn-producing districts a permanent fail in the pr'ce of corn
should oceur a redi.ction of rents would follow as a matter ot--
course,- On the other h ind, it was well to bear iu miud that
over a great part of Euglund, aud notably in metropolitan
counties and in the neighbourhood of great towns, tl'.we was
the great residential value of land at "the back of the agri-
cull ural value, and that a vast deal of laud was let, he would
not say belnw its agricultural value, but below the rent of it if:
dealt with as an investment. Land v/liich aa many places .
might rot be worth more than 25s. or 26s. per acre f^ agri-
cultural purposes would, if sold, probably produce 35's. or 40j.
per acre ; so if landlords thought tiiere would be a permanent
depression in the annual value of their land they would
naturally turn their attention to the other capabilities' of that
land. They would find it far more profitable to divide their
farms, lay them down ia grass, put up better buildings, and get
their rent in that way. He had in his own hands a good deal
of land precisely oi that cliaracter. Another point was, how
large a proportion of the rent of land was really due to the
landlord's expenditure lor buildings on tlie farm P Tiiis ques-
tion was one that had been :ib'y treated by various writers on
agriculture. He had some personal knowledge of the subject,
but was not prepared to say at all what would be a fair estimate'
of the proportion wliich the rental of farm houses and buildings
and cottages— which were essentially a landlord's creatiou—
bore to the whole rental of tlie land. He thought
it would not be unfair to put it at least at oue-
third of the rental if they considered the cost of
erecting good farm-hou^e8 and buildings such as a farmer of
the present day required. AVith a proper eupplv of cotta.tjcs-

78

THE FARMERS MAGAZINE.

for a farm of 300 acres he thnupht they would agree with I
him that it would be very difficult to do it for less than £2,500. I
Now, taking it at 26s. per acre, that would be a rental of
£380 or i390, ol which £150 went directly for iaterest on build-
ings, leaving a residue of about 18s. per acre for what the
landlord actually piid. Theu came this question. Supposing
that sum to be iiiHterially reduced, the landlord would con-
sider what it would pay him to plant it. If the land would
not pay Jbl per acre it would le cheaper to put it into any
form of cultivation. It must be borne in mind that if the
margin of the rent which really belonged to the land was reduced
ninch below £1 per acre, to take what some might think an
ext'cme case, a vast deal of land now in cultivation under the
plough would have to be planted ; therefore, that was one
point which the portion of the landed interest known as the
laudlorda would have to take into account when they had to
consider the possibility of having to meet a reduction of rent.
Mr. Darke, who had spokeu jusi uow, had referred to the ques-
tion of labour, and expressed his opinion that agriculturists
would not get better "times until they could get cheaper
labour. That, ag<in, was a delicate que>tion, to which he
was not prepared to give a definite answer ; but it roust be
borne in mind that low wages did not by any means represent
cheap laboar ; on the contrary, they knew very well that a
great di^al of cheap labour so-callea had been sent or had
emigrated to the I^orth of Euglnnd, where it had been found
so dear that it had to be sent back attain. Therefore, it was
not a question of the money wasje of labour, but of the
amount of work that could be got done. The real hardship the
farmers had had to encounter was, as Mr. Clare Sewell Read iiad
pat it, that not only had wages advanced, but that labour had
diminished. The real and ditticult problem for the farmer
to so ve was how to gel anything like a proportionate return
of labour for the wages paid. The agricultural distress was
nnfortunately but one portion of the distress that prevailed in
the country at the present time ; other branches were also
greatly effected. What they had to consider was the cause of
this distress. They kuew that the iron trade was paralysed,
that coalowcerg were making no money ; that the cotton in-
dustry had seriously diminished, and that other branches of
industry were greatly suffering in consequence of that state of
things. He apprehended that with reg.trd to the distress and
depression in the iron trade a good deal of it must be attributed
to the cessation of the demand for ra Is which prevailed so
enormously aiter the American war. That had now subsided,
and there was no prospect of any immediate return. The coal
industry naturally followed upon the iron, because 40 per cent,
of the output of coal was consumed in the production of iron :
and thongh they profited as consumers, the producers uaturafy
suffered. No doubt, also, a part of that depression might be
truly attributed to the general uneasiness which had prevaiKd
for the last two years on account of the state of afl'airs on the
Continent. There could be doubt that the anxiety with regard
t) the Eastern Question must have contributed very largely to
paralyse the industry of the country and make people unwill-
ing to embark in enterprises. Here he was trenching on the
forbidden ground of politics. He was, however, unable to con-
forcur al' oj;ether in that view, because as between the two great
parlies in the couutrv the foreign policy was one which did
not appear to come in the category of party politics.

At Diss, on Jan. 10, Mr. C. S. Read, referring to the
legrslaiion introduced by the Government, said it had not been
much, and he could not sny it was altogether satisfactory, the
reason lor wliich was tvvolold. First, on account of the time
occupied in foreign ali'airs ; and, secondly, by reason of the very
great obstruction, especially by the Irish members, some of
whom were determined to oppose any kind of legislation. He
commended the Wei^ihts and Measures Act as likely to give
honesty in trade. The Highway Bill he con:iidered as not
likely to operate well, as it would be extremely difficult for
Quarter S^'ssions to work satisfactorily. The Cattle Diseases
Act he considered the most satisfactory of the session, and was
but the tarrying out of an idea reptfting which he was forced
to leave the Goverunir-nt, He uelievcd there was now u pros-
pect of their flocks and h.-rrtn heiig protected from foreign
di'^ease. He condeained the Valuation Bill, and said be should
always do so as long as it gave such unbounded poweJ to
the mirvpyors of taxes in the preparaliou of their
parochial aMessmculB. This officer would iilwsy* huTs au

immense power in the assonmentg committtee, and the
result would be to raise everybody's assessment to a level
of some man who had given a great deal more for laud
than it was worth. He rebutted the charge that had been
brought against the Government of having by their policy
brought about and caused the present distress. For his part
he could not see what they had done to assist the distress. If
a European war had taken place, it would have accumulated
the distress j bu', by the action of the Government, fuch a
terrible curse had been averted. It was too well known that
they as agriculturists had had four very unfavourable seasons.
He considered the last as bad as any of them, and the farmer
had less return for his money per acre than in many previous
years. He asked what had the Goveruineut to do with favour-
able or unfavourable seasons. He thouglit it really de-ipicable
and idle on the part of their opponents to accuse the Govern-
ment of having camed the distress, when there was no doubt
the primary cause was the unfavournble seasons.
There was no doubt that foreign competition had had a
great deal to do with it. They had had free Trade for thirty
years, and during this time the resources of other countries
had been developed. Every new line ot railway, every emi-
grant that left our shores, did something to accelerate that
competition, especially in America. He did not care for com-
petition from any part of the world except America, as that
nation was going to ruin farmers in every country, but thi^
country would be the last, as they hid a good home market to
help them, whereas other nations had to send a great part of
their iroduce here. If they looked abroad they saw other
countries raising their tariffs, and even their own colonies were
protecting themselves ag iust the manulactures of EugHnd.
Some people had advocated for this country protection under
the name of reciprocity, but as farmers had no protection tor
their produce, they were not likely to allow any ox the manu-
facturers.

Eirl Stanhope on Jan. 1? presided at the annua!
dinner ot the Sevenoaks Farmers' Club and Chamber of
Agriculture, held al the Crown Hotel Asuembly Rooms,
Sevenoaks. Sir Charles Mills, in acknowledging the toast of
" The County Members," referred to a paper which had Deeu
read before the club by Mr. A. H. Hill, on the agricultural
labourers' question, and said that, as in that district there had
been but little etfect given to the dispute be. ween farmera
and labourers ia some parts of Kent and Sussex, the ques-
tion could be discussed in a spirit free from feeling. He per-
fectly agreed with the suggestion that all who were engaged
in common work were entitled to join togetiier for the main-
tenance of their interests, but it was to be regretted that in the
case of the labourers' unions here should often be those who
had rothing in common with the workers, and he believed that
but for this outside influence the late crisis between the
farmers and the labourers would have passed off without any
display of feeling. Tiie farmers were ready to give a fair day'«
pay lor a fair day's work. Labour was a commodity which
was subject to the laws of supply aud demand, and the farmer*
had a right to obtain it at a reasonable pricr-, especially seeing
that some years ago, when the price of labour was raised,
articles of comsumiition were at a much higher price than at
the present time. VVith regard to the condilinu of agriculture
he acknowledged that the prospects of the firraers were not
very bright, and he did not believe that the proposed reduc-
tion of rents would remedy the evils of which the farmers
complained, adding that landlords had not been receiving a»
roots ail they wight have obtained, considering the
great competition there had been for farms. On the subject
of " reciprocity," beheld, with Mr. C. S Read, that proteciiou
could not aga n be imposed upon this country. He sup-
ported warmly the provisions of the Cattle Diseases Act. In
regard to the legislation ot the future, he mentioned the pro-
mised Valuation Bill aud the County Government Bill, and
expressed his readiness and the readiness of his colleague to
give effect to any suggestions which the consiitueuts of the
division might olfer. The Chairman, in giving the toast of
" The Club and Chamber of Agriculture," said he did so with
mingled feciings of regret and satisfaction — regret at the un-
prosperous time for the farmers and satis'action at seeing the
goodly company on that Gcca>.ion, The depression in trade
and sgnculture wai to be thitfly nttributed to var

THE FARMER'

^ni to the nnsetfled feeling in regard to the East,
and he luokfd forward hopefully to tlie spring,
a» there V9.% every reason to believe that Russia
would carry out the Bfrlia Treaty, and by withdrawing her
troops from tlie territory now occupied give Europe hopes of
peace. As to the assertion which had been made that the
depression at the present time arose from "over-specn ation,"
he was quite sure that they had not been goiug too fast in
that parr, and that there was room for ROiug faster. He
regarded it as idle for men to look to " reciprocity " for a
remedy, as for one thiu^, tlie people of these isles would not
be able to find food if they did not have Eree-trade in the
products of ihe earth, aud il the fanner could not iiave " pro-
tecliou," then the agiicultural classes were not to be taxed in
the articles they required by "recipiocity " beiug afforded to
others. " ..

Mr. John Tb.ema.yne, M.P., at the annual dinner of
the Wade bridge Farmers' Club on Jan. li, «aid : —
Looking over the measures wliich had been passed
iiuriug the last Session, one could not fail to be struck with
the fact ot how mauy of them directly interest or bear upon
the agriculture of the country- Eor exartple, the Contagious
Diseases Animals Act was one which required au immense deal
01 discussion, because il raised tlie very great question whether
any in pediment placed by the legislalure upon the iinport of
li>e annuals Iroui abroad was not a reversal of the policy
wliich had been tried and approved ol by this country — the
policy of free trade, and somewhat approached the old system
ol protection. There was a great deal of talk about that, and
he tliout:lit the di.-russiuu very clearly proved that the agricul-
t ral inierest WHUted no proieciioii — nothing iu the shape of
protective duties to assist thera in their profession; all they
a-kei| was legitimate protection against the introduction of
disease fr. m foreign countries. lie expected they would hear
about protection again next year. They had rubbed it up,
and painted it, and varnished it, aud they now called it
*" reciprocity." But lie did not tliink they would hear any-
thing more than words vbout it. It was very distressing in-
deeil to know that there was hardly a trade, or an interest, or
a prolessiou in England wliicli was not suffering deeply at
this present minute ; but he believed all people, of w.iatever
political opinion, had come to the conclusion that a return to
the old system ol protection is a thing which uever can be
seen in this country again. There was another Act of Par-
liament which, though a simple one, was a very vyise Act —
the Act subjecting tlirashing machines to be proiected in
such a manner as to secure ptrons about thera against
injury. The Adulteration of Seeds Act was one that told
unon the farmer far more fully than one was at Srst led to
auppose. The Weights and Measures Act was another which
Was much needed, and which will be of iramer>se advantage to
the comiuuniiy in simplifying all its trinsactions by weight
er measure. They also had a long discussion on the lligli-
ways Act. Several gentlemen had heard something about
that. He rather thought lie had licdrd something about it
himself, and he tho^ight he should hear a great deal more
about it to-morrow. Well, uow, that was not a perfect Act ,
there was no doubt about it ; but nearly all the imperfections
of the Actitsrlt have been lost sightofiu Cornwall in the iraper-
fections of the committee that was entrusted with drawing up
bye-laws under the Act. There was no doubt that there were
iinperlections aud omissions in the Act which will have to be
remedied nest year. And he thought they must look npon
the Highways Act as part of an Act which will eventually
become incorporated ia one of much wider scope and opera-
tion, namely, in the County Governm' nt Act. There was
no doubt whatever that all these Acts of Parliament relating
to the government of local institutions will be centralised and
brought into the nucleus of the local governing body of each
county. For himself he aid aot regret that the Local
Government Bill was not passed last year. The discu^sious
which had taken plnce would, probably, lead to much soRoder
aud better legislation tlian if they liad hurried such aa Act
of Parliament tlirough when the country was engrossed in
foreign troubles. He had no doubt that the Bill would be
one ot the first the (ioTernment would deal with in th«
coming Session.

DIPHTdERIA AND KEROSENE.— The Summerside
progress re.^ox\i the cure of several cases of diphtheria by i

g -.rgling the throat wiih keroseue oil, j

s magazine; j^.

THE RAINFALL FOR TWENTY YEARS.

The following table, coutributed to the Bury Post by
Mr. P. Grieve, of Culford, near Bury St. Edmunds,
shows the raiufall at tbat staliou iu . eacb mouth for
twenty years : —

R.\iMF.\LL IN Inches.

«C«OC»5 0i'<j<00CJ5-*-#r-<pc-t.~t~C0£— t-^.fltO
4, O C-; ca a> o; t-- oo 00 oo O c; t.-- !_-.! ^' ; - t-1 c^ oj 03 crJ

I CO CO ,-H o) .

((J«OJOiOO<^r-HeOC<DrHC?Jr-H

"^5? F" S ^ ^ S 3 ''■^ ''~~ ^ >-~ '^ ^ ^ "^ o^ •^t-^ oi t-^

CljCCt~COCOCOCOCT>OOOOOiOOQOOOCX)OOCOQOOOOOCO

'^''t,'S<^'aoic:>oo'>*

■* 00 ■* 10 .-H Oi 00 tP CO . , . ^.. . . ^ .*j >--■ ^ IJU r^

0100C05D--OOr><>OiQCOlOCOrJ<0'*COiOOOOt--.
I— 1 r-< r-< r-( r-r rl i— t r-l r-( i— I rl r-i (M rt rt r~f r-< <M r-l

^^2 't? ?" S-3! '"' 05 t~o* o-*oOTfic*cooocoooco
C--.CO ai vi 3 CD CO ocj t-^ -< oi 06 tH t}J -4; t-^ aj t-^ t-1 lo

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i 10 CnI G^ 10

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r-i r-i oi O O r-< Oi CO i-i r-» of O O! O i-i O rl OJ C<i r-i

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CO CO C~- r-1 CO CO t-- ■* t-^ CO O CO O :0 Oi 01 CO 00 C5 QO

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oococooooooocsoC'-C'jocooooooccoco'Xj'/^cooo ~

80

THE ITAEMER'S MAGAZINS.

THE AGRICULTURAL DEPRESSION
AND ITS REMEDIES.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MARK LAN'E EXPRESS.

Sir, — Allow me to point out a few of the disadvan-
tages whieli British farmers suffer under, and to remark
CD the means of improving their position.

1 . It seems very hard upon us British farmers to grow
corn and he taxed for almost everything we keep, buy, or
use, whilst the foreigner can grow and send it to this
ccuutry almost untaxed. 1 see uo cause why they should
njt help to pay some of the expenses of this great nation
as well as feed it, especially as there is so much foreign
corn used now to what there used to be thirty years ago,
when it was almost a crime for a miller to use a sack of
foreign wheat. L'ow they use more than half.

2. I mast call attention to the unfairness with which
the tithe averages are taken when the Tithe Commutation
Act came into operation. I thiuk it was in 1849. It
was intended that the average should be levied on all the
corn the farmer grows, but things have very much
changed in thirty years, and the farmers keep double the
stock they aid then, and consequently feed out all the
worst coru they grow, which this year I am sorry to say
amounts to nearly or quite half they grew. Why should
not each farmer make his own return ? Most of the corn
goes from the farmer to the merchant ; then his profit is
added to it, also railway expenses, so that as we are now pay-
ing 12| per cent, more than it was really commuted at —
and it was then set vei-y high — we feel it this year, as
there is no allowance made for damp and inferior corn.

3. I should like to see the Malt Tax repealed. If our
Exchequer canuot share all thia large sum it might be
jiut on beer that is sold by brewers op retailers, tobacco
and cigars. We should then see every poor man brew
his own beer at home, aud take his day's allowance to
bis wojk with him, or enjoy it at home with his family.
This would do away with most of the little beer sellers
Ih t are now a nuisance aud a curse to our towns and
villages.

4. Our parochial rates are, I consider, very unfairly
kiied, inasmuch as they press too heavily on the agri-
culturist and the clergy. The farmer has to pay on
e 6 y rod of ground he holds, which is his trade by
which he has to get his liviug. It is the same with the
clergyman, while the tradesman is only rated on his
premises, which amounts in many cases to only a few
shillings. He may be doing a large trade of some hun-
dreds or thousands a year ; yet his living or trade is not
rated like the farmer's or the clergyman's. The same re-
mark will apply to any other profession or calling, or to
the wealthy landlord or squire who may be living in our
towns or villages, and who wants labourers, servants,
and policemen and roads as much as the farmer does.

5. The Income Tax is a burden on farmers. Where
there has not been any income for the last four or live
years ; they do not know how or like to claim the exemp-
tion for fear of being exposed and then broken up at
once, neither do half of them know how to claim the
exemptions.

6. The School Board Act presses heavily on the agri>
culturist as well as the poor iu rural districts ; it puts a
very heavy expense on the land in causing them to build
new aud large schools, which in most instances are close
to one that now would be amply large enough, as the
families are constantly emigraliug or migrating at dif-
ferent seasons of the year to where employment is more
remunerative ; it also presses upon families themselves
in taking away some that would add to their earnings iu
addition to ttie pence they have to pay. It may work
well in towns, but not in rurttl districts.

7- I should like to see a free transfer of land, excejlfS
the trifling fee of registering it. I see no reason why a
registry of each farm or any part thereof that might hap-
pen to be sold should not have a title as well as the
present expensive mode of conveyance.

8. As to the Weights and Measures Act which has
recently been passed, I quite agree with buying and selling
by weight and not by measure, but let us keep to our
present weights, which are pound, stone, hundredweight,
and ton. If we have the cental nearly all our weights will-
have to be alttred, causing additional expense.
I am, Sir, &c.,

An Essex Farmer.

TITHE COMMUTATION — SEPTENNIAL
AVERAGES.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MARK LANE EXPRESS.

Sir, — As the result of the Corn Averages for the
seven yinrs to Christmas, 1S7S, published iu the Z-onc/. ;*■
Gazette of this eveuiug, viz : —
s. d.

Wheat 6 6^ per imperial bushel.

Barley 4 11 ditto.

Oats 3 3 ditto.

I beg to state that each £100 of Tithe rent-charge will-,.
for the year IST'J, amount to £111 ISs. 1^., or 12s,-
31d. per cent, less than last year.

The following shows the worth of £100- Tithe rent-
charge for the last seven years : —

S, s. d.

lor the year 1S73 110 15 10^

187-4 112 7 3

1&75 113 15 65

1876 no 14 11

1877 109 16 IU

1878 112 7 H

1879 Ill 15 1^

The average value of £100 Tithe rent-charge for the'
43 years elapsed since the passing of tie Tithe Commu-
tation Aet, is £102 ISs. Hid.

I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,

Montague Marriott,
Editor of " Willich's Tithe Commutation Tables."
26, Montpelier Square, London, S.W.
Junuary 7, 1879.

Mr. Marriott has also forwarded to us the following
table : —

ANNUAL AVERAGES FOP. THE 52 WEEKS ENDING-
AT CHIUSTMAS OF EACH YEAR.

Year.

Wheat.

.s. d.

1S72

57 0

1873

53 8

1874

55 9

1875

45 1

1876

46 2

1877

'56 9

1878

46 6

Barley.

Oats.

s. d.

s. d.

37 3

23 2

40 5

25 5

44 11

28 10

38 6

28 8

35 2

26 3

39 8

25 11

40 2

24 4

OSTRICH FEATHERS.— The increasing production o
ostricli featiiers on the South African f.irnis, combined with a
fdllrng off in tlie deiuaud at home, has led to a decline iu the
raar»et rates for this produce at the colonial sales. Feathers
of suoerior quality, however, fetch higli prices. At a recent
sale at Grahauistown, 13 splendid "primes," or perfect white
feathers, realised a guinea each, or ai the rate of £145 per lb.
The average price for fine wiiite feathers was £10 per lb.,
while blacks realised about £14, and drab or fdncy colour*
euly £1. — Times,

THE FARMER'S MA.GAZINS.

SI

FAILURE S.

'the forcwing is the number of failures in England and
Wales published in Kemp's Mercantile Gazette during the six
months enc iug Dec. 31st, 1877 and 1878.

187

7.

July

5

204

12

236-

19

219

—

26

203

Aoff.

2

227

—

9

175

_

16

198

23

194

—

80

194

Sept.

6

213

—

13

186

20

194

—

27

167

Uct.

4

201

—

11

211

—

18

208

—

25

237

Nov.

1

206

8

227

—

15

213

—

22

211

—

29

224

I>ec.

6

243

—

13

28i

—

30

237

—

27

248

1878

lucrease

July

4

232

28

-—

11

239^

3

18

241

23

—

25

238

35

Au^.

1

235

8

8

215

40

15

227

29

.»

2-1

271

77

—

29

257

63

Sept.

5

256

43

12

222

36

19-

199

5

_

26-

237

70

Oct.

3

2U4

P.

10

261

50

_

17

2-^9

91

-^

24

292

55

31

258

52

Nov.

7

283

61

14

253

4a

21

320

106

23

315

9^1

Dec.

5

333

90

12

340

57

—

19

271

37

—

26

312

64

6562 I 6319 I 1256

The total numbers of failares in England and Wales for the
jears 18/7 and 1878 were : —

In 1877 11,2^7

In 1878 13,630

Increase in 1878.. 2,383

and Wales for the
s MercantHe Gaze'te

First
Quarter.

39S1 .

4091 .

Stcond
Quarter.

. 4081 .
. 4131 .
. 3997 .
.. 15S9 .
. 21?1 .
.. 19S0 .
. 2299 .
.. 2423 .
. 2277 .
. 2573 .
. 3S56 .
. 3373 .

Third
Quarter.
. 3555 .
. 4139 .
. 3495 .
. 1773 .
. 1837 .
. 1795 .
. 2054 .
. 2339 .
, 2133 .
. 2670 .
. 2610 .
. 3069 .

Fourth
Quarter.
.. 4233
.. 3501

SS19 .

. 5207

2804 .

.. 19S5

2143 .

.. 1994

2193 .

.. 2145

2354 .

.. 2357

2193 .

.. 2290

2331 .

.. 2453

2744 .

.. 3861

2829 .

.. 2952

3439 .

.. 3749

The statistics of failures in England
ivhole period from the first i«sue of Kemp
to the end of 1878, are as follows :■ —

Year.

1867
1868
1869
1870
187L
1873
1873
1874
1875
1876
1877
1878

PRICES OF WOOL.— The average price of English half
hogg wool for the ten years ending 1820, was 162!. per lb.
for a similar period ending 1830, lid. per lb. ; ten years
ending 1840, M^d.; ten years ending 1S50, lUd. ; do. 1860,
] 6d. ; do. 1870, 21d. ; in 1S78, 15d. ; and the average 1871-
78, 20d, The average for 68 years v.'as 15|d. per lb,, and
present value, 13f d. per lb. The highest price was 27d, in
1873, and the lowest lOd. in 1819. The yearly averages of
English hoggs and wethers was — 1865, hoggs, 27d., wethers,
24id. perlb. ; 18C0, 25d.— 22d. ; 1867, 20Jd.— 17d. ; 1868,
19d.— lo§d. ; 1869,20id.— 16id. ; 1870, 18fd.— 15d.; 1871,
224d.— 2u|d.; 1872,26J:d.— 25d. ; 1873,2Gid.— 22-ld. ; 1874,
23id.— 18id. ; 1875, 22d.— 17id. ; 1876, 18p.— 16id. ; 1877,
16|d.— 15fd. ; 1S7S, 15i-d.— 14|d. per W^.— Leeds Mtrcuri/.

FEMALE COMPOSITORS are not employed on this
j ournal ; we tried them, but one morning on opening the door
'-inexpectedly, we heard a smaek as though a mule had suddenly
))ulled his loot out of a mud hole, a flutter, and a rush — no ;
il didn't ansffer, — Paper and Printing Trades Journal.

SOME NOTES ON FOREIGN CATTLE.

At the last meeting of the Newcistle Farniers' Club,
Mr. Thorn- 9 Bell, the Secretary, read a lefuthened paper 0[i
"The Paris luternational Congress and Esbibiiioii," from
whicli we extraci the portion^ relaiiug to the live stock.

The feventb vi)liirae of the otScial catalogue ot the Paris
luternalional Uuiverssl Exhibition forms the catalogue of
what it terms a temjwrary exhibition of live animals. Tliia
great in-ternntional catile shuw was thoiighlfuliv arranged to
be. held dating the meeting of the Agricultural Congress.
Vi>itors had tbns the opportunity of seeing the bests-p -cimens
of nearly all tlie distinct Eiropean breeds of cattle auJ sheep.
It was a nissjnifioent show of the highest interest to the agri-
culturist. Many English visilors I fancy would meet with a
surprise when they saw some of tlie fine cattle exhibited from
couutries whose breeds and productions we, on this side of the
Channel, are a little prone to despise. Tliere were-no fewer
than 1,700 entries of cat'le, and empty stalls were not
numerous. Ont of compliment t) us, 1 suppose, the first place
in the catalogue was assigned to ShorthorU'i or the " Race
Durham," £s tlie French have it. Notwithstanding the high
blood and unquestionable merit of some of the animals shown
f'-om English herds, to whom went most of tlie prizes, they
did not by any means totally ecl'pse the other esbibits in this
class. The French Shorthorn classes, numbering 138 entries,
contained a number of really fine animals, although thes3
classes were eurioii-ly sprinkled with beasts whicli no English
farmer would have thouglit of sending into a showyard.
Prizes were offered for nearly all the English, Scotch, and
Irish distinction breeds of citile, but with the exception of
Devons and Kerrys, in point of numbers these classes were
very poorly represented. There was not a single entry in the
Channel Inlands classes, although so near are their sea-girt
homes. Group prizes were offered, open to the whole shoT,.
lor the best mea*^ producing cattle, the first prize of 2,50o
francs was award; d to Mr. McCombie for his grand polled
Aberdeens. A similar prize was awarded for the best in:lk-
producing group. This prize was won by Flemish cattle of
very large frame, and evidently good at the pail, but many of
the critics expressed the opinion pretty freely that this prize
should have goiie to the black and white Dutch cattle, fami-
liar to most, of which breed there were some admirable
specimens, of good substance, with most capacious milk-
vessels. The prize for the best cattle for labour was awarded
tlie Limousin breen. These animals are a reddish-brown
co'our, of medium size, and have great aptitude to fatten,
but are no use for dairv purposes. Ot all the French breeds,
the beautiful white Charolaise seemed to be the universal
favourite. They comprise all the qualities for which cattle are
prized in France, have symmetrical frames, good grazers, fair
niilkerp, and the best of workers; the Departments where
they are raised may well be proud of them. The Shorthorn
en 3ses with Freccli races gave fresh and striking proof of a
truth that is now prettv well established, that there are few
breeds of cattle that a Shorthorn cross does not improve. It
is even open to question whether the working power of their
oxen would be at all weakened by the introduction of Short-
horn blood. Mr. Abram Renwick, of Kentucky, the breeder
of the famous "Red Roses," which made such fabulous prices,
states in a letter dated FebruHry, 1877, " I have work>d oxen
on my farm ever since 1 have been farming, and the best
cattle for the purpose I have used were a cross of Shorthorn
on our native cattle, say three-fourths Shorthorn to one-
fourth na'ive." There were seventeen distinct French races
exhibited, all with well-denned distinguishing characteristics.
Whether or not it is that in this case " familiarity breeds con-
tempt," certainly the display of Danish, Svvedish and Norwe-
gian cattle so familiar to us in Newcastle Market, did not
there present an inviting appearance. The Swiss cattle, with
their firm, muscular frames and lively expressions, were great
favourites with the visitors. I confess I admired them still
more when 1 saw them in the summer of 1875, snugly
ensconced in their native chalets, or making music with their
bells on the mountains which keep watch and ward over the
never-to-be-fort:otten beautiful Lake of Lucerne. The breeds
of the south-west (.f Europe were principally notable for their
ugliness. The Mark Lane Express said, " One Portuguese beast
that obtained a prize should have been fined instead, as an
exa-mple of all that a: bull ought not to be, and there wae
a Roraagnole bull with a most villaiuous expression, and the

.'2

THB FARMER'S MAGAZINE

most uDKainly proportions of any living animal, not human,
iu ttie showyurd." >Ve m^^t not, however, lose siglit of the
fact that most of the Cutitiaental r«ce< of cattle are rau-ed
with H totally different object iu view to what we, as meat
iiroducers, have ever before us. We previously stated that
s earn cultivation had as yet made little headway in France ;
hut lu many agricultural districts in Europe, it would be as
treat a phenomenon to see horse cultivation, tillage operations
being cirried on solely with cattle. Young oxen command
Kood prices, and are traded for draught purposes, as we do our
%oung horses. This, no doubt, accounts lor the fine specimens
of bone ko often to be seen in our markets for foreign cattle.
The small farmers and peasant proprietors, for which France
ia 80 lamous, do not, liowever, always indulge even in a yoke
of oien. Many of them have no other beasts of burden than
their milk cows, which animals, besides fulfilling their desti-
nies of breedinir and milking, are for some years the lacto-
tums of the farm, and fiuaily add to the hoardings of their
owners by being sold lor beef. We are told these
peasant farmers save money. No wonder. Many of
us on this side of the Channel will, in this respect, at the
present time, be more likely to envy than despise them.
Si ill I think it will be an evil day for England when
slablrs disappear iu any of her districis ; wheu her farmers
are reduced to such straits that their milk cows compose
their ouly teams. Macaulay's New Zeilander may then
safely commence his contemplations on London Bridge, with-
out much risk of disturbance. I must not leave this part of
the exhil*ition without bearing testimony to the universal
admirationeiLcited amongst the visitors by the arrangements of
the showyard ; tliev were marvels of order, completeness, and
1 may add artistic beauty. I believe 1 am not wrong in say-
in" that the first master of Enalish showyard nrringements
adTnitted that our Royal Agricultural Socisty might even yet
live aud learn. I must not ouiil to meulion also that the
Newcastle Farmers' Club came in for a share of reflected
honour The Royal Commission, who had the appointment
of one English Juror oa the list of Jurors who .vere to award
the prizes in the cattle classes, appointed Mr. Jacob Wilson,
one of our vice-pre-idents :o this honourable and responsible
oflice I am sure we all concur in sHying they did themselves
lionour by their selection. As one of the represeutatives
deleiiated by the Royal Agriculiural Society of England, Mr.
Wilson was also on the platform of the Agncultural Gougress,
hold in the hall of the Trocadero.

The catalogue informs us that in round numbers there are
26 000 000 of sheep in France. According to our own
statistics this year, the total number of »l.eep in Great
Britain is nearly 28^ millions. The Mermo breed miroduced
into France from Spain about the close of last century is said
to have gradually absorbed mauy of the indigenous races, and
is believed now to number about 9,000,000. Originally this
breed was propagated almost solely for the prodnetiou of wool
—French Merinos are well known to English ladies— the
treat idea, therefore, was to cover the whole of the skin of
the sheep with wool legs and face incladed : the result was a
by a no means taking animal. The immense production of
fine wools in our colonies has caused the French ftockmasters
to pay more attention to the production of mutton. ihe
nrize Merinos at the Exhibition were well-fleshed, shapely
animals, aud seem t ) be well adapted to meet the retirements
of their owners; they now verv much resemble boulhdowns.
In some districts iu the South of France the sreat soi.rce of
profit from sheep is the milk of the ewes, which is made into
cheese ; this industry is said to be inareasing. At Roquefort
there is a factory where the milk of 25U,000 ewes is made
into cheese and the amount turned out reaches from 6,0W to
3 500 tons annually. Roquefort cheese is now not an un-
common delic.cy at English restaurants. Each ewe is
eitin.ated to produce about 241b. of cheese in the year, besides
suckling her lamb for two mouths. The MeriDO breed does
not suit this purpose, as they are said to be the worst milkers
of any breed of sheep. At the Government School at Gng-
non flocks of pure Leicesters, Shropshires, and Southdowns
are kept. At the annual sale of rams from these flocks in
1877 the Leic< ster rams made an average of £28 each, ihe
L-.icester and Merino cross averaged £31. the Shropshire
Downs £17 lOs., and the Southdowns £13. These prices
should prove a. air criterion of the opinions held by French-
men a* to the merits of ttiese respective English breeds for
tioesing theit uative races. I liad a conversatioa on the

show ground with M. Raoul Duval, an eminent agriculturist,
aud member of the Chamber ol Deputies. He was nejfoiial-
ing the purchase of a peu of Southdowns. He told me that
several years ago be gave Leicesters a fair trial, but he found
nis clay soils were too poor for them ; they did not do well
with him. There were 825 pens of sheep in the catalogue,
and few of the^u were wanting in the yard. Our British
breeds of sheep were well represented, aud appeared to great
advantage when compared with the coutiuenlal breeds.
Most of our flockmasters whose names are famous in En^li-b
showyards had one or more pens present, with the exception
of Border Leicesters, of which there were none. The British
exhibits of sheep, I think, appeared to much greater advan-
tage than the cattle did amongst the foreigners. Tliere was a
eur.ous rule which might, perhaps, ba followed occasionally
with advantage at some of our shows ; it required all sheep
competing to have been shorn bare within eight dsys previous
to entering the showyard. I found Mr. Robsou's Cheviots,
from Reedw^ter, which had been duly clipped aft<'r the
manner of Cheviot exhibitors, standing ditqualified, with no
prize, though they were the only reprea ntat.ves of the breed
forthcoming. I advised the shepherd in charge to clip at
least one pen in each class, and so secure the first prizes.
He had telegraphed home for iustruciions, and I was pleased
to find, on paying Ins pen a visit the lollowiug day, that
though his pets had been shorn of their imposing shapes
somewhat, they had each received iu recompense a prize of
400 francs. Mr. J. K. Fowler, of Aylesbury, wiio read a
paper on the Exhibitiou at the London Fanners' Club this
month, called my attention to some four-horned rums, which
were a cross between the Dorset ewes and a fonr-horned r«ce
indigenous in the Andes in South America. These ^pe^unel s,.
Mr. Fowler said, proved his theory that ia crossing, the male
stamped his own outward characteristics on the progeny, aud
I was agreeably surprised to be told by Mr. Fowler that he
had been chiefly induced to comraeuce his now famous experi-
ments in breeding by the perusal of a paper many years ago
which had emanated from the Newcastle Farmers' Club.

There were f586 entries of pigs. I did not observe anything
about them worthy of special cimiment, except that it was
generally observed that the French breeders of pigs would do-
well to lay hold of all the Buglish exhibits for the improve-
ment of their uative breeds.

There were no fewer than 2,374 pens of entries for poultry,,
inclusive of pigeons. Poultry keeping is one of tlie chief
soarces of income of many ol the small occupiers in certain
districts of France, especially in Normandy. The import of
eggs into this country from Fiance is said to exceed
2,000,000 for every day in the year, aud that we pay annually
to France for eggs and poultry, considerably over £2,000,000-
sterling. This is the more astonishing, seeing that eggs aud
poultry are so much more largely common objects ot daily
consumption in France than in England. But, notwithstand-
ing tbis fact, Mr. Fowler, who is perhaps the greatest English
authority on poultry, stated that the French breeds as a wiiole
were very much inferior to our English breeds in every re-
spect. I may here just venture to give it as my experience
tnat whatever may be lacking in the French fowls when in
the show pens, they are exceedingly pleasant subjects on a
French table. A novel feature in the showyard was about 400'
pens of rabbits, comprising every conceivable colour, form,
aud lengtb of ear.

Any agricultural sliow without either horses or implements
would be to some of my friends present here simply no show
at all, or at least lacking the main elements of a successful
show. The French are, hosvever, great in order, so they
consigned all the implements to their respective sections in
the Exhibition buildings in the Champ de Mars. A special
horse show was held later on in the season. In regard to the
horses iu Paris : The iiorses in the 'busses and trams did their
work well ; so much cau scarcely be said for the cibby—
they were wretchedly slow. The cart-horses have, generally
speaking, a listless sluggish eait ; it is not uncommon >o see
six while entire horaes shambling along, all attached to a load
that two horses in any of our towns would be expected to
step briskly away with. There vfevL; however, some magnifi-
cent carriage horse*, which dashed along in strikiiif; coutrasS
to the common Jehus of the sfreiH*.

THB FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

85

'• OLD-FASHIONED WINTERS."

The biittr wiuter weather which, in defiance of raeteorolo-
■ical lolk-Uire, has provided skaters with bearing ice both
«iore and alter Christmas, seems to ehow that we have got
ito a cycle of hard winters. The year his begun with
orms and floods, and 80 far promises to be liiceita immediate
redeccssois. But tlie deluges of the last few years have been
ccompauied with mild winters. List year there was a
. eneral complaint of the extreme mildness of the winter.
People said to each other that the seasons seemed to have
changed, and summer and winter to have got mixed together
to the injury ol both. Hence perhaps the impression that a
severe wiuter may indicate that the seasons liave sorted them-
selves, and will appear in succession more like their natural
selves. This com'plaint of the change of climate is a
very old one in England. A statement was published in ttie
" Annual Register " of 1793 whicli probably reproduced the
rriiiark of a century earlier, as it anticipated those of nearly a
century later. " The climate of England," said the chronicler
ol our grandfathers' days, " has of late years, in the opinion of
many, undergone considerable change. Formerly we used to
have smart frosts in winter, and hot, and sometimes
dry summers; now, for some years back, both winters and
summers have been wet." Tlie chronicler of l?93 had not to
look f^riher bsck for severe winters thin we in 1879. The
winter of 1776 was one of the coldest on record. The
Thames was fi-ozeti over ; the snow lay twenty-six days on
the house's and in tlie streets, and so constant was the frost
that the snow in the roads was not melted by sun or traffic.
The oldest housekeepers livinsr, said Gilbert White, do not
rtmember so long a frost. There was a shorter snap of great
cold iu 1784 ; but taking the twenty-fiye years over which the
writer in the " Annual Register " ot 1793 may have looked
back, we tind from Gilbert White that only eight of them had
frosty Christmases ; while fourteen ended with mild weather,
and three with alternate frost and thaw. The proportions
were nearly reversed in the first two weeks of January, which
were mild in eight of the Iweuty-five years, and fros-ty in
thirteen. Vt-ry similar results appear on looking bdck over
the last half-centnry. A few severe winters like the bitter
Cliristmas o' 1.860 and the six week's frost in 1855, stand out
in everybody's recollection ; but out ot the fifty Christmases
t lenty-seven have been mild, and it is an odd coincidence tliat
precisely tiie same number of old Christmases, as we may call
the first fortnight in January, have been frosty. la only six-
teen of the fifty years the last fortnight in December has been
severe ; in only fifteen of them has the first fortnight of
January been mild.

It is obvious therefore that the tradijonal impression that
wintry weather before Christmas indicates raiid weather afier
Christmas, tliongh the experience of this winter proves it not
to be always true, has some basis. It may possibly be true in
ordinary years, but in exceptionally mild winters or excep-
tionally cold ones it does not hold good. It is, moreover,
uuite clear whence caaie the traditional Christmas, the old-
fashioned Christmas. It is truly a tradition, and comes down
from the times, previous to the change of style in 1753, when
tlie Christmas Diy fell where Twelfth Day now stands. When
our great great grandfathers dropped eleven days out of their
lives they dropped with them the oid-iashioued Christmas.
The coldest time of year came as of old from two to three
weeks alter the shortest day ; but Christmas, which had been
a fortnight forward in the leng'iienmg day and the strength-
ening cold, as the old adage reminds us, was brought back to
within three daysof the solstice, and hence into a milder
feason. Gilbert White's observations in the last century and
the more scieniitic records now kept agree in shoeing that
there are more than three frosty Januarys tj two frosty Dec-
eraberit, and consequently three frosty Christmnses in the
olden time to t*o such Christmases now. But at no period
was Christmas always frosty. Indeed, there is no reason to
believe in any real change of our English weather. The
grumbler of 1793 only thought what every generation hag
probably thought when it was going through the ever recurr-
ing cycle ol wet and mild winters and wet and cold auraraers.
We cons'antly go through the same experience, tell one
another that winters and summers were not what they used to
be , till such a season as the present coraes to remind us that
.thing > hdvc not greatly chan^'cd , and then we congratulate

ourselves or lament, as our feelings may be, that we have at
last an "old-fashioned winter." Tiie old-fashioned winter is
in tact one which is so exceptionally severe that it is im-
pressed on individual memory, or on the general recollection,
and which recurs so rarely that each one gets almost a
legendary character before a similar experience comes round
again.

It is satisfactory in such a season as this to know that
January is the coldest mouth in the year, and that its first
fortnight is its coldest half. An exceptional winter, however,
may last till March ; and the wiuter of 1855, which set in late
in January, and one of the cold win era which succceeded itdid
so last. It may be noted, too, that cold winters seem, like
the group of stormy years we have lately been passing through,
to come together. It is (juite certain that from the time wtiea
Pharaoh's seven fat years were succeeded by seven lean years,
it has always been believed that good and bad harvests come
in groups. The three harvests preceding the last were bad ;
the, years were wet with mild winters, like those just before
1793 ; last year brdU^ht an improvement, and now that we
have a severe wiuter it is not unreasonable to hope that it may-
indicate, as tiie country folk generally believe it does, a still
further change for the better in an agricultural sense. — Daily
News.

Mr. Edmund Beckett writes to the Times: — If the writers
on our temperature will examine the Greenwich tables of it
for the last 108 years, they will find some results rather
difi'erent from what they are imagining from insulated facts.
An anonymous writer \n X\\t Enylish Mechanic oi VthrxiAVj ,
1875, gave no doubt correctly, the average monthly tempera-
tures from those tables for four periods — from 1771 to 17&9,
then to 18~9; then to 1859, and then to 187-1, and from them
he deduced a slight increase of winter heat; but he did not
take three proper months together for some reason. I foaud,
when the three proper months of each season were taken
together, the following much moie strikiuff results : — The mean
winter heat for the first of the above periods was
36-7 deg. ; for the second, 37-9 deg. ; for the third, 39.6 deg.,
or an increase of practically 3 degrees in the 75 years. The
spring temperature had also steadily increased 1.6deg, ; tlie
autumn, 13 deg. ; and the summer, 0.7 deg.

I may also remark that from the London tables of rainfall
for nearly all this century, compiled by the late Mr. George
Dynes, of Cubitt and Co., it appears that there was a steady
decrease of rain of one inch in 60 years until 12 or 14 year*
ago (for the result is the same whether you take 10 or 14 year
periods), but that in the last of such periods it has increased.
I have not the means at hand of carrying on the examination
for the last few years, but from recollection of the seasons
there cin be no doubt that both these conclusions would be
strengthened.

INTERN iTIONAL EXHIBITION OF MILLING IN-
DUSTRIES.—The Association of German Millers, which
has for its object the advancements of mill industries and the
branches of trade connected therewith, has resolved to hold an
international exhibition in June and July next, in the large
buildings of the Tivoli Brewery Company, on the Kreuxberg,at
Berlin. The exhibition is intended to comprise: — I. All
eneines and machines employed for driving mills. 3. All
ohjects necessary for the internal fittings of mills. 3. All
allied branches of industry, such as pulping, oil, sand, fulling,
colour, rice, bone, and bark mills, he.. 4. All apparatus and
machinery connected with dough ranking and baking. 5.
Lighting apparatus, telltale clocks, fireguard apparatus, fire-
engines, packing appliances, sacks, scales, weigli-bridges, wag-
gons, &c. 6. All products and results of milling, baking,
ha. 7. All sorts of grain coming under the nailers' hands.
8. Whether the macliiuery will be set in motion during the
continuance of the exhibition depends upon the amount of
support the venture may receive. All applications for further
information, and notice of intention to exhibit, must be
addressed to " The International Exhibition of the German
Millers' Association," care of Joseph J. Van deu Wyngaert,
95 Potsdamer-elrastc, Berlin.

Bi

THE FARRIER'S MAGAZINE.

THE CLYDESDALE HORSE.

We give below an abrido;ement of the excellent history
of the Clydesdale Horse, containtd in the preface to the
receutly -issued volume of the Clydesdale Stud Book.

la atteiupting to settle the hitherto vexed question of the
oridia of the Clydesdale breed of horses, we have had to con-
sider two frequently-advanced tiieories : — the first, that the
breed is tiie result o'" a cross between the native Scotch mares
and some Flemish stallions imported into this c )untry by one
of the Dukes of llamiltou more than two centuries ago ; the
second, that it is a " tnixed " or rande breed, the reward of
careful attention in the selecting and mating the best animals
by the farmers in the Vadey of the Clyde. The first theory is
the more popular one ; but unfortunately tliere are no records
existing as to the inlrududioa of the flemish horses men-
tioned; and, as it is found on irquiry to be totally unsup-
ported by local tradition it is not so readily acceptable.

One of our most noted authorities on the agriculture of the
"VVe-t ot Scotland, Aiton of Strathaven, writing in the year
]810 : — " Que ot tlie ancestorn ot the present Duke of Hamil-
ton is said to have imported from Flanders, about the middle
of the 17th century, six fine black stallions which he kept at
Strathaven Castle for the use of his tenmts and vassals.
Tliese are said to have gre:»tly improved th« breed of horses ia
tiie county of Lanark." In a footnote to the foregoing Mr.
Alton adds:— I have lived many years at Strathaven, where
these horses are said to have been kept, and rande all possible
inquiry into the fact, but no person in that part ever heard
of such st-^llions till they read cincerning them in some of
the statistical accounts of other parishes or similar publica-
tions. I am confident that such large horses as they are
represented to have bten would not, when coupled with the
diminutive mares theu in that quarter, have rais-d an im-
proved, but rattier an unshapely and unlieUthy breed. It
must liave Ireeu better feeding and treatment that improved
tlie breed anywhere." Alton's "Report on Ayrshire,"
1810.)

After quoting from the Rev. David Ure the history pro
ceeds : Taken in conjuuction with tlie evidence of Alton, the
above testimony goes far to prove that the Clydesdale breed
of horses, if not originated, was at least brought to a high
state of perfection in the Upper Ward of Lanarkshire. This,
too, is in accordance with tlie traditions of several ot the
oldest farmers of the West of Scotland, many of whom there
are still living who recollect their visits td Lanark in August
for the purpose of purchasing Clydesdale col's.

How or when the Upper Ward of Lanarkshire became
noted for its breed of draught horses statistical history gives
us no reliable information. Ure's report, even if tiken
against the valuable testimony of Aiton, seems to infer that
the farmers in that part of the county were more careful in
preserving the strain of Flemish blood introduced by the "six
black stallion?." The traditions of the Upper Ward do not,
however, bear out this in any way, though, curiously enough,
one which is so well supported as to be thoroughly reliable
ascribes the origin to the introduction of a Flemish horse. It
is to the following effect : —

Some time between 1715 and 1720, John Paterson, of
Lochlyoch, on the estate snd in the. parish of Carmichael,
grandson of one John Paterson, who died at Lochlyoch in
168-2, went to England and brought from thence a Flemish
fctallion, which is said to have so grtat'y improved the breed in
the Upper Ward as to have made them noted all over Scot-
land. The Lochlyoch rcares were famous in the Upper
Ward during the latter half of the last and the first two de.
cades of the present century ; and a Mrs. Paterson, of Loch-
lyoch, mother of the present tenant of Drumalbin, now 'J7
years of age, still has recollection of a noted black mare from
which many of the best stock in the Upper Ward are des-
cended.

What were the diitinguishing features of the native brep_d
previous to the introduction of the Fiemith horse, about 1715
cannot now be definitely determined ; but there can be little
doubt that they were mostly of English origin, and of a mixed,
character.

The Lochlyoch mares were generally browns and blackx,
with white laces and a little white on their legs ; they liad
grey hairs in thrir tails, occasional grey hairs over their
Uolics, and invariably a white spot on thiir beily, this laitcr

being recognised as a mark of distinct parity of blood. The
mares died out at Lochlyoch about thirty years ago.

The Lochlyoch stock having been long noted in the Upper
Ward and largely drawn upon by breeders, there is no doubt
that to them, or, more correctly, to the black horse of 1715,
the Clydesdale horse owes its present distinctive character.

Anotlier horse wliich is said to have greatly improved the
breed in the Upper Ward was one '" Blaze," so called from a
white mark on his face. He was purchased by a Mr. Scott,
of Brownhill, Carstairs, as a two-year old colt, in Ayrshire,
about the year 1780. He was taken to Edinburgh when
tour years old to a Show lield in the Grass Market there, and'
was successful in gaining First Prize.

More modern than the Lochlyoch and Brownhill Clydesdales
(the former as the most noted breed in the Upper Ward of
Lanarkshire during the past ceuturj, and, considering the
strong tradition as tb its origin, the fountain-head of the
present famous Clydesdale breed) were those of Lnrnpit-i, in
the parish of Carnwath. This breed, which was tlie most
noted at the commencement of the present century, circum-
stanres go far to prove was au offshoot of the Lochlyoch
stock. At any rate, at the displenishing sale of the stock of
Mr. Thomas Clarkson, of Shotts Hill Mill, parish of Carstairs,
Lanarkshire, in the year 1808, Mr. Somerville, of Limpits
Farm, purchased a two years old fidy with which he founded
his stud. This filly was the mother of " Glanc'r " (336),
" Thompson's Black Horse," from which all the best and most,
noted horses of the present day are descended. Mr. Clirkson,
who br^d the filly, had acquired considerable reputation in the
Upper Ward as a breeder; and being a nephew of the theu
tenant of Lochlyoch (who, indeed, was trustee on thee^t ite at
the time of sale), there is every rc;ison to believe that the
Shotts Hill stock was related to that of Lochlyocli, breed otf
the Flemish stallion brought from England.

About ten or twelve years after its coraraencemeut, the
Highland Society (now the Highland and Agrieullnral)
wliich had been (ormed in the year ITSi for the purpose of
improving the agricultural condition of the Highlands, begtin
to take an interest in the improvement of tlie breed of horses,
and preniiuius were offered in the different districts within the
sphere of the Society's operations for stallions, mares, colts,
and fillies.

In 1827 a new epoch iu the history of Clydesdale breeding
was inaugurated by tiie Highland Soci;-ty liolding its first
open show at Glasgow lor horses, when a prize of tea
sovereigns was awarded to a mare aged six years belonging to
Mr. Jol:n Cairns, Nether House. This mare's sire was a
horse named the " Brown Glancer," belonging to Mr. Thomp-
son of Genmston, and so called to distinguish him from his
more noted compeer " the B auk Uorse." At this Show, Mr.
James Frame, of Broorafield, made his first mark in the
Society's annals by securing Second Prize f^r the dam of
'• Glancer 11." (337), and First Prize for the best three-year
old filly. Tlie Premium for the best colt v/as on that occa-
sion won by '' Sovereign" (811), the property of Mr. John
Brown, Kirkmuir, and got by " F'armer's Fancy," a noted s-ou
of Thompson's black horse, "Glancer." There are lew horses
in the present volume which can be traced back directly to
"Sovereign," though he bred well ; and Mr. Peter Crawford,
the veteran tenant of Dumsoiack, received from the late Lord
BeUiHveu, acting on behalf of His Majesty King Geurge the
F'ourth, £1(10 tor a colt by him, which was subsequently pre-
sented by His Majesty to the Grand Turk. Though inter-
esting, the Show was not considered by judges to have been
a very satisfactory on, as they withheld iJie Second Prize for
colts owing to want of merit.

About the commencement of the present century Mr. Frame
occupied the farm of Broomfield, wliich is situated on the
banks of the Clyde near the town of Hamilton. A man of
more than average intelligence, he fanned liis laud lo an ex-
tent which was then considered very liberal, and so acquired
some note as an agriculturist. A capital judge of iiorses, it
was natural that his enthusiasm should take a stroug bent in
that direction ; and consequently it is as tlie breeder of
Clydesdales that he is best known. The same broad spirit
characterized his breeding as his other farmiag operations ;
and so, when the Highland Society made a rule that all
horses entered for competition should be either " black bays-
or brown bays," he set liimself to the fulfilment af the neM»
conditions by castrating all cults which hnppened to he of
other colours. Bciag tlic lending ttulliou-owuer of the day,

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

85

Ke may be taid to liave created the fashion wlii;li now exists
for hays and broivns, wliile at the fame time checking the re-
production of grey^, which were then verv common.

Scarcely less entlniiisstic was the hste William Ful'on, who
occupied the farm of Sprou'stoii, near the border:* oi lleafrew-
shire and Ayrshire, and wlm died about the year 1850.

In recent years the Clydesdales of Kirkcudbriglit and
Wigtown have attained an enviable reputation, and a retro-
spective glance at their liistory cannot fail to be interesting.
Mnny have been of opinion that the Gilloway breed of Clydes-
dales formed a distinct branch from that o! Lanarkshire ; but
this is a mistake, and can only have arisen in the minds of
those ignorant of their history, as they are all connected with
the Clydesdales of the Upper Ward. About llie commence-
ment of this centnrv Galloway farmers purchased largely at
Linark fair ; and their soil being e(inally favourable, is not
superior for breeding purposes, to the rich haughs on the
Clydeside, several of them acquired a reputaiioa for the
slreugli and quality of their stock.

About 45 years ago the la'e Sir James Dilrym-ile Hay, of
Duurasit, who farmed extensive!*, had a superior breed of
grey mares, which, it wan generally understood, were bred off
a strain ot L'^nark-hire blood. Mr. Wldte of Biiyett, jVli
Anderson of Drunore, and Mr. Agnew of Balsallock, had
horses ofthe same strain, and the dam ot " Thane of Glamis"
(855) and some ofthe Milmain mares are descended from this
stock.

It was not, however, till the late Mr. Robert Anderson, of
Drumore, Wigtowa>hire, commenced breeding that the Qii-
ioways accinired that reputation for Clydesdales which at this
moment is so very high.

Not less noted than the Clydesdales of Galloway and the
western counties ire those of the peninsula of Kintyre — the
rxliest and best tultivated portion of )the extensive county of
Argyll. Tlie Kintyre land is well adapted for ihe rearing of
Clydesdales; the pasture is ricli, and the soil favourable for
the growth of bone and the development of hoof; while the
Climate is healthy though more moist than that on the east
side ofthe Firth. jNotwithstanding that it is swept from side
to side by the fierce Atlantic gales, the young Clyd'^slale
stock on Kintyre thrives well, and, what is of more importance
to buyers, improve on being " transplanted."

Like the Galloway and other noted strain 8 of Clydesdale
blood, that of Kintyre has a history, wliich, like the others,
has its origin in the Upper Ward of Lanarkshire. Up to a
comparatively recent date the estates of Lee and Largie, in
the Upper Ward of Lanarkshire and Kintyre respectively,
were in the possession of the same proprietor, the late Sir
Charles Lockhart, who took aa active interest in the pro-
mo'ion of agriculture, and particularly the improvement of
horses.

Another line of stock originating from a d fferent strain to
'the black horse, though also finding its source in the Upper
Ward of Lanarkshire, is that to be found in the family table.
(Stud Euok).

" Old Stitcher," which heads the tree, was bred by the late
Mijor Millar, of Dulswinton, Dumfries, and was said by some
to have been out of an Englistingricnltural mare. The late Mr.
Mair, of Sornfallow, Lanarkshire, purchased him and ^old hin
afterwards to Mr. E lis, factor to Sir James Graham of
Netherby, on whose estates for a number of years he success-
fully served mares, his stock turninsr out very well. He was
a bright bay with a small white stripe on his face and a white
hind foot. Those who recollect him say he was perfect in all
his shapes, moved well, and was possessed of a nice mild
temper.

Of a totally different strain of blood to that of the B-oom-
field horses were the "Comets" of Mr. Wilson of Durn,
Banffshire, now residing at L="ithenhall, Wamphrey, whose
enthusiasm in breeding greatly tended towards improving the
draught-horses of tlie north. On a reference to the genea
logical table, the desc?ut of this stock wili be seen to have
been from a horse named " Briton," when the property of the
late Mr. f ultou of Sproulstou, but which has been identified
as the same animal with "Northumberland" (571), well
known on the Tweedside border, where he travelled many
years as " CuUey's Brown Horse.''

An exceedingly fashiouable strain of blood at the present
da*e is that of which the oldest noted horse was " Old Clyde"
(oT-l), sometimes known as " Clyde Boy," bred by Mr. Georse
Scott, Barr, Lirgs, Ayrshire, about the psJigree of which

there is some little dispute. His breeder savs his dam was
served by two horses — one named " Scotsman " (75i), a little
brown horse bred in the Lanark district, the other an unnamed,
two-year old colt. Breeders generally have agreed that
'Scotsman," which, as tlie property of Mr. Thomas Young,
Stewarton, travelled in the Cunningham district of Ayrshire,
was the sire.

THE WHEAT CROP OF 1878.

Mr. Thomas C. Scott writes to the Times: — The nnmerous
returns, 394- in number, collected hy \\\t Marie Lane Express
ofthe actual and estimated yield of last year's Wheat crop
and published in its columns on the 6tli inst., appear to me to
afford the best data that have yet been obtained for forming
an approximate estimate of the aggregate produce of the coun-
try. Seventy-nine o' these returns report a crop over an average
and 122 under ; this gives a balance of 43 under an average, and,
taken in relation to the 3'J-t returns obtained, is equal to 18
per cent., or 3 3-10 bushels under an average crop of 30
bushels, leaving a product of 26 7-10 bushels per acre.

The area returned as under Wheat in tlie Unit-^d Kingdom
in 1878 was 3,3S2,0J0, and the aggregate, product a», say 37
bushels an acre, would thus amount to ] l,tl3,250 qnarters,
or, in round numbers, 11| million quarters. Deducting
1,000,000 quarters for seed, this leaves 10| million q'jarters
for consumption. Taking it at the old standard rate of 5^
bushels per head per aEnum for a population of 3i,000,OJU
gives 23^ million quarters.

Labour, both in town and country, is at present extensively
unemployed and indiff.^rently remunerated ; but this circum-
stance will not diminish the consumption of the cheapest of
all food, wheatea bread, all hough it may lessen that ot dear
animal food. Our foreign requirements for the cereal year
1878-9, will, therefore, be 13 million quarters, nearly equal to
the largest importation we have ever had. This immense
foreign requirement would in bygone years have enhanced the
price of home grown Wiieat, but now it has no such effect ;
for the average price of wheat at the present time is lower
than it has been during this ceutuy — namely, 39s. a quarter.
Taking it 40s. a quarter, the English product will only realize
£21,000,000— equal to £6 5s. per acre on the area under this
crop. Deducting the cost of production and marketing, very
little, if anything, will remain for the cultiratois' remunera-
tion. This, though a bad look out for them, is undoubtedly
a boon to the consuming million. Taking our foreign re-
quirements at the same rate, the cost will be £26,000,000,
and last year the same quantity wou'd have cost £31<,500,000.
The aggregate saving, then, to the cotisummg public in the
cost of wheat, will this year bs £15,275,000 over that of last,
partly at the expense of the home grower and partly at that
of the foreigner. The small residue, if auy, which will be left
to the latter appears a very inadeq'iate inducement to con-
tinviK tlie cultivation of wheat, ant it is only the anicipatioii
of better prices than can induce the area to lie extended.

I may add that, from my observations before and iutorma-
tion since harvest, f concur in the result the above ligures
have worked out.

Mr. Arthur H. Savory, of Adlington Manor, Evesham writes :
In Mr. Scott's letter on this euliject in the Thiies of January
14, he says-.— Taking tfia price of wheat at 40s. a quarter,
the English product will only realise £21,000,000, .qiialto£fJ
5s. per acre on the area under this crop. Deducting the cost
of production and marketing, very little, if anytliing, will re-
miin for the cultivator's remuneration." The following figures
will, 1 think, prove that, so far from anything remaining for the
cultivator's profit, the balance is grievously on the wrong side.
Cost of an acre of wheat in 1S78 : — Ten loads of manure, at
79. 6d. per load carted on to the land, £3 15s. ; spreading
ditto, 2s. ; ploughing, ffiiir horses at 3s. 6d. per diem, 14s. ;
2;^ bushels of seed at 6s., Ljs. 6d. ; drilling, 23., and two
liarrowings at Is. 6d., 5s. ; rolling. Is. ; hoeing and weeding,
4s.; cutting, tyiu?, and stooking, 12s. ; carting and stacking,
6s. 6d.; thatching (including straw). Is. 6d. ; thrashing,
10s. 6d. ; winuowing. Is. ; cartage to market. Is. 6d. ; pro-
portion of sundry expenses, 3s. ; rent, rates, tithes, and taxep,
£2 5s. ; interest on capital, £13 per acre, at 5 per cent., 12s.
— total, £10 73. 6d. ; deduct mauurial value of straw, 1^ ton,
at 128. 6d., ISs. 6d.; produce in quarters (four), £9 12s,;
Let coit per quarter, £2 Ss.

86

TflE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

I bplicvp thpse fi^nrps cauiiot lip found fault witli as one-
sided, nnd 1 believe that on the average, from fair, ordinary
wheat-land, at a rental, includiufj rates, tiMies, and taxes of
45s. per acre, the average yield would be not more than four
quarters.

Should the price of wheat remain at the average of t,he last
three montlis until the remainder of the season's crop is sold
out, adopting Mr. Scott's estimate of 11^ million quarters as
tlie home grovpth of last year, the loss entailed upon the
British grower will be not less than £4',G00,OU0 ; and should
40s. per quarter appear likely to he a ruling price in future
years we cannot fail at ouoe to witness a gigantic tall in the
rents of tlie arable iand of this country, alTec ing the whole of
the la. id under a rotation iu which wheat occurs, or a total of
some l-t million acres.

The question that should now most seriously agitate the
minds of the landowners and occupiers of this country must
be. Does the present price of wlieat leave a profil to the
Aniprican grower, and will he continue to produce it at that
price ? Upon this point it is most important that we should
have some reliable information, which come of your readers
are, doubtless, able to supply.

FAEM TENANTS AND COVENANTS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MARK LANE EXPRESS.

Sir, — Before prtceeding to the main object of this
letter, let me advert to two particulars.

Your correspondent, Mr. T. Robertson, has to go all
the way to King John to bring back a very far-fetched
argument. I am not disposed to be quite so archfcolo-
gical. What John usurped was the common aud the
heath. "What the squire lets is the enclosed, drained,
iedged, ditched, manured, and weeded field. What is it
to the tenant whether he pays the same rent to one man
a squire, or another an out-going tenant ? ^I\ positioa
is that rent, to whomsoever paid, is merely the interest,
and a vei-y poor one, on the capital sum in labour or
wages spent to bring the land to the condition in which
the teuant enters on it. Would it be any less or more
than rent, whether paid to one man or to another ? Your
own columns {par parenthese) exhibit an apt illustration
of my position. Farmers in Canada and the United
States find it better and cheaper to pay rent for cleared
land than to buy a Quarter Section next door, unre-
claimed, at 49. an acre in fee simple. Emigrants who
are oftered a lot as a gift, on condition of settling on it,
eannot muster the £40 necessary to put up their shanty,
having no landlord to do it for them. As to the Suther-
land charances — that pet grievance of Celtic gaseous
patriots — they are wholly irrelevant to the subject, and it
is only a pity theie are not more of them. The holdings
only bribed a lot of idle caterans to vegetate in rags on
the borders of perpetual starvation. Their removal at
the Earl of Sutherland's sole cost to comfortable cottages
on a sea-coa?t teeming with fi&h, and a fertile soil, where
they have all thriveu and become civilised, was bei^g
"cruel to be kind." The same clearances now supjiort
many more persons in decent con)fort than left them in
hungry barbarism. If (Gaelic could be forgotten, and all
Celts enabled to speak English, it would greatly improve
their prospects in life.

Cockney economists, who know little of rural affairs,
are pleased to say that land is held or purchased, not with
a view to profit, but to increase the consequence of its
owners. I* it necessary to notice such trash ? Can
squires or lords live on nothing ? If not reii*^, then what
else is to maintain them? Amateur landlords — is not
the idea as ridiculous as the '■ neighing of all Tatter-
sail's?" Consequence with nn income! Where would
that be in Mauunou-worshipping Eaiiland ?

In entering on the eiainiuation of the question of lease-
roveuants, let me whisper a word in the ear of the far-
mers. I have read and heard of expressions let loose iu

print and speech by decent and law-abiding Triptolemuses
not easily distinguishable from the wild anarchy of the
sans culotterie of the French Revohitiou. Let them keep
in mind that Joseph Arch is behind them with his nation-
alising of the land, compulsory fixity of tenure, abolition
of tithes, forcible subdivisions of the soil, and other
" Russell Purges." Caliban moes and chatters out of his
Union Club —

" The island's mine by Sycorax my mother,
Which thou tak'st from me."
Let " Farmer Flamborough" beware lest he raise a devil
he cannot lay. Jack Cade will not stop at the squire,
i should his tenant help him so far on the way to confisca-
tion. I am a Radical of the old Westminster Review
school, but I do not hesitate to maintain that Mr. Glad-
stone's Irish Land measures amounted to virtual revolu-
tion— most certainly to practical spoliation. Have they
satisfied those to whose clamours the sacrifice was made ?
They have only whetted the appetite for breaking down
the distinctions betwixt meum et tmtni, and there are
ominous mutterings of a movement to import the Land
Laws of Ireland to this the neighbouring island. House-
hold suffrage has already enabled Home Rule to rear its
hideous front in our towns. Extended to the counties,
Arch's mob, conspiring with the Fer.ian contingent to be
found in every English centre, could outvote landlord,
tenant, and all their following, at least three-fold.

Has it ever occurred to reflecting statesmanship that an
order of landed nobility and squirearchy remains in this
country alone ? What is there between the Sultan and
the people in Turkey — what between the Rajah and the
mass in India — what between the mandarins, the mere
creatures of the Emperor, and the 450 millions of China ?
In Spain, Portugal, Italy, an aristocracy has practically
disappeared. In France the Noblesse had as a political
quotient virtually been suppressed by the Court, the chief
ambition of the greatest peer being to air the king's shirt
at the morning's levee, or to prostrate himself before his
reigning concubine. Here the order of landowners is a
power in the State, dividing authority anl government
with the Crown, standing betweea the Sovereign and the
people, giving stability to society, and by its independence
equally upon Court and subjects, rebuking official corrup-
tion and curbing democracy. It is by the elimination of
that order from Continental and Eastern States that
misrule has brought them to eft'eteness or revolution.
Even in the United States, where a landed order never
prevailed, the cry of Nullification was raised mauy times,
a deadly civil war ruined the South, sacrificed' two
millions of lives and a thousand millions of money. At
the late Presidential Election the republic again rubbed
shoulders with revolution, and the ominous cry of com-
munism grows daily more general. A hereditary or
priraogenital landed order has, therefore, something to say
for itself. The Italian republics demonstrated that a mere
merchant oligarchy is about the vilest constitutional
system that statecraft could devise.

Game laws moan the preservation of vermin that con-
sume crops. Look at any newspaper ; many columus of
every one are taken up with field-s])i)rts. Our people
are essentially gymnastic, fond of physical adventure,
instinctive athletes. Hunting, deer-stalking, shooting,
do away with these, and the training as well as the ta-itea
that impart intrepidity to our soldiers and sailors, might
they not be lost to the service of the State? Our
poachers are our best rifleraca. Of course the abolition
of game laws implies the entire disa[)pearance of game,
and those inducements to physical adventure, without
which our fighting power may cease to be
The cheap defence of nations.
I make these suggestioas merely to mark that ganre
laws are not without their rationale. Nevertheless I am

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

-satisfied that every tenant should have full power over the
vermin of the land he tills. Indeed, as gniiie from
one farm may feed ou the crops of another, I
ara afraid I inusi aduiit the time has arrived when game-
preserving must come to an end.

No man who understands anything of farming can
surely doubt that some restrictions ought to he imposed
on the tenant's mode of culture. If, as your own columns
attest, proper tiiisf;e requires an outlay of, say £10 per
acre, it is very clear that, to let land without the obliga-
tion of conditions is just to charter the tenant to take
£1,000 out of a hundred acre farm. Is it in the interest of
anybody that the soil should be allowed to become foul —
that the component elements of cereals should be ex-
hausted by over-cropping — that pasture should be en-
tirely stripped of milk-producing qualities, as occurred in
Cheshire, by continual grazing by milch cows without
restoring caseine by bone-dust and other manures ? As
I have es plained rent is really interest on the capital
spent in raising land to the state of a profitable instrument
of reprodnction. Surely it cannot be reasonable to give
a tenant leave to destroy the letting value of his holding !
Ought not the coveoiints of leases to be left to the volun-
tary atireement of kssor and lessee ? Is not the inter-
position of the law virtual confiscation ? Has not that
been the practical result in Ireland ? In valuations and
compensations landlords, often poorer than their tenants,
always are made to experience the effect of Pistol's senti-

tjnent —

Base is the slave that pays.

The landlord is sure to be made the Dives of the parable,
and the tenant the Lazarus — while referees are aye ready to
be generous out of other people's pockets. It is notorious j
that in Ireland compensation has been frequently awarded
to an amount greater than the fee simple of the land.
Import the Paddy system here, and in the owners self-
defence, tenancy will cease. The laws of distress and of
hypothec are denounced. Let these be abolished, and small
holdings, as also tenants of moderate means must alto-
gether disappear. The owner would see the crops and
stock raised on his own land sold under his nose to pay
strange creditors, who never should have given credit,
while he go?s cheated out of his rent. The grocer may
seize the dung heap, and the butcher the straw, under a
prior judgment — nay, a collusive bill of sale may be granted
by the tenant on entering on the lease, so as to defy the
squire, and everybody else. Would such a state of the
law benefit agriculture ? It distress is to cease, how about
tithe and Land Tax? The owner would, perhaps, pro-
tect himself by requiring security, or stipulating that
rent should be paid in advance — or, easier still, take
the tenant's promissory note payable at sight, so as
to enable him at once to recover judgment. But such a
state of matters would drive all farmers of limited means
or responsibility out of the field — it would throw owners
into the hands, and place them at the mercy, of men of
capital, who would get the land at their own price — and at
last land letting would cease altogether, the owners be-
coming thecullivatora as under Stein's and Hardenberg's
policy, in Germany ; or, perhaps, the metayer system of
Italy would be introduced. Unless the Legislature delibe-
rately entered upon a policy of virtual confiscation, fatal
to the very palladium of civil society, the inviolability of
private property, I cannot see how the abolition of distress
for rent would work. Landlords would insist on such
arrangements as would be more injurious to the tenant
than the present law — which it must not be forgotten
is often a protection to the tenant against execution by
other creditors.

I cannot for my own part see how either landlord or
tenant should rest satisfied with anything less than a

19 or 20 years' lease. For myself I could not expect any
man to lay money, skill, and work out on my property
without complete sceurity for a reasonable return, and as
a tenant I could have no heart to go ou with the cultiva-
tion of a farm of which my tenure was precarious and
uncertain.

I am, indeed, inclined to go much farther than
that. Show me how absolute fixity of tenure— a lease ia
perpetuity, at an adequate rent — can be eff'ected, con-
sistently with complete security to the ground landlord
that the soil will always be so cultivated that its value
will never fall below what will sustain the covenanted
ground-rent, and I have no hesitation in declaring ray
conviction that that is the wisest arrangement for both
parties, and the best way of promoting the progress of
agriculture. A nomadic tenantry, a fluctuating farmer
class, if not a positive evii,is yet confessedly infinitely less
to be preferred than any order of cultivators'having a^?/nw
or qualified ownership in the land they till, and bound to
the same farm for generations by a tenure atmost as per-
manent as that of the landlord himself. The 99 years
lease might be sold at a premium to cover the contin-
gency of dilapidations, or sutficient buildings, drains,
roads, and other " improvements " might be executed by
the lessee to compensate for any probable deterioration
from inferior eulture. Society has outgrown or o t-
thought the feudal spirit. Land is fast becoming a mere
commercial commodity, and the only relation between
owner and tenant is that of buyer and seller, or locator
and locatee. When that household suffrage extends to
the counties which will make the Arches and Simmonses
supreme, and leave squire and farmer nowhere, these
latter classes, like their congeners in "the model
republic" will, I greatly fear, cease to struggle for a posi-
tion they will be no longer able to keep, and will retire
from politics, and, too probably, from the magistracy.
The accepted logic of representative liberators is that
Hodge at Braintree must have a vote, because Darby in
Colchester has one. That proposition, if it be enforced,
cannot stop at Great Britain. H will return 10.3 Fenians
for Ireland, and the Home Rule party in every British
town and village will combine with the Democracy to en-
force their agrarian views. What is there to elfVctually
resist them ? The Emperor of the French wo/c/cf have
universal suffrage; where is he or his empire? Ttie
King of Spain is at the top of a plehisnte; it has
attempted his life, and a revolution. The King of Italv
is all for an extended suftVage, and has just escaped assas-
sination, besides having to change his ministers once a year.
The Emperor of Germany has proclaimed universal sulf-
rage— >he has been shot- -and the party of Communistic
revolution has almost over-mastered his government in
Parliament, while Bismarck has betaken himself to such
measures of repression as are very likely to end in what
the Duke of Wellington called " a revolution in due course
of law." Even in Russia, nihilism threatens the eicauci-
patiog Czar. Fortune they say makes us acquainted with
strauge bed-fellows. Who would have thought that the
late Earl of Derby would have one fine morning "takon"a
leap inthedark, with theBritish Constitution in his breeches
pocket ; and that the leader of the Conservative partv,
and Prime Minister of the Tory Government, would make
it the boast of his statesmanship that he has " dished the
Whigs," and made Demos supreme. The Agricultural
Unionists leave nobody any room to doubt what they
would be at. If they attain to prevailing legislative
power they are deliberately pledged to turn society upside
down, whenever that political millennium shall have arrived
« hen " Jack shall beas good as his roaster." As there are at
hast ten Jacks to every one master, let squire and farmer
very clearly understand that whea the period shall have
arrived for the gnat State quack to administer his con-

S3

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

stitutional bolus lo tlie nounties, they theinselres will be
of no more account than

" A prologue to an epsr and butter."
I am, Sir, &c.,

SroNEY Smith.
Tiie Manor, Felthom, Jan. H.

FAT CATTLE SHOWS.

The qupstion as to the ages wiiea animals should be ineli.
gible to compete for prizi>s at fst cattle shows has been venti-
lated at a quarterly rapeiins; of the Galashiels Farmers' Clnb.
It was introduced by Mr. Thomas S^an, live stock salesman,
of Edinburgh, who read a paper offering suggestions for in-
creasing the utility of such shows. He contended that tlie
lessons to be derived from the great exhibitions of breeding
stock, which bring together tlie best specimens of every pure
breed, and which have for their ultimate aim the protection
of meal-, would be incomplete if they were not supplemented by
exhibitions of fat stock. The former present to breeders the
different varieties of stock adapted to their respective require-
ments, and the latter should afford to farmers generally
instruction concerning the value of the respective breeds, and
the results of crossing them for the batcher. He, therefore,
assumed that one is esspntial to the other, not only in an
•educational sense, hut also as a direct means of demonstrating
to what a pitch of perfection animals may be brought, and
what kinds of cattle and sheep are likely to be most proRtable
for feeding. The professed object of the managers of some
of the principal fat stock shows was to encourage early
maturity and profitable as distinguished from excessive feeding,
which adequately indicated what should be the rationale of
their operations. From the reports which had appeared, how.
ever, the Christmas fat stock sliows recently held were remark-
able for the number of animals present which had gained
prizes in previous years. One, for instance, whic^h was first at
Birmingham was not only first at London in 1876, but won
the champion prizes at Norwich and Hull in lb77; while
another which won first honourshere was first at Edinburgh in
1876, and second at London in 1877. Lord Lovat's cele-
brated cross-bred os, the champion prize taker at Bingley
Hall in 1878, was first at Edinburgh in 1S7G, second at
Birmingham the same year, first, and winner of £40 as the
best cross-bred beast, at London in 1877, champion at New-
cattle and first at Edinburgh in 1878. igain, a Hereford,
which wasjfirst in its class at Birmingham in 1878, was
champion of the breed at London in the previous year. Thus
winners of five first prizes in 1876 and 1877 were again
successful in 1878, besides nearly monopolising the special
•prizes. In London, the champion at Birmingliam and Oakham
the previous >ear took a similar position in 1878 ; a High-
land ox , which T.-as first at Aberdeen and Birmingham in 1877
took a first prize ; a polled bullock, which was first in its class
at Edinburgh in 1877 took a second prize; and an animal
which was first in the class for Scotch cows or heifers at
Newcastle, in 1877, apaiu obtained first honours; while, as
if to show the risky nature of such continuous feeding, a first
prize-winner among the younger crossbred class, in 1S77, was
only commended ; and a heifer, first at the meeting of the
Highland Society in 1877, and fi-st also at Birmingham the
«arae year, received her deserts in a "commended" ticket.
Here, likewise, was the £157 lOs. heifer of the previous year.
Denied the championship on that occasion, she without difii-
culty gained for her spirited purcliasers the trophy at Aberdeen,
to secure which the purchase was made. In the opinion of
Mr. Swan she was one of the best types of lier breed ever teen ;
and in the previous year was the reserve number for the blue
ribbon of the Smithfield Show, where she took a £20 prize,
but made less tiian half lier cost price, including keep, when sold
for consumption. He had partially analysed theaccounts of two
leading shows of fat stock — namely Birmingham and London —
in order to prove that, in place of early maturity and proficable
but not exce'isive feeding, tiie principal premiums were
awarded to animals which are now as nearly as possible un
saleable. For several years (he added) there has been a
gradual but sure fiUing-otf in the demand for overfed animals
which had cnlminated last year. From his own experience,
and from letters before him from London, Liverpool, Hull,
York, and Newcastle, it was evident tliat this kind of stock
could not be turned into money, except at a price which was

1 scarcely equivalent to that obtainable for the seciond or thirl
[ qualities of ordinary stock, owing to the waste in them, and
I tlie difficulty of g(tti!ig consumers to take them. Mr. Swan
admitted that the evil of which he expUiued would cure itself
to a certain extent ; but he urged that some restrictions should
be placed upon age, or upon animals which had been exhibited
in previous years. The knowledge that these would again be
brought forward kept away persons v/lio would otherwise
exhibit. Ilowevpr interesting it might be to note the pro-
gress made during the interval, the actual achievement of
winning a prize with a beast four-year-old, winch had taken
honours at the age of three-years, was not in his estimation,
so great, after all. He thought that no prizes should be given
at fat stock shows to cattle four years old, except in classes for
cows or West Highlanders ; the latter requiring greater age to
come to maturity. A show animal was of most value per
stone under three years old, and generally speaking, it was,
even though heavier not worth much more money the
succepding year. Lord Lovai's champion, which might be
regarded as one of the coinpletest specimens of a cross-bred
ox met wifn for many years, when sent to London in 1877,
had gained 4cwt. live weight from its Edinburgh weight in
1876, and from 1877 te bping eshibitpd last year had gained
only 3 cwt. ; or between 1876 and 1878 in weight of beef,
allowing 70 lb. to the 112 gross, 490 lb., representing a money
value for two years' keep siy of £15; while a moderate
estimate for keeping such an animal for exhibition, not in--
cltidinz expenses, v/ould be, for the same period, £3 per month,
or £72 ; so that, unless an animal is exceptionally successful
in the prize list, he gets of less value the older he becomes. .
Unless in the hands of the breeder, who is entitled to the
greater credit, he would prohibit all fat animals being exhibited
more than one year, except as extra stack, the breeder who
held his own, and showed it in the young class one year,
being permitted to cirry it on himself only till llie succeeding
year. In the brief discussion which ensued, the speakers con-
curred in thinking that the suggpstioas made in the paper
were worthy the consideration of managers of fat stock shows.
— Midland Counties Herald.

MR. FORSTER ON "RECIPROCITY."— In reply to a
question as to the policy of Protection or Free Trade, Mr.
Forster said, at Bradford recently, " I am quite aware that
there is very great interest in this question of Free Trade and
Protection, or what a Tory peer called reciprocity, " Protection
under a fancy dress." It would take me some time to go into
the question. In the first place, 1 believe that reciprocity, as
it is called, would not help our trade. I am a bad tradesmaa
myself, and 1 do not object to state that I should be very glad
to have my own trade helped ; but by adopting reciprocity I
do not think that we shall increase our customers either abroad
or at home. After all, it is our own customers we have to
consider. As regards foreign customers adopting reciprocity
duties that would not help ns. I think it would enormously
encourage the enemies of Free Trade throughout Europe. I
think a war of tariffs, or the fear of it, would endanger " the
favoured nation clause." But I hsve another reason why I
feel perfectly sure that it will notbeagain. Now, really I
hear a good deal of talk in Bradford, and see a good many
letters in the newspapers of this district, in favoar of reciprocity
But they all seem to go on this mist iken supposition, that we
could monopolise mouopolres ; that we could persuade the
House of Commons merely to put duties upon the goods that
cjine here or compete with our market. If there was any real
notion of it being carried everybody woufd be crying out for
reciprocity — that is, for lipavier duties — and, above all, pro-
ducers of food would be crying out. Well the distress is very
hard to bear, but how much harder would it be to bear if bread
was dear? Just let ine conclude by quoting what one of the
strongest Tories in the House of Commons (Mr. Clare Sewell
Read) said the other day while canvassing — and by-the-bye I
hope he won't succeed. The hon. gentleman advised farmers
not to beguiled by theory which liad been raised of reciprocity.
" Let them not suppose that the people of this country would
ever allow tlu-ir food to oe taxed, and as thii coulj not be
allowed, neitlier could manufacturers expect to be protected."
Now, there is the real answer to the whole affair. You can-
not get it becsuse the farmers won't let you have it, and if
they did it would be at a tremendous cost, by their geltina the
protection of their produce and raising tho price of food."

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

S9

AN IMPORTANT DECISION.

TO THE EDITOIt Of THE ir.VIUv LANE EXPRESS.

Sir, — I enclose a case recently decided at the Court
of Queen's Bench, that may have escaped your notice, but
which I think of j;reat importauce to purchasers of live
stock in au open market or fair. I had a narrow escape
of being the purchaser of the said sheep, and having been
a witness at the trial at Maidstone, I have been much
interested as to how the decision would end.

If it had been decided the other way it would amount
to ownership having to be proved in all our large fairs and
markets before buyers would feel safe to part with their
money.

I am, Sir, &c.,

A Kentish P'armer.

JtOYCE V. NEWINGTON.

This was a cise ot some interest in rural districts, relating
as it did to the sale m a market of sheep or cattle wliieh had
beau obtained by fraud. It liad arisen thus: — Tlie action
was to recover the value of a fl ck of siieep in lliese circuiu-
stancps : — On th- 30tl» of Octob r, 1S78, tlie plaintiff, who is
a butcher, and is in the habit of attending cattle and sheep
markets — being ar Maidstone Market — bought of a mi\i named
W^ie, tliro.igli a salesman of the market, a II )ck of 4'J sheep,
the tlock HOW in (piestion. Tiie purchase was lua-le in the
open market, the price was a fair one and was paid. The
trausactioa vvas a rej;ular one, and no blame attached to the
plaintiff" in respect of it. It turned out, however, that the
sheep had been obtained by Wale from the defendant, who is
a farmer, under colour o' a pirchase; but in reality by lalse
pretences. Professing to buy the sheep at the price of iSs.
a head. Wale gave in payiueut a cheque on a bank at which
he had no funds, and kept no account. The cheipae was of
course dishonoured. A warrant was taken out against Wale
b\ t!ie defendant on the 25'h of October, and he was after-
wards convicted of having obtained the slieep by fahe pre-
tences, and it was taken tliat they were so obtaitied. It ia to
he, observed that though the sale by Wa'e to tlie plai itilf took
place in open market, it v, a? admitted that the market, hav-
ing been recently established by the Corporation (under a
loc il Act) was not one in respect of which the prutection
arising from a sale in market overt would attach. The sheep
were taken to the plaintitl's premises at Seal (wliich is some
distance from Maidstone) and arrived there on the 31st — the
ensuing day. On the "iih of November the defendant, having
in the meantime eet t)ie police to wn.k, and having learnt
what had become of the sheep went witli a police officer to the
plaintiff's premises and there t'lok possession ot the slieep,
which were afterwards removed to his own farm. On the7(h
of November Wale was convicted at the sessions of obtain-
ing the sheep by false pretences. The question was whether,
under these circumstances, the plaintiff or the defendant was
entitled to the sheep. The case whs tried at the Maidstone
Assizes before the Lord Chief Justice, and the question of
law was reserved and argued in this Court befire the Lord
Chief Justice, Mr Justice Mel lor, and Mr. Jusuce Field, by
Mr. Grantham, Mr. Willoughby, and Mr. Arbuthuot.

The Lord Chief Justice had prepared a judgment, which
was concurred in by the other Ju'Iges, and was now read by
Mr. Justice Lush, in favour of the plaintiff, the purchaser of
the olieep. Although, he 8li'd,if the matier rested on abstract
principle, it niit^ht be open to contentii'U that as to make a
valid contract both parties must intend to be bound by it,
Cuuscquently nherp, in an apparent contract of sale the
buyer intended to get the goods but not to pay for them, but
to defraud the .--eller, the contract fails to take effect and the
property still remains unaltered, yet that question is now so
concluded by aaihority as to be no longer open to discussion.
We must now take it to be settled that though the seller is
inducfd to sell by the fraud ol the buyer, and though it is
competent to the seller by reason of such fraud to avoid the
contract, yet, till he does some act to avoid it, the property
remains in the buyer ; and if in the meantime be lias parted i
with the thing sold to an innocent purchaser, the title of the
latter cannot be defeated by the original seller. The reason- '
ing on which this conchision is bised may not appear alto- j
gether consistent with g?neral principle, and may be best rented i

on a'princlple of equity — that wliere one of (wo inroc'Dt pirties
must .-uifer for the fraud of a third party, the loss sliali fall
on hi, a who enabh'd such third party to commit the fraul.
lint on whatever ground it may be deemed to rest, tlie law
must be tnken to be s ttled. The question as to what act
on the p'irt of the defrauded seller sh:)rt of retaking posses-
sion of the thing sold would sutlice to defeat tiie contract
does not arise in this case. The defenlant, not knowing
wlnt had become of the sheep, or where (o find Wale, the
buyer, liad done and could do nothing, beyond giving notice,
to the police, up to the time when the siieep were bought by
the plaintiff. Therefore, but for the subsequent conviction of
Wale for liaving obtained the sheep by fahe pretences, no
question could b^ raised as to the title of the plaintiff, BaK
it WIS contended that, by reason of such conviction, tlin
defendant is entitled to the benefit of the provision in tiie
Lirceny Act, 24 and 25 Vic, c. 93, s. 100, which enacts, " If
any person guiliy of any felony or misdemeanour in stealing,
taking, obtaining, or knowingly receiving any property shall
be indicted for such offence by or on behalf of the owner and
convicted thereof, in such case the property shall be restored
to the owner." But this has no application to such a case
as the present. The terms of tlie enactment apply only to
cases in which the possession has been obtained without the
property passing. This view has been already taken by this
Court in the recent case of "Lindsay v Cuudy," and we have
no heMtation in adhering to it. In the present case, as in
the other, there was no property in ihe prosecutor at the
time of the conviction. It lud beeu pirted with by a contract,
wliicli, though Voidable under the circumstances, ceased on the
sale, before it had been avoided, to be any longer voidable ;
and as to which therefore, the right of the plaintiff had'
become incefeasible. It cauuot have been the intention of
the LM;isktme to defeat it nevertheless, and by the mere con-
viction of the fraudulent purcliaser to deprive the innocent
buyer of the right wliich, according to the decisions, h.-.d
becou.e absolute. Oar judgment, therefore, must be for iha
plaintiff.

A HEALTHY FAMILY.— John Gordon, who died near
Turiff, Banffshire, some time ago, attained the remarkable at;e
of a hundred and thirty-two years. All tlie travellers who
chanced to call at the neighbouring inn of Turiff were uni-
formly diieeted by the landlady, Mrs. Wallace, to the cott'ge
of the patriarch, «here they would see, she used to say, the
oldest man in Banffshire — " ay, or in the warld." Among the
visitors, one day about the close of harvest, was a young
Englishman, who, coming up to the door of the cottage, ac-
costed a vpnerable-looking man employed in knitting hose,
with, "So, my old frjend, can you see to knit at your advanced
period of lite? O.ie hundred and thirty.two is truly a rare
age!" "Deil's i' the man, it will be my grand atlier ye're
seeking -I'm only se'enty-three. You'll fiad him round tlie
corner o' the house." On turning round the corner the
stranger encountered a debili'a'ed old man, whose whitened
locks bore testimony to his having long passed the meridian
of life, and whom tlie stranger at once coacluded to be John
Gordon himself. " Yon seem wonderfully fresh, my good sir,
for so old a man. I doubt not but you liave experienced
many vicissitudes in the course of your ^ery long life."
"What's your wul', sir?" inquired tiie person addressed,
whose sense of hearing was somewhat impaired. The obser-
vation was repeated. " Oh, ye'll be wanting my father, I
reckon — he's i' the yard there." The ftranger now entered
the garden, where he at last found the venerable old man
busily employed in digging potatoes, and humming the ballad
of the Battle of Hailaw. "I have had some difficulty in
fuding you, friend, as I successively encountered your grand-
son and son, both of whom I mistook for you; iudred they
seem as old as yourself. Your labour is rather iiard for one
at your advanced age." "It is," replied Joiin, "but I'm
tliankfu' that I'm. aide for't, as the laddies, puir tilings, are no
vera stoot uoo." The unit<-d ages of the worthy trio amounted
to upwards of three hundred years. — Ayr Advui-liser.

A DISTINCTION. — " So," said a young lady, recently, to
a merchant in Philadelphia, " your pretty daughter has mar-
ried a rich husband." " Well," slowly replied the father, ♦•I
believe she his married a rich is-.n, but I understand he is a
very poor husband,"

H

*90

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

ENGLISH AGRICULTURE IN 187B.

(From the Mark Lane

For the fourth time consecutively it is our
th<adkless task to sketch the ap;ricultural history of
a year which has been, generally, one of failure
and (lisappointmeut. lu another week our crop
returns will be published, and we shall then have
before ua details which will enable us to see the
results of last harvest in different parts of England
and Wales ; but, unfortunately, we need not wait
till then before declaring the general result to be
unsatisfactory. Although the crops of 1878 were
undoubtedly less deficient than those of 1877,
prices have ruled so much lower that there is little
if any improvement in our farm balance sheets,
except in a few favoured districts in England and
in Scotland, We do not need eract statistics to
show that such is the case, because we have other
evidence in the forms of lowered rents, vacant
farms, and bankrupt tenants. The misfortunes of
four deficient years have culminated in an agri-
cultural depression which is as unquestionable as
it is lamentable, and it would be worse than use-
less to attempt to ignore the gloominess of the
farming outlook by turning our eyes awayfromit.
During the early portion of the year there was
reason to hope that a brighter prospect was before
the farmers, and it was not till long after the har-
vest had been completed that sanguine critics were
convinced of the errors of estimates which they
bad maintained in spite of the objections of more
careful observers. The wheat crop looked remark-
ably well till it came into ear, and even then gen-
tlemen who report ou crops from an inspection
taken from the windows of railway carriages, or
otherwise from a distance, could find nothing but
good to sa,j of it. It was only by going into the
standing corn, and examining the ears, that the
delusive appearance of the fuU-strawed crop could
be assessed at its true value, and this is precisely
what nine crop-reporters out of ten apparently
never do. Aftjr all, however, wheat yielded much
better than it had done for the previous three years,
and if it had been well harvested and sold at re-
munerative prices farmers would have had some-
thing to be thankful for as far as that crop was
concerned. Barley, oats, beans, and peas were all
sown under favorable conditions. We had a mild
and suitable spring, and the crops were sown in
good time. Until the last week in March every-
thing was favourable to an excellent harvest ; then
we had sharp frost followed by snow and a good
deal of rain. Nearly all the spring corn had been
sown, but a flood so soon afterwards had a very
injurious effect upon all but the lightest land, bar-
ley and oats being especially placed at a disadvan-
tage. April was a rather wot month, and in the
second week in May a eerious flood occurred which
did great and irreparable damage to tbj growing
crops, and particularly to the cereals. A generally
wet period followed until the third week in June,
when we were favoured with a brief spell of bril-
liant weather. The wet season had produced a
very heavy crop of hay ; but this was got together
iunder difficulties, and not until a great ds.il of it

Express of December 30.)

had been more or less injured by wet, TheTQFvngel
crop,which started well, was injured bythe flooding
rains, and when a hot dry time came it died off
prematurely in those districts where the drought
was most severe. But previous to this drought;
which occurred in the latter part of July
and the beginning of August, we bad mora
rain and cool weather, that is, in the latter part of
June. Harvest began in good time, tlie weather
being all that could be desired until a large por-
tion of the wheat crop had been secured in the
early districts. Indeed, the crops were somewhat
prematurely ripened by the sharp drying of land
previously sodden, and by the bright sunshine,
barley and oats being especially affected. In the
middle of August rainy weather again set in^
greatly injuring the barley, and the wheat also in
late districts. Harvest was by this means unduly
protracted, and stacks unthatched were damaged.
Scotland was especially favoured in harvest
weather, as, indeed, she had been in the weather
generally, as compared with that prevalent in
England, during the whole summer. The Scotch
crops, therefore, were much better for their part
than the English crops, though some of the
Northern districts of England were also favoured.
For pasture districts the year has been more
favourable than for the arable counties, feed having
been abundant, and the hay crop enormous.
Daii'y husbandry, however, has recently shared in
the prevailing agricultural depression, chiefly
owing to the low price of cheese, the quality of
which this year is worse than usual.

Since harvest the weather has been, 'SKtil re-
cently, generally favourable for farming operations.
There was a bright and dry early autumn, when
stubbles could be cleaned to advantage. Sufficient
rain followed to enable land to be ploughed for
and sown with wheat, and the crop was sown in
most parts of the country under the most propi-
tious conditions. It is probable that a smaller
area has been sown than for many years past, as
the rains of the late autumn and the severe
weather that set in with the winter first impeded
and afterwards completely stopped cultivation and
sowing. This, however, was not a matter of great
importance, as with present low prices for wheat
in view, farmers were careless as to whether they
sowed the usual breadth of land with that cereal.
Fortunately the laud was covered with snow dur-
ing the period of the severest frost ; otherwise the
young wheat might have been injured. For about
a week before Christmas Day the cold was very
severe, and we believe the thermometer has never
been so low as it stood on Christmas Eve since the
winter of the Crimean War. After Chiistraas
Day a sudden thaw set in, and the weather has
since been remarkably mild for the time of year.
It is not likely that wheat-sowing will be resumed
at present, if at all, as December is one of the
worst months in which to sow. If there were
any temptation to sow more wheat it would be
better to wait till the end of January or February;

THK FAltJiER'S MAGAZlXa

91

but those farmers who liave sowu le?3 tliau they
iateuded to sow will prob-ibly put iu barley nr
OHts iuatead. Early-sown wh^at came vip well ;
that sown lare was very slow in appearing above
ground ; iu fact, a great deal was still snug under
the soil during the recent severe weather, which
was an advantage, as, although it requires a very
sharp frost indeed to kill wheat, the plant loses
in vitality by being cut off above ground and
having to make fi-esh shoots, as is the case when
frost attacks the young and tender blade.

Of agricultural legislation there is not much to
record. The only very important measure which
passed into lasv was the Cattle Diseases Bill,
which comes into operation on the 1st of January.
The passing of this once promising measure in a
mutilated form was not the least disappointment
of a year full of broken hopes. We need not re-
peat an estimate of tliat measure, as it has often
been placed before our readers. As it is, the Privy
Council appear anxious to make the best of it.
The Highways Bill, which is too fragmentary to
be of much use, and which pleases, hardly any-
body, was also passed, chiefly, we presume, as Mr.
li«dvvell said the other day, because the Govern-
ment felt the necessity of passing something. The
Couuty Government Bill, intended to be passed
with the Highways Bill, which was a kind of
supplement to it, was abandoned, although it had
passed its second reading early in tbe session.
The Valuation Bill shared a similar f ;ite. Of Scotch
agricultural measures the Hypothec Bill was
quietly shelved, together with the usual batch of
measures tinkering ineffectually at Game Law
Reform; but the liaads and Bridges Bill for Scot-
land became law. Altogether, a session which
opened with many promises of agricultural legisla-
tion ended, like the outcome of the harvest, in
disappointment.

The straits in which farmers have found them-
selves after a fourth bad year have led to a general
reduction of the wages of agricultural labourers
throughout the greater part of England and Scot-
land. In a few instance?, notably in Kent, this
reduction has been resisted, and a strike of Kentish
labourers on a large scale is, unfortunately, still
maintained. By returns, which we collected from
the various districts of Kent and the small portion
of Sussex affected by the strike, we were able
to make public the actual earnings of the labourers,
concerning which gross mis-statements had been
previously made, and apparently accepted by the
press generally. By this exposure the efforts of
the Kent and Sussex Union leaders to obtain con-
tributions from the public to enable them to fight
the farmers have been to a great extent rendered
futile, and thus, we trust, the duration of one of
the most unreasonable strikes on record will be
matericlly shortened.

Of men well-known in ngricultural circles we
have lost by death during the year Mr. Thomas
Booth, of Warlaby, Professor Johnstone, Mr.
Joseph Kay, a well-known writer on the Land
Question, Mr. Harrison, of the firm of Harrison
and M'Qregor, Mr. J. K. King, of Coggeahall,
Mr. John Howard and Mr. Henry Corbet.

SONNKT.

[TRAN'^LATED from HEINE ]

In foolish error I from thee did stray,

Tliinkinu the wHe world I would wander o'er

In quest of love, — love that sliould have the power

To fill my lieait wilii all-erabraoing sway.

In every street I sought love day by day ;

Beseecliing hands I held at every door,

Asking for but one sign of love, — no more ;

But all with scofTing liatred turned away.

And still I wandered o'er the weary ground

In search of love, — but love I never found.

Hopeless and sad, at last 1 homeward turned.

And thou didst meet me, — and thine eye's soft glance

My longins; heart with rapture did entrance.

For there I saw the love for which I yearned.

S, in the Spectator.

THE CllRI.VrMAS PUDDING.— Few things that enter
into the prosiamme of an EnglishmMn's Christmas'eujoymt nt
are more liiuhly estimnted than is the plum-pudding. It ij
iudeed, fearfully and wonrierful'y made. It has been for weeks
the subject of dee' consileratioa by the head cf the domestic
househol I, and on the evRntliii day of its public presentation
it comprises the concentration of all eulinary cares. It is ttio
mountain of domestic trouble. Cynics who wicke.lly delifrbt
to contemplate tlie miseries inflicted gratuitously upon the
human stomach by itsin^perial maater, find in the Christm.is
season a plenteous time for the delectation of their wonted
spleen. Glorious as is this wonderful pudding, delicious as iin
pertuTie, marvellous as is its appearance, tempting as it is to
the hungry eitpectint, yet it is the concentration of dyspepsia
and indigestion. Its best uses when mads are to be smelt, en-
joyed through olfactory nerves, praised for its remark-ti'ln
evidence of luunan ingenuity, and then thrown away. This
verdict will hardly be accepted, and .\et, no doubt, it is true,
but even the writer, with that perseverance that pertains t;)
all the human race, loves, and enjoys plum-pudding, with all
the gusto that a ragsed urchiti does his purloined apple or
penny loaf. But the ingredients of the puddin;/ tell a won-
derfiil tale, geographically considered. S'iil further does it
silently describe the many and various processes, both of
nature and art, that each ingredient has undergone ere it
became fit to perform its proper functions in the gre^t
domestic sacrifice. The wheat from which the smnll modicu--ii
of flour contained in the pudding was made, might, for all wa
know to the contrary, have been grown in the next pari>h .ir
the nest county, or it may liave traversed miles o! seas from
its original soil on tlie steppes of Russia, or from the gnat
colony of Canada, or from some of the Western State:- of
America. Tsie raisins, perclia'ice, were grown on vines that
basic in the Valencia sunshine. The cuTauts, so called, t'l
reality currant grapes, were picked and dried in Easter. i
Smyrna. Tbe sngar that sweetens it to our taste was raised
on the island of Jamaica, in the Western Indies. The spicti
comes from the tropics. The candied orange and lemon-pel
is the produce ot fruit that grew, perchance, at Malta or
Montserrat. The suet, an indispensable adjunct, and that of
the bullock, and not of the wether, may hHve been laid ou iu
the county of Devon, or in the northern Highlands, or it may
have come across the Atlantic within the carc?.se of some
nob'e American beast. Ail these suppositions, and even more,
are possible, as the orifrin of that solid fat, without which no
pudding is complete. Then the eggs — were they home-laid
or " shop'uns ? " and, ifthela'ter, did they not come frcin
the far oS" province of Normandy, in our naighbouring kiut-
dom of France? Surely there enters not into oar domestic
life any culinary combination, to produce which a wider
radius of geographical expanse has been ransacked, thau in
found in the construction of onr Christmas pudding. As «i',
partake, we think nothing of all tiiese countries and climes,
these vast distances, and remote places. It is a time for
pleasure and lor enjoyment, but none the le«s should we en-
joy ourselves if we now and then rendered up thanks for fie
many and vaii^d blessings by which we are surtoanded. — The
Gardenej i Maaatitnt.

H2

r;2

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

THE AGRICULTURAL LABOURER.

By the Countess of Str.vdbroke.

Tlic frieuds of the agricultural labourer could hardly have
Felec'ecl a worse mooient tliiin the present for raising a
grievance as to his posi'ion and wapes, or for persuading hini
ti qjarrel wiih ths latter and stnke against his employer.
That these iiiiscaUi d friends are doing so in many parts of
Enshiiid argues great ipiorance on their part of agriculture
itself, of the needs of the farmer, and the true position of the
' labourer.

The latter might bitterly exc'aim with the traveller in
.(E-op's fables, " Heaven defend lue from my friends," for
they are really pat'ing hira iu a worsa plight than they found
hiin. It may be remembered that four years ago a similar
■agitation was raised on the suhject of the har.lships and
grievances of the labouring man. chi<-fly as employed iu the
Eastern counties. A party pro''essiug to be iuliuttnceJ by
purely philanthropic and disinterested motives, and who boasted
amongst their adherents men of undoubted talent and integ-
rity, such as Mr. Morley and the Bishop of Manchester, loudly
and rouadly asserted that the agricultural labourer was an
ill-used and rcuch-put-npon being, and urged him to resist this
tyranny and to jo n unions by whose help he would gain power
to strike and re'use to work at seasons most inconvenient to
his employer. The result of this well-meant but ill judged
attempt to secure his fancied liglits to the labourer was signal
and utter failure. A lirge body of men were enlisted, the
delegates of the unions travelled about from pillar to post, ale-
houses and village greens were scenes of perpetual declama-
t on and angry invectives against the farmer, thehmdlor I, the
clergy — all m fact who in any way reaped the fruits of the
«)il. These delegates were as k.-en about picking up recruits
as any rpcruitiog-sergeant, and as gay nih tiieir ribbons,
drums, and trumpets. But the excitement soon died out. Tlie
M'ives of tliose wiio joined the union were not long in fiudiug
that the twopence to be paid weekly to the (uuds en led iu a
shilling spent at the alehouse, aad that the nine shillings a
week union pay for lis' less idleness was a sorry substitute for
the hard, well-earned wages of the fanner ; aud when harvest
time, 1874, came, and t'yey found their masters could after all
at a pinch get on witiiout them, and that the unions to whom
they trusted declined to give further pay — one and all, with
some very few exceptions, humbly but thankfully returned to
their former employers (such as would take them on), with-
■-drew their subscriptions, and the " missuses " gladly tossed the
^iuion tickets hehind the fire.

So there was an end of that agitation, and things have gone
on quietly in the Eas'ern countries ever since. But did the
labourer gain anything by it ? Has it left him
better off than before ? Tint is the question Mr.
Morley, Bishop Fraser, and the other agitators ought to ask
to have solved before recommencing tlie same operaiions iu
other counties. Is he bet^er paid ? does he inhabit a better
hou«eP and is he altogether in a better position in the social
scale now than in the year 1874'.

We emphaiically answer '■ No." His wages are precisely
the same as iu that year. Improving landlords have gone on
improving their labourers' cottages, and careless or impecu-
nious landlords have left their tenements in statu guo ; and fls
to his poGition in society — well, " Hodge " remains " Hodge,"
and willdoco to the end of the chapter. But — and here
comes the rulj — though no nuterial .^ooi/ results have accrued
to the labox;rer through the iaierference of his self-styled
friends, the evil which it brouglit is great and lasting ; an
estrangement sprang up between the two classes, employer and
employed, the farmer and the labourer, which has not been,
and probably never will be, healed. Up to that period (187i)
the relations between the two (we speak of the Eastern cuuuties
particularly as the then scene of action) had b'wn friendly.
The farmer gladly helped his poorer brother ; he never be-
grulged him ale at harvest, or money for his clothing and coal
and blanket clubs at Christmas. If a lahou:er was sick, or
liad a delicate wile and many small children, it was a rare
case if the farmer for whom he worked did not send iielp iu
kind — meat, soup, flaunel and so forth. Now the case is
altered ; matters are on a very diff.-rent footing.

The independent stand made by the labourer at th-i instiga-
tion of his mistaken Iriends has drawn a hard and fast line
b.'.tvveer tiie two classes. The farmer and his labourers are

DO longer bound together by one in'erest ; each defends In's
own right. We grieve to say it, but " every man's hand is
against his fellow." Work is grudgingly done, aud grudgingly
paid for. In place of heartiness, sympatliy, and friendly feel-
ing, there exisis only mistrust and suspicion. Well-meant
kii-.duess would be now called bribes to tamper with the iude-
penilence of the sturdy sou of the soil ; and on the other side
the feeling of goodwill is checked and nipped in the bnd by
the frost of the ingratitude and suspiciun «ith which the poor
man has been led to took on the acts of his employers.

And now, when badtimes have come on the farmer, through
the introduction of vast quantities of cheap foreign corn,
combined with heavy taxation at home, the labourer finds hiral
self in many respects in a worse condition than formerly. The
farmer no longer hesitates to pay off superfluous hands, which
in the old times of friendliness and goodwill he was always loth
to do. Wet days are taken off, short days receive less pay, and
the little aids which were scarcely missed by the labourer's
family in the days of prosperity and regular work would now
be a boon which, can never again be obtained. Tne seeds of
defiant independence and class opposition sown by his mischie-
vous friends have taken deep root and produced bitter fruit —
the Dead Sea apples of dust and ashes, discord and ill-will.

A vast deal of false sentiment has been nttered and au im-
mense amount of trash talked on the "imiependence of the
agricultural labourer." By the nature of things he cannot he
a wholly independent be ng. Unskilled in hand or Head, he
must work by the sweat of his bruw, and must depend ior the
bread he eats oa theemplojer for whom he toils ; to move his
locality is only to move Ins home and the scene of his wo;k,
and woulJ very little improve, his posirion. For the rate of
his wages mast depend ou the value of his labour, and as that
is pretty even in the loug run all over Eigland, very little
would be gained by change from place to place. Where wages
.ar ; higher it will bs al.aiost invariably found that the cost of
living and the house-rent are higher also in prop )r-ion. And
oue point which has always told enormously in favour of the
farmers in the occasional struggles between them and their
labourers, is that the cottages are in their hands, so that if the
labourer refuses to work or decliues to do so, the farmer has
it in his power to tarn hi a out of house and home and put in
another man. This alone, without other reasons, would pre-
vent the labourer 'xom being what in the favourite caut teru
of the day i-s called an '■ independent man." He depends oa
his master for work, wages, and home.

As before said, the month of December is about the worst
time of ths whole year for the labourer to stnke for his own
interest. He cannot compel the farmer to employ him on
wet days or give him the same wages for short hours as for
long ones ; but the farmer can compel him to turn out of the
house he has put hira into ; and if in the strife between the
two these harsh measures are re-orted to, the blame of all the
misery aud desolation which will fall on the wives and children
of these poor homes must rest on the heads of those who have
assumed the devilish part of working up the angry passions of
one class against another.

Hodge is naturally a peaceful man ; if he has a good
master and regular work he is a happy aud contented one ;
and in a certain way he is a reasonable being. He has quite
common sense enough to see that if bread is unusually cheap,
the flc ur of which it is made must fetch a very low price, and
therefore that his master, who suS'<!rs by the loss in his produce
cannot afford to pay him the same wages as when flour is high.
He does not gruTuble at this, because he gaim personally by
the low price of bread and Hour, his principal article of con-
sumption ; nor at being paid a few p^m^e less per day fordoing
eigut hours' work instead of tpn. He knows his own busine.ss
much better than those who interfere with him. But when
outsiders come down and assure him with blatant tono'ues and
flattering words that he is no' fairly treated ; that his m ister is
" making money out of the sweat of his brow ;" that if he
resolves to make a s'and he can demand and obtain fixed wages,
wet or dry, short or long days ; aud tliat when he does not
«hoose to work or cannot work (for this is one of the false
promises the delegates hold out) he will be well piid by the
labourers' union instead of taking his clianceof the workhouse,
lie believes them ! His natural credulity and ignorance incline
him to listen to the fliittering tale, and he quickly falls into
their toils. Alas for his chance, then, of independence. He
■ is doubly bound. No longer can he serve his own master or

THE FARMER'S iMAGAZlNE.

SS

Work for vvhoTi lie, chnoc. This the mea in th") Eastern
conntips louiiJ to their cost. As long; as any of the members
ot their union were on strike, the others were not allowed to
work ; and lany of iheni confessed alterwards th.^t the
en'orced idlenes*, " sit'ius; with their lian.ls in their pocke's
all day lon^r, with n^ujilit to do, was the sorest, puiii^h'oent
that cnuld be inflictid on them, and more tiian tiiey could-
bear." The unfortunate, deluded, misfruided men no* on strike
in Kent and Sussex have yet to learn the miseries of being tied
and boimd hand and foot to a "union." It ia the liard-st
task master they have in all their poor lives ever had to deal
with.

The ^reat question of tlie day for those whi are truly ii te-
rested in tlie agricuUnral laliourer is, Does his position d.'iiiand
and admit ot improvement? If so, by whom and hy what
means can this he brou!i;ht about.

We will not touch on the amount of wapes he receives ;
that depends on the state of the labour market, on supply and
demand, and on many local ([uestions ; nor on the present one-
sided free trade system, which so greatly rednces the farmers'
pi-ofits, and obliges hira closely to count the cost of every penny
of expenditure, larfjely amongst whicli must fljjnre his labour
bill. These are topics of a much wider scope than that which
we are now considering — the condition of the agricultural
labourer y;«r el sinijile in English, and how, if at all, it can be
improved under existing circumstances.

The two great springs of action in the human mind are
undoubtedly liope and self-iaterest. Give a man tiiese, and you
at once raise him in the social scale ; withhold them, and he
sinks into a st^te ot apathy and stagnation. And this is the
re^il tanaible griev inee of the agricultural labourer, namely,
that he has no monve or obj-ct of self-interest in throwing
liimself heartily into his work, no hope of bettering his con-
dition by so doing.

II'iw can this be remedied, and these rantiyes supplied ?
Certainly not, as the nnioriists woul.l have liim to believe, by
setting himself against his master and separat ng liimself from
his interest. On the contrary, combination and co-operation
between servant and master would be vasHy best for the inte-
rest of botli. If on every f;irra in E'lgfind the lowest labourer
could feel tlr..t he may work his way upward, and that by good
s'eady industry and diligent application to what he has to do,
in fact by doing his Acs/, he can r:iise hintiself into a better
position, the »ork itself would be very diffi^rently pTformed.
Half the bad and unprofitable farming in Eng'and is due to
slovenly work and work wa'^ted by being behinJhand, done out
of season, without interest or energy. Le* the ploujjhboy teel
he shall one day be esalted into head horseman, the herd into
chief shepherd, aad ttie tender of cattie into head yardman,
and one and all will strive to learn their work and improve in
it by doing it well. If the liorse-driver, and shepherd, and
yardman in their turn are allowed the privilege of somf, little
share in the profits of their respective charges, the farmer
would soon fiad his horse«, pigs, sheep, and cattle thrive and
itourish to an amazing amount. Some wise fariners do now
pursue this plan, and excellently it pays the n, as well as their
men. At the tailing of lambs the chief shepherd gains GJ. per
lamb for his share of the anxiety and care during the lambing
season, the yardman gets a pig nut of every litter ot ten that
sell for £1 a-piece, and the liorse-driver receives a like propor-
tion for every coomb of corn sold proiUahli). Thus the master's
interest becomes the servant's, the profits of the former beaefit
the latter, and for every shilling bonus the farmer gives he
gains five. These bonuspsjmust be quite separate and apart from
actual re>;u!ar wages, and only given strictly to the sood and
fiithfui servant. Another method of connecting the inlerest
of the lahuu er with that of his master is by giving every pos-
sible amount of piece-work. The good industrious workman
feels in doing piece-work that he is fairly an-d honfs'ly paid
for wiiat he does, and that he gaius a liiglier week's wages tlian
the idle and lazy. Many easy jobs which cannot be done by
measurement should be reserved for the old and feeble ind paid
by the day. The lavllord also may do muci iu assisting the
labonrer to rise iu his own little world. On any largp esta'e
holdings of from four to twenty acres ruight be profitably
farmed by little men who, by economy aid frn:iality, have saved
wages enough to start a small business. No greater encou-
ragement could be held out to a good labourer than this, and
these small farms should be carefully reserved as rewards of
merit. Tliey would be no loss either to the landlord. French

produce amply proves the benefit of hand lillags and the care"
ful culture of small holding*. Cows, pigs, poultry, and egg
would increase all over the length and breadth of Euglaud if
small lariiis were allowed in moderation on every estate ; and
these should be strictly confined to men from the labouring
class, and of those, such as have money iu the' saving banks.
Lastly, what ctn bs held out to the agricultural labourer as
his h(fpe for old age? It is in the nature of all men to look.
forw.ii-d to a calm and peacelul en liU;? ot their days. The-
nearer the app^oac i t > the eternal resting-place, the dearer
becomes the earthly home — the more idoseiy lO we cliug.to
what lias been- the scene of our joys and sorrows.

The greatest trial and drawback of all in the agricultural
labourer's l:f« is the uncertainty of his old age. la nine cases
out ot ten the workhouse or starvation looms dimly before his
imagination when the days come, as come they must to us all,
" when tlie grinders cease because thev are lew, and tlioie that
look out of the windows he darkened." Is there no remedy;
for this ? Amongst all the high-tluwn ideas aad florid notions
of the labourer's friends, not one suggestion has been made to
sup(ly this the gre.^test need in his lie, the certainty ofa tran-
quil happy old atze. And alter all the remedy is not far to
seek. IJy thrt Poor Law of E gland no- man is allowed to
starve, but a great and rather natural (considering that the
farmers have to b^ar the e pt'nses of idle vai'ricits who tramp
about the country out of employment) repugnance is felt by the
guariiia'is of parish uni.ms to admiaistering out-door lelief.
If the rule were strictly carried out that only inJoor lelief
should be allowed to able-boiied men and women, the outdoor
relief might he &vMoXti]L—conseer<iled we may almost call it—
to the aged labouring man and his wile.

If every maa who had passed an honest and good life in hi
paiish and had not received relief in his youth, on arriving a
the age ol three score and ten year=, should receive wiilioiit
doubt or hpsit?tion, as his right, a sort of pension, twc"
shillings a week and a stone ot flour weekly, in recognition of
his past labours, for the rest of his life, the labourer would be
a happy man. It would encourage him to save, instead of, as
by the present regulations, discouraging him to do so — for the
aged man who has a small piitauce of his own may not have
relief by the present law — and with assistance from his children,
who are now deterred from helping him, lest the money they
give shoull prevent his claiming any parish assistance, and it
would ahove all things tend to make him feel independent. It
is a wretched thing for a man who has earned his bread
honestly iu health and strength to look forward to a pauper
old age, and what he dreads most, a pauper's funeral. This
outdoor relief, given as a right to the old labourer, would
encourage hie to save and to lay by, and to add to the income of
his old age, and, would be an economy to the ratepayers by
keejiiiig youn.a, people oti the parisii. We commend these few
hints lor the amelioration ol the state of the agricultural
labourer to the farmer, the landholder, and the Government of
the day.

That " the poor will never cease out of the laud " we know
from the highest autnority ; but the agricultural labourers are
not of these, though amongst their families may always be
found the sick, the aged and iurirm, for the charitably inclined.
Give him the tair wages of the day, a good cottage, self-inte-
rest in his work, and hope lor his old age, and he is as happy
and light-hear'ed as any crea'ure on God's earth. His greatest
tempvbtion and drawback is the alehouse. That which race-
courses and gambling-houses are to the middle and upper
classes, the puDlic-house is to the labouring man. His best
friends are those who give hirn interests away from it, and
peisuale hi n to save his sh llings instead of spending the.u
there — and a wife wl o brews good beer at home ! His worst
enemies are the men wlio, u der the cloak of pity and compas-
sion, in.-ike him quarrel with Ins bread, and afterwards turn
him in'.o the guter. Tne Itbourers' union cannot provide him
wilh work when turned olf by hii master.

One word m conclusion as to emigration. Those who re-
commend it rau-t know that, it ca-inot be a ranedy for auy
existing evil lu the condition of the English agricultural
labourer. There must ever be cultivators of the soil, and in
this over-populated country, hands will always be found of one
sort and another who can dig and plough. Emigration to the
individual himself may or may not be a boon. In more than
half the Cises of labourers who have emigr-Aled to (J.intulaand

«

THfi FAUMERS MAGAZINE.

An<itra1ia they have been far poorpr and ni' re wre'ched ont
there than at home. A man to do well in the colonies must have
energy and perseverancp, and with these quHlities he will also
thrive in England. In great towns no donht eniigratii>n is a
heal hy drain and relieC, but in agricultural districts the good
viorkman can always comnisnl work, and though his wages
3ii:iv be less than iu tlie coloni<-s, tbeco!:t of comforts and even
Jifcessaries is so much grtaier, and the education of his
c) 'idren so difficult, tint he will not gain by the change.

Fin'^lly, good landlords must secure good farmers, and good
fftriners will command good laboiirers. Let all tlie«p classes
lie united iu one solid compact " atrgot of sticks,"' and no
tliscoutented outsider will have power to disunite them. Let
'h»'r motto be "Union of ma-ters and men," instead of
' Union of men against inHs'erv," nud the agricultural di>trict8
will lie ouce more restored to peiice and quiet, and the labouFt-rs
)'ve happily together with tiieir wives and children in the
li 'H^es whee tliey were born, instead of tramping about the
Ftre'ts of London in the pitiable position we have lately seen
• — horae'ess and workless — a miserable spectacle for gods and
iLen. — Vunily Fa

LIVE 8T0CK IN QUARANTINE.

The following is a Memorial to the Lords of the Privy
Council from some of the leading exhibitors at the recent
Paris Internatioual Exhibition of Live Stock ; —

•' Unto the Lords of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy
Council. The Memorial of the undersigned exhibitors at the
I'iris Exhibition of 1878,
" Humhiy shoneth,

" That your meraoriHlists, b-ing exhibitors at the late Inter-
HHtional Live Slock Exhibition iield this year in Pans, beg
iiio<l respectfully to Ixy before your Lordships the Ireatrae'it
they received during the quaraitine of their exhibits at
Brown's Wharl on their return from said Exhibition.

" That your memorialists had placed them-elves and their
str.ck lor exhibition entirely in the hands and under the pro-
tection of your Lordships. That symptoms of ' foot-and-
month' having appeared araong their exhibits, these were put
under qnaraiitine, in terms ot law. upon their arrival iu Lm-
don at the aforesaid Brown's Whar', Wapping. That the
memorialists had no option, being und' r the protection of your
Jjordsbips, and that these premises were specially nrovided for
tneir (the memorialists') caitle, by order of the Privy Council.
Tliat the premises thus assigned to the memor-alists for the
aftoinmodation of their stock were entirely uiuu table for that
purpose. That the s»id Brown's Wharf ii a building entirely
>!nfit for the shelter of valuable stock. That i he part of it
assigned to your memorialists for the use o their stock
included that portion known as the ' condemned cell,' the last
oocupants whereof had been cattle quarantined or rinderpest.
Tliat in this building tlier.; was no vi nlilaiion anove or below,
and that the backs of the larger cattle nearly to'iched the roof.
'I'hat your raemnriiilisis' cattle, having been thus quarantined
in this place, received no attention save what their owners aud
attindauts personally gave them. That undue authority was
exercised almost tyrannicnlly by tlie ' wharfinger' or other
ajient in charge ot thi- whart. Thnt, for inst! nee, your me-
morialists were told imperatively that they wer all under his
orders, that he would be obeyed, and that not s beast should
be removed from the ' condemned cell,' even to iiake room tor
the others. Li reference to this, your meni'iria ist, the under-
siuned William M'Corabie, communicated wiih ihe most noble
the Duke of llichniond and Gordon, who had the kindnes-t to
jssu" orders for their instant removal to another part of the
buiWing.

'• That the said Brown's Wharf belongs to the General
Steam Navigation CompHuy, London, and has, from the
iiulness of trade and other causes, been enti'ely unused and iu
disrepair for a considerable period (I.t months). For bare
standine-room in this deserted and unsuitable building, your
memorialists were charged, and coinp- lied eventually, under the
threat of detaining their beasts, to pay b<. per heid per night
for the first four, 2s. 6d. per head for eacli of the following
eleven, and 2s. per head during the last twenty-five. The
unders gaed William M'Combie, under protest, paid as follows,
on account of his eight exhibits while on quarantine at
Brown's Wharf: —
" From the Slst to the ?5th of June, al 5s. per head per

night for eight cattle, £8 ; from the J.HIi of June to the 9h
ot July, at 2s. 0,1. per head per niaht for eight cattle, £14 •
from the 9th of July to the 3rd of August, at 28. per head per
night for eight cattle, £20 : total, £42.

" Fur the same number of exhibits (the most valuable one
of which, however, died belore the end of Ihe quarantine)
another of your memorialists— viz., Lady Emily Pigot— paid
£48.

" These charges were levied by the General Steam Naviga-
tion Company, as the appointed agents and with the apparent
authority of your Lord-hips, and were paid accordinsly by the
memorialist, the said William M'Combie, under protest, the
other exhibitors also paying the snms levied from them' aud
were for bare stiuding-room alone, neither atrendauce nor
food being supplied by the company's servants. Exclusive of
the abivesum paid for s'andiug-room, upwards of £iiO was
paid lor food for the same eight exhibits. It will thus he seen
that the conpany received a r-ntal of £b 5s. per head from
all the cattle thus quarantined (without reckoning what they
likewise extorted irom the sheep owners for the'use of their
premiss), and tlmt your raemori dists had to pay at the rate
of £8 per head for food, altogether £14 per head, still exclu-
sive o' attendance.

" Your memorialists beg re'spectfully to submit that these
charges are extortionate, unjust, and excessive, whijh your
rnemorialists are prepared to prove by tlie unimpeachable tes-
timony of practical men. At Southampton, where a limited
number of the Paris exhibits were likewise quarantined, the
charge was at the rate of 23. lOd. per head per night, includ-
ing green food, hay, litter, and as much cake, corn, or meal a*
the animals required, and adequate attendance also. At
Deptford, another quarantine station, the charge is 5s. per
head for ten days, including landing and all other charges for
att. ndance and keep, and alter ten days Is. Gl. per night, with
food and attendance. At Brown's VVharf ' attendance'' like-
wise was an extra charge. It will be observed that an animal
could not be kep' as those Pans cattle were at Southampton
for less ihan 18s. per week, including attendance, and that by
this calculation the charge at Southampton lor standing-room
was under 6d. per head per night in place of the 5s„ 2s. 6d.,
and 2s. imposed upon the memorialists at Brown's Wharf.

" The memorialists are gratefully aware that everv exertion
was made by the Royal Commission to the Paris Eihibiiioa
to have these charges r-bated into reasonable limits. To Sir
Philip Cunliffe Owen, the Secretary of the llo)al Commissi m,
the British exhibitors of live stock at Paris are deeply indebted,
not only for the general success which has attended his efforts
on their behalf and for the interest aud kindness he has shown
them, but for his indelatigable exertions to secure them on
this point from the extortionate overcharges at Brown's
Wharf. The General Steam Navigation Company have
chosen, however, to ignore his remonstrances, althoujh they
were informed that it was the desire of His Royal Highness
the President that the exhibitors of live stock at'Paris should
not be thus subjected to such unreasonable charges, and
although Sir Philip 0«en, in the course of a lengthy corres-
pondence and personal interviews with them on the subject
specially pointing out the responsibility they were assuming,
warned them of it, and of the mcessity they lay under on their
part ol coming to a fair and reasonable arrangement with the
exhibitors. Y<mr memorialists, being those exhibitors and
the owners of the Paris stock thus quarantined, while under
the protection of the R lyal Commission and your Lordships,
were helpless and altogether at the mercy of the company as
to the charj.es thy imposed.

" The oflicials of the company who exercised authority over
your memorialists at Brown's VVharf behaved in an unneces-
sarily high-handed manner, aud assumed a most overhearing
attitude to your memorialists and their servants in attendance
there.

" The following is an extract from a meraorandam which
was addressed to one of your memorialists ou the subject of
' exercising room' : —

" ' In reference to the letters of Sir George Macpherson
Grant and Mr. William .M'Comhie, I have made inquiries oi"
the inspector at Brown's VVharf who has charge of the animals
placed I here in quarantine, and he iulorms me that a trestl
casi of foot-and-mouih disease wa- detected this morning in a
ow, and thit eleven sheep are still atfecied.

" ' It appears that for the first three days after the arrival of

THE F ARM 1 Ill's AIAGAZINK

95^

the snim^ls the cittle were regularly exercised ; gince that
period many of tliem have been unable to take eiercise on
account of tlieir being affected with disease in their feet.

" 'Ten cattle liaviug been slaughtered since ;Leir arrival, and
there is now not ouly more space lor their lairage, but tliey
could be easily led a'jout for exercise siiould the owners desire
to do so, without extending the present boQudary of the
quarantine station.

'"The inspector states that the premises were yesterday
visited by the Mirijuis of Exeter, who expressed himself per-
fectly satisfi'-d with the arrangements provided.

"'In reference to the charges, he informi me that they
ST" now reduced one-half — viz., 2s. 6d. per head for cattle,
and Is. Id. for sheep per diem — and that the General Steam
Navigation Company are at considerable expense and trouble
in keeping the premises well cleansed and disinfected j and,
although the rate of charges appears to be high, it must be
b )rue in mind that the premises are of very considerable
value.

•' It is true that the premises have not been in use for some
considerable time (about fi teen months), but they were on
that account more readily app.-oved of, as the germs of
disease were le>3 likely to exist there. They are, however,
very lofty, and, bein^ nest to the river, easily kept cool and
healthv. "' Alex. C. Cope.

" ' July 11, 1878.

" I am not aware that the inspec'or is practically acquainted
with the requirements of such cattle, and I do not suppose
that he has had any experience as to the treatment of valuable
show-yard breediug cattle. He reports that the cattle were
regularly exercised. This statement is ire jirect. They were
Bot exercised, nor had they at any time during the quarantine
space in which to h.', exerc sed; and the nature of the ground
re.idered it dangerous and unsafe even to untie tli« cattle. By
t :e statement in th-- abjve meinorind'im, a reasonable request
for additional space was refused by the Privy Council, though
this was especially request':5d. The ep ice within the ctuaran-
tiae boundary was not enlarged. I am aware tliat the duty
of your iuspeitor was to watch and report to the Privy Council
the health and state of the animals undergoing quarantine;
but I am not aware that the inspector had any instructions
fro n the Privy Council to advocate the exliorbita-it charges
before referred to of the General Steam Navigation Company.
And without instructions, to say the least, it was fery officious
oa his part to concern himself in favour of the G-neral Steam
Navigation Company and against the interests of unfortunate
exhihitors in a matter with whicVi he had nothing to do.

" Your memorialists having risked their valuable utock,
Tinder the protection of your Lordships, in a dangerous jour.
Hey to the Paris Exhibition, feel that t:iey have been unjustly
and ungenerously dealt with.

" May it therefore please your Lordships to take this
memorial into consideration, and thereafter to issue an srder
granting the memorialists redri-ss in respect of the charts s-O
improperly exicted from them, and on the heavy charges for
loci and attendance, and preventing the repetition of such
exorbitant charges in future^ or to do otherwise as to your
Lordships may seem proper.

William M'Combie.
"And on behalf of: —
" Lord Bective.
*' Lidy Emily Pigot.
"Geortje Fox, E'^q , Elmhur^t Hall.
"W. G. Farmer, Esq., Hinckley, j
"George Bruce, E q., Aliord.
" Ciiristopher Niiylor, E-q., NewtoBv
"JohnRobsOD, Esq., O'terbnrn.
"Robert Bruce, Esq., Great SmeatoD.
"Tillyfour, Absrdeen, N.B., December Si, 1878."

AN INVITATION.— "There will be a turkey buried a'
my lionise on the 28tli. You are respectfully invited to at.
tend," is the latest and most fashioiiable way of inviting ^
friend to take Thanksgiving dinner with you. — Philaihlphia
Chronicle,

A to',;:ng man from Auburn, N.Y., who w-wirto the Black
Hills this spring, has telegraphed to .^is father, " Fatted calf
lor one."

VALUE OF ROO'l'S AS FOOD AND
MANURE.
The following paper was read at the November meeting
of the Cireuceater Gbamber of Agriculture.

Professor CnuKcrr, who illus'rated his remarks with severa
diagrams, and also rendered his p per the more interesting by •
making use of a black-board, said : I may at once say that I ■
purpose handling but a very sinnll section of this very large
subject, and that I shall consider the matter mainly urderone
aspect, the true composition of roots. A few preliminary ei-
planations are necessary as a beginnine. All foods have to be
valued, not only according to their absolute richness in the
several constituents of food, but also in regard to the ratio
which these constituents bear to etch other. As these con-
stituents may all be rega ded as nutritive, though in ditferent
degrees, it is cmvenient to speak of them as nutrients. Them
are six : — (1) watT ; (2) flesh-formers of uitroijenons mat er ■
or albuminoids ; (3) starch, sugar, and curboliydrates ; (4) oil
and fat ; (5) fibre ; (fi) mineral m ttter or ash. My chief
objoct is to bring betore you the results of some analyses of
roots which have been made by an improved process. These
results mainly touch the 2nd item of our list, flesh-formers,
but they seriou^y alter the accepted thejreticil value of roots
as food by showing another kind of error in our e-timates of
their feeding value, an error in the ratio between this 2nd '
group of nu'rienfs, or the flesh-for.iiers, and the 3rd and 4fcii
groups taken together, or the heat-gibers. Incidentally I shall
allude further on to the functions and uses of most if not all
of the six groups of nutrients, but it is expedient to explain at
once what is meaut by this ra^io in question. I shall call it
the "nutrient ratio," and to avoid decimals shall assume that
we are always dealing with 10 parts (be they grains, ouoces or
pounds, or mere abMract quantities), of flesh formers or nitro-
genous compounds of vegetdbl« oriijin, but like the albumen of
eg^, the casein of cheese, or the fibrin of meat. If we look
a;t those kinds of natural herbage which best 8i:9tain the health
afld growth of our farm animals , if we look at those artifi:;ial
foods which brings them to an early maturity, we shall find
that the nutrient ratio shows a high proportion of Sesh-forraerg.
But the range is very extensive — from 8 to 10 in decorticated
ground nut cake to 200 to 10 in sugar beet. The richest
pasture erass will give 38 to 10, the poorest 90 to 10. We
cannot fix a nutrient ratio which shall be equally adapted for
all aniraa's at all stiges of the feeding process, but we can
ascertain hy direct experiment what ratio gives the best result
in the particular crrcuirwtauces of each case. To calculate the
nutrient ratio we add tojether the percentages of starch,
of sugar, and of all other nutrients of the sam-e group, called
the carbohydrates ; then we raultip y the percentage of oil hy
2^ and include the resu-t in the total sura of heat-givers. The
percentage o' fl-s' -formers having been ascertained by analysis
we arrive at our ratio by a trmple sum of projxirtion. Now
the chief cause of these calculated ratios being wide of the
truth in the case of ro&ts and succulent fodler plants arises
from the simple fact that it has been th.; habit of agricultural
chemists to reckon- all the nitrogen found in these foods as
existing in the useful form of ftesh-'ormers, while in reality
this is not the c-ase. On two former occasions (1873 and
IS?-*). I pointed out this fact to the Chamber, and it has a
last attracted general attention. I cannot claim the credil.o
discovering this fact, for Lawes and Gilbert pointed it ou
with diKtinctnesa^in a paper read before the British Associa-
tion 80 long ago as 1852, fiom which I give some extracts : —
"Thus the column of nitrogenous substances consumed, is ob-
tained bv multiplying the anount of nitro.'en by 6-3 on the
assumption that they all exist a^ protein compounds. This
method of estrmatioD will, we thir.k, be found sufficient for-
our present pmpose ; thoiigli, as we shall have occasion to
point out further on, it is irequenfiy far from accurate, and
CBpeotally when applied to succuk-nt vegetable substances. .
. . There can be little doubt that the m»tliod ol estimating -
the amount of available nitrogenous subst'^inces from the- per-
centage of nitro<jen ma.'rt be more or less faulty, both in the
case of the succulent turnips of the first sf-rips, and in that of
the also nnripened produce — clover chaff -of the second.
■ • . . . But apHrt from the question as to whether the
increase of the faiteninj; animal has a closer relationship with
the amount of the trn ( protiiu compoundn, or within cer'aiu
limits of the availab . ion-nitrogenous constitueuts of its food

96

THE FAUMEll'S MACiAZlNR

we liavc liere a striking illuftration of the inapplicability ou
Oilier f;roumls of the percentage of nitrogen as tt\e measure of
fi'eilins value, or iudced of any anslytieal method, unless a
(Itlailed diteunination of llie proximute compounds, wlien sue
luleut products, such as in this in-tance, the roots, are the
subjects of experiment." But 1 believe my aaal) s-s were the
first direct (teterininatioR of the real flesh-formers' in roots.
II iviug devised a new process for washine away all nitro-
genous matters other than albuminoids, aud then det-Tmining
the real jtercentage of the latter, I was abie to obtain results
much nearer tlif truth than any previously publishi^d. In a
paper printed in (Jctober, 1875, both in the slgricidfural
S/.idenh'' Gtizelte and in the Agricultural O.izetle, I gave some
of my results. I then announced some startling corrections of
the current view oStain.'d in 187+, but almost too startling to
secure my owu belief at th.it time. But other methods in
the hands of foreign chemists h ive confirinrd iny figures, I
WHS able to say that the mangold must be placed below the
swede, and even the turnip so lar as richness in flesh-formers
was concerned, the comparison being made with roots grown
-side by side under precisely the same conditions. My man-
g-.ilds showed less than one-fourth of the ilesh-formers with
MJiiththey would liave been credited, had the ordinary process
of analysis been loUowed. 1 do not; mean to aflirm tiiat such
a result would be invariably obtained, but subsequent experi-
ments ennble me to say that from one-ihird to tliree-fourths of
tlie nitrogen of this rjot exists ia forms useless for food,
thou.'h excellent as manure. This fact of course obliges us to
alter the nutrient ratio. To show how far the uew results
diU'er from the old, 1 give these numbers—

TLESIIFOKMERS IN JIANGOLDS.

Variety of Fiesh-lorraers Flesh foriners

Root. Water, by old process, by new pro.

Feeding Beet OtOp. ct. l--l.o2 p. ct. 0-63 p. ct.

Yellow G obe 93 7 1-025 tl-o8

LonsEed 91-5 1-080 0-51

Golden Tankard 90-1 1-510 0 57

These roots were exceptionally large and watery, so that these
figures must not be taken as representing the average richness
of these varieties of mangolds. Yet the above percentages
confirm the slatement that half of tlie assumed flesh-formers of
mangolds may be non-existent. Of 13 analyses published in
1876-7 of different varieties of raaogolds, and given in the
German Yearbook of Agricultural Chemistry, the lowest
assumes 0-92 per cent, of flesh-former , and the highest 1.75,
the mean being 1*32 ; it is probable that this number should
be halved to represent the truth. What ii.fluence such halving
has upon the nutrient ratio will be consilered presently. I
will now say a word or two about assigning monf-y values to
food. I have gone upon tlie plan (merely for the sake of
c.imparing .similar foods) of deriving my figures from the
commonest cattle foods, with the market prices of several of
which they fairly coincide. I assign Id. piT pound to starch
and sngar, 2d. to flesh-formers, and 2|d. to oil or fat. Wolff
gives —

10 Centimes the kilogram to starch, &c.

25 Difto oil and fat.

fiO Ditto flesh-formers.

These would be rather under : —

\A. lb. to starc'i, Sjc.
li^d.lb. to oil and fat.
8d. ib. to flesh-formers.

These values are derived not so muoh from market prices of
farm products and purchaoeable cattle food^ as from theoreti-
cal considerations as to the nutrient ratio. The value of
flt'sh-forraers is asfUTied to be six times that of starch arid
heat-givers, in inverse proportion to the generally best ratio
ot the two nutrients, 1 to C. I have not time to dwell further
'.ipon preliminary mat'ers, but must hasten on to apply the
principles of valuation I have mentioned, employing some of
my new results to illustrate my poiuts of view. Tliese results
are not (o be understood as final, or average, but they will
serve for rny present purpose. Since I shall have to use the
case of the sheep as an illustration of the food-requirements of
farm animals and of the number of ra'nute and apparently
trivial circumstances which have to De taken into ac(!o int
^vlll•^ we look h-nealli the surfice, at what we may call the
poilo^ophy of fttdiug, 1 may ntw proceed to give, iu as plain

a form as possible, some of the results of scienlinc experiment
on ''eeiling sheep. Sheep averaging 105 Ib. a piece and a yea
old, fed upon nothing but meadow h-ay, a trace of common
Silt arid water, consumed every day four ounces of flesh-
formers, but re ainedonly 190 sir lins, less than half an ounce
this is 11 percent. Of this, 120 grains was added to the
muscular substance of the animal, the rest to the wool. The
increase in the total live weight was not more than 1 lb. 1^ cz.
per head p-r week. Of 100 lb. of total food aud driuk
consumed 70 lb. were water, a proportion rather lower than
that contained in the best meadow liprbage, the natural food of
sheep, in which the perc-ntage varies between 75 and 78.
When the same grass was given in a green state, and therefore
having a due proportion of water intimately associated with
its whole substance, then not only was more of it consumed,
but a better use was made of that eaten. Yet the nutrient
ratio was the same in holh experiments — 60 to 10. Isow one
of the great benefits conferred by the intradnction of roots as
sheep-feed seems to be, from a chemical point of view, the
convenient means they afford of intro'lucing the due proportion
of warer, iu a suitable form, which must be associated with all
airdried and concentrated foods, such as clover, hay, chaff,
straw, and cake ; this use is (juite apart from their own value
as containing nutritive materials. A mixture of clover bay,
and linseed cake, and of swedes has yielded results deci ediy
superior, so far as the r'^pid increase in live weight is con-
cerned, to those from anyone kind of fodder in its natural
oondiiHm. This occurs wheti due attention is given to ensure
ia the mixture, not merely a palatable flavour, but also
The best percentage of water;
The best nutrient ratio;
Available forms of fl| sh-formers ;
Enough fibre, &c., to give solidity to the food.
Many experiments have been made to ascertain how far sheep
could be fed on roots alone. Mangolds, swedes, and turnips
have been used, but chiefly mangolds, in the Continental
trills; and the general conclusion seems to be that not only
must you lose a very large proportion of the feeding material
in roots when you employ them alone, but that the rate at
which animals increase in weight when so fed is excessively
slow. Now we are certain that nothing eauves so serious a
loss in feeding and fattening as the consumption of food during
a protracted period, tor the mere purpose of sustaining the
mechanism of the body, with its heat and muscular activity.
The two defects in the chemical composition of these foods are
ei'her an excessive proportion of water or of heat-giving nutri-
ents. Potatoes and sugar-beet do not indeed include a larger
percentage of wafer than can be disposed of by the animal
economy, but the 1 irge excess of starch in the potato, and of
sugar in the bee', constantly induce scouring when these foods
are g.ven alone — much starch and sug^r being voided witiiout
having been digested or absorbed. It is of importance to note
here that wliile a moderate proportion of starch and sugar
and other soluble carbohydrates is of importance as heat and
force-givers, their presence in a food also enables the flesh-
formers to be in part stored up in the iucrease, an I in pan to
be transformed into fat. With the sheep, at all events, starch
and sujar appear to have no direct power of producing fat.
Now as the increase of a mature animal shows an ever-
increasing proportion of fat as the feeding continues, the
importance of lurni^h^ng it either with isady-for-ned fat or
with a substance capable of yielding it by decomposition in
the body becomes evident. That roots alone, even when tliey
contain, like sugar-beets and potatoes, little or no excess of
wafer, cannot supply the sheep with the means of producing
fat ii- f videiit from all the experiments hitherto made on this
point; hut the following series of experiments on sheep (59
animals in all) is quite decisive as the utilisation of the altiu-
rainoids of their food iu the formation of fat : —

The daily

Th

R food daily digested

The nutriei*

inciea-.e

by each sheep

ratio

was —

per head

contained —

I'levh-

was—

Ilesh-formers. Carbobydr

ites.

Car,

I'orm's.

Series.

OZ". ozs.

ozs.

1

4 29

75

10

2

2

5 27i

58

10

2-

3

(1 28

47

10

3|

4-

7 27

•10

10

H

Now at

70 per ctul. of the

iucrease iu

live wei

,'ht was fa

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

P7

wiiicli the (races in the fooils used were wliully inadequate to
I'uruUh, iiucl :i3 the iiicre-i'^ej pi-oJiict,ioii of tins tnt ruae vvilli
the iucreased cousump'ica and increased pr^ipnrtiou of tlie
Jle»li-foriuers givea :iik1 digested, the sturch and su^ir rem«iu-
iiig tlie same, it cai\not he disputed that flesh- formers are «lso
faNtorincrs (where tat is deficient), and tliat the excess ol car-
holiyilrates iii roots is a seritjus detVet in tlieir composition.
Some ol ilie ll')thainsted experiments hnnj; out this hict einite
as certainly, hut the evidence they furnish is nut so uliviously
decisive. Tliese figures illustrate the poverty of roots in lat-
lormiug cousti uents : —

Average Increase per

weight Kind and weight of food lieid per

ot sheep. per head per week. week.

(1) 1201b. ... Meadow hay, 2211) 0 1b. 8ioz3.

(■?) 75 „ ... White tur:iips, 1071b 0 11^

(3)113,, ... Swedes ICOllj., oat straw I b. 1 8

(4) Hi „ ... Linsted cake 81b., clover

chaff 7ib., swedes lOGlb.... 2 12

(5) 110,, ... 1/seedcake 71b., greeu clover 3 4^
In the filth series the flesh- formers were highest in (piantity
and proportion, while the fat formed was greatest. The pre-
vious series comes next, with a lower hut still high proportion
ol flesli-formers. That these, and not the ready-formed oil of
the cake given must have been a main source of the increase
in live weight is apparent, Irora this consideration — the 81b.
of linseed ctke and 71b. of clover cliaflF, in series 4, contained
just oyer lib. of oil, of which 9 oz. might be reckoned as
storable iu the increase. This increase contained 14 oz. of fat,
of which nearly 5 cz. must be attributed to tlie flesh-formers
in the food. Note, al.so, that ot tlie dry matter in the diff rent
foods it takes 30 to 40 per cent, more to produce an equal
increase in live weight when roots are used instead of mere
nitrogenous food, while the rale of increase is but one-third as
rapid. In my 1874 experiment oh mangolds I found that
scarcely one-tourth of the totil nitrogen present existed in the
form of actual flesh-forming matgrial ; but we may lawfully
calculate the reu.aining three-fourths of this most valuable ele-
ment as available for manure. I'roci eding upon this basis, the
ni rogen of every tnn of i-ucli- mangolds as those 1 analysed is
equal as food to 101b. of fltsh-fonners, worth Is. Sd. ; and as
manure to 5]lb. of ammonia, worth 4s. 5J. But there are
two other cousti'^uents of these roots which we canuot neglect
— namely, the mineral matters and tlie heat-givers, or carbo-
hydrates. We shall not be far wropg if we put down the
mineral matters as amounting to 341b. per ton, and as worth
2s. ^ while tlie sugar and other heat-givers, amounting to
1501b., will be worth as ood ISs. OJ., provided, that is, they
can be profitably utilised. Arranging tiiese theoretical values
iu a tabular form, we liave^

Value of one toa of mangolds :

s. d. s. d.

As food — 101b. of flesh-formers 12 6

150ib. of sugar and heat-
givers 1 8

Total 14 2

As raanure— 5851b. of ammouia ... 4 5

211b. ash 2 0

Total 6 5

£1 0 7
Now in this estimate we have to criticise separitely the two
items of manurial and nutritive value. Assuming that no
part of file phosphates or potash of the ash of our mangolds,
aiid none of the non-albuminoid nitrogen is carried of? by the
animals, we have still to remember that these manurial ele-
ments have been for the most part dra-.vn from the very soil
whicli it is presumed they enrich. Roots, then, when eaten
on the land, transfer manurial matters from the soil to its
sur''ace, and they cliange the condi'ion in which that manurial
matter is fonud, but they do not increase the ' capital" of the
soil like imported foods. And this is the case even if we
assume that there is no loss of available manurial elements
eitlier in the holy of the animal or after its deposition on the
soil. Such a loss of nitrogen, it seems, does actually occur,
and may amount to one-sixth of the whole quantity. Aud now
as to the uu'ritive value of the mangolds. We can buy a
luiudredweight of linseed cake for, say, Hh. (less now), and
lliis would contain mucilage and oil ec^ual to (>01b. of starch.

with 3f)lb. of fl.'sh-fornjers. Put the starch at Id. and the
flesli-firmers at 2d. the lb. ; the culcuiated value becomes 5s,
for the former aud Gs. for the latter — lis. in all : or wheat
calcultled in the same way gives us similar values for starcli
and flesh-formers, if taken at 5s. the bushel of 601b. ; and so-
do the dilf rent kinds of ommon pulse. Cm we, then,adinit
14-1 2d. to be the food value of a ton of mangolds as food ? I
think not, for tlie following reason. A ton of mangolds con-
tains lolllb. heat-givers, but only lOlb. fl 'sh-fonners. Now
this proportion, or ratio, is not a suitable one for any animal
iu any condition, or at any stage of its growth. For sheep
and lambs the ratios of heat-givers to ilesh-forraers should her
somewhere near

55 to 10 when 5 to 8 months old.
60 to 10 „ 8 to 11 „

70 to 10 „ 11 to 15
80 to 10 „ 15 to 18

Thus 701b. out of each 1501b. of heat-givers in mangolds given
to sheep will be unused when these roots are consumed alone,
even by animals cap-ible from their age, &c., of mikintc the
best use of a food rich in heat-givers. This mode of viewing
the matter compels us to modify our estimate of the feeding
valuf of mangolds for sheep, say of one year old, and to deduct
7s. Id., the value of 85lb. of sugar or starch from the 14s. 2d,
previously given. Thus our final figures become, for one ton
of mangolds — as food, 7s. Id.; as manures, 6a. 5d. ; total,
13s. 6d. But in the above calculations I have supposed that
all ttie true flesh-formers present in mangulds are carried
away in the nitrogenous increase (substance of true flesh) of
the animals that ''.onsume them. But is this the case? So
far from it that Messrs. Lawes and Gilbert iu their paper " On
the composition of oxen, sheep, and pigs, and of their increase
whilst fattening "(1861), say — " Ot the nitrogenous compounds
consumed by tlie (attcuing sheep the average of the estim'ites
shows less than 5- per cent, to be retained iu their increase."
Wliere the nutrient ratio is properly adjusted, aud the food is
adapted in flavour, bulk, and texture, as well as in composition,
to the needs of the animal, we may increase the above estimate
of 5 per cent, somewhat. Yet, after all, the figure we are
dealing with, of lOlh. of flesh-formers in a ton of roots, is so
small that whether the deduction he 5 per cent, (half a pound),
or 10 per cent. (I ft ), the diff-^rence in our estimate of the
money value of the flsh-formers will be but slight. However,.
it will have to be transferred from the fnod side of the account
to that of the manure. Let us deduct 10 per cent, as actuilly
stored up- in the increase, aud let us transform the remaining
t/0 per cent, into its eqiiivalent of ammonia, and regard it as
an addition to those manurial matters which we knovv miis(
be almost wholly voided by the aninaal. Now 91b. of flesln-
formers are equal to l|lb. of ammonia, which would be
wortli Is. 3d. as manure. Our co.-rected estimate will no«r
appear to be—

Valueof one ton of mangolds : s. d. s. d.

As food — 651h. availnble sugar, &c 5 5

lib. flesh-formers retained 0 2

Total food value '■ 5 7

As manure —

91b. flesh-formers not retained I 3

Nitrogenous compounds not nutritive 4 5

Mineral matters 2 0

Total manure value ' 7 8

Total value as food and manure

13 3

Such a deduction as that which we liave made from the feed-
ing value of the mangolds is justified by all the hitherto-tried
experiments with sheen fed exclusively on these roots. But
is there no way of utilising this excess of h^^at-givers, and of
making them available for the nutrition of the animals ? By
a mv>st moderate use of some rich nitrogenous food as oilcake,
the proportion of heat-givers to flesh-formers may be rectifif-d
and tlie whole of the former made available. And it is by
such additions of oilcake or of clover chalF that we are able to
bring out the feeding value of mangolds. We must add (and
in practice we do ado) to the d-iily ratio of our sheep such an
amount of albuminous matter as sliill restore the nutrient
ratio to that required. Supposing that we select, for the sake
o( simplicity of illustration, a single article of food rich in
flf's'i-lormers for this purpose, we may choose decorticate'
cotton cake. It will be found that the proportion of the •"

9?

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

'oods rfciuircd will be i.eiO lb., or 1 ton. of mangolds, 100 lb.
ciecoriicated cotton cakr ; or, for every 22^ lb. o' roots, 1 lb.
ol cake. For the nutrient ratio in the cake is 12 to lU, or
]0(J lb. of cake will contribute 56 lb. heat-givers, and 4t lb.
ft-»h formers. A proportion affording a marked contrast to
that of mangolds, bing 13 to H> instead of 150 to 10. By a
suitable admixiue ol such a material as this cake, with the
addition or substitution of clover or of other food practically
proved to be ^ui^able tor other other reasons to the animals to
be fed, we m»y recover the value of the heat-givers of man-
golds be ore deducted. Thus the feeding value becomes
12s. 8d. and the raannrial value 7s. 8d. 1 have not taken Irora
the latter >um the l-5th supposed to be lo^t, as the data for
such ca'ciiUtions are still far from conclusive. The greatest
German authority on the rational feeding of farm animals
gives the food value of a ton of mangolds as 12s. 10d.,a figure
identical with n y own estimate, though reached by a some-
whHt different process. He, however, gives the nutrient ratio
oi ih se roo's as 83 to 10, while other authorities, basing their
calculations upon analyses still further tro:ii the truth, give a
ratio of 30 or 40 to 10 instead of 150 to 10, or in the most
favourable cnses yet ob>erved of 110 to 10. I liave previously
explained why it is that the nutrient ratio hitherto accepted
for these roots is so very different from my own, and I may
add, from that w\ich is now being generally arrived at by
foreign agricultural chemists. But I have not referred to the
digestibility of the true flesh-formers present in these roots.
We have seen that of 100 parts ingested but 10 or 12 at the
most are to be found in the increased live weight of the
animal, but much more than this must be digested and
assimilated. All the experiineuts made ta decide this point so
iar as roots are concerned are subject to this error, that the
amount ol flesli-formers, having been exaggerated by from one-
third to three-lourths of their real amount, has led to their
being regarded as undigested— the fact beina that they were
not there ! Page after page is devoted by Wolff to explain,
or rather to state, the extraordinary lowerini; influence exerted
by mangolds and potatoes upon the digestibility of the flesh-
lormers in clover, hay, and other fibrous forage plants with
which they were associated in various feeding experinicuts ;
but the appaient lowering may be at least in part explained
ir. the way just noted. I inclia-' to think that nearly the
whole of the true fl -sh-formers iu routs is dige^tible, and,
when the conditions of economical feeding are fulfilled,
digested. With very coucentrated nitrogenous foods experi-
ments l-.ave shown that from 70 to 97 per cent, of the sup-
posed flesh-formers present are digested by oxen and sheep,
the figures being: —

97 to 90 per cent for pulse ;
90 to 85 „ for Imseed cake ;
82 to 78 „ for rape cake ;
78 to 7-1 ,, for wheateu bran;
70 to 7 i ,) for cotton cake.

!Now, as I have found that some of the cattle food^ here given
(e-specially tliose last mined, do not contain as much
albuminoid or flesh-form ng matters as that with which they
have been credited, here also we have a (juestiun which cannot
be settled till more accurate analyses are forthcoming, and it
would certainly be rash to assert that all the real albuminoids
in decorticated cotton cake are even capable of dijest'on. I
O'lubt, perliaps, to have said something about the water in
root-, large and small, and its influence upon their chemical
composition. Tne lar.e watery root •, especially of mangolds
grown in rich soil or with liquid or sewage manure are known
1 1 be very aqueous. Sometimes roots of no more than fmror
five pounds contain 93 per cent. of wa'er, as large a proportion
as that in ordinary white turnips of half this weight. But
the nitrogen and potash salts of these big roots is often com-
paratively high.and thus their manurial value ij not diminished
like 'heir feeding value. But it is important to remember
that tons of big roots with 93 per cent, of water in them oou-
t: in lees solid mailer in them than 13 tons of smaller roots,
of, say, 3 lb. a piece, but having 89 per cent, only of water.
Tiiat there is more water iu mangolds than they are usually
credited with may be inferred by lookmii at tables of recent
analyses of these roots. The last published series of these
includes twelve varieties, the average percentage of water
in which is exactly 90. It would be tedious to discuss with
rqunl fuiucss the feeding and inanurial values of all ths

different root crops of the farm ; kut it will, I hope, be nsefd
to some at lea-t amongst us il 1 offer a few observations upoa
turnips, swedes, and potatoes, regarded from the same point
of view as that before taken. In so far as swedes and turnips
generally contain more water than mangolds, they are clearly
less nutritious, weight for weight. Wolff gives these figures
as representing the average food vaiae of these two crops per
ton : — As lood. As manure.

8. d. », d.

Swedes, ratio 75 to 10 14 0

Turnips, ratio 51 to 10 9 8

My calculations, based on new analyses, give —

Swedes, ratio 122 to 10 10 6 4 5

Turnips, ratio 100 to 10 8 0 3 4

Mr. Lawes' estimate for the raanurial value of swede* is
43. 3d. per ton, of turnips 4s. Potatoes may now be bri'fly
considered. If we assume these tubers to contain on Ihe
average 25 per cent, ol solid matter, we shall find in this not
2 per cent, flesh-formers, but only about half the quantity,
perhaps I5 per cent., of which J per cent, is albumen soluble
in water. The starch and heat-givers will probab'y amount
to 20 per cent., and thus the nutrient ratio will become 20 'o
1, or, in the form we have previously given to this ratio, 200
parts of heat-givers to 10 of flesh- formers, not the 60 or 60
to 10 which a complete food requires. Wolff gives 100 or
120 to 10 as the ratio in question, basing liis results upon old
and incorrect analyses. Without repeating tlie several step*
of the calculations, I give the valwe of a ton of potatoes,
regarded as cattle food dnd as manure :—

8. d.
As food — 163 lb. of available starch and heat-
givers 13 7

2^ ib. of flesh-formers retained 0 6

As manure — 20 lb. flesh-formers not retained ... 2 8
Nitrogenous compounds not nutri-
tive 2 S

Mineral matter 2 2

£1 1 7
But if we utilise the excess of heat given by due ad mixture-
with a more nitrojenous food as pea-meal and oilcake then
we .nust add £1 3s. 9J., the value of 285 lb. of starch, thuj
making a final total of £2 53. 4d. for the ton of potato's,
Wolff assigns to these tubers the nutrient ratio 102 to 10,
and gives them a money value as food of about 28s. per ton.
The great difference between this theoretical food value and
my own estimate (about 38s.) is chiefly due to the low value
assigned to starch in Wo S''s calculations. Anl bis figure
would have come out loa-er slill had be not reckoned all the
nitrogen in these tubers as existing in the form of fl^sh-
foriners. In order to furnish a check upon the accuracy of
my new method of analysing roots, I compared tlie ;e-.ults of
three other similar processes which sutrgested themselves to
me in 1873-4, but which I abandoned as inferior to my
carbolic method, as I term it. A sample of potatoes of tha
present season gave the following percentages : —

Flesh-formers.

1. By ordinary method T818 percent,

2. By carbolic method 1*032 „

3. By mercuric chloride method... 1 307 „

4. By lead acetate method 1'180 „

5. By tannic acid metlK)d 1'196 „

The mean of the four last numbers pives 1"179 par ceiit. of
flesh-formers in these fresh potato tuber-:, instead of the 1 818
per cent, of the ordinary method. Roughly speaking, they
contained two-thirds of ilie amfiint with which they would
have been credited. This is not the place to discuss the
relative merits of different cliemical processes, but I give the
above numbers partly to shovr you that this question I have
brought before you to-day is being worked out thoromhly^
and partly because these numbers confirm in a measure ray
previous statements. Indeed, [ trust that I have shown that
agricultural chemists are no* most anxious to bring their
teaclnuj into harmonv with the complex facs of nature, and
to profit by the experi'Miee of farming practicr*. In conclusion,
I have again to apologise for ray very imperfect and |)artial
treatment of a very wide subject, and to express the hope that
whatever the failiugs of my paper are, I shall at least start
■u interesting and valuable discussion. (Loud applause).

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

99

CATTLIC OF THE VARIOUS BREEDS AS
BEEF PRODUCERS.

Mr. G. T. Turner has contributed to the Lire Stock
Journal, of Chicago, a let'er, occupying nearly two pages
of that paper, of which we give the principal portions : —
Mr. Plioy Nic'iols qnoles a p:iraicriipli troiti the L uulou Fi'ld
in which it is stated that the Scotch Ijeasis, wtiich ninfteea
times out of twenty " top the market," are " cross bred bensts,
with just Butficieut of the nntive blood retained among the
Shorthirn to pressrve a polled head, nnd hlick or iron-grey ;
i.e., good as the Scotch races are, they do not reach liieir
climax till the Teeswater touches them ; " and from this he
argues that " nineteen times out of twenty, grade Shorthorns
top the London market," and asks how often the Hereford
could get in there. In reply to this, I must first demur en-
tirely to the dictum of the Fi^ld, whicli I take to imply t'>at
thesr- Scotch crosses are partly hr d Shorthorns, having more
or less Scotcli blood in their veins. I do not hesitnle to state
that such is not the case. The animals in question are usually
crosses — not mixed, or raongrel-bre^ beasts. The sire is
usually a pure-bred Sliorthorn and the dam a Scot ; at other
times, the sire is Shorthorn and the dam a cross-bred Scot.
Evidence ol anythinj; like the amount of Shorthora blood
inrficsted by the Field, I have very seldom seen in these
animals in tlie metropolitan raarke-t. Certiialy, the term
" tirade Shorthorns," used by Mr. Nichols, is not at all appli-
cable to them, if I am at liberty to judge of the " grade Short-
horns " we import from Araerici. The first cross between two
di>tinct breeds has been proved by practice to be the best, and
breeders of cross-bred beasts and sheep solely for the butcher
do not usually go beyond a second cross on the dani's side.
To breed from a cross-bred sire «ould, of course, be to produce
nothing better than mcBgrels.

For evenness, thickness, and quality of fl^sh, together with
size, I do not think anything wliich comes into the London,
market c in excel a first cross b^twpen the Shorthorn and
ruUeil Scot ; and these, together with similarly bred cattle
from Sco'ch dams which hnve one or two cro'-ses in their
blood, are the best " crosses " which are exhibiie I at Islington
and Birmingham fat stock shows. For example, the awards at
Islington, December, 1877, for " cross or mixea-bfeed cattle,"
were as below :

Steers not exceeding 3 years old.

I . . > Shorthorn and a Polled Scotch, second cross.
1st prize ) '

2nd „ Shorthorn and Gilloway, first cross.

3rd „ Shorthorn and Polled Sc itch, second cross.

Oxen above 3 yef.rs old.

1st prize — Shorthorn and Aberdeen, first cross.

2nd „ Shorthorn and Scotch Polled, remote cross.

3rd „ Shorthorn and Aberdeen, second cross.

With a very few exceptions, the entries of cross-bred cattlcj
both at Islington and Birmingh-tm, were from Shorthorn sires
and polled Scotch dams. I give, this detail because it is impor-
tant that it should be clearly snown and understood that
partly-bred, mongrel-bred, or — if I may be allowed to use the
American terra — " grade " Shorthorns, do not top the English
market. Again : the Shorthorns are never, that I am aware
0*^, quoted at equal rates to the Scots, Hereibrds, and Devons,
in the London market returns ; and the difference in the
value per pound is greater than manv suppose. For example,
the quotation lor Monday's trade, October 21st, was as fol-
lows, in the 3Lark Lane Ejcpress : — "The top price for the best
Scots was 5s. lOd. per 8lb. ; many good Shorthorns and
Americans did not make more than 5s. to 5s. 4d. per 81b."
The relative value of Shorthorns to other breeds is expressed
in the same ratio in every market return of which I have any
knowledge.

In reply to Mr. Nichols' query as to how often the Here-
ford could get to the top of the Eng'ish market, I may say,
with correctness, that he is there during the months of July,
August, September, and October, those heing the months he is
in season. Tlie Herelord is higlily esteemed in the London
iDfrket as a gra.ss beast, and in that character he s'ands in the
front rank for a time, though he does not ofl^al particularly
well. No beef is better enting than that of the Hereford when
fully ripe, off the grass ; he is full of flesh in the most valuable
parts, and readily '' tops the market." Speaking of fat

bullocks as tliey aiipear in the London market, the best of ail
will be the West Highlander ; the thickness and quility of his
carcHss when split down, together with the weight of it in
proportion to the heigh! and apparentsize ol the living animal,
will as'onish the looker-on who is not in the habit of seeing
these an mils h'uig up. lie grows slowly on his native hills,
and does not usually come to Londim until a' least four years
o'd, anil his beef is ol a cla^s whicli no o her breed suppliies
now a-days. The offiils are valuable, and he is worth, generally
speaking, from 2d. to 4d. per stone ot 8!b. more than any other
beast sold on the London stones. The po'led Scots are all-t^e-
) ear-round bfas's, are well fed and full of prime flesh
on prime parts. 'lliey usually top the market, together
with the Scots' crosses, of which I have already spoken,
which are o'ten better than the Scots themselves ; and for
thick cutting, and value for money at all times, they certainly
bear the palm. Toe little Devon suits some trades, and when
ripe makes full prices. Some larger and more generally-use-
ful bullocks come from Sussex, and are alwHys welcome.
Welsh runts are very excellent bullocks, as a rule. Pure-bred
Shorthorns are comparatively rare; but a large number of
well bred Shorthorns constantly come to London from all
parts of England, and especially from Ireland. Some of these
fiud their way to the front, and sell for top figures, but the
great bulk of tliem are second to third-rate in the scale of
prices. Independent of the London market, they form the
staple beef supp'y ol the country, and in descrihing them the
American word " grade" comes very handy. They show every
proportion and com'iiuation of Shorthorn blood, and vary
greatly in quality. The generality of them are coarse, uneven,
a' d have less prime in proportion to their weight than the
breeds mentioned above ; they are heavy in the shins, thick in
the clod, and deep in brisket — all of which means weight that
sells for little; they are flat behind their shoulders, and nar-
row in the chine, and plain in the rounds and twist, which
reduces the weight of rousting meat. That is why they do not
top the market. The rank and file ot the English " grade"
Shorthorns are not very much better, except in being rather
smaller and finer than the American " grade" Shorthorns
which are imported ; and nei'her of them are so good as the
Scotch crosses, with which they should not be confounded.
So much lor the facts ; now for arguments bised on then:.

I think no one who has watched the progress of the Short-
horn cattle during the Ia4 twenty years can have the least
doubt as to the great, I may even say incalculable value of the
breed. To judge from the American bee'', alive and dead,
which finds its way here, it will be only fair to suppose that
the improvement in American cattle during that time must be
almost entirely r'ue to its agency. The leavening influence of
this blood has spread over the greater park of an immense
continent, and clothed its serai-wild cattle with marketable beef
It has developed largely in Australia, and improved the herds
o( Europe. It is very marked in its infiiience on every in-
ferior and mongrel-bred kind of stock with which it has been
tried ; it has raised the general standard of the bulk of the
beef and milk-producing cattle of the United Kingdom; in
conjunction with at least one other pure breed of cat le, it is
capable of producing something better than itself, and better
than either ; and yet it does not " top the market," when tlie
market is for beef! I am .'■urprised that such should be
allowed to remain an undisputable fact — for such I take it to
be. I hold that the great value of Shorthorn bl lod consists in
its marvellous adaptability to almost every condition under
which beef and milk are usually produced, and in that aloue ;
admitting, of course, a high general standard of excellence.
The Hereford will ra»ke a better butcher's animal — I think
there is no doubt about that — under the conditions of soil and
climate obtaining in the West of England ; but from my own
experience, and that of many others I am inclined to think
Herefords could not contend with Sho' thorns as stall beasts on
a mixed husbandry farm ; and certainly they cannot compete
with them as milkers. If the method of rearing them were
altererf, I think the chnracter of the animals would alter too.
The West Highlander must have his native hills, on which to
grow at leisure. The Po led Scot appears to require his
northern climate and the excellent roots — swedes and turnips
— grown therein ; for when he comes south, he too often
merits the sobriquet of " peusioner." The Devon is e'sen-
tiaily an npland beast, and small ; when he is put on the low.
lands, he gains size and loses character. The Sussex is a good
beef-maker, but not, I believe, a good dairy animal. But the

100

THE FARMER'S .MAGAZINE.

Shorthorn can make beef with the Scot or Herefor.l, or make
milk with the Ayrshire or Chauuel-Ishiuder, and live side-by-
side with either of them.

Well micrht Youatt s«y that " it is the combination of per-
fections which has conferred, and will perpetuate, the
superiority Q* tliis breed of cattle." But that was fort) -four
years ago ; if Youatt were alive now, it is reasonable to sup-
pose that he would be surprised to find that they do not top
the metropolitan market. Taking into consideration tiie im-
provfment in the quility and consuming value, together with
aptitude to fatten — early maturity — which has taken place in
some otlier breeds during the last twenty years, it would
appiar strange that witli unequalled adaptability for vantage-
ground, and all the assistance which care, attention, and un-
limited capital could give to a breed already possessing a
" combination of perfections," the Shorthorns should not now
be ihe best butcher's beasts in the world. But they are not.
And the cause lies but a little below the surface. Shorthorn
breeding in England has fallen, for the most part, into the
hardt of gentlemen who have msde a hobby, a " fancy," or
" fashion" of it ; and who treat th^ir hubby precisely on the
fame lines as the tuiip hobby, or the old-cliina hobby, or the
antique bookbinding hobbVj has been treated ; that is to say,
their object is purely fanciful ; certain strains of blood are
pronounced " fashionable," and straightway the ideal is fixed
on producing families possessing this blood in an intensified
form by breeding its individuals in terse. The direct result ot this
is loss of constitution, loss of fecundity, and the multiplication
of Shorthorn types. The breeders of other pure bret] varieties
of cattle, such as Herefords, Scots, &c., have bred "in-and-in"
to an extent rtquiite to establi h breed-type and character,
and to eliminate alien bloor', but never to the extent which
has been practised with Shorthorns. Their object has been
the production of the best possible butcher's animal,
and their success during the past twenty years has
been very marked. If Shorihorn breeders — I speak solely of
" fanciers" and " tashion breeders" — have had a similir object
in view, they certainly have not attained it. Those who are in
the habit of attending our great breeding-stock shows, such as
th; Riyal, the B ith and West of Eugland, and s inie ot tlie
more important county meetings, will see animals of the
several "fancy" or fashionable strains of Shorthorn bluud,
which, so far as their frames and their character are con-
cerned, are 'he veriest weeds, with nothing whatever to re-
commend them to the bullock breeder. But the idea of
bullock breeding is beside the question, it will be urged ; their
blood is priceless, and they'are to get bulls and heifers lor .-ale
as blood stock, fur stud purposes again ; the bullock is a very
remote contingency. Weil, be it so ; but however remote the
coutingeney may be, it muat come — tiie end o<' things bovine
is beet — and there is no avoiding it. If, tluTefore, these tilue-
blood stud-animals which are to g^t bulls to get other bulls, t
get yet again o her bulls — I care not how many removes areo
bargained fo; — have not good Irames to transmit, wherein con-
sists their fabulous value? We are told daily that it is to
transmit the qualities, the "combination of perfections" of
the breed, wh:ch lie latent in their blood, although their
powers have been sacrificed in the process of concentraiion and
refiieraent. But with results before me, I simply do not be-
lieve it. When herds which have been bred for mere excellence
cOTe to the himmpr, although purebred beyond all question,
they makfi prices which are about double, the v <lue of ordinary
stock, and lealise an average of fri.m £40to £50, Such animals
go info rent p lying stock-breeders' hands, and do an
immense amount of good to the stock of the country.
But wlien some " fashionable" herd is under the ham-
mer, th'iusanda sterling are realised for animals bred
on fancy lines, though not possessing one feature of recom-
Diendation to an outsider beyond those at £10 apiece; in (act,
as animals, they are olten not so good. If tlie stuck o( this
countty; or that of any other country, is to be benefited liy this
•' fashion" breeding, I tail entirely to see in what way. I
believe a vast amount oiirijury is being done by these fanciers,
becau-^e tliey poison the stream at its lountain-head. They
set a fashion, which others must follow to some extent, or lail
to obtain good prices. With the material they have had to
work with, tliey might by this time have made the Shorihorn
a more perfect buicher's animal tlian any in the world, if they
had made that tlieir object. But they have not ; or, as I
have already said, if Ihcy have, they have failed. Vourcjr-

respondent, " T. C. J." makes some remarks on this subject
with which I entirely agree, and with him, I " hope fur a re*
turn to the o d common-sense practice of breeding with refer-
ence to prc.fi'able and useful qualities," and wlien that time
shall come, 1 have no doubt the Shorthorn will be equal to
any other breed in respect ot his carcase, and superior to all
in respect of his adaptability to varied conditions of exist-
ence.

There is yet an important consideration to be noted. Short-
horns in America appear to be used chiefly as meat-producers;
whereas in England they are cliii-fly used as comhincd meat
and milk producers. Il they were raised into the front rank
as meat producers, tliey would probably be no better milkers
than other breeds which are raised solely for beet; and thus
lose, to some extent their cosmopolitan ciiaracter, though pos-
sibly not their special adaptability to systems of mix- d
husbandry — in other words, to being reared on arable farms.
With profound respect for Ziuatt, I do not believe in a
combination of perfections, though I willingly award them a
combination of excellencies. Beef and mills appear to be as
antagonistic as mutton and wool, and practise has not yet
demonstrated that, in either case, both can be combined in one
breed to anything approaching per'e;tion. A perfection of
corabinatioa may be attained, but not a perfection of both
products.

LAND DRAINING.

The following is a report of Mr. Manfield's paper
oa " Land Draining," read at a meeting of the Isvvorth
Farmers' Club : —

III meeting to^cether again I am sorry I cannot congratu'ate
you upon a return of more prosperous times, ahhoiuh Ian
thankful to say we have been more favoured thruu h having
finer weather than our neighbours a few miles di.-tant, so-
that most of our barley will command a good price ; were it;
not so, lliis year would r ink with its immediate predeces-ors-
as being amongst the worst for many yenrs past. You are
aware the Committee has circulnted a schedule ot prizes to be
c impetcd for and awarded at our autumn sho* ot routs, &.•.,
which will be held later than usual, partly in consequence of
the backwardness of the root crop, and partly that we niight
have a moonlight night to go home. You will have noticed
there is one prize not offered this year, viz., for frtrmers' sons'
plouihiug. Our Presiiient would have much pleisure iu
giving it if there could be found a fair amount of competi-
t'on ; he is making a stay in Cornwall, or he would liavr been
with us to-night. Ue never misses an opportunity of helping
the Ixwotth Farmers' Club ; it is mainly ihrough his influence
and example that it has risen to its present position, and witb
the assistance of our Vice-President and neighbouring land-
owners, and mauyof jou gemlemen who are the rank and
file, a mo>t important part of our army, it must still continue
to increase in iufiuence and use'ulnes". It will soon be
incumbent upou us to revise our rules. We have outgrown
the scope of most of them, bat there is one we have not
acted up to, which provides that prizes shall be given annually
for land draining, for which the Club has never given one;
but last year Mr. Castledine gave a prize, and I think I am
ight in sayinir that h friend has offered to give £1 for a prize
fur land draining this year. It is through a disappointment
that I h-(ve undertaken to introduce a subject to-night. Our
friend, Mr. Castledine, had promised to read a p^per upon the
" Storage of Water," but through the pressure of business at
this s(aso ' he is compelled to defer it until December, ilather
th<n let the month pass without a meeting 1 am here to
bring to your notice the very common-|ilace subject of "Land
Drainage." Mnny will tliink there is nothing they can learn
upon that, and they are right ; but I find it better sometim;'s
to overhaul our knowledge of very familiar snijects, and not
fo allow it to remain inactive. I liave noticed that during
the last few years very little land draining has been done. I
look upon it as the foundation of the successful and profitable
cultivation of all land that requires it. Upon «et land weeds
will grow well ; corn will rot. Manuring is but of little use.
I shall not occupy your time by dwellinj upon how land was
drained many years ago, but speak britfly upon the different
met'iods as practised now in our locality, viz., steam mole
ploughing, and draining by manual labour. \\'liere there is a

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

lol

gool fall for tlie wnfer I havR found tlie steam mole plough
do its work very wtll. Tliirtten years a^o 1 had a field steam
mole p'ouiihed every three years. In doing it all the .'urtace
soil between the drains was moved. It was a very stony fit-ld,
and I believe the drains work well now. My usual practice
has been to have these »teara drains a rod apirt, and thirty
inches deep. Great care should be taken 'o keep the plough
iu an iipright position ; otherwise the bottom of the dr;iin is
unlevel, and the cost probably wasted. Some I mole ploujjhed
ten years ago. I drained with the spade two years ago, when
I could as easily find where the blade of the plouu'h had cut
as if it hi:d been done only one month. Tlie cost of steani
mcle ploughinj; is about 30s. per acre, exclusive of cost of
horses to draw the ploughs about. It is not suitable upon
moderately fldl land, or land with many sand galis iu it. It
is more or le^s an inellicient substitute for good pipe draining.
The proper time for steam mole plougliing is when the land
is dry, as there is a difficulty in keeping the main drains done
close up to the plough. If they are not, in a wet time they
are rendered useless at once. I look U|iou draining by spade
as the best and most economical method. All things con-
S'dered, F prefer to drain upon an unbroken wheat stubble.
It is cleaner to wslk upon, and it ploughs much better after
than before being drained. The first ihintr is to find ihe best
laii for the water. It is almost impo^siiile to do this in mxny
fiplds without a lev^l, but with a little practice I have found
tlie common brickhiyer's level answers every purpose.^ There
are levels made expressly for the purpose, but these are more
or less expensive. Having ascertained the best fall, I proceed
to draw the drains, ploughing six furrows, or, as it is called
here, five furrows aad a brow, by which means the drain is
drawn ten inches deep. The distance from drain to drain
must vary accurdirg to the soil and the depths of drain', but
where wood, furze, or straw is used for filling up, the drains
should not be more than six yards apart, or less than thi ty
inches de.'p. If pipes are used, the drMins shou'd not be
more than nine yards apart, or less thin forty inches deep, but
upon this great difference of opinion prevails. We are in-
debted to some gentlemen for what I may call experiraentHl
and ttieoretical farming ; where they are unsuccessful — and
they frequentiv are — we need not follow their example. I
have profited by the experience of some who have depa-ted
from the old-fashioned and beaten course of land draining. I
have seen drainin? done not more than twenty inches from
tiie surface, and filled up with straw. I thought the money
was not well spent. I have also seen it done (upon a very
stiff blue clay) four feet deep, under the direction of a Land
Improvement Company. I thought it would have been mure
effectual twelve inches nearer the surface ; had it been mine
it should have been so — but I am bound to add that the
tenant of the land, sora"^ years afterwards, told me he was
quite content to pay the increased rent which covered the
cost of drainage. I have seen deep pipe drainin? exceedingly
well done at Thornham, where they did not go upon such a
hard aud fast line as the Land Improvement Company did ;
and I also remember seeing some very excellent draining at
Drinkstone, where I think the drains were generally nine
yards apart, and forty inches deep. In the last three instances
pipes were used. Hiving drawn the drain ten inches deep
with the plough, a very good drain may be made tbirfy-two
inches deep by taking out two spits of earth. The cost,
exclusive of material for filling up and drawing drains, is
about 35^. per acre. Such draining, if properly done, will
stand well for about twelve years. I prefer wood or furze for
filling up drains to straw, as either of the former are more
durable and cheaper than the latter. The methods of which
1 have spoken are hut makeshifts in comparison with good
pipe dr!>inage. My own prac'ice is to have the drains drawn
cine yards apart, ten inches deep; I then go thirty inches,
three spits with the spade. At fi'St I have a difficulty to get
the proper depth ; I always have a long spline in the fifld,
which I lay across the drain, the ends of the spline resting on
the unploughed land, I rrquire forty inches from the under-
side of that spline, I always have a man whose business it is
to lay in the pipes and see the work is properly done. He is
not albwed to pass any that is not the proper depth, or im-
properly done. I find a cart of water in the field very useful
for the levelling when the draining is going on. When the
drain passes out of the hands of the man who digs it the
pipelayer puts in his pipes and c.vers them with a litt'e of |
the surface soil, other men follow and spread all the soil that

has been taken out of the drain. Tlie drain is a''terwards
ploughed in, long wliippletrees being usrd. The cost of
draining in this w«y for manual labour is from 40«. to 50s.
per acre, the pijifs about two guin-as. Such draiainir is very
durable, aud will last for many years. Ttie clay-spreaditig
costs an additional five shillings an acre, making the cost of
thorough draining aud claying £4 123. an acre, exclusive of
drawing drains and carting pipes. I prefer having very few
eyes aud using large pipis for tiie main drains, the size of the
pipe to be according to the extent of land drained by it. The
question arises. Is a tenant justified in making such an out-
lay ? I should say certainly not, unless lie is protected by
something beyond the custom of the cjuutry. Such draining
as I have described should be deemed an unexhausted improve-
ment lor 20 years, and tlie tenaut should be entitled to com-
pensation in respect of it during that time, as provided in the
Agricultural Holdings Act. And again I should say certainly
not, as it is a work that should be paid for by the landloid,
done under proper supervision, and the tenaut should pay a
reasonable amount of interest upon the outlay ; or tlie land-
lord should find pipes, charging the tenaut iuierest upon the
outlay, and the tenant find labour, the unexhausted value
then of being spread over a much longer period than usually
allowed by the cu>tom of the country. A landlord might not
feel justified in making such an outlay ; such hu one could
go to a Land Improvement Company, who woold see the
work was properly executed, and tue cost would be paid off
withiu a certain number of years, as also provided in the
Agricultural Holdings Act; or a landlord on paying to the
tenant the amount of compensation due to him under this Act
may obtain from the County Court a charge on the holding in
respect thereof (S.^clion 42). I can see no reason why
draining suoh as I have last described, and well done, should
not be as efficacious at the end of 50 years as at the beginning.
It is more economical, as it requires to be done but once,
while draining filled up witli wood would require to be done
four times during the same period, aud there is not much
dilfi'reuce in the tost for manual labour whatever material is
used for filling up. Oue reason why more draining is not
done is, that farmers a'e frightened at the cost, and they
have not sufticient security for the unexhausted improvement,
although the cost of shallow draining is not grea'er than the
cost of manuring with farmyard manure. In the laiter case
the return is immediate and almost complete, but in the
former the return is more gradual, and remains unexhausted
for a longer time. To my mind, draining thirty inches deep,
and well done, filled in with wood, should be deemed an un-
exhausted improvement for not fess than six years, and that
au outgoing tenant might fairly be recompensed upon that
scale, deducting one-sixth of the cost for each year the work
has been completed. Another reason is, in some places it;
has been difficult to get a sufficient supply of good drainers,
although I have never had any trouble in getting any number
I wanted, and very good land drainerls too, from this and the
adjoining parishes. I find labouilers are most plentiful
brtween the times of wheat sowing and wheat hoeing. Two
years ago I had between forty and fifty acres of pipe draining
done, and I gave no more for it than I did eleven years ago.
Last year I saw more labourers standiug about the streets of
Ixv.orlh than I have seen for many years, and I think most
likely tliere will be more s'ill tt.is yt-ar. In conclusion, I lay
particular stress, whatever methods are pursued, on doing
laud draining thoroughly. I have seen fields where part has
been laid dry, the water has been taken from oue part of the
field to anotiier, and not carried off altogether, leaving part
of the field wetter than it was before aiiytliing was done.
Where draining is rtquisite nothing is so wasteful or un-
profitable as to neglect it ; but where it is requisite and dorie
well there is no farming operation so profitable.

An interesting discussion foUowed, in which there was a
general expression of opinion that a depth of thirty inches
was sufficient on heavy land.

A HANDY YOUNG WOMAN.— A young lady of Rich-
land, S. C, exhibited at a fair a few days ago a .-nit of clothes
of her own make. She sheared the wool, spun the yarn, wove
and dyeJ the cloth, cut and fi'ted the clothes.to fit her brother,
aad_ sewed them (with a needle — not with a base, mechanic
sewing machine), makin? as handsome an outfit as the back
of man could dtsir'. , - Ontario Mail,

1)2

THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE
CiKENCESTER.

The Rev. John Constablp, M.A., Principal oftheAuri-
cultural C'olleste at Cireiicester, read a paper a' tlic Soaial
Science gathering at Clieltealiain, from wliicli the following
are extrac's : —

" TiiecDllPfre founded 33 years ago under a Royal Charter,
orifjiiiH'ed in a desire on the part of farmers and others ioter-
es'ed in agriculture to improve the general education of the
sons (if tena .t fanners. The college fei-s were very low, to
meet the necessities of the chss lor which it was designed.
Tlie system of educa'ion was to be as gi"neral as'possible, with
tlie a'd'lilion of sound teachinst in the fcience on which
aji-iculture depend, and daily observation ofiheworkon an
eiB>;iently managed farm. Tli» theory of this was good, ele-
the result must have been satisfactiry had the human and
ments necessary in such work been all that theory desired.
It must be obvious on reflection tliat, the difficulties would be
found, first, in securing the services of an f-ffiijient farm
mauager, and then in the proper con rol of the heterogeneous
uneducated mass tliat would be brought together at the
outset of such an original undertaking

'* It seems to be the generally-received opinion among farmers
that no one is likely to be a successful cultivator of the soil
wiio has not been accustomed to the work of a farm from his
very youth ; and no doub', whether this be exclusively so or
not, there is very little ([uestion that the sooner all youths
work at their future trade the more skilful they are likely to
be as m^n. It was this ingrained notion in the agriculmral
mind wliich made the fanners of England look favourably on
the Cirencester scheme at the outset, because it seemed to
promise the progress of a good general and scientific ednca-
tion without the divorce from the agricultural life pure and
simple. I^or do I hesitate to say, aft<'r 20 years experience
that it the ideal could be practically carried out, the result
would be all that could be desired.

" A 'ew years ago some of the chief men in Gloucestershire
—Lord Fitzhardinge, Colonel Kingscnte, S'r John Rolt, and
Mr. Edward Holland — organized a scheme and raised a fund
to send annually two students to Cirencester College free, or
nearly so, of expense. This opportunity was off^-red to the
Farmers' Club at Kingscote, and, although at first accepted,
was uUimately declined on the ground that no collegiate
training, however sound and good, could compensate the
youth and the father for a two years' divorce from the
practical work of the farm at a time of life when the mind is
most receptive.

" Without recapilulating in detail the many steps and
alterations which have been made in the progress of Ciren

THE FARMERS MAGAZINE.

management of stock of every kind. On tlw collcg- fi«r *i
may be seen excellent horsep, sheep, niid pi(;s. If tie
assninptiiin on which we coniinenced tins paper be a correct
one, it follows that dur course is most auccfssful when it is
broufjht to bear upon youths who havo been brought np ou
farms, and that, although mucii sound and useiul know-
ledge may be acquired by mch as cotiie to us without any
previous connection with the sol, it is to be expected that,
except in a tew rare cases, the efforts of 8U< h men to become
good fanners, with or without a subsequent training of years
on a farm, are likely to prove abortive.

"To farm with success a man must not only kno* how and
why to do things, he must be able to do them ; and althoutrh
education may help to develope the power to do, it is generally
believed that experieuCb and thetraicing of early life are mure
effective. Given young nieu adapted to the trade and reared
among its details, the educttion of Cirencester is excellent.

"For men whose future life, although much in contact
with agricultural matters, such as land agents or owners of
property, will not be burdened with the direct management of
land, the course of instruction is well suited. An intending
land agent can there learn all the blanches of his profession ;
so that, in a very short t me, uuder the instruction of an agent
really engaged in business, he may enter ou his profession
with an excellent chance of success. For those youths
destined for colonial life, it ie manifest that all that can be
said of the instruction is that it, is the best which this cjuntry
offers for tlieir peculiir requirements. In general, a colonist,
as every other member ot the Country, cannot but be benefitted
by the possession of accurate and extensive scientific know
ledge, but how far it is essential to his prosperity no genera,
statement can be made, as each colony has its special require-
ments.

'•The results as yet achieved, first, as regards firraers, pure
and simple, are encouraging, although small. Secondly, a*
regards agents, many creditable gentlemen who have been
educated at Cirencester may be found managing many of the
largest and most important estates in the couutry, and laud-
owners as a body will, year by year, owe a larger debt of
graiitude to tho^e disiuterested and noble men who saved
Cirencester College some years ago from ending its thort
career. As time rolls ou, the influence of agents educated at
Cirencester must be more and more rx'ensive and productive
of the best possible results to the landed interest. As regards
colonists, the rec rds are too scanty to admit of con-
clusions worthy of note. It is manifest that it would be
j preposterous either to expect much or to attribute much to oue
■ year's residence here ol a youth who is only in too many cases
yearning for freedom and anxious to get away from all
restraint and instruction, for it, should ever be remembered

cesfer College from its institution to now, it is necessary to , ^ ^, ., , , .... , . j

sav that from ditiiculiies of management and of funds the ('>«* tl>e youths who choose colontz .'ion in general to do so

effort to aid the general c ass for which it was instituted has

been abandoned; the lees have been raised so as to lift the
college ont of the reach of small and middle-cUss farmers,
and to leave it for the use only of the wealthy agriculturists,
wealthy land ageuts, professional men, and landowners.

" But this has been forced on the managers by circum-
stances. It offered the only chance of meeting a large
pecuniary liability. When that liability is gone in the course
of years, and the oUege reverts to the original shareholders,
it is possible that the experience of 40 years and the progress
in the general intelligence of the country may enable them to
try once more the original experiment.

"The ohject, therefore, ot the education at Cirencester is
somewhat clianjjed. There is no effort made to carry on
general education, the aisiimption being that those who join
have liad the average amount of mental training as furnished
by the good schools ol tlie country.

"The course is a scientific one, consisting of teaching in
chemistry, hotauy, geology, veterinary suruery, drawing,
mensuration, surveying, mechanics, physics, book-keeping,
and agricultural law, the whole being taught with a direct
reference to the requirements of an agriculturist.

" The effort to combine this teaching with systematic
instruc ure in agrieuiture is still continued ; a very complete A young English clergyman in a country parish thus reveals

course of lectures on agriculture in all its phases is delivered , some of the secrets ot the clerical prison-house;—" Oh, there
annually, and by the aid of a well-manaeed 500 acre farm are four of us whose churches are neighbours, and we have a
the students have the opportunity of watching all practical ^ whist-party every vveek, and the loser writes the Saaday ser
agricultural opperatioas and of becoming acquainted with the ^ moa« for the party.

through failure at school, from a dislike of work, and from a
belief that einigratiim affords a chance of competency without
the necessity o' labour.

" The education at Cirencester costs from £126 to £153 for
in-students or £50 for an outstudent ; the course is one of
two years. The system is, in general, two lectures weekly on
each subject, and Ireqiient practical classes in the laboratory
and on the farm The instruction on an average is about
18 hours a week for each student, with an examination by
printed paper every Saturday. The college is empowered to
grant a diploma. The average number in a ye ir is six. Since
its foundation 2u0 diplomas have been awarded.

" I may say, in conclusion, that knowing the vast impor-
tance of judument in selecting stock, in fixing prices of
grain and all produce, the edn.atiou of the eye by practic:il
work ol every description is kept prominently before tlie
teachers. Ou the college premises there is an excellent
laboratory, niu>eum, botanic gardens, veterinary ho-ipitil,
forge, carpenters' shop, and lathe room ; these, Cjinbined with
the daily sight of excellent cattle, bors -s, sheep, and pigs,
should help to train the eye to recognize good form and
quality."

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

105

••• OUR HANDICAPPED NATION."

Mr. William Tal'ack writes to the Daily News: — In all
parts of the couairy there is bein^ felt the pressure ot hard
times. Yet there appears to be very ii. adequate a'lentiou to
oue o( the main causes — nanrely, the excee( ing (jreat degree
in which uur nation is" hundicapped" m i's comineriial race
and cotupetitiou wiili oilier ciuntries. If your reiders will
refer to a linle Blue-bnok annually ('nblisled, entitled the
' Statistical Ahstarct of liie Uuied Kingdom," ihey will find,
10 tile asioiii>liiiie.it of niany of thi-iu, that the weiglit qI' onr
" handicap" is ah.iiit 130 inilUDiis sterling per annum. That
is to say, about 85 millions tor Imperial laxat'on (army, navy,
national debt, pensions, civil list, &e.), and -t-t inilliuns lor
local taxation (locil boards, highways, i olice, education, poor
rates. Sac). What nation can suceessluHy " run" under this
tremendous burdiu ? Is increase as of \\le. years, or even its
■continuance as at present, must gradually inscribe on the run-
ner the ominous «ord " Llnbod." Under it even Great B'i-
taia must fall behind in the race of nations, unless her people
Bud statesmen, but priinatily the former, device effectual means
for reducing this huge weiiilil. And how insignificant, t« us,
are the affairs of Turks, Afghaus, Russians, and " hoc genus
orane" in comparison with this vast hurae interest. The
popu lation of this kin?dora beini; 33 millions, this weight of
120 millions sterling amounts to £4' for every man, woman,
and child, or £20 per family of five throughout the country.
This is an unimportant sum for the upper and middle classes,
but, as an entire national average, £20 per home is a treraeu-
dou^ annual burden. Aud how much of the nation's wealth
does it consume ? First, the Imperial taxation absorbs an
amount equal to all the following — viz., the toial imports, so
far as they are retained (or home consumption, of wheat,
£34.000,000 sterling ; barley, £5,000,000 ; Indian corn,
£10,000,000; rice, £3,000,000; sugar, £26,000,000 ; coffee,
£3,00(1,000; aiil raisins, £1,000,000. The whole of these
products of primary need, as imported and retained for the
people of the United Kingdom, amount, in value, to £81,000,000.
But our present Imperial expt-nditu^e actually exceeds all this !
Add to this our local tax ition, which exactly equals the com-
bined sum o( our large import ot wool (£15,000,000 for home
use) and the ne' profits on all the English, Scotch, Irish, and
Welsh railways (£29.000,000 per annum), making £44,000,000,
besides the Imperial taxation. How can our raanulacturers,
merchants, farmers, working men pay, directly or indirectly such
enormous sums, aud at the same lirne compete auccessfully with
nations like the United States, which are comparatvely free from
similar exneuduun- P The real remedy is neither for the manu
facturer to lessen production, nor for the working man to ask
less wage", but for all to combine iu compelling legislators of
both parties (for both are concerneo) to find means of cutting
down, this hu;;e imposition. It will bear cutting down, lor
njuch of it is for extravag-int and worse than useless war expen-
diture. It is the interest of certain powerful classes to set the
millions gaping eastward and speading large resources and
money on mere outlandish matters. But it i.s high time to
look at home. All other political interests are inferior in
importance to this great question. It should be the question
at the next general election, and should be taken up in a
patriotic spirit by men ofall parlies. But unless the constituencies
enter upon it in earnest aud act resolutely upon it at every
election, they may be certain that their legislators will help
them in the matter as little as heretofore. Vet it is ascertain
that if the nation, as a body, looks into the subject it will be
impressed with its magnitude and importance and will take
steps towards effectual relief.

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES & POOR RELIEF

The following circular has been issued by the Guardians
of the Si. Albaus Union and sent to other Boards of
Guardians : —

Gentlemen, — Poor Law Guardians have two weapons
with which to prevent property being rendered valueless, and
from being entirely consoraed by the recipients of relief. One
of these weapons is a po»er to insiit that relief shall not be
administered except to persons in a state of destitution ; the
Other is a power to insist that relief shall not be adeiinistered
otherwise than inside the workhouse, unless otherwise ordered
by the Guardians.

Mr. Slellor, M.P., has in'rodnced a bill into Parliament to
amend the " Poor Law Amendment Act, l^Y'i." The effect of
the bill, should it become law, will be to b'lmt, if not to de-
st'OV, these two wetpoiis, so far as they may at any time be
applicable to married members of irieudiy Societies being
sick, and applying for relief.

Sir Henry James, BI.P., Ins recently fully explained the
matter. In a speech at fHimton in October last, he said: —
" He (Sir H. James) fully admit ed the t;eneral principle
that a man » ho hail property of his own ought not to be
supported at the expense of others. The injustice of such a
state of things WIS loo apparent to ueed any demonstration;
and if, therefore, Mr. Mellor's bill had proposed th^t S'llglft
men, who had only themselves to support, sln.uld be supported
from the rates, and yet retain the sum payable to them Irom a
friendly society, it would, in his opinion, have been a very
unjust and objectionable measure."

With regard to married men. Sir H. James takes a dif-
ferent view. He says: — " The married man who subscribed
to a friendly society, did so with the very object thai in cise
of his own illness some provision might be found for his wifo
and children, so that t!iey mii;ht not be dependent upon
parocliial relief, even if he should become so hiinsel'."

We submit that the proper place for a married member of
a friendly society being sick, and consequently entitled to sick
pay, is at home with his wife, aud that tiie resources of the
two are legally applicable to his support ; and we consider
that, in the event of any application being made for relief to
the Guardians, the same rule of law should be applied as
would be applicable to persons who are not members of
friendly societies.

The representatives of the Friendly Societies state that they
number from four to fivi- million members ; that they have aa
annual income of £3,000,000, also a subscribed capital of
£15,000,000 ; nevertheless they are seeking Parliamentary
powers to compel their fellow ratepayers to support their
married members incapacitated by sickness, the sick pay being
devoted to the support of the member's wife and family. (See
JMote.)

Your experience as administrators of relief we think will
have convinced you how necessary it is that the rule that des-
titution should be the only qualification for relief should be
rigidly maintained; also that the power — if thought advisable
— of imposing the restraint of the workhouse should not be
taken away from the hands of the Guardians,

We therefore trust that you will join with us in endeavour-
ing to prevent any alteration of the law in favour of the
Friendly Societies.

The St. Albans Board of Guardians has decided to send a
Petition to Parliament with this otiject.

The Petition is as follows: —
To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom

of Great Britain and Ireland, in Parliament assembled : —
The Humble Petition of the Board of Guardians of the St.
Albans Poor Law Union, slieweth, — That your Petitioners,
believing that the principle of the English Poor Law, that no
person has a claim to relief from the rates except in case of
actual destitution, is sound, and should be strictly and impar-
tially followed in the administration of relief, consider ihat
property of every descrip'ion belonging to a recipient of re-
let should ve-t in, and be receivable only by, the authority
which may have been required to advince relief.

Your Petitioners consider that the interest of a member
in a benefit society shou d not be by Legislation made an
exception to this rule.

Your l^etilioners therefore pray your Honourable House
not to repeal the 23rd section of the "Divided Parishes and
Poor Law Amendment Act, 1876," but to bear in mind the
safeguard against undue severity contained iu the section,
leaving it discretionary lor Justices in Petty Sessions to order
payment.

Signed on behalf of the Board of Gnardians,

W. Hammokd Solly, Chairman.

Note.— Sir H. James says: — " A married ranu became ill,
and received parochial iu-door relief, but his wife and children
by means of his sick pay were supported, and his home re-
mained intact, and received him when he was restored to
health and ability to work, and he made a fresh start at
once."

tol

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

•CAPITAL REQUIRED IN AGRICULTURE.

At a meeting of the Borou^hbriilge Agricultural Socie,tj>
Mr. T. S. Mason, Fount ainliHll, read a pnpe.r "Gu the Capital
Required in Agriculture." He snid he had had in n ind a
mixed 'farm in the neighbourhood of 300 acres, in fair condi-
tion— two-thirds arable and on«-tliird grass, rented at 35s.
per acre. Such a farm he calculiited would require a capital
of from £12 to £17 per acre. The hnlf-yearly rent and rates
he estinjated at £1 Is. per acre ; valuation as tenant-riglit,
18s. ; machinery and implements, 30s. ; horses, £1 as. ;
stock, £5 ; cake and artificial manure, £1 5s, ; labour, £1 5^. ;
furniture and houkekeepiiitj, £1 10s ; repairs, 3s. ; and 3 -.per
acre in addition made up il-i per acre. Wish rejard to the
valuation as tenant-right, the sura he had set down was low,
for it would undergo considerable change, according to the
manner in which a farm had been carried on, and accoraiug to
the nature of the holding. Few but those who had had it to
do could estimate the cost of putting a farm in good condition
which had been allowed to run back. Time and capital had
to be expended which outweighed any amount of tenant-right.
It was most essential tiiat a correct id^a of the value of the
tenant-right should be known before a farm was taken, so that
ro miscalcKlatious might cripple the after management.
Then machinery and implements were a great expense in the
first year, but without them no farmer could make iieadway
in the present day. This expense would be proportionately
heavier on a small farm than on a larije farm. He thought
he had given a moderate estim.ate of the amount required for
cake and artificial manures. The consumption of cake was,
perhaps, the one grand feature in high farming, and the more
stock they could keep in an improving condition the better for
themselves and for the land. The item of repairs was sorae-
imes forgotten ; and altho'igh it was not a large payment, yet
if it came without being calculated upon it was sure to be
troublesome. They must bear in mind that this capital which
was invested was only returned at long intervals, and some-
times they had to wait for better seasons and improved mar-
kets before they secured the whole of their capital with
interest. It was in this waiting that the man without capital
came to grief. No doubt there were ins'.ances where men
with small means had been fortunate enough to meet with an
exceptional season, and thereby raise money enough for the
continuance of the farm, but these instances were rare. It is
not to be understood, however, that capital was the only thing
requisite; it must be onupled with practical knowledge aiid
sound judgment. The want of practical knowledge and suffi-
cient capital were the two great causes of agricultural failure.
With regard to the question. Does farming pay ? he answered
not at present; but it would pay when properly conducted.
With freedom from imported disease, and the evidence ol that
consideration which agriculture would really claim, the capital
would not be wanting to improve the producing power of the
land. It was in the public interest that the country should
produce largely, and anj thing which hindered that production
was an injury to tlie country.

Mr. Bennet thought that the estimates set down in the
paper were a little too low ; but the cost depended very much
on the locality. Most of them weie of opinion that farming
did not pay at present ; but he did not think that that was
owing to deficiency of capital. There were other reasons
which accounted for it. Still, farmers were apt to take farms
too large for their capital, for they did not consider when
taking tiiem that a very heavy tenant-right put so much per
acre on the rent of the land.

Mr. Brogden thought that an estimate of £12 per acre was
rather under than over-rating the coat. His o*n impression
was that £15 an acre was required.

The Rev. C. 11. Sale thought there was not so much more
capital required for farming now than formerly as many
people supposed. If there was more required for raachineiy
and implements, there was a recompense in the work being
better done : and though there was no doubt a iieavier
expenditure for cake and artificial manures, yet the
farmer of the present day had the advantage of quicker
returns.

The Chairman a?recd with the last speaker that fHrmers in
the present day could turn over their stock much more quickly
than was the custom thirty years ago.

Mr. T. SOOTT said that profitable farming meant high farm-
ing. But the que-tion of quick leturns was not a matter of
capital, but of profit. If tliey turned out iheir stock at au
earlier age than was the custo n formerly, yet they had lo get
them into condition by artificial manures, and therefore there
was the same am )unt of invented capital as if they kept tlie
stock three or four years.

THE LOCUSTS OP BRITISH AMERICA.— The first
annual report of the United States Eitomological Comraissio'x
relates to the Rocky Mountain locusts and tlie best methods
of preventing its ravages. The permanent breeding ground,
whiih has its southern limit at 38 deg. N., extends up into
British America as far as 53^ de,;. N., between 109 deg. and
113 deg. W. The sub-permanent breeding ground extends
east of this area to lake Winnipeg and part of Manitoba.
The region periodically visited extends beyond tins only to 9.j
deg. W., and does not reach so far north as the permanent
breeding grouud. The area of periodical visitation in the
States is very extensive, reaching as far south as 28 deg.| and
stretching across in some parts from 93 deg.|to 119 de^. The
maps indicating the areas of greatest ravaijes and the direc-
tions of migration show that while in 1S74 and again in
1S76 the greatest destruction occurred south of 4'? deg., the
locusts from British territory help to swell the number of the
invading swarms. The report speaks of tlie friendly co-
operation between the States and Dominion Governments in
investigating the suHjt-ct, and the remedies and derices for
checking the plague are discussed at some length. — Times.

WIIi\.T RABBITS CA.N DO.— Through the courtesy of
Mr. G. A. Gebherdt, of Mackeri.'da, near Kooringa, on whom
our special reporter called during Ids tour through the rabid'-
infes'ed country, in the North, we are able to give some
further particulars as to the destruction done in the Mount
Bryan district — one of the head-centres ot the rolent tribe —
and also some information as to the process of extermination
by means of bisulphide of carbon. Mount Cone is the name
of Mr. Gftbherdt's station, which is about eight miles from the
Burra in the direction of Mount Bryan and Hallet. A few
years ago Mr. Gehherdt was able to keep from 12,000 to
lljOOO sheep on this run, but owing to the alarming increase
of the voracious little rabbits he can now ouly maintain about
7,000 sheep, and these have so much of their food eaten up
tliat the percentage of lambs has fallen from about 80 per
cent, to 50; and this to in spite of the fact that hundreds
of pounds have been spent in killing the rabbits and destroying
their burrows. On one occasion, three years ago — when the
rabbits first cam-J in swarms to the locality and ate up the
grass — a thousand of Mr. Gebherdt's sheep died in ono
paddock. This year, one paddock — 2,200 acres in extent —
lias been wholly given up to the bunnies. It is close to the
Mount Bryan head-station. The owner and the people
generally in the district have given up killing until Parliament
passes an Act making it compulsory on the part of all owners
or occupiers to destroy the pest on the land. One 200-acre
section sown with wheat this year is now as bare as a road.
In another large paddock — 1,300 acres in extent — the rabbits
have killed all the trees and bushes by their simple method
of barking them. At dilferent times the owner of Mackeroda
has imported from Germany lucerne, rye, prai'ie, and other
grasses, but he lias stopped the cultivation of them rather
than feed the rabbits on these luxuries. Indeed so great and
so general has been the destruction on the Mount Cone Run
that he is afraid he will have to remove his stock if soii'ething
decisive and general is not done promptly. Mr. Trelliggan, a
neighbouring farmer, lost ono paddock this year, and rather
than sacrifice the wheat on another he has fenced it with
wire netting at a cost of about £50 a mile. The District
Council of Jtlount Bryan have levied rabbit rates to tie
extent of 3s. 3d. in the pound during the last IS moutiis, but
they have now suspended operations until the fate of the
second , Rabbit BUI is seen. They used to have weekly
deliveries of rabbits, and sometimes the number of scalps
received in one day was 40,000 or 50,000. Of the 50,000
sent in on one occasion, lt,700 cane from the Mount Cone
estate, and then the District Council Bank stopped payment.
Adelaide OLstrver,

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

lo;

mtiMi) of jni\ Sicnrjyi doxhtt

With iinich regret we announce the deatli of
Mr. Henry Corbet, for many years Editor of the
Mark Lane Exprsse, aged 53. Mr, Corbet had
been suffering from paralysis for three years, and
gradually sank from the effects of the disease. At
the end of 1875 he was compelled to retire from
active work, and although he first tried change of
air and scene, it soon became apparent that
recovery was hopeless. Ilis death took place on
Sunday, December 29. A sketch of Mr. Corbet's
life appeared iu the Fanners' Magazine for April,
1878.

The funeral of Mr. Corbet took place at
Chepstow on January 4, his remains having
b6en conveyed to that town iu order to be buried
with those of his father, wliich rest there. The
funeral wasof astrictly private character, only rela-
tives of the deceased having been invited to attend.

Having so recently given a sketch of Mr. Cor-
bet's life, a few particulars will suffice on the
present melancholy occasion. Mr. Corbet was
boi-n en December -31 st, 1820. Ilis father
was a country gentleman, well known as an
ardent sportsman iu his own district. He was
educated at Bedford Grammar School, and prepared
for the University, which, however, altered circum-
stances prevented him from attending. In 1846
Mr. Corbet, who had been some time residing in
Loudon, was elected Secretary of the Farmers'
Club in preference to a large number o' competitors.
During this year he wrote liis admirable Prize
Essay on " Tenant Right," which is as nearly
exhaustive as an essay can well be, and remains to-
day as unanswerable an argument as when it was
written. His next work was a Digest of the
Agricultural Customs of England and Wales,
compiled from the evidence given before Mr.
Pusey's Tenaut-Right Committee in 1848. Mr.
Shaw, theu Editor of the Mark Lane E.qresi, was
associated with him in the production of this book ;
but we believe that Mr. Corbet did nearly all the
work.

In 185.3 Mr. Corbet became a member of the
Mark Lane JE'.i^/Jj'cs.b- staff, and shortly afterwards
he undertook the editorship, which he held till
December, 1875, when he was compelled to retire
on account of ill-health. For the same reason he
gave up the Secretaryship of the Farmers' Club, a
position which he had held for nearly .30 years.
He was then presented with a pecuniary acknow-
ledgment of valuable services rendered, and this was
followed by a more substantial testimonial, pre-
sented last year by his agricultural friends
generally.

Mr. Corbet was a member of the Royal Agri-
cultural Society of England — of which he was
for some years an Auditor — a member of the
Council of the Royal Agricultural Benevolent
Institution, a member of the Smitliiield Club, and
connected with other associations for the advauce-
meut of agriculture. In 167 G he was elected a

member of the Agricultural Society of France,
in recognition of "eminent services rendered to
agriculture."

Besides the literary work previously alluded to,
Mr. Corbet wrote " Tiiles and Traits of Sporting
Life," and contributed to the Royal Agricultural
Society's Journal, tlie Bath and West of England
Society's Journal, All the Year Roiuid, and other
journals and magazines. Ho also read many papers
before the London and other Farmers' Clubs.

In many respects, and especially as a live stock
critic, Mr. Corbet was an acknowledged power iu
the agricultural world. lie was accustomed to
express his opinions fearlessly and independently,
and by so doing he offended many, tliough he also
gained admirers on account of his staunchness and
courage. Lest our own evidence alone should be
thouglit partial, we quote an estimate of Mr.
Corbet as a stock critic from the Ipaxvich Journal
of January i. : —

To many of our readers Mr. Corbet was Icnown as a
brilliant writer on almost all kinds of live stock. In
tlie files of the 3ffi.rk Lane Express may be found some
of the most finished descriptions of famous horses and
other animals that are to be found in the language. It
was Mr. Corbet's practice to attend all the larger shows,
and he was usually present at our county shows in the
Eastern Counties. He was an unsparing critic, and if. a
defect existed the owner of the animal had only to hope
that Mr. Corbet might not see it — the animal we mean,
for he was sure to see the defect if he came to close
quarters, and he was certain to point it out. Practical men
held Mr. Corbet's judgment in great respect, and a cele-
brated judge of horses once said of hi xxi that he was as
good a judge as a man could he who had not been a
breeder. With a very wide experience of the celebrated
animals of the last 30 or 40 years, lipe judgment, and a
iiue, clear, vigorous style, Mr. Corbet always made his
live stock reports readable and valuable.

Mr. Corbet was pre-eminently what is termed
"good company." He had a strong sense of the
ludicrous, and his anecdotes, of which he had a
eood store, were both good and well told. There
are many who, in spite of an occasional " tiff "
with him, will now recall many a pleasant hour
spent in his company ; and there are many more
— in his wide circle of I'eaders — who will never
forget the earnestness and vigour which he de-
voted to the advancement of agriculture and to
the removal of the abuses which check its pro-
gress.

JEALOUSY IN OLD AGE.-From Enfield we hear of a
woman aged s;ventj-four committing suicide from the sup-
posed motive of jealousy of her husband, who was seventy-five,
but who she could uot bear to see talking to anj o;her woman.
It is iraficsbible to avoid a smile at the idea ol the " green-
eyed monster" inteifering wilh tlie peace of a cou;4e of old
p?ople v^liose united ages make lit) years. — London E.ipress.

"VESTMENTS."- High Church houspniaid flo low Church
cook.) " Lor, cook, how can }ou sit ar.d listen to a man as
wears nothin' but black alpuca I You .should have seen our
^OQDg priest this niorniup I He bad on a bh ck silk skirt,
with a vwhite cambric tunic trimmed with real AVallansheeus
laee as missis give him, a narrer 'igh-art green fcatf round
bis iieck ; au' when be folded bis arras scross bis buzzuro,
with his 'air parted down the middle, ob, he looked perfekly
lov-e-ly ;" — Ib'ul,

.106

THE FARMER'S MAGAZIKE.

THE CROP EETURNS.

(From the Mark Lane Exjn-css of January 6.)

In our Supplement to-day will be found the
Crop Returns for 1878, collected from several dis-
tricts in each of the English Counties, and from
five of the counties of Wales. In all respects
they confirm our anticipations, and justify the es-
timates which, in the face of much contradic-
tion, we have maintained in these columns, both be-
fore and since harvest. "While reports of an abund-
ant harvest were being published throughout the
length and breadth of the land, we stood almost alone
in protesting against such sanguine estimates,
which could only mislead, and did mislead, the
general public. The season had been so antagon-
istic to the growth of healthy corji crops that we
could not believe a generally'large yi-^ld possible,
and a careful examination of the wheat crop
showed that the ear.'' were not well filled with
grain, while the barley crop was obviously a rather
light one. We stated our conclusions, therefore,
to the effect that the wheat crop at the best was
onlv a bare average, and that barley was below
average. We were accused of " croaking," and
the multitude of witnesses, if not the weight of
evidence, was certainly against us. There was
such a full crop of wheat straw that those who
had not taken the proper means to ascertain what
was in the straw could not be made to believe that
the yield would be anything less than a very great
■one. Bv-and-by, however, as the thrashing machine
got to work, reports began to come in of wheat
yielding less than had been expected^ and these
reports became quite general as time went on.
Now that a considerable proportion of the crop
-^has been thrashed, it will be seen that out of 394
>Teturns, collected from farmers and corn mei-chants,
'122 are under average, 193 average, and 79 over
average. This, as we fully expected, is by no means
so bad a result as we had to chronicle at this time
last vear, with respect to the wheat crop of 1877,
when out of -109 returns, 869 were under average,
?)-i average, and only 6 over average. Jiut the
wheat crop of 1877 was, as stated last year, the
worst that we had reported on during a period of
fifteen years. The crop of 1878, on the contrary,
is better than most of the generally bad crops of
the last ten vears, being only beaten by those of
1870 and 1874, as a reference to a table given below
will show. In fact the crop of 1878 was so nearly
an averagre one tliat if prices had been satisfactory
It would have been a paying crop. Still, instead
(if having been underrated in our early estimate, it
was done a little more than justice to by ht)'u\g
described as a " bare average."

The barley crop, though good in exceptional
districts, was generally admitted to be inferior to
the wheat crop. Out of 379 returns, 170 are und;;r

average, 168 average, and only 41 over average
This, again, is a little better than the result
published last year for the crop of 1877, with res-
pect to which, out of .395 returns, we reported 260
to be under average, 116 average, and only 19 over
average. That crop, like the wheat crop, was the
worst, as shown by our returns, during a period of
fifteen years. Our ten years' table given below
shows that the barley crop of 1878 ranks aoout
fifth in the scale of deficiency, being, however,
very little better than the crop of any year but
1869, which appears to have been the worst barley
year of the ten.

Oats stand a wet season better than the other
scereal, and it is not, therefore, surprising to find
them represented in our abstract as the best «f
the three white-straw crops. In the ten years'
table the oat crop of 1878 stands as the third
best.

Of the pulse crops, beans, which love plenty of
•rain, appear much more to advantajre in our
abstract than peas, which do badlv in a very wet
season. Thus the bean crop of 1878 is about the
fourth best of those of the past ten years, while
the pea crop is one of the worst.

ABSTRACT OF GRAIN CROP RETirRNS FOR 1878.

1878.

Wheal

Barley.

Oats.

Bean.".

Pear.

79
193
122

41

108
170

74

213

91

35
131

82

9

122

114

Advices

39i

379

378

248

, 245

SUMMARY OF GRAIN CROP RETURNS FOR TEN

YEARS, ENDING WITH 1878.

Wheat.

Years.

Advices.

Over Average.

Average.

Under Average.

18n9

511

33

183

295

187')

487

lis

213

156

1871

478

29

121

328

1872

454

22

78

351

1873

415

17

84

3t4

1874

433

328

81

23

1875

420

7

53

3f5u

1876

414

33

131

250

1877

409

6

34

3fi9

1878

39^

79

193

122

Barley.

Year.".

1869

1870
1871
1873
1873
lS7t
1875
i87ti
1877
IS73

Advices.

Over Average.

Average.

Under Average.

489

27

185

277

521

59

144

318

462

111

2U

107

437

41

185

211

42G

86

266

74

413

93

181

134

4'')7

81

227

90

397

34

172

191

395

19

116

260

379

41

168

no

THE FARilER'S MAGAZINE.

lor

(\\T-

Yi-a's.

A.d»ice8.

l.)vi;r Average.

Average.

Under Average.

18rt9

491

32

209

250

1870

4+2

22

]U6

314

1871

458

123

27o

00

1872

430

103

226

101

1873

413

71

23S

I '9

1874

403

37

139

227

1875

398

70

183

no

1876

397

32

134

231

1877

30P)

40

149

207

1878

378

74

213

91

Beans.

Years.

Advices.

Over Average.

Avera({e.

Under Aversfffi.

J 869

452

2 +

167

201

1870

335

0

98

•2:n

1871

353

74

177

102

1S72

323

72

160

85

1S73

313

47

169

97

1874

307

9

85

213

1875

298

16

100

182

1876

280

8

118

154

1877

27G

5

48

223

1878

248

35

131

82

i'EAS.

Tear.-!.

Auvices.

Over Average.

Average.

Under Average.

1869

-IDS

10

98

300

1870

364

21

180

163

1871

396

135

186

75

1872

352

48

146

158

1873

336

39

200

91

1874

326

13

115

103

1875

300

10

81

209

1876

290

37

156

97

1877

282

5

70

201

1878

245

9

122

114

Both turnips and mangels are a little over
averar^e, as represented in tLe summary below,
turnips being- the better crop of the two. The hay-
crop was well-known to be a remarkably heavy
one, and our summary of the returns for this crop
presents the very pleasant feature of a blank in the
"under average" line. We are glad to see the
potato crop reported on much more favourably
than it was last year. After the abstracts of
returns for roots, hay, and potatoes for 1878 we
give those of the previous year, in order to show
the improvement in each case, making altogether
the most satisfactory portion of our present Crop
Returns.

Abstract or Root, Hav, kt^d Potato Caor Returns
FOR 1878.

1»7S.

1 Turuipa.

Mangels.

H.y.

gt

79

199

65

279

' 210

119

Under Average

_ ' 72

Advices

1 .*?82

343

398

Potatoes.

Free from disease 20

One-eighth deseased 74

One- fourth

Three-ei.;aths

Half

llive-eiglitlis

Three- fourths

Seven-eiglitlis

Failure

99
51
03
22
16
4
1

Abvpiuct of Root, Hay, axo Potato Crop Returx.s

Koii 1877.

Advices 349

1877.

Turuips.i Manf-ela.

iUy.

Over Averase

53

138

220

10
159

208

l:w

263

Under Average

19

Adviees

411 1 377

418

Potatoes.

Free from disease

One-cigiith diseased

Oje-fourth „

Three-eighth-s ,,

Half „

Five-eighths „

Three-ionrfhi „

Seveu-eighths „

Failure

4
28
70
61
132
51.
39
15

3

Advices 390

CATTLE DISEASES.

By the Revocation (No. 3) Order in Council, dated
19th December, 1S78, and lakin? effect from and after
the 3Lst, all Orders iu Cjuncil made at au earlier
date are revoked with the following e.xcentions, which
constitute tlie entire existing body of Privy Council as
distinct from statute made law, as regards coatagious
disea'-es and importation of live stock into Great
Bi-itaiu : —

Former Orders Kemaining iw Force aeter the
Commekcement of thts Order.

Subject or Short Title.

No.

Date.

1878.

442

Aug.

10

443

jj

10

444

»

Hi

415

16

446

Oct.

5

447

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5

448

J,

25

4 to

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25

4-50

Nov.

12

452

Dec.

6

453

,,

17

454

,j

17

456

J,

17

457

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17

458

jj

17

459

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17

400

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17

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17

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19

The Animals Order of 1878.

The Diseased Animals (in transit) Order o*' 187^^.

the Inf. cted Places and Areas (Movement)

Order of 1S78.
The Cleansing and Disinfection Order of 1878.
Mefropulis — rieuro-Pneuaionia — Movement.
Edinburgh — Pleuro Piieiunonia — Movement.
Veterinary Inspector — Drtfioition.
Gla.sguw — Plenro-Pneunionia — Movement.
Leith — Pleiiro-Pneiiinonia — Movement.
The Foreign Aniujils Order,
the Typhoid Fever of Swine Order of 1873.
Belgium and Germany — Importation.
Grimsby — Foreign Anim^ils Wharf.
IIaitIe[iool — Foreign Animals Wharf,
London — Foreign Ani'nals Wharf.
Plymouth — Foi-eign Animals Wharf.
Sunderland — Foreign Animals Wharf.
Southampton — Foreign Animals Quarantine

Station,
Euinburghshire — Plenro-Pneumonia — Move

ment.
The Transit of Animals Order,

THE METRIC SYSTEM.-"WjlliatB," began a Second-
street womnn as she laid aside the daily paper, " what is thi>i
new metric system proposed by Alexander Stepl.eu.s ?" " li'»
a very wise measure, indeed, my dear," he replic.l. "Suppose
you want a new dress, costing one dollar per yard?" "i'eu.
" under tlie metric system jou write to your father iu Wiscon-
sin for the mtney to buy it with. The money comes ; you
take half of it and buy me a pmr of pants, and then you us«
tlie rest in pnrciiasing fitly-c-nt dre,.ss goods, [t is a very good
measure, very good." "And they propose to make it a law,
do 'hey?" " They do." " Well, sir !" she excl-,<!med, showing
a red spot on each cheek," when the metric system comes io'o
practice in this farady, divorce «ill follow, and Alexanddr
Slephens is a fool, sir, a fool '." — Detroit Free Press.

I 2

108

THE FARMEB'S MAGAZINE.

ILAITD HOLDING AND AGEICULTUEE
IN EUSSIA.

■\Ve take from the Carlisle Patriot the followiug
report of an intercstino; description of the observations
made by the Rev. James Christie, of Carlisle, during a
visit to Russia: —

Mr. Christie began by enying everyone had beard, and
most people had read, about tlie great Russian fair at Nijui
T^ovgorod, held between the middle of July and the middle of
Sep'embrr, the eiglit weeks or so during which the greatest
amount of business was transacted. Nowhere else in Russia
could a better insight be had not only into the manners and
peculiarities of the frontier populatiocs, and info the cos-
tumes and commodities of uon Russian E stern and Westerns,
b it likewise into the commercial enterprise of the Russians
proper, whot-e merchants betake themselves thither from
every part of the country. He detailed certain arrangements
that had to be made before he and his co^npanion, Captain
Rickard, started from Moscow to Nijiii, and remarked, en
p saci/it, that when our fellow countrymen living in Russia
wanted English books, quarterlies, or newspapers, it was
necessary to order them through a Russian bookseller, other-
wise they would be hardly ever allowed to cross the frontier.
Wiien he left home he gave orders that the local newspapers
■were to be sent alter him by post to different towns on his
route, but he had not received a single copy. The censorship
of the press was excpedius-lv strict. He happeijed to he in St.
Petersburg when General Mezentsow was assassinated, and for
a week after the tragedy not a d^y occurred but one, and some-
times two of the columns ot tlie German newspapers
which referred to the social condition of Russia, were erased
by the censor's order before the journals were all'>wed to be
circulated in the capital. The distance between Moscow and
iS'ijni is i73 Eiglisli miles. The journey was through tlie
province and town of Vladimir. The town is now a great
cotton manufacturiug centre ; the province is one of the
richest in Russia for agricultural produce and manufactures.
Part of the journey was made during night. " When the rosy
morn broke," the rev. gentleman went on to say, " vve found
ourselves being hurried through a fertile and interesting
country, thickly dotted with comfortable and prosperous
looking peasant villages, and here and there a church, whose
gilded domes glistened in the fresh g'ory of the rising sun. It
was the middle of harvest, and thus early all who could bend
the back and use tneir hands in husbandry were far afield ;
the women, barelegged and barefooted, reaping ; the men
ritlier plougliing the land whence the harvest had
been gathered, or sowing rye, in due season to be
converted into the black bread of the couutry. ""he
modern history of this fertile district i« exceedingly in-
teresting. Until the time of the emancipation of the
serfs all the land in the direction of the Volga
was one unbroken forest, yielding, of course, hardly any re-
torn, or moat likely none at all, to the proprietors ; but now,
eince the communal .system has been introduced alongside tlie
act of liberation, and eaca male peasant has his allotment of
so many acres, the forest iias almost entirely disappeared, the
tree roots have been stubbed, and loaded and golden plenty in
average years both beautifies the landscape and gladdens the
hearts of these humble and incessant toilers. It is impossible
not to be intensely interested when we are informed by good
authority of these facts — facts which hold good in all parts of
free Russia a8 well as in the waterslvcd of the Volga, because
they serve to dispossess tlie mit>d of ideas wliich a class of
writers had carefully instilbd, or e.t any rate attempted to do
s 1. Before eraaneipattou became a f;ict practically worked out,
there we.re those who prophe-h'd that the peasants, as soon
as they found themselves free, with land of their own, would
degenerate into chronic idleness, and become as notorious for
their sloth as the Negroes in tlie We^t Indies after th^y were
liberated by KngUnd. After the emancipation there wereeer-
tuinly not a few of the late serfs who, in their ignorance and
simplicity, rejoicing in their newly-accjuired liberty, sceoied to
think that, freed from the dread of the knout, life was to be
one long hoi, day , and their example only gave redoubled vigour
to the vaticinations ol the grurab'ers that the whole thing was
iin ut'er failure, and that the empire was going — to the dogs,
sir; yes, sir, to the dogs! It is so very cxsy for some juiuds

to lay hold c f an exceptional instance, and raise it to the
heisbt of an eternal principle. A very short time, however,
sufficed to disabuse the minds of the peasants of all their
Utopian fancies, and, settling down under tiie pressure of a
blessed necessity, they began to work and improve their posi-
tion ; nnd they still work, and work better with every added
year of liberty. . . Between the liberated English slave
sud the liberated Russian serf there was this d tference. The
English slave secured his liberty at once, and had no special
tax laid upon him, which should remind him of his former
bondage ; the Russian serf also secured his liberty at once,
but upon the introduction of the communal system of land
holding, in which every male has an inde^asible right to a
certain portion of land, a land tax was laid upon tlie coni-
mane for the period of fi''ty years, that the landed proprietors
and former serf-holders might secure a certain amount of com-
pensation for tlie loss they had sustained. It is most likely
that a good deal could be said for such an arrangement, and
just as likely that a great deal could be said against it, and all
I say is just this, that from all I could learn, the arrange-
ment has produced no profound dissatisfaction. The serf's
have been liberated now for sixteen years, and all is working
well. May it do so, I say, till the fil'y yeirs have run, intro-
ducing into that vast and mighty country an endless jubilee,
in which Russia's patient, gentle, and hard-toiling sous of the
soil shall rejoice in the triple bliss of manhood and manhood's
rights and manhood's possessions. It cannot be that Rusti*
will ever allow the name and memory of Alexander the
Seeond, the good and generous Czar, to be forgotten, who, in
the liberation of his serfs, did so much to bring his country
out of the depths and darkness of barbarism, and place her
alongside those nations which form the van of civilisation and
empire. England, America, and Russia, three countries
intensely democratic, as those who know the peoj/le's pulse
best are well aware, although two of them have a form of
government most opposed to such an order of things, have
many things to be proud of, hut as 1 take it their proudest boast
before God and man may well be this, that none of them bear
on the national escutcheon the bar sinister of slavery, but that
in all of them every man is free, and that from this moment
every child that opens its eyes upofl the light of heaven shall
enjoy the inestimable privilege of being free-born." The
town of INijni Novgorod and the fair were grsphically
described. Ke said it was estimated that fully half a
million traders visit the fair during eight weeks. This year
the trade has been iinmense, and the rejoicings at this result
are unbounded. Smoking was strictly prohibited within the
bounds of the fair proper. The sanitary arrangements of the
town are admirable, a perfect system of stone buiit sewers
having been constructed, and they are flushed with water fro:n
tlie river twice each day. But the mora's of the fair were
something frightful. Upwards of 10,000 persons were im-
ported or import themselves, moistly Germans, Swedes, and
Tartars, wlnse virtue, to speak with a euphemism, is supposed
to be easy ; they formed a village beyoud the fair, and the
orgies practised there were so barbarous that those conversant
with the place say — " There is no viler hell on earth than
Nijni Novgorod during the fair time for those who choose to
make it so." It was quite a common thing for the Russian
youth, entering upon manhood, to indulge in one wild and un-
restrained debauch at the fair, which often cos's them £5,000,
and then to settle quietly down into provincial life. He had
a very enjoyable trip down the Volga to Kizan. Navigation
was difficult, owing to the reduction of the volume ot water
by summer's drought. It was to be feared that unless Russia
looked after her own interests, so far as her rivers were con-
cerned, she would lose the practical use of many of them be-
fore many years expired ; they were gradually going down,
sandbanks were accumuliting, and no dredgers were intro-
duced, or what was more important, no effort was made to
strike at the root of the disease, to arrest the serious iluviatile
depletion. In bis travels he found wood was the only article
of fuel used — not a bit of coal did he see in we,. Granted
then a vast country, using nothing but wood for fuel, it was
easy to understand the forrtts, which so directly affect the
rainfall, nwist be gradually and seriously decreasing in size, Uie
more so when no steps are taken either by the Government or
private enterprise to maintain any system of planting anew.
The effects ol sunset and sunrise on the Volga were glorious —
beyond compare. Kazan boasts of 126 factories of different
kinds. The fruit stalls were literally groaning ; there were

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

loo

™ 5lnns, apples, and peiirs — the latter deservin? tli« cognomen
° " I'lie Congress ot lifrliu," one of the late>t names given
*° a choice variety, a variety of toothsome fruit, much more
todthsorne he bhouid be inclined to say than the European
Conjrress was ever likely to prove to any oue ra-mber ot the
brotherhood of Empire — luscious grapes, dates, and figs, the
firjt fruits of tiie season. At Kazan the Tartar women, closely
veiled, walk abroad, although they are commonly tolilowed
either by tlieir Juisbands or by some aged female, who carries
the baby ; veiled though they are, however, they are not in-
sensible to the presence of the "infidel," and if they think the
husband won't see (they do not care for the old woman), they
very deftly and quietly draw aside one corner of the veiling
shawl and take a good look at you. They have ruddy cheeks
and dark eyes, and are a good deal more than good looking.
After alluding to the unhealihiness of Kaznn, he remarked
that the only instance of brutality he observed in Russia was
at that place. Touching on the subject of agriculture, land-
holcling, &c., Mr. Christie said the peasantry live iu small vil-
lages, containing from half a-dozen to a hundred houses. A
peasant's house, as on the banks of the Volga, was not par-
ticularly inviting to look upon, but the majority of them were
quite as comfortable and far more commodious than many an
English farm labourer's hovel. The houses were entirely
built of wood, the chimney standing up in the middle of tlie
slanting roof. In the corner of the kitchen was invariably to
be found the sacred image, or "Ikon." There are generally
three windows in eacli cottage, to allow not only the light of
day, but also of the Trinity, to get in. A large stove stands
in one corner, and above it is the " Palata," or sleeping place ;
wooden settles, used as beds, range round the walls ; and
these, with a table, a gaily metalled trunk or two, and a very
small assortment of ordinary domestic articles, constitute a
Russian peasant's household. Each cottage has a piece of
vegetable ground or garden behind, one portion of which
is used for producing sunlloi^ers. Every village lias its
common orchard, as well as its pui.lic bath rooms ; and every
house lias a bath- Cattle sheds range behind the houses ;
windmills are numerous over the country. Each male
peasant has from 15 to 30 acres of land, according to the
quality of the soil, and this is farmed on wha' in called the
" three fi.-ld system," which means — one-third annually lies
fallow, anotlier grows wlieat. and the remainder rye and grass.
In every village there is a church, generally with outer walls
whitewashed, and gay with green-painted domes. " The
peasants in Russia," Mr. Christie continued, " own upwards
of 70 millions of acres. The nobles have vast estates besides,
but so great is the extent of the country and so scanty in pro-
portion to the land is the population, that large districts still
remain uncultivated. In the south, and in vih.ilpar excel! nee
maybe called the granary of Russia, some corn speculators
occasionally farm as many as five and ten thousand acres, rert-
iug them at twopence per acre. This grain is entirely grown
for export purposes. For the last few years the Russian wheat
lias not been in such demand as formerly, on account of its
lessened size. Nor is this difficult to account for. The land

this zone varies from6A to 18 inches in depth. Some Englisli
farmers have settled do«n on it and have sui-ceeded well, and
even in the thinner soiled regions— as, for example, between St.
Petrrsburg and Moscow — if a Dutch liotir, or, better still, a
Scotch farmer, ouly got an allotment of a few thousand
acres, lie would think himself in paradise." The seasons
differed greatly and tlie climate was very uupropitious in some
districts for raising crops. He concluded as fullows : " la
the north of Russia the harvest is late, thousands of acres
were standing uncut wh^n I travelled through it at the end of
August. But when the grain has once been reaped and'
gathered the autumn sowiuus are soon got over. The harrow
follows the plough in that light, friable soil, the sower follows
the harrow, and another harrow follows him, and the work is
done. The grain soon germinates, and then comes the welcome
snow to protect tlie tender blade fro;a Ihs rigour of
winter. The thrashing floors are of ths primitive order, a
piece of ground beaten hard iu the middle of a field or near the
corn stacks, and then when the straw is removed women toss
up the grain into the air and winnow it. In the ^North the
horse only is used in agriculture. Midway between Moscov?.
and Kief the ox appears, and between them horse and ox per-
form the labour of the field. Midway between Kief and War-
saw the horse finally disappears, and the ox remains lord of
all he surveys. V^ast herds of oxen, sheep, and thousands of
swine are seen from time to time out of the railway. The Russ'an
pigs have a mane right do«n the back like the wild boar. Pro-
bably they are a cross. Tne shepherds ot Russia are the basest
and most ignoble of men. The peasants are a hard-working,
yea, e»en a slaving class. Once that the snows and spring rains
have disappeared it may be said they never rest from their
arduous labours rntil winter returns, when they take their rest
witli a vengeance by sleeping for days and weeks together, all
around, and if not exactly within, at any rate upon the top of
the broad fi it stove. The summer season is called by tlieiij
' passion' time, because of the length and severity of the toil.
In the harvest season tli^-y camp out in the fields, and toll
from the dawn of day until dewy eve has sunk into the dark-
ness of the night. Brave fellows, noble wives and daughters,
ve peasant women, ye know not what it is to eat the bread of
idleness. Devout, God-fearing, and passing industrious, the
Russian peasant has a noble future before hi n. Field industry,
generally begins abou' the third week in April, and closes
with the first week of October, and then begins the season of
village fairs and harvest lestivals, and no end of junketting.
The male peasants, brushed up, wearing felt or leather boots
red shirts, tall hats which would fetch a premium at Djnny-
brook, and sheep skin coats, meet togetlier and discuss the
affairs of the commune. The matrons also meet together, but
what they talk about, it would perhaps be difficult to say, and
the young marriageable girls go to the church in a body, and
pray, saying, ' 0 our lady, mother of God, cover the earth with
snow, and protect us wi h young men.' And tlie snow soon
comes and covers up every deformity, and makes ail lovely
and bright beneath the clear blue sky, and the young men
come too, and there is mirth, and dance, and song, and mar-

is not manured, and because of this it gradually becomes so "^'Ke bliss in Russian peasant homes, and thus the year goes,
exhausted that in many parts it must lie fallow 15 years before j round, and li e goes on from generation to generation."
it will yield another crop. At present this produces no great

practical inconvenience, if we except the diminished export
trade, seeing that when his allotment is exhausted the peasant
just removes his plough and farming gear lo a patch of virgin
soil ; but when the population of Russia has grown, as it must
do, some sort of system, which the peasant would now con-
sider high cla-is farming, must be introduced. The very manur-
ing of tbe soil, owing to the climate, would be no small difficulty,
and those who know the country best are of opinion that it
could be best done by parking sli-^ep, but for no longer time
in any one year than '2i hours. To do this for any longer
would make the land too hot ; in droughty seasons the grain
would be burned up, and in wet seasons it would run all to
straw. Rye is an autumn-sown grain, and when it gets proud,
because of the autumuHl rains, it is eaten down betore winter,
and thus is preserved and set ; in spite of thif , grain in Russia
grows best when sown in damp or wet soil, as tiiis hastens the
period of germination. In the north of Russia the land is
generally poor, down the gieat arterial river of the Volga it is
good, and in what is called the black earth country — so called
from the colour of the soil, an extensive zone extending almost
from the gites of Moscow to within sight of the beautiful
waters of tlie Dnieper — it is rich beyond compare. The soil ia

FAITH— The Prince of Wales and Dr. Lyon Playfair were
standing near a caldron containing lead which was boiling ac
white heat. " Has your Royal Highness any faith in science P"
said the Doctor. " Certainly," replied the Prince. " Will
you, then, place your hand in the boiling metal, and ladle out a
portion of It ?" " Do you tell me to do this ?" asked the
Prince. " I do," replied t'le Doctor. The Prince then ladled
out some of the boiling lead with his hand, without sustaining
any injury. Is is ». well-known scientific fact that the huJian
hand may be placed uninjured in lead boiling at whit.i heat,
b-^ing protected from any harm by the moisture of the ekin.
Should the lead be at a perccptibW lower temperature, the
effect need not be described. After this let no one underrate,
the courage of the Prince of Wales. — Wwld.

STANDLXG ROOM FOR THE HL"\IAN RACE.— An
Englishman with a hobby has discovered that there is room
for all creation on the Isle of Wight, According to the most
recent estimate the population of the earth is about
l,4iO,OuiJ,0UO. Two square feet of standing room being
alloted to each individual, this number would cover 06,115
acres; and the area of the island is 03,311 acres. — Pacific
Plural Press,

ilo

TtlE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

THE NEW LIMITATION ACr FOR
LAND.

Anotl'.er of the altorations which the present cen'Jiry has
wiluessed in ihe l.uvs alTectin^ landed estate came into etlVct on
Jan. 1. The "Act for the I'nnhe.r limila'ion of actions and
soils ndating to real property" was introduced by the Lord
Chancellor and passed in 1874, but its operation was only to
commence on the 1st of January, 1879. Full notice was
thus p;iven of an enactment which cuts down considerably the
period duriui; which the person entitled to lauds is permitted
to lie by secure, without being held to forfeit his rijiht by
want of vi rilance in asserting it. A similar statute, but with
periods of limitation which were less in each case by a year,
had been brought ia by Lord Selhorue previously to the in-
troduction by Lord Cairns of the statute now under consider-
ation, so that the law which has now come into force had the
approval in principle of able jurists of each great political
party, 'i'he precise terms of years fixed in the Act were
chosen because they had already been adopted in Indian
legislHtion. The Real Property Commissioners, upon whose
lecomraendation the whole system of procedure relating to
laud has gradually been remodelled, wrote 40 years ago that
"as knowledge is diffused, and the administration of justice
becomes regular and pure, the periods of limitation may be
safely abridged." The general principle upon which statutes
of limitation are founded was discussed with sufficient clear-
ness and great brevity in the Commissioners' first report.
They observed thit it might be considered that the duration
of wrong ought not to give it sanction, and that the long
suffering of an injury should be no bar to the obtaining of
right when demanded. But the Commissioners were of
opinion, and most law-givers have agreed with thera, that
liuman aflVirs must be conducted on other priuciplt-s. It is
found to be of the grea'est importance to promote peace by
affixing a period to tlie right oi disturbing possession. Owing
to the perishable nature of evidence, the trulli cannot be
atcertaiued in any contested question of fi>ct after a consider-
able lapse of time. Tiie temptation to introduce false evidence
tjrows with the dilticulty of detecting it, and at last long
possession affords the most trustworthy proof of the right to
property, and becomes, accordingly, not merely the proverbial
" nine points," but the whole of the 1 .w. By the statute of
32 Henry Ylll., cap. 32 (entitled " An Acte for lymiltacion
of prescripcion"), limitation was reduced to 60 years from
^52, at which it then stood ; and by 21 James I., the period
was again reduced, for all practical purposes, to 20 years.
Tliis limit is henceforth dimiiiislied by nearly half.

Trom Jan. 1st no land or rent will be recoverable, no entry
or distress can be made, but within 12 years after the ri^jht of
action, entry, or distress accrued. If the dominion over the
land has been broken up by wills or set lements so that, for
instance, one person has a li'e estate and another is eniit'ed
to the property subject to the hfe estate, then a different period
of limitation IS established. The limit is 12 years from the
accrual of the right, or six years after the li^e estate falls in,
whichever of these periods is the longer. Tims, if the Earl
of Broadaeres hasne<!lected to claim his lands or rents, his
eldest son may proceed for them witliin six years alter coming
to his estate, even if the 12 years from the time they first
became his '.ather's have expired. After those periods— the
12 J ears and the six — have elapsed, but not till then, his
rights are barr.-.d. Till the begiiuiiug of this ye^r he would
)i>»ve had 20 years from the accruing of the rights, and ti-n
years from the death of the tenant for life. A similar provi-
sion to that last recited is made in the case of infancy, cover-
ture, or Inuacy. The infaat, married vtoman, or lunatic, or a
person claiiuing through any of these, has sit years alter the
dftermination of the d sability. In the old days the period of
grace was ten years.

The increa.sed '"acilities for communication with distant
parts of the world have led to a n)tfeWorthy alteration in the
law. Formerly, in all fin;h statutes as the present not only
wai lunacy and otlit;r disability proviled for, but absence be-
yond seas was also taken into account, A wandering heir had
ten years after his return in which to bring his action; but
now that the telegrapn ruis or will soon run to almost every
place in which a claiiiiaut is likely to lurk, it has been thouglit
(in accordauce with 'h- (»riiiii,)le» of a previous Act, 19 and
au Victoria, cap. 10) that tliis provision can salely be omitted.

The term of ten years is in this cas!> not rrduc-d to s-\, hut is
abolislied altogether. Ol course, l he ordiuary 1-2 years will
be allowed ; but if the emigrant does not return before the ex-
piration of this period liis rigtits will be inriefeaaibly barred.
A cu ions feature in the Act is that its Iramers, inspired by
anxiety to quiet the estfites of sane persons, hive provided
that lunacy or other disability for a period exceeding 30 years
will extinguish even tlie right to wait six years aflet termina
tion of the disability. The old period was 40 years, a delay
which, having regard to the duration of human life, was more
likely to prevent heirs from suffering by the disabilities of
their predecessors, cou[led with tlie negligence or fraud of
committees, guardians, and husbands. Another clause relates
to those settlements of landed propert^ which are so common
in this country and contribute so powerfully to keeping hnd
in the possession of the same wealthy families from generation
to generation. It is provided that in case of possession unde
an assurance by a tenant in tail which does not bar the re"^
mainders they shall be barred at the end of 12 years after the
date at which the assurance, if then executed, would have
barred them. A mortgagor is to be barred at the end of 13
years from the time when the mortgagee took possession, or
from the last written ackno'vleclgment. Money, the payment
of which is charged ujion land, and legacies, are to be deemed
to be satisfied at the end of 12 years if no interest is paid nor
acknowledgment given in writing in the meantime. In short,
the effect of the whole is to reduce the time to which a fair
holding title should refer from '2'> to 12 years, although doors
are still left open which will prevent a 12 years' holding
without registration from absolutely guaranteeing undisturbed
possession in the future.

The statute is to be read as one with the unrepealed por-
tions of th« Aet of William IV., cap. 27, which previously
regulated the ^ubject. The law o' limitations is almost entirely
the creation of statute. It has been found necessary in mott
civilised communities to mike some provision for securing that
finality which is the interest of the common weal. In Athens
the period was five years, in Rome it was fixed at varying
dates by successive laws. In Cicero's time two years' undis-
turlied enjoyment gave the right to laud, and one year's
possession entitled the holder to keep his hand upon movables.
In some States a general remission of debts from certain dates
has been from time to time declared. The English Parliament
fixed, in turn, the beginning of the reign of King Henry I ,
the return of King John from Ireland, the journey of Henry
HI. into Normandy, and the coronation of King Richird I. as
dates which the Courts should not go behind ; and one of
these dates — the accession of llichard I. — is still the well,
known limit of legal memory. Beyond that all is a blank
obscurity of time as to which the memory of man runneth not.
In Henry Vll.'s reign a fine with proclamations was ma e
for certain tenures a bar after the short period of five years. In
the 32nd year of Henry VHI. the " profitable and necessary
statute " (as it is called by Lord Coke) to which we have
before relerred, fixed periods of 60, 50, and 30 years for tlie
limitation of ac.ious in lieu of the irregular su-pensions of tie
Charter which had previously come in like a Deits ex machi a
f'rthe relief of disrpiieted holders. The statute of Henry
VITl. referred to land alone, for it is in compara-
tively modern days that interests not concerned
with land had niucli va'ue in the eyes of the Legislature. A
statute of J lines I. extended the law of limitations to per-
sonal actions, fi.sing six years as the ordinary limit for actions
but four years for actions for assault and two for slander. For
criminal indictmeuts, with ihe exception of certain iiifbrma-
sions and minor acts of treason, no limitation is provided. The
off nder may be doggedly tracked till he has expiated his crime
by punishment. The new law refers to nothing but to land,
and leaves unaffected the 20 years which must elapse before
acthms which arise out of deeds or statutes become extin-
i^uiihcd. Thns, perhaps, for the first time in its history in
Eiig and, a right to land is equipped with briifer powers of
mainta'ning itself than a money claim may b'', tiicii as, for
instai.ee, llie liability of a contributory for calls ujiou the
winding-up of a compiny under the Act of 18B2. I*^ is true
that what the old owner of land loses the new owner of land
gai"S, and all landlords still retain that exceptional and
drastic method of redress which they have hy seizing in di"-
tr.iiut the chattels they may find, other than lodgers' goods,
upon the premises of their debtor. Novelists and drnmatist.s
will, peril 'p, be the greatest sufferers by the change iu the

THE FARMEUS MAGAZiXE.

Ill

i'aw. Tlie abolition of ilnelling and gambling-tables has in-
creaspd ihe hardship of tlieir tahk, and now tlieir lost heirs
will have to has'en b:n:k to England eifiht years seoner than
of < Id, nulpss, indred, fraud has bien committed snd the land
has not yet passed into the Irtnds of buna file ^iurcliasera uii-
acquninted with the fraud. Coneealcd traiid will still permit
ttie 13 years' limit to be disreg-arded, exctpt ai^ainst innocent
p urchasers, as the longer limit of 20 years was, iu fact, put
aside in the romantic case ot " Vaiie v. Van'^."

The new law willolten be spoken of ss altering the time iu
which land may be acq'urod by prescription. And, although
this mode of expression disregards a technical distinction which
Eualish lawyers make in the use ot the term " prescription,"
applying it as they do to incorporeal rights, such as a clai n to
ancient lights or a l^anchi^e ot treasure-'rove, it defines the
effect of the law with approximate correctness according te
common modes of speech. The law of liraitatio^i as to laud is
much more effectual than the law o( limitation as to personitlty.
It not only b-irs the remedy but it extinguishes the right; and it
is therefore not without justice that the period of limitation
for land will still be twice as long as tliat allowed for ordinary
money claims. The third section of the Act 3 and 4 William
IV., cap. ~Vl, which fixes 20 years as the limit for a large class
of actiuDS, not (or land, but (or moneys arising out of land, and
reserved by deed, will still have to be considered. Guarded by
such reservations as we have indicated, but have not space to
discuss at length, the new law is, it must be confessed, not a
revolutionary one. Its b-'nefits to landowners in general must
be set off against the injustice it nny occasionally work to
individual members ot tlie cL sa. — Tunes.

THE SO-CALLED TYPHOID FEVER OF
SWINE.

Mr. Georse Flemine, F.U C.V.S., and editor of the
Veterinnry Journal, writes to the Times : —

Dr. Vacher has done good service in calling atteufion in the
Tones to the serious mistake made iu the Frivy Council Order
w^itli regard to what is therein designated " typhoid fever of
swine (otherwise cnlled soldier disease, or red diseas")." For
red soldier, soldier disease, and red disease are names poi'ula'ly
given to every morbid or deranged condition of the pig, in
which there is more or less redness of ihe skin. Thu?, in
anthrax fever, measles, or rubeola, erysipelas, and a number of
siiin Diseases, as well as in asphyxia and heat apoplexy, we
liave this discoloration, and Ihe abuve designations are
generally app ied to them indi'^criminalely, as if they were
all one malady and the cutaneous tint was its characteristic
symptom.

So that, under this Order of Council pigs suffering from any
of the affections or conditions just named will, in all likelihood,
he condemced as tlie subjects of typhoid lever, and this may
occasion great and quit- unnecessary inconvenience, hardship,
and Idss. Besides, as Dr. Vacher correctly points out, all pigs
not " red soldiers " will be adjudged innocent of typlwid. In
tne latter malady it is well known ti veterinary pathologists
that redness of the skin is far from being a constant symptom.
Its absence, there'ore, woulil not warrant) any one asserting
that a pig waa free from the disease..

But anotlier very grave error perpetrated in the Order and
not alluded to by \our correspondent, is that with reference to
the name given to the makdy in question. Well-informed
comparative pithologists are cognisant of the fact that tlie
disease is not typhoid fever, and that, patlio^ogif^ally and
clinically, it entirely differs from that affection in the human
species, the only resemblance between them being the presence
of ul.ers in the intestine of man and the pig. To give the
disease this name is not only a mistake, pathologically speaking
but it is perpetuatiug an error which is eminently misleading
to sanitnriaus and others, and may do much in maintaining
and extending the scourge itself. The typhoid fever of man-
kind and this porcine plague are as diffe;ent in- their modes o'
propagation or transmission as they are in their anatomy and
paihology. The hum.m disease is neither infectious nor con-
tagious in the ordinary acceptation of these terms, whereas the
swine fever is eitreraely so. Indeed, its virulence and powers
of infection are as marked as iu the caltle plague. Association
with an infected pig for only a few minutes will transmit the
virus to a her. I, and that litrd, driven ta a fair, may infect all
Ihe swine iu a county.

It is somewhat strange that the Veterinary l)>ipartment of
the Privy Council should have lent itself to the continuance of
such a serious mistake in adopting a misleading and technical
name for the di-order, seeing that in one of the recent reports
of the Medical Ollicer of the Ci«iuicil|tli( re is a more excelleut
paper on the subject from the pen of Dr. Klein, K.R.S., in
which this error is exposed, and, seeing, also, that the Council
had already wisely abstained from cotnmitiing. itself iu this
direction in dealing with the few contagious diseases of animsls
included in its list, giving them only sucit popular names ai
serve to specify them — cattle plague, foot-and-mouth disease,
glanders, &c.

A far belter ^xni safer name for the affection tlian that
giveu to it in this instance by the Privy Council is sviue
plague, for it is as distinctly a disease peculiar to the pig ax-
glanders is to solipeds, cattle plague or rinderpest to the bovine
species, or typhoia fever to our own species. A pl.igue it
undoubtedly is, for it is the most terribly destructive disorder
to which pigs are liable ; and if allowed to spread unchecked,
there is tea«on to believe it would lead to the almost total
extinction of these useful animals. It has for years caused
heavy losses in this country ;. but these appear to be trifling
\ylien compared with those sustained by tin; f'lited Stitesof
Amerca, where its ravages annually are something appalling.

B; the wjy, 1 am not aware that any precautious are adopted
with regari to the introduction of this most fatal and des-
tructive disease from the United Statrs, which now send large
numbers of pigs to us. Orting to the absence of veterinary
sanitary measures in A:neric:f, swine plagu-1 (liOj; cholera or
intestinal f-ver it is termed there) prevails widely and un-
checiied. So that this country, iu its unrestricted and un-
guarded dealings with the United Stites, i* exposed to impor-
tation of the contagious diseases prevalent there, and especially,
to this swine plague, as well as the contagious pleuro-pneuraonia
of cattle — a pest becoming well known to the Americans.
Would it not b*; advisable for the Privy Council, in corrs-ctiug
the mi.stake wiih resp ct to the designation of the pig disease,
to consider iu time whether it and the luug p'ague are not;
wor hy of some attention at those ports of ours which admit
animals Irim the other side of the Atlantic ?■ Perhaps, alr.o, if
ihe Uuiied States Government received a hint that we were
exposed to considerable risk in our animal trallic with it, and
that if this trafBc is to continue as if it were an uninfected
couutry it should alopt measures to free itself from infection,
we might be spared much trouble and loss, and the trade whicli
is so -■ Jvaniageons to it at present would stand a chance of.
remaining as unimpeded as it now is.

A PRIVILEGED BUG. —Most of as have heardof Beatle
worship and how in old Egyptian days tiie creature was-
bowed uowu to as a gcd. lY-day, however, we hear of live
beetles a-s arlicles ot the toilette. A well-known lady, not aa
Englishwoman, but an American, who is to be mot at all sorts
o[ reunions ia the West-end of liondon, attracts the attention,
especially of iter owu sex, hy wearing a baetle attaolied to her
dress, geijera'jy to, her shoulder, b/ a gold chain. I'his "bug,"
as it would be called across the Atlantic, is about the size o'' a
filbert, and shines vMiii pris-mat^e colours. Round its "waist'' is
a slenier gold thread to which the chain that coufinfs it to it
wear, r is ><t-taci.ed. The be.;tle seems qi.iie at horn , wanders
abuut as far as its tether wil per-nit, aud is occasionally to bo
seen entail led iu its mistre.ss's hair. It is said that tne beetla-
wliicli leads this strange hie has been for eiifht months with-
out lood. What are the wonien coming to? what will ihey
not do lor a little novelty or excitement ? We shall ne.x.';
hear that they use snakes as bracelets and necklaces, or that
they wear live cockatoos in their classic braids. I;ike that
easy-going pjet llerrick, we have oaly to submit and put up
with tneir vagaries, even wlien they take the form of beetles^

" Be she bald, or does s'-e wear
Locks ineuri'd of other hair ;
1 shall find BLchantmeat tin re.

Be she whole, or be she raat,
Sj my fancy be content.
She's to ma most excellent.

Be she fat, o? be she lean ■,
Be she sluttish, be she clean ;
I'lU a man. for every scene."

—Lincolii <-ia:.e'Je

112

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

FARMING IN PENNSYI-VANIA.

The Gloucester Chronicle recently piibli8hed the fol-
lavving contribution from a correspcndeut: —

I received not. along ago a letter from a young Gloucester-
shire farhier, asking me to give liiiii a description of average
Americau farraiiig. Tliis would be a dillicult task where tlie
methods eniployeU vary with almost every State, and one I feel
incompetent to undertake. I will, however, with your per-
mission, give bim the result of my ol/sprvations relative to
farmers and farming in that part of Eastern i'eunsylvauia
■which 1 have just left. Tlie population there is almost en-
tirely composed of t'ennsylvanian Dutch, who talk a language
utterly uniulcUigible to any but tliemseltes — a mixture of
English and low Dutch, it appears "double Du'ch " to those
who attempt to master it. This section of the United States
was peopled by the Dutch previous to its colonisation by
"William Peun (after whom the State is named) in 1680, and
the soil is still in the possession of their descendants. A
Du'climan is proverbially stolid, but the average Pennsyl-
Taniau Dutcii larraer is a compound of stolidity, prejudice,
and penurionsness. His la id, like hitaself, remains so far
unimproved by time and the rapid marches of civilisation.
With impenetrahle stupidity he neglects his interests by
refusing to recognise or adopt any improved methods o
culture, or to rep Lee liis scrubby and unprofitable herds by
those which would be a source of gain to bim. Still his way
of doing business is methodical, and to my mind pharasaical.
Pay him a visit at any time of the year, and you will find the
interior of his house painted white with green facings, every-
thing else being glaringly white with lime-wash. On the
wliitened pales ol his fence bang, when not required, the red
earthenware milkpofs. Inside his domicile the parlour is
neat and clean, with that peculiar musty odour suggestive of
closed doors, windows, and shutters, as well as of sparing
use. The kitchen, redolent of sour-kront »ud burnt rye
eakes, is scantily furni?hod, but free from dirt ; indeed, a want
ol' cleanliness in household matters is not a failing of the
Dutch. But come to the home barn. Two horses are dis-
covered therein, never more, rarely less. They strike you as
much too light for farm- work, but they do it, nevertheless.
Bedding is dispensed with, unless corn-stalks — bigger than
been-poles, and too hard and coarse for the cattle to eat — can
be so called. In summer pastured on the roadside after
nightfall, and in winter undergoing semi-starvation on dried
weeds ani rank grass (also from the highway), no wonder the
animals before you present a wretcbed appearance. The
leaves on the corn-stalks form the principal food of tiie three
or four cows you see huddled in yonder shed during the
■winter months; for the remainder of the year they, too, have
to seek a living anywhere but on the farm — in a neighbour's
pasture or corntield if they think fit. The pigs — well, I
cannot really say upon what they do subsist : it has always
puzzled me. I never yet saw a Dutchman's pig fat. Visit
the same pig after an interval of six months and you will find
hira no bigger ; his sides, perhaps, a trifle flatter, his back
latlier more arched, and not a whit better fitted for the pork-
tarrel than he was when you saw hira before. The poultry
and the dog show unmistakable signs of leading the hard life
popularly supposed to be the lot of the latter. Salt pork, rye-
bread, and sour-krout supply the means whereby the Dutchman
»nd his family eke out their monotonous existence. Every-
thing that is saleable, or rather that can be palmed off upon
c )nfiding customers is marketed. Grain and straw, hay and
potatoes (the very small ones go to swell the family rations),
eggs and butter, apples and cherries — all are c inverted into
dollars aud cents. Haifa day is often sprnt in hawking ten
cents' worth of windfall apples in the nearest town ; and
your genuine Pennsylvauian Dutchman will remain in town
haggling a whole day if he thinks he wi'l return richer at
night by even a solitary cent. At the proper season his
ciiildren are sent to scour the country for blackberries, which
are then dried and in the winter carried to the store, together
■with diied apples and cherries, to be traded for groceries.
Is'olhing tliat can be traded for, or worked out by labour, is
ever bought. Now for his land — robbed systematically year
after year — and his operaiions thercou. He has his household
well astir by half-past three in summer and by live in winter.
The horses and cows arc hunted up, and the latter milked.
Breakfast is bultcd (1 cannot say eaten) at live, dinner at

eleven, and supper at four o'clock, the wlmle three menls
rarely occupying more than halt au hour, or ten minutes each .
Supposing it to be spring, plouiihiui; is begun shortly alter'

five, and continued until milking-time in tlie evenin" about

s^ven o'clock. Sueh ploughing ! Furrows fifteen or sixteen
inches wide and only half-fumed over. Two acres per diem
is rather under than over the average quantity ploughed.
Sometimes the harrows are then applied, but ottener not,'
after which the wheat, rye, or oats (seldom grown) are sown
broadcast and covered with the harrows. In planting Indiun
corn a marker, with teeth three feet six inches apart aud
dra n by a horse, is used. With this the field is marked out
in squares. The corn carried by the droppers in bags tied in
front of them, after being deposited in the corners of tlie
squares— three or four kernels in a square — is covered with
the hoe each dropper carries with him or her. Potatoes are
both put in and harvested with the plough, sometimes culti-
vated, but rarely hoed. One or two applications of the
cultivator to the corn and the spring operations of the Penn-
sylvania Dutch farmer are complete. Haying and harvesting
are got through with as much despatch as is possible without
the assistance of hired help— an extreme never resorted to if
it can by any means be avoided. Even more iutelligeiit
farmers in other parts will run the risk of having their crops
injured rather than incur a slight additional expense in har-
vesting them properly. I recollect an instance in New York
State where a neighbour of miue had fourteen acres of wheat
— this cere.il is not much grown just in that section — which
he was anxious to harvest as economically as he could, since
he did not consider ii a very remunerative crop. Reaping-
machines at that time (five years ago) were not generally self-
rakers and deliverers, a man with a rake having to sit upon
the machine to do that part of tlie work, and the binders
having to keep pace with the reaper to allow it to proceed
without stopping. This involved a s'aff of six or seven men.
My neighbour heard that one of the improved machines was
for hire in an adjoining villa^je, and immediately rushed to
secure it. His idea was to have his wheat cut and then to
bind it himself at his leisure to save expftnse. The reaper
came and departed, after nv^king good work ; but close upon
it came Jupiter Pluvius, who did not depart until he had miule
some very bad work amongst the unbound grain. Two weeks
elapsed before the whole of it was bound and set up. My friend
suffered in pocket I know, and [ have reason to believe he
tuffered in spirit, for that crop was never afterwards alluded to
by him, and the following season wheat was not to be fount
in his fields. But to return. As soon as the Indian corn is
cut in Si-ptember your J'ennsylvania Dntch farmer thinks he
has done his duty for the year, and proceeds to take his ease.
He treats with amusing contempt any suggestions as to
autumn-ploughing, killing weeds, repairing fences, ditchiu}:-,
draining, or getting firewood for the winter. Any sarcastic
allusion to the diminutiveness of his manure-pile would be
entirely thrown away, and he would no more assent to the
proposition that he is not one of the most enlightened farmers
in the United States than he would to the one that, by feeding
his stock with more libera! and richer rations, the quanliiy
and value of his manure, aud cousequently the ferulity of his
land, would be increased. There are huudreds, I may say
thousands, of farms in America at the present day where the
horse and cattle-barns are purposely built on the brinks of
creeks and rivers, with doors opening thereon, so that the
manure m^iy be shovelled oat and carried away by the stream.
The Dutchman's grain, hay, Szc, are generally marketed
piecemeal, and this con^titute3 his sole occupation until the
following April, the "chores" (feeding and cleaning out
stock) night and morning, and the chopping a daily supply
of firewood fallii g to the share of his family. His time is spent
in dozing over 1 is own stove, or loungin? over those in the
store and tavern. Tliou-h a strict Lutheran, he rarely attends
a place of worship. A victim to superstition, he will not cut
hay, or reap, or undertake any enterprise on a Frid;iv, and he
is greatly exercised for some time previous to July 3nd or 3rd
([ forget which of these two dates) as to whether rain will
fall on that day when "Black Maria crosses the mnuutiiu."
In the event of its doing so, he tells you that a steady down-
pour of six weeks may be expected, as well as a total failure of
the crops. I am iu llie dark as to the origin of the legend.
A W:-ekly perusal ol his county paper, full of political vul-
gariiii's and had grammar, s.itisfics his literary w.iuts. The
Btaulard agricultural journals he abhors, as being cxpoueuls

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

p?^

11

3

and upholders of book farming — an insUtutioQ he is never
tired of railing at. As ;i rule- lie is sober, not because he likes
lajrer beer or whiskey less, but because lie loves his mouey-bags
more. Altogether I consider hiin, in his present ^ta!e, a
rather uulikfly subject to contribute much towards the ad-
VHnceiaeut of agriculture, or anything else, in America. He
is a " citizen " of the United States, however, and as t-ligible
for the I'resideucy as the smartest Yankee. Ills children are
MOW being educated in American free schools, where Dutch is
tabooed, so that it seems to be only s question of time as to
when the broad acres of these Dutch settlements shall be
restored, by the intelligent culture of improved Americau
Dutch citizens, to their former fertility,

J. II. C.

SAMUEL DOWNES AND CO.'S ANNUAL
CIRCLLAR.

NiTKATE OF Soi).\. — The market has been very inactive
and declining during the last eight months, and closes dull at
I'Zs. 'Jd. for the best quality, i.e., live refractiou, which means
that a given mark does contain more than five per cent, of
impurity ; ot afloat c irgoes the most recent sale was a cargo,
9UIJ tons, due, at lis. lU^d. for the U. K. The recent inac-
tive demand is to be attrriouted to the duluess in the chemical
trade, the tight money market, and the pecuniary sufferings
of the large buyers of the Scottish and other ports. The
price at the same time of last year on the spot was 15s.,
against 123. 9d., and the stock on the 31st ultimo was
KiU.OOO, against 150,000 in 1877, and 401,000 bags in 1876.
With the extreme depression in all branches of commerce, any
important advance in prices is not expected to rule for this or
any other fertilizer notwithstanding that the attitude of the
Peruvian Government still continues most hostile towards
British agriculturists, who are, however, not less dependant
on feru for their supply of nitrate owing to the increasing
jiroduction in Chili, whence the export was for the Atst nine
months of last year 35,000, against 6,000 tons last year ; the
export from Peru we estimate for the past year at 245,000,
against 202,000 tons in 1877. These tacts present welcome
features to consumers. Tlie values of .^.float cargoes of River
Plate bone ash have been effected by the pecuniary difficulties
in Scotland, and the closing price is £6 7s. 6d. per ton on 70
base. Americau fish manure was in great request last spring.
To-day holders ask 'or "dried scrap " with 9 to 10 of ammo-
nia, lis. per unit of ammonia, and ISd. per unit for phosphate
of lime.

Gbaxo, &c. — A report from one of the British Consuls in
Peru has been issued by the Board of Trade. " There has been,
lie alleges, a great falling olf in the exports withiu the last
year, arising partly from decreased demand, &c., and also from
the agriculturists tiuding the quality so unequal. The Guano,
he adds, in the Southern deposits, is much mixed with stones,
and that there is but little left of the fine quality for which
the Chincha Islands were celebrated." It may be asked are
there not other natural and artifi^cial fertilizers which are
more profitable to the agriculturist ?

SuPEEPHOSPiixTE OF LiME. — The demand for this article
was not equal to the expectations of producers. In the en-
suing spring we nnticipate that there will be an average con-
sumption, for without doubt it is to be preferred as a top
dressing to grass pastures on most soils to the stony guano
from I'erU; at the prices demanded for each. A report was
ecently presented to the Aberdeenshire Agricultural Asso-
iation of experiments which gives some startling information.
The results showed that practical agriculturists need uot; are
whether the superphosphate was of animal or mineral origin.
Also that soluble phosphate is not more than 10 to 15 per
cent, superior to insoluble. These inferences are so remark-
able that many readers will question their accuracy, and it is
to be desired that similar experiments should be repeated in
other counties in the ensuing spring, to test the soundness ot
them. About twelve months since a remonstrance was
addressed to a Metropolitan newspaper that the quotations m
our weekly circular — viz., £3 5s. to £3 7s. 6d. for 25 to 26
soluble, and £4. 128. 6d. to£l 15s. for 34to 35soluble, in bulk,
were Ih'u-iy per cent, bchv the market prices. Now we renew
our offer ot last season, and we are prepared to sell 7,000
tons at a price to be learned ou application, but not to exceed

the foregoing prices, to consumers, for special delivery at auy
time the buyer re(]uires in the ensuing spring. No contract,
to be more than tor 100 tons, nor less than 5 tons. Our
object being not to conliiie the advantages to the few, but to
dill'use thcin among the mauy, and to cut down the extortionate
demands of dealers.

Oilcakes.— Of decorticated cotton from the United
States tlie import was 311,000 bags, against 267,000 in 1877.
At the beginning of the year the value of the best quality was
£7 15s. to £8, in the summer it touched £6 5s., and to-day
it is £6 12s. 6d. to £6 15s. The decline is to be ascribed to
an abundant supply, to the low values of maize, &c., and the
unusually heavy crop of hay. A greater proportion ol interior
has been received this year than usual, and the crushers must
be more careful and improve the quality. It may be asked
what constitutes a superior quality ? As remarked in a former
circular, we attach but little importance to colour, the im-
portant points are the quantities of oil and fiesh-forming
materials, effectual decortication of the seed, sweetness and
regularity of the quality. A recent instance was brought
before us for an expression of opinion ; a cargo of American
was delivered in the North of Europe, it contained 18 per
cent, of oil and 42 of tiesh-formiug materials, but the receiver
did not like it because it was rather dark coloured. Now, we
have no hesitation in saying that the above analysis represents
the maxiniuiu degree of excelleuce, in brief, so superior a
quality is seldom imported into any port. This is the most
valualjle feeding stuff imported, and by the liberal use of it the
English graziers can successfully compete with the American,
but the great majority of the former are, we regret to write,
inexcusably ignorant of its merits.— Of linseed cake the total
import from all quarters was equal to 186,000 bags, againat
170,000 bags in 1877. Prime linseed was worth £10 at the
beginning of the year, now it is £8 lOs. to £8 ISs. per ton.—
Decorticated cotton cake is gradually displacing linseed, and,
as we remarked ten or twelve years since, the day is not far
distant when linseed will not rule more than 20s. per ton
higher than the other ; in fact, they ought to be at identical
values.

Linseed.— At the beginning of last year the price of Bora.
bay was 55 ■;., and it closes at 48s. 6d., the year was an un-
favourable one to the importer and the crusher,— Atloat from
India to Great Britain there are 213,700 against 442,000
quarters at the same period last year. — The" Cloverseed
market is very quiet. Holders ask 38s. to 40s. for fair Wes-
tern.— The Albany, Liverpool, January 1st, 1879,

A NATURAL DEDUCTION.— Here is a story of « Syl
vanus Urbau's," which is worth reproducing; "A lady of
fashion with a pug-dog and a hi>9band entered the train at
Paddingtou the other day. There were in the carriage but
two persons, a well-known professor and his wife ; yet the
lady of fashion coveted, not indeed his chair, but his seat.
" I wish to sit by the window, sir," she said imperiously, and
he had to move accordingly. " No, sir, that won't do," she
said, as he meekly took the next place ; " 1 can't have a
stranger sitting clo«5e to me. My husband must sit where you
are." Again the professor moved ; but his wife lired up and
protested. " That lady is too exacting-," she said aloud ; "yoa
should not have humoured her." " What doss it matter, my
dear," he replied, " for such a very little way ! She must be
getting out at the nej.t station." Now the next station wa&
llanwell.

INSULT TO INJURY.— A thief in Chesterfield, who
lately robbed the hen-roost of Blr. Britt, landlord of the Horns
pub. ic- house, in Derby-road, afterwards wrote him the follow-
ing letter : — " Derby-lane, Chesterfield, 25 78 Mr. Britt Sir
It is with Great pleasure i write to you but the fowls were so
good and Tender that i could not refrain asking you whether
Chickens would soon be ready as work is very Bad and We
Must have something to Eat. Mr. Britt i must not forget to
tell you that the Black hen Was very tough We could neither
roast nor boil it it was a dissappointment as i had ask a friend
to come to dinner and with Pulling at the old Black hen he
Loosened all his Front teeth the cock was very good and
tender i should not written this to you but i hear that you
had Promised to give 4 pounds of bacon i will call for it But
i am afraid you would not be true to your Promise i am jours
Truly i-'owL Br.oi'u."— Z)ai(y C/uufiicte.

Ill

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

DE RE RUSTICA.

TO THE KDITOR OF THE MARK LANE KXPliESS.

Sir, — Culled by my fellow-nouiitrytnea to the mission
of €xpoiuidHig to the jieople the principles of Free Trade,
and having spent the best years of a laborious life in the
study and public advocacy of open ports and untaxed
bread, I am yet the very last man who would maintain
that the question is without qualification and complexity.
It is not a mere thesis in political economy. It is, in its
larsjest sense, a social and moral problem of the hisrhest
national significancy. After the experience of thirty
years of the free admission of food, I really do not know
of any public exponent of a policy of its re-taxation.
I'armers are indeed indirectly invited to help the resump-
tion of a system of reciprocity, but it is nowhere suggested
that bi-eail and meat should be among the protected
nrticles. Nay, nobody goes even so far as to demand a
return to Protection. All that antL-freetraders ask is that
a tax should be laid on the imports from nations which tax
our exports, and it becomes very necessary to warn agri-
culturists not to be drawn away by this red-herring. All
foreign states are ready to admit British farm produce
duty-free, a privilege of not the smallest advantage to
producers who have none to export, having a better
market at their own doors for all they can grow. Reci-
procity to our tenantry means simply taxes levied on
them to support home manufacturers, who will pay no
more to them for their beef and bread than to the
foreigner, but will exact a larger price than the foreigner
charges. This is the reciprocity all on one side of which
the American farmers complain now. They say to the
manufacturers, You give us no more than we get from
John Bull; why should we pay you more than we give
to him ? Since you can give us no better price, why
should we give a better to you? Corn and meat can
never be the subject of reciprocity, because every region
of the earth produces them cheaper than we, and the
country of tbeir origin can never be so identified as to
shut out the produce of prohibited states under the cloak
of those that are privileged. What protection would it
extend to the British tenantry to tax the grain of Russia
or the beef of America if there be fifty other states
through whose reciprocity of fiscal duties these commo-
dities could be as cheaply poured in on our markets ?
But, as I have said, free trade has its moral and social
as well as its economical aspects, and, as aflfectiiig the
soil of a country and its cidtivators, these considerations
are of infinite gravity. We do not ask if our army and
navy, if our schoolmasters and churches, even if our
lawyers will pay. Begin at Stratford and go right on to
Brentford-end. There are shops ou both sides all the way
of mere retad distributors, one-tenth of whom could serve
ihe community of consumers quite as effectually, at a
saving of the rents, taxes, profits, cost of living of all the
rest. The greengrocers levy upon vegetables quite five
limes vchat tlicy pay to the market gardeners. Hard
political economy would say swce]) away every superfluous
distributor —exchange of coin for commodity can be
elfected cheaper. The fact is there is a sort of indirect
communism pervading civilised society that deals out its
sn[;erfluous wealth through ten thousand devices, and
makes up the complex mechanism of a refined nation by
endless devices of mutual inter-dependence and infiiiite
reciprocities of custom. Every consumer is a producer.
ir the butcher taxes the baker, the baker in turn puts a
lonntervai'ing adequate profit upon the loaf, and all, be-
coming mutual customers, make up Ihe manifold varieties
of social class. But for these complex arrangements there
would be no ocf upation or work for vast masses of the
people. A middle class to a great extent would dis-
appear, capital would become an iiitichanj^cablc drug, and

there wculd be left but leviathan producers willi thefr
dependent wage receivers ; while the vast mass of con-
sumers who live by distribution, and the ministers to the
wants of distributors, would be deleted from the economy
of social life. Money was made for man, not man for
money. Without law, concerted action, methodical con-
vention, the process by which accumulated wealth is
distributed has insensibly grown up and diffused itself,
and thus the instincts incident to the natural tiistory of
human society have built up the various orders into which
peoples are classified. Were " cash the sole nexus of
society," the multiplication table would suggest a more
economical arrangement of mankind. But, after all, th«
way to make wealth itself is to make men, not mere
economical machines of production — to call into being
those vast and varied wants, classes, modes of life and
being, which give to the whole the chances of giving to
nations the services of their best and ablest.

Let there be no mistake. Our food must be left en-
tirely untaxed, but our agriculture must ou no condition
whatever be sufl'ered to decay. A tenantry, a squirearchy,
a peasantry are utterly indispensable to the health and
strength of a nation. They are the backbone of its moral
and physical stamina. Al whatever cost we must plough
and sow and mow and reap. To think of England with-
oilt its farms and whistling ploughboys, and that all be-
cause agriculture can be done cheaper elsewhere, we are
to blot out our meads and fields, and relejzate all to moor,
common, heath, and jungle- I do not ask where woidd
be the customers of the manufacturer, the miner and the
merchant, the farrier, saddler, and the wheelwright — the
local and imperial revenue — the order of disli'ibutors — if
we thought only of an arithmetical political economy. To
let our land go out of cultivation is to commit national
sucide ; to neglect vigorous and persistent reclamation in
the face of a growing population is to my sense a prefer
mission of the clearest duty of self-defence and indepen-
dence. There are millions of acres of quaking bog, hungry
heath, bare common, swamp, fen, sea board clamour-
ing for redemption to the spade and plough. Self subsis-
tence, a bold peasantry, are the "cheap defence of na-
tions." Even if we could rely upon the foreigner for the
supi)ly of our daily food, we couid not sustain our place
as a nation without the classes that produced it, without
the breed of men and the robust athletic habits which re-
cruit our life with their intrepid vit;ility. Even if food
raising were a bad ecouoniical speculation, it wi uld be as
well worth the country's while to maintain a peasantry as
an army and a navy.

But is there really any incompatibility between free
trade and the pursuit of domestic agriculture? They have
stood side by side for thirty years. It is said, but not,.
I think, with much truth, that rents have risen with open
ports. That is a really a flat contiadiction to the theory
of agricultural decay. The consumable commodities
which the wages of the peasant buy, have by the abolition
cf duties, been greatly reduced in price — "the loaf,'"'
sugar, tea, clothing, the press — all real necessaries.
Wages have risen 50 per cent. These are not symptoms
of a perishing interest. If our harvests have for four con-
secutive seasons been exceptionally bad, the years of lean
kine have probably passed away, and the years of plenty
are bkely to come back, while our full handed neigliboura
will perhaps now have their time of dearth. We must
not forget that the distress o.' the farm interest was quite
as great and as regularly periodical in the days of the
sliding scale. Your contemporary of the Land Agents'
Record has been pleased to represent my position thus : —
" Farmers do not make a profit as matters are, they must
reduce the wages of their labourers, and grind the profit
out of them. If landlords cannot get tenants in any
other way, they must for a moment lower their rents, and

TKE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

nr,

raifC Ihem of course ns soon as they can. Tlie upshot of
all this is that laiullunl, farmer, and labourer, are cou-
scioaaly to set to woik io a hostile manner, and tug away
as hard as they can in their various directions." Now the
])lain slate of the case is that the labourers have been
" griudins;" exorbitant wages out of the farmers' diminish-
ing profits, exacting 50 per cent, more, as the employer
has been receiving 50 per cent, less — extorting, in fact, at
least double the amount paid to the peasantry of every
other country in Enroiie, for producing the very same
article and selling it in our own markets in competition
with the tenautry of Kent and Sassex. It is in vain for
vicarious humanity mongers calmly looking on at the
struggles they do not share, to plead that wages are little
enough. I have uever heard that foreign farmers are bet-
ter otf than ours, or that they can all'ord to pay their men
more than they do. Xo bottle — conjuring can get a quart
out of a pint pot. Their grain is the only source out of
which our tenautry can pay their men, and they can p'ly
no more than they get, however it may " grieve" the
labourer.

As for the landlords, it is greatly to be desired that,
with your justly great authority, you should undertake
the collection of the statistics of the average rent of and
burdens on the land of the different corn-producing
countries of the world ; but most especially that reliable
returns should be procured of the quantity in bushels per
acre raised by our competitors in the culture of cereals
and roots. I do not learn that anywhere, even in the
most low-rented foreign states, the farmers and peasantry
are so well off as they are here. We hear much of fine
laud in America, sold in fee simple at 4s. per aoire; but how
vast is the number of migrants from England, Scotland,
and Ireland, who regard the offer as worthless. How
many native Americans flock from the rent free forest
aud prairie iuto the towns. The cost of labour and
capital which the settler expends before his section can,
with the poorest endowment of homesteads, be brought
into a state of cuhivation equal to that of an Essex farm,
amounts to quite as heavy a rent. It is notorious that
the produce of grain per acre on the continent of Europe
(alls much below that of this country. Do I at all
overstate the British averages when I quote 28 bushels
for our yield of wheat, 32 for rye, 40 for oats and barley
per acre, taking this country through ? The Government
returns for the province of Ontario give the yield at 18
bushels for wheat, 33 for oats, 18 for rye, 28 for barley,
22 for peas. Here is the most authoritative statement of
the Tillies officially reported of the state of production
in the United States. '" It is obvious, as the Philadcl-
]ihia Inquirer poiuted out two years ago, that the power
of the older States ta produce wheat remuneratively has
been greatly lessened, if not wholly lost, by over-cultiva-
tion. The average wheat product of even the younger
States is but small, that of Illinois being 8, of Iowa a
little over 10, and of Wisconsin 13 bushels to the acre,
and this wheat is of second quality only. Seeing that
the average yield per acre of first quality wheat in
Minnesota is 17 bushels, the superiority of that State is
iucouteslable, and hence, to quote the Lvpiirer, it becomes
' a matter for curious thought ' how far the United States
mav yet come to depend for bread upon the grain, not of
this State only, but of that area to the north of it also,
the whole forming a part of the new North-West, which
has been named the ' continental wheat garden.' " Now
it takes as much horse-power and wages to plough an
acre to produce one bushel as to grow fifty, as much
seed, not much less to reap it, aud carry, and slack, and
thrash it. I do not understand wages to be less in
America than here. Add the cost of clearing the land,
carrying the grain through long corduroy roads to the
railway statiyus, and shipmeut to Europe — can it be said

that an English farm which raises double the crop, and
finds customers for it at the very door, pays more rent
than its far superior advantages entitle its owner to
charge ? The only surprise is how foreign agriculturists
with such scanty returns can at all afford to sell their
grain at such prices as have recently prevailed ; aud it
must be a subject of just satisfaction to every Englishman,
aud of honest pride to our squires and tenantry, that our
atjriculture, with all its climatic drawbacks aud legislative
ditllculties should so

Get the start of the m-ijeatic world.
And bear the palm alone.
Rent and taxes Lave to be paid by other cultivators as
well as ours, and any difference of rent here is more
than made up by the profit of the increase in the produce.
It is really dirticult to see if Illinois can jieldonly a
quarter of wheat to the acre, Iowa a quarter and two
bushels, Wisconsin about a quarter and a half, aud the
highest culture of Minnesota little over two quarters, they
can afford to carry on culture at all, aud still more diffi-
cult to divine how they or the Californians and Austra-
lians, with their high wages, can in addition to the costs
of cultivation spare enough for the enormous transport
charges for transmission from ti/e to ten thousand miles,
•and vvarehousinsc and commission at Mark Lane, while
our farmers, with double average crops and consumers at
their' very door are unable to compete with them.

By utilising the sewage of our towns and villages, by
arterial and local drainage, by the unstinted application;
of artificial manures, by freeing barley from malt duty, by
a searching reduction of local taxation, aod a readjust-
ment of its application by an equitable compromise with
the tithe owner, who contributes nothing to the cost of
those improvements by which he benefits, and a wiser
system of laud laws, much relief may be given to culture.
Leases with reasonable covenants, und the suppression of
game will al.to remove real grievances. A fair revision of
rents is perhaps called for, but above all not only must
all the heavy auxiliary charges of the farrier, w'heelwright
carpenter, siddler, and other artizans who supply the
farmer, but the unconscionable exactions of the labourers
must be resolutely retrenched. Although much higher
prices are not to be looked for (there is little to complain of
in barley, straw, the bulk of hay, aud roots) larger crops
will now come round to the farmer. The reclamation of
waste land and of enclosures from the sea should be
undertaken by the State as in Holland and other coun-
tries; and a searching inquiry iuto the whole subject of
the farming interests should be the earliest task of Parlia-
ment.

The publicity you have given to my letters has brought
me a shower of correspondents, and with your permission
I may answer their inquiries on the subject of covenants,
of the land laws, tithe and conveyance, aud of a peasant
proprietary. I am, Sir, &c.,

SiDXEY Smith.

T/ie Manor, Feltham, Jan. \H.

! LANDLORDS AND RENTS.

! TO THE EDITOR OF THE MARK LANB EXPRESS.

! Sir, — It has been a dangerous habit of the people of
this country to adopt the Mioawber philosophy, of always
" hoping that something will turn up." The trick has
grown upon us because of the " windfalls " — if one may
use the term — to which from time to time we have had
the luck to have been the first to serve htir. We
have perpetrated such acts of folly as would long since

: have ruined us, had not chances run in our favour such

■ as we cannot at all expect to emerge just when we stand
in need of them. A thirty years' war — with which pro-

' pcrly we ought uever to have had anything to do— .wo

116

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

IhousanJ millions of raoupy wasted in the business of mere
destruction, monopolies that made us pay to our colonies,
in differential protective duties, absolutely more than the
full value of all the goods they bought from us — the ab-
sorption of a large proportion of our able-bodied labourers
in tlie army and navy— the interruption to our commerce
of hostile marine, and the distraction of our people from
industry to waraud defence, added to taxes on all the ne-
cessaries of life ; these were

Enough to press a royal merchant down.
And that we survived it all, and erew more prosperous,
has led to an habitual sneering at " croakers " who but
predicted necessary effects from obvious causes. The
truth is, it was James Watt who fought the French war ;
it was the power-loom and the spiuning-jeuny that raised
us high above the surge that threatened us ; it was our
canal system, our railway system, our telegraph system
which redeemed our entei prise and industry from a
taxation, a fiscal economy, and a reckless extravagance of
expenditure, public and private, an insane trustfulness in
foreign States and alien projectors, that, but for the lot-
tery of luck se iding us prizes, it would not have been
possible for us to have surmounted. Doubtless if science,
invention, enterprise, can still strike out new paths to
production and conveyance, we may continue in that
marvellous career, which we canuot sustain by methods
which now the whole world has borrowed from, and in
some of which — if we are to believe that extraordinary
patriot, Mr. Gladstone— others are " passing us at a
canter." But is it the act of provident men to rely for
national life upon a perpetuity of prizes in the lottery of
States ? The power-loom is busy in India ; coal is in
course of discovery, in abundance as rich ; iron ore of as
line quality in every quarter of the globe as in our
" tight little island." Everybody else " strikes ile " as
■well as we. There is not at present any prospect what-
ever that our good forlune is henceforth to be exceptional.
We have carried our pitcher unbroken to the fountain too
long to warrant the hope that it will never meet with a
fracture or an upset.

What, then, is the stern conclusion from these pre-
mises, but that our pretensions to exceptional treatment
must 'come to an end? We must no longer look for
more than "neighbour's fare." All our high-flowu
vapouring about frog-eating Trench men, foreign serfs,
and down-trodJen peasantry, must descend to the herd of
vulgar realities of actual existence. It is not " what we
have been accustomed to," and " what an Englishman is
entitled to look for," that we are likely any longer to get,
but only what we work for, and can produce better than,
or at least as well, as those on whom we look down, and
whose face we pity. Eorty shillings a quarter will give a
British farmer no better means to pay his men than any-
body else — " If a man will not work neither shall he eat."
In the long run he can cat no more than he works for.
The downright fact clearly is, that if a sack of wheat
fetches no more in England than in France, the Baltic
States, or Kussia, the time has come when the grower
must cat his coat according to his cloth, or soon he will
have no cloth to cut. Has not that crisis arrived with
far too many honest and industrious tenants already ?

Vou have quoted the high authority of Mr. C. S. Read
for the very patent fact that wages are higher than they
were twenty-live years ago by at least 50 per cent. Mr.
Gladstone, our greatest liuaucial and fiscal oracle, fully
endorses that statement. Now I want to have a plai n
answer to this question— If the ploughman to whom in
the year 1853 the farmer gave 10s. per week now gets
13s., docs the wheat which then fetched GOs. per quarter
now yield 90s. ? Is it not rather absolutely certain that,
while the Mix'^a have ristu 50 per cent, the average of

wheat has fallen 50 per cent. ? Then what eartT.ly
apology has the man for asking, and what reason has the
master for giving, wages higher in the very ratio of the
fall in his profits ? Is it simply in the hope that '' some-
thing will turn up ?" or because the advance has been
demanded ? or because " the country " (what a nice im-
personal phrase !) /oo/rj for it ? or because the Press and
public opinion (the old bogeys of fools !) have decreed that
you wouldn't surely expect a British labourer to live on the
lard-soup and grapes of Johnny Crapaud, or the melons
and maccaroni of the Italian ? In any other trade such
a sublime contempt of commercial principles would
speedily end in the Gazette. British gold is no better and-
will go no farther than metal of the same standard in any
other country ; indeed, it is the very same coin that pays the
foreign corn merchant and the British labourer. How can
it be that the English tenant can afford to pay the Esses
ploughman more for ploughing an acre at Havering or
Braintreethauthe Frenchman orltalian forthe same extent
of finer land in the better climate of Languedoc or Lom-
bardy ? The crops are all equal in Mark Lane. When
labourers conspire, farmers must combine. Men lived/
five-and-twenty years ago on the wages they then earned
— many necessaries, especially bread and salt, are untaxed
and cheaper now. If tenants mean to keep their heads
above water they must resolutely return to the wages of
1853. Why did they submit to a rise unwarranted by any
corresponding enhancement in the price of their produce?
Too simply they accepted as truth any lie told them of a
rise granted by their neighbours, and were played otE
against each other by " Hodge," as he put himself up to
auction, or " tried on" a strike at haytime or harvest,
when he knew he could not be spared. Masters must re-
solutely set themselves to stand by each other, and main-
tain their position. If lOs. were enough in 1830 they
are no less in 1878.

Mr. Arch, indeed, proposes " a more excellent way."^
If peripatetic resolutioniug could solve the quandary,
there has been no lack of agricultural unions and motions-
" carried unanimously." The land is to be " nationalised"
— that is, seized and divided among the ploughmen. Glebe
lands and tithes aie to he confiscated, and all lar^ie estates
are to be assumed by the State, to be redistributed to
peasant proprietors, and tenants are told to " shear the
pigs before they fleece the sheep." lu other words, they
are to keep up wages and put down rents — a cry with
which it is necessary to reckon. Let us see how the matter
stands.

While the farmer looks to realise from five to ten per
cent, out of the land, he pays to the owner a return aver-
aging three per cent. Is that too much ? I know an
answer is returned to this query. It is said the three per
cent, is only the prolit on a price that should never have
been paid. If capitalists choose to give " a fancy price"
for the distinction of landowning, that is not to be charged
on the commodity, but on the whim of the purchaser. Js
it a whim ? The fact is, the farmer pa>/s nothimj
for the land at all. He never thinks it unreasonable
that he should be paid by an incoming tenant
for unexhausted improvements. Why then should
he demur to pay for the p'l-nit'tnent improvements
owned by the landlord. (3f every farthing of rent, and
more, the capitalised cost has been spent in labour and
wages in bringing the land to the condition in which it
is handed over to the incoming lessee. It has been re-
claimed from the common or the waste— hedged, ditched,
broken up, cleaned, supplied with gates and fencing,
drained, furnished with expensive houses, oflices, cottages,
yards, which all represent highly paid labour ; and rent
is neither more nor less than the wages of labour capitalised
at very low interest. It is too much the habit of renters
to regard a landowner as one who is " born with a silver

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Hr

spoon in his mouth" jr".//,'s comoimere natus. Iq fact,
he is simply the heir or assiguee of the past lahoiir
bestowed in reuileriH;! the farm (it for present cultivation.
Tlie reclaimers of tlie Bedford I,evel, of the Fens of
Lincolu aud Gambridfie-sbires, and at whose expense all
the roads of tliese counties have been couslructed ( .nd
most of the bridges), have an extremely poor return,
many none at all, on their outlay. The service their
capital has done to the nation is inestimable, aud there is
loo apparent a disposition entirely to ignore it. To that
admirable patriot, the Duke of Sutherland, a nation's
gratitude is deeply due for reclaiming and fertilising a
whole county at a cost for which he will never see any
but tbe scantiest return. Farmers are too aj)t to forget
to reckon their house and their buildings in estimating
their rent. Here now is a holding of 189 acres. The
homestead is valued for assurance at £1,200.
the rent is £160. The current percentage at which
buildings are reckoned is 6 i^er cent, on the cost, or £72,
which in this case would leave £88, or about 12s. per
acre as tlie interest at 5 percent, on £13. Now that
amount never covered the wages of redeeming that land
from the common or the waste, and preparing it for
cultivation by the occupying tenant. In such a case, I
repeat, the tenant really pays, not rent for the land but a
nominal interest ou tbe wages disbursed in improvements
to lit the farm for occupation. I do not at all hesitate to
say that this outlay is by no means covered by the rent
received — and that at the besf the business of landowning
•is about the worst paid of any current speculation. It is
not to be assumed that the English is the only farmer
who pays rent, or that he really gives more than the
superior advantages of his markets, custom, aud means of
transport vk'arrant. Holland, Belgium, Norway, France,
Italy, Spain, and Chauuel Islands, know what rent means
as well as we. Laud sales in France report higher figures
than in Essex. I see one of 590 acres is rented at £1,725
and another of 3,381 acres let at £3,293. The homesteads
everywhere are of a much more modest character than
those our owners are called upon to rear ; while their
carpenters and bricklayers work sixteen hours a week
longer than ours, and at little more than half the British
artizau's figure for wages. There are no six-roomed
cottages for plonghraen on the Continent. Even in Ger.
many the whole family pis in one apartment. I see by
the Royal Agrlcu tural Society's .lournal that in Norway
that domestic arrangement is preferred, even where more
accommodation is offered. Your own Journal gives
£1,000 as the cost cf six cottages on a Kentish farm.
This with insurance and repairs represents al 7 per cent, (a
smaller reluru than other cajjitalists expect for similar
property) £70, or a rent of £11 15s. for each labourer.
Pray how much does the tenant or ploughman pay for
that? My friend, Mr. A. Mackellar, Canadian Minister
of Agriculture, sends me his reports, from which I gather
that the average yield of wheat in Arcadia is under 20 bus.
per acre, oats about 4 qrs., rye 2k, barley 4, peas 3. The
United States average is not greater — and the Continental
rates scarcely exceeds these figures. Is it no consideration
to the British farmer that the instrument of production,
the use of which he hires, yields a quarter of wheat per
acre more than is raised by his competitor ia other quar-
ters of the earth ?

These suggestions have occurred to me, however, noc
for the purpose of deprecating a reduction of rent where
it has been too high. Under existing circumstances a
lesser rent is preferable to having no tenant. That re-
duction may help the repeal of the malt tax, enforce
greater economy in the national expenditure, and espe-
cially compel a vigorous retrenchment in local taxation,
which has nearly doubled within a quarter of a century.
Why is the farmer to pay for tli£ education of ether people's

children, for maintaining city arabs and gutter children
in ])alace3 called reformatories, at double the cost which
the honest ])loughrnan's wages cin spare for his children,
for keeping paupers in the union at more than double the al-
lowance which supports families who maintain themselves,
and are a burdeu on nobody. I do not desire to play the
part of wiseacre. We have all been " living too fast."
In every family expenditure has been insensibly stretched
out far beyond the sober providence of our fathers. Wives
to the wash-tub and daughters to the churn and cheese-
press is the cry of some farmers themselves ; aud I own
that I have been surprised how entirely many farmers'
wives and daughters have divested themselves of all con-
nection with the distinctive cares of the farm. I must
add that the hunting field, the city, or the continental
tour, will not look after eye-servants, direct operations
that require daily thought and supervision, or be supplied
by a bailiff hired to do what the farmer should do for
himself.

But above all, I submit I have proved that the chief
difliculty which it appears to me the tenant has allowed
to grow up to an unreasonable abuse is bad work, ex-
orbitantly paid, out of all proportion to profits. It is
quite true that this is somewhat attributable to an ex-
cessive demand for labour in reckless and ruinous manu-
facturing, mining, and railway speculation, which has
spirited away the peasantry to the towns. But that wild
and uncalculating mania has come to an end in its
itievitable retribution — labour will flow back to the
country, and it must be the business of farmers to meet
mutinous conspiracy by loyal co-operation, determined
repression, and a resolute recurrence to a scale of wages
better proportioned to the profits of the cultivator, and
the average pay disbursed by his foreign competitors.

The reclamation of ' land, the laws of hypothec and
distress, the removal of obstructions to smaller holdings,
aud a peasant proprietary, the consideration of improved
methods of husbandry, and of practical legislative help
and relief to the end of removing nnwise arrangements
in the way of cultivation, are subjects which require more
extended treatment than your room can spare in the
compass of a letter, which perhaps you and your readers
may deem already too long.

I am. Sir, &c.,

Sidney Sjiith.

TAe Manor, Fellham, Dec. ^oh.

THE

AGRICULTURAL

OF 1878-9.

SITUATION

TO THE EDITOR OJ THE MARK L\?fE EXPRESS.

Sir, — The retrospect of the past year will long be memor-
able with farmers as one of disappointed hopes and bewilderiacr
suggestions, causing many weak minds to waver in their faith
in the priaciples of Free Trade.

What is the agricultural look out on the advent of tlie new
year ? Can the most sanguine writer deduce a hopeful pros-
pect from the evidences of facts surrounding the situation of
farming interests? On all sides the review discloses results
of gloom and despondency.

The three previous years are generally acknowledged to
have been a cycle of bad seasons adverse to husbandry, and
leaving a loss to the occupying farmers. The past year raised
hopes of recouping — in part, ut least — past losses, for with
some exceptions in localities hay crops have been ubundant
pastures luxurious ; in wheat and other cereals (with some,
exception in barley), in root and green crops, especially,
potatoes, we have had perhaps a full average all round. But
so glutted and depressed are the import markets with large
supplies of foreign produce, the farmer finds in attempting
sales he must submit to prices tiiat, notwithstanding his in-
creased crops, result in a positively less money receijit than in
years of a deficient yield ! The growing iinportatimis and in-
creasing competition froaj abroad are teriously depressing farm

118

THK KARMl'^Ii'S MAGAZINE.

■prohice- in fact, below tlie cost (if proJuction. _ ,

American wlieat, Belliii!? in Liverpool at 3o9. (o 40s.;
foreimi malting bsrley, 30s. to 3-2«. per qr., supplanHnp honip-
gronn in tlie lncr(■a^inJ: manufactdre of porter! Market
returns show e norm ms impnrtations of animal food, with
corrptpordinsreitiictions in prices, tliou>,'ii as yet the conouiner
has not-fairly pf.rticipated in t'le reduction. Liverpool whole-
sale prices are: — Best beef, 7'). per lb. ; best mutton, 8>rt ;
best pork, 6d., in the carcase. Limiting this cursory revievf ^
ot the farmer's position, what are the signs of depression ? j

Thousands of acres of good f*rra land are seeking tenants, ;
and who shall say how many hundreds of struggling tenants
are wholly or in part unable to meet their rent audits. Some '
scores of laudlonis (to their great honour) are remitting 10,
15, and 20 per ci'nt. to their tenantry in practical sympathy j
with the times. Would to God all would follow their gooU
example. Farmers are reluctantly compelled to economise
labour and to reduce wages. Unhappy strikes and disastrous I
turn outs in some districts are amongsi the on.iuous signs of
bad times, the one redeeming feiture b^ing that to cheap are [
the necessaries of life the indigent poor shall not perish for |
want of bread. [

Kow what about the fnture. '' Hope deferred maketh the |
heart sick." But Englishmeo never say die in despair ! Is j
there no silver lining traceable in the cloudy agricultural
horizon? Necessity begets thought and invention, teaching
economy and thrift ; also arouses inquiry and susgesfs changes
in the economy of farniing operations— as, for instance, by j
unitv amongst farmers, which, with landlord co-operation, j
maybe greatly utilised to their joint benefit in various ways,
as 'by costiv and labour-saving machinery and implements, hy
the purchase of tillages and feeding stntfs at the fountain head
on lowest cash prices, &c. Local burdens in taxation want
adjusting as between owner and occupier, some lonal rateslwaat
being transferred to the Imperial Exchequer, tlie education
rate for one. If England is to be open to receive the free im-
portations from the whole world, her home farming must be
free and unlettered, which at present it is not. The farmer has all
along been running sadly overweighted in the great Iree-trade
race. All incumbrances ninst be removed if farming for the future
is to hold its own, and capital be encouraged to flojv into the
ouerations of husbandry by atfordingit unqiestiouable security.
The words of the Marquis of Salisbury to the merchants in Man-
chester some two or three years ago in reference to developing
the resources of India by the aid of British capital, were,
" Capital, as you well know, will face any difficulties and
danger in seeking employment, but there is one thing that
frightens it back, and that is any great uncertainty in the con-
ditions under which it is to be employed." These cogent
easons would seem as specially applicable to capital emp'oyedr
in farming. A largely increased production ot home produce
is an absolute necessity for independence, and to accomplish
this capital is a «(«(7i7«a»ow. Why should not owners and
occupiers come together as business men, and so adapt the;r
agreements to the tillered circumstances of the times— remov-
ing all hindrances to a valid security of tenant-right by an
equal law as secures the fee-simple to the owner ? A high
authority, Lord Derby's opinion, was that the farm produce of
England might be doubled, and with a judicious application
()f capital this view has been largely endorsed. Only let the
farming industry of this country be put on a firm base-
security and freedom— no longer a sham but a reality — and it
is not a vain boast to say British farm produce nny yet meet
the foreign producer in successful competition on his owu
B bores. I am. Sir, &e.,

Henky Niied.

The Grange Earm, Worsley, Lancashire,
Zs'ew Year's- eve.

MISINTERPRETATION.— Free-Kirk Minister f'o his
" Elder") " John, 1 sliould like you to intimate that ou Mon-
day next I propose paying Pastoral Visits in the High and
North fctreets, in which I also hope to embrace all the ser-
vf.nt girls of the congregation in that district. His wife
(whom he'd lately married from the South). "You shall do

nothing of the kind. Sir 1 Let me see you dare to "Goes

iutc 1 yjtcrics. — Punch.

CANADA AND THE LAEOURERS.

Our Cauadian correspondent writes: — It is noteworthy
that while a Samaritan Government in Ontario, louchdl
with the woes and privations of the " down-trodJeu"
Kentish " serfs," are inviting them to the fatness to be
had gratis among the swamps and boulJers of the granite
wilderness in Muskoka and other " faraiing" regions of
the Province, cultivators in the " front,'' or old-settled
townships, seem to be persistently making exodus from
their locations, and going nobody knows whither. A
Canadian newspaper, indeed, sometime ago suggested that
a preminm should be otl'ered for a prize essay indicating
the best means for " preventing farmers throwing up
their holdings and turning teamsters at two dollars a
day !" At the census in 1871, the following counties
had diminished in population — East Elgin, North Braut,
South Wentworth, North Wentworth, Hatton, Peel,
West York, East York, West Durham, East Dnihara,
West Northumberland, Erontenac, South Grenville,
North Leeds, Granville, and Glengarry. On these and
kindred significant depletions the Ai/hn/^r Times of .Jan-
uary 17, 1872, wrote: — "The census returns have just
established the fact that from all old Provinees of the
Dominion there is a large emigration, an outllow and abso-
lute loss of our very best blood to the United States, or
elsewhere. The causes of this esodus must be strong in-
deed." The Montreal News remarked on the same facts : —
" The cei'sus returns have startled those who indulged in
dreams about our increase in population, and have roused
inquiries into the causes which force our youth to emi-
grate."

That farmers in Ontario are still as restless and dis-
satisfied with their belongings as formerly has just been
made patent by the publication of the Assessment Com-
missiouers' returns for the County of York, the population
of which, in 1878, was 59,882. At a natural increase of
14 per 1,000 it should in 1878 be about 65,000, quite
apart from additions by immigration, which the Govern-
ment of Ontario claims to have been enormous through-
out the Province since 1871- I'ork population is now,
hov»'ever, set down at 50,0-33, a positive diminution of
3,249 since 1871, and 8,000 less than it should be by
natural increase without immigration additions. The
county is one of the oldest settled in the Province, and is
the seat of Toronto, the commercial and legislative capi-
tal. Its area is 547,120 acres, of which the assessors re-
turn about 180,000 acres as yet uncleared- Much of this
is doubtless in the hands of speculators. As fresh land is
cleared every year by the owners, tenants, or immigrants
and others who have bought of speculative investors, the
assessible value of the land in cultivation of course shows
every year a large increase, though the population has
diminished. The assessors this year do not give the num-
ber of cultivators, so a comparison cannot be made with
those of 1871, which were as follows: —

York, 1871.

Occupiers 6,321

Being owners 4,430

Being tenants 1,865

Being employes 26

10 acres and under 1,426

lOacres to 50 1,313

50 acres to 100 2,23o

100 acres to 200 1,152

Over 2C0 acres 195

These figures are instructive and will dispel many dreams.
The number of tenants "being employes," twenty-six,
may be comraeuded to the attention of Mr. .\uberon Her-
bert, who, in a letter to the Tinips, has the following ; —
" Independent homes and plots of their own are the only
inducements, as I believe, which will keep the English

THE FARMER'S

liboiirer at lidinc. It is my s'rong i-onviction that no
vages wliicth the fanner will be able to pay will keep him
1 eie, unless he is made happy, cuml'ortable, .and, above
}11, indtpeudeut iu his home." That is. the English
hbourer will emigrate unless he pets a home and plot of
liis own. I agree with Mr. Herbert that independent
homes end plots for labourers are desirable ; I hope iu
time they may all have them. But Canada is the last
place they must look to for that end. How it may be
in other colonies I do not know. If it is with them as
with the Dominion, the Ei'glish labourer will certainly
have far more prospect of getting them 'at home" than
fis an emigrant. In the whole proviuse of Ontario, in
1871, there were only 706 tenant employes o\x\ of 172,258
occupiers. Li the four Provinces of Ontario, Quebec,
Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick there were but 2,119
out of 367,862 occupiers. In 1871. out of 149,460 la-
bourers and methauics, &c., in Ontario, 62,179 were em-
ployed in agriculture. In the four Provinces there were
187,942 labourers at industrial establishments, and
124,922 at agriculture. It will be seen how miserably
small is the iiumber of agricultural labourers, whether in
Ontario or the Dominion, who have Mr. Auberon Her-
bert's independent " plot" of ground. As for the inde-
pendent " home," heaven help any English agricultural
labourer who seeks it here! The comparatively few
fHrrm rs, priucij^ally the 200 acre occupiers who employ
labour only need it iu the busy season of feed time and
harvest. During the winter farinei-s in districts exclusively
agricultural have no more work than they can easily do
for theniselvea. Instead of hiring others they often hire
out, and oue or more sons will go afar to the lumber
shanties. The farmer, therefore, usually engages
labourers by the season or job, and his first care when
harvest is over is to clear himself of all hired help. He
cares not, therefore, about " plots" or " independent
homes," but boards his temporary hands in his own
house, and his poor womankind, wife included, are nearly
. fagged to death by the cooking and other drudgery thus
imposed on them. It is a bad system and leads to many
scandals and iranioialities; but it exists everyv.here. The
writer of a pamphlet issued some time ago from the
Ki>'ffst n (Ontario) News office said that, having a some-
what accurate knowledge of live township>!, containing
about 1,800 cultivated farms, he believed he was correct
in saying there Wfre not more t'jen thiity-six houses in
the district inhabited by hired farm labourers with their
families, though two of the townships had been settled
sixty years. He adds — Visit any section ten miles
square in the north of England or south of Scotland, and
the labourers will be foimd better boused than the farmers
in the new townships of Ontario, and as well housed as
many in the old. Good ploughraea in the same district
get wages in money and in kind equal to the average
wages paid in Ontario. In the Canada Ha-niT, June 15,
1872, we read : — '' Why is it so difficult to obtain labour
on our fatms? We believe the fault lies with the farmers. |
They work their men to the last extremity. And why is
it female servants will not stay on farms ? We ausw er
without hesitation, because they are too hard worked."
Mark, nothing is said about the " scarcity" of labourers
of which agents talk so much in England. There is, in
fact, no scarcity ; but the truth is. farm labour in Canada
is mere slavery — no home, no plot — nothing but what
Mr. Mautilini calls one '" deranition grind" from four
a.m. or five a.m. till eight o'clock p.m., if not later, and
intense heat and venomous insect pests.

But again. There are no less than 1,865 " tenant "
holders in York. la Ontario in 1871 there were 27>340,
and in the Dominion 39,583. Instructive fact ! Tenant
farmers in England are perpetually sneered at by agents
and lecturers from Cariada for plodding oa in miserable
"helotr^" under grinding feudal lords, when farms of

MAGAZINE. ]i!)

their own await iLem here for a romparative bagatelle, or
lor nothing. The English farmer iu turn, may pertin-
ently ask how it is these many thousands of Canadiau
cultivators grind on under rental and taxe-i, when any
amount of " rich soil" up north, is jslaced at their dis-
posal by the Government and is to be had for asking.
Why don't they take it., or else pull up s'akes and "go
for" some of those "sweet things" and "rare invest-
ments " which are so warmly pressed on the attention of
"small capitalists" on your side? Why, too, should
nearly 2,800 farmers be living a hand-to-mouth existence
in York county on from 10 to 50 acres of land, some of
it rented, when 100 miles north they can get '5,000
acres," or 50,000 acres, if they like, of " splendid soil "
gratis? Ask the York farmers this, and they will langh
and tell you the assured "fertile" locations in the new
grants are " bosh ;"that the Ontario Government has not
now any land left to bestow in U-ee grants worth having,
and that if it had the last thing it would think of would
be to give it away.

Mr. Eugene Wells, of Weston Grange, a practical
York agriculturist, in a letter to a Toronto paper some
time a,!jo, said that though the farmers of his comity were
generally considered adepts at their business, they have to
contend against want of capital, a climate unsuitable for
very profitable agriculture, a?ainst stones and stumps,
and, above all, have to niise hay, oits, and straw, on land
which is now run out, and which has in some cases, been
cropped for nearly 20 years without any fertiliser being
put into it. This terse description is applicable to a lar-'e
portion of all the older settlements in the Province, and
partly explains why io many people forsake farming, and
why so many " fine farms," " bargains," etc., are always
in the market. Hence we need not be surprised to find
the York live stock statistics showing a downward ten-
dency, as follows : —

Animals.
Horses
Cattle
Sheep
Hogs

1871.
22.025
44,504
53 081
38.953

1877.

21,007

39,827

35,534

18,442

1878.

20,992

30,813

33,783

17,587

Totals 158,563 114,810 103,175

On the whole Canadian farms and f=irm life cannot be
said to offer allurement to either farmers or labourers on
your side. Agriculture is carried on under many serious
drawbacks and discomfitures, not forgetting the horrible
condition of most of the roads, and other disadvantages
which, depending as Ihey do ou climate, must necessarily
be permanent. All the towns swarm with people who
" have tried a bit of farming," but given it up. Two-
thirds of the Ontario farms I dare say are mortgaged,
aud mortgage interest is worse than " rent." The shock-
ing state of the roads, made and repaired in a lazy
muddling way by statute labour, is a terrible drawback
on life in Cauada. At times they are seas of mud. As
no provision is made for pedestrians, as soon as the towa
or village wooden side-walk ends you have to go through
the mire. I tried to get out into the country some
weeks ago from Toronto, but three miles distance from
the city the slush was " quite too much," and I turned
tail. Indeed, an English settler wrote some years ago to
ihc. Canada Farmer on ths very point. '^Th»Enclish
agriculturist who comes to Canada must take into account
the state of the roads and the state of society, or he will
be vastly disappointed ; nor must he look for any comfort,
as there is none to be had." The only response the
editor could make to this was : " We suppose our friend
misses his hunting." But that sort of rejoinder is all
nonsense. What is life in a rural district without good
roads? Look at England, with thirty thousand bicycle
riders. Coasider the ti'ibute therein given to the splendid

t20

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

state of tkc hii^hway. Bicynles would be of little use iu
this country, as there are uo good roads on which to
drive thciii.

In education, dwelling, social position, and surrouao-
ings, the Canadian farmer is often little above the
niTgratory labourer to whom, if his means allow, he
gives a brief spell of employment in the spring and fall.
As regards his occupation, the seasons here are so preca-
rious and short that his life for half the year is one of
perpetual drudgery. In fact, the only well-to-do farmers
are the children and grandchildren of the first settlers
fifty or sixty years back. With regard to the others, half
has not been told of their struggles, privations, and diffi-
culties. The poorest labourer in England.is far better otF
than many " landowners" in the Free Grants. Hear
what Mr. Clayden says of the Lower Canadian farmers,
a description quite as applicable in many cases to those of
Ontario : " I found the Canadian farmer, as far as priva-
tion, anxiety, and hard work went, to be in a very little
better posit'ion than the English labourer. He slaved
from morning to night, intent only on getting as much
out of his land, his men, his family, and himself, as he
possibly could. With no notion of slackeuiog work
himself, he exacted from those he employed the uttermost
amount of time and labour at their disposal, by no means
desirous for them to rise from the condition of day
labourers to that of small farmer." This last sentence
should be well weighed by your Kentish and other
labourers. The labourers of England are earnestly in-
vited by philanthropists here to " come upon the land ;"
Lut when they come out they discover, when too late, the
land is the very place where said philanthropists do not
wish or intend they should go.

FARMING ON A LARGE SCALE.

The Missouri Republican gives the following account of
some rather extensive farming operations in Minnesota and
Dakota.

Fargo, D. T. August 23.— The " Grandin Farm," a lionse-
hold word in the North-west, is barely known in the East,
where tlie stories of its operations in tlie ears of the few read
like the fantastic dreams of AVestern reporters. After the
failure of Jay, Cooke, and Co., the Grandin Brothers, bankers
and oil kiu-'s of Tidioiite, Pa., found on their hands an mcou-
venient load of Northern Paciftc stock, but they quickly dis-
covered a means of converting it into gold. , . ,,

Their wheat fields in Dakota are perhaps the largest in tne
world, certainly larger by all odds th>in any in the United
States Their immense farm of nearly 70,000 acress lies partly
in the Red lliver Valley, 300 miles south of Lake Winnepeg,
and partly on the Goose River, 20 miles to the north-west.
The portion on the Red, which is designed for grain culture
consists of 37,000 acres, iu whose vast extent it may be said
there is no waste land- It lies so beautifully that I thmk it
is hardly an exigjierution to say that an uninterrupted furrow
mi-'ht be ploughed around the fifty square miles embraced
within its limits. I know there are many traces of this extent
of which such a statRinent would be strictly true.

From this farm they have just harvested 5,000 acres of
grain, from which thev estimate a yield of 125,000 bushels

The planting aud harvesting of this immense wheat held is
a wonder of modern farming, aud has attractsd this year ex-
cursiouists from far aud near to witness the working ot so
(fijiantic an agricultural enterprise. , ,> .

Tlirough the hospitality ot the Messrs. Grandin and their
efficient superintendent, 1 have had the privilege of a minute
inspection of their mode of operations. Ihe field work is
conducted with a discipline as thorough as that of an army
while the details of the office exhibit a method not surpassed
by the best manajied manufacturing coucerns in the East. It
is in fact a stupendous grain manufactory, the success of
which depends upon the nicest system and the application of
the most complete business training. An active business li^e
lias well qualitied the proprietor to orgauise aud carry on with
success interests so extensive.

The price at whiih gra'n can be put to market is a proof
that under business principles the pursuit of farniiug can be
made to rank with the most remunerative einployiiii'ut of
capital, and I would here remark tliat, though the distance
from market seems appsllinsr, the Dakota grain producer can
put his bushel of wheat in New York at one-third less cost
than the Eastern farmer, which fact is readily susceptible of
proof. So perfect is the system on the farms I am de-
scribing that as tile work goes on the cost of every portion of
the same >8 accurately recorded, and when the last sack of
wheat has left the thrasher the Messrs. Grandin know to a
cent what it has cost them per bushel to make aud market
their crop.

Their farm as at present organised (the grain portion of it)
is divided into sections of Nos. 1, 2, and 3, each liaving its
farm buildings, consisting of dwelling-house, boarding-house,
for the men, granaries, repair shops, and shedding for the
numberless machines that are required to plant, cultivate, and
gather the immense crops. The head-quarters of tlie farm
are at No. 1, where the superintendent lives, while his lien-
tanants live at Nos. 2 and 3. The latter are connected by
telepphone with No. 1, and orders are transmitted instantly
to portions of the forces three and five miles distant. No. 1
is prettily situated on the banks of a lake of about one
hundred acres area. Flocks of teal and mallard ducks
frequent this lake within easy range of the pleasant mansion,
while upon the fields all around the beautiful prarie hen has
not yet learned to be unsociable.

Besides the building described upon the sections No^. 3 and
3, No. I has the office, where the book-keeper and his assis-
tants are kept constantly employed. Here is also a special build-
ing for the various stores, such as are needed by the hands, of
which they employ a steady force for the season of about one
hundred, which is swelled duriug harvest and the thrashing
season to between two and three hundred. A large room is
specially devoted to the duplicate parts of farm mTchinery,
aud so nicely are these arraufred th-.<.t when a break occurs in
any portion of the vast field the nearest telephone station
anuouncing the fact, a messenger, whose horse stands ready,
need have uo excuse for not instantly putting his hand on the
desired article and galloping off to the spot where the crippled
machine, withdrawn from the line, awaits his coining, and
where be will find the machinist standing ready to replace the
broken part.

At No. 1 also is the steam-mill ''or grinding feed for horses
and men, and so large is the demand that it is kept constantly
running. Here are the carpenters' shops, the main store-
houses, and numberless auxiliary buildings which such an
establishment must require.

The force of this farming is about as follows: Say 20 to 30
" break plows," 125 harrows, 30 to 50 stubble ploughs, 20 to
30 broadcast seeders, 20 to 30 self-binding reapers, 10 steaiu

thrashers.

I have stated about the number of men it requires to per-
form the work, besides which there are upwards of 150 horses
and mules — the breukiug ploughs requiring four to each, the
harrows two, the stubble ploughs two, the " harvesters" or
reapers three.

It is worth a journey of many miles to see a platoon of
self-binders attack a fine field of standing grain. Any de-
scription would fail to convey an adequite idea of the. grandeur
of the display. Tvvo weeks ago 1 rode into the field wiiere
seventy-four of these intelligent machines stood ready for the
order to move. Tlie drivers were, oiling up, the machinists
were inspecting the vaiious parts to be assured that all were
in order, the watertank man was driving from oue thirs'y
group to another with refreshment alike for men and horses.
The superintendent sat his horse silently awaiting the com-
pletion of preparations. At last the order was given to " field
bosses," machinists, and messengers to mount. The drivers
took their seats, reius in hands. " Go ahead," cried General
McCloskey, and away they swept for a four-mile round,
twenty-four clicking harvesters, eacli carrying a swarth of six
and a lialf feet, 15G feet in width, for all (nearly ten rods), in
other words, taking from one side of the niilrt square patch 20
acres at one " through." Eighty acres of standing grain put
into sheaf by oue round of the field, a force of fifth " shockers "
following put it at once into shocks.

TIIK FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

121

These liarv?ster9 seem to work willi almost liumaii iutel'i-
gence. Tne grain is cut and laid in swarth* u^oii r table,
wiiicli, revolvmp;, elevates it to »noth^^ table, where, at regular
intervals, a revolving iron arm, carrying, »pp irently between
{{\e lip» of its fingers, a (Jelicaie wii<> coinen up and grasps tli«
hundle about tlie ceolre, revolving still through an Ojie.ning in
ti\e table, carries llw wire below, where s. twister twists it and
a cutler cuts it, and the finished sheaf is to-tst d lighlly off sis
feet from the reaper's side, the inexorable arm moving oa
and upward for the next bundle. The mi)ti 'n is as ea>y and
regular as tUe swinp of « pend«lnra, tossing off the bundles at
the rate of ten a raiuute where the grain stands w«ell, twenty-
four reapers turning out two kundred aad forty bundles a
minute.

I have taken the Grandin as my sample, but it is only one
of several such, ail under the geseral management of one man,
Mr. Oliver Dairymple, wiio may be said to be the pioneer ot
this grand system of farming. Mr. D.ilryrople has an interest
ia the following farms, aud the supervision nf them all, har-
vesting this vear from the Cheney farm, i.OOO acres : Grandin
farm, 5,000 acres ; Cass farm, 2,300 acres ; Dalryiaple, 2,0(XJ :
an aggregate ol 13,000 acres, which, with the estimated yield
of twenty-five bushels to the acre, will sliow ft grand total
of 325,000 bushels.

I had the pleasure of spending a d*y wtth Mr. Btlrymple
on tlw. Ciieney farm just as he was fiuisliing cuitiog and was
putting his steam thrashers to work, i sat by one for a few
minutes while L was on a field of oats. By ray timiag it put
through two sacks a gainute, or between four aal five bushels.
This field would yield aboat sixty beshels to the acre.

For half an iKJur I timed a wheat tlirsher, and every minute
it " ran itself in golden sand "" to the amount uf two bushels
and a peck.

The wUole force i« at work there will fee ten threshers,
and the aggregate stream of wheat from all will be : Twenty
bushels a minute, twelve hundred bushels an hour, twelve
thousand bushels a day. To cut the immense harvest of
thirteen thousand acres Mr. B.'s force was eighty reapers,
eighty raea (driver-) and two hundred and forty horses, besides
a large force of bosses, messengers and machinists, who in the
saddle constantly follow the reapers. The harvest was gathered
in ten days and ni hont a drop of rain.

A few days ago a party of excursionists from Eastern and
Western cities visited the scene of these harvests, among whoia
were many newspaper representatives, whose accounts read
like romances. Tlie highest colouring they may give will not
add one gulden tiat too much to the splendour of the canvas
which lay spread out before them.

A YEAR' 3 FOOD IMPORTATION FROM
THE U.MTED STATES AND CANADA

During the p st year the importation olfood to this country
from the United tjtate^s aT)d Canada has been conducted on a
largely-increased Hjale particuiarly as regards live stock. At
the close of the third quarter of the year it was expected that
the importation of live cattle would very shorily cease, owing
to the adverse weather experienced by the steamers during the
winter monttis. Contrary to this conjecture, however, ship-
pers have been f and iu the United Slates and Canada who
are willing to ^i^k their cattle across the Atlantic even up to
the present time. In many instances steamers have arrived
w.th large naml^ers of animals on board, the mortality during
the pas^age being very small, while in other caves the death-
rate has been very large. In one instance a steamer lelt the
American shore with a valuable consignment of 151 head of
cittle-, but having encounteied very stormy weather, not a
single animal was brought to Liverpool, while another lost
some 300 sheep and a number of cattle. So great, indeed, are
the risks attached to the conveyance of live stock in the winter
season — rom October to March — that the rates of insurance
are almost doubled. Already arrangements have been iiade for
next spring for the shipment of live stock from America and
Canada into this country in such numbers, that it is stated ia
some quarters that the English market will be glntl«d if they
•re carried out in their entirety. Several new steamers, form
ing a line ipecially intended for the conveyance of live stock
from America, have made their first voyages, but the adverse
leather has bo far prevented them bringing over cattle in large

' numbers. It is believed, however, that the eonlracfs entered
' into by the owm-rs are too eKtensive to be eimpleted, and it
remaius to be leen whether this will prove to be the case.

As regards fresh meat, the importation last year has also
been exceedingly large, showinir a steady increase on previous
periods. The ternuu. liou of 1877 let the df-maud very good
for Iresh meat, with vt-ry fair prices. S nee then, however,
the market being, no J jub', inlluenced by the large inllux of
live American animals, ilie price of the fresh meat has declned.
The keen competition between the two imports has had the
good effect of introducing great itriproveinenfs, both in the
acconmodation lor livestock in transit, and also for the better
preservation of the Iresh meat during the v yage. In this
latter respect an important saving Ims been eflect«d by thtt
adoption of an ingenious process for keeping the meat cool
without the necessity of using ice. As week by week advances,
there is an iccrease in the arrivals of fresk ni«at, and when
the new pnaoess is generally introduced on board the steanier*
in the spring, a still larger supply may fairly be anticipated.
During the (juarter eading D cember 31st there arrived ft0,23l<
qiiarter? of fre.-h heel', lo,87-t carcases of mut on, 3,05 i dead
pigs, 3,345 packages of fresh butter, 2,630 tubs of fresh butter
11,307 live cattle, ;:5,837 live sheep, 2,0i9 live pigs, and 18
calves. T.ie following are the figures fur the previous
quarter, ending September, and show the considerable fluci na-
tions in the imports : — 29 512 quarters of frevh beef, 1,4'27
carcases of mutton, 22,19y_live calil«, 2.1,277 live sheep, 5,69((
live pins, and 3,2 iG packages, and l,89i tubs of fresh butter ;
while foe the preceding six months the totals were : — 165,422
quarters of beef, 25,730 carcases of mutton, 13,268 live calte,
3,261' sUeep, 6,512 pigs, and 2tiQ packages, and 5,067 tuUs of
fresh butter, 'liie grand tottl, therelcre, lor the year is: —
255,168 quarters of fresh beef, 41,031 ca cases of mutton,
3,052 carcases of pigs, 6,791 packages, aud 3,590 tubs of fresh
butter, 46,704 head of live cattle, 54,378 live sheep, 14,25/
live pigs, aud 18 live calves. In the course ot the O'lrislmai
season a large nu;flber of turkeys, geese, and ducks were landed
at Liverpool, principally from Canada. — North British Ai/ricul-
t«risi.

FARM AND DAIRY PRODUCE.

" Importer and Consumer " writes to the Times : — " I quite
agree with ' A Bucks Farmer ' that the general publia are not
receiving the fall benefit of the present low pries of farm and
dairy produce, and, if true of English produce, it is to a greater
extent true of American provisions imported in enormous and
daily increasing quantities to this country. The general
public may be surprised to learn that the wholesale prires of
American cheese vary from 2d. to 5il. per lb. ; of butter (roni
5d. to lid.; of bacon from 2^d. to 3^d.; of hams from Z\t\.
to 5d.; and lard from 3id. to 4il. per lb. The extreme prices
are lor qualities equal to English production, and, indeed,
frequently sold as such, American cheese being labelled in the
shops as 'Cheshire,' the Ataerioan bac m as 'Wiltshire,'
'Cumberland,' 'Irish,' and ' liome-grown.' Consumers
would do well iu these hard times to look carefully to tlie
prices they are payine, aud, instead of buying the so-called
English at extreme rates, to iuquire for tlie American at a.
reasonable profit (say Id. per lb. above wholesale prices), aud
to see that they get it,"

WORKHOUSE FARE.— A well-to-do Colonist once com-
plained to me that " this ain't I ke the old country ; there
ain't no parish." Perhaps at home he was acquainted with
Liambeth, where. I read in a local paper, £1,000 worth of
soles, at one shilling per pound, were supplied for the use of
the workhouse. In St. Saviour's, again, one of the guardians
declares such is the waste of bread in the workhouse tt.at
hundreds of poor people who were out of employment oould be
fed with the .surplus food at present thrown into the hogs'
tank. This dreadful tquanderiug of the ratepayers' money i*
apparently due to the " rules of the Local Government Board,
which require inmates of the infirmary to receive a certain
quantity of bread whether it was used or not." Sick peopl»
naturally not all having the same appetites, and son^e having
DO appetite at all, the surplns is converted into what ia
officially known as "hogvash" — though I understand it it
really hogs' t'Xt&.— Echo.

K

a 22

'flE FARMER'S MAUAZINE.

THE PROSPECTS OF FARMING.

Ko. I.

Au agriniltural retrasppcto'f the past few years, j luuch of lately occasion us pain rather than
if dealt with by a truthful chronicler, is necessar'.ly I pleasure. It is, of course, in one sease agreabla
jrlccmy. True history is a record of facts, and if 1 to see sympathy for unavuidab:- miriinrtuue take a
the facts are of a painful character no true tangible form ; but the thought that farmers are
liistorian can give a iileas.int account of them, not in a position to be independent of charity—
tkitjin treating of the future, hope comes in«to play, 1 for it is that and nothing else— is so humiliating
and, although cheering anticipations must be based ' that there is no room for any feeling but one of
oa reasonable grouiKls in order to be accepted by regret. Nor is this all, for it is impossible to
tlioughtful people, the uncertainty of tiie future ignore the consideration that these gifts to tenants
jnust always leave a wide margin for hope. AVe | luve a tendency to keep up rents. A tenant
Lave recently had placed before us the opinion of i should only give as much rent for land as he can
av'-;-- ." .rge'uuiuber of farmers, from all parts of | pay on an average of good a;-.d bad seasons. If
the country, upon the present condition of the | he gives more than that, and when he falls behind
agricultural interest, and, with few exceptions, ; is helped with doles from a charitable landlord,
these are of the most depressing character. In j an artificial value is give i to laud, and a few are
very many cases, too, there has b^en added to tb3 saved from serious lemporary loss at the permanent
statement of preseutadversity the fear of something I cost of a whole class. What is wanted to meet
still worse to come. Now, we should be soriyto 1 the present emergency is a general reduction of
raise baseless hopes as to the future, or at any rate rents — not a few remissions of ten or tifteen per
the immediate future of agriculture in this country, cent off rent actually due, and we put it to laud-
because to do so would be, not only to cause dis- i lords as a mattwr of business expediency, ami not
appointment, but also to enhance distress. It is at all as one of g-nerous consideration for their
always bast to loolj misfortune fully in the face, ! tenants, that they should accept a moderate reduc-
to realise the wurst it can do to us, and then to take I tlon now in order to avoid the great reduction
-such measures as are in our power in order to regain j which they may otherwise have to accept here-
what we have lost. It would ba rash to assert ' after. What they have to consider is a question

that we have yet seen the worst of the agricultural
depression which now reigns over almost the
•entire country. Another deficient harvest would
probably result in such a general break-down
amoufjst farmt-rs as has not been known in the
present generation. Nor is it likely that, apart
from any consideration of what next harvest may

of probabilities. If they think farmers are li'.:el v
to tiile over these bad times quickly enough to
enable them to retain their farms, there is no
reason why they should rtduce their rents. On
the other hand, if they see reason to fear that there
will be wide-spread ruin amongst their tenants,
then for their own interests purely they should

do for farmers, the full results of past losses have i make a small sacrifice in order to prevent a greater

yet become apparent. Many who are holding on,
hoping against hope for an escape from ruin, may
have to give in bef j e they can reap another crop.
On the other hand, a really gnod harvest would
save the majoriLy of those who are now in a
precarious condition, at least for the time being,
and everyone must hope with more than common
earnestness for a favourable time for sowing spring
corn and suitable weather to follow.

But the question of the future of farming is
one of much wider range than that of the tem-
porary staving-off of a threatened disaster, and
the gloomy anticipations to which we have above
viiferred liave a much mora general siguilicance.
There are many who think that the prosi>enty of
British agriculture has reached its climax and will
permaneutly decline. We have not come to any
such despairing conclusion, for reasons which we
shall on a future occasion state. Still, we have

one. We all know that when a panic occurs all
things affected by it go down below their real
value, and if we have a farming panic that result
will apply to farms. All that we say then byway
of advice to landlords is that, if they have causi
to fear tuch a panic, they should in common
prudence take the best means for prevectiug its
occurrence by reducing their rents. We do not
say that they should not be infiuenced by kindly
feelings towards their present tenants in taking
this course. As a matter of fact such feelings do
come constantly into play in the transaction of
business, ignored as they may be by the narrowest
school of political economists. But we hold it to
be utteiiy unbusiness-iike, and, on the whole, un-
wise to appeal to such fee'ings. A landlord may
say to himself, " I may as well let my old friend
Iteep in his farm at a reduced rent as to let him be
ruined first and have to take a lower rent from a

no faith in any speedy restoration of agricultural j stranger afterwards." lie may even go further,
piosperity, and are strouglv of opinion that all j and accept the lower rent of the present occupier
the remedies suitable to a'time of more or less j if there is still some doubt whether he might not
lengthened adversity should be at once applied, j get the same rent of a new comer ; that is, he may
First of all, rentfi must and will come down. Land | give the present tenant the bmefit of the doubt.
Id certainly nut w rth so much to farm as it was i I'urtlKn' yet, a landlord luay reduce an old tenant's
ten years ago, uud it will consequently bring less rent when he knows he could o-et as much from a

in the market. We have never been uinongat
those who appeal to lattdlorla' generosity, and

stranger. Wo say a landlord may do these things ;
but he should not bo asked to do them, e.xcept so

Iho

rt.m\ssions

of rent that we have heard so ; f .u- n.« tbf^y, or any of them, can be represented to

THE FAEMER'S MAC-AZLXE.

123

be prob:!!!!)' to his own interest to do. lie should
not be naked to be benevolent, becauJie " business
is business." and a luan who goes to buy should
not beg-. It is- best on the whole for hII that, as a
rule, selHsh considerations should govern business
transactions; though as long as the world Lists,
aud huairtn hearts are rot stones, selfishness even
in business will be tempered very generally, and
occasionally quite over-ruled, by generosity. Our
contemporary, tlie Land Agents' Record, and our
correspondent, Mr. Sidney Smith, appear to bo
somewhat at issue on tiiis point, but we feel sure
that both will agree to a great extent with the
above statement of the question. But whether
from motives of selfish prudence only, or from
generosity, or from a aiixture of -the two, land-
lords of tiieir own free will agree to a reduction of
rents or not, we feel convinced that it will come.
It has, indeed, come already as far as the less de-
sirable farms in nearly all parts of the country
are concerned, and that it will be general, unless
we have a sudden and quite unexpected revival of
agricultural prosperity, we have not the slightest
diiubt. There is not now the scramble for farms
which existed a few years back, and unless pros-
pects change greatly there may be a scramble for
tenants before we see any return to high rents.
Under the present conditions of farming, with corn,
meat, cheese, and butter coming in ever-increasing
quantities from almost all quarters of the world,
it is quite unreasonable to expect rents to kee;j tip.
To enable farmers to compete with such rivalry
the conditions under which land is held need to be
greatly altered. When those conditions have been
amended we shall expect to see British agriculture
revive, and rents revive with it, and not till then.
In any hopeful survey of the future of farming
in this Country, then, we hold that the first
position to maintain is that rents must come down.
A fall is necessary to me-t the existing emergency,
and while people are talki^ig about it — long before
landlords are convinced of its necessity — it will
come.

But a reduction of rents alone will not restore
prosperity to British farmers. It will merely help
them to tide over their difhculties, and we only
regard it as incidental to a period of adversity.
There are other matters of more permanent im-
portance to agricultural success, and these we sball
refer to on future occasions.

THE lEISH LAND QUESTION.

On Monday evening; Mr. O'Sliaushne^sy gave a lecture on
the above named subject before the Limerick and Clare Far-
mers' Club. Tlieie was a small attei'dance. Mr. O'Shaugh-
iiessy coiiibaleil the charge of spolialion, and dfprecated the
use of intemperate language in stating tlie de:nand8 of tiie
tenantry. It was a iiiany-siJed qu-stion, lie said. The land
did "Ot exi-t for t >■ exclusive bfiiefit of aay class. The occu-
pier aud the own^r h;id il^eir rights, but to suppose that tbe^e
were the only classes lo be beard wo'ild be as great a mi.itake
as it was for the lan^Io^d "j atSTt tliat the rigiits of the
owner were supreme, anfi i s.t ail other rights existed by his
consent and were to be J'-ternnined by his pleasure. Tl^e agri-
cultural lahiiurers are entitled to a pa'ient liearing. The
aiti^au has a ri^-tit to see that the field winch supplies him
with food is prudently and productively managed. The com-
mercivtl community has iti locus s'anJi, and the social
iublructor, whetlier priest or philosopher, is entitled to express
hij views. Jle confined his aspect of the rjuestion to the

Ifiidlord's stde, and inquired what Die (ITe.;f o' securi'y of
tenure wouUl he on tlie lorit of the soi'. The Ulster tenant
enjoyed three rights or adia'itaee*. The liri^t, to ij lote JuJgo
Longfielil's word", was that S) long as he pays tin; rent tl.e
hndlord is expected not to ass his lagal p iwer of eviction
'I hat was lixity of tenure, and it bad given the tenant comlort,
independence, and capital. It had created a S[i it of enter-
prise, the parent of nonhern commerce. 'l\} the landlord it
had insured prompt payment of the reut and famn in high
and constant cultivation. It had brouglit him into friendly
contact with his lenant, and given him sucli iuiluf-nce r..* tho
southern landlord never bad when be m=irched hi-i tenants lo
the poll. The second ri.jlit ^vaa free sale. The tentut was
en'itled to sell iiis intert>t subject t') the landlord's approvjil
of the assignee. That was a nece^s^ry con etjuence of con
tinuous occop-incy ; without it mncy a bad tenant would Ihi
tsrapttd to \v)\'\ on ins'ead o' letting a solvent tsnant take hii
place. The third right toiu lifid tlie raising of rent. It did
not deprive the landlord of the piwer of raiding it in propor-
tion to the iticreased value of the land, su' je:t to tli-i provisio i
that a competitive rent wis not to be exacted, and that, lou^ii
Judae Longtield's words, the discretion of the landlord should
be guided by tlic> s-ame g"iier'>us feeling which he showed iu
the original letting. Now, Mr. 15;itt's prupoiil rested on- thi
leading pr'nf^iples of fixity of tenure, a valuali-jn of reu's, aud
free sa'e. Tlie three demands of the South were identical with
the three branc'ies ol the custon. If thf principle of con-
tinuous occ'ipqtion were admif-ed, he believed there woufj bi-
little d tficul'y in selecting a tribunal to fix the rent, but at
present there is an undue and UQConi-Derctd competition for
laud, and it sbou'd be admitted as a principle guiding t'i«
tribanal tliat the proper rent was not necessarily u coinpetitivi-
rent The mere prospect of compeiu (tior. for eviction wU
not iuduce a teuiut to invi-st his capital iu the liuii ; wliile^
on tiie otiier hand, the Irish hndlordwill not make the ini-
provemeuts which the Eugiish owuer effects as a matter of
course; he even discoiinig s Uie tenant from effecting them.
The Inud mu.st be iinpruved by soue one, otherwise there is a
criii.inal was'e of iiunian food aud wejlih. T.ie whole nation
ofconsumTs and not luerely tlie tfnants are en'itled to. de-
mand such security of teniu'e as will enable the occupier to
carry on the bu-iuess in an eOicient and productive inaiiuer,
L-ind i> tied up in the hands of a few individuals by the la*s
of primogeniture ai.d set/ll^ineut. lie advocated the aboliiio'i
of those laws, so that the Und might come into tlie imrket at
its real Vrlue, and the cultivator have a cliance of purchasing.
In IreUnd the nierGhant is. not witliout the naturil arabitioii
to beenrne an owni r ol land,. but he must have £5 per ceut.
upon his purchase, V hiie, the Engli hu au wiil bd satisfied lo
piy tor his glory by lo ing £'3 or £3 per cent.. Ai to peasant
proprietor^', it was unnecessary to discuss the arguni-'nt
deriv.'d Iroin Euglidi experiei.ce, which was again t the ex-
perience o' all E .rope:in history. IJe contrasted the condition
of the Irish tenants with the peasant proprietors in Eraiice,
Belgium, and the Channel lilands, aud observed ih-it tl'e
Bri:;ht cl.iUses of the Land Act, if successfully worked, only
touoheJ the fringe of the question, lie be.lievedtli.it ttie main
I'iiject could only be accomplished by opening the markets oi'
l^nd and euabling the tenant to amass capital for the purchase.'
Tenant riiiht was the keystone to a peasaut propiiecary,. lie
thought little would be done by the present Gjvernmcnt ua-
less under the in.--piration of Lord 13, acou.-firl.i. they sik;;- deit
the connfry with a go<>d Laud liill, as- they tave a il.forni
Bill to •' di^h " the U'higs. As to :he Libf ral party, if ihey
did anjthing, it would not be from any interest tnkeii in the
question by members who sat ou the (rout Opp'isuiou beuihe.".
The tenants would make their weight lelr, not hy becouiin,;
the dependents of any Englis'-i party, but by mamtaini.g an
iadepenilent position in the House of Commons. Alter th<;
delivery ot the lecture, a vote of thanks was pissed to Sir.
CS'naUiihnessy. Some c nfusion was allerwards created by an
observ.»tioii made by Mr. C. Daw.son as to the abieace of tao
Irish members in the House of Couinioos on s particular oc-
casion. Ha mentioned the name of Mr. Biggar as the mover
of an important Irish question. Mr. Gubbin-', ia a state ot
excltemenr, exclaimea that h"^ would not lis'en t.) thtt
mme of tliat man. 'Ihe Rev. Mr. Uwyer tliought Mr. Gub-
bins was right, and Mr. L-uihan strongly protested agaiiist
the name of an Obstructionist being introduced at the inj.eli'.i.;,
Mr. D.i\vsoa apologised; and tranquility was icsloicd.

124

THE FARMER'S .NfAGAZOE.

LANDLORD AND TENANT.

■^'e ouly now tiud space for some eitraets takeu from
a letter by " A Land A<;eiit, " which recently appeared in
ihe Land Agents' lircord : —

The relations oi landlord and tenaat at tbt present time are
peculiarly interesting. Never within living memory have
Mich a number of notices to ijvijt been given by tenant-
farmers. Almost as great a panic f.-iiats among-.t them to
get rid of their holdings as there is amongst bank and gas
shareholders to sCil their stocks ; and I am not sure if
farmers have not the graver cause thus to act. There can
be DO doubt that a very serious crisis for both landlords and
tenants is upon us, and on the good feeling and kind consider-
ation of the one and the good sense ot the other largely
depends much of the future piosperity of both. No land
agent farmer, or indeed any one at all ascjuaiuted with land
will deny, that in addition to the competition, from without
and within, so ably relerreJ to in your articles, a third and
fourth might be added in a succession of four bad seasons
Tunning ; and ia the dearness and inferior quality of the 1 ibour
of the larm compart d with what it was a quarter of a century
a^o. Add to this again the fact that the last strnikghold of
the farmer — the monopoly of the supply of fresh meat has not
only been attacked but is almost wrested from his grasp, and
and there is shown abundant cause for the extraordinary
number of farms about to be given up.

The causes 1 have named, aaa some others to wbieb I will
leler liter on, are and have been operating to trc detriment
of the British farmer for many years, bnt with the instincts
and fellings of Englishmen, who they s ly never know
when they are beaten, he has been hopeful of better
seasons and b, tter prices. In both hopes he has
been miserably disappointed, and the culmiaating
point appears to ha»e been reached. It is now
absolutely necessary tlut an entire revision of the terms and
coiiditious under winch land is held jaust take place. The
chief reforms required are the followi»g: — A very sabstantial
reduction in reiit<; the introduction of liberal covenants;
freedom from gr.me and rabbits, both of whicW alter his land-
lord has had one day's shooting in a year on a farm should
belong absolutely to the tenant ; the abolition of garaelieepers ;
proper buildinjjS ; a sufficiency of good comfortable labourers'
cottages for each occupancy ; freedom of cropping ; the right
to sell hay, straw, turnips, mangels, or other crops (buying as
Hiuch manure in plice ol them as is their manurial value).
Th s will give the farmer the difference between manurial
value and the selling price, which in localiies near large
towns will be very great. In short, an entirely new depar-
ture ivnst commence, or landowners will have in a large
measure to farm their own e.-tates. Ar« they prepared to do
thisP Have they the necessary capital to spare P la nine
cases out of ten it wou'd be impossible for them to find it. I
shnll cpiite expect to be told they cannot afford to reduce rents,
and that they cannot find the means lor putting np proper and
convenient larm buildings and labourers' cottages, for drain-
age, ice, &c., or any other permanent improvement. But in
view of certain Acts of Parliament, and the companies formed
expressly to undertake and execute works of that character,
by which the charge for botli principal and interest can be
spread over a number of years, 1 shall assume that landlords
nave the means placed within their grasp of making all
necessary permanent improvements on their e^ftites. I would
respectfully urge all ot them who have not already done so, to
look round their estates, along with their agent, and see what
can be done towards leetilying matters. Farmers have si en
their profits reduced to Ihe vanishing point. Would landlords
farming their own lands be in any better condition ? It
would, therefore, be better for a landlord to redoce his rents,
give liberal covtnant'i, sacrifice his game, and discharge Ins
keepers, ra*her than to lose old tenants and enter upon new
risks, without any more prospect of success than now appears.
1 know this advice will be unpalatable, but it must be taken
if landlords wish to avoid greater and unknown
evils. I ana fully anare that many noblemen and
gentlemen hive verj liberally assisted their teniuts by
returning to them large percentages at the rent audits ; all
honour to them I say for their kind cooeideratioa ; but few

even of these have gone the further step of abolishing restric'
five clauses, or giving up the game and rabbi's. The read-
jastraent of rents, however, to meet the altered condition of
the times, should he a general movement embracing the wholn
kingdom, should not rest upon individual goodw 11, and should
bo placed at >-nf;h a figure as woald alio* for a inn of bad
seasons and bad prices. I fully believe that with the ben fits
arising from the abolition of asjlj^g and restrictive clau-ies,
the power to keep down the game, and the other matters to
which I have alladed, a reduction of sis shilling per acre on
the lowest rented land and ten shillings on the highest, would
enable the British farmei'to fight successfully against all com-
petition, and would draw again to tl e soil that energy and
capital which is now being turned into other channels.
Farmers at present are not bringing up their sons to follow
lliem in their holdings. They have been ft r some years losing
heavily, and except for the liberality of those vrho have
assisted, perhaps five per cent of their number, have borne the
whole brunt of the battle ; it is time that those who have
profited so largely by tlje rise in rents which has laken place
within the past forty years shunld bear a fair share of the
losses of the past and present time, and no land agent who has
the real interest of his employer at heart wiii counsel other
wise. It cannot be to tlie interests of landlords to lose oJd
tenants, many of whom have been on their estates for genera-
tions, and yet i» it not the fact tliat isotices involving the
severance of such old ties have been largely given this Michael
mas ? Timely concessions wou'd have averted some of these
notices, — concession that will have' to be graned to new
tenants in order to obtain them. It adls ranch to the bilter-
ntsi of regret every farmer feels at leaving the old homestead
to see requests vrliich have been refused to hirn for years, and
which Would have enabled him to stay on the farm where he
was born, given under pressure of necessity to an entire
stranger. As a rule, also, the old tenant would be satisfied
with less than is given to the new, and therefoie every effort
should be made by the agent to avoid changes of tenancy.

Miny landlords would prefer making larger reductions in rent
to giving up the game, bat if they are wise ihey will not retain
tuch a source of annoyance and heartburning in their midst ;
if the finding of one day's sport in a year for his landlord i»
left to the tenant^ Ihe landlord might rely upon having agoxl
supply for himseli and his friends, and the saving effected in
the wages of gamekeepers would help very much to recoup
the reduction of the rents. No one but those who have
^ffered from game and rabbits know the miscbief and loss
they inflict, or the angry feeling they daily arouse. To say
thai thousands have been ruined by over-preservation within
lilting memory is to state a simple fact that cannot be denied.
Freedom of cropping and the sale of hay, straw, turnips, or
other crops, does not mean impoverishment of the land.
Under proper restrictions it will largely add to its fer iiity and
condition ; there are thousands of laruiera who cannot sell a ^y
0 the crops I have named.

Every inducement should be offered to the farmer by full
compensation for all unexliausted manures, lor the consump-
tion of cake, Jkc, Used wiihin the two last years of his ten-
ancy, to maintain his holding in the highest condition up to
the time of leaving, and so avoid that pernicious system of
taking out of the lacd everything he lias put in.

The value of proper buildings, such as covered stack-yards
and fold-yards, is very great ; yet bow very few holdings
possess them. The loss manure sustains by drenching raia
is well known, yet probably 95 per cer>t. of fold-yards ar
open to every shower. Ol otiicr buildings Ihe warn is not*
urgent, but of really good, comlortable labourers' cottage
tliere is great dearth.

We see on all sides farms going begging. Tliey are adver-
tised lor weeks together without success, and agents are at
their wit's end to know what to d". Under such
circumstances I have ventured to sketch out some
suggestions which will meet the views of farmers,
and, if granted, will lead to the withdrawal of many of the
notices given. I am suie in the long run no landlord or Ilia
agent v^ ill regret making sacrific<^s in order to keep on hi»
estate men of the right stamp, who, once lost, can hardly ever
be replaced ; or if replaced, only by granting to stranger!
sometti'ng more than would have satisfied an old tenant.

I

TfTE FARMFIFl'S MAGAZINE

12.^

THE WATER SUPPLY IN
TRICTd.

RURAL DIS-

At a mei'tin? of the BoroiiehVridpe AgricnlttjrHl Society
held recently, Doctor M'Caskie rea'l a iiaper on "The
Water Supply of Rural l>i^tricis." He said tliat as rr^ideuts
in the rural districts, and as niembers of an afjricultural
8' ciety, they were deeply concerned in ohtnining an abiindaiit
and pure supply lor themselves and tlieir stock. In this coun-
try the question of scarcity wan one wliicti, fortunately, had
not olten to be dealt »itli ; and vji'h oiir ahundant rmn'all,
if proper measures wtre adopted to profit by it, this dilficulty
mijiht almost be obliterated from the list of the many
troubles which encompassed the British larmer. T e ii'jury
to stock during warm weather particularly, or in fact at any
time, if the water supply was scanty, was well marked, the loss
of condition beinp rapid and certain. As drought nsua'iy
occurred during the warm months, when '\uinials onghl to be
g^ainini; ilesli rapidly, the di>tre88 and want were most
severely fe't. An abundant supply was quite as fs>ential to
animals for feeding purposes as an abundant supply of 'ood.
Cavalry horses had been e%perimei>ted upon, a certain number
feeing allowed a given amonnt of food and a limited supply
of water. Others, again, received less food and an unlimited
supply of water, and the resn't sras that the latter improved in
condition, at the close of the experiment having been found
to have gained flesh considerably. Where wells could not. he
depended npon to outlast a droughty season, where fresh sink
ing Was unadvisable, and where relief could only be obtained
from a distance, the question arose, Ought not means to be
adopted to render the farmer iridependent of the seasons as
regards this s riou^ necessity ? The rainfall was the most cer-
tain, and probal)ly the cheapest, available source. To benefit
by this directly they must have well spouted buildings, and a
competent reservoir, into which the rain water could be con-
d'lcted and there stored for use during the droughty season.
Mr. B. Denton, C.E , in a pamphlet published in 1865, urged
the advisableness of collecting the subsoil water flowing
through the drains, thus accomplisliing the two objects of
dryiog the land and utilising the water taken out of it. A?
regards its use for the farmer, there were grave objections on
acconnt of the impuri ies liable to be washed down from the
different manures or tillages employed ; but where scarcity
existed he could quite understand that the Butsoil water,
»hich ran to waste during the wet months, might be saved
and stored as Mr. Bailey Denton suggested. He (Mr. Bailey
Denton) proposed that wells be made at certain intervals
where water was likely to be required in case of drDught,
fi'her for stock or for steam cultivation, into which the drains
nhould empty themselves. Where the fall of the land per-
mitted, ponds might be made on a similar principle, which
would involve considerably less expense. Coming to the more
serious and important part of the subject — the supply of water
for household purposes — he said that the matter o* quantity
and quality being settled, the whole of a town population en.
joyed equal advantages, but where nearly every dwelling had
a separate source, the danger of contamination was evidently
increased. In the former case the supply was under the con-
trol of trained men, and i's purity was carefully ascertaiued by
analysis, whereas in the latter, each householder having his
well under his own charge, was apt to allow impurities to find
their way into it. Most country houses had receptacles for
rain water, but as stored and collected at present, it was of no
use for drinking or cooking pa'poses. In low lying districts
with sandy subsoil, which had lor years been undergoing
imiiregnation from the sewage matter, it was exceedingly dif-
ficult to obtain a satisfactory supply from wells ; or where a
solitary house or hamlet required either a new or additional
supply, and if deep boring would he required, then the ques-
tion of the nee of rain water became important. Wlieie there
were no factor es, the quantity of aramoniacal salts and other
impurities carried down from Ine air was iufiuitesimally small,
and with proper care in collecting and storing, rain water
Jniifht provide a wholesome and abundant supply. The
points to be attended to where — 1st, to have sufficient spouting
on the buildings to ensure quantity ; 2od, the spouting
should be care''ully and periodically inspected ; at some point
the pipe leading down to the tank should be accessible, and a
protection of wire introduced to prevent animal or vegetable
matter biing carried down; 3rd, the tank should be of suffi-

cient size, must be at a considerable Jeptli un ler the soil,
lined with slate, and careiully covered. He fully espected
that the rainfall would become more frequently used for
d imeslic purpose-*. lliver water should never be used for
ooking or drinking, unle^s carefully filtered — running streaiiw
(ri-e from any chance of pollution excepted. As the necessary
filtration could only be properly carried out on a large scale
and with proper appliances, they did not often have the ri^er
fupply available in rnral districts. Tlie principal supply in
tile rural distriets wa; from wells. Impurities exis'inic at thft
fouD'ain head were of very rare occurrence, and they must
generally look to the surroundings lor the dangers ol con-
tamination. The depth from the surface at which water could
be obtained varied mnch, even in the same locality ; but as in
loose soils a well 80ft. in depth was calculated to drain 200ft.
in diameter of surface area, they frequently found that wilhitt
much less than that distance impurities existed. In villages,
as a rule, there wpre two or three wells for public use, their
stnitary situation being often sacrificed on the altar of con-
venience, it being no nncommon arrangement to find a well
in close proximity to the main drain. The water from all
public wells should be analysed, and even when found pure,
if any contaminating medium be dangerously near, a new sup-
ply should be procured. The site should be clearly away froiB
all chance of leakage from farmyards, privies, or drains, and
it^this could only be done by moving the well to a moderate
distance, better incur the extra trouble of carriage than rua
any risk. The wells at many farmhouses had been sunk
with the double ot'jeet of supplying the cattle in the yard
and thelamily in the house. As the manure was allowed to
collect for many mouths in the year, the soil must become
eaurated with animal matter. The leakage which occurred
from foldyards and manure henps, free from human excre-
ment, althoujih highly objectionable, if in moderate quantity,
was not so likely to produce serious results. The dangerous
waters were olten those apparently clear and sparkling which
received contamination from animal matter, which had under-
gone or was undergoing fermentation. Within the last fev»
years an unsuspocted vehicle of infection had manifested itself,
milk having been proved to produce several most serious out-
breaks of enteric lever.

The diiry utensils at the farm from which the disease prO'^
ceeded were m all cases found to have been scoured with im-
pure water, thesame having been used, ia all probability, for
adulteration purposes. He wished to direct particular atten-
tion to the fact that the water supply to miny farmhouses
and isolated dwellings in th-e rural districts was far from
satisfactory. In valleys the great desideratum, in his opinion,
was to provide a supply from one ascertained pure source—
the town plan upon a small scale. The uncertainty a» to the
amount of boring required in artesian wells, necessitating
great oatlay, and the risk of the water being already impreg-
nated with saline matters rendered the sinking of those wells
rather a ri«k. The supply to private houses in the country
require serious attention. Jfariicular regard should be paid
to ihe position of well-i, all sources of possible coutaraination
should be removed, and filti a' ion should be carried out care*
fully and constantly. It should also be borne in mind that
filters require regular and thorough c'eansing. All those
persons who have not satisfied themselves by means of analysis
as to the condition of their water »upply should lose no time
in doing so. If they were using contaminated water, they
were living on the verge of a precipice, and he, un'ortunately
Could give too many exampieo from the immediate neighbour.'
hood of people who had fallen victims to the popular belief
that water, if clear and pleasant, must also be wholesome.

The Rev. Canon Owen said that the people in Borough-
bridge were all indebted to their benefactress, Mrs. Liwson,
for the supply of watt r she had given them by the boring of
the artesian well on the chapel hul. That well was 256 feet
deep, and for 236 (eet was through the red sandstone, and he
thought the people of Boroughbridge were convinced that the
water was free from contamination. The well had been most
valuable during the frost, for whilst all other wells in the
town had been frozen it h^d been open.

Mr. J. Dent-Dent said that as chairman of the Sanitary
Authority he knew the work that Dr. M'Caskie had to do in
invesligaiing into cases of illness arising from the use of
impure water, and he knew also the extreme difficulty which
sanitary aathorities, especially in rural districts, were placed
as to the lupply of pnre water. In re->\:d to soft water, soma

126

THE FARMER'S MAfiAZlNB

persuus Ind a prfjadicf and dislike to it, as compared with
eprii'g water, lor driuking purposes. lie believed, however,
that solt water was more wholesome than spring water if it
were kept free from the impurities which were npt to he
washed into tlie cisterns. The whole question of the supply
of pure water in flat districts depended very much on care and
conliuued watchfulness, for even in the best tanks, unless
they were properly cleansed, there might come to be impnn;
ties whica might produce disease. lie did not think there
was so much fever in villages and farm houses now as there
used to be. Ai all events they did not hear very much of it.
He hoped that this diminution of disease was owing, to a
coufiierable extent, to the efforts which had been made by the
Sanitary Authority and by individuals in improvin;; the
drainage and in providing a'better supply of water. He was
a strung advocaie of soft water tanks for cottages and farm
houses. It was an undoubted economy to the farmer if lie
had a good solt water tank to supply the animals on his
premises.

Dr. Skdgwick said he would advise every householder m
Borougiibridge to exam'ue his drains, fur the well water
frequently got foul by a b\d system of drainage. He had
been dissatisfied with the water in his house. He examined
the drain, and iust ad of finding it a good bri:-.k drain, found
it had no bottom, and there had thus been a thorough soaking
of the soil and percolttion into tlie well.

Mr. i'oWELL thought that euteric diseases in villages arose
more from bad draiuai^pand overcro.vded dwellings than trum
the wa'er smply. He knew of a villafje in Craven where
typhcii fever broke out, and on an investigation being innde,
it was found tiiat the. dwellings were overcrowded, and that
this was the cause of the outbreak. Tlie water supply came
from the hi Is.

Mr. TuoM.vs Scott said there could be no doubt that
rain water was preft-rable to drainage water. There was some-
times a d fficulty in having by drainage sufficient water to
giipp'y the stock of a farmer. l\ r putting spouls on the build-
ings they were quite repaid by the preservation of the builJ-
ings ; and the manure was very much improved by being
saved from the washing of the water that fellfrom the roofs.
He had no doubt that ihe. best pkn for a farmer was to im-
pound the wat^r, because, besiilea the advanU;ies they would
)iave, in case of fire, a good supply of water at hand. As a
member ol the Sanitary Authority, he had before his notxe
the case of a village where only two out of a very lar ^e num-
ber uf wtlls were found to be pure.

Alter some remarks from Mr. Brogden and Mr. Leau-

MAN, .

The Chairman related what he had done for providing
water on his own farm,

Mr. LorruousE remarked that though the wells in
Bi.rou^ihbridiie had been bad, yet there had not been mucli
fever ; but Dr. Sedgwick replied tha" it. was true there had
not been much fever, but bad water ha 1 a tendency to produce
a lower tone uf healih generally, and colds and oilier disorders
arose.

iJr. MTaekie rfp'ied en the dii-cufsion, and on 'he mohon
of the Chairman a vute of thanks was given to huu for the
paper. Several other tua.ts were proposed, including '.hit ol
"the Chairman."

IVY IN FERN CASES.— It is a coinraou occurrence to
gee in the houses of persons who do not give their minds to
the matter, tern cases witaoul fern^ or with a few depiurable
bits that we are assured will be, very fine some day, but tio
evidently will ratlier grow smaller, and soon disappear. That
flip planting and managing of lern cases is a very simple
matter need not now be insisted on. It is a tact, that
thousands of persons start fern cases and aquariums, only to
fail in some way or other, and it is more of a moral than a
Bcientific question, as to why and how it all happens. I wi>h
to point out to all who possess lern cases, and cm make
nothing of tl.cin, that they make capital ivy gardens, and ivies
will generally live in thein without any management ai all,
provid'd they have light always, and water occasionally. As
a mntter of course, the smallest leaved ivies sliould bo planted,
and they should be nicely trained on wires. When a case
filled with small leaved ivies is doing well, it is a charming
object, and much to be preferred to one occupied with two or
three djiug ferns, — Gankn'.ri Mni/a^in:.

LAND REFORM.

No. I.

IMr. 'William Summers, of SunnysIJe, Ashton-under-
Lyne, writes as followa to the M inchester Examiner ■ —

The present severe depression of trade will not be without
its u^e3 if it has the effect of directing the atleutiun of Eag-
lishmen to the. impurtant question of land reform. When
cotnmerce and industry are languid and languishing it becomej
increasingly imp )rtant that agriculiural enterprise should be
pre»<ed forward with the utmost energy and vigour. In this
v»ay labour and capital thit have become useless, or worsa
th'in useless, in our towns, may find for themselves profitable
employment in the cultivation of the soil. lu order, however;
that so desirable a result may be brorght about, tlie system of
land tenure must be equitable and just, and such as to secure
to all engaged in agricul ural undertakings the largest possible
return for the expenditure of their labour and the inveit nent
of their capital. Hence the importance, especially at a crisii
like the present, of raising aloft the banner ot Laud Reform.

This is no doubt a topic to the consideration of which much
time and much thought have already b-en given by s im-; of
the most di-tinguished writers and statesmen oTwhoin we can
boast, but if we except the Agricultural Holdings Act. of 187 J,
which may alniOst be said to have been strangled at its very
birth, no great measure of reform affecting the tenure of laud
in England has as yet become law. It would not, however,
be riglit to I'eny that agriculture has advanced with rapid
strides within rec-nt years. The mere expression of public
opinion and the uuuerous and valuable discussion < that, liave
bet n held have in themselves produc d a most salutary eff. ct.
The last 5U years have witnessed enormou'i improvements m
au'ricultural principles and practice. Still there remains
much to be done which no lung but legislation cau accom-
pli h.

It becoiies, then, a matter of the greatest interest and im-
portance to discover what is necessary tu be done in order t>
render ih.- land of Ensjfind still more useful to the community
at large ; to secure, that is lo say, the maximum of good to
the nation with the minimum of loss and incouveuienc.-; tutlie
few individuals who might in the first instance be ioju'rioasly
affected by reform. Fur it is but too probable that a few in-
dividuals would suffer some slij;lit and temporary inconvenience
and loss from almost any scheme of reform that could possibly
be devised. This does not, however, afford any justiHoation
lor refrain'ng from legisU'ing upon the subject, inasmuch as
all change involvesja certain amount of inconvenience, and all
that it 13 necessary in any given case to show is that vested
iuteiest'S have been respected, and that the balance of good is
greatly in favour of the cliange proposed.

Before considering the changes which it is desirable to make
in the laws relating to land, it will be vnbU to give a summary
of the evils of the present s stem. 'I'hese may be most coii-
veiiieut'y arr inged according to the class of people most
directly and immediately all'ected by them. As respec's the
landlords, ihey are the artificial restrictions under wliich many
of them hold their laud — the burdens which these " limited
owi ers " have to bear lu consequence of the operation of the
laws of primogeniture and entail and the system uf strict set-
tlements. As respects tne farmers, the evils complained of
are the want ol fixity in their tenure of tlie liud and the ab-
sence of aullicient compensation for unexhausted improvements.
As regards the labourers, they are the bad state of cottage
property and the inadequate remuneration they receive ; and,
las ly, as regards the public, if we put on one side the enhanced
price of the produce of the soil that results from the above
artificial obstacles i'l the way of mure eflidemt cultivation, we
may note the dilliculty of transfer and the tendency which un-
doubtediy exists for 1 aid to be monopolised by the small
number of very rich people who can afford to indulge iu jo
luxurious a commodity. Men of mod-rate means wUo wisti
to make a l)usiness of agricnhura fiiil it increasingly difficult
to do so to advR 'age, and it will not be denied that this is an
evil of the "pry '.rat magnitudrt. It is not of course contended
that ail the land should be given up to the production of m;ir-
ketable commodities; all th»t is maintained is that iu a
dense. j-;3opulated country like England no unnecessary
oDstacles sliould be thiown in the way ol the production of
the necessaries of life. 'I'hese being the evils of the present
8v stem, the next thing would natuially be to consider the

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINR

127

r?rt»pi)i(4i that bhoiild be applied. But bftfore attempt ine to
lihow wliat oiiglit to lie done, it lUHy be well to sthte what
ought not to cl)ne. Tliia liriugs us to consider two specious
Hna (ihusible scliemes ol Stale intfr'erencs witli tlie rij^Uts of
proiierty. The lir^t ij the natioualisation of the land as af't
tur-h 111 the recenllj-pablished first uMmh-^r of " P-'p*--!! for
llie IVople ;" or, Hgaiii, by the late Mr, Oly-r in the ' o«-
ti-mporary BeDiew tor Aiuust, 1871. Mr. OiiiP.r held Miat
Goverumeiit ought to buy up t 'e whole of the land ;*iom its
present owners, with the view of parcellimi it out into small
iioklii'gs, to lie iwt to anyone «ho mi^iht wiijh to be a tenant.
He iinagmed that by il.is stlier..e th(j country woiili be im-
mensely rrlieved from the heavy burdens of taxation, But it
Is by no means clear tha' such a result would be a'-'hieved
except, by something virtually amounting to c mfiscation. In
fact, Prolessor Fawcett (see Furtuujhily K-rnew, December,
lS7vJ has brought forward very gooil reasons tor believing
that the nation 'ilisation of the soil would ia all probability be
financially ruiuom ; and it should not for a inoiuent be for-
gotten that the State is the worst of landlords. Mi)reo'.-er,
even if it cou'd be shown that such a measure was in iiself to
be desired, it is obvious that it would amount to nothing less
than a revolution in our soci^il system, and it is really of so
chiiueiic'ii and impracticable a character as hardly to merit
st-rious discussion. Nay, more, the very proposal of suck a
scheme is mischievous, a^ it iias the eff>'ct of bringing all land
r&lorraera into discredit, and thus blocking the way against
the most moderate and rational attempts to remedy existiug
abuses. Nor is it after all a thing so desirable as many peo-
ple seem to lliiLk ihit, everything except land should be
exempted from taxation ; lor it is only reasonable that articles
of luxury, among which ought probably to be class:-d iutuxi-
catiug liquors, should be at least as heavily ta.\ed as land which
produces tie very necessaries of life. T-ixation upon agricul-
ture ij open to precisely the same objections as taxation upori
trade. Tiiis brings us to consider Mr. Mill's doctrine witli
regard to the unearned iiicremput of hud. It has been thus
stated by himself: '■ We want the people of England to say to
the landliirds, ' You are welcome to every increase of rent
which you can show to be the effect of anything 5 ou have done
lor the land ; but wliat \ou g^t by the mere rise of the price
ot your commodity coii'pared with others, what you gain by
our loss is not tiie etfect of your exertions but of ours, and not
you, but we, ougiit to liave it.'" Upon this we may remark
that the value of land, like that of every other corainjdity, is
determiurd by the laws of supply and demand ; and it certainly
13 not ea-y to see why, if the principle of the unearned incre-
meut oiijjiit to be applied to hnd, it ought not also to be ap-
plied to personal property as Hell — to rail>iay sh itks and works
of art, lor instance, whose value iucreases in precisely the
same way as ('oes the valu*^ of land. Mr. Mill tells us that
lani is limited in quantity; but so is aI:no6t everything else in
the world limited in quantity, while land is itself the source
of almost everything else in the world. Moreover, such a t ix
tn land and mine as Mr. Mills proposed would in effect be a
t x upon the raw materiils of industry and the necessaries of
life. This scheme would further serve to increase iustead of
to cimini^h the uncertainty of the tenure by which land is
held, and would therefore tend to frustrate that great end
which all land reform should stcidily keep in view — viz., the
application of more and more capital and more and more
labour to the soil. Tiie principle laid dowu by Mr. Mill i
thus seen to be economically bad ; but it has also another
bearing wliich it does not seem (o have occurred to liim to
consider. Ii' any Government has a right to confiscate the
unearned iucrement of laud, or any other kind of proper y,
would it not in justice be bound to recoup any uniortuuMte
speculator whose land (or other property) happened to be de-
creasing instead of increasing in value ? If it has a right to
deprive a prudent speculator of that which is to all appear-
ances at least the result of his good judgment, or the simple
retui-n for the money paid at the time of purchase, by parity
o( reasoning, Govern ment ought to pay np the losses of a man
whose property has fallen in value in consequence of a stag-
nation in trade, or its removal to a more flourishing district.
Mr. Mill, however, very wisely iroin liis point of view, limited
the application ot his principle to a iljurishing and progres-
sive country, and said nothing of what ought to be done iu the
case of a retrograde and decaying country or district. Bat the
grave aad fatal objections to Mr. Mili's achsme are those of an
cconoaucal ihajacier,^iiBd I iuppose the priaciple he ii£3 laid

down is to a KJigtit extent, snd in]a much less ohji'ctiouable form,
leci giiised in our present income-tax system. It is, of courje,
per'ectly true that " ttie claim of the Imdowners, just like the
clii'u of any other class of persons, is Hlt.igeiher subordinate
to tlie general policy of the State ;" but what is hi-re mnia-
t lined is that the ad 'ption of any scheme of wholesHle inter-
vention hy the State in the management of landed property
would be highly prejadiciHl to thfi economical cult vation of
the soil, and c insi rj lently to the best interests of the com-
inuiiity at large.

Having disposed of what may fairly be described as thesa
" deleterious doctrines," we are now iu a position to consider
some more practical and rational suggestions of reform.

AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS IN
' AMERICA AND THE UNITED KINGDOM.

I It is said tliat there never is an ebb but there is a flow, and
I the converse h ilda equally true. At least it has been so with
I the tide of emigration froin iho British Isles to the Continent
I of America. A perusal of the Biard of Trade statis ics re-
! ferring to emigration and immigration, shows a wonderful
decline in recent years in the tottl aaiount of emigration from
the United Kmgiloin to all countries ; but mord particularly
to the Uuited S.ates and British Nortli America. It appears
that during the ten years from 18il to 1850 (inclusive) the
emigrants Irom the Uuited Kingdom to the United States
numbered 1,091,536, and to British North America, •i29,0H. ;
the total to all places having beeu 1,681,892. From 1853 to
18C0 (eight years), the emigration of " persons of British
origin only " was to the Uuited Sta'es, 805,593; to British
North America, 123,108 ; and to all place?, 1,312,683. From
1861 to 1870 (t^u years), it was to the United Sfc.ites, 1, 132,62ft
Briiish North America, 130,310; and to all places, 1,671,829.
And Irom 1871 to 1877 (seven years), the figures «ere — ■
United Slates, 771)302; Bri'ish Nortli America, 128,4-70;
and to all places, 1,174',201. The tide of emigration to America
seems to have reached its height in 1373, when close on
167,000 persons of British origin sailed lor the United States,
and over 29,000 for Canada ; and since tlien it has beeu
steadily and speedily on the wane. During the past three
years tlie totals were only 181,228 to the United States, and
29,361 to Canada, as compared with 4i2,288 to the United
States and 7i,155 to Canada during the prec^^ding three
years. L-ist year barely 45,500 persons of Brit'sh origin went
to the United Slates, and only about 7,700 to Canada, and
tlien no fewer than ■it,S73 returned Irom the former country
and 5,687 from the latter ; so that last year there was practi-
cally no eniigration to the United States, and only a very small
amount to Canada. It may be no'ed that, while the emigra-
tion to America has declined so great'y, the total to Au.tralia
is being welt maintained, 30,000 having gone there last year,
as compared with 32,000 in 1876.

The great majority of those who have emigrated to America
and elsewhere were, of cou'se, working people, and the first
and main cause of the cessation of the westward How was the
more even balancing of the positions of the working man iti
the two countries, the advance of wages in the one and the
decrease in the other. Iu Scotland more particularly, emi-
gration agents drew largely from the rauks of the farm
labourers, so largely indeed that mainly thereby the labour
question has become one. of the most serious it present affect-
ing Scottish farming. During the past ten or twelve years the
wages of farm servants in Scotland have advanced from 30 to 40
per cent., and that emigration was one of the chief agencies in
the creating of that advance there cannot be the shadow of a
doubt. Had the strong current of emigration, which caused
so much alarm a few years ago, continjed till now, the supply
I of rural labour in Sc tland would have been so seriously
I lessened by this time that one can hardly imagine how the
I agricultural operations of the country could have bsen kept
j fully in motion. But as the fi.;ures quoted show, a turn of
the tide occurred ; and that that turn was natural, looking to
all the ei^cum^lauces, and supporied by substautial reasons an
attempt will be made to deoioustrate. It is put forward as a
great incentive and a'tractiou to the life of a working-maa in
America that he has the easy prospect of a home and i.state of
hia own. That assertion may be considered afterwards.
Meantime the relative positions and emoluments of the agri-
cii'tural iabourera in America and Scotland in the o.^pacity o£

128

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Inbourjrs, and in tliat capacity only, will be discussed. The
writer, it may be. remarked, lias had ample opportuuity of be-
■coriiiug; acqiiaiuted with the We and circumetauces of tfee rural
labourers buth in the Old World and the New,

Take fir^t the suliject of wages, wliich probably outweighs
■all others ill point ol iiiiportince. A large number of agri-
cultural labourers are engaged by the year in America a« in
Britain, and receive vva-es and board in liki manner. Monthly
.pnyments lorra the rule, while a good many are employed and
paid by the diy or week. In the Southern Slates o( the Union
the ra'e ot wages at present rum from £2i to £iO a-year and
buard ; in the Prairie St:»tes in tiie Far West, such as K insas,
:and its neighbours, from £t3 to £53 without board, or from £2<J
to £28 with board ; in the Statci of Iowa, Missouri, lliinoic,
Indiana, Oliio, Kentucky, &c., from £28 to £40 with board ;
and in Michigan and Eastern States from £30 to £iO with
board. In Canada the average is about £36 a-year with
board. Day labourers throutfhoat the States and Canada get
about a dollar (4--,), or about £60 a-year without board. Rul-
way eiuplojes and others in ^jositions of trust, or at work
requiring special skill, get probably a dollar and a quarter
(5:1.), or even ia tome cases a dollar and a half (6s.) a-day.
In «oine part-s of tlie older settled and better farmed parts both
of the States and Canada, log or other cottages, costing 200
dollars (£4-0.), or under, are provided for married servants;
and an exceptionally trustworthy raarri'd servant g«t8 in
addition to this tree house, a cow's keep, firewood, and a
•dollar per day, or £60 a-year. from these figures it will be
eeen th.^t the average rate of farm servants' wages in the
American Continent could not be stated at more than 15
dollars a-month or £36 a-year, with board. How, then, does
thii rate contrast with the average rate in Scotland? From
tile reports of recent hiring markets throughout Scotland, it
appears that pljughmen get from £30 to £38 a year, with
board. As far as the emoluments are concerned, it will thus
he seen that the farm servants of America and those of Scot-
land are as near as might be upon a level. The scale seems
a trifle heavier on the Aaierican bide, but when it is considered
that clothing is from 25 to 30 per cent, dearer in America
than in Scotland, boots about the same, and washing 100 per
cent, higher, the advantage, if there really is any, belongs to
the " Laud o' Cakes."

" Facts are chiels that winna ding," and those 6tnbbora
fellows make it very plain, as has been seen, that in a direct
money point of view, agricultural labourers are as well ap-
pointed in the Old World as in the New. Emigration agentS)
however, and many general exponents of the Far West draw
«p an array of brilliant attractions which they hang round
the life of the working man in America, and which they argue
can never come wiihio the reach of a ploughman in Scotland.
Some content themselves with the broad, general, characteris-
tically AmericPn pssertion that " in no country on the face of
the globe can the labouring man enjfiy so completely the
fruition of his labour as in the continent of America." Others
take pride in pointing out wl at they call the political advan-
tages which the United States liold out to workiog men, as
compared to the United Kingdom. In that country, it is
asserted, aliens are treated with consideration, and have their
right to " life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" secured
to them by the fundamental law of the land ; that there can be
no Established Church and therefore no tithes, and that every
man is endowed with the right of voting as soon as he can
exercise it with advantage to iiimself and the country. Ag
the result of these political rights it is asserted that laws favour,
able to labour are enacted. " Working men being the most
Dumercus portion of the elective power can, and generally do,
elect men favourable to their own interests." But after all
these supposed advantages comes another, more magnified and
boasted of than any — namely, the free homestead system. In
other words, the Homestead Law, which secures to the actual
settler 160 acres ol land (or, if within the railway limit, from
10 to 20 miles — 80 acres) free of cost. How beautifully this
point is spun out ! Whit a wide difference this law itself makes
between the positions of the agricultural labourers of England
and of the United States ! " The man who ia accustomed to
farm work can, by his own labour, not only become a farmer,
enjoying all tke fruits of his own toil, but he becomes the
owner of the liind he cultivates, and in a few years, as settle-
ment increases around him, be finds himself not merely 4
farmer owning a cheap farm, but, in all probability, he fiud

himself the owner of land of great value, cecuriiif; himself an
ample competence and a valualjle iuheritanc. tor his children."
Nor are they yt finished with their advantages. How
different ia the social po!(ition of the working-man in tlie O d
World and the New ! In the fornier, we are told, the Idbcuier
has to cringe and bow to the aristocracy and cry in vaiu (or
the crumbs which fall from the rich man's taile. In the Far
West, on the other hand, it is asser ed that " being a labourer
is accoanted an honour rather than a discredit, and his labour
i< sought for at good remunerative wages." He suds with his
master, tihews as much tobacco, and <'in leisure hours)
displays as much fine liuen. In short, Americans would faiu
affect that among tkem " ef caste there is noue," one man
being as good as another.

But, coming to sober argument, what do all these lauded
advantages really amount to? Have they any body at all ?
Or are tli^y merely visionary? The supposed political and
ecclesiastical advantages and liberties may be passed over by a
sent'cace. As yet the power which the working man is asserted
to have at the polling booth in America has not been exercised
greatly to his advantage, while lew working men in this
country grumble at what Americans are pleased to call our
" religious intolerance.'' It may be granted that in most parts
of Araer'ca (ibis admission dr<iws a little upon our charity,
however!) the working man's right to " life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness," is made secure to him, and, of course, it
need liardly be said that he enjovsfimilar rights in this country.
The advantages conTerred by tlie Homestead Law open up an
important and complex question, deserving to be dealt wiih
separately. Away from home Americans boast boldly of their
unique social system ; of the great equality and entire absence
of caste which characterise the people of the Great Republic.
No doubt, in some ways there is an attempted equality — an
artificial levelliiig of master and servant — a levelling, however,
which, to say the least, is unsatisfactory and inconvenient to
both. Its advantages (if, indeed, it has any) are out ol all
proportion to its disadvantages. It is a mock equality which
for a moment may whirl the mind of the working man into
the fancy that he is as great as his master, and his will as
dominant, but which ever and anon reminds him tantalisingly
that he is still a working man and his master his exacting
superior. The equnlity is limited to the meal hours (indeed
it does not extend to that in all cases), and to the polling-
booth. In America the working man has no regular hours of
work and rest ; he must plod away when his master requires
him to do so, from sunrise till sunset. In the more westerly
States, at any rate, even the Seventh Day is not to hiiu a day
of rest.

It is tiot contended that the social condition of the labourer
in Britain, though equally as congenial and natural as in
America, is in all respects what it ought to be. On the con
trary, it is admitted that there is a claimant need for improve-
ment, especially in the erection of labourers' cottages and in
generally increasing the means and opportunities for married
vervants. A good deal has been done in this way during the
past few years; but there is still a wide untouched field to go
over. This great and important question cannot be fully
discussed here, but it may be referred to as one urgent upon
the attention of lauded proprietors and all patrons of agri-
culture. In conclusion, the averments may be repeated that
in a direct money point of view, and also in regard to social,
political, and religious advantages, the agricultural labourer is
as well appointed in Great Britain as in America. — Scotsman.

QUITS. — In company, an English lady, half jocularly of
course, attributed a very polite readiness for -niue to the far
daughters of Erin. " I tielieve that in Ireland," she observed
" It is quite customary for a lady, if she only citclies the eye
of a gentleman earnestly directed to her at the dinner tab'e, to
say, " Port, il you please. Promptitude is the order of the
day." " Yep," replied the Irish lady, not over pleased with
the inxinuation, aud determined to repay it with interest, " and
the promptitude takes another direction in your country,
madam." " How do yoa mean?" " Why, when an Englisit
lady finds a gentleman's eye upon her at the table, I under-
stand she averts her countenance, and blushing, says in liet
gentlest toues, " You must ask papa. — Ayr 4(h'cr/ts:r."

TBhl ^ARMER'SMAGAZlNS.

129

STDSSEX HERD BOOK SOCIETY.

Aq sdjoiirneti meeting of this Socifly was recently hfld
■Jiiy, at 'noriliHni, for llie pnTpose of promolin:^ the future
m>inaE;eme,i)t of the Sussex Herd Book. Mr. A. Heasman,
of Ca'ceto, Angrneriiio;, occupier! the elixir.

The Chairyan comraenced the croceedings hy r^adinfj the
minutes of the last raeelin=:, whca it was decided that the
Society should be formed, and that mciubers should Tje adir.ilted
OP. the payment of one guinea. He added that since the la^t
meeting he had had circulars printed and sep.t to about 180
pentleinen interested in the Susses breed of cattle, and about
50 had intimated the'r desire to become members. The Chair-
man also antiouneed the names of the noblemen and jrentlfraen
who had kii:dly oiTerered to rontrihute to the two champion
cups of £25 each, one to be given to the best male and tlie
otlier to the best female of the Sus-es breed of cattle, to be
exhibited at the meetinsc of the Koyal Agricultural Society of
England, in London this year.

Tlie Chairman said ihe next part of the business was to
consider the formation of a committee ; should it consist of
the whole body of the members, or would they prefer a sniall
working comrailtee?

It was agreed that all members should act on the committee
this year, tliree being a quorum.

Mr. A. Heasman was elected chairman for the year.

It was decided that none but members should be allowed to
make entries in the Herd Book, and that tho entrance fee be
2s. 6d. for each animal.

The rules at present ale tliese : —

1. That this Society be called the Sussex. Herd Book Socisty,
"■Jor promoting the broed of Sussex cattle.

3. That members be admitted to the Society on the payment
of a fee of one ffuinea, and be entitled to a copy of the first
vjluae of the Herd Book,

THE AGRICULTURAL DEPRESSION.

A well-known agriculturist writes to us as follows :—
'" I believe that the farming interest was never in bo for-
lorn a conditioQ before, and the worst is tnere is no
prospect of move prosp-rous times near at hand. The
only relief is that ia all counfrres and in almost all indus-
tries the same state of things exists. la suck a storm it
■ought to be all hands to the pumps ; but landlords seem
inclined to let ship and cargo go to the bottom before
they will look the matter in tne face. How few of them
have come forward as they ought. Ten per ce^at. seems
in their eyes the panacea for all the ills the poor farmer
has to bear. The State seems to think cupping best for
the patient — 5d. Income Tax will pretty nearly case him
of bis life blood. As far as our legislature is concerned,
1 certainly think we might shut up the Parliament,
whether Liberal or Tory. Why not have two Houses, one
for home affairs and one for foreign ? Everythiug is
shelved, and a great many urf^ev.t reforms promised are
I*;ft to tkcp in hopeless oblivion because some war or
rumour of war stops the way. The ship of State is
only half mantled. As to Protection, I would not pro-
tect the farming interest at the expense of our working
population, though 1 have lost £20,000 ia twelve years.
Cheap bread is a blessed thing, thousjh even the wording
man says " bread may be too cheap."

FARMERS' ILLS AND THEIR REMEDIES

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MARIv LANE EXPRESS.

Sir, — I think that the tenant should no longer be com-
pelled to farm in swaddling clothes or in a straight jicket,
but should have every freedom to grow what he thinks
proper, and so meet the competition forced upon him by
foreign markets.

Moreover, pducation must have done something for
the tenant-farmer, and surely he must know his busi-
ness better than buyers and others who frame those crop,
pin? clauses for him. Th-e introduction of feeding
stuff-i, &c., has entirely done away with the necessity of
compelliug the tenant to consume the produce of tho
farm on the farm. He can dispose of hay and othef
produce with far more profit to himself and benefit to tha
farm than by consuming it on the farm. lu fact, he irust
be placed iu a position to watch the markets and manage
accordingly. As to security for capital, I am more than
ever ccnvinoed that this must be demanded, and I canuot
but think that the landowners must themselves see
that had there been a compulsory Tenant-Right they
would not haive had to meet the necessity now force!
upon them to reduce their rents.

In my opinion the land has never hid a fair chance of
showing what it can produce, and will not until a com-
pulsory Tenant- Right meisure be passed and the land kept
in a progressive state of cultivation.

As to rational advantage, I think nofir that the atten-
tion of the public is being called to the question, that very
little agitation would suffice to bring about a change la
land tenure, and the more so since the depression iu cora-
morcial circles is causing more attention to be paid daily
to the land question. I quite agree with what you say in
the Mark Laiie E.vpress about the landowners returning
IG per ceet. of rent to their tenantry. It is a species of
out-door relief, and I believe until the Law of Distress is
done away with, we shall continue to have rents pushed
beyond what they fairly and commercially should be. I
believe high rents, in too many instances, are the result of
the action of the Law of Distress.

I am. Sir, &c.. Progress.

A FARMER SHOT BY HIS SON— A very raelan-
'oholy accident happened recently to Mr. Fossey, a larg^
farmer, residing at Cumberlow-green, near Baldock, Ilert.".
Mr. Fosspy had bfsn out during the morning rabbit-shooiing
with his son, a lad about 17 years nfage, ju-t home from
sciiool, and when the accident occurred they wtr; refarniig
home, one on each side of the hedge. By some means the
gun carried by the sou was discharged, and its contents
lodged in the heart of Mr. Fosspy, causing instant death. It
is a singular coincidence thit both the wife of the deceased
and liis brother came to their deaths I y r.ccident, the one
being dro«ned through slipping into a fish-pond in the gar-
den, and the other being also drowned while crossing a plank
bridge in returning home from a viait.

THE LEITRIM ESTATE.— A few d?.ys ago Mr. Gibsori
Sub-inspector of Constabulary, RathrauUen, iu'pected the old
police barrack at Cooladerry, v/ith a view of its reoccupation
by a force of constabulary. Some time before Lord Leitrim's
murder this station was discooiinfied, but it is no^ deemed
necessary to re-establish it, although there is a special pro-
tection parly of pol'c6 stationed in tiie house of a bailiff on.
the Leitrim estate, who resides only about a quarter of a mile
distant. The state of affairs n, however, deemed so unsatis-
factory as to necessitate the presence of a large force of
police. There is now a force of torty men in the Fannet
portion of the estate, ifannet ia the peninsula to which the -
boat containing the supposed assassins of Lord Leitrim crossed
tiie Mulroy B i y imiEei-iately alter the triple murder on the
2Dd of April last.

FREE TRADE AND RECIPROCITY.— An extremely
large number oi signatures have already been aflised to tho
memorial which is to be presented to the Lord Mayor urging
him to convene a public meeting in the GaiUhall with regard
to the present depression of t'ade. The raeraorialisis desire a
P irliamenlary inquiry with the object ol modifying, if such
RbonkI be found advisable, the existing system of tree trade.
From inspectiiin of ti c document it<elt we are enabled to state
th-it the signitories include many of the largest firms in tho
ciiy — wholesale warehonseraen, bankers, and merchants of the
highest standing. — Ciiizen.

REMISSION OF RENT.— Mr. W. H. Smyth, of Eikirig..
ton Hall, Lincolnshire, has returned to his tenantj 12 per
CLiit. of the rent.J of tie arable laud on their farms,

L

130

THE FAiaiER'S MAOA^.IKE

THE PROSPECTS OF FARMING.

No. 11.

When any Tsusincss is unprofitable the retrench
xnent of such expenses as can be diuiiuiehed with-
out lessening profits is, of course, sound economy,
and in so far as it will conduce to cheaper produc-
tion it must teud to restore prosperity to the pro-
ducers. In the case of fcarmiBg, lower rents and
lower wages will help farmers to meet foreign
competition, and this is especially so with respect
to a reduction of rents, which is an unmitigated
advantage to the tenants. Lowered wages are a
less certain benefit, though they may be inevitable
for a time. The best men are apt to leave our
tillages when farm wages are low in proportion to
the wages given iu other branches of industry, or
to the earnings to be made in distant lands. Thus
for the lower pay farmers may get a lower class of
labour, while they may not ba able to secure
enough of even that when other industries in the
country are in a flourishing condition. Besides
this, it is to be observed that the saving which
can be effected by a reduction of wages is, in the
case of a farmer, a very small one. He must be
a large farmer who can save a hundred pounds a
year by any di munition of wages that is feasible
even at a time of general depression like the pre-
sent, when thousands of men are out of work in
all parts of the countrj. Another advantage
which a reduced rent has over lowered wagesisthat
•while the former is not likely to advance again as
long as farming is uuprosperous, the latter may at
any time be forced up to their old level by a
demand arising in other departments of employ-
ment. These remarks, however, are not intended
to disparage a reduction of farm labourers' waf,'es
at a time of extreme adversity, such as farmers
a'e now suffering from, but only to show that it
is unwise to put too much faith in the advantage
to be gained by such a saving, and to point out
the uncertainty of its continuance. There is far
too great a disposition amongst farmers to ex-
aggerate the importance of little savings iu labour,
tradesmen's bills, rates, and taxes, to the neglect of
the more serious impediments to their success.
Blacksmiths and wheelwrights do not often save
fortunes; on the contrary, most of them work very
hard for a scanty income. It is undoubtedly a
grievance t' at rates should be unfairly levied :
but it is absurd to make the rectification of this
inequality, as so many do, the chief object of
agitation'. If rents, rates, labour, and tradesmen's
bills were all reduced to the greatest possible
extent,we should still fall short of making farming
in this country profitable under other existing
conditions. These savings will render losses less,
but will scarcely turn them into profits, unless the
losBes were previously very small. By all means
l(;t us have expenses pared down to the utmost
extent consistent with good farming ; but let us
bear in mind the far greater importance of remov-
ing from Agriculture the trammels under which
she has so long been doomed to labour. If the
d'dicate state to which a combination of adverse
circumstances has reduced the British farmer
renders it advisable for him to strain at gnats,

there is all the more reason for him to take cara
that he does not swallow camels.

To diminish the cost of production is important,
but to increase the production itself is more im-
portant still. Foreign agricultural produce has
lately ruled prices in our markets to an extent
never before realised, and the competition, pro-
bably, has not yet reached its climax, unless iu the
case of wheat, which it can hardly pay the
American farmer to send us at a lower price than
is now current, though at some future time the
Indian farmer may. For some time, at least, a
bad crop in America, or a generally deficient
harvest in European countries, may occasionally
send the prices of corn up for a year or two ; but
we must face the probability of having to produce
all the principal commodities of the farm at some-
thing like the prices which prevail this year, and,
in the case of some of them, at lower prices still.
If we cannot do this, then agriculture in
this country mu?t permanently decline. If
we can do it at all, it must be by getting a
greater produce from our fields and pasture, as no
feasible reduction of expenses can by itself be
sufficient. But to produce more we must employ
more capital, and under such circumstances as at
present prevail there is less disposition
than ever to embark capital in farming.
All the greater reason, then, for removing the
many discouragements to its employment. Many,
in despair, say it is hopeless to attempt to stem the
tide of foreign competition ; but Englishmen mtist
have degenerated sadly in these days if they will
sit down and allow the finest agriculture in the
world to be " wiped out " without a struggle.
There are farmers even now who are saving money,
and they are, as a rule, the best farmers — high
farmers — while the men who have been struggling
on with farms too big for their capital have sunk
or are sinking. It is of no avail to talk of laying
down all the arable land to pasture. That by
itself would be a permanent decline, and a great
deal of land is quite unsuitable for pasture. We
must produce more, or acknowledge ourselves
beaten, A duty on foreign food is proposed bj
some, but it is not worth while to discuss so
visionary a scheme. The people at large would
not tax food to save farmers, even if Protection
would save them, which is, at the best, doubtful.
We come back, theijb to our previous statement,
that the only hope of the permanent solvation of
British agriculture is increased production, by
means of larger capital and more enterprise.

But who is to employ the increased amount of
capital ? The landlords generally will not, because
three-fourths of them are limited owners, holding
under settlements, and to spend money on their
estates would be directly opposed to the interests
of themselves and all they have to provide for,
with the sole exception of the heirs to the estates.
No one else dares, because his property would not
be secure ; it would be liable to confiscation,
accoiding to law. Nor is this all. On many
estates it would be folly to spend money in pro-

THS FARMEK,'S MA^GAZmE.

131

dacia^ more f' ocl for game ; and ou a larger
number still ei terprise is checked by tlie most
vexatious restrictions against tlie cropping of the
land and the sale of its produce. Capital must be
safe, as far as law can make it so, aud enterprise
must be free, before our agriculture ciiu be said to
have a fair chance in the great conflict with all the
world. Great Britain might as well attempt to
hold her ownin warfare with her old wooden ships,
men in armour, and bows and arrows, as to encounter
the competition of foreign food producers, with
encumbered laud and farmers in leading strings.
In a sense which the preceding remarks will
correctly interpret to those who do not wilfully
misrepi'esent them, we want free land, free capital,
aud free farmers to give us that fair held which,
whether with or without favour, we have never yet
had in this country, if we would not have the
lifiest agriculture which the world has yet seen sink
into insignificance.

VARIOUS KOTES.

At the lost meeting of the Society of Political Econo-
mists 8t Berlin, Dr. Engei, the head of the Statistical
03ice of iLat city, gave an outline of the general results
of the agricultural ceusus of the past year. He observed
that previous to 1871 there were no agricultural statistics
in frtrmany of any value, but in that year the Imperial
Council inaugurated a new system. The Statistical
Office had to issue forms to each parish — 56,000 in all —
a id the manager of every estate c" farm was required to
give particulars as to the quautily of meadow aud arable
laad and the land under cultivation for the diaerent errp ,
&c., subject to his management. The result of the at^ri-
cultural statistics of the year 1878, which were obtained
under the new system, were as follows: — iiie total
value of the entire corn harvest, including wheat, rye,
barley, and oats, for 1878 was, calculating according to
the average prices :'a October, 1,714 million marks, or
£85,200,000 sterling. The average ['.'cc of wheat was
182 marks, or £9 2s. per kilogram, that of rye 130
marks, or £6 lOs. per kilogpam. The average production
in Germany in 1878 had been 1,233 kilograms per
hectar for wheat, and 1,694 kilograms for rye. The
total quantity of rye produced — rye being the most
important cereal in Germany— was 1,734,000 tons, each
ton being of 1,000 kilograms, or about 2,0001b. The
total value of the rye harvest was therefore 315 million
marks, or £15,750,000 sterling. The total value of the
potato harvest, on the other hand, was estimated at not
ks3 than 831 million marks, or £41,550,000 sterling,
while the hay harvest was calculated at a total value of
560 miUion marks, or £28,000,000 sterling. The value
of the wine produced in 1878 was only 120 million marks,
or £6,000,000 sterling. The grand total value of the
harvest of all descriptions in 1878 was no less than
4,402 million marks, or £220,100,000 sterkng. The
total value of the harvest of iVance in the same year was
calculated at 9,600 million francs, or £384,000,000
sterling, which of course includes the vast aud valuable
wine harvest of that country.

Compared with 1S77, the corn harvest of (Germany in
1878 showed an increase in quantity, but owing to the
lower prices which prevailed in the latter year the total
value was smaller. In 1877 the total value was 1,928
million marks, or £90,400,000 sterling, as against 1,714
million marks, or £85,700,000 in 1878, being a decrease
in value of 220 miUion marks, or £11,000,000 sterling.

As regards the imports of cereals iuto Germany, the
quantities of wheat imported in recent years had been d.A

fellows : — 306 million kilocrrains in 1872, 3t^>3 millions
in 1873, 477 millions iu 1871,499 millions in 1875, 580
millions iu 1S7G, 940 millions iu 1877, and 960 millibns
in 1878. The imports of rye had been very irregular,
viz., 950 million kilograms in 1872, 700 millions iu
1873, 105 millions iu 1875, 1,190 milHons in 1877, and
674 millions in 1878. The exports had bee.i compara-
tively small, aud the balance had constantly been on the
side of the imports, both of wheat and of rye. Thus in
the year 1 877 the excess of rye imported over tha
quantity exported from Germany amounted to no less lhu.n
1,014 million kilograms.

In Jlozambique (East Africa), a Society is formed with
a capital of £178,000, for the cultivation of poppies for
preparing opium. The company obtained 50,000 acres
of unculUvaled land from the Portuguese Government
for the purpose, aud it has obtained a special right at all
the comniissioDs of the custom*, to export free of duty
all opium produced for 12 years from the province of
Mozambique. According to j>resent reports, the poppy
thrives excellently there, and the opium surpasses iu.
quality that grown in the East Indies.

The Colonies and India, in a very excellent review of
Colonial affairs during the past year, says that the con-
dition of Austniiasla has been one of almost unchecked
prosperity. The same journal states that during the year
1878 emig.-ation from the United Kingdom has greatly
diminished, and the arrivals from the United States, once
the principal field, are now nearly equal to the departures
for that country. Canada, however, still draws many
frum the United Kingdom ; but the Australasiau Colonies
form the chief object of attractlou for those seeking a
home beyond the seas.

From the Leeds. Slercury we learn that the number of
bales of Colonial wool imported into the United Kinifdom
in 1877 and 1878 was according to the following table : —
Imported Imported
all to 18th Dae.,

1877. 1878.

Sydney ; 183,808 175,641

Yictoria 333,094 298,767

Tasmania 21,562

Adelaide 108,134

New Zealand 169,280

Swan River 7,905

Cape 169,974

:^i,200

104,833

178,694

8,132

155,171

993,757 942,438
In consequence of the development of the minufacture
of soft and all wool-fabrics in the Bradford district, and
the spinning or^-rn for other districts, Botany wool, es-
pecially the finer sorts, has been in steady demand, and
the total quantity taken for consumption must have been
much larger. If the efforts now making by raaoy firms
in the district Jo produce goods to compete with the
French makers succeed — and there seems every proba-
bility that they will — the consumption will become even
larger.

IVom Victoria we learn that the Rabbit Bill wai
passed on the 12.th November, and the Government hive
sent notices to a large number of pastoral lessees and ex-
tensive laodowuers requesting them to see that the work of
rabbit destruction is begun on their land, especially on the
boundaries adjoining farms, so that the crops may not be
farther injured. The farmers will have notice to destroy
he rabbits as soon as the harvest has been gathered. It is
stated that four years since four couples of rabbits were
let loose in the malice scrub and these prolific little
quadru])eds now number millions.

The Wetifeni Australian Times recently stated that :
— " Mr. John Forrest, the Acting Commissioner of

133

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Crow > Lands, was about to proceed to the Lacpeie
l3l:in:'*, it is'siipposed whh a view to nsceitaiu *hat
qu,:n'. .ty of ginuo remaius upon the island, and intimates
tbiit ilii's step IS taken by the Government to place beyond
doa'jt the statements lately current to the effect that not
more than 10,000 tons of guano now remain on tlie
islands.

The Qiieerislander of October 19 thus refers to a
destructive parasite affecting cattle in Qieeiisland r—
" We find there is a considerable mortality amongst cattle
in some of the coast districts caused by a parasite —
Amphistoma conicum — which attaches itself in large
numbers to the stomach, usually the third stomach.
Some years ago the whole of the cattle bclongins; to the
Benevolent Asylum, Dunwich, were carried off by this
insect ; and latterly it has extended to the Wide Bay and
Burnett districts. A few weeks ago we received specimens
of the insect from a correspondent at Bowen, who states
that it is committing havoc amongst the female cattle in
portions of that dis'trict. The subject has been brought
nude-- the notice of the Board of Inquiry into Diseases in
Stock, and we should recommend any of our stockowners
who are in a position to do so to assist the Board in inves-
tigating the subject, by forwarding such information as
thev may be possessed of to the Secretary of the Board
wiihout delay. The insect will be readily recognised.^ It
attaches itself to the coating of the stomach, where it is
frequently fouud in hundreds, and is of a conical form,
and nearly the siz'! of a common pea."

Ostrich farming continues to receive a large share of
attention throughout Cape Colony, and the weekly sales
tave been liberally supplied with feathers. A decline
occurred early iu November, owing to the fall at home ;
tut during the few succeeding weeks, though prices have
ruled very irregularly, they have not suffered to any
appreciable extent. " Among the large quantity
ofl'ered the superior classes have been well lepresented,
though the proportion of pluckings from young
birds and the inferior grades of drabs and blacks
has ben very large. Good whites, as also white tails and
the better description of blacks, remain in fairly active
demand, and for other classes the competition continues
UDchaused. Whites vary from £7 lOs. for inferior, to
£40 for white jirimes per lb. At Clifford's Camp a sale of
birds has been held, and twenty or thirty pai.-s sold at
from £70 to £200 a pair. Thirteen chickens brought
£123 10s. The export of ostrich feathers during the
quarter recently ended has been £157,779, as against
£y0,910 iu the corresponding pu'iod of 1877.
The' C'ot!)it/y says that agricultural shows appear now
to have extended to Central Asia, the latest news being
that an exhibition on a large scale is about to be held at
Tashkead, on which occasion the Government will give
prizes consisting of gold and silver medals and caftans of
honcur.

The fat-stock show held at Chicago in December last
•was adjudicated by butchers — not breeders. This cir-
cumstance is of considerable interest, as showing that
the lesson taught by experience here has not beeu lost on
our American cousins. Loud have been 'the complaints
from various sources as to the unsatisfactory way in which
the judging at our great fat-stock shows has ou divers
occasions been carried out ; and when breed is pitted
against breed in contests for champion prizes it must be
evident to any impartial observer that the natural bias
which exists amongst judges for the particular breed in
which they are personally interested, wiil, if not balanced
with almost impracticable accuracy, result iu awards which
are more or less unsatisfactory. No one questions the
integrity of tlie judges, but everyone believes in certain
weaknesses which are incidental to niorlals, and which
muit follow them even to the ixercise of judicial fuu;tious.

And when there is preponderance of Bias, a^ in the caeff
of two representatives of one breed to one representative
of any other breed, it denotes an excess of power
which, however conscientiously used, is always open
to doubt and suspicion. This could so easily be avoided
by appointing men as judges who are completely out-
siders. It has been frequently urged in the columnsr
of the M<irk Line Ecpvess that the legitimata
province of the breeder and feeder ends with the
production which is the result of their combined in-
dustry— the fattened animal, and that che merits of their
handiw^ork should be judged by the class of men into
whose har-ds it next passes. The ability of butchers and'
salesmen to determine which is the best fat animal iu a
class, in a breed division, and in nn entire sliow, will not
be disputed, and the sooner the plan is adopted the better
t will be for the success of these 6hov^s, for breeders'
industry, and for cousumers of meat. The Chicago show
wll no doubt eventually grow into larger dimensions, and
that, too, iu short time, for things of this kind do not
take long to develop in America; and as they have begua
x/U a sound principle it may be expected to prove an
educational institution of great value to the country, and
an incentive to stock breeders who are not afraid to be
judged by results.

Another matter iu connection with fat-stock shows,
which has been urged again and again in these columns,
is the uselessness of classes for stock which an-,,
older than the age at which such animals usually
come to the butcher. It is a waste of time, money
and food, to serve no useful purpose whatever. The con-
suming value of such animals is altogether out of propor-
tion to the cost of production, and cannot be fairly repre-
sented by the prices which butchers will sometimes pay
for them by way of an advertisement to their business.
Three years is quite as long as any one can affird to keep
an ordinary bullock ; and not only so, but our best breeds
have attained an earlier maturity than that, and are sold ia
the every-day course of bus ness at from two to two-and-
a-half years old. There is, therefore, nothing to be gained
in an educational point of view, and much to be deprecated
on other grounds, by offering prizes for bullocks which
exceed three years in age. Classes fur cows are, of course,
necessary, but those for heifers are not what breeders
would he likely to aim at, inasmuch as they represent
barren animals only. At all events, the chisf production
of beef is from bullocks, and those are what is mostly
wanted in fat-stock shows. A little more age might bs
necessarj ror West Highland oxen, but beyond this ex-
ception it is ditTicult to find a valid reason for prizes being
offered for bullocks of greater age than that we have
stated above. On the other b-and, classes for bullocks
under twenty months old would be far more in accord-
ance with the capabilities of our best breeds, and with the
necessities of the times. The general shrinkage which is
Eow going on in the money value of articles of food and
clothing, iu that of rents and labour, and iu almost every-
thing to which a money value cau be attached, will in-
clude showyard premiums within its scope ; not necessa-
rily to reduce their amounts, but inevitably to dictate
their expenditare in such manner as will tend to induce
economy and practical usefulness iu the production of
food.

The Prince of Wales has again shown the general
interest he takes in agricultural matters by allowing his
name to appear as patron of the British Dairy Farmers'
Association.

The Irish Farmers' Gazette states that the Cork
Society have decided to hold a spring show of bulls on
Tuesday, 8th April. A deputation from the Cork
Agricultural Society will wait upon the Government iu
February with a view of urging the Government lo con-

THE rARiTERS MAG'AZINK

frauc ths Cork iToJel farm for four years longer.
The export of butter froui Dubliu durin;i; the past
three years having been stated iu the Times and other
papers to be iu the following quautities —

1576 .... ... 53,396 fH-liins, &c.

1577 ... ... 37,731 „

1878 ... ... 25,688

the Gazette took the pains to ascertain the fads of the
case, and found that the Great Southern and Western Ituil-
vray alone carritd much larger qnaatilies of export butter
than the foregoing tigures wuuld indicate, namely —

1876- ... ... 410,240 firkins, &c.

1S77 ... ... 374,349

1878 ... ... 353,171

Sir Samuel Wilson is stated to have said, at a recent
aieuling iu Melbourne of the principal Australian meat-
preserving eon>pany, that the meat then in eourse of packiutj
in the tins costs '" a farthing less than nothing per sheep ;"
or, in other word?, that the sums realised for the sale of
the skins and tallow were sutScient to cover, or rather
more than cover, the original prime cost of the animals.
Commenting on this statement, the I.ish Farmers'
Gazelle remarks, that although " American-preserved
meats have lately been running the Australian produce very
close in the English markets, the inveuliou of machinery
which enables twenty-four tins to be packed iu Melbourne
in the same time iu which one tin is tilled by hand in 1
Chicago ought to enable our coiooial brethren to distance j
all competition." New South Wales exports tinned |
meats more largely than either of the other |
colonies, but it is not stated vfhetber, with all
the advantages of Free trade, they cau sbow th3
Tivr material at a lower cost than Protectionist
Victoria ; if so, a novel calculation would be
necessary to show how much less than uothiug their meat
costs them before they begin to tin it. However this may
be, if the Australian colonies find a way to send us fresh
meat, as they probably will, we may yet live to see the
day when meat vf ill again be cheap in Great Britain.

In connection with the meeting of the Highland and
A ,'ricultural Society, proposed to be held at Kelso, in
1880, suggestious have been madi to offer a special prize
for a stallion for agricultural purposes, to travel the dis-
trict in .=eason 1880, and that the family prize for Border
Leicesters should include oue aged tup, two ewes, tvvo
gimmers, two e>ve lambs and two shearling tups, all bred
by exhibitor except aged tup. These proposals appear to
have met the approbation of the Board, but some others
were not so favourably received.

According to the St. Petershurr/ Gazette, the Govern-
ment of Russia has sanctioned the holding of a dairy show
at Helsingfors, in Finland; and not only that, but has
granted a sum of 2,400 roubles towards the travelling
expenses of country people in poor circumstances desirous
of visiting the exhibition.

A report from Canada states that there are some
250,000 bead of cattle and 500,000 sheep at present
beint? stall-fed in the province of Ontario for shipment
to British ports in the spring. Exporting firms there
intend to dispatch one vessel a day, laden with sheep
and cattle, from Montreal or Quebec as soon as naviga-
tion opens. A Toronto firm is at present in negotiation
with the British Government for supplying the troops
stationed at Cyprus and Gibraltar with beef and mutton
after next spring.

An important sale of cart horses, eligible for the
English Cart Horse Stud Book, is announced for Wednes-
day, the 12th of February, when Messrs. Sexton and
Grimwade will sell 29 cart horses, besides 2 trotting

135

horses and 3 hackneys, at the O itseats Stud Farm,
Alfreton, Derbyshire. The Outseats stuil has been
established upwards of half-a-ccntury. Since the year
1830 Messrs. Nix have travelled stalliJns. The great aim
of the present proprietor has been t» sticif to the old-
fashioned sort, possessing weiglit and power, with great
bone and abundiiice of hair, with strong, firm fset, and
the best of action. The catalogue is admirably illustratel
with portraits of the principal mare-s fillies, aud entire
colts to be sold at the auction.

The Prairii Farmer says :— Advices from Washington
state that^Wustern and Eastern exporters of live cattle,
in view of the recent English legi^lali,)u relative to the'
importation of cattle into Great Britain, have written to
the Treasury asking the designation of a veterinary sur-
geon at each of the export ports, whose certiticate that
cattle are heilthy will be accepted by foreign Governmeutj.
The departmeut has replied th it there is no law for tho
appointment of a veterinary surgeon, but that inspectors
may be designated at each port, aud that collectors may,
when satisfied that any shipment is free from disease, give
the exporter a certificate to that effect.

Following are the instructions sent out by the Treasury
a copy of which has been received by the collector of
customs at this port : —

Treasury Department, Washington, D.C., Dec. 13.
To Collectors of Customs and others : — Tiie followin;^
dispatch has been received by cable, through the Department
of State from Liverpool : —

Unless cattle shipped from United States have Government
I health certificate when embHrked, slau^ihter probably campal-
I sory on landing, parhlysiug tnde. Can you cable Welsh

assurance appointment veterinary olhcers at siiaports?
[ You are authorised to cause an inspection to be male of
all neat cattle proposed to be sliipped from your port to Great
Britain, and to issue ^onr certificate that such cattle as shall
be shipped &re free from all disease, and that there is no
known disease in cattle at your port, or in its nei^hbonr-
hood.

In States in which there are ofScera authorised by law ta
examine into the diseases of cattle, the collector may avail
himself of their services, as the basis of his action, at the
expense of the shippers.
By order,

H. F. French, Assistant Secretary^

THE INTERN.1TI0NAL AGRICULTURAL EXHF-
BQTON IN LONDON.— The prize-sheet and regulations
for t'-ie international esliibition and trial of agricultural
implements and machinery, to be held in Lonfon, have jmt
been issued, together with a map showing the site of the
exhibition. In addition to the prizes already announced the
Royal Agricultural Society offer ten silver medals to be
awarded by the judges in cases of sufficient merit to any new
implement which may be shown. The juices will also be
empowered to make special awirds of medals for efficient
modes of guarding or shielding niaehinery, especially when
worked by steam, from contact with persons im nediately
engaged in attending to such machinery while at work.
Amongst the otlier regulations it may be noted that no
exhibitor will be allowed to enter more than one article of the
same construction, and that provision is made for a minimum
fine of £1 for every dupilicate exhibited or brought into the
exhibition iu breach of this rule.

PHONETIC. — "Phairest Phlora," wrote an amorous
youth, who is smitten with the phonetic craze, "phorever
dismiss your phears, and phly with one whose phervent
pliancy is phixed on ."ou alone. Phriends, phamily, phather
— phoriiet them, and think only of the phuture ; Phew
phellows are so phastidious as your Pherdinand.so pheiga not
phondness if you pheel it not. Phorego phrolic, and answer
phinally, Phlora." "Oh, Pherdinand, you phooll" wai
phair Phlora's curt reply.

334

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

LORD TOLLEMACHE ON CUKSllIRB
CHEESEMAKLNCi.

la response to invitations from Lord ToUeraache, his prin-
cipal tenants and a few ueiglibours met at Peckforton Ctstle
on Friday week.

His Lordship said those who were present at the Cheshire
Agricultural Meeting at Crewe in 1877 inijjht recollect tlmt he
thea perlornied the disagreeable duly of urging tiie farra«rs of
Cheshire not to reckon on a cominuince of high prices for
cheese, but to be p-epared for a fall wliich he expec'ed would
occur before long tJ tlie extent of at least lOs. or 13s. a cwt.
That expectation, as they now kiew to their cost, had been
fully realised. Some attributed tliis fall in the price of the
great staple of this county to the serious depression of trade.
In bis judgment it was to be attributed partly to that cause,
but priucipally to the vast importations from A-nerici, Canada,
and other countries, arising from the policy of Free Trade
bein-^ adopted in its entire'y. Thit policy, alt'iough rejected by
other nations, would be adhered to by this country. So whatcw-
not be cured must be emlured ; coasequeutiy, instead o*' sighing
and groaning over large importations and lo^v prices tliey must
manfully face their difficulties, witli the full det irmiuation of
overcoming thetn ; and no doubt tliey would overcome them if
they pursued the right course with energy and perseverance.
Tbat course must be patent to all— viz., toinrprove the quality
of their cheese, and to reduce the cost of production by errono-
mifing labour and increasing the yield of the land. As re-
garded the improvement in the Qu-iliiy of their cheese, the bulk
was s«d to have deteriorated greatly of late years, and it had
certainly lost the market of some districts where the demand
had formsrly been groat. At Ipswich, for instance, and the
couutry around that large town, Clieshire cheese hid wholly
disappeared before the produce of Holland and America. Tins
deterioration was probably owing to high prices, which enabled
cheesemakers to pay their way with inferior clieese. It was the
second and not the' first-class cheese which suffered so greatly
from foreign competition. The price obtained was the criterion
of quality. Those who did not receive a high price ought not to
be above seeking instruction from more successful cheese-
makers in order to avoid serious loss in the probable event of
a etill further fall in prices ; for he doubted whetlier they had
yet experienced the full eflfect of foreign competition. Striking
instances had come to his knowledge of the advantage derived
from the course he suggested. To enable his tenants to judge
accurately of the value and quality of their cheese by compar-
ing the price they had obtained with t lat of others, he had
ventured to beg his principal tenants to iafurra liini in confi-
dmce whit they had obtained for tlieir best cheese last year.
With the exception of one tenant they had ail readily given
him that information, and in support of their accuracy they
iiad generally furnished him with the names of the purchasers.
"Without being guilty of a bre.ich of conti'leace he might state
Jor their benefit the substance of that information, five had
received from TSs. to 80s. pes cwt., fifteen had obtained from
70s. to 753., seventeen from 653. to TOs., and the cheese of
eight had fetched less than 65s., including two who sold as low
as 583. and 563. Some of these prices would probably have
been rather higher had not the cheese deteriorated in quality in
•onsequence ot being kept back in the hope of a better market.
This statement most clearly demonstrated two facts — first, that
even in these times fine cheese realized a highly remunerative
price : and, secondly, that a large quantity of the cheese made
by his tenants w^s capable o! great improvement. The aver-
age price was about 68s., and from tliat they would know that
their best cheese if sold below that price last year, rai,'ht be
considered of secondary quality and not up to the mark. The
opinion or excuse so often given was groundless— tliaf; the
quality of the cheese depended principally on the ua'ure of the
land, and not on the skill of the cheesemaker. Prime cheese
could be made on any soil, except perhaps poaty soil. Many
cases could be given in support of this opinion, and a notable
one occurs on an adjoining property, where at two farms,
totally different as regards the nature of the soil, cheese of tlie
fiaest quality had been made, and realised for some years as
nearly as possible the same prices. With regard to the econo-
mising ot labour, lie did not mean that to be accomplished by
discliarging labourers, but by seeing that all were fully and
profitably employed. Very much could be etfected by the dairy
arrangements in fariBhouses being made thoroughly convenient
for chtcscniakii.g opcralioui. The introduction, of chccis

vats, ovens, lifts, aud otiier applimces were recent improve-
menis of great value to choesemakors, aud completely removed
the grounds for the mistaken notio i of drudgery m cheese-
miking. As (o the remaining p iut the produce of tbisconuty
might unquestionably be increased to a vast extent. They
themselves must kno* how gtestly tlie production of his estate
might be increased if every acre of pasture land thsft retinired
it were properly drained with a liberal application of bone
manure. T > enc mrage this increased produi:tion, so necessary
in these liinps, he proposed to offer to them bell-mouthed pipes
at 3^ per cent, on the cost price to check was-te, and also to
supply bone m nure at 5 per cent, to every acre of land pro-
perly drained. An experienced tenant had told him lately ha
was satisfied that la'id would return 12 per cent, on the outlay
of bone manure, consequently ihe advantage to tenants of
having this manure at 5 percent, would be very great. He
hoped therefore tliat the olTer he male tliera would be generally
accepted, and lead to aa important addition in the production
of the soil throughout the estate. On the luncheon table they
would find Cheshire, Cheddar, and Americm cheese considered
of the finest quality to bs purchased in London. He had
requested a small packet of tlie Clieshire cheese, sold retail by
Messrs. Cadbury, of Bond-street, at lid. a pound, to be gives
to each of them as a specimen to take home.

THE FOREIGN CATTLE TRADE.

On Wednesday Jan. 1. there came into force certain im-
portant alterations in the rules which affect the iiaportatioji
of live cattle into England. In virtue of the Contagious
Diseases (Animals) Bill of last year — a measure, it may be
remembered, which was the most hardly fought piece of prac-
tical legislation of the whole Session — the Privy Council
acquired the power of issuing new Orders in this matter, and
tliis power has uow been exercised.

The new Cattle Orders, though they have been in force
but a few hours, have been pubishei for ful y a month.
They have excited violent comment and opposition from a
few pertoas, but it is remarkable that neither in Parlia-
ment nor out of it has any politician of em nence meddled
with the subject. The cntreme opponents of the Govern-
ment have seen in it, as they would probably see in a
republication of the pr)flimation against vice and immo-
rality, evidence of turpitude and of dark designs.
The extreme partisms of the Government have been chiefly
occipied with other matters, and, beyond a few casual hints
that the measure does not go quite far enough, have not dealt
with it. Tlie subject of beef is, however, peren-
nially interesting to Eiglishmen, and perhaps we,
who are coamitted neither to the depreciation of the
G)vernment nor to their justification, may be in betttH-
case thin som^ of our contemporaries for the discussion of
the matter. To rob an Englisliraan of his beef would indeed
be grievous, and the principal thincr tlint we have to look to is
the question whether such te lible robbery as this is likely to
be committed.

It may, perhaps, be taken for granted, that not many
people have followed with care the somewhat uninteresting
history of cattle disease in Kagland ; but everybody has some
remembrance, more or less dim, of the greit pestilence of the
last aecade, wtien cattle died by thousands ; when the staple
industries of whole counties, such, as Cheshire and S)mer8et-
shire, were threatened or destroyed ; and when the price of
meat almost at a bound reached the limit from whieh it has
since shown no very striking tendency to recede. Since that
time constant efforts, spasmodic and pirtiil, but, well inten-
tioned, have been male to deal with (tattle disease. The
subject has been enveloped in a perfe;t hailstorm of orders^
regulations, and what not. On one day sueh and such a beast
might be impor ed, on the next day he might not. A drove
of cattlo crossing half-a-dozen counties on their way to market
found the regulations in force different in each, and were
extremely lucky if they reached their destination without
subjecting the hapless owner to multiplied and complicated
penalties. Meanwhile scientific men fought over the nature^
symptoms, and treatment of rinderpest, pleuro-pneumonia^
foot-and-mouth disease, as only scientific men can fight. In
ttie controversy a few things at last emerged. It became clear
that certain European countries, Russia and Poland in par-
ticular, were foci of duea>e, Rud that tiie syKtcra of allowing

THE FARMEll'S MAGAZIXK.

l3'5

Itet impoiK and then comiut; down up-in iu''ectf(] herds and
•Bl.-tujihteriujit tliein, was niOBt waateful and uncertain. At the
*iime ti e, experitneut showed t!iHt the doad meat trade
con'd, if need were, be enormously fxtended, and tHat Itiis
trade would be raride the chesppst and most effective \v;>y of
bringing fc.rei^'ii boats to English tablfs. L'ls'ly, it became
obTious that Knjilish farming was goir./ through a sprious
stage of trunsition ; tiiat the fnture prosperity of the fanner
and the profitable cultivation of En.li-'h soil required ths
incr"ase of stock-raising generally, and that th's increase could
hardly be secnred unless the danger of imported foreign
disease war? warded off. It was the^e considerations which
led to the introduction of the Bill of last Session, and it was
these considerations which led to that measure being passed
sfter the worst that could be said h«d been said aa&'nst it. The
Orders now issued prohibit import (limi of live cattle from
Riiss'a, Poland, Houmania, and other homes of ii fectiou
altoge'tier, but allow it from the countries stretchiuj from
Jutia' d to Cape Finisferre under certain definite conditions
These Orders have notliing to do, it slionld hf said, with the
recent hardship suffered by LTdy Pig< t, Mr. Slacdonald, and
other cattle-breeders in the matter of their P.iris " exhibits."
That, though a bad business, is an old affair, and quite inde-
pendent of tlie new regulations.

It is complained of these regulations, first, that they
nnduly favour the country at the expense of the town ;
8 Tondly, that they savour of protection; thirdly, that they
will raise the price of meat. If these charges, or any of
them could be sustained, the ca^e would be a grave one. But,
in the first place, it remains to be proved that the price of
meat will be raised by the new Orders one farthing on the
stone, and if it be not so raised it is not clear what the " ex-
pense of the town " means. Tlie present sources of supply are
not touched by the Bill. If we have been iu the luibil of
receiving Russian cattle disguised as German, it is quite time
that a stop were put to the practice ; and if, as the opponents
of the Orders tell us, the internal Customs' Regulations of
Germany are stringent as to cattle dise ise, it is quite clear
that German cattle will have no difficulty in gaining entrance
into England. Ireland and America are not touched at all.
D. nmirk, France, Spain, and other countries whence a con-
■aiierable cattle supply is, or might be, derived, will have the
same fscilities, to all intents and purposes, that they
no» have for feeding Great Britain. Bi^yond this there
is the certainty that the very smallest rise in the price
of meat would resnlt in the orgaui-ation of the dead
meat trade from America and from Central Europe on an
enormous scale. Lastly, and most of all, there is the
s'imnlus given to home production. This it is which seems to
hive excited most wrath, from some sort of confused idea that
t'lis stimulus was protection or class legislation. Certainly it
ii protection in one sense — the same sort of protection which
forbids a man to go about the streets or travel in public vehicles
when suffering from infectious disorders. But this is scarcely
protection of the kind which the objectors mean. Nobody
but blunderers or interested persons can confuse a sanitary
co;don with a prohibitive tariff. The intention of the Orders,
as far as farmers are concernod, appears to be simply that they
shall receive the same police protection in the discharge of
their business that every tradesman receives. American ca'ico
and German linen can be imported into the United Kingdom
without let or hindrance. But if an American or German
agent came here to set on fire our mann'actories, that agent
would come under the opernlion of the Uw. The same is the
case with the meat. The healthy beast is welcome to come
and lower prices if he can by his benevolent competition, but
the unhealthy beast is not welcome to come and infect a
hundred of /lis fellows here and so raise the price instead of
lowering it. It is for the advantage of tlie whole nation that
the food -producing capacities of the country should be de-
Teloped to their utmost. They cannr-t be so developed while
infection is allowed to discourage the farmer from ranking
the most profitable and food-producing use of his land. This,
and nothing else, appears to be the spirit in which the new
Cattle Orders have been framed. Experience will very quickly
throw more light oa their working than all the a priori
argament in the world. But meanwhile it seems foolish to
condemn thera on no better ground than an altogether mis-
taken view of economic terms and a jealousy of a certain
lAterest. Let the farmers by no means be benefited at the

expense of the nation, but if tiie uition can be benefited
lhroua:h tiie farmers, there is surely no need to quarrel with
our 8t'>;;fc because it iiappens to kill two birds. — Ilcaminer,

AN APOLOGY FOR STRIKES.

" Erica," writing; to the Times, in reply to a letter from
Mr. G. r. Bevaii, ccndemning all strikes, says :

Though ii is impossible to dootherwi.se than agree with Mr„
G. rh'.llips Bevaii iu coudejnuing the strikes of the past year,
few, I apprehend, will carry their agreement to the point of
saying that htrikes gener.lly " are acknowledged on all sides
to be barbarous, costly, and suicidal." It is one thing to cen-
sure this or that strike in particnlar ; another, and a widely
difffrent thing, to stigmatize the whole policy of strikes in the
way in ffhich Mr. Bevan has stigmatiied it in the passage
quoted above.

Strikes were called into being by an Urgent necessity, and
they have most undeniably served the purpose which l^d to
their existence. If anyone doubts their having materially
contributed to tl:e amelioration of the workingman's condi'-
tion, let such a person contrast tlie present with the past and
explain how it is that the employer and the employed novF
meet on a footing of comparatively eq'iality; lio-.v it is that in
the •' higgling ol the market" over ihe rate of wages there are
no iv two parties to the bargain, where before there was but
one?

It must, be borne in mind that the rai.wn (Vctre of strikes
is just this— to secure perlect competition between employer
and employed. Many circumstances combine to place the
isolated working- man at a relative disadvantage in his
dealings with his employer. The number of those wanting
t) be employed is large ; of those wishing to employ
small. The former are poor ; the latter are rich. The em-
ployer would, therefore, dictate his own terms were it not fot
those very strikes Mr. Bevan declaims ajjainst. But the dread
of strikes is a weight thrown into (he workman's side of the
scale, and it tends more than anything else to adjust the
balance equally. Tliere is a definite cost to the master in all
strikes ; and when a strike is a probable contingency, this
cost enters into his calculations, and is an important factor iii
fettling the terras of the contract he makes with his men.
This factor operates entirely iu favour of the workmen, leading
the employer to defer a reduction and hasten a rise of wages in
cases where heretofore an exactly opposite course has been
pursued.

But besides influenciug to a certain extent the rate of
wages, strikes have been instrumi ntal in raising the workmen
from their ancient attitude of servile dependence and freeing
them from the galling yoke that ignorance, fear, and blind
obedience to custom had laid on them. Strikes have lesiened
the power of the employer, which would otherwise be oppres-
sively great, and have increased the power of the workmen,
which would otherv/iss be degardingly small. In short, they
have effectually tended to substitute perfect for imperfect com-
petition, and since the more competition there is (provided it
be really effective on all sides) the better it is for the world at
larse ; strikes must be said to have been extremely beneficial
rather than '■ barbarous and saicirial." In saying that they have
been on the whole advan'ageous to the corainunity, I do not
preclude myself from admitting that many have been wasteful
and mischievous, neither do I a'tempt to deny that most of
tho^e that occur now a days are utterly unjustifiable. Never-
theless I insist on the plain fact, that the policy of strikes
taken in its general aspect is not that foolish and pernicious
policy Mr. Bevan and others deelire it to be. As one of the
contribotors to the CobJen Club Essays (187-2) justly enough
re:narked, a c oa'ition to cease working is a " necessary last
resort in a controversy with employes." So, when Mr Bevan
challenges the advocates of the working men to devise some
better means of meeting [discontent than by tliis system
of strikes, he must be met with the answer, that in as far as
the discontent ist based on reasonable grounds, no better expe-
pient could be devised. In refusing to labour, the working-
men only do what is done duly by merchants. They withhold
something from the market till it will fetch the price which the
owners think fit to set on it.

But in so far as there is really no ground for discontent
strikes are fraught with evil, and it would be indeed well if
they could be prevented. It seems to me that ignorance of

13 5

THE ITALIMER^S MAGAZINE.

the cireumstHnces of their trade is often accountaljlc for much
of the inii.faken ac ion of the workinj-uicii. I' judicious nt-
teinp'K were miide to incrense their knowledge on tlie^^e p'.ints.
as well as to teach tbera all that is involved in the industrial
organisation of which they are p irt, tire nunher of strikes
would sensibly diminish. But at present it seeras to be more
the fa^hi^)^ to rate the working clai-ses for acting in deftmce
ot fcono" i3 laws, than to t'ike any measiiTts for instructing
them in the elemeots of that most useful stieuce — politica
economy.

ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE FOOD.

Mr. r. King, of Caferham Valley, writes to the Times
on the above topic as follows : —

In your article ou the Registrar-General's retnrn showing
tlie increased mortality during the wiuter q'.arter you stale
" tliat llie power of resisting cold depends upon the amount of
heat-producing food consumed and digested ;" but I doubt
whetlier one person in a hundred knows enoufjh of the
chemistry of food to be aware what food does produce heat
in the body. 'Jhe flesh of animals has bo heat-prndiicing
po«er; it contains no carbon (unless fat is mixed with the
flesli), yel it, has been of late years the custom to consume more
and more meat, rendering it almost impossib'e 1 1 consume
enou"-h of the carboniic ous foods necessary to keep up the
heat of the b'ood. Because meat iskno^^n to be a nitrdgen-
ous or muscle-forming food, the idea seems to be that the more
of it we consume the better. We might as well say that be-
•cause iron forms the muscle and sinews of the stcam-engme
we ouiht to put as much iron as possible in ttie furnace to
•keep it iu action. The great bulk of the work required of our
bodies is in replacing the (lerpetu.il loss of beat through our
hea'ino- the air by the surface of our bodies and by the heated
a r we emit at ev.-ry breath. I: we do not take e nou^h carbon
in our food, we burn up the fat that is stored up in our
bodies, and as long as this lasts we may only suffer that lo>s of
weight wh\ch occurs in most persons during the winter ; but
if the supi^ily of carbon fails, the blood becomes in a condition
rearty tor any of the diseases incident to blood poisoning.

When I first read, some years ago, that people gained
■weight durinji the summer and lost it in the winter. I thought
it quite ciiDtrary to reason; but experiment on myself and
others lias confirmpd it. When we con.'iler tiint nearly half
the human race exist without consuming flesh to any material
extent and that the Chinese coolie will upon rice do work that
would astonisli the English navvy, we must admit that flesh
is not a necessary diet — ic should be looked upon as a luxury,
and a dangerous one if it displaces in a cold climate the more
important carbon food.

When our last Arctic Expedition sailed I was astonished to
find that the ordinary meat ra.ion was to le doubled, and,
considering that the climate would require the burning of a far
lergerquauiity of carbon than usn^il, I was quite prepared to
hear of the men's health giving way, as the exira meat ration
necessarily displaced the more important carbon foods. Scurvy
resulted snd was ascribed to the absence of lime-juice on the
sledging expeditions; yet the inquiry showed that in previous
sledging expeditions, carried on lor much lonjier periods, lime
juice was not used, yet the men escaped scurvy.

irora care;«l consideration of the dietary which it appears
tome a study of the chemistry of food iu.iicaies as correct,
chectedas all such deductions should be hy observation of the
dietaries of other nations, 1 consider that far too much meat
is eat-en in this country at the present time for health, and
that many of the diseases— such as diphtheria, typhoid lever
&c.— arising from blood poisnnins are primarily di'.a to im
proper diet, especially to the insufSciency of carbonaceous lood
taken ; and, further, that the craving for alcoiiol— a hydro,
carbon quickly burnt in body — is greatly d'ifl to tho
inudiciency of carbon iu the food, as such craving is much
less among the nations where the diet is mainly carbonaceous.

Dietary science has been very little studied in this country.
The weighlof carbon required to produce a ceriain duty in a
iteam engine is well known; but I believe the weight of
carbon or of the other nec( ssaries (nitrogen and mineral salts)
required to keep the human engine in full duty has nevi r
been calculated ; yet such a calculation ought not to be difli-
cnlt, and the deductionsi arising from it would be of the greatest
talue in keeping our bodies la health.

-THE HARVEST AT l!OME AND
ABROAD.

Tiie U.Giicmis! derives the following reruarks on the resuUiB
of the harvest cf 1878 from foreign sources. The production
of corn during the year 187S was estimated as follows ia
hectolitres (the hectoliTe=sHy 23 gallons) : — Franc-,
82,500,000 ; Rns«ia, 78,000,000 ; Germany, 40.000,000 ;
Spain, 40,1)00,000; Italy, 38.000,000 ; Austro-Ilungary,
40 000,000; Great Britain, 37,000,000; European Turkey,
14,000,000; Roumania, 13,000,000; Bi-lgium, 85,000,000 ,
Portugal, 3,000,000; Holland, 1,85' i,000 ; Greece, 1,750,000';
Servia, 1,400 000 ; Denmark, l.OOO.OCt); Sweden, 850,000;
Switzerland, 680,000; Norway, 100,000; other countries of
Kurope, 200,000 ; together, 40fi,630,0 lO hectolitres. United
States, 1-20,000,000; Algeria, 7.500,000 ; Canada, 6,000,000 ;
remaining countrifs out of Europe, 3,OLiO,(JUO ; in all,
553,630,000 hectolitres. If we estimate the production of
corn in a good average year at 567,950,000 hectoU'rep-,
Europe aloae shows a deficit of above 20 million liectolitres^
which, when the harvests of other countries is taken into con--
sideration, is diminished to 14,320,000 hectolitres. A", how-
ever, the consumption of various States is decidedly larger
than what is vrodnced in an average harvest, laa import of corn
from 65 to 67 millions bectolitrrs at least will be necessary for
the St!ites of Europe this year. In this import the share of
Great Britain will be 35 millions; France, 20 millions-;
Norway, 8| millions ; Italy, 3 miilious ; Holland, 1,800,000 ;
and Belgium, \\ million htctolitres^ llow differett the pro-
portions in the different States are, may be seen in this, that
France has sufficient with an import ot 20 million hectolitres,
that is to say, with viliat brings its rfquireraents up to aa
average, while Great Britain, on the other hand, must import
35 million hectolitres, in spite of an average liarvest. Russia,
again, although she may not have an average liarvest, can
export nearly 17 million liectoliires, but does not herself need
so much as 63 million liectolitres of corn. The export of
corn from Austria-Hungary and Roumania together is esti-
mated at 8| mil ions. The extra demand for corn in Europe
amounts to about 65 to 68 million hectolitres; this would
naturally take some time to cover, if it is taken into considera-
tion that from the collective txport of Russia, Austria,
Hnngary, Roumania, and tome otlier States to};ether, 25 to
27 mihioDS of corn flows into those States of Europe which
reqnire it. There remain, then, about 40 million hectolitres
to import. These 40 millions will be, it is supposed, almost
entirely supplied from the United States ; the prices of corn
there remain normal, and are not likely to be screwed up to
such a point through an unseasonable rise that Europe will
be forced partially to circumscribe her requirements.

PROPOSED CHEESE FACTORY.— An adjourned raeet-
ing of agriculturists was held at Kellaway's Rtilway Hotels
Hijjhbridge, recently, to consider the advisability of estab-
lishing a cheese factory iu the neighbourhood, similar to those
in Dirbyshire and iu America. ]\lr. II. J. Kinsey presided,
and introduced Mi'. J. Oliver, of West Harptree, neiir Bristol,
who has had a great deal of experience in cheese factories. He
explained at some length the management of these establish-
ments, and estimated the cost of building and fl;tiug np one in
the neighbourhood sufKciently large for 1,000 cows at £3,000»
He offered to provide plaus and superintend the fittings, and
alterwards to manage it and guarantee for the first year G^di
per (gallon for the milk. He believed subsequently, after the
fiictorv had established a good reputation, be should be able to
offer 7d. or T^d. The racory would pay 5 per cent, interest
by way of rental. The Chairman explained the suggestiott
was that a joint-stock company should be formed, and the
capital required stionld be raised in shares of £10 each. He
submiltpd a resolution to the effect tliat it was desirable to
establish a cheese factory iu the neighbourhood, and this was
agreed to, after which a committee was formed to ascertain
what shares would be subscribed for.

LEAD POISONING AND AMEllICAN CLOTH,— The
Medical Press and Circular recently called attention to the
danger of using American clo'h in peranbulutors, and reported
6e\eral cases of had poisoning from its use. In a piece of
this glazed material wliich was analysed, only 6 inches square
in measurement, an amount of lead corresponding to 54 5
grains of the carbonate, or " white lead," was found.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

137

MR. SHAW LEFEVRE, M.P., ON IRISH
LAND TENURE.

Mr. Sbaw Lefevre, M.r., has written a preface to a cam-
plilet OQ tl>e working ot the Briglit Clauses of the Irish Land
Act, in whicl), as a commentary on the reports of the Irish
Land Tenure Committee, of winch the lion, gentleman was
chairman, he recounts the operations of tiie committee and
states his views as to what should be the action of Parliament
thereon. Referring to the clauses in the Irish Church Act,
1869, facilitating the acquisition of Church lands by the
Irish tenantry, the lion, gentleman says: — "The success of
these clauses, under which 4,000 tenants had hecorae owners
in fee of their farms, sul ject to a charge which will be paid off
in a few years, Wbs in striking contrast to the almost total
failure of the clauses in the Land Act, and raised a btrong
presumption that there were causes operating against the
■working of the latter which ou^ht to be removed. The
inq,uiry (the Lind Tenure Committee) was one which should
have been initiated aad carried through by the Guvernraeat,
for when the intention of Parliament had been clearly pro-
nounced in those clauses of the Act, and the people of Ireland
had been led to believe that the object ot them was one
which the Government had at heart, it was to be expected
lliat the Government itself should investigate the causes of
failure and endeavour to carry out the intentions of the Act.
IS'osuch attempt, however, having been made or proposed by
the Government, it seemed to me that the matter was ripe
for enquiry." Summing up the work of the committee
appointed on his motion, he says : — " The committee, there-
fore, recommended that some properly constituted body
should be entrusted with sufficient funds to enable them to
purchase suitable estates or parts of estates when offered for
sale, with a view of afterwards selling to as many of the
tenants as, with the aid of advances through the Board of
Works, may be able and willing to buy, and disposing of the
residue (if any) at such times and in such manner as they
think would be most productive." The report as adopted, he
contends, was practically in accordance with liis own con-
clusions, as expressed in the report submitted by him to but
rejected by the committee, but was wanting in the explana-
tions drawn from the previous history of the question, and
from the evidence given by the witnesses before the committee,
which in the hoa. gentleman's opinion "were necessary in
order to justify such conclusions, and to present them to the
House of Commons and to the public in the most favourable
light." Mr. Shaw Lefevre thinks that " a certain disadvantage
has already accrued to the questic n from its being presented
in this bald manner." As the report was not laid before Parlia-
ment until the middle of June, the hon. gentleman holds that
it was obviously impossible that any action should be taken on
it in the remainder of the Session. As a justification of the
short Bill introduced by the hon. gentleman to protect the
tenants of the remaining residue of the Church property he
states: — "The evidence before the committee showed that the
Church Commissioners h?d sold the Church property to as
many of their tenants as were in a position to effect purchases,
and that there remained in their hands a considerable
number of small holdings, the residues of properties of which
the greater part had been sold to tenants, residues often much
dispersed and honeycombed as it were, and therefore not very
eligible properties for purchase by the better class of investors.
It was in respect of such residues that Judge Flanagan ex-
pressed his alarm as to the class of purchasers into whose
hands the small tenements were falling. ' Such landlords,' he
said, 'I look upon as about the greatest curse you can inflict
upon the country. They consider the matter as a mercantile
transaction in the extreme sense of the term, their whole
object being to extract from the unfortunate small tenauts,who
have lost the protection of their former landlords, the very
highest penny they possibly can. I think that unless you
protect the tenants of such residues by giving them fee larra
grants you would be doing an amount of injury which would
be simply incalculable; I say deliberately that a greater curse
cannot be inflicted upon the tenantry in Ireland than a system
of selling property which would leave the residuary tenants
in the power of such men; they are the most merciless, the
most avaricious, and the worst class of landlords that can by
any possibility be put over an unfortunate body of tenants.' "
The fate of his measure directed to prevent the evils indicated

by Judge Planagan leads Mr. Shaw Lefevre to fear that we
cannot expect much advance in present circumstances unless
the pressure of public opinion is strongly brought to bear in
favour of the question; bnt he adds, " I cannot, however,
believe that a Government which in 1S77 so cordially assented
to the appointment of a committee to report whether any
further facilities should be given for promoting the purchase
of land by occupying tenants will in 1879 repudiate the re-
sponsibility which is now cast upon them, will neglect the
unanimous expression of the committee upon which three of
their members sat—' that it is very desirable that further
facilities should be given for the purchase by tenants of the
fee simple of their holdings,' and will not submit to the Ilouse
of Ccmmens some measure for such a purpose." — Times.

AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERS'
ASSOCIATION.

A special meeting was held on the 6th ult., Mr. James
Howard in the chair.

Mr. Jules Joubert and the Hon. Mr, Combes, from New
Soutli Wales, attended the meeting by invitation, to confer
with the members upon the arrangements lor the Sydney Ex-
hibition. After having answered many questions as to site,
space, building, and other matters, Mr. Joubert, who is re-
turning to Sydney next month, undertook to bring under
the notice of the authorities at Sydney the views expressed,
also the following resolution passed unanimously upon the
motion of Mr. Samuelsox, and seconded by Colonel Grif-
rix (W. A. Wood and Co.) :—

" That this meeting of members of the Agricultural
Engineers' Association would desire that there should be no
trials, or awards of prizes, or other honorary distinctions for
agricultural machinery manufactured elsewhere than in the
colony."

It was also moved by Mr. Nicholson, aad seconded by
Mr. Coleman :—

'■That .the Council of the Association be a Committee of
Consultation to confer with the Commissioners as to allotment
of space, and any other matter upon which advico might ba
sought."

Before leaving, Mr. Joubert reported that the Commis-
sioners have opened an office at No. 5, Westminster Cham-
bers, London, S.W., to receive applications for space and the
transaction of business in connection with the Sydney Exhi-
bition.

The meeting then proceeded to consider the question
whether any concerted action should be taken to obtain an
increase in the hours of labour. After several members had
stated their views, it was decided not to proeeed further with
the discusbion of the subject.

A letter was read calling attention to the arrangements
made by the Bath and West of Eugland Society and the
Devonshire Agricultural Society for holding their respective
shows in Devonshire within a fortnight of each other. After
a conversation upon the subject, the general opinion appeared
to be that as both shows were to be held at dates so close to
that of tlie Koyal Show in London, to which visitors from all
parts of England would be attracted, it was not desirable to
exhibit at any show held prior to the Metropolitan.

The Presibent stated that his offer to give evidence before
the Commissioners appointed by the French Government to
inquire into and report upon the Tariff question was received
too late ; but that ths President of the Commission had in-
vited him to put his vie^vs upon the suhject in writing', which
he had done. He then read a copy of the letter he proposed
to send. He also proposed to send to our Ambassador at
Berlin (Lord Oio Hussell) a ccpy of the letter.

BACON. — The principal firms o( Wilt-.h ire bacon curcrs
have issued a circular calling the attention of farmers and
others to the public aversion to fat and heavy bacon, and
stating that as Irish feeders are now turning ont wellfuruished
pigs of light weight, small bone, and full of lean, they have
daily evidence that if feeders do not take decisive steps to
meet the requirements of consumeis by introducing a breed of
pigs yielding more lean and less lat than the present ''Bert-
shires," the demand for Eatjlish bacon will be very much
curtailed, and the value depreciated.

TE2 FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

i30

THE POLITICAL PARTIES AND THE
FARMERS.

A CHALLENGE AND A RETORT.

In the course of a speech delivered in support of ths
candidature of Sir T. Fowell Buxton previous to the
North Norfolk clectio-Q ,

Hr. FoRSXER said we have now had a Tory Govrrnment
for four years, and that is a period long enough for the coun-
try to discover what the Governraeut does and v.'hat it does
rot — what it does ahroad and what it does not do at home.
Now is ths time for tlie constitaencies of the country to come
forward and say wliat they think of the acts of the Govern-
aiRut. Recently we had an tlection in Bristol, oue of our
in-ost important cities; then as to the boroughs which ^re
still very important, we have had a contest at Maldou, in a
fflounty not (ar off; and now the opportunity has come for
you, the men of North Norfolk, to give your verdict. We
have in the division a aosl important seaport, with great
interests, and we also iiHve tlie farmers of North Norfolk. I
h^ve read the speechts of Mr. EJward Birkbeck, the Con-
83rvative candidate, and also those of several of his supporters,
■with great attention, and what has struck me more than any-
tiiing else in those speeches ia the way in which t!ie speakers
have passed over and ignored all home questions. O.ie would
suppose fron. what they say, or rather from what they do not
say, that there is not a home question in which either t!.e
men of Yarmouth or the farmers of North Norfolk are in-
terested. Let us take the farmers. Here is a fine opportuiii'y
for them to express their views and state their wishes. We
have a Government professedly composed of farmers' friends,
and a Cabinet with only one borough member in it. Now is
the time for farmers to say either " You have given us all we
want," or, " There is something more that we want." Juds,'-
ing from these speeches, I should say that not merely are the
merchants and traders of Yarmoutli in a position which is
•ojoyed by scaicely any other large town in England — that of
being perfectly satisfied — but I shouUi say i^iat the farmers are
also perfectly satisfied. Am I rigivt in supposing they are
perfectly satisfied? If we look upon Norfolk as being com-
posed of almost typical constituencies of farmers, I should say
my friend Mr. Clare Sewell Read is a typical and most es-
cellsnt representative of the tenant farmers, alike for know-
ledge, for experience, for sound clear sense, and for sincerity.
He has only one fault that I know of, and perhaps it is rather
a misfortune than a fault — it is that he does not sit on our
a Je ot the House. Sometimes when I listen to him I
wonder he is not on our side of the House, and I am inclined
to think that he Idmself shares in the wonder. Is he
quite satisfied ? If you merely read his epeeobes now, you
would say he was; but I doubt it. I remember his resig-
nation of the office he held — a most creditable act of Mr.
Head. He resigned because he was not quite satisfied
with what the Government did about the Cattle Bill.
I observe that in a speech to his constituents, when speaking
of the kst Cattle Bill, and he remarked how the Bill was im-
proved in the House of Commons, how he had something to
do with its improvemp'i'. — which he had — he said something
to the effect that the Irish farmers should have the same res-
trictions placed upon them to prevent their exporting diseased
cattle to England as the English farmers had to prevent others
iending cattle from one place to another. It is quite
true that Mr. Read showed great independence in the
mauter in which he insisted that Ireland and England should
be put oa an equalfooting, but when I see him I shall tell
him it was too bad lie did not mention that we on the front
Opposition bench, and perhaps the humble individual who is
now addressing you, did our utmost to help him on that occa-
sion. We know what Mr. Read's views are on
tounty government. He has stated them very clearly and with
great independence in the House of Commons ; but we hear
nothing about comity government in this election either from
Mr. Read, Mr. Edward IJirkbeck, or any of his supporters.
And why ? Because Mr. Read knows »ery well, and has
probably told his friends, tliat it is of no use expecting any
real measure of county government or reform from this
ilinistry. Mr. Read might add, — " I am sorry for it; I have
done my best, but we can't pet it, and therefore we had better
say nothing about it." Home questions have had
the " go by," and Mr. Read hai confined him-

self to defending the foreign policy of the Govfrnmeut and
making a sensible remark, for which! thank him, about the
manufacturers in the Noith, of whom I am one, calling out
(or Protection. As I am coming into a farming constituency
let me say one word about county government reform. It is a
most important matter. In fast, of all the hoaie questions
pressing for decision, it seems to ine of most iramecliate im-
portance. A.nybody who attempts to understand thp question
will find himself struck with two facts— first, that England is
almost the only — I don't know whether it is not the only —
civilised country in the world in which there are no rural
municipalities. We have nothinj; approaching to self-govern-
ment in our villages, and yet they have it in France, they have it
in the United States, they have it in Canada, and they hiive it in
most of our colonies. Tiie next fact is that the great principle
which underlies English politics and English political arrange-
ments is that taxation and representation should go together ;
that whoever pays taxes or ra*es should have something to do
with the appointment and choosinj of the proper perso;ii to
spend them. My experience leads me to believe that the want
of these rural manicipalities blocks and prevents reforms in a
way which it is h 'rdly possible to estimate. Bat it ia qjite
impossible to meet this difilculty and to have thefe municipali-
ties uuIbns ycu thoroughly and fairly look the other question in
the face, and are prepared to combine ^presentation with
taxation and to give farmers and occupiers forae sort of voice
in the distribution of the rates as well as the county justices.
Mr. Read knows that, and he has stated it over and over agaia
But you will not get it from the present Government. They
have too much of the old Tory in the n. Lord Beaconsfi-'ld, if
he were ten years younger, might educate them to give it, but
there is no chance of his doing it now. If you are to secure a
good measure of country reform, ycu will have to get the help
of the Liberal party. Therefore, Sir T. Fowell Bnxton and not
Mr. Edward Birkbeck mnst be returned to the House of Com-
mons for this county. There are many other home questions
to which this applies. The Government showed they thought
something was necessary to be done with regard to aarlcultural
holdings, but what th'-y passed is pretty generally acknowledged
to be mere mockery and a sham. There is another question
of immense importance, and it is as important to farmers and
men of small prooerty, shopkeepers, and the higlier class of
artisans living in villages, as it can be to anybody ; this is that
we should make the purchase and sale of laud as easy as poisi-
ble, so that there can be the freest possible transfer of land from
one man to another. It is very difiicult to think of anythirg
which more nearly concerns the farming interest than such a
measure as this, and hardly anybody can doubt that you are not
likely to get this from the present or any other Conservative
Government.

Id addressing a meeting at Yarmouth,

Mr. C. S. Read replied to Mr. Forster as follows : Mr.
Forster was kind enough to say a few complimentary and
friendly things ot me. I am exlremely indebted to him for
what he said, and I think it proves, coming from a statesman
of his ability aud iudependence, that I am not the extremely
bad lot that some of my North Norfolk friends have tried to
make me out to be. Mr. Forster was good enough to say I
had only one fault, and tliat that was hardly a fault, but was
most probably a misfoitune — that I sat on the wrong side of
the House of Commons. He wanted to know how it was I
sat on tlie Tory side and not on the Liberal side of the
House. I will tell him and you. Asa tenant farmer, I say
we never ti.ave had any help from Liberal Governments since
1 have been in the House. I say most advisedly that the
Liberals have shown that they do not care a straw for the
agricultural interest. They have never passed any legislation
for our special benefit. Mr. Forster also said I quitted the
present Government, and deserved credit for niy independence.
It is rather a remarkable thing that I quitted the present
Government on account of an act of Mr. Forster himself.
There is no miatake about it — it vvr.s upon the question of
cattle diseases. Mr. Forster when in olfice passed an Order
in Council that we farmers in England and Scotland were to
slaughter all our cattle that were attacked with pleuro-pneu-
raonia, and did not extend the order to the great breeding
districts of Ireland. I said it was hasty, and that in ray opinion
it was a great blunder on his part that Mr. Forster did not
embrace the whole of the United KiDgloni in this order. Mr.

THE rARMIill'S M AG A. Z INK

139

torster weat out of power aud left beliiod hiio permanent
olliciala who wrongly adviaed the pr^s<^nt Qjveriiiueut, and f*aid
that wliat I desired co'ild not ba done. Bat it has beeu
done. The present Giveranient found out tliey had been
wrongly advise 1, frankly ackuowledued their mistiike,
and passf^d an Act last year which will, I trust, affect not only
the cattle of Enj^land and Scotland, but will also, 1 hope, re-
store health to cattle in lrel\nd as well. Aud why do we
farmers desire the cattle of Eat,''"!'! 'o prosper? Ol course,
iu the first place, that we may h ive a cert^iin amount of profit ;
but we also wish, on the other liand, tliat the ^reat masses of
the industrial population of this country may have meat at a
reasonable price. Then Mr. Eorster also said that 1
hadstated in a speech or t«o in the course of this elec-
tion that I thouglit the bill which the Government had brought
in for tlie purpose of stajing foreign diseases among our stocks
liad been creatly improved by the House of Commons. I s:>id
exactly the coutrary, and said I liked the Bill wliich the
Government brought in a great deal better than I did the Act
wliich the Hou.^es of l^arliament passed, and instead of my say-
ing that the House of Commons improved it, I distinctly stated
that Mr. Forster, and those gei'tlemen who acted with him,
had done very much to injure the bill and to make it a nullity.
Another point Mr. Forster made was this. He said tLat he
had not heard a sii.gle word mentioned by me or by Mr.
Birkbeck about county boards. Now, I fancy that Mr.
Forster is so engaged in vindicating his own independence
r.gainst the caucus got up again-t him at Bradford — the last
i'nportation from America, which would bind members of
Parliament hand and foot and make tiiemouly the delegates of an
U'lconstituiional committee of electors — that he could not have
read Mr. Birkbfck's address, or could not have read his
speeches, because I know that Mr. Birkbeck iu three speeches,
at the delivery of which I was present, did certainly mention
the county boards question, aud it also occupies a paragraph
in his adilress. Mr. Forster also said that it was a question
more seriously affjcting the rural districts, where there are no
municipalities, than the towns, aud that if you wanted a good
County Boards Bill you must ask a Liberal Government for
it. Then why did the Liberals not give it us before P They
have been in power twenty-five years out of the list thirty
and never thought of giving us this boon before, and I think
that if they came into power again they wou'd have some
more sensational legislation instead. This is a jjood practical
piece of legislation, aud I hope it will be passed. What we
really want iu county boards is not to have a lot of talking,
fpouting people, who like ta hear themselves talk, and fancy
others like it too, which generally speaking they do not, but
we want some good business men sent by the different boards
of guardiims to transact the busintss of a county in conjunc-
tion with the magistrates. I think this would strengthen the
local authorities very com-ilerably, but I contend that the
Liberals during the last thirty years have done all they can to
■weaken the hands of locil authorities by binding them hand
and foot and iianding them over to the LochI Government
Office in London. If that policy is continued, I am quite sure
that the local government of this country will Le altogether a
sham and a delusion. Que word with regard to the Agricul-
tural Holdings Act. [A Voice : " The school boards."]
Yes, you have to thank Mr. Forster for the school boards.
You have to pay for, and you have not done paving for them
yet, and you will not for the next fifty years, but you have to
thank Lord Sandon for not making compulsory school boards
all over the kingdom. Now, with regard to tlie Asriculturai
Holdings Act, Mr. Forster told you that tlie present Govern-
ment had not done well in passiutran Act nobody cared about.
Well, I say if the Government of the day have not done all
the farmers wished for in this matter, is it not a well-known
fact, patent to you all, that the Liberal Government never
liglitened farmers' burJeus with the tips of their fiugers?

HARD ON HIM. — A lazy physicim, who had been out
shooting, on coming home complained that his luck had been
very bad, and wound up by saying, " I didn't kill any tiling."
" That's because you didn't stay at home and attend to your
legitimate business 1" spitefully retorted his wife.

HIS i'ROPEXSIIY. — A gentleman was examining an
umbrella and commenting upon its fine quality. "Yes," said
a person present, " he fancies everything he sees." "And,"
lidded another, "he is inclined to seize everything he
f-incies.

BANBURY HORSE SHOW.

The horse show is a fitting prelude to the Twelfth Fair, bat
perhaps V, nsver took placa under such disidvantages as those
of Jan. 13, when that part of the Horse Fnir devoted to the
sliow had to be divested of snow, and ashes laid dov/n to pre-
vent the horses from slipping. The judging commenced
shortly after ten o'clock witli the cart horses, there being fi!t«t-a
entries in this class. We have seen a better display of cart
horses. The favorite seemed to be Captain, the property of ]\lr.
W. Bacchu«/)f llorntoa Grounds, which carried off the first priza
and around which a levee was held after it left the ring. Mr.
H. Mawle, of Siblord Gower, took the second prize. Mr. W.
E. Bacchus was commended for Drummer, a bro-.vu gelding.
The class, as a whole, was not up to the average. Class 2,
cart mares, brought out some good useful animals, and the
first prize went to Mrs. Andrews, of Evenley, Mr. J. Killbsy,
of Marstou Hill, being commende 1. The cirt colts were "a
very fair class, and Mr. Geo. Marshall curried off premier
honours with a nice looking bay colt. Mr. Marshall was also
awarded the extra prize of £10 for the best cart colt or filly.
Mr. J. Hawkes, of Farnborough, was commended in the colt
class, and Mr. J. E. Parsons, of Charwellon, had first prize fur
the cart fiily under four years old with Depper, whose dam of
the same name has secured a reputation not only in this neigh,
bimrhood but in Scotland, aud taken a large nuir.ber of prizes.
The colts and fillies under two years old were a very good
show, and Mr. E. Messenger, of Cbippen Warden Grange, had
the first prize with Flo«er, a promising roan, Mr. S. \V.
Underwood, of Adstone, being commended. Thera were
eighteen entries in the liackney class, and the first prize went
to Rupert, a beautiful b;iy geldiug, belonging to Mr. T. W.
Berridge, of Badway, Mr. J. Ma'sbury, of Bloxham, being
commended. The cobs were not up to what we have seen on
some previous years, but there were several capital animals
amongst those exhibited. Mr. D. Hopkins, Shenington,
secured the first prize, and Mr. S. Gale, of Cl'alford Oaks, waa
commended. There were eight entries for the harness geljing
or mare class, and Mr. J. Bliss, of Little RoUright, carried off
leading honour, Mr. A. Boddiugton, of Clifton, securing tha
white ribbon. The classes for hunters filled well, and for tha
best animal up to 13 stone 71b. over fi^e years, the first priza
went to Mr. J. M. K. Elliott's Reprobate, an animal which
was greatly admired, Mr. E. Knott, of Fenny Compton, being
commended. Mr. R. Hall, of Cotteuham, secured the blue
ribbon in class 10, (or the best hunter up to 13 stona 7Ib.,
under five years, Mr. Samuel Berridge, of Drayton, hcin^
commended. Mr. James Bliss was first lor the beat weight-
carrying huuter, and Mr. J. Iveus second. This was a capitit
class. The extra prize of a cup, value £2'), for the best
hunter in the three classes was awarded to Mr. Elliott for
Reprobate. Owing to the state of the weather, there was no
jumping, but in the competition for the ex'ra prize the
animals viere put through their paces, in afield on ths Oxford-
road. — Banbury Guardian.

THE IRISH L.\ND QUESTION.— The O'Donoghue,
M.P., attended a spec al raeeiing of the Kerry Tenant Defence
Association on Saturday, January 23, and delivered a long
address on the land question. He stated that the glorious
object of the association was to obtain for the Irish people
secure possession of the soil of tiieir own country, and
strongly advocated tiie cardinal principles embodied in Mr.
Butt's Bill, h iving for its object fixity of tenure at fair rents
and right of free sale and of pre-aiuption by the occupier.
The Irish people, lie said, were of one mind on the question,
and would iujiston the unqualified acceptance of these poinis.
Any settlement of the question which was not based upon
these principles would be abiord, and they would not be di-
verted from the pursuit of their object Ijy the iueers of their
adversaries. He referred to the proceedings of the Committee
of the House of Commons which inquired into the working
of the Bright clause* as the most important whicn had
occurred since the passing of the Land Act, and with respect
to that Act oliserved that the country owed a debt of grati-
tude to Mr. Gladstone, who in days to come would be looked
upon as the pioneer of reform in the land laws, although he
had been prevented by territorial influence from fully carrying
out his intentions. A vote of thanks was presented to the
hon. member for his services in Bupporting Mr, Butt'e Land
Bill.

L 2

'.<0

THE FARMER'S MAGAZLNE.

THE LAW OF DISTRESS.

The following is the principal portion of a paper read
by Captain Delf at the last meetieg of tht Essex Cham-
ber of Agriculture : —

The postponement of this subject I hold to be out of the
qaestioo, for the gro\vid» iatelligence in, and appreci;\tion of,
its great breadth, must exercise tiie raiudr, of those upon whom
any unjast law presses ; and surely, if at any time, it is now,
when every institution atfectiug the agricultural interest should
be probed. 1 shall endeavour to put before you an outline of
the law of distress, tracing its origin to feudal times, indicating
its preferential character and injurious expansion, and at the
same time pointing out the eviis which it induces. It is well
known to most of you that our neigl'.bours Norih of the Tweed
have a similar law, under the name of hypothec, which, al-
though grievous enough, may be regarded as less reprehensible
than the English law. The abolition of the Scotch Liw his
been agitated for some time, and the period has arrived which
points to the necessity of upholding justice by the repeal of
tlie un-English law of distress. It will be necessary for me to
define and comment upon the advantage — may I not say
unfair advantage? — of the preferential interest which this law
secures to the landlord, and while complying with this
necessity, I trust that I sliall be able, without prejudice, to
state, and frankly to meet, various arguments by which the
law of distress is 'v'held. It will hs well to remember that
agriculture has been so thoroughly revolutionised since
the institution of this law that many reasons that
inijht v/ell have justified its origiuhave long ceised to exist.
I find that the legal definition of the term "Distress" is
" The taking without legal process cattle or goods as a
pledge to compel the satisfaction of a demand, the performance
of a duty, or the rediess of an injury." There are many cases
in which the law of distress can be enforced; but the limits
of this paper compel rae to treat only of that where the tenant
is in arrear of rent of land hired. The power given to the
landlord is very great, and at the same time so unfair is that
power — althougii leg:il — felt to be by many landlords that,
to their honour be it said, they refuse to exercise i', being
•convinced that it is not ju^tifltd by the law of morality. As
the law stands, no action, nay, no notice is necessary, for the
landlord can, immediately the rent falls in arrear, notwith-
standing any set-off which the tenant may claim, seize the
property of his tenant, sometimes tliatot a stranger — as in the
rerrnt Duppa and Lake case, which, happily, for the reputation
of English landlord-!, is of very rare occurrence— to ensure sa-
tisfaction of his claim for rent. I am not here for the pnrpose
oi wearying you with a tedions digest of the law of distress
but it is necessary for my purpose to direct your attention to a
few prominent points. The right to distrain controls ail
tenancies of a fixed rental, irrespective of statute or agree-
ment ; this right holds good, so long as there are goods
disfrainable, for not less than six years ; this ri^ht may be
enforced notwithstanding the teumt's bankruptcy, although
in that case it is only available fur one year's arrear of r.ict,
this right cannot be hgally made after tender, nor before
sunrise or alter sunset. Some goods are exemp'ed, while
others are conditionally privileged, supposing there is snfil-
cient to diilrain on besides. I may remark here that by
statute many things not distrainable by common law liavebeen
rendered so, especially growing corn and thrashed corn or hay.
A. great number of minute and subtle distinctions control tlic
applic^itiou of the e;:en.ption ; but speaking generally, all goods
belonging to the tenant or the public upon the premises are
liable, the place rather than the person fixing the right. The
liability of agisting siock, or stock sent out to graze, under
whatever condi'ious, is of long standing, and th.at the liability
not only exists, but can be enforced, is proved by the case to
which I have re'eired previously. Purchasers of growing
crops from the tenants run considerable risk, as, even if paid
for, the landlord can claim such crops- Those who sell on
credit, or lend goods to a tenant farmer, do so at a greater
risk than if a similar transaction were entered into with any
other trader ; fanning is thus constituted a privileged, not an
open business. The owners of expensive machinery, such as
steam ploughs, thrashing machines, &c., would do well to
remember that their property is liable. Farmers buying
stock at a distant fair or sale should define the farm upon
which sucli stock should rest while in tramUu, for should

the drover unwittingly place them where rent \i due and
promptly needed, such stock is liable to forfeiture to satisfy
the landlord's claim. Cases could even be named in which
stock purchaced of a tenant and paid lor have been retained
by the landlord. To state brieily a few points of interest aa
set forth in this law, and which all farmers should be cog-
nisant of, a distress may be enforced by tbe landlord, his agenfc
or bailiff, authorised by warrant ; and even shuuld a man dis.
train without authority he can protect himself by a subsequent
endorsement from the landlord ; at the same time it should be
remembered — and hero comes in again speci'^1 protection for
the landlord— the hmdlord is not responsible for any
unauthorised acts of his steward. Generally speaking, a
distress must be on the land after the rent falls due, not
diviJed, nor excessive, and, of course, on distrainable goods.
The origin of distress is too fur iu the dim distance to be
definitely fixed. L^gal authorities speak of it as a feudal
( ff^ioot and substitute for lorfeiture. Some idea of its re-
moteness may be formed when we remember that the B ird of
Avon depicts Richard as inciting his troops at Boswor.h by
attaching the distraining of lands with the distraining of
wives. We are told that the term distraint had no pleasant
si^nificiition in his day, and I think that you wiil agree with
me when I sny that the liw would press much more severely
in the present day if the ladies should be included in assets.
This law is truly one belonging to the dark ages, and should
be obliterated in civilised commuiutie.') where Courts of
Justice exist for the purpose of appea'. There are but few
cases, so far as I know, in which the law cin be taken into
one's own hand, these exceptions being very wholesome ones.
I may be allowed here to quote that substantinl authority
Blaekstone, who says, '■ If iudividuals were once allowed to
use private force and remedy for private ijjuries, all social
justice must cease, the strong would give law to the weak,
and each man would revert to a state of nature." With
Blaekstone laws and reason were synonymous terms, but
even this learned writer did not presume to justify the principle
ot distress while advocating the Act as beneficial iu practice.
He distinctly says that distress was intended for the benefit of
landlords as being the shortest and most elfectual remedy for
compelling the payment of rent. What can be clearer than
that distress had its inception, growth, and exercise lor
the promotion of the owner's interest? Is is clearly contrary
to the spirit of the age, being a class law, constituting the
landlord as it. does a preferential creditor as compared with
others. It is notorious that the current of legislation has
been persistently setting against the oc nipier for many years
past and up to the present time. A statute so recent as that
of 14 and 15 Vic, cap. 25, is an illustration of the persistent
current ot legislation in the landlord's favour. Tliis Act
rendered the growing crops seized under an execution,
while reimining on the farm, liable for rent accruing after,
and notwithstanding the sheriff's sale. We are told that,
" In consequence of this Act, which was hurriedly passed for
the benefit of tbe landlords, immediately after a decision to
the contrary, the tenant's crops can only be sold under an
execution for their value, minus the rent to which they may
become liable and the costs of a distress ; but the landlord
may afterwards abstain from distrsiniag, and so in effect benefit
tbe purchaser pro tanto at the tenant's expense, alter
whicli he may sue the tenant for such rent, or distrain upon
his other goods for the amount." Allow rae to direct your
special attention for a moment or two to the advantage benefit-
ing the landlord and to the disadvantage to the tenant.
Distress is a proiniit and inexpensive process; it is needless
for me to urge how valuable these qualifications are, placing
tl'.e landlord in a supremely preferential position. On the
other hand, it is cLarly seen how great a grievance is distress
to the honest tenant, while the preference which distress
provides is a gross injustice to the oonflding creditor. It is
dilficult to estimate tlie injury that has been sustained by the
traders of this country hy the existence ofthij pernicious law,
which, so long as it is in force, acts as a decoy. We all
know the somewhat tedious and costly process necessary for
the recovery of ordinary debts; by contrast, how striking and
simple is the process conferred by this law upon the landlord
in recovering a rent debt — it can be accomplished instanter— ^
no warning, no action, no proof or declaration that it is due
are necessary. Years since statutes were pissed to curb the
oppression exercised by lawless barons under cover of distress.
Remembering this, is it to be wondered at if this law, which

THE FARMER'S MA.GAZiN'B.

141

ittfir more sfr'nient and coniprehoiihive now, is viewed with
suspicion atd di^guil ? The only endurable feature in tlie
existence ol the htw is, tliit it must freiiucnlly call into
exercise self-ahnpffatinn and modcriition on the part of the
landlord ; but I think that you will afrree with me when I say
tliat 1 very much question "the desirability of perpetuating the
possibili y — aye, the legality of perpe'ratiug an injuslice upon
tenants aud their creditors for the purpose of providing grou'id
for self-denial. I have been frequently told, when speaking o<
tiiis law, that the landlord's priority holds good 'or one year's
rent only. This is fallacious even where other creditors have
claims. The tenant may be ssveral years in arresr — it is not
of^en that a man declares his inability until long after he lias
passed the stage o( ~0s. in the £ as the limit of hia ability to
satisfy the claims of his crediiors. Section 3i of the Bank-
ruptcy Act, 1869, coniains tt^e enactment protecting the
landloro's right in cises of bankruptcy and liquidation. As a
great deal is mad: of this as an argument against any
gross injustice in the law ks it now stands, perhaps it is as
well that I should quote the clause : — "The landlord or other
person to whom any rent is due from the bankrupt, may at
«uy time either before or after the commencement of the
bankruptcy, distrain upon the goods or effects of the bankrupt
for the rent due to him from the bankrupt, with this limita-
tion— that if such distress or rent be levied after the cora-
nieucemeiit of the bankruptcy, it shall be available only for
one year's rent accrued due prior to the date of the order of
adjudic; tion ; but the Jandlord or other pcrcion to whom the
rent may be due from the bankrupt, may prove under the
bankruptcy for the overplus due, for which the distress may
not have been available." Tiie only reasonable conclusion
that can be drawn from this clause is that distress does hold
good for more thm one year's rent even against creditors,
supposing that the distress be made prior to tiie bankruptcy,
it is quite withiu the range of probability th.it a tejant should,
through a careless or too confiding landlord, or to take an
extreme and dishoaest ease, a landlord prompted by an un-
W'lrthy motive of improving his estate at the co>t of others,
pUjw his tenant to hold ;land for years without paying any
rent, and, selecting his opportunity, may come down with
eagles' swoop, and clear off all assets, including goods still un-
paid for, and cattle agisting, and even raulciiag the labourer
of his hardly-earned wage. I may be answered that I am
putting a strong case. It may be so, but still it is one in
which the law would protect a man, if such could be found,
who Would act so cruelly.

Having endeavoured thus far to show the power and effect
of the existing law, 1 proceed to deal with some of the argu.
raents which are urged in justificatiou of distress, and to test
their worth. It is taid that the soil being the property of the
landlord, the crop or stock have been appropriated to the
owner as security for the rent. Can distress be upheld by
such a supposition as this ? I think not. But even granting
that subtle argument coula be made to give some shadowy
justification for such a procedure, how, may I ask, are tiie
advocates for the retention of this law to justify this act of
seiziog goods which never were the property of the teuant ?
As tiie case now stands t'ae tenant creates a security over his
neighbour's goods for tb.e assignor's own debt-, wliether luch
debt be present or future. Such being tlie case, there is
manifest injustice upon the face of it, and a strong teiaptafion
to overstep the moral code on the part of the tenant, who at
this stage has been constituted wittingly or unwittingly the
cat's-paw of the landlord. The justilicalion to seize
the goods of a stranger on the premises has been sup-
ported on the ground that were it not so, a
door would be open to a variety of frauds upon the landlord
and that tlie stranger would have his remedy against the
tenant. But what would be the value of such a remedy when
the landlord had, perhaps^ not only taken the lion's share,
but swept off everything. All creditors are open to frauds,
and I shall be glad to be informed why the same remedy
should not besufHcieut for the owner of Und, which ordinary
creditors have to be content v/ith. By what plausible, line of
reaEoaiug can it be just to the parties or good for the public
that cattle, sheep, &c., sent out to feed should be liable to be
distrained when sent oa to the land, the owner not objecting
and the person sending the stock being in ignorance of the
eircumstan^es of the tenant. The ri>>k which those run who
ka^vo to provide a(.co;nmodation for the night for etock

en route from markets or fairs to the premises of the purchaser
I have spoken of before, and this risk is another prod
of the hardships liable to be entiiled by this lav/'.

Is it fair to the public that a landlord should admit to au
occupation au unsatisfactory teiisnt, inasmuch as that Act
gives the tenant a fallacious position injuriouj alike to himself
and to those with whom he has trading transactions ? Reason,
and justice both point to the reversal of this law u only oa tlie
ground just mentior.ed — there being far more justice that the
landlord who initiate? tlie evil should he the lo"ser of his rent,
which is interest, not capital, than that the trader, who has
been decoyed by the illusory position of the tenant to trust
him with goods which do nut represent interrfst but capital.

I have been met, when urging the necessity of the repeal of
this law, by this argument in favour of its retention — that
distress is a direct benefit to the poor, struggling tenant, inas-
much as the landlord would, at a much earlier period, pull up
his struggling tenant, than if the law were not in existence.
Now, it does not require raucli insight to sec that there may
be a selfish motive in retaining such a tenant to his last gasp,
as^in all probability he is paying such a rent as no other maa
could be found to do. I am inclined to regard the kindness
shown by the landlord in such cases as kindness shown and
appreciated by himself, and not to the tenant, who has been
allowed to struggle on and on until his List shilling is gone.

Another argument, if such it can be reasona,bly called, in
favour of reinainiog as we are, i^, that provided the law is
repealed, the landlord would demand rents in advance, and
thus increase the difficulty of the tenant farmer. I cannot help
speaking of this as one of the very weakest I have heard of,
especially at this time when so many landlords are offering
farms on very easy terms, and, in many cases, not being aMe
to find tenants, are carrying on thair iarras by bailiffs. As-
suming that distress was abolished is it at all probable that
landlords would demand the payment of rents in advance ? — a
course so contrary to commercial principles and so opposed to
the best interest of the ovi-ner cannot be entertained by reason-
able men. With nomoretlian equal justice, the labourer could
demand payment of wages before the completion of his labour.
I entertain opinions differeat from those who are always
clamouring that landlords must reduce their rents. I
contend that there is no must in tlie question. The leltin"
and hiring of a farm is a simple maiter of contract between
landlord and tenant, the landlord being perfcitly at
liberty to make the most onerous terms and to stipulate for a
irost exorbitant rent, but it rests with the tenmt to say
whether lie will jump into the net. There are lauliords and
landlords'as there are tenants and tenants ; there are owners of
thousands upon thousands of acres, and there are the peasant
proprietors ; it is not to be supposed that so large a body can
be brought to act together. The liberal and appreciative land-
lords will secure the best tenmts, as the best '.cnints will
always find landlords who can apursciate thera. Lmdlords
have exceptional advantages in securing themselves against
losses by judicious choice of tenants and by equitable covenants,
and by keeping them elves informed as to tlie general conduct
of the farm by personal vision rather than through the eyes of
agents.

We are often told that farmers do not exercfse that personal
supervision over the management of their business v/hich their
forefathers did ; may not the same remark be with equal jus-
tice made of the majority ol land'ords ia the present day? It
is far too general that the only iuteiest which a landfard takes
in lis property or his tenant is a direct monetary interest, and
prompt payment by his tenant. There is very little of that
prospective interest shown iiow-a-days which is- dus to his
successors ; hence arises that apathy which is too often found
on the part of the tenant. Upon the repeal of this law would
follow an earnest looking into the various causes which bar
agricultural prosperity, and upon which the teraporr.ry interests
of tlie landlord would then depend more tlian it does under
the existence of the law. Then further, the landlord bei"g
guided by his interest, would profit by giving reasonable
credit, as all others do, including banker.-, who do not invari-
ably demand security or guar ntee. What, may be fairly
asked, would be the state of trade in this country if no salo
or contract were entered into without a security such as ia at
present enjoyed by the landlord? I scarcely think that it ia
wortii while occupying your time by m-.eting very fully th«
suggestion that in lieu of the law of distress, landlords wouli;.

142

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

deiiii Lil poymeut of rent in advance. That mishtbe attempted
by ;i feT, but such procefdings wnu'd soon find a level, and
the d Ificully of letting land would be so increased that land
Wi-uld becbme s drujr, just as a tradesman wiio refused to give
any credit would toon find his business curtailed.

I cannot banish from my mind tlie belief that with theaboli-
i)oa of distress, rents would be, lowered, and that present
inconveuience wioht result to many owners of the scil ; but
that in the end the land would be worth more there can be no
do\ibt. There is too much looking to present advantaoie rather
than to prospective and permanent value. I am inclined to
believe that it would not be very difficult to prove that the
rent of land in this country and would tliat all agriculturists
■would bear this in mind — is quite 7s. per acre beyond what it
would be if this fragment of a feudal and barbaric law were
swjpt away. Well, gentlemen, I do not know that that would
be an unmitigated evil.

I feel I am treading on tender ground, and I am not
oblivious to the fact that in this, as in all that is worthy of
the name of reform, some temporary loss and inconvenience
must ensue ; but may I not ask fairly why the burdens which
DOW most seriously press, almost to breaking strain, upon the
agriculture of Great Britain, should not ba shared alike by
owner, tenant, and labourer ; and here I would counsel reflec-
tion as to wtiether or no the true interest of the landowners is
not something far beyond the immediate interest in the form of
rental. How much of the present dilliculties in which the
tenants of this country are placed may not be traced to this
pernicious law it may be impossible to state with any degree
of accuracy; but were it possible to base a calculation upon
given data, the present distress would be conclusively shown
to b<€ njuch greater in consequence than even surmise would
warrant.

VARIOUS NOTES.

The paper read by Jlr. T. Swan, of Edinbursh, at the
Galashiels Farmers' Club, oa " The Practical Utility of
I'at Stock Shows" supports in a remarkable manner argu-
ments that have not ceased to be urged on seasonable
occasions in these columns for very many years. As a live
stock salesman i\Ir. Swan speaks with telling effect on
the uselessness of awarding prizes to over-aged and over-
fed animals. He tells us that at our principal fat-stock
shows the bulk of the prizps go to animals which have
been uselessly and unprofitably fed, and which are as
Dearly as possible unsaleable, and goes on to say that
" To those connected with it, it mnst have been apparent
that for several years past there has been a gradual but
sure falling off in the demand for over-fed animals, which
Las culminated this year. From my own experience, and
from letters before me from London, Liverpool, Hull,
York, and Newcastle, this class of stock could hardly be
turned into money, except at a price scarcely equivalent
to that obtaiiiable for second or third quality of ordinary
fat ftock. Notwithstanding the most favourable weather
this Christmas for slaughtering such animals, butchers
throughout the country are unanimously averse to pur-
chasing them, from the waste in thera and the didiculty
they have of putting such into consumption." And to
show that he was not by any means singular in the
opinions he eipressed, letters were read from Messrs.
Giblett, of London, Gibbons and Sons, of Liverpool, A.
1?. Bruce, of Newcastle, and \Vhit taker, York, and Kemp,
of Hull, confirming them entirely. Mr. Swan
observes that as educational institutions these shows are
not carrying out the principal object for which they ^re
intended — namely, to encourage early maturity and profit-
able but not excessive feeding. This is a point for which
■we have many times contended ; and we aie glad to sec
that sncli a practical authority as J»Ir. Swan is in favour
of ih' very limit with the same exceptions to it which
We prujjOicd last week, and wbii-h were written without
any knowledge of Mr. Swan's views on the subject. The
cl'is'iv-' remarks of Mr. Swan's paper arc expressive of
opini'jii^ \\v ran thoroughly endorse, and wc commend

them to the careful attention of our readers. lie said ;
"What is reniiired is increase in the quantity of our
store cattle. The present price of beef, though even now
more than an average, bears no comparison to that which
the farmer has to pay fur his stores. Take the autumn
markets of this season, and you do not require to be told
how heavily you have been handicapped in the cost to
you of the raw material, in the shape of lean stock. I
think, therefore, these fat stock shows, by discarding the
aged and over-fed classes, and largely increasing the money
prizes among the young classes, may encourage breeding
and the early production of meat ; and our showyard:),
vfhile ofiering to the general body of farmers a much
greater source of interest and instruction than they do at
present, would at the same time be filled with a class of
stock capable of realising a price, affording greater chance
of payment to the exhibitor, and generally thereby be-
come of some practical utility." In the discussion which
followed, Mr. Allen, of W'iudydoors, thought that gentle-
men who were willing to risk their capital in " going ou"
with animals which had already attained sullicient age
and ripeness were entitled to all the premiums they could
get. That is to say, that the object of such exhibitions
should be defeated, and the money of the Societies wasted
to encourage them in a practice which is of no benefit to
anybody. We trust the committees of the several
Societies and Clubs will consider the matter in reference
to the benefit which would he likely to accrue to the
country at large, and not in relation to the " enterprise
of gentlemen who choose to risk" their money in a useless
manner.

The subject of judging at fat-stock shows which we
treated last week, will be further exemplified by the
following quotation from the the report of the fat slock
show held at Chicago, which appears in the columns of
the American National L've S'ock Journal now to
hand : — " The judging was all done by practical butchers
— meu who were in the habit of buying steers, cutting
them up, and selling the meat over the bhck. No con-
sultation between them was permitted while examining
a ring, and yet in nearly every case the award was unani-
mous, showing that they were governed by the same
standard of excellence ; and, in most cases, their de-
cisions met the hearty approval of the spectators. It
was evident that they were governed moie by form and
condition than by size. A smooth, blocky steer, with
small head, short neck, light bone, short legs, well-
covered shoulders and hips, well-sprung ribs, good hind
quarters and loin, with flesh and fat evenly distributed,
was invariably preferred to a larger, coarser animal, with
great masses of fat laid on in Jumps and patches. As
one member of the committee expressed it, ' Fat, to be
of any value to the beef animal, must be evenly distri-
buted; the meat must be nicely marbled, and when it
goes beyond this fat is simply offal. It is worth five
cents a pound at most, while the choice meat is worth
from 15 to 20 cents.' And this idea seemed to prevail
throughout all the awards. It was this which led them
to pass by the large, well-developed, and hii;hly-fattened
steers shown by Messrs. Vanraeter and Hamilton's, of
Kentucky, in awai ding the prize on car-loads, and give
the first prize to the evenly-fattened, well-matured, but
much lighter three-year-old steers ot Mr. Gillett. In-
deed, on the first ballot for this prize, the committee
divided, without consultation, five for Mr. Gillett's three-
year-olds, and four for the car-load of two-year-olds
shown by the same man. And on the ballot for second
prize, the two-j'ear-olds obtained seven, and the large
steers of Messrs. V. & 11. two votes. They claimed that
the older lot had been fed too long, and had become
gross with an undue proportion of useless or low.pric»;d
tallow.'' This show show Ihey are beginning to judge fat-

THET FARMER'S MAGAZIISfS.

liS"

•tock shows ia Amei-ica, and falls exactly inline with the
opinions we have expressed both with re^iurd to the
judges and also to the stock, and also with the paper
read by Mr. Swan. Surely, before another season comes
round, we may hope for some of the reforms in connec-
tion with fat-stopk shows which are so much needed.

We have received from|Mr. W. Trethewy, of Treijnose,
Cornwall, a private cataloi;ue of his herd of Shorthorn?,
dated Michaelmas, 187S. The foundation of this
herd was laid thirty years ago, by the purchase of
Ruth by Harold, 8131, at Lord Sherborne's sale
in 1848, at Sherborne Pai'k, Gloucestershire. Her
dam (Rachel) was bred by ^Ir. Booth, of Gotham,
Nottinghamshire, and was by Cedric, 3311, who brought
in the blood of Lord Spencer's celebrated herd through
his sire Ivanhoe by Mr. Charles Colling's Cecil, who was
by Comet, 155, sold in 1810 for one thousand guineas.
The female line traces to a double cross of Mr. Robert
Colling's Meteor who was also by Comet, 155, so that the
blood of that sire was inherited both through the sire and
dam, and in direct descent from the herds of the Brothers
Colling, the founders of the Shorthorn breed- Rachel
was the dam of the heifer that was awarded first prize of
£20, the silver medal to the breeder, and the gold medal
at the Smithfield Club Shosv, 1845- The tribe has since
produced several prize winners, and is well known in her
Majesty's herd at Windsor, Messrs. Game's iu Gloucester-
shire, and other noted herds. The sires since
used have been the Earl of Carlisle's Frantic, 8088,
who brought in the ]5noth Isabella strain, Mr.
Fawkes' Lord Fiugal, 11716, bred from the same
tribe as the well-knoi\'n prize bulls, the Friars, Henry 1st,
11571, and Earl Dncie, 12797, Were both bred in the
b?rd. Sir Charles Knightley's Vandumper, 23114, intro-
d'lced the Fawsley or Knightley blood ; and Sir Roger,
18863, bred by Mr. Ripley, in Yorkshire, was by Heart
of Oak by Grand Tnrk, who was sold for 300 gs. to go to
America ; Duke of Manchester, 33690, came from Mr.
Robart's herd in Buckinghamshii'e ; and Mr. Fawkes'
Lord Montgomery, 26686, again brought back the old
Farnley blood. He was by that favourite sire Lord Cob-
ham. Of late years the bulls have been hired from Mr.
JohnB. Booth, of Killerby, and his M.C., 31898, is at
present in service. The cataloi'ue enumerates 69 cows
and heifers ofthe Ruth family, with their pedigrees ; and
four bulls — one by British Lion, 30609, and three by
M.C., 31898. Reference is also given to bu'ls hired
from the Killerby herd.

The ten-year old Warlaby-bred bull County Member,
latterly the property of Mr. B. St. John Ackers, ofPrink-
nash, Gloucestershire, died the other day.

The four-year-old roaa Shorthorn bull Bridegroom,
bred by Mr. Outhwaite, Bainesse, and owned by Mr.
Cran, Kirkton, Inverness, has been hired by Mr. W. A,
Fraser for service next season in the rising herd at Brackla,
Nairnshire. He has been used in the Kirkton herd since
he was ten months old.

Mr. C. Hills, of Crystal Spring Farm, Delaware, TJ-S.A.,
writes to the Cultivator and Country Gerdleman as
follows : — " We find better demand for good Shorthorns
than for many years, at moderate, yet fair prices, from
farmers for improvement — preparing for supplying the
export demand for good beef from this new country. Ex-
cept for this new market what would be the price now of
good beef cattle here?"

From the Qjueenslander we learn that Dr. Jenkins has
made a very valuable addition to his herd at Callandoon, in
Queensland, in the shape of 96 a ell-bred Shorthorns from
the Nepean Towers herd.

The winner of the siveepstakes prize as the best beast in

th.t Chicago Fat Stock .Show was a three-jear-oIJ ''grade"
of or partly-bred Shorthorn steer, exhibited by Mr.
Gi/ieft, who does not study fashion iu breeding, but buys
I only such pure-bred Shorthorn bulls, as he considers will
t produce the most beef on their stock. The best cow or
heifer was a Hereford cow exhibited by Mr. T. L- Miller.
The National Live Stoc/c Joiminl's report of this show-
states ihat "one rather remarkable feature in the.'show was
the absence of what may he called fasuionably-bred animals
among the Shorthorns. With the exception ofthe Young
Mary steers shown by Vanmeter and Hamiltons, thero
was nothing that would have attracted attention on tha
score of pedigree. There was, however, no lack of good
animals in proportion to the cumber exhibited; and
while the gilt-edged pedigrees were conspicuous only by
their absence, tlie gilt-edged carcases were there to
speak for themselves. The only breed of sheep shown
was Cotsvvolds."

A correspondent of the Sijdney Mail has sent to tha*
paper for publication a letter re - ■ .ed from "a svell*
known breeder (of Shorthorns) ia Yorkshire," wherein
colonial breeders are urged to jmrchase and breed fur
utility only, and '■'■independent of fashion." The italics
belong to the letter. We think the advice to be good.

The same journal states that the work of preparing
quarantine st itions for cattle and sheep which may arrive
from the United Kingdom, has engaged the attention of
the stock department during the last month. Three
stations have been chosen, viz., Shark Umd, Clark
Island, and the eastern portion of Bradley's Head.
Men from the Works Department have been busy on
Clark Island during November, constructing a wharf and
forming a road from the waterside to the spot where
cattle sheds are in course of erection. On the old qua-
rantine ground, Shark Island, there will be 50 sheds ;
about 25 will be placed on Clark Island, and at
" Bradley's" a similar number will be built.

Mr. R. Reynell, of Killynon, informs us that he com-
menced his Sborlhorn herd in 1869, by purchasing at the
sales of the late ilr. Barnes, of Westland, and Mr. Kear-
ney animals of the Booth Isabella and Lady Sarah
tribes. He has joined twice in the hire of King -lames
(2S971), Lieutenant-General (31600), and Roj-al Baron
(40167), fr&m the late Mr. T. C. Booth, the latter bull
being now iu service with Agamemnon (39357), of his .
own breeding. Balls bred by him have been successful
at the Irish Shows, Prince James (37336), having got
first prize for two-year-olds at Gal way, and Jupiter (38477)
fourth yearling at Dublin in 1877. His experience is
that Shorthorns do remarkably well in Ireland, and
improve the general stock of the country greatly-
He has a flock of about 60 improved Lincoln sheep.
The ewes were bought of Mr. Greetham, Stainfield, Co«
Lincoln, and rams purchased from Mr. C. Clarke, Scop = -
wick, have been used. They suit his land, and the half-
bred Lincolns are very profitable for both wool and
mutton. The hoggs are sold fat at about 20 weeks old,
and clip au average of 101b. of wool as shearliugs.

The North British Agricidturist, in commenting ou-
an American account of the importation by Messrs.
Anderson and Finlay, of Lake County, Illinois, of five
heifers and a bull, Scotch polled cattle, observes that this
is not— as stated— the first exportation of polled cattle to
America, as the late Mr. Grant, of Kansas, took out some
polled bulls from Morayshire six years ago, and crossed
them very successfully with the native cow.

Mr. S. Kidner, of Milverton, Somersetshire, writing to.
a contemporary, takes an optimist view of the progress
made by the Devon breed of cattle, and asks, " To whal;
has the Devon attained? and to what has the Shori-?-

la

THE FARMER'S MAGAZIIVS

]porn ?" staf D^ that it leaves room for a great drsl of
(■iicussion. We should scarcely have thought that it did ;
fur althon^h the Devon breed has attained a high degree
of perl ection— and Mr. Kidner's ox was the most perfect
animal we have ever seen in a fat-stock show — it has not
spread, and certainly has not attained to anything ap-
proaching the general usefulaess Qf that of the Short-
horn.

The death from apoplexy is announced of Mr. John
Azeriah Smith, of Bradford Peverill, a well-knowa breeder
and successful exhibitor of Devon cattle.

The ^'ori^. British Agriculturist states that the suf-
ferin<?3 of the deer in the higher districts of Aberdeen,
BaufT, and Moray, where the snow is not less than four
to five feet, have been very great. ¥or fully six weeks
scarcely a pick of heather has been visible, so that the
denizens of the forest have sutfered immensely. The
death-rate has been exceedingly heavy, and the survivors
are in extremely poor condition. Indeed many of the
famishing animals have forsaken their accustomed haunts,
and have been compelled to search for food in the nearest
inhabited and cultivated glens. According to the same
journal the wet summer and the numerous floods
have been the cause of spreading widely the
parasitic disease known as rot or liver-fluke in
sheep, and that many lands usually sound became
tainted; remarking that cases of rot will, pro-
bably, also be found among cattle, hares, aud rabbits.
Liver-fluke is not common among cattle, and not very
common among rabbits, but hares form a good " host"
for the entozoon. We should be glad to hear that the
bulk of the hares and rabbits in the country were fatally
coalhed this season.

Ifc is also stated that Mr. Mitchell's
herd of Shorthorns at Au2:hnagathle, wherein it appears
that the bull Duke of Chamburgh's last years get was 19
heifers and 7 bulls. It would be fortunate if the coming
season should prove more favourable than the last in
respe ct of heifer calves in Shorthorn herds, as of lat
there appears to have been a preponderance of bulls. Three
heifer calves are also reported from the Warlaby herd, by
Eoyal Halnaby. V>'e are informed that Mr. Mitchell, has
purchased the "bull Lord Mayor, 38626, from the breeder,
the Duke of Northitmberland, at a high price. He is to
serve Mr. Mitchell's heifers got by Duke of Chamburgh.
Prairie fires in Western Nebraska and the northern
cattle regions, set by Indiius, are reported to have burned
over such extended d'stricts as to cause well grounded
fears that thousands of cattle will be starved biifore the
nesv grass ccmes.

An order was recently received at Chicago for 500
barrels of pork to be shipped by rail from that city to
New York, and thence by sea, round Cape Horn, to San
Francisco. This route is said to be cheaper than the rail
freight of 2 dol. 25c. per lOOlbs. from Chicago by rail to
the Pacific seaboard.

Mr. Wm, H. Vanderbilt has established a new line of
ocean steamships to be called the Unicorn Line, which is
to carry to Europe western freight landed at New York
by the New York Central Railroad.

The agricultural college in Colorado was finished last
week. The building cost 7,282 dols., and is (onsidered
to be very cheap. As soon as the college is furnished it
will be ready for the reception of students.

At a meeting of the Ontario Agricnltural and Arts
Association, Mr. Otto Klotz, of Preston, said he had re-
ceived an intimation from Prince Bismarck that; it was
thought desirable to obtain the seeds of Canadian forest
t!"e3s in large qnantities in order to plant forests in
Germany. Steps will be taken to procure the seeds-

Product.

Av. per Acre.

111,933

21 9-10 bush.

16.493

52 4 5 do.

8,272

34 3-5 do.

A correspondent of the Albany Cull'vaCor thus de-
scribes a successful instance of large farming in Dakota: —
Over a year since I gave you a description of the great
Cass and Cheney wheat farm, located in Cass county,
Dakota, on the line of the Northern Pacific railroad. The
letter, I notice, was quite extensively copied in many
western papers, the magnitude of the enterprise no doubt
attracting a great deal ol interest. It may be of interest
to your readers to know the result of I he third year's
operations on this great wheat field, especially as this ha»
been one of the " off ' seasons with us.

The area of the farm it may be remembered is 10,240
acres ; of this 5,654 acres were in crop this year, with
2,550 acres of additional breaking, making now in all
8,204 acres ready for seeding in spring of 1879, a field
equal in size to one mile in width aud thirteen miles long.
This year's products are —
Acres.

Wheat..... 5,103

Oats 312

Barley 239

The total product of all grains was 136,608 bushels^
the entire wheat crop grading No. 1. The number of men
required during the seeding season was 125, and in the
harvest season 32S. To carry on the operations were
required 126 horses, 20 breaking ploughs, 47 stubble
ploughs, 17 gang ploughs, 81 harrows, 30 seeders, 45
self-binding harvesters, 67 waggons, and 8 large steam
thrashing machines.

Seeding commenced March 25, ended April 20, and
leaving out rainy days and Sundays, gave aa average of
270 acres each day. Oats and barley were harvested be-
tween the 16th and 25th of July, and on the 29th the
wheat harvesters commenced and completed the 10th of
August. The entire 5,103 acres in wheat were cut in 11
working days.

Thrashing commenced on the 12th of August, and on
the ]3lh the first 5,000 bushels were shipped, followed by
daily shipments of from 5,000 to 8,000 bushels, until by
the 16th of September the entire crop had reached Dnluth,
and most of it had been re-shipped for Buffalo.

The manager of this enterprise, Mr. Dalrymple, slates
that the cost of making the crop was a little less than
8.50 dols per aci-e. What it was sold for he does not
disclose, but as the market price for wheat at the time of
its shipment, was at that station an average of 90 cents a
bushel, it is easy to estimate the large profit realised.
With such results it is useless to argue against farming on
a large scale. Good business management mu*t of course
be one of the principle factors that govern, in this case
supplemented by having land peculiarly well adapted to
wheat culture.

All interested in the development of our new north-
west are watching the result of this enterprise with more
than ordinary interest, for there is now by this and others
of same nature being determined the question as to
whether large capital can to advantage be used in
wheat farming on an extensive scale, the same as it has
been in corn, cattle, sheep and cotton in other localities.
The results so far are certainly encouraging, and the
success attending has stimulated others in the same direc-
tion, both in larger and smaller degrees,
^ Our Canadian correspondent writes : — The Canadian
]][on eta n/ Tlme.-i reports 1,000 head of cattleand 3,000 sheep
left Toronto, Dec. 20th, for shipment to Liverpool ; and that
exporters have orders for double the number of choice
animals at present obtainable. It adds that there are now
250,000 head of cattle, and 500,000 sheep " stall feed-
ing " for spring shipment, and that the exporting company
in Toronto intend to freight one ship per day with cattle
and sheep at Montreal and Quebec from the opening of

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

145-

navigatioa. The receijits from sbipineuts of cattle and
sheep from Toronto are expected to aggregate alwut
13,000,000 dols. during the first six months of ]S7'J.
This, and similar " tall" statements in the Canadian papers
must be taken cnmg>ano. The 250,000 head of cattle,
if Canadian produce, preparing for exportation, is mere
moonshine. The Monetory Times must mean that
native and imported beasts to that number are now being
fattened in Canadian distillery byres and elsewhere in
Ontario — an unlikely story — or else that they are being
fed in stalls, in the States and Canada, pending the open-
ing of navigatioa. That the trade will be actively pushed
this year by the speculative dealers is certain, the profits
on successful ventures being very large. The Toronto and
other Canadian cattle jobbers buy Western cattle — that is
those fed in Illinois, Missouri, etc.^at 30 dols., which
they ship from Boston, the animals standing them in 43
dols. per head before they reach that port. The ocean
freight is from £4 to £5 per head. The Canadian dealers
also ?hip largely, via Montreal, animals which they have
imported from the States, and fed during the winter on
distillery refuse and hay. Mr. Britton, one of the chief
Toronto buyers, in a letter to the Telegram, says the
dealers, owing to lack of supply at home, have to buy in
the Western States, a simple fact refuting the buncombe
stories circulated by English newspapers, in order
to impress the English farmers v;ith notions of
the fertility and great food-producing capabilities
of the colony. The Toronto Mail puts the case
in a nutshell as follows : — " At the present time
three-fourths of the cattle shipped by Canadian firms have
been bought at Chicago or Buffalo, where the supply is
large and the choice varied. This course is forced on the
exporters because the necessary number of suitable beeves
cannot be obtained here. The ordinary cattle of this
country are useless for shipment, and can only be disposed
of in some of our home markets. A serious drawback to
the rapid and cheap collection of suitable cattle for ship-
ment (in Canada) is the fact that buyers have to travel
through so many and distant localities before procuring a
few car-loads, whereas they can be obtained any day at the
Chicago stock-yards." This is sufficient confirmation of
the information you have at times published from Canadian
correspondents, re the trade here. It points to a limited
number of suitable beasts owned by scattered farms, ia
isolated districts, often very difficult of access, owing to
the very bad roads. All paragraphs in English or
Canadian journals tending to conclusions opposite to these
indisputable facts may be set down as originating with
interested persons. As a rule, the native Canadian
animals are slow of sale here and elsewhere, as the meat
is tough and tasteless. Grade animals, of which the pro-
duction is very limited, are the only class suitable for
export, or which command good prices. The trade and
navigation returns for 1 877 show out of 5,478 horned
cattle exported to England, 1,471, or more than I in 3
were not the produce of the colony. I estimate, that
from 5,000 to 7,000 suitable beasts is about the length of
our tether in home-grown export to Britain. But our
jobbers will, doubtless, this year export American cattle
with increased energy on account of the large profits.

From the Illustrated Australasian we learn that at the
Metropolitan Exhibition, at Malbourne, a large numbers
of reapers, binders, and stripper.", were on view. The
stripper is an Adelaide invention for reaping and thrashing
in one operation. It is thought that these machines will
be more extensively used in the colonies than even binders,
as the straw is of little value there except to burn. Ke-
ports to November 30, 1878, state that the reports of
rust and "take-all"' continue to come from the chief wheat
producing districts of Victoria, but so far, however, the
area alfected bears only a small proportion to the total

acreage under this crop, aud from the larger portion the
reports are more than usually favourable, so that a more
than average yield may still he counted upon.

It has been proposed to form a F.irmiug Company in
Victoria, to rent 1,000 acres on the Guadary Plains, aud
cultivate it on scientific principles.

From New South Wales we learn that the weather has
been extremely hot. 'Vh.t Sjdnry J/^^iV of November 23rd
states that apparently no pirt of the colony had been
favoured with a shower; but uotwithstanding this the
agricultural reports, with few exceptions, speak of fair pas-
tares and promising crops. In the North haymakiug has
commenced at Murrurundi,and a good crop is being secured.
At Denman wheat-harvesting is in progress. Here rust
has done some damage, but the crop is on the whole fair.
Ou the Liverpool Plains, where some time back eight;
inches of rain fell pasture is plentiful, but gras.5hopper9
are doing some damage. The crops around Tamworth are
in fair condition. The wheat at Inverell is better than
was ever known in that district. In Armidale the weather
is favourable for wheat, but rain is wanted by those who
wish to plough for maize and potatoes. Ou the Clarence
the early maize crop is partially a failure, and rain is much
required on the Richmond. The Western country promises
an excellent return. At Wellington there has been a little
rust. lu Orange the hipes of a good harvest are being
strengthened. Haymaking is now general at Mudgee,
and the wheat crops are looking well. In Dubbo there will
be severe losses through rust, as nearly every farm is more
or less affected. Forbes and Parkes are in splendid con-
dition.

The reports from the pastoral districts still furnish
cheering accounts of the pasture, the water supply, and the
coudition of stock. The last-mentioned seem to be specially
favoured, for diseases are almost unknown, a few slight
cases of pleuro being the most notable exception. Shear-
ing has almost been brought to a close in the Southern-
country, save in those distriL-ts near the coast. In the
West it is still proceeding, and in the North it has com-
menced. The clip, according to all reports, has been ex-
cellent. The reduction in the number of sheep through,
the last drought will, of course, affect the total quantity,
but the quality is equal to the best of former years, and
the average per sheep far better than was expected. Grass-
hoppers threaten the pastures in the North aud West, but
as yet they have not become plagues in any district, or at
least do not promise to repeat the devastations which
caused such losses four years ago. Unfortunately the
uncertain state of the wool market, and the low condition
of the fat-stock markets, restrict pastoral transactions.
These, however, are the only drawbacks, for with the sea-
son no fault can be found.

The Government of New South Wales passed the fol-
lowing Act of Parliament on the 5th November in rela-
tion to the Phylloxera Vastatrix, or grape-vine louse : — •

" 1. It shall not be lawful to import iuto the colony,
either by sea or land, any grape-vines, grape-vine-cnt-
tings or grapes, and whosoever shall so import or attempt
to import any such vines, vine-cuttings or grapes, shall
forfeit and pay for every such offence any sum not ex-
ceeding twenty pounds and all such vines, vine-cuttings,
or grapes imported or attempted to be imported contrary
to the provisions of this section shill be forfeited and
may be seized and destroyed by any ofhcer of Customs or
police ofScer : Provided that it shall be lawful for the
Governor with the advice of the Executive Council by
proclamation in the Government Gazette to exempt any
place or places from the operation of this Act. 2. No-
thing herein contained shall apply to raisins or currants.
3. Whosoever shall wilfully obstruct any officer of Cus-
toms, police officer or constable when acting in the exe-
cution of this Act shall forfeit aud pay for every 8u:h

U6

THE FARMEH'S MAGAZINE

offeuce &ny sum not exceeding ten pounds. 4. All in-
formation for. otFences against this Act may be heard and
dt-termiued and all jieuallies under this Act may be im-
posed by any two Justices of the Peace in a summary
way. 5- This Act shall continue in foice until the first
day of January One thousand eight hundred and eighfy-
on'e, and may be cited as the " Grape-vines and Grapes
Iroportatiou Prohibition Act."

I In South Australia muggy weather has caused rust to
tpread, but according to the crop report of the Adelaide
Observer no serious damage has been done, and cold wet
TNeather, which has been experienced of late, has afforded
hopes of a good harvest. " In the old wheat-growing
districts, owing to dirty ground and exhnustion," says
the Observer, '"' It is not to be expected that the yield
will be very heavy, but in the new areas, and in virgin
soil, there is promise of very fair crops."

New wheats are reported from Port Augusta to be of
good quality and to average from 15 to 20 bushels per
acre. The grain report of the South Australian Chroni-
cle and 31 ail states that, "Although some small parcels
of new wheat have been placed in the market, the
quantity has been so small that the new seison can
hardlv "be said to have commenced. For immediate deli-
very tlie quotation is 4s. 7d. to 4s. 8d. for farmer's lots ;
for delivery in December 4s. 6d., and at Port Piric 4s.
3d. to 4s. 4d. ; but buyers are very shy, and as there are
no charters for forward loading we should not be sur-
prised to see prices droop considerably when the rush of
new grain comes in. We have hardly ever known a sea-
son open so quietly. For old wheat 5s. is asked, but
there is little enquiry. Flour, town brands, stands at
£12, country sorts at £11 5s., with but few transactions.
Harvest reports continue very conflicting. In some
neighbourhoods the yield is good and the sample a tine
one, but in many parts rust has made tad havoc, and
the grain is much pinched. We certainly cannot hope
for an average of over nine bushels."

From Queensland the reports that the weather has
been hot, but that geod pasture exists in nearly all dis-
tricts. The wheat harvest has commenced on the Darling
Down's. The Toowooniba correspondent of the Queens-
lander on the 13lh instant, writes to that journal : —
" With regard to the crops, the more forward are being
harvested with various results between good and in-
different. The rust is not confined to this neighbourhood :
at Clifton, I hear about half the wheat has been so badly
attacked that it has been cut for hay ; the lucerne in that
locality has also suffered from the ravages of caterpillars ;
about *80 acres at East Talgai, newly planted and looking
well was wholly devastated almost in a single night, and
had'to be town again. Most of the Downs country con-
tinues to look splendidly, and the sheep are in excellent
condition." The destruction of marsupials is being car-
ried out vigorously in many districts. In the Burnett
three men succeeded in destroying not less than 1,200
amongst them, each man having only one gun ; this
number, at 8d. per scalp, represents over £3 a week,
which is a fair wage for those engaged in the work.

The Sydney Mail of Nov. 30th, says of the harvest in
Australia • -Taken as a whole the reports from all districts
favour the assumption that the harvest of this year will
be one of the earliest known in this colony. The season
from the time the seeds were sown has been all in favour
of the farmer. Large averages are expected, and we do
not think that many people will be disappointed when
the thrashing-machines have done their work.

This harvest there will be a struggle for supremacy be-
twceeu the stripper and the combined reaper and binder.
la a contemporary we find that a practical farmer, who
Las well tried the stripper, writes in favour of the reaper

and biuder, and estimates that in every 100 acres it wilF
have an advantage over the stripper of at least £6. He
values the chaff and straw at 20s. per ton, and sets down
£.") as the amount which may be saved by early reaping.
Thus, although 100 acres harvested iiy the combined
machine will cost in wages, &c., j£104 lis., and the same
area cut by the stripper only £70 ISs., be shows that in
the end the farmer will by the former be benefited to the
amount mentioned.

The Armadale correspondent of the same journal
writes : — As wheat is the principal cereal grown here, and
as we are within a week or two of harvest, a little infor-
mation about it might not be out of place. I will begin
by saying it is many years since we had such a splendid
prospect, a heavy yield, and I have no doubt the number
of bushels will be greater than has ever .been raised here
in any previous year. The high prices obtained for the
past few years, from 6s. to 9s. per bushel, have induced
many farmers who had been spelling their paddocks, to
again cultivate them, and also to break up new ground
So that there are probably between seven and eight
thousand acres sown, say one-fourth more than last year-
I was through a great many of the farms recently, and al
Saumarez Ponds, and Kelly's Plains especially, I never
saw anything more pleasing to look at than the countless
paddocks of wheat adjoining each other, all out in ear,
waving quietly in the gentle breeze, reminding one of a
vast prairie, as the dividing fences were concealed in,
most places. The much dreaded rust has not shown in
any part of this district, and as the ears are quite full
and the grain nearly matured, it could now do little if any
damage, so that we may confidently expect an average retura
of from twenty to twenty-five bushels per acre. Numbers of
paddocks will give forty to forty-five bushels to the acre,
but, as a large portion of the land has been under cultiva-
tion without a spell, or being manured, or even a chanse
of crops for ten or fifteen years, I think twenty bushels
will he a fair average to calculate on. And this will give
about one hundred and fifty thousand bushels in tha
district, or half as much more than we had last season.
Other crops require a little rain, as the warm weather and
scorching winds we have had have dried the ground up a
good deal ; but wheat does not want any more, and it is
ripening fast. I am certain it will not be worth more
than 43. per bushel, as there will be a large s^ock of old
wheat on hand.

HOPS.

Mr. J. D. Davis, of the Borough, writes to tha
1 imes : —

" Tliat the cultivation of hops has been unremunerative
during tlie last two or three yeais, no one who has any acquain-
tance with the subject will deny. It is also equally certain
that English growers are heavily handicapped by the extra
titlie. But would the imposition of a tax on foreign impor-
tations be a real remedy (or the evil P The alternative plan of
repealing the oppressive titiie would, I submit, be more in
accordance with coin-non sense.

" There is another remedy which perhaps you will allow me
to advert to and this has the advantage of beinf^ in tlie hands
of th« home growers. They have during tlie last seven years
(1871-8) increased the acreage by upwards of 13,000 acres — i.e.,
nearly 20 per cent. Let them during tlie next few years pursue
an opposite coiirsf, Ijy digging up their inferior sorts, which
glut the market at the commencement of the season, and so
tend to lower values. The quality of their produce would thus
be improved and the supply lessened, witli the natural effect
of raising prices. It should also be reraenibered that the
foreign grower has been obliged lately to sell his produce a'; a
OSS as well as his English rival ; and the oue can no more
lafford to do so than the other. These facts should be a cott
solation to our aggrieved friends in Kent and Susfex."

THE FARMER'S MAGAZmS.

U7

MR. J. B. LAWES ON THE SALE OP
STRAW.

Mr. J. B. Lavres, F.R.S., writing to the Jgriciilturd Gaxette
says : —

The wlieat crop of 1878 was characterised by a ereat produce
of straw, and, in proporlioD to its str;iw, an iudiffereut yield of
grain. Over 2f tons (or nearly 5 loads) of straw were grown
on 1 acre of our permanent wheat field. In the London mar-
kets wheat straw is quoted at 33s. to 42s. per load. The value
of the ftra* in the experiment referred to would thus be equal
to, or periups more tliau, that of tlie grain. It fretjuenily
happens that bulky straw crops are delicicnt in yield. The sale
of the straw would, therefore, afford some corapensatiou.

Eleven years ago, after removing both straw and corn from
the land for twenty-four years i"n succession, we thouglit it
would be de^irallc toascertain, by direct experiment, tlieelfect
of annually returning to ihe land the straw which had been
removed from it in the previous crop. Accordingly, eleven
differently manured plots, each receivins the same manure year
after jear, were respectively divided into two equal portions,
to one of wliich the straw has been annually returned, whilst to
the other it has not. The straw was cut into fine chaff, spread
upon the land, and ploughed iu before the seed was sown. We
have therefore, at the present time, the produce of eleven
succi ssive crops of wheat grown by very various artifici il
manures, with the straw always returned, and also an otherwise
exactly corresponding series, but witli the straw no* returned.
Out of the eleven compara'ive experiments, there are seven
in which the produce is the highest where the straw has not
been returned, and only four in which it is higher with than
without the straw.

In the cases in which the artificial manure contained potass
there has been even rather less, protuce with than without the
return of the straw ; but where no potass has been applied in
the artificial manure there has, on Iha other hand, been rather
more produce with the straw than without it. Even without
potass in the manure, the elTect of the straw has been but
slight, and the increase has been in larger proportion of grain
than of straw. Thus, upon the land manured every year with
salts of ammonia and superphosphate of lime, without potass,
the application of more than a ton of stnw chaff annually has
given an annual increase per acre of If bush, of grain and
only 63 lbs. of straw over the produce by the same manure
without the straw. On the land receiving every year salts of
potass, sod;i, and magnesia, and superphosphate of lime, but
no ammonia-salts, the produce has averaged over the eleven
years only between 13 and l-l bush, of grain per acre ; and
here the return of the straw has given no increase whatever,
although, besides mineral matter, it would supply to the land
about 6 lbs. of nurogen annually ; and it might be expected
that, in the course of eleven years, some at any rate of this
would have been effective. AVe have on more than one occa-
sion called attention to the very slow action of the nitrogen of
farmyard raanure,and it is quite possible that the decomposition
of the straw has not reached the stage at which much of its
nitrogen has become available, though the results seem to
indicate that some of its potass has in some way been eff.^ctive.
In all these comparative experiments the differences in the
amounts of produce with and without the straw are so slight,
that, from a practical point of view, it may be said that the
return ot the straw has, up to the present time, had no effect
upon the crop. This is so, notwithstanding that twenty. four
successive crops of wheat, grain, and straw had previously been
taken from the land, and that now thirty-five successive crops
have been removed.

From these results we may surely karn that, in the case of
certain descriptions of soil at any rate, the removal of the
straw, whilst it would be profitable to the tenant, would not be
injurious to the owner of the land ; and as in practical agricul-
ture wheat straw would so be removed from the land at most
once in four years, on soils similar to that at Rothamsted, the
process might, it wonld seem, be carried on, instead of 35
years, four times as many — or 140 years — without showing
injury. At all events, at a time when the question of greater
freedom in agriculture is assuming such practical importance,
such results siiould lend to allay the fears of those who think
that the sale of straw must necessarily lead to the ruin of the
land.

POTATOES EROAI GERMANY.

The ofFicial report of the quantity o f Potatoes exported
from the Gorman Empire iu 187S, as compared with
1877, shows the following results : —

1878.

cwts.
January ... 3U,037
February ... 9lfi,078

March 1,3-2'2,951

April 1117,891

May 554,319

June 13(5,651

July 93,149

August 113,995

September.. 403,922
October 871,800

1877.

cwts.
175,093
265,387
291,020
.316,21)5
25l.,750
125,870

24,668

90,755

276,4<J3

1,246,483

138,945*
650,691*
1,C3\931*
801,686*
299,569*
10,781*
68,681*
23,240*
126,519*
374,6831
November... 937,070 ... 2,007,610 ... l,070,54u-i-
* Increase. f Decrease.

For the first eleven months of 1878 the total exports
were therefore 0,780,863 cwta., as against 5,074,243 cwts.
in the same period of 1877. So far, therefore, 1873
shows an increased export of potatoes of 1,706,020 cwts.
as con.pared with 1877- The largest proportion of the
potatoes exported from Germany find their way to this
country. The improved harvest with us has made itself
very plainly visible in the vastly diminished exports from
Germany last October ani November, the falling-off
having been no less than 371,683 cwts. ia the former,
and 1,070,540 cwts. in the latter month, or 1,445,223
cwts. in the two months together. By far the larger
proportion of these exports are shipped to England from
Hamburg and Bremen.

DODDER ON FIRST YEVR'S CLOVER.— The luxu.
riant growth of young clovers caused by the rainfall of the past
summer will satisfac'orily account for the appearance of dodder
durins the autumn in clovers sown the sau e year, an instance
of "which came under our own observation in the south of
Hampshire. This parasitical plant does not usually make its
appearance until the first crop of clover has been cut, that is
to say, on the second growth of the previous year's planting.
The reason fur this appears to be that the germination of the
dodder seed usually takes place in July or August, and a„ that
time, and during the time immediately succeeding harvest', the
young -clover plants are not strong enough to support the
parasite. The dodder, in tiiat case, a'ter fixing itself on the
clover stem and relinquishing its hold on the soil from which
it sprung, fails to obtain sufficient nourishment from the
pieces of the young clover plant — whose epidermis is pene-
trated by the adventitious roots, or suckers, of the parasite —
and consequently dies. The following year such of the dodder
fe?ds as may have lain dormant in the soil grnninate, if con-
ditions are favourable, and finding strong host-plants re-idy at
hand, the patches spread rapidly ; flowers and seed soon follow,
anil the mischief is done. It is quite certain that dodder seed
will germinate the first year read ly enough, inasmuch as the
new seed will — if the weather be hot and moist — grow out of
its own capsules. Thus it would appear that dodder would as
frequently be found in first year's clovers as iu those of second
year's growth, if the host-plants were then strong enough to
support it. — G. T. T. in the Cou.itry.

EMIGRATION STATISTICS. -New York papers pub-
lish the following comparative statement showing the nuaiber
of immigrants who landed at the port of New York, [in each
month of the last two years. 1877 and 187s : — January,

1.814 and 1,610; February 1,947 and 2331 ; March 3,556
and 4,558 ; April, 7095 and 8,197 ; Jlay 9,881 and 11,450 ;
June 8,142 and 9,783 ; July 6,516 and 8,832 ; August 6,089
and 7,414; September 6,279 and 8,621; October 4,965 and

7.815 ; November 4,516 and 5,745 ; December 3,025 and
3,256 — total 63,855 and 79,832. There was, therefore, an
increase in the number of iinmigranus in 1878 above the
number who landed iu 1877.

148

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

REVIEW OF THE CORN TRADE,

FROM TUB MARK LANE EXPRESS FOR THE WEEK ENDING JANUARY 2?.

Frost has fast bound the greater part of North-
Western Europe during the past week, and the
United Kingdom has I'ad a mid-winter rest, which
bat seldom has occurred in recent times. When
similar periods of winter repose to the land have
occurred the farmer has usuall}' found his field and
seed go on from spring to harvest-time favourably,
an^ we will hope such a prospect is in store for
1879. Doubtless the continued frost has delayed,
if not averted, the flooding of the river sides and
low lands receiving the drainage water from the
surrounding hills which ten days ago threatened
the country, and, although a thaw, whenever it
comes, must bring down an excess of water from
high levels of the lower lauds the evil becomes
lessened as the season advances and sun and winds
gain in strength to evaporate moisture. The last
fortnight has " weathered " the outstanding ricks
so as to afford opportunities of thrashing out, and
of which advantage has been taken, so that far-
mers' supplies for the next month should be in
fair condition. Of course there has been a run
upon all feeding stuffs to satisfy the stock under
shelter ; but as most farmers have had a large
store of forage and roots, whilst imported maize,
oats, and feeding barley have been exceedingly
cheap, but the spell of winter from which human
and animal life has suffered has not been unfa-
vourably to farming prospect. The past week has
not been marked by any improvement in the price
of English wheat, which remains exceedingly low
in all parts of the country, and at the smaller local
markets no less than on the large Exchanges,
where farmers deliveries have to compete with
the grain imported from America, Russia, India,
and elsewhere. The averages of the different
markets range between 36s. and 46s. the im.perial
average standing at about u9s. only, a price which
has frequently been parallelled within the last
century after good harvests, but which has, we
fancy, been never before quoted after a mediocre
crop, and in the depth of a winter of no ordinary
rigour and severity. The condition of market
deliveries has improved a little, and the bulk of
offerings are still uninviting. The imports of
wheat during the last ten days have been consider-
able ; the Californian fleet is beginning to arrive
and will, from the present time, continue for some
weeks the principal item in the ports' lists of im-
ported grain. The demand for wheat has not
been proportionnte to the supply, and sales have
b3en difiicult to effect at nearly every market.
This slackness of inquiry proves very disappoint-
ing to grain holders who relied on an increased
demand with the new year. The depth and the
extent of the existing industrial depression in this
country is a moot point, but if the corn trade of
the past two months teaches us nothing else it
would at all events appear to indicate that the
stagnation of general business and the increased
poverty in the nation have been and are deep

enough to touch the sale of bread. The propor-
tion of bread to other articles of food in the wants
of the poor is of course very considerable, but the
poorer classes have of recent years become con-
sumers of so much more meat, pork, cheese, &c.,
that depression of a passing or trivial character
would probably no more than suffice to diminish
the sale of those simple luxuries. In the present
day it must be a very serieus depression of indus-
try which makes itself felt in a noticeably
diminished consumption of the one necessary food
and staff of life. We need scarcely remark that
in ordinary times the present scarcity except of
veg'etables, potatoes, could hardly fail to cause an
increased demand for the quartern loaf. Frost has
now contintied, with two slight breaks, for many
weeks, and yet demand appears to be as backward
as it was at the end of November. This it is
which surprises importers and disappoints the
markets. Apart from the diminished consumption
of bread it is, however, clear that millers show
very great disinclination to burden themselves
with stocks of wheat. The imports of wheat into
the United King-domfor the weekending the ISth
inst. were 261,715 qrs. of 5041b., being a quantity
about 35,000 qrs. in excess of the average weekly
arrivals of foreign grain during 1878. The quan-
tity was considerably in excess of arrivals in the
two preceding weeks of the present year. The
imports of Barley were 39,592 qrs. of 416 1b., a
quantity a good deal under the average and smaller
than the very moderate arrivals cf the week end-
ing January the 4th and 11th respectively. The
imports of Oats were 95,011 qrs. of 320 lb., and
were up to a full average. They were larger than
the arrivals of either of the two preceding weeks.
Of maize the importation amounted to 147,721
qrs. of 4801b., a fairly good but by no means
excessive bulk of corn. The arrivals of the last
two months have been on a moderate scale, but,
owing to the cheapness of oats and the good home
crops of hay and roots, demand appears to have
been unequal to offering, which have occordingly
gone to make up a rather formidable stock iu
granary. The imports of beans were 1,107 qrs.,
of peas 5,006 qrs. only. The London market of
Monday was of a disappointing character, the
frosty weather failing to move the average market
attendance to purchasing of any staples. The
severe cold and the atmospheric signs of a con-
tinued frost made holders of wheat a little more
firm than they had been at the previous market y
but this had simply the effect of restricting sales
within the narrowests limits for all but special
samples of English and Californian wheat, for
which inquiry at full prices was fair. American
spring wheat was a little improved in favour with
miller but all other sorts of wheat were extremely
dull of sale; ICngUsh wheat deliveries amounted
to 4,057 qrs., and as compared with the previous
week, there was an improvement both as regards

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

n§

quautity and condition. Of foreign wheat the ]
imports aiuouuted to 49,703 qrs., of which qufia-
tity about one-half was from America. The
remainder was made up of Indian, Australian,
Kiissiau, and German wheat. The total bulk
niicrht be considered a fairly good supply. Exporcs,
2,619 qrs., showed an increase on the two previous
week's but there is not much doing in the way
of Ooutiueutal demand. America and Russia are
supplying, directly to France, an immense bulk of
grain, and there seems to be no room for " ped-
dling" business between the two great import
powers of the prysent season. The supply of
barley was thus made up : English, 1,4G6 qrs. ;
Scotch, 5,923 qrs.; Irish, 150 qrs.; foreign,
-2,925 qrs. The total was small ©wing to the very
poor nrrivals from abroad ; bat it would have been
still smaller had not the arrivals from Scotland
been unusually good. The inquiry was moderate
only, but the small supply from abroad made
Danubian feeding barley a slightly improved shade,
whils the Scotch grain met with some favour.
Oats were again in heavy supply from Russia and
Sweden, the total quantity arriving being 71,703
qrs., of which all but 754 qrs. came from abroad.
The effect of these imports was a depi'ession of
prices 3d. to 6d. below the currencies of the
previous market. Sales were sometimes pressed,
but this was not generally the case. Maize, 3,614
qrs., was firml}' held, consequent on the scantiness
of the week's supply. The extreme depression in
the oat trade made demand for Indian corn very
weak. Sales were very difficult to effect. Ira-
ports of beans and peas were small and prices were
without change. On Wednesday, frost continuing,
and the river being partially blocked by ice,
holders expected to find some improvement in
demand, but were disappointed in their hopes.
"Wheat hung ou hand at Monday's prices, and
trade, if changed at all in tone, was changed for
the worst. Barley was steady in pi-ice, but oats
tended to further decline from Monday's reduced
quotations. Maize, beans, and peas were without
alteration. Friday's trade was ag<iin of a disap-
pointing character, as the continued frost failed
■to stimulate demand. English and foreign wheat
were readily obtainable at Monday's terms, but the
quantities chp.nging hands were unimportant ;
several factors complained of an entire absence of
business. The English samples were in a fair
condition. Barley sold quietly at full terms for
malting, and other sorts supported late rates. Oats
were now and then in slightly improved terms,
and kept value firmly at their lately reduced level.

The folUowing, are the reports from Mark Lane
■during the month : —

Monday Jan. G.

The arrivals during the past week have been : —
Wheat, English, 3,858 qrs. ; foreign, 88,240 qrs. Ex-
ports, 1,'867 qrs. There was again a small supply of
English Wheat at market this morning, the condition
aad quality of the offerings being alike unsatisfactory.
Prices were nominally unaltered, but the amount of
business done was exceedingly limited. Of foreign the
supplies were moderate, and a quiet retail demand was
experienced at previous currencies, but sales were diffi-
cult to effect owing to the fog.

Country I'lour, 18,115 sacks; foreign, 15, 34C sacks
and oO,l-iS barrel"!, No improvement could be noted ia
the tnidc, which ruled very dull for both sacks and
barrels at barely late rates.

Barley: En-"lish, 1,408 qrs.; Scotch, 3,431 qrs.;
foreign, 1,067 qrs. Malting varieties were iu rather
better request, owing to the colder weather, and grinding
sorts, although slow were not quotably cheaper.

Malt: English, 16,839 qrs.; Scotch, 1,800 qrs.;
Irish, 180 qrs. Exports, 1,862 qrs. No fresh feature
was apparent in the trade, sales progressing slowly at
about last week's prices.

Maize, 20,338 qrs. Exports, 2,708 qrs. An occa-
sional reductioa of 3d. per qr. was accepted to effect sales-
but as a rule, holders declined making any further con,
cessions.

Oats : English, 325 qrs. ; foreign, 21,483 qrs. Ex-
ports, 208 qrs. Business was somewhat restricted, but
with lighter arrivals from abroad, sales were practicable
at last week's prices.

Beans: English, 1,387 qrs.; foreign, 721 qrs. In
limited request, but without change in value.

Linseed, 18,120 qrs. Unaltered.

Monday Jan. 13.

The arrivals during the week have heen : English
Wheat 2,809 qrs., foreign 35,066 qrs. ; exports 216 qrs.
There was again a small supply of English Wheat at
market this morning, and most of the samples were ia
defective condition. Last Monday's prices were obtain-
able for the few dry lets ou offer, but inferior parcels
were dull and irregular in value. Of foreign the arrivals
were moderate, and with a good attendance of mihers, a
consumptive demand was experienced at fully late rates.

Country Flour, 17,089 sacks ; foreign, 9,190 sacks,
and 9,278 brls. The trade ruled very quiet, and sacks and
barrels sold slowly at unaltered quotations.

English Barley, 3,039 qrs. ; Scotch, 4,607 qrs.;
foreign, 4,622 qrs. There was not much business done,
but where sales were made last week's prices were
repeated for both maltin? and grinding descriptions.

Malt: English, 19,347 qrs.; Scotch, 1,483 qrs-.
Export, 1,S0G qrs. In some instances sellers showed
more inclination to accept iower rates, but there was very
little animation in the trade.

Maize, 13,078 qrs. Exports, 558 qrs. All sound cora
in store sold more readily iu fully late rates, while to
arrive, prices were also the turn in sellers' favour.

Oats, English, 560 qrs. ; foreign, 53,361 qrs. Exports,
17 qrs. The trade has to some extent recovered from its
previous depression, and with moderate imports, an all
round advance of 6d. per qr. oh the week has taken place.

Beans, English, 451 qrs. ; foreign, 57 qrs. A quiet
but steady busines was done at former prices.

Linseed, 5,405 qrs. Exports, 1,408 qrs. Dull, but
without quotable alteration.

Monday Jan. 20.

The arrivals during the past week have been : Wheat,
English, 4,057 qrs. ; foreign, 49,733 qrs. Exports,
2,619 qrs. There was again a small supply of Euglish
Wheat at market, but some improvement was apparent
in the condition of the ofierings. Dry lots maintained
late rates, but inferior parcels were quite neglected. The
arrivals of foreign were fair, and with a good attendance
of millers a quiet retail demand was experienced at about
last Monday's currencies.

Country Flour, 17,543 sacks; foreign, 14,121 sacks
and 14,760 barrels. A slow sale for both sacks and
barrels at last week's prices.

English Barley, 1,466 qrs. ; Scotch, 5^923, qrs. ; Trish^

1-jO

150 qrs; foreign, 2,955 qrs. Tliere was ,? moderate
inquiry for malting; and grinding qualities, and quotations
underwent' no alteration.

MrJt : English, 20J98 qrs. ; Scotch, 1,588 qrs. Ex-
ports, 1,273 qrs. A dull tiade, at al)out late lates.

Maize, 3,314 qrs. The demand -.vas not very bri;k,
but both round and flit corn maintai led previous values-

Endish Oats, lli qrs. ; Scotch, 40 qrs. ; foreign,
71,009 qi's. Fine old Corn was unaltered, but all new
descriptions met a dragging trade, at a decline of 3d. per
qr. on the week.

English Beans, 816 qra. ; foreign, 67 qrs.; iu fair
request, and fully as dear.

Liuseed, 35,698 qrs. Exports, 537 qrs. Uaaltered.

Monday Jan. 27.

There were continued signs of thaw to-day, and the
market felt its influence, expecting the river soon to be
free again for navigation of barges, Scf-

The supply of English Wheat last week was good, 6,516
qrs. : the fresh supply this morning was but small, condi-
tion fair. There was but a poor demand at last week's
rates. Foreign Wheat, 28,507 qrs., was held firmly or
sold slowly at last Monday's trifling reductions.

Flour, 16,243 sacks ofEnglish, 4,490 sacks and 8,812
barrels of foreign, was bard to sell aV Idscst quotations.

Barley: Supply, 2,152 qrs. of English, 2,710 of
Scotch, and 8,381 qrs. foreign, was steady in value and
demand.

Oats, 681 qrs. English, 77,900 foreign, were depressed
in price and slow to sell.

Malt, 18,233 qrs. English, 1,100 Scotch was unaltered
in price.

Maize, 17,976 qrs. was steady at old prices, 23s. 6d.
to 253.

Beans, 1,206 English, 862 qrs. foreign were in good
retail request.

Peas, 542 qrs. English, C39 qrs. foreign kept at full
rates, but were not dearer.

Other articles were in moderate supply, and wei-e sold
only at former rates-

The transactions of the market were small in the
aggregate, and the tone of business was dull.

CURRENT PRICES OF BRITISH GRAIN AND FLOUR

IN MARK LANE.

Shillings pe .'aarter

WHEAT, Essex & Kent, white old — to - new 33 to 4ti

,, ,, red old — — new 33 41

Norfolk, Ijinclnah., and Yorksh. red old — new 35 45

BARLEY Chevalier new 33 £6

Grinding 33 to 40 Distilling 33 36

MALT, pale new65lo84 old brovyn 53 66

RYE 30 il

OATS, English, feed 21 to 26 Potato — —

Scotch, feed — — Potato — —

Irish, feed, wliite2o 26 Fine — —

■ ■ ■ 25 Potato — —

35 Ticks 35 38

— Pigeon, old 40 46

40 Maple 37 to 39 Grey 34 36

FLOUR, per sack of 2801b8., town households 36 40

Best country households, 32 36

Norfolk and Suffolk 27 30

FOREIGN GRAIN.

Bhillinga per Quarter.

WHEAT, Dantzic, mixed 45 to 50 extra —to oi

Konigsberg 43 50 extra — —

Rostock 43 60 ...old — —

Pomera., Meckberg., and Uckermrk red 44 48

Ghirka 37 to 40 ..Russian, hard, 42 to 45.Saxon8ka 41 41

Danish and Holstoin, rod — —...red American 33 48

Chilian, white 10 ..Californian 46 47. ..Australian 43 60

East Indian, No. 1 Club white, 41 to 45; No. 2 42 43

Ord. white 10 to 41 ; red 30 to 38 ; hard 37 39

BARLEY, grinding 20 to 22 tlistilUng ^ 28 35

OATS, Dutca, brewing and I'olands 20 to 23 feed 19 21

Danish and Swedish, feed 17 to 20...Stralsund ... 21 23

Canada 00 to 00 Riga IC to 16 Petersburg... 16 20

TH'E FAUMER'SMAGAZIIjfS.

Ditto, black 24

BEANS, Mazagan ...33

Harrow —

PEAS, white boilers 36

BEANS, Frlesland and Holstein — —

Italiau 34 to 37.. .Egyptian 37 39

PEAS, feeding and maple.. .33 3 1.. fine boilers 35 36

MAIZE, Black Sea 24 29., Mixed American 23 24

FLOUR, per sack, French 32 30... Spanish, p. sack 34 38

Hungarian, per3ack...41 55. ..American barrel 19 23

TARiSS, Spring 30 3

BRITISH SEEDS.
Mustard, per bush., brown 10s. to 13s., white... 9.s. to 11/'.

Canary, per qr new 4os. to 473 fine... 48s. 50a

Clovcr.sed, fiue red and dark pni'ple yOs., cum... 60s. 64a

Coriander, per cwt 22s. 24a

Taves, winter, new, per bushel .4s. Od. 5s. Od

Trefoil, fine new 21s. 268

R3"egi'ass, perqr., old and new 223. 24s

Linseed, per qr. ...sowing 66s. to 688., crushing 638. 5os

Linseed Cakes, per ton £9 10s. to £10 Os

Rapeseed, per qr new... COs. 668

Rape Cake, per ton £6 to £5 lOn

FOREIGN SEEDS.

Coriander, per cwt 223. to 2l8.

Cloverseed, red 563. to 64s white 76.^. 80f.

Hempseed, small 323. to 3l3. per qr Dutch 36 1. 38i.

Trefoil 20s. 22s.

Ryegrass, per new Italian Bale of 2 cwt 32>, 31-.

Linseed, per qr "Baltic 5Is. to 533. ... Bombay fiOs. 61 .'.

Linseed Cakes, per ton £9 lOs. to £9 15s-

Rape Cake, per ton £5 to £5 10?.

Rapeseed, Calcutta 62s. 64*.

Carrawav 3ls. 35ai

CORN IMPORTED AND EXPORTED

For the week ending Jan. 18.

Imported into

Wheat

Barley....,

Oats

Rye

Peas

Beans

Indian Corn.,
Buckwheat .,

Total .

Wheat Flour

Oat Meal

Rye Meal

Indian Cornme'l

Total

Grand Total.
Malt qrs

Bngl'd. 3cotl*d. Irela'd

Cwts.

938950

136645

270554

11200

14692

2612

379005

1519

1755207

136121
9029

Owts.

100113

lOolO

907

7831
2391
4128

125383

115178
1900385

82085

3189

3

85580
210963

Owts.

133fi55
400

249958

389013

2120
391433

! C 1 > •

1 1

British.

Foreign

Cwts.

Cwts,

14009

9352

187

6280

99

200

3

11

472

3924

14508

19131

680

1019

391

140

1271

1189

15780

20320

2015

€o)^mt #aiijitn illailttt.

VEGETABLES.

Ajtlohokes, per bus. n o to o o

Eng, Globe, doz 2 0 4 0

— Jerusalem, per bfh. 4 0 0 0

Asparagus, sp., bun .16 DC

Ene.,perliJ 0 6 0 1

Beans, b'r..'^ '00 2 0 0 C

„ runners, ^ bus. u o G t

,, bi-oad, per bus.... 0 0 0 i

Beet, per dwzen 10 2 C

Brussrl.s Sprouts, bsh. 10 0 0 i

Oubbages, per dozen i 0 2 (

OarrotB.">BJ bunch 0 4 0 t

New Fr , per bun. ... 0 0 0 <

Oaullflowers, per doi 2 0 6 1

Celery,^ bundle 16 2 1

Chllies, pernio 2 0 o 0

Green, per doz 0 0 0 (

Oucumbers. each ..._. 10 2 i

Cu'itard lIar.,doz. ... 0 0 0

Endive, per doz 16 0 (

Batavian. per doz.... 16 0 i

Garlic, per lb „.... OB 0 |i

Herbs, per bunoh 0

aor.ae Radish.^ bund. 4 0

Lettuces, per doz 0 0

Cos Eng.,se3re 1 6

Mint, grn., per bupch 1 6

Onions, ■» bushel ... 0 0

Young, ^ bundle ... 0 4

Parsley, perbuneh „. 0 4

Peas, grean, per qt... 12 0
Po'atoes, njw, French,

per 1-1 1 0

Jersey, per lb 0 0

Radishes, perbuneh.. 0 1

Spanish per doz 1 0

New Jersey, per doz 2 0

Rhubarb, per bundle. 10 0

Salsafy, ^ bundle 0 0

^e:lkale. per punnet... 2 6

Shallots, 1(4 lb 0 6

Spinach per bushel ... 4 0

nwdPt Potatos, per lb. 0 6

romatos, per dozen 2 6

riiriilps. %< b\m . S 0

per bun 0

XUo Potato market is quiet, and without alteration in
prices :— Regents, lOOs. to 1303. ; Early Hose, llOs. to 1203.
per ton.

Printed by 11azfi,i,,Watson, & ViNf.v, 265, Strand, London.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

C O N T E N T S.

FEBRUARY, 1879.
Platb.-A prize somerset and DORSET HORN RAM.

Description of Plate ....

AcracuLTURAL Societies

Farmers' Clubs ....

Chambers of Agriculture

Agricultural Table Talk ,

The RArxFALL for Twenty Years

The Agricultural Depression and its Remedies

Failures .....

SoiiE Notes on Foreign Cattle .

" Old-Fa?hioned Winters"

The Clydesdale Horse

The Wheat Crop of 1s78

Farm TENA^'TS and Covenants .

Fat Cattle Shows ....

English Agriculture in i878 .

The Agricultural Labourer. — By the Countess of Stra

Live Siock in Quarantine

Value of Roots as Food and Manure .

Cattle of the Various Breeds as Beef Producers

Land Draining ....

The Royal Agricultural Colligk, Cirencester

"Our Handicapped Nation"

Friendly Societies and Poor Relief

Capital Required in Agriclture

Death of Mr. Henry Corbet

The Crop Returns ....

Land Holding and Agriculture in Russia

The New Limitation Act for Land

Far.ming in Pennsylvania

De Re Rustica ....

Landlords and Rents ....

The Agricultural Situation of 1878-9 . •.

Canad.\ and the Labourers

Farming on a Large Scale

A Year's Food Importation from the United States and Canad

Farm and Dairy Produce

The Prospects of Farming

The Irish Land Question

Landlord and Tenant

The Water Supply in Rural Districts

Land Reform. — No. 1 .

Agricultural Labourers in America and the United K

Earmers' Ills and their Remedies

Yaricus Notes ....

Lord Tollemache on Cheshiee Cheesetviaking .

The Foreign Cattle Trade

An Apology for Strikes . .

Animal and Vegetable Food

The Hahvest at Home and Abroad

Mr. Shaw Lefevre, M.P., on Irish Land Tenure

The Political Party and the Farmers .

The Law of Distress ....

Mr. T. B. L.awes on the Sale of Straw .

Review of Corn Trade . . .

. 73
. 73
. 76
. 76
. 77
. 79
. 80
. 81
. 81
. 83
. 84
. 85

. 90
. 92
. 94
. 95
. 99
. 100
. 102
. 103
. 103
. 104
. 105
. 106
. 108

. 110

. 112

. 114

. 115

. 117

. 118

. 120

. 121

. 121

122, 130

. 123

. 124

. 125

. 126

. 127

. l29

131,142

. 134

. I3t

. 135

. 136

. 136

. 137

. 138

. 140

. 146

. 147

iMPORTAflST TO FLQCKMASTERS.

THOMAS BIGG,

Agricultural & Veterinary Chemist,

By Appointment to his late Royal Highness
The Prince Consort, K.G.,
LEICESTER HOUSE, GREAT EOYER STREET,
BOROUGH, LONDON,

BEGS to call the attention of Farmers
and Graziers to his valuable SHEEP and LAMB
DIPPING COMPOSITION, which requires no Boiling, and
may be used with Warm or Cold Water, for eflectually
deetioying the Tick, Lice, and all other insects injurious to
the Flock, preventing the alarming attacks of Fly and Sbab,
and cleansing and purifsTDg the Skin, thereby greatly im-
prcving the Wool, both in quantity and quality, and highly
Oontributiiig to the general health of the animal.

Prepared only by Thomas Bigg, Chemist, &c., at his Manu-
fhotory as above, and sold as loUows, although any other
qaaaitity may be had, if required : —

1 lb. for 20 sheep, price, jar included £0 2 0

6 1b. 30 ,, „ ,, 0 3 0

8 1b. 40 ,, „ „ 0 4 0

101b. 60 „ ,, „ 0 5 0

80 lb. 100 „ „ (Cask and measure 0 10 0
801b. 150 ,, „ included) 0 15 0

401b. 200 ,, ,, „ 10 0

601b, 250 „ ., „ 13 6

601b. 300 „ „ 17 6

80 1b. 400 ,. „ ,, 1 17 6

lOOlb. 500 „ „ , 2 5 0

Should any Flockmaster prefer boiling the Composition, it
will be equally effective.

MOST IMPORTANT CERTIFICATE.

frcan Mr. Hebepath, the celebrated Analytical Chemist : —

Bristol Laboratory, Old Park, January 18th, 1861.

Sir, — I have submitted your Sheep Dipping Composition to

ftsftlysis, and find that the ingredients are well blended, and

tii9 mixture neutral. If it is used according to the directions

gi^en, I feel satisfied, that while it effectually destroys vermin,

it wiil not injure the hair roots (or "yolk") in the skin, the

fleece, or the carcase. I thmk it deserves the nmnerov
testimonials published. I am, Sir, yours respectfully,

William Uebaj^aih, Sen., F.C.S., &c., &C.,
To Mr. Thomas Bigg Professor of Chemifltry,

'jeicester House, Great Dover-street Borough Loudon.

He would also especially call attention to his SPKCIFIC,
or LOTION, for the SCAB or SHAB, which will be found
a certain remed.y for eradicating that loathsome and ruinous
disorder in Sheep, and which may be safely used in till
climates, and at all seasons of the year, and to all descriptions
of sheep, even ewes in lamb. Price FIVE SHILLINGS per
gallon — sufficient on an average for thirty Sheep (according
to the virulence of the disease) ; also in wine quart bottle*,

IMPORTANT TESTIMONIAL.
" Scoulton, near Hingham, Norfolk, April 16th, 1885.

" Dear Sir, — In answer to yours ot the 4th inst., whioJi
would have been replied to before this had I been at home, I
have much pleasure in Vjearing testimony to the efficacy of
your invaluable ' Specific for the cure of Scab in Sheep.' The
tiOO sheep were all dressed in August last with 84 gallons of
the ' NoN-poisoNOUs Specific,' that ^vas so highly recom-
mended at the Lincoln Show, and by their own dresser, Urn
best attention being paid to the flock oy my shepherd after
dressing according to instructions left ; but notwithstanding
the Scab continued getting worse. Being determined to have
the Scab cured if possible, I wrote to you for a supply of year
Specific, which I received the following day; and although
the weather was most severe in Februai y during the dressing,
your Specific proved itself an invahiable remedy, for in
thiee weeks the Sheep were quite cureil ; and I am happy to
say the young lambs are doing remaricably well at present.
In conclusion, I believe it to be the safest and best remedy
now in use. " 1 remain, dear Sir,

"For JOHN TINGET, Esq.,

" To Mr. Thomas Bigg. ' " R. RENNET.

pr-tr Flockmasters would be well to beware of such pre-
parations as " Non-poisonous Compositions :" it is only
necessary to appeal to their good common sense and judg-
ment to be thoroughly convinced that no "Non-poisonous "
article can poison or destroy insect vermin, particularly ,su«h
as the Tick, Lice, and Scab Parasites— creatures so tenaeiona
of life. Such advertised preparations must be wholly useleM,
or they are not what they are represented to be.

DIPPING APIAEATUS «H.£5, £A, A M.

GENERAL ABVEBTISING.

C. H. M A Y & C 0..

ADVERTISING OFFICES,

78, GRACEGHURCH STREET, LONDON, E.G.

ESTABLISHED 184>6.

APPOINTED AGENTS TO THE ADMIRALTY, TEINITY HOUSE, &o., &c.

ADYERTISEMENTS INSERTED

IN ALL BRITISH, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL PAPERS.
TRANSLATIONS IN ALL LANGUAGES,

^ 7i < ex

TflE

royal faemers' k general
i]n:sukance office.

ESTABLISHE D 840

TO INSURE AGAINST LOSSES BY

FIRE AND HAIL STORMS,

AND TO GRANT

I N S URANCES ON LI V E S .

DIRECT OK S:

Chairman— ALFRED DEN 1 SON, Esq., 6, Albemarle Street, Piccadilly.
Deputy-Chairman— B. P. SHEARER, Esq., 47, Gloucester-place, Portman Square.

Richard L. LoveJand, Esq., 4, Hare Court, Temple.
Joho Reddish, Esq., i), Highbury New Park.
Major F. Andersoa Stebbing, 4, Clevelaud Gardens,
Castle Hill, Ealing.

Thomas Henry Burronghes, Esq., 17, Lower Berkeley

Street.
William Glutton, Esq., 7, Clifton Villas, Penge.

A. J. Duff Filer, E^q., 10, Aberdeen Park, Highbury.

B. J. Hawker, Esq., 37, Cadogan Place, Sloaue Street

FIRE. — Insurances at moderate ra s.
LIFE. — Insuraacesoa equitable terms. Profits divrided every five years.

HAIL. — Crops insured against Hail Storms at 5d. per acre.
LOSSES.— Settled promptly aii.l liberally.

AMPLE CAPITAL AND LA.EGE EESERVES.

Prospectuses and Reports may be obtained of the Secretary, JOHN SliARP, 3, Norfolk Street, Strand
London, W.C, or of the Agents.

THE

MARK LANE EXPRESS

AND

AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL

IS THE

LARGEST AND THE LEADING FARMER'S AND GRAZIER'S NEWSPAPER.

PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY EVENING, IN TIME FOR POST.

Offieo of Publication and for Advertisements, 265, Strand, London. May be had of all Booksellers

and Newsmen throughout the Kingdom, price 7d., or £1 10s- 4d. per annum.

J. C. NESBIT AND SON, Analytical, Agricultural, and Consulting
Chemists (Manager A. Anthony Nesbit, F.C.S., &:c.), undertake the analysis
of manures, feeding stuffs, seeds, soils, waters, and all agricultural requisites.
And may be consulted upon the cause of the failure of crops, or any questions
in scientific agriculture. Laboratory : 38, Gracechurch Street, E.G. A
list of fees sent on application.

No. 8, Vol. LV.] MARCH, 1879, [Thibd Sbhibs.

THE

FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

AND

MONTHLY JOURNAL

of

THE AGRICULTURAL INTEREST,

TO THB

FARMERS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.

LONDON :
PUBLISHED BYROGERSON AND TUXFORD, 265, STRAND.

PRICE TVrO &BIU.IXGS.

HAZELL, WATSOJf, * TIKET.] [PBIKTBBB, »5, STKAND.

IMPORTANT TO FLOCKMASTERS.

THOMAS BIGG,

Agricultural & Veterinary Chemist,

By Appointment to his late Royal Highness
The Prince Consort, K.G.,

LEICESTER HOUSE, GREAT DOVER STREET,
BOROUGH, LONDON,

BEGS to call the attention of Farmers
and Graziers to his valuable SHEEP and LAMB
DIPPING COMPOSITION, which requires no Boiling, and
may be used with Warm or Cold Water, for efiectually
deatroying the Tick, Lice, and all other insects injurious to
the J'lock, preventing the alarming attacks of Fly and Shab,
»nd cleansing and purifying the Skin, thereby greatly im-
proving the Wool, both in quantity and quality, and highly
Ooctributing to the general health of the animal.

Prepared only by Thomas Bigg, Chemist, &c., at his Manu-
teoiory as above, and sold as toUows, although any other
«juftutity may be had, if required: —

i lb. for 20 sheep, price, jar included £0 2

6 1b.

30

8 1b,

40

10 1b.

60

301b.

100

301b.

150

40 1b.

200

60 1b.

250

60 1b.

300

80 1b.

400

lOOlb.

500

(Caflk and measure
included)

0 3
0 4
0 5
0 10

0 15

1 0
1 3
1 7

1 17

2 o

Should any Flockmaster prefer boiling the Composition, it
will be equally eflective.

MOST IMPORTANT CERTIFICATE.
From Mr. Hebepath, the celebrated Analytical Chemist: —

Bristol Laboratorj-, Old Park, Januarj' ISth, 1861.
Sir, — I have submitted j-our Sheep Dipping Composition to
aoalysia, and find that the ingredients are well blended, and
Ui9 mixture neutral. If it is used according to the directions
gifdn, I feel satisfied, that while it efiectually destroys vermin,
it wUl aot injui-e the hair roota (or "yolk") in the skin, the

I fleece, or the carcase. I think it deserves the numeroa
testimonials published. I am. Sir, yours respectfmlly,

William Hbbayaih, Sen., F.C.S., &c., &«.,
To Mr. Thomas Bigg Professor of Ctemistry.

{•eicester House, Great L/over-street Borough London.

He would also especially call attention to his SPECIFIC,
or LOTION, for the SCAB or SHAB, which will be found
a certain rpmedy for eradicating that loathsome and raiuona
disorder in Sheep, and which may be safely used in all
climates, and at all seasons of the year, and to all descriptions
of sheep, even ^wes in lamb. Price FIVE SHILLINGS per
gallon — sufficient on an average for thirty Sheep (according
to the virulence of the disease) ; also in wine quart bottles,

IMPORTANT TESTIMONIAL.
" Scoulton, near Hingham, Norfolk, AprU 16th, 1865.

"Dear Sir, — In answer to yours of the 4th inst., which
would have been replied to before this had I been at home, I
have much pleasure in bearing testimony to the eflQcacy of
your invaluable ' Specific for the cure of Scab in Sheep." The
600 sheep were all dressed in August last %viih 84 gallons of
the • Noif-poisoNOUs Specific,' that was so highly recom-
mended at the Lincoln Show, and by their own dresser, tlie
best attention being paid to the flock oy my shepherd after
dressing according to instructions left ; but notwithstandii^
the Scab continued getting worse. Being determined to haro
the Scab cured if possible, I wrote to yon for a supplj' of your
Specific, which I received the following day; and although
the weather was most severe in Februar y during the dressing,
your .?PECiric proved itself an invaluable remedy, for in
three weeks the Sheep were quite cured ; and I am happy to
say the young lambs are doing remarxablj' well at present.
In conclusion, I believe it to be the safest and best remedy
now in use. " I remain, dear Sir,

"For JOHN TINGEY, Esq.,

" To Mr. Thomas Bigg. ' " R. EENNEY.

8^' Flockmasters would be well to beware of such pre-
parations as " Non-pcisonons Compositions:" it is only
necessary to appeal to their good common sense and judg-
ment to be thoroughly convinced that no "Non-poisonous"
article can poison or destroy insect vermin, particularly such
as the Tick, Lice, and Scab Parasites — creatures so tenaoioue
of life. Such advertised preparations must be wholly useless,
or they are not what they are represented to be.

DIPPING API AEATUS «'4. £5, £4, i £a.

GENERAL ADVERTISING.

0.

C 0..

H. MAY & .

ADVERTISING OFFICES,

78, GRACEGHURCH STREET, LO?^DON, E.G.

ESTABLISHED 184«.
APPOINTED AGENTS TO THE ADMIRALTY, TRINITY HOUSE, &c., &c.

ADVERTISEMENTS INSERTED

IN ALL BRITISH, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL PAPERS,
TRANSLATIONS IN ALL LANGUAGES.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

xVIARCH, 1879.

PLATE.

DUKE OF SIDDINGTON 2nd,

A Shorthorn Bull, the joint Prop:5rty of John Allan Rolls, Esq , and the

Rev. W. Holt Beeveb.

■ Duke of Siddinprton 2nd (33732), roan, calved
April 24, 1874, bred by E. Bowley, Esq., Sidding-
ton House ; got by Third Duke of Clarence (23727),
dam Siddidgtoii 2nd by Fourth Duke of Oxford
(11387), g.d. Kirklevington 7th by Earl of Derby
(1077), g.g.d. Kirklevington 4th by Earl of Liver-
pool (9061), — Kirkleviugton 1st by Duke of
Northumberland (1940), — Belvedere (1706),
— by Son of Second Hubback (2683), — a cow of
Mr. Bates's, descended from the stock of Mr.
Maynard, of Eryholme.

Duke of Siddington 2nd, when a splendid calf,
and a remarkable likeness to the celebrated
Exquisite (8048), was bought by Lord Fitz-
hardinge for 400 guineas at Mr. Bowly's sale in
1875. From Berkely, where he did good service,
he came into the possession of the present owners,
and now is doing active service at the Heudre
Monmouth, and Pencraig Court, Ross. Hig
calves are very good, stylish, broad, and
mellow.

AGRICULTURE AND PROTECTION.

In these days when many are hankering after
Protection, under one or the other of its new-
fangled synonyms, it would be well if Professor
Fawcett's recently-published book, '' Free Trade
and Protection," could be generally read, not only
in this country, but in the United States, in our
Colonies, and throughout the Continent of Europe.
Clear, simple, and conclusive, that admirable work
must convince its readers of the great advantage
of Free Trade if force of argument has any effect
on them. As far as manufacturers and consumers
generally are concerned, the evidence brought
forward by the author to show the fallacy of
Protectionist theories is positively overwhelming ;
but with this, the main portion of the work, we
are not immediately concerned in these columns-
It is to the chapters which deal with Protection in
its r-elation to agriculture that we desire to call
special attention ; for although, fortunately, the
farmers of this country have not in any very great
Old Series.

number reverted to their old faith in Protection aa
the sovereign remedy against the ills which they
suffer, we have had evidence brought before us
recently to show that some of them are disposed
tD raise the cry that has for a long time been hushed.
We are glad to see that Mr. 0. S. Read hasspokeu
out plainly upon this question. Pie sees plainly
enough that whether Protection would benefit
the farmers or not, they, at least, are certain not
to obtain it, and that, therefore, it would be simply
waste of time and energy on their part to join in
the modern crusade against Free Trade. By their
assistance it is barely possible that manufacturers
might obtain an imposition of duties upon foreign
manufactured goods ; but it is certain that no
Government would dare to impose taxes upon the
bread, meat, cheese, and butter which form the
staple of the nation's food. Hers we might leave
the question, perhaps, without disadvantage, as it
is idle to argue about the advantage or disadvantage
M Vol. LXXXV.— No. 3.

1 52

TFIE FARMER'S MAOA^^INE

of what is utterly imjiraoticable. Profeasov
I'^jiwcett, Iiowever, would not have renderi-'d Lis
book complete if ho had not dealt with this branch
of his subject, and as what he has to say upon it is
interesting- and persuasive, it may be useful to refer
to it briefly, if only with the object of consoling
those wbo pine for Protection for the loss of what
they will never obtain.

At first sight it seems probable that if Protection
•would be advantageous to anyone, it would be so
to -the producers of food or any other raw material ;
and, indeed, it mast be admitted that if English
farmers owned the land which they cultivate they
would be beuefltid at the expense of their fellow-
countrymen by the taxing of foreign food. But a
very small proportion of English farmers are the
owners of their holdings,and for the rest Professor
Fawcett's book shows there would iu all
probability be no advantage to be derived
from Protection. Ho reminds us of a fact
which history tells us, namely, that when
the Corn Laws were in force in England, although
corn was very high iu price, tenant-farmers were
in a greatlj^ dejrressed condition. Not only did the
iigh price of corn attract large numbers of people
to farming, so that rents were raised enormously,
but the price of labour also rose, so that farmers
had to pay doubly for the advantage of selling corn
at a high price. So great was the depression, Mr.
Eawcett remarks, that " Committees wei-e again
and again appointed by Parliament to inquire into
the causes of agricultural distress, and it was then
proved that as prices rose rents were advanced."
He adds: — "Not only did this increase of rent

• absorb all the advantage which fixi-mers might have
tiei-Ived from the high prices which were created
through Protection, but a most serious injury was
inflicted upon them by the very legislation which
was presumably passed in their interest. The
effect of the Corn Laws in raising prices was over-
estimated ; rents were calculated on a basis of high
prices, which iu the average of years were not
maintained; and farmers consequently were unable

• to pay the rents which had been agree.1 upon. The
only class, therefore,"' lie concludes " who can per-
manently profit from any particular produce being
made artificially dear are those who own the land
on which the produce is grown, and not those who
•either rent it, or those who use the produce as
the raw m-iterial of some minufacture." Nor were
t!io farm labourers benefited by the increased wages
which farmers were obliged to pay them, with or
without the aid of parish rates. Provisions were
so high in price that the men and their families
£ould with difficulty get food enough for their

gupport, and instead of being better off with high
wages and dear food, they were in a worse condition
than they have ever been before or since the period
under consideration. To quote our author again :
— " When the sliding scale was introduced, the
farmers were once more told that they had been
secured a high price for their corn, and that they
would always reckon on obtaining 04s. a quarter
for their wheat. During the 30 years between
1815 and 1845, when the Corn Laws and the sliding
s:?ale were in operation, agriculture, instead of
enjoying this promised prosperity, was in a state
of exceptional depressien." In 1843, it seems, many
of the farmers had learned that the result of Pro-
tection was not in their favour ; for at a meeting
held in that year at Colchester in suppoi-t of the
repeal of the Corn Laws, a resolution in favour of
Free Trade was passed by a large majority. Pro-
fessor Fawcett says of that occasion : — " The
greatest importance was at the time attributed to
this meeting. All the agricultural associations of
Essex had combined to secure a triumph for the
Protectionist party. The entire county had been
canvassed by the leading landowners aud by the
rural clergv. On the day of meeting the farmers
assembled in such great numbers that it was sup-
posed, even by the advocates of Free Trade, that
a resolution in favour of Protection would be
carried by a large majority. As the proceedings
weat ou the opinion of the meeting seems to have
been so completely changed, that a resolution was
ultimately passed iu favour of Free Trade by
a majority of two to one. This result was chiefly
brought about by a speech from Mr. Cobden, who
in various ways appealed to the farmers honestly
to confess whether they had been made more pros-
perous by Protection. He quoted with great
effect the evidence which had been given by
several Essex farmers before one of the numerous
Parliamentary Committees which had inquired
into the causes of agricultural distress. They al^
agreed in the opinion that rents had been so high
since the Corn Laws and the sliding scale had been
in operation that the farmers as a body had been
unable to pay their way, and that they had baen
steadily diminishing their ciipital and adding to
their arrears of rent."'

Mr. Fawcett admits that the operation of the old
Poor Law had a great deal to do with the dis-
tressed condition of the farmers at the period ju-t
referred to; but it is char that the oxces.-'ive com-
petition for farms caused by the artificial raising
of the price of corn might, apart from other causes,
have led to ruin. If, iu considering the probibl-^
result of a return to Protection at the present

THE FAR-MER'S

time, we look at the various circuiustunccs wliicli
have to be taken into considerntion, we see that
there are even more re;ison8 for expcctinj^ the
whole of the <raiu to }^o to the owners of hmd than
there were formerly. Farming as a pursuit is
more attractive than it ever was before, and there
are more people with spare capital ready to embark
ill it for pleasure than existed in L543. Conse-
quently, any prospect of hijrh prices for atrricul-
tiiral produce would attract immense numbers of
competitors for farms, and rents would go up to an
extent never before experienced.

One result of Protection which we do not remem-
ber to have seisn noticed is that it encourages a spirit
of gambling; which is inimical to honest find
meritorious enterprise, and calculated to lead to
disaster. This is especially the case when the
■commodity protected is one the price of which
depends upon the vicissitudes of the seasons, so
that there are certain to be Very great variations
in value. The hope of very high prices has a
similar effect to the offer of a great premium in a
lottery, leading people to risk more than a strict
regard to the chance of success would warrant them
in risking. If wheat were protected so that in any
year it might go up to 80s. a quarter, men totally
ignorant of farming would disregard their dis-
a! vantages in entering into the business, because
even a small crop sold at such a price woull yield
a good return. In the same way the gambling
spirit wouldlead them to ignore the other disad-
vantaere of a rent hiyrher than the reasonable
probabilities of success would warrant them in
paying. Thus the competition for farms would be
artificially increased, audren: would be based on a
fictitious value. The effect would be, not to
stimulate good farming, bu: to induce farmers to
trust rather to their chance of " luck " than to the
ieo-itimate rewards of meritorious cultivation. The
whole nation would consequently sufft^r, the busi-
ness of the farmers would be more hazardous than
ever, and the owners of laud alone would be
benefited. Wheat would be grown on laud un- ,l
suitable to its profitable cultivation, and a hiKh \
rent would be paid for such laud, with inevitable
disappointment as the result.

On the other hand, the result of a steady deter-
mination to make the most of land under a system
of natiiral competition has none of tlie disadvan-
tages incidental to such an artificial system as has
just been described. When success can only be
obtained by means of skill and intelligently directed
enterprise, rents are not artificially forced up,
land finds its natural value, and the fair reward
of honest itidustrv is not taken from those who

iMAGAZINK.

153

have nieiit.'d itbv tlu> excessive rompetitiuu which
is engendered by tlio gambling propensity. It is
true that under the existing conditions of land-
tenure farmers often cannot retain the advantages
which they have justly earned by skill and
enterprise ; but this question is one quite apartfrom
that of Free Trade and Protection, and the trua
vemedy for the <3vil is to remove tho injustice,
not to try to balanco it by a recourse to a
system which would act injuriously upon
consumers, and fail to have tho desired effect all th®
same. As Professor Fawcett has well remarked :
" The only way in which the general rate of wages
and profits prevailing in a country can bo advanced
is to increase the productiveness of capital and
labour.'' In this little prescription we have the
true remedy for depression in agriculture and
commerce alike pointed out; but, as far as agri-
culture is concerned, we shall not be able to take
full advantage of the remedy until the impedi-
ments which stand in the way of its general
adoption have been removed.

THE COMING EXHEBITIOX.

It is late in tlie day to raise objections
to the scheme of exhibiting foreign live stock
at Kilburn next summer, sanctioned by the
Royal Agricultural Society. As a matter of fact
we had not fully realised all the risk that
the scheme involves until the prize sheet
of the Society was before us. ^^ow two
conclusions force themselves irresistably upon
us— one, that there will be a serious danger in
holding the exhibition, and a second, that to cinsent
to it is a great piece of inconsistency on the part of
those who have advocated the total exclusion of
foreign live animals from our ports, except in very
exceptional cases, such as the importation of a
valuable breeding animal under specially stringent
conditions. The Royal Agricultural Society,
not very long ago, peutioned Parliament in favour
of the slaughter of all imported cattle and sheep
at the ports of embarkation ; yet the Society has
now sanctioned a plan which will bring a number
of these animals into close contiguity to some of
tlie most valuable of our home-bred live stock.
No doubt the most careful precautioris will be
taken in the form of a long quarantine ; but we
question whether any forei^rn exhibitor will send
animals if the period should bo long enough to
cover the extreme time during which Pleuro-
pneumonia may be incubatory. Yet if a shorter
term be all that is insisted on, there will be an
obvious danger.

Everyone who saw the interesting exhibition of
M 2

l54

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

foreign cattle and sheep at Paris last summer must
desire toi?eesometbiug like it in London, if it can
he held with safety to our live stock. But can it
•be ? Are not the conditions of safety and those of
obtaining a good selection of foreign animals in-
compatible ? Again, will the foreign show
diminish to a serious extent the entries of home-
bred stock, and so do more to injure than improve
the exhibition P We all know that the Duke of
Kichmond's opinion was, in the fi/st instance,
against the foreign show ; but we have yet to learn
the views of exhibitors generally upon the question
On one point there should be no hesitation what-
ever, and that is in prohibiting the exhibition of
sheep from Germany, where Rinderpest prevails.
"We do not suppose that the Royal Agricultural
Society can now cancel the offer made to foreign
•breeders, or that the Privy Council can, without
special reasons, prohibit the admission of stock from
all countries. But this, at least, can and should be
done — the extreme period of quarantine, and
its probable cost to foreign exhibitors, should be
at once made known to them. If the period de-
cided upon be long enough to secure safety, as it
undoubtedly shonld be, we apprehend that the
cost and inconvenience will be so great as to be
pretty well equivalent to total prohibition. If it
will be so, the sooner this is known and accepted
as inevitable the better for all parties concerned.

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES.

The Report of the Chief Registrar of Friendly
Societies has recently been issued for the year
■ending December 31st, 1877. We regret
to find that the number of Societies making
default remains very large — 25,234 forms of
returns were sent out, and 12,338 were received,
being less than half. The increase on the corrected
figures of the previous year was, however, con-
siderable, amounting to 1,056 returns. The nuiu
ber of members returned rose to 4,864,772, being
an increase of 960,585 ; and the funds returned
were £10,226,883, an increase of £889,934. When
it is considered that for 1874 the returned mem.
bership was only 2,075,893, or less than half that
■ returned for 1876, it will be seen that a decided
step has been taken towards statistical accuracy.
About 6,000 returns had to be sent back fur
amendment. In some cases the returns had not
been examined by auditors, or the amounts were
not balanced ; in others expenses had been incurred
not authorised by the rules ; whilst many Societies
had not provided a separate management fund as
directed by the rules. In a few cases the Chief
Eegistrar regrets to say that very unsatisfactory

returns were received, bearing the names of public
auditors. In one instance where, in violation of
its rules and of the law, a Society had kept no
separate management fund, the public auditor
certified the annual return as being in accordance
with law, en the mere statement by the officers
of the Society that the rules had been altered.

Twenty-seven collecting Societies (those receiv-
ing contributions by means of collectors at a
greater distance than ten miles) made returns, of
which fourteen belong to Lancashire, five to
Middlesex, two to Stafford, and one each to
Cheshire, Surrey, Sussex, Warwick, Worcester,
and York. These twenty-seven Societies in all
had no less than 1,725,584 members, 1,499,438 of
whom were returned by the Lancashire Societies
alone, but only £799,731 in funds, of which
£442,485 were returned by one Society of 682,371
members, leaving £357,240 for the other twenty-
six Societies with 1,043,213 members. The costly
nature of the operations of these Societies is shown
by the circumstance that whilst the total receipts
for the year were £620,091, of which £585,280
were from contributions, the total management
expenses, as returned, were £245,533, of which
£239,247 was out of contributions, as against
£283,694 spent in benefits. In some instances
the amount returned as expended in management
exceeds the benefit payments. It must be very
discouraging to those seeking to exercise providence
to find themselves so victimised by so-called
management expenses.

The writer of an essay, which we see has been
awarded Mr. Forster's second prize, proposes a
general Society, with a subscription of one penny
per day, making SOs. 5d. per annum. The five-
pence he estimates to cover management expenses,
and the thirty shillings to secure a sick relief of
ten shillings per week in sickness, and to leave one
pound per annum to be carried to the member's
account, to be paid him, with compound interest,
in old age, or to his representatives at his decease.
This plan has the advantage of the Society never
having to pay more than it has recreived, its
liabilities being limited to its receipts and the in-
terest made thereon ; but we fear tlie estimate of
one week per year for sickness throughout a man's
life is below the general average, and that the
remaining twenty shillings would be encroached
on for, probably, a further five or ten shillings,
leaving the amount to be placed to the member's
credit very small indeed. Under this arrangement
no member could impose on the Society. What-
ever amount is drawn for sick pay, that amount
the less is taken to his " rest account ;" but we
fear the fivepeuce per year will not meet the

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

165

nianngemeut chiirg'ea. At least, those Societies
which art) spending from forty to sixty per
cent. of their receipts i;i maDngemeut
will regard it as very inadec][uate ; and,
seeiug tliat the man of thirty' is classed with the
lad of sixteen, we fear there will be a further dis-
appointment 10 its members, as there would be a
difference of at least twenty-live per cent, in the sick
piy requirements for these respective ages. Fixing
the rate of payment at a uniform premium up to
tliirty yeai's of age would also tend to induce delay
in contributing. After thirty it is proposed to
add sixpence per annum in respect of each and
every successive year. We cannot resist the con-
clusion that more than a third of the sum which
the essay sets forth as the amount that would
accumulate yearly would vanish, and with it the
compound interest built on it. It would also leave
the member exposed to the risk of not being able
egularly to continue his subscriptioTS, and though
his would not expose him, as in rainy Societies, to
the loss of what he had paid, it would, to the
extent of such failure, curtail his provision for old
age. How much better, if it can be so arranged,
to have his club subscription paid up for life before
his family expenses are weighing on him. The
premium would not then encroach on his earnings
when his family requirements are at their maxi-
mum. It would also lift him above the condition
of potential pauperism, as, with his subscription
paid up, neither sickness nor old age could reduce
him to destitution.

The manual labour of the man of eighteen or
twenty commands as good remuneration as that of
the man of thirty, and we recently commented on
an essay by an able writer who has suggested that
this period of life should be made use of to secure
provision for sickness, with pension at sixty-five,
by making it imperative on every man at the age
of twenty-one to pay the sura of £15, which the
writer stated will command eight shillings per
week in sickness to the age of sixty-five, and four
shillings per week pension after that age. It is
proposed that the man who cannot pay the fifteen
pounds should leave two shillings per week in his
master's hands till the fifteen pounds has been
realised, the master to be responsible for the young
men in his employ above the age of eighteen till
they have their State certificate in proof of pay-
ment of their assuiance. Two shillings per week
from the age of eighteen to that of twenty-one
would, according to the computation already given,
secure eight shillings per week in sickness through- I
out life to the age of sixty-five, and four shillings I
per week after that age for life, thus raising the I

man above potential pauperism by removing all
risk of failure in his club payments, as they would-
bo paid and done with before family expenses were
upun him. Such reports as that before us tend to
make the thoughtful look for something better
than the almost hopeless muddle of multitudes of
more or less insecure Societies taking the savings
of the provident without being able to give them
any real guarantee against destitution. We have on
a previous occasion stated our preference for the
system of a National Provident Society as a sub-
stitute for out-door relief without the compulsion
that has been recommended ; but at the same time
we admitted that it was a smaller intei'ferencewith
the liberty of the subject to compel him to make
provision for himself than to compel him to make
provision for others, as we do now under the Pool-'
Law. The proposal for making employers the
collectors we entirely object to, and if that is a
necessary feature of the compulsory scheme, as it
seems to be, it is sufficient, we think, to condemn
it. On the whole, then, we see no sufficient reason
or going beyond the scheme which has been re-
peatedly advocated in these columns, though we
welcome the discussion of any hopeful means of
improving upon the want of system which at pre-
sent prevails.

HAVE WE FORGOTTEN LIEBIG— that giaat of
meiual capacity, wllo^e discoveries and the theories deduced
from them have formed an imperishable basis for all agricul-
ture everywhere and ia all times ? How pany and
secoud-rate must appear, to any one who studied
and appreciated that great: man's works, the simple prac,
tical iUuitrations and coufumatioiis of liis tlieories aod diclum
and y*-t tiie^^e were for a long time dish? iRved and opposed*
but i.KVfr confuted by proof of error ! His mineral tiieory is
ridit^g now triuraphunt over error and prejudice, and we have
at Ihsc learned the great lesson which he tried to teach us--
that where the iucombusiiblc elements of p exits are wanting:
in the soil, there caa be no fert lity of crop. Phosphite of
lime and potash are now accepted as essential bases, while
straw and chaff have goHe to the winds, which contain the
free ammonia that was foi the first time only discovered there
by Liebi^. Is it not time — if not it never will be — when a
monument shall record the immeasurable benefits which ho'
has conferred on mankind ? One rises from a profound study
of his great works with a conviction thai; ho haft left little
more to be done in the matter on She " Natural Laws of
Husbandry" — the title of his last great work. — J; J.JIecui,.
Ttptree,

THR PROPOSED FLOWER AND VEGETABLE-
MARKET AT SOUTH KENSINGTON progresses slowly,
and we do not doubt will come to grief. From the point of
view of )ier Mtjesty's Commissioners, however, the proposal'
is at once iugeoious and eleg.uit. How attractive ia the i(.'(»
of l ttiiig off the arcades to florists ?nd potato salesmen, ana
admitting the public free to roam over the grassy garden, and
buy bouqaets and cabbagos direct, a^ it were, from the Royal
Horticultural Society ! From our point of view the proposal
melts down into a serious joke, und we do not feel prepared to
co-nperate in carrying it into tSVct, even if, after all their
labour, they fi'.d they have simply burned their fingers.
Markets are not to he made to order, and arcades thnt
represent the taste of the late Prince Consort are not to ha
lightly made contemptible in the eyes of the general public —
Ike Gardeners' Mo^azi.ie,

VA

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

LIFE IN THE COLONIES.

No. IV.

NEW ZEALAND.

r At this point it may be of spetial value to those who
contemplate emigration, as wtll as intcresiing to the
general readur, to go back and collate ihs experiences of
the journey whiJe (he events are still fresh on the pge
of ni«uary. In doing tliia, it is necessary to brgin at a
period anterior even to thnt of depart ure, tlie first stage,
VIZ., that where the resolution to Jeave tlie old cour.try
is about to become fixed and decided, being by far the
>nosl important part of the entire iindertaicing. B-'fare
making the slightest attempt at breaking up the old
home, it is well that heads of families should know their
own minds tboroaghly, a.id from relatives or acquaint-
ances, if at all possible, have received reriable informa-
tion, which gives thera good reason to expect that the
change to a new country will effect an imjirovement on
their own position, as well as that of thair sons and
daughters. Abnegation on the ])art of parents f-ov the
welfare and future ])rosperity of their childreais no doubt
a highly-comnieudable and right-minded feature iu the
character of all who practise it ; but it becomes a serious
waiter when (he feeling of self-denial iovaWes the
breaking up of old habiti, having old scenes, the wrench-
ing asunder of old and cherished friendsiiips, and proba-
bly the giving up of old and familiar modes of earning a
living. When a man is at all in a set(,led way of living
in the old country, which enables him to be U|) to lime in
his payments with 20s. to the pound, he will scarcely,
unless under very exceptional circumstances, be justified
in giving it up for the sake of his family, afler-regrets in
8 ich a case being very apt to trouble him, and it is safer
to send the children by them-,elv3s, according as they
become of suitable age, to push their fortunes in the
colonies. JMore partisnlarly when a inaa is of mature
age these consideratior.,3 are highly important, and com-
bine to make emigration a very momentous step, and it is
well that he turns it over carefully in h^s mind before
finally and irrevocably committing himself to it. Once
decided on, however, all the energies of mind and body
will be required to ensure success, even ander the most
apparently favourible conditions, as if it happens that
regrets talce ])osscssion of his mind much of his chance
of a favourable issue is lost, as he cannot conceatrale his
energies on what is pcrenaptorily required far the i>re8ent,
if his thoughts continually dwell legretfuUy on the past
Settlement in a new and spa'-seiy populated country is no
e.isy matter, wheu attempted with small capi al, and in
such a case it becomes doubly imperative fwr a man to
familiarise himself with the subject in all its bearings, as
years of ]ierseverHn(re airil almost incessant toil will be
t quired to m^ike a posiiion that will command a mode-
rite share of personal and home comforts, althoiigh pos-
Hibly having the advantage of being owner in fee of his
OA'u land. His very hired servar^ts must share cq-ually
w.th him, while their[ wages — and that at a high rate — are
ensured to tbem, whether the master and owner can
ount a jHofit at the year's end or not, they having the
al'lilional advantage of no risk, and a perfectly easy
mind. With plenty of capital it wiU still take years of
intelligently directed and iilruost untiring industry to
create a property that will give a handsome yearly
i icome, clearing, draining, and fencing being expensive and
tedious operations, and great caution is necessary at the
outset to chl.'^BP land that will evpntually have a
prospect of duiug this, as if a bad hit is made

in selection, there is not only much discouragement
and chagrin to be undergone, but what is still
harder to bear, a very heavy pecuniary loss, and tl;e
world 'II a great mehsare to begin over again ; richer
it may be in dearly bought experience, but a go')d deal
poorer in purse. Either wither without capitil, men iu a
rtspcctflble position of life, leaving the United Kingdom
for the sake of their rising family, with all the social,
religious, educational, and political privilegts there
enjoyed in such an eminent degree, must make up their
minds that in so doing, they sacrifice much of their own-
comfort, happiness, and enjoyaent of life for the sake
o-f their children's future well-doing. Shou d they, how-
ever, really succeed to their utmost wishes iu achieving
this truly laudable object, it will be a source cf gratific;i-
tion to them iu their declining years, and they may theM
look hack with complacency at the trials and troubles, and
possibly many dissappointments, they had to pass through,
after embaikingoQ the often doubtful expedient of ex-
patriation. The next great point is tlie choice of country
— a sabject of the utm.ist importance, as when breaking,
up one's home it is v?ell to avoid a false step iu again
settlin? dovvn^ a second remove increasing the expenses
and adding to the trouble and annoyance in a double
i-atio. At fr'st sight, Canada and ihe United States.
present a considerable amount ot attraction, principally
by their pro::iinit-y to Great Bitain and the comparative
ease with which they can be reached, and no doubt many
thomandi have bettered their position by removing to
.\inerica, particularly when possessed of a little capital,,
which enabled them to choose a piece of good land in a
favourable situation. But, taken as a whole, the climate
of either Canada or the States is not particularly inviting
to farmers from the British Isles, the scorching heat of
summer, and withering and long coutinne.l cold of
winter, presenting too great a contrast to the temperater
climate of the old country, which seldom ascends or
descends to either extreme. The seasoning fevers and
accompanying ague, which in so many districts attack
new comers with more or less severity according to con-
stitutional predisposition, is another great objection, par-
ticularly to people of mature age. In the Western and
more thiuly-populated States, in many respects highly
favourable to settlement, there has too often been exhi-
bited an amount of lawlessness and reckless disregard of
human life utterly repngnant to the feelings of mea.
accustomed to peaceful neighbours and perfect security
to life and property, and which has done much to check
the flow of emigraliou to the far West For these and
other reasons, financial probably as well as social, public
attention has of late years beco.ne largely directed to the
vast field open for colonisation in the Southern Hemi-
sphere, consisting of nearly the whole of the Australian
Group, Victoria, New South Wales, and New Z'ialand'
being the most p)i>ular and a'tractive, the climate bein|<
gcp.ial and salubrious, and for the greater part of the year
exccedintrly pleasaut to people from the British Islands,
the Government fostering and popular, and a living to be
made by industrial pursuits probably with greater chance
of success than in any country north of the Equatorial
Line. Of these New Zealand is at present commandm^ a
large amount of attention, not only from the mercantile,
speculative, aud working populations of Great Britain and
Irelauil, Cauada, aud the Uuited States, but from the

THK FARMER'S MAGAZINI!:,

157

fe' ilers in Ibe various Colonics of Australia, who look
tipon it as an exoi'lleiit field oi' eiuitjration far their
8 MIS, great iiniiibers of y'«uug men contimuiliy
arriving from iSuliiey and Melbourne to " prospect,"
a term inucU" used by the Australians wheu
travelling with the view of looking for a desirable
location. The-^e men prefer New Zealand to Australia
on account of the climate beini; more temperate, and
t berefore more enjoyable and heall by, as bting m lister oa
necoiint of its cotifitcuration brin^iiii!; it iu comparative
jiroximity to the ocean in its entire length, and its con-
Pi-qwent immnnilv from the appalliu); druui^bts which so
frequently cause such wide-spread destruction tolhelhcks
and herds of ihe Australian Colonies. Again, while the
useful land within at all a reasonable distance of the coast
(a definition which in Australia implies somethinp
iniinense), has been all taken up, aud to get at fresh
pastures the enterprising sheep-farmer must take his
ibicks a journey of many monllis, far beyond the limits of
civilisati'on, where the foot of the bushran.^'er never trod,
a vast extent of new land is yearly being thioivn open to
the public in New Zealand suitable alike for pastoral aud
agricultural farming, well watered, and Eeldom remote
from water carriage, New Zealand having the immense
natural advantage of being pierced far inland by numerous
ocean creeks, forming a valuable aid alike to the cum--
merce aneidy estivblished, and to rapid ci)loii!satioa. The
laud at present possessed by Goverumeut is lil^ly to
be soon greatly increased, negotiations for the purchase
of large blocks of the very best laud still in the hands of
the aborigines having been in progress for some con-
siderable time, with every prospect of being salia''a torily
concluded. The climate and soil of Now Zealand beiug
favourable to agriculture in all its brauchcs, a mau may, on
settlement, enter at once on the pur.-uit of that for which
he considers he has the most ai)'ituJe, or, as is uow done
80 satisfactorily and with the best results in the. Old
Country, he may combine the pastoral and agricultural ;
and if while growing winter food for his stock he at the
same time provides them with sheds, and consumes the
food in-doors, he places himself iu a po-itiou at the very
outlet w^hich has a good prospect of making him iu a few
years by industry and pcrstverajce a pro^perous and
'thriving man. Winter shelter for stock imiilics iwo modes
of management, the one money-making at the present,
and the other in the future, both of which are essential
elements of success, and the ue;;lect of which keejjs large
numbers of settlers in a continual struggle to make all
uwd^ meet. By growing winter food, and feeding in sheds,
the summer beef is first of all kept on the animals, they
are finished proiierly, and can be turned into cash at the
scarce season of the year, wheu the price of meal is at its
highest, instead of a sale being forced in autumn to
positively get rid of them, whitever the price ruling in
the markets, to prevent a heavier loss in the future. If
the second point, manure is made from the autset,^ and iu
the trouble is taken to place it on the land the permnnent
resources of the soil are husbanded and retained, inslead
of being exhausted. The importance of this mode &f
farming many a settler finds to his cost, oflen,^ however,
when too late, as preserving the natural fertility of the
soil, and recovering it wnen exhausted, are two very
different things in any country, and tpiite as much so out
here as anywhere, the former being easy aud simple,
although avoided as if it were the opposite, while the
latter is distreasin^ily up-hill, and often unattainable by
aiiv amount of exertion or outlay. New Zesland at the
present moment certainly enjoys the distinction of being
the most popular of the British Colonies, and, as a field of
cminratiou, isjattracting the most attention, while trade
a;\d comrnercp, export and import, and her
extent of raiUfay is the largest per heaJ of the

pcpiilatioii of any country iu cither hcmis|)bere. As-
suuiiiig, then, that the intending emigrant makes np his
mind to settle in New Zealand, I will now shortly trace
his course from this important point to that iu v/liich, if
possible, more_importaut still, he settles down iu his uew>
home, which will be an erection of wood, with the iin--
(ailing verandah, the view from which, accordinp to the
part of the country iu which he settles, will be bounded
by forest, whose trees are of enormous size — the growih.
of ages — or it may lie by an apparently inlerminablu
thicket of Ti-ti scrub, hill-ranges stretching as far as the
eye can reach, or grand mountain chains whose snow-
cajiped peaks are lost in the clou Is.

In winding up their alFiirs by a public sale, most
people are a'pt to mike a thorough clearance, imi^jiniog
that the trouble aud expense of taking only articles
other than wearing apparel would much more than coun-
terbaLince their value. Tiiis, however, does not neces-
sarily follow, as a fair measurement for luggage is givm.
by the ship to each passenger, and 'Jierefore wheu the
party consists even of a moderate-sized family the spate
they are entitled to becomes considerable. Even should
the goods taken exceed the ship's allovvan'ce, the chdr).e
does not aMfOnnt to so very much, freight to the coloniia
being by uo means high, aud i)iying passengers are ir-
variably treated with much leniency iu the matter of
extra space. Every familiar ohj 'ct, light and easily
packed, should be rigidly retained — a designation vvbich
includes all pictures, paintings, oroaments, and books, : a,
when placed in as nearly as possible their old pojitious ia
the new home they become valuable far beyond their
intrinsic worth, as, by virtue of the old associations which
are called uj) by their presence, the oppressive sense of'
newness is iu a great measure dissipated, and the una-
voidable home-sickness modified, or altogether averter'.
The latter mysterious infi^vnc.e of change of scene upon
the mind of man, unexplaiuable aud incomprehen--
sible, inasmuch as it is all-potent alike with
those who have left a poverty-strickeu home, aud. attained
a betier position as with tliost; who may. nave left con -
paratlve afllaeuce, and have had ta begin a struggle wi k
the world to which they were quite unaccustomed and
Siiited by previous habits, sbouhl be- eipecially giurih d
ajiaiiist, as it often leads to bad health and iucapacifalea
botn mind and body to a serious extent. A select litn-
library of standard worlvs slioald by all means be retainedj
as they will prove valuable coiapauions in the hours li
leisure, and this should bemore |)articularly attended to
as in New Z.^aland there are as yet no opportunities of
gelling cheap book.s as-at home ; all must be bought new
and at high pricss. Over and above this, the charm of n,
family having their own books, the associates of their lif',
with whose every page almost they are familiar, is some-
thing pleising beyond expression, and the young ))eop'e
caivcouiuit the Encyloprelia or Atlas for information orv
all ditlii-ult points as iu days of old, books which if sold
when leaving England would not realise as many shillings
in England as they would cost pounds out here. Ttie
mistress of the house will very naturally be anxious to
bring all her bed and table lincu, which is a very sensible
thing to do, as all such articles must be purchased on
arrival, aud the loss if sold, and the higher price which
should be paip when purchased in the Colony, would
amount to a sum. far exceeding anything that might be
charged for freight. Household linen being very heavv;
when packed. close in considerable quantity, the boxes con--
taiuiug it irequire to be of strong construction, and wcil
hooped, as the strongest dovetailing is often torn asnudcr
by the weight when being shipped or unshipped, and it is
exceedingly awkward for a box to part asunder
when hanging iu mid-air by the chain, and it*
couteut.! to fall in a shower oa the dyck. or ['Ossibly

l58

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

into the water, which ia worse, contretempo which, how-
ever, happens otlen enough. Cirriage harness, which
often gues at a sacrififc when sold by public auction,
is also well worth taking, it at all souad, as also all
bridles and saddles and other horse-gear, as in New Zea-
land riding and driving horses cannot be done without,
the diistances between the seltlemeiits being so great, and
good harness is dear, a set of single liJirness worth buying
costing from 12 to 14 guineas. Carriages of all kinds
are also high in price out here, those principally used
being of American manufacture, of very litiht construc-
tion, and no room for luggage or parcels of any kind
save the merest trifles. The substantial waggonette and
dog-cart so familiar at home m connection with country
residences are also highly suitable here, aid can be had
to order, all hough the price is high, aud even the money
that must be paid for a second-hand article of this kind
will rather astonish new comers, although by-and-bye
they get familiar wi h everything, particularly high prices
in all but the absolute necessities of life. In taking the
passage out it saves no end of trouble and inconvenience
to do so direct to the province where the emigrant in-
tends to seltle, this being also desirable for economical
reasons, as travelling in New Zealand is an expensive
atl'air, aud any journey undertaken by sea must be calcu-
lated in pounds inbtead of shillings as in the old country,
and is altogether out of comparison with the expense
of the journey out, which, considering the accommoda-
tion given and the enormous distance travelled, is a very
marvel of cheapness. The New Zealand Shipping Com-
])any, and Shaw, S:iville, and Co., both own a splendid
fleet of ships, making the passage in little over 100 days
from anchor to anchor, aud have enjoyed an extraordinary
iaimunity from accident throughout a lengthened series
of years, showing how careful they are in the selection
of their ships, as well as the superior character of those
entrusted with their management. Many of their
voyages have more resemblance to an extended pleasure
trij) rather than the rough vicissitudes which are popu-
larly supposed to be inseparable from ocean travel. If
present negotiations are brought to a successful issue
but a short period will elapse, when there will be a line
of steamers from Londou direct to one or more of the
New Zealand ports, a mode of communication now much
wanted on account of the rapidly increasing trade, and
which will prove a great convenience to passengers, as
the time will be reduced by half, a matter of much im-
portance, if only on account of its reducing the period
of inaction unavoible in the sailing ship however smooth
and at times pleasant the passage i» the latter may some-
times be. On landing, no matter what the circumstances
aa regards pecuniary affairs, a house should be at once
takeu for a short period to give time for looking about
and getting familiarised with the country, and hotels
rigidly avoided, as for families the expense becomes
ruinous, as notwithstanding the low price of meat and
moderate value of most other articles of consumption, the
charges are excessive. lu the case of young men they
are equally to be avoided, as with them living in a hotel
becomes excessively aangerous on account of the tempta-
tions of such j)laces, and they will do well to live from
the first with a private family, or in a temperance
boarding-honse, of which there are many conducted with
every attention to home comfort and respectabilitj, and
whose associations are of a totally dilferent class and
style to those of hotels, the latter, however useful in one
way, appealing to me to be the curse of the new country
as well as the old. The long lists that appear every day
in the papers of properties to be sold, most ot them
partially cleared, with dwelling-house, garden, &c., seem
to assure the new comer that he will have no trouble
whatever iu stltliug down eomfortahly, the (-hoice being

spemingly so great, and the terms so easy aud convenient.
Generally only a small payment in land, and the remainder
spread over a series of years at a fixed percentage, the
title deeds to be retained as security until the
payments are concluded. This, of course, makes possessiou
of a settlement a comparatively simi>le matter, as they
are offered of all sizes, from the Government block to the
humble allotment ; but, notwithstanding the great range
of choice, the utmost cau'iou is required in selection, aud
no one on any acconnt whatsoever should commit himself
in the slightest way until he has made a thorough per-
sonal examination of the property, and ascertained the
character of the soil, quality and supply of water at all
seasons, and capability for carrying stock and the growth
of corn. No paper should be signed, or money paid, on
any pretence or under any circumstances, until this is
done, no matter what the character or respectability of
the vendor or agent who has the carriage of the sale.
Naturally enough the description givea by those who are
anxious to sell is apt to be flowery, and the purchaser
may in the oltice of the agent have come to the CDUclusioa
that the land he was treating about was all clover, when
in reality he finds on visiting it that the bulk of it ia
covered with Li-tree or fern. It is much better and safer
for a stranger to the country to take ample time in his
selection, and to be in no hurry, travelling about a good
deal so as to become familiar with the ditfereut varieties
of soil and the natural growth by which these are
covered, there being no better guide to quality, and in a
few months he will be able to judge for himself. This,
combined with the knowledge of locality which he has
gained, and the general modes of management in clearing,
fencing, and the preparation of the 3oil for future cultural
operations, will enable him to fix on a farm or block of
land with some certainty of success. In the nif-autime
his money is not quite idle, as the rate of interest givea
by the banks is -l^ per cent, for fixed deposits at three,
and 5 per cent, at six months, mauy sound investmenta
in the old country paying no more, and which enables a
man to live while engaged in looking about for a suitable
position without trespassing much on nis capital. Thi*
high rate paid by the banks makes it worth while to
forward cash from London by the mail, according as it is
being realised at the wind-un, and while preparations to
leave are in progress, as if the duplicate of Exchange is
forwarded at the same time, and the necessary instruc-
tions given by letter, the interest will accrue while the
owner is on the voyage. Men with but small capital,
and who have been accustomed to give a hand at the
various farm operations while at home, cannot do better
than take a situation for a time, as the knowledge that
they are earning something adds largely to their happi-
ness, and vastly lessens the danger of regrets and home-
sickness, besides giving them an excellent opportunity of
picliiijg up useful information in regard to future settle-
ment on a homestead of their own. Luckily in this
country employment is plentiful and well pai.1, so that no
one need remain idle who is able aud wilhng to work.
What are called easy or genteel situations in the old
country are, however, few aud far between, aud very ditfi-
cult for a new-comer to obtain, unless he is specially
talented and iufluentially recommended by a valued busi-
ness correspondent. Such situations include bank and
ordinary clerkships, shop assistants, aud the like, and all
light situations by which the possessor of a smattering of
education hopes to evade the necessity of living by manual
labour of any kind. In direct contradiction to this class,.
men who have served their time to a mechanical trade
are unusnaliy independent out here, aud their services in
continual demand at high wages, carpenters, builders,
and engineers being paid from IDs. to 15s. a-day, a
rate which, couihimd with the moderate, nay iu some

THE FARMER'

cases, as in that of meat, very low price of provision?, [
e lables them to hiy past money very T.st, whtn i.
of fruoral and temperate habits. Assuming tint tlie in-
tendinc settler has considerable command of capital, he
will avoid going into the bush, which is dreadfully expen-
sive and up hill work, even although the cost of the land
is but a trifle, and is no way suited to a new comer, as it
excludes hiui from society too suddenly, deprives him of
educatiou:il advantages for his children ; and although
h;\ving charms of a certain kind to those reared to it, I
do not see that it presents the slightest attraction to men
whose habits have been already formed in a totally different
mould. Purchasing a farm or station on which a good
deal has been already done in clearing, fencing, building,
and laying down with English grasses is the safest pro-
cedure for strangers, and greatly lightens the burden, paving
the way for early success, as the business of buying and
selling begins at once. At the moment of settling down.
much caution and strength of mind are required to avoid
falling into a mistake common a])parently to all countries
— viz., that of taking more land than is justified by the
amount of capital available to work it. When this is
done, the fatal imprudence of borrowing largely is sure
to follow, the facilities for obtaining money on a good
title, and with the unexceptionable security of a particu-
larly well cleared farm being unusually easy in this coun-
try ; but the system, although fair to the eye and pre-
senting golden attractions to the eager and possibly
enthusiastic borrower, is thoro ighly rotten, and proves a
very sword of Damocles in too many instances over the
heads of those who become involved in its meshes. The
bank rate of discount is 10 per cent., in itself a heavy
charge, although the safest if a man must borrow, as the
bank will not foreclose while a chance remains of its
debtor recovering himself, and in any case will take no
undue advantage of his position. Possession at length
taken, and 'be pastures stocked, every energy of mind and
body will be required to get everything into working order,
and if the season is suitable, the manufacture of butter
and cheese at once commenced, all the members of the
family capable of doing so rendering willing assistance,
and for a time at least casting all genteel notions to ihe
winds, as here as well as at home they form a most
serious drawback to mateiial p>-osperity. JNIany practical
men, instead of purchasing land and thereby sinking their
capital, prefer hiring land at an equitable rent, and this
feeling is gaining ground, more especially as many have
found to their cost that there are worse things in connec-
tion with farming than paying rent. The system of letting
land as in the old country begins to prevail, and will un-
doubtedly extend rapidly, on its merits becoming properly
understood by the large land-owuers. Already some of
the most practical and well-to-do farmers in many
districts are tsnaut-farmers, holding on lease from seven
to twenty-one years, and paying a high rent, adhering
much closer to the rules of good husbandry than those
who farm their own land. Not a few of the old-established
settlers, who have their position made, and the whole of
their land cleared, drained, and fenced and stocked, and
who own. Say, even the moderate extent of from 1,000
to 1,300 acres, conid vastly improve their annml income
by letting half the land they hold to respectable men of
industrious habits, in suitable lots, the rent they would
receive being far ahead of what they themselves made by
the desultory and unmethodical system of sheep
farming they now pursue, in which the receipts
for wool is nearly their only dependence. These very
men, by having their estates thus abridged, what
remained would be better looked after, and more capital
being employed to the acre, the resources of the soil
would be developed in a correspondingly increased ratie.
Coucentralioa of capital and energy would thus

S MAGAZINE. 159

largely conduce to individual and colonial pros
perity by enabling those who followed it up to improve
their (locks and herds by the introduction of pure bred
animals, and, by using bone-dust and farm-yard manuro,
carry out a system more or less extended of convertible
husbandry, which in all temperate countries must ever be
the most substantial and lasting foundation of agricultural
prosperity. There is, however, a certain well-known
association of ideas connected with the possession of land
in all counties, exclusive and aristocratic, and which tends
to holding with the utmost tenacity, even at a serious
annual loss, the broad acres which invest their owner
with that dignity and consequence in the eyes of his
fellow -men which seems to be chciised by the hnmaa
mind as one of its dearest and most valued privileges.
Deeply imbued with these feelings, there are men who
would be ashamed to let even an acre, however advanta-
geous the oilers which might be made to induce them to
do so ; but, on the other h;uid, the system gains iu other
ways, the property of minors, widowers, and of men who
have retired, or gone to Europe tor a time, being let to
tenants lor a greater or less number of years as already
noticed, and large rents paid when the soil is alluvial or
volcanic. Whether a man buys or rents land, he should
be eminently careful that it is of such quality as will
enable him to meet all demands and live respeatablv, as
bad land anywhere is a continual heart-break, butin'New
Zealand especially so, inferior stock, the inevitable pro-
duct of poor land, being worth so little. Par better would
it be in a country such as this, where labour is well paid,
to serve others during one's whole life, than to live iu
chronic poverty, overpowered by vain and unavailing
regret, on a wretched block of laud, on which, althougti
nominally his own master, his utmost eftbrts cannot do
more than provide the bare necessaries of life.

BIRMINGHAM SHORT-PIORN SHOW AND
SALE.

At the eleventh exhibition and sale of pure bred shorf-horrg
to be held in Bingle^-hall, on Wednesday and Thursday the
5ih and 6th of inst.

The following are the numbers to be offered in the respective
classes, a number of entries having been returned oa aecjui.t
of arriving too late, or not being quaUtied under the new ruha
of the Short-Horu Society ; —

Class 1. — Cows over 3 years old 45

Class 2.— Heifers over 2 and under 3 years '. 9

Claes 3. — Heifers over 1 and under 2 years " 12

Class 4. — H'ifer Calves [[[[ jq

Class 5.— Bulls over 10 and under 20 raou'tiij!..'

(Champion Class) ig

Class 6. — Bulls over 20 aud under 30 months... ]7

Class 7.— Bulls over .30 months [\ g

Class 8. — Bulls over 15 and under 20 months.!! 59
^lass 9. — Biilkover '.1 and under 15 months... 7(5
Class 10. —Bulls over 6 and under 12 moutlis... 12S

. Total 38i

Ihe champion and other classes for young bulls will include
several winners at the R.X.S. at Bristol, the B. and W E.S,
at Oxford, the Lincolnshire, Hants and Berks, Worcester' and'
other important shows, whilst the long array of exhibitors or
breeders, containing such names as Earl Ducie, the E=irl of
Bective, Lord Moreton, Coloael Kingscote M. P., H. Ailsopp
Esq^, M.P., JJessrs.E. Bowley, J. Harward, H. J. Sheldon
B. St. John Ackers, A. H. Longman, &c., men who have made
their names famous as the uplsolders of the purest, and best
types of short horns, proves that the breeding of the 'stock sfnt
will be quite on a par with the individual merits of the
animals.

The judging by two sets will commence punctually at nine
on Wednesday, March 5th, the auction at e'leven on that dV
when the first seven classes, co.nprising all the females and'
about fifty of the bulls, will be sold, and ttie residue, compri ia-^
nearly 370 bulls, all yearlings, will be sold on Tliursday, March
oth.

IGO

TBE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

THE FALL IN PRICES.

At the iiieetina; of tlie Siatislical Society, held one evening
receiiUy Ht the Society's rooms, KiUjj's College, an »hle paper
(>ii t'e fall of prices of coininoilitiea in recent years was real
by -Mr. K. Gilfen, of the Stnti-lical Ueparrmeu- of the Board
ol Trade. The cliair was taken by Mr. Shav» Lelevre, M.P.,
Treti-leiit of ihe S .cie'y.

Mr. GiFFF.N corani-nced by saying there wss a genera
aKTrtement that during the kst few \eirs there had l)eeii a
lieavy fall in prices. The fall in cotton and iron and tl;e
various nianulaemres of both was notorious, while the losses i
in almost every description ot trade, left no doubt on the snb-
ject. It was U'ually a full in price wliich crippled the weaker
horrowers and canscd bad debt'*, and that made, a heginninsof
losses by which stronger borrowers were cripjiled ; lutther :
falls in prices eu>ued, and more bid debts and lusses nvre pro.
diiced. When we saw so mnnv failures as were now decla'ed,
we might be qnite sure that tlipy were preceded and accom-
panied by a heavy fall in prices. But the qnestioQ lor >tali»-
ticians in such a matter was not the fact of a g'-neral fall, hut
wliether it could be meMSured and compared with other liicts :
of a similar kind, and whether there was anytlung; to sho > t e
fall to be of a more or less permanent, character, and not ^
merely a temporary fluctuation which would be corrected by
an i nmediate rebound. He had coine to the con 'lusion thst
no* only was there a decline of prices at the present time from
the high level est^ibli^bed a few years aao. but that this de-
cline was more serious than the downward fluctuation of prices
usually exhihlt^d in dull liiiie^, and that it might be partly of
a permanent cliarhcler, unless some great change in tlie condi-
tiiins of business should occur at au early date. To show the
extent of the fall, Jlr. GilFen compared the prices of leading
wholesale commodities on the \st of J;innary, 1S73, the period
of md.clmniii JLlli'ion, with prices of the same article on the
1st of January of the present year. Thus Scotch pig iron fell
per ton from 137s. to 43s ; Straits tin, from £142 to£fil;
coals, from SOs. to 19^ ; wheat, per (lu^rter, from 55s. lid.
to 39s. 7d.; cotton, per pound, from lOd. to ojd. ; wool, per
pack, from £-23 to £13. We should hardly liave expected
belorehand, he remarked, af er (iuotmg a series of figures, th;it
pricts of wholesale articles not selected wi'h a view to make
out a case, but impartially chosen yesrs ago as representative
<f the markets, would exhibit a fall in the last six years
ranging from fid per cent, in the most extreme to 10 percent,
in the least cxtrcuie case, and rangin?, with three exceptions
only, between 26 and (Jfi per cent. With regard to the causes
of the fall there was, to a cert:iin extent, no doubt or niystery.
But till re was something more to be accounted fur than a
general falfof prices — viz., the lower level which had l)pen
reached as compared with the last period of depression I'ullow-
JBg 1SG5. This lower level he attrimted tn three causes — the
pxtren.e and )>roloiieed dis'jredit, the bad harvests, and the
extraordinary demand for gold. With regard to the first
cause, it was d iliL-ult in such matters to compare one time
with another, and probably in every time of depiession there
was a feeling that things were never so bad before, lie vecol-
lectid perUctly well alter tjie ]S(;6 panic the languid and
despairing feeling which pervaded the city for two or tliiee
5ears, when there was a prolonged reign ot 2 per cent., and
(or a time disconiit houses were barely paying 10s. per cent,
frir deposits. A famous article was written at thattine in the
Eilinbiirjh Tievicvo on the htrike of capital, and people blamed
Lor I Clarendon lor having made maf.ers worse than they were
ever known to be before by the explanatory circular he sent to
our representatives abroad with reference to that panic. The
Overtud failure had also been unprecedented, and so people
were satisfied that the depression w^s (he worst. But, iuspite
of the gloominess of alTiirs a'ter ISGfJ, it must be admitted
that what caiie to light then was not so calcul.t-'l to cai!S3
(' seredit as the revelat'ous of the last three or four years.
With regard to the second cause,, be noticed as prolxably con-
tributing to Ihe severity of the fall the bad harvests of the
three years, 1875, 187tJ, and 1877. It hid long been an
axium of economists that nolliing so powerfully conduced to a
d-pressinu in trade an J a consequent tali in p' ces as a succes-
sion of bad harveots. The wheat iiarvest, to begin with, was
undoubtedly most deficient. According to Jlr. Caird, taking
the averaee yield ol llie la-t 30 years to be 100, the \ield of
1S75, j57j, aud 1577 was respectively 78, 7(5, aod 7t. lu

other words, our wheat harvest was diticieut by one-fourtli ^»
compared wiili the average, and much more, of course, as com-
pared with a ^ool year lor three years running. The usual
rise in wheat and bread had n'lt lollowtd, owing to the very
lact that tl'.e home yield was now less important than the
aggregate foreign imp'-rlations, but other elf. cts of a de.^cieut
harvest must have eus-utd. !Nor was there any compeusatioD
ii. the yield of grass and root crops, but the reverse. Here we
could not measure the yield in the siuie way, but the dimiiiu-
ti"n of the slnck of cattle and sheep in the three years ending
1S77 was most marked. lu Great Britain, between 1371- and
1^77. there was a total reduction of ■i27,000 in a ttock of
6,125,000 cattle, or ab ut 7 per cent, in thiee years, lu sheep
there was a total reduction of 2,153,000 on a stock of
30,311-,lXiO, or 7 per cent., in thres years. The third cause
was tlie extraordinary deuiand for gold for the new coiuajte of
GeriiiHiiy, and lor the L'uited S'a'es on its resuuiptio i of specirt
piynieats du'ing the last 'ew years. It was a lijfle dillicrlt to
c insider this point except in connectiuu with the question of
the supplv of gold, and any variation in that supply which
mit;lit have occurred; hut what he desired to bring out was
that apart from a permaneut diininuuoQ of the supply,
whether absolutely or in relation ti the growing wants ol tiie
woild, whicli would necessarily have a perinaueul elT ct ou
prices, extraordinary demands 1 ke those relerred to would
teud to produce a momentarily extreme fall. Altntreiher
during the last six jeurs G^rmuiy had coi^ied 84 mi ii jus of
gold, very little of it beiug recoiuage. The accumulauou of
gild in the United States, prin(i|it)lly during tlie last two
years, amounted to about 30 inilhous sterling, the stock of
gold in the country above what it had lor several .vears pre-
vious having been increased by that amount. These two
sums aiuouiited to 114 miilious, and if we a.loffed lor o'her
ex'raordiiiary demands, such as that for Hullaud, which had
been substituting a gold for a silver money, gnil at the
same time made dcdnclions tor what (jermany raiglit have
recoined, we might say in round numbers that the extraordi-
iiarv demands lor gold during the last eight years had amounted .
to 120 millions, or 15 millions a year. As the annual produc-
tion o! gold eight years ago was estimated at from 2U to 22^
mi. 'ions only, and had since rather taUen off, it was qui'e
plain that these extraordinary d^mviuds could h^ive left very litlle
for the ordiuiry wauts — tiie wear and tear of coinage, losses^
use in fine arts, and new coinage tocorrespond with the viauts
of populations increasing in numbers and wea.th. These three
causes, then —the extreme aiid prolonged discredit, the bad har-
vests, and thf extraordinary demands (or go};l — appeared to have
concurred in brinaing Ipriees of eommoJilies to the lowest
level which had been readied at any perioi for many years,
Thnt they would be sutScieut to account for much of thetlfect
which had breu produc-d could hardly be di-puled, and that
they had existed was beyond all doubt. Tue question was-
infallibly su^gested^ hoivever, whether in addition there was
aotj a sub'ler cause at work — aa actual insulii^ieucy of the
current iupply of go'd for the current demands of gild. using
countries. This was quite a separate question from the ell'ect
of the extraordinary de nauds which had been di scribed, aud
if seemed most important that we should keep it separate.
His own opinion was tliat sorae such cause might have beea
at work, thoa^h win her iis effects would have beeu at all
marked as yet, in the absence ot the extraordinary demauds
might be doubted. The main presumptions to this effict were
— first, the undoubted falliug-olF of the gold supplies during
the last 20 years. The estimatd production of gold in the
years 1352-73, in quinquennial periods with the several aver-
ages for each period, were — 1852-56 — total production^
£ll!>,665,&00; annual average, £2'J.a33,000 ; J857-61—
total production, £123,165,000; annual average, £24,633,000 \
1862-66— total production, £12'i,8OO,O0O ; annual average,
i-22, 760,000 ; 1867-71 —total production, £108,765,000;
annual average, £21,753,000; 1871-75 (four j ear.-) —total
pr.,duc(ion, £76,800,000; annuil av rage, £19,200,000. The.
difference of an annual yield ol from 25 to 30 millions between
1852 and 1861 and au annuil yield of less than 20 millions at
the present time was palpable. Of course the (luestion was
not settled by this consideration. One of the elfe.cls of the
great gold discoveries was to create new markets ^or gold itsell.
Under its bi-metallic regime France repliced au euonnous
s'ock of silver by gold, and, becoming a gold-using country,,
absorbed the new supplies to au enormous rxtetit. India,.
again, absorbed, au loimeuse sum esneoially dunif!.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

161

Ihe years of the cotton famine, when lier crodit
nbroaa was 60 sudiienly Hnd so enormously Hiin«ieiit<'d.
Viitil ISlJG it might he said the market for i^old was ao
iitiVc'ed by extraordinary demands tliat there was hardly
tiniK lor prices lo settle do'*n into a normal state, and the full
elf.-et ol the, new ^.upplies on gold-usiu^ countries alone was
never fully tested ; but it was at least obvious that the di-
luiuished supply could not now meet the extraordinary deininris
which were met by tlie supply ol tiie earlier years, even if the
ordinary deniand had coutiiiufd 'li'i same. Not oniydil the
figures show au actual lallinfi-olf of supply, hut. there was a
prohabili'y of the supply being obtained at a fireatly iu-
oreased cost of prod'iclion. Tlie 10 millions now produced
were olwained with more elTort than Ihe 30 iiiilliuiis 20 years
luo. 'I'liis meant tlint if prices were to tend upwards, a check
might be put upon the movement by a still liir her follin^-ofT
of tile gold supply. It niiglit not pay to work mines wliicli
were now profitable if pries all round, necessarily including
wages US well as commodiiieg, were to ris<^. We came then to
(he (juestion wheiher ordinary cen :snds had continH'^d the
Bame, lo which tlie answer must of course be that, coincident
with the gradually declining supp'y of gold, there must have
been au enormous increase of current demands. Having ex-
amined this point at iome length, the condition which he
came to on the whole was that he saw no other outlet Irom the
situation than in the gradual adjnstment of prices to the rela-
tively s^naller and smaller sujiply of gold which must result
from the increasing uu:nbers and wealili of the po[]ulatio«is of
gold-using countries. 'The fact of a fall of pricr. such as liad
been de-cribi'd expUiued a gocd many tlrngs, while the con-
seqnences ol it, or, to speak more correctly, pf-rhaps, of the
more permanent of the causes wliidi had contributed to it,
must be far-rcacliing. Pirst, we had a sullicipiit explanation
io the fall ol price ol much of the filling cfT of trade, especially
our foreign trade, which w as the occasion of so much alarm-
ist writing. Indeed, it was sometimes said that the foreitruer
was taking the bread out of the mouths of our mauufac'urers
and the men whom they employed. He had never seen this
view supported by any careful examination of what the growth
of the trade of foreign countries really was,|or by a considera-
tion 0( what went on in our trade generally and not merely in
panicultr trades which might bealfectfd here and there by the
pressure of foreign competitors. AVbat if there was no falling-
off, or no nia'erial falling-otl", of our trade at all, so that all
this writing about our decaying trad^ and the gain of foreign-
ers at our expense was only so much writing in the air ? It
was clear that an average lall of 20 or 30 per cent, in pricos
must make all the diif rence in the world. The exports of
liritis-h and Irish produce showed a falling-off in total value
between 1873 and 1877 of about 22 ppr cent. The exports in
1873 were £255,165,000; in 1877, £iy3,893,000-a reduc-
tion of £50,272,000. A comparison of figures extracted from
the report of the Bi>ard of Trade showed that while the aggre-
gate declared value of the enunieratedj articles in 1877 was
il4'7, 801,000, their aggregate value at the prices of 1873wou'.d
have, been £191,530,000, which was within a million of the ag-
gregate value of the exports of tlie fame articles in 1873. There
were variations in the naantities of the articles, some
increasing and others diminishing between 1873 atid 1877 ;
but the upshot was that if the prices of 1873 had beru
maintained all roiiud in 1H77, the returns as far
as the unenumeratt'.d articles were oncerued, and prcsu n-
ably as regarded the remaining aHicles of trade where the
entries were mostly by value only, would have exhibited
no dtcline at all. In passing, he remarked that aiuch of the
prosperity of years like 1873 was in reality hollow, and much
of the ilulness of dull limes was due to the fact that people
were forced to acknowledge themselves not so rich as they
thought. Having adverted to the possible coaneetion between
the appreciation of gold and the depreciation of silver, he said
that the next poiait to notice was the connection between a
great fall in the prices of cammodities and a fall in wages.
The two things were inseparably connected. Firstly,, iu
certain trades — and this conmotion had been specially shown
of late years in the iron trade — the gross price ot the articles
produced was so much diininished that if the co.it of labour
was unaltered the labourer would be receiving an enormously
increased share of what was produced. Sny au article formerly
selling 'or £20, the cost for labour being one-fourth, or £5,
fa'ls in price ti £10, then the £5 given to Ihe lahcurer would
Et 50 per cent, of the selling price. It was mcredibie tliat so

great a change could occur without the labourer being alfecled,
and there had been even greater changes in the iron and coal
tr ides. But, secondly, in almost all trades, especially those in
which tliH cost of labour constiluted a large part of the cost of
production, there was necessarily some connec ion, in the long;
run, between the money rate of wages and the prices of I ho
usual articles of the labourer's consumption, aecordnig to his
standard of living. It was quite plain that the real wages
paid liy the capitalist to the labourer consisted mostly of com-
modities ; if money wages remained the same wliile coinmoditieu-
lell in price, there was an increase of real wages. In some
way or o'lier, then, an adjustment of money wages to reduced'
prices becanic inevitable. The "moral" of mucii that li.id
been sai I was clearly this — tin* the scarcity of gold which had
contributed to the present fall of prices, and might have
further serious efl'rcts in future, should, if [lossible, be mitigated,
and should, at any rate, not be aggravated by leuisiative
action. 'I'o give only one illnstration : few things were more
unlikely than that £1 notes, or uoles lor less than £5, would
again be reintroduced iu England ; but the introduction of
such notes alone, with all suitable arrangements for their con-
vertibility, would certainly go far to neiitialiseeven such another
e.\traordiuary demand as that lor the German coinage. There
teemed a possibility of gaining something, then, by reintro-
ducing £1 notes if the present gold scarcity should continue.
He liopfd he should not be understood as advocating su?h a
change, or as being insensible to the wiiglit of many practical
objections which could be urged agfaiusl it if it were imine-
diaiely jiroposed. He was only mentioning it as a possible
expedient lor economising money, and there were no doubt
others. As regarded small notes, however, it would seem that
at least any change by countries which still retiined them in
the direction of their further abolition, leading to a greater
demand fO'r the precious metal, ought to be deprecated, fctill
more we ought to depreca'e any change iu silver-using-
countries in the direction of substituting gold for any part of
the silver in use. It would be nothing short of caiamirous to
business if another demand for gold like the recent demand*
for Germany or the I nited States were now to spring cp.
Even a much less demand would prove rather a serious alfair
bafore a very long time elapsed.

OLD STYLE IN THE HEBRIDES.— Altliongh the
news comes rather late — my inlormaut lives iu a liglitliousfi
some fourteen miles from the nearest land, and the postal
service is somewhat capricious — 1 think it may interest some
of your readers to know what rapid strides ciulisation is
making in the Hebrides. A public meeting «as held in the
island of lona just he'ore the beiinning ot the present year
to consider whether New Year's Day, as a festival, should not
be transfepred from the 12tn of January, on wliicli day it has
hitherto been kept, to the 1st of January. It. was unanimously
agreed that the old style should lie abandoned, but only in the
event of the Dunara Castle — the steamer that periodically
makes the circuit of these outlying islands — being able to call
and leave beliiod it a fair and rpasoQab!e quantity of that
beverage, witliout wliich, in the Hi'^hlaiids at least, a holiday is-
not of much use in making glad ilie heart of man. However,
as ill-luck would have it, the we.ither proved very stormy as
the Dunara was on iier way south, and it was fouud iraj.ossible
to land aaything. Accordingly, the natives of lona lell back
on the 12tli of January as New Year's Hay ; but it will he
seen that that was not at all their fault, but the fault of the
weather, which has been seriously to blame pretty nearlv
everywhere for some mout s back.— W. B. iu the Daili^
News.

HOW TO GET RID OF FOLYGA.MY.— Khalil Pasha
was very fond of Western customs, and he used to assert that
it wou'd not be so very ditficult, after all, to raise Turkev to
the level of the great I'owers. " Still," objected some "one^
"there is the barbarous nab:t of polygamy, which it wou'd be
difficult to uproot." "Polygamy V exclaimed Khalil. " Were
I the Grand Vizier, I would simply declare hat every Mussul-
man has th-i option, as before, of keeping four wives. Only I
would exact Irom him the obligation of keeping bis mothers-in .
law as well. You would see ihm what would become of ^oU-.
gamy:'- Wuld.

162

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

THE POINTS OF THE CLYDESDALE
HORSE.

(From the Cljdeidale Stud Book.)

The oldeit judges of Clydesdale horses in the Upper
Ward of Linarkshire are of opinion that the Clydesdale horses
of the present day diii'er little from tiioae wh cli were soil at
Lanark and Jluilierglen Fairs. Few of th"ni will allow that
tliey have been iinuroveii Jtirina the last 30 or 40 years ; and
many maintain that horses in old dnys were belter furnished
with bono, their legs better fringed with hnir, and in general
were much sounder \\\'<n those for which lugli prices iiave been
paid during recent years.

More attention was paid by breeders in past days to the
held of the horse than, unfortunately, 's no.v the rule, and
recent exhibitions show a sad lack of this prominent feature of
our Scottish draught-horses. Judges of tlie Hiiihland and
Asricnltural Shows and of other less important exhibitions
liave not attached such importance to this point as tliey should ;
and horses and mares with narrow, clean-cat, or what are
termed " hard heads," with a proinineacs of bone, but narrow
between and above the eyes and having no roo n for brain,
have been placed high on the prize-list.

The head of the typicil Clydesdale is very different from
this. He has a broad jaw, ending, as a rule, in a not very fine
or well-tapTed rauzxle, but with large open nosirils. His eye
is usually full and vifjoroiK, yet mild ; his forehead broad and
full between the eyes ; while from the eyes the forehead tapers
gradually upwards to the ears which are long and active.
Breeders of Clydesdales sliouid attach considerable importance
to these points, as a horse of such a description will generally
he found to be of excellent temper, easily trained, docile, and
very wise in cart or plough.

Experience alone can ^each one when the head is well set on
to the neck ; but the latter should be stron?, massive, and of
medium height ; while the shoulder should be more oblique
than in the E-iglish draught-horse. This, indeed, is one of the
distinctive features of the Clydesdale, as to his formation of
shoulder is largely owing his loni;, qnick step, for which he is
ST justly admired. The " iiprighi" shoulder ol the English cart-
horse may certainly give greater power in theco'lar; but if
shortness and slowness of step be considered this cannot be
called an advantage. The Eni;lish horse, besides, is more ac-
customed to sheer dragging and to working in chains, while
his Scottish rival is chiefly employed in the two-wheeled cart,
which occasions a consideranle amount of weight being
balanced on the animal's back. A medium slanted shoulder
gives a horse, in such circumstances, an advHUtage; and doubt-
less those who carted the minerals of Lanarkshire in anle-iA\\-
road dnys found this formation well adapted for their purposes.
Even yel no one will aflirra that it is unsuited to the trallic of
the day if he will only take the opportunity offered for torming
an opinion by the sigut of t'oe Clydesdale horses yoked to cart
or lorry in the streets of Glasgow.

Good sound legs and feet are essential to all horses, and are
certainly not undervalued in the Clydesdales ; in fact ."tome
judges, in their admiration of such good qualities, frequently
lose sight of " top" aitogelher.

Q lite a.s essentiaf as ine slightly oblique and closely-topped
shoulder of the Civdesdale for his long quick step is a strong
forear.n. This part, from a side view, should be broad ; loaded
with loiifC, strong muscles, so as to give him full power to bring
forward tlie part beneath ; and in length should be proportionate
to the length of the shoulder. A flit and broad knee is also
essential ; but this is a point airaelimes overlooked by the best
of Clydesdalejudges, who prefer strength of bone immediately
under the knee in many horses, and so the leg comes to the
ground as if there were no joint between the elbow and the
pastern.

Di-fii;iency of bone unlir the knee has not infrequently
caused the rejection of many good horses in the show-yard in
favour of aniiuals wliich happen to be thicker at that particular
place, ye% have not iial the strength, owing to the bone not
b^ing of the proper shape, or to the entire absence of sinew.
Tlie shank-bone should be Iht from a side view, thick and
gently rounded from a front view , and tapering to -in ediie as
it goes back. The late Mr. Eulton used to say he liked tiie
" razor-legged" ones, au expression which conveys the idea of
what this part shouhi be. The back part from tlie knee down
thuuld possess a nice flowing fringe of silken hair, which

should spri ig from the very edge of the bone. This hair
should be of what a judge of a Skye terrier viould style*
" pi!)" natur" ; and good judges will not have a hor eat all the
feather of wiiich has a cmirse matted appearance. Possibly
too much attention is paid by Clydesdale breeders to this point,
aid many will not exliihit st certain shows becnuse their
horses at t hi particular time happen to be whit they term
" b^re of ha r." The hair certainly creates a false impression
of strength of bone, as an animal \\hich has a bnad forearm
and well-develcped knee, if deficient iu "feather," does not
compare well with one possessed ofa nice flowing fringe several
inches hmg ; and this is decidedly disadvauta;jeou< ; but the
high value set upon nice silky hair is on account of its being in
all cases a certaiu indication of a stroug, healthy bone, as the
hair of a short, coarse, matted kind suggests a decided ten-
dency to grease. All horses have a tendency to lose their luir
when being put into show roudition [i.e. loaded with fat like a
bullock), and so "blistering," it is to be regretted, is com-
monlv resorted to to s'rengtheu its growth. The hair pro-
duced by this processs is not, however, so silken or so Hue as
the natural, and the difference is easily detected by the practised
eye.

The sinews of the leg should be thick, strong, thrown well
back from the bone, and cipible of being felt with the hand;
if not the leg is not a good one, however thick, as a soit, round
leg, in which the sinews are not very well defined, will not
stand work.

The lower end of the shank-bone, or fetlock, should also be
large in all, so as to give full play to the tendons ; and Clydes-
dale judges are also very particular as to this, and also to the
pastern, which darin^; the last fiiw years has come in for a
larne share of attention. Youatt, writing on this point, savs: —
" The concu-ision which attends the common action of the
cart-horse is little, because his movements are slow, and there-
fore the upright and strong pastern is given to him, which hs
can forr,e into the groun^i, and on which he can throw ths
whole of his immcne weight." If Mr. Youatt had ever seau a
draught-horse on the streets of Glasgow or any o'.her large
town, " fore ng his upright and strong oa4 ru" iuto the
jranite pavement, he would possibly have halted before he
wrote the above sentence. No doubt an upright pastern suits
well the upright shoulder and slow action of ]the Eigli'h
draught-horse, a confirmation which can scarcely he called the
best tor any purpose; but it will not do in the Cl)desdale,
which requires a pastern to suit tlie formation of the shoulder,
and to C' nfer the necessary elasticity to counteract the con-
cussion caused by his quick, firm step. Short, upright pasterns
always get worse with age and feeding, and the action in due
course of time becomes impeded. A horse with au u|iright
pistern has little or no commiud of his fojt, and literally
walks as on a crutch ; and if he has no power of his foot he
cannot have much in his .shoulder. The streets of Glasgow are
very trying to horses, which have to scramble for a footing in
the furrows between the hard, smooth paving-stones ; and
horses with upright pasterns are sometimes almost powerless
to move, where those with pasterns moderately sloped, and of
a medium length, can walk with comparative ease. Farmers
around Glasgow are alive to this, and will not readily use a
stallion which has this defect, however strong and shapely.

In districts removed from Glasgow, judging from the animals
exhibited at the shows, they arc less particular — doubtliss
because a ho.'se with upright p<stern3, which would render hiiu
useless for street work, might last for 10 or 12 years ploughing
and curting on soft land. The horse, however, which stands
the streets best is not the worst for the farmer ; and as he only
lasts for six or lught years at street work he is always in
demand, so that his conformation aud points should be care-
lullv studied.

Without a good, sound, well-shaped, healthy foot, a horse is
of no use at all, however symmetrical and strong. A disserta
tiim on the form, defects, &c , of the foot is not required here
it suffices to state that the Clydesdale is generally sound on that
point, though subject, like all other breeds of the equine genus,
to its various diseases. Side-bone aud ring-boue are said by
veterinary surgeons to bo less common than iu the cart-horses
of the south. JLany Clydesdile stallions are lame from
" founder," occasioned, in numerous cases, by over-feeding and
want of exercise, but now become so common as to raise sus-
picion of its being hereditary.

Au undue length of back is not an uncommon defect iu the

TEE FARMER'S MAftAZINi:.

I6;j

forma'ion of tlie Clydesdale, nnd flif, liadly-npninK ribs — flie
las' of ttin latter occusionally very short — foriii delects wliicli
it fiiould 1 etlie oliject o' breeders to remove. The back is not
unrrKinently low, and the liorse at first sislit looks as if lie bad
no coiiiraaud of hinis'elf, the barrel merely foriiiiiig a bridge
between fiie fore and hinder ends. The cliext is k' ner&Uy low,
liroftd, aiid full, if the body is large and round-ribbed; if not,
it is narrow, and the horse has a weak " wtdgy" appearance ;
and in street tratlic this want of breadth places him sometimes,
ia rounding corners, under coniniand of the shafts of the
W.ijri;on or lorry if at all heavily laden.

Broad, low-set hind cjuarters, with muscular thighs, descend-
iag into broad and proportionately-deve'oped liocks, sum up the
good points of the hind end of the Clydesdale. Narrow liocks
are 60 subject to thorough pin, &c., that most breeders avoid
thera, tli'jn<;h there should be no prcceptible marks of un-
soundness. Straight hocks are not lined ; but if the other parts
are proportionate and the action sound, no exception is taken
to this lormation. It is as a work-horse, however, tliat the
Clydesdale sliould be con'-idered ; and it is questionable if a
straight iiock affords as much propelliug power as one moder-
ately bent. Tile muscles surrounding the hocks should be
strong and firm ; aud objection is always taken to animsls
which have them loose and lltbby, or which, to useu breeder's
phrase, have " fleshy hocks."

From the hock to the ground the leg should be short, broad,
flat, clean, evenly, and straight or slightly inclined forward ;
the sinews standing out from tlie bone, and liaving a similar
fringe of hair to that on the fore leg, and rising as high as the
bottom of the hock -joint.

The hind pasterns are a little larger generally than the fore
ones, and are more inclined, but not so much as to give the
idea .that they are not supporting the quarters. Short, sleep
liind pasterns are a very bad fault, as the animal is always
sticking its toes into tlie grouud.

The average height of the Clydesdale horse is about 16 hands
2 iiches, though there are several stallions to be found as liigh
as 1? hands, but very few over that liei'iht. The fanhionable
colour is brown, that of a deep dark shade preferred, and all
the more so if dappled, while black is also common. Grey is
not in favour, and few colts are kept entire of this colour unless
very prepossessing otherwise. Grey mares are, however, u^ed
for breeding ; and the number of grey foals occasionnlly pro-
duced by dark-coloured mares served by dark horses shows that
the colour was very common previous to the rule which thei
Highland Society made in favour of " black and brown bays."
This rule, it has to be remarked, has long teen obsole'e, and
is in no way accountable for the castration of colt-foals, as
within the past 30 years grey stallions h,ive taken some ol tlie
be4 prices of the Highland and Agricultural Society. The
colour is simply not liked, and few breeders on the Clyde side
care to liave their best mares served by grey horses. Clydesdale
breeders are decidedly adverse to chestnuts ; and ia scne
dintricts & chestnut horse, however good-looking and strong,
would not be made use of, and indeed would be regarded by
many as of impure origin. An occasioual roan is to be met
with ; but this colour is only regarded as an evidence of a
stain of impure blood, neither chestnut nor roan being recog-
nized as Clydesdale colours.

White markings are now very common, and have come to
be regarded as a sign of purity of blood ; few of the Clydesdale
horses of the present day are without white on one of the legs
while a white star or stripe on the free — "ratch," as some
breeders term it, if of the latter form— is highly prized.

In examining a horse when standing, a good judge will, in
addition to running his eye over the various points mentioned,
see that he stands even and firm on his feet, which in some
horses are inclined slightly inward. To be the least inclined
outward is a bad fault, and one which gets worse with age.
As regards the hind le^s, a glance will tell if they are all right
with the animal aud hocks close to each other, ?,nd the feet at
the proper place for supporting the a'eight of the body, while
at the same time giving the animal the fullesl, power for the
use of the hind leg, iu which lies nearly all the propelling
power.

In walking, fhe horse should, if approaching you, come with
his head well carried, and with an apparently measured stride,
lifting his feet well off the gound,and placing them down again
regularly, evenly, and with apparent deliberation.

Oa a side view one caa notice if his action be even, i.e., if

his fore and hind action be in nuison ; foriu horses wiih long
backs and weak loins the two eutU seem to be under dilfereut
control and the hind legs, being in a manner dragged with the
toes along the ground, an unphasing eil'.'ct is produced.

Ill goiii^^ away at a walk, a horse should plant his bind feet
forward as deliberately as his fore ones, at the same lime raising
and bendinir the leg at the hock, whicii should be evenly carried
forward. If the hocks are turned out in moving them lorward,
the action is not good ; and a Cljdesdale breeder considers this
an exceedingly bad fault iu ei'lier horse or mare, though it i*
one which is comraouly overlooked south of the Tweed.

In trotting the 1 orse should bend the legs at the knees and
hocks,and from a hind view the inside of the fore hoof's should
almos>t be seen at every step If the animal be inclined to
move wide behind, this fault will easily be discovered at the
trotting pace.

ADVICE TO NEWSPAPER CORRESPONDENTS.—

The Binl )Hjlon liawkeye gives the following directions to its
correspondents as to the manner ot supplying manuscript: — •
Ntvcr write with pen or ink. It is altogether too plain, and
doesn't hold the mind of the editor and printers closely enough
their work. If you iire compelled to use ink, never use that vul
garity known as the blotting pad. If you drop a blot of ink on the
paper lick it oil'. Tiie intelligent compositor loves nothing so
dearly as to read through the smear this will make across twenty
or thirty words. We have seen him hang over such a piece of
copy half-aii-hour, swearing like a pirate all the time — he ft It
that good. Dou't piinctuate. We prefer to punctuate all
manuscripts sent to us. Aud don't use capitals. Then we caa
punctuate and capitalise to suit ourselve:*, and your aiticla
when you see it iu print, will astonish, even if it doesn't please
you. Don't try to write too plainly. It is a sign of plebeiaa
origin aud State school breeding. Poor writing is an indica-
tion of genius. It is about the only indication of geuius that
a great many men possess. Scrawl your article with your eyes
shut, and make every word as illegible as you can. We get
the same price for it from the ragman as though it were
covered with copperplate sentences. Avoid all painstaking
with proper names. We know the full uame of every man,
woman, and child, in the United States, aud the merest hint
of the name is sufficient. For instance, if you write a character
something like a drunken letter "S," and then draw a wavy
line, we will know at once that you mean Samuel iMorrison,
even tho'igh you may think yuu mean Lemuel Messenger. It
is a great mistake that proper names should be written plainly.
Always write on both sides of the paper, and when you have
filled up both sides of every page, trail a line up and down
every margin, aud back to the top of the first pige,
closing your article by writing the signature just above lie
dile. How we do love to get hold of articles written in this
style! Aud how we would like to get hold of the man that
sends them ! Just for ten minutes. Alone. In the woods,
with a revolver in our hip pocket. Heveuge is sweet, yum,
yum, yum. Lay your paper on the ground when you wiite;
the rougher the ground the better. Coar e brown wrapping
paper is the best for writing your articles on. If you can
tear down an old circus poster, aud write on the pnsly side of
it with a peu stick, it will do still better. When your article
is completed, crunch your paper in your pocket, and carry it
two or tlirt-e days before sendint; it. This rubs off all superfluous
pencil marks, and makes it lighter to handle. If you can think
of it, lose one page out of the middle of your article. We can
easily supply what is mitsing, and we love to do it. We have
nothing else to do.

ADVICE TO QUACKS.— The inventor or patenteee of a
roediciue worth about £30,000 a year said to nie tlieolhir
day, " I made a dreadful mistake whm I advertised my phys'c
as a universal cure. I should have been satisfied with naming
about twenty diseases. I have another medicine in my head
which I dare not advertise, because people would say ' this
fel'0l^'s a quack ; he has discovered that his o'lier mixture doei
not cure everything, aud so he supplements it.' Ah, Sir, llol-
loway is the prince of us, after all 1 lie givcj us a pill for half
the ilia of \\l\ and an oictrai-nt for the otiier half, and so has
two sources of immense fortune which, though distinct, must
be coupled by sick and sore people. My advice to quack-, is,
never invent a ra dicice to cure everything — for a nnivers* 1
specific leaves no room for a sejond attempt upon human life,
that is, if it bears the csme oi the discoyerer." — Mayfair,

Ifil

THE FARMER'S MACiAZIN^E.

CHEESEMAKIXG AXD COMPETITION.

Tn tlie*e davs of deures^ion of trade and disturbances in the
labour market, of farms to let and tenants needinjr a pirtial
remission of rent, it is rrfreshinfc to find sucb an example of
contentment, both among tenants and labovirers, as is pre-
sented by Lord Tollemac'ne's L.rgrt estate in this county.
Rarely too i» mutual regard and good undersljudtug between
lindlo'rd and tenant «e- n in the deuree exhibited at the meet-
ing of farmers at IVckforton on Friday, the 10th inst. Of
the three great divisions of British Agriculture dairy farmiug
may be said to have best withstood the pressure, nav a certain
portion of dairy farmers may be described as in a flju-rishiug
condition, for we are told "fine cheese sell at a remunerative
price." Yet in this very article, cheese, the foreign competi-
tion is of a serinns natin-e, as will be seen from the following
figures :— In 1S50 we imported 3i7,S0:: cats, of cheese ; iu
18(50, 5S3,-2S3 cwts., or an incrt-ase of 67i- per cent, on the
importation of 1850 ; in 1S70, 1,011,281 cwts. arrived, show,
ing an increase of 73 per cent. during the
-decade ; in 1877 the arrivals of cheese am-
ounted to ],fi3:i.9-20 cwts., which is an increase
of 57 per cent, on 187<l. The bvilk of this cheese came of
course from the United States anl Canada. Lately, tiowever,
numerous " Derby cheese " facttines hive been established in
Holland, and export their produce mainly 1o this country.
Cheese factories have iilso been established iu the Baltic
provinces of lliHsia ; in fiicf, hut a short time ago a uiimher
of Rnssiaus were learning the art of cheeseniaking under an
experienced factory maiia?pr uear Chf ster. Fmm the extent,
and the rapid and continual growth of the cheese trade, it
will be seen how probable it is that the present depressed
prices of cheesi will he still further reduced. Perh=ips the
most remarkable feature of last year's quotations of cheese is.
that while the price of inferior qualities has during the last
two years fallen 25 or even 30 per cent., the better oualiliet
have not declined more than 7 or 10 per cent., and tiie verd
finest command alnio^t as high a prict^ as ever. An eminent
American authority, when asked wliy lionie-made cheese of
prime qu-ality raainliuned its high prices, replied ;hatthe best
)iome-made cheese had a distinctive flavour which factory
cheese conld never hope to imitate, and that consfqneiitlv it
had a select marke' free from foreiirn competition. The
wisest policy, therefore, for the British dairy farmer and his
landlord is that which for many years has been so warmly
advocated bv L rd Tolleraache, and which he has consis-
tently carried out to so great au extent on his estate, viz , to
provide the tenants with the most convenient dairy arrange-
ments, and to encourage them to adopt the most, recent im-
provements in dairying utensils, and to lessen the co'<t of the
production of cheese by economising labour, and increasing
the yield of tiie land by draining and honing. L;deed, as hr
as his Lordship's e>tate is concerned there is no excnse lor
making bad cheese. Uis agent at the last rent day announced
to t-lie tenants that if any unsnccessfal cbfesemaker wished to
improve in that art by receiving instrnc'uins from a good
cheeseraakcr, his Lordship would arrange for them to receive
that instruction, and would himself pay hnlf the expense of
obtaining it. M'e are glxd to be able to record that Lord
Toliemaehe is about to pursue this course more vigorously
than ever, by offi^rin^ exceptional fjicilities to his tenants to
increase t*>e yield of their land, and bv continuing to give thorn
every postible encouragement to p'oduce better cheese. We
commend the report of the proceedings at Peckforton to the
attention of (mr agriculturnl renders. Both Lord ToUeinich,
and Mr. Sid(lorn are practical men; both sound the same
LOte of warning, vi/.., the extent and danger of forei n com-
pefit'on, and the necessity of using sU possil)le care and
■kill in the production of cheese at home. — Chester Chronicle.

BUTTER MAKING.

We often Lear the complaint m&ia by dairy women that
butter making in winter is the plague of their lives.
They say, " it is so Jong in coining, and when it comes
it is more like lard than butter." Now I think a little
jiood maDagcineiit on their part would remedy both of
thepe complaints. In the first place, never allow the
milk to st,in 1 longer than 2i hours, aad never keep the

cream too long after it is skimmed before makijg it into
butter. The day before churniug put the cream on the
hot hob and just scald it. It not only makes it " come"
so much more quickly, but helps to sweeten it, and the
trouble of so doing is very little. As regards the colmr,
get a nice carrot and grate it out the day before you
make your butter into as little water as possible, and let
it stand the night, straiuing the juice off in the morning
through a cheese cloth ; afterwards put it into the churn
with the cream. It not only giv«s the butter its true
natural colour, but imparts to it a much richer tlivonr.
In my opinion it improves it very much, and it is much
better than any kind of " Butter Powder" ever made ;
nnd we know there is nothing in the homely carrot that
i^ any way objectiouablc. It is worth a trial. — Lily
Vallev.

^gvicultunil ^Scrcietic^.

BIRMINGHAM.

A meeting of the Conncil of th^ Birminsham Agriculturn'
Exhibition Society was held at the Queen's Hotel, on Feb.
20, Mr. C. M. Caldecott pn siding.

The question of the society holdiui a show of agrieultnral
horses in Bingley Hall was discussed, and the 'ollowiug reso-
lution was pa-ised : — "That, while this Council hear ily ap-
proves of the idea of holding an annual spring show ot agri-
cu'tural hor'^e-; at; Bingley Hall, the members present consrder
the time too short to make s itisfactory arraiigemeiits fur hold-
ing an exhibition next month."

It is intended, however, to carry out the original idea of a
show on thrt I8ih ot March, by private ent- rprisf ; and the-
prize list has been drawn up ou the model of tkat of tha
Short Horn show. From its liberal prizes and judicious
ciassificatim it should have the effect of drawing a siifMoient
number of high-class horses to fill Bingley H.til ou the day
named.

The two classes for Clydesdales have prizes of £20, £10,
and £5, for both stalli >ns and mares. O her aKricultursl
horses have seven classes, viz-, for stHllioDs, four years old or
upwards with pnzes of ^£30, £20, £10, ami £5. Others lor
younger entire colts, with prizes of £20, £10, and £5, and
doAuwards with somewhat similar amounts lor mures aud
geldings.

CLEVELAND,

The annunl show of tiiorongliored and draught hori-es in
connection with the Cl^-veland Agricultural Sociefy was held
on Tuesd.,y, Feb. 10, at Guishorough. Though a compara-
tiv^ly ne* leature of the Society, the exhibition having bs-en
established in 1876, its good etfect in the way of creating a
healthy stimulus among fanners throughout "the district'to
impiove the bre^^d ul their animals is already manifest. There
WMS a Urge attendance of agriculturists from all parts of
Cleveland,, aud the Show ground and its approaches pr^ssnted
a busy scene during the whole of the allernoou. Prior to
the exhibition, a meeting of the members of the council was
•held, and it was decided to hold the annual Show at .Middles-
brough o« the 24:;h of J.ily. The Show of thorouiihbred and
draught horses proved in most r^spt-c's a success. Th- re was
a alight falling oif iu the entri»-s compared with last year —
nine as against thirteen in thoroughbreds, and eight as
against ten lu the draught class, appearing on the c;.talogue.
two piizes were olfjred— viK,, £liW f„r the best thorough-
bred, and *;5U for the be.-t dr.. light liorse ; and in \\\9:
first class a splendid chestnut mare, named the Jluleteer
the property of Mr. I«J. R. Fleming, of Normanby Elall,
aeir Middlesbn.u/h, was awarded the prize. The horse
was bought by Mr. Fleming at Tattersall's for 230
guineas, and has never been shown before. Beyond having
made a good appearance as a hunter, chielly with the Cleve] .nd
hoiinds. It is a comparatively unknowu animal, and the face
of its defeating Uadv, the winner Nst year, a horse who-e
splendid quality and fine coalition again attracted a cmsidir-
HJjie ainuuut of atteuliou ; tho smart Bourb.iKi, ti.u l«o

THE FARMKR'S MAGAZINE,

10:

iJrand ai iinals of Messrs. Jiieksnu and IVirson, viz., Bonds-
insn Slid Lincoln ; Old MoMa^i^, witli his Ion;; strinj; of
viotorips, and Ne.*laul, Lird Derliy, and Kelclihurne, caused
considerable Jurprise. The winner, Innvever, ihouiili badly
shown, was admittedly a gr>ind anirnul, with pr<'o 1 puints all
over, and a capital ^o-r. In the class for draught lurscs the
prize was awarded to the Clydesdale Clianipioa, the property
of Air. \V. Simpkiu, of Burton Asnes, Yorkslire. This
nniinal took the pi ize at Gnishoroui^h last ye.ir, but forfeited
in cnn<pqnence of his not fultillinn the condi'ions of the com-
petition, viz , to travel the Cleveland district. Amou^jst other
praiseworthy animals i-howu were Messrs. Jackson and I'eir-
Bon's Kiiigsm-in of Great Ayton, Young Tup-man, Yuung
Blyth, Souter Johnnie, Youn^ Conqueror, and Crown Prince.
The judges were Mr. J. B. Bootli, KiUerby Hall, Cat'erick ;
Jlr D^rrell, We^t Ayton, and Mr. .\. L. iMM>n;iril, Newton
Hall, PurliHni. The s'e*aris were Messrs. J. W. Clarke, J.
iViuhtin rale, and H. Hicharil'on, and the arrangements gave
every satisiaclion. — Leeds Mercury.

GUI LD FORD.

At the snnuHl meeting of tliis Bociety, held on Feb.
9. it was resolved to iiold a s-uminer show of lean stoek.
(i-'neral Marshall was elected president, and Mr. Shotter and
Mr. Newitt were respectively re-elected Treasuer and Secre-
tary.

HEREFORDSHIRE.

The Herefordshire .Agricultural Society's annual nieet-
iug Was held on Feb I'J, Mr. James Rankin in the
chair. The secretary (Mr. T. Dtickhara) read the report,
which stated that the exhibitiou at Kington iu August
last (the first since the Society had been made migratory
and its shows extended over three days) had been suc-
cessful eveu beyond the most sanguine autrcipation.
Kington and neighbourhood had worked most zealously in
contributing to this success, and besides offering £:23ii in
local prizes, had introduced sheep-shearing, movvins
machine, and sheep dog trials, by which great eclat had
been imparted ta the gathering. For the first time they
had a balance in hand of £73 16s. 6d. 'I'he exhibition in
every department was a marked success. The following
alterations were made in the prize sheet. Iu classes 9
and 10 pairs of steers instead of singles to be exhibited.
The ages of horses to be calculated from the Lt of
January. On the third show-day hoi'ses not exhibited
during the meeting shall be admitted to compete for the
jfimping prizes en payment of 5s. each. Subscribers of a
guinea to the local fund shall enjoy the privilege of mem-
bers on payment of lOs. 6d. each. Horses shall not be
subject to veterinary inspection unless at the request of
the judijes, aud a horse once passed by them shall not be
subject to protest.

MONTGOMERYSHIRE.

The annual meeting was held at Welshpool on Feb. 10,
when ilr. R. J. Harrison, of Caerhowel, was cliO:<eu Presi-
dent. It was agreed th^t the next Show should be held at
Welshpoul.

NORTHUMBERLAND

NORTH-EAST OP IRELAND.

The lirst meeting of the committee for the p-esent year was
lield at the secretary's otBce, Ulster B'lildiugs, Belfast.
Oiving to olhtr meetintrs being held at the fame lioiir,
the attendance was unu-iually suiall. Mr. John R. Musgrave,
J. P., occupied tfe ch^ir.

The finsBce, show, premium list, and fl^x comtiittees for the
vear now entered upon weie eiected. Mr. VVm. ll:i3tiQ2», of
Vi'-'^oria Hall, B/lfiii-t, was nninimously re-elected as eniineer.

T '6 secretary was authorised to apply for ihe usual site for
t' e show, to make arrangements with the railway and steam -
sh p comp-ani?9 of the United Kingdom for tiie conveyauci of
live stock Had machinery, ic, and to issue an advertisement
for ;he fiuiag up of the show premiiCH, &c.

The ar.uual meeting was held at Alnwick on Feb. 9,
After the report had been received, the Secrkt.vry said tlie
plice lor holdiiisr the show for llie present year had been
already fixed for Berwick, -rfnd the only question remaining
was the d ly on wliich it should be held. It appeared to hiiu
that Fridiiy, the 25lh of July, wouhl be the most suitable,
looking til the. meetings of oilier soeit-tips ; and this would
give the Noithuniberlaud the chance of being for ouce the first
in the tielil, and perhuis have a better show.

Mr. Wilson sugtjested that instead of July the 25th, they
should adopt ihutsday, the 2:4lh — Tnursday being a lujre
tuitable diiy.

Mr. \Vali^.\ce adopted Mr. Wilson's suggestion, and it w:ig
unaniiuously agreed to.

SHROPSHIRE AND WEST MIDLAND.

At the adjourned annual meeting of this society, held on
Feb 9 at Shrewsbury, Mr. C. C. Cutes was elected
President.

J\Ir. Barbrr introduced the question of amalgainatiirg
witin the North Shropshire Society.

Mr. T. SoUTii.vM snid he could not see that retaining the
tA'o words " West Midland " should form a barrier to the
amalgamation, lie kuew that there was a better chance now
than ever of the two county societies of Worcestershire and
Herefordshire amalgamaUug with them, as they had had very
unsuccessful meetmgs.

Mr. Nevett said the North Siiropshire did not confine
themselves to the county, as they went tliirteen miles into
Staffordshire. He did not know whether the Herefordshire
Society was worth j liuiuj at present.

]\[r. R. J. More thought it was very desirable that they
should make some private inquiries as to whether tliere was
a reasonable chance of amalgamitintc this society with those
of other counties. It was undesirable that they should drop
" West Midland " before that.

A long discnssiou ensued, and even'ually the following
motion, proposed by Mr. T. SouTii.vii, and seconded by Mr.
M. Williams, was carried : " Tliat this meeting is of opinion
that any auplication from Bridgnorth will receive tlie favour-
able coiisideratiou of the society, and desires ti ci;l a general
meeting of the society on this day i'ortuight to consider and
decide the place of meeting lor 18S0 ; and also to consider
the desirabili'y of amalgamating with the North Shropihiro
Society."

WEST GLAMORGAN.

At the annual general meeting of the West Glamorgan
Agricultural Society, the report lor the year was read and
adopted. Mr. H. G.vyu wis unanimously elected president for
the ea"'uing year. Mr. P. H. Vivian, M.P., was uaauimously
elected ViCe-president.

Jiavnitvs' CliibB.

BLANDPORD.

This club met at Blaud'ord on Feb. », Mr. G. Gal-
pin in the chair. Mr. Charles Rickman read a paper on
"geolo»y in its conneotion with agricul'nre," illusfrafin? his
remarks witli the aid of a collection of ncological and micros-
copical speciniens and curiosities. Tl'e paper was a very
intere.-,tiug one, and was followed by a discussion.

CARMARTHEN SHIRE.

The i]'iarterly meeting was held at L'annillo on Feb.
lI,Mr. T. Proster in the chair. Mr. J. Lewis read a paper
on " t'lie Use aaU Abuse 01 Lime," wiiicli was followed by a
discussion.

DORCHESTER.

The last monthly ineeiig was held on Feb. 9 at
Dorchester, Mr. H. W. Hawkins in the chair. Mr. Lip.«-
combe, veterin-iry surgeon, reid a j aper on "the feeding 'f
horses and cattle in connectioa wi'K the proces.i of digestion,"

166

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

in the course of wtiioli he commenled ou the nutritive value
and di-TPsti'nlily of vsrious kinds of lood. In the course of
the discussion wiiich ensued on tlie subject, the chairman and
Mr. Chapman Saunders bore testimony to the excellence of
the paper. Dr. Aldridge said he wished sonie poor people
had as good accommodation as some horses, upon wl ich Mr.
Homer remarked that he should be sorry for it to go forth to
the public that horses vpcre better looked after than poor peo-
ple, and Dr. Aldridge said he had no wish for it lo be inferred
that such was the case. In reply to Mr. Genge the lecturer
said too much cake might be given to animals for fattening
purposes, which was waste. He advocated giving roots to
horses. The chairman said he could understand that a great
deal of oilcake and such food was wasted. The lecturer, in
acknowledtring tlie vote of thanks which had been passed to
liim, said horses should be watered beiore fed ; with cattle the

IXWOR TH.

A.t a meeting of this club, held on Feb. 8, Mr. T.
Thornhill, M.P., in the chair, Mr. 15. B. Hunter Rodwell
M.P., read an able paper on " Reciproeity," in the course of
which he argued that a revival of Protection would he disad-
vantageous, and that as farmers were certain not to get it for
corn and meat they shouhl take care that no duty should be
placed on foreign manufactured goods. In the discussion
wliich followed most of the speakers agreed with Mr. Rod-
well ; but the chairman, who is a sugar-grower, declared in
lavour of reciprocity.

EAST RIDING.

At the last meeting of this Chamber the principal subject
discussed was the injury done to the farmers by the excessive
preservation of ground game. Several members gave their
imlividual experience, and tliere v/as a unanimous expression
of opinion that the subject ought to be kept before the Cham-
ber in the hope that eventually the landlords would redress
the grievance. A resolution condemnatory of the existing law
was passed by the Chamber sonie years ago, and on the motion
of Mr. Riley, of Kiplinscotes, seconded by Mr. Johnson, of
Bishop 13 urtOQ, the members present unanimously resolved,
" That in the depressed state of agriculture it is desirable that
landlords should reduee. the quautitv of ground game, seeing
that so much ijury is done by it." Complaints w«re also
made with reference to the aesumption of power by game-
keepers and watchers,

HEREFORDSHIRE.

At the general meeting, held recently, Mr. M. BiJdulph,
M P., was elected President. On the motion of Mr. Duckhara
the foUowine resolution relating to the liighway question was
carried: — "That this Chamber petition tlie two Houses of
Parliament to repeal that portion of the Highway Act relating
to main roads."

The Law of Distress was next discussed, and the following
resolution was agreed to: — " It is tlie opinion of tiiis Chamber
that the present law of dis'raiut, requires modification."

In relation to the Coroners' Bill the Chamber agreed :—
" Th.tthe talaries of coroners be borne by the Consolidated
Fuud, iu liea of the county and borough rates."

NORFOLK.

A meeting of this Chamber was held at Norwich on Feb.
15 10 discuss the subject of " Corn Averages." l^Ir.
R. T. Gurden, President, took the chair, and introduced the
subject.

After a long conversational discussion the following resolu-
tions were unanimously agreed to : —

"That this Chamber is of opinion that the system of taking
the coru averages is uasatistactory and unfair to the pro-
ducer."

" That this Chamber is in favour of a fixed sura being paid
in future to the tithe owner."

" Tliat in the opinion of this Chamber the corn return
should be made by the producer rather than by tlie merchant.'

NOTTS.

A meetinjc of the Council of this Chamber was held on
Feb. 15 at JMottiugham, Mr. John Hemsley in tho
chair.

On the motion of Mr. Godber, seconded by Mr. H. Pa.rr,
Mr. G. Storer, M.P., was uanimously re-elected chairman for
the ensuing year.

Ou the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr. John
Brett, Mr. Edward W. Browne, was unanimously re-electtd
vice-chairmau for the year ensuing.

A report from the \Veights and Measures Committee of the
Central Chamber was submitted, expressing satisfaction that
the new imperial denomination of 1001b. was about to be
legalised. The committee in their report also drew attentiott
to tlie unsatisfactory and misleading character of the mode of
determining tlie official corn averages under the 27th and 28th
Victoria, c. 37.

A discussion on the Highways Act took place, and it was
reso.ved : — " That this Council disapproves of most of the
provisions of the Highways Act as being calculated to increase
the burdens of the ratepayer, and regrets that sncti a measure
was passed until the creation oi Couuty Boards."

Mr. Beardall then moved, and Mr. Brptt seconded,
" That as soon as the new County Government Bill is laid
before Parliament a special meeting of the Chamber be culled
to consider its provisions, and that the attention of members
of the Chamber be specially drawa to the importance of the
question."

Carried unanimously.

It was further resolved " That Mr. Godber and Mr, J.
Walker be requested to attend the meetings of the Central
Chamber."

The resolution passed at the late annual meeting at Ret-
ford with reference to the establishment of a branch or sub-
committee of the Council was discussed, when it was unani-
mously agreed to approve that course, the Secretary to
arrange with the gentlemen in the north of the county as to
the modus ojierandi.

WISBECH.

At the last general meeting of this Chamber Mr. Shelford
read a paper on " Road Repnirs," which was followed by a
discussion, but no resolution was passed.

RABBIT TRAPS. — A great many owners of estates are
quite unaware of the atrocious cruelty they inflict by permit-
ting their keepers to put down traps for rabbits and hares, or
by failing to take care that traps are not put down. Anyone
v/ho has seen and heard an ohJ Jack hare, just caught in one
of these abominable contrivances, must be hard-hearted indeed
if he does not stiennously do all in his powes to abolish traps.
1 here is nothing I like better than bowling over a hare, and
noticing how, with the impetus of his speed, he turns two or
three somersaults before he lies motionless. He is good to eat
ond must take his chance ; but give him a run for his liie and
do not let iiim suffer agonies lor hour after hour through the
long night, with the cruel teeth of a steel strap biting into liia
bones. It is not as if there was no other way of thinning off
hares and rabbits. If you don't cire about jiotfering after
them jourself, and have no friends glad of such humble sport,
your keeper has. A sight I saw last; week completely sickened
me, aud I plead very earnestly on behall of Jack and his humble
cousins the rabbits. — Snorting and Dramatic News.

SCOTCH "WUT."— The Scotch colony established at
Wimbledon have been enjoying their favourite game ot curling
during the recent frost, an excellent rink on tbe most ap
proved principles hiving been established iu anticipation of it.
A keen curler and true son of Scotia let off rather a good spe-
cimen of " wul" the other day on his losing the game, owing to
the bad play of his partner, «lio happened on this occasion to
be a Sisseuach. Turning on him witli a sardonic grin, the
Scotcliman remarked, " Eh, maun, joii'll ne'er male' a curltr
iu this warld, aud you'll ne'er see ice in the next."— ^^orW.

THE FATlM:ii:R'S MAGAZINE.

167

Jlgriailtural ^Socutics.

ROYAL.

Monthly Council, Wediiesilay, Feliniarv oth, 1879.
Present — ('olouel Kingscote, C.B., .M.P., Ex-Presiiient,
in the chair ; Earl t'ai heart, General Viscount Bridport,
Lord Cheshani, Lord Vernon, Hon. VV. Eserton, M.P.,
Sir A. K. ]\Iacdonaia, Bart., Sir M. White Ridlrv. Bart.,
M.P., Sir W. Earle Welhy-Gregory, Bart., U'.l\, Sir
B. T. Brandreth Gibbs, Mr. Amos, Mr. Arkwright. ]\rr
Aveling, Mr. Aylmer, Mr. Cauirell, Mr. ChandosPole-
Gell, Mr. Davies, Mr. Dent, Mr. Druee, Mr. Prankish,
Mr. Hcmsley, Mr. C. Howard, IVfr. Bowen Jonis, Mr.
B.Leeds, J'r. D. Mcintosh, Mr. Martin, Mr. Pain, iMr.
Randell, Jlr. RaDsoine, Mr. Rawlence, Mr. R. llusseil,
Mr. Sanday, Mr. Sheraton, Mr. Shuttleworth, Mr. Strat-
ton, Lieut. -Col. Turbervill, Mr. .Tabt-z Turner, Mr.
Wells, Mr. Jacob Wilson, Mr. Wise, Professor Symonds,
and Dr. Voelcker.

The following new members were elected : —

Aa.ims, George J., of South Mall, Cork.

Abhburner, llobert, of Gleaston Park, Ulverstou.

Aveling, Thomas Lake, of Roch ster.

Jj^iirgnlay, Sir Richard, of Maple! rens.°, EJenbriJ^e,

Ball, Henry, of Cross Fields, Stafford.

Brlda>n, Richard, of Witchford, Isle of Ely.

Bel , Henry, of 3, Market Buildings, Charterhouse Street,
E.G.

Bell,. Jamfs, of 170, Areyle Street, G'asgow.

Bennett, J. Powell, of Plioele, Ross, Herefordshire.

Blake« ay, Frank, of the Lodge, Chaddesley Curbelt, Kidder-
ninster.

Booth, Samuel Burlier, of Effinfiham Lod^°, Biekley, Kent:.

Brown, John W. M., of Inmere Earm, Suetlisliaiu, Lj nu.

Burghersh, Lord, of Apetl orpe HhU, Waus'ord.

Burnett, James, of Slierral Park, Tamworth.

Challinor, VV., of Piekwood, Leek.

Claydeu, Henry, of Great Illord, Essex.

Coates, Sariiuel Baker, of Stanton Dew, Bristol,

Colmau, Jeremiah, ot Carslialton Paik, Surrey.

Corbett, C Holland, of Adminstou lIiU, Shipsfon-on-Stour.

CouL-ton, Edward Foster, of Bellaport, Market Drayton.

Crane, Jolin,of Beftthal!, Shrewsbury.

Davison, John, jun., of Erittin^ton, ilorpeth.
E-rington, Roger, of Victoria Steam Mills, Sunderland.

Ferguson, Lieut. Col. George A., of Pitfjur, Miutiaws, Aber-
deen.
Fitt, W. E., of the Herraitagp, Weeke, Winchester.
Eoulkes, Septimus G tford, of Hastoe Huuse, Trincp.
Furneis, John Joseph, of Brandon House, West C'arnforth.
Gibbons, Sills Clifford, of Greit Walstead, Lindlield.
G )oderham, GeoTj^p, ot Monewden, Wickliam ALirket.
Grant, William J., of Hope E'ld, Ledbury.
Gunter, Richard, of Pearcelands, Weut Hoathly, Eist Giin-

stead.
Hiscock, Alfred, of WestSfour, Gillingharn.
Hodson, Henry, of Edlestone Farm, Nantwich.
Hopkins, George Ore, of Darliston, Frees, Salop.
Hughes, 11. G. S., of Offley Place, Luton.
Hyet, Francis Adams, of Panswick House, Stroud, Gloucester-
shire.
Irving, AVilliam J., of Palling Place, Old Windsor.
Jones, Frank N. T., of Ambleside.
Keevil, W. Charles, of Teffont Magnn, Salisbury,
Leigh, Captain Egerton, of The West Hall, High Lfigh,

Knutsford.
Maciiin, Richard, of Shewkirk Farra, Tockwiii, Green Ham-

merton, York.
Moir, James Gordon, of the Manor Hniise, CoUey, Reigate.
Jloiser, Henry Richard, of Hewortli (}.»nge, York.
Moult, John, of 40, Mosley S-reet, Newcasik-ou-Tyn^,
Mulder, Dr. Louis, of Mazeustraat, 7, The H igue, Holland-
Nichol, Rev. J. \3- S., ol Litchfield Rectory, Mieheldever.
NicholU, Rev. Henry, MA., of HawkLast Lodje, Biiliog-
iiurst.

Page, Martaiu Fountain, of Blackenay, E lat Derciiam.
I'lwsev, Artlinr, of Sandwell House, Lewisbam Road, S.E.
Pip], Rvv. ll.-rbert R., ot Abbot's [fill, llemel HeajpsleaJ.
Pope, Frank E, of Great ToPer, Dorchester.
Rnherts, Harry, ot Ciswell, Witney.
Rose, Miss, of ^lullHgbmore, Monaglian, Ireland.
Silcock, EJw.rd C, of Wood House, Gliettisham, Ely.
Silver, Steplien W., of The Berhams, Latcorabe Regi?,

Want f?e.
Siu'th, D.vid, of Parbain-Histb House, Wickham Market.
Smith, Thoiuaa Hoziin, of Atherston-on-Stour, Stratford-on-

Avon.
Streeter, Edwin W., of 18, New Bond Street, W.
Tearne, lUcliard T P., of Hilton Park Farm, Worcester.
Triug, Henry, of Bury Lodge, Stansted, Mountfitchet,

Essex.
U'-derwood, Michad, cf Fiornsliill, Rudffwiek, Tlorshara.
Vickress, 'riioinas A., of Hill, Slinfold, Horslnm.
Vincent, Willi un, o(Arborfield-cum-Newlaud, Reading.
Waite, Richard, of Driffield, Derby.
Warbunon, George Eierton, of Harley Hall, Northwich,
Webber, John, of 3f0, Camden Road, N.
Wtieeler, William, of Long Coinpton, Thipston-on-Stoar.
Wickliam, Benjamin, of Gondburst, K^-nt.
Wilde, Spencer, C, of Cheam House, Clieam, Surrey.
Woodward, Robert, of Wetheringsett Lodge, Stonhaai.

Col. K1N0.SC0TE, C.B., M.P. (Chairmttn), presented
the report, from which it appeared that the Secretary's
receipts during the past two mouths had been examined
by the Committee, and by Messrs. Quilter, Ball, and Co.,
the Society's accountants, and were found correct The
balance in the bauds of the bankers 011 .Jan. Slst was
£1,225 IGs. 7d. The balance-sheet for the quarter ended
December 31, 187S, and the statement of subscriptions
aud arrears were laid i^pon the table, the amount of arrears
then due being £839. The names of 96 membera who,
during the past year, liad given notice of withdrawal
were ordered to be struck off the books.

The repoit was adopted.

JOL-RN.II,.

Mr. Dent reported that he had been elected Chairman,
and that the Committee recommended that 8,000 copies
of the Journal for the current year be published ; also
that the publications of the Society be exchanged with
those of the Meteorological Society. The judges of sewage
farms had met, and arranged to make their first inspec-
tion during the present mouth, weather permitting.

This report was adopted.

METROPOLITAX EXHIBITIOX.

Colonel KiXGScoTE (Chairman) reported that the
Commit tee recomtnended the acceptance of additional
offers of ch.impion prizes lor the best male and the he?t
female exhibited of the following breeds, viz : — Norfolk
aud Suffolk Polled Cuttle, Clydesdale horses and English
Cart-horses. The CoRmitlee had received communica-
tions in reference to a proposal to form a Kilburn local
committee to co-operate with the Council, which they
thought would be exceedingly useful. A letter from tl e
Secretary of the Farmers' Club, asking for permission for
their members to use the Society's members' club in the
Exhibition, had been considered by the Committee, and
they recommended that this request be agreed to. The
Committee recommended that application be made to the
Privy Council for permission to use, as a quarantice
station, space at Portland, which has been offered by the
Great Western Railway Company. They also recom-
mended that the printing of the awards of prizes be exe-
cuted by the Society inthe Exhibition grounds ; and that
all doubtful requests made by exhibitors be left to the
discretion of the Steward of General Arrangements (Mr.
Jacob Wilson), Sir B.'-a:idrelh Gibba, and the Secretary.

]08

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

This rrnovt was aHoptcJ ; and, in rrp^v to ^lr. Dent, ^Mr.
Jacob \Vilson explaintil the vroposeJ an-ai.ge.nents for
the supply of refresliiuents in the Exliibitioa ground,

VETERINARY.

The Hon. ^Y. E^ertou, M.P-, reported that he had
l»een elected Chalnnaa of the Committee for 1S70. A
•letter had been received from the Secretary of the Royal
Veterinary Colleg*. slating ihat-the Governor complied
with th- wishes of the Council of the Royal Asricultural
Society to obtain the services of the Inspector of the
CuUeKC for the members of the Society during the present
year and asking whether the list of charges would be as
hid'dowu in an accompanying scale ; and also what
would be the rate of payment for special reports or_ m-
vesti'^utions of outbreaks of disease. The Committee
recommended that the proposal of the Governors be
accepted, and that the charges to members m future be as
follows : —

Keep an OS per week

J, a aheep „

„ a pi;; 1.

JV.raonal consultation

tousultaion by letter ... _

^Tost-mortem examination and report tner-on
Visits in cases of serious or extensive outbreak
disease, exclusive of personal and travelhng ex

,penses, per diem

•It was further recommended that special repoits or
investigations should be paid tor according tothenalure
and imWance of the investigation, or according to the
Bcale of charges paid for an article in the fo^rncd With
re-ard to chemical analyses, the payment should be made
according to the scale applicable to subscribers io
CoTle^e. Since the last meetin

IOh.

Gd

33

6d

3s

6J

10s.

6d

10s.

6d.

2l3.

OJ.

of

42s, Od.

the

of the
rommiuer^ofessor A!:e had reported on an outbreak of
ficdb in sheep, and a case of lead poisouing in cattle ; and
the Committee recommended that the report in the
latter case be published in the agricultural newspapers,

"^'^ ■"" Royal Veterinary College, Jan. 13th, 1879.

Drvu Sir— 1 beg to intonn ycu that I visited Ilobb 11.11
rarra'on the Tih in.t., and inquired into the crcunisf^nce.
attending an outbreak of disease in a herU ot bea.ts the pro-
nertv of Mr. Ilaadley. ,i i .

^ I have to report tl at the disease first appeared on the Is
of January, and at the time of my visit .is c.ws had diert, and
teverxl others wtre seriously lU

Messrs. Flower of Derby,
■,nA P, vser of Melbourne, veterinary surgeons, had been cou-
^ulUd by Mr. Handley, and they were ot opinion that the
raa adv was due to poisoning by sulphuric and prussic acids.
At the time of the ontbr.ak of the disorder the cows were
, re-^iv nS as food, grains Indian meal, and hay. The er.ins
"ere Etale, having been collected i. the summer. With a
view «c p eserv.nl them, they were covered over w.tli sods
and earth whicli liad been removed from the s.ie ot ihe road
Seining Mr. iiandle>'s farm. I h^»J an opyor.uuity of
eTm^n^L a portion of grains and meal on wiach the ca'tle
"'ere lastled previously to the outbreak, and in ,t »as fou.d a
conBide able quantity of lead .lag in a ^tate of fine division.
Sar matter was also found in large quantities in tlie
Somachs of wo co^s of which 1 made a post-mortem in.ppc-
t oa As ^ e roads in lead-mining districts are requen ly
repaired with lead-slag, the sods and earth referred to mav be
rSded with suspicion of containing the poison The
rympfol exhibited by the animals during life were strikingly
SSI. of le.d poisoning and X^-f^'tt:^
likewise point to the same conclusion. RegarJiig Ue aisease
a« the result of lead poisoning, 1 consulted wilU Mr. I'oy^er
who was Tn altendHnc;, and ..ggested the course "1 -f i lU
to be nar-u.d. This m^ruing J have received a ic.ter fr(.m
Mr Wood o Wirkssvorth IIiU, iuforminp me that no more
Hp^'ih, have occurred. The stomach of one of the cows is
Jow L^g an° sed and the result will no doubt be in,de
^own to^u \yj I'rofessor T'uson when the analyse .s com-

Dktri' I am, yours faithfullv,

P"*^ • '' J, WoKTLrY AxF., Tro'^'-ssor.

Cliemical ];a1iorstorv, Royi] Velerinsry Colligc,
Cimden Town, N \V., February 3rd, 1879.
Sir, — In reference to the suspected case of pciisoninft sent
tl rou^h you (rom J. B. Wood, E^q , to tiiis Institution for
investigation, I ben to report as follows : —

Uu the 12th ulto. Professor Axe iianded to me a basket, in
which I found six parcels and part of a linseed cake. Tlie
parcels were respectively labelled. —

'■ A. — Sample of Indian meal and grains as used before
disease broke i ut, but washed."

" li. — Sample of earth similar to that used for covering tlie
grains; residue of \ bushel after repeated washing."

" C. — Sample of Indian meal after repeated washing, that
sent being residue of about J bushel."

" D. — Sainj le of graini after repeated washing of a bucket-
ful."

" E. — Sample of tiie heap of Indian meal and grains used
just before disease appeared, after washing ; residue of one
cow's feed, i.e., about a bucketful."

" l'\ — Sara pie of earth got from same place as that used for
covering grains, but washed."

On the 21st ulto. Professor Simonds handed to me four
stomachs of a cow.

The materials contained in each of the parcels and tire
cows' .stomachs lere s-^parately submitted to chemical analysis,
when I detected a considerable quantity of lead iu the parcel
marked " E," but this metal could nor be discovered in either
of ihe other parcels.

Large quantities of lead were likewise found by ana'ysis in
the cow's stomachs ; in fact, fragments of the supposed poison
were picked out of the cells of the reticulum (second stomaeli).
Wheu these fragments, as well as other of simiLir appearence
detected in parcel " E," were analysed, they were in bo'.h
instances found to consist of galena, which is chemically a
native sulphide of lead.

The sample of linseed cake was not examined, as I thought
that in all (irubability the results of it^ analysis would not
throw any light on the cause of the aeath of Mr. Wood's
i animals. — 1 am, sir, your obedient servant,
I RicH'^RD V. TusoM, F.l.C, F.C.S.,

I Professor of Chemistry and 'foxicology in the

I Royal Veterinary College.

I To the Secretary Royal Agricultural Society,
I Hanover Square.

TiiE report of the examiners appointed to test the quali-
fications of the students comjieting for the Society's
veterinary medals and prizes had been received, and the
(lommiltee recommended that the Council of the Riyal
College of Veterinary Surgeons be asked to draw up a
modified scheme for the consideration of the Council of
the Society at their next meeting.

The Committee also recommended that a communica-
tion be made from this Council to the Privy Council,
urging upou the Governmeut the importance of immedi-
ately placing the UuitedStates of America under the
provisions of the Act which provides for the slaughter of
foreign animals at the place of lauding.

The Hon. W. Egekiox added, with reference to the
last paragraph of the Committee's report, that the evidence
before the public Lad led the Committee to recommend
that the United States should be placed under the pro-
visions of the Act of 1878 relating to slaughter at the port
of laudiug. It was perfectly true that iu the vessel which
brought over the animals sutl'eriug from pleuro-pneuraonia
there were ('anadian animals, but it Was believed that in
1 future Canadian animals would be shipped from ports
j within the Dominion, probably Halifax, instead of Port-
I land.; and tljc Committee had therefore not included

Canada iu their recommendation^

I Mr. Dknx said that he would not formally move the

rcjoclion of the last cause of the report, but would merely

express his regret that it was thought advisable to make

the proposed representation to the Privy Council. He

foresaw that if those recommendations were carried out it

i must end in all animals being slaughtered at the port of

; debarkation. iJut at the same time he would like to

THE FA ILM 1'] irs M AC. AZ IN E.

IG9

TPpislev liisprolpat anil tlirow out one woril of warniiis.
If trade revived, as he hoped and believed it would, the
estfictions on the trade in meat would be so great that
he was afraid it would abiiost be at a famine price, and
that an outrry would be raised throughout the country,
which would result in the Act being repealed. At this
moment there was a decided revival of trade in America,
and that revival was mainly owing to the two successful
seasons in agriculture. A revival of trade in America
always signalised a similar revival of trade in England,
and he thought they should vtry carefully guard against
doing anything which woul3 tend to check it. The agri-
culturists of America were very large consumers of
manufactured articles, and the same remark applied to
English agriculturists. He did not see how it was possible
to draw any line between the United States and Canada,
and he should _have been glad if the \'eterinary Com-
mittee had seen it right to leave the matter entirely in the
hands of the Privy (^onucil. His own belief was that the
restrictions imposed prior to the passing of the Animals
Diseases Act were quite suiiiL'ient to keep disease out of
the country. We were no more free from disease now
than we were before the new regulations came in force.

Mr. Jacob Wilsox sincerely hoped that the report
presented by the Veterinary Committee would be adopted
in its entirety, especia'ly as it included their recommenda-
tion with reference to the outbreak of disease at Ijiverpool.
He could assure the Council that there was a very strong
feeling of alarm throughout the country at this outbreak;
and considering that the farmers of England were now
subject to very great restrictions, he thought it was the
duty of the Council, as representing the agricultural
interest of the country, to express their views to the
Privy Council. It was quite possible that the Privy
Council had already initiated the action suggested by the
Committee, and in that case it would be gratifying to the
Lord President to knew that he was backed by the agri- i
cultural opinion of the country. If, on the other hand,
the Privy Council were in a state of doubt as to what
ought to be done under the circumstances, the opinion of j
the Royal Agricultural Society might be of value in aid- [
ing them to come to a dccition. I'herefore, on what-
ever grounds the matter was pu', it was desirable that j
some expression of opinion shotld be made. It had been i
no secret whatever that pleuro-pneumonia had existed to |
a considerable esteut throughout the United States of i
America forsome years past, and the other countries of
Europe were anxiously watching the action which the [
Government of this country would lake in reference to j
lliis outbreak. xVs to the general trade of the country, he j
did not for a moment believe that it would be interfered
with by the proposal of the Committee. The dead meat i
trade was exteuding every day, aud the live slock trade
had also been considerably developed lately. The Veter-
inary Committee did not propose to interfere with either
trade, but suggested that thelive animals imported should
be slaughtered at the place of landing. He thought it au
exceedingly fortunate thins that this outbreak of disease
had taken place before further arrangements had been
made for the greater extension of the traffic in America n
live cattle. He hoped that the Council would speak with
no measured voice, and would show the farmers of the
country that their interests were being upheld by the
Royal Agricultural Society of England.

Mr. BoAVEX Jones thought it would be interesting to
have a little additional information in reference to the
outbreak of disease at Liverpool, and, with the permission
of the Council, he should like to ask the chairman of tha
^'cterinary Coainiittee if adclailed account of the outbreak
had been placed before them. For instaace, he would
like to ask it the auim;.ls were moved from the quay by
order of the Privy Council, and also whether the same

I quny was used for the reception and landing of other
j aniinils, and also of the liish slock coming to I'jiiglaud,

as, if so, it appeared to him that a large amount of danger

must be thereby incurred.

The Hon. W. Egf.rtox replied that the animals suffer-
ing from |)leuro-pneunioniii came in a mixed cargo of
American a-id Canadian animals, at d, although the latter
were recognised by the Canadian dealers themselves, the
Inspector said he could not distinguish them from tha
American cattle. With regard to the slaughter of the
animals, there was no provision at Liverpool or Birken-
head for their slaughter on the quay. At present all the
foreign animals were 1 uided together, as he understood,
but the Irish cattle were received at a difl'creut landing-
place.

Mr. Jacob Wil.son added, that the animals actually
diseased were not moved, but killed on the spot ; but the
animals in contact were moved and killed in slaughtcr-
hou'^es in the town.

Mr. BowBN Jones looked upon the outbreak as a
matter of the greatest importance toagi-irnlturists tnrough-
out England. With regard to the recommendation made
by the Committee, as 'nr as it went, he entirely sympa-
thised with them, but it was a question in his mind
whether theCommittee had gone far enough, for he thought
it would only have been rational if they had included the
Dominion of Canada as well as the United States. He
added thit thpy must continually urge oa the Privy
Council to carry out in its true spirit, and to the letter,
the Act passed last ses.siou. This .\et he regarded as u
compromise to please the in losses in the large town?, who
were uneducated upon the subject.

Mr. T. AvELixG was adverse to the proposed com-
munication being sent to the Privy Council. He thought
that, on the one hand, the Couucil had done enough iu
the matter of legislation, while, on the other, they were
doing more than euough to encourage the iniportation of
foreign animals.

Colonel KiXGScOTR most thoroughly agreed with the
recommendation of the Veterinary Committee, and would
be extremely sorry if the Council did not adopt it. Tha
preseut outbreak of disease was a danger that had been
anticipated for some time. There was au honorary mem-
ber of the Society iu the room — Mr. Fleming — who had
studied the question very deeply. j\Ir. Fleming pointed
out to him some months ago that this disease of pleuro-
pneumonia had been lor years past raging iu America,
and the great danger we should sustain in allowing animals
to come into this (jountry wittiout being slaughtered at
the port of huiLiug. The Act of Parliament declared
that when there is disease in any country, that country
.should be scheduled, and as they were naturally alarintd
by this outbreak of pleuro-pneumonia, they asked the
Goverumeut to prevent, uot xVmericaa meat, but tiiis
disease from coming in.

The report was then adopted.

CHEJIICAI,,

IMr. Wells reported that he had been elected Chair-
man of the Committee for the current year. Mr.
Christopher, the architect, had explained to the Com-
mittee the present position of the work of fitting up the
new laboratory. The Committee recommended, in con^
nection with the Wohuru experiments, that for the year
commencing March 25th. ISlfi, to the same date 1880,
Dr. Voelcker be paid the sum of £50, in addition to h'S
travelling expenses, together with half the fees fir
analyses mu'"i of manures and feeding stuffs use! on
Crawley Farm ; that the duties of the Society's chemisr,
with reference to the Wobarn experiments, be those
dtficed ia the menaor^indam of Ap-il, 1878, subject to

170

THE FAIlAiriR'S MAGAZINE

any modifioalious made suhspquently ; that Dr. Yoelcker
ha^e the appoiutment of the assistants and servants in
•the laboratory, and that a sum not exceeding £360 (as
already agreed to by the Council) be placed at his disposal
for the payment of salaries and wages, and that Dr.
Yoelcker be authorised to purchase, ou behalf of the
Society, the apparatus and other articles necessary for
the equipment of the laboratory. The Committee had
approved an agreement with Dr. Voelcker, embodying
the foregoing recommendations, ami they now recom-
mended that the Secretary be instructed to complete the
agreement. They further recommended that notices be
sent to members of the Society that the laboratory will
be open ou the 1st of March, and that the notices be
accompanied by a statement of members' privileijes,
and by a copy of the recommendations made in 1876 by
order of the Council to intending purchasers of manures
and feeding stuffs.

This report was adopted ; and on the motion of Mr.
Randell, it was agreed that the statement of members'
•chemical privileges should be accompanied by a statement
•of the other privileges of membership, and a plau of the
-Jjondon showyard.

SnoWVARD COXTRACTS.

Mr. Jacob Wilson reported that he had been elected
Chairman, and that the Committee made the following
recommendations : — That a payment of £1,000 be made
on account for drainage, ballast-burning, levelling, &c.,
in the showyard at Kiiburn, the draining of which would
be finished in the course of the current month. That a
clock-tower be erected above the entrance to the mem-
bers' club, and that sleeping berths for the use of the
men be provided free of charge in the foreign department.
The Committee also reported that they had approved the
various plans, subject to any alteration by the Chairman ;
and that the Secretary had laid before them Mr. Penny's
account of expenditure for showyard works for the last
two months, the balance in hand on February 1st being
£1,062 10s. 5d.

Mr. Wilson having explained that further arrange-
ments for sleeping accommodation would be reported
upon at the next Coancil meeting, tbe report of the
Committee was adopted.

IMPLEMENTS.

Mr. Helmsle? reported that he had been elected
'Chairman of the Committee, and presented their recom-
mendation that the waggons in competition for tlie gold
medal olfered by -the Mansion House Committee be
exhibited in the skow-yard; that the trials of these
waggons be completed by the first day of the Exhibition ;
and that ice be renewed, if required, at certain stations
and at certain times during the six days' trial. The
Secretary had been instructed to communicate with the
different railway companies to make aiTaugements for the
'trial. Many inquiries having been made as to the details
in reference to the plans ot farm buildings in competition
for the prizes offered, the Committee had decided to leave
•the same to the discretion of the competitors, and to issue
■no other conditions than those already laid down. The
report was adopted.

eELKCTION.

Earl Cathcaet reported that he had been elected
■Chairman, and presented the Committee's recommenda-
tioB in reference to the appointment of stewards of stock,
implements, butter, cheese, and provisions, for the metro-
politan ezhibition. This report was adopted.

On the motion of Earl Cathcart, seconded by General
Viscount Bridport, Mr. Robert Neville, of Butley Court,
Glastonbury, was elected a member of Council, to fill the
"/aeaucy caused by the electioQ of Mr. Lawes as Vice-
i'.reaident.

Oo the motion of Eirl Cathcart, seconded by Mr.
Dent, Mr. Samuel P. Foster, of Killhow, Carlisle, was
elected a member of Council, to fill the vacancy caused by
the death of Mr. T. C. Booth of Warlaby.

Ou the motion of Mr. RiNDELL, seconded by General
Viscouut Bkidpokt. Mr. Davies's name was add'ed to the
Veterinary, Stock Prize,, and Metropolitan Exhibition
Committees.

The Committee of Inspection presented their report on
the proposed site and other accommodation offered by the
authorities of Carlisle for the country meeting of 1880 ;
and the Secretary was instructed to request the attendance
of a small deputation of the authorities at the next Council
meeting, and in the meantime to prepare a draft of an
agreement for execution if necessary.

In reference to the suggestion made by Mr, BowicK at
the general meeting in December,

Mr. Dent remarked that the object of the Colportage
Association in Bedfordshire was no doubt a very good one,
but the same might be said of cocoa and coffee-houses, and
other institutions. If the Council were to appoint a com-
mission to inquire into all these things, it would be
impossible to find the requisite money. He m'.ved,
" That in the opinion of this Council it is not desirable
at present to make any such inquiry as Mr. Bowick has
suggested.

Sir W. E. Welby Gregory seconded the motion,
adding that, according to his experience, the success of
such Associations depended on personal supervision and
care.
The motion was adopted.

As regards Mr. Thomas Bell's suggestion, made at
the General Meeting in December,

Mr. BowEN Jones observed that probably some ad-
vantage would be derived by small farmers by these
examinations now being instituted by the Science and
Art Department ; and as the best way of dealing with
the question, he would propose, " That Mr. Bell's sugges-
tion be referred to the Education Committee." Under
the scheme of the Science and Art Department certain
persons — such as (hose who had taken a degree at any
University in th« United Kingdom — were qualified to
teach agriculture, and he theught, if the Council con-
sidered the matter, they might be disposed to recommend
that gentlemen who had obtained either the diploma of
the Society or of the Agricultural College at Cirencester
should be placed on the same footing. If the scheme
were carried out extensively, many elementary teachers
would be found, whose technical knowledge qualified
them to teach agriculture.

Mr. Jabez Turner seconded the motion, remai-kiag
that anything which could bring increased education
before the sans of farmers was a matter deserving the
greatest consideration at the hands of the Council.

Mr. Vv'f.lls also spoke in favour of referring the
question to the Education Committee, and

The resolution was then adopted.

A letter was read from Mr. Milward, acknowledging
a letter from H.R.H. the Presider.t, on the occasion of his
(Mr. Milward's) retirement fmm the Council.

A letter was read from the Essex Agricultural Society
expressing their intention to hold their annual show as
usual.

A letter was read from Mr. Lawes, accepting ofiice as
.Vice-President of the Society.

An application from Mr. Stanford for the award of the
third prize in the class for Agricultural Horses at the
Taunton Show was refused.

Letters were read from the Science and Art Depart-
ment, acceding to the Society's application for the loan of

THE FARMER'S MAGAZIXE

a collection of specimens illustrative of food, and arcept-
ing the offer of an old leadea cistern, dated 1732, iu the
possession of the Society.

The Chaikman announced that since the last Council
meeting a portrait of H.K.H. had beuu presented to the
Society by the Prince of Walts.

HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL-

The monthly meeting of the directors of this Society
was held on Feb. 5 in Edinburg h — l\Ir. Gillon, of
Wallhouse, in the^chair. Remits to committees were made
in connection with the following subjects. — "Circuit of
Annual Shows," "General Meetings at Annual Shows,"
on "Chemical Analysis," and on the "Prize Essay
System." On an application by Colonel Innes of Learney,
the board agreed to ^ive a donation of £23 for this year in
aid of the School of Chemistry and AgricuUure established
in Aberdeen. The Secretary stated that the author ^f the
report on ring-shaking in trees, for which the premium of
the medium gold medal or iive sovereigns was awarded at
the general meeting, was Mr. Thomas Wilkie, forester
ArJkinglass, luverary. It was resolved that a family
prize for Shorthorns should be given at the general show
at Kelso iu ISSO — each entry to consist of a cow and two
of her descendants, male or female. The Secretary stated
that (in consequence, he believed, of a notice in the
O'azetto made by a member of the Society disclaiming
membership) he had received some applications iuquiriog
if the holding of bank stock by the Society involved the
members in personal liability. The directors instructed
the Secretary to insert iu the report of this da)'s meeting
the following statement: —

That the Society is incorporated by R.oyal charter, and that
the only obligation thereby imposed on members is payment of
their subscription ; that it liad been announced from the
bench of the Court of Session that "a corporation b?ing a
separate person, has its own estate aad its owu liabilities, and
the corporators (members) are not liable fur tlie corporation,
but only /o the corporatiyn williiu the liu.it of the obiigntion
they had uodertakea to subscribe to the corporate funds;"
members, therefore, are liable fur nothing beyond their sub-
scriptions.

A copy of the agreennent between the Society a-.d the
Eoyal College of Veterinary Surgeons, referred to at the
general meeting on the loth ult., was engros^'ed in the
proceedings. The agreement has been framed with the
view to the admission of the holders of the Highland
Society's veterinary certificate as members of the College,
and also for the purpose of terminating the examinalious
in veterinary sugery heretofore held by the Society.

BRITISH DAIRY FARMERS' ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the Committee of this Association took
place at 44.G, Strand, on Tuesday, the 4th ult., T. Nuttall,
Esq., of Beeby, Leicester, iu tlie chair.

The following new members were elected •.—
The Earl of Huntingdon, Clashmore House, Waterford,
Mr. Chirles Howard, Biddenham, Bedford.
Mr. F. Street, Sumprsham Park, Huntingdon,
Mr. VV. A. Dolby, Cambridge Villa, New Barnet.

The Hon. Secretary read the names of gentlemen
who had been invited aud had consented to act, if elected
on the future Council. A list of fifty-four was prepared,
containing alllhose proposed, acopy of which will be sent
to each member of the Association, who will be requested
to affix his signature to thirty-six.

It was decided, however, that before the actual election
should commence all outstanding matters of a financial
character should be disposed of, and all debts due to the
Society collected, ic order that the new executive body

may proceed, as soon as possible afler its formation, with
the practical work of the Association in the dairy interest,
without being embarrassed by unsettled affairs of the past
management.

The Hon. Sec. reported that a considerable number of-
subscriptions for 1878 and a few for 1877 were still iu
arrear, and instructions were accordingly given to address
circulars to all members who had not paid, requesting them.'
to do so as soon as possible.

The ./oz^r^a/ Committee reported that estimates had
been received for the printingof the ,/o?/nin/ for 1878, the
publication of which had been delayed in order to include-
with the original papers contributed by members a repriut
of the catalogue of the late Dairy Show, thoroughly revised
and corrected, with marginal notes of the awards, jit vvaa-
resolved to tix the price of the Journal ^i half-a-crown..

The question of sending a representative to the Dertin'
Dairy Show was again brought forward, and discussed,
but finally abandoned. Arrangemeius were, however,
made to secure a special detailed report for publication iu
the Journal for 1879-

Professor Sheldon submitted for the consideration of
the Committee ac arrangement he was able to make with
some manufacturers of dairy utmsils in the United States,
whereby specimens of the newest and most approved
implements in use in that country would be sent over for
exhibition at the London Dairy Show, to be the property
of the Association on the paymeut of carriage from
America. It being considered by the Committee that
the exhibition of such utensils would not only be interest-
ing to the public, but have a tendency to forward the
objects of the Society, it was unanimously resolved to.
adopt the suggestion.

ENGLISH CART-HORSE.

The Council meeting of this Society was held on
Feb. 4, in a rcom of the Society of Arts, Adelphi,
London, the Hon. E. Coke in the chair.

Forty-two new members were elected, His Royal
Highness the Prince of Wales becoming both a life
member and patron of the Society.

It has been arranged that

The following four champion cupsi valued at £35 each,
shall he competed for at the Royal Agricultural Society's
Show, to be held in. Loudon in July next, aud shall be
awarded to agricultural horses not eligible to compete in
the Clydesdale or Suffolk classes: —

No. 1. Presented by the Earl of Ellesmere, as President of
the Eaglisli Cart-horse Society, for the beat Stallion three years
old and upwards in Classes 1 and 2.

No. 2. Presented by the Council of the English Cart-horse
Society for the best two-year-old or yearling Stallion in Classes
3 and 4.

No. 3. Presented by the Council of the Engli.sh Cart-horse-
Society for the best Mare or Filly (not Clydesdale or Suffolk),
three years old and upwards, in classes 18 aud 21.

No. 4. Presented by the Council of the English Cart-horse
Society for the best tv/o year old or yearling Filly in classes
24 and 27.

SHORTHORN.

A meeting of the Council of this Society was held at the
Society's Rooms, 12, Hanover Square, on Tuesday the
4lh ult. Present — Colonel Kingscote, C.B., M.P., vice-
president, in the chair; Mr. Hugh Aylmer, Mr. H. W,
Beauford, Mr. John B. Booth, Mr. H. Chandos-Pole-Gell^
Mr. John Harward, Mr. C. Howard, Mr. D. Mcintosh,
Rev. T. Stanifortb, Mr. R. Stratton, and Mr. Jacob
Wilson.

The following nevf members were elected : —
Barnes, C. A., Soksbridge, Richraansworlh, Herts.

l~2 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

B ak, Captain W. E., Mnnor House, Sonierl'ord, Cliipiieuham

B 0 li, Mrs , Udrlaby, Norlliallertou.

Bourke, W. Cariip')ell, TIeelasli, Ftrmoy, Co. Cork.

Cuntlie, C. A., Keiihraore, DulTvOwu, K.B.

Coleman, Johu, Carnaby, Hull.

llamijson, Mrs. S. W , liUeuwood. Clieltenliam.

J,et;s Harold, Fickliill Hall, Wrexham.

Miles, Sir Puilip, Bart., Leigh Court, Bristol.

Moir, Captain J. G., The Manor House, CoUey, lleigate.

IS'cwtou, II. v., Pulstrong, Camborne, Cornwall.

0*eu, r. B., Deefield, Ellesmere, Salop.

Bobsoo, Jjiiu, juQ., Biruess, Oit rlairu, Northumberlaud.

R.ssell, Nathauiel.A'orihallerton, Yorkshire.

Stonhain, Henry, Thuraham, Maidstone, Kent.

Taylor, Ceorge, Stanton Trior, Bristol.

Thomson, 11 , Burnbauk Farm, Blairdrumraond, N B.

Torrome, Franciso, -i, Jeffrey's Sqaare, St. Mary Axe, E.C

W..iud, John, Ankness, K:rby Mourside, Yorksliire.

and 13, providing; for the increase of the nu nher of
members of the Council to 33, retiring 11 at a time, and
abolishing the ollice of Honorary Councilmen.

The report was adopted.

The proposed alterations in the Articles of Associatioti
having been read and considered, it was resolved that at
the next annual general meetin'^ of members they be
leeo omended to the members for adoption, and that due
notice of the said alterations be sent to each member of
the Society at the proper tune.

The next meeting of the Council was fixed for Tuesday,
the 4th of March, at 3.30 p.m.

SMITHFIELD CLUB.

EDITING COMMITTEE.

CoLOXKL KixGscoTE reported that the Comrailtee had
esamiutd the pedigrees of several bulls sent for insertion
in the forthcoming volume, some of which they had
accepted ; and they had directed the Secretary to obtain
further iuforinatiou with regard to others, previous to
their acceptance or otherwise by the Committee.

That the Committee recommended the following new
regulation with regard to entries in the Herd Bjok ;—

Th: t in case of a pedigree entered.iu the Herd Book for the
first time, m addition to acertiticate from tiie breeder of tlie
animal, tliere sliall be required a certiticate from the breeder of
each dam in the pedigree for tour generations, setting 'orth the
date of calving, and giving the na'nes of the persona whose
hands the dams have passed.

That the Committee also desired to lay before the
Council an application from the editor of an agricultural !
paper, asking for an exchange of the Herd Book with that
paper. I

This report was adopted; and on the motion of Mr. >
D. -Mcintosh, seconded by Mr. C. Howard, it was re- ■
solved : —

That a free copy of the /■//^■';r volumes of the Herd Book 1
be sent to the principal agricultural papers for review in I
exchange for a free copy, sent to the Society, of those papers i
as published week'y.

A list of the said agricultural papers was thereupon I
settled by the Council, and the Secretary was directed to I
forward a copy of this resolution to the editors of the
respective papers.

GEXERAL PUKPOSES COMMITTEE.

Mr. D. McIxTosii reported the accounts for the mouths !
of December and January had been examined by Messrs.
Quilter, B Jl, and Co., and the Cloramittee, and were '
found to be correct; that the Secretary's petty cash
account had been examined and passed, and showed an
expenditure of i2J^ 4s. lid. during the puil two mouths ;
that the receii-ti for the same period had been £1,030 5s.
5d., the balance of the Society's current account at the
banker's being £1.058 16s. lid., and that t'ae sura of .€500
(less expense?) had been invested in the 3 per cent.
Consols. That the Committee recommtuJcJ that
cheques be drawn for various accounts amouuting to £611
8s. 3d.

That the Committee had considered an application from
the secretary of the Newcastle Farmers' Club, asking at
what price the Society would supply certain volumes of
the Herd Book to the Club, and the Committee recom-
mended that the Newcastle Fanners' Club have the
privelege of purchasing such volumes at members' rates. ^

That the Committee wished to lay before the Council,
for their consideration, the proposed alterations in the
Articles of Association, viz., Articles 8, 'J, 10, 11, 1-,

At a meeting of the Council held at the Agricultural
Hall, Tuesday, F'ebruary 4th, 187'J, Col. Kingscote, C.B.,
.M.P., President, in the chair.

The ittinutes of the last Council meeting were read and
confirmed.

The Veterinary Inspector's report on the health of the
animals at the last show was re.ad.

Mr. Thomas Brown, of Marham, Downham, Norfolk, and
M"*. V. B. Watts, of iMelcomb, Horsey, D jrchester, were
unanimously elected stewards of live stock for the ensuing
three years.

Mr. Joseph Druce, of Eynsham, Osford, and Mr. Robert
Leeds, of Keswick Old Hall, Norwich, were
unanimously elected stewards of implements for the
present year.

The following reports of the stewards of live stock were
read, leceived, and adopted, viz. : —

A protest was lodged against pen No. 261, on the grouidj
that one of the ewes was under three years oid. Having care-
fully considered the ma ter, and heard the evidence of both
parties, they decided that the protest was not sustained, and
therefore the prizs as awarded shall be paid to the exhibitor.

A protest was entered against pen No. 363, in Class 70, on

account of the age of the pigs not corresponding with the

j entry. The exhibitor admitted to the stewards that t!ie pij;s

I were wrongly placed through the negligence of his servant ;

' and they were accordingly discjaaiified. Pen No. 3S5, in Class

I 75, was protested against as being of the same litter as No,

I 319, Class (56, and therefore not qualifi 'd to compete in a class

for other breeds. The baililf of the exhibitor admitted thit

I they were all of the same litter. They were, therefore, die-

qualified ; and the stewards recommend that no certihc.i'e

1 binned by James Robertson, the baililf to Lord ll.idnor,

I be received for any of the Club's shows for the future, lie

having certified that the same litter of pi j^were of different

I breeds.. The stewards, therefore, recoram i ( that the cup be

1 given to reserve nurnber 382. They have to report that

the pen of p'gs. No. 376, in Class 72, having been certified by

Professor Brown to be of different ages, the breeder has been

called up on to prove the correctness of his certificate,

Th y recommend that the following addition be made to
rule No. 16 in the priie sheep : — " It the exhibitor or brteder
should fail to do this by the 30;h day of January next,
after the show the stewards shall report the facts of the case to
The next Council meeting, and the Council shall
de'ermine whether the exhibitor or breeder, or both, shall be
allowed to exhibit in future at the Club's show."

Also, that the following addition be made to rule No. 43 (in
regard to protests) : — " That anv person or persons lodging a
protest shall deposit the sum of £5 with the secretary of the
Club and if on investigation the protest is not sustained to
the s^itisfaction of the stewards, the sum thus deposited shall,
at the discretion of the Council, be forfeited to the funds of
the Club."

With re'creiice to the pen of pigs No. 376, belonging to Mr.
Elward Tombs, of Shilton, and brel by Mr. ^^'illianl Tombs,
of L-ingtbrd, and respec'iiig which the Veterinary Professor
reported that the dentition indicated that the three p'gs were
not all ol 'he same litter, the stewards beg to report tint, the
cihibilur :\ul. ''C'-ider haviii^- bcm called upon to prove the

THE FARiMliR'S MAGAZINE.

ITS

corrpclupss of their cerlificatfs, after personal conference be-
tweeu tlie stewards and exliibitor, and correapoudeuce wiili
tlie breeder, the latter wrote the followins; letter: —

Latigford, Dl'o. ::i-ih, 1873.
Sir, — I must admit thit my pigs have been all lt;l lun to-
gether in yards, havjupj no proper styes, and it may be that
the three pigs are not all of tlie same litter. Havin;? no idea
of showing them myself, did not take the precaution to keep
them separate, which now I deeply regret.
Yours truly.

(Signed) W. Tom us.

Unler these circumstances the Stewards disqualified tiie
pigs, in accordan(-e with the rules of the Club.

The Stewards consider it, highly reprehenbible for a breeder
to sign his name to a ceriificnte of the correctness of winch he
is unable eveu to sa'isly himself. The Stewards hope tliat the
addition which thry recommend to be made to Rule 16 will
enable the Council in future to deal with cases of this descrip-
tion as each may appear to deserve.

It was resolved — That the special rules hitherto ia force,
preveutin^ animals exhibited at othtr shows wilh.a a
month previous to the Smithtield Club's Show, shall not
be io operation any longer ; but that the following be con-
tinued as heretofore : —

3, Tliat the exhibitor shall s^nJ with each animal a, csrtifi-
ficate that it has not been, for fourteen days previous to its
leaving home for the SmithfKld Club's Show, in contact with
any animal suffering from cou'agious or infectious disease.
Ko animal will be admitted wiihout this certificate.

4. That all animals undergo a veterinary examination pre-
vious to being admitted at the doors o'' the Agricaltural Hall ;
and that suitable covering; be coli^t^u.s'ed over the outer yard
to enable this to be properly carried out.

A committee was appointed, consistins; of the Presi-
dent, Lord WalsiDglwm, Messrs. Jacob Wilson, Charles
Howard, Thomas Brown^ Richard Stratton, ^yaIter
yartbingr, Jingh Aylmerf John Tieadwell, Garrett Taylor,
Edward PaddisoD, and Henry Webb, to take evidence,
consider, and report on the prize-sheet generally,. and
especially as to the advisab lity of any alteration being
ui'de for the year 1880, prohibiting auimals once shown
being agaia eshibited, a!so for preventing aged animals
eumpeting for the champion plate,, and of s'.iJl further
reducing the number of prizes for the older classes of
animals.

It was resolved to alter the rule which exempts- Scotch
animals from having their ages certiSed so as not to make
the exemptions applicable to the Scotch Pollad breed.
The exemption to be only far liighlaud Scotch and the
Welsh breeds.

It was resolved to add the following words to the
division for " Pigs of any other breed "■ — viz., " No pigs
q^naliBed for the precsding classes can be shown in this
division."

A suggestF:n as to judges was referred to the Judges
Selection Committee,

Various communications and suggestions were con-
sidered, and replies ordered to be given thereto.

The Implement Committee was re-appointed, with the
same powers a* heretofore..

It was resolved that the arrangements made for some
years past with the proprietora of cattle conveyances be
so continued, thus leaving it to the exhibitors to make
their own arrangenaents as to the conveyance of their
animals to the yard.

It was determined tkat tha application to institute prizes
for Guernsey fat cattle cannot be acceded to ; also that an
application for classes for pigs producing the greatest
amount of lean meat cannot be granted. j

It was determined to add to the diplomas given to the
men who have had the charge and feeding of first-prize j
animals, a statement of the breed cups or champion cup, as
the case may be^ in the diplomas issued to the respective
winaei's. j

It was determined to add the word " Iambs" as well as
sheep in the conditious for the breed cups and champiju
plate (sheep).

The following were duly elected members of the Club : —

Walter Gilhey, of Elsenliam Hall, Essex.

S. Field, of Farnsficld, S)iithwe 1, Notts.

Thomas Purkis Brand, of Foxeartli, Essex.

Betts W. Hammond, of I'Venze Hall, l>iss, Norfollt.

J. S. Stone, of JN'ert'port, Mon.

GsorgeGirne, of CuurchiU Heath, Chipping Norton, Osom

The best thanks of the meeting v.iere voted to Colonel
Kingscote, C.B., W.P.^ the President, for his able con-
duct in the chair, and the Right Hon. Lord Walsinghcim,
V-P., for having presided after the President had lett.

The meeting then adjourned till the usuil meeting in
November, anless a Council meeting be called in the meaa-,
time by order of the President.

JfavmtvB* €liib0»

CENTRAL..

The first meeting of the Farmers' Club in its exccllenS
new quarters, at the Inns of Court Hotel, Holboru, took
place last Monday, Fel. 3, the attendance being nume-
lous. For son.e time before the proceedings commenced
many of the members were engaged in inspectiug the
various rooms, which in all respects appear likely to give
general satisfaction, the amount and character of the
accommodation, as well as the aspect of the hotel, being
all that could be desired. The chairman for the year,
Mr. Pickering Phipps, M.P., presided.

The Chaii'-..m.\n said; Gentlemen, — Lpon this, the
first occasion that I have had the pleasure oi presiding
as your chairman at a Club discussion, allow me to thank
I you for the distinguished honour (hat you have paid me
j by electing me. Followin;^ as I do so many excellent
predecessors, I cannot hope to appear very successful, but
I of this yon may rest assured, thnt I shall do my best to
perform the duties which engage my attention (Cheers.).
L wish I could congratulate my brother farmers upon the
advent of better tiiaes ; but 1 feel certaintbat few of you
can recollect a period when agriculture was- in- a st'ate of-
sreater depression than it is at the present moment
(Hear, hear). But I hope that the iiidomitable pluck of
the British farmer, which has led hiiii out of many
difficulties, will get him out of these. I trust that,
having had what may be called an old-fashioned wintec
and a frost which has done a great deal of good to tb&
land, we shall see them succeeded by a genial springs and
that through the blessing of Providence we shall have
larger crops than we have seen for some years. I am Sony
to tell you that the gentleman who was to have read tha
paper this evening, Mr. James Howard, vk'hose kind and
geuial face we must all miss, has met with a severe
accident. He has dislocated and broken his ankle, ajid
is at the present time in bed, at the St- Pancras Hotel ;
but t am happy to say that he is going on well (cheers),
and I hope he v^ill soon be with us again. Ilis nephew,
Mr. J. P. Farrar, has ivndei taken to read the paper,
which, if we were to judge from Mr. Howard's ability
and experience, is sure to prove interesting (Cheers) .

The paper was then read, as follows : —

Four years aso I brought before the Club the saiiiSary con-
dition ol our villages. To-day my subject bears upon their
social, moral, and intellectual condition.

The two subjects, althougli apparently rerao'e, are not alto-
gether dissociated, iuastaueh as nothing is more calcul<ted to
retMrd moral progress than the indecent or filthy surroundings.
Ua this point, in a pamphlet upon the Suffolk Village Clubs,

174

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

life he is found, man ia the same — a being social by natural
in tinct, influenced by external surroundinpa whether they be
elevatiog or demoralising?. Mucii laulc has beeu found with
labouring classes upon the score of intemperance, but I am
not sure that to a great extfut this his not resulted from
circumstances oyer which tliey have iiad but little control.
So far as asricultaral labourers are concerned, I would ask,
is not the old but gradually diminishing practice of giving
largrt quantities of beer to both bojs and men during hay time
and harvest answerable for some of ilie unconquerable lovfi of
it which so extensively prevails ? Bat, apart from this, we
have to take into ace lunt what a German philosopher has
termed " the play element of human nature." Is it reasonable
to suppose that men and lads, especinlly lliose in whom the
social instinct is highly developed, sliould be content afier the
labours of the d ly to spend their evening hours from nightfall
to bedtime in their own lioraes ? Those who think so know
little of human nature, and still less of the nor:nal or occa-
sional discomforts of the cottager's own fireside. That so large
a proportion of our labouiers exercise so mucli self-denial, and
put up, week after week, with their own scanty domestic
accomuiodatian rather than join the company in the taproom,
redounds greatly to their credit, and has o ten been to me a
subject of surprise and satisfa-;tiou. I would, before quit-
ling this part of my su'iject, say a word or two about
publicans and public.houses. 1 am not one of those who
deal out wholesale denunciation of this class or of these places.
In ray early career I iiad occasion to visit hundreds of villages
in ditlVreut parts of England upon business, and had, therefore,
abundant opportuuities of becomitig actjuainted with the clia-
racter and vi^ws of publicans, with much of the inner life of
the houses, also wi h the couvenieucies such places afford to
he traveller. Tliat they are not ail conducted without regard-
to morality, titat very many are in the hands of men of right
feeling, I have had ample proof. Frequently have I heard
from the lips of publicans tliat drunken men are the worst
enemies ol their houses, for they drive away and keep away
the better and more constant customers — sober and
respectable people. Still the fact remains that, however
deiirous a publican may be ol couductmg his house in an
orderly and respectable manner, he cannot chooe his cus-
tomers ; being a public-houie, it is not like a shop, but every
passer-by has the right not only to enter, but on certain condi-
tions may remain as long as the honse Im legal'y open. A
villager, therefore, on going to a public-house is never sure of
the company he will meet. The London Farmers' Club has
been for some years past, and will be, I hope, for many years
to come, a centre which lias afforded much social and intel-
lectual enjoyment to its members, Meeting here, as they do,
from the various counties of England, and interchanging ideas
and opinions upon subjects of common interest, they can to
of the National Agricultural Labourers' Union for every ( the full extent appreciate the advantages which a club possesses

Mr. Robert Johnson justly observes :— " All efforts for the
'fmelioration of the lalouter's lot are neutralised if his dwel-
liog does not permit the observance of even the ordinary
decencies of li'e." I am glad to say that through the Rural
Sinitary Ai.thoriics soms pro^^ress has been made in the s.tni-
t.ry condition of our villages since the tiaie 1 have just re-
lerred to ; but having had experience in the adrainibtr<«iion of
the Sanitary Acts, I would for a moment go out of niy way
and embrace this opportunity of expressing an opinion that
the radical reforms required ia a vast number of our villages
will ne^er be made until the burdeu is placed upon the right
phoulder-, and the necessary rates are payable by the owners of
the soil instead of by the occupiers. That the permanent pro?-
ptritv, or the ultimate decline, of a nation, mainly depends
uprn whether the people are intelligent, sober, and thrifty, or
ignorant, intemperate, and improvident, is a proposition that
few in the present day will be found to dispute. The rapid
rtcovery of the Freueh nation from the paralysis consequent
upon the gigantic losses sustained through her war with Ger-
many is the most startling of modern instances of the import-
aoce to a country of sobriety and thrift amongst its people, j
Except to the working classes themselves, to no section of the
community is their condition and character so important as to |
the employers of labour. It follows, therffore, that the sub-
yct for discussion which I have undertaken to introduce to-
day, although it does not, like most subj-cts brought before
you, bear directly upon the practical fcu-incss of the farm, yet,
8?,eing that it aims at raising the moral tone of our labourers
and villagers, it cannot but be regarded as one most fitting to
be discussed by the members of the London Farmers' Club.
Having devoted some time and thought for two or three years
pis.t to the subject, 1 have arrived at the conclusion that, if
the Elementary EJucation Acts are to exert a p(rmanent and
beneficial influence upon our village population, a vigorous and
widespread eTort must be made to provide (or tliose who have
passed through the schools the means and opportunities for
rational amusement and instruction ; aud I am glad to find,
judging from the efforts which have been made in various
parts of England, that a good many thoughtful people have
arrived at the same conclusion. So small amount of the cost
of improved education having come out of the pockets of the
firmers, to them no less than to the landowners the question
whether the froits of our present rural education are to be
thrown away or harvested cannot be one of indifference. That
" a little knov.ledge is a dangerous thing" we have heard from
youth up. It is to be hoped that! lie coming generation of
agricultural labourers will in many things prove wiser than the
present. That an important section " is being befooled and
betrayed" we have upon the authority of their own chosen
and able champion, Joseph Arch. From the startling protest
issued by him last week it would appear that the wire-pullers

£10,000 collected aud administered, manage to retain no less
a sum than £7,000 for themselves and official expenses. Again,
it is to be hoped that such folly as has lately been displayed by
the Kent and Sussex men will not be repeated in the future.
It is really lamentable tl*at so large a number of deserving
men should, tlirough ignorance of economical laws ol the most
elementary kind, have been thus led away. To turn, however,
to the more immediate subject of my paper, I would inquire,
if the circumstances which surround the population of our
■villages are surveyed, what is the result P lu the majority of
cases not a single' place of amusement or recreation is to be
found into which the young labourer can put his head, except
the public-house. Warnings against the danger of frequent-
ing these places and the habits to which the practice leads
have not been lacking. From every pulpit in the laud the
voice of admonition has constantly been h^ard ; from boyhood
our rustics have been accustomed to listen to exhortations
upon the sin aud misery resulting from drunkenness, aud to be
scolded by well-meaning people npon the folly of spending
their evenings at the public-house. To preach morally to
others has never, from the days of Noah, been a diflicult task,
but to realise the ditlicuities of carrying the virtue into practice
it is essential that those who exhort should look into tlie cir-
cumstances of the class or of the individuals addressed. 1
would not for a moment extenuate the folly of the labourer or
say one word which could be regarded by him asfurnishiug an
excuse for spending his time and money at the public-house,
but in looking calmly at a question of this kind we are bound
in justice to take a man as he is. No matter in what r»uk of

over an inn, It would not assuredly administer to the enjoy-
ment or edification of the persons using these rooms if every
passer through Loudon claiming connection with the agricul-
tural interest had the ri,:^lit of entry, and it is to just this
difference that the club for a village possesses superior advan-
tages over the public-house. Having takeu some trouble to
inquire into the working of village clubs, I have been led to
the conclusion that neither reading-rooms nor clubs ate attrac-
tive or successful where exciseable liquors are prohibited. To
attempt in this way to allure the labourer from his beer has
proved not only abortive but frustrative of the object in view,
lu any attempts to elevate the labourer his tastes and habits
in this and other matters mu!.t to a certain extent be
considered ; and unless our schemes are adapted thereto
failure will be the inevitable result. The inos^ successful clubs
are those in which, in the words of the late Vicar of Stock-
cross, " the innocent charms of the beerhouse are found without
its contaminating influence aud associates." The prohibition
of beer is looked upon by the class intended to be benefited ia
the light of distrust, and many well-meaning promoters of
village clubs have tound this means of enforcing temperance
resented as an affront, distrust on the part of patrons being
repaid by distrust. The Hun. and ll3v. Orlando Forester,
Gealing ilectory, Nottingham, in writing of a club established
in his own parisli remarks : " Some whose opinions I greatly
value urged upon me the desirability of constituting the club
a place of resort such as is known in large towns as the public-
house without the drink. I could not, however, take their
view. I am myself a tctal abst.niner, uol because I hold tbi>t

THE FARMER'S MAGAZl^'E.

];

it is sia''ul to drink . . . Still it would be foolish to shut one's
eyes to the fact that the great majority everywhere is en the
side wliich is opiio-ed to total abstmence, and cannot be brought
to view matters in the light taken by total abst;uner8. So it
beeined to be the better way to shape the Club so that it might
give opportunities of independence and foster habits of mode-
ration amongst those who were not teetotallers. To have set
going an ebtabli!.hment like a temperance hall might have
started an institution which would liave gathered a few
members, but it would have sliut out the bulk of the
parishioners, compelling those who might be willing to
dissociate themselves from the influence of ilie public-iiouse to
continue under that influence, and it would moreover liave
been a costly failure." About the be.st sample of village club
which has co;ne under ray observation is one founded last year
by Sir Puilip Hose, Bart,, at Tyler's Green, Bucks, and I'rora
what I liad read and heard of it 1 was induced to p<4y it a visit
last week. Sir Philip has erect^d the buildinan and furnished
them with every convenience at his own cost. The South Bucks
Free Press wrote of it as follows •—" There has risen dutiug
the past few moutlis a building 'hat bids fnir to exercise a
potent influence upon the future history of Tyler's Green and
the neighbourhood. In common with most other reflective
men. Sir Philtp Hose, the Iiij?h Sheriff of Bucks, has felt a
deep interest in what is called, somewhat vaguely, the ' terape-
ranee question.' Ha has not hesitated to express his opiuiou
that the problem is yet unsolved ; that the agencies which are
at work in the country, good as far as they go, touch but
the fringe of the question and stop there, incapable from their
own character of penetrating any furtlier. Whether this
opinion be the correct one or not, Sir Philip Rose carries it
to its logical sequence. He does not doubt the efficacy of the
theories of total abstainers aud the ddvocates of legislative
f nactrae.its without proposing his own solution in place of
tiieirs. His reply is not a simple non possumus, but an offer-
in? of something which he holds to be better. He says, in
effect, that this question of temperance is only one part of a
great reform which should aim at a general upraising of the
standard of taste among the woikiug clisses — a reform which
will work by instilang new habits ot thought, and will end,
not in compelling a man to be a sober and well-oondacted
citizen, but in first implanting such a desire in his heart and
then giving him the opporiuni'y of gratifj ing it. Above all,
a reform from which ostentatious charity and patronage shiU
be rigidly excluded, and ia which the self-respect aud intelli-
♦gence oi the working man himself shall be allowed to pUy
their own proper part. The practical outcome ot this reason-
ing is the building we have spoken of. Sir t'hilip Rose has
built and furnished it, aud offers it to the Club tor a couple of
years free of all charges. At the expiration of that time it ia
anticipated that the Club will have ample ability to run alone,
and that its best interest will be consulted by allowing it a
wholcforae independence. The rules aud bye-laws of the
newly. furraed Club have been registered under the Friendly
Societies Act, a step which h;is been lb ken for several reasons,
one being the consequent necessity of senrfiu? an annual
return and balanceslieet to the Registrar. They contiin ex-
plicit information as to its objects and constitution. Rule II.
sajs: — 'The objects of this society are to afford to the mem-
bers the means of social intercourse, mutual helpfulness,
mental and moral improvement, industrial wellaie, aud
rational recreation.' "

Ina speech at the opening the founder remarked: "The
subject of working men's cubs has become a great question.
It lies at the root of what is occupying the attention of every
thoughtful mind — how to raise the tone and improve the
habits of the working classes, and to wean them Irora the
debasing influences of intemperance. There is, unfortunately,
I am afraid, no difference of opinion as to tl;e existence of the
evil, or tliat while intemperance has almost disappeared, or has
been very greatly lessened, among the upper ind middle clisses
It is not so among the working classes, but there has been a
proportionate increase. The evil is admitted; but the remedies
proposed are various. Some think that drunk- nisess can be
abolished by Parliamentary restrictions; other most excellent
people devote their lives to a crusade in favour of total ab-
stinence, and, by appeals to the reason, and experience, and
better nature of the working man, hope to induce him to
exchange his beer tor cocoa and coffee. Otiiers suppose that
by opening a room and filling it with newspapers and good
backs the woriing man caa.be induced to Jmake the taproom

aud take to the lustitufe all at once. But these effort"
however praiseworthy they are, fail. The total abstinence
movement cflTecta great benefit, no doubt, in individual cases,
hut it fails to reach the masses — it cannot effect the iiabits of
a nation. So also with tlie Institutes, although they may
continue to exist, the working mnn is not found there. I
venture to think that all these efforts begin at the wrong end.
There are, however, some who take a broader and more prac-
tical view of this important question, and thiuk that the true
solution of the problem is to begin at the other end — by
recognising the tastes and habits of the working classes as they
now exist, and endeavouring by judicious treatment to
gradually improve those habits. To that category we belong.
VVe believe that human nature is the same in every rank of
li'e, and that if the same influences which have operated to
reduce the evils of intemperance among the upper and
middle classes could be brought to bear ou the working chsses
they would be equally effective. We therefore have 'founded
our club upon ttiat broad basis. AVe have built a very com-
fortable room, which will be well lighted and warmed. We
oH'er every facility for reading and writing— we have provided
it with the most comfortable chairs — we supply it with the
daily, weekly, aud local papers, with periodicals, excellent
maps, where any member can trace out the abode of friends
in distant lands, such as America and Canada — we have the
nucleus of an excellent library, which no doubt will be in-
creased by the kindness of our friends, so as soon to fill our
empty shelves— we have provided bagatelle and other games,
which c^n be made use of at a trifling charge. We of course
prohibit in the strongest terms betting, gamblinj, or playing
for money or money's worth. We provide refreshments in the
shape of tea, cofl'ee, and cocoa, all of which are most comfort-
ably served at the lowe.st possible price. But in addition to
these, having in view the principle with which we set out —
that we should try to help the working man in his own way,
and, by improving his associations and surroundings, raise his
own self-respect and make him ashamed to transgress or
commit any excess — we also provide him with all the refresh-
ments of an excisable nature which he would obtain at a
public-house. lu fact, everything that can be obtained at the
public-house to which he has been accustomed to go can be
obtained here, of, I need not say, perfectly sound quality, and
necessarily at a much cheaper rate. I use the word necessarily
advisably, because the very principle of a club is that the
members should have what is supplied to them practically at
cost price. The subscriptions are calculated to defray
establishment charges, and what is paid for refreshments ought
to be as nearly as possible what the article cost. Tne
result 13 that our tariff is a very low one. We are able to sell
beer, instead of one penny the half-pint, at three farthings,
and spirits and wine at equally low prices. Everything has
been calculated upon the lowest possible scile, so as ju^t to
yield a slight profit to the Club. Our terms of admission are
23. a quarter, or 2d. a week ; so that any working man who
choose." to deny himself one pint of beer at the public house
in the course of a week can enjoy all the privileges of the
Club, or if he drinks a pint of beer a day and has it at the
Club, he saves his subscription in the week. We have another
class of subscribers to which we attach great importance, that
is the library subscribers, intended more lor women. That is,
I believe, a special feature of this Club. We have taken a
great deal of pains to ascertain what the wants of our neigh-
bours are, and we think this will be of great use. Por 58. a
year those not related to members, including females, eaa
enjoy all the benefits of the Club up to fice o'clock in the
summer and four ia the winter, and partake of i.\\ refresh-
ments except exciseaole articles — read the papers, write their
letters, bring their work here or their lace-pillows, and sit
under the balcony outside, or inside. The hours of admission
are from ten in the morning to ten at night on ordinary days,
and from eleven to eleven on Saturdays. We have also, alter
due deliberation, and I am thanklul to say with the full
sanction and approval of our excellent clergyman, determined
to open it on Sundays, from two till five in the afternoon and
from eight till ten at night — (cheers)~and I sincerely believe
we shall do nothing wrong in having determined on that
course, or violate what all Englishmen respect— the due
religious observance of the day of rest."

I have no hesitation in afPirming that this Club has been
formed on a sound basis. A wcli-coaiidertj set of rules and

l76

THE FARMEhi'S ilAGAZEXE.

byp-laws have bpon ndnpted, wliicli are published by Harrison
and Son, St. Martin's Lane, London. Those about to es abhsh
a Club will do well to obtain a copy.

From a letter Sir Philip has addressed to me upon the sub-
ject I extract the following : —

" The St. Margaret's Club has 130 o-dinary members. In
December last vpe had 1,0^7 separate attendances of members,
and the consumption of be? rand ale was not quite three-
quutera of a pint per head ; and although I sliould like to
see the consumption diminish, there is not much to complain
of. 1 already see great improvement in the habits of old
haViltics of public-houses. The co-operative principle has
been brought to bear on the supply of t-a, petroleum oil, and
c.ial;and, notwithstanding the very low prices at which the
articles are supplied, we have realized in four months about
£30 profit, thas proving that the Institution may be made
more tliau sell-supporting. A Penny Bank and Thrift Socie y
in connection with the Club has also been established."

In no part of the country have Village Clubs taken such
deep root as in the county of Suffolk, no fewer than twenty-
four having been already established. They are, of course,
of various sizes, adapted to tlie requirements of the different
parishes, and are attiliaied to the Suffolk Village Club anl
Reading Room Associition. The ohj -cts of this central Asso-
ciation are to assist existing Clubs and Reading Rooms in a
variety of useful ways, and to aid iu the formation of new
Institutions of the kiuJ throughout the county.

Since my paper was finished I have received from Mr.
Robert Johnson, of Boyton, Woodbridge, Suffolk, a commu-
nication of so much interest that I have struck out mauy of
my own remarks, in order to find room for his practical state-
ra-'Ut, to which I invite careful attention, Blr. Johnson having
had so much practical experience of the subject : —

" Boyton, Woodbridge, Suffolk,
January 25, 1879.

" My Dear Sir, — You are kind enough to ask me to write
you on the subject of Village Clubs. You doubtless wish me
to ;oadense into as small a space as possible the little I have
to say. With this view I will arrange my letter under three
heads ^—

" 1. As to our Suffolk Village Club and Reading Room
Association.

' 2. As to Village Clubs and Reading Rooms in general.

" 3. As to the future of such institutions.

" 1. .«IS TO OUR Sui'FOLK VILLAGE ClUB AND READING

Room Association.— By reference to the reports, of wliich I
Bend copies, it will be seen that our Association was started
in June, 1S7J ; tliat atlhe end of the first year we had seven
clubs in union, at the end of the second year eighteen, and at
the end of the third year twenty-four. The fourth year, which
will end in May next, will show a similarly satisfactory condi-
tion of steady progress. Some of thess Clubs are small, some
are very large ; many may be said to owe their existence in
great part to the aid given by our Association to local fffort ;
but, once set going, the Clubs appear slowly, but surely, to
develop llieinselves. This steady and practically unilorm rate
ot progress convinces me that the Clubs meet a very real
viaut; that they are the result of no mere passing popular
' fad ' or ' fancy,' but that they are the natural outcome ot the
de.sire for a to'mewhat better and higher life on the part of
the class of persons who use them. lam certainly of opinion
that any county would do well to start a similar association.
A county offers a workable area, and the leading' men in each
county are '.he best possible jidges of what will suit their
locality. Men are proud of their native county, and the
local esprit de corps should be made available. A small com.
miltee of active men could start and work such an associatiin
in any county in England. Our success in Suffolk is greatly
due to tlie unwearied exertions of Lord John ll^rvey, who
devotes liiinseK in the most single-miuded manner to this and
other efforts for the benefit of the working classes.

" 2. As TO Village Clubs and Institutks in General.
—"These institutions do not ' draio a man from his honie^ us
is sometimes alleged. Tl.ey may draw him from questionable
places of resort. " The young man with no family tics, the
man of a social turn , w ho wHl turn out after supper to have a
chat v»ith his neighbours — these are the men who frci^uent
Village Clulis and who, if there be no Village Club to frc-
qitnt, ^^lil go els£V.htrt. "To these men the lubiiluliou is

of positive value. It gives them ralioual, and possibly, iV»-
prori 'ff lecreation. At the sanr.e time it holds out to them no
temp'ations to excess, and they m«y leave the Club, as tliey
entered t, withal/ their munryin their porh'ls. "The balance-
sheet for the past year of one of our Sulfolk Village Clubs
has just been laid before me. The Club is a flourishing one,
in a large country village. It Ins above 100 members. It
has a refreshment room — beer, tea, coffee, tobacco, biscuits,
Tsc, &c., are sold to the members. It has rooms for reading,
smoking, and games, and recreation ground. The Club is
entirely self-supporting, except that the premises are let to it
at a nuininal reutnl. Now, the average expenditure of the
members of this Club has been less than id. per week. Is
not this, as far as it goes, a proof that the workman can be,
and is, temperate in Ids recreations when the means of being
so, are placed within his reach ?

" I will quote one more example. I know a Suffolk parish
in which the earnings of the young men are large. It
used to be cou-^idered quite the thing for them to pay about
6s. or 7s. a week for their board and lodging, and to throw
away the remaining 7s. to 10s. at the pubiic-liouse. Any ex-
penditure under Is. a uiiht per head was thought niggardly.
The publican made his fortune, and the young men were as
penniless at the end of each wetk as though each had had a
wife and six children to support. " A Club was started, and
the expenditure of the same set of young men become aljiost
nil. Tli'V passed their evenings quietly and rationally ; they
saved money, and when tbey m^rry some of tiiem will have
£100 a-piece w.tli which to set up comfortably in housekeep-
ing. If this result could be obtained in every parish in Eng-
land the reproach of unthriftiness would soon cease to be
applied to tlie English labourer. "In Suffolk our lending
library is much valued. We keep each Club supplied with it
parcel of forty books, exchangeable as often as may be desired.
Our association also promotes a large number of lectures ia
villages during the winter se.isau.

'■[ attach a very high value to t' e eJueational work of
these Clubs. All the little boys are now taugft to read
and write in the villige school. Why should they not
have the opportunity of turning ihur acquiremeutsto account
in the best possible manner ? We bear many complaints, nut
always ill-!ounded, of the stupidity and brutdlity of the young
English peasaut. Surely the effect of these Clubs will be to
foster in him some degree of culture and intelligenc-e, to the
advantage of himself and of everyone rtha has anything to
do with him.

"One practical bit of advice I would givfr: let yonr build-
ing be laef/e enough ; never mind if it be roti^h\ a
boarded building, with a brick floor sanded, with a cheerful
fire, good light, and plenty of room, will answer far better
thau one of far greater fi'-cbrtectural pretjensions but of half
the size. I( possible divide smokers from non-smokers ; let
readers have a quiet little room by themselves ; do not let
hoys occupy the same room as meri ; have a good lavatory
arrangement with a big looking-glass — 'wash anU brush up' is
a great civilisf r. In fact, make the place roomy, homtly^
hriyhl , and comfortalAe. " If possible let a recreation ground
be aitached to ihe Club-house, and let it be large enough
for outdoor games. Let there be a sliady corner or two, in,
wliich the more staid members of the Club will gather and
read their papers and smoke their pipes on summer evenings.
" It is most important tiut a club should be managed on a
broad parochial basis ; it must be Si public institute; it must
not be a church club, or a chapel club, or a Tory club, or a
Radical club. VVe, in Siill'jlk, have managtd to stter very
cleur of this dilljjulty. We keep party politics, sectarian and
trade questions out of the clubs as far as possible by making
it distinctly understood tliat the Club floor is neutral ground,
on which Cliurchinau and Dissenter, Conservative and
Liberal, Unionist and non-U ionist, may Uicet for common
objects, and, perhaps, learn that there is not much to quarrel
about after all.

" Finally, as to the future of this movement. I look for-
ward to a time >vlien, undT perhaps an improved form of
village government, ' The Village Hotel and Institute,' with its
reading, conversation, and rclreshraent rooms — its accommoda-
tion for travellers — its public rooms lor meetings aod lectures
— -its recreation grounds, &c. — managed by the Municipality
for the public bciiefit — shall have taken the jilace both of the
public-house and of the Village Clnb, combining the advan-
lugea ul both lustuu'.ious in a cjmpltte and iuujljectiouabls

THE FAllMKR'S MAGAZINE.

i;

form. Jleaunlule our Village Clubs meet a real want, can do
uo harm, may do very mucli good, aud perhaps pave the way
lur somelhiug better.

Robert Johnson."
At Si ockcroas, near Newbury, Sir Richard Sutton, Birt.,
erected, in 1873, a handsome Club House, which he munifi.
ceutly presented to a social club established in that village. A
most interesting account was given of it, with suggestions for
starting similar clubs in country parishes, in a pamphlet by
the late Rev. J. Adams, Yicar of Stockc oss, copies of which
ui;iy be obtaiued of Blackett and Sous, Newbury. In this
pamphlet 1 find the following reraarKs : —

" S'ockcross Social Club for Working Men was started in
the autumn of 1873, and has now one hundred and ten
members, about one-eighth of the population of the parish.
Most of the inhabitants live in two villages a mile apart from
each other, which are cursed with no less than nine public-
liou'es and beer-shops. Excessive drinking has prevailed
amongst tlie poor in both those villages, accompanied with
frequent cases of disorderly conduct and much poverty. But,
tiuce tiie establishment of this Club, the working men, instead
of tippling at the beer-shops, have spent their leisure-hours in
ianoc^ut recreation, and hardly an instance of unruly behaviour
or of intemperance lias been seen in the parish. ' The Clu*),'
said the village policeman to one who asked his opinion of it,
'seems to have taken away my occupation.' To show how
conducive to moderntion sucli a society is, and how little the
libourer isdi-posed to waste his money in beer, if he can be
kept from the beer-shop, this striking fact may be mentioned,
that although the qnautity of beer allowed to be drunk by each
member of the club has been two pints every evening, it is
found that the quantity consumed has not averaged one pint,
and that the expenditure has been only about five farthings a
day for each customer."

I am glad to learn from the present Vicar, t) who:n I wrote
last week, that although Mr. Adams has been removed by
death the Stockcross Club still fl^jurishes and continues to exert
a good iulluence in the place.

With respect to the managcnent of a Club, in a letter I
received from the Rev. Canon Hopkins, of Littleport, Isle of
Ely, who has had practical experience, he remarks: — "It
ajipears to rae of prime importance that the managing com-
mittee should consist of working men, i.e , of ordinary, not
honorary-members of the Club; they understand their own
wants better than we do, and manage the furnishing, c'eaning,
Jec, far better than others do ; they will be glad to have help
from the honorary nr embers and council ; and that they may
be trusted not to do anything fooli h or unbecoming with their
own money. I feel very glad you are bringihg the matter before
the Farmers' Club."

Mr. Lawes, of Rotharastead, bore similar testimony in a
paper whicli he contributed to the Ruij I Agriculiural Jouraal
some two years ago, and in which was given a very interesting
description of a Village Club he had established in his own
neighbourhood. As an instance of a successfully managed club,
self-supporting for many years past, it would be d Ihcult to
point to a better exairp'e.

In conclusion, I would observe that I have not in this paper
advocated a system which i am not prepared to carry iuto
practice. On the contrary, the plans for a Club-house for my
own village — Clapham — are already completed. Further, I
h cve not brought the su>ij-ct before the Club entertaining the
viewMhat it is a woik which teuant-larmers should under-
take ; I kuow too well the financial difficulties of their present
pos'tion. The object I had in view was, that the discussion of
the sutj^ct might a'tract the attention of those who are well
able to supply a need, the existence of which there is uo lack
o! examples to prove,

Mr. Frederic Hl\-\t (Harmondsworth), though a younS
member of the Club, had been very much interested in the
management of village clubs for the past seven years, aud
could speak from experience of the benefits they conferred on
an agricultural community. He had been much interested in
listening to Mr. Howard's paper. On one or two points he
could sny a word or two wliich might be interesting. Will
regard to public-hou.-es, he could quite endorse what Mr.
Howard had written with regard to the character of the men
who kept those houses. In many cases it was not the fault
Oi the publit'aus thai exccsats nere prevaltut. There nas a

house not 100 miles from his neighbourhood wliich was rented
at between £55 and £uO a yeir, and the brewer let it to tiie
publican for £30 a year, on condition that a certain quantity
of beer should be consumed. It was obvious that under such
circumstances no publican could live unless he made his cus-
tomers drink to excess ; and tliat was one reason why he (the
(the speaker) and others in liis village established a village
club. In that club they had seventy members, and praclically
there was no restriction in regard to the quantity of beer
supplied. The number of members attending on the average
each evening was from ten to fifteen. The beer bill for last
yeai- was aader £5 for the whole of the members. This proved
decisively that those who frequented the village club at any
rate were not given to intemperance in any shape ; and that the
agricultural labourers as a body would not drink to excess if tney
had the means of social enjoyment one with another, without the
necessity of seeking it at a public-house. It was, in his
opinion, very important indeed that these clubs should be taken
up by the employers of liibour, rather than be left to the
clergyman or the landowners of the parish ; but if the tenant-
farmers were not able to build a club, they might get the land-
lords to build them and take part in the mauagemeut. As to
the management of the club in whic'i he was interested, they
had a committee of nine members — six were working men and
three gentle nen ; and all vvere ordinary members of the club.
This arrangement worked admirably. The working-meu
members of the committee were always ready with their sug-
gestions and opinions on all business matters that came betore
the committee ; whilst the advice of tlie gentlemen was valued
equally by them. He had sat on the committee since the
formation of the club, and the composition of the committee
had worked admirably during the whole time. He would
repeat that it was a matter for tenant tanners to take up with
great iuterest and energy. He was satisfied that Mr. Howard
was correct in his view that the following up of the Education
Act was of equal importance to the Education Act itself. He;
did not anticipate — without now losing all hope — that any
village club would attract the ha'dlucs of the public-liouse ;
but, to be successful, the aim ol the clubs should be to at-
tract the young men and boys, such as young carters who
were in lodgings, in houses filled often with the steam from
the washing going on, and who, consequently, would go out
of an evening to have communication with their lellow-
workmeu, and find their way, if there were no village club,
to the puolic-house. They all- knew it an employer had the
choice betwefn two equally good workmen, one of whom was
accustomed to go to tiie public-house and the other not, that
he would choose the latter ; and, theretore, there cou'd be no
doubt in the miuds of tenant farmers that the public-house
w;;s a great curse to a village. The iuflueuce which a public-
house exerted was uniformly bad ; and, until that influence
was done away with, aud the public-house, as it exists at
present, superseded by the village club, which had all the advan-
tages of a public house without its disadvantages, they cou'd not
expect working men to be less intemperate or vicious than they
are. With regard to the beer question in clubs, he thought
it absolutely necessary to the success of a village club that
beer of sound quality be allowed in unlimited quantity ; that
there should be uo rule as to a limited quantity — lor it would be
better to throw the men upon their honour — and, if that were
done, it would be found that the younger men and lads who
came out of the Board schools would appreciate their privileges
without abasing them.
\ Mr. A. Croskill (B.-verley) expressed his regret that they
; had not the presence of the author of the paper, not only be-
cause of the cause which kept him away, but because there
must be many present who, like himself, did not concur in the
views of Mr. Howard. ^'Mr. Hunt had jist expresseJ hi*
agreement with a great portion of the pap°,r ; but it seemed to
him (Mr. Crosskili) that there was a great deal more wanted,
I and he shou'd have preferred expressing his dissent in the
presence of Mr. Howard rather than behind his back, because
Mr Howard always defended himself with much energy, and
miglit have been able to su;ip'y the omissions verbally. One
of the things Mr. Howard had left untouched was the answer
to the question, " What better are we farmers for having these
clubs ?" There was a remark in the paper about th-e dilHculty
of employers in dealing with their men. That was a difficulty
he had felt of 1- te years, aud most of those wiioiu he addressed
must ha\e I'eit it. He li id the greatiat d.llijulty iu getting a

73

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

fair daj's work for a fair day's wage. (A. voice : "Quite true.")
The practical question was, " What etTect will these village
clubs produce upon tliat points?" Tliat was really the praciical
question (or teuant-l'armers in particular, Tliis was a point
they uii?ht' well consider, and it was one on which Mr.
Howard raishl ha^e been able to supply the deficiency in the
paper. What good, he repeated, were the tenant-farmers to
get from providing these village clubs ? Why did not the
working-men set up the clubs themselves? When tlie farmers
wanted a club they lound it necessary to help tliemselves and
get a place of meeting, and some of iliem spent a ffreat deal of
time and trouble in establishing tliis Farmers' Club and finding
accommodation for it from time to time ; and uo doubt now
they were reaping their reward. If the working-men wanted
tlie clubs, he should like to see tliem spend some time and
trouble about getting them. He could not see why the tenant-
larmers and landlords were to take all the trouble. He would
like to see tlie labourers themselves doing something towards
the end in view. This was a question which no farn^er could
approach without asking himself, " How are we to get any-
thing by this?" The real question now-a-days with I'ai-mers
was how he could make things pay. He could
appreciate entirely the feeling of the tenant farmer,
who would say, " Before I take much trouble
about cstabliiliing a village club I should like to
know if it will do the labourers good, and have the effect of
(giving me a fair da)'8 work fur a fair day's wage." He had
no statistics to quote about the advantaues that liad attended
any particular club. He could quite believe, wlien they were
founded and well-worked, that these clubs were good. It was
a good thing to keep the labouring class, as well as all other
classes out of the public-house ; to keep them from looking to
the public-house as the place "where they were naturally to
speud all their spare time. It would be a good thing to alter
the vie^s ol the labourer in that respect; but he thought that
now, when the most important question to the farmer was
how they could make things pay, there might have been a
little more in the paper showing what good the farmers were
to get, in a practical point of view, from the establishment of
these village clubs. There remained the one question: " Is it
really our business to help the labourer in such a matter as
this?" (A voice : "Decidedl) !") Well, a gentlfman said
"Decidedly" ; but he wished to throw out the suggestion, that
if the labourers wanted these clubs they should be encouraned
to establish tliem for themselves, rather than to expect that
the work shcu'd be done for them. It was because he felt the
paper had not lurnished information on this point tliat he
made these remarks.

Mr. SuEEBOR^■ (Bedfant, Hounslow) said he could not agree
with Mr. Crusskill, who had said, " Lt-l the labourers do this
thern-elves " ; because the question arose, " Do tlipy know how
to do it r" AVlieu the labourers were shown the advantage of
establishing these clubs, then they would take the matter in
hand and go on with it without furthir help. He thought it
must be a great advantng-e to any village to have such a club
86 Mr. Hunt had described. He believed that club was
maiuly established through the exertions of Mr. Huut, who
had made mauy serious sacrifices of time for the purpose.
They should, be tliaukful to anyone who would speud their
time in that way ; and he thought the labourers ought not to
be left alone in this matter.

Mr. BowiCK (Bedford) thought this subject had been in-
troduced on a very fitting occasion, seeing that this clui had
just entered these new and more convenient premises, for tlie
selection of which we were so much indebted to the Com-
mittee (Llcar, hear). He would be forgiven, lie hoped, if,
coming Irom the same county as Mr. Howard, lie supplemented
the paper which had been read, by saying that Mr. Howard
liad done wiiat a previous speaker would be glad to hear of
viz., he had saved the pockets of his neighbours by promising
to provide a club and appliances, and place the same in the
hands of trustees, but leaving it to the more intelligent work-
ing-men to manage. That the working-men were qualified to
do that, with the assistance of lionorary members, there was
BnfBcient evidence given in the paper ; and, so far as he had
observed, that assistance was not disliked. It was quite true
that in some instances there might be a jealousy of the squire
or the parson, but with prudent management there need be no
such feeling. If gentlemen were desirous of a more practical
acquaist-incf, with the subject than could be given in the
Jinuied space oi a paper, he nould suggest luquiries at the

Working Men's Club and Institute L'uion, 150 .Strand. L'uioa
was strength, and in the Union there were some 700 clutis
associated, with more than 100,000 members, and doing good
work in the land in which we live. A good deal had been sAid
both in the paper and by the speakers on the beer subject.
That was a tender subject, in regard to which some blamed
the public-house and others thought the public-house less to
blame than the drink. He thought they could not get much
further on that than the late Lord Althorp, wlio, when pre-
siding over a committee of the House of Commons on the
subject of intemperance, came to the conclusion tliat "the
cause of drunkenness is the drink." It was not so much the
drinking-house as the drink. In j\Ir. Howard's own village
there was a ratio of one public-house to every 100
inhabitants. Whether that was a proper proportion, or
whether too mauy, he, as a teetotaller for a
quarter of a centuary, might not be very compitent to decide ;
but, teetotaller or no, he looked only at matters
as they stand. There was the fact that men iiad there social
habits and comforts ; and hs could get no further with his
doctrine thin this — ''Let every man be fully persuaded in hia
own mind." He did, however, arrive at this fact — that the
British workman and the British agricultural labourer ofiea
took more than was good for him ; and if they could, by any
means, lessen his temptations, and by these clubs elevate the
tone of their habits, they would be doing a good and right ser-
vice to those classes. Whether a club could or could not ba
carried on successfully without "drink" — that is, excisable
liquors — was a matter that had been practically decided. Of
the 700 clubs in the Working Men's Club and Institute Union
00 per cent, supplied no spirituous liquors, and they were
regarded as the most successful specimens of clubs ; whilst only
40 ner cent, supplied beer and spirits. It was an esperimeut
which each club must try for itself. If there were a Mr.
Howard or a Sir Philip Rose in every village, it would only
require a moderate subscription from a goodly number of
working-men to set clubs up in all parts. It would only be
requisite, under those circumstaDC"s, to get a subscription of
about i2d. a week from 200 men in each village of 700 or 800
inhabitants to make tlie club self-supporting, so as to provide
refreshment and recreation roo-ns, a library, newspapers, and
othe- things which went to make people comfortable. The
question, '• Will it pay ?" was one in which they were all
interested. Yes ; it would pay. It would mak'". our country a
mure sober country— (hear, hear) — a more intelligent country
(Hear, hear). That " hear, hear," indicated to iiim pret y
clearly what was the general sense of this club on that poinr,
and he was glad to think it would go forth to the country in
that direction. He was glad the subject had been brought for-
ward for one among many reasons, namely, because in the old-
fashioned country agricultural associations the question ofteu
cropped up, " Is there any new thing we Cin do ?" Well, he
would say " Yes, tiiere is one thing which, as a society, wecaa
do, and that is, encourage these clubs, which, if they do not
contribute very largely to the result, will, at any rate, help in
some degree to lessen the irritation w hich sometimes exists
between different classes in this country." It had been said
they could do very weil without these clubs, but he believed
that in the end they would have an influence in favour of the
cause of temperance, and he regarded the movement as one of
the "signs of the limes."

Mr. Smiley (Upper Clapton, (N.E.) thought the Eagliih
people were fast losing their dictionary knowledge of what a
public-house meant. When he was a boy, and was asked what
a public-house was, he should have said a house kept by a
licensed victualler so called because a working man could take
his m'-at there and demand that it should be cooked for him.
Ask a country boy now what a public-house was, and he
would say, "A place wh.ere they buy beer and get drunk."
If a Lmdou boy were asked vvhat a public-house was, lie
would say, " Where they drink gin," aud it was consequently
called a " gin-palace." He repeated that we were fast losing
our old notion of what was a public-house kept by a licensed
victualler. If the people who olten sat on the large tubs kept
in public-houses were to ask the landlord to cook raw meat,
he would pretend not to understand what was meant by the
request. He believed, nevertheless, that licensed victuallers,
by the terms of their license, were compelled to cook the food
which any working man brought to tiiera for that purjiose.

Mr. AvELi.NCi (Rochfibler) said no doubt it would be a fine
thing if thfv could make all workmen sober, but bedidnot thinii

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

179

thesp clubs woiilil have much attraction for men who hid re-
ceived uo education, and who were so iunorant tliey could
not read or write, as the majority ot tl<e older workmen were
in Kent, as well as the majority of those wlio had left llifi
County lately and gone across the water. But those who
liad reci-ived some education ou^ht to appreciate the advant-
age of these cluhs, and when tiiey did so would certainly pro-
vide them for tliemselves. It would be useless to s)y the njen
could not do this, wheu Mr. Arch liad shown how recently
they were able to raise £17,0Ol). The workmen of England
were competent to raise any sum that was reiiuired to do them
any good ; but, if they thought it would not
do them good, any other class might do what
they liked for them, but the working-men would
not follow, because they would have the suspicion that it was
being done for tlie good of some other class, lie supposed
there was no one who had worked more in the direction
aimed at in the pap-r than ho iiad done during the past
twenty years, lie would not go into a long siory nbout it,
but he might say it had been extremely unsatisfactory. lie
had given his personal attention to these matters, and the
result had been pre-eminently unsatisfactory. Anything the
men in Rochester had done had been done on thfir own foot-
ing, and they liid established themselves a large club, and had
managed it themselves, and the result of tiiat club had been
very satisfactory. But this had been done entirely by the
younger men, and the younger men only, who were better
educated thun the older men. Clubs of the kind mentioned
iu the paper would not, he thought, have the slightest effect
upon the ordinary working man, whom most of them so well
knew. He sliould be glad if it was true that a better day's
work was done by the men who belonged to these clubs.
'Ihere was a great outcry in Kent that less work was done ;
that the wages were not nearly so well earned as previously ;
that now the higher the wages t!ie less was the money earned.
He was only saying what he was told in all the county of
Kent. No doubt it was a very trying question, " What is
to be done, with wheat at 33s. a quarter, rent not reduced
much, and workmen unwilling to work for lOs. a week?" lie
did not see what was to be the end of it, or where the money
was (o come from to raise wages.

Mr. W. E. Bear (Surbi'on) thought that Mr. Howard,
in the paper, said he did not expect tenant-farmers to provide
money out of their own pockets for Village Clubs. Tlie dis-
cussion had, in part, reminded him of a picture in Punch,,
where a little boy was asking a little girl to become his sweet-
heart ; and she replied, " I don't know. What have you got
in your pocket ? " — (laughter), — for tlie question had been
askeJ, " What are we to get out of these Clubs? " That was
the question, too, which the labourers would ask when they
had read Mr. Crosakill's speech. But, in reply to Mr. Cross-
kill, he would ask whether he had ueser noticed the ditfcrence
in men who had been drunk over-uight and men who had been
sober? He (Mr. Bear) had noticed tiie former looking rather
" seedy," and had also noticed that their work was not worth
to him 50 per cent, of the work done by the man who kept
sober. Therefere, anything which would keep men sober, as
these Village Clubs would do, would undoubtedly benefit the
employers of their labour. Perhaps it might be as Mr. Aveling
had said, that the older men would not much appreciate tiiese
clubs ; but they certainly would be a benefit to the younger
men ; and if they were not provided for the young men, while
young men, the young men would soon grow old, too, and
follow the habits of their fathers in frequenting the public-
house, the excitement ot which would unfit them for the
Village Ciubs. He did not hear the beginning of the paper ;
but, if not mistaken, Mr. Howard had said nothing about;
women being allowed to join the Clubs. (" Oh, yes, lie did.")
He knew that in the Club founded by Sir Philip Rose there
was one of the rooms — the reading room — where women
might attend. In Suffolk he had heard of great complaints
being made by a clergyman of a village that these clubs did
more harm than good, because they attracted the men away
from their homes, and the clergyman thought that naen ought
to go home to spend their evenings with their wives ; but
very often the wives would rather have their room than their
company. He thought it would be an advantage if the wife
would go to the Ciub with her husband, when she had time to
do so.

A Voice : What about the children ?

Dr. Vor.i,CKER (Salisbury Square) said, if he was not mis-
taken, Mr. Howard in his paper touched on the question
whether village chilis should or should not be attended by
women. Wc confessed that he had uo Ukiog fjr the attend-
ance of women at clubs of any kind, whether women of the
highest rank or the wives of hibourers. He thought women
should stop at home. That was their legitimate and proper
sphere of action, and the less they attendel clubs of any kind
the het'pr. He would be very sorry indeed to see his own
wi'e attendinz a club — (laughter) — and he could not approve
of the labourer's wife doing so, no matter liow iiiuocent might
be the pleasures provided tliere. He thought, indee:!, that
the pleasures which at the present time labourers found at
their village clubs were of so innocent a character that they
found it very tedious to attend at all, and considered it mueh
more pleasant to go to the public-house (Hear, hear). Ha
regrelted very mucli that tliis should be the case, but it was
better that they should not di"ceive themselves. Many of the
village clu'is were not managed in a wiy likely to make them
attractive to labourers. Mr. Aveling had hit the right nail
on the head. If there was a necesity for village clubs at
present, as he believed there was, there would be a still greater
one when they hid got young people properly educ'ed, as
they must be under the Elementary Eluaatioa Act. Village
Clubs would then have a great future before them, and it
was well that they should even now look around and see in
what way they could help them. lie perfectly agreed with
Mr. Aveling that thfl management must be left entirely to the
men themselves (Hear, hear). There must not be anything
iu the shape of patronage, or anything of that kind, because
the men were quite shrewd en >ugh to understand such mat-
ters. They knew very well that a f lir day's work must be
done in order to obtain a fair day's wages, and they would, as
regards the matter under discussion, be cer:ain to ask what
right people had to interfere with them. He would repeat
that, in his opinion, tlie management o!' village clubs ought to
be entirely in the hands of the labourers. At the present time
however, the men generally were too ignorant and too little
educated for work of this kind, many of them not beinj able
even to read or write ; and it appeared to him that, notwith-
standing what they had lieard of the success of village clubs,
they liad been to a great extent a failure — or if not a failure on
the face of them a failure in reality. Many of them were
very poorly attended. The club-house was kept up in a certain
way, but it was by no means a success; and, inasmuch as
working-men were not now in a posi'ion to manage clubs pro-
perly themselves, but must lojk mainly to the luture — they
must look to what would be done with the rising generation
to make village clubs successful and beneficial, both to the
labourer and to the country.

Mr. C. M. Caldecott (Holbrook Grange, Rugby) said
there was a club in a village adjoining his home but it was
not opened until last September, and therefore there was not
much to be said in the way of experience. Na intoxicating
liquor was allowed. One part of the discussion had sur-
prised him — he meant that whicli related to the attendance at
such clubs. He had found that many of the older labourers
spent a large part of their evenings at the club to which he
alluded. One man, who was older than himself, went there
regularly in the evening. He concurred in the opinion that
the practical management should be left to the men them-
selves. It was, perhaps, desirable that there should be two
or three advisers among them ; but there must be nothing to
make them feel that there was possibly something behind the
scenes which was not, qaite consistent with goid intentions
towards thera. Hn did not see how small village labourers
were themselves to start a club (Hear, hear). It was not,
he thought, the duty of tenant farmers to advance mcn=y for
that purpose ; but it would be well if some of the landed
proprietors, or some benevolent persons living iu the neigh-
bourhood, were to provide means for building and paying the
necessary expenses of stirting. He had been gratified at
perceiving how not merely the younger class of labourer*, but
men of middle age, appreciated the vill ige club to which ha
alluded (cheers).

Mr. HiBEiTS (Ivinghoe and Trin.'), said he believed there
was no gentleman in that room, or lie might add in any
other room of the same kind, who was not fond of drink of
some kind or other — (Laughter) — and he thouiht it would be
found on a careful comparison the the total conscription of
teetotailera was quite ej^ual to that of persons who dtiak

180

THE FAIIMEES MAGAZINE

spirits or beer (Laughter). It appeared to liim at that
(lis^cussiou ou villHge clubs was in reality a discussion ou the
qiusion of iiiteinijerauce ornon-intemperauoe among labourers
(Hear, liear). He iliought they must go to something rather
deeper ihan club questions to make men temperate. It was
an undoubted fact tiiat the Germans, as a nation, consumed
double the amount of beer which was consumed by the
Englisli nation, and yet tiiey were not generally looked upon
aa a very drunken people (Hear, hear). If beer were not
all iwed, what was to .become of the barley? (Laughter).
One gentleman had remarked that the question was a pocket
question. Of course it was. Every question in this world
must to a great extent be one of pounds, shillings, and pence.
He ventured to say that if the Excise authorities were au-
thorized to allow the general manufacture of wholesome
drinks, instead of a system being continued which encouraged
the manufacture of drinks of the most intoxicating character,
mofe could be done in that way than could be done in any
other to make the people temperate. Why should not tiie
people be allowed to make their own beer, _as the Germans
did ? Why should men not be perrtitted to use grain in a raw
state without being mulcted ? Why should farmers and
others be prohibited from doing what would ckarly be the
best for themselves and for the country.

Mr. J. K. b'owLER (the Prebendal Farm, Aylesbury,) said
as regarded the ohjfctions of Mr. Crosskill and others to the
paper of Mr. Howard, whose absence tlipy all deep'y regretted
—(cheers)— he firmly belived tiiat if Mr. Howard hid been
pres'-nt lie would have been able to answer those objections in
a satisfactory manner. He (Mr. Fowler) happenod to live in
the same county as Sir Philip Rose, and he knew what pains
he had be^towed on ihe Village Club with which his name
was associated. He held in his hand a newspaper containing
a report presented at the general meeting of that club which
■Baa held a few days ago, and there wtre t*oor three statistics
which weie interesting enough to be cited in that discussion.
Tlie club was opened on September 4 last, nud he wished to
show VI hat amount ol tea and eotl'ee had been consumed, and
what amount of beer and aloholic drinks. It appeared from
the report that there were consumed 4,257 half-pint glasses
of beer, 1,652 glasses of ale, 858 half-pints of beer &c., heated
with sugar and spice, 10 bottles of bottled stout, 105 lialf-gilis
of wine, 33 bottles of wine, 21 half-bottles, and 14 quarter
bottles in addition to spirits. He would not give the price'',
but would state the results. The amount spent on beer, ale,
and stout was £22 5s. 3d. ; on wines, £G 43. 7d. ; aud on
spirits, £10 18s. 4id.

A Member : In what period.
Mr. Fowler ; About four mouths.
The Member ; How many members are there?
Mr. Fowler said lie believrd that there were nearly 300,
and that they were all working-men. The village was for-
merly one of the most benighted villages in the whole district,
b.iug situated amid the woods of the Chiltern Hills, aud it
was now one of the most delightful spots in the county, Sir
Philip iiose, Lord Howe, of Penn, and Mr. Grove, of Penn,
having made it quite an oasis in the di'sert. The total aiTiQ.mt
spent on alcoholic drinks during the four months was aliout
£tO. Let them " look on this picture and on th'S." The
consumption of ginger-beer was 421 bottles. The whole
amount spent on tea aud coffee was £3 Is. and something.
(Laughter.) There were 473 teas, 328 cofrres,aud 149 cocoas,
the total amount expended on the three being £3 19s. 2d. He
might well say, as Prince Henry said in reference to Dame
Qu'ckly's bilfagainsl FalstalT, at the 15oar's Head, Eistcheap,
"One halfpenny-worth of bread to this intolerable deal of
sack!" (l/aughter) All this tended to show that the
labouring classes would consume alcoholic drinks, and he did
not blame them for i\ With a climate which was so often
uncomfortable, and amid such wietched weather as we had
lately, tliey could hardly be condemned for the sort of con-
sumption to which he was now alluding. The avcraire quan-
tity of beer consumed was, it appeired, less than a glass and a
half, or under tin ep-quarters of a pint per head of attendance — a
(act which proved that agricultural labourers as a body we: e out
the kind of sots thai they were at times rep'C-ented to be, and
liiat if reasonable precautions were taken tliey were not likely
to go to excels. Having been thrown very rau^li among agn-
tuliur.il labourers for many years past, he niu t say that iie had
found them a most intelligent class of people, aud he might

even call many of them intelleetnil men (laughter). Hewoud
ap^'cal to Mr Crosskill, Mr. Aveling, Mr. James Howard, and
her employers intimately connected wiih agricultural ma-d
hinery, whether they had not found among labourers a large
proportion of men who were most apt and excellent scholars ;
whether, alter a lew lesson«, such men as he referred to had
not proved themselves well fitted to have the care of most im-
portant implements of husbandry (Hear, hear). IIiv ng tor
many years used the steam-plough and other valuable machines,
he must say that iii experience of such men was very favour-
able. In his opinion agricultural labourers were a much-
maligned body, and he was confident that if they were educated
as they ought to be, and if their energies were rightly directed,
they would be able to hold their own against the rest of the
community (cheers). He thought that question was one
fraught witli interest to the public at large, and especially to
the rising generation of labourers. As a matter of public policy
it was desirable that the formation of village clubs should be
encouraged, and they had had sufficient experience of them al-
ready to show that, if the principlesof temperance were propcly
inculcated, tliey need not resort to teetotalism to make men
temperate (cheers).

^Ir. Charles Howard (Biddenham, Bedford) said he wa^
not going to attempt any reply on behalf of his brother,
because he had not been in.'-trtjcted to do so, and also because,
in consequence of an accident which liad befallen him, he had
not seen the paper beforehand, as it hid been intended he
should do, and thus become familiar with the v^ay in which
the subject had been treated there. However, he felt ccm-
pelled to say that he was surprised to fiud his friend, Mr.
Crosskill, who knew his brother so well, should have expectetS
him to treat this subject from a narrow point of view. His
brother, like Mr. Crosskill himself, held broad views, and lie
did not tliink he had, by the manner in which be bad spoken,
done Ills brother justice. His brother had no intention of
entering into the question whether or not the thing was going
to pay, or how far it was likely to affect tlie tenant-farmer,
ilr. Crosskill asked, if labourers wanted village clubs, wi y did
they not do what was necessary themselves ? It was evident
that men of that class we.e not in a position to build suoli
places for themselves ; bat they had learnt from the papei and
the reports to which his brother had a/luded, that those who
have had the management of such clubs had in many instances
made them not only self-supporting but profit^ihl''. As to
public-houses, he believed that if they were properly conducted
they would see but lit'leof the evil etficts which were now
observable around them almost every day. He was happy
to say that Ihey had in his own parish a model public-house
It was the only one in the place, and was conduct) d
by a most respectable man. No drunkenness was allowed, aid
tlie house was not open on Sunday, people only being sup-
plied between the services with what they wanted lo
drink off the premises. He believed that if the brewers
throughout the country and the owners of public-h' uses
were more careful in the selection of their tenants, there
would be less cause to complain of the drinking propensities
of the people. (Hear, hear.) Something had been said
about farmers having no interest in tiiis matter, but he be-
lieved that to be a mistake. He thought it Mould pay farmers
indirectly to do something towards forming a well-conducted
set of labourers. None of them who had any experience ■>{
harvest-work, or of work in the busy seasons of agriculture,
onld be ignorant of the f.ict that when a man liad had a
drinking bout he was the worse for it, not only for the time,
but for two or three days afterwards. On whose siioulders
did the loss fall? It certainly was felt by the man's family
first of all, but it was also felt by his employer. He thought
therefore, that any movement which tended to promote tem-
perance among labourers was likely to prove beneficial, not
only to them, but to farmers. His friend (rom Buckinghamshire
need not be afraid that for the present time he will have no
t-Uinand for his barley. (Laughter.) The fault he (Mr. C.
Howard) iiad to find with the discu^sioa was, that it liad
turned too much on the question, "Drink, or no drink."
(Hear, hear ) 'Phat was not the question raised in the pap->r.
The question put belore them there was the impjrtaiice of tliB
eslHblisl.ment of Village Clubs, and he thought it was hard y
just to his brjtiier to treat it as if it turned merely on drink.
He was sure hia brother would be glad to bear that his paper
had bccu so well received, aud also ihut it had met with sucli

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

181

vrry wlu.lesonie criticism from some of his best friends—
(Irtughter) — and, lie raiyht add, some of his poliiical Irieiids.
(Kenewpd iHiijjliter.)

Tlie Chairman, in suramin;; up llie discussion, said
Gentlemin, e hiive had an iuterestinjr p;iper, snd I think we
)iave.also had an interfstinsj and very useful discussion. I am,
unfortunately, as you know, a brewer — (an exclamation,
" Fortunately," lollowed by laughter) —but I shall not presume
to take advantage ot my position as chairman to say what,
perliaps, I might say if I werean indeppudent listener. I con-
cur in very much of wl at has been said on this occ^sion. 1
ain quite sure that no set of niea can be wrong in joining
heart and hand to do what they can to promote the cau--e of
temperance ; but I must say that a few expressions liave been
made use of which I do not endorse, and which, from the
fxperience 1 liave gained, which is not limited, I feel sure are
not exactly correct. For instance, it was affirmed boldlv, aud
witliout any discrimiuation or distinction, that public-liuu«es
are uniformly bad. I believe that that opionion is quite
wrong. Our friend, Mr. Charles Howard, says that the
pnblic-house in his village is a well-conducted one and does
credit ;o the place. Another remark — not immediately con-
nec'ed with my own business — in which I cannot concur, is
that laboureis' wives like their husband's room better than
their company. I do not believe that that is really the case.
(Hear, hear.) I think it is a national characteristic that
Enalisli husbands and wives are fond of each others' society.
(Cheers) Of one thing I am quite sure, namely, that the
working-men of this country will uot be dic'ated to as respects
what they shall have to drink or how much of it they shall
have ; aud I must say that if I were asked to join a club one
rule of which was that a member mi^ht have a pint of beer
before five o'clock, and another pint after five, I would not
j dn it. I will only say further that I ara sure we all feel
much obliged to Mr. James Howard lor the trouble he has
taken in preparing the paper, and that we deeply
regret his absence and the cau^e of it, and are also
much im'eb'ed to his nephew Mr. Farrar, for reading
it. It is not nsual for the Chairman of this club to
propose a vote of thanks to the author of a paper, but I take
this opiwrtunity of doing so, iu order to show that, although
I am a brewer, I cuu easily and heartily cu-operate with any-
one who, while willing to concede to others llie same liberty
as he claims (or himself, desires to promote the cause of
temperance and sobriety ihroughout the country.

Mr. E. SiivriiiES having seconded tile resolatiou, it was
put and carried, Mr. C. Howard 'jeing included in the vote ;
after which, on the motion of ilr. CuErriNS, seconded by
Mr. Al)KI^'S, thanks were voted to the Chairman.

MIDLAND

The annual m'-'eting o''the members of tliis club was held
on Feb. 5th at iJirmiugham, Mr. H. A. Howman (vice presi-
dent) presiding.

Alter dinner, the Secretary read the lifreenth annual
report, which stated that, alter the payment of all demands
upon the club, and the whole of the subscriptions had b:^eii
receiver!, there would be a balance in hand of £99 6s. 3d.
(Applause). The club consisted of 217 members. Allusion
was made in the report to ihe visit of the members of the club
to Messrs. "Webb's farm at Words'ey, and to the appointment
of Air. A. A. Sylvester as secretary iu the room of Mr. J. B.
Ljthall.

On the motion of the Chairiiax, the report was adopted.

Mr. John Lo^ve proposed :—

" That Mr. A. H. Howman (vice-piesident of the club)
should be appointed president for the ensuing year."

Mr. Freer seconded the proposition, which was unani-
mously adopted.

Mr. J. Lowe proposed that Lord E nest Seymour should
be invited to hold the ofEce of vice-president for the ensuing
year.

The resolution wa? carried unanimously.

Mr. Freer read a paper on "The Conversion f Arable
into Permanent Pasture Land."

BUSINESS. — A young man in Nebraska sent an offer of
marriage to a girl whom he fancied, and in reply received this
telegram — "Come on with jour minister."

Olhambers of Agriculture.

CENTRAL.

The first Couu'-il Meeting of the present ye r was held on
February 4 at the rooms of the Society ot Arts, Adelphi, the
President, the iMarqnis of Huutly, occupying the chair.

The noble Marquis, on taking the chair, said he felt
highly honoured in occupying the position iu which that
Chamber had placed hira by electing iiim President for tiie
year, and he could assure them that he desired to perform tiie
duties of the ofiice in a manner which would be useful to the
Chamber and to agriculturists geterally. The work thii
Chamber ought to do and was capable of was never more
needed than at the present time. They were passing througU
the most depressed period in the history of agriculture, and
mauy landlords and tenants were at a loss to find a remedy fir
the state of matters. Nor could (hey tell where the downward
course stopped. The Central Chamber of Ag iculture repre-
sented more than any other assembly in the country strictly
agricultural interests, and it was their duty to endeavour in
every way they could to promote legitimately the cau^e in
wliich they were interested. There were Acts of Parliament
of ancient date which might be modified or repealed to suit
the tin.es. Mvtiy old customs which restricted the outlay of
capital, and checked its application towards the improvement
of land, should now be looked upon as obsolete. There were
many who thought, and he confessed that he agreed with
them, that the incidence of taxatiou fell unequally upon the
cultivators of the soil as compared with the inhabitants aud
ra inufacturers iu towns. One had only to look iu^o the question
to perceive that the equalisation of rating for both imperial
and local purposes would give a considerable relief to the owner
and occupier of land. There was much to be done by scien-
tific research in applying more knowledge and science to the
principles of agriculture, whi'e at the same time they might
learn to provide for the more economical and properly directed
application of artificial manures aud the use of feeding stuffs.
Thus many new paths might be discovered which would tend
towards the improvement and advancement of agricultural in-
dustry. Thee subjects could all be brought before the Cham-
ber, and while they watched the various new measures in
Parliament which affected their interests, they must also
stiive hard to ob;ain the remedy of abuse.^, and endeavour to
lead the van of improvement. Firmly convinced that the
interests of the owner and occupier of the soil were inseparably
bound up together, he had been pleased to see that so many
landlords had come forward to assist their tenants during the
present great dei-ression. He believed the concessions which
must be made would not stop here, but that greater freedom
must be given to the tenants in the cropping aud cuUivatiou
of the soil (cheers). In conclusion his lordship assured the
Council that it would afford him great pleasure to assist the
Chamber in the consideration of difficult questions affecting
agriculture which seemed ripe for solutions (cheer>).

The minutes of the last me. ting having been read and con-
firmed, the Council proceed* d to consider the first question on
the agenda, viz., " Wnether any action should be taken with
regard to pleuro-pneumonia from America ?"

Mr. W. Stratton ocoved: —

"That in view of the recent importation of cattle infected
with pleuro-pneumoiiia from America, this Council resolves
to memorialise the Privy Council to put in force the power
conferred upon them under the Con'a.uious Diseases (Animals)
Act, 1S78, with resjard to the furtlier importation of animal*
from America and Canada'"

He considered it illogical that the slaughter of aniaaafs
coming from tlie Continent, where disease was known to exist,
at the port should be compulsory, and yet that the order should
not apply to cattle coming from Canada and the United States,
where It was also known to exist. He felt certain that the
slaughter of those animals at the ports would uot restrict thft
supply of meat in any way, and the experience ot the Acts
since they had come into operation showed that there was no
reason for apprehending a ri-e in the price of meat. He hoped
the Government would act with energy and consistency in the
matter (Hear, hear).

Mr. BrjWEN Jomes having seconded the motion,

Mr. Smythies contended that it was not desirable to pa«s
such a resolution, especially as there was uo proof of disease

182

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

exiitin? in Canada, and the Goveraoieat were not at all likely

to auljpcl it to restriction. .. , u

Mr. TREAD1S-ELL expressed regret at opposition from such

a qnarter. j Ui

Capt. fiTZGERALD rpraarl<pd thst tliere cou d be no doubt
that Dutch cattle infected with pleuro-pneuraonia had been
sent out to Canada, and had afterwards been exported to f'U
conntry, briniiinff with them disease.

The Chairman observKl that the resolution before the
meeting was agreed to by the Business Committee, after a long
discussion, and added that, supposing Canada to be excluded
from tl'C schedule, it might alterwdrds be restored if sufficient
ground were shown.

The resoUition was then adopted.

On the motion of Mr. Bell the committee on cattle diseases
was re-ai'po;nted.

Capt. Craigie presented the following report from the
\^■eights and Measures Committee : —

" Your Committee are glad to be able to report that the
Board ol Trade have agreed to the first of the prayers of the
memorial from the Council presented on tlie 9th of December
last, and that an Order in Council will be issued forthwith
legalising the case of a new imperial denomination of 1001b.
They regret, however, to have to state that as at present
advised the Board of Trade do not see their way to legalise at
the same time the use of a weight of 501b. the h^lf cental.
Your Committee trust that tiie objections felt by the Depart-
ment to the employment of a standard so convenient and so
necessary in sales of grain by weight may ere long be over-
come, and that the geieral adoption of the cental may be
facilitated by the provision also ol a half cental weight.

"Your Commiltee have had brought under their notice the
nnsatisfac'ory and m^^leadi^g character of the mode of deter-
mining the oBicial coin averages under the 27th and 23th
Victorii, c. 37. At the present time, when sales by weight
are largely increased throughout the country, the modes
adopted by llie local officers of the Government in returning
the prices of grain are more than ever irregular and inaccurate.
The question of determining by statute an assumeJ equivalent
for the conversion of sales by weight into the imperial qnarters
required by law, raises an urgent and important question,
while tlie older grievances of the insufficient data supplied,
the combination of returns of British and foreisn produce, and
the generally defective njiture of the official figures, are all
matters deserving attention. Your Committee therefore
venture to recommend either the discussion of this subject by
the Chambers or the appointment of a Committee to deal with
the mafer and report."

On the motion of Captain Craigie, seconded by Mr. Cal-
DECOTT, it was agreed tliat this report be received and circu-
lated.

Mr. P. Pnipps, M.P., as Chairman of the Education Com-
mittee, said that it was working on the lines laid down at the
la^t meeting, but that for the present there was no necessity
for a report.

On the question of the election of a vice-ahairman for 1879,
Mr. Pkipps said he had grfat pleasure in proposing Col.
E'lgg'.es Brise, M.P. for East Kent (cheers), who had long
been a member of the Central Chamber, and had taken an
active part in its discussions, and also was chairman of the
Esses Chamber, adding that he felt sure that a man of such
practical character and of so much ability would perform the
duties of the office in a satisfactory manner.

The motion, having been seconded by Mr, Gi-ENXY, was put
and carried unanimously.

Mr. Clay having been appointed Treasurer, on the question
of the election of a paid secretary,

Mr. .T. A. Clarke rose and said it was 13 years since
the Council appointed him Eccretary. and he liad now to an-
nounce that, having removed from London and taken up his
residence at Long Sutton, whence he orininally came, and en-
tered upon Hu undertaking there which would preclude his
attending to the huMuess of the Chamber in the manner
required for one holding the office of secretary, lie wished not to
be nominated again. His tenure of office would expire t>t the
end of the present month ; of course it would be for the Coun-
cil to consider whetlier (hey would proceed to make an ap-
pointment on that occasion, or whether they would postpone
the matter till the next meeting, or to a special one, to be con- I
venad for the purpose.

After some discussion the following resolu'ion was passed : —

" That it he referred to the Business Committee to consider
respecting the du'ies and salary ol the secretary, and tliat they
be authorised to take such steps as tiny may deem adsisHbifl
to procure and recommend candidates tor the office; and until
a new secretary is appointed Mr. Clarke be requested to act as
secretary at his prest nt salary."

Professor Willis Bund presented the Report from the
Highways Gommitttee, and moved that it be received and
adopted : —

Tne motion of Professor Bund having been seconded by Mr.
W. Stratton,

Mr. Lloyd proposed an amendment, to the effect that what
was recommended in the case of locomotives should be ex-
tended to licenses for all kinds of vehicles.

Aft'-r some discussion the motion was agreed to.

The next matter on the agenda being the consideration of
the Liw of Distraint',

Mr. Hodges sai i that ques'ion had been placed on the paper
at the ins'ance of the Eist Kent Chamber, which he repre-
sented. The attention of the agriculturists of Kent had lately
been called to the existing state of the law, and the hardship
which arose from its operation, by a case which had been under
their particular observation. The subject had been fully dis-
cussed on two occasions by the Chamber, and at both meetings
resolutions were passed by considerable majorities in tivour of
ameniing the law. The first of the two resolutions which he
would now propose was, " That a landlord may recover by
distraint rent for two years only." On thtt poior, however,
he must say that the Kent Chamber was not quite unanimons.
At the first meeting a resolution was adopted that distraint
should be limited to one year, the law beini thus assirailat'.ng
to that which held good when the tenant bjcime bankrupt, in
which case the landlord was empowered to recover a whole
year's rent in value, and was entitl^'d to take his dividend with
other creditors for any additional rent that might be due.
But at the second meetiu? of the Chamber, at the instance of
a Conservative peer and large landowner. Lord Sondes, the
resolution was altered to three years. Uuder these circnra-
stances he (Mr. Hodges) had taken the mean between the two
periods, after consultation with gentlemen who had paid much
attention to the subject. The second resolution which was
passed, and which he would now propose, was, " That liberty
to distrain for rent on property belonging to persons other than
the tenant should be aljolislied on satisfactory proof of owner-
ship." The two resolutions hung well together, but it was
for the Chairman to say whether or not they must be discussed
separately.

The Chairman decided that they should be considered and
dealt with together.

Mr. Hodges continued : The Council would, he said, ob-
serve that that was no attack on property, but simply an
endeavour to make the law more equitable. No doubt there
were powerful arguments in favour of the landlord having for
a limited time a priority of claim. Uuder tha existing law,
however, the landlord could recover arrears of rent extending
over as much as six years. It was a matter of private under-
standing and arrangement when the rent was not enforced,
and he contended that where a landlord was foolish enough to
let his rent stand in abeyance he ought to accept the risk, and
not maintain on his laud a tenant whose possessions in the
shape of stacks of corn, farm-stock, implements, and so on,
gave his neighbours the idea that he was a man of substance,
when in point of fact he was a man of straw, and everything
he had was at the mercy of his landlord. Cattle and sheep
had to be kept on the land for the consumption of the roots
grown upon it, this being in some instances made an abscdute
condition for tlie benefit of the soil ; and if the tenant had no
capital, or no live stock of his own, he had to take liis neigh-
bour's animals to keep, which thus became liable to seizure
for rent. Further, the outside public had some interest in the
matter, inasmuch as there were but few farmers who were net
more or less dependent on credit. At the present time thry
heard on all sides how depressed were the circumstances of a
vast number of agriculturists, and it must embarrass their
credit very seriously to retain the law iu its present state.
Upon the whole, then, he thought the question was deserving
the consideration of the Chamber whether the time had tot
arrived wlien it might appeal to the Legislature in favour of
Bach an alteration in the law as he had indicated, the necessity
for wliich was admitted by so large and induential a kadowner
as Lord Sondes.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

IS.*?

The re'.oiutioua liaviuf; been spcoiuled by Mr. Lawrence,

Captaiu DELy said he lield opinions on tliat subject of
a much more s«'peping cliaracter thun those of Mr. Hodges,
and was prepared to support liie totnl repeal of a 1'4W which
be tliouglit oujjlit not to exist undfr present circumstaaces.
To give the landlord even two ypars' prclerenlial credit was
tantamount to shutting out the ordinary creditor Jiltogelher
from any kind of privilege, and would virluilly deprive liiin
of his debt. Ill fact, they might as well m;ike the period
four or five as two jears. lie moved, therefore, aa aa amend-
ment—

"That the cxisfin? L'lw of Di^traint ought to be repealed."

Mr. Mansfiklb lield that it was quite right that the
landlord should have a prior claim upou the eifccts of the
tenant; but at the same time he must say thnt while the
spctirity of the landlord for his capital was something to
ftj'iiire, that of the teunnt for his capital was something to
deplore (Hear hear). He bad sulfered from the working of
the existing h\w on wore tltafl one occasion. In one instance
tlve landlord iiad put in a claim fur three years' reut, swept off
everythiog fr"m tlis farm, and left the otiier creditors without
a farthing. He woul/1 propose as an ameiidmfut to suljstitute

"One year for two years in ilr. Uodges''8 resolution."

Mr. SilYIUlES seconded the amendment.

Professor Bui'P thonghr tke jjuestJon was almost too
large to be discussed by the Council at that stage. To t;ilk
ef repealing the law was totalJc of re{)ealiug 30 or iO different
Acts, involving ijuestions relating to mortgages, taxes, tithe-
rent charges, ami a variety of ofher matters ; in short, almost
eve'y branch of real property law. He admitied that a case
?iad been Riads out by Mr, Hodges for some alteration of the
iaw. It seemed li^rd that if another man's goods were found
»i;)on a farm tlvey should be taken for rent. The old Law of
Distress wish rfgard to dwelling-houses had been found to
work with such severity in thai respect that an amendment
iiad to Ice made in it ; and what was wanted iu the present in-
stance was an extension of that alteration to agricultural
tenancies, tkough he foresaw much practical dilliciilty in
carrying it out. Before arriving at any conclusion the Council
*bould I'oasider the subject iu all its bearings, at the same time
remembering that they iiad not always to deal with honest
traders, bat had sometimes to deal with persons who lived
from iiand-to-raouth, and w.^re endeavouring to evade the
cl'ir.s of llieir creditors. As to limiting the priority to one
year, be would remind them that most landlords allowed a
margin of tune lor the payment of rent after it fell due, and
jf the time were limited absolutely to one year, proliabiy more
harm than good vvjuld he done to tlie tenant. With regard
to the landlord's being a preferential creditor, he was placed
in that position because he could not sue for liis reut until it
was due. He might have to stand by for six months and see
his tenant sell off everything on the farm, so that by the time
the rent was due littJe or nothing was left to distrain upon.
He could not, Ihereibre, be in the same position as an ordin-
ary creditor, and necessarily wanted some special protection.
lie trusted it would not go forth from the Council that they
were embarking on a cru.«ade sgjinst the Law of Distraint, for
he felt that they were not sutiiciently informed to pronounce
more tliau a general opinion on the iubjecfc.

Mr. D. Long contended that the present law was injurious
to tiie farmer, inasmuch as it encouraged competition lor
farms,

Mr. LiPSCOMBE said, as it was his lot to be an agent for
large estates, he looked at the question from the landlord's
point of view ; though he hoped not illiherallv, for he was in
favour of reducing the six years to two. Great injustice
might be done alike to landlord, teniint, and creditors ny an
abuse of the principle of preferential credit ; hut they must
cot overlook a state of things which was very common among
the great majority of farms, and especially small holdings,
after bad seasons. If one year's rent were tlie limit of the
landlord's preference it would be impossible for persons like
himself to make that allowance for the position of a hard-
■vrorkingindnstrious farmer which wasduetoliiinatsuch periods.
The limit should be made at least two years. To such an
alteration he was prepared to give his support, and he did not ]
see any insuperable d fficulty in making such an amendment. |
With reference to property on a farm not belonging to a tenant !
distrained upon, he remembered a case in which a lawyer-agent !
seized from 20 to 30 head of cattle which had been placed in j
a park only two days before for agistment. That was a wrong.

If the recommendation in the second re^jlution were confined
to live stock, that would meet the necessiti a of the c:ise ;
but it would be dangerous to apply the rule to farm iiiiple-
meuts and other dead stock.

The Chmkm.vn iu reply to Mr. Arkell, replied that only two
or three resohitjoas on the subject had been sent up by local
chambers, including the following from the Warwickshire
Chamber; — "That the power of distraint be limited to a
shorter time than J the present law, and tliat reason ible per-
mission should be made for the protection of the owners of
agistment sto-^k."

Mr. P. Piiii'i'S, M.P., was entirely in favonr of the principle
of limiliug the riabt of distraint to one year's rent. It would
be unjust to the landlord if a preference were not given to hiiu
to tiiat extent, seeniir that under the Agrienltnral Holdings
Act, where it was in o, eration.-[A. voice — " Where ?"j the land
was let subject to one year's notice, and the landlord could not
at any time, like an ordinary creditor, ask for payment, but
only on fixed days. If beyond the limit ol oue yonr a
landlord were iceliiied to be generous with a tenan'', let Inm
be so with his own money, -and not with that of other people.
He had known cases in which the present law of distraint had
inflicted great hardship upon the tenant's ordinary creditors tn
the advantage of the landlord, and the operation the Law of
Bankruptcy showed that, in theeyeofthe law, the limit of one
year was reasonable and just.

Mr. Jabes ruRNER maintained that any alteration of the Law
of Distraict would act prejudieially to instead of beneficially
for the tenant-farmer. By reducing the term for which a land-
lord might give credit to his tenant they would make him more
determined to enforce the payment of rent exactly when it;
became doe.

Mr. Lloyd also thought that in the in'erest of the farmer,
they should " leave well alone." If once the law were altered
in the direction proposed by Mr. Hodges, a sharper practice
would be introduced in enforcing the payment of reut, which
would be very injurious to lenants.

The Chairma.v observed that, neither the resolution nor
the amendment proposed to repeal the law, but merely to limit
the landlord's right of distraint. That the question was a
delica'e and difficult one was clear from the discussion, but he
was himself in favour of a measure which would have
the effect of bringing more directly together, face to face in
harmonious contact, the landlord and tenant (Hear, hear)
His experience of the Liw of Distress was chiefly derived from.
Scotland, where it w^s called by the crack-jaw name " Hypo-
thec," and where he hardly heard of anyihing else morning,
noon, and night (laughter). There the real effect of the law
had been to keep landlord and tenant apart, the landlord
sleeping at ease and not troubling himself to look after the
tenant. He did not s'-e bow the C mncil could commit itself to
the resolutions of Mr. Hodges without more matured consider-
ation. He would a3t like to commit himself either to one or
two years, but there c mid be no doubt as to the necessity for a
modifica'iou of the law, especially as regarded the right of
the landlord to seixe property which did not belong to the
tenant (Hear, hen). He would suggest that the Council
should content itseli with passing some general resolutioa
declaring that the Law of Distress required amendment.

Mr. HiCKS (the newl\-.Mected M.P. for Cambridgeshire)
deprecated the Council's coming to any decision on the resolu-
tions then before it. He had before observed that tiie feeling of
the Council was that the covenants between landlord and tenant
should be made as wide as possible, hut if they carried these two
resolutions they would be going iu the opposite direction (" No,
no"). Wbll, tliat was his opinion. If ihe landlord's right of
distress were limited to one year, or even to two years, he
must never let the tenant get half- t-year in arrear (" Oh !" and
" No") ; or let the half-year go by ; for if he did, the moment
the clock struck and the rent became du", tlie tenant could go
on for two years more, and the landlord's power was gone.
He did not see a'.y use iu going beyond a three years' limit,
which would embrace the period for giving notice under lUe
Agricultural Holdings Act; and under certain conditioua
an arrangement might also be made for the inirodnction of
stock, belonging to other persons than the tenant, in a way that
would be both profitable to the tenantry and advantageous to
the landlords.

Capt. (-RAIGIE reminded the Council that that was the
first lime tiie law of distress had been discussed by the Coun-
cil, and said Ue should regret their pledging the Chambe*

•184

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

definitely to resolutions so "crisp" as those before them.
Up to that inonieut only two or three local Chambers out ot
the fifty odd iu Ensl^Qi^ l>*d cspresacd an opinion ou the
sahject. Perhaps tliey might adopt a resolution to the effect
t\Mit n.prinii facie case had beeu made out for shortening
the period.

Mr. Hodgson, President of the Warwickshire Chamber,
after citing tlie resolution pssaed by it (^iven above), expressed
his belief that if a resolution couched in sucii general terms
had been proposed that day it would iiave met with unanimous
assent. As it was not before them he should support, as
the nearest to it, the resolution moved by Mr. Hodges.

Tiie Chairman said an opportunity might be given for
jnoving the Warwickshire resolution.

Mr.CALDECOTT, at whose instance that resolution was
-carried unauimously in the Warwickshire Chamber, said he
was prepared to move it it the amendment were withdrawn.

Mr. Mansfield and his seconder then withdrew the amend-
ment, and Mr. Caluecott proposed and Mr. Hodgsom
seconded the Warwickshire resolution, viz.: — "That the
power of distraint be limited to a shorter time than the pre-
sent law, and that reasonable provision should be made for
the protection of the owners of agistment stock."

Mr. Hodges, in withdrawing his resolution, observed that
ins oViject was not revolutionary, but simply to put the law ou
Si more satisfactory footing.

The resolution of the Warwickshire Chamber having thns
been substituted for the original motion, was then put from
the chair, and agreed to without a dissentient and amid cheers,
the Chairman observing that it fairly represented the feeling
.of the Council.

Mr. Caluecott moved the following resolution on the
■Coroners' Eill, which had also been passed by the Warwick-
shire Chamber : — " That this Chamber objects to trie main
points of tlie Coroners' Bill, introduced by M-. Cross, the
Jloras Scretary, at the last Session of Parliament, for the
, consideration of the country during the recess, as it retains
the permanent charges on the county rate, and in no case
•remedies the objectionable mode of appointment or the means
of dismissing the Coroner."

Professor J3usD seconded the resolution, and Mr. Lloyd
aupported it, and after a few remarks from the Chairman it
was adopted.

Ou the motion of Mr. Stratton the County Government
Bill was ordered to be takeu first at the Msrch meeting of the
Council in the event of its having beeu laid before Parliament
in the interval.

Mr. D. Long suggested that as this country could not
continue to face hostile tariffs with free imports, the Council
should at an early period discuss the mischievous results of
political economy or so-called free trade, as effecting the
encoursgemeut or discouragement of agricultural production
in Great Britain.

Oa the motion of Capt. Ceaigie, seconded by Mr. Bell,
tliK Council declined by a unanimous vote to place such a
notice on the paper.

At the adjourned general meeting of the Chamber, hell
after the Council meeting, Mr. Willson made his Report on
' the financial state of the Institution, having been prevented
from doing so by illness in December. The balance-sheet
liaving been already published, Mr. Willson now reported
that tiiere was but a comparatively small number of subscrip-
tions in arrear, and stated that on the whole the Chamber
was in a better position financially than it Wis in the corre
fponding period of the previous year.

The proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the
Jlarcjuis of Huntly as_the Chairman,

LINCOLNSHIRE,

The annual meeting and dinner of this Chamber w^a held at
Lincoln a lew weeks ago, the Marquis of llipon, K.G., presid-
ing. The annual report and etatement of accounts were taken
as road, and ordered to be printed. After the re-election of
members of the Council and a reference to the opening o( a
branch Chamber at Spalding, making the sixth branch in con-
, npction with this important organisation, the secretary (Mr.
S. Upton) presented a resolution passed by the Grantham
2ranch Chamber, as follows ;—

"Tiiat in consequence of the depression of agriculture hav-
APg reached lo serious a crisis, the tirau lias arrived when

Chambers of Agriculture should take such action with refer-
ence to the partial incidence of free trade as shall enable mem-
bers to express their opinions, in conjunction with county
representatives, upon the expediency of urging upon the Legis-
lature the necessity of con-sidering the eii'ect of an absence of
reciproci y and the present unsatisfactory state of the law by
which imported artii^les connected witli agriculture are brought
into unequal competition with home productions."

The Noble Chairman thought the question raised by tlie
resolution was one of very great importance, and one well
worthy of discussion. lie therefore suggested that the resolu-
tion be considered at a subsequent meeting, and that notice be
given on the agenda paper.

This was agreed to, and Mr. W. Pinder engaged that a
member from the Grantham branch should introduce the
question.

Mr. W. n, Wheeler, M.I.C.E., of Boston, then read a long
and exhaustive paper on the rainfall, water supply, and drain-
age of Lincolnsliire. The great and pressing question of how
to avert the periodically recurring floods which cause such loss
in the valley of the Witham wat the main topic of the paper.
Mr. Wheeler differed from the costly plau proposed by Sir Johu
Ilawkshaw, ard advocated that more economical one put for-
ward by Mr. Williams in a report furnished by him to the
Witham Commissioners. The removal of every obstruction to
the natural flow of the water, the commencement of such work
at the lowest point of the river next the sea, and the gradual
progress upwards towards its source, the fixing of the shifting
sands whicli impeded the progress of the water at the mouth ot
the river.andtheclearingaway of clayand other earthy ot)struc-
tions.and the enlarging of the capacity of the grand sluice in the
most economical manner possible, and removing the forelands,
were amongst the chief of Mr. Williams's recommendations.
In return for an expenditure of about £100,000, and by the
separation of the high land from the flood drainage as far
as possible, there would be no further fear of any flooding,
either in the city of Lincoln (which suBered so much two
years ago) or in the fen lands below. To carry out such a
scheme effectually it was necessary to sweep away the seven-
teen sets of drainage commissioners which at present existed,
having jurisdiction over the Witham between Grantham and
the sea, and in accordance with their report of the Lords' Com-
mittee, to establish one conservancy board. The proper con-
servancy of rivers was a national question, and in order to raise
funds, the proprietors on the high as well as the low portions
of the watershed should be included in the scheme by means of
a permissive measure.

The annual dinner was afterwards held at the Saracen's
Head Hotel, the Marquis of Ripon presiding.

Mr. Chaplin took occasion prominently to direct attention
to the introduction of pleuro-pneuaionia from America, and
pressed for the immediate enforcing of the law of slaughter at
the ports if farmers and stockowners were not to be exposed to
new losses.

HOW A LUXURY IS PRODUCED.— Geese-craraming,
with a view to the ultimate manufacture of />a/e de foie gras,
is on the increase, and it i« said that there are 250 people
engaged in the business at Strasbourg, in which city fiiis strange
branch of industry has thrived for more than a century.
Everyone knows that the process of inducing an un-
natural enlargement of the bird's liver is one that
entails considerable suffering upon the goose. The average
amount of food required to bring each bird to the
proper point of perfection, or rather of disease, is
estimated at SOlbs. The chief point in view is the develop-
ment of the liver at the expense of the rest of the economy,
and to this end antimony is added to the solid food, and fine
gravel and vegetable charcoal to the water. The value of a
goose is increased four-fold and six-fold by this method, for
while the flesh of the bird is wortli but about 7d. a pound at
the best of times, the same weight of the liver will sell for as
much as 5a. or even 10s. The manufacture of the famous
^inxtihoMrg pate de foie gras lies at present in the hands of 23
persons, whose joiut yearly income fro:n this source is returned
as £75,000, besides which tlie llesh and fat of the geese which
yield the required amount of liver realises a further sum of
£2!),000,— C'lYy Press.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

18c

AGRICULTURAL DEPRESSION.*

By general consent the agricul'ural in'erest in Great
Britain is admitted to be at the present time in a condition of
depress.ion. Lsndlords feel it tiirough the dillicully whidi
they fxperiencK in getting their rents ; bankers know it by
the incontestable evidence of overdrawn accounts ; and trades-
men sulfer troin it in the diminution of sales a.id in tliC
postponement of settlements. Nor is the crisis at all of the
nature of a surprise. On the contrary, it has been slowly
approaching for the great, r part of the last ten years, and
rapidly fur the last four. At least this has been the case
in the corn-growing districts of England. In pastoral dis-
triets the depression is of recnt date, and even now is much
less serious than where the land is chielly arable. Thus
Scotland, which depends less on corn-growing than England,
has sufT-red less, while Wales and Ireland liave, unlil quite
recently, scarcely sutfered at all. Seasons which are unsuit-
able to cereal crops are generally propitious for the growlli of
grass and roots; and although the frequent failures of
the potato crop have caused ruin to many Scotch farmers, and
the prevalence of cattle disease up to a comparatively recent
da'e has been a serious matter to stock-farmers, the heaviest
losses have fallen upon those who look to their corn crops as
tlieir chief source of profit.

******

In all branches of farming, with the exception, perhaps, of
ftock-breediug (and it is to be borne in mind that there are
comparatively i'ew farmers who a'-e breeders solely), the
generally high range of rents, which were adjusted to more
lucrative conditions of agriculture than now prevail, is being
sharply felt. That rents will have to come down, al least
uniil the conditions of laud tenure by which farmers are now so
seriously handicapped in their competiuon with foreign pro-
duc-rs have been materially al'ered, I have not the slightest
doubt. The increase iu the burden of local rates, again, is
universal'y complained of. Within the last twenty years it
has been enormous. If space a lowe'l, the truth of this
Mssertiou, if any one doubts it, could be made evident by
statistics; bU it is suiii'jiently evident to be left unsubslaniated
by figures. Some political economists tell us that local
burdens fall on landlords, aud not on tenant?. But as ]\Ir.
Cliffe Leslie has well said in the January number of this Re-
view, "It cannot be foreseen whether a trader will ever
recover a so-called indirect tax at all ; it may he a direct tax
on hinnelf, may drive him and all other small capitalists from
the business, &c." The same argument applies to an iudireet
rate. It is obvious that a leaseho' der pays all increase of
local burden? up to the end of hij ^erm. As for tlie ysarly
tenant, he knows that he pays the increase, and he can never
be certain that his rent would have ben advanced to a pro-
portionate extent if the increase liaJ not taken pUce. If
land is, as many say, not only not too highly taxed but not
taxed enough, tlie rates should be levied, at least in part, on
the owners, and not entirely on the tenants. Asiuming that
rates are partially paid out of the pockets of tenant'!, it is
unjust iu the extreme that the fanner should be charged five,
and often ten times as much tor the purposes of local govern-
ment and poor relief as the p'ivate gentleman, professional
man, manufacturer, or tradesman enjoying an iacome at least
equal to his own, who resides in the same parish. Lastly,
though not least, the over-preservation of game has in very
large districts led to the ruin of tenant-farmers.

In order to show how g( uerally and keenly the agricultural
depression is felt in almost all parts of the country, I will
now quote from some returns whicli I am still in course of
receiving from every county in England and Wales. It will
be remembered that at the opening session of Parliament,
Mr. Btrnhard Samoelscn gave notice that he would move for
a Select Committee to inquire into the operation of the Agri-
cultural Holdings Act, and the condition of agricultural
tenancies in England. At his request I sect out a large
number of circulars to fhrmeis, land agent-^, and a few land
owners, with a view of obtaining information on various points
connected with the subject of the proposed inquiry. Amongst
the questions asked was tbis : " What is the present condition
of the farming interest in your diatrict ?" The returns have
not nearly all come in at the time of writing this paper ; but

* Extracts from a paper iu the rortniyhtly Eenevj for
February, by WiUiaiu E. Bear.

there are suRicieut to enable me to gi»e, iu their own word<,
replies from correpondeuts residing iu each of the English
counties : —

Bedfordshire : "Exceptionally bad. Farmers are iosine
heart, and the land U in a much worse state than formerly."
' Farmers generally have been losing money lor the kst four
years." " Duriugan experience of between thirty and forty
years I have not known anything like it. There has been a
serioui inroad upon capital account diring tin; last few years,
and the land has seriously gone back in cultivation." " In a
pri'ater state of depression than 1 have known it for twenty -
five years past. A good deal of the tenant's capital has been
lost. The condition of the land has sunk ; farming has alto-
gether gone back during the past live years, and it will require
some years of prosperity to resjain lo->t ground."

B>u-/:.',-/iire : "15ad,"and " Very bid indeed." Bucking-
hamshire : " Generally it is in a very depressed state." " Ve,ry
much depressed. This is a grazing district to a great extent,
aud our grazier.'), in many in^tances, have lost all their year's
rent." Cambridgeshire: " As bad as can be." Cheshire:
'• Not good." " Not as good as mual." C<yrn wall : " Great
complaints with the generality of larmers." "The farmer.*
of Cornwall are not so well olf as they were two or three
years since ; but, owing to the mixed system of husbandry,
the bad times hsve not been felt so much in Cornwall as
eLewhere." " Not so bid as in distric's depending almost
entirely upon tha growth of grain." " In a verv depressed
state." "Dull." Cumberland: ''Fair." "Very bad."
" The last season has been a good one ; hut the present
prices are not satisfactory, and the general depres-
sion in trade is now having its iniluencs upon farm-
ing." "Complaints to any extent." " Ga.ierally satisfac-
tory." Derbyshire : " Taking aa average of the last
seven years I think there is no occasion to com-
plain. Oar district is nearly all graiing and s*0(;k-brecJ-
iug." "In a depressed state; but, this being principally a
dairying and stock-breeding county, we have not sutfered to
the same extent as where the land is chiefly in tillage."
" Very bad."' " Much depressed and feiring worse, but not so
bad as in arable districts." Devon : " Very depressed." " Very
great complaints." " Very unsatisfactory and unremunera-
tive." Borsd : " Bad, an! getting worse.'' Durham : " Not
so bad as where there is more tillige." " Depressed." Ussex :
'■ Very bad ; was never worse." " Bad ; it is impossible to be
worse." " farmers suffering from low prices, general depressioni
ot trade, and the rise in wages." "Bid ; the work all round
is carried ou languidly, and year by year the condition of the land
is becoming poorer." "Much the saaie as h'Tetofore," "A
large quantity of the land very badly farmed." " Liraentabl/
bad." Gloucederhire : " V'^ery great coiuplaints are made,
especially by the large clay arable laud farmers." " Never
worse." Hampshire : " This being a stock district, whera
there is a full stock kept up, the farmers have done fairly. On
the large poor farms I infer that farmers have done badly."
" Worse than has been the case during my experience of forty-
four years." '• By no m^ans favourable." Hire for. 'shire :
"Ruination." "Bad; and many tenants inevitably come to
griet." "The farming interest could not well be in a woraa
condition than it is." "Very favourable compared with many^
other districts." Uerls : "Depressed, but not to the sama
extent as iu many other districts." " Very bad." " Very bad
indeed." " I do not know that greater depression ever existed
amongst the agrirulturi.'-ts of this country." Hunts: "Very
depressed." " Very bad on the heavy clay farms." " Never
in a more depressed condition." " Very Bad." Kenf:"De-
pressed." " The past season has made a very poor return ; but
we have been fairly prosperous up to last j ear." " In a very
bad state." "Avery poor one." " Very depressed, and farm-
ing not so good as twenty years ago. IMore weeds grown last
year than I ever saw before." " Bad ; but I think on the whole
I have known it worse." "Much depressed." " Very bad ;
worse than at any time during the last twenty years." " De-
pressed, in consequence of a succes ion of indifferent yields,
high-priced labour, and increased reu's." Lar.cashire : "Above
general average." " No particular complaints, upon the
whole." " As a whole, the farmers of this district are doing
fairly well, the season being abundant for grass, hay, grain,
and potatoes." "Depressed." "Fair average." Leicester-
shire : " Greatly depressed." " Generally, though not in all
cases, a deficiency ia the crops which causes considerable ccm-
plaiat," Lincolishire : " Very bad ; not been so bad since

~ 0 3

18G

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

1851." " Very much depressed." " The preatest depression,
and the fear of catastrophe to come." Middlesex : " Very
■unsatisfactory." Monmmthshire . '-Bad." " Ttioroughly
had; .land going one of cultivation, stock reduced in quantity,
only necessary work done, and many liave gre?.t difficulty ia
meeting payments." NvrfoUc : " Not by any means satisfac-
tory, but as much so as in uiauy other districts." " From bad
to worse." " Very bad." " Depressed ; butj do not know that
the distress hereabouts is as great ks generally represented."
"Bad." Korlhampfoiishire : " V''ery much depressed."
" Bad." "Very gooJ generally ; but the results of the last two
seasons will not supply mp.ans lor substantial improvements.
Norlhitmberland: "Capable of much improvement. An im-
mense deal of land producinj nothing — I may say, simply out
of cultivation." "Very much depressed." ISoHinghamshirc :
" In a very depre-ised condition. To take a radius of three or
four miles fro;o where I sit, there are, to ray own knowledge,
two or three thonsaud less sbi-ep thau there were five or sis
years ago." "Very much depressed." "Bad — four or five
bad seasons." Crfordshire : "Yery hdid. Small farms being
absorbed by large ones. The laud is very foul and poor, partly
from the continuous raius and the shortness of stock. Trades-
men comphnn that farmers do not pay them." " As bad as
can be imagined." " After forty years' experience as a farmer
I never knew it so bad." Rullmid: "As bid as possible."
Shropshire: "Very bad. Very few of the farmers, if any,
paying their way." " Hand-to-mouth farming." " Very bad."
" During the last \ear or two the condition of the land has
■gone back very much ; bat this being a stock district, we still
tare better than farmers in some other districts." Somerset:
" Losing money. Cheese twenty per eeut. lower than last year,
meat lower, and hundreds of fat cattle selling below cost price."
" la a very depressed state. The tenants of poor lands, are
giving up as fast as tliey can, many being compelled to do so."
" The farmers are all eomplaiuing ; but this is generally occa-
sioned by dfficieacy in the corn crops and the bad price of
wheat." " Very had indeed, having had thn e or four disastrous
seasons " Stnffui-dshire : " I think farmers are all losing
money." " Depressed." " Never known to be worse. No
farm for the last three years has paid rent and working
expenses. ]Many farmers ruined." SvJ'olk : "In a mos'.
depressed state, four unprofitable years have succeeded each
other, and many farmers lave failed or are in a slate of insoi-
-vencv." " Very much depressed in all inferior, gsme-iufested,
and "high-rented districts." Surrey: "I never knew it worse,
if so bad." "Anything but satisfactory." "I should say
farmers generally are losing mon°y." " Much complaint, and
many wlio have'farms would be glad to give them up, were they
not holding on lease ; but in the present state of agricultural
depression they Ciinuot get any one to take them cff their
bands." " As bad as can be." " Depressed." Sussex : " In a de-
pressed condition. The condition of the land has certainly gone
back during the last two or three years." " In the most de-
pressed condition. Not only does corn-growing pay nothing,
but the grazing land, of which there is a good deal in this
neighbourhood, has paid nothing this summer. The flock-
masters have had the best time ; but they grumble." " Bad as
to profit." " Not so depressed as ia many districts." " Very
iudiffc-rent." " I do not think the depression is so very
general or great in this district as iu many others." "Most
depressed." " Bad. The land geuerally is not so clean or so
well cultivated as it was a few years since. Men of capital
are getting out of busiues?, there being neither pleasure nor
profit in faiming at present." War w ids hire : " Bad." " Un-
mistakably bad." " As bnd as can be," Westmoreland :
"Satisfactory." "This being chiefly a grazing district, the
agricultural interest is generally very fair." "The farming
interest has suffered a serious check the last two years."
Wdfshire : " Bad condition." " Very had." " Farmers about
here are generally subsiantial men, and, though tinies are
not good, I do not hear very much complaining." "There
never was so much complaint as at the present time." " Very
much df pres-.ed." " Very bad ; and the hni generally in a
mucli worte state of cultivation tlian ten years ago." JTur-
ceslershire : " Very bad ; on the s-t.ff clay lands fearlul."
Yorkshire ; " I do not believe thst this will prove a bad year
to farmers who have farn:)cd well and have ample stock." " In
o state of melancholy and despair." " Lt-ss depressed than
flsewhere, grass and tillage land being well proporiioned, and
the farms of moderate size— from one hundred tfl three huo-
iddre acres."

From Wales but few returns have come in at the time of
writing, but those that have arrived are generally less unsatis-
factory than the returns from English counties, as a whole.

It will be noticed that in several instances diverse state-
ments came from the same county. This was to be expected,
as the qu'ility of the land and the nature of the f irn lag are
quiedilferent in various parts of the same county. No selection
has beeu made, but every reply, or the ijuportant portion of it,
received up to the time of writing, has been given. The ouly
conclusions which, I think, can be fairly drawn from these
replies are— (I) that the agricultural depression is very gene-
rally and keenly felt ; and (-2) that it is felt least in pastoral
districts. When the returns are complete, it is pos-ible that
a carelul examiuatiou of the replies to the question quoted
above, in relation to replies to other questions also answered
in the schedule, and to the agricultural conditions known to
prevail in the various counties, might teach some useful
lessons. Such an attempt, however, would be encompissed
by difficulties and perplexities, because the disturbing circum-
stances are so multiform and so intricately grouped. For
example, one county or district may have suffered more than
another because it contains a larger proportion of arable land,
or heavier land, or because rents or wages are higlier, or game
is more strictly preserved, or no large town is near, or there
is less freedom of cultivation and sale of produce, or farm
covenants give le>s encouragement to tlie expenditure of
capital ; while ill several instances two or more of these in-
fluences may have been in combination or in oppositioa.
******

On the whole, the result of feeling the pulse of the country,
as I have been able to do by the collection of these returns,
has been to confirm the impression which I had previously
enlartained, namely, that the present agricultural depression
is more general and severe than any which has occurred siuca
the period which imraediately preceded and succeeding the
year 183i, when the new Poor Law came into force. At that
time a large quantity of laud liad gone out of cultivation,
owing to tlie pressure of the rates, whicli, uuder the old Poor
Law, amounted in some parishes to more tSan twenty shillings
in the pound. In 1835 and 1838 there was very great distress
in the agricultural districts. In the former of these two
years the imperial average price of wheat was ouly SOs. 4i.
per quarter, although tlie du'y on foreijin corn under the
sliding scale of the Act of 1828, which was still iu force,
must have been entirely pndiibitive, as it would have
amounted to n i less than •i7s. 8J. per quarter ; and culonial
wheat, for which the duty was comparaively low, came in
such snail quantities as to be unworthy of notice. In 1851
tiie price of wheat reached the still lower average of 3Ss. 7d.
per quarter — the lowest it has ever been siuee 1780 — and ia
1852 it was only 41s. The harvests, however, were much
better than those of recent years, and, althougli there were
great complaints, the depression was neither so general nor
80 widespread as it is now, and farmers were able to hold on
till relief came in 1853, when the price of wheat rose to 53^.
3J,, followed in ISSt by an increase up to 72s. 7d. per
quarter. Here, as throughout this pnper, in speaking of the
agricultural depression, I refer to the comlitiou of the farmers
only. If the condition of the farm labourers were under con-
sideration, the yeais 1839 and 18^10, whea bread wag almost
at famine price, and incendianism was rile, would stand out as
a period of general distress.

What makes the present crisis in the agricultural interest
more distressing than any that have preceded it, is the general
despair wiih which our escape from if, at lenst without thl
ruin of a large proportion of existing occupiers, is reg^rdede
Never before have farmers been subjected to sueh severe com-
petition in all the branches of their business as they now have
to encounter. On tlie continent of America the production
of corn is constintly iucreasing, and the surplus of a good crop
there is alone sufficient to supply all our requirements.
Anotlier source of supply has recently been opened in India,
vtlience in 1877, f^r the first time, the importation was very
large. The resources of the enormous breadth of fruitful
land in that empire are almost illimitable, and only await full
development. With snch development tlie cheap labour of
India will reader her a formidable competitor to America as a
wheat-exporting country, even if she does not, as some think
she will, d.-ive her rival out of all foreign markets.

The importation of live stock and meat, too, has greatly
i icreased within the last few years. From the Americaa

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

T?X

contiaent especially we have recently had large importations,
aud these are certain to increase enormously wheu tlifl Ameri-
can and Ciuadian farmers have more extensivply stnclied them-
selves with such cattle as ar° qualiti J '.o produce tlie tirst-rate
ni;^al which alone it pays to send to tins couutry. Cheese, again'
comes in ever-iucreasiug quantities, while butter may almost
be said to be nunulacturea Irom anything rather that the milk
of the cow. Poultry, egf;s, aud even hay and straw, are also
now coming from l'oreii;u cauutries in cjuauiilies uiiver
dreamed of a few years back. Thus it seems inevitable that
the tendency of prices for every thing tliat the farmer
produces will be towards a reduction. At the same time, the
cost of p'-ofluction is greater tliau it ever was before.
'^ * *°* * * *

Will British agriculture, then — the finest in the world —
permanently decline? I believe it will, unless the comiitions
under which it is carried on are fundamentally changed. At
present, British fsirmers are handicapped in a doz«n way^. lu
no other country in the world are the producers of food so
mnch hampered in the conduct of their business by artificial
impediments. G-ive them an equ-jl chance rtilh the producers
of foreign and coh)niil cuuntrii-s, and they will maintain tbeir
position of pre-eminence in the march of agricultural enter-
prise. The soil of this country is by no means natnralh the
most fruitful, yet our average yield of wheat per acre is greater
than that of any other couutry ; while in the production of live
stock of all kinds, in proportion to area — taking weight as
well as number into consideration — we aie aLo ahead of the
whole world. The averase yield of wheat for the Uaited
Kingdom, according to official estimates, is 29^- bushels per
acre, while that of France is 16^-. that of Austria 12|, that of
Kussia 5-^., and that of the United States about 12.* With
re>pect to barley, tiie proportions are very nearly the same.
Holland alone beats us in her average produce of that grain,
as she elosely approaches us iu the yield of wheal, and BeUiura
comes next. In the production of meat these two countries
are the ouly ones which rival us in proportion to area, aud we
beat them Ijoth in the weight produced. Yet, in spite of this
pre-eminence, it has been estimated by good jndjies that tlie
agricultural produce of the United Klngdoiii might be
doubled if the resources of the soil were developed to the
utmost extent.

Why should the British producer of wheat, if he were fairly
circumstanced fear the competition of the American farmer?
It has been estimated that the cost of transit gives the home
producer a natural protection of 408. per acre, at least equiva-
lent to the average rent of the wheat-growing land ol this
country. It costs Irom 4s. 6d. to 6s. 6!. per qr. to send whaat
from New York to London ; and, b^yoid this, there is the ex-
pense of inland transit to reckon, as well as the profits of
exporters.f Indeed, it is simply marvellous that American
farmers can alTord to grow wheat to send hm at such price
as have prevailed during the pait autumn and winter, con-
sidering the small yield of their crop. In the older States it is
admitted that the land has been so much exhausted as to
Tender the remunerative production of wheat almost impossible ;
while in such >oung States as Illinoi'*, Iowa, aud Wisconsin,
the avera;je yield is only 8, 10, and 13 bushels per acre respec-
tively— quantities which it would not pay the British fanner
to grow, if he had his land rent free. American exporters
must have lost heavily on wheat sent here during the past
season, as on several occa^ions the price has been higher in the
American tlian in the English markets.

It will take a long time for America to acqnire capital
enough to expend on buch a comparatively elaborate system
of farming as prevails in our own country ; and as long as she
has virgin soils as yet to occupy it is not likely that lifr
farmers will make the attempt. Labour is dearer in the
United States than it is in the United Kingdom, and I do not
believe that the former couutry can compete with the latter iu
what may be termed the artificial production of corn. Still
it is a fact that, with wheat at an average price of about 40s.

(*) The iifficial estimate of ls7i was, for tbe United States
12.3, and for California, given separately, 15 ; but the harvest
of 1x71 was an unusua ly prolific one.

(t) The supposed natural protection of 403. per acre for
British farmers is based on the rough estimate that they grow
nearly 4 qrs. per acre, and that American 'vheat cost;s over
lOs. per qr. to bring here. As at the present time the through
freight of wheat from Chicago to London is about 10s. per (jr.,
the estimate does not appear to be an exaggerated one.

per qr., America has sent ut very large supplies. It is not
probable that the farmers of that country will give up growing
wheat lor exportation as lon^ as our miuimuni rata here is
about 40s , while, in the m'ljority of seasons, the average pries
is consiaerably hitrher. All tiiat t contend for is, that American-
competition is not likely to bring the price down below 40.<.,
unless in very exceptional years becmseit seems impossible tor
the growers to send it here at a lower price for any cousider-
able length of time ; and the sane remark applies to C»iiada,
]New Z;?aland, and Australia. What complications the develop-
ment of the agricultural resources of India may hereafter
produce it is impossible to say. At present the produce of
that cimntry is very uncertain ; and, for a time at least, we
may leave the possibility or any very great disturbances of our
markets through an increased supply from India out ol the
question. America is now, and is likely to be for some years
to come, the irreat rival of Great Britain in corn producing,
and the difficulty which British farmers h ive immediately to-
face is, how to grow wheat to s^ll at 40s. p.!r qr.

On the other hand, in a sparsley-occupied country like-
America, there are almost boundless facilities for the produc-
tion of cattle and sheep. It would be a curious anomaly,
illustrating the paradox, " Nothing is certain but the umx-
pected," if by-and-by we sliould discover that we can beat our
trans-Atlantic friends in the production of corn, which is niiV
regarded as unremunerative, while in our at present nust
valued industry, the breeding of live stock, they can supply us
at a lower rate than we can produce for our.-^elves. The cost of
transit is at present great, aud I do not pretend to ba a
prophet, but more unlikely contingencies than this have come

to pass.

******

After giving reasons for coucladiug tint rents must coins
down for a time, at any rate, the writer proceeds: — It is not
by any cheese-paring economy iu the cost ot living, the waxes
of labourers, or even the amount of rent, that the threatensd
decline of our agriculture will be averteJ. These remedies are
necessary as temporary expedients to stave olf an immediata
catastrophe ; but they will not tend to promote increased pro-
duction, which is the true and perra.ment means of restoring
prosperity. On the contrary, their effect will be in the
opposite direction. Indeed, low rents, low wages, and re-
trenchment are incidents of a depressed condition of agricul-
ture. If the business of farming can again be made profitable,
the demand for land and labour will once more increase, and-
farmers will also have more money to spendupon. superfluities.
The quickness with which agricultural prosperity may ba
restored depends upon the means that may be taken to attract
capital to farming— not only to replace what has been lost iu
recent bad seasons, but to increase the amount invested far
beyond any that has previously been devoted to similar uses.
On all sides it is admitted that the condition of the land of
the country generally is much pooier than it was a few
J ears back. farmers have lost capital, and have conse-
quently had less to spend in improvements, or even, as I have
said, in keeping up the usual standard of fertility by feeding a
sufficient number of l:ve stock. It must be a work of time-
merely to restore what has been lost, and a further period w,U
be required to make an improvement upon the old state of
productiveness. In the meantime, rents and labour must be
low, unless in the case of the latter the demand in otlie.'
branches of production should force farmers to pay more than
they can afford. But the removal of the existing impediments
to agricultural inves'ment would rapidly show its effects, and
the continuance of the present depression depends to a great
extent upon the promptness and thoroughness with which the
n quired reforms are inil&ted. Jit first sight it may seem
anomalous to advise the investment of more capital in what
is admitted to have been a losing busine-s ; but there is no
anomaly in reality. The farmers who are now lu the mo^t;
critical position are notoriously those who have been farming
in a poor way an area of land too largs 'or their ca|.ital. Land
that is kept constantly in a high condition of fertility will
grow good crops at a smaller expenditure than is required to
force comparatively small crops from an exhausted soil. In
other words, when land has once beeu brought to a high state
of productiveness, only a small annual addition of feriili>ing
material is requisite to keep up its erudition ; but when it has
become exhausted, a small yearly expenditure upon it fails to
force from it remunerative crops, llun crops mean lou Iwops

18?

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

»nd there is nothinj; ro (leleterious to tlifl prodnctivenecs of
land as the growtli of weeds. Thus a small crop has often
cost more to product; thaa a large one. The ploughing, sowing,
Hiid cleaning are niore laborious and consec|neutly more costly,
and the harvesting often costs nearly or quite as much, while
the miscellaneous expenses of ilie farm, which have to be dis-
tributed over tlie acreage iu due proportion, have been as
heavy in the case ol the small produce as iu that of the large
one. The rent iu the latter instance may \r\\e been higher,
aud the cost of dressing aud sending out a large bulk of corn
is of course more ; but this d.ll'erence is nude up for by the
advantages previously mentioned, leaving the surplus received
for the extra produce to be set against the interest on capital
sunk in the land. Apart from the preliminary investment of
capital, tiie cost of growing ten sacks of corn on land of given
quality is little if any greater than the cost of growing six
sacks upon it. A great deal of discredit has undes^ervedly been
thrown upon liigli fanning by the injudicious expenditure
which has often been made — chiefly by amateur farmers whose
zeal for agricultural improvement lias been greater than their
knowledge of the business in which they have embarked for
the pleasure of it. Nevertheless, it it certain that farming
which is at once high and skilful pays best. It is not only in
the production of larger crops tliat the farmer who possesses
abundant capital has an advantage over his poorer neighbour ;
he has another in the greater number of cattle and sheep
which he keeps on an ecjual acreage, and often with very little
extra expense, because he consumes what his neiglibour wastes.
An immense quantity ol cattle food is annually wasted through
the inability of poor tenants to purchase sufficient live stock
to consume it, or to purchase the animals at the right time.
Turnips are olten left standing and exhausting the soil, long
after they should have been fed npon it to its fructification,
and the same may be said of other feeding crops, including
grass. Thus in all ways the farmer whose capital renders
him master of iiis business has the advantage over his poorer
brother whose business may be said to be the master of him.

Conerntration of capital is the great thing needful for agri
cultuial prosperity, and this is precisely what the laws and
customs relating to farming have in almost every imaginabh
way difcouraged. The subject is a trite one, and yet I must
briefly state these discouragements once more.

1. The laws which allow land to be tied up in the hands of
limited owners, whose interests are directly opposed to the ex-
penditure of their own capital on their estates, and which
render transfer difficult and costly, obviously discourage the
concentration of capital on land. This part ol the subject
has been enlarged upon by many able writers, and it is there-
fore as unnecessary as it would be impossible, with due regard
to the space at my command, to do more now than simply
mention it,

2. The condition of the law which enables landlords to con-
fiscate the property of their tenants invested in the land, still
more seriously than the first-named impediment, hinders the
concentration of capital in farming. It has been previously
stated that high farming pays best ; but unfortunately it does
not always pay the farmer. Too often the landlord reaps the
greater part or the whole of the benefit, by appropriating the
improvements of his tenant, either by means of an increase of
rent, or by simply keeping what the law allows him to retain
without comprnsat on when the tenant quits or dies. So
scandalous had tliis abuse become that in 1S75 Parliament
passed the jiresent Agricultural Holdings Act, with the pro-
fessed objpct of removing it. That measure, howeuer, be-
sides being faulty in many of its details, has failed to come
into force to any appreciable extent on account of its per-
missive principle. In an article published in this Review i n
May, 1875, when the measure was under discussion in Par.
liameut, I gave re.isons for believing that it would be a
failure unless first altered and then made compulsory. That
the views then put forward were justified, the hibtory of the
Act sufficiently shows. When the day arrived for the measure
to become operative in the absence of njtices against it, the
owners of land throughiiUt the country, from the Crown
downwards, with very few exceptions — and these chiefly
through inadvertence — placed their veto upori it. It was
hoped that if the Act failed to be accepted, its indirect elfect
in promoting private trrangements fur liberal covenants
between laudlords and tenants would be considerable ; but
here, even, there has been di«nppointm:'nt. ^'tither directly
nor indirectly hat the Agricultural lioldiiigs Act produced

any effect upon the conditions of agricultural tenancy, except
luavrry few instances. The returns from which' I have
already quoted, referring as they do in part to the operation
of the Act, fully bear out this statement.

3. The Game Liws occasion waste, and prevent the ap-
plication of capital to the land by landlord and tenant alike.

4. The prevalence of cattle disease has occasioned heavy
losses to landowners and farmers in the past, and the liability
to snch losses greatly checks enterprise in breeding and fatten-
ing live stock. Tue Cattle Diseases Act of last session is an
improvement on previous lejislaiion for the prevention of
disease, but falls short of beins a completely effective measure.

5. The laws of distress in England, and hypothec in Scot-
land, must be charged with hindering the application of
capital in farming. By protecting lau'ilords at the expense of
other creditors these laws have the eifect of placing land in
the hands of needy speculators, who cannot do justice to it,
to the great disadvantage of men of capital who, having some-
thing to lose, are outbid by their reckless competitors.

6. The manner iu which local taxation u at present levied
discourages the liberal application of capital to land, and the
question whether laud is, on the whole, taxed at too high or
at too low a rate does not affect this fact. In my opinion,
however, the importance of local taxition reform has been
greatly exaggerated. Instead of giving it the foremost pl-ice in
the programme of agricultural reforms which it is within the
province of the Legislature ta bring to pass, as many do, I
should put it last.

7. The restricted covenants which are contained in most
farm leases and agreements compose one of the most serious
impediments to agricultural enterprise, and they are only
mentioned last because they are nor, like the hindrances pre-
viously noticed, within the province of legislation. But
although Parliament could not render such covenants illegal
without an undesirable interference with private contract, one
effect of pasing a compulsory Tenant Right Bill would pro-
bably be to sweep these objectionable restrictions gradually
away. As soon as a system of compensating tenants on the
one hand for their unexhausted improvements, and landlords
on the other hand for deterioration of the land, had come into
general use, there would be no further need or excuse for
elaborate aud vexatious conditions as to the rotation of crop-
ping and the sale of produce. No proposed remedy for the
existiug depression in agricullure is so generally advocated iu
the returns before me as the removal of the swaddliug clothes
wh'ch encompass the British farmer.

Upon another occasion I may have more to say upon the
probable effects of removing the impediments to agricultural
development which I have mentioned. I do not say that the
result would be to render farming profitable during a succes-
sion of very unfavourable seasons with prevalent low prices ;
but I do maintain that it would render fanners better able to
endure such periods of adversity while they lasted, and more
quick to recover from their effects when they were past. If
not, we must sit down in despair and await the downfall of
British agriculture.

"We lake from the columns of a contemporary Punch's
" Epigram on a Prize Pig." which appeared in the first
number of Punch for 1847.

" Here lies all that was eatable

of

A Prize Pig.

He was bora

on

February 1st, 1845 ;

He was fed

on

Milk, Potatoes, and Barley Meal.

He was slaughtered

on

December 2J-th, 184.5,

Weighing 206t. 'Jib.

Stop ! traveller,

And reflect how small a portion

Of this Vast Pig

Was Pork

Suitable for Human food 1'

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

186

COST OF WHEAT PRODUCTION IN
AMERICA.
"Far "West," writes as follows to Beerbohn's Ecenlng
Corn List : —

■Seeiug a letter in the Timet of the ISth Jan., signed Arthur
B. Savory, in wliich ^Ir. Savory enters with much int.lligence
upon the cost of production of Wheat in Eii6;lanJ, and the
returns possibly realisable tliereon by the Britiali farmer ; as
also the iriipnrtant question whether the American grower can
continue setidiiij forward WhcRts in the future at the low
prices current for the nast twelvemonths, I take tlie liberty
of submitting to yon the fi>llowiii» which, though not so cira-
plete in dftail as I should desire or as with more time for
procuring the facts I should furnish, may yet be of BuHicient
interest to merit inser ion in the columns of your valuable
List ; if so, I shall feel pleased. Briefly I submit

Averaee value per acre, Wheat districts — Canads, Indiana,
Ohio, Michi3au, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, Dakota, Iowa,
Texas, aud Wisconsin, £t.

Aversige production of ordinarily well formed Wheat fields,
S quarters per acre.

Average cost of preparing land, seeding, cutting, threshing
uud marketing, £:J per acre. '

lutsrest at 6 per cent., being about 63, per acre.

£ 8. d.

Showing cost put free on railway cars at
interior 0 14 9

freight through to England and charges
for selliu' 0 15 0

at 24s. per qr., at least he was satisfied (a singular pheno-
menon it must be admitted, proverbially speaking) ; the
freiglit and charges through to this side then usually ruled at;
from 17s. to SOs., say ISs. Cd. per qr., or the full price de-
tivered sold, 42s. 6d. per qr. In comparison with this price
take present average current value here at 40s., the same will
still leave to said farmer 2o3. per qr., after deducting befura
stated freight and charges of 15s. per qr., thus paying him a
h indsome protit over cost of production in such favourable
seasons as that of the past year.

1 9 9 per qr.
delivered sold iu England.

For the present the lands under cultivation are gradually
losing tiieir Wheat producing properties, through the exhaus-
tive system of successive cropping without the necessary re-
storative of good farmyard or other manures ; thus, the period
has arrived on some so exhausted soils, and is impending on
otliers, and this course of deterioration must continue until the
great bulk of Western Wheat growing lauds be likewise com-
piratively exhausted. The constantly new creaking up of virgin
soils by the eager immigrant keeps out of view the deterioration
and unproductiveness of the older cultivated lands ; but the
time must arrive in 20 years, but not exceeding 40 years at
furthest, when all the best lands shall be occupied and on the
wane respecting rich Wheat growing properties. Then the
Western farmer will not have the rioh treasure of a teeming
soil to work upon, but^ must adhere to the approved methods
ot skilful farming. Casting a prospective glance upon the
firmer, say 30 years hence, he may still be seen with the
advantages of cattle raising and other live stock for European
markets, enabled to till his soil depositing rich farmyard
manures at a cost not exceeding £2 lOs. per acre, or 16s. per
qr., making £2 os. 9d. per qr. delivered sold in England.

It would thus appear in roughly estimating the ability o
those countries to produce Wheats, that the cost thereof may
lay somewhere between 40s. and 453. per qr. at a period subse-
quent to the time when the Western lands shall require to be
cultivated upon the approved models of older countries ; but
that for the present and during the next 20 yerrs, with season-
able growing and harvest weather, cost may be kept witliin
SOs. to 35s. per qr. for Spring and Winter Wheats delivered
sold in England.

AVith such figures in view it would seem a sahject for ira-
mediite and grave contemplation by the English landowner
whether he do not early decide to accept a rental upon his
wheat lands of 3 to 4 per cent, upon a newly assessed value
of, perchance, nearly 40 to 50 per cent, reduction ; already
some landlords have reduced their rents very materially.

It may not be unfitting to observe, that it has been the
unbounded liberality of the British capitalist, and the conse-
quent regretable returns, unbounded loss, dividends nil, and
original stock almost so, which has largely contributed to
placing the American farmer in the masterful position of
anderiielling the rest of the world. Take 3 to 15 or more
years ago spring wlieats were supposed to pay the farmer well

DOES RUNNING WATER PURIFY ITSELF?— This-
B'-il'.jectwas uiscussedin the November Popular Science Jibnlhly,.
by J. A. Judson. lie takes a decided negative, as will be aeea
by the following paragraph : — It is not impossible to point out
authorities or sanitary matters so wedded to jjet theories that
they unhesitatingly deny tliat the ccnversion of a pure running
stream, or even a large river, into a conduit for sewage-filth of
a large city will have any deleterious elfoct on the potable
quality of the water taken a few miles below the filth-entering
point. It has been demonstrated tiiat this is not only false in
I tlieory but also in fact. It was Dr. Letlieby, of the English
; "Royal Commission on the Water Supply of London," it is
I believed, who was the first to announce what has since been
proved a fallacy, viz., that if sewage be mixed with twenty
times its volume of river water, the organic matter which it
contains will be oxidized and completely disappear while the
river is flowing a dozen miles or so ;" and further, that " it is
safe to drink sewage-contaminated water afrer filtration." The
" Royal Rivers PoUu'.iou Commission," 1868, unwilling that
this expression of opinion should remain untested, submitted if;
ti careful and ingenious experimental investigation. Tlie
result is thus anuouucei ; — It is thus evident that so far from
sewage mixed with twenty limes its volume of water being
oxidized durins a flow of ten or twelve miles, scarce'y two.>
thirds of it would be eo destroyed in a flow of one hundred and
sixty-eight, at the rate of one mile per hour, or after the lapse
of a week." And, after mentioning certain details in support
of this, the commissioners conclude with the remark that "it
will be safe to infer, however, from the above results, that
there is no river in tlie United Kingdom Ion r enough to effect
the destruction of sewage by oxidation." Dr. Fraukland, an
eminent English authority, before the Ro^al Commission on
Water Supply, gives some strong testimony iu support of the
statement that it is impossible to remove the sewage contami-
nation from wafer by any know process, natural or artificial,
so as to render it harmless, except by boiling for a long time,
or by distillation ; and as these two processes are impracticable
on a large scale, then, he says, in his opinion. " Water that has
once been contaminated by sewage ought not afterward to be
used for domestic purposes ; and, inasmuch as it is generally
btlieved that the noxious matter of sewage exists there in the
form of minute germs, which are probably smaller than blood
globules, I do not believe that even filtration through a stratum
of chalk could be relied upon to free the water perfectly froiE-
such germs."

THE PRICE OF MEAT.— A « Family Man " writes to-
the Daily Tele/jraph : " One of the large wholesale firms ia
the City had tlieir attention called some few weeks ago by
their cashier to the high price tliey were paying to the butcher
who supplied them, for meat — ll^d. per lb. all joints. The
butcher was sent 'or, aud he fold them it was impossible for
him to do them justice at a lower price. Some short time
afterwards the firm received a letter from one of ihe large
butchers in London, making them an olfor to supply all joints
at S^d. per pound round. On the following settling day
(weekly) their butcher came to receive his account. The-
cashier then told him of the ofi'er they had from another firm
to supply them at 8jd. ' If,' said he, 'you like to take that
price we will continue our account ; otherwise we shall not
give you further orders ; at the same time we give you the
option of retaining, onr trade (which v/ill amount to £1,000 or
more in the year)., The butcher at once said h? would supply
them at that price, and still continues to do so, notwiti stand-
ing his previous statement that he could not atfori d^^ts it al
less than ll^d,"

190

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

AGRICULTURAL MEETINGS IN l879.

MARCH 5 and 6.— 'BirminErham Shorthorn Show and Sale
— Mceriiigal Birmingham. Katrie.s close February 11.
SecTftaiy, Mr. Johu B. Ljthall, Bindley Hall, Bir-
miugham.

MARCH 8.— Norfolk AsTiciiUural Society's Spring Show—
Meetint^at N'Twich. K' trie^ close March 1. President,
Robert T. Gurdou, Esq. Secretary, Mr. James Bacon,
Attleborough.

MARCH 22.— Cambridge Spring Entire Horse Show— Meet-
ing at CiimbriJge. Entries clo^^e March 15. Hon.
Secretary, Mr. Smith H. Rowley, Histon, Camba.

APRIL 3 — RoyalJer.sey Agricii'tiiral Society's Horse Show,
&c.— Meeting at St. Helier's. Entries elo^e March 29.
President, Gerra se Le Gros, Esq. Secretary, Mr. h\
Labey, Le Patrimoine, Jersey.

APRIL 15, 16, 17, and 13.— Royal Dublin Agricultural
Society's Spring Show— ileeting at Dublin. Entries
close, single fees, March 13 ; double, 20. President, The
Duke of Leinster. Secretary, Mr. David G. Rogers,
Agricult iral Otnce, Kildare Street, Dublin.

APRIL 29 and 30. — Ayrshire Agricultural Society — Meeting
at Ay. Entries close a fortnight previous. Secretary,
Mr. J. McMurtrie, 70, Newmarket Street, Ayr.

MAY 7 and 8. — Glasgow Agricult'iral Society — Meeting at
Glasgow. Entrie< close April 23. President, The
Duke of Montro.-<e. Secretary, Mr. Mark Marshall,
14S, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow.

MAY 1-1 andl5.— Newai-k Agricultural Society — Meeting at
Newark. Entries close within one week. President, i
The Mayor of Newark. Secretary, Mr. Thomas Earp,
The White House, Newark. ;

MAY 20, 21, and 22. — Devon County Agricultural Association I
— Meeting at Devonpnrt. Entries close April 17. President,
Sir John St. Aubyn, Bart., M.P. Secretary, Mr. John L.
Winter, Bridgetown, Totnes.
MAY 22. — Royal Jersey Agricultural Society's Show of
Cows. &c. — Meeting at St. Heiier's. Entries close May
17. President, Gervaise Le Gros, Esq. Secretary, Mr.
Era. Labey, Le Patrinuine, Jersey.
MAY 29. — Stirlingshire (Eastern District) Agricultural
Society — Meeting at Falkirk. Entries close May 24. Presi-
dent, John Eussel, Esq. Secretary, Mr. Thomas Binnie,
Falkirk.
MAY 31, JUNE 2,3. 4,5, and 6.— .rgrcnUural Hall Co.'s Horse
Show — Meetmg at Agricultural Hall. Entries close May
19. President, Robert LeedSj Esq., the Chairman of the Co.
Secretary. T. Sydney, Agricultviral Hall, Islington.
JUNE 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.— Bath and West of England Agri-
cultural Society — Meeting at Exeter. Entries close, for
Stock and Implements. April 16, Poultry, May 1. Presi-
dent, The Earl of Morley. Secretary, Mr. J. Goodwin,
4, Terrace Walk, Bath.
JUNE 11 and 12.— Norfolk Agricultural Society's Summer
Show— Meeting at East Dereham. Entries close May 3.
■President, Robert T. Gurdon, Esq. Sesretai-y, Mr. James
Bacon, Attleborough.
JUNE 11 and 12.— Royal Cornwall Agricultural Society-
Meeting at Falmouth. Entriei close Mav 3. President,
The Hon. T. C. Agar Robertes. Secretary, Mr. Heni-y
Tresawna, Lawellyn, Probiis.
JUNE 18 and 19. — Peterborsnqh Agricultural Society —
Meeting at Peterborough. Entries close May 31. Presi-
dent, Marquis of Tavistock. Seoreiary, Mr. J. B. Little,
Minster Gateway, Peterborough.
JUNE 19 and 20.— North East Agricultural Association of
Ireland — .Meeting at Belfast. Entries close May 12.
Pre.siilcnt, General Vi-count Templetown, K.C.B
Secretary, Mr. G. Gerald Binghaiu, Ulster Buildings,
Belfast.
JUNE 19 and 20.— SuflTolk Agricultural Society— Meeting at
Lowestoft. Entiies close May 27. President, Col. St.
John Barne, M. P. Secretary, Mr. Robert Bund, Old Bank
House, Ipswich.
JUNE 24, 25. and 20 — Doncaster Agricultural Society —
Meeting ittDonca ter. Entries close May 31. President,
Lord Auckland (Kdeuthorpc). Secretary, Mr. George
Chafer, 9, Market Place, Doncaster.
JUNE 25 and 2fi.— Essex Agricultural Society— Meeting at
Havcrtiill. Entries close Mav 2t. Pro.-ident, Lient.-Col.
P. B. Ruggles-Britfe, M.P. Secrptary, Mr. Frank Whit-'
Biore, 2i, iJiike Street, Chelmsford.

JUNE .30, .TULY l.Z, 3, 4, 5, and 7.— Royal Agricultural

Society of England— Meeting at London (Kilbum).
Entries close, Implement, April 1, Stock, May I. Piesi-
dent. H.R.H. The Prince of Wales, K G. Secretary, Mr.
H M. Jenkins, 12, Hanover Sciuare, W. [There will be
no separate meeting of the Royal Counties (Hants and
Berks) Society this yeai".]

JUNE 20. — Alexandra Palace Horse Show — Meeting at Ales-
andra Park. Manager, W. H. In'es, Alexandra Park.

JULY 8.— Banff Agricultural Society— Meeting at Banff.
Entries close June 23. President, The Earl of Fife,
K.T. Secretary, Mr. George Umming, Banff.

JULY 16. — Huntingdonshire Agricultural Society— Meetinpc
at St. Ives, Hunts. Entries close June 21 to July 1.
President, B. Brown, Esq. Secretary, Mr. Arthur Geo.
Dilley, Market Place, Huntingdon.

JULY 16. 17, and 18.— Lincolnshire Agricultural Society^
Meeting at Stamford. Entries clo'se June 9, President,
The Marijuisof Exeter. Secretary, Mr. S. Upton, St.
Benedict's Square, Lincoln.

JULY 17. — Bedfordshire Agricultural Society— Meeting at
Bedford. Entries close June 21. President, Lord St. John,
Melchbourne Park, near Bedford. Secretary, Mr. H. R.
J. Swatlield, Ampthill.

JULY 18— Driffield and East Riding Agricultural Society-
Meeting at Great Driffield. Entries close July 4. Presi-
dent, Christopher Sykes, Esq., M.P. Secretary, Mr. W.
Dunn, Market Place, Dritheld.

JULY 22. — Malton Agricultural Society— Meeting at Malton.
Entries close July 5. President, The Hon. Henry W.
Fitzwilliam. Secretary, Mi-. William Constable, Malton.

JULY 22 and 23. — Nottinghamshire Agricultural Society —
Meeting at Reriford. Secretary, Mr. J. Barron, 16,
Market Street, Nottingham.

JULY 23, 24, and 25.— Shropshire and West Midland Agri-
cultural Society — Meeting at Shrewsbury. Entries close
June 20. President, 0. C. I'otes, Esq , M.P. Secretary,
Mr. W. L. Browne, Caatle ilills, Shrewsbury.

JULY 24. — Cleveland Agricultural Society — Meeting at
Middlesborough Entries close July 9. Secretary, Mr.
T. Gisborne Fawcett, Yarm, Yorkshire.

JULY 21. — Northumberland Agricultural Society— Mee'.ing
at Berwick-on-Tweed. Entries close July 1. President,
Earl Grey. Secretary, Mr. Henry Wallace, Trench Hall,
Gateshead.

JULY 29, 30, and 31. — Worcesterehire Agricultural Society —
Meeting at Malvern. Entries close June 28. President,
Earl Beauchamp. Secretary, Edward T. Goldingham, 6,
Foregate Street, Worcester.

JULY 29, 30, 31, and AUGUST 1.— Highland and Agricul-
tural Society of Scotland — Meeting at Perth. Entries
close Juno 13. President, The Marquis of Lothian. Sec-
retary, Mr. P. N. Menzies, 3, George IV. Bridge, Edin-
burgh.

JULY 30 and 31. — Leice?tershire Agricultural Society-
Meeting at A.shbj'-de-Ia-Zouch. Entries close. Stock and
Implements July 6, Poultry July 12. Presidents, The Duke
of ttutland, K.G., and Earl Howe. Secretary, Mr. J. T,
Maron, Sy.ston, Leicester,
AUGUST 5.— Border Union Agricultural Society— Meeting
at Kelso. Entries close July 11. President, Duke of Ro.-c-
bu'ghe. Secretary, Mr. John Usher, 35, Bridge Street,
Kelso-
AUGUST 5, 6, and 7.— Yorkshire Agricultural Society -Meet-
ing at Leeds. Entries close June 28. President, (Jolonel
Gunter. Secretary, Mr. Marshall Hopkinson, York.
AUGUST 7.— Coquetdale Agricultural Society— Meeting at
Warkworth. Entries close July 17. President, S. P.
Widdin:;ton, Esq. Secretary, Mr. Robert Dinkur, Roth-
bury, Northumberland.
AUGUST 12, 13, 14, and 15.— The Birmingham and Midland
Counties Horse and Kound Show — Meeting at Birming-
ham. Entries close July 24. Secretary, Mr. John B,
Lythall, Bingley Hall, Birmingham.
AUGUST 15. — Eas'. Cumberland Agricultural Society-
Meeting at Carlisle. Entries close August 2. President,
H. Howard, Es(|. Seeretai-y, Mr. George Wood, 32,
English Street, Carlisle, and Wetheral.
AUGUST 20.— Beamish, Pontop, and Consett Agr'cultnral
Society— Meeting at Wbickham, near Gateshead. Entries
close August 6. President, Lieut. -Col. Juicey, Newton
Hall, Northuinborlaud. Secretaries, Messrs. John
Richards, and George Ridley, Beamish, Chestcr-le-Street.
AUGUST 20 and 21 — Ormskirk aud Southport Agricultural
Society— Meeting at Bootle. Entries close Auirnst 2.
President, The Earl oi' Derby. Secretary, — , .Maghuli,
Liverpool.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

191

AUGUST 27.— Airedale Agricultural Society— Meeting at
Bingley. Eiitrioa close August 18. Secretary, Mr. Jesse
Thompson, Main Street, Biugley.

AUGUST 27.— Xorth East Someriet Farmers Club — Meetini?
at Newton Park, Newton-St.-Loe, near Bristol. Entries
close August. 26. President, The Earl of Warwick. Secre-
tary, Mr. John Tudball, Chew Magna, near Bristol.

AUGUST 29 and 30. — Cheshire Agricultural Society — Meeting
at Chesser. Entries ciose August 1. President, the Duke
of Weatniinster, K.G. Secretary, Mr. William Beckett,
Orlton Park Farm, Tarporley.

AUGUST 30.— Halifax and Calder Vale Agricultural Society
— Meeting at Halifax. Entries close August 16. Presi-
dent, Sir Henry Edwards, Bart. Secretary, Mr. WiUiam
Irvine, IS, CUeapsido, Halifax.

SEPTEMBER (First Week).— Royal Manchester, Liverpool
and North Lancashire Agricultural Society — Meeting at
Manchester. Entries close August 1. President, The
Earl of EUesmere. Secretary, Mr. Thomas Bigby, 21,
Cross Street, Manchester.

SEPTEMBER 2 and 3.— Derbyshire Agricultural Society-
Meeting at Derby. Entries ciose, for Roots, (irowing
Crops, Implements, &c., August 22, for Poultry, Pigeons,
&C., August 19, for Stock, August 1. President, Lord
Vernon. Secretary, Mr. George Corbett, Canal Office,
Derby.

SEPTEMBER 4.— Leominster Agricultural Society— Meet-
ing at Leominster. Entries close August 29. Secretary,
pro tem., Mr. Edwin Grey, 9, Broad Street, Leominster.

SEPTE.UBER 9. — Cartmel (Lancashire) Agricultural
Society — Meeting at Cartmel. Entries close August 27.
Patron, Lord Edward Cavendish. Secretary, Mr. William
Cragg, Cartmel, via Carnfalk.

SEPTEMBER 9.— Wolsingham Agricultural Society-Meeting
at Woisingham. Entries close August 30. Secretary,
Mr. Wm. Ruiter, Woltingham, via Darlington.

SEPTEMBER 10 and 11.— Wirral and Birkenhead Agricul-
tural Society— Meeting at Birkenhead. Entries close
August 27. President, Richard barton, Esq. Secretary,
Mr. A. F. Gardner, 2S, Hamilton Street, Birkenhead.

SEPTEMBER 17 (?).— Royal and Central Bucks Agricnltnral
fociety — Meeting at Aylesbury. Entries close 21 days
before. Secetary, Mr. George Fell, Ajlesbury.

SEPTEMBER 18 and 19.— Staflfordshh-e Asricultural Society
—Meeting at Wolverhampton. Entr'es close. Stock
and Implements Augu^it 16, and Poultry August 30.
Sea-etary, Mr. W. Tomkinson, Newcastle, Staffordshire.

SEPTEMBER 23.— Alfreton Midland Agricultural Society-
Meeting at A Ifreton. Entries close August 23. President.
C. R. P. More wood, Esq., J. P. Secretary, Mr. Ai-thur
Milner, Strettou, near Alfreton.

SEPTEMBER 23.— Chapel en-le-Vrith Agricultural Society
— Meeting at Chapel-en-le-Fri h. Entries close August
30 President, W. H. G. Bagslaawe, Esq.. J. P.
Secretary, Mr. George H. Swift, Chapel-en-le-Frith.

SEPTEMBER 24.— Frome Dairy Show and Agricultural
Society — .Meeting at Frome. President, S. K. Harding
Esq. Secretary, Mr. Walter Harrold, The Marc, Frome

OCTOBER 1.— Royal Srath Bucks Agricultural Society-
Meeting at — Entries close July 1. Secretary, Mr. R.
H. Barrett, Slough, Bucks.

OCTOBER 31.— Ayrshire Agricultural Society's Show of
Dairy and Farm Produce— Meeting at Ayr. Entries
clo»e a fortnight previous. Secretary, Mr. J.' McMurtrie
70, Newmarket Street, Ayr.

NOVEMBER 6.— Royal Jersey Agricultural Society's Show
for Agricultural Produce — Meeting at St. Helier's
Entries close November 1. President, Gervai.se Lo
Gtos, Esq. Secretary, Mr. Fra. Labey, Le Patrimoine,
Jersey.

NOVEMBER 25 and 26.— Tredegar AgricuJtural Show-
Meeting at Ne'irijort, Moumouthshire. Entries close
October 29. President, Lord Tredesar. Secretary, Mr.
J. G. Palling, Tredegar Estate Office, Newport, Mon-
mouthshire.

NOVEMBER 27 and 28.— Chippenham Agricultural Society
— Meeting at Chippenham. Kn.iies close November 'M.
President, Algernon W. Neeld, Esq. Secretary, Mr.
Edward Little, LanhiU, Chippenham.

NOVEMBER 2n, and DEf^E.MtScR 1, 2, s, and 4.— Birming-
ham Agricultiu'al Exhibition — Meeting at Bingley Hall,
Birmingham. Entries dose. Implements, October 18,
Stock and Poultry, November 1. Secretary, Mr. J. B.
Lvthall, Bingley llall, Birmingham.

DECEMBER, (Ist week).— Edmburgh Fat Cattle Show-
Meeting at Edinburgh, President, The Duke of
Bueclenoh. Secretary, Mr. Hugh Marten, 7, Hops
Street, Edinburgh.

DECEMBER 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12.— Smlthfleld Club Fat
Cattle Show — Meeting at the Agricultural Hall, Islington.
Entries close. Implements, Ac, October 1, Live Stock,
November 1. President, Col. Kingscote, C.B., M.P.
Hon. Secretary, Sir Braudreth Gibbs, HaU'-Moon Street,
Piccadilly.

DECEMBER 9. 10, and 11.— Yorkshire Society for the
Christmas Exhibition of Stock, Poultry, and. Roots —
Meeting at York. Entries close November 20. President,
the Earl of Harewood. Secretary, Mr. John Watson,
Lendal Bridge, York.

DECEMBER II, 12, and 13.— Canterbury Fat Cattle Show-
Meeting at Canterbury. Bnti-ies close November 8,
Secretary, Mr. George Slater, Canterbury.

A NEW MATERIAL FOR PAPER.— The cousaraption
of esparto grass by paper-triskers ia France and EugUn 1 is
now very large, aud ii ii yearly increasing. Sir Joseph Uooker
and Mr. Ball, in their recently published juurnal of a "Tour
in Morocco," tell us they s<\vf immense bales of this grass
being shipped from the port of Jlogador, and " that it is there
said that the greater part of what reaches England from
Morocco ii used in the paper-mills tliat supply the I'imes
newspaper." The great value of this grass as a paper-making
material lies in the tenaciiy of its fibre and the comparatively
minute quantity of siilica in its composition. In these
respects it would appear that we have in all wet, healthy
places, moors, a-d damp woods throughout Great Britain and
Ireland, and extendin'i over all Europe and mto Russian Asia,
wherever suitable places fur its growth are to be (bund, a
similar material in tlie grass long known as the purple raolinia
{Muiinia citrided). It is a rather coarse, siilF, perennial
eras*, often growing to a hfi^ht of 3lt. ; Ihe leaves chielly
lorni tufts and stirt Irom the base of the plant; the floweriux
stalk is of a greenish or purple hue. It is found over all the
moorlands of Scotland and in all the boggy pa-tnres of Inland
and has been considered ol litlle, if any, agi iillural valuta ; it
is gradually by cultivation being destroyed. From an analysis
ot hay made Irom this grass by Dr. Cameron, it would appear
to coutaiQ an unprecedeuteuly small amount of ash — only
0-85 parts out of 100 parts of hay (dry weigh') — and a scarcely
appreciable amount ot silica. In 100 parts ol the ash only
0-55 of silica was found. Dr. Caireron does not suggest this
grass as being ot valui as a paper making material, but he
calls the altemion o farmers to the (act that it is well worth
saving as a food product, as its coraposilion indicates a high
degree of cutritive value ; indeed, it appears to be quite as
rich as meadow hay in all its common ingredients except
digestible non-nitrogenous matters. Its anaiysifi, howevrr,
indicates its qualities as a paper-making aiatenal, as which it
would have a higher commercial value than as an article of
food, and iu a communicatioa to N^iture, Mr. Christie, of
Edinburgh, states that he sent a small quantity of ihe gra.-»
to be operated on by Mr. T. II miledne, o Sunderlaud, who,
alter experiment, came to the conclu-iou that if dried properly
and put up caefully in bundles, free from weeds and dirt, its
value would be probably eqml to esparto grass— £5 per ton
dry. It is to be hoped iliat some effort may be used to have
an extended trial tor paper-making ol this plant. It flowers
in the la:e summer or early autumn, when in this country
some iiands could be readily spared from other work to collect
it. It should cost little over ihe mere fxpense of gathering,
as the ground in wliioh it flourishes, as a rule, will pay but a
minimum of rent. — T(tnc3.

FISH AND FOWL.—" How sharper than a serpent's
thanks it is to see a toothless child." Here, for instance, is

the , a London tive-year-old, copying in a singe issue

seventeen columns of the New York Tribune, and crediting
one of them. And it wasn't an unusually good week for
international angling either. — Those journals that live ''by
hook and ly crook" — mostly by hook — labour under the
disadvantufje of having suspicion attach even to that by wliich
they come iion-sily. " This is a moral that runs at large."
— -" Am these our chickens P" asked a coloured contemporary,
with suddenly quickened conscience, as he suspended hos-
tilities in a neighbour's hen-roost between two days. And his
copartner, who is understood to have aspirations for ax)
agricultural editorship, made quick reply: "Dat am a great
moral questioa- pais down another pullet."— JV'eif York
Tribi'nc

lo:

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

FOREIGN AND COLONIAL AGRI-
CULTURE.

The departmental meeting held at Nevers (Nievre) on
the 7th, Sth, and 0th ult., was unprecedeiitedly successful,
says the Journal d'Ac/ricuUure Pratique. The large
attendance was the more remarkable since hw prome-
naders pure and simple were present ; thus the show par-
took more of the character of a training school than a mere
exhibition. la the llalle, devoted to fat stock, were
120 beasts, 125 sheep, and 65 pigs. Shedding accom-
modated over 400 specimens of breeding stock, three-
fourths of which were cattle of the local breed, the
Nevernais-Charolais, la the park, tastefully decorated
for the occasion, were lodged 30 fiae stallions ; here also
the machinery was displayed- There were exhibits also
of poultry, cheese, butter, aad wines. Among the fat
cattle were many handsome specimens of the cross between
the Shorthorn and Charolais herds, their colour being a
shade between the two, namely a dun or coffee tint, with
spots approaching whiteness. These animals fatten
rapidly ; one of those in the show, which took a first
prize, weighed over 24 cvvt., while another actually
reached the weight of 25 cwt. The sheep were mainly
of the Berrichonne, Southdown, Dishley, Soulhdown-
Eenichonne, and DIshley-Berrichonne varieties. The
stallions excited great interest, their presence being due
to the enterprise of the Agricultural Society of the
Nievre. Up to 187-1 the local breed of horses was very
poor. Since then, however, 27 stallions have been im-
ported into the department, while three have been reared
therein. The purchaser is charged by the society with
cost price only, but he must engage to keep the animal in
the department for a term of six years, at the same time
seeing that he is employed each year for breeding pur-
poses. He may dispose of his stallion provided the new
owner submit to the Society's conditions. Infringement
of the rules implies the forfeit of the purchase money to
the Society, and,further,exclusioa from future advantages.

M. Th. Filter, the well-known agent for the leading
English aid American implement manufacturers, has been
nominated to the grade of Chevalier of the Legion of
Honour.

Our Canadian correspondent writes : — The Canadian
emigration office at Liverpool is issuing absurdly
exaggerated aud misleading statistics anent the
pretended cattle exports from this colony to Britain.
In the Mark Line Express of February last,
under the signature of " Hampshire," a corres-
pondent gave a very full account of the then newly-
developed live-stock export business, and as 1 have a good
knowledge of the subject -know as much about it,
indeed, as most people in Canada — you may accept my
statement (hat " Hampshire's " figures were correct, save
perhaps on two points. I think he, in common with the
ScoUman's able commissioner and some others, some-
what under-e^timated the probable supply of graded
animals from the United States, suitable lor the English
market, and a little over-estimattd the Canadian capa-
bilities, which he put down at about 7,000 beasts annu-
ally, but which I would set down at 5,000. His state-
ments about the dodges practised to make the Colonial
exhibit larger than it is, or ever can be, about the little
interest taken in the export business by anybody here save
the emigration agents and a few domiciled American
speculative cattle buyers, for the simple reason that few
farmers have any bcHSts to send, and the diligence with
which the mythical Canadian exports are paraded in set
paragraphs, supplied to the English press in order to
induce English agriculturists to emigrate hither— all
these I know to bt true, as well as the fact nientioued by

" Hampshire," that the few thousand of really native
produce we do send to Britain are driven up to Toronto
and some other towns, in the fall, in a more or less lean
condition, and confined in sheds, where they are gorged
with distillery swill, till the opening of navigation in the
spring permits their shipment.

Coming now to the fanciful figures of the Liverpool
emigration office for 186S, figures which are put forth
for a purpose, and which even so able and well-informed
a paper as the i1/«/ic/ie5/tT Guardian has hastily taken
for gospel, I find the following absurd exhibit : '' Exported
from Canada to Great Britain, via Canada and the
United States, 32,115 head of fat cattle, 62,461 sheep,
and 1,798 pigs." These pretended Canadian exporta-
tions are not worth serious consideration. They may
serve their object as an emigration bait to dangle before
unknowing English farmers, but any facts deduced from
them are quite misleading aud worthless. It is impossible
for Canada to send 32,000 head of cattle to Britain in a
year. That amount of superfluous stock of a quality suit-
able for the English market is not iu the country-graded
animals which alone are 'of suitable quality, aud com-
mand remunerative prices. The meat of the native
beast is tough aud tasteless, and is severely let alone by
practised exporter-!. In fact, the ordinary stock of this
country is useless for shipment.

If there be anybody so gullible as to believe the figures
given above, let him read the following from the Toronto
Globe, which, alarmed at the demand of the "Welland
farmers for protective duties against American produce —
particulars of which I have recently sent you — and
momentarily oblivious in its panic of the pyramid of
fiction it has been itself laboriously buildin? up, re the
mythical " Canadian " cattle exports to England, lets
itself for once be surprised into the truth, as follows : —
" The imposition of a twenty per cent, duty on live
animals would be a most disastrous piece of folly. Until
the live stock trade with England sprang up, Ontaiio
imported no animals from the United States except a few
which were bought by the farmers themselves. . . .
If a duty of a hu.sdred per cent, were put upon American
cattle coming into Ontario, our fanners would not ba
advantaged. On the contrary, as they themselves oc-
casionally import they would have to pay the duty. But
the certain result of the proposed increase of our present
ten per cent, duty to twenty per cent, will be to kill off

the cattle trade with Britain At present

the shippers of live stock cannot find half enough good
cattle with which to fill the ship-space contracted for.
It is only by boldly entering into large contracts a long
time ahead that ship-space can be procured on advan-
tageous terms. If these contracts were not entered into
pluekily, as they are, the transportation rates would be
w«ll-nigh double their present figures. Without liberty
to draw on the exhaustless herds of the "Western plains
in order to fill out their ship-space, the exporters of live
stock cannot carry on their present trade. More than
one-half of the cattle now being sent to England by
Canadians are American cattle, and unless these cattle can
be brought in freely our farmers must be content to lose
from 10 dols. to 15 dols- per head of the price which they
now get for exported cattle. It is not as though
the Americau cattle could not get to market
unless we took them- The contrary is the
case. Unless we take them they will go by American
jiorts, and thus help to build up a large trade, which
cannot but eventually swamp our smaller business. The
increase of the duty on live stock is therefore a suicidal
policy for our farmers to support. What applies to
cattle applies in a less degree to sheep aud to horses,
— Toronto Globe, Jan. 25, 1879-

This li the style in which the Ghbe backs its friends

THE JARxMER'S MAGAZINE.

193

of the Livei'iJOi)! Romance office, and i^ives itself and tlieni
away in its apprehension of a 20 per ^eut. duty on
Arjier'cau catlle, which it knows, as well as anybody
would summarily burst the bubble of " Canadian " live
stock exportation. I add a few other testimonies on the
subject.

" A Toronto company shipped during the week 280
head of cattle, of which 240 were bought ia Buffalo."
— Monetary Times, Jan. 17. 1879.

"Toronto cattle exporters have agents at Buffalo,
Chicatjo, etc., to purchase stock for exportation to the
English markets. The shipments from Buffalo eastward
were, during last year, 001,231 cattle; 1.587,890 hogs,
and 856,500 sheep." — JIail, .Ian. 7th.

"At the present time three-fourths of the cattle shipped
by ' Canadian ' firms have been purchased at Chicago or
Buffalo. This course is forced upon the exporters
because the necessary number of beeves cannot be
obtained here." — IhiJ.

Again in the weekly review of the Toronto wholesale
markets, in the same paper we read (Jan. 23rd), under
the head of Beeves: — ■" Receipts have remained much the
same as last week, the total being large, but consisting
almost entirely of inferior grades. An active inquiry has
been manifested for shipping lots, and within the next
week cue firm will ship 220 head from Boston, and
another 140 head from Portland, but of these lots pnly
one-third has been bought in this market, the rest coming
from the States."

It is these animals houghl in the States, and shipped by
American buyers, for in fact, the chief of the dealers who
hold this trade in their hands in Canada are Americans
by birth domiciled at Toronto, that Mr. Dyke has the
exceeding coolness to call " Canadian " produce exported
" from Canada " to Great Britain " via the United States."
They ara no more (Canadian produce than I am a Dutch-
man. In fact, their only connecliou with Canada is that
the firm which buys and exports ttiem, has its head
quarters in a Canadian town. In one week recently this
Toronto firm shipped to England 1,500 cattle by way of
Jlontreal. ]\Iost of these were purchased in the States,
but they were chronicled in the paragraphs supplied to the
English press by the wire-pullc-s as ''another extensive
arrival of ' Canadian ' live stcsk." The simple reason
why this export company carries on its American business
at Toronto is that it is an acknowledged trade centre with
good facilities for the handling, care, and shipment of
stock, and with excellent railway arrangements for loading
and unloading the beeves.
[Our correspondent adds more evidence, for which we have

no space. The above will suffice.]

A LESSON IN POTATO CULTURE FROM THE
PARIS EXHIBITION.— Very few among the myriads who
explored the Paris Exhibition, gave atteution to the garden
and museum of the Agricultural School of Vincennes. It
may almost be said that nobody knew of the existence of the
combined demonstration of the uses of applied chemistry in
agriculture, intended by this particular feature of the exhi-
bition. On an out-of-the-way slip of land adjoining the river
and lying below the level of the more frerjuented roads at the
junction of the Trocadero grounds with the bridge — that is to
say, i-nraediately on the right hand in entering upon the
bridge on the way towards the Camp de Mara — this demon-
stration was planned for tlie service of all mankind. Descend-
ing a flighi of steps, there opened on the view a little garden
hemmed in by stepp[earthworks,[and terminating in a museum.
The garden was planted with potatos, tobaccos, hemp, and
chou de Milan. These were conspicuously kbellsd, to explain
the kind of treatment in respect of mineral fertilizers, to
which they were suhjpcted. It struck me that the garden was
too small and the crops too few, and the chemical scheme too
contracted to serve any very useful purpose ; but there
api'eared to be in the relHtire growth of the crops a distinct

lesson of the value of nitrogen — at all events, the plot of
potatoes that had btea aided by nitrogenous manures, pre-
sented a bolder front in respect of shaws than tho plot that
had not been aided ; but we do not judge potatoes by the
shaw solely. We hke to see, and even taste the roots, before
passing a final judgment on any particular system of cultiva-
tion. The museum was full of attractions of a serious nature,
all admirably prepared. Amongst a hundred things thai
might engage our attention advantageously, special mention
must here be made of the results of a trial culture of potatoes
with a set of specially prepared chemical manures. Six plots
liad been grown — each, of course, of the same t-ize, and the
same sort, the circumstances differing only in one respect, of
the fertilization of the soil for them. Tlie several crops had
been fairly for this purpose heapsd up and photographed, and
the diagram accompanying this n ite faithfully represents the
series. It will be understood, of course, and yet niiy be
Worth mentioning, that in every case, save the last (No. G),
there was something added to the soil, to assist the growth of
the potatoes. This last lot tells us plainly that the trial wa
made on poor ground, for the experiments of Mr. Lawes have
shown conclusively tliat superfluous manuring is sheer waste,
so if we add — say potash — to a soil that contains enough
potash already, the crop is in no way increased, and we have
wasted our time, and thought, and money. Now, at this
point a nice consideration comas in. If we supply (say)
potash only, the plant is compelled to seek for lime, soda,
phosphate, nitrogen, &3., — whatever, in fact, it may need to
enable it to turn to account in a proper proportionate manner,
the other minerals needful to its growth — in the natural soil,
wiiich is never utterfy deficient, for we have not seen the soil
yet that will not produce a blade of grass. Now, for the con-
sideration of this particular case, it is not needful to state what
is the precise composition of tlie " complete manure." The
photographs illustrated the unknown almost more graphically
— at it seems — than the known. Let it sullice then that No,
I is the crop from the plot that was aided by the complete
manure. No. 2 shows the crop grown by the complete man-
ure, mi'iHS nitrogen. No. 3 is the crop from the complete
manures, minus phospJiafes. This is a fine lot, only a shade
inferior of No. 1, and it suggests that the natural soil con-
tuned a fair proportion of phosphates, which were inert unless
aided with other sgeucies. No. 4< is the crop from a plot
from which potash was omitted, and it forcibly illustrated the
importance of this alkali in the growth of the potato. JNo. 5
is not less instructive. It is from the plot aided by the com-
plete manure, minus lime. The proportion of calcareous salts
in the potato is exceedingly "small, and on most soils the
plant can pick up as much lime as it wants. This No. 5
illustrates indirectly the origin of scab. As it occurs cliiefly
in connection with lime, and potatos need but little lime, scab
may be the result of a plethora of the superfluous mineral.
No. 6 as remarked above, is tiie prodnce of the natural soil,
without any aid whatever. It is very telling in favour of
scienfitlc manuring, but it must always be reme;nbered that
the cost of the manure must be considered in connection with
the value of the crop, for it is impossible to pay too much even
for a good thing. S-irae account of a series of experiments
conducted at Vincennes, resembling, in many respect, the
present trial of special manures with potatos, was published
in the Garden Oracle for 187^. Ileference to the record will
show ttiat the results were eq'ially defiuate with those now
reported on. — S. H., in Gardener' a Magazine.

FASHION AND MORALITY.— "Show me the fashion
plates of any age," said Tal mage, "and I will tell you the
type of morals or iramorals of that age or that year." All
right, brother Talmage (says the Boston Post) ; we sngeest
the age of Adam aud Eve. We havn't the plates handy, but
doubtless you recollect them.

PERSEVERANCE.— The Michigan papers tell a story of a
man who, having separated from his wife alter several years of
married li''e, advertised for another helpmate under an assuued
name. His divorced wife replied to him, also under an
assumed name. They met by appointment, and one can con-
ceive their surprise on recognising each other. The matter,
however, ended happily, and after exchanging fxplanaticBS
they resolved to forget the pas't and to marry again.

194

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

THE AGRICULTURAL DEPRESSION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MA.KK. LANE EXPRESS,

Sir, — There is no doubt that by this time it is pretty
well known, even to outsiders, that farinius; is far from a
paviiij< giune, and that it stands side by side with the
jtreat general depression of trade. But one thing is not
80 well known or noticed, namely, that this is the fourth
consecutive bad year for the farrners, or at least for the
great majority of them. Some have, of course, felt it
more severely than others, and it is my humble opinion
it is the " pound an acre men," farming cold clays,
which cannot carry a breeding flock, who are the worst
off — men who have to fatten beasts in the yards, which is
directly an nnpayiog operation, though necessary for tread-
ing down straw which the farmer is forbidden to sell, and
for finding dung for the wheat crop. Just fancy a shop-
keeper selling or being forced to sell an article that did
not pay him, that he may have the privilege of selling
another article which, if he does not lose by, barely
clears his expenses. Another tiling is, that this class of
land requires more labour than any other, and nothing
is grown in the furrows of the five-turn land, or in the
water furrows, which must be drawn or the wheat will
rot. I speak from experience. In fact, I used to serve
rlover, routs, and ploughed furrows all alike. It pays to
do it, but the having to do it is a disadvantage. Hare
such fiirms averaged more than threequarters per acre
since 187-i ?

The men who have managed to hold their own are
those who have larae stock (sheep) farms with plenty
of good down land. Just look at their big four-cast
lands, about eight times the width of Mr. Heavyclay's,
and see how a pair of good stepping horses will walk
away with a light ploush.very differently from the niighty
three or lour horse teams, with m;in and boy, v>hich
crawl along to turn the above-nauwd gentleman's
furrows. But as a rule farmers of this class suffer from
game, and especially from the ravages of i-abbits.
Where they are unmolested they are fairly comfort-
able. Yes, you may depend upon it, hedging,
ditching, and water furrowing are quite a little
rent. We will now turn to a class of men who, compared
with the above-mentioned, know but few real sorrows.
They are those who can breed their sheep and then
fatten them, turning out 50i- lambs for the London
markets by Easter; who have pair-horse land, are un-
molested by game, and can sell their straw. They
can feed plenty of cake on the land, instead of in yards,
where it is nearly all washed away. They can grow a
crop that pays better than wheat into the bargain, namely,
barley, at 45?. and 46s. per quarter. And what do these
men do in return for all these good things? Why, their
land costs them 20s. or 25^. an acre more, which is soon
made up by an extra stack of wheat, let alone the labour.
There is another thing that must not be forgotten — that
is, that farmers of 400 or 500 acres rarely have enough
capital in the land, and we can't do with less than £10
an acre. If a man with a couple of thousand pounds
would put it in a farm of 180 to 200 acres, his chances
would be far better than with an unwieldy place of over
300, which nine times out of ten he fakes because the
rent is low, and it is such an easy entry, " nothing to
take to." How about the ghost of the man who has
pone before, and the legacy of couch grass duty free?
No, depend upon it, our farms must he as clean as
gardens, our cropping untrammelled, and we in return must
not forget to ram in the cake. Let Parliament give us
protection, not for our wheat, but for our capital that
sleeps in the land.

1 am, Sir, kc,
February 10. A. E. W.

TO THE EDITOR, OF THE MARK LANE EXPRESS.

Sir, — I have read a very able article in the Fortniyhtli/
Review for this month, on " Agricultural Depression."
Although I am not a farmer, I feel an interest in the sub-
ject through living in an agricultural district and having
many friends in that liue of business. I notice that the
writer states the cost of transport of wheat from New
York to be from 4s. 6d. to 6j- 6d. per quarter. His in-
formation probably is more authentic than mine, but, I have
lately been in the company of an American farmer who
is on a visit to this country, and whom I have questioned
upon the subject of wheat-growing and exportiug, with
the following result : — He arrived in this country ia
October last. I asked him what price he obtained for
wheat in America ; he said £7 per load, and he sold it to
the lighter men, but there is scarcely any sale at present,
as all their stores are quite full. I asked him what it cost
to convey it to this country, he said 9d. per qr. He saw
a vessel loading just as he left, with 70,000 qrs. I asked
if it paid him to g,-ow wheat at that price, and if the
Americans would continue to send us wheat if that price
continued? He said, " We never had worse prices, but
having such an excellent harvest, it wis a very good year
for us." As to continuing to send wheat to England, he
said, " We must do so at whatever price we can get,
as we have most of us got our own farms and can grow
nothing that pays better ; we do the best we can under the
circumstances, aud live accordingly. England is our only
market for our produce." This man lives in Illinois, where
he has been for 35 years. He owns his farm, and paid
for it by selling the wood when he cleired it. He says
the wheat yields best when grown under apple trees. He
pays 12s. per di'y for labour in harvest time ; and he and his
sons do most of the work. Living is very cheap, and taxes
are very light.

^Vhen the shipping trade is as bad as at the present time,
and when, according to the editor of the Fortnigh'ltf
Reniew, there are two million pounds worth of shipping
lying idle in the harbour of Bombay, and every other port
so full of ships that scarcely any can get a job which pays
their expenses, and when copper is brought from South
America as ballast, I should have thought the cost would
be less than the Forf.nighlly Revitw stated. I think
our farmers require to be free from a large amount of taxa-
tion, which at present the tenant pays. They have lately
had an additional education tax, towards which they pay
more than any other class. Tne highways have been
thrown upon them through the abolition of turn-pike
gates. But the great grievance appears to me to be the
tith*;. Ought not the landlords to pay that tax aud then
let the farms for what they will fe'ch ?
I am, Sir,

A Man of Business.

P.S. — A small farmer in this neighbourhood lold me
last Saturday that he paid £1 per week lor going to church,
and he dislikes his clergyman so much that he will never
go and hear him preach any more.

[There must be some mistake about the 9d. per qr. as
the freight for wheat fiora New York to London.
Ordinary charges are from is. 6d. to 63. 6i. — Ed.]

DEFINITIONS.— -The School Board is responsible for the
diffusion of much useless kaowledge. A board examiner
performing his f'lnctions in a purely agricultual parish
recently asked a mixed class, " What is a husbaadroan ?" No
answer was given for some tiins, till at last a liitle girl
ventured, " I'leane, sir, a man as has got a wife." Tne
examiner became thoughtful, and sorrowfully took his way to
a parish owned by a duke, and overawed by ducal establish-
ments. Here he sai'l, " Tell me what is meant by a noble-
man ?'' Tliere was silence for u time; at last one smsrt little
boy replied, " Please, sir, ii's a gentleman as gains his live-
lihood by riotous living V"

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

195

TITHE RENT CHARGE AVERAGES.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MARK. LANE EXPRESS.

Sir, — It is to be regretted that at the present time when
admitted distress exists amongst agriculturists, when hiud-
lords are endeavouring to meet it by percentages of re-
duction of renf, or alleviating it by some oilier praise-
worthy act, fanners should be coiunelli'd to pay a tithe rent
charge of £11 15s. 2^.1. over the ilOO.

I know of but one case where an attempt has been made
by a tithe owner to meet it, and that was by returning 5
per cent, ou the last half-year.

Since the passing of the Tithe Commutation Act, 43
years ago, we lind the average to be £2 18s. IHd. per
cent, over what it was then assessed at, thus showing that
the tithe receivers were wiser in that generation than the
sons of the soil. The result of the 43 years average also
convincinuly shows that the assessment was based at too
high a value, since aggravated by the unfair way in which
the averages are taken. At the time when this Act was
passed fanners, as a rule, did not graze so much as now,
consequently nearly all the inferior and tail corn wa? sold
on the market reducing the averages. Now and for soine
<.iine past great practical improvements have been made iu
farmiu", and they have been induced to consume all such
corn 00 the farm, which, not being sold on the market,
has consequently raised the averages. Moreover, samples
•of corn are sold over and over again on the same market or
some other market at higher prices ; these being returned,
force up the average worked into ^Yillich's Tithe Com-
matatiou Tables.

The overplus paid to the tithe o-vners in 38 years
amounts to, iu hard cash, £131 Gs. 4|d. If we take the
overplus paid year by year Ouring that time and calculate
simple interest and compound interest thereou at the rate
of 5 per cent., the usual interest for capitnl employed in
agriculture, we shall find that for every £100 titha rent
charge we have lost £226, or, in other words, if we had
paid no more each year than the £100 we should De in
possession of £226 'more capital than we hive now — the
true measure of the injustice.

It is hard that the present distress should be intensified
by exacting nearly 12 per ceni. more than the framei-s of
the Act contemplated, which, coupled with the unfair
mode of taking the averages, induces me to express a hope
that this question may be taken up by the Chambers of
Agriculture throuiihout the country, and something of a
more equitable character enforced upoQ the Legislature.
I am, Sir, &c,,

James S. Gardiner.
Bi/vley Lodge, Emex.

THE COST OF WHEAT-GROWING IN
AMERICA.

TO THE EDITOR OF TIIE \tA.B.K LANE EXPRESS.

Sir, — To you as the chief British authority iu agricul-
ture owners and occupiers both at homernd abroad look
thankfully for the information with which your columns
abound. I would respectfully suggest the unspeakable
service you would do us all by collecting the statistics of
the cost of the productioa of cereals ia this and other
countries, so that by comparing notes we maj really
discover wherein our own deficiency lies.

Your journal has told us, on the avouchment apparently
of those on whom it is safest to rely, that the average
production of wheat in Illinois, Ohio, and generally in
the Western States of America, scarcely exceeds eight to
twelve bushels, and ia the most fertile of all not more
than sixteen bushels per acre. My friend, the Hon. A.
Mackellar, late Minister for Agriculture in Upper
Canada, sent me his reports, from which is to be

gathered the fact that twelve to twenty bushels is the
average for that province. From these data I Lave in-
ferred either that the competition of America at our
present low prices is accidental and cannot pav, or else
that with an average British production of 30 bushels
per acre, and with customers at the farmer's very door,
there must be somewhere a screw loose iu his manage-
ment if he cauBot sustain such a contest. Labour is
dearer in America than it is here ; implements are dearer.
The Americans must plough, and harrow, and sow, and
reap, and stack, and thrash, just as we do. He must
convey his grain over corduroy roads, or no roads at all,
to rail or river, and from thence (in sacks that never
come back) three thousand miles to an English seaport
to be warehoused, waiting for a cnstotner, and subject to
rent, freight, and commission. If the American paid
no rent or faxes at all, but only the cost of reclaiming his
land from wood, wilds, or ])raiiie, how can he hold oa
with such drawbacks, unless there be something materially
wrong in our system ?

It is " Far West", in Beerbohm's E'lenmg Corn List,
extracted in your last, that snggests to me these observa-
tions. Instead ol from 8 to 12, or at most 17 bushels, as
the American average produce, he assumes the yield to be
24. Eiiher this quotation is ab.xnrd, or the reliabls au-
thorities quoted in the Mark Lart'. Repress must be
wholly mistaken. " Far West" gives the cost of " pre-
paring the land, seeding, cuiting, thrashing, markfting,
and placing on the railway cars at interior," Lis. 9d. per
qr. Why the sacks alone would cost 4s. of the money.
Cartage, say 2s. more — (it must on an averatfe come to
more than that) — and there remains a balance of 8s. 9d. per
qr., or 26s. 3d for the whole charges of cultivatinsi, reap-
ing, thrashing, and stacking the quoted produce per acre.
How is it that, if these data be reliable, our farmers cannot
do for less than from £8 to £10 what Illinois, Wisconsin,
and Toronto can do for £1 6s. 3d. ? If the yield sjiven by
" Far West" be apocryphal. Cocker becomes still farther
mystified.

Many would be thankful for a solution of these enigmas.
I am. Sir, &c., Sidney Smith.

The Minor, Feiiham, Ft'), ith, 1879.

[We shall be very glad to hear from American readers Ja
reply to this letter. We fear, however, that it would
be impossible to get at the average cost of producing
wheat in any country. It would be very difficult to get
at it ia a single parish. — En.]

FAILURES OF FARMERS.— If figures were wanting to
prove tlie evil times wliich encountered the British farmer in
1878, or rather the tr>iug epoch of bad seasons and low prices
wliich culminated in the bygone year in farspread afjricnltural
ruia, the data lie to hand iu the number of failures officially
announced. It appears that 81.5 fanners failed in 1873 as
against 477 in 1877. Nor do tlie evidences of depression stop
here, lor the auxiliary classes which form the fringe of the
agricultural body, and liuk food producers and consumers toge-
ther, have been reached by tlie same Witve of mislorlune. I'or
137 corn merchants, corn chandlers, hay and straw dpalers who
threw up the sponge in 1877 there were 18t last year ; while
87 millers and corn dealers failed as against 36. Of'bakers
there failed 307 as against 183. Even the proTerbially pros-
perous butcher, whose profitable margins between meat pur-
chased and meat retailed have been a recent matter of criticism
show 399 kors de combat, in contrast with 336 in the preceding

12 months. Brewers alone of the trades connected with our
food, tried by this test, come out unscathed by the troubles of
the time, accounting only for 23 failures as against 31 within
the preceding ^ta^i.— Chamber of A'jricuUvre Journal.

TO HIS ADVANTAGE.-The following announcement
lately appeared in a newspaper :—" Edward Eden, painter,

13 ffquested to communicate with his brother, when he will
hear of something to his advantage— his creditors are dead."

10(5

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

TIPTREE FARM ACCOUNT.

£

8.

a.

485

4

0

25

0

0

175

0

0

481

18

1

615

12

0

465

11

1

2 249

5

2

BALANCE SHEET, 1878.
Paid.
Jamiary 1. — Valuation :—
Live Stock
Poultry...

Horses and donkey

Tillage, manure, &c. ...
lliy, corn, &c. (unsold)
Implements

(Fixed steam-engine, irrigation pump', mill-
stones, and thrashing machines, valued in
estate.)
Corn and hay for live stock, produce of farm,

charged at market prices 75 10 0

Corn, cake, malt-combs, bran, &.C., purchased for

livcftock 395 0 8

Grinding corn for live stock by our own engine,

at tlie usual prices charged to others 17 10 0

Veterinary 7 7 Q 0

Medicals ... ... ... ..• ■•• 3

Live stock purchased ... ... ... ••■ 431 5 0

Horse food pnroliased from farm... ... ... 88 4 0

Ditto purchased elsewhere ... ... ... 65 13 0

Tarm-labour, including engine-driver, and work.

ing baihlf 4.15 14 G

Rent of chapel land, 45 acres 56 0 0

'i'iilif'S, taxes, poor, highway, church and county

rates ... 75 17 6

Reserve for wear and tear and depreciation of

machinery and implements
Coals for ste'<ra engine ...

Tradesmen's bills: — Wheelwright, blacksmith,
founder, harness maker, bricklayer, carpen-
ter, painter, b:isket m»ker, cooper ...

Malt and hops for beer for labourers

Seeds and plants purchased
Ditto of our own growth...
I'ufchased manures
Horses purchased...
Miscellaneous petty expenses: — Mole and rat-
catching, mending sacks, postage stamps,
stationery and farm account books, oil, candles,
cart grease, tallow, packing for engine, &c. ... 11 8 11

Thatching ., 8 0 0

Thatching stuff 113

Hired steam ploughing 0 0 0

Ditto thrashing work ... ... ... ... 10 5 0

Grinding corn at oar own mill for our farm

horses 10 1 0

Fire insurance ... ... ... ... ... 3 15 0

Hail-storm insurance ... ... ... ... 2 7 0

25

0

0

25

12

0

78

11

9

16

5

0

27

2

0

68

15

0

124

0

0

45

0

0

£1,334

3

9

Received.

ecember 3 1 . — Valuation : —

£

8.

d.
0
0
0
0
1

Live stock

... S58

3

Ponltry

... 24

0

Horses and donkey

... 177

0

Tillages, manure, &c. ... ... ...

... 487

5

Corn and hay, &c. (unsold)

... 413

Implements

... 465

11

Corn sold for money ...

Corn and hay sold to live stock, as per contra

Peas (picked for market) sold, after deducting

all expenses ...
Home-grown corn used as seed, and charged

per contra
Oats, beans, and hay, home grown, sold to our

horses
Hay and straw sold
Sundries ... ... ...

Fat meat sold ...

AVool sold

Poultry and eggs sold

£2,425 2

834 16

75 10

295 9 1
68 15 0

83
340

11

638

0

Grinding for hire
Grinding foro.vn stock
Grinding for horses
Bent of cottages
Received for milk

32 4 8

17 10 0

10 1 0

16 4 0

15 0 0

4,914 19 10

Paid 4.343 3 9

Balance for rent of 128 acres and profit and

interest on 173 acres ... ... ...£580 16 1

Details oi' Live Stock Account.
Valuation paid : —

Live stock ... ... ... ... ... £485 4

Ponltry 25 0

Corn ani hay purchased off farm ... ... 75 10

Ditto elsewhere ... ... ... ... 895 0

Grinding corn ... ... ... ... . . 17 10

Veterinary, &c. ... ... ... ... 7 0

Live stock purchased ... ... ... ... 431 5

Valuation : —

Live stock

Poultry

Fat raeit sold ...

Poultry

Milk

Paid ...
Balance

Received.

46 10 5

£1,436 9

8

... £858 3
... 24 0
... 638 4
... 48 10
... 15 0

0
3
0

5
0

£1,581 17
... 1.436 9

5
8

... £145 7 9

To pay for attendance, consumption of roots, and green
herbage.

Remarks on the balance-sheet of 1878 : — The live stock ac-
count is more favourable than usual, the sales having been
made at good prices early in the year. The corn sold early
also had the advantage of a better market. Hay and straw
also sold at full prices. The valuation taken at Christmas of
both hay and corn was at a low price, and unfavourable to the
balance-sheet. Peas picked green netted £295 9s. Id. after
paving the following charges :—

£ 8. d.

Picking 98 S 8

Railway carriage ... ... ... 72 16 4

Commission on selling ... ... ... C2 14 10

233 14 10
It is quite certain that I could not obt^iin such favourable
results had I not free scope to farm as I please, and dispose of
my hay and straw when it paid me to do so, nor could I farm
this land profitably, even at a very losv rent, in its original or
unimproved condition. Drainage, the absence of trees and
fences, and suitable buildings, enable me to obtain a good
landlord's rent, and a fair farm profit. In th se days of low
prices and competition, no aral)le farmer can make land pay
without plenty of fattening and breeding s!ock, and its con-
sequent abundant manure. Farmers witli capital should be
free and unfettered. 1 hope tiiat our influential land agents
will impress this on landowners. Security of tenure and a
valuation for tenants' une.'cliausted improvements, would soon
change and improve British agriculture ; at present, it is, as
a wliole, in a most unsuitable and unprofitable condition.
Security of tenure by 19 years' leases in Scotland has
wonderfully encouraged improvements, and only requires the
addition of an equitable valuation at the expiration of the
lease. It may appear remarkable to some that I liave only 6
acres of permanent pasture, and yet manage to keep, as an
average, 200 sheep and from 15 to 20 cattle ; but we cut all
up, allow no roaming at large, and invariably give supplemen-
tal food. The sheep are always within iron-hurdled folds,
removed morning and evening. Folks find fault with farming,
but I find it now pay better than my London trade, whicii is
in process of being ruined by the Civil Service Stores. TIib
expenses remain, but the trade is gradually departing; and I
am far from being aloue in this respect. —J. J. Mecui,

MR. MECIirS BALANCE SHEET.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE JIAUK LANE EXP RE SS.

Sir, — Mr. Mechi's Balance Sheet h a nice example of
book-keeping for farmers, aad they ou^bt to feel indebted
to him for his frankness in presenting it ; but it is curious
to note how complacently he congratulates himself on his
success for the past year. Let us see what reason he has
for doing so.

The amount of his receipts over bis expenditure is
£580 I63. Id. ' From this sum, rent and interest on
capital have to be deducted. 1 have no means of knowing
from the sheet the amount of either of these items, but
I cannot assume the one to be less than £3 an acre, and
ns his valuation of stock, crop, implements, &c. on hand,
is over £2,000 the amount of his capital cannot be under
£3,000, and this at 5 per cent, would give the other. We
thea have —

Rent on 12s acres at £3 £384

Interest on Capital ... ... ... 150

£534
This deducted from £580 I63. Id. leaves £46 IGs. Id. as
his incoiKe from Tiptree Hall. I doubt whether it would
pay the expenses of his book-keeping. He says he has
exceptional facilities too, without which he could not have
Ehovvn so favourable a result. He farms as he pleases,
sells what he pleases, his land is in the highest condition,
and his tenure is secure. Is he not surprised that farmers
wi'hout these advantages can exist ?

Taking it as it stands, Mr. Mechi's Balance Sheet is
one of the saddest testimonies I have seen that arable
farming under present circumstances is a miserable failure.
I am, Sir, &c., J. B. G.

THE FAUMEK'S MAUAZINE. 197

THE EARNINGS OF THE WORKINa

CLASSES.
The following is an abstract of a paper prepared by
Professor Leoue Levi for Mr. M. T. Bass, M.P. : —

THE POSITION OF FARMERS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MARK LANE EXPRESS,

Sir, — I have been supplied with the 31ari Lane Ex-
press for more than twenty years past, but as a Free-
trader and Liberal of much older date, I cannot now rest
without thanking you heartily fcr your present efforts to
eulighteu the tenant-farmers, and lead them to consider
that if English agriculture is to be maintained, they must
exercise all their power at the next general election. I
will not venture to express more on this occasion than to
state an opinion that the Agricultural Holdings Act, if
made compulsory, would of itself do much to improve
the tenant's position. This is clearly seen by the eager-
ness of land agents, lawyers, and valuers, much employed
by the great landowners, advising them to get the tenants
to contract themselves out of it, under promise, it may be,
of something equivalent in the way of a new agreement
which is quietly allowed to lapse. I have a strong feelin?
that by the landowners in both Houses of Parliament and
the present Government bting chiefly supported by the
County Members, this Act, embodying the very least that
could be done in regard to Tenant Right, was passed in
good faith ; but on returning to their estates they were
frightened out of it by advisers, who felt their hold on the
tenants endangered.

In sending you a hasty and imperfect note like this, I
would in justification introduce myself as a tenant-farmer
since Michaelmas, 1839. Having earlier than that been as,
I have stated, a Free Trader, &c., you may imagine my
satisfaction after such a long isolation of feeling with my
brother-farmers at finding my views so admirably ex-
pressed by yourself and your most clever " Sampler " in
a leading agricultural journal.

I am, Sir, &;c., Vetiean,

Mr. Levi estimatis that the population of the United King-
dom, which in 1871 was 31,m3,000, lus increased by 7 per
cent., and is now 33,799,000. The number of persons en-
gai.ed in various industries is a total of 11,509,000, composed
of 7,8'31,000 men and 3,688,000 women. Domestic service,
the textile maaufacturea, and agriculture employ 90 per caat.
of all tlie women engaged in industry ; 6,647,000 of all tlie
men eDt;aged in industry are occupied in agricultural aiui in-
dustrial pursuits. Quoting a great number of returns giviDj
tlie wages earned in different occupations, Professor Leone
Levi calculates the average rate of wages in the most skilled
arts at 33s. and 353. per week. It is, he says, in the nature of
British industry, which consists mainly in manufactured goods
and artistic products, to require much labour, and henca the
greater coullicts between capital and labour in England than
in otler countries. The total amount of the gross earnings of
the working classes oftiie United Kingdom, under a conditioQ
of an average amount of employment and at present rates, he
has ascertained to be £500,000,000, of which men earn
£390,000,000, and women £110,000,000. Deducting fromthii
ca'culation 7^ per cent, for holidays and other suspensions of
labour, estimated at four weeks' duralion, and 2^ for the
number of musters not distinguished in the census, a total of
£153,700,000 remains. But another important deduction has
to be made in consequence of the stagnation of trade, which
has hitherto existed mainly in the textile industries, mining
and metal manufactures, and that class of labourers of an in-
definite character who are alwavs the first to suffer when work
is slack. He eslimhtes the total number engaged, as liere
stated, at 4,239,000, earning £183,OiJ0,O00. Allowing for u
loss of wages in these industries to the extent of two months
additional, equal toone-sixih of the yearly income, amounting
in all to about £30,000,000, the earnings of the labouring
classes will be reduced to £432,700,000, an amount almost
equal to that of 1806, divided, however, among a much larger
number of labourers. The average wages show an increase
as compared with 1866 of 6 2 3 per cent, earned by men under
20 ; of 6 J by men at and above 20; of 12 by women under 20 ;
of 24 by women at and above 20. It will be seen, therefore,
that women's wages have advanced more in proportion tiiau
men's, this being especially the case among domestic servants
and dressmakers. Taken separately, the average wages are
not higli, but if the total amount earned be divided among
the 4,800,000 families, each of five individuals, representing
21,000,000 as the number of the labouring classes, the amount
per family will be £94 per annum without the deduction for
the depression of trade, and £88 with the deduction, or 36s.
per week in the first case, aad 333. in the latter. Professor
Levi says that in the past 13 years our labouring classes iiave
had opportunities of setting aside a considerable amouit, and
there ought therefore to be no reason for the excessive distress
complained of at this moment. In 186G the total amount in
trustee and Post Oifice savings' banks was £44,503,000 ; ia
1877 it was £73,9SO,000, being an increase of £38,477,000.
The amount held by friendly societies 18G5 was 5,362,000; in
1874 it was £9,038,000, an increase of £3,676,000, making a
total inciease of both savings banks and.lriendly societies in ten
years ot £33,113,000. or an average of £3,200,000 perannum.
But, says the Professor, a considerable proportion of the extra
amount earned has been spent in an excessive expenditure for
eating, drinking, and smoking. In no other country, he says, are
the wages more liberal, but in no other country are liiey more
wastefully used. The consumption of imported articles of food
and drink per head iu 1886 and 1877 sliows a large increase
in the latter year. In 1866 the percentage of bacon, and ham
consumed per head was 2'13 ; in 1877 it was 801, being au
increase of 2-77 ; wheat and wheat flour (lb.) in 1866 was
104'50, in 1877 it was203-3a, being an increase of 94, and so
on in proportion with such articles as sugar, tea, spirits and
malt. The nomber of paupers in receipt of relief on the 1st
of January, 1878, ia England and Wales was 742,703, in
Scotland, May 14, 1877, 96,404 ; and in Ireland, the first week
of January, 1878, 85,530— making a total of 93i,437.

108 THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

IMPORTANT SALE OF CART HORSES.

Oq Feb. 12 the sale of Mr. Nix's cart horses at

Otitseats Farm, Alfreton, Derbyshire, was held, Messrs.
Sextou and Grimwade, of Ipswich, being the auctioneers.
There was a large company present, and high prices were
realised The average of 29 horses was £107 4s. 5d.
The following is the list of prices and buyers —
Brood Mares.
Flower, black, 9 yrs.— Wr. Rous, L^icpstershire £82 19j.
Berry, bay, 30 yrs. — Mr. Scratton, Devonshire, £110 5t.
Lady Derwent, bay, riiing 7 yrs.— Capt. Bitu, Diss, Norfolk,

£157 10s.
Duchess, grey, rising 5 yrs.— Withdrawn.

FllXIES.

GoTcrness, black, rising 3 yrs.— T. Staffer, Limerick, £76

13a.
Poetes'* iron grey, rising 3 yrs,— Hon. de Vere Perry, £74

Us.
Hilda, brown, rising 3 vrs.— Mr. Morewood, Alfreton, £73

lOy.
Attraction, roan, rising 3 yrs. — Mr. Ingersoll, Lewes, £74 lis.
Flower Girl, bay, rising 3 yrs. — Mr. Ciiick, Dorsetshire,

£fiO 18s.
Gipsy Queen, brown, rising 3 yrs.— Mr. R. Chambers, Lanca-

slii.e. £105.
E-npress, h»y, rising 2 yrs.— Mr. T. Barber, Notts., £G5 23.
HeireM, chesnu', ri>ing 2 yrs. — Capt. Bitts,, £73 lOs.
PrincMs, b»y, ri-ing 2 yrs.— Mr, Wood, Buckingtianijhire,

£73 10s.
Gaiety, bay, risine 2 yrs. — Hon. de Vere Perry, £53 lis.
Diiwager, (jrey, risin^j 3 yrs. — Mr. llausocne, Hitchin, £47 53.
Eva, bav[ filly losl— Mr. Radford, Manchester, £23 2a.
Baroness, bay, filly foal, Mr. Barber, Notts., i'SO 9s.
The Duke, black, entire colt— Mr. Dixon, Beverley, £26 Ss.

Stallions.
DevonshTe, grey, 13 yrs.— Mr. Hodgkinson, Derbyshire,

£126.
Merryiiiau, brown, 14 yrs.— Mr. Cooper, Belper, £15 15s.
Caiiibridgp, t»-y, 9 vrs.— M-. RHUsomp, £162 15f.
Lord Byron, brown, 8 yrs.— Mr. T. Brc.vn, Marham, Nor-
folk, £210.
Lord ol I he Manor, roan. 8 yrs.— Mr. Robinsou, Brigg,

£136 10s.
Beauchieff, bay, 7 yrs.- Mr. F. Street, Cambridge, £233 10s.

Entire Colts.
Newland, brown, ri.'.ingS yr.-*. — Mr. Chick, £357.
Four Onks, bav, rising 3 yrs.— Mr. Ingersoll £136 10s.
BuDd-<m«ii, bay, rising 3 yrs.— Mr. Woodyard, Suffolk,

£120 153.
Beaumont, chesnut, rising 2 yrs.— Hon. Coke, Longford,

D^rby, £141 158.
Hardwick, chesnut, rising 2 yrs. — passive.

THE CORN TRADE.

Birmingham, February 13th, 1879.— The English Wheat
crop ol 1S78, althongh greatly in excess ol the previous one and
superior to it in quality, has proved only a bars average, yet
the importation has been so large that uotwithstundiug the
enormous supplies required by France and other continental
countries, prices are now ten or eleven khilliogs per quarter
below those current this time last year, and have only once
during the last twenty yeirs been so low. The stocks in the
chief ports liave also diminished about 000,000 quarters, but
on tlie other hand wliat is called the visible supply from
America is said to have increased one million quarters, and in
the Blaek Sea ports the increase is said to be nearly equal io
the diminution in this country, so that the quantity available
for consumption is on the whole increased by fully one million
quarters. Under these circumstances tliere docs not seem,
xnuch irobability of any considerable advance at present. If
it had not been for the large continental requirements, it is
not easy to see wliat the "Americans would have done this
seasoa with their surplus produce. At present, low as is the
price of American Wheat, the English tanner supplies the
miller still cheaper, and the proportion o' Foreign Wlieat now
using in this district is small. As tarmers get busy on the land
this may alter.

Shipments from the United States to England are new
moderate, but those to the contineat continue large and do not

appear likely to fall off, as when the crop is deficient the
demand for Foreign Wheat in tliit country usually increase
until Ihs end of May. From Russia, the Dauubian provinces
and the East of Europe jjenerally, the exports do not increasfj
this may be in part attributable to short crops, but mainly to
the low rates current on this side.

Recent revelations show that the trade from India has been
so artificially stimulated, that it is doubtful if the Wheat trade
will regain the importance it seemed at one time likely to
assume. At present, at least, the supply from thence is greatly
diminished.

Osving to the long-continued wei Autumn, only a small pro-
portion of the Wheat on our heavy lands is yet pi nted, and if
to tli3 frost now succeeds a February " fill ditch " the breadth
of land under this firain must prove very small, as March
will be too late to prepare the land and sow, and an additional
reason also is that good Barley brings as much per quarter as
Wheat.

'the imports of Barley have been moderate, still, owing to
the cheapness of Maize, feeding qualities have ruled lower than
for some years past. Oats have lalleu in pries quite as much
as Barley, and Irom the same cause. The good crop, fine
quality, and consequent low price of Hay have also affected
the value of Oats, which are cheaper than thsy have been for
many years. Beans and Peas alone ha/e more nearly main
taiued their value. The British crop of neither was large,
and we have not received the usual supply of Beans from
either Egypt or Morocco. The importation of Peas has been
almost entirely from Canada, and the relatively high price for
feeding has caused the consumption to be very small. Of
Maize (he imports have been unprecedmtedly large, and the
price is lower than ever before, r. citing it is said only equal to
about 4s. per quarter to the Western farmer, but the increase
in tlie consumption has been checked by the fall in the price
of pigs consequent on the extraordinary importations of
Ameiicin bacon, and the reduction in the number kept in the
towns caused by recent sanitary regulations. Though beef
and mutton are loner than lor some years past, still cattle and
feeding at present low prices of corn and offal must pay better
than at many previous periods. — Joseph and Charles
Stukge.

MORE THAN ENOUGH.- Dr. Drysdale states that at the
hospital wiili which he is connected he met a young woman
passing under the name of " Enousih." She wis the thirteenth
daughter ol her mother, and the father had given her the odd
name. The mother of Enough, hovever, gave birih to tea
more children, making twenty three altofrether. Tlie porter
of a well-known City club which recently collaised was the
eldest of a family of twenty-seven, all children by the same
mother.

TOUR LICENCE ?— Two men were out shooting the other
day, one had a licence, the other had'nt. A keeper approached
and the one that had a licence ran away. The keeper was a
good runner, and an exciting chase ensued over about a mile
and a half of nice ploughed fields. At last the keeper got up
to the runaway. "Now, sir, where's your licence, ?" It was

produced. "Then, why the did you run away ?" " Oh,

I'm fond of exercise," answered the man ; " But don't you
think youh'd better ask my friend if he has one ?"

NAGGING.— Husband— " If I were to lose you I wonld
never be such a fool as to marry again." Wife — " If I were
to lose you I would marry again directly." Hmband — " Then
my death would be regretted by at least one person." Wife
— " By whom ?" Husband — " My successor !"

JUSTICE. — The Hon. Sam. Houston, when a Senator from
Texas, once in a speech in the Senate related an anecdote of
a Washington justice who, having heard the plaintiff'.s state-
ment of a case referred to him for adjustment, proceeded at
once to give judginert. " Stop, squire," said the defendant,
"you have not heard my side yet. Hear me before yuu
decide !" " That is not necessary," said the austere judge ;
" in fact I find it pontively improper to do so. Yon see I
have been in this fix before," he went on, "and I don't like it.
When 1 hear one side I am certain how 1 ought to decide ;
but when I hear both sides I am puzzled," and Le decidid
accordingly for the plaintiff.

THE FABMSR'S MAGAZINE.

THE MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL
EXHIBITION.

A cable message was received on Feb. 20 from Mel-
bourne statinjij that the first stone of the Exhibition
building was laid on Weduesilay, the 19tb inst., by his
Excellency the Governor, amidst a very large and enthu-
siastic concourse of people. The Exliibitiou is to be
opened on the 1st of October, ISSO, and to close on the
Slst of March, 1S81. We have received a copy of the
programme and regulations, from wliich we extract the
following enumeration of exhibits to be comprised iu the
agricultural group : —

Examples of the farm buildings of various countries.

Examples of stables, cattle-sheds, sheept'olds, pisj-slies,
and of premises for rearing and fatteuiug such animals.

Utensils used in stables, cattle sheds, ke inels, &c.

Apparatus for preparing the food of animals.

Agricultural machinery in motion : steam ploughs,
reaping and binding and mowing machines, hay-making
machiues, thrashing, finishing, and dressing machines,
&c.

Specimens of agricultural works : distilleries, sugar-
mills, sugar refineries, breweries, works for the prepara-
tion of flour, fecula, starch ; silkworm nurseries, &c.
Apparatus for artificial hatching.

Presses for wine, cider, oil.

Alimentary products are put in a separate group, and
include the following : —

■Wheat, rye, baWey, rice, maize, millet, and other cereals
iu grain and in flour.

Grain without husk, and groats.

Fecula from potatoes, rice, lentils, &c., gluten.

Tapioca, sago, arrowroot, cassava, and other fecula,
compound farinaceous products, &c.

Italian pastes, sennolina, vermicelli, macaroni.

Alimentary preparations as substitutes for bread, home-
made paste, &c.

Other classes include meat salted, or preserved by
various processes, dairy produce, eggs, vegetables, seeds,
trees, plants, agricultural products not used as food,
tools, &c.

Governments intending to take part in tbe Exhibition
are requested to forward an iniimatiou to that effect not
later than the 1st of June, 1879.

In the event of no representatives being appointed by
the country or colony to which an intending exhibitor
belongs, he can communicate direct with the Secretary.

Applications for space should be made not later than
the 30th day of June, 1879.

THE AMERICAN CATTLE TRADE.

The New York papers report that great excitement was
caused among the stock traders of the United States by the
action of the English authorities", in reference to the importa-
tion of American Cattle. The superintendant of the stock
yards at Chicago telegraphed to the United States Commis-
gioner at Washington on February 3 that the action ot the
British and Canadian Governments was based on a misconcep-
tion of the fact< as reported about the prevalence of cattle
disease in the western territory. Tlie export of live cattle is
worth millions to the farmers of the north-weat, and the wliole
country felt the effect of the increase in the exports. The
Commissioner, in his reply, stated that there was no more
reason for the present action of the British Government in this
matter than had existed for years past, as pleuropneumonia
had never visited the cattle-breeders of the west, whenca all
the cattle for exportation were brought. The existence of the
disease on the eastern boundary was a constant threat to the
cattle-rearing country beyond the Alleghaniea, and he asked
the authority of Congress for its extermination. He hoped
action would be taken that would remove any and all excuse
lor the orders of the British Governnseat.

199

I lie folluwiii« inktruotious have been issued by the Treasury
of tlie United .States : —

" To Uolleciors of Customs and others : — By department's
circular of U.'cembcr 11, 187S, it was directed that live cattle
shipped from the various ports of the United States migiit he
examined with reference to the question whether they we'e
Iree from contag-ous diseises, and that if found to be free from
snch dispsses, a certificate to that effect should be given. By
that circular such iaspection was not made compulsory, but
the certificate was to be issued only upon the application of
parties interested. As tiie export trade in live cattle from the
United States is of vital importance to large interests, every
precaui ion should be taken to guard against the shipment of
diseased aniir.als abroad, and such a guarantee given as will
satisfy foreign countries, especially Great Britain, that no risk
will ensue from such shipments of communicating contagious or
iniectiuus diseases to the animals iu foreign countwes by ship-
raeuts from the United States. Colloclors of Customs are, there-
fore, instructed that iu no case will live animals be permitted
to be shipped from their respective ports until after an inspec-
tion of the animals with reference to their freedom from dis-
ease, and the issuance of a certificate sliowing that they are
free from the class of disease mentioned. Noticed rpjectod
cattle should be proaiptly giveu to this departineut. In order
that this department may be fully informed in regard to such
diseases ia any part of the United States, Collectors of Cus-
toms are reciuesfed to proinp'ly forward to this department any
information which they may be able to obtain of tlie presence
of contagious or infectious diseases prevailing among live
animals in their vicinity. It is probable that if the disease
prevails to any considerable extent it will be noticed iu the
local Press, and cjllectors are requested to send copies of any
such notices to this department lor its information. — John
Sherman, Secrf tary.

The North German Lloyd extra steamship Koeln, Capta'U
Jungst, arrived at Sourhamptou on February 20th, from
New York, and, after landing 131 head of cattle consigned to
a firm of cattle dealers iu London, she procseded fir Bremen,
The animals were stowed below deck, and, although the ship
encountered severe weather, ouly five of them died during the
voyage out of a cargo of 126, tiie remaining 121 being landed
iu excellent conditiou, and they are to be forwarded on to
London to-day. In tlie Times of Feb. 19 h a telegram from
oar Philadelphia Correspondent refers to the correspondence
which has recently passed between Great Britain and the
United States concerning the British restrictions on cattle
importations because of pleuro-pneumonia, and mentions the
American proposal rigidly to examine all shipments, allowing
no diseased c-ittleto be exported, and the Treasury officials to
give clean bills of health to the steamers before sailing lor
Europe. The American Government have already acted upoa
this proposal in the case of the Koeln, this stearuer before
leaving New York having been furnished with the following
certificate, which is attested by Her Majesty's Consul at New
York, viz: — "Collector's certificate of cattle inspectioa
(circular No. 139, December IS, 1878). — Custom-house, New
York, Collector's OfKce, February 6, 1879.— This is to certify
that exaniiuation has been made of 126 head neat cattle, on
the application of ., intended for shipment upon the

steamer Koeln for Southampton, iu Great Britain, aud that
they are found to be free from all disease, and that there is no
known disease in cattle at this port or in its neighbourhood."
The requirements of the American cattle trade in the new
position in which it is placed tiy Order in Council were agaiu
under discussion at a meeting of the Mersey Docks and Har-
bour Board on Thursday. The Docks aud Quays Committee
recommended that lairage sheds and slaughter-houses be erected
between the north side of No. 2 Huskisson Branch Dock and
the south side of the Canada Dock, at a cost of £9,350, and
that sheds and a slaughter-house be provided at the head of
the bridge of the Woodside Landing-stage (300ft. in length of
the stage to be fenced off), at a cost of £8,100. The plana
were sanctioned after some discussion.

OXFORDSHIRE AGRICULTURAL SHOW.— In our
list of Agricultural Meetings, given on p. 190, we omitted that
of the Oxfordshire Society, which will be held at Woodstock
on May 21 and 22. Entries close April 9th. Secretary, Mr.
T. F, Plowmau, Oxford.

200

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

LIVE STOCK AND OTHER NOTES.

The Draft Prize Sheet of the Metropolitan Interna-
lional Exhihition, at Kilburn, is in itself a guar-
antee that the competition for the large money prizes
therein otTereJ will bring together the best collection of
breediog stock which has ever been seen in coanection
v.ith the Royal A^ricultnral Society of England, or at any
time, in any country. The only element of weakness we
can discern in it is the danger which must accrue to our
stock from the presence of foreign animals. We read, in
Regulatisn 26, that special quarantine grounds will be
provided by the Society, with the sanction of the Privy
Council, and the animals entered for the exhibition will be
required to undergo such a period of quarantine, and to
submit to such inspection as the Privy Council may re-
quire under the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, of
187S, and the Orders issued under it. Where these
quarantine grounds are to be, or what is to be the mini-
mum duration tf the quarantine, we are not informed.
Cue thing we know, namely, that if the quarantine is to
be of a duration sufficient to preclude ordinary danger
from Pleuro-pneumonia, it will be very expensive, and not
>ikely to be conducive to the show appearance of the
animals ; on the other hand, if it is to be comparatively
-short, the danger arising from animals brought from
scheduled countries will be great to our home-bred stock.
How far this will operate to the prejudice of the meeting
we are not in a position to form an opinion ; but as to
whether cattle from France, Spain, Portugal, Holland,
the Netherlands, Ddumark, Schleswig-Holstein, with
" other foreign breeds," and sheep from Germany, can be
brought together in a Royal Show-yard without serious
risk to home breeders, we are in no uncertainty whatever.
We have always admitted the necessity for an arrangemeut
by which foreign animals for breeding purposes could be in-
troduced into this country by means of quarantine ; but
a collection of Continental breeds for mere exhibition is
quite another matter. We think the Lord President of
the Privy Council was right in the objections he urged,
and Mr. Jacob Wilson's explanation a very lame one ; for
if the Royal Agricultural Society sanctions the offers of
the Mansion House Committee it is^the same thing as
offering the prizes themselves, and scheduled countries
are considered to be sufficiently dangerous to warrant
the slaughter of their cattle at the ports of landing. It
would not, of course, be within the power of the Royal
^Agricultural Society to admit animals from prohibited
< countries, so that Mr. Wilson did not meet the objec-
tions of the Duke of Richmond at all. An International
: Exhibition is no doubt a very good thing in its way, but
in this case the risk to British stock-breeders is out of all
proportion to i the gain to be derived from it, on their
part.

The list commences with agricultural horses. There
are four classes for Clydesdale and Suffolk stallions, with
prizes of £30, £20, and £10 for two-year-olds and up-
ward, and £20, £10, and £5, for yearlings; the same
for Shire-bred horses, " not qualified to compete as
Clydesdale or Suffolk." The prizes for mares and foals
in "the three divisions are £80, £20, and £10 ; for fillies
£20, £10, and £5 ; and for yearling fillies £15, £10, and
£5. Pairs of mares or geldings (or one each), any breed,
£30, £15, and £10 ; mare or gelding, 4 years old or up-
ward £20, £10, and £5 ; geldings, 2 years and 4 years,
£15, £10, and £5. Champion Cups of £25 each are
■offered in each of the horse and mare division* of the
three. distinct breeds. In the hunter's section the aged
weight-carriers are offered £50, £20, and £10 ; '^ up to 12
s tone," £30, £15, and £10; four-year-old mares and
gel dings £25, £15, and £10; three-year-old mare« and
If el dings £20, £10, and £5. Coachiug mares or geldings

£20, £10, and £5. Omnibus mare or gelding £25 ;
hackneys, roadsters, mules, and asses, £20, £10,
and £5 ; ponies £15, £10, and £5. The ages of
cattle are calculated to 1st July, 1879, and the
prizes offered for Shorthorns are, for aged bulls £50',
£25, £15, and £10 ; for two-year-olds and yearlings £25,
£15, £10, and £5 ; for calves £20, £15, £10, and £5 ;.
for cow and heifer classes £20, £15, £10, and £5 ; for
cow and not less than two of her offspring £50, £25, and
£10 ; and two Champion prizes of £100 each for the-
best male and female, British or foreign. The Herefords
and Devons have prizes of £30, £20, and £lO for ageJ
bulls ; £25, £15, and £5 for two-year-olds and yearlings ;
for cows £20, £10, and £5 ; for heifers and heifer.calves
£15, =£10, and £5 ; and two Champion prizes of £50
each for the best male and female. 'I'he Hereford
breed in addition, has the offer of £30, £15, and
£10 for cow and not less than two of her
offspring. The Sussex breed are offered £20, £10
and £5 for bulls above two years, and above three years,
and for cows ; £15, £10, and £5 for heifers in milk or in
calf, for yearling heifers, and for yearling bulls ; £10 and
£5 for bull calves, and for heifer calves ; and the Cham-
pion Cups of £25 each for the male, and the best female.
The LoDghorn, Jersey, Guernsey,Norfolk andSutfolk Pulled,
Welsh, Ayrshire, Polled Galloway, Polled Angus, West
Highland, Kerry, and " other British Breeds, ' are about
on the same scale, £20 being the highest prize, except
Champion Cups, but there are not so many classes in some
of these breeds. There are two classes for Dairy Cattle
with prizes of £25, £15 and £10 in each ; one for pairs of
cows and the other for sina;le cows, and " milking pro-
perties are to be specially considered." In the sheep
division there are two classes each for rams and ewes, with
I prizes of £20, £10 and £5, and £15, £10 and £5, res-
pectively, for Leicesters, Border Leicesters, Cotswolds,
Lincolns, Kents, Oxford Downs, Southdowns, Shropshircs,
and Hampshire and Wiltshire Downs ; and two classes
for rams and one for ewes, £10 and £5 in each case, for
' Cheviots, Mountain, Herdwicks, Lonks, Rylands, Devon,
Somersets and Dorsets, Dartmoors, Exmoors, Welsh,
Limestone, Roscommon, and " other British longwooUed
breeds." Pigs of large white, small white, small black,
Berkshires, and " other breeds" (not eligible to compete
as above) have each two boar and two sow classes, with
£10 and £5 offered in both cases. There are also two
j classes of goats, long haired and short haired, with prizes
of £5 and £3 in each case. Foreign horses, stallions and
I mares, one class each in each breed, are offered £50, £20,
and £10, and £30, £20, and £10 respectively, for Percheroa
and Boulonnaise, Norman and Anglo-Norman, Flemish,
" other foreign draught horses," and " foreign riding and
carriage horses." Foreign cattle comprise shorthorns,
with two bull classes, one cow, and one heifer class,
with prizes of £25, £15, and £10 in each case ; and they
will be eligible to compete for the £100 Champion Short-
horn Prize with British Shorthorns. Also two classes
' for bulls, and one each for cows and for heifers, with £25,
[ £15, and £5 for the former, and £15, £10, and £5, for the
I latter, for the Charolais, Garonnais, Limousin, Norman,
i Breton. Dnfch and Flemish, Swiss, Spanish and Portu-
j giiese, Angeln, Jutland, Schleswig-Holstein, and " other
j foreign breeds." Foreign sheep have one class each, for
I rams and ewes, £15, and £10 in each case, for French
1 Merinos, German Merinos, Spanish Merinos, pure long-
j woolled, and pure short-woolled sheep (not Merinos). And
\ the list of the stock closes with two classes for foreign
I goats, one male and one female, with prizes of £8, £4, and
I £2 in each case. There are also prices offered for hops,
I seed corn, wool, butter, cheese, hams, bacon, preserved
' meats, fresh meat, perry, cider, and bees. Such is the
I extensive and sumptuous bill of fare.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

201

Mr. W. T. Carrin<;fair'3 two red (lain cowa, Charmer
and (Jherry, wiiincTS with Clierry 2iul of 100 qrs. at the
London liairy Sliovv, October, 1S7'>, have both »^'im
calved since (.Jhristiiias. Tliey are by the same bull, the
aire and dams having been bred at CroxJeu A.bbey. At
12 years old they are blooming, and promise to milk
welfthis year. They have each produced a live calf every
year since they were heifers, and each of ihem has ou one
occasien produced twins. They have never becu amiss
ill their lives, nor had physic, except as a safeguard at the
time of calviug; they have always milked freely until with-
in about two months of calviug. They furnish good ex-
amples of the combination of milking and f edingquali
ties, having level frames and strong coustitutions rarely
met with. They have run out all their lives «ilh a large
dairy herd, of which they are the acknowledged leaders,
being housed only in the winter mouths. Their last
calves are a bull and a heifer, both red in colour and by
Priuce Patrick (3j,1G1), a fine bull, the winner of three
first prizes at county shows, and bred by Mr. G. llewer.

Mr. Reid, of Cruiver-by-Cupen, Fife, informs us that
his Shorthorn herd now contains twelve young
calves, half beins; hulls and half heifers, chiefly to the
stud bull Earl (38208) and to the young bull Bright
Prince (Sy^'JG). Both of these bulls are grandsons of the
famous Booth bull Ku-'ght of the Shire (2G552). He has
also eiijht yearliug bulls entered for sale at Macdonald
and Fraser's auctmn. ou the 12th March. They are got
by Staekhouse (325U1), and Bob (30553).

The Irish Tiiifs comi>\si\as of the filthy state of the
cattle lairs at North Wall, Dubliu, and thinks the mud
and slush through which the cattle have to walk may in-
terfere with the proper inspection of the acirnals. The
laits at North Wall are not the only oues in that condi-
tion, and the remedy is paving. But asphalt or
macadam, as recommended by the Irif/i T'lmes, is bad
and dangerous for the purpose. Indeed, some of the pens
in the North Wall lairs are, or were, paved with one or
the other ; and on one occasion we watched a lot of cattle
elite ing one of the pens in question — every animal slip-
ping as soon as it came unexjjectedly ou the treacherous
floor of the peu, and nine out of ten falling, There is no-
thing betterthan granite pavingforcattlelairs and markets ;
and where there is no pavement it 'S impossible to cleanse
such places in wet weather — or at any time.

The foot-and-mouth disease is reported to have again
broken out in Eistern Switzerland, in several districts of
the Grand Duchy of Baden adjicentto the Swiss frontier,
and in the neighbourhood of Couslance.

The wholesale price of country milk, delivered to the
Loudon Railway Termini, does not amount to more than
7d. to 8d. per gallon, net, to the producer. Yet the town
dairymen charge 5d. per quart for it. Agricultural pro-
duce is much lower in price, first hand, than the consumer
is aware of, and it is the profits of middle-men which press
so heavily both on the producer and the consumer. Co-
operation is the ouly remedy for this state of things.

From the American Stockman, we learn that there is
now, and is likely to be for some little time, a scarcity of
cattle in their markets which are of the quality requisite
to command a good return here. The quality has bten
falling otf in late receipts, and the price at the ports cf
shipment has declined very considerably. 2id. per lb., live
weight being the top quotation for ca*tlc which would
dress 8001b. to the carcase, or, reckoning the entire, cost
ou the dressed carcase, as we uureasonably do, 4 3-16d.
per lb. for the beef.

The price of pork has been low, but some Wall-street
speculators contrived to " bull " the market for a few
days, during which time, the Ameriai'i Stockman says,
" pork was swiftly climbing up the scale of prices,
and horns sprouted quif-kly where only the shaggy hide \

of the hear had been seen before. Telegrams flew in
every direction. Sellers asked more than their con-
sciences would warrant — and got their price so easily
they went off to hate themselves for not asking more."
But a reaction soon came, and the " bears " have it all
their own way again. In Kansas the price of store pigs
is about 5s. 10 Vd. per 1001b. of their weight alive, and
of (at pigs 7s. lid. per 1001b. of their live weight, la
Neosho County maize is quoted as low as Tid.
per bushel and Wheat at 2s. Gl. per bushel. In
Smith County pork is quoted at Id. to Ijd. per lb.
dressed, and beef 2|d. to 3d. per lb. dressed, Id. to Hd.
alive. This is what the British farmer has to contend
with.

Mr. John IrwMn, in a letter to the jomnal, already
quoted, prepares xVmerican exporters for a " heavy drop"
in the prices of live stock, and is probably correct ia
anticipating " cheap meat" in the immediate future. lie
estimates that the " cost of getting a bullock from New
York to any of our larger markets is only equal to the
rent, tax, labour, &<•,■, which the British farmer has to
pay for the production of his animal," so that matters
are "squared " he thinks. British farmers may not quite
see with him, but all they ask is protection against
the diseases of which Mr. Irwin thinks very lightly of.

Mr. Marcus Pool advises the Americans to send over
hulls, to London of course, for him to sell ; but his quota-
tions are somewhat in excess of recent figures here.
When all but the very best and thickest oxen can be
bought for Ss. per 81b., it is not likely that bulls will
make the same price. Now that bulls and plain
contractors' rubbish are getting scarce from Mr. Marcus
Pool's favourite sources he courts the American trade.
But American exporters know belter than to send such
stuff here. Nothing but the best and thickest pays, and
we should be heariily glad to see the last of the Conti-
nental rubbish. They do not benefit the consumers, but
keep going a class of traders who live by the handling of
such cattle when consumers can get far better value for
money from America.

Statements have been made to the effect that the
cultivated land of America is being systematically
exhausted from cropping without restoring fertility to
the soil in the shape of manures. This is not unlikely to
be the case, as new countries generally get to the " rye
stage " from such practice ; and if so it will tell in time
on her resources for exportiag stock, alive or dead.

Last month France bought of us 170 horses, for which
she paid £10,390 ; all other countries ouly took 28, the
value of which was £2,37'). The total number exported
was 193, and the value £12,769, or an average of about
£6G per horse. In the January of last year the average
price obtained was about £68 10s., while in the same
month in 1877 the average was about £90 10s.

Mr. R. Reynell's roan heifer, Woodbine, of the Booth
Isabella family, Ivillynon by St. General (31600), calved
a fine roan Bull calf by Royal Baron (40617), on the 12th
inst.

The Paris Fat Cattle Show came to a conclusion oa
Wednesday, Feb. 19, when the total receipts for admis-
sion were found to be £892. This was made up as
follows : — Saturday, Feb. 15, 436 visitors at 5 f. each ;
Sunday, 8.765 at 1 f. ; Monday, 4,000 ; Tuesday, 4,61'J
at 1 f. ; Wednesday, 5,000 at 50 c. The last day was
devoted to the sale of stock and produce. The fat cattle
fetched prices ranging from £60 to £80 ; the sheep 60s.
to 883. ; the pigs I8O5. to 2803. Tne pick of the poultry-
were offered to the Minister of Agriculture and Com-
merce, while choice sherries graced the table of the Con-
tiueutal Hotel at the dinner given on Thursday to M.

P %

202

THE FARMEE"S MAGAZINE.

Ters serene de Bart, the chief restaurants taking other
fine lots. As much as £12 was obtained for half-a-dozen
turkeys, and fowls sold at proportionate rates. Imple-
ment exhibitors booked some good orders.

A banquet was given at Paris on Tuesday, Feb. 18, by
the French Society of Agriculture. The Marquis Dam-
pierre, who presided, passed a eulogium upon Jlr. C. B.
Pitman, the delegate of the Royal Agricultural Society of
Englaud, and reminded those present of the services ren-
dered by Eu<;laud to France during, and after, the mis-
fortunes of 1870, and on the occasion of the revictualliug
of Paris. He asked Mr. Pitman to become the interpreter
to foreign agriculturists of France'ssentimeiits of gratitude.
The banquet at the Trocadero, at which the agriculturists
•of Europe assembled in a feast of brotherly love, had left
in the hearts of the French agriculturists an imperishable
recollection. He drank to the health of Mr. Pitman, and
those who displayed such warm sympathy with France iu
the days of her misfortune. Mr. Pitman, replying to the
toast in the name of the foreign members, said : — " It is
impossible not to see that we are passing through a very
grave crisis. The future of French Agriculture will depeiid
in great measure upon the manner in which the difficulties
to be encountered are solved. 'I he time has gone by for
agriculturists to allow themselves to be brigaded under the
■ deceptive standard of Protection, and the hroad and
• enlightened spirit which animates the Society of French
Agriculturists will not become the champion of a doctrine
which has for ever been condemned. Thanks to Free
Trade, the resources of France and England have increased
upon an incalculable scale, and a temporary crisis must
not make us forget the principles upon which repose the
commercial greatress of the nations which put them in
force. It behoves the two countries to unite in order to
secure the triumph of a system which is based upon com-
jnon sense and justice. England attaches all the greater
value to Free Trade because the ties of sympathy, which
bind her to France, have become so close that nothing
henceforth can rend them asunder."

M.Ponyer-Qaertier, who replied to Mr. Pitman, spoke
in a Protectionist seuse. He said he was a partisan of
Free Trade, but only from the English point of view. He
acknowledged the tact and ability of England in the
treatment of her own affairs, but pointed out that other
nations had their own private interests to consider, and
that France was obliged to protect hers, which were not
identical with those of England. M. Pouyer-Quertier
concluded by saying, " I propose to drink the health of
Mr. Pitman as the representative of England. England
■ias all my sympathies ; let her acquire the habit of con-
suming our products instead of drinking our wines, and
then we will willingly practise Free Trade."
This speech was much cheered.

At the laot meeting of the Illinois State Board of Agri-
culture it was decided to hold another fat- stock show in
Chicago early in November.

The Department of Agriculture at 'Washington gives
the following summaries of its figures on the United
States crops of last year. The corn (maize) crop is
30,000,000 bushels in excess of that of 1877. Of oats
there is a somewhat larger crop than the heavy yield of
1877, constituting it the largest ever raised in this
country. There is no material change in barley. Kyeis
one-sixth larger than in 1877- Potatoes foot up 40,000,000
bushels. The cultivation of sorghum is receiving in-
creased attention, and the result of the year's culture is
satisfactory. Grapes, apples, and pears show a greatly
decreased yield.

Our Canadian correspondent writes, under date of Feb.
3rd :— Certain cute individuals on this side, in their

capacity of guides and philosophers for the British public
re matters Canadian, go on the same lines as Canning's,
Mynheer Von Dutchman. They ask far too much — faith
illimitable in fact — and they give far too little, nothing,
indeed, save bare assertion, as a ground for belief. At
times I have been disposed to think these gifted idealists
must nearly have run out their tether. But when some-
body succeeds in imposing on the untutored British
intellect, per the London Times, the marvellous fiction
that 250,000 beeves and 5U0,000 sheep are now stall-
feeding "in Ontario'' for the English stomach in 1879,
I cease to limit the illimitable, and endorse the Napoleonic
apothegm Toujours Vaudace ! The Times is clearly a
Christian paper. Good for evil is the motto of its con-
ductors. No English paper has been, and is, so constantly
abused by organs of the professional immigration-pro-
moters here and other interests. It is frequently held up
as a standing enemy of " Cauada," as the cliques dub
themselves. No doubt there is some object in launching
this special fable at this juncture, which time will show.
It is certainly made for a purpose. Probably its con-
coctors had wind that disease had broken out among
American beasts, and, foreseeing this exclusion or pre-
tended exclusion of United States beeves from (Janada,
desired to make the English public believe we had that
preposterous number of native animals ready, so that inthe
event of the necessity of smuggling in Jonathan's cattle,
they might the more easily pass muster.

If this be so, events which have happened sioce ray last
have partly justified their calculations. On the 14th ult.
Messrs. T. Crawford and Co., cattle-dealers, Toronto,
shipped from that city to Liverpool, via Montreal and
Portland, a cargo of " Canadian" live-stock — ^just such a
lot as have been shipped a hundred times before, v'z.,
animals principally bought at Buffalo, &c. Had things
gone smoothly these beeves would, as usual, have been
received in Liverpool, and been chronicled in the English
newspapers, per Mr. Dyke, the Canadian Emigration
Ageni at Liverpool, as " another extensive consignment
of Canadian cattle," and nobody on your side would have
been any the wiser. But pleuro-pueumonia of a virulent
form is present in the States ; in fact it prevails exten-
sively in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and Columbia
Districts, and is described in the reports of the Washing-
ton Agricultural Department just submitted, as being
" almost as dangerous as rinderpest." In this state of
things, with American and Canadian jobbers located at
Toronto, compassing the length and breadth of the
States for cattle to ship to England from Canada, it was
inevitable disease would more or less quickly appear in
said pretended " Canadian" consignments. Consequently
when the cargo of the Toronto firm, sent per Ontario on
the 14th Jan. arrived at Liverpool, the port-inspector
found pleuro-pneumonia prevalent among the cattle, and
necessarily condemned them to be slaughtered. The
British Government, acting as the circumstances neces-
sarily required, prohibited the further landing of Americas
cattle at British ports. This has created much excite-
ment amongst the jobbers here. The Globe in particular,
owned and controlled by the head of a cattle-raisinf?
association, has been endeavouring, with large-typed
cablegams and sensational paragraphs and leaders, to
make the public regard it as a national affair. But truth
compels me to say the scare is confined to about half-a-
dozen export firms, and to the forwarders who get freight
on the American beasts in transit over Canadian routes to
Portland or Halifax. The farmers do not take p.-:y
interest in the matter. They have little or nothing t»
export. Indeed, they are now calling for a large duty
to shut out American cattle importations — a demand
opposed by the Glooe on the remarkable and significant

THE FARMER'3 MAGAZINES

203

plea that to stop the ingress of United States beasts into
Canada lueao!^ the simiinary extiuetion of the •' Canadian"
exports to Britain I Fo doubt this averment in correct.
But what, in view of it, becomes of the tales of the
agents, and of the 250,000 beasts assumed to be '' now
feediug" in Ontario stalls? A meeting of the Canadian
Privy Council was convened at short notice, in conse-
quence of news received from Englmd, and an Order in
Council was passed excluding " for three months." the
importation of American cattle into Canada, or their
passage through it. Our dealers here seem to have suc-
ceeded in convincing the Eojjlish Privy Council that
under this order the importation of live " Canadian"
cattle into England may safi^ly go on. The American
stock they have on hand, and the native beasts now
fattening in the Toronto and other distilleries, vvill per-
haps serve to keep them going till the end of April, and
au reste should the embarso on American stock be con-
tinued after the three mouths are over, 1 reckon that the
Canadian and United States dealers, putting their heads
together, will find a frontier of 1,800 miles permits of
developments suited to the exigencies of the situation.

Dr. McEachren, the dominion expert here, despite the
insinuations of the Toronto Globe that a Liverpool
Inspector "chose"' to declare a "slight cold" pleuro-
pneumonia, in order to minister to English prejudice
against cattle exports, entirely agrees with the action of
the British Government.

The wool clip of 1878 in the State of California, aecord-
inij to the report of Messrs. E. Griser and Co., of San
Francisco, as published in the Facilic Rural Piesn,
amounted to 40,862,061 lb. ; there remaining on band
December 31, 1,400,000 lb. The reduction in values from
which the whole country has suffered, has been felt to only
a moderate degree as yet in this State. Choice Colonial
wools were lately sold in London at about 15d. average.
Cape at lOd., and fair to inferior descriptions at lower
rates ; of course the net results to the grower are some-
what less. In comparison with Colonial wool at 15d.,
even northern spring California at 12jd. is very dear, and
between Cape wool at lOd. and northern lambs clip at
9d-, there can be only one opinion as to which is the most
desirable. The production of the colonies and at the Cape
is increasing, while growers in California say they cannot
afford to raise wool at present rates.

The figures given last year by thejYgv; York InduHtrial
Recieio represent the production of Californian wool from
1854 to 1877 inclusive, as follows : —
Year. lb. | Year. lb.

1854 175,000 1866 7.229,950

1855 360,000

1856 600,000

1857 1,100,000

1858 1,428,000

1859 2,376,000

1860 8.260,000

1861 4,600,000

1862 5,750,000

1863 7,600,000

1864 8,000,000

1865 7,721,000

1867 9,626,188

1868 14,801,256

1869 17,253,370

1870 19,460,565

1871 23,687,000

1872 24,255,000

1873 32,155 000

1874 39,358,781

1875 43,532,223

1876 56,550,970

1877 53,110,742

The following are the official returns of exports of beef,
mutton, and live stock, from the United States, from Oct.
1, 1878, to Dec. 31, 1878:—

FiiESH Beef.

lb.

Liverpool 10,269,362

London 1,336.680

Glasgow' 1,355,580

Other ports 557,850

Total 13,519,472

MUTTOM.

London 71,250

Other ports 2,250

Total 73,500

LIVE STOCK.
Sheep.

head.

Liverpool 9,331

London 2,298

Glasgow 1 931

Hull and Bristol 2,375

Otherports 2,509'

Total 18.444

Cattle.

head.

Liverpool 9,875

London 2,298

Glasgow 511

Hull and Bristol 1,711

Otherports 4,170'

Total 19,165

Horses.

Lead.

Liverpool 155

London 3

Hull and Bristol 5

Otherports 208

Total

371

The committee appointed at a meeting of gentlemen
representing the dairy interest, held at New York on
Dec. 6th, to form a constitution, &c., for an International
Dairymen's Fair Association, met on the 14th ult. The
committee was composed of twenty-one gentlemen from
difi"erent parts of the Union, and they submitted a con-
stitution and bye-laws, which were laid over until the follow-
ing day for consideration. This constitution provides that the
Association shall have its head-quarters and principal
offices at New York city. Its officers consist of a Presi-
dent, sixty Vice-Presidents, a Secretary-Treasurer, and
fifty-one Managers, to be elected annnallv, on the second
Tuesday in February. At the next day's meetine;, the
constitution and bye-laws were adopted, but with trifling
amendments. The meeting then proceeded to elect &
President, and Mr. F. B. Thurber, New York, was chosen.

The fourteenth annual convention of the American
Dairymen's Association met on the 14th nit. Rather a-
small number of delegates were present, and very little
business was transacted. At the evening session, papers were
read by T. D. Cnrtiss, of Utica, on " Profit and Loss ia
Dairying;" by W. L, Ritherford, on "Jerseys for the
Dairy ;" and by Solomon Hoodie, on " Holsteins fur the
D.iiry." The papers were all full of interest to dairymea
and were discussed at some length.

The Prairie Farmer states that the December report;
of the Department of Agriculture at Washington, just
issued, shows 51,000,000 acres in corn for 1878, as
against 50,300,000 for 1877. Kentucky, Illinois,' Mis-
souri and Kansas and the Atlantic States show a falling
off. The North-Western States show a decided
increase. The crop of 1878 is larger than that of 1877
by 30,000,000 bushels. The oat crop is in excess of
even the remarkable crop of 1877, and there is no
material change in the barley crop except in California,
whicii is double that of 1877. The rye crop is in,
excess of 1877, showing a total of 16. 000.000 bix.s'rre^.
The potato crop for 1878 is 124,000,000 bu.ebels, aa

204

THE FARMEfi/S MAGAZINE).

fgaiDsl 177,000 bushels, a falliiifi; off of 53.000,000
1 Uihels. Tlie hay crop is 20 per ceut. less than that of
1S77.

Wc have advices from New South Wales to 2iid of
I) eernber. The Sjdtiej/ JI'v'l says that the summer
se ^son, which opened a few days before the elose of the
ol 1 year, has so far proved inild and most a^r^eable.
H gh winds and averajie summer temperature have been
t le prevailinn; characteristics of the weather throughout
the colony duriua; t^'e past fortnight. These have been
slightly varied by thunderstorms, which brought down
welcome showers. Several stations have been enabled to
register rainfall, but in no instance has that fall been
heavy. Despite this, however, the county of Curaberlaud
has been well fiivouved this year, and looks charming. The
dairy dislricts along the Southern coast are again bloom-
ing. Bega, which was quite parched, has revelled in
good heavy showers, and its pasture again is vigorous.
The accounts from Moruya and Ulladulla are also cheer-
ful. The repoits from Manaro are satisfactory. lu Tumut
t'le late rains have done great, good an d very little damage.
The corn crops are doing well, but the tobacco fields are
suffering from the peculiar disease known as mildew. The
grain crop of Wagga Wagga has been almost all garnered,
an 1 the yield, we regret to say, will be but meagre. Had
ii not been for the low price paid for hay, 303. per ton,
many acres of wheat would have been mown. The heat
has been severe in Albury, but the farmers have been
fivoured through the seasou. The viueyards of this dis-
trict show an excellent growth. Slight attacks of oidium
have been successfully combated by a few applications of
sulphur. Harvesting is in progress throughout the west,
and reports from all districts in this quarter continue to
be hopeful. The northern coast has received a fine rain-
fall; and all its districts look well. Tue New England
and Liverpool Plains districts have received light rains,
and are iu a promising condition, and in conclusion it may
be said that the year opens with bright prospects for
agriculturists.

Reports from the principal pastoral districts speak of
fairly conditioned stock and good pastures-
Advices from South Australia to December 28th state
that red ru»t had made very rapid progress iu many parts
of the Colouy, and the crops then being harvested
were very disappoiutivig iu many districts. It is too early
yet to form any reliable estimate of the e;eneral yield.

From Victoria the accounts are conflicting, but on the
whole, worse even than those from South Australia. From
Queensland reports are more cheerful, and harvest was
everywhere progressing rapidly.

The Colony of Queenslind has now formally revoked
the Order of April 13th, 1876, which prohibited the im-
portation of cattle, sheep, and pigs, from the United
Kingdom, and her ports are now open to our live stock,
subject to conditions of quarantine.

Our New Zealand correspondent writes under date
Prjvince of Auckland, January 7lh : " No rain to speak
of having lalieu during the past month pastures are
now much burnt up, and stock in many districts are very
short of lood. On the Scorii lands around AuckUmd
this is particularly observable, aud severely felt by the
diiry farmers who supply the town with milk and butter,
aid the cows have almost gone dry with those who
neglected to provide a few acres of green corn for such au
emergency. Iu the Interior cattle are niuidi better aft' ;
grass still retains a certain amouut of verdure, and uot
being so heavily stocked, aud ihc surface couscqucutly

covered and thus protected from the sun, a plentiful bite
is still afforded for stock of all kinds. With this sligbt
drawback, the weather has been truly delightful iu every
other way ; as, although the sun's rays have been powerful
during the day, the solar heat has almost invariably been
tempered with a cool sea breeze, which rendered the
afteruoons and evenings extremely enjoyable. Harvest
is just now at its height, and, favoured by the weather,
great progress is being made in clearing the fields. Iu
many districts farmers arc at their wits' end to procure
sulficient labour to keep the reaping machine going, and
high wages must be given to induce people to go into the
harvest-lield. Ten shillings a-day and found is the rate
in n.auy districts, and glad to get them at that ; aud even
" Maories " are offered 8s. a day and their food as au
inducement to them to give up their easy-going .vays for
a time, and assist iu saviutC the crops. Almost the ouly
machine used is the manual delivery, all, or most of all,
being of American construction, and although the com-
bined reaper and binder both of Wood and MacCormick,
have been introduced this year for the first time, ueitLer
has made much progress, nor have they as yet been even
looked upon favourably by the farmers, who object to
the wire, fearing that the very name of having used it
might injure the sale of their chaff, t he whole of thu straw
or nearly so being cut up n this couutry for horse
food. The wheit crop in cutting up shows unmistakable
evidence of the injurious eft'ect of the very wet seed time,
as on almost every field there are a good many thiu
patches, which will reduce the average yield considerably.
Unless on the very fine land in the interior, newly draiued
and possessing all the elements of natural fertility still
untouched, thirty bushels to tlie statute acre will be as
much as can be expected, and light soils long cultivated,
without receiving any external aid by the application of
bone dust or other manure, will not go over twenty. The
oat crop has been all cut for hay, iu which state it pays
best, as it brings a high price during the winter aud
spring months, the superior quality of the green oats
chatF enabling the wheat chaff to be cut up and mixed
with it, and still make excellent provender, highly relished
and cleanly eaten by horses. The straw being got rid of
in this way forms a great addition to the monetary retura
per'acre from the wheat, and enables it to be grown with
some prospect of a profit, where the grain alone would
scarcely clear the expenses. The high wagei to work-
men swallow up a very large portion of the farmers
receipts, and will aj)parently do so for many years to
come, and but for his being in a position to utilise his
straw in this manner, and altogether discard the use of
farm-yard dung, he would be forced to give up cropping
altogether, and let his land lie in pasture, a primi-
tive and inespenaive mode of farming, which is not
without drawbacks of a nature peculiar to itself. Clover
and meadow hay has been saved iu sphmdid style, the
weather having beeu so favourable, and is all ricked aud
securely thatched in nearly every part of the country, the
greatest care being shouu by every oue iu tbe preserva-
tion of what food they have for the winter, dry fodder
being all they have to depend on. With the sun so
strong, but little trouble was experienced in saving
the hay crop ; the horse-rake followed the mower almost
immediately, and much of the crop was in permanent
ricks, of goodish size too, on the third day after being
cut, aud gave no trouble afterwards by heiting. Pota-
toes have done much better than could ever hare been
anticipated from tbe severity of the weather while
planting, and the crop is moderately good and the quality
simply faultless. On tbe whole farmers seem in good
spirits, and if labour was more plentiful the development
of the country would proceed rapidly now that the
' Interior is being opened up by good roads and railways.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

2C5

A national agricultural society for the middle island of
New Zealand has been formed, to be called the Royal
Agricultural Society of New Zealand. Tlie Hon. M.
Holmes, who presided at the meeting called to form the
Society, said " We have now in the colony 13,009,338
8 eep, 578,430 cattle, and 137,768 horses ; and besides
the natural pasture we Lave 3,523,277 acres of En^'lish
sown grasses upon which to feed them .There are '26,205
holdings in the colony, and the laud cultivated extended
in 1877 to 226,35-4 acres wheat, 20-i 254. acres oats,
2l,7'J5 acres barley, and 18,875 acres potatoes. The
crops for the present year promise well, and indicate a
return of about 14,000,000 bushels. These results speak
volumes for the industry, enterprise, and ability of the
people, but this is merely a prelude of what may be
expected iu the future.

A COLORADO SHEEP RANCHE.
A writer in the Am rican Ayiculturist thus describes
a Colorado sheep ranche :— " There is a novelty and charm
about this life which attracts very mauy from the older
vStates, and one is constantly discovering in the rough
herder's garb, men of education and culture. They are fond
of the freedom and exhilaration of this mode of existence,
■which also promises health, wealth, and adventure. Very
many of the herders or hired men are fresh from college ;
youths whoare serving their apprenticeship in the occnpa-
of tioo sheep-raisiug. Others come herefrom the Eastern
and Middle States to engage iu niiaiug operations. They
are unsuccessful, become straiteued for money, and
take to herding because herders are ia demand. Their
wages vary from 13 dols. to 30 dols. a month and board,
according to capacity and experience. Many not only
remain with their sheep during the day, but sleep near
them in corrals at night, as protection against wolves.
Ou three successive nights since we have been here,
these wolves have made a descent upon the corral, killing
several lambs. In the early days of Colorado sheep-
raising, the herders were accustomed to camp with their
flocks wherever night overtook them. Th's, however,
was found to be a dangerous practice, inasmuch as the
sudden storms of the Colorado -ilains would blind and
scatter the sheep, and often lead to great loss. Sheep
invariably go before a storm. Sometimes they cannot
be checked, but will push on to certain destruction. We
recall one instance where three thousand sheep in Southern
Colorado, overtakea at night by a sudden storm, blindly
followed their leader over a precipice, and perished in the
wattrs below, not one escaping. Now the ranchmen
have their sheep corralled at sunset, instead of keeping
them out on the plains. Though generally mani-
festing but little intelligence, they invariably display
much sagacity in wending their way toward the corral,
which they know will afford them protection against
wolves, and keep them warm and comfortable. The
sheep soon come to know the herders, and manifest as
mu-^h affection for them as sheep are capable of. It is
not wel', however, to have them become too tame,
because they hang back and do not drive well. The
thrifty owner has his sheep out of the corral and upon
the plains by daylight. They feed until about ten o'clock,
then ' bunch up,' or form a compact mass, until four
o'clock, and from then they feed until driven in at dark.
They eat gramma, buffalo, wire, and bunch grass. Wild
hay is cut and stacked for feeding in winter, so that they
may not want for food should there be a heavy fall of
snow. The herders generally have horses of their own,
which subsist on prairie grass, are very much attached to
their owners, and become wonderfully skilled in manag-
ing sheep. Give them the rein and they will gather in

and kcpp the flock together with as much dexterity as
the shepherd's dog who accompanies them. The dog is
an essential part of the 'outfit,' being a companion to
his owner, and exercising a constant vigilance for the
safety of the flock. Herder, horse, dog, and sheep toge-
ther make a very picturesque appearance as they move
over the plains.

•' The flocks, comprising Mexican sheep and their in-
crease from Merino bucks, generally number from 1,000
to 3,000. During the winter the larger flocks are gene-
rally divided iu order to insure better feeding and better
protection. One herder can readily manage 2,500 sheep,
but he has to have his wits about him constantly. The
leader of a Hock is generally a Mexican goat, whose
prowess is recognised by the whole herd, and whose pro-
minent figure enables him to be easily seen both by the.
sheep and the herder.

" The Mexican sheep, as a general thing, are purchased-
about the first of October. The bucks are turned in
with them in December, and the lambing season begins
about the middle of May. Shearing begins about the
first of June. The Mexican sheep shear from two to
four pounds, and improved sheep from four to eight
pounds. Of course thcM are exceptions ; for example —
the Willard Brothers, at their shearing match last year,
clipped thirty-tw&and one half pounds of wool from one
Vermont ram, which brought twenty cents a pound. Ia
shearing sheep great care must be exercised not to begia
too early, on account of late storms. The shearers are
paid from five to eight cents a pound for their work.
One man can shear from twenty to seventy sheep in a day.
Mexican wool brought last year from sixteen to twenty
cents a pound (prices are much less this year), according
to the absence or presence of ' kemp,' a hairy, valueless
substance. As sheep improve, the quantity of kerap
gradually diminishes. The fleece of the native Mexicanx
sheep is a coarse carpet wool, but as the fhicks are im-
proved by the introduction of Merino bucks, the quality
of the wool is improved, until many of the ranchmen
now claim that it is fully as good as that grovi^n in the
Eastern States. They further maintain that when their
improved sheep become dissociated in the public mind
from the native Mexicans, their wool will justly command
as good a price as is paid for Eastern fleece. Owing to
the scarcity of water, sheep are rarely washed iu Colorado,,
and it is stated that many tons of dirt are annually
shipped east in the Colorado fleece. Until recently,
the ranchmen disposed of their wool to local dealers and
agents. Twoyears ago they began to consign it to New York,.
Boston, Philadelphia, Hereford, and other Eastern houses.
The main disease among the sheep is scab, which is due,
like the itch in man, to a minute mite, and may be com-
municated from one animal to another. Tlie treatment,
is, to dip the sheep in some liquid that will destroy the-
parasite ; the dij)ping apparatus costing from aO dols. to-
100 dols. The pi'incipal dip is composed of tobacco-,
sulphur, and sometimes arsenic and sotip. Three men
cau dip twenty-five hundred sheep a day. Scab does not
affect the wool itself, but causes the sheep to lose wool,
often to a considerable extent.

" While sheep-raising presents so many attractions, it ia
no child's play, as many coming here from the East leara
to their sorrow. Drones cannot succeed in this better than
in any other busiaass. Money, muscle, and brains are
required to achieve success, and the idea that owners can
live in the East, and safely trust their flocks to the
roanagemeat of others here has been rudely dispelled.
One has got to be upon ttie ground, and superintend his
own ranching operations, if he expects to prosper.
Upon coming to- Colorado, to engage in sheep-raising,
a man should hire himself out as a herder, in order to
iearn the details. No man should embark iu the business

2o6

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

cntil he hai haci some experiencp. He should be here
during the three seasons, that is -. Uaiibiiiir, shearing, and
dipping. At the end of that time he will have a very fair
inbight into the workings, althou-ih it would be advisable
f)r him to pass a winter here, and huve an experience
with one of the heavy storms. He must not take the
advice of any one man, but form his judijment after con-
versing with various sheep-raisers. He must expect to
iivest not merely money, but his time and brains. He must
expect to give his personal attention to the business, not
simply for one or two years, but for five or ten years,
uutirhe gets his herd sufficiently well graded to bring in
a lair income from wool. He will find the stories of
rinchmen to differ in many particulars. Two years ago
five thousand dollars was regarded as the usual amount
required in purchasing a complete sheep ' outfit ' — that
is, a ranch, horses, dog, sheep, and bucks. He should
start with about one thousand Mexican sheep, which can
be purchased of dealers at Denver, and almost anywhere
else. They sold two years ago for two dollars to two and
one half dollars each. They cau be purchased this
autumn for from ninety cents to one dollar and fifty cents
eich. The Vermont bucks will cost him from twenty to
lifty dollars apiece. There should be oae buck for every
fifty sheep.

" He will not be required to pay anything for his land,
which belongs to the Goveruioent. Generally the
buildings and ranch franchise can be purchased of some
one, who, for various reasons, wishes to 'make a change.
If the new comer locates on a new range, he will have to
build a dug-out or an adobe house, and must have a
wagon, a span of horses, and a shepherd dog. The
corral with accompanying shed should be built as soon as
possible. H he has his family with him, he should pur-
chase the needed household furnituie here. The rates of
freight are so high that as few effects as possible should
be brought from the Eist. He should employ a herder
to watch the flocks, while he himself keeps close guard
over the bucks. He must make up his mind to be absent
from the ranch only a few hours at a time during any
season.

'* In selecting a range, wood and water are the great
essentials. It h for this reason that the ranches through
Colorado and the other Western States and Territories
are generally located along the streams and river
bottoms."

THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE
AND PROFESSOR CHURCH.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MARK LANE EXPRESS.

Sir, — I have had mj attention drawn to the " Sample"
in this week's Erpress relating to the Cirencester College
and Professor Church, and I am glad that at length some
one of influence has had the courage to speak the truth
plainly. In commenting ou the subjects which your
remarks have brought into prominence I will speak first
of the College.

It is quite true, as the " Mao of l^Iark Lane" says,
that the College no longer exists for the be-ielit of those
for whom it was established. When the late Prin-
cipal died the College was flourishing under the able and
practical tuition of such men as Coleman, Voelcker, and
Brown, who were not mere servants of the Principal, but
Professors responsible to the tjoverniug Council; the
farm was then attached to the College, and Mr. Coleman
was at once Professor of Agriculture aud Farm Manager ;
and, though last, not least, the C-)llege was full of stu-
dents, the great bulk of whom were intended to be bona
fide farmers. Not long afterwards the Profesors threw
up their appointments, aud the College fell from a height
of usefulness und popularity which il has nut siuce re-
itttained.

At the present time, and for many years past, theory
has been lifted up and practice neglected; the farm is
disconnected from the College, and the Professorship of
Agriculture is an anomaly. There is not an inch of land
over which the Professor has control ; he is not, without
permission of the tenant of the farm, in a position to carry
out even the simplest experiment ; and practical work for
the students ou the farm has a name' to live while it is
dead. The Principal, it is true, has some laud in his own
hands, on which he plays some strange agricultural pranks
at times, but even over this the Professor has no autho-
rity, and his advice respecting it is not even asked except
when a mess has been got into. The students — the great
bulk of them, that is — are not the sons of farmers, nor
are they intending to be farmers. Hence the agriculture
of the country receives but an infiuitessimal amount of
benefit from an institution whose sole raison d' etre is
the advancement of the practice aud theory of scientific
agriculture. The farmers of England are shrewd in their
day aud generation ; they do not send their sons to the
College.

Now for Professor Church. It is understood far and
wide that the Principal has taken advantage of the Pro-
fessor's approaching marriage to get rid of him, and I
think I can throw a little light ou this. Professor Church
is the last of the Professors who held their appointment
directly from the Council. By some means or other best
known to himself the Principal some years ago induced
the Council to erant him plenary power in the College,
and even the Professors are precluded from communi-
cating with the Council except through hira. Hence it
is that no complaints have reached the Council's ears.
Over the other Professors the Priacipal exercises un-
bounded sway, but over Professor Church he does not,
for the reason above stated. Hence Professor Church is
a stumbling-block in the Principal's path, and heuce also
the reason for his removal. " But," you will say, " the
Piincipal has not the power to remove Professor Church ;
that rests with the Council." True enough this ; but
when the Principal says he cannot remain except as a
residetit Professor, and as a man cannot very well have
his wife with him inside the College, we know what the
inevitable result must be, and we trace the cunning move.
" But what," you will ask, " are the Council doing all
the time ?" The Council, so far as active interest in the
College is concerned, exist in name I'atherthau in reality.
Were the Council alive to their duties, the Principal would
not venture to treat the students as if they were so many
schoolboys, and the Professors as if they were pupil-
teachers in a National School ; and it is to be hoped that
the period of passive acquiescence on the part of the
Committee of Management in the acts of the
Pr.ncipal is at leugih drawing to a close. Professor
Church has served the Council "Well and faithfully for
sixteen years, and they are bound in the interests of fair
play to thoroughly investigate a case which has already
become a far-reaching scandal.

I am. Sir, &c.,

O.NE Who Knows.

ro THE EDITOR OF THE MARK tANB EXPRESS.

Sir,— T was very much surprised on reading in last
week's issue the " Sample " referring to the lloyal Agri-
cultural College. "Wherever the name of the College is
known, that of Professor Church is known also ; and I
quite agree with your " Man of Mark Lane " that this
gentleman has done more for the College than anybody
else. He stands in the very front rank of our agricultural
chemists, and his course of instruction in agricultural
chemistry at Cirencester is simply invaluable. He has
spent the best years of his life in forwarding the inte-
leits of the CoUegCj aud during that time he must have

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINIC.

207

acquired an araomil of kaowledge and experience on
agricultural malters such as very few otiier men possess.
The loss to the College by his resijjnation would be irre-
parable, aud it would be a great misfortune for the
institution were Professor Church to give up the chair
which he h&i so long and so honourably tilled. No
official of the College, from the highest to the lowest,
could be less spared than he.

I am. Sir, &c., J. K. N.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MARK LANE EXPPES3.

Sir, — The first "Sample" in your issus of the 17th
seems to call for remark from those who are interested in
Cirencester College. The " Man of Mark Lane " belii-ves
this and has his own opinion of that ; but your readers
would probably like something more. They would like,
for instance, some good evidence of the principal item of
news which is almost incredible. Oue can easily under-
stand that Professor Church after so many years of work
might wish to give up his connection with the College ;
but that the College should wish to lose his services — this
is incredible. 1 have good grounds for believing that
Professor Church is retiring in consequence of his ap-
proaching marriage. (This indeed is stated in a circular
I have received from the College). Now it is absurd to
suppose that the Council should dismiss a professor simply
on account of his marriage — especially as there are and
have been married professors attached to the College.
Your leaders have therefore good reason for asking either
for a contradiction of the statement that Professor Church
is leaving against his own free will, or for authoritative
evidence in support.

I am, Sir, &c.,

Agricola Junior.

THE LAW OF DISTRESS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MARK LANE EXPRESS.

Sir, — I was glad to observe that at the last meeting of
the Essex Chamber of Agriculture, Sir J. F. Buxton in
the chair, a discussion on the Law of Distress for rent was
resumed, and a resolution passed to the eft'ect " That in
the opinion of the Chamber the Law of Distress was in-
jurious to the best interests of the landlord, unjust to the
tenant, and deceptive to the trider" — a most excellent
resolution truly. Can there be a doubt that ere long the
Law of Distress will, like imprisonment for debt, be
altered ; but it must be moved for. Prior to the Bankruptcy
Act, 1869, a creditor, having obtained judgment for a debt
of £20 or upward, had the option by a warraat on writ
oi cupias ad satisfaciendum oi arresting the defendant
or of taking his goods by a warrant on a writof/ii?«
fad IS, but happily there is now no such option, inas-
much as a defendant cannot be so arrested tor debt, but
the Law of Distress remains unaltered, consequently a
landlord, his agent, or bailiff, can, the day after the rent
becomes due, rush into the house of the tenant without
giving any notice whatever, and leave there an individual
whose presence is not likely to coatribute to the happiness
of the family ; whereas if the landlord had only the same
remedy to recover rent as the trader — and it is most un-
just to the trader that the landlord has priority, which
generally ends in the whole effects being absorbed for rent
and large expenses — the tenant would in all probability,
by selling his produce to the merchdut or dealer, be able
to continue his tenancy, to save his reputation, avert the
invasion of his '' castle," and the harrowing scene occa-
sioned by the aforesaid individual being left, as it were, in
the bosom of the family. It is to be hoped for I he sake
uf tenant-farmers that the other Chambers of Agriculture
which have not considered the subject will do so at once.
I am, Sir, &c.,

A SurrEREE.
Camb, Fehrv.o.ry l%th, 1879,

|t0riniifitral ^eprts.

BEDFORDSHIRE.

Unfavourable seasons, poor yields, and low prices, with
increased outgoings of Uite years, have placed the Biitish
farmer in a very unenviable position. M my are no longer
able to continue their holdings, while others are retiring
from an occupation which has of late been so un remunera-
tive. Much of the poor clay land has during the last few
years become very foul and out of condition, and must,
unless there is a very great change in farming prospects, go
out of cultivation. Although there must be many sufferers
from this state of things, yet good will eventually follow.
The necessity will be felt by many who have hitherto
ignored it, that if capital is to be attracted to the soil
greater security must be given that " he who sows will be
able to reap." Agents will see the necessity of removing
those needless and vexatious restrictions which have ham-
pered many a good tenant, and will, we believe,only be too
anxious to introduce liberal and equitable agieemeuts. If
not they may rest assured the time will speedily arrive,
when the opportunity will be no lonzer afforded them.
Beyond carting manures, very little has been done on the
land since the commencement of the frost in December ;
since it broke up we have had a great downfall of rain, all
the low lands being very much flooded. Field operations
are therefore in arrear and much anxiety is now felt to be
getting on with the work, spring sowing must necessarily
be late. There is a smaller breadth of wheat sown thaa
usual, much of which — although planted in October —
has only just made its appearance. The frost has thinned
some of it, and winter beans when sown late have become
perished. Swedes and kohl rabi have also suffered, many
not being secured in consequence of the frost setting ia
early. Kohl rabi are somewhat difficult to store, for be-
sides a tendency to decay when chopped off from the
root, the sacrifice of the tops would be considerable. The
season has been unfavourable for sheep doing well at roots;
the weakly ones of the flock have succumbed to the
severity of the weather, many losses being the result. In
several parishes there have been a good many men out of
work who, we fear, have had a punishing time of it ; the
dissatisfied sprits among them have had time to reflect
upon the line of conduct they thought well to adopt a
year or two since. Adverse times have taught lliem as
well as others most salutary lessons. There is evidently,
we rejoice to record it, a much better feeling pervading
the men, and we shall hail with much satisfaction a re-
turn of those timet when the labourers gave cheerful ser-
vice, and felt an interest in the welfare of their em-
ployers.— Feb. 20.

NORTH ESSEX.
We are iu the fourth week of February, which is well
sustaining its character, as we have had, and still have, a
considerable fall of rain and snow, drains and ditches
being alike full, while a great deal of low-lying land is
under water. In the more easterly part of this county
the moisture is very much needed in the mixed and ligh
soils, owing to the unparalleled dryness of the land pre-
vious to the setting in of winter, a great deal of such land
being still quite dry at a depth of six or seven inches
below the surface. All tillage work is very greatly ia
arrear, as the frost came upon us before some of the back-
ward farmers had completed their ordinary breadth of
wheat planting, since which time the land has either been
too frost-bound or too wet for the plough to work. Here
and there we hear of some still to be sown,
which if it were our case we should hesitate to do, seeing
that wheat is less profitable than barley. The completion

SOS

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

of wheat sowin"; being late natilrally caused fallow plough-
ing to be neglt'cted, hence we see a large quantity of land
with the stubble standing on It, instead ot being ploughed
doWn, and taking advantage of the late frosts. It is
almost needless to say that iu consequence of the delay
pea and beau sowing is scarcely thought of at present, and
apparently some patience will have to be exercised before
the drill can be propei'ly put to work ; while we see no
chance whatever of an early barley sowing— almost a
necessity in this part if a fair quality is expected— as the
frost) instead of leaving the land dry and pliable, has been
succeeded by a degree of moisture which will require
cither an exercise of patience or a considerable increase of
horst labour, bcfoi'e this seed should be placed in the
ground. The wheat is for the most part above
ground ; some of the early pieces are looking
green, while the later sown show a very good line
of roWs are the stetches. Some apprehension has been felt
by farmers during the loug sustained frost tor the safety
of the {^)lant, such being happily dispelled by a generally
uniform and strong plaut. Upon examining some the
other day, I found it remarkably well rooted, and the
points at which the second series of roots take place is
particularly stout, being a sign of tillering power ; of course
it is premature to form any opinion of the wheats as they
are now only as forward as they usually are in December,
ypry much depending on the weather we have in March>
Turnips and all roots which are left exposed in the land
have disappeared like mngic, most being rotten, and those
not rotten have little or no feedingproperties; ergo, much
dry food in the form of hay, corn, and cakes has to be
supplied to keep sheep up to the mark, or the other ruin-
ous alternative has to be submitted to — of sending the
hoggetts to market at a heavy loss. The cattle market
at Colchester last Saturday presented a dismal aspect, fat
beasts selling at Gjd- to 7d. per lb., or only £1 or £2
more than they cost at Michaelmas, while capital hog-
getts, which were worth 60s. per head a month since,
Were begging for buyers at 48s. The causes for such a re*
action are not far to seek, viz., the sudden collapse of the
root crops, the low price of wool, the falling off in the
consumption of meat, the large supplies from America, and
the want of money. No kind of Work is forward at the
farm except thrashing, and that certainly is not in arrear,
many stackyards being quite guiltless of corn. Cloverseed
thrashing has been very general, and the seed yields well
but sells badly, a great deal of useful seed going for a
guinea per bushel. Plenty of farms, many being very
useful, to let in all districts, landlords applying for
tenants J the table is turning. — W.D., Feb- 22.

SOUTH NORFOLK.

There is no pleasure in writing on farming matters,
for never was agriculture in all its branches in such a
depressed condition. On all sides we hear of farms to be
given up at Michaelmas next; indeed, iu one parish not
a hundred miles from the market towns of Diss and
Attleborough, it is said that seven will be vacant. Many
persons will, I fear, be compelled to retire from agricul-
tural pursuits altogether; even some of the well-to-do
farmers talk of retiring into private life. Taking all
things into consideration, the prospect of a good realiza-
tion for live and dead stock at Michaelmas next is by no
means reassuring. The past winter has been a most
nnpropitious time for fdrmers, and it certainly has seemed
as if "the stars in their courses have fought against (the
agricultural) Sisera." The constant wet weather of the
latter part of October, and the whole of November,
prevented much of our land from being sown with wheat.
Leading mangel was performed under the greatest difU-
cultics, and many were left on the land to be fpoilt by

the frost, and some of those carted into holes could nOt
be banked up in time to save them from being pierced by
" Jack Frost's " poisoned dagger. At the beginning of
December, when the earth was clothed with but a slight
covering of snowv " Mr. Frost '' again put in an appear-
ance, and this time in earnest, being accompanied by
piercing winds. C!ontinuous weeks of severe weather
cut our young wheats to such a degree that they
have not even yet recovered from the shock ;
they look shy, thiu, and backward. The swedes
and tnrnips were also seriously irgured, and many
fields are covered with rotten bulbs, which are useless,
uay, perhaps dangerous for feeding purposes. During
the severe weather, all stock vf ere fed at a great expense ;
much work, necessarily requiring extra hands, in order
to provide the animals with sufficient food, little else
could be done, the frost having set in so early that little
or no keep was prepared for them, so that what with
short days and extra hands, after stock, this has been an
exceptionally expensive winter for the farmer. Work is
very backward, the constant wet weather having preven-
ted the ploughs from being stirred. Heavy land is dotted
over with pools of water and beds of slush ; if, therefore,
we have not a favourable change, John Barleycorn will,
I fear, have to commeuce life in a cold uncomfortable
bed. I would not recommend a hypochondriacal man to
visit our corn markets as a cheerful recreation, as he will
see nothing but long faces there, farmers having to rest
satisfied with from 8s. to 10s. 6d. per 4 bushels for about
one-half of their barley crop. Neither is a visit to our
cattle markets by any means conducive to cheerfulness,
fat bullocks, after high and expensive feeding, making but
little more than they cost iu as stores. Hoggets in
times past, the Norfolk fanner's salvation, and rent-
payers, are now a bad " spec," many of them not being
worth so much money as they cost as lambs. We caa
only say — What will the end be ? — R., Feb. 21.

THE YEAR 1878. — In the year 1878 there were
1,153,525 births registered in the Uaited Kingdom, beingj at
the rate of 34 per 1,000 of the estimated populatiou,
which was 33,881,966 in the mid'lle of that ysar. The
' deaths registered in the United Kingdom iu 1878 were
716,165, or 21' 1 per 1,000 of pofulation. The natural in-
crease of population by excess of births over deaths was
436,360, or 49,243 less than thn excess in 1877. The
actual increase of population in 1873 cannot be ascertained,
owing to there beinfr no complete records showing the
balaoce between emigration and immigration. The Board of
Trade report the emigration from the United Kingdom in
1878 of 113,439 persons of British origin, being an increase
of 25 per cent, over the unusually sra^ll emiKra'loa of 1S77.
The increase in 1878 was 22 per cent, in English, 34 i&
Scotch, and 27 in Irish emigrants. Of the 113,439 British
emigrants of 1878 there were 54,065 who left for the United
Statrs, 36 057 for the Australian colonies, and 10,697 for
British North America, each of these numbers showing a
marked increase over the preceding year. The meau tem-
perature of 1878, as shown at (ireenwich Observatory, ex-
ceeded the average in every one of the first ten months of the
year, but there was a marked deficiency in November and
December. The mean for the year was 497 deg., or r2 deg.
above the last 37 years' avcrau'e. The rainfall iu Greenwicli
in 1S73 amounted to 292 incKes, measured in 166 days ; this
rainfall exceeded the average by n<arly 4in. The number of
hours of bright sunshine registered at Greenwich Oiiservatory
in 1878 was 1,250, or 28 per cent, of its possible dur;ition,
the sun being above the horizon lor 4,454 hours. — Times.

ORIGIN OF MILK.— An agricultural paper asserts that
milk comes il\rougli inheritance. Mebbe it does, but some of
it looks as if it had come through a thunder Bhower with the
lids of the cans cpeu.

THE FARM]SR'S MAGA^lNfi.

209

REVIEW or THE CORN TRADE,

t'ROM THE MARK LANJi EXPRESS FOR THE WEEK EXDIN^ FEBRUARY 24.

Tlio weather during: the past week has not on
the whole been favourable fur the prosecution of
afrricultural labour, as, althouorh some sunny
intervals have occurred, a considerable quantity of
l-ain and snow has fallen, leavinor the surface of the
land sticky and unworkable, and more than ever
in need of dry penetrating March winds. Out-
door labour of all kinds is consequently still in
arrears, and the country generally presents a back-
ward aspect, the natural development of vegeta-
tion being held in check by the prolonged wintry
temperature. There is very little change to call
for remark in the state of the autumn-sown cereals,
which have made slight progress by reason of the
ungenial character of the weather. Scotland has
again been visited with some severe snowstorms,
and winter seems loth to yield his sway over these
islands. Farmers continue to thrash out their
wheat very freely, although the incentives to their
so doing have not been very apparent, as neither
weather nor prices have favoured the supposition
that the labour expended would prove remunera-
tive. Complaints as to quality and condition are
still rife both in the London and provincial ex-
changes, and the offerings, large as they have been
have represented but a very small proportion of
really fair milling grain. An average price of 38s.
Id. against oOs, lid. at the corresponding time
last year gives some insight, were any needed, of
the hard times English farmers have had to
endure, and at the same time offers strong pre-
sumptive evidence of the decreased acreage which
will probably be put under wheat this season.
Business has not, however, been without a
certain modicum of firmness during the past week,
as an advance of Is. per qr. on sound home-grown
wheat has taken place in a few of the country
markets. As soon as the weather offers reasonable
facilities for Spring tillage we may expect farmers'
deliveries to show a considerable diminution, when
the trade will probably see, and should certainly
maintain, an improvement of some few shillings
per quarter. The arrivals from abroad h^ve been
light of all articles except Flour, last Monday's
return showing only about 2G,000 qrs. of foreign
wheat, while the subsBquent supply up to Friday
has not reached .10,000 qrs., and has consisted
chiefly of American pi-oduce. It is the unusually
large visible supply in America which hangs like
an incubus over the British trade, and prevents
prices from rallying now that Russia is sending us
nothing. The course of business throughout the
week has been quiet, but certainly steady, and
although speculation is wanting consumption con-
tinues, so that prices have been fully maintained
for all descriptions of wheat. In the case of
Russian varieties, the increased demand brought
to bear upon them for mixing purposes has
resulted in an advance of Gd. to Is. per qr., and
he upward movement should certainly make

further progress now that the northern ports are

closed and native grain marketed in such deterio-'
rated condition. Sales, it is true, have not been
very numerous, but the tendency has been towarda
a rise rather than a fall, and the trade has loss
much of the languor and listlessness which have
been its prevailing characteristics for some months
past. Rather higher rates have been demanded
for Maize, and the inquiry has been thereby
checked, but this article occupies a firm position
at the low prices now current. Barley, oats, and
other Varieties of feeding corn has ruled dull, but
in the limited amount of business passing late
rates have been maintained. The sales of
English wheat noted last week were 2,2.39
qrs., at 37s, 7d. ; against 42,496 qrs., at 51s. 3d.
in the previous year. The London averages for
the week ending Feb. 22nd were SOs. Sd. on 1,214
qrs. The imports into the United Kingdom foP
tqe week ending February 15th were 873,776
cwts, of wheat, and 180,525 cwts. of flour. There
was a fair attendance of millers and dealers at
market on Monday last, and with light arrivals
from abroad of all articles, except flour, a somewhat
steadier tone was observable in the trade, albeit
the actual amount of business done was quite
moderate. No fresh feature of special interest wais
developed, but the improved demand and harden-
ing prices which characterised the trade fof
Russian wheat during the preceding week received
further support. The week's arrivals of English
wheat were 7,117 qrs., and the supply fresh up on
factors' stands was again light, the bulk of the
offerings consisting of damp and ill-conditioned
grain. Fine samples, owing to scarcity, maintained
previous currencies, but secondary qualities were
neglected, and remained unsold at the close of the
market. The total imports of foreign were only
26,260 qrs., of which quantity 21,076 qrs. were
from the United States, 2,656 qrs. from New Zea-
land, and the remainder from Australia and the
East Indies. Holders asked rather higher prices
for all varieties, but the inquiry was slack, and it
was only in the case of fine Russian descriptions
that buyers consented to an occasional advance of
Gd.perqr. Sales were mostly in retail, but the
market closed with suflicient steadiness. The
week's exports were 3,503 qrs. The supply of
barley consisted of 11,004 qrs. of home-grown, and
70 qrs. of foreign. Malting descriptions were in
fair request, but grinding sorts ruled slow, and
there was no quotable variation in either. There
were 6,778 qrs. of maize, and all sound corn on
spot was fully as dear, while to arrive quotations
were the turn in sellers' favour. Oats, with arrivals
of only 3,257 qrs. from Prince Edward's Island,
met a retail inquiry, and prices were no better than
on the previous Monday. On Wednesday the
return showed 520 qrs. of English wheat and
11,860 qrs. of foreign. A decidedly steadier tone
pervaded the trade, and Russian and Indian
descriptions met an improved demand at an advance

210

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

of fully 6d. per qr. from the recent lowest point.
There was, however, no correspondinor improve-
ment noticeable in feeding corn. On Friday the
supply iiad increased to 1,110 qrs. of English wheat
and 15,920 qrs. of foreign. The market was fairly
attended, and a quiet but steady trade was done in
wheat at Wednesday's prices. Feeding stuffs
were also fairly steady. The imports of flour into
the United Kingdom for the week ending Feb-
ruary 15th, were 180,525 cwts., against 141,520
cwts. in the previous week The receipts into
London were 15,926 sacks of English, and 4,012
sacks and 15,382 barrels cf foreign. Country
sacks hav'Q fully maintained last week's prices, and
there has been more inquiry for American barrels,
sellers in some cases having obtained 6d. more
money. The trade, however, has not been very
active, as stocks and supplies are alike large. The
week's arrivals of beans were 4,024 cwts., and of
peas 609 cwt., showing a decrease of 8,048 cwt. on
the former and 8,280 cwt. on the latter. Both
Articles have sold slowly, and no appreciable
change has occured in values. The deliveries of
malt were 18,063 qrs. and the exports 1,305 qrs.
There is still a desire shown to press sales, but, in
spite of concessions offered, buyers have operated
very sparingly. Business in agricultural seeds
has not been quite so active during the past week,
but a brisk demand may be looked for as soon as
the weather becomes drier. English red clover-
seed is marketed freely, but choice parcels are
scarce, and command relatively high prices. With
the exception of some small stocks of American
there is scarcely any foreign red offering. AVhite
clover and alsike are unaltered in valne, but trefoil
has given way slightly. Hemp and canary have
moved off slowly at the low prices ruling for these
articles, but Egyptian lentils have fully maintained
late rates. The country markets have been well
flipplied with home-grown wheat, and the con-
dition continues very unsatisfactory, but a fairly
steady tone has, nevertheless, characterised pro-
vincial trade, last week's prices having been main-
tained both for wheat and spring corn. At Liver-
pool, on Tuesday, the market was well attended,
and an improved demand was experienced for
wheat at an advance of Id. per cental. Flour was
also in good request, and supported last week's
currencies, but barley, oats, and beans, were in-
ftctive, although not quotably cheaper. Maize eased
slightly, owing to more abundant offerings. The
week's imports included 77,000 qrs. of wheat and
29,000 qrs. of Maize. At Newcastle there has
been but little demand either for wheat or flour,
although prices have not given way. Maize has
ruled steady, and other feeding stuffs dull, at
about late rates. At Hull, English wheat has im-
proved Is. per qr., but there has not been much
business done in foreign; and at Leeds the trade
has been quiet, but prices have shown a hardening
tendency. At Edinburgh the market has been
well supplied with grain from the farmers, and a
better demand has been experienced for wheat at
last week's prices. Barley has likewise met a free
sale at Is. per qr. more money, but oats and beans
remain unchanged. At Leith the weather has
been cold, and a good deal of snow has fallen.
The frost at night has also been severe. The ar-

rivals from abroad have been moderate of all
articles, and the trade has ruled quiet but firm for
both Scotch and foreign wheat at the full rates of
the previous week. Maize has been steady, and
all descriptions of barley in better request, but no
alterations can be noted in values. At Glasgow
the week's imports have been light, and at Wed-
nesday's market wheat met a steady sale at an ad-
vance of Od. to Is. per qr. Flour also realised full
prices, and Scotch barley was fully Is. per qr.
dearer, but maize, beans, and peas, were unaltered,
and oats'! the turn cheaper to sell. At Dublin the
weather has been cold, and a great deal of rain has
fallen. There has been more demand for wheat
and an advance of 6d. to Is. per qr. has heen es-
tablished. Maize has also been in fair retail re-
quest, but prices show no quotable improvement.
At Cork the rainfall has been heavy, and a quiet
tone has prevailed in the grain trade. A light re-
tail inquiry has been experienced for wheat, the
millers have only bought to supply their, immediate
wants. Maize has been a turn easier, the demand
for consumption being still very moderate.

The following are the reports from Mark Lane
during the past month : —

Monday, Feb. 3.

The trade in Mark Lane to-day was very mature, sale*
in retail being mostly at former quotations. The weather
was rainy.

Last week's supplies included English Wheat 5.323
qrs., which were pressed on buyers on former term?, at
which they were neglected. Foreign Wheat, 33,133 qrs.,
were firm for fiuest sorts, whilst holders of secondary
jccepted occasionally 3d. to 6d. per qr. less money.

Barley : 2,617 qrs. English, 6,635 Scotch, 3,853 qrs.
foreign, was steady in price except for inferior English
samples.

Malt, 18,478 qrs. English, 1,453 Scotch, kept at old
rates.

Oats, 824 qrs. English, 151 Scotch, 64,847 foreign,
were generally 6d. per qr. dearer, some sorts made Is.
over last Monday's terms.

Rye, Nil, was quiet in supplies and value.

Beans, 1,62G qrs. English, 7 qrs. foreign, were in fair
retail demand, at former quotations.

Peas : English 720 qrs. ; foreign 566 qrs. Made au oc-
asionable 6d. to Is. per qr. advance.

Maize : 341 qrs. transhipped from English ports ; 15,760
qrs. from abroad, including 6,100 qrs. from San Francisco.
Was firm in price and steady in demand.

Tares: English, 122 qrs. ; foreign, 450 qrs. "Were in
fair request and rather dearer.

Flour: English, 18,322 sacks ; foreign, 8651 sacks, and
2,985 brls. Was neglected, quotations unchanged.

There were some 150 qrs. of Lentils brought into Lon-
don last week.

Monday, Feb. 10.

The arrivals during the past week have been : English
Wheat 6,870 qrs. ; Scotch 325 qrs. ; foreign 36,385 qrs.
There was a fair supply of English Wheat at market this
morning, but nearly all the samples were in bad condition
and only the few dry lots offering were saleable at previous
prices ; of foreign the arrivals were moderate and with a
large attendance of millers a somewhat improved demand
was experienced particularly for fine Russian descriptions
at last Monday's currencies.

THie FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

211

Country Fiour 18,053 sacks ; foreign 10,418 sacks, aud
9,953 brls. The traJe ruled slow for both sacks and bar-
rels, but quotatious underweut no alteration.

English Barley, 2,929 qrs. ; Seotch, 2,693 qrs. ;
foreign. 10,349 qrs. Exports, 1,212 qrs. Sales pro-
gressed slowly, and to move any quantity a slight
reduction had to be submitted to for both malting and
grinding sorts.

Malt, English, 15,830 qrs. ; Scotch, 8S0 qrs. Ex-
ports, 1,598 qrs. A dull trade at about late rates.

Maize, 22,423 qrs. Sound Corn on spot was itt fair
request at about last week's prices, but there was little
done to arrive.

English Oats, 353 qrs.; Scotch, 239 qrs.; foreign,
21,081 qrs. Exports, 13 qrs. A moderate demand was
experienced, although the trade was scarcely so firm as on
Friday last, aud all descriptions have improved about 3d.
per qr. on the week.

English Beias, 955 qrs. ; foreign, 60 qrs. The turn
cheaper to sell with only a moderate inquiry.

Linseed, 7,255 qrs. A steadier trade at aa advaace of
28, per qr.

Monday, Feb. 17.

The arrivals during the past week have been : English
"Wheat, 7,117 qrs. ; foreign, 26,260 qrs. Exports, 3,503
qrs. Theie was a small supply of English Wheat at
market this morning, and the condition of the offerings
was again unsatisfactory; last Monday's prices were ob-
tainable for the few dry lots shown, but inferior parcels
were almost unsaleable. Of foreign the arrivals were
small, and with a fair attendance of millers a steady trade
w^s experienced at fully late rates.

Country flour, 15,926 sacks ; foreign, 4,021 sacks, and
15,382 brls. Business was dull for both sacks and barrels,
and last week's currencies were barely supported.

English Barley, 2,694 qrs. ; Scotch 8,310 qrs. ; foreign
79 qrs. Malting descriptions ruled steady, and grinding
sorts met a slow sale at unaltered values.

Malt : English, 16,308 qrs. ; Scotch, 1,760 qrs. Ex-
ports, 1,305 qrs. The trade was very quiet and prices
were the turn in buyers' favour.

Maize, 6,778 qrs. Exports 111 qrs. Sound corn on
spot was fully as dear, while to arrive, prices ruled the
turn against buyers.

English Oats', 372 qrs. ; Scotch, 1,820 qrs. ; foreign,
3,257 qrs. The foreign arrivals being light, a fair in-
quiry was experienced for all descriptions, at last Monday's
quotations.

English Beans, 750 qrs. ; foreign, 67 qrs. la moderate
request and unaltered in value.

Linseed, 10,973 qrs. Exports, 745 qrs. Steady at
late rates.

Monday, Feb. 24.

The arrivals during the past week have been ; — Eng-
lish "Wheat, 5,167 qrs., foreign, 21,844 qrs. Exports,
2,893 qrs. There was a good attendance of buyers at
market this morning, and the general tone of the trade
betokened increased firmness. The supply of English
"Wheat was small, and the few samples in fair condition
were saleable at an advance of Is. per qr. on the week ;
of foreign the arrivals were also small, and a good
milling demand was experienced at a similar improve-
ment.

Country Flour, 16,931 sacks ; foreign, 16,612 sacks
and 15,116 barrels. Country sacks were the tarn dearer,
but barrels, notwithstanding a better inquiry, only com-
manded late rates,

English Barley, 3,609 qrs. ; Scotch, 1,364 qrs.;
foreign, 543 qrs. Business was wanting in animation,
and no change was observable in either malting or grind-
ing descriptions.

Malt: English, 19,763 qrs.; Scotch, 1,000 qrs.
Exports, 7G8 qrs. The trade continues in a languid and
depressed state ; values have declined Is. per qr. on the
week.

Maize, 26,882 qrs. This article has shown a droop-
ing tendency, and with liberal supplies prices have givea
way 3d. to 6d. per qr. for both round and flat corn.

English Oats, 784 qrs. Scotch, 140 qrs. Exports,
1,022 qrs. Considerable steadiness has characterised
the trade, and, with no arrivals from abroad, prices are
fully 6d. per qr. dearer since last Monday.

English Beans, 1,318 qrs. ; foreign, 7,331 qra.
Steady, but without quotable change.

Linseed, 4,239 qrs. Fully as dear.

CURRENT PRICES OF BRITISH GRAIN AND FLOUR
IN MARK LANE.

Shillings pe 'uarter

WHEAT, Esses & Keat, white old — to - new 31 to 4a

„ „ red old— — new 33 43

Norfolk, Linclnsn., and Yorksh. red old — new 32 42

BARLEY Chevaliernew 38 68

Grinding 33 to 40 Distilling 30 38

MALT, pale new 63 to 78 old brown 62 64

RYE 30 il

OATS, English, feed 20 to 24 Potato 24 28

Scotch, feed — — Potato — —

Irish, feed, white24 26 Fine — —

Ditto, black 23 25 PoUto — —

BEANS, Mazagan ...31 33 Ticks 35 38

Harrow — — Pigeon, old 40 46

PEAS, white boilers 36 40 Maple 37 to 39 Grey 34 3«

FLOUR, per sack of 2801bs., town households 35 40

Best country households, 80 35

Norfolk and Suffolk 28 30

FOREIGN GRAIN.

BhUllnga per Quarter.

WHEAT, Dantzic, mixed 45 to 50 extra — to 53

Konigsberg 48 50 extra — —

Rostock 48 60 old — —

Pomera., Meckberg., and Uckermrk red 44 48

Ghirka 3S to 41. ..Russian, hard, 43 to 46,Saxon8ka 42 44

Danish and Holstein, red — — ...red American 40 48

Chilian, white 46...Califomian 44 45. ..Australian 48 60

East Indian, No. 1 Club white, 42 to 43 ; No. 2 40 41

Ord. white 38 to 40 ; red 30 to 37 ; hard 36 38

BARLEY, grinding 20 to 22 distilling „ 28 35

OATS, Dutca, brewing and Polands 20 to 23 feed 19 21

Danish and Swedish, feed 17 to 20...Stral8und ... 21 23

Canada OOtoOO Riga 15 to 16 Petersburg... 16 20

BEANS, Friesland and Holstein — —

Itahan 34 to 37. ..Egyptian 35 36

PEAS, feeding and maple.. .33 34.. fine boilers 35 37

MAIZE, Black Sea 24 28.. Mixed American 23 24

FLOUR, per sack, French 32 36.. .Spanish, p. sack 34 38

Hungarian, persack...41 55. ..American barrel 13 22

TARES, Sprmg 30 34

BRITISH SEEDS.
Mustard, per bush., brown lOs. to 133., white... 98. to 11b.

Canary, per qr new 45s. to 478 fine... 483. 50*.

Cloverseed, fine red and dark purple 908., com... SOs. 648,

Coriander, per cwt. 228. 248,

Tases, winter, new, per bushel 48. Od. 68. Od.

Trefoil, fine new 2l8. 268,

Ryegrass, per qr., old and new 22s. 24a.

Linseed, per qr. ...sowing 66s. to 68s., crushing 638. 65g.

Linseed Cakes, per ton £9 lOs. to £10 Os,

Rapeseed, per qr new... 60s. 668.

Rape Cake, per ton £5 to £6 10^.

FOREIGN SEEDS.

Coriander, per cwt 22a. to 24«

ClovPT^eed, red 663. to 64s white 76.i, 80fe*

Hempseed, small 323. to 343. per qr Dutch 36s. 38s'

Trefoil 208. 22«'

Ryegrass, per new Italian Bale of 2 cwt 32s, 3l^*

Linfieed, per qr Baltic Sis. to 523. ... Bombay 5O3. 61 j*

Linseed Cakes, per ton £9 10s. to £9 158'

Rape Cake, per ton £S to £6 lOa*

Rapeseed, Calcutta 62s. e4«>

Carraway Sis. 36e.

FLUCTUATIONS in the AVERAGE PRICE of WHEAT

Pbiob.

Jan. 18.

Jan. 25

Feb. 1.

Feb. 8.

Feb. 15.

Feb. 23,

393. Id.
38a. lid.
383. 4d.
383. Id.
378, 7d.

... r

..." '^

... '•

Ill ^

Z

212

THE FARMER S MAGAZINE

LONDON AVERAGES.

Wheat 1,219 are. 399. 8d.

Barley 330 „ 344. lid.

Oats — •• — s. Od.

IMPERIAL AVERAGES

For the week ending Feb. 22, 1879.

Wheat 56,5501 qrs. 37s. 7d,

Barley 42,619J „ 34s. lOd.

Oats 4,694f „ 20s. 3d.

COMPARATIVE AVERAGES.

Years.
1875..

1876..
1877..
1878..
1879..

WHEAT,
Qrs.
53,654*
46,278i
42,7211
42,495t
56,550 J

r.

s.

d.

40

11

43

3

60

1

61

3

37

7

BARLEY,
Qr

41,2491
49, 281 J
49,108^
44,709i
43,619J

d.

42 11

33 4
40 4
44 0

34 10

OATS
Qrs.
5,172i
4,137J

5,480J
8.24U
4,69 1|

Cobcut @aitrtn jHarlttt

LONDON, Thuksdat, February 20.
Trade is quiet, calling for no alteratiaa in the fruit market.
Vegetables are easier.

FKUIT.

". rt. B. d.| B. d. ■. 11.

Apricots, ii dozen... 0 0 to 0 0 Melona each 0 0 to 0 o

Apples, Vi sieve 16 B ol Oransres.perhundred 4 u 8 U

Figs, per dozen 0 0 0 0 Peaches,^ doz 0 0 i) 0

Filberts & Cobs, ^ lb 0 9 1 O] Pears, per doz ..... 4 0 8 0

Grapes, V lb 3 0 8 u' Pine Apples, ^ lb 10 2 B

Lemons, >B hundred 3 0 10 u Plums, Vs sieve 0 0 0 0

VKGETABLB8.

AVERAGE S

Wheat.

Barley.

Oats.

Jan. 4...
— 11...

Qr.
37,891
37,400

s. d.
39 7
39 7

Qr.

44,708
52,423

8.

38
36

d.
10
11

Qr.

2207
3765

8. d.
20 3
20 1

— 18...

— 25...
Feb. 1...

— 8...

— 15...
22...

52,141
55,791
55,334
63,738
62,239
56,550

]

38 11

39 1

38 4
38 1
38 1
37 7

66,095
63,236
62,433
59,881
60.532
42,619

36
37

36
35
35
34

11

5
9
7
5
10

4422
3871
4049
5127
43H0
4694

19 8

20 1

19 5

20 0

19 2

20 3

Six weeks'

38 4
61 7

36

41

2
4

19 9

Average
Same time

24 2

in 1878..

J

OORN IMPORTED AND EXPORTED

For the week ending Feb. 15.

Wheat

Barley

Oats

Eye

Peas

Beans ,

Indian Oorn.,
Buckwheat .,

Total

Wheat Flour,
Oat Meal

Rj'emcal ....
Indian (JomMea!

Total

Grand Total .
Malt are

LONDON, Batubdax, February 22.

Imported i

nto

Kngl'd.

3ootl'd.

Irela'd.

Owts.

Cwta.

Owts.

724072

73715

75989

4S039

8800

33490

...

489

120

".'.

3599

425

322052

19439

121005

40

1131781

102499

196994

105682

73788

1055

3090

1900

11

372

109155

7.^688

1055

1240936

178187

198049

Exported.

British.

Foreign

CwtB.

Owts.

14972

4943

327

282

"441

401

16022

5344

332

404

113

415

404

16467

5748

1380

Artichokes, per bujs. 0 0 to u ci

En^, Globe, doz 2 0 4 0

— Jerusalem, per b.'h. 6 0 0 0

Aspai-a^s. sp., bun .16 0 0

Eiig., per 111 1 _. 10 0 15 0

Fr., giar.t.^ bun . . 3J o 0 0

Beans, Fr.,^ 00 ... 2 0 0 0

,, broad, per bus.... 0 0 0 0

Beet, per d-z n 10 2 0

Bruss-ls Sprouts, bsh. 10 0 0 0

Oabba^es, per dozen 10 2 C

Carrots, 'i) bunch 0 4 0 6

Nevp Fr., per bun. ... 0 0 0 (

OauUflowers, per doz 2 0 S '~

Celery, %1 bundle 16 2 C

Chiliea, per 1(10 2 0 o 0

Green, per doz On or

Cuoumhers.eaoh ..._. 0 9 16

Custard Mar., doz. ... 0 0 0

Bndive, perdoz „. 16 0 0

Batavian, per doz.... 16 0 u

Garlic, per lb OB 0 0

He>-hs.rier bunch 0 2 0 4

Potatos :— Regents, 100s. to

Horse Radish, U bund. 4 0
Lettuces, per doz 1 6

Cos. Eng., score 1 6

Mint, grn., per bunch 1 6
Onions, -W bushel ... i 0

Young, 'B bundle _. 0 t
Parsley, perlb. . 2 0

Peas, green, per qf"" 12 0
Po'atoes, new, French,

per l^ ,„ 1 0

Jersey, perlb u 0

Radishes, perbunch.. 0 I

Spanish per doz 1 0

New Jersey, perdoz 2 0
Rhubarb, per bundle. 10 0

Salsafy, '^ bundle 0 0

Seakale, per punnet... 2 6

Shallots, %l lb „. 0 6

Spinach per bushel ... 4 0
Sweet Potatos, per lb. 0 B
Tomatos, per dozen 2 6
Tvjrnipa. y bun. 3 0

New, per bun 0 0

0 0

0 0

130s.; Champions, 80s. to 90s.
Rocks, 708. to 72s. ; Flukes, 120s. to 140s. per ton. Large
supplies, aud trade heavy.

?l>a)) llEllutS.

WHITECHAPEl, (Saturday last).— A short supply of Hay
and Straw was on sale to-day. There was a dull trade, ex-
cept for best Clover, which is scarce and rather dearer.
Prime Glover, 953. to 105s., Inferior ditto, 80s. to 908. Prime
Meadow Hay, 75s. t© 84s., Liferior 40s.to 70s., and Straw
30s. to 358. per load.

WORCESTKR (Friday last).— Old Hay, £3 10s. to £1
new ici 15s. to £i ; Straw, £2 5s. to £2 13s. per ton.

BIRMINGHAM (Monday last).— Hay, £3 6s. to £4 5s. per
ton ; Straw. 2s. 6d. to 3s. per cwt.

d. I
MABKBT HIDB8

M to 841b8.„._._ 2!4toO

61 to 721b8 0 2W 0

72 to SUlbB 0 i'H 0

8(J to BSlbB _.„. 0 :i 0

88 to 9«lbB 0 3W 0

»8tol041b8 0 8Vi 0

< to 112b8.„.„.„ ». 0 U 0

£ . d- £ f

Gaano, Peruvian, 10tol2am.... per ton 11 10 0 to 13

. d
0 0
0 0

I Horse hides, ekoh _. 6 0 toI2 0

2Mi Oalfaklns.llKht 2 0 4 0

2^ Full 7 0 0 0

i Sheep Skins: Lncls. 6 6 7 6

3ti Kontsand half-breda 6 0 8 6

3 V9 Lambs „ 0 0 0 o

4 Bo , ns

0 lTegB__.,^„ „

Do- High Phosphatic „ 7 13 3

Bone Ash, River Plate 6 o 0 6 2 6

Linseed Cake, American, thin

oblong, prime, in bags ,, 0 0 0 0 0 0

Cottoncake,N. A., decorticated, super,, 6 0 0 6 2 6

Do. English, undecorticated, in bulk 5 17 6 6 0 0

Phosphate Lime, 75 to 0 per cent pr.unit 0 0 0 0 0 0

Nitrate of Soda, prime percwt.0 13 0 0 13 3

Linseed, Bombay per qr. 2 8 0 2 10 0

Niger 1 18 0 1 19 0

Cloverseed, N.A,. n.r.jf. tog. „ 1 19 0 2 10

Tallow, superior North's 0 0 0 0 0 0

Super, of Lime, g'teed, 26 to 28 sol., bulk 3 2 6 3 5 0
„ „ 35 to 37 „ 4 7 6 4 10 0
SAMUEL DOWNKS ahd CO., General Brokers,
No. 5^, The Albany, Liverpool.

Oereal Manure, lor Wheat, Barley , Oats, *o perton£b 0

B. an Manure, for Beans, Peas, Tares, *c „ 8

^h«at Manure, for Autumn Sowing «,......„ «. ,, 8 0

Soluble Guano _ „. ,, 12 10

ft^anp'old Manure .„„.™ .«,.«... „.«.«.«,.*, ,, 8 0

lctal"o Manure ...™ „ ,, 8 0

li.rnip Manure «,_««.„ «.«... ,, 6 IC

Dissolved Bones „ .« .„ ,, 7 10

Superphosphate of Lime, best quality _....„. 8 0

PRENTICE BROS.,

*grloulturalOh°mio«l Works. Kt.owrrarVet "ufflnlli.

£ d.
Special Concentration Top Dressing for Wheat, Barley,

Bciins. Peas Grass, Sec (per Ton; 12 10 0

Ammonia Fixed Guano 11 H. 0

Maiit^old and Potatoe Manures «. „ 10 15 0

Special Dissolved Bone „.-.„ „ 8 in 0

Dissolved Rone _ , 7 10 0

Super-pliosphatc (best quality) ,, 6 0 U

LANGDALK'S Chemical Manure Co 's (Limited,)

122, Dunster House, Maik Lane.

« 5 fl ' Printed by II.vzELL, W.VTSON, & ViNEY, 265, Strand, Loudon.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

CONTENTS.

MARCH, 1879.
Plate.— DUKE OF SIDDINGTON 2nd.

Description of Plate .

Agriculture and Protkciion

The Coming Exuibition.

Friendly Societies

Life in the Colonies. — No. IV .

The Fall in Prices

The Points of the Clydesdale Horse

Cheesemaking and Competition.

Agricultural Societies

Smithfield Club

Farmers' Clubs

chambers of Agriculture

Agricultukal Depression

Cost of Wheat Production in America

Agricultural Meetings in 1879 .

Foreign and Colonial Agriculture

The Agricultural Depression .

TiTHfc. Rent Charge Averages .

The Cost of WHeAT-QROWiNG in America

Tiptree Farm Account.

The Position of Farmer-;

The Earnings of the Working Classes

Important Sale of Cart Horses

The Corn Trade

The Melbourne Exhibition

The American Cattle Trade

Live Stock and Other Notes

A Colorado Sheep Ranche

The Cirencester College

The Law of Distress .

Agricultural Reports .

Review of Corn Trade

Market Currencies, &c.

Page
, ]5i
. 151

. 153
. 151
. 156
. 160
. 162
. 161

164, 167
. 172

165, 173

166, 181
, 185
. 189
. 190
. 192
. 194
. 195
. 195

. 196
. 197
. 197
. 198
. 198
. 199
. 199
. 200
. 206
. 207
. 208

. 208
. 210
. 213

CHAMPAGNES.

GRAND VuTYe LE^MPEREUR

TRADE M^n?P^ MARK.

NONPAREIL.

Splendid Wine equal to the Finest Brands, at half the usual Price.
Sole Importers of the Celebrated

GRAND V/N DE CHAMPAGNE.

TRADE Sm MARK.

ROUSSEAU AND CO., REIMS.

mTadei r a

Of the FINEST aUALITY, in auarter Casks and in Bottle, and every
other description of "Wines at the

LOWEST POSSIBLE PRICE,

CAN ALWAYS BE HAD OF

TUXFORD AND CO.,

WINE MERCHANTS,

48. Fenehurch Street. London. B.C.

Established 1847.
SAMPLES ON APPLICATION.

'la^

THE

EOYAL FAEMBES' k GEISTEEAL
IMUEANCE OFFICE.

ESTABLISHE D 840

TO INSURE AGAINST LOSSES BY

FIRE AND HAIL STORMS,

AND TO GRANT

I N S URANCES ON LI V E S .

DIRECT OK S:

Chairraan— ALFRED DENISON, Esq., 6, Albemarle Street, Piccadilly.
Deputy-Chairmau — B. P. SHEARER, Esq., 47, Gloucester-place, Portman Square

1

Richard L. Loveland, Esq., 4, Hare Court, Temple.
Joha Reddish, Esq., 9, Highbury New Park.
Major F. Andersoa Stebbing, 4, Cleveland Gar ivatf
Castle Hill, Ealing.

Thomas Henry Burroughts, Esq., 17, Lower Berkeley

Strset.
^Villiaro Glutton, Esq., 7, Clifton Villas, Peas;e.
A.J. Duff Filer, Esq., 10, Aberdeen Park, Highbury.
B. J. Hawker, Esq., 37, Cadogan Place, Sloaue Street

FIH.E. — Insurances at moderr.te ra s.

LIFE. — Insuraoces on equitable terms. Profits divided every five years.
HAIL. — Crops insured agaiasc Hail Sfcorms at 5d. per aore.
LOSSES.— Settled promptly and liberally.

AMPLE CAPITAL AND LARGE RESERVES.

Prospectuses and Reports may be obtained of the Seoretary, JOHN SHARP, 3, Norfolk StrMt, Stra«i
Leudon, W.C., or of the Agents.

THB

MAUK LANE EXPRESS

AND

AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL

IS TnB

LARGEST AND THE LEADING FARMER'S AND GRAZIER'S NEWSPAPER.

PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY EVENING, IN TIME FOR POST.

OfSoo of PublicaUon and for Advertisem3nts,265, Strand, London, May be bad of all Bookselleri

and Newsmen tbrougbout the Kingdom, price 7d., or £1 10s. 4d. per annum.

J. C. NESBIT AND SON, Analytical, Agricultural, and Consulting
Cliemistfi (Manager A. Anthony Nesbit, F.C.S., &c.), undertake the analysis
of manures, feeding stuffc?, seeds, soils, waters, and all agricultural requisites.
And may be consulted upon the cause of the failure of crops, or any questions
in scientific agriculture. Laboratory : 38, Gracechurch Street, E.G. A
list of feo3 sent on application.

No. 4. Vol. LV.] APRIL, 1879. [Third Series.

THE

FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

AKD

MONTHLY JOURNAL

01

THE AGRICULTUEAL INTEREST,

IBeliuateU

TO THE

FARMERS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM,

LONDON :
PUBLISHED BY ROGERSON AND TUXFORD, 265, STRAND.

PRICE TWO SHILLINGS.

HAZELL, WATSON, & VINBY.] [PRINTERS, 266, STRAND.

IMPORTANT TO FL0CKMASTERS.

THOMAS BIGa,

Agricultural & Veterinary Chemist,

By Appointment to his late Royal Highness
The Prince Consort, K.G.,

LEICESTER HOUSE, GREAT IX)VER STREET,
BOROUGH. LONDON,

BEGS to call the attention of Farmers
and Graziers to his valuable SHEEP and LAMB
DIPPING COMPOSITION, which requires no Boiling, and
may be used with Warm or Cold Water, for efiectuallj'
destroying the Tick, Lice, and all other insects injm-ious to
the Flock, preventing the alarming attacks of Fly and Shab,
and cleansing and purifying the Skin, thereby greatly im-
proving the Wool, both in quantity and quality, and highly
Contributing to the general health of the animal.

Prepared only by Thomas Bigg, Chemist, &c., at his Manu-
factory as above, and sold as loUows, although any other
quantity may be had, if required: —

4 lb. for 20 sheep, price, jar included £0 2 0

61b. 30 „ „ „ 0 3 0

8 1b. 40 „ „ , 0 4 0

to lb. 60 „ „ „ 0 5 0

20 lb. 100 „ „ (Cask and measure 0 10 0
301b. 150 „ „ included) 0 15 0

40 1b. 200 „ „ 10 0

60 1b. 250 „ ., „ 13 6

60 1b. 300 „ „ 17 6

80 lb. 400 ,. „ , 1 17 6

1001b, 500 „ „ , 2 5 0

Should any Flockmaster prefer boiling the Composition, it
will be equally effective.

MOST IMPORTANT CERTIFICATE.

From Mr. Hebbpath, the celebrated Analytical Chemist : —

Bristol Laboratory, Old Park, January 18th, 1861.

Sir, — I have submitted your Sheep Dipping Composition to

analysis, and iind that the ingredients are well blended, and

the mixture neutral. If it is used according to the directions

gicen, I feel satisfied, that while it efiectually destroys vermin,

ft wiU not injure the hair roots (or "yolk") in the skin, the

I fleece, or the carcase. I thmk it deserves the numerou
testimonials published. I am, Sir, yours respectfully,

William Hebapaih, Sen., F.C.S., &c., &c.,
' To Mr. Thomas Bigg Professor of Chemistry.

t<eicester House, Great Dover-street Borough London.

He would also especially call attention to his SPECIFIC,
or LOTION, for the SCAB or SHAB, which will be found
a certain remedy for eradicating that loathsome and ruinous
disorder in Sheep, and which may be safely used in all
climates, and at all seasons of the year, and to all descriptions
of sheep, even ewes in lamb. Price FIVE SHILLINGS per
gallon — sufficient on an average for thirtj' Sheep (according
to the virulence of the disease) ; also in wine quart bottlea«

IMPORTANT TESTIMONIAL.
" Scoulton, near Hingham, Norfolk, April 16th, 1856,

"Dear Sir, — In answer to yours ot the 4th inst., which
would have been replied to before this had I been at home, I
have much pleasure in bearing testimony to the efficacy of
your invaluable ' Specific for the cure of Scab in Sheep.' The
600 sheep were all dressed in August last with 84 gallons of
the ' Noir-poisoNOUS Specific,' that was so highly recom-
mended at the Lincoln Show, and by their own dresser, the
best attention being paid to the flock oy my shepherd after
dressing according to instructions left ; but notwithstanding
the Scab continued getting worse. Being determined to have
the Scab cured if possible, I wrote to you for a supply of your
Specific, which I received the following day ; and although
the weather was most severe in February during the dressing,
your fSpEciFic proved itself an invahiable remedy, for in
three weeks the Sheep were quite cured ; and I am happy to
say the young lambs are doing remarsably well at present.
In conclusion, I believe it to be the safest and best remedy
now in use. " I remain, dear Sir,

"For JOHN TINGEY, Esq.,

" To Mr. Thomas Bigg. ' "R. RBNNEY.

B^" Flockmasters would be well to beware of such prg.
parations as " Non-pcisonous Compositions :" it is only
necessary to appeal to their good common sense and judg>
ment to be thoroughly convinced that no "Non-poisonous "
article can poison or destroy insect vermin, particularly such
as the Tick, Lice, and Scab Parasites — creatures so tenacious
of life. Such advertised preparations must be wholly useleea,
or they are not what they are represented to be.

DIPPING API ABATUS £M, £5, £4, & £Z.

GENERAL ADVEBTISINa.

C, . H. MAY & CO.,

ADVERTISING OFFICES,

78, GRACECHURCH STREET, LONDON, E.C,

ESTABLISHED 184^.
APPOINTED AGENTS TO THE ADMIRALTY, TRINITY HOUSE, &c., &c.

ADYERTISEMENTS INSERTED

IN ALL BRITISH, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL PAPERS.
TMNSLATIONS IN ALL LANGUAGES,

THE FARMEirS MAGAZINE.

APRIL, 1879.

PLATE.

TOM KING

A rniZE TWO-YEAR-OLD CART COLT, THE PROPERTY OF R, BOUCHER JAMES, EQ,, IIALLSAXNERY,
BIDEFORD, DEVOX, AXD CAXO-SVIE, SOUTH AUSTRALL\,

Tom King, bred by 3Jr. T. Statter, is by King
Toiu, by Honest Tom, out of Maggie by Columbus,
pncl a ricli bay with a blaze of white in the face
and one white heel. He is a well-made colt, of
great power, and free from lumber throughout,
beginning with a good head and neck, running into
deep well-laid shoulders, good middle and loins
■with strong quarters and nicely formed limbs and
feet. Tom King is a very gay horse when out
carrying his head well up with capital action, no
dwelling or flourishing, but striking out straight?
right and left, in a style that would keep any
awake who tried to walk alongside him. He was
only shown as a yearling and won the following^
prizes : — Second at Doucaster, Addington, Oldham,
Kochdale, and Bury ; first at Halifax, ^^^orsley,

Ormskirk, Southport, Todmorden, and Cbadding-
ton.

He is now on the sea bound for Adelaide, and,
provided Daddy Neptune does not claim him on
the way to cross with some of the descendants of
Trident and Terra, he will do the distant land
good service in proprogating the breed of Honest
Tom, King Tom, Maggie and Columbus. It i^
almost unnecessary to say that Honest Tom was
the best prize cart stallion of his day, and that
King Tom and Maggie have had their fair share
of honours, while Tom King has shown that he is
worthy of his ancestors and the name of the
Champion of the Prize King. Good speed and
adieu to thee, Tom King !

COUNTY BOARDS

By the introduction of the new County Govern-
ment Bill, as explained by Mr, Sclater-Booth in
the House of Commons on March 18, the Govern-
ment have scored another failure to add to the
long list of their abortive measures. It may be
that with the aid of their well-drilled majority
they will be able to pass the Bill through Parlia-
ment ; but we venture to predict that, if they do,
it will be a failure nevertheless. In many respects
it is a weaker measure than that of last year, and
altogether it is far more unsatisfsctory. Under it
the members of the County Boards will have much
less power, and less work to do, than they would
have had under the Bill of last year. The only
improvements which we have noticed are the adop-
tion of Ml*. Bead's recommendations that the
Old StRiEs.

Board should consist of two-thirds of the members
elected by the Guardians, and one-thiid by the
magistrates, instead of half and half ; and that the
Board will be elected to sit for three years. These
recommendations were endorsed by the Central
Chamber of Agriculture, and their adoption is so
far an advantage. But they effect only small im-
provements, which are far more than outweighed
by the retention under more or less modified
forms of some of the worst features of the previous
Bill, and the obliteration of some of the best por-
tions of that measure. Nothing was more strongly
urged, both by the Central Chamber and by the
critics of last year's Bill generally, than that the
union areas should be adopted instead of the petty
sessional divisions for electoral purposes. That
Q Vol. LXXXV.— No. 4.

\

2U

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

-«a{rgestion Las not been adopted, the excuse being
■that unions frequently overlap coanty boundaries.
Now it was pointed out last year that this objec-
tion might bo obviated by directing that the
guardians of the portions of unions which overlap
county boundaries should vote for the counties in
■which their districts were situated until the union
areas should have been rectified. Mr. Sclater-
Booth has not taken this way out of the dilHculty,
but proposes that the county justices should divide
the counties into wards, choosing any areas
which they may think suitable for electoral pur-
poses.

As for the powers and duties of the County
Boards under the new Bill, it appears that they
will be both few and simple. Their attention will
be directed to local areas, but, apparently, only
with the object of allowing them to make repre-
sentations to Parliament as to rectification, with-
out giving them any power of effecting improve-
ment in this respect themselves. They are to have
the administration of the Highway Act passed
last year, and the management of bridges. They
are also to have the power of " reviewing " the
workhouse accommodation of each county and of
providing for the reception in the work-
houses of imbecile and idiot paupers,
•whether adults or children ; but they are
not to have any direct power over lunatic asylums,
as they would have had under last years Bill ; nor
will they have amongst their functions that of
attending to the conservancy of rivers, as under
the previous Bill, because a special measure for
dealing with rivers has been introduced in the
House of Lords. Lastly, the County Boards will
levy the county rates, out of which will be paid
the cost of enlarging lunatic asylums, but not that
of maintaining the lunatics, which will fall on the
workhouse authorities, and not on the county.

It is obvious that this Bill has been mainly
framed to satisfy the views of the county justice?,
and not to fulfil the desires of the ratepayers for
representative county government. The chief
opposition to the measure will be based, as it was
to that of last year, upon the proposed mode of
electing the members of the Boards. It is even
more manifest than it was last year that nothing
hat direct representation will be accepted as a
iiual reform of county government, and it is
astonishing that the Government should think it
worth while to disturb the present system for the
-sake of providing a new authority with so few
iunctionsand so little power as will be granted to
it under the present Bill. As Lord E. Fitzmaurice
remarked, the Bill " sets up a County Board with
duties so absurdly small " that he believes it " will
meet with one loud peal of laughter, which is all
that it deserves." Mr. Whitbread declared that
it would not settle any one of the demands which
local government reformers were making. Mr.
Hibbert thinks it will be better to wait five or six
years and let the question mature, rather than
deal with it as now proposed; adding that if it is
worth while to make any change it is worth
while to make a more extensive one than is pro-
posed by this Bill. Mr. Cowen summed up the
prevailing chorus of disapprobation with which
Mr. Sclater-Booths proposals were received, by

saying: — "This Bill would settle nothing at all,
and any attempt to peddle with the question,
instead of .mending matters would only make
matters worse." The measure was defended only
by three representatives of the magisterial party,
and althcugh Mr. Head and Mr. Pell were
pointedly invited to declare their opinion upon the
measure, they maintained sileuce,which Mr.Goscheu
remarked upon as an " ominous fact." It is cer-
tain, then, that the new County Guvernmeut Bill
will be strongly and persistently opposed, and we
hope that tlie opposition will be strong enough to
prevent the passing of a measure which will
utterly fail to give satisfaction to the country.

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

Few questions connected with agriculture have
made more rapid progress during the l;;st three
years than that of Agricultuial Education.
Farmers have seen science brought to bear upon
iheir every day work, and it was clearly to the
advantage of their sons to be educated a step or
two beyond ordinary school work, so as to help
them when they afterwards went into business as
farmers. The action taken by the Government in
187G has rendered this additional instruction easy
of command, even by our smaller farmers, and
of course those more richly endowed with this
world's goods can secure the same. The establish-
ment of science chisses appears from the latest
official reports (which only come up to December,
1877) to have progressed very rapidl}', for there
were then about 100 classes established for giving
instruction in tlie principles of agriculture, and
about 1,G00 pupils were being si instructed. Since
that time very great energy has been shown in
promoting the work, and the numbers
of the classes and the pupils are now largely in-
creased.

A very general feeling exists amongst farmers
in favour of this instruction becoming more
general. The action taken by the Central Chamber
of Agriculture in appointing an Education Com-
mittee, coupled with the fact that, acting upon the
recommendation of the Committee, the Central
Chamber has advised the se /eral local Chambers
to follow its example, so that each of them may
have an Education Committee, may be taken
as fair proof that the work is moving forward
rapidly. We understand that arrangements are
progressing throughout England for making usa
of another portion of the Government scheme, by
the establishment of scholarships of £50 a year,
for enabling the best pupils in the several classes
to have superior instruction in agricultural science.
This system, therefore, enables a small farmer
whose own means do not allow him to send his
son to a college, to obtain for him all the advan-
tages of an education of a satisfactory character.

The time has now come when the sous of far-
mers must have an institute in which the highest
class of instruction shall be within their reach.
It has been hoped by many of the promoters of
agricultural education that the institute which was
encouraged with so much interest by the late
Prince Consort, for the benefit of tlie tenant
farmers of this country, would spread its wings so

THE FARMER'S l^IAGAZTNE.

i'l.l

as to become a Nationnirniversity for Agriculture.
That hope, we need scarcely say, has not been
realized in tlie Royal Agricultural Oollej,'e. In-
stead of its usefulness being extended, recent
events show that it is becoming more and more
contracted in its spliere of operations. Already
the " Royal '" has been struck from its banner, and
judging from present appearances the style
'•College" will in all probability soon be altered
to "School," and the whole wilTbe under the care
of ushers directed by a schoolmaster. We regret
this all the more because we have watched its
progress from its first establishment with deep
nterest, and we have seen evidences of good work.
Properly handled, the Royal Agricultural College
might not only have done far more than it is
now doing for the sous of the aristocracy, and con-
tinued to have met the requirements of this class,
but also have come to the front, and aided
agricultural education amongst the tenantry of the
kingdom. That duty, however, must now devolve
upon another institution, which will shortly enter
upon its work with many distinct advantages, inas-
much as a large number of the Professors who
have been so injudiciously treated by the authori-
ties at Cirencester will be able to bring their
matured experience into a more congenial associa-
tion. The demand for superior instruction in agri-
cultural science is rapidly increasing, and that
demand must be supplied. If the present institu-
tion renders itself incompetent for its duties, STme
younger offshoot must do the work, and we can
only hope that its progress will be characterised
by a rapid and prosperous growth.

THE AMERICAN WHEAT SUPPLY.

A correspondeat of the Chlnrjo Trihune writes uader
date ]March 2ad : —

The total exports of wheat and wlieat flour from all the
ports of the United States in the year to June 30, IS77, as
reported by the United States Bueau of Statistics, were equal
to 57,0i3,936 bushels of wheat, and for the year to June 30,
1878, they are given by the same authority as ttiual to
92,139,236 bushels of wheat.

It is well known that the stock of wheat in tlie United
.States on July 1, 187S, was unusually low, and it is therefore
fair to presume that tiie export of, say, 92,000,000 bushels up
to that time was the utmost we could spare — above our own
requirements for cousaraptiou and seed — out of tlie crop of 1S77.
Now, without entering into the discussion an to what wa-i
t'le total of either of the last two crops, we may assume tliat
the crop of 1878 was, say, 00,000,000 bushels greater than
that of 1877. But as it is well known that it requires more
of the spring wheat of 1878 to make a barrel of flour than it
did of the spring wheat of 1877, and as it is also tolerably
certain that our requirements tor consumption and seed will
be a little larger in 1878-9 than they were in 1877-8, the
increase of 60,090,000 bushels in the last crop will not add
more than, say, 55,900,000 bushels to our surplus available
or foreign export. This increass, added to the 92,000,000
'xported injthe previous year, would indicate our total sur-
plus available for foreign export in the year to June 30, 1879,
at 14-7,000,000 bushels. Let me see how much of this has
already goce.

The total exports of wheat and flour (the latter at five
bushels to the barrel) from all United States ports from July
1, 1878, to Jan. 1, 1679, were just about 93,500,000 bushels,
as follows : —

Atlantic ports 76,962,296

Pacific ports 14,60^,892

New Orleanp, say 2,000,000

Fiom Jju. 1 to Feb. 25, the tola! exporls from all Uni^iJ
Stites ports aggregated about 16,000,000 busiiel--, as follows :
I'Vom all Pacific uorts and from New

Orleans, say..,' 3,000,00

Prom U.S. Atlantic ports, each week,
as follows :

Jan. 8

Jan. 15...

Jaa 22

Jan. 29

3

Feb.
Frb. 10.
Feb.
Feb.

1,350,000
1,29 j,000
1,361,000
1257,811
2,123,226
2,102,618
1,907,688
],S03,HO

Total from Jan. 1 to Feb, 25
Previously since Juh, 1878

13,196,35!)

16,196.359
93,576,183

Total from July 1 to Feb. 25 109,773,547

Deducting the 109,773,5 17 from the presumed surplus of
147,000,000 busiiels available for foreign expoit out of thft
crop of 1878, it would leave 37,226,153 available for export
yet, before auother crop is harvested. But the presumption
of so large a surplu* lor foreign export yet is based upon two
propositions: (IJ I'hat the increase in the crop of 187S wa.s
as large as 60,000,000 bushels ovtr that of 1877; (2) that
the visible supply sIihU be reduced by July 1, 1879, to as low a
point as it was on July 1, 1878, viz., 4,91-3,632 Dusheis. If
the exports should continue at the present rate for three
months, our immense surplus (rom the crop of ]878 would bii
practically gone, snd the stock of wheat in the Uuited States
would be reduced to about i's usual average at the end of the
crop jeir. It seems probible that the low price will induce,
tlie holding hick of considerable wheat in the country, and
that after the spring plantiug begins the r.-ceipt of wheat from
the country will be lighter than usual. This seems the more
likely to be the case when the visible supply be:jin» to
dimmish, and it begins to be apparent that the surplus from
the crop of 1878 is almost gone. Hitherto neither dealers nor
speeul-dtors have been able to "see the end" of the supply,
but when tliey do it is not improbable that it will reoult in
greater firmness on the p.\rt of holder.".

]\Iuch deppuds on the character of the weather during the
next six weeks. If the spring should be late or wet, farmers
would be less willing to part with whatever they may have on
hand ; and unless the prospect for the next crop should ba
fair for a jield equal to last year, the surplus would probably
not be sold out as clecin as it was in July, 1878.

Just at present the prospect is that Uie foreign demand,
which has already exceeded the most sanguine expectations
will continue.

The latest advices from Franre (to about the 10th ult.) say-
that the deficiency in the French crop was greater than had
been eatimat'd, and tliut France will continue to be an im-
porter of foreign wheat. The quality of the French wheat i.s
also represented as so poor that it requires 20 per cent, more
wheat of the crop of 1878 to make tlie same weight of fljur
than it did of the wheat of 1S77. Thus the deficiency in the
French crop was in reality greater than it appeared iu
bushels.

In view of the great apparent supply of wheat in America,
Great Britain has not been in any hurry to buy, and from
Sept. ], 1878, to Jan. 1, 1879, her total net imports of wheat
(over export>) were nearly 2,500,000 bushels lers than for the
same period of 1877. The only countries of Europe that have
any surplus of wheat for export are Russia, Hungary, and
Iloumania ; all the rest had ocfijient crops in 1878, and have
been steady importers up to the present time, 'i'he great bulk
of the imujense qiimitity of wheat exported from tlie United
States in the last eight months has gone to supply deficiencifs
in markets which had hitherto taken little if any Araericau
wheat.

Total

93,576,183

At the sale of Mr. Lougtnore's selection of sixteen
animals, pure-bred Shorthorns, the highest price made
was lor a yearling bull descended from Constantine,
namely, 38 guineas. Eight bulls averaged £30 Gs. 4id ,
and eight heifers averaged £24 13i. ; the sixteen animalu
making an average of £27 ISs,

Q3

216

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

FOR-MATION OF A TENANT FARMERS'

ASSOCIATION.

MEETING AT WARWICK.

A rrepting was held at the Corn Exchange, Warwick, on
Wa-ch 8tli,"for tlie purpose of forming a Tenant farmers'
Association. Several hundrrj agriculturists were present,
a'l parts of tlie county being well represented, and the pro-
ceedings being characterised by a degree of enthusiasm which
ij quite un'que iu farmers' meetings in the district.

On the pripositinu of Mr. E. ScKlVEN, of Wormleigliton,
seconded by Mr. Wakefield, of Fletcliarapstead Hall, Mr.
S'ilsfoe, of Clopton, was voted to the chair.

The CiiAiroiAN, who said he had been a tenant farmer
ever since he was of age, expressed the pleasure it afforded
hira to pret^i !e on the occasion. They had been invited to
attend that day for the purpose of changing the nasty, ugly,
THsty, and unfavourable n.ame of gruaabler for that ot strug-
gling to help themselves. This association meant unity,
and by joining it tenant farmsrs would be able to make their
■voices heard throughout tiie land. The association would, he
lioped, be suffic'ently elastic to embrace any tenant farmer,
not only iu Warwickshire, but also throughout England
(App'ause). Answering the query — Whence the depression
in agriculture? he argued that it was attributable to rents
b- ing too higli, the rates pressing too heavily on farmers, and
oie-sided free trade. As this was a preliminary meeting
lie would not detain those present further than by reading
the proposed rules, a copy of which is 'subjoined :—

" 1. — That this association shall be styled the Tenant
Tanners' Association, and its objects snail be to take into
■c msideration all questions, whether political or otherwise,
alfecting the interests of the tenant iarmers, and to make
known to members of Parliament or others what, in the
opinion of the association, is most desirable for the advanca-
ment of their interests.

" 2. — The association shall consist of members, whose
numbers shall not be limited, who shall annually elect a chair-
man and vice-chairman out of their number, and appoint a
secretary, who may be a nijmbcr or not, and whose appoint-
ment may be made for any period agreed upon.

"3. — Members shall consist solely of persons answerable
to either of the undermentioned definitions : Tenant farmers
in the occupation of land for which a bona fiJe rent is paid,
or who have lately been tenant farmers, but are at the time of
their entrance out of business, or engaged in some other
business, or who are now or have been lately engaged in the
management of a farm for which a bona fide rent is now or
has lately been paid ; or sons of bouJl fide farmers engJiged
in the occupation of land, and not in business on their own
account.

"4. — All eligible persons wishing to join the association
may do so on application at any of the preliminary meetings,
or by application to the secretary or any member of the asso-
ciation, until the association shall have commencej work —
that is, when the first subject shall have been discussed ;
after wbiA time it shall be uecessary that members be pro-
jvjsed and seconded before admission.

"5. — A committee consisting of members shall be formed
at one of the preliminary meetings, who shall advise on any
alteration, addition to, or amendment of the rules if deemed
desirable, and advise on any otlier matter of business con-
nected with the 1 ssJjiation, and submit the results of their
deliberations for the approval of the meuibe/s at their next
mpeting.

" C. — Meetings shall be held in the town of Warwick,
after the preliminary meeting, not oftcnrr ih .a once a month.

"7.— A yearly subscrii>t:oa of five shilling^) 8h:)ll be paid
by every member, to commence on entering the association,
which shall contribute tothr formation of a fund for defraying
the expenses of the association."

Mr. E. SoiUVEN, of Wormleighton, in pronosiog the adop-
tion of these rules, remarked that it might be said that, as
Agricultural Societies aud Ciiambers ot Agriculture existed,
there was no necessity for a Tenant Farmers' Association.
Agricultural Socielios were intended to devel"p the resources
cf the land, to foster tlie improvement of stock, and encourage
tlie labourer in thrift and good workmanship. Chambers of
Agriculture were s'.arted some years ago, in the hope that
they would accomplish some ct' the objects lor which this

a'^sociation Ind been promoted, but from some cause or other
the Chambers had not succeeded. lie believt-d their fiilure
was attributable to the want of numbers, and he could nut see
why greater support had not been given to those organisa-
tions. He concluded by expressinj; his best wishes lor the
success of the proposed association.

Mr. Wakefield seconded the proposition, and complained
that Chambers o* Agriculture had not proved so beneficial to
agriculture as the farmers had been led to ex;e-t. Despite
everything, the tenant farmers had bad increased burdens cast
upon t\em, and they were not represented by members of
their class in the House ol Commons.

The Chairman inquired if any other gentlemm wished to
address the meeting.

Mr. Clakke (Churchover, near Rugby) mounted the ro-
strum, and, in the course of a speech delivered with great
energy, said that with land to be bouglit in America and
Canada at considerably less per acre than the annual rent paid
in England, and the produce of the former v/ithin a fortnight
of English markets, by cheap water carriage, the rent of agri-
cultural land in this country must come down with a ven-
geance, and tenants would be brought to ruin wholesale while
prices and profits of land in England and America were
balancing themselves ; and England would be brought to th".
verge of bankruptcy by the breaking of her back -bone — the
farmers of England. Farmers have such a reputation I'or
grumbling that now many of them would be devoured by the
wolf "ruin" before landlords would believe in the extrenity
of their distress. Prices have been as low before, but farmers
had not then to bear the burdens which have been heaped
upon them during the years of prosperity Ibllowing the adop-
tion of Free Trade; such as increasel rents, expenses of high-
ways and turnpikes, additional charges for educational, sani-
tary, and Poor-law administration, and higher rates of labour,
all of which charges must fall upon landlords when tenants
have been ruined. Only a few of the more generous land-
lords have made a return of 10 per cent, on rents ; but the
crisis deraaudel a reduction of 40 or 50 per cent, on rents.
Americans having proved that if England will not grow food
for her people they can and will do so, the retribution of (jaine
preservers was at band, and their turn would come first. Other
nations could, by the imposition of protective duties on many
of our manufactures, stimulate such productions in their own
countries, and until England largely increased the production
of the first necessaries of life she could not do without the
contributions from other lands; if she put a protective duty
on these imports she would have to pay the whole of it. Our
altered relations with other countries as to food supplies would
take political power out of the hands of game preservers.
^7hen farmers held land under six mouths' notice to quit it
kept them pretty close to their landlords' heels in politics, and
checked the productive power of the land. Some farmers
would not spend much money in improvements that would not
come back iu the first crop, because it put them more com-
pletely under the power of their landlords. He was far from
saying that all landlords were guilty of these legalised rob-
beries.

The Chairman strongly protested against this expression.

Mr. Clarke, after some interruption, made some further
remarks on the insecurity of the capi'al invested by tenants
in the laml. Ridiculing the objection that farmers dressed
too well, he said that if some of them had spent only tlieir
profits on wearing apparel tbey would probably have
shocked landlords' sensibilities by not being dressed at
all. (Laughter). The abolition of tlie game laws would at
once ease the rates ; rents must be materially reduced ; game
and rabbits must not be allowed to adulterate laud let for
agricultural purposes, and cultivators must not be at the
mercy of any unscrupulous landlord who might choose to rob
tliera — (interruption, aud cries of "Go on"). Unless some-
thing was done quickly a large proportion of the cultivators
of the soil would be ruined, and rents wculd fall to a ruinous
extent, as few men would engage in a business which had
brought 80 many to ruin. To impose a tax on the neces-
saries of life and raise the cost of living liere would probably
drive many of our best workmen, rural and urban, to ttie
clieap food across the Atlantic, wliere the process might be
t.ncouraged by putting on au export duty there, that people
miplit go there and eat corn and meat, instead of America
haviug to send tbem here to be consumed. This might lessen

THE FARMEU'S MAriAZINE.

tl7

proJiicfion liere, but it vioulJ not increase demand liere or
els'Jwliere, the, only result bein^ to tnx the poor instead of the
rich. The man who made but one bhide of ^lass or corn
gro'.v wiiere two or three might grow vva» a na'iuual uiale-
lactor, and should be ves'ruiucJ Irom wasting the people's
lood b) adulterating a;;ricullural land with game and rabbits,
and should be compelled to give a tentint riglit which would
encourage the uti..o^t pro^luotion, and this could be done
w tl;oi.t n o e in'erference with the freed im of contract than
arose from tilling the niilkseUer lie sliuuld not put water in
Ills milk ((jaug'iiter and applause). U'hen England could
produce different food and clolhing for her people the for-
eigner might send hither as much as he liked ; and perlnpsthe
more the better. Abundant produce formed the wealth o-f a
country, and for us to raise the cost of living would be lo
liandicap our manufacturers. Cheap food is a necessity, and
if farmers are to be benefited by anything besides reductions
of rent and wages, it must be by increased production, and
the statesman who removed obstructions from the full deve-
lopment of the capabilities of the land would deserve the
people's gratitude (Cheers). The rent value of our agricu -
tural land was the rert value of agricultural land of equal
productiveness in America, plus tlie cost of transit of the
productions to onr markets, and auything paid beyond this
enriched tlie landlords at tlie expense of the tenants, lie
besought tenants to uni"e, aud save their country from ruin
and thenselves from the avarice and caprice of girae pre-
serving, tenant-right withholiliiig landlords, and thus secure
the reduc'.iou of rent to aa extent at which they could get a
living-.

The Chairman', who had objected to several of the expres-
sions used by Mr. Clarke, said he had not expected such a
speech frorn that gentleman.

Mr. Lane (Broom Court), who said he had been unex-
pectedly called upon to speak, addressed himself to the
remedies which might be suggested for the amelioration of
t!ie present depression in agriculture — a subject with which,
he confessed, he could not adequately deal on an occasion like
that. All of them felt strongly on this matter, but he hoped
it would be understood once and for all that tliere should be
no antagonism between the tenant-farmer and the landlord
(Loud cheers). He maintained that there was no other body
of men in England more loyal to the Queen, more loyal to
the aristocracy, or —lie must say with due deference to the
sentiments of otliers — more loyal t') Church and State
than were tenant fanners. The causes of the present distress
were three-fold — those relating to the hnd, labour, and laws.
AJl of them v<ere interested in the land. Tenants naturally
looked to their landlords for liber tl treatment in times like
the present, although they could not expect the owners of
land paying them only two per cent, to adopt the previous
speaker's suggestion, and make them a reduction of fifty per
cent. Holding land, under such circumstances, would not be
very enviable. He trusted that landlords would meet tenants
in a fair spirit, which was all that was desired. Coming to
the labour question, Mr. Lane said he did not see how a man
Goald keepawi'eand family with a less rate of wages than the
present. Under the existing circumstances of farming it was
impossible for farmers to keep up the present rate of wages,
however much tliey m:ght wish to do so. Tney wanted a
better quality of labour and full time (Applause). Turning
to the legislaiion affecting agriculture, the speaker com-
plained that tenant farmers, who were not directly
reiiresented, had very little to do with the enactments
affecting their welfare. If there had been in the House
of Commons thirty practical agriculturists, thoroughly
acquainted with the details of their business, the occu-
piers of land would not have hid thrust upon thera
additional burdens on account of highways, schoolboards, coa-
s.ajuiary, lunatic asylums, and other measures which operated
unlairly upon the cla^s to which those present belonged. The
best way to meet the difficulty was for each county to return
to Parliament one of its mosc intelligent tenant farmers. Was
there any reason why representatives of that class should not
be 'onnd in the House in which sat Mr. Burt, Mr. Macdonald,
and Dr. Kcnealy. Of the eleven members returned by War-
wickshire one might be a tenant farmer. If there were thirty
of that class among the 600 members, it would not upset the
Constitution, but rather balance it, and the interests of fanners
\»ould not be overlooked when Laws were ab.ul to be mL;ds

which contributed to the ruin of trlu-ir c'ass. The interests of
landlords and tenacfs were identical ; they were said to be
sailing in tlie same boat, but if the crews were nysrt what
would the captains do ? Tenants were being deprived of their
capital. Would landlords find the money to till the land
themselves P Would it not be better for own ts of the soil to
encourage tenants while they have any ? He (.Mr. Lane)
paid double the rent he used to pay for his present holding,
and the rent was also doubled in the case of his predecessr n
The farm, which was now advertised to be let, was described
as being in the highest s*ate of cultivation, aud although he
had oflVred as ye. the higher rental for it, he was turned one
because he would not have the proposed lease hung round his
neck under present circumstances. If tenant farmers were
united, aud used fairly and constitutionally tlie iifluenee
which they possessed, they would carry their point ; but there
must be no jealou-y, and he was suro hon. gentlemen would
not be ashamed to sit in tha House of Commons with aay
first-rate practical agriculturist whom occupiers might select.
Mr. Bekry Co.\grev.e complained that the meeting V7'as
not of a practical charaater, and tint it had not so far done
any business, lie objected to the proposal to restrict mi mber-
ship to tenant farmers, aud suggested that all who farmed
land should be eligible. All farmers had suffered fearfully
from Mr. Arch having set the la'iourers against their em-
ployers. He had lost much money on that account. The
fanners were suffering not so much from the increased price
of labour as from the fact that the vagabonds would not work
They could afford io pay if the men would work, but they
weald not work. If the present movemtut was to do good, it.
must have the landlords with it. Where land ords acted un-
fairly it was from want of knowledge, or through leaviu:; their
affairs in the hands of agents, who messed the tenants abjut
anyhow. !!« passed on to eufogise the organisation of Cham-
bers of Agricul ure, and urged that their want of success arose
from farmers not joining thera as they ought to have done.
With regard to the question of representation, he charged ui oa
the tenant farmers tlie ills of which they complained in lint
respect, and urged that the present Government, which was
a farmers' Ministry, had given agriculturists a siiiack in the
mouth which others durst not offer. Unless the new associa.
tion was better supported than the Chamb.r of Agriculture
had been it would not go far.

Mr. Tomes, of Stratford-upon-Avon, urged the necessitv of
every county in England having one tenant farmer repre-
sentative in the Ilou-e of Commons.

Mr. Stokes remarked that the association should not be
coiilined to Warwickshire, hut extended to all Eirgiand.

The rules were adopted, and a vote of thanks to Mr. Stilgoe
for presiding closed the proceedings.

A Tenant Farmers' Association has reeenfly been formed
for Solihull and district. Several m.-ietiugs have already hern
held, and a code of rules adopted. The rules provide that the
association shall be called "The Solihull and District Tenant
Farmers' Association;" that the object shall be " to bette?
the situation of tenant farmers generally in any manner the
inembers may determine either politically or o'herwise."'
Every member is to be a bo/13, fide tenant farmer. The mem-
bers are to be balloted (or, and the management of the
association is to be vested in the chairman and commiitee of
the members. Mr. King, auctioneer, Union Passage, Lirming-
ham, is the secretary /jro /em. At a recent meeting a paper
was read by one of the members on "The Relative Interests
of Landlord and Tenant." The speaker said that on the
questions of rent, recompense of unexhausted improvements,
or the game laws, the interests of landlord and tenant were a*
Wide apart as the poles. AVith reference to the q'lestion of
rent, he pointed out that in some instances rent haa risen lUQ
and 125 per cent, in forty years, although the land was
applied to tlie same purpose as previously ; and he found that
the price of wheat between the years 1830 and 1^^38 was
55s. 2d., whereap. that of the last four months was iOs., or
the lowest average for more than twenty years. At the sa'me
time the price of labour was aj; least GO per cent, greater now
than then. He remarked that owing ta the imports of wheat
and other grain from foreign countries, grain-growing was not
likely to pay now in this country; in fact, every article of
produce whicli the farmer had to sell was cheaper now ihuv
liud Ijcdi known lor a long time. Even the las', resource of

218

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

the Biitish farmer was likuly to fail to liira — viz., beef and
mutton. Tliey read that in the week before he was speakiag
6,2'Ji quarters of beef, 1,8U3 sheep, 369 pigs, and 923 beasts
came Irora America ; and a statement had appeared to tiie
tflVet that in Ontario they had 25,000 fat cattle ready for
exjiort to tliis country. Under such circumstances as these it
could not be wondered that farraeic, finding their capital
diminishing and rents being paid out of pocket, were beginning
to lind that their former apathy would no lunger serve them.
Tiie payment for any improvements the tenant might eiTect
and leave behind him for the benefit of the landlord had been
agitated for years, and the justness of the principle was con-
ceded on all hands, but it had been evaded, and the natural
cau-pquence was that tenant farmers were not anxious under
present circumstances to improve their holdings. The
latmers, at the last general election, voted on the Conservative
s de, with tlie hope of gettins a measure passed. The
Airicultural Holdings Act of 1875 was passed, but a loophole
was left through viliich the landlords could escape present or
future liability. The result liad beea that ilie landlord-i,
iutlading tlie men who made the law, had almost to a man
availed tliemselves of tlte provision which enabled them to
contract themselves out of the Act. After all tiie agitation
they found themselves where they started, without protection
for the capital an occu|iier might put in or upon the land he
occupied other than documents called agreements, to which
the speaker attached but little value, and characterised them
as of en being one-sided. He also condemned the present
state of the Game hv»s, and said that if farmers submitted
longer to the present state of things thej richly deserved the
yoki tliey w^re. — Banhury Guardian.

PLEURO-PNEUMONIA IN AMERICA.

Professor Salmon has published a very sensible letter
iu the Albany Counlru Gentleniun^ of which the foUow-
lug is the principal portion :

If pleuro-pneumonia exists in this ciuntry, there is notliing
to be m ide by alterapting to conceal it; we, as a people, want
to know where it is, and the danger to be apprelieuded from
it ; the S.ates into wliich it has not been introduced, want to
know how close it is anu how they are to keep free from it ;
those who have built up a great trade in shipping live cattle,
whether they want to know or not, certainly should know if
there is danger of exporling this disease, and thus putting an
end to the trade at once, as may have been done already ; and
Great Britain, too, has a perfect right to the fullest information
on the su'ject.

Tnere can be no doubt that a disease considered by the
raore intelligent to be contagious pleuro-pneumonia lias
existed lor many years on Long Island and in v»rious parts of
Kew Jersey and Pennsylvania. In 1869, Prof. Gamgee made
careful investigations into the nature ot this disease, and re-
cognised it as contagious pleuro-pneumonia ; and in his report
lo the Commissioner of Agriculture, lie gives conclusive evi-
dence tliat it had then extended to Maryland, Delaware. D:s-
trict of Columbia, and Virginia. In 1&72, 1873, and 1874, 1
saw the disease in Newark, N.J., and vicinity ; I made care-
ful investigations, and watched the disease through its different
periods, and I know that it was coiitayions pleuro-pneumonia.
I knui'-^ farther, that it was not confined to the city, hu'
created sad havoc in the surrounding dairy districts from tliree
to ten miles distant. The disease has been seen and fully re-
cognised since in various jiarts of New Jersey and Pennsyl-
vania, by Doctors Uolcomhe and Michener, and, 1 think, also
by Professor Law. Professor Law, at least, has positively
stated that more than one herd of thoroughbred cattle was
in^'ected in 1877, and those who know tiie character of the man
need not be told that he would cot make such a statement
Without the facts to back it np. The disease which Gamgee
saw iu Maryland and District of Columbia is well known to
be there yet ; cattle h.ive been dyi'.g from it the prereiit
winter, and, whether this outbreak is of a mild character as
claimed or not, there is no doubt in the minds of those who
understand the diseases of cattle that it is the same insidious
and fatal disease thai is known by the same name iu Europe.

If the dibCase remained in Long Island, New Jersey, and
Pennsylvania from twenty to tliirty years, as has been fully
bhown by Ginigec, where !■> there a shadow of reason fur
believing that it is not there yet, especially whtu local veteri-

narians are continually mentiining it ? (See Aiw.ric.a'i
Vtterinary Review for May, 1873.) Is it a disease to die out
of itself? And has anythiug been done with a view to its
extermination? It is c'aimed that the disease exists only in
a few Middle States ; i ask, in all candour, how this is known,
ilicliener in First Annual Report of the Pennsylvania Board
of Auriculture, (p. liS) tells how it was carried to Ohio and
Michigan in 1859 ; was it ever stamped out in those States ?
Professor Law thinks the extreme cold of our more northern
States may destroy the germs, but this is oulv guess-work
where we ought to have certain'y. Add to this the case of its
supposed introduction into Clinton, N. J., by a cow brought
from Ohio little moretlian a year ago, and there are tangible
grounds for suspicion.

But leaving this entirely out of consideratioB, is there not
grave danger from the disease where it is known to exist, and
where it certainly survives the winters? Gamgee found that
it had been introduced iuto Maryland and Delaware by cattle
bought in the Philadelphia market ; he found it a comraoa
thing for cattle affected with t)ie disease to be shipped to
market. In this way the cattle cars mhst be infected. Now
consider that the Baltimore and Ohio, the Pennsylvania and
the Erie railroads run through localities where the disease
exists ; that the cattle cars on these roads must find their way
to almost every part of the country, and probably be used
for transporting cattle on their way to Europe ; that some of
these cars must of necessity be infected by shipping diseased
cattle, thus becoming bearers of the contagion, and it must
be admitted that the danger is not one to bs trifled with — not
one to be dismissed by a declaratiou that there is no evidence
of its existence.

When I have called attention to tliis matter from time to
time, I have not exaggerated the danger, I have never made
the case as strong as the facts would justify ; so far from toish-
i'Kj to interriqA the cattli trade, I luwe tried to make our
people see the one grea' danger ihet must, sooner or later,
inevitaljly destroy it. Although you consider the eviJence of
the existence of the diease as the merest hearsay, it is difficult
to see vvhat better evidence can be expected, while our general
and State governments are so unwilling to have official in-
vestigations.

finally, let us consider the question of responsibility.
After this dreadful disease has been allowed to remain on our
soil lor thirty-six jears ; after a careful and detailed report of
its nature, and the extent of territory it has invaded has been
neglected by the government, the press, and our stock raisers,
for ten years ; after veterinarians have pointed Qut the danger
from it again and again, who is responsible that th.e daukter
continues unabated? If our trade is destroyed by exportatioa
of the disease, sliou'd those who have pointed out tlie danger
be held to account and blamed for it ? What, indeed, are the
duties of the veterinary profession in regard to contagious
diseases, if not to point out their character, prevalence and
the danger to be apprehended from them?

Euglai.d wants our cheap beef, and nill not shut it out
unless obliged to do so by our own stupidi'y and carelessness ;
but she has learned a lesson in regard to pleuro-pneumonia
which it seems nothing but the same bitter experience will
make us understand. It is the duty of our government to
discover to what extent the disease exists here ; it is an equal
duty to enforce rigid measures to prevent its exportation. It
will not take many ship loads of diseased cattle to destroy
irremediably the live cattle tr:*de; we are still able to prevent
such a catastrophe ; but failing now to take proper precau-
tionary measures, we do not deserve the trade.

It is difficult to see how any one interested in the exporta-
tion can thiiik.it a better policy to keep silent in regard to
this danger, thin to demand active steps to remove it ; the
expense ot such measures would be a mere bagatelle, and they
are needed not less for our own protection than for that of
Euglaud ; while the mere fact that we had tiken siioli steps
would insure the continuance of the trade. A refusal to do a
plain duty is as much a ground of suspicion with nations as
with individuals.

An outbreak of typhoid fever has occurred at Oxcn-
liope, near Keighley. among a herd of 39 swine tlu.t
were purchased a foituiglit since at the Leeds marktlj
and 1 1 iuiimuls have Lad to bt slauiihtcrtd.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.
OIVTARTO AND EMIGRATION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MARK LANE EXPKESS.

Sir, — Mr. P. Byrne, emigration agent for Oiitario,

no'

troubles himself to write to you in corrertion of certain
" mis-slaterneiit.s" of mine. This was recalled to my mind
when I read Mr. Byrne'3 letter. lie says the Ontario
Government did not make an oli">;r of 5000 acres of knd
to the Kentish labourers. As I am positive the Dominion
Government made no such offer, if the Ontario Govern-
inent did 1 ot, who did ? The London correspondents of
the Toronto papers distinctly allirmed that Mr. Simmonds
had accepted an otTer from the " Canadian Governracnt ;"
and the same was intimated by cahle. How is it the
Ontario officials have left it uncontradicted till the scheme
has failed. It would have been more ingenuous in Mr.
Byrne — who evidently knows all about the business — to
have let ns know who made the delusive offer in question.
He is, however, discreet in not doing so. For since it was
not either of the " Canadian Governments" it must have
been one of the private speculative associations, which
makes the thing more objectionable. lu that case there
would have been no guarantee for the well-being of the
poor deluded labourers and no official responsibility, and
those to whom the oli'er was made are more than before
shown to have been sous<ht for to be hewers and drawers
on behalf of interested schemers who make their pile by
the labour, at their own terms, of working machines whom
they can allure hither by specious misrepresentations, and
such haif-tiuths as are contained in Mr. Byrne's ■i.v parte
and delusive paper on Ontario in a recent number of the
London Globe. If Mr. Byrne will get that, or any other
English paper of standing, to throw open its columns I
shall be ready to join in controversy with the " Agent for
Ontario," who, in the paper referred to, has shown him-
self, like Mr. Arinand, either lamentably ignorant of the
Province he professes to describe or otherwise a very unsafe
guide to intending emigrants.

Mr. Byrne says the demand for agricultural labourers
has ceased, and that the Ontario Government has discon-
tinued effort and outlay in that direction. This cruelly
demolishes a standing fiction which the Toronto Globe,
and other emigration organs, give currency to about once
a week. Only a few days ago the Glahe pretended to
challenge anybody to show when " there was ever a sufii-
cieucy of agricultural labourers in Ontario," and explicitly
stated that that and the female domestic class now alone
received encouragement from the Ontario Government.
One of these witnesses must be untrue.

When a writer makes a general statement such as that
in which I said " The only prosperous farmers are the
ehildren and grand-children of settlers of fifty years ago,"
he used a well-recognised mode of expression such as that
of Archdeacon Fisher, when he says, "No man not edu-
cated to a calling from early youth can fully and justly
enter into it." We know that not a few of the most suc-
ejssful editors, farmers, business men, and politicians,
have achieved eminence in their line without early train-
ing. Yet none the less, as a rule, does the Archdeacon's
remark hold good. Similarly, wheu I assert that the
farmers in Ontario who can fairly he called prosperous are
the descendants of old settlers, I am not to be supposed to
say there may not be scattered up and down settlers out-
side this category who have proved successful. But I repeat
that, as a rule, farmers in Canada are a struggling and
unsettled body. 1 said the other day that two-thirds of the
freeholds in Ontario are mortgaged, but from information
galhei'ed since I would now say that there is scarcely any
piece of real estate, town or country, absolutely unencum-
bered. A community of small struggling freeholds is, as
is shown in the case of India, the paradise of the money
lenders. In Ontario the loan mongers are lord of all,
more and juore palatial bcjuuic their oliiccs.uiarbli pillars, have my liauiL"'

[ carved stone buirding9,"'3umpluou3 fiitings, &c. They
1 0 row money at 4 per cent, in England, aud lend it 0; t
I to Mr. Byrne's "prosperous" farmers at rates I am afra d
, to speak of. The Toronto Moielury Times of Feb. It
says that while all classes, even bankers, are suffering
" the loan societies are said to be making all the money."
It is the farmers who are the chief customers of these
associations, and pretty heavily they are made to pay tLe-
piper. In England it is not usual, I believe, i^ as-ociato
crowds jostling each other at the doors of the momy
Shylocks, eager to borrow on any usurious terms, with
the " prosperity" of the liock which giV3 their backs to
the shearers.

As for Lord Dufferin, I hope Mr. Byrne doesn't expect
I am going to regard an serieux—xn^-a. emigration aspect
— the ornate and artistic speeches of our delightful and
accomplished^ ex-governor. I am aware the shipping
agents and Air. Byrne's own fraternity 'lave spread Lord
Dutfe.-iu's witching amenities all over Britain, and that
they look upon them as the best thing out in their pecu-
Jiar vocation. But I am afraid people who may have been
instigated by his lordship's addresses to try their fortunes
here, will have found that the"Arabian Nights entertaiiN
ments are not sa^e pilotage for anybody bound en life's
serious business. Even the Icelanders iu Maiitoba were
glorilied as in a flourishing condition by Earl Dufferin.
Yet it is sober fact that discontent with their sterile loca-
tion and hard surrouudiogs is so rife among them that
there is a probability they will ere long make a general
exodus into the Slates. " The result of such a migration"
is deprecated by the Montreal GaztUe, "as likely to be
disastrous to the character of the Canadian Norlh-West,
as a refuge for the unsettled millions of Europe." For that
inatter.if the Dominion can find a refuge for its own " un-
settled" entities, I think it need not -trouble itself about
the European millions. It has enough of them always oa.
hand to provcke its quest.

I am. Sir, k.c.^

Your Canadian CorrespondeiNT^

The Binffshire local authority has deliberated on the
advisability of stamping out Pleuro-pneumonia iu infected-
districts, and has a.;reed " not to slaughter in the meau-
time, but to endeavour to get the animals forward in
condition for the marlcets as early as possible." These
canny Scots may possibly save a groat aud lose a pound
by their experiment.^

The second volume of the G.illoway Herd Bood has been
published by the Galloway Cattle Society ; it contains
the register of 3G] pure-bred cattle — namely, 23U cows
and heifers, aud 122 bulls.

DEMAND FOR REDUCTION OF RENT.—" G. R. H.'.
(Bicester) writes to the Echo : — "The agricaltud>its in Buck-
inghamshire seem to be about to bring the present crisis, in so
far as they are concerned, to a climnx. The whole of ths
tenants on an estate io the parishes of Dinton and Hadden-
hani have jiiveu a written notice to the effect that unless a con-
siderable redaction of rent is made they must give up the.r
holdings. There are already several farms ia this country
wanting t-enants, and unless some considerable concessions are
made, more still will be to let."

DURING THEIR HONEYMOON they had been sitting-
and .'^igliing and ta'king poetry in tlie balcony for three lioury,
all of which time he had both her hands tightly cUsped in hi--,.
Finally she broke forth, ''Tommy, dearest, I want to ask yoa
something." "A-^k me a liundred — a ihoiMand — a million
things i" he ciclairaed in reply. " V\'ell Toran.j, I have got
an awtul cold in my head," she exchimed, "and if I draw one;
of ray hands away to use ray pocket handkereliief, would joiii
think it uukiud of me ! Just once, Tommy, aud then you mav.

220

THE FARiMER'S MAGAZINE.

VARIOUS NOTES.

At a silling of the F;ench Customs Commission
JI. AYaildiiigton expressed himself unfavourably to
the renewal of the cocumereial treaties, but ou the
vote being taken 22 were found to be in favour of their
miiuteuancc, and only three on the other side. Since
tiie interview whieh the Society of French Agriculturists
had with the Commission, M. de Monicault, president of
the agricultural section of the Society, has comrauuicated
lo |the Commission a note in which, after asiiing that
agriculture should take an equitable part with other
iudustrics in the tariffs imposed, he draws attention to
the advisability of establishiug on a wider and more
complete basis superior agricultural education and pro-
fessional instruction. The provincial societies continue
lo express their views upon the customs question. Thus
that of the Seine-et Oise iu^isls that agriculture should
be enabled to meet on fair ground both other industries
aud foreign competition. The central society of the
Youue prays that in settling the dues and in renewing the
treaties, agriculture may not, as in 18G0, be sacrificed.
Among mmor societies, that of Bar-le Due follows in a
like strain.

That agriculture dees not invariably profit from the
support accorded to it by the State is shown by the
fatality which has just befallen the Society of Avallon
(Yonnc). Last autumn the prefect presided at the annual
show, and made a speech rather political than agricultural.
This speech the committee thought proper to exclude
from their printed proceedings, as being utterly un-
connected with their purpose. This action led to recrim-
inations, which have resulted in the summary dissolution
of the Society by the prefect, whose authority ought
rat her to have been exercised iu preventing the speeches
from taking a political turn.

Mr. "W. J. Fowler reports a dubious prospect for a large
wheat crop this year in Western New York.

As a suggestive commentary on the theory that cattle
and sheep will get enough water from snow, the Knatucky
Livestock Record reports the loss of thousands of these
animals this winter in that State and many more thou-
sands on* the plains of the West, from thirst and its ia-
llamraatory effects on stomach and brain.

Several farmers in the neighbourhood of Gwynedd,
Penn., are reported by the Bucki County Intelhgeticer as
having lost their potato crop last year by planting seed
that never came up, on account, as was afterwards ascer-
tained, of the tubers having been sprinkled with salt by
a dealer or shipper to prevent their sprouting while in his
hands.

The ^Ve» York Ti'ilnne says,: — The'qniet Mr. Brown,
of a rural town in Connecticut, has suggested that if the
main object of the agricultural fnir is to draw a paying
crowd, the Spanish bull-light might prove even more
cO'ective than the trite and commonplace horse-trot ; at
any rate it would require less room, and the half-mile
track is an expensive thing to keep in good repair.

The New York J^tmial of Commerce lately published
some interesting statements going to show that the lait
year was marked by a very unusual movement in extend-
ing the area of cultivated laud at the West and the num-
ber of persons engaged in agriculture. In the first place
during the year ending June SO, 1878, the sales of gov-
ernment lands were 7, 562,000 acres, against 3,338,000
in the previous year. Ot this area 2,348,000 acres was in
Minnesota. The sales of railroad lauds are said to have
been generally large. Dun, ]5ai-low and Co. 's annual cir-
i-iilar eslinwtes the new lands sett'ed iu 1878 at
'-'O.flOO.OOO acres, and the occupants thereof at nut less
Ihuu lOOjOUU 1'amilii.s, equal lo half u miUiou souls.

Our Canadian correspondent writes luidcr dale, IMarch
5 : — The cattle jobbers and the forwarding oonipiuics arj
bringing pressure to bear outhe Dominion Government ia
order to get the Canadian embargo oa American beast*
removed. A meeting of cattle exporters is expected to be
held in Toronto in a few days. The stir and agitation on
this point seem confined to the dealers and forwarders ;
no one else seems interested in it. In the newspapers tiie
question is ignored, save by one or two Toronto and
Montreal journals. The endeavours of the few interests
affected to expose this country and Britain to the serious
risk of an extended reign of pleuro, merely that their own
pockets may not suffer, can hardly, I apprehend, find a
favourable response from the Canadian Government. Mr.
Tope, the new Minister of Agriculture aud Emigration,
has just submitted to Parliament a report of the proceed-
ings relating to the cattle trade since January 1, 1S7'J. I
have seldom read a more curious document. Iu this
report he says : — "Being made aware by a surmise of the
Live Stock Journ.a\ and other English agricultural
papers, of the existence of pleuro-pueumonia in the
United States, and especially in the neighbourhood of
Washington, I immediately secured the services of Pro-
fessor Mc.Eschran to visit the seat of the contagion ; aud,
on January 22, he made me aware of the prevalence of the
disease in several States, which information has since been
verified. I was deliberating with my colleagues ou what
was lo be done in this alarming state of things, when, on
January 28, I received the following cablegram from Mr.
Dyke, an officer of the department at Liverpool : ' Steamer
Ontario arriving with cattle from Buft'alo and Canada, hav-
ing incipient pleuro-pneumonia, ordered to be slaughtered
on quay ; probably necessary you guarantee no disease in
Canada, aud prohibit American cattle, you can then
export from Halifax.'" Mr. Pope says on receipt of this
he immediately placed himself iu communicatiau with the
Imperial authorit'es, causing at the same time an inves-
tigation to be made of the state of the health of Canadian
cattle. Having been made thoroughly aware of its
heallhfuliies?, and of the measures determined on by the
Imperial authorities, he reluctantly recommended that the
importation of cattle from the States into Canada should
be prohibited. The Privy Council accordingly passed the
necessary order limiting the prohibition to three months,
leaving the transit through the country unaffected. This
latter however, ou further iutelligeuce from England, was
also prohibited.

It is marvellous indeed, that the first gleam of know-
lodge that pleuro existed iu the Slates should shiue ou the
department here through the medium of the Enslish
papers. Singularly in contrast with this unique circum-
stance is the following extract from a report of the Cana-
dian Department of Agriculture in October 1878. At
tiiat time ihe passing of the Contagious Diseases Act iu
England required action from the Government of Canada
to prevent Canadian cattle being subjected to the slaugh-
tering clauses. The Department, therefore, in reply to,
and iu order to minister satisfaction to the Lords of the
Imperial Privy Council, forwarded a copious despatch
setting forth :

1. The laws regulating the importation of animals into
Canada.

2. The methods adopted to prevent the spread of exist-
ing contagious disease.

3. A periodical report outhe general sanitary condition
of Canadian animals.

This was followed by a laudation of the watchfulness of
the Dei)artment, and the stringency of the measures
adopted by the Governraeut to keep out disease.

With reference to the rrotectionist movement in
Caualu, the Toronto tilolic. says -.--" The Tories have a
deep laid plot afojt, by mjuni of which they no doubt

THE FARMEH'S MAUAZIIQE.

L'Jl

hope to shut llie inoutlis of tlie farmrrs, who, indeed, are
gfttiug much too restless to bode good to ihe Govern-
ment. The Government have promised to the fanners
real, tangible protecliou, such as the manufacturers are
giiiiig to have. They now iiud that it is a matter of
impossibility to give our farmers any protection, which,
upon the slightest iuvestiKation, will uot turn out to be
either a rank humbug or else actually iiijnrions to as
many farmers as are benefited by it. That being the case,
tile Government is preparing to shirk all resjjousibility
lor tbe failure of farmers' ])rotcction by shifting ou to
the farmers the task of settling the details, so that, when
the failure to protect becomes apparent, the Government
can turn rouud and protest that their hands are clean, as
usual.

Of the harvest and other agricultural affairs in New
South ^Vales, the Sydmif Muniing Herald of January
25lh reports as follows : —

" On the Northern coast agriculturists are hopeful. On
the Clarence the new year opened most auspiciously on
good crops and abundant grass, and 'so far as this year
has gone the weather has been all that could be desired to
ensure a golden harvest. In the West the harvest, now
nearly over, is the finest ever known. The combined
reapers aud binders have done great service in the
Eathurst district. Carcoar and Blayney will return a
grand average, aud Orange will not be much in the rear.
A good downpour of rain would do great service in the
AVestern country, and is anxiously expected. The dairy
districts of Illawarra are looking well. The yield of
wheat in Bombala is considered fair. In the South-west
the samples of wheat offered to millers are of excellent
quality. The farmers of Grenfell have lost cattle and
horses from what is said to be a strange disease. Albury
is still blooming, and Deniliquiu aud Wagga Wagj/a are
in fair condition. The Sydney !Meat Preserving Com-
pany, which is now in full operation, employing about
eighty hands, promises to relieve the metropolitan live
stock market to a considerable extent. A large export
trade of preserved frozen meat is badly required to re-
lieve the graziers of their surplus stock. Good beef has
been selling at the metropolitan yards at fromlSs. to
I83. per 100 lb. by the carcase, and mutton of prime
quality has failed to command more than l^d. per lb."

The opening of the International Exhibition at Sydney
has been fixed for September 1. The Commission have
decided to carry on the work of constructing the building
by night as well as by day by means of the electric light.

From Queensland we learn that a meetiug of stock-
owners has been held for the purpose of streiiKtheniug
the hands of the Queensland Meat Preserving Company.
Mr. A. II. Browne occupied the chair, and it was agreed
that the site of the proposed works should be on tidal
waters near Brisbane. £1,U0G was subscribed in the
room, and a very influential provisional committee was
formed.

The harvest in Victoria is stated, on the whole, to
have been an unfavourable one, chiefly through the pre-
valence of rust.

The reports from the rust-infected wheat districts of
Victoria show the calamity to be very serious. The
scourge is Ic be seen from Echuca along the dividing
range right up to Albury, and it is estimated that one-
fourth of the wheat-producing area of the colony is des-
troyed. Many of the sufl'eiera will certainly not be able
to pay their rent this year. The Minister of Lands has
inliuaated that he will deal with each individual case on
its owu merits. The Jhverine JJc^ald says in reference
to the rust which has destroyed the crops in the Echuca |
aud adjoining districts : '' lu this part of the colony the 1

harvest of 1878-9 will long be remembered as the most
disastrous that has been experiuiced since settlen'cnt
commenced. Under such circumstances, therefore, Mr.
L'lngmore is j'lstilied in relaxing the strict legal conditions
of tlie licences, and not enforcing payment of the rent.
Already a widespread disposition is manifest to dispose
of selections by those who are in a position to do so, but
the market value of land has very greatly declined, and
those who are anxious to sell are out of all proportion to
those who are willing to buy.

Our New Zealand Correspondent writes under date
(Province of Auckland) Peb. -ith: — The leading character-
istic of the weather during the past four weeks has beea
excessive drought, a feature eminently conducive to the
security of the hay crop, and severance and ingathering
of the cereals, but very trying indeed to all stock-masters
on light soils and exposed situations, as the pasture on all
such places is completely shrivelled up. The farmers in
the interior, who have a considerable range of bush, aro at
present much the best off, as the stock can retire from the
fierce heat of the sun, and always find a good deal of
moderately succulent food amongst the dense under-
growth, bullocks laying on flesh in this way on the
indigenous passes, and milch cows sustaining a fair How
of milk under apparently the most adverse conditions.
The cool winds that almost invariably blow from the sea
render this climate very enjoyable, as it is only for a
few hours in the middle of the day that the heat is at all
oppressive, and however warm the day may be the after-
noon and evening is cool and bracing, continuing so during
the whole night. This climatic peculiarity is obviously
due to the configuration of the Province, which gradually
gets narrow north of Tauranga, in some places not more
than a few miles from sea-board to sea-board, thus giving
the sea breeze full play, and enabling it to neutralise the
effect of the heat given out by the earth during the night,
which otherwise might be close and stilling, if not thus
carried off. This, coupled with the mildness of the average
winter, makes Auckland the favourite province of the
colony, and it is, in consequence, fast rising in importance,
its trade, commerce, and agriculture having rapidly
extended of late years, while the influx of population has
at the same time been considerable. The harvest has
just closed, and was altogether a short business, the
weather having been so fine ; and thrashing goes on as
fast as the steam engines, available in each
district, can get through it. All is done in the field, and
at once, few men, if any, ever thinking of speculating for
a higher price by holding. Wheat is the leading crop of
the cereals, oats being nearly all cut green as in New
South Wales and Victoiia, and barley is not as yet exten-
sively cultivated- Ou all volcanic soils, and on reclaimed
swamps, wheat is a good crop and will come up to forty
bushels the statute acre, the head and straw on such land
being a wonderiul sight, the latter standing up after the
first round of the machine like a solid wall, six feet in
height, not a straw being broken or twisted, the colour like
gold, a sure sign of a sound and healthy crop. Ou light,
thin, and scoria soil, however, the dry season and indiffer-
ent seed time has produced the usual effect, and most fields
of wheat Cut up rather patchy, sinking the produce to
twenty bushels, vvhich at 5s., about the average price this
year, would leave a miserable margin, if any, but for the
straw which is all sold off the farm and is thus a great assis-
tance to the struggling farmer. Potatoes have been injured
to some extent from the same causes,Hnd although of superb
quality, the flavour being something exquisite when growa
without dung or other manure, as compared with those
grown by heavy manuriai dressings, the weight per acre is
less than usual, and the price correspondingly high.
PiclJ potatoes began tobc lifted for sale in moderate quaa-

222

THE FARMERS' MAGAZINE,

lilies about Cliristmas, and the opening price £9 a ton,
falling to £7, the present pvice as they became more plen-
tiful/ Although four and five tons to the acre is common
enough, yet ou superior soils, tea tons has been reached, aa
ascertained by actual measurement and weight, a crop
which returns a very handsome sum to the fortunate holder
of laud which costs him nothing for manure ; such a crop
durics the present year, however, is the exception and not
the rule. Unless on very large holdiufjs, the crop is mostly
lifted by hand labour, the Maories being experts at
this woVk, and so careful and patient in clearing
theni out of the ground, as to almost if
uct altogether clear their own wages by the extra quantity
they obtain to the acre. They are paid one shilling per
bag of 1-i stones, and as many potatoes as they like to
eat while employed; and during the time the work is
going on the entire family live in the field, husband, wife,
aud children campiug out in the most literal sense of the
word under the open canopy of heaven, and each rolled
in a blanket, with their feet in a circle round the mass of
red-hot pebbles in which their supper was deliciously
cooked, if such an expression is not too grandiloquent
for a roasted potato ; they sleep the sleep of the weary
aud hard-working. To those fanners whose land is
suitable, and who have turned their attention principally
to hav and potatoes, aud there are a good many such,
this will be a really good year, their produce already
cjmraanding a high price ; and there is every prospect of
hiy rising to from £8 to £10 a ton during the winter
and spring, and potatoes from £9 to £11, and probably
more should an extra demand spring up in the islands or
down south. The country is now so bare from the long-
contiuued drought that no matter how ftviurable the
weather for growth between this and winter, the heavy
stocks invariably kept, and which cannot easily be
lightened, will keep the grass from ever getting ahead,
so that everything that can be used as fodder must be
hit'h. I'lockmasters complain of this as an exceptionally
bad vear, wool, their principal dependence, having been
low,* realising only about Sd. a lb. in the grease, and
lambs have been aU but giveu away. Small farmers may
succeed in getting from 123. to lis. for the greater por-
tion of their lambs from the butcher, but when the num-
ber runs on to a few hundreds, to make no mention of
thousands, from 4s. to 6s. is considered a fortunate price,
and great numbers must be cleared off at merely nominal
prices, from is. 9d. to 2s. Gd. being as much as they
realise' when forced on the market, the wool on their
backs being actually worth all the money, and the
animals improved by taking it off; but they must
go to clear the pastures, and every one being
over - stocked they must go at a sacrifice.
Excellent breeding ewes, of good bone, young and well
bred, can be had from lOs. 6d. to 15s., and the finest fat
wedders about 183.,the butcher's price at present being but
2d. a lb. Prime beef from 27s. to 32s. per short cwt. of
100 lbs., and all store cattle very low. High-bred cattle
hive suffered a considerable decline in price during the
pvst season, not only here, bu^ in the sister colonies, and
many important annual sales show a remarkable reduction
on the prices of last year, one of the most important sales
in Victoria realizing only £5,500, as against £20,000,
£27 000, and £30,000 during the past three years, a pair
of heifers going for 650 guineas, whose half-sister made
atlast year's sale 1.060 guineas. Like everything else
UQsatisfactorv in Victoria, this decline is attributed to the
nipping frost of class legislation, but it looks more likely
that high breeding has been overdone, and that the
animals are,if parted with, forced to be let go at their actual
Talue At the same sale, for instance, splendidly bred
yearling llcrefords had to go at six aud seven guineas
each, actually less tLuu butcher's price. Large numbers

of emigrants have arrived, aud are stiiJ arriving from t'le
English ports, the present season having been a most
successful one in profuring the right kind of people froia
the country districts in England. The " Maraval " arrived
about a fortnight ago, bringing about 350 passengers, all
of which able to do anything were almost instantly
engaged, the Government barracks, where tbey are kept
free of eost and most respectably until engagements are
found, having beeu cleared in less than three days. Com-
ing from a country where there is such diiliculty in procur-
ing employment at present, at any price, it is astonishing
how stiff working men can be in making their first en-
gagements, often refusing really excellent wages and com-
fortable situations in the dread of selling themselves too
cheap. Married couples for farms in the interior get £72
a year themselves and probably three or four childrea
found in everything, young lads willing to learn and make
themselves useful on a farm from 10s. to 12s. a week, and
servant girls from lOs. to 15s. a week; all with bed and
board, ordinary labourers from 5s. to 6s. a day, aud rail-
way meu from 8s. to Qs. 6d. a day.

From the Straits Settlements vfe learn that several lots

of Tanjoug Paggar sold at auction recently at from 50 to

70 cents per square foot, equal to 20,000 dols. to 30,000

dols. per acre. This same land 'was bought a few years

ago from the East India Company for one rupee 15 acres.

With regard to Perak. the suitability of its soil for

[ planting enterprise seems to be exciting more and more

I attention every day. Eive or six more planters from

; Ceylon are now in the state examining its soil. Johore

I also is following suit. The Maharajah has offered Mr.

Buchan, private secretary of the Governor of Ceylon,

and formerly a planter, £1,000 a year to become a sort

of Minister of L?nds for Johore, and he is expected here

in the beginning of next year, accompanied by four or

five more planters, to explore Johore.

A correspondent in Massachusetts, U.S., informs us
that Hereford bulls are being extensively used on the
native herds of the Western States. There are e'ght good
herds in the State of Illinois, and several herds of froni
20,000 to 60,000 head of cattle in Colorado aud
Wyoming that are being sired with Ilerefords. One
breeder in Illinois states that he has sold over 250 Here-
ford bulls within the last five years, but they are very
scarce, especially ia the Eastern St;ates. It' it were imt
for the prohibition now existing there would be no diffi-
culty ia supplying American breeders with pure-bred
Hereford bulls at very reasonable rates, and no breed i»
more likely to do well in America thau the Herefords.

We have not heard anything of late as to the result of
the Cattle Truck competition. It will be remembered
that the inventors of four of the models were invited by
the Judges' Committee to have actualtrucks constructed,
on the plan of the models, for practical trial, which was
to take place in October last. Whether anything of the
kind has been done we are not aware. From America,
however, we learn that the " Macpherson Palace Cars,"
about which so much was written at the time, are by no-
means a success. A correspondent of the Vhkacjo Times-
says that these " Palace Cars have been lying around upon
side-tracks at the Union stock-yards for years, until by
d'suse many of them have become, like the time-honoured
oaken bucket, veritably ' moss-covcrcd,' so fe.v shippers
were there who would load them, even when offered free of
any extra e.spense. Quite recently, however.a large pui chase
of very choice cattle was made here for a firm doing an
extensive export business, the consignment to be shipped
by rail to Philadelphia, and then transferred to an oceau
steamer, lu a Iruiu load of them Ih'rc were sis of the

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

1-1 3

' Palace ' cars, and they not only had to be unloaded with
the rest, at the usual feeding points, but were the source
of more trouble to the shi[)])er in charge than all the
others. The cattle were ' duvvu ' more or less during the
entire journey, and upon arrival at the seaboard showed
plainly by their bruised llesh, slilfened backs, and broken
horns, that the car is the reverse of a humine device for
the transportation of live stock for either long or short
distances." Practical opinion is against the probability
of any great success in the way of feeding and watering
cattle whilst in railway trucks; and rapid transit appears
to be likely to afford the greatest relief to the sulferings
of cattle during transit. Most of the cattle trucks now
in u.-^e ou our several lines of railway are capable of
considerable improvement, which would not entail a
great cost, and would add greatly to the comfort
and safety of the animals. But the present diilicultiea
in connection with supplying animals in trucks
with food and water arise from the unwillingness of the
animals to eat or drink during transit. And, at present,
there appear to be no means of affording them relief
except by taking them quickly to their journey's end ;
for to unload and re-truck cattle during transit involves
a loss of time, and other difficulties incompatible with
our tratTic arrangements. We should be glad to see the
great markets of this country supplied with fresh meat
rather than live cattle, so that the greater part of the
cattle traffic might be confined to the movement of stores.
This would suit producers and consumers, but would not
meet the approval of middle-men, who live by the
handling of live cattle.

The American Stockman, whilst admitting that the
Order in Council will tend to the shipment of dead meat
rather than that of living cattle, comes to the conclusion
that there is seemingly but little encouragement for
American stock-breeders to fiuish the animals before
putting them on the market ; and that the " prices of
fully ripened stock will not be likely to be at a much
higher range than those for medium to fair cattle." If
we may judge from the difference in value between first
and second rate beef in this country, and by the difference
in value between the first and second rate American meat
which comes here, the American Sfockman makes a
great mistake — that is to say, if the animals referred to
are intended for the British market. If it does not pay
them to send the best it is not likely to piy them to send
anything else. And, singularly enough, since writing
this paragraph, a subsequent issue of the American
Stoclcman contains the following statement : " The
strength of the demand for stock cattle in this market
(Chicago) for shipment to Pennsylvania, Virginia, and
Ohio shows that farmers there intend to go largely into
the work of fattening cattle this year. One most
encouraging feature of the business is the determination
to fatten the stock fully before putting it on the market.
While fat may be by no means the most desirable object
in preparing stock for market, it certainly seems to be
the thing most necessary in securing a paying price for
such st )ck as is raised by farmers generally throughout
the West. The value of fat as an aid in disposing of
cattle has been shown in a strong light in this market of
late, by the sale of common native steers, of no particular
breeding and no good styles, at the top of the market.
They were fat, and that was all the excellence they
possessed, yet the scaicity of well bred, shapely steers,
with plenty of lean — not poor — meat where meat is
most wanted, forced these common cattle to sell for
prices well bred stock would have gone for a few weeks
ago." Both these statements appeared in the leading
columns of thejourual referred to ; aud, to us, appear to
be vcrv coulrudiclory.

Ih'rro'os' Worcester Journal says that typhoid fever,
which recently proved fatal to a large number of pigs in
the neighbourhood of Chicveley, near Newbury,^ has
broken out among the swine ou several farms in the
Elsley district of the county. Mr. Church lost 51 pigs
out of a head of 50 ; Mr. Cardwell, of Manor Farm, lost
55 out of 58 ; and Messrs. Wells, of Smith's Farm, 14.

The Marlin /i«//, makes the following statement: —
" There has been considerable sickness on our creek lately
—mostly pneumonia." Aud when it is remembered that
the contagious pleuro-pneumonia which is now admitted to
exist in certain States has been declared over and over
agaiu to be simply pneumonia, we may be excused for
attaching grave suspicion to the '' pneumonia" of Texas.
The cattle forming the cargo of the Ontario were said to
have been purchased at Chicago, aud, therefore, we are
justified in assuming that contagious pleuro-pneumonia
exists west of that market, although the American
-b7oc/.v»a« declares positively that "there has never yet
appeared in the West a single case of this ailment."

The JVew York Herald gives a sensational account of
the slaughtering of diseased cattle now going on in the
cow-sheds of Long Island. " A melancholy day," says
that journal, " it was for Blissville, for the cohorts of the
law came down ou the cow-stables and made bloody work
among the chief sufferers from pleuro-pneumonia ! "
Hostile demonstrations were made by the " roughs," and
the Herald reporter was mobbed. It appears that in
New York and New Jersey the authorities are setting to
work in earnest to stamp out the disease. We wish them
success.

Eighteen valuable beasts have died at Willingdon, neai-
Eastbourne, in consequeuce of eating brauches of yew
trees.

A Kentucky paper states that mules are being sent via
the Mississippi Biver and the port of New Orleans to
Europe. Tnis is the beginning of a movement which has
long been talked about, and which may result in much of
the grain exported from the States drained by the Missouri
and the Mississippi being sent to Europe that way instead
of by rail to the Eastern seaboard. This subject has
been mooted from time to time in the columns of the
JIark Tiune Express.

The price of maize is lower in proportion even than
the price of park iu America, so that it appears to pay
to raise and feed pigs at the low rates now obtainicg
there. Mr. Heaps writes to the Amcric7n Stockman.
the following particulars to prove the foregoing state-
ment : " Hogs are confined to the corn belt, but the
cattle range is everywhere. So also with the sheep ;
their native home appears to be in Colorado, Nebraska,
New Mexico, and in fact all the mountainous country of
the West, where disease is almost unknown aud where
they can be raised and cared for with but little expense."
(Query — what disease affecting sheep is here alluded to ?)
" A few figures will help a little to show how hogs pay.
Mr. M. a few days since shipped ninety hogs, average
400 pounds, which sold for 1,458 dols. ; deducting freight,
yardage, and commission— 85 dols. — leaving a net balance
of 1,873 dols. Now, allowing forty bushels of corn to
the hog, and that is enough, it took 3, GOO bushels of corn
to make these hogs, and'1,373 dols. for 3,000 bushels of
corn makes a little over thirty-eight cents (Is. 7d). per
bushel for the corn, I have not counted anything for the
feeding and trouble of caring for the hogs, as the expense
of shelling and hauling the corn to market would amount
to as much as the trouble of feeding and caring for the
hogs. Another large item iu favour of the hogs is the
manure. The corn fed to those ho-s last summer was

2-24

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

worth Ihirty rrnis por bus'iel, and all that it took to
fatten thein'could have been bought for twenty cents per
bushel. Had he shipped tliat corn.it would have made
ten car loads, and the freight would have been 335 dols.
Tue freight on the hogs was 07 dols., so there was 2G8
dols. saved in the freight alone." From this it would
appear that America can well enough alt'ord to send us
pork and bacon at the present low rates.

The fourth annual sale of the Hon. Neil Black's Short-
Lorns was held on the 10th of .January, at Terang, Victoria,
Australia, before an assemblage of about 30O persons, of
whom several were visitors from Queensland and
Kew Zealand. Not a single reserve was placed on any
animal, and everything offered was sold. Several beasts
were withdrawn "through accidents. Sis stud bulls ave-
raged £93 Ui. 6d. ; total, £.561 ISs. 9J. Nine stud
he"ifer3 averaged £98; total, £882. Eiohly Shorthorn
bulls averaged £22 10s. 2d. ; total, £1,800 15s. Niuety-
Si-ven pure Shorthorn heifers averaged £25 13s.; total,
£2,488 iOj. Grand total of sale, £5,733.

Tbe pure-bred Shorthorn herd belonging to Sir Wm.
Milt?s, Birt., of Leigh Court, realised a totil of £1,391
15s. 6d. for 02 animals— an average of £22 9s ea?h.

Mr. Lawrence Drew's sale of Clydesdale horses and
Ayrshire cattle will take place at Merryton House Farm,
near Hamilton, on Tuesday, April 8th, at half-past 12
o'clock, the auctioneer being Mr. James Marshall, of
Carlisle. The catalosue contains portraits of the horses,
of which 15 are mares, 19 fillies, 11 colts, and two geld-
ings. Of the Ayrshires two are cows and five heifers.

We have received from Mr. Samuel Gardiner, of Bun-
doora Park, near Melbourne, Australia, two very taste-
fully got up catrlogues ; one of his Brunswick herd of
Shorthorns, and the other of his trotting stallions, fillies,
thoroughbred vearlings, and brood mares, sold on the
31st of December. Both catalogues are admirably
illustrated.

On the 9th ult. Lord Skelmersdale's Duchess of
Ormskiik added 1.0 the Lathora herd a white heifer calf
by Third Duke of Uuderley (38190). On tbe 12th Lord
Duiimore's Duchess 114th calved a red and white bull
calf, by Second Marquis of Oxford (37055). In the
Ardlert herd a roan heifer calf by the Wailaby bull Royal
llalnaby (39041) was drop)ied by Riby Marchioness, Mr.
Crosbie's 12G0 gs. purchase at the Ayltsby sale in Sep-
tember, 1875, when she was only five mouths old.

The Iri>'h Farmers'' GaceCe states that rot has pre-
vailed to an unusual extent during the past winter amongst
Irish flocks, and that the disease has caused mortality
upon many farms where it was hitherto quite unknown.
In many instances the owners of sheep, frightened by the
appearance of rot amongst their flocks, have sold out every
shei-p thsy possessed — sound as well as unsound, and
there is no doubt a number of these sheep went to Liver-
pool. In fact, a number of them have been seized
and condemned as being unfit for food, at Liverpool.

Despatches received from Chicago reiterate the denial
rccenlly given of the existence of pleuro-pneumonia in
that district. Tbe Collect jr of Customs at Chicago
believes that no diseased cattle whatever have been ex-
ported thence. The authorities of Pennsylvania, in con-
junction with those of New York and New Jersey, are
"taking steps to eradicate pleuro-pneumonia in those
Stales.

It is stated that Ilillier's Bacon Curing Company

(Limited), of Newmarket, near Stroud, have olfered a

prize of £5 under the auspices of the Gh)ucestcrshire

Aiiricultural Society, '' for the best six fat pigs under one

•'I- I ' N^ird lo uitct the rcuuirciucoib of hacou

curers in suiting the public taste, and not to exceed iu
weight, alive, 2401b. each pig."

Ou the 14th nit. Mr. Simon Beattie, of Preston
Hall, Annan, Dumfriesshire, shipped from Liverpool by
ss. Dominion, to Mr. Blodgett,Wankegan, Illinois, U.S.A.,
three Clydesdale stallions, all rich dark bays, and from
the most noted strains in Scotland, viz.. Young Warrior,
a 3 year-old of great substance; Merry Farmer, a hand-
some neat horse, full of quality ; and Lofty 3rd, a large
powerful 5-year-old horse. Mr. Beattie will sail for
Canada on the 28th instant, with a pair of Percheroa
mares which he selected iu Fjance, six Clydesdale stallions
and one Cleveland bay stallion, a draft of pedigree Short-
horns, and a number of Cotswold and Shropshire sheep.

The No lih British AgricuHurht states that on the 8th
ult. the following Clydesdale stallions, purchased by Mr.
Henry P. Yanreuen, through ^Ir. Thomas Dykes, of the
Clydesdale Horse Society, left London for Mdoourne, by
jNlesrs. Moue}', Wigram, and Co.'s steamship Nor-
thumberland— viz., GlenilTer (2G1), bred and owned by
jNlrs. Geramell, Caplav, Neilston, by Kerr's Conqueror
(196), dam by Hercules (1378), by Rub Roy (714) ;
TiUside Chief, by M'Robbie's Scottish Chief (764), and
bred by Mr. Thompson, Baillieknowe, Kelso ; Young
Ross, four-year-old, by M'Kean's Prince Charlie (629)
dam by Lochfergus Champion (449), bred by Mr. John
Gordon, Culraven, Kirkcudbright ; and Young Byron,
bred by jMr. Houston, Hill Farm, Castle Douglas.
Gleiiifl'er is well known in the vi'est counti-y, having won
third prize at the Highland and Agricultural Society's
show at Glasgow in 1875, and second at Aberdeen in
1876.

THE PRESERVATION OF ANIIVIAL FOOD.— Dr. B
W. Richardson gave a lecture at a raeetiug lield in the rooms
of the Society of Arts, John S'reet, Adelphi, on Monday
eveninjT, on the subject of " Researches in Putrelactive
Changes." Like previous lectures of the same series, it had
reference to the preservation of animal food. The lecturer
brought forward the results of a variety of experiments that
had been madR recently in the preservation of meat during
voyages to and from different parts of the world, and said he
came to the couclusioQ that tlie prospects of further research
in that direction were exceedingly hopeful. Now that the
proper lines of experiment had been determined, it was vtaut-
iiig to ensure conplete success that those lines should be
followed out. It would take some two or three years yet
before that desirable consummation could be brought about,
but Dr. Richardson believed tliat the problem would very soon
be solved. It was possible that something better than the
preeeut chemical preservatives would be found ; but success
mn.-t com • ere long by these or similar means, among which,
no doubt, coal gas would continue to hold a prominent place.
Referring to the question of ihe comparative value of animal
and vegetable food, the lecturer said thdt while vegetarians
had on their si(!e the advantage of cheapness, they had also
considerable reason in their arguments as to other points.
The ditllculiies which beset their way were not insurmountable,
but an inquiry was demanded on tlie point whether the trans-
mutation of vegetable foo-d which was now obtained by the
digestion and p."ssageof the blood into the tissues of the lower
lierbivorous animals miglit rot be affected by chemical pro-
cesses apart from the intermediaie animal altogether. Let
men of science, in patient research for a few years, follow up
the artificial digestion and condensation of vegetible food.s by
sjuthical imitations, and assuredly the perfect production of
perfect food from the vegetable kingdom, without the aid of
the intermediate lower animal, would t e another trinniph of
science over nature. In the presciice of such a development
food of the best kind would become the cheapest of all pro-
ducts, and would bo so under the control of man that new
races of men, constructed on better foodtlian has ever yet been
prepared, would rise up to demonstrate the greatness of the
triumph by tluir i'uproved plnsical endowments and their
freedom from diseases which innst always occur so long as
other living animal bcdics arc dcoraud I fur tlic rccouatructiou
of the humiiu body.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZrXE.

225

SHOW AND SALE OF AGRICUI/rURAL
HORSES AT BIRMINGHAM.

This was the inauguration of what is intended (o be
an annual show and sale of agricultural horses, chiefly
BlaUions; and it will likely meet a want whi(;h is now
felt in the Shires, namely, a mart for horse-breeders'
stock. Sellers will find it useful as an outlet for young
stoek, and buyers will have the opportunity of seeing a
large collection of good animals. This first show and
sale had much to recommend it to the public, and we
shall be glad to see it successfully continued. There were
present mauy horses of note fiom our best breeders, not
entered for sale but merely iu eompetilion for the prizes,
which amounted to a sum of £350. The Earl of Elles-
mere, for instance, seut some of the best of his stud, and
many winners at our best shows were exhibited by other
breeders ; probably with a view to support the show and
encourage the sale by their prestige, as well as to pros-
pective business. The judges passed over several noted
animals now getting on iu years apparently in favour of
yoooger and therefore more useful horses ; at ail events,
their decisions were not at all times intelligible on any
other supposition. Thus in the class for Clydesdale {
stallions of any age, ^Ir. Crowther's Topsmau, arid the j
Duke of Beaufort's Paragon Tom, which were rtspec- I
tively first aud second at the Royal last year, were passed
over without so much as a commendation, and the first
prize given to a fue-year-old horse, Sir William Wallace,
belonging to the Stand Stud Company. This horse was
well-ribbed and had a good crest, but his arms and
thighs were small, aud he did not look like a winner.
Mr. J. Forshaw's Ben Nevis, the second prize winner,
was a very useful horse. Mr. Taveruer's Young Lolty
was also passed over without honours. There were 15
entries in this class.

In the class for agricultural stallions other than
Clydesdales there were 46 entries. Mr. J. Forshaw's
What's Wanted was placed first, after a long considera-
tion. This horse has a plain head, badly set on, is light
in his barrel, and rather small in his thighs ; but his
bone is good and his legs flat and clean. The Earl of
EUesmere's British Wonder, a four-year-old chesnut, was
placed second ; this horse was second at the Liverpool
Royal as a two-year-old, and is a very compact horse
with beautiful crest, short back, excelleut shoulders,
and is well-ribbed, but his legs are round, and he is
not of the type which best suited the judges. Neither of
these horses were for sale. Lord Pol wart h's Harden, a
four year-old bay, was placed third on the list, and he is
a very useful horse, not very big, but very compact, and
of an excellent colour ; he was sold for 126 guineas.
The fourth prize went to Mr. G. Jones' Leviathan, a big
chesnut four-year-old, with excellent forehand, and a
good mover. Amongst the notables passed over by the
judges was Young Champion from the Stand Stud Com-
pany, twelve years old, and the winner of many a prize
card; Mr. Wm. Wyun's Nonpareil was in good fettle,
but he obtained merely a high commendation, which the
groom put out of sight, as being an insult to the old
horse ; Mr. Crowther's Carleton Tom, winner of first
prize and gold medal at Paris, wis only highly com-
mended ; and the Earl of EUesmere's Samson 2nd, first
at the Liverpool Royal as a two-year-old, was not noticed
at all. There were some good serviceable horses in this
class not honoured by the judges, amongst which may be
mentioned Sir R. Philip's Al, and Mr. R. Morgan's
Duke of Cambridge, a six-year-old bay, which realised
180 guineas under the hammer.

There were 19 entries in the open class for agricultural
ftallions rising three-years-old, and a very promising lot
they were, on the whole. A Clydesdale was the winner,

Clydesdiilc Tom, a big dapple grey, bred by Mr. James
Galhrflith, and exhibited by Messrs. Yeomans Brothers,
of Wolverhampton; the second prize going to Mr. J.
Eorshaw, for a very promising bay — neither of them
beiuif for sale. The Earl of Eilesmere sent three horses
to compete in this class, Young Prince of the Isle (3rd
prize), Knight of the Shires, and Lofty. Colts rising
two years old were 16 in number, the first prize goiiis to
Mr. John Nix, for a Lincolnshire hors » Boston, and the
other two prizes to the! Earl of Elle imero for Lo'-d of
the Shires and Samson 4th. The E;irl of Eilesmere was
also first and second with yearlings, of which there wee
but 8 entries. There were a few good Clydesdale mares,
and 22 shire-bred mares of one sort and another, the
Earl' of Eilesmere securing first and second honours
easily. There were two roadster stallions, IMr. T. Upton's
Youna; Quicksilver, and Mr. Redmau's Octavian ; also a
thorouifhbred, Mr. Clarke's Young Australian; all of
them old horses sent for sale, but they were, apparently,
bought in. There were also sonuuseful working geld-
ings, which sold well.

The total number of entries was 163, the cart stallions
in the several classes numbering 104. Mr. Cave, the
auctioneer, offered a prize of £50 for the best stallion in
the yard, on condition that the hor e should stand or
travel within 15 miles of Birmingham, but unfortunately
the condition could not be complied with. The show
and sale was very well arranged, and was completed
without accident.

i P R I Z E L I S T.

JUDGES.— H. J. Cartwright, Wolverhampton; H. Lowe,

Tamworth ; A. Smith, lI^ddingtoQ.

I Clydesdafe stallions of any age. — First prize, Tl'.e Stand

j Stud Company, Whitefi^ld, near Manchester (Sir William

Wallace) ; second, J. forsliaw, Blvth, Worksop (Bea Nevis) ;

third. The Stand Stud f;ompany (King o'Clyde).

Agricultural stallions other than Clydesdales, risinor four
years old and upwards.— First prize, J. Forshaw (What's
Wanted) ; second, Earl of Eilesmere, Worsley Hall, Manches-
ter (British Wonder) ; third, Lord Polwarth, Mertoun, St.
Boswell's (Harden) ; fourth, G. Jones, Stowbndge, Djwahain
Market (Leviathan).

Entire colts, rising three years old. — First prize, Messrs.
Yeomans Brothers, Pennymore Hay, Wolverhampton (Clydes-
dale Tom) ; second, J. Forsliaw (Temptation) ; third, Earl of
Eilesmere (Young Prince of the Isle).

Entire coits, rising two years old.— First prize, J. Nix
Ouiseats Stud Furm, Alfre'on (Boston); second, Earl of
Eilesmere (Lord of tlie Shires); third. Earl of Eilesmere
(Simson IV.)

Entire colts, rising one year. — First prize, Earl of Eiles-
mere ; second, Earl of Ellesnaere ; third, Messrs. Yeomans
Brothers.

Clydesdale mares of any age. — First prize, A. Mouteforaery,
Boreland, Castle Doutflas (Mons. Meg) ; second, A. iLmt^o-
mery (Bell) ; third, II. Loder, Whittlehnry, Towcester (Jess).

Agricultural mares, other than Clydesdales, rising four
years old and upwards. — First prize. Earl of Eilesmere
(Beauty); second, E-irl of Eilesmere (Honest Lady) ; third,
E. Singleton, Preston Deanery, Northampton (Topsy).

Agricultural geldiags or fillies rising three years old. — First
prize, Etrl of Eilesmere; second, Eiirl of Eilesmere; third,
11. H. Griffin, Borough Fen, Peterborough (Duchess).

Agricultural geldings or fillies rising two years old. — First
prize, Earl of Eilesmere; second, R. Loder, Whittlehnry,
Towcester (Jeannie Sproat) ; third, R. H. Griffin (Violet)

Extra Section. — Tnree £5 5s, prizes placed at the disposal
of the judges, to be awarded in the extra section, which will
consist of working cart horses, van horses, horses suit-jble for
tram or omnibus purposes, and other liorses entered for sale,
preference being given to those entered by the breeders. —
Working horses: Prize, G. Graham, The Oiklands, near Bir-
mingham (Sfiort). Prize, R. Toinmas, Wiuson Green, Bir-
mingham. Prize, G. Smith, Aackland Road, Camp Hill,
Birmingham.

The horses for sale were put up by auction by Mr. W, C. B.

22G

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Chv*-, and there vraa a fair compptition for them ; but the
hrgK reserves put upon many ot them prevented their sale,
Mr. Wifl. Couev's Julin Bull was bought in at 900 gs., the
reserve being 9o0 gs. ; tlie reserve on Mr. B. Cochran's Ruler
was 500 fTs. ; that on Capt. Bella's commended two-year-old
Wonder, 9jU gs. ; and tliat on Mr. J.F. Crowther'sChirapiou
Torn, 650 gs. Mr. Artliur L*ng's highly commended Clydes-
d-ile stallion, Sir John, was not sold, the reserve being 3S0 gs.,
but Mr. Cave is trying to nwke arrangements witli the owner
for lliis grand horse to stand at his Moseley Street stables
during the season. Tiie following were among the prices
realised :— Mr. P. Hastie's North Briton, 80 gs. ; Mr. H.
Andrews' unnamed black Clydesdale, 53 gs. ; Lieut. -Colonel
Williams' Roving Boy, 75 gs. ; Sir J. H.G. Smith's I'rince
Imperial, 95 gs. ; Mr. J. P. llaslara's Honesty, 41 gs. ; Mr.
J. Notl's Nobby, 71 gs. ; Mr. J. Harvey's Staffordshire^ Bill,
75 gs.; Mr. R. Morgan's Duke of Cambridge, 180 gs.; Mr.
A. M. Sbepperson's Match Me, 90 gs. ; Mr. W. VVynn's Per-
fection, 40 us. ; Mr. R. Blewitt's Young Norman, 90 gs. ;
Mr. J. S. Hack's Black Prince, 51 gs. ; The Stand Stud Com-
pany's Compact Tom, 60 g". ; Mr. J. Fox's first prize rising
two-year-old coit, 150 gs. ; Mr. B. Finney's highly commended
colt, 92 gs. ; Mr. C. Pratt's roan mare, 50 gs. ; Mr. Q. Fox's
roan mare, 45 gs. ; and Mr. G. Fox's dark brown colt f,eliling,
G5 gs. Arajngst the working horses, Mr. J. HodgKins's
Captain, Gi; gs."; Mr. E. M. Coleman's Traveller, 48 gs. ; Mr.
W. Whitworth's brown horse, 52 gs. ; and Mr. J. Elwell's
Black Prince, 58 gs.

THE SHORTHORN AND HEREFORD
CONTROVERSY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE 3IARK L.A.NE EXPPESS.

Sir, — I wish for some authority or publication that
will, through correspondence, give me the facts that will
show the movement of the Hereford and Shorthorn con-
troversy from 1800 to 1840, or substantially covering
this time, and would not mind coming down twenty
years later.

So far as this country is concerned, I claim that the
Herefords have suffered from the fact that the Shorthorn
men have controlled the agricultural societies and the
press in the interest of the Shorthorns. It may be
answered that the Herefords had the same opportunities.
If they did, they did not improve them, aud the writers
both in Eugland and America that have written up
the history of cattle in Eugland and America have
written in the interest of the Shorthorns. Aud the
time has come when the verdict in favour of Shorthorns
must be revised ; and this is being done in this country
very rapidly.

I expect to find a good deal of hard work in this ; but
I know from my own experience that the Hereford is not
only a better grazier, but he is a better, a more econo-
mical feeder as well, and your market reports show that
he is always worth more money.

Will your " Farmers' Magazine" give me the informa-
tion I 'want ? Will I there find the Hereford side of
the que.'^tion discussed ? and have you the back volumes ?
What would they cost ? If this would not meet my
want, or if you have not got it, Is there anything else
that would givG me these discussiona through the first
half of the present century ?

The meat question is of sufficient importance to secure
the fulUst investigation. And I desire to get at the
bottom facts ; these I am gathering here, and we are
making Hereford facts, both as regards grazing, feeding,
and quality.

Hoping that the" Farmers' Magazine " will be what I
want, aud that you liave it,

I am, Sir, &c.,

T. L. Miller.

Beecher, Will Cjunt'j, IlUnois, Feb. -ZOtk, 137'J.

MR. BARCLAY, M.P., AND FOREIGN
STORE STOCK.

TO THE EDITOR or THE MARK L\SE EXPRESS.

Sir, — My attention has been called to a slip on the
above-named subject from the Jlark Lunc E.c]>ress of
the 10th current, in reply to which allow me to say,
there are doubtless Scotch farmers who, in their dread of
a deficient supply of store cattle in spring, and of having
to purchase them at a high price to stock th;ir summer
pasture, do sympathise to some extent with Mr. Barclay's
views. In their desire to sec restrictions on the impor-
tation of cattle from America relaxed, they shut their
eyes to the great dauger of importing pleuro-pneumonia
along with them ; and although it caunot now be denied
that this disease extensively prevails in America, our
importers to the last have done their best to hoodwink
the public in this respect. Scotch farmers, as a body,
however, very much dread the importation of this disease
— the most difficult of all our contagious diseases to deal
with — and are averse to the withdrawal of the present
restrictions, however much they may wish the supply of
grazing cattle to be increased, as far as consistent with ■
safety to our home cattle ; and the great bulk of them
view with considerable alarm the effjrts now being made
by Mr. Barclay aud others to increase that supply by
permitting the unrestricted importation of cattle from
America, so long at least as pleuro-pneumonia is known
to exist among the herds of that country. We all know
how difficult it is to extirpate that insidious disease when
on3e it has established itself.

Mr. Barclay played an important part in preventing the
spread of rinderpest into Aberdeenshire when it visited
this country in I86G. His modus operandi then was
thorough isolation of that county from other parts of the
kingdom, and immediate slaughter when a case did ap-
pear in it. By these means he, aided by others, saved his
native county from that fell scourge, when all other parts
of the kingdom were more or less devastated by it ; aud it
is to be regretted that Mr. Barclay should now give his
countenance to views so much at variance with those then
advocated by him with so much success, and which earned
for him a fame in that county at least which will not soon
be forgotten. But, alas, tempora riiutantur tt nos
mulamur in illis. Mr. Barclay now represents a county
in which all are not of the same mind on this subject, his
constituency being a mixed one of town ana country
population, and our M.P. has to steer his bark through a
difiicult channel, between a Scylla ou the one hand and a
Chary bdis on the other, and of course while straining a
nerve to avoid the one there is a danger of coming to grief
upon the other. Verbum sat.

I am, Sir, &c.,

FORF.^RSIIIRE.

21st harch, 1879.

TYPHOID IN PIGS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE M,VRK LAJ\'E EXPRESS.

Sir,— Having lost several pigs during the last few years
from the above disease, and being unable to detect the
cause, I turned my attention to the water they drank,
which was very clear and supplied from a large pond, and
I found therein ''sewage matter.'' I may also say that
similar cases which have happened in this neighbouihood
have been traced to the same cause.

Since then I have used spring water and have not lost a
single pig. I am, Sir, &c-,

I'ollon lUii, Tpsii-ic//. Cii.vs.^GocHER,

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

FARMERS' GRIEVANCES.

ro THE EDITOR OF THE MARK L.VNE EXPRESS,

Sir, — Before jiassing on to the next iieaJ of my
discourse, I have a uartiug word to say of my last. — [See
p. 2f 4.1

Did I not know that farmers and their friends did not
liDow what they would be at, I should be iucliDcd to
Rsli them what they really would be at. They call for
I'arliamentary repieseniatives of their interests ; for
tenant farmer members ; fcr chambers of agriculture, not
for agricultural, but for tenants' purposes; for tenant
farmers' associations, from which landlord farmers, even
ex-tenant farmers, are excluded. 'J'hey have had their
Agricultural Holdings Bill, and much good may it do
t'.em. Your journal tells us the whole tenantry of
Uiuton and Iladdenham have, by preconcert, intimated
simultaneously that tbey will give up their farms unless
their rents are materially reduced. And yet " A Man of
Mark Lane" is indignant at the imputation of several
journals, that the tenantry are turning trades unionists,
in the very page in which he counsels a National
Farmers' Association, with federated committees in every
county, to command an organization " to assert and main-
tain the political rights of their class 1" Why this is just
the cry of labour parliaments, working men candi-
dates, the representation of labour. Mtdato nomine —
'' the proverb is somewhat musty."

Political rights ! Pray what political rights have
farmers different from those of other citizens and sub-
jeccs ? What have politirs, what has Parliament, to do
with the material condition of the tenantry, and their
relations with their landlords ? Speak out ! Let us
understand each other. Is it meant by mere vote power
at county elections to extort by Act of Parliament from
owners of land concessions which are not to be had by
free covenant, and are incompatible with the ordinary
rights of ownership ? In short, is it .neant to muster
such a counting of noses at the polling-booth as will
eflect the passing by statute of provisions that will prac-
tically confiscate the freehold rights of land tenure ? Why
this is Joseph Arch and the Trades Union Conference all
over, [t smells in every line of the Amalgamated
Engineers and Mr. ilacdonald. Let us all go to Par-
liament for everything we want to get out of other
people — help ourselves by statute of the realm to the
contents of our neighbours' pockets, and " patter " free
trade while we are all looking to make our bargains, not
by free covenant, but by compulsion of statute, and the
votes of our county members.

Again I ask, Do your political tenantry really know
what they would be at ? Na clamour is louder than that
for fixity of tenure. And yet — will it be believed — there
are literally thousands of English tenants who refuse
leases. Vealt in senaiu — etiam in senatu venit. Mr.
Lane, of Broom Court, one of the leading oracles of the
new Warwick Association, " was turned out because
he would not have the proposed lease hung about his
neck," and '* A Man ot Mark Lane " tells me of the
" collapse of Scotland, where a lease is not a panacea for
agricultural evils." The same writer assures the world
that a " Tenant-Right in England is urgently needed,"
while he assures me •' Englishmen never asked for any-
thing on the same principle as the Irish Laud Act," and
winds up by charging me with a communistic proposition
in sug'gesting that if modes of tillage are to be prescribed
for owners and tenants, they had better be regnlated on
a uniform principle by an independent and public officer.

I conclude by a Parthian glance at the jeremiad of your
correspondent " A Sufferer." By that well bull-ragged
Law of Distress, he says the ruthless landlord can " rush
into the house of the tenant without giving any notice

227

whatever, and leave there an individual whose presence is
not likely to contribute to the happiness of the family;
whereas it the landlord had only the same remedy to
recover rent as the trader — and it is most unjust to the
traderlhat the landlord has priority, which generally ends
in the whole effects being absorded for rent and large
expenses — the tenant would in all probability, by selling
his produce to the merchant or dealer, be able to continue
his tenancy, to save his reputation, avert the invasion of
Lis ' castle.' "

Is it then incompetent for any ordinary executioa
creditor to " rush into the house," the tax, tithe, or rate
collector? Can the " invasion of the castle" by "the
trader" be "averted" any better than from the landlord?
Nay -is it not ju>t the landlord olow, who, because of
the security which the law of distress gives him, need not
" rush into the house" and may prevent every body else
from doing so, while the tenant may have six years to
recover from bad crops, and to catch the best time for
high prices for grain and stock ? Why may not the tenant
''save his reputation" by paying his rent out of the pro-
ceeds of "a sale to the merchant ?" Perhaps " A Suf-
ferer's" grievance is that he is not allowed to put those
proceeds in his own pocket, and to leave the rent " an
insoluble quantity."

For the typographical errors in my former letters per-
haps a not too legible manuscript is to blame.
I am, Sir, &c.,

Sidney Smith.

The J/awo?-, Feltham, March 20.

[Our correspondent has not studied " farmers' grievances''
to much purpose if he does not know the difference
between the English and the Irish demands for
Tenant-Right. The former is simply a demand for
payment for value received ; the latter includes com-
pensation for disturbance, and rents valued by
arbitrators. It appears, too, that Mr. Smith is unable
to conceive of tenant-farmers combining to get real
instead of sham representatives without having other
objects than the reform of long-neglected agricultural
abuses in view, or that tenants can unite to alter laws
which allow their pockets to be picked, without having
a design on other people's pockets. We entirely fail
to see where he traces a connection between a combina-
tion of tenants on two particular estates to get rents
reduced and a proposed national political association —
Ed.]

THE COUNTY BOARDS BILL— At a meeting of the
Labour Representation Leasiue, held at the otiices, 27, Villiers
Street, on Saturday, Mr. G. G. Taylor in the chair, the lol-
lowing resolution was passed uiianiniously : — "That this
meeting, having considered the provisions of the County
Boards Bill, expresses its opinion that the measnre is far from
being satisfactory ; and is further of opmion tliat any legis-
lative dealing with country administration should be leased
upon the following; principles: — 1st. That there sliould be but
one election for all purposes of comty government. 2nd. Th^t
every male ratepayer should be eligible to serve upon the
board. 3rd. That every ratepayer in the county should be
entitled to vote for the election of members to the board.
■ih. That the board so elected sliould appoint from its
members tlie various committees for local purposes, including
1 hat for the relief of the poor, but that no rates be levied,
except by the vote of the whole board.

EAST aE.\T CHAMBER OF AGRICULTURE.— At a
special general meeting of this Chamber, held on Saturday at
the Guildhall, Canterbury, Mr. Basil Hodges in the cbnir, a
paper was read by Mr. Bernard Dyer, F.C.S., AT. C. (Con-
sulting Chemist to the Devon County Agricultural AssociRtioD,
Noifs Chamber of Agriculuue, &c.), on "The Analysis of
Artificial Manures, and the Buying and Using them to Advant-
age; with Some Observations on the Unexhausted Value of
Feeding Stuffs." We shall give this paper in an early number.

228

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

lixjriaivhtnti flfjparfs.

^

ESSEX.
No so ranch sunshine last week ; white frosts and slight
SHOW falls ; hiud 'avounible for cultivatiou ; and ploujjhs
busy. Miinured our land for mangel direct from the
covered yard, where each young man filled twenty carts
in ten hours. Six acres were thus quickly manured
without the intervention of a dungheap and twice handling.
The manure is now being spread, after which the land will
be ploughed a id subsoiled, the first plough with two
horses being followed by another plough, mmus the breast-
drum, by three horses. In our thirteen ac. es (chapel land)
the powerful steam plough in lS7-i left us a legacy of hard
work in every subsequent tillage. It was a great and un-
profitable mistake to .bring to the surface so much of the
glutinous yellow plastic subsoil, and many have had to
regiet their indulgence in disturbing too deeply these
tenacious soils. Had there been a subsoil plough attached
to the upper one (as was done on my farm some twenty
years ago), the mischief would have been avoided, for the
surface slice would have still laid upon and turned over
subsoil; a top dressing of poor subsoil two inches thick
(which would be 200 tons per acre) placed on the old
seed bed is by far too much of a bad thing, for I am more
and more convinced that it is.ia the upper crust thai plants
libre most abuadantly, the deeper roots supplying
moisture to the plants in dry weather. At four feet apart
from row to row I have found, as early as August, tbe
whole intermediate space filled with the fine fibre of the
mangel plant. For thirty-six years I have been a deep
cultivator, but always keeping the subsoil, when broken,
under the surface soil, the manures falling between the
two. Lambing successful, mostly twins, only 16 to com-
plete. We suffered less where the land was only steam
ploughed, and then next year again steam ploughed, so
thatthe bad soil was sent down again ; but where after
steam ploughing the land was steam cultivated, the bad
subsoil gotinextricably mixed with the better soil, much
to the injury of the crops. The corn crops suffered mors
than the' root crops.— J. J Mechi, 31arch 17.

KORTII ESSEX.
March dust we have had but scarcely so much of it as
we could desire ; so far we have never had the land tho-
roughly dry and it is only the really heavy lands which
have frost-made moulds on the surface that have worked
satisfactorily for the barley seed. All medium-mixed
soils, especially those that have been trodden by sheep at
any time during wet weather, require a great deal of
tillage before they can be reduced to anything like a
fitting state for that grain, which is so jealous of a dry
bed; a great deal of pitience is needei in dealing with
soils in the condition referred to, for the difficultj is to
meet with four or five acres iu the same field that require
the same amount of work and the same treatment ; for
instance, five or six folds were stamped when the earth
was frost-bound, the next two or three folds were stamped
when the earth was wet, the former ploughing with
plenty of free moulds, the latter ploughing up tough and
cold, thus demanding three times the labour to be bestowed
upon them, and even then the tilling is not perfect.
Except in the heavy lauds but little barley has been
planted hitherto, and where it has been hurried in not
much judgment has been shown. Farmers should re-
member that the season is very backward, all negatives
being vei-y tardy in progress — the wheats in many dis-
tricts only not showing — so that relatively speaking the
sowing is not backward ; thus there is no need for careless
speed ; far better to work thoroughly two thirds of the

barley course and put in tiie remaining fhiru somewhat
later, than to hurry all in in an unsatisfactory state, for
though as a rule the earlier-sown barley does the best,
that is not always the case, therefore it is bad policy to
scamp th3 tillages. The growing wheats must be
regarded from too points of view ; on the close soils,
where the seed was deposited in a dry bed, we may
5peak of the plants as being good and strong but very
backward ; on the lighter mixed soils the plants is very
deficient owing partly lo the activity of the wirewormand
partly to the very exposed condition of the land during
the most severe and prolonged frosts we have had for
many years. The breadth of land occupied by this
grain, which for obvious reasons is no longer the farmer's
pet, is considerably less than usual, and speaking from
present a])pearancfi3 we do not look for a large crop ; the
lighter soils especially run the risk of being exposed to the
exhausting influencesof the sun before the land is shaded by
the plants, which means that the growth of theyoting plants
would be prematurely arrested, while on the other hand,
supposing forcing weather supervenes — showers alternately
with oppressive gleams of sunshine — the wheat runs a
great risk of becoming mildewed. It is very sad to see
the indifi'erence which is displayed in too many cases in
many vital operations on the farm ; there is a laiaser
faire style about the whole conduct of agriculture which
bodes no good either to landlord or tenant, and it is just
such a state of things which will have its own revenge ;
land bearing foul and impoverished farms getting bad
names, and hundreds of farms iu this county either beg-
ging for tenants or soon to fall into the laudlorJs' hands.
What are to be the remedies for this state of things ?
Whatever the list may include certainly the nostrum of
protection must not have a position there. — W. D.
March 20.

TIIE INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL
EXHIBITION.

Colonel Kingscote, MP., presided on Wednesday over
a meeting of the Exhibition Committee, at the Offices of
the Iloyal Agricultural Society, in Ilauover Square, for
the purpose of considering the reply of the Ecclesiastical
Commissioners to a deputation which waited upon them
last week with the view of urging the speedy completion
of Brondesbury Road, Kilburn, which is situate close to
the site of the Exhibition. The reply stated that the
Commissioners did not feel justified in sanctioning so
large an expenditure as they were asked to make, unless
they could be assured that some substantial contributiou.
(say £400 or an equivalent thereto) be offered to them.
After some discussion, it was resolved, on the motion of
Lord Richard Grosveuor, M.P., seconded by Mr. Charles
Ilambro, " That the offer of the Ecclesiastical Commis-
sioners be declined with thanks, owing to the inability of
the Royal Agricultural Society, or the Mansion House
Committee, to raise £400 towards making the extension
of the Brondesbury Road." — The arrangements for this
exhibition are fast approaching completion, and the show-
yard works are being rapidly pushed forward. Progress
is also being made with the new railway siding of the
London and North Western Railway at Salnsbury Road,
Kilburn, which is adjacent to the site of the Exhibition,
and will be very convenient for the loading and unloading
of stock, produce, and implements. Iu addition to the
va.-t collection of valuable animals, agricultural and horti-
cultural requisites, miscellaneous goods, English and
foreign hops, cider, perry, butter, cheese, haras, preserved
meats, bees, hives, and a comparative museum of ancien
and modern implements, preparations are being made for
a horticultural display, tastefully arranged along the sides
of a railway embankment, which is iuclinled iu the oue
huudred acres set apart for the Exhibition,

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

229

GLASGOW STALLION SHOW.

On Feb. 25 the annual show of CIy(lcsJ;ilc stallions
was held on the Cattle Market Stance, Duke Street, Glas-
gow. The weather was the best possible for the occasion
— the air being frosty, and, witb the exception of an hour
or so in the morning, clear and bracing. There was as
usual a large concourse of spectators, and the scone inside
the showyard was of the liveliest description all day up
till the hour of closing. The total number of entries this
year shows a slight decrease upon tbat for last year. The
total decrease is 17. This, however, is accounted for by
the fact that there was this year no class for thorough-
breds, the directors having decided at a recent meeting
that Ciydasdale stallions should alone compete. Judging
commenced at ten o'clock in both rings, and for several
hours the interesting and important task of weeding out
was carried on in the presence of over 25 deputations and
a crowd of interested spectators. lu the aged class it
was nigh two o'clock before the judges had come to a
select few. After going through the whole class, the
jndf'es retained a leet of five, from which agniu two —
Straihel3'de, belonging to Mr. P. Crawford, Dumgojack,
Strathblane, and bred at Uunglass, South End, Campbel-
town, and which took the first prize last year;
and Breastknot, the property of Mr. D. Riddell,
Blackhall, Paisley, and bred by Mr. Paterson,
Jionnybridge — were shortly picked out to compete
finally for the ho lours. In many points the two horses
Were equally good, and it was not without considerable
ditliculty that the judges could come to a satisfactory
dicision. At last however, the premium fell to Mr.
Riddell's horse Breastknot. This horse, which is a
powerfully-built but graceful animal, is comparatively
young, and travelled in the Dumfries district last year.
In the three-year-old class the judges did not find great
dirticnlty in selecting a few probable winners ; stjU the
task of deciding to which the premium should go could
not ha performed without a close inspection of their
several merits. The list was ultimately reduced to two,
the horses being Mr. Johnston' s (of Lochburuie)
Roderick i)hu and Mr. Riddell's Rosebery, and the prize
was awarded to the former. The prizes and prize-winnera
are as follows : —

Class I. — For the best stallion foaled before the 1st
January, 1876, and not above tea years old, the Societj's
premium of £IU0— David Riddell, Blaekhall, Pai ley.
IJreast not, bay, a;ied o years; bred by Mr, I'atersou, iJoauy-
bridge ; sire, Time o' Day.

Class II. — For the best stallion foaled after l>t January,
1876, the Society's premium of £100— James Johnston,
Jjochburnie, Maryhill, Roderick Dhu, dark brown, aged 3
years and eight months ; bred by Lawrence Drew, Merryton,
Hamilton ; dam, Bessie.

As already stated, a large number of depu-
tations from other societies throughout the couuiry
were preseut for the purpose of selecting horses to
travel during the ensuing season in their respective
districts. The following were among the selections,
with premiums.

Dalbeattie Agricultural Society (Premium, £100)— Mr.
Hugh Andrew, Lenuuxlove, HaddingtoD, Ljthian Chief, dark
brown horse, rising live years. Cnrr.ck Farmers' Society
(£100)— Mr. David Riddell's Gold Dust, dark chestnut, four
>eHrs old. East of BKrwickshire Horse Clab (£100). — Mr.
Jolin Howatson's (Fullwood, Slewartoii) Princn Albert, bright
bay horse, rising mx years. West Teviutdale Agricultural
Association (£100)— jNlr. Peter Ferguson, Renfrew, King
William, a dark bay, aged lour years and eight montiis. Kin-
ross Agricultural Society — Mr. James Kerr's (Killjirnie) Xew
Style, a dark brown, rising seven jears. VVirral and Birken-
head Agricultural Society (£120) — 3lr. Thomas Sla'ter'g
(iMaucbester) Sir Williiiui WullAce, a bay horse, five years and

' seven months old. Netherby Horse Society— Mr. Peter
Crawford's Clydesdale Hero, brown horse, aged two years and
nine months. Dunblane, Dooue. and Callander Farmers'
Club (£50)— Mr. Gavin Jack's (Corstorphine) Chieftain, a
ay horse, aged two years and nine months. Dumbirton
Agricultural Society (£100)— Xlr. Peter Crawford's
Ivanhoe (the winner of the £100 premium at last year's slio»v).
Angus AgricuUural Society— Mr. James Alexander's (Kilsyth)
General Williams, a li^lit bay, 8 years and 8 months old.
Eastern District of Kirkcudbriubt (£80)— Mr. Peter Crawford's
Strathclyde, who gained the Glasgow Society's silver medal as
a three-\ ear-old at last year's show. Bute Farmers' Club (£100)
—Mr. John Hendrie, Coatbridge, Geueral Neil. Penrith
Agricultural Society (£100)— Mr. James Kerr's (Kilbiruie)
Lothian Prince, a dark brown horse, rising three years.
Ardrossan District Society (£100)— Mr. Thomas Denholm's
(Wnulbiinn) Glengarry. K.ntyre Agricultural Society (£100)
— Mr. William Stevenson's (Bistiopbriggs) Farmers' Fancy.
Dumfries Agricultural Society (£100)— Mr. David Riddell's
Chancellor. Lauderdale Agricultural Socie'y (£G0)— Mr.
Peter M'Robbie Aberdeen, The Chieftain. Denbighshire and
Flintshire Association (£100)- Mr. John S. M'Robbie, Aber-
deen, The Viceroy. Girvan District Society— Mr. Alexander
Brewster's (Brairchal, Kilmalcolm) Young Pride of Scotland,
bright bay, aged 3 years and 7 months. Peebles Stud Horse'
Association (£100)— Mr. Andrew Montgomery's (Borelaud
Castle-Douglas) Farmer, bay. Auchinearn Horse Society
(£100)— Mr. James M'Nab's (Menatrie) Champion of the
North, light bay, aged twM years and nine months. Inveraray
Pastoral Society (£50)— Alex. Robertson's (Kilwiuning)
Young Favourite, dark brown, aged two years and eight
months. Arran Fanners' Society (£60)— Mr. John Paton's
(Renfrew) Baron Renfrew, dark brown, aged 4 years and
eight mouths. Lijiithgow Society— Mr. D. Riddell's
Rosebery, bay, aged 3 years. Machars of Wigtown— Lord
Derby, which was selected for this district for the previous
two years. Poltalloch District Society (£80)— Mr. Peter
Ferguson's (Renfrew) Sir Colin, dark bay, aged 4 years and
eight mouths. Upoer 'Cowal (TighnabrUHich) Society (£60)
—Messrs. Thomas Biggar and Sons' ( Dalbeattie) Beaconslield,
dark bay, 2 years and 8 months. East Berwick lloise Club
(£80)— Mr. Robert Duncan's (Duulop) Pride ol Danlop,
brown, 2 years and 10 mouths.

SALES,

In addition to these premiums a number of sales were
transacted in the yard duriug the course of the day. The
principal sales were :— Modern Type, brown, aged lour years,
belonging to Mr. John Brown, Lissensmoss, Kilwinning, sold
to the Stand Stud Company, Manchester, for £300; Sir
William Wallace, bay, aged five years and seven months,
belongin? to Mr. R. iAIacIndoe, East Wilkinshuw, Paisley,
sold to Mr. Thomas Statter, Sitmd Hall, Manchester, for a
large sum; was afterwards sold to trnvel for the Wirral and
Birkenliead Agricultural Society ; Gleuilfer (not catalogued),
belonging to Mrs. Giiumill, of Copelaw, s-old to go to
Australia for a large sum ; a dark brown belonging to Mr. P.
Wright, Knock, Renlrew, sold to Mr. Robert Hardie,
Carnoustie, for service in Forfarshire ; Tillside Chief, dark
bay, aged six years, belonging to Mr. George Young, jun.,
Blue Bell Inn, Pallinsburn, to go to Melbourne; Alexander
the Great, bay, aged two years and nine months, belonging to
Mr. Peter Crawford, Dumgojack, Stiathblane, sold to John
Hart, Port Alelaide, Australia, for £1,000 ; and Clan Alpine,
brown, aged two years and four months, belonging to Mr. J
Johnstone, Loclibiruie, Maryhill, sold to Mr. Jacob Wilsoa
Manor Park, Morpeth. — Hcutsmun.

General Le Due, Commissioner of Agriculture, U.S.A.,
has received from a correspondent iu Egypt a proposal to
export horses for carriage purposes to that couutry,
making use of the lines of steamers which trade direct
from America to Gibraltar and Genoa, whence the animals
could be transhipped for Alexandria, with the bojie of
getting this class of horses cheaper than from England.
There seem to be no bounds to the commercial enter-
prise of our American cousins; they have already com-
menced sending grain to Spain, and there is uo knowing
but they may send coals to Newcastle.

R

230

THE FARMERS' CLUB
TUllAL ASPECTS AND
Mr. Scotson was on the ri

THE FAllMER'S

ON AGRICUL-
PROSPECTS.

Li'lit tack when he

summed up his proposed remedies for the diiiicul-
ties which British farmers are in, owing to the
altered conditions of agriculture, altho igh the first
clause of his sentence is open to objection. He
said : " Landlords ought in justice to lower their
rents, abolish restrictive covenants, preserve less
game, give security of tenure and compensation for
unexhausted improvements, and encourage by
evtry other Bieans a more liberal outlay on the
l;\nd." We have often before objected to any at-
tempt to lay down the law as to what landlords
" ought '■ to accept in the way of rent, which, as
Mr. Scotson admits in another part of his_ paper,
is to a great extent ruled by the proportions of
supply and demand. That they would be prudent
to reduce rents, in order to avoid the run down
which a farming panic would produce, is quite a
different statement. Similarly, it is quite reason-
able to urge landlords to show some sympathy with
their present tenants, and to accept less rent from
them rather than wait till these hard-pressed men
are ruined, and then accept less still from strangers.
Whether a man " ought " in any case to take less
than the utmost he can obtain for a commodity
which he possesses is a question of abstruse ethics
which must be left to his own conscience to deter-
mine. This, at least, is certain, that no other man
has a right to tell him that he "ought " to do so.
Anyone may advise him as to wliat is prudent from
;t far-sighted point of view, and anyone may plead
with him to let kindly feeling have some sway in
his commercial transacUors ; but more than this is
an unwarrantable dictation. On the other hand, it
is perfectly legitimate, as we believe it is reason-
able, to declare that rents must come down ; and as
thev are coming down already there is no prophetic
rashness in the declaration. Similarly, we should
prefer to say that landlords would, if they were
wise, abolish restrictive covenants, rather than that
they " ought " to do so. That they " ought" to pre-
serve less game we think is a fair axiom, as nothing
is more firmly established as a moral doctrine than
that no one ought to exercise his self-indulgence to
the injury of his fellow-creatures. Still more
clear if possible is it tliat landlords ought to pay for
unexhausted improvements, which is no move than
paying for value received.

The use of homilies to landlords, however, is
very questionable, and those which Mr. Scotson
repeats have been preached for the last half-century
with more or less persistency, not to speak of oc-
casional sermons of the same kind delivered at
juore remote periods by men who were " before
their time." It is slow wcu'k to convert a multi-
tude, and one of the chief uses of Government is
to insist on people doing what is just to each other,
and what is expedient for the welfare of the nation.
Instead, then, of telling laiidlords what they ought
to do, it would be more to the purpose to tell our
legislators what they ought to compel landlords to
do. 3Uit oven to do this with effect, it is necessary
for farmers and olliers to select their legislators.
They must choose men who will promise to reform
the Laud and Game Laws, give security to tenants'

MAGAZINE.

capital expended in improvements, and otherwise
remove the disabilities to agricultural advancement.
As to the removal of unreasonable farming restric-
tions, tenants will be able of themselves to insist
on that now that farms rather than occupiers
are going begging. The chief lesson for fiirmers to
lay to heart, however, is that agricultural reform
must begin at the polling booth.

The discussion which followed the reading of
the paper was one of the best that has recently
taken place at the Club. Mr. Little's able speech
was moi'e exhaustive than the paper, and it was
followed by some other good speeches, including a
stirring one from Mr. Head. But both Mr. Little
andMr.Read dweltrather upon the ills which farmers
are suffering than upon the remedies for those ills ;
and this is a common characteristic of agricultural
discussions. Farmers are the best hands in the
world at grumbling, but the worst at agreemg upon
and working for the removal of the causes of their
discontent. It is only natural that there should be
more unanimity as to the existence of evils than
there is with respect to their proper cures, the first
being a matter of experience, and the latter one of
opinion. Yet we have had the causes of agricul-
tural depression so long under consideration that it
is quite time certain first principles in relation to
them should be established. Not only this : it is also
quite time that the course which farmers should
take to rid themselves of the causes of the depres-
sion of their industry, as far as these are removable,
should be agreed upon. It is in this respect most
of all that farmers have failed hitherto. They all
agree that agricultural depression exists ; a large
number of the more thoughtful among them agree
— as most of the speakers at the Club did, for
instance — that the depression is to some extent
caused or increased by certain hindrances to agri-
cultural enterprise which it is undoubtedly within
the power of Parliament to remove ; yet compara-
tively few of them take the logical course which
this degree of unanimity should lead to — that of
determining to use an abundant political power to
obtain the removal of the hindrances in question.
In short, farmers grumble, but do not fight ; and it
is not political grumblers, but political belligerents
who get their own way. Our army in Zululand
might as well hope to subdue King Cetewayo by
holding councils of war, as farmers to get their
grievances redressed by indulging in choruses of
lamentations at their meetings.

One of the most serious of farmers' disabilities is
that of being denied security for their invested
capital, and this Mr. ReadonMoiulay appropriately
termed a national disgrace. The Agricultural
Holdings Act has proved to be an utter failure, and
there is not the slightest prospect that it will ever
be anything else. But members of the governing
party in Parliament refuse to admit that the Act
is a failure ; hence the value of Mr. Samuelson's
proposal for a Committee to decide whether it is a
failure or not. Hence, too, the appropriateness of
]Mr. HeniT Clark's resolution, passed by the mem-
bers of the Club tlirough his admirable persistence,
although, on account of the ruling of the Chair-
man, it was not put till after the formal meeting
had been dissolved. ButMr. Samuelson's proposed
in|uiry, if granted, will not bo limited to the ope-

THE FARMERS MAGAZINE

231

ration of the Afrricnltural Holding's Act ; it will
tjnibrace the couclitiun of ajrvicaltural tenancies
generally, and thus will take evidence upon various
subjects of "constant complaining amongst tenant-
farmers. It is most inipoi'taut that the Committee
should be granted, and it is well tliat the members
of the Club present at the meeting on jNJonday
passed JNIr. Clark's resolution. It would have been
still better if the Chairman had taken the sense of
tlie meeting as to whether the resolution should be
put in a formal manner from the chair. It is not
usual for the Club to pass resolutions, and it is not
desirable, as a rule, that resolutions should be pro-
posed unless notice of them has previouslv been
given ; but in a serious agricultural crisis like the
present we should not stand on trifling considera-
tions of precedent or formality. Indeed, in these
stirring timee, it is a question which the Commit-
tee of the Club may fairly be asked to consider,
whether resolutions maynot be proposed byreaders
of papers if they are published beforehand. On
many subjects dealt with by the Club resolutions
would be inappropriate, but on others they are
very much to the purpose, and might be of use.
]5ut resolutions alone are not enough, unless the
farmers who pass them make known their deter-
mination to support such declarations by their votes
at the Parliamentary elections.

AN IMPORTANT MOVEMENT IN SCOT-
LAND.

The Directors of the Scottish Chamber of
Agriculture have taken a course which we have
long argued that some airricultural body in this
part of the kingdom should take. They have
issued an address to the constituencies, setting
forth in striking language some of the evils caused
by existing laws relating to laud and agriculture,
and appealing to voters to use their political
power to get these injurious laws repealed or
reformed, as each case may require. We trust
that this admirable address will be circulated
widely amongst English as well as Scotch con-
stituencies, and with a view to extending its
circulation we inform our readers that the
pamphlet can be obtained of Messrs. Seton and
Mackenzie, of Edinburgh, for three-halfpence,
post-free. It would be well if it could be read,
not only by everyone connected with agriculture,
but by every voter in the United Kingdom, and
we can promise everyone who sends for it a great
deal Jiiore than the value of the small sum which
it will cost. The injustice and mischief of Ilypo-
tliec and Distress are very strikingly described,
and we venture to affirm that there are few Eng-
lishmen who ma}' not learn much that they did
not know before about the details of the Scotch
law. This portion of the pamphlet may be
especiall}' commended to the attention of the
members of the English Central Chamber, who
have recently passed a half-hearted and worse
than useless resolution in relation to the Law of
Distress. The Game Laws, the absence of security
for tenants" improvements, the Law of Entail, and
some peculiar and exceedingly oppressive privi-
leges of Scotch landlords are also dealt within the
address. Next, the evils to landlords, tenants, and

consumers, of such unfair and unwise restrictions
upon agricultural progress as tlie laws referred to
are ff.hown to be are forcibly described, and the
urgency of removing all such shackles from the
cultivators of the soil at this period of serious
depression is earnestly pleaded.
I But the Directors of the Scottish Chamber have
not been content to send out a blank cartridge, &$
agricultural bodies on this side of the Tweed are
accustomed to do. On the contrary^ they have
well rammed in a very effective charge of shot.
That is to say, they have not only shown clearly
what is wrong with the condition of agriculture,
but they have also pointed out the way by which
it may be remedied, and urged farmers and other
voters to take advantage of the means so clearly
in their power to use. Their advice is so well put
that we make no apology for quoting the portion
of it which is addressed especially to farmers : — •

" What, then, are the Scotch constituencies to
do ? They have already sent to Parliament repre-
sentatives pledged to give their votes, and who,
in the last division on the subject, have given their
votes, for the total abolition of Agricultural
Hypothec, in the proportioa of thirty-eiglit against
three. And this odious law has been rivetted on
Scotland by the apathy or resistance of successive
Governments, agaiut this overwhelming pre-
ponderance of opinion in the country which the
law oppresses. The case is one of flagrant wrong
and atiront to the Scotch constituences. It is,
therefore, no longer sufficient to pledge Parlia-
mentary candidates to give their individual votes
for the abolition of this law. The time has come
when they must be required to undertake that
they shall withhold support from any Government
which shall continue to overbear tlie voice of the
const iiuencies lathis matter, or refuse to deal
justly and elt'ectively with other land grievances.
If that course be followed with resoluiion and
union, no Government will venture lunger to trifle
with these urgent questions. The abolition of
Agricultural Hypothec should be total and imme-
diate. To postpone its repeal till the end of each
lease would deprive the measure of a great part
of its beneficial action. It would leave traders in
great uncertainty, and the fear of Hypothec would
continue to atiect the credit of farmers for many
years.

" Tenant-farmers have hitherto had plenty of
fair ])romises at the hustings, but no performances
in the House. Their interests have been woefully
neglected, and themselves treated with indifference
as soon as they have polled. The law bristles
with rules and provisions specially contrived, in the
landlord's fancied interest, to their injury and de-
gradation. Manufacturers and ccmmercial nieu
have, by resolute effort, obtained their release
from every law that was detriuieDtal to their in-
dustry. Artisans aud other workmen, long before
they obtniued the franchise, effected their deli-
verance frofti the laws which hindered their
industrial fieedom. Let the farmers profit by the
lesson, aud imitate the example. They have the
political power of the counties in their hands.
They have only to will their freedom resolutely aud
it is secure. These are no times for half measures.
Let thum select men to represent them whose

11 :i

232

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

sympathies are with them, who have their true
iuterests at heart, and who possess an iutellij^ent
practical li.uowledge of their real grievances ; and
let them vote in "solid ranks against every candi-
■date of whose thorough earnestness to redress these
-grievances they are not fully assured."

This is the Irind of ipolitical action that is
required in England and Scotland alike, and we
should rejoice to see some agricultural association
•formed here to co-operate wifh the Scottish

Chamber. We hope and believe that the action of
the Directors will not end with the issuing of
their address, but that they will orgaiiize a local

coiruiiittee in every agricultural constituency in

Scotland to work with them.

Jlgricultunil (Societies.

EOTAL OP ENaLAND.

ITonthly Counoil, WeJuesday, March 5rh, 1879.
Present — Colonel Kingscote, C.Ji., M.P , Trustee, in the
chair, Earl Cathcart, the Earl of Powis, Lord Chesham,
liOrd Skelmersdale, Lord Vernon, the Hon. W. E>;erton,
M.P., Sir ^Y. Erie Welby Gregory, Bart., M.P., Sir
lirandreth Gibbs, Mr. Aveling, Mr. Bowly, Mr. Cantrell,
Mr. Chandos-Pole-Gell, Mr. Davies, Mr- Druce, Mr.
1 oster, Mr. Prankish, ilr. Bowen Jones, Mr. Leeds, Mr,
Mcintosh, Mr. Neville, Mr. Pain, Mr. Rawlence, Mr.
Russell, Mr. Sheraton, Mr. Shuttleworth, Mr. Torr, M.P„
Lieut. -Colonel Turbervill, Mr. Jabez Turner, Mr. Wells,
Mr. Wakefield, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Wise, Professor Simouds,
and Dr. Voelcker.

Mr. John Gwynne, of Kenton Grange, The Hyde, N.W.,
was elected a governor of the society, and a number of
new members, whose names will be found on page 258.

FINANCES.

Colonel KiXGSCOTE (Chairman) presented t,iie report
from which it ajjpeared that the Secretary's receipts during
the past month had been esimined by the Committee, and
by Messrs. Quilter, Ball, and Co., the Society's accuiiut-
ants, and found correct. The balance in the hands of the
bankers on February 28th was j£4,073 lis. 5J.

This report was adopted.

JOURNAL.

Mr. CiiANDOS Pole-Gell reported that the spring
number of the J'c/J^'ia/ was being printed, and would be
issued to the members of the Society in the course of the
current month. This report was adopted.

CHEMICAL.

^Ir. Wells (Chairman) reported that the Committee
had considered a case of adulterated manure brought
!)cfore them by Dr. Voelcker, aad had referred the case to
the Society's solicitors. Dr. Voelcker had also brought
before the Committee the case of some oats (bought from
a dealer), which appeared of a bright colour, but which
the horses refused to eat. Dr. Voelcker found, on ex-
amination, that they had been exposed to sulphur fumes
— a process not uufreqaently resorted to for the purpose
of giving old, stale, or discoloured oats the appearance of
'being sotnd and good. During the past year the follow-
ing reports for publication in the Society's Journal had
been furnished by the consulting chemist: — (1) Oa the
.ludueuceof (/hemical Discoveries on the Progress of
Agri'-ulture. (2) Annual Report for 1S7S, and (3) Report
•of the Field and Feeding Experiments conducted at

Wobuvn on behalf of the Royal Agricultural Society of
Englnnd, during the year 1878. The Committee recom-
mended that the annual grant of £200 for the year ending
March 25th, 1879, be paid -, and that the new agreement
with Dr. Voelcker, as consulting chemist of the Society,
to commence on March 25th, 1S79, having been approved
by the Committee and Dr. Voelcker, be signed and sealed
by the Secretary on behalf of the Society. The Com-
mittee recommended, on Mr. Christopher's recommenda-
tion, the further payment of £250 on account of the new
Laboratory, making £600 in all. The Lnboratory being
in working order, Dr. Voelcker proposed to transfer the
Society's work there on the 17th inst. The Committee
recommendedthat the sum of £200 be paid to Dr. Voelcker
on account of the fittings of the Laboratory.

This report was adopted, and, on the motion of Mr,
Wells, the Secretary was empowered to sigu and seal the
agreement with Dr. Voelcker,

EDUCATION.

Mr. BowEN Jones reported that the Duke of Bedford
had been elected Chairman for the year. The Senior
Examination had been fixed to commence in the second
week of April, and the Committee recommended that
certain gentlemen be invited to act as examiners. With
reference to Mr, Bell's suggestion made at the last
general meeting, the Committee recommended that the
examination for Junior Scholarships be in future open to
students who have passed in the 24th subject (Principles
of Agriculture) of the Science and Art Department
Examination, subject to the existing conditions applying
to the Junior Scholarships. The Committee also recom-
mended that the Science and Art Department be asked
to admit, without examination, candidates for the position
of Science Teacher in subject 24, who hold the Diploma
of the Agricultural College at Cirencester, or the tirst-
class certificate of the Royal Agricultural Society.

Mr. Bowen Jones added that the " principles of
agriculture" is a new subject that lias been admitted by
the Science and Art Department (or examination under
the Government arrangements with respect to elementary
schools. The teachers receive fees for the candidates who
successfully pass the examinations, and there are several
grades, honours being given in one diss. With regard
to the last paragraph in the report, it is, he said, neces-
sary under the rules of the Science and Art Department
for teachers to possess a degree of a Uaivcrsity in the
United Kingdom, the Associateship of the Royal
School of iMines, London, or of the Royal College
of Science, Ireland, or to pass a certain examination at
Sout Kensington, before they are qualitied to teach, or, at
any rate, to receive fees from the Government for tlieir
students who pass the examinations. The Education
Committee felt that those gentlemen who jiass the seuior
examination of the Society, or who take the diploma at
Cirencester, are eminently more fitted to teach the princi-
ples of agriculture than those who, under the existing
regulations, are permitted to do so,

The report of the Committee was then adopted,

SHOW YARD CONTRACTS,

Mr. Jacob Wilson (Chairman) reported that Mr,
Glover's estimate for the supply of hurdles on the French
pattern for the pig-pens had been laid before the Com-
mittee and accepted. The Committee recommended
that a tender for half-hurdle gates be obtained for the
sheep pens ; that the secretary be instructed to forward
a plan of continuous iron fencing to Messrs. Cluttons, and
obtain their san£tion to its being erected after the Exhibi-
tion, according to tlwj Society's agreement with them;
that Messrs. Eastous and Anderson be requested to lay
down water pipes to the Contractor's Yard iu the Kilbura
jhow-yard ; that a cheque for £1,500 be drawn on account

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

of show-yard works ; that the deductioa made from
Messrs. Fry and Sons' account for dilapidations to the
Society's plant be reduced to £50, the amount which they
received from Mr. Penny at the conclusion of his contract.
The Committee had approved plans of six ordinary Re-
freshment Sheds, four Temperance Sheds, the Members'
Club, and the Cafe, subject to minor alterations. The
Committee had inquired into the cost of erecting aud
furnishing a dormitory for the foreign herdsmen, authorised
at the last Council Meeting, and ascertained that it would
be about £1 per head, including the cost of building, mat-
tresses, and blankets.

This report was adopted, after a conversation which re-
sulted in the Council agreeing to restrict the sleeping
accommodation for the present year to the foreign herds-
men, and to postpone the question of extending it to
British herdsmen.

METROPOLITAN EXHIBITION.

Colonel KiXGScoTE (Chairman) reported the recom-
mendations of the Committee with reference to advertising
the London Exhibition, the provision of quarantine sta-
tions at Brown's Wharf md Portland, and the regulations
as to the trial of railway trucks for the conveyance of
perishable provisions. It was also reported that Sir John
l^ennett had agreed to lend a clock for the entrance to the
Exhibition, and the Secretary was authorised to arrange
for the loan of one for the middle of the yard from some
other maker. Au offer from -Nfessrs. Merryweather and
Sons to su[)ply steam and manual fire-engines for use in I
the showjaid had been accepted. The Committee further i
recommended that a deputation consisting of members of |
the Mansion House Committee and of the Council of the ;
Royal Agricultural Society, be appointed to wait on the |
Eccli-siastical Commissioners, with respect to the formation i
of a proposed new road at Kilburn ; also that the fresh J
butter entered for exhibition be received at the show- .
yard on Saturday, June 28th, or not later than 'J a.m. on j
Monday, June 30ih ; the judging to take place on the |
latter day. This report was adopted. i

VETEHINARy.

The Hon. W. Egerton, M.P. (Chairman) reported
that the Committee bad receiv5d the following report from
the Royal Veterinary College, including the particulars of
an outbreak of disease in a flock of ewes, the property of
B. Moss, Esq., Arlingdon Hall, Essex.

In oonsequence of a destructive disease having shown
itself among lambing-ewes in different parts of the cou.itry
and several diseased animals having been forwarded to the
College, as well as the carcases of others, a special investijja-
tioD of the matter veas ordered to be made by the Principal,
who has received the following report from Professor Axe ; — ■
From communications which we have received, it would
appear that this alTeciion prevails to a serious extent in
Several parts of the kingdom, and the mortality cannot be less
than 70 to 80 per cent of the animals attacked, and, in some
instances, as much as 30 to 40 per cent, of the entire flock.
So far as I have been able to investigate the circumstances
relating to the disorder, the following facts have been as- '
certained. The malady is confined to ewes, and attacks most '
frequently and severely the aged, and such as are the subjects '
of debilititing organic affections or constitutional weakness.
It prevails especially in flocks whose diet during the winter
months has consisted entirely, or nearly so, of grass, or tur-
nips, or which have otherwise been sparingly fed. The Down
and mixed Down breeds appear to be the most susceptible, as i
well as those ewes which bear twin lambs. It nsually appears ,
suddenly, about seven to fourteen days prior to parturition, or ,
shortly alterwards ; and in those instances in which ewes are
pregnant with twins, as many as 80 to 90 per cent, have been
attacked, i

In those instances in which it follows parturition it proves
rapidly fatal.

The duration of the malady varies from^ tw^ntv-four hours

to three, four, or occassionally seven days, but the shorter
periods are the more common. It is uou contagious. '['lie
presence of the sick, however, has in some mslances appeared
to excite abortion in the healthy ewos, aud thus occasioned
additional loss.

Symi'Toms.— The primary indications of ill-health consist
m a separation of the sick from the healthy, a disinclination
to feed, and a dull, lowering expres>ion, atiended with feeble
movements. In this condition the auinial coiitmucs only fo?
a short time and other and nmre urgent symptoms quickly
develop themselves. The gait now becomes very unsteady, the
head is carried near the ground, the ears and eyelids droop,
and the general expresMun is one of extreme prostration |
being not unfrequently followed by complete paralvsis. Thr
couslitutional disturbance is further marked by a con^ide^abk:•
rise of internal temperature, the heart's action becomes quick
aud feeble, and the respirations hurried. Should the disaase-
continue its course, nervous iihenoniena of a very rliaracter-
istic type appear. The muscles of one or more of the limbs
are feebly jerked towards the trunk. The e\cs are fixed, and
drawn deeply into their orbit?, while at the same time the
pupil IS directed outwards. The head is either drawn
directly backwards and supported in a risjid manner or it is
thrown on to the side, where it persistently rests as is seen
in cows suffering from parturient apopl"xy. Tiie lips aro
turued upwards, or moved from i-ide to side.

As the malady prosressea all these symptoms bpcome Hggra-
vated, and tre wool readily leaves its follicles. In other cases,,
where parturition has taken place, symptoms of abdominal
pain are mauilested, owing to inflammatory iufiltratiou of the
uterus. The animal moves round and round, au 1 afterwards
throws itself down, aud turns its head again and again toward
the flank. Paiu is evinced on pressing the belly, ami likewise
in voiding the f;cces and uriu'^ ; there is always more or less
straining and tumefaction of the vulva, with ejection of a
thick, red, and tenaciwn substance, consisting of blond, mucus,
and the deOris of (oe'al membranes. Occasionally, be-ides the'
gronp of symptoms referred to, there is more or less discliarKc
of a inuco-puruleut character from the eyes and nose, but I am
di^post■d to regard this as accidental, and owing to exposure
I in the early period of the disease.

I Ex.vMiNATiox AiTER De.vtii.— The body is invariably ema-

I ciated, although in many instances a fair amount of fat is found

i in the region of the kidneys. Decomposition sets in early.

The cavity of the belly sometimes contains a greater or len'j

I quantity of blood-stained fluid. The intestines are pale, and

I their walls attenuated. The mucous or lining membrane may

I or may not be reddened, in some instances it is much so, and

i at the same time swollen and pulpy; but in numerous case.

i it is free from any pathological alteration whatever. Similai

I changes to those last referred to are sometimes found in tlm

j fourth stomach, but the first, second, and third stomachs sel-

i dom show any alteration either in appiarance or siructure.

I The liver is usually fmall in size, frequently pale in colour,

: soft in consistence, and granular in character. In some ex-

j amples it is congested, red, and largely infiltrated with serosity,

I while in others it exhibits no perceptible alteration. The

kidneys are small, soft in consistence, and easily broken down.

In some cases they present a more or less congested state, but

in other respects they are free from structural change. Only

where the urine is retained for a long period, osving to mus-

cular paralysis, is there any perceptible alteritiou in the

bladder. In these instances the mucous layer is congested,

thickened, and occasionally infiltrated with blood as the result

of a rupture of its vessels.

When parturition has not taken place, the walls of the
uterus arj generally thin, pale, and fi^iccid ; but they present
no perceptible indications of structural change. On the other
hand, in those cases in w hich parturition has been effected,
either previously or subsequently to the attack, the uterus
exhibits pathofogical changes of the most varied and destruc-
tive character. The outer or serous tunic of the organ- is-
covered more or less with pseudo-membranous layers of fibrine,,
whieh in places become united to corresponding portions of
other viscera, more commonly to tlic rumen or paunch. The
uterus is moreover of an intensely red hue and void of its
smooth and polished aspect. The walls of the visous are not,
coufracted, Tiie cavity contains a large quantity of dark reii
or chocolate-coloured matter, consisting of spoilt blood, mucous,
Pljcthelial aud inilamiuatory clcmculs, ami the disintegrated'

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

remains of (>vU\ tiipiiibra.ips. The mocoiis membrane is I
swollen :inil soaked with ; aiipiineous lluid, or the tissue is
ViouRhed up by blood extr.ivasaliou. In this condition it is |
eoft, pulpv, and easily broken down. In •uch a state of the
mncous layer the uuderlyin;? tisBues are always more or less
iuliltratp.d with sorosity, and opened out in every direction,
giving to the orjrau a thickened and rijjid character, and at the
name time rendering it soft and lacerable in all i's parts. In
some instances the vessels are plugged with dark eoagula and
poriionsol' the organ are in a gangrenous condition. Tlie
vafiinal pas.'-aje contains materiaU of the sa'ne nature as that
remarked in the uterus and the structures cnmposiug its walls
participate to a greater or less extent iu the uterine changes.

In nearly all cases the lungs exhibit a more or less con-
gested condition. In some'they are alsn uniformly oeJama-
tons; and in others beset with l.a;inorrliagic patches, or
))oiuls. i'renmonic consolidation is occasionally pretent, as
are also embolic soltenings and gauirreue of smaller or larger
areas of pulmonary tissue. The two last-named lesions are
usually associated with extensive disease and disorgauisation of
the uterine walls.

In numerous examples the heart is laccid, and its tissue
soft, but beyond these no changes of note are to be detected.
When uterine complications result in bloLid contamination
(septiewmia), blood blotches and petechia- are invariably
found beneath the lining membrane of the left cavities.

In the brain the chief legions cnnsi.st of engoriemeut of the
large vessels at the base, general congestion of the coverings,
(Cilama of the nerve tissue, and in some cases serous effusions
into the sub-arachnoid spaces.

I'runi a fu'l consideration of all the facts relating to the
malady in rjnestiou, I have arrived at the conclusion that it is
due to the debilitaiius influence ol exposure, operating through
a long and severe winter, on animals subjected to a defective
and iUiheral dietary system. This conclusion is based especi-
ally on the following observations: —

1. That the older and more weakly ewes are most frequently
its victims.

•2. That all those animals which are constitutionally weak,
or affected with organic disease, whereby the nutritive func-
tions oftlie body are impaired, are the first to succumb to tlie
jnaladv.

3. that such of the ewes as are pregnant with twin lambs,
and ou whose system the greatest demand has consequently
been made for the materials ol the growth and life of the young,
are most susceptible to the disease.

4. That tlie period at which the disorder occurs, vi?,., seven
to loarteen days before parturition, marks tne failure on the
part of the system to sustain the organic activity wl ich is then
rennired to consummate foetal development and prepare for
parturition.

5. That the outbreaks on which this conclusion is based
prove that the dietary system was manifestly defective when
considered in relation to the trjing conditions of the present
seasons.

6. That whenever the restorative system of treatment has
been adopted the disease has been arrested.

In considering the influence of the present season in regard
to this affection, it must be, remembered that the mere outward
exposure to cold and wet is by no means the only element of
mischief. Ou grass pastures, as well as in the turnip fold, a
great thickness of snow has not unfrequently had to be
removed before food could be obtained, and in the former case
this has necessitated long-continued exertion and a corres-
ponding degree of fatigue. Mureover, every mouthful of
food lias been cluuijed with an amount of moistnre which
mnst have contributed largely to render thin and watery, and
otherwise to s; oil and reduce the nutritive properties ol the
blood. The malady may be said to belong to that great group
of disorders which annually produce such appalling waste in
our flocks and herds, and consequently a pane ty of home
supply of meat. Recognising this, the priuciples to be
studied are clearly those which belong to the art ol hygiene.
Recent experience has nff.irded abundant conlirmation of this
view of the causes of the malady.

The adoption of a stric'ly restorative system of treatment,
involving a liberal and well-regulated diet, together with the
admiuistrulion of ferruginous tonics and saline alterativt|S, has
been singularly effeeti'^K inSarresling tlie progress of the disease.
It ia wcU-kuowu Ihit uotliint' tends so much to tlie crubarrass-

ment of the constitution, and the prodnclion of diseasp, as the
injudicious changes and neglect which are usualiy permitted in
the feeding of stieep ; and more especially breeding ewes, which
of all others deniaud the most careful attention. By tar the
greater number of fatal diseases to which ewes and lambs are
liable are of a preveutible nature, and their origin is due
either to the quantity or quality of food, or to a bad system of
management. It too frequently happens that stock ewes are
made the scavengers of the farm, and but little regard is paid
to their pregnant condition Turnips that have been eaten oH
by other sheep, without any additional or more .substantial fare
are not unfreijuently considered by some persons to be ijuite
sufficient to sustain the system of breeding sheep through the
trying period of pregnancy, and this altogether regardless of
the fact that the maturing of the fce'us is being consummated
dnriug the coldest and otherwise the most unsalubrious seasoa
of the year. Practical experience has shown, again and again,
that in ordinary seasons the ewe (lock may be sustained
through the period of pregnancy, on an exclusive grass or root
diet ; but while such experience serves to illu&trate this fact,
it by no means justilies an unqualified adoption of the system.
Breed, conditionof body, condition and quality of soil, tem-
perature, and other consit'eriiiuns should at all times betaken
into account 'ii d aling with the important questions of the
food aiid the health of animals.

The adoption of the principles of treatment contained
in the preceding part of this report was speedily attended with
benefit ; and I am informed that no iresli cases have occurred
since my visit, and that the sheep are now much improved in
their geufral health.

Witii special reference to the onthreak of this disease in a
flock of ewes, the property of B. Moss, Esq , Arlingdon Hall,
Essex, it may be stated that the particular flock iu question
originally consisted of 14-3 ewes of the mixed Do*n breeds.
They were divided into two lots of 14 and 131 respectively.
The former were old ewes, and the latter a mixed lot ol various
ages. During the winter the larger number were placed on
upland pasture, while the smaller had given to them, in
addition to grass, a small quantity of dry food.

The disease first appeared on the 1st February in the smaller
lot ; out of which two have died. On the 12th two of the
larger lot developed the disease, and others, to the number of
eight, were subsequently attacked, and destroyed in conse-
quence.

J. WoRTLEY Axe,

Professor of Morbid Auatomy at the Royal

Veterinary College.

IMPLEMENT,

Mr. Fkankish reported that applications from exhibi-
tors for additional spaoe over and above '200 feet of shed-
ding had been considered by the committee, and they had
decided that the rules of the Society could not be altered
and that any further accommodation required must be
taken as open space, which, however, the committee could
not guarantee to allot to the extent that might be asked
for. This report was adopted.

Mr. Jacob Wilson moved " That a committee con-
sisting of the Stock Prizes and Implement Committees be
appointed to recommend judges of stock and implements
for the London exhibition ; and that the secretary be in-
structed to invite members of the Society and foreign
national agriculturaljsocieties ia non-prohibited countries
to nominate judges to act at the iuteruatioQal exhibitioa
this year."

The motion was seconded by Mr. Chandos-Pole-Gell,
and adopted.

A DEruTATiON from the authorities of Carlisle, con-
sisting of the Mayor (Mr. Thomas Milbiirn), Sir Wilfrid
Lawson, Bart., M P., Mr. Furgeson, M.P., Mr. S. J.
Binning (Deputy -Mayor), Mr. Christopher Stephenson,
and the Town Clerk, then had an intervievv with the
Council, in reference to the proposal to hold the Royal
Show of 18St) in that city.

In introducing the deputation, the INIayor stated that
if the Council could sec their way clear to hold next year's
sliow at Carlisle, so far us the Corporation were coucerusd

THE FARMER'S MAGAZTNS.

23c

they were quite prepared to pledge tlieniselves to make all
tlie provision required ; ami he also hoped to be able to
show a t;ood subscription list, as was the case when Car-
lisle sent a similar invitation to the Society in ISZ*")- So
far as they had been made acquainted vpith the require-
ments of the Society, they had been complied with, the
necessary railway accommodation having been provided,
and all the land acquired both for the show-ground and
trial-jcround, and on behalf of the Corporation he was pre-
pared at once to enter into the proposed agreement.

Tlie Mayor having satisfactorily replied to a numbe
of questions put to him by the Chairman,

Sir Wilfrid Lawson and Mr. Binning gave expres-
sion to the «reat wish prevalent in the counties of Cum-
berland and Westmoreland that the Society should visit
Carlisle next year, and the desire of the Corporation to
offer every needful facility for the gratiiicatioa of this
wish.

The deputation then retired, aud on their re-introduc-
tion shortly afterwards,

The CHAiiniAN announced, on behalf of the Cooncil,
that they had determined to accept the invitation of the
au.horilies of Carlisle, and added his own conviction that
every eftbrt would be forthcojiing to make the shew a
success.

The deputati'U having thanked the Council, then with-
drew.

The following letters were received from the Lord
President of the Council.

Veterinary Department, Privy Conncil Office,
4i, Parliament Street, Westminster, S.W.,
13ih February, 1879.
Sir, — I am directed to ackuowledge the receipt, of your
leiter of the 5th instant, addressed to the Lord President,
submittiug a resolution of the Royal A'^ricultural Society of
Eiigl/ind, iiayin? reference to the imporlatioa into this country
ot cattle from the United States of America, aud, in reply, ti
forward you copy of an order of Council on this suhjpct,
pastsed by the Jjords of the Council on the 10th inst. — I>;uu,
sir, }our obedient servant, (Signed) C. L. PEJiL.

Tlis Chairman ot the Council, Kojal Agricultural
Society of England, 13, Hanover Square, VV.

Veterinary Department, Privy Council Office,^
44, Parliament Street, Westminster, S.W^.,
February 17th, 1879.

Sir, — I am directed by the Lord President to acknowledge
the receipt ot your letter of the 13th infant, and to state, in
reply, that if a suitable quarantine station is provided at
Portland, the application of your Society shall be taken into
consideratiua by the Privy Council ; but I am to add
that should a quarantine station at Portland be opposed by the
Lords of the Council, such station cannot be confined to
animals from any one particular country.

I am further directed to state that, as at present advised,
the Lord President proposes to fix the 19th of June as the
day on which all animals from scheduled coimtries (for exhi-
bition) must be in the quarantine station. — I am, Sir, your
obedient servant, (Signed) C L. Peel,

The Secretary, Royal Agriculiur;il Society of Eugland,
12, Hanover Street, London, W.

A letter was received from the Foreign Office, con-
veying a request froni the Columbian Department of
Agriculture to be placed in communication with the
agricultural societies of Eugland, with a view to the
exchange of publications and information, and the
Council resolved to send that Department the Journals
of the Society as published, iu exchange for their
Keports ,

HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL,

The monthly meeting of the directors of this S'iciety was
held on March 5 in their chambers, No. 3,. George IV. Bridge,
Mr. Gillon in tlie ehair.

The Secketaky reported that the competition of stallions

for agricultural purposes for the premium of £150 olTr-rcd by
the Society for the best stallion to serve tiiis ^eison in the.
district of the Perth Show, took phice at Perth on the ll'tli
of February, when thirty-eight liorses were entered. The
judges— Messrs. Gray, Muncraig, Kirkcudbr)<i:ht ; Smith,
Stevenson Mains, Haddington ; and Wilson, Leithen llall,
Wamphray— awarded the premium to Mr. David Riddel I,
Blackball, Paisley, for his st'iliion Luck's All. Tlie district
comprises the eastern division of Perthshire, western dirisiori
of Forfarshire, b'itcshire, and Kinross-shire.

It was resolved that m future all Shorthorn animnU
exhibited at the Society's annual shows must be entered in thu
herd book, or the exhibitor must produce a certificate from the.
Council of the Shorthorn Swcie'y that his animal is eligibleto
be entered therein.

In accordance with a desire strongly urged on t!ic Gener.l'
Show Committee by a depaiation from the Scottish Afrricul-
tural Enuineers' At^sociation, at a meetiuf? held ou the ly.li of
February, the Board resolved to withdraw all preniiuins and
medals tor imiilements and machinery nd to open the imple-
ment yard at Perth to exhihilorsof iir'i'i .nieuts of as;ricuki:rc,
horticulture, aud forestry, aud other iic-j .ments and collections
of articles not agricultural, but tint th/:e should be no trials
or awards of any kind. The depvtao.yn consisted of — Mr.
Kemp, Stirliujj, cb;iirman of the Association ; Mr. George
Greiff, of M.ssrs. J,.hu Fo'^ler & Co., Leeds ; and Mr. Maiu,
o' Jilessrs. A. & J. Main &, Co., Glasgow.

The Board resolved, agreeably with the rtport by the ""Jom-
mittee on C-eueral Sliows, that the General Meetiiisj at IVrtli
s'lonld be held in the yard on the SOth of July, at 1 30, and- it
was remitted to the Secretary to arrange with the contractor
to have a suitable erection aitaclied to the committee-room.

The remit from the general meeting in January last to tlio
directors to consider how members of the Sjcieiy cm be puf
in possession of the advantages at present given throUi,'h local
associations, with a great r guarantee of correctness, was, af
the meeting of the board, on the 5tli of February, referred to
the committee iu charge of the chemical department. That
committee held at meeting on the ifith of Fe.bruarv, when the
secretary redd a letter from Mr. W. P. Hope, L-ith, the mover
of the motion atthe general meeting, in which he stated that be
believed the time had now arrived when the Society would
confer a great boon upon its members by providing them with
cheap and accurate analyses and reports upon manures and
feeding stuffs, as also upon the various soils, and he 'iusgested
that this be done by the Society's chemist, the farmers pav--
ing the same rate into a fund towards his reraunerfl-
lion as they at present pay to the analytical associa-
tions with which they are connected, and that tho
chemist sliould be instructed to give valuations when asked
lor, in accordance witli the general price-lints of the
day, but not otherwise. Mr. l]o[ealso suggested that a form'
drawn up from felie various price-lists be continually in the
rands of the chemist, who could send the same to the farmers
as tlie basis of valuation when required to maKe the same. The
committee reported that, being limited by the resolutions of
former general meetings in regard to the expense of analysis,
they see no way of lurlhering the ol-jecl proposed by Mr,
Hope, but they thought it worthy of the consideration of tlij
board whether the chemist should not be authorised to makj
analysis at rates to be arranged nifticient to pay him, and thaj
on his finding manures or fe.ediug stulfs sold with a guarante '
not coinciding therewith, within a certain limit, the name 0(
the seller or mauufacturer should he published, if deemed ex.
pedient, alter the analysis has been submitted to iiim for ex-
planation as to the discrepancy. The board unanimously ap
proved of the suggestion, and remitted back to the committee
to make arrangements for carrying it out.

The examinations for the Society's agricultural certificaten
and diploma and lor the Society's certificates in forestry were
fixed for the 31st March, :uid 1st and 2nd April, candidates
being required to lodge intimation, on or before loth March,
with the Secretary, from whom further information may be
obtained.

An arrangement having been made with the Royal College
of Veterinary Surgeons that tlie holders of the Society's
veterinary certificates are to be admitted members of the Royal
College, the Society is to cease holding examinations ; but,
not to disappoint those students who may have entered the
tgachiug schools with the view of taking the Society's certifi-

^36

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

cRtcs tlie pxaiiiination will be cotitiniicd till April, 1881, in
accordance with former rules. Tlie examination lor the
present year will take plsce about the middle of April. Can-
didates' names nmst be entered before the 31st of March, it
beinj; clearly nnderstood that unless fifteen students enter their
names nj examination will be held.

ROYAL NORTHERN.

The Spring Show of this Asso. iition took place on Feb.
SStli, in the Cattle ]Market, King Street, Aberdeen. 'J he
muster of horses was rather above the average in rejjard to
niiiuber, and about eqnal to the average in quality. In the
class of draught stallions there were twenty-nix entries, one
of which did not appear, while six of ilie others were disquali-
fied from competing in conse(iuence of their owners having
(ailed to produce the required certificates. Tlie choice
ultimately lay between Mr. Ewen's Scottish Times, Mr.
Harvey's Young Derby, Mr. Red's Earl of Mar, Mr. Wilson's
Victor, and Mr. Adamson's Earl Granville. Finally Mr.
licid's tliree-year-and-nine-montlis-old black Earl of Mar,
that came third to Victor last year, and was commended at
the Highland Society's show, was placed first. He has good
middle parts, (air weight, and good quality, but he is plain ail
over, more particiiVirly about the neck, auJ lacks masculine
iharacter. He was bred by Mr. Walker, Portletheu, git by
Ymuig Lome, and out of Katie, a well known mare. Mr.
Wilson's Victor is perhaps the most stylish htrse of the lot.
Ue has filled out well since last year, and has good Clydesdale
character aiid quality, but he is a trifle plain about the head
and neck, and slightly dt-ficient in the short ribs. He was
bred by Mr. Ironside, Cuirns, New Deer, and got by Prince
of Wales (673). Mr. l<>en's Scottish Times, bred by ]\Ir.
Alexander, Colleonard, Banff, and got by Old Times, is a very
compHct five-year-old bay, with very powerl'nl forearm, but is
s'ightly deficient in the thighs and hind legs. Mr. Harvey's
Young Derby is a promising three year and nine rannths old
light bay, with good front, but high and plain hind quarters.
In the class for draught stallions under three years old there
■were fourteen entries. Mr. Blair's first prize horse Prince
George of Wales, bred by Mr, Drew, pot by the famous
Prince of Wales, and out of Jessie Brown, is a hnndsome
black, with excellent bone, fine quality, and of great promise.
Mr. M'Kobbie's Mahomet, winch cnnie second, was bred by
Mr. Marr, Cairnbrogie, and got by the well known sire
F^armer's Glory, and is alieavy bay, with splendidly knit body
and good bone and quality, but is too short in the
fetlock. Mr. Lawrence's Lord Stanley well deserved the
commended ticket. The two first prize horses in the old class
have to travel in districts appointed by the association. Mr.
Miller's four-year-old bay, Boyd?tone Boy, was selected by a
deputation from the Kincardineshire Farmers' Society, the
premium being £50. The show of grain and roots was
smaller than usuhl, but the quality was very good. The
display of poultry was also of high merit.
The following is the prize list :—

Houses. — Draught stallions above three years of asre — 1,
R. Reid, Old Anchindoir, Lurasden (Earl of Mar) ; 2, Geo.
Wilson, Whiteside, Alford (Victor) ; 3, A. Ewen, Whitehills
(Scottish Times) ; 4, C. Harvey, Bucklerburn, Culter (Young
Derby). DrauKht stallions under three and above two years
of age — 1, Geortje Bean, Balauhain Mains (Prince George of
Wales) ; 2, P. M'Robbie, Sunnyside, Aberdeen (Maliomet) ;
3, John Lawrence, Dens, Old Deer (Lord Stanley). For
horses best calculated to improve the breed of carriage and
saddle horses in the district of the Society— -1 , W.Morris,
V.S., Aberdeen (^Messenger) ; 2, G. L. T'liomson, Aberdeen
(Lord Beaconsfield) ; commended, B. C. Urquhart,of Meldrum
and Byth. — Sc«:sman.

SHORTHORN.

A meeting of the Council of this Society was held at
the Society's rooms, 12, Hanover Square, W., on Tuesday,
the 4th ult. Present: ('olonel Kingscotc, C.B., M.P.
(vice-president), in the chair, l;orJ Skehaersdale. Mr. II.
W. Beauford, Mr. Edward Howly, Mr. 11. Ohandos-I'ole-
Gell, Mr. S. P. Foster, Mr. .\. Ilarward, Mr. D. Mclu-
tosh, Rev. T. Stauiforlh, aud Mr. Jacob W ilson.

The following new members were elected ; —
Davies,D. Reynolds, Agilen Hall, Lyinm, Warrington.
Granger, John, Pitcur, Coupar Angus, Forfar,
Morton, Mrs. F., Skelsmergh Hall, Kendal.
Peter, John, Kingscote, Wotton-under-Edge, Glos.
Rowley, John, Stubbs Walden, Pontefract.
Strickland, Rev. N. C. Reighton.Berapton, Hull.
Sutton, Sir Richard, Bart., Benham Park, Newbury, Berks.
Willson, Mrs. M. Rauceby, Sleaford, Lincolnshire.

EDITING COMMITTEB.

Colonel Kingscote reported that 4,840 entries had
been received for Volume 25 of the Herd Book — viz.,
1,710 bulls and 3,130 cows ; that the Committee had con-
sidered the pedigrees of several animals sent for insertion
in the Herd Book, some of which they had accepted, and,
before accepting the others, had directed the secretary to
make further inquiries.

This report was adopted.

The following letters were read and considered : —

[copy.]
Shorthorn Society of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland.

12, Hanover Square, London, W., December 23rd, 1878.

Sir, — In the 24th volume of Coates's Herd Book, wliich
has just been published, there appears the ped'gree of a bull
called "Michigan Boy," roan, calved February 1st, lh7f), bred
by Mr. ,T. Fletcher, Uosehaugh, the property of Mr. J. Hay,
Little Ylhsie, got by Ruval Hope (32,392), dam Distraction
by VVhipperin (19,13'J)>c.

I inclose a complete copy of the pedigree as it is given in
the volume referred to.

Since the publication of this volnme information has
reached the Suciety to the tll'ecttliat the pedigree of Michigan
Boy, as given, is incorrect, and from inquiries I have made,
by direction of the Editing Committee, the Committee have
good reason to believe that the pedigree is totally inaccurate.

Mr, J. Hay, I believe, purchased the bull at a sale which
took place at Inverness on the 16th March, 1S77, where this
bull was Lot 10, and was sold under the name of Michigan
Loul, the pedigree as then given corresponding with the
version of the pedigree given in the Herd Book.

Michisran Boy is stated to be out of a cow called Distrac-
tion, by Whipper-in (19,13'J.)

The only cow of this name, by Whipper in, (19,139) was one
bred by the Duke of Richmond ; but from inlormation the
Committee have received, it appears that this cow was sold to
Mr. Bruce, of Burnside, Fochabers, in 1870 in a non-breeding
state, and in 1871 went to the butcher, so that it is impossible
for her to have had a calf in 1876.

Then, again, it is stated that the sire of Michigan Boy is
Royal Hope, (32,93:2,) a bull in service at Gordon Castle. This
the Committee also believe to be incorrect, as they are in-
formed that you have never sent cows to Gordon Castle to
Royal Hope.

As it further appears that the pedigrees, as given in the
catalogue of the Inverness sale on the 16; h of March, 1877,are
furnisiied by the owners of the cattle offered for sale, and as
this bi'U is stated as coming direct from Rosehaugh, I am in-
structed by the E iting Committee to ask you, in the interests
of the Society and Shorthorn breeders generally, to be so good
as to furnish them with an explanation of how the very serious
discrepancies in the pedigree, which I have pointed out, have
been niHde.

It is liighly desirable for the matter to be thoroughly cleared
up, seeing that at present the (Committee would feel bound to
refuse to accept the pedigrees of any animals got by Michigan
Boy. — 1 am, Sir, yours faithfully,

II. J. IIiNE, Secretary.

J. Fletcherj Esq., Rosehaugh, Inverness.

[cory.J
[Post Card.]

Rosehaugh, 4th January, 1879.

DxAa SiK, — Your letter to Mr. Fletcher of Roschaugii, who
is at present abscul fiom the JMorth, will be replied to in a
day 01 two. Xours, &c., J. H.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

237

[copy.]
tloseliaugh Maius, Avoch, Cth January, 1879.
H. J. Iline, Esq., Secretary, Shorthorn Society,
12, Hanover Square, London, W,
Sir, — In Mr. Fletcher's absence from the North, your
letter of the 23rd uliimo has been handed to me to reply to,
and I may here state that he could give no explanation of
the circumstances to which you refer, for he never interferes
with me in ray management of the Home Farm. I regret
extremely the errors and mistakes which occur in the pedigree
given in for Michigan Lout, but as I was ignorant of the
manner in which the pedigrees are made up, and did not attach
enough importance to the numbers given for the animals, the
discrepancies arose entirely through ignorance and a want of
caie, and not from auy wish to make up a pedigree. I cannot
give any further explanation than that I took down the pedi-
grees of the families to which the bull belonged, both on the
iire's and dam's sides, and unfortuuately took down the
numbers by mistake, when I should have left them blank, as I
am now informed.

Kegretting the trouble I have given in connection with the
matter, and apologising for tlie error,

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,

p.p. Francis Lawson, J. II.
[copy.]
Shorthorn Society of the United Kingdom or Great Britain
and Ireland, 12, ilanover Square, London, W.

Feb. 17, 1879.
Private.
J. Fletcher, Esq.,Rosehaugh, Inverness.

Michigan Boy.
Sir. — On the 23rd ol December last I wrote you a letter on
this matter, addressed as above, of which letter 1 enclose you
a copy.

On the 8th of January last I received a post-card, of which
I enclose you a copy.

On the 8th of January last T received a letter, of which I
enclose you a copy. You will observe that it is signed, " p.p.
Francis Lawson. J. H."

I am instructed by the Editing Committee to call your at-
tention to the contents of this last letter, and particularly to
the fact that Mr. Lawson says that you never interfere with
him in the management of the Home Farm, and to the former
fact that the letter wiiich contains this statement is not even
guaranteed by Mr. Lawson's own signature, but is signed by
procuration of Mr. Lawson, by a writer who does not give his
name.

I am instrnciv-'' to add the following remarks :—
First. They do not wish to deal finally with this matter
wi hout giving jou an opportunity of making your own per-
sonal explanation, and have therefore written you again on
the suliject.

Next, They reserve the right to publish the correspon-
dence.

They hope you will agree with them, that the terms and
tenor of the letter of liie 6th January are quite unsuitable to
the serious nature of the transaction, and that you will take
appropriate steps to convey to Mr. Lawson your sense of the
transaction, and to prevent any such conduct in future.
I am, sir, yours, faithfully,

H. J. HiNE, Secretary.
[copy.]

Woolton Hall, Liverpool, February 23rd, 1879.
U. J. nine, Esq.,

Secretary, the Shorthorn Society, London.
Michigan Boy.
Sir, — I am in receipt of your registered letter of the 17th
inst., and marked " private," forwarded to me from Rose-
haugh, and containing copies of letters regarding a bull called
Michigan Boy, .>;old by Mr. Francis Lawson, manager of the
llorai- Farm of Rosehaugh, to Mr. J. Hay, and I cnnjirm
what Mr. Lnwsoa states in his letter of 6th January, that I
have hitiierto allowed him to manage the farm, wittiout any
interference oa my part, and I was very much annoyed when
tlip question of the pedigree of the bull was brought to my
notice ; altliuugli from the explanation he then gave me, 1
most certainly believe the discrepancies and errors were from
carelessness, and not with the olijfct of giving a wrong pedi-
gree. I have, both verbally and iu writing to him, expressed

my regret at his want of care ; and that nothing of the kind
must again occur. I have also written to-day, to advise me,
why tlie letter of Cth January was not signed by liim ; and
if you will kindly let me know in what way " the terms and
tenor of the letter are quite unsuitable to the serious nature
of the transaction " can be amended, I shall wiite to him
ou the subject. I may mention that I am only for ahuut six
months of the year in Scotland, and 1 beg again to express my
regret at what has occurred ; but I did not even know that a
pedigree had been given witli the bull.

I am, sir, yours faithfully,

James Fletcher, of Roaehaugh.
Resolved; — " That the entry of the pedigree of the bull
Michigan Boy in the Herd Book, Volume 24, page 18(3, he
cancelled; and that the entry of any animals got by, or
affected by, jMichigan Boy, be refused."

GENERAL PURPOSES COMIIITTEK.

Mr. H. W. Beauford reported that the accounts for
the month of February had beeu examiued by Messrs.
Quilter; Ball, and Co. and the Committee, and were found
to be correct, that the Secretary's petty cash account had
been examined and passed, and showed an expenditure of
£9 IGs. 8d. during the past month ; that the receipts for
the same period had been £577 3s. 6d., the balance of
the Society's current account at the bankers
being £1,021 Is. 7d., and that the Committee recom-
mended that cheques be drawn for various accouuts and
salaries amounting to £192 Is. 3d.

That the Committee recommended that a further sum
of £500 be invested in the Three per cent. Consols, and
that the Secretary be directed to take the necessary steps
thereto.

This report vras adopted.

The next meeting of the Council was fixed for Tuesday
April 1st, at 3 30 p.m.

BKITISH DAIRY FAEMERS.

A special meeting of the Committee was held recently, to
amend the list of candidates for the Council, Mr. E. C-. Tisdali
presiding.

The lion. Sec. (Mr. H. S. Holmes Pegler) reported that
he liad received letters from Messrs. Walter Gilbey, J. J.
Mechi, and J. Glover, requesting that their names may be
removed trom the list, as they would be unable to give their
services.

The Chairman then moved that Mr. Robert Leeds, of Kes-
wick, Norwich, whose name had been accidentally omitted on
the last occasion, and ]Mr. Andrew Rintoul,of Perabury, near
Tunbridge Wells, should be selected to fill up two of the va-
cincies ; Mr. Stapleton proposed Mr. Albert Alexander, of
Stepney, and Mr. Dale proposed Captain Eraser, of Ilolloway,
for the third vacancy. Ou being put to the meeting, Messrs.
Leeds, Rintoul, and Alexander were elected. The original list
with these alterations was then formally moved and carried. It
was decided that voting papers should be printed at once, and,
with a copy of the list of fifty - four names, for-
warded to each member of the Association as
soon 88 possible, with a request that the same be
returned by Saturday, March 8th. Monday evening, the lOtii
was fixed tor the examination of the voting papers by the scru»
tineers, up to which time votes would be received. Messrs-
E. C. Tisdali, R. Dale, and the Hon. Secretary were appointed
scrutineers. Estimates for priuting the journal of the Asso-
ciation were submitted, and it was resolved that the contract
of Messrs. Squire, Dale, and Co., of 7, Burleigh Street, Strand,
be accepted, theirs being the lowest estimate.

It was reported that the outstanding suras of money due to
the Association, according to the balance sheet of Drceraher
11, had been received, with the exception of the J|;18 owed
by the late hon. sec. (Mr. H. F. Moore). It was resolved
tliat ilr. Moore be communicated with again on the suliject,
and that, if necessary, legal steps be taken to obtain payment
of the amount. i

ENGLISH CART-HORSE.

The usual monthly meeting of the Couucil of tb«

238

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

Society was held in a room of the Society of Arts,
Adelphi, ou Tuesday, the Earl of EUesmere (President)
ill the chair.

Several gnitlemen were duly elected members ol the
iSociety. ,

The Council then proceeded to consider the resolutions ot
(he Editing Committee as to eligibility for entries iu Stud
Uook.

" 1. Id the first volume of the Stud Book the only condi-
tion is, that the pedigree of the horse to be entered shall be
satisfactory to the Committee.

"2. In any subsequent editions it will be an essential
qualification that the Committee are satisfied that horses possess
puri y of blood on both sides for at least two generations."

N.B.— By purity of blood it is intended that no Cleveland
or Suffolk cross is eligible.

A. cuuversalion took place on the foregoing resolutions, in
the course of which the Hon. E. CoKE, as chairman of the
Editing Committee, explained that the Committee had passed
these resolutions subject to the decision of the Council ; and
they now deemed it prudent that the Council should instruct
the Committee as to future entries in {he Stud Book. Mr
GiLBEV thought it should be distinctly stated in the Stud
Book the particular cart-horse, the county descended from,
whether Lincolnshire, Deibyshire, or Cambridge. This would
have the effect of pointing to the strain as well as to the
purity of breed. The President was of opinion the resolutions
should be dropped, and another substituted that would define
the course to be tak-n in entering horses in the Stud Book.
Captain lleaton thought if the resolutions were accepted, it
would have the efi'eot of admitting horses in the first volume,
and refusing their stock in succeeding volumes. U.timately
a resolution was proposed by Captain Heaton and seconded
by Hon E. Coice —

" That the resolutions of the Editing Committee now before
the Council be dropped."

This was carried by a m:'jority of 10 to 2.

Mr. R. Reynolds then moved—

"That it be an instruction to the Editing Commit' eo that
no horse be admitted into the Stud Book having a cross of any
other breed than that of the Enghsh Cart-llorse for at least
two generations."

l\Ir. ¥. Street seconded the resolution, which was carried
unanimously, it being generally understood that any horse of
this breed would be eligible to be entered in the Stud Book,
unless a cross was proved.

Ur. F. Street said that as they had now 2,000 entries it
was time to close the list, and he therefore propos^ed —

"That the entries for the first volume of the Stud Book
close on the 3Uth April next, and that this intimatiou be
adverti.^ed."

This was seconded by Capt. Heaton, and unanimously agreed
to, with the hope that every one interested in improving the
breed of theEngli»h Cart Horse would send paiticulara of
their stallion to the secretary at once.

Mr. E. Street said that he had intended to move " The
desirability of holding a Stallion Show in the Agricultural
Hall, in the Spring of 1880." He had since learned, however,
that a show was to be held at Birmingham this mouth, and
felt inclined to defer considering this matter till next meeting
of Council. He therefore withdrew the motion in his name.

The Secretary (Mr. G. M. Sexton) read a letter from the
Duke of Manchester, who is a member of the Council, to the
effect that his Grace was unable to act.

It was decided to fill up the vacancy at the next meeting of
Council.

Mr. ¥. Street said that it was now nearly twelve months
since the Society was formed. He had therefore great plea-
sure in proposing —

" That tiie first annual general meeting of the members of
the English Cart-Uorse Society be held on the first Tuesday
iu May, :ind that this be intimated to the members by ci^rcular ;
time aud place to be decided at next Council meeting."

Mr. R. ilF.YNOLUS seconded this resolution, which was
adopted nem. con.

The Secretary read minutes of the Finance Committee,
which stated that Major Dashwood had been elected a member
of that Committee. He also reported that the Committee re-
ommeuded that a public accountant should audit the books
aud accounts of the Society, at an annual fee.

Mr. GiEiiEY, as chairman of the Finance Committee, for-
mally mo\ed —

•' That an accountant be appointed to audit the books and
accounts of the Society ; that a bnlmce sheet be prepared for
presentation to the members at the general meeting ; Hnd that
Mr. James Harris, of Old Jewry Chambers, be appointed
auditor.

Major Dasuwood seconded the motion, which was adopted.

^axmzxB Club0.

CENTRAL.

The second meeting of the Farmers' Club for the
present year took place at the Inns of Court Hotel,
Holborn, on Monday evening, JIarch 3, under the presi-
dency of the Chairman for the year, Mr. Pickering
Pbipps, i\I.P. The subject for discussion was " Tlie
Present Aspect and tuture Prospects of our Home Agri-
culture ;" .Sir. VV. Scotsou, of Aigburtli, Liverpool, being
the introducer.

The Chaiujian having briefly introduced Mr. Scot-
son to the meeting, thai gentleman read the following
paper on " The Present Aspect aud Future Prospects of
our Home Agriculture."

Mr. Chairman, — When I wrote to our secretary, Mr.
Druoe, suggesting the subject put down for me to inroduce
to the lueriibfirs of this Club, 1 hud no idea 1 should be
selected to undertake that important duty. It is an act of
courtesy on the part of the cominittee to the person who
imagines he has hit upon a proper subject for discussion
which I fully appreciate, but I am not so sure of the wisdom
of the proceeding as I am sensible of the compliiueut in-
tended.

However, as the committee ha^e been considerate enough
to select the subject 1 named, and request me to introduce it,
I take tliis opportunity of thanking them, and doubt not
that the members will, after they have heard my short and
imperfect remarks, discu.'is the ques'inn much better than 1
am able to do. Having s^id this much by way of introduc-
tion, I will commence what I have to say ou the " Present
Aspect of our Home Agriculture and its Future Prospects."

First of all let me remark that I have little to s»y ou our
present land laws, or whether the State ought to buy up the
vested interests in land, as I have lieard advocated, and hold
it in trust for the benefii of the nation at large — as it does the
po-it and postal telegraph business — or be owned by large or
small landowners, or the law of primogeniture, for although
these laws have played a very important part in the past and
in the present condition of our home agriculture, they have
also been the means of our increasing population flying from
the couutry to where houses could be built, coupled with the
higher rate of wages and facility of transit afforded by rail-
ways, and 80 caused the English towns fo swell enormously.

When I was a schoolboy my school books lufurmed me the
population of England aud Wales was 12,000,000. I pre-
sume it is now about double that number, notwithstnnding all
who have emigrated to Americt and elsewhere. Nearly the
whole of this increase has taken place, as I liave said, in the
English towns, whilst some of our agricultural parishes in
the hands of large landowners, even in Lancashire, have
actually diminished in population in tlie same period. Results
such as these have their causes, not the least of which is the
monopoly in land. There are, besides these, land laws, land-
lords, lawyers, clergymen, or the Church, aud last, though not
least, land agents, who are concerned in representing and
sustaining the owners' side of this great question of agricul-
ture ; and who hold in their grip what I call the raw
material — the laud. Compare for one moment the value now
to what it probably was 200 years ago, and the enormous
difference must be apparent, although our island has not
increased iu size.

And let us impiiro what has done most to raise the agricul-
tural land owners' fee simple so much in value?

1 am here speaking of the value of agricultural land. Xow
what is tlui value of uncultivated laud, even here, in thu:kly
populated Eugiand, charged according to what its yield is

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

239

ppr annum ? We cannot fjo info a county of England but
wi: may liiid plenty of ciiltivutiible uncullivKted land, side by
side with tlie cultivated, paying no rent (or if it does, only a
gums rent) ; no taxes, for you know all tiixes on land are
fixed by rent and paid by tenant, so tlie higher a farm is
rented the heavier it is taxed, whicii looks like fineiug a
person for paying too much rent. I have sometimes thought
there would be more justice in fineing the owner of the
uncultivated plot for its idleness in this country of short food,
and let the fine be so heavy that he would be compelled to
cultivate it or forfeit it to the State. I will here quote a few
extracts from Mr. Caird's article on 13ritish agriculture, wiiich
will show clearer than anything I can say how the ownership
and the occupying cultivators' money and interests are so
blended together that they are like partners in one concern.

]Mr. Caird says, the capital value of the property of the
landowners — independent of minerals, is 2,0(J0 millions,
yielding aii annual rent of 67 millions. lie then goes ou
to say that the tenant farmers are entitled to be reckoned as
part owners of agricultural property, for iu crops, live and
dead stock, they own equal to one-fifth of the whole capital
value ol the land, or in other words, 400,00U,U00, and as
cultivators they employ and possess individuilly a larger
capital than the peasant proprietors of other countries in their
double capacity as owners and cultivators. Then he adds, the
great bulk of the knd is cultivated by tenant occupiers.
There are 561,000 in Great Britaiu and 600,000 in Ireland,
lie goes on to tell how the potato famine in Ireland in 18i6
was as disastrous to the owner as to the tenant, cauNing the
Encumbered Estates Act to he passed to sell olf the 1 mds of
those proprietors whose encumbrances had overwhelmed them,
and substitute others more capable of fulfilling the duties of
hmdlords, so that in a few years after this Act was passed
laud was sold in Ireland to the value of £25,000,000, and in
order to secure the landowners' prompt attention in future
to the condition of the people, the incidence of the poor
rates which had previously been placed wholly on the tenant
occupier was divided equally between him and the land-
owners.

I have just one other remark to make which 1 have taken
from Mr. Caird, as bearing directly upon the question of
labour, and scarcely less directly upon the question of rent.
Mr. Caird says the general condition of the agricultural
labourer was probably never better than it is at present.
Compared with that of 300 years ago, iu the time of Eliza-
beth, wages have risen sixfold, while the price of bread has
only doubled.

Two centuries later, in 1770, the farm labourer's wages
were Is. 2d. a day, when the price of v heat was 46a. a
quarter; in 1816 Is. 7d., wiien wheat was 53s. At the
present time wages have risen 60 per cent., while wheat has
not increased in price, or, in other words, the labourer's
earning power in procuring the staff of life cost him five
days' work to pay for a bushel of wheat in 1770, four days
iu 1S40, and two and a half days in 1870.

I have quoted Mr. Caird to show that the cipital value of
land may be fixed at too high a figure. Eor instance, suppose
some Mr. Caird had been writing on the value of agricultural
l£.nd in Ireland in ISAt before the potato famine, and then
again in 1818, two years after the potato famine. His com-
parisons would have looked sometiiing like the affairs of tlie
Glasgow Bank. Mr. Caird shows in his description of the
ruined tenants of Ireland in 1846, that when the cultivating
power of this class is stopped, or checked, it is as disastrous
to the owner as to the tenant. Therefore let it be understood
that this one-fifth of capital belonging to the occupier in and
upon the land in the shape of live and dead stock, backed by
the persevering intelligence ot the farmer, has done more to
develop the resources of our agriculture than anything done
by the owners. I will further say that it is these men who
wield this working power and money, who have done some-
thing to bring out such scieniific meu as Mr. J. 15. Lawes,
Dr. Volicker, Mr. Mechi, and a host of stock and sbeep-
breeders. There was an opening or need for such men, ar.d
thty have risen up. I must not forget the implement m-inu-
facturers ; first, lor one moment, look back thirty or forty
years, when tlie hulk of the corn was cut by the sickle and
thraslied by the Ihiil. Before our great agricultural imple-
ment muuutacturiug firms were kuowu, the village blacksmith
dii nearly all the work.

Let me bring you back to the jiresent time, and contrast tlic
steam thrashing and dressing machine with the old II ;il, and
in like manner the reaping and mowing machine, not lortret-
tiug the self-binder, with the sickle and the scythe ; and the
same contrast will hold good with every implement on the farm.
Well, gentlemen, it is the far-seeing, practical agriculturists,
who have in their business beheld these necessities, and ih-se
scientific machinists have picked up their ideas and put them
ia such form and substance as could he seen by all who
visited the lloyal showyard at Bristol, in July, 1878. Picture
to yourselves those long lines of sheds, and that mighiy
collection of implemen's and animals, and I venture to think
you will say with me that the agriculturists and landowners of
Britaij are greatly benefited and indebted to those persevering
and noble minded men who have made such results possible.
It is this coinhinrttioii that has made our home agriculture
what it is ; it is from this source that barren wastes are con-
verted into waving fields of corn, and the landscape dotted
with sheep and cattle, and the people dwell iu peace and
plenty, be^ides giving money, pleasure, and power to the
sleeping partner — the owner — in the concern. And it is
quite as easy to undervalue this working power as to over-
value the other, because without this working power the land
would be almost valueless, and become a w^iste. Well, gen-
tlemen, iu looking at the present aspect of our home agricul-
ture, or in other words the great manufacturing interest of
growing food for the people, because cotton iu its raw state
is no mire cloth or a shirt than land is bread and butter, and
cheese, and beef and mutton, without the aid of the mauu-
facturing element — I say nothing of wool and skins, though
these are products of agriculture, though secondary — t'ood 'is,
or ought to be, a much more important element of proiluction
than rniment. Therefore,'«ir,with your permission,I will call this
agriculture of ours the manulactory of food, just as the Mint
is the manufactory of coin, and it is from a food-producing
point I wish to treat this subject. Looking from my
standpoint, I see no other interest in the raauufacturing com-
munitv of this nation that is so heavily weighted as this food
manufacturing interest. Tiie first that looms in my mind is
the lfcndowner,who seems to have various interests in his land
— political, social, religious, and game — all of whicli could
be shown by no very ingenious intellect to be more against
the food-producing powers of the land than otherwise. Tlieu
there is the cash interest of the owner — the yearly rent — and
as the owning power takes no practical management in the
food-producing power on a farm, I have called the owner the
sleeping partner in the affair.

Again, the owning power has always appeared to want aad
select tenants who will pay their rent, and not over-crop or
sell too much produce off the farm. There have been endless
covenants inserted in farm agreements all of which tend to
restrict cultivation and cropping; and so much is this the case
that I once said to a land agent, I did not know one tenant
farmer who dare farm his owner's land as he wonld do were
the land his own, let the terms of his agreement be ever so
liberal, and I here repeat that opinion.

These restrictive covenants are a great mistake, and liRve
arisen from a belief that ovr-productiou means detcrioralioa
of soil. This is a mistake and a fallacy which a fuller know-
ledge of cultivation and its proceeds ought to have scattered
to the winds long ago, and it has been the cause of thousands
of tons of foreign produce being imported which ought to have
been grown at home.

Next upoQ my list comes the unfair incidence of local taxa-
tion. I maintain that local taxes are levied upon agricultural
land as they are levied upon no other manufacturing concern
in the kingdom. Not only are the farmer's house and build-
ings assessed for local taxes, but his raw material, the land, is
also assessed, which is a monstrous irjustice. Why should
not the raw material of all other mauulactu ring concerts he
assessed, or the land relieved from paying local taxes ? The
farmer's house, buildings, and machioery should only be
assessed as other manufactories are treated. I have only this
to say of the property and income tax, that it is the best
attempt I know of in practice to catr^h evenly all who are able
to pay. The same cannot be said of tithes, which are wholly
levied upon land. I question whether any other industry
would for a moment tolerate this glaring impost, and I say
this as a ChurchniaD.

Add to these drawbacks the insecurity of yearly tenancies,
under whicli the greater part ot the land is held, uud in many

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districts thfi want of cottage accommodation for farm labour,
end insuRicient compeu3?ting; clauses for unexhausted im-
provements. There is also the knotty ((uestion of game,
which is a source of constant annoyance to the niind of the
good farmer where it it in abundance. I will give you one
instance which came under my observation. I was called
upon, with another gentleman, to value game damages on the
crop of barley of one farm, the rent of which was a little over
£iO0. The tenant had taken the precaution to wire off
patches in the different plots, to show the difference between
the protected parts and the unprotected. My co-valuer was
appointed by the owner, and was a land agent iu the neigh-
bouihood of the farm; the damages allowed the tenant was
£100. You may draw your own inference as to the anxiety,
annoyance, and the annually-recurring loss occasioned by the
over-preservation of game. I have one word to say about
uutownrd seasons. Before the days of foreign competition a
bad season raised the price of farm produce, but now the im-
mense influx of foreign production completely upsets all cal-
culations on this head, so that we may even have lower prices
after a bad season than after a good one. Such are some of
the aspects of home agriculture as presented to my mind, and
1 will take leave of this part of my subject with the assurance
that some of the members present will show the farmer his
best course in these difticult times.

And now a word as to the future prospect of our home
agriculture. We may accept it as an encouraging sisn that
rents will in justice be lowered when we see so many laud
lords returning 10, CO, and 25 per cent, to their tenants. But
this question of rent is a matter of agreement between owner
and occupier, and, like labour, must be in a great measure
regulated by supply and demsnd.

We have the Cmtral Chimber of Agriculture, with its
kindred branches, including the Local Taxation Committee,
where grievancs can be discussed and remedies suggested, all
of which tend to bring about abetter state of things. There
is also the Agricultural Holdings Act of recent date, which
almost everybody agrees is a dead letter— although the dis-
cussions that took place at the time the Act was passfld did a
good deal to eulisihten landlords ami tenants as well as legis-
lators and the public as to the way in which land was let, and
how improving tenants were too often unfairlj|tret»ted on quit-
ting their farms.

1 have said this ranch of the Agricultural Holdings Act
with the view to call the attention of this Club to the suliject,
and would aek— Do you think the agriculture of this country
ought to have nothing but this dead letter Act to guide iti in-
terests— interests which are among the most important and
vital of this or any nauou ? I feel that the improving tenauts
of England are entitled to something more than this dead le;ter
Act, if they are to have justice done them on quitting their
farms. I have often thought that Messrs. Cobden and Bright,
when engaged in the bnttle of cheap bread, directed all their
energies to open our ports to the foreigner, aud overlooked and
ignored the development of our home resources. I am of
opinion that the landowners of that day were equally short-
sighted in advocating the cauie of protection. Had they shown
the same zeal to relieve their tenants from restrictive covenants,
and given freedom to cultivators aud security for the capital
invested in and upon the land, ihey would have taken the best
and surest means of meeting the foreigner. We raRy make up
our minds, from what we see on every hand, that foreign com-
petition is destined to increase even more rapidly in the future
than it has in the past.

I am confirmed in this view by a perusal of statistics kindly
furnished to me by Mr. Dyke, agent to the Canadian Govern-
ment.which show the total number of live stock imported from
tlie United States and Canada— into tbe United Kingdom —
for the year 1878 was as follows: — Cattle, 86,589 ; sheep,
81,076 ; pigs, 17,933 ; against 19,187 cattle, 23 395 sheep, and
SlU pigs in 1877. I say nothing of the importation of dead
meat, gr»in, &c., all of which are on the increase. And how
are these altered circumstances to be met ? Landlords ought
injustice to lower their rents, abolish restrictive covenants,
preserve less game, give security of tenure and co.npensation
for unexhausted improvements, and encourage by every other
Dieaus a more liberal outlay on tiie land.

With all these inducements to good and high farming on
the part of the owner, the tenant would enter upon his occu-
paliou with a cuuiideuce, cacrgy, aud enterprise uukuowa

before ; he would be stiraukted to cultivate the land in the beat
possible way, and grow the maximum quantity of the finest
quality of all home agricultural productious. The resources of
tlie soil would be developed to their fullest extent ; high and
profitable farming become the rule and not the exc<"ption, and
the English farmer would have a chance to cope more success-
fully with his foreign competitors than he has at present. We
mnst all realise the fact that England is but a part, though an
important one, of the British Empire, with its va>t Colonial
possessions and their boundless resources, and looking at \hs
prospects of the British farmer, there can be no doubt that
emigration, with all the facilities of intercommunication we
possess, must exercise an influence on home agriculture.

Mr. H. J. Little (Coldhi^ra Hall, Elm, Wisbeach) said he
made no apology for being the first to rise, because although
he had been a member of that Club for many years, he had
not very often obtruded his opinions upon it. It had been
sometimes objected to papers read at that Club that they were
too exhaustive ; but he did not think that fault could be found
with Mr. Scotson's paper, seeing that it left plenty of room
for any gentleman who wished to take part in the discussion
of thnt important question. As regarJed the distress that
now prevailed among agriculturists, he supposed uo one in
that room doubted that farmers were passing through such a
period of trial as had uot been known for a great number of
years in British agriculture ; yet, if men took their ideas
solely from the daily papers they would know very little indeed
about the distress which prevailed among f.irraers, and with
the exception of a few weak wails in the agricultural papers
there was very little in the public press to call attention to
the magnitude of the disiister which had overtaken tlie farm-
ing world. The Times had recently pulilished several letters
on the subject, but he thought they would agree with him
that generally speaking they were not much to the point. A
little while ago, however, ther« was a letter from a Mr. Broni-
heail, a gentleman living in Huntingdonshire, who renackfd
that he began as an agriculturist five and thirty years ago,
with the iuteution of lunking the land his bank, in ace jrdan.;e
with a maxim of the late Sir Ribert Peel iu reference to that
matter, but that be had been rudely awakened from his
illusion by the recent unfavourable seasons. As for hi;n»elf he
was bound te say that it' he lial not hid a better bmk than
t'e laud lately h; would have fouid himself in a very awk-
ward position, as not only had the hnd not yielded him any
interest for his deposits but he had sone apprehensi ns as to the
safety of tbe principil. A noble Mirquis, who was the chair-
mm of a great agricultural society iu this country, toik upon
himself to prove ironiMr. Bromliead's figures that farmers were,
a'ter all, in a very go )d po-ition (Ltughter), He (Mr.
Little) was glad to siy that they had go', a more practical man
in their own chairman. The Marquis of Hunlly tried to show
that Mr. Bromhead must have made a good deal of money,
but he, unfortunately, could only do so by the assumption that
that gentleman had the entire gross acreage of his farm under
corn-cropping during the whole period of thirty-fi/e years — a
conclusion wliich he need hardly tell that meeting was not
exactly justified (L<uubter). Another gentleman had called
the attention of tlie public to the present state of agriculture,
in a more practical manner — Mr. Bear, a gentleman who was
well-known in thtt Club, and who, if present would, he hoped,
take part in that discussion — wrote an article in the Foiiniyhlli/
Reoiew in which he took a very correct view of the gravity of
the present situa'ion of farmers (Cheers). He wou'd not
attempt to follow Mr. Bear in his examination of the causes of
the present state of things, and he scarcely agreed with him
entirely as to the suflicieucy of tlie remedies wiiich he suggested,
but he felt sure that succeeding speakers would enter into
those questions. The first question nhich struck him in con-
nection with the paper, was whether the present depression
were temporary or permanent, and in reference to that he
wished just to glance back at some of the causes, and after-
wards to notice some of the remedies which had been proposed.
The first cause was, he thought, beyond doubt, the series of
bid seasons, an evil which was a national calamity, and still
more a cahmity to fanners throughout the country. The next
cause was the deterioration of labour, a deteriora ion not to be
measured bj the increased amount which farmers paid. Not
only was labour more expensive, but it was also of inferior
([uality, anil heuco farms were rapidly '-etling into a worse
slate than they used to be (Hear, lica.-1. Again, he could

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

241

sot help thinl-:ing tluit a great deal of tlie present distress had
arisen Irom tlie wars, aud rumours ol wars, tliat liad existed of
late in Euroiie. He felt coiifideut, that the mere idea of
Enj^land's going to war with Russia last year and tiie year
before, had done a great deal of harm to agriculture in this
country. The fact of wheat beinn fo' a week or two as iiigh
as 70s. a quarter in the spring of 1877, was a calamity to the
British farmers, inasmuch as it gave a great stimulus to agri-
culture in Atuerica, the result of which was that Great Britain
had been swamped with corn from that country ever since.
Wiiither tlie immense importations from that part of
the world were likely to continue, he was, of course, unable
to say. A week or two ago a letter appeared in the Times,
■which stated that the production of wheat in America averaged
only aboat 11 bushels an acre ; yet in ordinary seasons, even
with crops which seemed to English farmers so ridiculously
small, the exporters could send far more wheat to this country
than it required. Tlie writer of that letter said that he was
well acquMiiited with American agriculture, and taking this to
be correct he (Mr. Little) had made a calculation that a quar-
ter of wheat could be produced in America and landed ou the
shores of Gr'at Britain for an average cost of about 37s.
There was another letter in the Times of th it day from a
gentleman who he had hoped would attend that meeting (Mr.
Scott), and who estimated, he thought, that at the present
time tiiere was a loss on exports of American wheat of not
less than 43. per acre. If, however, the American farmers
ci'uld grow wheat for England at such prices as had lately
ruled here, the cultivation of wheat in this country must he
doomed, and with that loss would go one of the great main-
stays of British agriculture. Tliey would, no doubt, be told
by some that the only remedy for this state of things was the
restoration of protection. Well, that was a cry in which for the
present British fanrers had not taken part ; it was so tar
almost conliaed to British maRufaclurers and traders. Many
farmers present were perhaps brought up as it were in the
principles of Protection ; he himself was reared in a family
111 which the name of Free Trade was like the name of some
black monster ; but having seen the working of free trade for
the last 30 years, he could not presume to think that the
people of this country would ever again agree that their
food should be taxed. Let them juit consider the position of
the matter. Only 10 years ago the imports of provisions from
America amounted in value to but £25,000,000 annually; in the
last year the value was £100,000,000 (Hear, hear). Tims they
saw of what immense importance was the food supply from
America and how unlikely it was that the people of England
should suffer any very great check to such an enormous trade.
At the same time they could not shut their eyes to the fact
of the great danger that tbere was in this country depending
to such an extent upon imports of corn from abroad. If those
two great countries — America and Russia — were to streich
out their hands across the Pacific and agree to starve Eugland
out, it would not be many months before this nation would be
placed in a greater difficulty than she had ever been placed in
hitherto. Such a stoppage of food supplies would cause a
famine in a very short time far more certainly than any
European war in which our country could ever be engaged.
Therefore there was very great danger in their beiu;{ dependent
to such an enormous extent upon imports from abroad. But
to return to fanners present difficulties. Perhaps the most
immediate and powerful remedy for the present state ot things
was to be found iu a lowering of rents. He knew that that
was a subject which presented a great many difficulties (Hear,
hear). He knew that there were in that room many gentle-
men who represented landlords, and that a great many
raemhers of the Club owned land, and therefore to some
extent occupied the position of landlords. He wished, there-
fore to avoid saying auything on that occasion which might
offend any one present; but lie must say that he quite agreed
with tlie writer of the paper that rents must come down very
considerably, and within a short time. But would they come
down soon enough for the bulk of the agriculturists of this
country ? That was the great question. He was rather in-
clined to think that they would not, and that they could not,
for this reason, that farmers would hang on to the land as long
as they possibly eould, and that as long as landlords could get
the present rents they would be quite ready to take them
without saying anything at all to their tenants about the
matter (laughter). A gentleman with whom he was acquainted
recently lett a large farm iu extraordinary fine condition, and

within a short time there were so many applicants for it that
the rent was put up, the owner being one of the largest laid-
owners iu England. The applicants from the distriet iu which
the farm was situated refused to give the extremely high rent
demanded, but very soon there made their appearance somewise
men from Gotham, and one who came from that neighbour-
hood agreed to pay the additional rent, saying, that the land
was in such flue condition that 10s. per acre of rent did not
matter, as it was worth all the money to " farm out." (Laugh-
ter.) But there were many persons who did not see their way
clearly to " farming out " as that gentleman intended to do ;
and he dare say that if that great landlord to whom he had
alluded should get a few thousand acres thrown upon his hands
(as he was very likely to do after they had been " farmed
out") he would be able to resuscitate those paper mills which
existed not far from his estate, which depended for their exist-
ence on the supply of " twitch," and which had now been
closed some years by lack of that material. (Laughter.) As
regarded what was said about land not paying sufficient inte-
rest as an investment he maintained that that cry was,
generally speaking, a fictitious one. The amount of interest
wliich land yielded had really very little to do with the value.
In this great commercial country there were always many
persons who were anxious to get possession of land, even if it
paid only 1^ per cent. There were a number of rich people
who wanted land chiefly on account of the influence which
the possession of it conferred. The other day a pamphlet was
put forth by a gentleman in Norfolk, Mr. llaughton, in which
he expressed or quoted the opinion tliat a reduction of 20 per
cent, in rents would amount to a revolution in the country.
He (Mr. Little) maintained that such a notion was ridiculous.
He would suppose that a gentleman in that room, was the
owner of 1,000 acres of land, for which he received £1,500 a
year. A reduction of 20 per c.-nt. would be a loss of £300 a
year, which would, in most cases, not be a matter absolutely
ruinous. But let him consider seriously the position of the
tenant of that 1,000 acres, whether with one-fourth the capital
embarked in it which the owner possessed, £300 a jear had
anything to do with his losses for several years past. It was,
in fact, nonsense to suppose that a diminution of 20 or even
25 per cent, would produce anything like a revolution. People
had said that farmers were in a panic. He did not believe aoi--
thing of the kind. He did not believe the British farmer ever
got into a panic, most of them being, perhaps, rather too much
inclined to boldness. It was, however, a very different thing
for soldiers in battle anxiously to look over their shoulders to
see where their succours were coming from, than to (ling away
their arms in a panic. What they wanted was to see where
their succours were to come from. He did not dread the im-
portation of meat as much as some persons feared it. That
had, no doubt, caused great anxiety, but he did uot think they
had as much cause to fear that as they had to fear some other
things. They all know that freights were now so low for
anything that had to cross the Atlantic that meat could be
cirried at almost a nominal rate ; but with the revival of the
trade of this country he believed we should see a more satis-
factory demand for English meat. Well, they must all hope
for belter times. Such a run of ill seasons (for instance) as
they had lately experienced must surely come to an end. He
could only say in conclusion in the words of one of the
greatest writers of the present day — " Nature repairs her
ravages ; repairs them with sunshine and human labour.
Nature repairs her ravages, but not all. The uptorn trees
are not rooted again, and if there is a new growth it is not
the old trees." Yes, nature repaired her ravages. After the
fiercest storm came sunshine ; but he much feared the sun-
shine would little avail those farmers, who, like the trees, had
been uprooted by the blast! There might be a new growth,
but the old trees would be gone. He did venture to appeal-
not obsequiously, but earnestly — in the name of the tenant
farmers of England, to landlords and to those members of the
club who represented landlords, to stretch out a helping hand
at once to their tenan's, feeling certain that every delay
would revert in the long run on their own t.-ade, and that
they th'imselves would suffer in the end in proportion to their
present obstinacy and tenacity.

Mr. BowiCK (Uedford) said that Washington had once
said that agriculture was the most ancient, the most noble,
a> '1 the most useful occupation of man. If he had lived until
to-day he might have added, and the most depressed also. A
farmer who occupied some 700 acres of poor clay soil said to

2 1:2

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Iiiin tliP proviou"! wpek lli^t lio liail lost more money (luring
llie hist four yenra than \<(: liad made during the previous
twenty. In fact, those last four years si'enied like the lean
and ill-favoured kine that came out of the river and ate up
the lat and well-fed kine. He could not help thinking the
f'oMimittee of the Club had exercised a v\'ise discretion in
hringing up this snhjpct for discussion, as it was a matter of
vital interest to the teiianc farmer at such a time of depression
Hs tlie present. There were two causes among others for this
depression. If they had four years' rainfall in three years
they must look out lor bad seasons. And they had had it. If
they had in the months of JMay, June, and July an excess
rainfall of 600 tons to the acre, they were bound to have had
barley crops and other crops iu proportion. If they had a fall
ofonly two degrees ol mean temperature during the growing sea-
son the resu t was bad wheat and other bad crops. These things
were beyond their management however, and were in the hands
of a higher power. But as he was speaking on this intetest-
iug subject he might as well say here that he had been re-
quested by the v'.ouiicil of the Meteorological Society to convey
to the meeting tiieir desire that the farmers of England would
show more interest in this matter. lie did not believe they
would ever be able to foretell exactly what weather was coming,
but the day would come when Meteorology would be of great
Malue and of great scientific interest to agriculturists. They
bad noticed that bad seasons went in cycles, and now
that they had so many bad seasons they might
reasonably anticipate good seasons in returning cycles.
Anotiier point on which the present aspect of the de-
pression very much depended had been strikingly presented to
liira on one market dhy at Luton last month by Mr. Clark, a
v^ry intelligent farmer, who, when speaking to him took out
of liis pocket a piece oi paper, saying that was what over-
weighted the farmer. It WIS a demand for local rates. (Hear,
hear.) lie ventured to think that every farmer occupying
500 acres of land had to pay fur every working day in the year
lUs. of local and imperial taxation before he had anything for
liimself. Those were not the conditions under which the
fanners expected some years ago to hold their land. He had
nothing to say about the incidence of taxation, but unless
something were done to relieve the farmer in this respect it
would be impossible for him to go on. As long as they were
jiajiug £3 per head, man, woman, and child for local and
imperial taxes— so long agriculture and trade were likely to
prove unprofitable. What they wanted was proper represen-
tation iu Parliament. While the fighting interest had 260
jnembers in the House of Commons, the agricultural, com-
mercial and trading interests had not half th»t number, and
the numbers who represented the faming interest could be
cjuutedouthe fingers of one hand. Why was this? It was
not because farmers had not amongst them men who were
likely to prove cnpablo legislators. He believed there were
f irmers in tliat ro)iii who would grace any legislative assem-
bly. He hoped the time was at liand when they would have a
Minisier of Agriculture, and he believed they would all agree
with him that a better man ould not be found for that respon-
sil.ile position than tlie honourable member for S lUtli Norfolk,
(Hear, hear,) and that such Minister would not be a mere
hang-to of the Board of Trade. A former speaker alluded to
the small average of grain crops obtained in the United S'ates,
and a very small average it was- He believed that
next to English farmers the Dutchmen obtained the
highest average of wheat crops, and he could not help •
thinking that if they in England paid as much aitention in
the improvement of se>'d as to stock and iniplenrjents, a good
result would ensne. A good strain always paid iu seed is well
as in other things. lie did not want to talk ''shop," but
he thought tliey might take a lesson from those lieavy-
smoking Dutchmen, who were so eirefulin the selection of
their seed. They liked to see it growing as well as iu
the sack, aad he had sent sora« who came to him ai much
as 2m miles to see tlie growing stocks. An'ther thing was
the proposal that agriculiurists should adoiit the co-opera'i\e
principle. Now, with co-operation he iiad no fault to fin.',
and every man had a right to adopt ii if so disposed. Bui
those who proposed it should go a litie further, and ask
whether the landlords might not find it more profitable to
cooperate, and by having one huga farm instead of seveu
8 nail ones pocket the money now made by the oocupiets.
Or the corn dealers might lay their lieads together and get
their corn a little cheaper. lie asked them whether it would

not be bettei to let things be regulated by the ruins of supply
and demand. He deprecated tlie conrtiict of those who
sought to pull down the characters of persons engatfcd in
trade in connection with agriculture, and he had never kn,)wii
anyone to get on by trying to pull down his neighbour.
That was a very poor altern itive (Q'testion, question). They
might if they liked to make only one great sliop in Oxford -
street and Holborn, and who would gain? lie believed in
the principle of live and let live. He was reminded by
those proposals of un illustration given by an American writer
on political economy. A farmer who was not very thriving
went to his servant and told him he could not keep him on.
But the s«!rvant said if he kept him on he wou'd not
ask for wages, but would tnke a pair of oxen instead. (Hear),
The farmer said, "But if I give you the oxen in a lew
years you will have all my stock, and what shall 1 do then ? "
to which the sfrvant replied, "Ah, yon can become my
servant and work to get them back again." He believed that
no good would he dene by trying to injure any one class, as
they were so interlaced one with another that what injured
one injured all.

Mr. He\ri Cl.vrk (Edgconihe, Tavistock) said he rose
with some diltidence, because it was said on a previous occasion
by Mr. Treadwell that many men spoke who knew uoihiuir
about the suhji'ct, and he did not wish to be classed as one of
thera, or to inflict on his hearers unprofitable remarks. They
had heard from the lecturer of the relative positions of land-
lord and trinant, but this was a thing which had been the
subject of constant discussion for the last fifty years, and liad
been placed betore them in every possible light. He had been
told that day that the one great evil under which they
laboured was want of security for unexliausted improvements.
This matter had been brought before them time after time,
but what had they done to remedy it. He would venture to
say nothing. The first thing which he remembered was Mr,
I'usej's Bill, and siuce then the matter had been discussei over
and over again, until the Agricultural Holdings A^it, intro-
duced in the most ad'uirable manner by the Duke of Richmond,
and supported at first by almost every member of the Legis-
lature. This seemed likely to remedy what was undoubtedly
unjust — that the tenant had no security for his capital invested
in the laud. But amendments were quickly introduced, and
we had compulsory speeches and permissive measures. And
what was the result — the Act was condemned throughout the
country, and had remained in fact a dead letter. But what was
the remedy proposed. They were told to ask for a reduntiou
of rent, but that was a matter between landlord and ten:in%
and he would tell them so boldly. He came from the West of
England, where he had acquired some knowledge of agricultural
matters, and the other day at the Devon and Cornwall Chamber
of Agriculture he had introduced the question of farm tenancies
for discusion. But a farmer had put it to him in this way.
He said, "If I go to my landlord and ask hiin for a reduction
of reu., he will say to me you are a good fellow and a good
farmer, but I can get equally good fellows who are equally
good farmers who will be glad to take your land at the present
rate." further there was this difficulty, that a great proportion
of the farms were held oa lease with seven or ten or fifteen
years to run. How were they to get out of it ? There were
binding covenants in the lease which could only be cancelled
by mutual agreement. In the yearly tenancies, of course, the
tenant could give up his land, but that could not be done
wh re there was a lease. Those who held leases had a great
dciil of capital invested in the soil, and if they gave them up
some one else would slip in and take their place and benefit by
it. What the farmers wanted was unit) of action, so that
when a tanner left if he did not receive compensation for
unexhausted improvements, they would treat anyone who
rented tlie farm as a black sheep, and say to him we will
not have anything to do wiili you, (Why that is trade
unionism, and that won't; do). How then were
they lo meet the difficulty (advise not in that way),
or to have a reduction of rent where there was a lease with
seven or ten years to run unless by mutual agreement, (Hear,
hear.) One gentleman had s[)oken of good seasons and bad
seasons. He did not think this had much to do with the
matter; they would always have bad and good seasons.
What they had to look to was the enormous im-
portation from abroad. Live s ock was been imported very
largely, and he was glad to see it, for as a fanner in his neigh-
bourhood had said to lu:n when he wanted to get store stock

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

in the West ol' England tlicy did not know where to get lliem.
They had to pay 55s. per cenr. for store stock, and how
could they stock the farms at this price? Aj^riculural de-
pression was great, but the way in which it should be met was
by ohtaiuiug tor the tenant compulsory security tl)r his capital,
and the sooner be liad it the better. Mr. Bear had wti t^'u two
admirable articles in tlie Fortiwjhtly Review, in which lie had
exhausted the whole question. A story bad been told about
farming out, but whether he had a tense or yearly tenancy no
inau was justitied in farming out. They did not want to farm
out but to keep tlieir hind ; and if they could get sood terms
from their landlords it would enable them to occupy the land
ontil better times. That was the position the tenant should
be pUeed in, and must be placed in. They had seen, no doubt,
that Mr. Samuelson had given notice that he was going to call
attention to the working of the Agricultural Holdings Act, and
to the condition of agriculture in England. He was, no doubt,
a Lib'-ral member, but he saw the depression of agriculture,
and no nwn knew better whut was the present state of things.
He was to move for a committee of inquiry on the Agricultural
Holdings Act, and he hoped that their excellent chairman, Mr.
riiipp'i, wlio took so gnat an interest in all a'^ricultural
matters, and who had proposed to insert a compulsory clause
when the Act was before the House' would support tlie resolu
tion. But in order to strengthen Mr. Samuelson'a hand he
lioped the Farmers' Club would do something. They had done
a great deal in the way of talking about this question, but
talking alone would have very little effect, and they should now
take action. He proposed that tiiey should pa<s a resolution,
viz., " That in consideration of the prevalence and severity of
agricultural deprfssion in this country, I'arlianaeut is earnestly
re,(iuested to coDSent to the appointment of Mr. Sarauelson's
proposed committee to inquire into the operation of the Agri-
C'lltural Holdings Act-, and the condition of agricultural
tenancies in England." He would submit it for iheir approval
and if they passed it they would strengthen the hands of Mr,
Samuelsor, and show the House that he was backed by the
Farmers' Club of England. He trusted some one would second
it, and that it would be carried. Mr. Clark concluded with
moving a resolution, which was seconded by Mr. Bear. The
Chairraau however, ruled that the resolution could not be put.

Mr. H. NiELB said he beli-ved it was not usual in that
Club to pass resolutions ; he had never known it to he done
except in the case of the Agricultural Holdings Act. He
sympathised in the object of tlie mover of the resolution just
proposed, but it could not be put without the previous intro-
duction of a new rule, for which purpose it would be neces-
sary to give notice.

The Cn.MRiiAN, interrupting, reminded Mr. Nield that the
resolution had not been seconded.

jNIr. W. E. Beau said he would second it.

The Chairman said that being the case he must now ex-
press his opinion as the Chairman, that the resolution was
irregular and out of order, and that it could not be put to the
meeting (Hear, hear).

Mr. H. Neild (The Grange, Worsley, Manchester) pro-
ceeded to say thai it was quite clear that what might be
called the agricultural question had come to a crisis ; and he
thought the crucial question for the British farmer in liis
present position was wliether he was any longer to be injured
Ly covenants which impeded liim in his operations, and was
to be left without valid security for unexhau^ted improvements.
In liieir present position they could not possibly compete with
loreign importations from all parts of the world. Lord Chat-
ham said that English soldiers eould accomplish anything but
impossibilities, and lie (Mr. Neild) would say on behalf of
British farmers that they could accomplish anything but im-
possibilities, and that as they were at present situated their
competing with foreign imports was impossible. When Sir
Robert I'eel passed free trade, it was assumed that farmers
would be left unfettered in their calling, but, in po'nt of fact,
grievous shackles had been imposed upon them as regarded
their own jiroduce and their cultivation ; and, after 30 years'
experience in fanning, he did not hesitate to say that the
great question wiiich they must put in the front was t liat of
freedom, combined with s curily in farming. That question
had, in fact, become a national one. It was now bl years
since that question was fir^t introduced in Parliament by one
of the greatest and most distinguished agricultural authorities
ot that day, the late Mr. Philip Pusey, who, addressing the
landlords of England, said, " The subj el of unex-

243

I hausted improvements seems to me the most important
ot aii asricultural questions, and the improvement of our
I agreements in this respect to he a condition sins qmi nun of
! any improvement of the soil or its cultivation." Their e.K-
cellent friend wlio had read the paper— one of the best papers
that he had recently heard in the Club— told them that when
he was a schoolboy tlie population of Eiiiflaiid and Wales was
about 13,000,000. It was now over 20,000,000. Owing f)
want of security for tlie capital of the tenant there cjiild not
be a proportionate increa.'.e in ho iie production. The differ-
encs had to be made up by importations from abroad, and he
contended that unless proper security were given to British
tanners it was not likely that they would make the necessary
improvements. He now fo'ind that this country was now
Hctually importing ±'115,000,000 worth of foreign corn ]ief
annum. The present system was operating very injuriously
towards British husbandry. English capital and English
labourers driving abroad to do better. To produce provisions
is what they wanted, and which were sold against them at
home. Reference liad been made to the recent bad seasons.
The great Husbandman of the eirth had promised that there
sliould always be seed time and harvest, and they h.xd never
failed yet, and he (Mr. Neild) believed that the vicissitudes of
the seasons had but little to do with the main question before
them. There were, indeed, the greatest difficulties connected
with the present state of trade; trade and manufactures had
been carried on in a speculative manner; credit had been
abused, and farmers were to some extent amenable to that law
by which — the innocent suffered for the sins of the guilty.
That had something to do with the question before them".
He estimated that the labourers received about 30 per cent.*
more money than they did a few years ago, and did about 15
per cent, less work, making together a difference of about 45
per cent. There had been a great increase in rents during
the last ten or twelve years, and agriculture had been to some
extent, inflited by a false value being given to land.
Speaking of his own district, he could testify that the advance
in the price of labour and in the advance of rents had pro-
duced very serious results.

Mr. TuEADWELL (Upper Winchendon, Aylesbury) said that
they would have to pay attention principally to three things—
to rent, to labour, and to tradesmen. They had no alterna-
tive but to submit to the prices they sot for their produce, and
no legislation would alter that. But they could ask their
labourers, their landlords and their tradesmen, to assist them
at a time like this, and they could all very well afford to do it.
People were living now at a much clieiper rate than they had'
been doing for years. If they asked the landlords to reduce
the rent they could well ask the labourers to consent to receive
rtduced wages, and the tradesmen to make some reduction ia
their prices. Those were the three elements to which they
must look for a reduction of expenditure, and it was in this
character a change must be effected if farming was to be made
profitable. With the present price of produce, the cost of
production eat up all the profit, and he could not, were such a
state of things to continue, go on with his farming except at
a loss. He did not complain so much of the badness of the
seasons, for his crops had been good, bat he had a difficulty in
paying his way because his produce had brought in barely
sufficient money to pay expen-es. In some locilities rates and
taxes had no doubt increased, but in his district, thinks to the
present Government, they had decreased, and he had no doubt
il was the same with many other farmers, and, under the
circumstances, he did not see how the Government could help
tlieiu. Mr. Clark said the question of rent was one between
landlord and tenant, and it was the same with the agreements*
(No, no.) It was just as much a question between landlord
and tenants on what terms the land should be let as to what
price it should be let. (No, no.) That had always been liis
opinion, and it was his opinion now.

Mr. J. Walker (Mattersea Hall, Baratrey) said he quite
agreed with his brother farmers that the producers of"this
country bad no grudge against the consumers. As regarded
free trade whnt he objected to was that they had only had a
half andhalf bastard tree trade. Thirty-three years ago,
being a delegate in London, he assisted in urging upon the
Government of the day what he believea to be the sound view
of that question. He maintained that the only proper taxes
were taxes on completely mannfactured articles,' a fairly
adjusted income tax, and all produce being left free, for all
were consumers, but all were not producers ; therefore, taxes

2+4

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

should full on producera as consumers, and not on producprs
alone. Had tl'.at principle been adopted tlie malt tax would
have been abolished ; but vested interests stood in the way of
such a change, and hence nothing was done.

Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., said : Sir, I can hardly agrree with
my friend, Mr. Treadwell, when lie says that the Agricultural
Holdings Act is at best to be a dead letter, and that compen-
sation for unexhausted improvements is a question between
landlord and tenant (Hear, hear). I say that this question
lias become a national one now, and it is a national disgrace
that a large portion of the laud of England should be held by
tenants on the conditions that it is now (Hear, hear). Is
it, or is not, true that in the year 1S79 half the land of
England is held on a six months' notice to quit without any
provision for compensation to the out going tenant either by
agreement or by custom. I believe that this is really the case,
and it is a very wrong state of things. I think that under any
circumstances it would be a national disgrace that such an
evil should be inflicted on agriculture, but it is especially
disgraceful at the present time. Neither, Sir, can I concur in
the concluding remark of my friend, Mr. Neild, that the
recent disastrous seasons have nothing to do with the snhject
we are discussing. I think that is one ot the chief things to
be considered. We know perfectly well that we have passed
through lour most disastrous agricultural seasons, and if we
had grown anything hke the average quantity of corn we
should not have been in so difficult a financial position. I do
hope and believe that good seasons will return again, and that
a cycle such as we have passed through during the last four
years will not be repeated. My friend, Mr. Little, said in
effect that there must be a universal reduction of rent. I
think he said there must be a reduction of '20 per cent. Well,
that is a very nice proposition indeed. Ii is very easy to make
sunh a calculation, but the reduction is not very easily got
(Hear, hear). I don't really know that I should say that
the reduction ought to be universal. I believe that a great
deal of the land of this country is over-rented, but I also
believe that a great deal of it is moderately rented -rented
quite on the " live and let live" principle. I believe that a
great deal of the land of this country will not easily find
tenants— I mean the very light laud and very heavy clay land. If
I were a tenant in distress I should not be so much disposed
to ask the landlord for a permanent reduction of rent as to ask
liirn to assist me in other ways. L^t him provide me with
better buildings ; let him drain my farm if necessary ; let him
make the nceessary improvements of a permanent character ;
let him get rid of the hedgerows ; let him give me bigger
fields, so that I could employ a steam cultivator, let him
preserve me from the ravages of game, especially ground
game, let him protect me against those disastrous pests which
I am happy to say have been very mucii reduced in my
neighbourhood and, I believe, throughout the kingdom : and
I believe that improvements of that kind would do mure to
benefit me than even a considerable reduction of rent. We
have now to contend against dictiiulties that did not present
tliemselves formerly, and I believe that assistance is to be
found chif fly in permanent improvenient.s in the land we
occupy. There appears to be a deep conviction in the minds
of some persons tliat the only remedy for the present distress
is to be found in peasant proprietorship. Not merely h is that
been said in the House of Commons, but I have heard
the idea frequently put forward in private and seen it expressed
in newspapers, and I believe it prevails very generally. Now,
I contend that this distress points rather to the necessity of
landlords making permanent improvements in their property,
and 1 think that is what we have to look to and not to the
creation of a lot of peasant proprietors. I, for my part, con-
tend that the long-established division of landlord, tenant, and
labourer is the best that can exist in a country like this (Hear,
hear)— a country which is very rich, but at the same time of
very limi'ed extent. That brings me to tlie point raised by
the introducer of this discussion in opposition to very
lirge estates. I think that as farmers, and also as forming
part of the public, we should ask our-clvts this question in
relation to Ur^'e and small estates : Are the large estates
bstter farmed than, or as well farmed as small ones? I
should say they are better farmed. Do they produce a larger
quantity of tuod ? I think they do. The question of the
size of estates h one, with which we need not trouble ourselves.
Simplify the traus!er of laud, make the acquisiliou of it more

cheap and easy than it is, i( yon like. Although it may not
be desirable to attempt to secure a reform of the land laws at
present, I agree with those who say, " Give the owners of lund
more power over the laud than they have at present." The
Agricultural Holdings Act has given the holders of settled
estates the power of charging their successors with part of
the cost of making permanent improvements, and that is a
great boon. I could not exactly comprehend what the intro-
ducers of the subject meant by saying that there is a
great deal too much uncultivated lajd in this country. I
feel that there is too much cultivated land. I know parts of
the county of Norfolk which have been broken up from sheep
walks, and I think it would have been much better if a large
portion of that land had not been broken up, and that the same
remark is applicable to a great deal of land in the same dis-
trict which was formerly in the condition of warrens. There
is a large quantity of land now under cultivation in Norfolk
which it would be a great deal better to have in grass. Mr.
Scotson also made a great point about tithes being a burden
to proprietors. Well, I think the way in which the titlia
average is struck is most unfair. The reader of the paper also
seemed to think that the occupiers of all land should be al-
lowed to deal with the farm more as they would do if it were
their own. I believe that in many cases a farmer may safely
spend the same amount of capital as if the land belonged to
him. Under Lord Leicester's recent leases each tenant may
farm exactly as he likes for the first sixteen out of twenty
years, and a great deal maybe extracted from the land in such
a period. Mr. Clark said that gentlemen engaged in agri-
culture in the West of England want store stock. If that be
so, why in the name of goodness don't they breed store stock ?
(Hear, hear.) We in the east cannot breed a large amount
of cattle because we have so little grass land, but surely
farmers in the West of England can provide themselves witti
plenty of home-bred store stock and need not be dependent on
the introduction of such stock from America or any other
part of the world. No one has said anything to-day about
the law of distress ; yet that is a matter which seriously
affects farmers as a body. Some time ago I met with a case
in which the rent was allowed to get six years in arrear, and
was not pressed for until some one who was not the tenant
had put a number of sheep on the farm to consume the tur-
nips. (Langliter). No doubt that was sharp practice, and in
my opinion the law requires to be altered.

Mr. Bear (Surbiton) said Mr. Nield told them what they
wanted, and then told tiiem how not to get it by not pissing
the resolution. Wliat would be thought of their talking so
much if they refused to support a resolution on the subject of
the agricultural distress that existed? Mr. Siinuelson's motion
was to be seconded by the chairman of the club, and supported
by onfc of the most respected members of the club. But when
they proposed to pass a resolution at that meeting in support
of it they were asked not to proceed with it. Was not the
depression in agriculture more important than precedent? On
a previous occasion they passed a resolution in favour of making
the Agricultural Holdings Act compulsory, and the compulsion
was certainly even more necessary now when agricultural dis-
tress was so great. But although they acknowledged the
necessity, they refused to act. There was no use in giving
homilies to landlords. They had been trviiii; that for the last
fifty years without effect. They had to tell Pariameut that the
laws were unfair, and they should support a meuiber of Par-
liament like Mr. Samuelson, who came fonvanl to ask for an
inquiry into them. He hoped gentlemen would not stand in
the way of the resolution. By passing it they would
strengthen Mr. Samuelsou's hands ; by neglecting it they would
weaken them.

Mr. H. Tretiiewy (Silsoe, Arapthill) said as regards tiie
first part of the question, namely, " the present aspect of our
home agriculture," he would remark that not merely agricul-
ture, but every interest in the country was depressed at the
present time ; and the question arose whether or not the
present state of agriculture might not be in some measure
attributable to the general depression of the country. It was
quite obvious that farmers had suffered from the bad seasons
which had lately come upon sgriculture, but at the same time
there could be no question that what weighed most heavily
upon them was the low price of produce (Hi-ar, hear). In
some parts of the country crops had been pretty good during
the past season. In some districts the barley crop liad realised

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

245

from 4os. to 50s. a qnartrr ; in oflirrs, barley was not wortli
perhaps more tlian about 25s. a quarter, ami wiUi such a
price tor barley, and witli wlieat at about 40s., production
could not be reiiuinerative. The position of ajiriculture re-
sembles tl\at of other industries. There was not, he believed,
at that moment, a sinsle interest in the country which c uld be
said to be in a llourisliinu state, and if that whs the ca'se, how
could tliey expect afjricullure to be otherwise than depressed ?
AlthouEch a;;riculture and trade might be to some extent
different, yet they were also in a considerable decree uni'ed,
because if money were not bcinvr earned by the people, lliey
could uotspeud. Eversince he firs' knew anylliing about t'armiiiff
—and he liid had somethinf; like 40 year,-.' experience of it —
there wuu!d always be cycles of depression and prosperity.
They were now under a cloud of depression. How they were
to get out of it he did not know, but lie had faith in the
elasticity of the country, and he believed that they would get
out of it. and that prosperity would return. Something had
been said with reference to the levying and tlie amount of the
tithes. He believed that the Tithe Commutation Act — he
well remembered the passing of it — wis one of the
best measuses ever proposed for agriculture. Unless
that Act had been passed the improvements that had
taken place since would have met with the greatest
obstruction. Let thera just fancy every article of produce ob-
tained by farmiug, bj wha'ever means it was produced, being
liable to have one tenth of it takeu in kind. If a farmer or
occupier had sncc eded in gaining a verv large crop, a tenth
o*" that crop wou/d have disappeared ; not only the natural
production of the soil, but the improved skill of the farmer
would have been taxed to that extent. The Tithe Commuta-
tion Act put an end to that, and established a principle which
had conduced very much to the advance of agriculture. With
reference to the remarks about small owners and occupiers, he
thought Mr. Read had put the question very fairly. He (Mr.
Trelhewy) could spi^ak from experience as to small occupiers.
He had no hesitation whatever in saying tlat if the land of
this country was to be farmed properlv it mu^t be farmed hy
larjie occupiers. He happened to know instances in which
small peasant occupiers had tried fanning, and it was a most
egregious failure fHear, hear). He entered into fhnt question
in a paper he read before the Club about fourteen or fi teen
years ago. As regarded restrictive covenants, he did certainly
think that part of the subject deserved to be well considered
by owners and tiieir agents, and he thought that concessions
might be made with advantage to both parties, and without
any risk of injury to the lind. He concluded by remarking
that as the meeting uow commenced at (our o'clock and Ind
to be closed at six, it was desirable that all the speeches should
be limited as regarded the time they occupied.

Mr* Druce observed that there had been a limit that after-
noon, the time allowed being a quarter of an hour,

Mr. T. W.. Morris (Bedsrave, Aylesbury), agreed with
precediuo' speakers that landlords should be asked to reduce
rents, and proper security be afforded for tlie cap'tal invested
by the tenant in the soil. At present, wliile loc^l burdens
were beiug increased, too many landlord looked on placidly,
not caring what their tenants suffered.

Mr. Wii. BoTER (Cottesbrocke, Northampton), observed
that tithe was really a landlord's payment, and that since the
passing of the Tithe Commutation Act making it a rent-
charge on the land in lieu of lithe, it would have been much
better if in all cases it had been paid by the landlord. In
most cases the tenant has, by an agreement with his landlord,
paid the amount of the rent-charge to the clergyman, but if he
had not done so he must have paid it in the shape of rent to
his landlord, so that it was not a tenants' question at all. On
the estate for which he was agent, he in several lordships paid
the rent-charge to the clergyman himself, and he believed that
many of the tenants did not even know that any tithe was paid
on the land they oconpied. He considered that it would be
better if instead o' its being a fluctuating rent-charfre it was
now made a fixed one at the amount it was originally com-
muted at, and that it would be better if in all cases the land-
lord were to charge his tenant the full value of tiie land, and
pay the rent-charge to the clergyman h m^elf.

Mr. H. Trethewy said he quite agreed with the
last speaker. He thought it vvas the iQtere>t o( a landlord to
get Lis laud made tithe-free. A lithe owner could only

claim for two years, and if the land were tithe-free, the
landlord might feel secure that the tithe-charge was paid in
the rent, whereas in the absence of that ))rotec*ion for the
luidlord, tiie tenant might go away, leaving the landlord lo
pay the t wo years.

Capt. Delf (Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex) deprecated the
meeting's separating without adojiting some resolution like
that which had been suggested. He thought that in such
a matter they should strike at once. Mr. Samuelson was a
man who was very much respected, and vvlio occupied a very
independent position in the House of Commoas, and in the
present depressed coudi'ion it would be a great pity if tbey
lost 'hat opportunity of supporting him hy means ot a definite
resolution. The time had gone by when they should allow
the boa constric'or like grip of strangulation which had been
exercised so long to cripple the energies of the farmer. They
must emancipate him, and not leave him to be the political
drone that he he had been in tlie past. ('Jheers). He would
appeal to the Chairman to reconsider the question whether it
was not eompeteiit to him to put the resolution to the meet-
ing.

Mr. H. Cheitins (Easton Manor, Dunmow) said, as a very
old member of the Club, he strongly deprecated any resolution
being snbm'tted to the meeting without previous notifo.
(Hear, hear) He had been a me nher of the Club from the
very beginuing, and he well recollected that over and over
again the question whether or not resolutions should be pro-
posed had tieen discussed and decided in the negative.

The Chairman remarked that he had already decided
that the resolution could not he put, adding that there
was, of course, no reason why it should not be passed
after the business of the meeting was concluded. (Hear,
hear.)

Mr. J. Wood (Oakley Manor, Hurstpierpoint, Sussex) said
the que-tion wheiher resoiu'ions shorld be passed had been
canvassed over and over again, and it was felt that in the
interest of the Club it w".s not desirable ; the practice would
htrdly be found to work well when resolutions were passed
He thought that in the case of exception, instead of passing
a resolution ill fiviiur of the compu'sory clause of the Agri-
cultural Holdings Bill, they passed one in opposition to it.
Those raee ings were held, net for the adoption of resolu-
tions, but for the ventilation of questions affecting agricul-
turists by means of discussion.

The Chmrj'an said, alter his ruling, there could be no
discussion ot the question.

Mr. ScOTsoN then replied: Referring to the remarks of
Mr. Treadwell, what I mean by tiigli farming is goad farming,
which I believe to be the most proSiable. Nuticeing wh;.t
hli from Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., I wish it were known
that the agricultural or hndod inierests pay the whole of the
tithes, and ail other productive interests have the same ir
e!iual privileges without paying tithes. This is most unfair.
Whether right or wrong, this is my opinion. I have no
desire to be hard upon eitner large or small landlords, but no
one can doubt that cottages for labourers should beconvenieLt
for the work on the farm, and each holding should have
sulHcient accommodation for its labourers, which is not
generally the case. As judicious and fliicieut labour is the
foundation of wealth and t.e erection o! more houses on most
Idrge estates, would be advantageous to tenant and labourer.

On the motion of Mr. J. Bkown (Elwyn Orchard, March),
second-d by Mr. E. Smythies, thanks were voted to Mr.
Scotson for his paper, a'ter which, on the proposal of M.-.
Caldecott, a vote of thanks was given to the chairman.

Ou the Chairman leaving the chair, Mr. Clark put h's
resolu*iou to the meeting, and it was passed by a large
majority, only five or six hands being held np against it.

It is stated that at the annual sale of yearling Shorf-
horus held at'Wick ou February 28th, i)rices were about
the same as last year, with a dull demand. Those
belonging to Mr. Henderson, of Bilbster, averaged about
28 guineas, the highest price being 35 guiueas. Tlits
highest pricrf reali/iCd by Mr. Adam, of Lynegar,
was 30 guineas, while the average was 23 guineas. Mr.
Browu of Watten, made an i.ve'ige of 23 guiueas, the top
beiug 27 guineas.

S

246

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

BIRMINGHAM SEORTHORN SHOW AND
SALE.

To those wLo are accustomed to regard actual, corporal,
visible, and laugible raerit, as qualities which are defira-
•ble to transmit, the show of Shorthorn pure-bred cattle,
at Bingley Hall, on the 5th ult., must have been very
disappointing. Of visible merit there was very little ;
nud whilst the pedigrees were undeniable, the quality of
the animals, as a rule, was not a credit to any breed of
cattle, whether its pretensions be great or small. The
bull calves under twelvemonths old, for example,contained
but a vei-y few animals which presented an appearance
Avhich would jilace tbem beyond the level of an ordinary
lot of Irish calves in the Bristol market ; and many of
them might essily be overlooked in such company. The
pedigrees were,'iu some instances, almost faultless, but the
calves showed nothing for their blue blood — not even
under the auctioneer's hammer. They did not appear to
be appreciated by ordinary stock-breeders who have to
study utility rather than fashion. It may be rank heresy
to say that the great bulk, not only of these calves, but
of ail the bulls in the yard, would only make third
or fourth rate steers if castrated, but that is the
simple truth. And until Shorthorn breeders can show
something worth calling a good animal on its own nterits
as the rule instead of the exception, they must be told
that the occult science which claims for bad and indiffer-
ent animals a value in proportion to the arbitrary and
jiurely fanciful " purity" of their blood, is passing rapidly
out of that period of its esistance wheu belief in it look
the form of £ 3. d.

It would not be fair to the Birmingham Agricultural
"Exhibition Society to presume that this annual show and
sale was merely an outlet for culls from breeders' herds ;
nor would it be fair to breeders to presume that the
animals entered in their names were average specimens of
■what they have at home. Yet the fact remains that when
animals of note were recognised in the crowd they seldom
bore marks of judge's favour, nor did they realise
prices under the hammer which were at all in keeping
with their reputation. In fact, if the fanciers and fashiou-
aiongers cannot keep the ball rolling : mongst them it will
not be moved by outsiders. And the day is nearer than
many care to admit when ■ all that is purely fanciful and
unreal in connection with Shorthorn values will cease to
inlluence those who use the auimals for practical purposes.
^Vheu that time conies, all artificial hindrances to the
improvement and protection of the breed will cease to
exist, and its real worth will be appreciated by the many,
•whilst the few will have lost a mania which has done no
real good, and may do much harm.

The bull calves, already mentioned, were 121 in num-
ber. Mr. C. llobbs obtained the first prize with Tredegar,
a fairly good and promising calf, with good coat, a good
hide, good thighs, deep quarter, and very level and telling
all over. This calf won at Tredegar Show and at the
Swindon and North Wilts Meeting. The second prize
winner was Gregory, the property of Rev. H. Beckwith ;
and the third prize" fell to Mr! S.'C. Pilgrim's Quickstep,
a very useful calf with plenty of liair and a good frame,
which looked like a bullock breeder. Mr. Pilgrim's
Maximilian too was of the right sort and a very nice
iiancler. Some of the fashionably bred ones with '" ap-
proved" pedigrees were amongst the plainest, and some
wretched calves were amongst thelot, but Mr. S. Fox's
Darhngton Duke 2nd, by 24lh Duke of Airdrie, had the
making of a good bull about him, and could boast more good
qualities outside his pedigree than many of his Bingley
Hull companions.

The class fcr bulls exceeding twelve and not exceeding

fifteen months old, contained 75 entries, amongst which
were some very bad ones. But the first prize winner ia
this class, Mr. \V. G. Garne's Sir Sydney Newport, took
the extra prize as the best young bull in the show. He
has a remarkably telling head and his quality is unde-
niable ; his hide is very soft and mellow and his coat per-
fection. But he is flubby, and not likely to be so useful
to the ordinary stock breeder as the third prize animal
which stood next him, Admiral Hornby, bred and exhi-
bited by Mr. J. G. Attwater. This bull is full of firm
flesh, is well ribbed, has a good back and fairly zood bull's
hide, but his hair is rather hard and he has not the style or
character of the other. The second prize bull in this
class, Julius, bred and exhibited by Col. Lloyd Lindsay,
was an animal of considerable merit, and undeniably use-
ful, but has not the quality of Mr. Game's bull. To judge of
this class and the next older one, it would appear that the
worst failings of the Shorthorn breed, namely, narrow
chines, badly sprung ribs, and hollowness behind the
shoulders are being intensified rather than remedied by the
breeders of the present day ; for the bulls at Bingley Hall
which were good through the heart might have been
counted on one's fingers.

There were 58 entries in the class for bulls exceed-
ing fifteen and not exceeding twenty months, Lord
Beauchamp taking both first and second prizes with
stylish animals but not of the first water. The first prize
bull, Craniuore, was by Marquis of Blandfnrd 2nd, own
brother to Rev. Kennard's Queen Mary, but Cranmore
has nothing of Queen Mary's character about him ; the
second prize animal was Robin Adair, bj' the same sire, a
rather tiuer and more stylish bull but not quite so well
formed perhaps, and their coats though thick are rather
harsh. Mr. H. I. Sheldon's Duke of Charmingland, is a big
youngster, but has no form about him. Some of the
entries were exceedingly plain.

Bulls exceeding twenty and not exceeding thirty months
old numbered 23 entries, and were headed by Mr. E. T.
Pear's Alius, a bull of nice quality by Pearl Diver, but he
is not perfection, and Col. Lloyd Lindsay's Don Carlos,
the winner of the second prize, is a very plain animal ; so
is Mr. Altwater's Duke of Charmingland 8th, and the
pure Bates Duchess bull Wild Boy of the Hills, by 4th
Duke of Clarence, is ugly all over — scarcely a good point
to be found in him — and with all his breeding Mr. Lythall
had great difficulty to get 63 guineas for him. There were
7 bulls exceeding thirty months, Mr. W. G. Game's Sky-
lark, taking precedence to the Rev, Bruce Keuuard's
Marquis of Blandford 4th, though the style, character,
and quality of the two animals will scarcely bear compa-
rison. Mr. G. Pox's Baron Australia Bates, is not much
to look at, and Scotland Yet, by Earl of March, has
merits, but not many

The class for bulla exceeding ten and not exceedini;
twenty mouths old, for which a prize of £50 was ottered,
contained eighteen entries, the conditions being that a
reserve price of 50 guineas, instead of twenty guineas,
might be placed on the animal in the sale. Here the
award fell to Messrs. Horsley'a Suow King, a long,
level, and tolerably well-ribbed white bull, with an
etieminat* head and light forehand. Mr. J. Elwell's
Bainessc Windsor 2ud was placed second, and although
he looks well out, has good hair, a good hide, but not
quite as mellow as it might be, good thighs and fairly
good quarters, he is light in front, narrow iu the chine
and nothing through the heart. Lord Morton's third
prize year-old bull is one of the right sort, and worth a
lot more than some of " his betters." The Rev. Bruce
Kennard's Prince Victor, winner of the first prize at
Oxford and the second prize at Bristol was thrown out
' altogether. He is not iu as good form as he was then,

THE FAUMKR'S MAGAZINE

247

^nil lias not fulfilled nil the promise lie made, but
fur all lliat he was — well, he wns thrown out, and bought
in at the sale at the reserve prioe of 50 guineas 1

Thei-e were a few decent heifers, and some old cele-
brities amongst the cows, which were about the most
mixed lot that any pure breed of catlle coidd possibly
present. The total number of entries was 378, and the
judges were ]VIr- Hy. Dudding, Panton, Wrpgby ; Mr.
John Lyim, Stroxton Grantham ; Mr. .lohn Thompson,
13adniinton, Chippenham ; and iMr. Richard VVoods,
> hipstone Park, IMansfield.

There was very little competition amongst the buyers,
who appeared to be few, and the jiricfs obtained for
some of the best strains of blood would seem to be out
of all charac'.er with the high pretensions of the breed.

The following is the prize list : —

Cow or heifer exceeding three ye:irs old. — First prizp, £10,
exhibitor and breerler, T. Kingsley, Ayleslury, Bucks (Se-
raphina oil) ; second, £5, J.J. Siiarp, Broughton, Kettering
(Julin lOlll).

Heifers, between two and three years old. — First prize, £10
Messrs. Horslpy and Son, Coifon Manor House, llugpley
(Hilda) ; second. £5, T. Atkinson, Unswortb, Manchester
(Veines).

Etpitcrs, between one and two vears old. — Prize, £10, W.
Arkell, jun., Hatherop, Fairford, Gloucestershire (SA-eetbriar
5th).

Heifer calves, between six and twelve months old. — Prize,
£5, T. Hewer, Ingleshain, Lechlade, Gloucettershire (Cat-
teiina No. 11).

Bulls, between tea and twenty months old. — First prize,
£50, Messr.". llorsley and Son (Snow Kine) ; second, £20,
J. Elwpll, Timberley, Castle Bromwicii (Bainesse Windsor
2nd) ; tliird, £10. Lord Moreton, Tortwortli Court, Glouces-
tershire (Prince Louis).

Bulls betvpeen twenry and thirty months old. — First prize,
£10, T. Pears, Hacktliorne, Lincoln (Arius) ; second, £5,
Colonel R. Loyd-Lind.sny, V.C, M.P., Wantage, Berks (Don
Carlos).

Bulls exceeding thirty months old. — First prize, £10, ex-
hibitor W. G. Game, breeder O. Viveash, Strenxhara, Tewkes-
bury (Skylark) ; second, £5, the Rev. R. B. Kennard, Marn-
liull, Blandford, Dorset (Marcjuis of B'andford ^th).

Bulls, between fifteen and ta'enty months old. — First prize,
£20, Earl Beauchamp, Madresfield Court (Cranmore) ; second,
£10, Earl Beauchamp (Robin Aca'r) ; third, £5, G. Hewer,
Ley Gore House, Northleach, Gloucestershire (Lord Litteltou).

Bulls, between twelve and fifteeu months old. — It'irst prize,
£20, and extra prize of £10 for besi bull in classes 5, 8, 0, or
10, W^. G. Garue, Broadmoor, Nortbleach, Gloucestershire (Sir
Sidney Newport) ; second, £10, Colonel R. Lojd-Lindsay
(Jul'us) : third, £5, J. G. Attwater, Britford, Salisbury (Ad-
mi rai Hornby).

Bull calves, between six and twelve months old. — First
prize, £20, C. Hobbs, Maisey Hampton, Fairford, Gloucester-
shire (Tredegar) ; second, £10, the R^v. H. Beckivith, E -.ton
Constautlne, Ironbrids^e (Gr-gory) ; third, £5, S. C. Pilgrim,
the Outwcods, Hinckley (Quickstep).

The extra prize of £10 tor the best lot of not less than five
young bulls was won by Mrs. Mace, Sherborne, Northleach.

THE ADULTERATION OF MILK.

On Tuesday a deputation from the Metropolitan Dairymen's
Society, the Manchester and Salford Milk Dealers' Protection
Society, the Glasgow Milk Dealers' Associaiion, the Liverpool
JNIilk Dealers' and Cowkeepers' Assoaiation, and kindred socie-
ties throughout the United Kinsdom, had an interview with
Mr. Sclater-Booth, at ^^'hitphall, to represent to him the
unfair manner in which the Food and Drugs Act of 1875
worked in respect to the sale of adulterated milk, and to ask
that an amendin>'nt B 11 may be brought in to remedy the
defects cotiplained of. Sir Thomas Bazley, MP., Mr. Jacob
Bright, M.P., Lieutenant-Colonel Walker, M.P., Mr. Hop-
wioJ, M.P., aud Mr. F. Peunington, M.P., accompanied the
deputation.

Sir Thomas Bazi.t.y, in introducing lliem, said they not
only represented the milk trade, but the inhabitants of the
country. They wanteJ pure milk, aud trusted Mr. Sclater-
Bootli would do what he could for them.

Mr. E. C. TiSDALE ur?ed that the Food and Drugs Act
1875, had been conceived too much in the spirit of reaction
towards the retailer, and that the wholesale producer had been
to an extent left unmolested by it. He asked that when that
Act was considered hy the Select Committee appointed for the
jmrpose, a clause should be inserted that when milk was deli-
vered, wherever the delivery mijilit be, the purchase within
the meaning of the Act should be considered completed. 'J'hat
the analyst for the district where the article of food was deli-
vered should make the analysis, because it had been found
that when proceedings bad been instituted again- 1 the farmers
for selling diluted milk, the analysts refused to test the sam-
ples houijht at railway stations as hein^ outside their jurisdic-
tion. That had happened in the City, in Southwark, and St.
Pancras. The analyst's certificate should contain the com-
ponent parts of the article analysed, and a copy be delivered
to a defendant four days before proceedings were taken. Tue
analyst should have the power, hy himself or his inspector, to
enter any railway station and take samples of milk. As things
were at present ther^ was no chance of the retailer sellint? pure
aud unadulterated milk ; 250 8:imples of the milk so sent had
been analysed, and two-thirds found impure ; and in the bulk
of those cases it had been found impossible to follow up with
prosecutions.

Mr. Edge (of Manchester) endorsed all that had been .said,
and added that there was no control over the farmers, aud in
consequence they doctored up the milk with impunity. The
report of the JManchester City Analyst showed that there were
47 of the dairies coming below the standard required by law.

Mr. ScLATER-BoOTii said the Act was a peculiar and difil-
cult one, no douht, to put int.o operation ; but if it had been
successful in anything, he should say it was in rejfard to milk ;
and the poliey of the Act was to place the responsibility of
selling pure articles upon the shoulders of the retailers. He
dared say that it worked hardly, but they ought to show that
their case was different from that of other retailers. The retail
grocer had been there with a similar complaint as to the dilii-
culty of getiinp; at the wholesale person from wtiom he bought
goods ; bu' clearly the Act was that the purchaser was to be
protected, and the retailer responsible if he retailed impure
articles. But on articles of food the greater part of the com-
plaint was made by small sellers. Of course the sale of milk,
through the agency of a railway communication in great
towns, was a matter of great importance to farmers and sellers
of milk, and he should have thought when they found the
milk watered do^n that that wnu'd be sufQcient to make them
look out for the purity of the mi k sent to such towns as Lon-
don, Manchester, and Liverpool. At the same time, he felt
tlie great trade in milk presented some feature of difiiculty,
and he would consider the points laid before him, to see
whether it would be possible to make any alteration in the
law,

A long discus'iiou ensued between Mr. Jacob Bright, the
peputation, and Mr. Sclater-Booth on various points of I'etail,
alter which the deputation thanked Mr. Booth and retired.

CARTERS' FARM SEED BOOK. — Messrs.
Carter's list for the present setison is attractively printed
and illustrated, and there is more in it to read, mark, and
inwardly digest than to comment on. Tt is a business-
like book, and does not deal with the science of agricul-
ture in any way. It contains a few dirccHons as to
sowing ; but Messrs. Carter evidently assume that
farmers and gardeners understand their business, and,
therefore, they do not attempt to give them any elaborate
instructions as to the cultivation of the soil and the
sowing of thsir crops. They prefer to " point a moral "
from their great success at the Paris Exhibition, and
other triumphs iu the way of great weights growu and
prizes won by the purchasers of their seeds.

S 3

248

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

FARMING IN AMERICA.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MARK LANE EXPRESS.

Sir, — A friend of mine who left England thirty-five
years since has just returned to this couutry on a visit to
ills friends. I have had some talk with him ou the state
of aericullnre in his couatry, and have given below his
answers to my questions. I have no meaus of verifyiug
his statements, but knowing him and his friends to be
highly respectable peonle, and believing that he s))eak3
the truth as far as he knows, I give it as I received it for
the benefit of your readers. He stales as follows : —

T have been thirty-five years in Michigan. I bought
100 acres of land ; cleared it; sold off the timber to a
railway contractor, and paid for my farm by that means.

My land is good. There appears to be no end to the
depth of the mould ; it is very pliable and light ; it does
not require draining ; water uever stands ou it. I can
plough three acres a day with two horses. I and my
sous do most of the work.

Labour at ordinary times is from Ss. to 4s. per day,
with board. At harvest time it is 8s. to 10s. per day.
These are the usual terms.

One man can do as much as three in England, on ac-
count of the use they make of machinery. We do not
cut peas with a scythe, but horse-rake them into lumps
before they are dead ripe, by which means we can get
together ten acres in six hours.

\ woman often drives a reaping-machine, and will cut
ten acres of wheat a day, and four men will bind it.

The Ian i is dressed by sowing clover; 12s. worth of
cloverseed to ten acres will be sufficient dressiijg to pro-
duce thirty bushels of wheat to the acre when it is
ploughed-in. Clover grows with certainty, and it
flourishes so abundantly that it smothers and kills all
\\e:ds and other plants.

Maize is grown with very little expense ; when it is
once planted one man will hoe and keep clean TOO acres.
"When ripe, which is about September, it is left until
winter, when cattle are brought in from the prairie and
turned into it as it stands ; the bullocks eat what they
can, and what they tread down the hogs are turned in to
finish.

i;attle are raised very inexpensively. It has been
proved many times that a calf can be bought and raised
to four years old, and fattened fit for the market, for £3,
or 4 dollars per year.

They do well on prairie grass and p'-airie hay, but do
not get fat until turned into the maize. The hay can be
bought at Gj. per ton. The prairie is public ground— the
])roperty of " Uncle Sam."

\Vt en asked if he thought the Americans would con-
tinue to send cattle to England, my friend exclaimed :
God tless you, yes ! We are just getting ready for it.
We find that pays better than corn, and shall flood your
markets. My opinion is that we shall lose money at
corn-growing at present prices, which are from 3s. 2d. to
3s. 4d. per bushel. We are satiblied with 4s. per bushel.
But there is no sale at present prices, as all the stores are
full of corn. England is our only market ; we shall con-
tinue to send supplies as long as your ports are open at
the best prices we can get. We can do nothing else.
We have all got our farms, and we must find a market for
our produce and live according to the times.

1 have known as much as 50 bushels of wheat per acre
grown in my district, but the average for the whole of the
United Stales is about 12 busliels. Wheat grows best in
the shade, under apple and other trees. Many people, in
clearing the land, cut the bark off the trees, which kills
them, and they leave them standing and grow good ciops
under their shade.

On ray passage to England I asked the steward of the
ship Victoria (Anchor Line) what the freight on corn

was ? He said, " Various prices ; the 70,000 busheh
now on board we are bringing over at 9J. per bushel."
Live stock, which was also on board, at £6 per head. It
also costs £6 per head to transport cattle from the farms
to board ship.

Most of the farmers are very short of capital, which is
the greatest preventive to their success. They borrow
mcacy at never less interest than 10 percent. — often 15
per cent. I have known as high as 60 per cent. The
bankers never lend money for less than 30 days. They
charge 2 per cent, per month, or 24 per cent, per annum,
interest paid in advance. Money leut ou security of real
property.

I have known farmers save money and become money-
lenders, and save a fortune quickly. It is the best trade
in America. Any person with capital need not work, as
he will find plenty of people willing to work his capital
for him and pay him 24 per cent. A neighbour of mine
commenced with nothing ; he saved money during the
war ; he is now a money-lender, and is worth 100,000
dollars.

There are scarcely any tenant farmers. Nearly all
farm their own land. Those who cannot do that take a
farm, and pay the landlord half the produce.

In Michigan an improved farm, with good buildings,
orchards, wells, &c., can be bought at £12 per acre.
Property is assessed at one-third its value ; the property
tax is l|d. in the £ ; other rates the same, making total
taxation 3d. in the £.

The people are very sober, and ths Government will
not license many houses to sell intoxicating drinks. The
town of Irving has a population of about 1,000, and there
is no licensed house in it, nor one nearer thau nine miles.
The people drink water. Michigan is 1,000 miles from
New York. Erom England to Michigan it costs £39
steerage passage.

I shall leave England for Michigan on the 1st of March
next. I should not like to farm in England again. I
would not recommend eld mea to go to America, but
young men who have £500 or £600 — which would pay
the valuation of a small farm in this country — would be
able to buy a farm and stock it and do Avell in America.

Any quantity of farms in Michigan, cleared and sup-
plied with buildings, are to be bought at this moment ;
they ai'e daily changing hands in consequence of the
depression since the war times. Farms are transferred
from one owner to another in twenty minutes, the whole
expense being Gs. ; the county clerk does the work. All
mortgages are registered by the same person, who is
elected for the purpose for a term of years, and voted into
office by the public. We hire our solicitors by the year.

What we stand most in need of is for the Govern luent
to advance us money direct, same as the English Govern-
meut does for puri)oses of draining. Our Government
lends it to the bankers at 10 per cent., and they lend it
to us at 24 per cent. We have tried hard to get that
state of things altered, but the almighty dollar beats us.
Bribery and corruption are worse in America than in
England. The farmers would do well if they could get
money at the same ra'e as the bankers.

A farmer whose laud is unencumbered could live if he
sold wheat at 3s. per bushel. We sell it to shipping
agents, and have to deliver it to the rail. Distance is of
no consideration, because it is so easily moved on the
snow on sledges.

Steam thrashers travel about. We sell our wheat in
the coudition in which it leaves the machine.

The winter season commences in December, and ends
in April. Farming operations are dormant during that
time, but the wheat grows well under the snow. The
snow covers the ground to a great depth, aud becomes a*
hard as ice. The labourers cut trees ; they go 30 mile

THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE.

U9

to their work with a horse and sledge, and return the
same day. The trees are carted on sledges made of four
wheels, orr^itber irons, and ilie body is ou the telescope
piiuciple. These sledges will take six trees, which are
drawn to the river, where they are thrown in, to remain
there until the Hoods come, wlien they are washed down
to the lake to be cut up by the steam saw mills, built on
piles on the lake, there converted into tiiaber and sold at
a very cheap rate. You can build a good house in a few
weeks.

The snow obviates the difficulty of the want of roads
to a great extent. Best horses can be bought for £20
each.

We have ploughs which take 12, 14, and 16-inch fur-
rows ; we generally use the 16-inch, and plough 8 inches
deep with two horses.

Me are not troubled with rooks, sparrows, rats, rabbits,
bares, foxes, pheasants, and partridges, as you are in
England. We have only one species of vermin, viz.,
squirrels, which are in great abundance, and eat the wheat
and the maize. We shoot and eat them. They migrate
from place to place in search of food.

We have no venomous snakes ; only a few water snakes.
Mosquitoes are to be found on the marshy ground, but we
are not troubled wilh them.

I am told that English labourers think they cannot do
harvest work without beer or cider. We find that we
can do better upon water with plenty of good food,
which our labourers have, as we board them ; and we can
buy beef, mutton, and pork at from 3d. to 4d. per lb. at
the shops. We have no difficulty in getting it. When
th& heat is 90 degrees in the shade we cannot work in
the sun.

Cattle are constantly passing my farm on the rail in
trucks, the trains being about half a mile long, en route
for embarkation. The Government compels the Company
to unload them three times on their journey and give
them hay, corn, and water.

We have a good staff of police, and life and property
are very safe. 1 have never locked my door since I have
been in the country. We always leave our tools out of
doors, and never lose them.

I consider the appearance of England to be much im-
proved during the last thirty-five years ; all classes seem
to be doing better.

I will leave my address with the Editor of the M L.E.
any one wishes lor information respectmg the country, I
w.ll do my best to supply it.

1 am, Sir, &c.,

n. c.

CAEBOLIZED OIL FOR EWES IN
LAMBING.

TO THE EDITOB, OP THK M \RK LANE EXPRESS.

Sm, — May 1 ask if you will permit me to say that,
having had a communication from the proprietors of the
Noncich Mercunj as to the use of carbolized oil far
evves after lambmg, I have addressed the following
letter to the editor of that paper, which will, 1 believe,
appear in next Saturday's issue. I think it may interest
your readers to know that the proprietorsof the Norwich
Mercuri/ contemplate reprinting many letters whict
have appeared on the subject of the mixture, and whici;
letters cannot fail to be interestiug and useful to flock-
masters, if I may judge from the great number of
inquiries 1 receive respecting the carbolized oil. The
letter to which 1 refer is as follows : —

" I am glad to learn you propose reprinting the
letters which have appeared in the Norwich Mercury and
other papers respecting the nje of carbolized oil for

ewes after lambing. You will deserve the thanks of fljck-
masters generally in recalling their attention to a remedy
for straining after lambing, which is calculated, if properly
prepared and carefully used, to save the lives of many
ewes that would otherwise probably die from that dis-
tressing and hitherto generally fatal disease.

" I receive numerous letters from flockmasters in this
country, as well as from Ireland, testifying to the good
effect of the mixture. 1 h:ive also had letters from a
few persons who have not been so successful in its use ;
but on inquiry 1 have invariably elicited the fajt taat the
carbolic'acid was of doubtful quality and purity, and had
been most imperfectly mixed with the oil, and conse-
quently it is more than piobable that some of the acid
had become, as it were, separated from the oil, and had.
thus been frequently used in its natural strength.

" This would undoubtedly cause great paiu to the poor
animal to which it was applied, and instead of the strain-
ing being relieved it would most likely be increased, and
probably the ewe would die. This does not, ho/vever,
prove that the remedy is not all that has been said in
its favour, simply because persons for the sake of cheap-
ness will buy an impure acid and mix it with the oil in
a ' rough and ready ' kind of way, rather than have the
mixture prepared by a careful and painstaking chemist,
who would be sure to do it properly, at a slightly in-
creased cost.

" In the spring of last year an old flockmaster wrote

a letter to one of the agricultural papers and ventured

the opinion that even if the application of the carbolized

oil should save the life of a ewe affected wilh straining

after lambing, the action of the acid would have such a

hardening effect on the mouth of the uterus as to prevent

the ewe ever breeding another limb. 1 was then unable,

! from want of experience on this point, to contradict the

j theory; but 1 specially called the JNIertou shepherd's

I attention to the matter, and requested him to mark the

three ewes which were so seriously affected wilh straining

; after lambing last year, which ewes formed the tctt

! cases I had to deal with, and the particulars of which

wera given in my letter of the 6th March last, and

printed in your own and many other papers.

" I may observe that the three cases referred to com-
prized a shearling and two three-shear ewes. They all
took the ram early in the autumn of last year, and not
one of them turned to the ram, aud each ewe has pro-
duced two very fine, strong, aud healthy lambs, which I
venture to think fully disposes of the question raised as
to the carbolized oil affecting the future breeding power
of ewes.

" Xot having this year, so far, had a single case
of straining among the Mertou ewes which have
lambed up to this time, I have been unable to further test
the mixture in an extreme case ; but it is very possible
that the immunity from the disease may have arisen from
the fact that the shepherd has always applied the car-
boHzed oil whenever he thought the labour was a difficult
one, and in almost every case he has slightly dressed the
exterior of the vagina and a, short distance aloug its
passage with the mixture."

It is possible that you may be disposed to find a place
for the &bu\e letter in next week's JIurk Lane Express,.
I am, Sir, &c.,

Henry Woods*
Merlon Estate Offi,ce, Theljonl, Noifoik,
26iA F-^ijraary, 1S79.

The New Y'^ork Tattersall's, at the corner of Forty-
second Street and Seventh Avenue, was burnt down ou
the 13th February, and seventy horses perished, includ-
ing a pair of Norwegian ponies valued at £800.

250

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

(Ehaiubcvi5 of JlgricuUure.

CAMBEIDGESHIRE.

A racetin? of the Cambridgeshire aad Isle of Ely Chamber
of Agriculture was held at Cambridge, on March 1st under
tlie presidency of Mr. W. Marshall, of Ely, at which the
present state of depressioa amDnu;at agriculturists was dis-
cussed. Messrs. llodwcll and Hicks, two of the county
members, were present. The annual dumer of thq,as3ociation
was subsequently held at the Lion.

EAST RIDING.

The monthly meeting of this Chamber was held at the
White Horse Inn, Beverley, on Msich Ut, Mr. J. Lee, of
Gardham, the President, occupying the chair.

Orders from the Privy Council respectiiif? railk-sliops and
dairies, and the slaughter of foreign animals, were laid beiore
tlie meeting.

Mr. i. Johnson, of Bishop Burton, continued the dis-
cussion from the last meeting on the Game Question, and
fjave some startling instances of the destruction to turnips and
otlier produce on his own farm and that of othiir farmers he
liad spoken to. The ravages on his own land, he said liad
caused him to give up breeding lambs, which he had pre-
viously done on a large scale. He had seen in the papers that
one writer had said that what was wanted was a belter feeling
between landlord and tenant, and not a reduction of rent.
He tliought the instances he had given were not very likely
to promote a better feeling between landlord and tenant.
He maintained that what was required was a reduction of the
ground game and a lowering of rents. If rents were reduced
10s. per aere farmers could live, for there was no country
in the world that could grow more grain than they could in
England.

Other members spoke on the same subject, and Mr. Johu-
Bon promised to give more startling accounta of the evils of
ground game at the next meeting.

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE.

HEREFORDSHIRE.

A general meeting of the members was held on March 1,
at Hereford, Mr. Dearman Edwards presiding.

It was agreed to petition Parliament against the Highways
Act, and the following resolution was passed "That this
Chamber cordially approves of tlie resohition passed at the
adjourned Quarter Sessions for the county of Hereford, on the
18th of January last, to make applications to" the Local
Government Board to reduce all roads to the status of ordinary
highways, under the 16th section of the Highways aud
Locomotive (AmeuJraent) Act, 187S."

On the su'ijec: ot the County Government Bill, the follow-
ing resolutions were passed, " That this Chamber generally
approves of the County Administration Bill ;" and " Tliat in
tlie opinion of this meeting, it is expedient that all the clauses
from 9 to 21 be expuuged (voin the County Administration
Bill, and that it is inexpedient to divide the roads into two
classes— ordinary and main roads, or to place any of the dis-
trict roads under the Central County Boards."

A meeting of the Council was lield on March 1st, Mr,
J. \V. Wntts, chairman for the year, presidinsr.

Mr. T J. Adkins, the hon. sec, menti(med tlie subjects
that were down (or discussion at the Central Cliamlier on
Tuesday, aud stated that it had been hoped that the County
Government Bill would have been priuted by this time, so
that they could have discussed its provisions ; and Lord
Burghley, M.P., and Mr. P. Phipps, M.P., had promised to
attend aud explain its provisions. But the Bill had not yt-t
beeu printed, and, therefore, he supposed the Central Cham-
ber would have to take it off the agenda for the uext meeting.

Mr. AuiviNS explained the leading provisions of the
Valuation Bill, and referred to other subjects to be introduced
to the Central Chamber.

The Kev Wm. Bury, Hazelbeach, moved : —

This Council, while viewing with satisfaction the introduc-
tion of the Valuutioa Bill, regret it should not have been
preceded by the County Governmeut Bill.

He thought the lutter would have simplified the question of
valuation.

Mr. CiiAS. Baies, Eettering, seconded.

The resolution was unanimously carried.

It was decided that the question of " corn averages " and
" chap money " should be discussed at a future meeting.

WARWICKSHIRE.

A special general meeting was held on February 2S at
Coventry ; Mr. Hodgson (Clopton), president, in the chair.
The Chamber considertd the " Suggested bye4aws to be maoe
by the County Authorities under the Higiiways and Locomo-
tives (Amendment) Act, iSJS, 41 and 42 ViC, cap. 77, sec-
tions 26, 31, and 32, for the regulation of traliic upon
main roads and highways." It was unanimously resolved
that the exemption proposed to be made in favour of vehicles
constructed before the passing of the Act should be expunged.

The ChairmajS recommended that they should endorse the
resolution passed at the meeting on the S'd of May last, "Tint
the present system of maintaining the highways presses very
liard'y upon the occupier, and that iu any (uture legislation,
the arrear of piyment ought to he extended, so that occupiers
alone should not be:ir the onus of repairing tlie turnpike roads
recenlU abo ished." This was agreed to.

WORCESTERSHIRE.

The following resolutions were adopted at the meeting of
the Council of this Chamber on Marcli 1st.

That this Council is of opinion that immediate steps should
be taken by the Central Chamber to urge upon the Govern-
ment the necessity of introducing a County Government Bill,
in order to give effect to the views so frequently expressed in
resolutions of Chambers of Agriculture.

That this Chiiniber expresses great dissatisfaction with the
present system of Highway Administration, and complains
that tlie Hi«liway Act of last session of Parliament docs not
give the ratepayers in country districts that amount of relief
which they had a right to expect.

LEICESTERSHIRE.

The annus! meeting of this Chamber was held on M:ucb
1st at Leicestershire, Mr. J. Glover presiding. The report
and balance sheet were adopted, and ordered to be printed.

On the motion of Mr. IIeygate, M.P., seconded by IMr.
Watson, Mr. T. Nuttall was elected Vice-Pie=ideat of the
Chsraber for the ensuing year.

Mr. Nuttall thanked the members for the honour con-
ferred on him, and said he would use his best endeavours to
i'ulfil the duties of the office during the year.

The president elect, Mr. C. Marriott, then took the chair^
which was vacated by Mr. Glover.

Mr. Heyc.vte, M.P., moved a vote of thanks to the retiring
chairman for his services durinc; the year, which wus seconded
fjy Mr. Pkll, M.P., aud carried.

It appears from all accounts that the 250,000 GaQadiaii
cattle which we have been told are feeding for exportation
to this country exist, not iu Canada, buc the United
States. A Chicago paper says.: — "In Canada there are
now stall-feeding souie live thousand cattle, aud any sup-
plies exporters may get outside of these must come from
Canadian farmers who stall-feed two or three steers for
the spring markets. These will go but a little way to
supply the foreign demand after the local trade shall have
taken what it wauts. For the rest the United States
must be looked to as a source of supply." And this
version of the matter entirely agrees with information sent
us by our Canadian cwrespondent. Probably the " 70
steam-ships" which are to be fitted-up to carry on the
trafiic, will resolve theiusclves into a few boats diverted
fioiii other trades, for the Liverpool liucrs are uot over-
done with frcightaiie, uor likely to be.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

351

ROYAL AGRICULTURAI, SOCIETY.

MEMBERS' PRIVILEGES.
The followiug letter has been sent to every member o
the Royal Agricultural Society.
Sin, — I am directed by the Council of the Royal
At;ricultural Society of England to call the special atten-
tion ot the members to their privileges of Chemical
Analysis, Botanical aud Entomological Examinations,
and Veterinary assistance in the case of disease amongst
Cattle, Sheep, or Pigs, as well as to the fact that they
may obtain advice from the scieutillc officers of the
Soc;ety attached to these several departments.

In particular I am desired to point out that the charges
to the members of the Society who are not com-
mercially engaged in the manufacture or sale of sub-
slances sent for chemical analysis will, after March 25th
of the present year, be reduced to about one-half of the
rates which have hitherto been charged. This result has
been obtained throu^^h the Council having erected a
laboratory ou the Society's own premises in Hanover
Square, furuishmg it with all necessary appliances, and
8U[)plying the consulting chemist (Dr. Voelcker) with an
efticient stuff of assistants, whose whole time will be oc-
cupied by the Society's work.

The charges for chemical analyses having been thus
reduced to, in most cases, merely nominal amounts, I am
desired to again urge upon you the necessity of pur-
chasing manures aud feeding stulfs by guaranteed
analysis, under uames which are recognised as distinctive
of the highest qualities of the purchased substance?, and
which admit of no doubt as to their alleged purity ; and
further that the guarantee of the vendor should in all
cases be immediately checked by a fair sample being at
once taken and sent for examination,

I enclose a detailed statement of your chemical,
botanical, entomological, and veterinary privileges, with
full directions as to their use, and especially ask your
attention to the detailed recommendations of the Council
with regard to the purchase of manures aud feeding
siuits aud to the drawing of samples to be sent for
analysis.

I am. Sir,

Yours, very faithfully,

H. M. Jenkins,

Secretary.

THE COST OP WHEAT-GROWING IN
AMERICA.

Mr. George Osborne, of Kingston, Canada, writes to
the Tunes: —

A letter in the Tmis weekly edition of the 2-i'h ult. from
Ml. Savory, asks f r informaiion as to tlie cost of produciui/
wheat in the United States. I have mach pleasure in giving
you the CfA. per acre in the bprin.s; wheat States — Iowa,
Nebraska, Dakota, Miunesota, and Wisconsin : — i'luughing.
Idol. 50c. ; dngging and sowing, 1 dol. ; seed. Idol.
50 c. ; harvesting, 2 dols 5Uc. — li dols 50c. ; equal to
£1 6s. 9d., to whicli must be added lOc, or od. sterling, per
bushf^l for thrashing, S:c. For new land add 2 dols., or 8s. 4d.
s erling, lor breaking. Minnesota ceitaialy raises more wiieat
t) tlie acre th>in any other state in the union, her average for
the last 10 years being nearly 16 bushels per acre. Taking
tlie United Stales as a whole I find the average for the last 5
years ending 1877 to be very slightly unJerll bushels per acre.
The spring wheat states named above have on an average for
live years produced a fraction over I'i bu.ihtls per acre. The
greatest known yearly average of Ohio, the largest producer
of tlie winter-wheat states, is 172 bushels ; while the average
lor ten years, as officially shown, is 10-55 bushels per acre,
Illinois produces year hy year not mere than 10 biihels per
acre; Iowa, 11 bushels, Caiiforuia, 13; Kansas, lo, Wiscouaiu,

It. You will see from this the superiority ut British agri-
culture, the average in the United Kingdom in favourable sea-
suns being 30 bushels per acre. I may add the cost of moving
grain from the interior to the seaboard dnriug open naviga-
tion will average for the last three years under Ud. sterling per
bushel.

Mr. Tho9. C. Scott thus comments on Mr.
Osbourne's letter : —

George

If the cost of trau'^port and marketing American wheat is
added to the estimated cost of produciou, as furnished byy our
Canadian corrpspondent, Mr. George Osborne, of Kingston, in
the Timss of Thursday, »e shall have some very reliable da'a
to enable us to judge of the American's ability to supply us
with wheat when the nnrket price in this country is, aa at-
present, under 5s. a bushel.

Summing up Mr. Osborne's figures and converting the
dollars and cents into shillings and pence, the amen at per
acre stands thus : — riougidng, 1 dol. 50 c (68. 3d.) ; draggirrg
and sowing, 1 dol. (43. 2d.) ; see , two buihels at 75 o. (3s.
lid.), 1 dol. 50c. (63. 3J.) ; harvesting, 2 dol. 50 c. (10<. 5d );
thrashing, 13 bushels per acre at 10 c"; (5d.), 1 do!. 30 c. (Ss.
5d.) ; breaking up new land, 2 dol. (83. 4d.) — this item may
safely be included, as large areas of old cultivated lands are
annually abrindoned and fresh lands brought into cuhivation)
— 9 dol. 80 c. (40s. lOJ.) Add lor rent, or interest on cosS
of freehold— say 9 dol. GO c, or £2, per acre at 5 per cent. —
48 e. (2s.) Cost of production, 10 dol. 28 c. (42s. 10d.>
Add cost of conveying the saleable produce to Eiiglisli mar-
kets—say 13 bushels per acre less two retained for seed ;
movini; from interior to seaboard, per Mr. O home's figures,
11 bushels at 18 c, or 9.1. per bushel. Idol. 98 c. (83. 3d.);
sea carriage and landins;, insurance, commission on sale, &c..
Idol. 98c. (8s. 3d.)— 3 dol. 96 c. (16s. 6d.) Total cost of
cultivating an acre of wheat in America and marketing the
produce, 14 dol. 2Ic., or 59s. 4d.

To meet this expenditure it is estimated that 11 bushels on
an average out of a product of 13 are sold, and at the present
time this would barely realize 553., or is. Id. per acre less
than the above estimated cost.

The average produce of wheat in this country is about
twice and a halt as much as that in America — namely, 30-
against 13 bushels per acre; aud latt year's crop will proba-
bly afford a saleable product of 26 bushels an acre. Taking
this at the same rate as applied to the American yield, we
have LSOs. agaiust 55s. for the produce of an acre of wheat.

The estimated loss, as above sliown, to the American growi r
on la^t year's crop may be less than may turn out to have
been incurred by the British cultivator, but the figures do not
leave him altogether without hope that in better times and.
with greater freedom of action in cultivation and ecouonay of
labour he may be able to continue to cope with his great
American competitor in the profitable production of wheat.

BONE D rjST AND WILD CLOVER.— To afTrrm that bore-.-
dust, unless mixed with superpiios, is won bless applied to grata
and on stiff clay, is directly opposed to our observation.
We will narrate a fact. Forty years since unboiled bone was
applied at the rate of 20 cwt. per statute acre to poor old pa -
tares on stiff clay in Cheshire, and the laud li s since remained
in grass, and the result was wonderfully advantageous an I st.ll
vi-ible. It was recently reported by the Spurliny Gazdie that
Mr. W. T. Carrington, of Croxton Abbey, had stated that an
abundant crop ot white clever followed from the applicafioa
01 bone dust on stiff clay pasture. But it is uo new fact. X'he
communication would have been interesting if Mr. Ctirrin"--
ton had acquainted his readers whence came the white clover
lor a-nalysis shows the seeds are not in the clay or tlie bone:
It is one of the marvellous problems wliich science has not yet
satisfactorily solved. There is another one. Take, 'or instance,
a sandliill near a eea shore ; analyse the sand. There are no
traces of the seed of white clover in it, but a gentle and con-
tinuous trickling of water falling ou it will be lollownd
eighteen months afterwards by a sweet and abuudant herbage
ot white clover. Tiie reflective reader will quickly perceive
the foregoing shows the origin of oases m deserts. — Downs
•.y C'fi CtrvuUr

252

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

VARIOUS NOTES.

Our Canadian Correspondent writes under date of Feb.
17iii : — It 's impossible to imagine a more ludicrous posi-
tion than that which certain entities in this quarter, who
have been at the bottom of the bogus statements circulated
for the last 18 months in England respecting; alleged
cxportations of " Canadian" cattle, are now pilloried in
through the stoppage of the American supply cf beeves
owing to the action of the Canadian Privy Council. To
Tealise the situation you only have to recall vvhat I have
before mentioned, that the total of graded beasts, suitable
for the British market, this country can spare is about
four or five thousand a year; and that the cattle over
this amount, claimed by certain wily interests and by the
Liverpool and other emigration fabulists, have all along
been bought by sundry American and Canadian specula-
tors (located at Toronto chiefly), in Chicago, Buffalo,
and other places across the line, and passed on to Eng-
land ri? Boston, or over the Grand Trunk Railway, by
IMontreal and Portland. These large consignments of
eattle have been systematically, and for a purpose,
chronicled in the Euglish journals through the medmm of
paragraphs forwarded to the papers, as ' Canadian'
beasts, simply because they were purchased by Toronto'
buyers. To the absolute truth of this I would take
affidavit. Indeed, it is known to everybody here who
takes any interest in the subject. On the absurdity —
not to say fraud — of calling cattle bought in the States
"Canadian" stock, I need not enlaige. As I said in a
previous letter, it does not matter — apart frO)ii the
j)reser,ce of disease in the States — to the English con-
sumer, whether the meat he consumes is dubbed an
American or Canadian export. But this system oi" mis-
r presentation, I must repeat, is carried on for an object-
What is that object ? It is set forth pretty clearly in a
letter signtd " A Member of the Legislature," which
appeared a few days ago in a Toronto paper. This
ingenious gentleman s lys : — " Every ship-load of live-
stock we iCid over to England is an advertisement in our
f ivour." in advertisement of what, and to whom ? This also
he tells us, as follows . — ' But we want more than this,
and I think it ought to be supplied without any percep-
tible increase in the cost of emigratian work. The
condition of the tenaat-farmer class at home, and the
abundant openings Ontario affords to settlers of this
class, with some means, makes the effort to reach them
with the right kind (?) of information more important
now than at any period in our past history." Here we
have the cat out of the bag. The object of parading
Canadian (pretended) cattle exports is to entice the
English farmer to emigrate to Canada. Look
at this humiliatingly ludicrous position in which
the gentry who have been working the oracle in the
British press — even to the extent of imposing on the
London Times, the marvellous statement that " Ontario"
has 250,000 cattle and 500,000 sheep now in stalls,
ready to pour iuto Britain in the spring — are placed
throngh the Dominion Governmeu* havini; put an em-
bargo on the American supply. The Toronto Globe,
which, a week or two ago, was cornered by stress of
events into the naive admission that till the " Canadian"
exports to England began there were no importations of
American stock into the Dominion, says in its issue of
February olh :— '' The cattle trade with England — z(/ ^s^
the Canadian trade — is at a stand-still for the present.
. . . The English Privy (Council, urged on by the
agricultural interests, are considering the advisability of
scheduling the United States as an infected country.
Should they not do so, however, the Canadian Govcru-
)Qent will have to undo at once what they have done, in
prohibiting (or three months the importation of American

cattle into Canada, or their passage through the Domin -
ion. If this is not done the etl'ect will be, of course, to
send all the trade to the United States during that
period !'' This is a truly extraordinary avowal, especi-
ally seein;; that Ontario has 250,000 cattle waiting for
export. But further, the Globe says : — " The Order in
Council passed at Ottawa last Saturday declares that the
importation of live Canadian cattle into England will be
permitted to continue." Dealers in Toronto look on
this permission as a mockery. At present Canadian
cattle cannot be " shipped to the English market, with
the faintest prospect of realising a profit. Indeed,
Toronto dealers say they could not make any profit if
they could get the animals free of cost. Two months
hence the case will be different, as by that time the
farmers (?) will have been able to fatten their stock.
Even in the case of heavy cattle the margin over cost
and freight is not great. And when it is considered that
shippers have to pay freight on the number cf cattle,
irrespective of weight, it will be readily seen that nothing
can be done just now in the way of shipping Canadian
eattle ! The report current yesterday that the Toronto
Export Company were making up a cargo of Canadian-
bred cattle for shipment to England is incorrect. No
such project was ever contemplated." i can easily
credit that.

The farmers of France are bestirring themselves with
the view of inducing the I_iegislature to relieve agriculture
i from its present depression by augmenting the dues im-
; posed on imported agricultural products, these dues being
I in their opinion so iusigniticant as to approach free entry ;
and by applying the funds so obtained to the diminution
of the tax on landed property. The Customs Commission
received the delegates of the Society of French Agricultu-
rists on two days recently at the Bourbon Pa ; ce.
The delegates suggested that the Customs regime, whicti
will shortly occupy the attenti&n of the Chambers, should
be established on this double basis — -Equality between
agricuHure and other industries j and commercial reci-
procity. The fjve societies of the Seine-Inferieure having
coalesced with the central society of that department,
have declared a permanent sitting, and have taken the
t'tle oflleunion of the Agricultural Societies of the Seine-
luferieure. Adopting conclusions similar in scope to
those above named, they ditfer in proposing that the funds
obtained by increased protection siiould be devoted to
lightening the taxes on sugar and on beverages. The
Agricultural Society of Verdun proposes that the duty on
wheat and cattle should be 2f. per 100 kilos., and on
wool 4^'. per 100 kilos- The societies of Kheims and of
Damville (Euri) propose a return to the moveable scale,
the latter adding a suggestion that the duty on wool should
be 10 percent, of the value of the imports, and that the
proceeds should serve to relieve agriculture of its present
heavy burthens.

In the face of this iTiovement it is not surprising that the
Chamber of Deputies has voted agamst the project intro-
duced by the Sc;iate iu 1877 for relieving the proprietors
of lauds ravaged by the phylloxera, by a slignt addition
to the land-tax. It was proposed to realise about £'J0,00O,
but it was found that even with this sum a small holder,
say of about an acre, would only be entitled to about 1 f.
compensation. The Commission appointed by the
Chamber of Deputies, therefore, while rendering a just
tribute to the good intentions of the Senate, ruled that the
proposition to grant such relief during four |consecutive
years was utterly impracticable.

M. Paul Leroy-Beauliuu writes, in the Dchats,i\\dX &
league exists, having for its object the increase of the price
of bread. lie has become possessed of two printed ilocu-
laenls whithhavebccu liddiessedtouU the mayors of France.

THE FAEMEil'S MAGAZINE.

253

The first requests these functiouaries to distribute a
petitiou, of which t be second is the text. This latter begs
tbe President oi the Republic to levy a tax of 4F. per
qniatai, or 16 percent, of the quoted price, and 10 per
cent, on wool. The mayors are requested to obtain the
signature of the " petite culture " as well as those of the
larger faruiers and proprietors.

The new Minister of Agriculture and Commerce, M
Pierre-Emmanuel Tirard, was born at Geneva, in 1827
After beiug employed in tbe administration of roads and
bridges, he founded an export jewellery house in the
Boulevard de Sebastopol. In 1870 he became major of
the 2nd Paris arrondissement. Next year he was
Darned member of the commune, which honour he resigned
at the preparatory sitting. Since that time he has been a
member of the National Assembly, where he has constantly
Voted with the Left ; while his commercial knowledge has
caused his appointment on numerous commissions.

Attention has recently been called to the reported
existence of a cattle disease in the United States, the des-
cription of which corresponds very closely with epizootic
aptha, which «e call foot-and-mouth disease; and we
have since read in a Chicago paper, the Aoierican Slock-
matt, that it is said '' a pig which has once passed through
tbe Chicago stock-yard never has afterwards a sound hoof."
Swiue are very susceptible to this disease, aiid we are not
aware that any form of contagious foot-rot has ever been
proved to alfect tbe pig. Therefore, if the above statement
is correct, our American friendsmay have more contagious
diseases of animals than they wot of. Indeed, we are iu-
clined to think that very little attention has been paid to
the matter there, and, practically, no notice taken of cattle
diseases ; and from private information we have received
it appears that many of the disclaimers which have
ap;oeared in the trans-Atlantic press respecting the
existence of pleuro-pneumonia in the States, have pro-
ceeded from a genuine belief that it was confined to towns
in tbe Eastern States, non-contagious, and therefore a
different thing altogether from the contagious pleuro-
pneumonia of Europe. Certainly we shall be glad to
interpret much that has beea said and written in that
light. But now that the truth has been made known, it
is quite unworthy the American journals to impute
not only a want of knowledge but a lack of common
honesty of purpose to our officials here who decided that
the diseased cattle ex Ontario were actually affected with
the contagious pleuro-pneumonia of Europe. For example,
we read in one of them, that the cattle ex Ontario were
sutfermg from " ordinary pleuro-pneumonia caused by
exposure," and that the result would have been different
had the Government Inspectors been unbiassed by wholly
groundless suspicions' This is not only in bad taste but
it is bad judgment, for the veterinariaus who decided the
matter must not only be held to be fully competent, but
also above the suspicion of unworthy motives in the exer-
cise of their professional duties. So far indeed from being
anxious to find contagious pleuro-pneumonia in trans-
Atlantic cattle, our authorities had made no preparation
whatever for its reception, and had to outrage both the
letter and tbe spirit of the Foreign Animals Order, and of
the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act itself. Our
American frieu^.s have much to learn on the subject of
contagious cattle diseases, and we sincerely hope that
their ultimate experiences of them may not equal oiu-own,
but it is worse than useless to deny the existence of
diseases which may be found to have sapped the very
vitals of their cattle producing industry before they were
discovered. If pleuro-pneumonia and foot-and-mouth
disease, or either of thtra, have spread, unsuspected and
undiscovered, to the breeding grounds of the west — where

j there is no organisation of remedial measures, no veter-
I inary science, no belief in the magnitude of the danger,
and scarcely any limit to the movements of the stock —
then we fear that there is a trouble in store for American
stock-breeders, the extent of which can scarcely be esti-
mated by the data afforded by Australia, by Europe, or
even by the losses sustained in the United Kingdom
itself. We would fain persuade them the interests at
stake are of a magnitude compared with which their ex-
port trade of live cattle and dead meat is of the very
smallest consequence, and that they will bitterly regre
every day wasted in stamping out the evil, if, perchance
there is yet time.

The Ke'/> York IForld reports the cattle disease
spreading along the river Hudson, and says that Professor
Law is investigating. The Canadian export cattle trade
is not affected by the action of the English Privy Council
yet it is as entirely stopped as though it had been — the
Toronto shippers not being able to make up cargoes
owing to the exclusion of xVmerican cattle from the
colony by the Dominion authorities. The ridiculous
statements which some people are managing to get into
English papers, can only excite a smile in those conversant
with tbe facts. For instance, they are gravely parading
the intimation (supplied to them no doubt by persons
interested) that the cattle from the States shipped by the
Ontario were in strict quarantine, in transit through
Canada, in face of the fact that a lot of Canadian cattle
about fifty in number, were put on board the trams in
Canada and shipped with them from Portlind. The
Toronto Globe, having donned its prophetic mantle, gives
a forecast of what the " Canadian" cattle export trade to
Britain is going to be this year, and if it does not amuse
your readers they must be dead to the ludicrous. Says
the Globe: — "According to the wording of the British
Act it is not American cattle which are excluded from
tbe inland market, but cattle ' brought from' the United
States of America. Hence, as soon as navigation opens
tha Canada trade can go on as usual, drawing part of its
supplies from the Western plains (of America), which
are entirely free from cattle disease." [Where, ah I
where are those 200,000 beasts, stall-feeding in " On-
tario ?"] . . Of course, if American cai,;;!e leave a
Canadian port they become Canadian cattle, according to
the British Cattle Diseases Act. If disease were to be
discovered among them it would be Canadian ports on
which the embargo would be laid. . . It is plain that
in order to prevent the smallest chance of an infec'itc*
Eastern animal being among the cargo, only the extreme
Western ports of Ontario should be open to American
cattle, &c."

In other words the Glob', has the simplicity to believe
that while the English Privy Council shut out American
living beeves, sent from the States direct, they will allow
Toronto exporters to bring in as many as they can get
hold of in the character of " American cattle," panto-
mimically hocus-pocused into " Canadian" cattle by the
process of simply shipping them from Montreal and
Quebec. A very wild supposition this. Besides, why
do the " Canadian" exporters want to be scouring the
Western plains for export cattle at the imminent risk of
introducing disease into Canada (and Britain), when they
have now iu stalls (vide Times' Ottajva correspondent)
in " Ontario," 200,000 head fattening up fo John Bull's
gourmand stomach ? If they sent a ship a day it would
take them a year or two to clear off that immense army
of beeves. However, as I have before fully explained,
the " Canadian" trade boiled down resolves itself into
that magic transformation of " American" into " Cana-
dian" beasts, effected through their purchase and ship-
ment by Canadian exporters. With the exception of a

254

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

few thousand native beasts, fed in distilleries during the
winter, and sent to Eughmd iu the sprin-i and summer,
tliat sort of " Canadian" export trade is the only trade
which has ever yet been. The present total collapse
was inevitable, therefore, as soon as the American
supply stopped. The Toronto Globe is wrath with the
Domiuiou Government for "rashly" forbidding the im-
portation of American beasts into Canada, before the
British Government acted, a censure which may be
interpreted In the light of the above facts. Sir John
I\Iacdouald and his colleagues aretooable men, and too con-
versant with Canadian matters, however, not to know the
humbug of the pretended Canadian export trade, and were
not likely to allow the health of Candiaii cattle in general
to be jeopardised merely that a few Toronto and other
dealers and forwarding interests might make vast suras
by buying American beasts in the btates and passing
them on to Britain as Canadian beeves. The Canadian
farmers, as a body, do not care two cents about the cattle
export business. In fact, they are calling out for a duty
against American cattle, and view the embargo on
them with satisfaction. Nearly everybody else is in-
different.

Mr. M'Culloch, of Melbourne, recently purchased
from Mr. George Fox, at a high price, the promisint;
seven months old roan bull Duke of Ehnhnrst, by 5th
Duke of Wetherby, and out of Mr. Fox's 2th Duchess
figure of Airdrie.

It has been stated that Cumberland farmers, desirous
of getting rid of the cosily services of middlemen, have
organised an agricultural co-operative society, with the
view of establishing a dead meat trade, so as to reduce
the price to consumers, while securing to the meat grower
the full market value of his produce.

It is stated in the Ban/fbliire Journal that Mr
Bruere, Braithwaite Hall, has sold three young Short-
horn Bulls to Mr. Bolton to go to South America. Two
of the animals are of the Flower tribe, one being
Stephanos, a roan, by Star Regent from Scintilla Flower ;
and the other, Loraine, a rich roan, by Star Regent from
Welcome Flower. The third is of the Rose Tribe,
Ludovic, by Star Regent from Rosa Laviuia.

The San Antonio Daily Herald of the 2nd ult. an-
no'jinces the arrival of six Oxfordshire Downs (of which
four are ewes and the others rams), imported direct from
Mr. Charles Howard's flock at Biddeuham, by Mr. Wil-
liam G. Hughes, and taken out under the immediate
su])erintendence of Mr. Edward Hobson.

The annual show of the Northumberland Agricultural
Society takes place this year at Berwick-ou-Tweed, on
Thursday the 24.th of July. The last show of the North-
umberland Society at Berwick, in 1876, was one of the
best the Society has held, including many of the leading
prize animals of England and Scotland.

The use of maize as food for horses has been tried in
various ways,and the result has been tolerably uniform; it
aaswe's belter for slow work than for fast work. The
West Division Street Railway Company of Chicago which
works constantly some 2,000 head of horses, after care-
fu'iy experimenting upon various kinds of food, have
adopted a mixed ration of maize and oats ground, and
used with cut hay, slightly wetted. In winter the
proporiion of corn and oats are two-thirds iubulk of corn-
meal to one-third in bulk of ground oats; but, as warm
weather approaches, the proportions are gradually changed,
until, through hot the months.they are exactly rever3ed,and
then, again, changes upon the advent of winter. In
Austria the use of maize has not been successful. The
Aliiiihter of War tried the experiment on 5,2U0 horses,
of which I'oui-iiflhb were taken from the cavulry and the

remainder from the artillery and train, the animals being
fed partlv on maize for six months. Professor Bruch-
muUer, who conducted the experiment, repoits that tiie
horses as a rule took easily to the new diet, and, digested
it very well, even when it was given dry and whole. The
horses increased in weight, and their coats got to shine,
but they seemed to lose in vigour as com[)ared with those
fed upon oats. This was especially noticeable in their
fast paces, and it was also remarked that they sweated
much more profusely. In the southern proviuces of the
Austro-Hungarian empire, the animals fed on maize did
better than those in the northern part, and this harmonizes
with the known fact tiiat the heavy draught horses used
upon the farms in the south of Hungary and Croatia do
very well upon this food. Professor BruchmuUer states
that the Vienna Tramways Company, which has made
similar experiments upon its horses, found that the sav-
ing in the cost of food did not compensate for the loss of
power and speed : and his conclusion is that maize can
only be used to advantage for horses that are not required
to move out of a walking pace. la France similar ex-
periments have been made with similar results. Accord-
ing to reports sent iu by French army ofhcers to the
Government, ithas been found that in whatever propor-
tion maize be substituted for oats, loss of muscle and
enei'gy manifests itself, besides which the 1 orses sweat
inordinately, and are easily blown. The Ministry of
War has directed this system to be discontinued. The
Paris cabmen, too, are unanimous in their condemnation
of maize, as may readily be understood, for cab horses
cannot usually spare much energy. The London
Omnibus Company and the Manchester Carriage Com-
pany have tried the use of maize, but we are not aware
of the actual result. From all the testimony thus brought
to bear on the subject, it would appear that the use of a
proportion of maize in the food of agricultural horses,
especially in the winter time, would be ecouoraical and
advantageous. In connection with this subject we read
that iu Itussia, according to the Landivirthscfiitftlich'i
Prexse, cakes consisting of 30 to 40 per cent, of oats, 30
to 50 of peas. 10 tr> 20 barley, 15 to 20 linseed meal,
and 1 to 5 per cent, of salt, three-and-a-half inches in
diameter, and three-quarters of au iuch in thickness, are
used for the cavalry, and are strongly recommended for that
purpose on account of their portability and their keeping
properties. These biscuits have to be soaked iu warm
water before being used, which is a difli(^nlty and an
objection for army purposes. But cakes of this sort
would be a very useful and convenient form in which to
take horse food on journeys in the country, where a
good feed of corn cannot always be depended ou.

The Government of the United States has decided to
continue the prohibition against the importation of
British cattle, on account of the " existeuee of Pleuro-
pneumonia in England." Quite right.

. American papers report a recent shipment of 25,000
dols. worth of cattle, horses, and sheep for a single farm
in Japan.

An American paper states that the State Legislature
and Governor of New York Slate have taken steps to pre-
V utany spread of pleuro-pneumonip. Ten thousand dol ars
have been appropriated for expenses, and authority has
been given to Gen. Patrick, and Prof. Law, of Cornell
University, to resort to stringent measures in order to ex-
tirj)ate the disease. The powers given to Messrs. Patrick
and Liw are — "To quarantine all iufeeted stables; to .
slaughter all diseased animals; to quarantine all persons
coming in contact with diseased animals; to disinfect all
cars aud slables occupied by infected animals, and to pre-
vent healthy animals from bciag brought into infected
stables." The trouble is said to be confined to Long

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

?55

Iblainl yanls and stables, so far as is known, and '' is the
siiiiie dibtase (Vuui which the so-called swill uiilk stables
have been seldom free."

Prussian live-stock statistics show that daring the
otlicial year 1877-78, 70 horses, 1,903 beasts, 1,327
sheep, and 202 switie died of anthrax ; 18,58'J beasts,
2,435 sheep, and 2,0-17 swine of f wt-and-niouth disease ;
1,'.)S0 beasts of lung disease ; 2,848 horses of glr.nders ;
8,888 sheep of sheep-pox; and 1309 sheep of rot.
Within the same period 571 dogs, 6 horses, 132 beasts,
38 sheep, and 16 swine were put under control as
suspected of rabies ; 137 dogs were killed as uucwned
aud 1,089 as rabid.

The annual sale of pure-bred Shorthorns bred by
Messrs. liobeitson Bros., of Victoria, Aiistrali;i, in
January last, realised an average of £11G 13s. 4d. for
bulls and £198 15s. for cows and heifers ; whereas
last year the average f:r bulls is st ated to have been
£792 153., aud that for cows and heifers £1,102 10s.,
two of the heifers by a Cherry Duke bull making toge-
ther no less a sum than 4,050 guineas. Blue blood
Shorthorns show a " shrinkage " in value akin to that
which overtook the tulip mania some years ago ; the
values in either case being purely artificial.

We are in receipt of private catalogue of Mr. W.
Bliss's herd of pure-bred Shorthorns, containing the
pedigrees of forty-four cows and heifers, and sisteea
bulls, iucluding Elrahurst Prince of the American
Princess blood, aud Prince Leopold by Mr. Fox's Duke
of Airdiie 24th, both of which are ou service at the
farm, Chipping Norton. On the 14th of May about
fifty of these animals will be otfered for sale by public
auction on the premises of Messrs. Finlay Dunn and Wm.
Stratford. Two of the females, Geneva Verity and
Baroness Burdett, are intended for show at the London
luternatioual Exhibition.

In the Journal d'AgriculLure Pratique, M. Lecouteux,
enforcing the programme of the Piench Societies —
ftquality between agriculture ^nd other industries — points
out the injustice done to the agricultural interest in that
while this latter is left to the free competition of foreign
nations, other industries are protected to the extent of
25 to 60 per cent, lie shows that the customs receipts
would be augmented by more than one-half by a uniform
rate of 10 per cent- on all imports. Admitting that free
trade iu wheat was from 1860 to 1876 beneficial
to producer and consumer alike, he remarks
that the new condition of the trade brought
about since the latter date by the immense
imports from America justifies farmers in
attemptiug to fix heavier dues on wheat than those of the
projected tariff, which are 60c. per quintal on wheat, and
If. 20c. on flour. Again, if farmers turn their attention
from coru-])roducing to cattle rearing, this transforma-
liou requires time and capital; and while the present
crisis is unfavourable to such effort, the imports of cat'le
increase, while sanitary measures may at any time curtail
the exports. Under such circumstances it is not
astonishing that they should propose a duty of 10 per
cent, on cattle.

Ou the other side of the question the agricultural
societies of Gironde have issued a manifesto setting forth
that none of the products of the soil are protected ; that
the wines of Spain and Italy are admitted at a duty
scarcely equal to the tax on home productiou ; that they
do not complain of this, but insist upon a revision of the
existing treaties of commerce iu the direction of free
trade— firstly, that they may be able to procure materials
required for their iuduslry, aud principally irou, without

prohibitory duties; secondly, that they wav be enabled
to export freely the value of their products admitti ig of
only a limited consumption at houie.

In reference to the restrictions on the importation of
American cattle, the Dt/fyo^t Post and Tribune says; —
So far as the cattle of the west aie concerned there ia
believed to be no cause for alarm. They are entirely free
from the disease, and an etfort is being made by the Grand
Trunk Railway to procure an exemption from the order
for western cattle shipped through Canadian ports. The
Canadian government have promised to use their iniluence
with the home government to accomplish this result,
provided the authorities ou the western frontier adopt
rigid regulations of inspection aud take decisive steps to
guard against the contagion. At present cattle are not
allowed to be shipjjcd through Canada, but all cattle
going east from this point are sent by the South Shore
line.

A well-informed drover of long experience said that
the recent British order was well understood by drovers
generally, but they said very littie about it. He thought
it would injure the trade to some extent, but not seriously.
If the delay at quai-autine proved vexatious aud expensive,
the trade would lake the shape of dressed meat. This
makes a difference of about 5 dols. per head. Dressed
meat does not sell as well as meat on foot, but the trade
would go ou.

Our Canadian correspondent writes under date of Feb.
25.— The j?yro«2ft) TV/f^rrtni announces that the Dominion
Government (which must be carefully distinguished from
the Ontario Provincial Administration) will immediately
call in all outside emigration agents, and put the useless
and extravagant London office on a new and no doubt
more economical footing. The subject of emigration is of
immense importance both to Eugland and the Colonies ;
but in England its importance has never beea
adequately- appreciated ; hence every idle e.v cathedra
assertion by interested persons has long been accepted
without investigation ; great industries have been deranged,
and thousands of people doomed to suffering and
disappointment. I hope next week to offer some
remarks on the action of the Domiuion Government
above Eoticed. At present 1 will merely say that the
policy of Sir John Macdonald and his colleagues will, I
believe, be the entire opposite of the icnraigration vagaries
of the late administration, and eminently satisfactory to
both the Canadian and English people. The halcyon
days of the professional immigration promoters here arc
gone for good. They have made hay in glorious style,
while the Mackenzie sun shone, but that luminary has
gone below the horizon, aud common sense — to say
nothing of common honesty — in immigration matters will
be the ?o/e of the new rajlme. The Farmers' Club of
South Ontario have been in session at Oshawa over their
various ailments. The proceedings were somewhat
amusingly "mixed." The general feeling seemed to be
that the Canadian agriculturist is in poor case, and badly
wants something doue for him. But few speakers aeemed
iu harmony ou the nature of the prescription. Some
thought protection was the true sovereign restorer, others
could not see their way to that specific. A good deal of
time was consumed over the old conundrum, " Who pays
protective duties, the consumer or the exporter?" But
the solution of the problem was left en demi-j ,ur. What
the Canadian farmer thinks of the great cattle export
business, which certain cute entities here would have
people — especially on your side of the water — believe
is a matter iu which he takes special interest, was iucideu-
lally shown iu the coutcmptuous alluaium of oue or two

256

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

speakers. For instance, Mr. Annis delivered himself as
follows ; — " There is a great quantity of oats brought into
Canada (from the States), butas soon as we talk of putting
a duty. on them, up jump the lumbermen. Of corn we
bring in 8,000,000 bushels, but if we talk of protecting
cur coarse grains by putting a duty on corn, we offend the
distil ers, vhosay they will notbe able to get their beautiful
swill iLHth w/iicli thei/ feed American cattle." Another
farmer.Mr. Mothersill, remarked :— "We have a grievance
in the live stock trade. Shippers of cattle import Ameri-
can steers, and bond them and sell them in Canada if they
can find a market which suits them. If not, they run
them out at the other end to the Eastern States. No
sooner does the price rise a cent, or two, than the Ameri-
can cattle are taken off the trains, and down goes the
price. As for Western pork, the hogs are fed upon the
undigested part of corn which has already passed through
the bodies of cattle !" The fact is, the farmers here are
swamped with Jonathan's cheap oats, corn, flour, pork,
cattle, and in short, nearly everything except barley. The
big lumbermen and distillers won't hear of protective.duties,
as the one class want cheap American oats, and the other
cheap Indian corn, to make rye (?) whisky and fatten
cattle, sheep, and pigs on their " beautiful" swill for the
English and Canadian markets. And, amid all this, sundry
knowing folk here are trying to persuade people on your
side that this is a great cattle-exporting country, with
hundreds of thousands of native beasts stall-feeding for
export. If the farmers had their will, the British and
Canadian embargo on American cattle would be continued
till doomsday. The railway companies and the cattle
speculators are, with the shipowners, the real " interests "
involved. The Grand Trunk manager is now pressing the
Dominion Government to rescind the prohibition-order so
far as lhe"Western States" are concerned. A partial em
bargo of that sort is, however, obviously surrounded with
many difficulties. Even should the Canadian Govei nment
admit beeves from the Western States it is not at all
probable the British authorities would run the risk of
letting them be imported via Canadian ports, merely
because they were owned and shipped by Toronto firms.
As everybody must see there is no sufhcient proof that the
disease in the Ontario's cargo began among American
cattle. The Toronto dealers assume and say the diseased
animals were the " American " ones, but they were not on
the'spot ; and if they had been, in a mixed cargo like that
under notice it would be mere guess-work to distinguish
the "nationality " of the respective animals. This being
the case, though there be no disease among the cattle of
the Western States at present, yet, as Professor Mac
Eachren, the Dominion expert, said in a lecture at
Montreal, a few days ago, there is "a strong probability
that they may become tainted during transmission." The
professor further observed that if the American Govern-
ment thought such a disease as pleuro-pneumonia could
be done away by any half-measures, they were greatly
mistaken ; nor would the British Government be satisfied
with half-measures. The latest phase of the business,
according to the Mail, is that the Dominion Government
has promised the Grand Trunk officials to use its influence
with the Enfili jh Privy Council to pei mit the shipment to
England of Western cattle through ('auadian ports, under
proper precautions by the United States authorities. It
must strike your readers as extraordinary that the Grand
Trunk should be so much exercised re Western cattle
exports, seeing that Canada should, as things now stand,
have a monopoly of the English trade, and wiih " 200,000
beeves" now feeding in stalls, be able to draw a roaring
business free from American competition. There is no
way this enormous number of native animals can go from
Montreal and Quebec when navigation opens, save by the
Grand Trunk, whose resources, indeed, would be severely

taxed to carry only a part of them. The interests of that
railway therefore cannot suffer ; that is, if the 200,000
beasts really existed. Consequently the commotion among
the forwarders, and the efforts they are making to have
American cattle from the West excluded from the Canadian
and British embargoes, impels inevitably to the conclusion
that the existence of the aforesaid Canadian beeves is
known to be one of those pleasant fictions which often do
duty in these quarters ; and that American cattle are
sought for so solicitously because they are, in effect, the
only source of supply worth considering, in aa export
view, from Canadian ports.

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION.

The following letter from Mr. J. J. Blechi was read at a re''ent
meeting of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce: — Seeing,
tliat with 47,000,000 of farmed acres and much waste land,
our 33,000,000 of population are dependent on loreiga supplies
for one- hall of their food.we must come to the humiliating con-
clusion that British agriculture has not progressed witli our
other indns'ries, being still in a very undeveloped and iraper-
feet condition. If we a-ik why this is so, the reply must be
" because it is in ownersliip, occupation, and transfer, bound
by autiquated fetters," while manufacturea, trade, and com-
merce liave been set free. The consequence is that our land
produces less than one-half wiiat it might do under altered
and improved conditions. Insecurity of tenure, dictative and
restrictive conditions o' tenure, and the absence of leases and
valuations of unesiiausted investments have prevented that
iiitlow of capital wiiich must necessarily accompany increased
production. My long experience has taught rae that our
general produce may be more than doubled by a more than
doubled tenant capital, and that the landlord's investment in
improvements must be concurrent in the matter of drainage,
buildings, re-.irrangement of fields, &c. The tenant shou.d
have freedom to conduct his business as he thin ks best for his
interest, just as manufacturers are free to do. The tenant
capital invested is estimated (for the United Kingdom) at less
than £G per acre; it should he £15 to £20, as it ia in some well
farmed districts. The landowner's capital is only £30 per
acre ; that should be also considerably increased. Then the
return in food produced would be in proportion. Lord Derby
admitted that the produce might be doubled, but he omitted
to say that the landowner's and tenaLt's capital must also be
proportionately increased. Agriculture is, as compared with
manu'actures, only in the eighteenth century instead of in the
nineteenth. Our non-agricultural population have also a
great responsibility in the matter of food p-oduction. They
should, in one respect, follow tiie wise example of the Chinese,
who return to the soil that which they have received from it.
If this were done, our enormous imports ot foreign food would
greatly adii'to the fertility of our soil, and thus increase its
produce. Manchester should feel ashamed, for she has neglect-
ed her duty in this matter, free trade in land and free action
fur its tenants would greatly add to the wealth and streug h
and happiness of our people.

THE INCIDENCE OF AGRICULTUEAL DEPRES-
SION.— We mui-it expect, therefore, a continued reduction of
tiie price ot agricultural pioduce, and a cominual lessening 'or
some tinneto come of thegeneral profitsof Englisl\ farming. On
wiiicli of the three classes among whom these profits are shared
will the loss fall? That the labourers will take no p^rt of it
is tolerably obvious. If the cost of farm labour is reducs^d at
all it must be by the use of machinery, and tiie employment
of fewer and more skilful hands at liigher wages. Nor do we
think that the farmers will submit to bear the loss. They
may cling to their craft more obstinately than other unsuc-
cess ul producers ; but already llieir proilts are below the
average. The dllference, no doubt, is made up by the superior
pleasantness of iheir occupation and the advantages of a rural
life. But such compensations have already reduced tiie profits
of this favoured occupation to what is probably their mini-
mum. Tliose who accept ten per cent, where their compeers
in less pleasant businesses make sixteen, or three where their
equals receive six, have made all tlie sacrifice to their taste
that liiey can well all'ord. Tliere remains but one sharer in
agricultural profits upon whom the loss can lall. Tlie land-
lord must be the ultimate sulfc rer. — Slumiard,

CARBOLIZED OIL FOR EWES IN
LAMBING.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MkRK LANE EXPRESS.

Sir, — Since my letter appeared in your own and other
papers I have received so many inquiries as to the car-
bolized oil, which I regret, for want of time being unaole
to answer, and I hope you may be induced to print the
matter I send herewith, which will assist those persons
who ask for some information as to the strength of the
mixture and directions for its use. I trust, also, that
those persons whose letters I have not answered will
kindly excuse my giving the information they seek through
your own and other pipers, which will relieve me of much
writing, and the iuforraatioa may be of some use to Hock-
masters geuerallj .

I have proved that from its extra purity and ready
solubility Calvert's No. 4 carbolic acid may be fully relied
upon, and I, therefore, recommend it in preference to any
other kind that I have tried. To one part of acid add
seven parte of Gallipoli oil. Great care should be taken
to have the acid and oil well and properly mixed, and
also that it be thoroughly shaken before pouring it from
the bottle for use. It is advisable to use some of the
mixture when there has been a case of difficult or bad
lambing to tbe exterior of, and syringe some into, the
vagina. AVhen there is an// fear of inflammation of the
uterus half a wine glass full at the least of the mixture
should be syringed into the uterus. / very muck prefer
the use of a proper syringe to endeavouring to get the
mixture into the uterus by pouring some into the vagina,
and lifting the hinder part of the ewe. Suitable lead
syringes may be obtained at from one shilling each. It
is advisable to use the mixture about new milk warm, and
it may be applied every six or eight hours, but more fre-
quently in extreme cases.

Great care should be taken that shepherds after dress-
ing a ewe att'ected with straining, should not attend upon
another ewe until they have thoroujdy xi'ashed their
liunils in water, with which some carbolic acid may be
mixed with advantage. I may perhaps be allowed to
observe that as my business engagements induce me to ask
you to kindly print this letter, with a view to saving me
much correspondence, I wish it to be understood that if
any fluckmaster requires further information thai the
letters which have appeared in your own and other journals
convey, I shall be glad to render them any assistance that
lies in my power. Since my letter of the 24th ult. there
has still been no case of straining amongst the ewes in
the Merton flock. There is a flock of 300 cross-bred
ewes on a farm in hand, at some distance from Merton, of
which ewes seventy have lambed single and over sixty
twin lambs with the death of only one ewe since the
lambing commenced, which the bailift' ordered to be
slaughtered alter saving her two lambs. I give the above
numbers because it is worthy of notice that there has nut
yet been a single case of straining after lambing, a cir-
cumstance which the shepherd says he never knew to
happen before in all bis experience, during a i)eriod of
forty years. He, like the Merton shepherd, has used the
carbolized oil freely whenever he has found anything like
difficult lambing. He syringes some ot the mixture along
the interior of the vagina, and also applies it to the ex-
terior. He is also careful to apply it to his hands when-
ever he has to give assistance to a ewe. — I ara. Sir, kc,

Henry Woods.

3[erton Estate Office, Thetford, March Stk.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 257

THE MARTYR'S MEMORIAL.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MARK LANE EXPRESS.

VOLUNTARY REDUCTION.— In consideration of the
depressed state of agriculture, Mr. George Keith, of Usan,
near jNloatrose, has agreed to give his tenantry not only a con
siderable reduction in rent payable under eld and unexpired
leases, but also to free them from all restrictions as to rotation
of crops.

Sir, — I had no idea when I recently read your remarks
upon " The Inn of the Abbots of Cirencester," that the
Monastery at Cirencester was likely to be so soon revealed
in all its peculiarities. It appears that the Committee of
Management of the Cirencester College has given its
support to the views cf the Principal, and thereby prac-
tically decided that Professor Church cannot continue to
hold his Professorship unless he continues to reside in the
College. His retirement from the College consequent
upon his marriage is the reward with which his devoted
services of sixteen years have been acknowledged. How
those duties have been discharged is a matter upon which
we do not ask for any opinion, the students v. ho have
passed through that College know full well, and the
outside world has formed its opinion also.

But I am glad to know that he will not retire alone, for
the unfair treatment to Professor Church receives a
practical protest by the resignation of Professor Tanner,
who holds the chair of Mathematics and Physics — a well-
known Oxford donble-flrst, and Professor Fream, who holds
the chair of Geology and Botany, a man of recognised
ability.

These three men may now be added to that glorious
roll of martyrs which already carries the elsewhere
honoured names of Voelcker, Coleman, Buckman, Brown,
Wrightson, and Sheldon.

A Martyr's Memorial must be forthwith commenced,
and I hope it will take the form of an educational insti-
tution which shall thoroughly meet the requirements of
the sons of the aristocracy, and also provide for the sous
of tenant farmers. England must no longer be dependant
for its higher class instruction in Agricultural Science
upon an institution which, although it was built by the
contributions from those interested in agriculture, and
was intended to meet their wants, has not done for some
years past a tithe of the public good of which it haa
been capable.

I regret to say so, for I love the old College ; but there
is a limit to all human forbearance, even from,

A Member of the Royal Agricultural College.

FARMERS' GRUMBLING.— « No," the honest farmer
remarked, in tones of deepest dejection, " the big crops don't
do us a bit of good. What's tlie use? Corn only thirty
cents. fclveryihing is dead set against the farmer. Only
thirty cents for corn ! Why, by gum, it won't pay our taxes,
let alone buying our clothes. It won't buy us enough salt to
put up a barrel of pork. Corn only thirty cents ! By socks,
it's a livin' cold-blooded swindle on the larmer, that's what it
is. It ain't worth raisin' corn for such a price as that. Ii's
a mpan, low robbery." Within the next ten days that man
had sold so much more of his corn than he had intended that
he found he had to buy corn to feed throufrh the winter with
The prioe nearly knocked him down. "What," he yelled,
" fhiiii/ cents for corn ! Land alive — thirty cents ! What
are you giving us? Why, I don't want to buy your (arm, I
only want some corn. Wliy, I helieve there's nobody left in
this world but a set of graspin', blood-suckin' old misers.
Why, good land, you don't want to buy a national bank with
one corn crop ! Thirty cents for corn ! Well, I'll let my
cattle and horses feed on cornstalks all winter before I'll pay
such an unheard of outrageous price for corn as that. Why,
the couutrj's flooded with corn, and thirty cents a bushel is a
blamed robbery, an' I don't see how any man, lookiu' at the
crop we've had, can have the face to ask such a price." —
Burtinf/lon llawkeye.

•258

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

^gvicultural ,Socictics.

ROYAL OF ENGLAND.
The following is the List of new Members, unavoidably
omitted : —
Adiiiston, Henry S., of Holm llale Hall, Shipdham

ISorl'oik.
Alcock, .Idhn, of PiiUord, Wrexham.
AHons, John, of Tivetshall, St. Mary, Scole.
Aiidi-rson, Wm., of Houghton, Carlisle.
Andrews, Abraham S., of Webb Lodge, Clay-street, Walthaw-

sto*.
Ash, Frpderi-k J., of Chadwell, St. Mary's, Grays, Essex.
Ashforth, Josepli, of Bruce Works, Sheflidd.
Asplin, Francis, of St. Clere's, Eist Tilbury, Romford.
Basshaw, Geor^p, of Norwich.
Bailey, Walter J., of East Lexham, Swaffham.
Baker, Robert Suitmers, ot North Walsham, Norfolk.
Banks, William, of 4, John-street, Bedfonl-row, W.U.
Barcliam, Thomas, of The Limes, Paston, North Walshara.
Barinsr, Thomas Charles, M.P., of High Beacli, Loughcon,

Essex.
Barker, Philip C., of Ingatestone, E'sex.
Barnard, John K., of Harlow Mills, Harlow, Esses.
Barnps, John S. , of The Casiua, Co' Chester.
Birnes Samuel, of Surlinghum, Norwich.
Barron, John, ol Rock House, Barrowash, Derby,
Barwell, John, of Hoveton Hall, Neatishead,
Bates, Charles, of Dagenham, Romford.
Bawtree, Octavius, of West Lodgs, Colchester.
Beanes, Edward, of Moatlands, Paddock Wood, Brenchley.
BcHUchamp, Sir Reginald P.. Bart., of Lingley Park,

Norwich.
Beck, Frederick W., of Mileham, Swaffham.
Bell, Francis, of Heath Cottage, Norwich.
Belli, Rev. Charles A., of South Weald, Brentwood,
Bftham, John, of Southport.
Betts, Thomas, of Wiufarthing, Diss.
Eiddell, George, of Orsett, Romford.
Bircham, William, of The 011anda,|Reepham.
Blewitt, Edward R., ofRainham, Romford.
Bolton, John S., of Oulton, Aylshara.
Bonrchier, Mnjor., of Felthorpp Hall, Norwich.
Bradburn, Thomas, of Wednesfield, Wolverhampton.
Bremridge, John Lendon, of Martin Farm, Wliiddon Down,

Okchamptou.
Brise, A. W. Ruggles^ of Dunvards, Witham.
Bristol, Marquis of, oi Ickworth, Bury St. Edmunds,
grown, William, of Haynford Hall, Norwich.
- rowes, Henry, jun., of the Grange, R^d Hill,
■^unyard, Harry, of 64 Tooley Street, S E.
Burrell, Charles, jun., of The Shrublands, The.tford.
Burt, George, of]|l'urbeck House, Swanage, Wa'elum
Burton, John P. M , of Taverham Rectory, Norwich.
Butler, Thomas, of Spixworth Park, Norwich.
Buxton, Samuel Gurney, of Calten Hall, Norwich.
Byles, Robert, of Newton Flotmau, Long Siratton.
Campion, Frederick, of " Frenches," Red Hill.
Cant, G. JL, of Mile Eud, Colchester.
Canterbury, Viscount, of Witchiughan Hall, Norwich,
Carter, George R., of tlie Manchester and Sallord Bank,

Bolton-le-Moors.
Caton, Hora'io, W., of Romford.
Clirisp, L. C, of Hawkhill, Alnwick.
Christie,, George Henry, of Fraralinghara Manor House,

Norwich .
Christy, David, of Patching Hall, Chelmsford.
Clarke, S>pp!ieu3on, of Croydon Lodge, Croydon.
Clarke, William R., of Wymondham.
Cole, Pliilip, of East Horudon, Brentwood.
Conder, E iward, of Elmhurst, Romford.
Cook, Henry, of Susses Farm, Buruhara, Westgale, King's

Lynn.
Cowell, John R., of Ashdon, Linton.
Cowley, T. M., of Breadsall, Derbyshire.
Crang, Findlater. of Timsbury, Bath.
Cross, Henry, of Barling, Rochford.
Cross, Willuim, of West terrace, Colchester.

Crush, A. W., of Mountnessing HhII, Brentwood.

Cubitt, William, of Bacton Abbey, North Wal.,ham.

Cii3<on, David, of Cornforth, Ferry Hill.

Cntts, Juhn, ot Little Bardfield Hall. Braintree.

Delf, Captain Wra., of Walton-ou-llie-Naze.

Disney, Ed^rar, of The Hyde, logiestone.

Dii Cane, Sir Charles, Bart., of Braxted Park, Witham.

Edwards, George Frederick, of Hall Farm, Marlin<jford.

Ed*ards, Henry W., of Hard'niiham Hall, Attleborough.

Elwards, Tliomas Henry, of Keswick, Norwich.

Elliott, J. S ,of Holme Lacy, Hereford.

Everitt, Percival, of Ryburgh, Fakenham.

Ewiug, John Edward, of Efitoii, Norwich.

Ffolkes, Sir W. H. B., Bart, of Hillington Hall, Lynn.

Finch Hatton, Hon. Murray Edward, of Heaverliolme, Slea-
ford.

Fitch, Edward A. of Brick House, Aytoon, Essex.

Flower, Edgar, of The Hill, Sfi-atford-on-Avon.

Foster, Sir William, Bart., of Hardiugliara, A.ttleborough.

Fowler, Ernest W., of Gunton Old Hall, Lowestoft.

Gepp, Thomas Morgan, of Chelmsford.

Giblett, Jolin, of 2,'Glebe Place,!Stoke Newington, London, N.

Gibson, Robert, of Ellerbeck, Penrith.

Gilbert, Cecil T. C, of Strumpshaw Hall, Norwich.

Gilbert, Edward, of Blofield, Norfolk.

Gilbert, H. C. B., of Braydestone Hall, Blofield, Norfolk.

Gilders, George, of Manor Farm, Great Hockesley, Col-
chester.

Gingell, George, High Laver Hall, Ongir.

Glenny, Thomas W., ofLin'on Road, Barking.

Golden, Jolin, of Ramsey, Hunts.

Goodman, James, F., of Staverton, Daventry.

Grillin, Charles, o f F'eltwell, Brandon.

Hallum, Tnoraas G., of Wormingford, Colchester.

Hansell,P. E., of Tliorpe, Norwich.

Harrison, EJward, of Sporle, Swaffbara.

Hnrter, Percival L. T. , of 4, Park Street, Lytham,Lanc.

Hastings, John, of LonKhara Hall, East Dereham.

Hay, Charles E., of Bradford House, Belford, Northd.

Hf mpson, A. , of Ramsey, Harwich.

Henuiker, Sir Brydges, Bart., of Newton Hall, Dunraow.

Heppell, Thomas, of Leafield House, Birtley, Cliester-le-
Street.

Hill, John, of 17, West Smithfield, London, E.G.

Hilliard, George B., of Chelmsford.

Hobbs, Captain Simpson H., of Hill Fields, Bewdley.

Holmes, Benjimin, ofHoruchurch, Essex.

Holmes, J., Bancroft, of Gawdy Hall, Harlesden.

Hosley, William Seymour, of Audley End, SalTron Walden.

Howard, Colonel L., of Goldings, Loughton, Essex.

Hudson, G., of Blakeney, East Dereham.

Jex, Henry, of Aldeby, Beccles.

Jillings, William G., of Bridgham, Thetford, Norfolk.

Johnson, Samuel, of Lawford, Manningtree.

Ivemp, Sir Kenneth H., Bart., of Gissing Hall, Diss.

Kimber, Thomas, of Burfield Hall, Wymondhara.

Kiiiglit, Feruley, of Castle Rising, King's Lynn.

Knight, Thomas, of Cauldwell, Burton-on-Trent.

Lambert, Thomas W., of Castle Farm, Ongar.

Lee,AViHiam John, of " Pigtails," Romford.

Leeds, Charles Stephen, of Tattersett, Fakeriliara-

Lin?, E'lmr.nd, of Hempstead Hall, Holt, East Dereham.

McCreath, William, of Girvan, Ayrshire.

Mack, T., of Bacton, North Walsham.

Maguay, Frederick Arthur, of Drayton, Norwich.

Mann, Tliomas, of Tliell Hall, Scole.

Marsliam, C. R., of Stralton Slrawless Hall, Norwich.

Matthews, Thomas, of Plaske t House, East Ham, Essex.

Meats, Albert, of P>on Villa, Gloucester.

Micklethwait", George N., of Chapel Field Grove, Norwich.

Jlildred, Henry, of Warley House, Great W arley, E'^sex.

Monk, Thomas, of The Slopes, Wallasey, Birketihead.

Mott, J. Stanley, ol Barniughaai, Hanworth, Norfolk.

Mulvaney, John, of" Essex Arms" Hotel, Brentwood.

Murray, Geo. Wilson, of Banff Foundry, ISanff, N.B.

Neve, Charles Le, of Mar.-ilMra, Norwich.

Newcome, Edward C, of Feltwell Hall, Brandon.

Newcome, Francis D'Arcy, of Feltwell Hall, Brandon.

Norris, Thomas, of Church Farm, Cam, Diir^ley.

Ohlfield, Alfred, of Manor Farm, Greniston, King's Lynn.

Onlcy, Ouloy Savill, of Stisted, Essex.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

259

Pnge, Mark, of Nowbold Grouncls, Daventry.

PaririRter, Fr>iucis,of Hootoii, Norwich.

Parsons, Willinm, of West Sfrat'on, i\licheldever.

Partrick'P, \V. P., of Elmstead 11.11, Coicliester.

Patch Tiiomas, of Faircross, Birkinj.

Pat'pson, Ilt-nry S., of Criujleford, Norwich.

Patteson, Henry T. S, of Criuijleford, Norwich.

Pearcp, Jnhn B., ol Surrey Street, Norwich.

Pearson, William, of 20, Rlellor's Buiidiugs, Liverpool.

Peacliey, William, of Thetford.

Pemherton, Robert, of Hare Hill. Romford.

Pidgeon, Jonathan S., of Warley Elms, Brentwood.

Pontiles, Artliur, of Bressingliam Hall, Diss.

Portaav, Charles, of llalstead, Essex.

Postlp, John Seam;in, of Smaliorouijh, Norwich.

Postle, Win. Seaman, of Smaborough Hall, Norwich.

Prentice, Eustace C, of Woodfield, Stowmarket.

Pres'on, Sir Jacob H., Bart, of Beeston Hall, Neatishead
Norwich.

Reeve, Charles, of Suetterton Hall, Thetford.

Reeve, Sirnnis, of Norwich.

Rising, Robert C, of Oxnead Hall, Norwich.

Risiufj, Tliomas, of Rollesbv, Great Yarmouth.

Rodjier, Georsre, of Arden House, Altrincham.

Rogers, John E., of Swanington, Norwich.

Roit, Mrs. S., of Ozleworth, Wotton-uuder-E 'ge.

Rovuon, John, of Havering Park Earra, Romford.

Sainsbiiry, Elward, of Messrs. J. Gibbs and Co.'s Chemical
Works, Victoria Docks, E.

Sindon, Edward Foster, of Wellington Foundry, Lincoln

Sharman, Peter J., of Scarniug, East Dereham.

Simons, Rev. Charles Walker, M.A., of Saintbury Broadway,
Worcestershire.

Slater, John, of Stansfleld, Clare, Suffolk.
S'riiih, Frederic, of Elmburst, Stratford Green, E-
Smith, Henry Jeiines, of Hall House Farm, Ledbury.
Smith, Thomas, of Killinghall, Ripley, Yorks.
Sparke, Edward E., of Guutborpe Hall, Eist Dereham.
Spurreil, Daniel, of Bessingham, Norwich.
Stedman, John B., of East Reedham, Swaffhum.
Sronghton, Clarke, of Bawdeawell, East Dereham.
Slracey, Edward H. G., of Thorpe, Norwich.
Sudbury, James, of Cantley, Norwich.
Tankerville, Earl of, of Chillingham Castle, Alnwick.
Tayler, Henry, of Market Place, Romford.
Taylor, Vero W., of Hedingham, Halstead.
Taylor, Francis, of Diss.

Thompson, Ricliard H., of Broughton, Preston.
Thursbv, Rev, William F., of Burgh- Apton Rectory, Norwich.
Ticp, Richard, Barford, Wymondham,
Tingey, George, of Egmerr, Walsinghara.
Tisdall, Alfred, of Melbury Road, Kensington.
Tompkins, John, of Aveley Hall, Romford.
Tufnell, John Jolliffe, of Lingleys, Chelmsford.
L^pson, James, of Ptivenhall, W^itbam.
Walker, Henry, of Seilafield, Carnforth.

Wareing, John, of Berry Fields Farm, Brannstone, Daventry.
Waters, Charles, of Postwick, Norwich.
^Vaters, Horace M., of Manor House, Bittering, East Dere-
ham.
Watson, Joseph Yelloly,of The Grange, Thorpe-lc-soken, Col-
chester.
Wedlake, Thomas William, of Horncburch, Romford.
Williams, Charles H., of Pilton House, Barnstaple.
Williams, Oliver John, of Dovercourt, Harwich.
Wiseman, James F. T., of The Chase, Paglesham, Rocliford.
Wolfe, Edward Alfred, of Monxton, Andover.
Woodtliorpe, Edmuud, of Graysbott, L phook.
Wood, John, of Lang'ord Hall, Maldon,
Wortley, Robert, of Siiffield, Avlsham.
Wotlierspoon, J., of Hethel Wood, Wyraondham.
Wragg, John, of Take.'ey, Cbelmsiord.
Youngman, Benjamin, ot Elms Farm, Walthamstow.
Ziegler, George William, of Lauaican, Birkenhead.

Field, Norwich, on March 8ih. The total amnnnt of
prizes awiuv ed was £;510, and the number of entries wag
r}4. One of the conditions was that the eleven prize win-
ners must be exhibited at the Summer Show at East
Dereham, on the 1 1th and 12lh of June next. The fol-
lowing were the principal prize takers: —

Agricultur.vl STAt.uoNS.— Best agricultural stallion,
four years old and upwards, £20, with £(iO special prize added,
Mr. Charles Marster.s, Saddlebow, King's Lynn, Topsman,
chesnut; 2nd, £10, Mr. Thomas D. Taylor, Eirsham Park,
Bungay, Young Mirk-sm^n, chesnnt ; 3rd, £5, The Stand Stud'
Company, Stand, Whitefield, Manchester, Y'oung Champion,
chesnut. ^ Best agriciltural stallion, three years old, £12,with
£4-0 special prize added, Mr. Garrett, Taylor, Trowse House,
Norwich, Norfolk Wonder, black, with white points; 2nd, £8^
Mr. George Body, Hsverland, Norwich, Hercules, blue roan.'

THO,\ouGHRREr) Staixiotvs.— Best thoroughbred stallion',
calculated to get hunters, £25, with £25 special prize added'
by Anthony Hammond, Esij., and the members of the West
Norfolk Fox Hunt, thus making the prize £50, Sir Reginald
B.aucliamp, Bart., Langley Park, Norwich, Zanziiar, brown.
C, Mr. Henry Jones, Littleport, Lydon, black brown.'

Hackney a\d Ridixg Stallion^.— Best stallion, not
under four years, suitable for getting hackneys, for saddle or
harness, £15, with £37 10*i. sppcial prize added, thus raakiii"-
the first prize £52 10s. Mr. James Playford Coker, Beetley
Hall, East Dereham, Norfolk, High Flyer, brown ' second,
£10, Mr. John Youngman, Wicklewood, Wym'ondham,'
Norfolk Cob, black ; third, £5, Mr. James Griggs, South
Creake, Norfolk, Model the Second, chesnut. Best stallion
under four years old, £12, with £18 special prize added, thus
making the first prize £30, Mr. John William Huun, 'Hun-
stanton, Lynn, National Guard, roan ; second, £8, Mr.
George Jones, Stowbridge, Downham, Lord Beaconsfield.

KINGSCOTE.

The last meeting of this Association of the season was held
at Kingscote, on M;.rch 7th, when Mr. G. Black well, of
Haylecote, Kingscote, read a paper on "a remedy for the
present agricultural depression," his remedy nppareutly being
protection. There was a long discussion.

NORFOLK.

The second annual Spring Show of agricultural, thor-
otia,hbred, and hackuey stallions, under the auspices of the
Norfolk Agricultural Association, was he'd on the Chapel

ixwoTthT"

A meeting of this Club was held at Ixworth on M irch
10th, Admiral Horton in the chair. The Rev. C. W. Jones
read a paper on " Kindness to Auiraais," in the course of which
he earnestly pleaded for kindness and thoughtfulness towards
the animals of the farm. With respect to dogs, he was glad
to say that they have been to a large extent delivered from tail
and ear cropping, which is both barbarous and di^figuring •
but they s<u!Ter a good deal from bullying and thoughtlessness*
such thoughtlessness, for instance, as con-iists in keeping them
constantly tied up, in not allowing them enough water and
sometimes in combining these two species of thoughtlessness.

In conclusion, he moved: — "That the Royal Society for
the Preven'ion of Cruelty to Animals is deserving of our
material and moral support."

Mr. Mallows, while fully agreeing with what was said as
to the need of preventing cruelty to animals, said tiiat when
the animals had been proteced he hoped some sort of society
would be formed for the purpose of protecting tenant farmers
from the cruelties and oppression practised upon them. Let
tenant farmers be the next kind of animal protected. He need
nrjt menti(m what these cruellies were, for they were well-
known to all present.

Jlr. Mani[£ld complained of the Society for unnecessary
interference in some cases, and for neglect in more serious
instances of cruelty, and asked what was more cruel than the
traps for catching vermin.

Mr. R. Green looked upon many of the prosecutions of
the Society as absurd, and referred to the cruel custom of
labourers in charge of teams. The horses, reeking with-
perspiration, would be left standing for hours outside a public-
house, and would then be driven furiously home to make up
for lost time. Such cases ought to be stopped.

The resolution was passed.

260

THE FARMERS' MAGAZINE.

€hambcr5 ol ^^gviciiUure.

CENTRAL.

The monthly meeting of the Council was held ou
Marfh 4th, at the Society of Arts, .John Street,
Afleljihi, the Marquis of Huntly, President for the year,
occujiyiiig the chair.

After the usual preliminaries —

The Secretary (Mr. .T. A. Clarke) read a commuQication
from the Etst Kent Chamber, urging the Central Chamber to
draft a Bill on the law of distress in accordance vfith the
views expressed at the last Council lueeiinf;.

Mr. C. S. Read, MP., said he was quite sure that the
members for East Kent were competent to prepare a Bill oa
the subject, aod introduce it in Parliament, and he thought
they should bo asked to do so instead of tlie Council (ilejr
hear). The hon. gentleman concluded with a motion to thi's
eir.-ct,

Mr. Caldecott seconded the motion, and it was agreed to.

The Secretary then read a communication from the
Lincolnshire Chamber, stating that the t'oUowiug resolution
was passed by it on Friday last : "That in the opinion of
tin's meeting it is the duty ot ttie Government, in the general
depressed state of trade, and especially of agriculiure, to
reduce some of the Imperial taxes, and to reaijust the present
incidence of local rating, and tliat with this object, and
taking into consideration the proliibi:ory and protective
duties levied by other nations, it is expedient that a registra-
tion duty slioiild be imposed ou corn and stock imported from
fore'gn countries."

The following resolution had been forwarded from the West
Riding Chamber: "That this Chamber requests that the
Cfutral Chamber will take into consideration the present
depressed state of agriculture, with a view of petitioning
Parliament thnta committee may be appointed to inquire into
the causes of it."

Mr. H. Neild said altliough he sympathised with the
object of the communication from the Lincolnshire Chamber,
he tliought it ought not to be entertained.

The Chairman observed that perhaps the best thing th'^y
could do was merely to acknowledge the receipt of it (Eear,
hear).

This suggestion was adopted hy the meeting.

The following Report of the Business Committee on the
vacant secretaryship (Mr. Clarke having announced his resig-
nation at the last meeting) was then presented : —

•'Your committee recommend tliat the secretary should
reside in London, that lie should undertake the various duties
of a aecreiary, and be sub'ect in all things to tlie order of the
Council. Your committee recommend that the saliry should
be £150 per annum. Your committee, having carefully con-
sidered the applications of twenty-seven candidates, have
selected the following four gentlemen for nomination :
Captain P. G. Craigie, Secretary of the Local Taxation Com-
mittee ; Mr. J. A. Hattersley, of ShobJon Court, Shohdon,
Herefordshire; Mr. Septimus P. Skipwortli, of Rothwell,
Caistor, Lincolnshire ; Mr. Thonas Wilson, of Knaptoft
House, Oundle, Auditor of the Central Chamber."

The applications and testimonials of the four selected
candidates having been read by the Secretary, the Chairman
proceeded to take a show of hands on the names in the order
in which they st^ind in the list, the result being as follows :
Captain Craiu'ie 3i, Mr. Hattersley 1, Mr. Skipworth 4, Mr.
Wilson 14. The names were then put separately in succession,
the lowest being struck off each time ; and the result was
that Captain Craigie was elected by 33 votes, the next in order
being Mr. Wilson, who obtained J votes.

The TuEAsUEER (Mr. Clay) expressed the opinion that the
expenses of printing, stationery, reporting, postage stamps,
&c., had hitherto been excessive, amounting altogether to
about £100 a year, and moved that the matter should be
taken ir^to consideration by the Business Committee with a
view to "iduct'ons.

The lUL^'on was seconded by Mr. Adicins, and agreed to.

Professoi Willis Bu.nd said he wished to propose a vote
of thatiks to thei' late secretary (Cheers). Tliat gentleman
had sckved them so well, and for so many years, tliat the least

they could do was to give him their heartiest thanks, and to
express a hope that in the new vocation, the acceptance of
which had compell-'d him to leave them, he would have com-
plete success (Cheers).

Mr. P. Piirpps, M P., in complimentary terras, seconded
the moiion, and it was carried unanimously.

Mr, J. A. Clarke said : Mv lord -and gentlemen, I am
exceedingly grateful to you for the very kiad expressions you
have just given of your satisfaction with what T have done,
or enileavouroJ to do, during the twelve years I have spent in
your service. I hope, the career ol the Central Chamber will
be one of expansion, and of much greater progress than has
been made in the past, and that at the end o' the nexr twelve
years the secretary will be able to give a far better report than
I am able to present at the present moment of the number of
members and the state of the subscriptions. I thai'k yon,
gentlemen, very heartily for this kind expression of your
feelings, and I leave you with very great regret (Clieers).

Mr. Pell, M.P, as Chairman, presided on the part of the
Lo^al Taxation Committee.

Mr. Pell having moved "That the Rcpnrt now read be
received," the motion was seconded and carried.

The next business being to consiJer " What steps sliall be
taken by the Council w.th regari to the VWuatiou Bill,"

Mr. Jabez Turner said it had been his lot on previous
occasions to brius; before that Council the provisions of Bills
which affected valuation, and he could not, as a member of
the Business Committee, allow that opportunity to pass with-
out saying a few words on the Bill which was then before
Parliament, and which had passed the second reading without
the agriculturists of England, who were so much in'erested in
valuation matters generally, having had an opportuniiy of
expressing tlieir opinions upon it. There had been a con-
siderable amount of difficulty experienced in obtaining copies
of that Bill (Hear, tear), and it had been very imperfectly
debated in the House of Commons, although it had passed
the second reading (Hear, hear). He did ihmk that a measure
which so materially affected the interests of the occupiers of
land and houses, and of tiie agriculturists of England,
deserved, in its passage through the House of Commons, more
attention than it appeared yet to have received ; and he felt
that it would not be riglit for the Council to alloiv it to pass
without expressing an opinion on its merits or demerits. The
Bill would HO doubt make a very great difference in the
principle and system of valuation. The functions of the
Surveyor ot Taxes were, indeed, rendered somewhat less
objectionable than they were in the Bill of last year ; but that
gentleman still remained, and there could be no doubt that
his functions would be exerted for the purpose, and with tlie
inevitable result, of increasing the rateable value of all kinds
of property. The principle advocated by many gentlemen in
that Chamber, that rent should be the minimum of valuation,
did not appear on the face of the Bill ; but he questioned
whether it did not exist in reality as much as it had done in
previous Bills. The chief function of the Surveyor of Taxes
was to prevent tbe Government at all events from losing any
money by valuations; and when they knew what was shown
by Capt. Craigie, who had gone carefully into the statistics,
that Schedule A, as it at present stood, exceeded by some-
thing like £12,000,000 the gross value for the whole country,
and that the assessment for income tax was taken from the
gross value, tliey could not help feeling that the Surveyor of
Taxes would endeavour to raise the assessments in the different
parishes so as to make up the difference. Whether or not
rent was to he the basis of valuation under the Bill he did not
know, but he thought that the hard and fast line of rent was
not a basis which they should seek to have established. The
Locil Taxation Committee had noticed the new proposal that
the income tax sliould be taken upon tiie gross value of liie
assessment. At first sight that seemed to him a very extra-
ordinary provision, but, upon reflection, he was inclined to
think that it would not work prejudicially towards occupiers of
land pure and simple. They ought to look very carefully at
the amendments which were proposed in the B 1'. He had
observed one of a clever and taking character, which was
proposi'd by a member tor the City ot London ; but, consid r-
ing whence it came, lie regarded it with suspicion lest the
chief ohject should be to ben>fit occupiers of houses. After
calling attention to the fact that provision was made in the
Bill for tpecial valuations being made for railwajs, canal-^,
&c., in each parish, and observing that in such CAses the valu-

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

261

ations ouprlit fo apply to tlm wliole Union, lie concliuled by
niuviii^ the following: — " Tliat this Council, aliiough ap-
proving of tlie geaeral priaciples of tlie Valuatioa Bill,
rt'grets th-it it \vm not le>>n preccdel by a more c.nnprehfia^ive
measure of county adiniuiitration in wliich a greiter amouat
of direct represeatatiou of the ratepayers is secured,"

This resolution liaving been seconded,

Mr. C. S. Head, JI.P., said it was astonishing to him that
geutlemen should oppose liie dttiils uf the Valuation Bill and
not object to the principle. That principle was that rent
siiould be the bnsis of valuatioa iu onesiiape only, that is, rent
as the minioiura. The Government would not accept rent as
the maximum ; and the cousequence would lie that wlierever
the amount of reut was enough to plesse the Surveyor of Taxes
he would take_it as the basis of assessment, and when it was not
euoush to please him he would require something more. IIj
should propose an amendment for the purpose of preventing
persons from being assessed on an exorbitant rent, lie did not
li'je this bisis of reut more than anyone else ; but if that Bill
was passed they must have reut pure and simple, otherwise
it would raise tlie assessments very considerably and impose
more rates and taxes on real properly. It was very well to
tiilk about having a uniform basis lor local and imperial taxa-
tion, but the tendency ot legislation was to extract the utmost
farthing. The Government having discarded the valuation
system of Ireland must, he contended, adopt the Scotch system
of assessing on the bnsis of rating pure and simple. It ap-
peared to him that the President of the Local Government Board
was like the unfortunate widow in scripture ; he insisted on
putting the cart before the liorse, what he ousiht to do being
to secure the assistance of the local authorities in the first
instance, and then cprae to details. The hon. gentleinin con-
cluded by suggesting that Mr. Turner's re^olution should be
amend 'd by being made to commence as folloivs : — '• But this
Council regrets that the Valuation Bill of 187'J has not been
precec'ed, &c.," omitting the words " approving of the general
principles."

Mr. Walker moved the following amendment : " That this
meeting, recognising the justice of a right valuation of land,
houses, &3., regrets that lliere is no valuation of that unseen
but real wealth wliicli is as much indebted for local burdens as
land and houses."

This amendment fell to the ground for want of « seconder.

Professor Wii.Lis Bund said it appeared to him that the
object of the Bill was to extend the principle of the Metropo-
litan Valuation Act to the country. Those who lived in the
Metropolis knew that under the operation of tliat Act the
valuation was increased every tlveyears, and he looked upon that
Bill as an instrument for screwing out of unfortnnate occupiers,
whether they were owners or tenants, every farthing that it
was possible to make them pay. He looked upon the 2()t,h
Clause as an attempt to shc-lve the County Government Bill in
such a manner that when Easter came they would be told,
'' You have got what you wanted in the Valuation Bill."

Mr. Pell, MP., said, during the recent speech ot the Pre-
sident of the Local Government Board, he was struck with tiie
emphatic use of the word "If" in reference to the County
Government Bill. The right hon. gentleman said "If that
measure becomes law," &.c. That " Ii " was rather alarming,
aud it created a suspicion in his mind, that the egg had
hardly yet been laid from wliich the County Government B'll
was to be hatched. Still, he thought they would stultify
themselves if they did not insist that the Valuation Bill should
be suspended till they saw what was eoing to be done with
the other measure (Hear, hear. ) He was satisfied with the
operation of the Metropolitan Valuation Bill, and he did not
tiiiuk they could do better on the wliole than accept rent as the
measure of gross value. The provision made in the Bill for
thespecial valuation of certain classes o! hereditaments appeared
to him perfectly monstrous and liable to great abuse.

After some furtlier discussion, in which Mr. D. Long, Col.
Brise, M.P.„Mr. Glenny, and Mr. VVhitaker Wilson took part,
Cap'.ain Craigie entered the room, having been ab&ent up to
tiiat time, and was received with cheers. •

Mr. B. Pell, M. P., moved as an amendment "Thattliis
Cliamber does not approve of the deftnition of gross value iu
the Bill, and is of opinion that rent; should be substituted
instead thereo'', as is the case now in Scolhnd."

LIr, Bell said he wis>hed to propose an amendment to the

effect that the C'laiioellnr of the FAcliequer sliould be reque? eil
^o .^uspenU the Valuation Bill until the Couuty Gaverumem
Bill has been passed.

Mr. BucKUAM said lie would second that, and described the
Valuatiou Bill as " a piece of jumbled legi-lation.'''

Eirl FoiiTEScUE deprecated the passing of such an amend,
ment a ter tlie tiouse of Cjmmons had already negatived a
proi)0SJil of tlie same kind.

The CiiAiUM VN said he had suggested to Mr. Bell that he
Kliuuld move his resolution with tlie aJdiliun that if it were
adopted, a copy of it should be seut to the CiianccUor of the
Exchequer.

Mr. Bell accordingly withdrew his amendment.

Mr. Jabez TcRMEit, and his seconder, having accepted the
amendment suggested by Mr. Head, the resolution was sub-
milted in that -form.

Mr. Neild thought that something stronger slnuld go forth
from that Chamber.

Col. Brise, M.P., said lie had opposed all the Valuation
Bills introduce-! since ISOiJ, feeling quite satisfied witli the,
existing assessment comaiittees. He lioped the Council would
do all it could to induce the Government to propose that rent
should be the basis of valuation.

Mr. Tubmer's resolu'ioa, as amended, having been passed
from the cliair and carried,

Mr. Pell proposed the motion which he had previously
read respect'ng the definition iu the B.ll of gross value.

Mr. Lipscombe having seconded this proposal.

The Chaiiihax said he iial come to the conclusion tlist on
the whole rent was the fairest basis of valuation. It vras tii«
basis iu Scotland, and the case of all leases for 19 years; but
in cases of improving leases of longer duration, assessors liaJ
to fix the value.

Mr. i). Loxt; protested ag linst rent being taken as the basis
in the present distressed state of agriculture.

Mr. GoDBERsaid rent could, at ihe best, only be a partial
basis There was now quite a revolution in rents. A great
deal of land which, a lew years ago, was wortii £2i an acre,
would not now fe^ch lOs.

Mr. Reai>, M.P., said the question was whether rent was a
just or an unjust basis of assetsment, and he thousht it was
bist they could have under that Bill (cheers). On the previous
evening he had placed on the table of the House of Comiuoni
notice of an amendment to the effect that when laud was let
bona fide from year to year, wi;hout any fine or consideration,
rent should be taken as the basis of gross value.

Mr. Hodges thouu'ht that reut, being an imperfect one,
should not be the sole factor.

On the resolution being put, it was carried by a majority of
four, the numbers being I'J against 15.

Mr. Bell then moved that a copy of the resolutions of tlie

Cliamber on the Valuation Bill should be forwarded to tlie

Cliancellor of the Ex^hetiuer, with a request that further pro-

! gress sliould be suspended until after the passing of the

I County Government Bill.

The Chairman suggested that the latter part of the
I motion ought to be omitted, but Mr. Bell detlinid to accede.

Mr. D. LoxG seconded the motou.

Mr. Read, M.P., said the majoriiy on the last resolution
v as all very well; but what lie should like to have was ;i
resulation stating whether or not the Chamber approved of
the definition of "gross rental" in the.Government Ui'.l. (A
voice : " What is it ?") That they should take the rent when
it was high enorgli, and that when it was low it should be
pat as high as the Surveyor of Taxes miglit decide ? If the
Council approved of that he should feel astonished. Lord
Fortescue had told them that the House of Commons liaj
last yea*-, by a large majority, expresset its disapproval of giv»
ins precedence to the County Government Biil over the
Valuation Bill. Well, the " larger majority'' was twenty-
fuur. And how did that result come abou' ?
He who fights Rud runs away,
May live to fight another day.

He (Mr. Bead) was in that position. He tlioiight the
Government had a very fair excuse in the iLonlh of July, if
they wished to pass a Valuation Bill at all, for what they tlien
di I, and he knew thaft at tliat late period of tlie Session it
would have been impossible to pass a County Guvemment
Bill. But now tliey liad no excuse, and it was their duty to
fall 'wck upon the resolution of the House of Cominous un-
T

262

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

aniinrusly acrcpd to on tlie 9tli of Marcli, 1877, which de-
clared that the County Ooverninent ]-iill was to be taken first.
Tlierefore, he entirely approved of Mr. Bell's moti'in ; and
thnt evening he should lay on the table of the House of
Common's a notice to th's effect: — " On going into Com-
mittee on the Valuation Bill, to move as an amendment, that
ti\e introduction into the Valuation Bill ol a provisional
county authority is inconsistent with, and tends to nullify, the
resolution of this House on the 9th of March, 1S77, and that
the further progress of tins bill be susps-uded until the
opinion of the House be taken on the promised bill relating
to county governraeut." (Cbeprs.)

The resolution proposed by Mr. Bell was put and carried
unaniraou4y.

The next business on the Agenda being the consideration of
the Highways and Locomotives (A.inendment) Act of 1878,

Professor BuiMD moved the adoption of the Report of the
Highways Committee presented to the Council at its Febru-
ary meeting.

Mr. LAWRE^iCE having seconded the motion, a long
discussion ensued on the bye-laws, which the Committee sug-
gested should be made by the county authorities under the
above-mentioned Act for the regulation of traffic upon main
roads and highways.

After some discussion,

Mr. LiPSCOMBE moved an amendment to the effect that the
bye-laws were not snch as to commend themselves to the
Council.

Mr. Smytiiies seconded the proposal, and ultimately it was
carried by a majority of three to one.

Mr. W. Stratton, as a member of the Committee, pro-
tested against such a decision after they had deliberated on
the subject for months.

Mr. Whitaker Witsox afterwards moved a resolution
declaring that the Highways Act of 1878 was unsatisfactory
in its working, and reqaired amendment.

Mr. Neili) having seconded the motion, Mr. Glenny,
after remarking on the diniiaution in the number of members of
the Council then remaining in the room, moved tlie previous
question, which was negatived, the original motion being then
carried by 9 to 3.

This terminated the proceedings, which occupied about four
hours.

CIRENCESTER.

At the monthly meeting of this Chafnber, held on March
10th. after a resolution expressing sympathy with Professor
Church on his retirement had been agreed to, Mr. Snowsell,
read a paper on " Free Trade and the Depression," and con-
eluded by moving the following resolution : — " That in the
opinion of this Chamber the time has arrived when the Legis-
lature of this country should seriously consider the causes of the
present depression of the agricultural, manufacturing, and
commercial interests, and affix such tariffs on foreign produc-
tions as will give to home producers a fair return for the
capital employed." A long discussion ensued, which was
ultimately adjourned.

CORNWALL.

At the annual meeting of this Chamber, held in the Town
Hall, St. Austell, the President, Mr. E. A. Magor, presided.
On the proposition of Mr. Rouse, seconded by Mr. H. Pearse,
Sir C. B. Graves Sawle was elected President for the ensuing
year, in the place of Mr. E. A. Magor, whose term of office
expired.

Sir Charles Sawle then assumed the chair, and briefly
thanked the Chamber for the honour it had done him. He
only hoped he should make as good a President as Mr. Magor
had done.

In the place of the retiring Vice-Presidents, the following
were elected: — Mr. J. K. Martyn, St. Enoder ; Sir John St.
Aubyn, Bart., M.P. ; Mr. C. Carney, Launcestou; and Mr.
11. 1' osier, Lostwithiel.

NOTTS.

At a meeting of the Council of this Chamber, held on
March 8, Mr. G. Storer, M.P., took the chair, having been
elected chairmaa for another year.

The Valuation Bill was discussed, and

Mr. John Paiir moved "That tliis Chamber endorses and
confirms the resolution of the Central Cliamber of Asiriculture,
in laying; down the principle that the actual rental should be
the basis."

Mr. Beardall seconded the resolution.

Mr. Gouber moved as an amendment, "That the Council
approves of the clause as it stands in the bill, viz., that tlie
gross value of an hereditament be the rent a tenant might be
reasonably expected to pay."

After some further discussion, the Chairman put the
amendment of Mr. Godber, which was carried by nine votes
to four.

CIRENCESTER COLLEGE AND PRO-
FESSOR CHURCH.

The following is a copy of the resolution which was
passed by the Committee of jSIanageraent of the Agricul-
tural College, on the 5lh of March, 1879, in reference to
Professor Church's application for periuissioa to reside
out of the College : —

" The Committee of Management are of opinion that the dis-
cipline of the Agricultural College cannot be satisfactorily
maintained except by the residence of Pro'essors within the
College walls in conformity with the original Bye Law No. 47.
Being fully sensibla of the services rendered by Professor
Church during his sixteen years' residence in i:lie College, they
the more regret that they cannot accede to his recent proposal
of non-residence, a compliance wiih it involviuu such altera-
tions as would unduly disturb the present organization of the
College Staff."

In consequence of this virtual dismissal of Professor
Church, Professors Tanner and Fream have seat in their
resignations.

At a meeting of the Cirencester Chamber of Agricul-
ture on Monday last,

Mr. T. R. Hulbert said before the business began he desired
to occupy a short space of time in moving a resolution. He
believed it was the unanimous opinion of this Chamber that
they were losing most valuable services in the resignation of
their Professor of Chemistry, Professor Church (Hear, hear),
and that they would desire to honour him on leaving them in
some way or other (Loud applause). He was sure they all
felt that Professor Church's departure would not only be a vast
loss to the Agricultural College of Cirencester, but also a great
loss to this Chamber (Renewed applause). The learned pro-
fessor had rendered his services to the Chamber on the most
advantageous terms for a long time past, and tliey should beat
a loss to know how to replace him (Eear, hear), and he was
sure tliey v/ould all agree with him that they would like to
back up their opinions by subscribing for him some testimonial,
in a manner that would be agreeable to the professor's feel-
ings, in order that he might I'ave some token of remembrance
of his many old friend4 in and around Cirencester (Cheers).
He would not suggest what form their action should take, but
he was sure they would all wish to be unanimous in what they
did (Hear, hear). He would therefore propose that the thanks
of the Chamber be tendered to Professor Ctiurch for his valu-
able services, and its condolence with him in the circumstances
under which he was leaving them (Loud applause).

Mr. II. J. MARSiiALL, a member of the College Council,
said he was very glad to second this resolution, for he himself
certainly did feel very muc\i indebted to Professor Church lor
his able assistance to them, more particularly in the matter of
the agricultural experiments which lie helped to carry out
(Hear, hear). In that respect the learned professor had bene-
fited them, where a man most felt it, in his pocket, lor he had
assisted in teaching them how to apply their manures to the
best advantage, and how not to waste their money (Applause).
He thought it was therefore desirable that the Chamber should
recognise as a body Pro/essor Church's services by voting him
some sum of money, together with the cordial vote of thanks
whichrMr. Hulbert iiad proposed (Cheers).

The President (Major Chester Master, M.P. for Ciren-
cester) said as Cludrman of the meeting he thoroughly en-
dorsed every word that had fallen from the two gentlemen who
had last addressed them. Perhaps it would be as well to pass
& jresolutioD, aud liave it placed upon the minutes of the

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

26^

Chamber, sometlung to (lib effect— that the Chamber tendered
its best tliHuks to ]:'ro''essor Uhurcli for his able and kind ser-
vices rendered to the Chamber in past years, and thit a recog-
nition of some sort be offeied to him (Loud applause).

Ttie meeting having carried the resolution by acclamation,
Professor C'HURCH said he could say that in returning thanks
fur such a kind expressiou of opinion as that which had just
been passed he did so Irom his heart. Tha work he had done
for the Chamber had been done as a matter of very great plea-
sure to himself, and he was only glad to hear that in the
opinion of important members of that Chamber, he had been
able to render some service to agriculture in this district at
all events (Laud cheers).

The following are a few of many letters received opon
the above subject, the whole of them, with one or two ex-
ceptions, expressing iudiguation at the treatmeat Pro-
fessor Church has received ; —

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MARK LANE EXPRESS.

Sir, — I was rather surprised to learn from your
leading article of the 3rd iustant that the Committee of
Management were about to meet to decide the diiference
between Professor Church and Mr. Constable ; for by
this step they would seem to admit Professor Church's
contention that the Principal's action was unauthorised.

I understand now that they have decided that the
Principal's action was not indiscreet as well as un-
authorised, or, rather, that it is inexpedient to impute
publicly a serious error of judgment to him. Their
arbitration will have one good effect : it will close the
purely personal aspect of this unfortunate dissension.

But a new phase of the question is opened up by your
article above mentioned. It seems to deserve serious
inquiry — not only from the Committee of Management
of the College, but also from the agricultural public, who
ought to be benefited by the College — whether the bye-
laws are consistent with reasonable success. To my mind
they seem (unless qualified by others which do not appear
in your selection) to be utterly opposed to the interests
of the College as an institution for technical education ;
naj , they seem inconsistent with even financial success.
I will draw attention to one point only.

The immediate effect of these bye-laws is to promote
frequent changes in the staff. A dismissal under Bye-law
XXIV., be it hasty, be it unjust, is final. There is
practically no appeal against it. Had the dismissal to
come from the Committee it would be determined without
haste, and a Committee might negative a private suggestion
from the Principal without the ill effects that would of
necessity arise from a public reversal of public decision.
Thus it would appear that under the new byelaws
dismissals and changes would be more frequent than
under the former bye-laws. Let the Committee in-
struct their secretary to make a return of the dates of
the appointments and vacancies ia the professional staff,
including temporary lecturers ; and with this return
before them examine whether the changes have not been
far too numerous of late.

The disadvantages of such continuous changes are too
obvious to require much comment. A student who picks
up his knowledge of one subject under two or three
professors in succession has had scarcely fair treatment.
A professor coming to a technical college is not. in the
majority of cases, in a position to treat his subject in a
manner perfectly adapted to the wants of the students.
When he is becoming really valuable he may be dismissed,
and the very expectation of this may deter him from the
trouble necessary to make his lectures of the utmost
value. Certainly, unless the Committee, even now,
revise their decision in a recent case, he will not look
forward to a continuance at the College simply on the
ground that he does his work well. So much for the
expediency of Bye-law XXIV. One word as to its legality.

Py the Deed of Settlement of the College the Council has
ftiil power ''to nominate and appoint out of /heir ovj t.
bod;/ one or more Committee or Comittees, who shall
Lave full power and authority to do, execute, and perfor v
such of the matters and things as the Council shall think
proper to delegate." I ask, has such a Committee, has
eveu the Council, the power to delegate any of its functions
to a man who is not a member thereof? If not it
would appear that Bje-law XXIV. is inconsistent with
this Deed of Settlement, and therefore, I presume,
illegal. I am. Sir, &c.,

Amicus Curi.e.

Sir, — I have read the remarks and correspondence in
your paper on the suViject of Professor Church's retire-
ment from my old College at Cirencester Aith the deepest
regret. His work speaks for him too loudly to need
my commendation, aud all who are interested in the
progress of agricultural chemistry know how successfully
he has laboured for its promotion. I must confess I am
astounded that a retirement should be encouraged, not
to say forced upon him, for the only reason I have heard
given, namely, that he is about to marry and wishes to
reside out of the College. The decision is so extraordinary
aud one as almost induces me to say there must be some
undeclared reason. If so, it should be male known;
otherwise the judgment of the public must be to the
discredit of those in authority. I shall look with anxie y
to some further explanation of the facts. Meanwhile,
Sir, please, do your best to give us the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth, for I am bound to say
that the facts, so far as they have appeared, leave me
to judge very unfavourably of the treatment he has
received. I am, Sir, &c.,

An Olb Student.

TO the editor of the mark lane express.

Sir, — Does J. R. N. seriously mean to assert that
■'independence of action and thought" has not letn
exercised by the various professors of Cirencester Co ;let;e
since 1870, when the new bye-laws came into force ?

Does he intend his remarks also to apply to the practical
farmers, by whom candidates for the diploma are ex-
amined ? They at least, we may hope, are not subject
to the new bye-laws of 1870, nor to undue influence of
any kind whatever. Much as graduates of the College
may desire the minagement to be improved, the writer,
as one, cannot think J. R. N.'s line of argument quite
sound. We need the facts bearing on the subject.
I am. Sir, &c..

Nil Desperandum.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MARK LANE EXPRESS.

Sir, — I am glad to find one of your correspondents,
" J. E. N.," draAring attention to the fact that the bye-
laws and regulations of the Agricultural College virtually
place the power of granting a diplonaa in the hands of
one man. This appears very clearly from his letter, and
the question with which he concludes — as to whether the
diploma has ever been granted independently of the
prescribed examinations — is a very pertinent one. A,
perusal of some of the " prize and class lists" published
by the College leads me to the belief th?ot the diploma of
the College has been so granted. This, however, is a
point that can at once be confirmed or negatived by the
College authorities.

May I draw the attention of your readers to another
bye-law (XVII.), a portion of which reads as follows : —
"The portions of the subject required as a miui.num

264

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

rjnalifujatiim for tlie College diploma?//^/// be fixei bij the
Trincipal, aud shall be printed in Uie prospectus." Com-
ment is unnecessary.

Bye law XV 11 1, begins thus : — " The final exirainatiou
for the College diploma shall be conducted either par-
tially or wholly by public examiners, not connected with
the College. . . No student can be allowed to enter
upon it until entitled to certificates from the Frincipal
of his good conduct and regular attendance ^ipou the
farming operations and requisite course of lectures, and
upon such previous examinations, from time to time, as
the Principal may find it advisable to appoint."

As to the first clause of this it is worth while to
inquire how far the examinations are conducted in
a-cordance with the spirit of this salutary provision. If
jny information is correct, public examiners are appointed
for one subject ouly, and they have the disposition of
about one-tenth of the marks on which the diploma is
granted.

As to the second clause, it may suffice to point out that
it ignores the Professors entirely. Of course, under
such regulations, it w'ould be useless to expect to get men
who were competent to determine the frequency and
the duration of lectures and examinations on their special
subjects, but one would have hoped to find them capable
of granting certificates of attendance upon their respec-
tive courses of lectures.

I am, Sir, &c., R. R.

TO THE KDITOR OF THE MARK LANE EXPRESS.

Sir, — The resolution which the Committee of the
I^oyal Agricultural College have passed respecting Pro-
fessor Church is a very significant one, and it should not
be allowed to pass without public notice. It most
clearly implies that the first and foremost qualification an
applicant for one of the College Professorships should
])osse3s, is that of being an excellent usher — I can think
of no other word — and that the first and foremost of his
duties will be the maintenance of order in the College.
t^uite subsidiary to this disciplinary cpialification is that
ot being able to teach the subject required. So that
young men vrho go to Cirencester must expect to find
that discipline is the chief thing to be impressed on them
there, while the acquirement of a knowledge of subjects of
agricultural importance will be quite a secondary consi-
deration. I think there is no wriggling out of this inter-
])retation of the resolution ; for have not the Committee
dismissed one of the very best agricultural chemists in
the country solely on the plea of discipline ? Certainly
this plea originated with the Principal, but his Committee,
having dutifully adopted it, mast nov? be credited with
its paternity.

By the way, what sort of men are these students at
Cirencester? Prom the resolution one would infer that
they are a wild, turbulent, ill-maunered set of fellows who
can only be kept under aavthing like control by the most
stringent forms of discipline, and that for the enforcement
of this discipline the presence of all the professors is a. sine
qua non. And yet, up to the present time, I had the
impression that the Cirencester students, taken collec-
tively, comprised a body of courteous well-bred gentlemen,
comparable for politeness aud general good behaviour with
those of any of our great public schools or colleges. I
suppose I was mistaken ; nevertheless, 1 have often read,
in the Field, of the exploits of the R.A.C. athletic teams,
and I find it somewhat dilnsult to reconcile excellence in
our manly English sports with rowdyism. If the question
of discipline at the College is so serious a one as the reso-
lution implies, would it not be well tohjve some half dozen
cx-xnilitary men living in the College to maintain order,
aud to allow the professors all to live out so that they
might have that quicluuss aud cuuvcuicuue necessary to

enable them to prepare their courses of instruction ?

Two things are patent to everybody who reads tlie
Committee's resolution. Either the discipline at the
College must be in a shocking state, in which case the
Committee have not acted very wisely in publishing the
fact to the world ; or, a great injustice has been done to
the students referred to. Which is correct ? Can somebody
" who knows " throw any light on the subject ?

I hope this letter will not be too late for insertion, but
I have only just seen a newspaper contaiuing the resolu-
tion.

I am, Sir, &c., T. B.

Murch 15.

FARMERS' GRIEVANCES.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MARK LAXE EXPRESS.

Sir,— The outlook equally of the politican and the
economist has in it " a mote to trouble the mind's eye."
Communism, which began at Paris, went over to
Nihilism in Russia. It has reared its hideous front in
the United States- It threatens to outface the Emperor
of Germany, and outvote Bsinarck at Barlin — -and
"these, that have turned the world upside down, have
come hither also." My letters have already brought
upon me printed schemes for uationalisiug the land —
buying up all private property by the issue of State paper,
and dividing these islands into, and governing the Slate
by, a hundred Communes. " Peace to the Cottage —
War to the Chateau." These are not the express words,
but do they not amhi-dextrously convey the spirit of
much that is at present rife in the social discussion of the
time ? Veil it as they may, there is manifestly a tendency
among those who have no immediate property in land,
aud too many of ihe tenantry, to regard a landowner as
a burden and a superfluity, friiges consumere' nains.
" Hit him ! He has ho friends ! " The fine name of
legislation is given to proposals for practically confiscat-
ing his property. His is to be an exception to the rule
of " doing what one likes with one's own.'' A *' corn--
pulsory Tenant Right Bill " is to be imported from Ire-
land. The Law of Distres', on the security of which land
has been purchased, is to be abolished by statute. The
Laud Tax is to be revived in its original stringeucy, and,
in short, ownership of the soil, except iu connection with
its occupation and culture, is beginning to be regarded
as a sort of tax to be thrown off', rather than the subject
of a fair debt to be honestly paid. Let this sort of speculative
revolutionism goon.anddoesanysane man expect it willstoj)
at the squire? Will the gentleman farmer be spared?
Will large acred tenantry be tolerated ? A word to the
wise !

Is the farmer the only customer whose merchaat in-.
sists on taking his own view of his own interest ? What
trade is there that does not extort all it can from the
purchaser? The exhorbitant profits of the retailer have
produced civil service co-operation. The fees of the
lawyer are an extortionate monopoly. It is only against
the acre merchant that the force of law is invoked. Why
is it that the tiller of the soil, of all men in the world,
expects that his c.-editor should conduct his business on
other than commercial principles? Who is more sum-
mary or exacting than himself in all his dealings? Does
he throw 20 per cent, off to the miller when wheat starts
up to 703- a quarter, or give time to the green-grocer to
whom he sells his potatoes ? Such loose ideas of com-
merce as prevail in the trade of food-raising, would ruin
men in any other business, I know nobody but the
farmer who still requires to be taught that a ' bargain's a
bargain."

1 own there is that in his calling eminently calculated
to mislead a man v.'lio is short in his oullaok. ^Vfio

THE PARMER'S MAGAZINE

?63

could liavc foreseen four siu-h years as the List? Yet it is
a nieteorologie law ihat the seasons shall run in cycles —
and the food-producer should take warning, not to live up
to his income, but to store up the profits of ahuudant
seasons, to meet the loss of the leaa kiue. Do farmers
ever think of doing so? Do they not spend as they go
and expect that " to-morrow will be as to-day and exceed-
ing more abundantly ?" Do they not put on the land
aud the weather the fault of ttieir own want of providence,
and expect a sort of out-door relief from the squire for
the hard times against which their own frugality should
have provided? If in taking the land they do not suffi-
ciently calculate the vicissitudes of the cycles, who is to
blame for that ? They should allow for the certain
jieriodical recurrence of bad seasons, either in the rent
they oft'er, or in the expenditure to which they limit
themselves.

From all I can see, T incline to the belief that foreign
growers cannot alTord to send grain to our markets at
prevailing prices, and that the home-producer will have
more of his own to eell. His American competitors have
high wages, dear implements, costly transport, and a
scanty acreable produce to contend against. His own
average growth is much the largest of any agriculturist,
and his customers are at his own door, with neither
freight, warehouse reut, nor commission to take the gilt
olT his gingerbread. With higher farming, deeper drain-
ing, and a plentiful use of artificial manures, there is yet
pith in him to beat the wolf from the door. What may
be done on third rate clay soil by skill and enterprise
Messrs. Prout and Jliddleditch have abundantly proved.
Mr. Mechi's balance sheet also is sulBciently encouraging.
Every farmer should read, mark, learn, and inwardly
digest Mr. Bear's paper in the Fortnightly Review.
" The average yield of wheat," he observes, " for the
United Kingdom according to official estimates is 29k
bushels per acre, while that of France is 16 1, that of
Austria 12 j, that of Russia 5g-, and that of the United
States about 12." He adds, the British farmer has a
natural protection of 10s. per qr., and that in such yonug
states as Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin, the average yield
is only 8, 10, and 13 bushels per acre, quantities which
it would not pay the British farmer to grow, \i he had his
land rent free. What tribute could be more splendid
to the qualities of our soil and the skill of its tillers ?

In your own columns, indeed, an American farmer is
made to say that the cost to convey ?. quarter of wheat to
this country was 9d. per qr.* He saw a vessel loading
jmi as he left xvHh 70,000 qrs. I wonder what sort of
"A man of business," as he signs himself, that could be
who believed a vessel could carry that quantity of grain.
Is he aware that it would require a ship of 11,000 tons
burden to do so, and that the very largest grain vessels
seldom reach one-tenth of that tonuage ? In this connec-
tion I have been deeply impressed with the valuable in-
formation your pages supply of the oppressive labour, the
hard fare, the hugger-mugger life, and the wretched
profits of the American farmers and lubourers. It is very
clear .that agricultural distress is not confined to this
country ; and that the worst off among them would gain
little by changing places with his trans- Atlantic com-
petitors.

Yet, with all his advantages, and with the faculty?
accordina to I,ord Derby aud more scientific authorities,
to double even his present cereal fecundify, the British
farmer still has to struggle with grave dithv-ulties. He
has sufTereJ '■ Hodge " to " get the upper hand " of him.
That personage's insolence, his turbulence, his scheming
selfishness, his growing iaefSciency, have become simply
intolerable. Utterly averse as I am, as a principle of

* Tiiis was au error; for " urs." readifuAc^.

I economics, to every form of combination, it has no.v
; become clear that the conduct of the business of the farm
will arrive at a deadlock unless mastei's come to a
thorough material understanding which will enable them
resolutely to assert their own position, aud keep their
servants in their proper place. When it comes to this,
that employers are afraid to speak to their men, while
they cannot venture to direct their own operations, and
those they pay to do their work, farming will become
wholly impossible. My own impression is, that much of
this turbulence would disappear if the men were accom-
modated with cottages on the farm, in place of beiug sent
into the villages, if they were hired by the year, if their
wages were paid chiefly iu kind, and the balance in money
settled at the end of the half-year, as ia Sjotland.

The grievance of insecurity of tenure T cannot help
tracing to the tenantry themselves. Nineteen years' leases
are universal in Scotland. Helf-respect forbids a Scotch
tenant from placing himself at the mercy of a landlord,
and if unity of action, and the force of custom and public
opinion, had their proper force in England, no farmer
would be without the security of a lengthened period of
occupation. Rents are higher in the worse climate ou
the other side of the Tweed. If the English tenant prefers
a lower rent to greater fixity of tenure, what grouud has
he for grumbling at his bargain ? My wonder is that the
land owners can tolerate a tenantry at will or of short
duration. I could have no expectation of my tenant doin"
justice to my land if he were left at the mercy of a notice
to quit depending upon my humour. It is easy to give
the uick-uame of " confiscation" to the act of resuming
occupation of a farm wheu the term of a lease has expired.
It is against the natural interest of a landowner to' turn
out a tenant who punctually pays his reut, and keeps his
farm in good heart. I am very sceptical of " confisca-
tions" of that sort. But if they happen, the fault is the
teuant's own. Caveat emptor. Why should the Legis- '
lature be invoked to do for the tenant that which he can
do for himself. This Irish system of feeding farmers with
the spoon of an Act of Parliament "likes me not." Rent
is lower in England than iu either Scotland or Ireland.
If the English farmer prefers cheaper land to greater secu-
rity who is to blame for that ?

As for what are called " restrictive covenants," I should
like to have this term specifically defined. Dolus latet in
gcmralihits. Is any landowner such an ass as to object
to replaciiig straw and hay by an equivalent ia imported
manure ? A tenaut must consume all of these his quadru-
peds require for his oicn accommodation. The surplus of
either, unless sold, is comparatively worthless. No pro-
prietor, in the present state of agricultural science, would
object to white crops in succession, if the pith were
restored to the land by putting back the fertilising sub-
stances abstracted from it. But no man who knows
anything about land .is unaware that when a tenant is
once let into possession, it is entirely in his power to
strip his farm in a season or two of half its value, and so
to ruin it that no farmer will be prevailed upon so much
as to look at it. I have seen this so frequently — I have
found so many owners scandalously robbed by the power
to ruin a farm, which cultivators or scheming tenants have
acquired by being let into possession, that I am not at all
surprised a necessity should arise for " rigid covenants."
My mental equilibrium is not upset by all the cant about
hard-hearted landlords. How many of these are widows,
orphans, poor persons, persons poorer than their tenants,
whose all is destroyed— rugg'd and riven out of the land

by " liberal covenants." When " a d d good-natured

friend " expressed his surprise that a certain
Billy Whittaker, being drowned in debt, could
sleep iu his bed for t'linking of his creditors, he

2jG

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

answered, " I am more surprise.] that my creditors can
sleep iu thfir beds." Jere.uy Benthain remarked that
nubody sympathised with the man to whom money was
due— pity was reserved only for the man who didn't pay
his debts. Gutta cavat Ijpidem scepe cadendo. This con-
stant hawking at laud-owners may instigate an aairarian
spirit dangerous to the good order of society, and m the
view of household suffrage in the boroughs, and its exten-
sion not only to the counties but to Ireland and Home
Kule, it may induce a state of public opinion among the
newly enfranchised masses, of which respectable and re-
spousible tenants may be the lirst to bear the consequences.
History has not forgotten the seigneuries of New York
State that manhood suffrage and agrarianism at last
wrested entirely from their owners by mob violence and
daring defiance of the law. Ouce tamper with the
sacredness of private property in our old country, and
highly artificial society of involved mutual interdependence
—"raise a suspicion of the stability of public credit, and
who will suffer more bitterly than those who are now too
apt to lend themselves to the cry that holds up the owners
of the soil to the discontent and rapacity of communistic
envy. Let the p".ie laws and game licenses go. Let
public opinion and the determined action of the tenantry
bear down the vicious custom of precarious teuvire. By
all means restore to the habits of society the old feudal and
copyhold tenures which made the holding of the soil as
perpetual and hereditary as the proprietorship, reviving
the ancient relations of dominun utile and dominum
directum. I am persuaded that it is for the permanent
interest of agriculture, tiller, and owner. Hold up to
social execration the man who really takes advantage of
the simplicity and workfulness of the tenant by extending
the occupied who faithfully observes all the covenants of
his lease and generously improves his farm merely because
he has failed to take the precaution of securing himself
against eviction. I advisedly say really, because I am
persuaded that many cases of alleged hardship are the
mere clamour of had tenants ejected for only too good
cause. As for liberal covenants, the Komans had an agra-
rian officer who decided all questions of boundary,marches,
and ciilture. In the public interest I would have it de-
clared as a radical principle of public law and national
policy that themisculture of the soil of the country was
an offence against the State. I would sweep away all
covenants as to culture and place the whole process ©f
tillage under official supervision, a provision for which
owneisas a class would be most thankful, and which
would relieve the tenants of antiquated and irksome re-
strictions. As for the laws of hypothec and distress, of
entail, primogeniture, peasant proprietors and smallhold-
ings— they each require and merit more elaborate treat-
ment than they can receive at the fag end of another sub-
ject—and to these questions I may address myself if your
space, my time,andyour readers' patience may admit of it.
I am, Sir, &c.,

Sidney Smith.
The Mano', Feltham, February, 1879.

CANADIAN CATTLE RAISING.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MAKK LANE EXPRESS.

Sir,— In all communities of men there are some who,
under the guise of devotion to the iuterests of truth,
regardless of sects or parties, contrive to veil either their
o*n bitterness of soul, or sinister and unworthy motives.
Such a man I take to be your Canadian Correspondent.
I know not what his history may be : perhaps it is a case
of bitterness of soul; and that, having aimed at great
things there, and accomplished but little, he deems all
the fault to be iu his adopted couutry, and noue iu h'm-

self; and, in decrying if, thinks that he explains his
own shortcomings. I would rather accept this interpre-
tation of the tone -of his letter than the other — that he
has unpatriotic or personal interests to serve. But, be
his motives, or the ii.lluences affecting him, what they
raiy, I cannot find in his letters that genuineness which
I aiwiys look for, and rarely fail to fiud, in the columns
of your journal. They are not in fact, what we, iu the
North country, call "jannock."

I have no interests of any kind to serve, but I know
something about Canadian matters ; and I think it is a
great mistake, on evei-y ground, (o decry Canada without
rhyme or reason, which seems to be the cue ever present
in yourcorrespondent's mind. Evensupposing every allega-
t on contained in your correspondent's letter of February
1 7th, and again of March 3rd, were strictly true — which
I shall quickly show they are not — what good can come of
such a partisan colouring as he has given to them? The
Canadian Government think, and in my opinion rightly,
that no country in the world has greater advantages to
offer to the immigrant, and especially the agricultural
immigrant. Be that as it may, if Canadian enterprise
has brought cheap animal food to this country in a time
of great depression and distress, it is entitled to some
credit on the one hand, whilst on the other, it has cer-
tainly not damaged British farming interests in a greater
degree than the States. It is the evident animus — the
wish to depreciate Canada and its capabilities, and the
attempt to do so upon anything but sufficient data, to
which I object in your correspondent's letters. For
instance, in his letter of February 17th he says : — " The
chief of the dealers who hold the cattle export trade iu
their hands in Canada are Americans by birth, domiciled
in Toronto." Now, I am told that there is not one
native-born States man now engaged in the Canadian ex-
port cattle trade ; but that the majority are English-
Ijorn. Perhaps your correspondent will favour us in his
next letter with the names of a few of the genuine
Yankees to whom he refers as " the chief of the dealers"
at Toronto. Again, in his letter of the same date your
c:)rrespondent says he estimates Canada's capabilities for
supplying this country with fat cattle at only 5,000 head
per annum ; a statement which places him on the horns
of a dilemma, for it proceeds either from gross ignorance,
or a wilful intention to deceive. Fuither, he calls the
statistics officially given for 1878, viz., 32,115 head of
cattle and 63,461 sheep, as the number exported to this
country from Canada, an " absurd exhibit." Well, let us
see as to that. Your correspondent iu Canada indulges
in strong language ; but he has that supreme contempt
for facts and figures which your intense lovers of truth
so often exhibit. Let us test him with a few. Accord-
ing to the census of 1871» which I hope even your
rorrespondent will admit to be authentic, there were in
the four provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and
Njw Brunswick, in that year 1,251,209 milch cows, and
1,233,446 other horned cattle. These figures yielded an
average of 32 milk cows to 100 of the population in
Ontario ; and no doubt the average would be about the
same for the other provinces; whilst to the States it was
only 27 per 100 of population. Sheep presented a
si nilar disparity in favour of Canada. Let us carry
these figures a little further. Mihih cows are presumably
— subject to your correspondent's correction — breeding
cattle ; and, therefore, it is not an unfair estimate (hat
1,000,000 calves were born in the Dominion in 1871.
Of these at least one-half would be bull calves, and after
deducting 10 per cent, retained for breeding purposes,
there would be no fewer than 450,000 in one year avail-
able for th". market, in one form or another. If we
deduct one half for home consumption, there still re-
mained 2.5,000 capable of bring reared and fallcucd for

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

2C7

any outside marlvet that pregeuts itself. How does this '
compare with your correspondent's estimate of 5,000 ? !
Yet this, mark, was in 1871, before the openiui^ of the
Transatlantic trade. At the time this trade was iu'liated
large numbers of bull calves were killed when very young
and for little more than t;liie and their skins. Cheese
and butter were about at their lowest price for several
years; and when the outlet of the beef market presented
itself the Dairymen's Association of Canada urged
strongly that dairy production should be decreased or
held for better prices, whiUt the farmers dt.'oted them-
selves more to the rearing of their bull calves for the
beef market. This led to aa enormous increase iu the
number of beef cattle.

Yet even this did not check the increase of dairy pro-
duce. The cheese alone that Canada has produced and
exported to this country has increased 737 per cent, in
nine years, or nearly 100 per cent, per annum. Cheese
is a product of milk I believe — at least it is in this
country — and milk requires cows — ergo, there must have
been a vast increase in the milch cows of the Dominion
since 1871. The same remarks iu an almost equal degree
apply to butter. All this means a vast increase of late
years iu Canadian milch cows ; these cows bear calves, a
moiety of which at least, again subject to your corres-
pondent's correction, are of the male gender, and in due
course become oxen and are fattened for the market.
This, however, is not all. I have before me statistics,
the accuracy of which I have no reason to doubt, which
show that in the years 1873 and '7J^, before the inaugura-
tion of the cattle trade with this country, Canada actually
exported to the United States 74,661 head of cattle, and
571,494 sheep. This was at the rate of 37.330 cattle,
and 285,700 sheep per annum. How do these figures
compare with the 32,115 cattle and 02,461 sheep which
your correspondent so impertinently calls an " absurd
exhibit ?" Of course, your correspondent may have
discovered, or will discover, that all tlese cattle and sheep
were brought over from the Slates first, and then sent
back again, in order to show what Canada can do as a
producer; but whilst the figures stand without such im-
peachment is it not reasonable and probable that, with
all the incentives which the Canadian-British trade has
brought to the Canadian farmer during the past four
years, her resources as a beef-producer have very materi-
ally increased; and that if she could spare 37,000 beeves
without any special incentive to produce them, in 1874,
she could export at least as many iu 1878 to a remunera-
tive market ?

Your correspondent's case presents other inconsisten-
cies. For instance, is it not " absurd " to suppose that
the proverbially acute Yankee dealers, the keenly eompe-t-
ing States railways, and the powerful and equally keenly
competing New York and Boston lines of steamers, would
allow a profitable trade to go to so large an extent as
your correspondent would wish us to believe, via, Canada,
if by hook or by crook they could keep it in their own
hands ? Y'^et again, if, only five years ago, the States
found it necessary or desirable to import cattleto such an ex-
tent as I have shown from the Canadas, and that before
any market in Europe had opened out, is it likely that
now, in spite of the 20 per cent, duty to Canada, which
they have not to pay to England, they should have re-
versed the order of things and export so largely to the
Dominion ?

Your correspondent reflects strongly on the quality of
the Canadian cattle. Surtly he will be candid enousjh to
admit that in no country in the world has there of late
years been so great a demand for high and pure breeds
of cattle, and that the Dominion can now boast of many
of the finest herds iu existence.

On the question of general policy, is it wise, prudent,
or patriotic on the part of any British subject or any
English journal to decry one of our most loyal and pros-
perous culonic, to the glorification of our great and uu-
scru])ulon3 rival, the Uuited States ? It 'S a fact, shown
by what was doueatthe meelingofthe Canadian Board
of Trade in January last, that Canada, at any rate, has
every disposition to foster trade with the mother country,
on equitable terms, whilst the States li.ive put, and are
rigidly maintaining, an absolutely prohibitive duly upon
all our jiriucipal articles of manufacture, iron, cotton, itc.,
which they ttiemselves produce. In fact, the States
with one hand are swamping the British farmer with food
products of all kiuds, whilst with the other they firmly
close the dnor against a reciprocal trade which might
do something to remove the existing depression in this
countiy, and in the general benefit following which, the
British farming interest, at any rate, could not be a
loser.

It is to be regretted that Canada has not yet produced
any statistics corresponding with our own agricultural
returns. If they now existed, as I hope they soon will,
I should not hesitate to refer to them. Still, I think I
have given you facts enough to show that your corres-
pondent's letters have no foundation in substantial fact,
and have not even the poor excuse of expediency.
I am. Sir, &c..

Without Prejudice.

OUR FOOD SUPPLY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MARK LANE EXPRESS.

Sir, — My attention has been called to an article iu the
Dally Telegraph of the 28th ult. on our Food Supply,
and I rejoice to learn on such authority that there is no
fear of our fellow-subjects sufl:'ering from the worst of ills
that flesh is heir to — starvation. The writer of that
article draws vivid pictures of the vast .°,upplies already
come and still coming from all parts of the world — corn,
meat, and cheese from America, butter and eggs from
France, milk from Norway and S^vitzerland, cattle from
Germany ; Australia, too, sends her stores of wheat and
wool to the mother country. All this is very pleasant,
and sounds fair to the ear ; but to me, as an agriculturist
of upwards of a quarter of a century, there is matter in
this article for grave thought, and I think the subject may
be found worthy of consideration by those who have the
welfare and futui-e prosperity of their country at heart.
It is calculated that we have at the present moment
30,000,000 acres of uncultivated land in our own country,
and much of this is equal to the best of land under culti-
vation. Why is this ? If our own acres are sufficient for
the production of food for our own people, why are they
lying barren ? If two blades of grass could be made to
grow where now only one is grown, why do we hear com-
plaints of agricultural depression and flaeging trade?
Gold must be sent to the foreigner for the food he sends
us if, as seems too true, he is manufacturing goods for
himself, and no longer needs our manufactured goods.
The veriest tyro in political economy must see that such
a state of things cannot continue. There are two worms
gnawing at the root of our national prosperity, the one
social, the otl er moral. To state them briefly : If the
1 tws affecting the sale and transfer of land were reformed,
if the Law of Entail and the Law of Distress were re-
pealed, and if security of tenure, freedom of cultivation,
with compensation for unexhausted improvements f( r
tenant-farmers, were enforced, and the burden now laid
so heavily on land alone were distributed fairly over all
classes, the farmers would cheerfully put their shoulders
ti the wheel, and success would reward their efforts. Oa

2o3

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

the moral part of the qnestiou I can touch but lightly
witliiQ the limits of a letter; but if the labourers were
thriftv where now they are unthrifty, who can calculate
the i'lnmeu'se difference it would make to our national
wealth? To take au illustiation : If an agricultural
labourer now spending one shilling in the village public-
hoase — and well would it be for him if this were the
maximum— in what to him is the luxury of beer or
spirits, taken in the company of his neighbours, were to
invest the same shilling iu poultry, fed by the waste from
his table, the wealth "of the country would be propor-
tionately increased. We now send two millions sterling
annually to France for esss alone, of which one million
are imported daily. Mitcht not these eggs be produced
by our own poor if the public-house did not hold out such
overwhelming seductions to working men ? I think few
can veuture to deny it. We are now professedly in the
van of agricultural progress; this position has been
attained partly as the result of fortuitous circumstances,
but more still by the perseverance of our race, which
knows ao defeat ; and if we would maintain our standing
we must look about us for remedies of the present posi-
tion, and cast aside all antiquated prejudices. But one
thought must animate all classes of producers — a deter-
mination to overcome the difficulties of the situation. If
our land under fair conditions is capable of providing
food for our own people, why be dependent on foreign
countries? A.t least the experiment is worth the risk.
We want more of the spirit of the Romans, when every
man felt that on him alone depended the welfare of the
state. Not to one thing must we look for help ; for as
the causes are many, so must be the remedies. The
writer in the Diily Tdegraph said that to his picture
there was no dark side. I differ from him. There is a
dark cloud overhead ; but iu the possibilities and cajia-
bilities to which I have pointed I see the silver lining.
I am, Sir, S:c.,
Walton-on-Xaze, 3Iarch 7. William Delf.

THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION
LONDON.

On March 13th a deputation from the Mansion
Hou-e Exhibition Committee and the Council of the Royal
Agricultural Society of England waited upon the Church
Estates Committee of the EcclesiasticalCommissioners, for
the purpose of urging the immediate completion of Bron-
desbury-road, Kilburn, close to the site of the Exhibition.
The deputation included Lord Ri;-hard Grosvenor, M.P.,
Lord Moreton, Lord Reay, Hon. W. Egerton, M.P., Sir
Brandreth Gibbs, Mr. Alderman Staples, Mr. T. Aveling,
Mr. H. Aylmer, Mr. Walter Gilbey, Mr. Charles Hambro,
Mr. R. Russell, Mr. G. M. Alleuder, Mr. J. Webb, Pro-
fessor Simonds, and Mr. II. M. Jenkins (Secretary of the
Royal Agricultural Society).

Lord RiCHAED Grosvenor, in introducing the deputa-
tion, pointed out that the Ecclesiastical Commissioners
must make the portion of the road not yet completed in
the course of a very few years, and if they completed the
road at once it would advertise their property during the
period of the Exhibition. He regretted that neither the
Society nor the Mansion House Committee had any fund
from which they could subscribe towards the making of
the road, and the inhabitants of Kilburn had expressed
themselves as unwilling to contribute towards the payment
for it. He trusted that the Commissioners would see their
way clear to doing at once what it was obvious they in-
tended to do eventually, as they were a public body, and
that their object was to promote the public goad.

Mr. Alderman Staples explained the desirability of
the road being made so as to enable people who visited the ^

Exhibition to return through Kilburn, which waa a shorter
route than any that was at present available to
them. The inhabitants at Kilburn at present felt that
the Exhibit ion, although in their midst, would not benetic
them, as in consequence of there being no direct road
from it to the heart of their district the visitors to the
Exhibition would not pass through Kilburn either iu
going or returning. He was desired by the Lord Mayor
to express his regret that the having to preside over a
meeting of the Common Council of the City prevented
Lis heading the deputation, .which he otherwise would
have been glad to do ; but he had requested him (Mr.
Alderman Staples) to say that as the food supply of the
people was at the present moment a matter of the greatest
])ublic importance, he felt sure that any effort to cheapen
it and to bring the means of increasing it before the
public would command the sympathy and the support of
the Ecclesiastical Commissioners.

In reply to a question as to the distance which would
be saved by making this road.

Professor Simoxds stated that it would save fully
three-quarters of a mile or more, and that the pipes were
already laid down along the entire length of the Bron-
desbury-road which was still incomplete, viz., not more
than one-quarter of a mile.

In reply to further questions,

The Secretary of the Society (Mr. Jenkins) stated
that the present access to Salisbury-road from the Carlton-
road was over a very steep railway bridge, which was
difficult for heavy traffic, that from the Salisbury-road it
was a considerable distance to any church in consequence
of the Brondesbury-road (in which a church had been
built) being still incomplete, and that these causes com-
bined to prevent people from taking plots of land for
building purposes adjoining the Salisbury-road. He
added, with re;.?ard to the equivalent which the Ecclesi-
astical Commissioners would obtain from the outlay
which they were asked to make in connection with trie
Exhibition, that the Royal Agricultural Society had
already spent £1,000, and were spending a still larger
sum, in draining and otherwise improving the property
belonging to the Commissioners.

Mr. Charles Hambro, the Hon. W. Egerton, M.P., and
others having spoken.

Earl Staxhope, in reply, stated that the deputation
had thrown several new lights upon the question. The
Commissioners were most anxious to overcome the
difficulties which they had seen in the way of acceding to
the wishes of the Mansiou House Committee and the
Council of the Royal Agricultural Society. It was quite
true that at some future time they would have to com-
plete the Brondesbury and the Yictoria-roads, but the
development of the district was not so rapid as some
members of the deputation seemed to think, and the
Commissioners felt that they were scarcely justilied iu
spending £2,000 in making GOO yards of road which
might for many years be unremunerative, as the object
of their establishment as a Commission was to build
churches and rectories. At the same time he admitted
that there was much to be said from the several points of
view which had been urged by the deputalion, and that
he and his colhagues would carefully consider the argu-
ments that had been advanced, and in the course of two
or three days make known their decision, wliich he iioped
would be satisfactory to the deputation and those whom
they represented.

The deputation then withdrew.

There will be no separate meeting of the Hauls and B^rki
Sjciety this jear.

THE PARMER'S MAGAZINE

269

THE COUNTY BOARDS BILL AND THE
HYPOTHETIC ABOLITION (SCOT-
LAND) BILL.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.— Maech 18.

Mr. SHLATER BOOTH asked leave to introJuee a Bill for
C9tablishinj» couaty boards iu Eugland, explaining that the
measure was somewhat differeut from that of last year. Re-
ferring to a notice of motion L\v the hon. member for Sou:h
Norlolk, he wished it to be understood that there was not,
iinr ever had been, any intention on ihe part of the Goveru-
roent to obtain the passing of the County Boards Bill at the
expense of the Valuation Bill, or vice verita. They had
always laid down the principle that a Valuation Bill was the
essential beginning of ail attempts at reform in the local
government of this country; and they were equally convinced
of the importance of a measure for the establishment of
county boards. Since last session lie had received many
communications which led him to suppose that the magistrates
were not very anxious for the fusion proposed by the Bill of
last year, and the supporters of county boards had also shown
an indisposition to th*t principle. This point, with others,
had been carefully considered durin? the recess, and although
the new Bill was entirely consistent with that ot last year,
the Government had now given up the proposal to fuse the
existing Court of Quarter Sessions with the couaty board.
The magistrates would be left to the execution of their func-
tions in connection with the police and the admiaistration of
justice, and under this Bill they would be a precept authority
issuing to the county board their precept lor the money which
they required, and the county board having the exclusive
power of levying, administering, and accounting lor the
county rate. The advantages of tliis change would be that
there would be but one county body for all purposes, the
arrangement would be of a more workable character than the
one before proposed, and the Bill would be more easily passed
into law. In the Bill of last year the task of river con-
servancy was assigned to the county boards, but as that
subject was now being dealt with by a special Bill it was not
included in the present measure. For a similar reason the
question of the election of coroners was now left untouched
in the Bill. He had not repeated the provision of last year's
Bill as to the power of the county boards to make recom-
mendatioas with regard to local areas. It was proposed lo
transfer to county boards the administration of the Highway
Act of last year, and the management of bridges and roads,
which had from time immemorial been vested in the magis-
trates, was also handed over to them. Another new power
was that of reviewing the workhouse accommodation of each
county. He left out any direct power over lunatic asylums,
but gave power to inquire into their management, and to
exercise influence over their enlargement. While fully aware
that last year there was a strong feeling iu favour of the
BelectioQ of the union area in the fomation of the county
boards, the Government had decided to look to the parish for
the election of the boards, and he considered that the union
area, besides being objectionable, was impracticable. They
proposed that at the Epiphany Sessions in the coming year
the county justices should exercise a function similar to that
wliich tley exercised under the Registration of Voters Act,
and divide their counties into wards for the purpose of the
election of representatives on the county board. In order to
construct these wards they migiit take any existing area they
pleased, whether unions or broken unions, or other divisions
which might be found more convenient. The guardians of
the parishes comprised in each ward were to elect the mem-
bers to the county board. It was proposed that the
qualification for members of the board should be that of a
guardian within the county, and that the number of members
for each connty should be so divided as thctt the justices in
quarter sessions should elect one third and the guardians two
tiiirds of the whole. It was further proposed that the mem-
bers of the board should hold their ofiice for three years, and
that the election should be by a system of voting papers. It
might be said, in reviewing this measure, and comparing it
with fehs Bill of last year, that its purview was too limited,
and the functions assigned to the board too few in number.
He believed, howsver, that their exclusive enjoyment of the
privilege of levying and administering the county rate would

give them an importance and stindiug in the county which
could not fail to establish them ou a firm and satisfactory
bisis. He saw no reason why this measure and the Valuation
Bill should not be pissed into law during the present session
if hon. members would only show a little forbearance tovrarda
the pi ins of the Government, matured with great care, upoa
subjects of acknowledged dilliculty.

Mr. STANSt'ELD had heard the 8tat?ment of the Pre-
sident of the Local Government Board with very considerabla
apprehension and disappointment. The right iion. gentleman
had altered the Government measure in consequence of the
criticisms which were passed upon it last year ; but he bad
altered it for the worse. The right hon. gentleiian had
disappointed their hopes iu the proposed constitution of
county boards, wliieh should take over the whole business of
the county, while hQ retained one third of justices upon them
witli their diminished functions. Tlie power to alter local
areas proposed to be given to county authoritiss was now to
be taken away, and that was one of the most useful and
piomising features of the measure of last year. He failed to
see how the mere duty of having to levy a county rate could
lead to a great expansion of the power and functions of these
boards in the iuture. As to the constitution of the board,
they could adopt no other course than to take issue with the
right hon. gentlemau even more determinntely thm they did
last session. Their view distinctly was that it was a most
essential thing in the constitution of the county board that it
should be built up upon administrative areas. He did not
believe that a county feeling was to be created or fostered by
constituting a poverty-stricken county board, with hardly
auy;hing to do, and leaving to the justices the most important
part of the business. The great object of local government
reformers had always been tlie simplification of areas, but the
right hon. gentleman proposed the institution, at the arbi-
trary discretion of the justices of each county, of entirely new
areas for the purposes of election. Then they were not to
have direct election. That was a new point. He thought
that direct election would give a consciousness of strength to
the county board.

Mr. GREGORY thought it was a recommendation of the
Bill that it did uot propose to overweiglit the county board
with, business at lirst.

Mr. RATHBONE compared the attempt of the Govern-
ment to build up a system of county government without a
foundation in administrative areas, to beginning a pyramid
from the top instead of the base. He characterised tho
measure as hopeles?ly inefficient.

Mr. FLOYER thought the Government had done wisely ia
not postponing the formation of county boards. He liked the
Bill for the reasons which made some hon. members opposite
detest it. It did not aim at too much and it was not a sensa-
tional measure. He was glad it kept up old county
divisions.

Lord E. FITZMAURICE believed this Bill offended against
all those views of reform of county government which pre-
vailed on the Opposition side of the House.

Sir G. BOWYER was of opinion that if a change ia neces-
sary the change proposed by this Bill is the least mischievous
and will work well.

Mr. WHITBREAD pointed out that the view on the other
side seemed to be that this connty board should not have too
much to do, because otherwise the country gentlemen would
not take the trouble to attend. What relation would the new
board have with the poor laws, wh;it with sanitary expenditure,
flhat even wit!i lun i:i::s except in the ca'e of paupers ? Ii it
was passed, it would not settle any one of the great demands
which local government reformers were making.

Mr. COWEN was disposed to think that this proposition
was the feeblest and least liberal attempt to solve the question
of county government that had been submitted to Parliament
for the last quarter of a century. Instead of simplifying and
lessening the number of areas it increased that cviL

Mr. HICK considered the Bill was entitled to the best sup-
port of the House.

Mr. HIBBERT pointed out that the support given to the
Bill by hon. gentlemen opposite was of the very mildest
character. He could not understand on what principle the
selection of work for the proposed county boards had been
made. For instance, it was intended to give thera the care of
imbecile poor ; am!, that beinj so, why should the manage-

U

270

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

went or tlie lunatic asylums be kept from the new boards .
He wiiB afraid, moreover, that the character of tlie boards
would not be such as to attract members from among the bei>t
men in the counties.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.— March 19.
Ths SPEAKER took the chair at twenty-five minutes be-

""^^ HYPOTHEC ABOLITION (SCOTLAND) BILL.

Mr. V. AGKEW, in moving the second reading of this Bill,
recapitulated the action taken in the matter throughout the
present Par iament, stating that in the last division on the
question 45 out of 60 Scotch members voted, of whom nearly
all were in favour of the Bill. The Scotch farmers complained
that the existence of this law of distress damaged their credit,
and at the last election had plainly showu their opinion by
returning members pledged to seek its abolition. Through
the esistence of this law men of no capital were able to offer
a high orice for farms, knowing they had uothing to lose ; it
also enabled owners to accept offers from men who had not
sufficient capital or credit. In this manner the credit of the
fanner was injured, and through stinted employment or capital
the production of the foil, as one of the first sources of
national wealth, was not sufficiently stimulated. The present
Bill would take away the preferential right of the landlord,
who had to be paid in full for the use of the surface of his
land, while other creditors, who had assisted in raising the
crops, only got a dividend ; while, on the other hand, it
would allow the landlord to get early possession of his land
when the tenant could no longer pay him for it. If the Pill
would not effect those objects he would be willing to accept
any amendments that would do so. He moved that the Bill
be now reid a second time.

Lord ELCHO moved, as an amendment to the second read-
ing, a resolution declaring that the landlord's Ipreferential
right should be considered in reference to the three kingdoms
and not locally or exceptionally, and laying stress ou the
facilities which the law has given to industrious and enter-
prising men to obtain farms and rise in the world. He
showed that this preference existed in almost every civilised
countrv, and, commeutiBg in a sarcastic vein on the rumour
that the Government meant to support the Bill, with a view
to the Midlothian election, he warned them that they would
not be the better by a single seat in Scotland for yielding to a
popular cry. ,. „ , .

Mr. BAILLIE-COCHRANE, m seconding the amendment,
characterised the iiill as a thumbscrew applied to Scotch
members and Scotch candidates by the extreme Liberal party
in view of the coming election. It was not a landlord's ques-
tion, because they could protect themselves, but it would act
as a great blow to Scotch agriculture by giving a monopoly to
the large farmers. ., , ,.

Lord MACDUFF, in supporting the Bill, derided the
notion that to abolisli hypothec would extinguish the deserv-
ing class of small tenants. But to pass a law for the sole
purpose of encouraging men without capital to go into
agriculture was not only prejudicial to the country, but verged
on ranii Socialism. The present period of depressed agricul-
ture was most opportune for doing away with an oppressive
and unnecessary law. , > o- i? nr\T v

The second reading was supported by Sir bj. UULt-
BROOKB, Sir G. BALFOUR. Sir D. WEDDER3URN
Mr. M'LAGAN, Mr. M'LAREN, Sir G. DOUGLAS Mr J.
BARCLAY, and Mr. C. S. READ, and Major BAILLIE-
HAMILTO.Nt also spoke for the Bill from the Conservative
benches. , , , , r • •

The LORD ADVOCATE said he had long been of opinion
that the law of hypothec was not defensible, and, seeing tliat
the opinion of the great majority of the Scotch people and
their representatives was in favour of sweeping Jt away he
cordially supported the second reading of the Bill. Lord
ELCHO'S amendment, ho remarked, was a plea for delay
and an appeal to the feelings of the English members. Ihe
landlords' interests were fully protected by a judicial decision
of 175G; but if that poiut were doubtful, he agreed that it
ought to be made clear in the Bill.

On the other side, Mr. GREGORY pointed to the difficulty
of restricting the abolition of the law of distress to agricultural

Mr, RAMSAY, speaking from the Liberal benches, denied
that hypothec had injuriously affected tenants in the grazing

districts a* iiiast.

Sir G. MONTGOMERY doubted whether the Bill was de-
sired by the miijoritv of landlords aud tenants, and
Sir VV. CUNINGHAME also opposed the Bill.
Oa a division the second reading was carried by 20i to 77

CltaniberjB of J^gctcitlture.

PETERBOROUGH.

The adjourned annual meeting of this Cliambsr was held
at Westgate on March 12tti, Thomas Wilson, Esq., the
president, in the chair.

The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, said the
first question to be considered is whether this district Chamber
is to be continued.

Mr. Jabez Turxek. said the question of their future
existence as a Chamber of Agriculture was brought before
them face to face. Daring the last year especially and the
year before the attendance had been gradaally falling off, for
what reason he did not know. Their secretary told them
their subscriptions had fallen off considerably, and would
probably still further decrease ; that he was in arrears for
part of his salary aud the whole of his (Mr. Turner's) expenses
for the five meetings in London last year. He held a strong
opinion as to the value of these Chambers. It was the only
organisation that existed by which the opinions of agricul-
turists could be expressed so as to have any influence upon
the Legislature of the country. It was all very well for
gentlemen to say, as one of the correspondents of one of the
Peterborough papers, who wrote in broken English, last week
stated, that it was " no use subscribing to the Central
Chamber; we ought to have a good local Chamber." What
good would a local Chamber, unaffiliated to the Central
Chamber, do ? What good could it be expected to do ? When
the Peterborough Chaaaber was inaugurated there were 300
meraber!", as Mr. Barford, their first very efficient secretary,
had told them. Those members attended very diligenily for
tlie first year or year and a-haK, some discussions took place,
resolutions were passed, and sent to the Central Chamber in
due course, but it appeared that there was no cohesion, no
perseverance, among the agricultural conaraunity in attending
to one particular subject. It was not sufficient for men to
meet together and dine, pass resolutions, and because they
had passed them and had that dinner, to think legislation was
going to take place immediately after those resolutions were
sent up to London, There was a difficulty about the days of
meeting. Some gentlemen could not attend on Wednesdays,
aud farmers said they could not attend any other days, Oua
gentleman — a tenant farmer — said, " W^hat is the use of
these Chambers ? They are only landlords' places ; all you
do is to do something to benefit the landlords. If yon will
discuss some question that affects m°, a tenant farmer, [ will
attend," Another says, " What is the use of discussing the
Valuation Bill? If you will stop importation of foreign
cattle 1 will come,'' Every man wants his own particular
opinion alone attended to immediately and successfully, aud so
he says, " What is the use of our Chambers ? "

Mr. Barford thought the Chamber should be tried for
one year more. They need not necessarily send a deputy to
the Central Chamber, and might get up some discussions oa
local matters more than imperial.

Mr. Turner explained that they need not send a deputy
to the Central Chamber so long as they continued the sub-
scription, the minimum of which was three guineas.
The Chairman proposed —

"That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable that
the Chamber should be continued."

Mr. Attenborougii seconded the proposition,
Mr, Barford supported the same, and it was carried
nem. con.

The Ven. Archdeacon Kempthorne proposed —
" That the Peterborough Chamber still continue its affilia-
tion with the Central Cliainber, and pay three guineas per
year subscription, instead of six guineas as heretofore."

Mr. Beecroft seconded the resolution, which was uuani-
mously agreed to.

The election of Viscount Mandeville, M.P., as president of
the Chamber, was carried by acclamrnation, and Mr. Jabez
Turner was unanimously chosen vice-president.

The treasurer (Mr, Rowell) and the secretary (Mr, Buckle)
were reappointed.

THE FARMEE'S MAGAZINE

•67X

JjarmtvB' Clubs.

DORCHESTER.

The mont'ily meeting of tliis club was held on March
15th. The chair was occupied by Mr. li. W. Hawkins, of
M^rtiastown, the President.

Tlie suhjrct set down for discussion was "The Seasons and
the Crop:* — tlicir Mutual llelations," which was iotroduced by
Mr. Spooupr, nlio said in all countries of the world sufSciently
productive to produce crops of corn or food, the influence of
the seasons over the crops, or rather the dependence of the
latter on the former, is pre-eminent, and the more so iu those
countries wiiich, by the aid of nature, are most productive.
lor exHm|ile, we have sren in India during the late famine
how great has been the destruc'ion of human life, simply
owing to the deprivation of rain during so many months of
the year, this deprivation being in those months when the
groitiog crops required its aid — its all iu all — the more so
that in llie very country in which human life can be sustained
with the least expense — where the wants, both of food and
clothing, are the least, the destruction of life has been the
greatest. The eff^-cts of drought have of late years been
severely felt in all countries — in China to the extent of a
<pmine ; in Australia, where flocks of sheep and herds of
ca'tle have succumbed ; in Morocco to the extent of starva-
tion ; and in our own possessions in South Africa. By con-
trast with these examples we must consider that in this
country, with all our disadvantages, with our varinhle and un-
certain climate, with our clouds and fogs and alterations of
temperature, witnessing as we do a variation of the ther-
mometer to the extent of 30 degrees, not only in the same
month, but in the same week — in spite of all this we have
much to he thankful for. The two greatest enemies are
extreme drought and extreme rainfall — the former blasting by
actual and direct attack, the latter by iodirfct action and its
usual attendant, diminished temperature. The former is less
injurious in this country than the latter, as it is rarely so
continuous and is not without benefit to some crops, particu-
larly to wheat ; but the latter may he damaging at almost any
season of the jear. It may come in'early spring and prevent
or delay or hinder the sowing of spring cum, or a little later
interfere with root cultivation, and encourage slugs and
other enemies, or later still and it may spoil our hav, inter-
fere witli h'eing, and fill the land with weeds; or it may
appear at Midsummer and damage the crops of wheat, or
w< r>e than all, as in this last year, in the month of August,
interrupt the labours of harvest and disappoint the expec-
tations of the year. The i'jury arising from excessive rain
d:.es not so much depend on the amount received as on the
rapidity of the fall and the period. On light sandy or porous
chalk soils the irjury is moi-tly confined to the solution and
washing out of tlie best and most soluble portions of the
manure ; but on loamy land and on strong soils iu addition to
this mischief there is the further inj'iry that as soon as the
fall exceeds that which can be received by the subsoil or that
can he discharged by drains, the pores of the soil become filled
up, the air is excluded or driven out, and the growing plnnt---,
according to their nature, more or less become suffocated, just
as 3 man or an aiiiial may be if kept under water, or a fish
if removed therefrom. In the case of very stiff clay soils the
p( res thus closed remain permanently so, or for a loni; timp,
and the plants pre in a great measure destroyed ; but in the
case of loamy soils after the secession of rain evaporat'on suc-
ceeds and the moisture in the upper soil is converted into
vapour, and again leaves open for the atraofpheric air the
space it before occupied. Some 30 or 40 years ago, when tile
draining becanie all the rage, it was thought that on stiff clay
land the ti'es or pipes were sufficient, and would carry off all
the surplus water, and that the surface of the land might be
laid flat. Tins, however, was found to be iuMiflicient, and
aecordiugly it was tliouaht best to return to the system of
ridges, althoLigh not to the same extent as before, because
although in time the water might pass away, yet tlie process
was too slow ; and although the first rains after fine weather
cirry down to the soil a considernble amount of the elements
of nutrition, such as ammonia and nitric acid, yet after this is
accomplished the continuous rain is devoid of these elements,
and by passing through the soil abstract from it a greater
amount of valuable matter than it supplies. It is better.

therefore, that thft excessive fall sh.onld in a great measure he
allowed to pass off the surface by means of the ridges and tlie
water furrows. The injury inflicted by a heavy downfa 1 of
rain depends very mucli on the rapidity with which it falls.
An inch or two ol rain falling in twelve hours is ranch nioro
injurious than if the fall is spread over double or treble the
space of time as the soil becomes saturated and its pores filled
—there not being time for the water to get away. However,
it is by no means of these heavy falls that the great chaoges
on the earth's surface is brcught about, that the water supply-
is kept up or removed by means of sprin/s, that the hills are
washed down and the valleys become fertile. There is a re-
markable variation in this country in the annual fall of rain,
ranging Irom 16 to 20 inches in some of the Eastern counties
in no less than 1-iO or 150 in some places in Cumberland.
Each inch, you are aware, represents rather more than one
hundred tons of water, and the amount of injury or benefit
depends very much on the time of the year on which the prin-
cipal fall takes place, and almost as much on the character of
the soil on which it falls ; an amount that would cause exces-
sive injury on retentive land may be received with impunity
and advantage on light porous soils and particularly on hilly
pastures.

Mr. Spooner gave some particulars as to rainfall in dilTerent
counties, and referred at some length to other portions of las
subject. A discussion ensued.

MAIDSTONE.,

On March 13th a meeting of this Club was held a*
Maidstone, Mr. C. Marsham in the chair, to hear and discuss
a lecture by Pro'essor White, on " Hops ; their History. Con-
stitution, and Treatment." In referring to the history of
hops, he said :— The use of hops in brewing appears to date
from the ninth century. The Netherlands would appear to
have been the first, or, at all events, one of the first places
where the hop plant was cultivated and the value of the flower
was properly appreciated, and to this district we are indebted
for its introduction about AD. 152i. But, strange to say,
owing to a prejudice against them on the part of the physil
cians, who prouounced them unwholesome, their use was pro-
iubited within a period of four years-of their introduction, and
this, too, by Act of Parliament then issued upon petition.
Passing on to the (luality of the soil Pr. feasor White said
analyses had proved that the plant required a large supply of
phosphoric acid and lime. He had a comparative anal>sisof.
Kent and Farnham hops, and while the latter contained in the-
flower 21 per cent, of potash, 9| of phosphoric acid, and 7^ of
phosphate of iron, the Kent sample showed a marked diminu-
tion in the quantity of those active pricciples, the respective
amounts being 18 61, 5-26, and G'O. This very fact, he
believed, gave the Farnham hops a priority over Kent, the
subsoil on which the former were growu containing a greater
proportion of the especial properties required for the growth,
of the plant. Pursuing th s subject further, and combining,
with il the constitution and cultivation of the hop plant, the.
Professor said the aromatic smell and taste of beer arise from
the oil of hop. The bitter piiuci|ile is soluble in water, and '
gives permanency as well as wholesomeness. The relative-
proportion of the active constituents in the hops is subject to-
much variety, consequent upon the soil, season, and culture.
Iu this couutry three counties, viz., Kent, a small portion of,
Surrey — ?. e., a small district surrouodii.g Farnham — and
-Votts, Isave acquired celebrity for success in growing hops.
This success, frura my personal knowledge of their geological"
structure, I am disposed to ettribute to the preaen-'e of a sub-
soil yielding an abundance of the mineral pliospliates, wliich
occurs so generally between the gau't and fireca sandstone.
Conjoined to this important feature, I need scarcely add, is
the scarcely minor consideration of a deep rich loamy surface
with a subsoil of deep brick earth. In the whole range of^
field operations there is mme so precarious as hop. growing,
and none so much affected by the weather, especially during-
what may be termed the harvest season. However bniliani;
and promising the crop up to the period of gathering, a (ev-
weeks' of rain will convert the season of hope and rejoicing
into one of utter despair of obtaining a just reward for pains- '
taking, mental anxiety, and reasonable well-grounded hope.
Akain, a blight at an earlier period inf:y put a stop to the
cultivator's reasonable anticipations, and prove too unyieldiutj^
for all adopfei preventive measures, and bid defiance to lk«?,
ultiy^itor's skill and expcrirute.

97-T

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

REVIEW OE THE CORN TRADE,

FROM THE MARK LANE EXPRESS FOR THE WEEK EXDING MARCH 24.

The weather during the past week, until Satur-
day, was of a bright spring-like character, and the
country was beginning to look fresh and green ;
but the sudden return of winter will check vegeta-
tion. Although the atmosphere has not been
entirely free from moisture, the rainfall has been
slio-ht and the drying March winds has given
satisfaction to farmers, who have been enabled to
make steady progress with spring ploughing and
sowiug:. Out-door labour of every description has
been actively carried on, and good work done in
reducing the arrears, but a good deal still remains
to be effected before the o^jeratious necessary at
this season of the year can be considered finished.
A good breadth of beans and peas has been planted,
and some wheat •, but it is probable that, after the
experience of last year, burley will engross a
greater share of alteutiou than usual, especially if
the weather continues dry. Autumn-sown wheat
does not appear to have suffered materially from
the severity of winter, except upon the cold clays
in the Midland Counties, where the crop is said to
be backward and the plant thin and patchv. A
return of wintiy weather, attended by snow storms,
had again brought agricultural affairs to a stand-
still in Scotland, but fortunately the milder days
at the end of the week enabled farmers to continue
the planting of oats. In bean sowing there has
been some delay, however, and not much progress
has been made with early potatoes. What with
vermin and frost turnips are said to be nearly
useless, and the pasttires, which at this time last
year were green and full of promising vitality,
present a bare and starved appearance. But little
change can be noted in provincial trade, which has
been tolerably steady, but less active than was the
case last week, as farmers still manage to find
time to thrash pretty freely. The offerings of
home-grown wheat at Mark Lane have been mo-
derate, and condition has again been the weak
point in the samples. Fine dry lots have found
buyers at last week's prices, but the increased
strength of the trade recently reported has been
■with ditnculty maintained ; indeed for the moment,
the upward tendency of prices appears to have
raceivtd a decide i check, in secondary qualities
t lere has been little or no business patbing, as
millers, having a good supply of dry foreign to
Silect from, have been more th;)n ever eveise to
holding inftrlor produce. The weeks imports of
foreigu wheat into London have again been
morierrtte, las; Monday's lists showing an arrival
of 26,G00 qrs., while the subsequent supply up to
Friday did not exceed 32,000 qrs. The require-
ments of the country, on the other hand, have
been very light, as millers appear for the present
to be fairly stocked, or at any rate unwilling to
follow an advance in prices. Last week's im-
provement has been lost as far as regards American
varieties, which can scarcely be woiidered at when
it s remembered that the visible supply is
21,000,000 bushels and the shipments to the United
Kingdom for the week ending the 10th iust.,

nearly 120,000 qrs. Until these enormous figures
begin to show signs of a material reduction, there
appears to be little ground for anticipating any
rally of importance in prices. A leading feature
of the present season is the tiuusually low point to
which maize has fallen, and in spite of such
prices as 21s. 6d. to 2l9. 9d. per 480 lb. ex ship for
mixed American, there have been no signs of a
revival demand, as the consumption of this valu-
able feeding corn is still far below an average.
Barley has been neglected, as there has been little
inquiry either for malting or grinding sorts, and
oats remain in a depressed condition, notwith-
standing the moderate supplies and concessions
which holaers are willing to offer. The sales
of English wheat noted last^week were 50,341 qrs.,
at 40s. 8d., against 31,151 qrs., at 48s. lid. in the
previous year. The London averages for the week
ending March 22nd were 403. lid. on 2,065 qrs.
The imports into the United Kingdom for the
week ending March 15th were yl4,667 cwt. of
wheat, and 143,607 cwts. of Flour. There was a
good attendance of millers and country dealers at
market on Monday last, but, notwithstanding the
moderate imports, business relapsed into quietude,
and the tendency of prices was slightly in buyers'
favour. The wheat trade was especially duii, and
very few sales were made either of English or
foreign until late in the day, when some retail
demand sprung up, needy buyers having to satisfy
their requirements. The week's arrivals of home-
grown wheat amounted to 3,340 qrs., and, although
the quality of the samples left something to desire,
the general condition was more satisfactory. The
supply fresh up on factors' stands were again light,
and the previous Mondays currencies were
repeated for fine lots ; but there was very little
inquiry for secondary qualities, and sales progressed
very slowly. The total arrivals of foreign were
26,672 qrs., of which quantity 15,104 qrs. were
from Odessa, 5,889 qrs. from American Atlantic
ports, and the remainder from New Zealand.
Business was mainly confined to the supply of the
immediate requirements of country millers, the
demand being uf a retail character at an occasional
decline of 6d. to Is. per qr. on American descrip-
tions, but there was a rather stronger tone apparent
at the close of the market. The exports were 310
qrs., against 2,010 qrs. in the previous week. The
supply of barley consisted of 5,109 qrs. of home
grown and 6,296 qrs. of foreigu. Very little at-
tention was given to this article, and, in the
absence of sales, prices could only be quoted
nominally unchanged for both malting and grind-
ing varieties. Maize, with an arrival of about
22,000 qrs., was unaltered in value, but, if anything,
rather steadier. The imports of oats were 33,835
qrs., and the trade ruled very quiet at a decline of
6d. per qr. on Swedish and Petersburg varieties.
Oa Wednesday the return showed 280 qrs. of
English wheat and 24,760 qrs. of foreign. With
brilliant weather and a very scanty attendance all
branches of the ^rraiu trade at Mark Lane were

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

exceedingly dull, and prices the turn against
Sellers for wheat and spring corn. On Friday the
supply bad increased to 460 qrs. of home-grown
•wheat and 31,:250 qr?. of foreign. The ninrliet
was again poorly attended, but there was a rather
better inquiry for wheat at Gd. to Is. per qr. below
Monday's prices. Oats were in improved request,
at 3d. per qr. more money, but maize underwent no
quotable alteration. The imports of flour into the
United Kingdom for the week ending March 15ih,
were 143,007 cwts. against 263,230 cwts. in the
previous week. The receipts into London were
15,634 sacks of English, and 10,520 sacks and
6,164 barrels of foreia:n. With a light retail
demand business has ruled dull, and, although not
quotably lower, prices have tended in buyers'
favour. The week's arrivals of Beans were 11,271
cwt., and of peas 14,701 cwt. , showing a decrease
of 8,615 cwt. on the former and 1,436 cwt. on the
latter. Both articles have shared in the prevailing
inactivity, and, as very few sales have been made,
no quotable change has occurred id the value of
either. The deliveries of malt were 24,544 qrs.
and the exports 1,439 qrs. There has been no
fre.sh feature to note in this branch of the trade,
as last week's currencies have been maintained,
but buyers have come forward with reluctance.
A healthy activity continues to animate the agri-
cultural seed trade, and all the leading varieties
have been in brisk demand at hardening prices.
As farmers have been busy sowing, the supply of
English red clover has fallen off, and, with
favourable weather, a substantial advance may be
looked for, as stocks are rapidly diminishing,
while arrivals continue on a most limited scale.
Trefoil has been largely dealt in at an advance of
Is. per cwt., and Alsike and white clover maintain
a firm position. Spring tares are scarce and have
met a ready sale, and rapeseed has advanced, but
canary, hemp, and mustard remain as last quoted.
The country markets have been fairly supplied
dui-ing the past week, as farmers have found time
to thrash pretty freely under the inducement of the
recent advance in prices. Provincial trade has,
however, beea less active, but a fair amount of
steadiness has prevailed, and in a few instances fine
wheat has brought ratlier more money, while
spring corn has remained quiet, and without
material change in value. At Liverpool on Tues-
day there was a moderate attendance of buyers at
market, and wheat sold slowly at the previous
Friday's currencies, which indicated a decline of
Id. per cental on the week. Flour moved very
slowly, and barley, oats, and beans were in limited
request at about late rates. Maize, white liberal
supplies and a restricted inquiry, gave way slightly,
new mixed closing at 4s. 6d., and old at -Is. 8d. per
1001b. The week's imports included 58,000 qrs. of
wheat and 17,000 qrs. of maize. At Newcastle the
grain trade has "uled quiet, and wheat has been the
turn cheaper to sell. Flour has also eased slightly,
and all feeding stuffs have evinced a declin-
ing tendency. At Hull and Leeds there
has been a quiet demand for English and
foreign wheat at [about previous prices, but
spring corn has barely supr)orted late
currencies. At Edinburgh the market has been
barely supplied with wheat and barley, both of

which articles have been in fair request at last
week's prices. Oats have sold somewhat slowly
by reason of the advanced rates asked by sellers
for sowing purposes. Malting barley has improved
6d. per qr., and beans have sold readily at Is. per
qr. more money. At Leith during the early part
of the week was very wintcry, but a thaw has
since set in, and the snow is rapidly disappearing.
The arrivals of wheat and flour from abroad have
been fair, and at Wednesday's market the trade was
slow at nominally previous rates, although, to
effect sales, a slight reduction had to be subinitted
to. Barley was the turn dearer, and seed oats sold
readily, but maize and other descriptions of feeding
corn ruled slow at about former values. At Glas-
gow the week's arrivals have been large of flour
but lui erdate of wheat and maize. Business has
ruled quiet throughout the week, and the tendency
of prices has been against sellers. At Dublin the
weather has been cold and wet, and there has been
very little business passing in grain. Wheat and
maize, with a limited retail demand, have been the
turn lower to sell, but the concessions offered by
holders have not attracted buyers. At Cork a more
active trade has been done in wheat at an advance
of Is. per qr. but within the past few days the
improvement has been barely maintained. The
consumptive demand for maize is still much below
the average, and a reduction of 23. 6d. per ton has
been necessary to effect sales. The arrivals at
ports of call during the past week have been small,
and the floating cargo trade for wheat has shown
a declining: tendency, especially for Ghirka sorts,
which have receded in value about Is. per qr., but
with signs of increasing firmness at the close of the
week. Several cargoes of white wheat have been
ordered off by owners in preference to accepting
off-coast bids. Arrived maize, owing to scarcity,
has commanded very full prices, and there has been
a better demand for forward shipment.

The following are the reports from Mark Lane
during the past month : —

Monday March 3.

The arrivals during the past week have been : — English
Wheat, 4,244 qrs. ; foreign, 3,743 qrs. Exports, 2,27,
qrs. English Wheat was again in shart supply at inarke
this morning and factors held for Is. per qr. more inoneyt
but the advance was only obtainable for the finest sample's,
Of foreign the arrivals were unusuallylight, and a steady,
consumptive demand was experienced at fuHv late rates
for all except red winter Americau and tine Russian des-
scriptions, for which an advance of Is. per qr. ou the
week was obtainable.

Country Flour, 17,707 sacks ; foreign, 6,530 s-cks, and
8,908 barrels. The trade ruled quiet but firm for both
sacks and barrels, and last week's currencies were fully
maintained.

English Barley, 1,532 qrs. ; Scotch, -2,108 qrs.
foreign, DOO qrs. Maltiug varieties were iteady, and
grinding sorts slow, and with very little business passing
in either, quotations were unaltered.

English Malt, 19,991 qrs.; Scotch, 1,199 qrs.
Exports, 2,975. A slow sale for all descriptions at
nominally late rates.

Maize, 41,936 qrs. Exports 469 qrs. Under pres-
sure of continued heavy arrivals from abroad a weaker
tendency was observable, and sales could only be effected
at a decline of 3d. to 6d. per or. ou the week.

274

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

■F.nglisli Oats, ST5 qrs. ; Scotch. 2,496 qrs.: Foreign,
C 37(5 qrs. Exports 336 qrs. TherR was a moderate
inquiry at about last Monday's prices, the interveuitig
improveuient bavins been lost.

English Beans, 721 qrs.; Foreign, 118 qrs. Very few-
sales were made, but last week's currencies were as a rule
supported.

Linseed, 4,761 qrs. Exports, 1,109 qrs. Unaltered.

Monday, March 10.

The arrirals during the past week have been :
English ^'heat, 3,951 qrs. ; foreign, 47.756 qrs. Exports,
2,010 qrs. The supply of English Wheat fresh up to
market this morning was again small, and d large proj)or-
tion of the samples offered were in poor condition. Dry
lots sold readily at last Monday's prices, but inferior
were difficult to move. Of foreign the arrivals were
good, and with a laige attendance of millers a steady
demand was experienced at fully late rates.

Country Flour, 20,235 sacks ; foreign, 11,249 sacks
and 9,904 barrels. There was rather more business passing
and last week's prices were steadily maintained for both
sacks and barrels.

English Biirley 2,399 qrs. ; Scotch, 4,387 qrs. ; Irish,
50 qrs. ; foreign, 1,926 qrs. Malting descriptions ruled
slorr at about previous currencies, while grinding sorts
were the turn in burers' favour.

Malt : English, 17,486 qrs.; Scotch, 2,894 qrs. j^ei-
ports, 1,082 qrs. A slow sale at nominally late rates.

Maize, 33,076 qrs. Exports, 856 qrs. Business was
depressed, owing to continued liberal arrivals, and to
effect sales a reduction of 3d. per qr. ou the week was
necessary.

English Oats, 662 qrs. ; Scotch, 51 qrs. ; foreign
14,868. A weaker tone was noticeable in the trade, and
pri< es dec ined fully 6d. per qr. for all varietips-

English Beans, 'l, 036 qrs. ; foreign, 1,933 qrs. In
fair request, but without quotable clisuge.

Linseed, 3.032 qrs. Exports, 920 qrs. A quiet trade
at unaltered values.

Monday, Marcli 17.

The arrivals during the past we^k have been : English,
AYheat, 3,340 qrs. ; foreign, 26,672 qrs. Exports, 310
qrs. The supply of English Wheat fresh up to market
this morning was moderate, and the general condition of
the samples more satisfac'ory ; sales progressed slowiy,
but as a rule, last Monday's prices were repeated. Ot
loreign the arrivals were light, and with a fair attendance
of millers, a quiet retail demand was experienced at about
late rates.

Country Flour, 15,634 sacl<s ; foreign, 10,520 sacks
and 5,164 barrels. The trade luled quiet, but steady, and
Inst week's quotations were maintained for both sacks and
barrels.

English Barley, 1,800 qrs. ; Scotch, 3,399 qrs.
foreign, 6,296 qrs. Increased firmness was observable
but there was not much business passing and both malt-
ing and grinding varieties were without quotable chanae^

xMalt: English, 23,928 qrs.; Scotch, 626 qrs. Ex-
ports, 1,439 qrs Buyers showed rather moie disposition
to purchase, but last week's curreucies could not be
exceeded.

Maize, 21,999 qrs. Exports, 368 qrs. In improved
request at fully late rates.

English Oats, 870 qrs. ; Scotch, 2,214 qrs. ; Irish,
92 qrs.; foreign, 33.835 qrs,; exports, 24 qrs. In
spite of the moderate arrivals the trade was very inactive,
although prices underwent no further decline.

English Beans, 1,004 qrs. ; foreign, 220 qrs. Very
little business was done, and there was no change in
value.

Linseed, 429 qrs. ; exports, 421 qrs. I'ualtercd.

Monday, l\Iai'ch 24.

The arrivals during the past week have been : English
Wheat, 3,120 qrs-, Scotch, 100 qrs., Foreign. 40,621
qr.i. Exports, 1,999 qrs. There was a moderate supply
of English Wheat at market this morning and the condi-
tion of the samples showed some improvement. Sales
progressed slowly but generally speaking last Monday's
prices were obtainable. Of foreign the arrivals were
fair, and with a large attendance of millers a moderate
inquiry was experienced at a decline of Is. per pr. on
American and 6d. per qr. on Russian varieties.

Country Flour, 15,349 sacks. Foreign, ''6, 486 sacks,

and 10,508 brls. There was a quiet business done in

sacks and barrels, and previous rates were well main-
tained.

English Barley 1,090 qrs. ; Scotch 3,277 qr?. : foreign
2,658 qrs. ^Malting sorts were steady, but grinding des-
criptions slightly favoured buyers.

Malt: English, 20,119 qrs.; Scotch, 2,066 <1".
Exports, 1,055 qrs. 13usines3 ruled quiet but steadyi at
about late currencies.

Maize, 12,160 qrs. Exports, 1,855 qrs. There was
rather more inquiry for both round and flat corn, with
indications of a slight recovery from the recent de-
pression.

English Oats, 553 qrs.; Scotch, 6,672 qrs. ; foreign,
28,693 qrs. Exports, 28 qrs. New Swedes were 61.
per qr. dearer on the week, but there was no quotable
change in other sorts, with a fair demand from
dealers.

English Beans. 262 qrs. ; foreign. Ill qrs. In limited
inquiry, but no cheaper.

Linseed, 6,359 qrs.
dear.

Exports, 1,607 qrs. Fully at

CUfiRENT PRICES OF BRITISH GRAIN AND FLOUR
IN ilARK LANE,

Shillings pe

WHEAT, Essex & Kent, white old — lo - aew

,, ,, red old — — new

Norfolk, Lincliisn.. and Yorksh. red old — new
BARLEY Chevalier new

Grinding 33 to 40 Distilling

MALT, pale new 63 to 7S old brown

RYE

OATS, English, feed 20 to 24 Potato

Scotch, feed — — Potato

Irish, feed, white2i 26 Pme

Ditto, black ri 25 Potato

BFi.NS, Mazagan ...33 35 Ticks

Harrow — — Pigeon, old

PEAS, white boilers 33 37 Maple 37 to 39 Grey

FLOUR, per sack of 280lb8., town households

Best coiuitiT households,

Norfolk and Suffolk

FOREIGN GRAIN.

ShillinBS per
WHEAT, Dantzic, mixed 44 to 43 extra

Konigsberg 43 50 extra

Rostock 45 48 ,.<)ld

Pomera., Meckberg., and Uciserrark red

Ghirka 39to4!.. Russian, hard, 41 to 46,Saxonska

Danish and Holstein, red — — ..red American

Chilian, white 47 ..Califomian 43 49 Australian

East Indian, No. 1 CInb white, 41 to 45 ; No. 2
,, Ord. white 4 I to 42 ; red 37 to 3&; hard

BARLEY, grinding 20 to 22 dUtiilir.g

OATS, Date i, brewing and Polands 20 to 23 feed

Danish and Swedish, feed 17 to- 2U...Stral8uiid ...

Canai'a jO to(W Riga 16 to l7 Petersburg...

BEANS, Fr.eslandand Holstein

Italian 34 to 37. ..Egyptian

PEAS, feeding and maple.. .33 34. fine Vioilers

MAIZE, l;lack Sea 24 26.. Mixed Acrerican

FLOUR, per.s"ick, French 32 36...Ppani8h, p. sacn

Hungarian, persack..."!! 55 ..American barrel
TAREb, Sprm^i

■ua

rtpr

34to4t>

33

43

32

43

36

53

30

3tJ

52

64

30

54

24

28

31

34,

40

46

34

36

35

40

30

35

28

30

Quarter.

— tOoO

43

47

43

47

41

43

43

60

43

41

39

40

23

35

19

21

kO

22

16

20

35

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THE FAEMER'S MAGAZIE^E.

CONTENTS.

APRIL, 1879.
Plate.— T O M KING.

Description of Plate . ,

County Boards. . , .

Ageicultural Education ;

Thh American Wheat Supply .

Formation of a Tenant Farmers' Association

Pleuro-Pneumonia in America .

Ontario and Em:igkation

Various Notes ....

Birmingham Horse Show and Sale

The Shorthorn and Hereford Controversy

Mr. Barclay, M.P., on Foreign Store Stock

Typhoid in Pigs . , .

Farmers' Grievances . . ,

Essex Agricultural Eeport

The International Exhibition . .

Glasgow Stallion Show . .

The Farmers' Club on Agricultural Aspects and Pro p

An Important Movement in Scotland .

Agricultural Societies . .

Farmers' Clubs

Birmingham Shorthorn Show and Sale

The Adulteration of Milk . ,

Farming in America

Carbolized Oil for Ewes in Lambing .

Chambers of Agriculture . .

Royal Agricultural Society

The Cost of Wheat-Growing in America

Agricultural Production

The Martyr's Memorial

CiRENCESTBR CoLLEGB AND PrOFESSOR ChURCH

Canadian Cattle Raising

Our Food Supply . •

The International Exhibition, London .

The County Boards Bill and the Hypothetic Abolition

Review op Corn Tradb . .

Market Currencies, &c. , .

CTS

(Scotland) Bill

Page
. 2l3
. 213

. 214
. 215
. 916
. 218
. 219
' 220, 252
. 225
. 226
. 226
.22;
227, 264
. 228
. 228
. 229
. 130
. 231
232, 258
238, 259, 271
. 246
. 247
. 248
249, 257
250, 260, 270
. 251
. 251
. 256
, 257
. 263
. 2G6
. 267
. 268
. 269
. 272
. 273

CHAMPAGNES.

GRAND ]/lN DE L'EMPEREUR

T E A D B M^Off <lm MARK.

NONPAREIL.

Splendid Wine equal to the Finest Brands, at half the usual Price.

Sole Importers of the Celebrated

GRAND ]/IN DE CHAMPAGNE,

TRADE ,«« MARK.

ROUSSEAU AND CO., REIMS.

MADEIRA

Of the FINEST aUALITY, in Quarter Casks and in Bottle, and every
other description of "Wines at the

LOWEST POSSIBLE PRICE,

CAN ALWAYS BE HAD OF

TUXFORD AND CO.,

WINE MERCHANTS,

48, Fenehurch Street London, B.C.

Established 1847.
SAMPLES ON APPLICATION.

THE

EOYAL FARMERS' k GEI^ERAL
INSURAE^CE OFFICE.

ESTABLISHE D 840

TO INSURE AGAINST LOSSES BY

FIRE AND HAIL STORMS,

AND TO GRANT

I N S URANCES ON LI V E S .

DIRECTORS:

Chairman— ALFRED DENISON, Esq., 6, Albemarle Street, Piccadilly.
Deputy-Chairman — B. P. SHEARER, Esq., 47, Gloucester-place, Portman Square

Richard L. Loveland, Esq., 4, Hare Court, Temple.
John Reddish, Esq., 9, Highbury New Park.
Major ¥. Anderson Stebbing, 4, Cleveland Gai'dens,
Castle Hill, Ealing. ^

Thomas Henry Burroughes, Esq., 17, Lower Berkeley

Street.
William Glutton, Esq., 7, Clifton Villas, Penge.
A. J. Duff Filer, Esq., 10, Aberdeen Park, Highbury.
E. J. Hawker, Esq., 37, Cadogan Place, Sloane Street

FITIE. — Insurances at moderate ra s.

LIFE. — lusuraQces oa equitable terms. Profits divided every five years.

HAIL. — Crops insured against Hail Storms at 5d. per acre.

LOSSES.— Settled prom[)fly and liberally.

AMPLE CAPITAL AND LAEGE EESERVES.

Prospectuses and Reports may be obtained of the Secretary, JOHN SHARP, 3, Norfolk Street, Strand
London, W.C., or of the Agents.

THE

MAUK LANE EXPRESS

AND

AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL

IS THE

LARGEST AND THE LEADING FARMER^S AND GRAZIER'S NEWSPAPER.

PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY EVENING, IN TIME FOR POST.

Office of Publication and for Advertisements, 265, Strand, London. May be had of all Booksellers

and Newsmen throughout the Kingdom, price 7d., or £1 10s. 4d, per annum.

J. C. NESBIT AND SON, Analytical, Agricultural, and Consulting
Chemists (Manager A. Anthony Nesbit, F.C.S., &c.), undertake the analysis
of manures, feeding stuffs, seeds, soils, waters, and all agricultural requisites.
And may be consulted upon the cause of the failure of crops, or any questions
in scientific agriculture. Laboratory : 38, Gracechurch Street, E.G. A
list of fees sent on application.

No. 5, Vol. LV.] MAY, 1879. [Third Sekies.

THE

FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

AND

MONTHLY JOURNAL

OF

THE AGEICULTUEAL INTEREST,

TO THE

FARMERS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM^

LONDON :
PUBLISHED BYROGERSON AND TUXFORD, 265, STRAND.

PRICE TWO SHILLINGS.

HAZBLL, WATSON, & VINBT.] [PRINTERS, 265, STRAND.

Jl

fMPORTANT TO FLOGKMASTERS.

THOMAS BIGG,

Agricultural & Veterinary Chemist,

By Appointment to his late Royal Highness
The Prince Consort, K.G.,

LEICESTER HOUSE, GREAT DOVER STREET,
BOROUGH, LONDON,

BEGS to call the attention of Farmers
aiul Graziers to his valuable SHEEP and LAMB
MPPIKG COMPOSITION, which requires no Boiling, and
may be used with Warm or Cold Water, for effectually
iiestiojing the Tick, Lice, and all other insects injui-ious to
tl.e Flnck, preventing the alarming attacks of Fly and Shab,
and cleansing and jiurifying the Skin, thereby greatly im-
proving the Wool, both in quantity and quality, and highly
fonlributing to the general health of the animal.

Prepared onij' by Thomas Bigg, Chemist, &c., at his Manu-
factory as above, and sold as Jollows, although any oiher
quantity may be had, if required: —

1 ib. for 20 sheep, price, jar included £0 2 0

61b. 30 „ „ , 0 3 0

81b. 40 „ „ „ 0 4 0

101b. 50 „ „ 0 5 0

20 lb. 100 „ ,, (Cask and measure 0 10 0
301b. 150 ,, ,, included) 0 15 0

401b. 200 „ „ 10 0

601b. 250 „ ., 13 6

601b. 300 „ „ ,, 17 6

801b. 400 ,. „ ,, 1 17 6

1001b. 500 „ „ , 2 5 0

Should any Flockmaster prefer boiling the Composition, it
will be equally effective.

MOST IMPORTANT CERTIFICATE.

From Mr. Hebbpath, the celebrated Analytical Chemist : —

Bristol Laboratory, Old Pai-k, January 18th, 1861.

Sir, — I have submitted your Sheep Dipping Composition to

analysis, and find that the ingredients are well blended, and

I he mixture neutral. If it is used according to the directions

vi^'en, I feel satisfied, thatwhile it effectually destroys vennin,

: will not injure the hair roots (or "yolk") in the skin, the

ffeece, or the carcase. I think it deserves the numero.w
testimonials published. I am. Sir, j-ours respectfully,

William Hehapath, Sen., F.C.S., &.C., &c..
To Mr. Thomas Bigg Professor of Chemistry,

ijcicester House, Great bover-street Borough London.

He would also especially call attention to his SPJ^CIFIC,
or LOTION, for the SCJAB or SHAB, which will be found
a certain remedy for eradicating that loathsome and ruinous
disorder in Sheep, and which may be safely used in all
climates, and at all seasons of the year, and to all descriptions
of sheep, even ewes in lamb. Price FIVE SHILLINGS per
gallon — sufficient on an average for thirtj- Sheep (according
to the virulence of the disease) ; also in wine quart bottles,
Is. 3d. each.

IMPORTANT TESTIMONIAL.
" Sco'ilton, near Hingham, Norfolk, April 16th, 1855.

"Dear Su', — In answer to yours ol the 4th inst., which
would have been replied to before this had I been at home, I
have much pleasure in bearing testimony to the efficacy of
your invaluable ' Specific for the cure of Scab in Sheep.' The
600 sheep were all dressed in August last with 84 gallons of
the ' NoN-poisoNoirs Specific,' that was so highly recom-
mended at the Lincoln Show, and by their own dresser, the
best attention being paid to the flock oy my shepherd after
dressing according to instructions left ; but notwithstanding
the Scab continued getting worse. Beiug determined to hav B
the Scab cured if possible, I wrote to you for a supply of your
Specific, which I received the following day; and although
the weather was most severe in Februa.ry during the dressing,
your Specific proved itself an invahiable remedy, for in
three weeks the Sheep were quite cured ; and I am happy to
say the young lambs are doing remarkably well at present.
In conclusion, I believe it to be the safest and best remedy
now in use. " I remain, dear Sir,

" For JOHN TINGEY, Esq.,

" To Mr. Thomas Bigg. ' "R. RENNEY.

B®" Flockmasters would be well to beware of such pre-
parations as "Non-poisonous Compositions:" it is only
necessary to appeal to 'thsir good common sense and judg-
ment to be tlioroughly convinced that no "Non-poisonous"
article can poison or destroj' insect vermin, particularly such
as the Tick, Lice, and Scab Parasites — creatures so tenacioua
of life. Such advertised preparations must be wholly usRlesa,
or they are not what they are represented to be.

DIPPING APPARATUS €'4. £5, £4, & £3.

ADVERTISING.

C. H. MAY k C 0.,

GENERAL ADVERTISING OFFICES,

78, GRACECHURCH STREET, LONDON, E.G.

(THE ONLY ADDRESS). ESTABLISHED ISW.

Advertisements of every description received for insertion in ail Newspapers, Magazines, Reviews, &c., at the
same rates as at the offices of the papers.

Estimates for General Advertising. Reduction for a series. Liberal terms to large advertisers.

Advertisements are also received for all newspapers, which may be addressed to these olhces, without extra
charges, and replies forwarded if required.

C. H. MAY & Co., having special communication with the leading newspapers three times daily, can guarantee
the utmost promptitude of insertion to all advertisements intrusted to them.

Important announcements requiring instant publicity in distant localities are sent by special wire, without iu-
• rease of charge.

The Press Manual for 1879, containing a complete List of Newspapers published in the United Kingdom,
f ost Fr^e ,6d.

y

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. ^ ^ ^

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'^1^^

mi

t
^

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1

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

MAY, 1879.

PLATE.

tilE WHITE COLESHILL BREED,

A Cup Pen at the S. C. 0. Show, 1878, Bred and Fed by The Earl of Radnor,
CoLESHrLi, House, Highwoeth, Wilts.

In a good show of pip-s the white breeds were well
representedby pens from Her Majesty'sf arm, Wind-
sor; the Duke of Marlborough's, Blenheim, Wood-
stock ; the Eiirl Radnor's, Ooleshill House, Wilts
the Marchioness of Camden's, Bay ham Abbey, Kent ;
INIajor Bashford's, Crawley, Sussex ; J. Saunder's,
Castle Carey, Somerset ; J. and F. Howard's,
Olapham, Bedford ; and J. T. Plomer's, Wimborne,
Dorset. This is not the first Smithfield Cup the
White Coleshill breed, now famous in story, have
carried off, and this year (1878) they take three
first prizes, a second and a commendation as well.
The prize pens were 16 months 17 days old, deep,
compact pigs of nice quality, and make the best of
bacon. Under the titles of real Wiltshire and
prime Yorkshire many sides and hams change
hands, though bred, fed, and cured in other counties.
la fact pig breeding, feeding, and curing has

become a noble science, headed by her Majesty>
so that bacon is now to be had almost as
good in one part of the kingdom as
another. And is there a man with soul so dead
who hath not exclaimed on sniffing the fragrant
morning rasher, or when out for a stroll fa^^
away from a rookery of chimney-pots, with an
appetite sharpened by the best of all sauces, fresh
air, on coming suddenly on the long-looked-for
little wayside inn, and throwing himself into the
open arms of an old Windsor chair, as the buxom
landlady, having replied to his query of what can
ycu give me to eat ? without going through the
popular farce of what would you like ? returns in a
few minutes, with a smile on her blooming cheeks arid
sleeves turned up on the roundest and fairest of arms>
bearing a dish of delicious ham and eggs — Blessed
be they who feedeth hogs !

THE ECONOMICAL ASPECTS OF THE LAND QUESTION.

Oq Wednesday, April 11th, Mr. W. Summers, the
Liberal candidate for Stalybridge, read a paper before the
members of the Manchester Statistical Society on " The
economical aspects of the land question in England."
Mr. H. Baker presided.

Mr. Summers aaid the present being a time of severe af;n-
cnltural depression, it was of all otlers the time best fitted
for an inquiry into the defects of our present land system, and j
for suggestions of reforms by whicli it was to be hoped these
defects might be remedied. Famine in Ireland gave us the
repeal of the Corn Laws, and it might be that tiie present
Old Series.

agricultural depression and distress would pave the way for
the introduction of important reforms into the laws relating
to land. The results of the inquiries which Jlr. Bear had
addressed to farmers in every county in England and Wales
were such as to leive not the slightest doubt that the distress
was general and not merely local in its character. During
the ten years ending with 1878 there had only been one yea',
1874, in which English farmers had been blessed vrith a
specially good wheat crop, and only two others, 1870 and 1878,
in which tlie crop had bcnn a fairly average one. Similiar coa-
clusions resulted from an examination of the returns of hirley,
oats, beans, and peas. Farmers, moreover, had not only hid
X Vol. LXXXV,— No 5.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

sli-htest doubt that, as regarded article of consumption, it was
for the fanners a terrible reality, becoming more aiul more
formidable with each succeedirg year. Y.'luie in lbo7 we
imported food g ains and other articles of consumption to the
vame of f .JS,O00,O00. in 1877 the value of such imports had
risen to the enormous figure of £160,000,000, thua showing
that while the population had increased in twenty years only
17 per cent, the value of cur food imports had increased 1/7
ptr cent. The imports of dead meat showed an increase be-
tween 1S76 and 1«78 of about 37i per cent., and there were
no grounds for be"; eving that the future would witness any
very considerable change. If the calculations of Mr. V/ilson
v.-ere to be relied upon, the Chicago farmer could deliver fre.h
nieal in Livorpool at 5id. per pound, while the English farmer
could not sell at a profit at less than l^i. per pound. Again,
the farmers of the v.-heat-growing Sates in America coula
produce com at 20<. per quarter. Reckoning the cost ct
carriage at 10^. per quarter it would be seen that the Ameri-
can farmers could grow wheat, send it to England, and sell it
here at a price lar bflow the uet cost of production m our
own country. If this were so, the American meat trade and
esport trade in wheat were yet in their infancy. Surelv, then,
it was high time for our farmers and farmers' friends to be
bestirring iheraselves if we were not to be entirely beaten in
the race. tViiere should we lock for a remedy ? To protec-
tion ? Certainly not ; we could not return to protection, for
thit would mean starvation, and nc.hing eke, to a consider-
able portion of our population. A reduc'ion ot the wases of
onr agricultural labourers would deservedly be a highly
unpopular measure, and would, moreover, bring with it little
or no" relief. A reductiou of rents might become an inevitable
necessitv, but even if English farmers paid no rent at all it
would s'liU be possible for America to compete with them.
The real remedy, therefore was to be found in hii-h farming —
farming upon the best and most sclent. fie principles known,
in the abundant and tertilisiug application of capital to the
.soil. Mr. Cobden said, " I believe we h we no adequate idea
of what the amount of production might be from a limited
sar'aceof land, provided only the amount of capital were
sufllcien ." Lords Derby and Leicester had assured ua that
the produce of our soil raiuht be doubled ; and the experi-
menfs of such practical firraers as Mr. Mechi and Mr. Lawes
seemed fully to bear out that statement. The capital mvested
by tenants in the land was estimated for the United Kingdom
at less than £6 per acre. Mr. Mechi assured us that it ought
to be from £15 to £20 per acre, as he told us it already was
in some well-farmed districts. The landowners' capital was
further estimated at £30 per acre, and thi,«, we were also
assured, ought to be considerably increased. The manner in
which 'this additional capital might be expended was not
difficult to discover. Much might with advantage be spent
in draiup.ge and in artificial manures. The fertihsing qualities
of artificial manures, such as nitrate of soda and the different
phosphates, were only just beginning to be generally under-
stood. The experiments of Mr. Lawes, however^ were con-
clusive upon this as well as upon many other points of scentific
agriculture. Taking soils of the same quality this gentleman
had grown successive crops upon them with and without the
nseof artificial manures. Mr. Lawes found that the use of
manures gave him a return of three times the weight of corn
ana four times the weight of straw tliat he obtained without
them. In order that farmers might cultivate the land on
truly scientific principles two things were necessary— they
must be instructed in the principles of agriculture, and they

by custom or agreement, to compensation for uufxhansted
improvements. Others liad put the proportion of laud so held
at the much higher figure of tour-filths of the whole. So Lmg
as this unsatisfactory state of things continued it could not be
expected that the land would be cultivated to the best advan-
tage. The farmer should be secured in the tenure of the laud ;
he should not be liabl« to be turned out of his farm at the will
of the landlord, oi with a very short notice to quit. He should
farther be assured that he would himself get at least a share
of the increased va'ue of the laud traceable to his own exer-
tions ; in a word, he should have what is known in Ireland as
tenant right. The shortest and readiest method of securing
the first of these objects — fixity of tenure — was by the system
of leases. The evidence collected by Mr. Bright's committee,
now more than 30 years ago, was conclusive upon this head,
and there was no reison for believine that any improvement
had taken place since the time when Mr. Bri:ilit's committee
sat. An extract from Lord Hatherton's evidence, in which
his Lordship narrated his own experience of ths evils of g:me
preserving,, would not, perhaps, be out of place liere. " I
soon fuuud," said Lord Hatherion, "as a farmer desirous of
introducing among my tenantry, and into the ueighbonrhood,
a better syste'ii ot cultivation, that it was ut'erly hopeless to
do so, unless I completely destroyed the heres ; far the attempt
merely to reduce was useless, for a good season repaired their
numbers to such an extent that I found there was no eff ctual
means but entire destruction. Without that I saw it would
be hopeless to introduce upon the light lands those crops we
ought to have, such as not only swede turnips, mangel wort-
zel, carrots, vetches, but lucerne and other crops of that kind.
I have consequently entirely destroyed the hares, or at least
destroyed them as far as practicable, over 8,000 acres of my
property, and I have also completely destroyed the rabbits.
The result has been that I have not only been enabled to
plant extensively without that depredation which formerly
obliged me to replant covers perhaps two or three times ;
and it has not only enabled me to rear beautiful fences on
a completely barren soil, but I have introduced the culiiva-
ton of those roots to which I have before alluded ; and I
believe that my tenants have found equal advantage from it.
bince 1 have destroyed," continued his Lordship, " I perceive
that there is infinite confidence on the part of tenants in their
expenditure ; and it has happened to me, within the last two
or three years, to have received indisputable evidence of my
character as a destroyer of hares, it having turned very much
to my account in a better class of tenants having offered tiiera-
selves for my farms when they have been vacant. I am quite
confident that improvements of various sorts in the destroying
of fences and the making of new fences, extensive drainage,
and the introdnction of other roots not hitherto cultivated,
would uot have been undertaken if they had believed that
their improvements would have been subject to the former
depredations of game." An admirable specimen of what a
lease ought to be was to be found in lull working order on
Lord Leicester's Norfolk estate. Its terms were these : The
tenancy is lor 20 years from the 11th of October. It is to be
terminable at Ihe end ot 16 years, at the request of the
tenant and with the con>ent of the landlord; the inten-
tion being that, if both parties desire it, a new lease may be
granted from the end of the 16th year for a fresh term of '20
years, at the old rcut for the first lour (which completes the
original tnrra), and for the remainder at such a rent as may be
agreed on. The tenant is to cultivate and manage the farm
during the first sixteen years according to his own judgment,

must have full security for whatever capital they might invest and to dispose of the produce as he finds best. A power is

inthehiuu The former obiect might be in part secured by the reserved to interpose if this freedom should be misused,

establishment of agricultural schools, similar to those in Ger- During the last four years, if a renewed lease is not entered

many aud Switzerland ; the latter could only he obtained by upon, he is to bring the farm into the ordinary four- course or

means of a thorough revision of our land laws. So long as the Norfolk system, with proper conditions of payment for unex-

law of distriss remained in its present anomalous and unjust hausted manures, lie is to elfeetUHlly destroy all rabbits ou

Btate the credit of the farmer would never be so high as it his farm, and other conditions adapted to local cireumstances

ought to be, and Ihe interests of agricu'ture wtuld suffer complete the arrangement. This lease, which niisht with

accordingly. 'Another grievance from which farmers suffered advantage be adopted in every part of the United Kingdom,

to an incalculable extent was the over-preservation of game, not only secured the farmer in hia teuure of his farm, but by

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

the provision for tliei renewal of the lease at the end of the
lOtli year, riid all that could he done to prevent titat " b g-
garing out" of (arms wliich was of such frequent occurrence
as a lease drew near to its close. The. ecouoraical ndvantases
of leases were great, as they secured to the tenant fixity in iiis
tenure of the laud, and by dimioisliin? risk tended to attract
ctpital to the soil. The reason why the practice of <;rrtntiag
leases had not long ago become universnl in this country was
not far to seek. The custom of holding land in very large
estates, and as a source of power, quite as much as of profit
— it was this that had fostered the vicious system, so preva-
lent in Euilind and also in some parts of Scotland, of dis-
pen>ing with leases. To remedy this abuse, however, we must
look rather to the formation of a sound public opinion upon
the subject than to the passing of any particular law. I
was, for example, in the higliest degree improbable that Part
liainent could be brought to look with any degree of favour
iipou a proposal to compel landlords to grant leases to their
tenants. Still, without going to this extreme, the Legisla'ure
might very properly hold out inducements for them to do so.
One very powerful inducement in this direction would be the
recouniiion of much stronger claims for compensation for
unexhausted improvemeuts in the case of tenants-at-will than
in the case of farmers holding uuder a lease. Tliis was a
disiinction fully recognised in Mr. Gadstone's Irish Land
Bill, and would probably form the basis of legislation for
Great Britain ; for a tenant-right tiiat shall be a reality and
nut a sham was still a desideratum in this country,
the Agricul.ural Holdings Act of 1875 having beeu
practically a dead letter from the very first. What
should be done, then, so far as tenant right was con-
cerned, was that lie should apply the principles of the Irish
Land Act of 1870 to England and Scotland as well. The
principle recognised by the law as just in the case of trade
fixtures was surely just also in the case of fixtures in or upon
the lanJ. It was to the interest alike of landlord and tenant
that tenant-right should be established, for it was to tne
interest of both that the lind should be brought into the
highest state of cultivation. Occupation in this way came
to resemble ownership itsflf ; and the one sovereign virtue of
pea-ant proprietorstiip — the inducement to saving which it
held out — was thus in some measure joined on to those
special advantages which the English system of landlord,
farmer, and labourer possesses over every other system. He
said over every other system, because the English system of
landlord, farmer, and labourer enabled the farmer to employ
whatev r capital he possessed freely in the cultivation of the
soil, instead of being forced, as he would if he were a pro-
prie or be forced, to expend a very consider«ble portion of it
in the mere purchase of his landed property. Thus iar he
had dealt almost exclusively with the farmer and liis
grievances, and it remained for him to say a word or two on
the position of the landlord. While the duty of the farmer
was to provide himself witli an adequate supply of manures,
machinery, and labour, that of the landlord was to spend
money freely in such large and costly works as drainage, farm
buildings, and cottages. The landlord would be rao>l likely
to perform this duty if he were absolute owner of the land.
It had, however, beeu estimated that 50,000,000 acres of land,
or four-filcbs of the United Kingdom, were in the hands of
mere tenants for life, who were in no sense the real, but ouly
tlie nominal owners of the soil. This vast area of land was,
in fact, kept in bondage by the monstrous system of settle-
ments that jirevailed througliout the country. Tne various
evil consequences springing from the English land laws,
which permitted an owner to bind an estate by will or deed
long after his death, had been t'lus summarized by the lat?
Mr. Kay : f 1) They prevented estates being sold which would
ottierwise undoubl-idly come into the market; ("3) lessened
due parental control; (3) induced cireless landowners to
be tenfold more careless thciu they otherwise would be about
the education of their children ; (4') deprived many land-
owners of the means of properly managing their estates ;
(5) tended very greatly to retard the progress of agricul-
tural improvement ; (6) rendered it necessary to nuke
the deeds and wills very lung and expensive ; (7) rendered it
often very difficult and expensive for a purchaser to ascertain
the state of tlie title of a plot of land he might wish to pur-
chase ; (8) olten left the actual title of a plot of land uncertain,
spite of all the labour and expense bestovied on its careful in
veisligalioD, Here, too, then (Mr. Summers continued), a

thoroughgoing revision of onr hind laws is npces«ary. The
laws of primogeniture and entail should be abolished, and
very considernble clriniies should be introduced into onr
system of strict settlements. The limits within which a dead
man's hand can govern 'he disposal of iiia estate long after he
is no more should be materinlly curtailed. The settler of an
estate might be limited to lives already in being at the time
of the deed of settlement, or the practice of entailing land
might be altogether i'orhidden, and nothing but absolnte
ownership, or what is teciinioally called fee-simple ownership,
of laud permitted. In either case lind would no longer be
tied up and prevented from coming into the market in the
way in which it is at present; and, inasmuch as hndlords
would then be in reality as well as in name owners of the land.
In addition to the nincerous reforms he had mentioned, we
wanted an easier and cheap method of transfer, and a system
of raaps and registration of ti'lcs similar to those already in
existence on the Continent. If these could be obtained, land
would be more freely houifht aid sold than is now the case.
Labourers would, moreover, have a greater incentive to exer-
tiun and to fiirift, as it mislit then be possible for them to
become thems'lves the owners of the laud they till. There
would not then exist to the same extent as at present a ten-
dency for land to be monopolised by a few individuals. There
would, in short, be free trade in land, and we should have
estates of large, of middle, and^ it may be, of small sites
alongside each other, the land coming to be divided in such
lots and after such a manner as the influence of natural laws
determined. We should be free from the evils of the French
morcelUment force on the one hand and from those which
attach to the English system of an undue preponderance of
very large estates on the other. It was, then, as he held, in
tlie direction of free trade in land that we should look for any
real and lasting improvement in nur agricultural system, since
it, and it alone, is capable of bringing about those natural
and beneficent conditions tliat are absolutely necessary to all
economical productions.

THE TIPTREE BALANCE SHEET.

I believe that some people would be made happy if my
balance sheet had unfortunately been unprofiiable, bat such
folks must resign themselves to hard facts. My btlance-
sheets are not composed of ideas, but of hard money facts,
and of true honest valustions made in accordance with the
then market prices. My crops are, also, not hidden under a
bushel, but are exposed at all times to all critics, adverse or
friendly, who cheese to inspect and value them. I am not to
be cpjo ed by introductory oompliments on my good nature,
for although, thank God, of an even temper, I can figlit a just
battle qiii'eas energeiically and succssfuliy as an ill-tempered
person. \our correspondent, Mr. Garrett (who is a miller),
appenrs to have coll cted and ground up in his mental niih a
must extraordinary iiorigepodge of errors. He seems quite
oblivious (he lias evidently never read iny book) that my land
in its original unimproved st^te was let at 20s. ppp acre
(which \* the sum I p-iid during 30 years for a ''arm adjoining
mine which I improved), a'ld r^lthough I charge myself 40s.
an acre now (including the fixed machinery and irrigation),
he wants to charge it all over again. He.will see that all ray
tradesmen's bilis for repairs, millwright, fe'^., are fully debited
(also £25 for reserve or repair), and he supposes that I ought not
to credit money for rent of cottages, although I bought them
with the (arm. The fact is the complain'- is so incorrect and
uniounded that I must decline any further notice cf it. As"
regards your more reasonable correspondent, " Worcester-
shire," if he has not visited my farm, I hope he will do so at
varii.us periods of the growth of my crops, and he can then
form hi- own conclusions and comparisons, and my bailiff will
explain to bin all our ways. If he had read your admirable
journal he would have scm my course of cropping, wiiich oft
and again has appeared in jour columns, especially after my
agricultural gathering of last yea"-, held aijout middle of July.
1 am more and more corivinced mat there must be a great
want of perfection in onr agriculture, else why should my
crops be a matter of v/onder or surprise ? When landowners put
their land and buildings in a fit condiion tor profitable farm-
ing (and that Ciiniiot be done without additional investment of
capital and increased rent), and when tenants will fill their
laud willi ample manure, cultivate deeply, keep it clean ,

X 3

273

THE FARMEE'S MAGAZINE.

abolish dung-tfeaps, and not sow escess of «eed, they will no
longer exprpss surprise at my crops. I shall, I tear, befiiii to
be vain if so consianth' tauuted with my great crops on such
aiturally miserable lands. And here let me prote.'t most
stron'rly against the absurd and aii>taken outcry about laying
down land to pe rinanpnt pasture and growing less corn. Why,
on this land and other poor land such an operation would be
ruinous, and I know some extensive farmers who have been
tc?:opted to do so, aad have lost iheir capital. Take, lor in-
btance. two of my best -wheat f.elds this bad season. The one
near my garden (they were all examined by all my visitors in
July) was of Taunton Dean wheat (white). It yielded a
fracrioti over 5 qr. per acre, sold at Colchester at 53s, perqr.
The straw was bound and sold at once — 'ik loads per acre, at
3Us. ^

5 qrs. at BSs £13 5 0

3^ loads of straw, at 30s. ... ... 5 5 0

£18 10 0
Then another field, rather beyond the other, hut of Golden
Drop red wheat, tii qrs. per acre ; but deducting inferior, €
qrs. per acre were sold at 468.

6 qrs., at 46g. £13 16 0

Straw, at 33s. per load ot 56 trusses 6 3 9

£19 19 9
The Taunton Dean was grown after clover, once mowed and
then folded. The Golden Drop was after peas, picked for
market, and followed by purple top turnips, folded with sheep,
bvh same year, 1877. As the turnips were a large crop, the
fi^dwasnot sown with wheat until January 21, and being
1 ite we put in nearly £ bush, p^r acre. It was sold immediately
alter harvest. What would have been the worth of per-
manent pasture on this poor hind comijcsed of many soils of
a 1 colours, and, uule»s I drained it, a reservoir of spring and
t'lp water ? But what would become of the labourer with per-
manent pasture on such a soil ? Certainly not SOs. per acre,
and now ray manual labour was £3 per acre. A f;iend of
mine, who managed a fine estate in Northamptonshire some
33 years ago, told me that the pries paid for shepherding on
tiiat good grass Imd was Is. 6d. per acre i The contract was
usually made with a man who had others under him. Well
may the labourers be in excess on permanent pastures, for if
the fields cannot multiply they do. But take a good season,
and see what wheat will do. la 1868 I averaged 7 qrs. per
acre on lO acres. One field ( WilloT Field) yielded 8 qrs. per
acre of white Clubheaded Rough Chaff, and I sold it at once
&l 633. per qr. : —

8 qrs., at 633. per qr.
Straw

£25 4 e
4 0 0

£29 4 G
(The fee simple of the land only cost £25), and then to follow
1 got 7^ qr. of Rivett'i. Don't tell me about permanent pas-
ture on poor land, that would naturally grow furze, broom,
and heather, which abound on our adjoining heath, left to
nature. I must say again and again, " Rf ad my book," in
which you will find all these matters fully stated, for at 77
I cannot be always repeating, and it will soon be time for ray
departure. In the cause of progressive agriculture — which
means food for the people — I labour with love ; but I see with
deep regret that British agriculture is still enthralled by
ancient and unprofitable customs, difTicnlt to cliange, either on
the part of landowner or tenant. Book farmers (but not in
Scotland) were the ridicule of agricultural society ; but tlie
better educated American farmer and labourer are making
their superior intelligence felt in competition with British
agriculturalists. By tlie way, I lorgot to say that ray barley
(which was grown after wheat) yielded an average oi 4^ qrs.
per acre, sold at 51s, per qr. TliicK sowing and late harvest-
ing and laid barley crops lost to British agriculuire an
immense total. My barley after v/heat, with about 6 pecks
per acre, is generally an upstanding crop, and of good quality.
I don't consider last year a good one, for my large breadth of
vheat only averaged just over 4 qrs. per acre, and barley ij —
wh ch is considerably under my ujual average. My area under
peas was 25 acres, "in conclusion, I think that after fighting
the battle for 35 year», I am entitled to retire (I must leave
the q-SHtion of laurels or no luurel.K to the "great public "). I
'■;?■ tiiot 1 have Jonc mv Ijesi. ];-r;ir- i.'. f-ucriss by li, A.

(p. 136):— 1. £15 per acre. 2. Firnn cost ^25 per acre;
lindowuer's improvements, draining, bui*diogs, &c., also about
£25 per acre.; rent, £xed 40*. per acre. 3. X > new ifr.ple-
mentg. 4. £25 is an ample reserve for rppairing implements,
in addition to tradesmen's bills. — J. J. Mechi.

THE SCOTTISH CHAMBER OF AGRICUL-
TURE AXD THE HYPOTHEC BILL.

The following is the text of a petition which has been pre
pared by the Scottish Chamber of A<;riculture for prespntatioa
in the House of Commons, relating to the Ilypothec Bii! : —

That the Hypothec Abolition Bill at present before your
Honourable House, as amended in Committee, contnins a
cliuse which gives Parliainentry recognition, for the first time,
to an illegal and unconstitutional exercise of legislative power
assumed by the Court of S ssion in Scotland in the middle of
last century.

In 1756 the Court of Session passed an Act or Statute oa
the following preamble: — " Whereas the difficulties that have
occurred in actions of removing from lands hive been found
to be highly prejudicial to agriculture, and both to masters
and t'enauts, iu respect that, during the dependence of su h
actions, the lands are neglected and deteriorated by the de-
fender, and the heritor's security for his rent brought into
danger; and tenants are discouraged from entering into tacks,
by the uncertainty of their attaining to possession, and by their
finding the subject of their tack much deteriorate, during the
dependence of the process of removing against ihe preceding
tenant."

This Act contained the following enactments, among
others: — " Where a tenant hath irritated his tack, by suffering
two years' rent to be in arrear, it shall be lawful to the setter
or heritor to declsre the irritancy before the Judge Ordinary,
and to insist in a summar removing before him^ and it shall
be lawful to the sheriff or steward-depute, or their .•substitutes,
to find the irritancy incurred, and to decern in the removing,
ani/ practice ic ihe contrary notwilhstaiidingP

" Where a tenant shall run in arrear of one full year's rent,
or shall desert his possession, and leave it unlaboured at the
usual time of labouring, in tliese, or either of these cases, it
shall be lawful to the heritor, or other setter of the lands, to
bring his action agMinst the tenant before the Judge Ordinary,
who is hereby empowered and required to decern and ordain
the tenant to find caution for the arrears, and for payment of
the rent tor the five crops following, or during the currency of
the tack, if the tack is of shorter endurance than five ye^rs,
within a certain time to be limited by the judge ; and, failing
thereof, to decern the tpuant summarily to remove, and to
eject him in the same manner as it the tack were determined."

The imperative order thus made on the local judges (the
sheriffs or " judges ordinary") has been necessarily obeyed by
these inferior magistrates, and has been enforced by the Court
of Session under its judicial powers ; but these enactments
have never til' now been submitted to or sanctioned by Parlia-
ment.

The judges of the Court of Session itself in a report to one
of the branches of the Legislature, on 27th February, 1810,
questioned whether this act was not ullra vires of their pre-
decessors.

And the Lord President, in the case of Graham v. Gordon
on 16th June, 1843, then juJicially before the Court, said —
" Whether the Act of Sederunt 1756 did not go beyond the
powers of the Court h.is been questioned, but as it has bsea
acted on for nearly a century, we must give obedience to it.
We will not, however, go beyond the practice under it."

For more than half a ceutury after the legislative Union of
England and Scothind, an idea seems to have prevailed among
the judges of the Court of Session, that extraordinary powers
had in some way devolved by necessity on Ibera through the
cessation of the Parliament and Privy Council of Scotland. A
learned writer of last century made this apology for the
Conrt : — " These and the like extraordinary powers were pro-
per to the Privy Ciuncil of Scotland while that Court sub-
sisted ; and if they were not how transferred to the Court of
Session, there would be a defect iu tliat part of our constitu-
tion, and many wrongs would be without a remedy." In
exerc'?P of these R<!su:Ded powers, the Conrt fixed the price of
viciual, lacidied wil)i tlii, im^oriatioa oi grain, m.^de siat'ites

THB FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

27«-

as- to the registrafinn of deeds and bills, issued fulrainations
agTiinHt profauitj (rfferin^ to receive p.nonymous infoniiatioa
against otffiiders), enacted that rioters sliould be " iacapable
of maiiafjiiig affairs of any sort" lor three years and thereafter
till repoupd liy tiie Court ; reguhiied the price of candles and
the qualiiy ol was to be used m Scotland in saaling with the
R-jyiil Signet, and the mode in which " butchery meat" \va» to
br, cut up. and the proportions of fjt and boue to l<e sold v/ith
M, " on pain of confiscation and £5 Scots for each offence ;"
and sent a bevy ot brewers to prison (who had given up brew-
ins as unprofi.able) till they bouud themselves to carry on
their trade. Within a few months after passing the Act
which h»s been brought by the authors of the Hypothec Bill
under the notice ot your iionourable House, a repiesentation
was made to the judges of the said Court ol Session tliat there
was a s-carcity of oatmeal in the market of EJiuburgh, owing
to " tile tenants not thrasiiing out their oa"s in order to save
their fodder," whereupon their Lordships iu'iinialed in one of
their Acts " that in case the farmers of this county shall prove
refractory, and shall x\ot comply with the reasonable demands
of their respective heritors, that it ii the duty of the Justices
of the Peace — and they are si.ffujiently authorised by law — to
compel those within their couuiy," possessed of oats, to con-
tribute their proportions, such being tiie recorded ideas of tlie
position and rights of tenants which were held by those who
enacted the above recited laws of eviction, it is humbly hoped
that your Honourable House will see ground to examine closely
into llie equity and policy of their legislation before adopting
itr. Tor in the assertion of such powers they did many things
of a non-judicial character (showing how far thev had tlien
gone out of their legitimate province) ; which extraviigances,
ezcept tlie above-mentioned Act, commonly called an Act of
Sederunt, have long been obsolete, and known to liave been
unwarranted usurpations. Indeed, the 19sh iVrticle of the Act
of Union, 6 Aone, chap. 11, had settled that the Court of
Session was to have only " the same authority and privileges
as be ore."

The Act or Statute of the Court of Session, to which the
promoters of the Hypothec Bill ask your Honourable House
to give your recognition, through an obscure proviso intro-
duced in Committee, was not only illegal in its foundation,
bat is exorbitaal and unjust in its requirements, even as these
ace limited by the Bill.

The present Bill adopts it, and in one most serious article
esceeds it in severity to tenants, for the Bill, in substance,
enacts that whenever even a half-year's rent falls due^the land-
lord, without using the ordinary nieaiiaof recovery provided
by law — without notice, and without asking payment — may
compel the tenant to find good security, not only for what he
owes, but for two years' rent in advance ; and, if he fails to
&nd such security, may have the lease broken and the tenant
at oiice evicted. Your petitioners submit to the judgment of
your Honourable Hou^^e — 1, Whether the iutroauction into
the Bill, when in Committee, of a recognition by the House
of such a ba.-tard claim to legiilstive powers, is consistent with
the privileges of the House and the order of its proceedings?
and 2, Whether the conditions of eviction which tlie Bill pro-
poses lor breaking unexpired leas-s are just and rea-oaable in
principle, and fit to be counteaanced by the Imperial Parlia-
ment?

Your petitioners humbly represent that such an extrenie
measure is not necessary lor any lair or legitimate object. No
man ought to be permitted to put in foris such an engine of
oppression without at least ample aotiae, and the failure to
recover his claims through the ordinary processes of law.
These are sharp enough without additional severities. For
the Bill has been applied by its author& to future leases only ;
and every regu ar lease in Scotland contains a slause under
which the tenant can be cliars^ec to pay his rent in six days,
and on failure his goods may be se-2ed summarily or he may
be sent to prison.

TTie demand for two years* security for future lent (in addi-
tion to the reat already due) is excessive, and is one which few
tenants could be expected to meet. A landlord who should
obtain good security for one year's real in advance, in addition
to what IS owing to hina, could run bo substantial risk. For
lie could always repeat his action, and obtain new security if
farther rent should fall in arrear after the next year's rent had
been paid under his securities, and the costs of such repetition
would be fairly laid on the tenant if caused by his repealed
defiult.

Your petitioners further represent that it is due alike to
justice and sound policy that, when a lease is corapulsorily
broken under a law of this kind, the tenants' improvements
and unexhausted manures should be taken into account and
valued over to tho landlord, the landlord taking payment of tho
rent due, out of the first of it. If tliis shall not be provided,
the Bill will be a great barrier to the free use of manures
during the whole term of a lease, and a very serious discour.
ageraent to good farming.

The Bill also threatens to introduce a new practice — eviction
during the currency of a year's possession. It can hardly he
conceived to be the inteniioa of the Bill that the landlord
should appropriate the tenant's growing crops. And yet there
are no provisions for enabling the evicted tenant to continue •
the works of tillage, &c., which, in green crops especially, are
necessary during their growth, to obtain a crop.

If extraord nary powers of action are given at all, it should
be provided either that the decree of eviction shall take effect
at the end of the year's tenancy or at the very least that the
tenant on giving security for the rent up to that time sliould ■
be entitled to remain till the close of t'lc year. In every case
he should be entitled by lav/ to have ample time to obtain,
securities. .

As if the provisions of the Bill whic'n' yoar petitioners have
noticed were not sulliciently stringent, there has been super-
added in Committee a clause which, by reference to the Act of
Sederunt and by greatly enlarging its application, enacts that '~
whenever a year's rent falls due the landlord shall be entitled
to have the lease broken and the tenant evicted, without giving'-;
him the chance of finding securities. Ir» the case of ren's
which are payable yearly, a landlord or factor might on the
afternoon of the term day, or on any day afterwards, apply for '
the tenant's immediate extrusion; and in thia enactment, as «
the other, there is no provision for notice or demand in of
payment or previous resort to the ordinary remedies of law,
nor aay recognition of the tenant's property ia his improve-
ment and unexhausted manures.

So inconsiderate indeed is this Bill, that it literally enacts
that, whenever si.i months' rent is due and unpaid the land- -
lord shall have ' the same rights ' against his tenart as wliea
twelve months' rent is due ; and when twelve months' rent is
due shall have the same rights as when two years' rent is due;
which, though probably not so intended, is capaijle of being
construed to mean, that whenever rent falls due it shall be
doubled.

Your petitioners have also to represent that the Repeal of
Hypothec will be very incomplete, and deprived of much of
the economical, coraniercial, and social advantages derivable
from its repeal, if the operation o( the Bill is deferred in the
case of each farm till the expiry of its existing lease. Ia
amendments of the general law it has been usual, and it is
desirable, to have a fixed 'ime known to everybody for com-
mencing their operation all over the country, and not to defer
their action to suit tlie de--irps or interests of each individual.
Under tiie Bill, as itstwnds, no person except the landlord and
tenan^t could know -.vith certainty, for nearly nineteen years
(it may be, indeed, for a much longer period) whether or not
this law was applicable to iiny particular farm. All the
disadvantages would remain from which farmers suffer in
their credit, and many of the disadvantages from which
traders suffer in their dealing.

When general laws have been passed, which trans'erred
burdens from landlords to tenants, no consideration was had
for existing leases. This was the case with the Poor Law
Act, the P>9ad Acts, the School RateSj and many others.

Even in the Hypothec Amendment Act of 1867, though it
cut off rights of hypothec to a large extent, no suggestion was ■
made to postpone its action till the end of each lease.

Nor v/as the slightest consideration given to the tenant'a-
interest under existing leases, when, in a mere procedure bill'-
for the Sheriff's Court", an enactment was passed in 1853, by
which tlie notice for removing a tenant whose lease expired at
Martinmas or Candlemas was cut down to forty days in all,
JBstead of what had previously been the legal term of notice
for such cases — six months besides forty days in the case of
the Martinmas tenant, and nearly nine months besides forty
days 'or a Candhnms removal. Even the above Act of Sede--
runt itself was applied without mercy and without reservation../
to tenants who had existing leases when it was passed. Kor-
ean any trace be historically shown of refinements for except-
iiig tenants under leasca i u cxistenje when hypothec w^

280

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

originally brought iuto uip. But, indeed, the Bill goes far
hejond the reteuliou of hypuda-c duiinj; lea»e8 that are. now
in existence. Il actually reserve^ to everv landlord tiie power
iroia this time till llih Noveraher, 1S80, of making new
leases, which, by the mere fact of being made prior to that
date, shall retain to them their right of hypothec during their
whole endurance. It moreover sets uo limit to that endurance.

Your petitioners therelore pray your Honourable House to
amend the Bill in the particulars herein set forth, or if that
is not done, then to reject the Bill j and your petitioners, as
in duty bound, will ever pray.

J. M. NicoLL, President.
U. CuiiRoa, Secretary,

Eiinburgh, April 16.

CHEMISTRY APPLIED TO
AGRICULTURE.

Professor Fairley, in a lecture on " Chemistry in its applica-
tion to Agritullure," delivered bsfore the York Chamber of
Agriculture on Marcli iOth., traced the history of agricultural
ch'emistry from 1752, when the discovery of carbonic
acid by Dr. B.ack, oi Edinburgh, first indicated the close rela-
iijn between clifmistry and ajjriculture. The growing plant
was a complex living machine having numerous wants, and in
which a great number of processes went on together. It
received heat and light from the sun, and so obtained the
eaergy requisite to decompose the carbonic acid of the air, and
%i dr^aw up moisture containing saline and other mineral sub-
8t inces from tiie soil, building them up into its own substance
aadinto the seed required to continue its species. The greater
number of plants contained a large preponderance of water,
which they derived chiefly Irora the soil or from the moisture
ot the atmosphere in the form of rain. The solid material of
plants was chiefly derived from the carbouic acid of ttie atmos-
phere, while only a small percentage was really taken from
the so'il, and this was represented by the ash and the nitrogen.
The latter came to the plant in the form of ammonia or nitric
acid partly contained in the soil, but probably originally derived
from the nitrogen of the atmosphere. Hence, if a crop were
lirown continuously on the same land, the grower would be in
the position of a man who in his yearly expenditure not only
used the interest of his capital, but a part of the capital
as well, so that sooner or later the process came
to an end. So that it was absolutely necessary that
the proportions contained in the soil of mineral con-
otitnents contained in the ash of a plant of nitrogenous com-
pounds which assisted in forming the nitrogenous materials
found in the plant must be raaintaine'l, and that not only in
relation to the amount of these substances contained in the
crop, but also to make up for leakage by drainage waters, &c ,
from the land. A proper knowledge of his soil was necessary
to the 8ucces!.ful farmer. T'he percentiges of silica, alumina,
iime, magnesia, soda, potash, sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid,
■ond other constituents, mitjht be the '•ame in two so.ls, and
)et they might vary considerably in fer.ility, the one having
'i;e crop-prodncing substances in a more soluble or available
form than the other. Also soils mi^ht have the same com-
: osition and yet vary niucli in their absorptive powers, and
ii.^nce in the benelit'tliey miglit receive and retain from the
addition of particular substances as manure, especially in regard
t . nitrogen. In marked contrast to tliis properly of soils in
r.-gard to ammonia was their feeble attraction for nitrates.
Many considered it likely that the ammonia was oxodised in
the soil before being taken up bv the plant, just as he could
s';ow them by experiment with the platiunm in a flask over
a nraonia, either the slow oxidation as in or iuary burning or
cjiubustiou. In the slow oxidation especially, the products
«cre the same as in the soil. The ammoi.ii was oxidised into
nitric acid or a nitrate. Now it was found that in the applica-
I'^n of ammoniacal manures to land from one-half to nearly
two-thirds of the ammonia disappeared. It was neither to be
found in the crop nor in the soil, but an examinaiion of the
ilr linage water revealed the secret. It iiad changed into
iiitratef, for whicli the s' il had no absorptive powers faster
than the plants could assimilate the latter, li was also found
tliat as a nitrojienous manure nitrate of soda was olte.u more
powerful than an ammoniacal manure coutaiuing the same
proportion of nitrogen, but il must be applied not in the

autumn before, but in the spring when the crop conid use it,
otherwise it was in great measure wasted. In modifying the
properties of soils liming was one of the oldest practices. In
the addition of lime to a soi', it might either act as manure,
supplying what was deficient, or it mijjht act in virtue of its
chemical properties. Lime was a causiic substance, and if the
soil was charged with decayed organic matter, giviug a habitat
to slugs and vermin, the addition of lime powerfully assisted
the decomposition of such organic matter. If the soil con-
tained potash, but locked up in a form scarcely available to
the plant, lime would help to liberate it. Soils were complex
mixtures, containing many chemical compounds, and perhapa
no two were exactly alike. Every manure must be considered
not merely in relation to the crop, bat also in relation
to the soil to which it was applied, and the
problem was one of almost infinite variety. Ttie farmer
should seek to know the soils he manipulated upon, as a man
studied the character of his dearest friend. Tliere was a
certain relation between particular substances used as manure,
and the plants stimulated to grow thereby. Speaking generally,
phosphates stimulated the grasses and those parts concerned
in the production of seed, whilst ammoniacal manures stalk
and the leaf. In turnips and similar biennial plants the root
was really a store of nutriment for the seed in the second year,
hence the very great efficacy of dissolved phosphates ia growing
root crops. Soot was chiefly to be regarded as an ammoniacal
manure, and ceriainly should be valued only as such. It was
he believed, difticult to obtain genuine specimens of this
manure. Of a number of samples sent to him to be analysed
he had not fourd any two alike. He believed soot from coal
was richer in ammonia than that from wood. Of pea soot he
had had no means of forming an opinion. Soot varied in va ue
from £1 to £3 per ton, calculatin}; the ammonia at 15*. per
unit. Dissolved eoprolites were 3s. 3d, per unit, and neutral
phosphates and potash were about 2s. per unit each. It was
best to sell straw at a bad price tlian waste it on the farm,
especially when by its sale other food more valuable in its
manurial residue could be bought for stock feeding on the
farm. Selling straw in large towns gave opportunity of taking
back equivalent in farm or stable manure. There was much
waste iu the storing and collecting of farm-yard manure,
especially where concentrated feeding stuflfs were used. Such
manure wss worth careful storage as much as any artificial
manure of the same value. Unless there was prevention of
loss by drainage, or the animals were fed on the land, con-
siderable but uncertain deduction must be made in the value
of the manure. Of all the concentrated cattle foods,
decorticated cotton cake was that which gave the greatest
value in the resulting manure. Next came rape cake and
linseed cake and undecorticated or whole cottonseed cake. For
maintaining stock and land in fair condition, a judicious use
of these more concentrated foods was best ; and lor fattening
stock, few foods could compare with good palm nut meal in
value. Cocoa-nut cake, locust beans, and the various starchy
foods were also much used iu addition to the food raised on
the farm. Peas and beans were also concentrated food?', and
where grown and sold off the farm, except so far as tliey some-
times answi r>;d a useful purpose in the rotation of crops,
he should not consider them to be restorative.
Much would, however, depend on the manuring of the land
as to whether it was better or worse after growing these crops.
The chief dilference between raw and boiled bones was that
the latter were most active. The action of bones was similar
to that of a dissolved phosphate, but slower and more lasting.
The cause of cover sickuess on land was believed to be the
removal ot certain nece^isary constituents by the too frequeut
growth of the crops on the same land. Of these the salts of
potash and the proportion of available silica (that was silica
that ould be assimilated by tlie plant) were most important.
Mr. Lawes's experiments as to tlie necessities for permanently
maintaining tiie growing power of laud showed for wheat
about 12 cwt. per acre containing one part kaitiit of potash
salts, one part superphosphate, and oue and a half parts of
ammonia salts ; and for barley the same, but about half the
proportion of ammonia salts, or in place of it nitrate of soda.
On very light sorts rape cake manure would no doubt advan-
tageously replace more or less of tlie ammonia salts,

A variety of questions were put to the lecturer of a
technical character, after which a vute of thanks was passed to
the lecturer. The lecture was illustrated by a number of
experiments.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

281

Agricultural ^uhlt ^aUw

The members for East Siiir.ik, Lord Rendlesham and
Colouel Barnp, and those tor South Norfolk, Sir 11. J. Buxtoa
and Mr. Clare S well Read, attended a mdrkel tea at Beccles
©u May 18. Mr. J. 11. Orde presided. Lord Renille-
sham said the deplorable depression in agriculture was a sub-
ject of all-absorbing interest to the owners and occupiers.
The supreme causes were four bad seasons, and the exceed-
ingly low price of wheat. lu fact that cause might go
further back to the time when our flocks were devastated by
the cattle plague, llis Lirdsliip quoted a number of statistics
to show that tliere was in 1878 a considerable diminution in
cattle and sheep in conipar son with 18/3. Another cause
of depression was that the price of wlieat was lower than it
had ever been iu the present century, the reason being the
enormous importation of loreign wlieat. How the Americans
sold the wheat at prices nov/ ruling he could not imagine, see-
ing that an averajie crop was thirteen bu-shels per acre, lie
Was told that England was their only market, and they were
compelled to sell. The increasing importation of wool from
Australia and of cattle from America, wtre also sources of
anxiety arising from the free trade poliop which we had
adopted, and which he supposed we must keep to. He
was glad to iiear of a glimmer of revival in trade in
the North, for he feared the existing depression, by decreasing
consnmption, affected the farmers. At present it seemed
doubtful whether some land would be worth cultivating. At
all events investment in land would not be very profitable.
Tlie question arose, what the landlords could do to assist the
tenant-farmers. And his Lordship said he could only look on
the interests of landlords and tenants as one. Reduction of
rent had been suggested, and although he had not given a
general reduction, he had beea glad to assist in cases whTe it
was necessary. There Was no doubt tiiat competiioQ a few
years ago forced rents up to a fictitious level. Another
suggested remedy was freedom of cultivation, which he con-
idered to the landlord's interest to grant, for he could hardly
conceive that a strict adherence to the four course shift could
be profitable. To the sale of roots, also, he saw no objection,
but as to selling straw and hay he had otfered to allow it in
some cases, and he found that farmers said they generally
found a use for them. The labourers' wages had been a source
of great trouble to the farmer ; they had risen higher, whilst
tiie amount of work done for the increased wage had
diminished. As one means of enabling the farmers to make
better terms with the labourers. Lord lleudlesham suggested
that the landlords should, where possible, provide good
cottages close to the farms. If the lindlords made concessions
and efTfcted improvements the teuHul-farmer must do his best
to keep the rates down, and iu this way landlords and tenants
could struggle on till better times.

Colonel Barjie, iu responding, observed that there were
gentlemen on the other side of polities who were doing
their best to place discord between landlord and tenant
but the fact was, both were in the same boat, and if one sunk,
the other must sink too. Farmers had been losers from bad
liarvests during the last five years. The question he should
like to hear discus ed and answered was this, that supposing we
had a succes>-ion of five good jears, was fanning going lo
answer then ? If not, tlieu the farming and agricultural in-
terest in England was doomed. If this depression was going
GU, the laud would have to be put on a new value. It; was al-
ready said that rents were falling through the natural liw of
supp y and demands That was true, but there were men whose
ancestors a long way back had lived on the same far'n, and
who, rather than leave that occupation, would suffer their
right hands to be cut off. If there was to be a reduction of
r«nt, these men ought to have their rents reduced in the same
way as those who came newly upon alarm. What agricul-
turists required was some material change before tliey could be
put into the position they occupied 20years ajio. It must be
remembered that if rents fell rates must fall in proportion.
Supposing rents to fall materially, how were the landlords to
build farm buildings and new cottages? There was one matter
which he might mention. The tithes were commuted at a
time when agriculture was in a more fiuurishiog condition than
at present. He knew a farm, tlie rent of which was £100, on
which the tithes were commuted at £60. The tithe was sup-
posed to be one- tenth of the produce of the land, the produce
of u farm was generally supposed to be three times its rental.

Therefore the prodace of £100 a-year farm would be £300,
and one-tenth of that would be £30, but £60 woula be one-
nfth. The tit lies appeared to be based upon loo high an
average price of corn.

THE HYPOTHEC SHAM.

Under the above heading Mr. W. Goodlet, of Bolshan
writes to the Soot sum n : —

Those members of Parliament who pledged themselves un-
reservedly, at their election, to the abolition of agricultural
hypothec, should consider how far they are keeping their
pledge, in spirit or le'ter when they, by vote or absencp, pro-
mote a oill whose characteristio leature is to leave under the
leish of that law the whole oi the eiisliug body of farmer?, to
whon they gave the pledge.

To illustrate this^ we may take a prominent case.

When Mr. Vans Agnev/ was proposed as candidate for
Wigtownsbirp, he, at Newton-Stewart, in January, 1873,
made the following declaration : —

"With reference to the law of hypothec, you have been
truly told that it has no effect in this county. It is of no use
to landlords ; I do not feel it to be the least security in this
cwunty. But other counties are diffcreutly situated. I agree
with those who believe tliat the time for it lias gone past, and
as far as it relates to crop and farm stock, 1 v/ould be glad to
see it abolished for I believe that the purpose would bs served
by the English law of hypothec instead of the Scotch law."

Immediately afterwards a large meeting of farmers, held at
Stranraer, passed a series of resolutions, and communicated
them to Mr. Vans Agnew, inviduij him to dechre whether or
not he would accede to them. The first resolution was in
these terms : —

''Tliat the law of agricultural hypothec ought to be totally
abolished, and that the snbstitution for it of the English la*
of distress would be intolerable."

On the 22nd January Mr, Vans Agnew answered that he
would take an early opportunity of stating hisi views at a
meeting of electors at Stranraer. On 31st January he made
this public declaration to that meeting: —

" The first resolution re'ers to the subject of agricultural
hypothec, and that, as 1 stated at Newton-Stewart, is unnec-
essary for the landlord, and as it is a cau.se of irritation to the
farmer, I ani not prepared to maintain it in any way. (Cheers.)
I stated before that I would be glad to see agricultural
hypothec abolished. (Loud cheers.) I stated ia my address
that 1 should not be sorry to see the Euglish law of distress
substituted for it. It has been stated by my friend, Mr.
M'Neel Caird, and by the Lord Advocate that if I knew wliaK
the law of distress was, I would not have said so. (Laughter.)
I believe these gentlemen never said a truer thing in their
lives. (Cheers and loud laughter.) I did not know the terms
of the English law of distress. (Renewed laughter.)"

A few days later at a meeting of electors in Glenluce, Mr,
Miller, an elector, asked a further declaration on the suljject,

Mr. Agnew said : " I am prepared to agree to a measure
that shall abolish agricultural hypothec, but not urban
hypothec."

Mr. MliAER : " Without any substitute ? "

Mr. Agnew : " Without any substitute."

It is a grave but not a dllE;ult question of pub'ic morality^
whether or not suca pledges have been faithfully kept.

THICK SOWING.— A farmer writes iu the North Brifish
J(/ricui///ris/ o( AjtrW I, that he gets a better crip of oats
from sowing 12 bush, of oats per Scotch acre (Ij imperial
acre) than from 8 bush. Now as I only sow 2 bush, of oats
per English acre and as an average get forty for one, and
sometimes more than that, our Scotch friend ought to get 480
bush, per Sco'cli acre ! Erora the sublime to the ridiculous
there seems to be but one step. I presume tliat the 12 bush,
per Scotch acre are sown broadcast and probably ia a high
late district which requires early maturity, but it is aa
astounding quantity and a very costly addition to the other
charges on the fctrm. lie also sows i bush, of wlieat poiT'
Scotch acre — three times as much as I sow, — J. J. Mfuuii

2S2

THE FARMERS' MAGAZINE,

ARTIFICIAL MANURES.

At a special j<eat;rai meetinjt of the East Kent Cham ber o
Agriculture, held at the Guildhall, Canterbury, on Saturday
Blarcli 23nd, Mr. Basil ilodges ia the cliair, Mr, Bernard
Byer, f.C.S., A.I.C. (consulting chemist to the Devon
County Agricultural Society, the Notts Cliamher ol Agricul-
ture, &c), of 17, Great Tower Street, London^, read a psper
oa "The Analysis of \rtiricial Miiuures, and the buying and
using thera to advantage ; with some Observations on- the au-
eshausteJ value of Teeding Stuffs."

After Some preliminary rem:irks on the relations of scientific
research and practical agriculture, Mr. B.-rnard Dyer described
briefly the nature and composition of ilie vhtious artifkiai
manures in general use, including nitrate of soda, sulphate of
ammoniji, dried blood, shoddy, fish manure, superphosphate,
bone dust, dissolved bones, special eompomid laauures,
Peruvian guano, potash salts, etc., mentioning the more com-
mon kinds of adulteration practised with regard to each by
unscrupulous dealers in spurious raauures. Numerous in-
stances were given of such a<lultera( ions, which had receu'ly
come under the immediate notice of the keturer, v?ho stated
that he had several times ot late analysed manures sold at £8
per ton which tuned out, on analysis, to be only worth a few
shillings. He specially warned his hearers against the
rubbishing articles which were being constantly paJmed. oil, in
Kent among the hop growers under the name cf shoddy and
wool dust, rags and refuse fibres of all sorts being frecjiently
sold at the price of good shoddy, or wool dust, which on
analysis scarcely yielded any nitrogen worth mentioning. The
practice of adulterating manures had greatly decreased of late
years owing to the erjertions of ths analysts, but it still
flourished more or less in most parts cf the country, a fact
which was greaily to be deprecated, not only on i-xcount of the
injury caused to the pockets of the farmer, but also on scconnt
of the annoyance it cauedto the majority ot the manure mann-
lacturers who were for the most part honest men, and who often
had a great deal to contend with in competing with nnscrupuluus
dealers who attemp'edito undersell them by olfering adulterated
goods, and who necessarily reflected a great de.%\ of unmerited
disgrace upon the whole trade. An upright dealer was gene-
rally willing to have his wares submitted to the test of
analysis, and the most satisfactory way of doing business was
for the farmer to ask for a wri ten guarantee that the manure
he was buying was of a definite quality, or strength, and to
submit a properly drawn sample to a cornpetsnt chemist for
analysis. In case of the article being inferior to the guaran-
tee— which even in the most straightforward transactions
would sometimes occur by oversight, or accident in raising the
manure — the matter could then be satisfactorily arranged on
the basis of the analysis. It was only the rogue who salted
his nitrate of soda, and limed his hone dust, that shruak from
analysis, and regarded the chemist as a natural enemy. The
term " pure superphosphate '' which was often used to lead
farmers astray, had no real signification, as it might be applied
to manures containing 20 per cent, and to others containing
40 per cent, of soluble phosphate. All such manures should
bs explicitly soid as containing a certain miairaum of their
principal lerlilsing ingredients. There were many kinds of
bonfs in the market — varying from raw bones
to the highly steamed bones which constituted a refuse
product of the glue-maker. All were valuable, but their
value differed very materially, and it was so easy to substitute an
inferior for a superior kind that it was sekora safe to buy bone
dust except ou analysis. The lecturer did. not consider that
the term " dissolved bones " as used in commerce ouuht to be
considered as denoting a mixture of bones and acid and
nothing else ; if sold a« " pure dissolved bones " there should
decidedly be no other material present ; but the mixtures
sually sold in the trade as " dissolved bones" were oltea, for
certain reasons which he enumerated, more convenient to the
farmer than the | are article. lie certainly held that bones
should in all cases form the basis of such manures, but
lie also held that the additun of some mineral
superphosphate, and of a little (oreign nitrogenous material
was of little con^e^u^nce, provided that the mauure con-
tained a proper guaraute>d percentage of soluble phosphate,
insoluble bone phosphate, and nitrogen equ 1 to amu'onia.
Some persons objected to tlie sale of such mi>Lture8 undei the
name of dissolved ijoues, but the term was well understood in
the trade, and though uut literally aocuritc could scarcely, in

his opinion, be now-a-days regarded in the lig^lt of a decep-
tion. As he had already said, if pure dissolved bones were
re(]uired they should be specially bargained for. Peruvian
guano was alluded to at some length, the lecttsrer drawing
attention to the system under which the guano now imported
was sold by the present con ignee«, the Peruvian Guano Com-
pany. The price of every cargo was fixed according to its
composition as obtained by analysis, and the farmer therefore
could now buy guano at a rate proportional toils comparative
value. He (Mr. I>ver) had recently analysed some very fine
specimens of Peruvian gu^no brought within the last two or
three months from the Guanape I^lands. He wished particur-
la-rly, however, to warn fanners of a danger that often arose m
buying guano from dealers instead of directly from the agents
of the company. Tliis was ths temp'ation which existed to a
not over honest trader, tabuy the cheaper kinds of guano, and
to retail it at the price of a superior article — merely guarantee-
ing it as " genuine." When buying indirectly, therefore, the
farmer should always insist upon having a sample analysed in
order to see tiiat, it paying for high-class guano, he really gets
it. Tlie system of fixing the price according to analysis was
one which the Pe uvian Government had done well to saui:-
tiou, as it was calculated to bring back guano into good
repute in the eyes of the farmers, many of whom had formerly,
given up its use owing to the uncertainty of its composition
and its inconsistently uniform price. Alter some remarks on
the method of drawing simples for analysis, and also on the
qnestion of the valuation of manures, which he frankly stated
was one in which such complexities often arose that the
chemist could not in the nifijority of eases give an ofl'-hand
opinion as to money value— the lecturer referred briefly to the
best methods of distributing manures in the £eld. He theti,
proceeded to point out the general principles which
governed the value of the mannrial residues of oil cakea-
and other feeding stuffs, referring to Mr. Lawes' well-known
tables of valuation, and Dr. Voelcker's proposed raodifieatiott
of the same. Then as, in his (the lecturer's) opinion ; prac-
tically litrtle difiiculty in fixing tiie compensation to be paid lo-
an outgoing tenant or the uneshaiwted value of oil-cake, &i,
given to sheep feeding off roots on the lan.t itself, provided,
proper proof were afforded tliat tlie quantity claimed had really
been so utilised. But where cake was consumed in the
farm yard the matter was far more complex. Very few
farm yards were properly constructed aiid kept in proper orderj
If anything like the whole of the manurial value was to be
regained, the yard must be covered in and the dung-lieap pro-
tected from rain ; and there must be properly constructed
gutters to collect the liquid drainings from the stall*
into a suitable liquid manure tank ; and after all these precau-
tions, the manure must be carefully carried on to the field and
properly spread. All these oircurastances formed formidable
difficulties in the way of valuing the residual mauure of feed-
ing staffs, and it was obviously unreasonable for an outgoing
tenant to expect much compensntion for liis outlay in oil-cake,
if the greater part of the unexhausted value had already been,
squandered into the gutters and ditches instead of finding its-
way on to the laud. Sati.slactory farm yard arrangements of
course re(|uired CHpital, which, however, was a question to be
settled between landlord and tennnt. Many agriculturists,
would do well to pay attention to Mr. iJechi'a oft repeated
exhortations on the economy oi the farm, yard, and to lay to
heart some of the excellent precepts of this energetic veteran
friend of the British fanner.

After some discr«ssion, the proceedings terminated witli
votes of thanks to the lecturer and chairman.

CATTLE DISEASE.— Several cases of disease among cattle
have occurred recently in the Leightonslone Division
of the county of Huntingdon. Nineteen pigs on the
farm of Mr. William Dent, ,at Ellington, were attacked with
typhoid fever, of which four died and the rest were killed.
The whole of the flock of sheep on the farm of Mr. W^
IL Gibbons at Molesworth, 2-25 in number, have been reported
to the local authority to be affected with sheep^cab. A cow
belonging to Mr. G. Armstrong, at Little Stukeley, was
attacked with pleuro -pneumonia, and was slaughtered at
once.

THE FARMEK'S MAGAZINE.

283;

SWISS AGRICULTURE. i

Tlie Geneva Correapondeut of the TiiMi writes under date
April 12 :—

" It may be some slight consolation to the agriculturist of
England to kuow that they ate nut alone in their mislortuue
and thai their cries of distress have touud a sympathetic echo
iu a country so far away ami so ditfereuily siiuated as
Switzerland. Letters have lately appeared in many Swiss
papers bearing a srikiug resemblance to those on this
suliject which have been printed in the Times, and one
of )our leaders and Lurd Huntly's reccLt speech in the
House ol Lurds have been, translated and much commented
upon by some of the principal journals here. The com-
plaints oi Swiss agriculturists liave reterence less to bad
seasons and short crops than to dear hiijour and foreign com-
petition. Young men, they say, do not remain in the country
as their fatliers were wont to do ; they prefer the hie of
towns, they wander away to otiier lands ; wages, as a conse-
quence, have risen, wliile the prices of agricultural produce
have fallen. The warehouses oi i^jjiuanahorn are crowded
with Austrian and Hungarian coru and flour, and even the
llcuscjen (boanti ul hay liarvest) of 187S lias proved a doubt-
ful blessing, lor milk is selling in North Switzerland at II
centimes the lure (^e'-jual to about Id. for \\ pint) and butter
at lUd. per lb , and lieavy inijiortations ol American cheese
have made tlie home cheese business a losing business. An
attempt was lately made to introduce the beetroot culture into
canton Aaxgau, and it was proposed to turn. the monastery of
Muri into a sugar factory ; but when the matter came to be
thoroughly investigated, unJer the direction of Dr. Kramei,
of Zurich, a great authority in agricultural matters, it was
found that while the highest price obtainable for the root was
It. per cwt., it could not be grown under If. 30c. to If. 60c. the
cwt., so the project had to be iibandoned. It is rather remarkable
thai, while the English farmers are complaining of the effects
ol game laws^ S*ies farmers are suffering greatly Irom the
absence of similar enactments, and the inevitable extermina-
tion of small birds wliich comes of free and promiscuous
shooting. True, most of the cantons have lately passed laws
prohibiting la chasse during certain montJis of the year, but,
as yet, the balance of nature is far from having been restored,
for a Srt'iss ' sportsman ' kills every liw thing he tees that is
neither human kind nor strictly private property — larks,
t)i rushes, robins, sparrows,, and even hedgehogs and owls —
and the ' hunter ' who rolls over a fox is as proud of his
achievement as the Indian shekarry who puts a bullet through
the head of a Bengal tiger. One notable conseuuenca of this
indiscriminate slaughter is that tome districts are every
autumn literally overrun with field-mice. In one commune
of Zurich alone 60,000 of these pests were killed last autumn,
and the Kaikafer (May-bugs) have greater terrors for the
Swiss farmer than either dear labour or foreign, competition.
The damage they do is enormons ; individual comraune&^have
been known to p^y as much as 4,000f. in premiums for their
destruction in the course of a single year. In 1876 the district
of Meilen (Zurich) paid in this way 6,000f., and the ifa?X/'/tf?"
caught and destroyed measured l,0i0 hectolitres (22,880
gallons).. Birds are justly considered to be the most lormid-
able foes of these destructive insects, and it is significant of
the importance which is beginning to be attnched to their
preservation in Switzerland that the Swiss Society for the
protection of animals has just addressed a Latin letter to Leo
Xlil., imploring liiin to use his great influence in favour of
the birds ' masacred in enormous tjuantities in Italy and else-
where^ to tlie great detriment of agriculture.' The Society
are ot opinion that a solemn exhortation from his Holiness
will have a more powerlul effect than either the warnings of
the press or the terrors of the law. The letter will be for-
warued to tlie i'ope through the intermediary of the Federal
Chancellary.

" iVIuch has been written of late in the Times and elsewhere
touching enterprise in agriculture, and the style of living
practised by English farmers. In tiiese respects Switzerland
is the antithesis of England. Whatever other advantages
small properties may possess, they do not, so far as this
country is concerned, appear to develope a spirit of enterseipr
in those who own and cultivate them. Heaping, mowing, or
haymaking machines are rarely seen in Switzerland, and though
winnowing machines are iu common use, so, also, are the
thraahing-dour and the ftji). Old-lashioued ploughs reiiuiriug

the services both of ploughman and driver, and'often of a small
boy aie still in vogue, and the methods of tarmint; are gene-
rally slovenly und Oackward. But it must be admitted that what
tJiese people lack in enterprise they lUcike up t\ir in thrift, and
th.if,. despite their slowness and the auliiiuity of their idea'*,,
they have the keenest of ejes lor the main chance and a won-
derful knack at money making. It olten ImppeiH that peasant
proprie.ors, whose outward appearance indicates a condition
bordering on poverty, and who, together witii their wiveSj
work harder than any oi their hired servants, are worth in
flocks and herds and real estate £5,000 or £t'i,000, to say
nothing of savings banked and out at interest. But, with the
exception of sudi pleasure as the sense of ownership bestows,,
their lives are hard and joyless, and there are probably few
persons who would not preler the life of an Englisil
iarmer, with his hunters, liis sherry, and his piano, even with,
his present troubles thrown in.

" Wiih a view to lightening the pressure o( hard times and
in the hope that they may thereby secure a constant supply of
cheap bread, the people oi Zurich, or rather a part ot thein,
are proposing to m^ke the Slate a dealer in grain. They
desire, in lact, to establish in their canton the system which
wrought so much evil iu i'rance iu the last contury, which wa&-
denounced by i'urgot more than lOO years ago, and abolished
at his instauc-e in l??!. A law carrying out this idea has-
been prepared and will be submitted to the popular vote a
few weeks hence. It will be interesting to watch the late of
this prcjcct, for, by a grotesqe coincidence, its promoters, who
are among the most advanced politicians, are at the same time-
the strenuous supporters of the Culiurk^impf and ardent
opponents of the restoration ot the punishment of deiith.
This party, though, at present rather under a cloud, is still'
very powerful, and its ideas may be aa impoitant factor in,
the political tuture of Switzerland.!'

THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY
AND THE ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY.

A meeting of persons interested in Irish farming, and'
favourable to the amalgamation of the Agricultural Depart-
ment of the Royal Dublin Society with the Royal Agricultural
Society,. was held at the Shelbourne Hotel on April II, to
consider the proposals of the government respecting the
future status of the Agricultural De;jartment of the Royal
Dublin Society, and the probable effect on the improvement
of Irish agriculture on the adoption or rejection of these
proposals.

i/ord Talbot de Malaliide took the chair. The following
resolut'ons were passeJ : —

Proposed by Lord Monck, seconded by Earl of Rosse, and-
carried unanimously, "That in the opii'ion of this meeting
the creation ol a comprehensive society for the improvement,
of Irish farming by the union of the Auricultural Departmeu
of the Royal Dublin Society with the Royal Agricul'ural Sj-.
ciety is most desirable, and would greatly conduce to efficiency
economy, and convenience of management."

Proposed by Lord Powerscourt, seconded by Lord Newry,
and carried unanimously : — " That the occasion of the recon-
stitution of the Royal Dublin Socieiy aiipears to this meeting
to offer a suitable opportunity for carrying into effect such a,
union on the basis suggested by tiie report of the joint com-
mittees of the R .yal Dublin Society and the Royal Agricul-
tural Society^ as approved of at general meetings of both those
societies."

3. Moved by Sir Thomas Butler, and seconded by Mr.
L. ToTTE.NH.vM — -"That this meeting desires to express a
hope that the Royal Dublin Society will feel itself able to coine
to an arrangement with the government respeciing the provi-.
sion of accommodation for the agricultural department of the
society, inasmuch as this meeting is of opinion that such an
arrangement, coupled with the union of the societies, would
tend greatly to promote the advancement of agricultural im
provement in Ireland."'

4. Moved by llr. CiiALO^ER, and seconded by Mr. Maddtm
— "That a committee, consisting of Lord Talhot de Malahide,.
Lord Newry, Lord Cloncurry, Mr. Samuel Garuett, Mr. B,
Walsh, and Mr. Eethertonhaugh, be appointed to wait on the
councils of the Royal Dublin Society and the Royal Agri-
cultural Society, and to impress on those bodies the opinons
expressed iu Ib-e foregoing retiolutious."

281

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

A RECTOR'S COMPLAINT.

" M. " writes to the Standard : —

Doiibtles* TOHiiy thousands have read the articles and cor-
resnondpiice which have appeared from lime to time ia the
Sluiiilard on the sulject ot agricultural depression— I might
say its ruiuatiou — with a very keen interest. Experienced
men, whose life-time has been spent in faniiiuK, appear to be
as much at a loss to know how to act lor the best as one forced
by circumstances to take to it late in lite. Fur not a few the
qups'ioii is solved by their bankruptcy, whilst others, in order
to save what tliey can irom the wreck, sell off everything and
give up their business.

IVrliaps there are no ftreater suff.'rers than those situated
as I aiu, vii. — the rector of a parish, whose sole endowment
is a lilebe ol two hundred and seveniy seres of heavy clay land,
two-tliirds of it arable, exchauged at the time of the enclosure
for tlie tithe. Tiiis was '• farmed for leaving" several seasons
before it was ceded in the autumn o( 1877 ; and I was obliged
to give back the cliief part of the lialf-year's rent, by " the
custom of the country ;" and unless I went to law could get
no compensation for bad cultivation.

I have tried iu vain to let the farm, which is little to be
wondered at, as so many are in tlie market owned by "county
people," who cau give leases and other privileges which I can-
not. Whilst I have tiad li'tle to sell, it has taken nearly all
my "private, means to get it into cultivation so lar as I have
done, and now th« prospects are so bad that I fear I shall not
pet back half my outlay, to say nothing of losing all rent. I
tried last year to get some reraissi n of income-tax, as there
was no sort of emolument, and the result has been that I am
now charged iu addition, under Schedule 1>, as occupier, on
the estimated rental. Under this heading 1 have paid more
than the lotal profits of my benefice in the hst three years.

A terrible alternative seems to be placed before me — either
to break up my home of sixteen years, and go almost penniless
OQ the wide world, with wife and six children, or else stay on,
hoping against hope, till the beneice is sequestrated for
liabilities that I cannot meet.

THE ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY'S

SPRIxXG SHOW.

(Abridged from the Irish Farmers' Gazette^)

Tl.e arrival of Easter, clad in the snowy garb of
Christmas, did not betoken auspicious weather for the
Show week. On the Tuesday morning, when the Show
opened, the weather was bleak, wet, and unpromising, but
as the day wore on it began to improve, and since that
time it was cold and dry. The attendance was fair, but
we have seen the yards more crowded than they were at
this time.

SHORTHORNS.

On looking through the sectioB of yearling bulls for
the first time on Tuesday moruing, we confess we felt dis-
appointed in the general appearance of the animals ; but a
more minute scrutiny showed that, although there were
no remarkable " plums" in the section, still there was^a
considerable number of useful animals which fairly re-
deemed the section from mediocrity. There were, no
doubt, a number of " culls " ; but this was not more than
might be exjiccted in a section which numbered
no less than 143 animals. It was not difficult to
pick out a score or thirty of the best of the
lot, but it was the placing of the best that gave the
judges trouble ; for several young bulls were so equally
matched that it was almost a toss up which was the
belter animal. When the figures were at last put up
those who had been looking on outside the ring were, on
the whole, well satisfied. The Jiirl of Caledon has been
an exhibitor in Kildare-street for many years, with fair
success ; but it was the first time that a representative of
the Caledon herd was placed at the head of the poll, and
it affords us much pleasure to record the fact. General
Kobcrls, Lord Cakdou's iirst prisic yearling, is a neat,

nice-looking bull, very good in the back, with good touch,
and well turned all over.

The aged bull section comprised 18 entries, amongst
which were several auiiuals which have been distinguished
at previous shows. The first prize in the aectiiiu, and the
Chalouer Plate as the best bull in the shov/, of any
breed, over two years old aud under six years of age, was
awarded to Mr. M'Cliutock liuubury's Anchor, bred by
Mr. Ghaloner, which was the winner of the plate last
year. Anchor retains his grand style, and looked re-
markably fresh. His breeder and his owner have both
great reason to be proud of him ; for he is certainly
about the best bull ever bred iu Ireland. jNlr. Hanuan's
St. Kouan was again put second to Anchor. This ia
another really grand bull, aud he has kept his position
well from the first.

The yearling heifers formed, as on many previous occa-
sions, the cream of the show, aud the judges marked their
sense of th« excellence of the section by a special memo-
randunl of approval. The first prize was again won by
Mr- (-lumbleton — on this occasion with his heifer Cassia,,
descended from the Castle Grove Coquette. Cassia is a
very stylish heifer — good in the crops and in the back,
well iilied at the heart, deep and rich in the flank, has
plenty of substance, and is all through a top heifer. The
second priz* was awarded to Mr. Vt'^ise's Empress of Fame,
by Mr. Downiug's Great Eame, and from a dam descended
from the Ardfert Abbey herd. She is a neat heifer, but
might be sweeter in the touch.

The first prize in the section of three-year-old heifers^
was awarded to Mr. Taaffe's Snowflake — a heifer of great
substance, which was first in her class at the Galway Royal-
Show. Lord Courtown's Baby was marked as having
" merit ; " but not sufScient, we suppose, for the second-
prize.

In the cow section Bates' blood was victorious, Mr.
Copehaving won both first and second prizes. The first
prize cow^ — Baroness of llaby — is a very stylish animal,
and deserved her place ; but we confess Vi'e did not expect
that the second priae would have gone to Raby's Laundress,
which was not only in low condition, but wanted substance
and style ; which, especially substance, existed iu a marked
degree in Mr. Taafi'e's Daisy the Second, which was highly
commended.

In the section of two-year-old heifers Mr. Gumbleton^s
Emma Opnponas. was first. This heifer was first in the
yearling section at last year's Spring Show, and has im-
proved wonderfully since that time.

Thirty-six two-year old bulls made a good display in
point of numbers, and the section contained several
valuable animuls, irrespective of those which were
specially noticed by the judges. The first prize was
awarded to Major O'Reilly's Prince of Song, by the late
Mr- Barnes' Grand Prince, from a dam by King Richard
the Second, and going back to Lamp of Lothian blood.
Major O'Reilly's bull has great substance and good flesh.
Mr. Richard Reynell succeeded in getting the second
place with his bull Agamemnon, by j\Ir. Booth'"3
Lieutenaut-Gcneral, from a dam of the Westland Sweet
Brier family, by Mr. Booth's King James. This is rather
a stylish bull, with good flesh ; a little slack behind the
shoulder- The third prize went to Mr. Ilunnan's
Imperial Lind (400 IG), by his breeder's gi-and prize bull
St. Ronan, from a dam of the well known and valuable
Jenny Lind family, of which Mr. llannan has many
excellent representatives in his herd at Riverstowu. Im-
perial Lind has good hair, rich flesh, and is well turned
behind.

The Hereford breed was not largely represented.

As usual, there were not many entries of jiulled Anirus
cattle ; but as that breed is giudually gaining ground iu

THE FARMER'S MAG \ZINE.

285

Ireland, it is to be linped that by-anJ-bye the breed will
be more nuiuenm-ly rejjreseiited at our shows.

There was only one Ayrshire cow — a very nice one —
which belongs to Mr. J. D. Paul.

We have seen a much larger turn-out of Kerries at the
Spring Show. Bulls of all ages compete in oue section ;
vf htreas there ought to be at least two sections for bulls.

Fat cattle were not so numerous as usual at the Easter
Show, and were not quite up to the mark of former years
in point of liiiish. The llerefords, however, were very
superior, and this may also be said of some of the short-
horus, particularly the Duke of Leinster's three-year-old
heifer, which was not ouly a very sweet animal, but re-
markably even and well-liuished. She won the special
prize as the best of all the prize heifers.

There was a fair show of swine, arid the quality ia the
coloured breed was over the average.

PRIZE LIST.

BREEDING CATTLE.

SHORTHORNS.

Bulls, calved in 1878 — First prize, Eirl of Cnledon (Gene-
ral Roberts) ; second, Etrl of Erne (Jack Tar) ; third, VV.
Cliarley (Lord Beaeouafield) ; fourth, Earl of Caledon (Lord
of the Isles.

Bulls, cilved in 1877.— First prize, Major O'Reilly, M.P.
(Prince of Soog) ; secoad, R. Reynell (Agamemnon) ; thiid.
B. llannan (Imperial Lind).

Bulls, calved in or prior to 1876. — First prize and cup, T.
K. M'Clintock, Bunbury (Anchor) ; second, B. Ilaanau (St.
Ronan).

Heifers, calved in 1878. — First prize, R. J. M. Gumbleton
(Cassia) ; second, C. W. Wise (Empress of Fame).

Heifers, calved ia 1877.— First prize, R. J. M. Gumbleton
(Emma Opoponax) ; second, W. Scott (Brilliant).

Heifers, calved in 1876. — Prize, J. P. Taaffe (SnowJlake).

Cows. — First and second prizes, J. A. M. Cope (Baroness
of Raby and Raby's Laundress).

IlEREl'ORDS.

Bulls, calved in 1878. — Prize, G. N. Purdon (Rezic/ue).

Bulls, calved in 1877» — Prize, N. G. Purdon (Neptune).

Bulls, calved in 1876.— Prize, G. A. Stephens (Royal
Duke).

Bulls, calved in or before 1875. — Prize, Major Kearney
(Truro).

Heifers or cows, in calf or having had a living calf vtithin
twelve months. — Prize, Major Kearney (Cherry Blossom).

POLLED ANGUS.

Bulls. — First prize, W. Owen (Black Knight) ; seoond, L.
M'Guinness (Sir William of Belleek).

Heifers or cows. — Prize, W. Owen (Nannie the Third),

KERRY.

Bulls, equal. — First prize, J. Robertson (Border Chief.)
and T. Butler ; second. A.. Bole (Mountain L»u).

Heifers, calved in 1877. — Prize, Earl of Clonrael.

Heifers, calved in 1876. — Prize, Eirl of Clonmel.

Cows. — First prize, Earl of Clonmel ; second, J. Robertson
(Blackberry).

DEXTER.

Bulls, any age. — First prize. Earl of Clonmel (Kerry Re-
cruit) ; second, J. Dunne.

Heilers, calved in 1877. — Prize, G. A. Stephens.

Heifer^-, calved in 1876. — Prize, J. Robertson (Iresine).

Cows. — First prize, equal W. G. Henry and Colonel Sir
R. Palmer ; second, Earl of CloumeL

ALDERNEXS.

Bulls. — Prize, G. Keogh.
Cows. — Prize, G. A. Stephens (Lady Alice).
FAr CATTLE.

SHORTHORNS.

Oxen, calved before 1876. — Prize, Major Kearney.

Cows, any age. — First prize. Earl of Caledon (Rhoda) ;
second, T. K. M'Clintock (Clara).

Heifers, not exceeding fourycirs-old. — First prize, Duke of
Leinster ; second, S. Garnett.

HEREFORDS.

Oxen, calved in 1877- — Prize, Major Kearney.
Oseu, calved before 1S76. — Prize, Major Kearney.

Cows, any age. — First prize, J. C. Walshe (Ducluss) ;
secouu. It.. W. Reynell.

Heifers, not exceeding four-years-old. — Prize, J. C. Walshe.

KERRY.S.

Heifers, not exceeding four-years-old. — Prize, Eirl of
Clonmel.

AHY OTHER VARIETY,

Oxen. — First prize, S Garnett ; second, 11. W. ReynelL
Cows.— Prize, II. P. Truell.
Heifers. — Prize, Earl of L mgford.

BREEDING PIGS.

COLOURED.

Boars, six months and not exceeding twelve months old.—
First and second prizes. Lord Clermont.

Boars exceeding twelve months and not exceeding twenty-
four months old. — Priz-^, Lord Clermont.

Boars, exceeding t venty-lour and not exceeding thirty-sia
months old. — Prize, Viscount de Vesci.

Sows. — First prize, Lord Clermont ; second. Earl of Erne.

Three pigs. — First prize Lord Clermont ; second. Miss F,
G. Bell.

WHITE.

Boars, six months and not excfcding twelve months old.—*
First prize, J, L. Naper ; second. Earl of Clonmel.

Boars exceeding twenty-four, and not exceeding thirty-six
months old. — Prize, T. Butler.

Sows. — First prize, J. Molloy ; second. Earl of Wicklow.

Three pigs. — First prize, J. MuUoy ; second. Earl of Clou-
mel.

Litter of not les.« than sis pigs. — First prize, Earl of Clon-
mel ; second, J. Molloy.

LIVE STOCK NOTES.

Anent the subiject of imparting fresh vigour to the
Shorthorn breed of cattle, comes a paragraph fi-om the
Baiiffahirc Journal, in which it is stated that Earl Tau-
kerviUe, with that object in view, is trying the experiment
of crossing Shorthorns with the wild white cattle of
Chillingham Park ; the renovating material, lios Scoti^
e/it! (?)— which is supposed to be more nearly related ta
the extinct JBon prl/uit/c/unx than any other existing breed
of cattle — being nearer at baud and, presumably, more to
his lordship's taste than Bo.s Ainericraiits, recently alluded
to iu this column. There can be little doubt but that
fresh vigour may be obtained in this way ; hut an in-
creased tendency to black or brown noses and black
tips to horns — which is now quite prevalent enough
amongst Shorthorns — together with the addition of red
ears, might not be regarded in the light of an advantage.
There may possibly be another balance to be struck be-
tween a gain in point of style and " grandeur" and a loss,
in respect of docility and early maturity. However, that
remains to be seen. The paragraph alluded to is as fol-
lows : — " The company present at the let of the Chil-
lingham grass parks last week had an opportunity of
inspecting a fiue young bull, half-bred, from the celebrated
Chilliugham wild white cattle. To the experiment of
ciossing this 'untamed, unmixed, and unstained stock''
with the Shorthorns we already alluded, the object ia
view by the Earl of Taukerville being to impart fresh,
blood and constitution to the Shorthorns. The first cross
was between a wild bull and two Shorthorn heifers, one
of which calved in June 1877 a very fine heifer calf, pure
white, with grand coat of hair, white muzzle, and red
tipped ears. Ia the same month the other heifer pro-
duced a bull calf which is more of the wild type. It has
a brown muzzle and spotted nose, black eyes and black
eyelashes, and red tipped ears ; it is also a white, and has
splendid coat of hair. One of the heifers has since pro-
duced, to her own son, a bull calf, a perfect beaut}', beirg
pure white, with white uose, red tipped ears, a Hue coat
of hair, and good shape. It is iutcuded also to cross back
with two of the wild heifers."

28&

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Some few weeks sinre comment was made in this
column ou a statement which appeared in the American
S^oclmnn- to the effect that it had been said that " a pig
which lias once passed through the Chicago Stock-yards
never afterwards has a sound hoof," an d that Journal now
explains that the remark was " intended as a figurative
one." Figurative of what? On referring to the extract
we tind that it goes on to say " there is authority that the
yards on the margin of the Missouri are more easily
eleaned, and are n o:e likely to ba in good condition than
the yards iu Chicago. The enormous extent of the latter
— covering with their read, tracks, and sheds, an extent
of 370 acres — almost precludes the idea of cleanliness.
They can accommodate 20,000 head of cattle at once,
and the sales often amount to 4,000 or £,000 a day.
Where such an immense business is done the tendency t)0
the neglect of even the ordinal y precautions must be
ereat." Just so ; but what is it that affects the sound-
ness of pigs' hoofs, even figuratively speaking ? For the
Ainerican Stockman now declares that it is '' not aware
that anybody ever heard of any disease of their feet," in
America, of ooursa.

Since writing the above we have received the National
Lh'c Stock Journal of Chicago, in which appears an
editorial statement that the story about the pigs is
■' simply nonsense, and has no foundation vfhatever. It
is purely a oreation of the brain of some irresponsible
newspaper scribbler." And at this point we are content to
leave the matter.

Although the American press has been unanimous in
deprecating the embargo laid' ou their expert cattle trade^
as likely to affect injuriously the newjy-developed industry
to the detriment of the country, the New York World
is now disposed to regard the matter in a dit&rent light,
and says " the cattle and beef exporters of this country
can wfU afford to wait for the demand in Great Britain for
our beef to open British ports. There is neither reason
nor necessity for begging the privilege of furnishing fresh
meat to English cotton spinners for less than it is furnished
to American lock-makers." Then why has all the
noise been made ? The American Stockmetn, in com-
menting on this statement of the World, which
it endorses,. remarks that "the battle is to be between
the British farmer and the English consumer of meats
and not between the latter and the American producer."
But why should the American producer caie aught
about an export trade if it is unrtnumerative ? There will
be no battle between the English producer and the English
consumers, but there will be one between British farmers
and British landowners or the Legislature which is the
same thing. But on any question relative to the impor-
tation of food products.

The Toronto Mail of the 28th ult. states that the Allan
boat Manitoban is to take the first shipment of catll^ for
the United Kingdom from the port of Halifax. 'Y:\itMad
goes onto say " this shipment will demonstrate the ad-
vantage of Halifax as having a shorter sea voyage, and
will be the first of a large "and important trade which
merits every attention. The scene near the Richmond
railway station just now is a lively one. The old horse
car stables have been converted into temporary quarters
for the large drove of Canadian cattle imported for ship-
fmcnt to England. The line of railway as far as can be
seen is aUve with men and teams and freight cars, con-
trasting strangely with the lack of business in town."
But where are the cattle to coine from to supply a " large
and important trade ? "

With regard to the importation of stud stock to Aus-
tralia the Sijdii.cy Mail says : — " The quarantine arrange-
wents of the Victorian Chief Stock Inspector do not atford
salisfacliofl to would-be importers. The proposed charges

in connection with the quarantine are said to be e^orbi'
tautly high, and the rules which importers are to follovv
so absurdly framed that they almost amount to a prohibi-
tion. Few persons will assert that the measures adopted
in this port (Sydney) to exclude stock diseases are not
sufncieutly strict. Yet it would seem that they are liberal
when compared with those of Victoria, and we are in-
formed that several Victorian breeders intend to ship their
stock from England for Victoria via Sydney. This course,
doubtless, will be as disagreeable to the importers as it
will be unfair to our Stock Department. It vfas not
intended that Sydney should be the quarantine ground for
Victoria, and we hope that the authorities of our sister
colony v.ill not permit the Victorian Stock Department
to indulire in vagaries which would bring about such an

unsatisfactory state of affairs We have

favourable reports from the stock quarantine station on
Shark Island. The score of animals located there are in
healthy condition, and show to greater advantas^e now
than when they landed. Properly, but few persons are
allowed to visit the island, and no one is allowed to land
if not accompanied by the inspector. .... }Ax^
Y'eo's imported cow Duchess of Dennington, at present ia
quarantine in Shark Island, on last Friday week dropped-
a fine heifer calf by Tempter. We are further informed
that all the quarantine stock are in fair condition and quite
healthy."

We have recently alluded to the absence of any report
from the Cattle Truck Committee, and in reference to the
same subject Mr. B. Mead, of Aylesbury, writes to a>
contemporary as follows : " Seeing the lloyal Agricul-
tural Society offer a prize of khO and a gold medal for
the best wagon for conveying perishable goods by rail,
1 should be very much obliged if you will allow me to
say that in the late competition for railway cattle trucks,
held at South Kensington nearly twelve months ago, no
reward has been made or any report whatever issued.
I trust that iu the forthcoming competition, should no
award be made, exhibitors will at least have the satis-
faction of reading some report on the relative merits- of
the exhibits sent in." We hope so to.

Increase in noted herds of Shorthorns has been pub-
lished as follows : — In the Hulker herd, the property of
the Duke of Devonshire : February 19th, white bull
calf, sire 7lh Duke of Gloucester, dam Grand Duchess^
Oxford 32nd ;. March I5th, red heifer calf, sire 7lh Duke
of Gloucester, dam Winsome 4th. In the Underley
herd, the property of Lord Btctive : February 20th,.
roan bull calf, sire Lightburne's Duke of Oxford 22ud,
dam Water Lass ; March 1st, red bull calf, sire Lord of
the Isles, dam Cherry Cheek; March 3rd, roan heifer
calf, sire Turcoman, dam Butterfly Princess 2nd ;
March 10th, red-and-white heifer calf, sire Duke of
Undeiley, dam Lady V/'eston ; March 27th, roan heifer
calf, sire Duke of Underley, dam Marchioness 6th.
In the KiUhow herd, the property of Mr. S. P. Forster :
Roan heifer calf, sire Duke of Ormskirk, dam Wild Eyes
Lassie 2nd.

POPULATION OF THE COLONY OF VICTORIA. -The
estimated population of Victoria at the close of 187^5 issta'ed".
in the Gooerument Gazette at 879,336— namely, 47S,311
males and 4-01,075 females. Thise numbers show 10,570
males and 8, 029- females more than at the end of the preceding
year.

EXTR.\0RD1NARY OUTRAGE ON CATTLE.— Two
valuable cov/e haviu? died sudden Ij at a farm at Alsager
Assburb, near Biirslem, foul play was suspeeted, and a post
raorleiii examination arranfjed. Tlie doctor now reports tlie-
presence iu the stomachs of a quan'ity of hair-pius, metal
buttons, shots, bullets, and nails, which have bfen forced
down tiie animals' throats. No clue has been discovered as to.
he perpetrators of the outrage at present. — Echo..

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

287

PRTNCIPLESOF AGRICULTURiS.

To THE EDITOR OF THE MARK LANE EXFltESS.

Sir, — The reniarks recently made by Profess )f Church
at the Cireueesttr Chamber of Agriculture, carrviiio;- with
them as they do the respect due to a person of his ac-
knowledged emiueuce, are liable to be mis-apprehended
by many who are takino; an active interest in the Priu-
■ciples of Agriculture. lam therefoie reluctantly com-
pelled to make reference to them.

Professor Church, speaking of the system pursued by the
Government Department of Science, is reported to have
said — "There are three defects which have always im-
pressed me as of serious import," and these are subse-
quently specified as follows -. —

1st " We have included in this subject a crowd of
sciences applied to the art of agriculture. Here is some
Ijotany, a good deal of geology, not a little mechanicj and
physics, and a lar^e amount of chemistry. But who
may be, and are examined in this subject? — this subject
■which can only be successfully studied after the ele-
ments of these foundational sciences have been mastered.
Why, youug meu and lads who need not have had, and
in most cases have certainly not had, any instruotion in
these sciences."

2ad. " Where are fit teachers of the Principles of
Agriculture ? Where are the men who in twenty ori
thirty lectures can apply all the sciences to the mos
complex of arts, that of farming ?''

3rd. The lack of acquaintance with actual agricultural
materials, which must necessarily be the case with many
teachers and students. Can you expect the poor fellow"
(the science teacher) " to master the mysteries of super-
phosphates, or even to distinguish a good from a bad
guano ?''

In reference to the first objection I may remark that
without doubt the Principles of Agriculture can be more
completely understood when their duty rests upon a prior
acquaintance with the "foundational sciences" named,
but the numbers are exceedingly small who can secure
this advantage, whilst the million ca\i onlyexpect to gain
useful information on a more limited scale. An indivi-
dual may accustom himself to consider that he cannot
dine unless he his six, seven, or uiore courses prepared
for him, with win^s aud liqueurs " en suite." Another
man may make a good dinner if he had a sirloii of beef,
with vegetables, and a pint of sherry. A third may
have to be content with some bread and cheese and a
glass of beer, or possibly with less. Few would consent
to go without food because they cannot command the
banquet which some consider a necessity. Admitting
then, that Professor Church is right in his views of the
requirements for attaining a tolerably complete knowledge
of the Principles of Agriculture, this is no sufficient
reason for keeping all others without any instvuction.

Thesecoud objection is two-fold. It must bs admitted
that there are comparatively few fit teachers of the Prin-
ciples of Agriculture, but the answer to this is that
measures must be adojited to secure the needed supply.
The enquiry, " Where are the meu who in twenty or
thirty lectures can apply all the sciences to this most com-
plex of arts, that of farming ?" is answered with equal
ease, for the mau who attempted it would aim at the im-
possible. It is not supposed to be even attempted under
the regulat ons of the Government Depai'tment of Science.
It is however supposed to be possible to give a cer-
taiu amount of valuable elementary information on the
Principles of Agriculture in twenty or thirty lectures, aud
I may add that of my own knowledge I can say it is ac-
complished. Indeed he must be an ignorant man, or a
bad teacher who cannot do so.

To the third objectioa I would reply that a want of

farm experience is not limited to any one class of science
tcacheis. It is a deficiency which is far too general, and
one which is certainly not limited to the science teachers
under the Government Department of Science. An en-
quiry is then made "Can you expect the poor fellow"
(the science teacher) " to master the mysteries of super-
phosphates ?" I do not hesitate to answer No, the
more so as recent disputes show that eminent chemists
differ as to the "mysteries of superphospk^ites," and
therefore cannot have " mastered the.n." But
the enquiry is continued, " or even distinguish
between a good and a bad guano." May it not be
asked in reply, is not this the work of a professional
chemist, for which he gets a snecial fee, rather than that
of a poor fellow teaching youths the Principles of Agri-
cultnre.

In brief, it is evident that Professor Church would wish
to see a rich banquet prepared for his young agricultura
friends, hut an t/>i.i is not poasihle we must all endeavour
to support the noble eft'irts of the Government Depart-
ment of Science, and supply the best course of instruc-
tion which can be secured for them. As better teachers
are prepared for the daty, so we shall have a higher type
of instruction given, but in the meantime let no one be
discouraged in the promotion of this very necessary work.
If space permitted I could give specific instances of
Government Science Teachers who are doing a work of
which even the Royal Agricultural College might be
proud, and at a cost which is within reach of a imall
farmer's means. There are over 100 teachers now en-
gaged in this work, aud a large proportion are men who,
having learnt farming operations in their youth, have
then secured science instruction, and tiually have acquired
a knowledge of the Principles of Agriculture. These
Teachers are doing an amount of good work which, not-
withstauding any imperfections, is calculated to be of great
national importance.

I am Sir, &c.,

Henry Tanner, M.RA.C.
(Examiner under the Department of Science ia th«
Principles of Agriculture.)

CAEDRIVERS' CRUELTY.— Several correspondents
have asked me to notice the clumsiness and cruelty with
which too many hansom cabmen drive, and I was just
meditating a short article en the subject this morning as I
got into a hansom. Tlia creature who held the reios pulled
up with a jerk and a flick at his horse, after which he started
with another cut and a jerk, and took his place in the rank
behind a heavy van. His willing little horse would have
gone had he found au opportunity, but as it was impossible t}
pass the lumbering maciiine in front of us, our pace was
necessarily regulated by that. Tlie little horse kept its nose
agaiust the van ; but tlii-* did not save it from a series of
slashes, and when at length an opening was found and it
bounded forward to get past, its eagerness was rewarded with
a couple of cruel cuts. Whereupon I interviewed the driver
through the trap in the roof, and our journey ceased. This
is a very constant experience of mine, aud, I have no doubt, of
most people who ride in c;ibs. If some oue whose kindness of
heart is equalled by his moral couraije would give one of these
ignorant orivers in charge for cruslty to aniinils, and if
furthermore, the magistrate would inflict an exemplary sen,
tence upon him, it would tend to the most beneficial results.—
Sporting and Dramiiic News.

OBVIOUS. — Stingy uncle (*o impecunious Nephew). " Pay
as you go, my boy ! — Pay as you go ;" Nephew (suggestively).

'' But suppose I haven't any money to pay wi(h. Uncle "

Uncle. " £h ? — Well, then, don't go, you know — don't go !"
Exit hastily. — Punch,

288

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

TENANT FARMERS AND THEIR REPRE-
SENTATIVES.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MaKK LANE EXPRESS.

giR^ — Whilst the two great political parties of the
couiitrv are marshalling their forces for the nest Parlia-
mentary strufrgle it is pleasant to find that most useful,
and if united, powerful body, the tenant farmers, of our
two eountics, awakenint; to the necessity of securing to
themselves a fair representatioa in the National Council,
and by that means making a vigorous stand for their
rights inslead of trusting to party promises which are
•never intended to be fulfilled.

Permit me through your columns to earnestly appeal to
my agricultural brethren in every county to aid in this
just cause, to be no more blinded by a foolish partizanship
with Whig or Tory, Liberal or Conservative, but to help
form from amongst their own class a National party who
will compel attention to the country's pressing require-
ments and their own, rather than permit so much time to
be wasted in petty party strile and those long-drawn
debate which members indulge in for the apparent purpose
of finding immortality in Hansard.

Have so-called Liberal Governments, whilst in power,
endeavoured to relieve the farmer from the many difficul-
ties under which he labours ? Has this present Conser-
vative administratiou merited the coiilidence reposed in
■il '? And will either party in the future do any real good
for the agricultural interest if it can be evaded ? The
answer to these questions after the experience of the past
must be an emphatic " Xo I"

Do our present representatives think we OJcyhf to be
■content with the Agricultural Holdings Act and other con-
ciliatory measures of public utility, which, when not
relegated to the limbo ot a select committee, have been
elaborated with all the detail which Parliamentary skill
and intelligence could bring to bear on them, have been
crushed by the insertion of a single clause, leaving the
smiling and expectant agriculturist completely " sold,"
and as in the measure first mentioned, as much at the
mercy of unconscientious landlords as he ever was? We
are asked therefore to transfer our faith once more to the
■"opposite party" which holds out rewards hardly calculated
to inspre much confidence in tbuoghtful men. The party
war cries of rstrenchment, disestablishment, and reform in
the couutv franchise are freely indulged in, but no alle-
viation of those direct ills from which the farmer suffdrs
such as the laws of tenure and ground game, compensation
for unexhausted tillages or improvements, the unjust inci-
dence of rates, service on juries, &.c-, are so much as hinted
at where it can be avoided, and why? Simply because
those who represent us are not practical farmers, but men
who having other means and incomes are personally uu-
tuuehed by these evils.and whose interest in the pleasure
of the soil is paramount, and blinds them to those trials
that vex the tillers of it, and in justification would deny
to the farmers the ease and enjoyment to which skill,
capital, education, and the refinements of the age entitle
them, though enjoyed by every other grade in the social
scale. No", sir, the agriculturists of the present day
require something very different from real neglect or
tricky promises ; they want a more earnest, honest, and
less place-seeking set of men to represent them — men who,
having fought or are still fighting for their livelihood, are
best able to know and feel the requirements of their class,
and who could well do so if they would but determine to
unite and secure for their own body one seat iu every
county constituency, and instead of having one represen-
tative" have fifty or'raore. I firmly believe that although
they may not have the ability for speaking which those
Q.C.'s have, who in so many cases find their way into the
llouse,they will have more enlarged views,more true libe-
rality and more nationalism with less selfi^haea* and petty

class jealousy than can be found in any other body of the
community.

Let every county constituency at once form a committee
amongst themselves for this object aud a very effective
result must follow.

1 am, Sir, &c.,

Will Watch.
Winchester, March 30, 1879.

COST OF THE MALT TAX.

Mr. Edward G. Wath'Tstonp, wrifin? to a contempo-
rary in reference to the figures recently published by Mr.
Iluvie, as to the sunriH expended in drink in this country,
makes the follo'vinj allusions to the use of sugar in brewing,
and to the large sums taken out of the consumers' pockets by
the existing malt tax. He says : —

Perhaps one of the most important facts developel by ttiese
figures has not been noticed by M.c HdjIp, viz., the great
increase of the use of sugar fur raakinff beer, as a substitute
for malt. For exmple, "The Trade and Navigation Returns"
tor 1876, under the head of beer are as follows : —

Cwt. Bushe's.

Beer: sugar used 860,-233 equal to 3,670,-284- of malt.

1878 „ , 1,128,226 „ 4,3 13,760 „

Increase of sugar used 268,U03 „ ],lr3,4S3 „

— thus showia? that in two years this adulteration, " which is
fostered and protected by the latv," has gradually increased
without counting any sraugiiing of sugar over and above what
the exciseman has noted, to the extent of what is equivalent
to upwards of a million busliels of malt. It is well known
that tlie trade of malt making for the last twenty jears has
been gradually drifting into the hands of a few large brewers,
thereby becoming a hujie monopoly, which is the logical re-
sult of the excise tax upon malt. With regard to wine and
ipirits bein^ the beverage of the upper and middle classes,
having " fallen off nearly two millions sterling," this is easily
accounted for by the fact that the upper and middle classes
(especially the latter) have been so irapoverislied by their
lo-ises on their trade operations that they have had to take
beer iu place of wine to their luncheon or dinner.

This may account for the increase in the consumption of
beer this year as compared with 1877 (though it is a decrease
compared wih 1876)), without charging the working classes
with the whole weight of the sin, as 1 think unjustly. Then,
as regards the money spent in drink, let us take beer alone,
as it is the native British beverage. There are 18 millions
adults above the age of 18 years in the United Kingdom.
This number, in order to consume the 1,117,316,754 gallons
a year, would have to consume no more thau 9| pints per week,
or lesst'.ian If pints per day each on ihe average. lam quite
prepared to hear it said that this is not a fair way of putting
it, inasmuch as some take none at all, and therefore others
rau«' consume more.

But I am prepared to show that out of every hundred pints
consumed, 98 are consumed by moderate drinkers or sober
persons in a legitiniate w iy. Now, I have seen the estirattes
of a prantical brewer who states that beer of the strength of
Bass's bitter can he produced, in the absence of the malt tax,
a' id. per pint, and c've the producer 100 percent, profit. Let
us assume tlmt the wholesale brewer would be content (under
unrestricted competition) with the 100 per cent, profit, and
thit the retailer iiad a similar profit, this would bring to tl e
mouths of the consumers their pint of beer to iheir dinner or
shipper at a penny, in place of from 4d. to 6d., as is now the
ease, with the upper middle class especially. But in order to
avoid exgg^ration, let us take Mr. Hoyle's figures

Say 1,117,316,75* gals, at Is. 6d £83,798,756

present cost to t)ie country, and then deduct from it the
cost under free trade, vis. : —

Say 1,117,316,751 gal«. at 8d. ... £37.243.891 ... £83,798,756

Mill tax paid direct 7,500,000

. 44-,743,891

Thus showing a saving of £39,054,865

after paying the tax direct by each man according to his

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

289

meins, or, in other words, accordiug to the service rendered
liiin by the State.

ISc v^ why should not these 39 millions odd go to swell the
demand for tcxiile iabrics in place of going down the throat,
for nothiiiir but to swell the rent-roll of gin-piilace owners?
It would tlien clothe the naked and feed the hungry, instead
of going, as it now does, to foster a monopoly already too fat
by luiir.

BATH AND WEST OF ENGLAND SHOW.

The Bath IJernld says ; — With the return of Spring we
hear the usual noics of preparation with re erence to our
stated summer undertakings and amusements. Among these
may be classed tiie Bath and West o* Eugland Agricultural
Society, which liolds its annual meeting this year at Exeter.
No belter place could be chosen for such a gathering than
Devonia's ancient capital. The country around ia ricli and
beautiful, to say nothing of the archsBologieal lore in which
the ci'y itsell is so fruitful, or ol the sea which is close at
hand. These are subsidiarj attractions which are not unlikely
to have a charm for those whose interest in agriculture is of a
languid kind, but who may nevertheless IVel drawn to i ards
an agricultural festival when it is associated with these colla-
teral advantages. Doubtless there are many such throughout
•the western and southern counties who will help to swell the
large band of farmers and evUibitors that in the early days of
Juue will encamp for a brief period by the placid waters of
the Exe. This river fiows within a short distance of the show
ground, which has been admirably chosen. It is a beautiful
meadow, sufficiently level, though with a slight decline to-
wards the river, and is situate close to the Topsham-road,
about one mile from the Great Western Railway station, and
rather less than that from the South Western station.
Access to it by rail is there'ore easy, and doubtless the rail-
way companies will see the wisdom of making it also cheap.
Having paid a recent visit to the ground we were, pleased to
find the preparations for the forthcoming show in a forward
state. The quarters for the ofE -ials were nearly ready for
occupation, and the shedding for the cattle, machinery, &(;.,
was also far advanced towards completion. The report with
respect to the exhibits was also of an encouraging character.
Despite the counter-attractions of the Royal International
Exhibition at JCilburn and the local society at Devonport,
the entries thus far are greatly in excess of what they were
at the corresponding period last year, satislactory as they then
were. Tlie Arts Department, judging by the cottributions
promised, is still growing in popularity, and bids fair to be
one of the most succe-sful of the series. Nut less hopeful is
the prospect of the Arts Mauufactures department. The
leading tradesmen have already made arrtngements for ex-
hibiting therein, and fears are entertained that the applications
for space will be more numerous than the building can acco-
modate. From these reports it will be seen that the Exeter show
has the promise of a great success, which is the more gratify-
ing considering the untoward condition of trade. We may
add that the view from the ground is of a charming pastoral
description, the quiet'ide of which is relieved by the traffic on
the TopsUam Road and the passing of the trains on the
South Western line, which runs along the opposite bank of
the river. During the show there will be, we understand,
several garden parties in the neighbourhood, and in other
forms ho^pilality will be extended to the society and visitors^
As yet however Exeter itself has made no arrangements for
welcoming the society; but we may be sure that it will be none
the less hearty in its reception of that venerable and vigorous
institution, which has laid agriculture under such heavy obli-
gations thioughoul the west and south of England.

A BEDUCTION IN RENTS.

EDWARDS' FARMER'S ACCOUNT BOOK. Stam-
ford : Jenkmson and Sons. — This is a new farmer's
account book, of a simple yet suftieiently comprehensive
kind. Separate portions of it are set apart for day labour,
piece-work, a daily record of receipts and expenditure,
ti'adesmen's bills, coru, roots, cake, manures, daily pro-
duce, live stock, &c., bought and sold or used on the
farm. There are also places for summaries of these
accouats, auJ for a record of correspoudeuce.

TO TUE EDITOR OF TIIE MARK LANE EXPRESS.

Sir, — I read with much pleasure of the liberality of
the Right Hon. the Speaker and Lord Sheffield, ia
allowing 10 to 25 per cent, off their tenants' rents, and
was pleased to notice that the Speaker was in favour of
reducing the rents, if the present depression continued,
in the stead of these optional reliefs.

As to the question of a general reduction in rents,
there can now be no doubt the farmers are worse situated
than they have been for many years. Hops, wrheat,
wool and Leut corn cheaper than they have been for
years, and beef and mutton much lower, and local taxa-
tion higher, and School Boards expensive and vexatious.
The principal argument used by the landowners seems to
be that the rents only amount to 21 or 3 per cent, on the
value of the land, and consequently that is a lower rate
of interest than any other investment bears. So far
their argument appears good ; bat is it eo ? In many
cases the land was bought in at a low price. Some laud
that I know was bought at £30 an acre about thirty
years ago, and now pays 35s. rent, and this is not a
solitary instance, but one that occurs to me while writing,
and serves as an example. Perhaps the landowners will
say that we must allow rent on the present value of the
land; but, if we do, the 3 per cent, theoiy falls to the
ground, as there is the increase in the value of the land
to add to the rent, and allowing the present value of that
land to be £45 an acre, there is a bonus of £15 an acre
to add to the rent, and the owners must admit that the
increased value of the land is in many cases as much
contributed to by the tenants' industry and capital as it
has by the rise in price of land.

I have heard landowners say it would be as 'well to
invest in the Three per Cents, as in land, and safer-, but
is it so ? As to the safety of it, they are equal in the
present state of law as to distress. But do the Three
per Cents, give any shooting, hunting, coursing ? Do
they grow any timber in the hedgerows ? Have they
any mining privileges? or do they possess a vote or rule
voles, without decreasing? Beside, they are inelastic.
I suppose shares to the amount of £1,000 in the Three
per Cents, are worth abcut as much now as they were
thirty or forty y^ars ago ; but I know that money in-
vested in land so long, if bought in an ordinary business-
like way, and not simply as an extension of an estate, has
increased.

I read in your paper this morning and certainly agreed
with the remark that " it has taken a generation to de-
velop free trade," and we must see that every additional
mile of trans -Atlantic railroad and ocean telegraph, and
every ton of merchant shipping built, still further
developes it. Free trade may be for the advantage of
the nation at large, and I believe the cheap loaf has beea
a great mediator in the late struggles between capital and
labour (whether it was partly the occasion I will leave) ;
but so far as the farmer is concerned, as he is at present
situated, it is ruinous.

If we are to compete with all the world, we must
have oar hands untied, our rents revised, our covenants
altered, and free leave to grow what crops we like, and
sell what we like of them. We have to compete with
virgin soil under no restrictions, with stale soil and most
burdensome restrictions, that treat a faimer as both fool
and rogoe — restrictions that would be absurd could we
forget that they curtail the agricultural produce of Great
Britain by millions sterling per annum.

I am. Sir, iS:e.,

EAST SUSSEX.

290

THIE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

TKNUUE.

TO THE EDITOR 01' THE MAKK LANE EXPRESS.

If there is one subject more than another on which
landlords and their tenants hold divers opinions it is the
vexed one of land teunre, and a happy solution of the
difficulty is retarded by the variety of ideis whirh tenant
fanners have on this self same matter. Without prosing;
on the various forms which law or custom have prescribed
let one suggest an opening for discussion, that when the
happy time arrives in v;hich farmers' grierancesare actually
under consideration with a real view to theit abatement
something like a unanimous oplniou may have been formed
of this primary requirement to indicate a safe investment
for capital. There are those who, satisfied with the pre-
sent order of things, will point to the law of contfact and
that of the land to provide a remedy, but the said laws
are too much like a cat's back which can be stroked both
ways the landlord being from head to tail easy, smooth,
and satisfactory, the tenants from tall to head, but rough
work in which the operator comes oft' with little satisfac-
tion and probably many scratches.

It will be sufficient for us to divide all forms of tenure
into two divisions of long and short duration, leases and
holdiu^s at will, and to endeavour to show that both of
these as at present constituted are not only unjust but
absolutely in a national sense impolitic. Of the numerous
writers v. ho take up the cause of the tenant farmer for
its own sake few rank amongst the moderately successful
class who for years' have depended solely on such an occu-
pation for their livelihood, but many from those who taking
up model farming as a hobby or a pastime, generally drop
it after a few years trial and are loudest in asserting their
individual grievances only when some pet and probably
■impracticable idea has proved a failure. The consequence
is that very little real feeling is evoked against the gene-
rally accepted terms of holding. The landlord is content
lecause he is abundantly secure; the teuaut is 7T0t content
hut sees no possible means of bringing about a change for
the better and seizes on every " grievance," every straw,
that floats within reach on which to rest a hope of better
treatment.

A choice of terms, whether the holding should be by
lease or at will, would cause anxiety to probably many
men ; en the one hand he would be bound by covenants
which would hamper him in his jaJgmeut and restrict his
enersy, on the other he is free to cultivate in any way not
detrimental to the property, but may have the results of
his labours taken from him at any moment and see a
more favoured or more fortunate successor reaping the
benefit of them.

There is no business which offers such peculiarities as
that of a farmer. He who follows it has to wait often a
long time for the return of his money ; he must be pos-
sessed of capital judgment and patience ; the longer he
farms his land the more he becomes acquainted with its
nature and the better able to arrange its management.
Here "s the injustice and folly of a lease. With a con-
stantly fluctuating market as regards supply and demand
of commodities the tenant binds himself to ferm only in a
certain manner and under certain conditions — we will
say for seven, fourteen, or twenty-one years. We will
assume the latter to be the case. He may have and pro-
bably has taken the land out of or in poor condition. For
the first four years he will reap but little benefit ; under
ordinary circumstances for the lust seven years he will
not make the most of his land, and again at the eud of
the fourteen years it will be time to consider whether ho
will be permitted to remain, and if not, or only allowed
to do 80 at an advanced rate he does not feel justified
in paying, he will forthe remaining seven years endeavour

to draw out of the land the capital he has put into it, to fi9
and the future tenant's detriment. In such a case it is
evident that out of the whole twenty-one years bat seven is
occupied in farming to repay the cultivator, improve the
soil, and benefit the community to the utmost of its
Capability, whilst the tenant has wasted the best part of a
lifetime without making any provision for the future
beyond the risky one of trying to dig up his buried
capital, and in the event of his taking another lease or
another farm he must commence the whole course over
again at a time of life when men in every other business
aspect a little ease from their exertions. Under such
circumstances the tenant at will system appears prefer-
able, and it would undoubtedly be so, if compensation fof
unexhausted improvements, game damage, and a fair
percentage for compulsory removal were insisted ou.

With a generous and conscientiotis landlord the tenant
v.'ho has held under him from youth to age may never
have suffered from excessive game preservation, but beea
in every way liberally treated, and so with a natural
feeling of security been induced to pKt more capital ia
the soil. But death or some unforeseen circumstances
arise and the spendthrift heir, creditor, or speculative
purchaser takes the place of the old landholder, and the
tenant— greyheaded, or loth to quit the land he has tilled
so many years, every part of which he has learnt to culti-
vate to the best advantge, which has been his home and
has become endeared to him by every conceivable tie— ^
struggles manfully against the altered circumstances, too
frequently to the destructicn of himself and the im-
poverishment of bis family. Landlord*, more especially
small landholders, have a natural horror &i anything
approaching "fixity of tenure" and prefer in these
greedy times taking the risks attendant on letting their
holdings for large rents on short terms to any man who
can give suflicient secufity. Such become often the prey of
predatory capitalists who under the name of " land
sharks " draw what little goodness remains in the soil^
impoverish the land, aad are a curse to the agricultural
interest. Nothing is more indicative of this class thaa
the aversion they show to settle in any one place for a
lengthened period, hy the use they make cf powerful land
stimulants, their slap'-dash method of farming, and the
absence of live stock. V/hereas the contrary is usually
the case with really good farmers who, being encouraged
by having proper security for their investments so long as
they continue to pay thsir rents, efficiently perform their
contract, and do not trespass on the undoubted rights of
landlords, should be safe from the danger of ejectment
or an undue advantage being taken of their improvemeuts
or energy. Above all no tenure should be broken for
political considerations, as in a case which recently came
to my knowledge, where a farmer dying his widow was
ejected — not foi want of capital nor from inability to
manage the farm, as she had done that for years, whilst her
husband was incapable of work from illness, but because,
being a woman, she had no vote. I am no advocate for
women's suffrage, but our west'couutry landlord evidently
is, as he could hardly have invented a more "telling"
grievance.

In conclusion, let rac urge that the subject of tenure is
the very foundation of our future agricultural success, far
more important than hypothec, titles, or the abolition of
the malt tax — questions effecting not so much the ulti-
mate interests of the tenant as those of the landlord —
and one which it behoves all those who hope to continue
as holders of land to take into their most serious con-
sideration.

I am, Sir, &c.,

Woichvster. Ajjril 15.

Will Watch.

TEE FAHAIER'S MAGAZINE.

20?

A TA^'KEE COURTSHIP.— Dr. Graliara, having passed
a very creditable examination b.'lore the Army Medical Buard,
was commissioned an assistHut-Jurg:eoD in tlie United Stales
army in 18—, and ordered to report for duty to the com-
manding otlicer at Fort Jl'Kavett, Texas. There were no
railroads iu the Western country at that time, and the usual
way of getting to Texas was by the Mississiiipi lliver to New
O. leans, and thea crossing the Gulf to stage it up through
the State. Dr. Graham viras rery desirous of examining the
Western country mineralogically, so applied for and received
permission from the War Department to go by way of
Arkansas and the Indian Territory to his post. On his
arrival at St. Louis he shipped the greater part of his baggage
by way of tne river, and taking only what he could carry ou
horseback, started ou his journey. While in St. Louis, at
the i'lauters' Hotel, he formed the acquaintance of a gentle-
man who, learning where he was going, gave him a letter of
introduction to his brother, who was a farmer living oi> his
route to Arkausas. It is not necessary for us to follow him
en his roail, or tell what discoveries he made in the interest of
science ■ tufficieut it is that one day, towards dusk, he reached
tiVe house of the gentleman to whom he had the letter, and
dismounting, knocked at the door, and presented his letter
to the iudg^e (even in those days every one was a judge in
Arkansas), who would net have needdd it to' have accorded
liim an open-handed welcirae ; for travellers were a godsend,
and news was as mucli sought alter then as now. After a
short visit, he proposed to go on to the next town, about
four miles off, where he iateuded to yut up for the night.
The jud^e would not listen to his leaving, and was so cordial
ia his desire for him to stay that he would have been rude
not to have done bO. The judge, after directing oue of the
servants to attend tolas horse, invited hira into the dining-
room, where he was introduced to the wife and daughter of
his host, and also to a substantial Western supper, to which
he did ample justice. After supper they adjourned to the
parlour and he entertained his new-made friends with the
Lest news from the outside world. The judge brewed some
stiff whiskfy punch, which Graham,. socially incliued, im-
bibed quite freely. The old couple retired, and lef; their
dau<'hter to entertain him ; and whether it was punch, or
whaX at all events he made hot love to her, and finally
asked' her to be his wife and go to Texas with, him,, to which
she consented. She being very unsophisticated and innocent,
taok everything he said in dcwnriglit earnest, and with her it
was a case of " love at i\rst sight." But I a a anticipating.
During the night our friend the doctor woke up and remem-
bered what he "had said, and it worried hira ; and 'he said^to
himself, after emptying his water pitcher, " Never mind ; I'll
laake it all right lu the morning. I m'Jfst Imve made a fool
of myself. She's lovely, but what must she not think of me?"
and rolled over and went to sleep again. Morning came,
and upon his going down to the parlour he found the young
lady alone, for which he blessed his lucky stars, and was
just about to make an apology, when she said, " I told
nrarama, and she said it was all right," at the same time
giving him a kiss which nearly took his breath away.- "Papa
f^ going to town this morning, dear, and you ride in with him
and talk it over; but he won't object, I know." "But my

dear miss I was very foolish, and " " No, indeed ; you

were all right." " Well, I will go to my post, and return for
you for I must go at once." " No ; I can go with you."
•' You won't have time." " Oh, yes, I will. Papa will fix
that. It wouli he such an expense for you to come back all
the way here." " But I have no way of taking you." " I
have thought of thst ; that does not make any difference.
Father will give as a team." With nearly tears in his eyes
he went into breakfast, to which at that moment they were
both summoned ; but, alas ! appetite he had none. It was not
that she was not pretty and nice ; . but he thought what a
confounded fool she must be not to see that he wanted to get
out of it. But it was no use. When the judge started lor.
town Dr. Graham was sitting beside him. The judge saved
him the trouble of broaching the subject by starting- it him-
self—" I always, young man, give Nell her own way -,80 it is
all ri^ht ; you need not say a word." " But I've got to go on
to-day." The old judge turned his eyes towards him. He
had an Arkansas bowie in each, and one of those double-
barrel shot-gun looks as he said, "You ain't a-trying to get
out of it, are yon." The doctor, taking in the Bituation,
said promptly, all hope beiug gone, " No, sir." " i'hat s

right. I will fix ererything for you— give you that black
team of mine, and a light waggon to carry your wife's
things " (l-ere the doctor shuddered), "and a thousand as a
starter. You can be married to-niglit and leave early in the
morning. That'll suit, won't it ? " " Yes, sir," answered
Graham, faintly. But on the judge turning towards him, he
said, "Yes, sir, certainly." " Alter you pet fixed at your post
I will come down and pay yon a visit. I have been thinking
about selling out and moving to Texas for some time ; it'*
getting crowded here, and things are a-moving as slow aa^
'lasses in winter-time." Things were arranged as the old-
judge said. The marriage took place, and the army received
an addition to its ladies iu the person of the Arkansas judge's
daughter, and Dr. Graham has never regretted the obduracy
of his fatber-inlaw or the unsophisticatedness of his wife.—
ILn pet's Monthly,

NINE COMMANDMENTS FOR CORRESPONDENTS.
— The Boston Transcript gives the following nine command-
ments to those who write now and then to the press : —

1. Write upon one side of the leaf only. Wliy ? Because it
is often necessary to cut the pages into "tikes" for the com-
positors, and this cannot be done when both sides are written
upon.

2. Write clearly and distinctly, being particularly careful iu
the matter of proper names rr.;! words from foreign languages.
Why' Becau.'-e you have no riijht to ask either editor or
compositor to waste his tim& puzzling out the results of your
selfish carelessness.

3. Don't write iu the microscopic hanrf. Wliy ? Because
the compositor has to read it across his case at a distance of
ne irly two feet. Also, because the editor often wants to-
make additions and other change?.

4'. Don't begin at the very top of the 5.rst page. Why ?
Because, if you have written a head for your article, the editor
will probably want to change it, and if you have uot — which
IS the better way — he mu-t write one. Bet-ide", he wants
room in which to write his icstructions to the printer as to
the type to be used, v/here and when the proof is to be sent,
&\

5. Never roll your manuscript. ?F/^y .' Because it maddens
and exasperates every one who touches it — editor, compositor,
and proof reader.

6. Be brief. Why ? Because people don't read long stories.
The number of readers which any two articles have is inversely
proportioned to the scmare of their respective lengths. That
IS, a half column articft is read by four times as many people
as one of double that length.

7. Have the fear of the waste basket constantly and steadily
before your eyes. Why:'' Because it will save you a vast
amount of useless labour, to say nothing of paper and
postage.

8. Always write your full name and address plainly at the-
end of your letter. Why .'' Because it will often liappfn that;
the editor will want to communicate with you, and because he
wants to know the writer's name as a guarantee of good faith.
If you use a pseudonym or initials write your own name and
address below it. It will never be divulged.

9. " These precepts in thy memory keep," and for fear you
might forget them, cut them out and put them were you ca!i,
readily run through them when tempted to spill innocent
ink.

A BIRTH IN A BALLOON.— Births and deaths some-
times occur in strange situations. The Rappel relates a story,
which in a less serious paper would pass for an invenlion.
In the captive balloon recently a young lady was taken ill.
A doctor from Tarbep, who happened to be in the car, saw her
8 ifely delivered of a boy before the balloon reached the
ground, when a cab took the mother and child to a hotel.
The husband, son of one of the leading Manchester manu-
facturers, presented the doctor with oOOf. for his services ;
and the Rappel commends balloon ascents to doctors in want
of. patients, VI hile it remarks that a child who has started so
high iu the world promises to attain eminence.

Old Lady (who had been buying eggs). " Deed, Mr. JIc
Treacle, butcher's meal's sae dear now-a-days ah'm no able to
buy 't 1 Grocer. " You should turn a vegetarian — " Old
Lady. " A vegetarian ! — Na na ! au was born an' brocht
up i' the Free Kirk, an' a'm no gaun ta change t v.»i»sgioa-
m' auld days I"— P-v/icA.

2Dj

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

THE AGRICULTURAL HOLDINGS ACT.

Tlie raemboi's of tlio Governraont should be the j landlorJs" it has fallen on deaf oars, with only fi
best judges of the course which it is expedient for few exceptions to mark the rule by contrast,
Iheui to^take upon any question with a view to Three returns collected sinco the Act came into
party ascendancy ; but the game which they are force — the tirst by the Murk Lane U.-prcss, the
playing so boldly and with so little disguise just second by the Fariuei's' Club, and the third by Mr

iiow is one of no slight risk, and we venture to
predict that they will find to their cost, when it is
too late to retrieve their mistakes, that they have
played it wildly and not well. In deciding what
course thev should take with respect to the County
IJoards Bi 1 they had to chot se between the con-
ilicting claims of the country magistrates on the
one hand, and the farmms and other coui ty rate-
payers on the other. Last yi av they did their best
to"pl8fise both, and succeeded iu pleasing neither.
This year they have completely thrown over the
bulk of their county supporters for the sake oi
giving coujplete satisfaction to tlio county magis-
trates", and the result is a Bill which will excite a
strenuous opposition, and which will render them
more unpopular if they pa?s it than if they are
compelled to give it up. This is wild move num- ^
ber one, and the second is like unto it, " only more
so." We i-efer to the refusal to grant a Committee
of Inquiry into the Operation of the Agricultural
Holdings "Act, and the conditions of agricultural
tenancies in England and SVales, moved for by Mr.
tiamuelsou on March 2oth, and supported by
prominent members on either side of the House.
Such a simb to the tenant-farmers of England,
administered as it has been immediately after the.
throwing of a sop to the farmers of Scotland from
motives' of the most transparent tactical expe-
diency, by supporting the second reading of the
long-resisted Hypothec Aboliticfti Bill, is a piece
of effrontery almost sublime iu its boldness. It
tells ICuglish tenants, as plainly as the most ex-
plicit language could tell them, not only that the
Conservatives have no fear of losing their votes,
as long as their landlords and political masters are
kept well pleased, but also that the Scotchmen can
exact concessions by political belligerency such as
are persistently denied to English farmers who
rest their claims upon faithful service and long tried
friendship. The failure of the Agriciltural
Holdings Act was a disgiace which the Govern-
ment responsible for it should have been anxious
to wipe out on the first opportunity, and this for
the sake of their prestige, if from no higher
motive. The Act was passed with the ostensible
object of remedying what was admitted by those
who framed and carried it to be an injustice to
tenant-farmers, resulting in a great and constant
loss to the nation .at huge. As was pointed out
at the time, the measure was defective and un-
satisfactory iu its details, and it was further
rendered ineffective by the insertion of a clause
■which made its complete evasion a simple matter
of a few strokes of the pen. The result has been
■what those whose exertions led to the introduction
of the measure predicted— it has been from the
day of its birth until the present time little better
Ih-an a dead-letter Act. Even aa a " homily to

S muelson — each obtained from more than two
liundred correfpo;.deats connected with farming
either as owners, agents, or rccupiers, all show
that neither directly nor indirectly has the Act
produced any appreciable effect. Lord Sandon, in
oppo ing Mr. Samuelson's motion, said that the
Farm'^rs' Club returns " showed that tenant-
farmers throughout the country were, as to un-
exhausted improvement', as tonoticts, and as 1o
a^r emeuls, in a much batter position than before
it (the Act) parsed ;" but those who have seen
these returns themselves, instead of merely the
abstract and commentary upon them made by the
Secretary of the Club, know that they show
nothing of the kind. It is trus that tenants stand
just now iu a more favourable position for making
their own terms in airreements than they have
occupied at any time during the last thirty years
or more ; but this is owing principally to the
agricultural depression which threatens to throw
thousands of acres of land cut of cultivation, and
only to a very small extent to the passing of the
Agricultural Holdinjrs Act. In short, the Act is
just about such a failure as the latest Land Transfer
Act, and it is quite unnecessary to say more iu its
condemnation than that. It is impossible that
the country gentlemen who made a hollow pretence
of defending the Act on Tuesday should fail to
be aware that such is the case, and the members
of the Government are country gentlemen also,
and know only too well that the Act passed with
s p h a great ilourish of trumpets has proved to bo
a ludicrous sham. Yet, instead of frankly ad-
mitting what is perfectly clear to lookers-on as
well as to themselves, they ]n'efer to imitate the
tactics of the ostrich, thus blinding their eyes to
the general feeling of disappointment which they
have caused. Mr. Samuelson gave them an excel-
lent opportunity of getting out of their difKculty, by
the appointment of a Cemmittee whose investigf-
tions would have relieved them of a respoi s bility
which now rests entirely upon their shoulders. If
there is any truth iu their apologies for the Act, it
is clear that the result of the reports of a well-
chosen Committee would be to give them honour
for having passed a measure which, they declare,
is so eminently satisfactory. By refusing to grant
the Committee, they have given their opponents
fair grounds for declaring that they have placed
themselves in this dilemma — either they have no
confidence that their good opinion of the Act is
shared by the landowners, agents, and tenants who
would bo called as witnesses ; or they virtually
admit that their excuses for the Act are consciously
sophistical. Regarded in the most favourable
light, their refusal cannot fail to be considered a
snub to the farmers. At the last meeting of the
Central Farmers' Club a resolution iu favour of

THE FARMER^S MAGAZINR.

293

appointinpf a Ooinniitto'> was c:U'ried by a larj;e
iiiajurit}', tliero boiug only live or six disseutieuts.
Mr. Sanuielsou's returns, which nppoared iu the
supplement to the Mark Lane JS.qyesn for the
25Lh ^larch, show clearly that farmers generally
regard the Act as a sham, and many of them
declare this opinion iu no measured terms. Arc
not the Cxoverumeut presuming a little too far upon
the long-tried patience of their old supporters ?
We think they are, aiid we need only point to the
formation of a Tenant Farmers' Political Asso-
ciatiou in Warwickshire, and to the probability of
a National A.ssocigtiou being organised ready for
the coming general election, to justif}' our opinion.
Still, if the Conservatives aj-e satisfied with the
position they have taken, disinterested outsiders
have no cause to grumble about it. The alliance
of that party with the agricultural tenants of this
country has been one in which the advantage has
been all on one side, and if it is severed the farmers
and the people generally, wlio depend to a greater
extent for their comfort upon agricultural pros-
perity than is commonly acknowledged by this
" nation of shop-keepers,"' cannot well be losers,
and may gain something by the severance.

THE DISCUSSION".

Mr. B. SAMUELSON rose to move for a S.^Iect Comniit-
tefcto inquire iuto the operation of the Agricultural IijUlings
Act, 1875, and iii'o the conditions of agricultural t-uaucie-i
in Ergland and V/ales. Having given a summary of the
provisions of the Act, he stated it was a curious fact that it
had no preamble ; but the reasons why it was passp.d could
be gathered from tlie speeeli of the Eirl of BiaconsPisld when,
as Jlr. Disraeli, he moved the second reading in that liuuse.
He said it was devised to supply the deficieacies in the law
relating to agricultural tenancies ; he referreri, with appro-
bation, to the efforts of Mr. Pusey and others to give com-
pensation to tenants for unexhausted improvements effected by
tlipm, and to prevent the deterioration of the soil ; and he
described the measure as one that would place owners in a
strong position and occupiers in a just position — one thit
would spcure to the tenant compeus.liou for unexhausted
improvements, and to the owner compensation for waste and
injury through breach of covenant. NotAilhstanding tl'.e
declarations of the Prime Minister as to tfie benefits the Act
was calculated to secure to the tenant, it aj.peared from in-
quiries instituted by very competent persons lliat it had proved
to be to all intents and purposes a dead letter. (lle;ir, hear,
and cries of "INo.") He was perfectly aware that such a
itatement would not pass unchallenged, but when it was made
on resp.^ctable authority a case was mrely made out for the
inquiry he proposed. The weak poiut of the Act lay in two
formal clauses at the end which enabled landlords and tenants
to ninain outside its provisions. Tins was done in ordii'sry
cases by mutual agreement, and in the case of yearly
tenancies by the act of either party wi'iiout the concurrence
ol the other. The Prime Minister called this " freedom of
contract," but it was certainly a question whether the phrase
properly de^cribfid an arrangement by which one party gave
up that to which he had previously been declared to be tn-
titled without receiving from the other party anything in
return. (Hear, hear.) Why the Act had been so strangely
constructed he could not imagine, unless the Prime Minister
had counted upon educating his party sufficiently during tiie
passage of the Bill to enable him to conveniently drop the last
two clauses altogether. No sooner had the Act passed thin
a remarkable circumstance occurred. Both tlie Duchy of
L-iucaster and the Duchy of Cornwall, which had been spe-
cially included in tlie Bill, contracted themselves out of it,
without a word of explanation being offered. Probaljly there
w^re excellent reasons for this step being taken, but hon.
members would agree with him that the fact was not calcu-
lated to inspire coutidence throughout the country generally
in the working of the Act. Keturus collected hy ihe Miirf;

Lnm JiJxpress, n.nd also by the I'^iriiers* 31ub, soon after the
Act came into opKration, showed that at the lime it was
almost universally evade I. He had caused inquiry to be
made in evf-ry county in England and Wales from perions
well informed on the subj'Xt as to the operation of the Act,
and had received in all over 300 replies from 51 counties, in
the great majority of instances the reply amounted to this,—
tliat the Act w;is a dead letter, or had not been adopted at all ;
in some cases the existing c istoms rendered llic auoption of
the Act unneces.^ary, wliile in one or two instances the reply
wa< that the existence of the Act; liad cau ed 12 mouths'
uoiiiteto be;;ivea instead of s x. One agent on an extensive
estate said, " Nearly every land ageut in the kingdom lias
noticed the tenants out ol the Act." One other question he
had put was whether the pas-iing of the Act had led to any
improvement iu the conditions on which farms were let.
There, again, the effect of the vast majority of the replies
received was that it had not, while in a few cases the reply
Was that it had led to the giving of longer notice and to mure
liberal dealing with the tenants — that it had opened the eyes
cf the tenants and had led to their making better terms ; and
in one case it was said that the Aot had led to a revision of
agreeraetits and an increase in their stringency, lie had
now imde kuown to the H'nise the replies which he had re-
ceived, and it was for the House to judge whether the state-
ment he liad made to the eil'ect that the Act had resulted iti
very little imurovemeut was correct or not. la some eases
where agreements existed before the passing of the Act, the
agreements had been altered so as to be more in conformity
with the principles laid down iu the statute ; but, on the
other hand, no agreements liad been granted in consequence
of the Act iu those cases in which none existed before the
introduction of the measure. Iu answer to inquiries that he
iiad m ide, he had found that the system of paying for unex-
hausted improvements was followed in very few quarters. The
words of the lion, member for South Norfolk (Mr. (J. S.
KeaiJ) in reference to this poiut were well worthy of attention.
The words to v/hich he referred were: — "Is it or is it not true,
that the half or mire than the half of the land of England
is iicld at six mouths' notice to quit^ without any compensation
to the outgoing tenant, either by agreement or custom?" The
hon. member lor South Norfolk appended a note to those
words to the following effect: — "The question has become a
national one, and it is a disgrace that a great portion of the
land of England should be hejd by tenants on the conditions
on wiiich it is held now." In refutation of the argument
that a low rent was an equivalent t-j compensation for unex-
hausted improvements, he quoted from an essay on "The
Relations of Landlord and Tenant " by Mr. VV. E. Bear,
v/iiose name would be recognised as that of the writer of twu
receut papers in the Fortnighilij Review. There were numerous
estates in the country, lie knew, where the tenants had suck
faith in the continuance of thtir possession that a sullicient
encouragement existed for them to lay out mousy on inprove-
ments, but that faith su-ely could not be thouglit to be the
equivalent of a law which would grant to tenants such com-
peu-aiion as was just. According to the statistics lately
published by Mr. Caird in his little book on tlie landed
interest, the value of home-growu food was about £260,O00,OOU
per annum. It appeared tliat during the last eight years there
had bf-en no increase whatever in the production of grain,
and only a very trifling increa-e in the production of animal
food, in this country. But within the last five or six years
there had been a sensible diminution iu the produc iou ooih of
grain and animal (ood. Our imports of food of various kinds
curiui; the year 1S73 amounted to £100,000000. Compar-
ing 1S7S with 1S63, there was an iucrea-=e of ni arly 100 per
cent, in grain and of 135 per cent, in animal food and various
products. He had showu that iu the opinion of the I'lime
Minist r it was desirable that our hoaie produce should be
increased, if possible. Tne es'imates variea greatly — f.-oai 10
to loo per cant. — but they all agreed that it wai possible, by
ciusiug capital to be invested ia the si il, to increase our supply
of food. Additional capital would not, iiowever, be iuvested
in the soil uulil tenants were enabled to obtuiu compensatioa
for their iiuproveinents. T eie'ore we muit coasiJer this as
a quefctiou atfectiu„' not only landlords and tenau'.s, but also
the consumers and the country at large (Hear, hear). Agri-
culture was at present suffering from great depressiou. He had
had the curiosity to examine the return of tiie number of bills
of naiei lately grauted by farmers. la the eiglit months from

29*

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

July, 1S78, to tlie beginning of March, 1870, as compared
with the corresponding eigiit months of 1877-78, the number
of bills of sale had nearly doubled. This fact was in itself
BttQicient to show that great distress prevailed amoni? agri-
culturists. He hoped, if the House were to grant a Select
Committee, that tlie iuqjiiry would have defiuite limits; if'it
\?-ere to go into the questions suggested by the amendment of the
hon. member (Mr. Cliaplin), it would be a v.aste of time to all
concerned. The course taken vpith regard to the amendment
was rather suspicious His notice had been on the paper for
three months, and the hon. gen'lenian took no steps to bring
the question to an issue. But when the amendment was put
down, the cry for reciprocity, which was another name for
protection, was rife in the country, and if he was not mistaken,
the amendment pointed in the direction of reciprocity. But
he was quite certain the country would never allow import
duties to be placed on the food of the people (Hear, hear).
Import duties were neither more nor less tlian protection to
the landlord's rents (Hear, hear). He held in his hand an
account of a sale of 25,000 bushels of wheat imported from
Chicago into Liverpool. The freight and charges, including
the cost of sale in Liverpool, were 12s. per qr., in addition to
the expense of conveying the wheat, perhaps from the frontier
of Illinois to Chicago, and from Chicago to New York. In
point of fact, the landlord had a protection already of from
' 1-is. to los. qer quarter, which was about equal to 35 per cent,

• of the present price in this country (Hear, hear). If that were
not a sufficient protection, one of two tbingi alone could
happen. Either the land must be made mo'e productive,
which could only be done by an espenditure of capital, and
that could be obtained only by giving the tenant security, or
rents must fall. He hoped that, by adopting equitable
measures towards the tenant, we might avoid any great reduc-
tion of rents. But if rents fell, then would be the time for
the inquiry of the hon. member for Mid-Lincclnshire and also
for inquiry into a state of things winch was bound up in tlie
system of primogeniture and entail (Hear). Farmer.') were no
longer so ready as they used to be to 'take leases, and in the
present state of things, when they did not know what a jist
rent was, it was not desirable that they should. If that were
60j there was the greater reason for security for agricultural
improvements. He would like that the committee he asked
for should, in the first place, ascertain on independent testi-
mony whether the Act' of 1875 had failed; secondly, what
were the objections of landlords and tenants to it ; and,
thirdly, that they should determine the best way of meeting
those objections, whe'.her by amending the Act or repealing it
and enacting something more simple. He asked that if a man
had to part with what the law declared to be his property he
should receive a valuable consideration in return. If the Act
of 1875 were maintained, the scheme of compensation should
be made more elastic ; the award of an arbitrator should be
simpler than it now was, and appeals should be much more
restricted than they were under the A.ct. With regard to the
amendment to be moved by the iiu:i. member for Dungarvan,

• he could have very little knowledge of the circu.nstances under
which farms were held in this country if he was not aware

■ tJiat if his proposal, which looked like fixity of tenure, were
adopted, no labourer could ever become a landowner without

. a middle-man between him and the landlord. The hon.

' member for Oxfordshire had also given notice of an amend-
ment that agricultural agreements prescribed by the Legis-
lature should be permissive in their character. He entirely
agreed with him, but he could not consider that a permissive
agreement where one party was at liberty to contract himself
but of it without the consent of the oilier party. He had only,
in conclusion, to state that the Loudon Farmers' Club, which
was in every sense a representative body, had at their last
meeting passed a resolution in favour of his motion for grant-
ing a committee. Thanking the House for the attention they
had paid to him, he begged to move for a Select Committee
(Hear, hear).

Mr. PHIITS seconded the motion. Referring to the dis-
tress which existed among farmers, he stated that many who
had been long engaged in agriculture and were unfit for any
other calling were leaving it in order to save the remnaut of
property still left to them, and unless the depression were in
some way quickly removed many others wonld follow their
example. Some of the causes of that depression were practi-
cally irremovable. First of all, there was the importation of
I'jreigu agricultural produce. Tliuugh larjje, that imporlatiuu

was at present in its infancy, the great efforts of foreign coun-
tries being directed to provide food for the English market.
'IMie British farmers expressed no desire that these importations
should be restricted by law, for they knew that no Government
could or ought to place any obstacles in the way of the con-
suicers obtainisg cheap food. The increase in the price tff
labour mu*.t, of course, depend on supply and demand. The
decrease ot the home-consuming power would not b^ alleviated
until prosperity was again brought to the commerce and trade
of the country. Unpropitious seasons were beyoud the control
of the British House of Commons. But there were three
causes which were preventable by legislation — the importatioa
of disease, the increase of local burdens, aud the insecurity of
capital invested by the tenant in the cultivation of the soil.
It was to remedy the last of these evils that the Agricultural
Holdings Bill was introduced. The question was, had it
effected its object ? It not, why not ? The committee now
asked, if granted, would b^ able to give an authoritative reply
to these questions. The right of the outgoing t«Bant to cora-
pensdtion for unexhausted iicproveraenls left on the land for
the benefit of the future occupier, altliough a most beneficent
provision, was rendered ineffectunl by the power of one of the
parties to'contract himself out of it. V/ere the provisions of
the Act necessary P If unnecessary, why were they euactedf
Were they just, and, if just, why should they be ignored ? To
his mind they were alike advantageous to the landlord and the
teuant. The tenant could not contract himself out of the
return of the Property-tas, which he had a right to deduct by
Act of Parliament, notwithstanding any agreement to the con-
trary. So by Act of Parliament should the right of tenants
be recognised to payments for unexhausted improvements,
notwithstanding any agreement to the contrary. This should
be secured, not for the beaelit of the tenants alone, but in the
interests of the community at large. He knew this view of
tlie question would not be acceptable to those who considered
the maintenance of freedom of contract incompatible with the
restrictions imposed by law; but might not freedom of contract
be carried too far? Was not freedom of contract limited in
•many ways by Acts of Parliament? Landlord and tenant
ought to be able to make any agreement they pleased, provided
that agreement did uotdeprive the teuant of the compensation
to which he was justly entitled. But an Act of Parliament
was unnecessary, if not unjust, which, while exacting thai
certain things should be done in the interest of all, still
retained a provision that any two parties might by agreement
divest theaselves of the obligations which the Act imposed.
The general consensus of opinion expressed by the farmer^'
clubs was in favour of changes in the law which would secure
compensation to the tenant (or unexhausted improvements, as
well as to the landlord for dilapidation and deterioration caused
by neglect ; and he therefore seconded the resolution.

Mr. O'DONNELL rose to rcovef.s sn amendment that —

" There can be no adequate remedy for the agricultural de-
pression existing throughout the country, and severely affect-
ing also the interests of town labour, which does not, especially
at this period of increasing foreign competition, protect the
application of skill and capital to the soil by the establishment
of compensation tor unexhausted improvements, equitable
appeal iigainst exorbitant rents, aud -substantial security of
tennre for the agricultural classes both in Great Britain and
Ireland."

Ke said that he advocated free trade in farming as well ne
in commerce. He appreciated the speech of the hon. member
for Banbury, but he did not see that speech in the resolution.
The speech was rather an argument in support of his ainpnd-
incnt. The resolution showed the unreal character of the
make-believe sympathy wiih the agricultural classes that was
enthodied in the Agricultural Holdings Ac^. It did not intro-
duce any reform into the agricultural relations of this country,
and he very mud; doubted -whetlier it wa« seriously intended
to do so. He trus'ed that tlie Liberal party would place the
motto of" Free agriculture" on their banner beside and as a
supplement to the motto of" Free trade."

Major O'BEIRNE, on seconding the amendment, observed
that the land question was that which excited the interest of
the Irish people more than any other which had been or
could be raised.

Colonel RUGGLES BRISE said that the amendment, as
he read it, advocated a system of fixity of rents. [Mr.
0'i)u:N.NJiLL expressed dissent.] 11c hoped the day was fur

THE FARMERS' MAGAZINE.

20^

distant when au Eaglish nipmber would be found to support
such a proposition. He diJ nut think the time liad come for
atielpct committee to inquire into tlie operation of the Agri-
cultural Holdings Act, lor a committee could not recommend
anythiu;; at tlie present moment that would alleviate the
existing distress. A temporary remedy would be a consider -
aide reduction in rents, but he believed that there had uot been
of liite years as large an increase in rents as many people sup-
posed, (tiear, hear). Another remedy misiht be found in
the removal cif some of the existing restrictions from agricul-
ture. The abolition of the law of settlement and entail would
not influence one way or the otiier the pros^pi^rity of agricul-
ture. No doubt the Gnue Laws exercised at one time a
disastrous effect upon the agriculture of the country ; but they
did so no longer, as the discussions that had taken place in
in the House in former years, when the advisability of
abolishing those laws was under consideration, had produced
much the same effect as would have resulted from their actual
aijolition. The House tiad been teld that the abolition of the
privileges of the landlords would be of assistance to agricul-
turists ; but what, he asked, were those privileges ? He did
ncJt believe that the remedy which was sought would be found
to lie in greater production. Many of those suffering distress
at the present time were among the largest producers and
ijest farmers in the country. The Agricultural Holdings Act
was, in his opinion, one of the best measures affecting agri-
■cultural interests that had been introduced iuto Parliament for
many years. As far as the county which he represented was
■concerned the statistics quoted by the hon. member opposite
(Mr. B. Samuelson) were misleading. He knew hundreds of
farms that were farmed under the Agricultural Holdings Act,
and their number was increasing every day. The Agricultural
Holdings Act had established a local custom where no
previous custom existed, and this was an advantage. His
opinion was that the Act could be made to do more than it
had done, and therefore he was in favour of the appointment of
the committee which was asked for,

Mr. J. BARCLAY remarked that when the Agricultural
Holdings Act was brought forward he|suggested that it should
be corrpulsory. If that had been done he believed a stimulus
would have been given to the agriculture of this country. Far-
mers would have put a larger amount ofcapital into the cul-
tivation of the soil, and, consequently, would have been in a
better position to meet the adverse seasons and tin low prices
which had now come upon them. The state of matters as
regards agriculture had, however, become so grave that he
doubted whether, even if the provisions of the Act were now
Kiade compulsory, they would suffice to rescue agriculture from
the collapse which -was now threatening it. He did not think
it desirable that a conamittee should recommend anything in
the way of raising the price of agricultural produce ; but he
was of opinion that it might inquire whether the position of
the farmers might not be so changed as to enable them better
to meet the present low prices. The hon. gentleman com-
plained of the indifference of the Privy Council Eepartment to
the present state of things — when dead meat as well as live
cattle could be imported Iroiu America, the imparters having
the advantage ot buying the stock at a cheap rate in the
Western States, while the farmers at home had no such advan-
tage in buying their store cattle. This was more a landlord's
question than a tenant's, in proportion as the interest of the
landlord in the soil was greater than that of the tenant. What
did wheat imported into this country at 35a. or 40s. per quarter
mean to the landlord ? It could not be produced here at less
than 4Ss. per '(uarter, and between a third and a fourth of that
sum, or from 123. to 16s., was due to the rent of the land.
But if wheat could be iBBported at 40s. that meaut a loss otSs.
per quarter on the wheat produced in this countrv. That loss
could not continue to be borne by the farmer. Who, then, was
to sulfer the loss ? The reduction of labourers' wages was
hardy possible. The next important item in the tenant's out-
lay was his manure bill. The value of manures was likely to
increase, and it would be wise to increase his outlay on that
head. On whom, then, was the loss of 8j. per quarter to fall ?
It must come out of the rent. Farmers were told they should
live more economically. It was impossible for farmers to live
more economically than the Scotch larmers did. But, if it were
possible, should the amount saved be paid over to the landlord
in the shape of increased rent ? The farmers of Scotland had
shown great energy and enterprise ia improving the land as

they bad done ; but a 19 years' lease -was uctt sufficient to
recoup a tenant for the capital he had expended in the im-
provement of the soil. Mr. llope.of Fenton I5arns, one of the
most successful larmers in Scotland, had told him that d^jring
the 19 years of his lease he had derived no benefit from his
outlay, and it was only by getting another 19 years' lease that
he was enabled to make anytliing out of it. In Scotland, when
a lease was approaching its termination, it was the practice to
renew it at a valuation, but the valuer was appointed by the
landlord, and without knowing the state of the farm when tbn
lease was obtained he valued it with the improvements effected
by the tenant's capital, and made an increase which, of coursn,
was added to the rent. He should like a committee
to inquire into the effect of legislation on tenant
farmers, the effect of the law of di^tres3 in giving
preference to landlords' over tenants' capital, and what effect
the conditions imposed by land agents and others had upon
the development of cur resources. These conditions in many
cases had been drawn up 50 years ago, and were printed and
stereotyped ; it was perfunctorily laid down that they must
govern any offer to be entertained ; and it was not at all sur-
prising, under such circumstances, that agriculture was in a
depressed state. Another subject worthy of attention was the
possibility of bringing a large supply of store cattle from the
AVestern States of America by a route perfectly free from
pleuro-pneumonia. He repudiated any thought of agriculture
being protected either directly or indirectly. Whatever reci-
procity roiglit do fur manufactures, it would be adverse to the
cultivators of the land. There was urgent need for inquiry
into the causes of the present dfipression in agriculture, not so
much the external causes as those which affected the action of
tenant farmers in regard to the cultivation of land. He
doubted whether inquiry or change v/ould come in time to pre-
vent large num'bers of present holders being ruined, but he
hoped that information would be obtained which would go far
to educate public opinion and to bring in a new class of culti-
vators who would start upon a fair and solid basis.

Sir J. KE^'NAWAY admitted that if, as some hon. members
maintained, half the land of England was farmed under the
conditions of six months' notice, with no provision at all for
the compensation of the outgoing tenant, the state of things
would be well worth the attention of that House. But he was
very much inclined to doubt whether the Agricultural Holdings
Act had proved to be the dead letter which the hon. member
for Banbury said it was.

Mr. M'LAGAN supported the motion, believing that a suffi-
cient case for inquiry had been made out. He could not agree
with these who held that the farmer had not good times in
store for him. The present condition of depression would, he
had no doubt, pass away, and the agriculturists would be fav-
oured with as bright days ss they had ever lieretofore enjoyed.
They ought not, however, to run away with the idea that the
days of protection, or, as it was called, of "reciprocity," would
return. He did not hesitate to say that they would uever see
a protective duty imposed upon any article consumed by the
people. (Hear, hear) Thinking that the time had come for
an inquiry into the operation of the Act, which clearly did not
come up to the expectations that had been formed by many of
those who were in favour of it, he intended to give his support
to the resolution of his hon. friend (Mr. B. Samuelson).

Mr. REAH, referring to a statement made on a former
occasion to the effect that a speech which he had delivered in
connection with the subject under the consideration of the
House was one which should have been attered after a ■" tv»-o-
shilli-ag ordinary " (laughter), said that, as a matter of fact,
it was uttered after imbibing an eighteen-penny market te«,
and consequently might easily be of a weak cliaracter.
(Laughter.) The House was much indebted to his hon. friend
the member for Banbury, who had brought forward the sub-
ject of the Agricultural Holdings Act, as it was rot likely
that another opportunity of considering it would have pre-
sented itself this Session. He held that the Act was a very
good one, and said go because it was a copy of a Bill nhich
he had himself introduced into the House. (Laughter.) It
was a good Act, but it was not free from imperfect'ion. In it
there was an excellent homily to landlords, but he was sorry
to S3y that a vast majority of those to whom the homily was
addressed had excused themselves from attending to the duties
which it enjoined. The Act came into operation where it
was not wanted, and where it was wanted its provisions wore

2 'J

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

no*, nn'ortnna'ely, of tnncli avail. The jrooJ landlord", for
whom the Act was uot required, lisd accepted it, but the
iiKedy or erai-ping cues had as a rule rejected it. (Hear
hear.) la the ranks of those who had contracted themselves
out of the Act was the Ducliy of Lancaster — a fact which
pnist, in his opinion, naturally give rise to wonder. Kecently,
without doubt, tlie Act had Wen more fjenerally adopted
(hear, liear), as tenants had become indepsndcnt in conse-
quence of bad times, and had therefore been able to get a
greater amount of justice done them than formerly. Fur his
own part, if there was to be a geu.-ral inquiry into the condi-
tion of agriculture and the c.iuse of the existing depression, he
shctild like to see that inquiry entrusted to a Royal Coranais-
sion instead of to a committee of the House of Commons, as
the report of a Royal Commission would be accorded more
confidence than would be placed in that of a committee. The
depression in agriculture hhi been produced by a large num-
berof circuinsauces, and he wished he could see a chance of
a recovery. Tliere were biirdens which it was impossible for
legislative enactments to relieve. He thought he was right
in saying that the chief cau»e o" the distress had been our un
fruitful seasons — pariicularly those of the last lour years.
Another cause was tiie absence of restriction on imports. We
had iiiid 31 years' expprience of free trade, and the predictions
of tiie Proti'ctionisfs had been proved to be true. In 1851
and 1853 we were given a dose of free trade and then followed
the di.-covery of gold in di.l'erent parts of the world, then the
Crimean war, the cotton famine, and the Franco-German war
—all of them circumstances tending to raise the p-ices of tlie
commodities produced by farmers. Only three times in his
life had he heard of the price of *iieat being as low as it was
now. The first occasion was in 183fi, when there was a heavy
protective duty. In 1832, 1833, 1834, and 1835 the
liarvests were good, and now, after four exceedingly bad
iiarvests, the price of wheat was just the same as it was then.
In 1851 the price of wheat was again as low as it is now.
That was in the first days of free trade. If had been said
that rents had come down. He did not believe, however,
tliat where there was a fair proportion of grass and good
tillage land rents had been considerably reduced,nor did he think
tiioy would fall very much, although, no doubt, the very light
land and the very heavy land would go out of cultivation.
(Hear, hear.) Farmers liad a right to complain of the
titlies which were 12 per cent, above the amount at which
they had been commuted, "his arose from the unfair way in
which the averages were last struck. Again, the increase of
rates was most burdensome, and where a School Board had
been established in a small agricultural parish the pressure
became really grievous. He kuew School Board rates which
were Is. or Is. 6d. in the pound, and this meant a property
tax on the farmer of 2s. or 3*. in the pound. What would any
tradesman think if such an impost were it:flicted upon him?
(Hear, hear.) Moreover, the farmers had still to complain of
tlie operation of the Malt-tax. As for the agiicultural labourer,
he had never been so well off as he was at the present day,
when he could buy a bushel of wheat for two days' pay. lie
njuiced in the improved condition of the agricultural labourer.
(IL'ar, hear.) It had been urged that the property of the
landlords had greatly improved since the introduction of free
trade, lie did not see, however, that there was very much in
that, as comparatives between increased values ought to be
comparative, and not absolute. Mr. Caird told them in his
recent work that land had increased 21 per cent, in value be-
tween 1857 and 1875. How was that arrived at ? In the
first place there had been a great increase in the general asses-
nicnt ; next, the enlargement of towns, the increased value of
residential estates, and the construction of railways had con-
siderably raited the value of laud. Again, the landlords had
embarked an immense quantity of capital in the laud in the
shape of permanent improvements, and large contributions to
the value of estates had also been tnade by tiie tenantry. The
returns of I'roperty-tax in England from lSi7 to 1S77 tliowed
tliat land had increased in value 2G per cent. ; but in the same
period houses had increased in value 40 per cent., while the
profits of trades, professions, and public companies had in-
creased 231 per cent. Taking from 1857 to 1877 land had
increased in value exactly the same, or 26 per cent., which
showed tliat in the early days of free trade laud was stationary
in value — houses had increased in value 170 and trades 155
per cent. lu another period, from 1803 to 1375, according to
figures given by Mr. Gill'eu, who, lie believed, was not gene-

rally regarded as particularly favourable to ilie landed interes',
land had increased in value only 8 per cent., iiuuses 38, rail-
ways 58, public funds 14-0, mines 190, and iron works Sl-l per
cent. (Hear, hear), Tiierefore, as compared with other pro-
perty tlie increase in the value of land was very small, lie
would support the motion. (Hear).

Mr. CilAl'LIN, who had given notice of an amendmenfjto
the elTect that the inquiry should be into the " present depressed
condition of agriculture, and how far it is owing to causes
which can be remedied by legislation," disclaimed any idea of
raising the question of protection. He agreed with all that
had fallen from hon. members as to the depression in agricul-
tural circles. It. was more than depession. He was not sure
that hon. members would be far wrong if they described it as
the decline of agriculture in England, and if that decline were
prolonged and permanent it would be a calamity not only 'o
the agricultural interest, but to all classes of the community.
(Hear, hear). The hon-. member attributed our diaiinislied
production to the want of security for his capital on the part
of the tenant, and to the Act of 1875 being permissive and
therefore non-effective. This diminished production, however,
was entirely independent of tliat or any other Act ; its causes
were many and various. The hon. member had called the Act
a dead letter. Ou the contrary, the Act of 1875 had made
cardinal changes in the relations between the landlords and
tenants of England. Before the passing of the Act all im-
provements, whether exhausted or otherwise arising out of the
capital and labour of the tenant, became the properly of tlin
landlord. After the passing of the Act the whole presumption
of the law was reversed. (Hear, hear). The hon. member
said it was impossible for agriculture to flourish until they pro*
vided for the tenant greater security than he now enjoyed. He
told them that the Crown lands had all been contracted out of
the Act — that the anthor of the Act had contraet<>d himself
out of it. Now, he was in a position to state that all the farms
of the noble duke referred to were under lease ; and that of the
37,000 acres of the Duchy of Lancaster 3,700 acres in the
county of Norfolk were let under lease. He stated that
the Act had been adopted in very few instances. What
did all this mean? The contra-cting parties had preferred,
and very properly, to enter into agreements of their own.
The first of the causes which had led to the present depres-
sion in agriculture was the succession of three or four veryb-id
seasons, resulting in greatly diminished produce, which had
suffered not only in quantity but in quality. Another cause
was the very bad prices received for that produce. Tliese
were the real causes of distress in agriculture — the consequence
had been little return or loss on the capital invested. It was
no wonder that agriculturists should be more or less dis-
heartened. Agriculture in England was not fairly treated.
Land was far nir>re heavily taxed than any other property in
the country. V/hy should real property alone contribute to
many important national objects? While they were imposing
heavy additional taxes on land they were also largely increas-
ing the expenses of the larmer in the labour he employed
(Hear, hear). They compelled him to pay men's wages for a
great quantity of work which had hitherto been often better
done by boys at one-third of the price paid for men. The
labour question itself was by no means one of the least of the
farmers' difficulties. But more than all this, there was the
great competition he had to meet in the increasing importation
of food from abroad. The trade in meat hud sprung up ia
America and developed with a rapidity which was uupr(C3-
dcnted. If the American trade was really capable of all that
was claimed for ir, the conclusion must become almost irresis-
tible, that so far as arable land was concerned, the days of the
farmers were nearly numbered. What was the case in dairy
farms? He was told that the price hitherto obtained for their
cheese had been diminished of iate by nearly one-half, owing
to the cjmpetition they had to meet with from America.
Nowhere, he understood, was distress greater than in farms of
that description at the present moment. A statement of the
expenditure and returns of a farm, the details ot which lie
would show any hon. member, exhibited a loss of 2s. if the
holding were rent free; and that brought out the important
fact that rent was an insignificant proportion of the outgoings
on ordinary average arable farms (Hear, hear). On a farm
of 500 acres tlie outeoiugs amounted to Jb3,o/-7, and the rent,
at 30s. an acre, to £750, or one-lourth of the whole. A return
of 20 or 25 per cent, of the rent was a mere bagatelle to the
tenant, and it might be ruin to the landlord, it would not

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

?07

pnHbi(! the (ciKiiit to cultivate tlio Inud ii' he could not do it
iiuw. li tilings rfiiiaiiicd ill tlu'ir preai'iit jiositioii, it would
lit' dillicult to cultivate a great part of Enuhind ar all. No
doubt llie dilUcullifs of the fanners were largely owing to tlie
bad seasons we had gone through, and the general depression
in trade had reacted on agriculture in England ; but, belore
considering remedies, it was necessary to ascertiiii whether
our present depression was of a temporary or of a perina.ipnt
chaiacter. If it provid to be permanent, the serious position
and prospects of agrieul'ure would render it incumbent on us
to look the matter fully ia the face with a view to devising an
alequnte remi dy.

Sir T. ACLA.ND said that no substantial qaestiou liad been
raised except by the speecli and motion of the hon. member for
Banbury. If the Act h-id not proved the boon to agriculture
it. was expected to be, what was tlie reason for its failure ?
Was it tiie fact that the landlords and the land agents as a
body were opposed to the Act and would not allow the farmers
to take advantage of it? These were questions which it was
"very desirable to get answered. No doubt the Act had done
good by changing the presumption of the law, and by enabling
limited owners to do more than they could do before. But
there was, he believed,a general distrust of it throughout the
cjunlry. It was essentially a conveyancer's Act aud smelt of
the Court of Chancery from beginning to end. It was, more-
over, very complica'fd, and he could sympathise with those
who asked wliy justice could not be done to the fanner in a
simple aud direct fashion. There was one thing that the Le-
gislature ought to take into their serious consideration, and
that was the protection which the farmers undoubtedly re-
quired on the question of game. He also urged that protection
siiould be granted tenants against the effect of an unforeseen
sale of his land to a stranger — the contract with tlie tenant
should not be disturbed by the purchaser without the tenant's
consent for a reasonable period ; two years at the very least.
ilrf trusted that the Government would not consider tlie pre-
sent motion in the light of one of censure. It was not. On
the contrary, it was to carry out to its legitimate conclusion a
most useful work which they were the first to initiate. (Hear,
hear).

Mr. NEWDEGATE observed that lie had always endeav-
oured to advance the interests of the agriculturists. So far
from opposing the action taken by Mr. Pusey, he had moved
for and obtained the appointment of the Ajiriculiural Customs
Committee, and had resigned the chair in favour of Mr. I'usey,
though he did not go the entire way v^itli him in his views. He
coull not but think, however, that the present Act had not
been sutTiciently tried. It had lieen but three years in opera-
tion, and the time liad not yet come to inriuire info the result
of its working, which he believed to be on the whole beneficial
to both landlord aad tenant. Tlie fact that agricalture was
suiferiug from the depression of trade had been alluded to in
the course ot the debate, and the hon. member for Banbury had
mentioned that £100,000,000 worth of food had been imported
into this country. Ho asked tlie indulgence of the House
while he quoted some statistics to show that the circumstances
of the depression had not been exaggerated. From 1S71 to
lS7i inclusive the value of our imports was £1,427,000,000,
and from 1875 to 1878 inclusive the value of our imports was
£1,511 000,000. The value of the exports of British produce
from 1871 to 1874 amounted to £97-1,000,000, and from 1875
to 1878 to £817,000,000, there being thus a diminution of
£157,000,000. It would be found if all the figures were studied
that the excess of the value of the imports over the value of
the exports in the period from 1875 to 1878 was more than
double the excess of the value of the imports over that of the
exports in the period from 1871 to 1S7-4. With such a state
of trade as statistics disclosed how could we expect the country
to be prosperous ? His opinion was that the country had a
right to demand that ^the House of Commons should inquire
into this condition of things. (Hear, hear). The proposal of
the hon. -member for Banbury fell short of the inquiry which
was really required, and therefore he sliou'd certainly vote with
the hon. member for Lincolnshire, who had proposed a wider
inquiry. Considering the nniversal depression which prevailed
it was the duty of the House to institute an investigation into
the circumstances, and to consider witliout prejudice or undue
prepcss sbiuu whether anything could be done by means of
legislation to relieve the widespread distress which was still
increasing. (Hear, hear).
31r. PELL taw uo reason to regret the passing of the Agri-

cultural Holdings Act. Unless hon. members w>ulj shoi* that
there were defects in it or that its operation had been actually
prejudicial, to ask for a committee was exhibiting a sort of
childish and inquisitive disposition. (Hear). There waj one
tliin< very remarkable about this debate, and that was that not
a single suggestion had he heard in any of the speeches that
the present depression iu agriculture and trade could be reme-
died by legislative enaotment. (Hear, hear;. But unless iion.
members had some idea of what they would propose by way of
remedy, it was hardly fair to ask for a committee, about the
etinstitution of which, if assented to, there v7ould be iinmeaF'e
difference of opinion. If thtrewas to be any inquiry at all it
would be better by way of commission than committee.

]\Ir. JI. HENRY said that the depression, whicii nobody
ccu'd dispute, existed iu Ireland quite as mucli as iu England
or Scotland.

Mr. BROMLEY DAVENPORT desired, so far as his own
experience went, to deny that the Act in question had been
made a dead letter by tenints contracting themselves out of
it. He sent round to liis tenants a circular asking them
whether they preferred to come under the operation of the
Act or to remain as ttiey were, and they preferred to remain
as they were, tenants under six months' notice to quit, leaving
their farms by will to their sons, subject to the a|iproval of
the squire as to one son being more acceptable than another.
However feudal the arrangement might be, it showed at least
that there was no want of confidrnice.

Lord SANDON said they had every reason to congratulate
themselves upon the consideration which had been shown to a
very large class of our fellow-countrymen who were sufreriu'J-
seriously at the present time. From every side of the House
the same feeling had b^en shown, and the effect ould only be
soothing upon those who were struggling with the most difli-
cult circumstances in which men could be placed. Though he
did not agree with the motion of the hon. member for Ban-
bury, he congratulated him upon the interesting speeches it
had elicited. A clear case must be made out before the
House could consent to submit to the judgment of a Select
Committee an Act which had been only three years in opera-
tion. The promoters of the Bill did not anticipate that the
A&t would produce any rapid or revolutionary consequences,
but they expected its effects to be gradual. It was wished to
force all the tenants and landlords in the country to adopt the
Act;_ but the object «;is to give s-curity to tenants that thVy
should receive compensation for the money they had laid out
on their farms, and thus to secure benefits not only to the
tenants, but also to the landlords and the whole country, by
preventing farms from being ruined for aa incoming tenant.
The reason alleged for asking for inquiry was that the Act
ad been a dead letter and had been set at naught. Tliere
was, however, important testimony to the coutnry furnished
by the Central Farmers' Club of London, which in 1877
issued 700 or 800 circulars to farmers in every county, and
received 250 answers, including 13 or It from Norfolk. It
might be presumed that the answers given would be trust-
worthy, as representing the views of the tenant farmers on
this q.uBstion. The testimony of those who were summoned
after one year's experience of the Act by the Farmers' Central
Club sulliciently showed th^t tenant farmers throughout the
country were, as to unexhausted improvements, as to notices,
and as to agreements, in a much better position than before it
was passed, and he therefore declined to accept the statement
of the hon. member for Banbury that the Act was a dead
letter (Hear, hear). For his part he backed the testimony
adduced by the Farmers' Club against that of the auonyraoua
correspondents of the hon. member, as to whom nothiug was
known by the House, and who, for all they knew, might te
townsmen utterly ignorant of the subject as to which they
wrote. It was a noteworthy fact that while for some months
past it was known that the hon. gentleman intended to bring
forward his motion lie was not in a position to bring forward
in its support a single letter from a tenant farmer, although if
his case were a good one they miglit expect that the hon.
member would have been armed with a sheaf of such letters
(Hear, hear). In fact, the more the case of the hon. mem-
ber \vas looked into the less it would be found capable of
holding water.^ Great stress had been put upon the impor-
tance to the nation of agricullure.and there could be no doubt
as to that ; but were there no other matters of national im-
portance P Were strikes not of national importance ?
Could uot the same Iu said aa to the prices of

1^08

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

oommodities ? But were (hey therefore to interfere in these
cases? The argument of the liou. member was a dangerous
one, but he liad put forward another which was of a curious
nature. Tite hon. gentleman said that produce l\ad diminished.
There was no doubt that it l»ad. 13ut why had it dope so ?■
Because they liad a succession of four bad seasons — a fact
wliicli th( y all deplored ; and yet the hon. njember expressed
surprisB that increased capital had not been investad in the
oultivation of the land. The hon. member had not made
inquiries as to the working of the Act in Lincolnshire because,
as be said, a custom prevailed there which rendered its appli-
cation unnecessary ; but surely it was a matter of notoriety
that depression prevailed in Lincolnshire just as much as it did
in any other part of the country (llear, hear).

Mr. SAMUELSON reminded the noble lord that he never
for one moment said the absence or presence of an agreement
liad anything to do with agricultural depression.

Lord SANDON accepted the hon. member's general dis-
claimer, but the whole current of his argument certainly seemed
to point in the contrary direction. It supposed in some
quarters that tiie landlords were averse to capital being
brouglit upon their farms, but the rev.rse was the case. Any
scheme which gave landlords a fair hope of getting more
capital upon their larms they would receive with open arms,.
The hon. member by his motion opened up what appeared to
be a very wide field. On this point it was important to no'ice
the speech of the lion, member for Dungarvan, who said that
the extreme wing of the Liberal party, of which he was a
representative, would, if the present demand were granted,
endeavour to push llieir views still further. Well, what would
all this come to? Ha had taken some trouble to ascertain the
peal eiusesof the present agricultural depression, for that
agricultural depression did exist had been brought out clearly
in the course cl' the debate. It should be borne in rainH,
however, that it was only the landlords and tenants who were
in a suffering condition. The depression, fortunately, had not
jfet touched the agricultural labourer, as was proved by the
fact that during the past four years pau])erism had been
steadily on the decrease. Well, the causes of this agricultural
depression appeared to him perfectly clear. There had been
a very general and very unusual concurrence of circumstances
unfavourable to agriculture. There had been four unusually
bad seasons, and many farmers hnd not yet recovered from
i)be terrible losses sustained by them through cattle disease.
Concurrently with these bad seasons there had been cattle
disease, which had caused the farmers to dread the purcliase
of stock except such as they knew the history of ; the labour
di.liculty — one of the most serious with which the farmers had
liad to contend — and the diiSculty arising out of the recent
education legislation which had deprived the farmers of
juvenile labour for ever — a most serious question, bacause
such labour had from time immemorial formed an im-
portant factor in the farmer's calculation of his expenses
?.nd consequent profit. It had sometimes happened that in
bad years the farmers were recouped by high prices ; but this
had not occurred in the present case.. It was true that the
prices of meat had increased considerably, but the stock of
cattle had not increased in any such ratio, and the number of
sheep — a most important item with the farming class — had
absolutely decreased by 8 per cent. At the same time the
prices of butter, cheese, wheat, barley, and oats also decreased
very materially. The badness of trade in this country had a
natural tendency to decrease the cost of freightage, and this
fact was utilized by the American agriculturists and producers
cf food to send the products of tlieir abundant harvests to
this country. To sum up the figures in two groups, he would
point out that from 1S68 to 1S78 the value of the annua
iaaports of wheat,barley, oats, Indian core, pea.«, and beans had
risen from 40 millious to 60 millions, making a total rise of 20
millions sterling in ten years, while the value of the im-
ports of live and dead meat and of butter and cheese had
risen during the same period from 11 to 35 millions, lie
thought he had now shown that there was no mystery
about the cause of the present agricultural distress, and that
it was due in a great measure to the very unusual concurrence
of bad seasons for four years together with the other causes
which he had mentioned. We must hope for better times.
There had been, as had been stated in the course of the dis-
cussion, periods of great depression before now from which
agriculture had emerged like a giant jrefrtshed. There were

good reasons now why we should expect improvement, although
whether the expectation was absolutely to be relied on was
anotlier matter. The condition of tlie agriculiuril labourer--,
he miKht add, had been rendered more comfortable, and so far
as experience went it might be hoped that having had a cycle
of bad seasons they would be succeeded by a cycle of good
ones. The question, then, was whether it would not be wise
to have a committee of the House in the circumstances to
inquira into the condition of agriculture. The examinatioa
could not be confined to one point of the subject. His hon.
friend tlie member for Mid Lincolnshire could not be satisfied
with that, while Irish members would be sure to press those'
po'uts in whidi they took an interest. He believed, too that
the result of such an inquiry as that proposed might be the
very reverse of what was desired. It would be something like
calling in a doctor v.'hen his services were not absolutely
needed. In the intercbts of agricultnre itself he doubted
whether any investigation was required. He should at the
same time be the last man to contend that if the distress were
to continue some inquiry might not be instituted either by
means of a committee or of a Royal Commission. He was,
however, of opinion that it wzs wiser at the present moment
to refrain from enteriag upon any sach examination. There
was nothing recondite in the causes of the distress, and he
iioped, with the blessing of Providence and the return of
more clement seasons, the British farmer wou!d pull through
it, and again set up the agriculture of these islands as an
example to foreign nations- without such interference as was
now proposed (cheers).

The Marquis of IIARTINGTON' said that the noble lord
had given them a very interesting account, drawn from the
resources of the Board of Trade, of the present condition of
agriculture, and, no doubt, to a considerable extent his state-
ment was a very accurate one.. But, as far as the motion
before the House was concerned, he could not help thinking
that the greater part of the noble lord's speech was absolutely
irrelevant. (Hear, hear.) The noble lord assumed that his
hon. friend the member for Banbury rested his case for a com-
mittee of inquiry on the present state of agricultural distress.
His hon. friend, however, had carefully guarded himself
against any such notion. His hon. friend had referred to the
depression which existed in agriculture as well as in other
branches cf industry; but he distinctly explained that he
founded his motion on entirely diffareut grounds. The noble
lord's remarks might be psrtinent to the intended proposal of
the hon. member for Lincoln, but that proposal was not now
before the House. When the motion of the hon. member for
Baubary and the amendment of the hon. member for Dun-
garvon had been disposed of, the motion of the hon. member
for Lincoln might come on for discussion. He concurred with
the noble lord as to the importance of the subject brought
before the House with so much ability and moderation by liis
hon. friend, life sympathised deeply with those who suffered
from the agricultural depression now prevailing, but the evil
would not be without iU advantage it it induced farmers and
those interested in agriculture to take a somewhat wider view
of their political responsibilities than they had been in the
habit of doing. Agriculturists had good cause to interest
themselves in a policy that must so deeply affect their own
prosperity and the prosperity of the country at large.. (Hear.)
He could not help thinking- these were considerations which
must have forced themselves, and wliich would force them-
selves more and more, upon the attention of the agricultural
community of the country. He could only say in coaclusioa
that he regretted extremely that the Government could not see
their way to granting an inquiry into the operation of the
Act. He believed that there was a well-founded impression
that it had failed to bring about that which it was passed to
effect, and he thouglit that the time was very favourable for a
full, impartial, and exhaustive inquiry. (Cheers.)

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that no
one expected the Act at once to produce a revolution ; but it
had produced a very considerable effect, ar.d especially in two
ways — viz., by changing the presumption of the law and giving,
facilities to limited owner.". (Hear). It was quite true that a
sudden change had not been produced iu all the relations be-
tween landlord and tenant iu all parts of the country. But
the effect of the Act might not have been the less for that.
The period during which the Act had been in force was not a
period in which the tenant was seeking to invest liis capital
and was kept back by the difficulties the hmulord made, buV

THE FARMER'S MAGAZlNli].

299

it Was a time in wliicli tlip lamllord was only too anxious to
get tennlits to come and invest capital in faruiiof; liis land.
It was highly inipro'iable lliat the evils against wliich the Act
was meant to gaard had had mucli to do with the depression
in affricnltnre. His noble friend had accounted ^or the de-
pression by the bad seasons. But the noble lord sai<l it was
not the seasons; it was the policy of ller Majesty's Govern-
ment. (Hear). He said they had raised a great ni my expec-
tations which liad been entirely falsified. Tliey had redeemed
all their promises as to the Bill, and tiiey had no more to do
with tlie seasons or the cattle pligue than the noble lord him-
self or his ''rieuds. It might be urjjed that "it would be much
fairer to say that tl e policy of the noble lord had prepared the
Way for the evils of which they had been speaking, though in
truth neither one party nor the other was at fauU. (Hear,
hear). Some persons might say that the revolution of the
seasous, or the spots on the sui>, or some other phvsical cause
was chargeable — he would not go into questions of that sort ;
but at any rate the proposal of the hon. member for Banbury
won d not have the ^ffect of meeting the distress under which
the country was suffering ; while as regarded the conclusion
of the noble lord, he was bound to say that he saw no connec-
tion betwenn the premises and theconclu>ion, except the con-
nectiou that would be implied if the wish were father to the
thought. (Hear, hear).

ilr. SAMirELSON vindicated the accuracy of the statistics
and information he had used in support of the motion, and
offered some explanation?.

After some remarks from Sir Gr. CAMPBELL, who advised
the withdrawal of the amendment,

The House divided, and the numbers were —

For the motion ... ... ... ... ... 115

Against it ... ... ... ... ... 166

Mnjority ... ... ... ... — 51

Ths motion was therefore negatived, and Mr. O'Donnell's
motion became the substantive question.

Motion naade and question proposed, " That a Select Com-
mittee be appointed to inquire into the operation of the
Agricultural Holdings Act. 1875, and into the conditions
of agricultural tenancies iu England and Wales." — (Mr.
Bcrnhard Samuelson). Amendment proposed, to leave out
from the word " That" to the eud of the qut-slion, in order
to add the words " there can be no adequate remedy for the
agricultural depression existing throughout the country, and
severely affecting also the interests of town labour, which
does not, especially at this period of increasing foreign com-
petition, protect the application of sk'U and cnpital to the
soil by the establishment of compensation for unexhausted
improvements, equitable appeal against exorbi.aut rents,
and substautial security of tenure for the agricultural classes
both in Great Britain and Ireland" — (Mr. O'Donnell) —
instead thereof. Question put, " That the words proposed
to be left out stind part of the question." The House
divided ; — Ayes, 115; Noes, 106.
AYES.

Acland, Sir T. D. Egerton,A.dm.Hn.F. Monk, C. J.

Adam, lit. Hn. W.T. Errington, G. Moore, A.

Amoiy. Sir J. II. Eawcelt, H. Mui. Vila, A.. J.

Anderson, G. Ferguson, R. Muntz, P. il,

Ashley, Hon. E. M. Fitzwilliam.Hu.W.J.Noel, E.

Balfour, Sir G. Forster.Rt.Hn.W.E. Nolan, Major

Bnc ay, J. W. Fry, L. O'Brien, Sir P.

Barran, J. Gladstone, W. H. O'Clery, K.

Bass, A. Gordon, Sir A. O' Conor, D. M.

Baxter, Rt.Hn.W.E. Gordon, Lord D. Palmer, G.

Biggar, J. G. Goschen,Kt lin.G..!, Parker, C. S.

Blake, T. Gourley, E. T. Parnell, C. S.

Bleanerhassett,R.P. Grant, A. Pender, J.

Bright, J. Harrison, C. Ramsay, J.

Britjht, Rt. Hon. J. Hartington,Marq.of Rashleigh, Sir C.

Brise, Col. R. Havelock, Sir H. Ruhbone, W.

Brogden, A. Hajter, Sir A. D. Read, C S.

Brown, A. H. Henry, M. Roberts, J.

Brown, J. C. Heiscbell, F. Ro hschild. Sir N.

Burt, T. flibbert, J.T. M. de

Campbell, Lord C. Howard, Hon. C. Samuelson, II.

Campbell, Sir G. Howard, E. S. Shaw, W.

Cavendish,LordF.C. Ingram, W.J. Sheil, E.

Cole, li. T. James, \V. 11. Simon, Mr. Serjeant

Colman,J. J. James, Sir H. Sinclair, Sir J. G. T.

Conynghame, Ld.F. Jenkins, 0. .T. Stevenson, J . C.

Ciurtanld,G. Kensington, Lord Stewart, J.

Courtney, L. H. Liw, Rt. Hon. H. Swaustou, A.
Cowan, J. Lawson, Sir W. Tavistock, Marq. of

Coweu, J. liBitham, K. A. Tracy, Hon. F. S. A.

Cross, J. K. Lefevre, G. J. S. Hanbury-

Davies, 1). Lloyd, M. Waddy, S. D.

Delahumy, J. M'Arthur, A. Wilter, J.

Dilke, Sir C. W. M'(3lure, Sir T. Wedderburn, Sir D,
Dodds, J. M'Ligan, P. Whitbread, S.

DodsoM, Rt. Hq.J.G. Martin, P. Wliitwell, J •

Duff, R. W. Meldon, C. H. Williams, W.

Earp, T. Midilletou, Sir A. E. Wilson, I.

EJue, S. R. Milbank, F. A. Young, A. W.^

Tellers for the Ayes, Mr. B. Samuelson and Mr. P. Phipps..
NOES.
Agnew, R. Vans Hall, A. W. Parker, Lt.-Col. W

Allcrolt, J. U. Halsey, T. P. Pell, A.

Arhuthnot, Lt.-Col. ILimil'on, Ld. C. J. Pemberton, E. L.

G. llimilton. Lord G. Pennant, Hon. G.

Archdale, W. H. H^mil on, Marq. of Plunkett, Hon. R.
Arkwright, A. P. Hamilton, Hn. R. B. Price, Captain
Assheton, R. Hamond, C. F. Pal ston, J. II,

Bagge, Sir W. Ilarcourr, E. W. Raikes, H. C.

Balfour, A. J. Hirdcastle, E. Reudleshara, Lord

Baring, T. C. H .rvev. Sir R. B. Ridley, Sir M. W.

Barrington, Viscnt. Hav, Rt. Hon. Sir Rodwell, B. B. II.
Bates, E. J. CD. Round, J.

Beach, Rt. Hon. Sir Helmsley, Vi.scount Russell, Sir 0.

M. Hicks- Heygate, W. U. Rvder, G. R.

Beacli, W. W. B. Hicks, E. Salt, T.

Bentinck, Rt. Hon. Hill, A. S. Sanderson, T. K.

G. C. Holker, Sir J. Sandon, Viscount

Beresford, Lord C. IL Irasdale, Visct. Sdater-Booth, Rt.
Birkbeck, E. Home; Captain Hon. G.

Biriey, H. Hood, C^pt. Hon. Selwiu-lbbetson, Sir

Bla(•kburn.^Col.J.L A. W. A. N. 11. J.

PoorJ, T. VV. Hubbard, E. Severne, J. E.

Bourke, Hon. II. Isaac, S. Sliirley, S. E.

Bousrteld, Col. Johnson J. G. Sidebottom, T. H.

Bowen, J. B. J;ihnstone, H. Smith, A.

Brooke, Lord Jollifle, Hon. S. Smith, Right Hon,

Brooks, W.C. Jones, J. W. H.

Bur^ihley, Lord Kennard, Col. S.aaollett, P. B.

Castlereagh, Visct. Kennaway, Sir J. U. Somi^rset, Lord H,
Cecil, Ld. E.H.B.G. Knowles, T. R. C.

Chaplin, H. Lacon, Sir E. H. K. Spinks, Mr. Serjt.

Christie, W. L. Lawrence, Sir T. Stanhope, Hon. E.
Cobbold, T. C. Lechmere, Sir E. Stanhope, W. T.

Cole, Col. lIon.H.A. A. H. W. S.

Cirdes, T. Legard, SirC. Stanley, R'ght Hon.

Cricliton, Viscount Legh, W. J. Col. F.

Cross, Rt.Hon.R.A. Leighton, Sir B. Starkev, L. R.
Oust, Henry C. Leighton, S. Starkie, J. P. G.

Ddkeith, Earl of Lennox, Lord II. G. Storer, G.
Dalrymple, C. Leslie, Sir J. Sykes, G.

Davenport, W.Brom-Lindsay, Col. R.Talbot, J. G.

ley. Loyd Taylor, Rt. Ho. Col,

Demson, W. E. Lloyd, T. E. ThoruhiU, T.

Dickson, MajorA.G. Lopes, Sir M. Tiiynne, Ld. H.F.

Digby, Col. Hon.E. Lowther,Rt. Hn.J. Torr, J.
Douglas, Sir G. Macartney, J. \V. E. Treinayne, A.

Edmonstone, Adml. Maclver, D. Tunor, E.

Sir W. M'Garel-Hogg, Sir Wait, W. K.

Egerton, Hon. A. F. J. Wallace, Sir R.

Elphinstoae, Sir J. Makins, CoL Wainey, .T.

D H. Mandeville, Visct. Watson, Rt. Hn. W.

Ewart, W. Manners, Lord J. Welby-Gregory, Sir

Fellowes, E. Marten, A. G. W.

Floyer, J. Merewetlier, C. G. Welleslev, Colonel

Forester, C. T. W. Mills, Sir C. il. WheelhJuse, W. S.
Fremantle, Hn.T.F. Muncaster, Lord J.

Girfit, T. Naghten, Lt-Coi. Winn,R.

Gamier, J. C. Newdegate, C. N. Woodd,B. T.

Gibson, Rt. Hon. E. Newport, Visroiint Wyndham, Hon P.
Gilfard, Sir H. S. Northcole, Sir S. H U'yiin, 0. W. W.
Gore-Langton, W.S. Onslow, D. Yarmouth, Earl of

Gregory, G. B. Paget, K. H.

Tellers for the NoeS, Mr. O'Donnell and Major O'Beirnei

Y

300

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

^gviciiUural (Socktics.

ROYAlToF* ENGLAND.
MoNTiiLr Council, Wednesday, Apful 2nd, 1879.
— r'resenl : H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, K.G., President,
in the chair. Earl Cathnart, the Earl of Powis, Lord
Chesham, Lord Skelmersdale, Lord Vernon, the Hon.
W. Egerton. M.P., Sir T. Dyke Acland, Bart, M.P.,
Sir A. K. Macdonald, Bart., Sir Erandreth Gibbs, Mr.
Arkwright, Mr. Aveling, Mr. Aylmer, Mr. Bowly, Mr.
Cautrell, Mr. Davies, Mr. Dent, Mr. Druce, Mr. Evans,
Mr. Foster, Mr. Frankish, Mr. C. Howard, Mr. J.
Howard, Mr. Bowen Jones, Colonel Kiugscote, C.B.,
M.P., Mr. Leeds, Mr. Martin, Mr. Neville, Mr. Odams,
Mr. Pain, Mr. Ilaudell, Mr. Rnssell, Mr. Sanday, Mr.
Sheraton, Mr. Torr, M.P., Lieutenaut-Colonel Turbervill,
Mr. Jacob Wilson, Mr. Whitehead, Mr. Wise, Professor
Simonds, and Dr. Yoelcker.

The following new members were elected : —
Allen, George, of Grove House, Stalbridge, Blandford.
Andrew, Cliarlcs, of Cloughton Court, lledditch.
Auger, John, of Canewdon, RocMord.
Asliburner, G. B., of Elliseules, Ddltou-in-Furness.
Beak, William Edward, of The Manor, Somerlord, Chippen-
ham.
Eeddoe, Jaraes, of Pembroke.
Biddulph Michael, M.P., of Ledbury.
Binney, C. H., of IKord Lodge, Ilford.
Blacow, Wra. P., of Hornby, Lancaster.
Blott, John, of Whalebone House, Chadwell Heath, Esses.
Blyth, Thos. W., of Dowaham, Billericay.
Bl)th, Robert A., of HMme-next-the-'^ea, King's Lynn.
Bonsall, Charles, of G5, Westboiinie Gove, Bayswafpr, W.
Breucldey, William Henry, of Barnfield, Cliaring, Ashford.
Bntian, Alfred, of Farlaud Hill, Aslifon, Bristol.
Bromley, Richard, of Lower House, Llanymynech, Oswestry.
Brown, George, of Graysham Hall, Biirkingaide.
Bio*n, Jobn, of VViggenby, Wigton.
Brovn W. C, of Appleby, Brigg.
Burfield, John, of HaiUham.
Burfield, Tbomas, of H^iilsham.
Burra, Henry, of Springfield, Rye.
Butcher, A. J., of Linton, Maidstone.
Calthrop, J. Sykes, of Weasenham-AU-Saints, Swaffham.
Chapman, John, of Blisden Farm, Oagar.
Chapman, Thomas, of Peasmore, Newbury.
Christy, Fell, of Brooraliild Road, Chelmsford,
(yhurcii, Jaraes, of Rainham, Romford.
Coney, Henry, of Cherry Orchard, Bath Road, Worceoter.
Copcstake, Sampson, of Burgess Hill, Hurstpierpoiut.
Cowlard, John Lethliridge, of Launceston.
Digby, John Thomas, of Birch, Colchostrr.
Dorman, Charles, of The Firs, Lawrie Park, Sydenhim.
Dudgeon, Robert Francis, jun., of Cargen, Dumfries.
Dudley, Earl of, Witley Court, Stourport, WorcesterHhlre.
Eden, Hon. Robert Henley, of The Coigne, Minching

hampton.
El'iolt, Gee. W., of Largton Hill, Northallerton.
Emersan, H. J., of Billericay, Brentwood.
Farmer, W. G., of Hinckley.
Fisher, John Lsmay, of Harworth, Tickhill, Notts.
Fiatl, William Wolton, of Wantisden, Wicknam Market.
Foules, George, of Wcstrip Farm, Cherrington, Stroud.
Fountaine, A. C, of Narford Hall, Swaffham.
Francis, A., of Colchester. .

Frank, R. John, of Ashbourne Hall, Derbyshire.
Fryer, William Goodwin, of Browick Hall, Wymondham.
Gamble, George, of Vnndlehurst, St. Helens, Lancashire.
Gamier, Russell M., of Market Place, Richmond, Yorkshire.
G irrard, Samuel Button, of 57, Westbourne Grove, W.
Garrett, Abraham, of Wyvenhoe Park, Colchester,
Gay, William, of Rush Green, Romford.
Gordon, 'Williara O., of Swinfen, Lichfield.
Green, Henry Egerton, of King's Ford, Colchester.
Green, Horace George Egerton, of The Bank, Colchester.
GreeHj Joseph, of Fuidham, Colchester,

Gilbey, George King, of Roraford.

Gobbitt, Henry M., of Capel St. liiJrew, Woodbridgc.

Godinan, J., of Burgate, Godalmini;.

Goodchild, Wellington, of Great Burstead, Billericay.

Grimmer, Henry S , of Thorpe Hamlet, Norwich.

Hambro, Everard Alexander, of lloehanipton.

Hannam, Philip James, of IN orthbourne Court, Deal,

HareSj Thomas J , of Millen Heath, Frees, Shropshire.

Harvey, Jesse, of Greenhill, Pembroke,

Heath, Amcdee J., of Coonibe Hill, Croydon.

Helmc, Edward J., of HorncliurcU Lodge, Pi,oraford.

Hicks. Charles T.,'of Great Holland Hall, Colchester.

Hill, Henry Finch, of New Hall, Watford.

Hod;ies, Basil, of Vincent, Margate.

Holt-Beever, William Frederick, of Pencraig Court, Ross,

Herefordshire.
Hughes, F..oger William, of Mertyn.Dowing, Holywell.
Hutchinson, George, of Brougham Castle, Penrith,
Jackson, Henry Wyld, of Haverill.
Jackson, John Pi. H., ol Fulmodeston, East Dereham.
Johnson, Robert, of Romford.

Johnson, Cuthbert N. H., of Daventry, Northampton.
Kendall, Robert, of Guist, E ist D^'reham.
Keyes, V/illiam, of Souihchurch H^il, Southend-on-Sea.
King, Henry T. A., of Great Bardfield, Braintree.
Leamon, Philip, of Whitwell, Reephara.
Lees, Charles, of The Birches, P,;Ugpley.
Legh, Lieut. -Col. Henry Cornwall, of High Legh Hall, Kuuts-

ford,
Longman, F. W., of Ashlyns. Great Berkhamsted,
lilcAulay, Samuei, of Aylesby, Grimsby.
Mansell, Alfred, of College Hill, Shrewsbury.
Marsden, Lieut.-Col. F. C, of Colne House, Earls Colne,

Halstead.
Martin, John, of Birdsea, Ulverston.
Mayer, John, of' Corporation Hotel," Derby.
Meeson, W. M., of Reitendou Place, Chelmsford.
Morgan, George, of South Weald. Brentwood.
Morgan. John, of Mile House, Oswestry.
Moss, J. Siduey L., of The Kuells, Beeding, Hurstpier-

point.
Nflwall. J. L , of Forest Hall, Ongar.
Newman, B. Harding, of Wood Hall, Newport, Essex.
Noakes, John, of Laraberhurst, Hawkhurst.
Norman, Rev. C. F.,of Mistley Place, Manningtree.
North, Thomas, of Weston Court, Alresford.
Ofnn, Thomas William, of Rayleigh, Essex.
Ogilvy, Henry J., of BaJdivan House, Dundee, N.B.
Oldham, Thomas M., of Southam, Rugby.
Owen, John Edgar, ofOldport, Oswestry.
Pannell, Henry, ot Widford Hall, Chelmsford,
Parkes, Henry, of Castlebourne, Belbroughton.
Parris, Robert, of Oaklands, Notley, Braiutree.
Parrisli, Coulson Douglas, of Huutei's Hall Farm, Romford.
Pembertou-Barues, W. H. of Havering- itte Bower, Essex,
Phillips, Charles P., of IIG, Feuchurch Street, E.G.
PoUey, Samuel, of Copford Green, Colchester.
Poole, Bilward. of Osterley Gardens, Southall, W,
Purdv, R. J W^., of Woodgate House, Aylsham.
Kawlings, Charles Joseph, of Romford.
Puayuor, Rev. George, of llazeleigh Rectory, jMaldon, Essex.
Reeve, William, of Manor Farm, Passenham, Stony Stratford,
Hi'.h, George, ol Victoria LlOMd, Komford,
Ritbinson, John, of Westwood llall, Leek.
RoHe, Francis, of WVnden Lofts, Saffron Walden.
llolfe. Henry, of Clavering, Nevvport. Essex.
P.ussell, Mnjor Ciiarapion, of Stuhbtrs, Romford.
Saville, E., ol Thurlby House, Woodford Bridge, Essex.
Savill, Philip, of Churchfield, Chigwell, E.ses.
SeAell, E>dc, of Little Oakely Hall, Harwich.
Shepperson, Artimr M., of Benwick, March.
Sheraton, Anthony TIritcher, Fair View, Ellesmere.
Smith, Daniel, of Layer Breton, Kelvedon.
Smith, Hii^li Colin, of Mount Clare, RoeharaptoD.
Smith, John, of Beacons, Ingatestone, Essex.
Small, W. G,, of Easthall.Bradwell-onS^a, Maldon.
Stewart, Sir Michael Robert Shaw, Bart., of Ardgowan,

Greenock.
Stirap.son, B., of Morton-on-Hill, Norwich.
Stock, John James, of Filty Grange, Dunmow.
Sworder, lieury, ol Great Ilallingbury, Bishop's Stortford,

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

30]

Sworiler, Henry, Jan., of Stocking Pelhum Hall, Bimlingford.

Sjiiiouds, Williiira, of North Weald, Eppiog.

Tliomas, William, of Greave Farm, Wenvoe, Cardiff.

Tliurgood. John Isaac, of RaiUay llotfl, Harlow.

Thurlow, George, ot HAcheston, Wickham Jlarket.

Thurlow, Thomas W., of Blooinvillc Hall, Hacheston, Wick-
ham Market.

Tingey, Edward, of West Rudhara, Swaffham,

Toller, Samuel, of Leatlieringham Lodge, Wickham Market.

Tolputt, Henry, of S3, Great St. Helens, E.G.

Torason, James John, of Barnt Green, Reddituh.

Turner, Arthur, of Southani, Rugby.

Thwaites, John Tliurlo<7, of Carleton, Forehoc, Wyraondham.

Tweed, Walter, of Eppiu?.

Twyforct, John F., of Whaleboue Lane, Blacontree Heath,
llooiford.

Vaughan, Thomas G. C., of Woodgate, Loppington, Wem,
Salop.

Walker, Jacoh, of Loudham Hall, Wickham Market.

Wslker, William Henry, of Shenfield Hall, Breutwood.

Wniley, William Thomas, of Hanley, Staffs.

W,ird, John, of Ramsdale House, Nottingham.

Watson, Henry, ofMerring'on Grange, Merrington, Durham.

White, Herbert, of Rawreth, Chelmsford.

Wiiulen, George, of Gr. at Bromley, Little Bentley, Colchester.

Whitehead, R., of Park Hill, Hiuher Broughtou, Manchester.

Whitlock, Walter, of Wethcrsfield, Braintree,

Wigmore, J. F,, of Church Farm, Avening, Stroud,

Williams, J-jhu, of Debden Hall, L'lUgtiton.

Williams, Thomas, of Alkington, \\hitcharch, Salop.

Williams, T. R., of Caerwys, I'liuts.

Williams, William Ednyfed, Gwerda'^s, Corwen.

Wiliau, Frank, of Thornhill Park, Bitterne, Hants,

Wood, H.T., of Eastbury Manor, Hungerfordv

Woodger, Edward, of 23, Westbourne Park, Villas, Paddicg-
ton, W.

Woodward, Stephen, Eirls Colne, Halstead.

WooUey, John, of Skimblescolt, Much Wenlock.

IfuU, Samuel, of Hampden House, Roraford.

FINANCE.

Col. KiNGSCOTE, M.P., (Chairman), presented the
report, from v\hich it appeared that the secretary's
receipts during the past month had been duly examined
by the Committee, and by Messrs. Quilter, Ball, and Co.,
the Society's accountants, and found coirect. The
balauce in the hands of the bankers on March 31 was
£5,942 18s. 5d. The quarterly statement of subscrip-
tions and arrears to March 31 was laid on the table, the
amount of arrears being £734. The Committee recom-
mended that the Secretary be authorised to make
arrangements with the Lcndou and Westminster Bank
for the attendance of clerks, &c., at the London Exhibi-
tion ; and that Mr. Raudell aud Mr. Uavius bs t'le
Stewards of Finance.

This report was adopted.

JOURNAL.

Mr. Dent (Chairman) reported that the spring number
of the Journal had been published, and issued to
members of the Society since the last meeting of the
Council. The Committee recommended sundry payments
for printing, illustrating, and literary coutributious. This
report was adopted.

.CHEillCAL.

Mr. Dent reported that in compliance with the
architect's report, the Committee recommended the pay-
ment of £2.50 on account of the new Laboratory, in
addition to the architect's fees. They also recommended
a further payment to Dr. Voelcker on account of
apparatus aud chemicals. His staff for the present
requirements of the new Laboratory was complete. It
was opened for work on the Uth of March, from which
date until the 1st of April as many as 108 samples had
been received for analysis. The Committee recommended
that the fees for exaiiiination for poisons, to be added to
the list of members' privileges, be as follows ;— For

metallic poisons, three guineas; for any other poison,
live guineas. They also recommended that Mr. Neville
be added to the Chemical Committee.
This report Vt'as adopted,

VETEKINARY.

The Hon. W. Egekton, MP., (Chairman), reported
that the following letter had been received and approved
of :—

Royal College of Veterinary Sarcreoni',

10, Red Lion Square, W.C., 25th March, 1879.

Dear Sir,— The Council of the Royal College of Veteri-
nary Surgeons have duly considered your letter relative to
the prizes so liberally given by the lloyal Agricultural
Society for the encouragement of cattle pathology, and also
tlie recoraraendatiou of the examiners for those prizes.

The Council acquiesced in the recommendation, and
suggests th«t tiie competition should be open to all veterinary
surgeons who have passed with great credit in cattle patho-
logy (written and pr«ctical), alihough they may not have
obtained honours in other kubji'cts.

The Council think that such a scheme would tend to
encourage the study of cattle practice among the students.
This branch of veterinary science is carried on with diliiculty
'.n London, as cattle are rarely, i*" ever, sent for treatment to
the Rojal Veterinary College. The Council, however, have
been glad to learn that the Royal Veterinary Collp?ie have
lately made arrangements to send a class of students, under a
professor, tv/ice or three times a week to the Metropolitan
Cattle Market, and also to the foreign market at Deptford.

The Council also think that the extension of time to two

years after taking the diploma will act favourably in inducing

young veterinary surgeons to study cattle practice after

obtaining their diploma. — I am. Dear Sir, yours faithfully,

(Signed,) Wm. IIy." Coates, Secretary.

H. M. Jenkins, E,~q., Secretary.
Royal Agricultural Society.

The Committee have to report that the services of the
Royal Veteriuary College have been required in five cases
by members of the Society during the past month. The
Committee have received from the College the following
reports on the outbreaks of disease •■ —

March 23rd, 1879,

Sir, — I have to report, for the information of the Veteri-
nary Comraittpe, that during the last three weeks I have made
three visits into the C( Uutry for the purpose of investigating
cases of disease afffctii g either cattle or sheep.

One of these, and the only one now necv-ssary to he pub-
lished, was on jfarch 8th, when I insprcted a flock of sheep'
hfkagingto W. C. Morland, Esq., at Lamberhursl Court,
Kent, among which several losses had recently occurred. The
flock consisted of in-!amb ewes, 170 young ewes, and thirty
old ones, which had bi-eu kept separate duiing the winter. At
the time of my visit nine of the latter had died, and two of
the former; several were i'l, and fresh cases kept occurring
day by day at shorter or longer periods after giving birth to
their lambs. The malady was precisely of the same nature,
and had for its origin allied causes to those which were re-
ported on by my colleague — Pro'^essor Axe — to the Committee
at its last meeting. As in the instances therein named, so in
these, medical treatment proved of very little worth wiien the
disease was fully established. It was therefore to proventive
tnea^urfs that attention had to be given, and especially to
such as would lead to a richer and healthier quality of blood
being formed for sustaining the organism under the additional
strriin made upon it by the act of parturition. For this pnr-
|)0se the innntritious grass, upon which the ewes had beea
mainly kept during 1 he whole winter, was ordered to be di."-
continned to as great an extent as possible, and its place sup-
plied by good hay, chaff, cake, corn, and a moderate quantity
of luangeU Salt was aho ordered to be given with the
manger-food, and good protection afforded against inclement
weaiher by placiug tlie ewe* at niglit in a warm lambing-yard
These means have proved effective for good, and I have no in-
formation of other cases having very recently occurred.

Enclosed with this report I send a communication from
Professor Axe, giving particulars of an investigation be
has made into an outbreak of splenic apoplexy among

Y 2

T?02

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

animBls belonginpr to Mr. S^nitton, hi Newport, Monmouth-
shire.— I am, Sir, your obedieut servant,

Jas. B. Simo:jds.
II. M. Jeakin, Esq., Spcretary,
Royal Agricultural Sjciety.
'■Report ot I^•vESTIClATIo^' i:vto an Outbreak or Sple>'ic
ArorLKXY in a herd oe Beasts.
This inquiry was instituted on the 1 ith of March, in response
to a communication received from R. Stratton, E«q., The
■ "Duffrjn, Newport.

The disease first appeared on the 6th of March, in a two-
vear-old steer. This animal, together with another, occupied
separate compartments in a shed atijaining some yards, in whict)
SO other bea ts of all ages were housed. In the early part of
January last the steer in question was brought from a farm
several miles distant, and put up to fatten. lu consequence
of some temporary derangement ot l^is teeth, mastication was
much interfered with, which caused him to lose condition. An
examination of his mouth Id lo the removal of the defective
teeth, after which he rapidly accumulated fl-sh. To this
sudden hud extreme ch-inge in tiie coudinon of tliis animal I
attribute the origin of the disease. After death, the carcass
was removed to an adjoining barn, and there opened in close
proximity to a heap ot turnips. lu regard to these turnips,
iiiquiry showed that in the course of the ^o ^?/;o;Vcwxaraina-
tion some of them became more or less covered over with the
blood of the steer. O' these, some were disposed o*', but it is
to be feared from subsequent events, that hlood-tainted roots
reached the cows in the yard adjoining the barn, as one of
ihem became affected with the disease, and died five or six
days afterwards. I had an opportunity of examining the
S| l^'en from the last-named animal, and subse<juently of making |
a detailed investigatiou into tlie coud.tion of the blood which (
it afforded. In this, anthrax organisms {haccilus enthrcici) ;
were found in large numbers, and !n the spleen, apoplexy with |
its attendant disruption of tissue, was strikingly inarked. The
measures adopted lor arresting the progress of the malady h^d
reference to the sar.itary condition of the premi^es, tlie
quantiiy and n&ture ol the food used, and the general manage-
ment ol the herd.

Two dajs after my visit I was informed that another cow
had died suddenly, but since that time Ihave reason to believe
that no freah ca^es have occurred.

J. Wortlet Axe,
Professor of P^lholoey and Morbid Anatomy
at the Royal Veterinary College.

Mr. Dent wished to call attention to a paragraph in
the letter from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons,
^hich stated that such a scheme as that recommended by
ttiem would tend to encourage the study of cattle practice
amongst the students, and that this branch of veterinary
science was carried on with difficulty in London as cattle are
rarely, if ever, sent to the Royal Veterinary College for
treatment. At the present time agriculturists were very
ij>uch in the hands of veterinary surgeons with respect to
the slaughter of animals for almost every kind of disease,
and they were told, officially, that in the education of
veterinary surgeons they very rarely had an opportunity
of seeing disease in cattle, sheep, and pigs. A wonderful
improvement, it was stated, was about to be adoj)ted by
hcuding the studentsi once or twice a week to the Metro-
jiolilan Meat Market, and to the Foreign Market at
Deplford. It struck him that this arrangement would be
ou a ])ar with sending medical students to study human
diseases by seeing people who attended markets and fairs,
lie was quite aware that since Colonel Kingscote and
ether gentlemen had become governors of the Royal
Veterinary College great improvements had taken place,
and that efforts were being made to give vsterinary stu-
dents the requisite education ; but would it not be pos-
sible for these young men to serve an apprenticeship with
veterinary surgeons in the country, before going to the
Royal Veterinary College? At present agiiculturists
were so much under the power of the Veterinary Depart-
lueut and of veterinary surgeon?, that it was extremely
I'lcjiortaut that the study of veleiiuary scieuce should be

more carefully attended to in the future than it had been
in the past. He made these remarks in the hope that the
Hoya) Veterinary College might propound some scheme
lo give their students further instruction, and he was
confident that the Council would be prepared to render
all the support they could, both pecuniarily aad other-
vriae.

Colonel Kingscote, C.B., M.P., agreed most thorougly
with every word which had fallen from Mr. Dent with
respect to the great necessity of veterinary surgeons beino'
competent in their profession, especially as regards cattle.,
sheep, and pigs. The power now wielded by these gentle-
men under the new Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act
.was very great, and it therefore bthoved the Royal Veteri-
nary College to put that education before their students
which would fit them to exercise this power with discre-
tion. As long as he had the honour of being a governor
of that college he would do ail in his power to j re\'ide
that the requisite instruction should be given, but it must
not be foi gotten that there were great difficulties in the
way. The college now undertook to acccept patients
gratis, for the purpose of giving students an opportunity
of seeing different diseases in various stages, but that
offer had been very slightly responded to. He was not at
all sure that the scheme of Mr. Dent, as to students bein^
placed with velerioary surgeons in the country, might
not be promoted hy arrangement between the Roval
Veterinary College and the Royal College of Veterinary
Surgeons ; at all events he would take care that the subject
was brought before the governors of the Royal Veterinary
College.

The report was then adopted.

implements.

Mr. G. H. Sanday (Chairman) reported that the Com-
mittee had revised *he list of ancient and modern imple-
ments offered for exhibition, and that they recommended
that those selected by them be accepted.

The Committee further recommended that the modern
implements required for the comparative museum be
selected from those which have gained the Society's
latest "first prizes in the several classes required ; that
the old implements must arrive at the exhibition grounds
before June 1st ; and that, subject to there being room,
notice be given to those exhibitors who have applied for
200 feet of shedding, and that a further space, not ex-
ceeding 200 feet, wiU be allotted on application.

This report was adopted.

LONDON EXHIBITION.

Colonel Kingscote (Chairman) reported the following
recommendations of the Committee: — 1. That the offer
of Messrs. Shand, Mason, and Co., to supply a certaia
numbe'- of steam and manual fire-engines for use in case
of need, be accepted. 2. That Mr. Benson's offer to
supply a striking clock to the tower at the entrance to
the members' club, on the terms proposed, be also
accej)ted. 3. That the secretary be authorised to deal
with various matters rela iug to the land adjoining the
show-yard, to make arrangements with the police
authorities I'cspectiog the number of men to be employed
during the exhibition, and also as to the sale of season
tickets, and the preparation of a list of lodgings to be let
during the period of the exhibition. It was further
recommended that the entrance fee to non-members for
the exhibition of goats be reduced to 10s. each, and that
the prices of admission to the exhibition shoul.i be as
follows: — Monday and Tuesday, June 30th and July 1st,
5s. , Wednesday and Thursday, July 2nd and 3rd, 23.
fid. ; Friday, Saturday, and Monday, July 4th, 5tb, and
7lh, Is. ; and season tickets for the whole of the exhibi-
tion, 2s. 6d., including re-admission.

This report was adopted.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

305

HOUSE.

Colonel KixGSCOTE reported the recommendations of
the Committee as to the purchase of certain office and
household requisites.

This report was adopted,

SELECTION.

Earl Catucart (Chairmau) reported the rccoramenda-
tioiis of the Committee in reference to the election of
Stewards of Foreijrn Live Stock. This report was
adopted ; and Lord Vernon, Mr. Chaudos-l'ale-Gttll, and
Mr. Wise were elected Stewards of the Foreign Depart-
ment of the Exhibition accordingly.

The followiuK list was prepared of members of Council
who retire by rotation, but are desirous of re-electiop,^ showing
the number of attendances at Council and Committees oi' each
of such members during the past two years in accordance
with tiie following section of Bye-law No, 13 :—

* (o) A list of the Members of the Council who retire by-
rotation, but are desirous of re-election, showinp: the number
of attendances at Council and Committee MeetiuKS of each
of such Members during the past two years, shall be pre-
pared at the April Council, and published immediately in at
least two afrricultural pa.per3. Any two Governors or Mem-
bers may nominate in writing to the Secretary before tlie
first day of May following a Member or Members or the
Society desirous of being nominated for election on the
Council ; these nominatioas, with the names of the pro-
poser and seconder, shall also be added to the previously
published list, and the entire list shall be published on the
same agricultural papers immediately after the May Council,
and be also printed for the use of Members at the General
Meeting iu May. B'je-law 13, Sec. a.)

AirEXDAyCE, FEOM THE RlSIN^G OF THE LiVEEPOOL MEETING,

IN 1877, TO THE Present Time.

Names,

Avelirg, T., Rochester, Kent

Aylmer, Hugh, West Dereham, Stoke
Ferry

Cantrell, Charles S., Riding Court, Dat-
chet, Bucks

ChandosPole-Ge'l, H., Hopton Hall,
Wirks worth, Derbyshire

Davies, David Reynolds, Agden Hall,
Lymm, Cheshire

Evans, John, Ufiiugton, Shiewsljurj.
Salop

Teversham, Earl of Buncombe Park.
Helmsley, Yorkshire

Howai-d, Charles, Biddenham, Bedf ird .

Jones, J.Bowen, Ensdon House, Shrews
bury, Salop

Leeds, Roberts, Keswick Old. Hall
Norwich

Lop^s, Sir Massey, Bart., M.P.,Maris-
tow, Rob"rough, Dovon

Mcintosh, David, Havering Park, Rom-
ford, Essex.

Martin, Joseph, Highiield House, Little-
port, Isle of Ely,'Caml3S

Pain, Thomas, The Grove, Basingstoke.
Hants

Bansome, Robert Charles, Ipswich,
Suffolk

Raven.sw«rth, Earl of, Ravenswortl
Castle, Durham

Ridley, Sir M. White, Bart. M.P., Blag-
don, Cramlington, Northumberland ..

Bigden, Wilham, Hove, Brighton, Sus-
sex

Russell, Robert, Horton Kirby, Dartford

Spencer, Earl, K.G., Althorp, Northamp-
ton

ToiT, J. ihn, M,P., Carlett Park, Eastham,
Chester

Turner, Geirge, Great Bowley, Tiverton,
Devon

Turner, Jabez, Had don, Hunts

Wakefield, William H., Kendal, West-
naoreland

Wilson, Jacob, Woodhom Manor, Mor-
peth, NoithuxQberland

Mon.

Committees.

oils.

Total,

14.

No. of

Meet-

At-
tend-

mgs.

ances,

13

62

£S

8

22

9

14

31

25

10

61

47

7

7

6

4

12

1

7
7

4

22

15

11

72

60

13

11

6

1

10

-

9

10

4

10

26

13

9

15

5

11

40

20

4

4

1

5

51

15

11
3
6

5
6

3

9

2

3
6

15
28

5
9

8

49

24

9

56

4i

The following letter was read from the Science and xVrt
Department : —

March Hth, 1S7'J.

Sir, — In reply to your letter of the 7th instiin', I anr
directed by the Lords of tlie Committee of Council on
Education to state that the Diploma of the Royal Agricultural
College, Cirencester, and the First Class Certificate of the
llojal Agricultural Sjciety will be accepted by the Depart-
ment as qualii'yi'ig the holders to earn payments on the results
of their instruction in the Principles of Agriculture without'
undergoing the ordinary examination, — 1 am, Sir, youf
obedient servant,

J, F, D, Co.NNELLY, Lieut,- Col., ll.E,

H. M. Jenkins, Esq., 12, Hanover Square. W,

Mr. Jacob Wilson thought that, having heard thai;'
letter read, it was not an inopportune moment to draw the-
attention of the Council to the present unfortunate con-
dition of affairs at the Agricultural College, Cirencester.
Anyone who had read the agricultural papers lately must
have felt regret at the state of things, which would, he
feared, jeopardise the future success of that Institution,
which had hitherto been regarded as a national one. \\,
was now twenty- five year.s ago since he was a student
within the walls of the College, and he could not held'
looking back with satisfaction to the knowledge he had
acquired there, and the many advantages which it had
given him. The College was then under the charge of
Mr, Hayuarth, as Principal, with Dr, Voelcker, and
Messrs, Brown, Buckman, and Coleman as Professors, —
men of eminence iu their several departments. Since that
time matters had not gone on satisfactorily, and he feared
that the College was fast drifting into a state of chaos.
He might be asked what the Council had to do with the
private quarrels of another Institution, bat he hoped Iu
be able to show that the question affected them very
closely. They must remember that the question of educa-
tion was a very important element in the Society's
Charter, and he need not remind the members of 0 )uncil
of the efforts made by their friend, the late Jlr, Holland,
to put that question on a proper footing. Well, things
had gone on from the small beginning inaugurated by
him till at the present moment agricultural education
formed a very important element in the Society's opera- •
tions, and he was sure that the reports of the Education
Ci mmittee, under the chairmanship of the Duke of Bed-
ford, possessed very great interest for the public at large.
By offering prizes and certificates the Society had identi-
fied itself with agrieultural education, and to a very large
degree the College at Cirencester had furaished the can-
didates for these pr'zes and certificates, so that the con-
nection between the College and the Society was at once
apparent. The Council of the Society had recently in-
duced the Science and Art Department of the Privy
Council to give to the diploma of the lloyal Agricultural
College the same valne as a University degree, and the
first-class certificate of the Society. As regarded the pre-
sent holders of the diploma, this action of the Council was
amply justified by the nature and extent of the instruc-
tion and knowledge which had hitherto been neceosary
to obtain that distinction; but he wished to point oi>t thai
since the Council had sticceeded in giving the diploma,
this additional value the whole of the teaching staff had
resigned, with the exception of the Professor of Agri-
culture, who was formerly the manage- of the Society's -
experimental farm at Woburn ; therefore, it was clear that
the means of giving effiL-ient agricultaral education at the
College had been greatly diminished. Under these cir-
cun,stances he wanted to know if it was the intention of
the Council to ascertain whether the instruction it the
Royal Agricultural College in the future would be as ,
efficient as in the past, and if not, whether the Council.
would accept the responsibility of advising, the Govern-
ment to give Ihc diplomas issued by the College in fal'irti

804

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

the saD:e value as those which had hitherto been gained.
He be{.'ged to move " That the question be referred to
the Education Commiltee to cousider the report to the
CouDcil whether any, or if any, what cctiou the Council
should lake under the circumstanees with reference to the
ctter just read."

Co'onel KiXGSCOTE (aa one of the governing body of
the College) said he was placed at some disadvautage, for,
hlthoagh Mr. "Wilson had communicated to him his in-
tention to raise this question that morning, be was unable
to refute his arguments at such short notice. He could
not help thinking that Mr. "Wilson was in a very great
hurry. "Why should not the education at the College go
on in the same way as heretofore, although it had lost one,
two, or three of its former professors ? Referring to the
discussions in the agricultural press, Colonel Kiugscote
submitted that while numerous letters and articles anta-
gonistic to the governing body of the College had been
published, the writers had not sufSci&ut grounds to go
upon, as the other side had not yet been heard. He really
did not know what Mr. "Wilson wished to do, or, for that
matter, why the Council should trouble itself about the
question at all. He thought that time should be given,
in order that it might be ascertained for certain whether
the education at the College had suffered or otherwise by
the recent changes. Professors went to the College as
young and unknown men, and if they got a good man,
he frequently obtained a better appointment than the
College professorship ; and thus many of the changes in
the staff, which had been so much noticed, could be ex-
plamed. He could not allow Mr. Wilson's proposition to
go forth without protesting against it> and also recording
hii vote in the same way.

Mr. AvELiNG, as the father of a late pupil at the Col-
lege, and knowing several friends whose sous were pupils
there, remarked that the confidence which ought to be felt
in the Principal did not exist at the present time ; and
that public confid-nce was liktly to be weakened rather
than strengthened by the appointment of Mr. Cathcart
to the post of Professor of Agriculture, seeing that he
was recently dismissed by the Society from his irosition as
manager of he Crawley Farm.

Earl Cathcart hoped the discussion would now cease,
as, in his oi^iuion, the Council had no right to interfere
with the management of Cirencester College.

Mr. EowtN Jones observed that the unfortunate
troubles at Cirencester must be of interest to those who
had the cause of agricultural education at heart, and
although it might at first sight appear a somewhat inop-
portune moment to bring the matter forward, he, as au
old student, did not think Mr. Wilson's proposition was
at dl out of place, because, as had been pointed out by
him, it was on the recommendation of the ('ouncil that an
additional value had been placed on the diploma of the
college, by the action and at the request of the Society.
Considering that the Society had for several years taken
a leading position in fostering the agricultural education
of the country, the Couuci] ought to take notice of any-
thing which would tend to deteriorate it ; and as the
Society was now identified with the College, he thought
it only right, in the present instance, that the matter
should be brought forward. He therefore seconded Mr.
Wilson's motioQ.

Mr. Dext protested against the Education Committee
being made a Committee of Inquiry into the quarrels of
the professors of the Agricultural College with the
Principal. He was inclined to think that the Council
had interfered in asking the Government to accept the
diploma of the College as a qualilicatiou for a teacher of
agriculture, but, having done one wrong tliinpr, he asked
them not to commit another wrong by attempting to pre-

judge the question under discussion ; and he hoped that
His Royal Highness would rule the question out of order.

Mr. BowLY said that, as one of the Governors of the
College, and holding his ow n particular views of the dis-
pute in question, he would not make any remark further
than to say that he thought Mr. Wilson would do well to
defer his proposition.
■In reply to some further remarks from Mr. Dent,

Mr. Jacob Wilson said he did not wish to inquire
into the conduct of any one whatever. He simply wished
tojask whether the Education Committee would recommend
the Council to continue to be responsible for the concession
v/hich they had recently obtained from the Science and
Art Department in reference to the Agricultural College.

The Hon. W. Egeuton, JNI.P., then moved the
previous question, which was seconded by Mr. Dent, and
carried by 17 votes to 8.

The Council then adjourned till W^ednesday, May 7th,

SHOETHORN.

A meeting of the Council of this Society was held at
the Society's Rooms, 12, Hanover Square, W., on Tues-
day, the 1st ult. Present — The Earl of Dunmore,
President, in the chair, the Earl of Bective, M.P., Lord
Penryhn, Loid Skelmersdale, Colonel Kiugscote, C.B.,
M.P., Mr. Hugh Aylmer, Mr. H. Chandos-Pole-Gell,
Mr. H. W. Beauford", Mr. John B. Booth, Mr. S. P.
Poster, Mr. Charles Howard, Mr. D. Mcintosh, Rev. T,
Stanifortb, Mr. G. Miirtou Tracy, and Mr. Jacob Wilson*

The following new members vi'sre elected : —

Angus, John Howard, Collingrove, Adelaide, South

Australia.
Leslie, Hon. G. Waldegravp, Leslie House, Leslie, Pife.
Nelson, Joseph, Maiden HiiJ, Penrith.
Hidden, James, Hmdlip Court Farm, Worcester, j

EDITING COMMITTEE.

Colonel KiNGScoTE reported that the Committee had
examined the pedigrees of several animals sent for inser-
tion in the forthcoming volume of the Herd Book, some
of which they had rejected, and had directed the
Secretary to communicate with the breeders of the
others.

This report was adopted.

general purposes committee.

Mr. D. McIntosh reported that the accounts for th&
month of Slarch had been examined by Messrs. Quilter,
Ball, and Co., and the Committee, and were found to be
correct ; that the Secretary's petty cash account Lad been
examined and passed, and showed an expenditure of £11
133. 7d. during the past month ; that the receipts for the
same period had been £133 17s. 6d. ; the balance of the
Society's current account at the bankers' being £482 ISs.
8d. ; and that in accordance with the resiJation of the
Council at its last meeting, the further sum of £500
(less expenses) had been invested in the 3 percent.
Consols.

This report was adopted-

The next meeting of the Council was fixed for Tuesday,
the Gth of May, at 3.30 p.m.

HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL.

The monthly meeting of the directors of this Society was
held on Wednesday in Ediuburgli— Mr. Ferguson Kinnochtry
in the chair.

chemical department.

At the meeting of the Board on the 5th March, the sugges-
tion contained in the minute of the committee of the 2(Jth of
February as to tlie chemist being authorised to make an: lyse;
was approved of, and it was remitted back to the cjmnuttee
to raukc arrun^ements for carrying it out. The commitlee

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

305

aceordingly Iifld a mpctingon the 13th March, when it was
suffgested that the directors sliould authorise Dr. Ailkeu to
act a3 analytical clieuiist to the Society, hs well as chemist ia .
eharsje of the agricultural stations. From tlie report it ,
appeared that Dr. Aitken produced to the committee a leaflet ;
coutaiiiiug the scale ol' charges now made by him, and wliich, |
he informed the committee, was tlie same as cliarged by other |
first-class analytical chemists in Scotland. The committee
recoaimended that the sc le of charges be approved of by the
directors. Tae committee also suggested that ia all cases
where a member of the Society had submitted to the chemist
of ttie Society a sample of msuure or feeding stulT, aloi g with
the written guarantee under whicli he purcliased it, and u,)on
aualysif the said manure or feeding stulf was found not to
oincide witli the written guarantee wiihin certain limits to be
hereafter determined, the cliemist should forward the analysis
to the seller for explanation, and should report the case along
with the written guarantee, his ana.yais, and the explanation
of the seller (if auy) to the directors for dispobal. Tlie com-
mittee further suggested that publicity should be given to the
proposed action, if adopted, and that, where necessary, the
name of the defaulter should be published in the newspaper
report of the directors' meeting.

Dr. AiTivEN said he hoped it would be clearly understood
that the Society, ia dealing with this subject, had no desire
to interfere with the working of the various agricultural asso-
ciations throughout the country.

For the instruction of members, he had written a few short
directions upon this matter, which, if carefully carried out,
would, he believed, greatly diminish the causes of complaint
regarding discrepant analyses. He had also prepared a few
instructions with the view ot enabling members unacquainted
with chemistry to interpret the results of analyses of manures
as usually supplied in analytical reports. He thought if these
were considered in committee, and received tlie approval of
the directors, they would be found very useful.

Mr. Mackenzie of Po.tmore reported that he had been
making inquiries as to how the matter should be carried out,
and the directors remitted back to the committee to frame a
plan of procedure, and report to next meeting.

AGRICULTUR.VL EDtTC.VTION.

A meeting of the Society's Council on Agricultural Educa-
tion was held immediately after the directors' meeting, when
the report of the examiners was submitted, from which it
appeared that the following had passed : —

For Diploma.— John Malcolm Aitken, Crieff (24 St.
Andrew Square, Edinburgh) ; John Craig, Innergeldie,
Corarie ; James Gaunan, Urioch, Castle-Douglas ; Arthur E.
Brooke Hunt, iS.A., Trinity College, Cambridge, Peers Court
Dursley, Gloucestershire ; John Wilson, jun., Fiiirfield,
Lorton, Cockerraouth.

For First-Class Certificate. — Michael Falcon, Stainburn,
Workington ; Lawford D. Gjver, Findon, Worthing.

Fur Second-Class CcrHfi;atd.~3?imes M'Laggan, Coble-
hough, Dinnet, Aberdeenshire ; Rabert M. Mdloch, Ball-
haldie, Braco, Perthshire ; Robert Mnnzies Traill, Orkney.

■PERTH SHOAV, 1879.

Tiie Board approved of the usual leiters to the conveners of
the counties embraced in the district connected with the show,
and to the Lord Provost of Perth in regard to the appoint-
ment of the local committee. The numbers to be named by
the different counties were arranged as follows : — Eastern
division of Perthshire, 10 ; western division of Forlarshire, 8 ;
Fifeshire, 10 ; Kinross-shire, 4 ; and city of Perth 6.

POTATO PLANTERS.

The report on the trial of potato planters, invented and
made by Messrs. G. W. Murray and Co., Banff, which took
place on the Farm at Niddrie Mains, Liberton, on the 23t,h
March, stated thai —

The two-drill machine was tried both with old seed (seconda)
and cut-seed potatoes. It did not work in a manner so as to
enable the committee to recommend it. The seed was not
dropped equally, and a good many blanks left ; also, a cup cliain
gave way vvbic'h put a stop to one of the sides working during
the most of tiie trial. The one-drill machine was then
thoroughly tested with both kinds of sets, and performed its
work very well, so much so that in counting over a hundred
sets dropped only t.vo blanks were found. This machine had
the advantage uf the drop-spout being much nearer the ground
than the other, which eiiubied it to deposit the seed more

rea;ularly, and the work was, upon the whole, satisfactorily
done. The committee think that the machine migiit be
further improved, especially by altering the construction of tlie
wheels in sucli a manner as to enable the.m to keep steadily on
the top of the drills when at work. The price— £7 7s.— being
moderate, and tiie mochauism strong and simple, and not
likely to go ont of order, the commitcc feel justified in com-
mending it, and recommend the directors to award a medium
gohl mcda],

Tlie Board approved of the report, and the mpdal rccom-
mended was accordingly voted to Messrs. G. W, Murray and
Co., BanfT, lor their one-drill potato planter.

BRITISH DAIRY FARMERS'

The first monthly meeting of the Council was held at
the new offices, 4-lG, Straad, oa Tuesday, the 1st uU.
Mr. E. C. Tisdali, of Kensington, presiding.

It was resolved that a deputation should wait upon the
Council of the P.^)yal Agrieultuval Society to confer with that
body with reference to offering medals of tlie Association for
dairy stock and produce at the London Exhibition.

A resolution was proposed by Mr. II. S. Holmes Pegler,
to alter the title of the Society to the " RoyalDairy Farmers'
Association of Great Britain and Ireland," on account of the
recent patronage bestowed upon it by H.ll.ll. the Prince of
Wales. After some discussion the resolution was withdrawn,
to be put on the agenda of the nest meeting, in order tj
obtain the views of other members of the Council not then
present.

The same result attended a motion on the part of Mr. T.
NuTTALL, who proposed that " in view of the forthcoming-
international exhibition, to be held in London by the Royal
Agricultural Society, which included amongst its exhibits
dairy stock and produce, it is uuadvisable for this Association
to hold a Dairy Show this year.

Professor Axe then addressed the meeting, and desired to
knovf how far the Association intended to extend its opera-
tions—whether it was intended to conf.Qe them strictly to the
enconra;{einent and support of dairy enterprise, or whether it
would also have regard to the more general interest of dairy
farmers. U.>i was induced to submit the question in considera-
tion of llie serious consequences which had recently befallen a
dairy farmer in the neighbourhood of London, arising out of
the report of a sanitary inspector. He said it would probably
be known to some raembers of Council that a short time ago
a serious epidemic of diphtheria prevailed in the neighbour-
hood of Kdburn and St. John's Wood. In consequence, the
Local Government Board instructed Mr. Power to inquire into
the cause of the malady, and that there had since ismed a
report in which the outbreak of throat illness is ascribed to
milk derived from a certain dairy, and it is further suggested
that the infection had its origin in the cows themselves.
The remarkable nature of Mr. Power's coocludons led him
to institute an inquiry as to the possibility of such an occur-
rence ; and he had arrived at the conclusion that there was
no foundation whatever for the inference that the disease in
question had auy real connection with milk. The proprietor
of the dairy, he said, had suffered a most; serious loss by the
report ; and the question he wished to submit was whether,
while recognising the iraportauce of sanitary science, the
Association would at the same time take steps to assist in
protecting the dairy interest. He thought that whatever
might be the immediate intentions of the Council, provisions
should be made by the Articles of Association for freedom of
action in any emergency of the kind that may arise.

The CiJA-iRMAJM remarked that the subject was a very im-
portant one, and well worth the serious attention of the
Council. He was glad the Professor had brought the matter
forward, but proposed that it be adjourned to the ensuing,
meeting, with the view to select a Committee of scientific
men, who should be specially deputed to deal with such cases.

The report of the Registration Committee v/as then rea
upon the "Memorandum and Articles of Association," and on
the motion of Mr. R. Dale it was resolved to add, in Clause
III., to the v7ords, " To improve the dairy stock, the dairy
produce, and the dairy husbandry of this country," the words,
" and to do all such further acts uud things as shall be ooa..
ducive to their interests,"

506

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

T'nerppoit, with this addition, was then aHopted, instrue-
tious being piven for the printing of the " Arlicles," for dis-
tribution amongst the members.

The meeting then adjourned to Tuesday, May Bth.

EKU^iiU-M.— In the report of ihe last meeting of Council
the name of J. AViiittaker was omitted iu tlie list of the
Journal Committee,

ENGLISH CART HORSE.

The usual monthly meeting of the council of this society
was held on A).ril 1 at the Inns of Court Hotel, Ilolborn.
I'resent— Earl Powis (in the chair), Sir W. F. Ff'olkes, Bart.,
lion. Edward Coke, Major Dashwood, Mr. W. Gilbey, Mr.
James Howard, Mr. Thomas Brown, and Mr. G. M. Sexton,
Becretary.

finance;
Mr. Walter Gilbey proposed—

"Thattlie minute of council. May 20th, conferring on the
Editing Committee power to pass accounts, be rescinded and
be placed before the council for confirmation at neit meet-
ing,"

This was seconded by Mr. T. Brown, and adopted.
Mr. GiLBEY then proposed, as a recommendation from the
Finance Committee, " That a balance sheet of the accounts of
the Society be prepared by the accountant, Mr. J. Harris, up
to December 31st, 1878 ; and that a further statemsnt of the
Society's affairs up to Ist of May be drawn out and laid before
next meeting."

This was seconded by Major Dashavood, and agreed to.
The Secretary mentioned that the agi cement with Mr.
R. Reynolds had not been seat to him, as the seal of the
Society, which was not yet ready, had not been affixed! The
Secretary read a letter from the agent to the Duke of Bedford
inquiring " what objection exists to fixiug ' limited ' to the
Coaipany's title." The Secretary was requested to say that
the Society did not see any necessity for it, as it was not
required by the Board of Trade as explained in rule 5 of the
articles of association.

The Council adjourned till Tuesday, May 6th, at 13
o'clock.

SEVENOAKS.

f A meeting of the members of th'S Club was held on April
Ist, Mr. T. S. White in the chair. Mr. G. Tanner, who
was to have read a paper on " 'I'he Present Depressed State of
Agriculture and its Future Prospects " being ill and unable to
attend, a desultory discussion of the topic took place.

Mr. W. W. Mill said his impression was that the man

who invested his capial in lana should be fairly remunerated

for it. But their money was not turned over sufficiently fast

f jr that. He would a-k, then, did they see one bright star on

the horizon of agriculture ? There was one— meat, which

wai the only redeeming point, but that was departing. We

h id now brought to our shores not only the carcases of beasts,

but live beasts, sheep, and pigs, besides large quantities of all

kinds of dairy produce and fruit. Tlie meat had been pro-

nounced to be of superior excellence, and its only drawback

was the getting it to our market?, tor with the free pasturage,

the cost of production was but small. He feared the home

producer would have some difficulty in the future, even in that

direction, in competing with the foreigner. Going back to

protection would not help the farraeis in their troubles, that

was impossible. Then what must they do to relieve tliat d ■

pression ? He had said that he wiuld not reduce tiie labourer,

but he admitted that it was his firm belief that rents must be

lowered, and ih^it there nust be a great reduction or remission

of taxation. He concluded by some observations on titiic^,

cppecially on Ihe extraordinary tithe, suggebting that there

was an under-current at work which would result in a great

agitHtion on the subject before long. , , . <•

Mr. Monckton said he the ught when he hired his tarm
tithe free he was doing something good, but now he did no
think that he got that great benefit from it that he had ext
pected, as it was in his rental, and he had to pay income-tax
Upon it. He did not feel the malttax to Ijc an in-
justice, and he would like to ask what tax they were to liuvc
iu its place ?

Mr. Bf.ale : Income.

Mr. Monckton, continuing, said the farmsrs did nof pnli
right when election time came. Why did they not look about
and ge.t a man who would do them some good. liut they
selected a landlord, a landlord's son, or a lord with money,
and if he got in it was not likely thiit he was going to try to
relieve tiiem. No, they must put their own shoulders to the
wheel. Wliy did they not, like Norfolk, look out a man like
Mr. Clare Read. He agreed with Mr. Mill thaUhey did not
want to lower their labaurers, but they wanted to increase the
standard of their work. He did not think a
labourer's money was one-halfpenny too much, but his work
of late had been done very badly, and they had not been in a
position to complain, for if they did he left them.

The CiiAlRMAJJ tliought farmers must practise economy at
their homes, have lower rent, tithe, and labour, and trades-
men's bills, lor it was only by so doing they could meet the
present state of things.

€hambtr5 -of ^^gttcultuit.

BANBURY.

At a recent meeting of this Chamber, Mr. N. Stilgoe
presiding,

Mr. Cadbury reintroduced the subject of his paper read at
the last meeting on '• The Vast Excess of Poor and Police
Rates paid on Laud, &c., iu Asjricnltural Districts, as com-
pared with the Licensed Manufacturers of, and Dealers in.
Alcoholic Drinks in the same Districts."

Mr. Cadbury said that since the last meeting he had
applied, through Mr. S^rauel^on, M.P., to see if they could
have returns of the county of Oxford and some of the northern
counties — such as Lancashire and Yorkshire — showing liow
much the land and the agriculturists paid to the lates and how
much was paid by the brewing interest, public-houses, beer-
shops, grocers, and so on. Tlie answer was that the Govern-
ment had no objection to granting the returns, seeing the
importance of the matter, but they did not want to incur
greater expense at the present time than they could
help. The total amount of rates paid in the agricultural
district of the union for the year was £15,7+9, and of
this the drink trade paid £133 and land £15,G10. If
this was not enough to raise their indignation, he did not
know what was. He thought the agriculturists in this
neighbourhood should appeal to tiie Government for some
help in this matter, and he concluded by moving the adoption
of a petition to Parliament in favour of enacting sujh a law
as would give the inhabitants the right of coutrolling the issue
and continuance of public-houses licenses.

Alter some discussion tlie resolution was outvoted.
The Malt Tax was next discussed, and the following reso-
lution was agreed to —

" That in the opinion of this Chamber the Malt Tax is au
injustice to the farmer, and that the revenue now obtained
from malt might bs advantageously collected by an impost on
beer."

GLOUCESTERSHIRE.

A general meeting of the Gloucestershire Chamber of Ag i-
culture was held recently, a' Gloucfster. The chair was taken
by the Presiden', Mr. Wm. Friday.

The County Boards Bill was discussed, and the following
rc.tolutiou moved by Mr. W. Lawrence, was carried: —

'' That this Chamber views vtitli regret and dissatisfaction
the County Government Bill, itiasinuch as it still retains the
control of tlie public purse in the liHiids of quarter sessions,
and reciuests the Central Chamber of Agriculture to use every
effort to obtain for the county board absolute control over the
expenditure of all public monies."

Mr. John Woodward, of Uckingtou, opened a discussion
on " The causes of agricultural depression." He thought few
were aware how serious the aifair would ultimately become to
tlie lariners of this country. He had had a large arable farm
for the last eigiit years, and had made a profit iu two years
(1870-1), but had lost 'n the remainder. The causes, hesaii*,
were both natural and artiricial. He thought it time for a
ridiL-al remedy of suine kind. It was possible members of the
1 Chaiubt-r would uot all agree as to remedies, but they would,

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

307

lie tlioiislit, foncnr in thinking that the crisis was to >
important to leave altogether iu oilier iiands. He would say,
'■ iheu send men of jour OHU class to Parliament, and let
them demand lor you eciualitj before the law, as regards the
law ot distraint, and eitlier a repeal of the malt tux or a
corresponding duty on foreign wheat. The experiment of
sending jour own class to Parliament has been tried and has
not failed :

" Ton have Pell and Sewell Read-
Send more of the same breed."
lie moved —

" Tliat in the opinion of this Chamber the law of distraint,
in so far as it adds to new takings of laud, should be at once
repealed ; and, secondly, that the malt tax, being in the
altered state of the land laws no longer bearable by tlie landed
interest of this country, be repealed, or otherwise a compen-
sating duty be levied on foreign grown wheat."

Mr, W. Lawi;e>;ce said he would have no objection to
second the rtsolution if Mr. Woodward would strike out the
last paragraph.

Mr. T. Cable thought the allusion to the malt tax should
also be erased.

Jlr. D. Lo:ng complained of the injury done by foreign
competition, but attributed the depression mainly to the dimi-
nution ol labour and consequent high price of it caused by the
Education Act. He believed the landowners would greatly
sutler in the long run.

Mr. Chaxce defended free trade principles, and after ?
discussion, in which the President, Mr. T. Morris, Mr. B.
St. John Ackers, and others took part, Mr. Woodward
withdrew his resolution, and a proposition by Mr. D. Lo^'G
that the Central Chamber should be asked to consider the
causes of the depression was carried unanimously.

LINCOLNSHIRE.

A special general meeting of the members of this Chamber
was held at Lincoln one day recently, Mr. Theodore Trotter,
Deputy-Chairman, presiding in the absence of the president,
the Marquis of Ripon.

The first business considered by the Chamber was the action
cf the liighway authorities for the county under the Highway
Act of last year, and alter the secretary (Mr. S. Upton) had
reid wl at had been done by the Lindsey and Kestev n Courts
of Qi arter Sessions, a resolution was carried, on the motion
of Mr. Bramley, approving of the action taken by the authori
ties for the Parts of Lindsey to reduce to the status of ordinary
highways all disturnpiked roads.

The Valuation of Property Bill was next discussed, and the
Chamber passed resolutions aflirraingits opinion that the right
of appeal against assessments should be to County Boards
instead of to Courts ol Quarter Sessions ; that fresh valuations
of property should be made every ten years instead of five, as
provided by the measure ; and that in the fourth schedule of
the bill which deals with the amount of deduction on certain
descriptions of property, classes 3 and 5 should be raised to 20
per cent., and classes 6 and 7 to 20 and 15 per cent.

The other Government measure discussed was the Rivers
Conservancy Bill, as to which the Chamber, on the motion of
Mr. Dudding, seconded by Mr. Heanley, passed a resolution
appreciating and approving the introduction of so imporiant
and necessary a measure, and one likely to be so beneficial to
Lincolnshire, but without pledging itself to the details of the
bill.

The further consideration of the measure was then adjourned
Until the nest meeting.

WARWICKSHIRE.

At the last meeting of this Chamber the following resolu-
tiiins were unanimously carried : —

" That this Chamber is of opinion that atax on malt is con-
traiy to every sound principle of taxation, for the following
reasons : —

L "The tax, being really a differential tax in favour of the
finest barley, tends to prevent the farmer pursuing a
proper course of husbandry in the rotation of cropp.
He is also discouraged from using malt as a condiment in
the rearing and fattening of stock.
2. •• The lax tends loluslci monopoly in the malting atd

brewing trades, the huge capitalist being unduly favouriKl
in consequence of the early stage iu the manufacture at
wliich the tax is levied.

3. "A i;owerful induceiiient is offered for the substitution
of fraudulent and deleterious compounds in lieu of malt
in the brewing of beer, wliich probably accounts fortlie
worst cases of intoxication.

4. "The tax beingpaidso 'ar from the point of consumption
of the finished product, beer, becomes cuniulHtive.
Large sums of money are thus taken in consequence of
the tax from the consumer which never reach tlie
Exchequer.

" The Chamber therefore consider that the malt tax ought ta
be repealed, and that a tax on beer of sufficienily large amount
to prevent possible loss to the revenue, might be imposed ia
lieu thereof."

It was resolved that the next special general meeting of
the County Chamber be held iu the city of Coventry on Eriday,
May 2ud.

Mr. BucKMASTER, of the Science and Art Department,
South l\ensington, then delivered an interesting lecture on
"Instruction in the principles of agriculture."

SWINDON SHORTHORN SHOW AND

SALE.

The second annual sale and exhibition of Shorthorn cattle
took place on Wednesday, April 2,the Horse and Carriage
Repository, when prizes of the value of upwards of £100
were given by Messrs. Dt aeon and Liddiard, the proprietors.
The entries in all seven classes were numerous.

PRIZE LIST.

Class I. — For the best Shorthorn cow or heifer, in calf or
milk, exceeding three years — 1, Mr. H. P. Baxter, Southall,
Middlesex ; 2, Mr. D. Arkell, Lechlade.

Class 2. — Eor the best Sliortiiorn Heifer, not exceeding
three years — 1, Mr. C. Hobbs, Maisey, Hampton, Eairford ; 2,
Mr. H. Bettridge, East Wantage.

Class 3. — For the nest Shorthorn hull, exceeding two
years — 1, Mr. T. Hewer, Inglesham, Lechlade j 2, Mr. J. Strat-
ton. Alton Priors, Marlborough.

Class 4. — For the best Shorthorn bull, exceeding twelve
months and not exceeding two years — I, Mr. F. Dodd,
Wallingford ; 2, Mr. T. Hewer, Inglesham, Lech'ade.

Class 5. — For the best Shorthorn bull, exceed ng one year
and not exceeding fifteen months — 1, Mr. J. Gay, Attwater,
Britford, Salisbury ; 2, Mr. J. H. Duun, Giilingliam, Dorset.

Class 6. — For the best Shorthorn bull, not exceeding one
year — 1, Mr. J. Gay, Attwater, Britford, Salisbury ; 3, Mrs.
Nace, Sherborne, Northleach.

Class 7. — For the best bull of any breed, under eighteea
months old — Prize, W. Arkell, Hatherop, Eairford.

THE TITHE RENT-OHARGE.

A Parson writes to the Times: —

Your eorrespcndent Mr. T. C. Scott mentions as one of the
troubles under which farmers are now suffering (and that they
are many I most willingly admit) that the tube rent-cliargo
paid in lieu of £100 has during the last three years been con-
siderably higher than that sum. This was also mentioned
as a grievance in the House of Commons en Tuesday. Will
you kindly allow me to ask whether it was considered a
grievance by the payers of tithe rent-charge that during the
years 1S54-5-6 they paid only in the respective years £91 13s.
ofd., £90 19s. 6|d., £89 15s. 9d. ; or, again, when they paid
in the years 1865-6-7 £98 15s. lOf., £97 7s. 9id., £98
13d. 35d., respectively ? My memory is pretty good, but I do
not remember having read of any instance in which the tithe
rent-charge was made up to £100 under a sense of wrong done
to the parson. I can say positively that no titho_ payer in my
parish volunteered to do so.

The present value of tithe rent-charge, taken on feven years'
average, seems to betoken that there has been some advantage
to corugroffcrs during those years.

303

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

THE HYPOTHEC ABOLITION BILL.

The following is a copy of the Hypothec Abolition
Bill as amended iu Committee of the House of Commons,
aud it is followed by a letter from Mr. Barclay, M.P.,
fully explaiuiug its meauiug : —

• Bs it enncted by the Queen's most excellent Majesty, by
and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual aud
Terapora', and Commons, in this present Parliament assem-
bleii, aud by the autlionty of the same, as follows :

" 1. From and alter the eleventh day of November, one
thou-and eight hundred and eighty (hen- in after called the com-
mencement of this Act), the landlord's rijcht ol hypothec for
the rent of land, including the rent of any buildiuf^s thereon,
esceedinst two acres in extent, let for agriculture or pasture
shall cease aud determine : Provided that nothiug herein con-
laiued shall apply to any elaim for rent due or which may be-
come due under any lease, writiufr, or bargain current at the
d;ite of the commencement of this Act, and payable at any
terra of payment thereafter.

" 2. From and after the commencement of this Act the land-
lord of any laud exceeding two acres in es'eut, and let for
a.riculture ot pasture, shall, subject to the provisions of the
jireceding section of this Act, have the same rights and
remedies against his tenant when sis months rent is due and
unpaid as is now provided by the law of Scotland when
twelve mnnths rent "is due and unpaid, and sliall also have the
same rights and remedies against his tenant when twelve
months rent is due and unpaid as is now provided by the law
of Scotland when two years rent is due and unpaid, but
subject always to the provision following, that is to say : It
shall not be lawful for the slieriff in any proeeedings under
the Act of Sederunt of the fourteenth day of December, one
thousand seven hundred and fifty-six, to decern the tenant
to find caution for any sum exceeding the arrears of rent due
and the rent for two crops following, or during the currency
of the lease if the lease is of shorter endurance than two
years.

"3. The provisions of the second section of this Act shall
not apply iu any case in which tiie landlord's right of hypo-
thec has not ceased and determined."

TO THE EDITOR 0¥ THE ilARK LANE EXPRESS.

Sir, — The results which, according to my understand-
ing of the law, will proceed from the Hypothec Abolition
Bill as it now stands, are so extraordinary that I beg you
•will allow me to call public attention to tliem.

The first clause of the Bill abolishes hypothec, but
provides that this abolition shall not affect leases now
existing, or which may be entered into before November,
1S80. The iiijust'ce to the tenant's general creditors and
the injury to his credit will thus continue to a greater or
less extent for about twenty years. The new state of
matters, however, proposed by the Bill seems to me
worse that the present.

According to the Act of Sederunt of 1756 " anent
removings " : " "Where a tenant shall run in arrear one
lull year's rent ... it shall be lawful to the heritor or
other setter of the land to bring his action against the
tenant before the judge ordinary, who is hereby em-
powered and required to decern and ordain the tenant
to find caution for the arrears, and for payment of the
rent for the live crops following (or during the currency
of the tack, if the tack is of shorter duration than five
years), withiu a certain time, to be limited by the judge ;
and failing thereof to decern the tenant summarily to
remove, and to eject him in the same manner as if the
tack were determined."

Further, according to existing law, a tenant who is in
arrear for two yean' rent can be ejected by the landlord,
no defence being competent to the tenant.

Under the Hypothec Abolition Bill, as amended in
CommiUpe, the landlord, in respect of leases granted after
November, 1880, is to have the remedy provided by the
Act of Sederunt, of 175G, when nix monlhs' (instead of
twelve mouths') rent is due aud unpaid : but the security

toba required of the tenant is limited to ! wo years' rent
instead of five. Then, under the law other than the Act
of Sederunt of 1750, the landlord is to have power to eject
the tenant when one year s rent is due and unpaid, instead
of two years'.

Let us see how the law will work. A half year's rent
is due by a tenant, say, ou the 1st February, aud remains
unpaid (I will not take an extreme case, and say on
day), but, say, till 15th May ; then the landlord will
have the power ou 15th May to summon the tenant to
appear before the sheriff in, say, five days (on 20th May)
to give satisfactory security for the rent due, and for two
years' rent to come. The sheriff will have no alternative,
as I understand, but to order the security to be given
within, say. ten days (by 1st June). If the security is
not forthcoming as ordered, the sheriff must grant
warrant for the tenant's ejectment forthwith, and the
tenant must go, leaving all growing crops, grain, turnips,
potatoes, and grass, to the landlord, who, according to
my understanding of the law, is entitled to appropriate
these crops, vvithout paying a farthing to the teuant or ta
the tenant's creditors, even though the value of the crops
appropriated may largely exceed all his possible claims. If
a tenant is even a day in arrear with his half-yearly rent
the landlord will have the power to enforce security, and
if the tenant can provide it the laindlord is kept safe. If
the security be not provided the landlord can keep him-
self safe and probably make a profit by appropriating the
whole of the crops on the farm not separated from the
soil. Pi'oceedings of course may be adjusted to a season
of the year when the value of the crops iu the soil will
meet the landlord's claims.

If these views of the law are wrong, the error will
doubtless be pointed out; but if they are right will not
the new law prove more Hagrautly unjust and oppressive
than the present, and instead of improving the position of
the farmer in any respect will it not be worse?
I am. Sir, &c.,

James W. Barclay.

Befom Club, April 3rc?, 1879.

THE PROPOSED LAND CONFERENCE

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MARK. LANE EXPRESS.

Sir, — The interest excited by the grave condition of
agriculture, the terrible evils which an unjust land system
has long inflicted, the immense power of the Eiglish
farming classes to enforce a reform of agricultural rela-
tions, coupled with their marvellous neglect to protect
themselves, their counlry, and their oppressed fellows
engaged in the same all-important industry and occnjia-
tion, these and similar reasons lead me to invoke your
well known fairness and public spirit for permission to
address a few observations to your wide cirele of I'eaders.
The depressed and suffering state of agriculture is the-
great domestic topic of the day. Mere politicians and
office-holders may take a more noisy interest in foreign
adventures and continental intrigues. The permanent
interests of these kingdoms is based upon the prosperity
of the cultivating and producing community, and that
prosperity is not only checked, but retrograding, while-
the slightest essay to provoke a moderate improvement
is scouted from the legislature, scandalous to relate, by
an overwhelming majority of representatives of the
British tenantry themselves. What other country of the
world prescnta an enigma so absurd and so humiliating?

I have some special right as an Irish national repre-
sentative to address the English farmers. I serve my
Irish country, but they speak foul falsehooJ who say I
wish ill to the English people. And yet that very section
of the English people whose own interests should bind
tlicm to the cause of goud goverumcut iu Ireland., are Lit

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

30 g

once the main supporters of the party which maintains
the worst abuses of Irish legishition, aud at the same
time, for thanks for all their pains, are the poor dupes of
the oligarchy, which would be simply nothing without
Iheui. Who are the most virulent opponents of every
Irish reform? The English county members. Who
refuse every measure of justice and equality to the Irish
people ? The English county members. Yl'ho contina-
all_'i excite discontent and disaifection in Ireland by their
stolid hostility to every popular demand, and then have
nothing to suggest but a coercion act to meet the trouble
they have raised ? The English county members. But
while sowing discontent and disaifection in the empire,
how do those representatives of the English county con-
stituencies behave towards their own electors? Who
pass sham Agricultural Holdings Acts ? Who insist
• upon quartering their ground game upon the hard-earned
crops of the English farmers ? Who oppose county
government reform? Who spend at their own sweet will
the taxes and monies of the ratepayers of the county ?
Whose spokesmen and advocates ridicule the pretensions
of the farmers to ape the manners of their betters ? Who
insolently suggest that, instead of complaining of the
restrictions on agriculture, and petitioning for a diminu-
tion of burthens, the English farmers would do better to
give up educating their daughters " as ladies " and bring-
ing up their sons " above tlieir station S"

Surely the: 8 was never such an anomaly as this, that
the vast class, the pillar and foundation of the State,
should allow all this, w'hen a single act of united resolu-
tion, with hardly a couUict, would change it all, and at
the one stroke place landlords and farmers throughout
the three kingdoms on conditions of mutual right and
self-respect instead of the present one-sided privilege and
oppression which are so fundamentally injurious both to
the cultivators and the whole community.

It is industriously circulated that the interests of Irish
and British farmers do not exactly coincide. But is this
a, reason for refusing co-operation so far as common
benefits can be obtained by common action ? Of course,
there may be national and local peculiarities which require
to be treated apart. Thus, the ground game nuisance, so
destructive in England, excites small notice in Ireland.
But ought the sixty Irish members representing Irish
agricultural interests to oppose the redress of the English
game grievance, merely because it is not in this particular
respect that the shoe pinches the Irish agriculturist most
severely ? On the other hand, by the adoption of the
principle of a rational co-operation, the nucleus of a
powerful Tenant-Right party is at once secured in the
Impeiial Parliament. Sixty Irish tenant righters, some
thirty Scotch, and perhaps fifty English — the latter
principally consisting of the representatives of our town
popular constituencies — here are no less than 140 laad
reformers who would quickly rise to be the majority of
the House as soon as the Ejir/lish farmers had done
their part of the common programme in the Unglish
counties. Farmers of England, I would tell you a story
of a famous set of questions and answers which worked a
wondrous change in a country not very distant from your
Qwu. There was a time in France when the popular forces
■were despised, because the people did not know their own
strength. In those days, a courageous reformer set forth
the situation in the following words : " Who are the
people ? Everybody, except the privileged classes. What
are the people ? Nothing. What ought they to be ?
Everything."

Farmers of England, you have but to know yiui'S'.'lvcs.
You allow yourselves to be treated as nothing, while it
entirely depends on yourselves to become, there is no
power on earth to prevent your becoming everything — at
least, so far as your own legitimate interests are con-
cerned. If Irish land reformers are too thorough, if
Scotch ones are too limited in their views, why not ha/e
a great Land Conference where all agricultural i itercits
can be consulted in common, and where a fair and jiist
medium may be struck for the guidance and co-operation
of all ? The landlords cannot justly object to your
union. The English larmers have always been conspicu-
ous for their regard for every real or apparent right of
the landlord.

Lord Beaconsfield hints at the future bearings of the
International Currency Question as suggesting an im-
proved condition of British agriculture. I fancy eyea
that remarkable statesman never imagined a more mys-
terious remedy for a plain and pressing necessity. I do
not see anything like it in the replies collectfd by Mr.
Samuelsou with anch good effect from all parts of the-
kingdom. The farmers of Ejigland speak of much more
inielliiible matter-of-fact reforms. " Alter the Law of
Entail," and "abolish Gime Laws," " abolish Law of Dis-
traint." We want '"Security of Tenure," "give more
security for capital," " abolish Tithes," "Local Taxation
Reform," " tenants should be paid for Game Damage, "^
"outgoing tenants should be paid for uaexhaujted
improvements/' "^ freedom of cultivation and sale and
lower rents," " abolish all covenants which restrict free-
dom of tenant in developing the resources of the soil,"
" give greater freedom of cultivation and sale," " security
of tenure, and hares and rabbits to tenants ;" " arbitra-
tion to settle rents," "freedom of cultivation and com-
pensation for improvements," "all land produces most
where there is a liberal Teuant-Right."

There, my Lord Beaconsfield, is what the English
farmers think of your mysterious speculations on Inter-
national Currency and tlie influence of silver spoons oa
the rate of exchange. If the tenants were only half as
united in action as in the sense of their overwhelming,
grievances, I fancy that Lord Beaconsfield would come
down from International Silver Spoons and recognise-
that the agricultural interest is no longer to be duped with
fine Abracadabras that mean nothing but a most palpable
and, I am happy to say, most unsuccessful effort to throw
dust in the eyes of the county electors. The agricultural
interest believes no longer in Whig or Tory, When the
agricultural interest once comes to believe in itself, and
to practice the co-operation which is alone wanting for
the exercise of its irresistible power, a new era will have
opened for the cultivators of Great Britain and Ireland.
I am, Sir, &c.,

Frank Hugh O'Donnell,
RoKse of Commons, April 3-.

P.S. — A further pioof of the determination of the
present Government to shelve the farmers' grievances
was supplied to-night, whsn the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer declined to make any reply to a question inquir-
ing when the discussion on the Agricultural Depression
throughout the country, the adjournment of which he
had carried on Tuesday week, would be continued.
Turkey, Afghanistan, and South Africa — there is room
or everything all over the world, but there is no place
or the farmers, if they do not make their own opgoc-
unity.

310

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

THE LAW OF DISTRESS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MARK LANE EXPRESS.

Sill, — I miike no disguise of my political principles.
I am what has been called a Philosophical Radical. I
hate political as heartily as I de.-^pise religious creed-
mongeriug. When the Liberals are in the wrong, I won't
"march through Coventry with them." Why \vill Con-
servatives allow themselves to

" Be as tenderly led by the nose as asses are ? "
Look at the work of their Head Centre ! Household Suffrage
iu the boroughs ; repeal of the Combination laws; legaliz-
ing trades uuion conspiracies ; authorizing pickets ; sup-
pressing the legal maxim against restraint of trade ;
giving compensation out of an employer's pocket for
injury done by one servant to another, so that a plough-
man wounded by a pitchfork or the kick of an unbridled
horse, will, with his family, have to be kept by the farmer
—and here at least Beacousfield offers up Hypothec to the
clamour of popularity.

A crew of insolvent debtors formed themselves into a
club the first rule of which " Resolved that all creditors

are d d scoundrels." Is not that the sort of spirit

which dictates the agitation against the Law of Distress ?
"What honest man that means to be as good as his word —
liot to say his bond — has any just interest against this
law ? Where is the hardship of a tenant being made to
pay his debts ? Is there any injustice in giving his
creditor an easy, expeditious, inexpensive "means of
securing an acknowledged debt, in a manner as strictly
prescribed by law as any legal process whatever ? The
slightest deviation from the most precise procedure —
which, by the way, is conducted by public sworn officers
— is perpetrated under the heaviest penalties of civil
damage. The tenant may always relieve himself from
an illegal distress by replever. The landlord, from the
very fact of ownership, is perfectly responsible to make
good any flaw in tl e process of his levy. What motive
that is honest can raise exception to such a dispensation ?

The farce of this agitation is that subjection to the
pretended grievance is purely voluntary. No tenant need
undergo the operation of the law unless he pleases. He
may perfectly well stipulate as a condition of his lease
that he shall not be subject to distress, except by the
decree of a court of law. If he does not bargain for
exemption, where or how is he wronged? Nothing but
the grossest ignorance can regard the law as even excep-
tional in principle. Mortgage deeds generally contain
covenants for similar powers of entry. Bills of exchange
give facilities and privileges lo the drawer not competent
to creditors on open account. If the law were repealed,
it would still be open to lessor and lessee to covenant
themselves into it again. Pawnbrokers, carriers, holders
of bills of sale, wharfingers, warehouse keepers, ship-
owners, inn-keepers, livery stable keeper3 in their rights
of lien, all have the same powers without legal process.

On whom is this law a hardship ? Go through the
Jeremiad of Captain Delf, and little— indeed, nothing,
will be found of any suggestion of hardship to the tenant
himself. Imprisonment for debt — that most useful check
upon rogues or spendthrifts — being abolished, what re-
course is there against the purse but distress, seing there
is no longer any against the skin ? Is it a hardship either
to debtor or creditor that the delay and expense of legal
process are saved ? It is the thief, not the decent citizen,
■who dislikes the police.

Here might the examination stop in so far as an agri-
cultural journal is concerned. The tenant being disposed
of, the exoteric world might be left to its own rellections.
But let the subject once for all bs exhausted. The law
being known to everybody, a stranger putting his stock i
iulo auithcr mau's licld has only lo take the precaution i

to get exhibition of the receipt for the last half-year's
rent ; the purchaser of growing (;rops may refuse lo pay
for them until he sees the landlord has been aatistied.
It is as utterly untrue that steam ploughs and thrashing
machines hired by the day are liable to distress as the
brewer's dray or the baker's cart. The purchaser of
stock from a tenant need simply not pay until he has got
delivery. Cattle in irn/isit/i put into a field by a drover
without the consent of the owner would not be liable to
distress any more than if they strayed there. As to all
the trash about a confidmg creditor being postponed un-
wittingly to the landlord, every creditor knows beforehand
of the landlord's priority, and may either refuse to give
credit, or see that the current rent is paid. But if the
argument be good for anything, why does it not call all
creditors to be placed on an equality ? The tenant may
ngree to give the baker ready money and to take twelve
months' credit from the butcher. He may grant a bill
at sight to the manure merchant, and keep the saddler on
an open account. He may gran; a collusive bill of sale
and cheat everybody. Every one of these may thus steal
a march on the other, and nobody be the wiser. Nay^
the " confiding creditor" the day before the first year's
rent falls due may come in and sweep off the entire crop
and stock, even to the very seed corn and manure for the.
next year's croj}.

It is really a novel position that a landlord is not to let
his land to a tenant of limited means because it would
give him an " illusory position,'' forsooth, in the eyes of
the grocer or linen draper! — as if these "Israelites with-
out guile " were " weazels asleep " — were " confiding
creditors." If landlords can " secure themselves against
losses by judicious choice of tenants," " confiding credi-
tors " can have "exceptional advantages" in a "judi-
cious choice of debtors." It requires some command of
face to urge such pleas, and much command of patience
to answer them.

The law of distress for rent has a very clear ruisoti
d'etre. The tenant cannot be expected to pay his rent
until he turns his crop into money, and credit is therefore
a reasonable necessity of the relative posiiiou of the
parties. It is important for the business of agriculture
that the proceeds of crops and stock should be at the
command of the tenant, to carry on improvements. It is
the high-conditioned farm that yields the crop and fats the
stock. Is it reasonable or fair that the owner of the very
instrument that yields all the property — nay, not merely
the instrument, but the substance aud material — should
see it borne off by a stranger, or be cheated by a fraudu-
lent tenant ? W'hat man of moderate means, under such
a state of the law, could a landlord trust ? Who would have
any chance to rent laud but men of wealth ? Who could
rise by skill, industry, and self-denial, but slender present
resources if he could not offer the security of this law of
distress. The plain truth is, the cry against it is the rich
man's, to get land at his own price, and to crowd the
smaller man out of the field.

But is this all ? What da you think of the tailor
seizing the seed corn just when it should go into the drill,
or the shoemaker selling the very dung-heap, or carrying
off' a plough horse for a pair of boots, leaving its mate
idle, while land cries aloud for tillage? The cunning
bailiff would just sieze the most critical catch of the hay
harvest to distrain the waggon, and let the crop go to ruin
— and the whole cereal crops might be irretrievably lost,
to the utter destruction of the farmer, by some temporary
seizure of the mowing machine, or iu a dairy farm by
distraining the cows, and so ruining his custom and his
milk walk, besides throwing the whole of a feitile i'ana
out of crop for the season. The farmers, like no other
trade, depend not only un seasons, but on cycles of them.
We have had three years, perhaps four, utterly profitless.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

511

Tlietenntit hopes to more than balance the lean kine with
the fat, if time be }riv(n. Who dues not. know wcaltliy
farraera svho will tell yon they did not get back the seed
the tiist year of their lease, and not ranch the second ?
If " confiding creditors " were not kept in check by the
preferential rights of the landlord, the hnsbandnian might
be sold np in the first six months, after perhaps a great
ontlay in prospect of the futnre. It is the clear interest
of the landlord to give him time to turn round — but of
■whom else ?

Observe — The farmer must watch thj seasons, the
months, the very days. A shower may make hundreds
of pounds of difference to him, or failure to taka advan-
tage of a shower. " Bes rustica sir, est, si unam rem si-ro
fttcf-ris, omnia opera sero facies,^' Interrupted in hay
time, in harvest time, in root ploughing or gathering,
in the critical operations of the field — by an execution, the
effect may be rninous ; and to extort a debt of ten pounds^
such seizures may be made as may hinder the saving of a
hundred. It is to the advantage of the landlord, of the
land, of the tenant, of the labourer, to leave the tiller
free to go about his work. Each of these would only
injure himself by embarrassing the cultivator at the
critical periods of his extremity ; but an outside execution
creditor would get his money all the more readily, the
greater the straits to which he put his debtor.

Another consideration of equal importance is peculiar
to the business of the farmer. Markets are fitful. Corn,
cattle, sheep, pigs — force a farmer to sell these without
reference to time and season, and he may have to part
with them for less than half their value. Give him time
to watch prices, which the landlord alone has an interest
to do, and he may save cent, per cent. An ordinary
creditor may compel the tenant to occupy his hands in
thrashing just when other critical operations require to be
executed.

Is it for the interest of agriculture — of society at large
— that '' small men " should be cut off from all chance of
rismg ? My experience is that the men who hold their
own plough, and work their fields by themselves and their
families, are able to pay higher rents, and are more
punctual in the paying of them than their larger acred
neighbours. I can cite a " cluud of witnesses " to this
effect. I do nut say this of every peasant who turns
farmer, but I do say it of every man of self conduct who is
capable of being his own master. Give such men time,
the security which the law of distress enables them to
offer to the landowner, and the credit which it renders it
practicable for the latter to grant, and the foundation will
be laid for the rising fortune of many a useful citizen.
The "homestead law" of America and some of our
colonies is based on this principle. Is the landlord's the
only right of oistress ? What is the parson's remedy
when tithe remains unpaid ? — the rate collector's? — the
land-tax collector's ? These all have priority.

It is absolutely whimsical to find it urged that if the
rights of distress were removed, the landlord would give
reasonable time like other creditors to the debtor. Why
that is just the advantage the law of distress enables the
owner to extend to his tenant — nay, more, it is what
empowers him to heat off the aggression of other
exacting claimants. In truth, Captain Delf betrays the
whole secret of this clamour, when he suggests that if
the owner demanded payment in advance, or security
in lieu of the right of distress, he would have his estate
thrown on his hands, and rent would be reduced 7s. per
acre. That is just the object of the wealthy agricul-
turist, who can pay in advance, or find security. He
luoks thereby to drive every person of moderate means
cut of the market, and make with the freeholder just what
terms be pleases. That, in this he would find himself
mistaken is not diliicult to see. Tlie real effect would be

to abolish tenancy altogether, convert all landowners into
cnllivaturs, and leave only the owner and the labourer,
as in the worst times of Rome, when the erapiie fell to
'•uiu and huge estates were tilled by slaves. OF all traders
the farmer, as a rule, has the least reason to complain of
a law of prompt payments. He is the most peremptory
of creditors, and the laxest debtor. He has a perpetual
law of distress in his own hands, customers for more than
double of what he can produce at his own door, and his
wares, the indispensable and daily wanted pressing
necessaries of life. I remember, in the days of the slid-
ing scale being in a grocer's shop in Boston on market
day. A farmer came in and brusquely required payment
for 20 sacks of potatoes, which he received. As he left
the grocer muttered " He only delivered 'em last week,
and his outstanding account to me for ten times the
amount for groceries is going on for two years old."

I cannot think this question has hitherto been viewed
from its proper stand-point. The relations of landlord
and tenant are like those of no other debtor and creditor.
They are not those of single transactions, but of a large
portion of each of their lives. Do you ever hear of tho
saddler throwing 20 per cent, off his bill, because of a bad
season ; or the wheelwright adding a new cart-shed to
the buildings to keep wagons from the weather? It is
infinitely for the interest of the freeholder that the occu-
pier should be prosperous, changes of tenancy being
always injurious to one who has to lookout for a new
renter. An ordinary creditor if he loses one customer,
has only to find another. As a rule the shop keeper,
manure merchant, or other retailer, cannot afford to lie
out of his money, especially when he has no security for
his debt, and must proceed at once to recover it. But
the landowner, as a rule, is not so pressed for money as to
require immediate liquidation. From the very nature of
his trade the farmer cannot rely upon punctuality in
meetiug his engagements. How often are we told, and
with perfect truth, that the tenant does not look for a
return in the earlier years of his leise, and that he only
looks to reap the fruits of his outlay and toil as the years
roll on. In the c ise of the many farms that are run out,
are foul with weeds, that have been stained by sconrgin'^
crops, or left undraiued and unditched, perhaps with fences,
gates, buildings, neglected and ruinous, it is only time
that can restore fertility, or bring back order and prolii;.
It is eminently the interest, perhaps it is the express
covenant of the owner that he should give his tenant time
to do that which is not merely a benefit to the farmer,
but to his labourers, and to the country, which has a very
clear interest in the fertility of its land- As the law-
stands, the landlord can give, not only time to the farmer
to turn himself about and to reap what he has sown, but
he can beat off others who ha.-e an interest adverse to
both, and who cannot attbrd to wait unless they are com-
pelled to do so by the law itself. Farming is like nothing
else. In spite of every care, and the most prudent fore-
sight, the very first season of a lease may see its entire
labours swept away — a ruinous spring. Saint Swithin
weeping upon the harvest his retributive tears, the murrain
sweeping oft' the sheep, or pleuro-pneumouia the cattle.
These are vicissitudes as certain as they are singular —
confined to the trade of bread and meat raising, and the
man who suUers them is absolutely at the mercy, for the
time, of a quite subordinate creditor, who may seize seed
corn, horses, wagons, the plough just when ihe'field should
be turned up, the cart when the hay should be saved
from the shower, the team when the wheat should be
carried, else the whole labours of the year will be lost. If
not for himself, yet for the tenant, for the labourers,
practically adstricted to his glebe, for the due culture of
the soil, aud mixture of its herds, it is desirable that the
farmer iu the extremity into which the vicissitudes of the

^12

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

seasons will sometimes hedge liim, should have some pro-
tection aijainst the ii cursions of exterior crfditors, whose
processes may frustrate the whole libours of the year in
the recovery of a comparatively trifling liability. Of «very
ordinary creditor the debt is exigible the moment delivery
is completed, that of the landowner is not payable until
at least six months after possession is handed over. For-
bearance, considerate indulgence is his interest. Prompt
action that of every other claimant.

The element of time enters into the business of the
farmer, not merely as regards seasons and cycles, but in
respect of his commodity and market prices ; and time
is but another name for the principle on which the law
of distress is founded. Tn my own time, I have known
wheat within a month vary in price from 40 to SOs. Go
through a homestead. You may see hay ricks tive years
old, wheat stacks standing till the rats have eaten the
heart out of them. Force a sale of pigs, of sheep, of
catile. They jnay be literally thrown av>'ay. Let the
tenant " bide his time," hold off until " prices stiffen,"
and he may make quite cent, per cent, of his produce.
The longer he holds out of the market the better is the
security of the landlord. While the ricks or the stack
are on the farm he is secure. When the tenant gets his
doubled price his rent is certain. Are not these considera-
tions the wise interpolation of the provision of the law
that the landlords security shall extend over six years.
An outside creditor having no security would drive the
tenant to "realise " when that was only another name for
sacriliuing crop or stock " for an old song." To give one
who has to depend upon the caprices of season, and the
fitful lottery of speculative averages, no discretion as to
when he shall hold and when he shall sell, is simply to
seal his doom. What is the law of distress but an ex-
pedient for conferring on him the power of regulating his
dealings by the circumstances of his trade.

That the creditor must pay the taxes, the tithe, the
rent, before be can harry the tenant, practically bears
him out now that imprisonment is abolished. Tlie land-
lord, in giving time for his own debt, gives it for all, until
the revolving year brings round its abundant harvest, and
at last, there is enougli for everybody.

Did not another important consideration weigh with
the makers, or, at least the upholders, of this law ? Give
the landlord his security on stock and crop, and he can
afford to leave the shelter of house, home, and oiiices, to
the tenant, his family, his cattle and implements, and
leave undisturbed in their cottages the labourers who till
the farm, the wives and children who reap and glean, and
form a peasantry. If an external creditor could make
his swoop on the v.'holo available property of the tenant,
so that nothing remained for so mu^h as the future cul-
ture of the holding, what would be left to the owner but
ejectment of the whole dwellers from the shelter of their
homes.

In this connection I was not called upon to consider
this law in any other aspect than as it regards farming and
farmers. It is in their pretended interest that the prin-
ciple is challenged ; and I maintain that the clamour is
that of those who desire to deliver over owners defence-
less into the hands of large capitalists, who desire to drive
competition out of the field. As for ordinary creditors,
they perfectly well know the law, and need not unless
they choose give credit to a debtor who has preferential
creditors. I am not concerned to defend the extremes to
■which the principle may be carried. Stranger's property
coming accidentally on the land, cattle grazing by
agistment, and other contingencies, may require excep-
tional qualification. Althou;;h hard cases make bad laws,
I am very willing that they should be reasonably handled,
but, in my judgment the broad theory of the law is cer-

tainly not such as to justify the very confident and de
piano tone of its opponents.

I am. Sir, &c.,

Sidney Smith.
TAe Manor, Feltham, Mirch, 1879.

VARIOUS NO'IES.

Mr. John Thornton's forty-third Circular and Record
of Shorlhorn Transactions for the year 1S7S is now o
hand. The tables showing a summary of the auction sales
during the year, and the averages realised by various
tribes, &c , have already been given to the public, and
commented on in this column. Mr. Thornton tells us
that " the summary of sales- for the year shows that a
larger number of animals have been sold publicly in 187S
than in any previous year ; and that the general average is
in excess of the last two years, although still below the
great average of 1S75. Notwithstanding the assuring
nature of these figures, it cannot but be admitted that
there has been some decline in Shorthorn prices during the
last season ; and that the general average has been con-
iiderably augmented (nearly £12) by the large amounts
realised at the Duke of Devonshire's and Mr. Larking's
sties. . . The great exportations made to America,
Canada, and Australia in 1869-70, led to a considerable
rise in prices in 1871 when trade and commerce were very
good throughout the world. From 1870 to 1873 brisk
business and advancing prices were the rule. . . This
condition of affairs was further developed in 1874 ; until
production at last exceeded the requirements, and a
collapse followed. The markets generally were destroyed
by excessive supply. As funds increased so had specula-
tion. The temporary increase of wealth led naturally to
much occupation of land : and to an increased demand for
highly-brei cattle. The American speculations in Short-
horns set in about 1871. Successful sales there led to
extravagant purchases. Capital was consumed ; and bills
at six to twelve months Wei's very generally introduced
into the Shorthorn trade in the United States and Canada.
These, in course of time, led to great recklessness ; and
finally nearly destroyed the market. During the year
1878 no animals whatever have been exported to North
America. The prices there for pure- bred Shorthorns
have fallen immensely; some of the sales for prompt cash
payments, averaging as low as £11, whilst the banks have
refused to negociate bills or letters of credit. . . The
same influences which acted in America undoubtedly
affected our prices here. The culminating poiat of
prosperity was reached in 1875 ; when the Aylesby and
Dunmore herds realised such extraordinary averages. In
1876 there was a decline in the general prices, which was
continued in 1877, and still more in 1878, for the averages
of the two last years have been enhanced by the extreme
sums given for a few animals and not by a hii^her standard
of prices for ordinary Shorthorns. In 1877 the prices
paid for the Duchesses and Oxfords — at the Bowness,
Gaddesby, and Sholcbroke sales — had a material effect;
whilst this year it has been the Oxfords and Wild Eyes
which haveso greatly swelled the general average. Nothing
perhaps hai shown the increase of prices of these in late
years so much as the selected animals sold from the Duke
of Devonshire's hei-d. The following table gives the
average of the various auctions held at llolker : —

In the Tear Ilead Sold £ s. d.

1851 ... 56 including 11 bulls averaged 25 3 6

1864. ... 30 ,, 11 bulls ,, 66 3 0

1871 ... 43 „ 13 bulls „ SW 13 10

1874 ... 43 „ 15 bulls „ 3S3 13 3

1878 ... 30 „ 13 bulls „ C64 1 10

The Oxford tribe, continually inci-easing in demand, has
been the cause of this great increase of price at Holker,

THE FARMER'S IMAGAZIXB

3l3

The twent} -three nainials of this tribe, sold this year,
have aveviiged £'J19 'Js.7d. It has been ahx-aily observed
thai prices have I'alleu. It may be interesting to show
wherein this fall has chielly occurred. Good ordinary
pnre-bred Shorthorns have maintained the prices they
made (en years ago. The great increase in prices has beea
for the Duchess, Oxford, Princess, and Wild Eyes tribes.
Other tribes, once fashionable, particularly the K .ightley
animals, have certainly declined, which no doubi is due
to the increased number of animals of this and other
fertile tribes : the worst bred and inferior of these in tiie
latter part of the season were sold at the price of ordinary
pnre-bred Shorthorns. . . Mare than one hundred
animals have left the country during the year. Several
have gone to the continent. A number of young bulls
were purchased for Hungary. To Buenos Ayres, South
America, cohtinual shipments of bulls and heifers have
been made throughout the year. The International Show
held at Piiris last June, has not resulted, at present, in
any particular demand. A few white calves went to the
south of France, near where the Charolais breed is reared.
The prices asked for the English-exhibited specimens at
Paris, were beyond what the French breeders were dis-
posed to pay. Moreover, an impression prevails in France
that the Shorthorn breed of late years has run much to
fat ; and does not now carry tt:e weight of lean flesh which
is necessary to please the meat-consumers of that country.
And it must be added, in spite of the great prices given in
this couytry and the frequent mention of what is called
* Science of breeding,' that there is still room for the
enquiry, 'Whilst Science has been doing so much of late
years for every other department, what has been done by
her for the Shorthorn breeder ? Has a greater weight of
carcase been gained in a given time? or from a fixed
quantity of food? Has a larger supply of milk or butter
been yielded ? Are the animals hardier in constitution
and more impressive to their offspring, the yoimger ones
being superior to the old ? Or have the last few years
mainly witnessed an accumulation of names in a pedigree' ?
The steadily increasingpriccs paidfor Black Polled, Sussex,
and Jersey cattle, indicate that breeders everywhere are
ptiyiug more attention to animals of their own particular
breeds, and that there is a steadily increasing demand for
anything which is good of its kind That there is great
room for an increase in the number of cattle throughout
the country is very apparent from the recent agricultural
returns. Now with an increased proportion of meat-
consumers among the population— both at home and
abroad — there must of necessity be an increased demand
for all good breeding stock in the country for some years
to come. And the comparative trials among breeds do not
show that the Shorthorn fails to hold its ground among
its rivals. Most of the champion pi izes of the year have
gone to Shorthorns. It is admitted by practical men that
the most remunerative system of farming in the present
day, with free trade, middlemen's, railway, and other
expenses, is, if possible, to breed and feed stock on the
same farm. If, therefore, the Shorthora be bred with a
view to robust constitution, to great natural substance,
and to good feeding and dairy properties, its pre])otency
and' early maturity cannot fail to uphold it as the national
breed of the country, and to maintain it as the safest
investment for breeders,"

We are happy to afford space or Mr. Thornton's
remarks as above, and with many of them we
thoroughly agree. If the Shorthorn be bred for actual
merit and not for fashionable pedigree, then we think
there can be no questioa as to its usefulness as an animal
primarily adapted to be bred and fed on arable or mixed
husbandry farms, ^^'e believe no other breed of cattle
can compete with it on these coaditions. Our objections
are never rjiised agaiost the breed, but only against the

pernicious system wliich " fashionable " breeders follow,
and which we take to be detracting largely from the
practical utility of the most adaptable ana cosmopolitan
of all breeds of cattle. Wbeu the mania has died out, and
it has almost had its day, then we shall be prepared to see
the Shorthora breed rapidly improve ; and tliere is no-
thing but the arbitrary bonds of fashion which preveus
greater individual excellence in the c.ittle at the present
time. Mr. Thornton's facts are very interesting, and his
arguments exceedingly fair. The questious he asks
respecting the influence of science on Shorthorn breeding
are gi'eatly to the point and deserve the careful atteutioa
of breeders. His remark, however, that the Shorthora
holds its own at comparative trials, and takes most of the
champion prizes at our great shov/s, must be qualilied a
little by the fact that the preponderance of the Shorthora
interest amongst the judges is altogether unfair to other
breeders. We do not, however, estimate the value of
the Shorthorn from this point of view ; and, believing ia
its great usefulness, shall be glad to see it freed from
every influence that is now prejudicial to its development.
The more good food-producing Shorthorns Mr. Thorntoa
can sell at reasonable prices the better it will be for the
country. There is, as he says, " no slackened interest
in the breed," but merely, as we think^ a slackened in-
terest in the Shorthorn mania, if we may so describe it.
The "fashion" changes according to his own account ;
in IS77 it was centred in Duchesses and Oxfords, aud ia
1878 in Oxfords and Wild Eyes; in a few years these
strains of blood may be accounted no better than others
which are now despised or neglected. Fashion is being
narrowed down — in time it will disappear.

The American Bison is, according to the Pall Mall
Gazette, an animal which will pay for domestication, as
it produces excellent beef, having a " venison taste"
about it (see " Chambers' Eucycloptedia !"). " One of our
chief requirements," says the jouinal in question, "is
some kind of beef as good as ordinary American beef,
but distinguished by flavour or otherwise from that
article, so that butchers shall not sell it for English ; "
and it is further suggested that the importation of this
bison or buffalo beef may " serve to put an end to this
nefarious practice." Clearly, nothing but common sense
on the part of the public will ever put a stop to the
" nefarious practice" of which the Fall Mull Gazclta
speaks ; and we think common sense is decidedly against
the utilisation of the bison as a domesticated animal ia
place — as it necessarily would be — of such breeds of
cattle as the Shorthorn and the Hereford used on the
native stock of the far west. But as that journal gives
" a fact not before ascertained" — namely, that the bisoa
will breed with "common cows," perhaps some of our
Shorthorn breeders whose fashionable strains of blood are
getting tuberculous, effete, and sterile from too much
in-and-in breeding, might like to take just one cross from
a domesticated bison by way of securing fresh vigour to
the animals, and a venison flivour to the beef. This
suggestion was not made by the Pall Mall Gazette, but
the credit of it is entirely due to that journal.

According to the BanffsJdre Journal the poled breed
have not experienced depreciation in value to the same
extent as the Shorthorns, and it will be satisfactory to
breeders of polled stock to find that they continue to rea-
lise higher prices at auction than is paid for Shorthorns.
Last year the average price paid for each head of polled
cattle was £i 5s. 6d. more than was paid for the Shoit-
horna sold in the same season. This year the difference
is again in favour of the biackskins, the average obtained
for them having risen to £7 4s. 9d. above that obtained
for Shorthorns. The total number of polled cattle of all
classes sold by auction was 251, and the averaue price rea-
lised for them, £33 23. 6d. la 1S77-78 the number of

3U

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

polled rattle disposed of was 270, and their average value,
£:U lOs. Thus, while there is a decrease of 19 in the
number sold, prict-s are this year on the average £1 S^. 6d.
in favour of the seller. Altogether, 92 bulls were ofFered
for sale during the past year, and realised an averaije of
£27 8s. 5d. In the previous year the number sold was
85 bulls, for which the average price was £;30 Ts. Id.
AVitli an increase of 7 animals sold, there is thus a decrease
in the average of £2 Ss 7d. The average, is, however,
nearly £1 higher than it was two years ago, and up to
thai date the increase iu value had been almost continuous
for a uumber of years. Of polled cows, 68 were sold
during the year just closed, at an average of £46 lis. 2d.
The number sold in the previous year was 91, and the
average value £38 8s. lOJ. While there is a decrease of
23 in the number, the iucrease in average value is as high
as £8 2?, 4d. Of two-year-old polled heifers, 31 were
sold during the year, being 3 fewer than in the previous
seasju. The average price was £36 Is. 7d., being a de-
crease of £3 6s. 5d. upon the average price of the previous
year. Of one-year old polled heifers the number sold was
Si, and the average price realised £30 19j. 7d. In the
pievious year the number brought uuder the hammer was
32, and the average realised for them £20 15s. Id. The
dilFerence iu favour of the result of this year's sales is
thus an increase of two animals and of £10 4s. 6d. in the
average price. Of polled heifer calves the number offered
was 26, and the average paid for them £25 I63. 6d. In
the previous year the number sold was £28, and the ave-
rage price ])aid £19 6s. 2J. There is thus au increase in
the average price paid this year of £6 lOs. 4d.

The Canada Glohe is of opinion that " if freight rates
are reduced so that the present margin of profit is left to
tlie shipper and the farmer, there is no reason why the
trade may not resume its old rate of increise. 'I he sfFect
of such an increase would be to further break down the
already depressed market for meat in Britain. We shall
soon see then whether the asseverations of the Tory party
to the effect that their late legislation was aimed not
against the importation of meat but of disease are genuine.
If the British farmers and their press endure with
equanimity the arrival of a large cargo or two daily of
American beeves, we shall know that their former protests
were made in good faith. If, on the other hand, they
grumble aud talk about further legislation, then we shall
kuow that it is the competition they dread, and not the
disease." But the Canada Globe does not quite under-
stand the position. The demand made by British farmers
is that no foreign animals should be landed on our shores
except stud stock under certain conditions. The Govern-
ment Act does not meet that demand ; aud although the
slaughtering of animals at the ports of landing — if it were
carried out without exception — would be a decided im-
provement on allowing them to be sent inland, it would
still be a source of danger. The farmers, therefore, and
" their press," will continue to demand complete and
logical legislation. As far as the importation of dead
meat is concerned, farmers have never sought to restrict
it, nor will they attempt to interfere with free trade in
food products. Their remedy lies in a totally different
direction. And it will be time enough to talk about
sending us two shiploads of cattle a-day when Canada
tao them to send, or can purchase them in the States and
ship them from her ports. When they arrive we shall
complain if they are alive, but if they are dead we shall
have no ground for objection, whether we like it or not.

In respect of the reported case of pleuro-pneumonia
in the Union Stock Yards, the Chicago Trihune says that
a mistake was made, and that " subsequent investigation,
conducted by the Inspector of Cattle at the Stock
Yards aud other scientists, has provcu beyond all doubt that

the first and unfortunately hasty I'eports were not authentic.
It has been stated by those who are in authority in the
field of inspection at the Stock Yards that on the 22ud
of February ' a yearling heifer was found which exhibited
signs of pleuro pneumonia,' and persons who cannot
distinguish between a common case and one with con-
tagious characteristics were quick to jump at the cou-
clusiou that this heifer, which was killed and subsequently
examined, belonged to this latter class." But we must here
point out that the actual cases which were seut here in
the Oatario were again and again declared to be nothing
more than ordinary pneumonia by the American and
Canadian press. And therefore we are at a loss to know
what importance to attach to this particular report,
especially as the New York Trihune of iVIarch 2nd states
that it took the two inspectors — Detmers and Prentice —
a whole week to decide whether the case was one of con-
tagious pleuro or not ; and the Prairie Farmer very
pertinently puts the query, " What faith can the public
place in the judgment of these two cattle doctors and their
future decisions in regard to the state of health of live
stock" at Chicago market ? Tiie Veteri'jcmj Joiiriinl
says that it has been well known and understood for
more than thirty years " that the disease in America was
positively the same as that with which we are so pain-
fully familiar, and any one who cares to refer to the
splendid and elaborate * Report of the Commissioner of
Agriculture on the Diseases of Cattle in the United
States,' published at Washington in 1871, will have no
reason to doubt the accuracy of our statement, or to
exculpate the Privy Council for a grave error of omission
or commission, which will happily be repaired on the 3rd
day of the present month (March). It is more than strauge
that the United States Government lost sight of this report,
and that they allowed their country to be declared free from
infection when our Government was discussing the
question as to what countries should be scheduled ; aud
even when diseased cattle arrived in this country, that
they should still plead ignorance." It is indeed more thaa
strange; but it is true.

The Kationtl Live, Stock Journal (Chicago) suggest
that a searching inquiry be made by the United
States Government as to the origin of the cargo
of the Ontario. " Was it contagious pleuro-

pneumonia? If so, where did it come from?'* is the
question asked by the Journal, coupled with the state-
ment that '' not a single case west of New Y'^ork and
Pennsylvania has ever been known." We trust that the
Joifnal is correct in this statement, made, evidently, ia
the firm belief that such is the case. A correspondent to
the journal. Judge Jones, writes with equal conddence,
" I have no hesitation in saying that there never has been
any suspicion of the existence of such a disease ia Ohio,
Kentucky, or any part of the Ohio valley." But a week
or so ago the Prairie Farmer stated that contagious
pieuro-pneumonia exists now in New York, Connecticut,
New Jersey, aud Virginia, and that it has existed ia
Ohio; with an "occasional sporadic case in Indiana."
The Toronto Weelchj Mail states that the letter from the
Minister of Agriculture in Canada to the United States
Commissioners of Agriculture is to the effect that "the
diseased cattle ta.ken to England by the steamer Ontario
were purchased in Ohio and other western parts, aud
taken immediately from the cattle yards in Buffalo."
Here, then, is very coufliating testimony. In view of
the case as it stands, namely, that contagious pleuro-
pneumonia has been sent here among beasts said to have
been purchased as far west as Chicago (that was the
report in the first instance) we are justihed in
concluding that until an iffective system of veterinary
iaspcciiou has been instituted throughout the Uuited

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

315

Sfafcs no one Tc^]]y onti toll wiicre the disease is, or rather
where it is uof. And that beiny; so, we ei,tirely fail to
ste any possibility of the embargo being taken oil the trade
at present. The Journal very justly advocalcs strict
scrutiny and investigation, together with adequate preven-
tive measures wherever the disease is fouud. And this is a
policy of sound common sense.

A correspondent to the K m^^as Ci^y 'Price Curren
states that it is more profitable to keep sheep iu Colorado
for their wool only, until they die of old age, than to soil
them for nuitton, on account of the high rates of railway
freightage obtaining iu the United States.

The prizes for the Yorkshire Agricultural Societv's
Exhibition to be held at Leeds on the 5lh, Gth, and 7th
of August, exceed in value £2,100, made up as follows : —
Horses 1,255, cattle 400, sheep 310, pigs 140.

The regulations for the annual show of the Highland
and Agricultural Society, to be held.at Perth, on the last
three days of .Inly and 1st August next, have now been
published. Friday, Gth June, is fixed as the last day of
entry for implements, and Friday, 13th June, for stock
and all other entries. Besides the Tweddale gold medal,
value £21, for the best Shorthorn in the yard, £917 is
to be given as premiuras for cattle, and £803 for horses,
including £150 for the best stallion for agricultural pur-
poses to serve in the district of the show.

The following births have taken place in the Prinknash
Herd this year: — Jan. Gth, Lady Caiew 3id Lady f'arew
4th — roan cow calf, by Lord Prinknash 2nd (38053) ;
Jan. 21th, Lady Jane, Lady Carew 5th — red roan cow calf,
by Lord Prinknash 2nd; Jan. 27th, Patience Heather-
stone calved roan cow calf by K. C. B. (26493 )
Feb. 15th, Diadem calved roan cow calf, by Lord Prink-
nash 2nd (38653) ; ilarch 4th, Maid of Gloucester— twin
cow calves roan red and white, by K. C. B (36492) ;
March 12th, Alpine 2nd--roan bull calf, by King William
(34358) ; March 14th, Lady Carew 2nd — white cow calf,
by Lord Prinknash 2ud (3SG53).

" The days for fancy prices for store stock are practi-
cally over" says the Melbourne ^/y?, and we think so too.
Recent experiences both in England and Australia seem
to point to the elimination of the "fancy" element
altogether, unless it can he maintained on a scale of two
figures instead of four, which we gi-eatly doubt. When
the super-excellent and the superlatively grand Shorthorn
wonders tumble down from thousands to tens, their
" grandeur " will probably tumble down with them. A
fortnight since we called attention to the low averages
made at Messrs. Robertson's sale of Shorthorns at Colac,
in Victoria, Australia, on the 3rd of January, namely
£11G 13s. 4d. for bulls, and £198 153. for cows and
heifers, against £792 los. for bulls, and £1,102 lOs. for
cows and heifers last year. By a more recent mail we
learn what the Sydney Mail has to say abiut this very
remarkable sale Irom the most important herd of Short-
horns in Australasia. That journal moralises in the fol-
lowing manner : — " A few months hack, when at Mr. E.
B. Woodbouse's sale, first-class well-pedigreed Shorthorns
were knocked down at about one-half of the rates at which
Shorthorns were ruling twelve months before, we ex-
pressed astonishment. We were also surprised to see the
late Mr. Ewin's herd ' go ' cheap ; but what shall we say
regarding the late Victorian sales? ilr. Gardiner's was a
failure ; and the Colac animals brought prices so extraor-
dinarily low that we must allude to the sales of past years
to render the magnitude of the fall clear to our readers.
In 1877 at Colac 12 Shorthorn pedigree stad bulls
averaged £389 73. 6rl. per head ; 7 Shorthorn pedigree
heifers averased £412 5s. 7d. ; 6 Hereford stud heifers
averaged £58 12s. 6d. ; 38 Shorthorn station bulls
averaged £49 98. ; 50 Shorthorn station heifers averaged

£78 15s.; 17 Hereford station bulls averaged £30 13j. ;
and 50 Hereford statif^n heifers averaged £3G 143. The
otal sum realised for 190 animals was :i:20,20G IBs. Gd.
tin 1878, 10 stud Shorthorn bulls averaged £792 los. ; 4
stud Shorthorn heifers averaged £1,102 10s.; 44 Short-
horn bulls averaged £44 17s. 3d. ; 50 Shorthorn heifers
averaged £71 l^s. Od. ; 9 stud Hereford bulls averaged
£06 Os. 8d. ; 9 stud Hereford heifers averaged £117 9s.
4d . ; 16 bulls from the pure Hereford herd averaged £2S
93. 6d ; and 258 pure Hereford cows and heifers averaged
£22 13s. 5d. ; and the total sum realised for 400 animals
was £25,742. In 1879, 9 Shorthorn stud bulls averfged
£11G 13s.; seven stud heifers, £198 lo3. ; 71 pure
Shorthorn bulls, £17 as. 3d. ; 31 heifers, £34 2s. 7d ;
and 108 Hereford cows and heifers made only £G8S 63.
6d. The total receipts for 228 head were £5,481 HJs. 6d.
It will be Been that the stud Shorthorns sullered severely
this year ; tbe bulls making less than one-sixth of the
last year's average, and the heifers not doing much
better. Last year, 24i:h Duke of Derrimut was purchased
for Mr. Lomax, of this colony, for 2,450 guineas ; this
year, 26th Duke of Derrimut, his near relation, a cham-
pion prize taker, brought only 273 guineas. There arc
the same strains to-day at Colac as there were in 1S7G,
when Mr. Gardiner paid 2,200 guineas for Roan Duchess.
So it seems females, as well as males, have fallen in the
market." Mr. S. Gardiner's second annual sala at Bruns-
wick, Victoria, alluded to in the above quotation, was held
on the 31st of December laat, or rather thrt was the day
appointed for it, but, according to the Sydney Mail, the
cattle sold so badly that it was stopped. The Melbourne
Telegraph gives the following particulars : — " Though,
there were a number of the leading Shorthorn breeders
present, there seemed to be a disinclination to iavest,
and the competition was unusually slack. A much better
state of alYa rs might naturally have been expected, n s
the Brunswiick herd contains some of the best blood in
Victoria, and Mr. Gardiner has spared no expense in
order to secure fiist-cla=s sires and dams. What caused
the unusual apathy that came over breeders yesterday it
is hard to say, but the fact is, though many prime lots
were offered, but few found buyers. The first lot brought
into the ring was Brunswick's Summertoo, a very hand-
some roan bull, by the Duke of Alvie, which, after some
delay, was started at 100, and knocked dowu to the bid
of Mr. A. R. Wallis for 210 guineas, on account of the
Department of Agriculture. The next lot offered was
Matilda's Deuble Brunswick, by the Duke of Alvie, a bull
of excellent quality, for which, however, ouly one olFer
was made, and he was sold for 100 guineas to Mr. Sirason,
of New Zealand. The next two lots were passed, and
though both showed excellent quality, not a single bid was
made for them. The 8th Duke of Lancaster, a very
handsome and promising youngster, calved last April, by
the l4th Duke of Derrimut, was offered next, and after
some very slow bidding, was knocked dowu to Mr. A.
11. W^allis for 90 guineas. Some two or three of the
remaining lots were brought forward, but as there were
evidently no buyers, they were quickly passed. Only
three bulls were sold, realising 400 guineas." The reason
for this state of affairs is giveu by the Sydney J/ai^ as the
removal of the prohibition on the importation of stud
stock ; but we agree rather with that assigned to it by the
Melbourne Age, namely, tkat the breeders' mania has
about had its day.

In Scotland, at Perth and Aberdeen, there have been
held important sales of pure-bred Shorthorns, at which
234 young bulls made an average, according to the
Bariff shire Journal, of " about £27." At the Aberdeen
Joint Sale the average for 111 Shorthorn bulls was £28
Ss. Sfd. At the sale in the spring of 1877 the average
for 112 Shorthorn bulls was £29 15s. l^d., and iu tiic

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316

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

antumn of 1S77 tliat, for 102 was £20 8s. 3d. xVt the
sprintr sale in 1878 the average for 132 Shorthorn bulk
was .120 7s. 4J., and in the antumn that for 115 Short-
horn bulls was £23 lis. lOid. At the Perth Auction
Mart, on the 12th inst., 127 pure-bred Shorthorn bulls
made an average of £24 13s. 6d. ; 36 cows and heifers
averaged £21 43. lid. ; the hishest price realised was
06 guineas for Messrs. Christie's Royal Vvinsome, the
winner of the third prize in the competition which pre-
ceded the sale. At the sale of pedigree Shorthorns, held
on the 25th of February by the Tariff Agricultural Asso-
ciation, 9 pure-bred Shorthorn bulls averaged £20 lis.,
and 3 cows and heifers averaged £20 Ss. ; whilst 3 year-
ling polled bulls averaged £24 ISs. 6d. At Mr. Long-
more's sale, on the 11th inst., 8 young pure-bred Short-
horn bulls averaged £30 63. 4id., and 8 heifers £24
13s. 6d. A summary of 'jU the auction sales of pure-bred
shorthorns in the Northern counties of Scotland tor
• the season now closed is given by the Banffshire
Journal, from which we take the following items •.—
The tables show that no fewer than 662 Shovthorna of
all classes were sold, representing a value of £17,188. In
the previous year the number sold was only 433, of the
value of £li,yS3. The average for ths 663 sold this
vear was only £25 17s. Sd., being a decrease upon the
Average of the former years of £1 15s. 9d. The decrease
in the average this vear is £7 IG". Sd., as compared with
that for the year 1876-7, when the decline in value had
rot begun. Dunng the three years from 1874 to 1877
the average price realised for bulls sold at the northern
auctions did not vary more than half-a-crown. The fall
in prices began iu the autumn of 1877, and in the past
tffo seasons the reduction has been equal to £6 13s. 7d.
upon each bull sold. In the year just closed the total
number of Shorthorn bulls disposed of was 391, and the
average price realised for them was £25 12s. 2d., showing
a decrease of £2 Us. 7d. upon the average of the previous
year. In the year 1877 78 the number of bulls sold was
364, or 27 fewer than this season, the averasje then
having been £28 33. 9d., which was a falling off to the
extent of £4 2s. from the average of the immediately
preceding year. As many as 117 Shorthorn cows were
brought under the hammer^ and realised an average of
£31 93. Id. Iu the previous year, onlj 27 were sold,
when the average was £29 9s. 3d. Of two-year-old
Shorthorn heifers, 50 were sold during the past }ear, and
realised an average of £30 14s. Id. ; whereas, in 1877-8,
only 18 were sofd at an average of £24 2s. 7d. Yearhng
Shorthorn heifers were -disposed of in the past year to
the number of 80, realising an average of £19 19s. 2d.
In the preceding year, when 20 were sold, the average
was £22 Of heifer calves, 24 were sold duriug last year
at an average of £13 Os. 4d. ; while, in the preceding
year, the average for 4 was £\i 6s. 9d.

rrom a paper on the " Breeding of Cittle," read before
tie Miuehead and Dunster Farmers' Club, by Mr. John
Kisdon, we extract the following opinions therein quoted
as having been expressed by stockbreeders :— ' W^iat has
given Shorthorns their very exceptional value. Wot
their intrinsic value (merit ?) alone, but the^ab.hty of the
owners to point to a long line of pedigree. . . • •
" Pedi-ree is no doubt all very well, but a long pedigree
on paper is not always a good one in tact. Many ot
these fashionably-bied animals are notoriously bad beasts;
thev have in many cases been bred so loug without proper
judgment aud trora nearly relattd blood, that vigour and
constitution seem to have been irretrievably lost. Ihey
have become ewe-necked, weasel-waisted, leggy, and con-
sumptive ; can't stand bad wcath.r, and give little milk.
^Ve are not told whose opinions these are, but we very
heartily endorse thcui.

The Ivoyal Agricultural Society of Ireland has resolved
to hold its shovv this year at Newry on the 6th, 7tb, and
8th of August. At the earnest request of the local com*
mittee, presided over by Lord Newry, the executive in
Dublin agreed to permit jumping competitions to be held
after show hours, and in an enclosure apart from t e show
yard. The Lord Lieutenant will be the guest of Mr. Max-
well Close, M.F., during the show week.

It has been stated, according to a contemporary, that
" an English company is to be started at Flushing for the
import of American cattle, live and dead, for the German
market." But why cannot tht Schkswig-Holstein cattle
traffic be " diverted" in reality to markets in the Father-
land ? The Tunning folks say it does not pay to send
their cattle to England, and ttey have not been able to
" divert" the trade successfully to Paris; after all *hat
was said about it ; cannot they keep their stock withia
the empire? Surely if Germany wants beef her protec-
tionist proclivities would induce her to deal at home rather
than import from America ? We hear from time to time
of cattle traffic about to spring up between America and
all sorts of places, but Great Britain appears to be the
only market yet found.

At a meeting of the committee of the Cavan Azricul-
tural Society, it was determined to hold a H )wer,
vegetable, butter, and fowl show in July, to be followdd
by a show of cattle, sheep, pigs, aud green crops in Sep-
tember.

In a paper read before the Scottish Metropolitan
Veterinary Medical Association on " Joint Disease ia
Young Stock," Mr. Rohertson pointed out that whenever
this disease makes an iuroad on a flock, it will be found
that the ewes are below par in respect of general health
aud constitutional vigour. And we commend the remark
to the attention of our readere as being capable of
very general application.

Our Canadian correspondent writes under date of
March 12 :—

I fear I was somevi'hat precipitate in expressing aa
opinion that this immigration policy of Sir John Mac-
donald's Government would be a decided reversal of that
of Mr. Mackenzie. A few of the travelling agents Ih
England have been called in, and there is some lopping
off of expenditure — more nominal than real — but the
estimates, out to-day, for 1879-80 show close on 180,000
dols. asked for for Dominion purposes, to which must be
added the outlay of the different provinces. The fact is,
in these Colonial dependencies, where Liberals and (^/on-
servatives mean only the ins and outs, aud where there
are no distinctive political priuciples, but only personal
questions, patronage is the be-all and end-all of adminis-
tration. .4ud 1 fear the immigration leopard imposture
will ne er change his spots, whoever may hold the reins
of ollii-e. It is an iiisl 'uctive commentary on the present
position that only a few days ago a deputation went to
Ottawa to solicit official aid to enable a lot of distressed
persons to go to Manitoba. They met with a flat refusal,
though they suggested, sensibly enough, that the neces-
sary fuuds could be found by abolishing the immigration
ageucies in England. It is very singular that a heavy
vote should be taken to bring ])eople here from Britain,
Ireland, Russia, and elsewhere while distressed labourers
ou the spot cannot get a cent expended to help them to
live. A great number of French immigrants b'Oiight out
lately by the efforts of the Canadian Governinent agent
and the Shipping Commission agents, are now in much
distress, and the Government of France ought to take
steps to stop this sort of thing. This is the second time
of its occurrence. It is as well to caution the British
public in good time that many choice experiments on the

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

317

eternal vircsccncy of the homo "grccniiorn " may shortly
b« expected iu conuention with Manitoba and the north-
west wihlerucsses. I shall, however, keep your readers
posted on developments as they arise.

The South Ontario Farmers' Club, at their adjourned
meeting on farmers' grievauces, adopted the following reso-
lution : —

" That no readjustment of the tarifT will be acceptable
to us which does not impose on American farmers' pro-
duce duties to the same extent they exact from Ca lada. "

I sead you a very important and startling piece of
information in connection with pleuro iu the Western
States of America. The Ottawa correspondent of the
I'orofdo Glube, writing on Tvf irch 9th, alHrins that one
of the leading exporters of Canada declares that pleuro-
pneumonia has been prevalent ia the Western States since
last September, and he states that the fact is well known
to those in the cattle exporting business. As a conse-
quence, the railway compauies' request to the Goverument
to raise the embarg ), so far as the Western States are
concerned, is opposed. In the Ontario, whi?h vessii, it
will be remembered, sailed from Portland and lost a large
number of cattle from pleuro-pneumonia on the voyage,
and had the survivors slaughtered at Liverpool, the whole
of the cattle were, he says, from Michigan, Ohio, Indiana,
and Illinois, the so-called uuatfected districts, and nit
one from the Eastern States. It is al-so asserted that
Piof. McEachren, the veterinary surgeon appiintedby the
Dominion Goverumeut to report on the outbreak of the
disease iu the United States, is well awire of the fact.
It is clear that the dead-meat trade is the only safe and
satisfactory solution of this tangled business if EugUsh
herds are to be saved from the ravages of disease.

Our correspondent continues, under date March
19 th : — I note an editorial paragraph in the Ecpres
anent one William Brown, of the Guelph Agricultural
College, Ontario, on which I have to say a few words.
It is the trouble of such Canadian correspondents of the
English press as desire to give a truthful account of
matters here, and not merely reflect the olTiiiial view, or
make thint;s generally pleasant, that they have continually
to be '' defining their position." Mr. Brown, of whom,
without wishing to be discourteous, I may say that his
name is nearly unknown outside his own circle, and
carries no special weight there or elsewhere, is pleased to
impute " venom" to me as your correspondent. This is
a misstatement, whether intentional or otherwise I know
r.ot. I have no animus against this country, in whole or
part. It is the discreditable hibit of the professional
immigration promoters, when their one-sided or fictitious
presentments are corrected, to resort to abuse or imputa-
tion of motives. But, I repeat, the chirge of ill-will to
this country is a fiction in my case. Nearly all my living
relatives are here, and, for good or ill, my own fortunes
and those of my family are bound up with the destiny of
Canada. But while I wish this country well I wish
England well too, decidedly ; and it is on bebalf of my
countrymen at home I desire, at many sacrifices of my
o vn ease and material prosperity, to present facts to the
British public where interested persons or cliques present
fictions, or accounts so one-si led that they are as bad as
fictions. I have known this colony iiiany years, and
have made it my special business to investigate studiously
all its aspects as a field for British immigrants ; and I
have found that the introduction of English capital and
labour is attended with so many advantages to certain
interests that they have organised an elaborate and costly
machinery of misrepresentation to promote it. The truth
is carefudy and persistently oisguised, and hence thousands
of Englishmen have long been the victims of terrible
suft'erings and disappoiulmeuts. At this very hour

schemes are incubating for enticing out crowds of Eng-
lishmen of all classes — agriculturists specially — to the
pathless wildernesses of the inhosnitable north-western
provinces of Canada. And why ? In order that laud-
sharks may make their " pile," careless of the sulFerings
of their dupes, and because, in the struggle of political
factions for the loaves and fishes this country is hope-
lessly committed to the wild uud rtaking known as the
Pacific lliilway Scheme, for which there is neither
population nor trade, and none to be looked for, unless
these can be got by luring these uiknowing emigrants
from Europe by hook or crook. To this end England is
being flooded with delusive <».r po;-^e handbooks (notably
one called '"Djwse's Guide"), in which every drawback is
studiously kept out of sight; and thus the notions of the
unhappy emigrants respecting the wildernesses to which
they are bound arc on a par with those by which Richard
Whittington was induced to pay his first visit to the
metropolis. I say that Manitoba is already a complete
nest of land-sharks who have whipped oir the cream of
the country, and these gentry are now extending their
operations to the Sabkatcliewan and other districts.
English emigrants who take emigration literature for
gospel will have their eyes rudely opened ere they have
been twelve months in that fearful wilderness. The
mosquito and other " fly" pests alone are enough to make
life nearly unendurable.

If the professional immigration promoters don't like
my version of facts, let them give their own iu your
columns, and I will attend to them. Mr. Brown, I see,
offers to prove that Canada is a fine field for English
farmers " with £2,000." I don't think he was a pro-
digious success as an emigrant farmer when he tried his
hand in the County of Simcoe here eight years ago.
Any way, he soon forsook the role of Cinciunatus, and
turned to land-surveying and other pursuits of a softer
nature. As you will see by an amusing letter I enclose
from the Government organ, he comes out with a heau
ideal of a special Immigration Delegate who, he thinks,
ought to be despatched to Britain to enlighten the stolid
intellect of the dowu-troJden English farmer anent
emigration to Canada. Tue acquisitions and endowments
of this interesting immigration mentor are set forth with
such unction that, alter Rasselas, we are about to cry,
" Enough ! thou hast convinced me no man can be a
special commissioner to the British farmer," when sud-
denly it flashes on us that VV. B. himself is the wondrous
being, though his well-known modesty militated against
his expressly mentioning it. I do not think, whatever
the Ontario Government may have done, Mr. Pope, the
Dominion Immigration Minister, will be captured by Mr.
Brown's ingenious ensnarements.

A very singular statement is circulating in the Canadian
papers, viz., that some German cattle buyers have just
come to Toronto to purchase cattle for export to Ger-
many. We h.ve also the intimation by cable that a
company is being organised in Germany to promote the
exportation of Americai cattle to that country. The
luronto T-lfc/ram observes on this : — " This is carrying
coals to ^e vcastle with a vengeance." Indeed, tie thing
seems inexplicable, except under the surmise that it is the
first of sund y ingen'ous schemes o i the tapis for iutro-
ducing American cattle into Britain by circuitous routes.

We have recently referred in this column to a cont--
gious disease of animals, reported to exist in the United
Hlates, which from its description might be supposed to
be foot-and-mouth disease. We have since noticed in a
Canadian paper, the Farmers' Advocate, the following
allusion to the disease as existing iu the United States: —
" In previous issues we have spoken of Texan cattle
fever, pleuro-pneuraonia, hog cholera, trichina; iu pork,

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THE FABMEE'S MAGAZINE.

and foot-and- month disease. We feel satisSed that the
voice of every real Canadian farmer will support us in
asking our Government to use every proper means to
prevent the spread of any of these diseases in any part
of this Dominion." And on referring to the preceding
nnmber of that journal we llnd editorial remarks to this
efl'ect : — " If we had our way we would not allow another
horn or hoof of cattle or swine to be admitted into
Canada from the States, under any pretext, until the
diseases be entirely stamped out in that country — pleuro-
pneumonia, foot-and-mouth disease, trichinae, &nd
cholera." What a relief it would be to know on trust-
worthy official authority just what contagious diseases of
animals exist in the United States and Canada, and to
what extent. The absence of any such ofBcial state-
ments we are completely at a loss to know what vake to
'attach to any of the newspaper reports even when given
in the strictest good failh.

Germany has been officially declared free from cattle
plague, after several months' continuance of the disease
which was first detected in Stallupuhnen, on the Russian,
frontier. The introduction of cattle plague was clearly
traced to the smuggling of cattle across the frontier, the
great difference in the value of the animals in Prussia, as
compared with their value in Russia, constituting a strong
temptation to the smugglers, who incur a risk of severe
punishment, from a few months to several years of penal
servitude. The German Government intend prohibiting
the importation and transport of living cattle through the
empire.

In consequence of the appearance of cattle plague in
Bohemia, the importation of Austrian cattle into France
is prohibited.

The London Gazette of the 8th ult. announces that at
the Council Chamber, Whitehall, the Lords of her Ma-
jesty's Privv Council revoked their order, bearing date
February 28, 1879, defining a part of the port of Liver-
pool, iu the county of Chester, as a foreign animals
whaif, and substituted the part of the port of Liverpool,
in the county of Chester, as a foreign animals wharf
included within that space at the Wallasey Dock, in the
borough of Birkenhead, and the township of Poolton-
cum-Seacombe, situate on the east and north-east sides
of the said dock.

In consequence of the Longhill Farm having been dis-
posed of, Mr. W. F. Marshall, the well-known breeder of
Lincoln sheep, submitted to public competition the whole
of his flock of breeding ewes. The highest price for a pen
of five, £8 OS. each, was given by Mr. Sharpe, Baumber,
who secured another pen at £7 Ss. Gd. Mr. Smith,
Cropwell Butler, bought one pen at £7 los., and another
at £7 23. 6d. ; Mr. Snodin, Stonesby, a pea at £7 lOs. ;
Mr. C. S Dickinson, Lincoln, pens at £7 5s. and £7 ;
Mr. Harrison, a pen at £7 2s. 6d. ; and Mr. R. G. F.
Howard a pen at £7 each. Mr. IMarshall has retained
'he whole of his ram and ewe tegs, and does not intend
■■o relinquish ram-breeding.

The collective sale of pure-bred Shorthorns from the
herds of the late Sir W, C. Trevelyan, Sir J. Swinburne,
Sir W. G. Armstrong, Mr. T. Gow, and Mr. R. Harretf,
conducted by Mr. John Thornton at Dringhouses, York,
realised an average of £38 lis. 5d for 70 animals ; 40
cows and heifers averaged £35 Ss. lOd., and 30 bulls
averaged £42 18s. lOd. The averages of the selections
from the several herds were given last week iu another
column.

The well-known prize hunters, Tavistock, the champion
prize-winner at Islington and Alexandra Park, and first-
prize weight-carrier at the Great Yorkshire Show ; Ros-
flingtoD, a first at Manchester, Alexaudra Park, and

Islington ; and Nobleman, the first-prixe hack at Bath
and West of England 1877, and first lady's horse at Man-
chester and Alexandra Park 1S78, are to be sold at
Tattersall's on May 26th.

On Saturday, the 5th ult., Mr.' McCulloch shipped
by the Hampshire from the South West India Dock, seven-
teen Shorthorns for Australia. His first lot, consisting of
nine animals, went out on the 7th of December in the
Cambrian Prince, whose arrival is announced by a
Melbourne telegram dated April 1. On the 11th of
.January the second detachment of fifteen, sailed in the
Syrian, which, being a steamer, overtook the Cambrian
Prince ; and the seventeen alluded to above form the
third lot, consisting of eight cows, two heifers, sii heifer
calves, and one bull-calf, of the Oxford, Wild Eyes,
Waterloo, Kirklevington, Blanche and other tribes of
Bates ancestry, and including Grand Duchess of Oxford
43rd from Holker.

The Xcw York World states that Messrs. Doche and
Sons of that city, have made extensive freight enzagements
with the National Line Company, by which the cattle
will be taken to the port of Loudon instead of the port of
Liverpool. The company are supposed to have met the
exporters by reducing their rates. The Privy Council in
turn have met the company by the Order of April 4, which
enables American cattle to be transferred from the Allantic
liners — in the Victoria Dock — to a steam vessel which
conveys them to the " foreign animals wharf" at Depiford.
This order is only issued for the term of two months.

Mr. T. L. Miller, of Beecher, Illinois, writes to the
Journal of Agriculture that he has sold a two-year-old
Hereford heifer to Mr. D. Clark, of Lapere, Michigan, for
£83 6s. 8d. (400 dols.), and a six-raonths-old Hereford
bull to the same gentleman for £61 13s. 4d. (300 dols.) ;
also three Hereford heifers, two yearlings and one calf^
to Mr. ri. Noiris, of Batavia, Illinois, for £312 10s.
(1500 dols.) According to this pure-bred Herefords are
realising good prices in the United States.

The Messrs. Hamilton have advertised a three day's
sale of Shorthorns at Kansas City, ^lissouri, on the 21st,
22nd, and 23rd inst. The entire herd of Shorthorns
belonging to General C. E. Lippincott, of Cbandlerville,
Illinois, is advertised for sale on the 5th of June.

A lot of black cows, in-calf, have been forwarded to
Mr. M. Anderson, Dromore, Co. Tyrone, from Aberdeen.
Mr. Anderson intends establishing a herd at his farm in
the north of Ireland. One of the purchases was made at
the joint-stock sale at Aberdeen, from thePortletheu herd,
and others have been bred from the Balliadallock and
Bithuie herds.

A contemporary very aptly points out that the sum
subscribed to the forthcoming International Exhibition by
the Mansion House Committee is only " a trifle over the
amount usually expended on a couple of dinners at the
Mansion House," and that a considerable portion of it has
j been subscribed bv outsiders.

The port of Hull having been reopened for the importa-
tion of foreign cattle, a new depot has been erected by the
Dock Company on the Citadel Estate, which is entirely
surrounded by water. The depot, a spacious building,
fitted up with requisite appliances, has been formally
opened.

Mr. F. W. Stone, of Guelph, Ontario, writes to the
Canadian Farnurs' Advocate that he has sold all the
young Hereford bulls he can spare to a breeder in Colo-
rado, at prices averaging £30 per head mere than his last
years prices. He says the demand for them is so great
that he could readily sell 500 Hereford bulls at the pre-
sent time, and the first cross from theso bulls is now

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

319

wanted in Colorado. ncrePorJ bulls from the first cross
are worth £14 a-pieco in that Stats.

The New York State Commissioner, General Patric k
has proranlgated an order addressed to oil " owners of
eittle and their employes, to all railway corporations, and,
to all captains or mauaa;ers of boats whom it may con-
cern," in which he prohibits the conveyance of milch
cows and other store animals by railway from the counties
of Kings and Queens into Suffolk, or westward or north-
ward out of Kocklaud, Orange, Ulster, Sulli\-an, and
Delaware counties; or northward out of JNew York,
Westchester, Putnam and Duchess counties. All railway
companies are forbidden to receive or to convey milch
cows in any of the directions named. The conveyance
of such cattle by boat, barge, or river craft from the
counties named is forbidden, except when accompanied by
a special permit bearing the signature of M. R. Patrick.
Owners of cattle and captains of boats are forbidden,
under penalty, to laud, receive or convey such cattle.

A correspondent of the Pacijtc Rural Press sends the
following statement of account of a sale of wheat in the
London market. It will be seen that it costs (with ex-
change at par^49^d. to the dollar) 80j cents per cental, or
48.3 cents per bushel, to sell wheat sent from San
Francisco to the Loudon market. There is also to be
added to this the interest on the cost from the time of
buying to the time of receiving returns . —

Pro forma account and net proceeds of 1,000 quarters
of wheat received per Swallow, from San Francisco, Cal.,
and sold by order and for account of Messrs. Producer
and Co., London, England : —

£ 8. d.
February 20th, 187!), sold ex-ship, at one month,
1,000 qrs. wheat, 496 lb. each, at £2 lis. 1 Id.
per said qr 2,395 16 8^

CHAKGES. £ 8. d.

Freights on 1,000 qrs. at 433. per ton 531 4 7

lasarance on £2,500 110 0 0

Policy 10 0

Entry, Lord Mayor'd order, and samp-
ling 110

Metage, tillage, lastage and porterage 27 10 0

Weigi'.ing ex-sliip 4 3 4

Interest on freight and charges 2 7 0

Fdctorage (not always occurriner), Is.

perqr 50 0 0

Commission and guarantee, 4 per cent. 95 16 9

823 1 8

Net procpsds due March 27th, 1879 1,572 15 0

If sold from the store (for ex-granary, as they term it
in London), the follov^ing charges will have to be added : —

£ s. d £ s- d.
Lighterage, landing and delivering... 30 10 0
Turning and trimming in granary,

rent and fire insurance 12 13

0

52

0

It costs about 1\ cent, per cental more if sold from
store or " ex-granary," than from ship. With exchange
at par, wheat sold at the price given in the j/^ro fonnn,
account sales, ex-ship, would net the shipper 1.537
dollars per cental, free on board in San Francisco.

The same correspondent also gives returns of sales in
Liverpool and Glasgow. lu Liverpool, besides the
charges mentioned in the above statement, are loss in
weight, quay rent and insurince- The wheat, sold at
12s. per cental, netted 1.94 dollars in Liverpool, and
allowing for interest and exchange, netted about 1.75
dollars per cental in San Francisco. In the Glasgow
market, wheat is soldby the " boll" of 240 pounds. A
sale at 233. per boll netted 1.G9 dollars per cental in
Glasgow, out of which must come interest and exchange
to get the uet return to the San Francisco shipper.

THE LAW OF DISTRAINT.

Sir. R. P. Blenncrhassett, M.P., writes from the
Reform Club to the Tbncs -. —

Will you, in order to prevent the misapprehension which
some inquiries warn me is likely to arise, permit me to state
in yoar columns that my motion on the Law of Distress, after
some sliifting about, caused by ray anxiety to secure a.
favourable opportunity for the discussioa, is fixed for Friday,
May OF

On that day it occupies the first place on the notice-paper of
the House of Commons. I intend to move, as an amendment
on going into Committee of Supply," That it is desirable that
the powef of distraint for the rent of agricultural holdings in
England, Wales, and Ireland should be abolished.' ' Mr. lleafl,
the member for South Norfolk, has given notice that he will
propose to ametd my motion by moving to leave out the word
" abolished," in order to insert the words " limited to one
year's rent," and at the end to add " And that the stock of a
third parly taken on a farm to graze should only be liable for
the amount of consideration payable for the grazing." "And,"
also, " that the landlord's right of re-entry for the non-pay-
ment of rent should be more simple and speedy than at
present."

I shall be glad if any one interested in the subject will com-
municate with me here.

WARWICKSHIRE TfcNANT FARMERS'
ASSOCIATION.

A meeting to promote the objects of the Association was
held at Birmingham recently, and about 150 farmers cf
the district attended. Mr. H. Stilgoe presided.

Mr. Steedmax moved, "That this meeting considers it
very desirable that a Tenant Farmers'' Association should be
formed, and pledges itself to do all in its power to further the
objects of such association." He considered that the pro-
posed association was a highly desirable one. Vv'heu they
considered the number of tenant farmers and the amount of
capital they had invested in agriculture, they were fully
entitled to be represented in Parliament. There was, how-
ever, no class so badly represented as they. Mr. Read, the
member for Norfolk, was about the only tenant farmer in the
House of Commons, He hoped those present would give
their bsst attention and support to the association and its
objects.

Mr. C. Gakner seconded the resolution, and it was carried
unanimously.

Mr. ERtTTLE moved a resolution, inviting the Warwick-
shire tenant farmers to join the association, and urging upon
the tenant farmers present the necessity of jomiug:the associa-
tion that day.

This also was carried nem, con.

Several gentlemen addressed the meeting, and general
sympathy with the objects of the association was expressed.

In conclusion, Mr. J. H. Hakdman moved, 'That a
meeting of the association be called at Warwick on as early a
diy as may be deemed convenient, to appoint the officers and
couoniiitee."

Mr. Jackson seconded the proposition, and it was agreed to.

At the close of the meeting a number of farmers were
enrolled as members of the association.

AGRTCULTQRAL ABUSES.— In the opinion of all per-
sons who impartially study the sabject, British agriculture will
never be able to face the foreign competition which is now so
severe, until it is freed from th.ose trammels of which the
foreign competing agriculture kaoivs nothing. As long as
the present system of limited o,vnersliip remains unreformed
there will never be a proper amount spent on the land by
the proprietors ; as long as there is no security for a tenant's
capital expended in unexhausted improvements there will
never be a proper amount of money spent on the land by the
occupier. The fact that Lord Beaconsfield's speecli on Friday
ignores both the patent aud most pernicious vices in our land
laws is another c mclusive proof, though none WdS needed, that
the Conservative party have not the slightest intention of cor^.-
rectiug either the one or the other. — LeeUs Mermrj/.

D23

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

THE LAW OF DISTRESS,

Professor Wrightson, iu bis paper read before
tbe Farmera' Club on April 7, made as good
a defence of the Law of Distress iu its relation to
farm tenancies as could well be made for a law-
bad iu principle and mischievous in operation, tie
had obviously taken great pains to obtain a
correct knowledge of the history and incidence of
the law, and he stated his case with both modera-
tion aud ability. If, as appears to us, he was
wrong both in his premissesand his deductions, that
was inevitable uuder the circumstances. What-
ever may be said iu favour of the Law of Distress
as an institution of feudal times, when it had its
origin, there is no sound defence for it in these days
of commercial contracts, and consequently its
defenders are limited to sophisms, more or less
specious indeed, but all fallacious and unable to
bear the stress of searching criticism. It is sel-
dom that a paper gets so completely cut to pieces
in the discussion which follows it as Professor
Wrightson's paper wa?, and this not from any want
of ability on his part, but solely because he had a
bad case to plead for. It may even be said for
him that he scarcely received justice from those
who followed him, as his defence of the principle
of the law was strongly and almost unanimously
condemned, while his concessions were not recog-
nised. He was at least more consistent than Mr.
Read, who first declared the law to be utterly
wrong in principle, and then went on to advocate
the retention of the law of bad principle to the
extent of a lien over one year's rent. Mr. Ilodges
also condemned the law, and gave striking illustra-
tions of its essential unfairness in operation, while
stopping short of the logical sequence of his
argument by advocating the continued application
of the power of distress to the same period as that
proposed by Mr. Read. Professor \Vrightson re-
commended its restriction to two years' rent, and
he extended it so far because he said that the
second year of tenancy would be entered upon
before a fair time for tlie payment of the first year's
rent would have transpired, forgetting, apparently,
that the same excuse would apply in the case of
the second year's rent, and so on <«/ injiidtum. In
other I'espects Professor Wrightson was in agree-
ment with all who wish to preserve the law from
complete extinction, as he advocated the abolition
of the landlord's right to distrain stuck agisting, and
the property of third parties generally. Th3 real
difference between Professor Wrightson aud the
other advocates of the continuance of the law
under a restricted form is that he defended its
principle and denied its mischievous effects, apart
from its extreme abuses, while tliey admitted its
unfairness and its objectionable influence upon the
competition for farms and the consequent enhance-
ment of rents, and yet, more illogicall}', advocated
its retention in a modified form. Now, if the law
is wi'ong in principle, it is clear that it ought to be
swept entirely away ; and, as a matter of fact, all
its constant evils would remain if it were merely
modified, pretty much as the}' exist at pi-esent.
Perfect security for one year's rent is really all that
a landlord requires to render him reckless as to the

means of a proposing tenant, and he would
be very nearly as likely to accept the
highest bidder if he had security for only
only one year's rent as if he had security for six
years' rent. It is true that other creditors would
be in less danger of finding nothing left for them
in the case of the bankruptcy of a tenant after the
landlord's claims had been satisfied ; bnt the differ-
ence would be only one of degree, while we con-
tend that there is no reason for any distinction in
principle between the payment of one creditor and
another. Indeed, as Mr. James Howard pointed
out, if there is any difference, it should be in
favour of the ordinary creditoi- rather than in
favour of the landlord, as the former risks both
principal and interest, while the latter risks interest
only.

Professor Wrightson's only real ai-gument in
defence of the principle of the Law of Distress
rested upon the assumption that the landlord and
the tenant are essentially partners, both of whom
look for a share in the profit of each year's crops.
That we regard as an entirely false proposition in
these modern times. The landlord lets the use of
his land for a year or a term of j'ears precisely on
the same principle as the owner of a steam thrash-
ing machine lets the use of his machine. The-
landlord, as a rule, gets his rent if the tenant loses
three hundred pounds in the year just as he gets it
if the tenant gains an equal sum. Similarly, the
owner of the steam thrashing machine is paid for
thrashing whether the farmer loses or gains by his
crop. Both risk the loss of a portion of the su;-n
due to them, and both should enjoy an equal chiiuce
of getting paid. As the law now stands the landlord
has almost perfect security for the whole of his
claim, while the owner of the thrashing machine
has no security whatever for the whole of his
claim, and even the portion which would other-
wise be fairly secure if it were not for the Law of
Distress is liable to be swallowed up by the unfair
preference of the landlord's claim. But the case
of the owner of the thrashing machine
is too much akin to that of the landlord
to show the full force of the argument against the
Law of Distress. He, like the landlord, speaking
broadl}', only risks the interest on his capital. To
be exact it must be admitted that both risk a little
more, as both emplo}' servants and have some ex-
penses, in connection with letting their possessions,
to meet. But in the case of the manure and cake
merchant the position is far strougei*. This man
has a better claim to a lien upon the growing crop
and the proceeds of the sale of live stock than
either the landlord or the owner of the thrashing
machine has, as his capital aud interest are largely
employed iu the pi'oduction of the returns of the
farm. Very often he gives greater value towards
a year's produce than the landlord gives, as his
bill is not uncommonly larger in amount than a
I year's rent. It is true tbat the landlord may have
his property deteriorated as well as the interest ou
his capital lost ;but the manure and cake merchant
may lose his capital and interest entirely, so far as
it is in the tenant's hands. Rents iu England are

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

321

almost univers'illy due, and are geuerally paid, half-
yearly. Proffssor Wrightsou's stiiteiuent to the
effect that tbey run nine montha is obvioitsly
incorrect. It is somewhat common for the rent to
be only demanded three mouths after quarter day ;
but althoug-h the tenant has nine months before
his hrst half-year's rent is demand 3d, it is only six
months from' that time to the next payment, and
S3 on for the rest of his tenancy. Thus the
leniency in the time allowed for payment really
operates, except where a tenant is allowed to get
seriously into arrear, only at the beginning of the
tenancy, when indulgence ought not to be needed,
and operates mischievously by tempting a farmer
to take more land than he has capital to farm
properly. Such temptation has a bad effect
upon the interest of all parties concerned in the
cultivation of the soil, with the doubtful excep-
tion of the landlord. It is argued that even the
landlord is injured in the long run ; for although it
is admitted that one effect of the Law of Distress
is to increase artificially the competition for land,
and so to raise rents, it is urged that another effect
is to impoverish estates. There is, however, an
anomaly in this argument which can scarcely be
explained away.. Either the Law of Distress
permanently enhances rents or it does not. If it
d >es, the landlord cannot be injured by it ; if it
d )es not, one of the pleas urged against the law
falls to the ground. It may be said that although
the effect of the law is to raise rents above their
intrinsic value, it nevertheless depreciates the
actual value of land by keeping it in an unim-
proved condition,, so that it lets for less than it
would otherwise, in spite of its bringing more than
it is intrinsically worth ; but this argument in
effect assumes that a landlord has a right, to an in-
creased return on his tenant's improvements, with-
out tirst paying for them, which we regai-d as an
outrage upon the true principle of Tenant-Right.
It is quite clear, however, that all other parties
CJncerued in the good cultivation of the land are
mora or less injured by the operatiou of the Law
of Distres-s. The tenant is injured because he has
to pay a higher rent than he would have to pay
under natural conditions of competition, and also
in the impoverishment almost certain to follow
upon taking a large acreage when he has only
capital enough to render him master of a smaller
area. In this 'connection one important considera-
tion is never mentioned. It is this, that the
tenant who tak«smore land than he can do justice
to not only farms less profitably than he would if
he had fewer acres, but is tempted to a more pro-
fuse household and personal expenditure on account
of the higher social position which, as a large
farmer, he occupies. Upon farm labourers and
consumers the evil effect of a law which tends to
promote poor farming is too obvious to need
detailed statement; and the wrong which it in-
flicts upon the tenant's creditors, with the sole ex-
ception of the privileged and protected landlord is,
if possible, more obvious still.

Professor Wrightson's attempt to show that the
abolition of the law would not have the effect of
lowering rents was lame in the extreme. He
argued that landowners would farm their owh
estates, and so render farms more scarce for

tenant-farmers; but Mr. Read effectually disposed
of this fallacious reasoning by pointing out that af
the present time, although on largo numbers of ■
estates farms can only be relet at a great diminu-
tion upon previous rents, their owners show no
disposition to keep them in their own hands. If
lower rents will not induce an owner to farm his-
own land, it is clear that less absolute security will
not.

There are other aspects of the subject with
which we should have been glad to deal ; but it is
impossible in a single newspaper article to exhaust'
the subject. It is now prominently before the
country, and there will be other opportunities of
commenting upon it and the controversy which it.
has raised. As will be seen by Mr. Blennerhassett'S'
l6tter in another column, that gentleman is about
to bring forward a motion in the House of Com-
mons declaring that it is desirable that the power
of distraint for rent should be abolished. Our
Farmers' Clubs and Chambers of Agriculture may
with advantage discuss the subject in the mean
time, in order that the general opinion of farmers
upon it may become known. What the opinion
of the London Farmers' Club is was pretty plainly
expressed on Monday, and if a resolution had beea
allowed there is little doubt but that one in favour-
of total repeal would have been carried by a large-
majority.

ENTOMOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE. .

The study of entomology is not often made part
of a farmer's education, nor is it usual to find a ■
practical agriculturist who has so much as an idea
of the life-history of any of the insects which
exercise so great an influence on plant-life, fo?
good or for evil — mostly for evil. This is much
to be regretted, and it is to be hoped that in future
the lads who are to be farmers will not only be
taught the rudiments of entomology, but be
specially educated in other ways, so that they may
have something more than mere rule of thumb to
guide them. Those who have given attention to
entomology are invariably impressed with the
magnitude of the part which insects play in the
operations of Nature, and with the helplessness of
man in dealing directly with their power. As the
gradual silting-up of a river bed, by the deposit of
minute particles of matter suspended in the water, .
may occasion an outbreak, so to speak, of natural
forces with which man is utterly powerless to deal
— such as has recently occurred in Hungary — so ■
the spread of the grape-vine louse, at first uh-
noticed and unappreciated, has deva.stated
the vineyards of America, all but destroyed the
wine-producing industry of some parts of France,
spread over a great portion of Southern Europe,
and has now commenced in Australia. The
ingenuity of man has hitherto failed even to check
its progress, much less to cope with it effectually,
and the losses it has occasioned are enormous, lu
1 France alone it was estimated four years ago that
the damage it had done represented a greater sum .
of money than was paid as a war indemnity to
Germany. In America the potato-beetle emerged;
I from its obscurity at the foot of the llocky IMoun-
1 tains, and traversed the entire Coutiueut, uas'.'v*? di

322 THE PARMER'S MAGAZINE.

^n searcli of a plant for wliich it bad acquired a
likiopr, carryiiiii- destruction in its course in spite
of all that could bo done to prevent it. In Europe
we hear occasionally of large districts being in-
vaded and conquered bj"^ an army of locusts, or of
the larvse of white butterflies ; and in England we
are subject to per-iodical visitations from various
insect enemies to agriculture, insignificant in their
units, but strong collectively, which defy the farmer
and destroy his crops while he stands helplessly look-
ing on. And besides these extraordinary cases in
which insects have overcome the natural laws by
which they are usually restrained, there exists a
power on their part to increase with such marvel-
lous rjipidity, wherever food is found in plenty,
that were it not for our friends the birds, and a few
insectivorous reptiles and mammals, together with
predatory and parasitical insects, they would soon
consume and destroy plant-life to such an extent
as to crowd man himself out of existence.

Yet how little have we hitherto done by way of
protecting and encouraging our feathered friends
to whom we owe so much ! In France, and in
some parts of Germany, there have been some
practical steps takou by the State Depnrtments to
exert a direct influence on insect life by collecting
and destroying the larva3 (grubs and caterpillars)
of some species, and by making known to children
the useful services of birds and other insectiverous
animals ; thus soliciting protection for them, and
educating thoughtless youth in habits of observa-
tion and usefulness, instead of wanton destruction
and mischief. But we have not, as yet, done anj--
thing of the kind in this country. If a boy sees a
bird, or a frog, or a bat, he throws a stone at it ;
and if a farmer sees an insect he seldom makes
careful observation of its habits. In the case of
well-known injurious insects, such for example as
the turnip-beetle or the wireworm, very little
practical knowledge has been brought to bear on
their life history, so as to enable farmers to cope
with them when most accessible. To this end
habits of careful obsei'vation, and at least an ele-
mentary knowledge of entomologj^, will be of great
service, and we cordially welcome Miss t\ A.
Ormerod's " Notes of Observations of Injurious
Insects" as a very praiseworthy attempt to render
assistance in this matter. We have no doubt that
the yearly reports, which this lady is good enough
to make for the benefit of farmers and gardeners,
will prove highly useful, as the interchange of
information, and the mere fact of directing atten-
tion to the subject cannot fail to be of service, as
she very justly remarlis. The Report is'published
as a pamphlet by West, Newman, and Co,, of
Ilattoa Garden, London. It contains wood-cuts
of several species of injurious insects, and a digest
of the communications received from various
correspondents during the year 1878. It is
suggested tliat correspondents should give more
complete details of their cbservations, not only as
to direct injuries caused by the depredations of
insects, but also in respect of contingent circum-
stances, such as the fertility and cleanliness of the
soil, the character of the wild plants growing on
it, the state of the weather, and any incidental
matters connected with the cases. " There seems
little doubt,"' gays Miss Ormerod, " but that it is

ill th > s'mall appearances that wo shall prob ibly
find the key to the great devastations. In themselves
it 13 truly said that they are scarcely worth notice
(though all the same the smallest loss of crop has
Its inconveniences); but when the sweep of insect
injury comes it is often past the point at which wq
can tell its origin, as well as how to terminate it.
Each note of information, even if incomplete in
itself, will or may probably join on to those of
other observers, and thus the circumstances which
give rise to insect ravage be gradually more and
more clearly made out, till we may hope, if not
entirely to check the evil, at least to mitigate it
greatly. . . . Any communications addressed
as before to the Rev. T. A. Preston, Marlborough-
E. A. Fitch, Maldon, Essex; or to myself "at
Dunster Lodge, near Isleworth, will be dulv
attended to." "^

The report is full of useful suggestions and in-
formation ; such, for example, as that certain plants
supply food and shelter to certain species of insects
the charlock being a favourite hahifiit of the
turnip-beitle, and the blackthorn affcrdino- refuo-e
to the gx)oseberry caterpillar; the larvai' of the
wheat-midge is harboured in neglected chaff -heaps •
the clover weevils are present in stacks &c. : and'
numerous details to which we cannot refer,' but
which will well repay perusal. ludeed, we
earnestly recommend our readers to obtain the
pamphlet and read it carefully. The year 1878
is alluded to as having been, on the whole, un-
favourable to insect life. Possibly the abnormal
character of the seasons induced premature meta-
morphoses, the mild winter bringing forth imago
forms when plant life was not in a condition to
support them or their larva), and later on the cold
wet spring and early summer may have retarded
the development of tJie imago sta^e in other species
until the season was too far advanced to admit of
their successful life-economy. These are matters
which need careful and intelligent observation,
for in them may probably be found a clue to the
excessive numbers of some one particular species
appearing one season and being almost absent in
another. It is known that the metamorphose'3 of
insects may be retarded or accelerated bv external
inlluences, and this, too, mav throw some IL^ht on
the subject. The farmer's stud v should be to make
use of such means as are known for the purpose of
checking these insect pests, and to aid the birds in
their work, as well as to try to Cud out by observa-
tion fi;esh methods of warfare. The most obvious
remedial measures will be found in systematically
destroying such wild plants as mav be known to
afford subsistence to insects which injure culti-
vated plants ; and a knowledge of the life-history
of the more injurious species will often enable
simple means to be taken to destroy them, or to
bring about their destruction. Thus, the wire-
worm cannot make its way througli compressed
soil, and rolling with a Cambridge roller makes the
insect come to the surface to get over the obstruc-
tion caused by the indentations; and when on the
surface of the ground it falls a ready prey to birds
which are on the loolc-out for it, beinir aV/are of its
presence from the dead or dying plants the root-
stems of which it has cut through. In fact, the
whole subject of the economy oif insect life should

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

32S

be of iinicli interest to tlio farmer ; for although he
suffers f^reatly from the depredations of some
species, he is dependent on the services of othe; i
to effect the fertilisation of the flowers of some
cultivated plants, which otherwise could not per-
fect their seed. An agriculturist cannot bo lesB
fitted for his occupation by being, as far as he may
be able, a naturalist as well.

THE AGRICULTURE OF WALES.
BY GORDOVIC.

The columns of the Mark Lane Express have recently
coutaiued a most variegated collection of letters and
remarks of a " blessed '' and " cussed " character on
" Agriculture in ^Yales." Just to distinguish my present
aud future communications from those iuterestiug articles
my heading, you will be good enough to observe, is " The
Agriculture (_/ Wales." I am acquainted with some of
the writers, and can agree and disagree with much of
what they say. I have some knowledge aloo of those
fields and estates to which they refer. At present I have
no disposition to enter into the merits of their contro-
versy, but will endeavour to keep clear of it, and strike
out a perfectly independent course.

In drawing attention to the agriculture of Wales it
would be well to take a general survey of the whole field
of view. Wales is sometimes supposed to be something
like a good-sized county bordering on England proper.
A country simply of hills and mountains, of crags, preci-
pices and rocks ; of wild mountain ponies, and much more
wild mountain sheep ; a country of storms, torrents, and
floods, and of those black cattle grazing on their banks,
bearing the euphonious title of "runts." If we are to
accept the evidence of recent observers, besides being the
land of poetry and song it is also the land of be-witched,
be-cursed, and be-blessed fields aud farms. Just probe
through the crust of its earth and you will there find
another supposed race of little folks prematurely digging
out its mineral riches. With all these creations of tlie
imagination, Wales is a real, tangible, practical agri-
cultural country. luslead of being simply a border
county she is really a principality worthy of the first title
of the eldest son of England's Queen, and consists of 12
or 13 counties. Why this 12 or 13 ? In anything like
a Chartist riot in any Newport of ilonmouth, of course
we Welshmen cut the conner-tion and deny the relation-
s'lip. When the public press had their news headed
sensationally, " Chartist lliots in Wales ! — Newport
sacked!" we then took leave to acquaint them that
Monmouthshire was a part of England proper. When,
however, any honour falls to the lot of i\Ionmouth we
then claim relationship. Here is a case in point, and
germane to the subject under consideration : Mr. Stratton,
the owner of the Shorthorn heifer " Icicle," the champion
of Birmingham and Islington shows, has the good fortune
to hail from Duffryn, Newport, Monmouth. We shall
take advantage of the Welsh "Dyffryn," and of course
claim that county part and parcel of Wales, falling back
on the old national teiTn of " thirteen counties of
Wales."

Whether you give us iMonmouth or not we are divided
geographically into North and South Wales, and sub-
divided into six counties in each division. Wales proper
has a total superficial area of laud of all descriptions, and
of water of 4,721,823 acres, giving about 3^ acres to
each person of its populatioc. The latter is now assumed
to be 1,300,000. Tne pcpulation of Wales is about
one-twentieth of that of England. Very few people will
give her credit for being in acreage just one-seventh of the
si^c ot Euglaud. ller annual rental is about £5,2'Jl,32y.

She has a pauper population of about 71,000, and a poor-
rate of £617,000 per annum.

No ])art of Great Britain or Ireland has a greater
variety of geographical aspects, geological formations, and
different soils. The beautiful and slightly undulating
vales are in strange contrast to its crags, rocks, and
mountains piercing its clouds to a height of 1,000, thea
2,000, then 3,500 feet above its sea level. Its natural
fertility in some parts is in extraordinary contrast to ita
sterility and extreme poverty in others. The annual
value of some parts is not worth more than ftd. an acre.
Many thousand acres of its profitable shetp-walks were
recently let under Is. an acre ; even now they are let ut
Is. 6d. an acre. Farms of 10s. an acre rental have a
variety of meadow, arable, pasture, and rough, healthy
land. Where in Great Britain is there richer grazing
lands than on the banks of the Wye, the Severn, the
Vysnyw, the Tivy, the Alcd, the Elwy, the Clwyd, and the
Bee? In the neighbourhood of Buttinglon-bridge,
below Welshpool, the Bolybont is renowned iu ancient
and modern history as some of the fattest grazing laud ia
Britain.

As is the country so are its inhabitants. We caa
point out as many sound, practical, scientific farmers
comparatively as in any part of the kingdom. Some
first-class farmers and graziers pay as high as 13, £4, and
£5 an acre rental for their lands. Of course they are
accommodating and exceptionally good lands. Whilst all
England rings with the alarm of agricultural distress,
falling rents, abatements of large per centages allowed by
considerate landlords to their tenants, Wales can point
out the extraordinary phenomenon of a great advance in
the rentals of some particular estates. The owner of a
large estate bordering on North and South Wales has
succeeded in advancing their rents, commencing this year
about 20 per cent, higher than previously.

The wages of farm labourers and servants, male and
female, have doubled iu the last 20 years. Revievimr,
however, the course of the agriculture of Wales over a
period of the last fifty years, in spite of all the obstacles
and difficulties of rents, wages, and taxes, she stands at the
present day most decidedly in a very improved condition.

Wales has her first-class farmers. Will too great
liberties be taken if they are placed on a par with the
first-class farmers of England ? We don't beg the ques-
tion, but will appeal to facts. Flintshire, in the North,
has, through her old agricultural societies and members,
produced a fine race of farmers, some gone to their long
rest, others still remaining. The ploughing of Flintshire
boys, through the annual matches, has been broui;ht
nearly to perfection. The strais<ht furrows, parallelograms
laid at such beautiful angles, seem to be the work of
highly educated mathematicians rather than clodhoppers.
What has been done in the ploughing has also been fos-
tered in the raising of green crops and a superior grade
of cattle, culminating in several pedigree Shorthorn herds
— Bates, of Kelsterton, Mostyn, Pengweru, Talacre, in
times past, and Bodrhyddan, &c., in the present, may be
mentioned. Colonel Shipley Conway's sale last autumn,
too, showed what could be done by Welsh farming. What
better class of farmers dowe require than Jenkins, of Plasy-
ward, who is now a Denbighshire man ? Flint and
Denbigh have united their agricultural societies, and
jointly make a very fine annual display- I must not
forget ISTr. Scott Banks, the successful exhibitor of pigs.
Around all these gentlemen, in these two counties, you
will find a class of intelligent aud successful farmers —
proved not only by the prizes they win at shows but bv
the appearance of their farms, stock, and above all thei'r
bankers' books. They have made two blades of grass
grow where one only grew before. For the raising of a
first-class cloversecd the farmers of the Vale of Clwyd

324

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

have distaneed all the fant era of Great Britain. Welsh
cloverseed sells higher than any seed in the market.

In Carnarvonshire the lordly owner of Penrhyn Castle
is, I suppose, taking him for all iu all, the premier
breeder of Shorthorn cattle in North Wales. Anglesea,
again, for show purposes, generally joins with Carnarvon.
Besides his Shorthorns Lwd Penrhyn has been fostering
and improving the native Welsh breed. In these two
comities we are in the strongholds of a native breed of
black cattle. When I make ase of the term "native
breed" I am only following eastom. Seriously, I do
not admit the Anglesea black, the Carnarvonshire,
Merionethshire, and Cardiganshire black, nor, indeed,
the celebrated Castle Martin black to be descended from
the real AVelsh native breed. They aie foreigners to
Wales. W^e must accept the inevitable, and lament that
the real thoroughbred Welsh cattle are dsi'uuct since ages
ago.

Anglesea has a fine climate, a fine soil, and a fine race
of energetic farmers. Landlords and tenants vie with
each other iu bringing to bear on the cultivation of the
soil a large amoant of capital, labour, patience, and
enterprise. Anglesea possibly has her peculiar breed of
black cattle, and large-sized white-faced sheep, more
generally disseminated through and more confined to
their own county than anywhere else. To what are we
t) attribute the exceedingly high position Anglesea takes
in raising large crops of swedes and mangles 2 They
Cirtaiuly have a peculiar root named " Welsh Tankard
Swede," and I believe, as a general rule, their drills are a
few inches nearer each other than is elsewhere the ca°e.
It is worth examining how to accofjut for the generally
very good green crops, and in some exceptional cases the
extraordinary heavy crops of swedes and mangels. Some
of the heavy mangel crops in England are, of course, the
effect of judicious applications of sewage ; but
Anglesea has no sewage works as yet to apply
the muaure to her lands. In the national competition
for prizes given by Proctor and Ryland s^ and other
artificial manure manufacturers, Anglesea is never behind
— always to the forehand in very many cas€s the actual
■winner. She is a sea-girt coumy. Blow the wicd from
where it will, it will always be a sea-breeae. She has no
high mountains. She has a good soil, and farming in
Anglesea is the county institution. The glories of her
Parys mountain have passed away. If she prides herself
on anything it is on her farming. Whether any one of
these circumstance!?, or whether some or all of them com-
bined, are the cause, Anglesea may iairly ehallenge any
county in Great Britain for the growth of swedes. In
referring to Anglesea we cannot do so in an agricnltural
sense without regretting the great loss she has sustained
through the death of the late lamented Sir Richard
Bulkeley, Bart., of Baron-hill. A thoroughly practical
farmer, farming was his passion. Another "turf" com-
peted with the green turf of Anglesea for his atl'ections.
Warmly as he was attached to the pastime of horse-
racing, and successful as he was from the time he bred
and ran liis Pickpocket, Miss Maria, Acanthus, &c., down
to Old C;alabar, his home farm-yard, green iields, sheep,
cattle, and pigs fairly won his affections. Whether as
landlord, fanner, or neighbour, he was a jolly good fellow.
Farming well himself, his example was followed by a large
circle. The influence of that example is likely to last for
generations yet to come.

Anglesea has the distinction of being titled in ancient
history as " Mona, the mother of Wales." In an agri-
cultural sense, she at preseut, by her festering care, can
lay claim to being a motherly county. I cannot quit
Anglesea and Carnarvonshire without mentioning the
name of Mr. Uew, of Bangor. He has worked hard for
the advaueemeut of the farming iulercst, and has

proposed some good plans for future working. If adoptca
tliey will bear good fruit.

The next locality to be noticed is Lleyn and Eifionydd,
in Carnarvonshire. This is an extensive promontory on
the sea-board of the latter county. To an English-
man fond of studying the orthography of the
Welsh langnage the very name is full of interest. I
trust yon will be very careful of the LI at the commence-
ment, the /about the middle, and the double d at the
end. 'J'bere is here a good deal of high-class farming.
Some time ago it used to bear the palm as a fat-bacoa
producing place. I hardly think it sends so many fat
pigs to English markets as iu old times. It has, however,
tlirough the local industries, a better home market than
it formerly had. The general motto of the farmers here
is progress. Their Local AgrienJtural Society will show
that they are marching forward with the times year after
year. This county has several families who are devotedly
attached to the black cattle of their old ancestors. The
Pritchards and the Humphries Just show what can be done
by " selection of tlie fittest " for breeding purposes, and
are possessors of a beautiful race of black cattle,

Merionethshire is one of the most rugged, craggy, rocky
counties of North Y^ales — quite as much so as Carnarvon.
It is true her Cader and her Aran do not leap up so sky-
high as Snowdonia, still she is on the whole an uneven^
wavy county. Looking at her from the top of
the Cader you would suppose she had not a single
enclosed farm, nor a single herd of cattle, nor a
team of horses within her precinccs. Beseeming, how-
ever, and turning to the right and left, poking here and
poking there, you will find many a charming spot of flkt-
land, side-land, and good graz-ing upland. Grenerally the
black breed predominates, or a red, and again a brindled
coat. Olie colour has as good right and citle to the term
native breed as the other. Merioneth and her borders
has several agricultural societies, the chief being the
county one. The latter society has had the good fortune
to be pioneered by Mr. Thomas Ellis, of Bala. In his
attachment to agriculture in all its branches, aud his
ardent love of all field sports, he has no superior. His
a'lilities for organisation and administration are of a very
high order ;. backed as he has been by all the leading
land owners and chief tenant farmers of the couuty, it is
no wonder the Merionethshire Society proves so success-
ful. Several picks of this couuty were esrhibited at the
last Liverpool Royal Show, aud prove what can be done
in the Welsh black cattle liue. At the last shows held at
Towyn the exhibitor of best black cattle proved to
be Captain Best, of Plasynvil'od. By his exhibits of black
females of several ages he most decidedly showed his title
to his name. If this couuty only makes a similar advance
during the next ten years to that which it has made
latelv, there will be something great to boast of. In the
bull class thereis threat ro)ni for improvemeut. Whilst
the highest pimise is due to the cow and heifer classes, it
ia refused at present to the bull classes. The best pair
of bullocks exliibiied by Mr. Daniel were purchased by
Sir Watkiu Wynn for £70, and are being prepared for
exhibition at the International Show to be held iu Loudon
ill July. jMr. Ellis aud bis friends at Bala have also the
honour of introducing sheep dogs aud making them
so popular. These annual ^'alherings of shepherds,
chitlly Welsh higlilauders, who have resided far away from
the iutluence of all modern usages, have at last brought
something into contact with them which gives them a
taste for lawful contention. Hitherto they took no part
in boating, racing, cricketing, football — nor indeed in
breeding horses, cattle, pigs, or sheep on an improved
plan. Here is something to gve their minds au impetus,
and if continued as they have been conimenccd
they will be the one moaus of raising the shepherd class.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

325

Tf 1 briefly glance at the aE;riculture of Montgomery-
shire, 1 shall have made the circle of North Wales. Wu
hiij a noble race of landlords iu this county, whose prac-
tice is really to carry out your motto, " Live and let live."
It matters not what their politics are; taking them
all together they are a set of fine fellows. Nothing gives
them greater satisfaction than to know that their tenants
are doing well. This county excels in breeding Hereford
cattle, draught horses, Kerry and Shropshire Downs, and
mountain Welsh sheep. Bordering on Herefordshire, the
farmers have availed themselves of such close proximity
for the purchase of eood bulls. Lord Powys at the last
Birmingham show was to the fore in the Hereford classes.
In the neighbourhood of Llanidloes, Newtown, ]\Iont-
gomery, Welshpool, and Llaufyllin, the tenant farmers are
possessed of excellent herds of Herefords. Richards, of
Greenhall, has exhibited at the Royal, and gotcommeuda-
Viou at all events. The latter position is not one to be
despised. Leighton Hall is also celebrated for its first-
class herds of cattle. This extensive farm has all modern
improvements on a commensurate scale.

Welshpool and its neighbourhood several years ago
started an Entire Horse Company, or Society, or Club —
just which name you like. Its members have given
jjrizes of £100, open to all England, for the best entire
draught horse, and they guarantee to serve a certain
number of mares at a certain fee of about JB2 each. It is
to be continned for this year. Just now the results are
coming to view. From the continuation of the Club they
must prove eatisfactory. Certain it is they have had
some of the finest entire draught horses in England to
enter their service.

Before closing these remarks on Montgomeryshire, I
cannot help regretting the decay, if not the entire disap-
pearance, of a breed of cattle whose home was here. I
refer to the dark red smokyface. What the dark reds
were to Devon and the whitefaces were to Hereford, so
was the smokyface to Montgomeryshire. Your columns
inform us that a nearly extinct race of red polled Norfolks
is beiiig resuscitated, and with every promise of success.
It is to be regretted that some-one or more does not take
up the continuation of the smokyface with a determination
to succeed. I am aware there are still a lew breeders who
believe in them. The cattle themselves are hardly ever
to he seen.

The woollen staple trade of Montgomeryshire has the
good fortune to be above grumbling ; indeed there are
more praises than blames. Llanidloes has a few factories
closed from exceptional causes, and several small mines
are stopped. This has canstd niuch distress theie.
Newtown, however, can say that al! goes on as merrily as
a marriage bell. Erection of new palatial establishments
is the order of the day there. Therefore, so long as
manufacturers keep going, beef, mutton, pork, butter,
cheese, poultry, and eggs, will be required, and farmer
John will be kept on his legs.

The above view of North Wales is as it actually appears.
How long will it last ? I fear, unless a change for the
better in the state of national affairs takes place, that it
will not last long. The last great industry of Wales to
feel the effects of bad times is the slate quarrying. Last
moiith at least ten thousand men were idle in the quarries,
partially in consequence of the weather, but more on ac-
count of dull times. That means the stoppage of from
fifteen to twenty thousand pounds weekly wages — splen-
did customers for all farming produce. Thousands are
again throvf n out of employ by tfie stoppage of lead mines,
collieries, ironworks, brickworks; and, last of all, there
comes a stoppage of eight hundred men in Muspratt's
flint works. If all these things continue, they will tell
heavily on the farming interest.

North Wales is oUirel'J surrounded by a circle of rail-

ways, besides brandies, and several ci'o«3-country lines.
From Cunnah's Quay in the east to Aberdovey in the
west she has at least a dozen ports and harbours. She is
intersected in all directions by telegraphs ; she has a
twice-a-day delivery of letters ; she has a few hundred
markets held every week, and stated fairs held every year.
She has her two bislio[)s and a thousand clergy of all
denominations ; she publishes at least a dozen newspapers
within her borders, and has all the dailies and weeklies
of London. She has several colleges for the higher educa-
tion of her young men, and numerous schools of all classes
for the education of her youth. Her Sabbath schools are
attended by at least a quarter of a million. The grand
chorus of all these people is " God speed the Plough."

A NEW GRAIN-EXPORTING COUNTRY.

Within the last two years, a new source of supply for
cereals has begun gradually to work its way
to the front. I use the term " new " as ap-
plied to the introduction of River Plate maize, wheat,
and barley into oar home markets, because until recently
this source of importation was fitful and inconsiderable.
Causes which, anterior to that period, led to this paucity
of supply, appear now to have been permanently removed,
and we may shortly find that our home consumers will
not depend, as in former years, solely on the productions
of North America, Egypt, India, and Danubian ports.

A country more richly dowered by Nature for the
cultivation of grain than the provinces of Rio de la
Plata or Argentine Republic can scarcely be found on the
globe's surface. In former years the rapid increase of its
countless herds — the certain revenue to be derived from
its wool, hides, skins, tallow, and other raw materials, with
only a fractional amount of labour, rendered the Argen-
tine less careful in utilizing the splendid capabdities of
the territory at his command. As an inevitable sequence,
however, not alone of national growth and the necessity
thence arising, of deriving from previously neglected
means the wherewithal to meet the increasing wants of
an increasing people ; but equally in obedience to the law
of progress from a first or pastoral stage to a seeond or
agricultural one, the Argentine has begun earnestly to
appreciate his optwrtunities. Two or three seasons of
exceptional abundance in the cereal crops on both sides
of the Rio de la Plata have doubtless strengthened, if not
inspired, his resolution. The subjoined tables, framed
from statistics of the years 1870 to 1877, will show more
succinctly than mere description the advance which the
cultivation and export of cereals has made latferlv in
that country, the details being translated from the i'rciisa
of Buenos Ayres, of date 1st ult. : —

MAIZE.
Importation into BuEx\09 Aykes.

1870 to 1874 Kilograms 60,1)01.

1875 „ 60,()75

1870 „ 14,053

1877 „

EXPOKTATION FKOJI BUENOS AYUES.

1870 to 1874 Kilograms 5,005,007

1875 „ 222,616

1870 „ 8,058 30'.)

1877 „ 0,817,605

WHEAT.

T.MP0RTAT10XS INTO BUENOS AyRES.

1870 to 1874 Kilograms 10,524,915

1875 „ 4,887,451

1876 „ 333,000

1877 „ 000,1'JO

326

THE FARMERS' MAGAZINE.

ExrOKTATION FROM BUEXOS AyEES.

1870 to 1874 Kilograms 38SJ64

1S75 „ •

1876 , 20,86&

1877 „ 199,611

These tables show that the importatioa of cereals into
the Argentiue Republic has been almost stopped, and
that iu the year 1S77 the country not only met its own
wants out of its maize growths, but exported, over and
above a surplus nearly double its entire export iu the four
previous years. The same progressive feature, although
to a lesser extent, is noticeable with regard to wheat,
which is reported to have shown the largest crop this
season ever grown in all the iSast of South America,
representing an approximate value of five millions
sterling.

Barley, so far, has had a much smaller outlet on that
side of the Atlantic, partly because the production is
C nuparatively small, and partly, it may be, that other
saurces of supply have a narrower margin there.

Flour, of which the local production, particularly in
the upper and interior provinces of the Republic, is large,
having now all but ousted importation from Chili and the
United States, will doubtless follow suit, probably finding
its way in quantity to British markets in course of
a no her season.

Shipmeats of maize and wheat are already being freely
made to London, Liverpool, Aiitvvtrp, Havre, Italian
ports, and even to the Cape of Good Hope. It may
happen, therefore, that tke British consumers who give
a fair trial to the Hiver Plate productions — setting aside
the system of " use and wont " which, comparatively
speaking, binds them to what they have been in the mere
habit of buying — will have no reason to regret providing,
by that test, for periods when old supplying channels
may be clogged by one contingency or another.

Manirus.

FARM RENTS AND FREE TRADE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MARK LANE EXPRESS.

Sir, — A fall in the rental of farms means a real and
positive depreciation in the value of land. This is a
matter of general interest and national importance. As
long as the discussion was confined to such questions as the
relations existing between masters and men, or arrange-
ments and covenants between landlords and tenants ; as
long as farmers could be quieted by such sops as the ex-
pectation of a repeal of the Malt Tax, by an Agricultural
Holdings' Act, a Contagious Diseases Act, or by an
occasional return of 10 or 15 per cent, on their half-
year's rent, the country could well alford to leave those
immediately concerned to themselves. j?ree Trade had
annihilated the old protective tariff, and the nation was
content to accept its benefits without inquiring too closely
upon whom the burden of the change fell. But when,
as now, the wild competition for farms has ceased, and
farmers not only assert in words but prove by actions
their conviction that the present rate of rents cannot be
supportel under present conditions, we are brought face
to face with that possibility to which I have just referred,
viz , a depreciation in the value of the land.

That larming, as now conducted in the corn-growing
districts, does not and cannot under present prices pay
needs no demonstration; but opinions may greatly ditfer
as to the cause of these prices and their probable cou-
tinnance. If the depression is but a temporary one it
need occasion no anxiety nor attract any general notice,
but if, as is my own conviction, it be the natural inevit-
able result of the sweeping repeal of the corn laws in
1S46, then the measures which must be taken to meet
that result pass at ouce from tbe region of class legisla-
tion to the wider one of uulioual politics,

It is a great mistake to attempt to judge of the efFec'»
of free trade in corn by the average prices of the past 32
years. The change could be|made at once, but it needed a
generation to pass by before its effects could be fairly felt
or measured. The opening of our ports to the foreign
producer was not like the ci>euing of floodgates v/ith a
vast accumulation ready to burst out and inundate the
lower regions. The reality of the change had first
to be grasped, then years had to elapse before
tj-acts of land, however well fitted for the growth
of wheat, could be adapted to its cultivation. Facili-
ties for conveyance had to be planned and carried
out, roads and railways to be constructed, overiand and
submarine telegraph lines to be devised and executed,
commercial arrautiements to be organised and perfected.
Well, Sir, years have gone by, this great work has beea
accomplished, and it has proved sufficiently satisfactory
to warrant the continuance and extension of the system.
From east to west the stream falls in with steadily in-
creasing volume. Vie see its progress, we feel its effects,
and it only remains for lis to consider how we may best
meet this world-wide competition.

A few facts relating to this staple commodity, wheat,
will partly show the bearing of all this on the individual
farmer. The yield on a good average farm of about 500
acres may be roughly taken at 300 quarters. This at
80s. per qr. amounts to £1,200, and at 40s. per qr.
to £000. Much of the wheat grown last season and in-
jured by rain at harvest tinie (but nevertheless forming
part of that produce by which the farmers' expenses have
to be met) will not realize 303. per qr.

Uuder Protection the price of the produce would, to a
great extent, be determined by the yield, and so a com-
pensation be afforded for the short crops ; but this, with
open competition, ceases to be the case, and it is easy to
see how the money value per acre, which is the true test
of profit, is affected. In seasons when the yield and
quality are good the price depends on the total supply,
including all imported from abroad. Again, when the
yield is bad, but the quality good, the price per qr. will
differ but little from the previous one, but the difference
in the return per acre will be seriously felt by the farmer.
Let, however, the crop, as in the past season, be injured
by a wet harvest, the price of good wheat may still
undergo little alteration ; but the farmer will have the
satisfaction of seeing the following quotation in the
market reports — " English wheat, being damp and in
bad condition was neglected." Under these circum-
stances to what shall we look for compensation ?
Free Trade surfeits the market with oats. Barley, except
the best malting, is met by the same gigantic rival.
Other products, such as beef, potatoes, fruit, Ike, all meet
this protean antagonist, and, therefore, I conclude that the
general result of the great experiment of free trade in cora
is that the good years of the farmer are converted into
moderate ones, and his bad years into ruinous ones, and
that even though he may find a p^.rtial relief in such minor
changes as may be effected by legislative enactments, or
alterations in his system of cropping, he will find that all
added together Lear no comparison with the injuries ia-
llicted by the great blow of Free Trade.

Such arguments as these, but a few years back, were
unheeded and fruitless. However farmers might be feel-
ing the pinch of Free Trade, grumbling at the times, or
looking anxiously at the future, all complaints were met
by the answer " Well, if you like to give uj) your farm,
])lenty of men as good or better than you are anxious to
take it," and so they struggled on hoping against hope
and waiting lik-e Micawber, for " something to turn up."
Men enriched by that commercial prosperity which ad-
vanced by " leaps and bounds," were eager competitors for
vacant farms and were content with a uoniiuul percentage

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

327

ou t'ac Sparc capital they iuvestcd in llieiu so long as tliuy
attained that pusinoii, aiiJ were free to iiululge in tliose
country sports and occupatioDS so dear to the kearts of all
Euglislunen. But these times arfi past, This highly
magnified blessing of Free Trade might, indeed, dispense
the cheap loaf to the masses, but this potent weapon, in
reliance ou which the Euglish manufacturer challenged the
commercial world, has met its match in other as well as
iu the agricultural departments, and uow engineers, iron
masters, mine owners, millers, cotton spinners, and wool-
staplers are fain to strain eveiy nerve in their struggle
with that giant " Competition" they have called into ex-
istence, and have little inclination to dwell on the otium
cum digHitatg of the once loved farm.

This diminution in the competition has enabled farnlers
to look more rationally and more hopefully on the ques-
tion of rent, and the great rise in the cost of labour has
made it a matter of vital importance. A crisis is reached.
The experiment has been fully and fairly tried and the
practical conclusion at which we arrive is, that, as the
country approves the policy and accepts the blessings of
Free Trade in corn, it must for the future be content to pay
for it in the shape of a reduction in the value of laud ne-
cessiti'.ted by a considerable fall in rents.

I have little faith in the efforts made in some quarters
to obtain relief by sending tenant farmeis to Parliament,
and, speaking generally, I much pi'efer to leave the repre-
sentation of the agricultural interest to those who by posi-
tion, leisure, meaus, Interest, aud education are best quali-
fied to represent it. The advantage of all laws which tend
to increase the tenant farmers' receipts or profits must
ultimately be shared by the owners who will naturally
take all such considerations into account in fixing the
amount of the rent.

farming is a business, and must be managed on com-
mercial principles. We bave already paid far more than
our fair share of tbe Free Trade experiment, and we must
BO longer suffer ourselves to be beguiled into losing sight
of the main issue by the intervention of any of those
will-o-the-wisps that may present themselves. The part
of the tenant farmer may often be difEcult, but it is clear
and simple. It is to determine for himself what rent he
can afford to pay, and if, owing to Free Trade or any other
cause whatever, that rent is unsatisfactory to the owners
of the land they will be found quite able, and certainly
willing, to lay their case before the country.
I am, Sir, &c.,

Mount Farm, Coohham Bean. W. Bulsteode,

THE AGRICULTURAL SITU ATI OIT.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MARK LANE EXPRESS.

Sir, — The recent discussions in both Houses of Parlia-
ment have made one point clear, and that is that the
system of British husbandry as at present pursued is un-
able to bear the strain that is put upon it, and important
changes must be introduced or a collapse is inevitable.
First and foremost comes the crucial question, is it
reasonable or fair to expect, or is it practicable for the
British farmer succesBfully to compete with the unlimited
free importations of foreign farm produce from the whole
world while he is fettered and handicapped with obsolete
covenants which embarrass enterprise in his occupation,
with insecurity of tenure, and, more than even these,
tenant right in his outlay not recognised by statute.
When English soldiers contended with the soldiers of
freedom in the United States the great Lord Chatham
told his peers that " he believed they could do anything
but impcesibilities, and that to conquer America was an
impossibility." So say British farmers now ; they are
prepared to do anj thing in their vocation but impossi-
bilities, and successfully to compete with free unlimited
imports as they are at present situated is an impossibility.

A primary necessity to stimulate the energies of enter-
prise iu the neglected (arming lands of England is to
induce capital to operate on this great national industry ;
but in order to accomplish this it is indispensable that
the tiller of the soil shall have free scope in his cultiva-
tion and security for the value of unexliansted improve-
ments. Experience tells us that there is nothing capital
holds more aloof from than uncertainty in the conditions
in which it is sought to be employed. Tnen let us no
longer deter capital by laws averse to commercial
equality.

Security with freedom in farming has now assumed a
national aspect, meaning as it does increased production
of food from our soil for our teeming population, benelit-
ing alike all interests, increasing the demands for manu-
factures aud trade, aud essentially improving the property
of the landowner. I may go further, and say it is neithei"
politic, safe, nor just to limit the supply of food of
30,000,000 of free men by laws favourable to the few at
the cost of the rest. It was the writer's privilege ia
1875 to listen to our Premier (then JNIr. Disraeli) when
one of a deputation to him on the subject of " farming
tenant-right," and to his eulogy on that most dis-
tinguished authority upon agriculture, the late Mr. Philip
Pusey, M.P. Mr. Pusey is admitted by all agriculturists
to be a generally accepted authority. He specially
addressed the landlords of England in the following
words; — "The subject of unexhauted improvements
seems to me to be the most important of all agricultural
questions, and improvements in our agreements in this
respect to be a condition smc qua non of any steady and ■
general improvement iu the soil or its cultivation.'"
Surely, now that the agriculture of this country is placed
in open competition with the world, the antique coven-
ants in farming agreements framed by the " old family
lawyer," when rents were 100 per cent, below those of
the present time, and when the practice of agriculture
has changed equally with its appliances in implements,
steam, and machinery, it is simply absurd to bind the
farmer with the systems of the past. The largely in-
creased charges upon farm cultivation during the past
ten years, embracing rent, labour, tradesmen's bills, and
the like, together with the ever increasing charges upon
his holding in the shape of local taxation, are subjects
claiming a practical inquiry with the view of an equitable
adjustment to the altered circumstances of the times ;
and seeing that our agricultural returns indicate no in-
crease of the tenant's capital in his cultivation, but rather
the reverse, notwithstanding his greatly increased expen-
diture, it is clear that there is something radically amiss
in our agricultural system. Agricultural questions, it
has been said, are questions for the hustings, but they
are above party, for they intimately concern the welfare
and prosperity of the whole population.

I am, Sir, &c., Henry Neild.

The Grange, Worsley, April 3, 1879.

REDUCTION OF FARM RENTS.— In eonspqnence of
the low prices obtained for some time past for mostly all kinds
of farm produce, together with the unusual backward state of
the season, the farmers iu ssveral districts of Perthshire are
organising themselves, with the view of asking tlieir respec-
tive landlords for a reduction of rent. The tenantry on the
extensive estates of the Baroness Willoughby de Eresby at
Stobhall, Callander, and Drummond Castle ere abont to take
action in the matter, and the farmers of Stobhall have already
presented a memorial asking not only an abatement of rent,
but that the rent days be changed froni Whitsunday and Mar-
tinmas to Lammas and Candlemas, as being more suitable and
convenient. In the county of File the grass parks this seasoa
are let at a great decrease as compared with previous yeari.
The Wemyss Hall grass parks have been let this week at a
reduction of 60 per cent, in comparison with last season. —
Scotsritan.

328

TnE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

experim:ent>; on tleuro-
pneumonia.

The following is the couchiding report on the experiments
at the Brown Insti'ution ou I'leuro-Pueumonia, by J. Burdon-
Sanderson, M.U., LL.D., F.ll.S., late Superiateudeut of the
Brown Institution, extracted from the current number of the
Koyal Agricultural Society's Jonrnal : —

The inquiries which were undertaken in 1876, relating to
the origin and nature of pleuro-pneumonia, and to the use of
inoculation as a means of preventing its spread, having nov?
been bronsfht to a conclusion for the present, in conspquence
of the legislative difficulties which stand in the way of further
esperiment, I beg leave to submit to tiie Council the following
statement of the results of our labours.

The crcurastances whicli led to the inquiry were set forth
in a preliminary report which was published in 1876. At
that time no experiments had been made, but our first; batch of
experimental animals had ben purchised, viz., two cows, two
ciilves, and four other animals of different ages. They had
bf-en kept at Wandsworth-road for three months — a time which
we considered sufficient, but not more than sufficient, to afford
Becurity against previous infection. 1 then stated thit we
should exclude any living source of infection from our pre-
mises, but would " try, in succession, every channel of mediate
contagion known to us, using in our experiments all that deli-
beration and caution which the consideration of the import-
ance and difficulty of the inquiry enforced upon us."

Before proceedin2 with the narrative of our experiments it
will, I tiiink, be useful to state somewhat more fully than has
hitherto been done, the nature of the practical questions which
we have had in view, some of which have now assumed a
greater importance than they had at the outset. Our objects
have been (1) to ascertain by experiment by what different
ways a healthy animal can be intected ; (■2) to ascertain
whether inoculation is practically useful ; and (3) to discover a
way of inoculating an anim^il without risk.

With reference to the first point, the opinion generally en-
tertained is, that a healthy animal may get pleuro-pneumonia
either directly from a diseased animal, or indirectly by being
brought into relation with its hide or carcase, or witli per-
sons or tilings that have been in contact with its body. Thus,
LIr. Fleming, the author of the well-known " Manual of Vete-
rinary Snnitary Science," expressed his belief very decidedly in
1875, that " infection may occur through the medium of forage,
straw, &c., which have been soiled and breathed upon by
infected cat'le,by the utensils which have been used with them
as well as by the persons who have attended to the sick ;" and
has since that period expre sed the same opinion in still
strongerterms. An opposite view had, however, been guardedly
promulgated by a very high authority. In the excellent
article by Professor Brown on the contagious and infectious
diseases of animals, which appeared in the tenth volume of the
Juurnal, the author said, that '' so far as his own observations
had enabled him to decide, the disease is only communicated
by the actunl contact of a diseased animal with a f-ealihy one,
and that it is at least exceedingly probable that the mode of
communication is by the iuhalation of the breath of the
diseased subject."

With reference to the second question, that of the utility of
inoculation, opinions are also, as needs scarcely be said, much
divided, although the majority are in its favour. One of the
8'rongest arguments against it is founded on the acknowledged
fact, that although inoculation as ordinarily practised produces
very severe effects, yet these effects are neither the disease
itself nor any modifleation of it. It has, indeed, been alleged
by some auhorities that actual lung disease can be generated
by the insertion under the. skin of bits of diseased iunjj; but
this inference, which if it were well esta dished would be of
gr-rat importance, can be shown to be mistaken. The obser-
vations quoted in support of it are too good to be true. la
most instances, the time which intervened between the inocu-
lation and the appearance of lung disease was far too short ;
for we have evidence from the pathological inquiries of Pro-
fessor Yeo, as well as from other sources, that the develop-
ment ot the disease in the lungs requires a very long time, and
usually produces no obvious symp'oms at all until it breaks out
in the acute form in which it is ordinarily recognised. Cou'e-
quentlv, the appearance of symptoms within a week or two
after inaculation could not rcasouably be referred to the opera-

tion as their cause ; so that we need not hesitate to concludf*.
that the animals in question had been previously infected by
other means.

Another statement that has been m^de with reference to the
mode of action of inoculation is equally unfounded, viz. : that
allhouijh inoculation never produce's actu:il pieuro-pueum')nia,
yet, that it gives rise, at the place where the morbid material
is introduced beneath the skin, to a local disease which is of
the same kind as the real disease of the lungs, and that con-
sequently the effect of the inoculation is to produce a sort of
pleuro-pneumonia of the skin ! Now it is quite true that
there is a great resemblance between them — a likeness suffi-
ciently striking to have impressed some very well informel
persons — but very little stress ought to be placed on it. All
inflimraatory exudations, whether specific or not, are very like
each other as regards their chemical and anatomical character-
istics ; so much so that it is not possible to distinguish them
from each other excepting by their disease-producinsr proper-
ties. In other words, the only way in which it would be pos-
sible to prove that any diseased material derived from the skin
of the inoculated animal was pleuro-pneumonic would be by
showing experimentally that when introduced into another
animal it produced pleuro-pneumonia. If this proof were
given we should have a right to conclude from analo/y v/ith
similar cases, that in all probability immunity would be con-
ferred on the infected animal ; but in the absence of such
proof, the only way in which the protective power of inocula-
tion can be settled for practical purposes, is by observing
whether inoculated animals can get pleuro-pneumonia by
exposure.

The experiments which had previously been made for this
purpose were unquestionably in favour of the protective power
of inoculati )n. The inquiries of the French Commission, car-
ried out in 1851, in which fifty -four animals were experimented
upon at an expense of £?,400,led to the conclusion that " ino-
culation possesses a preservative power conferring on the
inocula'ed animal an immunity which protects it from the
contagion of the disease for a time which rem lined undeter-
mined," inasmuch as the experiments could not be continued
(or more than six months. This conclusion, founded on ex-
periments which were evidently conducted w th the utmost
care and impartiality, has been largely confirmed by the trials
which have been made of the practice by o.vners of stock ia
this and other countries, and particularly in our Australian
colonies. It appears from a recent Government Report, that
in the colony of New South Wales the prac'ice of inoculat'on
has been so successful as a preventive that it has become
general ; so much so, that the chief inspector of the colony
was prepared in 1876, to recommend to the colonial govern-
ment that it should he made compulsory.

But the proof of the protective power of inoculation, even i f
it were much stronger than it is, would afford an insufficient
reason for recomraendin? it as a practic", unless it can be
shown that the third question — that which relates to the risk
of the operation itself — admits of a satisfactory answer. On
the ground of its danger the French Commission, notwith-
standing their opinion as to its protective power, declined to
recommend it as an economically advantageous priclice; for
they considered that their own experiments showed " that
inoculation causes larger mortality thaa the disease which it is
intended to prevent." No less than 11 per cent, of their
an.mals had died, whereas it was extremely i.uprobable tint so
large annnber would have been sacrificed had they been sub-
jected without inoculation to the ordinary risks of infection.
Notwithstanding these facts, the Commission, of wliich M.
Bouley was the secretary, recommended thtt it ought to be
encouraged on the ground that, its protective power hiving
been demonstrated, the dangers above referred to would be
deminishea by improved methods.

Inoculation is usually performed by inserting the liquid
which drains from diseased lungs into the cellular tissue. The
situation chosen for the purpose is the end of the tail. The
reason why this part is selected is, ihnt if, as often happens,
the local inflammation becomes excessive, it m-iy be limited by
amputation. But notwithstanding this safeguard, the diseased
action is apt to spread to the neighbouring parts, in which case
it occasions serious illness and often death.

The position of tlie qiies'ion was therefore clear. The pro-
tective jiower of inocnlatiuu, though by no means definitively
settled, had been rendered sufficiently probable to justify a more

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

329

fstpntled trisl tliaii it liad as yet received, liai the effects of
the operation as hitherto practised were, soirietimcs so severe
tl it " a )peared probable tliat the risk would more than cover
tiie advantage.

One of the f r t obj c's which we li id in view in our esperi-
tteuts was to test the possibility of coramunicatin^ pleuro-
PDeuraoiiia I y mediate contagion. The lungs of animals wliicli
had been slaughtered in an advanced state of the disease were
placed, m tlie tresh stale, under the noses of ten healthy
animals of all ages. As none were infected, it did not seem
necessary to repeat the trials in a systematic manner, the more
so as tlie persons wlio attended on the animals were in the
habit of handling the diseased organs which were at that time
frequently brought to the lustitutioa for patliological exami-
nation.

The experiments on inoculation were commerrced in Septem-
ber in 1876. The first practrcal question which required an
answer was whether it was possible by tkiug extra precautions
in the collection of liquid, and partieulirly by using it only in
an absolutely fresh state, to avoid the inftaramatury results
VTiiich have been above described. Fi/e animals were inocu-
lated witli per'ectly fresh material from a cow killed the same
iniirning. A few drops of the clear exudation-liquid from the
lungs were injected under tlie skin either of the shoulder or of
the side of the neck. For Ave days the animals remained well ;
on the sixth day a swelling appeared at the puncture, which
gradually increased. In three of the cases it began to ^ub^^de
a week after it had commenced, and eventually disappeared;
but in the other two it went on increasing until it had involved
the integument of the neck, chest, and belly, at length causing
death by general infection, in the oue case on the twellth, in
the other on the filteenth day of the illness. It is to be noticed
that the animals exhibited no loss of avipetite, nor any other
sign of general disturbance, until the third or fourth day after
the swelling appeared, nor did the temperature begin to rise in
any ius'ance until that time. In the two fatal cases the high-
est temperat'ure, four and a half degrees above the natural
standard (l06'-i Fahr.), was reached three days before death.

The mode of progress of the illness indicated very distinctly
that, although we had not communicated pleuro-pneumonia by
our inoculations, we had introduced an infection of another
kind. If the liquid injected had been a mere irritant it would,
if its action liad been intense enough, have produced a limited
abscess, not a rapidly-spreading and diffuse infiltratiou. That
this was HO was confirmed by the appearances observed after
death. The internal organs, and in particular the longs, were
found to be perfectly healthy ; but the serous membran 3 ex-
hibited the appearances ordinarily observed in animals that
have died of acute general infection, that is, from what is
popularly called blood-poisoning.

In the cases I have related the effects of inoculation were,
as has been seen, severe in every instance ; for even in the
three animals that recovered, the disturbance of health, as
indicated by the high temperature and general state of the
animal, was considerable. When the tail is selected as the
seat of inoculation the case is n/uch more manageable. Here,
as before, it is not until the (ourtli or fifth day that the seat of
puncture becomes painful and swollen. The swelling continues
for about a week, by which time a s'ough of dead tissue has
usually formed, which eventually separates. About the time
tliat the slough comes away secondary swelling usually begins,
and gradually extends to a greater or less distance towards the
rcot ot the tail, until, in unfavourable cases, the neighbouring
integument is involved, becoming the seat of diffuse cellular
infiltration of the same kind as that which has already been
described. lu the ordinary case, a common result of tail
inoculation is that part of the organ separates by necrosis, an
event which is often not attended with any serious disturbance
of the animal's health.

There are two reasons why inoculation, as practised in the
above instances, is necessarily attended with danger. One of
these is that the liquid used, liowever carefully it is collected,
not only contains tlie virus of pleuro-pneumon a, but possesses
morbific properties ol another kind, which are due to its being
the product of an unhealthy, or, as it is often called, infective
inflammation — properties which would have manifested them-
selves if, instead of the jnice of a pleuro-pneumonia lunar, we
had used any other exudation-liquid of a similarly infective
characer. A. second source of danger is, that the living tissue
whicli serves as the channel of introduction is one which we
know to be particularly susceptible to infective iafluences of

this kind. By previous experiments, relating to ano'her
inquiry, we liail found that this second danger could be avoided
by lulusmg the morbific liquid directly into the circulation.
We therefore resolved to adopt this plan, feiding sure that, if
the pleuro-pneuraonic virus possessed any protective power at
ail, that power would be exercised to the greatest advantage if
the liquid v/ere mixed with the circulating blood ; for in this
way it would necessarily come into contact, not merely with
any particular part, but with every organ in the body. Ano-
ther advantage whicli the method of inlusion into the blood-
stream offered was, that from fifty to a hundred times the
quantity of liquid could be introduced at once, and thus the
chance of infection be vastly increased.

FoRrteen animals were thus inoculated. The instrument
employed was a syringe, capable of containing two drachms of
virus, and furnished with a slender, sharp-pointed steel tube.
The point was made to enter the principal vein by which
blood returns from the back of the ear, and was usually secured
by a ligature. The syringe was then slowly discharged, the
greatest care being taken to avoid contact with the cellular
tis.ue. It was oiten unnecessary to divide the skin. The
whole operation was conducted without any appreciible suffer-
ing to the animal.

In tiie first batch of eight animals the operation was, in all
but one, performed twice in each case, at an interval of several
weeks, with a view to greater certainty of result. With the
exception of a small prominence which marked the seat of the
inoculation, and subsided in a few days, it was in general fol-
lowed by no morbid effects, either local or constitutional. In
one instance, however, that of an old cow, unfavourable symp-
toms presented themselves on the sixteenth day after the infu-
sion. On that day the bodily temperature, which at the time
had been natural and had until then continued so, rose to
103'2'' Fahr., and on the day following to 105 ■6'\ At this
point it remained until the twenty-second dav, after which it
declined till death, which occurred two days later. The rise of
temperature was attended with other signs of fever, and with
difficult breathing, which continued to the last. The post-
mortem examination revealed that the cause of death was an
acute double pleurisy; but in addition to this there were
appearances which showed that the animal, which was thirteen
years old, had suffered from chronic lung disease of very old
standing. This, although not the immediate, was the predis-
posing cause of death. The immediate cause was, I have no
doubt, the infusion, which, acting on the pre-existing disease,
occasioned consequences to whicli a healthy animal would not
have been exposed. It is perhaps desirable to add that the
affection of the pleura from which this animal sufferc',
although properly called a pleurisy, was of an entirely different
kind from the pleurisy which forms part of pleuro-pneumonia.
The sub-pleural tissue, which in the contagious disease is the
principal seat of alteration, was in this animal entirely unaf-
fected ; nor were any of those characteristic changes iu the
lung tissue observed which have been so well described bv Mr.
Yeo in this Joiirnal. We are therefore justified in concluding
that, whatever may have been its antecedents, it was free from
pleuro-pneumoaia during the time that it was under observa-
tion.

The remaining seven animals were, as has been already
reported to the Society, exposed to the infection of pleuro-
pneumonia in the most effectual manner that could be devised.
They were removed from the Brown Institution, and placed in
sheds which were at the time occupied by diseased animals, and
in stalls in which such animals bad stood. They reraaiued
under these conditions for three months, and in some instances
for four, after which they were kept under observation for
periods which in the majority of the cases extended to six
months. None of them showed any signs of infection. In
those that were slaughtered the lungs and other internal organs
were found to be perfectly healthy.

The other six animals were inoculated early in the present
year ; but in consequence, first of our being unable to meet wi'h
cases of pleuro-pneumonia in situations convenient for our
purpose, aud subsequently of the obstacles imposed by legis-
lation, all attempts to test the immunity of these animals in
an effectual manner proved unavailing ; and I found myself
obliged to recommend to the Committee that they should be
sold.

The results of the experiments have been so far satisfactory
that I cannot help regretting that they have been brought to
an abrupt termiuation. The smallaess of the number of the

33o

THB FARMER'S MAGAZENE.

animals which we Invp had thn opportunity of experimenting
on renders il impossible to regird them as conclusive. The
utmost that can be said is thai, so far as they have gone, the
results are sufliciently favourable to justify us in recommending
further trial of the practice of venous mhision to those who
are unlucky enough to have their herds invaded by pleuro-
pneum; uia. As regards the safety of the opera'ion itself, I can
spe.k with confidence. Provided tliat an operator can be found
with sullicient dexterity to perform it, and bUllicient conscien-
tiousness to avoid the known sources of danger, the trial can
be made wi'.iiout risk. Certainty as to its value can only be
attained by the experience of some years.

I cannot conclude this report without pointing out that, in
Cise the value of inoculation should be established, there is no
reason why tlie measures of sanitary police which have been
enforced by the Legislature should interfere with its useful
employment. It has been distinctly recognised as the busis of
this legislation that pleuro-pneumoniais a disease of extremely
long incubation — i.e. one which may exist and progress in the
organism for mouths without producing obvious symptoms ;
and that it is cbiffiy communicable by actual co-habi-
tation. The recognition of these two facts has fae^n
emboilied in the principle of prolonged segreyaiion of all
animals that have been exposed to uiiercourse Kith living source
of conlagion. If it is found possible to carry out this principle
effectually throughout the United Kingdom, it m*y bo confi-
dently anticipated that the prevalence of pleuro-pneumonia
will gradually diminish until, as may be hoped, it may even-
tually disappear. The realisation of this desirable result would,
1)0 doubt, tend to diminish the importance of the question of
inocolation. So long, however, as outbreaks of p'.euro-pneu-
monia still exist, the limitation of its areas of pr valence by
restrictive regulations would, in my judgment, materially faci-
litate the application, within the areas so limited, of whatever
other means of prevention might be found to be effectual for
the diminution of the number of animals attacked.

A BILL OF SALE.

The Sherborne Journal reports at length a local case of
great interest which was recently contested in tlie Q leen's
Bench Division. The parties to the suit were Cochrane v
Collard and others. The following is an abstract of our con-
temporary's report : —

This was an action by the holder of a bill of sale to recover
the value of certain farming stock and other matters, to which
he claimed to be entitled under it, and which iiad afterwards
come into the possession of the various defendants.
The plaintiff, Mr. Alexander Sarjant Cochrane, carried
on business under tiie style of the National Deposit
Bank, of London. The defendant CoUard is a farmer
at Henstridge, in Somersetshire, and most of the other
defendants are farmers and butchers in Dorsetshire.
The plaintiff was the holder of a bill of sale dated
January 21, 1878, from a farmer named Sampson, under
which the latter had assigned to him, in consideration
of a sum of £1,000, all his furniture, farming stock,
crops, agricultural implements, S:c. Sampson was to
pay £1,500 in instalments extending over some two years,
and anotlier condition was that he was not to sell anything
without the written consent of the plaintiff. As a fact he did
sell off everything in March to the defendants, vi'ho, it was
admitted, had p:iid a fair price for what they had had. The
plaintiff claimed that by a breach of the condition of the bill
of sale the property in the goods of Sampson had passed to
him, and lie now sought to recover their value fro n the several
defendants. It appeared that on learning what Simpson had
done hehad gone don-n to Dorsetshire and had represented
himself to the defendants to be a Mr. Henry, who was jointly
liable with Sampson for the £1,500 advanced by the National
Deposit Bank. This he described asa money-lcndiug business
in London. In this way he had ascertained from the defen-
dants themselves, precisely which of Sampson's goods thej had
bought, and he afterwards sent clerks down to get lurther in-
formation. On bringing this action, he had used these admis-
sions in tlie interrogatories administered to the defendants. In
cross-examination, he admittea that in January, 1878, he was
the sole proprietor of the National Deposit Bank, of which
he stated he was now only the managing drector. The
plaintiff's counsel having put in the interrogaories and the

answers to them, the defendants did not call anv wifncses.
As to one of the latter, a bro'her oi t'le farmer wli) gave tlie
bill of sale, it was urged that he did not buy anything, but
only ijCted as his brother's agent for sale in the ma'ter ; and
when this was left to the jury they found that this had been tl e
case. But the main ques'ion was whether or not the good
afterward sold bv Sampson to the defendants were on the 21sis
of January, 1878, on his firm at Long Burton. There had
been no sceduleor inventory attached to the bill of sale, which,
however, as very comprehensive in its terms, and was made
to include any and ever) thing that was or might in future be on
or about the farm, premises, &c. A clerk of the plaintiff had
mxde a list of the things there just before the esecution of
the bill of sale, and the plaintiff swore he had checked it a
few days afterwards. His lordship, in summing up, said it
was the hardest case he had ever known, bat tuat t.ie jury
must disregard the attacks made on the plaintiff by the de-
fendants' counsel, and consider only whether the evidence
satisfied them or not that the goods purchased of Sampson by
the defendants were on the farm at Long Burton at the date
of the execution of the bill of sale. The jiry, after consider-
ing their verdict for half-an-hour, found for the pliiutiff ; and
thereupon, his lordship said that, as some points Ivid been
raised which were questions of law only, he would reserve the
case for further consideration.

BEDFORDSHIRE STALLION SHOW.

The annual show of stallions, in connection with the local
Agricultural Society, took place on April otii in the
paddock adjoining the Cattle Market. There was a large
attendance of farmers, horse denlers, aud others. The number
of entries was in excess of last year by two or three, aud the
exliiDition was pronounced both in that respect, and in respect
of the meritsof the animals, animprovement onits predecessors.
The prize winners will, according to the stipulations under
which the awards were given, be shown again at the Soi-.iety's
general show. In addition to the animals entered for competi-
tion, Mr. T. W. Giant (Langford), Mr. rield (Stratton), and
Mr. T. A. Macau (Elstow), sent in thorougbreds as; extra
stock, aud these formed a centre of a great deal of attention.
The winners of prizes were Mr. John Bosworth, Marsfon,
Baron Lincoln, 6 years old, first ; Mr. Geo. Horn, junr.,
Kerapston, Young Champion, 10 years, second ; and Mr. Geo.
Street, Maulden, Young Bedford, 3 years, highly comuended.
The other exhibitors were Mr. Geo. Hurn, sen., Clophiil, Chal-
lenger, 5 years ; Mrs. Street, Cople, Captain, 3 years; Mr.
John Seapriest, Lanark, S'evenage, an animal 3 years ; Mr. R.
Ross, Thurleigh, Le Bon, 4 years ; Mr. Thos. Stokes, Caldecott,
Rutland, Young Drayman, 5 years and 10 months; Messrs.
Howard, Clapham, Columbus, 12 years ; Mr. David Fuller,
Norlhill, Young Coy, 7 years ; Mr. Robt, Pell, Highaiu
Ferrers (Orliufjbury), Foundation, 3 years ; Mr. T. Goff,
Harrold Park, Yonny; Champion, 7 years; Mr. John Bandy,
Clapham, Young Waxworth, 7 years. The judges of the
show were Mr. Sworder, Willan, and Mr. Tlios. Turuell
Irchester. — Beds Times.

HAVE WE FORGOTTEN LIEBIG— that giant of
menial capacity, whose discoveries and the theories deduced
from them have formed an imperishable basis for all agricul-
ture everywhere and in all times ? How puny and
second-rate must appear, to any one who studied
and appreciated that ijreat man's works, the simple prac-
tical illustrations and confirmations of his theories and dictum,
and yet these were for a long time disbelieved and opposed
but never confuted by proof of error ! His mineral theory is
riding now triumphant over error and prejudice, aud we have
at last learned the great lesson which he tried to teach us —
that where the incombustible elements of p'auts are wanting
in the soil, there can be no fertility of crop. Phosphate of
lime and potash are now accepted as essential bases, while
straw and chaff have gone to the winds, which contain the
free ammonia that was foi the first time only discovered there
by Liebig. Is it not time — if not it never will be — when a
monument shall record the imtneasurable benefits which he
has conferred on mankind ? One rises from a profound study
of his great works with a conviction that he has left little
more to be done in the matter on the "Natural Laws of
Husbandry " — the title of his last great work. — J . J.Mecui,
Tiptree.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

^avmcvjs' (Eliib

i5.

CENTRAL.

The usual monthly meeting of the Farmers' Club took
place on Moiulav, 7th ult, at the Club Rooms, Tuns of
Court Hotel, iNlr. P. Thipps, MP., iu the chair. The
attendance was numerous. Professor Wrijihtsou, of Char-
ford House, Dovvnton, Salisbury, introduced the subject
for discussion, namely, " The Law of Distress for Kent as
it attects the Farmor."

The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, said that
since the last meeting the Committee had considered the
quention then raised respecting the passinq: of resolutions,
and they had decided that no resolution should be passed ;
adding that they had also made a bye-law to the effect
that no one except the reader of the paper should occupy
more than a quarter of an hour in discussions.

Professor Wkightson then read the following paper

In introducing this very dilScuIt and conaplicafed qurstioa
before you I must ask your indulfjence. My own incltDations
liave been somewhat sacrificed tx) the wishes of the Committee
of the Club, as they would certainly have pointed in the
direction of a subject more congenial to the pursuits of my
past life. Not being a lawyer I have found it exceedingly
dilficult to treat this subject in a manner thoroughly satisfac-
tory to myself; althougU, at the same time, I am ready to
alio* that a simply legal view of the case is not precisely
what is rr-quired. I have noticed that lawyers are apt to
argue as though changes (vere impo'sihle. A layman on the
other hand is, it may be, too rash in iiolding that if legal
machinery will not lend itself kindly to reform, it must be
made to do so by the requisite amount of remodelling.
Lawyers are seldom the advocates for legal reform, but being
practical men tliey take things as they are, and leave reforma-
tion to others. Ou tnese considerations I am ready to allow
that although the law of distress is pre-eminently a legal
question, there may be some advantage in its being treated by
an agriculturist from his own point of view.

In considering the subject it niiy be necessary in the first
place to refresh the memories of gentlemen as to the present
state of the law of distress, so far as it is a means for the
recovery of rent.

Leaving out of consideration the impounding of straying
animals; the powers of distraint for penal sums on demised
lands; distress levied for the arrears of annuities, rates, tixes,
and tithes, all of which really form part ot the law of distress,
I propose to confine myself entirely within the limits of dis-
tress tor agricallural rent.

The general principle of distress is not that of direct con-
fiscation. The distrained goods are, it is true, in the hands
of the person empowered to seise tiiera. But they are only
held by him as a pledge to compel the redress of an injury,
the performance of a duty, or the satisfaction of a demand.

The privilege is very ancient and extends back to feudal
times, when it was probably nsed as a means of compeUmg
military or feudal service. Alter the Norman Conquett it
was freely nsed by the great feudatories of the Crown, and
became in their hands a means of oppression. The goods in
those early times were not allowed to be sold, but were
mersly held as a pledge until sitisraction was made ; and it
was not until the reigns of William and Miry that a statute
conferred the right upon the landlord of selling the goods for
the satisfaction of his claim. So far as the modern tenant
farmer is the representative of the ancient" vassal, and the
modern landlord the representative of the ancient feudatory
of the Crown, we may be able to trace in tlie modern law of
distraint a remnant of the iiigh-handed proceedings of the
conquerors of Saxon England. But, for my own part,
allowirg that the right has continued to exist, with modifi-
cations, from these early times, I cannot see any resemblance
between the position of the modern tenant farmer and an
irremovable vassal of a Norman knight, who, indeed, is more
in the position of a copyholder of the present day.

Tlie law appears to have originated in a very natural in-
stinct of the uncivilized or hall-civiLzed man. It is decidedly

opposed to the ordinary course of law, which will not allov?
one man to seize upon tlie goods of another for the satisfaction
of a debt. It is, in fact, a preferential law or privilege, which
has been retained, ratlier than conferred, upon landlords, and
which no doubt points backwards into what are called the
dark ages. In saying this I do not wish to infer that the
law is bad, or even requires alteration, because it can be
traced back to feudal times.

The landlord's right to distrain for rent was limited by the
Real Property Limitation Act (187t') to the recovery of sis
years' rent next after the same had become due ; and no dia*
tress can be made after twelve years have elapsed without
claiming the same. In the case of bankrupt tenants the lavr
of distress can only be put in force for one year's rent, after
which the Inndlord shares with the other creditors. At one
time possession of the farming stock by the sheriff prevented
the landlord from distraining for rent ; but an Act passed in
the reign of Queen Anne provided that the landlord should
first be paid one year's rent.

The distress must be levied between sunrise and sunset, and
must be made v.pon the land liable for the rent. When there
are several tenancies, rented separately, separate distresses
must be made upon each for the several rents due. " If the
tenant fraudulently and clan!!e::tinelv removes from the
premises goods after rent has become due the landlord can
follow and take possession of such goods, wherever they may-
be; but if such goods have been 4(J«r< /iVfe sold to a person
ignorant of the fraudulent transaction, the landlord's power
over them ceases." Certain classes of property are protected
from distress, such as fixtures, which cannot be removed
without damaging the premises; goods of third persons,
under certain limitations, which, however, scarcely apply to
agricultural tenancies ; things actually in the hands of the
debtor, which he is at the time using ; goods left at an inu,
under certain limitations ; goods iu the custody of the law.
On the other hand, distress may be levied upon the property
of strangers unless the landlord hsa waived his claim by
previous agreement. It is this extraordinary privilege of the
landlord which has probably, more than any other, caused the
present agitation for the repeal of the entire law.

I have now explained (I hops sufficiently for the present
purpose) the leading features of the law of distress. So much
has recently been written upon the actual state of the law,
that it seems to me best to pass on to consit^er how far it
IS injurious or beneficial to t!ie landlord, the tenant, or the
commonwealth. With respect to the power possessed by the
landlord over the property of third persons, I fully expect the
Club will come to an unanimous decision that such power
requires to be regulated and controlled by an alteration of the
present law. It has bfen urged iu defence of this part of the
law of distress that if the landlord were debarred from seizing
the property of strangers which at the *.ime of the distress
happened to be upon the land, a door v/onid be open to obvious
fraud. A man might transfer his stock to a third person.
He might sell all his corn and s'ock and let his feed to his
neighbours. But, although such fraudulent trans'nc' ions might
occur if the landlord's rights over the goods of strangers upon
the premises were abrogated, it does not follow tliat a saving
clause might not be inserted wiiich might prevent a tenant
from so acting. The landlord's permission in writing would,
or ought to be, soScient to enable a man to safely entrust his
stock upon the land of a tenant without rendering it liable to
seizure upon the bad principle illustrated in the now
famous Case of Dupper «>. Lake, This is a point which I
hope will be discussed, for the law at the present time cannot
be looked upon as just. At p'-esent, stesm ploughs engaged
in the cultivation of fields are liable to be seized for rent i
sheep out at keep ; stock resting on their way to fair; a yard
of bullocks bought and paid for, but left a day or two for
convenience ; growing crops purchased on the ground, but
not nady for harvest ; are all liable to be distrained, although
the property of persons who are not in any shape whatever
liable for rent.

I cannot but look upon this phase of the law as absolutely
unjust. If it is necessary that it sliould continue to form a
part of the law it is sufficient to entirely condemn the priv-
ileges of landlords to levy distress for rent. If it is truo
that the abrogation of this part of the law of distress would
open the door to fraud on the part of tenants, is it not equally
true that its reteution renders it easy for a landlord and

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S32

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

tenant in difilcultips to conspire tog.tlier to entrap a third
-person to send VrtliMble slock on to tlie premises witli the ex-
• press intention of distraining it for rent?

We now come to the discussion of the most important part
of oursubjpct, namelv, whether or not the prej-eiitlaw of dis-
tress slionld be rppeah-d, or wliether the period duriaR which
it may be exercised should be shortened. That the law of
distress has certain unfair and like unbusinesslike aspects
cannot be denied. It, however, forms a leading feature in
the relations of landlords and tenants, both rural and urban,
and its complete repeal would undoubtedly be followed by
.grave coatequences. For my own parti should have thought
. that an agitation for its absolute repeal would Irave sprung
up more naturally from outside the ranks of agriculturists.
Manure and implement manufacturers and tradesmen might
naturally be expected to disapprove of the preferential claims
of the landlord. Judging the qnestion upon its own merits
it seeius mani'estly unfair that a landlord should be able to
allow a tenant to pay no rent for six years, and then to clear
him out and leave, as in a recorded case, |d. in the£l for the
remaining creditors. We are no doubt called upon to discuss
this questiou upon its merits and not from any class view.
Still it is in some respect singular that the Farmers' Club
should entertain the wish to probe and lay bare a subject
which they might, (rem motives of self-interest, have left to
the criticisms of those classes hkely to sufi'er directly from its
operation. I am not aware that Chambers of Commerce have
agitated the repeal of this law, and yet commercial men are in
the most danger of suffering from collusion bttween a land-
lord and his tenant. The bubject has received considerable
attention from Chambers of Agriculture during the winter,
and a great diversity of opinion has been expressed. Tliose

many want, and which no one can obtain br.t from them. If
all the land iu the country belonired to one -pers<m, lie could
fix tiie rent at iiis pleasure. Tlie whole peojile would be
dependent upon his will for the necessiries of life, and he
might make what condiiions he choose, i'his is the aetual
stnte of things in tliose Oriental kingdoms in which
the land is considered the property of the Statp.
Rent is then confounded with taxation, aiw! the despot. may
exact the utmost whicii the unfortVAuate cultivators have to
give. Indeed the exclusive possessor of the land of acountry
conld not well be other than despot of it."

Ilcnt is the first condition upon which a man can be a
farmer. It is entirely and only with the consent of the land-
lord that he can farm at all, for it is at the option of the land-
lord to orcupy the land himself. This hne of argument lias
no parallel with the case of manufacturers. A manufacturer
must sell vvhs-t he produces or cea^e to exist. A landlord
occupying his own land must also sell his protlnce, bnt there
is no reason why he should give up possession of the land
itself uuless he is perfectly satisfied with the conditions ■upon
which he resigus it. If you sweep away the protectioa now
allowed by the law of distress the landlords can readily secure
themselves by proper arrangements with tenants, which,
while legally good, will be private, and therefore more obj''C-
tionable than the action of the law of distress.

I shall be met here with the answer that landlord farming
■is not usually profitable, and land that lords are too much
alive to their own interests to engage extensively in farnting.
But let us remember that the case might be very d liferent if
the law of distress for rent were repealed. According to tue
showing of the moat active supporters of repeal a very con-
siderable number of tenant farmers would be unable to carry

who are in favour of the complete abolition of the law lay j on their businesses if they did not enjoy credit from their
great stress upon the iniustice to other creditors besides the ! landlords for back rent. The abolition of distress we are

landlord. They consitler that the farmer loses creiiit on
account of this power of the landowner. They also accuse
the existing kw of unduly fostering competition of farms by
.men of insuiacient mean?, and thus raising rents to an arti-
ficial level. A fourth grave ubjection— the liability of agist-
ment stock — has been already referred to as manifestly re-
quiring amendment. i"cr my own part I cannot bring my-
self to agree with the advocates for repeal. For many years
' the hindrances to agricultural development have occupied our
attention, but as one of those hindrances I do not remember
that the law of distress was ever prominently brought forward.
The six years during whicli the right of distress may at pre-
sent be exercised ought to be reduced to one, or at moot two,
years, simply because, as the law now stands, an undue pre-
ponderance is given to the landlord as a creditor, and this
tends to render him careless as to the means of his tenant.
On the other hand, a certain amount of preference is re-
, quired for the protection of landlords, and if it is not accorded
by law it will be manufactured by lawyers. Rents paid iu
advance or a lien in some form upon the stock and crop would
give the landlord the security — now acoorded by the law of
distress — or in some cases he might be disposed to retain the
land in his own hands. VYe may rest assured that before a
landlord would give^up possession of a valuable farm to a tenant
that he would in some form or other make the rent reusou-
ably secure. The relationships of landlord and tenant are so
much akia to partnership and are so peculiar that you cannot
class them with the relationships of ordinary creditors. B.ciit
rcpresenis a certain share of produce of the laud, p;tid in
money it may be, but nevertheless a poriion of the produce of
the farm. The law of distress recognises the pfculiarity of
rent, and allows the landlord to re-euter and take the goods of
a defaulting tenant: The peculiar nature of rent is certainly
not recognised by those who wish to place the landlord exactly
in the same position as other creditors. It is often as;-erted
i by those v/ho take the opposite view, and it will be
my object to endeavour to render it clear. I do not mean to
• introduce any philosophical figments to prove the alleged
superiority of tiie landlord's cUin. I only maintain that it
existF, and exists by reason of land being a monopoly. "It
: IS more evident," writes the late John Stuart Mill, ''that rent
■is the effect of a monopoly ; though the monopoly is a n itural
one, which may be regulated, which may even be iield as a
trust for the community generally, but which cannot be pre-
vented from existing. The reason why landowners are able
to require rent for their laud is that it is a comuioJity which

told, would rid substantial men from the competition of '' men
of straw." This it is argued would lower rents, and no doubt
tl'.e first tendency would be in this direction. A little reflec-
tion will, however, show that the moment rents begin to fall,
while, at the same time, owing to the nature of the case, the
perfect security for rent now secured by law was ^-emoved
landlords might think very differently of farming, and the,
might, and duubtless would, occupy many farms themselvey
Thus, while you diminished the number of farmers, y(«
would also diminish the number of farms to let. Wejall
know that there is a large class of our most skilful far,ner8
who owe much to the forbearance of their landlords. 'I
should imagine that there never was a time in which this for-
bearance was more welcome than the present. Would not
the consequences to this numerous class be most disastrous if
the present security enjoyed by their landlords towards them
were violently removed ?

If the law of distress vrere abrogated, no doubt hundreds ol
struggling tenants would go to the wall, imf their wealthy
bretliren watch for this result with undisguised satisfnction,;
as if surviving cliildrcn should be glad of the death of their
brothers and sisters because they should have a larger share.
But this self.sh view might prove unsound. Just as surely as
many hundreds of farmers would be uu.ible to carry on theiT
business if their rent were rigidly ceiled up, so surely would
there be a dilliculty in finding tenants lor hundreds of farms.
These farms would pass into the hands of their owners, and
the competition for the remainder would be as severe as ever,
while, at the same time, the landlord would take raeins to
seen e his rent by methods which would take the gilt oil any
apparent conces.sion which might be made with regard to
actual price, per acre. Sir, if the law of distress were entirely
abro;jated, and ii a consequence was the lowering of rents, it
•would not follow that such reduction would benefit the
farmers. They who under the present law rent somewhal;
higher in consp(|ueDce ot it, receive a quid pro quo in credit,
which may amount to a continuous loan, free of interest, of
several hundrtds of pounds. Take away the landloru'a
security afforded by distress, and the tenant at once will
require to bring more capital into the field, for which he mny
have to pay his bank 5 per cent. As I have already
pointed out, I think it doubtful if rents would fall
upon the repealing of distress. It seems to me unnatural
and unlikely that yau should be able at one bk.w to destroy
security and at the same time lower the rate of interest (rent).
Usually, the safer the investment the lower the rate ol inte-

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

rest, hnt in tliis cise it n desired fo Tender the investment
less safe and lower tlie rate ot interest (rru') by one and tlie
same means.

If it is so very desirable to put oUier creditors on a level
with the landowners, why da not the other creditors come
here in overwliehning iiunihers and sny so P It' it is merely
a cry gut up to lower rents, by the wholesale destruction of
struj.g'liug lariners ; to deprive landlords of tl\eir ^eetirity foT
rent while at tlie same time their property is depreciated, I
siy it is not only unworthy of the notice of agriculturists of
position, l«it likely to frustrate its own ends. It is a bto *
aimed at landlords aad tf-aants at the same moment, at a time
when I should tliink tenants could least atford to lose the
iuilulgeoce of the laadlords, and landlords co«ld least afford
to lose tlie conftdeuce of their tenaats.

1 have endeavoured to estab^iish the ptinciple that the
Undlord cannot be debarred from the exercise of his superior
position ri.s a creditor, any more than a mortgagee could be
made to fon>go his rights. 1 have shown that by virtue of
his powers as owner he can always exact security tor his rent
as surely as a isank-er can ask a sect rily or guarantee for
money lent„ Also that it is preferable that this security
should be held through a recognised and ancient law well
known to every one, rather than that it should be held by
means of private liens upon a tenant's stock and crops. I
liave arrived at t'-e conclusion that no considerable advantage
would follow the repeal of this law, while a great amount of
real distress would undoubtedly be the conspquence. Also I
have given my reasons lor thinking that the value of land,
although likely to be lowered by the shaking of its value as
a'l iavestraeiit would, so far as rent is concerned, probably
be miKh less affected than has been held by some persons.'

I will address myself aext to the question of limitation.

There is a limit to everything, aad it does not follow that
because a principle is approved it should be allowed to run
riot, llent is a yeaily liability, although it may be collected
quarterly or half-yearly, llent is, 1 take it, a share in the
produce of the soil, but a rent due years ago is a debt which
must be paid out of the trading capital of tlie tenant. If,
owing to bad seasons or low prices, a farmer is unable to pay
rent, it might be argued that the land has not produced rent
at all, but only paid for the necessary costs of its cultivation.
If a landlord distrains fur rent due sis years since, he
evidently does not siece upon the produce upon which tliat
reut is due, for that produce was sold or consumed years
since. If the law is stringent that a distress should be levied
upon the land where the rent is due, and upon no other, it
should, I submit, be equally stringent that the distress should
be levied upon the stock and crop which owe the rent. Why
should the law be so very nice as to wiiere the distress is
levied, and be less exact as to when the distress is levied. It
niu4 be upon the land from which the rent arises, and
" where there are separate tenancies in several premises, at
distinct rents, separate distresses should be made, for no dis-
tress ou one part can be good for both rents." Now, if we
sutjstitute "crop and stock " for " land." and make it illegal
to distrain except upon the stock and crop from which the
rent a ises, landlords wnuM be unable to distrain growing
crops and a large proportion of the stock for a debt six
years old. The matter might be still more simply arranged
by limiting the powers of a landlord to a distress for one,
two, or three years' rent, but certainly not for a longer period.
It appears culpably negligent for a landlord to allow his
tenant to run on lor jears without paying rent, and then to
swoop down upon him and take his whole effects. This is
manifestly repugnant to common sense and common justice,
and might be almost regarded as a conspiracy for the purpose
of defrauding the creditors.

The advantage of limiting the landlord's riglit to one
year is that the ordinary law would be assimila'ed to the
Bankruptcy Act. A year is, however, too short a time to
give the landlord a fair security, and to enable him to treat a
tenant with due consideration. Two years' rents would
better meet the c<se, not because there is any particular virtue
in limiting thf distress to two years, but becauss it seems to
be a reasonable compromise, giving the landlord time for
consideration, the tenant a better time for surmounting tem-
porary losses, while at tl^e same time, oa ordinarily well-
stocked farms, there would be a fair amount of property left
fur the satisfactiou of other claims.

In advnciting the modification ratlier than the repeal of thti
Law of Dis ress, I may be told thtit the abolition of Hypothec
in Scotland is sure to be followed by the repeal of the equiva-
lent law in England.

Certainly there is a great similarity between Hypothec and
Distress, and I notice that Mr. Clire Sewcll Read went so far
in the debate in the House of Commons, to confess a prefer-
ence for the Scotch law, as mure opcu and less underhand tliau
the English law.

I hardly expect that we shall discuss the Law of ITypotheo
this evening. Everyone kuow.s that the Scottish agricultural
press has loudly demanded its repeal for the last twenty years
to my own knowledge. Its destruction has been the band of
union between agriculturists, the banner around which cham-
bers, clubs, and the press have fought, and it has formed
a test q nestion in all Parliamentary elections. This has not
been the case in Eiigland v/ith regard to our Law of Distress.

Of late years mtiuy papers h we been read upon the hin-
drances to the development of English agriculture. I find the
following headings to be generally adopted : — (1.) Insecurity
of tenure. (3) Absence of a jast and equitable system of
tenant-right. (3.) Illiberal and restrictive covenants. (4.)
Undue burdens upon land. (5.) Over-preservation of gatue
and rabbits. (6.) The laws of primosioniture, entail, and
strict settlement. To tiiese the Law of Distress may in some
cases have been added, but, as far as I remember, it has never
formed a prominent subject of complain*.

AlthoRgh speaking under correction, I submit that the
Scotch Law of Hypothec became obnoxious to almost the
entire mass of Scotch larmers on account of the extraordinary
powers it coulerred upon landlords to follow and to take
possession of produce aiter its bona fide sale, and even after it
had been trauslbrmed by the processes of luauul'acturers. It
also empowers the landlord to sdze the property of the tenant
before the rent is due, and appears to re^t upon the untenable
principle that the tenant really possesses no absolute right
to the produce of his fields, and that the landlord might
insist Upon his tenant's asking leave to eell his grain and fat
stock.

If a miller knew that after he had bought and paid for
wheat, carried it home, and ground it into meal, that the
owner of the laud upon wh.ich that wheat grew might seize
the meal, miaht ic not deter him from purchasing wheat from
farmers? Would it not t"nd to lower the value of wheat,
and destroy the credit of farmers ? I can only account for
the comparative indifference with which tins lavv is viewed ia
England as compared with Scotland to the less vexations
manner in which it exists south of the Tweed. There is
something evidently Unmanly in the position a Scotch tenant
under tlie Law of Hypothec. It is a law framed for serfs,
and must have always been a sore subject with the hi;jh-
spiritid tenantry of tiie LoMiians. It is possible that the
Law of Distress may be doomed to disappear iroin the statute
book, but [ do net think it will be hurried from its pages with,
tlie hootings and execrjtioas which have acconiiianied the
agitation against Hypothec. Ou the contr;iry, there is some
thing which com'ueuds itself to the common sense of most
people, that if reut is overdue tlie landlord may step in and
insist on pajment. Tliis may be unfair to other creditors,
but this consideration is scarcely likely to raise a hearty cry
for repeal trom the farming commuu'ty. I now leave the
subject in the iiands of the Club. 1 have not the slightest
uouou as to whether the scuse of this important lURttiiig will
support me in the moderate opinions I have expressed, cr
whether it will be more in favour of a pol'cy of " Down with
it, down with it, even to the ground." I cannot but thiuk
that the result of your deliberations will be waited for with
interest, even by legislitors ; trr the expression of opinion oa
such a subject by the Farmers' Club must be especially signi-
lieant at the preseut time, just alter tiie Hypothec Abolitioa
Bill has passed through the House of Commons.

Mr. James Howard (Bedford) said he was sorry he
coulil not concur in tlie cundudons arrived at by Professor
VVrightson, who stated that he had coaie to the conclusion
that the abolition ol the Law of Distress would prove injurious
to the interests of the farmer. It had always appeared to lumthat
the Law of Distress was most prejudicial to the tenant farmer,
but it was one ol those laws that worked in such a quiet unseen
manner, that its operation and effects were not apparent. It it
were as apparent as it had been potent, there would have beca
just as loud an outcry against it in this cuunlry as there had been

334

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

against the sifi'ter law of llypotliec in the sister oorutry. He
Jiad said that the law was Bubtle in its operation. Let tliem
take an illustration. Professor Wriglitson had introduced the
bankers two or three times in his paper. He also would take
the case of tlie liankcr. A tpuaut resorts to a banker for an
advance to tide him over a crisis. Of course nothing is said
by tiie banker or bank manager at the interview about the
iiftly question of the Law of Distress, and it probably never once
crosses tlie mind of tiie would-be borrower. But is anyone
simple enough to suppose that it is absent from the mind of
the banker when he very blandly informs him that he can be
accommodated with the advance, only, he adds, reliable
security will be expectec!. Take another case. Let them say
that Mr. B is the owner of a considerable estate on which a
farm falls vacant. There are a good many men applying to
become tenants, and competition for it becomes brisk. The
landlord, protected by this Law of Distress, feels that the man
with only cpital enough to half stock tiie farm is just as safe
to pay tlie rent as the man who has capital to fully stock it.
The farm is let, and probably at a considerable advance on
the previous rental. Very soon after Mr. B meets his neigh-
bour Lord A, and informs liira that wliat he is pleased to call
a very eligible tenant has taken the Holt at thirty-tive sliil-
lings an acre. Not long after Lonl A meets his agent, and
calls his attention to the fact that this farm of the Holt is let
at ten shillings an acre more than his neighbouring farm the
Grange, wliere the laud is just as good. In process of time,
if not immediately, the rent of the Granp^e farm is raised, and
perhaps that of a dozen other larms on the estate are also ad-
vanced, and not one of those tenants ever dreams that it is
directly or indirectly in consequence of the existence of the
Law of Distress. It might te said that he had drawn a fancy
picture (No, no). If it were a fancy picture, it was not far
froin being a real one, and he believed that hundreds of sut3h
cases had happened, aud probably thousands. But there was
no necessity to draw an imaginary picture to portray tiie evils
of the Law of Distress. It was oue of those hard laws of
political economy which could not ba ignored that any law or
any set of circumstances that brought more competitors into
the market for a commodity raised tlie value or increased the
price of such commodity, and seeing that the Law of Distress
did -increase the number cf competitors for land, it was evi-
dent that it must have had a silent but potent effect in raising
tiie rentals of farms tliroughout England. This Law of Dis-
tress had been liauded down to them as a legacy from feudal
times, and had been quietly acquiesced in up to the present,
men were now only just beginning to inquire into the justice
or injustice of it ; a«d if it liad nothing but its antiquity to
recommend it, its doom was sealed. He would take another
view of the matter. Professor Wrightson liad referred more
tlian cnce to the bankers. He also would go back to tiie
quci-tion of the banker again, and would here borrow r.n idea
from a very trenchant pamplilet, written by a very esteemed
and excellent triend of his, Mr. McNeel Caird, brother of
Mr. James Caird, and which liad been circulated recently by
the Scottish Cliamber of Agriculture. Suppose that the ban-
kers of England had a preferential right over every otiier
creditor, including the landlord, did anyone believe tliat sucli
a law would stand for a single session — clearly not. Arid if
not the banker why the landlord ? (Hear, hear). The landlords
were the richest and most powerlul class in tiie community, and
therefore stood less in need of state protection thsa
any other. Would it be believed for one moment tliat if tlie
Law of Distress had never been in existence, and was now in-
troduced for the first time, it would meet with favour from any
class of the community ? \Vliy,it would not stand thegliostofa
clianc* of passing either braucli of the Lpf;islature. It would
be deemed, and would be denounced througiiout the land as, a
piece of unjustifiable class legia'ation ol tlie very worst kind,
and the bankers and trading classes v/ould be up in arms
against its unfairness. He wishfd to call attention to oue
poin*^, and that was tliat if the landlord lost his rent he only
loft the interest on liis capital, hut if a trader or a banker lost
a debt he lost both principal aud interest. We had over and
again heard statements as to the beneficial effect this 1+w had
in the case of foor struggling farmers, but the argument v.as
a fallacious one ; in the first p'ace the liberal and indulgent
landlord would not by the repeal of the law be turned into a
hartih and rapacious one ; again, the struggling farmers were
the very class whose credit the law of distress undermiued.

The law did not impair the credit of the wealthy, the opulent
farmer, but undermiued and destniytd the credit of tlie very
class on whose behalf its action was claimed to be beneficial.
Put even if the argument held good that it was any benetit to
the struggling farmer it would fall to the ground if it conld be
shown that its-operation wac injurious to the country; anil
he did not know of anything which could be more injurious
to the best interests of the country than keeping the land
out of the hands of men who were in a position to fully
develop its resources and letting it to men wlio had not
sutiicient capital to work it properly. Again it was urged that
the landlord, in respect of his rent, did not enjoy so advan-
tageous a position as the trader or other creditor, inasmuch as
he could not sue for his rent until it became due. This
argument had been used by no less a distinguished man than
Professor Willis Bund. Now he had been in business for a
good many years, and had yet to learn that he could sue for a
debt before it became due (loud laughter). It was evident,
as regarded that point, that no argument could be sustained
showing that the landlord did not hold as favourable a position
as the trader. This law had been quietly acquiesced in up to
the present, but unless he was mistaken as to the signs of the
times, it would not be in the future as it had been in the past.
The liraee were changed, and circumstances were changiug,
and it was becoming evident that the farmers of England were
resolved that they would not any lonser remain the political
nonentities they had been, but would make their voices heard
in the great council of the nation.

Mr. B. HocGES (Vincent, Margate) said that it was a
question which had for some time past occupied a good deal
of the thought and time of the agjriculturists ot Kent, and it
had been brought under their notice in a manner which hati
led them, very naturally, to take considerable interest in the
discussions wJiich had taken place in tlieir ov/n county and
elsewhere. He was very glad indeed to hear Mr. Howard
speak so strongly against the ccucUisions at wiiich Professor
Wrightson had arrived, as appeared from his paper ; but he
was still unible to go the full length of the total abolition of
the law. Mr. Ho -ard had made a very strong point by his
remark that if such a law did not exiit it would not now be
established. It must beclear to every cue that there would not
be the ghost of a chance of the enactment of such a law if it
did not already stand in the Statute Book ; but he apprehended
that in considering the matter they should carefully take into
account existing circumstances. Probably there were many
other laws in tliis country besides the Law of Distress which
would not be enacted if they did not exist, but which were
retained because they were part and -parcel of the law of the
country and cf our social system. As a tenant farmer and a
small landowner he felt that a great disturbance of the existing
relationsof landlord aud tenant wouldoccurif there were a total
abolition of the prelerential claim of the landlord. He was
rather in favour of a reduction of the period to one year, and
of the exemption of the stock of other persins which hap-
pened bona, fide to be on the land from seizure for rent. He
thought such alterations, at all events at first, would be safer
and more beneficial than the total abolition of the present
law of distress. It should be reraembereil tint a great many
landlords had not benefited by the present state of the law,
landlordsgenerallybeingof a forbearing character, and desiring
to treat a reasonable and deserving tenant with leniency.
Men of a kind and generous disposition being now disposed
to give assistance to deserving tenants, would be equally dis-
posed to do so if the law were entirely abolished ; and he was
quite sure that the reduction of the time of preference would
not greatly alTect the position of men who would be brought
into the Court of Bankruptcy before the total expiration of
the generosity of the laudlord. He would urge them to insist
on a change of tlie law, which would reduce or cuttail the
extraordinary powers of tlie landlord— powers wliicli did not,
generally speaking, confer an advantage upon a considerate
landlord, inasmuch as such a landlord did not avail himself of
the law as it existed, the only men who availed themselves of
it being landlords whose proceedings he would not characterise
by words, hut which were characterised by their conduit
(Hear, hear). The present state of the law placed most
serious obstacles in the way of business arrangements. In
his own county a great many occupiers of land were in
the habit of selling tlicir hay and other produce of that kind,
aud vvlien the time came lor removal Xo Loudoa there were

THE FxVRMER'S MAGAZINE.

33i>

often p;reat dilnculties in thp piircliascrs ffettin^ possession of
the liaystarks and so on for which thi'y bargaiued. The con-
sequence was that the course of business was greatly inter-
inpteJ, and at a time when it was necessary that produce
should be reduced into cash in order tliat engagements might
be met, men were in that may pushed, as it were, into a
Bankruptcy Court. He knew that in some cases considerable
loss had been incurred by London buyers, and vvlien one of
thera had appealed to the landlord he had perhajis met him
by saying that he was furpruied that lie shculd pay ;i farmpr
■for anythi(ig before he hsid taken it away. Although he was
a>t one of those who would go the full length of advocating
the abolition of the Law of t>istress, he was in f;ivour of
their using every effort in their power to get the extreme
rights of the landlord reduced, so that he would no longer be
able to distrain for sis years' rent, lie was certainly of
opinion that the existing law whs not so entirely in favour of
the tenant farmer as Professor Wrightscm appeared to think
(H'-ar, hear),

Mr. W. Brown (Tring) said that as a land-agent he had
great satisfaction in being able in some measure to
eudorse what Mr. Howard had said, but he could more
particularly endorse what had been said by the last speaker.
He was of opinion that it would be better that the landlord
sliould have power to distrain for a year's rent and then to
come in like an ordinary creditor. He thought that would be
right and fair. If they went too far and tried to do away en-
tirely with the present law, they would, if successful, probably
do more harm than good. In his part of the country,
it very seldom happened that a man got farther than
a year and a half in arreir. In his experience he could
hardly point to a case iu which the landlord allowed the thing
to go on quietly until a year and a half's rent was due. He
thought therefore, and he hoped those present wou'd agree
with him, that this proposal would be satisfactory, both to the
landed interest generally and to the tenants, that the landlord
should have the right to distrain for one year's rent and then
oome in as an ordinary creditor.

Mr. C. S. Read, M,P. : I am glad that the .tiembers of the
Gluh who have spoken on thissuhject have not made tlve same
kind of apology for the Law of Distress as was made by the
gentleman who read the paper. My opinion is that the Law
of Distress is wrong iu principle (Hear, hear). It allows a
Man to be his own avenger, which is, 1 consider, contrary
to the spirit of our laws altogether. It also a'lows him to fan an
avenger of his wrongs i n private. The Professor says there is
a certain amount of publicity anout the matter, but I contend
that there is none until such time as action is taken. The
landlord can go into the street and get some blackguard fello;v
who is desiiDiited " the man in possession" to act as his baili fT
If that is the law it oughtj to be condemned,, by this Club,
although it does not p'^ss resolutions. 1 conti-nd that this law
is worse in principle than the almost doomed law of hypothec in
Scotland. No doubt the Law of Hypot'iec was some years ago
mu<h worse than the English Law o! Distress, because it per-
mitted the landlord to follow the goods of the defaulting
tenant not only off the farm, but to a second buyer, and I
believe even to a third one. That was done away with in the
year 1867, and that amended law, which is now going to be
sbolished is, I contend, a better law that the Law of Distress,
which now allows a landlord to seize for six years' rent.
(Hear, hear.) I think I am right in saying that at present if
a landlord in Scotland wants to proceed against a defaulting
farmer, he must go to a court, where he can compel him to give
security for the next year's ren^ I see Mr. Barclay, who is a
member for a Scotch county, in the room, and if L am wrong
he will put me right. 1 believe the landlord has in such a
5ise to go before a coart, and the courts of Scotland are not
merely courts of law but aliio court of equity, and the judge,
who is called the sherifr, will inquire v/hether there is any real
cause for demanding security for the rent, aud if substantial
security is givpn there can be no seizure. Now, there are some
partsof Mr. Wrightson's paper on which 1 wish to say a word
or two. I was really astonished to hear this — "If the Law of
Distress was abroga1ed,no doubt hundreds of struggling tenants
would go to the wall." "Farms," the Professor went on to
say, " would pass into the hands of their owners, and the com-
petition for the remainder would be as severe as ever." Do we
find this the case at present ? We have the Law of Distress,
and we have distress among farais, and the consequence is

that a great number of farms are thrown upon the market.
Do we find that the landlords of this country are anxious to
cultivate the farms which thus fall in? Do we not ftnd that
they prefer accepting a very great reduction of rents?

Prefpssor Wkigutson said he was supposing the case of the
law being altered.

Mr. Read cmtinued : In consequence of the depressed
state of agriculture a great number of farms have recently
been thrown upon the hands of landlords, and I believe tliey
have not shown any desire to occupy them. With regard to
bankruptcy, the law is, we are told, that a landlord can only
have one year's rent in full, and that beyond that he must
take his chance with the other creditors. A most extra-
ordinary thing, however, connected with that point has
happened recently in the county of Suffolk. A tenant who
occupied under a lease having become bankrupt. Lord Chief
Justice Cotton gave a decision to the effect that the trustea
could not be allov/ed any valuation ; the result being, it
appeared, that the landlord pockets, so to speak, the out-
going tenant's hay, manure, tillage, roots, wheat-sowing, &,c.,
which were, in February, 1878, valued by Mr. Biddell, of
Lavenhara, at £932 Hs. That is an extraordinary state of
the law ; and I hope that when the Lesjislature has under its
consideration the amendment of the law of bankruptcy, that
special privilege of landlords will be made to cease and deter-
mine. It seems that in the case to which I allude, there
being four years of a lease unexpired, after deducting £10(1^
that is, £100 a year for the remainder of the term, from the
valuation, thsre was an absolute gain to the landlord
of £582 lis. through the failure of his tenant. The
paper from which I am quoting goes on to say,
" It will be asked how came the trustee to dissolve
the lease, or rather the further tenancy of the farm,
without securing the valuation upon i; ? lie was advised by
one of the most eminent counsel that the landlord must pay
it. Further, he had no means to cirry the farm oo, though
these would have been forthcoming if the landlord would nave
allowed him to carry it on until l-ist Michaelmas.'' Thus you
see what an extraordinary privilege the landlord possesses
under the bankruptcy law (Hear, hear). I hope that the
law of distress will be amended rather than repealer'o
Although the law is wrong in princijile, it must bfl remembered
that it is ingrained in onr agricultural Constitution, and I
think it is better to amend than to repeal :t. There is amotioa
on the notice paper of the House of Commons to call attcLlioa
to the Law of Distress, aud propose a resolution iu favour of its
abolition. I have thoanht it desirable that 1 should move an
amendment to the effect, first, that the pov/er of distraint
should be limited to one year's rent ; secondly, that other
people's stock should be protected to this extent, that when it
has been put on a farm for grazing purposes the owner should
only be liable for the amount of the keep due, that being
part of the present Law of Hypothec in Scotland; and,
thirdly, that if there are any hindrances or dillieullies witli
regard to the landlord's right of re-eutry, they
should be removed. I entirely concur with what lell from
Mr. Howard, especially on one pciut. There CiU bo no
doubt that the landlord is an exceptional creditor, inasmuch
as he cannot lose his capital, but only the interest on it, that
is, his rent. This question has been brought prominently
forward recently through a case in which the Law of Dlstre^s
was Carrie i out to its fullest extent. A rotten and insolvent
tenant owing aix years' rent, the Law of Distress was brought
to bear very hardly on a neighbouring farmer who had put
his sheep on the Imd (Hear, hear). In my opinion that
was nothing less than legal robbery, and I do hope that the
law of distress will be so altered that nothing of the kiud
can happen again. I must say it seems a marvel to me, con-
sidering how unjust this law is in itself, that so few cases of
hardship have arisen under it (Hear, hear). This showe
that the landlords of England are an exceptionally kind and
liberal race of men (Hear, hear). 1 do not believe that
such a law could have existed in any other country without
a great number of cases of practical hardship arising from it.
The CiiAiF.MiN said he believed the gentleman to whoii;
Mr. Read had referred, and who had suffered very greitly
from the operation of the law through having put his sheep
on land occupied by another farmer wis here, and he would
ask him to say a few words on the subject.
Mr. La.kl (Sittinijbjucne) said he camu there to

5-36

THE FARMER^S MAGAZINE.

1 ttf n rather than to speak, hut as he. I'ad been asked to say a
luv words he would detain thera for <i short time. Himself
and his father liad been in the habit of puitiog out larfje
uambers of slieep for 70 years. In t.l\e case referred to he
had put thera out througli an agent ; there were 195 of thera,
and tliey were put out with an insolvent tenant. As it turned
out, the t.gent knew notiiing of the man'^s real posiiion, and
was very niucli surprised to hesr that they had been seized
by the landlord. I'liey might liave been sold without his ever
hearing of ii had the farms not been adjoining oqps. He (Mr.
Lake) was a loser to the extent of £100 ; another case on
another farm belonging to the same landlord — hay which had
heeH fairly bousjht and paid for to the extent of £100, had
been seized. He knew of other cases in which people had ad-
'vanced money, and never received au) thing. Could there be
amore unjust law tl aa that ? He contended that it was a nx)st
iniquitous and aDju.^l law (Hear,hear), He had seen ths worki-ug
of it (loud laughter), and ought to know. To look ac the matter
practically, as soou as a mau sticks a spud in tlie ground he
gives security for the rent. lie borrows from his friends and gets
credit from his tradesmen, and then the landlord takes every-
thing, seizing on the property that others have put on the land.
Take another view of the matter. A tenant did not get
the same amount cf credit under this system that he
otherwise would, because it was Inown that the landlord
could take everything. As a lesult of this, a tenant in his
neighbourhood had lately made himself a bankrupt
in order that the landlord miRht not be able to distrain for
more than one year s rent. He thought what he had pointed
out was sufiicient to prove that the lav/ should be altered.,

]\Ir. AvELi:<(i (Ivoch'ster) said he appeared befare them as
a nwnuiacturer. lie assured them that the class to which he
belonged felt very strongly that this law was very unfair and
prejudicial to their interests, and to the interests of agricul-
tuie. La^t year hU tirra sold a set of steam ploughing
machinery of about £2,000 value to a farmer, from whom he
had received references — one from the clergyman o( his parish,
who gave him aa excellent charaet'T. The machinery liad,
however, been at work only about two months when he re-
ceived a telegram on Sunday morning to this effect : — " Sorry
to tell you a distress put in for rent ; plougliing machinery in
a neighbouring farm, get it it' you can J' He fortunately was
able to remove the machinery the same night, and so he lost
nothing. They all knew that at the bottom of the circulars
of the great waggon companies v/ere the words "deferred
payments,"' and how could any one expect him, Mr. Howard,
or Messrs. Fowler to enter into a large contract with deferred
payments in such a state oi the law as that which now existed.
They could not go to a tenant farmer and ask liim to show
his last receipt for rent. He did not wish to go into the
question fully as to the result of a change in the law, but he
believed it would be beneficial to aericulture to hate it altered.
Captain DtLi' (Walton-ou-Nuzr) said he felt quite certain
that it would be a good thing both for the manulacturers and
users of agricultural machinery if the Law ot Distress ^ere
lepealed. The Essex CI. amber of Agriculture, of which he
was a member,^ Esses itself being one of the most Conserva-
tive counties of England,. h:id lately adopted the following re-
solution :— "That in the opinion of this Chamber the existing
Law of Distress i.s injurious to the best interests of the land-
lord, unjust to the tenant, and dfceptive to the trader, and
that its repeal is imperatively demanded." That resolution
was passed in .I'ebruary, and a petition in accordauce with it
was presented by Colonel iJrise, a member for the northern
division, on I'riday last. The Law of Distress was an oc'opus
to land, beii'g stealthy in its action and sending out its ten-
tacles in all directions ; it tended to strangle the energies and
intelligence of the cultivator of the soi',.andthe subtlety of
its peratioQS was one of tiie greatest oujections to it. No
gentleman who had not studied the matter could have any
idea of the injury that law occasioned. It not only gave a
preference to the landlord as a creditor, but it enabled him to
make terms with regard to the cultivation of the land that
he would not be othervsise able to muke. Some hypothetical
cases had been put before the meeting by one or two of the
speakers. Might he be allowed to give two casss that had
come under his own notice, one contrasting with the other?
The first case ;iffordcd an illustration of what he might call
tlie philanthropic view of the matter ; in other words, it was
tht, case of a small tenant farmer. A gentleman in the nortii
of England liad written to him respecting the case of a widow,

who occupied half an acre of land &r\<\ a small lionse, and
endeavoured to live on the produce. This poor v^omaii got
into arrear with her rent,. and Sfver;'..l appeals tor it were made
to her, wliich were, not responded to ;, eventually the landlord,
himself called on her and,.on her aduiilting her inability to
pay said : " L think I can show you a wa.y out ol the dilliculty.
You must get a brief from me." Well, she got up a brief,
the cow was lelt to the poor woman, and for some weeks slie
hod the benefit of it. But what was the filial result ? The
very man wiio had suggested the humane course came down,
aiid .seized the cow — the ease affording an unfortunate illus-
tration to the woman of tlie operation o*" the Law ol Distress.
Another case which occurred within the last sis weeks affords
an illustration from another point of view. In this case he
knew the wliole of the circumstances perfectly well. A tenan.
took a farm eighteen months ago, it t>eing on the landlord,
hands at that time. The tenant is now in difficulties. Tli
valuation made at the commence:uent of the tnuiincy has noe
been ijaid, the three half-year's rent; in fact, nothing has
been paid. That is a very startling case. Some gentlemen,
may think the pictu'e overdrawn, but he assured them it was.
not^ An irapleraeiit maker — m^t a man doing business on
such a scale as BIr. Aveling or Mr. Howard, but a respecta'ile
man in his trade — supplied new carts at the value of £80..
The carts, as well eis svesything eL^e. were seized by the land-
lord for rent, and the poor owner of them was left out in the
eold. That was another illustration of the operation ol the-
presgnt law; to his mind it showed that the arguments used
to weigh in its favour were insufikient. The agent who trans-
acted the business told me that another person offered a fair
amount for the larm, but that the man who got it was accepted
bscause he offered 5s^ per acre more thau in the opinion of
practical men in the neiijhbourhood it was really worth. Tnat.
appeared to him a striking proof that tiie present law does not
tend to raise rents. At the present time, when so much waa
being said with regard to cultivating the intelligence of men,
about to engage on farming pursui's, it seemed to him tliat
any law must be exceedingly obnoxious which tended to inter-
fere with freedom of contracts in connection with tjie cultiva-
tion of land. What was the use of such a college as that at
Cirencester, or the teachings ot Mr. Laws, Dr. Yoelcker, and
others, if, when men took intelligent views of farm manage-
ment they were prevented from carrying them out, as was the
case at present ? The question under discussion had direct
bearing on that of freedom of contract, and he maintained^
with the E^sex Chamber, that tlie existing Law of Distress was
injurious to the best interests of landlords, as well as of those
of tenants. It might indeed enable a landlord to squeeze out
&s. an acre more rent than he otherwise would, but it would,
not conduce to their permanent benefit.

Mr. Baucl.'^y, M. p., having risen in response to a call from
the chairman, said he had come there, not for the purpose of
speaking, but for that of listening to the paper and tlie dis-
cus.-sion. He must say tliat he had been exceedingly interested,
iu the paper, and particularly in what the Professor said with
regard to the origin of the law ; but, on the other hand, he
wasvgiy much surprised at the conclusions which were arrivi d
at on that question (Hear, hear). It was not for him to urge
his opinions with regard to the effect ot the Law ot Distress
in England, hat as^the Law of Hypothtc in Scotland had been
referred to, he daresay the Club would be glad to know what
were the opinions ot the farmers of Scotland with respect to
it. Without entering in'o details, hs might say of that lavw
that it was p' rli'ps a little more rational than was the Law of
Distress in this country. The elEect of both was perhaps ia
one respect very nearly the same ; that was to say, the land-
lord had absolute security for his rent, whether it were fair oc
not, whether he exercised a wise discretion iu the selection of
a tenant or not, whether he acted prudeutly in letting the
farm or imprudently. He had often heard similar arguments
to those urgid by the Professor in support ol the Law of Dis-
tress used in support ot the Law of ILpothec (Hear, hear).
When he heard a land agent the other day point out that
there was a (|UHsi-|)artnership between landlord and tetiant, it
occurred to him that a partnership might be very desirable at
the present time (hinghter). But in point of fact there was
no more partnership between a landlord and his tenant thaa
there was between a ba' ker and his customers (Hear, hear).
The object of both the landlord and the banker was to make
a profit by means of the customer, and the only ditferenco
between the two cases was 'that whereas the landlord could

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

3.37

gpt. l^ok hi^ land if the customer failed to pay, the banker
could not get back his mouey in a simihir case (llfar, hear).
He did not know what effect the LiW oi Distress provuied in tlivs
country as regHnit-d liie su.^ply ol inifileinents, manure, and so
on;. but the farmers of Scotland had eoiaiihiintd that through
the operationof the Law of llypoth-c they had had lo pay a
hijrJiwr price lor everything they wanted, amountiug, perliaps,
to 2^' per cent., in conseiiueuce of the pre lerence which was
given to the landlord (Hear, hear). The i'rofe^3or s lid that if
the Law of Distress were abolished the landlord would still be
able to secure himself by means of private contract. He dare-
say the landlord might secure h-mnelf privately by reouiriirj;
that the tenant should pay his rent in advance, and he would
have a perlect riglit to do so if he thoii^jlit proper ; just aa Mr.
Howard and other instrument makers might secure themselves
as regarded what they sold. It a landlord wanted absolute
Sfcurityfor his rent, by all means let him have it ; but let
him- go 4nto-ths market for security and obtain it as other
people obtained it. There was certaii.ly no reason why the
!a;>dlord should be secure as regarded the interest of his money
while other people risked both principal and interest. He h-d
»o desire to reproacli landlords for doing what they could for
their own beueiif, but, on the other hand, he did not think
agriculture should couiinue in its present position in relation
to that matter. As regarded the interest ol the poorer tenants,
it is true Mr. McCorabie pat the matter very tf-rsely when he
said that the law "enabled a poor man to get a farm, and
certiinly kept hira poor " (laugliter). He thought the argu-
ments of the Professor on that point tended to tins— that
landlords should be eneonragsd to take tenants with insuffi-
cient capital, through being secured at the cost of other per-
sons as respected tiie payment of their rent. In Scotland the
elFrtct of the present law had been to increase the number of
candidates lor small farms, and to enable the landlords tj
obtain a higher rent than they otherwise could without carmg
much about capital, and small farmers h-id arrived at the con-
cluMon that such a s'ate of things was not for their benefit. It
seemed to him that as a rule a man mu^t have some capital to
have any chance of success. The average size of tue farms m For-
farshire was about 50 acres, and the occupiers had discovered
that the existing law was by no means aivautageous to them.
Exparience had shown that farmi^rs could not pay 5 or 6 per
cent, for the capital they employed, and live ou the farm, and
the people of Scotland generally btlieved now that it wis an
advantage to a man to have a farm with insulfi-.ient capital to
work It, No doubt there were cases of exceptional -ability
having secured success, but on investigation he had generally
found that in such sases ordinary farming was aocorapanied
by jobbing in cattle or something of thatk'nd.. He should
like to have shown how the Law of Hypothec interfered with
the letting of land in connec-ion with the action of land
agents. He thought that if the Law of Hypothec were
abolished there would be a new kind of arrangements for
dealings in land, and that land would in future be managed
not by lawyers and other persons of that kind, but by resident
factors.

Mr. W. E. 33ZAB, (Surbiton) said he understool Mr. Hodges
and Mr. Read to propose that the right of distress should be
limited to one year; but their a^gum^-nts pointed to a repeal
9f the law and not a compromise. Mr. Hodges remarked that
OKe objection to the law was that a man who bought stacks of
hay or straw was in danger, because the landlord might come
in and seize them for rent. If tlie period were reduced to one
year that difficulty would still exist. Mr. Read .said that the
law was wrong in principle. If it were wrong in principle,
why should it be maintained even to the extent of the hmit
of one year ?• He was very sorry that the meeting was not
allowed to pass a resolution, as for one person wlio read the
discussion a thousand, would read a resolution, and he
thought to pass a resolution after that meeting was concluded
would be better than nothing at all (Hear, hear).

The Secretary (Mr. S. B. L. DRrtE),sa-'d perhaps he might
be allowed to say a few wonis on the suhject under diseustion
regarding it as he did as being rather more a legal than a
directly agricultural one. There was one point of view from
which the que->tion h d not been taken liold of and considered
in the discussion, and that was the landlord's. Were there
not, he would ask, good reasons for retaining the Liw of Dis-
tress, ;iOt exactly lu, ike siuns way and.t^ Uie sauie exteat as

now, but with limifiitions and modlliealions such as thosa
advocated in the paper ? It was well known that money could
be borrowed on better terms on the .security ot land than on
any other sicurity. Why was thii ? Wny co.;U owners of
landed estate borrow at a lower rate of interest and ou better
terms than any other class of persons ? He did not hesitate
to say that it was, to a groat extent, because of the Law of
Distress (expresnior.s of dissent). That was well known, hi
believee!, to gentlemen who were concerned in such matters
(No, no), ilei heard some gentlemen in the room say " No ;"
but he would refer them as authority on the point to the evi-
dence of the Royal Commission which sat to inquire into tho
operation of Hypothec, in the year 1S65. Among the wit-
nesses, examined by that Coinraissi'jn, was a solicitor practis-
ing in London, who acted for some of the largest insurance
companies, who he believed lent 1 irger sums of money on kud
than any other bodies in the country, and that solicitor gave
it as his'opiuion that if the Law of Distress foi- rent were abo-
lished, landowners wouli find very great difficulty in borrowing
money ; at all events, would nut be able to borrow it on the
same easy terras as they did then. If that were the case, had
it not a close bearing on the question now under discussion,
even from a farmer's point of view ? Did not landlord«,whea
they had to make improvements on farms lor the benefit of
their tenants, as well as for their own, req'iire, in nine cases
out of ten, to borrow the money ? V, therefore, the Law of
Di^tress were ab dished, it would make it more difficult for
landlords to spend mouev ou improvements. Heuc?. there
would be fewer improvements, and teup.ut farmers would m
that way be damaged instead of benefited by the abolition of
the law. Another reason why he thought the law shoald be
retained was that it was a well-known law. He quite agreed
with the reader of the piper in thinking that if it were
abolished, some means would be taken privately to give the
landlord the security he now possessed, or what was tanta-
mount to it, in each particular case. It was said that the law
not fair to the ordinary creditor — that it was not fair to put
the landlord in a better pos tiou than the ordinary creditor.
Bat they had to bear in mind that the ordinary creditor coulvl
.stop the supply of his goods at any time- On tU-3 o; her h ind,
the tenant was on the farm and how was the landlord to get
hira out ? It was one of the most difficult things in the world
to get an occupier cut of possession (Hsar, hear). Every
landlord knew that every lawyer knew it, and he should think
every tenant knew it as well. It would be remembared that at
the Berlin Gouference last year Prince Bismark, in speaking
of possession, used the expression, .i?<;(Z,'i /)OW<V/e/«'ej —happy
are those-ic possession — or, as it was put in the English pro-
verb, "Fosse-sion is nine points of the law." When a man
hpA possession of land the owuer had the greatest difficulty in.
turning him out if the necessity arose. He had to bring aa
action of ejectment for that purpose, which in many cases was
a long and costly affair. WliiUt he, the speaker, did not ad-
vocate the total repeal of the law, he agreed with those who
suggested that there should be very great alterations ia it
(Hear, hear). He thou.jht they were very much indebted to. -
thahon. gentleman who had spoken last for telling them so
raueli as to the operatiou of the Law of Hypothec in Seotlaud.
He (Mr. Druce) had, of course, no practical experience wiili-
regard to that law, but he was inclined to think that 't would-
be a very great advantage to English tenant fanft-»rs if the L\w
of Distress in this country were put to a certain extent on the
lines of the Law of Hypothec in Scotland as it was altered ic
1867. By the Act p-issed in 18G7 it was enacted that Hypo-
thec should only ha available for three months after the rent
was due. . Why not make this the law here ? (Hear, hear);
He quite agreed with the gentleman vifho said that it was an
iniquitous thins that a landlord should l>e able to allow a-
tenant to get six years in arrear for rent and then sweep down
08 the farm and take possession of everything he found on it
even of what belonged to other people as well as to the tenant ;
but if it were-enacted that a landlord should not bs aliowed to
distrain afiei the expiration of three months from the date of
the rent falling due, that would do away with this cause of
complaint and remedy the evil which had been so justly com-
plained of. Another objectionable point in the present la*
was tlie landlord's privile-ge of seizing agisted stock. In that-
respect again the Liw of Hypothec was alterei in 1867,it being
enaoted that the stock of a third party on the farm for grazin;^
or feeding should be liable only to the amount payable fersucit ■
graziug or feediug. That seemed to lum to be a lair arrange-

338

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

ment, and he thought the English law shotild he altered in the
eame way. It was also provided ia the Act of 13(57 that
household furniture, a^riculiural i'iipleiii?nts, maniires/erding
stutTs, and draining tiles, should be exempt Irora the Liw of
Hypothec. These things wer.; treated just as a man's tools or
the things which were used in trade were treated under the
Bankruptcy Law. Tiie two cases were pardlel, and he did not
see why the Englisli law should not ba altered in tliat^ respect
too, as had been the Scotch law. There was another respect
in which it appeared to him t!ut the English Liw of Distress
mighi be assimilated to the Liwof Hy|ioiliec,and that was that
in cases of distress there should be judicial interference, and
that the thing should not be done in a hole and corner way.
la this country, as Mr. Read remarked, a man might be taken
out of tiie streets and put in possession of a furra, bat in Scot-
land it was uecessary that an application should be made to a
local court— tlie Sheriff's Court ; in England it might be the
county court, such courts being spread throughout tlie leugtb
and breadth of the land. Another point in which the Scotch
law seemed to be better than their own, was that provision
was made for taking an inventory merely of the goods instead
of actual possession of them, an arrangement which,, in many
cases, prevented that needless shock to the tenant^s credit vyhich
must arise from a man being put in possess-ion.

Professor Wrightso:m then replifd^ He said he would not
reply to the attacks made upon his paper. He had done his
best to introduce the subject in a straightforward manner, but
perhaps his views would he modified by some of those expressed
in the able speeches v/bicli had been deiivered. Although the
sense of the meeting seemed almost in favour of repeal, yet he
did not think any speaker had gone auite so far as to advocate
repeal. There was evidently a general feeling that although
the Law of Distress might be hard,the right of the landlord to
recover his rent could not be entirely taken away. Tliat was
exactly the viesv which he took in his pappf. Instead of advo-
cating sweeping changes in the law hs had taken two years as
the best limit to be tiillowed ; but in his present state of mind
he must admit that it would be more logical to restrict the
landlord's preferential right to one year. According to his
own view, the landlord nad a sufficient security for hi-n rent in
the produce of the farm, and he did not see hov/ he could
claim in that respect for more than one year. With regard to
the seizure of stock on the farm belonging to a third party, he
had already expressed the opinion that that put of the law
ought to be entirely abolished. He could not see why a land-
lord should be allowed to seize the goods of a third party lor
rent due to him from his tenant.

On the motion of Mr. Nelld, seconded by Air. SiiER-reiN,
a vote of thanks was given to Professor Wriglitson for his paper,
and, on the motion of Mr. Cueffins, seconded by Mr. Mecui
thanks were also given to the chairman.

BOTLEY AND SOUTH HANTS.

At the meeting of this Club held recently, Mr. Jamea
Kent read a paper on the question " Wliat improvements are
required in tbe Corn Returns Act and in the collection of
Agricultural Statistics ? " He concluded with the following
statements :—

1. — '• That the first agricultural county in the world should
he without satisfactory statistical reports of its state and
progress is very detiiuienlal to its preseiit and future wel-
fare."

2. — " That the absence of correct information of the pro-
duce of the country is alike injurious to the producer and
consumer, neither having any reliable idea wlieu to sell or
purchase."

3. — " That the uncertaiuiy frequently leads to severe loss
on the part of the needy farmer by forced sales subsequent to
harvest, whereas, if real facts were known, a corresponding
price would be realised proportionate ta the trailifulness of
the return."

4. — "That it is the duty of the Government to obtain
correct returns of the annual produce of this country, and that
the information should be circulated throughout the kingdom
as early as possible each year, that all parlies may have the
henelil thereof."

5. — " That it be considered what montli in the year is the
most suitable lime for tlie puhli.shing the said rciurns."
Alter somv; dibcussiou the following resoLuliou was adoptid,

on the motion of Mr. Crew, seconded by Mr. F. IIakuis:—
"That in the opinions of the members of the Botley and
South Hants Farmers' Club the present mode of obtaining
corn avernges is most fallacious, and that the returns shoald
be made compulsory both by tlie producer and the purchaser
aUo,^ that Lord Henry Scott be asked to put a question in the
House of Commons as to tb.c practice of selling corn by
weight and its effect upon the corn averages^'

The club then proceeded to discuss tiie second part of tlie
paper with reference to agricultural sitntistics.

Mr. Blundell proposed "That this club ia of opinion
that our agricultural statistical returns shoald be made com-
pulsory on the Ist day ot Miy, and thai the returns should be
issued by the Board of Trade not later th;m the Isc dpy of
July in the sane year, and that they should be published on
that date in the London Gazette, Ti/iie&,_ and leading daily and
agricultural journal--,"

This was seconded by Mr. G. E. Kext. and agreed to /i£m^
dls.

FRAMLINGHAir.

AGRICULTURAL DEPRESSION.

A monthly meeting of this Club was held, on March 2ith^
at Eramlingham, the subject announced for discussion was
"Agricultural Depression," introduced by Mr. T. Rose, of
Melton Magua, Norfolk. The following is the principal
portion of the paper : — As to the seriously depressed condi-
tion into which British agriculture has fallen, there cannot
be any possible doubt ; and, moreover, there will be a general
consensus of opinion as to the causes that have conduced ta
if. But I fear there may not be the same concurrence of
opinion as to the remed es to be provided.. The gravity of
the position is universally acknowledged. There is no doubt
as to the condition of the patient. The question is, by what
treatment can that condition be ameliorated, and the bt'e of
tlie patient be saved ? I hope in the course of this paper ta
make certain suggestions that have occurred to me as tending
to the solution of that question, the discussion of which by.
our chambers of agriculture and such farmers" clubs as this-
will, I believe, be of general service and benefit. Of one
thing we may be sure— that no suggested remedy, if adopted^
can intensify the malady or still further complicate the case.
It is an astounding lallaey to suppose that the depression in
agriculture only dates back for the past three or four years^
I contend, and I am sure it is a contention which your
experience will endorse, that our dilliculties and troubles first
assumed a serious aspect as far back as 1865 and 1SG6, when
the cattle plague — that dire free-trade-imported scourge^
decimated our breeding stock. Then, following in its wake,
came the foot and mouth disease, which ruthlessly strucis
down what had escaped the ravages of its predecessor.
Sacrificing its ten of thousands, it was still unsatiated. To
complete its work, it bestowed upon those who survived its
direct onslaught a heritage of constitutional weakness that
had a most serious effect upon their breeding properties.
Flocks and herds were thus destroyed without even tlie grim
consolation of being able to replace them. And yet,^ foreign
aa these diseases were demonstrably proved to have been,
what a storm of free trade invective had to be encountered
before even a modi.^ed measure was passed to give us in some
degree protection from disease in the future, it was in vain
to point out the cost of these diseas^-s and the consequences
to the consumer* The cry was rai>ed that it was not from
disease, but from counpet lion, that the farmer claimed pro-
tec'ion. As tliough an increased home supply could fail to
be of advantage to the consumer ! Even in the short interval
that has elapsed since the Cattle Diseases Act was passed, we
find that the proguostications of its opponents have already
been falsified, and that the price of meat has become cheaper
rather than dearer. Hesides the diseases to wliich I have
referred, a powerful contributory cause to the existing agri-
cultural depression has been the succession of unpropitious.
seasons which we have experienced of late years* There were
the great droughts of 1868 and 1869, that in the former year
being the worst we have ever experienced. A great number
of shetp and cattle had to be sold from sheer nect^s-ity ; and
the bad scisoms which followed, accompanied by low prices^
had a most crippling effect upon the farmcrj who has since

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Tg

loDged in viiiii for a rcrurn of tlie"{:ood old times" — those
times wlien wheat was Irom COs. to 703. per quarter, with
lower rents, and foreisn competitiou unknown. This hringa
me by a natural transitioti to tiie (jiie.«tions of our foreig-ii -nd
eolouial imports in tlieir reKtinn to the existinj; depression,.
Alter all, it is in this direction that we must look for the
more serious of tiie several causes that liave oparated in
bringing about our agricultural deficiency, amounting at the
lowest cumputatioa to 30,000,000 sterling for each of the
p-ist three years. Mr. Bear may tlierefore, well ?p.y in his
ab'e paper, contributed to. the present number of t!ie Fori-
nhjh'ly litvino, that '" Tiiere is a very general conviction
aiuonght farmers tliat even with seasons of average fertility
they w II not be able to hold tlieir own against the world
nuder the existing conditions of farming.'' To those condi-
tions I shall liereafter refer. Before proceeding to do this,
let us glance at the real nature and extent of the foreign and
colonial competition with v/hich we liave to contend. It. has
long since become manifest that we cannot giow wiieat
against ttie virgiu soils of otlter countries, with, moreover,
the disadvantage that wheat is not a plant indigenous to
England, and that our variable climate is unsuited to its
successful growth. A novice, indeed, mizht attend Mark
Lane, and, so far as appearance is cot.cerned, prefer the more
pretty looking Sutfoik or Norfolk sample of wheat to one
presented from Russia ; hut I need not ask you which would
be the more vr.luable of the two. Is it not a fact that where
formerly beans were used in strengthening English flour,, the
miller now turns his attention to P-iissian wheat, and for very
good reason ? Powerful as America has become in the
universal competitive race, so far as the future prospects of
agriculture are concerned,, I fear our valuable dependency,
India, much more. In America labour is dearer than in
India, and the la'ter has the two-fuld advantage of heat and
Immidity, so that it abounds with liixuriant vegetation. It
is only within the last five years that what ean be di,^nified by
4he term "cultivation'* of the land Ivas been inaugurated
there.^ And yet it cnn already send us enormous and ever-
increasing cirgoes of wheat,^ shipping them to England at a
late of Girriage not greater than a consignment of wheat
from a mi<lland county to London \ whilst the rent of the
land upon which it is grown is no more than 3s. per acre.
Our Indian export trade is upwards of thirty millions per
annum in value, and the imports about twenty millions, the
latter principally consi.^ting of cotton goods and iron. India
thus affords, as we shall see, a striking exception to otiier
countries with regard to tlie relative value of its. imports and
exports, a matter which I think of no inconsiderable com-
mercial importance when we reflect that the coal production
of Great Britain and Ireland is three times greater than that
of the United States and Germany, and yet that we are under-
sold. In taming to the United States we find that for 1875
and 1876 our imports amounted to no less than £111,600,000,
an increase for the latter year of £5,653, Go2, whereas our
exports showed a diminution of £+,500,000, the total for the
two years reaching only £30,50i.),000. Our French neigh-
bours sent us £70,000,000 against our £-23,500,000, With
Russia, again, our import trade amounted to £27,000,000,
whereas the export trade was less than one-half — viz.^
£11,000,000. Between the years 186& and 1875 we find a
startling difl'ereuce. "Whereas in the fortner year the imports
averaged £9 178. 2d. per head of the population, in the latter
they were £11 8s. 5d. as contrasted with exports averaging
in 1866 £6 63. 2d., and in 1875^ £6 I&5. 6d., showing, in
point of fact, a diflerence in 1875 of nearly £5 per head
between the imports and exports, or the enormotis total for
the whole country of £155,000,.000. With respect to the
United States, a comparison of the returns for the two years
1 have mentioned shows a difference of between twenty-three
and twenty-four millions in favour of America, and a balance
ot about !.even millions and a half against this country. Of
all nations the only one that has approached us with anything
like trading mutuality or reciprocity has been Germany,
the exports and imports in 1875 standing respectively at
£21,836,401 and £23,287,883— even there, however, the
balance being against Great Britain. The figures naturally
relate to the state and interest of commerce as well as of
agriculture. But from whichever side they are considered,
stedfastly standing by the principle enunciated in commencing
this paper, I afllrm that they all point a moral which may
well give rise to anxiety as affecting the welfare aud piosperity

of the entire nation. Yet it is curious to observe that in the
ugitaiion that is being raised by the representatives of British
commerce against the principles that are held to influence, if
not to be wholly responsible for. Hie worse than stand-still
state to wliidi the country has been reduced, hjw strangely
the British farmer is ignored. After referring to " one-sided "'
free trade and objecting to the M«lt Tax, Mr. Hose pro-
ceeded. Another serious drawback from wliicli the British
farmer now stilTi^rs is the enormous quantity of colonial wool
importt'd into this country. lie bears both a direct aud an-
iniirect loss — directly, tbiough a greatly depreciated value of
wool ; and, indirectly, through the greater discouragement he
encounters in the breeding of sheep. The superiority of
colonial wool,, owing to the more favourable circumstancs.
under which it is produced, is a fa'-t beyond dispute, and I
suppose y,ou will generally concur with me th .t its introduc-
tion into this country has had the effect of reducing the value
of our Euglisli wool to sometliing like eighty or a hundred
per cent. Let me, then, quote a few statistics to show the
increasing extent to which the breeding of stock and the pro-
duction of wool in the colonies is carried at the present time.
Ircm New South Wales in 1875 we received £3,000,0'JO
worth of wool, and in the June of the following year there
were no less than 21,382,536 sliee]j, and upwards of three
million cattle in the colony. Whereas in 1858 there were
only a million and a hal' of sheep in New Zealand, there were
just twelve millions in 1874', with a half million cattle, and
the imports of wool to this country had increased from
£1,761,614. in 1870to£.3,07U,116 in 1875. Erom Queens-
land in 1875 the value of the imported wool was £769,889,.
South Australia in the same yepr sent us wool to the value of.
£1,864,302, and it possessed at that time Gil79,395 sheep,
and 219,240 head of cattle. Erom other places we received
in 1875 the following additional amounts : — Tasmania, with
1,614,645 head ot sheep and 113,109 head of cattle,
£388,892 ; Victoria, £6,706,709 ; We.sterH Australia,
£132,680 ; and Cape Colony, with 9,836,065 sheep and
692,514 cattle, £2.492,736. flow vast are these sources of
supply. And yet 1 have thui far omitted to mention the
United States, which in 1870 numbered 28,477,951 sheep and
28,074,582 head of cattle, whilst the cows alone at the
present time number upwards of 13,000,000, being six times-
more than the number in Great Britain, and twice as many
as in the great dairy country of France. Then these figures,
suggestive as they are, do not disclose in themselves the whole
truth. Therefore, while in other countries there is a marked
iRcrtase, in the United Kingdom there is no appreciable
difference. In 1871 we had 27,119,569 sheep and 5,337,75&>
head of cattle, whilst in 1878 there were no more thaa
5,738,128 head of cattle aud 28,406,206 sheep. This meat
and wool supply is a difliculty which will certninly be au-
increasing one, both with respect to our colonies and the
United States. With an improved quality of meat, and with
an export trade only to be judged by its unlimited sources of
production, the afflictions of the English producer can only be
patiently borne. Eor how should it be otherwise ? We have
already noted the vastne«s of the field of production, aud that
our enterprising " cousins " are determined to cultivate it to-
the highest and most remunerative advantages may be
gathered from a few additional statistics, the significance of
which speak for themselves. In 1870, the number of cattle
in the United States, according to the census, was 28,074,53,
and that of sheep 28,477,951 ; and according to the last
official estimates there were 30,523,409 cattle, and 35,740,500-
sheep in 1878 ; thus showing an increase of 2,448,818 cattle
and 7/262,640 sheep in the eight years. We find, fro.n the
estimates recently presented to the Agricultural Department
of the United States that there were in 1878, 10,329,70*
horses. 11,300,100 milch cows, 19,223,300 oxen and " other
cattle," 35,740,500 slieep, and 32,262,500 hogs. The average
value of the stock was fixed at £12 23. for horses, £5 lOs. for
milch cows, £3 lis. 5d. for oxen and other cattle, 10,?. 4^d.
for sheep, and £1 Os. 9d. for hogs. It is simply marvellous
to contemp'a'e the development of which the American beef
and live stock trade witii Great Britain is capable. In the
past jear 85,000 cattle, 65,000 sheep, and 15,000 pigs were
landed here, against but 424 cattle and one sheep in 1873„
whilst the entire weight of meat for the same year was
53,661,2161b, with a money value of £1,264,764 as com-
pared with IC, 155,0321b , with a money value of £389,395.
The total money value u( dead meat from tlic whole o£

340'

TIIE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE'

Europe forthesame year was bat £6^,535. Another matter
of grave importance in connection «itli tliis branch of onr
subjf-ot is tlie keen coiripetitiim that has of late re ulted from
the importations of iirproved cheese and hams. Our English
products are being driven Irotn ilie market,, a compleie revo-
lution having been etiected in this department of agriculture.
Tt our forelathers such a cliange would hive seemed impos-
sible. For vpe are told on authority, surprising as it may
seem,, that the wholesale prices of American cheese vary from
2d. to 5d. per pounil, of h'ltter from 5d. to lid... of bncon
from 2h. to 3|d , ol hams from 3^d. to 5d., and of lard from
3^d. to Id. per pound. These figures indicate that low as are
the prices prevailing in our English retail niarket«^ they
miglit, and would be, still more favourable for the i3riti.«h
consumer and disadvantageous to the Biitish i'armer, but for
the cupidity of that higli'y speculative race — the "middle
men." Such,, then, are some of the causes tliat have tended
to the state of depression from which agriculture is suffering.
What we have now to consider are the remedies Miat are
available or practicable. In doiug so^. I must first note an
encouraging symptom, as indicating the sympathy of land-
lords with tenants, that in many instances there has been an
appreciable reduction in the rent payable under old and un-
expired leases. No doubt a general reduction of rents would
be an imi'.ortaut measure of relie*', but in itself it would not
permanently mitigate the disorder. By the great period of
e.'itraordiDary commercial prosperity that we experiencd a
few years ago, and the unhealthy competition for farms that
then prevailed, no doubt the value of land was forced up to
an unnatural point, and, therefore, that the high price of
laiid has had a tendency to aggravate the evil of which we
complain. But something of a far more enduring nature is
a-icded for a thoroughly effective treatment. This, I believe,
can only be found in an abrogation of existing restrictions as
to the rota. 'ion of crops — by, in fact, conceding to the tenant
perfect freedom of culti»alion.. This has already been granted
in some cases with vvhiah I am acquainted ; and for the
purpose of obtaining something like a universal application of
the right, as well as for a general consideration of the whole
queftion, I would suggest that there should be a National
Conference of landlords and tenants, lield, say,, in London, in
tlte course o' this year. The conclusions of sucli a conference,
if thoronglily representative, would command attention, ami
might influence the legislative action of Parliament, so that
when devising measures for tlie benelit of agriculture, they
will in future give us something more genuine and real than
8"«ch a hollow sham as the Agricnllural Holdings Ac\. In
these matters of what earthly use is permissive legislation ?
A'S connected with this branch of the subject, I am strongly
ot opinion that the Law of Distress should be abolishedi, An
important remedial measure — and one indispensable to the
success of free cultivation — is to be found in the erection of
buildings by landlords,, so as to facilit.ite tbe proper protec-
tion and careful housing of cattle.. It is true that as a rule
the farms of our large landed proprietors are not" let dear,
but, as 'a have intimated, the question is one of life or death,
and in such circumstances sacrifices will have to be made.
More perraanent pasture, the landlord to find the seeds, would
be a valuable aid. Let there be a less acreage of roots with
liigher culiivatioa for those that are grown ; let seeds lie two
years instead of but one, barley of course following roots ;
and coincident with change of cultivation a blow should be
struck at the over-preservation of game — ground game to be
summarily disposed af — lor although landlords may not desire
to inflict ii.jury upon their tenants, the same remark eannot
be extended to many of their keepers. Again, the farmer
should be relieved from such charges as the Education Rate,
the fire insurance on farm buildings, and the Game Rate.
The introduction of a fairer system of taking the corn
a'crages — which at present does not include the damaged and
tail corn — with the cost of carriage ignored, is another
matter now exciting attention, and is becoming of urgent
importance, foxhunting might also with advantage be more
encouraged, Norfolk and Suffolk, especiaPy Norfolk, are
sirictly game-preserving, not hunting countries. On the
other hand, take the case of jCorksbire. That is a fine hunt-
ing county, where many splendid packs are kept, with a meet
nearly fvery day. What is the result? The Yorkshire
farmer finds it to his interest to breed a great many hun'ing
Jjorscs, the fctabh 8 of those well-to-do oftan containing some
ive ar sis auimuls worth fro;u eighty to two hundred guiueas

a-piece. These hunting facilities give a grand stimnhis to-
the breeding of horses ; and we cannot vronder that fox pre--
serving is something sacred in Yorkshire ; whereas in Norfolk
if a gamekeeper sees a fox in a game preserve, Ma.^ter
Reynard is forthwith sentenced to death. I would lunher
suggest as another measure of relief, that more of eur young
farmers should be induced to emigrate to the better of our
colonies, which constitute an illimitable sphere for agricul-
tural activity and enterprise. In saying this I must not be
thought insensible to the many superiorities and advantages,
or the tender and attracting associations, that cluster around
the mother country, la the main, I. coucue with the'Cpinioa-
that

' He wlio in his native land is not; content to staj,

May leave it when he likes, and find a better where he may,"

But necessity knows no law, and there is no wisdom in^
embarking upon a career that can only end in disaster ; and
lara certain that as this is true of f?rmlBg here in the present
day .we ought to discourage an unnecessary mHltiulication of-
farmers at home, i have already occupied your time at great
length, and !• have no right longer to trespass on your
patience; nor will I for more than a lew moments. To the
question of labour I have not yet alluded, because it has been
so frequently entered upon by eiiperienced and able men. The
future of England may be said to be in the hands of the work--
ing and labouring man. For increased v/ages there ought to-
be returned better and more productive labour. Unhappily
tliat has not been the case. The quality of labour has
deteriorated, and its consequences have additionally perplexed
the situation through shortened huurs and worse work.
Abroad,, the hours of labour are practically unrestricted, and, ,
as you know, the week of labour there is often seven in? teal
of six days, I need not comment upon the important effects-
that flow from this cause alone. It is one, , however, in-
resiiect to which the working man or labourer himself may
supply a remedy. In referring to him and his position in the -
State, I can but express a confident hope that with the
advance of education he will use the power that he has-
moderately and well, and as the day mny not be far distant
when the franchise vthicb he enjoys may be extended to his
agricultural brother, I think that we should be making a wise
preparation f -r the contingency if we farmers bad mure direct
representatives in the House of Commons. We have, it is
true,, in Mr. Clare Read, a tenant-farmers' member, of whom
the whole kingdom is proud, but, in such a body as the
Iloue ot Common", what is a solitary representative of agri-
culture, however courageous and able he may be, when pitted
against the numerous direct representatives of commercial
interests? Now, what is the conclusion of the whole argu-
ment ? That a great crisis has arisen in the history of
British agricul'ure — a crisis that may culminate in its death
if there be not manifested a spirit of firm union aud of
thorough mutual co-operation between landlord aud tenant.
I have pointed out, or have humbly endeavoured to suggest,
a ffw ways in which they may tlias mutually act. We are
told that an opportunity once lost is gone for ever, I cannot
believe that the landowners of this country will close their
eyes to the necessity, or deny their hands to an effort, for the
deliverance of tenants from their present extremity. F'or
with the agrieultural interest, triple in its nature — landlord,,
tenant, and labourer — the mercantile and commercial \v<-lf--ire
of the nation is indissolubly connected. If the knell of
England's agriculture be sounded, the days of our national
supremacy will be numbered. Let-, therefore, all unite in
preserving and revivifying it. It is not a mere cold and
cynical sslfishness that actuates us ; but a true patriotic
devotion that has hitherto been, and I trust will ever remain,
among the most distinguishing attribu'es of the Anglo-Saxon
race.

Mr. F. FiTjRcii opened the discussion, lie said lie was a
sufferer from agricultural depression,. and expressed general
agreement with the lecturer as to the remedy. In his district
farmers had suffered fro n very bad harvests, and the best
remedy would be a providential dispensation in the shape of-
better seasons. . ^Vilh regard to rents, he believed they would:
decrease under the law of supply and demand, and that while
landlords varied as to generosity, it would be liberal-minded
ones who would pull through the stream, others being left
without tenants. Cheaper labour he did not anticipate, but
he hoped for mere skilled aud ?aorc resp.onsible men. As t>-

THE FARJSrE-R'S MAGAZINTB

341

ra-idiinpry, wlillc it aJvanced agrieultorp, he doublfd much
wiiflher It had decreasej expendiuire, and as to keppiug
stuck, the fall in the price, of meat led him tu question the-
policy cf laying land down to grass. The most liope'ul
feature of stock keeping was sheep, and he expected a lair
price still for mutton..

The Rev. C. T. Corrance said there was no doubt tlie
depression was general ;. but lie considered it only temporary.
It* was owing to various cause^^, adverse to the interest of the
farmer. The wheat harvests of 1875 R-7 hud been about 2i
per cent, below the avera:;e. The price of labour had in-
creased in this district more than in the North of Englind,
where it had advanced long befoie it had advanced here..
Anotlier cause was the immense importation of American
meat,, which tl'.Teateued the priiziers with the same disadvan-
tages the corn growers had already met with. Considering
the bad ha^vest^',. tlie marvel was that the depression had notj
been greater, aud there must be elasticity in agricultural
matters to bear up uuder the dilHculties which threatened it.
He gave some statistic* showing that in 1851-iJ wheat was
19-.. 6d. per coomb; barley 17^., and oats 8:'.. tJJ. But from
1S50 to 1S55 the prices were respectively 35s. 6fl., 18s. 6d ,
and 12s. up to 1S75-G-7. The prices of corn had been fairly
remunerative, aud that in spite of forti^n competition ; so he
hoped in this respect tlie depression was only temporary.
Tlie iuereased imports of breadstuffs was. iu his opinion, a
proof of the increased prosperity ol the masses, while as to
the chief sources of that supply, the cost of importation was
equal to a duty of 40s., a considerable protection.. Barley
was safe from foreign competition, as long as Bass and
AIlsopp ivvTe more popular than Sir Wilfrid Lawson. Further
encouragement might be drawn from the price of meet keep-
ing up in spite of foreign imports. There again the cost of
importation was -iJ, per head for each os- He believed with
Mr. Bear that the raasirauia of fertility had not been reached,
but contrast with the small production per acre in the Uuited
States was gratifying. The present wave of depression was
largely due to extremely bad seasons; but though the land
likes to go on credit, he believed tbis season was going to
wipe off old scores.

Mr. R. GarrarD' thought possibly better seasons woirfd
relieve farmers, but suggested that the present depres^ion
should prompt ihem to join heartily in demanding the repeal
oi the Malt Tax.

Mr. Gray thought rent should come down, but liberal
covenants were even more important than a reduction of rent.

Mr. ,T. BifRT remarked that farmers were sharply taxed for
home prowth, while the foreigner might send his produce
without any taxes of the kind. Education had added to tlie
farmers' tax, and men at full wages had to be employed
instead of boy. It was wrong for the Gtjverniaent to make
such a law, that boys might not go to work under a certain
age. Excess of game was also a great evil ; and what was
the use of te.ling farmers to drain, use artificial manure, &c ,
when a lot of things came and ate that which was produced i*
(Langhter).

Mr. Gooueriiam looked to freedom of cultivation as one
remedy, and suggested a representative committee of farmers'
clubs to meet in London to discuss tlie subject with landlords.
He disagreed with ilr. Corrance as to foreign barley, men-
tioning that tli8 Messrs. Cobbold were using it almost
entirely.

The CirAiRjr.\^?f enumerated as causes of depression ad-
vanced rents, higher wages, coupled with disinclination to
perform conscientious work, adverse seasons, increased foreign
supplies, and a more luxurious style of living amongst farmers,
as in all classes. Rents must be regulated by supply and
demand, which would also decrease wages, though so low a
level as before was h.ardly desirable. With regard ta foreign
competition, a member writing to him had suggested an
import duty ion barley and maize,, and a reduced Malt Tax.
The latter he had no great faith id, but it appeared scarcely
right that foreign countries shonld have free entry to our
laarketSf while they themselues enforced protective duties.
The education of poor children,, he complained,, was not
sufiiciently practical, and industrial training was wanted, and
even labourers felt this. He did not regard the present price
of meat as very low, but thought Mr. Corrauce's estimates of
the cost of importation were too high. More liberal covenants
w»r8 to be anticipated, but payments of rent in advance
instead of the law of diiiress would not be a great relief.

Blr. Rose, in replying,, exprfi'sed a beliff that double the
amount of corn might be grown in England if absolute
restrictions v ere removed. The Malt Tax ought to be re-
pealed, as contrary to free trade principles, ilftat must be
lower iu price, but the production of mutton wan the farmers
gieatest hope against Anieric'an importation. As to higli
living, he challenged the Chairman to wear a corduroy suit
with him to-morrow.

¥ E lATC A S T L E ..

A" meeting' of the members ol the Newcastle Farmers' Club
took place on Saturday, 2'Jth March Mr. John Henderson, ,
Uoraley lliil, occupied the chair.

The Sk';ki',tary (Mr,. Tiiomas Bell) said it would be in
the recollection of the members that some time ago a meeting
of the club was held, and it was resolved to found an exhilji-
tion for students in the scieuo« classes in connection with the
club at Science and Art School iu this town,. He was glad
to be aide to say that the appeal then made had been liberally
responded to by the landowners in the district, aud the £25'
had been contributed without the funds of the club having
to be called upon,, lie was glad to be able to say. also, that,
after a good deal of negotiation witli tlie Scienje and Art
Department,, the scholarships would be tenable at the School
of Science in this town, only in the case of the local exhibi-
tions supplemented by the Government the student must have
power to go either to the Royal College in Loudon or to
Dublin. Mr. Bell reported also the ac;iuiescence of the
Royal Agricultural Society in the suggastion lie had made to
open the competition for their scholarship to students of
agricultural science classes. In reply to Mr. Gray, Spital
Hill, he added that the value of the local scholarship was
JE5U a year — the club raising £25, and tliat sum beiu g
supplemented by £25 from the Government..

On the motion of Mr. Gray, seconded by N't. Reid,,
Vi''hickham, Messrs. T. Bell, H. Wallace, Jacob Wilson, and
John Henderson were appointed an Education Committee.

In relation to the Valuation Bill the following resolutions
were carried :. — '

1. That,, in, the opinion of this clnb, it is not desirable thai
the surveyor ol taxes should have anything to do with the
Bill whatever ; and that the fourth schedule is not a practic-
able basis ; for the redactions ought to be one-sixth for
houses, other thaa^ farmhouses, and manufactories, &c., and
one-twclth for lands, which should include both farmhouses
and buil. lings ; also that the local member be requested to
support the above resolution, and to oppose an amendment,
of which notice has been given to the effect that all mines,
with the exception of tin, lead, and copper, be exempt Irom-
rateable value.

2. That it be a recommendation that the following portion
of the 85lh clause be omitted from the bill, viz: "Where
the person entitled to the rent charge is so entitled as the
incumbent of an ecclesiastical beuefice, and the circumstances
of that bensice are such that, in addition to the personal'
services rendered by the incuraben*, the employment of any
curate or curates is required by the bishop of the Diocese, or
otherwise necessary for the due performance of the duties of.
the benefice, there shall be deducted, in calculating the
rateable value of wich rent charge, the salary of the curate or
curates actually employed and paid out of suah rent charge."

The Secretary called attention to the Rivers Conservancy
Bill, and said that all members, or nearly so, of the boards
were to be landowners ; while the incidence; ol the rates was
to be divided between the owner.s and the occupiers. Ha
thought it an owners' question entirely, aud not aUjOCcupiers' ;.
and wherever there was a Conservaucy rate it ought to be
paid altogether by the owners. He mov«d a resolution in
the euor of his remark?,.

Mr.. Reid seconded the resolution, and it was carried-
onanimouslj.

STOWMAEKET.

The last meeting of the Stowmarket Club was held recently,.
Mr. R. J. Pettiward, President, in the chair. Mr. Pisk, of
Whitton, read a paper entitled " A Glaace at the present
depressed state of Agriculture ; can it he relieved either
legislatively or otherwise 'f lie thought some relief mighc

3i2

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINS

1)6 obtained by a reduction of rents :\nd otber expenses, and
R'comnieiided ibe layioK dowu oC euouf;b pasture to enable a
farmer to dispense with a mun aud a pairol borses. He added :
— "Looking at our question from a legislative point of view,.
I am afraid we must not expect mueb. Tbe reception wbicb
Mr. Samnelson's motion so reoently met with in tbe House of
eouinions warns us not to be too sanguine of assistance from
the present Government, although virtually said to oe the
farmers' friends. I hiive liitberto been opposed to the repeal
of the malt-tax, as I tliongbt it would be of no benefit to
farmers ; but since the introducuon of sugar into the brewing
twade I liave come to a different conclusion. I now consider
the malt-tax should be reduced,, with a view to its ultimate
repeal ; atid, further, tliat a'l beer for sale should be made
from malt aud hops. The Gasne Laws act very badly in many
districts, and require to b» M.'sfuUy revised. But, of course,
you must liave laws as to trespass, the rights of owners and
occupiers being lairly dtfined^ We also require such a tenant-
right as shall put the owner and occupier on equal terms ; but
this is a subject that of itself deserves the gravest attention,,
and to which you might fairly devote an evening. At present,
the legislation in this direction have given us nothing but au
abortion. There are other matters that might be named, but
I think we have ample for any discussion you may wisii to
enter inio. Before 1 conclude I would warn you to entertain
no thought of return to protection— or, as it is now called,,
reciprociiy— that you may take for granted is gone for ever ;
and however unpleasant it may be for us as producers to con-
contemplate, still it is certain the people of this country
must be cheaply fed. Upon this mainly depends whether tbe
general prosperity of the country will again be established.
No doubt wages of all kinds have seen their blithest point, and
if the manufacturing, mininp, and commercial interests of this
kingdom are to be again successful, they will have to be
carried out at a better and cheaper rate,, or other countries
will take tbe position we have hitherto held. As they, the
manufacturers, are our customers, it is to our interest that they
»icceed.

(Ehautbers of Jlgiricultuit.

^

CENTRAL.

The monthly meeting of the Council was held on April
3th at tlie rooms of the Society of Arts, Adelpbi, the chair
being occupied by the President, tiie Marquis of Kuntly.

At the commencement of the proceedings the Treasurer
(Mr. Clay) informed the Council that after cheques had been
drawn for necessary disbursements to the amount of £29 15s.
lOd., there would remain a balance in hand of £2C9 IGs. lid.
He congratulated tlie Council on the improved position of the
iinances, adding that there was then due from local Chambers
jBlOi, and from members £89.

Mr. D. Lo?iG moved a vote of thanks to tbe IMarquis of
Huntly for the lucid manner in which be had brought the
question of agricultural distress before the Rouse of Lords on
the 28th of March.

Mr. Neild seconded the motioiij which was put by the
Secretary (Capt. Craigie) and carried by acclamation.

The CiiAiJiMAN, in returning thanks, said at the present
time agriculture was in a very low state in this country, and
he advised tliem all to set tlieir shoulders to the wheel. They
could not do anytliing to interfere with free trade, and tbe
question was in what direction they could look for relief. He
considered that the agricultural classes were not fairly treated
with regard to the incidence of taxation, and he thought that
by and by if they worked together tbe land would probably
derive some relief. He would do everything in his power to
assist the agricultural interest.

The Seckltaky read the following resolution of the Glouces-
tershire Chamber, which had been forwarded to the Council : —
"That in the opinion of this Cliamber it is desirable that the
cause of the present agricultural depression should be taken
into consideration and discussed at the Central Chamber of
Agriculture."

The CiiAiRiiAN : What answer should be given P

Mr. ISeild : It is tlie question of questions, my lord (Hear,
hear).

The CiiAiUMA^' said he would suggest that the whole qucs-
liou bhould be imei at the ue2.t meetiug of the Council.

The Report of tbe Taxation Committee was presence^.'

Oa the motion nf Mr. Startin, the Cliairraan of the Cora--
mittee, Mr. Pell, MP., being absent, the Report wa-; received.

Mr. Bell, in the absence of Mr. P. Phipps, M.P., (Chair-
man of the Education Committee, presented the following
Report : —

" Your Committee have to report that tbe Secrstary of the
Central Cliamber of Agriculture has received tbe lollowing
reply to the memorial presented by the Council to tlie Science-
and Art Department •.-—

' Science and Art Department, London, S.W.,
13th day of February, 1879.

' Sir, — I am directed to inform jou that the Lords of the
Committee of Council on Education have had under their
careful consideration the letter of the 28th January, signed hf-
the jMarqnis of Huntly, Mr. Pickering Phipps, and yourself.
Their Lordships desire me to say that a special course of in-
struction in agriculture will, if possible, be given this summer
for teaciiers, provided that a sufScient number of approved
candidates apply. It would not, however, be possible to give
the s'udpnts at present in training at South Kensington such-
a course, as their time is fully occupied in going throngh the
course of tlie Royal School of Mines. With regard to the-
third point raised in your letter, my Lords believe tliat the
calls on the Training Colleges are quite as large as they can •
meet. It would, therefore, be very unadvisable to add instruc-
tion in an applied science to those fundamental branches of
science v/bich may be now included in the Training College
curriculum. — I am, Sir, your obedient servant,

' INoFJUAN MacLeod.'

" Y'snr Committee, impressed with the importance of giving
publicity to the intentions of tbe Department, requested their
Chairman to put a question in the House of Commons to the
Vice-President of tlie Council, asking what steps were being
tiken to make known the intentions of the Science and Art
Department to offer teachers a special course of instruction iii
agricultural scisnce at South Kensington this summer. In
reply. Lord George liarailton said : — ' We propo.'ie to send a
circular on the subject to all the science schools and classes in
the country, and if the hon. gentleman, as Chairman of the-
Education Committee of tbe Central Chamber cf Agriculture,
would co-operate with us, I have no doubt the proposed instruc-
tion aud system in aid of the Department will become widely
known.' At the instance of your Committee a suggestion
was mads to and adopted by the Royal Agricultural
Society that the examination for the junior scholarships of the
Society be in future open to any students passing the primary
examination in tlie principles of agriculture under the scheme
of the Science and Art Department, subject to the existing
conditions applying to such scholarships. The Royal Agri-
cultural Society have also recommended the Department to
accept the diploma of the Cirencester College or the first-class
certificate of the Society as a qualification for the position of
Science teachers. Your Comniitlee are glad to see that
various local Chambers have followed their recommendations
and have taken steps to promote the formation of classes in
tlieir several localities. Meetings of the Shropshire, Warwick-
shire, and Cirencester Chambers have been addressed by Mr.
Buckraaster, and the scheme discussed. The Newcastle
Farmers' Club, in addition to establishing a science class,
have deposited the sum of £25 for a local exhibition. This
amount will be supplemented by an equal contribution from
tbe Education Department. Your Committee hope that
similar bodies will avail themselves of the privileges offered
by the Government to carry further the primary instruction
received in the science classes by a higher course in an advanced
school. Your Committee are glad to call attention to the
readiness of the Department and the Royal Agricultural
Society to co-operate in the endeavour to promote the success
of the new scheme, and to increase the supply of properly
quali.led teachers, wbicb,. as your Committee have already
pointed out, has been hitherto the chief dilficulty to the more
gen(^ral establishment of agricultural science classes through-
out the country. With a view to utilising the services of
the certificated teachers throughout tlie country, your Com-
mittee recommend that they be empowered by the Council ta
communicate with teachers' unions and other educational
centres making known the advantages offered by Government,,
with special reference to the course of instruction on agricul-
tural science to be given to teachers this aumiuer I'.t South
Hcusiugtou."

THE "FAPtirER'S MAGAZINE

U3

"Mt, Bfiti, hftvinfr raoveJ and Mr. Adkins seconded the
'^reception of this report,

The.CnAiKji.vN exprcssf-d a hope that the Tecomraendation
at the close would not be forfjotten.

Mr. St. John Ackers said the Gloucestershire Chamber
had appointed a special Education Cominiltee, wrhich was
composed of practical farmers, so that it was not likely that
mere theories wovild be taught. He thought the diploma of
tbe Cirencester College was too much lor teachers to aim at,
very few having; ever obtained it, and in his opinion it would
be better to tliiuk only of a high-class certificate from such a
•college.

Mr. Arkei.l complained that the College referred to had
not been used, as was originally intended, for the education
of sons of practical farmers.

The JIarquis of RiroN expressed his satisfaction that the
subject ot scientific agricultural education was exciting such
general interest, and hoped that it would be extended through-
out the country, and would prove very useful in practical
'farming.

After a few remarks from Mr. Bell the motion was

• adopted.

The nest subject on the ap;enda, being the Rivers Con-

• Conservancy Bill,

Mr. Trotter said he was sorry to state that the meeting of
the Lincolnshire Cuaraber, which he represented, in the pre-
vious week, there was not time to consider that Bill ; but it
was a very important measure for Lincolnshire, and a resolu-
tion was passed expressing general approval of it without
refei-ring to details. He thought tha area of taxation should
be made as wide as possible, and the Bill was of such a wide
character that latent powers might be used for that purpose.
The upland-) would be brought under taxation, but only ac-
cording to the amount of benefit which they received.
The lowlands of Lincolnshire embraced several hundred
thousand acres, and what was chiefly wanted was an authority
which would enable them to get a large outfall into the sea.
There had been a large expenditure upon different works, but
the outfall was'-insu£cient, and that Bill v/ould confer the
requisite powers for securing an eficieut system of drainage
which would include a good outfall. He concluded by moving
the following resolution : — "That this Council regards with
satisfaction the introduction of a measure to provide for the
Conservancy of Rivers, but is unable to pledge itself to the
details of the Bill brought into the Houie of Lords." The
words "so far as regards the constitu;ion of the boards, the
incidence of the rates, and the taxation of uplands," which
the Business Committee had added, Mr. Trotter said he did
not approve of and therefore could not udopt.

Mr. Neild having seconded the resolution in this limited
form,

Mr. AViLLSoN proposed an aruerdment consisting of the
words moved by Mr. Trotter, with the additional ones which
he had di carded.

Captain Craigie said, in reply to Mr. Storer, M.P , that
enquiries on the subject v/ere addressed to all the local
chambers, and that replies had leen received from G or 6.
The DoDCMter Chamber had pasved a resolution declaring that
it would be-very unfair to assess the high lands lor benefits
that were obfained by the low lands ; and the Notts Chamber
had passed a similar resolution. He then read the resolution
of which Lord Redesdale had given notice in the House of
Lords to the effect tliat it would be unjust that A's property
should be ta-xed for the benefit of B's property when his land
would not receive any benefit from the outlay.

Mr. Storee, M.P. thought there would be great injustice in
calling upon ail to contribute, the large portion of the low
lands of Lincolnshire wa; purchased for as little as £o an acre,
because it was flooded, and it was now worth £100 an acre.

The Marquis of Ripox said he appeared at that meeting as
a special representative of the Lincolnsliire Chamber, although
they did not at the last meeting come to any definite resolu-
tion ; hut any remarks Ire might make lie wished to be taken
as his owu opinion, except so far that in the month of January
last tlie Chamber at their annual meeting, fully considered the
subject of conservancy, and expressed tlieinselves in favour of
the recoramenda'ions of the report of the Lords in 1877, upon
which the present BU was founded. One important question
in connection with this subject was whether any portion of
taxation in respect to the conservancy of rivers should be

thrown upon the npianfls, and he thought that (here would be
no injustice in that inasmuch as the low lands had been
affected bv the improved drainage of the uplands, lie could
not regard the constitution of tne board, as proposed by the
Bill, as satisfactory,, because it did not give their due share of
representation to the occupiers of land. According to the
Bill, one-third of the members of the bojrd were to be owners
oflan(', and it was proposed that the remaining two-thirds
should be elected by the central bodies. He would strongly
urge that they shoald take care so far as they could by nsing
all their influence that all the occupiers of land had tiieir full
and fair representation on the board. He would suggest tiint
power should be taken in the Bill to divide the branch districts
of the Conservancy Board into sub districts, at each of which
there should be a sub-district board electftd by the ratepayers
which would send representatives to the Conservancy B)ard.
The fight on th; Bill would turn on the question uf rating the
uplands, and in his opinion the claim of the lowlands against
the uplands was just and reascnahle. He thought the constitu-
tion of the board must be amended. It was a matter of regret
to him that he should be obliged by the justice of tfie case to
be a party to the imposition of fresh burdens on the rates, well
knowing what the burdens were already ; but it was satisfactory
to him to see the adoption of the principle of dividing the
rating between owners and occupiers, and he wished that
principle, which appeared to him a sound one, had been adopted
in various rating Bills of earlier origin,

Mr. H. BiDDELL asked what wa« to be the area of the in-
cidence of taxation under the Bill.

The Marquis of RiPOfJ replied that it would be the whole
district of the Conservancy Board. What was contemplated
was that the Board should have to do with the whole of the
water-shed of the river, and therefore the area of taxation
would probably include the whole of the water-shed. There
appeal ed to be some misunderstanding with regard to the
nature of the Bill. It seemed to be supposed th&t, if it
passed, rates would at once be imposed on the whole country;
whereas it was simply a permissive Bill, enabling provisional
orders to be made, after proper inquiry, by the Local Govern-
ment Board, which provisional orders would require the
sanction of Parliament. If he had anything to do with the
administration of such a measure, which it was not at all
likely he would have, he shoald proceed cautiously and ten-
tatively.

Mr. H. BiEDELL said he should object to being taxed for
the benefit of land which he did not live near. He did not
see why he should be called upon to contribute for the im-
provement of land merely because his water ran into a channel
which it always had run into.

Mr. D. LoN'G said he had a great deal of land which was
liable to be flooded in Worcestershire, from 100 to 200 acres
having been flooded 14- times last year. A Drainage Act had
raised the rating of that land '12s. 6d. an acre, and he was
al'raid that if engineers were employed to make a better out-
fall it would be raised 12s. 6d. more.

Mr. Aekell said the sub-division of districts of which the
Marquis of Ripon had spoken, had already been carried out
on tlie district of the Thames towards Oxford, and the only
drawback was that they had to deal with the London conser-
vators, who did nothing in the way of improvement.

Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., said he quite agreed with the noble
Marquis that those who carried out the measure ought to
proceed in a tentative way, and to do nothing rashly, because
he felt sure that in nine cases out of ten the fault lay in the
valley itself and not in the uplands (Hear, hear). The ques-
tion was whether the uplands ought to be rated. On that
point he might remark that there were thousands and thou-
sands of acres of porous subsoil on which a drop of water
had never been seen to stand for five minutes.

Mr. W. JIar'iiall (President of the Cambridge and Isle
of Ely Chamber) said he represented an exceptional district
— -the valley or water-shed of the Ouse — comprising 1,500,000
acres of uplands and about 2,500,000 acres of low lands.
The 1,500,000 acres extended for thirty miles beneath the
level of the sea before the land found its debouchment in the
estuary of the Wash. Tu that district the owners had for the
last 250 years been obliged to expend a great deal of money
to protect themselves against the flooding, and it would be
most unfair to call upon them to pay rates on account of land
which had been subject to no such outlay. They would be

341

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

overlooked on the Board anfl altofrther crushed unless Parlia-
nicDt gave tlieiii distinct protfciion.

The CluiKJiAN said lie liad tiken great iutereat in that
question. He wished to^ay ft few words before putting tlie reso-
luliou. lie was in favour of a certain proportion of the rates
beins; levied upon the uplands ; and he misjht remark tliat
those who took an opposite view seemed to forget that they
would have an opportunity of stating their case to the Local
G ivtirumeut Board before any provisional Order was issued,
and thai the rates might be limited to oue-fourth on a certain
class of lands, or there laight even be total exemption. He
believed that the owners and occupiers of the uplands would
fee quite cap;ible of protectins their own interests on the Con-
servancy Board, as they would probably gain a majority.

Ater a few remarks from Mr. VVillson the resolution pro-
•^osed by hira was put and carried by a large majority.

l^lr. Stoker, M.l"., then introduced the next subject on the
agenda considering the Malt Tax, recapitulal^lug all the chief
arguiuents that have ^'eaerally been argued in favour of the
repeal of that tax, and pointing out that vehen barley was at
?ls. per quarter the duty on meJt was SO per cent., and that
when it was as ii had been recently in his own conn'y at 32t.
the du'y was 75 per cent. He also dwelt upon the hardship
of the duty towards farmers who were large consumers of
■beer; incontequeuce of ihrir being under the necessity of giving
a great dstil to their raeu at different seasons. As regarded
the feeding qijalilies of malt, what he contended was tiiat it
was a usetul condiment and that they ought not to be pre-
cluded from using it. Three reraedinl measures had been
suggested.; one to enforce a customs duty on barley, another
to entorce an ad valorem eEcis.e duty on malt, and the third to
substifute a beer duty for the matt duty. The last was a
practicnl suggestion, and he hoped that some Chancellor of the
Exchequer ■'.vauld take it into consideration. Those who fold
them in plain knguage that they should not think of a return
to protection ought to be the lirat to assist them to secure
the abolition of the malt tax.

Mr. Leywoob compared the duty on malt with that on tea,
and contended that tea was by far the least heavily taxed, the
duty on a gallon of liquid tea being, he maintained, only
three farthings, while that on a gallon of feeer was nearly two-
pence.

]\lr. C. S. Read, M.P., moTcd the following reseiution :
"That this Council is of opinion that the tax on malt is
contrary to every sound principle of taxation, and ought to
be repealed, and that a tax on betr, of a sufficiently large
amount to prevent possible loss of revenue, might with
advantage be imposed in lieu thereof." The hon. gentleman
began by running through various reasoits why the malt tax
question had ceased to interest the public generally, one of
these being that indirect taxation had been so greatly
ditnifiished that labouring people now paid no taxes at all
except upon beer, spijrits, tea, and tobacco. In 1853 the
present Premier was turned out of otBce in consequence of
his having proposed to remit half the malt-tax, and if he was
to make a similar proposition now he would be turaed out
with greater ignominy.

Mr. Startin, in seconding the resolution, condemned the
use of sugar instead of malt as being injurious to the con-
sumer, beca'ise it yielded a larger proportion of alcohol
witliout the nitrogenous matter contained in malt, and niaiu-
tained that as the taxes on the last two articles were levied
there was a large dilTerential duty in favour of sugar.

Ths resolution having been supported by Mr. BiDDELL.,
Mr. Hadsoll, Mr. Neilu, f.nd Mr. Arkeix, the last men-
tioned gentleman remarking incidentally that as he was
travelling up to London from Gloucestersnire that morning
he was told of one estate on his route where thirty-three
tenants had given the landlord notice that they would give up
po-isession.

The Chairman said he wislied to quote a remark made by
Mr. Disraeli, now Lord Beaconsficld, on that subject, lie
said, " That this tax is injuiious to the farmer, 1 do not think
any one can for a moment deny. That it is a tax upon the
consumer is no answer to this complaint. All our taxes are
taxes upon the consumer; Dut tliat this tax restricts the
demand tor the farmer's produce is what no one scarcely can
question," After that admission they might well appeal to
tlie Prime Jlinisier for iiis assistance as regarded the malt
duty. (Hear, hear.) Tiie arguuiuut that that tax was
opposed to free trade was a very sound argument. There

could be no doubt that it restricted'the farmer in the prnploy-
raent of what he produce), and hence it was contrary to the
■very spirit of free trade (Hear, hear).

The resolution was then put ana carried unanimously.

The proceedings terminated with a vole of thanks to Dlie
Marquis of Uuutly as the Chairman.

CAMBRIDGE.

There TTas a meeting of the Cambridge and Isle Off Ely
Chamber of Agriculiure on April 19, at Cambridge., to con-
sider the Rivers Conservancy Bill ; Mr. W. Marshall, of Ely,
presiding. The measure had the approval of some members,
but was adversely criticised by others, more particularly by
those interested in and practically acquainted with the gigantic
drainage works in the ft'ns. It seems to be desired that the
fens may be eserapted from the operation of the Bill, «r fail-
ing this that equitable terms may be obtained for those Who
have at great expense and labour converted the fen country
from a swamp into an English delta.

The following resolution, proposed % Mr. O.'Claube BEiL,
was adopted by the Chamber:^

"That Ibis Chamber regards with interest the Rivers 'Con-
ser/ancy Bill, which in manj' parts of England may be fcund
to meet the wants of those locilities, but is satisfied that
before it can be applied with justice to the valleys of the
rivers Ouse and Nene, and the other Fen rivers which enapty
into the great estuary of the Wash, the vast tracts of fen land
lying above the outfalls of those rivers must ba taken out of the
class of 'flood lands' mentioned in the Bill, or otherwise tfliat
in -settling the incidence of taxation upon those lands not only
the large suns of money heretofore expended by the owners of
such lands in embarking and improving such rivers, but also
the present heavy taxation necessary for maintaining the
present works ouglit to be taken into careful consideratioa."
It was further resolved, "That sui;h uplands as require no
drainage should be exempted from taxation,"

DEYONSHIEE.

Earl FoTfeseue presided at Exeter on Friday., Apri? 18th,
the qtiarterly meeting of the Devonsl ire Cnamtier of AsjricuU
ture, when the Valuation of Property Bill now before ihe
Ilouae of Commons was considered. It was decided to peti-
tion Parliament in favour of immediate procedure with the
Bill, and for the substitution of an appeal to the proposed
county authority instead of the (Quarter Sessions. A petition
against the .proposed registration of cowkeepers was also
agreed upon.

NORFOLK,

A special general meeting of the members ofthis Chamber
was held at Lincoln recently. The chair was taken by
the Vice president Mr. T. Trotter.

The Rivers Conservancy Bill was the first set down for dis-
cussion.

Alter some discussion, several resolutions before the meeting
were withnrawn until further discussion, the members present
considering the resolution passed on the 2Sth suflicient until
after furtlier progress has been made by Parliament. Another
meeting to be held on an early day is to be hereafter arranged.

It was then resolved unanimously, upon the motion of Mr.
CiiAS. Bramley, seconded by Jlr. C. F. Paduison, " That
this Chamber considers that the formation of Couuty Boards,
with the restricted powers provided for in the Bill as recently
introduced into the House of Commons, would increase the
county expenditure wilhiiut securing any corresponding
benefit ; yet the Chamber believe that the establishment of
County Boards with more extensive powers as a Central
Authority is urgently required."

It was further resolved uuauimously, upon the motion of
Mr. Marsii.m.i, Heanley, seconded by Mr. Walter
DuDDi.N'G, " That this Chamber supports the opinion of the
Central Chamber that tlie malt-tax is opposed to every sound
principle of finance, and ought to be repealed, and tliat the
tax now levied on malt might with advantage be levied oa
beer."

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

345

' 'DIXON'S LAW OF THE FARM. London: Stevens
and 8uiis. — This well-kuowa work of reference now ap-
pear in its fourth edition, revised and addtd to by Mr.
Perkins, barrister-at-law. The most important legal
decisions affecting agricniturists (curiously printed " agri-
culturalists" iu the preface) given up to the end of 1'878
are now included in the hook, and an exposition of that
■wonderful "law of the farm," the AgiiculVural Holdings
Act, is also added. Thus the book is now more complete
■ and valuable than ever, and if there were such a thing as
a ''complete" library, the common saying as to no
country gentleman's library being complete without " Tte
-Law of the Far-Hi " would certai-niy be warrantable. The
-first chapter gives au account of the agricultural custonas
of the dill'ereut counties of England and Wales, which,
as far as w^e have tested it, appears to be as correct as it
is clear and concise. But the chapter opevis vvith the
astonishing statement : — " If the Agricultural Holdings
-Act were universally adopted, the term "' custom of the
■country . . . would cease to exist." Now, the Agri-
cultural Holdings Act does not touch the principal items
dealt with under the "custom of the country," such as
payments for fallow, growing crcps, straw, hay, &c., so
thai if that measure were as generally adopted as it is
generally rejected, the custom of the country would still
have a large scope in the direction of farm valuations.
This slip, as we may fairly regard it, does not detract
from the value of the book, which appears to be a nearly
exhaustive treatise upon all questions of law relating to
agriculture, in which respect it is the most valuable work
of its kiad at present published,

THE LAW RELATING TO WEIGHTS, MEA-
SURES AND WEIGHING MACHINES. By G. C.
Whiteley, M.A., Barrister-at-Lavv. London : Knight and
Co. — Jlr. Whiteley has given us a very useful compen-
dinm of the legal obligations which regulate the use of
weights and measures. I he provisions of the Weights
and Measures Act, 1S7S, which is given entire, are clearly
explained by notes appended to the difi'erent sections. The
book also contains a great deal of information as to
■ standards of mea.=(ure, length, weight, and capacity; the
Metric System, the admiuislration of the law and the
penalities attaching to its infringement, the sale of coals
and bread, the law as it affects Scotland and Ireland, and
other matters of a miscellaneous character. It will be
of great service to business men, including, of course,
farmers.

LESSONS LV HORSE JLT)GING. By W^illiam
Fearnley. London : Chapman and Hall. — The author of
this book was formerly Principal of the Edinburgh Vete-
rinary College, and Lecturer on Veterinary Surgery, as
well as Examiner in Anatomy to the Highland and Agri-
cultural Society. He is also the author of "Lectures ou
the Examination of Horses as to Soundness, and he there-
fore comes before the public in the present venture with
very high credentials. His object is, as he tells us in his
preface, " to place on a rational basis a subject that has
hitherto been taught dogmatically, if indeed it can be
truly said to have ever been taught at all. We cannot at
all agree with the author when he suggests that the Govern-
ment should take " under its entire control the selection
of breeding stock, at least in Lhe case of horse Ih sh ; " but
that is a matter which does not at all affect the value of
the work, which appears to us to be well calculated to
instruct its readers in the difficult art of buying horses, as
well as judging them. The subject is treated on a tho-
roughly scientific baiis, and is illustrated by diagrams.

AMERICAN BERKSHIRE EECORD. Springfield,
111., U.S.A.; The American Berkshire Association. This

is the third volume of the " Record," and it contains the
pedigrees of l,;5oO animals owned by upwards of ^00
breeders- Amongst other particulars, it gives a table
showing the geographical distribution of Berkshire pigs
as recorded in the three volumes published- A -great
many English breeders have entered their pigs in 'the
" Record," which is a valuable means of increasing the
fame and promoting the o-ice'lence of the breed. The
Sectetcry states in a paper prefixed to the record of the
animals : — " To England must always be given the honour
of having been tbe original home of the Berkshire ; but
America, with its great natural advantages iu aoil end
climate, may soon become the most noted portion of the
world for the production of Burkshires of the highest
type of excellence."

THE AGRICULTURAL LEASE. By a Director of
the Scottish Chamber of Agriculture. Dumfries : John-
ston and Son. — .It is no secret that the author of this
pamphlet is Mr. ^I'Culloch, of Denbie Mains, Lockerbie,
who recently gained the Highland and x\.gricultural Society's
premium of £2o for the beat historical essay on the lease.
In the pamplilet before us Mr. i^ICuUoch traces the his-
tory of the lease from the earliest times ; but the chief
interest of his essay lies in his remarks upon modera
leases and his suggestions for their im[)i-ovement on the
one hand or disuse iu favour of a yearly tenure v/ith com-
peesatory allowances for improvements on the other. As
we make some reference to this subject in our leading
columns to-day, we need not do more here than recein-
mend the pamphlet to our readere.

HOW TO LAY DOWN LAND TO GRA-fiS.
Londoa : James Carter and Co. — This essay, written for
Messrs. Carter and Co., of High Holborn, is one of pecu-
liar interest at the present time, when so many farmers
are trying to get away from overwhelming expenses by
laying down some of their land in permanent pasture.
Without discussing the doubtful expediency of taking this
course as a general rule, it must be admitted that where
land is suitable for permanent pasture, tenants who are
suffering from the necessity of farming out a long lease
at a high rent, and therefore cannot get away frona oue of
the most serious of their espenses, may most easily gaia
relief by letting a portion of their land go out of arible
cultivation, for a time at least. But, apart from this
question, which arises out of the peculiar agricultural
depression of the present time, there are always cases in
which it is desirable to lay land down to grass, and an
essay like that before us is a very useful guide to those
who have such an intention. In Messrs. Carter's essay
directions are carefully given as to the preparation of the
land, the quantity of se-id to be sown, and the after treat-
ment of the young pasture. But the peculiar value of
the essay consists in the instruction for using certain
varieties of grasses in diL''erent districts, according to the
geological formation of the soil. The country is verbally
mapped out in aecoidauce with the prevailing soils of each
portion of it, and separate mixtures of grasses suitable to
each ere named.

RECIPROCITY. By Sir Louis Mallet, C.B. London :
Cassell and Co., for the Cobden Club. The leading
fallacies of the new Reciprocity party are ably ex-
,posed in this pamphlet, w hich is written iu the form ofa
etter to the Chairman to the Cobden Club. Sir Lonh
Mallett is a high authority on the subject, and we hupe
his letter will be widely read.

THE CHEMISTRY OF COMMON LIFE. By
J. F. W. JoHiVSTOx and A. H. Chukch. London:
Blackwood and Sons. — No popular scientific work that
has ever been published has been more generally and
deservedly appreciated than the late Professor Johnston's
" Chemistry of Commoa Life." First introduced to the

346

THE FARMER'S iMAGAZlNE

public twenty-five years ago, it has ever since remained
Uurivalled 83 a clear, interesting, comprehensive, and
exact treatise upon the important subjects with which it
dea'ls. It is not too much to say that by this, the great
work of a most useful and scientific career, Professor
Johnstoa brought a general knowledge of chemistry within
the reach of general readers, and, by so doing, he did
service of the highest value to the public of his own and
of succeeding generations. But lapse of time necessarily
brings new discoveries in all branches of science, and also
corrects theories once held to be the best guesses at
truth, but since disproved. We gladly welcome, there-
fore, a new edition of this book, revised and added to so
as to render it co-compreheusi-ve and harmonious with
the knowledge of the present time, in relation to
its subjects, by Professor Church, late — alas that
we must say hite ! — of Cirencester College. Professor
■Church has done his woik of revision and addition
well, and he has done it all the better because he
has altered as little as possible, with due regard to correct-
ness, and has reverently preserved the style and method
•of the author. The one entirely new chapter which he
•has introduced, on " The Colours we Admire," is a valu-
able and exceedingly interesting supplement to kindred
subjects dealt with hy Professor Johnston. The book is
one which not only every student but every educated
person who lives should read, and keep to refer to if ha
can afford to buy it.

JOT'RNAL OF THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL
SOCIETY, Vol. 15, Part I.— The new number of the
JcTdrnal contains several papers of great interest. After
the usual meteorological and agricultural statistics the
first article is the Report ou the Farm Competition of
1878, by Frederick Beard; and this is followed by Pv
Report ou the System of Cheese-making practised on
the Four Prize Dairy Farms, and by three reports on the
exhibits at the Bristol meeting of the Society. We next
come to " The Agricultural Features of the Paris
Exhibition,'' by William and James Macdonald, which is
a well-written and exhaustive accouut of all that was most
worthy of notice in the agricultural departments and
live stock of the great World's Show, held on the
other side of the Channel last summer. In liis "Report
on the Dairy-farming of the North-west of France, Mr.
H. M. Jenkins gives the result of his observations made
during a lengthened visit to the districts comprised in
that great agriculniral portion of France which includes
Normandy, Brittany, Picardy, and Sologne. This paper
is full of information as to the cattle and dairy system
of France, and it will be read wi^h great interest by the
dairy farmers of England. One of the njost interesting
aud important of the contribntions is Dr. Burdon
Sanderson's corcludiug report of the experiments on
pleuro-pneumonia at the Brown Institution, We have
elsewhere commented on this report at greater
length than it would be convenient to go to in
this notice ; but we may here remark that the result of
the experiments is such as to render it a subject of very
great regret that any ditTiculties or expense should have
been allowed to prevent their repetition, as conclusions of
the utmost importance might have been arrived at if
they had been continued. Dr. Voelcker's " Report on
the Field Experiments at Woburn " is another important
paper which, like the last, delies appreciative notice in a
brief review. The Annual Report of the Cousuhiug
Chemist concludes the number.

PATENTS FOR INVENTIONS. Edited by H. R.
Lack. — Loudon : The Commissioners of Patents' Sale
Department. — The two volumes before us contain
abridgements of specifications for barn and farmyard im-
plements, from 1030 to 1806; and those relating to

field implement, from 1807 to 1876. Some time back
we noticed the issue of the first volume on held
implement patents, which contained abrid2;raents of
specifications from the earliest da*e to the year 1866. These
abridgments collected thE.s iu handy volumes, classified,
and indexed, are very useful to inventors ; while some of
the particulars of old inventions are interesting to the
agriculturist and the antiquarian.

THE PLEASURES AND PROFFIS OF OUR
LITTLE POULTRY FARM. Loudon: Chapman and
Hall. — Poultry-keepers will read with interest this
account of a snccessful venture in poukry farming. Tlie
authors also kept bees and pigs with profit, aud made
money out of their garden. As to the poultry, the most
extrordinary prices were obtained for both birds and
eggs, so that it was no wouder there was a lafge proit.
The little book is very pleasant reading.

Gardening is a new illustrated weekly paper sold at a
penny, and intended to cater chiefly for people who have
small gardens and who do not feel disposed to take the
more expensive gardening journals. It is peblished by
Brook aud Ford, Soutbampton-street.

ADVICE TO NEWSPAPER CORRESPONDENTS.—
The BuilwafeK liawkeye gives the following directions to its
correspondents as to tlie manner of supphiug manuscript : — ■
Never write with pen or ink. It is altogetlier too plain, and
doesn't hold the mind of the editor and priuters closely enough
their work. If yoa are compelled to use ink, never use that val
garity known as the blotting pad. If you drop a blot of ink on tlie
paper lick it off. The intelligent compositor loves nothing so
dearly as to read through the smear this will make across twenty
or thirty words. We have seen him hang over such a piece of
copy lialf-an-hour, swearing like a pirate all the time — he felt
that good. Don't punctuate. We prefer to punctuate all
manuscripts sent to us. And don't use capitals. Then we can
punctuate and capitalise to suit onrselve^i, and your article
when you see it in print, will astonish, even if it doesn't please
yon. Don't try to write too plainly. It is a sign of plebeian
origin aud State school breeding. Poor writing is an indica-
tion of genius. It is about the only indication of genius that
a great many men possess. Scrawl your article with your eyes
shut, and make every word as illegible as you can. We get
the same price for it from the raginan as though it were
covered with copperplate sentences. Avoid all painstaking
with proper names. We know the full name of every man,
womau, and child, in the United St-ates, and the merest hint
of the name is sufficieut. For instance, if you write a character
something like a drunken letter "S," and then draw a wavy
line, we will know at once that you mean Samuel Rlorrison,
even though you may think you raeau Lsmuel Messenger. It
is a great mistake that proper names should be written plainly.
Always write on both sides of the paper, and when you have
filled up both sides of every p'-ige, trail a line up and down
every margin, and back to the top of the first pige,
closing your article by writing the sif;uatur8 just above the
date. How we do love to get hold of articles written in this
style! And how we would like to get hold of the man that
sends them ! Just for ten minutes. Alone. In the woods,
with a revolver in our iiip pocket. Revenge is sweet, yum,
yiim, yum. Lay your paper on the ground when you write ;
the rougher the ground the better. Coar^e brown wrapping
paper is the best for writing your articles on. If you can
tear dow n an old circus poster, and write on the pasty side of
it with a pen stick, it will do still bttter. When your article
is completed, crunch your paper in your pocket, and carry it
two or three days before sending it. This rubs off all superfluous
pencil marks, and makes it lighter to handle. If you can think
of it, lose one page out of the middle of your article. We can
easily supply whit is missiug, and we love to do it. We have
notliing else to do.

Ingratitude is strongest in a coroner. You may do liim
every kindness, and yet you can't tell what moment he will
sit on you.

t'HE FARMER'S MAGAZIXE.

34;

1"HE REPORT OF THE VETERINARY DEPARTATENT FOR 1878.

The Annual Report of the Veterinary Depart-
liient of the Privy Council Ollice for the year
^S78 has been issued by Professor Browu. It
•commences with a history of legislation in
respijct of contagious cattle-diseases during the
.past year, a subject with which our readers have
already been made fully acquainted. Details a-re
given of the various ways in which Local Authori-
ties have contrived to act in a manner foreign to the
letter and the spirit of the Act of 1878, from misap-
|)rehendi»g the scope and misunderstanding the
meaning of its provisions. For example, a Local
Authority, in its wisdom, directed the Veterinary
Inspector not to visit animals aiJected with Foot-
and-Mouth Disease unless under the special autho-
risation of the sub-committee, who were directed
lo give such authorisation " only when they had
reason to suspect that the disease was more serious
■in its nature than Foot-and-Mouth Disease, and in
no other case." Other Local Authorities have in-
terpreted the Cleansing and Disinfecting Order of
1878 to mean that cleansing and disinfecting are to
be carried out at the expense of owners or occupiers,
■which is not the case. In some instances Local
Authorities have issued notices that no compensa-
tion would be made in the case of animals slaugh-
tered by their orders if the said animals had been
introduced on to the premises within a specified
period before they were attacked by the disease ;
whereas no power has been given to Local
Authorities to withold compensation under the
circumstances. A common form of error appears
to have been in reference to the declaration of
infected " places" and "areas," and as this is an
important matter we give the following explana-
tion in the words of the Report : — " The object of
'declaring a'l infectel place is to shut up, within
well-defined limits, all the animals which havebeen
exposed to infection. The declaration of an
Inspector is a provisional measure which is to be
applied at once to the cowshed, field, or other place
where disease isfound to exist or to have existed, but
the Local Authority, on receipt of the Inspector's
declaraticn, are to institute an inquiry with the
assistance of a Veterinary Inspector, or a person
qualified according to the Act to be such. When
the inquiry is completed the Local Authority are
required to dttermine and declare, and, in the light
of the knowledge gained during the inquiry, to
prescribe, the limits of the infected place. When
the Local Authority have proceeded as above
described, and not before, they are required to
report to the Privy Council the declaration of the
Inspector and their own proceedings thereon, and
to state whether or not it is in their opinion expe-
dient that an ' infected area' comprising the
' infected place' be declared, and any market or fair
held within that area restricted or prohibited, by
Order of Council. An area cannot be declared
infected otherwise than by Order of Council, and
the necessity for such an Order would only arise
under special circumstances. If, for example, a
Local Authority should find reason to suspect that
diseased or infected animals had been moved from

I one place to others witliin a limited radius, pro-
[ bably extending a mile from an infected place, or
if there were within that radius several centres of
j infection and a considerable cattle population, it
: might be desirable to restrict the movement of
animals into, within, and out of the infected area ;
and in such case the declaration of an 'infected
area' by the Privy Council would give the Local
Authority the necessary power to act." This is
vtry explicit, as indeed is the Act itself, with re-
gard to these provisions. Other cases of erroneous
action on the part of Local Authorities are
given in respect of declaring infected areas; ex-
tending the limits of infected places so as to include
public slaughter-houses ; declaring infected places
in cases of Sheep-scab and of Glanders, for which
no such provisions exist ; applying for power out-
side the scope of the Act of 1878 : and failing to
appoint a Veterinary Inspector. The Report says : —
" Xotwithstanding the emphatic terms of this
section (of the Act), some Local Authorities have
intimated that they did not consider' it necessary
to appoint a Veterinary Inspector in their district,
as no disease existed ! " In fact, the unhappy
Local Authorities have dene things they ought not
to have done, and left undone things they ought to
have done in a most sinful manner, just as we ex-
pected from the first that they would do^ judging
from their action under the former Act. In case •
of an extensive and general outbreak of disease —
one of Professor Brown's cycles of Foot-and-
Mouth Disease for example — we should not be at
all suprised if the Privy Council found Local
Authorities to be utterly unworkable and unman-
ageable.

The whole of the existing Orders in Council —
which will be found in the IJar/c Lane E.qyress of
.lauuary 6lh — have been issued under the Act of
1878, including that for the prohibition of cattle
from Germany and Belgium. These countries
were not mentioned in the Act of 1878, nor in the
Foreign Animals Order of December 6th, 1878,
but they were provided for in the Order of
January 27th, 1S77, for which is now substituted
the Order of December 17th, 1878, by which the
prohibition is continued. Schleswig-IIolstein is
always dealt with separately from the rest of
Germany, and the order which is regularly made in
favour of Schleswig-Holstein (when her export
trade begins) was revoked on the 7i;h of December
(when it was over), " on account of the outbreak
of Cattle Plague in Germany." As that country
has now been officially declared to be free from
Cattle Plague, in the very nick of time, we may
expect an Order in Council next month, as usual, in
favour of Schleswig-Holstein,

The statistical portion of the Report, including
its Appendix, is of great interest. With regard to
diseases we find that between the dates September
1st, 1877, and October 1st, 1878, there were 3,722
cattle slaughtered in Great Britain on account of
Pleuro-pneumonia, by order of Local Authorities,
for which a sum of £2D,912 7s. lid. was paid as

B B

?48

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

coinpensation. Another part of tlie Report gives
the number of cattle shiughtered ou account of
Pleuro-pneuraonia in Great Britain during the
year 1S78 as 4,488, and 114 as having died. Accord-
ing to the return for the last week of the year 1878
there v^ere only two " centres"' of Foot-and-
Mouth Disease in Great Britain, and the Report
says '4t is not unreasonable, therefore, to entertain
a hope that under the stringent provisions of the
Act of 1878 the affection may shortly be extin-
guished." In the first nine months of the year the
total number of attacks reported was 9,200, and
during the last three months of the year 666, mak-
ing the total for the year 0,706, against 15,144 in
1877. As this disease is now supposed to be in
such very close quarters it would be worth while to
made a rush and stamp it out entirely, were it not
for the fact that it is still being imported. If it
were stamped out completely to-day there would
be the possibility of fi'esli contagion being con-
veyed by indirect means from some port of landing
to adiacent healthy stock to-morrow ; for no less
than 752 animals actually affected with Foot-and-
]\Iouth Disease were lauded on our shores during
the year, 667. of which number came from the
Netherlands, where no measures are taken for its
suppression and where it is not even included in
the official list of contagious or infectious diseases.
However, the Metropolitan Market was free from
Foot-and-Mouth Disease during the whole of the
year 1878, with the exception of two cases in
January ; and at the Christmas market, for the
first time during a period of ten years, no case of
the disease was found among the animals exposed
for sale.

Our importations from Ireland show an increase
of cattle and sheep, and a decrease of pigs com-
pared with last year, as will be seen from the
following table : —

Fat Stock.

1877. 1878.

Cattle 246,698 245 944

Sheep 431,129 446;628

Laiibs 199.645 196 371

Pigs 508,912 40U67

iMrOBTATION OF FOREIGN LiVE StOCK DuEINa

THE Year 1877.

1,386,384

Stoke Stock.

Oattle 356,249 ...

" Other Cattle." 7,706 ...

Calves 38,788 ...

Pigs 76,515 ....

1,290,110

416,759

4,954

61,564

69,380

479,258 552,657

The total number of animals thup shown as im-
ported from Ireland in 1877 was 1,865,042, and in
1878 the number was 1,812,767.

Our importation of stock from foreign sources
was on a larger sccilo than in the year 1877. From
the columns of the Mark Lane ]i!:rpress, for May
27th, 1878, we reproduce a table of foreign livestock
importationsiu 1877,to.«how, by coniparieon with a
corresponding table for 1878, the variations which
Lave occurred in the character of the export trade
• of the several countries referred to ; —

Cattle. | Sheep.

Pigs

Denmark

50140 Germany

426905

Netherlands

11413

Netherlands 44950, Netherluas

263264

France

4923

Schleswig-

iBeli^ium

61481

Denmark

1759

Holstein

34112 Schleswig-

Canada

584

Spain

27255| Ilolsteia

50661

Sweden

480

Portugal

14582 Denmark

42646

U. States

226

U. States

1153S IJ. Slates

13120

Spain

.73

Ca,uada

7649 Canada

10275

Germany

41

Sweden

4756,Swedea

1545

Belgium

27

France

2804 France

1517

Russia

IS

Belgium

372 Uruguav

448

Africa

9

Germany

; 155 Portugal

158

Nuricny

7

Norway

110,Puiasia

124

India

5

Malta

^Norway

7

Guiana

3

jLrgentine

Con-

Spain

4

Turkey

2

cderation 2

Turkey

3

Pwtiigdl

1

MkMw

1

Italy

1

Total

198428

Total

872159

Total

19572

In this, and the following table for the past year,
Schleswig-Holstein is given separately from the
rest of Germany; and animals from countries
printed in italics are nothing more than surplus
ships' stores: —

Importation op Foreign Live Stock During
THE Year 1878.

Cattle.

Sheep. | Pigs

U. States

68540

Germany

393715 Netherland

J 26035

Denmark

53253

Netherlads

253294 U. -States

16321

Netherland

8 34402

Denmarfe

65136 Denmark

5519

Scblesv.'ig-

Schleswig-

France

3700

Ilolstein

31413

Holstein

52610 Sweden

2313

Spain

22379

U. States

43940 Canada

1614

Canada

17989

Canada

40132Belgium

59

Portugal

13243

Bel [,M urn

38793 Germany

20

Sweden

7846

Sweden

io^S' Spain

2

France

422

France

20Z BoVivia

2

Norway

91

Portugal

25 Bnrhadoes

1

Canary Islands 16

Uruguay

I0\lndia

1

India

5

Spain

4!/\'t'ic Zealand 1

Malta

1

Pent

41

Uruguay

1

Chili
India
Tunis

2
1
1

Total

249511

Total

892468

Total

55588

Thus it will be seen that the increase of foreign
live stock importation in 1878 over that of 1877 is
represented by 51,08.3 cattle, 20,.309 sheep, and
30,016 pigs; and that in the case of both cattle
and sheep the increase is entirely due to importa-
tions from the United States and Canada. With
regard to pigs the increase is chiefly due to these
fresh sources of supply, although the Netherlands,
Denmark, and Sweden come in for a share of the
credit. Two years ago the United States did not
count for anything in respect of livestock imports;
now she is first with cattle, second with pigs, and
fifth with sheep. Next year she will probably be first
with cattle and pigs, and third with sheep. And
in a few years lime she may be "looking around"
for another world to feed. But. the losses during
transit were very heavy. The Report specifies
Ihem in the following manner; — From United

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

>id

States ports 2,034 cattle, 3,200 sheep, and 2.398
piirs were thrown overboard; 271 caltle, 313 sheep,
and 394 pigs were landed dead ; and 139 cattle,
192 sheep, and 2So pigs were so much injured dur-
ing transit as to render it necessary to sUiughter
them at the place of landing. From Canadian
ports ool cattle, 2,000 sheep and 418 pigs were
thrown overboard; 43 cattle, 172 sheep, and 17
pigs were lauded dead ; and 24 cattle, 08 sheep, and
lo'^Digs had to be slaughtered at the place of land-
ino-. Together, 10,007 animals were thrown over-
board, 1,210 were lauded dead, and 718 were killed
at the place of landing on account of their iujuries.

One more item from this interesting Blue-book
must briug our notice to a close. The importations
of foreign stock to the port of London during 1878
are shown to be in the following relationship to
the total market supply of the Metropolis, and to
the total importatio'us of f(>reigu stock into Great
Britain during the same year. Foreign cattle form
42.208 per cent, of the total supply of cattle to
London, and 38.808 per cent, of the total importa-
tion of cattle into Great Britain ; foreign sheep
form 49.421 per cent, of the total supply of sheep
to London, and 82.758 per cent, of the total im-
portation of sheep into Great Britain ; and foreign
pigs form 91.729 per cent, of the total supply of
pigs to London, and 49.383 per cent, of the total
importation of pigs into Great Britain.

The Privy Council replied to the request made
by the Westmoreland and Durham Local Authori-
ties to treat Ireland other than as an inte <.r.il part
of the United Kingdom with regaid to cattle
diseases, to the effect that it was not in accordance
■with the provisions of the Act, as we contended
at the time. The Blue-book contains the Report
on the transit of animals from Ireland to ports in
Great Britain, and that of Professor Ferguson on
the movement of animals intended for exportation
from Ireland to Great Britain, as well as copious
statistics, and much other valuable information.

FLIGHT OF THE HAKE.— Otr common hare is singu-
latlywell adHpted forgetting over tlie grouiui rapidljby the great
length aod powerful developir.ent of its hind legs. These
cj-gana are nearly twice as loua as the fore limb?, and, as most
of us are well aware, the bones composing i hem are set in
motion by an enoimous mass of solid muscle. Ov*ing to tlieir
great preponderance the hare, when moving slowly in search
of food, goes with a sort of lolloping gait ; but the moment
there is occasion for liim to move wi;;h rapiditv.the dispropor-
tionate hind limbs stand hira in good stead, as he shoots along
over the ground b^ a series ol long leap% and with great
swiftness. At the same time, it is oiservtd that the length of
its hind legs cau.=es the hare to run with much greater facility
up-hill than down, and, in fact, it is snid that in descending
steep inclines the animal is obliged to run obliquely in order
to esc:ipe over-balancing itself. When pursued, the liure has
the art of making suddm turns in i's course, known as
'- doubles" or " wrenches," by which the dogs in chase of i' are
thrown out, for altiiough most greyhounds are swifter of foot
than a hare they are incapable of changing the.r course so
tharpiy, and thus, while they are carried some distance on-
wards by their 0^*0 impetus, their intended victim is ma!;ing
off in a different direc ion. They adopt other cunning arti-
fices in order to esc:^pe from their pursuers, and some of tliehe
indicate a considerable amount of iutellij-ence. Under suoh
circnmstances, and also in search of a more plentiful supply
of food the hare will take to the water readily, and swim
across rivers. Mr. Yarrell observed a hare even swimming
snros8 an arm of the sea about a mile htoa.L—Casseirs Natural.
Sistwy.

THE FARMERS AND THEILI FRIENDS.

If ever thera was a class which needed- to be saved fr^m its
friends, it certainly is the farming class of the present-day.
Mr Samuelson, in the House of Commons, recently proposed
an inijuiry into the operation of \\\'i Agricultural Holdings
Act. Immediately he is met by a host ot the sapporters of
the Farmers' Friend Government, who declare that no such
enquiry is needed, and that the Act is working satisfactorily,
though it is patent to the whole country that nine-teutlis of
the landed proprietors have contracted themselves out of its
operation. This was a little too palpably false for Mr. Head,
with all his Tory predilections, and he voted in favour of Mr.
Sarauelson's motion. But his new colleague, who had so
receutly given his solemn pledge to liis cuustituency, that iu
all subjects relating to agriculture he should be guiued by Mr.
Kead, utterly disregarding his pledge, was found supporting
the Goverunieut iu their opposition to Mr. Samuelsou's very
modest request in the interests of the farmers. J\l. lilenner-
hassett has given notice of his intention to move " That it is
desirable that the power of distraint for the rent of agricultural
holdings in England, Wale,=, and Ireland should be abolishc','
thus attacking one of the greatest causes of hindrance to the
progress of agriculture by subjecting the tenant-farmer to
fictitious competition in hiring his land and destroying his
credit. Upon this, the tenant-farmer's repre^entative and
especial friend, Mr. Read, intervenes with an amendment,
which seems designed to render the motion as palatable to the
landlord, and, therefore, as useless to the tenant as the Agri-
cultural Holdings Act itself. We are at a loss to uuderstaud
how the hon. gentleman reconciles this obstruction to the
removal of restraint, with his recent vote on the question of
Hypothec, or his condemnation of the principle of that law
in his sjieech at the Farmers' Club, in the discasston of Mr.
Wrightson's paper on that subject. But Conservative reasoniuf;
was ever too subtle for our dull comprehension. Mr,. Sidney
Smith, another would-be farmers' friend, in a recent letter to
the MarkLaii,s Ej-p-css, asserts that the law of distraint has
the effect of improving the farmer's credit ! Well,, it is
certainly a novel mode of raising a man's credit to place a.
permanent lien upon his elects, and it is a notorious lactthat
the merchant, the tradesman, and the dealer, can all obtain
pecuniary accoiamodation more easily than the farmer ; the
m-oney lender being well aware of the prior claim of the laud-
loid onliis stock-in-trade. Mr. Smith's crowning argument
against the abolition of distraint is that, iu such case, the laud
would only be cultivated by large capitalists ! Well, then,
here is the remedy for tho complaint so generally laid against
tenant-farmers, especially by landlords, that they do not bring
capital enough to their "business ; and we agree ve-y much
with the admission of Mr. Smith, that nothing the Legislature
can do would ba more likely to attract addiiional capital to
the cultivation of the land. But the unkindest cut of all ia
that given the farmers by tho chief of the Govsrnmeut of
" Farmers' Friends," who coolly tells men who are at their
wits' end to find a sovereign to pay their debts, that the
cause of their sufferings is an influx of gold !— whic*', how-
ever, he acknowledges, occurred some years since, and of
which, we venture to think, the farmer was quite unconscious,
though he is painfully aware of the depletion of cash which
the Premier assures him was certaiu to tollow in the natural
course of events. This fanners' oracle, however, caret ully
avoids any allusion to the spiriied foreian policy of which he
and his colleagues have been the auiliors, and which has
undoubtedly had ciaite as much influence in bringing about the-,
general depiessiaii in agriculture and all othe-/ peaceiul pur-
suits as any of the causes to which he cliooses ascribe, it. The
tenrtat-farmer seems to us to be in the unfortanaie position of
having no friends, which (ully accounts for the many hard hits^
he has to bear. The Li eral party are suspicious and jealous
of him, on account of his per&is'ent adlverenca to the party
who always streuu^jusly oppose their programme of to-day as

of old " peace, re'reuchiueat, and retorin; " and those who

profess to be his friends simply use him as a steppiugrstune tc
power, never hesitating to kick down the ladder by which they
climb, being well aware Irtm experience that they are in tha
position of Garrick of yore —

" Who threw off his friends as a huntsman his pack.

For he knew wueu he liked he could whistle them back. '

350

TilB FAKMER'S MAGAZINE.

REVIEW OF THE CORN TRADE,

FrxOM THE MARK LANE EXPRESS FOR THE WEEK EXDING APRIL 28.

Little or no improvement has taken place in the
■weather during the past week, and the season ad-
vances unattended by any of the genial influences
with which we are accustomed to associate the
advent of May. Dull dreary days, whose chief
charactsristics have been cold winds and copious
rains, have succeeded each other with a steady
persistency which augurs unfavourably for any
immediate prospects of a change ; while night
frosts have starved the cereals, withered the
blpssoms on the fruit trees, and checked develop-
ment of all vegetation. Under such unkindly
climatic conditions it is needless to state that
what little progress agricultural affairs have made
have been of a most desultory description. Nob
has the harsh weather been ouly of a partial
character, for from all parts of the United King-
dom, and many of the Continent, r8ports have
chronicled a week of storms and a wintry tempe-
rature. Unreliable as forecasts frequently ai-e,
it must be admitted that the gloomy prognos-
tications which followed the unsettled eq^uinocial
period have, up to the present, been only too well
fulfilled. Although somewhat variable, the
majority of the reports as to the condition of the
-rowing Wheat plant concur in the stating it to
be thin and backward. In the lowlands of Scoi-
Imd farm-work is sufficiently advanded to prevent
much uneasiness, but the heavy falls of rain and
snow have quite put a stop to spring sowing in the
liigher districts, indeed much of the land is yet
unploughed, Stock owners have also suffered
severely by tbe severity of the weather, which has
not ouly starved the grass laud and necessitated
hand feeding, but has materially reduced the con-
dition of the ewe flocks at a time when they
suffer most from exposures to cold and wet. The
supplies of English Whesit have been fairly liberal
;itthe country markeia, and, with increased steadi-
uess in the trade, the average price shows a slight
improvement. At Mark Lane, however, the
offering have been light, and buyers have only
responded to the firmness of holders by taking the
choicest lots at the full price of tbe last week.
Che imports of Foreign Wheat into London have
been to a fair extent, last Monday's return showing
an arrival of about 33,000 qrs., and on Friday a
further 18,000 qrs. were reported ; while at Liver-
pool supplies Jiave been unusually heavy. In
both ports more steadiness has been observable in
the trade, although tlie weight of present aud
jirospective supplies still restricts the operations of
ihe buyers. At the same time an improved
demand has certainly followed the inactivity
caused by tbe ]''ast^'r holidays, but the absence of
rtpeculalion has tended to contract business to the
bupply of present requirement, and stocks have
limiuished slowly. Very little change can be
noted in price, as supply and demand have been
^iretty evenly biilaucod, aud there certainly dous

not appear to be much margin for alteration eithes?
way in tbe immediate future, as tbe depressing,
tendency of the large visible supply in America,
is likely to be counteracted by the unsatisfactory
agricultural outlook and the large needs of France.
Some sorts of American Wheat are ra,ther cheaper
than they were a fortnight ago, but the decline
has not been quoted, as it has only affected inferior
produce. Fine red winter have certainly not been
obtainable at any less money,, although buyers,
have tried hard to get them. Nearly all the
Spring Wheat recently arrived from Atlantic
ports has been of very poor quality, full of
siirivelled grains and wastiua: much in grinding,,
and this accounts for its being purchasable at
such low prices at 3os. to SGs. for No. 3 Chicago,
and 30s. for No. 2 Milwaukee, per 4801b. cost,
freight, and iu&iirance. Maize,, if freely offered,
goes begging to a grea,t extent, 21s. 9d. per
4801b. ex store being the utmost obtainable for
old mixed American in perfect condition, while
new ca.u be had at about Gd. less. Barley has sold.
slowly without alteration in value, but oats have
been in better request aud prices have favoured
sellers. The sales of English wheat noted last
week were 53,483 qrs., at 40s. lid., against 38,355.
qrs., at 51s. 8d., in the previous year. The Lou-
don averages for the week ending April 25th were
40s. 3d. on 2,473 qrs. The imports into the United
Kingdom for the week ending April 19th were
1,110,172 cwts. of wheat, and 220,139 cwts. of
flour. As the first market of importance after the
Easter holidays was held at Mark Lane on Monday
last there was a full attendance of millers and
country buyers, aud the course of tbe dayV business-
was marked by a fairly steady tone and rather
more activity in nearly all descriptions of cereal
produce. In few instances, however, could any
improvement be noted in prices, as the liberal
imports of wheat, flour, and maize pi'evented any
upward movement which the improved inquiry
might otherwise have brought about. The week's
arrivals of English wheat amounted to 3,910 qrs.,,
and there was a very moderate supply fresh up on
factors' stand.«. The extreme quotation of the
previous week were demarded, but were only
obtainable for the best lots, and, in spite of the
firmne.ss of holders, sa.ies progressed but siovs'ly.
The imports of foreign were liberal, amounting in
all to 53,257 qrs., of which quantity upwards of
31,000 qrs. were from Southern Russian ports.
America furnished 12.6G8 qrs., and Germany
7,343, the remainder of the supply consisting
of East Indian, New Zealand, and Australian
varieties. The trade ruled quiet, but previous^
rates were firmly maintained for all except second-
ary qualities of American, which showed a decline
of Od. per qr. on the forinight. The day's sales
were not large, but increased firmness was obser-
vable at the close of the market. The exports

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

361

were 1,544 qrs. agfainst 3,155 qrs. in the preceding:
week. The supply of Barley consisted of 1,303
qrs. of hoiue-p:rown and 5,163 qrs. of foreifrn.
Owing to the continuance of cold weather line
malting sorts were in fair request and fully as dear,
while grinding descriptions met a slow sale at
former currencies. There were 13,1:^3 qrs. of
maize reported, all of which was from New York.
Some signs of increasing steadiness were observa-
ble, but the demand was slow and prices under-
went no quotable variation. The imports of oats
were 35,919 qrs., and, as dealers showed more
disposition to operate, sellers were enabled to
establish an advance of 3d. to 6d. per qr. On
Wednesday the return showed 120 qrs. of English
wheat and" 14,820 qrs. of foreign. There was a
fair attendance for a mid-week market, and in all
branches of the trade the steady tone observable
on Monday was well maintained. American
wheat met an improved demand, but was witlwut
change in value, and barley and maize were un-
altered, but oats tended in sellers' favour. On
Friday the supply had increased to 680 qrs. of
English wheat and 18,040 qrs. of foreign. The
trade ruled steady at previous prices, but the de-
mand was light and the market closed quiet.
Maize was slow and barley unchanged, while oats
were fully as dear. The imports of flour into the
United Kingdom for the week ending April 19th,
were 220,138 cwts. against 184,480 cwts, in the
previous week. The receipts into London were
14,056 sacks of English, and 10,258 sacks and
4,698 barrels of foreign. Country-made has been
firmly held, and prices show no quotable variation,
but American barrels have been the turn lower,
both on spot and for shipment. The vveek'o
arrivals of beans were 39,730 cwt., an»l of Peas
50.210 cwt., showing an increase of 5^47 cwt. on
the former, and 14,961 cwt. on the latter.
An improved demand has been experienced
for both articles, and the tendency of prices
has been against buyers. The deliveries
of malt were 15,936 qrs. and the exports
1,243 qrs. A somewhat steadier tone has
been observable in the trade for this article, but as
yet ro improvement can be recorded in prices,
teusiness in agricultural seeds has been a good deal
restricted of late by reason of the unfavourable
weather and lateness of the season. The low point
to which values have fallen has rendered the past
season a very unremunerative one to growers,
whose operation?, both in corn and seeds have re-
sulted in disappointment. During the past week
the trade has ruled quiet for all varieties, and prices
remain unaltered. Rape and linseed have been in
better request, but there has been very little inquiry
for Oanar'-. A quiet and steady tone ha.s charac-
terised provincial trade throughout the past week,
and the country markets have been fairly supplied.
An occasional decline of Is. per qr. was quoted on
wheat, but the reduction was only necessary to quit
secondary parcels, as all good lots have fully main-
tained late rates. No change can be noted in spring
corn. At Liverpool on Tuesday the market wasjwell
attended, and a better tone was noticeable in the
wheat trade, especially for the finer sorts, which
were in request at fully former rates. Secondary
qualities, however, were aboi.it Id. per cental

cheaper. Flour was inactive and rather weaker, and
maize was also ofTbred on rather easier tarms, but
there was no material change in other articles.
The week's imports include 107,000 firs, of wheat
and 27,000 qrs. of maize. At Newcastle there has
j been very little business passing in wheat, for
I which prices receded Is. per qr. Flour has also
been rather weaker, but maize maintains a firm
position. At Hull English wheat has met a steady
i sale at late rates, but foreign has ruled dull. At
Leeds there has been scarcely anything passing in
grain, a.nd, although in the absence of demand
prices are nominally unaltered, sellers would make
some concessions to bring about business. At
Edinburgh wheat has been in small supply, but a
reduction of 6d. to Is. per qr. has been necessary to
effect sales. Barley has ruled slow, but oats have
realised rather higher rates for the finer qualities.
At Leith fair progress has been made with sowing,,
as the weather has been rather drier, but tht^ tem-
perature has been very low and vegetation is in a.
bacltward state. The week's imports have been
moderate of all articles ; at the market on Wednes-
day Scotch wheat receded 6d, per qr. ; foreign
with little offering on the spot, maintained
former values, but business was by no means brisk..
Oats were occasionally 3d. per qr. dearer,, but
other feeding stuffs remained unaltered. At Glas-
gow the arrivals from abroad have been heavy of
wheat and flour, but light of other articles.
Wednesday's market was fairly attended, but the
trade was slow and prices exhibited a declining
tendancy. Wheat was 6d. to Is. per c^r. cheaper
to sell, and flour gave way Is. per sack and barrel.
Oats were steady, while maize declined 6d. per r^r.^
At Dublin the weather has been wet and un.season-
able, and no change can be recorded in the position
of wheat, which continues to meet a slow sale at
nominally late rates. Maize has become rather scarce
and somewhat better prices have been obtainable..
At Cork a limited amount of business has been done
in wheat, but increased steadiness has prevailed..
Maize advanced Is. 6d. per qr. owing to temporary
scarcity, but subsequent arrivals have reduced rates-
0 their former level.

The following are the reports from Mark Lane
during the past month :

Monday April 7.

The arrivals during the past week have been : Ennrlish
Wheat, 4,274 qrs. ; foreign, 17,3'J7 qrs. Exports, 2,867
qrs. There was a fair supply of English Wheat at market
this morning, and the trade ruled slow at about late rates ;
of foreign the arrivals were small, and a moderate retail
demand was experienced at last Monday's currencies, but
there was very little animation in the trade, and to have
made sales in any quantity lower rates would have had to-
be accepted

Country Flour, 15,216 sacks ; foreign, 8,089 sacks, and
18,085 barrels. Bubiuess ruled quiet for both sacks
and barrels, but prices underwent no further decline.

English Barley, 8G2 qrs- ; Scotch, 1,208 qrs ; foreign,
2,530 qrs. Malting descriptions ruled slow at about late
rates, and grinding sorts were negkcted, but without
quotable change in value.

Malt, English, 17,107 qrs. ; Scotch, 1,685 qrs. Ex-
ports, 928 q^^rs. A dull trade at about last week's
currencies.

352

THE FAKMEE'S MAGAZINE.

Afaize, 58,379 qrs. Old mixed American ex-store was
held fur former prices ; but, new, under pressure of further
heavy arrivals, gave wav Od. per qr. on tlie week;

English Oats 1,07G qrs, Scotch 315 qrs. Foreign
20,506 qrs. Exports 6 qrs. The trade generally ruled
steady, and the choicest varieties were in some request at
fully late rates.

English Beans 870 qrs. Foreign 133 qrs. A quiet
but steady demand at unaltered currencies.

Linseed 8,30-i qrs. Exports 428 qrs. In fair request
and fully as dear.

Wednesday April 9.

There was no further arrival of English Wheat since
Monday and the trade ruled quiet but steady at unaltered
currencies; of foreign the imports amounted feo 8,980
qrs., and with a scanty attendance of millers, sales pro-
gressed ^!ov\■ly at about former rates.

There were 5,020 sacks, ajid 2.760 barrels of foreign
Flour imported. All I'escriptions were held for Monday's
prices but the business passing was strictly of a retail
character.

The supply of Barley consisted of 880 qrs. of home
grown, and 1,690 qrs. of foreign. Little or no demand
was experienced, but prices were unchanged both for
malting and grinding descriptions.

The imports of Oats amounted to 26,050 qrs., and a-
quiet retail inquiry was e.xperienced at Monday's quota-
tions.

The return showed 1,060 qrs. of Maiz?, and new mixed
American sold slowly at barely late rates. Old Corn was
unaltered and ronnd varieties steady.

Malt moved off quietly and no quotable change occurred
in prices.

There were 3,300 qrs. of Beans reported but there was
no fresh arrival of Peas. A moderate demand was- met
for both articles and Monday's rates were fully maintained.

There was a fair business done in agricultural seeds,aud
all tlie principal varieties were fully as dear.

Monday April 31,

The arrivals daring the past week have been, English
Wheat, 3,916 qrs. ; foreign, 53.237 qrs. Exports, 1,544
qrs. There was a fair supply of English Wheat fresh up
to market this morning, and the best lots met a slow sale
at about late rates ; of foreign the arrivals were large,
and with a numerous attendance of buyers a fair milling
inquiry was experienced at an occasional decline of
Sd. per qr. on Ajnerican sorts, since last Monday
■week.

Country Flour, 14,056 sacks ; foreign, 10,258 sacks
and 4,698 barrels. Sacks were saleable at former cur-
rencies, but barrels were neglected and the turn cheaper,
with an exceedingly dull trade.

English Barley, 498 qrs. ; Scotch, 810' qrs. ; foreign,
5,163 qrs. There was a quiet but steady demand for
both malting and grinding descriptions at last v/eek's
full prices.

Malt : English, 14,101 qrs. ; Scotch, 1,835 qrs.
Exports, 1,243 qrs. In moderate request, and unaltered
in value.

Maize, 13,123 qrs. Exports, 513 qrs. Some signs of
returning steadiness were observable, but sales progressed
very slowly and prices were unaltered for both round and
flat corn.

English Oats, S90 qrs. : Scotch, 60 qrs. ; foreign,
35,919 qrs. Export, 32 qrs. Dealers bought somewhat
sparingly, but the trade was very firm, and an occasional
advance of 3d. to 6d. per qr. on the fortnight was
obtainable.

English Beans, Sli qrs. ; foreign, 124 qrs- I'iriJa and
tilly as deas:.

Linseed, 4,862 qrs. Exports, 372 qrs. Ileld fGC
rather higher rates, which buyers declined to pay.

Monday April 28.

The arrivals during the pa^t we»k have been : English
Wheat, 4,335 qrs. ; foreign, 27,3-S qrs. ; exports, 3,190
qrs. Ther^was only a small supply of English Wheat
fresh up to market this morning, and the trade ruled quiet
but steady, at last Monday's prices ; of foreign the arrivals
were also light, and with a good attendance of millers, a
quiet consumptive demand was experienced at about lata
rates.

Country Flour, 10,833 sacks. Foreign, 8,196 sacks
and 6i590 barrels. Basiness was not very bristi, but last
week's currencies were steadily maintained for both sacks
and barrels.

English Barley, 657 qrs.; Scotch, 53 qrs.; foreign,
1,272 qrs. Fine malting sorts were firmly held, but
grinding descriptions sold slowly, although without
quotable change in value.

Malt : English, 21,728 qrs. ; Scotch, 830 qrs. ; ex-
ports, 1,271 qrs. In moderate request at pievious prices

Maize, 20,072 qrs. ; exports, 260 qrs. Old corn was
in retail demand at last Monday's currencies, while new
was again a shade easier.

English Oats, 305 qrs. ; Scotch, 120 qrs. ; foreign,
28,111 qrs. With light arrivals from abroad, a more
animated inquiry was met, and although trade was
scarcely so strong as ou the previous Friday, an all-round
advance of 6d. to 9d. per qr. on the week was estab^
iished.

English Beans, 320 qrs. ; foreign, 90 qrs. In more-
request, and about Is. per qr. dearer.

Linseed, 2,357 qrs.; exports, 136 qrs. Scarce, and
fully as dear.

CURRENT PRICES OF BRITISH GRAIN AND FLOUR

IN MARK LANE.

ShlUings pe .luarter

WHEAT, Esses & Kent^ white old — to — new 35 to 47

,, „ red old — — new 34 45

Norfolk, Linclnsn., and Yorksh. red old — new 33 45-

BARLEY Chevalier new 35 68

Grinding 33 to 40 DistilUng 34 56

MALT, pale new63to78 old brown 50 64

RYE 30 54^

OATS, English, feed 21 to 23. Potato 24 28

Sc.jtch, feed — — Potato — —

Ii-isn, feed, white24 28 Finfr. — —

Ditto, black 23 24 Pof.a.to — —

BFINS, Mazagan ...32 35 Ticks 31 34-

Harrow — — Pigeon, old 40 48

PEAS, white boilers 34 38 Maple 37 to 39 Grey 34 36

FLOUR, per sack of 28Ulba., town households 35 40

Best country households, 31 3C-

Norfolk and Sufifolk 28 30

FOREIGN GRAIN.

BhilUngs per
WHEA.T, Dantzio, mixed 44 to 48 extra

Konigsberg 48 50 extra

Rostock... 45 48 old

Pomera., Meckberg., and Uckermrk red

Ghirka o3 to 41 ..Russian, hard, 43 to 46,Saxonska

Danish and Holstein, red — — ...red American

Chilian, white 47...Calirornian 46 48 ..Australian

East Indian, No. 1 Club white, 44 to 45,; No. 2
,, Ord. white 1» to 42 ; red 37 ro 39 ; hard

BARLEY, gi-inding 10 to 20 distilling

OATS, Datca, brewing and Polands 20 to 23. feed

Danish and Swedish, feed 18 to 19-..Stralsuud ...

Cana''a jOtoOO. Riga 10 to 17 Petersburg...

BEANS, Fi-ieslaud and Holstoin

Italian 34 to 37. ..Egyptian

PEAS, feeding and maple.. .34 35. fine boilers

MAIZK, Bliick Soa 23 25 . Mixed Amorican

FLOUR, per sack, French 32

Hungarian, por8ack...41
TARES, Spring

36. ..Spanish, p. wacK
55... American Larrol

Quarter .

— to 50

—

—

-«

^^

42

47

42

46-

42

47

48

50

42

43

31)

40

28

35.

19

21

19

21

17

20

34

35

36

38.

21

2a

33

35

19

23-

32

34

Eualcd by 11a/j:j.i, Waxsoxj, & Vi.\£x, 265, Strand, Londoii.

THE FAEMEli'8 MAGAZINE.

CO N T E N T S.
MAY, 1879.
Plate.— THE WHITE COLESHILL BREED.

Dbscrtption of Platr .

The Economical Aspects op the Land Question

The TiPTREE Balance Sheet

The Scottish Chamber of Agriculture and the Hy

Chemistry Applied to Agriculture ,

Agricultural Table Talk . .

The Hypothec Sham

ARTiFiciAL Manures

Swiss Agriculture

The Royal Agricultural Society and the Royal

A Rector's Complaint

The Rotal Dublin Society's Spring Show .

Lite Stock Notes.

Principles OF AGRicui,raRE

Tenant Farmers and their Representatives

Cost of the Malt Tax

Bath and West of England Show

A Reduction in Rents

Tenure. ....

The Agricultural Holdings Act

Agricultural Societies . , .

Farmers' Clubs.

Chambers of Agriculture

Swindon Shorthorn Show and Sale

The Tithe Rent-Charge.

The Hypothec Abolition Bill , ,

The Proposed Land Confekencb . .

The Law op Distress . . .

Various Notes ....

The Law of Distraint

Warwickshire Tenant Farmers' Association

Entomology and Agriculture

The Agriculture of Wales

A ISTew Grain-Exporting Country.

Farm Rents AND Free Trade , .

The Agricultural Situation

Experiments on Pleuro-Pneumonia

A Bill of Sale ....

■Bedfordshire Stallion Show ,

Literary Notices . .

Report OF the Veterinary Departmentfor 1878

Review of Corn Tradb , . .

potkbc B

Dublin

Page
. 276
. 276
. 277

, 278
. 280
. 281
. 281
. 282
. 283
. 283
. 2S4
. 284
. 285
. 287
. 288

, 288

. 289
. 289
. 290
. 292
. 300
306, 331, 342
306, 342
. 307
. 307
. 308
. 308
3 10, 320
. 312
. 319
. 31 ()
. 321
. 323
. 325
. 326
. 327
. 328
. 330
. 330
. 345
. 347
. 350

CHAMPAGNES.

GRAND ]/lN DE L'EMPEREUfi

TRADE SBBmrnmSi, MARK.

NONPAREIL.

uplendid "Wine equal to the Finest Brands, at half the usual Price,

Sole Importers of the Celebrated

GRAND VIN DE CHAMPAGNE,

TRADE ,^^ft MARK.

ROUSSEAU AND CO., REIMS.

MADEIRA

Of the FINEST OTALITY, in Quarter Casks and in Bottle, and every
other description of Wines at the

LOWEST POSSIBLE PRICE,

CAN ALWAYS BE HAD OF

TUXFORD AND CO.,

WINE MERCHANTS,

48, Fenehureh Street, London, E£.

Established 1847.
SAMPLES ON APPLICATION,

THE

KOYAL FAEMEES' & GEl^EEAL
IlSfSIJEANCE OFFICE.

ESTABLISHE D 840

TO INSURE AGAINST LOSSES BY

FIEE AND HAIL STORMS,

AND TO GRANT

INSURANCES ON LIVES.

DII^ECTOI^S:

Chairman— ALFRED DENISON, Esq., 6, Albemarle Street, Piccadilly.
Depnty-Chairman — B. P. SHEARER, Esq., 47, Gloucester-place, Portman Square.
Thomas Henry Burroughes, Esq., 17, Lo\\'er Berkeley ( Richard L. Loveland, Esq., 4, Hare Court, Temple.

Street. John Reddish, Esq., 9, Highbury New Park.

AVilliam Clutton, Esq., 7, Clifton Villas, Penge, Major F. Anderson Stebbing, 4, Cleveland Gardens,-

A. J. Duff Filer, Esq., 10, Aberdeen Park, Higlibury. Castle Hill, Ealing.

E. J. Hawker, Esq., 37, Cadogan Place, Sloane Street

FIHE. — Insurances at moderate ra s.

LIFE. — Insurauces on equitable terms. Profits divided every five yeara.
HAIL. — Crops insured against Hail Storms at 5d. per acre.
LOSSES.— Settled promptly and liberally.

AMPLE CAPITAL AND LAEGE EESEEVES.

Prospectuses and Reports may be obtained of the Secretary, JOHN SHARP, 3, Norfolk Street, Strand
London, W.C, or of the Agents.

TBE

MARK LANE EXPRESS

AND

AGEICULTUEAL JOURNAL

IS THE

LARGEST AND THE LEADING FARMER'S AND GRAZIER'S NEWSPAPER.

PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY EVENING, IN TIME FOR POST.

Office of Publication and for AdvertiBements, 265, Strand, London. May be had of all Booksellers

and Newsmen throughout the Kingdom, price 7d., or £1 10s. 4d. per annum.

Just Published, Fourth Edition, Demy 8vo, price 26s. (for cash Sis.).

"DIXON'S LAW OF THE FARM,"

WITH A DIGEST OF CASES, AND INCLUDING THE

AGRICULTURAL CUSTOMS OF ENGLAND AND WALES.

By HENRY PERKINS, Esq , Barrister-at-Law of Midland Circuit.
"No book can possibly be more aseful than this.— The Advertiser.
" The book is no\t more complete and valuable than evet.— Mar/c Lane Ex2)ress.

Stevens and Sons, 119, Chancery Lane, London.

No. 6, Vol. LV.] JUNE, 1879. [Third Sbeibs.

THE

FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

AMD

MONTHLY JOURNAL

OF

THE AGRICULTUEAL INTEREST.

TO THE

FARMERS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.

LONDON I
PUBLISHED BYROGERSON AND TUXFORD, 265, STRAND.

PRICE TWO SHILLINGS.

HAZBLL, -WATSON, * TINBT.] [PRIKTKRS, 266, STRAND.

(MPGRTAMT TO FLOCK^ASTEBS.

THOMAS BIGG,

Agricultural & Veterinary Chemist,

By Appointment to his late Royal Highness
The Prince Consort, K.G.,

LEICESTER HOUSE, GREAT EOVER STREET,
BOROUGH, LONDON,

BEGS to call the attention of Farmers
and Graziers to his valuable SHEEP and LAMB
DIPPING COMPOSITION, which requires no BoOing, and
may be used with Warm or Cold Water, for effectually
ties'troying the Tick, Lice, and all other insects injurious to
the Flock, preventing the alarming attacks of Fly and Shab,
and cleansing and puritjong the Skin, thereby greatly im-
proving the Wool, both in quantity and quality, and highly
Contributing to Uie general health of the animal.

Prepared only by Thomas Bigg, Chemist, &c., at his Manu-
factory as above, and sold as loUows, although any other
quantity may be had, if required : —

i lb. for 20 sheep, price, jar included £0 2 0

6 1b. 30 „ „ „ 0 3 0

81b. 40 „ „ „ 0 4 0

10 lb. 50 „ „ , 0 6 0

201b. 100 „ ,, (Cask and measure 0 10 0
301b. 150 „ ,, included) 0 15 0

401b. 200 „ „ „ 10 0

60 1b. 250 „ ., 13 6

60 1b. 300 „ „ 17 6

801b. 400 ,. „ 1 17 6

1001b. 500 „ „ , 2 6 0

Should any Flockmaster prefer boiling the Composition, it
will be equally efiective.

MOST IMPORTANT CERTIFICATE.

From Mr. Hebkpath, the celebrated Analytical Chemist :—

Bristol Laboratory, Old Park, January 18th, 1861.

Sir, — I have submitted your Sheep Dipping (Jomposition to

Rnalysis, and find that the ingredients are well blended, and

llie mixture neutral. If it is used according to the directions

ffiven, Ifeelsatisfied, that while it efiectually destroys vermin,

a will not injure the hair roots (or "yolk") in the skin, the

fleece, or the carcase. I think it deserves the nnmerea
testimonials published. I am. Sir, yours respectfully,

William Hbbapath, Sen., F.O.S., 4c., &C.,
To Mr. Thomas Bigg Professor of Chemistry.

<«€icester House, Great L/over-street Borough London.

He would also especially call attention to his SPECIFIC,
or LOTION, for the SCAB or SHAB, which will be found
a certain remedy for eradicating that loathsome and ruinous
disorder in Sheep, and which may bo safely used in all
climates, and at all seasons of the year, and to all descriptions
of sheep, even ewes in lamb. Price FIVE SHILLINGS per
gallon — sufiicient on an average for thirty Sheep (according
to the virulence of the disease) ; also in wine quart bottles,

IMPORTANT TESTIMONIAL.
" Scoulton, near Hingham, Norfolk, April 16th, 1855.

"Dear Sir, — In answer to yours ol the 4th inst., which
would have been replied to before this had I been at home, I
have much pleasure in bearing testimony to the efficacy of
your invaluable ' Specific for the cure of Scab in Sheep.' The
600 sheep were all dressed in August last with 84 gallons of
the ' NoN-poisoNous Specific,' that was so highly recom-
mended at the Lincoln Show, and by their own dresser, the
best attention being paid to the flock oy my shepherd after
dressing according to instructions left ; but notwithstanding
the Scab continued getting worse. Being determined to have
the Scab cured if possible, I wrote to you for a supply of your
Specific, which I received the followii;g day ; and although
the weather was most severe in February during the dressing,
your SrEciFic proved itself an invaluable remedy, for in
three weeks the Sheep were quite cureil ; and I am happy to
say the young lambs are doing remarkably well at present.
In conclusion, I believe it to be the SJilest and best remedy
now in use. " I remain, dear Sir,

"For JOHN TINGEY, Esq.,

" To Mr. Thomas Bigg. ' " R. RENNEY.

Stir Flockmasters would be well to beware of such pre-
parations as " Non-poisonous Compositions :" it is only
necessary to appeal to their goccl common sense and judg-
ment to be thoroughly convinced that no " Non-poisonous "
article can poison or destroy insect vermin, particularly such
as the Tick, Lice, and Scab Parasites — creatures so tenacious
of life. Such advertised preparations nmst be wholly useless,
or they are not what they are represented to be.

DIPPING APr ARATUS *'4. £5, £4, & £S.

ADVERTISING.

C. H. MAY k C 0.,

GENERAL ADVERTISING OFFICES,

78, GRACECHURCH STREET, LOJ^DON, E.G.

(THE ONLY ADDRESS). ESTABLISHED 1846.

Advertisements of every description received for insertion in all Newspapers, Magazines, Reviews, &c., at th«
««iue ratts as at the offices of the papers.

Estimates for General Advertising. Reduction for a series. Liberal terms to large advertisers.

Advtrtisements are also received for all newspapers, which may be addressed to these offices, without extra
charges, and replies forwarded if required.

C. H. MAY & Co., having special communication with the leading newspapers three times daily, can guarantee
the utmost promptitude of insertion to all advertisements intrusted to them.

Important announcements requiring instant publicity in distant localities are sent by special wire, without i»-
reise of charge.

The Press Manual for 1879, containing a complete List of Newspapers published in the United Kingdom,
f o»t free 6d.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

JDNE, 1879.

PLATE.

TAVISTOCK.

A PRIZE HUNTER, THE PROPERTY OF T. HARVEY D. BAYLY, ESQ., EDWINSTOWE HOUSE, NEWARK^

Tavistock is a bay geldinj^, six years old, by
Gtimmadi Verj^y, aid was bred by Mr. Pollard,
Blagdon, South Dctvon, who sold hiin to Mr. Bat-
tains, of whom Mr. Harvey Bayly boug'ht hia3. He
is a horse of great size and power, with good action,
and although he do-s not take after his ?ire iu form
or colour, still he shows a deal of breed ia his
liiubs. Tavistock has a good seusible head, capital
hunting neck and shoulders, is deep through the
heart, has a short back, with good loins, powerful
drooping quarters, and knees and hocks near the
ground. Last year at Alexandra Park he was
awarded the first prize iu a class of seventeen, five

years and upwa-ds, up to not less than 14 stone,
and the Alexandra Park medal and £50 as the
best hunter in the show. At Islington he did the
like, being first in a class of twenty-seven up to not
less than 15 atone, and then beat B.ildersby, Golden
Drop, and the Dandy for the Agricultural Hall
Medal ; winding up the season at Northallerton by
winning the Yorkshire Agricultural Society's prize
of £50, in a class of nineteen, for the best gelding
or mare, five, six, or seven years old up to 15 stone
with hounds, and which had been regularly hunted
during the season 1877-78.

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

EOYAL OP ENGLAND.

Monday Council, Wednesday May 7th, 1879. Present :
H.K.H. the Prince of Wales,' K.G. (President), in the
ctiair; Earl Cathcart, the E;irl of Powis, the Earl of
Kavensworth, Earl Spencer, K.G., Gereral Viscount Brid-
port, L'-rd Vernon, Sir T. ])yke-Ackand, Birt., M.P.,
8ir A. K. iMacdonald, Bart., Sir W. Earle Welby-Grei^ory,
Bart., M.P., Sir Brandreth Gibbs, Mr. Amos, Mr. Ark-
vfriffht, -Mr. Avelino;, Mr. BoAly, Mr. Cantrell, Mr.
Davies, Mr. Dent, Mr. Druce, Mr. Foster, ]\Ir. Charles
Howard, Mr. James Howard, Mr. Bowen Jones, Col.
Kiogscote, C.B., M.P., Mr- Leeds, Mr. Mcintosh, Mr.
Martin, Mr. Masfen, Mr. Odnnis, Mr Raudell, Mr. Raw-
leiice, Mr. Russell, Mr. Sanday, Mr. Sheraton, Mr.
Shuttleworth, Mr. Stratton, Mr". Torr, M.P., Lieut. -Col.
Turberville, Mr. George Turner, Mr. Jabcz Turner, Mr.
Wakefield, Mr. Wells, Mr. Whitehead, Mr. J leob Wilson,
Mr. Wise, Professor Simonds, and Dr. Vot-lcker.

Sir Henry J Tutton, Bart., ot Ilotfield Place, Ashford,
and Mr. J. B. Lawes, of Rotharastead, St. Albans, were
elected Governors of the Society ; and the following new
members were elected : —
AiexanHer, Alec James, of Guslimore Court, Selling', Paver-

sliam.
Allen, Georire, of Kuigbtley Hall, Ecclpsball, Staffs.
Apperlt-y, Win. H..ot Wetluntrton, Hf-reford.
Ariswrisiht, Liltus W., ot PHriidon Uai!, RatIow.
AriijS*rou>r, i;iiarle8, of Corden Lodge, Carlisle.
Amstrong John, of Uniliaok, Skelton, Penrith.
Bainbridie, Thomas, of North Coxlodge, Gostbrtli, Newcastle-

on-Tyne.
Baier, John R., of Nile Teriace, Rochester.
Baker, tlie Rev. Sir Talbot, R. B., Bart., of Banst n. Bland-

ford.

Old Sebies

Bjr'ow, Thomas Edward, of SanJown Road, Seaforth,

Liverpool.
Barnes, John, of Baurgh S\kp, Wigton.
Barnes, Jolm, of Kelsick, VVin-'on.

Batho, George S., of tlie Ligliteach, Whitchurch, Salop.
Hasendale, L'oyd, of Greenliam Lodiie, Ne*bury.
Bayley, William, of Britwell Farm, Burnham, UHidenbead,
Bayvet, M. Gustave, o' 82, Boulevard, liaussmauu, Paris.
Bell, John, ol Monk Casrie, Ctrli.-le.
Beil, John Jackson, ol 6, Lonsdale Street, Carlisle.
Bell, Josei-ih, of Mouk Ca.slle, C><rlisle,
Bnninij, Samuel Jackson, of 2, iVieadow Terrace, Carlisle.
Body, John, jun., of Witlershain, Ashford.
Bond, Thomas E., of Pulliam, St. Mary Hall, Harleston,
Booth, William C, of Oran, Calierick.
Boscawen, the Hon. and Rev. J. Townshend, of Lamoware,

Piobus.
Boulton, Henry, of Checkley, Na twich.
Bowers, James, Jan., of The Warren, Cuestpf.
Brook, Edward, of Meltham UhII, Hu^idersfield.
Brown, Frederick Sayer.s, of BrHcmilale, Norwich.
Biillivaiit, W. JL, of Wool lands, Chigwell Row, E-ses.
Burn, John Henry, ol C-res Iron Works, Kinij.ston-ou-Tnaines.
Biinniug, William, of Peutwin t'arn, Pontypool.
Burkitt, H. G. of Eiiihting Cocks, Darlington.
Burnell, Juhu T., of Oaklands, Aileyn Park, West Dalwich.

Suriey.
Burrows, Geor^re William, of Henry Road, Baruet.
''allwoori, James, of Clieliord, Che.ster.
Campion, W. Henry, of Dannv, Hurstpierpoint.
Carpent<^r,'Joseph, of Burcombe, Salisbury.
Casewell, William, of Heath G .tes, Prees, Sdop.
Cavendish, Henry Uavenilish, of Glivknell, Bridnn'Tth.
Cely-Trevilian, J. R., of Debden HaU, S,.ffron WaUlen.
Chaloner, Richard, of King's Fort, Moynalty, Co. Meath.
Chandler, William, of Aidbnrnp, Hunuerford.
Cliapman, Jolm, ot E is: Sutton, Staph-hurst.

C C Vol. LXXXV,— No 6.

354

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Cheescmin, Alfred, of Norwood Farm, Eastclmrch, Sheerness.

Chesworth, William, of Burlaiid, Nautwich.

Chianock, Frederick George, of 11, Waterloo Place, Pall Mall

S.W.
Chowen, Henry L., of Dalton Holme, Hull.
Cladish, Edward, ofUlean House, St. Thomas's Hill, Canter-
bury.
Cock, Edwin, of Appledore, Ashford, Kent.
Cole, William, of Clifton Lodge, Cirencester.
Coleman, Thomas, of Goss Hall, Ash, Sandwich.
Cooper, William, ol Swanley, Cliislehurst, Kent.

Cornwall, Frank, of 15, Clement's Ion, E.U.

Court, John, of Gould's Court, Maidstone.

Cowen, Robert Watson, of Mid Elless, Dalst 'n, Carlisle.

Crosby, John Wright, of West Derby, Liverpool.

Crosskil], Thomas, of St. Cuthbert's College, Durham.

Crowhurst, William Henry, of 68, Stour Street, Canterbury.

Cuming, J. A., of King's Arms Hotel, Grays, Essex.

Derby, Thomas C, of Pleshey, Chelmsford.

Davies, William, of Hinstock, Market Drayton.

Day, John, jun., of Barton Manor, A>h, SauQwich.

Dodds, William, of Katcheugli, Aluwiek.

Drewitt, George, of Piccard's Farm, Guildford.

Dreivitt, William, of Duucton, Petworth.

Duun, Chades Alfred, Old Dover Pioad, Gravesend.

Eley, George, of Queendowne Warren, Harilip,Sittingbonrue.

Eley, Tiiomas, ot Loyterton, Lynsted, Sitiingbourne.

Eley, Wil.iam Henry, of Strood, Rochester.

Elias, Edward, ol Gorsvien, Conway.

England, William, of Alexandra Park, Harrogate.

Evaus, AmwellL., ot Posllip Hall, Winclicomb.

Ferme, George, of Leigham Ludge, Roupell Park.Etreatham
Hill, Surrey.

Finnfraore, Frederick, of Cranbrook, Kent.

Fletcher, Thomas, of 4fi, Fisliergate, Preston.

Foster, James Thorn as'in, of Barnston Lodge, Dnnmow.

Foster, W. H., of Spratton Grange, Northampton.

Fox, William, of Wliestou, Slufual, Salop.

Fuller, George A., of The Rookery, Dorking.

Gape, Walter, The Elms, Oiigar.

Gobbitt, William, of Bawdsey, Woodbridge.

Gold, Henry, oi The Kennels, Wooburne Park, Beaconsfield.

Goodwin, Charles, of Norwich.

Gower, B. S., of Market Dra>ton.

Graham, Thomas, of Beanlands Park, Irthington, Carlisle.

Gray, John, of Abbotstone, Alresford.

Griulin?, Henry, of 35, York Terrace, Regent's Park, N.W.

Grisse'l, Thomas D., of Ncrbury Park, Dorking.

Gubbins, Colonel James, of Ashwellthorpe Hall, Wymondham.

Gwyune, Alban, ol Monachty, Aberavon, Cardigan.

Hall, John, of Beliin^lord, East Dereham.

Hartord, William Heury, of Barley Wood, Wrington,
Somerset.

Hart, Thomas Hope, of Park Farm, Kingsnortii, Ashford.

Hartley, P. P., of Newfi Id House, Lymm, Cheshire.

Harvey, John Sankey, of Victoria House, Wincheap, Canter-
bury.

Harvey, Josiah P., of Kidderminster.

Hedgcock, William, of Caxton Road, Strood, Rochester.

Herrick, Mrs., of Beau Manor Park, Loughborough, Leicester.

Hilder, A. F., of Ridley Court, Sevenoaka.

Hooper, William, of Little Fortfield, Templeogue, Co. Dublin.

Horrell, William, of Tborney, Peterborough.

Howalson, Cliarh s, of Dornel, Manchline, Ayr, N.B.

Huggins, Henry Thoma?, of 7, Belsize Square, South Harap.
stead, Middlesex.

Hnssey, John, of 4fi, East Street, Faversham.

Ingram, George, of Blandford.

Innes, John, of Manor Farm, Merton, Surrey.

Jackson, James, of Leggatts, Tillinghara, Maldon.

Jay, Tom Simpson, of Tne Wilderness, Wimbledon, Surrey.

Jones, Alfred Brown, of Mere House, Ramsey, Hunts.

Jones, Archibald S., of Grove House, Dymchurch, Fulkestone.

Kirby, John, of Burton Fields, Stamford Bridgp, Yorks.

Laidlaw, Alexandei William, of Mason's Hill, Bromley, Kent.

Lamb, Thomas, of North Ockenden Hall, Romford.

Laton, Thomas Richard, of Aylesbury.

Law, Frank, of Station Road, Saudbach.

Lawson, Isaac, of Holme House, Warwick Bridge, Cumber-
land.

Lea/Earnest A., of Claremont House, Newton Hill, Leeds.

Ledbrook, John Stanley, of The Woodloes, WarwicTj.

Ledbrook, Thomas, of The Woodloes, Warwick.

Lewis, Leyson, of East Farleigb, Maidstone.

Ley, Francis, of Vulcan Ironworks, Derby.

Llewellyn, Robert William, Court Colman, Bridgend.

Long'botton, J., of Worcester.

Luddington, Joseph William, of Littleport, Cambs.

Lyon, Aflbur W., of Abbotts Clownholme, Rocaster, Ult-
oxeter.

Mann, Edward, of Thelveton Hall, Scole, Norfolk.

Marriott, David, of Berney Hill, Ponteland, Northumberland.

Marriott, H. R., of Whalley Range, Manchester.

Maskeleyne, Henry, of Bucklebury House, Reading.

Hason, James, of 26, Spencer Street, Carlisle.

Mutterson, Henry, of Cross Cheapney, Coventry.

Maxted, John, of Eastling, Faversham.

May, Tliomas, of Chalkpit Farm, St. Paul's Cray, Chisleharfct.

Mercer, Robert, of Rodinersham, Sittiugbourne.

Meredith, Thomas, of Rowley, Bridgnorth, Silop.

Merlaban, P., of Kilmaylish,Mullingar, Co. West Meath.

Miles, William Henry, of Ham Green, Bristol.

Miller, James P., of Mount Pleasant, Fenstanton, St. Ives.

Morrey, James, of Sutton, Market Drayton.

Morton, George, of Kinderton Ball, Middlewich.

Mouosey, W. R., of Lowther, Penrith.

Nash, T. Giflford, of Great Chesterford, Esses.

Naylor, Christopher John, of Brynllywarch, Newtown, Mont.

Noakes, William, of Burrs Hill, Brencliley, Staplehurst.

North, J. R., of 65, Oxford Road, Eding.

Odara, John, of The Firs, Newhow, Peterborough.

O^le, Gtorge F., jun., of Top Hou;e, Rawcliff'^, Selby.

Paddock, James, of Chetwvud As;on, Newport, Salop.

P-<get, Howard F., of Elford, Tam worth.

Pnlmer, T. Leonard, of Wilby, Uttleboroiigh.

Parham, Harry Matthews, of Norriugton, Salisbury.

Parker, irederiok Townley, of Rosewarne, Camborne.

Parkin, John Samuel, of 11, N^w Square, Lincoln's Inn.

Parsons, Arthur, ot Cornwell, Cliipping Norton.

Parton, Jo>eph K., ot Sumnea House, Maidstone.

Pearson, John, of Mainsfortli, Ferry Hill, Durham.

Peat, Robert, of Lees House, Silloth, Cumberland.

Peirson, Heury Thomas, of Brancept-th, Durham.

Pell, Henry, of 112, East Street, Sittingbourne.

Pepper, Wiiliani Henry, of Chaliock, Asblord, Kent,

Phelps, Daniel, of Tibberton, Gloucester.

Phillips, Charles J., of The Cedars, Mortlake.

Piddlesden, John, of Aldriiigton, Hytlie, Kent.

Powell, Thomas, East Leuham, Maidstoue.

Pratt, Janaes W,, ot Asbwe'lihorpe, Wymondham.

Pryse, Edward L., ot Peithyll, Aberystwith.

Purdy, James, of 28, Devonshire Place, Portland Place, W.

Raramell, John W., of St. Nicholas at Wade, Margate,

Reay, Lord, of 6, Great Stanhope Street, Mayfair, W.

Richardson, Ralph, of Field House, West Raiuton, Fence
Houses.

Richardson, William, of Brow Top, Warwick, Carlisle.

Riddell, .Tames, of Handlip Court Farm, Worcester.

Ridley, Charles Ernest, of the Elms, Chelmsford.

Rigg, Charles A., of Whitehaven.

Robinson, John Peter, of Esber, Surrey.

Robinson, Thomas, of Cargo, Carlisle.

S;ul, Silas George, of MiUhouse, Carlisle.

Saunders, J. G., of WoUastou Farm, Stourbridge.

Scott, Thomas, of Ditton Court, Lirkfield, Kent.

Shoolbred, Walter, 127, Piccadilly, W.

Simmons, Thomas, of Hill Farm, Markyate Street, Herts.

Slater, George, of Canterbury.

Smith, Robert, of Bifrons Cottage, Canterbury.

Snead, Captain James A. i\ of Pwll Court, CrickhowelL

Solomon, Arthur, of Cobham, Gravesend.

Spark, Peter, of Withersfield Hall, Newmarket.

Stedman, James, jun., of Tweedale, Oillingham Kent.

Stevens, Tlioinas, of Jeskin's Court, Cobliam, Gravesend.

Stratton, George, of Wheler Lodge, Husbands, Bisworth,
Rugby.

Sturt, Hon. Humphrey Napier, Crichel, Wimborne.

Sutton, John, of Womanswould, Canterbury.

Tait, James, of Garmondsway House, Coxhoe, Durham.

Tanner, Professor H., of Abergele.

Tassell, Bradbury William, of Hode, Patrixbourne, Canter-
bury.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

355

Taunton, Silas, J., ofOJstocl<, Siilisbury.

Taylor, George, of Stantou I'nor, Bristol.

Taylor, J. Herbert, of Hutton Hall, Pearith.

Thoday, lujjle Few, of The Linn?, Willingham, St. Ives.

Thompson, George Bell, of Faugh Bopchfs, Carlisle.

Thompson, Henry, of Chilwell, Nottingham.

Thomson, Charles J., of Solesbridge, llickmansworth, Herts.

Thoyts, B-ev. Francis W., of Ashe Rectory, Micheldever,

Hants.
Tomes, ■William, of East Clayden, Winslow, Bucks.
TordifF, George, of Wolsfy Stangs, Silloth, Cumberland.
Tuxford, Weston, of Boston, Lincolnshire.
Tweddell, E., of Dunstou Bank, Galeshead-ot.-Tyne.
Waddell, John, of 10, Sr. Andrew's Square, Eilinburgh.
Wtiketifld, George, Jan., ot Bearsted, Maidstone.
Walk, r, Charles, ol The Team Yird, Brompton, Cliatham.
Walker, John James, of 11, St. George's Terrace, Heme B<iy.
Walker, Matthew W., Lenton Road, The Park, NottiugUam.
Walker-Jones, F. A., Mollingion Farm, Chester.
Ward, Harry, of Cheswardiue, Murket Drayton.
Warner, Wi liam, of Nesley, Tethury, Glo'ieenershire.
Watson, Lawrencf, ot 4, Park Roa', Middlesboro'.
Watt, James, o' Knowffield, Carlisle.
Watts, Thomas C, of Teynliam House, Upper Clapton, N.
While, Samuel, of the lloo Farm, Kidderminster.
William<!, Eiward W., of Herringston, Dorchester.
'Willis, Frederick, of 16, Ladbrooke Square, B lyswater, W.
Wjllia, Henry Richard, of Kidderminster.
Winser, Albert, of Morington, Rolvenden, Kent.
Wright, John 1), of Harraby, Carlisle.
Wright, John E., of Preston Manor, Lavenham, Suffolk.
Wynne, T. Richard, of Tsisa, Corweu.
Young, WilJijui David, 32, St. George's Street, Caaterhury

FINANCE.

Colonel KrxGScoTE (Chairman) presented the report,
from which it appeared that the Secretary's receipts
during the past inoalh had been examined, and found
correct. The balance in the hands of the bankers on
April 3Uth was £7,222 173. 8d.

This report was adopted.

CHEMICAL.

^fr. Wells (Chairman) reported that the Committee
had had under their consideration a letter from Mr.
Lawes respecting the Wobura experiments, which ap-
peared in the Agricultural Gazette of April 21st. They
regretted that Mr. Lawes, who is a vice-president of the
Society did not commuaica.le with the Chemical Com-
mittee, of which he is a member, before publishing his
letter. Whi'e welcoming lair criticism from auy quarter,
more especially from Mr. L^we?, the Committee thought
that, considering the short period during whijh the ex-
periments have been under the present management, the
time has not yet arrived for a full discussion of the
method of carrying them out, or of the results obtained.
Dr. Voelcker had reported that from March 15th to May
Cth, 363 samples had been received for analysis ; and the
Committee recommended that he be authorised to en-
gage an additional assistant. The Committee received
the report of the Woburn Sub-Committee.

This report was adopted.

SEEDS AND PLANT DISEASES.

Mr. Whitehead reported that he had been elected
Chairman for the year. The following correspondence
had been received from the Foreign Ofhce with regard to
an insect which is most destructive to the corn crop in
the neighbourhood of Sarama, a village situated iu the
centre of the Paphos district in Cyprus.

Foreign Office.
I 'Sir, — I am directed by the Marquis of Salisbury to trans-
mit to you herewith a copy of a despatch from Her Majesty's
High Commissioner in Cyprus, enclosing specutieus of an
insect which destroys the crops in a certain district in that
island, and I am to state to you that his Lordship would be
much obliged to your Society for any suggestions which they

may have to olfer as to the destruction of the insect iu ques-
tion. 1 am, sir, your most obedient liumble servant,

PUILIF CURRIE.

The Secretary to the Royal Agricultural Society.
[enclosure.]
Cyprus, Government House, Nicosia,

Marsh 25th, 1879.
My Lord, — In the neighbourhood of Sirama, a village
situated in the centre of the Paphos district, there is a small
portion of country, about three square miles in extent, which
is annually infested with an insect which destr >ys all corn it
attacks. I have not heard of its presence elsewhere in the
island; and as it has infested the locahty referred to for
years past, it would seem as if there were something peculiar
to its soil which attracts and tends to propagate the insect.

In the accompanyint; closed envelope I forward specimens
of the insect, with a view to its beiiig submitted to the in-
fpectiun of those learned in such matters, who might be able
to sugge>t siinie means for destroying it. As the soil would
seem to breed the insect, perhaps tlie use of some peculiar
manure raiaht possibly destroy it. The peasants of the dis-
trict cone rued know tbe insect by the name of sitrivil.

The specimens of these insects have been submitted to
Mr. Carruthers, and he obtained the opinion of an emi-
nent naturalist, who declared that they were in the larval
state, and that, therefore, it was most difficult to deter-
mine their species. Farther investigations would be made,
and the results immediitely forwarded to the Foreign
Office.

The Committee had received the following report from
the Consulting Botanist : —

A large number of samples of seeds have been examined by
me during the past few months.

My attention has been specially called to the seeds for per-
manent pasture. The result of careful experiments with
numerous samples, and the dissection of a large series of
seeds, have shown tliat great disregard is paid, at the time of
collecting, as to whether the seeds are ripe. In all the cases in
which the seeds obtain a considerable size, as in the rye grasses
or eveu in Timothy gr.iss, the merchant, as well as the ulti-
mate buyer, can easily detect the presence of auy considerable
quantity of imperfect or undeveloped seeds. But in the grasses
with small seeds, or with seeds that are small relatively to the
glumes or chaff which surround them, it is more difficult to
determine whether samples are fully ripe. The foreign
grower (for our grass seeds are, with few exceptions, imported),
perhaps unwittingly, collects iliem when they are still unripe.
The result is that a large percentage never germinate of such
grasses as meadow foxtail, the meadow grasses, sweet vernal
grass, &c. In some mixtures of permanent grasses I have
found tliat n-t a single se, d of Poa irivialis and Alepecurus
prate/iiis has germinated, and on examination I have found
that this was mainly due lo their being gathered before they
were ripe. In mmy cases they had been gathered before the
flower had appeared, and the nnexpanded stamens were still
enclosed in the blossom, in others the seed had just begun to
form.

It is difficult to suggest an efficient remedy for this serious
evil. The persistent refusal of seeds which are found to be
almost worthless from too early harvesting would no doubt in
time tell upon the grower through the merchant and im-
porters, tliough this is necessarily a somewhat roundabout way
to reach the source of the evil.

But failure in growth is not always due to unripened seed.
I have recently examined a sample of black oats, of which a
member had sown four bushels to the acre and expected a
thi^k crop. The sample consisted of large and fully ripened
grains, but only 32 per cent, germinated. In the remainder
the embryo was dead, most probably because the seed was old,
though careless liarvesting of the best crops may speedily de-
stroy the life of the seed.

Several cases of injury to cattle through the presence of
noxious substances in their food, such as ergot, poisonous
weeds, and yew twigs, liave received my attention.

An interesting inquiry as to the means of dealing with
insects which have proved very destructive to the crops in
some regions in Australia, is being proceeded with on behalf
of a member of the Society whose property in that colony has
suffered severely from them,

C C 3

THE FARMERS MAGAZINE

Mr. WiiTTEnEAt) added, with regard to the insects ' Colonel Kinoscote said th^t the subject to whioh Hr,

from Cvprus, that they were in the larval stage, and very ' Deut hud alluded had been, and was still beiiijr, very much

irnch shrniikeu, and 'were only received on the 3rd of canvassed both by the Royal Collpe:e of Veterinary Snr-

May. The natnralist to whom Ihey had been submitted I geons and the Royal Veterinary College. It wis a most

May

found it. exceedingly diOicnlt at present to say even
•whether they btlo ged to the Lenidopterous ov Coleopte-
rous order.' It a reliable deienniiiatiou could not be
made from these larvsc, it was intended to ask the Foreign
OflJee to obtain perfect specimeus of the insects for
esaminatiou. The report was then adapted.

SHOWYARD CO.NTKACTS.

Tklr. Jacob Wilso.v (Chairman) reported that eight
tenders had been received for the water supply, that of
Messrs. Eastons and Anderson being accepted. Plans
for several erections in the Exhibition were submitted by
the Surveyor, and approved by the committee.

This report was adopted. I

JUDGES SELECTION. !

Mr. George Turner reported that the Committee had
completed their list of foreign jndt^-es to be invited, toge-
ther with those for British breeds not previously appointed.
This report was adopted ; and on the motion of Mr. Ran-
DKLL, seconded by Mr. George Turner, it was resolved,
" That Inspectors' of Shcarin;; be appointed, as iu former

years." -VETrRINARY.

Colonel KiNGSCOTE, C.B., M.P., (Chairman) reported
the receipt of reports from the Ro\al Veterinary College
n in>'ri<riiriti,)a-i mide, a'ld tha Canitte.'! r^ic nn m ule I
0 hat the members be applied to for the expenses incurred.
The Committee having receivi-d and considered two appli-
cations from members of the Society asking for remission
of fe«s for veterinary inspection, were of opinion that the
funds of the Society "should not be called upon to defray
the same.

Colonel KiNGSCOTE supplemented this report by stating
that at the annual dinner of the Royal College of Veteri-
nary Surgeons on Monday last, great satisfaction was
expressed by 'he head of that College, as well as by the
heads of the Roval Veterinary College and the Edinburgh
Vcterinarv College, that the Royal AgMcuiiural Society
had resolved to offer prizes to encourage students in the
s'.ndv of cattle pathology. A great wish was expressed
bv Prineipd Williams, of the Ediubi.rgh CoUetce, that the
Koceity should held the students there ; but, as he (Colonel
Kingseote) ventured to suggest on that occasion, this
wonTd be treadirg on the toes of the Highland and Agri-
cultural Society. However, as that Society was now alter-
ing its arrangements with regard to the Veterinary S.-hools,
he begged to move " thai it be referred to the Veterinary
Committee to consider whether pr'zes. open to all the
Vete-inary schools, can be olfered in conjunctioa with the
Highland Society."

The Earl of Raven.sworth pointed out that if the prize
scheme were extended to Ediuburgh, it would only be just
to extend it to Dtihlin.

Colonel Kingscote replied that there is no Veterinary
College at Dublin.

Mr. l)ENt pointed out that the Society shmild en'er
into communication with the Highland and Irish Societies,
with a view of ascerlaiuing wheiiier the three bodies could
combine to give prizes to students of cattle pathology in
any portion of the United Kingdom. At the same time
he'poipted out that the providing of facilities for giving
these students a practical knowledge of cattle diseases, was
a matter of greater importance than the ofl'er of prizes.

Earl Spencer agreed as to the advisability of extending
to Ireland the advantages extended to England and Scot-
land. It was true that Ireland possessed no Veterinary
Colhge, altho igh one was very much needed there ; but
probably students would present themselves from the Agri-
cullnrnl College at Glaiueviu to compete for the prizes in
questioa.

difficult question, for although the Royal Veterinary were
prepared to take diseased animals free of charge, iu prac-
tice this ( tier was not accepted. The matter would not
be lost sight of, hut there were immense difficulties in the
way.

The report of the Committee was then adopted.

EDUCATIONAL.

Mr. Dent (Chairman) reported that fourteen candi-
dates, whose ages vaned from 18 to 64, had entered their
names for the senior examination. Of these, twelve
atteuded the examination, and three succeeded iu satisfy-
ing the examiners in all the necessary subjects, thereby
gaintrpg the tirst-cl iss certificate and life membership of
the Society, as well as qualifyiug themselves to earu
payments as teachers of the principles of agriculture
under the Departments of Science and Art. The success-
ful candidates were : —
Brooke-Hunf, A. E., 793 m^rks ; iirst-class certificnte, life

membership, prize of £25, Educated at Cirenceser.
Govpr, Lnwlorrt, D , 679 marks; first-class cerHtit.-afe, life

nieiiibfrship, prze of £15. Educated at Cireocstpr.
Wallncp, Robert, 53-t marks: first-class certificate, li'e luem-
h^rslup, prize ot £10. E'lucated at EdinKngh.
Of the other candidates, two were from Cirencester
College, the remainer from private study and other
schools ; but although in two or three cases the knowledge
of agriculture was very fair, yet in other subjects the
information was imperfect.

The following table gives the marks assigned by the
examiners to the work done by each candidate who passed
in the several subjects ; —

Names.

Brooke Hunt AB.

Gover, Lawford D

Wallace, Robei-t

163

lOS'fi.'i

125 60

* '50
151 6'

* ' *

120 50

'113

120 66

* 65
10161

— 53

60:79,

679

* 56

* 68
100 —

Remarks.

25 1st class
c e rtificate.
Life mem^-
bership.and
'£25. Edu-
iCated at Cir-
encester,

18!

20

il\l s t class
cert ificato,
Life mem-
|bership,and
]i:15. Eilu-
c->ted at Cii--
j«uceistei'.

31

,30

23

i23

119!

53i;i5 Ist class
]ce rtificate,
iLife nil m-
bersbip.aud
£10. Edu-
cated at
E dinburgh.
54'

* Failed. — Did not attempt

The Committee recommended that the thanks of the
Society and the usual houorariuin be forwarded to the
examiuers.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

::>7

Mr. Dent remarked that this was the first time stu-
dents from private stmly had presented themselves for
examination, but this time there were two or three who
desired to teach agrieulture under the reu;uhitious
of the Science and Art Department. He was sorry to
say that although their knowle^e of agriculture was fair,
they had not been successful in passing the examination,
but he hoped that this result would not deter gentlemen
in a similar position from entering iuto future competi-
tions.

The report was then adopted.

IJIPLEMKNTS.

Ml'. San DAY reported that, after full consideration, the
Committee had decided that the existing arrangements as
to the comparative museum of old and uew implements
should be adhered to.

In presenting this report, ^fr. Saxday said that the
Committee had reconsidered the matter in consequence of
a I'epresentaliou from the Agricultural Engineers' Asso-
ciation ; but the t'ommittee saw no reason to alter the
decision formerly arrived at. The modern implements
had been st-lected from those which had gained the So(;ie'y's
first prize at recent trials, and this they considered the
best rule to work upon.

Mr. .Tames Howard said that the implemeut makers
had nothing to say with respect to the ancient implements,
but they did object with reference to the modern display.
Ttie latter was intended to mark the progress in that
dtparlment up lo the diile of the exiiibition, and the
manufacturers maintained that it should be as complete
ami efficient a dis]day of thai kind as could be got together.
Even assuming the implements selected for eshibilion to
have been the best at the period when they gained the
prizes offered by the Society — wliieh, of course, was very
much open to question, seeing that, to borrow a term
iVum the turf, a great many of the best horses did not
run — he pointed out that since many of those trials took
place very great and very marked progress had been made
ia certain departments of machinery. However, the
Council having proceeded too far to recede altogether
fiom the modei'u display of implements, the Agricultural
Engineers' Association were anxious to induce the Council
to allow these implements to be exhibited on the respec-
tive stands of the makers, and not g;.thered together i,n
cue collection, side by side with the auciep^t implements
becau.-e there were many implements for wiiich prizes
had never been offered by the Society. A resolution to
th;!t effect had been passed on the previous day by the
Association of Agriollural Engineers, of which he had the
hcmour to be president, and that association compriseil
nine-tenths of the exhibitors at the Society's annual
shows. The actual resolution was as follows: — ''The
Council of the Royal Agricultural Society of England
haviug determined upon a sjiecial exhibition of ancient
and modern machinery, this association would respectfully
urge Upon the Council the de»ir<ibi!ity of the selected
luouern prize impleuients btiug exhibited in the re^-pective
stands of the makers, iustead of in the proposed museum,"
and he begged to move that this recommeudaliou be
adopted.

Mr. Shuttleworth seconded the motion.

The Eurl of Powis said the motion they had just
heard would, if carried, defeat the object which the |
Council had in view. Their desire was to show, in as
clear and cocdensed a manner as possible, a set of imple. |
laents, going back from the old barbarous styles to the
present perfect ones. D the old ones were collected !
together, and the new ones were not, the public would '
Bot have a continuous chain of the progress of the in-
ventions from the betiinuing to the end. If on getting '
down to a certain period in tue history of the manufac-
tare of implements, just when it became iuteresting to

see where the different li.iks had been supplied and the
im|)rovemeuts made, one would have to be told, "At this
point you must leave this ahed, and go over about 50
acres to find the next improvement," the student would
be in the posiiiou of one in a library, the catalogue of
which stopped at the commencement of the present
century ; and he thought that loreigners would be utterly
incapacitated from gaining a general view of the progress
of the English agricultural implement manufacture.

Mr. Jacob Wilson remarked that the question ap-
peared lo have arisen at a very late period, aud he re-
minded the Council that there had been ample time for
the agricultural engineers to briug the matter forward, as
the intention was made known weeks and months ago.
The Council could not shut their eyes to the fact that
there were certain makers who plu''kily comj)eted for the
pri?;cs. and won them ; while on the other hand certaia
manufacturers refrained from taking part in the competi-
tions , and it would be manifestly unfair that the latter
should reap advantages which the others had honestly
gained. Those who declined to compete must abide by
the cousiquences of their acts. The matter had beeu
previously settled, aud ought not to have been re-opened.

The motion was then withdrawn, aud the report of the
Committee received and adopted.

SELECTION.

Earl Cathcart (Chairman) itpnrted the recommenda-
tion of the Selection Committee thut the I^uke of Bedford
be recommended to the General iMetting, on May 22ud,
as President of the Sociny for the ens.iiug year.

Jn presenting this repoit Earl Cathcakt expressed his
regret thac the Charter of the Society made an annual
change of President compulsory, othervvise there was no
one whom the Council would be more phased to see iu
the chair than the present Pre.-ideut. However, under
the circunibtances, the Committee considered that ou all
grounds the Duke of Bedford would be an acceptable suc-
cessor to his Koyal Highness, bolli to the Council aud to
the Members of the Society. His Grace had beeu a
working bee iu tiie agricultiaral hive, aud iu the most
liberal manuer he had provided the funds necessary for
carrying on the Society's chemical experiments at Wobiirn.
The Committee, therefore, proposed to recommend the
Duke of Bedford to the General Meeting as President fur
the ensuing year.

The report was adopted.

Ou the motion of Mr. Jacob Wilson, seconded by
Mr. BowEN Jo\Es, it was resolved that the district fop
the couutiy meeting for the year 1881 should comprise"
Derbyshire, Leices^ersl ire, Lincolnshire, Northa optou-
shire, Nottinghamshire, aud llutland.

The list of members of Council, who retire by rotation,
was then laid before the Council : —

Candidates proposed for the Cotincil : —

Lord Moreiou, proposed by Colonel Kingscote,
seconded by Air. Bowly.

Lord Eiulyn, proiiosed by Mr. Wells, seconded by
Colonel Kmgscote.

The Hon. Cecil Parker, proposed by Lord Chesham,
seconded by Sir A. K. Macdouald, Bart.

Mr. Hugh Gorriuge, proposed by Mr. Jacob Wilson,
seconded by Mr. Chaudos Pole-Ge'd.

The Secretary wa> authorised to make arrangements ia
regard to the appointmeut of Veterinary Inspectors lor-
the Londou Exhibiiiuu.

A letter was read from Lord Lyons in refere ice to the-
forthcoming exhibition, staliug that at the request of
II R.H. the Prince of VValf.s it had been brought under
the notice of the French Government ; aud it was
announced that animals would probably be sent for exhi-
bition from the uatioual studs.

358

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

A letter was read from the Royal Engineers' Commit-
tee at Chatham, asking for the loan of the Society's
dynamometer, and the Council agreed to comply with
this request.
^ The Council then adjourned till Wednesday, June 4th.

HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL.

The monthly meeting; of the directors of this Society was
held ou Wednesday, May 7, in their chambers, IS o. 3, George
IV. Bridge. Mr.' Mylop, Niddrie Mains, in the chair.

Resolutions were submitted, and unanimously afcreed to,
lamenting the deaths of the Duke of Rosburghe, K.T., and
Captain Tod, of Howden.

HALL AND CnAMBER9.

The Hon. George Waidegrave Leslie, who gave notice of a
motion at last board meeting in regard to new premises, being
unavoidably detained in London, the directors, while approv-
ing of if, considered it desirable, in consequence of the oppo-
sition which was manifested at the general meetins in Jan-
uary 1876 to the Society's leaving its present hall, that Mr.
Leslie should himself bring forward his motion at the general
meeting on the 18lh of June.

GENERAL MEETlNfi.

The half-yearly general meeting of the Society, for the
elpction of members and for ether business, was held on the
18th of June, being the first VVedesday after closing of the en-
tries for the Perth sliow.

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION.

The following letter from the Science and Art Department
to the secretary, dated 28th April, was read :— " Sir,— With
reference to your letter of the 8th instant, I am directed by the
Lords ot the Committee of Council on Education to state, for
the information of the Highland and Agricultural Society of
Scotland, that their Lordships have been pleased to allow
holders of the diploma of the society to earn payments on the
Te>ults of their instruction in the principles of agriculture under
this department without undergoing the usual examination. It
will, however, be necessary for persons holding this certilieate
to make application to the department before commencng
teaching, in accordance with section 33 of the Science Direc-
tory.— I am, sir, your obedient servant. (Signed) Norman
Macleod.

veterinary department.

The report of the examinations for the society's veterinary
certificate, which took place on the 7tli and 8th April, was laid
on the table, from which it appeared that six students pre-
sented themselves for the final examination, and that the whole
had passed.

The preliminary examination of younger students was held
at the same time, when 21 entered their names and 14 passed.

CnEMICiL DEPARTMENT.

The directors on the 2ad of April remitted to the Chemical
Committee to frame a plan of procedure in consequence of
the recommendation that the chemist should be authorised to
make analyses, at rates to be arranged sufficient to pay him.
The Committee met on the 23rd, and having cirefuUy con-
sidered the subject, resolved to recommend — 1st, That a tab'e
of simple but clear instructions for selecting and sending
samples of artificial manures and feeding stuffs for analysis be
prepared for the use of members of the Society. 2Qd, That
this table be submitted to the next general meeting of the
Society, and auiluTity requested for the lollowing course of
action, viz. : — Tliat when any member of the Soc ety shall
have purchased ar'ificial manure or feeding stuffs under a
written guarantee, and shall have submitted to the Society's
analytical chemist a sample of such artifii'al manure or feed-
ing 8tufl"s, taken in accordance with the Society's instructions
above referred to; and when up n analysis the Society's
chemist shall discover that serious discrepancy exists between
the actual cons'ituents of the article to analysed and the
supposed constituents ;is taken from the guarantee under which
the article was purclia^ed, he (the chemist) shall report such
discrepancy in full detail to the Chemical Committee, and
along with his report shall forward tlie invoice guarantee, and
any other documents he may have received in connection with
the case, and any corrcspimdence which may have passed be-
tween him and the vendor on tlie subject ; that thereupon the
Chemical Committe shall con.-ider the whole circumstances of
case, and if it appears to them that in the interests of the

Society and of agriculture generally the facts of the case acd
the name of the vendor should be published, they shall pre-
pare a report and submit it to the Society's law agents for
their opinion, and shall then submit their repott along with
the opinion of the Society's law agents to the directors of the
Society, whe shall be empowered to deal with the matter in
such way as they shall deem best. 3rd, That a table of the
current values at the port of Leith of the units of the variona
cimslitnents of artificial manures or feeding stuffs in common
use be prepared fay the chemist periodically, and submitted to
the directors for approval and publication.

The board unanimously approved of the recommendations,
and remit'ed to the convene of the Chemical Committee to
bring them before the general meeting in June.

ARGYLL NAVAL FUND.

In accordance with the recommendation by the Committer
in charge of the Argyll Naval Fund, Mr. Chas. HopeDundas,
R.N., was added to the list of recipients.

BRITISH DAIRY FARMERS'.

The monthly Council meetinsr took plac=! at the office, 446,
Strand, on Tuesday, May 6th, Mr. E. C. Tisdall, in the chair.

The Chairman reported that, in accordance With the resolu-
tion passed at the last meeting, a aeputation had waited on the
slock prizes committee of the Royal Agricultural Society with
reference to offering prizes and medals at the London Show in
June, but that in consequence of the lateness of the proposal,
it was found impossible to accept the offer.

The akeration of the title to " The Royal D dry Farmers'
Association ol Great Britain and Ireland,, was moved.

It was agreed that the usual Annual Dairy Show should be
held during the month ot October next.

Two Committees were accordingly appointed, the one to
confer with Mr. Riffe'y, the managing director of the Com-
pany, and the other to draw up a schedule of prizes to be
submitted to the Council at the next meeting, in the event of
satisfactory arrangements being made in the former case.

Printed copies of the memorandum and articles of associa-
tion were submitted lor inspection, previous to applicatioa
being made to the Board of Trade for the registration of the
Society. The Chairman moved that a committee be
appointed to frame a set 01 bye-laws, in connection with the
articles, but it was decided to place this matter in the hands of
the Journal Coinniittee.

The meeting then adjourned to Tuesday, June 3rd.

SHORTHORN.

A meeting of the Council of this Society wa3 held at
the Society's Rooms, 12, Hanover Square, W., on Tues-
day, the f)lh ult. Present : Colonel Kingscote, C.B.,
M.P. (vice-president), in the chair, the Earl of Bective,
M.P., Sir Wilfrid Lawson, Bart., M.P., Mr. B. St. John
Ackers, Mr. H. W. Beauford, Mr. Edward Bowly, xMr. F.
J. S. Foljambe, M.P., Mr, S. P. Foster, Mr. John Har-
vard, Mr. Charles Howard, Mr. D. M'Intosh, Rev T.
Staniforth, Mr, R. Stratton, and Mr. Jacob Wilson.
The following new members were elected : —

1 Bailey, Crawshay, Maindiff Court, Abergavenny.

[ Barrow, Bridsiman Langdale, Sydnope Hall, INfailock.
llargreaves, Samael, Hazelliurst, Knutsi'ord, Cheshire.
Holmes, John, Strandabrosny, Douem^na, Strabane.
Owen, John Dorsett, Plasyn Grove, ELesmere, Salop.

EDITING COMMITTEE.

Colonel Kingscote reported that the Committee had
examined the pedigrees of several animals sent for in-
sertion in the forthcoming volume of the Herd Book,
and had given instructions to the Secretary thereon.

That with regard to the pedigrees of animals bred out
of the United Kingdom, the Committee recommended the
Council to adopt the following resolution : [1

"That the Council find, on the report of the Editing Com-
mittee, that it is exceptionally difficult to investigate ques-
tions relating to pedigrees, when the statements to tie investi-
gated relate to transactions which have arisen out of the
I United KiuKdoin ; tliey have therefore resolved to confine the

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

359

entries ia tlie body of the Herd Book to facts vfliich have
tHken place in the Uuited Kingdom, and to insert foreign
pedigrees in an appendix."

That the Committee recommended that in the case of
pedigrees of anim&ls never before recorded iu the Herd
Book, certificates for the dates of birth in suck pedi^pses
be sent out at once.

This report was adopted.

GENERAL PURPOSES COITMITTEK .

Mr. Jacob Wilsox reported that the accounts for the
month of April had been examined by Messrs. Qoilter,
Ball, and Co., and the Committee, and were found to be
correct, that the secretary's petty cash account had been
examined and passed, and showed an expenditure of
£7 17s. lid. during the past month; that the receipts
for the same period had been £124 173. 6d. ; the balance
of the Society's current account at the bankers being
£607 lis. 2d. ; and that the Commitee recommended that
arrangements be made with the Society's auditors for
for the auditing of the Society's accounts to the end of
1&78, previous to the annual general meeting of members.

That it was desirable that the Articles of Association
should be altered and amended in the following re-
pects : —

Eule 8. " Sixteen members " altered to " fifteen
members."

Rules 9 to 16 (both included) rescinded, and the
following provisions substituted : —

The Council to consist of its present members with
power to these to increase their numbers to 33, the dis-
tinction between honorary members and ordinary mem-
bers to be abolished.

The members to be arranged by the Council in three
lists of eleven each, to retire at the times appoiuted by
the Council, eleven retiring in each year.

The Coancil to be renewed by yearly elections of
eltven members to serve for three years.

The quorum of the Council (o be six.

That proper notices be given for carrying out the above
alterations and amendments at once, and that the General
Purposes Committee be authorised to carry out the above
resolution, and to settle details.

On the motion of the Treasurkr, the Committee
recommended that all cheques for payments by the
Society be drawn upon their Treasurer, at the Society's
bankers ; and instead of being signed by the Treasurer
as heretofore, be signed by two members of the General
Purposes Cammittee, and countersigned by the Secretary,
and that arrangements to carry out this resolution be
made with the bankers accordingly.

This report was adopted.

On the motion of Mr. E. Bowly, seconded by Sir
T\'iLFRiD Lawsox, Bart., M.P., it was unanimously
resolved —

That application be made to the Royal Agricultural Society
for permission to hold the annual geueral meeting of the
members of the Shorthorn Society in the Members' Tent
ia the showjard atKilburn, oa Wednesday, the 2nd of July,
at noon.

In accordance with the Articles of Association, the
Council then prepared two lists — the one a list of the
members of Council retiring at the forthcoming annual
general meeting, and the other a list of a like number
of life members of the Society proposed by the Council
to fiU the vacanies.

ANNUAL MEETING, 1879.
List No. I. — Beixg list or Members of the Council

■R'HO RETIRE BT ROTATION.

At tlie annual general meeting of the Society to he held in
the present year, ten members of the Council will retire from
office by rotation, in accordance with the ariicleii and laws ol

the Society, and the following list, prepared by tiie Council
contains the names and addresses of such retiring councillors'
and a report as to their several attendances : —

•eaDUBpuaiiY

■sSn!;98i\[ jo -oj^

"8 'i.stoj,
•sjiDnnof) juiDadg

'Of 'iB^oj,
•BipanoQ jC[q)noi\[

0» O r- 1 O CO t~->}<i— (lO
0» CO r-l r-H C» <X

r-Hrii CO CO r-( C* -H

CO

oo

00

t- CO r-l lO CO

cc o -*

cc

03

I— 1 in to oi

O tJ(

CO

o

>n cjco

C« 1— I lO t^

lO t~ m Tf< « lo uj

-% ': £

n . -j« ^ J,"

a : o _^-5 ^ ^ .

° £ b >. a -—
5 -S - o 5 >; £;
a~ 3;S "5.C 3

OJ J- a , o a; pq

o +^ '-^ "t^ tl^ "-

^5 0 *^ 'T; '^ -..

[5^ J

i4

«2 saOnJ-^ j< ^

A« P « 5 3 Hi

■gj CO o oc5 M

— _3 15 f^i
O ,-S .

If I??

5 a » «

List No. II. — Being list or members proposed by the

COUNCIL TO TILL THE ABOVE VACANCIES : —

Ackers, B. St. John, Prinknash Park, Painswick, Gloucester-

shie.
Bowly, E., Siddington House, Cirencester, Gloucestershire.
Chaloner, R., King's Fort, Moynalty, Ireland.
Chandos-P()le-Gpll,Il., Hopton Hall, Wirksworth, Derbyshire,
Cruickshank, J. W., Lethenty, Inverurie, N.B,
Howard, Charles, Biddenliam, Bedford.
Penrhyn, Lord, Penrhyn Castle, Bangor, N. Wales.
Sheldon, H J., Brailes House, Shipton-on-Stour.
Skelraersdale, Lord, Lathom House, Ormskirk, Lancashire.
Tracy, G. Murton, Redlands, Edenbridge, Kent.

A communication from the National Agricultural and
Industrial Association of Queensland asking for that
association to be enrolled as a subscriber to the society
having been read, the secretary was directed to say in
reply that the association could become a subscriber on
the payment of eleven guineas, for which the future
volumes of the Herd Book would be forwarded as issued.

A Jetter from a member of the society was read, calling
the attention of the council to the excessive rates charged
by several railway companies for the conveyance, in
horse-boxes, of Shorthorns to and from various parts of
the country, and giving details of several cases which had
come under his notice. The question having been con-
sidered it was resolved that representations be mads to..

360

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

to the various railivay rompnules thereon, with the view
of obtaining a reduction m these rates, and tiie adoption
ol a more unilorin scale of charges.

Colouel KiiNGsCoTE, C.B., M.P., and Mr. John Hak-
TVAKD agreed to bring the question before tiie railway
companies, find report thereon at the next n.eetiug of the
Council.

The next meeting of the Council was fixed for Tuesday,
June 8, at 3.30 p.m.

EKGLISH CAflT-HORSE.

A Council roeetiDg of this Suciety, the Earl of EUesmpre iu
the chair, was held on May 6 at the Inus of Court Hotel,
ilolburn. We have not space for a full report of the
proceedings at- this and the annual geuerdl meeting whicli
lollo«ed it.

It was agreed that the Council confirm the rPCommenJation
of the Finance Committee for resciuding the minutes of May
^3, 1S78, and that in future the secretary's travelling and
incidental expenses be under the coulrol of aud paid by the
I'lnauce Committee.
Mr. F. Street moved

"That when the Is-t of the raonth falls on a Tuesday, the
Council meeting be held on tlie second Tuesday of the month."
This also was agreed to.

On the motion ol Earl Powis it was resolved that it be an
iastrurtion to general mettiug m consetjuence of some rais-
ajpreheiisiouon the su' j'Ct, to say tliat the English Cart-
h'jrse Society is a limited company, and is so registered.

Af er other business had been transacted, tlie general annual
meeting of members was held,- the Earl of EU-'smere in the
chaii.

The Chairman explained that as long as the association
did not make a profit by the sale of the Stud Book it was a
limited compinv, and lie hoped this would dispel the fears of
many members and would-be members.

Mr. W. GiLBEY, chairman ol tiie Finance Committee, read
the report. The fiuancial year beKaii on the 13lh of April,
and terminated on theSisi'Dec , 1878. The total income up
to that date was £G 17, and the expenditure £296, leaving a
balance of over £300. This statement wiih details had been
ordered to be printed aud ciiculated aiuon? the members.
From April 13th, 1878, up to May 1st, 1379, tlie receipts
amounted to £l,Uio, aud the expendiiuT to £298 9s. 4d.,
leaving a balance of £716, of which £bi4 was still due by
the members of the Society.

The report was adopted nem. con.

Mr. James Harris, of 8, Old Jewry, was appointed auditor
at a salary net exceeding 10 guineas.

The President informed tlie meeting that the proof sheets
of the Stud 13uok had been printeU down to the letter H, and
would soon be finished.

A long discussion took place on the proposal to alter the
name of the Society, hut no resolution on the subject was
adopted.

Jl

— ♦-

Club

i3.

CENTRAL.

A meeting of the Central Farmers' Clnh was held on
May 5lh at the Inns of Court Hotel, Hulborn, Mr.
Phipps, M.P., in the chair, when Mr. F. Street, of
Somersham Park, St. Ives, read a paper on " The Manage-
ment of heavy Land," as follows : —

In January I wrote to the secretary, snssestine that the
paper to be introduced to your ui'tioe this evenmt^ should be
under the above title, instead of the one on the card, viz ,
" Tlie Management ol Heavy Laud ; " but as the cards iiau
that day been posted, it would have necessitated the trouble
of again sending to every meiiiber of the cluh. I will there-
fore, with your permitisuui, make this slight alteration.

A dillicult part of my »u ject is tD sliuw how in these times
loss is to be avi.ided, and s.till more liow a pn fit is to be n ade.
Four successive had harvests and other cau.ses have cast a
gloom over hiavy land laaueis unprecedented, aud indeed

over the holders of every description of land. In every county
farms are being throwu on the landlords' hands or tioing out
of cultivation altogether. This is a question that alfecis not
only landlords, panicularlj those ol limited inromes or
owners ol gieLe lands, occupiers, but labourers, tradesmen,
aud commercial men ; indeed it may truly be considered a
national cakimity. Tju cannot take up a papt-r wi.hout
refer-'ticte being made to this depression, aad remedies sug-
i;estv;u. Jjpply and demand will assuredly regulate, rents ; if
times continue bad a general readjustineut must take place.
I Another remedy sujges'ed is tiie curtailing of farmers' per-
sonal expenses. It is with regfet, deep regret, I see a dis-
position to grudge the agricuhurisi his proper position in life.
Oil some large estates of late years men of a ver> differiut
stamp have been selected from those that the fathers of the
present owners thought eligible tenauts, men have been
selected of whom a well-kuown member of the club observed
'-who do the work of two htbourtrs and live at the expense
of one." The result of the depression lias been that these men
were the first to go to the wall.

At the same time tlieie is a general wish, by edncatioii and
other meaus, to lift the labourt^r up. Now 1 rejoice that
there are small holdings and sm ill holders, and tliat the con-
dition of libourera has had atteniion much neeJed aud farther
needed of better home>, improved sanitary inspeciion, aud
efficient education lor thur children. But iu the interest of
tlie class to which I belong, 1 sa) allow us to educate our own
ciiildren in our own way, especially as tlie education is at our
expense, and let farmeis take their proper place iu the social
scale. Curtailing of persoual exp- n-e-. need not occupy our
time this evening. What I fear is the effect fi.r the lu'ure
of the coutiuual curtailing the expenses of the larm — by nsinjj
less cake and corn, less artificial manure, less labdur, aud less
stock o! all descriptions. This is indeed a serious matter.
Foreign competition in both corn aud siock is thought by
many to be the one and only ca. se ol depression, and that
protection is only wanted to put us ritht again. If protec-
tion is ever returned to, it will be as a means of reheving the
British taxpayer and the manufacturer — not the British
far ner. If we speud the whole evening on this quesiion it
would be a waste of time ; I will, therelore, in passing sa\,
cultivate those crops and broed that description ol s-ock that
pays best, the Americans cannot snceessfully compete with us
in some things, such as malting barley, milk lor large towns,
rearing young slock ajdlamhs. The only relief I can sec i»
a return to more genial seasons.

With improved dridn.ge and steam cultivation, followed by
the dry seasons of 18(38, IS/O, 1872, and 1874., when the
crops on the light lands were almost worthless thnmgh the
drought, there was a general wish to get rid of gravt-l land
and tarm heavy land, lor wheat on heavy land yielded both
quantity and quality ; and here too on the heavy land the
maltsters had to look for the best barley, and the best crops
were lound of clovers and of maugel wurzels, that revel in
sunshine. In consequence, heavy land iu tne uiarKel waa
worth £1 10s. an acre, or more, iu value, and rents rose in the
same ratio. But the superabundance of rain, coupled with
low tempert tire during the last four years, has completely
changed this. On heavy land in the best of condition, an I
however well culliviited, alter the wet May of last year all
lopes of getting more than half an average crop of barley
were scntieied to the winds, and this was followed by a wet
harves-, and consequenily inlerior quality.

Thousands ot acres looking well in April, 1878, m"ghfc
reasonably have been expected to yield 5 qrs. per acre (I -am
purposely putting it low), and mike iSs. per qr., or £11 5s,
jier acie. I:, the majority ot cases not more than 2^ qt.s.
were grown and sold at 30j. per qr., or £3 15s. per acrej'or a
dilference o' £7 10s — to one groMins; lOO acres ot hariey, a
dill'erence of £750 on one sort ol produce alote. Mr. P. on
60 acres of laud alter dead fallow, or two years' retit and
expenses, leuted at 32s. per acre anu 5,s. tithe, sold 42^ qr.
head at 32s and had l.-2^ ta;! lor grinding. Mr. B., one of
the cleanest and highest farmers iii my own couui}, writes
me: " Harvest 1877 not a good <me, but 5 qrs. barlej sold at
44s., £11; 1878, 3 qrs. barley sold at 4Ls. SJ., £6 5s."
Difference on 07 acres of £4 15s. per acre. Another grower
says he made £500 less than he could reasoualdy have ex-
pected fro. II ills barley ; but I will not occupy your lime
lurtlier with iliis. How do personal expenses or a reduction
of rent meet facts like these P

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

S61

T>iiriti? the past fonr yeiirs all cereal crops hnvp been
jfficlfJ by tlie eleiiiPius, and a small \ield of mfeiuir cirii,
eoapled with low prices, h»s teuiled to tbf (rfiicral deprcssiou
— as tiie cost ol prodiutiou hat. beeu more lluui tlie pmduce
rt-uliz>'d, During the lust four jears the averane of »ll crops
may be consiflered to he 12 bu>hels beiow an averMije on
heavy Irtiid ; this, at £i per qr., is £3 per year, or £ii per
acre in four years, a sum more thnn used fonueriy to be
thounlit sutlicient to take a farm with.

Since writing this part ot ray paper some weeks since, I
liave asked ihe opinion of valuers in several different eiintities,
in every instance they say my estimate of 12 bushels deficiency
through llie last four wet s; as' ns, or i.'d per ye^tr, or £12 tlie
four years, is below the mark, inasmuch as two years the
beans anil peas were a total Ihilure. Now, sapposini; the
rent of the land was SOs. per acre and the labour 30s. (both
Would be more), if land had been rent and labour free this
would onlv have amounted to Ihe same sum as loss throngli
the D^d seaoons. A manager ot a bank said to rae, " This
loss of tenants' capital tlirouirh no fault of their own is of
most seiious inipurtauce, and how thos^e that have kept on
liave managed to do so is a nnstery to me."

A clersvman said to me, " Seasons are not in the hands of
man. I think a day should be specially set apart to intercede
to a higher power." True it is if wet weather should set in
the next three weeks it would cause a further loss to barley
growers of trom i3 to £5 an acre in the growing crop.

I do not wish to dwell on the injustice of the malt tax,
beyond remarking that had there been uo tax the lower
qualities, which it did rot answer the maltsters lo pay 21s 8d.
outy on, would have been used for mail instead of sugar,
treacle, and molasses, and might reasonably be expected to
have made 3ds. instead of 30s per qr. As suggested at the
!'-ntral Chamber of J^gricul^ure, the lirae has now cofne when

e Government may rightly be asked to shift this burden —

h ch ought to bri repelled altogether — from a malt to a beer

tax. VA'iih a return o' more genial seasons I take barley to be

tlie mainstay as a corn crop. In quality os barley foreigners

cannot appiroach us.

DrHinai;e, its necessity, and the best mode of carrying it
out. — Good drainage is llie fonnd^tion of the successful farm-
ing ot cliy Innd, I have always farmed a portion of tenacinus
land, and my views are against general opinion. Judging
'rom what I see ot the nnmlicr of narrow ridges and open
furrows, wiiich I consider not only unnecessary, but in most
cases injurious, if land is properly cultivated to a sufficient
depth. Mere than twenty jears since my fa her had two of
the heaviesi fields on his cold VVilden Farm c'rained three feet
do-vn the old lu'rows. It has since been pious bed in 22 yard
lands in an opposite direction, and I nave never seen it. wet
sii'C. I liave two heavy land fields, beside the Great Eisteru
Kailway at Somerstiam ; the old lanourers told me iliey must
be in small lands and have water gutters. These fields are
now ploughed a chain apart in a contrary way to the drains,
and, althongh on a hill side, are perfectly free trom standing
Witer. 1 think there is no better way than draining down
tne old furrows, but Ithink mistakes are often made in throw-
ing higlc-backed lauds down two suddenly.

In a conversation wiih a land agent last autumn, he re-
marked that on several estates which he had the management
of, and on whiih the landlords wished to have them draiued
on the Government system, 4 leet deep and 11 yards apart,
the tenants refused to hiive the work done. With the
tenants I entire y agree. I have no ohjection to deep
drainage, indeed I have seen tnree or four drains 5 or 6
feet deep in a gravel subsoil drain a large field. But on
stiff g;>ult land I Would much rather have drains three lo
the chain, and not exceeding 3 feet deep. I have known
cases of land being drained under the Government plan
being perfectly useless, aud alter being draine.i by the
tenant at hl< own ex()ense, with hnshea near together, not
more thin 2 leet 6 inches deep, answer well. Let those
who believe in very deep drainage on heavy land continue
the system, but I do ttiink the Government should be
asiked to relax the rule of one unilorm depth and width for
all soils, and allow those who prefer three drains lo the
chain instead of two, and a depth ol 3 feet instead of i
teet, to have them. I hope an expression of opinion will
be given on this point in the discussion following. In all
cases it is much b';tter to draia into main drains than into
open ditches.

Two years since I had sever.-il fields of gf-iss land drained
with Ihe Mole plough, diawn by steam p >wer, an . I have
every reason to be satisfied wiih it. I recommend a thin
fur'ovr of turf to be first ploughed by two horses and turned
back alter the Mule p.ough ; fur not having adopted this
pre.aution I fouu.!, in dry weilher, the drains opeued from
3 to -t inclies at the top, so that yon could see to the
bottom of the drain fro.n 2 feet 6 inches to 2 feet 9 indies
deep. The main drain should be first dug and the openings
for the eyes made re.dy to drop the i\lole in, and after-
wards connected with five or six 2-inch pi|)es. I hid al-o
some arable land drained by the Mole plough every 5 or 6'
yards apart; price paid per acre £1. 1 found coals and
water. Where land has been previously drained, and the
drains do not act, supplementary drainage of this sor^, if
it only lasted a few years, would pay. But I wo»id not
advise anyoue to try it, on very flat or uneven land, a*
there is a danger ot the proper fall not being maintained.

ARTERIAL DIIAINAGE,

It may be asked, what has arterial drainage to do with
heavy land ? I think very much ; for it is beginning at the
proper end, viz., the outfall. For generations alter one or
two wet seasons and floods, this question in certain districts
has bfen talked over, and with a return of dry seasons
forgotten. A very able paper was read before this Club
by Mr. J. A. Clarke, February 7, 1859, which I would advise
all members to refer to. It will not do forme to take up
much time in referring to the " Rivers Conservancy Bill "
now belore Parliament, It, is so large a question the Club
might give an evening to this subject alone. It is a national
question, and ought to be treated as such. Would that
it had received the same amount of interest at the hands of
the Legislature as foreign questions have done. Some clau-es
of the bill will receive opposiiion, (or instance, the taxing
of high-land owners (lor it should be a landlord's tax), to pay
a proportion of the rate. As a high land farmer mysel', f
think it isonl/ rigta that tlio-e who help to ca u e floo'ds
by sending the water do*a so much quicker, should con-
tribute. Further, that towns receiving sanitary benefit
should do so also.

Mr. C arke remarked in the paper alluded to that " there
IS a very large extent of laud not subject to actual inun-
dation, but whicii lying immediately adjacent lo the drowned
flats, and delivering its main water upon them, is incapable
ot ellicient sub.oil drainage (with all the good farming
dependant upon it), because the flo ,ds dam hack the over-
flow trom the main ditches, overriding the outlets of the
under drains just at that season when their r^pid emi^^iua
is most required. But the evii eff-cts of river floods are not
only agricultural ; (or, in the neighbourhood ofto*ns ju-t
where the meadows maybe rented as accommodation ' land
(and the proprietors n.ight, ilierelore, doubt the advantage
ot drying them), sanitary considerations demand our care.
Every man thinks his own home peculiarly healthy, untij
the Registrar-General dispels the pleasing illusion, and the
tabular statistics of public health prove most undeniahly that
districts abutting upon a flooding river, or inlerseeted with
marshy hollows aud choked rivulets, are above all others
(excepting crowded and filthy cities) the haunts of fever
and glandular dise-se; and "yphoid au'd milder but enfeeb'ing
maiaiiies coustautly visit the villages tliat inhale the hot
weather malaria of the swampy meadows; and the smaller
towns and parishes, flmking the streams, are the hotbeds of
ihtermutent fever, rheumatic and liver complaints, and scro-
fulous and pulmonary disorders aggravated, il not originated
by the cold damps and poisuni.us exhalations from which
tne inhabitaDfs have no means of escape. Trunk dnina. e,
however, would prove a marvellous prevention." So wrote'
Mr. Clarke twenty years ago, aud alth ugh local and sanitary
boardt have since done much lor our towns and villager-
jet still the worst evil remains. One other remark a'^id I
have done with this part of ray subject, inasmuch as in wet
seasons there is a desire to get rid of water— the want of
It lu our heavy. land districts, in very hot summers, causes
serious inconvenience. What is to become of the heavy
arable land ? Some will say lay it all down with grass •
this would necessitate almost the depopulation of whole
parishe-,;as very little labour would be required, and all the
dead Slock ot the farm would be useless, and, besides it
would take years to make the pastures of much value and
without straw uo stock could be kept in the winter. '

362

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Where heavy land lias clmlk sfone in If, good sainfoin can
be fjrowD, wliicli will Ust for six or seven years, then, when
it gra^sts over, bents, white, and red clovers could be addtd.
Sainfoin » ill grow on some of tiie poorest land, and makes
valnable iiay ; the aftermath is the very best teed for lambs
when weaned, and even in wet seasons it is quite the excep-
tion for tliem to scour when kept upon it. Lucerne can be
treated very much in the same way. Instead of laying all
down to firass or artificial grasses, I think an effort should be
made to raise more stock, or keep flocks of breeding ewes.
Tlie dearest things at the present time are young steers or
heifers, with from £10 to £16 ; I am referring to land that
will not fatten stock. Where land is good enough to fatten
a bullock, it would be absurd to raise young stock.

When near to a railway station, nothing has paid better
than sending milk to London or other large towns ; always a
refrigerator should be used to cool the milk. Then other
cows must he kept to rear calves. Where butter is made, the
calves, alter having new milk for the first two or tliree week?,
will then do with skim and linseed gruel. Calves and all
other young stock should never have a check. It is important
to use a thorough-bred ball. I am fully aware that all kinds
of stock and sheep are much lower this season ; this is partly
owing to the severe winter and scarcity of keep, as well as
other causes. Still, at present prices, I consider young
stock have paid their way, but fattening things have lost
money. If a breeding flock is kept, it is better to sell the
Inmbs before winter ; there is mostly a demand for them to
go into the turnip districts. Alter the lambs have left the
enes, the flock can be kept at little expense ; they can run on
the stnbbles and clover leys until the following November,
and should then, if put on grass, have an allowance of dry
food, say grittled oats and malt dust mixed with clialf. This
should be continued until lambing, without roots ; after lamb-
ing, a few mangels given on a piece of rye grass, with a pen
forward for the lambs to run out and have corn. After that
rye, and tares, and clovers, and what ought to be grown on
every farm in tlie kingdom — cabbages, to be carted on to the
aftermaths of clover for the lambs when weaned. It is
utterly useless for anyone to keep a breeding flock unless he
makes up his mind to be prepared with suitable food to follow
on. To prove that heavy-laud farms are adapted for breeding
fl'icks, I would mention the success of the late Mr. Benjamin
ilarradine, of Cotton End, Mr. James Pestle, of Wilden, and
the late Mr. Uljsses Paine, of Goldington, all of Bedford-
shire. Mr. Toovey, of St. Gransden, Cambridgeshire, for years
supplied the markets of Hitchin, Bedlorii, Cambridge, and St.
Ives with early fat lambs. When I weut to his farm some
years since, I lound the ewes kept in the yard on straw and
mangels, not much corn, as Mr. Toovey preferred keeping the
ewes on again, instead of fattening tliera with the lambs ; the
lambs run through creeps, having all tlie cake and corn they
could eat, which averaged about 10s. per lamb. I never saw
a flock in a more healthy state. Hearing of some who had
bad luck last year, on inquiry I found many had had cold
roots all the winter and little dry food ; and further asking
what sort of a shepherd they had, the reply was, in more than
one iustance, " one of the labourers attends to thf-m." This
is being penny wise and pound foolish. I could mention
whole parishes where no breeding flocks are kept, and very
little stock raised. This, I am airaid, is partly through the
losses by cattle plague, pleuro-pueumonia, foot-and-mouth,
and other contagious diseases, followed by bad seasons. Since
the passing of the Cattle Diseases Bill I have never known the
health of the stock of the country in such a sat'sfactory state,
and we ought to feel much indebted to those who, year after
year, advocated the adoption of eflicieut legislation.

On very hard working land it does not pay so well to breed
many young luirscs, as there is danger of the mares casting their
foals ; but a few with care maj be bred to replace tlie older
ones. V^'ilen colts are dear, and they have to be bouglit in, the
older ones are often kept on a year or two alter being past
work. I think it a bad plan to have much old stock of any
description on the land.

All young lads after leaving school should be brought up
many to thoroughly understand and master the practical part
of their future business; should be up in the morning to see
the horses off, the stock or sheep fed, and in feeding time take
an odd hand and keep the drill going at breakfast time ; know
when teams have done a fair day's work. The lengths of each

field should be known, so that each team does the same
amount of work. If 2f) chains long it will take 11 yards to
the acre, or 22 rounds of 9-inch furrows ; if 10 chains 22
yards, or 44: rounds, to plough an acre, I think au acre a good
day's work for ploughing in summer, and three roods in
winter. When once accustomed to have the work set them,
I have always found labourers fall in with the plan. Young
farmers should also understand the steam-engine and proper
working of other labour-saving machines ; should know the
sort of food best suited for all sorts of slock, and quantity
required. Land surveying and measuring tliatching should
also be practised. To know how to buy and sell both stock
and corn, and how to manage labour and the value of all
piece work is of the utmost importance. Now I do not
want it for a moment to be supposed that I would keep the
young farmer to manual labour. Nothing of the sort, ex-
cept aa a means of learning his business, in the same way as
I haye seen clergymen's sons and others, studying as civil
engineers, put on the white jacket and cap, and master the
mechanical part, without wliich knowledge they could not
expect to succeed in after life. Youths in towns after business
have their pleasures and amusements, and by all means let
those isolated in rural districts have theirs also, so that the
taste is not encouraged to the neglect of business. I have
heard one of the most deservedly respected and opulent
agriculturists of the present day say that he held the first
winning plough at his county plougliing match in 1844.
When at Babraham just before last Smithfield Show, in
speaking of the late Mr. Jonas Webb, of world-wide reputa-
tion, a shepherd remarked, " I have seen Mr. Webb, when
his sheep were being prepared for exhibition, assist himself,
and even have his meals sent to him." " Seest thou a mau
diligent, he shall stand before princes."

We are often told "that property has its duties as well as
its privileges." Now, 1 do think, it, as owners of land, more
of our nobility would follow the fiood example of our Majesty
the Queen, H. 11.11. the Prince of Wales, and others I will
mention as hreedsrs and exhibitors of first-class stock, sheep,
and hor>e«, thej would not only give a great impetus to agri-
culture, but would themselves feel more at home as chairman
of agricultural societies, or in conversation with their tenants.
John, Duke of Bedford, by the formation of the Smithfield
Club and Wobiirn Sheep Shearing, and Mr. Cooke, of Norfolk,
have left names that will never die. la Shorthorns, the
Dukes of Devonshire and Manchester, Earl Dunmore, and
scores of otiiers too numerous, have distinguished themselves.
In sheep, the Dukes of Richmond and Marlboroujjh, Lords
Chesham and VValsingham ; in cart horses, the Duke of
Westminster, Earls Ellesmere and Spencer, and the Hon. E,
Coke have raised the public tone of an hitherto much neglected
branch of agriculture. At one time it was thought quite
derogatory to ow.i a cart stallion ; at the present day, he that
does so, if a good one, is considered a benefactor to his couu-
try. These noblemen have gained their success by tlieir wise
discrimination in selecting good men as agents, and placiug
implicit reliance in them. It is ouly fourteen months siuce I
had the pleasure of reading a paper beiore you on catt horses ;
I will not, therefore, dwell longer on this point.

In taking a farin wet, and out of condition, the best way is
to drain and dead fallow the wliole. Immediately after har-
vest, or if a steam cultivator can be had as soon as a field is
cleared, the stu ibles should be broken up for the future root
crops — mangel and cabbage. It is far better to manure
highly, so as to yield the greatest quantity on the smallest
space of ground. Steam cultivation sliouhl be followed up by.
manuring and plougiiing in a frost, as much of the success of
a root crop depends, as does barley, on a fine tilth, and this
cannot be expected if ploughed in the spring. The general
practiie of dead fallowing is to break up in Alay, and if only
twitch has to be got rid of a better time could not be selected.
But when wild oats, charlock, wild ranunculus and 'jtiier
annual weeds grow, it is a far better plan to sow tares the
previous autumn to get them to germinate, or otherwise what
was supposed to be a clean fallow would be smothered with
these pests the following spring.

Heavy land farmers should take advantage of all dry
weather and get forward with ploughing before harvest. A
crop of wheat cannot be expected after rye-grasx, if broken
up later than the middle of July. I have often known from
one to two quarters more wheat grown, aud much more straw,

THE FARMER- S MAGAZINE.

363

Xthen clover leys have been broken up thus early. Indeed it
acts as a bastard ialow. Liglit land, ou thu other hand,
Bbould not be broken up earlj, as it benefits by the solidity of
the clover roots.

I believe in a change of seed corn, and every other year
have a quarter of wheat Irom Mr. Banham and a quarter of
barley from Major Ilallet to sow each on about live acres
ot land. Triple whipple-trees should always be used for
three horses harrowing; as one man or lad can drive the three
horses abreast. On land that is called three-horse laud, four
liorses will, at various seasons of the year, draw a double-
furrow plough, thus saving t»o horses, a man, and a boy. I
greatly prefer piece to dav-work, such as hoeing of all descrip-
tions, tying, carting, thatching all corn in harvest, manure
filling and spreading, draining, hedging,' and ditching, and in
fact every thing that can possibly be let,

I always dread the approach of hay time, for as the work
depends so entirely on weather it must be done by the day,
and to see the time wasted in meals, or the slack manner of
many of the ojierations, contrasts very unfavourably with
pieeework in harvest, 1 always prefer hay to be stacked at a
distance from the homestead, trnsr^cd up at the stack, and so
many trusses alowed for each description of stock. If near
home, and stockmen have the run of the stack, the value of
it is never considered by them.

In all matters the master must be the commander-in-chief,
and not be led by the opinions of others. On every farm
jealousies will occur with men. It will never do to have
favourites ; far better to part with the best man, or one that
thinks he is the best man on the place. Ou every large farm
sufficicrit cottage accommodation should be found for the
foreman, shepherd, stockmen, and horsekeepers. Considering
.the best and most irusty are required for these posts, and that
they have to give early and late hours as well as Sundays,
I do not think they are so well paid as men working at piece-
work ; I give them two shillings a week additional ; I let
them have a cottage and garden al-o rent free.

On my occupations I have perfect freedom to crop and
farm as I think best, consistently with good husbandry, and
I trust the day is not far distant when all my brother farmers
—who are good ones — will be able to say the same. If com-
pensation were given for unexhausted improvements, it would
doubtless prevent farms being run out towards the latter end
of tenancies. I have said the young man should be early
initiated in his business and instructed how more stock and
sheep phould he kept, but the question, the great question is,
" How can this be done without more capital ? "

There are many questions I have not touched upon, but
which I trust will be taken up in i lie discussion following.
Ou this question of capital I woulo, by way ol conclusions
observe that upen it hinges the future prosperity of agricul-
ture and of England, In a paper read before this Club in
lb75 by Mr. James Howard, he concluded with the following
weighty words, with which I feel I cannot do better than close
this paper. Mr. Howard remarked: " We have a limited area
on which to raise the food of the people ; we have a popula-
tion fast growing in numbers and in purchasing power; our
fields and homesteads do not yield that amount of food of
which they are susceptible ; increased production necessitates
the application of more capital, to attract the neces-
sary amount of capital security is indispensable. The
prosperity of the tenant must be secured to him by an inde-
feasible right. England — and I may well include Scotland —
has a tenantry of which, for wealth, intelligence, and enter-
prise, no other part of the world can boast ; through their
force of character, and in spite of repressice laws, our agri-
culture has attained to a higher degree of excrtltence than
that of any other nation. Let these repressive laws be
removed and an opposite policy inaugurated, British agri-
culture would enter upon a new era of progress and pios-
perity, would speedily attain such a degree of perfectioa, that
no fears need then be entertained of our being able to feed
the teeming and ever-increasing millions of our population."
Mr. T. BowiCK (Bedford), in opening the discussion, ob-
served that the subject was not a very taking one, although
there was certainly a good deal to be said respecting it, as
fcoraething like three-filths of the land in this country might
come under the designation of "heavy land." The time was
in the records of the Club when the subject discussed was how
to break up grass land, but for the last ten years or so the
tendency had been in the other direction. Many breeders and

feeders consider that, now that the Atlantic 'was so entirely
bridged over, tiie breeding of stock did not p ly so well as for-
merly. In his opinion one great drawback to the success of
farming was that the country was not opened up aulliciently,
especially in the poorer and heavy land districts. A farmer
had told him that his farm was worth £1(X) more a year to
him bec.iuse it was within half a mile of a railway station,
and it was certainly a question well worth coiiaideiing whether
the farming interest could not be materially assisted by a
development of railroad communicatioQ on the narrowest
gauge system alongside the chief main road. It would be a
great boon to places at present ten or twelve miles from a rail-
way station, if such a plan was carried out. In the event of
such a development of railroad communication in the direc-
tion suggested, he was sure that in many places laud would
increase in value from 2.'!. Gd. to 5s. per acre.

The Rev. E. Smytiiies (Ilatheru Rectory, Longhborougli)
said there were gentlemen present who were able to give im-
portant information and instruction on the question dealt with
by the writer of the paper. As there was strong laud in the
country some one had got to farm it, and a question of vital
importance which necessarily arose was how it could be
farmed with profit. He hoped before the discussion closed
they would hear something of the experience of gentlemen in
different parts of the kingdom as to whether it was more pro-
fitable to continue growing corn, or to lay the land down to
grass. They wanted a more accurate definition of what strong
land was. His idea of strong land was, where iu ploughing
a piece of soil ran before the plough and stood up like a
column and remained there all the winter. The best method
of dealing with strong land wrs a debateable subject, and must
be looked at from different points of view. An important
point to be considered was that of drainage and the best me-
thod o' draining. It was sometimes the custom to find fault
with the Government regulations in connection with the En-
closure Commissioners, but the Commissioners had no predi-
lection for one depth of drainage over another. It was clear,
when the Commissioners laid down a rule that the drainage
should be four feet in depth, that they came to that decision
on the best evidence they could get at the time. He was
inclined to think that four feet was not too deep. An to the
direction of the drains, all hu could say was that on his farm
the land where the drains ran across the furrows was more
satisfactory in wet seasons than where the lands ran parallel
with the drains. A drainage of four feet was not an nnne-
cessary depth, although there might be cases in which three
feet six inches might be sufficient, but he would never have it
less than the depth last named. A good deal required to be
done beibrc they got the land into proper condition, and he
hoped some gentlemen present would give the meeting the
benefit of their experience of steam cultivation on strong
land. In his opinion it was essential they should deepen the
soil. It was true that steam cultivation did not apply
to the question of drainage, but it applied to the
great question of increasing the staple of the soil and
the stirring up of those mineral constituents which
were so valuable. He considered they owed a debt
of gratitude to Mr. Lawes for his experiments, and especially
for his information as to the value ot straw. There was
scarcely anything more startling than that gentleman's confi-
dent statement that the manurial value of straw was almost
nil. According to Mr. Lawes they might put straw into the
land, but it wou'd not improve its character. It would be
far better to allow a farmer to sell the straw and replace it by
means of steam cultivation and artificial manures. The ques-
tion was, had the growing of wheat to a profit in this country
come to an end ? This was a question which they would have
to consider. In many provinces of India, wliare scarcely any
wheat was grown ten years ago, there were now many thousands
of acres sown witli that grain. The wheat thus grown was
taken to Bombay and shipped to this country at a profit. It
was, therefore, a grave question whether in England they
could go on growing wheat at a profit. It must not be for-
gotten, however, that laying down grass was an expensive
process, and that there were many things to be considered ia
connection with it. Nevertheless, he thought a good deal of
land, if properly drained and laid down in grass, would be
better occupied than if kept under the plough. He did not
consider it necessary to have straw for slock to lie upon, as,
from what he had seen, cattle could apparently lie down as
comfortably on bare stones. He hoped to hear something

364

THE FARMER'S MAGAZlNIf.

which wou'd show them how to raaTcft a profit out of the strong
land whicli so m tnv i.t' them occupied.

Mr. J. Walker (Mattersea Hall, Biwtry) objected to the
vie* taken by the reader ot the paper, that tlie uplands should
liave to pay lor tiie lowlands. Except in isolatei. cases he con-
sidered It a co-opirative matter, and otiglit rot to be inierit-red
with. Il It were desirable ou sanitary grDnndn lie could under-
stand It, because then all were alike interested, and everyone
shoiilJ pay ill his deffree.

Mr. L. A. CoussM.\KER (Westwood, Guildford) observed
that he bad been a farner lur many years. It was fourty
years since be first ooiumenced druiuinp. He drained his lnnd
Well, but he found that very deep drainage did nut answer.
1 here was nothing better fur heavy land than drainage, but
people expecvd too much from it. The greatest amount of
drainnge would not convert clay land into siind. He hnd
every implement that could be desired, and all kinds ot lius-
bandry work could be done on his tariu without a horse patting
a foot on the land. He had always ploughed hi« land as deep
as he cou!d, and, if pos^ib]e, 1 e got it done by Christmas in
order to have the advantage of the frost. He had found that
system advantageous. He did not, at the same time, say that
lie made any profit trom tarmintr. (Hear, hear.)

Mr. H. Tri^thewy (SiNoe, AmpMiill), said the Club ought
to feel much obliged to Mr. Street for the valuable paper he
hid read. He could not, however, help expressing a wish
that he had dealt more fully witli the question of the cultiva-
tion of heavy land, to whicli he had drawn attention, and had
stated the rotation of crops it would have been feasible to
adopt, and other matters relating thereto. He thought it 'las
very important in dealing with such land to get all they could
off in the shape of green crops during the summer. It was a
matter of the utmost importance to ascertain how heavy land
could be cultivated at a proSt. With regard to drainage, he
desired to say that there was some misapprehension concern-
ing the action ot those companies who advanced money on the
Government plan. The inspectors appointed by the Enclosure
Comnissiouers were not very rigid in their rules. They did
not insist on eleven yards wide : and having h d some thirty
years' experience ot draining under tbem, he could lairly
assume to know sometliing about their system. When thirty
years ago, the Governm' nt grnied twenty raiilinns ) f money
for the purpose of draining heavy lands, the country was very
much under the same state of things as it was at present.
The money then granted was to be laid out subject to the ap-
proval of inspectors appointed by the Enclosure Commis-
Moners. It would be remembered by some gentlemen present
at the meeting that at thnt time tht re was a very strong feel-
ing respecting d^ep draining ; and when the lloyal Agricul-
tural Socirty held its show at Shrewsbury, the plans of Mr.
Smith, of Deanstone, and of Mr. Josiah Parkes were dis-
cussed. Tlie system of the latter gentleman was generally
adopted, because it was more in consonance with the feeling
of those interested in draining, and it WiS adopted by trie
Enclosure Commissioners, nlio, however, soon found that it
was wrong, and for the 1 .st tvventy years tiie ComMi'ssioners
h "d not been tied by any such rules. Tne inspectors were men
who tliooiiglily understood their business. All that a farmer
liad got to do was to show tlieni hoiv he proposed to dra'n
the laud, and they were generally willing to agree upon the
system to be adopted. The natural way to drain land was
where there was the greatest fall. He (lid not approve of
draining across the laud; he had aUays found it belter to
drain up and down the furrows. Very often a great mistake
was made lu attempting to make the lund level when the drains
had been mule. With rtgard to the ridges, they should not
be thrown down.

Mr. Howard asked if Mr. Trethewy actually meant to say
that they sliould not be thrown down?

Mr. Tketuewy replied tliat they should not be thrown
down all at once. Another mistake which li.id been made in
draining was that the drains had been made too long, without
sufficient head-drains. It should be borne iu mind tliat they
M anted air as well m water in drains. He did not subscribe
to the idea that by draining the land the water made its way
sooner to the riv- rs. What had to do most with the velocity
of the water anl the rate at which it got into the rivers was
tiie way in which the arterial drains were kept. It was a great
juislake to fill up ditches. With regard to laying down the
land to grab8, that wai a question which must clepi ud very

m ch on circumstances. He thou:^ht thit tlie land fn sgtis'
parts o! the Midland districts was not ada.it' d to it, and tuat
it was more adapted to the growth of cereals than to ihj
growing of grass.

Mr. C S, Read, M.P., said— I think it was Mr. Sraythiea
who remarked that they wanted to luve experience — the re-
siil s of experience — in various parts of E igland. Now, N ^r-
foik is a dry county, and the soil is giueraliy light; but we
have what is called heavy land, thousjh I do not suppose it is
quite of the nature that has been so grapiiiially described. I
have had some experience with regard to heavy land in the
Midland Counties and elsewhere, but not, I am happy to s,iy,
at iny own expense. As to anybody taking in thtsr, days
heavy land which is thoroughly out of condition, I would Sriy
to him whit Pidich once said in giving advice to p-ople who
were thinking abjut being married, " Dju't." (Laughter).
Mr. Bowick said that heavy land had a great deal of lertilily,
and could not be exhausted. If it cannot be exhausted it ciu
very sp^^eaily be chokeil, the fertility of heavy land being
often destroyed by an abundance of weeds and rubbish. Tne
in roducer of the subject said that you should steam-plough
lieavy land directly aiier harvest, to prepare it for mangels,
in the spring, or you may at once sow vetclies iu the aulumu
My experience of heavy land is that if you take it thoroughly
out of conciioti, you mast give it two years' t;illow — a rougii
one to kill the ro its, weeds, and a fine one to kill the animals.
During the last four years the laud hts been so wet that you
could not get a lallow at all, and the consequence is that tha
heavy land of Euglaud is now in a worse state than it ha-a
beeu for many years, i'here is land which was laid down to
grass some years ago, and the grass appears to be a very long
time coning. We have to spend a great deal of time and
patience before we can get seed in the first instance, and we
iiave the greitest possible dfiiculty iu cenaio- seasons iu getting,
strong planis of natural grisses. I have tried to lay do* a
heavy lanu to gras-, with and without a corn crop, and o tea
I have not succeeded. A large p irtion of ihs heavy land of
Suffolk was in grass previous to the great French war,
and it was applied to the sjrowth of wheat lu consequence
of the iiigh price to which grain rose ; and now that
wheat has become so cheap it seems to lUti to be a natu-
ral consequence that that land should be laid down to
grass agaiu. I find that SJiiie patnoiic individuals still
exist who think that farmers ought to gr.'W wheat for the
benefit ot the community ; but, gentlemen, in my opinion,
the first question (or us to consider is hiw farmers are to live,
which, wuh present prices, is a very difficult proble.n. (tiear,
hear). As regards draiu-!ge, I entirely agree with wnat !ell
from Mr. Street. I disagree with what Mr. tjaiytliies said
about deep dr inige being necessary ou he ivy lands. Nor can
I concur with him in his wish to excuse the course pursued by
the Government in reference to that matter by saying tiiatthiy
had experience before them in favour of adhering to 4 feet.
The matter was, in fact, not one of experience, but one of
thejry. Mr. P«rkes, tiie g'eai drainer of the day, who tried
to upset the system of Mr. Smiih, wuh whom almost eveiy
practical man agreed ou tne subject, weut lor 4 leet drainage,
wiih his pencil-cases, or 1-inch pipes^ but that system had to
be abandoned. It is impossible to have deep draiiiage successful
on stiff clay if the drains are at wide intervals. You must
have Irequent drains on heavy land. Independently of the-
question of cost, 3 feet are preferable to 4 leet. There is a
vast difference between heavy laud aud land of a springy
nature. Wnat I meau by heavy land is a stitf clay, which, the
deeper you go down iulo, the heavier and dryer ii seems to
brcome. This brings me to the qiiistion whe her or not
draining of lieavy lauds really iucreiises the amount of water
which Hows down to lauds at a lower level. I really dou'c
believe it does. When the land is diain^d the rain has to
percola'e through 3 feet of soil, and the so 1 is more c ip^ble of
retaining water than it was before, and therefore, as to the
drainage ot heavy laud, iucreasiUf; Hoods. I don't brlieve it a
bit. The tapping ol sprint;s aud the drainage ol mow land may
increase floods, but. I don't believe the drainage of heavy lanus
increases it at all. 1 differ entirely, having had some expe-
rience on the sutijpct, from what I\lr. S'rei t said about putting
heavy lands on the Ihit. 1 have tried it to my cost. During
the last three or four years I have lost a codsulerable amount
of money, and hence I made up my mind to go hack to tlie
old system of ridges — what we call the furrow work in Xorlolk

THE FARMER'S MAGAZEN'E.

365

Trad wliat was metitioned liy I^'r. Coussmaker in his remarks
•on this subject. Oiip word as to sleara cnltivatioii. It «as
thought at one tiirie that ihat was going to work niiraclt^s witti
regard to heivy Und. I have done a great df^l of steam
culiiviitiou myself, and I hnve uot beea remunerated for it. I
tliink Mr. Sin;.thieH stiid that it you plongh deep you will
brias; up the treasures of tiie soil. If you bring up ttlh
tre^i^ures of the soil you will also bring up the barren subsoil,
with all sorts ot rubbisf, cliarotk, and other wee'l*. By all
means let there be deep culliva'ion, but on uo account plough
deeply.

The Rev. E. Smythies ob«ervi?d that he had not said one
word about bringing the subsoil to the surface.

Mr. Read continued :— Cultivate, I say, as deeply as you
like, but on no account bring np even a SIn^ll portion of the
•dead soil. Before sitting ilovvn let me say one thing about
the rotHtion of crops, namely, that I think that on heavy laud
we outcht to be left at liberty to cultivate as we please. I
fully believe that clay land has a great deal of unexhausted
fertilit) ; but the wor^t of it is that you have such diffii-nity
in extraniug the fertility. (Hear, he-r.) I fiid, with regard
to the growing of barley on heavy lard, that you can carry it
on for a great numl«;r of years at au ex^en.se of about SUs. an
acre upon arlifici'l manures, and at the end of the time — 1
have this from a practical and experienced chemist — the land
-will be in just as good order as regards fertility as it was at
first. Therefore, I say that the general roiation of crops
which is iosit-ted upon in thecu'tivation of heavy land is al-
together a mistake, and in such days as *hese it certainly
•ought to be aboished. (Hear, hear.) I have done all lean
to get roots upon heavy land, but often without success.
(Hear, hear.) I should only attempt a few mangels and
grow green crops in tlie rear of the (allows, and then the
•land will be ready for a corn crof) in the autumn or spring.

Mr. James IIoWARD (Bedford) s-iid Mr. Tretliewy was a
man wiio had sncli wide experience in agricultural matters
that it Tas very rarely tlia' he veniured to ditfer Tom him on
these topics, but on two points he had expressed au opinion
that, notwithstanding the re-p. c( en'ertained for h's opinions
generally, he must offer a few words of dissent. Mr. Tretliewy
had ii/timated, if he did not enunciate, an opinion against the
throwing down of the liigli back lands which were found
throughout the Midland Counties. Now, what was the fact,
if they dug down two feet beloiv the ridges they would find
n thing but what appeared raw clay. Tne clay was not,
however, in its normil or primitive condition, but in a condi-
tion to which it had been brought b^y ridg ng up and the
treading of horse; (or a long period, as well as the want of ex-
^o«ure to the atmosphere; geni-rations ago it was the surface-
soil, and it had been trodaen down with great injury to the
land. He had on his farm some 200 acres of land which he
■could rpmember iu \\'\i\i ridges, which was now as flat as the
table before him, and no one could tell from the look of the
crop or the condi'ion of the surface where the ridge
or furrow had been formerly, but then the land had been
worked down ga lually. These ridges had been thrown up
into tlieir present form, and could be throwu down again,
without injury, if done judiciously. As to the questi'JU of
drHining whirh had firmed so prominent a feature in the flis-
cussion, he had drained some 6t3o af.res upon his own estate of
hould^r clay in a variety of ways, and he did uot think heavy
land could be drained too deeply. On the other hand, he did
not believe draining to a dep'h of four feet to lour feet six
inches was at all necessary, and he had found that which had
been drained three feet to three feet six inches deep was just
as dry as land which had been drainel deeper. Tiiey ii^d
lately had some very wet winters, and be could endorse the
■view which had been expressed, that increased depth did not
compensate for increased v. i.:th. K'ty acres of his land had
•been drained four feet deep and eleven yards apart, but interme-
diate drains had been put iu since. The putting up 1 .nd in very
aarrow ridges, wiich had been advocated by Mr. Coussmaker
and Mr. Read, was totally opposed to his experience ; and he
had a great deal of hilly land, the rise of which was 1 foot in
7, and 1 foot in 9, an ', as Mr. Read well kneye, the soil was
particularly strong and teuaciou'. He never had an open
furrow or a water gutter upon his farm ; it was broken up with
a steam cultivator aud laid perfectly flat. Some years ago,
in reading a paper before the Bedfordshire Agricultural
Society, he chalieuged his neighbours, by whom he was

surrounded, to say whether they had ever sen a drop of water
8'auding oil a field b'huigfng to liiip, and tlicy admitted that
thev had no'. He thoiuhl that puituig land up iu small
ridires wa injuricms. The hue pa'ticl.s of the soil got a great
deal more washed away than when on the flit. He held that
water should go down where it fell. What was the practicd
resu tof having small ridges? A large, quaiititv of water ran
down by the furrows to the lower parrs of tlie tiell and there
a liundredloM more water had to be absorbed or taken off thaa
there otherwise would be. Then, again, if you put upon land
narrow ridges you get a vast amount ot tail cort on the sides
of the furrows. He quite endorsed what had be^n said about
growing on heavy land as much green food as you could for
summer consumption. The meat produced ou heavy land
shoulu be |)rincipally got rid of before winter. He did not
think Mr. Lawes could have meant exactly what had been
attributed to him with reference to straw by one speaker. Mr.
Lawes meant raanurial value only, but as they bad Dr.
Voek'ker present perhaps he would be good enoug'i to throw
some light ou that ma'ter. From very long experience hn
could endorse what fell from Mr. Read as to the impolicy of
deepyVo;/y/i/»y heavy land by steam. It was, in fact, aa
entire mistake. The best plan was to break it up witli the
steam cult'vator and leave the subsoil where you found it,

Mr. H. Neild (Worsley, Mancliester) said the subj ct of the
paper had merged very much in the quesriou of drainage, the
importance of which no one could dispute. He rather re-
gretted that Mr. Street did not tro further into the cultivaiion
of other crops besides barley. He was very much impressed
by what Mr. Read said about drain ge upon heavy land and
upon light land. On his o.vn land, the bulk ol wliicli was
luht, he had drained 5 feet down, with 6 or 7 feet of outfall.
Tiie land was laid down on the flat, aud so far as his experience
went the experiment had answered very we 1. The cultivation
of heavy land for rootcrops was exceedingly precarious; in fact
s ) unc-itain that he thought it best to avoid it. They ra'ist
all feel much obliged to Mr. S reet for the very excellent
advice that he had given them — advice that was especially
useful to young farmers , bat the gist of the discussion was how
heavy land could be so farmed aa to oe made to pay. (Hear,
hear). More capital must be ent'-red into E iglisii farming, or
It must be abandoned, and that involved the question how
security was to be obtained for unexhausted improvements.
There was one suggestion that he wished to make before sitting
down, and he must say that it appeared to him very important.
As there was about to he such an exten^ive and remarkab e
agricultural exhibition in the neighbourhood of London, he
hoped that the Club would open its doors to rainy of those
wlio would be assembled, and would invite a general meeting
of farmers coming from all parts of Euglaud to confer together
on the position of agrieuhural aff urs.

Dr. Voelcker (Salisbury Sq'iare) said : As regarded straw
it had been said that Mr. Lawes attached very little value to
its miueral properties. He believed that was llie cise ; but
straw was a vehicle for conveying the liquid and solid encreta
of stock to the land, and that was no doubt the reason why
the sale of straw on most farms was not permitted. He
thought it desirable that tenants should be at liberty to sell
the straw, provided they brouglit good artificial manures and
feeding substances on the land ; but if agents or proprietors
were to grant that liberty the result would be that the price of
straw would immediately drop down, and the icdueement to
sell it be proportionately diminished. With regard to tlie re-
marks of Mr. Treiliewy aud Mr. Read in reference to drainage-
water, he would observe that Mr. Lawes som- years ago had
v.-ry kindly place 1 at his disposal the drainage ol a field which
for the last 25 years had been continuously under cultivation
for wheat, one of the experimental plots, aud had tieen manured
with farmyard manure, and the cons'ant addition from year to
year of a Kood dressing of that kind of manure had made that
p^irtion of the field much more porous than the plots manured
with artificial manures. The result was that in the course of
two years ouly tw ce, sufiinent drainage-water lor analysis
passed through the more porous plots manured with dung,
whilst froiJi the other plots he obtained morr; than a sufficient
quantity of drainage water on eight or ten occasions. As
drainage unquestionably increased the porosity of the land ,
they had here a direct proof that less water passes trora the
moie porous drained, than trora undramed land. One remark
with regard to steam-cultivation. Some people seemed to
think that steam-culiivalion could be put into practice at all

3G6

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

tinips of the year, but he had reppatedly pointed out at agri-
cultural gatherings, thit harm was done by stea'D-cultivaiiou
when the land was soaked with water. He had seen a yreat
dtal of injury done to land by the use of the steam-plough at
improper tinit's, when the Inud was dry. The best plan was
to use the steain-plouirh as soou as possible after the crop liad
been gatiiered [in. The farmer had then the fall advan-
tage to be derived from steam-cultivation.

Mr. J. W. Watts (Manor Huuse, Lift'e Harrowden, Wel-
lingborough) said as fir as he could ju('ge, no one bad told
liini how to get a living on cold land. (Laughter). Various
f UiJgf »tiou9 had beeu made with regard to drainage, ploughing,
and so on, but he wanted to know how to cultivate cold land
at a profit. A neighbour of hi?, who was a celebrated
breeder of entire horses, about that time ot the year in 1877,
ploughed up some heavy clay land with horses, and he went
down to the moderate depth ot four or five inches. After
that, about the end of June, a steam cultivator was used,
and it went down eight or nine inches without bringing any
of the clay subsoil to the top. After that the same piece of
laud had about fifteen tons of good rotted manure. In October
the land was ploughed with horses, and there was a very good
tilth. The result was a barley crop of three quarters per acre,
producing something like £5, the land being let about 35s.
per acre. Upon the crop of barley rested two years' rent,
rates, and taxes, an I the total cost, including manuring and
harvesting, could not liave been less tiian £10 an acre ; so
that there was a clear loss of £5 per acre. How was it
possible to continue farming under such a state of things as
that ?

Mr. Street, in replying, said one speaker had wished he had
dwelt more on tlie different svsteras of cropping, lu his paper,
he (Mr. Street) had said, " I have perfect freedom to crop and
farm as I think best, consistently with good liusbandry. I
trust the day is not far distant when all my brother farmers
can say the same." On that point, he thought, it was impossible
to lay down any distinct rule ; the matter should be left
entirely for each individual to decide for him elf, according
to circumstances. One conclusion of Mr. Read's, with regard
to his paper arose from an error of the printer. In his paper
lie said, " In taking a farm wet and out of condition the be5.t
way is to drain and dead fallow the whole." Then tiiere was
a new sentence, beginning, '• Immediately after harvest," &c.
As the paper was pi-inted the word " immediately" joined
part of the first sentence, and hence the misundertanding
(Hear, hear). He was very glad that every speaker, with
one exception, was in favour of an alteration of the system of
drainage. As this was ttie first evening since its formation,
the Club had given to heavy land, if alteration did take place,
the evening would not have been spent in vain.

On the iiio'ion of Mr. T. Dukcham, .seconded by Mr. J.
"Wood, a vote of thanks was given to Mr. Street for his
paper.

€kanibtr5 i}f Jlgrkultur-c.

C E N T E A L.

The monthly meeting of the Council took place at the
rooms of the Society of Arts on May Gth, the Marquis of
Huntly in the chair.

After some preliminary business relatiug to finances, a
Report from the Business Committee was read which recom-
mended that no meeting of the Council should be held in
June, and that arrangements should be made lor liolding an
aggref^ate meeting of the Central and I'rovincial Chambers
and other agricultural bodies on the third day of the Show of
tlie Royal Agricultural Society in July.

Mr. J. Beli. having moved the adoption of this Report,
Mr. II. Neili) having seconded it,

Mr. DucKHAM suggested that a Committee should be ap-
pointed to meet a Committee of the Central Farmers' Club
and make with it the necessary arrangements lor the meeting.

IMr. I'l/LL, M.F., remarked that tliat was not necessary, as
the Business Committee had already resolved to communicate
with the Committee of the Club on tlie subject.

After some discussion the Report was adopted ; and it was
also decided that the June uieeting of the Council should be

held on the 10th of that month, and further, that the Bui-
ness Committee should be requested to communicate with the
I'rovincial and Associated Cliambers for tlie purpose of inak-
ing arrangements for the holding of a general meeting of
agriculturists in London during the Show of the Royal Agri-
cultural Soc ety.

Colonel RuG&LES BrIse (Vice-Chairman of the Chamber),
presented the following Report on Corn Returns from the
W^;ights and Measures Committee :^

" The Weights and Measures Committee, in compliance
with the desire of the Council on the 4th February last, liave
had under their consideration the question of the mode of
collecting the ' Corn Returns,' on which the official Gazette
averages of the prices of corn are based. lu reply to their
Chairman, the Secretary to the Board of Trade intimated in
the House of Commons the readiness of the Government to
receive and consider suggestions for improvements in the
system now employed. Tour Committee accordingly placed
themselves in communication with the Board of Trade, and
have been endeavouring to collect the necessary informaiiuu
to enable them to make such suggestions as seemed desirable.
They are not yet in a position to make definite recommenia-
tions, "but would be greatly assisted if local Chambers of
Agriculture would undertake to have the matter inquired into
in their several districts, and would formulate such schemes
for the amendment of the system as seem to tliem practicable
and suited to their localities, Willi this view they would
ask the Council for authority to draw up and transmit to the
various associated Chambers a series of questions touching
chiefly on the following points: — (1) The increased prices
returned owing to the use of weighed measures, which are in
excess of the natural weight of the grain, and the failure of
the local collectors to convert 'he quantities sold into true im-
perial measures before making tbe returns. (2) The enhanced
prices of the Gazette averages resulting from more corn thin
was formerly used being now consumed on t'te farm in the
feeding of stock and not brought to market. (3) Tlie increased
values of the coru returned due to the additional price follow-
ing on repeated sales, so that the prices quoted often ineluda.
the cost of carriage and the profits of corn dealers. Your
Committee observe that the Secretary of the Biard of Trade
in replying to a question put by the Vice-Chairman of the
Central Chamber with reference to the change made after
18ii4-, whereby the number of market towns from which re-
turns are sent was reduced from 290 to 150, and injustice
thereby inflicted on the tithe payer, has stated that very little
difference was made by the alteration, and that, 'if any-
thing, the prices of the 150 towns were lower than the
prices of the 290 towns,' while the Government had no
reason to believe that the prices would have been lower hatt
they continued to have been taken from the larger number of
centres. This reply does not seem satisfactory to your Com-
mittee. They incline to the belii-f that the cessation of reports
from the smaller markets must to some extent have deprived
the returns of d^ta resulting from sales at the primary mar-
kets, which they cannot but think, if accurately registered,
must have stood at lower figures than those prevailing at
central markets. The official statements of the aggregate
sales on which the corn averages are framed show so material
a diminution in recent years, that your Committee would
direct attention to the subjoined figures, as indicating the in-
creasingly reduced area from which the data are row drawn,
and the inadequacy thus revealed of the system in force to
ascertain prices even with approximate accuracy.

Quantities of British Corn Returned as Sold in
Market-towns in England aisd Wales.

Year.

Wheat.

Barley.

Oats.

Towns.

1864

Q'-s.

4,992,300

Qrs.

2,699,316

Qrs.

508,742

290

1870

3,398,655

1,841,678

200,091

150

1877-

1,942,688

1,795.049

17.6,092

150

Colonel BiiiSE in moving the adoption of this Report com-
plained of the unsatisfactory reply which had beeu given to
ills question iu the House of Coiumous by the President of

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

367

the Boara of Trade (Lonl SHndon), with respect to the num-
ber of pounds upon which the Imperitl Return Averajies were
taken. The couohision to which he came from tiiat reply
■was, lie said, that the nohle lord could not have made such a
careful inquiry as the matter required. From the information
which he' (Coloael Brise) had ohtained, and the statistics
which had been placed before him he believed tliat the
diminution in the number of towns from which tiie corn
averages were iaken from, 290 to 150, liad been very detri-
mental to the interests of those who had to make any pay-
meuts based upon corn averages. Tbere could be no doubt
that in the smaller towns from which corn averages were
taken many inferior sanaples were olTi-red at market, and tiiat
as a natural consequence the returns given were le's than they
ouglit to be. He was surprised, therefore, at the answer
which he had received from the President of the Board of
Trade. He could only aiUl that the Committee were in cora-
municatiou with his lordship, who had assured them that the
subject should have the consideration it deserved.

Mr. Caldecott, in seconding the motion, observed that
from his rwn knowledge he could state that several towns left
in the reduced list iiad ceased to be influential corn markets,
whilst many were omitted which had risen to irnportance.
He suggested, therefore, that to the three queries contained
in the Report a fourth should be added in these words : —
" What towns in their respective localities they would recom-
mend to be made returning markets."

Mr. Jabez Turner would like to know whether sales of
foreign corn were included in the returns made by the sche-
duled towns. He knew that they ought not to be, but it was
an important qaesiion w' ether in the case of re-sales of foreign
corn the merchant included them in the returns he made to
the Government or not.

Mr. Caldecott and Mr. Neild both remarked that they
did.

Mr. Turner was aware that foreign wheat had during the
last two or three years exceeded the English wheat in value to
a very considerable extent, and il the prices were placed in the
same category with those of English corn in the same market,
that must have the effect of materially raising the averages on
which tenants of corn-rented farms made their payments.
Turther, the merchant was not the proper person to mnke the
returns iu many towns. If the titheowner or the owner of the
property were to take his rent in kint, a portion of that corn
would go in payment of the sura due to him instead of the
money payment for which it was commuted ; and, spenking
roiiaiily, there was as much as from lOs. to 20s. a quarter
difference between the price of ttil and that of hsad barley.
Tail barley was consumed at home, and did not come into
competition, and if the titheowner or che landowner had to
take his rent in kind he would have to accept a portion of
than

Capt. Craigie (Secretary) observed that the returns were
not quite so lair as they could be made in the case of British
corn, and that mistakes might be occasionally committed, but
he believed that every care was taken to confine the returns
to British corn.

The Report of the Committee, with the insertion of the
query suggested by Mr. Caldecott, was then agreed to.

The next question being the consideration of the Count
Boards Bill,

Mr. Braiiston Gurdon (Norfolk) moved the following : —
" That this Council, though as strongly as ever in favour of a
comprehensive measure for the establish ment of county boards,
dees not consider the Bill at present before Parliament worthy
of support." He said he happened to be one of the few chair-
men of quarter sessions who were really favourable to the
■passing of a good and comprehensive Bill, but he was not in
favour of sueli a Bill as that now before Parliament, which
■was intended as a ** sop" to the occupier, and gave him a pre-
tence of power and none in reality. The Bill of which he
should approve would combine the best men at the quarter
sessions and the best representatives of the occupiers, and in
that way constitute a strong body — strong because elected, not
nominated — strong in the support of the constituency behind
it, and strong in the sense of its own impartiality. He believed
it was possible to have a Bill of that kind, but the present
measure was one of a totally different description, and if he had
the choice between it and no Bill at all he wonld have no Bill
at all (cheers). At the same time it struck him that there
was now a favourable opportunity of passing a good Bill, and

that any future Government would not have so favourable au
opportunity for doing that. Tne minds of th« ratepayers and
the minds of tlie magistrates liad fur some time been directed
to the subj ct, and lie knew that a large uumbHr of both classes
were anxious to see a fair aud reasonable and not an extreme
measure passed (dear, hear). Let them, therefore, have such
a Bill now if they could ; but as to the present Bill, he would
strike out the whole of it alter the clause constituting the
board. He objected to the diviiion into wards, but as quarter
sessions would have to form them no doubt they would make
the wards conterminous with the area of the Unions. Further,
he did not approve of the voting paper, and thought it would
be simpler and better if the boards of guardians were at con-
venient times to call a special meeting, and there and then
elect those members of their body whom they wished to repre-
sent them (Hear, hear).

Mr. Neild having seconded the motion,
Mr. Vere Wright moved, by way of amendinenl, : — " That
should a county board be established, constituted according to
the Bill before us, it ought to take the place of quarter sessions
in all matters except police and justice."
Col. Brise seconded this proposal.

Mr. W, B. Snell entirely agreed with Mr. Gurdon. A
meeting of his Chamber (the Devon and Cornwall) was held
the week before, and after a long discussion a resolution was
unanimously adopted condemning the Bill of the Guvernment.
The main objection to the measure was that it did not give
the ratepayers a voice in the expenditure of the county funds.
In the extreme west of England that subject had been under
consideration for more than twenty years. The lower clas»ea
in towns were being educated, and had had the parliamentary
franchise conferred upon them, and the ratepayers of the
county, who now elected their boards of guardians, highway
boards, and other bodies, demanded to have a further share
in county government and in the expenditure of county fuuds.
The pick of the magistrates aud the best business men of the
county would form a much stronger board for the management
of county affairs than one consisting entirely of justices of the
peace. He objected to their having two houses — au upper
house and a lower houiie — the one consisting solely of justices
of the peace, aiid the other of ratepayers and justices combined.
The powers of the latter body would be nil. All the principal
powers of local government and of the purse would be in tne
hands of tlie upper liouse, the justices, and the lower house
would virtually have none at all. For instance, if the new
board were to discuss tlie question of re-arranging the highway
districts of the county, they would have to submit any pro-
posals on the subject in writing to the upper house, who
might, if they chose, throw them into the waste-paper basket.
He strongly disapproved of a Bill which assigued to the repre-
sentatives of the ratepayers only the duty of collecting mauey
for others to spend (cheers).

Mr. Carrington Smith considered the Bill so bad as to
be incapable of amendment, aud speaking in the name cf his
Cliamber, said he had come there to give it a kick
(Laughter).

Mr. James Howard thought the Council would best con-
sult its dignity by retusiag to waste its time iu discussing the
Bill. The President of the Local Government Board
knew very well what were their views as to the requirements
of the ratepayers iu respect of a County Board Bill, and,
seeing that tlie rigiit hon. gentleman had ignored these views
and the views of every agricultural society that had expressed
an opinion on the subject, he must repeat that it would ill
become the dignity and self-respect of the Council to waste
further time upou the consideration of such a miserable bant-
ling (Cheers and loud cries of " Vote").

Mr. Hicks, M.P., concurred in the amendment. He
firmly believed that if the Bill were carefully examined, it
would be seen that it assigued to the new hoard all matters
connected with county government, excepting the police and
the aaministration of criminal justice (No, no). Well,
tliat was his opinion. The Bill lelt little, he contenued, to the
magistrates besides the repair of the buildings in which they
held their sittings, and the payment of their clerks and other
officers.

Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., was glad to find that there was at
least one gentleman present to speak iu defence of the Bill ;
and although it was but a feeble defence he believed it to be
the best that could be made of it (Laughter). For his part,
he thought that if this were the best Bill that Parliament

S63

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

fo\M give tliPin, tlipy liad better fall back upon the rpcora-
nieiidatiou of llie cominit'ee of ten yenrs ago and let llie
•deJefCHies of the ratepayers take thi ir place willi the magis-
trates in uuarter sessions, and that the committees which did
the chief pirt cf tlie conntv wurk should he constituted h;iU'
of justices and hal of eleeteil ratepayers. Thnt would
certaiiily do better for a ti^ne than a Bill o' the sort they
were now di>ciissi;ig; for it that were passed into an Aet all
thev would ge' Iroin their exertions was increased expendi-
ture, the creation of a dual authority, an upset of everybody
and the pleasing of nobody. In short, if this were the best
Bill the Government could give them tiiey had better have no
legislation ;it all, hut turn their attention to something that
was practicable and nsefu', and see if another Goverm^ent
woul not in time be found to settle the question in a satisfac-
tory manner.

t olonel Brise was strongly in favour of the passing of a
coniplete measure ot county administrative reform, but did not
see how it «as to be got if everybody opposed that Bill
becau'C he did not approve of its details. If they did not get
a Bill [a*seii that year, it would, he though', he a long time
be'ore a Bill was passed. With a general election pending,
it, W('ul() be impossible lor the Government to propose a Bill
of tliit kind next year, and if there were a change of Govern-
luent lie did not believe the gentlemen now sitiint; on the
Opposition benches would be able to carry a Bill ol that de-
scription in as satisfactory a shape as those now in oCBce
coulH. The Bill of last year might have been made an excel-
lent measure if the amendment lor subsiituting the union (or
the petty sessional area and a few amendments suggested by
Mr. Head had been adopted, and he should like to luve seen
it reintroduced this year. Unlortuuately Lord R. Churchill
made a hitter speech ag^-in t it, and so frightened the Govern-
rrent tliat they dropped it ; but in his 0|iinion they were wrong
in jjivmg it up, the views enunciated by his lordship not being,
he believed, those of the country &i large, or even of the
principal landowners and magistrates. They were, in his
ojiuion, onlv the views ot a small class of raagistra es, con-
si <ting chiefly of clergymen and other persons ol little influence
i'l the counties, while the mas;istrates and landed proprietors
as a body desired to have the larger and more influential
oi^cnpiers associated with them in the managem-ut of county
affiirg.

The Chairman cordially supported Mr. Gurdon's resolution
and exprer'cd his concurrence in every word that had fallen
from Mr. Read. Resolutions had been sent up from seven'een
local Chambers, all of V em condemning the Bill as it stood,
and this Clumber would be coinple"ely stultifying itself if it
rejected the resolution and adoiited an amendment which
certainly implied apprMv^lof the Bill. If this were the only
County Boards Bill the Government could offer them they had
better remain as they were ; but he could assure them that there
were p'enty of mem'-sers ot the Liberal party who were willing
to seitle the question, and anxious to see the representatives
ol the ratepayers taking a large it not an eqml share with the
magi tr;.tesin the con'^uetot county business (Hear, lie^r). It
was once said bv Mr. Bright that the ministers who could carry
aC unt) Government Bill that secured a proper representation
of the ratcfiavers would con'er the gre:Htest possible benefit
on the couiilies; and in that sentiment he (Lord Huntley)
cordially agreed; but it was his humble opinion ihat this B 11
would never accom[ilish tiiat oljecf, and that it conld not be
made a measure which the Chamber should even desire to
amend (Hear, bear).

On the question being put from the chair, the amendment
of Mr. VVrulit was rejected by a very large ninjorily, where-
upon the residiition of Mr. Gurduii was carried amid loud
cheers with only one dissentient.

The next matter on the a^icnda being " The Incidence of
Local Taxation,"

Mr. Walkkr, of the Nottinghamshire Chamber, read a
paper, in which he maintained tiiat the unjust placing on one
descrip'ion of property, the land, a disproportionate amount of
the public burdens, wliilst income arising from personal
property was in a great measure exempt from such charges,
was tlie main cause ol the present depression of agriculture.
(Jther nations, he observed, h'^d not lollowed us in our lee
trade policy, and he contended that if free trale was still to
he the rule indirect taxes ought to be imposed upon the fuUy-
mauulaclured article, so aa to leave productiou free, and ail ,

direct taxes obtained by means of a fairly-aiijusted incoTip.-
t'X, ranging from the arisan upwards throughout the coai-
munity. In conclusion he moved : —

"That as what are called Locil Taxes (except those which
are co-rperative, such as light and water) are necessary for
the good of all, they shoulrt be placed on the individual accord-
ing to his ability to pay, and not on particular kinds of wealtli
from which that income is derived, and which allows many to
escape, taxing the lew for the good of the many. That there-
fore no area of valuation will be acceptable which allows any
one to escape payment of these so-called local burdens on the
plea of exemption of any kind of wealth which is income pro-
ducing, and where the rereiver is able to pay."

Mr. Vere Wright seconded the motion.

After a Ion? and rather dssui ory discussion,

Mr. DuuuiNCi (Lincolushire Chamber) moved, as an
amendment : —

" That property and income of every description, real and
pei"sonal, should he taken as the basis of, and assessed fur
local rates."

M . U. Long having seconded the amendment,

The Chairman pointed out the difficulty of ascertaining
where the income was to be lound to contribute t(jwards local
rates, anil suggested thnt a resolution in the following terms
nuirht convey wliat seemed to be the wish of the Council :—
" That income and property of all d' scriptious should contri-
bute towards the maintenance of all Imperial burdens, many
of which are now maiuly provided for out of the local rate',
and that lull iniiuiry should be instituted by the Government
into I he subject."

Mr. Gardner said he would be happy to propose that at
the proper time.

Captain Craigie observed that the Chamber had frequently
passed re-olutions oii the subject, and that the d fficulty men-
tioned by the Chairman was one that aUays had laced tlnm.
and still did so.

After a discussion, in which Mr. Jasper, Me. More, Mr.
Sfoner, M.P., Mr. Jabez Turne-, Mr. Whitakei -Wilson, Mr.
Mansfield, Mr. II. B. Powli, Mr. Bell, and others took part,
the amendment of Mr. Dudding was withdrawn, and Mr,
Walker afterwards corsented to withdraw his motion in
favour of one proposed by the Chairm n and seconded by Mr.
Mason, which was as 'oHows : "That income and property of
all descriptions should contribute equally towards the main-
tenance of all burdens which are ol common interest, many
of which are now mainly provided for out of local rates, and
that full inquiry should be instituted by the Government into
the suhject."

This proposal on being put was agreed to unanimously,
and the proceedings terminated with a vote of to the Marquis
of Huntly as the chairman.

SMITHFIELD CLUB.

The Special Committee appointed to take evidence, con-
sider, and report to the Council, on the subject of giving en-
couragement to early maturity in animals, and to consider tlie
prize sheet generally lor the year 1830, held a meeting at the
Agricultural Iiill, on Monday, May 5tli. Present: — Mr.
JhcoI) Wilson in the chair; Col. Kingscote, C.B., M.P.
(president), Mr. Charles Howard (trustee), Messrs. T'liomas
lirown, Richard Stratton, Walter iartliing, John Trcadwell,
T. W. Girrett Taylor, Edward Pattison, ilenry Webb, and
Sir Brandreth Gibbs (vice-president and lion. sec).

The Hon. Sec. reported that a circular had been sent all
the members of the Club, inlorming them of the day, hour,
and object of tie meeting, and ai-king those wishing to
appear before the committee to send in their naiues, also
stating that written conimunicatious on t'.e subject under con-
sideration would be printed for the use of the committee.

The Committee proc-!eded to tale evi leuce of the members
and others who were in attendance, and to carefully cousii'
the cummuuicatious which had been received.

During a lengthened sitting considerable prog'e'is was made,
and tlie Commitlee aiijouriitd to Thursday, June 5th, when
they will continue the preparation of the report to be laid
before the Couacil of the Club.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

869

THE FARM ANIMALS OF THE UNITED
STATKS.

Mr. J. R. Dodge bas contributed the following
valuable article to the Chicago Funncrs' Mceicw. It
contains so much information about the numbers and
values of American live stock, just now subjects of peculiar
interest here, that we give the article entire : —

The state of a^^riculture in any country is indicated by the
numbers and condition of farm auimala. The pastoral interest
is the first tliat engages attention in tlie settlement of primi-
tive areas; the breeding and fattening of domestic animals
command the skill and capital of the most advanced agricul-
ture. It is fonnd tliat slieep are pro liable on the plains of
Texas and in the parks of C 4orado, wliere the price of lands
per acre is counted in cents. They also constitute the " sheet-
anchor of British fanning," with lands worth hundreds of
dollars per acre. It is a mistake to assnme that high-priced
lands are not available for meat production ; on the contrary,
it is difficult, if not impossible, to maintain a profit-making
feriility without farm stock.

France yields little more than half the production of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, acre for acre.
The reason is found in meat production — grass and turnips
against grain. The former has an arc a of 20I',031 E'lglish
fquare miles, the latter 121,305 ; and yet the smaller area
produces 50 per cent, more meat than the larger. One sup-
plies the meat lor 36,000,000 people, but tliey eat only 51 lb.
each per annum ; the other on its circuruscribed area provides
four-fifths of the meat supply of a population nearly as large,
recfuiring twice the meat supply per capita consumed by their
French reighbours. France has 15 per cent, of her agricul-
tural area in natural prairies and pasiurnde, and 3i.7 per
cent, in cereals aud tarinaceous plants ; Great Britnin, re-
versing the proportion, has 27.9 and 21.3 per cent. In
artificial meadows and forage plants France lias 0 per cent.
and Great Britain 15.9. The result necessarilly is a rate of
yield thus stated by the international statistical commission as
aa average ;—

~ Great Britain.

France.

Wheat

17.1

29 9

Barley

20.8

39.0

Oats

25.4

45.9

Potatoes

1284

1644

We fi>id the same principle ruling in the agriculture of all
the Old World countries. In new countries having abundant
natural pasturage, farm animals are numerous before so:l
culture is known. This country has necessarily a large
pastoral industry upon broad aud free wild areas, which is
assumed to compete with animal production upon farms, and
which tends temporarily to repress improvement in domestic
animals in the older states. Large iwjmbers of domestic
animals may, under such circumstances, exist in connection
with a low state of agriculture, having, in fact, no connection
with arable culture or crop rotation. Before examining the
stock interests of the United States in deiaii, let us make a
comparison with those of other countries.

The population of Europe is about six times that of the
United States, and the farm animals of Europe and the
United States may be thus compared, the figures for Europe
being those of the international statistical conwuission : — ■
Europe. United States.

Horses 31,573,663 10,350,000

Mules 4,136,031 1,650,000

Cattle 89.678,248 32,000,000

Sheep 194,026,236 37,000,000

Swine 42,686,492 33,000,000

In brief, this country possesses four-fifths as many hog'^,
more than one-third as many cattle, one-third as many horses
and mules, and only about one-fifth as many sheep as tie
countries of Europe combined.

Tiie more prominent of the European States are thus repre-
sented in food-producing animals :—

Cnttle. Sheep. Swine.

Great Britain 6,002,100 ... 29,495,900 ... 2519,300

Ireland 4,142,400 ... 4,482,000 ... 1,042,2+4

Kussia 22,770,000 ... 46,432,000 ... 9,800,000

Germany 14,386,791 ... 22,295,682 ... 6,340,415

Austria 7,425,212... 5,026,398 ... 2,551,473

Hungary 5,279,193 ... 15,076,997 ... 4,443,279

France 11,721.4.59 ...25,035,114 ... 6,755,656

I'aly 3,489,125 ... 6,981.0t9 ... 1,553,583

Spain 2,967,303 ... 22,468,969 ... 4,351,736

In the proportions of the different classes, Russia stands
first in horses, having 167 to each 1,000 farm animals (in-
cluding goats) ; BeUiu;!), Sweden, and Denmark following
next in order. Spain has 61 mules and 18 horses to 1,000
animals. Italy has 49 mules and Portugal 36— the principal
mule-using countries. Bavaria (in Gern'iany) lias the largest
proportion of cattle, 527 to 1,000 of all kinds ; Wurtemburg,
491; Saxony, 469; Switzerland, 417; and Sweden, 440 ;
while Great Britun h\s but 150. Great Britain occupies the
fir^t place with sheep, 735 to 1,000; Spain, 602; Rouraania,
596 ; Hungary, 546 ; Switzerland, 546 ; Norway, 533 ;
France, 525 ; and P.jrtugal, 520. More than half of the
farm animals are sheep, 511 to 1,000. Comparing with the
United States, we find the following proportions, omitting
goats -horses, 91; mules, 14; cattle, 281; sheep, 325;
swine, 289. These proportions are all larger than those
for Europe, taken as a whole, in all animals excepting
sheep.

The comparison in proportion to pop;ilation (the number of
each kind to 100 inhabitants) is as follows : —

Horses. Mules. Cattle. Sheep. Swine. Goats

Europe 11.2 ... 1.5 ... 31.8 ... 68.7 ... 15.1 ... 6

U. S 21.5 ... 3.4 ... 66.6 ... 77.1 ... 68.7 .,. —

This country has 238 domestic animals to 100 people,
nearly double the European supply, and more than double in
respect to its more important element, that of the bovine
race.

TEICES ANU VALUES.

Haying thus in large measure tiie basis of profit and pro.
gress in general agrieultnre, if we use aright our opportunities
we should discrirainale wisely between pastoral and mixed
husbandry, and learn how animals can aid in swelling the
garners and filling the cofi'ers of progressive husbandmen.
The rapid increase in aggregate amount of this wealth is
indicated by the following figures, those for 1870 being
unnaturally swollen by the high valuations of that period :—
Dollars. [ Dollars.

1850 544,180,516 1870 1,525 276 457

1S60 1,089,239,915 | 1S78 1,574,620,783

Of this aggregate, cattle represent 40 per cent. ; horses, 38 ;
hogs, 10 ; raulPK, 7 ; and sheep, 5. The annual production,
however, is by no means limited to these proportions, as
swine and sheep mature for all profitable uses in a year, wliile
cattle require three years, and horses aud mules five, the
average life of both cattle and horses being still greater.

The average prices of farm animals in States representing
distinct belts and sections are indicative of various and diverse
conditions of agriculture and degrees of improvement of breeds,
of CHre and treatment.

The estimated averages for 1873 are : —

Other
Horses. Mules. Cows. Cattle. Sheep. Swine
Dols. Dols. Dol". Dols. Dots. Dols.

Massacb'tx.... 87.46 40,67 37.25 3.60 13 86

New York... 80.77 88.14 32.32 28.30 3.30 8..36

Maryland 68.55 88.47 30 39 22.08 3.65 5.62

Georgia 70.77 78.81 16.00 8.90 157 3 29

Texas 27.45 44.67 1475 10.30 2.09 3.67

Tennessee 52.91 56.81 18.86 10 61 192 4 00

fllinois 54 84 63 44 27.77 21.97 2.48 5>9

Kansas 5134 65.35 23 68 19.14 2 31 5 96

California 40.94 68.98 28.23 17.23 152 6.27

Horses are high in the E«t, higher in Georgia than in the
VVestern States that have a surplus for cotton districts, and
lower in Tennessee than in Illinois, because of a small surplus
and somewhat inferior quality. The low average of Texas is
lartjely caused by an undue proportion of inferior stock. The
difference in cows is due more to quantity than locality, milk

C C

370

THE FAHMEK'S MAGAZINE.

proJucts having cverj'wlipre active local demanf), and the
surphis relatively cheap transportation. The principal
rfiflereace iu sheep valufs results mainly from breed and (juality.
Distance from market an.l time and care required in maturinpr,
affect more positively the value of cattle, other thau milch
covrs.

The depreciation in values of the past few years has
evidently reached bottom, and the tendency of demand is now
toward steadiness and ultimate advance.

INCREASING DSM.VND FOR BEEF.

There is an increasing demand in this country for beef of a
better quality. Our population now receives annually an
increment of more than one million. Ten years ago the
British people consumed but about tvi o ounces of meat eacli
daily, now fully twice as much. Then only one-ninth of the
supply was obtained abroad ; now one-fifth, with increase of
grass area and curtailment of breadth of cerea's. In the
export year 1877, our foreign shipments of fresh beef were
49,210.990 pounds, at 4,552,523 dols., or 9.27 cents per
pound; in 1878, 5i,046,771, 5,009,856 dols., 9.27 per
-pound.

The exports of salted beef have greatly increased since 1807,
Ihongli not so rapidly as fresh and preserved meats. The fol-
lowing are the quantities and values : —

Lb. Value— Dob.

1867 ... 14,182,562 ... 1,727,350

1868 ... 22,683,531 ... 2,096,011

1869 ... 27,299,197 ... 2,430,357

1870 ... 26,727,773 ... 1,939,778

1871 ... 43,880,217 ... 3,825,666

1872 ... 26,652,094 ... 1,870,826

1873 ... 31,605,196 ... 2,447.481

1874 ... 36,036 537 ... 2,956,676
1S75 ... 43,213,251 ... 4,197,956

1876 ... 36,596,250 ... 3,185,304

1877 ... 88,715,511 ... 7,539,955

1878 ... 38,831,379 ... 2,973,231

The requirement of the live meat trade, as well as that of
fresh beef, is larger size and finer quality than our average
be f ; and the ruling np(■e^sity of the time is higher and more
cosiinuous feeding, both for economy in fattening and supe-
riority in quality ; and such improvement is in the direct line
of advance in breeding, and progress in intensive and rational
aj iculture.

England long ago discovered that the grazing districts, the
liill lands, must grow their stock, and richer lowlands must
fatten it. It may be that the Central West will have to adopt
the plan of rapid fattening of bullocks brought from distant
grazing lands ; in fact the practice is already in vague. It is
known to the skilled feeder that the cost of a pound of added
weight in Simmer fattening, upon grass supplemented with
corn, is but a fraction of the cost of a pound of Winter-fat-
tened meat. Then by continuous feeding there may be a sav-
ing of one Winter in the growth of a herd of Beeves ; and by
better protechon from cold in Winter a further saving made.
There is much of economy yet to be learned in the pro uction
of beef in tiie Eatt, as well as in the West. England lias
already saved one year in the Ufe of a bullock, and the demand
there now is for beef of two years old.

EXPORTATION OF PORK PRODUCTS.

The value of all the exports of bacon and hams, pork and
lards, from 1821 to 1854, was as follows: —

Dollars,

1821 1,354,116

1822 1,357 899

1823 1,291,322

1824 1,489,051

1825 1,832,079

1826 1,892,429

1827 1,555,698

1828 1,495,830

1829 1,493.629

1830 1,315,245

1831 1,501,644

1832 1.928,196

1833 2,151,558

1834 1,796,001

1835 1,770,732

1830 1,383,311

1637 1,299,796

Dollar?.

1838 1,312,310

1839 1,777,230

1810 1,891,891

1841 2,021,537

1812 2,629,103

1843 2,110,0-0

1844 3,236 476

1815 2,991,288

1846 3,883,884

1847 0,030,812

1818 9,003,272

1819 9,245,885

1850 7,550,287

1851 4,368,015

1853 3 765,170

1853 0,202,,324

ISol 11,001,016

Tbe smallest export of bacon and hams was 965,935 ponnds,
in 1837 ; the largest in 1819, 56,060,822 pounds. It renciipd
2,000,000 pounds only twice in the first twenty years, in 1829
and 1830; jumped in 1847 from 3,000,030 to 17,921,471
pounds at the period of the Irish famine, and reached
33,551.034 in 1818. Lard exports durinjr this period rang-ed
from 3,900,501 pounds in 1821 to 54,925,540 pounds in 1850.
As with bacon, the heaviest exportation was lielween 1816 and
1850. Exports of salted pork ran from 4,610,000 in 1836 to
50,097,200 in 1819, usually ranging between 10,000,000 and
20,000,000 up to ISll, but smallest in the years of monetary
depression following 1837, and largest in those from 1816 to
1849. The separate value of exports of these products sinoe
1854 is thus stated :—

Bacon & Hams. Lard. Pork,

Dols. Dols. Dols.

1855 3,195,978 4,018,016 4,.390,&79

1856 3,863 328 3,870,919 5,029,910

1857 4,511,443 5,141,195 2,805 867

1858 1,957,423 3,809,501 2,853,912

1859 1,203,043 3,268,106 3,355,746

1800 2,273,168 4,545 831 3,132,313

1861 4,848,339 4,729,297 2.609,818

1862 10,290,573 10,004,521 3,930,153

1863 18,658,280 15 755,570 4,331,775

1864 12,323,327 11,260,728 5,328,030

1805 10,636,608 9,131,858 6.8.50,808

1866 6,269.790 ■ 5,970,651 4,788,184

1867 3,291,176 6,034,5.56 3,597,t90

1868 5,476,998 9,427,831 3,207.653

1869 7,482,060 7,413,948 3,4:2.928

1870 6,123,113 5.933,397 3,253,137

1871 8,126,6S3 10;563,020 4,302,320

1873 21,126,593 20,177,019 4,122,308

1873 35,023,137 21,245,815 5,007,035

1874 33,383,908 19,308.019 5,808,713

1875 28,012,613 23,900 523 5,071,195

1876 39,604,456 22,429,185 5,714,023

1877 49.512,413 25,563,605 6,296,411

1878 51,750,205 30,014,023 4,913,146

It is a fact strongly suggestive of the great recent advance
in the area and production of the corn crop, that a greater
value of pork products have been exported in seven years,
since the large crop of 1871, than in the period of fifty-one
jears preceding. An export value of 458,367,601 dols. in
these three items has been recorded in seven years, an average
of 65,466,800 dols. per annum. The pork products in the
exports of last year represented seven-tenths of all provisions,
including fresh and salt beef. Verily, the hogs are bringing
home our bond. The receipts from exports of pork products
reached ninety millions of dollars last year, or half the value
of the cotton export. It was nearly eighteen times tiie value
of the fresh beef export, which is creating so much stir in the
rural circles of the mother country.

CORN AND rOKK,

What has so swollen this trade of late? The higher wages
of British labourers have enabled them to live better, aiid this
amelioration comes largely iu the form of meat, which was
formerly a rarity, to be indulged in onci? or twice a week. This
renders a demand possible, and the abundance and cheapness
of our corn since 1875 reduces so greatly the price of pork
products that a greatly increased quantity can be paid for.
Koie the parallel between the export prices of corn and of
pork.

Corn. Bacon & Hams. Pork. Lard,

1871 71.9 9.6 8.3 .'..... 9.4

187' 84.7 11.4 10.1 13.7

1870 67.3 12 1 10 6 13.3

1877 58-7 10.7 9.0 10.8

1878 50.3 8.7 0.8 8.7

The high price of corn in 1874, due to a short crop, had its
full effect on the prices of pork in the succeeding year, and
fhe cumulative tffect of the large crops since that date is seen
in constantly declining prices, which have gone still lower than
the above record of 1S78. Here is a fall in three years of 33
per cent, in corn, accompaniel by a decline of 30 per cent.
in lard, 32 in pork, and 24 in bacon aud hams. The great
surplus of corn has, duriug the past year, depressed prices of

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

371>

pork below the level of depreciation in corn. The increase :n
exports durinff this period bliows the ellect of low prices in
stimulating shipments : —

Bush. Lbs. Lh's. Lbs.

Corn. Bacon Sc ILims. Tork, Lard.

l'S74. 34.,43i,606 3(5,030.537 70,48-2,379 205,537,4.70

1378 85,461,003 592,814,331 71,889,255 342,607,920

THE MEAT WE EAT.

As corn is our principal crop, so pork is our principal meat,
constitutinii fully half of our meat production. In France,
pork coii.-.titutes but 30 per cent., and beef 55, of the meat
production, and mutton but 13i^. In Great Britain, mutton
and beef sliare more equally iu the production, s^ine ficsh
occulting nearly the plue as mutton iu I'Vancp.

Our nieit surplus wliich is exported now amounts to a
quantity equal to two-thirds tlie entire production in France,
and nearly half of that of Eu,'Und. Apparently, about one-
sixth is now exported, leaving something more tlum six
thousand millions of pounds for home consumption, say 130
pounds per capita. In comuarisoa with this supply, France
uses about four-tenths and Great Britain eight-tenths as much.
Without presumina; upon an ex<et estimate, there are data lor
a result somewhat closely approximating this. The export of
last year, 1,007,371,526 pounds of pork products, and 29,284
hees, is evidently between 27 and 30 per cent, of our total
hog product. O;" beef the export is less than a fifth as much,
inc'.udiug live cattle, and probably less than one- sixteenth of
the beef production.

THE DAIRY INTEUEST.,

The extravagance of recently ill-advised and carelessly-con-
sidered statements of the quantity and value of dairy products
demands correction. It has been so often reiterated in dairy
conventions that the butter product is 1,500,000,000 pounds,
and that 350,000,000 pounds of cheese are raadp, that some
intelligent people are disposed to accept the estimates. Neither
the records of local supply nor the statistics of the number and
milk-yield of milch cows warrant any such assumption. It
would require 13,000,000 cows to produce such a result, in
addition to the requirements of the fresh milk trade and con-
sumption in farmers' families. As lar;ie an estimate as any
well-in!"orrapd statistician can make is 950,000,000 pounds of
butter and 310,000,000 pounds of cheese. Northern men are
apt to ignore the effect of the low Southern production, upon
a national estimate. While New York averages about 475
gallons per cow, and a lew other dairy districts come up to
450 or 425, the central belt of States drops below 300, and
the southern below 200 gallons actually produced. The
average might reach 325 gallons, and possibly not so much.
The fresh milk consumed is a larger proportion than has
generally been supposed. I have a ma^sof facts bearing upon
these local differences in rate of production, of milk, of buiti-r, i
and of cheese, of which your space will not permit present
oonsideratioi'.

In conclusion, a comparison of the prices of beef and pork,
and the prospective demaud for each, encourage a larger pro-
duction of beef. It will have a steady demand, while that for
pork will fluctuate more with rise and fall of price.

Tlie signs of the times imperatively demand greater weight
and higher average quality in beeves. The means of pro-
curing such a result are consistent with and productive of
greater economy iu productioa and true progress in agricul-
ture.

Prominent among these mems is a more rapid and more
regular rate of giowth, from calfliood to butchering, the lack
of which is now a cause of loss ot many millions annually, in
many cases of all the profit of fattening. As corn and grain
become dearer these economies will be enforced as never
bsfore, driving the careless aud unskillul from the business of
feeding.

Swine growers should not commit the customary folly of
leaving a business when prices are lowest, and the tide is
beginning to turn. One's eggs should be distributed in various
baskets.

The reduction of fertility of wheat-growing distric's, it
should be remembered, may be prevented seasonably by the
introduction and prominence of cattle growing.

In the rext twenty years the cattle ("armer will distance the
^heat lurmer of the West iu thy race for wealth and comfort.

DEPRESSION IN AGRICULTURE,

Mr. James Howard writes to the Timrs : —
Having had advantages which fall to the lot of few prac-
tical farmers in becoming acquainted with the agriculture of
most parts of the United KiiiRdom, as well as tiiat of the
continents of Europe and America, I desire, without
assuming the office cf teacher, to place before your readers a
few thoughts upon the above subject. Having important
interests bound up with the welfare of agriculture, and being
a large farmer as well, I have a deep personal concern iu the
subject upon which I write.

That the prostrate condition of agriculture demands con-
sideration I take for granted ; the spirit of improvement so
observable a few years ago, has departed altogether. I
therefore at once proceed to inquire what remedies are within
reach that will enable the present or future race of farmers
to cultivate the land of Great Britain to a profit, aud to
withstand the fierce foreign co-npetition which has set in.
Apart from the question of more propilions seasons, wkich
are beyond our inttuence, the hindrances which exist divide
themselves naturally under three he:dds — 1. Those which the
farmer himself has power to overcome. 3. Those which
landowners can remove or lessen. 3. Those which the
Legislature can deal with.

In a former letter I took upon myself to defend the farmers
of England against certain charges brought against tliem by
your correspondents. If in pointing out some remedies
within their own power I allude, upon the present occasion,
to one or two of their shortcomings, it is in no unfriendly
sjiirit. On the contrary, I do so with a sincere desire to
advance their interest and enable tliem to meet the difiiculties
I of their position. None will dispute that knowledge in
j farming, as in every other pursuit, is the greit essential to
; success. The question every farmer of the present d ly,
[ especially every young farmer, should ask himself is, Do I
avail myself to the fullest extent of the sources of Tcnowledgo
at my command ? In no other business are there such facili-
ties for gHiniog inftrmation upon any subject, and every
bratich of a subject, as in agriculture. There are no trade
secrets ; one farmer does not, like a tradesman in the same
line, look upon another as a rival ; the most successful carries
on his operations in the broid liirlit of day, and, as a rule, is
ready to communicate his knowledge to a brother farmer.

Foreign agriculturists come to England in great numbers to
study the best examples of English and Scotch farming, and
they avail themselves of these invaluable sources of know-
ledge to a much greater extent tlian do the English farmers-
themselves. I may be told that the place for a far uer is at
home ; but it has often occurred to me that at our great
agricultural meetings how much betier the time of many a
visitor might be occupied in studying the best examples of
farming in the district than in gazing on animals and objects
so simihr to those he has often seen before.

Of late years the Kojal Agricultural Society has awarded
prizes for the most successfully-nnuaged large and small farnis,
both arable and pasture, in the respective districts of ils
annual shows. The practice has opened up a most vnlnable
source of information, and those who have not the opportunity
of visiting these farms may read in the Riynl Ji/ricid/i/ral
Journal the reports of the judges, describing in the most
minute and practical way the management ot each com-
peting farm. Valuable and instructive as a.re these report:^,
it is a fact that they are coaipara.tivply little read ; indeed, it
is rare to meet a praciical farmer who has read them. Again,
newspapers and periodicals devoted to aLTieolture iu Great
Britain are beyond all comparison ahead of tho-e of any
other country ; but from the smallness of their circulation it
is evident that these sources of information are, to a great
extent, neglected. How, it may be asked, is it possible for ;v
farriier, any more than an euiinoer, to keep abreast with the
progress of the day, iu this age of discovery, without hisclasa
newspaper or magazine?

To show the value of technical knowledge to the ftirmer, I
would cite tlie gross- ai;d extea"-ive frauds which have been
perpetrated of late years in manures and feeding stuffs.
These would have been impossible had there been a higher
and more general state of intelligence araon? farmers. It is
notorious that these frauds have nottieen attempted with the
educated few, but among that other and larger class.

372

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Onf of your correspondents on a»ricaltural depression
pointed out tlie superior knowledfce ol' tlie French in Dairy
practice. From tlie current numtjer of tbe Roynl Ai/ricul-
fiiral JnuniaUhe Euglish dairy farmer may gain a thorough
knowledge of the best and most modern systems pracised in
the best dairies of France. It is to be hoped tbat this valu-
able report will lead, not only to dairy reforms, but to the
introduction of the French commercial s-ystem, by whicli the
butter undergoes the process of improvement at factories
after it has left the farms. In Ireland there is grentf r need j
of dairy reform than in any portion of tbe United Kingdom.
If the Irish exercised the same skill as the Danes or Swedes,
to say nothing of the French, millions sterling would speedily
he added to their national wealth.

To return to the more general question of farm manage-
ment, I would point out that there are two opposite styles of
farming wliich, in my experience, I have known successful.
The one a penurious, routine, spend-nothing system, under
which there is little risked, little raised, au absence of all
enterprise, and tlie smallness of the r-^turns balanced only by
the smallness of the out.goings. It is obvious that such a
system, although sometimes personally advantageous, is
injurious to the labourer, the owner, and the public. The
other style is a system under which the farm is, by large
put chases of mamires and feeding stuffs, made to yield the
u-most possible amount of corn and meat, involving three or
lour'fold the capital, far more supervision and anxiety, and,
while there are chances of greater profit per acre, than under
the hsnd-t J-raouth system, the risk of loss from unfavourable
seasons and other causes is proportionately great.

Ihe fanner under the latter system, owing to the greater
number of labourers about him, and the value of the
numerous aui uals he keeps, in the hard times before him,
will above sll things have to bear steadily in view — the
EciecHon of his live stock, economy in their feeding, and
att."! t on to their health, the closest supervision of both
manual and horse labour, the employment of the best
machinery for all purposes where ecouomv is to be effected by
its use, and lastly, to watch the signs of the times with a view
to adapt the product of his farm to clu nges in the market.
These important matters attended to, household matters may
be left to a prudent wife.

Many a tenant having, however, done his part, will not,
nnless the owner does his share and is willing to make
some necessary sacrifices, be able to grapple with the diiii-
culties of his position, and this brings me to my second topic.
2. What hindrances the landowner can remove or lessen.
To induce a tenant to farm with spirit, the first elemeu*:, it
is obvious, must be security — security not only that he shall
reap what he sows, but that his own improvement of a farm
shall not for a specified time lead to the raising of his rent.
The plan of re-valuations, so often resorted to of late years
upon estates, both large and small, has a paralyzing efffct
upon even the most enterprising tenant. Leases are often,
for obvious reasons, objected to both by landlord and tenant ;
and where this is the case, with a view to encourage a tenant
freely to embark his capital in the improvement of his holding,
an nudertaking might be given that no advance of rent
should be asked for a prescribed period, and a two years'
notice to quit agreed to.

The question of rents, if left untouched, would ultimately
be settled by the natural operation ot supply and demand ;
but in the meantime there would, with a coninuance of low
prices, be a gradual diminution of tenants' capital — about as
injurious to the owner as tlie occupier. The Speaker's action,
therefore, in making a present deduction and tbe resolution
he has expressed, through the r»«*, of having a readjust-
m'int of rents, unless times mend, I take to be the right
CO irse and worthy of very general adoption.

Then as to tlie tenants' right to the value of his unex-
hausted improvements. Where tiiere is an ot^jcction to the
adoption of leases or of the Aj^riculiural Iluldiiig" Act in its
entirety, an owner, I venture to think, will do well eitlior to
adopt the com])ens ition clauses of the Act or to give similar
security by aii'cement, tor by so doing he will be taking the
most eifectual s'ep to attract more customers for his farra»,
more capital to his e-late, reduce the chances of having to
put in force the law of di-traint, and lessen the risk of having
ilia farms upon his own hands.

The cost of labour is tiic principal out-going upon a farm —

greater than the rent where mnch stock is raised ; an
adequate supply of labour is, therefore, of the utmost conse-
quence to the tenant and little less so to the owner ; lor the
value 0 an estate to a great extent depends upon the labour
supply. Owners, therefore, who would maintain the value of
their estates, and at the same time aid their tenants, will have
to look well to cottage accommodation. To keep a f u 1 supply
01 labour in our rural districts sufficient cottage accommoda-
tion must exist, and this of a superior kind to be tound in
most of the villages of England ; '"or as the people become bettw
educated they will demand better homes, and if not lorth-
coming the more enterprising and Ijest men will go where
tliey are to be obtained. Experience leads me to the cou-
clusion that nothing binds a labourer to^bis parish more than
a good cottage with large garden, or an allotment ground ;
a good orchard is also much appreciated, and it is of great
advantage to the labourer, for, while often bringing in a good
portion of his rent, it entails little or no labour.

I will not touch upon the ticklish question of game
beyond remarkicg that game-preserving owners will find it
more and more difficult to secure good tenants for farms upon
which anything like over-preservation is resorted to, or upon
estates where Mr. Gamekeeeper is regarded as a more impor-
tant personage than the chief tenant. The days of ground
game are unquestionably numbered.

One very general and formidable impediment to a farmer's
success is the want of efficient and sutiicient humestetd accom-
modation. The production of meat has becjorae as important
a branch as corn growing, often greater. To carry on this
branch, suitable homesteads are indispensable ; it is now
known that warmth and comfort are to the animals, equiva-
lent to a certain amount of food, and no man can produce
meat to a profit in cold, comfortless homesteads.

Witii the low prices for grain which may be expected to rule
in the future, not a few landowners would do well to arramje
with their tenants to bear a part of the expense of sowing
down in grass a certain portion of arable land each year.
Judiciously carried out, especially upon poor, heavy land,
expensive to till, the value of the estate would be enhanced
and the position of the tenant improved. The usual process
however, is expen ive, and attended witii much present loss to
the occupier. As I believe that the sowing down of a lar/e
breadth of land is inevitable, I would point out that a fev?
years ago I discovered by accident a plan of laying down by
which the tenant may, in a great measure, be secured against
the loss incident to the usual methods. If land intended for
permanent pasture be sown with sanfoin or lucerne, and,
when these plants begin to show signs of dying out, grass
seeds in small quantity be sown, a good pasture, with the aid
of small dressings of manure, will soon be obtained, and, as
practical men will perceive, at no great sacrifice. If corn-
growing should agaij become profitable, the same land will
for many years be far more valuable for arable purposes
because of the rest from corn-growing it has thus had.

I have left until last by far the most important considera'ion
for both landlord and tenant — viz., the question of freedom
in cultivation. How many of the dilficulties which hamper
the farmer would be swept away if freedom in the growth
and sale of crops were conceded ! That owners miglit grant
greater freedom to their tenants, without damaging their own
interests, accumulated knowledjic abundantly proves. The
important discovery of Mr. Lawes, known to every intelligent
agriculturist, ought to assure owners how little they have to
fear. To the lasting honour of this gentleman, he has demon-
strated that no amount of bad farming can destroy the natural
fertility of the soil. Through his long and well-conducted
experiments we now know that the power to inflict permanent
injury upon mother earth has been withheld. When a grasp-
ing farmer has exhausted what is well known as the '• cou'li-
tion " in the land, Nature simply refuses to yield up her
increase, and says, " Hither shalt tliou go, but no further."
Again, Mr. Liwes, by experiments carried on at llotham-
sted tor nearly uO years past, lias shown that land managed
in accordance with the teachings of science may be cropped
continuously without injury. To ((uote his own words : "I
have taken the liberty of growing 27 crops of barley in suc-
cession on my land, and I am not aware that it is any the
worse for it." Further, " i\ot only does the quantity keep up
where it is continuously grown and manured with tlie proper
luauurc, but tlic quality in weight per bubhcl is increased, so

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

373

tl^^t tlic avfrappi weight for tlie last 13 ye^rs is higlier tlian
that f-ir tlie lirst 16 jears." Ag:iin, the notiou that it
is iadispeusable to retaia the straw gro«n upon the farm lias
beea exploded by Mr. Lawes, also confirmed by tlie experience
of Mr. Trout and others of his followers. Indeed, the
manurial ell'ect of straw has been shown to be all but nil.

No reasons, scientific or practical, remain why the farmer of
the fu'iire should be tied down to the antiijuated routine of
tlie past. Lst all such restrictions, begotten of suspicion and
mistrust, be swept away, and let the British farmer be as tree
as those with, whom he has to compete. No laud agent is fit fur
his olfu'e wlio caiiuot protect the interests of the owner with-
out crowding agreement; or leases with covenants which
haiupBr tlie liberty of the tenant, and which, if persisted in,
will prove the must etTt-ctual means of checking the davelop-
mentofthe vast industrial pursuit which ruin is staring in the
face.

Small enclosures, crooked fences, insufiieient water supply,
are serious ob^tacle^ to the use of steam power in tillaiB.
Tliey lower the value of an estate and increase the farmer's
difficulties and expenses. lu the limits, however, of a letter,
it is im)OS^ibleto c.tll attention to all the various things
which the farmer and the landow uer may do to their mutual
advantage to improve tlie position ol our agriculture. I
therelore pass on to consider those impediments to succesful
fanning which (3) the Legislature can deal with.

The remedies so long contended for against tlie diseases to
which the live stock of the country were subjected have for
the most part been applied, and with signal advantage to the
farmer and all concerned. Their effect will, moreover, be seen
in the increased breeding of cattle which the security against
disease has begun to inspire. Some zealous advocates are for
carrying legislation further. Although for many years a
strenuous advocate of restrictive measures, I am disposed to
give the present regulations a full trial, and would rather the
Duke of Richraona's attention should be devoted to the
amendment of his AgricoUural Holdings Act, believing it
cipable of bringing abeut some of those beneficent changes in
British agriculture which I heard his 3race so graphically
and eloquently portray when introducing the Bill.

Tlie reason why the signal blessings this Act wa* to shower
upon the l<ind have been withheld is not far to seek. If the
Government really believed that the Act was to renovate our
agriculture, attract capital, and lead to the introduction of a
new and prosperous era in farming, let it show its sincerity
by repealing the clause which alone has rendered the tenants'
position a dead letter. As long as the speeches of the Duke
of Richmond and the Prime Minister remain upon the pages
of " Hansard," it is idle for the Government or its supporters
to ignore the influence a bona fide tenant right would exert.
It is true that no immediate relief would flo'V from making
the Agricultural Holdings Act a reality, but the effect would
be as sure as it would be gradual. It we are to look for an
i icrease in our food productions, there must be acorresponding
increase of capital attracted to the land and embarked in its
cultivation. A farm, in this respect, is precisely similar to a
factory ; increased returns involve increased capital.

The question of social standing may at first sight appear to
he altogether foreign to the su'iject under consideration. My
experience and observations lead me to a different conclusion.
To say nothing of the more ambitious of farmers' sons, how
many hundreds of young men of good birth and capital,
brought up as agricultural pupil", who, fond of farming as
they were, have been deterred from entering upon its pursuit
by repelling causes, the want of legal claim to improvements,
insecurity of tenure, game reservation, and other causes
lowering to the farmer's independence, it would be difficult to
estimate ; but the annals of Cirencester and the memories of
some of us who have had experience would supply a goodly
catalogue.

Nohing repels capital and intelligence from an industrial
pursuit more than loss of social status ; on the contrary, raise
the social standard and men flock into the ranks. As an ex-
ample of this a'tractive force, I would, without remark, cite
the veterinary and the sister medical professions. But it may
be abked, what can the State do in a question of this kind?
In answer, I would at once point out that by tlie adoption of
the ballot-, which abolished the farmers' politicil serfdom and
secured his political independence, the Legislature took the
great step in paviuy the farmers' way to a hijjher social pjsi-
tiou.

By anotlier measure the Legi^-liture, while doing an act of
justice, may raise the s'atus of the farmer another step. It
must be obvious that so long as the law leaves the property
of one class of the community dependent upon the will of
another and a stronger class, the social position of the depen-
dent section is lowered. What protection, I would ask, does
the Idw throw over a certain portion of the tenants' capital
sunk in or upon his holding in the shape of labour, manures,
and materials necessary to the carrying on and improvement
of his farm? I answer, practically none. Some of your
readers may exclaim. Let him protect himself by agreement.
Such an answer would be appropriate enough if freedom of
contract were being discussed, but it is nothing to the point
when the question is whether existing laws are e^ual and
just. The law does protect the property of the landowner
both in respect of capitnl and int.j-est ; the law of distraint
secures the latter, and the right to sue lor dilapidations the
former, and at the same time permits him to appropriate,
without compensation, what the Agricultural Holdings Act
conceded to be the property of the tenant — a power retained
under ti.e hollow plea, freedom of contract.

Looking at the growing dependence on foreign countries
for our food supplies and the rapid increase of our population,
surely it behoves the Government and all concerned to use
every effort to remove the impedimenta which stand in the
way of that increase in our home productions which every
practical man knows the land of the country to be suscepti-
ble of.

This letter has extended to an unforeseen length or I would
have attempted to show how much the State might do for
agriculture by other measures, especially by a department
devoted to its interests, to the collection and diffusion of
agricultural knowledge by a national system of technical educa-
tion ; but I propose, with your permission, to return to these
and a few other topics at a future time.

HISTORY OF CIRENCESTER COLLEGE.

The aiFairs of the College are attracting so much atteu-
tioQ at the present moment that the following history of
its early career will be read with interest. It is the
principal portion of a paper contributed by Mr. C.
Lawrence, one of the founders of the College, to the first
part of the Royal Agricultural Society's Journal for
1865:—
THE ROYAL AGKICULTURAl. COLLEGE OF CIRENCESTEK.

In the useful and masterly survey of the progress of agricul
ture, in a late number of our Journal, written in eontinuition.
of a similar review taken by the late Mr Pusey at an earlier
date, Mr. Thompson observes : — " The commencement of the
Society took place during one of those recovering fits of
associative activity to wliich Englishmen are periodically
prone. He then explains that the Yorkshire Society was
formed in 1S37 ; the Royal Agricultural Society in 1838;
and the Royal Irish Improvement in 1811. 'lo these we
venture to add the lloyal Agricultural College at Cirencester,
organised in 1812, and incorporated by charter in 18i5. The>
Council of the Royal Agricultural Suciety having recently
appointed a committee to consider and report on the actual
state of agricultural education, we propose to give a brief his-
tory of this institution.

Only the elder members of our Society who are famHiar
with the state of the agriculture in England some thirty years
ago, are able thoroughly to appreciate the progress and the
improvement which have taken place in the interval. We
speak of the general condition of the kingdom, without ig-
noring that tnere existed at that day many skiflul and suc-
cessful cultivators of the soil ana breeders ot stock — men in
advance of their age. But others who bear in mind the
success of the annual meetings of our Society, which, visiting
every district of tlie kingdom, has exhibited to a class ot men
not generally given to migrate far from home, the best stock
of every description, with a wonderful display of implements
— demonstrations far more influential on the mind.s ot farmers
generally than any descriptions in print — and who further
duly estimate the worth of tlic investigations and experiments
of our agricultural clicuiisls, and other scientific men recorded

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

in the Societj's Journal, will readily concede that the signs of
progress are manifes'', and that these are in great measure
atir.hutaile to the exertions and influence of tliis Society.

The Council has, uevertlieless, been recently reminded that
it has hitiierto neglect-d one important duty of those enu-
merated in our cliart.-r, namely, "to tike measures for the
improveinrnt of the education of those who depend on the
cultivation of the soil for their support."

Wliile in connection with nearly all other arts, sdueationali
training appi'ars to have hecoine more or less systematised,
we are not aware of ihs existence of any ins itution in Eng-
land especially devoted to the instruction of those who require
^hat knowledge and exp Tieuce which improved agriculture
galls for,, with one exception.

It is remcrkable that while public schools of agriculture
exist in nearly every other country of Europe, the only insti-
tn'ion of the kind in England, viz., the Agricultural College
of Cirencester, should have origi'iated in a small local farmers'
club.

A brief hLstory^ then, of the origin, progress, and actual,
stnte of this establishmeut may be acceptible to the readers of
this Journal.

Ihis College originated in an address made by the late Mr.
Hubert Jeffries Brown, to a meeting of tiie Cireucest 'r and
Eairford farmers' Club, held in Kovember, 18i3, " On the
Advantages of a Specific Education for Agricultural Pursuits."

At a subsequent meeting of the Club, held on the 29th
December, 18i2, at which Mr. Edward Bowly, a member
of the present Council of the lloyal Agricultural Society,
presided, a public address was agreed on, from which the fol-
io A'ing are extracts: —

" We, constituting the Qjrencester and Eairford farmers''
Club, having (uUy discussed and maturely considered the sub-
ject brought bf fore us by Mr. R. J. JBrown, feel that we
cannot too highly estimate the importance of a specific educa-
tion for those engaged in agricultural pursuits ; and the great
value to them of a knowledge of those sciences that are in
canstant operation in the cultivation of the soil, the growth
of crops, and the rearing and feeding of domestic animals ;
and we think it most essential that the study of these sciences
should be united with practical experience. The advantages
of an institution of this kind to the landowner, as well as to
the occupier, are too obvious to require comment; and we
confidently rely on their cordial co-operation and support."

A deputation, appointed by the Club, having obtained the
patronage of Birl Bathurst and other noblemen, and the
principal gentlemen in the neighbourhood, attended meetings
convened for the purpose at various market towns, in order
t'J procure the support of the tenantry. The late Mr. R. J,
Brown devoted nearly the whole of tlie following year to the
task of explaining the object in view to landowners and
O'cupiers in various parts of the kingdom, with considerable
success. A public meeting was held in Cirencester, under the
p esidency of Earl Bathurst, in April, ISil, at which it was
reso ved on the motion of the late ;Earl Ducie, seconded by
Mr. Kearsay, a tenant-farmer, " That it is expedient to provide
an institution in which the rising generation of farmers may
receive instruction at a moderate expense, in those sciences,
a knowledge of which is essential to successful cultivation ;
and that a farm form part of such institution." A Committee
was then formed to determine on a plan for such an institution,
and on the best means of carrjting it into effect.

A further meeting was held on the 1st July, IS^t, at which
it was reported that Lord Bathurst had offered a farm 6d up-
wards of 400 acres for a loag terra of years, and adj.acent to
it a site for Die erection of the College, with some pasture
land, on a lease for 99 years. The Society was then definitely
formed ; a president, vice-president, and trustees were ap-
pointed, and it was resolved that a Charter of lucorporalioa
should be applied for.

The annual meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society of
England was about to be held at Sontliampton in the course
of tliat month, and a deputatiou, consisting of Earl Ducie,
]\Ir. Holland, Dr. Daubeny, ■Mr. Edward Bowly, and several
tenant (armers, was appointed to attend the meeting atSouih-
amptou, Willi the view of obfaiaiug the sanctiou of the
Council for a public meeting wli;h it w.as proposed to hold
under the patronage of the Society, while agriculluriats from

all parts of the kingdom were assembled. This sanction
not having beiu given, the deputation ultimately resolved to
hold an independent meeing. The late Mr. Pusey presided,
and it was attended by the late Duke of Richmond, Eirl
Spencer, Dr. Buckland, Mr. Sotherou Es'court, Dr. Lyon
Playfair, and many others distinguished by their scientific and
practical knowledge of agriculture. The v ews ot the
promoters of the College having been explained, resolutions
were proposed and carried to the effect that tiie inotitution was
deserving of public encouragement and support.

By the persevering efforts of Mr. Brown and others,
amongst the nobility and landowners in various parts of the
kingdom, a subscription of £12,000 was raised, the full amount
of the capital required according to the original proposal.

A charter was obtained in March, 1815, incorporating the
governors, proprietors, and donors, under the title of the
"Agricultural College for teaching the science of Agriculture
and the various sciences connected therewith, and the practi-
cal application thereof to the cultivation of tlie soil, and the
rearing and managenent of stock.

The sum of £12,000, however, was soon found to be inade-
quate to the coinpletiou of the projected Colhge, irrespective
of adequate farm buildings, and otiier essential adjuncts. It
was therefore provided by the Deed of Settlement, that the
capital should be increased to £24,000 ; but after every exer-
tion it was found impracticable to extend the subscriptions
and donations beyond the amount of .£20,320. The expres-
sion of opinion in favour of au institution of this kind was so
strong and general as to render the earlier administrators of
its funds somewhat over-sanguine as to success. This led to
a premature extension of the College by the immediate
erection of some buildings, which it had been originally in-
tended to leave till time should show what amount ol accom-
modation was necessary. The day of reckoning, when it
arrived, presented a result in conformity wilii general experience
in such cases — the buildings wiJi all the incidents essential to
the actual occupation, had involved an outlay considerably
beyond the estimates.

There having existed no precedent in this country as a
guide to the Committee of Managemeut, mistakes of one kind
and another were unavoidable, and admitted of correction cnlp
in the expensive school of experience. The providing of com-
petent professors and ol the domestic staff for suih an insti-
tution involved an immediate annual outlay, while an ade-
quate income from students was only prospective. The fee
first fixed lor the board and instruction of students was £30
per annum only — a sura which about met the demands caused
by the keen appetites of youngsters spending the greater part
of the day in the invigorating air of the Cotswolds, leaving
the interest on capital, and the cost of professors, kc., un-
provided for. lu the year 1848 the account at the bankers
was found to be overdrawn to the extent of £10,000. A
meeting of the promoters of the College was convened to con-
sider its financial condition. There appeared to be no alter-
native but the closing the institution at the end of the actual
session, for want of adequate support. Before that resolution
was finally passed, Mr. Holland, who was in attendance as
vice-president, expressed his strong and unaltered opinion of
the necessity of such a school of agriculture, and his confi-
dence in its ultimate success, adding that he would take on
himself the responsibility for tiie existing debt. The meeting
was then adjourned for further deliberation. At the adjourned
meeting the late Earl Diicie attended, and not only supi)orted
Mr. Holland's views, but with iiis cliaracteribtic liberality
stated that much more would be requisite than a mere provi-
sion against the existing debt, and that there ought to be at
least an equal amount in the banker's hands to meet furtiier
outlay, without which the establishment would be too imper-
fcLt to command success. His lordship added tliat he could
not allow the burden to rest on Mr. Holland's slionlders
alone ; and ultimately the support of the institution, with all
its liabilities, actual and prospective, were undertaken jointly
by himself, Earl Bathurst, Mr. Sotheron Estcourt, and the
late Mr. Lang.ston, in connection with Mr. Holland.
Upwards of £30,000 were thus added to the original sub-
scriptions and donations, on the personal security of those
gentlemen.

Under these circumstances a general raectine of the original*
subscribers and donors was convened in Loudon, to consider
ana detcrmiue on the future management of the institution.

THE FARMER'S 3IAGAZINE.

375

If bpcame nrcrs=,iry to a^iply *"''!■ ^ supplemental cliaiter, in I
order to vest tlie manageraeut of the coUVtrn ia tlio e geutle-
niea duriuj< the coiitiiiuanca of their linbililics, and to give :
them such security lor their ailvaiiccs n« tlie very limited
meaQi of the iiistitutiou admitteJ of. Tliis furthe-r charter ]
was granted in July, 18-19, whereliy tlie corporation was
empowered to obtain in the usnal mode an addilioual capital
of £20,000 (making in all £4t,000), with power in the mean-
time to raise funds to that amount by a nwrlgage of tlie pro-
perty and elTeets of tlie college. Tfe guarantors were thereby
also appointed a committee to manage the alTairs of the college
as the ordinary council of the college had been aulhorised to
do by the original eiiarter.

TUE Bl'ILDI-N'GS.

Of these the principal is the College itself, erected in an
elevated and healthy spot facing Lord Bathursl's beautiful park,
to whicii the students have access, while the south front com-
mands extensive views over Wil shire. Witliin the walls ac-
coaiodatiou is provided for eighty-five students : there is a
cjmmodidus dining-hall ; a luustum of the same dimensions,
rich in specimens illustrative of the lectures on veterinary
surgery and practice, geology, mineralogy, and botany ; and a
f-.eatre for the delivcrv of lectures. Various alterations in,
and additions to, the College in the shape of private studies,
&i3., have been made, for the accommodation of a class of
students resorting to the College willing to engage them.

Contiguous to the College, but in a distinct building, has
been fornied, out of an old burn, one of the best laboratories
io Euiland. A portion of this has been fitted up with all
requitite stove* and other ajipliauces for the special use of the
Chemical Professor and liis assistants ; the remainder is
adapted for the use of students. In the former division, our
lite Professors, Mr. Way and Dr. Voelcker, haxe performed a
1 irge proportion of those analyses which have enriched the
pages of nearlj every number of this Journal.

A chapel has of late been erected at the back of the College,
alTordiug ample accommodation for the students, and the
eiitre establisliment of the College, in which morning and
evening prayers are read daily by the Principal, besides the
usual spfvici'S on Sunday^-. The more ornamental portions of
the chapel have been executed by private subscription.

The iarra-buildings are on a large scale, and stand about a
quarter of a mile from the College. Adjoining a well-arranged
rickyard is an ample barn, with granary, a fixed steam-engine,
thrashing, chaff-cutting, grinding, and other raichinery
attached ; and at one end of this pile of buildings is the
dwelling-house of the farm manager. At the other end are
implement and cart sheds. To ihe east ^re the c irpenters' and
smiths' shops, slaughterhouse, and weiahing-raachine for cattle.
Ttie next row of buildings is devoted to the stables, harness-
house, &.C., with piggeries o» the west side ; and a third com-
prises a double row of cattle-boxes, on the west of which are
two yards for store cattle, surrounded by covered sheds.

Adjoining the turnpike-road from Oxford to Bath, which
intersects the farm, is a veterinary hospital, under the
management of the veterinary professor, fitted up far the re-
ception of all animaU requiring operations, or troatment for
disease, accident, or otlier ailments. The public are invited
to send animals so circumstanced, which are treated at a
moderate charge, in order that the students may have tbe
advantage of ocular demonstration of disease and its
treatment, by the professor, in aid of his lectures in tae
theatre.

In the cultivaticn of the farm are employed Mr. Fowler's
steam-engine, plough and cultivator attached, besides an assort-
ment of all the most improved implements.

The permanent establishment of the college, under the
general superintendence of the council, consists of the princi-
pal, a clergyman of the Church of England ; the farm manager
and demonstrator ; the chemical professor and his assistant;
and professors of botany, veterinary surgery, raatheir.aticsand
surveying, all resident ; and a drawing master. Gentlemen
ciitinguislicd for their ability ia the respective sciences con-
nected with agriculture are secured to give occasional courses
of lectures, in addition to those of the resident staff.

There are four sessions in the year, in each of which a com-
plete conrse of lectures is siven in each department of science
tauglit at the College. The programme for each week com-

prises instruction in practical ngricultnre, on the {-.'rm daily,
coni'neiicin^ (i.30 a.m. Lectunsarc distributed over the rc-
maiuder of the day, excepting Saturday, on the following sub-
jects : — Chemistry, applied, organic and inorganic; boaiy ;
veterinary surgery, anatoaiy, and pathology ; tlnirapentics ;
mechanic", mensuration, surveying, and drawing to those who
desire such instruction.

Such is an outline of this institution and its establish-
ment, provided by the disinterested contributions and munifi-
cent supplemental support we have described, for the advan-
tage of the rising generations of agriculturists, at a cost exceed-
ing £50,000.

To say one word on Professors. The Counctl in early days
fortunately enlisted in the cause of agriculture the services of
Professor Way, though these were lost to the College on his
promotion to the post of Consulting Cheniist to the Roy;il
Agricultural Society, and subsequently were transferred to
advantageous employment for the public at large, liis
successor, Dr. V^oelcker, until very recently held the two
appointments conjointly, with mutual advantage to each
Society. The Council have since been fortunate enough to
engage the services of Mr. Church, a gentleman of consider-
able eminence as a chemist, who is now resident at the
College,

Happily, both the late Mr. Ilaygarth and his successor, the
present Principal, had eminently qualified themselves lor this
post, by cultivating a natural taste for general science to an
extent unusual in members of their profession. Mr. Constable
not only fulfils with zeal and energy the duties which strictly
belong to his appointment, but is competent and anxious to
assist students in the general course ol their studies, especially
those connected with practical agriculture. In furtherance of
this object, he has lately prepared and published an excellent
Manual, entitled "A Guide to the CoUege-Earm and Cultiva-
tion-Book, for the use of Students."

There is no greater mistake than the too prevalent notion
that any member of a family who has not sufficient capacity
for more intellectual avocations may, with very little previous
instruction, become a successful agriculturist ; and that whilst
most handicrafts require a seven years' apprenticeship, resi-
dence with a farmer or at this College for a year or two is an
all-sufficient preparation for taking a farm. Our own obser-
vation would lead us to recommend any youth resolving oa
agriculture as his occupation in life to place himself with a
tenant-farmer for a year, to acquire what may be called the
Grammar of Agricultnre ; with this preparation he would be
in a position to derive greater advantage from a two years'
course of instruction at the College; after thi?, two years'
residence with a skillul farmer, with careful daily observation
and the study of the most approved agricultural literature,
would ftjrm a reasonably safe foundation to work upon.

SPANISH i'OWLS FOR EGGS.— The layin? qnalities of
Spanish are well kuown. High breeding has within the last
twenty years perceptibly diminished the good qualiiies of many
strains, but enough still remains to justify a very high charac-
ter as layers, about 130 eggs per annum being an average
many birds will attain, if properly fed and managed. The
egg is very large, with a smooth white shell, both of which
qualities cause it to command a good market ; but it must be
admitted that to most palates the flavour is far inferior to
Cochin or Braraah eggs, the yolk being smaller in proportion
and rather insipid, the chief bulk being made up of aibumen
or white. On the other hand, this very absence of flavour
causes their eggs to be preferred by many invalids, and other
persons of delicate appetite. The pullets usually lay at or
before six months old, and will continue through the winter'
but the bens rarely begin till o auuary, after wliich, however
they rarely stop more than a day or two until the autumnal
moult. The appetite being only moderate, and the birds bear-
ing confinement well, and never giving trouble by any sitting
propensities, tliey make a very useful and profitable variety
for urban or suburban poultry-keepers, who wish for a fowl
which combines with these qualities an always creditable ap-
pearance. Perhaps no breed will answer these conditions better
than the Spanish

o76

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

BEDFORD SEWAGE FARM.

The inhabitants of Bndford have mach reason to congratn-
late themselves on the prudence and wisdom of tlie auth'orities
of the town in relation to this farm. No wild scheme in the
shape of settling and precipitating tanks and filter beds was
ever tried — projects that cost many towns thousands of
ponnds ; but on the contrary the mode originnlly projected of
utilising the sewage over the lnnd has been carried out, and
after all the experience since acquired it proves the most
ficonomical and i fEcient. From a financial standpoint the
liedford farm and system stand out as a model compared with
most 0 her sewage farms. The past years hav*, indeed, been
trying years for sewage ; but the farm, notwithstanding tluit,
has stood its ground well. In the three years of 1875, 1876,
and 1877 the rainfall was excessive ; for we find, according to
the records kept at Cardington, that the aggregate precipita-
tion was 85 iu., which is more than what has fallen in four
successive years in some of the past cycles of dry years. Last
year was likewise unfavourable in consequence of the heavy
downpours of Muy and August,

We think it was a right resolution of the Town Council to
publish ihe details of the balance sheet, as we believe there is
nothing to conceal; it concerns all, and sewage farming ought
to be judged on its own merits. Whatever amount of discus-
sion it may lead to, truth never suffers by ventilation and
discussion. From the precise tabular statement of ihe acreage,
the average price per acre, and the total produce of the several
crops drawn out by Mr. CoUett, the manager of the farm, we
find the loUowing to be the average prices per acre of the
respective crops for the- last lour years:—

£ s. d.

Italian ryegrass 12 2 8f

Mangold 13 6 6^

Swedes 13 7 S

Carrots U' 7 1^

Parsnips (two years' average) 18 17 9

Potatoes 11 13 H

Onions...; 30 16 If

Wheat 11 10 'li

Oats 10 13 *

Beans 10 1* 5|

Spring cabbage 13 3 Sj

Pickling cabbage (ihree years' average) 15 10 10^

Savoys (thiee years' average) li 18 If

Cauliflowers 17 17 lOj

Kidney beans (three years' average) ... 20 6 7i

Celery (three years' average) 45 14. 9^

Cucumbers 17 1* 1

Vegetable marrows (three years' average) 16 18 0

Asparagus 40 2 0

llhubarb 23 17 6

Prickly comfrey (one year) 10 0 0

These include all the crops except the permanent pasture
and some ground for seed-beds — the total extent being 180
acres 3 roods and 30 poles, and the rent of the same is
£928 10s., which is £5 Is. per acre. The largest suras
obtained for the crops of the past tour years are mainly three,
namely— for mangel, £2,fi94 ; ryegrass, £1,275; and for
onions, £1,600 ; but unfortunately neither the mangel nor the
ryegrass commands satisfactory prices. The aysrage anuunl
loss in the past years, according to the way in which the
balance sheets are presented, is about £300, but should the
two crops reterred to realise their value, the £300 would be
obtained. For example, tlie average price for the ryegrass- in
the two past years has only been £9 an acre, but witii the
ordinary Ijreadth grown had it commanded the price ot 1875
it would ir ve produced £240 to £250 more. Again, estimating
the mangel in the same way, £50 to £60 additional would
liave Leen obtained. So we see that the opinion of Mr.
Morton, in the report of the farm which he drew out in 1872,
is not very far from being nalised, namely, that the farm is
not so over-rented as to make a profit impossible.

Both the Italian ryegrass and the mangel are crops that
must be sold iu the neighbourhood, as they would not afford
carriage by railway, and this state of matters is very dis ip-
poiuting to the farm committee and mauager. They appear
fo Hauk that btock or dairy cows should be purchased lor

consuming the surplus food, although misgivings may be
entertained by some as to the propriety of such a step. Mr.
Garrett, tlie manager of the Banbury sewage farm, reduces the
screage of these crops to the requirements of the town and
neighbourhood. He generally mows his ryegrass four times
in the year, and he limits its growth to about twenty acres,
and, although he grew twenty-six or twenty-eight acres, it
would not bring more money than the twenty acres* How far
the abridging of the growth of ryegrass on the Bedford farm
would consist with the disposal of the 700,000 gallons of
sewage delivered daily at the pumping station is a matter for
consideration.

Great crops are annually grown of Italian ryegrass, mangelo,
cabbages, and other plants, aud the greater part of the soil is
of a rich friajile nature and easily wrought. Onions, it will
be seen, conimnnd over £30 an acre on the average, and Mr.
Collett is wisely extending their cultivation, for in 1875 there
were just ten acres, and last year there were over sixteen acres
grown. They are indeed an expensive crop, and do not bear
heavy soakings with sewage. The small plot of celery com-
mands the highest acreage price, and perhips its cultivation
may be profitably extended. It is a difficult and expensive
crop to produce under ordinary cultivation ; but it must surely
be a paying crop, for the market gardeners on the south side
of London pay a rent of £16 an acre for the black soil on
which they grow it. In accordance with the expre'sed opinion
of Mr. Howard and others, it may be possible to extend still
further market gardening crops, and those that command the
highest price per acre. On Barking Farm as much as £100
an acre has been ob'ained for strawberries ; but it has the
advantage of being in the vicinity of London, for unless for
preserving they are a perishable article. In some parts of the
country they are grown on miserably poor soils, aud we have
known them make £50 and £60 an acre in the third and
fourth year of their growth.

The Edinburgh meadows are often quoted as a p=>ying con-
cern, and as £30 to £40 an acre has been realised on some
years there is no sewaging comes up to them. In the year in
which we last saw them the aversge we were told was £24.
The elements of the success of the Edinburgh farm are mainly
two ; in the first place it is under permanent grass, aud costs
little more in labour than tlie attendance required for distri-
buting tne dirty water. It is managed on the " ca'ch-meadow"
system, like those in the south-west of England, adopting more
or less the Bickford plan, which has been justly styled the
triumph of agricultural art. Generally the flooders may be
said to be self-taught, and the mode and management are
acquired by instinct. The other great advantage that Edin-
burgh has is, that there is a ready market for the grass, in the
large number of cow-feeders (dairymen) in the suburbs of the
town, who have long made a living by keeping cows and
selling their milk in the town. Although the climate is four
to five degrees colder at Aberdeen than here, the sewage farm
there is cropped very much as in the South. The climate is
too cold for mangel, and Aberdeen bullock yellow turnips are
substituted. It is a light sandy soil well adipted for sewage,
and we were surprised when shown the gross proceeds of sales
for five years tlut the average net proceeds were £16 an acre.
The crops were not equal to those on the Bedford farm, but
prices owing to a large consuming population are higher.

But for the unfitness of a corporation to become dairy far-
mer?, doubtless milk cows would largely increase the annual
proceetts of the Bedford Sewage Farm. The succulent grass
would cause a large flow of milk, for even the grass grown on
water meadows when used as hay is much valued by the dairy-
man. It is not probable that the people would have the same
prejudice agsinst the milk of cows led on sewage produce as
they have for the vegetables, for the iuhabitauti of Edin-
burgh, Leamington, and many other towns are largely led oa
sewage milk. It is rather more than a year since an analysis
was made of a number of samples of milk as delivered in
Leamington, and it is noteworthy that the sewage milk from
the Ueathcote farm was found to be the richest and purest.
Had not this paper been already too lung, we should willingly
have inserted the analyses of the several samples. — Beilfurd'
shire 1 ndej'endenl ^

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

37?

THE AGRICULTURE OF WALES.
By Gordovic.
No. 11.
In crossins; over the borders from North into South
Wales the impression made upon the traveller and the
deductions he draws from his observations will depend u
the greatest measure upon from what part of a given
northern county he enters a sonlhern one — ia nothing
lUore so than from an agricultural poiut of view. Not
only do these remarks apply to uortli and south, but pi'e-
eminently so to the first southern county I shall draw
your readers' attention to. Four travellers, or inspectors,
or tourists.may each select their own independent route of
travel. One muy leave Montgomeryshire somewhere in
the neighbourhood of Eistedd fa Gerrig, and foot it along
from the east to the west of the county of Cardigan.
Another tourist may creep up to the crest of Puralumon,
and wend his way downwards parallel to traveller No. 1.
A third may leave Machynlleth behind him, and cross
Pont Lyfnant, taking the turnpike-road along the table
lands, cross Aberystwyth, and along the coast via
Aberaeron to Cardigan. A fourth will enter the county
by rail through Yuyslas-Borth, Aberystwyth, and Tre-
garon. Were we to assume that each traveller kept his
note-book well entered, aud drew up a descriptive report
from his notes, so unlike would each be that we should
have presented to our view four couuties instead of one,
80 diversified and distinctly different is this interesting
county of Cardigan. One great objection to the views af
some agricultural writers is, that not only do they select
the farming of one of these lines as the farming of the
county, but on it also they found an idealistic and
imaginary state of affairs for the whole Principality, when
it actunlly does not sit square on eveu the whole of their
one county. Cardiganshire! A county of rich alluvial
land, marsh land, bog laud, table land, side land, upland,
and mountain land ; aud all this variety well mixed with
miles of moorland.

Biinsing a description of its agriculture down to the
latest date, and viewing the first farms I see from a
Cambrian railway carriage, the astounding phenomenon
presents itself to view of a series of farms the rents of
which have been advanced in a remarkable manner during
these disastrous farming years of '78-7^ ; not a paltry
advance of some 10 or 20 per cent., but something con-
siderably more. When farms to let, abatements of
rent, agricultural distress, are the cries all over England,
here is a South Wales estate that has been able to make
the experiment of an enormous advance. It is true the
tenants were years ago notified that such advance would
be made. However, it has not been cheerfully acceded
to, nor universally. Some of the best tenants, who
adored their popular landlord and the no less
popular manager ol bis estates, I am sony to
say, gave up their farms rather than accede to the
advance demanded. This estate has been a generous
aud liberal one in every sense for several genera-
tions. It is quite possible that outsiders are not fully
qualified as judges as to v/hat is right or wrons in this
raising of rents at such a crisis in agricultural afTairs. I
am not passing judijment ; I am only stating facts, and
will wait to see whether such advance can be sustained
permanently. If I give your readers a few figures they
■will to many exhibit a curious slate of farming past and
present. I will select two mountain farms which between
them contain nearly 1,200 acres, all sheep lands, except
a few acres of pasture for the two dozen of cattle belong-
ing to the resident shepherds. And what do your readers
suppose were the yearly rents of these two farms? In
round numbers just fifty pounds — not quite one shilling
au acre. They were let at about that sum separately,

and have now been taken by new tenants at the advanced
rent of about £8-1. And what i\umber of sheep will these
farms depasture? During summer from 1,500 to 1,800.
In recent years, notably during the last seven, farms of
this class have done well ; mouutain wethers, and store
ewes, aud Welsh wool have sold so well that the times
have been finsh with mountain farmers. There is, how-
ever, a most serious check to this desirable state. Wool
is down iu price 50 per cent. This long wintry winter —
winter of seven winters in one — has played sad havoc
with the mountain flocks. Lambs have died in thousands,
and your readers may look out for a scarcity of Welsh
multou in the next lew years.

If I leave the mouutain at present and take n general
survey of the county, I find, what I led your readers to
expect, a very great diversity of farming — farming under
the usages of a century ago, the exception ; farming under
the most modern and enlightened improved system, the
rule. Uraiuing, marling, bone-dusting, green and rota-
tion of crops, are very general. Eveu steam-ploughing
has been practised in this county for some years. The
latter can be seen in all its perfection and imperfection
close to Borth. For some unaccountable reason, however,
the success acquired here in steam-ploughing will not end
in its general adoption throughout the county.

Some parts of Cardiganshire are more arable than
others. These farms occasionally have done well. The.
climate is favourable to the growth of superior grain. Bad
harvests, however, aud low prices, have played sad havoc
with them. Many farmers also take great pride iu grow-
ing fine crops of turnips, chiefly swedes. There is Mr.
H. D., of near Talybout ; lie has hardly ever a poor crop,
and several years he is prize-taker. Such a tenant-farmer
as this should be most warmly encouraged.

When the cattle of Cardiganshire are examined, they
are found to be the most heterogeneous in our island. Not
a breed in Great Britain without being represented. The
Blacks have been known for ages ; with all their faults,and
they are many, they are much sought after. They arc
purchased and sent in droves of hundreds to the n.idland
counties of England. There is quite as good a market for
the low-conditioned as for the high. There also you will
find a few Castle Martins, and in several p-irts of the
county very fine specimen herds of pure Black Welsh. A
bull belonging to a tenant-farmer was exhibited last year
which won universal admiration. Landowners and well-
to-do farmers have also bred, and bred well. Shorthorn
and Hereford cattle. ]\Iessrs. Fowler and Cottrell with
their herds of Channel Islands and Ayrshire Cows have
found good sales at Aberystwyth. Indeed, one or the
other has an annual sale in this Brighton of Wales.

There is hardly a breed of sheep iu Great Britain that
is not represented here. The vast majority, however, are
the Welsh Mountain. The wool nf which is also worKed
in local " factories," producing Welsh flannels and linseys
in great variety, not forgetting the warm home-spui cloth
for the farms use.

If a Cardiganshire man is proud of anything, he is of
his horse. The talk is big about horse.

This little county has always been great in fox-hant-
ing. lis Lord-Lieutenant is a most popular M.F.H.,and
the whole people have a passion for the chase. Thorough-
breds aud imnters have always been bred here. There cer-
tainly is Docouuty in England, notevenNorfolk itself.where
the love for a trotting horse is so generally intense, as in
Cardigai. shire. Twenty or thirty years ago there wasasplen-
did specimen of a roadster trotting stalliou called Comet. —
"Old Comet" as he is now called. This horse ^\ as not only a
great goer himself', but he got a race of fast-goers, which
is not yet extinct. In the establishment of soci ties for
the Improvement of Breeds of Horses this county took
such a positioa a few years ago, aa to obtain the public

D D

378

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

notice of Parliament. An occasional pitch now and then
occurs in local organisations. The good effects of improv-
iog the breeds of horses is not, however, all loss, even if
the good does not show itself at once. This is a great
affiiir and a long one. The public spirited men of
Cardiganshire areequal to the occasion. This vear Mr.
Viiusihan D.ivies, single-handed, went all the way to Scot-
land'and engaged a first-class Clydesdale entire horse,
becoiiing personally responsible for the high premium
required for his use, and guaranteeing a certain number of
mares. Where men of such elevated notions as these are
found, progress and improvement will follow in their
wake. The annual shows of entire hcrses are good.

The county has its chief northern show, and also some
local societies. High-class judges are selected, one
being generally an Englishman. These gentlemen inform
the public by their yearly adjudications thnt there is much
improvement in all 'classes otsfock. The annual piouin-
ins matc'ies where 40 to 50 teams meet in the same field
conduce to improving the quality of both work and work-
in 'n, and also in the pairs of horses.

From time immemorial Cardiganshire has been
celebrated for its silver lead mines. The working of these
mines on a large scale found employment for great
numbers of the people— male aud female, adults and
ch'ldren. If these advanced somewhat the rates of wages,
farmers had to pay their labourers, they also created
several local markets, and good ones, fo-- all agricultural
produce. To the town of Aberystwyth also there is an
annual addition of some thousands of sea-side visitors.
There, again, during the summer months there is a good
marke't for poultrv and dairy produce. The miues appear
to have gone for good ; they «re things of the past ; surely
summer is not the same- Here this mid-April morn are
all the characteristics of mid-winter. Frost, snow, hail,
and foA-hunting. No one more than the farmer desires
the departure o( winter and the advent of summer. When
the latter comes will it bring a better state of farming
affairs? Wnilst preparing for the worst let us hope for
the Lcit.

THE WOBURN EXPERIMENTS.
iMr. J. B. Lawes, of Rolharasted, authorises us to
publish the following observations on the Woburu ex-
periments ■• —

It was mt my intention to make any comTieiits on the
results obtained in 1873, as recen'ly published in the J./iinnjl
of the Royal Agricultural Society, but the re-narks mafle at
the nifetiag of the Council of th.- Society on WednesdHv the
2nd inst., m reference to Mr. Catbcirt, the previous resident
manager, induce me to do so io justice to that gMitlemau.
Mr. Ave'.ing, reterring to the present >tato of alf-iirs at
Cireucester Uollegs, is reported to have said, " that the cimfi-
deuce which ought to be felt in the Principal did not c\\n at
the preseut time, and that the public couti lence whs likely to
be weakened rather than strengthened by tlie appointmen ot
Mr. Calhcart to the po»t of i'rotessor o' Agriculture, spemR
that ha was recently di-missed hy the Society from ilia position
as manager of the Cr.awley Fdtm."

1 had nothing whatfver to do either directly or indirectly,
\pith Mr. Cathcarl's appointment to Cirencester, but I am
decidedly of opiniou that the circumstances under which lie
left Woburu do not in any way di-cjudily him for fiiliuj; the
post he now occupies. I lliuugUt at the time, and I still
think, that Mr. Calhcart was very unfairly treated. The
gieat difiitultii-8 involved in mccessfully bringing sucli an
eitcD^ive K'ries of experiweuts into working order were
lieitber recognised nor allowed for. It was, however, ex-
pressly staled in the report of th.' Ciimmit'ee of Inspeciion,
" that what had been done on the experimental ph.is appfared
to have been very soccessfuliy accomplisi.ed ;" but it was tlie
dpi: iect of Crawley Faira, which was merely auxiliary to the

alleged against him. On this point I may remark that no
directions whatever had been given by ttie Committee in regard
to the treatment of Crawley Farm, that it was received in an
extremely foul condition, and that it was considered of im-
portance, more especially in the first se>(son, to devote all the
time and energy possible to getting the experi;ients themselves
into good workius; order, leaving the farm to be dealt with in
any way that might be di sired afterwards. As much horse
and hand labour as could be spared from the experiments
were, however, devoted to cleaning it ; and I have no doubt
it is now in a much better state, and much better than it
could have been but lor those efforts.

With regard to tlie experiments in Stackyard Field, in
order to prevent the possibility of any complaints being after-
wards made as to the stiite in which tliey w.re given up, I
suig'sted to Mr. Welis, the chairman of the Chemical Coui-f
niittee, that it would be desirable to as^k tlie attendance o
those who wou'd in future be responsible for their conduct
before the management was transferred. Accordingly there
was a meeting in the field on June 1, 1878. So far as I ara
aware, no complaints were then lU'ide ; aud from my experi-
ence in the conduct oi field experimeuts I can say without
fear of con radictiun, th^t they were given up in a conditKU
with which no fault ccuid be louud.

Coijfiuiiig my attent on on tie present occasion to the con-
tinuous wheat experiments, I will now institute a comparison
between the results of 1^77 and those if 1378.

Tlie snme manures were aiip'ied to the same plots in each
of the two years, and the following table gives the produce of
corn oHtHiMod :

No.

of

plot,

The manure applied per acre.

[Dressed corn p. acre.

Unmanured

20Ulb. ammonia salts al me

•27olb nitrate soda idoQ •

Alixed mineral manure alone

Mixed raineral manure and 200lb.
ammonia salts

Mixed raineral manure aud 27511).
nitrate of soda

lUniuanured (duplicate)

'Mixed mineral manure and 4001b.

' ammonia salts

Mixed mineral manure and 550rb.
uitrate soda

farmyard manure estimated to con-
tain nitrogt-n equal 100 lb.
aramonia

Farm\ard manure estimated to
contain nitrogen equal 200 lb,
ammonia

1877.

187S.

Bushels.
2-2^
34^
31*
2Ui

Bushels.
I5i

111

lui

33|

32
20f

39^
18

m

13

14
12

27

12^
15f

It is granted that the season of 1878 was inferior to that
of 1877 ; but «hilst in the first year of such experiments
some irregulariiies of result might be expected, o*ing to ua-
eveuness in the condition of the laud previously farmed in tlie
ordinary «ay, tiiere are very much greater irreuiilaritiea ia
the second \ear, and such as cannot possibly be explained Dy
any difi-rences in the character of the season, apart from ttte
manHgement.

In IS'/ 7 one of the unmanured plots gave 2'2| bushels, and
the other 2llg bushels, or only 1^ bushel difference on a yield
of more th^u 2l) bushels. In 1878 the one aave 15^ bushels
and tlie other only 12 bushels, a little more than tliree-fourths
as much, and showing a dilTerence of 3| bushels on a produce
under 16 bushels.

As the experimental crop of 1877 followed an ordinary

wheat cop removed Irom the land, tlie sod would naturally

be relatively rich in avnilable minerals, and poor in available

nitrogen. The result was that the purely mineral manure

gave practically the same, or even ra'ler less than the un-

I manured laud. lu the second \ear, 1878, the mineral manure

} gave uot only less than the lowest produce without manure,

perimenia, and of course uf secoudHi) iiupurtauce, that wus . but uuly iwo-thirds as much as the highest without mauure.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

srt)

In 1S77, on tliis sonipwlmt wlipat.pxliau«tecl land, ammonia
salts alone gsve an incroasp of nbout 13 bii-lK'ls, and tlip same
amount of nitroj;en as nitrite of soda about 10.^ biKhels, over
tlie mean unmanurpd produce. In 1S78 the ammonia salts
alone give onlv 1 husliel more than the h'lrhest unmanufed
produce, and ttie nitrate of sodi gave less than lliree-fonr^hs
AS much as the ammonia salt", and less than the lowest nn-
manured produce. The ditference between the two wns, in
1877, about 2^ bushels on a produce of over 30 bushels. The
dirte-ence in 1878 was nearly 5 bushels on a produce ot under
17 Lus lels.

That, apart frcm irregTilarity, there shoull be a great re-
duction in produce by the second app'ication of ammonia
raits alone, or nitrate of soda alone, on t'>is lij<ht land, mi:;ht
have been aulicipa>ed. But if this were due to exbausfiun of
minerals, the addiiion of a full mineral manure to the araraonna
salts, and to the nitrate, should surely prove a remedvi But
what is the result? In the secoco year, 1878, the ammonia
salts and mineral manure together gave only 13 husliels. or 3J
buslirfs less than the ammonia salts aione, and tlie nitrate
o' sod< and mineral manure gave H- bushels, or Utile over 2
bashels more than the niirate aloue.

The foresoing results are those obtained with the smaller
quantities of Mmmonia salts and uifrate of soda used. In the
first vear (1877) the addititjn to them of the mineral manure
was practically without effect, excepting in a little increase of
the straw, a result whicli was douDlless due to the relatively
hiih mineral, as compared with the nitrogenous, condition of
the soil. Wien, however, the quantilies o( amnmnia salts and
nitrate were doubled, there was a considerable increase of
both corn and straw in the first seaso-. There is aNo con-
siderable increase in the second season, but under the following
very curious conditions : — The mineral manure and siiii/le
quantitv of ammi^nia salts nave only 13 busln Is, or less tlian
the mean of the unmanured phts ; whilst the mineral manure
and the double quantity ot ammonia salis gave 27 bushels, or
an increase of li bushels over the single amount, the single
amount gi\inu' no incrfase at all. In like manner whilst the
mieral mnnure and the single amount of ni>rate gave 14-
bnshels, the mineral manure and double amount of nitrate
gave more than 2(5 hu^b^'ls, or an increase oyer the single
amount of more than 12 bushels, the single araoun' itself
giving practically no increase at all. To put it in another
uay:— In 1877 the addition to the mineral manure of tli«
single quantity o ammonia s^ts save an increase of nearly
IS^ bushels, and the addiiion of double the quantity gave an
increase of B^ basliels n ore, or in all an in^jrease of at out 23
bnsliels over the produce by the mineral m-innre alone. In
1S78 th» addit-on of tlie sm'aller qu .n'ity of amn.onia salts to
the minerals increased the produce \iy 2^ bushels, whilst the
addition ot twice the quantity rn>pd it by 11- bushe s more, or
in all by 1<5| bushels. Again, in 1873 the addiiion of the
single amount of nitrate to miuerals gave an increase of 3^
bushels orer the minerals alone, and the addition of double the
amount gave an increa-e of 12 bu-lifls more. It need hardly
be sad that such a result as a less produce by the mixed
mineral manure and the single quantity of ammonia sal s or
nitrate of soda than without manure, and an incease of from
12 to li bushels by the s.tme minpral manurp and double the
quantity ot ammonia salts or nitrate, is simply impossible if
the experiments were properly conducted.

With regard to the result by farmyard manure, they are in
both years veiy unsitis'act'Ty. Il is obvious that the appli-
c«ti"n ot insufiiciemly ferment d dunt; to this very light land
is inappropriate. The reason lor ;-pi)l\ ing th-e dung in a coin-
parativi-lyunlermentfd state wa>toen uretliBt tlipre>hou!dbeas
little loss of nit-Oiien as possible, so tti-t the difference in the
amnun'sot it,dnpto thpdifferfnce in die aniountsinthe different
fimds consumed, should be maintained. I see it is now proposed
that the dung shall be «ell rotted btlore application, and that
it shall be applied as a top'dressins. On this plan it is \ery
probable that a per ion of the nitrogen which remains w id
iiave been rendered more rapidly active, but at the cost of I
more or less los'^ ; and it is to be hoped that the cumpHrisons
for which the experiments were instituted will not be dtltatid .
thereby.

Listlv, it miy be noticed that the vari-ntions in weight per |
bushel, su'.h as they were, were in 1877 congisten", whilst
those iu lb78 are quite lucon^i8tent, Ou Ibis point it ma) be

observed that whilst the exfreme difTerence in weight per
bushel among the various plots was in 1877 only a trille over
21b., it was in 1878 nearly 5ilb.

To sum up :— The results of 1877 exhibited some vpry
m irked features, and wpre, upon the whole, quite as consistent;
»i h each other as Could be expected in the first year of sucli
exp-riments, mado upon land not previously cultivated wiih a
view to the n. In this coru-pxhausted land purely mineral
manures gave no increase, of crop ; but purely nitrogenous
manures, whether in the form of ammonia salts or nitrate of
sjda, gave very considerable increase ; and, consistently
throughout, whether the nitroL'enous manures were used
alone or with n-ineral manure, or iu the smaller or the larger
amount-, a given quantity r.t nitrogen applied as ammonia,
salts gave more protluce than tlie same amount applied as
nitrate of soda. There was not only more c >rn, but also more
straw, and a higher weight per bushel, with the ammonia salts
than with the nitrate ; and when I was in the field, just be-
fore larvpst, the suppriority of the crop growing with tbo
double amount of ammonia salts over that with the double
amount of nitrate was very apparen*, both in the ripeness of
the grain and the colour of tiie straw. In the expeiiuients on
the llotliamsied Soil, the superiority is, on the contrary,
almost uniformly with the nitrate. To refer to another point,
whilst the addition to the mineral manure of the smaller
quantity of nitrogenous manure gave an increase of from llj
to 13^ bushels of com, the addition of double the quantity
gave an increase of from 7 to 10 bushels more.

Iu 1878, on the other hand, there is, as has been shown,
scarcely any connection traceable bet«ceu the description and
amount of manure employed and the amounts of pruc'uca
yielded, and the greatest inconsistencies are among the plots
deticiently or only m iderately manured. The explanation of
these inconsistencies is not far to seek, Whpn I visitpd Stack-
yard Field on July 31, 1878, I made careful notes on the con-
dition of every plot. It was quite obvious that on all the
continuous wlieat plots there had been, and was, a conflict;
l>etwepn weeds and wheat, and thai on all, excepting where
the mintral manure and the double quantity of ammouia salts
or nitrate had been applied, the weetis were victoriuus ; whilst,
on these two most highly-manured plots, the talluess and
thickness of the crop had to a certain extent, kept them down«
The continU-Us barley crops also suffered very greatly in-
d;!ed.

Much as T regret that the second yearns experiments on
continuous corn growing at Woburn have been rendered worsa
than useless, I am not at all surpri-pd at the result. Such
experiments require attention to kpep them clean which no
(rictical farmer wouid think of bestowing on corn crops
growing in ordinary rotation. Iu making these remarks,!
wish enipha'icallv to slate that I do not attribute blame to
anvoup. The failure has bseu due simply to want of experi-
ence in the scientific conduct of fii-ld experiments. The ex-
periments in <jue-tion were last year carried out prrcisely ou
the plan whicii Mr. Randall proposed should be adopted ia
various localities, namely, that tbey should ba conducted by
P'acticai formers, inexperienced in exact experimenting, but
under the dirpction, and more or less unde? the su.erintend-
eucp, o; a scientific man residin*; at a distance 1 gave my
reasons at the time lor disapproving of such a plan, and I ara
now entirely confirmed in tlie views 1 then expressed. Last
year some were disposed to blame me for declining to have any
further responsibility ia the conduct of the experiments when
they were to be carried out by a ne* and untrained residput
nanager; but I think they will now ndtuit that I ciid not da
to witbout rpason. Dr. Yoelcker has, I have no doubt, found
the ditli.ulties ol superintending such experiments at a dis-
tance, with no other aid on the spot than that of a young
practical fnrmpr who had had no previous experience in arciu
rate pxperiinenting, to be vcy great ; but Irom what 1 have
seen of the present re<ident managpr, I ieel sure he wiU
make good use in the future of the expsrieucR gamed ia
the past year.

The Woburn exprriments were established by the liberality
ot th" l)uke of B diord, for the (xpress purpose of determin-
ing accurately certain qui-stions, and ctr.'inly not merely
that an auxiliary farm ot a little ov^r UX) acres should ba
farmed 8S any tarn er could farm it. But it the practical
men in who^e iultr. a.s the experiments were instituted ara

380

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

satisfipd tint t'lia auxiliary farm sliould be farmed well, and
tliat some of the maia objects of the experiments themselves
should be lost, who else has any right to complain P

IMr. Charles Howard has published in a contemporary
the fotlnwing letter in reply to the remarks made by Mr.
J. B. Lawes.

Mr. Lawes, in his letter to you last weelf, drew atten-
tion to the results of 187S, as compared with those of
1877, on the experimental corn plots at Woburn. It is
only due to the present manager that some explanation
should be given. Mr. Lawes endeavours to fasten upon
his niauagement the failure of some of the wheat plots.
Tn your criticisms also, you support this view.

Your readers should have their especial attention
directed to this fact, that Mr. Lawes had the management
of these plots until June 1, at which time every practical
farmer knows that the various cleansing operations of the
wheat crop should be completed. To do auything like
hand-weeding — which would require men to stoop — after
this time would only be injurious to the crops. If,
therefore, as Mr. Lawes states, theae operations had been
thoroughly carried out, there would have been no weeds
to complain of at harvest ; if there were, the present
manager is clearly not responsible, neither can he be
answerable for the small yield of corn cansed by the
s ;vere blight from which several of the plots suifered to
a serious estent, much of the wheat not caming into ear.
It was on these plots Mr. Lawes found the weeds — a
legacy left on his retirement, more fully developed by the
nourishment the wheat could no longer take np. Mr.
Lawes has not thought it desirable to make any allusion
to the mangel crop. In his eagerness to impart informa-
tion, he should have stated by what superior manage-
ment he obtained the astoundiog weight of 2 ton I5 cwt.
of roots to the acre in 1877, and in justice to the present
management to have noticed that with the same manures
three times the weight was obtained in 1878. From
what I have seen of the experiments during the last two
years, it surprises me there is so " much ado " about the
necessity of an especial training for the work. A decently
educated young fellow, with his bead well put on and
■with a moderate esperience in farm management, would
iiod no difficulty in carrying out the instructions of bis
" scientific " chief,

Mr. Lawes will, I believe, find, on such light soil as
that at Woburn, no matter by whom the experiments
are conducted, that continuous corn crops caunot long
be successfully grown, but that indications of this
result are attributable to the present management i
entirely deny.

I would remind Mr. Lawes, in conclusion, of an old
and trite aphorism, " Let the saddle be put on the right
horse."

Mr. J. B, Lawes sends us the following letter in reply
to Mr. Howard : —

In Mr. Charles Howard's reply to my comments ou
the results of the experiments on coutiiiUDiis corn grow-
ing at Woburn last year, which were published in your
last impression, he calls the special attention of your
readers to the fact that I had the management of the
])li)t3 until June 1, at which time, he says, " every
))ractical farmer knows that the various cleansing opera-
tions of the wheat crop should be completed." He goes
on to say that, if those operations had been thoroughly
carried out, there would have been no weeds to con. plain
of at harvest ; and that if there were any they were a
legacy left on my retirement.

As to the assirtion that every practical farmer knows
hat the various cleansing operations of the wheat crop
should be completed by the Ist of June. I had myself

Said that '' such experiments require attention to keep
them clean which no practical farmer would think of
bestowing on corn-crops growing in ordinary rotation."
Such special attention was given to the continuous cora
crops at Woburn in 1877, long after the 1st of June.
Such attention is every year bestowed on the continuous
corn crops at Rothamstel; and if they had received no
other care than every practical farmer would think of
bestowing on corn crows growing in ordinary rotation —
if, in fact, they had not been cleaned long after the first
of June, some o^'them would have come to an nntimely
end a quarter of a century ago. I take it, however, that
Mr. Howard's assertion of what every practical farmer
knows is the proper course to adopt, is an admission of
that which was really adopted after the experiments w re
given up on June 1 — -namely, to let the weeds alone.

Mr. Howard adds: — "Mr. Lawes will, I believe, find,
on such light soil as that at Woburn no matter by whom the
experiments are conducted, that continuous corn crops
cannot long be successfully grown, but that indications
of this result are attributable to the present management
I entirely deny." 1 quite agree that continuous corn
crops cannot be snccessfuUy grown on such liaht soil as
that at Woburn, as long as on the heavier one at Rotbam-
sted. But, that the failure in 1878 was, as a matter of
fact, due to the management, Mr. Howard's explanations
can leave no doubt whatever; and from the authority
with which he speaks, I suppose there can be as little,
ss to who was, at any rate largely, responsible. I have
no hesitation in saying that if the cleansing operations of
the continuous corn crops at Woburn are not continued
long after the 1st of June, there will be the same failure
in the future as there was last year, and that the experi-
ments will die an unnatural death much sooner than, per-
haps, even Mr. Howard supposes.

As, under the circumstances, a very curions commentary
on the whole business, Mr. Howard further says : — ■
"From what I have seen of the experiments during the
last two years, it surprises me that there is so ' much
ado' about the necessity of an especial training for the
work." Nothing that I could say, could more clearly
illustrate the fallacy of his OTvn conclusion on this point, or
more strongly confirm the correctness of the contrary
opinion which I had maintained on the subject, than his
own candid enunciation of the rules which would guide
" every practical farmer" in the management of such ex-
periments, his admission of what vas, or rather of what /
was not done, and the results themselves, which he does ^
not deny. J

THE LOVES OF THE DWARFS.— Those vfho have
retd the account of Miss Minnie Warren's two lovers, the
suicess'ul Geiiiril Tom Thumb and the disappointfd Com-
raodine Nutt, are aware that a litUe man csn love long and
devotedly. The astute Mr. Bfirnnm tlioii^tlit that a marriage
between the dfl-arfs vionld aitract tlie public, and he made a
great merit of not charging so much a head to those who
wanted to witness the ceremony, feeling sure that the "good
feeliuj^ " he displayed in the matter would pay in the long run-
as it did. Com "lodore Nntt was consoled in course of time
by another httle Warren, and the two pairs of dwarfs became
men and wives. There are, however, in America at the pre-
sent time a couple of dwarfs, General JNlite and Lucia Ztrate,
known as the Midgets, whose respective bosoms hnve not been
struck by their compsuiou's charms. This is a cause of
trouble wi'h their proprietor, lie wants to arrange a mar-
riage between tlieni, but they deliberately reluse to fall in
love with each other ; and not only is the interest of a mar-
riage thas rendered impossible, but there is a further difficulty
that they may presently decline to appear together, and cue
may retire to a rival show. A little of Mr. John Wellington
Well's love philtre is the only thiug I can sujjgest, — Sjjorliii^
add Dramatic A'c'oa,

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

381

^gvicultural (Societies.

AYRSHIRE.

The great show of the South-west of Scotland was held
at Ayr, oq April 30. The Ayr Advertiser, in com-
meuting ou the live stock, says: — The Ayrshire dairy
stock have always had the promiuent place at our shows.
Thej attract the most attention, although in that respect
the Clydesdales are coming up to them. The inspection
began with the Derhy class in which there was a great
exhibilion. Eighty-six atiimals were exhibited for the
prizi's, and the display, as a whole, was exceedingly good.
There was some dtlicieney amongst the first five or six iu
comparison with recent years — notably with 1876 — but
a number of fine animals, not calviug at the right time,
might be seen far down the list. The prize ot £1^! for
the best cow in milk was won by Mr. Duncan, Kilchattan,
Bute, with a remarkably fine animal. Her milk-vessel is
seldom equalled iu a show-yard. The second cow was
also very superior, but beyond that the onlookers around
the ring — most of whom are very competent to form
opinions — criticised the judges with more freedom than is
usually taken at such times. The position of some of the
leading animals in the Derby class had giveu rise to
remarks which were repeated in one or two other classes.
In the class of nncalved cows there is generally a good
eompetition, and there was no falling off yesterday. The
exhibition of milk stock was altogether very creditable.
The bulls and young stock came under the e\e of differeut
judges. In the class of aged bulls, the Duke of Buccleuch's
three-year-old attracted special attention. He had an
easy victory over Mr. Keir's fatuous bull that has been so
often at the top. As a class, the two-year-old were better
than the aged bulls, aud the stirks, 52 in number, were a
Wonderfully good show. Amongst the queys, the Duke
of Buccleugh's p^iir of two-ytar-olds were much admired ;
but the twoyear-old qney from Auchtralure was by a
long way the fiuest animal in that department, and the
pair of quey stirks from the same farm might be put next
to her.

The judges of Clydesdales had a great deal of first-rate
stock to pass through their hands. In the class of brood
xnares the competition between iMr. Picken, Laigh Lang-
side, Craigie, and Mr. Cunningham, Tarbreoch, Dal-
beattie, was watched with keen anxiety. Mr. Picken
was successful, and the spirit which he evinces is deserving
of success. The prizes lor yield luares were carried off
by magnificent animals from different counties. The
three year-old and two-year-old fillies formed excellent
classes, and comprised a great part of the finest young
stock in Scotland. The colts were equally fine. Mr.
Johnston's yearliug colt attracted much alteutioa. He
was an easy winner. He has wonderful substance for
his age, and his action is remarkably good. It lakes all
that to justify the price of 370 guineas given for him at
Mr. Drew's sale. The Clydesdale hoises at Ayr form a
magnificent show, and are sufficient of themselves to
attract multitudes of visitors. To the interested portion
of the spectators the competition is an exciting game, as
the splendid specimens of youug stock are compared by
skilful men for the first time this year. As a rule, their
relative positions are pretty accurately determined for the
beason.

The display of hunters and roadsters was very large.
In a hunting county like Ayrshire attention is naturally
turned to that kind of stock, but good and skillul mauage-
ment on the whole is followed by more profitable results in
the rearing of Clydesdales. With a wider diffusion of
good stock, however, the profits of famous breeeders are
not likely to increase.

The show of fat stock was not extensive, but thor-
oughly finished animals were brought out. Mr. John
Cnuniugham maintains his former prominent position as a
feeder of Ayrshire cows, and Messrs. lioae, Shallochpark,
are most successful with their yearlings.

The competitions in the dilTerent classes of black-faced
sheep at Ayr have long been interesting, and they are
becoming more extensive. This year our hardy hill llocks
were exceedingly well represented. The Leicester sheep
were specially good. The Association is mainly indebted
for improvement in this department to Mr, Wallace,
Auchenbrain, who generally comes to the front when he
moves at all. He carried everything before him yesterday
with the Leicesteis, and his success was equally complete
and well-deserved iu the various classes of pigs. Ainijiigsfc
the sheep the half-bred hoggs made a fine exhibitioa.
With them Mr. Wright, Dovvhill, seems invincible.

The sums collected for admission at the entrances and
at the stands, amounted to £S'J4i. Last year the amount
was £1,002. There is thu8;a decrease of £108. But the
show of last year was a wonderful success, iu a pecuniary
point of view. The largest sums collected in former years
were £820 in 1877, and £737 in 1876. The comparison
is thus very satislactory.

PRIZE LIST.

JUDGES. — Ayrshire Dairy Stcck : Sscticn I. — John
Pleaiiug, SraUnven ; James Uamiiton, Ciravvath ; David
Plemiug, Hiinilton. Section 11. — Hugh Kirkwood,
Marvhili ; G^^urge Crawfjrd, E«f; Kilbride ; Hubert
M'Kean, Glasgow. HoRSES : William Grsy, Kirkcud-
bright ; Joliu Young, Paisley ; W^iiliam Pindlay, Glasgow ;
Abrain Kerr, TlioriiuiU; James Calder, DuranartoDsliire ;
Robert FJnlay, Glasj^ow ; Colonel Williamson, Pertl'sliire ;
William Biird, Avr; James Hopp, DuddinfisCim ; Gworge,
Sioddart, iMewtoa Mearns. SiiEEP : Archibald Coubrougli
Campsie ; Patrick Mwlrose, PeeblesliirK ; John Craig,
Strathaven. Siiortiiokn Cattle, Leicester amd
Crossbred Sheep, Fat Stock, and Pigs : James
Bruce, Aannn; John M'Millan, Diimlreisshire ; Duncan
MPurlaue, Heleuhburgh. Old Cheese Competition :
Alexander Osborne, Glasgow. Implements and
Machinery: John Taylor, Ayr; David Scott, Girvan,
Robert WalUce, Ayr.

CATTLE.

AYRSHIRE BREED.

The Derby ot April, 1879. Opeu to all comers. — Cows of
the Ayrshire breed calved in lti70. Stake, £1 per head. —
First prize, £21, Ales. S eide, Darvel (Jumper) ; second, i;18,
the Duke ol Buceleuch (Favourite 3rd of Diumlanrig) ; third,
£15, Hon. G. R. Vernon, Kiimarnuek (Yellow Bess) ; fourth,
£13, A. F. Fowlds, Stewarton (Brookx 2nd).

Aged cow in milk, and aj^ed cow in cJt on day of shovv.
The following premiums were lor those iu milk.— First priz ,
£l-t, and tlie liigliland Society's silver medal, Jnmes Duncan,
Rothesay ; secou'l, £10, Wm. ("raig, Dairy ; third, £a, Jolm
Drennan, Tarbjl.ou ; fourtli, £3, Wm. Guthrie, Ayr. Tiie
followiag premiums were lor tiiose in calf. — Pirot prize, £7,
the Duke of Buceleuch ; second, £1, Robert Allan, Glasstord ;
tliird, £1, the Duke ot Buceleuch ; lourih, the Dake ol Buc-
eleuch.

. Three-year-old cow in milk, and three-year-old cow in calf
on day ol exhibition. The loUowing premiums were for Ihose
in milk. — First, £5, Alex. Steele, Darvel ; second, £4', ihe
Duke of Buceleuch ; third, £2, A. R. Fonlds, Stewarton ;
fourth, £1, John Nesbit, Newjailns. The tollowiuj; [iremiunis
were lor those in calf. — First, £3, Hugh Wilson, Tarbolion ;
second, £2, the Duke ot Buceleuch ; third, £1, John Ritcliie,
Tarbolton ; fourth, 10s., James Howie, Galaton.

Lot ot three cows trum one dairy, three-year-old and up-
wards, the property of and bred by the exhibitor, in call or m
milk on day of exhibition. — First prize, £8, ti.e Duke of
Buceleuch ; second, £-t, William Anderson, Bdruell, third, £2,
James Howie, Buruhouse ; fourth, £1, James Craig, Holmes
of Caaf.

Premiums offered by the Earl of Eglinton and Winton.
Pair of aged cows iu milk, being the bona fide property of

382

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

the exhibitor— First, £5, WilHam Craig, Dairy ; second, £3,
Jiimes Hortie, Buruhouses ; third, £1, John Drennan, Tar-
tolton ; lourtli, Robert Lees, Tarbvlton.

Ta^r of three-year-old cows, iu calf or in milk on day of
exhibition, bring the bona fide property of the exi ibitor. —
First priz-, £5, A. Steele, Buruheitcl ; fce:oud, £2, \Y. Ander-
i-on, barneil ; third, James Howie, Buruhouses.

Aged bull, above two and not excfeding lijjht years. —
First prize, £6 and the Highland Society's medium silver
jncdal, tlie Dake of Buccieucli, Drumlaurig ; second, £i,
l)aiican Keir, Buckiyvie, Stirling ; third, £1, Thomas Muir,
BowliLiUje, Carmich^el, Thaukeriou ; lourth, WilliamSBoyu,
Bouging, Colmonell.

Ttto-jeir-old bull.— First prize, £9, Patrick Conl, Wattie-
^ton, Kilbiruie ; second, £(i, J nmes Howie; tliiid, £2, James
Gilinour, Cifinick ; t'ourh, £1, Peter Claik^ Ca pbehown j
lifth, James Wilson, Mackerq'ihat, Colmonell.

Bull ^tirk. — First prize, £8, ilober; Mfikle, Tarbolton ;
tHird, £S, W. Browi., KilwiciiinK ; tonrth, £-2, W. Bovd,
Colmonell; iif;h, £1, Thoiuas Donald, Newrailn- ; sixth, 10 .,
Johu Sloan, Ochiltree; seventh, Divid Gray, Tarbolton.

Pair o' two year-old qU'-ys, ueiiliir in call nor in milk, —
Fir-t prizp, £5, the Duke of Bu.cleuch ; second, £3, John
B rbonr, G.rvan ; tliirJ, £1, Jauies Hood, Coylton ; fourtli,
John Murray, Ojhiltree.

Single two-year-old quey, neither in calf nor in milk. —
Frst prize, £5, i-.eirs of William M'D owall, S ranra^ r ; -ecmd,
£3. the Duke of Baccleuch; tliird £3, J imes C.ldwell. W st
Klbride; fourth, £1, ihs Duke of Ba.;cleueh ; iit'ih, J.
M irray.

Pair of quey stirks. — First prize, £3, heirs of William
M'Kowall ; second, £?, Matthew Teinplpfon, Cjlnionell ;
t iid,£l, the Duke of Buccleueh; fourth, John M'Cartafy,
■Stair.

Single quey stirk. — First prize, £3, Jnmes Gilrnour ; second
£3, James Gilmour, Orehirdton; third, £1, Jo.iu Birbour,
G.rvan ; fourth, the Duke ol BnccUuch.

S.vee,>stake competiiion. Open to members wherever
resident. Ayrshire cow in milk or calf, on day of sliow, of
smy age (stake 10-.).— First prize, two-thirds of the stakes,
and the Society's gold medal, or £5 'n option of winner, the
Duke o!" Buccleueh; second, one-third of the stakes, and the
Society's silver medal, J imes Duncan, Rothesay; third,
nilver medal, the Duke of Buccleueh ; fourth, the Duke of
Buccleueh.

Parish sweepstake competition. Open to members wher-
ever resident. Five cows, Ayrshire breed, any age (stake
10s. ). — First prize, whole of the stak-s, the Duke of
Buccleueh; second, silver medal, William Anderson Barne.l;
third, the Duke of tJucclecch,

SIIOKT-IIORNID BREED.

Ball under five years old.— Firs' p:!-", £3, W. and J. Bone,
Girvan ; second, £1, K. F. F. Campbeh, of (Jraigie.

TAT STviCK.

Three-year-old ox or heifer, pure or cross. — First prize, £5,
W. Underwood, Ma^ bo'e ; second, £3, R. Jack, Girvan ; third,
.R. Jack.

Two-year-old ox or heifer, pure or cross. — First prize, £5,
A. and J. M. Hannah, Girvan ; second, £3, R. F. F. Camp-
bell, of Craigie ; third, J. G Rjm.sbottom, May bole.

Fat cow, of any age, of the Ayrshire breed.— First prize,
£4, J. Cunuin^liam, M.i^ bole ; secou 1, £i, J. Bone, Girvan ;
tl.ird, J. Cunningham, Trees.

Two-yrar-o'd ox or heifer of the Ayrshire brred. — Fir^t
prize, £i, R. Catzow, Tliankcrton ; secoudj £2, R. Latta,
Ayr; third, W. Kay, Mdssend, by Ayr.

Pair of one-year-old bullocks or heifers, pure or cross, in-
tended for feeding purjjoses, and bred by the exhibitor. — First
priz', £-2, W. ai^d J. Bone, Sh»liock Park; second, £1, W.
and J. Bone; third, R. F. F. Camjibell.
HORSES.

Brood mare for agricultural purposes, in foal, or having had
a foal io the season of 1879.— First prize, £10, and the High-
land Society's medium silver medal, J. Picken, Craigie ;
second, £7, J. Cunningham, Dalheatti' ; third, £3, A, Al'an,
Dairy; fourth, £1, W. Crawford, D ilry ; fi th, J. Greig,
Canipljeltown.

Yeld mare for agricultural purposes, fonr-yrars-old and up-
wards.— First prize. £4', A. M 'nti^onierie, (Visile-Douglas;
frecond, £2. Earl of Dunmore; third, £1, D. Riddell, Paisley ;
fourth, J. Harvie, Mearus.

Three year-old mare for agricultural porooses. — First prize,
£5, D. Riddell ; second, £3, J. Hunter, Strathbnngo : third,
£2, J. Cunniughnm, Dalbeattie ; fourth, J. Dunlop, West
Kilbride ; filth, W. Park, Bishopton.

Two-year-old filly for agricultural purposes, — First prize,
£7, A. JMon'gonierie ; second, £5, R. Pollock, Newton
Mearns ; third, £3, A. Rankin, Stranraer ; fourtli, D. Riddel),
Pai*ley.

One-ve:\r-old fvlly. — First prize, £4-, J. Ross, Dunlop ;
second, £2, D. Criia-i, Maybole ; third, £1, J. Brown, Kilwin-
ning ; fourth, J. M'Master, Stranraer.

Sweepstakes competition (open to members viherever resi.
dent), pairs of agricnltural mares or Keldings ; stake, tea
shillings for each entry of two animals. — First prize, two-
thirds of the stakes, and £1 10s,, D. Riddell; second, one-
third of the stakes, and £1, J. Cuani igham, Dalbeattie j
third, silver medal, J. Harvey, MearD^;. fourth, M. Hender-
son, Ardrossan.

Gelding (or agricultural purposes, four-years old and up-
wards.— First pr ze, £3, A. Aitkenhead, Pollockshaws j
second, £2, C. Camiibell, Glasgow ; third, £1, Duke of Port-
land, Troon; fourth, W. CUrk, Newton Mearns.

Three-year old gelding for agricultural purposes. — First
prize, £3, J. Templeton, Patna : second, £3, R. F. F. Camp.
hell; third, £1, A. W. Taylor, Galstor > lourth, J. Dunlop,
West Kilbride.

T*o->ear-old eelJing for agricultural purposes. — First
prize, £2, W. Spiers, Craigie ; second, £1, H. Miller, New-
milns ; third, A W. Tir.lor.

Two-year-old entire colt. — First prize, £13, and the High-
land Society's medium silver medil, D, Riddell ; second, £5,
R, Pollock ; third, £2, Earl of Dunmore ; lourth, T. Lindsay,
Craigie.

One-year-old entire colt. — First prize, £5, J. Johns'tone,
Marjhill; second. £3, D. Cross of Kuockdou > third, £1, D.
Riddell; fi,uith,J. Huu'er, StrathbuuKO.

Swetpslake cinipelilioa. Open to members wlietever
resident. Pony, fsceediuj 12j, and not exceeding 14^ Ka^ds.
Stake, 10s. — First piiz", two-Murds of the stakes, W. Forrest,
M irkirk ; 8ecot.d, one-third of the stake.', A. G'^miuell, Ayr ;
t'ird, silver medal, W. H. Houldswortli, of Coodham ; fourth,
A, Coch'an, Muntgteenan.

Sweepstake competition, not limited to inerahers. Pony,
not exceeding 12^ hanfls. Stake, lOs. — First prize, two-
thirds of the stakes, J. J dinstiiue, Lochhuruie ; second, one-
ihird of tlie stakes, J. Dunlop, Kilmarnnck ; third, silver
medal, A. Gemiuell, Ayr; lourth. J. M'Muttrie, Dalblair
R ai.

Sweepstake competition. Open to members wherever
reside^'t. Saddle horse (mare or geldins). Stake, 10>.—
First pr ze, twii-lhirds of the stakes A. Fmuie, Kilmarnock ;
8CC0D , oue-tliird of the stakes, Captaiu S. Monleth, Ayr ;
third, silver medal, A. H. Houldsworth, Lass wade ; fourth,
A. H. H .uld worth.

PREMIUMS OFFFERED BY GENTLEMEIS HUKTING IN
AYRSHIRE, AND OTHERS.

Yearling colt or filly, likely to make a good hunter (and
got by a tliorou(jlibri-d horse), having been the prupt rty ot the
exliibitor from tlie 1st January, 1879, lo the dale of coinpeti-
ton. — Fir,-t rrize £5, J. Ta.lor, A)r ; second, £2, G.Hart,
Ayr ; third, £1, M. Shedden, Dairy ; fourtli, T. Andrews,
Moi'ktou.

Tw J-year-old colt or filley, likely to make a good hunter, &c.,
as m Cliss 15. — Fir-t prize, £5, T. Andrew, Monkton ;
second, £2, R. Kerr, P„rtpatrick ; third, £1, W. M'Kerrovr,
Ayr ; fourth, G Young, Kilmaurs.

Tliree-year-old cult or filly, likely to make a eood hunter,
&c., as in Class 15.— First prize, .£5, W. M'Kerrow, Ayr ;
second, £2, J. Hutchinson, NewarkhiU ; third, £1, K. Wil-
liams, The Green ; fourli, W. Iinrie, by Castle Douglas.

'i'iiree-year-old eolt or filly, got by a thorough-bred horse,
and bred by a farmer. — First prize, £10, W. M'Kerrow;
scind, £1-, J. Hntctiinson ; third, £2, R. Williams ; fourth,
£1, W. Imrie ; fifth, M. Taylor, KiliiiaruoLk.

Cult or filly having the qualities of a good hunter. Four
years old and upwards, &c., as iu Class 15. — First prize, £8,
A. Gemmell, Ayr Arms; second, £4, Hon. G. 11. Vernon ;
third. £2, J. JaniiesoD, Edinburgh ; fourth. £1, A. Gemmell ;
fi th. A. 11. Houldsworth.

Mart's capable of producing first-class hunters or saddle

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

S83

liorses. — First prize, £10, R. Williams, Wishaw ; second, £5,
R. A. OswaM, 0! -"luclieucruive ; third, £2, J. Eccles, Ayr ;
fourth, £1, \V M'O. CHiniibell, Fairfield House, Munkton ;
fi'th, A. \V. Taylor, G lUton.

Weight-cnrryins h:»iitfr, suited to carry about 14 or 15
8!one. Open to all toners, and nu pntry tnouey. — First prize,
flO, W Baird, Ayr; secoud, £5, W. Baird;. third, £,2, A.
Gemincll ; tourth, £1, W. MKerrow, Ayr ; filth, G. Steele,
Ayr.

Light weig'it hunter, suited to cirry about 11^ stones. —
First priz", £10,. H. F., Bovd ; second, i&5, William M'Kerrow,
Ayr; third, £2, H. F. Boyd ; fourth, £1, H. T. Teunanf,
A'.r.

Weiffht-carryinz or light-weight hunter. The prizes to be
awarded to ihe best jumpers. Coiiip tition open to all comers.

First prize, £10, James Walker, Ayr ; sei^ood, £5, William

JI Keri-ow, Ayr ; tliird, £3, John Ruvherford, Annan; fourth,
£^2, William Stewart, Ayr.

SHEEP.

BLACKFACED.

Aeed tap. — First prize, £5 ; and to the shepherd, 5« ,
W lliam Maswell, Cau.phelt-ovin ; second, £-2, Franc s Tlioii -
boi,Glenback ; third, £1, Jamrs Crai;<, o*' Craif((Jarroch,
M'liiktun liiU, Breatvvick; loar'Ji, James Craig, of Cr-iig-
darruch.

Two-year-old tup. — First prize, £*?, and to the shepherd, 5s.,
J. and J. Mollatt, Sanquhar; ?ee.)ud, £2, Wm. Maxwell,
Camiibeltown ; third, J. and J. Molfatr.

Tup Hog. — First prize, £3, and to the shep'-'erd, 5s., J.
and J. Muti'aft, Gdteside, Sanquhar ; second, £2, J. and J.
M>ffatt ; third, the Earl ot Sfair.

i'e 1 of five env hoigs. — Pir^t prize, £3, and to the shepherd,
5» th" Eirl oi Stair; second, £1, James Allan, juur., Brod-
witk ; third, George Warnock, Lesiuahagow.

CDtVIOTS.

Ajed tup. — First (£2) aud second prize, D. C, Willison,
Bilijedar.

T*o-)ear-old tup. — Fir;it (£2) and secood prize, D. C.
Wi lison.

Tup hoz. — First prize, £2, John Lawrie, Shieldlull ; second,
D. C. VViLisou.

LEICESTERS.

Tup, two-year-old and upwards — First prize, £3, Robert
WUlace, Mauchhne ; sfCunJ, £2, John JM'llwrailh, Ayr ; third,
W lliam TodJ, Stranraer.

Tup, one-jeai-uld. — First prize, £3, Robert Wallace,
Aucbenbrain ; secoud, £2, Ptobert Wallace; third, £1, Robert
W-tllaCe.

Two ewes, not exceeding five years old, with tliPir'lambs. —
First prize, £2, R>i)berl Wallace ; secoud, £1, Robert Wallace.

CROSSES.

Pen of five wedd'-r or ewe lioj^i^, a cross betwixt the Cheviot
and Lfieester. — First prize, £4, Bryce Wright, Girvan ;
secmd, £2, Bryce Wright ; third, David Cross, ol Knockdon.

Pen ol five wedder or ewe hoi:gs, a cross betwixt tlie black-
fai ed and Leicester, — First prize, £4-, Joiin M'llwraith,
Drumshang ; second, John jl'Il*raith ; third, John Lawrie,
Shieldhill.

Pen ol five wedder or ewe hoggs, of any cross. — Prize, £2,
Bryce Wright, Duwliill.

PIGS.

Boar of any breed. --First prize, £i, Robert Vv''allace, Maucli-
line; sfcond, £2, R. F. E. Caitpbell, o! Craigie.

Breeding sow of any larue bieeo, in pig, or not in pi?. —
F rst priz-', £1-, Riibert Wallace, Aucbenbrain; second, £2, R,
F'. F. Campbel', ofCraigie.

BreediuK sow of any large breed, with her pigs receiving
her milk at the time of competition. — First priz->, £4, Robert
AVsilace, Anchenhrain ; second, £2, Robert Lees, Tarbulton.

Breeding sow of any small breed, in pig, or with her pigs
receiving ht-r milk at the time of competition. — First pr.ze,
£5, Robert Wallace, Aucbenbrain , second, £3, Robert
Wallace ; third, James Mdir, Townbead, of Lrumley, Tar-
boltOD.

FINANCE.

Mr. Charles Edwards, as chairman of the Finance
Committee, brought up the quarterly statement of accjunts
and payments to the amount of £1,803 6s. 6d. were sanctioned
by the Council. Authority was also granted to the chairman
to draw all necessary cheques in reference to the Es.eler
Meeting.

EXETER MEETING.

The Draft programme for the Eseter meeting, on June 2nd.
3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th, was approved, the tunes of opening
and closing the yard being fii;ed, as usual, for 9 a.m. and
6 p.m. respeciively.

REERESHMENT CONTRACT.

Colonel LuTTRELL, as chairman ot the Contracts Com-
mittee, reported the acceptance by the Committee, subject to
approval by the Council, of tenders tor the supply of re-
freshments in the sluw yard at Eketer by the .following
persons :

N.,s. Land VL— Mr. S. L. Gifford, 253, High Street,
Exeter.

Nos. II. and IV.— Mr. John Hooper, 23, New Cross
Road, London, S.K.

Nos. III. and v.— Mr. John Hitchcock, 86, Old Market
Street, Bristol.

ARTS DEPARTMENT.

The Arts Committee reported that tlie grant of the Council
for lace prizes had been auaramted by donations of £5 each
from J. C. Moore Stevens, Esq., and Horace Marry at, Esq.,
and the lollovving list of prizes lor Honiton lace was pre-
sented : — For the best lappot, £5 ; (or the best trimming
lace for body and sleeves, £5 ; tor the best nectkie, .£3, .
second prize, £3; tov the btst 12 birds (in one frame), £3,
second prize, £2 ; lor the best 12 butterfiies (in one frame £3,
second prize, £2 ; 'ot the best yard and iialf ot trolly lace, £3, .
second prize, £2. It was aKo reported iliat arranaeiueul.s
had been niaae for holding a loan collection o! Works of
Art in connection with the Society's Exhibition, and that
several influential pairons ol art in the cnunty ol Devon had
kindly promised their active support to lliis Deparlmeut.
COVHClh.

The list of meiibers of Council to be recommended to the •
annual meeting lor election for the term of 2 years nex.t
ensuing was settled.

WORCESTER MEETINS, 188G.

Colon"] LuiTRKLL on behalf ol the deputation appointed,
to vi-it Worcester, reported that the deputation were most
cordially received ny the inhabitants of Worcester ; that an
admirable site for the siiow yard and trial fields had been .
inspecttd and approved ; and that the Society's requireiaentav
had b-en signed by the Mayor of Worcester on beiiall of the
Local Committee and ci"izei)«.

THE LATE MR. il. ST. JOHN MA'ULE.

. Sir T. D. Aciand, Bart., in eloquent aud leeling term*
alluded to the loss sustained by the Council in the recent
death ot Mr. H. St. John Manle, and moved the following-
retolution which was adopted by the Counci ; —

'■ That the Council desire to express to Mrs. H. St. John
Maule and the other members of tiie tamily of tbc late H.
St. John Maule, Esq., ibeir sinc-re sympathy with them lu
their bereavement, and their grateh'l recollections of the
services rendered by Mr. St. John Maule to this Society ia ■
the extension which took plac^ in 18.50-51, and in its subse-
quent operations during many year-,"

The following new mem bir<i were elected: — Givernois: ■
Mr. E. C. Bariujr, Membiand House, Ivybridffe, Devon ; Mr.
H. B. Miedmay, Fiete House, Ivybridge, Devon. Mem'uers :
Mr. W. L. Martin, L-e Moor China Clay Works, Plympton
St. Mary ; Mr. R. Mattock, Sowton House, Wellington,
Somerset.

BATH AND WEST OP ENGLAND-

At the Council Mee ing held April 29th, 1879, at th^
Grand Hotel, Bri.stol, the chair was taken by Sir T. D.
Aciand, Bart., M.P., in the unavoidable absence of the Pre-
^dent.

BIRMINGHAM.

The first meeting of the new Council was he'd on May 1
at Birmirighani, tiie Mayor in the chair.

Earl Howe was elected president, and the Mayor and Lord
Chesham were added to the list of vice-presidents. Mr, John
L iwe was re-elected hon. treasurer, T.ie General Purposes,
Shorthorn, Finance. Sub-letting, Poultry, Stand Allotment,.,
aud Printing and Advertising Committees were appointed;:,
hlso a new committee to consider the desirability ol continU"-
ing the exhibition of agriouUurai hortes, wiih iastructions Uk^-

3S4

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

confer with the various agricultural societies in the Midlands
ou the subject, aud to report. Mr.T. h\ ClieatlR, of Dosthill,
near Tamworth, was elected on the Couucil iu room of Mr. T.
Lloyd.

The prize list was revised. A limit of 4| years was put to
the age at which oxen can be shown, the three classes for the
principal breeds being — (1) for steers under thirty months
old, (2) for steers over thirty months aud under forty-two
mouths, (3) for steers and oxeu over forty-two months and
under fifiy-four months. There were a few minor alterations
in classes for sheep. New classes were o;jened to admit
VVelsh, Norfolk, and Suffolk polled cattle, the Susses breed
and Channel Island cattle ; and the regulations were amended
to prevent the winners of the Challenge Cup or £100 prizes
coming a second year to compete for these prizes. Mr. Geo.
Wise offers a £5 5s. cup for the best eight varieties, of twelve
tubers each, of potatoes, to include " Maguura Bouum ; ** aud
Mr. McKinlay 30s., 20s., and 10s. for the best, dish ot white
and the best dish of coloured potatoes.

The report of the Poultry Committee recommended a num-
ber of changes, the most important of which we have already
alluded to. The committee also suggested that 428. should be
the maximum price allowed in the selling class, instead of
40s. The report was adopted.

Communications have been received from the Mayor of
Birmingham (.^Id. Colling-^), offering a prize of £10 10s. for
the best Devon steer under three years old ; from the linen
and woollen drapers of Birmingham offering four special
prizes of £10 each for sheep at the next Christmas exhibition ;
Irom Mr. Newdegate, M.P., offering a £10 10s. prize for best
Longhorn in th9 hall; from Mr. Bromley-Uavenport, M.P.
offeriig a similar amount for the best Shorthorn ; from
Messrs. Sutton and Sons, offering fifteen auineas, in three
prizes, for roots ; from Messrs. Proctor and Ryland, offering
eleven guineas ; Messrs. Carter and Co., ten guineas ; Messrs.
Webb and Son, ten guineas ; Mr Ollley, medalist, five
guineas; Messrs. Billing, Son, and Co., thirteen guineas;
jlessrs. Maplel eck aud Lowe, five guineas ; Mr W. C. B. Cave,
five guineas ; Messrs. Morris and Griffin, six gumeas ; Mr. G.
C. Adkins, £5 ; Spratl's Patent Sood Company, ten guineas ;
Mr. Peter McKinlay, three guineas.

The date of the next show will be November 29th, and
December 1st, 2ad, 3rd, and 4th. Entries close far imple-
ments on October 18tii , and for slock and poultry on No vembe
lat.

Cihambi^t5 of ^gnciiltuit.

BANBURY CISTEICT.

A meeting of this Chamber of Agriculture was held on
May ]. Mr. J. Loveday was elected Chairman in place of
Mr. Ilisley, resigned

After a discussion on the County Boards Bill, Mr. West-
Over moved the following resolutions: — " That in the opinion
of this Chamber the County Boards Bill (as introduced by
Government) is calculated to increase the burdens of
the ratepayers without affording any corresponding relief.

" That no proposal for a county p.uthority can be acceptable
to ratepayers that does not furnish that authority with an ex-
tension of the power, given in the Highways Act ot 1S78, in
respect to locomotives, to issue graded licenses for all vehicles
used on main roads, so that thuse who wear the roads may
bear a.share of the cost of t leir repair.

"That a general county road fund be established into
which the tax on light carriages, as at present collected, might
legitimately be paid ; the proceeds also from all licenses on
locomotives and heavy vehicles, and all fines, &c., for breaches
of road bye-laws, should be applied as part of such county
road fund."

Mr. TnuRSBY seconded the resolutions, which were carried.

Mr. TiJURSBY then read a paper ou " The Depression in
Agriculture," and concluded by moving : — " Tiiat in the
opinion of this Chamber, the present depression of agricul-
ture has been caused b^ a course ol bad season?, heavy im-
portations of corn and cattle, increased burdens on land, the
high price of labour, aud tliat it would be well to press ou the

Government to institute a Royal Commission or Committee to
iu(iuire into the present depression of trade and ajiriculture,
and see if the policy of free trade is to the benefit ot the
country."

Mr. ScRlvEN, in seconding the resolution, said he did not
think, with their population, that it was possible to go back
to protection. Although they had free trade principles in
operation no other country was adopting them to any great
extent. He thought free trade was very much like the handle
of a jng, all on one side (laughter) — but although countries
with meagre populations might adopt protection, he did not
think we could. He thought that corn was at such a low
price they might have a nominal duty of threepence a hundred-
weight on all foreign corn, which no one would feel, and
which they might get towards the maintenance of the roads.
Mr. Thursby had alluded to their representation in Parlia-
ment, and he (Mr. Scriven) thought it would be a very good
thing if they sent more members to Parliament to represent
liie tenant farmers' interest. So (ar as he could see, they sent
landlords, and they, of course, saw to their own interests. It
was estimated that the landlord's capital in the laud was 2,000
millions, and the tenants' capital 400 millions (which he
believed to be over estimated ; Lord Beaconsfield had, how-
ever, put it 300 rail ions), and yet they had only three or four
representatives in the House and he looked upon Mr. Pell as
more a landlords' representative than a tenants'. But then a
very important question was, where could they find tenant
farmers who could afford to go to Parliament? In Warwick-
shire they had started a Tenant Parmeis' Association, and one
of their main o'^jects was to send a tenant farmer to represent
them. He only trusted he could see this matter take root
iu Oxfordshire and other districts. They often sent the
sons of noblemen to the House of Commons, somewhat as
apprentices, before taking the higher duties which devolved
upon them in the House of Lords. Some years ago they sent
Lord Spencer for South Northamptonshire, and lately they
sent Lord Burleigh, who was very ignorant upon some
things, who did not know what a county board was, and
who liad never heard of the Permissive Bill. (Laughter.) In
conclusion, Mr. Scriven said there was no doubt protection
would assist them, but Mr. Read had said protection was as
dead as Queen Anne— (laUijhter) — and Lord Jersey at Oxford
said tliat reciprocity was simply protection in a fancy dress.
From what Lord Ba^consfield and other leaders of their party
said it was very little use going in for protection. Toe only
thing that would give them relief would be considerably lower
renis, and this could only be brought about by the inexorable
law of supply and demand.

Mr. Westover, repljiug to a remark in the paper, said
that the farmer spent as lu&uy hours looking alter his farm as
the shopkeeper did in his shop, and he worked more hours
than the labourer.

Mr. G. LovEDAT asked if it would be worth while to use in
the resolutions the words " one-sided " free trade?

Mr. Scriven — It is one-sided certainly.

Mr. LovfDA.Y — Is it worth while to inquire into free trade
if protection is perfectly dead ?

Mr. GoLBY — I think tlie resolution should stand as it is. It
may probably have no effect upon Lord Beaconsfield at pre-
sent, but it may some other time. (Laughter.)

Mr. SCRIVEJV— It may "educate" him. (Renewed laugh-
ter.)

Mr. T. Garrett said there was not the slightest chance of
going back to protection, and he did not think the last clause
of the resolution should stand.

Mr. Loveday moved, aud Mr. Garrett seconded, that the
clause relating to the inquiry about free trade be omitted from
tlie resolution.

Mr. Dekciifield suggested they leave out the words " ore-
sided."

Mr. Anker seconded.

Mr. TiiURSBY said he would take" one-sided" out.

On Mr. Lovedaj's proposition being put to the meeting it
was lost by a large majority, and the resolution carried.

The Secretary read a letter he had received from the
Central Chamber witli regard to agricultural classes at South
Kensington.

The Chairman proposed a ^ote of thanks to Mr. Thursby
for his paper, which was seconded by Mr. Westover, aud
agreed to.

THE FARMEE'S MAGAZINE.

385,

After the meeting:, a number of the members of the Cli:iniber
as- mbL'd for llie purpose of preseuting a tesiimuidal to Mr.
E Scrivea, as an acknowledgment of tlie maimer in whicli lie
had discliarged the duties of honorary secretary of the
Cliamber.

CIRENCESTER.

This Chamber at its monthly meeting on April 28th,
brought to ft close a protracted debate, coiuinenoed at tlie pre-
Tious monthly meeting, on the proposition, " Is our free-trade
policy responsible for our present agricultural and comniercial
depression ?"' At the meeting on Mouday last, Mr. J. Snow-
sell moved, " That in the opinion of this Cliamber the time has
arrived when the Legislature should 8eri(}Hsly consider the
causes of the present agricultural, manufacturing, and commer-
cial depression, and especially whether that depression is attri-
butable to our free trade policy ; and lliat in the event; of any
return to import duties it would be just and expedient to
extend the same to agricultural produce." This was a modifi-
cation of a resolution previously introduced by the same mem-
ber. Mr. H. Ruck moved, as an amendment, " That to place
tlieBritish farmer on a moreeven competition with the foreigner
in growing wheat, aud as a preventative of much land going
out of cultivation, t\iis Chamber thinks that when wheat is
under an average of 56s, per quarter in this country a fixed
duty of 8». per quarter should be placed on all importations of
foreign wheat, and equivalent to such on all flour." After an
animated discussion the original resolution proposed by Mr.
Snowsell at a former meeting was carried.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE.

The monthly meeting of this body was held on April
19th, at Gloucester, the president (Mr. W. Friday) in the
chair.

A discussion took place on " The Causes of Agricultural
Depression."

Captain De Winto:n, J. P., proposed i—^
"That in the opinion of this Ctiamber the present depres-
sion of agriculture — principally caused by four bad seasons,
severe competition, and increased burdens on the laud — can
only be successfully met by the judicious employment of such
increased capital, both by landlords and tenants, as shall
stimulate the land to its higl est producing power of corn,
meat, and dairy produce ; and that for this desirable end the
attention of Parliament should be directed to the necessity of
doing away with the law of entail, as also of taking the
necessary steps towards rendering the sale and transfer of
land more simple and less expensive and dilatory than at
present."

He thought there was no doubt agriculturists were sulTering
under very great depression, and hs ci,uld not see a present
prospect of any great alleviation. When farmers of America
could deliver wheat into the market at Liverpool under 5s. a
bushel, he could hardly see, with present burdens on the land,
how English farmers could grow corn to a profit. It might
be taid there were other means of gaining a profit, that they
might lay their laud out for feeding grass, and buy store stock
from America. He had heard they could buy a good bullock
in Texas or some of the Western States for £t. He presumed
the cost of conveying it to an Eastern port in the United
States would be £.1 ; the freight to L'verpool would be about
£,i, and the b^ast could be delivered at Gloucester market at a
total cost of £10. Converting heavy plough land into grass
would be very expensive, as it would take many years to pro-
duce good feeding grass. A tenant could not be expected to
do it, and he therefore said he would encourage the introduc-
tion of more capital in farms. The law of entail was one of
the greatest causes of the landlord not putting more capital
on his laud. By it the dead hand stopped the living hand
from using capital to make a farm more paying. It his land
had been thus entailed what could he possibly have done, with
a family of ten children ? Knowing tUat the land would go to
h's eldest son, it would have beea his duty to save
every penny he could to give his other children a start in
lil'e, and would not have had a single farthing to spend on
drainage, buildings, or other agricultural improvements. He
was as fond of farming as any man in England, and if he
were beginuiug life dc uuvo would engage in it, but

not unless be could put £-30 on every acre he lield. With that
he thouglit he could even n 'W make tarming pay. Cantain
de Wnion quo'ed Mr. J. S. Mill's view of what rent should
be, and illuj-tratei it by the lollowing figures, withoul pledg-
ing him elt to the accuracy of the estimate : — lie used *,
capital of £20 per acre. He put the working outlay upoa
an acre of corn land (he was not dealing with the rotitious)
at £3 ; labour, at £1 10s.; rates and taxes, at 10». ; interest;
on capital at lU per cent., £2 ; total, £7. He put the liro-
duce at i(J bushels of wheat at 5s. per bushels, £10 ;, surplus,
£3, which he called rent. If, instead of the 40 bushels, the-,
return wa« only 28, he would maintain that the person using
the £20 per acre should pay no rent at all. But unless land
were thoroughly well dramed, aud with good buildings and
roads, a landlord would not get a tenant to employ a capital of
£20 an acre. He thought the holding of English land a
matter of very great responsibility. He believed the com-
munity had a right to ask owners whether ihey were using it
for the beuefi.t of the public. No doubt there were bad land-
lords and had tenants, and it would always be so. His defini-
tion of a good landlord was one who would the least make a
tenant feel he was not farming his own land, and of a good
tenant, one wlio farmed the land as if it were his own. He
wished half-a-dozen good landlords and as many good tenants
would meet in every county aud discuss (1) how to make the
law of distraint less inju.ious to the tenant, whilst it secured
to the landlord the payment of his rent ; and (2) how to give
the tenant full power of using his land and selling liis produce
exactly as he pleases, witliout interference by his landlord, and,
at the same time, without his farm being deteriorated.

Mr. G. A. DxMOCK said he would second the resolution for
the sake of promoting discussion.

Some other members having spoken, the discussion was ad-
journed.

The meeting then proceeded to consider the Rivers Conser~
vancy Bill.

Mt. Long complained first of uplands having to contribute
to the cost which would be incurrea, and secondly, of tenants
having to pay such rating at all. He moved : —

"That in the opinion of this Chamber all rates for the con»
servancy of rivers sliould be paid by owners of land.

Four voted for and iour against.

The President declined to vote, and declared the subject
adjourned.

STAFFORDSHIRE.

A general meetin of the members of the Sfaffordshira
Chamber of Agriculture was held on April 19, at Stafford, Mr^
R. W. Hanbury, MP., (president) in the chair.

Mr. T. Neville (Lichfield) introduced a discussion on the
general incidence of local taxation, and moved : —

" That in the opinion of this Ciiamber it is manifestly unjust
that the large sum now required for local rates should be
raised from one class of property only ; that in addition to the
cost o< the maintenance of the poor, new charges have been
thrown upon the Ijcal rates, such as education, turnpike
roads, police, and also the large sums required in some dis_
trie s for sanitary purposes ; that this Chamber again assert*
that no arrangement can be deemed a satisfactory settlemen'
of this question that does not so amend the basis of assessment
as to make all classes of income bear a fair proportion of loca
burdenf." J

Mr. John Darlington seconded the resolution.

The Rsv. E. C. J'erky (Sleigh lord) was of opinion that the-
resolution was njt sufficiently general in its character — that
the hinds of members of Parhameut ought to be entirely
unfettered in dealing with the question— and he therefore
moved as an amendment : —

"That the incidence of taxation imperatively demands the
early attention of Parliament ; and that no settlement of the
question can be satisfactory which does not embrace lunded
and other property, as well as laud and houses, as a basis of
taxation."

The amendment was seconded by Mr. W. Sampson
(Gnosall), but on a division it was negatived by 11 to 7.

Mr. R. H. Masfen (Pendeford) thereupon moved, and Mr.
C. R. Keeling (Congreve) seconded, a rider, to the effect : —

" That in order to secure the efficient and economical almin-
istration of local rates, it is desirable to provide for theii pay-
ment in equal parts by owners and occupiers."

3:6

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

This proposal was ripfpated Viy a considerable majority, aud
the rpsoluMim us orifjinally moved was adopted.

The Ciiaiuma:* opeued a (Ji>cussi(m on the hill introduced
by the Government for the establishment of County Boards.
Tlii^ bill, he remarked, not only differed in title from the bill
which Mr. Sclater-Rooth introduced last jeir, and under
which it was proposed to carry on the who'e administrative
work of the couutr), with the exception ot policp, but as a
matter of fact it was not a bill (or governing the county in
any sense at all.

On the motion of the R-v. E. C. Perry, seconded by Mr.
T. Neville, it was unamraoasly resolved : —

That tile partiiion ami)nif two governing bodies of the ad-
ministrative duties connected with one and the same connty
area is unsound in principle and calculated to impair the
etficiency ot both such bonip^,. and that the County Boards
33 II now before the House of Commons is unsatisfactory and
ought not to be passed into law.

SUNDERLAND.

The general quarterly meeting of the Sunderland Chamber
of Agriculture «as held on Saturday, Auril 19. In the absence
of the president (Mr. R. L. Pemheaon) through indisposition,
Jlr. Geo. Pawson occup td the chair.

Mr. George Burnet of Washington read a paper on '' The
Mechanism of Asjriculture." Ue said : —

Some apology is due Irom me in vettturing to appear before
you, but the kind and fla 'tering manner in which 1 have been
invited overpowered more prudential coasiderations. The ap-
)jlicaiion of power to tiie cultivation of the soil is one thing,
aad an UKiuiry into the source of that power — whether steam
power, horse power, or manual labour — is another. It must
also be borne in mind that there is an element to betaken into
account that differences the application of machinery to agri-
cul ure to that of nearly every other industry. Compared with
the mill or tlie forge — yo-i take tha sotton and corn to the
mill, the iron to tlie forge ; but you cannot take the land to
the macliiue. T!ie macliine must s£0 to tlie land ; so we have
liere an additional element of difficulty in the application of
machinery, hill and vale, bog land and clay, however tliey may
and to tlie beauty of the landscape, tax the invention of the
engineer. He built a locom tive in the early days of his
apprenticeship, bui ihe problem of the land has been hitherto
more ihau a match for all his matured skill. The size o;' the
fieM, I lie sliape, and even the position, are all matters fur
tlie cunsileration, aud interfere more or less with economical
Working, as we steadily work to the end of reducing friction
and ecouuaiisiiig power. As an illuB'.ration : Suppose you
h'Ve uneven, land, and you cult, vale by steam, you will fiud it
best to cultivate trom hill to hill, for your po«er being trans-
mitted by means of rope. If your engines aud windlasses were
iu the valie\s, tiie rope passing over the hills would scour
away, and tlie friction would increase the draught also.
Another vt-ry serious drawback is the short time in ihe year
tiiat auy machinery is netded. The n owing machines are
brought out, and a.ter a few days' activity are put away for
anollier season. Corn harvesting maciiiues we scarcely r^ quire
a month.. Preparing for wheat, and so.viug, and applying
manures requirn a different class of implements ; and wben we
cousider that some machines, take lor instance the steam
thrashing machine, will scarcely pay interest ou its purchase
for any individual farmer's use, pnollier element of difficulty is
added. The division ot labour is difScuit even at the first.
The use of tlie steam plough, the steam thrashing machine,
and corn drill fiy a class of men who make tlum their main
oscupalion (thereby giin more facility in tiie management of
those implements, aud are more varied in their resources in
oise of difficulty) comprises tlie chief attempts that have been
made witli much success iu this direction. Tlie element of
t action that the larnier has to take into consideration is an
important one ; it iuclades not only roads, but the land lie has
to travel over also. His implements or laacliiupry are neces-
sarily less complex, as the conditions under which they have
to work are more uiliicult. One of the first conditions tliere-
forOj I should say, is to have good roads, either for steam or
horse power, aud more of tliem ; altliou.;h I should be sorry to
rake a road where I might have laud instead ; yet to use land
for a road one year, and smash it up to sow a crop the next,
and so on alternately, I should say, is very poor economy. We
Want roi>d» to the further pjriions of our farms, aud so good
that tbcy will carry iu all weathers. The horbc is nut calcu-

'ated to pn!l a load when the cart wheels are up to (he ailes.
With a good road you do away to a great esttent with one
element of uncertaiuty and stoppage. You may rfo a certain
class of cartage in any weither. Roads ought to be straigiit
also, as the evenness of tbe ground will permit ; it i-horlens ilie
distance. You may tbiuk this s'a ement of mine unne-
cessary, but from Washioniiton to Penslier {2k miles as
the crow flies), you will drive 10 miles to reach it, as
there is no public brilgft over the Wear at this day from
Sunderland to Chester Bridge. From Washington to New-
castle you go considerahlv out of your way in order that
you may get over some hi Is. The way to Jarrotv shows uo
endeavour to shorten a straight fine. From Marsden Roika
to South Shields the roads are something ridiculous. We are
afraid of tbe foreigner, and think we shall be beat; we are
beaten. From the Arc de Triumph in Paris you see the roa'ls
pass into the city in straight lines, and away from the city in
straight lines into tiie country, and it. would appear that tiiey
know better than we the value of good roads lor developing
the resources ot the coi niry. Tlie Ainericms plan out tiieir
roads after survey and before they settle on the land ; hut the
reason for which many of our roads were formed are lost to a
great extent; they at any r te require fr-arranging as popula-
tion shif s. I' is too soon, perhaps, to specu ate on the
possibility of tramways for couneetiou between town and
country lor farm produce and manures, the haufing of matjures
on to the soil, and the produce therefrom, eitiier by that sys-
tem or some adaptation of wire-rope, or any other. The
prasent depressed condi'ion of agriculture will have done some
good if it thoroughly impresses laud owners aud tenant;
farmers with the necessity ot invention. Landloids lia»e their
rights, which 1 fully admit, and they have duties which are
equally binding. You have noticed the tendency of late years
for the farm-rs to have all their machinery of a portable de-
scription— portable engines, portable thrashing and finishing
michines. portable grinding mills — and how he avoids attach-
ments to the freeholds. The want of proper co-opi-ra ion
between landlord and tenant has altered the complexion of the-
machiuery brought on to tlie farm to some extent, but alter
all the larraer has work he cannot do that, in fact, only the
owner of the land can do. The qnes'ioa ot roads, of
drainage, of re arranging of the land, of permanent buildings,
are not work lor a teuaut under a six ininth^' or any other
notice. As soon as the depres^ion touches the landowner,
perhaps he will take a greater interest in the laud, as he has
a large stake iu it, so that improvements may take place at
an accelerated ratio. The importance of improved mecoanism
on the larm can scarcely b^ over estimated. How much is a
day labourer worth ? Spade in hand he is, say, a meclianic
at the top of his condition, digging and preparing laud for
oats, wheat, barley, aud turnips. Can you afford to give
him 30s. per week? can you give him 15s. ? is iie worth
7s. 6d. to you ? If you larm for these crops with manual
labour I am afraid no amount of industry will save you Iroin
ruin. It is a great stride from the ox ireading out the Cora
to the introduction of the hand-flail, still greater to the roller
thrashiug ra tcliine, and hstly we have the steam-engine at-
tached to the thrashintr maclii ^e, vf here we have dipensed with
the rollers for the drum-beater. The stroke of the beater is
oblique, but runs on thousand revolulions per minute, and by
the invent^ou ol a process lor raising a blast of wind, the ch iff
is driven out of the corn, and so we liave not now, as they did
ol old, to wait until the wind rises before they perform this
operation. The amount ol work done you are so familiar with
that you cease to be astonished. You do not take your com.
to the mill on tbe iiors<r's back, as our forefathers did, but
construct the best roads to reduce friction, invent the best of
carts aud waggons, and the horse hauls a toad that would
break his baek to stand under. Therefore the horse is
more valuable, and the driver is more valuable ai-o. The
labourer with the spade is the same individual that drivis-
tlie steam-plough engine, but we can iili'ord to give him more
money, as we consider he turns nioe work off his hand..
Railroads help the f'araiers by facilities aud cheapness of
carriage, not so much as we think they might do. Oi.r
orders may be numerous but small, or, at any rafe, lack
the sustained demands of a colliery company or the transit
to London of foreign cattle. There is a difference ot soils
for offering the least resistance to the passage of carts, im-
plements, machinery, and horses over its surface, owing
mainly to its contaiuiog more or less moisture. Wet land will
ouly permit work being done at rare iutcrvals; ou nalurallv

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THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

387

dry or well-<iraiued and cultivated land you may nearly find
cunst;iul employ raeut, Wlien laud is dry it carries, as we say.
Such I: nd has tiiany advantages over an undraiued wilderness
1-ke Poidou flatts. The whetl ha^e of carts, engines, and
machines are generally too narrow tor travelling over Itnd,
thouiih tliey bs wii'e enougn for roads. Our machinery, no
doubt, has received a wonderful development from the eucou-
ragtment given by the Royal and other agricultural societies ;
and an emiueut eugiaeering autliority lately spoke ol the higli
staudiird it had reached compared with any o^her. When the
power is tran-mi ted from the fly-wheel of the engine to the
hlieave of the tl.r ishing drum,, where the heaviest of the work
i-j done by nieans o the bf-l , it caunot fail to be tlie most
economical method of application. Our engine boilers are
lagiiued, to preunt radiation of heat; the cylinders steam-
jacketed, to prevmt coudensatiou of sti aui ; large fire-boxes
for ecoDumismg condensation luel, aud all parts strong
and proportioned. I do not tnink that we hhall easily im-
prove the steam | i)Uj;h^ sd far as the use of wire rope is con-
eerned, an engine to travel ou the laud, although we should
hive direct action and circular motion in the cnltivaiing
Biachine as the r.'Siih ; but it would limit the lirne available
lor the cultivation of the soil, as it would bs but seldom that
tlie luiid would be sulHcieutly dry, aud in many ca<es the land
would receive consicerable damage from the wheels of the
eiigites. No duubt circular motion is the desideratum (or
steam power, s ill, I expect we shall have to be content as W8
are with traction implements. An engine could not be ex-
pected to travel over the land to any secondary operation*,, such
as harrowing, rolling, reaping, s^owing, &c. Selt-raoviug en-
gines expend a great deal of power in sell- propulsion over the
land. Tl.e various systems of steam ploughin?, or cultivating,
I shall not enumerate. Mr.. Smith's of Woolston is the
8ini| L;st. Aportable engine and wiudhs*, some cIhws, anchors,
and snatch blocks, wire rope, rope porters, and cultivator.
With this he .-mashes up the 1 rods from year to year. And the
more you improve the system I suspect the worse it gets. The
addition ol anchors of a heavy character,, requiring more the
aid 01 horse?, and renders it altogether more cumbrous and
unweildy. Ttie other extreme is the double engine system.
Each enuine carries a winding drum,^ and is stationed at op-
posite sides of the fielf',. and pulls the implHments alternately
from one side ol the fi-id to the other. 1 think it best to have
engines nt.t less than from 12 o 14hiirse power, as the manure
libour is the same whatever the size. This necessarily in-
volves a heavy outlay, which is only jus'ifi.ble for u large
holding, or to eke out smiie return by hireing out in adililion
to one's work. The more I use tie steam plough the more
I am satisfiKd of its great utility. The work done is vtry
superior to horse labour, especially in usina the cultivator, as
there IS nothing suJi as the treading of the horses to undo the
work of the implement. Our ne ghboura sometimes complain
that their roads are cut up with the engines, and that they
plunge up the head lands. The best phn s to make rjads
where wanted, atid to repair them until they will carry an
engine, and then they will carry anything else, and remain in
repair for a lung time. It enables steam to do many operations
on the farm that could not veiy well otherrtise be dune,, as
the enginfs could not be moved about. I am inclined to mink
thit roads, wliirr.ver your engines are required to travrl, are
advisabie not only for that purpose, but for getting on manure
and lor gi-ttins (ff produce Irum the lields ; liaP the corapUints
as to netting off turnips in Iheautuain would by tiiis system be
r.-movtd. Some have a field a long way troin home, and it
wants mnnuring; the farmer is waiting for a spell of dry
Weather, or a lew days of frost (and it is very well it be can so
tike advantage of the elements), but he c^in get nei^her,^ and
lie niu»t be doin?, or lose the season. Wliat is to be done?
Where he might have a road lie must plunge for it. The
steam plough breaks up jour land in a few days, and makes
you independent of the season, and sets you at liberty. In
working tlie hor.-e, it should not be forgotten that he does best
when travelling with a load at one-half his ordinary walking
pace, therefore as much as ])0 sible the loail should be adapted
to the liorse, and not the horse to the load, and no doub', on
a careful revision of our farm implements aud machinery, some
improvements migiit be affected ; for instance, you want a
light roller to get over the ground ; you will gel over the
ground also if you have a wider roller, without going any
faster, and much to the advauta:;e of the horse. Our engines
run at various speeJf, per* -irs the tendency is to higher speed

(I do not attach much importance to this), for still the law
holds good tnat what we gain in speed we lose in power.
Walts' rule as to the speed of the piston was, I believe, iiO
feet per second. There is a limit even to the spe.-d
of steam. I have worked an- engine, and found an-
advantage by altering the posiiion of the eccentric
sheaves so that the slide was open be'"ore the crank shaft
was on the centre ; and I have seen a steam gnage connected
to the steam chest, and the fall ol the pressure was something
extraordinary on tlie first admission of the steam into the cy-
linder, and only gained its liigher pressure when it appeared
too late to be of service. 1 think this is som-thing ditr-rent
to the wire drawing of steam, and that the quicker an engine
rnns the sooner should the steam be admitted at the end of
each stroke, in order to obtain as high a pressure as possible at
the commencement of the descending str'ike of the piston. In
tliese years tanners are in a state of transition ; a great deal;
of macliinery has been imported on to the land, and llie-
workmen are only getting to be, accustomed to it ; yet, in many
parts ol the country, the steam plough is unknown, and t-ie-
scythe is still in full swing. In the construction of the reaping-
machine, we have not yet. arrived at circular motion iu the-
cutting apparatus, nor will we be able to do so so long as we
use or adopt the rid^e aud furrow system in our fielJs ; on
drained and deeply cultivated.soils it is not only unnece>sary
but opposed to the teaching of science. It must be a wet
field, indeed, where the water will accumulate in quantities to
forma stream to run off the hnd by the furrows; but it may
be easy to gather enough water into the furrows to stagnate
and destroy the crop. Our farms, as a rule seen to be sutS-
cientty drained when we have a coal mine at work undernetth,
at least such is my experience for the drainage of pomN, and
if ponds are drained away I cannot see why the land should
not be drained also. It is a common expressun to siyof"
drains that they draw "well or ill," but in reality it is thn
pressure of the water within the porous soil and the force of
gravity that carries it downwards into the drain or wherever
it finds an outlet. Our reaping aud mowing machinery is
very much improved of hte years. S;ill tr.ey seem to"gft
quickly out of r'-pair and appear heavy to drive. I shoull
say it would be advisable to do away wi h the over-neck
crank and have a beari^ig ou each side of the crank of the con-
necting rod. The machine is very good when it is nsw ; but
in a shorter time than you would expect it informs peiple a ar-
off what is the matter. The increa i'lg difliculty of the knite
being driven ; then the connecting-rod breaks, or the knife,
or soinettiing else; and fading these things, the horses tire.
At this day we have machinery for doing the most laborious
work of the farm ; we sow grass seeds wi'h the drill, cut the
grass with the machine, rake and hay with the horse-rake
load the pikei ou to bogies and haul tbe:u to the stack, and'
then elevate the hay by horse power. The heaviest work of'
the farm we cau do by steam — that is the cultivation of the
soil. We can sow by steam also ; audi can see no'hmg to
prevent us from reapimr by steam also, providing it will pay?
for so doing. The binding is next to be considered, and if we
have a machine or two for binding (in addition to reapio'.').
I have not seen it at work, but expect it will be sufficieut for
four horses. Well, if this machine were nearly as wi le again,
aiid strengthened considerably, and ni-ade to work with the'
wire rope, perhaps the engine might condescend to take a pull
at it. We thrash by steam, and we do a great deal of work
by steam that was formerly done by horse-power ; and we do a
great deal by liorse-power that was formerly done by manual'
labour. As long as coal is to be found under prohibuiou
prices, no doubt it will be increasingly used us a motive
power. When our stores of coal are exhausted, the great
genius will return once more to tiie iudividual man for a new
departure.

It is long ago since the spade was put into the hands of
man as his tool 'or cultivating the soil. The man himself caa
do all variety of work under tlie most difficult circumstances,
but this work would be worth less than it was fifty or i
hundred years ago, taking the price of a quarter of wheat aud
the labourer's wages at ttie two periods, and laud wuu.d go
out of cullivation unless prices altered. Machinery in its
results is therefore liiglily advantageous to society aud ame-
liorates the condition of the agricultural labourer. It enables
the farmer to pay him more for his services than he could
0 herwise afford ; hence the introduction of machinery is of

388

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

most advantage to those who work with their hands. We
kuow Pot the limits of ;his ainelioralioii.

The p»ck horse carried the whole of his load,but the friction
oa a g'jod road is only a 1-ith part of it with a well constructed
veliicle. On the railway a siraiu of lOUi. is siillLieut, we are
told, to sustnin the motion of a ton weifjht oq the level, which
is only the 1.224 part of the load. The mechauical action of n;-
tural forces comes ia to assist the farmer, the rain saturates the
soil, and frosts coine and the water in the soil is frozen which
(occupying a large space that it did before) splits the soil and
divides it more finely than can be done wiih any machinery.
Tlie action of the ploU|{h is very imperfect ; tiie overturned
furrow slice would present 'he same appearance below as it
does on the top, it \l were visible, but the law ot gravitation
steps iu and carries the particles of soil downwards to solidity
from the furrow slice, and thus disintegrates the soil ; indeed
sometimes a crop is lost from this cause when the plongiiing
lias been late and the crop has been sown it sometimes loses
roothold by the soil failing away, ilence when yuu have land
to sow it is a good rule to plough early, or if not so ploughed
to use the cultivator or grub harrow in addition, which also
disintegrates the soil and renders the seed bed more secure.
The farm buildings should be placed in the centre of the farm
i— compare the expenses of management of a field near the
homesteod with that of one a mile and a half away, in cartage
— where one costs perhaps a pound an acre the other will cost
three, without taking into account the multifarious operations
to be done on the land ; there is a rent lost in the ditlVrence of
cost in cartage alone. Village farms often suffer very much
from this disadvausage. The turnip houses should also be
placed centrally a iiongst the stock to be fed. Tramwass are
sometimes in use for this (the heaviest material in stock feed-
ing) by which Ubour is much economised. Cartmea should
be able to deliver the turnips into the houses without any
impediment. Litter, hay, and meal claim your attention also
for convenient storage. Shelter in many cases is equivalent to
food, and buildings, constructed to keep up a certain tempera-
ture in the cold weather of winter will either save a certain
amount of food or cause stock to fatten more rapidly with the
same quantity. Many farmers are heavily handicapped in
these respects ; and il the landlord suspects that his tenant has
enough to do, it is a judicious return of rent to increase the
value of the farm by these improvements ; but it migiit be in-
judicious to burthen himwiihthe cartage of building materials.
Or if he wished to maintain his rent when the land is too dear,
I might mention that half-inch or ground bones on an old
pasture partake largely of the character of a permanent im-
provement. The introduction of traction engines on highways,
like the introduction of the locomoive itself, bas,met with a
certain amount of opposition. Laws which would be amusing
if tiiey were not so annoying, require to be carried into effect,
or their non-observance visited with penalties ; frequently, no
doubt, from complaints made to policemen who are only too
faith ul to their duties. Even yet we are not free of the roads
that we ourselves pay the largest sums to ma,iutain, and bye-
laws may come into effect that might possibly amount to prac
tical prohibition, or at any rate to prevent further developmen-
in this direction, I suppose the Corporation of JNewcastle is
typical of many other large towns in maintaining the tho-
rough toll. You may travel miles over miles into the country
without charge. Eitherthe urban populationshojvlittleurbanity,
or the inliabitants of rural districts are very generous. Perhaps
the inhabitants of towns are right, and we shouli take rare
that foreign produce is not brought to our doors to
undersell us by maintainiugroads for it at our, expense. In ray
opinion agricultural shows iu general have been too partial i n
the encouragement of stock, and have to some extent neglected
the implement and machinery department. The remedy, I
think, would be to encourage large makers by a liberal prize
occasionally. The reut ot land is a large factor in the progress
of agriculture. Some say the rent ought not to be too low.
I am equally certain it sl'ould not be too high. Mr. Jacob
Wilson told us, I think, that we grow nearly twice as much
per acre as they do in France, and yet land near Paris is let
at £50 per acre. It would appear our rents must be rather
low. We were not told whether it grew corn, or vegetables,
or grapes, or anything else. Perhaps it was let for building
sites. I have seen laud rented for more than that for building
purposes. Iu a more extended sense the nicclninism of agri-
euliure comprises all natural forces. The action of rain and

the sun, frost and flood, and the air disintegrates the roolca
and carries the particles away to the valley beneaih. The
resultant chemical aciion of carbonic acid and oxygen, mois'ure
and heat, appears a mure sublle torce, dissolv ng the rocks oq
vvliuh the moss grows, the soil also upon which the plants
feed, an. I the manure, which is a finer kind of soil, in its re-
sistless menstruum. Like the careful physician, who endea-
vours to assist nature iu combatting disease, the agriculturist
labours to assist niture in htr op rations, and puts the land
in the best available cjndition to reap the advantages of the
summer's suu and the wintei's frost, and plans his ro ation to
nourish the crops and destroy the weeds. If the land is too
moist he puts a tajj into it in the shape of a drain, and wherv
he has made the best of the soil he can he will grow what
suits it best ; lor although ihe plant has power to draw what
t wants and reject whai it does not want, yet it cannot get
what is not there, and that which is there might be suitable
for other crops. Climatic conditions are to be considered
a!>o. It is best always to take advantage of all natural forces —
to cart your manures iu the Irost and make hay while the sun-
shines. If you work your laud when it is too wet or too dry
you may labour without profit. Ou looking backwards, we
easily perceive that the laborious work of the agriculturist has-
disappeared to a certain extent, and yet we are still only on
the threshold of new invention. We will still require more
Watts, and Stephensous, and Davys, and Arkwrighls, and
I'owlers in agriculture.

A TEN THOUSAND-DOLLAR DA.UGaTER.— On a
certain cay, on a Pennsylvania railroad, a belle ot a thriving
Pennsylvania town, the daughter of a rich lumber merchant,,
was travelling in the same car with a shrewd old citizen of
her native town and an agreeable young gentleman from the
West, who tells the story. The latter had been talking to the
belle, hat as uiiiht drew on and the young lady grew drowsy,,
he gave up his seat to her, and placed himself b.^side tlie
somewhat cynical Peunsylvanian. The latter besan conversa-
tion by poin'iiig to a high mountain, past which they were
whirling, and said — " You see that mountain ? Six or eight
years ago it was covered by as fiue a forest as ever grew, and
worth 10,000 dols. and upwards. Now, without a tree,,
covered with stumps, the land is scarcely worth a continental.
The net produce ot mat mountain lies over there in that seat,"
and he pointed to the recumbent belle ; " that is my calcula-
tion. It has just absorbed all of that lumber which her father
owned, to raise and educate the girl, pay lor her clothes and
jewellery, bring her out in society, and maintain her there.
Some of you young men if you were given your choice betweea
the mountain yonder as it now stands, and the net produce on
that seat, would take the net produce ; but as for me, give me
the stumps."

BURNHAM BEECHES.— A correspondent of the JToM
writts: "I enclose an auuouncement of the sale of Burnhaia
Beeciies. Dropmore, I have heard will be sold to the Duke
of Westminster. Its trees are its only attraction, and they
have not received the care which Lady Grenviilej used to be-
stow npou them ; soit isvery likely that the place will improve
in the hands of the Grosvenors. But Burnhara Beeches in
building lots ou^ht to bring tears to the eyes of all those who
have ever had the pleasure of living within reach of their
picturesque forms and pleasant shade. Tiie poet G.-ay cal'ed
them his own, because there was nobody about to dispute his
right to them. Mrs. Grote wandered amongst them on her
wliite pony, whilst Jenny Lind warbled to her; and Chorley
and Miss Miiford managed to get lost amongst them, Chorley
ending his alternoon by sitting, tired out, on the top of a five-
barred gate waiting for a cliauce fly. Then the picnics, the
children's teas, the nooks and corners for artists ! Poor old
Davis what would he have said ? Burnham Beeches made a
fiue background for liim and the Queen's. Can nothing be
done to save such a lovely spot from literally going to the
devil ? Picture to yourself ' Lot 20 : so many acres, con-
taipiug the Elephant Tree with pretty view, well adapted for
the erection of a substantial villa residence ; gravel ; plentiful
supply of water ; historical associations ; valuable timber'!

NEWSVENDORS' BENEVOLENT AND PROVIDENT
INSTITU ITON.— Mr. W. L. Tlioma'*, managing director of
the (Iraphk, will pfe&ide at the festival, to be held on the 7llv
of June, at Willis's lloouis, St. James's.

<L

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

389

GAME.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MARK LANE EXPRESS.

Sir,— Week after week every joarn.il thron^hout
country recounts at length the sayings, doings, and reso-
lutions arrived at by th'; Central and various local Ch;ira-
bers of Atrriculture ; but it is somev>'h;»t surprising that,
beyond the publicity given to tliese cogitations, little or
no relief appears to be experienced by the members
beyond that personal satisfaction vviiich men always feel
when indignant at some " grievance" they have been
able to vent their pent up vials of wrath, by eloquently
dilating thereon. It is true that a stray M.P. is occa-
sionally pouncea upon and talked at till he is fain to get
on his legs and compliment the assembly on the discreet,
calm, and practical manner in which the subject under
discussion has been handled, somewhat facetiously adding,
perhaps that, whilst he "cannot support the views oisnino
of the speakers" he is "quite sure others have stated a
good case, and therefore, can confidently promise them
to give the matter his mature consideration. "

Does it never strike these intelligent bodies that that
mature consideration is about all they may expect, that
the time spent in these discussions is little better than
wasted ? I make this introductory remark because there
appears to linger in the minds of some of your corres-
pondent a belief that amongst the " upper classes" those
can be found who, having time and leisure at command,
are better able to represent the interests of tenant-farmers
in Parliament thau men chosea from this latter particu-
lar body.

Let me aslr : What would be said of a man v/ho sowed
good seed on a rock, or on a rich " lay'' uutilled and un-
fitted to receive the grain ? However useful the rock may
be to man, it does not usually bear heavy crops of corn.
However thick the lay may be, its very luxuriance would
soon strangle the growth of the seed, even if it were
allowed to germinate in its midst. Yet is this not being
done when " grievances" are sown broadcast amongst
men who either cannot understand, or allow other and to
them primal considerations to efface the necessity of
giving relief from their minds ?

However, to proceed with the subject of my present
letter, that of Game — one which T approach with diffi-
dence, because although the tenant has a very great deal
to complain of, we must not lose sight of the claims of
the landlord. I firmly believe that nothing would be
more detrimental to the country than the abolition of the
Game-laws and the substitution of a more stringent law of
trespass, though the latter, on behalf of the tenant might,
in these free-and-easy days be a little more strict than it
is. I equally decline to subscribe to the wish to deprive
the owner of the soil of the winged game for the beuefit
of the occupier, because the birds are sometimes found on
the ground , but there is not one plea save that of uncom-
promising selfishness to favour the withdrawal from the
occupier the right to destroy the hares and rabbits which
are depredators of the first order, give very little sport to
the landlord, hut are mostly advantageous to the game-
keeper, that bctc iiolr of the farmer, who, seldom very civil,
sometimes particularly insolent, and generally exa^perat-
ing, mostly breeds illwill between his master and the
tenant. The idea put forward that if ground game were
destroyed by the occupier, it would soon disappear from
the face cf the earth is simply ridiculous, and the contrary
holds where liberal landlords have granted the right to
kill.

Farmers are, as a general rule, fond of sport, and
heartily sympathise with a true sportsman. "Whilst there-
fore they would complacently permit a little damage in
return for the pleasure of knocking the ground game over
themselves, or occasionally helping their landlords to do

so, they with reason dislike speing during a summer'a
evening their turnip crop, just struggling against, many
odds into existence, destroyed by rabbits, which improve
the condition of the gnmekeeper, who remorselessly treads
down fences, lets out cattle, and is, with no small reason,
accused of being a virulent vulpecide, and as such an ua-
coinpromising enemy to that right English, manly sport,
which, although not indulged in by your humble servant,
he would be heartily loth to see denied to those who do.

The over preservation of game is a national loss whether
indulged in by the millionaire, whose sole idea of good
sport is the " battue," by the absentee's agent, whose
sporting proclivities are insatiable, and whose conscience
is conspicuous by its absence, or by foreigners settling here
and apeing English ideal manners and customs, who like
a certain great Eastern potentate can afford to allow
thousands of acres of fair cultivateable land to remain
without tenants rather than part with " shooting rights."

The interests of the landlord and teuant are in reality
now, and will be more so in the future, bound up to-
gether; education, the more scientific system of farming
and capital required have tended to place them On aa
equal footing, and the death knell is happily sounding the
departure of that class of men, who, having iuherited or
acquired land, are too proud or too much afraid of losing
their "position in society" to till it themselves, even if
they possessed the requisite skill and capital, yet are too
needy or too greedy to let it at a fair rent to those who
are content to be a little outside the world of fashion, to
earn an honest but isolated living, and to lay by a little for
seasons of depression. Such landholders are" seldom too
proud to use subterfuge to obtain tenants who will give
rents utterly out of all proportion to the value of" the
land ; their position as gentlemen gives their wordy pro-
mises a value to their dupes the law holds worthless, and
it is not until after a bitter trial these deluded ones leara
their simple but honest faith has been imposed upon, and
well is it for them if they escape with no other loss* It
is with such gentlemen that restrictions with regard to
game are in such particular favour. Plenty of amuse-
ment to their friend in the field balances at times a lack
of it at home, and gives " position" in the county, whilst it
sometimes is used as an extra, although unjustifiable,
source of income.

It is a fallacy to suppose that any satisfaction can be
had oilt of any stipulation in an agreement to keep dowtt
game or give compensation. The difficulty of estimating
the damage is so great, is sometimes so unfair to the
landlord and at others so inadequate to satisfy the tenant
that invariably it produces an unpleasant feeling betwesa
the two, whilst neither is satisfied. Where there is no
such agreement, but a tacit or verbal understanding that
the groucd-game should be kept down within reasonable
limits, however desirous the owner may be that this
somewhat vague promise should be faithfully adhered toj
it seldom is so. You may be desired to report any excess,
and your letters may be immediately attended to ; but
what would that man be considered— what sort of a life
would he lead were he to be constantly bothering his
landlord with complaints, however justly founded, con-
tingent on the sudden and unexpected fecundity of
rabbits in various parts of the farm ? I fear thai the rela-
tions between all parties concerned would soon cease to
be amicable.

Look at it in any light you please, there appears to be
no question but that the ground-game, not being artifici-
ally fed by the landlord, but living chiefly if not solely

* This is no ideal picture. I know of one landlord who
has ruined no less than four consecutive tenants in one of his
fHnns not a hundred miles from this city. These poor people
can have by law no redress for excessive game damage.

m

The FARMER'S MAGAZIHEJ

on, and bein? desfrucfive to, growing: crops belonging to
the teiiaut, without any redceinintc qualilicdtiou a» in the
case of winged game, which feuds as much on insect pests
as on corn, 'should belong to the holder and cnllivalorof
the soil. To go further, it should be absolutely illegal to
permit those rights to be contracted away except under
regulations which would make the recovery of any d.image
as easy as a common debt, together witli all cost of pro-
cedure which may have been forced on the tenant to prove
his case.

It may be said that by such au arrangement the onus
of prool of nou-ex stence nf damage would be thrown on
the landlord, that his " rights" would be as utterly disre-
garded as those of the tenant are at the present time, and
that the pleasures of residence being removed he would
Beck abroad a more congenial atmosphere in which to
spend his surplus cash. I very much doubt if justice
between man and man will ever have so disastrous an
elfect, and if it did whether the nation, or even the
locality would greatly miss so selfish a being, whilst such
a change in the law would confirm the propriety of action
of every far-seeing and libtrally-minded landholder
throughout the county, it would act as a wholesome check
on the excesses of thjse who, whilst they hold the
position of owners of the soil forget the duties and
sympathy they owe to those whom fo;tune has not so
highly favoured. I am, Sir, ""

Will Watch.

IVmchester, April 30.

VARIOUS NOTES.

The Ontario Globe of the 4th inst. published the fo'lcw-
'iiig article : —

The concluding volume of the census gives some very
interesting statistics relative to the progress and condition
-of Canadian agriculture. Commencing with the enume-
ration of the farmers themselves, we find that in the
twenty years between 1851 and 1871 their numbers have
neailv" trebled iu Ontario, and more than doubled in the
four Provinces to which the census relates. The figures

follow : —

1851. 18-71.

Ontario 86,637 228,708

■Quebec 78 437 100,641

■I^'ew Brunswick 18,601 40.394

Jiova Scotia 31,604 4y,70y

215,217 47'J.512
The ratio of the agricultural to the whole population in
■Ontario and (.^^uebec also increased, that is, during those
two decades we were becomint: more and more an agricul-
tural people. In every 1,000 of the pouulatiou there
belunsed to the farming classes: —

1851. 1861. 1871.

Ontario 351,5 394 9 493 5

(^n.bec 386.1 433.4 470 8

hew BrnuswiCi — 497 6 467.0

Nova Scotia — 533.8 419.3

The four Provinces 737 6 459.8 474.9

In 1871 the occupiers of laud in the four Provinces are
numbered as follows : —

Total Em-

Occupiers. Owners. Tenants, ploy's

Ontario 172,258 141,212 27.34() 706

Quebec 118,086 109,059 7,S9o 1,132

New Brunswick ... 31,202 29,059 2,034 109
Wovaricolia 46,316 43,830 2,31.4 1/2

367,862 326,100 39,853 2,119

Their farms, it will be seen from the nest table, iire
two-thirds of them, of less extent than one hundred acres
each : —

NUMBER OF OCCUPIERS OP

Under 10 a?res 50 acres 100 acres O^er

to 50. to 100. to 200. 200 aci-

38.882

22,379

6,415

11,201

10 acrs.

Ontario 19,954

Quebec 10,510

N.Brunsw'k. 2,609
Nova Scotia. 7,148

71,864

33 984

7 574

4t,4l0

30,891

9,896

11,8S8

6,900

3,330

13,138

10,401

4,428

40,281 78,877 141,800 82,176 25,228

The totfil number of acres occupied is 36,046,410, of
which 16,161,676 are in Ontario ; the number of acres
improved 17, -336, 288, in Ontario 8,833 626. Under crop
there were 11,821,216, of which 6,537,438 were in
Ontario ; in pasture 5,240,399, and in orchards and gar-
dens 274.073, of which 2,089,177 and 207,011 respec-
tively were in Ontario.

Comparing these figures with former censuses, they
would seem to prove that iu the I'rovince of Quebec the
small holders are disappearing. Where there were 14,477
holders of under 10 ai-res iu 1851 there were but 6,822
iu 1861, and 10,510 in 1871; a variation, which
perhaps indicates careless enumeration. The number of
acres, occupied in Ontario has increassd from 9,828,655
in 1851, and 13,354,8^6 in 18S1, to 16,161.676 iu 187I-.
The acrei improved, which bore iu 1851 the ratio of one
to every three occupied, now bear the ratio one to every
two acres occup.itd, the proportion being the same in
Quebec as in Ontario.

For every one of the population there were in Ontario
of lands occu])ied, 9. 97 acres ; lands improved, 545 acres;
under crop, 4.03 acres ; in pa'.fure, 1.28 acres ; in
orchards, 0.13 acres. Quebec had for every inhabitant
9 25 acres occupied ; 4.78 acres improved. New Bruns*
wick had 13.90 acres occupied and 4.10 improved; Nova
Scotia 12 97 acres occupied and 4.19 improved. The
four Prov.uces had for every inhabitant 10 34 acres occu-
pied, 4.97 improved, 3.39 in crop, 1 53 in pasture, and
0.08 iu orchard and garden. For each family there were
57 88 acres occupied and 27 83 acres improved. The
laud so occupied represents 'Zi.S per cent, of the then
total area of Ontario, 9>1 per cent, of the area of Quebec,
22 per cent, of New Brunswick, 37 5 per cent, ot Nova
Scotia, and 16.6 per cent, of the whole four Provinces.

We learn that we had in the four Provinces 573 648
ploughs and harrows, which is 11.6 to every 1,000 acres
owned; 44,204 reapers and mowers, 0.9 to every 1,000
acres owned — the ratio, though, being 1.09 to the 1,000
acres in Ontario ; C3,003 horse-rakes ; 30,735 threshing
mills, 0 6 t) the 1,000 acres : 167,964 fanning mills, 3.4
to the 1.000 acres-^6.2 to the 1,000 acres iu Ontario.

Of horses aud colts there were 836,743, of which
489.001 were in Ontario. This was 301.7 to every 1,000
of the population in Ontario, aud 240 to the 1,000 in ihe
four Provinces ; 24 9 per 1,000 acres owned iu Ontario
and 16.9 per 1,000 acres in the four Provinces.

Horned stock counts up 2,624,290 head, of which
1,103,174 were in Outaiio. This was 8()5.7 head per
1,000 of the population in Ontario, and 752.7 per 1,000
of the four Provinces. For every 1,000 acres of land
owned there were 71.5 head of horned stock in Ontario
and 531 in the four Provinces. Of sheep there were
3,155,509, of which 1,519,914 were in Ontario, being in
the proportion of 77 3 sheep to the 1,000 acres owned iu
Outario, aud 63.9 per 1,000 acres in the f.ur Provinces.
Of swino there were 1,366,083 — in Ontario 871,661,
being 27 7 per 1,000 acres owned in the four Provinces,
aud 41.6 per 1,000 acres ovv ned in Ontario.

When corapaied with the number of acres of improved

THE FARMERS MAGAZINE

391

lanil, which is the renl lest of our wtalth, the fiirures are
as follows. The ratio borne to every 1 ,000 acres of im-
proved lauds by eacli of the animals aud articles meutioued
was : —

On-
tario.

Horses 417

Colts and liliies.., 13 6
Working oxen ... 5.4

Jlilch cows . 72 3

Oihercaltle 81.1

Sheep 171.5

Srtiiie D'J.O

Que-
bec.
34 4
10 0
8.5
71.3
57. 6

176.7
65.1

New
Bruns-
wick.

81.0
7.2
9.5

71.0

59.2
200 1

56 2

Four
Nova Pro-
Scotia, viiices.

25.8 37-1

47
19.8
75.4
732
244 8
33 3

11.2
80
72.2
71.0
182.0
78.8

There is abundant food for reflection in this table. It
appears from it that tiie average number of live stock on
the ICO-acre farm of Ontario is : — Horses, 5 ; cattle of all
kind.«, 16 ; sheep, 17 ; <ind swine, 10. It cannot be pre-
tended that this is anythintc like the amount of live stock
which our fertile lands should carry.

The following table, taken from a trade circnlar pub-
lished by Messrs. H. W. Hill and Co., Decatur, Illinois
{of pig-ring celebrity), shows the number of horses and
mules, cattle, sheep, aud pigs in each state of the
Union : —

State.

Horses

and
Mules.

Cattle.

Sheep.

Pigs.

213900

251100

288000

55000

51500

23900

34000

2145tl0

1229500

731900

775500

26-i9ijO

498300

157600

81700

1I9S00

132300

319100

221100

1933 )!■

794800

125900

12600

57100

129000

9020011

) 97700

792001)

105100

61021^0

16200

10790(

4292011

8S5i)00

75900

23580U

119900

371000

114000

580000
577200

1390300
420000
221900
55200
579400
678'jOO

1962-700

1196000

1686600
800500
712000
387010
361600
221900
261000
765300
538800
528U0O

1581100

298800

61000

216600

232910

2100400
650000

1174200
278800

1530700

3r,900

320000

698200

4008300
31.82C0
671700
371300
963700
750000

270001

285000

6561000

600000

92500

35000

56500

38:300

1258500

109 2700

560000

156600

900000

125000

525800

151200

60300

1750000

300000

250000

1271000

62400

72000

239900

128300

1518100

490O0O

3783000

1074600

1607600

24500

175000

850000

3>i74700

461400

422000

549900

1323700

260000U

952300

Arkansas

1010300
438500

Colorado

125^0
59500

47600

1 90000

Georgia

1586900

2900000

2422500

29500110

431700

K''DtU[ky

1950000
351)000

63200

MiTjland

Massacliiisats

259600

78600

556100

18000.)

1284100

2585600

255700

10800

New Himp-shire

42900
154100

New York

975000

Nortli Carolina

Olio

1180000
2250000

19S100

Pf-nn-ylvaii!4

Rhode Island

Sou;h Carolina

93 7200

18100

450000

19O0'i0O

Texas

V rnio'.it

1716700

54i00

Virginia

759200

W.-st Virginia

Wisc.insiu

2S1500
635300

The Territories

105000

The United States ..

11967200

30523400

35740500

32262500

Tue luial uuijiOer ol larm auuuals lu me Liuued Stales
in January, 187S, was thus officially estimated at
110,493,600.

Our Canadian correspondent writes under date of
April 16 : — I see that somebody who, as usual in Cana-
dian matters, is " witliout prejudice," aud " has no interest
of any kind to serve," has been wrestling in your paper
with a column or two of figures from the Dominion
Census tables. As he has apparently been under the
notion that in so doing he was answering statements
made by me re Canadian export cattle capabilities, he is
to be commiserated for bis exertions. I agree with hi. a
it is a mistake — I would use a stronger term myself — to
" decry Canada' without, rhyme or reason, but he would
be at a loss to 8ho^v where or when I have done so in
your columns or elsewhere. This gpntl.^inau, who has no
interest to serve (in common with all his guileless fra-
ternity), may call exposing fraudulent misstateme.its
" decrying Cauida," but that is talk for the marines.
Your correspondent seems to have written under the
notion that when I said this colony could not se'id more
than 5 000 beasts a year to England, I signified thit was
the whole surplus not consumed here. And so he parades
a lot of figures to show that in 1871 there were some
millions of horned cattle in the Dominion. No doubt.
If he could pror-eed to prove, as he seems to wish us to
imply, that these were suitable for the British market,
his figures would be worth something. But if he will
look over my letters again, he will find that all my
statements have referred to beasts ^< /or t:he British co)t^
sumcr, of which I re[)eat our supply is small, the native
animal being useless for the Fnglish market, as it is tough
and tasteless, and, as I said recently, severely let alone by
exporters. The absurd position in which " Without
Prejudice" is placed by his own figures is obvious. He
computes that Canada has 250,000 surplus cattle every
year reared and fattened " for anv outside market."
What, then, does the Toronto Qlobe mean by saying a
20 per cent, duty on American beasts will kill off the
" Canadian" export trade with Britain ? What do the
3Iail and Monetary Times mean when they SHy " three
out of every four beasts' sent to Britain from Canada are
bought in the Western States? What does Mr. Britton,
the extensive Toronto dealer, mean when he writes to the
Mail that dealers are compelled to buy in the States
because " a sufficiency of suitable beasts cannot be bad ia
Canada?" According to the British Trade Returns^
Canada only sent about 18,000 beasts to F^ngland last
year (those bmriht in the Slates included). Snbtrai't
18,000 from 250,000, and you have a surplus of 232 000*
Add the surplus of 1877( and here are nearly half a
million beasts waiting for export. And yet the stoppage
of the A.merican supjily, says the Globe, will be death to
the " Canadian" export business. In fact, " without
liberty to draw on the herds of the American pl;iin«,
Canadian exporters cannot carry on their trade."
Nothing more is required to show the fallacy of your
disinterested corre^ipoiident's tigures and deductions.
What do Toronto dealers want to buy in the States
for with 250,000 surplus stock annually hungering for
a market ? Your correspondent says there is not " now ''
one native born States man in the Canadian export trade.
This may be true; I have heard immediately after the
embargo was put on the American beasts, some of the
Toronto Export Companies were dissolved. I have not had
time to inquire yet, and it is a point of minor importance.
Canadian immigration promoters are so apt at mystifica-
tion that one has to attend carefully to their phraseology.
The "now" of "Without Prejudice" looks rather
dubious. The number of cattle sent to the " States "front
Canada in 1873 and 1874 may be 74 thousand, or 74
million for all it has to do wnth the number sent to
" England " last year. The beasts sent to Albany and
other markets are not of the grade suitable for England.
Because 74,000 native animals went to the States ia

B02

TH2 FARMER'S MAGAZINlS.

1)^73 and lS7t. tTi^roforp, lie arjrnes, 32,115 went to
Brit;iin in 1878. The arijiunpnt is not convincing, an I I
pav again without hesitation this colony did not, and in-
deed conld not send 32,115 snitable beasts to your
side in 1S78. That surplus is not in the country
in the first place, and in the second the British trade
returns put down the number at 18,000. Now, as I have
shown on various occasions, at least two thirds of the
Canadian exports came from the States, which leaves the
real Canadian total at abo'it 5,000, the very figures I
jjave. The Dominion Trade and Navigation Returns
iust issued are also cruelly subversive of the fables we have
had. From .Tune, 1877 to June, 1878, the Canadian export
to England is set down at 6,902 beasts. Canada also
sent 17,857 beasts (of an inferior grade) to Albany and
other American markets, and imported 5,1^6 for home
consumption, leaving a balance of 12,451. One more
fact and I dismiss " Without Prejudice." The new tariff
has doubled the import duty on American beeves. Your
Correspondent's theories and figures will find that rather
rough.

The exodus from the provinces of Ontario and Quebec
of farmers and others with their families, is continuing at
a prodigious rate, in fact it is surprising. Query : Why
are all these farmers levanting from a conntry which
Mr. Bvrne holds np in the Loudon Globe as a paradise
of hope for British agriculturists.

The following official notice has been issued by the
Argentine Republic in relation to immigrations for Buenos
■Ayres : —

Immigrants, on arrival, are landed at the expense of
Government, and boarded and lodged free for five days,
assisted to pass the Custom House, aff'orded every in-
formation to enable them to find employment, and finally
sent free to wherever they elect to settle. All this is done
hy National Government employes who speak al) lan-
guages, the emigrant being free to take or reject any
advice given to him ; so that all intending emigrants can
come to the Argentine Republic with perfect confidence,
although they may have no relatives here, as they will
meet, in f 11 quarters of the Republic, public employes
specially bound to watch over them till they learn the
•customs of the conntry.

The wages during the harvest, which lasts four mouths,
are from 30 to 45 hard dollar^? (£6 to £8) per month,
With board and lodging (the hard dollar is worth five
francs in French money).

The best time for farmers, agricultural labourers, in-
deed for all emigrants to arrive here, is frowi October to
January. Farmers with a capital of from £80 to £120
sterling may come at any season of the year. No country
in the world offers greater advantages to the farmer and
stock breeder. The climate is temperate and healthy ;
land is cheap and fertile aud can be worked all the year
round, as snow is unknown. There are immense tracts
of pasture land, and boundless forests ; every kind of stock
can be had at lower prices than in any other country ;
there are numerous trunk railway Hues, deep rivers,
almost daily communication with Europe, institutions
similar to those of the United States, and even more
liberal for foreigners, who can acquire land in fee without
sacrificing their nationality.

There "is no difficulty or delay in obtaining land at 2s.
6d. ^er acre, pay^ible in ten years without interest, and
each familv may purchase from 65 to 1,000 acres. The
first hundred families in each settlement will receive 250
acres gratis. Each of the thirteen Provinces of the Re-
public has passed special laws for the donation or sale of
*' chacra" (small farm) lots near the towns, which can be
purchased at equally moderate prices, aud are given gratis

in some provinces. In the colnnii^s (settlements) already
established families of agricultural labourers who work
hard can easily obtain land and advances from the pro-
prietors, who have more land than they can cultivate.

Price of stock. — Horned cattle for breeding £1 lOs.
per head. Sheep, 33. 6d. per head. Mares, lis. per
head.

For further information apply at this office, No. 215,
25, de Mayo Street.

John Dillon,
Comm. Gen. for Immigration.

CAN PLEQRO-PNEUMONIA BE COM-
MUNICATED BY MEDIATE CON-
TAGION ?

In the recent issue of the Journal of ih'- Hoyil Agricullural
Socei'j an interesting report is published relative to the
inquiries which have been undertaken by Dr. Burdon Sander-
son, at the Brown Institute, for the purpose of elucidating
certain obscure points in the pathology of pleuro-pneumonia.

It will be within the recollection of our readers that at the
time of the commencement of the investigation, which was
conducted under the auspices of the P.,oyal Agricultural
Society, we pointed out that the main point in dispute was the
cominunicability of pleuro-pneumonia otherwise than by asso-
ciation with a diseased animal. The literature of the disease,
English and Continental, the forra-r mainly a more or less
exact transcript of the latter, contains many vague general
allusions to the extension of the affection by the agency of
various products of diseased anirails, portions of lungs, hides^
manure, urine, and fodder, which has been contaminated with
the excreta from sick cattle. Failing to discover in these
allegations anything more than the mere oaicorae of that
sy^teJl of repetition which appears to be a necessiry part of
the art of making books, we appealed to our observations
whicli are coextensive with the existence of pleuro pneumonia
ia this kingdom ; and we did not on this basis hesitate to state
our conviction that the disease differs from other known con*
tagia, in the circumstance that it cannot be propaga'ed by
means of the morbid products, as foot-and-mouth disease,
sheep-pox, glanders, and farcy, for example, can be with
absolute certainty.

At the beginning of the inquiry it was proposed to obtain
authority from the Privy Council to move diseased animals to
the Brown Institute for observation ; we pointed out, however,
that this coarse would vitiate the results of tlie principal
experiments, and it was agreed that a certain number of healthy
animals should be kept sufficiently long so insure that they
were free from previous infection, and then an effirt should be
made to induce pleuro-pneumnnia by any means short of con-
tact with a diseased anirail. We nee;i not lollow tlie course
of the experiments which are described in detail by Mr. Duguid ;
it is enough to say that the results were negalive as they were
in similar experiments which were made many years ago in our
own investigations.

A second object was kept in view by the Agricultural Society
— the testing of the value of inocuhtion as a preventive of the
natural attack. In this respect Dr. Burdon Sanderson's experi-
ments tre favourable, but he admits that they h^ve not been
sufficiently extensive to justify any sweeping conclusion, and he
suggests that further inquiry is necessary in this direction to
complete the investigation, which he regrets waj prematurely
arrested by the recent legislation.

The fact is that under present circumstances, healthy animals
cannot be moved into an infected place, but it must be remem-
bered that an infected place includes a large number of cattle
which are free from disease, but are necessarily shut up for at
least fifty-six diys. Undersuch circnmitances it would ■■i))pear
that every facilitly is oiTered for testing the value of inoculation
on a large scale, and if tlie plan of operation which Dr. Burdon
Sanderson advocates, that of venous injection, he as free from
risk as it has been in his aud Mr. Dugnid's hands, tiie v ilue of
the alleged preventive mi^ht be elfecLually tested without cost
or danger, — Vetcriuuriait,

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

393

IS HIGHER FARMING A REMEDY FOR LOWER PRICES?

No. I.

Oa Saturday, May 3rd, Mr. J. B. Lawes, of Rotham-
sted, delivered the following lecture before the East
Berwickshire Agricultural Association : —

Til ere can be no donbt . ia the minds of all present that
British Agriculture is passing through a crisis of unusual
severity. The complaints wliich farmers are accused of
making, eren in the best of ti'nes, spring from very
diflFerent causes from those which we now hear of around
us. Bad seasons, following each other in close succession,
in a manner quite unusual even in the uncertain climate of
these islands, have seriously reduced the produce of the land.
Immense importations of corn have deprived the farmer of
the higher prices wliich would otherwise have compensated
him for his diminished crops. He pays a higher price for
labour, Irequputly without any corresponding increase in its
efficiency. Lastly, disetses amons stock, the dread of future
disease from imported animals, aod the influence of impor-
tations of live stock and dead meat upon prices, present
and prospective, have greatly increased his difficulties. For
the moment his energies are paralysed, and he is led to
enquire ivhat he is to do next ?

It need hardly be said that, under these circumstances
advice is not wanting. In fact, it is so abundantly off.-rpd>
and is of such various kinds, that you must have some diffi-
culty in selecting that which is most applicable to your own
case. You are told to farm more scientifically, to meet lower
prices by increasi d production, or to put a stop to music in
your family circle! These are specimens of the numerous
remedies proposed to enable vou to meet the difficulties
which at present surround you, and stiU to carry on your
farming operations with a proftt,

^It will doubtless be some comfort to you, i'" I say at the
commencement of my address, that I do not propose to arid
myself to the list of your advisers. I possess no speci.lc
against the combined effects of bad seasons, cheap corn,
dear labour, and cheapening meat. You will gather from the
title of my paper that my ohject is raiher to assist you in
examining into the applicability of one of the pieces of ad-
vice frequently offered to you ; namely, that you should meet
lower prices by increased production.

No one will deny that a great deal of the land of the
country is badly farmed, or that it would be more prifitable
to raise more produce upon it. To what extent sucli is the
case in Berwickshire I am unable to say, A reference to
the Agricultural Statistics will, however, give us some idea
of the general character of the cultivation of the county.
I find thaf, in 1878, it comprised 193,623 acres of arable
and pasture land, exclusive of heath or mountain land, and
that this area was under different crops, as loUows :-—

Per Cent.

Grain and pulse corps, 33

Green crops (excluding clover and grass), . . .18
Permanent grass, clover, &e., in rotation, for hay, . Si-
Do. Do, Do. not for hay, . . 43|

100

Thus, scarcely one-third is devoted to the growth of corn
crops; and even if all the corn and potatoes grown, and all
the hay raa'ie, were sold off the farm, the produce of scarcely
40 acres in etery 100 would be sold, leaving 60 for consump-
tion by 8to;k 'or the production of meat and manure, the
latter to be retained op the land. But we know how wide
of the truth it is to assume that all the hay and oats grown
are sold ; and we have at the same time to bear in mind,
that the straw grown oa the 33 per cent, of land which is

devoted to corn, will for the most part be retained on the
farm. If, in addition to th^se facts, we were to take into
account the cattle foods and manures purchased and brought
on to the land, I think we should have abundant evidence
that Berwickshire is, upon the whole, a highly farmed
county ; and if a certain proportion is badly farmed, we
may conclude that the remainder ia iu a high'state of culti-
vation.

It is to those in this county who do already farm highly
that my remarks are chiefly applicable ; but they will apply
also to high farming generally, wherever it may be practised.
No one, I suppose, can doubt that the soils of this country
are capable of producing very much more wheat and meat
than they do at present, if not, indeed, all that is required
to support ths population. If imports of these articles
were prohibited, or a heavy du*y imposed upon them, there
is no doubt that a much higher system of farming would be
profitable than at present prevails. In such a case, however,
our dependence on the produce of foreign soils would not be
lessened. The increased production of wheat and meat here
supposed could only ba attained by increased imports of
cattle foods and manures. The countries which now supply
us with wheat and meat wou'd supply instead such products
as they were permitted to sell to us. Our dependence on
the foreigner would therefore be equally great ; the only
difference would be that it would be for otiier commodities
than at present.

Our subject is not, however, what should be done if whrat
and meat were to advance in price; but whether a higher
standard of farming can be recommended to compensate for
a reduction in price. To put the mitter plainly :— Supposing
there ss^ere a permanent reduction in the price of the saleable
produce of the farm to the extent of 20 per cent., would the
proper remedy be to increase our produce per acre by one-
fourth, and so to bring up the saleable value to the same
amount as belore?

There cau be bet little difference of opinion as to what is
to be understood by the terra " high farming." ]t is cer-
tainly not hinh farming that produces the wheat which is
now selling ar so low a price in our markets. When wa
read in the Uuited States papers that in one year 20,000,000
acres of land had been purchased for cultivation, and that
within ten years 10,000,000 acres had been added to tie
area under wheat alone, it will be at once understood that It
is what is called extensive as distinguished (rom intensive,
or high farming, that has yielded the supplies we receive.
Nor can there be any doubt as to one main cause at least,
of the present depression. Farming on the four-course
system, consuming each alternate crop on the farm, and in
addition to this, converting all the straw of the corn crsps
into manure, but without the use of purchased foods or
manures, would not constitute high farming.

High farming is a very different process. It implies tha
importation of material from without. All soils are cipable
of yielding more or less annually from their own substance
to the produce which grows upon them. But, the greater
the amount of cattle-food and manure purchased and brought
upon the land— that is, the higher tlie farming— the less
will the soil itself contribute to the crops. Indeed, in m^ny
cases, it contributes nothing at all, but becomes richer by the
process. Under such circumstances, the soil may be said to
serve raainly as a reservoir for the manures applied, and for
the necessary moisture, and to afford support to the growing
plants ; so that, with the aid of tlie sun's ravs, they may be
enabled to acrjumlate carbon (and other constituents) from
the a*'uosphere, They thus, eo to speak, manufacture raw
material supplied from external sources. Under such coa-

E E

394

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

ditions agricuKure is a manufacture, depentling on the pro-
ducts of other soils (and on tlie atmosphere) (or its raw
material, just as much as do the manu''actures of woo', cotton,
and silk depend oa external sources lor their material.

Adopting the foregoing description of high farming, we
have next to inquire wiiether those who already practise it
siiould cany it out still further, as a means of compensation
lor a lower standard of prices of corn and meat ?

Before any answer can be given to this question, it will be
necessary cartiuily to consider what are the various sources,
tile cU'ects, and the cast of manures.

Many of the charges connected with farming are much the
laiue whatever may be the value of the crops grown. Of
course, luirvestios a large crop of corn costs soitethiug more
lor labour than harvesting a small one, and the expenses on
a heavy crop of roots will also be somewhat more than on a
liglit one. Still, it may be said that, with the exception of
liie extra cost of tiie manure required to grow the larger
crop, the charges remain very much the same wlieiher the
amount, and the value, of the produce be great or small. If
therefore, the increase in the produce bore a constant pro-
portion to the increase in the amount, and consequently the,
eobt, of the mmure applied— if, in fact, the application o?
two or three times as much manure yielded twice or three
as mrch increase of crop— then higher farming would be a
rciii.dy for lower prices. But such is not the case. It may,
it is true, be said that, as the produce increases, the propor-
tion of the fixed expenses to be charged upon a given amount
ol it dim'ni.'-hes, thus tending to compensate for the less pro-
ductiveness of a given amount of manure the greater the
quantity of it applied. But a verj little consideration of ihe
facts I propose to bring before you would show that, with
increased production beyond a certain limit, the cost of the
manure lor a gi/en amount of iucrease increases very
much more rapidly than the proportion of the fixed expenses
diminishes.

Nowhere are tlie extremes of farming better illustrated, and
nowhere can they be better studied, than in the results of the
field experiiiieuts at Bothamsted. Nowhere else are various
crops grown for a great many years in succession, in some
cases without any manure at all, so s.s to tax the capability of
the soil itself to the utmost, and in others with very liberal
supplies, either of farmyard manure or of artificial manures,
so as to enrich, as much as possible. So liberal, inded, has
been the application of farmyard manure in some of the ex-
periments, that a critic, who apparently did not quite under-
stand their object, was reported in the North British Agricul-
lurist to have said that we seemed to have a spite against
frmyard manure, as he considered that much smaller appli
c.tious would have produced as much effect,

I propose now to ca'l your attention to some of the field
experiments in question, the results of which will prove tliat,
beyond a certain limit, the increase of crop is not in propor-
tion to the i'lcrease in the amount of manure applied. In
other words, that the hij;her you farm beyond a certain limit,
the less is the amount of increase you obtain for a ^iven
amount of manure, and, therefore, the greater the cost of
that increase. If this be the case, it is obvious that the cost
of manure is a very important subject for consideration.

It is frequently assumed that the manure made by feeding
stock costs nothing ; that by skilful and judicious manage-
ment, the cost of the food, and the otlier expenses, will be
covered by the value of the meat produced and sold ; and
that, this being so, the manure is obtained gratis. I shail,
therefore, occupy a portion of the time at my disposal in
illustration of the fact that the food of an animal will, as a
ufule, cost more than the me-it produced will sell for ; and
that, consequently, the cost of the food, and the other ueces
sary expenses, can only be recovered by charging a portion
to the manure.

To commence with the field experiments. I shall first call
your attention to si'Uie of the results of some experiments
on an ordinary rotation of crops, which are now in tiie

them is in reality very simple ; thoneh, from their number,
it will require a little attention fully to comprehend the plan.

EXPERIME^'TS ON ROTATION.

The ordinary four-course rotation of turnips, barley, clover,
or beans, and wheat, has been ad' pted ; and the eighth
crop of wheat, that is to say, the last crop of the eighth
course, is now growing. In the first course, a large crop of
clover, which was mown three times, was obtained. In the
second and third coursep, red clover was again sown, but
it failed each time, and beans were then put in instead.
Beans were also grown in the fourth, filth, sixth, and eighth
courses ; but in the seventh, red clover was again tried, and
it grew successfully, again yielding three cuttings. We
have had, therefore, eight crops of roots, eight of barley,
six of 1 pans, two of red clover, and seven of wheat ; the
eighth of this last crop being now growin^r.

Such being the course of cropping, I will now explain the
system adopted as to manure.

Oue-third of the land has been kept entirely without
manure throughout the whole period of the experiments.

One-third has received mineral superphospliate of lime
alone, every fourth year, that is for the root crops.

The other third has received, also, every fourth yrar only,
that is for the roots commencint; each course, a very liberal
artificial mixture, composed as follows : *

Per Acre.
Lb.

Rape cake 2,0U0

Sulphate ammonia ... ... ... 100

Muriate ammonia ... ... .. 100

Sulphate of potass ... ... ... 300

Sulphate of Soda 2U0

Sulphate of Magnesia ... ... 100

Superphosphate of lime ... ... 350

This mixture I shall speak of as the Complex Manure.

Next as to the treatment of the crops : —

Each of the three portions, so differently treated as to
manure, has been divided into two experiments. From one
half, the whole of the produce, roots and tops, corn aa I straw
and clover has been removed. On the other half of each, the
only difference has been that the roots were fed on the land by
sheep having no other food, aud the tops were also left on the
land.

We have, therefore, three experiraents in which the whole
of the produce has been carried away for thirty-one years ia
succession ; on one without any manure having been applied ;
on another with mineral superphosphate of lime alone applied
to the roots, that is every fourth year ; and on the third with
a very heavy artificial manuring, also for the roots only. We
have also three exactly parallel expiriments with the roots fed
upon the land by sheep instead of being carted away.

I may mention that there is another series of six experi-
ments, corresponding in everv respect with those the results
of winch are (liven in the Tables, with the exception that
bare fallow, instead of either beans or clover, has been taken
between tne barley and the wheat in each course since the
first, when clover was taken. I do not propose to refer to this
last set of experiments on tlie present occasion, as to do so
would lead me away from my subject ; but I may observe that
the comparison between a rotation with clover or beans, aud
one with bare fallow, presents many points of interest.

I will now call attention to the results obtained in these
Rotation Experiments. In Table 1. is given the produce of
roots, of corn, and of clover hay, and to this I shall confine
my remarks. But, for the inforniation of those who may wish
to study the subject further, there are given in Table II. the
amounts of the *' Swede-tops" and of the straw also.

* For the fir.st cour.«o, only 1000 lb. rape cake instead of
20ro lb., as always afterwards were applied. In the first
and second courses less superphosphate, and m the fli'st

thirtj-secoDd year o( their progress. The arrangement of course less potass, and no soda or magnesia, was used

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

S95

TABLE I.

EXPEETMENTS ON FoUR COURSE ROTATION, A.T ROTHAM-
STED.

Summary : — Average Produce of Roots, Corn, and Clover
llaj ; Eiglit Courses, 18iS.i879.

Roots -Swedes, 7 crops; ISiS, ISoi
'56, '60, 'Hi, ('68 tailed), '72, "iH.

Unmaaurtd coutiuuously

Superpliosphatp, for Uoots only

Complex Manure, for Roots ouly

Barley Gkain, 8 crops; 1849, 1853,
1857, 1861, 1SG5, 1869, 1873, 1877.

Unraauured continuously

Superphosphate, for Roots only

Complex Manure, for Roots only

Bean Corn, 6 cropi ; 185 f, 1858, 1832
1866, lo7", 1878.

Unraannred couiinuou^ly

Superphosphate, lor Roots only

Complex Manure, lor Roots only

Clover, 1850 and 1874. (Calculated a;
H.y.)

Unmanured, continuously

Superphosphate, for Roots
only

1850,
187i,

Mean...

1850
1874.

Complex Manure,
Roots only

for

Mean..

1850

1874

Mean..
1851, 1855

Wheat Grain, 7 cmps

lSb9, 1863, 1867, 1871, 1875

Unmanured, continuously

Superpho>pnate, for Roots only

Complex Manure, for Roots only ..

Roots

Carted.

Ton,".
H

n

I'ii

Bushels,
35

28i
411

Roots
Ted.

Tons.
li

H
IH

Busbels.
3li|
2yi
46*

Bushels.

Bushels.

m

12

12i-

m

21i

241

Cwts.

Cwts.

51

49 1

31|

28

42 f

38|

57i

bH

bU

62i

55

blk

63

6i|

84i

■ 87

73|

741

Bushels.

Bushels.

30

26

291-

321

33i

33i

TABLE II.
Experiments on 1'our-course Rotation, at Rotham-

STED.

Summary; — Average Produce ol Swede-Tops and of Straw
E'ghi Course?, 18)8-1879.

Roots
Carted.

Riots
Eed.

SwEDE-ToPS, 7 crops ; 1848, 1852, 1856.
1860, 1864, (1868 failed), 1872, 1876.

Tons.
i

2 l-6lh

Cwt«.

15i
23

Cwts.
9|

IH

Cwts.

28
29
35|

Tons.

i
li

2 l-6ih

Barley Straw, 8 crops; 1849, 1853

^ 1^57, 1861, 1865, 1869, 1873, 1877.

Unmanured, continuously

Cwts.
171

22?

28f

Bean Straw, 6 crops ; 1854, 1858, 1862.

1866, 1870, 1878.
Unmanured, continuously

Cwts.
9?

Superphospliate, for Roots only

13?

Complex Manure, for Roots only

Wheat Straw, 7 crops ; 1851, 1855,

1859, 1863, 1867, 1871, 1875.
Unmanured, contiuuously

Cwts.
•2bi:

Superphosphate, for Roots only

32J
35 g-

Complex Manure, for Roots only

In the upper division of Table I you have the average pro-
duce of roou per co'irse, over seven courses (one failing),
under eacli of the three conditions as to manure, and holh ou
the carted and on the fed portions of the hind. Yuu will
observe that, without manure, there was practically no crop
of roots at all. The Swedes which grew did not represent the
cultivated root you are accustomed to see, eitlier in size, form,
or coinpotition. IMineral superpliosphaie of lime, alone, in-
creased the crop considerably, giving an average of between 7
and 8 tons of roots. The cuni])lex manure gave an average of
6 tons more, raising the crop to about 13 tons, Yuu will
observe tliat, under neither condition as to manuriufr, was
there any material difference in the succeeding crop of roots
grown on the portion fioiu which they had previously been
carted, as compared with that on which they had always been
fed. it is to be concluded, therefore, that the manure left on
the laud by the sheep, was either taken up by the intermediate
crops, lost by drainage, or remained in the land in a condition
not available for tlie next crop of roots.

Tliere being practically no crop of roots to carry away from
the unmanured land, anU as liitle to be fed on the land, we
should naturaily expect scarcely any difference in the amounts
of the crops subsequently grown on the two portions of un-
manured land. We find, however, a considerable difference,
there being an average ol more than four bushels of barley in
favour of The- portion from which the roots are carted, as
compared witli that on which they are ted. It is quite cer-
tain that this anomalou.s result is not due to any want of care
in the conduct of t' e experiments, [t may, I think, safely be
attributed to a slight but unfortunate difference in the charac-
ter of the land. In the present state of our knowledge oa
such suljeets, considerable caution is necessary in attempting
to trace a cuuuection between the fertility o! a soil and its
composition as shown by analysis. Still, I may mention that,
at two periods, with an interval of seven years between,
samples of the fiist 9 inche.", the second 9 inches, and the
third 9 inches, or a total depth of 27 inches, have been taken
from each of the sspirate plots of land ; and, on each occasion
an ilysis has shown a marked superiority in the land from
which the roots are carted, and which has yielded the largest
crops of botli b;(rley aud wheat ; and the superiority is more
marked in the second and third than in the top 9 inches of
soil.

You will doubtless notice with some surprise that so much
birley was grown on land in a condition incapable of growing
even a moderate crop of roots. From 4 to 4i- quarters of
barley is probably as much as the average yield of that crop
in Great Britain. Oa tliis point it should be borne in mind,
that as nothin;; was removed in tiie preceding root crop, the
land via", to all intents and purpose", tallowed for tlie barley.
It will be seen, further on, however, that the wheat crop
growing in tins perniauen'ly unmanured rotation, also ap-
proached very closely to the average yield of tha crop over
the country at large.

Upon the land raanurtdwith mineral superphosphate for
the Swedes, i he removal of about 8 tons of roots (and the tops)
has reduced the produce of barley to 28^ bushels, or to nearly
3 bushels less than the lowest unmanured produce ; whilst the
consumption of the Swedes on the land has raised the produce
to nearly 40 bushels. The exhaustion of the soil by the re-
moval ot the roots is thus equal to the loss of more than 11 J
bushels of barley.

Turning to tlie complex manure plots, it will be seen that,
although from the portion Irom which the roots were carted a
much larger quantity was removed than from tlie correspond-
ing portion ol the superphosphate plots, still the crop of barley
was very much greater. It was, in fact, about 132" bushels
more than wliere the super) iiospliate roots were removed, aud
even from 1 to 2 bushels mure than where the superphosphate
roots were consumed upon the land.

The explaohtien of this is not far to seek. The superphos-
phate su[ plied no ni;rogpn, but it euhbled tte root crop to
gatiier up a quantity already accumulated within the soil
itfelt. 'Ihe available stock wiihin the soil of this important
substance was so fiir drawn upon by the removal ol the 8 tons
of roots, a-d their tops, that tlie succeeding crop of barley wa^
much reduced. In tlie rape-cake and ammonia salts of tlie
complex mai ure, on the other hand, from 130 to 1401b, of
nitrogen were supplied, and this is very much more than was
removed in the 13 tons o' roots grown by it. Ihere was,
therefore, a considerable retidae of that supplied in the manura

E £ ;!

396

THE PARMER'S MAGAZINE.

available for the succeeding barley crop, which was, accord-
iugly, raised to 41| bushels.

The consumptioa on Uie land of the Swedes grown by the
complex manure has added only about 5^ bushels more.
Nevertheless, it is certain that by far tiie larger proportiou ot
the nitrogen, and other constitueuts, derived from the soil by
a crop of roots, is returned to it wheu they are consumed by
animals on tlie land ; whilst, of those constituents which are
derived by the plant from the atmosphere, by far the larger
proportion is returned to llie atmosphere by the auimals.

It is obvious that, in this experiment, where the highly
manured roots were fed ou the laud, compared \Tith that where
the> were drawn off, we have, so far as the succeeding barley
is concerned, an instance of high farming, without a corre-
sponding return in tlie amount oi produce.

Turning to the lean crops, it v.'ill be observed that, both on
tl\e uumaliured and tlie superphosphat_e plots, they are very
eraali. On the uumanured plots there is practically no differ-
ence between where the roots had been carted and where they
had been fed. On the superphosphate plot the crop of beans
was rather higher where the roots had been fed. On the com-
plex manure plots the crop of beans was considerably higher ;
being about 22 bushels where the roots had been carted, and
about 24i- bushels where they had been fed. This is rather
more thaii double the amount obtained without manure. The
difference, or 12 bushels, is, therefore, due to the residue of
the manures left, after the removal of the barley.

The difference in the amounts of produce of the two crops
of clover is exceedingly interesting. Between 1850, when the
first, and ISH, when the second crop of clover was taken, six
■crops of wheat, six crops of barley, and five crops of beans had
bei removed Irom the whole of the plots, and from one-half
of them live crops of roots in addition.

Ou the un manured plots about 1 ton less hay was grown
■ per acre in 187-1< thau 24 years previously. Ou the super-
phosphate plots the second clover crop was slightly lower than
the first where the roots (as well as all the other intermediate
crops) had been removed ; but it was in a greater degree
higher where the roots had been consumed on the laud. It ia
remarkable tha*, although the intermediate crops removed
considerably more nitrogen, and also more of other constituents,
from the s'lperpho^phate than from the nnraanured plots, the
superphosphate plots should still vield a much higher crop of
clover at the second period. I am disposed to think that this
is due, in psrt at least, to the gypsum contained in the super-
phosphate, but probably partly also to the reactions of the
superphosphate in liberating other constituents within the soil.
On the complex manure plots the clover crop of the first
course was considerably higher than that on either of the other
plots, and the later crop, that of 1874; was about 1 ton more
than the earlier one, on both the carted and the f°d portious.
Comparing the highest crop with the complex manure with
the lowest without manure, there is a difference of nearly 3
tons more clover hay where the land was in the much higher
condition. Since tiie commencement of the experiments there
had beeu seven, and since the previous clover crop in 1850
there had been six, applications of the complex manure ; and
although a large proportion of the nitrogen supplied in it is
accounted for in the increase of produce removed, a large
amount still lemained unaccounted for. It is seen, therefore,
that an important effect of the red clover is to gather up the
residue of minure which none of the other crops in the rota-
tion were able to do. It is considered a great desideratum to
grow red clover as frequently as possible ; hut it is obvious
that the crops rau.4 be small, or fail altogether, if it be attempted
to grow it when there is uut asullicient accumulated residue of
tiie proper manurial constituents available within the soil.

In the lowest division of the Table the average produce of
t'.ip seven wheat crops is given. You will observe that there
is exactly the sniue diifereuce between the produce of the two
nnmaiiured portions as in the case of the barley, namely, 4
bushels ; and that the lowest amount is again where the roots
were fed on the land. This result affords further continuation
of the supponition that there was a difference in the character
of tlie soil of the two plots. The average produce of the two
-unmanired plots is 28 bushels of wheat, and it was 33 bushels
of barley. Thus, we have the remarkable fac% as already
alluded to, that upon land entirely unmanured for 31 years the
crops of barley and of wheat growu in tlie rotation liave very
nearly corresponded with tlie average yield of those crops in
the United Kingdom,

As you may perhaps imagine that the soil must be natarsHy
a very fertile one, I have brought a section of it for your
inspection.

The crops of wheat on the superphosphate and on the com-
plex manure plots do not differ very much. Tney are higiier
where the superphosphate roots were fed than where they were
carted ; and they are rather higher still on both the complex
manure plots, but identical en the two plots so manured, from
one of which the roots were carted, whilst on the other thej
were fed.

I think you will agree with me in thinking that the result
of this high farming, where the highly manured roots were fed
upon the land, is somewhat disappointing ; and that to farm
still higlier, as prices fall, would be a mistake.

I have long ago satisfied myself that the four-course rota-
tion, and the feeding of roots upon the laiid, or even the growth
of turnips at all, is quite unsuitable ou the soil and with the
climate of Rothamsted. We have learnt much respecting the
action of manures, the requirements of different crops, and the
influence of climate upon tliera, during the many years of the
progress of our field experiments, and among other things, that
we can gather up much more of the manure applied by means
of a mangel than of a turnip crop.

EXPERIMENTS WITH EARMYARD MANURi;.

I will now bring before you some experiments in which
farmyard manure has Leen applied many years in successioa
to different crops. When you are urged to farm higher, the
meaning is that you should put more dung upon your land.
Consequently it is of great importance to ascertain, with as
much accuracy as possible, the effects of the application of
large quantities of dung.

In Table III. is given the produce of wheat, grain and straw,
and of birley, grain and straw, by the application of 14 tons
of farmyard manure per acre per annum. In the upper divi-
sion ot the Table the results obtained with wheat, and in the
lower those obtained with barley, are recorded. The experi-
ments on wheat have now been continued lor 35 years, and
the average produce per acre per annum is given for the first
8 years, the next 9 years, tlie next 9 years, and the last 9
years. The experiments on barley have been continued lor
27 years, and the results are given for the three periods of 9
years each, corresponding with tiie last three periods in the
case ol the wlieat.

TABLE III.
Produce of Wheat and or Barley, by 14 toj(S Farm-
yard Manure per acre, every Year.

Average per acre
per annum.

Dressed.
Corn.

Straw.

Wheat, year after year, on the same land —

35 years, 1841-1878.
First Period, 8 years, 1844-1851

bushels.
28

sn

37i
31

44

52
49J

cwts.

2fif
34§

Second Perio'l, 9 years, 1852-1800

Third Period, 9 years, 1861-1869

29J

Foarth Period, 9 years, 1870-1878

Barley, year after year on the same land —

27 years, 1852-1878.
First Period, 9 years, 1852-18<iO

26

Second Period, 9 years, lS()l-l8i>9

30f

Third Period, 9 years, 1870-1878

29|

lleferring first to the wheat, you will observe that the
average produce of the first 8 years is the lowest, that of the
next 9 years is higher, that of the third period is higher still,
and that of the last 9 years again considerably lower ; being
only about 3 bushels more thau over the first period, about 3
bushels less than over the second, and 6 bushels less than over
the third period.

It is quite obvious from this result, that the produce was
not at all in proportiou to the acouiuulatiou of manure in the
land. When the soil was analysed a few years ago, it was
found that the first 9 inches in depth was nearly twice as rich
in nitrogen as that of any of the artificially manured plots,
yielding as much, or even more, produce. There can be no
doubt that, whilst there is a general tendency to increase in
produce as the result of this great accuinulntion of manure in
the soil, the fluctur.tionB are greatly depeadent on the charac-

I

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

397

ters of the seasons. Thus, the third period, which gives the
iiighest produce, included some very productive j ears, whilst
the i'ourtli period included a number of bad seasous, the ad-
verse influence of which, the constantly iucrcH^inir accumula-
tion of manure within the soil only very partially obviated.
It will be observed, too, that the amount of straw, the excess
of which is a sure sign of excess of manure and over luxuri-
ance, upon tiie whole increases rather less than that of tiie
corn ; there being less straw over the third period, with the
highest produce of corn, tlian over the second with a lower
produci of corn ; whilst the fourth period gives considerably
less than either the second or the third. This is the
more remarkable, since the annua! application of 14 tons of
dung will have annually. brought upon the land the equiva-
len; of Ironi 3 toit'^usof straw. The fluctuations in the
produce of straw, as well as in that of the corn, further illustrate
the influence ol spascn in spite of the accumulation of manure.

Turuing tu the pxierimeiits with barley, we have, upon the
wliole, very afcordaut results over the three periods, compared
with the same three periods nithw^ieat. Thus, the last period
but one, wiiicli included a number of very good seasons, gave
more produce than the last period, notwithstauding the greater
accumulation of manure in the later years. There is in the
barley, too, as with the wheat, no striking increase in tlie pro-
duction of straw ; (or altliough there was considerable variation
in the proportion of corn to straw in individual years, accord-
iug to season, the average proportion is almost identical for
e?ch of the three periods.

It 13 then obfious that there is no increase of produce, of
either wheat or barley, over the later years, at all comniensii-
r«te with the increased accumulation of manure in the soil.

You will doubtless be interested to know something of the
a'ter effects of these great accumulations of duug in the soil,
seeing that they increase the crops so inadequately during the
period of the application of the manure.

Table IV. atfDrds some inlbniiation on this poinf. The
two upper divisions relate to bnrley, aud the lower one to
meadow hay. After 14 tons of farmyard manure had been
applied for 20 years in succession on one plot in the field de-
To'ed to the continuous growth of barley, the plot was divided.
Or) one-half the annual application of the dung has been con-
tinued, now for a period of 7 years more ; whilst the other
half has been left uuraauured, also now for 7 years. In the
experiments ou meadow hay, the application of 14 tons of
farmyard manure per acre per annum was continued for 8
years ; and the land has since been left unmanured for 15 years,

TABLE IV.

SnowiuG THE Effects of the Unexhausted Residue

OF Farmyard Manure.

Barley Grain.
20 years, 1852-1871, 14 tons farmyard")

manure every year )

7 years, 1872-1878, 14 tons farmyard j

manure every year 3

7 years, 1872-1878, unmanured, after )
20 years farmyard manure , )

Barley Straw,
20 years, 1852-1871, 14 tons farmyard 7

manure every year 3

7 years, 1872-1878, 14 tons larmyard 7

manure every year ^

7 years, 1872-187S, unmanured, after V
20 jears farmyard manure j

Meadow Hay,
14 tons farmyard manure every year,")

8 years, 1856-18(J3 5

C5 years, 1864-18(58

Afterwards unmanured ■] 5 years, 18()9-1873

C5 years, 1874-1878,

Average per acre
per aoiium.

bushls. bushels.
28i

49i
36i

cwts.

28i

29|
201

40f
29f
23i

36

22|

Crtts.

23
13|

19|

19f

lOi

6i

It will be seen that there is an average of only ]^ bushel
of barley grain aud 1} cwts. of straw, per acre per annum,
more over the last 7 years tiian over the first 20 years, where
the application of the dung was coniiuued. Wliere the dung
was discontinued after 20 years, the produce of corn was, over
the next 7 years, not quite three-fourtiis as much, aud tliat of
tiie straw but little over two-thirds a-i much, as wliere it was
continued. The average annual deficiency was 13:^ bushtb
of corn, and 9| cwts. of straw. Compired withthe con-
tinuously unmanured produce over tlie same periods (which,
however, declined considerably over the later years) it is se^ n
that the annually applied duug gave an average iucrease, over
the first 20 years of 28:|^ bushels of corn and 16|^ cwts. of
straw, and over the last 7 years of 36 bushels of corn aud
23 cwts. of straw. And where the dung wasdiscontinued ovi-r
the last 7 years, there was an average increase of nearly
23 bushels of grain and 13} cwts. of straw over the con-
tinuously uumauured produce. In the last year of the seven,
1878, the plot where the application of dung was continued
gave 36j bushels of corn and nearly 26^ cwta. of straw mora
than the uumanured plot; and the plot where the dung wag
discontinued gave, in the same or seventh year of tlie discon-
tinuance, nearly 12 bushels of corn, and nearly IQi cwts, of
straw, more than the unmanured. It is obvious, therefore,
that the residue of the 20 years application of dung is sti.l
yielding iucrease. It is, however, gradually decliuiug. But
there is no doubt that the residue will continue ta be effective
in a still more declining ratio for many years to come. It
wouhi, indeed, take considerably more than a century at the
present rate to recover in increase of produce all the nitrogen
of the manure which has not yet been so recovered.

Turning now to the results obtained v.ith meadow-hay, fs
already stated, 14 tons of farmyard manure were applied per
acre annually for 8 years in succession, aud the produce has
since been taken lor 15 years without manure. The Table
shows the average annual produce and increase of Jiayovtr
the 8 years of the application, and over the fiist 5, the secoi:d
5, and the third 5 years afterwards. It will be observed thit
over the 8 years of the application the average produce of hfcy
was nearly 2 tons 3 cwts. ; and t-.e average increate over tl e
continuously unmanured produce was not quite 1 ton. Ovtr
the first 5 years alter the ce-sation of the application, the
average produce was about 2 cwts. less; buf, substantiallv,
both produce and increase averaged much about the same as
over the 8 years of the application. Over the aecoad 5 years,
the produce diminished to less than three-fourths as much as
over the first 5, and the increase was little over 10 cwts. of
hay per acre per annum. During the last 5 of the 15 years,
the produce was little more than half as much as its origin 1
amount, and the increase over the unmanured produce of tl.e
same period was not quite 7 cwts.

During the 8 years of the application of the dung there we:e
obtained, in all, 17 tons 3 cwts. of hay, correspotiding to
7 tous 13 cwts. of increase ; over the next 15 years there we o
obtained 23 tons 74 cwts., corresponding to 9 tons 2} cvts. of
increase, due to tlie residue of the previously applied dung.
Here, as in the case of barley, it would require very many
years to recover anything like the whole ol the jet unre-
covered residue of the previously applied nitrogen of the farm- -
yard manure.

Looking to such results as the above, relating to barley and
to meadow-hay, it is not diHioult to understand why a tenaut
who has been farming highly for a number of years should
endeavour to g.it out some of the residue of the mauure which
he has accumulated in tiie land before he leaves iv. But if so
small a proportion of the constituents of the manure is re-
covered in the increase of crop (luring the years of the appli-
cation when duug is very liberally used, it is not so evident
that higher farming, which means more dung, should be a
remedy for lower prices. Nor can I uuderstaud wliy the so-
c.lled " lasting" effe.cts of dung should be considered such a
merit. The Rothamsted experiments with various crops agree
in showing that a given amount of constituents supplied in
duog dues less work, and takes a longer time to do it, thau
when supplied in any other form.

EXPERIMENTS WITH ARTIFICIAL JIAXURES,

The next illustrations will show the comparative etfects of
moderate and large amounts of ajtificial manures. In ihe
upper division of Table V. we have the produce of wheat,
both corn and straw, over 27 years— by a complex mineral

393

THE JARMER'S MAQAZINB.

manure uied alone ; by tlie same mineral manure and 200 lb.
ammonia salts ; by the same aud 400 lb. ; aad by the same
and GOO lb. ammonia salts. In the lo.ver division of the Table
is given the average produce of bar'ey over 6 years— with
Euperphiisphate of lime alone; with superpliosphnte aud 2001b. ;
Bud with superphosphate and 400 lb. ammonia salts.

TABLE V.

Showing the Effect-s of Moderate and of Large

Amouijts of &M1I0HIA Salts.

Average per acre
per anunm.

Dressed
Corn.

Straw.

Wheat every year, 27 years, 1852-1878.

Bushels.
15J

24^
S3i
36J

31|
45i
49f

Cwts.
13i

Complex reineral manure, and 2001b.")
ammonia salts 5

Complex mineral manure, and 400 lb. 7
ammonia salts )

Complex mineral manure, and 600 lb. 7
ammonia salts j

Barley every yea', 6 years, 1852-1857.

22|
33|
40f

281
34

Superpliopphate, and 200 lb. ammonia salts
Superphosphate, and 400 lb. ammonia sals

E-eferring: first to the wheat it will be observed that by the
addition of 2001b. of ammonia salts per acre per annum to
the mineral manure, nu averaze increase of nearly 9 bushels of
grain is obtained. By the addition of a second 200 lb., in all
4001b. of ammonia: salts, there is a further increase of the
game amount, that if, nearly 9 bushels. By the addition of
a third 2l;0 lb., in all 6001b. of ammonia salts, there is a
further increase of only 3^, instead of 9 bushels. In like
manner the first 2001b. of ammonia salts give Oj, the second
11, and tiie third only about 6t cwt. incri;ase of straw. Now,
assuming that the application of 4001b. of ammonia salts was
the limit of hiiih farming with pn.fit, with wheat at 6s. per
bushel, I cannot see how it could be maintained that a furt' er
200 lb., \if'l(iing little more than a third as much increase as
when used in more moderate quantity, Khould be employed
because the price of wheat was reduced to os. per bushel. On
the contrary, the conclusion I should draw from the results of
these experiments is, that the p.pplica'ion of the 600 lb. of
ammonia salts could only be profitable if the price of wheat
were to rise instead of to fall.

Acain, it will be seen tiiat in the case of the barley, the
addition to superphosphate, of lime, of 200 lbs. of ammonia-
ealts gave an average increase of nearly 14 bushels, whilst by
the addition of a second 200 I b., in all 400 lb., ol ammonia-
salts, a further increase of Jittle more than 4 bushels was
obtained. It will be observed, however, that wiiilst with the
increase of 14 bushels of grain there was an increase of only
12 cwts. of straw, there was with the further increase of 4
bushels of grain an increase of 5^ cwts, of straw, or a much
larger proportion of straw to corn in the increase by tiie second
than in that by the first 200 lb. of ammonia-salts. It was, in
fact, so evident from the hulk, and tiie lajing of the crop,
that 400 lb. of ammnnia-salts was an excessive application,
that, 'ifter its use for 6 years, the expcrimnt was abandoned.
Here, again,! think it must be evident that it would be higher,
and not lower prices, that would justify the higher standard of
farming.

From the various results which I have kid before you, you
will have gathered that when farmyard manure is used, and
even, though in a less degree, wlien manure is deposited on
the land by animals feeding upon it, there is less immediate
increase for a given amount of constituents smiplied, and more
accumulation within the soil, than wlien certain artificial
manures are cmployrd. You Ujust not suppose th»t, in bring-
ing this fact prominently to your notice, I wish in any degree
to depreciate tlie import^ince of, so to sptak, na'u'-al manures,
and to exalt that of artificial manures. The prohiction, aud
the use, of farri yard manure, are a necessity of the general
economy of a 'arm ; and tlicie ninsi be I lie more of it prcdnced
or at any rate the more of animal raHiiures, the greater the

amount of meat produced. Nor would it be possible to rely
mainly on artificial manures. I do think, however, thqt
farmers generally do not sufficiently recognise the slowness of
the action of the natural manures of the farm ; and that, so far
as they do so, they frequently even look upon it as a merit
rather than otherwise, that it should be as they say, more
"lasting." But slowness of action means slowness of return
for the outlay ; and this «i!l be the greater the more excessive
the amount of tlie manure applied. In my opinion, the object
to be attained, and that which I have no doubt will charac-
terise the most successful farming of the future, is to get as
quick a return as possible for the outlay in manures, whether
natural or artificial. This can only be fully accomplished—
with freedom in the growth and sale of that produce which is
the most profi'ablp, the selection of the crops which are the
most suitable to the soils, the seasons, and the demands, of the
locality, and such a judicious adaptation of natural and artifi-
cial manures to the crops to be grown, as to obtain the maxi-
mum increase of produce, with the minimum residue left
unproductive in the soil, and subject to loss by drainage.

To sum up in regard to this first brancli of mv su'ijpct: — It
has been shown by reference to the results of experiments on
an ordinary four-course rotation with different manures, in
some cases carting off the roots, and in others consuming them
on the land, that, beyond a certain limit, the increase of pro-
duce was not commensurate with the increase in the amount of
manure accumulated within the soil. The next illustrations
showed that, when farmyard manure was used in etcessiTe
amount, for the direct growth of either wheat or barley, the
increase of produce by no means corresponded with the accu-
mulation of raanurial constituents within the soil ; that,
notwithstanding an increising accumulatioa from year to year,
the crops even diminished in the later years under the
influence of bid seasons, the increased amount of manure n
the soil not fully compensating for the adverse influences of
the seasons ; and lastly, that tlie unexhausted residue of the
previously applied dung, though yielding a considerable
increase for many years afterwards, did so in a rapidly de-
creasing ratio, and only in such proportion that it would take
very many years to recover the manure applied ; even if, which
cannot be supposed, it were ever fully recovered. In like
manner it has been shown, that when artificial nitrogenous
manures were used in guadually increasing amounts, the
amount of increase obtained for a given amount of manure
employed, very greatly diminished when the quantity applied
exceeded a certain limit, which may be called the standard
of high farming; eo that, a given ou^ntity of further increase
was obtained only at a greatly increased proportional cost for
manure.

The general and uniform result of the whole is, that,
whether we go from high to still higher fanning with an
ordinary rotation of crops, with larije amounts of farmyard
manure applied year after year for the growth of corn, or with
artificial manures in gradually increasing amounts, le-s increase
of produce is obtained for a given amount of manure applied,
the greater the excess of it over what may be termed the
standard of moderate high farming. I leave you to judge
whether, under such circumstances, the advance from high to
still higher farming is hkely to compensate you for lower
prices of your produce.

A FAIRY PICTURE SPOILED.— It was just the close
of day. The west shone in scarlet splendour, and dimphd
cloud-ships lay serenely clustered in sun-kissed argosies over
the peaceful vale, where all was tranqnillity. The robin was
chanting liis vesper son?, and the roses dropped indolently in
the balmy breeze, and s'-emed wafted to a realm of delicious
visions. At this heaven fraught hour I wandered down a
woodland avfiiue with a girl whose beauty was beyond des-
cription. Her large b'ack eyes looked fondly into mine as we
sat on a fallen tree, II'T soft jewelled fingors h.y in mine.
Ob, heavenly moment! I could feel her warm breath on ray
cheek, for onr li[is ahnost touched. She asked me inlalterinp;
accents, " Were you ever in love?" "Never till now," I
replied. And then she looked at me most lovingly, and I
drew her close to my bosom and was just kissing her for the
seeond'liirifjwhen the vision broke, and I paid the dentist and
Itft. It was my fimt experieuce with nitrous oxide g»».

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

m

THE AGRICULTURAL OUTLOOK.

The following is the principal portion of a paper read
on Saturday, May 5tb, at the Farmers' Club, Town
Hall Biiildins^s, Newcastle, by Professor Sheldon, late of
Cirencester College : —

Tl\e subject I have the honour to place before you to-day
is at once tlie most serious and the least hopeful it has been
my lot to introduce to the farmers of theae islands, and I
address myself to it not because I like it, but because it is of
supreme irtiportance, anil demands to be taken notice of, I
do not claim that 1 am brinsiuff before you a new question.
I am only echoing tlie sounds tliat are coming up from every
corner of the land ; I am simply reflecting the picture which
ran be seen everywhere by those who look ; I aui but repeat-
ing trutliS so plain that he who runs may reid them. A
short time a^o there were still a few persons left who affected
to believe th<t a large portion of the complaints that are
cutiiing with startling accord from every district in the
couut'y where in a great measure attributable to John Bull's
love of grumbling, and did not by any means correctly repre-
sent the true state of things in the agricultural world. But
these doubters are at length silent, and it is now everywhere
admitted that farmers are at last in earnest, that their com-
plaints are genuine, and that the agricultural interest is in a
seriously depressed condition. Landlords, particularly in our
ardble districts are made aware of tlipse things by the farms
thrown on tlieir hands, and by the dilRculty of getting in the
rents of the remainder ; tradesmen And thera in diminished
custom, and in deferred payments ; bankers see them in
deposits withdrawn, and in accounts closed up ; and the out-
side world hear of thera wherever they go, and read of them
in almost every paper they take up. I believe I am speaking
within bounds when I say that symptoms denoting a serious
and near-at-hand crisis are everywhere apparent. Men much
older than I tell me they have known nothing equal to the
present " hard times." In the corn-growing di-itricts the
shoe has been pinching our farmers very severely for some
jears, and what with bad harvests and the drop in prices the
posiiion is no. V unbearable. Tt is well known to al of us
how difficult it is to induce farmers to move away from their
holdings so ions as they can, by hook or by crook, " make
ends meet and tie." This is all very natural, for there is in
men's minds a strong affection lor the land they till., and they
part from it wiih the greatest reluctance and the keenest
regret, many of them sticking to it and hoping all the while
tliat things will mend, rather than give up the old home of
the family, and nothing short of dire necessity or approaching
ruin will drive many of thera away.

" But men will break, in tlieir sublime despair.
The ties which nature can no longer bear."
This sublime despair has come over numbers of farmers in
the past two years, and iu some districts farms are going a
begging. A Bedfordshire gentleman toll me last week that
in two parishes in that county the farmers were being kf-pt
on rent-free for one year, rather than they should cut them-
selves off for ever (rom the esta'e. And, indeed, it is a serious
thing for a landlord to lose his tried and trusted tenantry.
It is not necessary fiat I should refer at any great length to
the past for points in favour of my present argumont ; but I
may remark that while many farm products are now at as
small or even smaller prices than they were a quarter of a
century ago, the cost of producing them is ranch greater than
it was at tliat period. Servants' wages and the rent of lands
have grea'ly increased, and the many requirements of modern
farming have greatly added to the cost of ciltivation. We
find that a great deal of land is being laid down to permanent
grass each year, and this is done as much to diminish the
expenses of (arming as to adopt an easier and a simpler system.
Tlie average price of wheat f;om 1830 to 184i was 7s. 2d. ;
from the latter date to 1S58, Gs. lOd. ; and from 1858 to
1872, 6s. 3jd. per bushel. Two years ago it was 7s. ; one
year ago, 6s. 5d. ; and at the present moment it is 5s. 2d. per
bu.^hel. Barley and oats are both much lo^er than the
average price ot forty years ending in 1872, though they have
n.jt gone down so mucli as whfat. Beet and mutto'i have
kept up in price better than anything ehe the British farmer
has to sell, yet stock-rearing has paid better tiian stock-fatten-
ing as a rule. But take wool, which is a most important
item ia the sheep far.Ler'a calculations j seven years ago it

was worth over 2s. a pound ; but from this price it gradually
sank to about Is. 3d. a pound, which was considered to be the
lowest figure it would go down to under any circumstances,
but instead of this we find that in less than 12 months it has
sunk to a price which is probably much lower than we can
find at any other period in the present century, and it is now
worth less than Is. per lb., and there is no sale for it at that
price. T&ke now dairy produce, and we find a very serious-
decline! n prices. Five years ago cheese was worth £30 per-
ton more than it is at tiie present time, if we strike an average,
and low qualities have declined much more than higli one?.
Butter, too, is about one-third lower than it was five years
ago. Though beef and mutton have lost value less than most'
other agricultural products, they are no longer profitable to-
the farmer unless in conjunction with breeding. Thus it fol-
lows that while farmers are realising, on theaverage, very
much inferior prices for what they have to sell, than was the
case half-a-score years ago, rates :ind taxes are advancing at
an alarming rate, rents are very high, and wages are very
little reduced. As a matter of course the cost of livini; in
somewhat lower, and in regard to this farmers are deriving a
benefit equally with other classfs, hut as they are food-produ-
cers to a large extent, and food-consnmers only to a limited
one, the gain under the latter bead is very small wh^n com-
pared with the loss under the former. The gpneral and-
serious decline in prices is of course the immediate rcasou
of the prevailing depression in agriculture, for had the declinn-
not taken place, farmers could still have carried on ; bu* there
are various other questions involved in the subjpct we have in
hand, some of which liave to do with the decline iu values,
while others refer to t'le conditions under which our farmers
have to meet whatever the " times" may have in store lor
them. There are cerlain forces at work, and the result we
see around us ; it is expedient that we look into the causes
of the present alarmi-ig state of things, glance at some of
the propo.^ed remedies, and estimate as far as we may be abla-
the probabilities which the future has in store for us.

FOREIGN COMPETITION.

Foremost among the causes of agricultural decline in Brit'iia-
is the lar-reachint; keenness of foreign cotnpptitioii — not com-
petition in agricultural produce only, but in all kinds or manu-
factured goods. And the iufiuence of th^s competition is
greatly stimulated by the extremely low rates at which cur
shipping companies bring cargoes over tlie sea Ose of our
larj^est importers of American dairy produce told me hst week
that his chees-e cost him but SOs. per ton ia freight from New-
York to Liverpool, which is exactly what he has to pay in car-
riage from Liverpool to London. Wheat is brought fro-a
Chicago to New York at6d., and from Tfew York to tverpool
at 5d. a bushel, while the through freights on general provi-
sions from Chicago to Liverpool average about 3s. 6J. per
lOOlbs. Chicaco is in the midst of the great St ,t-s of ll.o
West, where the bulk of our wheat, and bacon and beef coma
from, and fr.jm which we sha'l be receiving in a very sho^t
time all kinds of dairy produce as well, fxcept fresh milk. Tl s
American farmer is on terms of equality witli the British farm' r
in the sa'e of his produ-e, less the ost of transit and the pro-
fits of the middle-men, and these it!:ns we may put do-A-n at
Is. 6J. a bushel. But in the great wheat-growing distric's of
the Mississippi the American farmer has bought his laud o-ut
and out for what the English pays for his land each year iu
rent, rates, and taxe.5 ; and there a-e plenty of inst.i'CPH on,
record where American farmers, when wheat was worth Jt. a
bushel iu E i^'land, have bought aud pai i for their land wholly
out of the uelt profits of the first year's wheat, th.ough iha
average yield per acre iu America is only 13 bushels— thif i.*
the average of eight years since 1870— while the yield ia E:ig-
land is more tlian twice as much. T.ioutrh there was aa
inc ease last year of 60,000 acres of wheat in the British
island'--, our total area under wheat is only 3,381, 7j1 acret^
while Americans, not to nien'ion Can.ad-i, have 28,000,000 of
acres under wheat, and over 50,000,000 acres o'' Indian corn ;
the area of land under these two or >ps in the United States is
greater than the area of land in the United Kingdom under all
kinds of crops, including permanent pas'uie. But notwiih-
standing the small increase in the growth of wheat in ibis
country last year, English grain-gi-owmg is rapully declining,
and must continue doing so until something is done to check
the decline ; there are yet hundreds of millions of acres in the
far West which have not yet had a plough put iuto theci, fur

400

THE FARMEK'S MAGAZINE.

l',?8 IhRU one-fifth of the land in tlie United States is at present
iu farms. The total area of the country is 3,311,54'4,959 acres,
and so far not much more tlian 400 millions of acres are in
farms. It may be said that the Amfricans are "killing the
gjose that lays the golden eggs" by ploughing their land and
B •lliug oif the corn ; and no doubt this is in a sense true, but
t ley will be scores of years yet before they have lilled all the
c/jose ; at present they have only broken one vfing. Aud,ai;ain,
the American climate is much better than oura for restoring
condition to land that is impoverished by over-cropping.
Though the average yield is more than twice as large per acre
in this country as it is in America, and though American
heat Las to pay 23. 6d. a bushel in carriage and com missions
n its way to this country, still the American far mers can
nuke money Vy wheat growing, when British farmers can do
nothing of the kind, for tlie latter are handicapped in other
ways far more than the former are in the items I have men-
tioned. It must not, however, be supposed that at the present
low prices of wheat, American farmers are growing wealthy.
On tiie contrary they are coniplrtining loudly that their profit is
cut off. One of the best agricultural authorities in America,
Mr. Wiliard, writing to me under date, March 9th says : —
" Our dairy industry is much depressed but still is better than
many other branches of farming." Speaking of the state of
New York he says: — " Keal estate has depreciated greatly
during the past year. Farms held at £50 per acre wou'd not
sell for more than £30." It must be remembered that in the
State of New York, chiefly on account of its dairying advan-
tages, land has hitherto commanded, at a rule, very much
higher prices than in the Western States ; but the latter are
now going entensively into dairying, an industry to which it
was thought tiiey were not adapted, and it is to their smnrt
competition that the drop in value of land in the Eastern
States is chiefly due. Not England alone, but iJ'rance and
Switzerland, Canada, and even portions of the United Slates
are suff2ring from tlie powerful rivalry of the Western States
of the Union. America competes with us now in all sorts of
grain and dairy produce, in beef, mutton, pork, bacon, in live
cattle, and in horses. In 18G9 she sent us 17,000 tons of
cheese; last year. 53,000 ; in fresh and sailed beet, and in live
fat cattle, she exported last year no fewer than 300,000 head
of catile ; she is by far our greatest competitor in the produc-
tion of food, she is rapidly increasing her lead, and soon she
will be able to supply all our wants ; but she too, is suffering
severely from low prices, the result, in fact, of her own enor-
mous production of food. Our colonies, too, are sending us
very large Cjuantities of food and of other produce that com-
petes with tiie British farmer. The cliief want in the various
countries from which our supplies come is money. Their
surplus products are no use whatever to them, only to turn
into money. Our money they want, and our money they must
have on some terms, and if they cannot sell us their wheat 4s.
a bushel, they must sell it to us for whatever price we will pay.
But there is a limit below which even they cannot afford to
grow wheat, and that limit is almost as nearly reached as it is
in England.

EESTRICTIONS ON PAKMEES' ENTERPEISE.

But it is not only foreign competition that is ruining the
agricultural interest of this country. We must remember that
on very many estates farmers are treated as if they were chil-
dren, unfit to manage their own business ; and on some estates
they are treated as il they were not to be truo'i'd. I refer now
to tie harassing restrictions on cropping and selling off, by
which farmers' hands are tied behind their backs. Filty years
ago there was a certain amount of reason in close-fisted cove-
nants, but in these days of purchased feeding stuffs and manures,
the restrictions are simply absurd and intolerable. When farms
were self-supporting, when no manures cr feeding stulfs were
used on them except those produced on tiieni, it was possible
to injure a farm by indiscrimiiiate cropp ng and disposal of pro-
duce ; but now the whole state of tilings is completely changed
and the old fossilised farm covenants are as mucii out ot joirit
with the spirit ol the present a^e, as an Egyptian mummy
would be if you could galvanise it into life again.

Mr. Sheldon tlien advocated the abolition of tlie laws of
Distress and lljpolhcc and ihe Game.

TENANT RIGHT.

Theab ence of a compulsory law of tenant right is another
injastice under nliich the farmert of these islands are com-

pelled to sit down, and like the laws of Distress and Hypothec
it diminishes the farmer's credit. The Agricultural Holdings
Act remains one of the greatest legislative shams of the age,
so far as operation is concerned, and it ia not likely to be
improved ; for only recently Parliament has re'used to grant
leave for an iucjuiry to be made into its vi'orking. This looks
as if they who passed it are not proud of it ; and it also denotes
that we shall have to con'ent ourselves with the shadow
instead of the substance for some time longer. When the
farmers ol the United Kingdom have learnt to act together,
and when they are correctly represented. Parliament will pay
due attention to agricultural interesti. Tliis depends wholly on
farmers themselves.

TREE TRADE.

I come now to the question of free trade, and I beg, in th*
first place, to say tliat a return to protection is impossible ia
this country. Tiiere is neither right nor reason in wishing to
place an artificial value on the first necessaries of life in order
to protect the interests of any'one or two classes in the land.
Farmers have no right to make other classes of our people pay
more for the food they eat than foreign nations are willing to
sell it to thc-m for ; and landowners have no right to maintain
land at a fictitious value in order to keep up their own
incomes, if by so doing they increase the cost of living in the
country. Mr. C. S. Read declares that the present depressed
state of agriculture is the natural result of the development of
the free-trade legislation of thirty years ago. Gentlemen, I
beg to submit to you my beliel that this notion of Mr. Read's
is wrong, and I say so with all due respeci to the hon. gantle-
man. I believe it is unfair to lay the present depression at
the door of free trade. But if the depression is really due to
free trade, what is the unexampled prosperity of the past
quarter of a century due to ? Free trade did not create the
present agricultural distres', and protection could give oniy
temporary relie'", and we must remember there was plenty of
agricultural distress before free trade was invented. The
present depression in agriculture is owing to a falling off ir^
demand for food. The falling off is due to diminished trade
and commercp, which iu their turn are iluu to several causes
— to wars and rumours of war?, to strikes and lock outs, to
the inferior quality of manufactured goods which strikes have
compelled our manufacturers to resort to, to foreign competi-
tion in cheaper and better goods, and in some measure to
over-production in several branches of tlie manufacturing
industries of the country. The only thing in whicii taruierd
have a riglit to demand the abolition of free trade is thr one
article of disease ; they have no right to abolish it in respect of
food, and it would not benefit them to do so with regard to
manufactures, except by keeking more money in the country.
No Government in this country, be it Liberal, Conservative,
or Nondescript, will venture to abolish the measure of free
trade that the country possesses ; but if the-e hard times
continue, and there is every probability they will try tiie poli-
tical faith of free-trading landowners; for one ot two tilings is
inevitable — either a return to protection, or a great drop in
the value of land. A political, as well as a commercial crisis
is on us, and it will turn on this question, in a great measure.

PROPOSED REMEDIES.

Various remedies for the deplorable condition of agriculture
in Britain have been proposed, but 1 have not space to consider
them at length. Some suggest that we sho'thl by higher farm-
ing raise bigger crops than we have been doing. This sugges-
tion, I believe, is scarcely a practical one at tiie present tirn"",
because at present prices the [growing of bigger crops by the
aid of purchased manures would at best be like giving change
for a shilling, and iu many cases would be like giving fifteen
pence lor the shilling. Ttiat the land of England is capable of
\iekliug more food is no doubt true, but the question is, would
the extra food repay the extra cost of production. But what
indncenients have farmers to farm more highly tlmu they have
been doing? Wiiat with harsh and ignorant resirictious, and
with want of due security for capital, the wonder is that they
have farmed as well as they have. It is abundeutly evident
that farmers have had more trust in landlords than landlords
have iiad in farmers, or the land of the country would have
been in a far worse condition than it is. Il the food-producing
cupacity of the country is to be iucreased, if manures and
feeding stulfs are to be extensively employed, and if British
agriculture is to be saved from permanent decline, capital must
be attracted to farming by giving security cqu»lto that offered

THE FARMIR'S MAGAZINE.

401

by other branches of industry, and by removing vexatious ,
re.striciions and monopulies. Oa ttie breeding and reanuij of
stock, many say that early maturity is a sine qua nou, ai^d no
doubt this is strictly true. Others thiuk dairy larmers siiould
copy continental nations in dairy products, that they should
make the French Koquefort, the Swiss Gruyere, or tlie Italian
Gorgonzola cheese, as well as other fancy goods Probably
Bomethiug ini^jht be gained this way, but the limit would soon
be reached unless we could give to Englishmen the tastes and
fancies of foreigners. But in any case oue thiug is clear — we
must improve the quality of oar dairy product;-, either on our
own or on Ibreigu models, for we are beaten by Svviss and
Italian cheese, and by French and Danish butter.

WHAT THE rUTURE HAS I2f STOKE.

It is sufficiently evident that British farmers cannot compete
with countries where cheap lind abounds, uuless they have
more libtrty and I'airplay. Handicapped as thev are with
taxation and rates, both of which are excessive, it is impossible
they can pay their way unless harassing restrictions and agree-
ments are abolishej, security is given for unexhausted im-
provements, and protection is afforded against the ravages of
game and of loreign contagious disease;!. It is also evident
that, except in cnse of war, grain-growing will not again
become a very profitable branch of farming in these islands.
Many foreign couttrics can grow it much cheaper than we can,
and some of tiiem can produce a much better quality. We
shall have to turn our attention to those things in the produc-
ion of which we have natural facilities equal or superior to
foreign countries, aud we must give up the competition where
it is unequal. Dairy farming, stock breeding and fattening,
sheep farming, and live stock generally, provide in tlie future
the most prolitable pursuits to which the British farmer can
devote himself, and land that is adapted to these things will
decline less in value than that which is not. One of the chief
branches in the lu ure is the milk trade. This must be care-
fully cultivated to the utmost limit by always supplyicg the
public with a Ire.-h and genuine article. I believe the milk
trade is capable of being very greatly extended, providing milk
salesmen are honest to their customers, and if they arc not the
law for their own sakes must make them. In Dorsetshire
perhaps the finest butter in the world is made — iu limited
quantity. But F'rance, Denmark, Germany, and Holland are
now seeding us large quantities of butter whicli is superior to
the great bulk of our own, and commands a better price.
Plenty of Dutch butter is sold for Dorset in London, and some
of »ur great hotel-keepers import their butter direct from
Kormandy, because they cannot get English butter fine enough.
Now, it is a fact that our soil and climate will produce as fine
butter as any in the world if only we take paius enough in
making the butter. That tlie great bulk of the highest priced
butter comes from the continent is not only a loss but a dis-
credit to England, and it is high time that we changed all that.
Butter making, in conjuuction with stock raising, to which it
is very well adapted, can be made with doe care, cleanliness,
and intelligence, one ol the most profitable pursuits to winch
our farmers can turn in these precarious times, and I would
strongly urge this matter on the notice of dairy farmers.
Cheese making is in a very depressed condition, yet the best
qualities are still making over 80s. per cwt., wliile inferior
goods fetch 20s. and upwards — an enormous disparity which is
chitfly owing to mismanagement. One of the first objects of
producer and dealer alike, should be to induce people to buy
even more than they want by offering to them a tempting and
superior article. Hence milk should be sold perfectly fresh and
pure, an(i cheese and butter should be as good as possible.
Our wheat cannot be much improved ; this is a question of
climate, in which such countries as California and Australia
hp.ve a great advantage over us.

The speaker then advocated a reduction of rent, and con-
cluded thus :—

When wars and rutoours of vrars had passed away, when the
necessary agricultural reforms are secured, when our manufac-
turers improve the quality of their goods and wlipn trade
revives, then farming will improve ; but now is the time that
farmers should understand each other's need", common suffer-
ing should teach them mutual reliance, distrust should vanish
■utterly, and they should be united, firm, and temperate in their
demaud for those reforms that alone can avert a collapse, the
consequences of which will outlast the present generation. The
outlook is serious.

FARMERS AND THE INCOME TAX.

Pro Bi no Puhlico writes as follows in a AVakefield paper
th'^ HMU ■ of wliicli we have omitted to preserve on the cutliig
from t tf) which our attention has been called : —

Id the House of Commons last week Colonel Ba,-ne asled
the Attorney General whether, supposing a tenant farmer cou d
prove to the satisfaction of the Income Tax Commissiouers thit
he had made less profit from his farm than half his rent, I e
could get an abatement from his income tax ; and, if he could
show that he had made no profit he could get entire remissior,
either by the Act H and 16 Vic.,c. 13, s. 3, or any other act,
Tlie Attorney General said that, by the 14) and 15 Vic, c. 12,
sec. 3, and the 16 and 17 Vic.,"c. 34, sec. 46, there was la
doubt that a tenant farmer could obtain an abatement cf
income tax on satisfying the Commissioners that such ought to
be made ; and, if he made no profit at all, he was entitled to a
complete remission of the tax.

The profit accruing to occupiers of land is determined by the
Legislature, as a general rule, to be one-half the value of such
land ; but it is very httle known that tenant farmers are eutithd
to the relief referred to ; and if at the end of the year ol assess-
meet, ending 5tli April, a tenaut farmer finds that his profits
for the year have not amounted to the sum assessed under
Scliedule B, he may give notice to the Surveyor of Taxes of his
desire to appeal, and on production of a Dr. and Cr. statement,
prove the facts to the Commissioners within three months cf
the end of the year of assessment (5th April), when the duty
paid in excess under Schedule B will be certified to be re-paid
to him (3rd eec, lilli Vic, c. 12). This provision, which
previously only extended to tenant farmers who obtaim-d their
livelihood solely by husbandry, is now extended to all tenai t
farmers in respect to the profit of lands occupied for the pur-
poses of husbandry only (4Gtli sec, 16 and 17 Vic, cap. 31),
As an example, the following case, published in the " Popular
Guide to Income Tax," may be an assistance to those desirous
of appealing -.-^

A tenant farmer was assessed for 1872-3 under Schedule B,
on a net assessment of £560 ; rent being £600, tithes £io'
total £640, less the usual deduction of one-eighth ; £560 at
2d., or £2yO at 4i. in the £, is £4 13s. 4d., the duty paid. He
appealed at the end of April, 1873, when he produced the
following statement, supported by vouchers : —

Receipts. £ Payments, £

For stock sold 300 Year's rent , 60O

Estimated value of sheep, Tithes 40

&c., in stock 50 Stock purchased ",' 240

Wool 40 Seed do 90

Wheat 360 Manure 5a

Barley 250 Interest on £500 at 5 per

Other produce 160 cent, on farm stock,&c *-25

Seedinstock 20 Incideutal expenses 40

Profits from poultry , 30 Labour 200

Balance, being loss 75

1.285 1,285

The household expejises were entirely defrayed out of the
private purse of the occupier. The Commissioners, bein?
satisfied with the statement, discharged the assessment, with
the exception of the tax on the interest, £25*, which should be
deducted from the receiver thereof, aud granted a certificate for
repayment of £4 5s., being £4 13s. 4d., the duty paid, less 8s,
41. the las on the £25, at 4d. in the £.

INCREASE OF EMIGRATION FROM THE MERSEY.
The returns of emigration from the Mersey during the month
of April, which were issued on Saturuay, show an enormous
increase. It appears that 65 vessels left the Merey last
month with 1U,9I7 passengers, of whom 5,348 were English,
58 Scotch, 1,546 Irish, 3,809 foreigners, and 156 whose
nationalities were not known. Their destinations were 8,931
to the United Statps, 1,723 to British North America, 48 to
Australii, 110 to South America, 39 to the East Indies, 12 to
the West Indies, 9 to China, and 44 to the West Coast of
Africa. A comparison shows that the figures of last month
were 6,015 over those of the previous month — March — and
4,090 over April, 1878. Emigration during the present
month has also been carried on very briskly, and if coninued
the numbers will be several thousands in excess of the figure
of corresponding months for many yrars past.

THE FARMEB'S MAGAZINE.

402

MR. BLENNERHASSETT ON THE LAW
OF DISTRESS.

TO THE KDITOR O? THE JfARK LANE EXPRESS.

SiR,_The debate on the motion of the Irish member
on English law revealed an amonut of omniscience de
re rustica which " darkened counsel by words without
knowlecijie." Knowina: the law of Scotland on hypothec
and of England on distress, perhaps I can throw some
light on it. Every writ and every legal process in Scot-
land is served and carried through by public officers, who
have to find security for the faithful discharge of their
duties. In England anybody may execute the most
critical functions of the law. I have not a word of apoloj?y
for the monstrous folly of letting a landlord at his own
hand thrust any ruffian into another's house, place him in
possession, keep him there, and then sell this tenant^s
chattels very much at his own discretion. In Scotland a
petition to the Judge-Ordinary is presented, stating the
grounds of claim, and craving judgment. Simultaneously
the Clerks of Court proceed to the premises, take an in-
ventory of the goods and chattels, lodge it in the court,
and retire. The petition is served on the tenant, a sum-
mary answer required, and if the rent be due and unpaid
a warrant of sale is issued to the Clerks of Court. A. man
in possession is never thought of. This ought to be the
procedure in England ; but the want of local courts and
the utterly barbarous forms of process Lave hitherto pre-
cluded that reform. The preferential right of hypothec
exists only for one year's rent — that of distress is for six.
The latter should be reduced to eighteen months, or per-
haps two years. With stringent and undoubted securities
against collusive and fraudulent claims by strangers to
property actually owned by the tenant, the chattels of
others accidentally on the premises ought not to be liable
to distraint. I frankly make these concessions to the
opponents of the law, while I am more satisfied than ever
that the principle on which the law rests is wise, just,
and politic. Strange to say, the principle was not so much
as hinted at in the debate of the " collective wisdom."

The relation of landlord and tenant is created by what
the law calls contract of location or hire. The land is
not transferred to the tenant, any more than a Hansom
cab to the man who hails it off the stand, lie occupies
the cab just in the same sense and no other in which the
other occupies the farm — the pasession is retained by the
owner — only the use or occupation i;ro tempore is trans-
ferred to the hirer. The price of goods is due the
moment they are transferred to the purchaser. Kent is
not exigible "until six months or twelve after occupation
has commenced. Before rent is payable, the landlord
must stand by, and may see a stranger sweep everything
off the premises by a bill of sale, a bill at sight, a con-
sent to enter judgment, any collusive process by which
distraint can be matured before the rent falls due. But
the great argument in favour of the Law of Distress is
the peculiar nature of the farmer's calling, lie must plough
and sow before he can reap. He must spend largely his
capital the first year, knowing that nothing can come in
until the second or even the third. Sometimes, as at
this very 'moment, he must see one bad season after
another, for four successive years, disappoint all his hopes,
and thwart all his plans. This is not the fate of the
needy man alone, but of the man who has entered on the
land with ample capital. It is absolutely certain that
good seasons mml at either one time or another come
round— that one of these will more than repair the losses
of the other three, and that a second will fill the patient
and hopeful tiller's pockets. The whole business of farm-
ing absolutely turns upon that hypothesis— that success
in eulture depends upon a far-seeing calculation of the
ftfcct of operations spreading over a series of years.
While all this is going on, he is giving -i living to his

labourers, he is greatly adding to the fertility of the lamJ,
perhaps he is thorough draining, knowing that "in due
season he will reap if he faint not." It is for the interest
of his landlord that this should be so — to forbear is to
save and keep himself — the security of distress enables
him to afford to give the tenant such time as he wants — ■
and while he holds off, no other creditor can make his
swoop. But withdraw the landlord's protection, let any
man who has a claim on the farmer come down on him
in the midst of operations which time, and considerable
time, alone can fructify— arrest his waggons in the hay-
field, or his horses at the plough, suspend ' all the work
of harvesting by a warrant to seize all the implements —
the reaping machine or the corn cart — and just when the
fat kine are about to supersede the lean, the whole cal-
culated arrangements whereby success and fertility were
about to fall into their natural place, may be thwarted by
the needy, obdui"ate, or the unreasonable, and outside
creditors, having no security against the action of each
other, may ruin in a month the well planned work ot
years. This, as Irish members stated, is so well under-
uaderstood by the tenantry of the sister kingdom that
they look to their landlord and the Law of Distress as
their protection against the harsh cupidity of outside
creditors. Nor does this concern individuals alone. The
land and its fertility are involved in the result. Hand-
to-mouth culture — tillage that cannot afford to wait the
revolution of the seasons aud the effect of plans and
operations laid aud adopted long before, is ruinous to the
soil in which the whole nation has an interest. There
are at this momeat, in every couaty in the realm, hus-
bandmen who began years ago with ample capital aud
laid it out freely in the confident assurance of an
ample return, who, unless they are allowed to go on until
good seasons come, as at some time (I believe now), come
they must, will inevitably *' fall to cureless ruin ' — but
who, maintained in their position, are certain to retrieve
it. The fitful and uncertain action of the seasons, both
here and abroad, is another element in the solution of the
question. A creditor may force the tenant to sell his
grain, his cattle, sheep, hay at half the price which by
waiting the turn of the market he mij;ht ultimately
realise. Wheat be'ore now has fallen in a few weeks
from 80s. to 493., aud a rainy June has run up old hay 50
per cent.

I give landlords no credit for forbearance. It is clearly
their interest, and they lose nothing by it. I blame no
creditor for cupidity in using the law to get what is his
own. But I m intain that in so far as the interest of
the land, of the labourers on the farm, of the farmer
himself, are concerned, the Law of Distress is not merely
an advantage but an indispensable necessity.
I am, Sir, &c.,

Sidney Sjiith.

The Manor, Feltham, 19/A May.

A FAMOUS DOG — Once there was a man in Minnpsota
who liad a dog. He bragged of that dog ; he did. Tnere
was no beast of the AkIJ, or of the forest either, who
could hold up against him. And bears ! oh he was great on
bears ! That was liis particular game. He was a terror to
bears, Ihdt must be admitted. He was rather sorry for it,
too ; he was afraid that terror was making bears rather too
scarce in tiiat reaion. One day ha met a neighbour. The
nci,'hbour said, " That is a great dog of yourn." " He j\i-^t
is," replied tliR owner. " Ilev you perceived hiin bit'd) ? "
" I saw him about lialf an hour ago," answered the neighbour.
" Ho was liavin' a great time with a bear." "You bet?''
cried tlie owner ; "and whicli beat ?" "Well narry one of
them was beat, but tlie dog was beatin' the bear." " Of
course ; but why didn't you help him ? " " Cause tliey were
going too fast. It wisn't a figl\t ; it was a race, and your
dog was ever so far atiead. lie was just getlia' into towa
when I see him." — American Paper.

THE FARRIER'S MAGAZIXE.

405

THE LAW OF DISTRESS.

We can only find space for a portion of the recent
debate on the Law of Distress '■ —

Mr. BLENXERUASSi!:TT rose to call attenlion to the
Liiv of Distress for rent in Eusfland, AYales, anil Ireland
Tne hoa. gentleman then proceeded to give a brief history
of ttie origin of the various forms of distress, observing
that his motion was confined to the power enjoved by the
landlord to distrain ibr nou-pnyment ot rent in the case of
agricultural holdiags. Although the remedy was ancient
the peculiar form which it now assumed was of compara-
tively recent introduction, and was entirely different, in fact,
from its original character. But be that as it might, the
real question which the House would have to decide wa",
whe'her the Law of Distress, whatever might be its history,
was suited to the circumstances of the present day — did it
promote or hinder agricultural improvement ? 'llie first
thing that must strike one in considering the subject was
the liighly exceptional character of the law. As liad been
well said by Mr. Howard Taylor, it was not only a class
law, but a class exception from law, rendering the lanllord,
as compAred with ordinary creditors, a chartered liber-
tine. Tiie practical evils resulting from the arbitrary and
ill-regulated nature of the proceeding by distress were
clearly pointel out to the select committee of the House of
Lords which sat in 1869 to inquire into the Law of Hypo-
thec. In giving evidence before the committee Sir II.
James bad pointed out the inconvenient operat'on of the
Law of Distress, and Lord Moncreiff had shown the milder
cmsequences of the Scotch Law of Hypothec ; iu fact, they
had both concurred in describing the exi>ting practice so
anorailous and anacbronous. The Law of Distress was pe-
culiar and exceptional, inasmuch as it gave a preference at
one class of creli'ors over all others. Between it and
the Law of Hypothec the difference was one of degree, the
principle of both being the creation of a prelerenti^il claim,
though an attempt had been made before the select com-
mittee to show tliat similar cliiras were allowed, in similar
cases, by the commercial law of this and other nations.
Great stress had been laid on that supposed analogy, which
might be shown to have no foundation in fact. The in-
stances were cited of bottomry bonds, and the lien of
shipowners on the cargoes of their ships for freight ; but
both distress and hvpothec had a totally different origin and
proved on examination to be also different in their nature, so
that a singularly vivid imagination was required to trace a
resemblance between them. Liens and bottomry bonds were
justified by necessity, which certainly did not exist in the case
of distress, as the landlord's position was so secure and his
possible loss so small that there could be no reason for allow-
ing him a preferential claim. (Hear.) Not a few arguments,
however, were advanced in favo'ir of the Law of Distress. Tlie
most important was the fact that a landlord, unlike a mer-
chant, who could refuse further dealings with a customer
whose solvency he suspected, parted with his land
for a definite terra of years. There were, no doub% certain
peculiarities in the landlord's position, and care should be taken
in dealing with his preferential claim not to leave him at a
disadvantage ascom^iared with other creditors. One peculiarity
arose from the rule of law that rent did not become due till
the end of the day on which it was made payablp, so that
other creditors had the s'art of him. The power of distraint,
however, was no protection against this, and an easy remedy
was to be found in making an agreement that the rent should
be payable before the lapse of the time for which it was to be
paid : or rents might be received at shorter intervals. Another
peculiarity of the landlord's position was the difficulty and
delay in getting possession when the rent was not paid. But
this point he would leave to the hon. member 'or South Nor-
folk, who had an amendment on the p-»per. With a few small
changes in the law the abolition of distraint would place the
landowner nnder no disability as compared with other creditors
but would leave him still in the possession of several advan-
tages. But what would be the iflTeet upon the tenant? It
raiiiit be urged that landlords would req'iire payir.ent in ad-
vance. But he did not think that such a precaution would
often be found necessary. It was to be observed that in many
places a system of tenant-right had grown np along with
yearly lease?, and this formed an important secnrity for

tlie rent. The tenant would, no doubt, lose the extra credit
with the lanllord which he now enjoyed ; but for tliis advan-
tage he paid dearly. Preferential security to one creditor in-
volved a risk to all the others, and extra credit with the land-
lord entailed a lo.is of credit witli every other person witli whom
he dealt. He held that the influence of distraint in stimulat-
ing an unhealthy and un-ound competition for land and in
raising rent above its natural ecouomii; level was extremely
mischievous. No one could desire on public grounds that
land should he let for less than its full value, and it was no
part of thi= duty of the State to encourage a landlord to accept
less than a full rent (or his land ; but where rent was deter-
mined by compe ition, sound commercial principles should
prevail. Protection stiould not be givm to the owner of a
cert. in commodity by which he might be led to neglect the
the ordinary precautions of business, and grasp at a price which
was not juslili-d by the circumstances of the property wliich he
had to dispose of. The landlord's priority was a premium held
out to him by the State to neglect the ordinary precaution of
selecting suitable tenants with adequate capitil; and it was
also a direct inducement to persons to enter into a reckless
competition for the hire of a commodity which they were not
in a position to employ, either with profit to tliemselves or
advantage to the country. Among those who agreed with hiin
in these views was Mr. W. Scott, of Timpendean, one of the
most successful fanners in Scotland. What he and his sup-
porters objected to was a law which afforded the landowner
special immunity from the results of want of care and pru-
dence, and which encouraged him in a course of proceeding
which pressed hardly on tlie competent and solvent far.ner, and
was highly injurious to the general interests of agriculture.
-But there were other persons to be considered besides land-
lords and tenants. If the landlord's claim on the estate of an
in-olvent were paid in full, the dividends applicable for tie
discharge of all other claums must, of course, be diminished.
Nothing in t'le Law of Distraint offended more strongly a man's
ordinary sense of justice than the con-equences wliicli pro-
eeded from the princ pie that it was the place where tliey
were found and not the persons to whom they belonged that
rendered things liable to distress. It was hard that agricul-
tural implements, manures, and other property that had not
been paid for should be distrained for the rent of land on
which they were found ; but it was harder still that cattle
and she-^p sent uuon a farm for temporary purposes and which
were not the property of the tenant at ail sliould be seized and
sold for arrears ot rent. The abolition of the Law of Distress,
he contended, would conduce not only to the general welfare
of the coramuuity, but alsc to the true interests of the land-
owner. In proof of this he quoted the evidence of Mr. James,
who stated that the mortgagee did not look to the rent he
could get by distress, but to what he could realise by bringing
the property into the market and selling it after foreclosing.
Mr. Scott, of Timpendean, gave similar evidence. There
was only one witness examined who wai of a different opinion,
h\\t he was so anxious to prove too much that his evi»lcnce
was without value, lie alt ojether denied that the abolition of
distress would injuriously affect the power of raising money
on landed security. Tlie interests of tlie landlord were
inseparably connected wiih the general interests of the com-
munity. VVha ever either promoted or obstructed the one
promoted or obstructed the other. If the maintenance of this
law was iijurious to the interests of agriculmre, it was
necessarily also injurious to the interests of the landowner
rightly considered. The Law of Distraint held out a premium
to landowners to accept as tenants persons with insufhoient
capital; and nothing could be more ii'jurious to the interests
of agriculture and of the country generally. The example of
foreign countries had been appealed to in this matter. Mr.
Carlisle, the legal adviser of the British Lega:ion, said :
" The general tendency and spirit of the legislation of late
years had been not only to abolish this summary remedy, but
to place landlords quite on the same footing wiili other
creditors, leaving the parties to make their own contracts in
their own way touching security for the payment o' rent."
In Ireland this law was limited to one year's rent. On welL-
managed estates the power was never put in force ; but in the
present d.'pressed state of agriculture tl.ere was some appre-
hension that the rusty weapon of moral tyranny might again
be drawn forth. But, so far as he was aware, tlie better class
of resident landowners and agents did not con*ider the main-

40^

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

tenPDc'e of iliis law necessary for tlieir protection. As to the
ameodment of which the hmi. inenibcr tor South Noriolk had
giveo uotiie, uu doubt its effect would be to substitute certain
mud'.ficHtions of the law for a definite and c.)inprehens.ive
propos-il that the lnw should cease to exist. It was not easy
to comprehend the position of the lion, nieisiber for
South Norfolk. At a reoent meeting of the Central
Farmers' Club lie was reported to hive said: —
"My opinion is that the Law of Distress is wronjj in prin-
ciple.. It allows a man to be his own avenger, whicli is, I
consider, contrary to the spirit of our laws altOf<ether. It
also allows him to be au avenger of his wrongs in private. .
. . I contend that the law is worse in principle tlian the
almost doomed Law of Hypothec in Scotland." (Hear.) But
the amendment of the lion, {jentleman objectea to the abolition
of a law whicli he considered wrong in priuciple and altogetht-r
contrary to the spirit of our laws. The hon. gentleiuau voted
for the abolition of the Law of Hypothec and he said that the
Law of Distress was worse. (Hear). In conclusion, he called
upon the House to adapt its legislation to the circumstaocps
and wants of the time, and boldly and promptly, but with true
prudeoce, to efface from the statute-book a law which was
opposed to modern ideas and unsuited to the conditions of
modern industry. He beggi-d to move, — ''That it is desirable
that the power of distraint for the rent of agricultural hold-
iiiffs in L'lgland, Wales, and Ireland should be abolished."
(Heir, hear.)

Mr. B. WILLIAMS, in seconding the resolution, said that
no one could justify the Lsw of Distress. It enabled the land-
lord at liis own will to enlorce the payment of a debt which
he thought due to him by the tenant, to be judge in his own
case, and also executioner. (Hear, hear). Tne Liw of Distress
originated at a time when the tenant was bound to his lord
not only as regarded his goods but his personal liberty, and
it would never have continued to this day had not the land-
lords of this country exercised their rights wi.h singular for-
bearance. (Hear. hear). That the law was unequal and that
it sometimes produced real injustice no one who attended our
law courts could deny. When the law was enforced the
tenant was perfectly helpless. It was true there was the
remedy of replevin, but it was a cumbersome, expensive, and
dilatory process, and often involved the tenant in long and
useless litigation. Whatever claim the tenant might have
against the landlord, if any rent was due the landlord had
the right to enter and distrain. The law with regard to
excessive distress had been laid down entirely in favour of the
landlord. Mr. Ju^-tice Bailey had said, — "The landlord is
not hound to calculate very nicely the value of the property
seized, but he must take care that some proportion is kept
l)etv\een the sum he is entitled to levy for and the sum he is
entitled to take." And Biron Parke had ruled still more
tersely, — " To determine whether the distress was excessive,
you must ascertain what the goods seized would fetch at a
broker's sale." The landlord, acting on that view of the law,
could seize large portions of the tenants' property and con-
fiscate them. The ditliculties of the tenant had been increased
by the Judicature Act of 1875, which ennbled the landlord to
reply to the tenant's action for excessive distress by allegations
of breach of covenant or bad lanning. Counter-claims of
that kind ought to be regarded with jealousy by tlie Coarts as
the suggestions of legal ingenuity, but unfortunately they
were not. A case came before him last year in tiie course of
his professional practice, in which a distress was levied on a
large farmer in the north of England, who had a vakiiblo
stock on his farm, and the property was sold in a most wasteful
manner and for most inadequate prices. Tne tenant, acting
on advice, brought an action for excessive distress, and the
landlord brought a counter-claim for bad farming and breaches
of covenant. The case occu|iied some days, and the judge was
not able to complete it because he had to go elsewhere, and at
the last moment the tenant was obliged to accept iiOO by
way of compensation, each party to pay his own cost<. Tne
£iUO was nut more than enough to pay the lawyer's bill.
(Ironical cheers and laughter.) The result was that the
tenant was ruined liy the wastehil sale. In cases where land
in Ireland had fallm into the hands of speculators the Law of
Dis'ress had been frequently exercised with great severity.
Although lie fully admitted the evil that would result to the
tenant if he were allowed to euter into possession of a farm
unless he had sutficient capital to cultivate it, he contended
that capital would not find its way into the land unless the

tenant's holding were sccurpf), and unless the landlords would'
consent to giv3 up their privilege of distress and to grant lon<
leases.

Mr. READ, who was suffering from a severe cold, said that
lie hid lost his voice through attending a temperance meet-
ing ("Hear," and laughter). Possibly that circumstance
might excite some sympathy on his brhalf from hon. members
opposite, although he did not look for much pity from those
around him (" Hear," and a laugh). He desired, however,.
t ) utter a few inarticulate senleuces in defence of the ameud-
ments on this subject which he had placed upon the notice
paper. In his opinion, i( the Laiv of Distress were to be
retained it must be amended in someway or aaother upon the
lines of his amendments. The harsh operation of the present
Law of Distress had been brought mo/e fully into notice of
kte in consequence of the bad times the farmers had been
passing through. Not long ago a landlord wlio had allowed
his tenant to get several years into arrear with his rent
waited until the sheep of a neighbouriug lar.ner were sent on
to the farm to graze, when he at once put in a distress and
sold the sheep for £400. It was a remarkable proof of the
good sense, the justice, and the moderation of the landlords
of England that they very rarely put tliat extraordinary law
into opera;ion. He might be asked why he did not advocate
the total abolition of the Law of Distress? His answer was
that that law was so interwoven with our agricultural system
that its total and imraeaiate repeal would give a very great
shock to all who were concerned in agriculture, 'ind would be
detrimental, especially in times of depression like the present,
alike to the landlord and the tenant. (Hear, hear), if they
were to abolish that law at once, they must, according to all
precedents, exempt existing teninc.es from the operation of
the new Act ; but, on the other haud, if they simply modified
it as Ive would suggest, it might be applied at once to every
holding in England. His suggestion was that the landlord's
right of distress should only extend to one year's rent. That
was the law of the laud in the case of bankruptcy, aud he did
not suppose that a landlord would distrain on a tenant unless
the latter were more or less insolvent. The rents in aunual
tenancies were generally due half-yearly, and piyable as a rule
in England some three or four mouths afeer they became due ;
and if the landlord wished to be generous to his tenant and
allowed more tliau two hUf-years' rent to be in abfvance,
he might take his share with the other creditors for anything
over and above one year's rent. His next suggestion was that
the stock of a third party taken on a farm to graze should
only he liable for the amount of consideration payable for
the grazing. That was derived from the Hypothec (Scotland)
Act of 18G7 ; it had worked remarkably well during the last
13 years, and there was no reason why it should not be equally
good for England. In these times of depression the capital
of the teiiauts had been so reduced that many of tlieiu could
not stock their land, aud the only way in which the landlord
could get his rent was by enabling the tenant to take to graze
on his farm the stock of other people. Machinery such as
thrashing machines aud steam-piouglis, which was often let
out, was lialile to be seized if it happened to be on the ten-
ant's land, whereas it really ought to be exempted. Tbeo,
with regard to t'le right of re-entry^ if the landlord could not
get his rent he ought to have.his land and to have it at once.
(Hear, hear). He believed it often took a landlord months "
to eject a yearly tenant and obtain possession of his land. It
was a roundabout, tedious, and expensive process, aud he
thought it ought to be both quick and cheap ; quick if he was
dealing with a fraudulent tenant, aud also cheap, or the remedy
would be worse than the disease. A distress should also be
executed by a responsible public officer only. With respect
to agricultural leases, if the tenant became insolvent duriug
the tune he occupied the farm he was made a bankrupt and
the trustee could not carry on the farm. The landlord could
euter immediately on the farm and could also seize all the
growing crops. Cases ol that kind had recently occurred ;
and a landlord had bigged nut only the whole of his rent,
but something like £800 worth of hay and turnips that were
on the land. He had mentioned the matter to tlie Attorney-
General, who had promised to take it into consideration when
the J3ankrnptcy Bill came under discussion. In conclusion,
he hoped the House would favourably consider his suggestions,
whicli he was now precluded from formally moving as amend-
ments. (Hear, hear).
Mr, J. W, I3AKULAY said he felt considerably surprised

THE FARMERS' MAGAZINE.

405

at the views of the hon. member for South Nurfulk (^^r.
Head) as enihodied in flie ameudinputs he h;id phioed on the
paper, for although the cliaiigf! he proposed would favour to
some extent a tenaul's creditors, tlieir effect would be pre-
judiL-ial to the interests of the farmers tlieiuselves. To limit
distraint to one year's rent would simply be to limit tho indul-
gence which landlords would ffive their tenants, and it would
be a conclusive answer doubtless, by a land agi-nt to a tenant
desiring Qelay for more than one year'3 rent, that Parliament,
by the chansje proposed, had precluded the landlord from
giving it. To give greater power of security to the landlord
woukl simply be to give him more summary means of ejecting
the tenant which seemed wliully unnecessary, so long as the
landlord had tlie preference to a year's rent, aud one year would
praciically give him a preference to two years' rent. The
amendment might be accepted as evidence of tha disinterested
character of farmers' poiitic^, for tliey showed that they v/ere
ready to look afier the interests of their landlords and
creditors before their own. As Mr. Read had remirked, this
que-tion of distress a'.d its effects was nert" to English farmers,
but farmers in Scotland had long ago made up their minds
Mbout the Law of Hypothec, whicli w:is the correspondini; l^w
in Scotland, and tlie same in principle. He would state a-i briefly
as possible the objections to the law, wliich were much wider
and deeper than it at first sight appeared. The land of Eng-
land was a monopoly in these res)]ects at least, that the
quantity to be leased was in the hands of very few, and that
honever great the demand, the quantity could not be increased.
The agricultural population naturally increased, and in these
circumstance's competition was maintained at a maximum,
and tenants' proSts at a minimum. But as if the excessive
competition, inevitable in the circumstances, was not enough,
it was still further miscarried by the L;iw of Distress which
enabled the landlords to accept as tenants, or at least as compe-
titors for farms, men who iiad not sufiicient capital for the farm
That was the argument put forward by landlords and land-
agents in defence of the law as it stood. It vvas not because
tiiey had any favour for the poor man, but because ths man
with inadequate capital offered a higher rent, or was willing to
submit to more onerous conditions in the lea«e. These cir
cumstances explained why tenant-farmers frequently submitted
to ouorous, in many cases monstrously unjust and even absurd
conditions in leases. The onerous principle of the law was
that the landlord was protected against the consequence of his
o.vn imprudence, and it might be greed. Even if the land-
lord accepted a doubtful tenant because he promised a higher
rent, or because he submitted to onerous condition it might be
with regard to ground gamr, this Law of Distress secured the
payment of the rent. It was evident that the amendment to
restrict the distraint to one year's rent, would not meet this,
the principal ground of the farmers' objection to the law. The
injustice of the law to creditors and others dealing with the
tenant was very obvious. The landlord who asked only for
liis interest and not his capital was paid in full, when other
creditors who asked both capital and interest had to take a
dividend or perhaps even get nothing. The landlord in his
(Mr. B's) otiinionhad grounds for complaint against the law,
and if they had not complained already lie expected they woald
begin to do so by-and-bye. So long as prices of agricultural
produce continued to advance, as was the case for a good many
years, tenants with inadequate capital might manage to get
01', but when bad seasons and lower prices come, landlords
would find that the high rents promised by those tenants with
inadequate eipital were delusive. The tenants might hold ou
for a year or t-vo, but they did so at the expanse of the farm,
which would ultimately fall into the liudlord's hands in a
condition which he would find very prejudicial to its being re-
I't. Landlords under such experience would begin to have
doubts as to the wisdom of their land agents in increasing the
rent roll by accepting tenants with limited means, who when
reverses came were unable to hold their uositiou aud dojustice
to the land. Land agents were the only people who got
advantage from the law, b^-causeit was only by means of this
Law of Distress that the control of large estates could be kept
in lawyers' offices, the people who kno* little, if anything, of
farming. It was thought all right if the rent roll were in-
creased and the rent collected. Tlie Law of Distress enabled
them to da both. As for improved cultivation, they as a rule
did nothing for that. It vtas thought that by antiquited and
obsolete covenants in leases tenants could be preven'ed from
exhausting the land ; bat lie never saw covenants which would

prevent a tenant from exhausting his farm if he set himself
to do so. Such covenants, together with the w:<nt of compen-
sation for improvements, were the groat obstacles to improved
cultivation. Tliey tied up the hands of the intelligent aud
skilful farmer from making the best of tlie land for himself
aud the landlord. Tiie abolition of distress would do mucli to
improve this state of matters, but no modification of it, as
suggested by Mr. Kead, would be of any avail. The restric-
tion to one year's rent would simply make the land agent mora
stringent with his tenant, and he therefore strongly supported
the motion for total abolition of the lav/, giving the landlord
reasonable powers of re-entry when the tenant had become
insolvent and unable to discharge his obligations.

THE LAW OF DISTRESS.

The following letter appeared in the A'eifjjort ancl
Market Lrayton Adrertiner.

As I have recently experienced its bineful effects, I think I
cannot do better than give you full particulars of my case for
the benefit of others that might get into the same trouble. In
November last, I attended a sale uude- an espcution from the
sheriff. I bought many articles and also the eating of the
roots, hay, and straw. At tho conclusion of the sile, I in-
quired of the auctioneer if there would be any risk in ray
bringing stock, &o., on the place to eat the keep. He told me
he would refer to the law on the subject, and write me which
he did, saying that I might send anything on to the premises,
that I should be perfectly safe, that no one could distrain upon
my goods, or anytliiug that I bought at the sale, not even the
landlord. Consequently I sent fifteen head of cittle, &c., and
commenced consuming the roots, &c. I also saw the tenant,
his wife, and son, all of whom assured me they were goin:i- to
keep on the farm as before. I also saw the agent, and asked him
if it was correct that they were going to st-iy on, and he tol I
me it was so. Having afterwards heard some little talk tiiat the
tenant would not stay on, I thought I would s; e the agent
again. Ididso. I asked him again if it was true t lat
the tenant was going to remain on the farm. His answer wis
" Yes," and that the father was going to pay the rent, and that
he had drawn out a fresh agreement for the tenant to sign.
A few days after this last assurance, I found all my keep,
cattle, implements, &c., seized by the landlord for rent. At
the sale I gave the auctioneer a list of the things belonging to
me, and also a written protest not to sell tliein, but they did
sell the roots, hay, straw, cart, and other implements belong-
iiig to me and kept the money. By the above proceedings
there was a loss to me of some £70 to £S'). Some of your
readers will say I ought not have given them the chance of
selling my things. True, but I was misled by the assurances
of the auc'ioneer, the tenant, his family, and the agent. My
loss, although a heavy one, I hope to redeem in time, but those
that have sold my goods have a sin to answer for, which, if
not efficed in this world, they will certainly have to pay the
penalty of in the next. Perhaps some of our learned teachers
will enlighten ns a liifle more upon the latter part of the sub-
ject.— W. G. Walters.

NOT TO BE TAKEN IN.— For my own part, ever since
I have not only believed in ghosts but quaked at the thoughts
of them. Here is the story : — A young Frenchman who had
lost his betrothed on the eve of marriage, believed he saw her
spirit every night in her bridal dress, llis friends to shew hina
the folly of his belief, dres-ed a twin-sister of the deceased in a
dress precisely similar and placed her at the head of the
widowed bridegroom's bed, exactly at the hour the spirit came.
He looked up and crving out, 'A/, del.' en voila deux ! fell
back dead on his pillow. — ilayfair.

THE SECOND ANNOYANCE.— A man had just buried
his w fe and was in gre-it grief. As he returr.ed from the
funeral with a friend, the latter tried to console him by various
platitudes, but in vain. At last he snggested that a good
dinner might be acceptable, and prevailed upon the widower to
enter a rest urant. Oy.ifers were ordered, and the disconsolate
widower unfortunately got hold of a s'ale one. " Horrid ! "
said he, with a sickly smile, " it never rains but it pours.
This is the second aunojance this week," — Examiner,

40G

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

THE FARMERS' A.LLIANOE.

" Help thyself, and God will kelp ihee^'

TG THE EDITOR OF THE MARK LANE EXPRESS.

Sir, — If agricullurists are wise and true to themselves,
tlity will rousefroin their lethariiy and give hearty support
to 'he Fanners' Alliance, which has been started for their
ben lit, rememberiag that union is strength.

They must do more than merely approve. They must
contribute liberally to defray the necessary heavy expeuses,
as a national orgniisatiou of the kind can never attain
success without sufficient funds to work it. Our country
friends should bear in mind that God helps those who
help themselves, but that there is no hope for such as do
not. If they fail to embrace the opportunity of combina-
tion now offered and refuse to fall into the ranks, they
deserve to forfeit all claim to sympathy, even should
their condition go from bad to worse. They must no
longer " run with the hare and hunt with the hounds."
Having been a farmer myself, and having from my youth
upwards been occupied in the study and practice of
h isbandry and the managemeut of landed property, I
claim a right to speak frankly, and this is my apology
should any be necessary.

I observe that one of the objects of the Alliance is
"To secure the better representation of tenant-farmers in
Parliament." Now, Sir, this is a matter of the most
vital importance, agriculture having but one represen-
tative at present iu the House of Commons — Mr. Clare
Sewell Read— and he hardly did his duty when Mr.
Blennerhassett introduced his motion for abolishing the
Law of Distress. I fear the member for South Norfolk
is tryiug to serve two masters, believing " all the world's
a stage." Farmers have vast political powtr ;
but they seem afraid to use it. Moreover, they do not
appear to appreciate political organisation and combina-
tion sufficiently. Further, they have not a proper esti-
mate of theirown importance, since landowners could
not possibly do without them. Hitherto the great
snajority of "them have been driven like flocks of sheep to
the polling booths. Should the Alliance become a grand
sucress, which it certainly ought, we shall by-and-by see
farmers go to the poll perfectly free and uuconcerned to
vote for candidates of their own class and choosing.

I see no reason whatever why there should not be a
large number of farmers in the House. Until this is the
case there will be no relief for them, as landholding M.Ps.
represent only their own side of questions. It would be
wtU, however, that they did otherwise, and acted on the
noble and enlightened principle which the great Lord
Leicester followed out so advantageously, namely, " That
liberal conduct towards the tenant will ever be found to
be the most beneficial to the landlord." This is unques-
tionably so.

I should like to see more independence among farmers.
They generally show far too much servility to the land-
lords and agints, and only speak out boldly at clubs,
market dinners, and rural tire sides. They seem con-
stantly apprehensive of the wrath of the squire. There
are exceptions no doubt, but they are few. It is not
honourable— it is unjust and ineicusable — for landlords
to coerce tenants to vote contrary to their feelings and
interests.

I have read ynur able essay on the " Relations of Land-
lord and Tenant" with great interest and profit. Every
farmer, and every landlord too, should peruse it carelully,
as it shows in a remarkable manner the grievances which
farmers justly complain o*", and ckarly points out the
many hindrances to agricultural prosperity.
I am, Sir, &c.,

1). G. F. Macdonald, LL.D.

THE PRESS ON THE FARMERS'
ALLIANCE.

The following are a few extracts out of a very large
number of leading articles which have appeared on the
Fanners' Alliance : —

The Daily News says : —

It would not be possible for the English and the Irish tenants
to have a plan of opTations entirely in commou. But we
understmd that the Tenant Farmers' Al'iance is constituted
on a priuc'pie of limited liability. The English teuant farmers
go with the Irish only so far as their interests, or at least
their demands, are the same. For any further demand of the
Irish land reformers they are not to be held responsible. This

is reasonable, and ouiht to be found practicable

AVhateverthn diffl;iilties may prove hereafter, the fact remains
that snch a league has been formed. It would not be easy to
point to any fact more siinificant of the change which is
coming over " tlie aaricultural mind" of this country. If
the Tenant Farmers' Alliance can be made to work, it will
doubtless be followed by new comhinations which would have
been thonsht impossible a very few years ago. The rural
labourer has Ions been up in agitation. He asks for the
franchise, and talks of equal rights. The teuant farmer now
begins to form alliances intended to act upon Parlianieat, for
which he does not seek the sanction ot his landlord. The
very experiment, even it it should not succeed, is in itself an
important fact.

The Standard remarks : —

The Alliance is formed, wp are told, for "the removal of
hintlrancps to agricultural prosperity," and the " preliminary
programme" consists of a number of proposals. First and
foremost, we have that on which all the others may be said
practically to depend, namely, "the better representation of
tenant firraers in Parliament." When this is effected, it will
be the object of the Alliance to obtain increased security for
capi'al invested in agricultural improvements, to abolish the
class privileges involved in the laws of hypothec and distress ;
to promote the reform of the Game Laws, to rever^e all legal
presuTfiptions which operate unfairly against tenant farmers,
and to secure to rat'-payers their legitimate share in county
government, and a lair apportionmeut of local burdens. The
programme, of course, is worded in very general terms, and
tliere are few of the above objects to which, in the abstract,
any reasonable man could.take exception. But the " bearing "
of these observations lies in the " application " of them, as
Mr. Buusby would have said ; and as we know pretty certainly
how the) would be applied by the uncompromising Reformers
from whom they come, we are in no danger of being misled by
their plausible and innocent exterior. At the same time, it
may be readily allowed that several of the articles we have
quoted need not of necessity be indicative of ulterior purposes,
and that many tenant farmers may support them in perfec-
good faith, and with no desire beyond that of bettering tlieir
own position in the station of life in wiiich they find them-
selves placed.

The Echo states : —

The newly-formed Tenant Farmers' Alliance is already
recniving an amount of support which must be most en-
couraging to its promoters. Sjme few years back an attempt
was made by a few advanced agriculturists to form a Tenant
Farmers' League, but the time was not ripe, and the effort
proved abortive. Since then the farmers have learned some
bitter lessons in the school of adversity. To what conclusioa
many of them are coming letters in onr cohimng have fre(iuently
borne witness. INow that the opportunity for combination is
afforded, under leaders who are prepared to fight for definite
princifiles, and not use tlieir position to make themselves the
election hacks of a Government, all those who have, here or
elsewhere, expressed their dissatisfaction at the neglect of
a^iricultural grievances ou^ht promptly to fall into tlie ranks.
The agricultural labnurers have shown that it is possible to
carry on an active agitation in the rural districts, and farmers,
who more frequently coigregate together in the market towns,
should ha»e still less difficulty in the matter. Tlie names of
Mr. James Howard, Mr. J. VV. Barclay, M.F., and Mr. W. E.
Bear are a sulVicient guarantee that the new association is
ready to do its work well, if the farmers are oiily wise enough
to support it heartily.

Tbe Spectafor says : —

The farmers are sb.owing a uew disposition to help them-
selves, instead of waiting to see who will l>elp them. A
Farmers' illliance is now in course of forraatiou, the founders
ol which are able, at all events in their own estimation, to
pronounce, witliout the aid of any Ro}al Commission,
whether the causes wiiich have led to the present depression
can be remedied by legislation. Of the six objects forming
the preliminary programme which is to be submitted to ihe
members tor approval, five can only be carried out with legis-
lation, while the remaining one is intimately associated with
iegislatiou. Tlie five reforms which it is proposed tiiat tlie
Association should endeavour to obtain are — security for the
capital of tennnts invested in tiie improvement of their hold-
ings, the abolition of class privileges involved in the Law of
Distress and Hvpotlrec, the relorm of the Game Laws, the
alteration of all legal presumptions which operate unfairly
against tenant-farmers, and the concession to ratepayers of
their legitimate share in county government. This programme
bears the names of Mr. James Howard, Mr. James Barclay,
and Mr. Bear, as representing the Provisional Committee, and
it is said that the promises of support wliich h;ive been re-
ceived from tenant-'''armers througliout the country are very
numerous. Certsinly, if we may judge from the reports of
■the meetings of various locil associations which iiave lately
been iield, this programme is not at all in advance of the de-
mands which the tenant-farmers are prepared to put forward,
and if the Association is active, it ought to have no difficulty
in effecting its remaining object, on whicli, indeed, all the
rest depend — the better represeat&tion of tenant-farmers in
Parliament.

Under the heading of ''The Farmers oa the War
Path," iI/«y/(7»- observes : —

The formation of " The Farmers' Alliance," a combination
of the farmers and agricultural reformers ot England, Scot-
lind, and Ireland, is a striking sign ot the times, and one that
will be ominous in the eyes of those who have so persistently
opposed all efforts made for the improvement of the tenant-
farmers' condition. At first sight, an alliance of British with
Irish farmers may appear disadvantageous to the former, as
•there is a strong prejudice in Eiiglaod aud ScotUud against
the " platform " of the Irish tenants. But when it is
remembered that there are sixty members for Ireland who
usually vote as one man on any importiint land rjiiestion, while
the English farmers are represented in Parliament by men who
are the moat determined obstructives to agricultural reform,
the disadvantage seems to be quite the other way. It is also
to beob^erved that, according to the agreement arrived at by
the leaders ol tbe a.lliance, the objf-cts to be worked for are
only such as can be consented to by the farmers of the three
countries, and the peculiar demands of the lish tenants have
been left out of the programme of the Asiociatioii.

The Nonconformist says : —

Tiie new association could not have been started at a time
more suitable than the present. Farmers iiave ruin staring
taern in the face, and the nation has a permanent ayricultural
decline to fear. That some fundamental revolution of llie
conditions ot farming is absolutely necessary, if the finest
agriculture in the world is not to f-<ll into decidence, daily
becomes more generally admitted. Farnier?, therefor-', now
li-ive enough to rouse them to spirited action, and the public
generally have reason, hitherto but partially recognised, for
insisting on the reformation of our land system; and it will
be stranije indeed if the Farmers' Alliance does not meet with
such a libernl measure ot support as will enable its eariiest
and energetic leaders to make it a power in the country.

The North British Agriculturist sajs: —

The movement promises to be one of very great importance,
and deserfes the cordial support of all farmers.

THE FARMEU'S MAGAZINE. 4o7

LONDON CORN TRADE ASSOCIATION.

DEVON COUNTY AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.
—The council of this association has made an arrangement
with Mr. Bernard Dyer, F.C.S. (the Society's Consulting
Chemist), under whii;h he will, for the future, perlorm all
analyses lor members on the same reduced scale of fees as that
now adopt d by the Royal Agriculiural Society,

The first annual meeting of this Association was held ou
May 13, at the Baltic S i!e Room, and was well attended.
The chair was occupied by Mr. John Ross, and among those
present were Mr. Mijolier, Mr. Power, Mr. J. Kressmali Mr
S. ivalli, Mr. McDonnell, Mr. \V. II irris, Mr S PaNlor Mr'
F. Lpndeirs, Jlr. Nisbet, i\Ir. W. 11. Pien, Mr. Hall, M-'. r"
D. Reid, Mr.M. G. M'tvroijardato, Mr. R. Reid Mr Valiere'
Mr. Wallace, Mr. T. Usbaine, Mr. R. 11. J:.mes, &c. '

The Hon. Secretars: (Mr. Kressman) then read tlio
Report and Bnlance Sheet.

^ The Chaiuman said he had now the ple'^snre of moving,
"That the Report and the Statement, of Accounts now read
be received aud adopted.^' He thought they would all agree
with him that, considering that that was the first year of the
Society's existence, when a great many expenses had tj be
incurred in connection with its formation, the balance-sheet
might fairly be regarded as satisfactory. It was true that the
balance in hand was cot very large, but that was not of much
conspqiieuce. The expenses had been kept down through the
kindness of several members of the Committee lu lending part
of their ofiices for meetings ofthe Association, and particularly
through the kiuduess of one of their vice-president-, Mr,
Power, through whose liberality the Association was at pre-
sent living rent-free in an ottice upstairs. This arrangement
might continue for two or three months longer, but it could
not be permanent. The deputation gave a succinct account of
the working of the Association during the past year. As
regarded standard samples, his experience as an arbitrator had
given him a greater power than was possessed by many mem-
bers of the Association, as to what was the average sample of
particular kinds of grain at the time of shipment; aud he
thought that among the objects for which the Society was
founded there was none more important than that of settling
standards to which an arbitrator might refer. They had
hitherto been only partially suceesslul in that respect. It
would he seen from the Report that contracts had been passed
by the Executive Committee for the Ea4 Indian wheat con-
tract, the Americin grain contract, and the B nek S-a
" Tali Quail," and " Sea-damaged contracts." The Ea-„t
Indian wheat contract had been, as the Report said, univer-
sally accepted, and he hoped that all who were engHged in that
branch of the trade would find that coutract advantageous.
The Commiaee had written to different grain Boards ia
Amerie^, requesting them to send stan lards ol their condition,
but with ihe exception of the Snn Francisco grain Bjard,
which had sent standards in the most handsome manner there
liad been no response. Therefore they had not yet been able
to make complete arrangements with respect to sample< of all
kinds of grain. The Committee would, liowever, continue i«
give their attention to the matter, and would do all they could
to collect standard samples for future guidance. During th«
past year a great deal of labour had bnei! bestowed by" the
Committee upon the formation of the contracts. The most
important clauses were arranged aud re-arranged, and the
subject was discussed over and over again with a view of
setiling contracts which would be tquitable on both side».
The Calcutta grain contract had lou;< been in use, but the
same thing could not he said of the American grain contract.
The growing of the contract with respect to t'le Black Sea
cargoes had given rise to a litile difference of opinion. The
clauses had been discussed in the fullest and most practical
manner. The Committee issued the cii tract to the trade
with confidence, and they hoped that any feeling of opposition
that might exist would gradually vanish, and tluit that con-
tract would gradually take its place with the others. Assum-
ing, as he did, that the euthusi.sm nunifested last year had
not lacked, lie would ask the meeting to continue to support
the Committee. They had not hitherto been able to get any
contributions except such as were of a trifling character.
They had received a little from their contracts, and a liitle
from their standard samples; but, apart from these, they were
entirely dependent upon the subscriptions of members, and,
assuming, as reported, that if they all wished the Association
to go on he must ask lor increased support.

Mr. W. J. Harris, in seconding the motion, also made an
appeal for more pecuniary support, and expressed his belief
that if this were not wanting the Association could render
great service to the trade.
Th3 motion was then put and carried.

408

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

Mr. S. W. Keene said Tour gentlemen now retired by rota-
tion from the Expcutive Comraittee, and he liad to move thut
three of thpin be re-electpd, namely, Mr. Jolin Ross, Mr.
Jolin Aste, Mr. Thomas U.shorne, and to propose a now name
for tlie fourth vacancy, Mr. Charles Routh. He then went
Oi to expliin thnt Mr. Vslieri and Mr. M. G. Mavrogardato,
wlio formed part of the Committee had refused to stand be-
cause they did not approve of a portion of the Black Sea
contract, and he expressed a hope that they would rejoin the
Committee at no distant day.

Mr. Majolier having seconded the motion it vpas put and
carried,

Mr. Valieri then explained at length whv he had objected
to the Black Sea contract, and why he had felt precluded from
continuing to act on the Committee. Having consulted a
nuiuber of merchants connected witli the Black Sea he had
found that tbey concurred in his objection to the wording of
that contract. The matter was discussed at great length and
there was an unanimous feeling (hat the '' new clause which
had been introduced into that contract, and which he believed
had never been introduced in any contract before, must be
struck out if they were to act with the Association. The
words used were "shipped in good order an'l condition." He
proposed to add "due allowance being mude for the season's
crops and time of shipment," but the Committee refused to
accept that modification, and as he felt very strongly on the
point he could not consent to yield.

A lonff discussion en«ued in which Mr. Power, Mr. S. A.
Ralli, Mr. Majolier, Mr. Harris, and other geutlpraen took
part, most of tiie speakers endeavouring to convince Mr.
Valieri that his objection was unfounded, and two or three
conteudinar that wi;h the words which he proposed to add the
clause would be more against sellers than it was as it stood, it
being also remarked that the clause was necessary to guard
asrainst a class of merchants who, being totally unlike Mr.
Valieri in that respect, were apt to mislead importers in Lon-
don. Ultimately Mr. Valieri and Mr. Mavrogardato, who
also spoke, were pressed to rejoin the Comraittee on the
understanding that the question would be fully reconsidered
in conference with those who were most interested on both
Bides — sellers and buyers.

A GALLOWS BALL.— A singular festivity took place in
New Kent, Virginia, the other dny. It was termed a "gallows
ball," and its occasion was the execution of two negroes,
Patrick Smith and Julius Christian, for murder. The hang-
ing attracted iiuudreds from every part of the country, and the
negroes, who came in large numbers clothed in holiday attire,
made a " gala day " of it. In the evening they determined to
have a ball in a lar?e barn. The band consisted of four banjo
players and one fiddler. At midnight the orchestra struck up
"The Mississippi Lawyer," and the dancing began. It was
carried on with great spirit until about two o'clock in the
morninsr, when an old Vondow negress suddenly appeared in
the middle of the scene, holding' in her hand a large bundle
tied up in a red hankerchief. The music at once stopped, and
after certain incantations the old wom;in informed the
assemblage that she had the ropes with which the men were
hanged, and that after she had touched any bit of it that
piece would secure the possessor against the evil designs of any
person who touched them or poisoned them. She then cut
up the ropps in small bits, over which she sprinkled something
from an old jug, and sold each bit for 50 cen's. There was
Buch a demand for these pieces of rope that a fight was the
consequence, and those who could not get a piece " acted like
fiends," begging for a thread only. The old woman told them
nothing else would effpct the charm except small particles of
the clothing in which the men were buried. A rush thereupon
took place to the grave under the gallows for the purpose of
disinterring the bodies and bringing back the clothes. The
Isirge party who undertook tliis task soon, however, returned
in iiorror to the ball-room, declaring that they had seen the
two men who were hanged walking round their graves. It
was subsequently ascertained that the viiit of the dancers to
the grave had frightened off two men, who had come to d iff up
the hodie.sfor the doctors. Notwitlistanding the drawb icks
the ball was a ffreat success, the old negress announcing tiiat
all who danced at the " Gallows hall " would be able to dance
10 long as they lived, no matter if they lived to be ninety -one.

A HRD'JE TO GROW UNDER TREES.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MARK LANE EXPRESS.

Sir, — The subject of Mr. E. Cutler's letter has engaged
my attention more or less for thirty years, and many-
trial plantings of trees and shrubs have been made here
expresssly to test their relative capability to endure with-
out harm the shade of trees and walls towering above
them. The collective result is that in selecting materials
for covering the ground in places heavily shaded — whether
to form hedges or ornamental plantations — the choice may
range over a variety of subjects. The common thorn
fCrafccgus oxycanthaj does not thrive if heavily shaded,
but we find a capital substitute for it in the mynobalan or
cherry plum fPninus ccraslferaj , a vigorous early grow-
ing tree with leafage of a cheerful light green colour.
This has been largely propagated by Messrs. Ewing, of
Norwich, who can supply it in quantity at a cheap rate.

Amongst hundreds of subjects that have been tried
under the heavy shade of elms, chestnuts, and other trees
that have a habit of making the ground bare beneath
them, we have found the best for the pur])ose to be com-
mon holly, common yew, and the beautiful though cheap
holly-leaved burberry (Bcrbcris aqu'ifoViaJ . These are
all well adapted to plant under elms in a clay soil, and
are, when well established, proof '' against the inroads of
youth."

There is perhaps more said than need be about the
injurious effects of "the drip of trees." It is the want
of drip very often that kills the underwood, for the
ground covered by big trees is often as dry as dust all the
summer, and the small stuff has to live on what it can
catch when the leaves are down. In our trial cultures
we have had the heaviest losses in seasons characterised by
dry springs ; whereas, when there has happened heavy
rain just before the big trees came into leaf, our under
shrubs have borne the after droughty summer bravely.

And there is another matter I would like to mentioa
while the pen is in my hand. The soil shaded by big
trees is often in a considerable degree exhausted and much
occupied with decaying roots. Those become clothed
with the mycelium of fungi, which spreads in the shape
of white threads, and soon takes hold of the roots of sub-
jects newly planted, and exercises a deadly influence. This
underground growth of fungi kills more underwood than
drip, or shade, or starvation, and of course, is especially
prevalent in land that has been long occupied with trees.
Therefore, ir. planting under trees the ground should be
well prepared, dead roots and masses of mildew should be
thrown out and burned, and a good dressing of muck
should be dug in to give the newly-planted trees a pro-
mising start ia life.

I am, Sir, &c.,

Sto7:e Kewinfjton, Shirley Hibberd.

May, 15, 1879.

AN UNSUSPECTED PERIL— A gentleman who had
spent some days in the region of the coal-oil wells, in Pen-
sylvania, says ttiat in his opinion the Government ought to
interfere at once, and put a stop to further pumping and
boring for oil. He is quite certain the oil is being drawn
through these wells froij the bearings of the earth's axis, and
that the earth will cease to turn when the lubrication ceases !
—Echo.

TKNANT FARMERS IN THE MIDLANDS. —A
London ccrrespondence says : — " The state of affairs in the
midUnd counties is such as to excite great anxiety among the
landlords. So many farms are unlet that the incomes of the
owners of property have been in some instances largely
reduced, the tithes and the rates swa'lowing a considerable
portion of tlie rents actually received. Some alarmists
anticijiate a permanent reduction of 50 per cent, in the letting
value of many farms iu the midland counties." — Eeenitig
Standard,

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

409

NEW ZEALAND AS A FIELD FOE,
FARMING EMIGRANTS.

[The following valuable informatiou in relation to farming
in New Zealand has been sent in reply to a series of
questions addressed by us to our old contributor,
•« J S " Mr. John Simpson, now of St. John s Col-
lege" Auckland, New Zealand, was for many yea.-s
mana-ei- of an estate in Ireland, and his articles on
pracircal farming; in our columns during that period
were marked by great knowledge and good judgment.
Our readers may place reliance upon anything that he
tells them of the country in which he is at present
residing.]

I. Would I advise any one to coxte out here ?

No • for two reasons. First, because I made up my

mind before leaving the United Kingdom that I would
never be the means of inducing any one to emigrate,
whether relative or acquaintance, for fear of after-regrets.
Second, as I intend returning myself, it would look rather
out of place my advising others to do wliat I could not or
would not do mvself. Notwithstanding this, I will give
the required information in the most unbiassed manner,
and your friend mav depend on its truthfulness as com-
pletely as if he was on the spot, and had personally col-
lected the information, judging for himself accordingly.

II. Does Farming fay well ?— Evidently, by what
I can hear from the working and gentlemen farmers
about here, there is not ranch money to be accumulated
by any branch of farming; but an industrious man with
capital may acquire property, both in land and stock,
which will enable him to live in comfort and inde-
pendence, and be a valuable inheritance to his fiimily
years hence, when the population has quadrupled, which
it will not take so very long to d... The great point m
New Zealand is, that every man possessed of health, per-
severance, and industrious habits can have a home of his
own, where he needs call no man master, and where he
can have all the comforts of life, untrammelled by restric-
tions as to the working of his land, a;ame laws, or any of
the burdens or grievances of the old country. This very
facility of obtaining a comfortable living to some extent
retards the development of the country, as great numbers
of people, when they find themselves in moderate comfort
and independence, make no further effort to improve their

position.

III. Modes op Farjiing.— Small farmers possessing,
say, from 50 to 150 acres, mostly keep a dairy, growing
green oats and Indian corn, which can be had in succes-
sion all the year round, and does admirably instead of
turnips or mangels, not only during the winter months
but during dry weather in summer when the pastures are
burned up, a time when such a supply is actually of more
importance than in winter. The produce is mostly made
into cheese, for which an average of 7d. per lb._ is ob-
tained. Near towns butter is made, for which during the
spring and summer from 9d. to Is. per lb. is obtained,
and in autumn and winter from Is. 4d. to Is. 9d. per lb.
Such men have a field or two of wheat and a few acres of
potatoes, the land being laid down again with clovers and
grasses, without manure of any kind during the course,
and sometimes they take four, five, or six crops of wheat
in succession from the same field. Over 200 acres, some
of them have all sheep, keeping every acre in grass, and
growing nothing that will involve labour, not even a field
of meadow-hay. This is a bad system, and engenders
lazv, idle habits ; and the land being overcrowded with
stock for the sake of a big clip of wool, soon becomes
poisoned, and the young sheep are hard to bring through
the rainy season, many dying, which are just left to rot
where they fall, mouths after the deaths being quite able

to be counted by the little heaps of bones scattered over
the fields, showing very powerfully how labour is avoidei
in all couutiies where it is scarce and dear. Sheep-
firming has paid badly this year, wool being so low — from
lOd. to Is. for washed, 7d. to 8d. for wool in the grease,
and 6d. per lb. for lamhs' wool. Splendid lambs have
been sold for 8s. each— in fact the very pick of the flock-
running down to 2i. 6J. for middling and inferior.
Larger farmers combine cattle and sheep farming, pro-
viding nothing for the winter but a field or two of hay to
throw on the grass during the spring, or they may grow
a field of oats and cut it green for hay, which makes
splendid fodder. It is astonishing how little labour these
men employ ; on a thousand-acre farm there may be only
two men, and these almost continually on horseback,
dashing about like the wind. They are splendid horsemen,
quite as good as Mexicans, and with their long stock-
whips, which they crack like a pistol, they almost take
a bit out of the hide of a refractory bullock. A
neighbour of ours, Mr. William Taylor, owns 12,000 acres
in fee ; what you would call his home farm being here,
and consisting of 1,000 acres, carrying 2,500 sheep and a
lot of cattle and horses, and the remainder in the valley
of the VVaikato, about sixty miles from A.uckland. All
this property is managed by himself and sons, the latter
being splendid horsemen, and fashionable gentlemen as
well. Mr Taylor, although a very wealthy man, and a
director of the Bank of New Zealand (you can see his
name in the Times any day), says this vast property-
makes very little money, but will become exceedingly-
valuable by the cxtennion of the railway system. He
feeds splendid bullocks— three-quarter bred Shorthorns
aud pure Herefords — and these animals, weighing 8 cwt.
each, make only about £12 on the average. He sold
great numbers of sheep this summer, after clipping, to
the boiling-down establishment, at 2s. each, and many of
them were very good animals ; but for cast ewes, no
matter how good, their unavoidable fate is to be melted
down.

IV. Getting a Farm. — There is no difficulty in get-
ting a farm almost anywhere, but really good land is
not often in the market, and must be waited for and
watched, as 50 acres of real good volcanic land, is better
than 500 of middling scoria, or indifferent clay. The
farmer who I have already mentioned as having had oa
a pet field 55 bushels of wheat per acre, would not part
with his farms, which is his own property, at £50 per
statute acre, and he has G3 acres or thereabouts. Six pounds
an acre is about the lowest price for which laud worth
having can be obtained, and it will not be all cleared at that,
but there may be a house on it, some offices, and a few-
fenced fields about the house. Ten pounds an acre will buy
fair feeding land, and by chance all migtt be cleared and
fenced at that price, but not often, although the whole
money down, to a needy man, sometimes secures a bar-
gain. A farm of 463 acres was bought the other day
by a Scotchman I know at £15 an acre, and is considered
worth the money although no particular bargain, one-
fourth in cash, and the remainder on mortgage at 7 per
cent., which is easier than bank terms, but still is a con-
siderable burden. I have clipped out the advertisement
of this farm, which will show you how such things are
described. I may mention that this very Scotchman in-
cautiously went too far into the country last year, in his
anxiety to settle, and was driven off" by the Maories,
after ploughing and laying down to grass aud clover 80
acres. He got about 600 acres very cheap, and had paid
an instalment, but the man who sold could not give a
good title, and hence the interference of the Maories from
whom it had been bought honestly enough; but the deeds
were imperfectly signed, a common defect with the
Aborigines, and as they almost always regret parting with

F F

4l0

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINF.

their land, if Ihcrc is a flaw, they arc sure to take aclvan-
t ige o' it.

V. Best paut of tue Island. — The Proviuce of
Auckland alone contains ITi million acres, and, possess-
iug a mai;nilicent climate, is decidedly the favourite with
those who can afford to choose a particular locality. The
whole island is very well described by comparison thus : —
North Auckland, say from Whangarcie and the Bay of
Islands to Cape Maria is like Spain, South Auckland
comprising the Waikate, Piak, Tamanga, and Poverty
E.iy, France ; South of the North Island, and North of
the South Island, En^laad ; and Otago, and Westland
very fairly represents climate of Scotland, as it has frost
aud snow enough to please any Aberdonian. In any
part of either island farms can be had in abundance of
all sizes, and if a man wants a larger place than he has
money to pay for, he can always borrow on mortgage,
by paying 2 "f or a fourth in cash. In stocking but little
money is recjuired, as will be seen by the prices quoted,
bat even in this, money or stock will be gladly advanced
by salesman and commission agents, who have the banks
at their back, and are only too glad to be asked, but for
all that, happy is the man, who keeps out of debt, al-
though at the same time, it is perfectly consistent with
good management to borrow a reasonable sum. Land
is got on lease occasionally ; but the practice of hiring
land is as yet the exception, and not the rule, some of
the best farmers I know being men paying a large reut
however, and their practice, in having wheat and potatoes
in laige quantity, and using bone dust, is an example to
the districts where they live,

YI. Climate — In the north Island simply delicious,
particularly north of Lake Zaupo, but all exceedingly
healthy for Euro]^>eans, and cattle can live out through-
out the winter aud do well.

VII. Safety of Life and Property.— Not more
so in the world, and there being little or no real poverty,
aud a living easily made, there is little temptation to
plunder, and the population is as yet too small and
scattered to contain or hide disreputable characters, and
the law is also well administered, by a splendid body of
police and resident magistrate in each district. With
regard to the natives, they are very qniet people about
Auckland, working for the farmers, fishing, and selling
fruit, fowls, fish and mushrooms about the town, in the
quietest and most unobtrusive manner possible. I speak
Irom experience in this as well as in everything I have
already said, as we live near the native settlement
of " Oraker " a splendid block of land adjoining
the Pacific, which they could never be got to part
with, and are hemmed in by the whites. These people
live mostly on pork, potatoes, sharks (which they catch
in great numbers), and a kind of shell-fish called " pi-
pis," which they collect in immense quantity, wash the
shells clean of sand, then cook until the shells open, take
out the contents, and string them on thread of the native
flax, hang them on the fences to dry, when they keep
good for months. There is a pi-pi bank just under our
house, where a party of men and women often come, and
remain a week or ten days, working most industriously
between the tides, and sleeping round the oven, which is
a deep hole in the ground, heaped up with pebbles, which
are made red hot by a fire at the bottom, covered with
bags, and sand heaped over all, so that no heat is dissi-
pated or lost. This is an admirable oven, and fish, pork,
potatoes, and herbs, such as tender thistles and fern-
roots, are cooked by it in the most delicious manner, the
flavour of the different articlca being thoroughly incorpo-
rated by the confined steam. The ground all round is
well warmed by such a huge Are continually going for
the preparation of the pi-pis, and the whole company of
men, women, and children, when uight comes, just roll

themselves up in a blanket, a ad in a circle, with their
feet to the fire, sleep the sleep of the just, until the
returning tide calls them again to their labours. The
only inconvenience their presence creates with us is their
borrowing habits, the women borrowing tea, sugar, bread,
aud articles of wearing ajiparel, and the men a boat
mostly, these things being a great temptation to them.
When it becomes tiresome, however, and they are refused
a couple of times they cease coming, and altogether they
conduct themselves in the most good-humoured manner.
la the interior they are sterner, and possess more of the
nature of the savage than those who are living surrounded
by white men, and no stranger to the country should
ever think of settling amongst them, or of buying laud
direct, as he is sure to be the loser, as I have already
given you an instance. There is no necessity for doing
so, as Government negotiates the purchase of native
lands in immense blocks, taking plenty of time (even
years) to get all the tribal signatures, aud then selling
in suitable sections to the settlers, giving a Government
title, which can never be gainsaid or annulled; so that
any man trying to purchase a farm from the natives
direct is a fool for his pains, and pays dearly for his greed
or silliness. They are anxious enough for the money,
but when that's received do not like to part with the land,
and after a few months bring forward a few families of
the same tribe, who they assert had an equal claim, and
either require more money, or instant resignation of
all claim, and, being the strongest party up there, they
are not slow to enforce their demand, driving off all
stock on the instant as a preliminary to what is to follow,
and 40 or 50 tattooed men, with no dress on save a shawl
or half blanket strapped round their loins, coming across
a man's fields with hostile intentions, are no bad induce-
ment to cut and run. To sum up this query, the native
element in New Zealand is no hindrauce to tiie safety or
prosperity of the white man, and need deter no man from
coming, a fact of which one finds the truth almost the
instant he steps on shore, as the first thing that catches
his eye is groups of tattooed men and women sitting ou
the wharfs, steps of hotels and public buildings, or on
the pavement, smoking, laughing, chatting in Maori,
eating jiumpkins and melons, or offering such things for
sale, and he sees instinctively that the day of danger from
these people is past, accepting the fact on the instant by
his own judgment.

Vlll. KI^'D OF Business. — Undoubtedly a man
possessing a trade, such as builder, engineer, carpenter,
draper, or grocer, and £3,000 can do well ; but to enter
on any trade in New Zealand, or embark in any unknown
business means bankruptcy sure and certain. Rents are
terribly high, a country hotel even, of any standing,
commanding a rent of from £12 to £15 a week, and an
hotel in Auckland the other day, the United Service,
was let at £12 a week for 21 years, £3,700 in cash, and
the tenant to build a large wing at his own expense,
which he has now got nearly finished. If a farmer, a
farm is the only opening which affords him security for
his capital, and he must, wages being so high and worth
a man's while saving, lend a hand at all opera-
tions himself, and make his family do the same, or he
will scarcely succeed ; and it really pays well to do so,
and in a new country it is no lowering of caste to do it,
and is much pleasanter than most people suppose, and
when a man and his family, by doing their own work,
can save the price of two or three men and women
servants, perhaps amounting to £5 a week, the fatigue of
labour is forgotten. At 5 per cent. — the interest givea
by the banks — a man's money is fructifying while he is
looking about; and, above all things, he should be in no
hurry settling till he knows the country and can, to a
great extent, judge for himself.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

411

Conclusion. — New Zealand is a couatry people sooa
get loud of oa accouat of its splendid climate, the abun-
dance and cheapness of the necessaries of life, and the
feeling of security, comfort, and independence which
seems to iioat iu the air, and becomes part aud parcel
of a man's spirit almost at once, at least as soon as the
home-sickness wears otf, and he can look about him. Few
people care about returuiuE; to the old country for good
after haviusj established themselves comfortably here, and
most 01 those who do so return again, finding life insup-
portable in the old country, friends probably being dis-
persed, and their habits aud very modes of thinking
changed. Most people, however, are very foud of taking
a trip for a year or so to the land of their birth, fiadinK
pleasuw, 1 daresay, as much as anything, iu showing their
children the old and familiar scenes, and introducing them
to relatives and old friends, and young people themselves
are mad to see the Imd they have heard so much of, and
nearly every ship and mail carries away a number of pas-
sengers of this kind, many of them substantial and well-to-
do nouv, and who a very few years ago left home very
humble people indeed. The people about here wonder that
I myself should ever think of going back to a country
where poverty and want cannot be kept out of sight even
of the Palace, where independence in a humble man is
simple impertinence, and where a living has actually to bs
struggled for ; to say nothing of the severity of the winter,
a thing unknown up here, frost being seldom ever seen,
snow never, unless on the tops of very high mountains.
They say if I do go I am almost certain to return amongst
them again, but they also say that if I remain two years
or so longer, I will laugh at my folly in ever thinking of
leaving such a beautiful couulry, where life, aided by the
bounteous gift of nature, both" by salubrious climate and
fertile soil, is so thoroughly enjoyable.

THE FARMER'S ALLIANCE.

We insert a fail copy of a circular issued by the Alliance
because it is possible that some of our readers have not
yet seen it.

Temporary otfiees. 265, Strand, London, W.C.
May, 1879.

Sir. — As the results of preliminary Conferences recently held
in London, we have the liouour to iufonn you that it has been
resolved to form an Alliance of Farmers and Agricultural
Reformers for the removal of hindrances to agricultural pros-
perity.

The following objects were agreed upon as forming the
preliminary programme of the Association, to be submitted to
a general coulereuee of members ior approval : —

1. To secure the better representation of tenant farmers in
Parliament.

2. To stimulate the improved cultivation of the land by
obtaining seciirity for the capital of tenants invested iu tlie
improvement of their holdings.

3. To encourage greater freedom in the cultivation of the
soil and the disposal of its produce.

4. To obtain tiie abolition of class priyileges involved in
the Laws of Distress and Hypothec.

5. To promote the reform of the Game Laws,

6. To obtain the alteration of all legal presumptions which
operate unfairly against tenant farmers.

7. To secure to ratepayers their legitimate share in
County Gjverument.

8. To obtain a fair apportionment of legal burdens between
landlord and teuaut.

It was resoUed that the Association should he called "The

Farmers Alliance."

A provisional commiltee was appointed, Mr. James
Howard, of Clapham-pirk, Bedfordshire, being cho.en Chnir-
man, Mr. J. W. BarcUy, M.P., for Forfarshire, and Mr. R.
V. B'lennerhassett, M.P.', vice-chairmen, and i\lr. William E.
Bear, of 265, Strand, W.C, Hon. Sec.

The minimum annual subscriptioa will be five shillings,
and the subscription for life membership five pounds.

The minimum subscription is fised at a small amount iu
order do enable everyone who approves ot the otijects of the
alliince to become a member ; but as the expenses of carrying
out those objects will be heavy, it is hoped that many wiio
j )iu tlie association will contribute in excess of the minimuui
subscription.

In order to meet the preliminary expenses incidental to the
organisation of the Alliance a fund for the purpose lias been
comnipnced. All who are willing to contribute are solicited
to fill up the form headed "Donation Fund" hereto annexefl,
aud to forward the amount of contribution to the honorary
secretary, who will return a receipt for the same.

If you sympathise with the objects of the Alliance you are
earnestly invited to become a member by filling up the auuexed
form headed " Membership," and forwarding yoar subscrip-
tion to the honorary srcretary. Only members will be
entitled to attend the general conference, and to take part in
the confirmation or revision of the programme and preliminary
arrangements.

Your services are further solicited in inviting your friends
and acfiuaintances to become members of the Alliance.

As the objects of the Alliance are such as will conduce to
the advantage of tlie nation at lar.;e, it is hoped that many
persons not direc ly conuected with agriculture will become
members, and otaerwise render assistence to the Associa-
tion.

The Alliance w'U not he responsible for the views or projects
of individal members or seoti>us of tlie members, but only for
the objects stated in its programme.

Signed on behalf of tlie nrovi ionial committee :
James Howaud, Chairman.
James W. B.UiCL.vY, M.e., ] ViccChairmen.
K P. Blennekhassett, M.P. )
William F. Bear, Hon. Sec.
Since the circular was printed Mr. James Odams has con-
sented to act as treasurer.

MEMBERSHIP.
I desire to become a Member of the Farmer's Alliance, and I

*atfree to pay annually a subscription of

*dgree to pay a life subscription of £5

(Signed) Name

Res dence

Post Town

County

* Please run your pea tlirough ono of tlieie lines, aud fill
up the other.

DONATION FUND.
I enclose herewith the sum of towards the Donation

Fund of the Farmer's Alliance.

(Signed) Naiuc

Resieence ,

Post Town ,

County

N.B.— Sub3criber.s will oblige by stating whether they
desire their names to appear in any list of members that may
be issued, or to be withlielil from publication.

Subscriptions and donations ishould be sent in the form of
checiues, or in that of 'Po-.t Ollice Orders payable at tha
Temple Bar Pobt Oflace, t j William E. Bear.

ENGLISH PATRONYMICS.— The word John supplies
us with so larfte a variety of these that we must needs preface
them with a briel account of the chief ways in which English
patronymics are formed. About six principal methods may
be reekoned. The first is thai in which the name itself is
used without ai.y addition, as in the instance of John Walter.
T he second is that iu which the simple name is used with the
addition of the .Mgu of the potsessive case, as in the instance
o f John Walters. The second is that in which the simple
name is used with tbeaddition of the word son, as in the
instance ol John WaUersor, These three methods deal with
the criginal name itself ; the three remaiuing mi thoda deal
with the diniiiiuiive. In the first, the diminutive i-- used
without as in the instance of John Watt or Watkui. In the
second, it is used with ti e sign of the po.?sessive case, as in
the instance of John Watts or Watkins. In the third, it is
used with the word -ioh, as in the case of John Wat.'on or
Watkinson. To one or otlier of these six classes every true
English patronymic may be referred. — From " The Adver-
vpiitu.-es of an English Chiis ian Name," in the VornhUl
Magazine for March,

F F 2

412

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

THE AGRICULTURE OF WALES.

By GoRDovin.

No. III.

Just before quitting Cardiganshire I must note its
claims upon public notice for its educational status.
TLis has been the fallow ground for the preparation, the
raising, and the training of a splendid "crop of clergy-
meu" of the Church of England. Numbers of the sons
t)f farmers have beeu able to enter the Church through
the facilities for early training in excellent grammar and
high- class schools. Aberystwith has now its college,
which lays claim to the title of "University of Wales."
Recently there have been added to its other advantages
courses of lectures on agriculture by competent Professnvs.

-In the extreme South of Cardiganshire we find ancth;r
great institution in Lampeter College. This is a Church
■of England College, though in Dr. Llewelyn's time pro-
fessing something broader. Ystradmeuriy has a more

-ancient history, and a longer roll of usefulness than either
of these modern affairs.

To the South of Cardiganshire lie the two most south
western counties of Wales — Carmarthenshire and Pem-
brokeshire. What a history these two interesting
counties have ; in nothing more so than in their agricul-
ture. In these two counties we come to the strongholds
of the Castle Martins. Here we find a breed of Black
Cattle that the county people are justly proud of, and of
which you may look out for iine specimens at the forthcom-
ing Royal andluternational London Show. The intelligent
and enterprising men of Carmartlien and Pembroke have
been fully alive to their dutiea in regtird to this native
breed. They have founded and fully established a herd
hook, and are in a fair way of ijenerally improving the
breed in all directions. On the banks of the Towy from
that beautiful and rich country running from Llandovery
to Llandilo and down to the mouth of the Towy, the
lands seem to be studied with fine picturesque herds of
these cattle. There is a general admission that there is
ample room for further advances in the improvement of
the breed. Such being the case, under reserve, I will say
to myself " let well alone." Carmarthenshire takes a
very respectable position in the production of first-class
hunters. She has also a few thoroughbreds, but I cannot
bring to my mind's eye anything of note in that line.
Pembrokeshire has played her part in the history of

"Wales, and also in the more modern history of England.
Within her beautiful borders is the " Little England
beyond Wales," the land of the Fleming and their iudns-
trics, She has her Government building yards, from
whence two iron walls of the English navy were launched
a few days ago. Here also is the home ol' Milford Haven,
where all the war ships of the world could safely cast
anchor together. The London and North Western
Riilway Company haverunningpowers down to the Western
Coast, and thus insure quick connections between these
two counties and all England. Government and Com-
mercial enterprises have been the means of elevating
several local industries in these countries. The farming
interest is so interwoven through all three, that the
succes of a part has conduced to the success of the whole.
A few years ago, in no part of the world was there a
more " well-to-do" community than the farmers of South
'^Vales in general, and these two counties in particular.
The downfall of the colossal, iron, coal, and other trades
in South Wales has been tsrrible, and has most decidedly
«onduced, in part with other causes, to the great downfall
in the prices of horses, cattle, sheep and pigs, and indeed
all products of the farm. When a hundred thousand
•working men's wages are lower by ten shillings in the
gaonnd, and five mouths depending on one pair of arms

for their fill, the result must tell somewhere. It has told,
and does tA\ on the farmers receipts.

These two South Western Counties have splendid flocks
of sheep. They are noted, Pembrokeshire particularly
sn, for early hunbs. Their ewes lamb as early as the
Dorset. 'I hey have now, at least they had a few days
ago, lambs four, five, or six months old. The shambles
have dealt with hundreds of them lately. The farmers
in ordinary years are blessed with an early growth of
abundance of sweet grass. Pembroke is a coast county.
Its Western and Southern sides around its bays and
havens are open to the soft breezes of the West and
South. These are charged to their full with humidity. I
am also much impressed with the idea, which [ have
never seen promulgated before, that those two counties in
winter and spring especially, are under the fortunate in-
fluence of the great Gulf Stream of the Atlantic Ocean.
Not only do the South-west breezes spread over their
lands, but the very waters of the ocean itself must find
their way to their coast. The founders of our glorious
Principality were no fools. They knew perfectly well
which way the wind blew, and also to a great extent
which side their bread waa buttered. Ancient history
informs us that originally the country was divided into
three great sheep walks. As we have now the names of
the cattle and sheep kings of America so also we have
conveyed down to ns from the remotest times the names
of the great aboriginals of Wales under the appellation of
" The Three Chief Sheep-men of Wales." They were
each the owners of flocks numbering upwards of
1,000,000, and each struck out for his own selected
" walk." We find this in our old Triads, " Tri
prirddefaidiwr Cymru." In Wales we never do anything
by halves. Sometimes we do in ''Wholes," but our
general and histt)rical rule is by ''Threes." One rule,
however, is in vogue North and South, that is for the
flockmaster never to give you the exact number of his
flock, especially if you aie a landlord, or in some cases
even a more important personage, a land agent. This,
however, I have got to say, iUht not only have the times
commercial, and the times political, and the times atmos-
pherical been separately bad ; but they have united their
forces against the poor farmer in several instances. It is
currently reported that one farm in South Wales has, this
winter and spring to stand a loss of upwards of 2,000
sheep in its 'ock. Any farm and farmer that can staud
that are something and somebody.

These two counties have their agricultural shows.
Their societies are conducted by clear-headed and ener-
getic men. One entire town, seemingly, has been, and is
now in the market, the town of Llandilo- There is a
superabundance of free trade in land and houses in that
part of Carmarthenshire. Houses, offices, shops, gardens,
plots, chapels, and everything for sale except " churches."
Oh yes! By the bye, I nearly forgot the best thing yet
out in buying and selling. We are such a law-abiding
and peaceable, and law-loving people in Wales that some
half-a-dozea, at least, of our county prisons are on sale.
Nothing to do for the governors and staff, so they have
all been discharged, and the huge prisons are given out
for sale. Who'll buy a flash lot and convert them into
— ay there is the rub and the difficulty — iuto what ?

During the last few days Pembrokeshire was all excite-
ment with the great "Philips" case. About 20 miles of
splendid farming lands in the Law Courts — of course the
Civil Law Courts. These big law cases, when lands are
concerned, have in many instances a dreadful inllneuce ou
the fortunes of the tenants. Big, long law suits have
ended in beggaring not only plaintiff and defendant, bat
also many tenants, and scattering them to the four winds,
especially when the case ecds in a change of laudlcrds.

TEE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

41 3\

No wonder the church bi;ll3 rang merrily oa receipt of
verdict tor plaiiititF.

It you visit Wales don't ueglect these two South-
western counties. You will tiiid beauties, aad health, and
interestiug fanning iu all varieties, and will be well
repaid for" any loss of time and trouble you may incur.

Almost every large town in the two counties can boast
of important educatioaai institutions. Llandovy has a
largely endowed first class school which ia time will hope
to vie with Rugby and Eton. Carmarlheu has also its
dissenting college. It must always be borne iu mind
that we are iu the land of Dissent, when we tread the
soil of Wales. Other towus have also well conducted
schools, aud all these are couveuiemly situated for the
education of the sons and daughters of the farmers. As
a general rule they avail themselves of these opportunities.

Look to whatever quarter we will from au agricultural
point of view the appear.suces are gloomy. Here, on this
7th of May moruin? is the water covered with ice in
some plates, and the whole country, with the exception of
low warm valleys, covered with snow.

I am addiug oue other tiuishing paragraph, to say I
have been out ail day. I left, my upland home and en-
countered another snowstorm. I walked by the sea-
shore and encountered another snowstorm there. In
fact it has been snowing iu some places the greater part
of the day. Farmers look dowubearted. Their hay
stacks are getting much smaller day by day, and as yet
their grass not much bigger. There seems to be some
great :!ompact between the Heavens above, and the
Earth beneath, and the Waters nuder the earth. They
are all cold, aud the poor farmer is left out in the cold.

THE CYCLE OF THE SEASONS.
Mr. E. J. Lowe, of Highfield House Observatory,
Nottingham, has addressed a letter to the TiMct>,m which

he says : —

" Tuere can be no reasonable djubt that a cycle of the
seasons eiu-is, thougli us precise period lias yet tu be ascer-
t^ikeJ. A leuglhy iuvesugatioa lias, however, satisfied .ne
that the cycle is aouut 81 years. Tlius every U years drought
aud heat ar« experienced, usually of three yeirs duralioa, —
tnat is to sav the drougiit recurring in ttiree consecutive
summers. Siicn a period ol drouj^ht is now apparently at
hand, and the summer of 1879 may be expected to be very
simi.ar to thai of 1868. AUnougU the calculated period may
be assumed to be 11 years from the cuiumenceraent ot one
drought to that of the n- xt, certain di.turblDg lufluences
operate from lime to tune, aud oecasiuaaly accelerate or
retard the return ot these druugh s by one or two years. One
sinking fact to be sp^-cially .unserved is that the periods
of extreme heal aud did are g ouped together. The records
of remarkable drouglits and trosts.whic i have been baud ddojvn
to us by the chrouiclers, show thai great droughts have usually
been preceded tjy severe trost", and as frequently followed by
Irosts ol greater or less severity, —that is to say, iu the
majority of instances, so tar back as we may trace, all the
extremes ot temperature are in groups ot somewhere about
five years, followed by a like period in whicli the heat and
cold are not excessive, la this series of years, midway be-
tween these periods of excessive heat aud cold, when the
weather is more or less free from frosts in winter, and
from droughts and heat in summer, we have, tor example,
irom 1169 to the present time scarcely auy drought re-
corded in the fourth, liiih, aud sixth years aficr the computed
commencemeul of what may be termed the drought period.
In mauy instances the severe winter h.is preceled the first
year's dfougut by a period of less than six muiiths, and this is
tiierefore a lurther proof that the summer of 1879 will, iu all
probability be oue of heat and drought. If we assume that
the drought of 1868 came at its appointed time, then the
droughts "of 1857, 1791, 1711, 1636, 1626, 1538, 1616, 14U6,
1285, and 1021 likewioe came at the appointed time ; and upon
the same hypothesis we may conclude that the droughts of 1845,
1831, 1779, 1757, 1746, 1724, 1691, 1669, 1614, 1361,1350,
1251,' 113u, 1086, ana 987 were accelerated one year ; and

that the droughts of 1825, 1704, 1593, 1528, 1473, 1429,
1341 1242 and 1121 were retarded by one year. And again. -
the droughts of 1800, 1635, 1503, 1393, 1328, and 1151 were
accelerated two years, while those of 1573, 1375, 1276, aud
1177 were retarded a like period. Tlius between the years
1230 aud 1868 in 54 periods we have 46 droughts recorded as
commencing within two years of the appointed time But if
we take the year 1862 (midway between the assumed years of
recurring droui^hts) in 43 periods we have as mauy as 35
instances wiiere the drought does not occur within from thr<'e
to five years of this epoch, and of this number there wero
18 instances, when there are no droughts nearer thaa
live years to this starting point; while if we take 1868 as
the assumed year, we have scarcely an instance of
the drought commencing as ranch as five years from the .
appointed lime. Tlie following are insiaucsof great Iro-rs
occurring immediately before a grpat droutjlit : — 1^:11, 1799^
1779 1758 1746, 1691, 1680, 1678, 1669, 1658, 161-8, 1635,
1625' 1614 1598 1573, 1537, 1515, 1250, 1241, 1221, 1176,
11,51,1142, 1121, 1096, 1086, 1035, 1020, 987, 774, and
757— /.«., there are 32 Irosts in 53 periods occurring iiume-
diatelv before a drought. There are 27 instances of the
drought continuing at least for three consecutive years, and of
tliis nuTiber 16 occur iu the last 27 epochs. A further proof
that She cycle of the seasons is 11 years is shown if the
periods are arranged so that 100 years intervene (i.e., by
taking every ninih period). We tlien nud that for several
years the droughts repeat themselves every 100 years, thus :— -
1800 1700, 1600; 1815, 1715,1615; 1826,1726,1626;
1836, 1736, 1636 ; 1857, 1757, 168? ; 1779, 1679, 1479 ;
1791, 1691, 1591, 1492, 1393, 1293, 1103. These drougnts
and frosts extend over a considerable area, and there is evi-
dence that the »ifmOT,«/» inleiisiiy is not necessarily repeaed
over the same tract of land."

IS HIGHER FARMING A REMEDY FOR

LOWER PRICES?

No. IL

We give- here the second part of Mr. Lawes's lecture

at Berwick. The first portion will be found on page 393.^

THE MANURE PRODUCED BY THE ANISIiLS Of THE EAKJI.

1 now come to the secjud uraiicli ot my suliject, namely,
the cost of the manure produced upon the farm. It may
perhaps be assumed that, in the case of the horses working
upon the farm, their labour iiiay be taken as an equivalent for
tlie cost of their food, the txpeuiiesof attendauee, &u., aud thai
tie mauure they produce is, so- tar, obtained free ol cost, la
the case of tlie feeding of animals lor the proauction of meatj.
store stock may be cheap and fat slock dear, or vice vers i,
cattle food may be cheap and meat dear, aud so on. In con-,
sideriiig thereture wnether, as a rule, llie value of the meat
produced is mure or less than tlie cost of the food of the
animal, together with the other expenses, it will be necessary
to exclude from the caiculation ail such exceptional cases as.
above referred to ; to lake as the basis of auy conclusious (so
far as we can estimate it) only the average amount of food,
required to produce a given weight of increase ; and to com-
pare I he cost of sueh food, and otlier expenses, with the value
of the increase. Liokiug at the subject from this point o£
view, I think it will be found that the outlay is generally
much iu excess of the receipts ; and thai t ere is, therefore, a
balance left over whicli must be reckoned as the cost of the
manure-.

Confining my attention to cattlp, I shall first endeavour to
show, by reference to puhliahed records regaling to auimals of
certainly above avera,^e quality, and undoubtedly liberally fed,
what is the probaule rale of increase that may be expected in
such cases; aud econdly, what is the average amount of food
required to produce a given amount of increase.

In Table VI. are given the ages, weights, and increase-
first, of a number of prize cattle exhibited at Smi hfield, in
December, 1878, as recorded in the dgricultiiral Gazelle\ of
January 13, 1879 ; secondly, of a number of prize cattle
exiiibited at the Chicago Society's Show (United States), and
reported in the Country Gentleman's Newspajier ; thirdly, of
some Brench cattle of the JMivernais-Charolais breed, the ptir-
ticulars of which will be found in the Journal of the Royal
Agricultural Society of Enylatid, vol. xv., p. 213 ; lastly, at.
the foot of the Table is given, for comparison, the estimate o=-

4l4

THE FARMER'S :\IAGAZINE.

Ihe average rafe of increase daring the fattening period, as
adopted at Kothamsted m*ny years ago.
TABLE VI.
Ages, Weights, and Incke\se of Cattle.

_£j

Description.

£•

o *-•

bo

n3

o ^

i

S

^ tf^

"3

O

>

^11

hi

£

c5

O

^

a

Prize (Jiiile at

SmUhjldJ, 1878.

Weeks.

lbs.

lbs.

lbs.

r

1

1

9

116

1301

1-60

14-8

2

7

167

1568

1-34

10-5

I

3

R

215

17S5

1-19

8-3

Devons «!

4

3

165

1456

1-26

10-6

1

L

Average

165|

1527^

1-35

11-1

r

6

10

118^

1615

1-95

14-9

1

7

5

165i

1964

1-70

10-9

8

0

OOJi

2085

1-34

8-2

Ilerefords ^

9

2

178i

1731

1-39

10-0

1

Average

171

18481

1-60

11-0

r
1

11 1 6

120

1698

2-03

14-8

12

in

160

1960

1-75

11-3

Shorthorns X

13

5

163

2352

2-06

11-3

14

10

172

1876

1-56

10-5

^

Average

153|

1971i

1-85

12.0

r
1

16 1 7

116

1588

1-96

15-2

17

8

15]

1818

1-72

11-9

Sussex ■<

18

4

203

2390

1-68

9-1

160

1736

1-55

11-1

19 1 ■/
Average

157i

1S33

1-73

11-8

General average

162

1808

1-63

11-5

Tf'ize Cattle, Chicago Society,

United Slates.

1. Steers, 4 years and over —

1st Prize

268-6

2085

1-10

7-1

2. „ „ 2nd Prize

271-7

2440

1-28

7-0

3. „ 3 jrs. and under —

1st Prize

182-9

2115

1-65

10-4

4. „ „ 2nd Prize

174-3

2060

1-68

10-9

5. „ 2 ys. and under 3 —

Ist Prize

138-4

1705

1-76

13-5

C. „ „ 2nd Prize

139-7

1600

1-63

13-4

7. „ 1 yr. and under 2 —

1st Prize

92-9

1480

2-28

20-0

8. „ „ 2nd Prize

95-7

1275

1-90

19-1

Average

170-6

1815

1-66

12-7

Nivemais-Charolais Cattle —

French.

No 1

134-8
156-4
lfiO-8
174-0

1478
1987
1893
2079

1-57
1-81
1-68
1-71

13-6

jSIo 2

11-9

Kg. 3

11-6

No 4

10-8

Average

156-5

1859

1-69

12-0

163-7

1826

1-65

11-9

Rolhamsted adopted average

10-11

representation adopted iu the United States ; and the figures
given in this coluinn for the Clucsgo cattle are those actually
recorded ; whilst tliose for the Smitlifield and French cattle
are calculated as above described. It is obvious that such a
mode of reckoning", however valuable it may be in comparing
the rates of increase of animals of the same description, oxen,
for example, but of different breeds, or of different ajes, it is
quite inapplicable in comparing the rates of increase of animals
of different descriptions, and of different sizes ; of oxen, sheep,
and pigs, with one another, for example. Many years ago,
when considering this subject, we felt the necessity of adopting
jome mode of representation which enabled us to compare the
amounts of food consumed, and the amounts of increase pro-
duced, not only among animals of the same, but of different
descriptions, and of all sizes. Accordingly, the standards we
adopted were ; —

The amount of food consumed per 100 lb. live-weight per
week.

The amount of food required to produce 1001b. increase in
live-weight-

The increase per 100 lb. live-weieht per week.

But as, on the present occasion, I am dealing with cattle
only, I give, as you will see in the last column of the Table,
the increase per 1,000 lb. live-weight per week. At the foot
of this last column is given the average increase per 1,000 lb.
live-weight per week of all the cases recorded in the Table,
incluning the different breeds of the different countries ;
" babies " of two years old and under, and mature animals of
four jesrs old and over. This general average of such very
varied individual cases shows 11-9, or nearly 121b. increase
per 1,0001b. live-weight per week, whilst the Rothamsted
estimate, adopted many years ago, is 10 to 11 lb. per 1,000 lb.
live-weight per week, as the average rate of increase of oxen
during the last few months of feeding on good fattening food.
To go a little more into detail, compared with this Rothamsted
estimate of 10 to 11 lb., the average of the different lots of the
Smithfield prize cattle gives 11-5 lb., that of all the Chicago
cattle 12-7 lb., and that of the four French cattle 12 lb.

In making these comparisons it must be borne in mind,
however, that whilst in the case of the Smithfield, Chicago,
and French cattle, the increase is, for want of other data,
calculated upon tlie average light-weight from birth to final
weight, in that of the Rothamstead estimates it is taken npoa
the average weight of the final fattening period only ; and as
the rate of gross increase upon a given live-weight within a
given time, is considerably higher in the latter than in the
earlier periods of the life of the fattening animal, the figures
are, so far, not strictly comparable.

On the other hand, a mature animal contains a larger pro-
portion of saleable carcase, and a less pioportion of internal
organs, and offul generally, than a young or store oce. The
mature animal also contains a much higher percentage of dry
or solid substance, and, accordingly, a lower percentage of
water. These differences are clearly illustrated in the follow-
ing Table, which gives tLe proportion of carcase in 100 fasted
live-weight, and also the percentages of dry or solid sub.stance,
and of water, in lU animals of different descriptions, and in
different conditions as to age and fa'ness, which were analysed
at Rothamstead, now nearly thirty years ago.
TABLE Vn.
Composition of various Animais.

Before di.-cussing the figures given in the Table, it will be
well to give some explanation of how they are obtained. Ihe
ages, and the final weight per head, are the actual data re-
corded. Tlie increase per day is obtained by dividing the final
weight bj the number of days of ajje. This is the mode of

Description and Condi-

In Fasted Live-weight.

tion of Animal.

Carcase.

Total dry
Substance.

Water.

Fat Calf

Per ceut.
62-0
64-7
66-2

60-2
53-3
53-6
57-5
63-1

66- i
76-0

Per cent.
33-9
4U-3
41-6

43-7
36-7
40-6
50-7
59-6

39-7

5t-7

Per cent.
63-0

Half-fat Ox

51-5

Fat Ox

45-5

Fat Lamb

47-7

57-3

Half-fat old Sheep

60-3
43-3

Very Fat Sheep

35-2

Store Pig

55-0

K^.t Pis

41-4

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

415

Thus yon will see that even a fat calf contained a much
hijjlier percentage of water, and lower percentage of solid
matter, than a lialf-fat ox ; whilbt the fat ox contained much
more solid matter than the half-fat one. Tlien, auain, among
the sheep ihe-e is a gradually increasing percentage of dry or
solid matter, and decreasing percentage of water, from the
store to the hall-fat, from the half-fat to the fat, and from
tlie f.it to the very fat condition. A similar result is observed
as between the store and the fat pig. I'Vom these facts you
will see that, although the gross increase is less in proportion
to the live-weight as the animal matures, a larger proportion
of such gross increase consists of carcase, and of real soHd
matter, and a less proportion of otfal and of water. In fact
the fattening process may be said to consist in great measure
in the displacement of water by fat.

Accepting the figurps given in Table VI. as giving a fair
idea of the rate of increase of well-bred and well-led animalp,
the question arises — at what cost of food has tiiat increase
been obtained? We have no recor Is on this point in regard
to any of the animals referred to in the Table. We must,
therefore, rely upon other data in arriving at a decision on
this part of the sunject. Oar own eetimate, founded on all
the data at our command, partly relating to the recorded
experience of otiiers, and partly to the results of direct ex-
periments of our own, led us many years ago to conclude as
follows : —

" i'attening oxen liberally fed upon good food, composed
of a moderate proportion of cake or corn, some hay or straw
chair, ttith roots or other succulent food, and well managed,
will, on the average, consume 12 to 13 lb. of the dry tub-
stance of such mixed food, per 100 lb. live-weight per week ;
and they should give lib. of increase to 13 or IS lb. dry
substance so consumed."

In other words, there will be consamed 130 to 130 lb, of
the dry substance of such mixed food per l,0ij01b. live-weight
per week, producing on the average 101b. of increase; and
1,300 '0 l,3001ii. will, therefore, be required to yield 100 lb.
increase in live weight. It the mixed lood contain no straw-
chaff, and only a moderate amount of hay-chaff, the average
amount of dry substance consumed will be the less, and the
average proportion of increase the more, or vice versa,
Accordiujjly, we have assumed that on a liberal mixture of
oilcake, clover-chaB, and swedes, as little as 1,1001b. dry
substance may be req-ured to produce 100 lb. increase, and
as much as 111b. increase maybe produced per l.OuOlb.
live-weight per week.

The articles whicli you are accustomed to speak of as dry
foods, still contain some water. Thus, cnkes contain from
one-eighth to one-ninth, and corn, hay, and straw, about one-
sixth of their weight of water ; whilst swedes do not con-
tain more th m 10 to 13, or mangolds -nore than 12 to 13 per
cent, of really dry or solid matter ; but the monster roots of
whicli we hear so much, sometimes contain only abnut two-
thirds as much dry matter as moderately sized and well-
matured roots should do. Of really dry substance, such as
my estimates given above require, 1,300 to 1,300 lb., say 1,250
lb., would, in round numbers, be supplied in the following
amounts of each of the several descriptions of food enumer-
ated, supposing them to be of fair average composition in
that respect.

TABLE VIII.

AMOUNT OF EACH FOOD CONTAINING 1250 LBS.
DRY MATTER,

Cake=, 12^ cwts.

Corn or Hay, ... ... ... 13 „

Swedish Turnips 5 tons.

Mangolds, .... 4:| „

The question arises — What would he the cost of 1,250 lb.
of dry substance, made up of a suitable mixture of these
various foods, to yield 100 lb. increase in live weight, and
whether this would be leas or more than the 100 lb. increase
would sell for ?

Well-bred and moderately fattened oxen should yield 58
to 60 per ceut. carcase in fasted live-weight; very fat oxen
may yield from 65 to 70 per cent. But of the increase
obtained duriug what may be called the fattening period of
moderately fattened oxen, it may be reckoned that abont 70
per cent, will be carcase. Supposing you get 8d. per lb. for
tliis, the selling value of your 100 lb. increase in live-weight

vpill be -iGs. 8d. Now, I think if you try to make up 1,250 lb.
of dry substance by a suitable fattening mixture of .tlie fore-
ging foods, you will fiud that it will cost you considerably
more than 463. 8d. Even if roots alone were used, which
would not be considered good fattening food, the cost would
be more if they were reckoned at their selling price, though
less if taken at what is called their "consumin;; value."
But with no good fatteuiug mixture of cake or c x.i, hay-
chaff, and roots, could 1,250 lb. of dry matter be obtained
for anything approaching the sura 1 have estimated as tho
value of the increase it will produce.

It is further to be borne in mind that, weight fnr weight,
store stock is generally dearer than fat stock. Yon have
also to add to the cost of the food various other charges,
such as rent of buildings, appliances, atteudauce, and risk.
Taking all these things into account, 1 think it is evident that
there must always be a very coiisiderable proportion of the
cost of feeding, althougii varying greatly according to cir-
cumstances, which must be taken to represent the cost of the
manure.

In 1876, tlie Council of the Royal Agricultaral Society of
England appointed a committee to consider the question of
the valuation of unexhausted manure^, with reference to the
provisions of the Agricultural Holdings Act ; and a Table
of the estimated value of the manure obtained by the con-
sumption of different articles ot food, which I had first
published about L6 years previously, and after reconsidera-
tion republished more recently, was much discussed and
criticised. The general impression arrived at was, I thins,
that my estimates of manure-value were too high. Accor-
dingly, Dr. Gilbert and i selected linseed cake as the best
known article of purchased cattle-food, and, after deducling
my estimate of Ihe manure-value from the cost of the cak-',
we endeavoured to calculate whether the remainder of the
cost could be recovered in the increased value of the auimal.
The best linseed cake was then quoted at £13 10s. per ton
and deducting the manure-value as given in my Table,
namely, £i 12s. 6d., there was left £7 ifs. 6d.to be char>:ea
against the animal, and calculation led us to the conclusion
that it was extremely doubtful whetlier this amount could be
recovered in its increased value. In fact, linseed cake ap-
peared to us to command what may be called a fancy price.
At any rate, it was quite certain that it could not lie ptolir.-
ably used, if not fully as much, or even more , tlim the
amount ot my estimate were charged against the manure

Although in the foregoing illustrations I have confined my
attention to oxen, il the same mode of calculation were applied
to sheep and to pigs, it would be found, iu their case also, that
the cost oi their food is more than the value of the increase it
produces. Notwithstanding that the contrary view is so fre-
quently assumed, the use ot the te:ra " consuming value," as
distinguished from selling price, seems to recognise that food
stuffs have a value other than as food alone. If restrictions
upon the sale ol roots, h-.y, and straw, were aboliched, these
articles would soon cease to have what may be called a fancy
price ; and the difference between the so-called "consuming
value," and the real selling price, would more nearly represent
the value of the manure.

In the former part of my address, I have shown that, beyond
a certain limit, the increase of crop does not keep pace with
the increase in the amount of manure applied to the land, and
this is especially the case in advancing from high to still
higlier farming. I have now adduced evidence which mnst, I
think, convince you that the manures of the farm cost money.
It seems to me that an obvious deduction from these two facts
is that, to apply manure in such quantity as to obtain a
diminished produce for a given amount of it can ouly be
profitable when the price of the produce rises, and not wiieu
it falls. So far, however, as increased production is to be
attained by the exercise ot ireedom, intelligence, and economy,
in management, so as to get the maximum amount and value
of produce from the manure that is applied to the land, and
the maximum amount and value of meat and manure for the
outlay in store-stock and in foo i, increased production is a
necessity of the time^, and would prove the best remedy for
lower prices of farm produce.

I regret to find that the opinions I hold, and have ventured
to express to you, are not in accordance with those of many
who write upon the condition of the farming interest at the
present time. Nor do they quite accord with the advice given.

416

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

to jon in this room, by L ird Polw.irth, only in February last.
lu a letter which liis Lordsliip subsecjneully pnhliahed, in
further explanation of his views, he said that, lor increased
jjroJuction, " greater liberty in cultivation is desirable ; " and
8(jain, that " there must be increased capital, scope for CBter-
prisp, and security ot tenure," In this 1 entirely agree, ex-
cepting tint I would venture to say that such ctianges are not
oulv " desirable" but essential.

To attempt to meet falling prices by increased production
upon the old lines, that is, by simply increa^ng tlie amount
of manure brought upon the land, and at the same time raain-
tainiug the old rules and restrictions as to iroppiug and sales,
would, in my opinion, be entirely futile. If all restrictions
were abolished, excepting such as would secure that the
tenant should give up his (arm in as good a state as he entered
upon it, the position of things would be entirely changed,
and some of my remarks would then require modiScation
aesordingly.

Recent discussions clearly show that lanilovrners fully re-
cognise tlie gravity of the present state of affairs, and that they
are desirous of assisting the tenant by the relaxation of exist-
ing covenants, and in other ways. In addressing tenant-
firmers, I would venture to ask— wheiher, on their side this
u not a favourable opportunity for taking stock of the modes
in which they conduct tteir business, with the view of bring-
ing their operations more into accord with the rules which
idgulate other commeriiai undertakini;s ?

In illustration of my meaning, I will call attention to the
way in which the business connected with the stock of the
farm is generally conducted. Farmers are justly proud ol their
fine animals, and cousiaer them to be the bick-bone of British
agriculture. But is it not a fact that every transaction in this
immense branch of industry is carried on almost exclusively by
gness-work? Neither in purchasing store stock, nor in sell-
ing fat-stock, are the scales brought into requisition. Again,
in the feeding operations, neither the amount of increase pro-
duced, the amount and the cost of the food required to produce
it, nor the comparative value of different foods in regard to
their feeding and manure productiveness, are taken into
Calculation.

Of late store stock have been very dear, and I have little
doubt that, if tested by the scales, it would be found tiiat
oxen and sheep have been bought at prices which would
xepreseut 6d. per lb. Now, 6d. per lb, is £56 per ton. To
purchase ten tons of store-stock would not be a very large
purchase to make. Now, I should like to ask the best judges
of stock in this room to pick out from a herd of oxen, or a
flock of sheep, as many as they thought would make up ten
tons in weight ; or to see, if two or three went to *ork inde-
pendently, how nearly their estimates would agree I If your
coal merchant, or your manure dealer, proposed to sell ) on
those commodities by the heap, you would not hear of such a
thing, and you would insist upon purchasing by weight. But,
weight for v\eight, these articles be^.r no conijiarison in value
with that of animals. If, then, with articles of comparatively
little value you will not buy by the lump, regard.ess of exact
weight, why should you do so with anything so costly as your
store-stock ? I admit that I am mjsell compelled to adopt
the custom of the trade ; but I nevtrtheless th^^roughly resent
it, and feel that I never know whether my purchase has been
a good or bad one, until I have brought the animals to the
sculea, and calculated the price per pound ol live-weight. The
e>e is the proper judge of quality, nud the price per pound, or
pcrcwf., should be bellied accordingly ; and, this done, the
total value should be settled by the scales.

The same plan of guessing is adopted in the sale of the fa
stock. Here the butcher is sure to have tiie best of the
bargain ; for every day li.s guesses are checked by reference
to tiie scales, whilst the farmer's are not, and what chance hat
the *'eeder, or his salesman, against buuli an advantage at
this ?

If the farmers of the country at large were to agree to
declare that they would only buy and sell stock by weight, tliey
would doubtless have ample power to eniorce tiicir decision.

The same indifference to weights is manifested throngtiout,
from the birth of the animal until it reaches the butilier.
Tin re is the clearest evidence of tliis in the discussions ol the
subject amongst farn.ers themselves, whether at 1 ome, at the
market table, or at the clubs, ii the custom of buying and
selling slock by weight were once tslubhshed, and it is so

already to a great extent in America, the advantages to th*
farmer would be very great in various ways. He would not
only be able to test the money result of his actual purcluses
and sales, but he would gain much experience which woold
sharpen his judgment in the matter in the future. A greater
advantage still would be that he would be led to test his
practice at every intermediate staije between the breeding oi
the buying and the selling, lie would ascertain what were
the best raixtares of food to use, according to the seasons and
to ths markets. He would determine — whether his animals
were giving a proper rate of increase; how much of different
foods they required to produce it; and he would carefully con-
sider also the manure-value of different foods. He would, in
short, take the only means of iBSjuriiig economy in his meat
and manure mannfaeture,

I was asked by your secretary to address yoa this evening
on the most economical method of producing meat. But I felt
that, as the only way in which 1 could properly treat the
subject would be by reference to weights, both of the food and
of the animals, it would be, to many, neither interesting nor
instructive y it would, in fact, be like speaking in an uukuown
tongue.

I will endeavoar to illnstrate my meaning by reference
to a question which is much discussed at the present time
- namely, the relative economy of producing young or old
beet.

If you look at Table VI., to which I have already called
attention, yon will find that in the top line of each ol the four
divisions, relating, respectively, to tire foar English breeds,
you have an example of early maturity ; and the increase per
day, and the calculated increase per 1,000 lb. live weight per
week, show, by comparison with the older animals, a more
favourable rate of increase. To produce the same weight ii)
two years as would otherwise be only attained in three years
or more, is, of course, in many points ol view, a great gain.
As animals coiijume and expend a given amount ol food
daily, ia proportion to their weight, merely in the maintenance
of their existence, it is obvious that there is, so far, a consider-
able saving of food it the same weight is attained in one-half
or two-thirds the time. Other expenses will also be more or
less reduced, the shorter the time required to produce a given
weight. It is true that, so long as an animal only feeds in a
pasture in the summer, and only receives straw and roots iik
the winter, it lives at comparatively little cost, even if it
make but slow progress, until the final period of fattening
begins. Again, as the animal matures, it consumes less food
for a given live-weight within a given time, a great weight of
food gives rather less gross increase, but a given weight of
gross increase represents more earcaae, Jmore solid matter, and
less water. On the other hand, to obtain the more rapid
increase, much more cosily food must be given throughout the
life of the animal.

It is obvious that the two systems cannot be fairly compared,
without taking into the calculation accurate data — as to the
cost of attenuanee, the quality, quantity, and cost of the food
coasumed, the rale and value ot the increase, and the value of
the manure in the two cases. Yet, in noue of the discussions
of the subject of which I have seen the records, has there been
any attempt to 'uring figures relating to these various points to
bear upon the question.

A few weeks ago there was an article in the Kor/k British
Agriculturist headed '• Young r. old beef." Tne il^itor justly
speaks of the exce.leucs ol the artic'e, which he says was
written by a well-known Shorthorn breeder, who has ol'tener
than once tasted the sweets of first honours ai the Sinithfield
and other National I'at Shows. The writer gives the increase
of weight of five cattle, of different ages, IVora March 1 to
November I. He says that the animals were fed on the best
he could procure for them, were all healthy dnring the experi-
ment, and all figured as first prize takers at Christmas Shows,
Bu', he adds, the food whs not weighed ; and further on he
says, " this instance I have selected Irom many in, my note
books of live weiishts of animals, and iucrease at different
times; and the proportionate increase of weight of different
aged animals is fairly stated in the above examples."

1 gather from these statements that it is assumed by the
wiiter that the rates of increase quoted are what may be ex-
pected in the case of first-class Shorthorns, of the ages given,
and fed upon the best food that can be procured tor them,
niey were as lollows ; and I have added a column showing

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE,

417

the rate of increa^'e per liead per week, obtained by dividinff
the totnl increase by 35. tlie nuinber of weeks Irom March 1
to Niiveiiiber 1 ; —

Increase in Live-weight.

From Marcti

Ito
November 1.

Cwts. qrs. lb

1 Four-year-old 12 0

1 Tiiree-year old j 3 0 0

3 Two-jear-olds (average per head)! 4 0 24r

Psr head per
«eek.

Lb.
4i

rsh

Tlie actual weights of the animals are not given. But it
may be assumed tli(.t the four-jear-uld ox would weigh nearer
2,000 lb. thau 1,000 lb.; so that the rnte of increase would
probably not be more than 2J to 3 lb. per 1,000 lb. live-weight
per week, instead of 10 to 11 lb. according to our estimate.
Nor would either of the younger animals show a sufficient rate
ot increase; though the evidence is certainly very much in
favour of the younger animals. The -Ij lb. increase per head
per week of the tour-year old woula be worth about two
shillings ; and 1 leave you to judge what relation that sum
would b( ar to the cost of feeding a four-year-old Shorthorn on
the best of everything ! These figures afford some idea of the
cost of obtaining a prize, but they are of no value as examples
of profitable feediug.

It muft be understood that in making these remarks 1 do
Bot wisli to fiud any fault with the writer, who is obviously a
man of much intelligence and experience. But I wish to
enter a protest against the system of disregarding attention to
tlie weights of animals, to tlieir rales of increase, and to the
quality, quantity, and cost, of the food they consume to pro-
duce it, which s.lone could render it possiule that such results
could be quoted as esaaiplesof successlul feeding.

It is a somewhat humiliating admission to make, though so
far it has proved to be tuo true, that the vii gin soils and plains
of the United States and Canada can produce and send to
this country, corn and meat, cheaper than they can be pro-
duced on our own soils at hojie, wiih all our boasted skill and
science. The opinion expressed by some, that we shall again
become exporttrs of corn, is altogether chimerical. But we
have at any rate the oust of transit in favour of home produc-
tion. This, though a ks» considerable protection in the case
to grain, must always be a material item in the case of live
animals, and of meat ; and the rearing and feeding of stock
must always form an important branch of our farming.

It is such a generally accepted opinion that the agriculture
of Great Britain is superior to that of any other country, that
you will perhaps be disposed to resent the allegatiou that
there is very much in your practice which require improve-
Hient. During the last thirty or forty years, our knowledge of
the productive etfects of different manures, of the food re-
quirements oi d fferent animals, of the increase they should
yield, and of the value of the manure they produce, has made
great progress. But co.nparatively lew Britiih farmers pay
any attention to such subjects, or care to avail themselves of
the information at tlveir disposal. It is true that much of the
existing data is not yet available in a form which would be
eanly intelligible to farmers generally, but this is because
there is little demand for such knowledge ; and a comparison
of the current agricultural literature of this country with that
of America, and of some parts of tie European contiaent,
would show that the demand is greater in those comitries. So
long, indeed, as the old routine yielded fair profits, what need
was there of any chanee? But the present crisis, though I
fear it may bring loss and suffering to many, will not be with-
out some advantages, if it should lead to the conduct of atjri-
tultural operations on a basis more in accordance with both
commercial and scientific principles.

THE ENGLISH CART HORSE SOCIETY

We have received the following letter for publication.
Marham Hall, Downham Market, May 19th.

Referring to Mr. James llowaru's chari'cterisiic letter,
wliich appeared in the JJee S'ock Joiiriiid of the IGih instant,
1 agree willi him tliat the statement reported to have beeu
made by rae at the annual meeting of the above Society on the
6ih iustaut, is ''neither accurate nor complete." What I
intended to, and believe in substance did say, is as follows :—
That at the first meeting, which I attended, to form a
Stud-book Society for cart-horse?, Mr. James Howard,
suggested that the name of the Society should be Tiie
Shire Horse Stud Book Association. Mr. C. S. Read,
I, and others objected to such title, and, after some
conversation, Mr. James Howard moved, and Mr. C
S. Read seconded, that the name be The Old
English Cart-Horse Stud Book Association, to winch, as aa
araendmeot, I moved, and Mr. Jolin Morton seconded, that it
be The Cari-Uorse Stud Book Association. On a division the
numbers were equal (1 believe 18 for, and 18 agains), wliere-
npon, at the suggestion, and by the advice of the Pre»iden%
the Earl of Ellesmere, a compromise was effected ; Messrs.
Howard and Read consented to withdraw the word " Old,"
and Mr. Morton and I agreed to the introdnctiou of the word
" English," tiius the motion and the amendment became ideu-
tical, vii., that tlie name be The English Cart-Horse Stud
Book Association, and so put to the meeting was agreed to
nem. dls.

Eventually the name of the Association, I think, with the
assent of Mr. James Howard, was shortened to its present
form, The English Cart-llorse Society. From the loregoing it
appears that Mr. James Howard's and my recollection uitfer aa
to what took place at the meeting to which 1 have alluded, but
such difference does not materially affect the question at issue.

With regard to such question, as no oae, so lar as I am
aware, deshes that "Shire" horses only should be eligible lor
the Stud Book, the ti.le Shire horse would be a misuomer, and
I affirm without fear of eontradiction, (1) that the name of
the Society was agreed to nim. con. ; ("2) tliat every member
(both liie and annual) has joined the Society under that name ;
(3) that it has been registered by such nhine, and (4-) that
H.R.H. the Prince of Wales was asked and consented to be
the Patron of the English Carl-Horae Society. And I believe
that an overwhelming majority of ;he members ot the Society
are in favour of the retention of that name.
Yours faithlully,

T. Brown.
G. M. Sexton, Esq.,
Secretary of the "English Cart-Horse Society."

THE AGRICULTURAL DEPRESSION IN SCOT-
LAND.— Owing to the low prices of grain and cattle, Lord
Breadaibane has reduced the rents of a number of farms on
liis estates by 20 per cent. Edramuchy, let at £160, has been
relet at £130, and Firanthur, let at £250, has been relet
at £200.

Agricultural .Socii^tks.

ROYAL OP ENaLAN.D.

The half-yearly general meeting of the members of
this Society was held on 22ad May, in Hanover Square.
The chair was taken at noon, in the absence of the Presi-
dent, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, by
Colonel Kingscote, M.P., and among those present were
Sir Watkin W. Wynne, M.P., Sir Walter Stirling, Sir
J. Heron Maxwell, Mr. Robert Leeds, Mr. T. Aveliog,
Mr. John Thornton, Dr. Voelcker, Mr. W. Botly,
Mr. C. L. Sutherland, Mr. W. W. Glenny, Mr. James,
Odams> Mr. J. J. Mechi, Mr. R. Russell, Professor
Wilson, of Edinburgh, &c.

The Chairman moved the election of the Duke of
Bedford, as president for the year ensuing the Londoa
Exhibition, remarking that he need say nothing to en-
dorse the reeommeiidatioa of the Council, his Grace
having done so much, not only for that Society but also
for the agricultural community at large (Hear, hear).

The motion was seconded by Sir Watkia W. Wynn,
M.P., and carried unanimously.

After the re-election of the Trustees and the Vice-
Presidents the meeting proceeded to fill up the 25
vacancies in the Couucil, the result of the subsequent

41S

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

scrutiny being that all the retiring members were re-
elected except Mr. W. Rigden, who was replaced by Mr.
Hugh Gorringe.

AlIBlTDAirCE, FBOM THB RISING OF THB LiVKEFOOL MbEIIITG,
IN 1877, TO THB PbESBNT TiUB.

Names.

Aveling, T., Rochester, Kent

Aylmer, Hugli, West Dereham, Stoke
Ferry ••••••

Cantrell, Charles S., Riding Court, Dat-
chet, Bucks

ChanrlosPole-Gell, H., Hopton Hall,
Wirksworth, Derbyshire

Davies, David Reynolds, Agden Hall,
Lymm, Cheshire

Evans, John, Ufflngton, Shrewsbury,
Salop ;;••■;•■

reversham, Earl of Duncombe Park,
Helmsley, Yorkshire

Howard, Charles, Biddenham, Bedford..

Jones, J. Bowen, Ensdon House, Shrews-
bury, Salop

Leeds, Roberts, Keswick Old Hall,
Norwich

Lopes, Sir Massey, Bart., M.P., Maris-
tow, Roborough, Devon

Mcintosh, David, Havering Park, Rom-
ford, Essex

Martin, Joseph, Highfleld House, Little-
port, Isle of Ely, Cambs

Pain, Thomas, The Grove, Basingstoke,
Hants

Ransome, Robert Charles, Ipswich,
Suffolk

Eavensworth, Earl of, Ravensworth
Castle, Durham

Ridley, Sir M. White, Bart. M.P., Blag-
don, Cramlington, Northumberland ..

Rigden, WilUam, Hove, Brighton, Sus-

Russoli,"Robert," Horton Kirby, Dartford

Spencer, Earl, K.G., Althorp, Northamp-
ton

Torr, John, M.P., Carlett Park, Eastham,
Chester

Turner, George, Great Bowley, Tiverton,
Devon

Turner, Jabez, Haddon, Hunts

Wakefield, William H., Kendal, West-
moreland

Wilson, Jacob, Woodhom Manor, Mor-
peth, Northumberland

CANDIDATES proposed for the

Lord Moreton, proposed by Colonel
Klugscote, seconded by Mr. Bowly

Lord Emlyn, proposed by Mr. Wells,
Rocondod by Colonel Kingscote

The Hon Cecil Parker, proposed by
Lord Chcsham, seconded by Sir A. K.
Macdonald, Bart

Mr. Hugh Gorringe, proposed by Mr.
Jacob Wilson, seconded by Mr. Chando.s
Pole-Gell

Mon.
Couu'

oils,
Total

14.

Committees.

No. of
Meet-
ings.

62

22

31

61

7

12

4
22

72

11

10

10

26

15

40

4

51

56

Council :^

At-
tend-
ances.

The Secretary (Mr. H. M. Jeukins) read the Report of
the Council, which was as follows : —

" The Council of the Royal Agricultural Society have the
gratification of reporting that a large accession to the list of
members has been obtain "d since the last General Meeting in
]),-ccral)er, no fewer than 3 Governors and G77 Memb-'rs
having been elected in the interval. On the otlier hand, the
death of two governors and 47 members has been reported,
andtlie names of 06 members, who resigned in the course of
the year 1878 have been removed from tlie list. Tlie Society
now consists of: —

81 Life Governors,
72 Annual Governors,
2,453 Life Members,
4,700 Annual Members, .
20 Honorary Members,
mf.l{ing a total of 7,332, and showing an increase of 535 since
the December meeting. lu the last half-yearly report the

Council announced the resignation of Mr. Milward, of Tlinr-
giirton Prioryi Notts, as a trustee of the Society, and they
much regret tliat they now have to report the death of their
valued colleag-ue, who had been a most acUve member of
Conncil for more than 30 years. The vacancy in the list of
Vice-presidents which existed in December has been filled np
by the e ection of Mr. John Bennett Lawes, F.R.S,, o' Roth-
haraated ; and the vacancies in the Council have been filled op
by the election of Mr. Samuel Porier Foster, of Kilhow,
Carlisle, and Mr. Robert Neville, of Bntleigh Court, GUston-
bury. The accounts for the year 1878 have been examined
and certified by the auditors and accountants of the Society,
and have been published in the last number of the Journal,
together with the statement of receipts and expenditure con-
nected with tlie Bristol meeting. The funded property of the
Society has since been reduced by the sum of £:J,08I 4s. 5d.
New Three per Cents., which has been sold out to meet some
of the preliminary expenses of the London Exhibition ; and it
now st'inds at £24,430 7s. Od. New Three per Cents. The
balance of the current account in the hands of the Society's
bankers, on the 1st inst., was £7,222 17s. 8d. The London
International Exhibition will commence on June 30th, and
will continue for the six following days (Sunday excepted). It
will be the largest and most varied agricultural show hitherto
held, as the Council have taken the opportunity to include in
the exhibition some novel features of great interest. Among
these, it may be stated that the idea of a Comparative Loan
Collection of Ancient and Modern Farm Implements has been
well supported ; and the thanks of the Council and of the
members are due alike to the possessors of the old and the
makers of the new forms of implements for their ready res-
ponse to the appeal of the Council to aid them in this matter.
It is intended to publish a special descriptive catalogue of this
loan collection, which will doubtless be a valuable aid to the
study of the history of farming machinery. The processes of
foreign dairy ^manufacture liave recently attracted so much at-
tention, in consequence of the large importations of foreign
cheese and butter during the last few years, that the Council
have endeavoured to secure the representation of some foreiTU
as well as English dairy processes in actua 1 operations, and
they are glad to state that the German, Scandinavian, and
French, in additiou to some of the English processes will be
represented in an International Dairy, in the forthcoming
exhibition. The implement industry of the country will be
represented by an unusually larae number of exhibitors, while
special novelties will be introduced by French, Belgian, and
German makers. National collections of the agricultural pro-
duce of several countries will also form a special feature of
interest and instruction. Ttiree Railway Waggons have been
entered to compete for the gold medal and Fifty I'ounds Piize
offered by the Mansion House Committee for the best Waggon
for conveying perishable goods, such as meat, poultry, fish, Scc^
by railway at a low temperature, a journey of 500 miles, the
waggons to retain their contents at a temperature not
exceeding 45° Fahr. for six days. The Exhibition
of Live Stock will be on a scale of equal magnitude
with that of Implements m both the loreign and
English sections. The Council have taken the utmost pre-
cautions to prevent any importation of disease with foreign
cattle, which will be placed in a portion of the Exhibition
quite separate from the English cUtle department. Under
special orders issued by the Privy Council, suitable premises
have been engaged as quarantine stations, and arrangements
will be made for the inspection of all animals entered for
exhibition previous to shipment and after landing, as well as
on their arrival at the Exhibition after having undergone the
period of quarantine required by the Privy Council. Tlie
Council have much pleasure in calling attention to the support
which lias been given to the London mec^ting by the several
Agricultural Stud and Herd Book Societies and similar asso-
ciations, most of which have offered champion or special
prizes for animals of the breeds in which tliey are respectively
interested. The co-operation of such institutions with the
Royal Agricultural Society must, in the Oi)inion of the
Council, have a great influence in promoting the objects
which are common to both. The district assigned for the
country meeting of 1880 comprises the counties of Njrihum-
berhmd, Durham, Cuiuberland, and Westmoreland ; and llie
Council have decided to accept the very cordial invitation
whicli they have received from the Mayor and Corporation of
Carlisle to hold the couutry meeting of uest year in that city.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZI^[E

4ia

The Council have selected for the country meeting of 1831
the district comprising the counties of Dt-rby, Leicester,
Lincoln, Northiirapton, Nottingham, and Rutland. As
reported at tiie last half-yearly meeting, the Council have
provided a laboratory for a consulting chemist on the Society's
premises, and hare entered into a new arrangement witli Dr.
Voelcker, wliereby the cost of analyses to members, under
certain regulations, has been reduced to about one-half the
previous rates. A statement of these and other revised privi-
leges having been sent to each member of tlie Society, the
Council have the satisfaction of reporting that since the opening
of the new laboratory a very large addition to the number
of members during the same period of the year has been
received for analysis by Dr. Voelcker. The Council have
further made a new arrangement with the Governors
of tiie Royal Veterinary College, by virtue of winch the
otficeis of that institution will act as Veterinary Inspectors
to the Society on terms similar to those which have hitherto
been paid by the members for professional aid in
cases of disease of cattle, sheep, and pigs. This arrangenaent
has worked very satisfactorily during the few montlis that it
lias been in operation, and the reports from the professors of
the college, on the principal cases which have come under their
observation, which are published in the proceedings of the
monthly Council meetings, are deserving of the careful study
of all stock-owners. In consequence of the arrival at Liver-
pool of a number of cattle from the United States of
America affected with pltura-pneumonia, the Council urged
npon the Government the importance of immediately placing
the United States under the provisions of the Contagious
Diseases (Animals) Act (1878), which provides for the
slaughter of foreign animal* at the place of landing, and an
Order in Council with that object was issued shortly after. Ot
tlie graduates of the Roynl College of Veterinary Surgeons
who were eligible to compete for the Society's medsls and
prizes, offered for proficiency in cattle pathology, only one
(Mr. John Herbert Callow) presented himself lor examination
last January. The examiners awarded him the gold medal
and first prize of £20. The examiners reporied that, in
their opinion, the absence o( competitors was in consequence
of the conditions of qualification for competition being too
stringent ; and the Council of the Royal College of Veterinary
Surgeons having taken the same view, it has been arranged
that iu future the competition shili be open to candidates
who liave taken honours in cattle pithology at the final
examination of the college, and who shall have taken their
diploma not more than two years before the date of the exam-
ination. Twelve candidates presented themselves at the recent
examination for the society's prizes and certificate*, but only
three satisfied the examiners on all the necessary subjects,
thereby gaining the first-class certificates and life membership
of the Society, as well as qualifying themselves to earn pay-
ments as teachers of the principles of agriculture under the
departments of Science and Art. The successful candidates
were : — A. E. Brooke-Hunt, first-class certificate, life member,
ship, prize of £25 (ertucated at Cirencester) ; Lawford D.
Cover, first-class certificate, life membership, prize of £15
(educated at Cirencester) ; Robert Wallace, first-class cer-
tificate, life membership prize of .£10 (educated at Edin-
burgh). Upon the representation of the Council, the Science
and Art Department of the Committee of Council on Eluca-
tion have agreed to accept the diploma of the Royal Agricul-
tural Colle2e, Cirencester, and the first-class certificate of the
Royal Agricultnral Society, as qualifying the holders to earn
payments on the results of their instruction in tlie principles
of agriculture without their undergoing a special examination
for that purpose.

"By Order of the Council,

"H. M. JENKINS,
"Secretary."

Sir J. Herox MAXwELL.in moving the adoption of the
report, congratulated the meeting on the increase iu the
number of members. For some years, he observed, the
Council had to announce with regret an actual decrease,
but the report now presented showed aa increase of 535
since the mseting last December. That fact showed that
the appeal which was made has been cordially responded
to ; and the increase was the more satifactory as eviacing

that notwithstanding the present downcast look ofagriculture
the agricultural interest desired to manifest its firm attach-
ment to that Society. Of course the priucipal thing which
had engaged the attention of the Council receuijy, and
vvhich would do for the next four weeks, was_ the grand
Loudon International Exhibition. He must say that as
a member of the Finance Committee, he felt, iu commoa
with the Chairman, that Londoners had not come forward
as readily, and as liberally as they might fairly have been
expected to do under such circuinstauces. The subscrip-
tions for uext year's shovs^ at Carlisle amounted to almost
as much as the amount obtained from Loudon for the
ExhibitioQ about to be held there. Perhaps a little hint oa
that subject might yet do good. The Council had a few
weeks before thera to receive additional assistance, and
he hoped it would be forthcoming. There was au im-
portant paragraph in the report relating to disease among
cattle, sheep, and pigs, and he felt sure the members
would all feel grateful to the Council for the means that
had been adopted for preventing or stamping out, or re-
ducing the disease, and which had been attended with so
much success. There appeared to be new diseases
springing up among animals as well as among human
beings, and typhoid fever, which he believed was quite a
recent disease among pigs, had been treated very success-
fully. Carcases had been destroyed to prevent infection,
and he hoped that as the result of the measures adopted,
that form of disease would soon cease to exist. Although
there was at present a cloud hanging over the agricultural
interest throughout England, and extending over a large
portion of Scotland also, he trusted that it would soon
pass away, and that both landlords and tenants would Sud
themselves in a better position than they had been for the
last twelvemonth.

Mr. VV. Yates Freebody, in seconding the motion,
said he wished to allude to what was to him a very im-
portant matter. It appeared that the Society had then to
their credit the sum of £31,652. Many years ago, as
some of those present might remember, the late Mr.
Raymond Barker, who was a leading member of the
Finance Committee, spoke of the wonderful things which
the Society would do if it only had £10,000, The
Society had now not merely £10,000, but upwards of
£30,000, and he must say he did not think as much had
been done as ought to have been done with the funds at
the disposal of the Council. As regards the International
Exhibition, which would shortly be held at Kilburn, he
regretted that the Council of that great Society had
thought it necessary to send round the hat, instead of
relying on that baek-bone of the country, the farming
interest-

The motion was then put, and carried.

On the motion of Mr. Kimber seconded by Mr.F.King,
a vote of thauks was given to the auditors-

The Chairman having then invited all present, in ac-
cordance with custom, to make some remarks or sugges-
■ tions for the consideration of the Council,

Mr. "\V. Yates Freebody said he had a suggestion to
make relating to a subject of great practical interest to
the farmers of this country ; it was that the Council
should instruct qualified persons to furnish reports of
the corn growing and meat producing capabilities of
America, Canada, Russia, India, Australia, and New
Zealand, with regard to the probable supply of food
intended for the English market. Information obtained
in that way would, he remarked, be much better than
the official information supplied in Blue Books, and he
hoped that if his suggestion was adopted the Council
would send out men who were well qualified for the work.
He feared that the suggestion would, like others which
had been made, be pooh-pcohed, but nevertheless he
submitted it as one well deserving attention.

420

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

Mr. Mechi suggested that lecturers shouM be sent by
the cou:icil to some of theleastladranced parts of the country
as reiiaidt'd agriculture, for the purpose of enlightening
farmers; adding that such a course had already been
pursued abroad with good results. There was he re-
marked, one great source of satisfaction ; he congratu-
lated thii Society on having so etilcieiit a Secretary, and
one whose services were of so much value to agricul-
ture (Hear, hear).

No one having risen to make any other remark or
suggestion.

Professor Wilson, of Edinburgh, proposed a vote of
thanks to the chairman, which was seconded by Mr.
Glenny, and carried by acclaiiiation.

The Chaikman on rising to respond, said he must first
state what he ought, perhaps,to have mentioned before, that
the President, His Royal Highness the Priuce of Wales, had
expressed his regret at his inability, owing to a previous
eQgagemeut, to be present that day. With the permission
of the meeting he would now make one or two remarks.
As regarded the International Exhibition, he thought they
must all feel it to be of the greatest importance that every-
thing shonld be done in the very best manner. They
might congratulate themselves on the entries, and he
was sure that no pains would be spared by the ofScials of
the Society in managing the Show in such a manner that
evrerything would be seen by the public with the greatest
advantage. He also trusted that the inhabitants of the
metropolis would join in and make it the fashion to
attend the Show, feeling certain that they would see there
what thousands and tens of thousands of them had never
seen before, and what must afford them a great deal of
instruction. As regarded the Mansion House Committee
he regretted that the amount collected was not larger.
When they had gone to other large towns the expenses of
the ground had been paid for them ; in the present case
the ground would cost them £4,000, and as the other
£4,000 of the total subscribed in London would be
devoted to prizes, they would virtually receive nothing
whatever. They must, therefore, trust for the finansial
success of the Exhibition to the receipts, and he hoped
that with fine weather there would be a very large
attendance, so that the funds of the Society would not
suffer. As regarded those funds he must say he thought
it would be most detrimental to the interests of the
Society if it had a hand-to-mouth policy, that was, if
the income were all spent and nothing was funded.
They had in fact only £24,000 ; the balance in excess of
that amount would be expended very shortly on account
of the Exhibition. He did not know how without funded
property they could have undertaken to give prizes for
veterinary proficiency, a new phase of the Society's work,
and one which he knew was highly appreciated by the
members of the Royal Veterinary College. He thought
the meeting would agree with him that in giving these
prizes the council were going in a right direction, and
that they were also going in the right direction when they
reduced the fees for ^laboratory work (Hear, hear). The
number of members ought to be raised from 7,000 to
10,000 with the greatest ease, but the i icrease which had
taken place even in these bad times showed that there
was life in the old dog yet (cheers.) The suggestion of
Mr. Preebody had, lie could assure him, already under-
gone a long discussion before the Journal Committee, at
least as regarded the Indian and Australian food supply
if they were to undertake such a workas Mr. Ereebody;
had pointed to the £24,000 would very soon be gone
( Hear, hear). In concluding the Chairman congratulated
the meeting that notwithstanding the great competition
of the weekly agricultural press the Society's Journal
contained so much that was interesting and valuable to
agriculturists. — The meeliug then separated.

BATH AND WEST OP ENGLAND.

The hundred-and-second Annual Exhibiti m of this
Society will be held at Exeter, on the five days commenc-
ing Whit Monday, June 3iid. The Show Yard, which
occupies a picturesque site on the 'I'opsham Road, is at a
convenient distance from the " ever-faithful " city, and
will doubtless be visited by large numbers of agri-
culturists and holiday-keepers from all parts of the
Kingdom when its gates are opened to the public.

As will be readily seen on reference to the figures
quoted below, the collection of machinery, implements
and live stock in the Exeter Show Ground will fully
entitle the Show of 1879 to be characterised as " great."
And on comparing the entries with those at the Meeting
of the Society last held in Eseter, 16 years ago, evidence
is at once oft'ered, both by the numbers and character of
the exhibits, of the immense and rapid growth ot the
Society's operations.

In the Department of Live Stock there were in 1863
only 419 entries, including a large number of animals
shown as extra stock, which are now systematically
declined by the Society, although frequently, as was the
case this year, many extremely valuable animals have
been ufTcred by their owners for exhibition. In the pre-
sent year the total number of entries is 661, of which 133
are horses. The cattle include 38 Devous, 43 Shorthorus,
33 Herefords, 48 Sussex, 50 Jerseys, and 38 Guernseys.
There ai-e 207 peus of sheep, among which ar>i 21
Leicesters, 21 Cotswold, 44 Devon Long-wools, 28
Southdowns, 28 Hampshire Downs, 18 Somerset and
Dorset Horns, and 14 Exmoors. Of Pigs there are 81
entries, of which 35 are Berkshires. Each section of the
Stock Department contains specimens from all the most
successful breeders in England, and there is good reason
to presume that the exhibition will be one of unusual-
merit in many of its classes.

In the Poultry Department there are 401 entries of
which 114 are Pigeons. These figures, however, in many
cases representing a pair of birds to each entry, the total
number of birds staged will, of course, be greatly in excess
of that number.

The exhibition of implements, although somewhat
less, perhaps, than the Shows of the last two years, will
be remarkable not only for its extent, but for its generally
attractive character. Much interest will doubtless be
excited in the trial of the sheaf-binders which will be
shown in active operation in the Trial Fields, where, also,,
a large number of mowers, reapers, haymakers, aud other
labour-saviug machiaes will be actually tested upon the
crops provided for the purpose. There will be 59 com-
partments of machineiy in motion, being' the same num-
ber as at the great Bristol show in 1874, and 35 more
than at the last Exeter meeting.

The Picture Gallery will contain a collection of the
works of a large number of Western .\rtist3, in addition
to numerous contributions from residents in London and
more remote parts of the kingdom. A number of choice
paintings and other works of art will be exhibited, on
loan, under the care of an influeutial local committee, ap-
pointed for the purpose.

The Horticultural Department will, as usual, form au
attractive feature of the Exhibition, aud will consist of a
number of rich specimens from Devon and the adjacent
counties.

The open judging of stock will commence precisely at
10 o'clock on Monday, Juue 2-nd, the gates being opened
to the public an hour previously. On Tuesday, at noon,
the annual meeiiug of the Society will be held in the
Show Yard, under the presidency of the Earl of Morli'.y,
when the report of the Council will be presented, and the
IVesident and twenty-three members of the Council
elected. The prices ollcrcd by the Society for horse-

THE FARMERS' MAGAZINE.

421

shoeiug af portable fovges in the yard will be competed
for OQ Wtdiiesday by smiths represeiitiiii< each of ihe
Western counties. The bands of the lluyal Marines and
Grenadier Guards have been en^asred, and on Wednesdiy
alteruoon they will in coinbiaatiou play a selectioQ of con-
certed pieces.

Aithou|jli there is a turnpike gate between the city and
the Show Yard, yet there is do necessity for the public
to go throuijh it, as there is a level public road, viff
Mount Radford, without any turnpike gate intervening.

PROGRAMME.

Monday, 2nd JuxE, admission, 2s. 6d , open from 9 a.ir.
to 6 p.m. — Tlie open judging in the sliowyard of cattlp, sheep,
horses, aud p'gs corameucing at 10 a.m. The poultry
teut oppu as soon as tiie birds are judged, and until 6 p.m.
I iiplement department open at 9 a.m. Arts department
open at 10 a.m. I nplements of variou'* kinds to work at
intervals in the trial fields ; mowers from 10 to 1 ; reapers
and slieaf binders from 2 to 5. Horticultural department
open at 2 o'clock. Bind of the Rojal Marines at 1.30
o'clock.

Tuesday, admission, 2s. 6d., open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. —
The cattle, sheep, horses, pigs, poultry, implements, and
arts departments open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Weather
permitting, the cattle to be pinided in the ring at 12, and
the horses at 2. The horticultural department open
from 10 a.m. to 6 p m. Annual m eting of members in the
council tent at 12 noon, under the presidency of the Earl of
Morley. Implements ot various kindt 1 1 work at intervals
in the trial fields; mowers Irora 10 to 1 , reapers and sheaf
binders Irora 2 to 5. Bind of the Royal Marines at 11 a.m.

Wednesday, admission, 2s. 6d., open irjra 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
— the cattle, sheep, iiorses, pigs, poultry, implements, and
arts department open from 9 am. to 6 p.m. Weather per-
mitting, the cattle to be paraded in the ring at 12, and the
horses at 2. The shoeirg of horses at portable forges at 10
a.m. The horticultural department open from 10 a.m. to
6 p.m. Band of the Royal Marines at 11 a.m. Band of
the Grenadier Guards at 2 45 ana 5 p.m. Comerted pieces
by the united bauds at 3.30.

Thursday, admission, lo., open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. — The
cattle, sheep, horsi-s, pigs, poultry, implements, and arts de-
partment open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Weather permitting,
the cattle to be paraded in the ring at 12, and the Horses
at 2. The horticultural department open from 10 a.m. to
6 p.m. Band of the Grenadier Guards at 11 a.m.

Friday, admission Is., open fr m 9 a.m. to 5 p.ra.^The
cattle, sheep, poultry, pigs, horses, implements, and arts de-
partments open at 9 a ra. Weather permitting, the cattle
to be paraded at 11 o'clock, and the Horses at 1. The
horticultural department open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bind
of the Grenadier Guards at 10 30 a.m., concluding at 4. 15
p.m. Drawing of the Art Union at 2 30 p.m. All stock
{excepting ir Classes 72 and 77) to remain in the yard until
3 o'clock p.m. Poultry tent closed at 5 p.m., before which
time no poultry can be removed without special order.

DEVON COUNTY.

The Shew opened on May 20th amid a slight mitty
rain, but about noon the moisture disappeared, and the
remainder of the day was fiue. The opening day coa-
firmed the opinion that the Exhibition is a comparatively
small one, and the attendance was not equal to that on
the first day of most previous Shows.

The cattle made in every class a show of very high
excellence, and the number of animals exhibited was
nearly the same as last year. An analysis, however,
shows a great variation in the classes. The Devon were
only 38, as against 67 last year, but the South Devons
have gone up from 14 to 31 ; the Shorthorns have taken
a step backwards, from 37 to 34, but the Channel Is-
lands are in exactly the same force as last year. The total
number of live stock entered 485 — horses 157, cattle
134, sheep 157, pigs 37. The Devons exhibited were a
credit to the breed. Tiie old bulls shown are all prize

takers. Now, as on mnny previous occasions, Viscount
Falmouth heads the list, his Lordship carrying off the
blue ribbou with " Sirloin," a rather small but remark-
ably level animal, of high tjuality, whose only fault in
form is a slight falling otf over the shoulders.

The South Devon were a larger show than the Society
has had at either of its three last exhibitions, and although
some of the old angular type are still found, yet, as a
whole, the South Devons are far more shapely than they
used to be. Though they are not a very striking breed
for show purposes, yet they are highly prized ia the
South Haras on account of the large quantity of milk
they give, and the South Hams larmers swear by them as
the most rapid producers of beef.

Ttie Shorthorns made a grand show, and the exhibitors
includel the most noted breeders in the Western Counties.
One of the well-known Baron Wild Eyes family, sent by
Mr. Dunning from Taunton, is first among the old bulls,
and in the next class all three prize winners are splendid
beasts. The yearling bulls were headed by a superb white
"Lord Oxford," exhibited by Messrs. lloskeu, of Hayle,
whilst next to him is " Osmanli,' sent by Mr. Bristol, of
Shaftesbury, and the third is a black and white, '' Lord
Taunton," a son of the first prize beast in the old bull
class. The first prize cow is a mottled four-year-old,
" Carnation," the fourth of the family shown by Messrs.
Hosken ,■ a magnificent pure white with enormous back
and sides, sent by Mr. Bult, of Taunton, is second, and
comes from the " Grand Sultan" strain. lu all the
heifer classes Messrs. Hosken and Son are first with the
progeny of the " Duke of Oxford" and " Wild Eyes."

The Channel Islands Cattle were also a very excellent
show, but the judging gave rise to much complaint.

The Eshibitioa ef Sheep was, next to fat Cattle, the
great feature of the Show. Some exceedingly fine
animals were penned, and there were representatives from
all the most important breeds of the country. In numbers
the sheep compared well with any previous entries for this
exhibition, although from the situation of the yard this
year there was a preponderance in certain classes, which
gave the judges some trouble in awarding the prizes.

The Iiorses make altogether a most satisfactory show
both in the quantity and the quality, this department being
one of the best filled in the exhibition. As a rule the
competition was remarkably keen, and severely taxed the
discrimination of the judges. The total number of horses
entered this year was 159, against 148 at Hoiiton last
year, and 152 at Tavistock the previous year. The agri-
cultural horses, however, as a whole, were hardly up to
the average. Class 2 came out the best, and the
awards seemed to meet with general approval.

There being ouly five classes of Pigs, containing 36
entries in all, the competition was not very severe,

PRIZE LIST
JUDGES.— Horses : J. Jackman, Kelly, Tavistock ; J,
Michelmore, Sherford, Kingabridge ; W. Trist, Ugborough,
I ybridge; Earl o( Portsmouth, Eigesford House; T.
Potter, jun., of Yellowlord, Thorverton ; G. Lobb, Law-
hiiton, LauQceston. Cattle : H. Stranger, Court House,
Norihmoltoa ; T. Powlesland, Stockleigh Pomeroy, Cre'^.i-
ton ; tl. Taylor, Stancombe, Totnes ; E. R. Cornish, Torr,
Mounts, Devon ; J. Fairweather, Malaton, Kingsbridge ;
J. K. Fowler, Prebendall Farm, Aylesbury ; H. Tait, Prince
Consort's Shaw Farm, Windsor. Sheep and Pigs ; J.
Tapp, i'wiicheB, Southmolton ; T. Marris, Croxton, CJlceby,
Lincoln ; — . Harding, Bovey Barton, Beer, Axminster.
Sheep and Sheep Shearing : H. Gibbings, Brenton,
Kennford; G. May, Parsonage, Ermington, Ivybridge; E.
Osmond, Woodrow, Exeter. Wool : S, Churchward,
Buckfastleigh.

HORSES.

rOR AGElCUi TU lAL PURPOSES.

Stallions, foaled before the ist January, 1876.— First prize.

422

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

E. Shinner, T!«ckf:»stlpif;li ; s3conJ, J. Powlesland, Okehamp-
ton ; tliird, W. Bray, Liiunctston.

Siallions, foaled on or after 1st January, 1876.— First
prize, G. JfAT-ry. Briilestowe ; second, N. Cook, Tiverton ;
tliird, J. Bicklo, Bridcstowe.

Mares in foal, or having a foal by iVieir side.— First prize,
T. Willing, Tavistock ; second, S. T. Tifgaskis, Saint Issey,
Cornwall.

Gf Idings or fillies, foaled in 1875.— First priz-, J. Stephens,
St. Coluiub Minor; second, Dr. C. Budd, North Tawtun.

Geldings or fillies, foaled in 1876.— First prize, W. Turpin
and S ms, Plymptou ; second, J. Adams, Ivybridge.

Geldings or filhes, foaled in 1877.— First prize, J. North-
cote, Devonport ; second, J. W. Hallett, Roborough ; third,
Mrs. A. n. Butcher, East Stonehouse.

Colts, geldings, or fillies, foaled in 1878.— First prize, H.
Auckland, Hatherleigh, second, J.Tucker, Kiugsbridge ;
third, J. Michelmore, Totues.

HUNTEKS.

Calculated to carry not less than 13 stone,
■Mares in foal, or having a foal by their side. — First prize,

S. W. \V. Stephens, Wadebridge ; second, J. West, Wade-
bridge.

Geldings or mares, foaled before the 1st January, 1875. —

First prize, W. Trist, Ivybridge ; second, G. B. Battams,

Tavistock ; third, W. Trist.
Geldings or fillies, foaled in 1875.— First prize, G. B.

Battams ; second, J. Harper, Barnstaple ; third, G. B. Bat-
Geldings or fiUies foaled in 1876.— Prize, F. H. Firth

Ashburton. .

Geldings or fillies foalel in 1877.— First prize, G. B.

Battams ; second, G. B. Battams ; tliird, H. Soper, Ivybridge.
Colts, geldings, or fillies foaled in 1878.— First prize, R. W.

Pollard, Paignton ; second, T. Ratallick, Bodmin; third, T.

H. Newman, Lewdown.

HACKS.

Geldings or filli»s.— First prize, N. Cook, Tiverton ;
secoud, T. Yelvertou, Ottery Saint Mary ; third, H. W.
Thomas, riyraouth.

Geldings or mares foaled before the 1st January, 1877. —
First prize, R. B, James, Bideford ; second, R. Sercombej
Ivybridge; third, W. Jackman, Plymouth,

Ponies exceeding 12 hands and not exceeding 13^ hands. —
First prize, T. Yelverton ; second, D. Westaway, Tavistock.

Ponies not exceeding 12 hands.— First prize, W. Jackman ;
second, G. Arden, Exeter,

CATTLE.

DEVON.

Bulls exceeding three years old on the 1st June. — First prize,
Viscount t'almouth, Probus ; second, C. Reed, Lewannick ;
third, A. E. Gould, Poltimore.

Bulls above two and not exceeding three years old on the
1st June, 1879. — First prize, Viscount Falmouth ; second, A.
C. Skinner, Bishops Lydeard ; third. Col. BuUer, C.B., of
The Downes, Crediton.

Bulls above one and not exceeding two years old on the
1st June, 1879. — First prize, R- Ju'yan, Grampound ; second.
Viscount Falmouth ; third, W. Perry, Leydown.

Bulls not less than six nor exceeding twelve months old on
the 1st June, 1879.— First and second prizes, W. R, Fryer,
Lvtchelt Miuster ; third, W. Smith, Wliimple.

Cows exceeding three years. — First prize, W. R. Fryer ;
second, W. Perry ; third. Dr. C. Budd, North Tavvton.

lieiters not exceeding three years. — First prize, Mrs. M.
Langdon, Northmolton ; second, W. H. Walrond, Topsham.

Heifers not less than twelve months nor exceeding two
years old on the 1st June, 1879. — First prize, W. R. Fryer;
second, Mrs. M. Langdon, third, W. R. Fryer.

lleifers not less that six nor exceeding twelve months old
on the 1st June, 1879. — First prize. Sir J. H. lleathcote-
Amory, Bart., M.P., Tiverton ; second, W. R. Fryer.

SOUTH DEVON.

Bulls exceeding 3 years old on the 1st June, 1879. — First
prize, J. Horsford, Plympton, St. Mary ; second, W. G. Grills,
Berry J'omeroy ; third, W. Wroth, Newton Abbott.

Bulls above 2 and not exceeding 3 years old on the Ist June,
1879. — I'^irst prize, B. J. W. Samfaell, Lostwithel ; secoud, J.
a. Oldreive, Dartmouth ; third, J. Wroth, Kings jridge.

Bulls above 1 and not exceeding 3 years old on the 1st
June, 1879. — First prize, G. Giliard, Kingsbridge ; second,
J. S Ford, Yealmpton ; third, J. Willcocks, Yealrapton.

Bulls not less than 6 no"" exceeding 12 months on the 1st
June, 1879. — First prize, B. W. Coker, Piyrupton ; second,
J. S. Ford ; third, B. \V. Coker.

Cows exceeding 3 years old on the 1st of June 1879, in
calf, or having had a calf within 4? months preceding tlie Iht
day of exhibition. — First prize, B. W. Croker ; stcond, G.
Dewdney, Plympton.

Heifers not exceeding 3 years old on the 1st June, 1879,
in cilf, or having had a calf within 4 months preceding the
1st day of exhibition. — P'lrst prize, B. W. Coaker ; second,
B. Oldrieve, Dartmouth; third, J. Adams, Ivybridge.

Heifers not less than 12 months nor exceeding 2 years old
on Ihe 1st June, 1879. — First prize, J, B. Oldriev ; second,
G. Dewdney ; third, J. B. Oldrieve.

Heifers not less than 6 nor exceeding 12 months old on the
1st June, 1879. — First prize, J. B, Oldrieve; second, J.
Adams.

SHORTHORN,

Bulls. — Fr-t prize, J, H. Dunning, Taunton; second, W.
Hewett, Tauriton.

Bulls. — First prize, R. W. Pollard, Paignton , second, W.
Chnpraan, Cornwall ; third, J. S. Bult, Taunton.

Bulls. — Frst prize, W. Hosken and Son, Cornwall; second,
E. Bristol, Shaftesbury; third, W. H. Hewett.

Cows exceeding 3 years old on the 1st June, 1879, in calf
or having had calf within 4 months preceding the first day of
exhibition. — First prize, W. Hosken and Sons; second, J. S.
Bult, Kingston ; third, J. Cruse, Brandiscorner.

Heifers uot exceeding 3 years old on the 1st June, 1879,
in calf or having had calf within 4 months preceding the first
day of exhibition. — First and second prizes, W. Hosken and
Son ; third, W. H. Hewitt, Taunton.

Heifers uot less than 12 months old nor exceeding 2 years
old on the 1st June, 1879. — First prize, W. Hosken and
Son; second, W. H. Hewett, Taunton; third, W. Hosken
and Son.

Heifers not less than 6 nor exceeding 13 months old on the
Ist June, 1879. — First prize, W. Hosken and Son ; second,
W. Tretliewy, Grampound Road.

CHANNEL ISLANDS — JERSEY OR ALDERNEY.

BulU exceeding one year old on the 1st June, 1879. — First
prize, E. H. Crocker, St. Germans; second, W. H. Walrond,
Newcourt.

Cows exceeding 3 years old on the 1st June, 1879, m calf or
having had calf within 4 months preceding the fiist day of
exhibition. — Prize, G. D. W, Digby, Sherborne.

Heifers not exceeding 3 years old on the 1st June, 1879, in
call or having had calf within 4 months preceding the first day
of exhibition.— First and second prizes. Lord Poltimore,
Exeter.

GUERNSEY.

Bulls.— First prize, R. N, G. Baker, Exeter; second, T.
D. Eva, Cambourne.

Cows. — First and second prizes, R. N. G. Baker.

Heifers. — Fir^l prize, R. N, G, Baker ; second, W. Bren-
ton, St. Germans,

SHEEP.

LEICESTERS.

Y'earling rams. — First and second prizes, W. Tremaine,
Polsue, Grampound; third, G. Turner, Great Buwly.

Rams of any other age. — First prize, W. Tremaine ; second
and third, G. Turner.

Pens o' 5 yearling ewes. — First prize, W. Tremaine,

SOUTH DLVONS.

Yearling rams. — First pr ze, J. Stooke, East Slierford
secoud, J. S. Hallett, Sherford Barton ; third, R. B, Trant
Tregrili.

Hams of any other age. — First prize, J. S. Hallett ; second,
R. B. Trant; tliird, J. Fairweather, Malston.

Pens of 5 yearling ewes (to be shown in their wool). — First
prize, J. Willcocks, Wiusor.

Pens of 5 ewes of 2 years old and upwards (to be shown in
their wool and suckling their lambs).— First prize, J. Will-
cocks; secoud, J. Willcocks ; third, J. S. Hallett.

DEVON LONG WOOLS.

Yearling rams.— First prize. Sir J. H. Heathcote-Araory,
M.F., Kuigbtshayes Court ; second, G. Thorn, Widdle Farm,
WiUiton; third, C. Norris, Motion, Exeter.

THE FAEMER'S MAGAZINE.

423

Rims of any otli°r a»p.— First priz", W. Drikes, Liunces-
ton ; second, Sir J. H. Heathcote-Aiuory, Ml'.; liiirJ, A.
BowermHii, Tauutou.

Pen of 5 yearling ewes. — First prise, Sir J. H. Ueathcote
Amory, M.l', ; second, C. Norris.

iVns of 5 ewe: of -i years old and upwards. — First and
second prize, C. Norris.

DARTMOOR.

Yearling rams. — First and second priz'^, J. Drew, Tavistock ;
bird, J. L. Brenibridije, Okehanipton.

Rams of any other a^e. — I'irst prize, J. Knapman, Oke-
hampton ; second, J, Kuapman ; third, J. Kuapnian.

Pens of fiveye<irlinsr e;ves. — First and second prize, J.Drew ;
third, J. L. Brembridf^e.

Pens of five ewes of two years old and upwards (to be shown
suckling iheir lauibs). — First prize. J. L. Brembridge,

EXMOOR.

Yearling rams. — First prize, BIrs. M. Langdon ; second
Lord Poltiniore, Pollimore Park, Exeter ; third, Earl Fur-
tescue, Southraoiton.

Rams of any other age. — First prize, C. Williams, Barn-
staple; secon ', Mrs. M. Lingdon.

Pens of five yearling ewes. — First and third prize, Lord
Poltimore.

Pens of five ewes of two years old and upwards (to be shown
in their wool and suckling their 'ambs). — First and third prize,
Earl Fortescue; second, Lord Poltimore.

SOMERSET AND DORSLT HORNS.

Yearling rams, — First, second and tturd prize, H. Farthing,
Bridgwater.

Rams of any other age. — First and second prize, J. Culver-
well, Bridgwater ; third, H. Farthing.

Pens of five yearling ewes. — Firat and second, J. Mayo,
Dorchester,

SHROrSHIRES.

Yearling rams. — First and second prize. Viscount Fal-
muuth.

PIGS.

LARGE BREED (BLACK).

Boars not less than G montlis. — First prize, A. Tucker, Har-
bertoQ ; second, J. H. Anthony, Yealmpton.

Sows of any age in farrow or exhibited with their litters.—
First and second prize, Mr. J, H. Anthony.

SHALL BREED (bLACK).

Boars not less than 6 months. — First prize, Rev. W.
Hooper, Dorchester ; second, W. Bon, Holsworthy.

Sows of any age in farrow exhibited with their litters.—
First prize, Rev. W. Hooper ; second, Earl Portsmouth.

LARGE BREED (WHITE).

Boars not less than 9 months. — First and second prize, R.
E. Duckeriug, Lincolnshire.

Sows of any age in larrow, or exhibited vith their litters. —
First and second prize, R. E. Duckering.

SHALL BREED (whITE).

Boars not less than 6 montiis. — First and second prize, Lord
IJoreton, Gloucestershire.

Sows ot any age in farrow or exhibited with their lifters. —
First and seconil prize, Lord Moreton, Gloucestershire.

BERKSHIRE.

Boars not less than 6 months. — First prize, C. Williams,
Barnstaple ; second, X. Beujafield, Dorset.
I Sows of any Ege in farrow or exhibited with their litters. —
I First and second prize, C. Williams.

DRAY HORSES.

I Mares or ge'dings of any age. — First prize, J, Pethick,
i Plymouth; second, W. B. Thomas, Plymouth.

AGRICULTURAL HORSES.

I Mares or geldings of any age. — First prize, vV. B. Thomas;
S second, J. Pethick.

i HUNTERS.

I Mares and geldings foaled between 1871 and 1875. — First
i prize, W. Tnst, Ivybridge ; second, W. Trist.

[ JUMPING PRIZES.

•* Mares or geldings exceeding 15 hands high. — First prize,
T. H. Newman, Lewdon ; second, R. L. Tapley, Brandis-
corner.

Mares or geldings not exceeding 15 hands high. — ?irst
priz«, F. T. Wyatt, Ivybridge ; second, T. Yelverton, Oltery
St. Mary

SINGLE HARNESS HORSES.

Mares or geldings not under 14 nor exceeding 15 liands.— .
First prize, VV. li- Genuys, Plymouth ; second, vV Jackman,
Plymouth.

DAIRY COWS.

Dairy cows of any age in milk. - First prize, J. H. Anthony;
second, J. Wells, Devonport, Bush.

CREAM AND BUTTER.

For (he beet 211b. of Devonshire clotted cream. — First
prize, J. 11. Anthony ; second, T. II. Ne*man ; third, W.
Bon I, Teignniouth ; fourth, F. C. Ford, Totnes.

For the liest made 211b. of Devonshire butter. — First
prize, J. Butland, St. Budeaux ; second, M. H, Elliott, Ply-
inoutli ; third, E. R. Cornish, Totnes; fourth, J. Wroth,
Kingsbridgp. — Western Times.

H A D L E I G H.

The spring meeting of the Iladloigh Farmers' Club and
Agricultural Associationwas held on May 23rd. The Ipswich
Journal says :^

With respect to the agricultural horses, they were, as usual,
the great feature of the exhibition. Though there was a
slight falling off in numbers, the tiuality would have done
credit to any district. There was a good sprinkling of bays
amongst them, and most of the exhibits had plenty of size about
them. To follow the catalogue, the stallions, which stand first
in order, were not in strung force. The stallions, in point of
numbers, are seldom, or ever, in keeping with the rest
of the Show. The first prize went to Mr. G. K. Green,
Naughton, whose fine, well-made horse is well known in the
neighbourhood ; and the second to Mr. D. Green, Somersham.
Amongst the brood mares there were some very serviceable
animals, Mr. Cooper's, lladleigh, being specially so, and it
took the first position. Tlie geldings were a small class. Of
the three which put in an appearance, the palm went to Mr.
Jacobs. The other two were very useful animals, Mr. J. Scott
being second. The three-year-old fillies were a very even class,
and perhaps the best in the show. Two out of tlie four were
shown by Mr. W. Byford, Glemsford, and they took the two
prizes, and the best of the two was a very choice filly. Mr. W.
Wilson, Baylham, was to the fore in the class for colts under 27
months with a very smart looking colt, with plenty of quality
about it. It was in tolerably good company.the 2nd prize going
to Willisham. The next, that of fillies of the correspouding age,
compared very favourably. Of the nine foals, there were
several very promising ones, some of which may be heard of
again at a future show at Kadleigh. The executors of Mr.
Thos. Partridge sent a very good looking one, which took
the first prize, the second being awarded to Mr. J. Scott.
The President of the Society, Sir C. R. Itowley ofi'ered a
prize of £5 for the best mare or filly in the show, and this
deservedly went to a handsome three-year-old Ally belongiag
to Mr. W. Byford.

The riding and nag horses are always a very attractive
feature at tlis llridleigh Show. This year, however, they
were not at all up to the mark in point of merit. The
hunters were very fair, the three prizes going to Mr. W,
Kersey, Mr. C. J. Grimwade, and Mr. G. Wade respectively.
The riding cobs were the redeeming feature of this part of
the exhibition, and to mark their high commendation of the
sense of the class, the judges awarded a high commendation
to Mr. L, Juby's and Mr. W. Strutt's cobs, besides the two
prizes which were taken by Mr. W. Jacobs and Mr. E. vV.
Archer. The harness horses, as usual, made a good display,
tliough they found going rather heavy.

With re'erence to the neat slock it was considered to be
up to the average in quantity and quality.

There were but few entries of sheep.

OXFORDSHIRE.
Meeting at Woodstock.

This was a fairly good and useful show, the largest, it is
said, that the Society has yet had, with the exception of
the Banbury meeting in 1877. The entries of cattle num-
bered 92, of sheep 01, of pigs 28, and of horses 111.

The Shorthorns were the chief feature ia the cattle

424

THE FARMERS MAGAZINE

division, and a few well-known prize takers were present
to contest the honours. The classes for bulls were not
well filled, and there were no auirnals there of much
moiNcnt. ' There was nothing to compete with Mr.
■\Vo(lehonse's Royal Havering 2iid (25370), and Colonel
Lloyd Lindsay's Churchill (37yyG) in their respective
classes, and the latter took the champion prize of £10 as
the best bull in the yard. This bull was second in his
class, as a yearling, both at Bristol and at Oxford last
year,' and we spoke of him there as promising aud likely to
make a goon bull, though by no means perfect. He is
not a first-rate animal, though doubtless a very
useful Shorthorn and rather showy. Mr. Wodehouse
showed a nice red bull calf of good quality, but it was
placed second. There were 13 cows in-milk or in-calf,
above three years old, entered the ring. Here Mr. St.
John Ackers' Priucess Georgie was placed first. It will
be remembered this cow was second at Oxford and the
reserve number at Bristol last year. The good points
about this animal are her undeniable quality, wide hips,
good and deep quarters ; but she is light in front, bare on
her shoulders, slight through the heart, and patchy on her
rnmp ; thus combining some of the best and worst points
of the Shorthorn breed. Mr. J. Walters' Merry maid,
placed second on the list, is an animal of a very different
stamp and character ; short on the leg, fine in bone, well
covered with flesh all over, and the very reverse of Mr.
Ackers' cow. She had a good calf by her side into the
bargain, and plenty of milk for him. One class of men
would have placed her first as unhesitatingly as another
class of judges would place her second. So long as the
Shorihorn breed has no definite standard of excellence,
and so many varieties of type and character, judges will
necessarily give their awards from different standpoints,
and on-lookers will criticise from equally different points
of view. The class for heifers in-milk or in-calf, under
three years old, was a very good one. There were three
animals of note competing for honours ; namely Mr
Brassey's Jemima 4th, Mr. St. John Ackers' Lady Carew
3rd, and Mr. Ashby Ashby's Innocence. The first men-
tioned will be remembered as the winner of the first prize
in her class, as a yearling, at the Royal, when Lady Carew
3rd was highly commended in the same class ; these two
heifers were in the same class together at Oxford last year,
and in that case Jemima 4th was first, and the other was
not noticed. Mr. Ashby Ashby's Innocence was in the
next older class both at the Royal and the Bath and West,
being highly commended at the former, and unnoticed at
the latter. It will also be remembered that at Northamp-
ton Innocence and Lady Carew 3rd were in competition,
when the latter was declared winner, and took, as well, the
Champion Cup (Burghley Park Plate) as best animal in
the yard, defeating the veteran bull Telemachus 6th.
At Woodstock the tables were turned. Mr. Brassey's
Jemima 4th was highly commended and made the reserve
number ; Lady Carew 3rd was placed second ; and
Innocence took not only first prize in the class, but
the champion prize of £10 as the best horned animal
in the yard. Jemima 4th is what our American
friends call a "blocky " animal, and has the appearance of
a well-finished steer. Lady Carew 3rd is of nice quality,
as all Mr. Ackers' show animals are, and she has merits ;
but— leaving out of consideration her horns and muzzle
— her rump is patchy, her brisket unsightly fat, and her
girth behind shoulders not what it should be. Innocence
is a better made heifer, better stamp altogether, aud her
points are good ; but she is much too fat to serve any
useful purpose to the breeder. She has recently calved,
and is, of course, in-milk, though her udder is a mere
farce. No doubt the judges found it difficult " to get
away " from the fact of a calf having been dropped ; but the
real value of such qualification is doubtful. A paragraph

appeared last week respecting this animal, which reads M
follows : — " Innocence, having brought a live bull calf on
April 29, which, however, only lived a short lime, as it
came before the nine months, receives her Dumfries prize,
and she will now be able to show in the cow class at Kd-
burn." That needs no comment. But it is a pity that
judges have not the courage to disqualify animals which
are practically unfit for breeding purposes, so tba* a per-
nicious system might be put an end to. The only difficulty
would be in making a start, for the meeting at which such
a system was fa'rly tried would probably be in a positioa
to carry over the bulk of the prize money to the next
year's show. Amongst the yearling heifers there were
three which were good ones, namely, Mr. W. G. Game a
Duchess Warwick 3rd, Mr. R. Attenborough's Red But-
terfly 4th, and Mr. J. Walters' Pride of Bearwood. The
two former are reds, and there is very little choice between
them ; both are of excellent quality and have great merit.
The award, however, was no doubt right, which gave
first prize to Mr. Attenborough. Mr. Walters'
heifer is a roan, and very stylish too, and was second
as a calf at Oxford last year ; but the reds were better.

The classes for " bulls, cows, and offspring," werem^de
up partly by independent entry and partly by animals in
other classes, and the competition was not bad. Mr.
Wodehouse's bull Royal Havering 2ad turned the scale in
favour of the family in which he appeared and secured the
championship. The dairy cows were useful, and the class
for pairs which must show " a good stock of milk' was
very good indeed, Mr. Brassey winning with a couple of
Shorthorns. There were a few Jersey cattle exhibited,
chiefly by Mr. Simpson of Reigate and Mr. Brassey of
Heythrop.

There was a very useful show of sheep, and the general
quality was good, although there was nothing there at
all out of the way. Mr. Brassey showed four Oxfordshire
Down shearling rama of a very useful stamp and with
good quality, and secured first and second prizes and
commendation. Mr. G. Street's sheep were amongst
the best of the remainder, consisting of representatives
from the flocks of Mr. Treadwell, Major Dashwood,
Messrs. J. and F. Howard, Mr. C. Hobbs, and others.
In the class for older rams Mr. C. Hobbs was first with
a very handsome sheep ; Mr. Treadwell's second prize
sheep was remarkably good in front, hut had two very
distinct ends to him. Fjr shearling ewes Mr. Trealwell
was first with a very nice pen indeed, good handling
sheep, though not all alike in that respect. Mr. Brassey's
second prize pen were of excellent quality, and had good
style about them. The Cotswold sheep were also a very
useful lot, and Mr. John Gillett found it difficnlt to win
close at home. The shearling rams were 17 in number,
and included entries from the flocks of Messrs. J. Gillett,
T. and S. G. Gillett, R.Jacobs, R. iSwanwick, and others,
the Messrs. T. and S. G. Gillett, of Faringdou securing
first honours, and Mr. John Gillett the second. In the
class for older rams the Messrs. Gillett were again first
with a sheep which took the Champion prize of £10 as
the best long-wooUed ram. With shearling ewes the
Messrs. Gillett were second, Mr. R. Jacobs, of Burford,
being first with a pen which secured the Champion prize
of £10 for the best pen of long-woolled ewes in the yard,
and very capital sheep they were, handling very firm,
and being full of flesh not fat. There was a decent show
of pigs.

Of agricultural horses there, were a few useful entries
but nothing out of the way ; the fillies under two years old
being about the best class. There was a moderate show of
hunters and nag horses, and the jumping and driving trials
were being looked forward to with considerable intere^
when we left the showyaid.

THE FAllMER'iS MAUAZINE.

A1'

The followiug is a liit of tUe juJi^es auJ their

awarJe : —

PRIZE LIST.

JUDGES.— C.vttle: E. Little, Lauliill, Chippenham ; J. G.
Altwater, Britford, Sulishury. Horses— Hunters and
Nags : R. G. F. Howard, IVraple Bruer, Lincoln ; G. Wise,
Woodcote, Warwick. Driving and JumpinR Classes: The
Earl of Jrrsev, Viscount Valeutia, Lird Norreys, A. \\ .
Hall, M.P , Holford C. Risley, A. Brassey. Agricultural
llorsps: G. M. Sexton, Wiierstead Hall, Ipswich; R.
Craddock, Lyncham, Chipping Norton. Sueei- : J. Case,
Chesterton, Fakenham ; W. Game, jua., AMsworth, XorUi-
leach. Tigs : T. Luham, and J. Tredwell, Winchendon.

CATTLE.

Bull of any breed, three years and upwards.— First prize,
W. H. Wodeiiouse, Hertford (Royal Havering 2ud) ; second,
The Duke of i\Iarlborough (Blenheim).

Bull of any breed, two years and under three years.— I'irst
prize. Col. R. Lloyd- Lindsay, Wantage (Shorthorn, Churchill) ;
second, J. Dodweil, Thame.

Bull of any breed, one year and under tv/o years.— First
prize, Col. R. Lovd-Lindsay (Shorthorn, Staraboal) ; second,
W. Linton, York (Shorthorn, Arthur Benedict).

Bull calf of any breed, six months and under one year. —
First prize, J. A. Mumford, Thame (Shorthorn, Country Boy) ;
second, W'. H. Wodehouse, Hertford (Royal Havering).

Cow of any breed (having produced a call) in-milk or in-
calf, three years and upwards.— First prize, B. St. J. Ackers,
Painswick (Shorthorn, Princess Gdorgie) ; second, J. VV alter,
M.P., Wokingham.

Ileifer of any breed, in-milk or in-calf, two years and under
three years.— First prize, G. A. Ashby, Rugby (Inuocenee) ;
second, B. St. J. Ackers (Sliorthorn, Lady Carew 3rd).

Heifer of any breed, lor b.-eedin? purposes, one year and
UBder two years.- First priee, R. Attenborough, Reading
(Red Butterfly 4ih) ; seconi, W. G. Game, Broadmoor,
Northleach (Duchess of Warwick 3rd).

Heiler calf of any breed, six months and under one year.—
First prize, G. A. Ashby (Deborah) ; second, R. Attenborough
(Whiteley Butterfly). .

Bui!, cow, and offsprin? of any breed (latter under twelve
months).— Prize, W. H. Wodehouse.

Dairy cow of any breed, a good supply of milk to be the
chief qualification.— Firi-t prise, J. Hutt, Tlirupp (Dolly) ;
second, R. Aldwortk, West Hagbourne (Didcot).

Pair of cows of any breed, in-milk.— First prize, A. Brassey,
H«ythrop (Hope and Bohemian Duchess) ; second, J. Hutt
Thrupp (Favourite and Fancy).

"- Jersey or Alderney bull, one year and under three years.—
First prize, G. Simpson, Reigate (Prince Albert Victor) ;
second, H. Barnett, "Woodstock.

Jersey or Alderney cow, in milk or in calf, three years and
upwards.— First and second prizes, G. Simpson (Her Majesty
and Promise).:

Jersey or Aldernsy heifer, under three years— First and
second, G. Simpson (Queen Dora and Mary).

CH.\MriON Pkke. — Best horned animal ia the yard.-
Prize, G. H. Ashby.

Best horned bull in the yard, under three years.- Prize,
Colonel Loj d-Lindsay.

Best cow or heifer iu the yard.— Prize, G. A. Ashby.

HORSES.

HU^"TERS AND NAGS,

Brood mare for breeding purposes.— Prize, M. Henry, Hyde
Park.

Hunter, mare, or gelding, to carry at least 15 stone. — First
prize, R. Phipps, Northampton (Hurricane) ; second, J. M.
K. Elliott, Towcester (Valentine).

Hunter, mare, or gelding, to carry at least 12 stone, not
over 5 years.— First prize, C. Sargent, Enstone ; second, R,
Hall, Great Tew (Osman Pasha). . ■„ » ^ i

Cob, not over 14^ hands.- First prize, A. R. Adcock,
Northampton (Jocko) ; second, R. T. Hodge, Henley-on-
Thames (Little Wonder).

Nag horse (mare or gelding) for general purposes.— Prize,
J. E. Panoas, Daventry. , r- • n

Pony (mare or gelding) not oyer 13 hands.— First prize, O.
a. Ridley, Oxfora (Jet) ; eecond, H. Pratt, Woodstock.

JUMPING PRIZES.

Mire or gelding that shall jnmp in the best form, the pr,)-
perty of a tenant farmer.— First prize, E. N. lladley, Wesl-
liide; second, T. Cook, Taddinijtoa.

Mare or gelding that shall jump in the best form, nit
exceeding 14^ hands.- To be decided this day (Tliursday).

DRIVING I-UIZIiS.

Mare or gelding of 15 hands and upwards, to be driven ia
harness.— F'irst prize, A. Boddiugton, Clilton ; second, F.
Symouds, Litchfi'-ld.

Mare or gelding, over 13 and under 15 hands, to be driven
in harness.— To be decided to-day (Thursd-iy).

Mare or gelding pony, not over 13 hands, to be driven ii»
harness. — First prize, H. Pratt, Woodstock; second, C. U,
Ridley, Oxford.

Mare or gelding, 15.2 and not over 16.1 hands, the proper'/
of a tenant farmer, got by a thorough-bred sire, to be driven m
harness.— To be decided to-day (Thursday).

AGllICULTUR.VL.

Entire cart horse, under four years old (foaled after Jann-'iry
1st, 1876). — First prize, R. Loder, Towcester, Clydesdalg
stallion (Scotland); second, Eirl of Macclestieid (Peeping
Tom).

Eutire colt, not over two years old (foaled in 1877). — First
prize, W. A. Underwood, L?ighton Buzzird ; second, W.
Tomes, East Claydon, Wiuslow.

Mare with colt, or to foal this season.— First prize, R.
Loder, Clydesdale mare (Maggie) ; second, W. G. Rosvles,
Kiiliugton, with colt.

Gelding above four years old (foaled before January 1st,
1875).— First prize, J. Bulford, Woodstock; second, A, U.
Thursby, Leamington.

Mares above four years old (foaled before January 1st,
1875).— First prize, R. Loder (Jessie); second, W, Way,
Wheatley.

Geldings above two years and under four years old (foaled
after January 1st, 1876, but not after January 1st, 1878).—
First prize, W. E, Bacchus, Banbury (Lion) ; second, J. Bul-
ford.

Mares, above two years and under four years old (foaled
after January Ist, 1876, but not after January Ist, 1878).—
First prize, E. and A. Stanford; second, W. Way, Albury,
Wheatley.

Geldings, not over two years old (foaled in 1877). — First
prise, J. Bulford ; second, G. UuderwooJ, Jan., Heme! Hemp-
stead.

Fillies, not over two years old (foaled in 1877).— Fir.st
prize, R. Loader (Jeannie Sprat) ; second, E. and A. Stanford,
Ashurst.

Champion Prize for the best animal in Classes 27 to31«
inclusive, R. Loder, Whitlebury.

SHEEP.

0.<cfordshire Down shearling ram.— First prize, A. Brassey
Chipping Norton ; second, A. Brassey.

O.'ifordshire Down ram, of any other age.— First prize, C,
Hobbs, Fairford ; second, J. Treadwell, Aylesbury.

Special prize. — Best ram in Classes 35 or 36.— C. Hobbs.

Pen of three Ox'brdshire Down ram Lambs, born in 1879.—
First prize, A. Brassey.

Pen of five Oxfordshire Down shearling ewes.— First prizs
J. Treadwell; second, A. Brassey, Chipping Norton.

Pen of five Oxfordshire Down breeding ewes ia the wool
and lambs, the ewes to be suckling their own laoabs — Firs
prize, A. Brassev ; second, J. Treadwell.

Pen of ten Oxfordshire Down ewe tegs in the wool, not
having been housed or separated from the eutire flock previous
to May 1, 1879.— First prize, A. Brassey ; seoond. Executors
of the late W. S. Hunt, Fawler.

Champion prizes.- Best short- woolled ram m the yard.— C.
Hobbs. Best Pen of five short-woolled breeding ewes in the
yard.— J. Treadwell.

Best long-woolled shearling ram.— First prize, T. and S. G,
Gillett, Kilkenny; eecond, J. GiUett, Oaklands.

Long-woolled ram of any other age.— First prise, T. and S.
G. Gillett, Faringdon; second, R.Swanwick, Cireno-i-t ;r.

zeu of three Ion r-wooled raic lambs, born in 1879. — First
pri e, H. Akers, Black Boarton.

Pen of five long-woolled shearling ewes.— First prize, R,
Jacobs, Burford; second, T. and S. G. Gillett, Faringion.

G G

426

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

Pen of five loug-woolkd breeding ewes in the wool, and
]ambs, ihe ewes to be suckling their own lambs. — First prize,
li. Alers, Blauk Bourtou ; second, S. G. Gillett.

Pen o' five Ion,i;-woolled ewe tegs in ihe wool, not having
bi^en housed or separated from the entire floct previous to May
1st, 1879. — t'irst prize, R. Jacobs, Burford.

Champion prizes. — Best long-woolleJ rain in the yard. — T.
and S. G. Gillett. Best pen of five loug-wooUed breeding ewes
in the yard.— fl. Jacobs.

PIGS.

Boa' of any breed except Berkshire, not over 18 months. —
First prize, W. Wheeler, Long Compton ; second, G. Street,
Mauldeu, Arapthill.

Sow of anv breed except Berkshire, in farrow or with pigs .
— First and second prizes, W. Wheeler, Lung Comptou.

B.-rkshire boar, not over 18 months. — First prize, E. Toii.bs,
Bainpton.

Berkshire sow, in farrow or with pigs. — First priz-, R.
Hurafrey, Shriveuham; second, W. Walter, Wokingliam.

Champion prize. — Best boar in the yard. — E. Tombs.

^ARTIFICLAL xMANURES. By Georges Ville
Tranblated by "William Crookes. F.R.S. London : Long-
mans, Green, and Co. The complete title of this book is
" Artificial JIanures ; their Chemical Selection and Scien.
tific Application to Agriculture," and it consists of a
series of lectures given at the ezperimeufal farm at Vin-
cennes during 1867 and 1874-5. The writings of M.
Georges Ville are very popular in France, and in the
Uuited States, where a translation of the work before us
has been widely circulated. We are in some doubt whether
we should recommend it to readers in this country, and
we certainly cannot do so without a warning. Written
in an interesting and admirably simple style, by an author
who is a strong enthusiast on his subject, no one cau read
it without pleasure ; and, detailing, as it does, the results
of the experiments of several years' labour and research,
no one who reads it with sufficient knowledge to enable
him to determine what to accept and what to reject can
fail to derive profit from it. On the other hand, we can-
not regard i\L Ville as a safe guide to the agricultural
student, and we cannot exempt him from the charge which
has been made against him of appropriating the discoveries
of others without due acknowledgment. He still holds
to his old theory that some plants have the power of
absorbing and assimilating the free nitrogen of the atmos-
phere, although the best authorities consider that this idea
has been completely exploded. The theory crops up fre-
quently throughout the book before us, and although it
does net vitiate many of the deductions and details of ex-
periments, M. Ville's adhesion to it detracts from his
authority as a teacher of agricultural chemistry, .^gain,
the results of our author's experiments are so generally
and so astonishingly in complete harmony with his
theories, that we cannot avoid the suspicion that they
were not all very carefully and exactly described. We
do not attribute bad faith to M. Ville, but only think
that his enthusiasm for pet theories has sometimes led
him to overlook results which militate against them.
This, at least, we know, that field experiments are neces-
sarily carried on under such variable conditions, that they
will not always, so to speak, " come to book " in the
docile manner attributed to M, Ville's experiments.
Similarly our author states theoretical results with a
certainty and exactness which are perfectly astonish-
ing, and certainly unwarrantable. For instance
on page 51 he says : " We will gi'ovr some plants in
calcined sand, the soil being provided with nitrogenous
matter, and all the mineral matters which must be
(employed in these conditions with the exception of calcic
carbonate. If twenty-two grains of wheat are sown the
STOP will weigh from 307 to 337 grains. This yield ia

not altered by adding humus. Add humus to the sand,
aud the crop does not change. Substitute calcic carbonate
for humus, aud still there is no change. Add at the
same time both humus and calcic carbonate, aud the
yield is increased in weight to 475 grains. These facts
being practically of fundamental importance, I subjoin
the following table: —

Nature of Yield
Soil. Grains,

1. Normal manure (a mixture of

nitrogenous matter, calcic
phosphate, potash, aud
lime) ... Calcined sand ... 33?

2. „ Limed saud ... 337

3. ,, Sand and humus 337

4. ,, Sand with lime

and humus ... 475."

Again, on page 132, M. Ville says : " It is not I who
speak to you, but the experience of hundreds of years,
which has everywhere proved the truth of this assertion —
that a given quantity of manure will always produce double
its weight of grain aud straw, whether we use 1, 10, or
100 tons, or, in other words,*twice as much is obtained
from the soil as we give to it." Other instances of un-
warrantably confident exactness might be quoted. There
are several palpable errors, due either to author, trans-
lator, or printer, in the volume. On page 70 it is
stated that " corn may be grown at from 3s. 2d. to 33.
4d. per acre " — bushel being no doubt meant ; and on
page 325 the consuming value of hay per ton is put at
Is. 5jd. Such errors or misprints would be venial in
some cases ; but in a scientific work greater carefulness
is expected. As to M. Ville'g ungraciousness in failing
to acknowledge sufficiently the work of other labourers
in his field of inquiry, we need only refer to the fact that
the field experiments of Messrs. Lawes and Gilbert are
barely mentioned — only once we believe — and then with-
out any particulars, although they were commenced, and
their results were published, long before M. Ville began
his experiments. This neglect is the more inexcusable
because M. Ville's results in most respects strikingly
confirm those obtained by his English contemporaries,
showing amongst other things the superior economy and
efficiency of chemical to farmyard manure.

With these warnings we may commend the book before
us to the attention of students of science. The details of
M. Ville's experiments, and his review of the experiments
of Bossingault and others, are in many respects instruc-
tive and valuable.

One of the most interesting portions of the book is the
preface to the F''rench edition, which is given by the
translator, M. Ville complains, with apparent reason, of
French laws relating to land as impediments to agricul-
tural prosperity aud advancemeut, just as we complain
here of some English laws. The French Law of Distress
is similar to Scotch H} pothec, and is, of course, mis-
chievous in its incidence. He also objects to an evil
which is certainly not a feature of our English land
system — the excessive sub-division of land. He advo-
cates joint-stock farming, and advises farmers to co-
operate in manufacturing their own manures.

On a future occasion we hope to publish a more
detailed examination of M. Ville's scientific theories and
experiments- We may mention now, however, that, after
many inquiries, he came to the conclusion that the cost
of producing farmyard manure in F'rance is about 1 2a
per ton. In stating this conclusion he gives some balan ce
sheets of stock-feeding, none of which show a profit to
the grazier apart fiom the manure. In conclusion, we
may remark that the title of the book does not cover all
its subjects, which include cattle- feeding, the manufac-
ture of beetroot sugar, and other agricultural topics.

THE FAEMEFv'S MAGAZINE.

All

OSTRICH FARMING IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Considerable attention has of late been drawn to the com-
paratively new indiisiry at the Cape of farminj? domesticated
ostriches. L'p till about twenty ytars ago it does not appear
to have occurred to anyone to make any attempt at domesti-
catiug the ostrich. Wild ones were to be met with by the
traveller, dotted about in little groups in all the less-frequented
inland pUins ; but, hunted and perstcutid, it is not to be
wondered at that ostriches would have ere lon<( been entirely
extirpati-d. About this time it occurred to Mr. Kinnear, a
prntleinan then resident at Beaufort-West in the colony, that
it might be possible to domesticate the young of the wild birds,
and that tlius another valuable industry raitjht be added to the
colony's, at that lime, somewhat limited tfsources. Beaufort-
AVest being iu the very he;irt of the country where the wild
birds abounded, he was not long in obt lining a few young
birds wliich had been run down only a day or two old. These
were carefully tended aud ted by him. Wheu a few months
old they were allowed to run on the lucerne fii-lds about the
homestead. They throve and fully answered his most sanijuine
eXiectations. When eighteen months old, aud every eight or
ten mouths afier, they yielded their beautilul crop of rich
plumes. When three or four years old they began to breed,
Idying on an average tilteen or sisleen eggs, and bringing out
about twelve or Tourtien yoong; but so little notice did
the matter attract that as late as 1S65 there were only eighty
domesticated ostriches in the wliule colony.

From that time more attention was directed to the subject,
and a demand arose for young birds, wliich increased in value
from a lew shillings each to ten and even tifteen pounds ; so
that by the year 187o, a cording to the census returns of that
year, the domesticated birds hid increased to twenty-eight
thousand, and will no duubt by this time have reached fi:ty
thousand a' least. The feathers f.-om these, together with
some from wild ones beyond the hound;iry of the colony, real-
ised last year, according to the Colonial Customs returns,
little short of half a million sterling. The value of a pair of
good breeding birds ranges now from £100 to £301), aud even
as ranch as £500 has been more than once given for pairs of
good and regular breeding birds.

Ostrich farmers may be divided info two classes— first, tho,^
who buy the young birds from the breeders wheu from tour to
twelve months old, keep them for the snke of their leathers,
and sell them as breeding birds when they have paired olf and
are of a proper age ,^ say three or four years, for " breeders ; "
and secondly, those who give their aitention to breeding
birds only, selling the young &s they are hatched, or wlien
they are a lew months old.

At four to six months old the yonng birds are worth at
present about £15 ; at tv*elve mouths their chickrn feathers
are clipped. Taeae are poor shabby thinjjs, the yield of each
bird beins; worth no more than awut tlirty shillings. In
ahout eight months, however, the first ciop of good leathers
is clipped, yieldms-, according to the riuulity and s-x of the
bird, Irom £5 to £i2 ; and this is repeated every eight months-
with like result, \\\.\. the bird takes to breeding, alter vvhich it
is not desirable to deprive them of their leathris, as they require
them to cover the egijs on the ne^t, and to regulate the heat
during the process o' incubatiop. Paired ostriches are gene-
rally placed in an enclosure, the larger the bettT, by them-
Beives; where, in addition to the luod growing there, they are,
if necesary, supplied with additional food, such as mangel
wurzel, lucerne, &c., or with soii.e animal food and a g -od
supply of boce;^, without wliich two last they do not thrive.

During the laying season the mile i» ■very savage, and will
fearlesslv attack any man ur other auim.il coming within
leach. Oue kick irom his muscular leg has been knoAU to
kill a man. The hen lays an egg every other diy, until there
are from fifteen to eighietn in t'ne nest, which is simply a
shallow holh.w scratched out of the ground, a sandy jiice
being ujually fixed upon ;or this purpose. Incubaiion takes
six weeks. Die male takiig his turn to sit during the nigul
aud the lemale during the day.

Wonderful intelligence is slio.Mi by the birds in adjusting
the amount of w rm h necessary :or the incubation of the
eg;8. During tlie night, early in the morning, and in the
evening the body is reslca full on the bulk of the eggs, the

outer ones being protected by tiie wing-feathers being sprea I
over them. As tiie heat of the d;iy increases the body is at
first slightly lifted, and then more and more so, t e
bird resting on its hamches. At coon, if the heat is ve y
great, the bird leaves the nest, and feeds close by till the h at
moderates, when she resumes her task, the n ale bird reiiev g
his mate at dark. From twelve to fiiteeu chicks are genera ly
hatched. A few years ago artificial incubators were used, the
eggs being leraoved from the ne t as soon as laid. 13ut it iias
been found betier to allow the birds to hatch their own egi.8.
If properly led on the Lest as well as ater the hatching, the
ostrich will begin to lay again generally in three weeks or a
month, and thus bring out three or four broods in a year. If
the incubator is used there will be I'retjuent failure irom im-
proper application ol heat, and it ia said that the young thus
brought out are not so robust as those hatched naturally. The
parent bird turns all the eggs in the uest very carefully once a
day. The young birds are very delicate, retjuiring cons' ant
attention for some month-, especially as they are very eustep-
tible to cold and wet, aud are subject to intestinal worms. A
decoction of the root of the pome^jrauate is found to be the
best cure lor these pests.

There is a greit diS"«reuce in the feather-producing quality
of ostriches, some yielding only three pounds' worili at a
clippiug, while others yield as much as filteen pounds' worth.

It is surprising how very tame the domesticated birds be-
come, except when breeding. They will allow you to ap-
proicli them quite closely without being alarmed. They will
take food from your hand and peck at the buttons of your
coat. They will swallow food in pieces as large as oranges.
The gullet passes spirally round iheir long necks, down which
the pieces of food can be easily traced. The wiid aloe and
cactus leaves «iu n cut up are very acceptable to them, and
serve valuable meiiicinal purposes as well. In feediug they
do not masticate, but strip the leaves aud tender shoots oU
their favourite plants, aud m like manner gather the grass
seeds.

The beautiful white plumes so highly prized by ths ladies
all over the world grow on the ends of the wings of the male
birds. A good bird in his pdme will yield trooQ twenty to
thirty of these, besides a few black leathers also Irom the wings.
The tail feathers are not ner-.riy so valuable or so beauti ul.
The hen also yields fine plumes from their wiug-lips, but they
are generally sputted and ft eked with grey, and are called
" femiuines." Those which iu tlie lu'ile bird are black are
grey with her. From one hundred and twenty to one hundred
and thirty good long leathers go to a pound ; they are always
sold by weight, aud are all set't to the English market.—
Abrldjed from Chamberis Journal.

€n'^t\\t #aitien iHarfeet

TnuESDAY, May 23.
The large consignments of Grapes froia the Channel Islands
are seriously affecting ike values of Englisli fruit, a bolter
class of goods reaching us than hitherto, liusiness remain-j
the same, with very little alteration to quota, A few good
Peaches and Figs have made an appearance.
FEUIX.

B. d. I «. d. n. d

5 0 f>ra/!ge3,pe?hundred 6 0 12 0

1 a Pears, per doi 0 0 0 "

10 0 I Pine Apples, 1? lb ^0 4 0

lo U I itrii.vberiies, per lb. 6 0 13 0
VSGETABLSS.

I tterbe, per bunch 0 2 0 4

0 i 0 Horse Radish,^ bund. 4 0 0 0

0 0 0 iiBWuces.poiaoz i B u u

6 0 0 Mint, grn.. per bunch 0 4 0 0

0 6 ulOuions, S* bushel ... B U 7 0

15 01 Young, "S bundle ... U 4 0 6

2 [Z'arsley.perlb. «. 1 0 2 0

0 0 Peas, greoD, per qt... 3 6 0 0

0 ■ I Po' atoes, n w, per 1*1. . 0 B u 9

2 01 stadishes, per bunch.. 0 8 0 0

2 O' New Jersey, per doz 2 0 0 0

0 6 Rhubarb, per buudle. 6 0 So

0 0 shallots, '.^ lb u 6 r. 0

5 'J ! 'eiikale per punnet ..2 0 0 (I

2 0 I Spinauli per busiiel ... 3 6 0 u

u 0 l-'W-.i-t Putatos, per lb. 0 o 0 0

1 6 [ I'omatos, per dozen 2 6 3 0

0 u rnriij-..'.. ^ bun 3 0 6 fr

0 0 1 New Fr , per bun. ... 1 0 i ti

Potatos : —Old Potatos getting scarce, and bust sample- ad-
vanced ill price Best ItJOs. to 180s. ; Champions lOOs. to 1 lu.*
Rocks, 9U». to lOOs. Mow stutr from Malta, l^s. to liSv
Lisbons lus. to 12s. ; Jersey Kidneys 4d. to od. per II).

s. d.

Apples, '/* sieve 1 6

FUbertsSt Cobs, ^ lb 0 9

Rrape.-, Vlb 4 0

Le nous.V tiuudred 3 0

artichokes, English

Giobe.doz 2 0

— .IsruB-lera, perb-h. 6 0

Asparagus sp , bun . I 6

Eng , per ban _. 5 0

Fr . giii.t. ^ bun . . 8 o

Toul ustf..bun J 6

Seaib, b'r..^ 00 2 0

Broad, p r lb 1 U

Seol, p-r dyZttU 1 0

Oa ibagHS, per dozen 1 C

Oe.Tots.'^fiJ buixh n 4

New Fr , perbu!!.... 2 u

OiaiiUowerb, per doz 2 0

CUery.fl! bundle 1 G

(Jhiiies, per 1' u 2 i'

C'ucurnberB, each 0 9

Endive, Batavn., doz 1 6
Garlic, per ib.

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

REVIEW OE THE CORN TRADE,

T-ROSi THE MARK LANE EXPRESS FOR THE WEEK ENDING MAY 26.

Tlie course of the past week has been marked by
R more equable and spring-like temperature, and
tbe improvement in the weather which set io some
t'li days ago has since made further progress.
Warm, bright days, and an absence of frost at
night, have done "wonders in promoting the de-
velopment of vegetation, which, uncheclied by cold
winds and favoured by sunshine, has made rapid
progress. Although still bare for the time of the
year, the natural beauties of the landscape are
beginning to appear, and another week's season-
able weather will doubtless obliterate _ the most
obvious traces of the long and weary winter ; but,
unfortunately, its less apparent though more
injurious effects upon tbe growing cereal crops
rcniHin to be seen. In the sheltered districts of
the home counties the appearance of the young
wheat plant is neither so sickly nor so yellow as
might have been anticipated, but the growth is
undoubtedly very backward, so much so, that
wheat ears will certainly be conspicuous by their
absence tlis month. Recent agricultural advices
from Norfolk and the feu couuties are of a most
discouraging character, an immense quantity of
wheat having been ploughed in, and the land
re-sown with spring corn. It is estimated that
the yield of wheat in these districts will scarcely
exceed half the average growth this year. Barley
and oats have come up fairly well, but the recent
night frosts have retarded their advance ; still, a
fe^ warm showers, succeeded by sunshine, will go
far to remedy this defect, and render future pro-
s >ects more encouraging. The protracted _ winter
an 1 abnormal severity of the weather during the
ptst two mouths has attracted the attention of
8 '.ientists, and the opinion has been conhdeutly
e repressed in some quarters that the summer of
1879 will \)Q one of great heat and drought. The
opinion appears to be based upon the presumed
existence of a cycle of the seasons, extremes of
temperature occurring at intervals of about eleven
years, and is distinctly opposed to that which
connects a disturbed equinoctial period, such as
was experienced this year, with a variable and
g'nerallv speaking wet summer. Of course, as a
weather" forecast, this must be taken for what it is
w irth, for even if the weather between this and
linrvest should prove droughty, it will probably
be benehcial in many respects, as in this country
the SUM has seldom, if ever, sjioilt the wheat crop,
while the rain lias done so frequently. Farmers
continue to market their reserves of wbtat very
freely for the time of year at country markets, but
business has been dull and buyers apathetic, so
that the. average price has suffered a further slijjht
riccliue, A similar state of atfairs has existed at
?d;nk Lane, where the offerings have, however,
been on quite a moderate scale, and previous prices
liiive been maintaimd with dilliculty. The imports
of foreign wheat into London haVe been by no means'

excessive, as last Monday's return showed little
over 3G,000 qrs., and the subsequent arrivals up to
Friday have not exceeded 2;j,000 qrs. At the
commencement of the week sellers showed con-
siderable firmness, and to all appearances owners
were content to warehouse their grain, and abide
the future course of prices, rather than depress the
market by forcing sales ; but the return and sub-
sequent continuance of fine weather, coupled with
weaker reports from America, deprived the trade
of its buoyancy, and sales were effected with
difficulty at previous quotations. At the same
time there seems to be sufficient inherent strength
in the trade to prevent any marked decline taking
place, as the continental demand strengthens the
views of holders, and the visible supply in America
is rapidly assuming less alarming proportions.
No doubt the operations of continental buyers have
to some extent counteracted the depressing intiu-
ence of the weather, but it remains to be seen
wlielher the demand will continue should agri-
cultural advices at home and abroad become
couched in more favourable terms. Business has
not been without a certain degree of activity
during the week, as the retail wants of millers
have kept sellers employed, and the finer growths
of spring American wheat have been in fair request.
Maize has improved 6d. per qr. since Monday, and
considerable quantities have changed hands at the
advance, but other varieties of feeding corn have
moved off quietly at former values. The sales of
English wheat noted last week were 50,672 qrs. at
41s. 4d., against .35,554 qrs., at 51s. 2d. in the
previous year. The London averages for the week
ending May 23rd were 43s. lid. on 2,264 qrs.
The imports into the United Kingdom for the
week ending May 17th were 443,211 cwts. of
wheat, and 256,830 cwts. of flour, lousiness
opened very steadily at Mark Lane on 3Ionday
last, and asa further advance in the price of wheat
was quoted in many of the principal country
markets at the close of the previous week, factors
commenced by askinff Is. per qr. more money.
The tine weather, hov^ever, made buyers cautious,
and scales were impracticable at the advance ; but
the trade, nevertheless, ruled firm, and the day's
sales indicated an improved demand at the extreme
prices of the previous Monday. Tiiere weiij
6,167 qrs. of English wheat, and the supply fresh
up on factors' stands was very moderate, but nio?Jt
of the snmples were in fair condition. Fine lots
moved off steadily, if somewhat slowly, and buyers
had to pay fully former rates, while s( eondary
sorts met wit'u little inquiry. A quieter tone
supervened at the close of the market, and in the
brilliant sunshine which jirevailed, the mischie-
vous action of the previous inclement weather
upon the growing crop appeared to be for tlie
moment forgotten, 'i'he imports of foreign
amuunti'd to 3(!,n57 qrs., about 25,000 qrs. of

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE.

429

•which were from Amerieau Atlantic ports, and
7,257 qrs. from Germany, llussia and New Zea-
land furnishincf the remainder of the supply.
There was a full average attendance of millers,
who bought with increased freedom, but mostly
in retail, and in spite of the sunshine a steady
consumptive demand was experienced at fully late
rates, tine spring Americans being chiefly sought
after. The exports were 1,904 qrs. against 1,028
qrs. in the preceding week. There were 9G3 qrs.
of home-grown barley, and 4,240 qrs. of foreign.
The demand was very limited, and quotations
Were unaltered for both malting and grinding
descriptions. Maize, with arrivals amounting to
61,629 qrs. all of which was from America, met a
more active sale, and 3d. per qr. more money was
obtainable at the close of the market. The
imports of oats were again liberal, in all 72,877
qrs., and the trade was somewhat depressed there-
by, bat a fair business was done on the whole, and
sellers succeeded in establishing an advance of 3d.
to Gd. per qr. on the week. There was no further
arrival of English wheat on Wednesday, but
about 18,000 qrs. of foreign wheat were reported.
The weather again being very fine, quietude pre-
vailed in the wheat trade, and a light retail
inquiry was met at unaltered currencies. Mixed
American maize was again the turn dearer, and
2l3. per 480 lb. ex-ship was paid for sound new
corn, but other feeding stufifs were without
quotable variation. On Friday the supply had
increased to 660 qrs. of English wheat, and 22,280
qrs. of foreign. The market was thinly attended,
and the trade ruled very inanimate for wheat at
nominally Monday's prices. There was no altera-
tion in maize or barley, but oats were rather firmer.
The imports of Hour into the United Kingdom for
the week ending May 17tb, were 256,830 cwts.
against 189.744 cwts. in the previous week. The
receipts into Loudon were 19,554 sacks of English,
and 22 182 sacks and 1,585 barrels of foreign. A
dull dragging sate has been experienced, as the
continued heavy supplies have deprived the trade
of animation, but in most instances buyers have
had to pay last week's prices for both sacks and
barrels. The week's arrivals of beans were
45,360 cwts., and of peas 26,333 cwts., sho^f^ing
an increase of 8,999 cwts. on the former, 12,265
cwts. on the latter. Beans have sold steadily at
previous currencies, but peas have ruled dull, and
a reduction of Is. per qr. has been necessary to
eSect sales. The deliveries of malt were 14,860
qrs., and the exports 856 qrs. Prices have under-
gone no alteration, and the trade remains in a very
quiet stale, without any new feature to call for
remark. As the sawing demand is now practically
over, there has been but little activity in the agri-
cultural seed trade duriug the past week; at the
same time some little inquiry of a speculative
character has shown itself for American red clover.
Trefoil has also been in some request, and previous
prices have been well maintained. Tares and
grass seeds have met a limited sale at last week's
prices, and mustard and rape ai-e held hrmly, but
there has been little done in hemp or canary.
The supplies of wheat at the principal country
markets have again been on an unusually liberal
leale for the lime of year, but provincial trade has

been characterised by great steadiness, accompanied
in .some instances by a further advance in prices.
A slight improvement has also been observable in
the value of maize and oats. At Liverpool the
market has been to some extent deprived of its
recent buoyancy by the fine weather and quieter
advices from America, and at Tuesday's market
there was a poor demand for wheat at a decline of
Id, per cental on spring American descriptions.
Flour sold slowly at previous prices, and oats,
beans, and peas were quiet, but maize was taken
pretty freely at 4s. 4d. percental for new, and 4s,
6^d. for old mixed American. The week's im-
ports included 51,000 qrs. of wheat, and 67,000
qrs. of maize. At Newcastle the wheat trade has
ruled slow, an 4 prices have slightly favoured
buyers, but flour has supported previous rates, and
feeding stuffs have maintained former currencies.
At Hull and Leeds a moderate amount of business
has been slone in English and foreign wheat, and
prices have undergone no change for spring corn.
At Edinburgh the market has been liberally sup-
plied with all articles except wheat, which has
met a ready sale at full}' late rates. Barley has
also been in fair request but prices remain
unaltered, and oats and beans have met a slow
sale, without change in value. At Leith some
improvement has taken place in the weather, and
the growing crops, although still backward, loak
fairly healthy. The arrivals from abroad have
been moderate of all articles, and at Wednesday's
market Scotch wheat sold readily at full prices,
but foreign was only in moderate demand and the
turn easier. Flour showed some signs of harden-
ing, and oats were in better request, but there was
no change in barley, maize, or beans.

The following are the reports from Mark Lane
during the past month :

Monday, May 5.

The arrivals during the past week have been : English
Wheat, 5,030 qrs; foreign, 36,961 qrs. E.^ports, 536
qrs. There was a good attendance at market this
morning, but the change to more seasonable weather de-
prived the trade of much of its receut firmness. English
Wheat was in short supply, and the turn lower; whilst
foreign, of which the arrivals were fair, met a quiet coi.-
sumptive demand at about late rates, for all e.^eept ir.-
ferior American descriptions, which receded 6d. per qr.
on the week, where sales were pressed ex ship.

Country Flour, l,824i6 sacks ; foreign, 17,245 sacks
2,665 barrets. There was a slow sale for both sacks and
barrels, but no quotable alteration was observable in
prices.

EngHsh barley, 5 SO qrs. ; Scotch, 404 qrs. ; foreign,
5,843 qrs. Very little business was done either in malt-
ing or grinding sorts, but la&t Monday's currencies were,
generally speaking, obtainable.

Malt: English, 10,085 qrs. ; Scotch, 1,875 qrs. ; ex-
ports, 2,090 qrs. The trade ruled quiet, and quotitions
underwent no change

Maize, 42,397 qrs. ; exports, 1,001 qrs. S.iles were diffi-
cult to aflcct, and with large arrivah from abroad prices
gave way 3d. to 6u. per qr. on the week for both old and
ntw ccrn.

English Oats, 317 qrs. ; Scotch, 365 qrs. ; foreign,
59,385 qrs. ; exports, 7 qrs. The trade was quiet, and
with finer weather and increased iinports sales progressed
slowly at 3d. tu 8d. per qr. less money.

430

THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE

English Beans 1,11S qrs. ; foreign, 97 qrs. Quiet but
fairly sttadj at last week's prices.

Linseed, 2,709 qrs. ; exports, 250 qrs. Unaltered in
value, with very little offering.

Monday, May 12.

The arrivnls during the past week have been: English
'\^'heat, 5,717 qrs. ; foreign, 29,158 qrs. Exports, 1,208
qrs. The supply of English Wheat at market this morn-
ing was ?gain small and, notwithstanding the favourable
change in the weather, a steadier tone was observable in
the trade. Fine samples realised an occasional advance
of Is. per qr. on the week, while secondary qualities were
fully as dear. Of foreign the arrivals were moderate, and
with a large attendance of millers an improved demand
was experienced for all varieties at fully late rates.

Country Flour, 18,825 sacks ; foreign, 8,336 sacks, and
180 barrels. Both sacks and barrels were held for
rather more money, but the advance asked checked the
demand.

English Barley, 668 qrs. ; Scotch, 25 qrs. ; foreism,
1,387 qrs. A quiet sale was experienced aud no quotable
alteration was observable either in malting or grinding
sorts.

Malt, English, 17,229 qrs.; Scotch, 1,010 qrs. Exports,
1,407 qrs. The trade ruled quiet but steady at unaltered
urrencies.

Maize, 14,412 qrs.; exports, 354 qrs. There was a
slightly improved inquiry for both round and flat corn,
and previous prices were steadily supported.

English Oats, 260 qrs. ; Scotch, 550 qrs.; foreign,
66,130 qrs. Exports, 175 qrs. With continued liberal
arrivals from abroad the trade was depressed, and sales
■were only practicable at a decline of 3d. to Gd. per qr. on
the week.

English Beans, 511 qrs. ; foreign, 65 qrs. Steady at
last week's quotations.

Linseed, 1,396 qrs. Exports, 17 qrs. Very little offer-
ing and fully as dear.

Monday, May 19.

The arrivals during the past week have been : English
Wheat, 6,167 qrs. ; foreign, 30,G57 qrs, Exports, 1,904
qrs. The supply of English Wheat at market this morn-
ing was light and with brilliant weather, sales progressed
slowly at last week's full prices : of foreign the arrivals
were moderate, and with a good attendance of millers a
steady consnmpiive demand was experienced at about last
Monday's currencies, except where sales were pressed
ex-ship in which case quotations slightly favoured buyers.

Country Flour, 19,554 sacks; foreign, 22,182 sacks,
and 1 585 barrels, lu moderate request aud without
quotable change.

English Barley, 893 qrs. ; Scotch. 70 qrs. ; foreign,
4,246 qrs. Both malting and grinding qualities met a
slow sale at about late rates.

Malt: English, 13,859 qrs. ; Scotch, 1,001 qrs. Ex-
ports, 856 qrs. The .demand was ligh% aud the trade
ruled quiet at unaltered cUTCucies.

Maize, 51,6-!9 qrs. Exports, 810 qrs. Mixed American
was in good request at 20s. 6d. per 480 lb. ex ship, but
round Corn sold slowly, without cbaoge in value.

English Oats, 228 qrs.; Irish, 1,120 qrs. foreign,
72,877 qrs. ; Exports, 111 qrs. '1 he large arrivals robbed
the trade of much of the an matioa which was observable
towards the close of last week, but a quiet retail demand
was met at 3d. to 6d. per qr. al'O e 1 tst Monday's prices,
albeit buyers paid the advance with reluctance.

English Beans, 1,57' qrs.; foreign, 22 qrs. Not much
bnsiness done, but previous prices were obtainable.

Linseed, 1,342 qrs. Very scarce aud the turn dearer.

Monday, May 2G,

The arrivals during the past week hare bren : English
Wheat, 4 975 qrs. ; foreign, 28,875 qrs. ; Exports, 1.353
qrs. There was agaiu a small supply of En li-h Wheat
at market this morning, and the trade ruled dull at
nomiiuilly last Monday's prices ; of foreiga the arrivals
were also small, and with a moderate attendance of
millers, a quiet consumptive demand was experienced at
unaltered currencies.

Country flour, 20,601 sacks ; foreign, 6,456 sacks,
and 11,040 barrels. Some steadiness was observable, but
business was very quiet and prices unchanged for both
sacks and barrels.

English Barley, 2,907 qrs.; Scotch, 100 qrs.; foreign,
8,699 qrs. There was no quotable chauge in the value
of either maltiug or grinding descriptiona, but sales were,
effected with difficulty.

Malt, English, 10,500 qrs.; Scotch. 1,575 qrs.;'exports,
1,904 qrs. In moderate request at about late rates.

Maize, 13 693 qrs. Fine mixed American was 6 J. per
qr. dearer on the week, and round corn was fully as dear
but business was mostly of a retail character.

English Oats, 99 qvs. ; Scotch, 193 qrs.; foreign,
62,445 qrs. Exports, 320 qrs. Swedish sorts were 6d.
per qr. dearer, but inferior Russian could not be moved
at any advance. The trade was firm, and heavy corn in
rather better demand.

Euglish Beans, 222 qrs. ; foreign, 2,508 qrs. A slow
sale at nominally last week's quotations.

Linseed, 457 qrs. Exports, 273 qrs. Fully as dear,
but very little offering.

CURRENT PRICES OF BRITISH GRAIN AND FLOUR

IN MARK LANE.

Shillings pa .laarter

WHEAT, Esses & Kent, white oM — to - new 37 to 48

,, ,, red old — — new 35 46

Norfolk, Lmclnsn,, and Yorksh. red old — new 34 46

BARLEY Chevalier new 35 68

Grinding 33 to 40 Distilling 84 56

MALT, pale new60to75 old brown 50 64

RYE 30 ^i

OATS, English, feed 21 to 23 Potato 25 29

Scotch, feed... — — Potato — —

Irish, feed, white21 26 Fine — —

Ditto, black 23 24 Potato — —

BFA.NS, Mazagan ...32 35 Ticks 31 34

Harrow — — Pigeon, old 10 46

PEAS, white boilers 34 38 Maple 37 to 39 Grey 34 86

FLOUR, per sack of 280lbs., town households 35 40

Best countrv household.^, 31 35

Norfolk and Suffolk 28 30

FOREIGN GRAIN.

Shillings per
WHEAT, Dantzic, mLsed 44 to 43 extra

Konigsberg 48 60 extra

Rostock ...45 48 . old

Pomera., Meckberg., and Uc^ermrk red

Ghirka 38 to 41. ..Russian, hard, 43 to 46,Saxonska

Danish and Holstein, red — — ...red American

Chilian, white 47 ...Californian 45 47 . Australian

East Indian, No. 1 Club white, 44 to 45; No. 2
Ord. white 4i to 42 ; red 37 to 39 ; hard

BARLEY, grinding 19 to 20 di.'^tiiling

OATS, Putc 1, brewing and Polands 20 to 23 feed

Danish and Swedish, feed 18 to 19 . Stralsund ...

Canaf'a X) to 00 Riga 16 to 17 Petersburg...

BEANS, Fr.esland and Holstein

Italian So to 37. ..Egyptian

PEAS, feeding and maple. ..33 34.. fine boilers

MAIZE, Black Sea 23 £5.. Mixed Aicerican

FLOUR, per sack, French 32 36. ..Spanish, p. i-aok

Hungarian, persack...41 55. ..American barrel
TARKS,' Spring

I'riii'cl by llAziiLi,, V.'.vtson, & Yi.net, 265, Strand, London

Quarter,

— to 50

—

—

42

47

42

46

40

47

48

49

42

4i

39

40

28

35

19

21

19

21

17

20

36

37

36

36

21

22

33

35

19

22

32

34

THE FAEMEE'S MAGAZINE.

CONTENTS.

JUNE, 1879.
Platb.— T AVISTOCK

Description of Platb .....

Agricultural Societies .....

Farmers' Clubs. .....

Chambers of Agriculture ....

Smithfield Club .....

The Farm Animals of tmb United States

Depression in Agriculture ....

History of Cirexcester College

Bedford Sewage Farm .....

The Agriculture of Wales ....

Thb Wobuen Experiments ....

Game .......

Various Notes . .....

Can Pleuro-Pneumonia be Communicated by Mediate Contagion

Is Higher Farming a Remedy for Lower Prices ?

The Agricultural Outlook ....

Farmers and the Income Tax ....

Mr. Blennerhassett on the Law of Distress . ,

The Law of Distress .....

The Farmers' Alliance. ....

The Press on the Farmees' Alliance . ,

London Corn Trade Association.

A Hedge to Grow Under Trees.

New Zealand as a Field for Farming Emigrants

The Cycle of the Seasons ....

The English Cart Horse Society ,

Rbyiew of Corn Tradi .....

Page
.353
353, 331,417
. 360
366, 384
. 368
. 369
. 371

. 373
. 376

377, 412
. 378
. 389
. 390
. 392

393, 4l3
. 399
. 40l
. 402

403, 405

406, 411
. 406
, 407
. 408
. 409
. 413
. 417
. 428

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T B A D B flMJlBWHK MARE.

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GRAND yiN DE CHAMPAGNE.

TRADE f^'WC MARK.

ROUSSEAU AND CO., REIMS.

M ADEI RA

Of the FINEST CITJALITY, in Quarter Casks and in Bottle, and every
other description of Wines at the

LOWEST POSSIBLE PRICE,

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TUXFORD AND CO.,

WINE MERCHANTS,

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SAMPLES ON APPLICATION.

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KOYAL FARMEES' & GENERAL
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AND TO GRANT

I N S URANCES ON LI V E S .

DIRECTORS:

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Deputy-Chairman — B. P. SHEARER, Esq., 47, Gloucester-place, Portman Square

Richard L. Loveland, Esq., 4, Hare Court, Temple.
John Reddish, Esq., 9, Highbury New Park.
Major F. Anderson Stebbing, 4, Cleveland Gardens,
Castle Hill, Ealing.

Thomas Henry Burroughes, Esq., 17, Lower Berkeley

Street.
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A. J. Duff Filer, Esq., 10, Aberdeen Park, Highbury.

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PIUS. — Insurances at moderate rates.

lilFE. — Insuraaces on equitable terms. Profits divided every five years.

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LOSSES.— Settled promptly and liberally.

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Chemists (Manager A. Anthony Nesbit, F.C.S., &c.), undertake the analysisjf/*
of manures, feeding stuffs, seeds, soils, waters, and all agricultural requisites.
And may be consulted upon the cause of the failure of crops, or any questions
in scientific agriculture. Laboratory : 38, Gracechurch Street, E.G. A
list of fees sent on application.